> The Master Mev
>  by kazamacat
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 01 - The First Night
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Rainbow Dash stood on a cloud and stared out at the night before her. Her two magenta eyes gazed at the moon. Life was busy working three jobs, so she worked in a little extra time for herself at nights if she could. Such was the idea tonight. Her jobs included the easy one of managing Ponyville's weather, the dream one of being a Wonderbolt, and the recently new one of helping out Twilight Sparkle for her School of Friendship. The school had a rocky start, and Rainbow was certainly no fan of listening to classroom lectures, let alone giving them. Despite that outlook, she and Twilight recently struck a fine balance of figuring that teamwork through sports was a simple enough way to teach and show loyalty. Coaching was something Rainbow herself understood, enjoyed, and already had experience with. Students still called her "Professor Dash" all the same.

Tonight, there would be none of that. Tonight, it would be her, her wings, the wind, and the sheer joy of flight. She lifted off into the night air and flew swiftly in solitude for a few minutes, at one point closing her eyes with a soft, contented smile. When she opened them, something caught her eye. She saw a strange column of white light, pinkish around its vertical edges. Rainbow had seen many magical and strange things living in Equestria and going on adventures with her friends. She couldn't remember ever seeing anything quite like this.

She approached it out of curiosity, surprised to see no other ponies on the ground or in the air. Most ponies were asleep or preparing for a day's end toward that sleep. Rainbow circled the column. It seemed to be shooting up from the ground, and she could not see where it ended in the sky either. She flew up several feet before stopping and deciding if it had an end, it was too high, even for her. Again, she circled the column, descending several of the feet she'd just risen before she eventually halted. "Hello?" she called as if it would answer back.

Sparks of lightning shot out and nearly shocked her though she was fast enough to dodge clear. She flew back several feet to see if the light would do anything else and saw the entire column slowly inch to follow her. It had not responded with words, but it certainly seemed aware of her presence. She flew backward some more, again steadily and only a little bit, and it followed her again. Curious all the more, she dashed a significant distance as if to flee it and saw the light flat out teleport in front of her, such that Rainbow flew right into it before being able to reach a quick stop while still in the air. She felt a surge of power enter in her body, filling her with both familiar electric shocks and new ones. When all was done, she stared at a now empty space. The column of light was gone. On instinct, she landed on the ground.

Rainbow glanced around to see she was still alone, now standing on a small grassy hill surrounded by other small grassy hills. She opened her mouth upon a strange sensation as she felt two of her teeth elongate and curve into fangs. Her memory reached back to the time when there was a night, just one night, where she had seen her friend Fluttershy turned into a pony vampire bat with fangs, bat-like wings, and a penchant for consuming apples. Rainbow touched the newly formed fangs with her right hoof, then with her left wing to further confirm their presence. She certainly felt hungry at the moment but not for apples. It was something she never ate before, whatever it was. She sat on her haunches and stared down at her forelimbs. They looked as they always did, sky blue like the rest of her coat.

She stood back up, uncoiled her wings and examined them. Still feathered, not like a bat but just as the thought crossed her mind, they did become bat-like. Startled, Rainbow Dash gasped, pacing in a small circle as if to chase her own tail. "Change back!" she told her body in a hurried and whispered hush. The wings obeyed and became feathered again. With widened red eyes, she thought of changing the wings again to the bat form. They did. And back to normal they went after she decided that's how she wanted them. She glanced around yet again, side to side to see if she was still standing alone at night, and she was.

Next, Rainbow examined her cutie mark. It remained unchanged. She stared at it, trying to see if it would turn into a bat or something by just thinking of the possibility. It didn't. She sighed in relief. She didn't really want that to ever change.

Rainbow started trotting to nowhere in particular as she began to reflect on the situation. Having fangs and being able to change her own wings at will was weird, but it was something she could live with. It could even be cool, except that this strange gnawing hunger bothered her. It wasn't for blood like she'd heard about in other vampire stories. Magic. Rainbow came to a halt and turned her head around as if the answer was behind her. Magic? She wanted to eat magic? She looked ahead again and put a hoof up to her mouth in thought. Like Tirek? Not exactly like him, Rainbow sensed that much and set her hoof down. She doubted she could just open her mouth and suck magic at a distance from any nearby trapped unicorn. She ran her tongue across her top lip in contemplation. The fangs she had now were probably needed. She also doubted she'd get bigger if she did eat it. What did magic taste like? It sounded awfully delicious to her right now. Rainbow thought back to the lost magic of what Tirek did to everypony she knew. They only got it back thanks to her group of friends using a special power, they had not seen since. What if Rainbow ate another pony's magic, and it was gone for good? She shuddered at the thought.

Rainbow decided she needed to tell her friend Twilight Sparkle right away and lifted herself back into the air to start heading to the castle. She smacked herself on the forehead and stopped. Bad idea. If she was hungry for magic, and Twilight had a lot of magic to eat, she could be putting her friend in danger. Every type of pony had at least a little bit of magic of their own, pegasi and earth ponies included, but Rainbow Dash knew what she craved most right now was unicorn magic. No doubt alicorn magic would be even better. She shook her head. "Snap out of it!" she told herself, still hovering in place. "I need to talk to one of my friends who's not a unicorn." Rarity and Starlight Glimmer were not options. She thought of Fluttershy again. Maybe it wouldn't be scary for Fluttershy to see Rainbow Dash because of actually being a vampire that one night. It's not like Rainbow herself even looked that different so long as she kept her feathered wings on, which she fully intended to do. Applejack was a decent option. Pinkie Pie was too much of a wild card. Rainbow briefly thought of Scootaloo but decided children should be avoided.

She hovered in place as she thought about who to approach before finally settling on seeing Fluttershy. They were long-time friends, even casual girlfriends with no one watching and longing for a touch of affection between the two. It wasn't completely unheard of for Rainbow to approach Fluttershy's house at odd hours. She flew to the cottage and knocked at the window of Fluttershy's bedroom, waiting a few minutes for her friend to open it.

The window opened, revealing her canary-colored pegasus friend of many years. "Rainbow Dash, what are you doing here?" Fluttershy asked. "We have no plans for a night date anytime soon." The resident of the cottage paused upon a realization. "What happened to your eyes?"

"My eyes too?" Rainbow asked, flapping her wings, steadily keeping her in place, as she held her hooves up to the sides of her cheeks, tugging at her coat. "What's different about them? I haven't looked in the mirror."

Fluttershy gasped, having caught sight of Rainbow's changed teeth. "Rainbow, you have fangs! Oh, and your eyes are red instead of magenta. I'll show you, just a minute." Fluttershy grabbed a sizable mirror and held it to show Rainbow Dash.

Sure enough, the irises were red. "Red? I like my magenta eyes," Rainbow noted regrettably.

"Wow, they just changed back as you said that," Fluttershy informed her friend. Indeed, the eye color switched on command to Rainbow's own realization.

"Oh, whew," Rainbow wiped her forehead, "looks like I can change that too." She tested it in the mirror a couple of times, so she could sense the difference from within her body. The red eyes seemed to tap into the power she'd just absorbed earlier.

Fluttershy blinked, not fully understanding. "Too?"

"Uh...maybe it's not such a good idea to do it while I'm flying, but I was able to change my wings earlier. Like how yours were when you became a vampire bat."

"Oh my. Are you a vampire?" Fluttershy asked. "It's a lot different."

"I know. I don't want to eat apples at all. I want magic, like unicorn magic," the fanged pegasus admitted.

"Well, I don't have any of that," Fluttershy noted, shaking her head as if in regret she could not offer any.

"Yes, exactly!" Rainbow emphasized with her voice and her forelimbs. "I can't go and ask Twilight because I'm afraid of what I might do. I'm hungry."

Fluttershy nodded. That made sense of course. "So, you want me to ask her for you?"

"Yeah and ask you if you have any advice or something since you were a vampire that one night," Rainbow said.

"Oh, I'm sorry Rainbow, this is definitely too different. I couldn't do anything but want and eat those apples in my vampire bat form. You're still able to talk and recognize me; I couldn't do anything like that. You can even do that eye color change. I guess that's a good thing. Maybe you could handle talking to Twilight. But just in case, don't worry. I'll help. Tell me what to do. Come on in."

Rainbow flew into the room through the window, flipping in circles a few times before landing perfectly on the floor.

"Um, Rainbow Dash, can I see the wings change?" Fluttershy asked, trying to minimize her curiosity.

Rainbow looked at them for a moment, back to Fluttershy and again at her wings, spreading them. She played with her thoughts. They shifted into their bat form and back into feathered.

"That's incredible," Fluttershy told her, unable to hide her fascination.

"Yeah, it is pretty cool," Rainbow agreed. "But this being-hungry-for-magic thing could still be a problem."

After much deliberation and Fluttershy even writing down some notes, the two pegasi agreed that Rainbow should wait at her own house for Fluttershy and do her best not to leave and not eat any magic. With that plan set in motion, Rainbow went home. She checked in on her pet tortoise Tank, who was sleeping this late. She'd have to wait until the next day to see if he had any kind of reaction to the change in her. 

She headed back to a large, open staging room where she kept a full-length mirror, longing to take another closer look at herself. She looked remarkably normal. She opened her mouth to see the fangs. Curious, she thought of them retreating into her teeth, just like she had been able to do with her wings and eyes.

The fangs obeyed, but this time, the change felt...undesirable. After all, she was a vampire, probably, or at least something like that, and it was night time. Even if she could and wanted to hide her other features, this one just felt right to keep.

She peered at the mirror as she changed her wings and eyes again. Vampire form. Change again. Pegasus form. She continued to play with it now testing out different facial expressions to appear eagerly smiling wickedly or frowning with menace or licking her lips hungrily and ready to pounce on her prey. What about when Fluttershy was a vampire? There was the wide-mouthed angry hiss. Rainbow Dash tried that and didn't much care for it. Too mad, not enough fun. She tried a more mischievous version without her mouth as wide, and that felt more appropriate. She chuckled to herself in amusement. Rainbow recalled Fluttershy looking rather clueless in the mirrors right before Twilight was able to change her back. Curious, Rainbow tried it too. She didn't like this one either. It made her feel like some kind of innocent, lost cat. She went back to her own ideas, such as trying to stand proud with a smirk that led into a teeth-revealing grin.

Once she had her fill of playing with the appearance transforming ability, she chose her mostly pegasus form except for the fangs. Fangs should be on at night, she decided. She hovered in place and then flew a few circles, realizing it all pretty much felt the same there, not any faster or lighter or stronger. She set herself down and switched her wings again to their bat-like counterparts. Lifting off, she did the same. Strangely, she didn't need any extra help in figuring out the difference. The wings simply obeyed her will. Again, she circled in place a few times and again, she flew as she normally would. She chuckled to herself at the possibility that she was already in such prime condition after years of training and experience, that not even turning into a vampire could improve her physical ability to fly. 

At last, she heard a knock on her door. She switched to her feathered wings and approached, opening it to reveal exactly who she wished to see. “Fluttershy!” she hugged her friend and realized Fluttershy had saddlebags. 

The canary colored pegasus opened one and hoofed over a book with red binding. "Twilight said you should read this. See if you can make it through the night. The hunger should disappear during the day, so you can go about that as usual. Meet us for breakfast tomorrow at the castle. She's inviting the girls and sent a letter to Princess Celestia. Even if you do eat magic from a unicorn, the loss is not permanent, but you should still not eat any tonight. You'll find out more in the book."

"Thanks so much Fluttershy," Rainbow told her and gave her friend a brief hug.

"Glad to help," Fluttershy said. She gently pecked Rainbow on the cheek. Rainbow blinked, paused for a moment with a relieved smile and pecked Fluttershy back. With that, Fluttershy flew upward and waved good-bye.
> Chapter 02 - An Explanation
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Mevs are magic-eating vampires. There are two types: master and fledgling. However, sometimes master mevs are simply called 'mevs' because they are the ones other creatures need to concern themselves with far more than the fledglings and will be the main topic of this book. A master mev is a strong, fast pegasus bestowed power from the land with the intention of storing magic that they eat in a reserve. They also manage magic, ideally though not necessarily toward balance, with the aid of the fledglings in their pack. Magic will grow and develop with time in the reserve. Both types of mevs are immune to magic drainage.

Masters must eat unicorn magic at least once a week or they will go berserk for a full night. This can be managed with a different volunteer every week and, while difficult, is also not impossible thanks to the fact that any victim will recover their magic in a week's time so can give the impression of some kind of passing sickness to those less informed on the matter. However, it is far better for any community where a master dwells that the master form a pack of one to six fledglings, and the first fledgling in the pack must be a unicorn. With a pack, the master can share hosting the reserve. The continual feeding every week strengthens the pack. Seven is the ideal number for a full pack, and that number includes the master among them.

A fledgling is created by having the master eat the magic from the pony to become a fledgling but then return that magic by clasping their wings around the horn, or temple if a pegasus or earth pony is chosen, allowing the fledgling to form fangs. With that, magic is exchanged instead of consumed, but the process is a special magic of its own that still fills the reserve, allowing mev packs and pony communities to live in harmony. Not any pony can become a fledgling. The bond between master and fledgling should be that of friends though other bonds will do, such as an acquaintance, rival, or even enemy. The stronger the existing bond the better, so that is why friendship is recommended. An acquaintance could easily fall prey to being a regular victim. Upon first exchange, a new bond forms specific to the pack where the fledgling becomes servant to the master. The master is obligated to take care of the fledgling as part of her pack in return for their service. Fledgling exchanges can be referred to as flexchanges, or flexchange when meaning singular, for short. After the first of these exchanges, fledglings no longer need the wing tips to help give them fangs. The sharpened teeth form on their own at the right time during a given exchange.

Fledglings should also eat magic once a week through the exchange with their master, but if they miss a dose, they will only get weaker until the next meal instead of going berserk, and the weakness only happens at night. Unlike the master who can eat every day if they wish, fledglings should stick to just the one weekly dose with the exception of a given task where they help the master. Flexchanges should be done at night, the earlier the better so long as the sun is fully set. Fledglings cannot eat magic from other creatures like the master can though they can absorb magic from inanimate objects like relics to channel that back to the master.

While masters can both eat and use magic, they keep their magic usage low. Anything a master could do as a regular pegasus before transformation should still be done that way in order to help maintain the reserve. Exceptions can be made for things important to the pack, such as when it is first being formed, if the master wishes to summon a fledgling for help on a task, or learning to use magic in the first place. Masters are immune to most magic being used on or against them as well. They cannot be telekinetically contained, blasted, teleported, or any number of things a unicorn, or any other magic-wielding creature, might try.

Masters can still eat food they could before their transformation, however, it will lack flavor until their first meal of magic. Additionally, masters can and do sleep but it is far less than what most ponies go through so they seem to be awake all the time. They can move about day and night, but these times affect them in different ways.

During both day and night, masters have a great deal of control over their physical appearance. Their vampire form includes bat-like wings, red eyes, and fangs. This appearance comes more naturally to them at night, but it is hardly a constant. Each one of these features can revert with ease to the master's preference, and interestingly, the preferences seem to have a natural scale of their own. 

Masters rarely use their bat-like wings for actual flight, even though they are fully capable, and instead use them for show more than anything. These wings are the largest and most obvious visual cue to communicate to other ponies that masters really and truly are vampires, or at least a different creature than a normal pegasus. Regardless, the bat-like wings are actually on display the least amount of time compared to other vampire features.

The red eyes are next in line, middle in size of this set of features, and serve as the main activation point for a master's magic. Such magic can include consumed or exchanged magic in the reserve or the natural mev magic used to enchant onlookers. Unlike the wings, this feature tends to be active and visible based on practical use rather than for show. 

Finally, there are the fangs, the smallest of these physically visible vampire features. Masters like to wear their fangs at night. It has nothing to do with when they might need or want to use them or for any kind of visual cue but rather, a natural inclination to subtly assert their vampire status to themselves. The fangs are helpfully tucked away behind their muzzle most of the time. Additionally, masters can transform their fangs in length and number though, like the bat-wings, that action is more for show.

This magic used to control their appearance is part of mev magic and has no impact on the reserve. If not already obvious, masters prefer looking like a regular pegasus most of the time, except for fangs at night. 

During the day, master mevs only eat magic from living things with consent from their meals before feeding, and their hunger is not as strong as it is at night. They find it easier to match the expected behavior of other ponies and act as they did before transforming.

At night, they are more hungry and will eat without consent from their meals if they are in a berserk state or even desperately hoping to prevent a berserk the next night. They also might do this on their first night without understanding their new form and wishing to satisfy their hunger as their body and mind are still adjusting. While consent doesn't need to be considered at night the way it does during the day, it usually is, especially if the master is well fed through a full pack.

Master mevs relish in their power and can even sense and feed off of fear. They are not inherently evil creatures, but their night-time behavior can certainly leave that impression. They do like being vampires after all. This seemingly evil nature is far more style than substance, except during a berserk. It includes, and is by no means limited to, bombastic laughter, devilish grins, hisses, snarls, and wide-eyed thrills. It even has a name: nocturnivlair, a combination of the words "nocturnal", "evil", and "flair" respectively.

Berserk states are extremely dangerous and should be avoided as much as possible. During them, masters are not invincible, but they are very close. Magic triggering the berserk specifically aids the master in escape from containment to ensure the master eats the required magic. A berserk master still must eat at least one meal of magic from a living creature during the night their berserk is active, preferably unicorn, to prevent a berserk the following night. However, they will not stop after one meal. They will continue to seek food from living creatures, mostly unicorns, until a genuine sunrise.

Masters can recognize and speak with fledglings while berserk, however, there is little else to be done. They are not interested in an exchange of magic but consumption of it and, upon recognizing the fledgling as a member of the pack, will consider the fledgling not a meal and seek food elsewhere.

Because masters deal with managing a reserve and magic in general, they also do business with other magical creatures. As such, there is much power in the use of the word "master" itself when dealing with this type of mev. The title holds value for the pack, so the fledglings use it on instinct unless directed otherwise. Other creatures with titles and knowledge will also address the master by title. It tells the master they are respected, eases tension, and once a master has formed a full pack, will even give outsider creatures a very faint feel of power that they enjoy though barely recognize.

Masters do not expect or need to be addressed by title every time you speak with them, however, it is generally a good practice. They are more accommodating to business when respected and will use respectful titles in response.

To Outsiders:

Mevs should be feared but not avoided if you find yourself unexpectedly confronted with one, especially the master type. Chances are you will never recognize a fledgling for what they are unless they make it known and even then, they are no doubt performing a task at the master's request.

Adults should never flee from a master mev. It is seen as an invitation to attack. Masters do enjoy themselves a game of cat and mouse, however short-lived it may be.

If you encounter a hungry master mev, provided they are not berserk, first call them by their title with a polite tone of voice and bow. Speak slowly and with good enunciation. Include their name if you know it. This act will calm them down and help them think clearly in conversation. Then see if you are willing to give up your magic for a week or make arrangements with another magical creature to do so with their informed consent. Masters will not hesitate to bite you if they sense deception. If the master is not hungry, you have nothing to worry about though, again, addressing them by title will only benefit you both. Regardless, they are probably approaching you for information to aid them in their work, so it is best to answer them honestly, fulfill any request within your ability, and then move on with your day or night once dismissed.

In the event you do encounter a berserk master mev and are conscious before being bit, make eye contact to minimize any sense of pain. Their vampire eyes will be visible with their enchantment activated. You will actually enjoy being bit and only regret the price. You can even try to use the word "master" during this encounter for an extra thrill. Unlike their usual state, the word will not calm the master mev down. They do, however, like it and so will you. Regardless of this unexpected effect, do not encourage a berserk state. They are for an emergency only.

Miscellaneous notes:
Mev packs prefer discretion when possible.
Master mevs will not bite children, even when berserk.
> Chapter 03 - The First Meal
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







The morning after reading the book Fluttershy gave her, Rainbow Dash walked next to her wisteria-colored alicorn friend, Twilight Sparkle. "Feeling back to normal?" Twilight asked as they worked their way toward her castle's dining room.

"Mostly," Rainbow admitted. "Like the book said, I liked wearing my fangs at night, and this morning, I was way more cool with pulling them back into regular teeth. I can still do it either way, but during the day, I'm more comfortable as a pegasus. I'm not as hungry for magic. I'd still take it if somepony offered, but I'm not scared I'm about to pounce and tear into your neck just being within a few feet of you."

"Thanks?" Twilight said with an uncertain tone.

"You're welcome," Rainbow said proudly. "Tank still looks at me like I'm me, but then, he didn't wake up until after sunrise. I do feel different between day and night," the sky blue pegasus explained.

"Did you sleep at all?" Twilight wondered.

"Only twenty minutes," Rainbow answered.

They arrived at the door, and it swung open.

"Twilight and Fluttershy said you've become a mev: a magic eating vampire!" Pinkie Pie bounced in front of Rainbow with a smile before bouncing away into her seat.

"We have a lot to discuss," Twilight told everyone as she found her seat, "after breakfast."

Rainbow saw that Fluttershy, Applejack, and Rarity were all present already and quietly sitting, watching her. Every seat had a stack of pancakes ready to be eaten, so once Rainbow joined the table in the last empty chair, the others dug in. Rainbow stared at her Pinkie-prepared stack almost as if she weren't sure what to do with it.

"Something wrong?" Rarity asked. "Besides you know...that thing."

"Food isn't the same anymore," Rainbow admitted. She took a bite, chewed, and swallowed. "I can't really taste this right now."

"Oh no, what do you mean? I can make it better somehow!" Pinkie offered.

Rainbow shook her head. "It's fine. If I can start eating my new real food, the taste will come back."

"My my," Rarity noted.

They finished their meal and went to have a meeting in the throne room. 

"Before I explain more," Twilight said. "Rainbow, I want you to," she paused to clear her throat, "demonstrate a couple of things for us if you don't mind."

"I'm guessing the first thing is the full vampire form," Rainbow said.

Twilight nodded.

Rainbow lifted herself to fly and land on the table. She transformed and spread out her bat-like wings. She looked at each friend and opened her mouth to plainly show the fangs, from Twilight to Applejack to Rarity to Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy too even though Fluttershy saw it already.

Applejack and Rarity nervously swallowed but said nothing otherwise. 

"What's it feel like?" asked a curious Pinkie. "It can't be all bad if you can do it whenever you want and still talk to us."

"It feels good," Rainbow admitted, "even better at night though I actually prefer to be a pegasus most of the time still. What's the other thing, Twilight?"

"I'm going to try casting magic on you, just lift you off the table," Twilight said.

Rainbow nodded in compliance.

"Move closer to your seat so I can see," Pinkie said.

Rainbow rolled her eyes but did as asked. She still stood on the table but closer to her own throne, so all the ponies could see the magic attempt from Twilight more easily. She and the other girls watched as the magenta aura appeared on Twilight's horn and shorted out.

"Maybe don't try the whole body," Rarity advised. "Just her front mane scraps. That's easy and light."

Twilight nodded and still failed.

"You try too," Applejack suggested to the white unicorn.

Rarity nodded. Her blue aura appeared and shorted out, failing as well.

"Thanks Rainbow," Twilight said. "That's enough to confirm a couple of things we read in the book. Girls, listen up. We have a lot to tell you." 

Twilight then explained a large part of what Rainbow read the night before. All became contemplative.

"So, she should probably get six fledglings then?" Applejack figured aloud.

"I don't know," Twilight confessed. "The fledglings are outright servants to the master, but they need to have a strong bond. It'd have to be somepony like us. Do any of you want to be her servant?"

"I do! I do!" Pinkie Pie volunteered. "I don't mind. I'd make a great fledgling. Oh wait, does this same thing happen to us with food?"

"No, just me. I take on a lot of that load. Look, the whole master and servant thing is weird, but the book says that bond is specific to the pack," Rainbow explained. "It's not like I'm going to start barking orders for you girls to start washing my dishes or bringing me apple cider at my beck and call. It's just...it's a job, alright? I've been picked for a job and just like we all help out Twilight with the map and now the school, this job suggests friends in my pack. I'm in charge for that. Even if they are my servants, as the master, I have an obligation to them too. It's not all take and no give. The regular exchange of magic makes everyone, including the fledglings, stronger."

"Do the fledglings need fledglings?" Applejack asked.

"Not their own fledglings, more like the connection through the pack," Rainbow said. "If they don't feed once a week, they do feel weaker at night but are fine during the day. Even though it's not in the book, I'm betting that the ideal pack number eases that weakness. I'm the only one at risk of going berserk."

"Oh," Pinkie Pie thought. "That night weakness is a bit of a downer," she realized. 

"It's only if we miss," Rainbow defended.

"I don't mind," Fluttershy offered. "I could do it. My nights are pretty easy to deal with, and I've known Rainbow for so long...I'm sure I can do it. I could be part of her pack." She and Rainbow Dash exchanged quick, small smiles to each other.

"And if you can get to six, I'm in then and there!" Pinkie Pie declared.

"If we count that as two, four to go," Twilight noted for all to track.

"How about you Rarity?" Rainbow asked.

"Hmm, well like Pinkie Pie, once you reach your magical number of six and assuming indeed this master and servant thing is how you describe it...you know what I find acceptable I trust."

Rainbow raised an eyebrow for a moment before smiling and nodding. "Of course." So long as she let Rarity be Rarity, it'd be fine. "Sort of halfway with our two if we get the right number. Applejack?"

"You sure about this pack bond thingamajig?" Applejack asked.

"Pretty sure," Rainbow replied. "I don't exactly have any fledglings yet to test it out on. The book says that's how it's supposed to be, and my instincts agree."

"Hmm, well, I reckon somepony else will have a turn before me so we can find out then," Applejack determined.

"Fair enough," Rainbow conceded. If nothing else, she at least had Fluttershy in her corner, so that was one assured test besides the required first unicorn. Fluttershy was much more assertive about saying no to any random request that came her way now.

Everyone looked to Twilight. "I...don't know...I want to think about it. Since I'm an alicorn, then things could be different. The book didn't have anything about alicorns at all."

"Well, maybe I could feed off you once to see if the recovery time is faster since you're a different type of pony with special powers," the mev suggested. "I still need to eat, or I'll get a lot worse. Counting last night as my first day, I only have six more nights before I need something."

"Let's do that experiment later," Twilight suggested. "We could ask Starlight. I don't know how she'd feel, but it's worth a shot. She's bound to be back from her breakfast with Trixie by now. I haven't had a chance to tell her the news."

"I'm cool with that. If she agrees and you and Applejack come around, we're actually all set," Rainbow stated.

Applejack and Twilight exchanged looks and said nothing before Twilight eventually decided, "Let's have me and Rainbow talk to Starlight first. We need to know if we can count her. Everyone else, stay here."





"Sure, I'll do it," Starlight agreed where she stood, facing a standing Twilight and a hovering nearby Rainbow Dash in the unicorn's own room in the castle.

"What?" Twilight asked in disbelief. Her pupil took this far more easily than Twilight herself did.

"Of course. Think about it. If you get to six, it's a cinch," Starlight pointed out. "If not, you have a real vampire running around Equestria who might really take my magic for an entire week instead of zero days. Better to nip this in the bud. Rainbow's not even that different so long as she actually gets fed, right?"

"Well, yes, I suppose," Twilight admitted with a mild lament in her voice.

"You're awesome!" Rainbow hovered down and closed in to hug Starlight.

Starlight blushed, and Rainbow let go, returning to her hovering state next to Twilight. "That means you're all set then right?" the lilac unicorn asked. "Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy, plus me, you're already there.”

Rainbow folded her forelimbs and looked to Twilight with a smirk.

"What? I don't get it." Starlight looked to Rainbow Dash, then to Twilight, then to Rainbow Dash, before finally settling on Twilight yet again. "Wait, don't tell me you're hesitating," Starlight realized.

"Well..." Twilight's voice trailed off.

"Twilight, she's your friend. Everything you two just told me screams this is something you should do to help her. Why wouldn't you do it?" Starlight argued.

"Because...I'm an alicorn. The one book we found on the subject of mevs doesn't even mention alicorns, like we didn't exist back then or at least that masters didn't deal with us at all. I'm just afraid of what that might mean," Twilight confessed.

"As a fellow expert on magic, I can tell you that it means you'd help Rainbow make a really strong pack. If you're so scared, just let her eat your magic now and see what happens. I'll bet you ten bits the worst that happens is you recover twice as fast as a unicorn would. I'll be here and still have my magic. If one of us still has magic, we can get through the recovery time. The sooner Rainbow has her first meal, the better. Don't forget. You can start doing research that the book you have doesn't cover. First ever alicorn feed for a master mev. This whole thing is a brand new experience to be thoroughly documented and researched.” Starlight winked over at Rainbow Dash before flashing an enthusiastic grin and nod at Twilight.

Twilight looked up to her hovering friend.

“Gotta admit, Twi, she makes a strong case,” Rainbow noted.

“You're just saying that to eat my magic,” the wisteria alicorn pointed out sharply.

“Mm, not denying I want it, but you know...it's still true," the sky blue pegasus mev replied. "All that stuff sounds like stuff you'd want to do. You didn't sound against the idea earlier."

Starlight pressed further. "Among the Elements of Harmony, you are the Element of Magic, and one of your best friends is chosen by the land itself to be this master mev that can reserve and manage magic. That's probably not a coincidence. Doesn't the Tree of Harmony link to the land too? "

Twilight brought a hoof to her face in thought and frustration. She exhaled slowly. "Fine. Let me have Spike help check my schedule first. I need to make sure I can manage a week without magic."

The three ponies left Starlight's room, stopped by the throne room to relay the plan to the other girls, eventually entered the library, and saw Spike working. At the sight of them, he said, "Oh Rainbow Dash. The others said you became a magic eating vampire. Is that true?"

Rainbow hovered in place and reached up to massage the back of her mane with slight nervousness. "Yeah, it happened last night."

"You don't look any different," he remarked.

"That's part of the mev magic to help me blend in. I can change my appearance during the day or night,” she explained. “Oh and that includes this.” She planted herself on the floor and showed her wing change. "Strange option but kinda cool. I still prefer the feathered look. Even the book I read about it said the bat wings are mostly for show."

"If you need another fledgling, I could do it," Spike offered.

"Spike, no, you can't!" Twilight hissed.

"Why not?" he wondered. "I may not be a unicorn, but I have magic. I'm sure Rainbow would still let me be your assistant."

"That's nice and all Spike, but kids are off-limits for mevs," Rainbow explained. "I'm pretty sure a fledgling has to be a pony anyway. Twilight's right. You really and truly can't."

"Really and truly?" Spike asked wistfully.

Rainbow nodded. "A real shame too. I bet dragon magic would be great. Still, we could actually really use your help as Twilight's assistant right now," she urged.

"Oh?" Spike perked up at being useful nonetheless.

"I need the schedule for the next seven days," Twilight told him. Off he went to aid her.

Rainbow hovered and flew around at a small pace as she waited for the other three to pore over the schedule to see if Twilight could manage seven days without magic.

"Okay then," Twilight considered aloud. "I guess Starlight was right. It's much better to try it now rather than later."

"Yes!" said an excited Rainbow Dash, flying upward in a loop of excitement and landing on the library floor. 

"As in, right now?" Spike asked. "I thought vampires ate at night."

"Different type of vampire," Rainbow told him. "How about you and Starlight wait outside?" she suggested. "It's our first time," she playfully fluttered her eyes with a raspy whisper.

Spike and Starlight stifled laughs as they walked out. "Right, of course," Spike replied, shifting into a more serious and apprehensive mindset.

With the library door shutting behind those two, Rainbow Dash stood for a moment and closed her eyes, letting her fangs grow before re-opening them to eye her meal with now red eyes.

"Be careful," Twilight spoke a nervous request. The look on Rainbow's face was a familiar one, the smirk she used when presented with a challenge her competitive streak enjoyed.

"It's going to be fine," Rainbow said, her raspy voice became gentle, and she could sense herself instinctively activating the enchantment in her eyes. She felt the alicorn ensnared to her pleasure, as if she had all the power to pull the trapped creature closer into her by a single, masterful command. Of course, that was not necessary given she already stood close, her mouth brushing against Twilight's neck. She let out a small breath, and Twilight felt excited chills over her whole body. Rainbow bit in and felt the glorious sensation of the magic she'd been hungry for since the previous night at last filling her. She sucked it in for a brief time. 

For Twilight, the bite and drain were also a pleasure, no doubt part of the powers her transformed friend now possessed. 

Once Rainbow finished, the source of her meal fell gently to the floor. The bite marks healed so fast on their own that she never even saw them. No blood drained from one pony to the other, only the magic. The vampire wiped her mouth with her right forelimb, staring down with a blank expression before her lips curled into a smile. "Not bad for a first time, not bad at all."

Alicorn magic was quite delicious indeed. She hoped Twilight would eventually agree to join her pack, what an enticing weekly meal. Rainbow pressed her ear up to the fallen Twilight, and she was able to hear a heartbeat and breathing. The mev herself breathed a sigh of relief and flew to the door, opening it for the awaiting purple dragon and lilac unicorn.

"That was fast!" Starlight exclaimed. "Did it work? Is she okay?"

"Yeah, it worked. She's alive and asleep. The book doesn't talk about this part at all, but I think she only sleeps for an hour, more or less," Rainbow said.

"Spike, start a timer so we'll know," Starlight told the dragon assistant. "Rainbow, what makes you think that's how it's going to be?"

"Just a kind of gut feeling, and said gut also says it's part of my powers as a master mev," Rainbow replied.
> Chapter 04 - Waiting to Start the Pack
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Twilight Sparkle opened her eyes and stared up at the ceiling of her bedroom. She rubbed her head in thought and gasped upon remembering the morning's earlier events. She lifted herself out of bed with her wings, stared at them, and placed herself on the floor. "Whew," she said. 

"Twilight, you're up!" said Spike, mildly startling the wisteria alicorn princess. Sitting next to an empty hourglass on a small table, he marked something down on a scroll. "That's great. Everyone's still in the throne room waiting. Rainbow said she thought you would sleep for an hour, and we all wanted to see if that was true since it might be part of her new powers. For the record, she was right."

At first, Twilight didn't say anything. Curious, she tried lifting a pillow from her bed with her magic. Nothing happened. She tried again. Still nothing. She tried a third time with all her mental might and still, the pillow did not move.

"So no magic, huh?" Spike observed. He could tell from her expression what she was trying to do.

"No unicorn magic," Twilight noted. "I can still fly apparently." She sighed. "Okay, let's go talk to everyone. I want to see Rainbow myself."

With that, the two made their way to the throne room where the girls were chatting and what little Twilight picked up had nothing to do with mevs. At noticing her entrance, everyone stopped talking and paused. Rainbow swooped down to hover in front of her. "Hey, look who the purple dragon dragged in. How you feeling, Twi?"

Twilight relayed what she and Spike learned only a moment ago while walking to her designated throne. Rainbow herself remained in the air but hovered near her own throne as well.

"So, does that mean anything?" Pinkie asked.

Twilight looked at Rainbow to see if the pegasus wished to answer first. Indeed, the mev replied, "I think there are different types of magic. Unicorn magic is supposed to be my main source of food if I don't have a pack. Plus, I'm really new, like kind of a baby in terms of being a master mev. So...it's like...like an instinct to draw that out."

"But you could draw out other types on purpose once you're older?" Fluttershy asked.

Rainbow nodded. "Yeah, I think so. All of it, even."

"What do you mean, all of it?" Applejack asked, growing a tad apprehensive.

"Flight from pegasi, strength from earth ponies, cutie mark from anypony who has one, well, except for kids and friendship magic, all of it. Everything Tirek could do to us...I'll eventually be able to do it as well...for a week." She tried and failed to smile at the small comfort of the condition being so temporary.

"Could...could you ever take it away longer than that?" Rarity wondered.

Rainbow put a hoof up to her chin and thought. "I don't know."

"No magical gut feeling to tell you?" Starlight asked.

At that, Rainbow brought her hoof down and quickly replied, "My gut tells me worrying about stuff like that is a waste of time, and I should keep my focus on forming a pack."

"Oh, maybe Dashie needs a pack to do it longer then, huh?" Pinkie offered.

Everyone looked at Rainbow who said nothing.

"I guess that would make sense," Twilight considered.

"Girls, I'm telling you-the question doesn't even matter," Rainbow insisted. "Who's magic would I even want to take away for longer than a week?" she asked rhetorically.

"A baddie!" Pinkie Pie offered. "You know, like how you just said Tirek. Wouldn't you want his magic gone like forever?"

"Could you even do that?" Starlight asked. "I'd think you would cancel each other out or something since your abilities are so similar."

Rainbow face-hoofed in frustration and groaned. "Sorry. I. Asked."

"Everyone, please." Fluttershy spoke up. "We're overwhelming her. Rainbow just got done telling us she's like a baby. A cute, cuddly, fanged, different-kind-of-wings-whenever-she-wants baby," Fluttershy lifted herself up with a smile. "Such a fascinating creature," she cooed.

Still hovering above her own throne, Rainbow rolled her eyes with an ever so subtle upward curve to her lips.

"Ahem," Fluttershy realized her excitement getting the better of her and floated back down to her seat. "These questions are worth considering, but they aren't things we need to worry about right now."

Everyone sighed. 

"Sorry," Pinkie Pie muttered.

"It's alright," Rainbow said. "Thanks Fluttershy."

Fluttershy nodded. "No problem."

"So, if we aren't going to worry about all that but the pack thing instead, what's next?" Applejack asked.

Rainbow told them all, "Starlight and I both have a theory that Twilight might actually recover faster than a unicorn because she's an alicorn. So, I'm thinking we wait three days and see if that's true. If it is, then I'd like to try making my first fledgling. She has to be a unicorn."

All eyes fell on Starlight and Rarity. 

"And if she isn't recovered by then?" Rarity asked.

"Give it another two days. By that fifth night...same plan. We want to save a little bit of leeway and not push the berserk to the limit," Rainbow said

"Oh, this is so exciting!" Pinkie Pie bounced. "Which one of you is going to be the first fledgling?" she asked the two unicorn friends with an eager smile.

"I think Rainbow and Fluttershy make some really good points," Rarity said. "Let's take baby steps and just wait out these three days first. We can sort out a first fledgling thing later. Do remember Pinkie, I'd want Rainbow to have six ponies willing to be in the pack and so far, Twilight and Applejack are still not sure. Right, girls?"

"Well, to be honest, despite my lack of unicorn magic, I feel in otherwise good shape and all the better if I do recover faster. I am sure I'll be joining you all but as the last in the group. That just feels proper," Twilight said.

Applejack gave it a last bit of thought before saying "Alright, count me in, I'm sure we'll still manage to keep Rainbow in line, somehow." She winked upward.

Rainbow chuckled mischievously, rubbing her hooves together.

"Rainbow!" Fluttershy said in a shushing tone as if to put the pegasus to shame.

"Oh come on, that moment was too perfect to pass up. I'm a vampire now! You know you love it, Little Miss Ex-Vampire," Rainbow playfully responded.

Everyone laughed. Fluttershy blushed and could not help smiling.





Rainbow Dash's first meal as a master mev happened on a Saturday morning. After Twilight woke up, and they agreed to who all would be in her pack, the ponies further agreed they wanted a break from the whole vampire business and to go about enjoying this day as they originally planned. Twilight, Starlight, and Spike would attend to Twilight's princess duties at the castle. Rarity had some creative ideas she wanted to work on at her boutique where Sweetie Bell was visiting. Applejack had chores to take care of with her family on the farm. Fluttershy would go to her cottage to take care of her critters and have a picnic. Rainbow had a Wonderbolts show, and it was blissfully uneventful, aside from of course being an event itself.

Later that afternoon before sunset, the group attended a surprise birthday party Pinkie Pie threw for her sister Maud, who it turned out only liked such parties because they made Pinkie happy. At Maud's boyfriend's suggestion, Pinkie set the party up, with Starlight's help, so that a cardboard version of Maud would be given the surprise while Maud, her boyfriend Mud Briar, and Pinkie watched from atop a hill at a distance. Rainbow and Twilight appeared for a bit to mingle, and both left early, at different times, returning to their homes.

Rainbow spent some time with Tank and found one of the many open windows in her house to set him on the floor. She sat on her haunches in his line of sight. "Hey buddy, I have something to tell you and show you. The sun is almost set," she peered out the chosen window and watched the sun dip under the horizon. Her fangs grew, and she allowed her eyes to turn red. She kept her feathered wings. Rainbow looked at Tank, so he could see the new color of her irises. Her mouth remained closed.

Tank blinked and reached out to touch her. When he did, he fearfully pulled his head back into his shell and his limb back toward himself.

She nodded though pained. "Yeah, that's fair. I have changed into something. Something that can be kinda scary, depending on who you are. You're my pal though, my pet, and I don't want this thing that I've become, it's called a 'master mev', to come between us. I still love you. I'll still feed you, and my house is still your home. I'll take care of you like I've been doing. I hope you can get used to this new me. I'm warming up to it now that my friends have a plan to help me."

Tank poked his head out and touched her again, staring quietly up at her with a slow, slow blink and a slow, slow nod that she said what needed to be said. He'd still feel safe in her care, even with two red eyes and two sharp teeth.

"The fangs are a night thing," Rainbow Dash told him. She showed him the iris color shift from red to magenta, pointing at her eyes with her right hoof. "Think of it like vampire red and pegasus magenta," she said. "They'll be magenta most of the time, even at night."

Tank nodded in understanding the difference.

Rainbow reached out a hoof for him to bump, which he did.

Night finished its arrival, and Rainbow tucked Tank in for bed. After that, she stood outside her cloud house, looking at the landscape spread beneath her, trying to decide what to do. She could fly just as she did the previous first night of course, but she needed more options. A thought occurred to her. She went back in her house and grabbed her saddlebags, then concentrated for a moment. Her red eyes surfaced. She teleported herself to right at the front door of Twilight's castle. "Easy peasy lemon squeezy," she muttered. She knocked at the door.

"Rainbow Dash!" Starlight answered with a welcoming smile. "What are you doing here?"

"Is Twilight still up?" Rainbow asked.

"That she is. Spike's the only one asleep here. Come on in. We're in the library. What brings you back so soon and so late?" Starlight walked as Rainbow hovered next to her down the long hallway.

"Boredom," Rainbow confessed. "I just realized I need something to do at night when most ponies are asleep, but I'm not. Irony of ironies, I was using the night to get more fly time, heh heh, but I can only fly so much to fill up all this new extra time. " 

"You don't sleep anymore?" Starlight asked.

"More like not as much, enough that it could definitely seem that way to anypony who doesn't know better," the master mev explained. "Figured maybe I'd borrow some books. Reading at night is easy enough, just need to find the right thing to read about."

"Need some ideas?" Starlight offered.

"Sure," Rainbow agreed.

"I think you should read about magic now that you have this sort of job about it. Even though you won't be using it much, you should understand it for when you do or have to balance it out," the lilac unicorn suggested.

"I don't know, seems a little boring," Rainbow hesitated. "Then again, the book did indicate master mevs could use magic to learn it," she admitted.

Starlight chuckled. "Magic is not boring."

"Well, perhaps not for a unicorn with the strongest magic ever and able to do it whenever, but...that's not me," Rainbow lamented.

"No, but you are friends with that unicorn," Starlight winked. "I'll be one of your vampire servants, right? Maybe I could make it more interesting for you. We'll study together. I'll be your Magic Mentor!"

"If you can find the time, sure," Rainbow noted quietly with a small smile.

"Oh, the fledglings still sleep like regular ponies?" Starlight asked.

"To be honest, I don't know," the pegasus figure said. "We'll find out soon enough."

The two finally reached the door to the library and entered.

Starlight explained everything Rainbow just did to Twilight. Both Twilight and Starlight eventually gave Rainbow two books each that they recommended for a beginner level of understanding unicorn magic.

"Anything else to help fill your extra night time?" Twilight asked. "I'm glad to see you read more and expand your horizons of course, but I know you also might need some kind of physical stimulation perhaps. Besides flying more quietly than you would during the day of course."

"Well...would it be alright if I used the school gym for that?" Rainbow asked. "I have stuff at home, but it'll be a nice change of pace with a little more room and more equipment."

Twilight blinked and considered. "Alright but just you know...be quiet. The students are trying to sleep."

"Will do," Rainbow said with a salute.

The pegasus mev waved them good-bye. She flew home instead of teleporting since the initial one had been a test to see if she could do it at all. Rainbow assumed that it was either part of her new powers or a power gained through eating Twilight's magic since Twilight herself had mastered teleportation. Maybe beginner magic lessons could help her figure out which was true.

She filled her night with reading and eventually two hours of sleep before reading some more before sunrise. It didn't truly answer her main question of the night though her own theory developed that it was an innate power once she had at least some unicorn magic in her. She could not have done it her first night as a mev.





Sunday morning brought about another team meeting at Twilight's castle. They prepared to discuss a very delicate and difficult situation, just how much should others know about Rainbow now being a master mev. In particular, they were thinking of their students.

"Maybe not announce it, but if anypony asks, we should tell them the truth," Applejack stated. "We're literally teaching the students honesty, me especially, so you can't go asking me to hide it."

"But it is rather easy to hide it right now, Twilight's condition notwithstanding," Rarity replied. "Plus, it's not like she has to announce to her students that she can't use magic for a few days."

"What do you mean?" asked Twilight.

"Spike's always with you, right? And Starlight's offered to help with whatever you might need that requires unicorn magic. Perhaps have Starlight assist you as well for any situations where you see magic as a necessity. From what I've seen of your classes, they are rather straight-forward lectures involving chalkboards and books and every manner of things that an earth pony teacher like Cheerilee does even without assistants. You're not teaching them unicorn magic; you're teaching them friendship magic. Rainbow didn't take that from you. Just don't draw attention to it," the white unicorn advised.

"And if somebody asks?" Twilight wondered.

"Twilight, how often are you asked, ‘why don't you lift it with your horn instead of your mouth or hoof or tail?', hmm?" Rarity prodded.

"Right," Twilight realized. Indeed, ponies rarely posed such questions since a unicorn horn was not everything to a given unicorn, even if some, like Twilight and Starlight, excelled at magic in particular. "I guess I never even thought of how often we watch each other on that. Somepony might notice, but it is rather rude to comment on."

Applejack reminded everyone, "These are kids we're dealing with, so some of them might be more willing to be rude. We can't have Twilight lying to them about it. We still gotta prepare. What if they ask still?"

"Well, you're the Element of Honesty, you tell us," Rainbow Dash challenged. "Can Twilight say something like she's sick or doing an experiment and NOT talk about being bit by a mev? Is it dishonest to leave that part out?"

After several tense, silent moments, Applejack finally admitted, "Reckon it is. That part's mighty important."

"But..." Starlight started. She stood between Twilight's throne and Applejack's.

"All of you are overthinking this," Spike piped in. "Go ahead and tell them if they ask. We live in Equestria, in Ponyville near both Canterlot and the Everfree forest at that. Lots of weird, magical things happen around here. It'll just be another part of the background to them. This castle was a big deal when it first grew, but now it's just part of how things are here. Seriously, I know we like to think we're special and important, but your students have lives outside of you. I know, and I won't be in your pack. I'm still here. A lot of the students are now used to having non-ponies as classmates at the school too. Really, it's just another day in Ponyville."

"Oh Spike, I'm so proud of you for that speech," Twilight clapped her hooves together.

"You don't think it will cause a panic?" Fluttershy asked. "I'd be scared about a vampire that could eat my magic too."

"Fluttershy, you are literally sitting right next to one," Spike pointed out.

By this point, Rainbow's chin was resting on a hoof while she listened and thought. Her eyes darted in Fluttershy's direction. She playfully raised her eyebrows a couple of times with a devilish smirk and blew a flirtatious kiss.

Fluttershy stifled a giggle before looking back towards Spike, who sat to Rainbow's left in his own seat. "Yeah, but that's different. I know Rainbow."

"The students know Rainbow too!" Spike insisted.

"Not like I do!" Fluttershy argued.

"Okay, settle down you two," Rainbow chuckled, straightening her posture. "The book says mev packs prefer discretion and that's nice and all, but Spike made good points. Plus, I'm not exactly the type to be discrete if you catch my drift."

"That you're a show-off," Applejack said.

"That you're beautiful rainbow mane and tail call attention to you quite easily," Rarity remarked.

"That you're loud and obnoxious like me," Pinkie giggle-snorted.

"That you're a Wonderbolt," Twilight added.

"See, you girls get it, except for Pinkie Pie..." She stuck her tongue out at the friend in question. "Maybe."

Pinkie Pie giggled again.

"Speaking of the Wonderbolts…." Fluttershy started. "Are you going to tell them?"

"It didn't come up during the show yesterday. This thing has no effect on my ability to fly better or worse so no, I'm not telling them, unless they ask. At least not yet," Rainbow decided.

"Yet…?" Fluttershy wondered.

Rainbow sighed. "I'll tell them when I'm done forming my pack. Then hopefully they won't kick me out for being different or not telling them right away."

A moment of tension.

Finally, Twilight broke it. "What about the fledglings?"

"Same idea," Rainbow said. "Tell whoever asks. I can't imagine we keep it that much of a secret when I have to meet each of you once a week at night anyway. Even if it only takes a couple of minutes, some of you have other ponies around. You already told Princess Celestia, right?"

Twilight nodded. "She's the one who gave me the book. She also explained that she informed Princess Luna since your more vampiric tendencies happen at night."

"I think the main ponies who should know about me know then. Everything else is just us trying to practice what we preach," Rainbow stated.

The meeting was pretty much over at that point, so Sunday passed in much the same way Saturday did.
> Chapter 05 - The Fear Snare
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







On Monday, Twilight lectured her class with a slide show and passing out worksheets with Spike's assistance. She'd practiced at home with a chalkboard and mouth or hooves only to realize her writing was notably messy and certainly enough to stand out compared to these other options now in use. Most of the students didn't notice, but one of them did, one of the students new to Ponyville and not a pony at all. Ocellus eyed her teacher's behavior carefully.

"What's up?" Gallus asked her. "You seeing something the rest of us don't? You're watching Twilight like a hawk."

"I'll tell you all during lunch," she muttered.

So during their lunch break, the Student Six gathered around and listened in. "Have any of you noticed that Headmare Twilight is not using any magic today?" Ocellus asked in a low tone of voice.

"Not until you said it just now," Silverstream realized.

"That is weird," Smolder said thoughtfully.

"Aw, I wouldn't worry about it," Sandbar told them with a casual air.

"Why not?" Yona asked.

"Because she isn't, and none of the other teachers are. They know what's up, whatever it is. Weird things happen in Ponyville all the time, and our teachers have been around to handle a lot of them."

"Are any of the others acting weird?" Gallus asked. "Professor Rarity used her magic in class without any problems."

"All our teachers act weird already," Yona muttered, soon followed by an amused, friendly smile at the idea.

"Weird for them then," Gallus said. "I mean, what if they're just trying to save face about whatever is wrong but actually need help."

"We should ask Professor Applejack. She's the Element of Honesty," Silverstream suggested confidently and with authority.

"Maybe we should just ask Headmare Twilight ourselves," Ocellus figured.

"But dudes, that is so rude to do to any unicorn and even worse for an alicorn princess," Sandbar said.

"But what if something is seriously wrong?" Smolder pointed out, echoing Gallus' concern.

"I'll ask her," Gallus offered. "You all come back me up, but I'll do the asking. How's that?"

The others nodded in agreement.

Just then, Rainbow Dash flew nearby. 

"Or we could ask Professor Dash since she right there," Yona said. It was just loud enough for Rainbow to hear.

"Hmm?" She turned her head and flew just above where they all sat. "What's the scoop?"

"Nice going Yona," grumbled Gallus. 

They all avoided their sky blue pegasus teacher's gaze as she stayed hovering slightly above them.

"O...K. I'm going back to flying now," Rainbow said slowly.

"Professor Dash," Ocellus said before the teacher left hearing range.

Rainbow paused and looked at the young changeling.

"Have you noticed anything wrong with Headmare Twilight today?" Ocellus wondered.

"Wrong?" Rainbow blinked and asked as innocently as she could.

"She's not using magic," Ocellus explained.

"Yeah, well, there's no rule that anyone with a magical horn has to use it every day. I don't see what's wrong with that," the still hovering teacher pointed out.

They all looked at each other, then Gallus. The young griffon finally added, "We were just worried that something in general is wrong. I mean, is there a reason she's not using magic? She didn't lose it, did she?"

Rainbow tapped a hoof to her chin. "How can I explain this?"

"So you do know what's wrong!" said an eager Ocellus.

"Whoa, all of you, you need to stop with the whole 'wrong' thing, okay?" Rainbow urged. "Just chill. Something is different, but it's not wrong. Twilight knows what's going on, and so do I. She's fine, alright. Some stuff happened this weekend, and we're working on it, but everything's fine. It's also kinda personal and between friends. Got it?"

"Sorry, Professor Dash," Ocellus said, hanging her head as if ashamed.

"No, it's fine. Let me chill for a moment too." The pegasus teacher flapped her wings, tapped her hoof to her chest, waited a moment or two, and then spoke. "I know you all mean well."

"So, it's some kind of secret?" Silverstream asked. "We certainly didn't mean to intrude."

Rainbow shook her head. She sighed. "Fine. I'll tell you, alright? Better you hear it from me than anyone else. Come on. My gym is clear at the moment. You might not believe me without a little demonstration."

Intrigued at Rainbow focusing on her having a role in the matter when they were all concerned about Twilight, the Student Six followed. Once in the gym, the students all stood on the floor in a row. Sandbar was the student furthest on one end to the group's overall right. Their line went onto Yona, then Smolder, then Silverstream, then Ocellus, then Gallus to be the final student on the end to the group's left.

"First, a question for the six of you," Rainbow paced back and forth in a hover. "Have any of you ever heard of mevs?"

"What are mevs?" Gallus asked aloud to everyone else.

The others all shrugged or shook their heads just as clueless as he was.

Rainbow descended to land centered in front of the group. "Yeah, neither had any of us." She cleared her throat and took a few steps back, adding some distance. She closed her magenta eyes and coiled her wings to her sides. Her audience waited in a moment of stillness, anticipating that whatever their teacher was about to say was important to explain what mevs were and why Twilight was not using magic this day.

Once Rainbow's eyes re-opened, red irises greeted the students and six pairs found themselves locked onto her figure. They heard a hiss that didn't come from her mouth, turning their heads to see a brilliant red line on the gym floor encircling them and Rainbow Dash. As all of this happened in the span of two or three seconds, each of them realized their eyes were compelled back to meet hers and lock on again.

Rainbow spread her feathered wings, satisfied to know she had their attention while oblivious to the circle line she'd instinctively put around them all. "Mevs are..."

A fierce-looking silvery translucent sea serpent head lifted itself out from the red line of the circle. All heads wanted to jerk to the right for a better look, but the mev was speaking now, wanted their attention to her words, and they would give it.

"Magic." Their teacher spoke slowly, and two of her teeth visibly elongated into pointed ends while the frame of her spread wings solidified into a new substance.

The translucent sea serpent lifted more of its body out from the red line. It completed a circle upward and as it did so, the room felt darker to the students though the sun outside the windows remained in its expected place. The lights of the gym stayed steady.

Rainbow's voice went on with slow precision.

"Eating." Two particularly pointy teeth remained noticeable enough as sky blue feathers flattened into sky blue leathery flaps. 

Again, the mysterious snake-like vision circled higher and now tighter, making the room itself feel tighter, as if the walls closed in and ceiling lowered. Yet the walls were still as far and the ceiling still as high.

"Vampires." Fangs gleamed momentarily to indicate their sharpness before hiding within the mev's mouth.

The sea serpent lowered its circling act, opened its mouth wide and descended quickly toward and through the group of young creatures with an icy breath before dissipating away. All students expected a wind that did not happen. The red lined circle was gone too, but it felt as if Rainbow's own shadow reached over from the floor to trap their collective one altogether. From their peripheral, the shadows did not meet, so it could not be that either. Their bodies trembled, unable to flee yet longing to do so. Rainbow Dash looked no larger than usual yet the power emanating from her body towered over them as if the mysterious serpent never left. Although the group saw Ocellus transform into seemingly threatening creatures regularly enough and Smolder herself had similar wings and teeth, they suddenly felt threatened with the knowledge that their teacher was strong, agile, and extremely fast. Somehow, these facts mattered when knowing of the sharpened teeth hiding within her muzzle, and that something here in this moment made each of them immobile.

A word echoed through each of their minds. Master.

The students turned their heads slightly to look around at each other, yet unable to bring themselves to be the first to speak, before finding their eyes retreating back to the red pair gripping them tight into some unseen cluster. Finally, it was Gallus who said, "Master?" like a question to the air.

Rainbow blinked. The sensation surrounding the students melted away as they watched the mev turn back into a pegasus. Rainbow shook her head ever so briefly as if lifting out of a stupor, gently rubbing her right front hoof to her front red, orange, and yellow mane hair. "Well, that was unexpected," she commented to herself. She lifted her body above the ground with her wings, starting to pace again in contemplation.

"Professor Dash, what was that?!" asked a scared, whispering Ocellus.

Rainbow stopped pacing but did not look or acknowledge that she was spoken to, still thinking in her own world, as if she didn't hear the young changeling.

"Master!" Gallus hissed quietly in Ocellus' direction. "Call her ‘Master.' Especially if you're scared."

"Master Rainbow Dash…?" Ocellus asked, gathering a stronger, louder, and firmer voice.

Rainbow immediately descended. Her right hoof lightly tapped to the ground, followed by her left, then right again, bouncing her into a polite bow on instinct. "Miss Ocellus," she said and raised her head, looking on with a friendly smile, waiting for the one who called on her to speak.

All the students blinked at each other in wonder, then looked at their teacher.

The petite changeling asked again, "What was that? That circle, the snake, all of that stuff you just did."

Rainbow stared at the floor for a moment, her smile disappearing. When she looked up again, she looked serious but not threatening or amused, maintaining her pegasus magenta eyes. "It's all new to me too, but if I had to give it a name, I'd call the circle a 'fear snare.' I didn't know I could do that. My instincts tell me the snake was a 'leviathan dread', an aide for the trap. She's not physical or solid, but she's more than an illusion since she can mess with your head beyond what you see. I haven't named her yet, but it feels only proper that I should. She is mev magic. If I understand what happened, I sensed your fear, fed on it, and trapped you."

"And then you were going to eat our magic?" Silverstream asked worriedly.

"No, no, I actually can't eat your magic," Rainbow replied, shaking her head. "All of you are too young for me to feed from. Plus, I assumed when I read in a book that I can sense and eat fear at night, that it wasn't something that happened during the day too."

"So, what were you going to do to us?" Smolder asked, her tone almost accusatory but also mildly curious as she pointed toward Rainbow.

Rainbow ascended into a hover and exclaimed in a defensive tone, "Nothing! I mean, I was going to soak it in and revel in that fear for as long as I could, because I was eating, but that was pretty much it. Evidently, fear tastes like chocolate. An overwhelming fountain of tingly chocolate. Who knew?"

"Yona not like what you did, Master Dash," Yona grumbled.

Rainbow flapped her wings not saying anything for a moment, giving the remark serious thought. She liked it very much herself. Perhaps it wasn't exactly a nice thing to do, but she didn't hurt them. It wasn't as if she lured them there intending to incite terror...at least not consciously. She wasn't sure their fear level would even be considered terror. The whole thing must have lasted less than a full minute. Still... "I don't blame you. I promise though, I did not know revealing my mev self to young creatures would result in a fear snare. So far as I knew, kids are off-limits to my new powers. Clearly, I was wrong."

Yona looked up to see Rainbow's sincere magenta eyes and nodded in understanding acceptance.

After a few quiet moments, Gallus spoke. "So, you ate Headmare Twilight's magic? But you said she's fine."

"She is fine," Rainbow answered. "I had permission. I only ate her unicorn magic, and it will probably be back tomorrow morning or by this coming Saturday at the absolute latest. I have certain things I need to do now that I'm like this, and eating her magic was something she could do to help me out and learn more about mevs in general."

"What things do you have to do?" Silverstream asked.

"Eat," Rainbow answered with concise force. More gently, she added. "It's a reserve. I don't want to bore you with the details. My friends know, and they will be helping to take care of me. We know what we have to do and believe it or not, we've got a plan to keep me fed in a way so that what happened to Twilight won't have to happen to anypony else."

"I don't suppose we can know what that plan is," Ocellus openly wondered.

"No," Rainbow decided. "I'm drawing the line here for that bit of our personal business."

"Is Headmare Twilight going to be mad at you for telling us about you biting her?" Silverstream asked in a sad, guilty tone.

"I should think not," Rainbow said. "We were all kinda hoping no one would notice or at least not say something. Apparently, it's kind of rude to point out when a unicorn, or in Twilight's case, an alicorn, isn't using their magic."

"That what Sandbar told us," Yona admitted.

"Anything we can or should do?" Smolder asked. "What about all the other students?"

"Hopefully the other students will continue not noticing," Rainbow replied. "As for what you should do, don't panic and keep quiet. Don't announce it to the other students. They have nothing to worry about. Be honest if and when you must if you're asked about it, but only then. Either way, it's just another day in Ponyville, alright?"

The six students looked at each other. Five of them looked to Sandbar, who nodded. They collectively considered the experience and their teacher's own genuine explanation. At last, they looked at Rainbow Dash with nervous nods of acceptance but nods all the same.
> Chapter 06 - Blitz
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







"A fear snare," Twilight quietly muttered.

Everyone expected to be in the pack and Spike sat in their respective seats of the throne room. Starlight stood between Twilight and Applejack since she had no designated seat. It was Monday after school and before sunset.

Spike scribbled on a scroll to record everything Rainbow just told them about the ability in question. "Did you name the leviathan dread?" he was genuinely curious himself.

"Blitz," Rainbow answered simply.

"So is the fear snare like a way for you to eat from kids since you can't eat their magic?" an intrigued Pinkie Pie wondered.

Rainbow rubbed the back of her neck with her front right hoof in contemplation. "That's one way of looking at it."

"You seeing something else?" Applejack asked.

"It's a trap," the mev replied. "I don't think it only happens with kids though maybe they're more susceptible to it. Now that I know what it is and that it happens, I'll have more control. I'm sorry, Twilight. I didn't mean to scare them. I was trying to make sure they'd believe me. I assumed since I wouldn't bite them that…that they were safe from me."

"And they were safe," Fluttershy placed a gentle hoof on Rainbow's. "You didn't lay a hoof or a feather or a fang on them. Even the leviathan dread couldn't actually touch them. It's a natural thing you did. It's not unheard of for some creatures to make themselves appear scary as a defense mechanism from predators."

"But Fluttershy, it was not a defense," Rainbow protested. "I was the predator here. I had them in my clutches." She held out her forelimbs in a gestured demonstration and smiled evilly. "They were playthings to me." She paused and frowned at herself for again thinking it before admitting, "I enjoyed it."

"Rainbow, listen to me. You've become something new and exciting, but it's clearly got ways to keep you in check. No one got hurt," Fluttershy assured her.

"Maybe not physically," Pinkie interjected, "but she may have emotionally scarred at least some of them."

The others shifted uncomfortably without a word.

"Or not," Pinkie smiled guiltily. "None of them dropped out of school or ran out of the gym screaming, right? Heh heh heh." She laughed nervously.

"It's alright, Rainbow," Twilight finally said. "We all know that this transformation has its difficulties for you, but we also know that it's not as dangerous as one might think at first so long as we're prepared. But if something like this happens again..."

Rainbow nodded. "I might not be able to stay on as a teacher."

"Maybe..." Applejack started. "Maybe we should announce it after all."

"Applejack, how could you suggest such a thing?" Rarity asked. "You heard how those poor students reacted to the news. They took it in stride eventually, but she gave them quite a fright." 

"No, just hear me out. If the kids know, then we can tell them to start using the proper title for Rainbow. That's how this group got out, right?" Applejack reminded everyone.

"Just how did they figure that out anyway?" Pinkie Pie wondered.

"According to them," Rainbow explained, "the word entered their heads at the same time, like as if my own power was literally sending the message."

"From the dread?" Twilight theorized aloud.

"Maybe," Rainbow said. "They couldn't tell if it was to save them or scare them, but Gallus figured it was worth a shot to say aloud."

"That's a relief," Starlight remarked. "The thing is, if you tell the students, they're going to tell their parents. Word will spread throughout the whole town. Everypony will know."

"I'm telling you girls, the town will get over it," Spike said. "It's not a big deal."

"It is if they're scared at first, just like the students were, and Rainbow has some kind of reaction to that, especially now that we know she has an extended power like Blitz," Fluttershy pointed out.

"Oh," Spike realized. "I didn't even think of that."

"What do you think about my idea, Rainbow?" Applejack asked.

"I don't want to do it, if that's what you mean," Rainbow told her. "I know one day we might have to, but I don't think it's tomorrow. That's a day, well night really, to start forming this pack for real with my first fledgling." She smiled with her eyes closed as she lifted into a hover up from her seat.

"You really think Twilight's magic will be back?" Rarity asked, looking upward at the sky blue pegasus.

Rainbow nodded and looked down where she sat and at Starlight since she was near. "Which of you wants first?"

"Oh I would be honored," Rarity said happily, holding a forelimb out and then pressing her hoof to her chest. "If that's alright with Starlight, of course."

Everyone looked expectantly at Starlight for a response.

Starlight looked at everyone with a nervous smile, eyes darting side to side. "Oh, well, it's, you know…" her voice trailed off. She walked behind Applejack's throne to stand closer to where Rarity sat. She took a deep breath and cleared her throat to announce to everyone else, "Actually, yes, I would like to be first too."

"You two could just flip a coin," Applejack suggested.

"Where's the fun in that?" Rainbow asked. "If they both want first, they should have to earn it." She smirked, knowingly folding her forelimbs with her maintained hover.

"What are you thinking?" asked a suspicious Pinkie Pie with narrowed eyes and a slow voice.

"Masters do love a game of cat and mouse. I mean, I love games anyway, but my point is, I have two mice right here." She gestured with her forelimbs to the two unicorns. "Whoever I catch first will be the fledgling."

"Shouldn't it be the other way around since they both want to go first?" Twilight suggested.

Rainbow shrugged. "Whatever. I just want to hunt. What do my mice think?" She glanced over with an inviting smile.

Rarity and Starlight were both staring up at Rainbow's hovering figure and slowly moved their eyes to look at each other. They both smirked. "It's on," they said at the same time.

"Jinx," Rarity added with a giggle.

Starlight coughed. "And I think who you catch is the loser, so the first fledgling is actually whoever lasts longer."

"You'll find no argument from me on that point," Rarity said.

"Oh Rainbow, I just had the most brilliant idea!" Fluttershy fluttered up to join the other pegasus in the air. "We should ask Discord to make the stage for the game. I'm having Tuesday Tea with him tomorrow. Do you want me to ask him then?"

Rainbow smiled wickedly. "Yes, that would be just perfect."

With that, Monday's meeting drew to a close. 





Later that night in her cloud house, Rainbow Dash stood on the solid floor within, staring out one of the windows to see the stars. A red circle formed on the floor around her hooves and the leviathan dread from earlier that afternoon lifted up to face her. The circle easily disappeared in a quick fade.

Rainbow studied the magical sea serpent. She was much smaller than her appearance in the gym, so like Rainbow, that meant she had some control over how she looked. Two long horns curved down with the tips of their ends pointing behind her. She had several fins on her back that looked like shark fins. At the end of her tail, the fins flared out with three combined on each side and ending in a longer tip. 

The color was hard to tell because she was still translucent, but Rainbow understood she was supposed to be silver if some magical force could make her solid. None of Rainbow's elementary magic books covered something like that. The fins and horns were darker than the main scales though not by much. The lines to indicate her body were white instead of a darker shade of her main color like Rainbow herself or so many other creatures in the land, presumably to indicate her ghostly essence. She didn't look fierce to Rainbow as she did to the students. Instead, she stared blankly and patiently waited for her master to finish the examination.

"I'm naming you Blitz, alright?" Rainbow told her.

The sea serpent vision nodded.

"We're going to be more careful about that snare from now on, now that we know about each other. Got it?" Rainbow sounded stern.

Blitz nodded again.

"Thanks for your help today. If I were an evil vampire for real, that would have been awesome. Well, okay, it was awesome, but we messed up where and when. I'm a teacher, and if I want to stay a teacher, and I do, I can't go trapping kids in their own fear like that. Unless they get a kick out of it on like Nightmare Night or something," the fanged pegasus explained.

Blitz swirled and snaked her way around Rainbow's body, then wrapping around her neck to align her snout to to the left side Rainbow's head.

"Niiiice," Rainbow remarked. "Talk about nocturnivlair. This would definitely make me look threatening, like I could sic you on someone."

The sea serpent essence appeared to chuckle in her movement though she could make no sound. She unraveled herself from Rainbow's body, did a spin, and swirled a bit in the air before coming face to face with the mev. Rainbow lifted a hoof and waved through the body, feeling nothing. She moved her hoof just at the tip of where she would touch the bottom of Blitz's mouth if the dread were a solid being, and a cold shiver ran through her veins.

"Icy," Rainbow realized with an interested smile.  "You are the embodiment of 'you have nothing to fear but fear itself.' You know that?"

Blitz nodded in pleased agreement.

"I take it you can't talk except to message my title to others," Rainbow surmised aloud.

Again, Blitz nodded.

"Thanks, then, for that too. It all worked out in the end," Rainbow told her.

Blitz raised the tail end of her body, curling it in a way as if to give a "thumbs up" signal.

"Come with me," Rainbow commanded, "I need you to meet someone. He's an important friend of mine. Don't scare him on purpose."

Blitz nodded and followed along. They made their way to Tank's room. The tortoise was still awake though his shift into sleep was near. 

"Hey Tank," Rainbow greeted. 

He looked at her, and his mouth hung open at the sight of Blitz. 

"This is Blitz," Rainbow told him. "Blitz, this is Tank. Blitz here is part of my new master mev powers. She's called a leviathan dread?" Rainbow turned to ask Blitz for confirmation. 

Blitz nodded. 

Tank seemed to start shuddering. 

"She's not here to fill you with dread buddy. She's kinda like a new pet too," his fanged pegasus owner explained.

Blitz circled around Rainbow's figure quickly with a fervent nod, liking the notion quite a bit. 

Tank stopped shuddering upon recognizing Blitz's body language toward Rainbow Dash as friendly. He nodded in acceptance of the news. The mev and dread soon left him on his own to his room though Tank didn't much mind. He had gathered enough information the past few days and nights that Rainbow Dash was a different sort of creature at night, even if she still visited and talked to him either time of day. It would make perfect sense if he were like her daytime pet and Blitz were like her night-time pet.

Indeed, Rainbow enjoyed the rest of her night, not minding the presence of her unusual ghostly snake companion one bit. She even chose to skip sleep altogether between her reading and a brief excursion to work out at the school gym.
> Chapter 07 - Discordant Experience
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Tuesday rolled around and during a lecture for a morning class, Twilight sensed her magic return with an inner jolt. She paused momentarily. Ocellus caught it. The teaching alicorn continued, eventually levitating some chalk as she began to scribble on the chalkboard.

"Professor Dash was right," Gallus leaned in and said in a whisper.

"I guess that's a good thing," Ocellus considered aloud.

Twilight was able to tell her friends during a brief staff meeting at the school. Passing students overheard a jubilant cheer from outside the door but stopped only long enough to recognize the sound before shuffling on with their day.





That afternoon, Fluttershy listened to Discord talk during their tea time. At last, he finally said, "But enough about me. What's new with the whimsical world of Ponyville? Anything exciting happen in the past week?"

"Oh Discord, yes. You won't believe what happened," she said eagerly. "Tell me, have you ever heard of mevs?"

His expression grew stern with a serious frown. "Yes, as a matter of fact I have. I may have run into one or two or three in my lifetime. They're not a pleasant sort to encounter, you know."

"They aren't?" Fluttershy asked. She took a moment to think. "Oh, I'm so sorry. Of course you might have had bad experiences with them. Did they hurt you?"

Discord's right eye twitched. "They just did what they do. I take it by you asking this question, that means you've recently learned what they are for some reason."

"Oh yes," Fluttershy smiled sweetly. "Rainbow Dash became a master mev on Friday."

His jaw dropped all the way to the floor open in horrified shock with his long tongue rolling out from it. His ears drooped. Every dish in the room suddenly shattered.

"Um, Discord?" Fluttershy asked.

The astonished draconequis slowly pulled his mouth into its standard shape. He swallowed, snapped his lion paw fingers, and the dishes fixed themselves.

"I'm so sorry Fluttershy. I just...I could have sworn you just told me the fastest flying pegasus in all of Equestria is now a Master Mev," Discord uttered.

"I did say that," she told him innocently.

The dishes shattered again. Discord shook his head, snapping himself out of his shock, and snapped his lion fingers to fix the dishes again. Fuming, he then snapped yet another time. Fluttershy saw a flash yet no change in the reality of their surroundings. He grind-ed his teeth with intense frustration and snapped with his eagle claw fingers as if that would help. Still a flash of unchanging reality. "I can't summon her," he muttered to himself. "I can't bend the reality around her to bring her here..." his voice trailed off. He nervously rubbed the back of his dark mane with his eagle claws. "Mevs here, now...do you have any idea what this means?!" he asked in alarm, gasping in a panic.

"Discord, calm down," Fluttershy told him. "Rainbow's your friend, remember?"

"You...I..." the tea party guest stammered, starting to recall that was true. He took a few moments and shuddered. "Please tell me she's eaten. You said Friday...today's Tuesday. Has she eaten?" he asked. 

"Yes. We know about the berserk. Don't worry. It's okay. We're helping her form a pack. She's not coming for your chaos magic, alright?" Fluttershy assured her friend.

Discord wiped the top of his forehead down through the back of his long neck, finally calming. "Right, of course. We're friends now. Me and her. And you. You're going to be in the pack?" he asked with a nervous interest, almost hopeful.

"Rainbow Dash needs my help. Of course I'll be in her pack. If anything, you'll now have protection from mevs, not having to fear them. In fact, we actually wanted your help with something tonight if you're not too busy,"  Fluttershy said.

"Oh?" Discord asked with innocent curiosity.

"Well, you see, Twilight was her first um, meal, and because she's an alicorn, that means her magic came back early," Fluttershy explained.

"Oh, that's interesting. I wonder why I never got my magic back so soon," Discord muttered.

"Anyway," Fluttershy moved the topic along, "we were waiting for that to happen before we decided to move forward with letting us become her fledglings."

"She doesn't have any yet? Isn't that dangerous?" Discord asked.

"Only on the surface," Fluttershy replied. "She scared some of our students yesterday because no one knew, not even her, that she could do something she's calling a 'fear snare.' Is that something you know about? Did other mevs call it that?"

"She can already do fear snares?!" Discord asked in renewed alarm.

"Why? Is that unusual? It's all so new to us, and we just have this one book that didn't have anything about that power," Fluttershy replied.

Discord thought for a moment, tapping his claw to his chin. At last, he sighed. "No, I suppose it's not that unusual. It's been a long time since I last encountered any mevs, and Rainbow's...quick. You don't seem scared of her at all, so that's a good sign."

Fluttershy blushed. "She came to see me first for my help. It was the sweetest thing. She thought I could help because I was a vampire for a night though a very different sort of vampire."

"Oh, right, Flutterbat, I remember that story," Discord said.

"Yes, I was obsessed with eating apples. I couldn't talk to my friends or think clearly. I wonder if that's what a mev berserk is like, only with unicorns," Fluttershy said.

The draconequis shuddered yet again. "Let's hope you never find out. Still, what is it you wanted my help with?"

"Oh, right. The first fledgling has to be a unicorn, so that means it's either going to be Starlight or Rarity," Fluttershy explained.

"You mean Rainbow hasn't picked yet?" Discord asked.

"No. But she has picked a method. We're having a game tonight. She'll chase them around and whoever she catches loses. They both want to go first, and Rainbow wants to hunt. And I thought...that since you do such a fine job with the Ogres and Oubliettes games with Spike and Big Mac...perhaps you would be willing to create a stage for this game," Fluttershy looked at him with hopeful turquoise eyes.

"But then wouldn't that mean I'd have to be in Rainbow Dash's presence...tonight?" Discord realized.

"Is that really so horrible?" Fluttershy asked.

Discord considered it and eventually agreed to Fluttershy's request. Upon her suggestion that they actually meet Rainbow ahead of time, he asked how they were to do that if he couldn't simply teleport the mev to him or himself to her.

"Silly thing," she told him. "We do it the old-fashioned pony way. I happen to know that she had Wonderbolts practice this afternoon, so she's heading back from there to either her house or Twilight's castle. I'm closer to her house than the castle, so we fly that way first."

"Fly? Surely we can teleport to something near it," Discord said.

"We fly," Fluttershy insisted. "Or walk."

"Fine," Discord grumbled as he walked alongside her hovering figure.

Sure enough, as they neared the cloud house, a familiar rainbow trail streaked above them.

"Rainbow Dash!" Fluttershy called out.

Rainbow paused in her flight to look down and see the two below her. "Hey Fluttershy!" Her smile brightened as she darted down to hover facing them both. "'Sup Discord," she gave him a polite head nod.

"Are you...?" Discord hesitated, pointing toward her in confusion.

"Oh, you like my daytime blend?" the sky blue pegasus asked, glancing at her flapping feathered wings. "Come on, I'll show you the real deal inside. That is why you're here, right?"

"Right," he admitted and raised himself upward to hover alongside the two pegasi floating up toward the cloud house.

Once inside, the three friends stood in the large foyer. Rainbow quickly transitioned into her vampire form. She opened her mouth wide so that her fangs could be seen. Then she quickly reverted. She looked up to see Discord with a dumbfounded expression. Rainbow sniffed the air and smiled.

"I'm not scared!" he exclaimed.

"I didn't say you were," she said, still smiling.

Discord cleared his throat. "Yes, well, Fluttershy said you wanted my help, so here I am. Because of your newfound abilities, I can't make the stage quite as easily as I usually can. We'll have to work around a few things."

"So, you'll do it?" Rainbow asked eagerly.

"I'm willing to try, yes. I'll need your cooperation though, Master," Discord said.

"Hey, he used the word!" Rainbow pointed in his direction using her right forelimb with a smile and looked at Fluttershy. 

The visiting pegasus friend smiled sweetly with her eyes closed, saying nothing.

Rainbow addressed Discord again. "Let's do it, Lord of Chaos." She darted away with her typical prismatic swoosh for a moment before returning with some parchment. "I've got some notes of what I think are going to be the harder parts where our powers might clash on this idea...and just some ideas that you can add your own personal chaotic flair to."

He tapped his claw and paw together, twiddling his fingers. "I'm listening."

"Alright. So, just the general idea for the stage is a labyrinth with stairs. That way, I can fly, and the unicorns can travel upwards. The thing is, I want to make sure I'm not targeting one pony over the other. I need a way to mask the difference between them or at least how I'd know the difference between them, while still being able to use my other mev senses for the hunt. We are expecting a small audience of my other friends who want to watch," Rainbow explained.

"Oh, that is a very interesting problem indeed, but I do believe we have what you need in your reserve." Discord pointed to her. "If you transfer some of the magic you ate from Twilight onto them, for you and only for you, that is who you will sense. It will feel like you're chasing two Twilights. Then I just need to add a barrier for you to recognize, so you don't end up going after the real Twilight Sparkle," Discord told her.

"Ha, that's brilliant!" Rainbow said with an enthused smile.

"I know," Discord stroked his beard, pleased with himself and with the compliment. All fear was gone and cleared since entering her domain.

"Hey, does that mean that if either of them uses magic during the game, I still won't be able to sense who is casting it? It'll still feel like Twilight?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Well, technically yes, but these two have different skills, so just by nature of which spell they are using…" Discord noted.

"...I still might be able to figure it out. So, could you like, give them specific spells they can use only during the game? Combined with what I do, that's enough to still mask it, right?" Rainbow wondered.

"Yes, yes, I could," Discord confirmed, enjoying this idea more and more, a true magic challenge and exercise.
> Chapter 08 - The First Fledgling
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







It wasn't long before Rainbow and Discord had a setup they both found satisfactory. Afternoon gave way to evening and they, along with Fluttershy, made their way to Twilight's castle albeit slightly separate from each other. The Lord of Chaos teleported himself and Fluttershy while Rainbow chose the long way of flying herself, insisting that such a teleportation was too much of a convenience considering how fast she was on her own and that doing so had no effect on her being able to start forming her pack.

Once there, the plan was laid out before the others. The magic ability rules were granted that Rarity, like Starlight, would be able to teleport, make herself invisible, and shoot magic blasts of energy for the duration of the game. Both unicorns could already levitate objects and use their horns as torches for light. They would be allowed to keep those abilities. They were both warned that casting magic highly risked Rainbow being able to sense it and track them down more easily.

The lobby of Twilight's castle transformed into a flat square floor with tiles. From the cracks, solid concrete walls rose upward, allowing for gaps to create a simple maze. Some of those walls transformed into solid stairs. Some of those stairs turned sideways or upside down. Vines took shape along the parts of the maze that were still walls. Potted plants raised out from the floor to line the stairs. Ice crystals shot across some of the walls into others. The floor opened to gaps as fire shot upwards in some areas. The small flames would have to be jumped over by the two "mice."

Surrounding the main stage, higher walls rose along each side and a balcony formed. With a snap of his lion paw, Discord grouped the observers. He and Spike were in one balcony, Applejack and Pinkie Pie in another, followed by Twilight and Fluttershy for the third. The fourth remained empty.

At the bottom along an entrance to the stage stood Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Starlight Glimmer.

Spike tugged at Discord's right arm and whispered something. With another snap of his lion paw, a microphone appeared in Spike's right clawed hand. The draconequis looked downward to the entrance where Rainbow gave him an approving wave.

"So, how do we do this?" Starlight asked.

"You, here," Rainbow said, putting Starlight to her right, "and Rarity here." She put Rarity to her left. "Look away from me, like up at the balconies or something. You will see the magic and you will feel it. You'll know. So will Discord. He's going to put you in bubbles, shuffle you up a bit, and put you in the maze. Then he's going to make the barrier before I head in. Are you two ready?"

"As I'll ever be," Rarity said, "Oh, this is so exciting!" She clutched her cheeks in her white hooves. She put a hoof forward, "May the best unicorn win."

Starlight bumped it. "Right, let's do this." She looked upward to where Twilight and Fluttershy sat.

Rarity glanced up to Discord and Spike.

They both heard Spike begin, "Welcome everyone to the First Fledgling Hunt! The stage is set, and our players are almost ready."

Rainbow closed her eyes and tilted her face up to the sky before opening her mouth. Her fangs were visible to her friends watching from the balconies. As if she herself were a fountain, a stream of magenta magical energy lifted out and then trailed toward the two unicorns to her sides. Starlight and Rarity saw the trail in their peripheral, each careful to not look at Rainbow as they watched the magic swirl around them before wrapping more tightly until it was absorbed into their bodies. They felt it, like an inner flash.

Rainbow closed her mouth and looked to her sides to see two beings that resembled Twilight when her friend was still a unicorn and were deliberately still looking away. "Now!" she shouted upward.

Discord snapped his talons, creating the same bubbles she described a moment ago. They spun around as others, except Rainbow, watched. The bubbles floated upward and landed on equally opposite ends of his labyrinth.

"And the chase is on!" Spike shouted as Rainbow dashed in from the main entrance.

Rainbow flew upwards in the center, squinting. She put a hoof up to her right ear and listened. She sniffed the air and shot to her left.

Starlight stared at three different fire pits ahead. There was just enough room to hop and land between them on the floor of the maze. 

Meanwhile, Rarity saw icicles she'd have to crawl over or under. She heard movement: familiar, fast swooshing movement. She gulped and stared around her corner. If she just stayed put, maybe Rainbow would simply pass over her. The sound faded. She wiped her brow and daintily worked her way through. She was not exactly agile like her pegasus friend, but she was agile enough, with wishing to not freeze on contact with her coat, to slowly, methodically thread her way through.

Starlight listened carefully and glanced around as best she could. Upon realizing that the other two must have been on the opposite ends of the maze, she made her first hop. She skidded, landed ever so briefly in the pit and hopped to the next one. She shook her right front hoof to cool off the slight burn. Discord and Rainbow assured them they would be safe enough, certainly nothing life threatening, but to keep things somewhat interesting, some minor hazards like this were to be expected. The burn cooled easily.

Starlight continued listening. She thought long and hard. She could levitate herself or teleport. Just how strongly could Rainbow detect magic? No one had really tested it yet. What of their available spells used the least amount of magic? She took a deep breath, lighting her horn for half a second. She quickly looked left and right, still listening. Then she heard the familiar swish of Rainbow's flight. She hopped again and darted to her left, the opposite end of the approaching noise.

Rainbow paused and flapped her wings, looking to where Starlight was a moment ago. Somepony had just tried magic, very faint, very quick magic. The other pony was very quiet, Rainbow having only heard faint taps of hooves on ice or on concrete. She landed and trotted in Starlight's previous direction.

Rarity found herself on some stairs that winded to the side yet allowing her to stay in place and not fall to the floor of the maze below. As she continued, she realized she was upside down and as she gazed to understand her surroundings, she saw Rainbow standing in place, still, and waiting. Rarity gulped.

Rainbow suddenly felt she was being watched so turned her head to see a wisteria unicorn frozen in place. Smiling wickedly, Rainbow flexed her wings and shot upwards. "Gah!" Twilight's voice said and shot a beam of magic at her. The beam ricocheted off Rainbow's neck onto a wall, another wall, and eventually landing into Rainbow's mouth.

"Gotcha!" Rainbow said, pouncing on her prey.

"Oh, fiddlesticks," Rarity said. For Rainbow, the Twilight mask lifted to reveal her white unicorn friend. She held a hoof out to help Rarity stand up.

"Starlight Glimmer wins!" the two overheard Spike say as the barrier dissipated. Starlight herself teleported to where Rainbow and Rarity stood. The rest of the stage faded away, the castle lobby re-appearing in its usual form and the other friends standing near as well.

"I won?" Starlight asked with a smile.

"That you did, darling. Congratulations," Rarity said, shaking her hoof. " Rainbow should consider herself lucky to have you."

"Oh believe me, I do," Rainbow mischievously rubbed her front hooves together.

"I suppose it all works out for the best," Rarity considered. "This result gives me a little more time for something I have planned."

"What something?" asked a now curious mev.

"Oh, you'll see soon enough, dear. I'm sure you're quite eager to do...umm...you know…" Rarity said.

"Right, you all go wait in the throne room," Rainbow suggested. "We could use a little privacy here."

"But it only takes a couple of minutes," Spike said.

Rainbow glared at him.

"Right, we're leaving," he said, and everyone else followed suit.

"I hope you don't mind my asking," Starlight said, "but is there a reason you don't like others to watch?'

"Yeah, it's kind of intimate. Plus, this one's going to take at least a little longer since we're doing an exchange," Rainbow explained.

"Oh, maybe we should do it in my room?" Starlight offered.

"Good idea," Rainbow agreed. 





Once there, Rainbow began to give commands. "Stand here," she told Starlight.

Starlight obeyed with interest and saw Rainbow staring at her exposed neck.

"Good," Rainbow muttered with approval.

"You're not going to bite me yet?" Starlight asked.

"Soon..." the mev said. "Close your eyes."

Starlight did as told.

"Now concentrate on our friendship. We haven't known each other as long or spent as much time together as all my other friends, but now here we are, and you're going to be my first fledgling. First, Starlight! First! We gotta make it special," Rainbow emphasized.

Starlight kept her eyes closed and smiled. "Mm-hmm," she agreed.

"So, think about the first time we met...now the first time we saw each other as friends...now anytime we've made each other smile…accepting my request to do this for me tonight...offering to mentor me on magic…admitting that you wanted to be first...you got all that?" Rainbow led her evening meal into a proper mindset.

"Yes, Master, I do..." Starlight realized she spoke Rainbow's title on instinct in that moment before even being bit.

"Now open your eyes and look into mine. I'm right in front of you," the master mev instructed.

Starlight fluttered her eyes open to see two red ones piercing into her.

"Do not move," Rainbow ordered her.

"I won't," Starlight said, her eyes and standing form locked into place. She could not if she tried, she knew.

Rainbow couldn't help herself and licked her lips with an excited breath. Dinner looked tasty, and she was on the verge of actually becoming a master to another vampire. "Are you ready?" she asked, more than ready herself.

"Yes, of course," Starlight agreed as if hypnotized.

Rainbow stepped forward and leaned in. She hissed and bit into Starlight's neck with her fangs, enjoying the sensation even more than she hoped.

Starlight closed her eyes as she felt the draining of her unicorn magic yet their friendship magic seemed to help her stay standing, propping her up. When at last, she sensed all unicorn magic gone from her, she stood trembling.

"Bow before your master," Rainbow playfully commanded with an evil smile.

Starlight had no qualms obliging. She bowed, realizing the command wasn't just Rainbow reveling in her new role. The act itself made it easier for the soft feathered wingtips to reach out and touch the sides of their target.

Rainbow Dash stood firm and proud, ready to share her gift. Red mev magic channeled down from her eyes to swirl around Starlight's horn.

The first fledgling felt her own fangs take shape. 

"Your turn," Rainbow whispered. She coiled her wings and waited.

Starlight rushed to bite into her new master's neck. Unicorn magic returned with new fervor, some of Twilight and some of Rainbow mixed within it. So delicious. It wasn't long before she felt satisfied as it stopped. Her fangs disappeared. Rainbow did not falter or struggle or appear in any pain, still standing firm in front of her, their necks side by side, neither meeting eyes with the other. For a long time, they stood in silence. Starlight sensed some unspoken closeness that no pony, no creature, would ever know because it was special to only her, Rainbow, and this moment. "Master Rainbow Dash," she finally brought herself to speak. "Did it work?"

Rainbow nuzzled against her neck for a moment before she backed away a few steps, traces of small tears in her eyes. She wiped the tears away with her right wing and fluttered both wings as she composed herself. "Well, you're already calling me by my title on instinct so that part of it did." Rainbow shook her entire body for a moment before instructing, "Try some magic, just not on me. Lift something in the room."

Starlight glanced around and lifted a globe sitting on top of a book and set it down. "It did work!" she said excitedly.

"Awesome!" Rainbow gave her a quick hug. "Let's go tell the others."





Chatter died down as all heads turned towards the direction of opening doors in the castle throne room. "Did it work?" Twilight asked from where she sat.

"Like a charm," Starlight lit her horn to show she still had magic as she trotted over to Twilight's side. 

Rainbow swiftly flew to perch down in her own seat.

"How did it feel?" asked a very curious Applejack.

"Surprisingly good," Starlight answered. "You have to make eye contact, and then that puts you in a kind of trance, so that the bite doesn't actually hurt and, like I said, feels good."

"Wow," Rarity uttered, breathless.

"You went through that part, right Twilight?" Spike asked.

"I did. It was just like that. What's the second part like?" she asked.

"Well, I guess since we knew we were doing an exchange, I didn't collapse. I managed to stand my ground. Rainbow instructed me to bow. I grew fangs long enough to bite her, and it felt even better than her biting me. I felt my magic, you, Twilight, and Rainbow, all sort of mixed in it, filling me up. It felt really special. I wish I could give it a better word, but that's what it was," Starlight told everyone.

"Do you feel like you need to do anything and everything Rainbow tells you to do?" asked Applejack.

Starlight gave it some thought. "I definitely felt that way with the enchantment, even just before it actually. I was already following commands even then."

Applejack glanced over at Rainbow with narrowed eyes.

"What? She agreed to be my fledgling days ago. That means a permission pathway opened and our master-fledgling bond started forming early. She obeyed because we wanted the same thing, her to become my fledgling and eventually even the first fledgling. I have some instincts on how to get that done. I'm happy with the result and so is she," Rainbow said defensively.

A parchment appeared in front of Spike. 

"Write that down," Twilight whispered, listening with fascination.

Sighing, the young purple dragon wrote down what Rainbow just said.

Applejack looked over to Starlight. "Reckon you feel the same way?" she asked.

Starlight nodded. "Yeah, I do. It falls perfectly in line with everything else we know. It seems the willingness of the meal is a significant factor in the master's magic when not berserk. Fledglings are supposed to be a strong support for maintaining control. Plus, I was already offering to help Rainbow learn about magic as a mentor to help with the pack before we took this step tonight. It depends on the situation and what the order actually is. Of course I should follow her on actually becoming a fledgling.  I'm sure I could question or defy orders for silly little things like boring chores she doesn't want to do, if that's your concern."

Rainbow nodded as well, in full agreement and approval. "Which I wouldn't do because one, we're still friends and two, I want to be a worthy master." She gestured with her feathered wings to count her points.

Starlight smiled. "Yup."

"Well, alright then," Applejack sounded satisfied enough.
> Chapter 09 - Second Wind
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







"Who's next Rainbow?" Pinkie Pie asked, her own tail wagging like an interested puppy.

Rainbow's eyes scanned the faces of her friends, from Fluttershy to her right, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack, past Starlight and falling on Twilight, host of that delicious alicorn magic.

"Me?" Twilight asked as the eyes lingered on her longer than the others.

"No, not yet," Rainbow shook her head. "You'll be last, like you said."

"Then who?" Fluttershy asked.

Rainbow smiled. "How about you?" she offered.

Fluttershy blushed and looked away, staring at the table, not saying anything.

"It's okay, Fluttershy," Pinkie Pie said with an air of confidence. "I'd be happy to go ahead of you. Or play you for it."

"No!" Fluttershy said in a quick squeak.

"Huh? No, you don't want me ahead of you or no, you don't want to be next or no you don't want to play?" Pinkie asked.

"No, I don't want you to go ahead of me. I would be happy to be next, I just..." She looked over at Rainbow again.

Rainbow took a moment to look around at everyone staring at Fluttershy. She flew over, put her forelimbs around Fluttershy's shoulders and told all the others, "Give us a minute. We'll be back soon." She guided Fluttershy up out of the room and into the library.

Once in the library, the two pegasi sat on their haunches near each other on a comfortable couch. Rainbow put a hoof on Fluttershy's right shoulder. "Okay, it's just you and me now. What's on your mind?" She set her hoof down and waited for a response.

"I don't want to be chased," Fluttershy said quietly, staring at the floor and not making eye contact.

"I already caught you," Rainbow teased with a wink.

Fluttershy smiled sweetly. "You know what I mean...don't you?" She turned her head to meet two magenta eyes gazing at her.

It was Rainbow's turn to look away. "So, you don't want to be hunted, no big deal." She shrugged, staring at the door to the library. "I've got four more chances after you. And even if all the other girls don't want that either, it'll be fine." She returned to looking at Fluttershy, maintaining her pegasus eyes. "The game's just for fun."

"'Just'?" Fluttershy prodded, ever so gently nudging Rainbow's right forelimb planted on the seat of the couch.

"Well, yeah. I mean, you might say it's a lot more fun for me because of my mev nature, especially at night, but we're still talking about me enjoying myself. You know, fun. Hunting my food is not some deep-rooted need if that's your concern. I'm not exactly starving over here," Rainbow assured her friend.

"Oh okay then," Fluttershy said with relief.

"So, do you want to be next?" Rainbow offered.

"Can I have you the whole day?" Fluttershy asked. "Besides work, of course. A date. An all-day date, just the two of us."

Rainbow blushed, and her eyes darted down. "I...wouldn't mind that."

Fluttershy hugged her. Rainbow placed her right forelimb around Fluttershy's backside to return the hug. She kissed Fluttershy on the forehead, then held her hoof as the two flew back to the throne room.

"Master!" declared an excited Starlight galloping to greet them.

Rainbow gave her first fledgling a friendly hoof-bump before announcing, "Okay, everyone, Fluttershy's next for tomorrow night. I don't think we need to meet here since we've got plans that are a bit different than what we did tonight."

"Perhaps we should decide the rest of the order tonight as well," Twilight suggested. "We know the main things we needed so don't have to come together all the following nights either."

"But...but..." Pinkie stuttered, "I wanted to play Cat and Mouse too. It looked like lots of fun. I thought the rest of us would make it bigger and better by all joining in for the rest now that Rainbow's pack has her first unicorn. Even if Fluttershy doesn't want to play tomorrow, we've still got me, Rarity, and Applejack."

"I hadn't even thought of being able to play again," Rarity admitted. "I certainly wouldn't mind another go."

"It does add a little something interesting," Applejack agreed with the idea. "I'd like a try myself."

"All three of you want to play?" Rainbow asked in mid-air with interest.

Each pony affirmed that to be the case.

"I guess so long as Twilight and Discord don't mind helping out again." Rainbow Dash looked over to Twilight.

"Oh, it's fine," Twilight said.

Discord had quietly stood behind Fluttershy's throne the entire time. "A bit samey, but I'll manage," he consented with a simple shrug.

"Then it's settled. We'll all meet here on Thursday night for the next game," Rainbow declared.

With that, most ponies retired for the evening. Discord flashed away. Rainbow waved everyone off, hovering above the table to the throne room where she and the three residents of the castle remained. 

Twilight yawned. "Aren't you going to head home, Rainbow? Spike and I are ready for bed though I can't speak for..." she looked over to see Starlight standing and smiling pleasantly, "...Starlight?" 

The alicorn princess sleepily blinked a few times as she grasped that Starlight was not at all tired. "If this means fledglings don't sleep, be sure to write it down somewhere for me to find in the morning." She exited, Spike heading out before her.

"I hope you stayed because we're going to do something together with everyone else gone or asleep," Starlight looked up at Rainbow.

Rainbow descended down and gave her a quick nuzzle. "Thank you," Rainbow whispered.

Starlight stood still, holding onto this moment, so reminiscent of the one before they left her room earlier. She eventually closed her eyes and whispered gently, "It was my pleasure, Master." After allowing the moment to linger a little longer, the two finally pulled away. "Any mev magic guts telling us what to do next?"

Rainbow studied her for a moment. "Primeva," she said.

Starlight smiled with realization as the word struck her. "I get a title too?"

"That you do, but it works differently than mine. Most creatures won't use it even if they know. It's for us, you and me," Rainbow explained.

"What about the rest of the pack?" Starlight wanted to know.

"Something to learn about tomorrow and onward," Rainbow guessed aloud. "Anyway, that aside, I think tonight's a good time for my Magic Mentor to do her work."

The two mevs made their way to the library.

"The most basic of unicorn spells is telekinetic levitation," Starlight explained. She walked to a table with a pencil and paper on it. "Most of us are limited to smaller objects. The bigger, and more specifically heavier, the object is, the greater the difficulty. So, for you, we should start with something small like this pencil. You want to envision holding it how you want and then channel the energy through...well, your horn if you had one."

A circular shimmer rounded itself through Rainbow's irises as her eyes turned to their vampiric red. Immediately, a visibly red aura surrounded the pencil and lifted it in place. "Cool," Rainbow said, fascinated. Curious, she spun it three times. It obeyed with ease. She then guided it back down to the table where Starlight had originally found it.

Starlight clapped her front hooves together and smiled with closed eyes. "Perfectly done, Master. Now, try a book."

Rainbow succeeded.

"Two books," Starlight said.

Again, the objects in question obeyed. Rainbow Dash did not appear to be having any trouble at all.

Starlight grew suspicious of something. "Try that entire shelf over there. Pull all the books out at the same time, using the same telekinetic field, hold them for five seconds, then put them back exactly as you found them."

Rainbow followed her instructions exactly. "Ha, you see that!" she bore a surprised and proud smile. "Are you sure it's harder with more weight? It feels the same to me."

"Hmm," Starlight said to herself, contemplative.

"Something wrong?" Rainbow asked.

"No, nothing like that," Starlight answered. "I'm trying to figure out if you find it easy because as master, you have innate mastery over the magic you attempt or because you've eaten magic from both myself and Twilight. We are both able to lift more than most unicorns."

"I'd go with the first one, but if we really want to know, I need to lift something really, really heavy that neither of you can," Rainbow suggested.

"That's…not easy to do," Starlight realized aloud. "You need like several buildings, and we shouldn't disrupt anything with that kind of weight around Ponyville just to test this theory. We certainly don't have anything in the castle. The heaviest thing I can think of is all the books or the map table, and I can lift both of those myself."

"How about the castle itself?" Rainbow asked.

"I don't think we should do that. You might end up detaching it from the ground. It might still be rooted to the Tree of Harmony," Starlight pointed out.

"Oh, good point. Well, write it down or something in case we think of a way to test it later," Rainbow advised.

"On it." Starlight did exactly that.

"So, now what?" Rainbow wondered.

"Since you don't have to worry about weight, we should move onto movement within the levitation, like when you spun the pencil. Even if it comes easily to you to execute magic, the trick to this particular type is what you do before the execution when you imagine what that movement is going to be. For instance, instead of just spinning the pencil, mimic your line of trajectory from a Wonderbolts performance as you move it around," Starlight instructed.

"Oh, that does sound more challenging," Rainbow liked the idea.

This approach was indeed interesting and challenging enough to fill a good portion of the night before each mev retired into the little sleep they wanted before the next day.





Bright and early the next morning, Rainbow Dash arrived outside Fluttershy's cottage.

"I hope you're ready for the best day of your life," Rainbow greeted with a confident air.

"I am," Fluttershy smiled. The two went off for a morning fly. Fluttershy tended to nearby birds as Rainbow hovered and darted around to keep her friend company. Afterward, they flew together to the school before parting ways to their respective classes.

For second period, Rainbow's students included some of the Student Six, namely Ocellus, Silverstream, and Sandbar. The first of those three lingered after the bell rang. She watched as her pegasus teacher toyed with balancing a ball from one wing to another. She made sure no other students remained, and none had entered yet for third period.

"Master Rainbow Dash," she said quietly. 

Rainbow swiftly bucked the ball she balanced into a basket holding several others where it landed with ease.

"Miss Ocellus," Rainbow bowed and then looked up. Her eyes flickered to red momentarily. "You have some business with me?"

With a small nod, Ocellus confessed, "I can't transform into you anymore. Not only that, I tried your vampire form, and I felt a powerful electric shock through my body when I couldn't do that either."

"Whoa, are you alright?" Rainbow asked.

"The electric shock is gone, but I still feel...bad…like a knot in my stomach," Ocellus continued her confession. "I can't tell if it's guilt about trying or lament that I can't do it. I've never had something like this happen to me."

"Hmm," Rainbow thought. "This is a bit out of my league beyond the advice that you shouldn't do either of those things anymore. But, I just so happen to know a powerful unicorn expert in magic that has a better grasp on what I am than most ponies. Go see Counselor Starlight after school today and tell her what you told me. I'll be sure to let her know you're stopping by."

"I really can't do it ever again?" Ocellus asked.

"Mev magic is closely tied with consent of the parties involved," Rainbow explained. "You're trying to do those things without permission. Would I ever have want or need of such power? Maybe for the kind of work ahead of me, but I'm still developing certain other powers that take top priority right now."

Before Ocellus could ask about those, other students started shuffling in for the next class.

"Better get a move on," Rainbow told her.

Ocellus silently nodded and left.





After that class, Rainbow swiftly made her way to Starlight's office, finding it clear of any visitors. She shut the door. "First assignment, Primeva."

"Wow, already?" Starlight stared upward at her hovering master. "And during the day too?"

"I'm as surprised as you are." Rainbow landed to stand in front of Starlight's desk. "Ocellus found out she can't transform into me anymore. I told her to come see you after school. See if that limit extends to you as well. The kid's kinda stressed about it."

"It must be quite a shock," Starlight theorized.

Rainbow lifted herself up, preparing to leave. "Heh, it literally was."

"Hmm?" Starlight was curious.

"She'll tell you. I've got a date with Fluttershy today so can't stay long. Let me know if any kind of special Primeva powers activate while you take care of this," Rainbow stated.

"You can count on me," Starlight gave a friendly salute before Rainbow zipped out.

The rainbow-maned pegasus weaved her flight to a secluded area on the school grounds where Fluttershy sat waiting on a blanket for a picnic lunch. They talked about the weather, the animals, the school, their jobs, all kinds of daily life things before making their way back to finish the rest of the school day.

With that part of the day over, Fluttershy stayed near Rainbow for a few quick, small weather jobs around town. Afterward, they raced a few times in the sky, Rainbow winning each time while giving Fluttershy some pointers. 

They went to Rainbow Dash's house where Rainbow prepared an early non-magic dinner for the two of them. Rainbow mentioned it was something she sometimes did as a Wonderbolt since they took turns over there.

"Have any of them noticed that you've changed?" Fluttershy asked.

"I don't think so. Nopony's said anything," Rainbow answered.

"I guess that's good," Fluttershy muttered hopefully.

"I've only been around them during the day lately, so it's easier to blend in," Rainbow added.

After the pony dinner finished, the two pegasi went outside to sit next to each other on a cloud in front of Rainbow Dash's house and watched as the sun descended further into its end for the day with nightfall soon to follow. Then they faced each other directly. 

Fluttershy watched Rainbow's face, waiting with curiosity. Even if she had seen it several times by now, this transformation would be special. It was particularly done at the shift between day and night and for her night to become a fledgling. 

The magenta eyes turned to red. Rainbow opened her mouth to show off her teeth as the fangs took shape before chomping down to line the top and the bottom together. 

Fluttershy leaned in to closely examine them, fascinated. When she pulled back, she looked to Rainbow and nodded in a small smile of approval. They kissed each other in a small smooch on the lips, and snuggled. Fluttershy rested her head below Rainbow's chin and against the blue pegasus' chest. They stayed in the position for a few minutes before Fluttershy finally lifted herself out from it. "I'm ready," she whispered.

"Inside," Rainbow gestured her head in the direction of her house. Together, they walked back in and stood in the large foyer.

"So I just stand here and make eye contact with you?" Fluttershy asked.

"Yup," Rainbow said. 

Fluttershy blinked and then she felt the enchantment that Twilight and Starlight had described. She could lose herself in those eyes forever. She felt the bite and the drain. She bowed before Rainbow could even tell her to and felt the feathers at her temples. 

"Bite me," Rainbow commanded in a playful whisper and mischievous chuckle.

Positively thrilled with chills running through her veins and fangs forming on her teeth, Fluttershy obeyed and enjoyed the sensation filling her body. Once done, she pulled away and blinked to see her vampire master watching her with an eager and welcoming smile. A familiar magenta already replaced the red irises.

"Welcome to the pack," Rainbow said. "How do you feel?"

"Magical," Fluttershy said as she fluttered up in a contented spin.

For Rainbow Dash, this exchange was quite special, even after everything she experienced from her first meal and first fledgling. She was certain having an extended date with an already long-time girlfriend added to today's success.

Fluttershy descended and looked toward Rainbow. "Do you think...do you think I could be a vampire bat at will and not eat apples now?" She had been secretly hoping that perhaps the power Rainbow had could allow such a thing.

"Try it," Rainbow urged.

Fluttershy tried. She felt something but not enough to actually transform. "No, I guess not."

"I sensed something in you," Rainbow offered. "Maybe it needs to build up over time. The continual feeding every week is supposed to make the pack stronger."

"Oh, I hope you're right," Fluttershy replied. "It could be kind of fun if I manage to not actually hurt anyone and be able to think clearly."

"Ha, I get that," Rainbow agreed. "So, was it the best day and night of your life or what?"

"The best," Fluttershy smiled sweetly. "We're both vampires now, Master!" She glomped Rainbow Dash in delight.

"Whoa, haha, yeah," Rainbow laughed. "Segunda!" she suddenly exclaimed.

Fluttershy's eyes widened in surprise with a proud smile. "That's me, isn't it?"

Rainbow nodded giddily with a fanged grin.

"Does everyone in the pack get a title?" Fluttershy asked. "What's Starlight's?"

"Primeva. It'd make sense, but we'll find out as we keep going. Two down, four to go," Rainbow said.

"I can't wait," Fluttershy said.

"You can stay here tonight," Rainbow offered. "Not on pack business, just if that's what you want."

"I would love to stay tonight," Fluttershy's eyes lit up. She hardly ever got to stay the night with Rainbow Dash, and it had certainly been awhile since the last time.

They cuddled for some time in Rainbow's bed. Rainbow read a book about magic with a wrapped left forelimb around Fluttershy's figure. The canary-colored pegasus eventually fell asleep. She admitted she could have stayed up, given it was now her flexchange night. Sleep was optional for a fledgling at such a time, Rainbow pieced together, just like it was for a master every night.

Rainbow closed her book and glanced at her evening companion. She gently stroked and kissed the top of Fluttershy's pink mane. "I guess some things get to stay the same," she said with a smile, then looked upward at the ceiling. With herself as master and two fledglings, she was almost halfway done forming her pack. She wanted to give it a name, she decided, but not until after the pack fully formed.
> Chapter 10 - More Fledglings
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







The next day in the later afternoon, Rainbow, Starlight, and Fluttershy sat in the throne room of Twilight's castle. Everyone else would be arriving later, and Twilight had no qualms with the still forming mev pack using it to their convenience.

"I felt it happen!" Starlight exclaimed. She sat in Twilight's throne while the pegasi mevs stuck to their usual seats bearing their cutie marks. "I sensed a shift in...me. It was really small, but I just knew somepony had joined the pack."

"Somepony?" Fluttershy blinked.

"Didn't you know it was Fluttershy?" Rainbow asked.

"Well, yeah, but I mean, I couldn't specifically sense it was her. If I didn't know the plan, I'd have been none the wiser," Starlight elaborated.

"Oh, gotcha," Rainbow understood. "How'd it go with Ocellus?"

"I had her cycle through all of our forms, do some other ponies, other creatures, and she had no problems with any of them. It really is limited to just you," Starlight answered.

"Do you think other changelings would also have this problem?" Fluttershy wondered.

Rainbow and Starlight looked at each other, then stared down at the map table, paused in thought. "Yeah, I do," Rainbow eventually said. "But...I doubt any of them would know why."

"How come?" Starlight wanted to know.

"It just seems important enough to have been noted in the book we have. The closest it comes to mentioning changelings is that I'll have to do business with other magical creatures. Then again, that book is super old," Rainbow realized. "I'm not sure we're a commonly known thing. None of us ever heard of mevs before."

"We don't know how old Chrysalis is," Fluttershy pointed out.

"Okay, maybe someone like her would know with having been the queen for some unknown amount of time. Authority figures might have some things told to them and only them," Rainbow considered. "Still, she's had no connection to her hive since Starlight dethroned her."

"I didn't dethrone her; her subjects did. I just...encouraged them in that direction," Starlight said.

"Semantics," Rainbow Dash muttered.

"You know, maybe I could ask Discord," Fluttershy offered.

"Oh, is somepony talking about me?" Discord's voice echoed as he soon materialized above the table. "I'm not eavesdropping, at least not on purpose. I happened to think I'd stop by early before the game began tonight. I figured Rainbow Dash and I could discuss a few changes given that two of the players are earth ponies."

"How much did you hear?" Rainbow asked.

"Just the part where Fluttershy said maybe you could ask me. Ask me what?" Discord prodded.

"Do you know if changelings and mevs ever did business together?" Fluttershy told him her question.

"Well, I certainly kept my distance from mevs when I could, but I do happen to know the answer. Yes, they did. I'm guessing some changeling somewhere found out the master mev is off-limits for shape-shifting," Discord said.

"You got it," Starlight confirmed. "One of our students, Ocellus. She's the only changeling who knows about Rainbow. She found out on Monday and since that was on her mind, she tried it only to find out she couldn't. The full vampire form even gives her an electric shock."

Discord snickered. "I remember that sensation. I never found out if it had a name, but it's not exclusive to changelings. Some kind of feedback you might say. Rainbow here might even be able to use changeling magic for the number of attempts from your student."

"Want to try it, Master?" Starlight proposed.

Rainbow transformed into the unicorn speaking to her with ease. She stared at her temporary lilac hooves. "Whoa!" she said and then reverted back to her standard daytime pegasus form.

"That's amazing," Fluttershy cooed.

"Remember, you've got a limit," Discord explained. "At least until you eat changeling magic for the first time. Then you're still limited by your usual rules of course but not a number of attempts."

"Maybe Discord should mentor me in magic too!" Rainbow grinned, her mouth wide open as she pointed in his direction while looking at Starlight.

"You're learning magic?" Discord said with sudden interest.

"Yeah, it's one of the ways I'm allowed to use it. We figured I should learn for this job. This power's so awesome, I just….I gotta be worthy of having it, you know," Rainbow told him.

"How interesting." He became thoughtful.

"Oh Discord, you totally should," Fluttershy stated eagerly. "Our pack would be unstoppable if our master learned magic from you."

"I shall consider it. But first….are you three done or should I make myself scarce?" Discord asked.

"No, we've covered our main points," Rainbow said. "Let's talk about the game."





"Tonight is another Fledgling Hunt. Rainbow Dash has one hour to capture either Rarity, Pinkie Pie, or Applejack," Spike announced. "Unlike our first two-player hunt, magic is banned for this round to even things out for our three competitors and up the challenge for our chaser. The cat must catch two mice for a winner to be declared. Rainbow is using another mask to disguise the difference in her prey, this time based on Fluttershy due to their recent exchange of magic last night. Our host, Discord, has added some new elements to the stage as well: contraptions and mirrors."

Pinkie bounced around staring at mirrors contorting her image. "Wow, this is so much fun! WooOOOooo!"

Applejack found herself in a similar place but was not as entertained. She sighed in frustration.

Rarity traversed some stairs, eyeing the jeweled walls. "My," she remarked. She looked at them and saw a particularly large diamond. Losing herself in the moment, she tapped at it and suddenly found herself switched to the other side of the wall. She heard a trot and desperately searched for a button to switch back.

Rainbow trotted at a casual pace. Tonight's game was much more confined compared to the first. She could fly but not as freely. Still, she found Pinkie's voice easily enough, pounced, and eliminated her from the game.

Applejack ran into a similar switch Rarity found earlier and found herself flipped over to right behind Rainbow Dash. Rainbow pounced. "Gotcha!"

The stage faded away with Spike proudly announcing Rarity as the evening's winner.

The others left, knowing another game awaited them the next night.

"I have to admit, I am rather nervous," Rarity told her friend. "If I may ask, can we do it at my boutique? I actually made some attire for us both."

"Of course you did. You know it only takes a few minutes, right?" Rainbow asked.

"A very special few minutes based on what you and your fledglings say," Rarity reminded her.

Rainbow smiled with closed eyes, reflecting a quiet content Rarity was not sure she'd ever seen in her friend. "They are."

"So, you'll do it?" Rarity asked, flirtatiously blinking her eyes with hope.

"Never said I wouldn't. Let me see what you've got," Rainbow replied.





The two arrived at the boutique and Rarity showed Rainbow Dash two dresses, the one for herself was a magenta that matched Rainbow's own eyes with ruffled sleeves, gold trim, and small red gems. The one for Rainbow was a dark blue with silver trim. "A fine match if I do say so myself," Rarity flipped her mane with pride.

"They're great, Rarity," Rainbow agreed with an admiring smile. 

The two mares helped each other dress.

"Do we need anything else?" Rarity asked.

"We haven't spent much time together lately," Rainbow reminded her, "so just spend a few seconds remembering stuff between us. For me, it was when I saved you with my Sonic Rainboom and you saved me from being framed. But you know, go by what's been special to you."

"Oh, those were both...special," Rarity agreed. She closed her eyes and smiled, recalling other times to add to the ones already suggested, such as camping together with Applejack and the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

"Are you ready?" Rainbow asked.

"I am, yes. So I just stand here and make eye contact with you?" Rarity picked her spot to face Rainbow Dash.

"Exactly. Prettify your mane a little and expose your neck first," Rainbow told her.

Rarity blushed and did as instructed. "Satisfactory?"

"Perfect," Rainbow said with approval.

Rarity stared straight ahead and locked eyes with the vampire awaiting her magic. 

Like the others before her, Rarity fell into a pleasant enchantment. She felt the bite and the drain of her magic. Like Fluttershy the night before, she bowed before being told to do so. She felt her own fangs taking shape and receiving the transformed magic back into her. It was indeed a good feeling as the other ponies in the pack described. "Oh Master, that was exquisite," she whispered in a quiet pleasure when at last she had her fill.

"That was hot," Rainbow told her smiling. She stroked Rarity's mane a few times in quiet fascination of its beauty.

"Perhaps you could keep doing that while I lie on the floor," Rarity's lips trembled as she squeaked out her desire.

Rainbow paused in her stroke, waited about two or three seconds in contemplation before a tiny devilish smile formed. 

Rarity smiled back.

"Certainly, Mitria," Rainbow said. Her magenta eyes shimmered to red for a moment to magically remove the dresses from their bodies. 

"Mitria? What a lovely title," Rarity murmured as she fell to the floor with contended closed eyes, feeling herself being pet more.

It didn't last long, but it was certainly long enough to keep both mevs happy with how the night transpired before they decided to part ways. Rainbow even borrowed a couple of fashion magazines to Rarity's pleasant surprise. The pegasus master explained that she was trying to add some variety to her nocturnal reading material and though she wasn't sure how it could possibly help with pack business regarding this particular subject, her gut said being well-informed in general was beneficial to that end.





Friday night arrived.

Pinkie Pie hopped around the throne room, delighted for another turn at the game.

"Just us earth ponies left now," Applejack remarked. "You up for a real challenge, R. D.?" she asked with a smirk.

"What did you have in mind?" replied an interested Rainbow Dash with a smirk of her own.

"I dare you to tie up those wings, just like old times. No magic. No wings. Just like any earth pony chasing another," Applejack pointed with a hoof.

Rainbow unfurled her right wing and looked at it. "You want a basic hedge maze then?" she asked.

Applejack and Pinkie Pie nodded.

"That's so mundane," Discord noted.

"The castle's got plenty of halls. I'm sure we can use the place itself as a maze without you if need be," Applejack said.

"No, no, it's fine, boring but fine. Do at least make the chase entertaining while the rest of us watch," he said.

"Really? Thanks! You've made this whole thing so much better," Rainbow told him and offered a hoof bump.

Discord felt a little unnerved while also pleasantly surprised. He complied nonetheless, finding the touch not at all harmful.

"Let's make this one the last game," Rainbow decided. Everyone agreed, and they all decided given the circumstances, it was best to reconvene Monday afternoon since the pack would be fully completed by then.

Rainbow Dash allowed Applejack to tie her wings, and Discord created a basic hedge maze soon after. As with past games, she used her mev magic to mask over the ponies playing as the mice of the game, appearing as Rarity to her.

The audience remained since everyone wanted to see who would win and in turn become the next member of the pack. A new rule was a time limit.

Rainbow listened and trotted. Pinkie Pie and Applejack hid and ran. Minutes wore on but ultimately Rainbow eventually spotted one of the mice of the game, pounced, and saw that she caught Pinkie Pie, making Applejack the winner.

"So, where do we do this thing?" Applejack asked Rainbow Dash.

"Let's go to my place," Rainbow offered, and so they did.





Once inside the cloud house, "Besides the eye contact, is there anything else I'm supposed to do?" Applejack asked.

"Memories help, anything special between us you can think of. If it were me, I'd go with the Iron Pony competition and Running of the Leaves. I know things got tense and messy, but it started off fun. We were happy on that last pass after the race," Rainbow explained.

"You remember that fondly, huh?" Applejack asked with a half smile.

"Of course. I could never have that kind of fun with any of my other friends. You're the only one who can even get, let alone put up with, my uh...what's the word?" Rainbow said thoughtfully.

"Showboating?" Applejack offered.

Rainbow cackled. "Oh no, you've never been able to handle that. I mean my competitive streak. I get aggressive. I like it. But you know...remember buckball? You and I thrived on the idea of that challenge, that pressure. It was not good for Pinkie Pie or Fluttershy. I say I want to smash the competition, and you understand me."

"Alright, I'm starting to get the picture," Applejack said.

"But that's just my take," Rainbow reminded her. "This is about you finding moments you found special with me. Those are my special moments when I think of you."

"No, those are good," Applejack said. "Maybe add messing around in that old castle to the list. We all got scared over nothing."

Rainbow chuckled.

"Alright, Rainbow Dash, I am ready," Applejack asserted.

"Stand over there and close your eyes. When I tell you to open them, do that and make eye contact with me. I'll be right in front of you," Rainbow instructed.

Applejack complied and heard Rainbow say, "Now."

She opened her eyes and fell into the trance immediately at the sight of two red eyes. The process completed, and at the end, all she could muster was a near breathless, "Wow." 

She met Rainbow's eyes again, seeing they had returned to their usual magenta. "I just don't know what to say. You get that every night?"

"I taste something special and wonderful every night, but it's different with each pony," Rainbow answered. "You're the first earth pony too."

"It was good, I hope," Applejack sounded unsure of herself.

"Of course! It was great," Rainbow told her. "You?"

"Sure as sugar," Applejack agreed.

"Glad to hear it..." Rainbow blinked, paused in thought, and said, "Fyra."

"We get titles too, huh?" Applejack realized.

Rainbow nodded. 

"I like it, makes me sound all fire-powered. Do we...do we get special powers like that? I know we somehow do something for keeping you all calm, but the rest is kind of murky for me," Applejack admitted.

Rainbow didn't mind explaining. She regularly re-read passages of her book, trying to grasp what she'd become and what she was doing to her friends. "You help me store the magic, not starve, have a special bond with me and through each other within pack. On the nights where it's your turn for a flexchange, you can manage with little to no sleep, just like I can every night. Starlight's the only one who has really used that ability so far. As for fire power...or new abilities...I think it can and will happen, but...not yet."

"Well, alright then. I hope you're right, Master," Applejack said with a smile and a tip of her hat.

"So, you ready to wash my dishes tomorrow?" Rainbow teased. "As Master, I command you~!"

Applejack rolled her eyes, still smiling. "You know I won't."

"Just needed to make sure you knew it too," Rainbow said.

"I do, Rainbow. We're good," Applejack replied.
> Chapter 11 - Completing the Pack
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







"I can't wait!" Pinkie kept saying as she and Rainbow worked their way together to Sugarcube Corner shortly after sunset. Pinkie bounced up and down, hopping along. Rainbow hovered at a smooth pace. "Everypony's had nothing but nice things to say about their first flexchange. It's supposed to be pretty special. Do you think it will be special? I hope it will be special."

"Of course it's gonna be special," Rainbow agreed.

Pinkie went on, "I have a whole list of memories to be ready with already in my head, like that time we first hung out doing pranks and that time Cheese Sandwich and I gave you the best party ever and that time we went to Griffonstone and we became friends with Gilda again. And Dashie, what memories would you do if it were reversed? I know you told Rarity and Applejack because they told me. Fluttershy wouldn't say, but do you know what she thought of?"

"Fluttershy likes to keep a few things about us between us, same as me," Rainbow reminded Pinkie, "so even if I did know, it's our little secret."

"Okie dokie lokie. What about me? What about me?" Pinkie Pie prodded.

"Our first time pranking together, my birth-aversary party, Griffonstone, you got it covered. Those are all great memories," Rainbow assured her.

"We're here, we're here! Should we do it in my room or my party cave? I think let's do it in my room!" Pinkie decided aloud.

Up they went, and Pinkie continued to bounce in place.

"You should probably stand still," Rainbow told her.

"Oh, I don't know if I can. This is so exciting! I get to join your pack!" Pinkie continued to jump in place excitedly.

Rainbow sighed in mild annoyance and flared her wings out while sitting on the floor. She blew a small amount of air up into her bangs, then started patting them with her hoof to groom herself. 

Something about these actions fascinated Pinkie. Her hops became smaller until they finished. "What is this?" she asked.

"I'm trying to help you settle down with what I'm assuming is a little extra vampire enchantment for cases like this," Rainbow said.

Pinkie Pie looked on in wonder. "It's working. I'm still, I'm still, and I'm ready!"

Rainbow Dash finally stood, letting the red replace the magenta before returning eye contact. She bit the neck and ate her magic for the night. After Pinkie Pie bowed, Rainbow gave her friend fangs, and let the magic return back.

When the process completed, Pinkie's jaw dropped, leaving her speechless. 

Rainbow's smile looked confident and proud as ever. 

Eventually, Pinkie found her voice. "THAT. WAS. AMAZING!" she screeched at the top of her lungs, and she bounced off the walls of her room. She eventually stopped, placing her front hooves on Rainbow's chest, desperate to know, "Is it going to be like that every week?"

"No, probably not. The first time is very special," Rainbow confessed. "I'm sure that over time, it gets better."

"But will it ever be as good as that?" Pinkie spoke the question with utmost seriousness.

"I don't know. It's different for every pack and every bond. Twilight's magic alone is going to be a really big deal for us since I don't think an alicorn has ever been in a mev pack before," Rainbow answered.

Pinkie's open mouth quivered at that prospect. "Master, that means that we could have the most tastiest flexchanges ever once Twilight's in the pack."

"It does," Rainbow agreed with a wicked smile, "and it was definitely tasty the first time." 

She paused, then pointed a hoof at Pinkie. "Quintaza."

Pinkie blinked, took in the word for a moment, then gasped, followed by a few small bounces in place. "My title! That's it! That's me! Oh, I love it Master." She hugged Rainbow.

Rainbow hugged her back with a pleasant smile. Not long after, the two parted ways for the night.





"This is definitely not the spot I would have expected you to pick," Rainbow said, staring into a familiar dark room with two decorative door-sized panels, one depicting the sun and another the moon. Twilight had chosen a hidden lounge area attached to the main library in the Castle of the Two Sisters.

"Well...I thought about where you and I first met, but that was outside in Ponyville," Twilight began to explain. "I figured we should be indoors. And then a lot of the memories I thought of that are special to us that were indoors happened at the Golden Oak Library, which as you know, is gone. Sure, there's my castle, and I did think about it. It certainly would have been easier, but I tried to think if there was any other special place for us. 

"I remembered that this room was where we decided to start keeping a journal with our friends, the time we put into beautifying this castle together, the Power Ponies, and...well, now that you're a mev, the sun and moon have special meaning to you. When I thought of all those things together, it just seemed fitting."

"It's definitely got an air about it to make a vampire feel at home," Rainbow admitted as she hovered around soaking in the darkness of the room.

"So you like it?" Twilight hoped.

"It's perfect," Rainbow said and stopped her hover to land on the ground. "Get ready. You know what to do, right?"

"Right," Twilight looked at the floor, gulped with only slight nervousness, and found a spot that she deemed optimal on which to stand. She made sure her mane was all on one side of her neck so Rainbow could easily bite her from the cleared other side. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and waited.

Rainbow likewise positioned herself, shifted into her vampire eyes and declared promptly, "Now."

Twilight felt the familiar pleasurable drain from when she let Rainbow eat her unicorn magic as her first meal. She bowed and soon felt the new sensation of wingtips against her horn as she grew fangs. She bit back this time, feeling herself replenished and invigorated from everything built into Rainbow this past week. The process decided on its own when she should stop as she felt the fangs disappear. She stepped back quietly, not saying anything at first. She glanced up at Rainbow.

Rainbow stood with her head bowed, facing the ground, still and quiet. Her body started to shake as a hearty laugh took over her. It grew louder and louder, sounding sinister and bombastic. Rainbow raised herself upward into the air. She looked up, revealing a wicked smile, her eyes wild with victorious glee. Her mouth hung open as her fangs shined. Her laughter blared to a maximum pitch. A startling loud crack of thunder resounded through the room.

"Rainbow!" Twilight exclaimed, growing concerned.

The sky blue figure only laughed more, reaching a diabolical cackle.

"Master!" Twilight tried again.

Rainbow's entire body twitched, and she immediately stopped laughing. She descended slowly, a small wind circled outward from her figure. "Whew. Okay, that was...fun and weird. I'm calm now, sorry about that."

"What happened?" Twilight wanted to know.

"I just got kind of excited there now that my pack is complete, put me into a Master Frenzy I guess," Rainbow answered.

"Is it dangerous?" Twilight asked.

"Nah, it's just my nocturnivlair. Really, I'm good now. We're fine, right?" She paused. "Rexa."

Twilight's eyes darted ever so briefly from the floor to Rainbow as she realized with a small smile, "A title." She took another breath. "Right. I forgot you have nocturnivlair. I guess it's not exactly a constant thing."

"Yeah, that and it's usually not so...well, frenzied. Let's take just a minute or two to be still, let the moment pass…" Rainbow said, followed by a deep breath to match Twilight's.

The two mevs did exactly that.

"Now...how are you feeling?" Rainbow asked.

"Amazing and powerful," Twilight admitted. "And...I sense the completeness of what we've all done in making this pack together, not in a frenetic way but just...contented pride?"

"Awesome. Well, I'm staying to get some reading done. You do as you please," Rainbow instructed.

Twilight considered and then offered, "I think I'll stay too, to keep you company and get some extra night-time reading in as well."





On Monday afternoon, the completed mev pack gathered. Rainbow explained to them she wanted to give the pack a name and offered up the idea of "Formidable Lightning."

"It's kinda long," Pinkie said, not entirely convinced.

"You don't have to say the whole name every time. 'Mev' is nice and short, but I don't want it to be Pack or Team Mev. Putting 'awesome' in the name seemed too obvious and 'formidable' means like worthy of being feared but not necessarily a real threat...like me."

"Not trying to rain on your parade, Master," Applejack said, "but Team Awesome really wouldn't be a problem, even if it is obvious. It's very you. I know you like it more than 'Formidable Lightning' without you having to tell me...or all of us for that matter."

"Oh, really?" Rainbow asked.

Applejack and the other ponies seated nodded, along with the standing Starlight Glimmer.

"It is easier to say with fewer syllables," Starlight pointed out.

"I guess I wanted to work some part of my mev-ness into the name too," the blue pegasus nervously tapped her hooves together as she slouched in her seat.

"Team Awesomev then," Pinkie suggested. "Or would it be Team Awesomevs? Maybe just Awesomevs would do."

"Oh, call it Team Awesome and then refer to ourselves as Awesomevs," Rarity suggested.

Rainbow quietly nodded in contemplation.

"I think they're all wonderful," Fluttershy chimed in. "Formidable Lightning is still a cool-sounding name, Rainbow, even if it's not your favorite. Maybe we could use it for something else later, some latent power we haven't found yet or a front name to give to outsiders."

"Heh," Rainbow blushed and held her right hoof to the back of her head. "I'm certainly not going to argue against calling my own pack Team Awesome when my Awesomev fledglings are all for it. Applejack's got me pegged."

"Satisfied?" Twilight asked.

"Very," Rainbow smiled in heartfelt agreement. "So be it. As Master, I hereby decree our pack's name is Team Awesome."

With authority, she smacked a hoof to the table to officiate the decision. 

All the fledglings cheered in agreement.

Suddenly, a flash of light spread through the room from right before the set of doors closest to where Rainbow sat. When it cleared,  Princess Celestia and Princess Luna stood and surveyed their surroundings.

"Most curious," Luna uttered. "How did this happen?"

"Princess Celestia! Princess Luna!" Twilight trotted over to greet them.

"Twilight, it is good, though strange, to see you." Celestia lowered her neck to nuzzle with Twilight. "We did not mean to teleport here. It was as if..." Celestia's voice trailed off as her eyes finally saw Rainbow Dash. 

Luna followed her line of sight and reached the same realization.

They both stepped forward, closer to Rainbow's seat and bowed. "Master Rainbow Dash," Celestia said.

Rainbow, for her part, had lifted herself above her throne during all this and soon settled into a standing position before returning a polite bow. "Princess Celestia, Princess Luna."

"Per chance, could you tell us how or why we have been summoned," Luna implored.

Rainbow lifted into a hovering state. "Oh, I didn't mean to. We finished forming the pack last night and just decided on a name, Team Awesome. Must be a way of my powers making sure to keep you informed. So, yes, let me do that. I know you know us, but still...let's go through the formalities." 

She placed her right forelimb to her chest and bowed her head as a means of polite gesture while still hovering. "As you know, I am the Master Mev for this area, Rainbow Dash." 

She ended her bow and returned to her usual stance. "Right now, my work is mainly here in Ponyville though I expect it to expand to possibly all of Equestria, maybe even beyond. Awesomevs," she turned to the table to look at her seated fledglings with a tiny smile at being able to use Rarity's suggestion so soon. "Line up. In order."

The fledglings did exactly that, forming the line standing by each other in front of the sun and moon princesses.

Rainbow landed to Starlight's right and lifted her own left forelimb in a gesture to point in their direction. "These ponies are the fledglings of my pack. You know their names but again, formalities. Their titles are for inner circle use, but you may know them. Primeva Starlight Glimmer," Rainbow began and Starlight bowed.

The master mev continued with "Segunda Fluttershy." Starlight stood back up as Fluttershy bowed. 

The fledglings stood and bowed like a small wave as Rainbow listed them.  "Mitria Rarity, Fyra Applejack, Quintaza Pinkie Pie, and Rexa Twilight Sparkle."

"A pleasure to know these things, Master Rainbow Dash," Celestia said.

"My power depends on day and night, so if anything ever happens to mess up the cycle, our pack needs to be informed ASAP. I have to eat magic at least once at night in the span of seven nights."

"With six fledglings to feed you most nights, we do not expect that to be a problem," Luna noted.

"That's the idea, yes. Soon, I will be informing Spitfire of the Wonderbolts of my being a mev. I do not intend or wish to tell her about my fledglings though it might come to that. We do not expect to be able to keep our pack a secret but if we can manage with some discretion, we'd like that."

"Perhaps we could assist you with informing Spitfire," Celestia offered.
> Chapter 12 - Revelations Begin
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







The Wonderbolts Captain, Spitfire, arrived in uniform at the throne room of Canterlot Castle on Monday afternoon. She had been summoned by Princess Celestia. Guards allowed her through unaccompanied. As she walked closer, Spitfire recognized Rainbow Dash standing and waiting in front of where both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna sat. All three of them must have been waiting for her arrival.

Spitfire bowed politely.

"Thank you very much for coming," Princess Celestia greeted her.

"To what do I owe the pleasure?" Spitfire asked.

Rainbow Dash looked at the two princesses behind her, and they both nodded. "Spitfire," the blue pegasus took a small step forward, "I have something I need to tell you. The princesses are here so that you know I'm serious, and that we've got it under control," Rainbow explained.

"Well, what is it?" Spitfire wanted to know.

Rainbow took a deep breath. "I'm a vampire now."

Spitfire sputtered a laugh, unable to help herself. "Yeah, right. This is truly the most elaborate prank I've seen from you yet Rainbow Dash."

"We can confirm for you that this is no prank," Luna said. "Please consider your team member's words with care. She does not use them lightly."

Spitfire cleared her throat, still not fully believing but trying to maintain a serious air all the same.

Rainbow stood firm and continued, "I'm a specific type of vampire called a master mev. The 'mev' part is actually an acronym for Magic Eating Vampire. I eat magic now. Just about every day."

"That's...interesting," Spitfire tried hard to be respectful for whatever was going on though she was growing confused. "And the princesses here don't have a problem with that?"

"Rainbow Dash has made the necessary arrangements to manage this transformation. She has a way of eating that will not hurt any pony under our care," Celestia explained.

"Well, that's certainly good to hear," Spitfire replied, and she meant it, starting to accept what she was being told. "Given that, what does any of this have to do with me?"

"Believe me, I don't want to tell you, but I have a sense of obligation to do it. It felt like with everything I've done since it happened, to manage what I've become, it would only be a matter of time before you found out. It doesn't affect my flying ability, but I do wear my fangs at night. I could hide them, but it irritates me. And I just…I was not sure if you'd let me stay on the Wonderbolts if you knew."

"Oh," Spitfire realized. "Well, I mean if the princesses are fine with it, and you've got it under control like you say, then I don't see a problem...except maybe if we need to tell the rest of the team...and hiding the fangs. Do you really have fangs? Can I see them?"

Rainbow opened her mouth, and the two fangs visibly grew. She used a wing to gesture at her success. They retracted, grew, and retracted yet again. Satisfied and done with the display, she coiled her wing at her side.

Spitfire gulped. "Okay then. Um, princesses, can I speak to Rainbow alone for a few minutes?"

"Certainly," Luna agreed and the two alicorn princesses stepped up from their thrones to leave the room. As they did so, Luna paused next to Spitfire and leaned in to speak in a low voice, "It is in your best interest to address her as 'Master' when speaking with her." 

With that, they were gone.

Spitfire's mouth hung open as she stared at the closed doors before turning her attention back to Rainbow Dash. "Master?" she asked.

Rainbow bowed. "Captain Spitfire." She stood back up and looked on with a friendly smile.

"How? Why?" Spitfire asked rhetorically. She stood in place, absorbing the notion of being in the presence of a live vampire and that something significant happened just now when using that particular word. "How long have you been like this?"

"A week and a half," Rainbow answered simply.

The Wonderbolts captain took a deep breath and thought for a moment before saying, "You sure it doesn't affect your flying ability? I'd say you've improved at least a little bit this past week."

"If it does, I don't feel it," Rainbow admitted, "at least not any more than if I hadn't changed. I may have read a book or two with some flying tips this past week and had more time to practice on my hooves, but that's kinda it. Even so..."

"It's subtle enough," Spitfire finished the thought for her. "So, we need to decide if we tell the rest of the team..."

"If you're asking for my input, I'd rather not," Rainbow told her, "unless we can make a deal regarding my fangs."

"I assume that means you want to be able to wear them at night if the team is in the know on your condition," Spitfire figured aloud.

"Yes, ma'am," Rainbow agreed.

"Can you handle hiding them during a show, from our audiences and fans?" Spitfire challenged.

"Yes, ma'am," Rainbow answered firmly.

"Alright then, Miss-er...sorry, Master Mev. You've got yourself a deal," Spitfire decided. She offered a wing, which the mev in question promptly shook in respect.

"Thank you, Captain Spitfire," Rainbow stated.

Soon after, both Spitfire and Rainbow Dash departed the castle to go about their own business. Before boarding the train back home to Ponyville, Rainbow decided to stop by Canterlot Carousel. She wanted to see if Rarity was around, which she was.

"Oh, Master, how lovely it is to see you again today," Rarity greeted.

Sassy Saddles widened her eyes from where she stood at the counter but said nothing. The patrons in the shop did not seem to notice.

Rainbow leaned in to say in a voice no one else could hear, "You know I love it, but maybe don't call me 'Master' when outsiders are around, okay?"

"Oh certainly Rainbow. Your wish is my command," Rarity declared. She gestured with a forelimb, smiled, and bowed.

With another raised eyebrow from Sassy, Rainbow couldn't help but chuckle. Rarity chuckled too. Sassy's lips curled into a smile, assuming the two friends to be having an inside joke of some kind.

"You got a minute to chat in the back?" Rainbow asked.

"Certainly. Sassy, I'll be back shortly," Rarity informed her employee. Once secluded well enough in the back room, Rarity sat perched on a chair while her master hovered. "So, how did it go?"

"Awesome! I get to stay on the team!" Rainbow exclaimed.

Rarity clapped her two front hooves together. "Oh, splendid, I'm so relieved on your behalf."

"And you know, I was thinking on my way over here, maybe I should tell Scootaloo too," Rainbow admitted. "You haven't told Sweetie Belle, right?"

"No, to be honest, she and I have both been so busy, I've barely seen her, let alone had a chance to tell her. I wasn't sure I was ever going to at the rate we're going. Why? Are you thinking of having all three of us reveal ourselves to our sisters at the same time?" Rarity considered.

Rainbow winced in hesitance. "If Applejack hasn't already told her family, the thought occurred to me, but it also feels kinda weird. It's not like we have to tell everyone. But if I tell one of the CMC, I've got to tell them all, right? Even if they don't need to know about the two of you as fledglings, I'm afraid they'll start snooping around and completely misunderstand what's happening. They do need to know I'm not hurting you."

"Indeed, it is quite the odd predicament. Perhaps we should get Applejack's input on the matter," Rarity suggested.

"Hold on, I'll see if she's free to talk about this." Rainbow instantly teleported away and returned with Applejack.

"Dang, that's convenient," Applejack remarked. "Okay you two, what's up? I got time but not that much time."

Both friends repeated much of their conversation from a moment ago.

"Yeah, I hear ya. I'm thinking you should tell Scootaloo tomorrow," Applejack said. "She's got one of her Rainbow Dash fan club meetings then."

"She does?" Rainbow asked. She sounded surprised.

"Don't tell me you forgot," Applejack replied. "I know you always sneak your way in to take a peek."

"Somehow I did," Rainbow uttered in disbelief.

"We all know how," Rarity pointed out. "You've been busy being Master."

"I guess," Rainbow agreed, clearly still in disbelief nonetheless.

"Well, anyway," Applejack wanted to return to the subject, "the point is, that's as good a time as any for you to talk to her, right after that meeting. Rarity and I can tell our sisters once you give us the all clear that you've said what needs being said. Hopefully we'll get to them before Scootaloo blabs, but even if we don't, everypony will be in the know. Us big sisters will be ready for any questions. Think you can do that, Rainbow Dash?"

The two fledglings looked at her with expectant hope. It was all the master mev needed to smile and say, "Sounds like a good plan, Fyra. I won't let you down."

The three friends proceeded to plan out just how that all clear would be given.





Rainbow Dash stood on the main platform holding up the clubhouse, just outside the window, as she was prone to do for past meetings. Her heart warmed at the familiar feeling of glee she found at watching other ponies express admiration for her. She smiled even though today's purpose was different than usual. Scootaloo called the meeting but then very quickly mushed her words together and dismissed all the other fans right away. Rainbow's smile dropped into a confused frown as she watched them leave.

Afterward, she saw Scootaloo remove all of the Rainbow Dash related items in view and replace them with others. There were green and black balloons, a large circular mat, small flags, a poster on the front of the podium, and a large foam cutout. The cutout dramatically displayed a pegasus figure dressed in green and black with a helmet that masked their entire face. The young pegasus filly declared to herself about being a founding member and president of the first ever Washouts fan club.

Rainbow Dash face-hoofed. Why did this have to happen now? She just told both Rarity and Applejack she'd get this done the day before, and she couldn't enter without bringing up the obvious scenery, not to mention her natural curiosity. She sighed, uncoiled her wings, readying herself, and tucked the wings back to her sides before walking to the door and giving five firm knocks.

Scootaloo answered but only opened the door a small way to see who it was. "Oh, hey Rainbow Dash. What's up?"

"Can I come in?" Rainbow asked.

"Huh? What? Now?" Scootaloo nervously asked back. "Um..." she hesitated, looking back into the clubhouse at the merchandise plastered all over the place. She sighed with reluctance and caved. "...sure." She opened the door all the way.

"Wow, look at all this stuff," Rainbow Dash flew in, examining it. "What is it?"

Scootaloo lit up at the question. "This is stuff for an amazing stunt team called The Washouts. They do all these neat daredevil tricks like you wouldn't believe. They're having a show this weekend in Ponyville!"

"The Washouts, huh? You do know that's not a compliment and nothing to brag about, right?" Rainbow asked.

"Pssh, who cares when you see what they can do? It's amazing! You've got to check them out Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo urged.

"Color me intrigued. I might just do that though I do kinda miss the old motif for my fan club," the older pegasus bluntly noted.

Scootaloo nervously laughed. "I just thought maybe it was time to try being a fan of...other things...you know."

"Well, I do consider myself a fan of both the Wonderbolts and Daring Do, so I certainly know a little about adding to the mix," Rainbow said, her eyes fixated on the walls, "though I do keep posters of both still posted." She thought of how it felt a little more like a subtraction as her own image was nowhere to be seen.

"How can you be a fan of the Wonderbolts when you're a Wonderbolt?" Scootaloo asked.

"Hey," Rainbow winked, "I've been my biggest fan for years."

"Rainbow Dash…" Scootaloo said in a friendly, lecturing tone.

"Fine, tell you what. Let's check out the Washouts show this weekend. I want to see who's stolen your heart away from me and what the big deal is," Rainbow offered.

"You're really okay with it?" Scootaloo asked.

"Hmm, I don't know if I'd go that far," Rainbow said. "I have worked pretty hard to be who I am, you know. I hate to feel left behind."

"Heh…" Scootaloo nervously replied.

"Anyway, enough about fandom. I'm actually here for something else," Rainbow confessed.

"Oh?" Scootaloo grew curious.

Rainbow shivered in quiet disgust, wishing she could reasonably toss out all the memorabilia making her feel awkward in this space, knowing she could not. She found a place on the massive mat of the Washouts figure to sit on her haunches. Scootaloo decided to sit as well, facing Rainbow from a few feet away. Rainbow recalled her rehearsed approach from the day before with Spitfire and variations running through her head leading up to this moment. She started simply with, "I'm a vampire now."

Scootaloo raised a skeptical eyebrow, which was a bit of a relief to Rainbow since it meant she wasn't scared.

Rainbow continued, again re-iterating the previous day's speech, "I'm a specific type of vampire called a master mev. The 'mev' part is actually an acronym for Magic Eating Vampire. I eat magic now. Just about every day."

Scootaloo blinked, looked perplexed, and finally replied with, "This isn't funny, Rainbow. You know how much I hate scary stories."

Rainbow nodded. "Yeah, I do know, which should clue you in to the fact that I'm not joking."

"But...it's daytime. You don't look or act...well, okay, you act a little different, but it's not very vampire-ish," Scootaloo pointed out.

"Mevs can be out during the day. I can change how I look whenever I want and right now, I want to look like a pegasus," Rainbow explained. "I'm in my pegasus form most of the time, even at night, except for my fangs."

"So, you do have fangs?" Scootaloo asked as if she'd been thinking it and wondering where they were.

"Yup." Another simple nod.

"I feel really weird for asking this, but can I see them? I just need a little proof to believe you, Rainbow, sorry."

Rainbow opened her mouth and demonstrated how easily she could lengthen and retract two of her teeth.

Scootaloo fluttered her wings in place, resisting the urge to scoot or scamper away. Her mouth hung open. She took a few seconds to absorb what she just saw combined with everything Rainbow told her. "Okay..." she said in a low voice with a quiet nod. "I believe you..."

"Good," Rainbow finally stood from her place on the floor, relieved she did not have to offer any further proof. "Now, I'm making the rounds telling close friends and associates who I feel obligated to know this thing about me. It's not a huge secret, but I don't want you telling anyone else unless you are specifically asked. And it seems important."

"What about Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom? I tell them everything, and they're your friends too," Scootaloo reminded her.

Rainbow had her answer ready. "Applejack and Rarity are on it. They know, and all three of us have our reasons for wanting to do it this way. Those two help feed me during the week."

"What?!" Scootaloo shrieked.

Rainbow chuckled. "The look on your face. Priceless. Relax, Squirt; they're fine. We've got a system in place. I'll tell you more if it doesn't all come together from what your friends find out and tell you themselves."

"Fine," Scootaloo conceded.

"Right then, scratch that off the to-do list. I think I'll be on my way. Are we still on for the stunt show this weekend?" Rainbow asked.

Scootaloo nodded.

"See ya!" Rainbow waved before exiting out the door and flying away. A familiar rainbow blur trailed behind her.
> Chapter 13 - Discord Willing
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







At a cottage on the outskirts of Ponyville, Fluttershy hosted her weekly tea time with her close friend, the Lord of Chaos, Discord. It had been a week since she told him about Rainbow Dash becoming a master mev and requested his help in creating the games. Though properly thanked for his time and help from his friends, Discord had not been around to follow up on anything since that last game. Now was the perfect time to find out everything he missed.

"So, out of sheer curiosity, did you all finish forming your pack?" Discord asked.

"Oh, yes," Fluttershy said pleasantly. "Everything went according to plan, mostly. After Twilight and Rainbow exchanged, Rainbow went into something she called a Master Frenzy, but Twilight calmed her down quickly enough. It wasn't even dangerous."

"Huh, I think I would have liked to have seen that," Discord remarked. "And how are Rainbow Dash's magic lessons going?"

Fluttershy replied thoughtfully, "To be honest, I haven't had a chance to ask, but I'm sure Starlight could tell you more since she mentors Rainbow or you could just ask her yourself of course. I know she reads about the subject at night. Are you still thinking of teaching her too? Now would be a great time since we're finished forming the pack and starting up on the work."

"I have, and I was thinking..." Discord started but could not bring himself to finish.

"Yes?" Fluttershy blinked with an innocent, curious look.

"Well, I...I was just thinking," Discord stammered, "that if I taught Rainbow magic, it'd be best for it to be about chaos magic.."

"Of course! But Discord, Rainbow doesn't have any chaos magic...I think. Unless unicorn magic counts," Fluttershy tapped a hoof up to her chin in contemplation.

"Well...technically both Twilight and Starlight are capable of at least some chaos magic, yes, but I was thinking more along the lines of...draconequus chaos magic," he hesitantly told Fluttershy.

It finally began to dawn on Fluttershy where Discord was trying to go but could not bring himself to say. "Oh Discord, would you really? Would you really be willing to do that for us? I'm sure Rainbow would be as accommodating as possible. I'd make sure of it! I promise we'll take extra good care of you for the week you'd be out if you'd let Rainbow eat your magic. And then after that, of course, we'd treat the magic itself with the utmost care. I think it's a brilliant idea!"

"I know you would look after me, Fluttershy, I just...I'm still not sure. Being without magic is rather difficult for me. I'm still only thinking about it," Discord said.

"Oh, I understand. No hurry," Fluttershy said in a caring voice.

"Rainbow has one night a week where she doesn't flexchange, right?" Discord asked.

"Yes. Mondays, but you know she can eat whenever, even during the day, so long as she has permission," Fluttershy explained.

"How...how do you think I should go about making such an offer?" the draconequus asked his pegasus friend for advice.

"Well, I could just tell her for you," Fluttershy pointed out, "or if you want to do it yourself, I'll be with you for moral support."

"Do you think we could go make an offer now before I change my mind?" Discord asked.

"Make the offer, sure, but I don't think you should let Master bite you yet. We should make arrangements for looking after you first," Fluttershy advised.

"Very well. I suppose we have to find her again since I can't just teleport her here," he remarked.

"I might be able to summon her if our mev magic thinks it's important enough to the pack, and she's not too busy. I'll give it a try. Give me a minute." The canary-colored pegasus flew in a hover and closed her eyes to concentrate. "She'll be here soon. She's just a little busy with something else right now."

They did not have to wait long.

Rainbow arrived in a flash. "Hey, there's a new one!" Rainbow declared with a smile, recognizing and understanding the summon for what it was. "You're good!" she pointed to Fluttershy, still smiling, her voice smooth. She spotted that Fluttershy had company. "Discord!" She offered a hoof bump to greet him. 

Discord returned the gesture with his lion paw.

"So, what can I do for Segunda and guest?" Rainbow said with a bow in mid-air.

Fluttershy looked at Discord expectantly.

He coughed to clear his throat and mumbled something very quietly.

"I can't pick up on mumbles that aren't actual words. Out with it," the master mev commanded.

"I was thinking of letting you bite me so that you could have draconequus chaos magic. It would help me teach you about that type of magic in particular, given it is my area of expertise, not to mention service your reserve quite well," Discord explained.

"Whoa, seriously?!" Rainbow Dash lit up with an eager, joyful smile.

Discord nodded though his demeanor did not match her happiness.

"I like that thought," she gestured with her right forelimb, her elbow bent, pointing at him in continued eagerness. "Let me know if it turns into a decision."

He quickly replied, "I'd need help during the week where I have no magic, a place to stay, somepony to help me do a lot of day-to-day stuff that I've just never needed to understand how to do, practically a maid really. Even when I've been without magic, it's never been for long except when I was bitten by mevs eons ago. I've blocked a lot of it out, but I do at least remember it was altogether miserable."

Rainbow, still flapping her wings and hovering, looked over to Fluttershy, who was hovering as well. "You do know I'd put you in charge of maid duty."

Fluttershy nodded. "I'm fine with that though maybe you could have the other girls stop in to help, each of them one day a week. This would be for all of us after all."

"Alright, you two meet us at Twilight's castle tonight. I'll inform the rest of Team Awesome so we can go over it," Rainbow Dash decided.





"And...done," Twilight Sparkle finished writing a schedule and notes for Discord's proposed idea. Spike had turned in early. She and all the other mevs sat in their respective thrones with the exception of Starlight Glimmer. The first fledgling stood between her and Applejack.

Rainbow made a mental note to herself that she wanted to do something about that but later. 

Twilight continued, "Each of us will stop by Fluttershy's house the day our flexchange since it's like our designated time of serving the pack anyway. So, Discord, the rest of us are ready when you are, even tonight."

"Tonight? As in, right now?" Discord timidly asked.

"Well, it can be later tonight too," Rainbow told him. "Starlight and I still have to do our flexchange, and then I'll be sticking around here for some magic tutoring. So, anytime between all that."

Discord looked at all the others before honing in on Fluttershy. She placed a hoof gently on his paw and gave him a sweet, reassuring smile.

"Oh bother," he said. "Let's get it over with."

Rainbow Dash blinked with a smile. "Really?"

The draconequus nodded. "Yes. Really."

Rainbow flew up in a twirl. "Yes!" She pumped a hoof. "Primeva!" She swooshed over to look at Starlight, her pupils tiny in her wide eyes of excitement. "We dine on chaos tonight!" she gleefully snarled, her fangs gleaming with her every word.

Starlight chuckled in amusement at the nocturnivlair. "I can't wait," she nodded respectfully in Rainbow's direction.

Rainbow flew to hover in front of Discord. "The library," she said. 

He understood the fragment well enough. She meant that was where they should go. "Very well."

The eager mev glanced over to Twilight. "Rexa…"

"Of course Master. We'll stay clear until you're finished," Twilight replied.

"Let's go," Discord said and then snapped his talons and flashed away in a quick teleport. "Where is-?" As he realized he was alone, Rainbow Dash came thundering in from a quick flight. "Oh, right, of course. You know, your magic immunity is a great inconvenience to my magic casting," he told her in a lecturing tone, even pointing his lion paw at her as if she were a misbehaved child.

"That's the point," Rainbow reminded him with a knowing, evil, fanged smile, facing him at eye level where she hovered.

"Fine, whatever, let's just get this done with already," Discord turned away, closing his eyes.

"Look at me," Rainbow told him.

"No, that's quite alright. I'm actually going to pass on the enchantment," he waved his lion paw as if to shoo her away as he continued not looking at her.

"You know that means the bite's actually going to hurt, right?" Rainbow asked, confused.

"Wait. What?" Discord sounded like he, in fact, did not know there was a difference and then did look at her. He had forgotten Starlight's explanation of that fact from a week ago.

Rainbow continued, keeping her magenta irises for the moment. "Maybe the other mevs who bit you didn't try to make it painless, but the enchantment can do that. Trust me, there's enough sadist in my vampire side to do it the old-fashioned way." She grinned, waggling her eyebrows up and down, inviting him to do exactly that.

"No, no, enchant away. A week without magic is painful enough, I don't need any more." Discord kept his eyes trained on her hovering figure.

"Look into my eyes," Rainbow said with a silly smile and a silly voice.

"Your humor in this tense moment amuses me," he said in a wry tone as he did, in fact, look into her eyes and watch them shimmer from magenta to red. The draconequus fell into a familiar feeling he did not miss from ages long gone, but this time something new and wonderful enveloped it. He could only assume it to be their friendship.

Rainbow flew closer and bit into his long neck without another word. As she foretold, it did not hurt at all like it did from other master mevs. It was draining yes, but it was almost like falling asleep from a drained day, knowing one would be tucked away into a warm, comforting bed, slipping away to recharge for next time. Or perhaps it was exactly like that. Either way, the draconequus was no longer conscious and lay on the floor.

Having descended to stand by the fallen Discord figure, Rainbow licked her lips, and her whole body twitched. "Ha, of course chaos magic would be spicy," she remarked to herself. 

She knew she needed to look in a mirror though she didn't know why. Conveniently, Twilight kept a full-sized one in the library, so it was easy to find. Her scleras, the whites of her eyes surrounding her red irises...were not white. They were yellow. "Whoa, that's new. Chaos form unlocked?" she asked her reflection. 

She tried changing the red to magenta while keeping the yellow and found she could not do it. "Restricted," she noticed. She tried hiding away the yellow first, bringing back the white to replace it and succeeded. From there, she found she was able to switch to her pegasus magenta with the usual ease. "Thankfully not that restricted." She examined the rest of her body, just in case, and found it all the same. She grew her bat wings and found they were indeed still the same expected pair of the same type of wing. It really was just the eyes. With that, her self-inspection ended. She returned to her standard form of a pegasus with fangs for the night.

She lifted Discord up with her forelimbs and carried him to the throne room, ready to alert the others the deed was done and send him off into recovery with Fluttershy's help.

Once there, Fluttershy rushed over to see her draconequis friend and make sure he was alright. "Did it hurt him?" she asked.

"Just the part where he willingly gave up his magic for a week. The bite was a breeze once he let the enchantment in," Rainbow informed her.

"How long until he wakes up? For Twilight, it was only an hour, right?" Fluttershy wanted to be as informed as she could on what to expect.

"Since I bit him at night, this is more like he's gone to bed. I don't think he'll be up until sunrise at the earliest," the master mev explained.

"Oh. Okay then. Anything else before Twilight helps me teleport him home?" the assigned caretaker inquired.

"As a matter of fact, there is." Rainbow turned to look at the others. "Every Awesomev up and out of your seats. Line up over here. Master Rainbow Dash has work to do."

"Heehee, yes Boss!" Pinkie saluted and then giddily bounced out over to the spot indicated.

The others complied without a word and little thought, knowing whatever it was would be clear soon enough.

Rainbow landed on the floor amidst them and set her sights on the table and its thrones. In her eyes, the magenta irises turned to red, followed by the surrounding whites turning to yellow. The change barely registered with the other mevs since they followed her line of sight. Her tongue stuck out, licking one of her lips as she concentrated on her goal, envisioning as precisely as she could exactly what she wanted to happen. At first, a long crack sounded and formed in the ground, making a path from Rainbow's front hooves to the table. Yellow light beamed up out from it.

Team Awesome looked on as they heard a rumbling sound. The thrones at the table shifted like nodes on a large ring, parting ways between Rainbow's and Spike's seats in particular. Another stone seat rose out in that space, bearing Starlight Glimmer's cutie mark. The other thrones had closed in tighter to each other though not that much tighter; there was enough room to not crowd them. The large crack in the ground sealed itself easily enough once Rainbow was satisfied with her result. She let out a breath and relaxed her leg muscles. "And, there it is," she said with her fangs peeking out from a proud smile. She gestured with her forelimb in the direction of the updated table set.











"Well, I'll be," Applejack said in an impressed breath.

"Starlight's finally got a proper place to sit with us!" Pinkie jumped up and down where she stood.

"It's perfect, Master," Rarity said in amazement.

"Oh Rainbow, it's wonderful," Fluttershy declared in a fluttering hover, her hooves to her cheeks with a pleased air. "It fits right in with the others."

Twilight and Starlight were left speechless, mouths agape, staring ahead and thinking hard about what they just saw. "You just…" Twilight stammered. "You can do that?! Discord hasn't taught you anything yet!"

Starlight cleared her throat with a proud smile of her own, now knowing exactly what she wanted to say. "Maybe he hasn't, but perhaps some things she learned with her current mentor helped here."

The alicorn mev smiled and admitted, "Of course. Your student's done impressive work, Starlight."

Starlight turned to look at Rainbow, tears welling in her eyes. She started to wipe them away. "Rarity already said it for me. It's perfect, Master." She gave the sky blue mev a sincere hug. "Thank you,"she whispered, utterly moved.

Rainbow smiled softly in turn, happily embracing back, pleased to have pleased her Primeva.
> Chapter 14 - Revelations Continue
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







On Tuesday afternoon at Sweet Apple Acres, Apple Bloom attended to her chores of moving apples in barrels to help her older sister Applejack. The red-maned filly heard a familiar swooshing sound of a fast-flying pegasus and looked up in the sky to see a cloud formed into the shape of a large check mark.

Applejack gazed up, waved her hat, and Rainbow Dash bucked the check mark cloud away, leaving a rainbow trail behind her as she left the area. 

"Is that some kind of signal to you for somethin'?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Sharp as a whip; that's exactly what it is," Applejack confirmed. "Come on, let's take a break inside. I got something to tell you." 

Apple Bloom followed, surprised to find herself led all the way to Applejack's bedroom. "What are we doing here? Couldn't you tell me downstairs in the kitchen or somethin'?" Apple Bloom wanted to know.

"No, I could not," Applejack said with strong conviction in her words. "This here's a secret, alright? Rainbow's been telling other ponies left and right, and that makes sense for who she is and what she needs, but we got a big family. This is definitely something that we don't need to be bothering Granny Smith and Big Mac with. Or any other Apples in our family for that matter. The thing I'm about to tell you is something you only talk about with Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle if you feel you must talk about it. If it were up to me, you wouldn't."

"Alright, alright. You got me real curious; I don't think I've ever seen you so nervous to tell me anything and yet I can talk to two of my friends about it," Apple Bloom noted.

"Yeah, well, that's 'cause it's weird even by Ponyville standards, and unlike Rainbow Dash, I can't rightly prove it fresh to you during the day either," Applejack told her younger sister.

"Prove what?" the younger earth pony eagerly wished to find out.

Applejack sighed. "Rainbow Dash turned into some kind of vampire a couple of Fridays ago."

"What? But we just saw her, out in the day, being a regular old pegasus," Apple Bloom pointed out.

"It's not like the vampires we hear about in scary stories," Applejack explained. "This one eats magic instead of blood. It's got all sorts of powers that I can't rightly be bothered to remember, but I know enough."

"Rainbow Dash? Really?" Apple Bloom wondered.

"It's called a 'mev.' In her case, a 'master mev,'" Applejack continued to tell her sister more.

"That does sound weird," Apple Bloom quietly noted.

"Mm-hmm. Master mevs need to eat magic once a week or they go all haywire and start attacking other ponies cause they are starving," the elder sister went on.

"She's been a vampire for longer than a week if it happened a couple of Fridays ago," Apple Bloom realized aloud.

Applejack nodded and readied herself. "Right. There are ways to handle for it and one of them is that masters can get help from their friends, turn them into vampires too-"

"Whoa, wait a minute, are you telling me that you're a vampire now as well?" Apple Bloom asked in alarm.

"Let me finish Apple Bloom," Applejack insisted. "Yes. Yes, I am, but it's different, alright? I'm barely a vampire in comparison. I do it to help Rainbow. Once a week, she and I can exchange magic and it helps keep her under control. She's the master, and I'm one of her fledglings."

"I don't believe this," Apple Bloom said with an annoyed and exasperated tone but very much clearly believing it.

"Nopony gets hurt this way. I'm still me, ya hear?" Applejack said sharply.

"I just...did she hypnotize you into it or somethin'?" Apple Bloom asked with an accusatory tone.

"Just forget that, will you?" Applejack continued on the defensive. "I am what I am now, and it don't change nuthin' about being your big sis or working here on this farm. I'm telling you because Rainbow wanted to tell Scootaloo. I'd rather you hear about her condition, and mine in relation to it, from me than anypony else, even one of your best friends."

Apple Bloom sighed and calmed herself down. If Rainbow was taking the time to do that, she couldn't be that terrible. "Alright. So, is that what the signal was? Scootaloo knows."

"Yes," the older sister confirmed.

"Rarity's in on all this and going to tell Sweetie Belle?" the filly asked.

"That's the plan," Applejack confirmed.

Apple Bloom sighed again. "Alright, fine. I get it. But as your younger sister, I will be looking out for you and what this vampire 'condition' does."

"That's fair, little sister," Applejack noted with a firm but agreeable nod.





Rarity stepped out of Carousel Boutique, scanning the sky. Her younger sister Sweetie Belle followed and looked upward to see a few small clouds and not much else. Several seconds passed, and the older unicorn's gaze remained fixated. 

"Rarity, what are you looking for?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Rainbow Dash. I just need to see her make a pass right through there," Rarity answered and pointed with her hoof up to their left.

"Why?" Sweetie questioned.

"All in good time, dear Sweetie. For now, let me focus. I don't want to miss it," Rarity said.

Soon after, Rainbow appeared in the spot indicated. She dipped down in a small arch before rocketing into a larger, longer curve. Her prismatic blur trailed behind her, leaving the path and appearance of a large check mark. It was very much like the one she had done with clouds earlier in another part of Ponyville at Sweet Apple Acres. She looked in Rarity's direction and gave a smirking salute before flying away.

Rarity nodded and waved back.

"Now can you tell me?" Sweetie asked.

"Indeed, let's go inside and have a little talk, just you and me," Rarity led her younger sister back in and made sure to indicate her already empty shop was closed. They went to the kitchen, and Rarity prepared them some tea. 

Sweetie Belle waited with a mildly expectant frown. 

The older white unicorn finally began her tale with their drinks ready. "Not too long ago, Rainbow Dash turned into a magic-eating vampire. We all call it 'mev' for short."

"Magic-eating?" Sweetie Belle honed in that part.

"A worrisome turn of phrase to be sure," Rarity agreed with her focused interest. "Unicorn magic like ours would be her main sustenance if it weren't for the alternative we discovered of how to keep her fed."

"And just how is that?" The young unicorn grew ever more curious, learning forward in her seat.

"Well, you see, Rainbow's a specific type of mev called a 'master'," Rarity explained.

"I'll bet she just loves that," Sweetie said with a wry smile and rolled her eyes.

"I know what you're thinking, but to be honest, the word itself has a lot of power beyond even Rainbow's own pre-mev ego," Rarity informed her sister. "But that's beside the point. Let me continue to answer your question. Masters have the ability to make other mevs of a very different sort called 'fledglings.' Together, they are able to exchange magic instead of lose it because the exchange itself has its own special magic to feed both mevs."

"Are you one of her fledglings?" Sweetie began to piece things together.

"That I am," Rarity admitted. "Mitria of pack Team Awesome, at your service," she gestured her right forelimb outward with a proud air.

"Is that like your fledgling name?" Sweetie Belle wondered aloud.

"Close enough; we call it a title," Rarity was happy to answer.

"What are the other girls' titles? Are the others who I think they are?" Sweetie became full of more and more questions.

"Oh Sweetie I'd love to tell you everything about everything, but I really shouldn't be announcing the other girls' titles without Master's permission. Fledglings hardly reveal themselves as fledglings to outsiders at all. We made an exception because Rainbow wished to tell Scootaloo. Knowing what close friends you are with her and Apple Bloom, we older sisters decided to do our best to tell each of you separately at as close to the same time as we could manage," Rarity explained.

Sweetie Belle was unbothered and replied, "Oh, neat. Thanks, Rarity. You really do call Rainbow Dash 'Master,' huh?"

"This much I can tell you, little sister," Rarity said, nearly whispering. "I do it on instinct as one of the fledglings but really, it's generally a good practice to use by other creatures as well, even you."

"Wow, do you think I should start using it then?" Sweetie Belle was quite intrigued.

Rarity admitted, "Well, it's not a bad idea, but I speak from experience when I advise you to choose wisely when you do. Be aware of who's around. I got a funny look just yesterday from Sassy when I let it slip in front of her. We managed to make it look like a silly inside joke we were having."

Sweetie Belle snickered into a laugh, picturing the exact incident.





"Hear ye, hear ye, I now call this meeting of the Cutie Mark Crusaders to order," Apple Bloom announced from her podium in the clubhouse on Wednesday afternoon. "We all found out the thing our sisters wanted to tell us, right?" she asked the other two.

Scootaloo looked to Sweetie Belle, then to Apple Bloom, "Rainbow said I'd find out more from the two of you. The part she told me is that she's some kind of vampire now, and that your sisters help feed her."

"She didn't tell you how?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"No. Just that they're fine," Scootaloo forlornly admitted.

"Fine?" Apple Bloom asked, annoyed. "Scootaloo, she turned Applejack into a vampire as well, probably Rarity too."

"She did," Sweetie said with a smile.

"Wait, she did?!" Scootaloo worriedly asked.

"Why wouldn't she tell you?" Apple Bloom set her annoyance aside and moved onto wonder.

"I think each sister mainly told us about themselves and Rainbow, so in her case, just herself," Sweetie Belle hypothesized.

"I guess…" Scootaloo figured that made enough sense.

"You think it was something else?" Sweetie Belle prodded.

"No, it's just that...she came in right after I kicked out the Rainbow Dash fan club to start my first ever Washouts fan club meeting. Ever since, I just feel...I don't even know, but it's not good..."

"Awkward. Wait, you're not even a fan of hers anymore?" Apple Bloom asked. "When did that happen?"

"Talk about bad timing," Sweetie Belle chimed in. "I bet she wouldn't have bothered if she had known you moved on. She probably only stuck it out because Rarity and Applejack were waiting on her. They had an actual signal planned."

"Hey, I never said I wasn't a fan of hers any more…" Scootaloo began to argue.

"I think the clubhouse decor speaks for itself," Sweetie Belle pointed out. 

Although Scootaloo had hidden away a lot of the more overt and large Washouts merchandise, the only picture of Rainbow to be seen was with Applejack and Rarity. The trio stood in blue jumpsuits when they helped the younger sisters make go-carts for school. The clubhouse often had a standing balloon figure of Rainbow Dash on an end table by a wall. Such a balloon figure was gone and replaced by one of black and green.

"I'm just into them a lot at the moment. It's different," Scootaloo insisted. "In fact, despite everything, Rainbow's actually taking me to see their show this weekend. I'm going to show her why they're super awesome. She'll understand."

"I guess that's nice," Apple Bloom considered.

"If you say so," Sweetie Belle finally conceded. "So, if she didn't tell you about our sisters being fledglings, what did she tell you?"

"Fledglings?" Scootaloo asked.

"Yeah, that's the kind Rarity is, and I assume Applejack too," Sweetie Belle explained. Apple Bloom nodded to confirm while Sweetie Belle continued and said, "The other type of mev."

"Oh," Scootaloo realized. "Well, she told me...not much...to be honest, the main part I remember is that she showed me her fangs and told me she could change her appearance whenever she wanted though she still looks like a pegasus most of the time." She couldn't think of anything else to add just then.

"That is so cool," Sweetie Belle said with evident fascination. "I didn't even think to ask Rarity if I could see her fangs."

"You seem just a little too into this," Apple Bloom dryly remarked. She narrowed her eyes as if suspicious of Sweetie Belle.

"It's interesting," the white unicorn said with a sincere smile. "They even get their own titles in the pack, like a secret code name."

"Really?" Now Apple Bloom herself sounded interested as well.

"Mm-hmm. Rarity is 'Mitria', and the name of the pack is 'Team Awesome.'" Sweetie Belle was happy to be the pony in the know compared to the other two at present.

"Ha, 'Team Awesome', that is so Rainbow," Scootaloo said in amusement.

"I was so worked up talking to Applejack, that kind of thing didn't even come up," Apple Bloom realized. "I kinda want to know her code name now too."

"Rainbow didn't bring up hers either." Scootaloo offered her small contribution, or lack thereof, to this piece of information.

"Rainbow's title is obvious and easy," Sweetie Belle spoke with authority. "It's 'Master.' Rarity said the word itself has power, and that it's a good idea to use it, provided no one who doesn't know she's the master mev is around."

"I'll try it this weekend if the chance comes up," Scootaloo decided, now curious. "Say, how do your sisters feed Rainbow anyway?"

"Something about exchanging magic once a week," Apple Bloom said. "Applejack didn't get any more detailed than that."

"Rarity mentioned the exchange too though I didn't know it was once a week," Sweetie Belle added. "But if they're vampires, even if they are different than most stories, I'm pretty sure they bite each other. We know Rainbow's got fangs. I bet Applejack and Rarity do too."

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom made confused, then nearly disgusted faces. As the image sank in, all three of the CMC started to laugh together.
> Chapter 15 - Marked Filly Curiosity
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Wednesday night, both Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle found themselves separately curious about what their sisters were doing and if the rumored master mev would arrive for an exchange. She did not. During the day on Thursday, the Crusaders wanted to talk about mevs again but couldn't think of a good reason to do so. Admitting to wanting to see a live exchange hardly seemed worth mentioning, and there was otherwise nothing new to report. Apple Bloom could not work up the nerve to ask Applejack her title, given that the older sister earth pony went on as if nothing happened. Apple Bloom thought maybe waiting for Rainbow to appear would make it easier to ask.

Thursday night, Sweetie Belle stayed close to Rarity while the older unicorn worked. The shop itself was closed when there was a knock at the door. "I'll get it!" Sweetie Belle offered and galloped her way to answer, meeting the sight of Rainbow Dash. She smiled excitedly. "Master Rainbow Dash!" she greeted with a tiny hop where she stood. She felt a pulse of power in her heart that she recognized as Rarity's meaning of the word's power.

Rainbow closed her eyes with a small smile and bowed her head politely. "Miss Sweetie Belle."

Sweetie Belle blinked and continued smiling. "Are you here for the...you know..."

"Sweetie, don't keep Master waiting at the door," Rarity soon followed and ordered.

"Oh, right, so sorry!" The younger unicorn moved out of the way.

Rainbow Dash walked in easily enough.

"So, are you?" Sweetie Belle asked, hoping the master mev remembered her question.

"Yes, I am here for my flexchange with Mitria," Rainbow said with a friendly wink, recalling Rarity mentioned she gave her title away and her sister's keen curiosity about it.

"Can I watch?" Sweetie Belle hoped aloud.

"Oh, Sweetie, please," Rarity uttered, embarrassed. "Most certainly not."

"Why not?" the filly wanted to know.

"It's a rather intimate affair, dear," Rarity told her.

"Master?" Sweetie Belle turned to the other mev.

"Rarity's right," Rainbow agreed. "It won't take long."

"Can I at least see the fangs, please? Scootaloo said you showed her." The young unicorn managed to catch glimpses of the teeth in question while Rainbow talked, but she hoped for a better, closer look.

Pleased to have a child so interested, and wanting to make up for denying her, Rainbow Dash offered with a smirk, "You want to see the whole form?"

Sweetie Belle was very much appeased at this prospect as she asked, "You'll show me?"

"Master, I'm not sure that's such a good idea," Rarity warned. "You do remember what happened the last time children saw that…"

"You've shown other kids?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Hey, maybe she'd like to meet Blitz if I give her fair warning." Rainbow Dash brightened at the thought of sharing her pet's existence with someone possibly willing to see her.

"I would, I would! Who's Blitz, huh?" The filly grew ever more eager.

"Not even I have had the honor," Rarity informed her little sister. "Very well," she relented, "but you really are going to have to explain it first. We don't want to frighten her."

"I'm not scared," Sweetie Belle stated.

"Yes, well...just...I'll let Rainbow explain of course," Rarity said.

"Blitz is my leviathan dread," Rainbow Dash told Sweetie Belle. "She can help me trap other creatures and allow me to feed off their fear."

"You can do that?" Sweetie sounded impressed. "That does sound kind of scary. Leviathans are giant sea serpents, right?"

"That's how it usually is, but Blitz can be big or small. She makes herself the proper size to be, all depending on what her master wants. We try to scare who we trap. For what it's worth, that's all we do. I can't actually bite kids. And, you can say 'Master' any time to break out though I'll try summoning her without trapping you. Something I need to work on anyway. So, you want to see her, get the full experience of me revealing my vampire self?" Rainbow offered.

"Yes," Sweetie hopped in place, excited by the prospect.

"You go stand over there," Rainbow pointed toward the widest open space she could see on the boutique floor. "Mitria, guard the door, in and out."

"Yes, Master," the fledgling mev obeyed with ease.

"We're going to do this vampire form first, then the summon," Rainbow explained and then silently retracted her fangs from within her muzzle.

"Ready, Master Rainbow Dash," Sweetie said with a huge grin while closing her eyes excitedly before opening them to wait and watch the scene unfold.

"Very well, let's do this," Rainbow said. She stood a few feet in front of Sweetie Belle and flared out her feathered wings first to show them turn into their bat-wing counterparts. Sweetie's mouth was already open as she gazed on in wonder. Next, Rainbow showed her eyes change color from magenta to red, adding some shimmer for effect towards the end of the transition. Then she smiled and gave a hiss to show her fangs take shape and for some extra nocturnivlair since she was showing off after all.

Sweetie Belle took one timid step back but still watched on in fascination.

A red circle formed surrounding where Rainbow Dash stood. She stomped her right front hoof to the floor. "Blitz," she called out. The leviathan dread peeked her head out from the circle. "Make me look good," Rainbow said with a knowing smirk. 

Blitz's manner suggested a chuckle as she raised herself further out of the circle and slithered her way toward Rainbow's tail. She swirled around that tail, then through the master mev's rear legs, around her flank, and then her neck. Wrapped around her master, Blitz steadied her own head to Rainbow's right and faced the observing young white unicorn.

"Wow," Sweetie said, breathless.

Rainbow's gaze shifted to Blitz as she nodded her head in Sweetie's direction. "Say hello as nicely as you can manage," she instructed the dread. 

Blitz obeyed and made for a wide circle around Sweetie Belle before staring to meet the filly's eyes and give a small nod as her form of greeting.

"Hi," Sweetie Belle offered nervously, knowing to answer back.

Rainbow Dash stepped forward, approaching Blitz and offering a hoof out. The dread positioned herself just where the two would touch if she were solid.

"What are you doing?" Sweetie asked, still nervous and still fascinated.

"This is how I can pet her. When we touch right here, right where our essences meet and only at the point where they meet, I feel this iciness going through my veins. I know that she feels me too. If I aim too far," Rainbow demonstrated and showed her hoof passing into the air, "I go right through her." She returned to her earlier mock touch placement. "Want to try it? It is literally chilling."

"Can I really?" Sweetie Belle looked over to Rarity, who was watching the entire scene unfold with her own fascination. The older unicorn wore a small, proud smile for two ponies she cared so deeply about to bond this way. The fledgling mev nodded. Sweetie Belle tried it. She shivered and gasped, stepping back three steps. She gulped, gathered her strength, and tried again, managing to stay longer. "This is incredible," she said with a smile.

Rainbow Dash nodded. "I couldn't agree more, Miss Sweetie Belle. You have made this night very special for me. Thank you."

"Oh, Master Rainbow Dash, it's my pleasure." Sweetie Belle was sincerely honored. "Can I see your vampire form again when you come over for more flexchanges? And Blitz?" the unicorn filly pleaded.

"It might be old to you after this first time, but, whether it is or not, I would be more than happy to let loose this part of myself in the future, if time and work allow. Speaking of which, it is high time I tended to my Mitria. Blitz." This time, Rainbow nodded in Rarity's direction. The sea serpent approached the other mev.

"Oh hello," Rarity said. "A pleasure to meet you in essence, Blitz."

The dread nodded and circled in a friendly manner.

"Rainbow, can I stay with Blitz during your flexchange tonight?" Sweetie Belle asked.

Rainbow Dash looked at Blitz, who nodded in acceptance of the young unicorn's proposal. "Come on, Rare, let's go," the master mev said. "Tonight's going to be delicious."





The following afternoon, Sweetie Belle relayed her experience to Scootaloo and Apple Bloom in the clubhouse.

"Weren't you scared?" Apple Bloom asked.

"I was, I really was," Sweetie admitted, "even knowing both Rarity and Rainbow were there, and that they weren't going to do anything. I also knew that the fear was supposed to be there, and that I'd be okay. Blitz is actually kinda nice, for a snake who's purpose is to inflict fear and serve a vampire master anyway."

"That is so weird," Scootaloo remarked. "I guess it helps that Rainbow's not actually an evil vampire master."

"Did Rainbow tell you more about who's in the pack and their titles?" Apple Bloom asked.

"No, she left after the flexchange. I didn't get a chance to ask, but she's totally cool with being her vampire self around me for future flexchanges if everything else works out that way. We can both get pretty busy. Rarity too for that matter," Sweetie Belle answered.

"And Rarity didn't mind any of this one bit?" Scootaloo wondered.

"Ha, no. My sister loved seeing me bond with her master. And it's totally true about calling her that by the way. Rainbow starts off all polite, she'll like bow and call you by a title too, then just sort of be nice, trying to do things that make you both happy. At least, that's how it was with me, maybe because we're already friends through my sister."

Apple Bloom took note and said, "I don't think I could bring myself to watch if Applejack's flexchange is tonight, well, the full transformation and dread that is. I kinda want to see the actual thing where they bite each other."

"That is totally off-limits," Sweetie Belle warned with her air of authority on the subject. "Both Rarity and Rainbow said I couldn't watch. It's kinda how I got to see everything else instead, which might have been better anyway."

"I know, but doesn't having it be forbidden make you want to see it that much more?" Apple Bloom admitted with an interested smile.

Sweetie Belle giggled. "Definitely, but I'm happy with what I got instead. And now I'd be scared that Blitz would come out and do something if I tried."

"I am too now that you put that idea in my head," Apple Bloom realized. "But I still want to know what day is Applejack's turn. All I've figured it out is it's not on Wednesday or Thursday. She went to Fluttershy's this morning for something but no mention of Rainbow or any special plans for tonight."

"That's funny," Sweetie remarked. "Rarity went to Fluttershy's cottage yesterday during the day. She must really need help with her animals. Maybe one of the bigger ones that needs more attention is sick, like that bear."

They all shrugged before Scootaloo went back to the topic at hoof. "If Applejack's turn wasn't yesterday or the day before, that gives you five more days to figure it out or maybe I can squeeze in a chance to ask Rainbow Dash tomorrow."

"I might already know by then if it's tonight," Apple Bloom reminded her friend, "but I guess there's no harm in us both knowing. I won't be able to tell you before you see Rainbow then since we'll both be busy."





Friday night arrived at Sweet Apple Acres. Granny Smith turned in early as she was prone to do. Big Mac tended to chores outside. Apple Bloom stayed by Applejack's side while the older earth pony tended to the kitchen for tidying, cleaning, and baking food. The top half of the door to the kitchen remained open, which was common enough albeit a little late by Apple family standards.

"Boo!" a friendly voice said. Her blue face, rainbow mane, and magenta eyes hung upside down as her head peeked out from the top of the door. She grinned with her nocturnal fangs.

"Master Rainbow Dash!" Apple Bloom scurried to approach her.

Rainbow hovered herself into a right-side up position and politely nodded her head down in a bow, making a gesture with her forelimbs for the bow as well, as she said, "Miss Apple Bloom. I see another Crusader has taken to trying my title, not that I mind."

"Get in here, Rainbow," Applejack advised. "Big Mac's still outside."

"Aye aye, Fyra!" Rainbow gave a friendly salute and flew inside.

"Is Fyra your title?" Apple Bloom wandered closer to her older sister to ask.

"Yes, but that don't mean I get to spout fire or nothing," the earth pony mev noted.

"It could happen," Rainbow Dash noted with a casual shrug, "but not for awhile, gotta build up our bond and reserve. Speaking of which…"

"Right. Apple Bloom, stay here. Rainbow and I need to do our thing in private. We'll be back real soon." Applejack made her instructions and intentions clear.

The young red-maned filly carefully watched her older sister walk upstairs while the flying master casually accompanied her. Apple Bloom stayed put, as asked, and trained her ears real hard to listen from where she stood. She heard scuffling of hooves on the wooden floor boards above and then...for awhile nothing...until finally...ever so faintly, somebody whispered something. In her head, Apple Bloom guessed it was Rainbow Dash saying "Thank you, Fyra," and she wasn't wrong. The two grown mares came downstairs not long after, and Rainbow waved good-bye before flying away. While the night was uneventful compared to what Sweetie Belle witnessed the night before, Apple Bloom was perfectly okay with that. Learning her sister's title answered the main mev question on her mind, and it was enough for the time being.
> Chapter 16 - Penny
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







After waving good-bye to Applejack and Apple Bloom at Sweet Apple Acres, Rainbow Dash flew her way toward Sugarcube Corner. She was nervous about how things would go with Scootaloo the next day and had an idea for mev work. She hoped that doing so would satisfy and temper her for tensions she wished to stave off if possible. She hovered just outside Pinkie's open window and saw her friend lying on her bed, toying with her pet alligator.

"Quintaza," Rainbow said in a low voice.

Pinkie stopped what she was doing before hopping herself over to the window. "Master Rainbow Dash, my turn's not until tomorrow." She gasped as a thought struck her. "Do you have a job for me tonight?!"

"You got it," Rainbow confirmed with a friendly air. "You're escorting me to the mirror pool. I want to check it out."

Pinkie gasped again, more quietly this time. "That's right; you're immune to being copied. Are you bringing me because of my experience?"

"That and you know where it is. And as usual, a hunch. So, let's get moving. Lead the way, Quintaza," Rainbow instructed.

"Yes sir, Master, sir. Quintaza Pinkie Pie is on the case!" The pink earth pony spoke firm words with a firm salute and then jumped out the window. She thrust herself into Rainbow's instinctively ready forelimbs, landing as if she were a large, cradled baby.

The hovering pegasus continued flapping her wings, stared into the eyes of her fledgling, and smiled. "Guess I'm escorting you to Everfree first."

"Heehee!" Pinkie giggled.





The mirror pool reflected the master mev eyeing it closely, followed by Pinkie Pie poking her head out from behind Rainbow Dash. "So, now what?"

"You go stand back over there and give me some space. For now, you just watch," Rainbow replied.

"Okie dokie lokie!" the fledgling agreed and bounced over to her designated spot.

Rainbow bent down again and took a quick lick of the water. Nothing happened, which was fine and expected. She just wanted to be sure before she continued. She began to lap at it. As she did so, Pinkie looked on. Swirling tiny balls of white light coalesced on the other side of the pool, across from her master. The lights began to turn pink and take the shape of a pony. Soon, Pinkie saw another Pinkie. The fledgling mev's jaw dropped.

The copy wore a dark purple fedora with black trim. Against the black trim was a magenta piece of fabric, bearing the image of a white horseshoe. She glanced around her surroundings with a fearful expression. The master mev across the pool eyed her with a hungry, evil grin. The copy scuffled around  in uncertainty. Before she could make up the mind of her path, a wide glowing red line on the ground encircled her.

The original Pinkie Pie continued watching in shock as Blitz lifted out and began her formidable slither, circling round, higher, and closing in tighter. The scared copy discovered she could no longer scuffle in her indecision. She could not bring herself to speak. Soon Blitz had fully closed in as if some giant serpent tower holding the copy in place. The leviathan dread dissipated with her part of the trap now complete. Rainbow swished her way over in an instant pounce, knocked the copy to the ground, and bit into her neck.

"No, don't!" the Pinkie copy pleaded as she felt herself fading.

Rainbow drank up the magic essence inward and loved every second of it. "Ahhh," she said, her thirst thoroughly quenched. The master mev wiped her mouth with her right forelimb and smiled wickedly. "You'll be okay. Promise. I'll take good care of you." Her red eyes shimmered with her nocturnivlair on full display.

"Will you really?" the original Pinkie asked, grabbing Rainbow's attention.

Rainbow Dash flew the few feet across the pond to land by her fledgling. "Really. Check it." She blew a small breath of air, and the same copy she drank only a moment ago re-materialized before them.

The copy looked around and felt her own body to see if she was still there, not caring that her fedora disappeared in all the commotion. "I'm alive!" she declared with excited relief.

"Not necessarily," Rainbow warned, followed with the reminder, "You are magical water essence."

"Oh, right," the Pinkie copy's features drooped.

"I do have options for you," Rainbow began. "You're supposed to be in the pool. That's where you're from."

"But...I don't want to go back," the sad copy noted.

"I sensed as much. I have certain special abilities as a master mev, including being able to store magic in a reserve, magic like you. That reserve is actually where you were after I drank you just now. It allowed me to summon you back for us to have this little talk," Rainbow explained.

"Go on," the Pinkie copy gestured with interest. "I'm listening!"

"I have limits on when and how I can use magic; I'm charged with managing that reserve after all. But, I am given some leeway when it comes to things that are important to my pack, and it just so happens that the original Pinkie Pie is a member," Rainbow said.

Quintaza Pinkie Pie waved with a friendly smile, then more seriously saluted, notably silently watching and listening herself. She understood this matter was important business, and she needed to be ready to help.

"So, you think staying in your reserve is better for me? Because I'm a Pinkie and can help your pack?" the copy asked.

"Yes. I think it's better for all three of us. Pinkie's original plan when she made copies of herself was wanting to be in two places at once. She can't do that, but having a Pinkie copy she can summon to help us out with our work? That's now doable with our mev powers. And then that copy doesn't have to spend the rest of her existence as magical water staying in a pool when she's been out and had so much to see and experience on her own. She can still at least glimpse the outside world and hopefully would find fulfillment with that work I just mentioned. It's no Manehattan, friend, but it's an option all the same. If you accept, I would like to give you a name of your own as well," Rainbow said.

"Really?" The Pinkie Pie copy already liked a lot of what Rainbow said, and being given her own name in particular seemed to cheer her up the most.

"Really. Those are my terms. Do you accept?" the master mev completed making her offer.

"I do! I accept Master Mev. I do!" the Pinkie copy hopped up and down with budding energy.

"Yay!" the original Pinkie could no longer contain her excitement, considering the transaction officially completed. "My very own Pinkie copy friend. I promise Master Rainbow Dash, I promise, promise, promise I've learned so much from last time. I'll do a good job taking care of her for our special mev magic management!" She jumped up, bounced over, and gave her duplicate a hug. The two spun together, overjoyed with laughter.

When the hug ended, the copy's eyes widened, and she jumped. "My name? Can I have my name now, please please please?"

Before Rainbow could tell her, another familiar voice projected into the air and asked, "Pinkie Pie?"

Pinkie, her copy, and Rainbow Dash all looked to see Maud Pie, Pinkie's sister.

"Maud! You're just in time for the most amazing thing of amazing things!" Pinkie said.

Maud looked at the other Pinkie Pie, back at her sister, and said in a monotone voice, "Why did you copy yourself again? I thought you didn't like how it turned out."

"I'm a leftover copy," the other Pinkie said.

"Master Rainbow Dash just drank her up into our reserve," Pinkie explained, as if Maud would already know what that meant.

Maud looked over to Rainbow Dash and blinked. "What did you do to my sister?"

Pinkie giggled and answered for her master. "She turned me into a magic-eating vampire fledgling last Saturday. This is just work. Don't worry. I'm fine, promise!"

Rainbow looked at Maud with mild embarrassment but confessed with a gestured forelimb toward the real Pinkie to confirm, "There you have it."

Maud blinked and took one full second to reply, "Okay."

"Name! My name!" the copy reminded Rainbow Dash.

"Soon. We need to make a few modifications first," Rainbow said.

The copy blinked and turned her head curiously.

"You're water, so I'm thinking blue," Rainbow continued.

"Blue what?" both Pinkie forms asked at the same time.

Concentrating on the changeling feedback from Ocellus with a mix of mev magic, Rainbow released a breath of two streams, one of blue, and one of red. They each swirled into the copy's mane and her cutie mark. When the task was complete, the copy had a streak of blue color in her mane, and the middle balloon of the copied cutie mark was also blue to match the others instead of yellow like the original Pinkie Pie. "There. Now we can more easily tell you two apart. Pinkie Pie here is Quintaza, so you shall be Pentaza, 'Penny' for short," Rainbow told her. "Title and name in your own special way since you're a special magic essence."

Penny blinked and stared at her updated features with wonder. She soon lit up into a huge smile to embrace her new name. "I'm Penny! I love it Master Rainbow Dash." She hopped around repeating it to herself. "Penny penny penny. Formerly Pinkie Pie copy but now Penny."

"Team Awesome is pleased to have been of service." Rainbow bowed her head and placed a hoof to her chest in sincerity. "I'll be transferring you over to Pinkie Pie tomorrow night. Until then, you've got to return to the reserve in me."

"Yes sir, Master sir!" Penny declared and saluted much as Pinkie herself did earlier that night. She soon found herself captivated by two red eyes before being drunk into the master mev all over again.

Maud eyed Rainbow Dash, then a grinning Pinkie Pie, and bid them good-bye before she retreated back to her own home.

"That was so much fun!" Pinkie said with a bounce and a smile. "You got to be your seemingly scary vampire self at night like you love, and we got to help out a loose copy of mine be happy. And I got to tell Maud I'm a mev! Being mevs is awesome for Team Awesome!"

"Yeah," Rainbow said with a smile. "And I finally got to use a fear snare correctly on purpose with Blitz's help. I think she was satisfied with her work tonight. It was everything I wanted and more."
> Chapter 17 - Dynamite Show
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Scootaloo checked herself in the mirror and took a deep breath. She regarded this Saturday as a big day for herself. She was finally going to see the Washouts live with her big sister friend and sort of maybe former idol, Rainbow Dash, who was also a master mev. The pegasus filly was both looking forward to and dreading this day. She longed to see the show, and she really believed Rainbow could appreciate what this daredevil group did. Even so, she undoubtedly offended the older pegasus friend earlier in the week. Not to mention the whole vampire thing that confused Scootaloo more than anything. Despite being told of the status, the two had barely crossed paths since, and it seemed to Scootaloo that at least one of her crusader friends, Sweetie Belle, was on far better terms with Rainbow Dash at the moment.

Firm knocks sounded from the door of her house, indicating the very pegasus weighing on her mind had arrived. Scootaloo did her best to push these anxieties aside and answered. "Hi Rainbow," she greeted with a smile. The instant she said it, she remembered she meant to try the master title Sweetie Belle told her. "Master Rainbow." She smiled weakly, and she felt the faint bit of rumored power.

Rainbow bowed exactly as Sweetie Belle described she would. "Hello Miss Scootaloo." The polite air was quickly followed by a familiar, playful smirk. "Are you ready to seize the day and show me something worthwhile?"

"You bet I am!" Scootaloo beamed with suddenly renewed confidence.

With that, the two pegasi found their way to the designated place of the much-anticipated stunt show.

"Oh my goodness, there are so many ponies here," Scootaloo noticed. "Are we even going to be able to find seats?"

"Rainbow Dash! Scootaloo!" a familiar voice called out. Twilight Sparkle waved them over where there was indeed enough space for the two of them to join her, so they did.

"Thanks, Twi. I didn't know you were coming to see this too," Rainbow told her.

"It was a sort of last minute decision," Twilight began to explain. "Some of the students were talking about it yesterday and showed me the posters. Rarity said that the designs were quite eye-catching, and I'm inclined to agree. I thought perhaps it might be interesting. After all, I've had the pleasure of watching you perform many times."

"The show's starting!" Scootaloo alerted them, so they'd stop talking.

The three of them watched together as three pegasi stunt performers leaped out upon a bombastic introduction. Their bodies were fully clad in black outfits with green trim. Each figure wore a helmet covering their entire head. Observers could see that all three varied in height. Throughout the show, the stunt performers made their way through dangerous contraptions and tense situations, leaving the audience on the edge of their seats.

Scootaloo watched with eager wonder and could only grasp through her peripheral that Rainbow Dash was equally enamored. All hints of jealousy from earlier in the week seemed gone, or at least pushed aside, for now. That was enough to enjoy the show as much as she had hoped. There was one actual injury during the performance though the show itself continued undeterred. There was another close call near the end of the show as metal chopped off the small bits of a gold tail. With the stunt considered successfully done nonetheless, the audience cheered with amazement. They honored the closing of the event with stomping hooves of appreciation.

When it all died down and ponies left their seats to go home or ask for autographs, Scootaloo fixated her eyes on the performers while asking to her side, "So, what did you think, Rainbow Dash? Was it worthwhile?"

"Definitely," Rainbow considered. "I'm especially curious about the leader. There's something about that one."

"Isn't she amazing?" Scootaloo asked rhetorically.

"Let's see if we can meet her." Rainbow stood from her seat, intending to make her way to do exactly that.

"What? Meet her? Meet them? Really?" Scootaloo sounded nervous. "I don't know if I can."

"You think I got to where I am by getting all nervous and not getting done what I wanted to do?" Rainbow asked with a confident air. "I was a mess when I met Daring Do, but I still did it and got to talk to her. Turns out, she's awesome, and she even talked to me too. We're friends now! You don't want to miss out, right?"

"Right." Scootaloo nodded. "How do we approach them?"

Rainbow grabbed Scootaloo without a word and flew toward where two of the Washouts finished giving autographs. Of the two, one was a tall purple-coated mare with a white mane and tail. The other was a short, red stallion with an orange mane and tail. Before Rainbow could step forward and introduce herself, the third member flew in to land with a powerful gust of wind. She removed her helmet to reveal a pony who Rainbow Dash actually knew.

"Lightning Dust?!" Rainbow asked in shock.

Lightning Dust herself saw Rainbow call her name and came closer to see the other pegasus muzzle to muzzle. "Rainbow Dash?!" she asked in shock as well.

"Scootaloo," the young pegasus filly offered her name between them. "Hi," she managed to wave with a nervous smile.

"Rolling Thunder," said the tall pegasus mare. Rainbow and Scootaloo turned their heads to see her.

"Short Fuse," the short stallion offered.

"We're called the Washouts because we all used to be Wonderbolts until we got 'washed out'," Rolling Thunder explained without being prompted. They were introducing each other, so it seemed fitting to her. "I got booted out of Wonderbolt Academy cause of 'flagrant disregard for hazardous weather'. Pssh. If doing barrel rolls through nine-hundred million volts of electricity in a raging thunderstorm is wrong, then I don't want to be right." She grinned fiercely.

Scootaloo grinned in turn at that thought.

Rainbow barely paid any mind to that and looked at Short Fuse with a small nod. "What's your story?"

"Anger issues!" he snapped at her and lifted off the ground in his fury. "Get off my back!"

"Uh, okay," Rainbow responded awkwardly. She looked at Lightning Dust.

"And of course you know how I washed out already," Lightning told Rainbow with a glare.

"You two know each other?" Scootaloo asked with an amazed smile. "That is so cool!"

"Your friend," Lightning Dust gestured to Rainbow Dash with her right forelimb, "got me kicked out of the Wonderbolts."

"Oh, that's uh, less cool," Scootaloo frowned at first and then tried to smile with little success.

Rainbow returned the glare at her former teammate.

"And it was the best thing that ever happened to me!" Lightning suddenly grinned, lifting into a hover. She flew over and wrapped her left forelimb around Rainbow's neck in a partial hug, then tapped her right hoof to Rainbow's chest. "Great to see you wing pony," she said.

Rainbow's expression remained annoyed as she dusted off where the hoof touched her.

Lightning Dust ended her embrace, backing away a little, while keeping her left hoof trained on Rainbow Dash's shoulder. "I heard you're a full-fledged Wonderbolt now." She concluded her touch and glided to the side of a table where Short Fuse stood on Rolling Thunder's back, giving the purple-coated mare a massage.

"Yeah, well, I'm still—" Rainbow began.

"Mad at me?" Lightning asked with a smug smirk. "Look, was it wrong of me to endanger the lives of your friends? Yeah, but hey, now I only endanger these knuckle-heads."

"Heh heh," Short Fuse chuckled and followed with a begrudging, "Don't call me 'knuckle-head,'" between clenched teeth near the end of his chuckle.

With ears folded down, wide eyes, a raised eyebrow, and frown, Rainbow hardly looked amused, still thinking of what her friends went through.

Scootaloo herself simply smiled and pulled out a photo to approach Lightning Dust.

"Come on," Lightning said, "You know you miss me," as Rainbow now glared. Lightning meanwhile gave the photo an autograph and started to address Scootaloo. "Me and her? We blew every pony out of  the sky." She returned the photo and lifted into a proud hovering flight.

"Really?" asked an impressed Scootaloo.

"Actually, yeah, really," Lightning faced the young filly between her flying. "All that wind was totally dangerous, but we had fun, right? Two fastest times on the Dizzitron." She folded her forelimbs and closed her eyes with pride.

At last, Rainbow loosened up some as she started a hover too with a smirk to remind Lightning, "If I remember correctly, I had you beat by half a second."

Lightning pointed back with her left hoof, smiling as well, "Only because when I went, I cranked up the dizziness factor."

They both laughed, and Scootaloo watched them with a truly mesmerized smile while they both touched back down to the ground at the same time.

"Yeah, well I'm glad it all worked out," Rainbow said and then admitted with a compliment, "Your show was pretty dynamite."

"Want to know the secret?" Lightning Dust put a wing around Scootaloo. "We basically ignore everything the Wonderbolts ever taught us about safety." 

Scootaloo continued smiling, utterly enamored. The smile disappeared as a familiar sky blue wing embraced her as well while Rainbow Dash said, "Well, we do have safety rules for a reason."

Lightning leaned in and touched a wing to Scootaloo's neck. "Don't listen to her kid, all their 'rules'," she made a mock air quote with her wing, "are just ways of keeping their little club exclusive, so they can feel good about themselves."

Scootaloo watched the two adult mare pegasi return to glaring at each other and arguing with curious wonder.

"It's not about making anypony feel bad," Rainbow Dash defended. "It's about finding the best fliers," she said as she flew upward for emphasis of her statement. "The best of the best," she declared with a proud smile in her hover, oblivious to the lamenting expression on Scootaloo, who had not been able to fly no matter how hard she tried all her life.

Lightning Dust stepped forward and said, "I started the Washouts because I believe anypony can be the best of the best."

Scootaloo blinked, stepped forward as well and quietly gazed on with a smile of admiration at those words.

Meanwhile, Lightning grew thoughtful with a sly smile. "You know, Rolling Thunder is going to be out for awhile." She gestured to her other two teammates where Short Fuse was still massaging Rolling Thunder's back, but now they both sat upright.

The other Washout mare explained. "During the show, I caught the old hind leg in the crushinating jaws of Smash-a-Lot, patent pending," she said with a friendly wink.

Lightning Dust approached Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo, looking at Rainbow Dash directly. "There's a spot on the team if you want to join up," she offered with an inviting smile.

Scootaloo smiled and gasped, prancing in place with her excitement, looking at Rainbow with hopeful eyes.

Rainbow smiled proudly. "I appreciate the offer, but I'm already a Wonderbolt."

"I'll do it!" Scootaloo volunteered with eagerness. "Can I do it?"

Rainbow firmly placed her right hoof on Scootaloo's head. "Let me think? No," she said with a disapproving frown.

Annoyed, Scootaloo bat her away. "I wasn't asking you." 

Rainbow Dash blinked, still frowning but with a quiet air, more hurt than angered or the disapproval from a second before. 

Scootaloo blinked and looked at Lightning Dust with big, hopeful eyes.

"Aw, you're cute," Lightning said, "but technically you haven't washed out of the Wonderbolts, which is kind of our thing."

"And also," Rainbow walked toward them, "noooooooo," she stretched her word of denial with protective emphasis.

"What if I joined and dropped out super quick?" Scootaloo offered.

Both Rainbow Dash and Lightning Dust chuckled at that.

"I'm sorry kid," Lightning said, shaking her head.

Rainbow just sighed and looked to the air with a half smile and roll of her eyes.

"What? I don't get it." Scootaloo was confused.

"First off, you're too young to join," Lightning pointed out.

"Secondly, you'd have to apply to the academy," Rainbow continued.

"Third, you'd have to get accepted and then you'd have to drop out to wash out," Lightning finished. "I'm talking about performing tomorrow. You can't go and join the Wonderbolts for five seconds today to join the Washouts while we're in town."

"Not a cool thing to do either," Rainbow muttered.

"Oh please please please!" Scootaloo begged. "Make an exception. You just said 'anypony', right?"

"Hmm, I did, didn't I?" Lightning considered with a smile.

Rainbow Dash stared at her icily.

The other pegasus mare noticed. "I think your friend wants to have a talk with you first. Come and see me later; we'll talk shop. I need to know what you can even do."
> Chapter 18 - Appealing Danger
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo stood and faced each other in the CMC clubhouse.

"Why are you trying to stop me?" Scootaloo asked with an annoyed glare.

"Because it's dangerous! Didn't you hear her? I'm not joking about the safety rules," Rainbow Dash said.

"I thought you loved danger," Scootaloo pointed out. "You're a daredevil like me—or were. Not to mention, aren't you yourself like super dangerous just by existing now? You still let me hang out with you today, Master Rainbow Dash." Scootaloo immediately covered her mouth, sensing that perhaps she crossed a line in her desperate search to fire off with something, anything, to get back at her sister figure.

The words cut Rainbow like a small knife, and tears welled in her magenta eyes. She sighed and wiped the tears away with one of her wings, otherwise undeterred as she told Scootaloo, "Being a master mev has its own set of safety rules too, believe it or not. I know there are things I need to do to keep other ponies safe from me. And I do them. I don't want to see you get hurt by what Lightning Dust might have you do."

"I can't fly," Scootaloo suddenly admitted. "It's about time you understood that about me, Rainbow Dash." The pegasus filly wiped a tear of her own. "I can't ever be a Wonderbolt like you or one of the best fliers. I can't be the 'best of the best' according to your standards. I look up to you, Rainbow, but that doesn't mean I want to be you. The Washouts give me a chance to be something awesome. Don't you get that? Don't you want that for me too?"

Rainbow stared at the wooden floorboards thoughtfully. She glanced up and replied, "You...you already are awesome you know. I didn't know you couldn't fly. I know you've had doubts, but I thought you weren't sure."

"I'm past the age where I should be able to do it," Scootaloo explained. "I have been for awhile now. I accepted it some time ago. I need to find my own path, and it won't be the same as yours."

Rainbow nodded and muttered, "Of course." She looked over to Scootaloo and swallowed. "If somepony found a cure, would you want it?"

"I really don't think it's possible or that I can wait my whole life to find out," Scootaloo said. "Why?"

"Can I tell you more about my being a master mev?" Rainbow offered.

Scootaloo nodded, not sure how that connected to this part of the conversation. They had moved on from her strange jab at that existence.

"I was granted this power by the land with a purpose. I'm supposed to maintain a reserve and manage magic. My pack helps me with my work. My title helps me think. It helps me and others communicate. All of these things together give me the power to do business with other magical creatures. Creatures includes ponies." Rainbow looked at Scootaloo. "Ponies includes young pegasi."

"Are you saying you could cure my flight disability?" Scootaloo wondered with hesitation and skepticism.

"No," Rainbow told her plainly. "I am offering to investigate your disability to start you on a path that could lead to a cure."

"And if I decline this offer?" Scootaloo asked without looking Rainbow in the eye.

"My business is my business," the master mev said coolly, "but as for you, nothing will change."

"Then we're right back where we started, aren't we Master Rainbow Dash?" Scootaloo pointed out. "I don't know about this offer, but right now, I know that I want to perform for the Washouts, with or without your approval. I know that I can't fly today or tomorrow, and that I have a chance in this moment to do something important to me. I'm my own foal now, and you can't stop me."

Rainbow nodded and didn't say anything for a few moments as she gathered her thoughts, trying to figure out what she could do to stop Scootaloo from doing something she'd regret. "A warning then. I'm afraid you're going to get hurt. As in, seriously hurt, like bandaged up, unable to move, drinking-through-a-straw kind of hurt." She shifted into a strange melancholy Scootaloo rarely saw from her mix of idol, friend, and sister as she said, "I remember what it was like being with Lightning Dust. We were an unstoppable team, just like Spitfire wanted. She thought Lightning Dust pushed herself harder than I did." 

"Did she?" Scootaloo asked.

Rainbow nodded and reluctantly admitted, "Yeah, she did." She took a breath and tilted her head as if to look up at the ceiling with her eyes closed. "I wanted so badly to be good enough for Spitfire, to be that 'best of the best' I saw in the Wonderbolts." 

Scootaloo watched and listened as Rainbow lifted herself into a hover. 

"So fine, I would push myself harder to get there. I was willing to try something reckless, push myself a little more." The older pegasus touched back down to the floor boards and gave Scootaloo a harsh look. "That decision put my friends in danger."

Scootaloo looked away from Rainbow, not saying anything, and Rainbow herself looked away to the wall in shame. "They could have been that drinking-through-a-straw seriously hurt or worse, and Lightning's response to that was that she didn't care since it all worked out." 

"Well, it did, right?" Scootaloo retorted. "Work out. It's not like you've never been reckless before that."

"I know," Rainbow replied. She reached out to touch a hoof to Scootaloo's shoulder, but the younger pony tensed. "I know, but that's when I saw my line, Scoot—a line I never even knew I had." She put her hoof back to the floor and her gaze peered down again. "I would not push myself at that cost. If you go to the Washouts—if you go to Lightning Dust—you'll find somepony every bit as intense and thrilling as you hope she is and then some. But that doesn't mean you'll find what you want from this moment in front of you." 

With fiercely narrowed eyes, Scootaloo replied, "You don't know anything about what I'll find or what it's like to be where I am."

"But I do when it comes to Lightning Dust!" Rainbow insisted.

"This isn't just about her. I can't fly, but I can do stunts. Guess what the Washouts are about? Stunts! It's called 'opportunity.' You don't know what it's like to not be able to fly like every other pegasus you know—ever," Scootaloo pointed out. "Not just a week because you got hurt or a day because some monster took your magic. No. Every. Day. You don't know anything about that. And all the expectations from ponies like you that come with it."

Hurt and guilty as charged, Rainbow studied the younger figure before her. "You're right. I don't," she admitted and sighed. She walked out, hanging her head and drooping her ears, accepting the futility of her position. Soon after, she lifted off and flew away.

Scootaloo glared bitterly at the door. She was determined to prove herself, prove her capability as an athlete, and prove that Rainbow Dash was wrong.





The Sunday show for the Washouts had another huge turnout. Rarity, Sweetie Belle, Applejack, and Apple Bloom clustered together on one of the bleachers. In the row below them sat Twilight Sparkle, Starlight Glimmer, and Pinkie Pie. "Where are Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy?" Apple Bloom asked the mares. "You'd think Rainbow wouldn't want to miss Scootaloo's big show."

"Rainbow Dash isn't on the best terms with the leader of the Washouts," Twilight explained to them.

"Oh my gosh, the drama!" Pinkie Pie declared, singing out the last syllable. "Rainbow told me and Penny last night that it's Lightning Dust, the very same pony who convinced her to start a tornado at Wonderbolts Academy. She's totally worried about Scootaloo. I'll bet she's just watching from the wings to make sure everything's okay."

"So, Saturdays are your turn?" Sweetie Belle asked with a sly smile. "Wait, who's Penny?"

"Yeah, how'd you know? And Penny's my super duper nice mirror pool copy that Rainbow drank Friday night, and I drank last night," Pinkie answered honestly. She added with a touch of pride,  "I can now summon her myself."

"Let's try to be a little more discrete about what we say on that sort of thing while we're out in public," Starlight suggested. With Rainbow not present, that put Primeva in charge of Team Awesome for the moment. "Put it off until later if that's what it takes."

"Heehee right. Sorry Starlight," Pinkie smiled with closed eyes and bashfully rubbed the back of her mane.

"As for Fluttershy," Applejack changed the subject, "she'd rather stay home on care-taking duty today. She can leave her patient. He's not so bad off, but I guess it's just enough that's where she wants to be now that she doesn't have to worry about work at the school."

"Who is this mysterious patient anyway?" Apple Bloom asked. "Both you and Rarity have gone to help her out last week."

"We'll tell you later," Rarity said with a wink as she looked at Starlight, who gave her an approving nod.

The announcer came on to start the show, this time introducing Lightning Dust by name, as she flew in to land for her entrance. The Washouts captain removed her helmet to talk to the crowd, describing the area and equipment already set up. "In just a moment, the newest member of the Washouts will be rocket-sledding down that hill, up that ramp, and over all twenty-two wagons, to land on the other side...in one piece." She scoffed and added, "Heh, if she's lucky." She quickly moved on, "Put your hooves together for Half-Pint Dynamite!"

Rolling Thunder and Short Fuse held a trampoline for Scootaloo. Clad in Washouts attire, she jumped through and into a flip, before she landed with her hooves on the ground and to the sound of the cheering crowd. Lightning Dust soon joined her, so that Scootaloo could ride on her back. They flew to the hill for the anticipated stunt.

Along the flight, Scootaloo lifted her visor from her helmet. "Lightning Dust?" She went ahead with removing the helmet completely to talk more freely. "I have to tell you, I actually started Equestria's first Washouts Fan Club—as far as I know. So this is a real honor, ma'am. Um, do we call you ma'am?"

With a smirk, Lightning replied, "You land this jump, you can call me whatever you want."

They soon passed through a thin layer of cloud and landed on the hill where Scootaloo saw the considerably large rocket attached to her scooter that would propel her for the stunt. Her eyes widened in fear as she nervously began to state, "Wow, that sure is…"

Sensing the young one's trepidation, Lightning finished, "Dangerous? Nah…" Then she seemed to give it a dash of thought. "Well, maybe a little."

"Has anypony tested it before?" Scootaloo asked, starting to worry.

"Where's the fun in that?" Lightning Dust asked pointedly with a smile.

Scootaloo clenched her teeth in a frightened frown and gulped, recalling Rainbow's words of warning about her ex-teammate.

Lightning Dust grabbed more duct tape and attached a small rocket to the larger one.

"There's more?" Scootaloo asked shrilly.

At this point, the older pony became annoyed. "You're not thinking of backing out, are you?"

"No!" Scootaloo immediately denied, then cast her eyes to the ground as she admitted, "I'm just thinking about drinking through straws."

Lightning Dust knew what that meant even if she hadn't been in the clubhouse where Rainbow and Scootaloo confronted each other. She remembered Spitfire always gave a speech about safety rules with an emphatic, loud warning that included such an example. No doubt Rainbow Dash put that idea in this pegasus filly's head. She had no sympathy for such a fear. With a disapproving expression and irritated voice, Lightning asked, "Are you the president of my fan club, or not?"

"Of course!" Scootaloo insisted. "It's just…"

Before she could finish the thought or the words, Lightning was in her face. "You wouldn't want to get impeached for dishonoring my wishes, would you?"

"I-is that a thing?" Scootaloo was now confused on top of her growing apprehension. 

Lightning Dust's forelimbs grabbed Scootaloo without another word and plopped the pegasus filly onto the scooter. The mare quickly and firmly put the helmet back on Scootaloo as well. "Light it up!" she yelled from the top of the hill. Fire surged upward into each of the twenty-two wagons waiting down at the main field.

In that moment, it dawned on Scootaloo that she was literally staring into a line so much like the one Rainbow described from her own experience. "Okay, now I am thinking about backing out," she admitted.

"Too late!" Lightning Dust growled with eager fierceness and pressed a red button.

The rocket shot forward at a high speed. Scootaloo whimpered as the scooter approached the ramp, shooting her even higher—ever so high. Lightning Dust looked on at the scene from the hill. A familiar rainbow blur swished over her, wind sweeping over her mane. The tremendously fast blur followed the same path as the rocket-attached scooter—just above the ground and up the same ramp, catching up to the frightened filly. Rainbow Dash grabbed her young friend off the rocketing scooter, pulling her to safety. Cradling Scootaloo in her forelimbs, Rainbow gave a small smile before saying, "I know I was supposed to let you make your own decisions, but that doesn't mean I can't swoop in and save you from time to time." She winked and smiled again. The younger pegasus smiled back, and the two nuzzled.

Rainbow landed near the ramp by the wagons. Hovering not far above that point was Short Fuse as he extinguished the fire on the closest wagon to the ramp.

"Rainbow Dash!" Lightning flew in, clearly irked. "You didn't let her finish the stunt!"

"In case you didn't notice," Rainbow pointed her hoof with a glare, "she was in serious danger!"

"Yeah!" Scootaloo added her voice and similar expression, standing firmly next to Rainbow. "I started having second thoughts, and you knew that, and you still put me on that scooter."

Lightning Dust growled and glared right back before finally saying, "Fine, I'm sorry. Now just get off our field for the show."

"Gladly," Rainbow said. "Come on Scoot. Let's go."

Scootaloo silently complied and threw off the Washouts attire. 

The pair found a small clearing off the field and far enough away from the show to talk again.

"I'm sorry Rainbow Dash. Even after everything you told me, I still didn't want to believe that I was putting myself in that kind of danger or that Lightning Dust was who you said she was. She didn't care about me being scared or putting me in danger. She only wanted a good show, even if it meant I got hurt."

"I'm sorry too," Rainbow said, "for making you feel that you could never be what I consider the 'best of the best' because of how much I focus on flying. It was totally not cool on my part. I'm lucky enough to have had you as a fan for so long, thinking I'm the coolest." Rainbow rubbed the top of Scootaloo's mane with her hoof. "I want to be worth it. I know to try for being a master mev; I should try for being a big sister too."

Scootaloo smiled at the gesture, and the two ponies hugged. Still held in Rainbow's wing, Scootaloo looked up into her sister's eyes and began sincerely, "Master Rainbow Dash, about your offer—yes. Please. I want to know more about why I can't fly and if there is a path to cure it."

Rainbow blinked and became contemplative before her expression softened into a caring smile. "Then I'll have Team Awesome get right on it," she said. She closed her eyes, allowing the irises to turn red and the sense of her mev power to surface. This job would not be easy, maybe not even possible, but she still liked a good challenge.
> Chapter 19 - Domain Nocturnivlair
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







It was Monday night in Ponyville, and Lightning Dust wanted to see Rainbow Dash one last time before leaving town the next day. Her Washouts teammates convinced her she had been out of line. She had taken things one step too far once she basically forced a scared child into danger during their stunt show. With that thought and the memories of someone on her rare skill level befriending her, however briefly the two times they'd crossed paths, she hoped to somehow set things right—or at least better—than where they would be if she left without this effort.

Lightning Dust found the cloud house easily enough, guided by residents of Ponyville who knew of the sky blue pegasus' home. One neighbor remarked that Rainbow stepped out for at least a little bit most nights lately. Lightning took barely a second to stare upward at the cloud house before flying on to see it at eye level instead of from the ground. 

Despite barely taking any time to look at the place, even at eye level, it was just long enough that Lightning heard a strange diabolical chuckle. It came from inside and sounded rather close to one of the open windows in view. Curious, Lightning Dust peeked inside. Straight in view of her line of sight stood Rainbow Dash looking up at a tall translucent serpent towering over her.

"Yeah, right there, I think that's the perfect spot," Rainbow said, pointing her hoof.

The serpent turned its head in Lightning's direction. She gulped as she realized it must have seen or sensed her and was now slithering through the air toward her. It stopped a few feet from within the house in front of her and stared blankly. Soon, Rainbow joined its side and looked at Lightning. "A visitor?" Rainbow said with an interested smile. Her fangs quietly peeked out as she spoke. "To my domain. At night."

The visitor in question was not sure if she was properly recognized. Rainbow Dash didn't address her by name.

Magenta eyes shimmered into a bright red glow before dimming while remaining red in color. "Do come in," Rainbow said with an inviting voice. She flew back as if in a swimming backstroke before a twirling flow, her body moving further into the house to allow space for her visitor. "You too, Blitz," she commanded. The dread silently followed Rainbow's path.

Lightning Dust found herself compelled to obey and did exactly as told.

Together, the three reached the open area where Rainbow Dash and Blitz had been standing moments ago. Satisfied to have the visitor drawn into the domain, Rainbow deactivated her eye enchantment while keeping her eyes red in color.

"Are you Rainbow Dash?" Lightning Dust asked while maintaining a hover but struggling to maintain her composure. The snake, the fangs, the eyes, the very aura of this place and these creatures made her apprehensive. Just as she was starting to realize that was what she felt, a red circle formed below her standing hover.

"Oh." Rainbow Dash ignored Lightning's question, distracted as her eyes locked onto the circle her mev instinct made with fascination. "I didn't know I could do it in the air too," she told Blitz. "But you know what? How about...let's make it vertical?"

Lightning Dust watched with growing fear and confusion as the circle below her hooves tilted, tilted, tilted to stand upright, making her look as if she were standing halfway into a red hoop in the air. She tried to fly away from it by flapping her wings and found that she couldn't. She was stuck like a fly in a spider-web.

"Looks like it still works," Rainbow said to Blitz. "You're ensnared," she told Lightning with a sly smile. Blitz slithered into a figure eight and inspected her master's work. Then she backed away with an ever so subtle nod of approval. Descending to midway between the floor and hovering pegasi, Blitz coiled herself into another few figure eights and rested her head, preparing to watch her master have some fun.

"Who are you and what you have you done with Rainbow Dash?" Lightning Dust asked, growing a little angry, even if still scared. "Or are you her? Just what are you?"

The mysterious figure swayed from her own left to right with a drawn out, raspy laugh, then positioned herself upside down, face to face with her prey. "I wonder which answer frightens you more," Rainbow said, her voice airy and amused. "That the Rainbow Dash you know is not someone you know at all or that I am someone else completely?" She glided down and up to face Lightning right-side up once more.

"Why won't you just answer me?" Lightning wanted to know.

"Because I'm playing with my food," Rainbow Dash said cutely as she put a hoof up to bop Lightning Dust on the nose. She air swam a horizontal circle around the vertical red circle holding her meal in place as she talked some more. "I do hope it's the first one. You know, if it were the second, it wouldn't be the first time that happened. I've been changeling-replaced once. Changelings can trap ponies, just like me, but their snares are different." 

She paused in her swim, back to an upright hover with her forelimbs in front of her chest. Her red eyes lit up to a glow again as she said in a darker growling pitch, "I must seem like Dark Rainbow Dash to you," and suddenly all of her teeth looked sharp. She returned to casually swimming about the air and her voice returned to a flighty tone. "It wouldn't be too far from the truth, I guess." Another pause in her flight as she outright cackled, and most of the sharp teeth were gone. Only the two from when Lightning first arrived could be seen.

"So, you are Rainbow?" Lightning Dust asked.



"Surprise!" Rainbow Dash said, raising her forelimbs up and out with a bright smile as she flapped her still-feathered wings. Her remaining nocturnal fangs were that much more pronounced with her every syllable.

"And just what are you? Why do you have me trapped like this?" the captured pegasus pressed for more answers.

"I am the Master Mev," Rainbow nearly sang the words and continued swimming about the air as she twirled herself upright. She fluttered upward all the more before starting to descend again as she said, "And any other information will cost you." 

The mev approached closer and smiled. "One bite and one week without pegasus magic." Rainbow Dash put her right hoof to her waist and held up her left, speaking with authority as she closed her eyes, still smiling. "No refunds." She opened her red eyes again, hanging her forelimbs in front of her chest. Then she made a mock biting motion and hissed to emphasize her sharp teeth.

Lightning flinched within the snare, her heart almost jumping out of her throat. A few seconds passed, and the self-proclaimed master mev had not bitten her. The trapped pegasus swallowed. "You're some kind of vampire?" she started to realize.

"Hark, she knows!" Rainbow declared and chuckled wickedly in Blitz's direction. After that, she turned her back to Lightning Dust in her standing upright hover and stretched her forelimbs wide. Her feathered wings transformed to bat-like flaps as further confirmation. Rainbow Dash looked over her shoulder with a proud glint in her eyes.

"You mean to tell me this whole weekend, this is who's been talking to me and that little pegasus filly about danger and safety rules?" Lightning Dust asked in disbelief.

"Uh-oh," Rainbow kidded with Blitz some more, "I think she's about to figure me out." She went into a fit of evil giggles. Wind whirred through her house around her. She paused in her fit—a quiet stand within her hover. "Oh, that's new, I think."

Blitz finally raised her head, slithered upward to align herself to Rainbow's side once more, and gazed on at the master mev.

"By all means…" Rainbow Dash gestured her hoof in Lightning's direction.

Blitz looked at Lightning Dust with a menacing glare.

Lightning could hear her own heart pounding in fear but glared back without a word.

"Mm," Rainbow said. "That hit the spot, thank you." She pet the dread as best she could manage. "I think that'll hold long enough." With a playful thrust of her left forelimb, she boomed, "Master Rainbow Dash dismisses thee, Blitz!"

The leviathan dread swiftly flew straight into Lightning's face—at which the ensnared pegasus literally screamed, only to realize that the sea serpent had gone right through her and disappeared into the circle holding her in place.

Rainbow meanwhile stood in the air with her eyes closed—and smiling, as she soaked in the scream with delight. Once satisfied, she said, "Ha! A perfect finish if I do say so myself." The red circle disappeared.

Lightning Dust felt released, catching herself to hover in place, instinctively sensing she should stay and dare not flee. With her eyes fixated on the strange Rainbow Dash vampire, she descended to land on the floor.

Rainbow descended as well but remained hovering. Her mev red eyes shifted back to their pegasus magenta. Her leathery flaps became feathered. Her fangs stayed. "So, why are you really here?" she asked with as much sincerity as her pegasus self could muster given everything that happened the past weekend.

"Just like that? You're going to pretend what you just did to me didn't happen?" Lightning asked angrily, gesturing outward with her right forelimb.

"Who's pretending?" Rainbow remained unbothered with a twirling shrug. "I told you I'm not giving you any more information unless you pay the price. You have yet to give me an answer. Care to give one now?" Her eyebrows waggled over her magenta eyes with an inviting smile.

Lightning gulped nervously, looking at the sky blue vampire and then to the side at nothing in particular as she gave it some thought—but only for a fleeting second. "I can't go a week without pegasus magic," she spoke as if defending her hesitance. "I won't be able to fly. What would I even tell the Washouts?"



"Is that a 'no'?" a very unsympathetic and unconcerned mev dryly asked with a raised eyebrow.

The visitor began to pace. She could pretend she had some weird sickness. It wasn't even pretending, really. It was just a week, after all. But was it really worth it to know? She pieced most of it together already. Rainbow Dash was a vampire that could eat pegasus magic with a scary ghostly pet snake. She could trap ponies into some weird red circle thing and seemed to have a thing for...fear. "Can you at least tell me if the bite turns me into a vampire?"

"That was not named in the price," Rainbow Dash pointed out, folding her forelimbs, still hovering and flapping her wings, "so what do you think?"

Lightning Dust looked side to side at the floor. "N-n...fine! Yes, alright. Yes. You can bite me. Then you're going to tell me more," she gestured forcefully with her right forelimb, trying to assert her place in this situation, "and I'm going to know that I was able to survive an actual vampire."

"Yes!" Rainbow Dash said and pumped a hoof. She chuckled wickedly to herself yet again and back flipped to land on the floor. Her eyes changed to red immediately, and Lightning watched in quiet trepidation, feeling herself locked into the enchanted gaze. No red circle trapped her this time. The vampire sauntered closer and, without another word, bit her. Lightning felt her pegasus magic draining, but it surprised her that it didn't hurt. It was actually rather pleasant. Then it was like she was getting sleepy. No, she was getting sleepy. And then, she was asleep. The master mev smiled at the taste of her prized victory.





At sunrise on Tuesday morning, Lightning Dust opened her eyes on an unfamiliar bed in an unfamiliar room. Recalling the events of the previous night, she scanned her surroundings in the hopes that it was some kind of nightmare. Instead, she saw the familiar figure of Rainbow Dash sitting on the floor, at the bedside reading a book about pegasus anatomy. The sky blue pegasus looked concentrated and calm in comparison to her manner from the night before.

"Why are you reading that?" Lightning found herself asking before thinking to say or ask anything else.

Magenta eyes looked up to see her. "Business," Rainbow answered simply. No fangs could be seen in her mouth. She closed the book and set it aside. "I need to get ready for work soon, so I don't have much time to answer everything. Now's your chance."

"Why did you trap me like that last night?" Lightning remembered that much of the things she asked at the time.

"I wanted to toy with you and eat your fear," Rainbow told her. "It was fun," she added with a sincere smile.

Lightning Dust shifted uncomfortably, wishing she could deny she was scared, but her flinching and screaming at the time gave it away. "So, what, you're like evil at night?"

"I can certainly give that impression," Rainbow Dash conceded.

"You're telling me you're not? You trapped me, toyed with me, and ate my fear. How is that not evil?" Lightning asked sharply though as the words left her lips, subconsciously, she realized it actually didn't sound that bad.

"Are you evil during the day because you put other ponies in danger to perform stunts?" Rainbow shot back.

"Hmph," Lightning muttered. "You're definitely different at night somehow. What is it?"

Rainbow Dash picked up a different book sitting on the floor beside her and showed the cover with the title, Mevs: An Explanation. She moved closer to the other pegasus on the bed, opened the book, and placed it in Lightning Dust's hooves. Rainbow pointed to a paragraph noting master mev behavior at night, assuming that to be what her guest really wanted to understand.

"Nocturnivlair?" Lightning asked.

"It can happen during the day too," Rainbow Dash noted, "but is more obvious at night and the book doesn't say it, but as I've figured out living as a master mev, it is even stronger here." She gestured at their surroundings, indicating the house itself. "I don't get many visitors, so it was a new experience for me too. I enjoyed myself a great deal, I'll admit."

"So, this nocturnivlair is all a big act?" Lightning wondered aloud.

"Mostly a big act," Rainbow corrected. "I scared you on purpose. You yourself just indicated you think that was evil on my part. It certainly wasn't a nice thing for me to do, and to be honest, I'm not at all sorry. You're a grown mare who even likes dangerous situations. If preying on your unwitting fears last night makes me evil, so be it. Yeah, I guess I am—just not as evil as the act implies. I wasn't going to do anything worse than scare you while you were trapped. I only bit you after you gave permission and even then, I told you what would happen."

Recalling the stated price, Lightning Dust flapped her wings to confirm she could not fly.

"I gotta get going," Rainbow said, "but I can carry you and drop you off wherever you need to go in Ponyville." She took the book back into her possession.

"Wait, can't I read the whole thing?" Lightning Dust asked.

"This book stays here," Rainbow Dash insisted. "It is my personal copy, and I re-read it a lot to understand who and what I am. It is not leaving this cloud house."

"Are there any other copies?" the curious visitor wanted to know.

Rainbow half-frowned at the book, contemplative for a moment as she remembered a spell she saw Starlight use to make copies of another book one time. "I can have one made tonight," she stated.

"But my train leaves at noon," Lightning informed her.

Rainbow Dash sighed. At this point, the situation qualified as something she could not do without magic, but it wasn't magic she knew herself yet. "Primeva," she said.

"What?" Lightning asked.

In a flash, a unicorn Lightning Dust did not know appeared in the room with them. "Master," Starlight Glimmer said with a bright smile. "How may I be of service?" She put her right hoof to her chest in a polite bow.

"Make me two copies of this book. Now. One is for my guest here," Rainbow Dash gestured in Lightning's direction where the other pegasus observed the scene with bewilderment, "and the other will be a spare in case I find myself with yet another guest who wants a copy. I want to learn the spell myself tonight if you think it's not too advanced."

"As you wish." Starlight bowed again, and her horn cast its magical glow. Lightning Dust watched as the original copy was raised. Two other glowing book shapes of magical color appeared at its sides. Copied pages swept out from the source into the other two shapes. Starlight Glimmer guided one to Lightning Dust and the other to Rainbow Dash. 

Rainbow examined it. "Nice work."

"My pleasure," Starlight replied.

"You just...she...you really are a master? You have a unicorn servant?!" Lightning Dust was truly startled by the way these two interacted. 

Starlight giggled, putting a hoof up to her mouth and then pointing. "She's funny."

"I'll tell you more later," Rainbow said with a playful smile to Starlight.

"Just how much were you holding back from me this weekend? Does that little pegasus friend of yours even know what you are?" The guest pegasus sounded annoyed or angry.

"I hold back most of my mev-ness during the day and even at night when I'm around other ponies who don't know what I am," Rainbow answered. "You got lucky—or unlucky, depending on how you look at it—ha! Scootaloo doesn't know everything, but she does know I am a master mev. And yes, part of my mastery is having a unicorn servant. Now, are you satisfied with your book copy?"

Lightning Dust only looked on as she tried to register the flurry of information so easily and openly given to her after all the toying coyness of the night before. Finally, she looked at the book given to her and nodded. "Yeah, it's fine."

"Great! Starlight here will escort you wherever you need to go," Rainbow Dash announced.

The unicorn bowed in polite compliance. 

"Don't keep her long," Rainbow continued. "We both have school today. Thanks for dinner." A friendly wink. She turned to Starlight and gave her a tight hug, grateful to be able to call on exactly who and what she needed to fulfill her task at the moment. "Thanks for your help this morning. I'm lucky to have you as Primeva. See you at school." She gave a salute and flew out the room to tend to Tank before leaving the house.

Starlight waved with a smile.

"What does Primeva mean?" Lightning Dust asked.

"It is my title given to me by my master, for her to address or refer to me. My name is Starlight Glimmer, and most ponies just call me 'Starlight'. For the record, you're free and encouraged to call Rainbow Dash 'Master' to your heart's content since that is her title and has a much stronger link with outsiders. Where are you headed this morning Miss Lightning Dust?"

After several hesitant seconds of more and more questions that she knew she could not have answered now, Lightning Dust finally said, "The Ponyville Inn," feeling defeated.

Starlight did as Rainbow tasked her to do and politely bade farewell to the daring pegasus who traded one week of flight for the chance to know about the Master Mev.
> Chapter 20 - Meeting Into Project Mercury
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Team Awesome designated Tuesday nights as a weekly time to meet. They saw it as the beginning of their mev week, given that the flexchanges started with Starlight Glimmer on that day. Twilight Sparkle had been keen to point out that the fledgling titles seemed to be number-based even if they didn't follow a precise pattern, besides all obviously ending in "a." She herself couldn't figure out how "Rexa" could mean "six", but the "rex" part was only one letter off of being "hex," which did. They all met regularly enough throughout the week as ponies at their pony jobs with their pony friends and families. They even met for their usual gatherings at the castle throne room already. Certainly mev talk itself seeped into conversation when outsiders were not around or distanced enough. Mev talk could also happen around outsiders who were given privileged knowledge, so it was okay to discuss matters in their presence. This Tuesday meeting was important. Discord had fully recovered. The fledglings didn't know it yet, but Rainbow Dash had a job for them.

Starlight herself considered this particular meeting special and important on a personal level. She would sit by the master as Primeva in her own throne for such an official meeting for the first time. Being Primeva continued to feel like a special honor. She was second-in-command to the pack. No pony ever said it, not even Rainbow Dash, and yet it never needed to be said. They all simply knew. She was happy to be so quickly and easily called that morning, even if it was for something simple and just outside of Rainbow's current magic-wielding skill level. It was a nice indicator of where they were and where they still had to go with their lessons.

Fluttershy sat at her throne with her good, close friend, Discord, standing behind her. He was happy to have his magic back, and she was happy to have been his caretaker. Their week was largely uneventful besides of course being the obvious big overarching event that it was. He got used to standing, walking, crawling, and sitting as a magic-less creature with her help and even learned to help her back in tending to animals within the house. He really didn't feel like leaving the cottage in all that time. The visiting Awesomevs were around more to keep him company than anything else. Perhaps he over-estimated just what he needed to be without magic for an entire week. The trauma from past master mevs was a hard thing to get over, even if those memories were distant and blurred.

Rarity was rather proud of her role this past week. Her flexchange was extra special in watching the unexpected bonding between Rainbow Dash and Sweetie Belle. Her younger sister was far more curious about mevs than scared of them, which was truly a relief, especially given what she knew of how things went with Applejack and her sister, at least at first.

Indeed, for Applejack, things had started off tensely with Apple Bloom. The younger sister seemed more angry than anything when first told the news, but Applejack noticed the night of her turn that Apple Bloom seemed in better spirits. The younger sister was satiated in curiosity by learning Applejack's title within the pack.

Pinkie Pie was simply giddy and proud with her work in aiding Rainbow Dash at the mirror pool. The master had admitted to her she didn't quite know the rules, if there were any, for earth pony fledglings to use magic granted to them through the pack's work. Rainbow grasped that unicorns, and alicorn in Twilight's case, could continue to use their own unicorn magic to their heart's content, but reserve magic was, of course, to be reserved. 

Rainbow was the main one to call on it and needed to be mindful of any desired use that could be done without it. But a mirror pool clone? They had to practice to discover the rules for themselves. As they did so, they found that Penny could be called upon any time. The summon itself took no magic from the reserve, and both mevs theorized it was because she was linked to Pinkie. After all, that was why Rainbow brought her along on a hunch. Pinkie and Penny together discovered something they were eager to show the rest of Team Awesome at the meeting.

Twilight didn't mind her minimized role within the pack this past week one bit. She was still the Princess of Friendship and headmare at her school. She was not short on things to do as a pony. She and Spike would document what they pieced together from the other Awesomevs during the week, and that was the task they were prepared for tonight as well.

Rainbow Dash herself had prepared some notes on a piece of paper since she wanted to touch on many of the things on the minds of her fledglings. To her, the big ticket item of interest was helping Scootaloo. It seemed a little strange since lists seemed to be a Twilight thing, but then, she was a master now. She had business to conduct.

"Okay, we have a lot of things to talk about," Rainbow said to initiate the meeting, "so let's try not to spend too much time on any of them except for an important job I'll tell you all about soon enough. A lot of this is just making sure every Awesomev knows what's happening in the pack, if you don't already know. Let's start with Discord. How are you doing, Lord of Chaos? Is your magic back?"

Discord snapped his talons and teleported himself in several places across the room. He hovered in place at a few points before snapping himself back to his place behind Fluttershy. A large garden of flowers sprouted from the table and folded back in. He concluded with a large thumbs-up sign formed over his talons at the end. "That it is, Master Rainbow Dash. Fluttershy told me you used my gift to remodel the thrones." He flashed to Starlight's side and studied the cutie mark symbol above her head. "Fascinating. You didn't have any problems casting it?"

"A big crack formed on the floor but sealed itself up when she was done," Twilight explained.

Discord looked to Rainbow with a sly smile. "I wonder if perhaps that was a deliberate dramatic effect."

"Indeed it was," Rainbow admitted.

"Really?" This piece of information was news to the alicorn.

Rainbow smirked. "It was chaos-mev magic after all. Speaking of which, it seems that my eyes change even more when I use it."

"Can we see it?" Fluttershy asked.

Rainbow raised herself up and demonstrated. "The irises have to go red first and then the yellow is allowed to surface. Then in reverse, the yellow has to fade before the irises can become magenta again. They faded pretty fast when I made the throne, and I haven't used any chaos magic since."

Discord lengthened his own neck to raise and stare at her. "Most interesting. I never saw this effect on past masters. I was too busy trying to avoid running into them again."

"Was this your first time to willingly be bitten?" Rainbow asked.

He stroked his chin thoughtfully. "You know what, I think it was. Why do you ask?"

"I can't prove it, but I think that makes a difference in this," she pointed at her eyes, "and my level of access to it in the reserve."

Twilight looked to Spike. "Yeah, I'm getting it," the dragon informed her.

Rainbow reverted to her standard pegasus form with fangs. "Will you be joining Starlight and I tonight for lessons?"

"I suppose I should with all the trouble I went through to even give you chaos magic," Discord admitted.

"We have other weeks ahead of us if you want to just go home," Rainbow assured him.

"No, I want to do it. I insist," he said.

"Great, thanks so much Discord. I need to move onto other things, so, you stay or go, but our business in the meeting is done for now," Rainbow noted.

Discord snapped his talons to make a hammock held up by two trees for himself near the door behind an area near Pinkie Pie's and Fluttershy's thrones. "I'll be resting in chaos magic right over here and listening in, if it's quite alright, Master."

"It is." Rainbow used her magic to cross an item off her list with a pencil she brought with her. "Heh, pack meetings count as important enough to exercise my magic muscles," she commented to let the others know. "Up next, Revelations. So, here's the thing. We cannot possibly keep ourselves a secret with who all I've told. Of the creatures we've told, some know about the whole pack, and some mainly know just about me. Here's who we've personally seen to it that knows about Team Awesome. The princesses, Luna and Celestia—you know, maybe we should tell Princess Cadance. It feels kinda wrong that three of the four princesses know, and she's the only one who doesn't."

"Must we?" Twilight asked, clearly reluctant.

"Just a passing thought for now. I'll have to at least tell her about myself at some point since she rules a kingdom. I'm sure it could wait at least a week if you want to give it some thought yourself on how much we tell her about your role," Rainbow said.

Twilight nodded. "Thank you Master."

"Hey Discord," Applejack called over, "have you told anyone about us mevs?"

Discord was sipping a glass of juice for himself with an umbrella straw. "Perish the thought. I know better."

"Moving on," Rainbow said. "Rarity, Applejack, and myself told our younger sisters directly about at least ourselves."

"Sweetie figured me out at the Washouts show," Pinkie Pie volunteered.

"Indeed. Sweetie thinks she knows who we all are," Rarity added. "She asked me for our titles, but I didn't feel right sharing that information, and from there, I haven't told her who all is actually in the pack."

"Add Fluttershy to the batch they've probably guessed since I said she was on care-taking duty," Applejack noted.

"You two can go ahead and tell them who is in the pack if they try asking. Do not give out the titles of others. Each of you can give out your own—or I can, but you do not give out any of the other Awesomev titles, except for mine," Rainbow instructed.

"I rather like that approach," Rarity considered aloud, "seems to give the girls a goal and keeps them interested instead of scared."

The others nodded or hummed in agreement.

"The Wonderbolts know that I am a type of vampire though they don't have much of an idea of what a master mev actually does. They're mainly aware that I have fangs at night and am fed well enough to not be a danger to them or our fans. Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and myself did not explicitly give information about the pack," Rainbow informed all present.

Nods of acknowledgment made their rounds through the table.

"Lightning Dust visited my cloud house last night," Rainbow started to explain.

"Oh the poor dear," everyone heard Discord mutter.

"Why? Is that a bad thing?" Pinkie wondered aloud.

"I'm sure Master Rainbow Dash will explain soon enough. Everyone else but Spike here is a mev in her pack, so it's not like any of you would have a problem with it. I'm just sympathetic since I've made that mistake myself," Discord explained.

"Master, what is he talking about?" Fluttershy asked.

"Short version: She was my dinner. I totally ate her fear and magic," Rainbow told them all.

"Oh, okay." Fluttershy smiled sweetly.

"Wait," Spike paused. "You don't have a problem with that?"

"Master mevs eat fear and magic, Spike," Fluttershy explained. "It's how they live."

The other Awesomevs nodded in agreement. 

"And she is our master," Fluttershy reminded him.

They all nodded again.

"It is very likely Rainbow Dash asked and warned Lightning Dust about the magic being gone for a week," Twilight added. "I certainly hope you wouldn't have a problem with that since both Discord and myself have willingly accepted that fate."

"Oh, well, did you, Rainbow?" Spike wondered.

"Care to indulge us with the long version?" asked a sincerely interested Starlight who was present for the aftermath. Her master did say she would be told more later.

Rainbow thought about it since she was trying to move things along more quickly. Maybe she could make the long version fast enough. "It turns out my nocturnivlair is like super strong in my own house. Blitz was already out, and we were playing. She sensed and saw Lightning. I invited Lightning Dust in, with my eye enchantment fully active, so of course, she accepted. I think she was there to talk to me about something, so it's not like that needed that much extra pull. My instincts ensnared her, and I played with her fear a bit. I offered to give her information on me as a master mev in exchange for her pegasus magic. She eventually accepted."

"So you did warn her," Applejack noted thoughtfully.

"Yeah, I don't really have to ask at night, but you know, it feels like the more respectful thing to do. The mev magic is stronger that way as well," Rainbow explained.

"And the fear thing?" Spike asked. "That's not very respectful."

"I told her I was playing with my food as I did it," Rainbow said.

Starlight, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity laughed. Twilight, Applejack, and Fluttershy struggled to contain themselves, stifling their own giggles. Discord himself sputtered and offered the input, "Okay, that's actually kind of a perfectly clever way of doing it, Master Rainbow."

"And I explained what I was doing this morning more clearly after she woke up from the bite. So, no, it wasn't respectful at first," Rainbow agreed. "We got there eventually." She considered it fair—or fair enough, in the end.

"Hmm," Spike was thoughtful and scribbled into his notes. "Does the fact that she was an adult pony matter? You seemed to feel bad about the fear snare on the students but not this one."

"Yes, just like it matters that it was at night and my domain," Rainbow said.

Spike scribbled and scribbled. "You know, you sound kind of scary when I put it all down like this."

"Good. That's how it's supposed to be," Rainbow informed him. "And don't worry, you're fine. You're still a kid."

"Oh. Right. I guess I forget that matters even when I'm around you." He added that bit into his notes as well.

"I'm rather sorry I missed it," Rarity said. "It sounds rather fun to watch you indulge your vampire self fully like that."

"It was," Rainbow concurred. "But enough about that. Let's talk about Penny."

"I've been waiting to hear about this," Twilight said with interest, shifting in her seat.

"Quintaza Pinkie Pie, you have the floor," Rainbow offered.

Pinkie leaped onto the table. "Watch this," she told the others. She whistled, and Penny materialized before them all on the table, facing toward Pinkie. The other Awesomevs looked on in wonder. Discord took off sunglasses he'd given himself and perked up to watch the scene. Spike's jaw dropped a little. "Every pony, dragon, and draconequus, meet Penny, my mirror pool copy," Pinkie gestured.

"Hi everyone!" Penny waved cheerfully.

"Master took her in on Friday night, and the three of us agreed that she could stay with me in my part of the reserve. That way, I can call on her to help us with our work, and she can have some time outside the pool," Pinkie explained. "Penny is actually short for her title 'Pentaza' to share with me."

Twilight took the scroll from Spike. The dragon was far too shocked to do any more writing, so Twilight did it for him.

Pinkie continued, "We found out that I can actually summon Penny any time, and my part of the reserve is still okay. She's still with me, probably because she's a copy of me anyway. And Master, we have something awesome to show you~!"

Rainbow perked up and hovered above her seat with a smile. "Impress me," she ordered.

Penny turned into a pool of water on the table.

Rarity gasped, and Applejack's mouth hung open. Rainbow smiled and watched with interest.

The pool of water lifted itself and curved, dropped to the table again, and lifted to show how it could freely move about as water on command by magic could. It splashed down and then Penny reshaped into her Pinkie self. "Ta-da!" Penny declared with pride. "I can be magic water or Pinkie, depending on what we need."

"That certainly looks like a useful skill," Starlight remarked.

"You'd think," Pinkie giggle-snorted, "but we're mostly finding it useful to goof around."

Rainbow raised an eyebrow in thought, still smiling.

"Master has a challenge for us!" Pinkie told Penny excitedly while looking at Rainbow.

"Can you separate yourself and make letters?" Rainbow asked.

Penny gasped. "I never even thought of trying that!" She immediately attempted the idea and spelled out, "Yay". Then she managed "Pen" and took shape again. "Three big letters at the most," she admitted.

"Can you draw pictures?"

"Oh my gosh, that sounds so hard, Master," Penny lamented. She managed to make herself into a heart, then took pony form again. "Really simple ones."

"Are you able to touch other bodies of water and still know and shape yourself?"

"Yes!" Penny nodded. "We did try that."

"Do you have any way to manipulate those other bodies of water?" Rainbow asked.

"No." Penny shook her head.

"It's fine, just asking. I am definitely impressed by what you've shown me tonight," Rainbow told her.

"Quintaza, did you hear that? Master's impressed!" Penny hopped over and gave Pinkie Pie a big hug.

"I know, you did so great Penny! We've done our thing, so it's time for you to come back inside. Our turn is over," Pinkie advised.

"Okie dokie lokie." Penny turned herself into a curving blue line of light and re-entered through Pinkie Pie's mouth.

Twilight magically guided the scroll and quill she'd been writing on to Spike as he instinctively and quietly settled back into his assistant role.

"Alright, now I have what I'm guessing is a big, long-term project for us," Rainbow announced.

Discord flashed himself closer to stand near Fluttershy, between hers and Pinkie's thrones, keenly interested to know the challenge awaiting his mev friends.

"Scootaloo has informed me that she cannot fly, to the point she has accepted it as a disability—likely for the rest of her life," Rainbow Dash told everyone.

"Goodness, is she sure?" Fluttershy asked.

"That's part of the job ahead of us," Rainbow explained. "I offered to investigate this matter for her to see if a cure is possible. We, Team Awesome, might be able to do something about it since pegasus flight involves magic."

"I don't suppose Discord could just snap his claws and fix it." Spike pointed to the draconequis.

"No," Discord said and folded his arms, "I cannot. My magic has certain limits even if it does bend reality to my whim. It follows me. At most, I could give her the ability on a strict temporary basis. Once enough time passes or I'm out of a certain range or both, the magic wears off or out. It's far too dangerous and volatile to use as a solution."

"Right, thank you Lord of Chaos," Rainbow said. "Primeva, write all that down."

"Yes, Master," Starlight said, making a scroll, quill, and ink appear as she obeyed.

"But I'm already writing it down," Spike told Rainbow.

"Rainbow Dash is having Starlight write down some highlights that are specifically for her to review, so she doesn't have to dig through everything we document," Twilight explained. "Trust me, you're doing a great job, and we all appreciate what you do. Starlight has her own special job as Primeva. Don't be jealous."

Spike glanced in Rainbow's direction.

"She's right," Rainbow affirmed for him. "Thank you, seriously."

"Well, alright," he said and went back to his own notes. "Wait…" he paused. "So how does Starlight's throne work? It hasn't moved, and Rainbow's been away plenty of time...I think...maybe...just how long does it take to disappear? And the distance?"

"No, no, that's different," Discord explained. "Mev magic has a different set of rules as does chaos-mev hybrid magic, which is what Rainbow used. The master made that throne in service to her pack. Mev magic is exceptionally strong in that situation."

"Oh, neat," Spike said and wrote all that down too. "Sorry, everyone, I'm done interrupting the flow of things here. Go on."

"Go on, Rainbow," Fluttershy added another for encouragement. "We're all listening."

"Here's the plan. I need to talk to Scootaloo's family about getting her to a doctor to see if we can find out the cause. It might still remain a mystery, and it's still good for us to understand pegasus flight as much as we can because we might have other business that's like or related to this type of thing. So, in the meantime, Starlight and Twilight, you two are going to gather up all the books you think are relevant to this particular job. We're talking mainly things like pegasus magic, pegasus anatomy, and pegasus biological development," Rainbow said.

The alicorn and designated unicorn nodded.

"Fluttershy, I want you to make some kind of report on your own experiences as a pegasus," Rainbow stated.

"Of course I will, Master, but is there a particular reason why?" Fluttershy wanted to know.

Rainbow explained, "You've struggled in your own life with flight. I don't think Scootaloo's problem is any kind of confidence block, but so long as we're gathering this information, we need to check and have it on record, if we want to really understand what's stopping her. While you're at it, I want you to get with Bulk Biceps. Interview him if you must, but I want to know why such a large pony with such such small wings can fly because Scootaloo seems to think it's her wing size. Bulk is proof that small wings is not a guarantee to prevent flight."

"I'm on it." Fluttershy nodded with a firm and determined expression.

"What about you, Master?" Pinkie asked. "You are super advanced in knowledge when it comes to pegasus flight. Some of that is bound to be useful."

"Not a bad idea, Pinkie," Rainbow agreed. "I suppose I should make my own report too, but I'd like some help."

"I'll do it," Rarity volunteered. "You dictate, and I'll transcribe."

"Many thanks Mitria. Let's do that." Rainbow accepted the offer.

"How about us earth ponies?" Applejack wondered. "Surely we can help out somehow."

Rainbow paused to think. What else could be done? "I want you and Pinkie Pie to go to the Everfree forest and ask Zecora for help. After that, be on standby to help Twilight and Starlight for actually researching through those books."

"Woo-hoo! Operation Help Scootaloo Fly is a go!" Pinkie declared with a smile and shot a hoof up from her seat.

"While such a phrase is certainly accurate, I'm not sure I want to call it that," Rarity stated.

"I agree," Starlight said, "but a name for a job like this in general is not a bad idea. How about Project Mercury?"

"Very well, Primeva," Rainbow approved. She gestured in Pinkie's direction. "Quintaza, if you will…Pentaza may join you, if you are so inclined."

Pinkie jumped onto the table this time, whistled out Penny, and whispered her instructions. Together, they shouted up at the ceiling in unison, "Project Mercury is a go!"
> Chapter 21 - Altering Reality and Blitz
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Team Awesome's meeting adjourned. Rainbow Dash, Starlight Glimmer, and Discord decided to conduct the magic lesson for the evening in the library.

"To begin," Starlight stated, "I'd like to pick up on something Rainbow and I noted down for later. Discord, you might be able to help us."

"That's why I'm here after all," Discord said with a bow.

"Master here seems to be able to pick up heavy items very easily, and we were just wondering if that's part of her being master, like a sort of innate ability, or if it's because she's eaten magic from both myself and Twilight. The two of us can lift heavy objects at least more easily than other unicorns. We couldn't really come up with a way to test it, something so heavy I can't lift it but also we don't want to go uprooting the entire castle or sections of Ponyville," Starlight explained.

"Master mevs can do that? Truly! The wonders never cease," Discord remarked.

"Could you make something heavy enough for us to experiment?" Starlight asked.

He snapped his claws and a new, large couch appeared on the floor in front of them. "Rainbow, go ahead and give it a try."

Rainbow lifted the object with her usual ease.

Discord snapped his talons again and the couch turned into some kind of metal. "It's now lead," he explained. "Try again."

Rainbow lifted it the same as ever.

"Starlight, you try," Discord told the unicorn.

Starlight tried. She struggled only a little more in comparison.

Discord materialized and piled on two more lead couches over the first. Rainbow succeeded with ease. Starlight struggled and strained more than the single couch, but she managed nonetheless.

"Hmm, yes, this is rather tricky," Discord realized. "If you really truly want to answer this question, you need to go to some single thing super heavy, instead of having it brought here. If you want my own hypothesis, it is the master mev magic indeed. You'd hardly need it with Starlight and Twilight already in the pack but just in case, lo and behold, there it is."

"Your theory does match Rainbow's," Starlight noted. "Where could we even go to find something super heavy and not bother anyone?"

"Maybe a glacier in the ocean," Discord suggested with a shrug.

"That sounds kind of hard to put back how it was, which is kind of our problem for testing this out in Ponyville," Rainbow told him.

"Well, perhaps that should be the focus of our lesson tonight," Discord offered. "Repairing reality back into how you found it. Then we can try this heavy lifting another time." He flashed the couches he brought in away. "Let's find something already here in this library for you to break and if it's out of your ability to repair it, I will do so. My magic should be strong enough to handle that even over yours since it's an object you affect and not your own body."

Starlight nodded toward one of the bookshelves. "Have at it, Master."

Rainbow blinked, looked a them both, and their expressions encouraged her to go on ahead. Cracks formed along the shelves, causing the books to fall into slanted tiers.

Discord snapped his claws, and everything was as it was. "It's actually not so hard. The key thing is to know what you want with as exact precision as you can imagine. Instead of thinking 'I want to repair these bookshelves I just broke,' you think, 'I want these bookshelves how they were before I used my magic to break them'. If you approach with the mindset of the former, you might find yourself doing it the slow way, crack by crack, slot by slot, book by book. That can certainly be impressive because it looks like it takes effort. And it does take more effort. The latter though is exactly what you want, and because you have draconequis chaos magic in you, it will bend to that desire.

"It's hardly a requirement but just as you have nocturnivlair, my magic has chaotic flair. You know, like how you added that crack for dramatic effect when you made Starlight her throne. In any case, you try the break and the repair."

Rainbow did as instructed and horizontal white lines shimmered left and right across the lines of the shelves as part of her flair.

"Well done," Discord approved.

"Agreed," Starlight said.

"What about tearing up one of the books?" Rainbow asked. "If I still think that I want the pages back as they were before I tore it apart, the repair still works? It doesn't matter that I don't know exactly what it was, just that I want it exactly what it was, no matter how much I messed it up," she theorized.

"Precisely," Discord confirmed for her.

"Well, that's certainly convenient. Explains a lot about how you use your magic too," Rainbow remarked.

Starlight chuckled, "Indeed it does."

Discord shrugged.

"Anything else I need to know about repairing reality after I break things? Because I have a totally unrelated question," Rainbow said.

"I like veering off the path, Master, so you go right ahead," Discord encouraged. He wore a black leather helmet, goggles, and scarf while pretending to ride along an invisible vehicle of some kind. He was intrigued himself by what a master mev would ask of him about how to use chaos magic.

Rainbow pursed her lips together trying to think of how she could even word what she wanted to know. "Do you have limits? Like, are there certain magical beings you just can't touch, besides me? I know you can take away wings from pegasi and unicorn horns from unicorns but can you give those things to earth ponies?"

All gear de-materialized off Discord as he answered, "Oh, what an interesting question. I could give the appearance yes, and I do actually give Bag Mac a unicorn horn during our Ogres and Oubliettes games where he can use magic for that game, but it is still limited to within that framework and his own ideas about how that magic should answer to him. I can't teach an earth pony to fly like a pegasus or use magic like a unicorn myself. That's pegasus magic and unicorn magic. I have chaos magic. Those other kind require time and learning to be properly used. As for other beings, well, you've got me there. I tend to mostly ever interact with ponies. And dragons if you count Spike."

"Really?" Starlight asked.

Discord nodded. "I know other inter-dimensional beings, but it's more of a passing acquaintance type thing."

"The Smooze?" Rainbow questioned, remembering the Grand Galloping Gala.

"I can affect the reality he affects, but I can't make him not slimy," Discord explained. "That's what you're getting at, isn't it? Some living creatures, like ponies, I can touch and others like the Smooze or yourself have their own special magic-resistant power that supersedes my own. Indeed in some cases, I can't make a living magical creature into another living magical creature that it really isn't. And for the ones that I can, like ponies, when I do, it's usually only an alteration for a limited amount of time."

"Yes, that is what I wanted to know," Rainbow nodded.

"I'm curious, Master Rainbow Dash, what brought this line of questioning on?" Discord asked.

"I'm curious too," Starlight echoed.

"Do you know about my leviathan dread?" Rainbow asked Discord.

He raised an eyebrow with a scowl. "Is that the snake used with a fear snare?"

"Yes," Rainbow confirmed.

Discord shuddered. "Dreadful indeed."

"Heh heh," Rainbow chuckled in amusement.

"What exactly did you hope to change about her?" Discord wondered.

"Oh, she's great, I love her," Rainbow explained. "I just thought it might be cool if she could be solid for at least a little while, a few seconds or minutes, not a permanent kind of thing. That would definitely make it harder to take care of her. And you know, maybe talk to her, again, at least a little more than what I can do now. I have at least a feel for what she means by the way she moves or looks at me."

"Hmm," Discord said and grew contemplative. "Since she's mev magic, you just might be able to do that with the chaos-mev magic. Maybe...just enough for you and only you."

"As in, no one else would be able to touch her?" Starlight pondered. "And maybe only Rainbow could hear her speak."

"Mev magic does like to make and bend the rules to its own power," Discord pointed out. "It rather depends on how Rainbow Dash wants to do it."

Rainbow put a hoof up to her chin thoughtfully. "I suppose I should ask if that's something Blitz even wants to try first."

"Blitz?" Discord asked.

"That's what Rainbow named her," Starlight informed him.

"Oh, right," Discord said as he gave an acknowledging nod.

"I'll ask her later at home, just the two of us. I need to think it through and don't want her to feel on the spot with the two of you watching," Rainbow decided aloud. "Thanks for your ideas," she told Discord. "Let's practice some more on the repairs. Then I want to learn how to copy books from both of you with both chaos and unicorn magic."

The night proceeded as planned.





Technically, it was Wednesday morning when Rainbow Dash stood within her cloud house to speak to Blitz after her Tuesday night magic lesson. The sun still wouldn't be up for awhile, and she'd slept for perhaps twenty minutes so it was almost like it was still Tuesday night to her. In any case, she summoned her pet leviathan dread.

"I've got questions for you," she told Blitz. "This is kinda hard because I know that you just generally do whatever I tell you to do because I'm the master."

Blitz nodded.

"But you've got at least some of a mind of your own, so I'm going to ask you about something I want, but you've gotta know, I want you to only say yes if you mean it, if it's something you want as well. Do you understand what I'm asking?"

Blitz shook her head. She desired what her master desired. There was no need to ask, ever. She would do anything in her power for Rainbow Dash.

"Oh," Rainbow realized exactly what Blitz meant despite her lack of words. "I guess that makes it easy." She swallowed. "Alright then, the master will figure this out as she goes. Come closer, I'm going to pet you."

Blitz complied. Rainbow touched her the way she always did. "You're going to be solid for about five seconds," Rainbow informed her. 

The dread nodded. Rainbow's eyes changed to their mix of red on yellow. Upon the next touch to Blitz, silver rippled all through her translucence, casting solid scales onto her body. She still felt icy cold to the touch, but Rainbow pressed her hoof a little harder to make sure it wouldn't pass through, which it didn't. With the five seconds passed, the solidity phased away just as Rainbow Dash foretold. Blitz wrapped herself around Rainbow several times before making a nuzzling motion near Rainbow's right side of her face.

"Heh, glad you like it," Rainbow told her. "I don't want you solid all the time. It doesn't feel right but being able to touch, really touch you, for at least a few fleeting seconds, feels right too. So, here's the plan, my pet. We're going to do that here and there over time, longer times, so that when we're here at home in our domain, we can have that kind of moment whenever we want. Out there," Rainbow gestured, "let's keep it ghostly."

Blitz nodded in agreement.

"Next thing. I'm going to pet you again, just as you are now, and you're going to try and say 'hello' to me. I'll be channeling some magic into you for this thing," Rainbow told her.

Blitz nodded.

Rainbow pet her, the snake essence felt the extra charge of magic flow into her and said with a gentle feminine voice, "Hello".

"Awesome," Rainbow said in a quiet excited voice. "Now I've got a real challenge for you. We're doing that again, and you're going to decide what the word is. And it can't be the really obvious one, 'Master', got it?"

Blitz shook in a silent chuckle and nodded. When her moment came, she said, "Rainbow Dash."

"Haha, you silly snake, you got me," Rainbow was delighted. "I can't possibly complain. Hearing my pony name straight from you is all kinds of special."

Blitz gestured another nuzzle.

"Well, the plan is to not get too carried away with these ideas. Being ghostly and quiet is kinda your thing. It's just going to be my own special thing to glimpse you a little beyond that here in my domain," Rainbow admitted. "That is what your master desires. Something that feels right for both of us, I hope."

Blitz playfully flicked her tail as a sign of both approval and agreement.

Gently tapping the side of the leviathan's jaw, Rainbow said, "I love you, Blitz" as a tiny happy tear streaked down one of her cheeks.





On Wednesday night, after returning from helping Rarity at her shop, Rarity for You in Manehattan, Fluttershy glided upward to Rainbow Dash's cloud house. As she approached, the door opened all on its own. "Master?" she called in timidly.

An upside down Rainbow Dash descended to face her. The master mev was wearing her bat wings. "Segunda," she said with a fanged smile, her voice playful and lower in pitch than usual. She twirled and hovered upright, the flaps flashing back to feathers. "What do you think?" she gestured at the door. Her raspy voice shifted just as quickly and easily to its usual level.  "Kind of cool, right? It'll only work like that for you and the other Awesomevs on flexchange nights. The master vampire beckons you." She spoke her last sentence with a playful spooky tone as if she were telling a silly ghost story, then beckoned the fledgling further into her domain with her forelimbs while chuckling wickedly.

"You're right," Fluttershy noted as she walked in, enjoying the greeting. "Your nocturnivlair is super strong here." She watched the door shut behind her. "I guess it makes sense. Home is where you get to be yourself, even as a pony after all. Now that I know to expect it, the door is a rather sweet gesture." She gasped at the most amazing thing she'd ever seen. In the large foyer to the house, curled and twisted about rested the translucent leviathan dread she'd heard about in conversation. "Is this…?"

"Blitz," Rainbow said. "I want you to meet Fluttershy. She is Segunda of my pack, Team Awesome. Fluttershy, this is Blitz, my leviathan dread."

Blitz raised her head and looked at Fluttershy. Fluttershy fluttered closer. "Hello Blitz," Fluttershy greeted, then looked at Rainbow. "Can I pet her?"

"Yes. Let me tell you the main way first. You have to stop exactly where you would touch her if she were solid, right here," she demonstrated, "and then you get this icy feeling your veins. That's how you know you've made contact. If you reach too far, you go right through her." Rainbow pushed her hoof all the way through.

Fluttershy tried it and gasped again at the feeling. "That's amazing." 

Blitz gave a polite nod of gratitude for the compliment. 

"What's the other way?" Fluttershy asked.

"This one is new, and it's got some heavy limits, but I'm eager to show what we've been working on. Plus, you love animals, so lucky you, huh?"

Fluttershy nodded eagerly.

"You've got ten seconds," Rainbow told Fluttershy. "It's still going to feel icy."

Fluttershy continued to wear her eagerly waiting smile.

Rainbow shifted into her chaos form, then reached out and pet Blitz. As she did so this time, magic spread all over the body, and Blitz became a solid leviathan form.

Fluttershy covered her mouth with both hooves and gasped an even bigger gasp than all the ones before. Then she remembered her time limit and stroked the scales. "Now it's even more amazing," she said in a quick, impressed breath.

The effect faded.

"How did you do that?" Fluttershy asked.

"Master mev desire, instinct, and some reality-manipulating ideas thanks to Discord. I learned a lot last night, during and after the lesson," Rainbow explained.

"Oh, I can't wait to talk to him about this. I can tell him, right?" Fluttershy hoped.

"Sure. He'll want to know how it went, and you'll see him before I do with your Tuesday tea. He thought I'd try it as the only one to be able to touch her, which is mostly right. I think that if I factor in my domain, my conditions like the ten seconds, and my general approval, then that's why you were able to touch her as well. I made an exception. I do not intend to give that approval often," Rainbow noted.

"Of course," Fluttershy understood. "That'll make any other times I get to touch her that much more special," she said with a smile.

"Let's do our flexchange," Rainbow decided. "Blitz…"

The leviathan withdrew into the floor in a circle, knowing she would be summoned back soon enough.

Rainbow bit Fluttershy's neck and when the right moment came along, Fluttershy's fangs grew. She bit Rainbow back. Once enough magic exchanged, Rainbow backed away. Fluttershy sat on her haunches with her wings flared upward and looked into the sky blue pegasus' magenta eyes.

"Go ahead," Rainbow told her. "Try it."

Fluttershy closed her eyes and concentrated. One of her feathers sharpened like the tip of a bat wing. She felt it and opened her eyes to see it. "Master," she uttered and gestured toward it.

"See, it's going to come along over time. Not easily. We keep exchanging, you keep trying, I think it'll happen. I really do. Try changing it back.," Rainbow instructed.

Fluttershy stared at it, and it obeyed.

"It might be a night-restricted power since it's vampire-related," Rainbow theorized.

"I don't think I'd mind that," Fluttershy admitted. "It feels right. I guess that's how it is with your fangs."

Rainbow nodded in agreement. The two shared a few quiet moments, some nuzzling, and little more conversation before Fluttershy flew home. Rainbow summoned Blitz, as her pet expected, and went to find something to read.
> Chapter 22 - Sweet Scares
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







"I guess that's a wrap for today," Apple Bloom said to Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. "Good work, Crusaders." They hoof-bumped, pleased with the end of their Thursday afternoon CMC meeting. As they opened the door, the three of them saw Rainbow Dash standing and waiting.

"Master Rainbow Dash," Sweetie said in a quick, polite bow.

"Miss Sweetie Belle," Rainbow returned the gesture. "Or perhaps Crusader Sweetie Belle would be more appropriate?" She bowed again.

Sweetie blushed. "Thanks," she said sheepishly.

"Oh, right," Apple Bloom said and bowed, "Hi Master Rainbow Dash."

Again, Rainbow followed suit. "Hi Crusader Apple Bloom."

Scootaloo waved, "Hi Master Rainbow."

"Hi Crusader Scootaloo," Rainbow put a hoof to her chest this time as her choice of polite gesture.

The other two Crusaders were blushing as well but hardly complaining.

"What brings you here?" Scootaloo asked.

Rainbow glanced at the other two and back at Scootaloo.

"Oh," Scootaloo realized. "I guess I should tell them, huh?"

"Scootaloo, I have never done anything like this before," Rainbow explained. "I can't answer that for you. But I can't talk about it with you while they're here if you don't. That will be true the whole way through."

"Scootaloo, what's she talking about?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Come on in Rainbow," Scootaloo said to invite in the mev. She looked at the other two girls. "Want to stay for a bit? I do think I should tell you."

"Well, alright," Apple Bloom figured.

"I'd be happy to," Sweetie Belle said.

Rainbow entered fully, and Scootaloo shut the door behind her before making her way to stand in front of the podium and address her two closest friends. "I can't fly."

"Oh, we know," Apple Bloom noted.

"Let me finish," Scootaloo told her. "Rainbow Dash is going to help me find out why and then we're going to see if a cure is possible."

"Really?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Oh, that'd be so neat," Apple Bloom remarked with a liking to the idea.

"Are you going to use your vampire powers for this?" Sweetie addressed the mev and wanted to know.

"For now, no. When it comes to using the magic I eat and store, anything I can do as a regular pegasus should be done that way, with some exceptions. Starting off this project is not one of them," Rainbow said.

"Well, what kind of exceptions do you have?" Scootaloo was curious.

"Things that are important to my pack, like forming it in the first place and learning how to even use magic for when my work does call for it," Rainbow explained.

"Oh, well, I mean, if that's how it has to be...if it can be done as a regular pegasus to help me out, then it doesn't even matter, right?" Scootaloo figured.

Rainbow nodded. "Right. Just so we're clear. I expect this job to take awhile and be challenging."

"Sounds like what I've already been living," Scootaloo lamented.

"Sorry squirt," Rainbow apologized. "Still, with what we've got, I'm going to need your cooperation. The first thing I need from you is to get permission from your family for me to take you to a doctor, see if we can get a proper diagnosis on the issue. The next thing I need is your own personal report on your experience with this disability. For example, when you say you can't 'fly,' that has a very specific meaning because I know you can hover ever so slightly. Your wings still work a little even if they won't get you off the ground for long. Do you get me?" Rainbow asked.

Scootaloo nodded.

"Hey, can we help you write it?" Apple Bloom offered.

"I guess," Scootaloo considered.

"Don't worry Scootaloo," Sweetie chimed in, "we'll do what we can to help too. That's okay, right, Master Rainbow Dash?"

"Sure, girls, sure," Rainbow agreed. "I've got Team Awesome on the case, and your sisters are helping out already so just don't get in their way. You can offer to help their particular assignments but back off if they say no. I'm not ordering them to let you help them. Am I clear?"

The two friends nodded.

"Awesome. See you fillies around." The adult sky blue pegasus prepared to leave.

"Master Rainbow Dash," Sweetie said.

"Hmm?" Rainbow queried and waited.

"Are you coming over to Rarity's tonight for your flexchange?" Sweetie Belle wanted to know with a hint of hope in her tone.

"Actually, Rarity will be coming over to my place since she'll be assisting me with my own report on pegasus flight," Rainbow explained.

"Can I come too? Please?" Sweetie asked.

Rainbow thought about it for a moment before replying, "With a warning, yes."

"Oh, what is it?" Apple Bloom was curious at the seriousness of Rainbow's tone.

"I might, and I do mean might, come off as a little more scary because I kinda get into being my vampire self at home. I'm not so willing to warn little ponies I'll be playing on their fears. If I want to, I'm just gonna do it. Blitz too," Rainbow told them, meeting Sweetie's eyes.

"But your title still works, right?" Sweetie asked, her voice full of interest and hope. "And kids are safe from you."

"Hmm, yes, the title will still do its thing," Rainbow said with a nod. "And while kids are safe from me, they easily forget, even when they know. You do remember that part, right?"

Sweetie nodded.

"I might not hold back if you come. Understand?" Rainbow pressed into her. "This is the warning, not up there in my domain. Only here."

She nodded again.

"Alright then, I'm off," Rainbow gave a salute and flew away.

"Are you still thinking of going?" Scootaloo asked. "I kinda want to know without having to be there to know."

"Well, she did emphasize 'might.' I mean, maybe since we're still kids, it'd be fine," Apple Bloom pointed out. "Ain't nothing to it."

"Only one way to find out," Sweetie decided with a determined expression. Then she softened. "Plus, I'll have Rarity with me."





Thursday night, Sweetie Belle and Rarity approached Rainbow's home. Rarity wore saddlebags carrying her notepads and pens. A cloud with a solid larger platform within it, enough for the two of them to stand, lowered to act as an elevator. "Oh, this is new," Rarity remarked. "How considerate."

"Is this part of the magic Rainbow gets to use for her pack?" Sweetie asked.

"I would think so," Rarity agreed with her sister's theory.

They approached and watched the door open on its own. "Fluttershy told me about this part earlier today," Rarity explained to Sweetie Belle. "It only works for us fledglings on our given turn."

Sweetie timidly stood behind Rarity's hind legs all the same, feeling nervous.

The two slowly trudged into the large open foyer to find Rainbow doing wing-ups on the floor and Blitz resting coiled nearby. The pegasus looked very focused on her exercise and to Sweetie's relief, looked as she always did. The wings were still feathered, and the eyes were still magenta. She couldn't even see the fangs from her vantage where she stood. The house itself emanated an eerie aura.

"Good evening, Master," Rarity greeted.

Without a word, Rainbow lifted off from her wing-up exercising, slowly twirled upward two or three times before diving and grabbing Rarity in a flash, her rainbow tail trail blurring behind her. The saddlebags Rarity was wearing plopped safely to the ground. Rarity made a nervous whimper while being swept off her hooves, Sweetie thought, and the small unicorn began to worry until she heard her older sister's whimper turn into an excited laugh.

A separate enthusiastic cackle echoed through the walls that Sweetie assumed to be Rainbow Dash enjoying her vampire role.

"Don't worry Sweetie," Rarity's voice carried far and loud enough, "I'm fine, I promise. Just stay put. We're doing our flexchange right away."

Sweetie was left standing alone in the foyer with Blitz. She gulped and looked around. Blitz stayed where she'd been. "Hi Blitz," she managed with a weak smile.

The leviathan dread lifted her head and a red circle formed on the ground where Sweetie stood. "M...m…" the little filly knew the word, yet she couldn't say it. Maybe it was her not wanting to interrupt the flexchange or maybe it was indeed that the domain made Rainbow's power feel more scary, but either way, her key to safety was out of her reach.

She gulped again and closed her eyes, reminding herself that no, of course she was still safe. She didn't need any such key. Neither Rainbow nor Blitz could nor even would bite her. They were just playing, both of them. They were her friends. Rainbow warned her this might happen and maybe even felt like she had to live up to the possibility. Sweetie opened her eyes and saw that the dread had encircled her and closed in to make the space feel tighter. The filly took a deep breath and tried as hard as she could to move a step with no luck, the circle was so small and so tight, it gave no leeway. Instead, something new altogether happened. The snare moved her, gliding her across the ground a few inches, as if she was pulled by a super magical magnet. Sweetie stared in awe, feeling both afraid and exhilarated at the same time. A quiet, fascinated smile formed on her as she realized that yes, Blitz really and truly was playing with her. She giggled and hopped in place to land back into the circle. "More!"

The snare moved into an S-shaped path quickly and lightly, then again, even faster. "Haha!" Sweetie laughed in delight. Blitz raised herself higher and higher to peer down at the young unicorn as a towering beast, stopping at a specific distance she had practiced with Rainbow the night of their visit from Lightning Dust. It was the prized position of being close enough to be known, seen, and feared. Not too far, and not too close, according to her master's estimation, and it seemed to be right on the money.

"Wow," Sweetie uttered.

Then she saw the master mev herself fly freely through Blitz into a fanged grin as she hissed. The circle disappeared.

Sweetie shrieked and stumbled backwards, then started to laugh. "Master!" she finally found herself able to say as she stood back up. Two strong forelimbs scooped her up, pulling her in for a hug, bedazzling red eyes meeting hers.

"Having fun?" Rainbow asked, and Sweetie could see the fangs again between the mouthed words. The sharpened teeth promised they could bite her even though she knew they couldn't. Rainbow even pretended to chomp for good measure.

"Eep!" Sweetie shrieked again.

"Hahahaha!" Rainbow laughed and set her down, as safe as Sweetie's head and Rainbow's promises before entering the domain led her to be.

Sweetie was breathing deeply in her excitement but chuckled a little herself as well. "Yeah. It is more scary tonight, but yes. Scary can be fun. It's like a special kind of Nightmare Night in here."

The red eyes shimmered, and a wind whisked through the room. "I am pleased to hear that," the vampire told her filly visitor. Rainbow then lifted up into the air and swam about for a few moments.

"Oh, Sweetie Belle," Rarity said as she trotted up to the scene and embraced her sister. "I hope these two didn't scare you too badly."

"Rarity, the most amazing thing happened! Blitz played with me! Really! I mean, it was really scary, it was, that's what she's supposed to do after all, but she really wanted to play too and once I got over that, we had fun!" the excited filly sister was glad to fill her sister in. "And Rainbow! Her snare can act like a magnet!"

Rainbow flew in closer, flapping her wings, an interested and delighted smile formed on her lips. "Oh really?"

Sweetie nodded. "I don't mind showing you if I can."

"I would very much like to see it," Rainbow said and her eyes locked onto Blitz who did her part to demonstrate what Sweetie meant. "Well now, that is something new. Amazing indeed!"

Sweetie grinned proudly.

"Brava!" Rarity said, applauding.

"You did good, kid, real good," the master mev told her. "And now, we have work to do."

Rarity used her magic to prepare her notepad and pen. Sweetie followed suit as her sister packed extra for hers, saying she could make her own notes in case she missed anything or somehow the two mares found something else they'd need written down separately and could task Sweetie with doing.

"Pegasus flight strongly relies on confidence," Rainbow began to explain. "This is why ponies like me come across as full of themselves. I have to believe I am fully capable of doing ridiculously seemingly impossible things like gliding upside down, flying with only one wing, or my trademark move, the Sonic Rainboom. I could not do the rainboom my second time until I set my fears of not being able to do it aside. No, I could do it, I needed to do it, and so I did."

"A memorable moment indeed," Rarity remarked.

Rainbow smiled and continued. "While confidence is a big factor, so is training regularly to maintain one's wing muscles." On an on she went. "It's important for flying pegasi to pay attention to their surroundings, scanning the ground and sky for any problems...when flying fast, the world blurs past you just as you blur past it….pegasi can make winds with the flapping of their wings but there are gales stronger that can outdo them nonetheless…cutie mark based tail trails do not happen for every pegasus and are based on speed."

Sweetie eventually dozed off, but that was to be expected. The two mev mares decided it was a good time to stop, and Rarity would make something presentable for the Team Awesome meeting next week.
> Chapter 23 - Crusading Wings
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







At the Ponyville Hospital in an examination room on Friday afternoon, Rainbow Dash stood to converse with a unicorn doctor she had treat her in the past for an injured wing. Scootaloo sat on a cushioned platform for children that stood rather high, so that doctors could examine them more closely.

"Her wing size is below average for a pegasus her age, yes," the doctor confirmed. "She's also at an age where the wings and rest of her body will likely remain the proportions they are."

"Does wing size affect actual flight ability for pegasi?" Rainbow asked.

"To be honest, I'm not the kind of doctor that can answer that. All of the adult pegasi here in Ponyville have been able to fly unless they get injured like you have in the past or that most unfortunate incident where all of us ponies lost our magic. As you know, you were able to recover just fine from the injury and of course, you and your friends restored our magic.

"Your young friend here, Miss Scootaloo, is the first case I've seen with this disability. But you know, Ponyville might be too small of a town to really tell us that fact, if it is the wing size. I recommend seeing a doctor in Cloudsdale. I can even give you a reference if you'd like."

"I would, Doctor, thanks," Rainbow said.

"Good luck to you both," he told them and magically passed over a small business card with information that Rainbow took with her wing.





"Yes, wing size can affect flight ability," a pegasus mare doctor with a royal purple coat and pink mane told them at another examination room, this time in Cloudsdale. It was still Friday afternoon. They'd managed to find time and the doctor available. "Most pegasi have specific proportions or at least within a certain range. There are exceptions of course, but in the main example I know of, that pegasus pony had cutie mark magic to offset the smaller wing size."

Rainbow was almost positive she knew who the doctor meant. "Bulk Biceps?"

The doctor smiled graciously but otherwise gave no verbal confirmation.

"Is there a way for us to know if it's the wing size for Scootaloo? Her cutie mark magic is quite strong since it's bonded to two others, and it does have a wing in the symbol," Rainbow pointed out.

The doctor took a look at it. "Hmm, but it is a bit small in that mark too, isn't it? Plus, from what you've told me, her wings can flutter. The problem is the actual lift and thrust being too weak that's preventing an expected level of flight for other pegasi her age. There isn't a way for me to know with absolute 100% certainty, but in my expert opinion, it is indeed the wing size that's the issue. We're talking like 99%."

"Okay, let's go ahead and go with that. Assuming it's true, is there any other kind of magic that could be used in place of cutie mark magic to offset the smaller wings?" Rainbow inquired.

Scootaloo raised one of her orange forelimbs into the air for a turn to speak.

Both the adult ponies looked at her. "What you got, Scoot?" Rainbow asked.

"I've been able to fly in my dreams if that counts," the filly pegasus told her.

"It might," Rainbow nodded. "How about you, Doc? Any ideas?"

"Hmm. Well, if you could grow her wings, that's something, but we certainly don't have that kind of magic here. You'd need to talk to unicorns or maybe a potions expert."

"Zecora?" Scootaloo asked.

"Pinkie Pie and Applejack are actually asking her," Rainbow informed her young friend.

"Oh, cool." Scootaloo was glad to hear that just as Rainbow said, Team Awesome was indeed on the case.

"I suppose," the doctor added, "you could check with the griffons. Their magic is similar to ours though I can't say I've ever seen one with small wings. Still...you sound keen to know all there is to know about flight magic."

"I am," Rainbow confirmed with a nod.

"And then of course, you could look into regular bird care-taking, such as with a veterinarian and how they've helped flightless birds. I mean, maybe you could find a technological solution, some kind of support to add onto or into the wings. I'm sorry to say, even in Cloudsdale, we don't have anything quite that advanced," the doctor confessed. "This disability isn't unheard of, but it is extremely rare. We haven't had enough need, so sorry little one, to accommodate for it."

"I'm used to it," Scootaloo muttered with a downcast look.

"It would be good if we could learn to accommodate for it," Rainbow stated. "All the help to get us there is appreciated. You've definitely given us more options. Thanks very much."

"A pleasure Miss Dash. I'm a huge fan of your career, from even before you joined the Wonderbolts. I saw you place second at the Equestria Games aerial relay race and before that, I saw you win the Best Young Fliers' Competition. I still haven't seen any other pegasus do a Sonic Rainboom since. It's been a true honor meeting and speaking with you and now seeing you look after this little filly."

Rainbow blushed. "Oh you know me, Master of Awesomeness. It's a pleasure to meet a fan like you as well." She offered a wing.

"A master indeed," the doctor said and shook the wing in turn. "Wow, it even feels good to say."

"Good to hear too, much appreciated," Rainbow replied. With that, Rainbow and Scootaloo left.





While sitting on Rainbow's back during the flight returning to Ponyville, Scootaloo asked, "Rainbow, did you try to get her to call you 'master' on purpose?"

"Sort of an instinct, but yeah," Rainbow admitted. "I can't rightly tell or ask to be called it, but it is supposed to feel good for the one who says it. Think of it as my discrete master mev way of saying thanks without having to reveal that's what I am. We were there on business even if the doctor herself didn't know that."

"Oh. So, what do you think of what both the doctors said, about my wings?" the younger pegasus wanted to know as Rainbow descended onto a secluded grassy knoll.

"Well, it matches what you've told me of your own personal theory," Rainbow began as Scootaloo hopped off with a flutter. "And with what the Cloudsdale doctor said about cutie mark magic offsetting it in other cases, that explains Bulk Biceps to me."

"Why didn't she just say that was who she meant?" Scootaloo asked.

Rainbow shrugged. "Maybe he's a patient. You know, confidentiality, stuff like that. Anyway, I think you're both onto something, and all of those ideas give me ways to test it."

"Do those ways include using your vampire powers?" Scootaloo asked.

"Hmm, the thing is my powers involve a reserve. You know what a reserve is, right? Like for water," Rainbow said. She knew they'd touched on it the day before, but still, a little extra explanation could help.

Scootaloo nodded.

"This one's for magic, the magic I consume or gain through my exchanges. There is nothing in my reserve that could truly cure your disability alone. Even if we do tap into what I have, it will have to go with what we find out there," Rainbow Dash gestured with a forelimb to all around them.

Just then, they each heard and soon felt something on their flanks.

"Wow…Rainbow Dash, look! I'm glowing!" Scootaloo said with a big smile, pointing to her cutie mark emitting out other smaller versions of her cutie mark with a repeated chime. "I'm being called by the map!" 

Rainbow grinned and stared at her own. Her eyes widened in shock at the sight.

Scootaloo's jaw dropped upon seeing Rainbow Dash's cutie mark was glowing as well, but it wasn't just glowing. A red circle line, like a thick brush of paint spun in place around the mark. The red color moved in a manner reminiscent of the ethereal wave a pony might see on one of the Royal Sisters' manes. "Whoa!" the younger pegasus finally gasped.

"Whoa indeed," Rainbow echoed her sister in similar fashion. She needed to see the map. Well, both of them really. She picked up Scootaloo, placing the filly on her backside once more and swooshed her way to Twilight's castle with her rainbow streak trailing behind them.

At the castle door, before the pegasi could enter, "Scootaloo!" Apple Bloom called out and galloped up to them, Sweetie not far behind. 

Rainbow Dash leaned over, "Meet me inside," she whispered and dashed in as quickly as she could, hoping the other two hadn't seen her own summon yet. It felt proper to give the crusaders a moment together and to use that moment to see the map itself given how different this summon was to past ones, undoubtedly related to the fact that she was now a master mev.

Scootaloo gave a quick nod. "All three of us are glowing!" she exclaimed. The three hugged and giggled together. They clasped each other's hooves in a circle and spun with glee.

"Do you realize what this means?" Sweetie Belle asked the other two.

"If it means what I think it means, we are being summoned by the map just like our sisters have been," Apple Bloom spoke with authority.

"And that's not all," Scootaloo told them. "Come on, I have to see the other thing!"

"Wait, what other thing?" Sweetie asked.

The other two scurried after Scootaloo.

"Princess Twilight!" they said in unison. Twilight herself sat at her throne, her jaw hanging open as she looked at the map summon.

"She's speechless," Apple Bloom said with pride.

"So am I," Sweetie Belle said, her mouth soon agape as well, eyes locked onto what Twilight was seeing.

"Huh?" Apple Bloom took a closer look at the table.

Near the edge of the table was a mountain and above the mountain's peak, the crusader cutie marks swirled about in a circle, looking as lovely and magical as ever. It took a moment for Apple Bloom to realize that the shock from Twilight and Sweetie and eagerness from Scootaloo were from a much larger symbol above even the three cutie mark images swirling together. She'd seen Rainbow's cutie mark before, of course. Rainbow was proud of it, and it was pretty cool, even had a great story of how she got it. No, aside from being larger than their marks, a large red circle swam around it while the combined symbol itself didn't swirl around the chosen location like it usually did or the current crusaders' marks did. Instead, it stood firmly in place. It took another minute for Apple Bloom to realize Rainbow Dash was hovering a bit high and slowly descending to examine it with a fascinated smile.

"Master, what does it mean?" Twilight finally composed herself enough to ask.

"Well…" Rainbow lowered herself to finally examine it real close. "It looks to me like I'm being summoned as a master mev," Rainbow said.

"For a magic problem like how you gals solve friendship problems?" Apple Bloom asked.

Twilight looked worriedly at Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow scrutinized the way it stood so large in solitude above everything else. "I doubt it," she surmised. "Nope. This is for an introduction."

"What do you mean?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Are you saying," Twilight started to get it, "that you're being summoned to introduce yourself as the Master Mev to the hippogriffs?"

The Crusaders looked at each other with excited smiles for their rainbow-maned friend.

"Yup," Rainbow confirmed. "I'm guessing that since these three are being called and the map is linked to the Tree of Harmony, which is linked to the land of Equestria that gave me my power, all those links figured out that I may as well go too, even if the missions are different. It's a good time. We've established our pack and started on our work."

"Did you hear that?" Sweetie whispered to her two young friends at her side. "Twilight's in the pack too." She had guessed as much, but it felt like the first real confirmation she'd observed from Team Awesome.

"I'd feel better if I went with the four of you," Twilight told Rainbow. "I could look after these three and act as back up in case there is a problem."

"Aw come on, Twilight," Apple Bloom said.

"We can take care of this mission just fine on or our own," Sweetie Belle said.

"I know that," Twilight said, "but I'm not so sure the ponies who care about you want you going off so far on your own. Besides, there's some school business I need to take care of on Mount Aris. I need Silverstream's parents to sign a permission slip for school field trips. And really, I want to be there to support Master Rainbow Dash."

"Support would be good," Rainbow agreed, "especially since you have princess status."

"Oh, that's right!" Twilight realized. "Maybe I should have Princess Celestia write a letter of introduction for you."

Rainbow nodded. "Makes sense, I like that idea."

"We'll leave tomorrow morning on the train together, all four of us," Twilight announced.

"It could be fun," Scootaloo told the other two. "We'll have Rainbow Dash with us for at least the ride there."

"Yeah, and maybe they'll be so busy with school or mev business, we'll be doing our part well enough," Apple Bloom considered.

"Yeah," Sweetie agreed and nodded while secretly hoping that she could actually see more of that mev business herself.





Before leaving the castle, Rainbow Dash stopped by the library to see Starlight sorting through stacks of books. "Primeva," she greeted.

Starlight galloped over with an ever eager smile, and the two bumped hooves. "Master!"

"Is this what I hope it is?" Rainbow asked.

"Yes. Hard to say if this is good or bad, but there aren't actually that many books. That's good because it will make going through them easier but kinda bad because then there might just not be enough information," Starlight admitted.

"Funny you mention that," Rainbow said. "Twilight and I need to take a trip with the Crusaders tomorrow to Mount Aris, so you're in charge of the book stuff while we're gone. I want you to expand your search a bit, take it to another level. See if we have anything on griffons and injured flightless birds that got help."

"That last part is awfully specific," Starlight noted.

"Hey, if it's out there, I want to know it. I'm not expecting the answer to be there; it's just good to check," Rainbow told her honestly. "Fluttershy has helped her share of birds, and I've helped her with some of them. Closest I know of on that are clipped wings that grew back on their own. I think we've got a better shot with the griffon stuff. All the ones I've met have larger wing spans than pegasi."

"You can count on me, Rainbow," Starlight assured the master mev. "Since you're going to Mount Aris, maybe you could learn some stuff from the hippogriffs too."

"Good point," Rainbow realized. "I already knew I could count on you. Keep up the awesome work."

The two gave each other friendly salutes for their farewell.
> Chapter 24 - Titles Tangent
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







It was Saturday morning in Ponyville as three Cutie Mark Crusaders and two Awesomevs sat on a train beginning its trek to Mount Aris.

"Rainbow Dash, can we ask you about...you know….?" Sweetie Belle started to say.

Twilight tried to cast magic of some kind, but it shorted out. The three fillies looked at her blankly and blinked in confusion. Twilight herself felt her horn in confusion as well until she looked at Rainbow Dash. She wanted to ask if it was the magic immunity but remembered the spell she was even trying to cast and why to begin with. So instead, she whispered close to ask. Rainbow nodded and whispered something back. Another whisper from Twilight to Rainbow. She cast the spell again, and a bubble of silence formed around the five ponies.

"What was that? What happened?" Apple Bloom was intrigued by the exchange.

"You go ahead, Rexa. I know you like to explain things, and I've had and will have no shortage of chances to do it on my own," Rainbow told her.

"Is Rexa your title?" Sweetie asked with interest.

Twilight giggled. "Yes."

"So, what happened just now?" Scootaloo hoped to put the answer back on track.

"Rainbow's role as master makes her immune to most magic cast on her. Unicorns can't go grabbing her tail anymore," Twilight began her explanation.

Rainbow silently smirked.

"The spell you see now is called a bubble of silence. I tried to cast it with her in the bubble, but since she's immune, it shorted out and failed," Twilight continued. 

"Wow," Scootaloo uttered.

"That must make things really hard," Sweetie thought aloud.

"So, how'd you get it to work then?" Apple Bloom asked.

"I'm one of her fledglings. I can cast magic like this spell so long as I have permission though pulling her tail is probably still off-limits," Twilight said.

"You got that right. I've had my fill of those in my pegasus lifetime," Rainbow said.

"To be fair Master, your tail was usually pulled because you are brash...or were...the mev power seems to have settled you a bit," Twilight noted.

"Maybe so," Rainbow agreed.

"So, now that we have the bubble of silence, can we ask about mev stuff?" Sweetie hoped.

"You may," Rainbow told them, "but...of course I might not answer."

"Okay," Sweetie said. "Who's in the pack, for real? I know Rarity and Applejack of course, Pinkie Pie, and now Twilight. I'm thinking Fluttershy too. Is that it? Is that your pack?"

With another exchanged nod and smile, Twilight answered again. "You've almost got it. Yes to Fluttershy, and add in Starlight Glimmer."

"Starlight too?" Scootaloo asked.

"Starlight's inclusion is actually very special," Twilight added. "She was first."

"How did she get to go first?" Sweetie asked.

"Funny you ask," Twilight was happy to continue. "The first fledgling must be a unicorn. Your sister and Starlight both wanted to be first, so Rainbow came up with the idea of a game for one of them to earn the spot. We didn't all know how much the first placement mattered, just that it needed to be a unicorn. Either way, the two played the game, and Starlight won. She makes an excellent…." she stopped herself, "...first fledgling."

"What's her title?" Sweetie prodded.

Twilight looked in Rainbow's direction before answering, "Only Starlight or Rainbow Dash can tell you that."

"Master Rainbow Dash?" Sweetie asked. "Please?"

After a thoughtful pause, Rainbow said, "Primeva. Starlight is Primeva. The fledgling titles are mainly for us to use in the pack. You three already know not to speak of our business to others, right?"

They nodded, noticing Rainbow Dash seemed rather serious about this particular matter. "Good. It is important to me that you understand the titles are special names I have given them for me to use. You may use them as reference but when it comes to addressing my fledglings directly...you should still use their pony-given names."

The Crusaders nodded as respectfully as they could.

"Can we know the others?" Apple Bloom asked. "We know the ones for Applejack, Rarity and now Twilight and Starlight."

"That means we know over half of them and just leaves Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie," Scootaloo pieced together aloud.

"Fluttershy is Segunda. Pinkie Pie is Quintaza," Rainbow informed them.

"Are they number based?" Apple Bloom put a hoof up to her chin in pondering. 

"Rexa's not," Scootaloo pointed out. "And Fyra doesn't sound like any kind of number-ish name to me either."

"They are," Rainbow assured them. "They just have some master mev modifications to make them sound cooler to my ears."

"Really?" Twilight asked. "That's news to me."

"Heh, even Twilight's learning with us," Scootaloo remarked.

"What kind of modifications?" Apple Bloom was curious.

"You all really want to know?" Rainbow checked to be sure with her companions. "I'd think it's kinda boring to find out."

All four of her listeners nodded.

"Very well. Every title ends with the letter 'a', and the sound has a nice ring to it. In some languages, that ending is used to mean femininity. My entire pack is mares. 'Primeva' is like 'primus' which means 'first' in Latin."

Twilight pulled out a scroll and quill to scribble Rainbow's ramblings while still maintaining the silence bubble.

"I like how the letters 'v', 'x', and 'z' sound, which is how those letters made it into some of the titles. 'Primus' became 'Primeva', which almost sounds like 'prime evil'. As you may know, or at least Sweetie knows…" The young unicorn grinned proudly. "...I'm not quite evil or perhaps not as evil as the phrase 'prime evil' would imply, but I do like to imply evil in my flair. Not to mention Starlight was evil when I first met her. Get it?" she said with a mischievous grin.

The three young fillies nodded with quietly amused smiles.

"That last part was more of a funny coincidence," Rainbow admitted.

"I can't believe you've never told me all this," Twilight said. "That's such a fascinating path to its end."

"Is it? I didn't really think so until I had an audience, but I'm happy to entertain," Rainbow decided. 

"Are you aware that 'Primeva' is also an anagram for 'vampire'?" Twilight asked.

"What's that mean?" Rainbow wasn't familiar with the term despite all her extra reading in recent weeks.

"You rearrange the letters into a different word," Twilight explained.

"No way!" Rainbow said with a grin. "Ha! Cool!"

"The others," Sweetie urged.

"Oh right," Rainbow said. She continued, "'Segunda' is the feminine version of 'second' in Spanish. 'Mitria' is a combination. The most obvious number reference is the T-R-I part though I choose the 'tree' way to say it because again, I go with how I like to hear it. 'Tri' is a Greek prefix meaning 'three' and used on a lot of words. You three are a trio, for example."

"What's the 'mi' for in 'Mitria'?" Twilight asked.

"The word 'mittsu' is the Japanese word for third, so I combined the Japanese and Greek and added the 'a'. I thought it would fit Rarity nicely since I think it sounds pretty, and she agreed."

"And here I was wondering if the 'mi' was possessive akin to Spanish for 'my'," Twilight noted.

"Another coincidence," Rainbow admitted.

"Rarity is third," Sweetie realized.

"Does that mean Applejack is fourth?" Apple Bloom asked. "Her turn is after Rarity's."

"It does," Rainbow confirmed. "'Fyra' is Swedish for the number four. Switch up the pronunciation a little to make it sound more like 'fire' with an 'a' sound at the end because that's how I read it in my head. I like it that way."

"Oh," Scootaloo realized. "How do you know so many languages?"

"I don't," Rainbow answered. "My powers include some knowledge granted to me from the land. It's sort of like my sub-conscious dug through what the land filtered into my head to help me pick the names. It's not that I 'know' things so much as I 'sense' them, which is why it's important I follow my gut when it comes to mev stuff. I have taken the time to look up where that 'sense' told me the numbers came from, so that's why I can explain it better now for Twilight here."

Twilight wrote and wrote. "Oh, how nice. Did you do that with your extra reading time at night?" she asked without looking up from her scroll.

"Yes," Rainbow confirmed for her.

"Well, go on," Apple Bloom said. "You've still got to tell us two more."

"Quintaza is like 'quintus'.'Quintus' is Latin for 'fifth'. I wanted a little more pizzazz than just replacing the 'us' with an 'a' at the end. The 'z' seems like a good letter for Pinkie Pie. She can be kinda zany, you know."

Twilight's expression grew contemplative. "Penny?" she asked.

Rainbow's eyes darted from Twilight to the three fillies, back to Twilight again.

"Who's Penny?" Scootaloo asked.

"Pinkie told us she's a mirror pool copy Rainbow Dash gave her or something like that," Apple Bloom managed to recall.

"Mm-hmm," Sweetie confirmed.

Rainbow face-hoofed on realizing the girls, at least two of them, already knew.

"Sorry Rainbow," Twilight told her, having forgotten this point was not well-established to her master. "Pinkie let it slip at the second Washouts show. Starlight suggested she be more discrete from then on, and she did apologize."

"Good," Rainbow re-composed herself. "Good on Primeva."

"So Penny has a title too? What is it?" Sweetie asked.

"Yes," Rainbow answered. "'Penny' is actually short for 'Pentaza' to match Pinkie as 'Quintaza'. The 'penta' is a Greek prefix meaning 'five'. So, I gave her a name in 'Penny' and a title in 'Pentaza' to share her place with Pinkie. They're both very happy with how that worked out."

"Pinkie's happy with it, even after all that mess from the first time she copied herself?" Apple Bloom asked.

"She's learned a lot from that experience, and Penny is different from those other copies. They're doing great work learning some new magic for Team Awesome," Rainbow informed them.

Apple Bloom's eyes lit up, "So it's like how you said Applejack could develop fire power or something. Earth ponies in your pack get to use new magic."

"I'll bet Twilight can't wait to hear the explanation for hers now," Scootaloo said, moving the original topic along.

The alicorn nodded in the affirmative. "I very much want to know. And Master Rainbow Dash, you knew I wanted to know," Twilight pointed out.

"I didn't want to talk about it at the time and figured I'd get around to it eventually. Now here we are at 'eventually'. Plus, I did want to look up some of this stuff first," Rainbow explained.

"Fair enough. Please do continue," Twilight urged.

"'Rexa' is based in part on the Greek prefix, 'hexa' that means 'six' just as Twilight thought," Rainbow began.

"I knew it!" Twilight proclaimed with a victorious smile. "How does the 'r' come in?"

"Well, 'hex' can also be used to mean a curse, which would be a thing to avoid for a title on a team meant to reserve and manage magic that is hopefully for the better with the land-given power."

"Ohhh," Twilight realized.

"The Japanese word for six, 'roku' starts with an 'r'," Rainbow went on.

"So, it's another hybrid like Rarity's?" Twilight asked.

"Yes, and it sounds cooler than Zexa or Vexa, and I later realized, 'rex' can mean 'king,' and while you're not a king, still seems kinda cool, kinda royal-ish to me," Rainbow concluded. "And that's how Team Awesome was made," she added with a smile and wink directed to the listening crusaders, feeling it made for a good flow to the end of her explanations.

The fillies giggled, and Twilight smiled as she put away the quill and scroll. She sensed well enough that Rainbow was done talking about mev affairs, informing the girls of her logic. Rainbow gave a confirming nod, so Twilight removed her silence bubble.

The crusaders began to chatter with each other about hippogriffs and Mount Aris. Apple Bloom relayed what Applejack told her and was caught in a tall tale proclaiming her sister defeated the Storm King. Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle were both quick to correct her that many friends, such as themselves and Applejack, banded together to do that. Those friends even included one hippogriff they met in Seaquestria: Princess Skystar, daughter to Queen Novo.

Apple Bloom sheepishly conceded the point, and the quintet of ponies enjoyed the rest of their ride together.
> Chapter 25 - Turf Mastery
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Upon arriving at Mount Aris, the Crusaders began to focus on their own mission, asking what kind of cutie mark friendship problem they might find. Twilight explained that hippogriffs don't have cutie marks, so it probably wasn't for that. Scootaloo called out to ask if anygriff had a problem they needed help with, and none of them did. Rainbow simply hovered about and observed the scene with a relaxed smile.

Soon, they all met Terramar, a sea pony waving from the water. He explained he was Silverstream's brother.

"A hippogriff can have a sea pony for a brother?" asked a perplexed Apple Bloom. "How does that work, exactly?"

"Shh! It's rude to ask question like that!" Sweetie Belle told her.

Terramar lifted himself out of the water and turned into a hippogriff to the amazement of the crusaders.

"Can I ask now?" Apple Bloom said to the side, but she was clearly heard.

Terramar softly chuckled. "It is kind of strange. See, after the Storm King was defeated, the sea ponies didn't have to hide anymore. So some of them changed back to hippogriffs and went home to Mount Aris."

Twilight chimed in, "But others got used to living under the water and stayed in Seaquestria."

Terramar nodded with approval and agreement, then continuing on for himself, "And me, well, I kind of go back and forth." He started to scratch nervously at his neck while maintaining his friendly demeanor. "With this." He indicated a necklace he wore.

Rainbow Dash dipped a little closer to examine it with the others.

"It's a tiny piece of the Magic Pearl," the young hippogriff told them. "It was split up among our kingdoms."

"Does that mean the Magic Pearl as a whole is gone or just that parts were taken and given?" Rainbow inquired.

"Oh, it's still there," Terramar assured her. "Why do you ask?"

"I have a keen interest in magic," she replied honestly.

Terramar raised an eyebrow, not sure if he could politely ask why a pegasus would care so much. Regardless, it was time for him to escort the Equestrian party to meet his father, who he named to them as Sky Beak. The Crusaders tried asking their escort if he knew of any hippogriff with a problem. He told them about how no, the hippogriffs were actually pretty happy on Mount Aris. It was a great place to live.

Twilight and Rainbow Dash were very impressed by the sight as they arrived. 

"Whoa! This looks amazing! Last time we were here, it was a ghost town," Twilight explained to Terramar.

"Yeah," he agreed and informed her, "Queen Novo thought it was important to return our village to its former glory."

"Does Queen Novo stay on Mount Aris then?" Rainbow inquired.

"Mostly," Terramar told her. "Since some of the sea ponies stayed in Seaquestria, she does go to check on us over there too."

A flag was raised and trumpets blared. A male hippogriff with a gold helmet and armor descended to properly initiate the Glad to be a Hippogriff Festival. Trumpets blared again and cheering roused through the crowd. The Crusaders and Awesomevs looked on with quiet smiles. Another hippogriff approached the blue, gold-helmeted one, bowed, and the two lifted off into the air to fly about and chase or race or spar with each other. The other hippogriffs murmured and applauded.

"My kind of party," Rainbow remarked, impressed by the movement and flight of the winged creatures.

"Wow! We picked a great day to show up!" Scootaloo had her remark to add as well. She fluttered up a little in her enthusiasm.

"Not really," said Terramar, not nearly as impressed. "We do this every weekend. Hippogriffs really like being hippogriffs."

"I like their enthusiasm," Rainbow said with an appreciative smile.

After more cheers, the two flying hippogriffs descended and the blue one looked over to Terramar and company. "There's my boy!"

"Hi Dad!" Terramar became in better spirits immediately and approached his father.

"Haven't seen you in days, Son!" the father proclaimed. "Wish you'd come around more often." He stroked Terramar's head crest.

Terramar smiled before remembering the party he was escorting. "Oh Dad, these are Silverstream's friends from Equestria, they came up to…"

"Princess Twilight Sparkle!" the father put his claws up to his cheeks with a growing smile. "And you must be Professor Rainbow Dash," he realized at the hovering sky blue pegasus. He gave a high-pitched shriek, startling the crusader fillies. "Attention, Everygriff! Princess Twilight Sparkle is here! And Professor Rainbow Dash! They're two of Silverstream's teachers."

The other hippogriffs gasped, murmured, and approached the two mares from Equestria, a bit more focused on the princess of the two.

Sky Beak marched further into the gathering crowd to politely offer, "Here to take in the marvel that is Mount Aris, Your Highness? And Professor?"

"Absolutely!" Twilight said with a big smile. "And to have you sign a form for Silverstream," she added while showing the form in question with her magic.

"Actually, as awesome as that sounds," Rainbow Dash replied, "the sooner I could meet with Queen Novo, the better. I will do as much marveling as I can when I can. Promise."

Twilight levitated a separate piece of paper to Sky Beak. "This is a letter of introduction from Princess Celestia to Queen Novo regarding an important job Master Rainbow Dash has in Equestria. Do you think you could make the necessary arrangements?"

"Master?" Sky Beak inquired with intrigue.

Rainbow bowed in mid-air. "Yes, good sir."

Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo were quietly observing the entire scene and finally looked at each other to smile, in full recognition of Rainbow's magical title at work.

"I thought you were a professor," Terramar's father remarked.

"You're not wrong," Rainbow told him. "I am a pegasus of many talents, and my mastery has called me here today. The letter and myself will tell Queen Novo what that means in greater detail."

"Very well then," he clapped his claws together to call over two other hippogriffs to ask they escort the master in question.

"Good luck you three," Rainbow told her crusader friends.

"Thanks Master Rainbow!" Sweetie waved, glad she could use the title openly. The other two waved without a word.

"Have fun, Twilight," Rainbow told her fledgling.

"I'm here for school business and research, Rainbow," Twilight called out.

"Then I'm sure you'll have fun," Rainbow said with a playful smile as she finally left the gathered festival area.





Rainbow Dash stood in a small, rocky room with a fine rock throne where Queen Novo sat. Princess Skystar sat in a smaller throne to her mother's right. The younger of the two greeted the sky blue pegasus with a friendly wave.

"This letter here says you are a Master Mev," Queen Novo asserted.

"That is correct," Rainbow told her.

"What's a Master Mev?" Skystar asked.

"You'll see soon enough, dear. For now, you just sit and watch," her mother instructed. She addressed the mev in question, "I take it your transformation took place between now and the last time we met."

"Yes, Your Majesty. My initial transformation took place just over three weeks ago," Rainbow answered.

"May I see your vampire form?" the queen asked. 

Skystar gasped but otherwise remained quiet and kept watching.

Rainbow revealed her vampire form instantly. Bat wings unfurled while replacing the feathered ones. Magenta eyes shimmered to red. Fangs became visible with an overt display of gritted teeth before pulling her lips together in a pleased smile as she sighed contentedly taking in the fresh air of Mount Aris anew. She blinked a couple of times before coiling the bat wings at her sides in ease and comfort.

"Mom, she…" Skystar started to utter.

"I know," the queen reminded her. "The 'mev' stands for magic-eating vampire. Let me handle most of this. I might need your help for this next part." Queen Novo stood from her throne and approached the open area where Rainbow stood. Rainbow made sure to take a few steps to give what she felt was proper space, eyes fixed on the elder hippogriff. "Skystar, I need you to say the word 'Master' five seconds after you see the snake if I have not moved of my own accord."

"See what?" the princess asked.

"You heard me," Novo replied. "Snake. Master Rainbow Dash, I am willing to see your fear snare, so that you may further prove yourself to me."

"A pleasure," Rainbow said with a bow. A red circle appeared on the ground where the queen stood. 

Skystar looked on worriedly.

Blitz soon poked her head out and rose from the line. The queen's mouth moved with no words from her shock. She looked near tears herself.

Skystar waited the allotted five seconds before at last saying the key word, "Master."

The circle released, but Blitz remained outside of it and floated in a slither to Rainbow Dash's side.

"So, it's true," the queen gazed on in amazement. "That's a leviathan dread."

Rainbow stroked Blitz. "I'm changing the rules since we're near an ocean," she whispered. Her eye whites turned yellow. The queen and princess saw it. They also saw that as she stroked along the scales of her ghostly pet sea serpent, solid scales would appear in place of the translucent ones when she touched and then disappear back into translucent essence. "Her name is Blitz," Rainbow announced to the pair, "and she's quite obedient, I assure you. In fact, if I have proven enough of myself to you, I would like to give her a chance to swim in the ocean for just a little while, give her chance to be large and solid. She won't hurt anyone."

"You ask such a thing of me?" the queen wondered in shock.

Rainbow smirked at a sudden sense of what else should be asked. There was magic to be gained here. "I'm just getting started."

Novo smirked back and returned to her throne. "Do tell. Beyond a swim for your dread, what are your other requests?"

Before Rainbow Dash began her list, she pat Blitz a few times to signal her dismissal, and her pet faded back into the ground. With that, Rainbow reverted her sceleras to white. She went on to say, "One meal of hippogriff magic for my reserve. The hippogriff in question must be an adult and would recover within one week from when I bite them. Beyond that, I request one tiny piece of the Magic Pearl, permission to explore both Mount Aris and Seaquestria to get a feel for the magic in these places, and any kind of insight you can give me for hippogriff flight magic."

"And what do you offer in return if I agree?" Novo inquired.

"Reserved hippogriff magic on call if it's ever needed," Rainbow offered. "It will grow and develop within my reserve. I do have a full pack, Your Majesty, and my fledglings are quite strong even from before our mev bond." She paused to make eye contact with the queen, hoping that the ruling hippogriff understood the significance of that. Rainbow and her friends went through great effort to make it happen on recommendation from the red-bound book she read her first night as a master mev.

The queen did indeed nod in recognition and waited for Rainbow to continue.

"In addition to that, provided you are interested – or at least you care to entertain your subjects who I'm pretty sure would be interested, I am an incredibly skilled flier as a pegasus. I already was before I was given my powers. I would be more than happy to perform a show and give a fine finish with a Sonic Rainboom," Rainbow offered.

"Oh Mom, we totally should," Skystar said. "I've never seen one! But I heard about it from Silverstream and the pirates. Rainbow Dash here is famous for it back in Equestria. She really is."

The queen grew thoughtful. "You wish to eat that meal today?" she asked. "It might be difficult to find a volunteer in such a short time."

"I'll do it!" Skystar volunteered.

"I beg your pardon?" Novo said.

"No, think about it. It's perfect. You won't have to do it, and we won't have to ask anyone else. Since I'm the princess, you can take care of me here just fine," Skystar argued. "There are times when I stay in a lot anyway. It's just a week. I don't mind. Rainbow Dash is one of Pinkie Pie's best friends," Skystar said. "In fact, Rainbow Dash, how is Pinkie doing?"

"She's still showing other ponies a good time and just as bubbly as ever," Rainbow told the younger hippogriff. "I must ask, Princess. Are you considered an adult in your culture? I cannot bite children."

"I just came of age now that you mention it," Skystar stated with a proud smile while closing her eyes.

Queen Novo rolled her eyes. "She is."

"Please Mom. I really do think it's for the best," Skystar offered.

The queen stared and stared at her daughter, then looked at Rainbow Dash. "I will be present when you eat," she demanded, knowing that was a tall request of a master mev.

Indeed, Rainbow's eyes widened at the notion. She hadn't eaten in front of anyone, and while she sensed it wasn't dangerous to an observer if she knew she was being watched, the idea still made her stomach turn.

"She is my daughter after all," the queen pointed out and then added, "Master."

Rainbow nodded and looked at the ground. She gulped and looked back up. "So be it. Your terms are within reason compared to mine. It is my recommendation that I eat shortly before leaving later today but before sunset. If I eat after sunset, your daughter will sleep until sunrise. Before sunset, she will sleep for only one hour. This plan will give me time to feel the land and sea, perform, and let Blitz swim, all of which Skystar might want to see for herself."

"Oh, can I?" Skystar asked. "Please please please."

Queen Novo sighed. "Oh alright. You are giving up magic for a week. Make the best of your time today."

"I will, Mom! Promise!" Skystar said.

With that, the mev and princess departed as the sky above and waters below awaited them.
> Chapter 26 - Surf Mastery
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







After a quick survey of the mountain with some guidance from Skystar, Rainbow Dash found the CMC standing and talking to Terramar. Twilight was with them. Rainbow and Skystar descended from their flight to address the group.

"Master Rainbow Dash!" Sweetie said with a smile. "You've got to check this out." She went on to demonstrate the Harmonizing Heights where the mountain made beautiful music amidst its beautiful landscape. She continued to emphasize its beauty.

Skystar giggled.

"That's great," Rainbow told the young white unicorn. "I want you to meet someone."

Sweetie finally calmed down and trotted over. Rainbow gestured to the hippogriff next to her. "Crusaders, this is Princess Skystar. Princess, this the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Here's my little sister Scootaloo, Rarity's little sister, Sweetie Belle, and Applejack's little sister, Apple Bloom. They help ponies and other creatures find their purpose in the world and are a fine young group of friends too, if I do so say myself."

The fillies looked away or down and blushed.

"Nice to meet all of you," Skystar said with a welcoming smile. "Master Rainbow Dash has made some arrangements with my mom, including an aerial performance real soon. Do you want to watch?"

"Really?" Scootaloo asked in a mix of surprise and hope.

Rainbow nodded. "I'm showing off my Sonic Rainboom at the end."

"The thing is, we're kind of in the middle of our mission," Apple Bloom explained in a hesitant tone.

"It'll be a short performance," Rainbow assured her. "It is just one phase of my own mission as well."

Skystar nodded as even more assurance.

"We were about to go see my mom in Seaquestria," Terramar explained, "but I guess so long as we go right after, that would be alright."

"That actually works out great because we're headed that way afterwards too," Skystar told them.

"The next phase of your mission?" Scootaloo asked her big sister.

"Yup," Rainbow confirmed. "Let's get a move on, since we're all busy."

With that, the group made their way back to the festival gathering where with Sky Beak's help, Rainbow was allowed to perform her aerial feats of flips and spins slowly weaving her way upward before descending and then ascending yet again to finish with her finale, booming its bright vibrant colors for the hippogriff audience. The hippogriffs were indeed entertained as they cheered and applauded in response to the show.

"That was amazing!" Skystar said, clasping her cheeks in her claws with a broad smile.

"Heh, thanks," Rainbow said.

"You performed well as always, Rainbow," Twilight said. "We better go to Seaquestria now."

"I've been wondering," Apple Bloom said, "just how are we going to go underwater?"

Soon, the quintet that had grown into a sextet with Skystar at Rainbow's side found themselves treading water at the surface.

Terramar clasped a claw with Scootaloo's hoof, who held onto Apple Bloom's who held onto Sweetie Belle's. He looked expectantly at Twilight and Rainbow.

"Come on Rainbow Dash," Skystar offered her claw out.

"Um, it might not work, so could we try it and then if it doesn't, you'll just hold Twilight's hoof? That should fix it," Rainbow said.

The two hippogriffs who were ready to be sea ponies blinked.

"Can we ask why?" Terramar asked.

Rainbow swallowed thoughtfully and looked at Skystar, the princess hippogriff already willing to give up her magic without even knowing this part. "I'm immune to certain magic unless it's channeled through someone like Twilight. She and I have a special bond to help that exact situation."

"Oh wow, I didn't know, sorry," Terramar said. "We'll wait then, to see how it goes."

"Wow indeed," Skystar agreed. She did as Rainbow suggested and upon the failed attempt, she quickly took Twilight's hoof, and Twilight took Rainbow's. On the next attempt, the transformation worked as intended. Together, they all descended into the water as sea ponies.

"Whew," Rainbow let out a relieved breath. A giddy, giggling enthusiastic Scootaloo swam past her.

"This must be just like flying!" she declared joyfully. Then she swam to Rainbow. "It is, isn't it? I've seen you when you fly and you look like you're swimming in the air. Even just now at your performance with the way you whip through the air so fast!" She swam away before Rainbow could give her an answer.

"Come on," Skystar told Rainbow. "I'll show you around. You probably want to see the Magic Pearl again, right?"

"Right," Rainbow nodded, and they swam off to leave the Crusaders to their mission and Twilight to find Terramar's mom.

The visit to see the Magic Pearl went plenty smooth. Skystar took it with ease from its guarded place where it was tucked away in something resembling a large jellyfish. The magical orb looked as it did before yet Rainbow could feel its magic more strongly. The smaller golden orbs within and spiky white center ended up looking even more beautiful to her. Skystar explained that Queen Novo had a piece already set aside so they were just looking, not taking. 

"You can touch, just don't activate," Skystar suggested.

Intrigued, Rainbow did exactly that and smiled while she lightly rubbed it.

Afterward, Skystar showed Rainbow around at a few other things before they found Twilight again. At her master's request, the alicorn princess accompanied them to find a large open space where Rainbow Dash could summon Blitz.

"So, how does it work if you call her underwater?" Skystar asked.

"It's worked in the air, so hopefully it's pretty much the same. I want to surface as a pegasus first though," Rainbow explained.

With the help of her two friends, Twilight and Skystar, Rainbow was able to do just that and tread water. She directed them to surface as well as a good several feet away from her, so that she could peer down and give Blitz space. She found a good spot, and the circle did indeed form on her commanded desire. Blitz came out from it as ghostly and translucent as ever.

"Come here you," Rainbow told her. "I've got a gift, something awesome. We might not be able to do this again for awhile." Blitz obeyed. "Grow to your full size," Rainbow commanded. "Stay translucent and visible, but I want to see how big you really are."

Again Blitz obeyed. She grew in length and girth. Twilight and Skystar gazed upward with dropped jaws. The leviathan dread was large enough that several ponies could be swallowed into her body if she were solid and to Rainbow's anticipated hope, the top of her head was definitely large and flat enough for something she wanted to try on this venture.

"Lower your head over here to look at me," Rainbow told Blitz, lifting herself out of the water with flapping feathered wings.

Blitz lowered as told. She saw Rainbow turn her chaos form on. The leviathan dread smiled.

"Alright, girl, here's what we're going to do. You've got hmm, five minutes. You will be solid, like we practice at home. You're not scaring anyone or hurting for that matter. Now that you'll be solid, we actually have to think about that. We're here to have a good time and experience some awesome magic on this mission. I want you to enjoy the water and the air and just being you."

Blitz nodded. "Yes, Master," she even brought herself to speak, thanks to the active chaos form and practice at home.

Rainbow plopped her hooves upon the top of the serpent's head and as she did so, the solidity rippled through the entire large beast. "Hahahaha!" she laughed with delight, even deciding to release her fangs since the two watching her knew what she was. "Up a little!" she told Blitz, who complied to the sound of more uproarious laughter.

"Is she okay?" Skystar asked Twilight worriedly.

"Oh, she's fine," Twilight offered in comfort. "She's just excited, I promise. Think of it as a special kind of flair she has. She's a showy master mev."

"Right. Okay." Skystar nodded.

"This is actually my first time seeing Blitz though other friends have told me what she's like. I will have quite the story for them when we get back," Twilight said. "No one's seen her full size until today."

"Oh my gosh!" the two heard a young voice. Sweetie Belle had surfaced in her eagerness to leave Seaquestria and return to the Harmonizing Heights, but now she couldn't possibly leave yet. "Master Rainbow Dash! Is that you and Blitz? You made her real!"

Just then, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and Terramar surfaced. "Oh my word," said Apple Bloom.

Scootaloo shivered and hid behind Terramar.

"What is that?" he asked in Skystar and Twilight's direction.

"Solid, Sweetie. I made her solid," Rainbow shouted from where she was. "She's been real since the day I first summoned her."

"Don't worry Terramar," Sweetie said. "That's Blitz. She's Rainbow's pet um...well, she's called a 'leviathan dread', but that might sound kinda bad. Normally, she's like a much smaller ghost snake."

The sky blue mev was laughing it up, riding along, allowing Blitz to move about. Blitz herself was careful even if she wasn't used to having to worry about running into other creatures. She lowered and raised her head to give Rainbow some fun and slithered around in a contained enough manner.

"A dread?" Terramar asked. "And she doesn't scare you?"

"Oh no, she does," Sweetie admitted, "but...well, she's actually kinda nice because of how she's connected to Rainbow Dash." The unicorn filly turned in Rainbow's direction. "Master Rainbow Dash, can I join you?" she called out.

"Sweetie Belle, you just now wanted to go back to take care of our mission," Apple Bloom pointed out.

"You've got one minute," Rainbow ordered.

"See?" Sweetie told her earth pony friend. "That's hardly anything." She hurried off using Terramar's help to turn into a unicorn pony again.

"Blitz, make yourself kind of like a serpent ramp for our sweet unicorn friend," Rainbow commanded. "Sweetie, she's still icy, okay?"

Blitz obeyed, and Sweetie galloped up the scales. "Okay," she hurried along.

"Wait, Master Rainbow Dash, what about us?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Fine, a minute for you too, but get up here now," Rainbow told them.

Scootaloo gulped. "No thanks, I'm good."

"I don't have time to convince you," Apple Bloom hurried off as well.

Scootaloo sighed. "Fine," and she followed the excitement, still scared but not wanting to miss out. "Icy, icy, icy," she muttered.

The Crusaders arrived at the top each gazing out into the ocean. 

"Give us a quick ride," Rainbow said. "Twenty second thrust forward."

Blitz did as told. The four riders smiled and laughed in delight, feeling the wind through their manes and tails.

"Woo-hoo!" Rainbow shouted.

Once the time was up, she called out to Twilight. "Rexa! They're already ponies again. Get them safely to land."

"Yes, Master!" Twilight complied.

Indeed, the chaos-mev magic wore off right about then, and the three fillies found themselves scooped into a telekinetic field guiding them back. The solidity phased away, and Rainbow flapped her wings to hover. "Okay, back to standard snare size," she told her pet. Blitz shrank. "And back to the void. I'll call you later. Master's got work to do. You had fun though, right?"

Blitz nodded fervently before disappearing.

Rainbow descended to where Skystar had watched everything, and for several moments, the sea pony princess was too shocked in awe to say anything. Finally, she blinked a few times and looked at Rainbow Dash. "It's like you told us everything, and I saw everything in that throne room, but I feel like I didn't believe any of it until now. How in all the world did you even do that?"

"Oh, I had a lot of help from a lot of friends, but the main source of that magic is a reality-manipulating draconequis named Discord. He's a friend and a teacher and just like you're doing today, he was actually agreeable to me biting him to even learn this stuff. That type of magic you saw is called chaos-mev magic," Rainbow answered. "It's his mixed with mine. I wanted to learn some things about Blitz and what I can do with it out here in the ocean. Thanks to your mom, I was able to do that."

"I hope you know, Master, that hippogriff magic can't possibly compare to this chaos magic," Skystar told her.

"Hmm, I don't expect anything quite does, but I'll be the judge of that with more certainty soon enough," Rainbow said with a sly smile.

"Oh, right. We should head back," Skystar decided, so the two made their way back to the throne room of Queen Novo at Mount Aris.
> Chapter 27 - Regal and Regale
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







"And then, she got all big, and then the master landed on top of her head and vrooom, all these scales got really real," Skystar said excitedly, sitting in her throne next to her mother. "And she totally didn't hurt anyone. In fact, she gave a little ride to Rainbow's filly friends too. It was so cute, Mom."

Queen Novo nodded. "Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm."

"It was weird," the princess went on. "I was so scared, but then I'm watching the whole thing, and everything and everyone was fine."

"That matches what I've heard and read about master mevs myself though you're more likely to experience that at night," Novo noted.

"Really?" Skystar was surprised at this information.

"They're vampires, my child. Really," Novo told her. "Skystar, are you ready? It is time for Master Rainbow Dash to eat from our plans made earlier."

"Yes, Mom, I am. Everything I saw today was so amazing! I'm happy to do my part in all this," Skystar said.

"Very well. I'll be watching from here. You go on." Novo gestured that Skystar should join Rainbow Dash waiting on the wide open floor.

Skystar obeyed. "So how do we do this?" she asked.

"There's one extra thing I need to do before we start since your mom's watching," Rainbow explained. She tapped a hoof the ground, summoned Blitz, and spoke to her pet. "I'm about to eat. I have given permission to Queen Novo," the mev nodded in the direction where the queen sat, "to watch. That means that you leave her alone. No matter how scared she or Skystar here get, you just stay where you are. You can watch too."

Blitz looked over at the queen, to her master, and finally nodded, air-slithering her way toward a corner of the room.

Rainbow switched her eyes from magenta to red and turned in Skystar's direction. "You just look me in the eyes, and I'll take care of the rest."

Skystar did exactly that and felt pulled in by the enchantment.

"Stay exactly where you are," the master mev ordered. She approached closer, leaned upward, lifted off into a tiny hover, and bit the princess hippogriff's neck.

Novo leaned forward from her throne but managed to stay in her seat. Blitz raised her head and also stayed.  Skystar grew sleepy and felt the pleasurable drain. Rainbow sucked in the magic from her vampire bite. Finally, the young hippogriff body started to fall. It was a gentle, slow collapse guided by the master mev's strong forelimbs.

Rainbow Dash stared and changed her eyes back to their magenta. She didn't wipe her mouth, and she didn't smile. The magic lacked flavor. Such was what she gave up for being watched today. She took a few steps back, sensing what would happen next. Novo rushed down to her daughter's body and listened close for the beating heart and pulsing blood. "She'll wake in an hour like we discussed," Rainbow told her.

"You will wait with me at her bedside until the hour is passed. Then you may you have your piece of the pearl...Master" the queen stated.

"As you wish," Rainbow replied and bowed politely.  She looked over to Blitz with a nod of dismissal. The leviathan dread nodded back and slipped herself back into the void.





"Let me get this straight. None of you have ever even tried?" Rainbow Dash asked.

She and Novo sat at Skystar's bedside in the princess' lofty bedroom.

"No," Novo admitted. "I mean, we spent so much time underwater and before that, of course, the Storm King was who controlled the weather, so we stayed away from the clouds in the sky. Even now, the clouds are nice to see, and certainly some of our fliers have passed through for a bit of a refreshing douse, as it's been described to me. Simply standing on them hasn't really occurred to us."

Rainbow let out a long breath. "Your Majesty, as both a master mev and as a pegasus who literally lives in a cloud house, I really think you should find out as soon as possible. Pegasi and griffins can, so it would be my assumption that hippogriffs can as well. Now that I think about it, I've never seen Skystar or Silverstream try in the time I've known either of them."

The queen smiled in amusement. She rang a bell, spoke to an attendant who nodded and walked away. "We'll find out soon enough then, Rainbow Dash."

"Oh, thanks. Next question then. Have you ever had any hippogriffs who could not fly?" Rainbow asked.

Novo thought really hard for awhile "No, never," she admitted.

"Are there any books on hippogriff flight magic?" Rainbow continued her questions.

"No, there's not really much to say for us," Novo told her. "The magic just works. It lets us fly. You'd sooner find a book on aerial maneuvers, but there's no...I don't know...it sounds like you're asking about a sort of science of our magic. We don't have anything like that. Our magic is not like pony magic, you know. We just...fly...or swim with the help of the pearl. We don't have cutie marks. Perhaps you can learn any science of our magic with it now in your reserve."

Rainbow Dash nodded and nodded as she followed along.

"Would it be rude of me to ask the master mev why she is so interested in this subject?" Novo openly wondered.

"Not at all," Rainbow said. "You've allowed me to do so much here. I'm trying to help another client, and this sort of thing is important to the job."

"Interesting," Novo remarked. "I hope your time here proves fruitful."

"It already has," Rainbow assured her with a grateful smile.

Only a few minutes later, Sky Beak himself arrived. "Novo, my goodness, it worked! I could stand on a cloud. Then I sat on it. It was a rather nice sensation. I couldn't move it around though."

"Well, that certainly is worthwhile to know, Master Rainbow Dash," the queen said with a regal smile of her own gratitude in turn.

"Is everything alright with Princess Skystar?" Sky Beak asked worriedly, realizing his niece slept with the two others watching over her.

"She's just sleeping for now," Novo told him. "She's a little sick, yes, but it's nothing to worry over. She'll be fully recovered within the week."

Sky Beak glanced over to Rainbow Dash with mild suspicion.

"I promise you anything that Master Rainbow Dash has done was done with my full knowledge and cooperation. Understood?" Queen Novo said importantly to him. "Skystar's as well. She did something for our friend here to help her."

"Oh," he softened. "Very well, then. And I take it that Master Rainbow Dash is who I have to thank for testing out the clouds."

"Yes, sir," Rainbow said with a smile and nod. "One of my talents as a pegasus."

"Hmm, how very fascinating." Sky Beak seemed satisfied enough and left.

Once the hour fully passed, Skystar awoke. "Mom…" she blinked. "It wasn't a dream, right?"

"No, it wasn't. Rainbow Dash is still here with me to see that you wake safely," Novo said.

Skystar sat up. She flexed her wings and tried to fly, confirming for both her and her mother that she no longer could. "You know, I forgot to even ask, can I still be a sea pony?"

"That magic is from the pearl, so yes," Rainbow told her.

"Heh, maybe I should just spend my week in Seaquestria," she noted with a light smile.

"You know, I think maybe I'll join you," the queen remarked. "But whatever we do, I know the master here needs her last part of our agreement." Novo opened a small chest she had ready at her side and revealed the tiny piece of pearl to Rainbow. It was already strewn on a piece of string for her. "If I may…" she offered.

Rainbow bowed her head lower, ears following suit, allowing the queen of the hippogriffs to ceremoniously bestow the gift of magic pearl upon her neck. "Thanks very much, Your Majesty,"the master mev said with another round of meaningful gratitude. It felt magical to even receive it.

"Why did you want it even if it doesn't work on you?" Skystar asked.

"My instincts suggested I do so. It's a token of my visit, a symbol of our connection," Rainbow explained. "Plus, I felt a charge just now, so it actually probably will work if I'm the one activating the magic. I'll test it out before I go once I find my friends."

Skystar smiled in contemplation. "That's really cool."

Novo admittedly agreed. After that, the regal pair dismissed Rainbow Dash, so the master mev flew off to find her companions for the trip. The CMC and Twilight Sparkle were enjoying a grand time along the beach where hippogriffs and sea ponies gathered. 

Rainbow Dash smiled at the sight and landed in the water to try out the tiny piece of pearl first. To her satisfaction, it worked. The others noticed her activity, and the mev swam to the shore, deactivating the magic to meet up with them.

"They gave you a piece of the pearl?" Sweetie asked, ever so curious and eager about mev business once more.

"How'd you convince them to do that?" Apple Bloom asked.

"That is so cool," Scootaloo said. "And it works on you, so you can turn into a sea pony whenever you want now!"

"Settle down, girls," Twilight told them. "Equestria's master mev can't tell you every bit of her business, believe it or not. Perhaps she can tell me later though, hmm?" Twilight asked with a smile.

Rainbow gave a silent nod at that.

"You look so, I don't know, official," Sweetie remarked. "Like some kind of honorary diplomat?"

"Hmm," Rainbow thought. "The word doesn't feel right, but I don't know the right one either, besides the one I've already got."

"Heh heh, 'master'," Sweetie giggled.

Rainbow gave her a slight silent bow of her head in confirmation.

"Is there anything you can tell us?" Apple Bloom hoped.

"My meeting with the queen went well, as you can see," the mev gestured at her necklace. "And that's pretty much it for today. How'd your mission go? I see lots of happy hippogriffs and sea ponies, but I saw that before, except maybe Terramar for about five seconds."

"Haha," Scootaloo said.

"He was indeed the hippogriff and sea pony we were here to help," Apple Bloom informed Rainbow.

"Oh? What was his friendship problem?" Rainbow asked.

"I'm not sure it even qualified as a friendship problem," Sweetie admitted with a hoof up to her chin in contemplation, "but it was kinda suited for what we do. He was having a hard time finding where he belongs. He wanted to be with both the hippogriffs and the sea ponies."

"He felt like he had to pick," Scootaloo continued for her. "But it turns out, he doesn't. Both his parents are totally cool with him splitting his time between them and their places like he already is."

"And so is he. It's what makes him happy," Apple Bloom finished.

"Well hey, way to go Crusaders," Rainbow told them with a proud smile. She held up a hoof, and the trio put theirs to hers with proud glances at each other for impressing their pegasus friend.

"The sun is starting to set," Sweetie realized and gave a cautious glance toward Rainbow. "We're staying overnight, right Twilight?"

"Yes. The last train has already gone for the day. I've made arrangements at a hotel, and we'll all leave in the morning," Twilight answered.

"But what about…?" Apple Bloom started.

"Let's head to that room, shall we?" Rainbow suggested before the earth pony filly could finish.

The young trio picked up on the clue and said their farewell for the day to Terramar and others.





"Now can I ask?" Apple Bloom asked. "The three of us know, you know."

"You don't even have to ask. I'll tell you," Rainbow began. "Like I said, I can use magic when it comes to doing things for my pack or doing things I can't do as a pegasus. There is no way I could fly to Ponyville in time from here for my flexchange with Pinkie tonight. And she does need her dose of magic tonight more than I need mine. It's supposed to be done early in the night when possible. So...I'll be teleporting."

"You can do that too?" Sweetie was in awe.

"Of course. It'd be hard to see my girls at night if I couldn't. Granted, I actually do still try the long way when I'm in town. Good exercise and effort to maintain the reserve properly," Rainbow admitted.

"So, you're leaving?" Scootaloo's question hinted at anticipated disappointment.

"Well, I certainly don't need to come back. My work here is done," Rainbow pointed out.

Now all three looked disappointed.

"Aw, you three really know how to make a master mev feel special, I'll give you that," Rainbow beamed. "Chin up. It was a great trip, even if we all had our own separate missions. I'll be around town and check in."

"We know," Sweetie told her. "It's just...I think we were all hoping to hear more about how yours went on the train ride home, and we could tell you about ours too."

"I'm sorry girls. I really do love regaling you with my master mev stuff, but I cannot tell you everything. I have to think about the creatures I work with and what they need from me. Or what's best for Team Awesome. Or even myself. I'll be happy to hear about your mission, but you already saw the gist of what I'd tell you. I can certainly repeat myself," Rainbow Dash smiled softly at the meager offer.

"You know, I do think we'd be okay with that," Apple Bloom said, "Everything happened so fast, it's kind of a blur."

Sweetie and Scootaloo nodded with tiny hopeful smiles.

Rainbow smiled yet again. "Fair enough. You've got yourself a deal. Twilight…" she said.

Twilight watched the entire conversation quietly while being quietly moved at the bond between a master mev and three young ponies. "Yes, Rainbow?"

"Maybe tomorrow, I can wait for the Crusaders at the castle. We can have a chat together in the throne room about our visit here today. What do you think? Provided you're not too busy, and we don't disrupt any of your princess duties there," Rainbow suggested.

"It's no trouble at all. In fact, if you three don't mind, Spike and I can log information about your mission for our own archives," Twilight offered.

"Really?" said a hopeful Apple Bloom. "We don't mind one bit."

"Totally," Scootaloo agreed.

"We'd be happy to 'regale' you with our Crusaders stuff," Sweetie added. The filly trio all giggled together.

"Awesome. I'll see everypony then. I'm heading back to Ponyville." Rainbow stood and readied herself, moving a few steps from the others. The crusaders closed in for a quick hug first, so she wrapped her wings around them to return the embrace. They let go when they were ready and took steps back to give the master mev space. Rainbow Dash gave a familiar and friendly salute before disappearing in a flash.
> Chapter 28 - Rhezenda Sweetie Belle
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







At Twilight's castle on Sunday early in the afternoon, the Cutie Mark Crusaders met with Rainbow Dash as intended. Twilight Sparkle and Spike sat with them in their own respective thrones, more as transcribers and observers than conversationalists. Rainbow talked about her performance that all but Spike saw, letting Blitz loose to enjoy herself and learn more about their own magic, and that yes, she received a tiny piece of pearl from Queen Novo. She didn't expect to wear it all the time like Silverstream and other hippogriffs did with theirs, but she brought it and wore it for the occasion of revisiting the story.

The Crusaders meanwhile talked at length about all the wonderful things they saw and experienced. They admitted they actually had a rather tense argument when it turned out Sweetie favored Mount Aris, and Scootaloo favored Seaquestria, each by a large margin, to the point they left Terramar even more frustrated. Everything turned out alright in the end, thanks to a small point from Twilight and realizing how they were acting affected their new friend as it did.

With much of the exchange of stories done, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom departed. Twilight and Spike went off to the library to attend to their archives and Twilight's princess duties. Sweetie Belle, however, stayed put, sitting in Rarity's seat as she waved good-bye to everyone, hoping the master mev would stay and happy when she did.

"Don't you need to head home too?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"I was kind of hoping I could talk to you," Sweetie told her.

"We just did a whole bunch of talking," Rainbow pointed out.

"Maybe ask you something without other ponies and dragon around then?" Sweetie offered with a hopeful smile. "Or a couple of somethings that's kind of a big something in the end."

Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow, quite intrigued. Neither her mev nor her pegasus senses could pick up on what the unicorn filly wanted. "Alright," she finally said.

"Is it true you can't have any more fledglings?" Sweetie started with her first question.

"That's what the book says, my gut says, and I certainly don't want or intend to add any," Rainbow answered. She waited for the next question.

"And even if you could have more, you can't bite kids, so they can't be fledglings for you ever, right?" Sweetie moved on.

"That's right," Rainbow answered with a confirming nod.

Sweetie Belle looked around to be sure they were still alone and stood onto the table, walking closer so she could face the master mev more closely. She sat down. "Can you have an assistant the way Twilight has Spike? And if so, can I be that assistant?" Sweetie finally asked what she wanted to know.

Rainbow blinked in quiet surprise. "Did you just say what I think you did?"

Sweetie nodded.

Rainbow thought about the idea for a moment before explaining, "You know that for a creature like me an assistant would be what I consider a servant, and I already have six bound to me through my pack, right?"

Sweetie solemnly nodded and pointed out, "But you have Blitz too. She assists you, and she's not a fledgling. Master Rainbow Dash, I've seen how you treat your servants. You're...kinda nice to be honest. You do things to try to make Blitz happy even when she's already happy to just obey you. I was so scared when you picked up Rarity at your cloud house, but then I heard her laugh, and I could see how much fun she was having in that one brief, silly moment. Even on the train with Twilight...yeah, they're your mev servants, but they're also still your friends. I can see that."

Rainbow blushed, gently rubbing the back of her mane. "I try," she admitted. She stared in thought, deep in thought. Where to even go with such a proposal? She sighed. "My servants are bound to me," she explained. "Even if Blitz is not in my pack, she is bound to my mev magic. I can summon and dismiss her at will. She is obedient. If I allow you to be my 'assistant', I would require a bond of some kind, even if it's not the ones I already have through other means. It would go beyond the friendship we have now."

"Can we do that?" Sweetie sounded hopeful. "Maybe since I'm related by blood to Rarity, who's one of your fledglings, that could help," she suggested.

"Oh, you raise a good point," Rainbow agreed with serious consideration.

"Really?" Sweetie was even more hopeful and proud that her idea had merit.

"Really. But let's not be too hasty. The main thing I need to understand is that you are willing to form that bond if I accept your offer." Rainbow looked seriously at Sweetie. "This is real servitude. You know what that means, don't you?"

The unicorn realized the gravity in the master mev's facial expression. "Well, I definitely want to…" Sweetie said, "maybe you could give me a chance for a little while…"

"No," Rainbow stopped her. "There is no trial run with me. You give yourself to me, or you don't. No half-way points. I will indeed try to be a worthy master to your service and a friend who hopes to make you happy with the work I do. But if you do this, Sweetie Belle, you're mine. Do you get me? This is super important because you are still young enough that I can't bite you, but I am hoping you're old enough to understand what you ask and what I mean. We have been friends for awhile, even if it's mainly through our other friends. I would not accept your service lightly."

Sweetie looked at Rainbow and, for awhile, that was all she could do. In a way, it was the meanest Rainbow felt in all the time she'd known her as a master mev. Still, she also knew it was honest, and that Rainbow was a new creature altogether. After all, that fascination at the change was what drew her to even think of asking such a thing. She swallowed. "I get you, Master."

"Good. So, do you still want this or perhaps you want some time to think it over?" Rainbow wondered.

Sweetie Belle shook her head. "I don't need more time to think it over. I do want this. Don't get me wrong, Rainbow Dash, you scare me, especially after everything you just said. Ownership? Yikes. This servitude is intimidating, but I just...when I'm with you, I feel right inside. The world is somehow new and wonderful and even more magical. That's what it's like for you, right? Being a vampire in general. I know others say it's not like in the stories we hear or read about, but some of it is. I've read some of the stories. I like vampire novels," she admitted with a blush in her cheeks. She added with a sincere glance meeting Rainbow's eyes, "The world is more pretty to you since you transformed, isn't it?"

Rainbow blinked quietly, then took a small gulp. She looked at the table. It wasn't a change in her she thought of often, but it was true. She was rather touched Sweetie knew. She wiped at tiny tears forming in her eyes. "Yes," she answered in a whisper. Then more firmly and confidently with her voice back, meeting Sweetie Belle's eyes in turn, she said, "Yes, it is."

"And I just want to be a part of it. I wish I could be one of your fledglings, but I can't. I can't grow up to become one. All the slots are full. I don't want to wait to be older to be your servant when I know what I want now. I'm hoping that I get to know all the extra stuff I can't be told now. Because I'll be the pony to help you, somepony you can count on. Your right hoof, if you'll let me. I mean, maybe it'd be good for you to have an outsider servant to sort of link to them, especially for kids," Sweetie argued even though Rainbow didn't need convincing on accepting her servitude. It was still good for each pony to know the young unicorn's logic.

"Okay," Rainbow sighed. "More good points. Another question for you then. When you say 'like Spike,' you are aware that he lives with Twilight. Is that the kind of thing you hope for with this idea?"

"I know, but it doesn't have to be exactly like him," Sweetie pointed out. "I can do what Terramar does. I'll go with you or Rarity or my parents, whoever feels right. Of course, if you as the master want me there, I'll be there. That's the deal we're making. But like I said, I know you're nice, so you'd let me be where I want to be if you didn't need me."

Rainbow nodded. "Yeah. What would you tell your parents?"

"Whatever you want me to, Master," the filly replied. "Maybe not everyone's going to know you're an actual vampire but with a trip like the one we just took to Mount Aris, it's not a secret that you've got some big job or role in Equestria. I'll tell them I'm helping you with that to learn about the world and about magic, and that's totally true. That's what I want out of this. " She paused. "And Rainbow Dash, if you take me in like I hope you will, can you tell me...everything?" She saw Rainbow's hesitance. "Okay maybe that's not the right word. But the most you're willing to tell any outsider ever? Can I know what you did yesterday at Mount Aris? The things you wouldn't tell us. I'd be working for you, so it's different."

"You realize you can't tell the others?" Rainbow pointed out. "The three of you share so much. That's how I ended up letting Rarity tell you from the start. It's like there's a circle around me, and I'm letting you in. They stay out. You are restricted to what you can share, just as I do now."

Sweetie closed her eyes. Her lips curved downward, not a frown exactly, but a solemn acknowledgment with a tiny nod. "They'll know that I'm with you. I won't be able to hide that. But I'll make sure they know what you told us yesterday. I can't tell them everything either."

"Right then," Rainbow sounded like she was preparing to do it, whatever forming the new bond would entail. She lifted off from her seat and started to hover and mutter. "Let's see...you will be with me, but you are still outranked by all the other servants."

Sweetie grinned and nodded.

"Especially Primeva," Rainbow emphasized in a pointed gesture with her hoof. "Starlight is super special and important to me. She is second in command to the pack. If I'm not around, you will obey her. Am I clear?" the master mev sounded quite stern.

"Yes," Sweetie agreed, her grin gone at the seriousness with which Rainbow spoke.

"She's kind of like my right hoof fledgling, and you'd be the right hoof outsider," Rainbow decided. "We're going to have to do something about the fact that you can't be up at night as much as I am."

"Is that possible?" Sweetie asked, most curious at the prospect.

"Trust me, I'm not thinking anything like the scale of what I live. I just want you to be able to be with me if the work calls for it. I've taken a liking to reading and exercising with Blitz's company at night when I'm not off doing my flexchanges, flying, or master mev business. For you, I think we can use Rarity's help with your blood relation idea. In fact, we should probably do it to create the bond," Rainbow's hoof was at her chin as she was thinking, forming whatever method she was going to use. She descended to stand on the table with Sweetie Belle. "But before all that, you need a title. Since you're not a fledgling or mev magic already with me, I want to know it ahead of time. That will help in making the bond," she nodded as if she were learning it from herself. "The answer's not going to just come to me. 'Assistant' will not do at all."

Sweetie smiled. "Right hoof?  Deputy? You like x's, so how about Auxiliary?"

"Those are okay, but I think we can do better. You want something from one of those and something of you," Rainbow pointed out. "It needs some flair."

"Oh, like mix it up with a music word?" Sweetie suggested.

"Now you're getting it," Rainbow said with a nod and smile.

Sweetie thought and thought and thought some more. She wanted it to sound like a fledgling name even if she couldn't be one, so she wanted it to end with an 'a'. Additionally, she considered putting in one of the letters Rainbow liked though the master mev didn't list herself as some factor in it. "Rhezenda?" she suggested.

"Oh," Rainbow's voice and eyes lit up with interest.

"Yeah, there's a silent 'h', but it starts with R-H for the 'right hoof' part. The main base of the word is 'crescendo.' It's a music term for gradually increasing in loudness. I changed the 's-c' to a 'z' because you like that letter, and I wanted the 'a' at the end for the same reasons you like them and because you like it too, heh. You know, you're building up your work, and I'm helping with that. Right?" Sweetie looked up thoughtfully.

"My Rhezenda, Sweetie Belle," the master mev tried it. "Hmm, yes, it is rather pretty. Music to my ears even," Rainbow said with a wink.

Sweetie swelled with pride.

"A bond then. We need to exchange magic," Rainbow lifted into a contemplative hover once again.

"We can exchange?" Sweetie asked in shock. "But I thought you couldn't bite me."

"Oh, that's still true," Rainbow confirmed. "We'll have to exchange it in a different way. You need some of my mev magic. Remember, you are binding yourself to me in servitude. Right?"

Sweetie nodded and stood, remaining on the table. "So what do we do?"

"Working on it," Rainbow continued her thoughtful pacing hover. "Mitria," she called out.

Rarity flashed right into her seat where Sweetie Belle had been earlier. "Oh my. My first summons," she said with an intrigued smile. "Master, there you are." She gasped. "Sweetie Belle, what are you doing here? Nothing bad happened between the two of you, I hope. You were both getting along so well."

"We still are," Sweetie assured her.

"Sweetie has offered me her servitude, and I have accepted. I need your help in developing a mev bond between us," Rainbow explained.

Rarity blinked. "Wait, what? Really?" she looked at Sweetie Belle. "Are you sure? This is quite serious you know. Rainbow means business."

"So do I," Sweetie told her with a determined expression. "I'm sure."

Rarity looked at Rainbow Dash, who nodded.

"We have both made our intentions and hopes of this bond very clear to each other," Rainbow explained. "We talked it over before I summoned you."

The two repeated much of their discussion moments ago to elaborate.

"Alright then," Rarity said once sufficiently swayed. "How can I help?"

Rainbow Dash descended to sit on her haunches in front of Rarity as she removed the magic pearl necklace from her neck. She held it up with a hoof. "First, you will eat," she ordered.

Rarity nodded and opened her mouth. Sweetie watched as a small tendril of white magic channeled from the tiny piece of pearl into Rarity's mouth. She saw her sister's vampire fangs for the first time though the task did not require any biting. When Rarity was finished, she closed her mouth. "Done," she announced.

Rainbow motioned for Sweetie to move closer to the two mares and put the necklace around the younger pony's neck. "This piece had pearl magic, but it is now dormant of that magic because Rarity has eaten it. We're borrowing the physical container for what we want to do. We will put the pearl magic back soon. Because the magic was eaten by one of my fledglings, that means the piece as it is now has traces of my mev magic, but that's not the magic for our exchange. We need to get your magic in here for me to eat before my magic makes its way into you."

"How do we do that?" Sweetie asked.

"First, you try to channel it straight from your horn into the piece. Nothing fancy or major, just a little. Can you do that?" Rainbow asked.

"I mainly lift things," Sweetie confessed.

"Not quite the same. Try it first. Don't worry. I'm sure Rarity can help if you can't do it alone," the master mev told her.

Rarity nodded with an encouraging smile.

Sweetie concentrated and while she could muster a spark, it wouldn't travel beyond her horn.

Rainbow Dash lifted from the table to make space for the two sisters to try together. Rarity lifted Sweetie's left forehoof, clasping it into her own. She started to channel some energy from her horn while gripping. "Try again," she instructed her younger sister.

Sweetie closed her eyes to concentrate for another attempt. She started to feel her magic shift and opened one of her eyes to see a trail of her own light green aura slowly winding its way down into the pearl. "It's there, Master Rainbow Dash," she said.

"Mitria, you must eat again," the master mev issued another order.

Sweetie understood and took the necklace off as she'd seen Rainbow do to hold it in a more open air for her sister. Again, Rarity ate the magic. "Done," said the older unicorn.

Rainbow lifted Sweetie to set her out of the way, close to the center of the table. Sweetie watched with wide quiet shock as the pegasus mev then hovered her way down to Rarity and bit into her older sister's neck without a word or warning. Sweetie Belle swallowed. This was how Rainbow was going to eat some of Sweetie's own magic without biting Sweetie directly. How was she going to get to Rainbow's though?

When Rainbow Dash finished, she fluttered upward before landing by Sweetie Belle on the table. "Hold the necklace up. Give me a nice good look at it."

Sweetie did as told by and held it up as high as she could with her forehooves while sitting on her haunches on the table. She watched as Rainbow's head tilted back. The master mev faced upward to the tall, tall ceiling of the map throne room, and Sweetie saw another stream of magic. No, two streams intertwined. One was like hers with the light green aura color, and the other was red. Her mouth hung open in wonder. The stream worked its way into the temporary container she held.

As Rainbow finished, she landed softly near the younger unicorn once more. "Now, you hold hooves with Rarity again, and you take your magic back mixed in with what I left for you from me. Since I left it there with intention, that and the bond with your sister should lead it back to you with your own unicorn magic."

Sweetie Belle nodded and put the necklace on once more. She positioned herself as before and concentrated. Rarity did as well. At first, the hopeful filly didn't feel anything, but she realized it was just slow on its return. She felt her own magic and Rainbow's mev magic together enter her body. It felt wonderful.

Rarity let go.

"Rarity and I must return the magic to the pearl," Rainbow told Sweetie, so Sweetie took a few steps away from Rarity, closer to the center of the table. She took the necklace off to hold it up in the open air yet again and watched as Rainbow herself sucked magic from it where she hovered and opened her mouth. A solitary red stream flowed from the temporary container back to the master mev. 

Rarity opened her mouth and channeled the pearl magic from the reserve back into the piece where it originated. Rainbow flew close to Sweetie and held the tiny piece for a moment as she explained, "Now the tiny piece of pearl is just as it was. I still might want to use it for other work later." She put the necklace back on. Before Sweetie Belle knew it, the master mev scooped her up in strong forelimbs and nuzzled with her. Rainbow Dash set Sweetie back on the table, standing directly in front of her, meeting her eyes. "Welcome to my circle, Rhezenda," the master mev said with a smile.

Sweetie Belle smiled back. "Thank you, Master." Saying the word that already had power felt better than before. Her heart pounded in a flutter of excitement. She hugged Rainbow again and felt the gentle press of a forelimb to her backside. She was here. She was really here, and all the newness and wonder and magic of the mev world was now open to her.






> Chapter 29 - Learning More
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







The first thing Sweetie Belle got to do with her new master Rainbow Dash was go shopping, which was certainly a surprise to the unicorn filly. She didn't mind though, and it made sense that Rarity would accompany them, given her own sister's contribution to her new bond and already existing fondness for shopping. They bought a white trunk with a gold trim and light green jewel as part of its clasp. Rarity thought it suited Sweetie nicely, and Rainbow said it would do for its purpose.

"What is its purpose?" Sweetie asked.

"We'll go over that later," Rainbow said.

Rarity enthusiastically offered up more suggestions of other items for Sweetie's new room to be at the master mev's house. They bought a bed with some nice sheets and a comforter. For more reasons not stated, Rainbow picked up some art supplies: papers, paint, pens, pencils, and markers. At Rarity's suggestion, she bought a drafting table too. Rainbow Dash determined these items were sufficient for today. Sweetie Belle hauled the trunk over her back, where the art supplies were stashed away for the time being, and Rarity hauled a wooden cart with the bed items and drafting table. "Perhaps we could do a little more," Rarity considered aloud.

Rainbow hovered and flew beside them as they made their way to her home. "We have plenty. It's Sweetie's first day and possibly night. I want some time for the two us to settle and kind of get used to each other. We don't spend nearly as much time together as either one of us does with you. Besides, just because somepony has bits to spend doesn't mean they need to spend them. I can reserve money too,  you know."

"I simply want what's best for my sister while she's in your care," Rarity defended.

"Then let your sister guide me on what she needs in her time staying with me," the pegasus instructed.

"As you wish," Rarity conceded. "Is there anything else you need Sweetie?" the older unicorn asked with a sly and hopeful smile, fluttering her eyelashes.

"No, I really do want to get to Rainbow's to find out what the trunk is for. It's not just for my stuff because she could have just said that," Sweetie said.

Not long after this conversation, they arrived at the home in question. 

"I'll handle the cart," Rainbow offered.

Rarity nodded and unhitched herself from it. She and Sweetie Belle used the elevator platform that worked as it did the past Thursday night they visited. They watched as the sky blue pegasus gnashed her teeth, flapping her feathered wings lifting the large cart under some strain. Rarity used her magic to open the wide doors of the house, allowing Rainbow Dash to place the cart inside.

"So you can't use magic for something like this?" Sweetie asked once all three were inside, gesturing at the heavy cart. "Or is your magic not strong enough because it's too heavy?"

"I could, but as a master mev, I try to keep my magic usage low. For the rare instances I would need it, my magic doesn't care about weight. Maybe I'll show you sometime," Rainbow said.

The trio moved on to selecting the room for Sweetie Belle and putting everything in place. With that done, "Now can you tell me about the trunk?" Sweetie asked.

"Sure," Rainbow said. "This trunk is going to be for us to take care of items like this tiny piece of pearl," she pointed to the necklace she was still wearing and removed it from her neck. "Magic attached to solidity is quite special. This piece is a token of my bond to Mount Aris. As it is now, the piece is better served to stay there for if and when I, as Master, need to use it. You, as Rhezenda, are now in charge of the safekeeping of these items. I expect to find more in our work. Consider it your first responsibility."

Rainbow Dash passed the necklace to her. Sweetie Belle happily accepted and tenderly set it down in the trunk where it looked quite isolated and small.

Rarity scooped up her younger sister with an enthusiastic nuzzle. "Oh, my sweet little Sweetie Belle, you make this Mitria so proud."

"Rarity!" said a slightly annoyed but also touched Sweetie Belle who was then promptly set down. She looked up at Rainbow Dash, who was hovering in place. "What about the art supplies?"

"You're going to learn how to draw...well," Rainbow told her.

"Huh?" Sweetie asked.

"I'm the master," Rainbow Dash reminded her.

"Yeah, I know, but why? It's not a special talent of mine, and how does it help you?" Sweetie wanted to know.

"There is some artistry in music, right?" Rainbow asked.

Sweetie nodded.

"Think of it as expanding your horizons, which is what you wanted. As for how it helps me, well...call it a hunch," Rainbow noted with a casual shrug in her hover.

"A master mev hunch?" Sweetie asked.

Rainbow Dash nodded. "Expect it to take time, that's a thing for mev magic, so don't get discouraged. It's development outside your comfort zone. You live with a vampire part-time now." She gestured with a forelimb down at Sweetie with a friendly smile.

The two sisters looked at each other with a knowing glint in their eyes and sly smiles, then at the hovering figure.

Rainbow chuckled wickedly back at them with a quick flash into her red eyes, soon followed by her wings turning into bat-like flaps.

"I suppose you have a point," Rarity replied. "It is different."

Satisfied, Rainbow turned back into her pegasus form without a word.

"I could help teach her how to draw well," the older sister offered.

"Would you really?" Sweetie asked, her voice full of surprise and hope.

"Of course," Rarity said. "I'll get to help you both and Team Awesome altogether." She clapped her forehooves together. "In fact, I do have time for a quick first lesson right now. Thankfully, Master summoned me on a day when I had time to spare."

"Okay then," Sweetie agreed.

With that, Rainbow left the two unicorns to teach and learn while she went to check on Tank. Her pet tortoise smiled at seeing her. "Hey buddy," she greeted, giving him a pat on his shell. "Can you believe it? A unicorn filly friend of mine is going to be staying with us to help me out around here. Master mev stuff. She won't be around every day or night, but we're going to have more company all the same. Kinda strange after it's been just you and me, huh? First Blitz...now this...I'm not complaining though. She's real sweet. It's even in the name. Sweetie Belle. She's Rarity's younger sister."

He nodded.

"Cool, cool," Rainbow said with a nod. "Well, just checking in, making sure you know this pegasus hasn't forgotten you. I know I wasn't around much yesterday, but Fluttershy did her part, right?"

Tank nodded again.

"Awesome," Rainbow Dash replied with a satisfied smile and a firm pat.





After Rarity left, Rainbow Dash and Sweetie Belle had some time to simply chat. They sat in Rainbow's living room on a couch. Sweetie held the red-bound Mevs: An Explanation book with her magic and flipped through the pages, not skimming or reading just yet.

"I read that my first night," Rainbow told her, gesturing at it with a hoof. "I'm pretty sure at least one pack or at least their master helped write it though they aren't directly credited. You'll notice at the end is when it addresses outsiders with more direct advice. A lot of it guided me into forming my pack and understanding certain rules and ways of my being a master mev now."

Sweetie closed the book and switched to holding it in her hooves, glancing from it to her new master.

"I'm going to tell you a couple of things in there, but you should probably read it at least once yourself and soon," Rainbow advised.

The filly nodded.

Rainbow began, "First thing is something you actually kind of already know; we've just never named it for you. Nocturnivlair."

"What's it mean?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Nocturnal, evil, flair. It's used to describe my tendency to seem more evil than I am, especially at night. Since you're staying with me, you need to know, it is strongest here, my domain." She gestured at the whole of the house they sat in. "I'm gonna laugh and cackle and hiss, you know...you've already seen it. Blitz and I are going to play. And if some hapless grown adult pony stops by, I am going to toy with them. I've done that," Rainbow told her. "You do not repeat this to your friends. Lightning Dust came here. I ate her fear, and with her permission after I was done with that, I ate her magic too."

"You did?" Sweetie's eyes widened. "Wow...she's okay though, right?"

"She's alive, and I'm sure one week without pegasus flight magic is manageable. We've injured our wings and been grounded before. But you know...that experience is going to stay with her. Did I traumatize her? Probably not; she's Lightning Dust. I certainly left her bothered though. You're going to have to accept that this is who I am, and if given the chance, I'll do it all over again," Rainbow told her. "I try to be nice enough out there, but in here, well...not so much, just like that time I warned you."

Sweetie nodded. "Right. And I'm sure she didn't know she could call you 'Master' to help herself out."

"Right you are," Rainbow agreed.

"If it happens while I'm here, could I….could I watch?" Sweetie asked.

Rainbow's lips curled into an amused smile, and her red eyes surfaced in momentary excitement. She cackled even then. "I like you," she said honestly. "I'll consider it. For now, no."

"Okay," Sweetie replied.

The master mev continued, "And when it comes to my eating magic, do your best to steer clear. I don't like being watched. But if you are kind of living here, and I have six different ponies that may or may not stop by...I'm aware it could happen."

"Yes, Master," Sweetie said.

"Up next. The berserk. If I do not eat magic once a week, I will go berserk for an entire night. According to that book, that means I'm going to do what I can to seek and eat food. I'll be able to talk to my fledglings, but they won't be able to reason with me. I'm starving and just want food. You'd be safe from me eating your magic because you are a child, and master mevs don't bite children, even while berserk," Rainbow said.

"Do you know why?" Sweetie asked with mild intrigue. "Or sense?" she added.

"Hmm," Rainbow grew thoughtful. "I've certainly taken note of the fact that children seem more susceptible to me scaring them. During a berserk, I might try harder to scare them to eat their fear, maybe because I can't eat their magic and it's still food of some kind."

"Oh wow," Sweetie said.

"Yeah," Rainbow agreed, not all too proud of that fact. "But you know, maybe you and I did something together today with the bond we formed. You are my connection to outsiders, especially younger ones. You'd probably be the most safe from me though I don't think you could reason with me any better than my fledglings."

Sweetie openly wondered, "Do you think it will happen one day? Going berserk?"

Rainbow Dash heaved a heavy sigh at that question, clearly having pondered it in her own time. She answered in a serious tone, "I've got a full pack and powerful magic to reach them. That will greatly lessen the chances."

"But…" Sweetie prodded.

"The possibility still exists. It must," Rainbow informed her. "How? I'm not sure. I hate to think of any power that could take my fledglings or even volunteers from me for a full week. One possibility I've considered is to bypass that entirely with an unnatural passing of day and night. That book specifies that a berserk ends on a genuine sunrise. Without saying the rest, I do believe that means fake days and nights can trigger it but not stop it. Celestia and Luna are not the only beings capable of moving the sun and moon. Discord did it the first time he escaped his stone prison. The Storm King did it with a staff."

"That is scary," Sweetie said.

Rainbow nodded. "It's the worst part really. The rest of this business? I'm having loads of fun to be honest."

Sweetie smiled. "Yeah, I've had fun with it too. Maybe...maybe you could talk to Princess Celestia or your pack or somebody about preparing for if it happens. You know, helping everyone get better the next morning, making sure Equestria can handle one week without magic. Just the week."

"Good idea. Write it down or remember it, but bring that up on Tuesday night for our pack meeting," Rainbow said.

"I get to go?" Sweetie asked with a smile.

"Of course," Rainbow asserted. "You're my Rhezenda now. I'm going to need to figure out how to let you stay up late for those nights and maybe certain other nights as well. Tuesday nights are super busy for me. Not only do we have the meeting and I have my flexchange with Starlight, they're also the night of my magic lessons. Hmm, maybe I can ask Luna. I wanted to see if I could eat her dream magic anyway."

"You can do that?" Sweetie asked, full of awe.

"We should ask today. You and me. Let's take a trip to Canterlot," the master mev suggested with a sly smile.

"Seriously? What if she says no?" Sweetie sounded worried but hopeful too.

Unfazed, Rainbow Dash informed her, "Then I'll figure something else out. I'll be disappointed but not mad. It's business, Rhezenda. You wanted to be with me and learn more about magic and the world. Here's a chance for us to do that."

"Okay," Sweetie said with an eager nod.

"Before we go, a few more things," Rainbow decided. "This is the secret stuff you really don't share, and I'm sure is what you were hoping to learn. Understand?"

Sweetie nodded.

"So far, every meal that's not with a fledgling was done with permission. I've consumed magic from creatures four times. My first time was Twilight on my first day, as in during the day. She slept for one hour and because she is an alicorn,  her magic returned within three days. That will be something we need to remember to tell Luna with my request."

Sweetie Belle nodded and continued listening seriously.

"My second meal was Discord himself," Rainbow said.

"What? Really? He let you?" a shocked unicorn filly asked.

Rainbow Dash nodded. "That he did. He's actually been super cool about this whole thing, even after having bad experiences with mevs way back. He helped us make the games when I formed my pack and tutored me last week once his magic fully recovered. It's thanks to him that I've learned to do some amazing things with Blitz like what you saw just yesterday. You respect the Lord of Chaos when we see him."

"Yes, Master," said a clearly enthused Sweetie Belle.

"That one was done at night. When I eat at night, the creature I ate from sleeps until sunrise," Rainbow explained. "My third meal was Lightning Dust, and I can admit that I ate her fear without her permission. I have told her and admitted as much that no, it wasn't nice of me and can be considered evil. I did make an agreement with her when it came to her magic." 

Sweetie said nothing and still listened. 

Rainbow went on, "My fourth meal was Princess Skystar during the day at Mount Aris."

Sweetie's jaw dropped. "You ate her magic during your mission?"

"As part of my mission, yes," the mev answered. "My body hosts a reserve of magic. It's going to develop and grow and if someone like Tirek or something else ever happens again, I'll be able to help other creatures out, now as far as Mount Aris because they are linked to me through the reserve. It's kind of funny because it would sure be useful after a berserk, but I'm guessing recovering from a berserk is not that simple."

"Oh wow, I didn't even think of that," Sweetie remarked.

Rainbow continued, "I made my request formally to Queen Novo, and Skystar volunteered. She is young but considered an adult in her culture. I let the queen watch. That meant the magic lacked flavor, and I didn't get to savor it, but as she pointed out to me, it was her daughter. Given what I wanted, the terms were reasonable. The queen willingly let me have that tiny piece of pearl that I have already used to bind you to me, and she let me let Blitz loose in the ocean to learn and experience more about that magic. My performance was part of my payment."

"Ohhh," Sweetie realized.

"My intention and hope as the Master Mev is to eat magic with consent whenever possible," Rainbow explained.

"But fear?" the filly asked.

"Fear is different," Rainbow Dash said. "I am not actually taking it away. The creatures I affect know it and feel it and remember it. It's like soaking in the feeling. If they want that fear, it's still with them. It doesn't drain them like my magic-eating does. If they don't want it, I cannot take it away. I do risk traumatizing them, I know, and all I've got is that it's in my nature, part of who and what I am. I work on it, but I'm not as in control about it compared to the magic consumption. In fact, let me tell you about the students to explain all of this better."

"What happened?" Sweetie Belle prodded.

"Before my friends were the fledglings in my pack, we all decided together to try not to bring attention to Twilight's magic being gone for those few days or my transformation and hopefully we wouldn't have to tell any of the students at the school," Rainbow began.

"But you had to?" Sweetie speculated.

Rainbow admitted, "Not sure I had to, but I did it still. We have five students from other kingdoms. They are not ponies, and they are a close group of friends that does include one pony in their group. Together, they realized something was up and asked me about it. I decided that if anyone should tell them, it should be me.

"When I did tell them, it was like something came over me. I instinctively cast my first fear snare. I wanted them to see me and to hold their attention. I think it was my nocturnivlair acting but during the day. Blitz came out for the first time, and I was vaguely aware that some awesome power was acting on my behalf. She had no name yet. She closed in on them and then flew down through them, and a few seconds after that, they all, in their heads, became aware of the word Master. Another few seconds, and Gallus, the griffon in the group, said it. That snapped me out of it."

"Whoa," Sweetie said.

"I told them all as best I could what just happened. When I gave Blitz her name later that night, she admitted to me that she was the one who told them my title. Aside from special stuff I picked up from practicing with Discord's magic recently, she cannot really talk, not verbally aloud for creatures to hear.  So, even though she helped me with the trap I set, she knew to pull me back by helping the students know my title," Rainbow Dash explained.

Sweetie smiled. "She's amazing."

Rainbow smiled too. "Yes, she is. Now that I know I can summon her and cast the snares, I'm able to better control it. But still, when Lightning came here, whew...domain nocturnivlair. It was done on instinct, and I was fascinated more than anything."

"Well, you were already mad at her about Scootaloo. Maybe it was kind of a vengeful thing," Sweetie theorized aloud.

"It wasn't," Rainbow admitted with certainty. "While true that I was mad at her about Scootaloo from the day before, revenge is not what I had in mind. I certainly wasn't mad while she was here. Seriously, Sweetie, I wanted to play with her as a vampire, so I did. It was that simple."

"Heh, okay," Sweetie acknowledged with nervous amusement.

"Let's stop there for now," Rainbow decided. "If I think of any more interesting things to tell you, it will have to be another time. We need to get moving to Canterlot."

"Okay," repeated an enthusiastic Sweetie Belle with a hop off the couch, and the two were on their way.
> Chapter 30 - Requesting Part Nocturnality
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







"Welcome back, Master Rainbow Dash," Luna greeted from her throne. Celestia sat in hers as well and gave a polite nod. Luna continued, "I have been informed you wished to see me specifically. I hope my sister's presence is not a problem for your visit. I am certainly intrigued by your young companion."

"Thank you, Princess Luna," Rainbow bowed in turn. Sweetie Belle followed suit with a bow yet staying quiet like Celestia did. "Princess Celestia may stay for our meeting. I will explain my companion's presence here shortly. Let me get straight to the point. I have come to request permission to eat your magic."

"You cannot be serious," Celestia said.

Sweetie took a timid step closer to Rainbow Dash.

Luna raised an interested eyebrow without a word at first and put a hoof out to try and calm her older sister's protective instinct. "Might I ask why? You cannot touch the moon given the nature of your powers."

"I know," Rainbow said. "The powers that move the sun and moon are powers I am never allowed to have. They are what hold power over me, a significant balance." She paused to give a quick glance at Sweetie Belle, hoping the unicorn filly understood the information was for her benefit. Sweetie nodded to indicate she understood Rainbow's meaning. "It is not the moon I am interested in. That magic will stay with you, of course. The magic you have that I want for my purposes is that which connects to dreams and the night, not the part that transitions day to night, the part that stays awake during it: nocturnality."

Luna was quite intrigued but sensed Rainbow Dash intended to continue, so she simply listened more. 

Celestia sensed it as well though the request silently bothered her more. She knew master mevs were affected by the night so strongly that they barely slept, making them already both diurnal and nocturnal.

"As for why, my companion here, Sweetie Belle, has offered to serve my efforts, and I have accepted. We have made a necessary bond for that arrangement, but as you know, my magic does have certain guidelines on how and when it is used. I would like to use your magic to allow her to stay awake throughout the nights in which her assistance would aide me in my work. For example, primarily Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Our pack meetings are on Tuesdays so having her available before and after would be useful," Rainbow answered.

"You have yet another servant?" Celestia asked.

"Sister, please. The Master is here to speak with me," Luna pointed out.

"Sorry Luna," Celestia said and returned to listening quietly.

"What of Thursdays?" Luna inquired.

"Thursdays are the night of her sister's flexchange," Rainbow explained. "That would be for them in return for their service."

Both Luna and Celestia smiled with a knowing look in their eyes to such an idea while Sweetie Belle blushed and gazed down at the floor. "And the dream magic?" Luna wondered.

"I have it in mind for a possible job. I do not wish to give the details because I hope to accomplish the job without it, but I do still think it would be wise to have that type of magic in my reserve for maybe other jobs," Rainbow Dash explained. "I am hoping that I have come to you at a time where you can handle a few days without it. I have eaten alicorn magic once-"

"You have?" Luna interrupted, a little startled. Celestia herself silently looked at Luna as well, an expression of equal alarm on her face.

"Princess Twilight Sparkle, Your Majesty," Rainbow said with careful respect. "We are good friends, and she wanted to learn more about mevs while helping me at the same time. Another friend of ours, Starlight Glimmer, did help convince her, but Twilight came through the whole experience just fine. As you know, she is one of my fledglings now."

"Oh, of course," Luna remarked in understanding. "Do continue."

Neither alicorn could hide a blush at so quickly not putting the obvious together. Celestia managed to again stay quiet for Luna's sake in this conversation.

"The recovery time was three days compared to one week," Rainbow Dash informed Luna. "You would have your magic back Wednesday around the same time I bit you if I bite you today."

Luna could not help scratching at her neck for a moment in thought. "If I decline, Master?"

"Then you decline," Rainbow replied. "I will seek a different solution to do what I wish to do. No harm, no foul. I certainly want to keep good relations with you and your sister. Princess Celestia's letter to Queen Novo helped my mission in Mount Aris a great deal."

Celestia bowed her head respectfully at that piece of information.

"Perhaps you could regale me with your time there," Luna requested.

"Oh certainly," Rainbow replied with a smile and lifted into an animated hover. Sweetie Belle sat on her haunches to listen to Rainbow Dash retell the tale, this time not leaving out anything as she had with the Cutie Mark Crusaders. She watched the moon princess listen intently. Luna seemed to at least not disapprove and even smiled at Rainbow's own excitement telling of Blitz's time to roam freely in the ocean. Celesta's reaction was actually no different.

"Thank you very much, Master," Luna said when the story was over. "Am I to understand then that if you eat my magic today, I will not be able to help ponies in their dreams or stay awake throughout the night? I will be sleeping as most ponies do, with the exception of when I must raise and lower the moon."

"Yes," Rainbow answered honestly. "If you need me or perhaps one of my fledglings to act in your stead while you recover, I will have that arranged."

The two sisters glanced at each other. Sweetie Belle watched with careful, quiet interest. That issue had not occurred to her. Luna was clearly considering it, and Celestia certainly did not seem as irked as before.

"Starlight Glimmer would probably be best given her time spent with you in the past, and she is my first fledgling with already exceptionally strong magic," Rainbow recommended, then added, "She is quite special in my pack."

Luna's expression softened into a wistful smile. "She would and is indeed. Now, my dear sister," Luna turned to Celestia, "what do you think of the master mev's request?"

"I do not like it," Celestia admitted honestly. "She does not need another servant. She already has six, seven if you count the dread. Why would she need another? And I cannot imagine any need for dream magic."

"I beg your pardon?" Luna asked, obviously offended.

"No, sorry, I didn't mean…" Celestia stopped herself. "I'm sorry. Your dream magic is something I have only ever touched once. You saw how that went, and I am just having a hard time picturing its use out in the world a master mev manages."

"Aide in healing, Your Majesties," Rainbow said, drawing attention from their argument back to her. Sweetie thought about Scootaloo in a realization of that part of this request. "That's one idea. Without further details, I'm aware that I could not use it alone. If I ever find myself wishing to use that magic, I likely would need to combine it with something else in the reserve. Magic develops and grows while there and would be ready to return to you, Princess Luna, if you ever find yourself without it through some other means, excluding my own berserk of course."

"Of course," Luna agreed. She became contemplative and tapped a silver-plated hoof to her chin. "This is by no means a decline, but I am curious about the other point my sister brought up. You have no need for an eighth servant to your cause. What exactly brought this about?"

Sweetie Belle stepped forward as if she wanted to say something and looked at Rainbow Dash, making eye contact. Rainbow looked to the rulers of Equestria. "My Rhezenda will tell you in her own words." She stepped back to allow Sweetie to speak, a gesture of giving the filly the floor.

"I offered myself because this is something I wanted to do, to grow and learn about mevs. I chose the title 'Rhezenda', to act as her right hoof. The Master Mev gets to learn about magic on a different level than other creatures. I want to be a part of it. I was with her in Mount Aris for my own mission as a Cutie Mark Crusader. I saw so many amazing, wonderful things there, and if I'm with Rainbow Dash, I'll see more because my work will be to help her work. We think it will help Equestria in the long run because we're working together to do exactly that. Beyond Equestria, even."

Luna smiled in approval and looked to Celestia. Her older sister blushed and bowed her head in equal approval. "So be it, Master Rainbow Dash," Luna said. "If you can substitute for my dream duty for three nights, you may have my dream and nocturnality magic to use as you see fit."

Sweetie tugged at Rainbow's forelimb. "Master, if you eat today, meaning she doesn't have her magic back until Wednesday, that's Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday night to cover for her. Tuesday is the night of the pack meeting."

"Hmm, good point," Rainbow agreed. 

"Is there a problem?" Luna asked.

"Nothing we can't handle," Rainbow replied. "Primeva," she called out.

Starlight Glimmer appeared in a flash. The unicorn got her bearings of where she was and who was around before smiling to say, "Master," with a polite bow of her head. "How may I be of service?"

Rainbow drew in closer to where Starlight stood and quietly explained the situation with Sweetie standing near. The young unicorn listened to Rainbow catching her Primeva up to the current circumstances. They nodded and talked. The royal sisters watched and waited at their thrones, able to pick up on pieces given that the conversation was hardly a secret. Finally, a hovering Rainbow Dash moved away from Starlight to address Luna. "Starlight Glimmer is available to act in your stead for the next three nights if you are ready today, provided a small window of time she cannot do so for our flexchange is acceptable on Tuesday night. They only take a few minutes."

Luna nodded before saying, "I could not help overhearing, but the two of you spoke of a pack meeting and magic lessons. You have resolved those matters?"

To that, Rainbow Dash answered, "We'll move the pack meeting to earlier in the afternoon before sunset and figure out the magic lessons later. That's good enough for us."

"Very well then," Luna said with authority. "Let us be done with it. Please come with me. Your companions may wait here with my sister."

Celestia nodded in understanding and acceptance of the decision. Rainbow gave a friendly wave to Starlight and Sweetie Belle as she departed with her upcoming meal. It was then that she finally let herself revel in the idea of eating alicorn magic again. It might not be Twilight's alicorn magic, but she was certain it would be delicious nonetheless.





Luna led Rainbow Dash to her bedroom.

"Before I allow your bite, let me explain to you how to cast nocturnality on another pony," Luna offered. "You envision the dark night air as you see the pony before you, and you link them. Since you are nocturnal as well and have this bond you described with Sweetie Belle, it should be quite easy. There is not even an aura. It is akin to a switch."

"Got it," Rainbow replied. "Thanks very much. We have more than one hour before the sun sets, right?"

"Yes," Luna answered.

"Good. You're going to sleep for one hour after I bite you, so that means your day will go about as usual once you wake before you raise the moon tonight," Rainbow explained. "My magenta eyes are going to turn red. I'm going to leave my enchantment on, so that you can look at me. It's best to seriously look me in the eyes, and the bite won't actually hurt."

Luna listened intently and sat on her haunches upon her bed. "Do I need to stand?"

"No, actually, you've picked a perfect spot since you'll go right to sleep," Rainbow said. "I just need you to let me know when you're ready."

Luna smiled, gave a little nod, and said, "I am actually looking forward to sleeping at night for the better part of three nights." She paused in contemplation, discretely biting down on her lower lip. She decided a chance like this one was worth the shot. It might not happen by her again. "You know, I have an appreciation for bat wings…" the moon princess hinted.

Rainbow Dash stared at her feathered pegasus wings and unfurled them, transforming them to the desired shape to show Luna, who stared at them for several seconds. The princess of the night did not smile, but her expression was a concentrated look of the afore-mentioned appreciation for their existence.

"You wish to touch?" Rainbow asked, sensing the unspoken longing.

Luna blinked and met her eyes. "You do not mind?"

"Consider it payment," Rainbow decided with a sly smile. "Plus, your pleasure at this will enhance my own when I eat."

Luna smiled too and blushed. She removed the plates on her hooves and stroked Rainbow's left bat wing with her right forehoof. "They are lovely," she noted.

Rainbow blushed this time and lightly wiggled her other wing for it to receive attention as well. Luna smiled at that and did the same with her other forehoof. Feeling the proper time had approached, "I am ready...Master," Luna announced.

"Cool. Look at my eyes," Rainbow said as she turned them to their vampire red. Luna complied and felt the tug of the enchantment right away. Rainbow Dash flew closer and bit the moon princess' neck. As other creatures before her, Luna felt warm and some pleasure as she started to feel sleepy, drifting into a peaceful slumber. The mev gently guided her to fall perfectly in place on her bed. Still flapping her leathery wings, Rainbow wiped her mouth with a small smile. "Beautiful," she remarked. The black pupils of her red eyes sparkled with no witnesses around to appreciate the effect. She reset her wings to their feathered form before leaving. The master mev returned to the Canterlot throne room and spoke to the others waiting.  She requested a private room for her and Starlight to pass on the proper magic, which Celestia granted.





Once inside, Starlight swallowed nervously. "I bite first. No exchange?"

"The magic just got in the reserve, so it's best, yes," Rainbow answered.

"Will it hurt you?" Starlight wondered with the underlying hint that she hoped Rainbow's instincts knew.

"Primeva, I'm not supposed to know everything. We just try it and find out. I don't imagine it's that bad since I don't sense any danger in it," Rainbow explained. "You focus on getting the dream stuff. I need the nocturnality for Sweetie Belle, and you won't need that since you being a fledgling vampire doing this work for your master will handle it. Got it?"

"Right, okay," Starlight said with a nod. "No enchantment I can do to you, huh?"

Rainbow smirked at that and told her in a gentle voice, "You do it all the time."

Starlight blushed. "But this isn't an exchange."

"I know. It is service!" Rainbow whispered excitedly. Her wings splayed out and feathers wiggled in that same excitement. Her eyes flashed to red momentarily, and her fangs could be seen as she spoke.

Starlight blushed again with a tiny smile. Seeing her master so thrilled by the idea was good enough for her. She cleared her throat and nuzzled with Rainbow Dash.

"Mm, see. You know what to do," Rainbow told her with a playful and contented smile as she closed her eyes and nuzzled Starlight back.

Starlight giggled. "Here I come," she warned, feeling her fangs take shape. She bit right in, easily and quickly finding Luna's dream magic. It felt light and airy. Rainbow Dash tensed for a mere second. The lilac unicorn pulled away. "I'm done, Master. Did I separate them right?"

Rainbow opened her red eyes that quickly faded into magenta. "Yes. See, just a pinch. No big deal."

Starlight nodded in agreement. "I won't fail you."

"I know," Rainbow said with a smirk, lifting Starlight's chin with a hoof. The two nuzzled again, making Starlight blush once more. "We better not keep the outsiders waiting any longer," Rainbow told her.

Starlight obliged, and the two mevs returned to the throne room. 





"Everything is in order?" Celestia asked.

Starlight stepped forward. "I have Luna's dream magic for my part. As we discussed while Master was gone earlier, I will stay here with you in Canterlot. I can summon Rainbow Dash easily if we have any problems since it's best these two get back to Ponyville for any other business before tonight's flexchange."

Celestia nodded. "Very well. I hope my sister's magic serves you and Equestria well, Master. Have you any further business here?"

"No, Princess. I am done, and I thank you for your part in all this," Rainbow Dash replied with a bow of her whole body.

Sweetie Belle silently copied the bow.

"I was suspicious and hesitant, I admit, but I appreciate your Rhezenda's sincerity. Congratulations on your success, young Sweetie Belle. You two are dismissed," Celestia told the pair.

Rainbow Dash met eyes with Starlight Glimmer, each nodding professionally to the other as they parted. With a satisfied gleam in her eyes, Rainbow beckoned Sweetie Belle to follow her. Sweetie smiled back at her master and was more than happy to do exactly that.
> Chapter 31 - Rhezenda Revelations
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Rainbow Dash and Sweetie Belle rode along a train from Canterlot to Ponyville. The unicorn filly was staring out the window when she saw through her peripheral view that Rainbow put a hoof to her chin in thought. Sensing the master mev was about to ask her a question, Sweetie turned to look up into two curious magenta eyes. "So, you like vampire novels, huh?"

Sweetie stared down at the floor of the train car with a modest smile and nodded. "Mm-hmm."

"Can I borrow some to read?" Rainbow asked.

Sweetie's eyes lit up at the request, meeting the magenta ones once more. "Sure. You want to stop by Rarity's real quick before we go to your house again? I can pick some up for you for tonight. I can stay tonight, right?"

"I was hoping you'd say that," Rainbow said. "And sure. Let's do it."

The two ponies made good on their plans and by then, the sun started to set. It being Sunday, they needed to head to Twilight's castle. "Are you always this busy going back and forth everywhere?" Sweetie Belle asked as she rode along Rainbow's back while the sky blue pegasus flew, holding Sweetie's own saddlebags containing the desired books.

"Yeah," Rainbow Dash answered. "Even before things changed, I had three jobs, and I still have all three of those jobs. My early nights are busier because I meet somepony, or somepony meets me. Most nights though, I actually get a nice broad time to myself after a flexchange is over."

"So you never sleep?" Sweetie asked.

"No, I do, but I don't need nearly as much as most ponies," Rainbow replied. "I can sleep anywhere from five minutes to two hours on a given night or I can even skip it altogether. It changes every night, but chances are, I'll be awake when you go to sleep tonight and awake when you wake up in the morning."

At the castle, Sweetie Belle waited in Spike's company in the library. She noticed a stack of books put aside about pegasi, one on griffins, and another on bird wing care. "Are these for helping Scootaloo?" she asked Spike.

"Yup," Spike answered without looking up from a scroll he was studying and writing on.

"Have they found anything?" Sweetie hoped to learn more.

Spike set aside his scroll and walked to Sweetie and the stack of books. He pointed and gestured as he spoke. "Pegasi have physical anatomy and flight magic that are required to fly. The flight magic anatomy is harder to define and understand, but it requires confidence, like Rainbow Dash described to us last week when she started up the project. Pinkie Pie and Applejack are stopping by tomorrow to meet with Starlight and Twilight to put together what each group found from their assignments."

"Does that mean they already talked to Zecora? Scootaloo told me they would," Sweetie said. 

"It does," Spike replied. 

"What about Fluttershy? Was she given something to do too?" Sweetie wondered.

"Yeah, Fluttershy's put together a report from her own experiences and talked to Bulk Biceps," Spike informed the young unicorn.

"Oh, I know him," Sweetie Belle said. "The Crusaders helped him out with understanding his cutie mark. Why did Fluttershy talk to him?"

"Small wings, big pony, can still fly," Spike counted off on his claws each factor to draw up the points.

"Ohhh," Sweetie realized. "So Rainbow Dash is trying to find out why that is in case it helps Scootaloo."

"Right," Spike confirmed for her.

The library door opened, and Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle entered with the sky blue pegasus hovering near her alicorn friend. "Flexchange done," she told Spike and Sweetie, stretching her muscles in place for a moment before continuing to flap her wings.

"Are you two leaving already?" Spike asked. "I was just telling Sweetie everypony's part in Project Mercury."

"Oh, thanks, Spike," Rainbow said with a sincere smile. "We didn't get to that yet today. Yeah, we're heading out. I want Sweetie to have some time to settle in at the house."

Spike blinked. "Huh?" It had not quite registered with the purple dragon to ask or wonder why Sweetie was with Rainbow to begin with when they arrived at the castle together.

Twilight smiled. "Sweetie Belle is Rainbow Dash's new assistant," she explained. With a friendly roll of her eyes, she added, "However, our vampire friend likes her vampire flair, so it's actually called 'Rhezenda'."

"Really?" Spike looked at Sweetie Belle. 

The unicorn filly nodded with a friendly and mildly proud smile.

"Maybe I should come up with a cooler way to say assistant too," Spike muttered to himself thoughtfully. Then he looked up at Twilight. "Now can I get jealous?"

Twilight chuckled. "I won't stop you, but it is what it is. If it helps, you were the inspiration for the idea."

"Really?" Spike asked with a small, hopeful smile, leaning forward on his toes as he did.

Twilight nodded. "Really. All the same, we'll be seeing more of Sweetie Belle when it comes to mev matters. I'm sure she'll be taking notes too. Maybe you can even give her a few pointers." She quickly added, "Another time," recalling that the two visitors were about to leave.

Rainbow and Sweetie bid their good-byes for the night and returned to Rainbow's cloud house. As soon as Rainbow entered, a red circle formed on the foyer, and Blitz rose out of it. "Blitz!" said an excited Sweetie Belle, who scurried over to the serpent essence.

Blitz circled around the uniform filly as her friendly greeting.

"Hey girl," Rainbow Dash greeted her night-time pet, setting the saddlebags they brought on the floor. "Sweetie's joined me. She's my Rhezenda, meaning my right hoof to help out around here, especially with outsiders."

Blitz nodded in understanding.

"Sweetie, Blitz sometimes gets to be solid around here, but you can't touch. Master privilege. I made an exception in Mount Aris because I don't expect to get something that special and awesome for a long time, if ever again," Rainbow informed her young friend.

"Okay," Sweetie accepted with a faint hint of disappointment in her voice.

"Stick around, develop your magic, we'll see if that changes. If our work somehow calls for it or some kind of urgent situation, of course, you can do it then. I'll allow it from time to time but for the most part, no touching. It's a special thing for me and her. She is ghostly mev magic essence after all," Rainbow reminded her.

"Right," Sweetie nodded. Those guidelines made sense, and she felt better already about the rule.

"She also sometimes talks. Oh, let's test it actually." Rainbow flew over to Blitz, turned on her chaos form, and touched at the proper point.

"Greetings, Rhezenda Sweetie Belle," Blitz said.

Sweetie's mouth fell open into a huge delighted grin and she hopped in place. "Greetings, Blitz! You sound so beautiful."

Blitz nodded as her way of thanks. Rainbow Dash removed her touch. "Luna told me the nocturnality is like a switch, so let's turn it on for a couple of hours. We'll try it out tonight."

Sweetie smiled. "Sure!"

The mev's eyes flashed red. "There you go."

Sweetie blinked. "Was that it?"

"Right, no aura. You'll know mostly from the fact that you're not sleepy when you would expect to be," Rainbow told her.

"Oh, okay. That makes sense," Sweetie figured.

"I'm gonna read," Rainbow decided aloud, whisking her way back to the discarded saddlebags and starting to open them. "Any favorites?"

Sweetie Belle trotted over and picked one out. "This one here. It's an extended interview between a vampire and an earth pony journalist."

"Cool," Rainbow took it in her hooves. She went to plop down on her couch and read. Blitz slithered near and curled herself up on the floor.

Sweetie followed her own instincts and went to find the red book from earlier. She returned and sat on the same couch. Rainbow Dash glanced her way and gave a few mocking chomps at the air, baring her fangs before she smiled and returned to her reading. Sweetie giggled at the sight and soon turned her attention to the book she chose as well.





On Monday afternoon, Sweetie Belle stared up at the CMC club house. She was done with school and telling her parents that she was now Rainbow Dash's assistant. They accepted the news with ease, in part thanks to Rarity's presence and from already knowing Rainbow Dash tangentially for enough years since she moved to Ponyville. The fact that Sweetie Belle spent time with the busy pegasus through Rarity or Scootaloo or even both helped too. Rainbow Dash was also done with school but taking care of a few easy weather jobs around town. She was going to meet Sweetie here soon. The unicorn filly took a deep breath and walked up to meet her friends. They both greeted her with friendly hellos.

"So, what's up?" Scootaloo asked. "We noticed you stayed behind when we left yesterday."

"I told Scootaloo I bet you were aiming to learn more mev stuff somehow," Apple Bloom added.

"And I said I wouldn't take that bet since I thought so too," Scootaloo remarked, sticking her tongue out at Apple Bloom.

The two giggled.

"You could say that," Sweetie noted carefully. 

"Ha!" Apple Bloom said to declare victory.

Scootaloo chuckled and looked at her unicorn friend. "So, did it work? Did you learn any cool new mev stuff?"

Sweetie smiled a little more easily. "Heh, you have no idea."

"Oh neat. You gonna tell us?" Apple Bloom hoped.

"Actually, I can't tell you most of it," Sweetie said with a slight falter in her smile. 

"She could tell you, but she couldn't tell us? Since when?" the earth pony filly asked.

Sweetie gulped. "Since I became her servant," she said.

"Wait, what?" Scootaloo asked.

"I must concur," Apple Bloom said. "What?"

"You became her servant in one afternoon, just like that?" Scootaloo continued.

"I wouldn't really call it 'just like that'. There was a...process. But it did happen all in the afternoon, yes," Sweetie acknowledged.

"Process?" questioned a suspicious Apple Bloom. "What kind of process? She's a vampire. I thought she couldn't bite kids."

"Oh, she can't," Sweetie reassured them. "It was different than that, but um, we did exchange magic. I now have some of her mev magic in me as a bond for being this servant, and she has some of my unicorn magic. She got it a different way."

The other two fillies stared at her with their jaws hung open for a moment. They looked at each other, then at her again.

Finally, Apple Bloom at least re-composed herself. "Sweetie, I know you found this vampire stuff interesting, and yeah, some of it kind of is, but don't you think that's a bit much? Rainbow's not exactly hurting on servant numbers either. Master Mev. Six fledglings. All that stuff. Are you some kind of part-time fledgling now?"

"Did you ask to become her servant or did she ask you?" Scootaloo wondered. Sweetie Belle sensed a tinge of jealousy in her friend's voice.

The young unicorn listened and tried to remember to answer all of it. "I offered to be her assistant, and she explained that for a vampire like her, I'd be a servant. She was really serious and gave me plenty of warning to think about what I was doing. You two have got to understand, I actually really do want this. Even just one day has been amazing. I can't ever be a fledgling. There's no part-time anything with that. She's got six, and she's supposed to have that at the most. It's some ideal number for mev packs, and she doesn't want anymore. I didn't want to wait until I'm older to ask to help her either."

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom were quiet for a moment to take in everything their friend said. Again, they met each other's eyes, trying to think of how to respond, then each stared at the floor boards in contemplation.

Finally, it was Apple Bloom who looked up said, "Well, I guess if my sister and your sister and Rainbow's other friends are already her servants, what's one more?  She is treating you right, right?"

"Definitely. I've got my own room at her house. She got me a bed and some other stuff to help out with the mev business. I got to see Blitz last night, and we just read on a couch last night, each to our own book. Oh, and I learned so many amazing things." Sweetie was about to bring up Canterlot but perhaps her mev bond stopped her just in time. She decided it best to leave that part out.

"Wow, I can't believe this," Scootaloo said with borderline indignance. "I'm the one who's supposed to be like a sister to her."

"You are, Scootaloo," Sweetie assured her. "This is different. I'll even get to help her help you. I already did that with your report, remember?"

"But you get to live with her? I've stayed at Rainbow Dash's house like three times total, ever," the pegasus filly pointed out.

"I only sort of live with her," Sweetie said. "I'll still be seeing Rarity and my parents. It's kind of like what Terramar does, only I've got three possible places to go," Sweetie Belle explained.

"What's it like?" Apple Bloom suddenly grew curious. "She and the house itself are more creepy at night, right? Like when you went last week."

Sweetie Belle nodded. "They are. And Blitz rose out of the floor when we got there last night, so I guess if you don't really know either of them, that could definitely seem creepy," she said with excited eyes and a delighted smile. She calmed and became contemplative. "It still felt different in the house, but it doesn't actually look different. We all already know this, but Rainbow wears her fangs at night. And the thing where she seems more evil at night than she is actually has a name for it. It's called 'nocturnivlair'."

"Heh, master mevs and their words for things," Scootaloo remarked with a friendly shake of her head. "Did she give you a title?" she asked.

"It was her idea that I should have one, but I actually got to come up with it myself. Then she approved," Sweetie said.

"Really? What is it?" Scootaloo was curious to know.

"I wanna know too," Apple Bloom added.

"Rhezenda," Sweetie said, saying the word with succinct enunciation.

"Oh, you made it sound like a fledgling name," Apple Bloom noticed, "but it don't sound number-based."

"Seven? Rhezenda?" Scootaloo pondered aloud, trying to see if they sounded similar enough.

"It's not number-based," Sweetie informed them. "R-H for 'right hoof,' then mix up the way Rainbow likes to give titles to her fledglings and the music term, 'crescendo'."

"Oh, neat," Apple Bloom approved.

"It is kinda pretty," Scootaloo agreed, her tension from earlier seeming to have evaporated. "I think it fits you."

"It kinda makes you wonder what our titles would be if we ever tried to be her servants too," Apple Bloom said with a joking smile, elbowing at Scootaloo.

"Heh, yeah," said Scootaloo, who returned to staring at the floor boards and sounded a little nervous. "Is she just going to let anyone who wants to be her servant be a servant?" she pretended to continue the joke.

"I didn't even think of anypony else ever asking," Sweetie answered seriously, wondering if that was possible, yet not picking up on Scootaloo's nervousness. In her contemplation, Sweetie announced to the other two, "But you know, I don't think she'd take just anyone. They would have to at least be friends with her first. The book she has on mevs actually says that the fledglings should be friends. It's what's best for forming her pack."

"I guess that makes sense," Apple Bloom remarked thoughtfully. "It helps Rainbow Dash keep herself in check since she already cares about her friends so much."

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo nodded in agreement at that deduction. The discussion for the revelation was over, and the trio moved onto their CMC business before Sweetie Belle would soon leave with Rainbow Dash.
> Chapter 32 - An Afternoon Meeting Starts
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Tuesday afternoon finally arrived for Team Awesome. It was one week from the start of Project Mercury, but Rainbow had a lot tell her friends before that part.

Starlight Glimmer sat in her throne in good spirits. Because covering for Luna was in service of the master, her being Primeva, and the overall strength of the pack, the past two nights had not exhausted her.

Fluttershy brought her own report of information to present, from her past experience and what she learned from talking to Bulk Biceps. Discord had come with her and set up his same hammock resting spot near a set of doors not far from her.

Rarity had the report she had made of putting together Rainbow's own words the previous Thursday night. Not only that, she felt rather proud for her part in creating Sweetie Belle's mev bond with Rainbow Dash. The young unicorn would join them for her first pack meeting.

Applejack had the information she and Pinkie Pie collected. Pinkie had a copy too, but the pair agreed that Applejack would do most of the explaining of what they found out, which was involved, as expected for the type of solution to Project Mercury's goal.

Twilight Sparkle sat with Spike at her side in his own smaller throne to her right. The alicorn mev would speak of her findings with Starlight. Spike had his quill and scroll ready to take notes.

Rainbow Dash arrived, deliberately last among the group so all could her new Rhezenda at her side as she entered. Discord respectfully stood up from his hammock and made a polite bow as the sky blue figure needed to pass his place to reach her seat. "Master Rainbow Dash."

Rainbow bowed in turn. "Discord, Lord of Chaos." She glanced at Sweetie Belle.

Remembering Rainbow's instructions to respect her draconequis friend and tutor, Sweetie had bowed with the master mev. "Sir," the unicorn filly added, hoping that was sufficient. Discord smiled and wiggled his eagle claw fingers in a friendly wave at her, looking pleased. Sweetie smiled bashfully and took his reaction to mean she succeeded.

"You'll be joining us for our meeting again today?" Rainbow asked him.

"Provided Master approves, of course," Discord replied.

"Of course. I haven't much business with you today, but I certainly don't mind," Rainbow said.

Starlight and Twilight watched Rainbow and Sweetie make their way to Rainbow's throne with interest and mild pride. Rarity beamed and wiggled in place, trying not to leap from her seat onto the table and announce everything to everyone before her master did. Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack watched with quiet curiosity.

Once Rainbow sat at her throne, another, smaller one rose to her side between hers and Starlight's where Sweetie sat. It was very similar to Spike's seat by Twilight. The mevs noticed the chaotic flicker in her eyes, and that it was granted without the same ceremony for when Starlight's appeared. Rainbow did not even comment on it to anyone.

With a small smile, Sweetie Belle took her seat. From her saddlebag, she pulled out a clipboard with with sheets of paper to take notes and one in particular that had the meeting's agenda already on it.

"Looks like every Awesomev is here, along with Discord and Spike, so let's get started," Rainbow announced to the group. "First off, everyone here knows Sweetie Belle." The unicorn filly waved. "Sweetie is now my servant, with the chosen title Rhezenda. She is my right hoof to outsiders and will be taking on a role similar to what Spike does for Twilight but for me instead. Each and every one of you Awesomevs outrank her. She will listen to you when I'm not around, especially Primeva." Starlight nodded respectfully at the reference to her. "We have established a mev bond thanks to help from Rarity."

The other Awesomevs nodded in acceptance of the news without further comment. There would be a chance to discuss the matter further soon enough. Rarity made a happy stifled squeal from her seat.

Rainbow began. "We're going to recap the week, make sure everyone's up-to-date on pack matters and then talk Project Mercury. Let's go ahead and start with Mount Aris.

"So, last Friday afternoon, the map summoned me as the Master Mev to Mount Aris instead of with the usual method for a friendship problem. My cutie mark appeared very large with a red wobbling circle around it. The Cutie Mark Crusaders were called for their own mission, so Twilight went with all of us as we each tended to our own business. I met with Queen Novo and received permission to eat hippogriff magic for the reserve and have one tiny piece of magic pearl that they use to transform into sea ponies. Mount Aris and Seaquestria can now be considered part of the territory we can protect and access as mevs."

"Woo-hoo!" Pinkie applauded. "Go us, but mainly you Master. Woo!"

Rainbow smiled. The others let out happy sighs or cheers. Sweetie Belle smiled at the scene as well. Once the others settled down, the master mev continued, "Queen Novo wished to see my fear snare, so she met Blitz. I asked and was given permission to release Blitz out into the ocean to see her full size and solidity. I got to ride her and feel her, so did the Crusaders for that matter. It was a lot of fun, and I learned that I was capable of such magic and about Blitz herself. It was surreal and wonderful, and I could not have done it without our good friend here, Discord, Lord of Chaos."

A round of applause filled the room from everyone. Discord's jaw dropped all the way to the floor, a serpent tongue hanging out before he flapped it back up into his expected mouth form again. His cheeks flushed red.

"Oh Discord," Fluttershy said with pride as she fluttered up momentarily from her seat, "I knew your magic and teaching would be wonderful for our pack and yet still...oh, it's so amazing. You did such a great job teaching Rainbow."

Discord shook his head out from his shocked stupor and held up his eagle claw like an index finger. "First of all, thanks, everyone, really, but...Master Rainbow Dash..you really did all that based on what I taught you in one night?"

"Well, sure," Rainbow said. "Picturing exactly what I wanted as precisely as I could, mev magic itself is strong on its own, especially if I do it for me or the pack as a whole. I practiced at home on a much smaller scale before I ever even knew I would be summoned."

He applauded at last. "Well, well done then!" A flash of nothing happened. "Bah!" he said on having to remember her magic immunity yet again. Another flash, and Fluttershy found her throne lifting, transformed into a pedestal. A bouquet of flowers appeared in her forelimb, and confetti dropped around her from nowhere. "That's what I meant," he told everyone. "I hope you don't mind Fluttershy."

"Not at all," Fluttershy replied sweetly with a blushing smile. Soon, the chaos magic flashed away, putting her back in her seat.

Giggles abound through the room from the seated ponies and dragon.

"Next topic," Rainbow moved on. "Here's a little more on Sweetie Belle as Rhezenda. Sweetie is not a mev, and she cannot be a mev. She can, however, serve me with the bond we formed, and we have exchanged magic, thanks to Rarity's help."

"Master," Twilight said. "Could you tell us how you managed that?" She tapped her forehooves together with a hopeful, starry-eyed smile of interest.

"Oh, sure," Rainbow said. "Well, we still had the tiny piece of pearl with us from Queen Novo at the time we decided to form this bond, so I had Rarity take the magic out of it to hold onto in the reserve. We put it back when we were done. I just needed an object that could hold magic to do the parts I'll describe next. Sweetie Belle then channeled her unicorn magic into the piece with Rarity's help to reach it. Before I summoned Rarity at all, Sweetie herself pointed out to me that she is related by blood to Rarity, and that could help with what we wanted to do, which it did. Then Rarity ate that magic from the piece, and I was able to then eat it from Rarity."

"Wow," uttered an amazed Twilight. 

Starlight nodded along with interest. 

Discord was breathless.

"So, that got me Sweetie's magic. We still needed to get my magic to her. I released the magic I just ate into the tiny piece, like how I released it for our fledgling hunt games when forming the pack. Then Rarity helped Sweetie take her own magic that now had what I sent. That got Sweetie my mev magic inside her."

"Uh-huh, uh-huh," Twilight said, nodding and nodding, beaming.

Spike was scribbling with focused energy to match her enthusiasm, so much so that he said nothing.

Rainbow concluded, "We still needed the tiny piece of pearl back as it was, so I sucked out any remaining traces of our mev magic back in to my body, and then Rarity sent the original sea pony transformation magic it's supposed to contain back into it."

"Wow, just wow," said Twilight. "To think mevs are capable of such things. I mean, the book does say some of this, but to think it could be used to bond with other ponies. I never could have imagined."

"A projected visual memory would help," Discord remarked.

"I'd like to see that too," Spike noted.

"I don't know that magic," Rainbow Dash reminded them.

"Yet!" Discord insisted vigorously, pointing his eagle claw in the air with authority.

Rainbow, for her part, nodded respectfully in compliance to the idea. It certainly sounded like a useful power for pack meetings.

"You know Master," said Starlight, "We should probably have a designated object for this task. Something we can use as a hub for any kind of exchanges or channeling like this. It might not always be with a pony. It could be other creatures, plants, other objects, and so on. It can be like the tiny piece of pearl with existing magic that we'll store in the reserve or it could be something of yours with certain properties since you're the master of the pack."

"What kind of properties?" Applejack asked.

"Well…" Starlight started to consider. "Something important to her, a kind of magical moment in her life. If all of us, or the rest of you since I haven't known Rainbow as long, were there for it, all the better because we are her fledglings."

"Oh, like maybe something from when she won the Best Young Fliers' Competition," Fluttershy offered. "You weren't there Starlight, but the rest of us were. Rainbow did her second Sonic Rainboom, but it was the first since getting her cutie mark. It was spectacular. I cheered like I've never cheered before." The canary-colored pegasus friend blushed.

"And she saved my life, along with the three other ponies," Rarity added.

"And it was an important on her way to becoming a Wonderbolt," Pinkie added on top of that.

Rainbow put a hoof up to her chin in thought. "The wing crown Princess Celestia gave me when I won. I still have it."

Sweetie Belle happily noted it down.

Rainbow saw and smiled with approval. "Excellent. Alright, now where was I?"

The young unicorn looked at her agenda and showed it to the master mev. 

"Right, thanks. As I was saying, Sweetie is not and cannot be a mev, but we did form a bond, so that gives me some ability and some restrictions. I'm up almost all night most nights, and I want her to be able to be awake for if the mev work calls for her assistance. Given that, I went to Princess Luna to request her magic. She consented."

"She did?" Discord asked in a shock.

"I can't eat magic that affects the sun and moon or turning day to night or night to day," Rainbow explained. "That is magic that rules over me. I specifically wanted her dream and nocturnality magic. That was what I could eat from her. With that in the reserve with Luna's approval and my mev bond with Sweetie Belle, that will do in allowing her to be with me at night when necessary."

"What's the dream magic for?" Fluttershy asked.

"Project Mercury is what gave me the idea though I'm not sure it will be used there," Rainbow answered. "I'll explain more on that when we talk about the project as a whole. Since Luna's mostly out of commission from my eating her magic, Starlight here has been covering for her and will do so tonight. That's why we're meeting this afternoon instead of later."

"But what about your magic lessons, Master?" Pinkie Pie asked.

Rainbow sighed. "Well, I can't be tutored by Starlight, but Discord's here, so…"

"I certainly don't mind continuing on without Starlight. We'll manage just fine," Discord said, finishing the thought for her. "It will give us a chance to learn memory projection with chaos magic."

"Thanks. And then maybe Starlight and I can work in some extra time later this week. If not, so be it. That's how this deal went. Helping Sweetie Belle help me is going to be a good thing in the long run, I'm sure of it," Rainbow declared.

The other Awesomevs nodded in agreement.

"Can we ask how Starlight's coverage of Luna's duties is going?" Applejack wondered.

"Primeva, you have the floor," Rainbow said, gesturing with a hoof.

"Oh, I actually can't say much," Starlight confessed. "Ponies' dreams are rather private affairs. I'm handling it just fine, and Princess Luna's actually happy about getting to sleep most of the night for three nights in a row."

"Heh," Applejack replied. "I reckon she would, just like that time with the Tantabus."

"I'll take your word for it," Starlight said, having not been friends with the group for that ordeal.

"I've done much the same," Discord told her, having only heard about it after the fact from Fluttershy. He leaned in as if to let her in on a secret. "I wasn't there either."

Starlight giggled.

Twilight cleared her throat. "I'm sure that we can all be happy for Princess Luna's extra rest regardless."

At that, the pair smiled in agreement and nodded. Spike and the other Awesomevs did much the same.
> Chapter 33 - Mercury Solution Ideas
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Ready to move on, Rainbow Dash looked over the agenda Sweetie Belle held for the meeting.

"Sweetie here suggested we look into a way to prepare Equestria for a berserk," Rainbow said.

Discord suddenly flashed himself to the space between Rainbow's and Fluttershy's thrones, standing fully and began to spout questions in a hurried tone. "Why? Do you think it's happening anytime soon? Aren't you eating enough? You have the full pack."

"Actually, maybe you could help us out," Rainbow realized, raising herself in a hover up from her seat to address him. "Since you've known mevs in your lifetime, did you ever see one go berserk?"

Discord sighed. "I have once, but I don't have much to tell you about it. I didn't know that the place I was in had a master mev residing in it. I can't even tell you if they had any fledglings. Once I was bitten, I slept until sunrise and left as soon as I could. About the most I could tell you is that it was a town of mostly unicorns, and they all looked out of sorts as they tried to go about their morning as best they could. I certainly felt out of sorts myself. Some glanced my way, but we didn't speak to each other.

"Still, why prepare? You have a full pack, like you should. Certainly, you don't think you could somehow miss six feedings in a row. Or not find a volunteer between all that. Your fledglings can even summon you or you summon them. Not to mention your magic immunity and all of you being immune to magic drainage."

"You can move the sun and the moon, right?" Rainbow reminded him. "Even though it's Celestia's and Luna's job, you've done it."

Discord stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Oh," he realized. "Oh dear."

"Master, care to fill us in?" Starlight asked, staring upward.

Rainbow turned to address the fledglings at the table while still hovering. "If the days and nights pass in a fake way like Discord has done, do I go berserk for not eating during that time?

"Well, we don't know, do we?" Rarity inquired.

"Exactly. We have done a lot to prevent the berserk, just like we should. But maybe we should still find a way for Equestria to be ready to go a week without magic in case it can still happen such as fake days and nights. I'm immune to most magic but not all. Magic balance would dictate that some other force or forces could still cause one, and this is the one that occurred to me. The book specifies genuine sunrise, so that means whoever wrote it knew a fake sunrise was possible," Rainbow pointed out. "Rexa Twilight, I want you to talk to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna about this matter. See what the three of you come up with."

"Certainly, Master," Twilight agreed with a nod.

"We'll leave the berserk issue there for now," Rainbow decided aloud to everyone and returned to her seat. 

Discord flashed his way back to his hammock to recline and rest.

"Right then. Let's talk Project Mercury," Rainbow said. "I'll start. I took Scootaloo to two different doctors, one here in Ponyville and a recommendation from him for one in Cloudsdale. The doctor in Cloudsdale said that it is most likely the wing size. She was 99% sure. The disability itself is extremely rare, so not much has been done to accommodate for it."

"Oh no," said a sympathetic Fluttershy.

"She said that cutie mark magic can offset a wing size issue, so my working theory is that explains Bulk Biceps. Fluttershy, you got anything to add on that?" Rainbow inquired.

"Well, I did manage to speak with him, but I don't think it's anything to add really. His cutie mark is that picture of weights, and he is an expert at lifting things. The rest of his body is bulky and strong, so even with the small wings, he has the strength to lift himself, given that it is his special talent," Fluttershy said.

"Right." Rainbow went on, "I did ask about Scootaloo's own cutie mark magic. It does have a picture of a wing, but her wings work, as the doctor pointed out, even if they're not enough for the lift and thrust for extended flight like most pegasi.

"I asked about other ways of using magic to offset the wings, and Scootaloo offered up that she has been able to fly in her dreams. That's partly why I went to Luna. The doctor offered some more ideas: griffons, vets taking care of flightless birds, support on or inside wings with technology, talking to unicorns or a potions expert. We were already doing some of that stuff, but I did have Starlight expand the research some. Did you find anything?"

Starlight glanced over to Twilight to be the one to speak for the two of them on their assignment.

"We found a lot that matches what the Cloudsdale doctor told you," Twilight said. "Pegasi have physical anatomy and what is likely flight magic anatomy. There are extremely rare cases of a disability like Scootaloo's theorized to be the wing size. It gets complicated though. Flight magic is hard to define and understand beyond what you told us about confidence already. That certainly makes diagnosing a problem like this one hard since a discouraged pegasus with this disability will lose confidence. Even if they could get their wings to the right size, they might need some kind of extra boost or something to truly believe they could do it."

"Hmm," Rainbow nodded and thought. "What about going beyond pegasi?"

"Griffons have similar flight magic to pegasi though notably larger wing spans. None of the information we had talked about any kind of disability for them. You might remember the idol of Boreas," Twilight said.

"I do. I imagine it's still down that abyss," Rainbow remarked. Then something seemed to register with her. "You think it could help?" she asked.

"Well, I was hoping your master instincts might be able to tell us," Twilight admitted, bashfully tapping her forehooves together. "It is significant to griffon culture and history so could contain some magic from that."

"Rhezenda, write that down," Rainbow instructed.

Sweetie Belle obeyed.

"So you think it will?" Twilight hoped.

"It certainly needs to be investigated," Rainbow said. "Plus, now that I've made the trip to Mount Aris, I think I should make the rounds to the other kingdoms. Introduce myself, request magic for the reserve, scout the places."

"Do any of us get to go with you like Twilight did for Mount Aris?" asked a hopeful Pinkie Pie.

Rainbow smiled. "Yeah, probably, but let me think on it for a bit. So, anything about helping birds?" Rainbow asked, directed to Twilight now.

"Potions," Twilight said, "so I think Applejack would be better suited to explain this, especially with what she and Pinkie Pie found out from Zecora."

"Very well then," Rainbow said.

"Right," Applejack readied herself. "This stuff ain't easy, just like you thought, Rainbow. Since by all accounts, it is very likely the wing size, the solution would be to grow the wings proper. And that takes magic. We could use a potion, but getting everything to make that potion...whew. The easy part is that we can find a special kind of flower up north, in the Yakyakistan region. It has properties that are good for fusing magic together for the different components we're going to need. 

"First off, we're talking about changing a pony's body permanent-like, not a temporary thing, kind of like how Discord was saying why he can't be the one to cure her. If we grow her wings with this potion idea stirring in our heads, we need to know exactly how big they should be and the difference between what they are now and what we want."

"So, I'm going to need Scootaloo to find another pegasus filly who can fly about her size and get that wing size," Rainbow realized.

Sweetie scribbled her notes on that part.

"Right," Applejack said. "But it don't stop there. Scootaloo is not a full grown pony. The wings will need to be able to grow as her body grows, or you end up with the exact same problem. We'll have to add something to account for growing over time with the rest of her body."

Rainbow nodded. Sweetie wrote more.

"Why won't they just grow with the rest of her like regular wings?" Spike wondered aloud.

"They'll be magic-enhanced wings, so they need more magic help in very specific ways without overdoing or under-doing it," Pinkie explained.

"Exactly that," Applejack concurred. She went on, "So, all put together, you need growth now, continued growth, permanence, and from what Twilight just said, you might need a confidence booster of some kind too, for at least a little while. Like I said Master, we are going to need to use magic, and it's got to be…" the earth pony sighed. "Starlight, maybe you could take it from here. You know this stuff better than any of us."

"Certainly," Starlight obliged. "We're really sorry Rainbow, but Scootaloo's going to need to wait for the solution we found."

"But you did find a solution?" Rainbow asked as her entire body perked up, including a hopeful flick of her ears.

"Hear me out," Starlight said. "The whole way, Master. The magic we think we can use is magic that we don't have but want to put in the reserve. That means we need to get it, and we need to hold onto it for awhile to develop and grow before we give some of it to the solution."

"Oh," Rainbow realized, sinking ever so slightly. Straightening up her posture once more to collect herself, she asked, "Well...what have you got?"

"The good news is I think we can use some of the hippogriff magic you already have," Starlight began. "It's been with you and developing for a few days already. Hippogriffs have larger wings than pegasi, like griffons, and are even a little more similar in anatomy to a pegasus because they are part pony."

Sweetie scribbled, and Rainbow nodded. "That is good news," the master mev said.

"My working theory is the magic should stay in the reserve at least one week since that's how long a recovery time is for a given meal. I think waiting an entire month is best though," Starlight said.

"A month," Rainbow muttered with a nod. She sounded disappointed but not surprised or angry, to the relief of her fledglings who prepared this theory. "Makes sense, Primeva. Go on."

"For continued growth, we think we could use changeling magic fused with everything else we're putting together as a whole," Starlight told her.

"Which, aside from that feedback from Ocellus, we don't have," Rainbow remarked.

"Master?" Sweetie Belle asked. "What's that mean?"

"Yeah," Pinkie nodded. "That's a new one on me too."

"Oh, I guess it hasn't really come up in awhile," Rainbow realized. "Can you believe this? Based on what Discord told me, Fluttershy, and Starlight, changelings can't take my form anymore. My vampire form even causes a shock. Still, vampire form attempt or not, it causes this kind of feedback, so I've actually shape-shifted into Starlight once to test out what he told us. I used another round of it to change how Penny looks."

"Oh, so that's how that worked," Pinkie realized. "I just thought it was some master mev power."

"I assumed the same," Twilight admitted. "Her being water and in Rainbow, I figured it went something like that."

"That was the logic for the color, so you're not too far off," Pinkie informed her.

"I do wish you had told the rest of us," noted a disappointed Rarity.

"Sorry," said Rainbow bashfully with an embarrassed stroke of the green, blue, and purple part of her mane.

"Sorry," Starlight and Fluttershy added at the same time, averting their eyes to the table.

Rarity chortled at their sincerity. "All forgiven, just a thought, dears."

The trio nodded and smiled warmly.

"Can you use the feedback then?" Sweetie Belle wondered.

"Uh...no. Penny has very special circumstances to make her what she is. I do believe the way it works otherwise is to only transform Master herself until the attempts run out," Starlight explained.

Discord nodded from his hammock. "The first fledgling is correct!" he noted with a pointed gesture of authority.

"How come?" Sweetie asked.

"It's probably like how chaos-mev magic works," Spike guessed aloud. "The master doing something for one of her fledglings or the pack? Penny must be something like changeling-mev?" He glanced curiously at the others.

"More like she has changeling-mev magic. Penny herself is more magic water than a changeling," Starlight informed him.

"Oh! Oh!" Pinkie declared with a realization, waving her left forelimb like she was an eager student in class. "Is that why she can switch between water and pony so easily now?"

Discord put a contemplative eagle claw to his chin. "That would certainly explain it."

Rainbow nodded in agreement. "I think it more quickened that ability. With enough time, Penny could have developed it on her own. In the end, it doesn't change how things stand now. I'll have to go to the Changeling Kingdom and ask Thorax for help. Ocellus is too young for me to ask here."

"Perhaps I could join you," Starlight offered.

"Like I said to Pinkie, let me think on it, for bringing any fledglings along." She smiled softly. "I kind of want to give every one of you a turn. It just feels right."

The Awesomev fledglings smiled and nodded in agreement.

"So...there's more, right?" Rainbow prodded.

"Right," Starlight confirmed before continuing. "Permanence. That's part of why Twilight and I thought of the idol of Boreas. It's tangible and has its own permanence. If there's griffon magic attached to it, which is related to flight magic as well, like the hippogriff magic, then maybe…."

"Ah," Rainbow realized. "So the solution is still mainly a theory and requires waiting."

"Exactly," Starlight said.

"So, if we're going to different kingdoms for different parts, let's pretend we need something from each one," Pinkie said. "Does that mean we go to the Dragon Lands for the confidence boost? If we even need one.  Or maybe we could get helps from the yaks for that too, in addition to the super duper flower in their region. Both types are confident. And are we leaving anything out?"

"Dragons have stronger magic than yaks," Twilight noted, "but maybe the yaks could help with a little strength to the wings as well, though just like the confidence, we might not actually need that."

"I think Scootaloo's got the strength thing covered on her own and that once we get the exact right wing size, I can find a way to test the confidence," Rainbow said. She looked over to Discord.

He sensed it, pulled his sunglasses from his casually reclined position, and met her gaze. "Oh, you're thinking of using my magic with a sort of precise, closed-in method compared to a snap of my talons. I agree with your theory, Master."

"Or if we have time for a lesson," Starlight said, "even unicorn magic can do temporary growth. We should go with that if we can since it's a key source of our own magic through the flexchanges."

Sweetie wrote down what she pieced together from that.

"Even if we don't need dragon confidence or yak strength, I should still go and make a request for their magic," Rainbow told everyone. 

Spike paused in his own note-taking. "The Crystal Empire?" he asked. "We don't need it for Project Mercury, but if you're going to these other places…"

"Oh, right," Twilight said with an air of reluctance.

"Let's you and me talk about it later," Rainbow said, "but thanks Spike for the reminder. Sweetie, do write that one down too."

"Yes, Master," Sweetie said as she formed a list of the kingdoms the Awesomevs had listed in conversation.

Rainbow continued with a flair of enthusiasm, "If we can extend mev territory far and wide with willing friends, it should totally be done."

"And then Scootaloo won't have to wait as long since we can go to those other three kingdoms later, if we don't need some of these extras," Rarity pointed out.

"Hmm," Rainbow considered. "I think I should still visit all these places first, much as I want to help Scootaloo right away."

"Master mev instinct?" Starlight asked.

Rainbow nodded. "Yeah, part of the job. There's more work out there. Plus, our magic draws from friendship too, so visiting those other places will help indirectly."

Starlight stroked a hoof under chin thoughtfully and soon nodded in agreement. The other mevs nodded too.

"Well, it seems we've covered most of what needs to be said for Project Mercury," Rarity noted, "though I did have a lovely report from you, Master, that it seems is unnecessary tonight."

"Don't feel bad. If all goes well, that report is for helping Scootaloo learn how to fly awesomely, just like her big sister," the sky blue pegasus said with a proud, eager smile. Then, thinking of everything that put this plan in motion with the Washouts, she added with less enthusiasm, "If that's something she wants from all this, that is."

A quiet moment passed.

"Or other pegasi," Sweetie offered.

Rainbow smiled warmly. "Yeah." After another small pause, she stated for all, "Okay, that's a wrap for today.  I need to review my notes with Rhezenda to find out where I'm going next and decide which one of you is coming with me, wherever that ends up being. Go ahead and turn in any reports you've got to her before you head out too."

Sweetie Belle was glad for her next charge of responsibility, receiving a packet from Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack, and Twilight each.

Thus concluded Team Awesome's meeting for that week.
> Chapter 34 - Forms and Confidence
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







After the Team Awesome meeting and before the sun set, Starlight gave Rainbow Dash a brief lesson in using unicorn magic for a small amount of growth on a living creature. Spike was willing to let the mentor and student attempt growing out the fins on his back side for the exercise, and both ponies succeeded during it. Eventually, everyone stopped for dinner before Spike tended to other duties in the castle, and Rainbow and Starlight exchanged magic. Then Starlight teleported herself to Canterlot for dream duty.

Rainbow joined a waiting Discord and Sweetie Belle at the castle library.





"Shall we begin with memory projection?" Discord offered.

"Yeah, let's do that," Rainbow agreed.

"The first thing you want to grasp is that you are doing this to share with others, so it is best to change the view from first-person to third-person. You want to recall the setting before you recall the event. You channel your memory into the recollection of when and where it took place. That will help filter in and project things better suited for an audience. For this magic, you try not to add much flair except for perhaps a color tint to indicate it is a projection. Something like a blue hue would do nicely." Discord snapped his lion paw and replayed everything he said with the library surrounding them and visible. "You try."

Rainbow nodded and gave it some thought, starting off small with simply showing him say, "You try."

"Good. Now try going to a different time and place, something longer," Discord advised.

Rainbow nodded and replayed the conversation from the meeting about learning memory projection at all.

Discord applauded. "Excellent! "

The pair practiced a little more before the instructor considered the lesson over. "Now then, that aside, what else do you want to learn tonight?" Discord asked as if pulling up sleeves from his lion paw and eagle claw.

Rainbow looked at him eye level while hovering at as side, smiling. Then she smiled evilly at Sweetie Belle as well. "How about how to give my Rhezenda some new forms?"

Sweetie Belle's eyes widened from where she had been quietly sitting in one of the library's comfortable seats. "What?"

Discord chuckled heartily. "Oh, how I do like the way you think Master Rainbow Dash."

"What kind of forms?" Sweetie asked, part in worry and part in excitement.

"I'm thinking adult unicorn, pegasus filly, and fake vampire, maybe fake vampire for either form but those first two first," Rainbow said.

"Really?" Sweetie flicked her tail back and forth with wondrous interest. "Is this one of the things I can't tell Scootaloo? I kinda want to tell her, but she might get jealous."

"We'll make that decision later," Rainbow told her. "I want to learn now. I'll tell you this much. These forms will be restricted. We'll set some rules, and we're starting with that I will be the one to activate them, not you, and it will be when we are together. Also, they are all temporary. For now, I'm talking about appearances anyway. As Discord's described it to me, the chaos magic can transform a creature, depending on the creature, but only on a temporary basis. Big Mac gets to be a unicorn in a game with Discord, but he's still an earth pony day to day outside those games. The temporary part is why neither one of us can just wave our magic over Scootaloo to cure her."

"Yes, Master is correct," Discord said firmly, pointing an eagle claw finger to the air. "Let's begin." He snapped his talons, and Sweetie Belle was whisked from her seat in a flash, suddenly standing taller. She looked full grown in front of the pair. "Whoa!" she said, staring down at her body. She spun around, continuing to stare at it and walking in place.

"Can you still cast magic?" Rainbow asked.

Sweetie Belle tried and succeeded by levitating a few books.

"Good to know," Rainbow remarked. "So, how do you reach the precision intention?" she asked Discord.

"Right," he said. "'I want this pony to look how she would as a full grown unicorn.'" He snapped his talons, and Sweetie found herself as a filly. "Your turn."

Sweetie Belle watched with wonder as Rainbow Dash turned on her chaos form, and the red eyes flashed a shimmer. The unicorn filly found herself appearing as a unicorn mare again. "It worked," she said with a smile to her master.

"Does it feel any different than what Discord just did?" Rainbow asked.

Sweetie Belle shook her head.

"Hmm," Rainbow said. "I need a way to connect it to mev magic," she told the draconequis. "It needs to be linked to me when she uses it. It should feel different than what you do."

"Right, right," Discord stroked his beard. "'I want Rhezenda to look how she would as a full grown unicorn, bound to my mev magic as the Master Mev,'" he offered. "Do you need a visual cue?"

"Not a bad idea. Maybe red eyes," Rainbow considered. "Or a circle around the cutie mark. It needs to be subtle."

"The musical note in the mark," Sweetie suggested. "You could make it red like your vampire eyes."

"Perfect," Rainbow said rubbing her hooves together. "Back to filly first, then adult unicorn bound to the master mev. Got it?" Rainbow warned.

Sweetie nodded. "Yes, Master. I got it."

Two flashes of magic later, and Sweetie stared at her mark to see the difference.

"You feel it now?" Rainbow asked.

"Mmhmm," Sweetie Belle confirmed for her.

"Good," Rainbow said with approval. "That's better. Moving on…"

The pegasus filly transformation went more quickly and smoothly than the adult unicorn given that Rainbow had a better feel for what to do and how to do it with Discord's guidance and Sweetie's input. Sweetie flapped her wings out of sheer curiosity to find she indeed had little idea what to do with them and could not fly. For the fake vampire form, they started with combining it with the adult unicorn form. Sweetie was tickled to receive fangs. After that, Rainbow decided that the pegasus filly form shouldn't have a vampire form after all. It simply didn't feel right given her nature to not bite kids at all on an instinctual level.

"So, can I tell my Crusader friends or not?" Sweetie asked once the lesson ended, and Discord was about to leave.

"I think you should let her," the draconequis instructor piped in. "The magic lessons aren't exactly a secret, are they? I know I haven't been treating them as such."

"So be it," Rainbow consented. "You have my permission to tell your friends."

"Is there a reason we didn't try for alicorn?" Sweetie wondered.

"Well," Rainbow started, "I think each form will help deal with outsiders on some level, depending on where we are and who we are with. If you were an alicorn, that would cause a lot of attention. My work and existence is not a secret, but some discretion is proper and preferred, as the book notes. There is no discretion in having a right hoof alicorn at my side compared to any of the other three."

"Oh, okay," Sweetie accepted that as a response. "But you could do it?"

"Discord?" Rainbow asked.

"Actually," he said, "I've never tried it." He snapped his talons, and Sweetie turned into a filly alicorn. She hopped in place with excitement.

"Woo!" said the fake alicorn.

"And there you have it," he said, snapping his talons to put her back as she was.

Rainbow tried it herself just as quickly, saw the same result, tried again with the mev connection, succeeded there as well. She was satisfied enough to end the attempts and deactivate it. "Alright, cool, cool, let's head home. We need to make plans based on our meeting today. You and I have a lot to do," Rainbow told Sweetie.

"Yes, Master," said a very happy Sweetie Belle who was having a grand time being Rhezenda to the Master Mev.





"So, let's focus on how to get the proper wing size," Rainbow said. "Since you see Scootaloo a good chunk of the day at school and know other kids in town, I want you to talk to her and whoever you can find for this particular assignment."

"Yes, Master," Sweetie said with a smile. This task fell exactly in line with the idea that Sweetie would be a good link to child outsiders, so she was rather proud to see it happen so soon.

Rainbow rubbed a hoof thoughtfully. "When do you see Rarity next?"

"Tomorrow afternoon after school, I'll be at her boutique. I'm staying the night there," Sweetie told her.

"Perfect! See if Rarity's got time to spare to help with getting the proper wing measurements. I want her to even get me something like gloves for feathers. That'll help us all get a feel for understanding the size the wings are, the size they need to be, and the difference. I want one of each," Rainbow instructed.

Sweetie wrote the instructions down on a scroll.

"Try to get all of this done tomorrow with Scootaloo, a filly friend, and Rarity. I'll stop by the boutique myself for a report on how things are going," Rainbow said.

"Okay," Sweetie acknowledged.

"Now then…" Rainbow used her feathered wings to hold up Sweetie's notes and examined them. "Let's plan out the kingdom trips a bit."

"Awesome," Sweetie said with a smile. "I get to go too, right?"

"Of course, my Rhezenda. We might even be using those new forms I got for you. Let's see here...I think I should go to the Crystal Empire first. I'm most familiar with that place, and it is time Princess Cadance was informed. Thanks to the summon to Mount Aris, Queen Novo found out before she did. Then again, Twilight's fledgling status was not discussed there. So, actually, I need to talk to Twilight sometime this week because she needs to decide what she's telling her family."

"What about bringing one of the other Awesomevs?" Sweetie asked. "Even if Twilight goes, you're still bringing somepony else, right?"

"Right," Rainbow nodded. "Here's what I'm thinking, write these down…"

Sweetie readied her notes.

"Crystal Empire, Applejack. Griffonstone, Starlight. Changeling Kingdom, Fluttershy. Dragon Lands, Rarity. Yakyakistan, Pinkie Pie. You got all that?" Rainbow asked.

Sweetie nodded. "So you've already picked who's going where?"

"Initially. No rule that says I can only take one fledgling, The point is I want to take at least one and give each Awesomev a turn, which is why I'd take Twilight and Applejack to the Crystal Empire if Twilight decides to go, which I'm pretty sure she will," Rainbow remarked. "Plus, even though Spike isn't a mev, he has strong connections to three of these kingdoms, so he might be a good ambassador to have with us."

"Oh neat," Sweetie thought aloud.

"I can talk to Twilight at school easily enough, so I'll let you know when I know her intentions. I've got a Wonderbolts show this Saturday, and most of my week is full with the other jobs or Wonderbolts practice, so I'm aiming to make the Crystal Empire trip on Sunday. You'll be free then too."

"Right," Sweetie nodded in agreement.

"Another thing. To practice your drawing, you try to draw up what you can of the wing size stuff while you're coordinating everything tomorrow too," Rainbow added. 

"Yes, Master," Sweetie said. "Wow, already so much to do."

"Mmhmm. Makes me glad we bonded when we did," Rainbow remarked. "Well, this master mev is actually ready for some sleep, so that means I'm walking you to bed and turning off your nocturnality to get you to sleep first."

"Okay," Sweetie agreed to the plan, gathering up all her notes to take to her room.





On Wednesday afternoon, Rainbow Dash arrived at Carousel Boutique to find Rarity, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom. As she arrived, she saw the two unicorns hard at work on their designated tasks.

"Master Rainbow Dash," Scootaloo trotted over to her and gave her a hug. "We found another pegasus filly my size with a proper wing size like you asked. She's already left for the day."

"Hi Master Rainbow Dash," Apple Bloom walked over at a slower pace. "We see you got Sweetie hard at work already. Say, I was wondering, I know we're not supposed to use the fledgling titles to address them but what about Sweetie's? That one's different since she picked it, and she's not a fledgling."

"Have you asked her if she's alright with it?" Rainbow asked.

Apple Bloom shook her head. "Not yet. She's been way focused on everything, and I figured I could ask you now."

"I'll leave it up to her. I certainly don't have any problems with it, so long as she doesn't," Rainbow replied.

"Can you tell me more about how the project is coming along?" Scootaloo asked. "Sweetie would only tell us the part she was told to do today."

"Let's see," Rainbow considered. "The main thing you need to know, and it's more of a reminder, is that this is going to take time. We do have a plan in mind, and it's a good plan, but it's going to take at least a couple of months, if not longer."

"Well, compared to my whole life, that's not so bad," Scootaloo said.

"We are going to use magic, and we are going to use reserve magic with the vampire powers. That is why it's going to take time," Rainbow added. "How's that? Enough info for you, I hope."

Scootaloo nodded eagerly.

"Anything else we can do to help?" Apple Bloom asked.

"You let me and Rhezenda worry about that, and I promise, we will let you know if we think of something. Scootaloo, I am going to need some of your time soon, after Rarity gets me these sizes."

"Finished!" Rarity declared. "I actually have them for you now, Master. Do come see."

"Awesome. You got more time today?" Rainbow asked her young client, now hovering as she prepared to see what Rarity had ready.

Scootaloo nodded.

"Let me check out what my Mitria has," and Rainbow flew to Rarity's work station. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo followed not far behind. Sweetie set her drawing pad down to turn her attention with everyone else's.

"I'm curious Rainbow, how did you know that these sort of feather-gloves could be done? They're not a common fashion item," Rarity said.

"I saw them in one of your fashion magazines I borrowed," Rainbow admitted.

"Oh of course," Rarity realized. "Well, what do you think?"

Rainbow nodded. "Good, good. Let's all head outside by the clubhouse at Sweet Apple Acres. Does everyone have time to go there today?" she asked.

The others nodded.

"Then let's head over there. It's a good space for what I want to do," Rainbow informed them.

All the ponies agreed to that, and on their arrival, Applejack came to watch as well. Big Mac and Granny Smith were tending to other business in town.

"Alright, Scootaloo, you stand here," Rainbow directed the scene. "Everyone, back off over there to give our pegasus friend some space."

The other ponies complied.

"Let me see you with the current size ones on," Rainbow said.

Rarity magically guided the feather gloves over.

"Good, good. Now the corrected size," instructed the master mev.

Rarity put the correct ones over to show, and it was evident there was more space for feathers in comparison.

"Now let me get a good look at the difference right in front of me, just levitate them where I can see them nice and not too stretched or compact," Rainbow said.

Rarity did that too.

"Perfect. Okay, Scootaloo, here's more that I can tell you. This is super important, and aside from the magic I'll be casting, it all relies on you. Got it?" Rainbow said.

Scootaloo nodded. "No pressure," she joked.

"Actually a lot of pressure, which is my point," Rainbow emphasized with utmost seriousness. "I want you to feel pressured because it will matter. Now listen up. This is not a solution, and I am only doing this as a test phase of this project. The point of this exercise is to see that if your wings were grown to the size we think is needed for flight, you have what it takes to work them properly with confidence. If you can't bring up your confidence, you still won't be able to fly. Pegasi need to learn confidence under pressure. You'll be under a lot of pressure if we do get a proper solution later. I need to know if we need to factor in your confidence. So, lots of pressure but still work up the nerve, got it?"

"Got it," said a now more determined and serious Scootaloo, eager to prove herself.

"Good. When I stomp my hoof, that'll be when I cast the magic to grow your wings. I'm aiming to make them exactly the size we're aiming for in the end. Then you try to fly," Rainbow instructed.

Scootaloo nodded.

Rainbow Dash made good on her word, activated magic with her red eyes, cast the spell, stomped her hoof, and said, "Now!"

Everypony watched with baited breath to see the young pegasus filly flap her newly altered wings to lift herself off the ground. She hovered in place a little longer than usual before wobbling back down to the ground. Scootaloo scrunched up her face in frustration.

"Keep trying," Rainbow urged. "Think about your dreams and swimming in Seaquestria. Those are times you felt like you could truly fly, right?"

Scootaloo nodded and tried again. She managed a much longer hover and a strong glide. "Rainbow Dash, I'm doing it! I'm really doing it."

"You're doing great, Scoot. Go a little higher," the sky blue pegasus directed her.

Scootaloo flapped her wings up higher with a smile.

There. That was it. Rainbow Dash knew, more as a pegasus than a mev. The confidence could and would be there when the time came.

"Come in for a landing," Rainbow instructed.

Scootaloo did as told without any trouble and felt the magical growth disappear. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom rushed to hug her and cheer. From a standing distance with the other mares, Applejack wiped a small tear from her eye. Rarity looked on with quelled amazement. "Well, Master," Applejack said, "That's an encouraging step, if I ever saw one. Or 'wing flap' if we want a pegasus term."

Rainbow nodded. "I think so too."

Scootaloo finally rushed over and gave Rainbow a huge hug, pushing the older pegasus to sit on her haunches for the embrace. Rainbow Dash wrapped her feathered wings around her younger sister. "I got to fly for real!" Scootaloo exclaimed. "Not just swimming or dreaming but right out here in Ponyville, even if it was just for a few minutes. Oh, thank you so much, Master."

"Glad to be of service," said Rainbow with a warm smile.
> Chapter 35 - Prepare for the Crystal Empire
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Ending their embrace, Scootaloo hurried back to her CMC friends to talk to them. Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash approached Applejack and Rarity.

"Applejack, you got a minute?" Rainbow asked, nodding her head in a direction where they should create more distance.

Rarity stood to look over the fillies, deciding she should remain where she was.

The orange earth pony followed her sky blue pegasus friend a few feet further from the scene. "What's on your mind, Rainbow?"

"I want to go the Crystal Empire on Sunday. Assuming you don't have anything too urgent here, I'd like for you to come with me," Rainbow told her. "I am bringing Sweetie Belle. I expect that Twilight and Spike will be joining us. I'll talk to her soon, but I'm hoping I can tell her whether or not you'll be there when I do."

"My first mev mission with you?" Applejack asked with a smile, her eyes wide in a quiet wonder. Her voice was small and quiet too, lips curled only slightly, but sincere nonetheless.

"Yeah," Rainbow replied with an equally sincere smile.

Applejack gave it some thought. "Yeah, Sunday's good. The rest of the family can take care of things here. I imagine Apple Bloom will want to come too, but we can't bring all of the crusaders every time, can we, huh?"

Rainbow shook her head. "They don't have a mission there this time. This is part of why Sweetie offered her services to me, so she could go on such trips. I'm sure the other two will be disappointed, but this is a job for us, not a vacation."

"Right, that makes sense," Applejack agreed. Then with playful grace, the earth pony mev put a hoof to her chest and spoke authoritatively, "Alright, Master Rainbow Dash, your Fyra would be most pleased to join you for this Crystal Empire mission." She bowed and smirked.

Rainbow smiled and bowed sincerely in turn. Then they hugged. Rarity smiled, catching that part of the scene from her distance.





That same afternoon, Starlight Glimmer sat toying with magic between reading books at the library in Twilight's castle.

"Starlight, there you are," said a familiar, airy voice of her close friend, Trixie. Though the two had seen each other since Starlight's entry into Rainbow's pack, it had been perhaps close to two and half weeks.

"Oh hi Trixie," Starlight said with a smile. "How have you been?"

"Looking for you," Trixie said with an annoyed air. "Every night I've come around hoping to find you since I got back in town Sunday, and every night, you haven't been here. Twilight and Spike won't tell me where you went, just that you've been busy. Did you move out or something?"

"Nope," Starlight said. "I was helping out a friend with something."

"Doing what?" Trixie asked.

"Hmm," Starlight stroked a hoof at her chin in thought. "You know, maybe I should go ahead and tell you."

"That would be nice," Trixie said dryly.

Starlight giggled. "It's kind of a long story, but I'll do my best. Have a seat," the lilac-coated unicorn gestured to comfortable looking chair across from where she at on a comfortable seat of her own. Trixie sat down and Starlight began, "So, Rainbow Dash turned into a vampire a few weeks ago."

"What?" Trixie asked, pausing as she had been removing her hat and cloak.

"I mean it. She really did. It's special type of vampire. She doesn't drink blood but actually eats magic instead," Starlight continued to explain.

Having finished discarding her attire, Trixie shuddered where she sat. "Even if that were true, for a unicorn with a lot of magic, you don't seem all too worried about it."

"I'm getting to that," Starlight told her. "The vampires that eat magic are actually called mevs, and there are two different types. Rainbow's the master type."

"And the other?" asked Trixie with growing suspicion, sensing where the conversation was going even if the thought hadn't fully formed in her head.

Starlight's eyes themselves seemed to light up with a touch of enjoyment as she said, "The other type is the fledgling. Masters and fledglings can exchange magic because that process is considered special enough to feed them both, and then nopony else gets hurt."

"Let me guess. You're one of her fledglings," Trixie said, sounding disbelieving and sarcastic, in part because she certainly hoped it wasn't true.

"Not just any fledgling," Starlight announced with a proud smile. "I am her first fledgling. I am her Primeva. And as Primeva, I have spent the last three nights covering for Princess Luna after Rainbow Dash ate her magic. Don't worry. She asked properly ahead of time like a good master mev should."

Trixie shifted her backside closer to the back of her chair with a look of mild repulsion. "Please tell me you're joking."

"Trixie, really. I'm not joking. But also really, it's not a bad thing. I actually really like my role in her pack. Master's awesome. Being Primeva is awesome. We're doing awesome work for the entire land. We are Team Awesome!" Starlight spoke with confidence and passion, two traits her blue unicorn friend found endearing in her.

However, as endearing as Trixie found them, she couldn't help noticing, "Did you just call her 'Master'?"

Starlight nodded with that same smile of enjoying this confession. "It's an instinct."

"Starlight...a vampire? Who serves a master vampire? Really? Don't you find that even a little creepy?" Trixie prodded.

"To be honest, no," Starlight admitted. "I actually thought being a part of making sure Rainbow doesn't go berserk a pretty good idea."

"What?!" asked a much more alarmed Trixie. "Don't you know what that word means?"

"Of course I do, which is why I'm doing my part to make sure it doesn't happen. If it helps, she's the only one who can go berserk. I'm the support. I can't go berserk, and I actually can't eat magic from you since I'm just a fledgling," Starlight explained. Then, recalling how Rainbow Dash bonded with Sweetie Belle and wishing to remain honest with her friend, she noted, "Well, not without some twisted setup where you would actually want that done anyway."

"I just can't believe how unbothered you are about it. I'm still hoping it's some kind of weird prank. Rainbow Dash likes to pull pranks, right?" Trixie wondered.

"She does, but this vampire thing is different, mostly. I mean, I guess you could consider her nocturnivlair a weird vampire prank," Starlight considered aloud.

"What's nocturnivlair?" Trixie asked.

"Let's just say that if you see Rainbow Dash cackling at night and hissing where her fangs are easy to see, it's really not something to worry over. She's either excited or showing off or trying to scare you but is not as threatening as she seems," Starlight explained.

"That's...interesting," Trixie thought.

"Well, anyway, that's where I've been. Master Rainbow Dash can summon me whenever, and she does because as Primeva, I have certain abilities she needs my help with. So if I go poof while we're just chatting, don't fret. It might just be a summon, and I'm helping her out. I'll teleport back as soon as I can," Starlight told her friend.

"Fine," Trixie relented. "But I don't see you having fangs, and you are out here during the day."

"I only grow fangs when we exchange magic or if maybe a certain job would call for them. Mevs can be out during the day. It's more like we've got different rules day and night," Starlight said. "Speaking of which, I may as well tell you that my Tuesday nights are pretty much filled up with my mev obligations to the pack. I won't be available those nights."

"Ugh, that sucks," Trixie remarked.

Starlight snickered at the pun.

"Hey, your cutie mark is glowing," Trixie noticed.

Sure enough, Starlight looked at her cutie mark to see copies of it float outward and glow as an alert for a friendship mission.

"A map summons," said an excited Starlight. She made her way to the throne room, Trixie trailing behind her, and then Starlight's excitement deflated. "Sires Hollow? Really?"

"Oh, I'm sorry Starlight," Trixie noted sympathetically. "Maybe you could skip it although isn't that Sunburst's cutie mark with yours?"

"Yup," Starlight confirmed. "Ugh."

"I have to agree. I finally found you, and you're being taken away from me again," Trixie remarked.

"Let's try and make time for when I get back," Starlight said. "The stuff happening with the pack actually doesn't involve me much at the moment. Assuming Master doesn't need me to go on a trip with her soon, I'm free. I'll check with her first chance I get. I know she's busy with a project of ours this afternoon, and I need to leave her be."

"Just what kind of projects would mevs even do?" Trixie asked.

"Reserve and manage magic. It's actually really cool. We're learning some super advanced stuff," Starlight told her.

"Well, at least that part's nice then. Do you have time to hang out before Sunburst gets here?" Trixie asked.

"Yes!" Starlight perked up. "Let's do that, and you can say hi to him before we go."

"Are you going to tell him about the vampire stuff?" Trixie asked.

"If I find a good opening, sure. You coming here made it easier since I actually had a reason to explain myself. Fledglings blend in more easily than masters, so it's kind of easy to avoid the topic," Starlight admitted. "But don't create an opening," she said sternly with a pointed hoof.

"As you wish, Pri-" Trixie started to say the mev title but Starlight put a hoof up to her mouth to stop her.

"Sorry," Starlight said with a weak smile as she set her hoof down. "It's a weird pack thing I know, but only Master is supposed to address me by my title. She gave it to me. You can refer to me in conversation that way to others but just stick to calling me by my pony name."

"Or what?" Trixie asked. "She's not going to go berserk over that, is she?"

"I certainly hope not," Starlight said. Upon a moment of further reflection, she quickly added, "I mean no, she's not. But seriously, don't. I mean, yeah, it's not the end of the world. It's just a matter of how it feels for us, part of this special bond we have. I don't want you to call me that either. Just Rainbow Dash and maybe the other fledglings though we really haven't tried."

Trixie sighed. "Can I at least call you 'number one' or 'first fledgling'? I'm just trying to use it in a friendly 'our bond' kind of way."

"Either one of those is fine," Starlight said with an agreeable nod.

"Alright. As you wish, Number One," Trixie said with a more appeased smile and playful bow before the two unicorns found time to chat about other matters, this time hanging out in Starlight's own room.

Twilight and Spike were around as well, tending to their usual duties. Eventually, Sunburst came bursting with enthusiasm that was equally deflated to Starlight's when he learned that he and Starlight were being summoned to Sires Hollow. It was their home where they each had unresolved tensions with a parent, Starlight with her father and Sunburst with his mother. He and Trixie exchanged pleasantries before the Sires Hollow bound unicorns left to work on the friendship summon. Trixie herself left the castle to take care of her own affairs.

As Starlight predicted, the topic of mevs was extremely easy to avoid the entire trip. The mission turned out to be addressing those parental tensions, which they managed and then rode the train back to Ponyville. Given the late time, Twilight offered Sunburst a place to stay for the night. With it being Wednesday, that meant Rainbow would be doing her flexchange with Fluttershy, so she wouldn't be stopping by to call attention to a visit either.

Starlight didn't feel right confessing her mev status without a prompt, as had happened with Trixie, so Sunburst left Ponyville on Thursday morning as ignorant to mevs living in that town as he was when he arrived on Wednesday afternoon.





Thursday mid-afternoon, Rainbow Dash approached Twilight in her office at the school and shut the door.

"Master?" Twilight asked, sensing that her friend was here on mev matters.

"Do you have time to talk about the Crystal Empire right now?" Rainbow asked.

Twilight set aside her scroll and quill at her desk. "I suppose I should make time."

"We can talk about it tomorrow if you need more time," Rainbow offered, "but I do want to go this Sunday with Applejack and Sweetie Belle. You and Spike are welcome to come along. In fact, I'm sure it would be expected given the reason I'm going. Still, I want to know what you plan to tell Cadance and Shining Armor. Fledglings can easily hide who and what they are in comparison to masters."

"This Sunday?" Twilight asked, checking a book of her schedule. Spike was off on a lunch break at the moment. "We're free. I'm guessing that's why you picked such a day."

Rainbow nodded. "A lot of ponies have more time off on the weekends. I have to work around Wonderbolts shows that do tend to happen on the weekends, but I'm usually free one of the days or the afternoon if we do a morning show."

Twilight took a deep breath. "What do you think I should do?"

"Honestly, I think you're already thinking you should tell them, so I think you should do it," Rainbow advised.

Twilight sighed. "It's just...hard. Like are they going to think I made the wrong decision? That I was too hasty. I know it's more like vampire lite compared to what you are, but still. I grow fangs once a week to exchange magic with a master vampire. If I tell my brother, does that mean I have to tell my parents? Have you told your parents?"

"No," Rainbow admitted. "Maybe one day I will, but I just don't see them often, and it is kind of weird, even if in my case, I didn't have much choice in the matter."

"Am I going to have to prove it to them?" Twilight questioned aloud. "I don't grow fangs whenever I want like you do, but if we go on a Sunday…"

"Now that would be awkward," Rainbow said.

"Is my niece going to be scared of me?" Twilight wondered.

Rainbow shook her head. "Very unlikely. I feel completely different around infants. They are too innocent to be preyed on, even when it comes to eating fear, and the ones I've encountered at Wonderbolts shows have treated me the same as before I transformed. If you're vampire lite compared to me, then that's really not going to be an issue."

Twilight straightened up in her seat at this news. "That is actually a relief. Okay. Spike and I are going with you. I'll have to tell Cadance and Shining Armor. I guess we should go with telling them about you first, then me? So, we should all be there together."

Rainbow nodded in agreement. "It sounds a bit crowded, but that's what needs to be done here. Applejack and Sweetie Belle won't have to be in the room."

"I agree. Same with Spike. Hopefully, Flurry Heart can be looked after out of the room too, in case you have to show the vampire form," Twilight decided.





On Friday afternoon, the CMC met at their clubhouse and as things tended to sometimes go, Sweetie Belle told her friends some of what she could about her service to Rainbow Dash.

"So, you get to go to the Crystal Empire and maybe possibly change form into an adult unicorn," Apple Bloom noted aloud as part statement and part question.

"Or a pegasus filly like me, all while also being charged with looking after Rainbow Dash's wing crown from the Best Young Fliers' Competition," Scootaloo added.

Sweetie nodded proudly.

"Whatever would you need any of those things for?" Apple Bloom asked. "They know who you are over there, I think. I mean, I know we're not Spike, but still."

"We did carry the flag at the Equestria Games. Somepony might remember that," Scootaloo added.

"Well, I certainly don't know about the forms," Sweetie admitted, "maybe they're for the places I haven't seen yet. We're going all over the world!" she jumped as she spoke excitedly. "In later weeks," she added more calmly. "Plus, they're super strict. I have to be with her, and she has to activate them. As for the wing crown, Master doesn't really know but trusts Starlight's suggestion that we have something like it ready to channel magic. We'll see what happens from there."

After a thoughtful pause at that, "I guess your plan really did work out how you wanted," Apple Bloom considered aloud. "I'd give anything to do this, except that I really wouldn't. You'll just have to do it in my stead. I'll be looking out for you and Applejack outside this 'circle' that Rainbow Dash has."

"It's too bad you can't go in and out of the circle," Scootaloo paced back and forth. "I'm super tempted, but I don't know if I could give myself the way you did, as much as I love Rainbow as a mentor and sister."

"It is a big commitment," Sweetie acknowledged. "I definitely have to work to do this stuff. But since we're all friends, I still get to see the two of you and tell you some things, and that's what I'll do when we get back. The small stuff."

The other two nodded. "Take in the sights for us too," Scootaloo urged, "if Master Rainbow Dash allows the time that is."
> Chapter 36 - Candid to Cadance to Crystal
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Rainbow Dash, Sweetie Belle, Applejack, Twilight Sparkle, and Spike arrived safely to the Crystal Empire on Sunday morning, just as everyone planned. The Equestrian party was escorted by Crystal Pony guards to the throne room to meet Princess Cadance and Shining Armor. Sunburst was also in attendance and charged with looking after Flurry Heart.

The princesses bowed to exchange pleasantries as officially as one would expect though before Cadance could say or do anything else, Twilight announced, "Master Rainbow Dash and I would like a word with the two of you, as in, just the two of you and the two of us, if we can."

At hearing the title, Sunburst's ears immediately perked up and he adjusted his glasses, starting to concentrate and remember something.

Rainbow flew over to Sweetie Belle's side, wherein Sweetie Belle magically pulled out a letter from Princess Celestia, with an additional signature from Princess Luna this time. The young unicorn levitated it over into Rainbow's grip.

Cadance and Shining Armor glanced at each other but nodded and led Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash to a smaller room in the castle, where every pony could sit comfortably on a reclining chaise lounge if they wished. Cadance did in fact choose to do so while Shining Armor chose to simply sit on his haunches close to his wife's side, at full attention.

Twilight paced for a few moments, staring up at her hovering master, before choosing a chaise lounge of her own.

Rainbow descended from her flapping hover and passed the scroll in Cadance's direction. The alicorn princess ruling the Crystal Empire opened it and read the contents. Her eyes widened as she did so, but she stayed quiet and read until its end. Shining Armor's reaction was more subtle but otherwise the same.

Finally, Cadance put the scroll aside. "A Master Mev?" she asked aloud.

Rainbow bowed as her instincts inclined her to do. "Yes, Your Highness."

"Can you tell us more?" Shining Armor asked. "We're glad you have Princess Celestia's and Princess Luna's approval, but vampires aren't something we know much about besides what we read or hear about in stories, and the closest thing I know of to a magic-eating vampire is Tirek."

"I'm not quite like him," Rainbow noted. She relayed much mev information on the nature of how her powers worked as she had done in the past before passing a turn to Twilight to speak.

Twilight smiled nervously at them. "There are two types of mevs. Rainbow Dash is the master type. The ponies she bonds with are another kind called a fledgling." She took a deep breath. "I am one of her fledglings, the last and sixth in her pack when we formed, Rexa. My title is a gift from my master for her to use to address or refer to me."

Shining Armor and Cadance looked at each other and at her, saying nothing for a long time. Finally, it was Shining Armor who said, "But everything's okay, right? You have this magic-eating business under  control. Nopony's been hurt."

"No one's magic has been taken without their explicit permission," Rainbow told them. "I have not physically harmed anyone, but I have and will use my powers to scare creatures to eat their fear should the occasion call for it. Rexa has not been a part of those times."

"Scared them? How?" Cadance asked.

"I could give you a demonstration with the understanding that it might scare you as well," Rainbow offered in a low voice with a tiny smile.

The husband and wife again looked at each other and then, "We're definitely curious," Shining Armor said.

Rainbow Dash gave them warnings about how the fear snare worked, promising their safety, cast it, and summoned Blitz. Her ghostly serpent pet performed her air-slithering circle with its ascension, tightening, and descent before she faded back into the floor.

"That's actually kind of a cool trick," Cadance admitted with a tiny excited smile of her own.

"I've grown quite fond of it as well," the master mev told her.

"Well," Shining Armor said, "this is certainly interesting and startling news, but we are glad to be friends with a creature of your character, Master Rainbow Dash. And Twily, don't worry. I can tell that you're still you and did this to help out one of your closest friends to keep other ponies safe."

Twilight breathed a huge sigh of relief and went to hug her family, soon followed by her more fun greeting with Cadance as they sang, "Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!" Rainbow watched with a pleased smile.

"Judging by this letter, your introduction involves more than the announcement of your existence," Cadance noted.

"It might," Rainbow admitted. "I would like permission to scout the Crystal Empire with Applejack and Sweetie Belle while Twilight spends time here with her family," Rainbow requested. "We have an interest in the magic here, but we won't be taking any without asking."

"I think I know what interests you," Cadance said, "and I'll give some time to think about it while you do your scouting. So, permission granted."





Applejack, Sweetie Belle, and Rainbow Dash stared upward at the Crystal Heart. Spike had left to enjoy his time as a regarded hero and enthrall those interested to hear his tales. Sunburst had left, saying he needed to find some research after Flurry Heart was back with her parents and aunt to spend time together. While crystal ponies were out and about, they were no strangers to the three ponies looking on at their prized relic, so they went about their day with little awareness and attention to the ensuing discussion.

"You want some of that?" Applejack asked, eyeing her surroundings to be sure no other ponies were within hearing range of the group. "How?"

"That's why we're here, Fyra. We need ideas," the master mev told her. Rainbow hovered in the air, studying the heart. She, too, kept a careful eye that no one was listening besides Sweetie Belle. "The simple thing is to get you and maybe Twilight to eat some but only a little bit. Just kind of stand off to the sides and suck in a tiny amount. Then I can eat it from you to run it through the central spot of the reserve we all host together."

"But you want to do something more complicated?" Sweetie wondered.

Rainbow smirked. "More like cooler, but I need a good reason and at the moment, I don't have one. It would be fun to use the crown, but that's not a good enough reason. For now, how about you draw the heart," she suggested. "You'll get some practice in on a simple shape, even if I can't add any flair to do this job."

Sweetie opened her saddlebag and obeyed, choosing to sit on her haunches, and gaze on at her reference.

"What would the reserved magic be used for?" Applejack asked.

"Mainly, a backup to prevent something like what happened before the Crystalling. In theory, that could be used to thaw other things if we've also got magic from a crystal pony in the reserve," Rainbow explained.

"How in the hay are we gonna get that?" Applejack wondered, clearly flummoxed, still managing to see their conversation was safe from eavesdropping.

"We ask," the master mev said. "I give the reasons I just said. If they decline, they decline. The Crystal Empire's gone this long without a plan. They might continue."

"Can you actually bite a crystal pony? They are different," Applejack considered.

Rainbow rubbed a hoof up to her chin. "I think I'd be able to. Hey! Maybe I can actually change up my teeth a little. I hardly ever do it. That would be cool."

Applejack rolled her eyes, but it was in a friendly half-smile sort of way.

"How's this, Master?" Sweetie offered up her scribble.

"Good. You're getting better. You bring anything to color it with?" Rainbow asked.

The unicorn filly nodded.

"Color it too," Rainbow told her.

Sweetie did as told.

"Okay, how about this," Applejack offered. "A solid magic artifact like this should have something solid as well instead of just its magic in the reserve, right? Ain't it like super ancient, so you need to handle it carefully and all. You've got Sweetie looking after that tiny piece of pearl. Maybe she could look after a tiny piece of Crystal Heart too, if we can somehow get it without damaging the thing. Like if we ever need to replace or replenish, it's better to come from something solid we make while we take care of it."

Rainbow lips curled upward into a very pleased smile. "Perfect," she said. "That is a good reason. Now I definitely got something cooler and yes, more complicated, and we get to use the crown! If Cadance lets us move forward with what I have in mind."

"Here it is, Rainbow," Sweetie showed her completed drawing.

"Good! Hold onto it. We might actually use it, and you'll see why I'm having you learn this." The master mev was vibrant in her voice and forceful in her gestures, renewed energy guiding her to make Applejack's suggestion real.

At that point, Sunburst approached, and he looked very agitated. "What are you doing?" he asked, almost as if to accuse the group.

"Oh hi Sunburst," Applejack greeted him. "We're just talking shop over here. Did you already finish your research?"

"Master?" he asked to the air as sincerely as he could muster despite his frustrations.

Rainbow bowed from where she hovered in respect of the troubled effort. "Crystaller Sunburst."

He tried to narrow his eyes and get a good look at her, but all he could see was the same sky blue pegasus he had always known. He looked at the other two, who also looked as normal as ever. He gulped. "The Master Mev?" he asked.

Sweetie and Applejack nervously glanced in Rainbow's direction.

Rainbow smiled. "Can I help you?" was all she offered with her playful grin.

Sunburst looked at the heart, at her, at her servants, and at the crystal ponies, some of whom were now paying closer attention to the scene than before. "May I speak with you inside?" he managed.

Rainbow glanced around the same as he did before nodding as well. "Certainly."

Sunburst led the trio to his study at the castle itself. Applejack stood guard at the door to watch the scene from inside the room. Sweetie meanwhile stood protectively at Rainbow's side, wearing her saddlebags containing her freshly completed drawing of the Crystal Heart.

Sunburst sat at a desk, staring at some notes sitting by a red-bound book that Rainbow and Sweetie knew, and Applejack had at least heard mention of many times. At last he turned his seat to look at Rainbow Dash. "You are a master mev, correct?" He was much calmer and more curious from the review of his notes. The Crystal Heart was safe for now.

"That is correct," Rainbow told him.

"When did it happen?" Sunburst inquired.

"Weeks ago," Rainbow answered. "A little over four weeks ago."

"Do you have a pack? Is Starlight or Twilight in it?" he questioned further.

"I have a full pack," Rainbow replied. "No names yet, Crystaller Sunburst."

Sunburst nodded. "I guess I can understand that. So, what are you planning to do with the Crystal Heart?"

"You've got the book," Rainbow gestured. "I plan to do my job."

"Can I watch?" Sunburst asked. "Whatever it is you end up doing. Would it be alright to see it?"

Rainbow gave that question serious consideration. "If you can help me have it arranged so that the curtain used for the Crystalling can also be used for what I plan to do, yes, you can watch." She smiled sincerely. "It's gonna be awesome."

Sweetie looked up with quiet interest at that promise, recalling how eager Rainbow became before Sunburst arrived at the scene.

"I'll certainly see what I can do," the unicorn stallion agreed.

"Good. First, I need talk to Princess Cadance about that and a couple of other things. Let's go check on them," she suggested to every pony in the room.





Rainbow and Cadance walked side by side in a secluded hallway of the castle for the Crystal Empire. "Well, I'm ready to hear what you have in mind, Master Rainbow Dash."

"Three things. Magic from you, magic from a crystal pony, and magic from the Crystal Heart," Rainbow said bluntly.

Cadance paused. "I'm not sure I'm okay with that. You wish to eat my magic? Why?"

"To reserve it for if you need it later. The magic I take now, or whenever is convenient for you to let me eat it, develops and grows over time so if I do need to return it to you, you'll have what you need to return to your standard amount," Rainbow explained. "Not to mention alicorn magic really is delicious."

Cadance blushed without comment.

Rainbow continued, "You'd have it back in three days instead of seven, and it might help me with the stuff I have in mind for the other two."

Cadance gulped. "Why a crystal pony? It would be difficult to find a volunteer."

"Crystal ponies power the Crystal Heart," Rainbow answered. "If I have magic from both, that makes it easier to reserve magic for the Crystal Empire. What if the heart ever shatters again? And what if it doesn't happen at the same time as a Royal Crystalling? I am one giant backup plan, Your Highness, and I'm offering to let you in on that."

Cadance nodded. She understood that match. 

Rainbow added, "As a little bonus, I do believe with enough time in the reserve, the combined power would give my team the ability to thaw…well, anything we find that might need a magical type of thawing."

"I suppose that would be a useful power," Cadance admitted. "But how would you go about eating the magic from the Crystal Heart? We need it to protect the empire now as it is. It has to remain intact."

Rainbow's eyes twitched with an excited smile. "Let me tell you what I've got in mind. Here's what I'm thinking…a serious team effort..."
> Chapter 37 - The Case of a Special Heart
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Sunburst, Princess Cadance, and Shining Armor stared at the scene of three Awesomevs, one assistant, and one Rhezenda as they prepared to do a difficult task that required coordination and effort from each and every one of them. As Rainbow Dash had requested, a curtain surrounded them all.

Sweetie Belle stood off to the right side of the heart, clutching her drawing pad with the image she had created not too long ago. Applejack stood to the left side. Twilight and Spike were to Applejack's own right and a bit in front of the heart from the view of the rulers and Crystaller of the empire.

Directly in front of the Crystal Heart, Rainbow's wing crown stood alone on the ground. Rainbow Dash herself hovered directly above the heart to survey the positions she had laid out for her servants and Spike.

"Okay, let's make sure everyone remembers their part in this," Rainbow announced. "Princess Cadance will be retrieving a small shard from the heart for us, and she's given me permission to do some extra things for the shard that we both hope will make for a better backup than the just the one shard itself."

Cadance nodded. Sunburst adjusted his glasses to listen intently since he was not present for earlier planning. Shining Armor stood and listened as well.

"Applejack is going to eat all the magic from the shard Princess Cadance gets," Rainbow explained.

Cadance nodded again, and Applejack added her nod to indicate she too understood her part.

"Then Applejack's going to set the shard down on the ground right there." The master mev gestured to the empty space on the ground between her crown and Sweetie Belle. "She'll come back around where she's standing now to stay out of the way of the other stuff happening there soon."

Again, the master's Fyra nodded.

"This is where it gets a little more involved. After that, Applejack's going to channel that magic she ate into me. My body is the central point of Team Awesome's reserve, so we want the magic we work with to go through there and mix and strengthen with all the other magic we keep on hoof, even just the traces left behind by magic stored in the other parts," Rainbow explained.

At that, everyone nodded and waited for her to continue.

"Then I'm channeling the magic I've just consumed into the crown," Rainbow pointed at it next. "Then I'm going to activate Sweetie Belle's adult unicorn form because it will give her a mev magic boost."

Sunburst raised his hoof. "How does that work exactly? She's not a fledgling of yours, is she? Master mevs won't bite children."

"That's right, we won't. I dare say we can't. So no, she's not a fledgling," Rainbow replied, "but she does have some of my mev magic. We have a bond even if it's not a master and fledgling bond. This is a special kind of bond that's not in the red book about mevs. I don't know if other master mevs had a servant like my Rhezenda in the past. The point is, she's got some mev magic in her, and I can give it a little something extra because I can activate this form. I'll be using chaos-mev magic to do that."

"Oh wow," Sunburst muttered.

The master mev continued, "I'm giving Sweetie a boost because then she's going to channel her own unicorn magic and the boosted mev magic into her drawing of the heart. Thankfully, it's a simple shape, as are these crystals that hold it in place."

"Why is that important?" Sunburst was still curious.

"You'll see," Rainbow assured him. "After I've activated the adult unicorn form and while Sweetie is channeling her magic, I am going to wear that crown and channel the magic I put into it into the shard Applejack set down earlier. Typically, the channeling with objects is done by my fledglings, but this crown has a special connection with me as a pegasus and with this particular job we're about to do, will soon have a special connection with me as a master mev. The magic being channeled into the drawing will then automatically meet with the magic from the crown into the shard. And then if that goes well, we're all going to see something special."

Everyone smiled and nodded, eager to see, though most of them could reasonably guess given the equation of the magic elements involved.

"Princess Cadance, if you would start us off, please," Rainbow said.

Cadance nodded, flapped her wings, and approached the heart. She concentrated on her own magic and retrieved a small shard, magically molding the rest of the heart to seal and heal itself, undeterred. She flew down and then held it in her hoof, standing by Applejack.

The orange earth pony mev licked her lips with interest and then opened her mouth to suck a small stream of magic energy into her. The others present at the scene managed to see her fangs. At last, the stream ended, and Applejack tipped her hat a bit to indicate her feeding was done. Cadance passed her the shard now devoid of Crystal Heart magic and with meager traces of master mev magic. Applejack set it down as directed moments ago before standing in her designated spot. She opened her mouth again and blew a stream of magic in Rainbow's direction.

Rainbow, still hovering and flapping her feathered wings in place in front of the relic heart, opened her mouth to a small gap as she took the magic into her. It was like a distant, airy kiss between the two mevs. Sweetie Belle was mesmerized. Her lips parted slightly in awe as her heart beat loudly in her chest at being allowed to see the intimate vampiric transfer, even if there was no biting this time. The connection displayed was simply beautiful and while the other outsiders and Twilight may not have read the same stories she did, they did marvel and recognize that something special was taking place. The stream ended, and after a few seconds of flapping wings and a moment to let the magic sit in her, Rainbow sent the magical kiss she just received up into the air where it automatically streamed downward into the crown on the ground. When Rainbow felt ready, that the relic stream finished its journey, her eyes turned to their red-on-yellow chaos form.

Sweetie Belle felt her body grow as the mev magic activated in her. She stared at her cutie mark to see that not only was her music note red, it shimmered. She would have to ask about that later because now it was her turn. She concentrated and channeled the mix of unicorn and mev magic inside her into the drawing.

Rainbow Dash flew down to pick up her crown and placed it on her head to wear, standing not far from Sweetie Belle. The red in her eyes shimmered as she activated her own magic to channel a stream from the crown to the dormant shard. As predicted, the magic from the drawing was attracted to the magic in the shard, meeting with the magic from the crown.

Everyone but the Master Mev and Rhezenda working on the streams looked on in anticipation and wonder. A bright flash of light later, the phase was complete. On the ground stood a miniature Crystal Heart, along with two miniature crystals above and below it, all held together in place, just like the much larger relic and its crystal placeholders.

Sweetie Belle's body had already returned to its proper filly state, and Rainbow's to her typical day pegasus form. The young Rhezenda's eyes lit up and a hesitant smile started to form. "Master, we did it," she uttered in amazement. She wanted so badly to rush over and hug Rainbow and chatter away at their accomplishment, but she knew it would have to wait. Though her part was done, the job was not finished.

Rainbow eyed the little heart and placeholders closely from where she stood to inspect the whole of them together while still wearing her crown, just in case anything extra needed to be done. The others present gathered around to see it as well.

"That's amazing," Sunburst stated, speaking for everyone. "With this, you have a true physical backup in case something happens to the physical heart."

"It's so cute," Shining Armor murmured through near-trembling tears forming in his eyes.

"A job well done, Master Rainbow Dash," Cadance said as she gently pat her husband's backside in comfort.

"It sure is a beauty," Applejack agreed with the outsiders. "I'm certainly proud to have done my part. Heh, being a part-time vampire does have its rewards," she remarked.

"Part-time?" Sunburst asked. He had figured out enough that Applejack was a fledgling, but it was his first chance to make conversation about it.

"I, good sir, am Fyra, number four of Master Rainbow Dash's pack, Team Awesome. Much obliged," she said respectfully as she put her hat to her chest proudly and respectfully.

Sunburst was breathless for a moment before uttering back, "Likewise. This is impressive work." He glanced over to Twilight who had been noticeably quiet but smiling as she stared at the heart. Spike stood close to her side as he often was. The purple alicorn looked up long enough from the heart to see the exchanged words between himself and Applejack. She met his eyes but remained quiet and smiling before she looked at the small heart again.

"Our part is next then, Master?" Twilight asked.

"Right," Rainbow Dash nodded. "Alright, show's over for phase 1. Rexa and Spike are going to do phase 2."

"There's more?" Sunburst asked with wide curious eyes, barely registering the unfamiliar title in use.

Rainbow rubbed her hooves together. "You bet. This is going to be special too." She removed her crown at last and wiped the front red, orange, and yellow scrappy scraps of her rainbow mane for a moment before returning the crown to Sweetie's care. The unicorn filly smiled widely with hopeful eyes, and Rainbow gave a small smile back before she had to return to the work still in progress. "Alright, I need everyone but me, Spike, and Twilight to back away some. Give us some air."

The others obeyed.

With an air of ceremony, Rainbow began, "Spike here has saved the Crystal Empire twice. The crystal ponies revere him, and they revere the heart. Our dragon friend even has a title in 'Spike the Brave and Glorious' with this place. Put simply, Spike is the Crystal Empire's protector and as its protector, he's going to help us protect this smaller heart." She paused and looked at him. 

Spike smiled enthusiastically and nodded before he readied himself to give a more subdued, gracious bow. "Yes, Master Rainbow Dash. I am ready when you are."

Rainbow picked up the small heart crystal set and placed it into her friend's claws. "You're going to hold onto that, and you're going to focus your energy, your thoughts, your memories of being that protector while you hold it."

Spike closed his eyes and did as she said. White energy surrounded the object in his grasp, seeming to emanate from out of his heart.

"Rexa," Rainbow said.

Twilight lifted herself into the air to flap her wings and concentrated magenta magic shot out of her horn with a determined expression. A vertical rectangular purple prism formed around the white energy and a few seconds later, the miniature heart was encased in what appeared to be clear glass panels pieced together with black frames holding the panels together. Rainbow's magenta eyes flashed red-on-yellow for a moment, a moment so small and brief that Sunburst would have missed it if he were not trying so hard to not miss anything. The rectangular prism case, with the newly created miniature heart inside, fell to the ground with a clink, and nothing broke. 

Sunburst adjusted his glasses. "You shielded it?" he asked.

"That we did," Twilight said with a smile as Rainbow Dash picked up the case to inspect it. The purple alicorn of the group continued, "My spell is a basic unicorn spell to create the encasement that we can all see. Alone, it is as fragile as it looks and could shatter on impact as one would expect from regular glass. But, what we've done today is re-enforced it with Spike's friendship magic and a little extra re-enforcement from Rainbow's own chaos-mev magic. 

"Normally, chaos magic alone has temporal limitations. The case would lose its strength over enough time and distance from the one who cast the magic. Chaos-mev magic does not have that limitation if the master casts the magic in service of her pack."

"But this isn't for her pack, is it? It's for the Crystal Empire," Sunburst remarked.

"Spike is a friend to both the Crystal Empire and to our entire pack," Twilight pointed out.

"So, you are in the pack," Sunburst noted.

Twilight smiled pleasantly. "I am."

"Sorry. Go on," Sunburst understood his alicorn friend had more to explain.

"Not only do we have the friendship to Spike, but we formed the pack specifically for this kind of work, so even if not in direct service of the pack, as in something the master did for her fledglings or herself, it is in service to the pack's work. You combine that with Spike's friendship, which is doing most of the protection really, and our own friendship to the empire, such as having permission to do this at all, the chaos-mev magic will hold up. It needed something extra, and we have that," Twilight explained.

"Even so," Rainbow added, "the little heart is coming with us. It will be in our care until it is needed, if it is ever needed."

"Wow," Sunburst thought.

"Oh Twily," Shining Armor hugged his sister. Twilight, of course, hugged him back.

"This was truly an impressive show of power," Cadance said. "I'm in awe of all of you."

"Thank you, Princess Cadance," Rainbow said. "I would advise giving this special heart a name. It is from the Crystal Heart but not the active Crystal Heart. It is born anew. Something of love, perhaps, given its shape, origin, and your own cutie mark magic as ruler of this empire."

Cadance nodded, a small tear forming in one of her eyes. She took a few seconds to think it over, recalling names and words she knew as an alicorn princess of love. "Amara," she finally said. "We'll name her Amara. I can give it a gender too, yes?"

The heart itself from within the case seemed to shimmer as if in approval. Rainbow nodded with an equally approving, quiet smile.

Cadance wiped her tear away. "If I might have a word with just you, Master," she said.

Rainbow Dash nodded, and the two of them made some distance away from the others who chatted together more on the magical feat they'd just seen and done.

"Thank you so much for the mini-heart. She really is beautiful, and I do hope we never have need of it, but it is such a comfort to have," Cadance said.

"A pleasure to be of service," Rainbow replied. "I take it you have answers for my other requests."

Cadance nodded. "My answer to you is 'not today.' I will do what is in my power to find a good three days where I feel more comfortable with your request of my own magic. I will have to work with Shining Armor and perhaps Sunburst now that he knows of you to figure out how we could possibly ask one of our citizens to give up their magic for a week. You'll be coming back sometime, won't you?"

"Certainly," Rainbow said with a smile. "I visited before as a friend, and I'd like to keep doing that and as a master mev."

"When you do visit, do you think it would be okay to bring Amara with you, just so that we can see her?" Cadance asked.

"I think that's a good idea actually. Some friendship connection magic might grow from stuff like that," Rainbow remarked. "You've been most gracious, Your Highness."

"Thank you, Rainbow Dash. While I've gathered from Twilight how much master mevs try to be respectful and are respected, I'd like it very much if you would just call me 'Cadance' when it's just you and me, outside of the expected formalities in a throne room. I'll still call you 'Master' sometimes of course because I know of the word's power with you."

"You've got yourself a deal, Cadance," said Rainbow with a proud smile. She offered a hoof, and Cadance gave her a hug. Rainbow smiled at that too, patting her forelimb to Cadance, feeling she had enriched a friendship in her time at the Crystal Empire.
> Chapter 38 - The Heartfelt Gift of Flame
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







"Here you are, Rhezenda," Rainbow said, holding the special heart case with a hoof, moving it closer to Sweetie Belle. "What did I tell you?" the master mev said with a smile. "Your drawing is what helped us mold this Amara into a proper shape. I promise you the outsiders' appreciation for that will only add to the magic."

Sweetie beamed as she took the case into a telekinetic field to guide it into her saddlebags. "Yes, you did, Master." Her tail flicked back and forth. "So, the idea is that if I get good, we can do something like this for other relics?"

"Sure, but it goes a little beyond that too. The idea is that we can create, bend, and mold physical items to what we think is needed, or in the case here, optimal, for a job. I could not have done this work as a pegasus, and it's best that when we try to use chaos magic, to not rely on it too heavily and instead join it up with other types like we did here," Rainbow explained.

"Wow, it is definitely motivating now that I've seen what this new kind of mixed magic can do," Sweetie said.

"And you have a new object to look after at home," Rainbow reminded her. "One of the reasons I wanted this case is so that I'll feel comfortable enough to put it in that trunk."

Sweetie nodded. "Hey, Master…" she started.

"Yes?" Rainbow Dash inquired.

"When you activated my adult unicorn form, my musical note wasn't just red. It was shimmering, like how your eyes sometimes do. Why did that happen?" Sweetie asked.

Rainbow stared at her with a warm smile. "I'm casting magic for you to cast magic. I use the shimmer to signify to others that my magic is active or for dramatic effect. This was magic casting. I don't have a unicorn horn like you do. By now, I could probably grow one if I wanted, but I like having my special eyes. They've got vampire flair. Anyway, point is, it's an indication that me, and in turn you, because of the bond and assignment thing we have going on, are casting magic, doing our work. Cool, huh?"

Sweetie nodded with a smile. "Very."

She hugged Rainbow's forelimb from the ground. "I wanted to hug you so badly earlier, Master. I'm so proud of us."

Rainbow blushed and stroked the filly's mane. "I would have liked that and am proud too, but you made the right decision. I needed to focus to get this case done too."

"Is every job going to feel this awesome?" Sweetie asked.

"Hah, wouldn't that be something? I honestly don't know. All I can tell you is that so far, it's just like I said before. I'm having loads of fun with this stuff," Rainbow answered.

"Me too," Sweetie agreed. "How much of all this fun can I tell Apple Bloom and Scootaloo?"

Rainbow Dash's expression grew thoughtful as she met eyes with Applejack and Twilight Sparkle, respectively. The other two mevs looked at her with warm, hopeful smiles of their own.





"They're here!" said a delighted Apple Bloom hopping place.

Scootaloo fluttered up in place as well. "Finally!"

The train arrived, and a door swished open to reveal Twilight and Spike first. Soon, after Applejack stepped out. "Applejack!" Apple Bloom exclaimed running to nuzzle with her sister.

"Hey there sugarcube," her older sister greeted.

Finally, Rainbow Dash and Sweetie Belle stepped down too, Sweetie carrying her important saddlebags with items of interest.

"Master Rainbow Dash! Sweetie Belle!" the two fillies exclaimed at the same time.

"Hi girls," Sweetie said.

"Are you coming over with us to the clubhouse before you go home?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Actually," Applejack interjected, "we thought the two of you might want to join the five of us at Twilight's castle for a short while. Then I'll escort you girls home right around sunset."

"Us? Really?" asked an excited Scootaloo.

Sweetie nodded quietly and seriously.

"Of course we'd want to!" Apple Bloom declared. "Then you can tell us how the trip went, right?"

"We'll see about that," the older earth pony sister said, "but we need to get a move on."





At the throne room of the castle, Rainbow, Twilight, Spike, and Applejack sat at their designated thrones. Since it was not a pack meeting, Rainbow advised Sweetie simply sit in Starlight's throne. Scootaloo chose Rainbow's other side and sat in Fluttershy's seat. Apple Bloom sat in Rarity's.

"Now can you tell us?" Scootaloo hoped.

"Soon," Applejack told them, "but you got to listen to Rainbow first."

They directed their attention to the master mev in question.

"This is privileged information," Rainbow told them. "You cannot tell anyone else about this. Do you understand? If the three of you are going to talk about it, and I know you will, you've go to do it in your clubhouse with no one else around or, of course, here with us now."

"And with Applejack at home if it's just the two of us?" Apple Bloom hoped.

Rainbow nodded though her expression remained stern as she did.

"We promise!" Apple Bloom and Scootaloo said in unison.

"Alright then," the master mev relaxed and glanced over to her left. "Rhezenda, if you would do the honors."

Sweetie smiled and she used her unicorn magic to open her saddlebag at her side on the floor to lift the miniature heart in its case and set it on the center of the table for everyone to see.

"Oh, it's a little heart," Apple Bloom said with a charmed smile.

"Is that it?" Scootaloo asked as if mildly disappointed.

"This isn't just any little old heart," Applejack informed them. "It's made from a shard of the actual Crystal Heart relic in the Crystal Empire fused with our own mev reserving preserving magic into it. She's even got a name from Princess Cadance herself. This is Amara. And that case she's in is downright unbreakable. Not only that, but...well, maybe it's best I not rain on Sweetie's parade. Why don't tell your friends about your part in how it was made, sugarcube?"

"Check this out," Sweetie said, and she used her magic to show the colored drawing she created.

"Hey, that looks just like...wait…" Scootaloo realized.

"Ya'll made that little heart by using Sweetie's artwork?" Apple Bloom asked in amazement.

"I got to use my adult unicorn form too," Sweetie told them. "It's got a special connection to Master's mev magic, so it gave me an extra boost for my part in the whole thing."

"Just what was the whole thing?" the earth pony filly wanted to know.

Twilight glanced Rainbow's way with an eager smile and clapping front hooves. Rainbow nodded to indicate it was perfectly fine for her Rexa to explain both phases of the entire process. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo listened intently trying to understand following one channeled stream into the next. During the explanation, Apple Bloom rose from her seat and sat on the table close to her sister while listening to Twilight.

"So, is it like you," Scootaloo said referring to Rainbow Dash, "can't eat magic from relics but the fledglings can?"

"Actually, I think I could," Rainbow admitted, "but having a fledgling do it instead to help me is better. Like way better. With a full pack, I really shouldn't be eating directly from a relic. There's a specialty in the transfer, just like there is in an exchange. All of us working together is part of what makes Amara special compared to me just sucking some amount of the Crystal Heart itself all on my own and storing it in my body."

Twilight nodded. "It's my theory that mev packs had a very advanced understanding of friendship magic in conjunction with other magic compared to even what my group of friends have done before we were a mev pack with the Elements of Harmony, the Tree of Harmony, our journal, this castle, all of it. Maybe the land even gave Rainbow her powers as a next phase or upgrade for our group."

"That'd be so cool," Scootaloo thought aloud.

"Does Applejack get some kind of cool crystal power like how Pinkie has a mirror pool copy?" Apple Bloom queried from where she sat on the table.

"That remains to be seen," Rainbow told them. "It would certainly make sense, but you have to remember, Pinkie already copied herself before we bonded with Penny. It was sort of an established power of its own. I just redirected it in a way to serve our work. Applejack doesn't have much connection to crystal beyond what the rest of us do, except that she ate from that shard and helped me to give it back today. If something does happen, it might take longer to find out what it is. And even then, something might not happen. We're all kind of wanting or hoping that Fyra gets fire, aren't we?" Rainbow said with a playful smile.

"Can fledglings pick?" Apple Bloom asked, standing herself upright. Then she turned to her older sister, "What kind of power would you want if you could, Applejack? Crystal or fire?"

"Heh, you got me, sugarcube. I don't know. They both sound mighty fine. I guess whatever would be more useful to Master and the work we do,"Applejack admitted.

"Oh that's no fun," said the younger sister spinning about in a small couple of hops before facing Applejack again. She sat down on her haunches once more, gesturing emphatically with her forelimbs as she continued, "Fantasize for a minute. What if it wasn't work? What if you could just do some magic thing you can't do as an earth pony?"

Applejack rubbed her hoof to her chin and stared upward in contemplation. "Call me 'simple' but yeah, doing something with fire as Fyra is something I'd like very much."

In response, from within the case standing on the table, the small crystal heart shot a tiny white horizontal line a few inches away and then a small orange wisp of flame formed outside the strong encasement. Numerous pairs of eyes widened. One little yellow-coated filly gasped as she stood once more, clearing herself from the space between the flame and her sister, this time moving closer to her own empty seat that was Rarity's throne. "Look, Applejack! The heart's giving you fire!"

Indeed, the small flame levitated its way to stop right in front of Applejack seated at the table. "Master?" she asked and looked up with apprehensive eyes to ask Rainbow what it meant.

Rainbow smiled. "She's right. It means Amara wants to help you, to give you the power you want. Put your hooves around the bottom like it's offered food and then eat it. It is magic. And you are a mev."

Team Awesome's Fyra did as instructed, and her entire body felt warm. She burped a tiny orange flame. She put her right hoof up to her mouth and found the fire did not burn when she tried to settle it. Then she looked at Rainbow Dash. "Now what? How do I...use it?"

Rainbow looked at her, at the heart, then at Spike. 

The small dragon blinked curiously at her. "What?"

Rainbow looked to her side at her Rhezenda. "Sweetie, get me some parchment," she ordered. "Roll it up like a scroll and then pass it to Applejack."

The unicorn filly did as asked, and many at the table were now guessing what would happen next.

"Blow on that scroll as if you're Spike sending a letter to Princess Celestia," Rainbow commanded.

Applejack gave a small blow, and sure enough the scroll was set on fire turning to ash that fell on the table. The ash itself soon faded away.

"Whoa!" Spike said, looking at it.

"Boy howdy, would you look at that?" Applejack clutched at her hat with a tickled smile, "I can breathe fire like a dragon, haha! How do you like them apples?"

"You did it! You really got fire power!" Apple Bloom said hopping about in excitement.

Twilight herself was now rubbing her hoof to her chin, studying everything she saw Rainbow looking at a moment earlier. "Master, could you tell us all what happened just now?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Apple Bloom said. "Applejack got fire power!"

Twilight giggled. "I know that, but I'm curious to know how. I'm pretty sure I know what happened, I'm just hoping Rainbow can confirm."

"I don't get it," Apple Bloom said. "What else is there?"

"She means she wants me to say that Applejack can breathe fire like a dragon because Spike is a dragon. He is the dragon whose friendship magic is protecting the heart. The heart has access to that power," the master mev explained.

"Whoa, for real?" Scootaloo asked.

"I could do that?" Spike asked, pointing at himself innocently.

"And I do thank you kindly," Applejack told him.

"Oh," he blushed, rubbing one of his cheeks. "It was nothing."

"See," Twilight said. "This is what I meant by advanced friendship magic. It's all connected together, and every step we took had to be genuine in the hope of helping the Crystal Empire. Rainbow wanted to use the crown, but she knew she shouldn't until she had a proper reason to do so. Once Applejack gave one, we were all able to pull together to create this special heart, Amara, here and the case to protect her."

"Does it matter that the color is different?" Scootaloo asked. "Spike's fire is green, but Applejack's fire is orange."

Rainbow answered, "Hmm. Amara was created with the help of both of them, and Applejack's coat is orange. Maybe it's optional like my own appearance magic. When I transform, it's mev magic so doesn't take from the reserve. Pinkie's power with Penny doesn't take from the reserve either, so it's also mev magic. I'm willing to bet that this fire for Applejack is mev magic that doesn't take from the reserve too. We used multiple points of mev magic to create this special heart and the case for it. The fire can probably be summoned as often as Fyra wants."

"Can I try?" Applejack asked. "I don't want to go burning down the castle or nothing."

"Blow it out to linger like the flame Amara gave you, then try to suck it back in this time instead of burning a specific physical thing," Rainbow commanded. "You're summoning a temporary flame. I don't think it can get as big as the fire Spike can do when he really tries."

As predicted, the orange flame hovered in place, not burning anyone or anything. It stretched itself as far is it could into a pony shape like Applejack herself until it looked like it could stretch no further.

"Move it around a little in the air with your heart in where you want it to go," Rainbow suggested.

The flame pony moved to Applejack's left, then up a little bit, then right in front of the orange earth pony mev. She smiled at it before closing her eyes to call it back into herself. "Oh my stars," she uttered.

Apple Bloom hugged her. "My sister's a fiery Fyra indeed!" She stopped. "That one was alright, right Master Rainbow Dash?"

Rainbow smiled. "Yes, that was fine."

"Can you do it as a green flame this time?" Scootaloo asked.

"It's worth a shot," Applejack decided. She repeated the process, and it was indeed optional as Rainbow guessed it might be. "How kind of the mev magic to let us play with such gifts," the earth pony remarked. She looked over at the small crystal heart in its case on the table. "Thanks very much, Amara."

A subtle diagonal shimmer passed over the heart in response to say that the earth pony was welcome.
> Chapter 39 - Reading Alicorn Desire
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







"You know," Apple Bloom said to Applejack from her perch on top of the map table, "I really do think it's about time you told Big Mac and Granny Smith. It don't got to be about Amara but this vampire thing? They noticed that Rainbow Dash stopped by the last two Friday nights for a few minutes. Even if you start to switch it up, where you go see her, they're going to figure out that every Friday night, you two are getting together for something that don't take long. And with you being able to breathe fire, I mean...that'd be kinda useful around the farm or the house, cooking and such. They'd have a right to know that you got some of this extra magic that you get to use whenever you want."

Applejack half-frowned, and a light blush flushed her cheeks. "I just don't know, sugarcube. I'm a mite embarrassed by it all."

"How long have you been a mev now?" Apple Bloom asked.

"A little over three weeks," the elder sister admitted. She sighed. "Master, I don't suppose you got any opinion on this?" she asked.

"Go with your gut," Rainbow said. Her magenta eyes took a glance at Amara. "Or your heart. What feels right to you?"

"I agree with Rainbow, if that helps any," Twilight offered.

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo gave quiet smiles and nods that they agreed.

"Telling them, I guess. I won't be able to prove I get fangs sometimes, but I suppose I can show the fire breath. That might actually be kinda funny." Applejack smiled and lightened her mood at the thought of that. "You'll back me up?" she asked Apple Bloom.

Apple Bloom blinked and nodded with a sincere smile. "Of course, Big Sis. What are little sisters for?"

Scootaloo took her own small glance at Rainbow Dash, who was intently watching the two earth ponies with an endeared smile of her own.

"Well, alright then. Let's all of us get a move on," Applejack decided. "Come on you three. Sweetie, you're staying with your parents tonight, right?"

"Yes," Sweetie Belle said. She looked at Rainbow Dash.

"We're leaving the crown and Amara with Twilight here for a couple of days since we'll show them off at the pack meeting anyway," Rainbow reminded her. "Do you need the bags themselves?"

Sweetie nodded and removed the crown, setting it by Rainbow Dash. Amara was still resting in the center of the table. The unicorn filly gave Rainbow a quick nuzzle. Pleased, the master mev pat her mane in response. Sweetie Belle then went to join up with Applejack. Scootaloo, feeling that she should do something as well, gave Rainbow a hug, and for that, she felt the warmth of a right wing return the embrace. "See you later Big Sis," Scootaloo said with a warm smile.

Rainbow smiled back. "You too, Little Sis."

With that, Applejack and the Cutie Mark Crusaders left the castle.

"Well, I know that's my cue to go find something else to do," Spike remarked. "I'll be taking care of things in the kitchen and then my room in case either of you need my help with anything." Spike knew this Sunday night would likely go undisturbed, but as the resident assistant of the castle, he made sure to note he was available nonetheless. He hopped down from his seat.

"Spike the Brave and Glorious," Rainbow said.

Spike blinked and paused to glance the master mev's way. "Yes?"

"Thank you for all you did today. It was a big help," Rainbow told him. She offered him a hoof bump, and he smiled sincerely to claw bump back.

"A pleasure, Master Rainbow Dash. Alright. I'm outta here." And with that, the young purple dragon skittered off.

As he closed the door, Twilight Sparkle squealed in delight. "Master! WE DID IT!!! We did it! We did it! We did so much!" she yelled.

Outside the door, Spike glanced at the room, shook his head with an amused smile, and continued on with what he set out to do.

Inside the throne room, Rainbow smiled at her ecstatic friend too. "How long you have you been holding that in?"

"Forever! Do you have any idea what we accomplished today? This is just….there are no words." Twilight hopped onto the table and pranced in place. "Amara, an invincible glass case, Fyra getting fire, Sweetie's drawing…" She calmed down as she began to ponder aloud, "Well, I can't remember the term or phrase for it right now, but that is truly a special skill. Made manifest? Channeled physicality? I've got to go and read up on what it's called."

"I want to give it a name myself," the master mev admitted., "but another time."

"Illustrative Transmission! I.T.! That's it! That's what it's called!" Twilight realized and declared before Rainbow could ask the next question on her mind.

Rainbow chuckled. "Or we could go with that, sure. Shall we prepare or is there anything else you want to do tonight first?"

At that, the fledgling mev's expression settled. She flapped her wings to lift herself and gently land between her throne and one of the doors. "Well, let's go to my room to start. I have a trunk for super special stuff like this that's empty at the moment. Then I have something I want to talk to you about."

Rainbow raised an interested an eyebrow but grabbed her crown while Twilight carried Amara with her magic telekinesis. Once at Twilight's own bedroom, they placed the items in the trunk and made for a place to stand near Twilight's bed, which was where they did their last two flexchanges.

"So what's up?" Rainbow asked.

Twilight was staring at the floor before looking up at Rainbow. She swallowed to ready herself for what she wished to say. "I overheard you mention something to Sweetie Belle earlier."

"And?" Rainbow pressed for more.

"You said that you think by now, you could grow a unicorn horn of your own if you wanted," Twilight said. She looked up from the floor and met Rainbow's eyes to see her master's reaction.

Rainbow's eyes darted up in contemplation, as if she could search her head by doing so. Her expression showed a wish to give a serious and proper answer. "Well, yeah. I mean, of course there's the feedback from Ocellus though that would have limited turns. On top of that and the chaos magic, I have repeated flexchanges with you, likely the first alicorn ever for a mev pack, Starlight, probably the most powerful unicorn in all of Equestria, and Rarity, another unicorn. More alicorn magic from Princess Luna. You get the idea. I'd be very surprised if I couldn't do it with something in all of that," she said.

"If you did want to do it," Twilight began, "how or what magic would you use? Does it take from the reserve?"

"Oh, well…" Rainbow gave it some thought. "That's a tough one. It would depend on the why. Like for today, I think something from your own essence in the reserve would have worked fine. Why? Did you want me to do it for some reason?"

Twilight blushed. She had been looking at the floor again and gave a sideways glance, not saying anything for a moment and hoping that Rainbow figured it out by now.

"You do want it," Rainbow uttered in the desired realization.

Twilight swallowed again for a moment to nervously explain herself. "I don't know if it's weird. I mean, we're already a vampire servant talking to her vampire master, so what's another layer of weird on that, right? I thought it might be...nice to be able to touch horns with you during a flexchange or even just have your company as an alicorn. You know, there are only five of us in all of Equestria and the Crystal Empire. I can't really do anything like how a flexchange feels with its special kind of intimacy, with any of them. But with you… I mean, I guess the intimacy can't be done with any type of pony besides you, but still..."

Rainbow's magenta eyes lit with another quiet realization. Her nocturnal fangs peeked out between her words as she spoke. "It would give you pleasure, my dear Rexa?"

Twilight nodded. "Much," she admitted with an embarrassed smile.

Rainbow's gaze pierced deeply into her fledgling as she said with utmost sincerity and firmness, "Then it shall be done."

"So the magic?" Twilight asked, her eyes full of concern.

"It's our magic," Rainbow Dash pointed out. "The reserve fills from our flexchange, from the special bond we share. I wouldn't be doing it to channel magic for a job out there. It's for here. It's for you. For us. This is our special bond. It's our mev magic. The master takes care of her fledglings. You are the alicorn mev of my pack. I've had your magic with me as my fledgling for three weeks now. Flowing, exchanging, growing. This is your desire and mine to fulfill it. So long as I know this is what you truly want of me, it can be done. I will be more than happy to do it."

"Really?" A hopeful smile grew on Twilight's face.

Rainbow Dash nodded. "Really."

"Alright then, Master. One other thing. Sort of a request, sort of not because I know I don't really have to ask," Twilight said, her smile both bashful and sly.

"Which is?" Rainbow was curious.

"Nocturnivlair," the fledgling said with sincerity.

Rainbow smiled wickedly at that, her own feathered wings fluttering in delight at the prospect. "You're right. You most certainly don't have to ask." She chuckled deeply and then hissed, her eyes shimmering red, her fangs sharp and gleaming.

Twilight only looked on with the same hopeful smile as she saw the desired unicorn horn take shape.

Rainbow Dash felt her wings grow, and her height increase slightly. She extended one wing to see the extra feathers. "Even get that too," she noted in amusement.

Twilight nodded without a word and simply kept smiling as she waited.

Rainbow Dash coiled her wings. She approached and forcefully pulled Twilight closer to touch Rainbow's own horn to Twilight's. A red stream of mev magic winded its way through the air as it met a magenta one of alicorn doing the same, letting the intimacy linger in the moment. Another hiss soon followed, this time breathing onto the purple alicorn's neck hairs. "You're mine," the master told her in a low growl. She laughed a little more, deep and mischievous.

"Of course, Master," Twilight admitted in a whisper, blushing, closing her eyes to enjoy the moment.

Rainbow's fangs dug in for their weekly bite. Her fledgling's heightened pleasure tasted delicious. Twilight's fangs grew soon after. She took her turn when she was ready and bit right in. When the two stepped away, Rainbow met the purple alicorn's gaze with a proud smile and gleaming eyes. "Is my Rexa pleased?" she asked.

"Very," Twilight bowed graciously and stood once more. She heard Rainbow shake her own body, fluttering her wings in place to dial the nocturnivlair down. Twilight hugged the fanged alicorn tight. "Thank you so much, Rainbow," she whispered. "Thank you so, so much."

Rainbow stroked Twilight's mane with a hoof. "You're welcome, Twilight. I'll do it whenever you want for a flexchange. A little something special for us," she noted with a small smile.

"So very special," Twilight agreed.

They pulled away from their hug, and Rainbow used her magic to whisk the unicorn horn away. The rest of her body soon followed suit.

"Night reading?" Twilight offered.

"Of course," Rainbow agreed.

Sunday night reading was what they did two weeks ago. They skipped it the previous week since Sweetie was staying at Rainbow's house that first night as Rhezenda. Both mevs knew they liked it though, the night reading, and would do it on any Sunday night they could.  After all, it was how they spent their first flexchange night albeit at the Castle of the Two Sisters instead of Twilight's castle. The idea was to spend almost the whole night reading while also being able to stop and talk of anything of interest in what they were reading or to make general conversation. Once morning drew closer, before sunrise by perhaps an hour or two, each mev would then move on or depart to prepare for the upcoming Monday. Such was their intention this Sunday night.





Early Monday morning, early enough to still feel like a Sunday night at the castle, within the library, "Master," Twilight Sparkle said as a thought occurred to her from her seat at a comfortable chair. 

Rainbow Dash sat nearby reading a Daring Do book. She had not given her favorite adventure novels much attention with all of the other reading lately, so it was time to revisit them for at least a little while. "What?"

"Have you ever wondered about magical creatures you can't talk to, like verbally talk to, and how to take their magic?" the alicorn mev asked.

Rainbow blinked. "To be honest, no."

"Does your gut tell you anything?" Twilight hoped.

Rainbow took a moment to think that over and see if any answer would come to her. "Not much. Something having to do with Blitz, but Blitz can only talk to me in very specific ways with the chaos-mev magic I try not to overuse. I let her say something to Sweetie Belle once too, so I know she can talk to other ponies if I allow it. I have a general feeling of what she means in her body language or manner towards me. The only thing she can say to any other creature without chaos-mev magic is 'Master' telepathically and nothing else. I mean, I guess she has body language with them too, but still. We're talking about talking. Plus, who's to say the other creature could talk or communicate with her? It seems kinda hard."

"That telepathic message seems pretty significant to me," Twilight noted. "The word is very special to your power. I'm rather surprised your gut doesn't have anything about Fluttershy."

"Good point," Rainbow acknowledged. "What sort of magical creature did you have in mind? I suppose I could just go out and try it myself," she figured. "Maybe bring Fluttershy along anyway."

"Rarity and Spike are going to look for Pee Wee in a few days. Rarity wants a phoenix feather for making a dress. I was just thinking of how phoenixes have the magical power of self-resurrection and then curious if that's a kind of magic we could...get."

"To reserve maybe. I doubt we could come up with a good enough reason to use it on a living creature besides a phoenix that lost that power some other way, or any type of creature with a similar power. If you go outside that, then you have to consider all living creatures and their worth or need of that power. Balance stuff. Mortals are fated to die. We might be able to use self-resurrection on magical objects or essences with signs of life like Penny or Amara, who have been touched by our mev magic, I guess. And believe me, I am seriously guessing," Rainbow emphasized.

"Are we still mortal?" Twilight wondered.

Rainbow stared at Twilight hard without a word.

"You know what I mean. Cadance, Flurry Heart, and I are much younger than Celestia and Luna," Twilight replied to the look she was given. "I can't say for certain that I would be immortal without being a mev. I haven't asked that kind of question to Celestia or Luna."

Rainbow smirked. "But it's totally cool to ask your vampire master that kind of question?"

"Well…yes," Twilight admitted with blushing cheeks.

Rainbow bowed her head with tiny pride at having such an honor and put a hoof to her chin in serious thought. "If the land can give me power to do a job, I do believe that power can be revoked. We don't know what happened to other mev packs. Did they die? Did they find their work needed in other dimensions? Are they still around in smaller unknown territories to us? Discord mentioned a unicorn village. If it is or was just the one master and no pack, well...I just don't know. My gut won't tell me an answer, just to focus on what I've got now and keep trying to be worthy of this calling. I really like being a master mev, so I'll make the most of it while it's who I am."

Twilight smiled at that. "I like you being a master mev too though I might be a little biased as a bonded fledgling servant."

Rainbow smiled back. "Right."

"So, what do you think of trying to go with Spike and Rarity?" Twilight asked.

"Yeah, I'll see if they can squeeze me in," Rainbow figured. "I'm curious now too. You coming?"

"I wish I could, but I have other obligations when they do go. Are you taking Fluttershy?" Twilight inquired.

"Depends on the day. When is it?" Rainbow asked.

"Thursday," Twilight answered.

"Fluttershy's busy with the animal sanctuary that day. It's not dire, so I'll try with what I've got and then if it doesn't work out, I'll bring her for the next time," Rainbow decided aloud.

"Sounds like a plan," Twilight replied with an approving smile.

The two mevs continued to enjoy the rest of their night together.
> Chapter 40 - Pirate Spectacle
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







On Monday morning at Twilight's School of Friendship, the staff held a meeting. "Rainbow Dash," Twilight said, "I want you to take the students from the other kingdoms on a field trip to learn about teamwork. Take Sandbar too since he's part of their group of friends."

"Me? Really?" Rainbow pointed at herself with a hoof in a hover. She smiled slightly at the prospect.

The others on staff blinked but said nothing, wanting to see more.

"It is what you teach as a coach, after all," Twilight pointed out.

"She's right," Fluttershy noted in a small voice.

"And you want me to do even more?" the sky blue pegasus checked.

"Yeah, something out in the field, beyond the school," the headmare reminded her.

"Careful," Applejack said with a sly smile. "You're gonna give her ideas saying something like that."

"Hmm," Rainbow considered, tapping a hoof to her chin in serious contemplation. "How far can I go?"

"See!" said Pinkie in jest. "What did Applejack just tell you? We can all see the light bulb over her head." She mimed the image of one such large light bulb and pointed to the general direction of above Rainbow's head.

Starlight and Rarity chuckled.

Twilight half rolled her eyes with a small smile before she said to Rainbow, "Well, staying in Ponyville is best, but I know you. If you try to take them further, just be careful. Keep the students safe - well, as safe as a master mev can manage with young creatures. It will be during the day, and they are the ones who know what you are after all. You can take someone else on staff to help. I dare say you should."





Starlight Glimmer was sitting in her office, not doing much of anything when Rainbow Dash flew in and closed the door.

"Master!" Starlight greeted.

Rainbow flew in for a quick hug, saying "Primeva Starlight" with a sincere smile before settling down to stand on the other side of the desk to talk. "I have a favor to ask of you, but this is a friend to friend or colleague to colleague thing, not a master to servant thing. Can you do that?"

"I'll certainly try," Starlight nodded. "What's on your mind?"

"I need your help with the idea I have for the field trip," Rainbow said pointedly. "It needs magic to get where I want to go. How many creatures can you teleport at once?"

"Oh, I don't know...twenty maybe," Starlight considered. "How many are in the trip?"

"The six students, plus me and you, that would be eight. And it would be good if you could actually take the two of us there and back first, so I can check with the leader. Do you have a range limit?" Rainbow wondered.

"So long as I know where it is, at least say on the map table, I should get us either there or really close," Starlight told her. "Tell me already! I'm dying to know! What leader? Where are you thinking of going?"

Rainbow blushed. "I want to make it awesome," she emphasized with a tiny, eager smile and a small swish of her rainbow tail. "The students have lived in Ponyville for awhile. Many of them are from different kingdoms, so rather than pick one of those places or even say the Crystal Empire, I thought of one really cool place with a really cool way to teach teamwork." The pegasus paused for dramatic effect.

"Rainbow Dash, come on!" Starlight said with an even bigger eager grin, recognizing the pause for what it was.

"Captain Celaeno's air ship," Rainbow Dash said proudly.

Starlight grew thoughtful, trying to remember. "Should I know that name?"

"She's the leader of the pirates we met on our way to Mount Aris. I helped them get their groove back. They helped us save Equestria. We bonded. You know, friendship bond," Rainbow spoke with quiet excitement. "And running a ship takes teamwork. If I can get the okay from the captain, I really think it would make this field trip...well...you know…"

"Awesome," Starlight nodded with an amused smile.

"Twilight said I could take someone on staff, and if your magic's strong enough, you can take us all there. We can bypass my immunity because you have my permission," Rainbow explained.

"Are you going to tell them? You know, the pirates, about you being a master mev," Starlight wondered.

"Yeah," Rainbow nodded. "You know what I am, the students know, someone might drop it, and I'm asking a kind of big favor here. It just feels like the right thing to do when I think of it all together. Hey, maybe they'll be happy for me once they know it's not dangerous since I'm well-fed. This isn't for mev stuff, just the school stuff, even if we're not going to be hiding the mev part."

"Well, I know that it's not for mev stuff, but as Primeva, I do feel I should remind you that pirates find treasure. Treasure that might be magical," Starlight pointed out.

"If it happens, it happens," Rainbow replied with a casual shrug, "but it's not why we're going. This is for the school as uh...you know, say Team Friendship. Twilight's team of ponies instead of Rainbow Dash's team of mevs." She winked. "So, what do you say?"

Starlight looked at Rainbow with a sly smile, conducting her own dramatic pause before finally responding with, "I say that this Counselor Starlight Glimmer is definitely up for escorting Professor Rainbow Dash and students for an awesome filed trip on an air ship. You do know where it is, I hope."

"The map table will tell us, and then if Celaeno says yes, we can arrange something," Rainbow figured.  "Do you have time to check it out after school, or are you and Trixie still making time together?"

"Trixie left this morning, so yes, as a matter of fact, I am free after school. And I'm really looking forward to meeting your pirate friends," Starlight said.





Monday afternoon on Captain Celaeno's airship, the crew were talking out in the open air on deck, enjoying their trek over some unknown land when there was a sudden flash of light. When it cleared, they saw one familiar figure and an unfamiliar one, similar in stature.











"Rainbow Dash!" said an excited Celaeno. She rushed over, hugged the sky blue pegasus, and spun her about. Rainbow chuckled flapping her wings to enjoy the moment.

"Captain my captain!" she said when it was done and offered a hoof that Celaeno promptly bumped back.

"What brings you here? And who's your new friend?" the captain asked.

"This is Starlight Glimmer and do I ever have a story for all of you. You would not believe the past month I've had," Rainbow said.

"Well, come on then, let's head down to the mess hall for some grub, and you can tell us all about it," the captain invited.





"We're all set, Rainbow. Tell us the story," Celaeno encouraged.

With Starlight seated to her left, Rainbow put her hooves on the table and slyly looked left and right. "In short, I turned into a vampire."

Hearty chuckles bounded through the room.

"No way," said Boyle with a jovial air. "You?"

Rainbow rubbed the back of mane with a bashful smile. "Admittedly, I'm not that scary of a vampire once you know all the rules. For instance, I don't drink blood. I eat magic."

"Hmm, how interesting," Celaeno considered seriously.

"Captain, are you really buying this? You know we all love you Rainbow, but really?" Mullet asked.

"I could prove it," Rainbow told them. "I can totally change up my wings, eyes, and teeth. You wanna see?"

The pirates all nodded with sincere curiosity.

She lifted up into the air above the center of the table. "Watch this." She twirled around, and as she did so, the wings turned to their bat form.

"Whoa!" the pirates collectively said except for Squabble who didn't speak. Squabble instead made a squawking sound.

"Eyes," Rainbow showed them, spinning slowly in place, so they could all see as she passed a glance over them. "Teeth," she gestured. "The teeth can even change up a little more if I want," she extended her two main fangs to more like saber teeth before pulling them back to their expected state for a pegasus pony.

Collective gasps escaped in response.

"Unbelievable," Captain Celaeno said, breathless.

"Are you kidding me?" Boyle asked, keeping his amused, jovial air. "You really turned into a vampire? A real magic-eating vampire?"

"Really! And not only that, I'm a master vampire. I get to lead my pack!" Rainbow Dash raised her forelimbs upward and outward with proud emphasis.

The pirates laughed, and a couple of them tapped the palms of their clawed hands to the table for extra fervor.

Starlight sat quietly observing the scene, not quite sure if she should add anything since it was a special time between her master and the pirate crew.

"Hah," Lix Spittle said. "Who would have thought? So is your friend here some kind of food for tonight?"

Starlight blushed and stared down at the table. "Not exactly."

"Starlight is my dear Primeva," Rainbow said with a bow. "My first fledgling. She's super awesome and special to me. And she is quite likely the most powerful unicorn in Equestria before and after joining my pack, so, lucky me, huh?"

The pirates cheered, followed by a collective, "Hey!" and squawk.

"So, to explain the food thing, I'll try not to bore you all with too many logistics. One of the reasons I'm actually not really that scary of a vampire is I can eat magic by exchanging it with my fledglings." She gestured in Starlight's direction, to which Starlight respectfully nodded.

"Of course!" Boyle cupped a claw to his beak to tease.

"And we're not exchanging magic tonight. Unless some unlucky sap walks or flies into my house, I'll actually be forgoing a meal this evening," Rainbow announced.

"I don't know if I should feel sorry for the sap or sorry for you," Mullet joked.

"Heh, I eat almost every day so I guess pity the sap," Rainbow replied, and the pirates all laughed.

Celaeno wiped an amused tear. "So, did you really teleport all that way to tell us this if it's been a month?"

"Hah, you know me. No, that's not why I'm here but I am here for a favor. I felt obligated to tell you all about this mev thing before the other thing," Rainbow admitted.

"Mev?" Celaeno asked.

"Magic. Eating. Vampire. Mev for short. I am the Master Mev," Rainbow bowed politely in the air.

"She is," Starlight offered. "Believe it or not, calling her 'master' actually has a power of its own. It's her title. Outsiders can feel the power very faintly since we have a full pack, and it's supposed to help communicate with them."

"Do you call her that?" Lix asked. "As a fledgling, I take it you must be an insider."

"Of course," Starlight replied. "She is the master of our pack, like she said. I mean, we don't always call her that, but we definitely like to do it. It is an instinct. And she likes to hear it."

"Fascinating," Mullet remarked. He coughed. "Master Rainbow Dash!" He paused. "Hey, it does have a little something there. You can hardly tell."

The pirates laughed.

"Well, go on then Master Rainbow Dash," Celaeno encouraged. "What's the favor?"

"Twilight opened a school about friendship, and me and our friends are now teachers at this school," Rainbow began to explain.

"Was this before or after the turning into a vampire thing?" a curious Boyle wondered.

"Before actually," Rainbow said. "She wants me to take some of our students on a field trip to teach teamwork. And I wanted to make it...you all know the word…" she smiled slyly.

"Awesome!" four of the five pirates all cheered together, lifting up their mugs. Squabble followed suit with a squawk.

Starlight did the same, using her unicorn magic and smiling as well. She chuckled. "We even named our pack Team Awesome."

"Hey!" the four pirates cheered together yet again with another Squabble squawk amidst them.

"That's our Rainbow Dash," Mullet remarked.

Rainbow smiled at him and gave a salute before returning the subject in talking to the captain. "And I thought the way you have to run this ship together would be a great demonstration. Our students are from all over the world, even beyond Equestria. One of them is cousins with Princess Skystar. You remember her, right?"

"Oh, that's right," Celaeno realized. "Sea pony turned hippogriff. Yeah, sure, it sounds like fun. You gonna show off another Sonic Rainboom?"

"You're the captain," Rainbow winked, "and the lesson is for showing how to work as a team, so you know.." She waggled her eyebrows up and down.

Celaeno laughed. "You got it, Master. I'll have you top it off as part of our demonstration. Is Starlight going to be teleporting your class then?"

"Yes. Tomorrow afternoon at 1:00. Can we do that? It's right after lunch at the school. We can find the ship through this magic map we have back home though it would be easier on Starlight if the ship isn't moving too fast," Rainbow noted.

"Sure, sure, we'll park right over Basalt Beach," Celaeno offered.

Starlight nodded respectfully. "That's much appreciated, Captain."

"Students from different kingdoms, huh? Are they different creatures?" Celaeno asked.

"Well, only one of them is a pony," Rainbow explained. "You'll see when we get here. They're great kids. I kinda accidentally scared them when I first turned into a mev, but we've all moved past that," she told her pirate friends.

"I thought you said you weren't that scary of a vampire," Mullet said.

"Once you know the rules. It doesn't mean I'm not scary at all. Hey, you want to hear about my dread?" the master mev offered with a smile.

The pirates nodded and murmured with interest. Rainbow Dash relayed the explanation of what Blitz was and the fear snares they both could create.

"Very interesting," Celaeno rubbed a claw to her chin. "Do we get to meet this Blitz?"

"Here and now?" Rainbow asked them.

"Probably best to do it before you bring along the kids if she scared them back then," Boyle pointed out.

"Yeah, we'd like to see her," Celaeno said.

"Alright," Rainbow replied and plopped onto the table. A red circle formed around where she stood, and Blitz peeked out.

"Whoa!" Boyle said.

"Ain't she a beaut?" Lix remarked with interest.

"Come on out," Rainbow told her pet. "These are friends of mine who helped me save Equestria back when I wasn't a mev."

Blitz lifted herself fully to examine the room, staring down at the pirates.

"Ha, I thought a leviathan was a large sea serpent," Boyle said.

"Oh, that's part of the power," Rainbow explained. "She'd be way too big in a tight space like this or most rooms back home, but I got to see her full size in the ocean once. She could definitely encircle this whole ship outside a few times over if I wanted."

The pirates looked at each other. "Well, don't you want to, Master?" Mullet offered.

Rainbow looked to Captain Celaeno, and the captain nodded with approval.

All the pirates, Starlight Glimmer, and Rainbow Dash went back on deck. Blitz followed her master.

"Alright, Blitz," Rainbow said. "Looks like we get to show off today. My friends here appreciate awesome, and you know what? You are awesome. Let's give them something worth seeing, alright? Get all ghostly and big, a sea serpent snake circling around an air ship. Be fantastical. Let's do it! Well, you, really, heh. Go on. Master wants this."

Blitz slithered up away from the ship and grew much larger. She did exactly as Rainbow bid, and the pirates looked on in true awe. They knew Rainbow as their friend, and they wholly believed she nor the mysterious snake would harm them. Yet even so, they were at least a little scared at the enormity of the essence. "So, you're eating off us right now?" Mullet whispered to Rainbow.

The master mev nodded. "It doesn't hurt you beyond the fear itself. I'm not actually draining it away, just kind of soaking it in while it still stays with you. It tastes like chocolate."

"Heh," he remarked.

The spectacle soon ended, and Starlight teleported herself and Rainbow Dash home to Equestria. From there, the two close mevs hugged their farewell until the next day. Rainbow went to the Cutie Mark Crusader clubhouse to pick up Sweetie Belle while stopping to say hi to Apple Bloom and Scootaloo.
> Chapter 41 - A Frenzy for a Special Night
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







On Monday evening, Applejack paced back and forth in the family room where Granny Smith sat with a watchful, intrigued expression. Big Mac stood nearby, looking perplexed.

"I'm here! I'm here!" Apple Bloom announced, scurrying in to join the rest.

"Alright, Applejack, the littlest one is here. What's this all about?" Granny Smith asked.

Big Mac nodded to echo his curiosity. "Yup."

Applejack sighed upward into her bangs, recalling the first time she revealed herself as a mev to Apple Bloom. Her stomach turned.

As if sensing her older sister's trepidation, Apple Bloom drew near and put a hoof to Applejack's forelimb. "It's different this time," she said gently. "They ain't me."

Big Mac and Granny Smith exchanged a quiet look at each other.

"Right," Applejack said with a nod. She looked at them both. "First, I gotta tell you something about Rainbow Dash," she announced.

"Oh, is she sick? Is that why she been comin' around every Friday? You got something to help her out?" Granny Smith pondered.

"Well, it goes a little something like that," Applejack replied. "It's more like what I do stops her from getting a certain way that could be dangerous."

With a quirked eyebrow, Granny Smith prodded, "Dangerous how?"

"You ever heard of mevs, Granny?" Applejack asked back with a question of her own.

At that, Granny Smith put a hoof to her chin and thought long and hard, searching deep into her memories. "Can't say that I have," she admitted. "Big Mac?"

"Nope," Big Mac replied with a shake of his head.

"What are they?" Granny Smith asked.

"Magic-eating vampires," Applejack answered.

At that, Granny Smith's eyes widened. "And Rainbow Dash? She one of these mevs now?"

Applejack closed her eyes and nodded seriously.

Big Mac sat on his haunches and opened his mouth to say something, deciding the better of it and to not say anything at all yet. He looked at Apple Bloom.

The younger sister simply held out a hoof to indicate he should do as he was doing, to keep quiet and keep listening.

"Why she come to you then?" Granny Smith asked. "Magic-eating creatures like Tirek prefer unicorn to earth pony. I expect mevs would be much the same."

Applejack blushed. "Because I'm one of her best friends. There are two types of mevs, and Rainbow's the master type."

"You're the other?" Big Mac couldn't help himself to ask.

Applejack was caught a little off guard, both by his words and at how quickly he and Granny were putting things together. After a thoughtful pause at that, she nodded. "The other is a fledgling. That's me. We can exchange magic to feed both of us."

Granny Smith stroked her forelimb under her chin. "Well, that sure is convenient. Whew, you had me worried there for a sec. A dangerous Rainbow Dash is something nobody 'round here needs." She shook her head.

"There's more!" Apple Bloom interjected. Granny and Big Mac looked at her. "It's good!" Apple Bloom told them both with a little hop in place.

They turned their heads to look at Applejack.

"I got a gift," Applejack admitted with blushing cheeks and slight smile. She breathed out a tiny flame and demonstrated her ability to guide it at will.

Granny Smith and Big Mac stared in bewilderment before breaking out in smiles and laughing.

Applejack stared at them in surprise.

"Ain't that the cat's meow!" Granny declared. "Right, Big Mac?"

"Yup," the elder brother declared.

"I'm plum tickled and proud to see you get such a magical gift. We ain't laughing at ya. Promise, dearie," Granny told the present mev.

"Yup," Big Mac echoed.

"So, you're not scared or mad or anything like that?" Applejack asked.

The other two each shook their head.

"Though it looks like this one knew long before either of us," Granny Smith pointed at Apple Bloom.

"Well...that's a bit…" Applejack hesitated.

"Rainbow was gonna tell Scootaloo, so they felt I had a right to know since we're such good friends," Apple Bloom explained with another hop in place.

"I suppose that makes sense," Granny considered. "I take it you was scared or annoyed when Applejack told ya?"

"Maybe a little," Apple Bloom admitted bashfully and blushed.

"Well, anywhoozle, don't worry about it none, hun. Your secret's safe with us, same as Rainbow Dash. We do live in Ponyville. I been seeing strangeness since this town was founded you know," Granny reminded her granddaughter with a wink.

"Yup," Big Mac said.

Applejack smiled warmly at her family. "Thanks, Granny. You too, Big Mac," she said.

Big Mac nodded with closed eyes and an approving smile.

"Come on. Let's see that fire help cook us some dinner," Granny Smith encouraged as she stood up from her seat.

"Sure thing," Applejack replied.





That same night, Rainbow Dash and Sweetie Belle tended to their mev business in Rainbow's cloud house, as they made preparations for the upcoming pack meeting. "So, we need to tell the team about Amara and how she was made. Twilight will update us on how her meeting with Celestia and Luna went today. I should probably give each Awesomev a turn to just state what's happening with them, like if Applejack wants to tell us how it went with Big Mac and Granny Smith or if Pinkie wants to tell us how Penny is doing, even summon her up for a hello. Fluttershy might want to say something on her vampire bat progress," Rainbow Dash rambled, pacing in a hover of her living room.

Sweetie Belle paused in her note-taking. "Vampire bat progress? What's that about?"

"Oh, well, you know how Fluttershy was a vampire bat one night, right?" Rainbow asked.

The younger pony shook her head and said nothing.

"No one ever told you? Really?" the master mev asked with surprise in her voice.

"No. What happened?" Sweetie Belle was quite intrigued.

Rainbow Dash descended from her hover to sit next to Sweetie Belle on the couch and face her to tell the story. "Sometime back, after Twilight became a princess and before she got her castle, Applejack ran into a problem on her farm with vampire bats," Rainbow began to explain.

"Oh, those bats have a sanctuary on the farm now. That much I do know. Apple Bloom told me," Sweetie said.

"Yeah, she wasn't around for the vampire business. I guess it was just Team Friendship minus Starlight then," Rainbow noted. "Oh, and Spike."

Sweetie Belle blinked at her.

"'Team Friendship' is what I've decided to I call our group under Twilight's banner, you might say," Rainbow explained with a smile and wink.

Sweetie Belle nodded with a smile back.

"So, anyway," the mev continued, "the original plan was for Twilight to use a spell to make the vampire bats not want to eat the apples. She was messing with what makes them what they are with magic. Fluttershy was really not wanting to do that."

Sweetie remarked, "Sounds like Fluttershy."

"Yeah," Rainbow agreed. She went on to explain, "But even though she didn't want to do it, she still helped us out with this plan and used The Stare."

"Oh, I've seen her do that," Sweetie said with interest, recalling the time she saw Fluttershy stare down a cockatrice.

Rainbow nodded. "Something happened between Twilight casting the spell on the vampire bats and Fluttershy using her stare. Twilight's theory is that it sort of bounced from the bats into Fluttershy, which turned Fluttershy into a vampire bat. Or vampire bat pony. Whatever. It honestly resembled my vampire form."

"Really?" Sweetie asked, now extremely interested. "What was different? What was the same? What did it look like? I'm guessing she had bat wings of course."

Rainbow Dash smiled in amusement. "Let's see. Yes, she had bat wings a lot like mine, maybe a little bigger." She shifted her wings into their bat form as she spoke to show them off.  "It's actually part of why I went to her before I went to anyone else the night I first transformed." 

"You did?" Sweetie Belle blinked curiously at that.

"Oh yeah, Fluttershy and I go way back you know," Rainbow reminded her. "Anyway, so besides the wings, she had fangs. Hers were larger. They kinda stuck out of her muzzle where you could see them even when her mouth was closed. I like mine small enough so that you can see them when I'm talking but not with my mouth closed."

Sweetie nodded. She remembered from the book that Rainbow could grow them even more if she wanted.

The mev went on, "Her eyes were more like a light pinkish red, not as um...'saturated' is what Twilight describes for the difference. The red wasn't as 'saturated' as mine. Do you know what I mean when I say that?"  She let her eyes turn to the color in question.

"Rarity tells me the color's more vibrant, like stronger," Sweetie replied.

"Right. Coat was a little more scruffy. Fluttershy's ears changed up a little too, to be more batty. Mine don't do that. Same old pony ears," Rainbow remarked, flicking and pointing at her own ears as she did.

"Is it something you could change if you wanted? And the coat?" the unicorn filly wondered.

"Not with mev magic..,well, with one exception," Rainbow noted, thinking of her brief alicorn mev time from the previous night. "I'd probably have to use chaos magic for that one since I only have some unknown feedback changeling attempts that I really don't plan on using for something like that," she finished.

"What's the exception?" Sweetie wanted to know.

"Sorry, my Rhezenda, that's a pack secret. Insiders only," the master mev confessed with a friendly wink.

Sweetie smiled in spite of herself. That meant there was still some mystery left to her, even as welcome into the circle as she was. No doubt it had to do with the special bond between the master and her fledglings. She went on to ask, "Well, what happened after she turned into a vampire bat pony? She's not one anymore. You said it was for just one night."

"Since she was like a vampire bat, she wanted apples, so we lured her in with Applejack's big prized apple. Then we used mirrors to get her to use The Stare on herself to get her to stay still while Twilight reversed the spell that started the whole mess," Rainbow explained. "Magic changing the fiber of what a living creature is backfires horribly. We should have learned that the first time with the parasprites, no mev powers required, but most of us saw it as a way to help Applejack."

"Now that you are mevs, could you do it without all the trouble, for the bats?" Sweetie wondered.

Rainbow Dash shook her head. "To change a creature on that scale, you need a very good reason. Otherwise, it's not that different than outright killing them. Fluttershy considered it wrong. But for the rest of us, we didn't see it that way. Sure, we had a problem and back then, I considered no apple cider a big deal, that it was a plenty good reason to me. But it still wasn't enough. Not when we could just suck it up with the short-term problem for the long-term gains of giving them their own section of the orchard, like we did in the end."

"Oh okay. So...what's the vampire bat progress mean now?" Sweetie asked.

"You know how I actually really like being a vampire?" Rainbow asked back, gesturing with a forelimb to show off her full vampire form still on her.

Sweetie nodded.

"Yeah, Fluttershy liked the transforming part with the wings and the fangs too. You know, the fun stuff. The problem with being a vampire bat pony was that she couldn't think straight. We tried talking to her, and she'd just hiss and fly at us while trying to get more apples to eat. She was Flutterbat, not Fluttershy. But," Rainbow emphasized, "with us now all being mevs, there's a chance her own power could develop to have a bat form willingly and be able to think straight after all. It's a past power of hers, and our bond is trying to mold it into that desire. It's taking time."

"Oh, that's so neat," Sweetie thought. "I hope she gets it."

"I know she will," Rainbow Dash stated with confidence.

"Hey, that reminds me. Master, are we doing anything special for Nightmare Night?" Sweetie asked. "It's only a little over two weeks away."

Rainbow blinked, and Sweetie noticed something strange. The mev's eyes were still red, but if they weren't, Sweetie knew, she just knew as Rhezenda, they would have shifted right then, and not in the intentional the way Rainbow usually shifted her eyes. The master mev smiled softly at first. Her shoulders shook as she started to laugh.

Then she kept laughing, and it started to sound deeper and sinister. Her bat wings flapped to lift her up higher as she laughed more with evil zeal. Sweetie quietly glanced around and felt a breeze pass through. She heard thunder outside, and her eyes widened. She knew about nocturnivlair, but this was different than the laughs and cackles she'd grown familiar with, like a nocturnivlair crescendo itself. She saw the whole room flash from lightning outside. Rainbow Dash was cackling now. "Master?" Sweetie started to ask.

Th mev simply cackled and laughed some more.

Sweetie glanced around at the floor to see if Blitz would arise. The unicorn filly was getting a little scared after all. Well, more than her usual amount at night and inside a master mev's domain. A circle did form but not around Sweetie Belle. It was nearby on the floor. Blitz rose out and happily snaked her way around Rainbow's body to savor the moment with her master. Rainbow saw her but didn't talk, just kept laughing while meeting the eyes of the dread until she'd gaze outward at her home again. The wind picked up even more, the thunder boomed even louder, and the room flashed with lightning once more. Sweetie gulped, reminding herself that the vampire present still hadn't attacked her, hadn't even looked at her, and that whatever was happening needed to run its course. Blitz sensed that course ending first, slithered off, and descended back into a circle on the floor. The winds slowed, returning to what was expected of a pegasus cloud house with open windows. The thunder and lightning stopped. Rainbow Dash fluttered down to the floor for a soft landing in front of her young servant.

Rainbow giggled a little, putting her hoof up to her muzzle as she continued to settle down.

"Master, is everything okay?" Sweetie asked.

"More than okay," Rainbow said in a chuckle. "Just give me a minute. I'm almost done. You did well, Rhezenda."

At that, Sweetie Belle finally relaxed and waited, relieved she knew what to do after all.

"Whew," Rainbow finally said with a smile as she went to sit back down on the couch by the younger pony again.

"What happened?" Sweetie asked. "Was it some kind of special nocturnivlair?"

"Yup. A Master Frenzy. I've only done it once before, when I first completed my pack. I guess it happens when I get really excited," Rainbow figured.

"And this one was about Nightmare Night?" Sweetie inquired.

Rainbow started to giggle again, but it didn't pick up into a frenzy. "Yes," she managed.

"How come?" the curious unicorn asked.

"Because it's not in the book, but I just know that Nightmare Night is one of my exceptions," Rainbow told her between giggles. "I get to use all the magic I want," she snarled, "and I have access to chaos-mev magic. It's going to be awesome!" Her expression looked almost menacing as she grit her sharp teeth with another wide eyed thrill, but Sweetie Belle knew better.

"Really?" the filly asked, now full of even more hope.

"Oh yes," the master mev spoke with confidence and authority. "Nightmare Night is special. We all know that. My power is ruled by day and night, and that night, that one special night, permits me to have fun on such an occasion, not just business, not just learning. A bond with my fledglings, my home territory, all of us. Nothing will be lost from the reserve. It will be a feast of happy fear. I already know one thing I want to do. If there is only one thing I get to do this Nightmare Night, this is the thing to be done. Exceptions for an exception. Ponyville may or may not grasp that they have a mev pack in their midst after that night. I intend to entertain myself and hopefully the outsiders as well."

"Wow," Sweetie said, happy to know that she'd soon learn just what her master longed to do for a free magic chance to have fun.

"Put it on the agenda for tomorrow's meeting," Rainbow commanded. "Yes, Rhezenda. Yes. We most certainly are doing something special for Nightmare Night."

Rhezenda Sweetie Belle was content to obey.
> Chapter 42 - A Time to Be Awesome
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







On Tuesday afternoon in Rainbow Dash's gym at the School of Friendship, Sandbar, Yona, Gallus, Silverstream, Ocellus, and Smolder stood in a line facing Rainbow Dash herself and Starlight Glimmer.

"Master Rainbow Dash," Ocellus said, "before we go, can you tell us about you know...how you've been with the uh...you know."

"Dude," Sandbar said, leaning in, "I don't think Counselor Starlight knows."

"Actually, she does," Ocellus informed him, "and this is really my first chance to ask in a long time. Professor Dash is always busy outside of school hours."

"You are?" Gallus put the question to Rainbow.

"I do have like four jobs now," Rainbow told him. "The school is just one of them. None of you are nocturnal, right?" She pointed a hoof with the question.

They collectively shook their heads. Silverstream asked, "No, we're not, but why does that matter?"

"Only in that I sometimes stop by the school gym to exercise at night, so if you any of you really want to ask or talk about it, I'm there. Most of my jobs are day jobs," Rainbow admitted.

"Can we really?" asked a hopeful Ocellus. "So it's true that master mevs don't need much sleep. I found only one book about mevs, and I was hoping that I could ask you about it."

"Mevs: An Explanation?" Rainbow asked.

Ocellus nodded with a smile.

"I have a copy at home. I'm glad the mev thing has turned into more of a curiosity than anything else," Rainbow told them, mainly referring to Ocellus, "but we could be here all day if I went on about that. This field trip is for the school. The good news is we're meeting some friends of mine who know about my mev status as of yesterday, so you don't have to talk around that. We should still be focused on the lesson: Teamwork."

"So, where are we going?" Smolder asked. "Somewhere out there," she gestured, "for an outdoor sport? Soccer maybe." She grew contemplative, trying to guess.

Starlight shook her head. "Nope. Rainbow has something very different in mind for today."

"We're going on an air ship," Rainbow declared proudly, raising herself into a hover.

"That could be cool," Smolder thought aloud.

"Yona not sure Yona likes this idea," Yona noted quietly.

"Don't worry," Sandbar said. "Most of our friends can fly, and Professor Dash is the fastest flier around. She saved four ponies at once once," he told her in a reassuring tone.

"You did?" Smolder asked, widening her eyes. "When did that happen?"

Rainbow blushed, patting the back of her mane. "Yes. I really do want to brag, but we'll never leave at this rate. If I can squeeze in the story on the trip, I'll tell you."

"So, how are we going to get there?" Silverstream asked. "An air ship must be really far. You're strong, Master Professor Dash, but I don't think you could carry all of us."

"Heh," Rainbow chuckled to herself that she probably could handle more than they knew. "We have an escort with Counselor Starlight here. We'll be teleporting."

Gasps and murmurs ran through the group.

Rainbow Dash touched down to the ground and nodded in Starlight's direction. "Starlight, if you would…"

Starlight's magic lit on her horn, and the entire group flashed away to land on the air ship in question.

"There they are, scallywags," Captain Celaeno said. "Master Rainbow Dash's class from Equestria."

"Pirates?" Gallus asked, a small smile starting to form on his face.

"Professor Dash, you're going to teach us teamwork on how to be pirates?" Ocellus posed the question nervously.

"They prefer the term 'swashbuckling treasure hunters'," Rainbow explained, "and they've been delivery birds in the past. All the same, we're here to focus on the team part of running a ship together. This here is my good friend, Captain Celaeno." Rainbow hovered over to the pirate in question to give another hoof bump like from the day before. 

At this, the students seemed to be quite impressed, even Ocellus, despite herself.

Celaeno went on to explain the different roles of her crew. "I'm the captain, so that means I steer and make the big decisions for us as a group. This here is Lix Spittle," she gestured to the stocky and short bird in question. "She's our cook."

Lix grinned at them and gave a little wave.

The students stared on and listened while nodding at the same time.

"Mullet," Celaeno gestured over to a lean green figure wearing a bandana and eyepatch, "is our navigator. Basically, once I've decided where we're headed, he takes on directing us how to get there."

Mullet nodded in the affirmative.

"Boyle," Celaeno gestured at a stocky green figure who stood wider than Mullet and taller than Lix, "is our engineer. He looks after the machinery of the ship itself."

"Got that right," Boyle said with a nod.

"And Squabble…" Celaeno gestured over to a short light green figure with eyes that pointed out in different directions.

He squawked.

Celaeno smiled. "...helps out for anything the rest of us need. Now, there are five of us, and six students here, so I'm going to pair off most of you with one of us, but two of you will be with me." She noticed Yona shivering in fear and standing close to Sandbar. "You two, with me," she ordered.

Sandbar nodded in agreement and then looked at Yona, nodding that she should join them. Yona nervously complied.

Smolder was paired with Lix who helped prepare snacks to give to the crew. Gallus was paired with Mullet who showed him maps of where the crew had been and where they were going after the lesson would be over. For now, they'd help navigate the general area to keep an eye out for storm clouds or such hazards. Silverstream was paired with Boyle who showed her around the ship and the inner workings of the engine. Ocellus was with Squabble, who didn't talk but would escort her around from one pair to the other and gesture for her to observe, which she did. Being with Captain Celaeno helped ease Yona's nerves.

The crew finished explaining their roles and letting the students try a turn at helping them. Ocellus and Squabble made the rounds again to gather everyone on deck to re-convene. Lix Spittle and Smolder served up the snacks they prepared. Not long after, the ship was running quite smoothly. As everyone stood proud of the work they'd done, Mullet said, "We should do the song while Rainbow's here."

"Oh, what song?" Silverstream asked, hovering with interest.

"Time to Be Awesome," Lix Spittle informed her.

"What do you say, Rainbow? We'll change up the lines a little since things are better for the crew, but the core thing will sill be there," Boyle encouraged.

"A reprise!" Lix said, raising her fist with enthusiasm.

Squabble squawked to affirm his agreement at the idea.

"It would be a good way to wrap up your lesson," Captain Celaeno pointed out. "We still haven't seen the rainboom."

"You don't have to ask me twice," Rainbow said. She looked at her students. "This is another kind of teamwork. Prepare yourselves for a performance. All of you are on drums. Trust me, it's easy. Follow the lead of our treasure hunting friends."

The students looked at each other and then smiled to look up at their teacher. Starlight stood with a ready, curious smile of her own. She had only heard about her friends' adventure second-hand. The song was news to her. The pirates readied a number of wooden crates for themselves in one cluster and the students in another on the deck. Starlight sat opposite them to be the observing audience.

From her hover, Rainbow began to sing:

I know the world can get you down
Things don't work out quite the way that you thought
Feeling like all your best days are done
Your fears and doubts are all you've got
But there's that light, shining deep inside
Beneath those fears and doubts so you squashed 'em

She gestured to the captain when she reached the line, "And let it shine for all the world to see," right before "That it is time, yeah, time to be awesome." She twirled in mid-air, stretching out her forelimbs wide.

The pirates began the drums Rainbow mentioned. The background lines echoed through, "Ah, ah ah, ah, awesome / It's time to be so awesome." 

Smolder, Yona, Sandbar, and Silverstream were clearly the most into the drumming. Ocellus started off timidly but did her best. Gallus stared at the whole thing as if confused at first but did his part nonetheless.

Celaeno began her updated part singing in the space between the drummers and Starlight so that they could all be the audience of her and Rainbow as the leading duo."You've no idea how hard it'd been". The background vocals from the pirates softly added again, "It's time to be awesome." The captain of the ship continued, "That dull routine we were forced to do."

Still hovering with flapping wings, Rainbow sang, "You didn't let them rob who you are," patting a tip of the captain's hat. Celaeno smiled in agreement. Rainbow gestured her forelimb in a wide sweep emphatically indicating the students instead of Celaeno as she sang, "Be awesome, it's all up to you!". A quiet "awesome" from the background vocals could be heard. The students felt it in their hearts, the magic of those words from one friend to many and how important it was from a time when such friends were down on their luck. By this part of the ensuing performance, all of the group, class and crew alike, were clearly enjoying themselves.

Celaeno continued her turn next with, "I feel the light, stirring deep inside / It's like a tale still yet to be told," followed by another,"It's time to be so awesome," from the background.

Together Rainbow and Celaeno sang:

And it was time
To break the shackles free
And start living like
The brave and the bold

The pirates parted their crates to ready themselves as further support to the song. They brought out a chest to give the students accessories to wear, bandannas for Silverstream and Gallus, hats for all the others, including the largest they could find for Yona. "It's time to be awesome," Mullet, Boyle, and Lix sang.

Rainbow and Celaeno followed with, "Let loose, be true, so awesome".

"It's time to be awesome," the rest of the singing crew sang again.

"Go big, be you, so awesome," Rainbow and Celaeno declared together.

The students grasped with all the movement and latest verse that a new phase of the performance was upon them.

Mullet grabbed a mildly startled Starlight Glimmer as he rode, swooshing on a rope. He sang, "We get to soar through the clouds of the skies." Starlight gave way to a smile as she listened and felt the wind against her mane in the swoop.

On the floorboards of the deck, Lix Spittle sang, "Elaborate schemes we do love to devise," while marking spots on a map. Yona, Ocellus, and Sandbar crouched down to see the map as they listened and watched.

Boyle brought out a treasure chest as he sang, "We rescue our treasure and store it away."

Celaeno joined him and added, "Saving these gemstones for a rainy day." She held up one such gemstone in front of Smolder who looked at it with hungry, interested eyes licking her lips, knowing not to take and simply appreciate it.

Everyone together continued, even the students and Starlight could sing along by this point. "We see that light / Filling up our skies." 

Rainbow sang, "We took the Storm King's orders and tossed 'em." 

Captain Celaeno gave an affirmative nod.

Silverstream balled up her claws together, shook them tight close to her chest and couldn't help herself, letting out an excited, relatable shriek.

Again, everyone sang, this time, "'Cause it's time to let our colors fly," immediately followed by Celaeno with her final sung line of, "Hey scallywags, it's time to be awesome!"

More drums and declaratory "Hey!" proclamations filled the air. The singing itself was finished for all, but the performance required a little more.

"We saved this part for you, Rainbow," Celaeno told her friend and then addressed her crew. "Let's show these students how it's done!"

The pirates handed each student a rope to tug, which they all did to see vibrant rainbow-colored sails unfurl from the large wooden zeppelin of the ship.  

"And now for the finishing touch!" the captain commanded with a wink at Rainbow Dash.

The sky blue pegasus gave an eager salute and flapped her wings to take off. The students stared upward in awe to see the rainbow-streaked path. Rainbow turned right and flew straight for awhile before turning around for her diagonal dive. She flew fast, her forelimbs stretched before her, her entire body stretching thinner with the increased speed in her flight. Faster and faster she went, until finally...



BOOM!

A brilliant circle of rainbow colors lit the sky against the colorful sails of the ship. The students were now astounded, and they could hear their teacher laugh as she circled the ship to wrap it in more rainbow colored rings of her tail trail before she finally dropped into land back on the deck with everyone else.

The pirates cheered. Starlight gave Rainbow a congratulatory hoof bump.

"Wow," Ocellus uttered in an impressed breath.

"Did any of you know Professor Dash was this cool?" Gallus asked them.

The other students innocently shook their heads, except for Sandbar, who replied bashfully, "Kinda."

"I heard things, but this…" Gallus remarked.

"That was a live Sonic Rainboom!" Silverstream said. "It really was awesome!" she shrieked with joy.

Yona nodded. "Yona admit...that true."

"The tail trail sparkles with more vibrant colors. It's not as blurred on its end, and it's longer," Ocellus quietly informed the rest.

Rainbow marched toward the group of her students with a proud smile. "And that, my friends, is how you work as a team. You make things awesome together."

The students all gathered around their teacher and gave her a hug. Rainbow Dash blushed. For all her efforts of trying to do things worth appreciating, sometimes she was still taken aback when it actually worked. "Thanks," she told them all in a gentle voice and softened smile.

Starlight wiped a little happy tear from her eyes. Rainbow asked her the time, and everyone was disappointed to realize it really was time to go back to Ponyville. The students said their happy farewells to the pirates as did Rainbow Dash and Starlight Glimmer.

There had been no time to talk about mevs or saving Rarity and three other ponies while winning the Best Young Fliers' competition, but all told, everyone considered it an awesome field trip. That made Rainbow happy. Mission accomplished.
> Chapter 43 - Meeting Down the Line
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Tuesday night approached, and Team Awesome was ready. It was time for an update on Project Mercury and what happened at the Crystal Empire over the weekend. Some of them knew, and some of them didn't, for each part. As their master said time and again, these meetings made sure every pony in the pack stayed up-to-date. Discord, Spike, and Sweetie Belle joined them, as had become the tradition.

"Alright, let's get started," Rainbow announced to the group. "First up, let's tell you all about our trip to the Crystal Empire. Rexa Twilight, bring them out…"

Twilight used her magic telekinesis to place the crown and Amara in her case on the table. The Awesomevs who didn't know what they were could now capably recognize that each item was magical and interesting, even if they couldn't know why in full detail yet.

"The crown worked perfectly, Primeva," Rainbow told Starlight. "It's now got a little something special in connecting itself to me as a master mev with how we made the heart."

"That's wonderful, Master," Starlight Glimmer said proudly. 

"Are you going to name it?" Pinkie Pie asked.

Rainbow Dash rubbed a hoof to her chin in thought. "Maybe...but not yet. I want some more time with it as a mev."

"And that heart…" Starlight continued. "Tell us more. Is that straight from the Crystal Heart?"

"It's made from the Crystal Heart, yes, though it made a few passes through mev magic to be created. I'm sure Twilight would like to give the explanation again," Rainbow remarked with closed eyes and a proud smile as she lifted her hoof up with a matching air of confidence.

Twilight happily did exactly that, and since Rainbow could freely use chaos magic for pack meetings, she put her lesson from the previous week to use. She projected out her memory of how it went during the lecture. The Awesomevs unfamiliar with the process were very happy to hear the news.

"And Amara left us with a gift," Twilight finished, looking over to Applejack.

Applejack smiled pleasantly and let out a small fire breath.

Pinkie's jaw dropped. "Fyra, you got fire!" It was the first time a fledgling called another by their title, but the group hardly noticed or cared, so happy were they for their number four.

"That I did," Applejack told them proudly, "and it's mev magic. Just like Penny, there's a limit to how much the fire can actually be, but I can summon it whenever I want. I even tried it out on making some stew at home last night."

"Oh how wonderful," Fluttershy noted with a sweet smile.

Discord approached the table to hover and looked more closely at the case holding Amara. He snapped his talons and found himself hurled over to the wall with a large boom and lingering red smoke.

"Discord," Rainbow said with an exasperated sigh. "Dude, seriously?"

The draconequis stood and dusted his arms off, waving the red smoke clear. "I was just testing it for you, Master. I promise. Surely, you can appreciate the proof that your spell is working perfectly intact."

"I am, but you can get hurt trying stuff like that," Rainbow pointed out.

"I'm fine," Discord told her, easily concealing the fact that he was rather touched by her concern.

"Very well. Thank for your help all the same. It really sealed the deal for this job," the master mev told him.

Discord blinked an appreciative smile of being appreciated and made a tree behind Fluttershy where he could perch and continue watching the meeting.

Rarity moved the topic of discussion along as she said, "So, I take it that Cadance and Shining Armor know Applejack is a fledgling. What about you, Twilight dear? From your explanation, you didn't use any mev magic yourself in all this."

"I told them when Rainbow revealed and announced herself as the Master Mev. They were very understanding. Even Sunburst found out during the process when I explained to him how the case worked," Twilight informed her friends.

"He did?" asked a slightly concerned Starlight Glimmer.

"Yes. None of us told him about you as Primeva though he might figure out or assume you are a fledgling, just because he knows our group in general," Twilight pointed out.

"You don't think he'd be mad at me for not telling him, do you?" Starlight maintained a worried tone. "It didn't come up during our trip to Sires Hollow. I didn't want to be like, 'Hey, by the way, I'm a vampire servant now,' without a better reason than just admitting it."

"No, I don't think he would. It was almost like a passing mention of my own fledgling status because he wanted me to finish explaining how the case worked," Twilight noted.

"I can vouch for that," Spike offered. "Really, he's cool with it."

Starlight breathed a sigh of relief at that.

"Time to move on," Rainbow Dash decided. "I want each of you to take a turn. Tell us what's happening with you as a mev, if anything at all. Let's go down the line. Primeva, you're number one."

"Heh heh, funny you mention that Master. I told Trixie about my being a fledgling and when she tried to call me 'Primeva,' I actually stopped her. She asked if she could call me 'number one,' and I told her that was okay."

"Oh that's cute," Rainbow replied with a playful and approving smile.

Starlight blushed. "Thanks. Like I just said, I passed on a chance to tell Sunburst. Past that, I haven't really done much except what we did yesterday." She looked at Rainbow and made eye contact.

"Right, I should probably be the one to say that part. I guess I'll go last as a number seven," Rainbow said.

Sweetie Belle immediately scribbled the decision in her notes.

" Alright then. Segunda, number two," Rainbow moved on.

"Oh, nothing really. I mean…" Fluttershy paused and hesitated. 

Rainbow blinked with a small, encouraging smile. 

"Okay…" Fluttershy decided. "I have a little confession to make."

"Oh do tell," said an interested Rarity.

Fluttershy gulped a little nervously. "Well...I've been trying to get a vampire bat pony form again."

"Oh, so that you can have one like Rainbow's?" Pinkie asked. "That would be so neat! And then you don't have to just think about eating apples!"

Fluttershy blushed. "Yes, exactly that."

"And?" Applejack prompted for more.

"We make a little progress every flexchange," Fluttershy admitted. "My right wing will turn into a bat wing if I try after a flexchange. I can't do it anytime at night, just sometimes. The closer I am to my own turn, before or after, is when I can do it the most. I can always change it back easily."

"Wow," uttered Twilight, glancing down to make sure Spike was writing that part down, which he was.

"And," Fluttershy continued timidly, "I have a feeling we'll have it soon, as in…" she smiled, "...right before Nightmare Night."

The Awesomevs all loudly cheered together. 

"Master!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed. "Tell me we're having some kind of super awesome party for that night. We simply must! I can feel it! Like not just Pinkie party pony feel it, which I can, but also awesome Awesomev mev feel it!"

Sweetie Belle looked at Rainbow Dash with a big smile.

"My Rhezenda reminded me of such a night yesterday," the master mev told them with a smile of her own. "And I can tell you all are as excited as I am. We will most certainly be doing something. Fluttershy, does this mean you'll be joining us this year, for real?"

Fluttershy blushed with a happy, bashful expression. "Yes, Master. I would very much like to be a vampire bat pony on Nightmare Night with you."

"Let's talk about that soon but after the turns, alright?" Rainbow addressed her team. "Anything else, Segunda?"

"No, Master. That is all," Fluttershy replied.

"Mitria, number three," Rainbow prompted.

"Oh, how I do like this calling," Rarity admitted with pride. "I aided Master in a test confidence run for Project Mercury. It went well. I'm sure we'll set aside time for that in more detail later. Nothing else to report from my end."

"Fyra, number four," Rainbow said.

"As ya'll know, I got this fire power gift from Amara," Applejack said. "Apple Bloom pointed out that it might be about time I told Big Mac and Granny Smith, especially since the fire is something I can do whenever I want. So I did as of yesterday. Every pony at Sweet Apple Acres now knows a vampire fledgling lives among them."

"How did they take the news?" Rarity asked.

"Swell. They was already onto me and Rainbow getting a little time every Friday night. I guess I was worried over nothing. They really have seen enough weirdness living in Ponyville all their lives that it ain't no big thing. Just like Spike said way back. It probably did help that I have something convenient and useful, I'll admit," Applejack said. "They found the fire a little funny even. 'Side from that, I was there to watch the test confidence run, but my main thing this past week was going with Master to the Crystal Empire. It was definitely a rewarding experience. That's all from me ya'll."

"Quintaza, number five," Rainbow called.

"Penny and I just keep practicing and having loads of fun for whenever we're ready. She was kinda sad she missed out last meeting, so I told her I could summon her up for a hello to everyone tonight," Pinkie told them.

"Very well." The master gestured for her to go ahead.

Sweetie Belle watched in wonder since even though she knew about Penny, it was the first time she saw the summoning and met the copy. She didn't know Penny looked slightly different from Pinkie Pie in mane and cutie mark. 

Penny was just as fascinated. "You all have a little filly here," she tilted her head as she stared closely at Sweetie on the edge of the table near where the young unicorn sat.

"That's Sweetie Belle," Pinkie told her. "She is Master's Rhezenda, a helping hoof to outsiders and assistant type things."

"Neat! I'm kinda like Pinkie's assistant too," Penny told Sweetie Belle.

"Wow, that's wonderful," Sweetie replied with interest. The two gave each other a cute hoof shake. 

Soon after, Penny was dismissed. 

"Nothing else to add," Pinkie announced to everyone.

"Rexa Twilight, number six," Rainbow stated.

"Well, I already told you all about the Crystal Empire, but I did have another assignment this past week. Yesterday, I spoke to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna about berserk aftermath."

Discord leaned his long neck down and in a little closer from his perch to indicate this topic was one of the more interesting ones to him.

"So, what did they say?" Fluttershy asked.

"They said that they will handle it. While no one in living memory knows what other communities did after a berserk, besides the little we know from Discord, the book we have makes it sound like they must have been able to recover to some extent since a berserk was regarded as an emergency. 

"In fact, they brought up the point that in a way, the berserk isn't just an emergency for the master mev to eat magic for the reserve. It could protect the day and night cycle as well. If some other magic force, like what Discord and the Storm King did, tried to cycle through more than seven days, now that a master mev lives among us, the seventh night would stop that accelerated cycle. The night must pass in full for the master to...well, be berserk...sort of."

"Sort of?" Applejack asked, confused. "Wait, does that mean there weren't any master mevs around when those things happened? They been extinct?"

"Not exactly," Twilight replied. She went on to explain in more detail, "It means there weren't any in our zone. A zone is like a...dimension in a dimension. The other kingdoms, believe it or not, are in different zones that let us link to them more often and more strongly as our friendships deepen. Their sun and moon is only controlled by someone or something in our zone if there is an Equestrian presence because of the magic."

"Wow," Sweetie Belle uttered, not looking up from scribbling her notes.

The other unicorns present smiled warmly at her fascination.

The young unicorn sensed their watchful eyes on her and looked up. She blushed, hiding behind her clipboard. 

"It's nothing to be ashamed of, Rhezenda," Rainbow Dash told her. The master mev leaned in and whispered, "That is why you wanted to be here, right?"

Sweetie Belle smiled modestly with a nod. Still blushing, she magically lowered the clipboard so that she was no longer hiding. She looked over to Twilight Sparkle. "Go on," she implored.

Twilight addressed everyone once more. "Zones sometimes have fluidity with each other, and sometimes don't. While master mevs may not actually be extinct, in practice for us, they may as well be. Remember, our ancestors migrated here. Master mevs predate Equestria and even Starswirl. We are very likely cut off from their territories due to both time and distance."

"Agreed," Discord chimed in.

"Okay," Applejack replied. "What's that mean for us then?"

"It's Princess Luna's theory that even though the book names a genuine sunrise as how to end a berserk, it might not be the only way to end one," Twilight informed them all.

"Really?" Fluttershy blinked and spoke softly with a hopeful tone.

"Plus, Rainbow Dash being a master mev is extremely different than past masters," Twilight added.

"I don't understand. What's so different?" Rarity asked.

"For starters, she is likely the first in our zone at all. We have an alicorn in our pack. The book doesn't mention alicorns at all. Rainbow's not allowed to eat magic that moves day to night like what Princess Luna has, but she has eaten Luna's other magic with permission. Luna is also an alicorn. The two of them are closely linked just by being ponies with special connections to the night itself," Twilight explained.

"So, what, if she eats from every alicorn, everything somehow turns out okay?" Pinkie asked.

Twilight thoughtfully tapped a hoof to her chin and then shook her head. "No, it means that we've got to remember that we can't wholly rely on the book. We are different than the packs before us. There's a good chance mev packs never had alicorn magic at all. Another point. We all know Rainbow has special instincts as the master mev," Twilight reminded everyone.

The other Awesomevs and company nodded.

"We, her fledglings, have instincts too, even if it's not on the scale of what Rainbow experiences. In a sense, a berserk makes her mostly inaccessible to us. Primeva will have to step up," Twilight said with urgency as she tapped at the table with a hoof three times.  She continued, "We will need to work around or plan what we do because if Rainbow can talk to us while berserk, she might also be able to give commands that we won't want to follow. But we must because of the mev bond."

"I hadn't thought of that. That makes this thing even scarier," Applejack remarked in a worried tone.

"I really don't think I'd command you all to attack anyone so much as stay out of my way," Rainbow informed her.

The fledglings, Applejack included, all nodded with immediate realization and agreement at that.

"Which means we still have to work around you," Fluttershy added.

Rainbow Dash herself nodded in response. 

"I'm sure we can figure it out," Starlight offered.

"Even if you do figure it out, our concern is the aftermath," Rainbow said. "I'm sure that even if we find some miracle thing to end it early, I'll need at least the one minimum. And it's more likely I'd…" she swallowed with evident guilt. "...eat magic from more than one pony."

"Yes," Twilight agreed with a similar tone. "Luna made the point that a berserk is noted as being for an emergency, so even if we want to end it early, if it is something like an accelerated day cycle, we still might have to let it run its full course." A tear streamed down Twilight's face, and she wiped it away. "So, moving on, one idea was a berserk reserve."
> Chapter 44 - Talks of Serious and Fun Preparation
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







"A what now?" Applejack asked.

Twilight explained, "The master is hungry during a berserk. She wants food from living creatures. That's one of the main things we know. None of us mevs are in doubt on that part, right?" she posed to them all.

The other fledgling Awesomevs nodded.

Twilight went on, "If we have ponies, not all ponies, just a select group, ready, informed, and willing to give up their magic on a berserk night, they can try to have her target them instead of all the ponies not in the reserve. Remember, master mevs see adult ponies fleeing as an invitation to attack. The berserk reserve ponies would be a distraction and delay. It would mean that a lot more ponies in Equestria know of you, Master, but we all know our existence is not a secret, given how many ponies and others already do know."

"I must bring up a point," Discord interjected. Everyone looked up at him in his created tree. "Master mevs are fast pegasi for a reason. They can reach a lot of magical creatures in a short amount of time without relying on unicorn magic. You would need a massive berserk reserve, to the point you may as well forget about it. A pony as fast as Rainbow could possibly take out both Ponyville and Canterlot in a single night."

"I don't know about that…" Twilight said uneasily.

Rainbow nodded nervously, licking her lips in deep, serious contemplation.

"Is there another thing wrong with that idea?" Fluttershy asked, sensing a different unease from her friend. "Besides what Discord just said."

Rainbow blinked. "Just one thing, but I don't know or sense it the way I do other master mev things. It's not from my gut or an instinct, just an idea or concern really."

"Do go ahead and tell us anyway," Discord urged, gesturing encouragement with his eagle claw.

"The book mentions that my nocturnivlair is 'more style than substance, except during a berserk.' So, even though I would think, from everything else, I'm like some kind of starved beast just attacking and eating from one meal to the next...nocturnivlair with more substance would kinda suggest...I'm actually evil?" she wondered aloud. "More than usual. Like diabolical villain cackling plotting sadistic evil?"

A long, awkward moment of silence passed.

"Well, like you said," Starlight began. The team's Primeva decided if she was to step up, she could at least be the one to speak now, "...you don't know or sense it the way you do other things. Everything else points to that not being the case. You yourself just said you don't think you would command us to attack anyone."

Rainbow Dash nodded at that and moved on. "Any other ideas, Twilight?"

"The running theory is that while you're berserk, you will be mainly focused on eating unicorn magic," Twilight told her. "You'll leave pegasi and earth ponies alone unless they get in the way or you've run out of the unicorn magic to eat. 

"So, their thinking is to have designated officials look into what earth pony communities do compared to a place like Canterlot. Such communities have magic, yes, but it's mainly in their strength and connection with the land. It's more passive than active in comparison. 

"It's really hard to say how much a master mev berserk would really hurt us the way Tirek's rampage did because the state you leave your meals behind in is much more functional. When you ate my magic as your first meal, I could still fly. I also still had my cutie mark like how Starlight and Trixie did when they went through the changeling hive. They couldn't use unicorn magic, but they still had their cutie marks. 

"You said then that you felt it was an instinct to draw the unicorn magic out. But what about now? Your theory then was that you could take cutie mark magic too if you wanted," Twilight said. "Do your instincts tell you just how bad off we can expect the ponies left behind in your wake would be?"

Everyone looked at Rainbow Dash to see her take pause, considering everything Twilight Sparkle said.

Soon after, the master mev nodded. "They do. Ponies would still have their cutie marks. When Tirek got to a lot of ponies, their eyes got a little discolored. My powers won't do that."

"Any idea why?" Fluttershy asked.

"It's difficult to explain, but I'll try," Rainbow answered. "Think about it like this. I will not bite children even when berserk," she reminded everyone.

They all nodded and waited for whatever would be next.

"A cutie mark does not mean you are either a child or an adult, but it is a sign of growing up. It's a really important part of pony development in our lives. Sweetie knows this quite well," Rainbow said.

Sweetie Belle nodded quietly and continued listening as all the others did.

"Even berserk, there is something about a master mev that respects or treasures youth, including that particular moment in a grown pony's life from that youth. The ponies I leave behind will sleep until sunrise. It's at night after all. Unicorns will be without magic. Pegasi will not be able to fly. They won't be able to sit or stand on clouds. As for earth ponies, they'll…" she gulped and winced, searching for the answer.

Her friends waited while she did.

"...struggle. All the ponies will be able to talk and stand and walk. They can still use their hooves and their mouths and tails. Pegasi can use their wings as extra limbs, even if they can't fly. Stuff like that. But earth ponies have a special connection to the land, and that connection's going to be disrupted. Not broken exactly, maybe kind of mixed up, thinned out," Rainbow explained at length as she realized and understood it all, to herself as well.

"That doesn't sound so bad," Spike thought as he wrote it all down.

"Not as bad as Tirek doesn't mean it still isn't bad," Rainbow reminded him. "But it does mean the princesses are probably on the right track of looking to earth ponies for guidance."

Twilight nodded and took control of the discussion once again. "Thank you. Both princesses said to leave it in their hooves. The berserk reserve really isn't our decision, but we would be informed if they choose to use one and can put in our own recommendation. We, Team Awesome, can consider our options for ending a berserk early or where the fledglings should be, but so far as the aftermath, that's their responsibility. 

"They won't imprison you because they know that this is the very fabric of who and what you are, and that you've done all the steps you can to prevent or minimize a berserk from happening. On the other side of this berserk, you are actually a protection for Equestria. We don't even know what happens to you after a berserk besides that you stop eating. You might be unconscious for some unknown amount of time. 

"What happens to us fledglings? How functional will we be during and after that night if we might be tired? They even mentioned maybe possibly trying to activate one on purpose to answer a lot of these questions." Twilight looked nervously at Rainbow Dash.

"That's a terrible idea!" Discord proclaimed angrily from his perch. "Not so bad my serpentine tail! You shouldn't do it Master!" He pointed with an emphatic claw.

"Trust me, they were very uncertain about it," Twilight added. "It was just a sort of...brainstorming idea...type thing."

Rainbow nodded, taking in what both Discord and Twilight said. "I'm inclined to agree with the Lord of Chaos here. A berserk is supposed to be for an emergency, and this? This is research, not an emergency. We've whittled down the chances as much as we can, and if they are as minuscule as we all hope, then I cannot possibly justify activating one on purpose."

The others quietly nodded in agreement.

"Primeva," Rainbow said with authority. "I agree with Rexa. You will have to step up. You are in charge if I ever go berserk, so you come up with ideas on what to do. I suggest you work with the others on this without me. Just notify me if I have some extra part I can play to help somehow. I should be left in the dark as much as possible. Don't even tell me if they use a berserk reserve."

Starlight Glimmer nodded as she replied, "I'm on it, Master. You can count on me."

"I know I can," Rainbow said. "Anything else Rexa?"

"That's all for my talk with the princesses, but so far as being a mev..." Twilight blushed. "I um...I made a request," she said with a shy smile to the others. "I asked Master if she might try growing a unicorn horn during a flexchange so it would be like being with an alicorn."

"Oh, that's so romantic," Rarity touched a hoof to her chest.

Sweetie Belle blinked as a small blush flushed in her cheeks. She stayed quiet, listening intently to the scene.

"That must have felt mighty special," Applejack said.

"It was," Twilight assured them all with a contented smile.

"We can make requests?" Pinkie Pie asked, wagging her tail with interest.

Rainbow's eyes met hers, and she stated quite seriously, "If it pleases you. The master takes care of her fledglings after all."

Pinkie blinked and suddenly blushed, shyly lowering and backing into her seat.

"That is all," Twilight concluded.

"That leaves you, Master," Sweetie noted. "As a number seven."

"Oh, right," Rainbow recalled. "I'm going to actually talk about Project Mercury now since there's one main thing to report. Like Rarity and Applejack said, we did a test confidence run. I used unicorn magic to grow Scootaloo's wings to the exact size we think we'll need. Rarity helped create these sort of feather gloves so that I could get a real eye and feel for the difference as closely as possible."

"And?" Fluttershy pressed for more.

"She struggled at first but not long. Once I reminded her to think of her dreams and swimming in Seaquestria, Scootaloo was able to fly. Even if we can't pull off the real deal in the end, my little sister got a flight in live Ponyville for at least once in her life. She was very happy about that and so was I."

Numerous "Awww" statements echoed across the table.

Sweetie smiled quietly to herself at happiness for her close friend.

"Since I chose the Crystal Empire to visit this past week, we didn't get any of the intended magic for our planned solution to Mercury. I'll also note, I requested Princess Cadance's magic and magic from a crystal pony. She has denied these requests for the time being but will be working on an appropriate time when she is ready. We are to bring Amara with us on any future visits to the Crystal Empire," Rainbow informed everyone.

The other mevs nodded in acknowledgment with nothing else to add.

"Yesterday, I visited Captain Celaeno. I informed her and her crew of my being a master mev, that Starlight is my Primeva, and that I have a pack without specifics of numbers and other names," Rainbow stated.

"How did they take that news?" Twilight wondered.

"Quite well," Rainbow said with a smile. "I even got to show off Blitz."

Twilight smiled.

"Is there a particular reason you did that?" Applejack asked.

"Oh, if you haven't heard," Twilight chose to explain, "Rainbow took the students to Celaeno's ship for the field trip. The students raved about it when they got back today."

"Master and I stopped to ask about bringing them yesterday before our trip, while taking the time to tell them about being vampires first," Starlight explained a little more. "So they got to see Blitz without the students around after Rainbow revealed herself."

"Way to go Master!" Pinkie Pie cheered.

"Yeah, it was pretty cool seeing the crew again. I'm glad the field trip was as awesome I hoped it would be," Rainbow said. "But back to pack stuff! Spike, you and Rarity are going to see Pee Wee Thursday, right?"

Spike stopped his scribbling and looked up at her. "Yeah," he said with a hint of hesitance.

"I want to go with you," Rainbow told him.

Spike looked over to Rarity, who nodded pleasantly, then to Twilight, who nodded with a small smile of her own. He blinked and gulped. "Why? You're not going to bite him, are you?"

"Only if he lets me," Rainbow said, unfazed by the question. "I want to see if I can find a way to talk to him and then maybe ask about that and some other questions. I promise he'll be safe."

"You're not taking Fluttershy too?" Pinkie wondered aloud.

"I'm busy tomorrow with the sanctuary," Fluttershy explained. "And besides, Master does have some of my magic in her."

"Good point," Rainbow acknowledged. "Plus, I want to try something my gut's telling me to do by calling on Blitz for help as well."

"The leviathan dread?" Spike asked and sounding worried.

"I've seen Blitz in her full size in the ocean itself, and she obeyed Rainbow's instructions to not hurt anyone. She's actually quite nice," Twilight assured him.

"I must agree," Rarity added. "Sweetie has even played with her."

Sweetie nodded. "I have. She's lots of fun."

"Not to mention I'll be there to help in any way I can," Rarity reminded Spike.

"Blitz was very charming when I met her," Fluttershy offered up as well.

That collective set of statements calmed the purple dragon down. "Okay. Okay," he nodded. "Okay."

"Great! Thanks buddy. I think that's it for my turn. Oh wait, actually one more...I went into a frenzy over the idea of Nightmare Night last night."

"It must be a thing that happens when you get really excited, maybe if it has to do with being a master mev," Twilight theorized.

"We have only the two, but that sounds about right to me," Rainbow agreed. "Now that's it for my turn through these rounds. Rhezenda, what's on the agenda?" she queried with an amused smile at her sudden rhyme.

"Nightmare Night," Sweetie Belle said with a smile too.

The Awesomevs cheered again.

"Yes!" Rainbow pumped a hoof. "Team Awesome, I have a challenge for you," she declared with a daring pride and stride in her voice.

The fledglings smiled with quiet anticipation.

"If you have not already felt this truth, let it be said that on Nightmare Night, I can use all the magic I want for fun and not be taking from the reserve. Thanks to our good friend here, Discord, Lord of Chaos," she gestured upward and Discord took a proud bow. She continued on, "...I have access to chaos magic. My goal is to ride Blitz in her solid form while cackling maniacally to drum up a sort of party fear we all know from this special night and doing that without actually terrorizing the outsiders. 

"I think we should announce ourselves, let them know that Team Awesome is the mev pack in their midst. Some of Ponyville already knows, much more than one pony. For the others, some of them may believe us, some of they may not, but if we pull this off in just the right way, it will ultimately not matter. 

"They will know that if we are real, they can party with us." Rainbow smiled mischievously and looked over to Pinkie who was grinning. "And that if they don't believe us, they saw an amazing show on Nightmare Night. It is to be a performance like no other! That is what your Master desires."

"We can set the stage at my family's farm," Applejack offered with enthusiasm. "It's a known hub already for Ponyville on Nightmare Night."

"I can make fliers," Rarity stated happily. "We will announce ourselves before we announce ourselves to truly signify our intent to perform."

Sweetie Belle raised a hoof.

"Yes, Rhezenda?" Rainbow asked.

"Since I'm a link to the outsiders, I'd like it if I could be a sort of announcer or an MC for this show. And since you can use any magic you want, I could be any form you want, like my adult form or even pegasus or alicorn or a bat pony, whatever you want, Master. I want in on the fun and the magic," Sweetie told Rainbow Dash.

"I like the way you think," Rainbow said. "Yes, you and I will have more time to work on that part."

"Maybe we could all be bat ponies together," Fluttershy suggested with a sweet smile.

"Could we really?" asked a hopeful Applejack.

"I'm certain it can be done," Rainbow declared. "Quintaza and Rexa, you two are in charge of organizing and coordinating all the stuff we just said."

Pinkie Pie saluted most seriously. "You've got it, Master. This is going to be the best Nightmare Night party performance ever. I will see to it."

"I'll be happy to do my part," Twilight agreed. "Spike's already been writing a lot of it down. Right, Spike?"

"Yup," Spike noted amidst his continued scribbling.

Discord was chewing popcorn from his perch. "Can I join?" he asked.

"The focus must be on the pack," Rainbow told him, "so if you are to join, you, like Sweetie Belle, will do so as support. You'll already be support because I'm going to need lessons on how to do some of this stuff. Still, get with Pinkie and Twilight to see if they have a role for you to do. We Awesomevs are the stars of the show. Got it?"

Discord nodded and gave a little salute. "Got it," he replied with a sincere smile.

"Next?" Rainbow asked Sweetie Belle.

"Where to next?" Sweetie said, looking at her notes. "For visiting other kingdoms."

"Oh yes," Rainbow said. "I'm thinking Griffonstone with me, Starlight and...Fluttershy. Sunday all or most of the day, just like I did with the Crystal Empire this week."

"I'm there," Starlight agreed immediately.

Fluttershy nodded. "I can do that."

"How are you going to get the idol of Boreas from the Abysmal Abyss?" Pinkie asked.

"The obvious answer would be to use chaos magic to teleport it from wherever it is right into my hooves or presence," Rainbow said, "but that's an easy out. It would be better if we can do it without that, to only use the chaos magic as a support. Just like the flexchanges that fill the reserve, there's a magic in the process itself. 

"We are friends with the griffons, and friendship magic with mev magic does amazing things. Add in only a dash of chaos." The master mev gestured to Amara in her case on the table and gave a little wink. "Griffonstone has no king or ruler of any kind, and is not structured in the same way that the Crystal Empire or Mount Aris are. I need to talk to Grampa Gruff or Gilda to get some kind of permission to even try first. Since Starlight will be with me, we'll have powerful unicorn magic we can use before resorting to reserved draconequis chaos magic. With two pegasi and two unicorns, Sweetie is going too, we might figure something out for how to get through those winds."

"Oh, I hope you all can do it!" Pinkie proclaimed.

"Obviously they can," Discord stated with confidence. "Even if it does end up being easy mode chaos magic, there will have been a process in the attempt made first."

"Neat," Pinkie said.

"We do still hope it can be managed properly," Rarity stated.

"Okay, I think that's it for tonight," Rainbow said glancing over Sweetie's notes and agenda. "All of you are dismissed. Magic lessons are up next for me."

Starlight and Discord nodded. They smiled with quiet eagerness.
> Chapter 45 - Up to Bat
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







"Okay," Starlight Glimmer said as she looked over her notes. "Are we still looking for you to be able to lift something really heavy that I can't?"

Rainbow Dash put a hoof up to her chin. "Not especially. To be honest, I don't really use levitation much, especially now that I have Sweetie Belle around to help me out." 

Sweetie Belle herself raised a hoof.

Rainbow glanced her way. "Yes, Rhezenda?"

"Can I see you lift something heavy? You said you might show me sometime," the young unicorn reminded her.

Without being prompted, Discord snapped his talons to flash in three lead couches on top of each other.

Sweetie Belle watched as a red magic aura lifted all three.

"Ta-da!" Rainbow Dash proclaimed with her red eyes.

After she magically set them down, Discord flashed them away in an instant.

Sweetie Belle clapped her hooves together proudly and smiled. "Neat."

Rainbow Dash bowed her head as thanks and moved onto thinking about her upcoming trip. "I don't think that kind of magic would help counter heavy winds, would it? The winds at the abyss are what stopped me last time I was there."

Both Starlight and Discord grew contemplative at that.

"No, levitation is used to levitate objects or solid physical things, not winds," Starlight noted in agreement. "And we're trying to avoid using Discord's magic if we can."

"The winds might be something for you and Sweetie Belle to tackle," Rainbow Dash considered aloud. "I want the two of you to get creative and come up with ideas. We're looking for a way to halt or at least ease the winds. Fluttershy and I can handle some wind. It's part of being a pegasus at all."

Both Starlight Glimmer and Sweetie Belle nodded.

"How about a torch?" Rainbow asked. "If we reach the bottom, it will be dark and you two might not be with us if you have to sort of magically hold whatever it is you end up doing. They've got helmets with headlights, but if it falls off somehow, I want the option."

"You could just pick it up with magic," Sweetie Belle reminded her.

"Good point. Still, it's a thing I want to know," Rainbow Dash admitted.

"Oh, sure. Those are easy," Starlight said, "especially since you can grow your own unicorn horn, which I would recommend doing for this idea."

Rainbow Dash nodded, closing her magenta eyes, shifting into red again, and the horn grew. She uncoiled her wings to see that they were still their standard pegasus size. She wasn't any taller either.

"Something wrong?" Starlight asked when realizing how Rainbow Dash was studying her own body.

"No," Rainbow shook her head. "Just noticing a finer detail."

"Which is?" Starlight prodded.

"My wings and height didn't change like they did on Sunday," Rainbow Dash informed her.

Starlight blinked and smiled as a theory came to her. "Because you're with me on my flexchange night instead of Twilight." She said it as a statement, rather than a question.

The master mev nodded thoughtfully in agreement. "Makes sense."

Sweetie Belle raised her hoof again.

"Yes, Rhezenda?" Rainbow asked.

"But you could change them if Starlight wanted you to, right?" Sweetie asked.

"During a flexchange," Starlight informed her. 

Sweetie Belle nodded in acknowledgment.

Starlight turned back to Rainbow Dash and continued the lesson. "Alright, so just like a lot of magic, you just kind of think about what you want to do. The more precision in your approach, mind, heart, and all, the better. I think you should think of the song you sang today with your friends. You talked about a light inside of you, so you want to think about that light you feel and then channel such a feeling into your horn to shine that light."

A white light appeared, as Rainbow had seen on unicorns like Rarity or Twilight or Starlight in the past, but Rainbow herself could not see it this time. "Is it there? I see some extra light, but it is hard to tell since it's kinda light in here."

Discord snapped his talons, and the room went dark, except of course for the light from the new torch.

"Oh cool, there it is. Thanks Discord," Rainbow said. "Seems a little small. Can I make it stronger?"

"Very likely given the nature of your powers," Starlight said. "Just focus more on the same light, maybe think of our friendship with it. A lot of this magic must be from myself and our bond."

The room brightened even more, enough to see all three ponies and the one draconequis quite clearly. "Nice," Rainbow Dash said to herself.

Discord snapped his lion paw fingers, returning the room to its lit form. The light from Rainbow's head disappeared, and the horn whisked away quickly after.

"Alright," Rainbow said. "Hopefully that's enough for what we might need in Griffonstone. Let's move onto the harder, more fun stuff for Nightmare Night."

Everyone grinned.

"First question," Rainbow stated. "Discord, since this magic is in the framework of a performance, kinda like how you have a framework of a game with Spike and Big Mac...can your magic then let Sweetie Belle fly? Or at least mixed up with pegasus magic since we can freely use our reserve that night?"

Discord stroked his beard. "Oh yes, most certainly. With the pegasus magic is best," he advised.

"Sweetie, we'll have to pick the form later because I don't want to dwell on it while I'm trying to learn this stuff. We're just going to play around with what it might be," Rainbow told the young filly.

"No complaints here," Sweetie Belle said with a smile. She very much liked the idea of experimenting.

"Let's start with the pegasus filly form," Rainbow said. She activated the form, and Sweetie now had more time to try and figure out how to fly. 

With renewed confidence and assurance that this was for the show, the filly flapped her wings and was able to raise and maintain herself into an extended hover. It was akin to how Rainbow herself usually stayed in place around her friends. Soon, Sweetie Belle learned a simple glide. Rainbow decided that those two maneuvers of flight would suffice. If Sweetie was to be a master of ceremonies, she would be in one main place or a select few places and only gliding here or there. It occurred to Rainbow Dash then that having a cloud to stand on might be a better idea. With Discord's guidance, Rainbow created one in the library and had Sweetie Belle stand on it.

Sweetie Belle looked down from where she stood. It wasn't her first time on a cloud, thanks to Twilight's help from times she'd been to Rainbow's house before, even before the mev bond. Still, it somehow felt all new being able to do it with wings coiled at her sides and a missing horn.

"Alright, if we have you on the cloud, someone's going to have to help move that cloud," Rainbow decided. "I'm going to be busy handling myself and the other Awesomevs, and I don't want to trouble you with learning it."

"I could certainly do it," Discord offered. "A sort of stage hand for your lot. I could take that on as my role."

"There you go." Rainbow immediately liked the idea. "Starlight, make sure Twilight and Pinkie get that. Discord on props and set will definitely be a proper support for the show."

Starlight Glimmer nodded and wrote it down in her notes.

"Okay. Up next: vampire bat pony. Adult bat pony," Rainbow decided.

They toyed with that some as well. Rainbow Dash asked about giving Sweetie Belle a microphone headset like she had seen from the Best Young Fliers' competition and at some Wonderbolts shows. She tried doing it herself with the chaos magic before noting that was more for learning since Discord would be the better choice to do it on Nightmare Night. That was his end of the chaos casting work load.

"Let me see if I can turn Starlight into a bat pony," Rainbow decided another next move.

Starlight innocently pointed at herself and then smiled that of course they would be trying such a thing this lesson. With a red glow on her backside, bat wings grew with ease. She found, like her master, that flying with the mev-given bat wings was actually quite easy. "I rather like this," she said with visible fangs and flapping wings during a hover in the air.

There was a knock at the door, which had never happened during a lesson but Sweetie Belle decided that as Rhezenda, she should be the one to answer it. 

Starlight descended, and Rainbow quickly turned the bat pony form off so as not to distract their visitor. 

Twilight walked in and yawned. "I'm so sorry to interrupt your lesson, Master, but I wanted to tell you before I forget and before you left...I remembered a couple of things that might help with your trip to Griffonstone. And you know, maybe I should tell you before the lesson is over just in case." She yawned again.

"No problem," Rainbow said. "What did you remember?"

Composing herself and gathering all the focus she could, Twilight said, "I remembered what the rest of you told me about shooting yourselves through a canon to pass through the super strong winds of the storm in Canterlot. You know, the storm caused by the Storm King. And after that, I thought of the chain we all made holding each other together in the strong winds to get the staff. I even have the Staff of Sacanas in the archives and maybe, just maybe, you could use it even though it doesn't contain all of the princess' magic anymore. You've got mine and Luna's actually in the reserve and are friends with Celestia and Cadance. It might be enough to help."

"That is super helpful," Rainbow replied. "I'm glad you told us. Anything else?"

"Nope, that is all," Twilight gave a little bow, yawned again, and left the room.

"Starlight, Sweetie, your assignment is the same," the master mev instructed, "but Twilight just gave you some great stuff to work with. We'll bring the staff too, just in case."

The two unicorns nodded.

"Speaking of Twilight, I want to learn that spell she used to make that glass case," Rainbow noted.

Starlight tutored Rainbow on how it was done, and they tried it out on a few books in the library.

After that, the lesson soon ended. The ponies and draconequis parted ways for the night.





On Wednesday night, Fluttershy glided her way into Rainbow Dash's house to meet for their flexchange. Rainbow was waiting, perched on her couch alone in full vampire form, her wings even half-spread for display. Sweetie Belle was staying at Rarity's that night. Tank was tucked away in his own room, and Blitz was not present. She was off in her void until Rainbow wanted her company once more.

"Master Rainbow Dash," Fluttershy said with a blush, instinctively suspecting the entire scene was set up for her. She flew down to perch on the opposite end of the couch.

"Segunda Fluttershy," Rainbow said with an eager fanged smile.

"Are those wings on because you know I like them?" Fluttershy asked.

Rainbow kept smiling, her eagerness slightly abated. "Hoped. My powers are not so strong as to completely read your minds."

"In that case, yes, I do very much like to see your bat wings," Fluttershy admitted.

The fledgling mev felt herself suddenly being pulled forward closer to the master by Rainbow's own magic though the red aura was not present, she rightly assumed as some dramatic effect. Rainbow's left bat wing brushed against Fluttershy's backside and stroked her gently. Fluttershy blushed with a small, delicate smile.

"How's this?" Rainbow asked.

"Quite nice," Fluttershy whispered.

"Are you ready, my dear Segunda?" Rainbow spoke in a low, welcoming voice.

Fluttershy's head was bowed down but she looked up enough to see the fangs when her master spoke. She pulled her long pink mane clear off her neck and happily nodded.

Rainbow leaned in and kissed Fluttershy's neck for a short time before she bit into it. The master mev soon felt the bite back and sat firmly in place, closing her eyes. She tilted her head upward, basking in the magic of their bond filling her. With the exchange over, Fluttershy backed away to make a little more space between them. Rainbow Dash returned to her standard nocturnal form of a pegasus with fangs. She watched her fledgling quietly. They both knew what was next.

Fluttershy glided off the couch to stand with more space on the floor. She spread both her feathered wings fully, closed her eyes, and concentrated. Both wings took shape into bat form. She looked from one to the other and stared at Rainbow with an open-mouthed smile, speechless for a moment. "Master, they're both here," she finally breathed.

Rainbow smiled back. "Yes, Segunda, they are."

"What about the rest of me?" Fluttershy asked. "Will my eyes and ears change? My coat? This feels too soon if it's supposed to happen right before Nightmare Night."

Rainbow Dash nodded in agreement at the theory. "Two more weeks. Those will be...optional." 

Fluttershy blushed and smiled at that prospect. She fluttered over to sit with Rainbow Dash and cuddled up against her. Rainbow smiled pleasantly and held her casual girlfriend.

"So, how do you like being a four week old vampire fledgling?" the master mev asked.

"It's rather nice," Fluttershy said. "You must be living it up as the master."

"You got that right," Rainbow agreed with a smile.

"It makes you so happy, and then that makes me happy too," Fluttershy said.

"The eternal sweetheart." Rainbow gave her a good squeeze though gentle enough with her strong forelimb.

"Hey, Rainbow Dash…" Fluttershy began.

"Hmm?" Rainbow wondered.

The other pegasus hesitated a moment before finally asking, "...Do you ever think about Tirek?"

"Obviously," Rainbow answered with a chuckle.

"No. I mean, do you ever think about going to see him or confront him or to talk to him or something like that?" Fluttershy probed.

Rainbow sighed. "Yeah, actually, I do."

Fluttershy sat up alert. "You do? Really?"

Rainbow nodded. "Yeah. I mean, think about it. I'm now a lot like him. I can kinda sympathize a little. The problem with how he ate magic is that he was a big jerk about it. A real grade A villain. But you know, I need to eat magic to not go berserk. I don't know if he needs it like I do.  I'm not familiar with the logistics of his imprisonment."

"So why haven't you or when will you?" Fluttershy prodded more.

"Where to even start?" Rainbow asked the room. "I just think about it. What would I say? What could I even do for him? Besides feed him. Maybe feeding him is something. Is there a proper time? Maybe I need to wait and have a stronger reserve to be able to do business with someone like that. Sure, I have protection now and food to share, but that doesn't mean we'll be...friends."

Fluttershy giggled at that idea. "It's not really so um..how can I put this? When I think of me and Discord, you and Tirek being friends doesn't really sound impossible."

Rainbow raised her eyebrows thoughtfully at that. She continued to stare out into the room. "No, I suppose it wouldn't."

"Do you think you could eat his magic?" Fluttershy wondered.

Rainbow nodded. "Mm-hmm." There was no doubt in her.

"Would you take it from him...forever...like that time Pinkie mentioned it? Could you?" Fluttershy wondered even more.

Rainbow closed her eyes. "I...can't. But...even if I could, that's…" she sighed. "It's not right. A last resort only. He's not hurting anyone where he is. Being stuck in prison is a pain in and of itself too."

"If you ever go, Rainbow, I...I offer myself to go with you," Fluttershy told her.

"I think having the Element of Kindness who is my Segunda in my corner would be a good support for that," Rainbow agreed. "Along with my girlfriend friend Fluttershy of many years." Then she joked, "Might be kinda crowded in there."

Fluttershy giggled. "Oh Master Rainbow Danger Professionalism Dash, Element of Loyalty, I can play that game too." She bopped Rainbow's nose with a playful hoof.

Rainbow giggled back, and they embraced tightly once more. Soon after, Fluttershy left for the night. The two pegasi always spent a little extra time but not to the same extent Rainbow would spend with Twilight sometimes or with Starlight and Discord for lessons. Fluttershy spent her extra nocturnal time to check on nocturnal creatures at her sanctuary and still liked to sleep some nonetheless.

Rainbow herself stroked at the back of her neck for a moment, thinking. She flew to the school gym. A little exercise sounded nice, and no doubt the students, maybe at least Ocellus, would attempt staying up to talk to her. Sometimes the mev curiosity was tiring, but Rainbow Dash did like attention. It might help develop her friendship bond with the students too, and she knew that was certainly worthwhile.
> Chapter 46 - Students and Service
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







"She's there," Ocellus whispered to a sleeping Yona with a tiny nudge. Yona snored loudly and did not wake. Ocellus gave up and left to find Silverstream's dorm. Once inside, "She's there," Ocellus whispered again.

Silverstream fluttered her eyes for a moment. "Who's where?"

"Master Rainbow Dash. She's at the gym right now," Ocellus said.

"Are you going to talk to her?" Silverstream asked.

Ocellus nodded. "You all told me to let you know in case you wanted to come too," she reminded her hippogriff friend.

"Oh," Silverstream realized. She stretched her arms and got out of bed.

The two friends tried waking the others in the other dorms too. Smolder gave a disinterested shake of her head. "Tell me how it went tomorrow," she groaned. 

Sandbar wouldn't wake up at all. 

Gallus took a few seconds, but he did wake up much the same way Silverstream did and eventually nodded that he was curious enough to join them.

When the three students arrived at the gym, they saw Rainbow Dash practicing her flying with agile angles, spins, and flips. She stopped upon hearing them enter. "Hey, look who's here," she greeted. "You three going to get enough sleep tonight?" she asked seriously, landing on the floor to address them.

Gallus rubbed his right eye and yawned. "We'll manage," he insisted.

"So, I can finally ask you some questions?" Ocellus said with obvious hope in her voice.

"Shoot," Rainbow offered with a playful smile. She sat on her haunches, and the three students decided to follow suit.

"Do you have a pack?" Ocellus asked.

Rainbow nodded. "I do. A full pack."

"Who are your fledglings? Is it Headmare Twilight and the other teachers? And Counselor Starlight?" Ocellus probed.

Rainbow nodded. "Yup."

"Really? You're going to tell us just like that?" Gallus asked in surprise to the master mev.

"Wow, fledglings really do blend in perfectly," Ocellus uttered to herself.

Rainbow replied to address Gallus, "It's really not that hard to piece together if you know that friendship bonds are considered best to create fledglings, which I'm sure Ocellus does know from reading the book. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna know who we are, along with certain friends and family. On top of all that," she grinned, and Ocellus took stronger notice of her nocturnal fangs, "we have something planned in a couple of weeks."

The three students stared at each other and then curiously at her.

"What happens in two weeks?" Silverstream asked.

"We ponies have a special night called Nightmare Night," Rainbow began to explain.

Ocellus gasped. "Oh right! That's a day that honors Nightmare Moon. Ponies dress up in disguise and offer up candy, so she won't eat them, especially kids for the candy offering. Even though Princess Luna isn't Nightmare Moon anymore, ponies in Equestria still celebrate it."

"What's that got to do with you being a vampire?" Gallus asked.

"That's not all there is to the night," Rainbow told him. "It's a night to be scared or be scary for fun. Imagine if you all knew what my fear snare was ahead of time. I've actually seen it in action. A special friend of mine was actually able to play in the snare."

"Really? How did she do that?" Silverstream asked.

"Perhaps the three of you would care for a demonstration?" Rainbow offered. "It would help test something for my own curiosity."

The three students looked at each other.

"Does it involve that snake again?" Gallus wondered with a hint of apprehension.

Rainbow Dash grew thoughtful. "I suppose that's something else we can test. I'll tell you what. Yes, there is a good chance my leviathan dread, I named her Blitz, will show up. Let's see if we can play without her. I might need her help if you find her more scary than me. There's got to be at least a little fear in there, is my own theory. So, what do you say?"

Again, the three students looked at each other, and this time, they all nodded.

"Alright, you three spread out. I've never tried to cast more than one. Experimenting! Fun!" Rainbow said as she gleefully rubbed her hooves together.

The three students complied. They stood and spread to three different places on the gym floor. They looked over to the master mev. Rainbow took a deep breath and shifted into her full vampire form. She lifted into a hover with her flapping bat wings and smiled with a mischievous glint in her dazzling red eyes. That was enough despite what the three students knew of their teacher since the day she revealed this form. A small red circle appeared under each one of them. They all looked down, mouths slightly agape. They could only slightly shift their limbs but their hooves and claws felt glued onto the floor.

"Get ready," Rainbow Dash warned them. Her eyes flashed into a glow on the red irises, and each of the three students felt themselves shifted along the ground like a magnet. It was a sharp, quick move, just enough to catch their breaths at the shock of the sudden movement. It stopped as quickly as it started.

"Heh," Ocellus breathed in relief. The other two students did the same.

"A little longer this time; we'll curve a bit. Try to jump inside the circle right after you sense a thrill inside," Rainbow advised them. She moved the snares again.

Silverstream was the only one of the three who could do it. "Yes!" she proclaimed to herself with pride.

"Here's another," Rainbow said.

Each snare tilted itself up to be vertical to its captive's backside, then pulled further forward. As a result, the snares surrounded the students halfway over their bodies like large red hoops, similar to the rainbow-painted ones higher up in the gym. The snare hoops lifted each student up in the air closer to the solid ones.

Gallus flapped his wings in place, finding himself stuck. "I can't get out. So that part's still working," he offered with a nervous half-smile, casually resting a cheek in one of his clawed hands.

"Okay, I've never tried this before. You're going for a short ride, like at an amusement park," Rainbow told them. Each of the students felt their snare hoops move them quickly forward in a jolt.

"Woo!" Silverstream said, immediately after her moment of sensing a thrill, and she was able to twirl herself out from the snare.

"Haha, look at you, Silverstream, my first escapee ever," Rainbow said, beaming with fascination.

"Yeah, go me!" Silverstream declared.

"No fear, huh?" Rainbow asked.

Silverstream nodded. "That's right!"

"As for you other two, each of you can fly, so I'm letting you go," Rainbow alerted them.

The snares disappeared.

Gallus and Ocellus caught themselves in place thanks to her warning.

Rainbow descended to the floor and reverted to her pegasus form, except for her preferred fangs.

"That was kind of fun," Ocellus admitted as she descended to stand near the mev.

Gallus followed and once he landed, he scratched the back of his neck. "I'm not really a fan of feeling trapped, but it helped to know it was a setup. And that I could jump or fly out if I ever do catch that moment."

"I liked it," Silverstream said pleasantly, still hovering. She flew down to join the rest. "So you're going to cast a giant snare for Nightmare Night?" she asked.

"Heh heh," Rainbow said. "We'll see. We're coming up with a plan, but I guess since the three of you saw her before anyone else, I will warn you that Blitz will be there. She will be much more scary this time around. That's part of the fun." The mev grinned eagerly, her gritted teeth baring emphasis to her vampire fangs.

"We're not supposed to be scared if she smiles at us like that, right?" Gallus asked. "It's nocturnivlair?"

"Actually...maybe?" Ocellus said. "But she's not going to hurt us beyond trying to scare us. And yes, it must be nocturnivlair."

"Oh, you most certainly should," Rainbow said deliciously. "Childish fears are scrumptious," she teased with a friendly chomp at the air.

The other three did find that amusing and chuckled.

"So, I still don't get what that has to do with us knowing who's in your pack," Gallus pointed out.

"We're putting on a show to reveal ourselves for fun this Nightmare Night," Rainbow proudly announced, raising herself into her standard pegasus hover near them. "Don't tell the other students yet, besides the others who know I'm a mev. They'll find out soon enough."

"You're not scared of how the other ponies will react?" Silverstream wondered.

"That's part of the challenge, and I do like myself a good challenge," Rainbow told her. "The idea is for it to not matter if they believe us or not, but that they'll have seen something amazing. I want it to be awesome you know." She smiled knowingly.

The other three smiled at that and nodded, all thinking of their field trip the day before.

"So, would you think it appropriate to describe master mevs as 'showy' creatures?" Ocellus asked.

"Oh definitely," Rainbow agreed as she descended back into a stand. "I mean, I only know myself, but yes, that's totally me. Before and after becoming a master mev. It might be part of why I was picked."

"Have you eaten magic from anyone besides Headmare Twilight and your flexchanges?" Ocellus continued her questioning.

"That's classified," Rainbow said with a slight tilt of her head.

Ocellus nodded in understanding. "What kind of business do you have to do for managing magic?"

"Hmm." Rainbow rubbed a hoof to her chin and sat on her haunches once more. The students decided to sit again too. The master mev continued, "Well, I've introduced myself formally to two other kingdoms. In fact, Gallus, I'll be heading to Griffonstone on Sunday for such a thing."

"Really? Who are you announcing yourself to? We don't have a king," he reminded her.

"I was thinking of Grampa Gruff or Gilda," Rainbow admitted.

"Well, say 'hi' for me I guess," Gallus said.

Rainbow nodded.

"You know, now that I think about it," Silverstream said, "I did get a letter from my brother saying he met you and Headmare Twilight in Mount Aris. He said he'd rather talk to me griff to griff on that since he had some questions instead of going into much detail. I did wonder if it was about you being a master mev. Is my home one of the kingdoms you formally visited?"

Rainbow replied with a slight nod, "It is; your family was very hospitable, thank you."

Silverstream smiled pleasantly.

"What else for business?" Ocellus said in hope for more.

Rainbow Dash thought for a moment. "Research on flight magic. Relic um...well, I've worked with a relic. I can't tell you too much. I do need to protect my clients."

Ocellus nodded. "There's no way to make an exception for that?"

"Do you wish to bind yourself in servitude to me?" Rainbow asked.

Ocellus shook her head.

"Then no, there isn't," Rainbow answered simply.

Gallus cocked his head and asked, "Has someone done that?"

"Yes, someone did, and she is more than I could have ever hoped for," the master mev replied.

"Do we know her?" Silverstream asked.

"I don't know," Rainbow admitted. "Does the name 'Sweetie Belle' sound familiar?"

"Terramar mentioned her in the same letter he said he met you, yes," Silverstream said. Then she grew a little shocked with a gasp. "She's your servant? Isn't she kinda young?"

"My dear student, I am a master vampire," Rainbow reminded her.

Silverstream blushed at being addressed in such a way with a bashful smile.

"Yes, she is young, young enough that I cannot bite her any more than I can bite you. She is well aware. In fact, she's the one I just told you all was able to play in the snare. Sweetie was very sure of her offer and is old enough to know what she wanted out of it. I made my binding term quite clear," Rainbow said.

"How does that work if your pack is full, and she's a child?" Ocellus asked.

"You really want to know?" Rainbow asked back with a serious tone.

Ocellus nodded with the same serious air in turn.

Rainbow Dash lifted her right forehoof to gesture, holding its bottom up to indicate it as the starting platform for her description. "You take a physical object, preferably one that's already hosted magic or has a magical connection to you, and by that I mean, me. 

"If there's any magic already in it, you take that out. I've got fledglings who can do that." She took her left forehoof and gestured it to indicate the pull away from the right forehoof. "Then the other creature puts their magic in that object." 

She used a wing to flap it a little to indicate the explained transfer. "They might need help, so a connection to me or a fledgling already through a family or friendship bond might do just that. This all has to be done with the creature's consent. They need to know what they've signed up for."

Ocellus nodded again as she followed along. The other two listened as well.

Using her left forehoof again, Rainbow Dash gestured another pull from the right. "Then a fledgling takes the magic that was put in the object. Then I eat the magic from my fledgling." She mock bit at her left forehoof for the would-be fledgling.

The three students flinched but kept listening.

Rainbow smiled and licked her lips at the reaction. She then respectfully went back to her explanation as she gestured her right forehoof at her chest. "That's from the creature to me. Now they need me to get to them." She pulled the right hoof away and spun it in place. "We're doing an exchange," she explained.

"Ohhh," Ocellus realized.

"So I send that creature's magic that I ate into the object in question," the master mev blew a small breath of air at her right forehoof with no magic, "the same one that they used and my fledgling ate from. 

"Then, somehow, that other creature needs take their magic back from the object." She gestured the hoof in the direction of her listening audience. "It will have master mev magic with it at that point. The creature is then not a fledgling but someone new and special altogether." She connected her right forehoof to her left and pulled them apart. "Servant to master." She connected her left forehoof to her right and pulled them apart. "Master to servant." She connected both hooves closing in together at the same time. "Voila. Mev bond." 

"Wow," Ocellus replied with a deep, fascinated breath.

"I believe you can call the object used a 'transmitter' to help channel the magic. Fledgling too, I suppose," Rainbow added.

"Do you think anyone else will try that?" Silverstream asked her.

"There's one special pony to me who is definitely thinking about it," Rainbow explained, "but the decision is not as easy to make for them as it was for Sweetie Belle. I do not accept such offered service lightly. I bind my servants to me. There's no trial run, no halfway point. They must be sure. A servant gives themselves to me." Her eyes turned red and shimmered. "They are mine. I am a master."

"Yeah, you're definitely scary," Gallus surmised, pointing at her with his right index claw.

"Why thank you." Rainbow graciously tilted her head as a slight bow to indicate she took it as a compliment. Her eyes were already magenta once more. "For whatever it may be worth to you, I do try to be a worthy master."

"Do you really think this binding would work with creatures who aren't ponies?" Ocellus asked. "I noticed you kept using that particular word, 'creature', even though I'm pretty sure this Sweetie Belle is a pony. It seems fledglings have to be ponies."

"I guess I'll find out if you ever change your mind," Rainbow winked in jest. "More seriously, yeah, I'm pretty sure. Blitz serves me, and I never even asked her. She just showed up."

"It was just like you said back then," Ocellus said sympathetically, "there's nothing in that book about fear snares or a leviathan dread. It only mentions that you can sense and feed off fear."

"Right," Rainbow agreed. "Well, I think I've kept the three of you from sleeping long enough. If I hear about any of you sleeping in other classes tomorrow, we won't be able to keep chatting like this. So do your part, alright?"

The three students nodded.

"For Nightmare Night, is there anything we could do to help?" Gallus wondered.

Rainbow Dash pondered for a moment and replied, "If you all can get up the nerve, come to the show and don't panic. Have a good time. If others in the audience see that, it will help them not panic and join in on the fun. Blitz is going to be very large and very real. I'm going to be laughing it up, super nocturnivlair, but we're not going to harm anyone. Thrills and chills my friends!" She cackled.

The three students collectively flinched in response to that cackle.

"Hmm, that sounds kinda hard," Silverstream said with a mildly nervous tone.

"We can do it if we all go together," Gallus decided aloud.

"I agree," Ocellus said. "And it does help that we are friends with the Master Mev herself."

Rainbow Dash gave them an amiable salute and sent them on their way.
> Chapter 47 - Phoenix Visit
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







On Thursday afternoon, Rarity, and Spike walked together into a forest with numerous tall, slender trees. Rainbow Dash hovered near them. Spike was noticeably clutching at his cheek the whole time.

"We do appreciate you showing us the way to the phoenix's' nest, Spike," Rarity said graciously.

Spike smiled up at her. "Anything for you, Rarity. Besides, I've been meaning to visit Pee Wee, as you both know."

Rainbow Dash eyed the trees, scoping the area out in general and added a simple, "Mm-hmm."

Rarity, meanwhile, saw he was still clutching at his cheek and half-frowned. She went on to say, "He really was an excellent pet. I can't imagine why you set him free."

Spike could tell she was watching, grimaced, and continued the conversation all the same. "Phoenixes aren't meant to be domesticated."

"I guess Princess Celestia has an exception," Rainbow noted, still gazing into the scenery.

Spike continued, "Even in the wild, they like to keep to themselves."

Rarity peered closely at Spike with a frown, then smiled to still talk about phoenixes. "Well, they are beautiful." She paced in a circle around the small purple dragon as she spoke. "A few of their feathers will add just the right splash of color to my latest-" 

Finally, she had enough as Spike kept hiding whatever was on his cheek. She used her unicorn magic, casting its light blue aura, to lift him. "Spike!" she said sharply. "What are you doing?"

"Agh! Nothing," Spike said as she magically set him down and released him.

By now, Rainbow was more focused on Spike and Rarity than their surroundings and looking for Pee Wee.

"Is there something wrong with your face?" Rarity asked.

Spike sighed. "It's a stone scale," he admitted with mild shame. "It isn't magical or anything like the call of the Dragon Lord. It's just red and itchy and embarrassing."

"Oh, precious pants," Rarity said sympathetically. "That does look uncomfortable."

Rainbow Dash nodded from her hover. "I agree." She rubbed at her own cheek in sympathetic irritation.

"But even I get the odd blemish from time to time; it's nothing to be embarrassed by," Rarity tried to console Spike. Satisfied she knew what was happening, she walked forward once more. 

Spike picked up his pace a little to keep up with her. 

"You could pay Zecora a visit," the pretty white unicorn offered a suggestion. "She makes a cream that works wonders." 

She recalled a separate, unpleasant experience and added, "Just don't get the shampoo."

The trio soon drew near to the sought phoenix nest. "There's Pee Wee's parents!" Spike said as he pointed at it. He looked side to side. "But I don't see Pee Wee."

"Maybe he moved out," Rarity said. "Everybody has to leave the nest at some point."

"Yeah, I'm not caught up on the nature of phoenix maturity, can't say that's been part of my reading," Rainbow commented.

Just then, a phoenix swooped in between the Spike and Rarity, blowing wind through Rarity's purple mane. 

"Pee Wee!" Spike said excitedly and ran over to see his orange-feathered friend.

Pee Wee paused in his flight and swooped down again to fly a circle around Spike. He landed, and Spike gave him a hug. The phoenix was now a little taller than Spike. Pee Wee hugged the young dragon back.

"Hey buddy! It's great to see you. I brought a couple of friends who wanted to ask for your help, if that's alright," Spike said.

Pee Wee nodded, ready to hear what the two ponies wanted.

"Rarity here would like some feathers for a dress she's working on, if it's not too much trouble," Spike said and gestured to the unicorn.

Pee Wee nodded and plucked a few to give that Rarity happily accepted.

Spike sighed. Rainbow Dash descended to stand next to him. "Rainbow Dash here has something that's uh...much more difficult and weird. Um, do you know what a 'master mev' is?"

The phoenix friend shook his head.

"Do you sense anything special about her?" Spike wondered, gesturing to her body. "Like does she seem different than the last time you saw her or from any other pegasus?"

Pee Wee looked at Rainbow Dash, studying her seriously for a moment, and shook his head again.

Spike sighed again. 

Rainbow put a hoof on his shoulder in consolation with a warm smile. "It's not a bad thing."

He perked up a little that. "Okay, then. Your turn. Pee Wee, I promise that my friend's friend is not going to hurt you, alright? No matter how scary it is, please stay."

Pee Wee cocked his head, staring at the dragon with intrigue. He looked at Rainbow Dash, who again seemed like she always did, then Spike, and ultimately nodded.

Rarity and Spike made to clear themselves away in a proper spot. 

Rainbow Dash backed away a few paces before tapping her hoof to the ground. 

Pee Wee watched with curiosity as a red circle surrounded the sky blue pegasus. That was something he had not seen before. Then he saw the translucent essence of a leviathan. The bird's beak dropped in awe, and he fluttered his wings before remembering to stay put.

Blitz stared down at him, meeting his eyes. None of the others could hear it, but she sent the message all the same. Master.

Pee Wee suddenly became very animated and nodded his head up and down, lifting into a hover. He chattered away at a quick pace.

"Master?" Rarity asked. "What's he saying? Do you understand him now?"

"Not quite yet, but I'm getting something," Rainbow said. "Blitz?"

Blitz looked from Pee Wee to Rainbow and simply nodded. She nodded at Pee Wee, then gestured her head to Rainbow and nodded yet again. That was enough for the master mev to grasp. "He actually does know what a master mev is. Blitz is some kind of trigger. That's why she can message my title. It's like the knowledge of what I am is locked away until I show up for creatures like phoenixes," Rainbow explained.

"Oh," both Spike and Rarity said at the same time.

"That's rather fascinating, isn't it?" Rarity asked rhetorically.

Pee Wee gestured his wing tip at his beak and chomped. Then he crossed both his wings and shook his head.

"Master, care to translate? Or do you still need Blitz?" Rarity asked.

"'No biting'," Rainbow said.

Spike sighed in relief.

"May I have your magic some other way, please?" Rainbow asked with a polite, careful tone.

Pee Wee shook his head but then gestured up to his parents.

"Master, I must ask you to keep translating for us, please," Rarity requested.

"He's young and even though I'm not biting him, it's better to get the magic from his parents since they're older," Rainbow said.

Pee Wee confirmed with a nod. He held up a set of feathers for her to wait and flew up to the nest.

"He's going to talk to them," Rainbow explained.

Sure enough, Pee Wee chatted with his parents, and then the pair joined him, descending from the nest to see the dragon, ponies, and leviathan dread. Pee Wee gestured at Blitz.

"Go ahead," Rainbow told her pet.

Blitz sent the Master message again.

The beaks of both parents dropped in awe much like Pee Wee's did a moment ago when first seeing Blitz. The mother of the two flapped her wings to fly up and circled around Rainbow Dash, studying the master mev. Pee Wee chattered away.

"This one's his mother. She's scoping me out," Rainbow continued to translate for Spike and Rarity, "and Pee Wee's telling her what I just asked."

The mother flew down to the ground and motioned at Rainbow then into her beak.

"She's asking if the magic comes back. Now I gotta talk to her," Rainbow said. She addressed the phoenix. "Once the magic is inside of me, it will go back to you in one week." 

She gestured at her own chest as she looked at the mother, then pointed her hoof at the mother phoenix.

Rainbow put her hoof on the ground and drew a straight line, then a circle above some space over it to represent the sun. She put a curve over the sun and drew tally lines up to seven. "Do yo understand?"

The mother phoenix examined the dirt drawing and nodded. She gestured at Rainbow again and flared out her wings emphatically. She gestured at her beak again and opened it, a feather pointing to its inner top. The mother phoenix gestured at her own eyes. She gestured at Rainbow's eyes, then her own again. Pee Wee drew closer to her and looked at Rainbow Dash. He gestured his 'no biting' rule again. The mother nodded and copied his same gesture.

"She wants to see my vampire form with the enchantment on but still no biting," Rainbow said. With a touch of mild surprise at the end of translation, she asked the mother, "Really?"

The mother phoenix nodded.

"To be fair Master, the enchantment does feel quite lovely," Rarity reminded Rainbow. "Just as when you did with us, she knows to expect it."

The master mev certainly didn't mind. "Alright, sure," Rainbow agreed to the terms.

Pee Wee and his father moved to the side so that only the mother phoenix would gaze on at Rainbow to feel the enchantment.

Rainbow Dash transformed and spread her bat wings wide. Her red eyes gazed on at the mother phoenix. The master mev sent an extra shimmer to round through her irises. She smiled to part her mouth and show off her fangs.

The mother phoenix opened her beak in awe, fluttered her wings, and encircled Rainbow Dash again. She returned to where she stood a moment ago,

Rainbow let her gaze linger for little while longer before she reverted to her standard pegasus form.

The mother phoenix flew over to Rainbow and hugged her neck.

"Heh, my pleasure," Rainbow said, blushing as she pat the back of the mother phoenix with a hoof.

The mother flew back to the ground and gestured from her chest to her beak to an empty space at the air to Rainbow Dash.

"What's she saying?" Spike asked.

"She can channel her magic into something to go into me," Rainbow told him.

"Oh, it's a good thing we brought the crown then," Rarity said. "Shall I, Master?"

"Yeah, go ahead," Rainbow replied. 

Rarity used her magic to take the crown out of her saddlebag and set it on the ground. 

"Everyone, clear away. Give Mama Pee Wee some space," Rainbow Dash instructed their company.

The mother phoenix mimed an amused laugh at how she was referenced.

Rarity, Spike, and Blitz did as the master mev said. Rainbow herself lifted into a hover, and Blitz lifted to match her master.

The mother phoenix channeled her magic in a large bright orange beam into the crown. When she was done, she wiped her forehead and appeared tired.

"Go ahead, Rarity," Rainbow said as she returned to the general area with the crown and phoenix family.

Rarity opened her mouth, and Spike's jaw dropped a little since it was the first he ever saw of the white unicorn's fangs or her magic-eating. Rarity finished and simply announced, "Done."

Rainbow hovered down, and Spike watched as the sky blue pegasus mev bit into Rarity's neck. Spike gulped. He looked at Blitz who watched the entire thing quietly. He looked at the phoenix family who watched in quiet fascination. Evidently, it was okay to watch this particular bite for this particular business.

When the mevs were done, Rainbow bowed graciously to the mother phoenix. "Thank you very much. If there's anything else I can ever do for you, let me know." She outstretched her right wing.

The mother phoenix smiled and shook it with her own right wing. The father phoenix chattered at Rainbow and gestured toward the nest.

"It's the least I can do," Rainbow said with a warm smile, and she gently lifted the mother phoenix up to the nest. The father and Pee Wee followed.

Rainbow gave a little hoof bump to the other two, saluted, and descended to join her friends.

"So how much of that was Fluttershy's magic?" Spike asked with mild curiosity.

"It's too mixed in to say," Rainbow told him. "It was her turn last night, so that probably helped too."

"Do you really think so, Master?" Rarity asked.

"Just a guess," Rainbow admitted.

"A master mev instinct guess though?" the white unicorn probed.

Rainbow nodded, thought for a moment and looked at Blitz. She held out her hoof. The leviathan drew closer and allowed herself to be pet. "Thanks again, Blitz," Rainbow said in sincere appreciation. "That's all for now."

Blitz nodded and slipped away into a red circle on the ground.

Rainbow Dash looked at Spike. "Spike the Brave and Glorious does it again." She offered him a hoof to bump.

He blushed, clutched at his stone scale, and bumped back with his other claw.

After that, the master mev winked and blew a kiss at her fledgling as the means to express gratitude for her Mitria's part. Rarity blushed and smiled back. She giggled, rubbed her own cheek, and even blew a kiss back. 

Spike looked from one to the other with his mouth partly open in jealous awe. He shook his head and reminded himself they were vampires. They had made it no secret the nature of their mev bond was an intimate one. He went back to rubbing at the bothersome stone scale on his cheek.

"Perhaps you should pay Zecora a visit sooner than later," Rarity suggested to Spike.

"Not a bad idea," Rainbow concurred.

The young purple dragon sighed and pointed at the stone scale. "I don't want anyone else to see this. Besides, I'm sure it'll clear up after a good night's sleep."

Rarity looked up at Rainbow Dash with a disapproving half frown.

Rainbow shrugged from her hover. As far as she could tell, it was just an ugly blemish and maybe it really would clear up on its own.

The three headed back to Ponyville together, phoenix feathers and magic in tow.
> Chapter 48 - Scooting Uncertainty
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







On the same Thursday afternoon when Rainbow Dash, Spike, and Rarity spoke to Pee Wee and his family, the Cutie Mark Crusaders held a meeting at their clubhouse. Meetings weren't always about crusading, and Sweetie Belle would give updates to her two friends on what she could about her role as Rhezenda to the master mev of Team Awesome. She knew she could share stuff about the Tuesday night magic lessons, and that was the discussion at hoof at the moment.

"You learned how to fly?" Scootaloo asked with an incredulous and jealous tone.

"Just hovering and gliding," Sweetie Belle said defensively. She hoped things would not go this way, but she could not hide this fact. The young pegasus would have found out eventually by the show itself, from someone, even if she did not go.  "It was just for the lesson and will be on Nightmare Night. I can't grow wings whenever I want and do it. It's not the same as being a real pegasus who can fly."

"But...still…" Scootaloo replied. "You get to fly on Nightmare Night, and I don't." She folded her forelimbs while sitting in a disappointed pout.

The young white unicorn stared at the floor, trying to think of how to console her friend. "You could try asking her," Sweetie Belle suggested.

"Huh?" That idea caught Scootaloo's attention.

"Rainbow gets to use all the magic she wants for fun on Nightmare Night. She's got rules for other times. We have fun during the lessons sure, but the point is to learn. She's not an actual unicorn, alicorn, or draconequis. If a job can be done without reserved magic, she's supposed to do it that way," Sweetie Belle explained.

Scootaloo nodded. "Yeah, I remember." And even if Rainbow was any of those things, she still couldn't give the filly permanent flight ability.

"So, just ask her. You're her little sister, and she gets this freebie," Sweetie Belle pointed out.

"Do you really think she'd say 'yes'?" Scootaloo asked, interested in the prospect but scared to be denied.

"I really can't speak for my master beyond that, Scootaloo. I'm sorry. It's part of my mev bond. But I do think you should ask her," Sweetie Belle urged again.

"Well, she's not my master," Apple Bloom interjected, "and I think she would say 'yes.' Go for it. She's trying real hard to get you the real thing, isn't she?"

Scootaloo nodded then asked Sweetie Belle, "When does she even have time? I'd rather ask her without anyone else there."

"That's something I can definitely arrange as Rhezenda," Sweetie Belle happily offered, perking up at being able to help her friend. "She'll be here soon to pick me up. I'll tell her you have a request, and Apple Bloom and I will make ourselves scarce."

"Right, we'll just head over to the barn so Rainbow knows where to find us when you're done," Apple Bloom decided.

Scootaloo blushed. "Thanks you two."

The other two Crusaders nodded with friendly smiles.

The meeting wore on until at long last, the expected knock from the master mev arrived.

"Hi Master," Sweetie Belle greeted. "Scootaloo has requested some time one-on-one with you this afternoon."

"Has she now?" Rainbow Dash asked with an interested smile, looking at Scootaloo.

The pegasus filly looked nervous as she stared at the floor but smiled back and nodded.

"Very well," Rainbow agreed with a polite bow of her head, fully entering into the clubhouse.

"Sweetie will be waiting at the barn with me for when ya'll are done," Apple Bloom informed her.

"We'll see you soon then," Rainbow replied as she waved them off. The door shut behind them. The master mev waited a moment and looked at Scootaloo. "So, what can I do for you, Little Sister?" she asked.

Scootaloo blushed and gathered her thoughts before starting with, "Sweetie Belle told us about your plans for Nightmare Night."

"Yeah, it's really cool, isn't it?" Rainbow Dash asked with enthusiasm. "My pack's going to have so much fun. Are you coming to the show? It's supposed to be scary but hopefully not panic-inducing terror type scary. Thrills!" She grinned.

"I don't know," Scootaloo admitted, not sure if it would be the sort of thrills she herself enjoyed. She gulped. "I was wondering if...since you get to use all the magic you want on that night, if – if I could fly too, like how Sweetie Belle might?"

Rainbow blinked and softened into another, smaller smile. "Is that it?"

Scootaloo nodded hopefully.

"Sure!" Rainbow Dash proclaimed with assured joy. "Even if you're not at the show, being in Ponyville should be close enough. It'll wear off by sunrise. Mev rules you know."

"Really? Just like that?" Scootaloo asked. Somehow, she expected a catch, but then, having it only for the night was a catch, wasn't it?

"Hay yeah, just like that," Rainbow Dash replied with continued fervor. "I've got a night to give you something that means the world to you. Well, I mean, I think...I mean...I haven't forgotten where we started with this whole 'flying thing' idea."

Scootaloo nodded and replied, "Me neither. But it does mean a lot to me to have one night just like it did for those few minutes."

"Then you got it, Little Sis," Rainbow said. "I've got the power!" she sang facetiously. Cartoon rock music lit the air as she pretended to play an air guitar.

Scootaloo giggled in heartfelt amusement. Then she swallowed to prepare for another serious question on her mind. "Can I ask you about something else too?"

"Master Rainbow Dash at your service," Rainbow said with respectful, slight bow of her head. "Ask away."

"What would you say if I ever asked to be a servant of yours...like you did with Sweetie Belle?" Scootaloo asked with a hesitant tone. She toyed with touching her forehooves together in her contemplation.

"I'd say, 'Are you really asking me now'?" Rainbow told her with utmost sincerity.

Scootaloo nodded. "It's not the same offer as Sweetie Belle's. I'm just curious on what you think about it."

"I think," Rainbow said firmly with a light pause, "that I love you very much."

Scootaloo looked up at Rainbow Dash with a grateful smile.

"And I'm not against the idea..." Rainbow Dash continued.

"Really?" Scootaloo asked and then paused in thought. "But?" she asked with a hint of concern. "I'm sensing there is a 'but' to all of this, right?"

Rainbow smiled with two soft and sincere magenta eyes. "But why would you want to be my servant? My fledglings are my friends looking out for me, in part so I don't go berserk and in part for what a master mev is supposed to actually do with reserving and managing magic. Sweetie Belle's with me to see the world and learn about magic. And the kid likes vampire stories, go figure. Blitz is a gift from my own mev power. I don't know what she gets out of it, but she seems happy to receive my love and appreciation for her. If that's what it is, then awesome.

"Take all of that, think on it, and tell me, what would you get out of it? When Sweetie Belle joined me, I put the point to her and Princess Celestia to me, that I already had six servants in my fledglings. I don't need anymore. 

"Still, Sweetie Belle saw something she could offer in herself to me, and I accepted. She's a great Rhezenda. I'm very happy to have her with me. If you want to be a servant to this master as well, I want you to find a calling in it. I want you to find something you think you can do for me, and that I can give you in return, something beyond the friendship we already have."

"And if it's just so that I can spend more time with you and maybe go on adventures too, is that enough?" Scootaloo asked, still toying with her forehooves while sitting. "It would be a lot like Blitz. I just want to be with you, to feel that love and appreciation. That's it."

"I certainly find Blitz enough," Rainbow Dash told her. "Do you understand the cost of the bond?" she asked. "Rhezenda told you, right?"

The younger pegasus nodded. "Real servitude. I'm yours. I might need a title, and we might have to exchange magic," Scootaloo looked up at the master mev uneasily.

"Definitely have to exchange magic," Rainbow confirmed with a steadfast tone. "It requires a mev bond."

"Is it even possible then?" Scootaloo asked with some worry in her voice. "I don't have a unicorn horn," she pointed out, tapping to her forehead with her right forehoof.

"It's not an issue until you are sure," Rainbow Dash explained. "And I get the feeling you're still not sure."

"You're right. I'm not," Scootaloo admitted.

"Don't forget," Rainbow said quite seriously, "I am a vampire. You've mostly seen me during the day since I transformed. I am different at night. I wear my fangs, and my nocturnivlair is more pronounced. Kids find me scary, and I find I like to scare them. Got it?"

Scootaloo nodded in understanding of that warning. It was part of her hesitance. "Got it."

"Good. Anything else?" Rainbow asked.

Scootaloo hugged her. "Just this. And maybe...even if I don't become your servant, we could spend some time together as sisters during the day. It doesn't have to be right now this afternoon, just...soon, please."

Rainbow Dash hugged her back with a warm smile. "I'm on it."





Later that Thursday night, Rarity arrived at Rainbow Dash's house. Sweetie Belle went to her own room to attend to the trunk though she was happily allowed Blitz's company as she did.

Rarity herself entered Rainbow's room, taking interest in the gold crown sitting on a pedestal. "You keep this one here?"

"Yeah," Rainbow answered. She hovered near and gestured a forelimb at it. "I still haven't figured out this thing's name. Strangely, I just know a couple of names it's not."

"Oh, do tell," Rarity replied with interest.

"Well...it's not 'Celeste' named after Princess Celestia, who gave it to me. And it's not 'Icarus' from the story that matches what almost happened to you. Things didn't really work out for that guy."

Rarity blushed. "Yes, I am familiar with the tale. It is a little embarrassing how closely I mirrored it." She paused on reflection. "One is a girl's name, and another a boy's."

"Yeah," Rainbow stroked the back of her mane. "I'm thinking of having it be gender fluid, assuming that if this thing ever talks or communicates with me, it's cool with that."

"It doesn't do those things already like Amara does?" Rarity asked with concern.

"Amara has an approved name she likes from her guardian," Rainbow Dash reminded her, landing back on the floor, as the two ponies stood near the pedestal, analyzing the crown. "This one needs more time."

"Hmm. Perhaps you would like some assistance, Master? That is what we fledglings are here for after all," Rarity said.

"Sure, you can write up a list when you've got time," Rainbow replied with approval.

"Very well. It shall be done," Rarity declared. "Now then, I am sure you are hungry."

"I am," Rainbow admitted.

Rarity brushed her mane clear from the left side of her neck and closed her eyes, feeling the master mev's bite. Her fangs grew, and she bit back soon after. This night's magic felt like a warm, cozy fire. Both mevs knew they could thank their phoenix friends for that.

The third fledgling sank to the floor with a delighted smile. Rainbow Dash happily picked her up and carried her to the bed, spending a few minutes petting the unicorn mare's long purple mane. "Thank you, Master," Rarity murmured.

Rainbow smiled warmly at her. With her best deep vampire voice, she said, "It is a pleasure to serve those who serve me."

Rarity giggled, and Rainbow did too.





Sometime after the flexchange, Rarity was teaching Sweetie Belle more about how to draw. The two sisters sat on their haunches by the drafting table Rainbow had bought the filly her first day as Rhezenda. Rainbow herself was reading or exercising in Blitz's company elsewhere in the domain.

The younger white unicorn said to her older sister, "Can I ask you something that's not about the lesson right now?" 

"Of course my dear," Rarity replied. "It's not like we're at a real school here, and this is a nice way to spend time with my little sister."

"Do you have a thing with Master Rainbow Dash?" Sweetie Belle asked.

Rarity blushed and fluttered her eyes. "Whatever do you mean?"

"Like how Twilight talked about requesting Rainbow to grow an alicorn horn. Fluttershy tries to turn into a bat pony. Do you have a thing that you like or ask her to do when it comes to your flexchanges?" Sweetie Belle elaborated. 

"That's awfully personal, Sweetie Belle," Rarity said sternly.

"I know. I just thought maybe since we're sisters and with everything since I found out you're mevs, you might tell me," Sweetie Belle said with an earnest smile.

Rarity blushed again. "You promise not to laugh?"

Sweetie Belle shook her head, her smile now with an air of mischief. "No."

Rarity laughed in spite of herself. "Oh very well, but you tell no outsider. Understand?"

Sweetie nodded seriously.

After a slight pause, Rarity admitted, "I like her to pet me."

"Pet you?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Yes, here. Lie down, prone on the ground," Rarity instructed.

Sweetie Belle obeyed. The unicorn filly felt the gentle, caring stroke of a hoof over her mane three times over. She found she liked it too.

"Like this," Rarity said. "She did it our first night together, and I've treasured it ever since. It lasts a mere few seconds or a few minutes at most I imagine. It's always enough. To change it up, she might try it with a wing or even flutter the other wing a bit, so that I can feel a soft breeze."

Sweetie Belle sat back up on her haunches. "No fair. You made it way too sweet for me to laugh at."

"Oh, I suppose I should have known a pony with a name like 'Sweetie Belle' would understand," Rarity said happily.

They smiled at each other and continued on with their extended Thursday night time granted by Rarity's flexchange turn with Rainbow Dash and Princess Luna's nocturnality magic.
> Chapter 49 - Molting Dragon
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Snoring and murmuring to himself, Spike slept covered in his blanket in his small bed at Twilight's castle late Friday morning.

Twilight Sparkle opened the door to his room and said, "I can't believe you're still asleep."

Spike flicked his tail with an annoyed groan. "Ugh. Just five more minutes."

With her alicorn magic, Twilight opened the curtains to Spike's room as he continued to snore. "It's nearly noon, and you promised to help me with my lecture for class today."

Spike rose out of his bed, his back still facing Twilight. "Noon? Whoa. I slept like a rock." He rubbed at his face. "Which reminds me, all that sleep probably cleared up my stone scale!" he declared. He looked at Twilight.

Twilight's mouth fell open, and her eyes widened with a horrified gasp. "Um. On second thought, you can go back to sleep if you want." She smiled at him nervously.

Spike felt at his face again and moved to face himself in the mirror for a peek. Instead of his one bothersome blemish from the day before, his face was now covered in numerous stone scales. "Aaaaaaaah!" he screamed in horror. Spike started to close the curtains Twilight just opened. He jumped into his bed and covered himself completely with his blanket. 

Twilight approached the bed. "Spike, what are you doing?"

"Hiding," he said from under the blanket, "From my hideous face!"

"I'm sure it feels terrible," Twilight said sympathetically, "but it's just a breakout. It's not the end of the world."

Spike peeked out from his blanket with small glare. "That's easy for you to say. Your face isn't covered in itchy red spots." He scratched with fervor at his face in frustration.

"I used to get terrible breakouts anytime I had a final exam with Princess Celestia," Twilight admitted with continued sympathy. Then she got a little annoyed with a thought and enviously added, "who probably never had a blemish her whole life." She stopped there and smiled at Spike.

Still scratching at himself, Spike replied, "Well, I'm not in magic school."

"No," Twilight agreed, "but these things can be stress-related, and you did spend yesterday with Rarity."

"Heh! What could possibly be stressful about that?" he said nervously. "Rainbow Dash was there too."

Twilight gave a tiny groan at that and moved back to the starting topic, "You could try Zecora." She used her alicorn magic to start opening the curtains again. "She makes a cream that…"

"...works wonders. I've heard," Spike finished for his friend. He got out of the bed and looked at the mirror. He added, "But I'm not leaving the castle until my face is back to its adorable self." He tried to pop one of the stone scales and failed, grunting in pain.

"Fine.." Twilight conceded, "But you're still gonna help me practice my lecture." She magically placed a stack of several sheets of paper in his claws to hold.

Spike groaned but was clearly going to comply.

Twilight cleared her throat. "Ahem. The element of generosity and its importance in relation to the other Elements of Harmony - "

Spike burped a very large burst of green fire, burning all the sheets of paper in a quick whoosh. He covered his mouth while holding the pile of ashes that was the paper.

Twilight gasped in horror. "My lecture!" she lamented, magically lifting the pile of ashes into a ball.

"I don't know what happened!" Spike insisted. "I just had a sudden case of - " he stopped as he tried and failed to hold in another burping blast of green flame. Twilight teleported out of the way. She teleported back in with a fire extinguisher and sprayed it over her assistant dragon friend.

"...indigestion," Spike finished. "I'm so sorry!" he apologized.

Twilight's ears drooped sympathetically. "Oh. That's okay, I'm sure I can re-write t he lecture from my notes." She magically brought over another larger pile of paper. "I have a lot," she admitted with an embarrassed smile.

"I can help you with - " Spike started to offer but found the stack immediately moved clear of his grasp as Twilight magically guided them away from him.

"Maybe we should call in some help because I think something's going on here," Twilight said. She closed her eyes and concentrated hard.

"Uh, Twilight, what are you doing?" Spike asked.

In a quick flash of light, Rainbow Dash appeared hovering place. "Whoa! Haven't felt one of these in weeks." She scanned the room and saw Spike and Twilight. "Whoa, Spike, that did not clear up at all. It's way worse. Is this why you summoned me, Twilight?" she asked.

Spike stumbled down in surprise. "Uh…"

"Master, it's not just the stone scale breakout. He's burping fire big time. I think something's happening to him. Please tell me your gut senses something about all this or how to find out what's happening," Twilight pleaded.

Rainbow Dash peered down at Spike and thought carefully. "Well, so far my gut says it's nothing to actually worry about. The stone scales and burps are related into a bigger something, but there's actually nothing wrong going on here," Rainbow said.

Twilight breathed a sigh of relief.

"I'll ask Blitz for a second opinion," Rainbow Dash said aloud.

"What? Right here, right now?" Spike asked nervously.

Rainbow paused. "Well, I mean, I don't have to. It's just that large sea serpents like leviathans are sometimes regarded as a type of dragon or distantly related, depending on the story. So you know, maybe she could tell me more."

Spike scratched at his scales. "Fine, go ahead."

A small red circle appeared on the floor, and Blitz sprang upward from it into the room, meeting the gaze of her master.

"Hey Blitz. Can you tell me what's happening to my friend Spike here?" Rainbow asked. "He didn't have all those stone scales yesterday and never has before. Twilight tells me he's been burping fire big time. That's not a thing we usually see from him, but I'm not sensing anything wrong."

Blitz peered down in the same way Rainbow had a moment ago. She slithered around in a close circle, studying the young dragon more closely.

Spike clenched his eyes shut and grimaced, even covering his head with his small claws. She parted away and floated back up to Rainbow Dash. Then she lowered her head again, all the way to be even with Spike's head and raised it and her body upward at a small pace, higher and higher. She gestured her tail at Spike.

"Growing," Rainbow said. "You're growing."

"What? No, I'm not," Spike said. "I'm still as tall today as I was yesterday."

The tip of Blitz's tail curved and pointed up.

"Up. You're growing up," Rainbow added.

"I am?" Spike asked.

Blitz nodded her head at Twilight, then Rainbow Dash. Then she nodded her head at Spike and yet another nod at the windows.

"What's that mean?" Spike asked.

Rainbow thought for a moment. "Pony, pony," she muttered aloud. "Dragon...she means another dragon like you. Smolder! Go ask her for help."

Blitz nodded in the affirmative to indicate that her master understood her correctly.

"Oh," Spike remarked. He scratched at his face. "I really don't want to leave the castle."

"I really think you should," Twilight urged.

"I could ask her to come here," Rainbow offered. "I'll fly over and if she's free, we'll come right back."

"The castle is still flammable while you'd be gone and while she would be here," Twilight pointed out.

"Yeah, and so's the school," Rainbow pointed out right back to her.

Spike sighed. "Fine. I don't suppose your super master mev magic powers can tell me where she is?" he asked, not interested in debating which flammable location was more okay to set on fire by accident.

"Ha! More like super awesome teacher powers!" Rainbow Dash proudly declared. "Sometimes the students from the other kingdoms study in the library together around this time of day, so I'd start there. Or the dorms."

"I can teleport you to the library for a quick peek," Twilight offered. "Then I really need to get back to redoing my lecture, so I'm just dropping you off. Still, it'll be fast."

"Yes, please! But first! Let me put on something to wear," Spike said. He fumbled through some clothes and found a small trench-coat, large sunglasses, and gray hat. He put them on.

"I do believe I'm no longer needed here," Rainbow noted to the pair.

Twilight nodded. "Thanks for your help, Master. We'll take care of the rest. Thanks to you as well Blitz."

Blitz made a quick circle around Twilight to tell the alicorn mev she was welcome. "Alright Beautiful, back to the void," Rainbow commanded. The leviathan dread slithered down into a circle on the ground and disappeared. "Good luck, Spike," Rainbow said and flew down to give Twilight a hug. "He'll be alright," she assured her Rexa.

Twilight smiled, feeling comforted. Rainbow Dash flew out of the room.





Smolder sat with Sandbar and Yona in the library reading when she saw a small figure approach their table, standing on the other side of it. Her nose crinkled at the stench. The figure was short and looking a little silly in his getup, but she saw enough purple to soon register who it was.

"Can I talk to you?" Spike tried to ask but his voice came out very low and inaudible. He clutched at his throat in annoyed horror.

"Huh?" she asked him.

"Can I talk to you?" he tried again, still super low in his voice.

"I can't understand you," Smolder shook her head.

Finally, Spike shouted in a much louder voice, "CAN I TALK TO YOU?" and he felt another fire burp that burned all his clothes, thrusting him up into the air to fall onto the pile of ashes that was his attire. That left Spike exposed, revealing his stone-scale-covered face. Embarrassed, he darted as quickly out of the library as he could. He found a closet to hide in within the school halls.

Smolder raised a confused eyebrow and flew off to find him. Following the smoke, she found the proper closet. "Yeah, you can," she said with a smirk and folded arms.

"What's happening to me?" Spike asked nervously. He let out another massive fire burp, and Smolder darted up to the ceiling to clear out of the way as brooms in the closet turned to ash.

Smiling from her perch on the ceiling she told Spike, "It's called the molt. I've seen some pretty bad ones in my time, but yours takes the cake." She landed on the floor again. "Super painful stone scales, fire burps," she started to playfully dance around him as she listed off more, "uncontrollable volume shifts? It's all part of growing up dragon. Congrats!" She smacked his back. Hard.

Spike let out a pained cry.

"Oh. Sorry," she said with a little guilt.

"It's just like Blitz said, but this can't be right," Spike muttered. "The last time I grew up, I turned into a giant, greedy monster!"

"Two things. One. Greed-induced bigness. That's totally different. And two. Blitz? I don't suppose that Blitz is actually a giant snake of some kind?"

Spike paused in his pacing in the closet. "So Rainbow told you all her name?"

"Ha! So it is the same Blitz. She can talk?" Smolder asked excitedly.

Spike scratched at his head. "No, not exactly. Rainbow Dash translated that. Still, how is it different?"

"Oh," Smolder uttered and grew disappointed. "Well anyway, the molt is completely normal compared to the greed-induced bigness. Every dragon goes through it. Pretty soon you'll leave and strike out on your own."

"Why would I do that?" Spike asked.

"Have you been living with ponies your whole life?" Smolder asked incredulously.

"Uh-huh," Spike answered sincerely.

"Oh," Smolder realized. "Well, in the Dragonlands, a molter's loved ones kicks them out at the first stone scale."

"What? Why?" Spike asked, unnerved.

"I think it's biological," Smolder theorized. "We call it the 'Molt Effect.' I haven't even told you about the smell," she said with a knowing smile.

"Smell?" Spike asked and sniffed himself. "Agh!" he declared in disgust.

"Yeah. I mean I loved my brother and all, but one whiff and I was all, 'See ya!'" She sniffed Spike. "Speaking of which…"

"Wait!" Spike flung himself to the ground and grabbed the end of Smolder's tail. "Does the Molt Effect happen to ponies too?" he asked. He gasped. "Twilight already asked me to leave the castle today. If she kicks me out, where am I going to live? I'm too young to grow up!"

Smolder grabbed her own tail and pulled it away from Spike as she told him, "I'm sure you'll find a nice hoard of gems to guard or a village to terrorize though now that dragons and ponies are friends, I guess that's off the table." She tapped her claw thoughtfully at her chin on that last lost prospect.

"So no creature is gonna want to be around me?" Spike asked with a small, sad voice.

"Oh, I didn't say that," Smolder said with contrasting assurance. She motioned with her arms emphatically. "That molt stench is a magnet for predators, Tatzlwurms, Hydras, Rocs."

Upon the last word in that set, Spike grew annoyed. "Dragons are scared of rocks?" he asked.

"R-O-C-S," Smolder explained. "Rocs." She lifted into a hover with her dragon wings and mischievously explained,. "Humongous birds of prey that can snack on a molting dragon like candy."

"So, Twilight's kicking me out and the only creatures who don't find me disgusting want to eat me?" Spike asked in his overly quiet, hoarse voice.

"Seriously, I heard none of that," Smolder told him with a deadpan tone.

Spike repeated the question in his much louder voice, "SO, TWILIGHT'S KICKING ME OUT AND THE ONLY CREATURES WHO DON'T FIND ME DISGUSTING WANT TO EAT ME?"

"Congrats!" Smolder told him.

She left the closet, leaving a distraught Spike behind. The young purple dragon was not comforted by any of this news, even if it did help him understood what was happening.





Spike waddled alone through the Everfree forest, but then he heard familiar voices. He walked closer as he listened.

"Maybe I could help you set up your own little solo stunt show or a duo with me here in Ponyville," Rainbow's voice said. "No Washouts and no flying necessary. Show us what you can do with that scooter. It's why you wanted to join that group after all."

"Really?" Scootaloo's voice asked full of hope.

"Yeah, if it's something you want to do. What do you say?" Rainbow offered.

"I say 'yes'," Scootaloo said with a smile.

"Rainbow Dash!" Spike said urgently to approach the two pegasi.

"Spike, what happened to you?" Scootaloo asked.

"That's why I'm here to talk to Rainbow Dash," he said. He looked at the pegasus in question. "Zecora wasn't home, but you're right here, right now. Please help me. Now."

Rainbow nodded, and the three friends found a small clearing where they could sit and talk.

Spike relayed everything Smolder told him about the molt. When he was finished, he stared at the ground. "So, is there anything your master mev powers with all that magic you eat can do about this?" he asked. "Your business to help magical creatures and all," he added.

"Could you really Rainbow?" Scootaloo looked from Spike to the mev.

"What? Stop you from growing up?" Rainbow asked.

"The smell? My voice? These stone scales! Anything!" he pleaded.

"Hmm," Rainbow tapped her chin thoughtfully. "The thing is, all of these things are supposed to be happening to you. I need a really good reason, and it should be something that can't be done otherwise with the magic I have in the reserve. I certainly don't know enough magic besides chaos magic to handle for those things, and my gut is definitely blaring a large alarm to totally not do that."

"I'm in danger," Spike hoarsely remarked. "Isn't that a good enough reason?"

"The smell causes that problem, right?" Rainbow probed.

Spike nodded.

"What did you say?" Scootaloo asked.

The young dragon repeated to Scootaloo in his louder voice. "I'M IN DANGER. ISN'T THAT A GOOD ENOUGH REASON?"

Scootaloo pat one of her ears down, overcome by the volume.

"Honestly, I'd say you're already on the right track," Rainbow Dash told Spike. "I've read about deodorizing gels that you can buy at a pharmacy but for really strong smells, you should see a doctor or potions expert, like Zecora."

"The thing is, I don't know when she'll be back," Spike said and tapped two tiny clawed fingers together timidly. "I don't want to wait forever outside her house."

"Hmm, you know, I can handle the smell," Rainbow noted. "I'll protect you. If things get really dire from actual predators, beyond what I can do as a fast pegasus, then I can tap into the reserve. You could just stay at my place until this molting thing is done. "

"Done?" Spike asked.

Scootaloo gazed at Rainbow with similar curiosity.

"Yeah, molting is a process some animals and creatures go through," Rainbow told him. She flapped her wings and lifted into her frequent hovering position. "When it's over, you'll be...I don't know exactly what, but you'll be different. Still, you aren't going to stink like this forever. Smolder doesn't. Ember doesn't. Even from the couple of times I went with you to the Dragonlands, the other dragons didn't."

"Ohhh," Spike realized. "That was totally not clear to me. But different how? Please tell me you can figure that out." He clasped his two clawed hands together in pleading hope.

Rainbow thoughtfully paced in her hover. "I don't know. Is there anything different about all older dragons we've met compared to you besides that you're shorter?" she asked.

With a tiny contemplative claw touching his chin,  "I don't have wings?" Spike asked, staring off into space. His eyes widened as it fully registered, and he looked up at the master mev. "I DON'T HAVE WINGS!" he shouted from one of his uncontrollable volume shifts.

Scootaloo's mouth fell open in too much shock to let the loudness bother her.

Rainbow rubbed one of her ears, still flapping her wings in her hover. "Then I'd say you're probably going to grow wings." She paused in thought and smiled as it fully registered on her as well. "Which. is. awesome!!!"
> Chapter 50 - Winged Dragon
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Rainbow Dash lowered her hover closer to Spike's height and held out a hoof for him to bump.

Spike hopped and missed a couple of times before making proper contact.

Scootaloo stepped closer to Spike and offered a hoof as well. "Yeah!" she echoed the celebratory sentiment from Rainbow Dash. The young dragon easily bumped his knuckles with her hoof.

Spike grinned and hopped in place. "Really?" He suddenly shut his mouth, clamped his claws over it, and his eyes bulged. 

Rainbow was fast enough to act. She grabbed him and positioned his body so that the fire shot upward. That way, it did not burn anything in the air just above where he'd been standing.

"See, pegasus speed," she declared proudly. 

Scootaloo smiled up at her hero with admiration.

Spike looked up at Rainbow Dash from where he now stood on the ground. "Can I really stay with you? We don't know how long this molt is going to take. You have obligations. Even today, don't you have to see one of your fledglings tonight?"

"Goodness me, what have we here?" Zecora's voice suddenly filled the air. "Flames I saw that gave way to fear."

"Zecora!" Spike exclaimed.

The zebra potions expert walked into the scene, where the two ponies and dragon now stood or hovered. Zecora wore a saddlebag for her venture this day to collect samples of interest for her potions.

"Hello Spike, Scootaloo, and Rainbow Dash. Per chance you can tell me of that green fire I saw flash?" she asked the trio.

Rainbow Dash relayed the entire story Spike told to her and Scootaloo.

Zecora nodded thoughtfully. "Most certainly, I do have such a gel that can help our purple dragon friend with that pungent smell."

The four started to walk through the forest together in the direction of Zecora's hut.

"I hope you do not mind my questioning, but I heard the dragon mention for you a 'fledgling'," Zecora told Rainbow Dash, who hovered alongside her.

"Oh," Rainbow blushed and stroked the back of her mane. She swallowed and tried to play casual. Zecora was already helping her team so much, and she was a very well-informed zebra. Hopefully, it would be no big deal. "I turned into a vampire a little over a month ago."

Zecora paused in her trek and looked at Rainbow Dash with a hint of caution in her eyes. She glanced at Spike and Scootaloo.

"We've both known for awhile," Spike said calmly.

"It's true," Scootaloo added.

Zecora then decided to keep walking with some of her caution abated.

"It's a type called a master mev," Rainbow Dash continued. "The 'mev' part stands for 'magic-eating vampire'. I need to see my fledglings so that I can exchange magic. It's a special way to feed me, so others won't get hurt."

"Oh, I see. You caught me unawares in much disbelief, but this other part of such news is a relief," Zecora said.

The quartet of friends suddenly heard a loud screech.

Spike immediately darted to place himself just behind Rainbow's hovering figure.

"What was that?" Scootaloo asked.

It didn't take long for the source of the screech to appear, for it was an enormous bird.

"A roc," Spike whispered in quiet terror. "Master, please tell me you can do something about that."

The roc dove its large talons at the ground. Rainbow quickly grabbed Spike as she turned around, to clear them both out of the way. Scootaloo and Zecora managed to handle themselves on their own, doing the same.

"Zecora, Scootaloo, run!" Rainbow Dash commanded. "Spike, get on my back!"

Each of her companions did as she said. They all fled together. The roc flapped its wings much higher up than the rest to track all of them at once.

"Rainbow, we can draw it away from them with my smell," Spike suggested from his place on her back.

"Alright, let's do that. Zecora, Scootaloo, find some place safe! We're going to distract it. Spike, you need to hold on tight, buddy. We need to be fast too," Rainbow Dash told him. 

Zecora and Scootaloo heard the suggestion, looked up, and nodded with worried compliance. Together, they ran to find a place to hide.

Spike grabbed at the back of Rainbow Dash's neck as he'd done when he last visited the Dragonlands with Rainbow.

"Over here!" Spike taunted as Rainbow Dash hovered with a smirk.

The roc screeched only to find a rainbow blur flash from its left to its right. Again, the roc moved in to grab its desired prey, and again, it missed from the blur. Rainbow Dash flew at a slow enough pace to still keep its attention away from their grounded friends. The roc chased them, and every time it came close enough for an attack, it missed. The speedy pegasus kept dodging clear.

Spike started glowing red. "Master? Is this you or the molt?" he asked. His itching intensified, so he found himself having to grip tight with one clawed hand and scratch at himself with the other.

From her peripheral, Rainbow Dash could see the red glow. "The molt. It's entering a new phase. Looks like it's time to bring in some mev power to this joint."

"You're going to use magic?" Spike asked.

"Mev magic first," Rainbow said. "I've never used it like this. I have to face the roc, and you have to hold on. I need to focus on what I'm doing. Try not to let go until we're on or near the ground. This is a new kind of distraction."

"Okay," Spike agreed with a touch of hesitance in his voice.

Rainbow Dash turned around to look at the stalking bird of prey, and her eyes had turned to their vampiric red. They glowed for a moment as the mev directly positioned herself in the roc's line of sight.

The roc flapped its wings and stared at the enchanting eyes in silence.

Slowly, Rainbow Dash descended, keeping her eyes in direct contact with the roc. She could blink, but she knew she should not look away otherwise. The roc kept its gaze locked on her as well, flapping its wings and slowly, slowly following the descent.

Spike gulped as they neared the ground, and he hopped off as soon as he could with a stumble. He scratched at himself and ran, taking a quick peek back so he could know where the other two were. He understood that Rainbow Dash was using her enchantment to only keep the roc still and nothing else. After all, master mevs couldn't bite other creatures without permission during the day. 

"Master?" Spike heard Twilight's voice.

He turned around and hoped that Rainbow's trance wasn't broken. The sky blue pegasus had by now landed and stood on the ground, but she and the roc were still locked in each other's gaze.

"Rexa, go find Spike and teleport out of this area," Rainbow Dash ordered without looking away from her enchanted prisoner.

Twilight questioned the situation no further and glanced around. 

"Over here," Spike managed to say between itches.

The roc blinked and shifted a little but only that little bit.

Twilight galloped to the source of Spike's voice and teleported further away from Rainbow Dash and the large bird, re-appearing in front of Scootaloo and Zecora.

"Whoa!" Scootaloo said in surprise.

Twilight gasped. "What's going on?" she asked them.

"Our little dragon friend here with us is molting. The large bird does not find his stench revolting," Zecora started to explain.

"It attracts predators," Scootaloo added. "Spike and Rainbow were keeping it distracted, to get it away from us, but judging by this glow and the scratching, that idea's off the table. I hope Rainbow's got a plan or knows what to do."

"She has the power to summon me with mev magic if necessary," Twilight explained to everyone. "We focus on our part, and she'll focus on hers."





Meanwhile for Rainbow Dash, a red circle appeared on the ground to her right side, not far from where she stood. Blitz rose upward to see her master and the roc. The leviathan dread understood without any verbal command and telepathically sent the word Master as a message.

The roc shook its head, released from the enchantment and covered its eyes with one of its large wings. It stood in place.

Rainbow's eyes returned to magenta as well, and she shook her head too. The large bird let its wing down upon sensing her movement and saw the magenta irises of the pegasus. Rainbow made eye contact with it. "Spike is my friend," she told the roc. "I have to look out for him."

The roc shook its head in the negative. and Rainbow understood that it did not understand her.

Rainbow sighed and sternly pointed her hoof forward. "Go," she ordered. That action should be clear enough, she figured.

The roc gestured its massive wings towards its own torso, up along its neck, then to its beak, and out to her. It flapped its wings emphatically for a dramatic lift before it landed again.

Rainbow Dash nodded and licked her lips. "Tasty," she agreed. She most certainly understood eating magic, of course, though she had no idea how to ask if the bird would let her. It did not understand her as easily as the phoenixes had from the day before.

The roc handled that part for her. It gestured a large wing tip at Rainbow Dash's mouth, then at its own neck, and nodded.

Rainbow raised her eyebrow as the only way she could think to ask if the large bird was sure.

It nodded and then made numerous gestures with its wings up at the air to retell their chase, and the eye lock. It pointed at itself and bowed, then pointed at Rainbow Dash. He respected the master. The predator bird was now captured prey of the mev.

"Well then," Rainbow said, letting her magenta eyes turn red and her fangs grow, "don't mind if I do."

Blitz dismissed herself back into the ground. The master mev was about to feed.

Rainbow lifted into the air, and the roc stopped her for a moment. It spread both its wings, then gestured to the left wing with its right along its feathered tips. Then it gestured at her wings.

"My pleasure," Rainbow said with a mid-air bow, and she changed her wings to their bat version. She darted around for a bit to show that she could still fly as capably and quickly with them.

The roc nodded in approval.

With that, Rainbow Dash drew in closer to the neck and dug her fangs in with a smile. When she finished, she found a much smaller version of the bird falling to the ground. Rainbow dove down and caught it. "So your size comes from your magic," she remarked. "I think you might need just a little help for this next week. I know just the pony for the job."





Spike scratched at his scales, and finally, the glowing stopped. "Ah! Finally," he said. "I didn't think that itching would ever stop."

He peered down to see a gray material starting to cover his stomach and work its way further up and down his body from there. "Twilight?" he asked worriedly. "Help...me…"

"Spike!" Twilight exclaimed in equal worry.

"Please," Spike wheezed.

"Is this part of the molt?" Scootaloo asked.

"If I had to venture a guess, my response would be a likely yes," Zecora agreed with the filly's theory.

Twilight's lips trembled in horror, uncertain about what to do. "I can't just leave him like that, can I?" she asked, tears welling in her eyes. The material covered Spike's entire small body. He was stuck, standing in place, like a captured dragon statue.

Zecora and Scootaloo avoided her gaze, looking down at the ground, and then each solemnly nodded.

"We have to wait," Scootaloo said sadly. "Hopefully, it is the molt, and his wings will be here soon."

"Wings?" Twilight asked.

"That's what Rainbow Dash thinks is going to happen," Scootaloo explained.

Twilight wiped her eyes and smiled. "That would be wonderful and something definitely worth waiting for. Okay." She sat on her haunches. "I'll watch over him."

Scootaloo sat as well. "I'll help."

Zecora nodded. "It would not feel right to leave this scene; indeed, I sense that would be a little mean." She chose to sit as well. Three sentries surrounded the little dragon statue.

Several seconds passed, and then a crack formed along Spike's left arm. A small purple claw poked out, then another. The crack worked its way to his torso and spread further into a vertical crack along the main form of the gray encasement. A little light beamed out and then grew brighter and brighter. The three sentries moved to protect their own eyes. The light finally flashed away completely, and Spike crouched in a small crater. The three friends opened their mouths in awe to see his left wing spread outward, then his right.

Spike stood up and looked at his new wings. "She was right," he chuckled. "She was right!" he yelled.

"Shh!" Twilight said. "I promise I'm as excited as you are, but Rainbow's still with that huge bird so far as we know."

Spike barely heard her, toying with his new wings. He flapped about and had some trouble before managing a simple glide.

"Oh Spike, I'm so jealous," Scootaloo admitted with a smile, "but more than that, I'm so happy for you." She reached out a hoof for him to bump, which he did. Then Scootaloo looked over to Twilight and asked,  "We can go and help Rainbow out now, right? We've guarded Spike, and the smell is gone."

Twilight smiled. "That won't be necessary."

"Huh?" Scootaloo asked.

"Looks like I just missed it," a raspy voice said and approached.

"Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo galloped over to her older sister. She gasped. "Is that what I think it is?"

Perched on Rainbow's back was the reduced size roc, now the size of an eagle.

Spike glided over to take a closer look and then settled himself to stand on the ground once more, next to Twilight.

"Master, how did you get its magic?" Twilight asked. "Did it really let you?"

Zecora noticed the title usage but chose not to question it out at the moment and continued watching the friends talk with each other.

"Like I keep saying," Rainbow said, "when it comes to being a master mev, there's a magic in the process of trying to do things without magic, other types besides mev that is, for as long as I can. This bird respects me for my efforts."

Zecora came closer to look at the bird and the mev. "I can only look on in wonder and am relieved that things did not go asunder."

"Rexa, I want you to escort this bird to Fluttershy's sanctuary now that Spike is safe. I'm spending some time with my little sister this afternoon," Rainbow explained.

"Oh Master Rainbow Dash," Scootaloo said. "I would love to actually go with you to do that as our way to spend time together, if that's alright."

"No complaints here," said the master mev.

"Names are different among mevs it seems," Zecora remarked. "That's what I have thus far gleaned."

"They're titles for the pack," Spike explained. "You actually feel something, super faint, if you call Rainbow Dash by the 'master' title but when it comes to fledglings like Twilight, that's for inner pack use. We get to know them, but we're not supposed to use them."

"At least until Nightmare Night," Rainbow said with a nod.

Twilight, Spike, and Scootaloo blinked at that. Zecora glanced back and forth to at least realize this news was surprising to the others.

"What?" Scootaloo asked.

"Hey, if I want a big show like what I hope that to be, I've got to give a little. I want Ponyville to know the titles, and given the nature of the performance, I won't expect that rule, even if expressed as a line in the show, to be followed seriously. I'd rather ponies have fun with that than a panicked mob," Rainbow explained.

"Oh," the two ponies and dragon realized together.

"I guess if more friends or family ask, who do take it seriously, we can tell them the truth about our preferences like some of us have already done," Twilight admitted with a blush.

"Right," Rainbow agreed. "Well come on, Scoot. Let's head over to Fluttershy's. Congrats on the wings, Spike. Thanks for all your help today, Rexa, Zecora." Rainbow bowed her head, maintaining her back to stay upright enough for the roc.

"You're welcome Master Rainbow Dash," Zecora said with a small bow of her head as well. She blinked. "A tiny sense of something within me did indeed flash." She met eyes with the other friends in the group. "An interesting day I spent with all of you; at this time, I'm afraid I must bid adieu." With that, she walked home.

Rainbow and Scootaloo waved at Twilight and Spike before starting their walk to Fluttershy's animal sanctuary.

Spike and Twilight stayed behind to talk to each other.

"Hey Twilight, how did you know how to find us all out here?" Spike asked. "Was it some kind of fledgling mev instinct?"

"Oh no," Twilight admitted, slightly shaking her head in the negative. "I was on my way to Zecora's to ask about the cream she has that helps with blemishes for your stone scales, which of course, is no longer necessary."

"Yeah, that's a relief," Spike said. With seriousness and a touch of uncertainty, he asked, "Can I stay with you?"

"Definitely. We still have so much work to do around the castle, even if school's done for the day," Twilight remarked.

"No, what I mean is…" Spike gulped. "In the Dragonlands, families make molters leave home. It's called the Molt Effect."

Twilight blinked with her mouth slightly open, and she started to grasp her friend's concern. "Well, this isn't the Dragonlands and Molt Effect or no, I don't want you going anywhere." She gently tapped her right hoof at his stomach.

"But I'm growing up. What if something even worse happens?" Spike asked.

"You're supposed to grow up," Twilight told him with a smile, "but you'll always be you. And whatever happens, we'll get through it together." She offered an open right forelimb, and Spike stepped forward to hug his lifelong alicorn friend.

The young purple dragon lifted himself in the air. "Woohoo! Yeah! Look at me!" He plopped himself on Twilight's backside. "Let's go home!"

Twilight looked up at him uneasily. "Uh, I don't need to carry you anymore, do I?" She used her horn to magically tug at Spike's right wing. "You have wings," she pointed out.

"They are new!" Spike replied back with a smile, "And I don't want to overdo it."

Twilight groaned and rolled her eyes but then smiled and complied, beginning their walk home.
> Chapter 51 - Griffonstone Arrival
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Late Saturday afternoon, Rainbow Dash, Starlight Glimmer, Fluttershy, and Sweetie Belle sat in the throne room of Twilight's castle.

"Alright girls, I hope you came up with some ideas," Rainbow said.

Starlight and Sweetie Belle nodded at each other. The first fledgling spoke for the two of them. "Okay, here's what we're thinking. We split up in two pairs, each with one unicorn and one pegasus. Fluttershy and Sweetie Belle will stand watch from the top.  You and me will go down to the abyss together.

"We'll bring the Staff of Sacanas. Twilight can channel some of her own magic to the staff though not too much. It won't on be the level of what the Storm King took from her. The magic will have a little boost if we do it tomorrow since Sundays are her turn for a flexchange," Starlight noted.

Rainbow Dash nodded without questioning the explanation and waited for her Primeva to continue.

"You hold the staff while you fly down...slowly. I'll climb the down the rope. We support each other in case either of those things go wrong."

"But the rope was too weak last time, wasn't it?" Fluttershy asked.

Both unicorns nodded. Sweetie Belle brought out a drawing pad and showed a very thick black line. "We're thinking of using my I.T. ability to make a much sturdier rope than whatever we bring or find in Griffonstone. Rarity knows about materials, so she's helped me understand what kind to imagine and draw for doing that. We could test it out now. Starlight brought some basic natural fiber rope."

Rainbow Dash nodded in approval. "Fluttershy, I'm going to fly up to about the tree roots. You're going to grab hold and sway yourself back and forth. Try to do it enough to snap it. Then we'll do another round but alter it with Sweetie's drawing. Try to snap that one too."

Fluttershy agreed to the assignment with a simple nod.

Rainbow Dash activated Sweetie Belle's adult unicorn form and flew up. Fluttershy did as originally requested and was able to pull enough for the rope to snap. They repeated the process and when Rainbow's eyes shimmered red, Sweetie Belle felt the mev boost in her body. She channeled her magic to the drawing that then channeled into the rope being held by the master mev. Fluttershy swayed and swayed. She tugged. She pulled. The new rope remained sturdy.

"That's enough," Rainbow said.

"Yay!" Fluttershy declared softly.

"Starlight, you give it a go without using magic, just your own strength," Rainbow Dash suggested.

Starlight levitated herself up to attempt the same as Fluttershy did and had equal success.

"Alright, let's stop there," Rainbow said. "So far, so good. I like what I'm hearing."

Starlight Glimmer continued, "I'd suggest having Sweetie Belle in her adult form until we come back up, after you first activate it."

Rainbow Dash rubbed a thoughtful hoof under her chin. "I'm not sure that's close enough in my presence, but if it is, sure. I won't de-activate it."

Sweetie Belle tapped her two front hooves together with a large, hopeful grin.

"Good. Alright, girls. Here's the extended plan. Once we get to Griffonstone, I want to find Gilda first. She's a good friend of mine, and given everything else, she has a right to know I'm a master mev. I'll ask her for permission regarding the idol. She almost got it herself last time I was there, and she gave it up to save my life.

"If she gives us the go-ahead, we do the plan Starlight and Sweetie Belle came up with. From there, hopefully Starlight and I find the idol at the bottom. We climb or fly or levitate back up and then comes the hard part. We need to see if we can sense or understand anything special about it by asking Gilda or Grampa Gruff more questions. We're actually not sure if it will give us the permanence we're hoping for, so we need to investigate that as best our mev senses allow," Rainbow said

"I think by the time we have the idol, we can actually teleport back up since I'll have an idea of where we were," Starlight noted.

"Can relics be teleported by unicorn magic?" Rainbow asked. "Powerful, special ones like this?"

"I admit, I've never done it," Starlight said.

"If we get that far, let's test it before going back up. So, preferably, teleport using basic unicorn magic. If not, we fall back to the other stuff. Otherwise, same plan," Rainbow Dash announced to the group.

The other three ponies nodded. They were ready to take on Griffonstone.





On Sunday morning, three Awesomevs and one Rhezenda rode the train to Griffonstone Gorge. Starlight Glimmer then teleported them all to the top after Rainbow Dash explained how long the journey was on hoof. Sweetie Belle wore her saddlebags with the crown and telekinetically carried the Staff of Sacanas.

"Wow, I've never been to Griffonstone," Fluttershy said with a happy smile as she gazed on the several homes with straw roofs. "These houses look so nice."

"Looks like they're still keeping up the place since my last visit when I came to get Gallus," Rainbow said.

"Dash!" Rainbow heard a familiar voice call out to her.

"Gilda!" Rainbow smiled and flew off in a dash to meet her griffon friend.

Gilda held out her right clawed hand, palm up, and Rainbow put her hoof into it before they each pulled back to then happily bump curled clawed fingers and hoof.

"What's the pony committee here for?" Gilda asked upon seeing Rainbow's company.

"It's a long story," Rainbow answered. "You got somewhere we can talk? A little privacy would be good. I have some things to explain first."

"What? With me?" Gilda asked. "Don't you ponies usually go to Grampa Gruff for whatever little official stuff we do with Equestria?"

"Yeah, we do," Rainbow Dash admitted. "And we might talk to him soon, but I kinda want to talk to you first. My friends can wait outside. Some of this is a little personal, and then yes, there are official things to be done and said after that."

Gilda raised an intrigued eyebrow but nodded. "Fine, come with me."

The four ponies followed until reaching her house. As Rainbow indicated they would, Starlight, Fluttershy, and Sweetie Belle waited outside. Rainbow Dash and Gilda went inside. The two friends sat in a room with a large tree stump used as a table and small stools all around it. They faced each other.

"So, what's going on?" Gilda asked.

Rainbow Dash began as she often did when having to do a revelation. "I'm a vampire now. It's a specific type of vampire called a master mev. The mev is actually an acronym for Magic Eating Vampire. I eat magic just about every day now."

"Seriously? Is that why you brought two unicorns? Are they lunch or something?" Gilda prodded with a jovial smile, hoping it was a joke she could play along with.

"You might say the grown one of them is dinner once a week," Rainbow confessed.

Gilda's eyes widened at this information. "And she's okay with that?"

"It's a special dinner. We can exchange magic instead of me just sapping it all out of her," Rainbow replied. "She's one of my fledglings, first in fact."

Gilda laughed and wiped a tear. "Okay, you don't sound like you're joking, but that does sound like a joke."

Rainbow Dash laughed with her. "Yeah, it does sound kind of funny when I say it like that."

"How do you get the magic out of her before you exchange it?" Gilda asked, gesturing to the top of Rainbow's head, indicating her friend lacked a horn to manipulate magic.

"I bite her with my fangs," Rainbow said.

"You don't have fangs," Gilda retorted.

"I can change them at will. Wanna see?" Rainbow offered.

"Uh, yeah," Gilda said in a tone indicating she felt that was quite obvious.

Rainbow Dash opened her mouth and showed her fangs lengthen and retreat. "That's what I usually do, but I can go all out with more." She opened her mouth and showed every tooth turning sharp, then back to normal.

"You sure you didn't just turn into a changeling or maybe you are a changeling?" Gilda asked.

"I could do the chant to prove it," Rainbow replied with a mischievous smile and waggle of her eyebrows.

Gilda laughed. "No, we're good. I know you didn't come all this way to admit to me you're a vampire. What else is going on here, Rainbow Dash?"

Rainbow swallowed. "Being a master mev is actually kind of a job."

"Oh," Gilda said with slight realization. "So, you're here to work?"

"If you'll let me," Rainbow said.

"Huh?" Gilda asked, confused.

"I have to ask for things or permission to do things. There are at least three things I want from Griffonstone today. If you say 'no' to all three, we'll be on our way, no work actually done," Rainbow explained.

"So, you're ready to ask Grampa Gruff?" Gilda wondered.

"Let's start with you first, actually," Rainbow said.

Gilda sighed in evident annoyance. "Fine. What do you want?"

"One meal of griffon magic. It comes back to whoever I bite from within one week, and it has to be an adult griffon." Rainbow stopped to watch Gilda's reaction and give her friend a chance to speak.

"You can do that?" Gilda asked, scratching nervously at her neck. "I thought this was a unicorn thing since you eat magic."

"Unicorn magic would be my main food if I were on my own without a pack," Rainbow admitted, "but it turns out that lots of creatures in and beyond Equestria have at least some magic. A lot of times it's called 'passive' magic. It's not activated and cast the way unicorns do it. For instance, you can sit and stand on clouds like all us pegasi can, but we both know not all creatures can do that."

"Oh." Gilda blinked at the realization. "Still, why would you want griffon magic? You can do everything a griffon can. You can fly, do the cloud stuff, and you even know how to roar powerfully after I taught you."

"Heh heh, and I do thank you for that. It is a nice perk," Rainbow agreed. "Part of this job is to actually reserve magic so even though I eat magic, I try to keep my usage low with a few exceptions. Once upon a time, a centaur attacked Equestria and took all our magic, all ponies, not just unicorns. With a reserve like what my master mev job does, we can handle it better if that ever happened again. I could reserve griffon magic too, to help Griffonstone. The magic grows and develops while it's in the reserve so even if I take it from only one griffon today, it can reach several more when it's released later. It's like a backup plan in case something similar happens here one day."

"Ugh, this is sounding way too complicated," Gilda muttered.

"You wanted answers," Rainbow reminded her.

Gilda nodded. "Are you asking to bite me?"

"Well, it can be kind of intimate with a friend," Rainbow noted. She further explained, "So of all the griffons in Griffonstone, if I had to bite just one, yes, I would very much like it to be you. It's always better with a friend. My vampire eyes give off this enchantment so the bite won't hurt either. The hardest part is the week of recovery. You wouldn't be able to fly, aside from not being on clouds."

"Are you serious, Dash? How can you ask that of me?" Gilda asked as she became flustered.

"I didn't make the rules of being this thing, but that's what they are. It's just a request," Rainbow said, staring down at the table. "I'm a magic-eating vampire. You have magic I want to eat. I get enough to eat during the week, so it's not a desperate request or anything."

Gilda nodded. "Right. Well, what else? I bet this keeps getting better."

"Heh heh, yeah," Rainbow Dash admitted. "I want to try getting the idol of Boreas again."

Gilda looked sternly at her. "One, that's impossible. And two, what would you want to do that for? Griffonstone got better without it, remember? The real treasure is our friendship and more beyond that. We made up."

"And I'm really glad we did," Rainbow Dash agreed with an emphatic nod. "I want it because it might be able to help with one of my projects for this master mev job. I don't want to get it to give it to Griffonstone. I want to outright take it for myself."

"Then what are you asking me for? I'm not in charge of where the idol goes. No one is. Not even Grampa Gruff. I don't care. If you can actually get that thing, and I seriously doubt you can, you can have it," Gilda replied sharply.

"I'm asking because it's part of your culture, and you gave it up for me. It was just within your grasp. You reached for it, and you let it go...for me," Rainbow explained with misty eyes. "I haven't forgotten, and if it's important to you, I want to respect that. Respect is like a big deal for me as a master. mev That's why I'm supposed to ask and stuff. I need to respect my friends, especially if I ask them to do something in service of me."

Gilda sighed in exasperation. "Don't all these rules bother you?"

"Not really." Rainbow shook her head. "To be honest, being a master mev is actually pretty awesome. I'm well fed thanks to my pack, and I get to travel. We help out old and new friends in new ways. And I get to play a superficial villain sometimes."

"Weirdo," Gilda muttered with a tiny, amused smile.

Rainbow only smiled back.

Gilda gave the idol request some serious thought. "What's the project?"

"Promise not to tell anyone else?" Rainbow Dash asked seriously. If she was going to take an entire culture's idol, providing the logic discretely for why struck her as a reasonable demand to be met.

Gilda nodded sincerely.

"It's to help a disabled pegasus who can't fly, like really fly in the way that all other pegasi she and I know can. She's like a sister to me and accepted my offer to help with it. The disability is super rare, and my pack has a solution in mind that requires a lot of careful magical components. We only have a theory that the idol can help us out with one of those components," Rainbow explained.

"You softie," Gilda whispered, shaking her head. "Fine. Yeah, take it. I grant you permission. It'll help her more than it could ever help us. We're over it. What's the third thing?"

"Is there anything more you can tell me about the idol's magic? Does it have any? What does it do? That kind of thing," Rainbow said. "The more information and gritty details, the better."

"Just that it inspired griffons way back when. It was a source of pride for us," Gilda admitted. "We all know the story, even if it's been a long time, so long that I even doubted it was real."

"That kind of helps. It has a permanent imprint on your culture despite it being inactive in your history for so long," Rainbow Dash assessed aloud.

Gilda nodded. "It does. That somehow helps your sister friend?"

"That's the running theory," Rainbow answered. "Alright then. My friends and I are going for it."

"Right now?" Gilda asked.

"Should I wait for some reason?" Rainbow Dash asked back. "We've got a plan and are ready to try it."

"How about some lunch first?" Gilda offered. "My cooking has gotten a lot better since Pinkie Pie gave me some tips. I do run a business myself, so I'd have to charge, but I have enough for all of you."

"That sounds good," Rainbow said with a sincere smile. "We'd like that very much."

The other three ponies were invited inside for lunch, and they all sat around the tree stump table. Rainbow Dash sat closer and to the right of her griffon friend.

"Introduce me," Gilda said in a low voice while barely moving her beak, to Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow nodded. "Everypony, this is my friend Gilda. Gilda, you remember Fluttershy, right?" The other pegasus among the group sat to Gilda's left.

Gilda nodded. "Sorry about that time I was super rude to you in Ponyville."

"Apology accepted," Fluttershy said with a sweet smile. "I'm so glad you're friends with Rainbow again."

"Yeah, she's alright," Gilda replied with a sly smile and nudged at Rainbow with her elbow. 

The sky blue pegasus smiled warmly before moving on. "This is Starlight Glimmer," Rainbow gestured to her powerful unicorn friend to her right, "and this is Sweetie Belle." She gestured to her filly Rhezenda sitting between Fluttershy and Starlight.

"Is Gabby in town today?" Sweetie Belle asked.

Gilda shook her head. "She's out during her rounds."

"Oh. Well, if you see her, can you tell her I said 'hi', please?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Yeah, okay," Gilda agreed casually.

"Speaking of saying 'hi'," Rainbow said, "Gallus says 'hi' from Equestria."

Gilda raised an eyebrow at that. "Looks like the friendship school is helping him out then."

"I'd like to think so," Rainbow agreed.

Once lunch was finished, the ponies readied themselves to leave. Gilda told Rainbow Dash, "If you do somehow pull this off, I would like to see it before you go."

"I would be more than happy to gloat," Rainbow said with a playful smile and waggle of her eyebrows. She gave a little bow of her head and left the house.
> Chapter 52 - Hello Darkness My New Friend
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Rainbow Dash and Starlight Glimmer entered a familiar shop to the sky blue pegasus. It was in better repair from her last visit in trying to acquire the idol of Boreas. Sweetie Belle and Fluttershy waited just outside the front of the shop for the two.

The shopkeeper smirked at the sight. She was a griffon who wore a blue beret and had light purple eyes. "You again?" she nearly taunted Rainbow.

Rainbow Dash happily smirked back, unoffended. "Yup it's me," she said with a touch of pride. "I'm back, and I brought a team with me this time. We could still use a little bit of help from your goods though."

The smirking griffon raised an intrigued eyebrow. "Why would you go down there again? Still thinking we need saving by finding the idol?"

"Uh, no," Rainbow Dash admitted. "I want to find it for a different reason."

The shopkeeper scoffed but made no further comment on the pegasus' motives. She actually was a little curious but did not want to show it. Besides, getting the idol was impossible, she told herself. Everyone knew that. Even this pegasus should have known from her last botched attempt. Regardless, the griffon shopkeeper set those thoughts aside. Business was business. "Well, what do you want from here?"  she asked.

"We'll take a spool of rope and two helmets with flashlights, please," Rainbow said, her eyes surveying the rest of the shop as she did.

"Do you need a guide again?" the shopkeeper inquired, trying to figure out more, still without asking directly.

"No, I've got help this time," Rainbow reminded her and gestured to the lilac unicorn with her.

Starlight put a hoof to her chest and proudly bowed without a word.

The shopkeeper nodded, gathered the requested items, and rang up the charge. 

Starlight Glimmer magically passed her some bits for payment.

"Thanks for your business," the griffon said.

"Our pleasure," Starlight said with a nod and sweet smile.

"Yes, indeedy," Rainbow agreed.

She and Starlight departed, joining their friends, and the quartet made their way to their intended destination. Rainbow's second attempt to find the idol of Boreas was well underway.





The two unicorns and two pegasi stared down over a rocky cliff at the dark abyss below. Prevalent strong winds whirred noticeably just over the abyss yet not on the safe ground where they all stood.

"Alright," Rainbow Dash said decisively, feeling strong and ready to tackle the task ahead of them. "Get the rope," she ordered.

Sweetie Belle used her unicorn magic to carry the large spool of natural fiber rope from the shop.

"Draw," Rainbow commanded.

The young assistant nodded and did as instructed. The shape was very simple, so her focus needed to be on the contours and texture to imagine the proper material. Thankfully, Rarity had been quite detailed in explaining these things to her younger sister. Sweetie Belle brought some markers and used a black one. Once finished, she showed the master mev her work on her drawing pad.

Rainbow Dash nodded in approval, shifted her eyes red, and activated the adult unicorn form for her Rhezenda. Sweetie Belle grew in size and channeled her magic into the drawing, just as she had done at the Crystal Empire. When she finished, the group saw a much thicker, stronger cable.

Starlight tapped at it to ensure it was stronger, as they had planned. "We're good," she said to the others.

Fluttershy tied the black cable to a nearby rock, and Starlight used her own unicorn magic to tie the cable around her barrel.

Rainbow Dash and Starlight Glimmer each put on a helmet with a flashlight on its front. They put on small saddlebags as well.

Sweetie Belle guided the Staff of Sacanas to Rainbow Dash, who lifted into a hover, standing upright.

The sky blue pegasus gripped the staff between her two forehooves the way she remembered Twilight did in the aftermath of the storm at Canterlot. Twilight herself had demonstrated the method earlier that morning, as a refresher. Rainbow Dash took a deep breath. "Here goes nothing." With her still red eyes, a shimmer ran through her irises to activate the magic from her Rexa inside the Staff of Sacanas. She flapped her feathered wings and glided her standing figure to the edge.

As they all hoped, the winds lessened to something manageable.

Fluttershy glided down with her for a moment to test the generally acceptable radius since the winds did not halt entirely. It was more than enough. She descended several feet below Rainbow Dash as well before gliding right back up again. "Going down is fine," she gently assured her master and the first fledgling.

The other two mevs nodded in acknowledgment and were pleased at that news.

"Good luck you two," Fluttershy said to wish her two teammates well.

Starlight climbed down the thick black cable with Rainbow's flying figure descending near her. The wind was strong enough to still lightly sweep both their manes and tails. "That is a deep abyss," the powerful unicorn remarked. "It's so dark," she said with interest.

"You know, there's a saying to be careful when fighting monsters or you might become one. And then it leads into saying that if you gaze long into the abyss, it gazes back at you," Rainbow Dash informed her.

"Hmm. Aside from the roc you stared down a couple of days ago, which fits rather nicely with the abyss part of that quote, we haven't really been fighting monsters since becoming mevs," Starlight realized aloud.

"We kinda are monsters now, so it's a bit too late to worry about becoming them," Rainbow noted.

"Come on, Master. You know what kind of monsters they meant, and that's not us. We're far too polite, your instinctive fear snares and domain nocturnivlair notwithstanding. That quote must be referring to something like the Pony of Shadows who was actually Stygian and when we almost banished him," Starlight said.

At first the master mev said nothing. Eventually, she conceded, "If you say so." Another pause. "So is the abyss gazing into you?"

Starlight stared down. The chasm was deep, dark, and she felt drawn to continue her descent. "Yeah, it is," she admitted with a smile.

"Let's see what it wants with Primeva," Rainbow said with a playful grin, and they continued their journey down.

"Don't you feel anything too?" Starlight asked.

Rainbow stared downward. "It's inviting me along," she teased, baring her fangs as she did.

Starlight chuckled in amusement. "I think about now we should turn these flashlights on," she advised. She used her magic to activate the proper switch for each of them.

Further they went until they reached the end of the line for the strong cable. By that point, the wind was no longer blowing, so Starlight levitated herself as she and Rainbow continued descending together until finally reaching the bottom. Both mevs were relieved that there was, indeed, a bottom to reach.

The fledgling plopped herself down and took the staff in her telekinetic grip. They had enough light from their helmets. The bottom was rocky, and they saw a small stream of water to their left. Rainbow deactivated the magic from the staff to see that the strong winds they had seen at the top did not blow at this ground level.

"We're here," Rainbow said. "Is our abyss friend telling you anything?" she asked.

Starlight Glimmer glanced around in careful contemplation. "Cast shadows to find the idol," she guessed.

"That's rather thoughtful of it," Rainbow noted, and she did as advised, moving her head around as they walked at a small pace. Starlight did the same. They decided to trek down the path they faced, and then turn around if they reached an end or at least some part where Rainbow Dash sensed they were too far.

"We should split further apart so the lights cross over each other like an X," Starlight suggested, "to give us two bigger shadows."

Rainbow followed that advice too. "We've missed it," she informed her Primeva. "Let's try the other way."

The two mevs turned around and followed the shadows, along with Rainbow's ability to sense the idol.

"So, just how are you sensing it, exactly?" Starlight asked. "The magic inside? Your gut? What?"

"Gut. I think I have a little help from Gilda's friendship," the master mev admitted. She smiled. "Good thing we stopped for lunch."

"Found it," Starlight said with a quick, victorious proclamation. She had seen two large shadows of the shape matching the image of the idol in Twilight's book about griffon history.

"Awesome." Rainbow darted closer as Starlight maintained a smaller distance to keep the shadow easily visible. Rainbow picked up the object and held it upright with her forehooves as she sat on her haunches.

To both mevs' interest, the idol reacted to Rainbow's touch. The scuff marks it gained over the years disappeared, and it acquired a new sheen of a proper golden color.

"Wow," Rainbow uttered, impressed.

"How'd you do that?" Starlight asked.

"Got me a full pack," Rainbow told her with a sly smile and playfully elbowing her.

Starlight giggled. "Master," she said, setting the staff down at the ground to her right. "Let's try turning the lights off. This thing was supposed to be made from the dust of golden sunsets."

"Go for it," Rainbow agreed.

Starlight magically turned the helmet flashlights off, and they saw the red sphere of the idol faintly glowing in their presence. From the idol's upper tip, a black tendril outlined in white circled out and upward into three coiled rings of dark essence. It then uncoiled like a snake to wrap around the outside of Starlight's neck and stopped in front of her muzzle.

"What's it doing?" Starlight asked.

"An offering," Rainbow said. "Care to accept?"

"I don't suppose you know what it is," the fledgling noted hopefully.

"Darkness. The abyss is channeling it through the idol. Perhaps it wanted the idol to be found. It was gazing back at you, remember," Rainbow said and winked. "We didn't fight it, so I don't think you'll become any worse of a monster."

Starlight giggled again. "Fine. How do I accept it?"

"Suck it in like a noodle," Rainbow suggested.

The tendril flowed even closer to Starlight's mouth, and Team Awesome's Primeva slurped it in as the master mev suggested. "Mm, interesting," Starlight remarked. "Is it like Applejack's fire?"

"Maybe. Try channeling it out from your mouth, cast some darkness over the idol. Not the whole thing, it's our only light source at the moment," Rainbow suggested.

Starlight blew outward, and three black shadow lines formed over the idol where no objects existed to cast such shadows. Both ponies saw a blue light in their peripheral and looked down to see a faint blue glow from the crystal on the Staff of Sacanas. 

"What does that mean?" Starlight asked.

Rainbow Dash gave it some thought. "Pull the darkness back in," she commanded.

Starlight sucked it in as instructed. The blue glow from the staff disappeared. "I definitely want to see what's up with that. Does your gut tell you anything?"

"Maybe Twilight can tell us if we all put our heads together. It's her magic in there after all," Rainbow reminded her,  

"I'm not sure this darkness has much practical use, but it's definitely got some vampire flair," Starlight remarked in amusement. 

Rainbow chuckled in agreement. "Ready to head back?" the master mev asked.

"I am," Starlight agreed. "We test it here, right?"

"Yeah, let's find out if teleporting the idol is doable with unicorn magic." Using a wing, Rainbow turned her helmet flashlight back on and hoofed the idol over to Starlight. The sky blue pegasus then moved several paces away, while keeping the lilac unicorn in range of the emitted light. "Teleport yourself and the idol to where I'm standing now," Rainbow Dash instructed.

Starlight nodded and did as told with success.

"See? Easy," Starlight said.

"Let's try again with both the staff and the idol at the same time," the master mev decided.

They repeated the process and still found success. Rainbow Dash took the idol in her hooves and carefully studied it to be sure. It glistened with its new sheen, as if in approval. That was good enough for her. "Take us up, Primeva. You, me, the Staff of Sacanas, and the idol of Boreas."

"As you wish, Master," Starlight said with a proud bow.
> Chapter 53 - Wind and Pride
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







While Rainbow Dash and Starlight Glimmer descended into the abyss, Sweetie Belle helped feed the long black cable down for them using her own unicorn magic. 

Fluttershy stood, then sat, then stood again, and paced about the nearby rocky terrain. "There has to be something else I can do," she said. "Usually I help with the wildlife, but there aren't any animals around here." 

"They've got this," Sweetie Belle noted. "We're just here on backup in case something goes wrong."

Fluttershy lifted to the calmed chasm winds and circled about. "I guess I should practice my flying then. I don't do it nearly as much as Rainbow Dash does. I need to be ready to catch her or Starlight or the idol or the staff in case something happens. And these winds do feel rather nice."

The winds steadily picked up the longer the other two ponies worked their way down. Fluttershy found herself thrust up out of them and then descended again, sometimes flapping against them and sometimes letting them push her. At one point, the winds even started to encircle Sweetie Belle's adult form, as if trying to push her into the abyss.

The young unicorn gulped but remained focused on her task since they were not strong enough to truly threaten her mission. Still, when that happened, Fluttershy drew near and flapped her wings as a contrasting shield to guard the young unicorn. The winds obeyed the pegasus' guidance, leaving Sweetie Belle all the more safe and sound.

At last, the winds were beyond Fluttershy's practicing efforts, so she joined Sweetie Belle at the edge of the cliff. No winds followed or tried to draw either of them in toward the abyss again.

After more time passed, Sweetie Belle finally said, "The rope's run out, so now we just wait. One of us should be on lookout over the cliff and the other near the rock where the rope is tied since I'm guessing that's where Starlight would teleport."

"I'll stand guard then since I've got wings and all that practicing," Fluttershy decided aloud.

Sweetie Belle nodded and sat on her haunches by the rock, pulling out her drawing pad to do some practicing of her own.

Eventually, with a flash of light, Starlight Glimmer teleported herself and Rainbow Dash to not far behind where Fluttershy stood.

A sudden gust of wind blew through them, and the idol slipped out of Rainbow Dash's grasp, ramming right into Fluttershy's flank. "Ow," the canary-colored pegasus said. Fluttershy rubbed at the struck spot with her hoof. She gasped at seeing the idol on the ground, quickly grabbed it, and flew closer to Rainbow Dash to give it back. Rainbow accepted and looked it over.

"I don't understand," Starlight said worriedly. "We practiced it twice. Why would it slip away like that? I know I did the teleportation spell right."

From the wing tip of the idol, a small gust of wind blew in Fluttershy's face. The canary-colored pegasus blinked. "Um, is it supposed to do that?" she asked gently.

"I don't know," Rainbow Dash admitted. She glanced over to the powerful gales still sweeping through the chasm. "What did you do while we were gone?"

Fluttershy blushed. "I tried to practice my flying in the winds while we waited for you until it got to be too much as the staff's magic wore off. You know, in case I needed to catch you or Starlight or the staff or...the idol of Boreas." She pointed at the last listed object in question. With that, a whirlwind formed at the tip of the wing similar to the tendril of darkness at the bottom of the abyss.

"Master, what is that?" Fluttershy asked.

"That is a gift. It's magic for you to eat. The bottom of the abyss gave Starlight darkness. Hard to say what exactly is making the offer here this time. I don't know if it's the idol, the abyss, or just the winds in this area, but it is an offer of wind," Rainbow Dash explained.

"Wind?" Fluttershy asked with innocence.

Rainbow stared at it closely. "Yeah."

"Still trying to figure out what it's from?" Starlight asked.

"Mm-hmm," Rainbow Dash acknowledged.

To answer the master mev's curiosity, the red sphere inside the idol glowed. The whirlwind above the wing tip lowered to circle the glowing sphere before ascending once more to where it was.

"And there we have it," Rainbow Dash remarked. "The idol of Boreas offers wind to you, my Segunda. Do you accept?"

"Oh, definitely," Fluttershy said with a kind smile. "How?"

"Open wide," Rainbow Dash said playfully with a grin.

Fluttershy obeyed and the whirlwind whirred itself into her mouth. The canary-colored pegasus clamped her mouth shut and swallowed. "That's...interesting. Am I supposed to do anything now?"

"Blow the wind out with the intent to control what you release, nothing too strong," Rainbow Dash suggested.

Fluttershy did as instructed, and a line of wind worked its way around Rainbow's face in a circle, then around Starlight's neck, down through Sweetie Belle's tail. Fluttershy smiled widely and lifted into the air. She hovered above the winds of the abyss and sent a powerful gust out from her mouth. It matched against the other winds momentarily before she found her whole body thrust upward and thrown back in the direction of her friends. Fluttershy caught her balance in time and landed. "It's like Applejack's and Pinkie Pie's. I can only release so much."

"We didn't test the limit amount with mine," Starlight realized. She blew out a shadow of herself onto the ground and tried to stretch it, finding she could not. "No more than my own size," she noted quietly.

"Master, does that mean every one of your fledglings gets some kind of mev magic just for them?" Sweetie Belle asked. "They all seem to have certain properties and are blown out through the mouth. I guess that makes sense since you all eat the magic."

"That would be really cool," Rainbow said with a small smile.

"Pinkie Pie has water through Penny. Applejack has fire through Spike and Amara. Starlight has darkness from the Abysmal Abyss, and Fluttershy has wind from the idol of Boreas. That leaves Twilight and Rarity. And maybe even you," Sweetie Belle said. The young unicorn paced thoughtfully as she spoke her notes aloud.

"Oh Rainbow Dash, what kind of thing do you think you would get?" Fluttershy wondered.

"Yeah, what do you think yours would be?" Starlight was curious as well. "Your gut must be able to tell you something."

Rainbow Dash thought for a moment and chuckled. "My gut tells me it won't ruin the surprise. It'll happen when it happens. Plus, I'm already the master. I got Blitz, my eye enchantment, vampire transformation. The list goes on. I'm just a teeny bit spoiled here."

"But do you think you'll get something?" Sweetie Belle asked with hope in her voice.

Rainbow Dash nodded. "Yeah, I do. I am an Awesomev, an actual member of the pack, even if my position has a lot of bells and whistles on it compared to the fledglings. As fun as this theorizing is, our mission's not done. We need to show Gilda we got the idol, maybe try to find Grampa Gruff for info and hope he doesn't throw a fit over us taking this thing."

The other three nodded and smiled. "Yes, Master," they all said at once.

"Whoa, best kind of chills just now," Rainbow Dash remarked. "Back to filly you go, Rhezenda," she said and deactivated Sweetie Belle's adult form.

The quartet made their way back to Gilda's house. Gilda opened the door and stared with her mouth open at the sight of them. The idol was tucked away in Sweetie Belle's saddlebag at this point, but the griffon could read their smiles all the same.

"No way," Gilda uttered and let them all enter her house.

Sweetie Belle lifted the idol out of her saddlebag and set it on the large tree stump table for the griffon friend to see it.

"How did you do it?" Gilda asked.

"I appreciate all you've done for us, I really do, but the less you know, the better," Rainbow said. "I promise we didn't hurt anyone or anything to get it."

"Yeah, I guess I can understand that," Gilda replied.

"Do you think Grampa Gruff would be able to tell us more about it than he did the first time Pinkie and I visited?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Tell you what?" Grampa Gruff stood in the doorway, having heard from the shopkeeper that something interesting might be going on with some ponies in town. Knowing of Rainbow Dash's friendship to Gilda, Gilda's house was his first stop. His eyes widened at the sight of the idol. "Impossible! Is that…?"

"No, no," Gilda said as she shook her head and nervously began to lie. "It's just an amazing replica from Equestria. See the shine. It's all spruced up instead of all scuffed up from when I last saw it. Rainbow Dash here was just showing it off."

"You ain't fooling anyone, Missy," Grampa Gruff said with authority. "That's it, that is. The idol of Boreas. How did you get it, Rainbow Dash?"

"Trade secret," Rainbow Dash replied back proudly.

Grampa Gruff flapped his wings in place. "You wanted information, didn't you? How about we do a trade then, hmm?"

Gilda stood defensively between him and the group of ponies. "No. They just want to know if there's anything more to it than what you told them last time. Just how they got it isn't for us to know. I told Rainbow Dash she could take it if she could actually get it. I was the last griffon to touch it."

Grampa Gruff twitched his face in irritation. "Some bits then?" he asked with a claw. 

Rainbow Dash nodded, and Sweetie Belle magically floated some out from one of her saddlebags. Then the young servant brought out her quill and scroll to write what Grampa Gruff had to say. 

The older griffon studied the idol closely. His beak was near the talon claws at its bottom as he said, "Strength to stand with pride in all that is dark." He lifted one of his own claws and pointed to the reddish sphere held in the idol, "The pride itself, a heart of pride that inspired griffons for generations and still does in memory to this day." He waved his right wing over the idol wing piece at the top, "Strength to fly and withstand powerful gales."

Starlight and Fluttershy looked at each other, concern in their eyes, then at Rainbow Dash. The master met their eyes and looked at Grampa Gruff. "Can you sense all of that in the idol yourself right now?" she asked.

"I can," he said.

"I can too," Gilda openly admitted.

The two fledglings sighed in relief. The griffons caught it but did not question it.

"You're taking it with you back to Equestria?" Grampa Gruff asked.

"I am," Rainbow Dash said. "We need it for something special. Rhezenda, go ahead and give him the letter from Princess Celestia."

Sweetie Belle lifted out the letter from one of her saddlebags and passed it to him.

Grampa Gruff read it and looked them all over, then focused on Rainbow Dash. "A 'master mev,' huh? Can't say I've heard that one before." His eyes fell on the Staff of Sacanas. "This isn't the first item you've worked with as this master?"

"Indeed, it is not," Rainbow Dash answered firmly.

"Hmm. Alright. You'll keep it safe I take it,"Grampa Gruff noted with a hint of hope in his voice.

"As safe as I can with my own purposes for it," the master mev admitted.

Grampa Gruff nodded. "Princess Celestia has a crown of King Grover you know. Griffonstone left it in her care."

Rainbow Dash blinked. "No, I did not know that."

"Perhaps then…" the older griffon started to say. His eyes wandered over to Gilda who shook her head to stop him. "Never mind." He put a claw around the base holding the sphere to feel it before leaving the house. "It feels like all is well, so I'll be on my way."

Gilda blinked and did the same to feel the idol as well and smiled. "Dash, you got a minute? Just you and me," she said.

The other three ponies conveniently left the house without a word between them.

Rainbow Dash stood with her back to the door of the house and waited.

"I gave it a lot of thought," Gilda said, rubbing her neck, "and it's really cool that you did get the idol with your friends. Props for that."

"Thanks," Rainbow Dash said.

"You know I care about you, right?" Gilda said, looking away from the master mev.

"Of course I do. We went over it today even," Rainbow answered with a smile.

"I know, but I just can't do it, Dash. I don't want you to bite me. I'm sorry," Gilda said. "And I won't be asking any other griffons. You shouldn't either for that matter. None of us are giving up magic for a week. If I can speak for us on the idol, I'll speak for us on this too. No. You can't have griffon magic for your reserve, except of course whatever you might find in the idol itself."

Rainbow Dash stayed where she stood, and her eyes slightly shifted side to side from within their sockets as she took in the answer.  She glanced down at the floor and quietly nodded. She swallowed. "I understand," she said, unable to hide the disappointment in her voice, even if the answer was not at all surprising. She looked back up with a sad smile nonetheless. "Don't sweat it. Two out of three ain't bad. We're friends. Sometimes friends say no."

"Right," Gilda agreed with a nod. She held out her clawed hand, palm up, and Rainbow Dash put her hoof in it. They each pulled back into a claw and hoof bump, just as they did when they greeted each other. "Well, good-bye and good luck to you Master Rainbow Dash," Gilda said.

"Many thanks, Miss Gilda," Rainbow said with a respectful bow.

Gilda stood quietly for a moment, sensing the title's power on herself and Rainbow's response to it being said aloud. "This your vampire thing?" she asked.

"That it is," the master mev admitted with a friendly air.

"Eh, I guess that part's not so bad. See ya," Gilda remarked.

The two long-time friends waved each other their farewells.

Although Rainbow Dash was denied eating griffon magic, she got everything else she could have hoped for and then some out of her trip to Griffonstone. It certainly felt like a success overall.
> Chapter 54 - Light and Natural Elements
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







"We're back!" Rainbow Dash proudly announced with Starlight Glimmer, Sweetie Belle, and Fluttershy not far behind. The four ponies entered the library at Twilight Sparkle's castle.

"Master Rainbow Dash!" two familiar filly voices exclaimed as they galloped up to her.

"Well, this is certainly a surprise, Crusader Scootaloo and Crusader Apple Bloom," Rainbow said as she looked down at them with a warm smile.

Twilight approached with Spike hovering near her. The young dragon was putting his new wings to use. The alicorn mev informed her master, "Scootaloo was hoping she'd have a chance to talk to you, and Apple Bloom didn't want to miss out on some time with both her friends, especially if we all had time to talk about Griffonstone together like we did with the Crystal Empire last week."

"Oh, I see," Rainbow Dash said. "We definitely have some cool things to report."

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom looked at each other with excited eyes and hopeful smiles.

"Let's go to the throne room like usual then," Twilight suggested to everyone.

The group agreed. At the throne room, all the present Awesomevs sat in their respective seats. Apple Bloom happily sat in Applejack's, and Sweetie Belle chose Rarity's since both thrones immediately next to Rainbow Dash were taken by Fluttershy and Starlight. The seat Rainbow made for Sweetie for pack meetings was only ever present then. Scootaloo sat in Pinkie Pie's throne. The Crusaders liked sitting all next to each other and happy to be part of another post-travel meeting before the true Awesomev pack meeting in a couple of days.

Sweetie Belle placed the Staff of Sacanas on the table and decided to hold off on showing the idol of Boreas since she didn't yet know if that news was to be shared with her crusader friends.

"Something interesting happened with the staff while we were down in the abyss," Rainbow Dash told Twilight.

"Oh?" Twilight inquired.

"Primeva, show her," Rainbow commanded.

Starlight blew out a shadow that cast itself over the surface of the table, partly touching the staff. Its form looked like a shadow of her own body.

"Whoa, cool!" Scootaloo said with interest.

"Shadow power," Apple Bloom remarked with a smile.

The staff crystal lit up in a much brighter blue glow than it did in the Abysmal Abyss. Soon, everyone heard a spark before a tendril very similar to the one Starlight was offered appeared, except it was a white light surrounded by black lines. Like the darkness tendril, it slithered like a snake over to Twilight, circled around her neck and lingered in front of her muzzle.

"Ohhh!" Rainbow exclaimed with a huge realization that none of the others quite reached themselves.

"What? What is it?" asked a very curious Starlight.

"This is like the flame that was offered to Applejack," Twilight said. "But I'm not sure what kind of magic this is."

"It's light," Rainbow informed her proudly.

Twilight and Spike looked at each other as if they knew something everyone else at the table did not.

"No way," Spike uttered in amazement.

Twilight stared at the light with her own interested smile.

Now Rainbow and everyone else were intrigued by their reaction.

"Care to fill us in?" Starlight asked.

"I do, but first, Twilight, aren't you going to take it?" Spike asked.

Twilight nodded and opened her mouth, instinctively slurping the light tendril like Starlight had earlier in the afternoon in the abyss. The alicorn mev covered her mouth. "Peculiar taste but by no means a bad one," she remarked. 

Without prompting, she blew out a glowing pony shape that stood upright over the table. Like the shadow form of Starlight, it resembled Twilight's own body. The Starlight shadow lifted out of the table's surface to stand upright like the one of light and faced it.

The Crusaders and Fluttershy gazed on, speechless.

"I think I get it now, Master's part at least, but why don't you say it aloud for all of us?" Starlight said with her eyes carefully examining the two figures.

"First fledgling," Rainbow Dash pointed to Starlight. "Last fledgling," she pointed to Twilight. "Darkness to Light." She grinned. "Like the dark of night to the light of day, the cycle begins anew every week for the master mev."

The crusader fillies were collectively mesmerized. 

Fluttershy was near tears of joy.

The pony shadow and pony light bowed to each other.

A curious Spike hovered up and stuck his right arm into the shadow pony. "It feels cool…" he noted, keeping his arm in it.

"You really shouldn't stay in it long," Starlight advised him.

Spike blinked. "Ah ah ah!" he realized and pulled his arm out, rubbing it to give it some warmth.

"Did it hurt or something?" Apple Bloom asked him.

"It gets colder the longer you touch it," he explained.

"I'll bet the light does the opposite," Sweetie Belle announced.

Spike took his chance and hovered over to the light pony. He used his left limb and kept it in only a few seconds to confirm. "Yup, sure does. Its warm and gets warmer. I'm sure it eventually gets hot."

"How fascinating," Twilight remarked quietly.

The others in the room heartily agreed.

"Spike, care to test something else for me?" Rainbow Dash asked him.

He gulped but nodded.

"Starlight, try to force him to touch it and stay there with your magic," Rainbow instructed her first fledgling.

Starlight gulped as well, but she tried that. 

While she succeeded in making Spike touch the shadow, he uttered, "Oh wow" in surprise.

"What is it?" Fluttershy asked him.

"It just feels cool, but it doesn't get colder when she forces me to touch it," Spike explained.

Starlight released her magical grip. "Huh, that's interesting. I guess they really are mostly for flair. Not really a danger to anyone unless they try to force themselves on this magic."

"I guess so," Twilight agreed.

"You two already are really powerful magic users," Rainbow Dash reminded them.

They nodded in silent agreement at that.

Each of the magical pony forms faced its wielder. The first and last fledgling understood and sucked their respective power back into their bodies.

Rainbow Dash lifted out of her seat to a hover and elbowed Starlight playfully, "Now it's like you're a whole new Pony of Shadows."

Starlight blushed. "I was thinking more like the Fledgling of Darkness."

"Exactly!" Spike exclaimed.

Everyone looked at him.

"Go on," Twilight encouraged. "We'll wait here."

Spike nodded and flew out the room for a moment before returning with a scroll. He flew close to offer it to the still hovering master mev before seating himself in his small throne next to Twilight Sparkle.

Curious, Rainbow opened the scroll and looked it over. "No way," she repeated his statement from earlier.

"Come on already, tell us," Starlight urged.

Rainbow rolled it back up and hid it behind her back while she stood upright in her hover. "It contains spoilers," she said with a mischievous grin. "Probably."

"I'm perfectly okay with that," Starlight said with certainty.

"Us too," all of the Crusaders said.

"I don't mind," Fluttershy agreed.

"Alright then. Spike the Brave and Glorious, you have the floor," Rainbow said and passed the scroll back to him.

Spike blushed, scratching the back of his head. "Are you sure?"

"You came up with them, right?" Rainbow asked.

"Kind of?" he hesitated.

"Spike, go head," Twilight encouraged again to support him. "You have a very interested audience," she gestured to the crusaders.

Rainbow descended to sit in her own throne and listen.

"Okay, fine," he confessed and before he could start, Twilight yanked the scroll out of his claws. She used her magic to make a copy of the scroll for everyone at the table and passed them to each seated pony. She passed his original copy back to him when she was done.

"Fledgling Elements?" Scootaloo asked, reading the heading of the scroll.

"Right. These are completely different from the Elements of Harmony," Spike began to explain. "You might call them 'Natural Elements'. Usually, there are at least a base four: earth, wind, fire, and water."

Fluttershy gasped upon seeing the writing next to her head icon on the scroll with her wind gift. Those who did not already know of it looked over at her.

"Don't tell me you really are wind?" Spike asked.

Fluttershy nodded and blew out a gust to run a circle around him and then Twilight.

"That definitely looks like more than just a coincidence," Twilight said.

"Rarity is earth?" Sweetie Belle quietly questioned to herself, staring at her copy of the parchment.

"Go on," Apple Bloom urged Spike. "There are more than four mevs in the pack."

"Okay, I see these elements in comic books or tabletop games. It's a running theme. Sometimes those stories go beyond the four elements. A lot of times, there's at least a fifth, something like a heart or central point to indicate all the elements put together or connected in some way. Which in the case of Team Awesome would probably be the master," Spike informed everyone.

The others glanced at Rainbow but kept listening since they could sense Spike had more to say.

"If you go past the main four or five, the theme often expands to light and darkness," he gestured at Twilight and then Starlight.

"How did you know these would be our powers?" Fluttershy asked.

"That's just it," he replied. "I didn't. I had the idea from the fact that Pinkie Pie has a water based power with Penny and Applejack has a fire based power with the flame Amara and I gave her. A master mev's power is from the land, which contains these natural elements. I thought we could use those for the Nightmare Night show. Since Rainbow has chaos magic, we could just pretend to give the other natural elements to the other mevs. I brainstormed on it mostly yesterday and told Twilight about it this morning after you all left."

Twilight nodded with an enthusiastic smile. "He totally did. I thought you might come back with one such power but for three of us to get these in a day is incredible. It was over two weeks between Pinkie Pie and Applejack."

"So does Rainbow Dash get her power after Rarity gets hers?" Scootaloo asked with interest. "There's a bunch of question marks next to her part on this scroll. You don't know what it is or you don't know what it would look like?"

"Remember, this was for the show. I wasn't quite sure how it would go if I went for a centralized element. I mean, the obvious thing might be a rainbow itself because even though it's not all the elements, it is a collection of colors. It's literally in her name, but..." the young dragon paused.

"A vampire that shoots rainbows out her mouth is kinda funny," Apple Bloom said with an amused laugh.

"I agree with you there," Rainbow replied.

"You don't really think that's going to be it, do you Master?" Starlight asked.

"Spoilers," Rainbow said sternly.

Starlight did her best fluttering of her eyelashes she could muster.

Rainbow Dash giggled. "Fine. No, I don't think it's going to be a rainbow."

"Is it at least some way of everything with the elements together?" Sweetie Belle asked.

Starlight fluttered her eyes again to indicate she longed for an answer to that as well.

"You're killing me, Primeva," Rainbow groaned with a hugely amused grin. "No, I don't think it's going to be like that either," she admitted.

"Then what is it?" Fluttershy asked.

"Oh, that's easy," Spike suddenly said.

They all looked at him. 

"If it's actually a seventh element altogether, it's lightning," he told them.

"What? Twilight asked.

"Lightning," the young dragon said, very sure of himself. "Look, there are other natural elements beyond the six I put in the scroll. It depends on the premise. It might be wood or uh...ice to expand beyond water. But for Rainbow Dash, it just has to be lightning. A lightning bolt is her symbol for a lot of things because it's her cutie mark. It's on the Loyalty element. Remember, the other pack name she had in mind was 'Formidable Lightning.' Not to mention she named Blitz, 'Blitz.' That's German for 'lightning.'"

Everyone looked at Rainbow Dash, who wore a very proud smirk. "Read like a book," she admitted happily. She added thoughtfully, "I certainly wouldn't mind it."

"I hope we're not messing anything up by guessing yours and Rarity's ahead of time," Fluttershy said.

"I'm not sure Rarity would like 'earth,'" Apple Bloom admitted. "Seems too...I don't know...dirty...for her."

"She has gotten better about that kind of thing," Sweetie Belle noted. "Remember that time we went camping, and she brushed off some dirt in the cave to show specks of gold."

"Exactly,"  Spike agreed. "Earth is a very broad term," he explained further. "Earth can include rock, just like what Sweetie said about the cave, and rock can include special kinds of rocks that Rarity does like, such as gems and crystals instead of just dirt. Three diamonds are her cutie mark after all."

"Oh," Apple Bloom realized. "Is she really going to be able to get that specific? It's not quite like these other powers."

Spike shrugged. "Maybe. Applejack can change the color of her fire. Pinkie's water is actually Penny, and Penny is in pony form far more often than actually being water. Besides, like I said, this was just an idea for the show. Even if Rarity does get this power and can't do that, Rainbow's chaos magic can probably help with it for at least Nightmare Night."

"Is she going to try to get this earth power if we tell her?" Sweetie Belle asked worriedly.

"It's not a bad thing if she does," Rainbow said, looking over to Fluttershy, who blushed on understanding the connection of her own attempt to regain her bat form.

Sweetie Belle smiled upon understanding her master's response. "Got it. And the opposite?"

"When Rarity agreed to become one of my fledglings, she said she trusted I knew what was acceptable," Rainbow said. "If she declines a gift of earth power, that is her decision. I will respect that as her friend before I became her master."

"How are you going to shoot lightning bolts out of your mouth?" Scootaloo asked, trying to picture it.

"Oh, I have some ideas," Rainbow said with a thoughtful, cute smile.

"Is there anything else ya'll can tell us about your trip?" Apple Bloom asked full of hope.

"We met Gilda and Grampa Gruff, talked some business, took care of our mission, and now here we are," Rainbow said.

"Any cool relic stuff?" Scootaloo asked. She suspected talks of going down an abyss meant something.

"Sorry Little Sister, that's classified," Rainbow Dash informed her.

"Dang," Scootaloo muttered.

"Mm-hmm," Apple Bloom agreed. "Well, I guess I better head home then. I know ya'll got things that need being done." She paused to look at Scootaloo and gave a small, approving nod to wish her friend good luck.

Fluttershy and Sweetie Belle joined her to head to their respective homes. The unicorn filly was again staying with her parents though she made sure she wouldn't be needing her saddlebags this time. Starlight, Twilight, and Spike made themselves conveniently absent while taking Sweetie's bags with them to the library.

Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo sat with only the two of them in the map throne room. The sky blue pegasus quietly waited for what her younger sister wished to discuss.
> Chapter 55 - Another Offer
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Scootaloo glanced around to make sure everyone else really was gone. She climbed on top of the map table, just as Sweetie Belle had done three weeks ago. She walked closer to sit and face Rainbow Dash directly, again mimicking her unicorn friend.

The orange-coated pegasus filly took a deep breath. She declared to the mev, "Master Rainbow Dash, I'm sure this time. I want to become a servant of yours, even at the cost of the mev bond. I do have a special position in mind, but I'm too small and young. It's not something you really need either. It's more of an excuse and way to spend more time with you, like what we talked about the other day."

"Well, come on, out with it," Rainbow Dash encouraged her. "Entertain me with the idea nonetheless," she added with a sly smirk.

Smiling uneasily, Scootaloo exhaled and timidly glanced side to side. "A bodyguard?" she asked hesitantly. "During the day."

Rainbow Dash's magenta eyes thoughtfully darted up in contemplation. She tapped a sky blue hoof to her chin as she considered the presented idea. Eventually, she met her younger sister's eyes and smiled warmly. "That would be a cool position if you were an adult pegasus, I agree."

"But I'm not," Scootaloo said and looked up, as if waiting for some crushing, rejecting blow.

Instead, she got a possibility.

"True," Rainbow agreed, "but it's a fine idea. I could work with it a little bit."

The filly blinked. "You don't mean…?" Her heart skipped a beat as her thoughts lit up at the idea of Sweetie Belle's adult form.

"I can't turn you into one as pegasus, now can I?" Rainbow Dash reminded her with a confident smile. "Just like Sweetie Belle, it would have to be under very specific circumstances. I'm thinking probably while we're traveling...at least sometimes. There are going to be times you can't actually be guarding me too, when I have to meet with certain officials or friends. You'd have to wait outside the door and give us some privacy."

"But you could do it? That's within your rules?" Scootaloo asked, her voice full of hope.

"The right time and place, yes, it is," Rainbow informed her. "Most of the time, you'd still be a filly. You helped me out on Friday when Spike got his wings as a filly."

"Did I?" Scootaloo asked as if she did not quite believe it herself. She stared down at the table, almost ashamed. The experience was what gave her the idea in the first place.

"You listened when I told you to run. You guarded Spike with Twilight and Zecora. You were ready to come and help me out once he got his wings. You did all of that as you," Rainbow said. She tapped Scootaloo's chest gently with her left forehoof.

"But if I had been a grown pegasus who…" Scootaloo swallowed. "...could fly, I could have done more. Right?"

"Hmm," Rainbow said.

Scootaloo looked up with a blink

"Not necessarily," the master mev continued, drawing out the words in her reply.

"What?" Scootaloo asked in quiet shock.

"The roc wanted Spike," Rainbow Dash remind her. "We weren't just dodging it; we were baiting it too. The best place for you to be in service of what I needed, even if you were an older flying pegasus, and even if you had been a bodyguard then, was on the ground. Twilight did the same as an alicorn and my fledgling, remember?"

"Oh," Scootaloo realized quietly, and her posture deflated. Her voice spoke with a hint of disappointment that she would not be granted such power so easily.

"Chin up," Rainbow said, lifting Scootaloo's chin for her. "A flying ability can have a right time and place too."

The younger pony brightened at that, regaining her posture and a smile.

"You're still my client for the real thing," Rainbow Dash said. "And that means there are going to be limits on what you can know, where you can be, and when I…" The master mev paused, considering her words carefully. "...let's say 'loan' you a fake one. Not to mention I can't really teach you the really cool stuff live with both of us flying because I do have another way of doing that as a regular pegasus."

"You do?" a curios Scootaloo asked.

"Yup. The good news is that with Rarity's help, I do have a report that can teach you that stuff textbook style," Rainbow explained.

Scootaloo's wings fluttered at that, and she grinned widely. "Can I read it before Nightmare Night? Please? Maybe you could at least show me even if I can't do it yet."

"Sure," Rainbow agreed. She moved onto another matter. "But back to this bond we're talking about. You won't get as much privileged information as Sweetie Belle either. I can't tell everyone everything. If you're still thinking of approaching this like Blitz does, I don't actually tell her much. She just does her job and enjoys the perks." With a playful air, she added, "I'm not doing anything super evil, I promise."

"I can do that,"  Scootaloo said with an encouraged smile.

"You're still staying at your house with your aunts while your parents are gone?" Rainbow asked her.

"Unless you need some kind of bodyguard at your house," Scootaloo admitted. "You're the master, so you know..."

"No, I've made the proper arrangements to protect my domain," Rainbow Dash admitted.

"Do I need a title?" Scootaloo asked.

"Do you have one picked out?" Rainbow asked back.

The younger pegasus shook her head. "I know it's not a mev title, but I think of my title with you as Little Sister or Little Sis. I like that as it is."

"Well then," Rainbow said with warmth in her voice and magenta eyes, "I don't really think it's necessary in this case."

Scootaloo breathed a sigh of relief with a smile too. She met Rainbow's eyes with a more serious expression. "So, how do we exchange magic to make this bond?"

"Come to my place tomorrow after school," Rainbow Dash instructed her. "Bring Sweetie Belle. Apple Bloom can tag along if she'd like, but she doesn't have to be there. It is going to take longer without a unicorn horn, but I know we can do it. Oh, and if you have any physical object that links to our current sister bond, bring that too."

Taking in all the instructions thoughtfully, Scootaloo nodded. "Okay, Master," she agreed contentedly. "I'll see you then."

The two pegasi hugged, and Scootaloo left.





Rainbow Dash made her way to the library to see Twilight Sparkle, Starlight Glimmer, and Spike.

"What did Scootaloo want?" Twilight asked.

"To be my servant as a bodyguard so that we can spend more time together," Rainbow Dash told them all plainly.

"Wow, another one?" Spike asked. He hovered nearby in the air.

With a follow-up question on her mind, Twilight asked, "Did you accept and bond?"

"I have accepted, but the actual mev bond hasn't formed yet. It's going to need some extra care and time without a unicorn horn," Rainbow Dash informed her. "We'll take care of it tomorrow at my place."

"Just giving her a unicorn horn to do it is against the rules?" Spike asked.

"It's certainly not a good practice when I have a pretty good idea of what to do without it," Rainbow Dash told him. "Pegasi got pegasi magic, you know."

He smiled pleasantly in response.

"Do you think this kind of thing spreads?" Starlight wondered. "You're a master, and you just sort of collect servants connected to your servants as time goes on?"

"And one day I shall take over all of Equestria," Rainbow Dash boomed facetiously, followed by a diabolical cackling laugh.

The two fledglings laughed as well, and Spike looked at them curiously before shrugging. "I guess I could mention that I don't have a mev bond with you, Rainbow Dash, and I'm around all of you more than any outsider at all."

"Then you shall be the one to stop me," Rainbow Dash replied with a jovial air in her voice and a friendly wink.

Spike giggled, now just as amused as the fledglings.

Starlight cleared her throat to catch Rainbow's attention.

"Back to the question," the master mev said, understanding her Primeva's point quite well. "I don't know. My gut's helping me out on what to do next after an offer, but the very first offer was not something I sensed coming at all.

"Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle didn't really hide that Scootaloo was interested, so that wasn't as surprising. Anyone else? You got me. I joked around with the students the other day about the idea, but I don't really think any of them are considering it. Or would."

"The students?" Twilight asked. Her voice teetered with a hint of worry.

"Yeah. Ocellus, Gallus, and Silverstream stopped by while I was exercising in the gym the other night. We chatted. Not for long. I sent them on their way to get the sleep they needed," Rainbow explained.

"Is there a particular reason you did that?" Twilight slowly prodded her.

"Well, Ocellus wanted to talk to me about mev stuff, trying to ask me before the field trip, but it's kind of hard to work in the time to do that during the day with the four jobs. I mentioned I sometimes stop by at night for the exercise and said I could talk to her then. I learned some cool things I'll tell you more about at the pack meeting," she offered with a playful grin.

"Hmm," Twilight noted.

"Have any of them slept in your classes?" Rainbow asked. "I did say we couldn't chat like that again if they did. Let me know if I messed them up, and I'll stop."

"Now that you mention it, the opposite seems to have happened," Twilight remarked. "Gallus has been more attentive, and Ocellus has been more open about asking questions during class on both Thursday and Friday. Silverstream is...well...she was already both those things."

"That I like to hear," Rainbow Dash said, now smiling proudly. "All is well between Headmare Twilight and Professor Dash then?"

Twilight nodded with a soft smile and silent amusement at the educator titles in use.

"Great," Rainbow said, "Let's change the subject. Did Starlight already tell you two about the idol of Boreas?"

Twilight and Spike nodded before Twilight said, "What do you think of what you found? Is it going to do what we hope?"

"Too soon to say. It seems complicated. Hold onto it until the pack meeting. Hopefully the seven of us and maybe some help from our three privileged outsiders can find an answer. Assuming Discord still plans on coming," Rainbow noted.

"Say, I hope you don't mind my asking," Spike began, scratching the back of his head as he hovered by Twilight, "is there a particular reason you always let Discord stay? I get why Sweetie Belle and I are around as assistant and Rhezenda, but he's not anything like an assistant to Fluttershy. He just kind of hangs around and gets a say in the discussion even though he's not in your pack. He could just teach you magic after a meeting is over."

Rainbow answered the young dragon seriously. "I respect the Lord of Chaos a great deal. Even though the students from the other kingdoms were actually the first creatures to call me 'Master,' they did that in a state of fear and with Blitz helping them out to deal with me. 

"With Discord, it's different. He was the first one to knowingly call me by my title to respect me. That book's not kidding around. That word matters to me. On top of that, he played a big role in helping me form the pack, and he willingly gave me chaos magic to teach me about it. 

"I didn't even ask. With someone who has given me so much, I am hugely grateful. Letting him stick around in pack meetings is my way of saying 'thanks' and that I respect him too."

"Oh," Spike blinked as he thought about it. "Cool."

The rest of Sunday passed with Rainbow Dash staying to spend time with her three friends and eventually just Twilight for the flexchange. She took on the alicorn form again for her Rexa. Afterward, the two ponies went to the library for their night reading. Starlight even joined them for a short while before she herself went to sleep. The two active mevs enjoyed the rest of their night together before parting ways, as had become customary for Sunday nights and early Monday mornings.
> Chapter 56 - Channeling Pegasus Magic
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Late Monday morning, Rarity passed copies of fliers to her Awesomev friends. The group had gathered for a staff meeting at Twilight's School of Friendship, and it was the perfect opportunity for her current endeavor.

At the top of each given flier was a drawing of Blitz with her head front and center and her mouth partly opened. Below her was a red ribbon and white text that stated, "TEAM AWESOME PRESENTS". Beneath that header was a slightly smaller one in black bold text that said, "Delightful Frights Upon Nightmare Night." Under the headings was the place and time of Sweet Apple Acres at 8:00PM. Such a schedule would ensure that Rainbow Dash and Rarity had enough time to conduct their flexchange since the show would take place on a Thursday. It was also a time late enough to lessen chances of ponies that might be too young for even intentional scares.

Finally, the description of their show was the rest in smaller text that said, "Meet Master Rainbow Dash and the other Awesomevs for a night of chills, thrills, and wondrous magic to behold, including a leviathan. Don't come fearless. Come courageous. We hope you have as much fun as we will." 

Below the description were silhouettes of seven ponies that could easily be determined by mane style with Rainbow in the center. Starlight Glimmer, Fluttershy, and Rarity were obviously the group on the right while Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Twilight Sparkle were the group to the left.

Rarity addressed the team to explain, "It is best we start advertising the show today if we truly want eager and ready interested ponies to come. Right about now is when everyone in Ponyville starts making their plans, choosing costumes, who they'll go with, where they go, that sort of thing.

"I can start putting up fliers at the school today. Our students are at the right age to appreciate what we're trying to do. What do you all think?"

"I think they look lovely," Fluttershy said with a soft voice and sincere smile.

"It's making me hyped! Pumped! Ready! I can't wait!" Pinkie Pie eagerly declared.

"I've already seen 'em since we made sure to get the place and time all set with the family," Applejack said, "and they still look terrific."

"They do exactly what we need," Starlight added. She was clearly pleased.

"I like what I see," Rainbow Dash put forth. Her magenta eyes quietly and proudly lit to red for a moment.

She and Twilight looked at each other with smiles of their own, each giving an approving nod. With that, Twilight stated aloud, "They're perfect, Rarity. Go ahead with your plan."

Rarity squealed with pride, and the fliers were soon posted on the walls throughout the school, easily seen by all the students. The students unaware of mevs were indeed curious what the word 'Awesomev' even meant though they were all capable of relating the other obvious facts. Given what they knew of their headmare's powerful magic, they assumed it was Rainbow Dash's friends helping her put on a show, which was of course, true. This particular teacher was, after all, a renowned performer, even if moreso for her flying feats than anything else.

The Student Six gathered around in Ocellus' dorm talk in private that very afternoon.

"I guess it fits that the name of Master Rainbow Dash's pack would be Team Awesome," Ocellus noted with a smile.

"Blitz really is going to be there," Smolder remarked. "They're admitting it outright on the flier."

"Master Rainbow Dash said she's going to be very large and very real, so even more scary than the first time we saw her," Silverstream reminded the others.

"Friends sure she really won't hurt anyone?" Yona asked.

Ocellus, Gallus, and Silverstream nodded together. They had faith in the master mev.

"Blitz even kind of helped out Spike dealing with his molt," Smolder pointed out. "I honestly can't wait to see her again. We're practically distant cousins."

The students laughed together at that.

"The rest of us will be there to look out for each other," Sandbar said to Yona to address her concern.

"And Professor Dash is giving us more than fair warning this time," Gallus added. "Plus, all of the other teachers and Counselor Glimmer are part of this show. If it's anything like what we saw on the pirate ship, it should at least be something worth seeing."

Silverstream gasped. "Maybe we'll see another song. Can you imagine?"

At that, Yona smiled. "That might be fun."

"Right," Ocellus said with another pleased smile. "It's supposed to be both scary and fun. We can all find out together if that's something this pack of mevs really can do."

Rarity's advertising proved successful with many students now looking forward to the show.





Later that same Monday afternoon, the Cutie Mark Crusaders arrived together by hot air balloon at Rainbow Dash's cloud house. Sweetie Belle knocked, and the master mev soon opened the door.

"Hi Master Rainbow Dash," the trio greeted together.

Rainbow bowed her head politely. "Greetings, Crusaders. Won't you come in?"

The fillies did just that, and then Scootaloo and Apple Bloom breathed sighs of relief.

To that, Rainbow Dash raised an intrigued eyebrow.

"They thought the inside might be some kind of evil villain lair," Sweetie Belle admitted with slight embarrassment.

"The sun hasn't set yet, girls," Rainbow Dash told them. "And even then, it just feels different. It all looks the same. If you're worried about running into Blitz, I prefer her around at night. If she's around during the day, it's to help me out with my work as a master mev."

"Yeah, I guess that matches what Sweetie Belle told us," Scootaloo admitted, "but you know...it's our first time since you transformed. We are here for something having to do with you being a master mev too."

"I suppose you have a point," Rainbow agreed.

As they entered further into the house, Scootaloo saw a cloud standing ready and hovering above the floor. "Is that what we're going to use?"

"Part of it, yup," Rainbow said. "Pegasus magic is generally regarded as 'passive,' in comparison to unicorn magic since it's not channeled out through a horn. But it does have some evident activity channeled through our overall body with the air. In turn, it is most active when we fly and when we work with the weather, even something as simple as sitting on a cloud. Did you bring anything?"

Scootaloo nodded and turned to Sweetie Belle. The Rhezenda magically retrieved a helmet to pass to the younger pegasus.

"This is my helmet from the camping trip when you agreed to be like a big sister to me," Scootaloo explained.

"I like your choice," Rainbow replied with a smile. "Rhezenda, go get the crown and pedestal," she commanded.

Sweetie Belle nodded and left momentarily before bringing back the desired objects. She carried both easily with her magic.

"So, how are ya'll going to get this done?" Apple Bloom asked. "Even as a unicorn, Sweetie Belle needed Rarity's help to channel her magic. They're blood related, and no offense Master, but you're not related by blood to Scootaloo."

"You're right, I'm not. We do, however, have a sisterly bond, even if it's not by blood. Plus, I am the Master. It will be enough. We'll just get started on doing it since this will take awhile. You'll see." Rainbow Dash picked Scootaloo up and set her on the cloud. The filly instinctively positioned herself to sit. "You're going to need to stay put here for quite some time, Little Sister, though we'll be done before sunset. Hold onto the helmet in your forelimbs too."

Scootaloo obeyed.

Rainbow Dash and Sweetie Belle briefly worked out where the pedestal and crown should be. After that, the master mev fluttered up to sit beside Scootaloo's left and embracing the younger pegasus with a right wing. "Now, you just think about us and what we're trying to do here, what's driving you," Rainbow instructed her.

Scootaloo closed her eyes to start playing out the memories. They included when she first started looking up to Rainbow Dash, offering her to be Rainbow's assistant when they all went to watch a meteor shower. Even more went on in her head to searching for Rainbow's cutie mark story, to presiding over the Rainbow Dash fan club, and at last to the memory of telling Rainbow outright she wanted to be like sisters.

Apple Bloom's voice called out, "You're doing it Scootaloo."

Scootaloo opened her eyes and saw a tiny stream of white magic emitting from the cloud, pointed in the direction of the crown and not yet reaching.

"Good," the master mev said with firm approval. "You've made the first big step. Weave in and out of the memories and your reasoning. It doesn't need to be constant. We're pegasi, not unicorns. We weave in and out of our type of magic. We do have to stay on the cloud though. You can chat with your friends while we're here. They are part of our friendship bond together. 

"I'm estimating this will take at least half an hour."

"Oh so that's how," Apple Bloom said and looked up with a smile. "How would it work with an earth pony like me?" Her tail flicked back and forth with her curiosity.

"Specifically you?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Master might bring in Applejack."

"Then you'd have to stand somewhere on the ground I'm guessing," Scootaloo theorized.

"Maybe you'd have to have a physical object too," Sweetie Belle continued. "If not something between you and Master, then something between her and Applejack."

"What if it weren't me? Just some random earth pony," Apple Bloom prodded.

"Apple Bloom, Master wouldn't take just some random earth pony," Sweetie Belle said with authority before glancing over to Rainbow Dash. "Would you?"

"You are correct Rhezenda. I would not," the master mev assured her.

"Right, right. Sweetie Belle said they'd probably have to at least be friends with you. Is that true as well?" Apple Bloom prodded further.

"At the very least," Rainbow Dash agreed.

"Besides me, who would you accept?" Apple Bloom wondered.

Scootaloo didn't mind Apple Bloom and Rainbow Dash talking since it let her think about times spent with both of them, such as another camping trip where all the older sisters told stories of their favorite legends.

"Who said I would accept you?" Rainbow teased with a playful grin.

"You know what I mean," Apple Bloom insisted.

"Your question has no simple answer," Rainbow informed her. "It matters why they want to serve me, what they want out of it, and the friendship bond we might already have. 

"Once I understand that, I can determine if I accept. I am a master, so servants do sound rather nice. 

"Still, I have to think about myself, my pack, my clients, and...you get the idea. Even right now with Scootaloo, it's going to be a little difficult since she actually is my client already. That's not gonna change," Rainbow said.

"Yeah, I guess I get that," Apple Bloom noted in agreement. "The stream's coming along a little more," she observed. Indeed, it had inched out even further.

Scootaloo smiled at the sight.

"Did Rarity get to post the fliers for Nightmare Night at the school?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"She sure did. We all thought she did a great job," Rainbow Dash answered.

"Have you chosen Sweetie Belle's form yet?" Apple Bloom wanted to know.

"I'm leaning toward pegasus filly," Rainbow Dash admitted. "That will be enough to catch our audience off guard for a cool surprise without as much shock that an alicorn or grown unicorn form might. It will pass for some very clever magic from my unicorn and draconequis friends as an interesting illusion. Which it kinda is. 

"After all, a unicorn spell exists to let other ponies stand on clouds like pegasi and another to give butterfly wings. Are you coming to the show?"

"Oh definitely," Apple Bloom confirmed with a nod. "It's at the farm after all. The family's letting me stay up to see it."

"What about you Scootaloo?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Have you decided yet?"

"Actually," Scootaloo replied, "Master Rainbow Dash, I was wondering if I could add something to my flying request for that night."
> Chapter 57 - Drawn to the Circle
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







"What did you have in mind?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"First, a question," Scootaloo replied. "Is it only at night that you get to use as much magic as you want? Not during the day at all?"

"That's right. It's special to Nightmare Night itself so only once the sun is fully set," the mev explained.

"Can I have the nocturnality you give Sweetie Belle some nights for just the night as well?" Scootaloo asked.

"Well, I'd certainly like to," Rainbow Dash said, "but what about what your family expects of you?"

"I know!" Apple Bloom lit up with a hop in place. "I could invite her over for a sleepover at the farm. With the nocturnality, she won't be in bad shape during the next day. I'll go to sleep like usual."

"Don't you want nocturnality too?" Sweetie Belle suggested. "Then we could all hang out all night together...assuming Master doesn't need me for anything after the show that is." She blushed and looked up at Rainbow Dash.

"Hmm," her master said thoughtfully. "You should stay awhile to talk to the audience afterward, since that is part of your role as a link to the outsiders, but that won't take all night. They have to go to bed too."

"Oh. Well, would that be alright Master Rainbow Dash?" Apple Bloom asked. "May I please have nocturnality on Nightmare Night to hang out with my friends after your show is over? We'll be good at school the next day. We promise."

"The whole night too," Scootaloo added.

Sweetie Belle nodded in agreement with her two friends.

"You may," Rainbow Dash said with a gleeful red shimmer in her eyes. "Same goes for you Little Sister."

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle jumped for joy.

"I'd jump too, but I don't want to mess this up," Scootaloo said from the cloud where she sat. The tiny stream of magic was nearly halfway to the crown. "I think I'll watch the show with Apple Bloom."

Apple Bloom nodded pleasantly at the idea. Then suddenly she blushed and smiled, meeting eyes with Rainbow Dash. She gulped. "And c-could I be a pegasus to fly a little with them too?"

"Oh please please please Master," Sweetie Belle begged, eagerly latching onto the idea.

Scootaloo blushed with a tinge of jealousy but nodded and smiled. "Yeah, that would be a lot of fun – if you don't think it's too much trouble that is, Master."

Rainbow rubbed a thoughtful hoof to her chin. She eventually closed her eyes with a pleasant smile and nodded. "Alright. Don't make me regret it."

"We won't. That's a promise," Apple Bloom assured her.

The fillies went on to talking about school and their own work as Crusaders until the stream of magic finally reached the crown. Once it did, the stream itself expanded a little before finishing its journey inside.

Sweetie Belle knew it was time to move the crown to Rainbow's reach so did it without prompting using her unicorn magic. Rainbow Dash removed her wing that had been embracing Scootaloo the entire time and put the crown on.

She explained, "Typically, I don't eat magic from objects but living creatures. However, this crown is special to me. For mev work, I can eat from it in cases where I can't actually bite the source of the magic. 

"Like kids," she added with a friendly wink at Scootaloo. Her eyes turned red. Soon, the same stream that Scootaloo put into the crown worked its way into Rainbow Dash's mouth.

"That's the first part," Sweetie Belle reminded the other two. "Now we have to get Master's mev magic into Scootaloo."

The master mev sent magic from herself back into the crown, then removed it from her head. She placed it on top of the helmet in Scootaloo's hooves. She guided the filly's right forehoof to touch the crown and keep her left forehoof on the helmet, holding the two headpieces together in place.

"We repeat the same process, only you touch the crown this time too. Think of it is growing closer to the mev bond itself. 

"You still hold your helmet now with your other hoof, stay on the cloud, and think of the same things as before. Except think a little more in the now and the future you hope to find yourself in with this change," Rainbow explained. She placed her wing around Scootaloo once again. "It will take maybe half the time as putting the magic in the crown."

Scootaloo obeyed, and she chatted with her friends a little more. Once the stream looked really close to reaching her own body, the group stopped talking to simply watch and wait. The stream was evidently reaching for the pegasus filly's wings. On instinct, Scootaloo recognized it was time to remove her helmet from her grip. She said so aloud, and Sweetie Belle used her magic to pull the helmet away from the younger pegasus. She guided it into a saddlebag. At last, the stream reached Scootaloo through her wings. She felt a small surge of the power spread throughout her body. "This is it!" she exclaimed, looking at Rainbow Dash. The master mev smiled, still keeping her wing in place. Scootaloo hugged her. "Master," Scootaloo said with a warm smile and closed eyes. She blinked and looked up at Rainbow's magenta eyes. "It feels even better to say it now."

"That's just like what Sweetie Belle told us," Apple Bloom remarked. "Does this put her in your circle now?"

"Just inside the border," Rainbow Dash admitted. "No one else can get as far in as Rhezenda. That would rather defeat the point, wouldn't it?"

Sweetie Belle blushed and smiled, nodding in agreement.

Apple Bloom smiled as well. "That's kinda cool, don't you think, Master? Sweetie Belle gets close inside, Scootaloo at the border, and I watch from outside...though I admit, I'm getting a little tempted just watching the whole thing. Do you want another bodyguard?"

"Ha, you two would be like my Secret Service then," Rainbow remarked with an amused laugh.

All three Crusaders laughed together at that.

Then the mev answered, "You let me know when your temptation has fully drawn you in, and we'll figure it out then. Find a calling if you can. And yes, another bodyguard would be just fine."

Apple Bloom nodded. "Fair enough. Don't think I'm quite ready to commit yet. I can't wait to hear about where ya'll are going next and if Scootaloo gets to go."

"That will have to wait, but since Scootaloo will be my daytime bodyguard, that means that right now, we have to test a couple of things before I dismiss her," Rainbow announced to the trio.

Scootaloo's eyes lit up and she placed both her forehooves over her mouth. Rainbow Dash lifted her from the cloud to set her down in the house. She bucked the cloud away with ease.

"First up, adult pegasus form with wings of expected size. Just like Rhezenda, I'm going to change a color on your cutie mark. The wing inside the shield will turn red," Rainbow explained.

Scootaloo nodded and stood still as Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle watched. The filly grew into a pegasus mare.

"Wow, way to go Master," Apple Bloom gazed on excitedly.

"Up next, let's add in a touch of pegasus magic to give you flight and make sure that works," Rainbow said. "Test it out. We have to be brief to conserve the magic."

Scootaloo nodded and flew upward with ease. "Wow, it's a lot easier than the test run," she remarked.

"That's because it's fake and very much temporary. We're getting some help from a combination of chaos and pegasus magic. We're in easy mode. The test run was as close to the real thing as I could get you. At least for now. That used unicorn magic for the growth with no pegasus magic at all, instead relying only on what's in you."

"Oh," Scootaloo said from a hover. She flew in a few loops, up, and down, slow, and fast, before finally landing and instinctively knowing that the turn was over.

"Back you go," Rainbow said, turning Scootaloo into her usual filly self.

"That is so cool!" Apple Bloom exclaimed.

Scootaloo hugged Rainbow's left forelimb. "Thanks so much, Master."

"My pleasure," Rainbow replied with a warm smile. "Rhezenda will be a point of contact for us, just like she's been, for when you are needed if you don't hear it straight from me. We are probably going somewhere this weekend."

Scootaloo nodded.

"Can you girls give us a couple of minutes alone?" Rainbow asked.

The other two fillies nodded and made some distance.

Rainbow and Scootaloo talked back and forth briefly, Scootaloo giving a few nods, and the two ended with a hoof bump to each other. Scootaloo trotted over to her friends. "Rainbow Dash hasn't forgotten about an idea we had. I'm giving a little stunt show on Wednesday afternoon. It'll be short since she's got her jobs, and we have our Crusader stuff. Still, we can work it in. Can you two come?"

"Of course," Apple Bloom said proudly.

"I'm sure I can work it in too," Sweetie Belle said with mock aloofness before breaking into an eager grin.

With that, all the ponies left together as Rainbow had to take care of a few weather jobs in the afternoon. The Crusaders agreed to stay at the clubhouse though Sweetie Belle wouldn't be there long. After the quick weather work, the servant and master mev needed to make notes and plans for the Team Awesome pack meeting the following day.





That night, Rainbow Dash looked through her Rhezenda's notes. "Wow, I've had a busy week. I need to talk about visiting Pee Wee and how that went. Then we'll go over helping out Spike during his molt and encountering the roc. Fluttershy can give us an update on how he's doing.

"We have a lot to report on Griffonstone, so I think we should start with stating we got the idol first and foremost. Then Starlight and Fluttershy can show off their new powers. We'll get to Twilight's light at some point. Then we can say what Grampa Gruff told us. From there, I expect the group to have some things to say. This trip was specifically for Project Mercury, so we won't wait for the end of the meeting to go over it. I'll note Gilda declining griffon magic in the reserve. After all that, we'll talk about where we're going next."

"Have you decided?" Sweetie Belle asked her with interest.

Rainbow Dash took a deep breath. "I have, but it's not the friendliest place."

"The Dragonlands?" the unicorn filly pressed for confirmation.

"Right. It's time. Mitria's on the verge of getting her power and if there's any place that's granting her an earth-based power, it's there. With the rocks everywhere and dragons liking gems too. She herself has been there twice and was with Twilight and Spike when they met Dragon Lord Ember, then Princess Ember, the first time," Rainbow explained.

"You think the land is rushing the powers to all of you for Nightmare Night?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Well…" Rainbow said, "It's not as rushed as it might look. Think of it this way. Starlight and Twilight are first and last, darkness and light. They were supposed to get their powers at the same time. That's why the staff glowed. The powers are related to each other, just like their placements in the order as fledglings. 

"It is a big coincidence Fluttershy got something too, but she has been actively trying to work toward her own power by trying to get her bat pony form since our very first exchange.

"Three in a day can't even happen again. The other two were decently spread. I do think you're right in that the source of my power is in tune and agreement with what I want to do. 

"I was chosen to be the Master Mev after all," Rainbow acknowledged. "We don't really use the powers for our work as mevs, not sure it's even going to happen at this rate, unless the show counts. It will charge the atmosphere with communal friendship magic. 

"That aside, these powers have just been the perks. In fact, this trip would be a great time for Fyra to enjoy hers. She can't just shoot out fire like a dragon. She's fireproof now too."

"Are Scootaloo and I really going? The Dragonlands are more dangerous than the other places," Sweetie Belle pointed out.

"Yeah, this is the type of place where I'd want you both in your adult forms the entire time," Rainbow Dash said.

Sweetie Belle hesitated before asking, "Isn't Scootaloo scared of bigger dragons? Maybe I would be too if I saw them live."

"First of all, I haven't even seen the bigger dragons around since my first visit there. Maybe because that was during the dragon migration. Secondly, even if they somehow are around, the mev bond will handle it. The bond's not just about me having power over you but for you as well," Rainbow reminded her. "We exchanged. I didn't just take."

Sweetie Belle nodded.

Rainbow Dash moved on. "We'll see how things are going for Nightmare Night planning. If the group hasn't already talked about using the powers for the show like Spike had in mind, we'll do it then."

"Are you going down the order of the fledglings this time too?" Sweetie Belle prodded, trying to make sure they had everything sorted. She knew they were nearly done with their agenda.

"Yeah, let's do that right after the group talks about Nightmare Night and consider the meeting done," Rainbow Dash decided.

"Maybe you should move Griffonstone to the start and talk about the phoenixes and molt at the end then," Sweetie Belle advised. "That's part of your turn, and you are the last in the line after the fledglings."

"Very well, Rhezenda. Make it so," Rainbow Dash agreed.

Sweetie Belle contentedly did exactly that.
> Chapter 58 - Meeting Grant
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Another Team Awesome meeting began on Tuesday night. All Awesomevs were present, along with their usual three outsider friends they allowed to join for such meetings.

"Some of us have had a busy week," Rainbow Dash said. "We're starting off with how our trip went to Griffonstone."

"Did you get it?" Pinkie Pie asked with eager hope and a light swish of her puffy tail. She had been in Griffonstone the first time Rainbow tried for different reasons.

Twilight Sparkle telekinetically lifted the idol of Boreas and placed it on the table.

"That we did," Rainbow Dash proudly declared.

"Any problems?" Applejack asked.

"Not especially," the master mev answered. "Starlight and Sweetie Belle did a great job planning things out, so Fluttershy and I just followed their lead on what to do. Starlight and Fluttershy also received gifts similar to yours."

"Oh really now?" Applejack asked with keen interest that was shared among the others.

"You start Primeva," Rainbow Dash instructed.

Starlight Glimmer showed off the shadow she could release, casting it on the table. "This is how it looked when I first got it, but there's more." She glanced over to Twilight.

The sixth and last fledgling nodded. She repeated the same steps they did two days before. The shadow lifted again.

"Darkness and light," Discord uttered in a fascinated whisper. He perched himself on a tree behind Fluttershy as had been done in the last meeting.

"I can actually now cast the shadow to stand upright instead of only being on a surface. I assume I can do that now because Rexa got her power. They're linked to each other. When we were down in the abyss, after I received darkness, the Staff of Sacanas started glowing. It knew it had to give Twilight the light power still," Starlight explained to everyone.

"I can cast my light over existing shadows that aren't Starlight's. I assume because she is the first fledgling and our vampire nature is linked closely to the night, that is why Primeva's darkness wins out," Twilight added.

"Master's theory is that they were supposed to get these powers at the same time," Sweetie Belle stated aloud for everyone.

"Are any of the others linked that way?" Applejack asked.

"We'll explain more on that soon enough," Rainbow Dash said. "There's a little more about these two."

She hovered over to the shadow. "They are not solid," she began. She put her forehoof in the shadow. "This feels cool to the touch at first, but if I remain…" She paused and narrowed her eyes with suspicion.

Twilight cleared her throat. "You're probably immune to that effect, Master."

Rainbow Dash blushed in embarrassment, rubbing the back of her mane. "Oh. Right."

"I'll do it!" Pinkie Pie volunteered. She hopped over on the table and put her hoof in. "Ummm...it's cool yeah, but it's not changing."

"Oh, maybe we're immune to our powers hurting each other," Starlight announced to the other mevs.

"Well, I suppose that's a good thing," Rarity said thoughtfully.

Pinkie Pie quietly returned to her seat.

All too curious, Discord extended his eagle-clawed arm into the shadow. "Aah!" he eventually shrieked.

"You know, I was about to just tell you," Rainbow informed him with a little smirk.

He smirked back, shaking it off. "Yes. Well, I wished to experience it myself." He set the arm on fire and then blew the flames out with ease. It was charcoal black at first but after a flash of white magic, it was fully healed. "The good news is I can quickly nullify the effect. At least for me."

"But what exactly happened?" Applejack inquired.

"The longer you stay touching the shadow, the colder it gets," Spike told her with experienced authority. "And if you touch the light version, the hotter it gets. It can really hurt if you stay touching one too long. Us outsiders that is."

Applejack glanced at Sweetie Belle. "Are we sure? This young'un's got a mev bond."

Rainbow Dash and Sweetie Belle met eyes.

Without a word, Sweetie Belle reached out to the shadow. "It's…" she stuck her tongue out deep in thought. Eventually, she pulled away. "It's a lot slower than what Spike and Discord felt, but it does get cooler, the longer I touch it. I do think it would eventually hurt."

She and Spike immediately followed that up by writing their notes on the matter.

"Fascinating," Twilight muttered quietly to herself.

"You said Fluttershy got something too," Rarity reminded her master.

Rainbow Dash nodded. "Segunda, show them." She flew back to her own seat and sat down.

Fluttershy nodded too and blew a gust of wind that carried through and whisked by every pony at the table while including Spike and finishing up where Discord sat perched in his tree.

"Wind," Discord said in a fascinated breath. He bent down and offered his lion paw, which Fluttershy happily tapped with her hoof.

"It's as if every fledgling is supposed to get a power," Rarity remarked. "Only I and Pinkie Pie don't have ours yet. Unless you count Penny."

"We do count Penny," Rainbow told her. "Spike, I trust you brought the scroll you showed some of us on Sunday."

He nodded. "Twilight has more copies ready."

Twilight nodded as well and passed out copies to the Awesomevs who had not yet seen them, along with one for Discord. "You'll notice each of these powers that are received are channeled through the mouth," Twilight happily informed everyone.

Rarity levitated hers and studied it closely. She quietly spoke aloud as she read off the list. "Starlight darkness, Fluttershy wind, Rarity...earth?" She blinked a few times before glancing up to meet eyes with Spike, who nodded at her.

Rarity raised an eyebrow but continued. "Pinkie Pie water, Applejack fire, Twilight light, Rainbow Dash...lightning?" At that last one, she giggled. "Of course it would be lightning. Do you have it already, Master?"

The master mev shook her head. "Yours and mine are theories, but if you ask me, they are very good theories. I doubt I would receive such a power before you do."

"Earth?" Rarity considered, rubbing a thoughtful forelimb under her chin. "Your magical mev gut wouldn't happen to know how that would work?"

"I'm sensing...it would start off like wind and solidify into rock after you project it out. I think you might be able to mold it based on the image you want because you're an artist. 

"I can't tell you if we're talking plain looking rocks or pretty gem rocks. 

"I can make it work that way on Nightmare Night but not every night. That's something you'd have to find out for yourself. 

"Penny aside, all of these powers were offered, and Penny herself agreed to my own offer before we took her in," Rainbow Dash explained. "It will be your decision to accept of course."

"Are you certain I'd receive an offer? Most of these powers required some effort from the Awesomev to be received. I've certainly done some work but no offers yet," Rarity reminded her.

"We'll get to what I think is going to happen with that soon enough, but I want to finish talking about Griffonstone first," Rainbow Dash said.

"Very well, Master. I can wait a little longer," Rarity agreed.

Rainbow Dash addressed everyone else in the room. "Before we got the idol, I spoke to Gilda and revealed myself as a master mev. I requested three things, namely griffon magic for the reserve, permission to try and take the idol of Boreas for myself, and any information about the idol's magic. 

"We walked away with two out of three of those requests fulfilled. As you all can see, we got the idol. We did not get live griffon magic. Gilda noted that we could have whatever we might find in the idol itself."

"Is there anything in it?" Pinkie Pike asked. She stretched her neck a little to study the object from her place at the table

"Yes. In fact, you could say there are multiple things in it," Rainbow Dash answered. "Rhezenda, read off what Grampa Gruff told us. Rexa, pass the idol to me, so I can demonstrate."

Twilight magically lifted and sent the idol to the master mev.

Sweetie Belle read what she wrote from Grampa Gruff, and Rainbow gestured as similarly to him as she could manage and remember. "'Strength to stand with pride in all that is dark. The pride itself, a heart of pride that inspired griffons for generations and still does in memory to this day. Strength to fly and withstand powerful gales.'"

The other Awesomevs sat quietly and thoughtfully.

Discord stroked his beard in much the same manner.

"That sounds promising, don't it?" Applejack asked hesitantly. "The part about for generations and still does to this day. That's the permanence, ain't it?"

"Do we need the 'strength to fly' part?" Rarity asked. "That sounds like griffon flight magic. Even if you don't need it for Scootaloo, that's the part we could put in the reserve."

"But does it matter that the idol is not an actual griffon? The magic returns to a living creature within a week. This is a relic," Fluttershy said.

The two usual magic experts, Twilight Sparkle and Starlight Glimmer, nodded at each other. 

"The two of us," Starlight said, gesturing to herself and Twilight, "reached the same line of thinking as you three. We don't know the answer to all of these ideas, but we think that's the right direction."

"I could enlighten you all," Discord offered from his perch. "With Master's permission of course. I could make it alive enough to speak with us for a short while."

Rainbow Dash examined the idol. She caught sight of a twinkle at the wing tip, another at the lower claw tip, and the sphere within glowed red like it did when the object confirmed itself as offering wind.

She nodded in approval. "Go for it."

Discord snapped his claws.

"Hello?" the idol asked in a young-sounding voice that carried a male resonance and amiable nature. The glow lit up as the words came out, so it looked like the sphere blinked as it spoke."Can you all hear me?"

"We can," Rainbow Dash answered.

"Oh good," he said. "The master herself has answered. Good evening to you Master. As you know, I am the idol of Boreas. You can call me 'Grant' to make this easy for everyone. That sounds like a griffon name, and there are things you wish me to grant you."

"A fitting name, I agree," Rainbow replied. "Shall I make my requests formally?"

"Yes, that would be most appropriate," Grant agreed.

"We would like to know if there are parts of you we could have and give to a good friend of mine to help her with a flight disability. My fledglings with us believe you have permanence that can help sustain the magic we wish to add onto her wings for one such part," Rainbow explained.

"Ah yes, that's a good idea," Grant confirmed. The mevs who thought of it, mainly Starlight and Twilight, quietly smiled and blushed. "Yes, yes. I am linked to griffon memory, so even if you take a part, their memories will sustain me. Just as Wind asked about if my magic can return, yes. So long as the griffons sustain themselves with my memory, that magic will return within the week after you take it."

Sweetie Belle and Spike both busily scribbled Grant's response.

"What else do you seek? You think you need more for her flight?" Grant wondered.

"Yes," Rainbow Dash said. "we will be mainly using flight magic from another source, but we think combining the permanence with griffon flight magic, just a tiny bit, will help with the overall goal of the permanence. I want to give my friend flight, but also, the griffons have declined my offer to host their magic in my reserve."

"Right, right," Grant said thoughtfully.

"So, I want a significant griffon life sized part of flight magic from you, if that's possible. We'll keep it in the reserve for at least a month before combining a small part of it with your permanence and the other pieces we seek for this cure," Rainbow explained. "Does that work the same way as the permanence for returning to you?"

"It does, it does, but I would suggest you be sure to take each part at least one month between each other," Grant said. "I do have enough as well. Take the griffon flight magic first, then the permanence as close to the time you prepare your cure with all the other components, so long as that one whole month has passed."

The two assistants continued taking their notes on his instructions.

"To take the flight, a mev eats from your wing tip?" Rainbow asked.

"You are correct Master. And for the permanence, aim for the base of my sphere where the two griffons touched me to feel my magic," Grant explained. "Concentrate on the part you want when you do. It will help know when to stop."

"After we finish speaking, may one of my fledglings take that flight magic this evening then?" Rainbow asked.

"Certainly, certainly," Grant said with approval.

"You're more friendly than the other griffons we've met," Rarity noted, "and you sound younger than I would expect. Not that I'm complaining. It's rather dashing if I do say so myself."

"I simply sound how I want to sound. I may be old, but that doesn't mean I have to project it in this temporary voice. As for being friendly...ha! Well, most griffons have not been around as long as I have and completely friendless amidst winds or darkness in an abyss," Grant replied. "I do prefer to be admired and appreciated as an idol, and it's rather nice that I can actually be seen this night by you fine ponies."

"Is it your wish to return to Griffonstone once our business with you is completely done?" Rainbow asked. "It's the least we can do as our thanks."

"To be honest, I'm quite alright in your company, Master," Grant said. "Griffonstone has no king anymore and no place for me. I feel appreciated already. I am certain that if you find a better place for me, it will be done. I can sense I will find interesting company among other objects touched by your mev magic. Your chaos friend up somewhere can liven me up again if we must talk. Would that be alright good sir?"

"I'm happy to help out my friends, yes," Discord answered sincerely, "though the master herself has some of my magic. I can even teach her later tonight if you wish to be our test subject."

"Ah! That's certainly an idea I don't mind," Grant said. "Objects like me don't get this chance often after all."

With a mild concern, Rainbow checked, "You'll be able to speak even with some of the griffon flight magic taken?"

"Yes, Master. I am a strong and proud idol. I can't fly myself after all, even if it is something that I can store for griffons and now ponies too. Are you enjoying my gift, Fledgling of Wind?" Grant asked.

"Oh yes, very much so," Fluttershy answered with a sweet voice. "Thank you, Grant. You are indeed much appreciated by this little pony."

"Since I am linked with her, Master, she should be the one to eat the magic. I am certain you only waited to try before understanding my own essence better after all," Grant stated.

"You know it," Rainbow playfully admitted. "It shall be done then. My questions are answered. Do you have any further business with us Sir Grant?"

"Haha, a fine title you have chosen Master. I like it. Perhaps you can tell me something. I sense a griffon presence in this pony place, some distance beyond the walls. A young one," Grant said.

"You probably sense Gallus," Rainbow Dash explained. "He is one of our students at the School of Friendship. It is not far from this castle."

"Very well then. My further business is to request that you at some point show me to Gallus, and I may occasionally be in his presence to be appreciated or at least sensed. The griffons are 'over' me you might say. Or did one of them say it? Well, my point remains. My home shall still be with you until we both decide otherwise," Grant announced.

"I will see to it," Rainbow Dash agreed.

"Very well then. My part in this discussion is done as well," Grant said.

"Thanks for everything you have told us Sir Grant," Rainbow told him.

"My pleasure Master," the idol replied.

"Lord of Chaos, if you would." Rainbow Dash gestured at the object with a hoof.

Discord nodded and snapped his talons. 

Grant went quiet.

Rainbow picked up the idol of Boreas and placed it in front of Fluttershy. "Now is as good a time as any while everything he told us is still fresh in our minds. Remember to concentrate on the wing tip and specifically griffon flight magic. We want nothing more for the reserve."

Fluttershy nodded without a word and opened her mouth, sensing her vampire fangs take shape.

Discord lowered himself to hover over the middle of the table and watch his friend.

A white stream of magic lifted from the wing and worked its way into Fluttershy's mouth. Soon after, a breeze whisked past them both, and she who was given wind from the idol of Boreas understood that was her cue to stop.

"It is done," Fluttershy announced.

"Rhezenda, go ahead and put Grant in your saddlebag," Rainbow commanded as she used her wings to fly up from her seat.

She smiled pleasantly as she faced her second fledgling.

Fluttershy happily smiled back.

Discord stayed where he was but covered his eyes with his paw while helplessly taking a peak to see Rainbow Dash closing in to take her bite for the magic.

At that, the other Awesomevs smiled and applauded.

"Well done Master and Fluttershy," Pinkie Pie said enthusiastically. "AND THANK YOU GRANT!" she shouted to make sure the idol who wanted to be appreciated knew he was, in fact, appreciated.

"Oh it does feel good to make further progress for our dear Scootaloo," Rarity said.

"The main things left are the flower from Yakyakistan and changeling magic," Starlight reminded everyone.

"Right," Rainbow agreed, "but before I visit those places, I'm heading to the Dragonlands next."
> Chapter 59 - Batty Indulgence
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







"The Dragonlands you say?" Spike asked. He proudly puffed his chest a little and pointed to himself with his right thumb. "Perhaps you would like a Friendship Ambassador to accompany you."

Rainbow Dash nodded in his direction with a pleased and polite smile. "You are correct, Ambassador Spike."

"Who's going with? Who's going with?" Pinkie Pie eagerly asked while wagging her puffy tail.

"If they can, Rarity and Applejack for Saturday," Rainbow Dash announced.

"Saturday this time?" Rarity asked with a curious blink. "I can go yes, but I assumed you chose Sundays on purpose."

"My Wonderbolts show is early enough, and I can take care of the weather before we go. Nightmare Night will be here before we know it. You have a very strong chance of getting earth power during our trip. And if that's what happens, I want to give you an extra day to learn how to use it," Rainbow explained. "That will help Twilight and Pinkie with their planning as well."

The other two named ponies quietly nodded in agreement.

"You think it's going to happen there?" the third fledgling asked in mild surprise before giving it some thought. Putting a white hoof to her chin, she stated, "Actually, I suppose that does make sense."

"Are you going to accept if it's offered?" Sweetie Belle could not help herself from asking her older sister.

"Oh, of course, Sweetie Belle. I may not like getting dirty, and I sense what you mean for when Rainbow talked of plain-looking rocks. However, as Rexa has said, we fledglings have instincts of our own. If everything falls in line with what Master expects, I'm sure I will be more than satisfied with such a power," Rarity answered.

"So, can you join us Applejack?" Rainbow asked.

Applejack smiled and nodded. "I'm really glad to be picked now that I got a little dragon fire myself." She winked at Spike, who smiled bashfully and waved back. 

"Anyone else?" Starlight Glimmer wondered.

"Perhaps another flier should be with you," Twilight Sparkle suggested.

"Actually...a few notes on that," Rainbow began. "Scootaloo has become another servant of mine."

Whispers and murmurs ran through the group.

"What kind of servant?" Fluttershy asked.

"A daytime bodyguard. Like Sweetie Belle, she has bonded with me. As such, I can give her an adult form that can fly in service of our work. She will be joining us in that form given the dangerous nature of the Dragonlands compared to all of the other places I've visited. Plus, worst case scenario, I can just make Rarity and Applejack bat ponies." At that last, part, Rainbow Dash grinned.

"Really?" asked a very interested Applejack.

"I'll show it off more when we talk about Nightmare Night but really," Rainbow replied. A hint of subtle pride carried through her voice.

"How are you all going to get there?" Starlight asked. "There's no train ride...is there?"

"I was thinking you or Twilight could just teleport us," Rainbow admitted. "Or I guess I could learn to teleport others besides myself."

"Chaos magic can do multiple teleports, and I'll be happy to teach that," Discord said.

"I can teach you to do the multiple teleports with unicorn magic too," Starlight offered.

"Even though you can and should learn, I will teleport you all," Twilight made an offer as well. "I'll be on standby here in case you need to summon my help for anything else. The Dragonlands can be tricky to deal with after all."

"Much appreciated Rexa," Rainbow agreed. She glanced over to Sweetie Belle's notes and the agenda. "Moving on, let's talk about Nightmare Night."

All the other Awesomevs cheered.

Twilight Sparkle and Pinkie Pie met eyes, and Pinkie gave a smiling nod for Twilight to start speaking on their behalf.

"As you all know, from the scroll I passed out earlier, Spike came up with these 'Natural Elements'. Well, he sort of came up with them. He worked with the idea that Pinkie has a water based power in Penny and Applejack has a fire based power in what she got from him and Amara. He was coming up with ideas for our show, and it seems that he was on the right track. 

"We were meant to receive these powers. We don't know if Rarity is definitely getting earth or Rainbow Dash lightning, but we do know that a free night of chaos magic can make it seem that way.

"All of our powers are limited, roughly by the size of our own individual bodies though that is hard to tell with wind. We will not have that rule on Nightmare Night. We can go all out and create a more disbelieving illusion."

"Do you think that Rainbow's chaos magic is what will remove that limit or that we ourselves are actually freed up to use the power?" Starlight inquired.

"Oh, you know, I hadn't really made the connection," Twilight told her, "but it would make sense given the special nature of the night."

"We'll make it happen either way. I'll have to learn just in case," Rainbow said.

"Of course," Twilight acknowledged. "But back on track, we think we'll make a big demonstration of using these natural element powers…" she paused and looked over to Pinkie Pie.

"With a song! It might be long, but we're sure, ever so sure, it's not wrong! We should have ourselves a Nightmare Night song!" Pinkie Pie gleefully declared in a song of her own.

"Oh, that's a wonderful idea," Fluttershy said with a sweet, hopeful smile. She loved singing and had even grown to love performing it in recent years.

"You two are right," Rainbow Dash agreed. "It feels like there has to be a song now that I think about it."

All the Awesomevs nodded with eager smiles.

Sweetie Belle's eyes widened, and she looked at Rainbow, then at Twilight Sparkle and Pinkie Pie.

"Looks like you've read our minds Rhezenda," Twilight said. "We were hoping you might be interested in helping us write that. We know crusading is your main calling, but that musical note in your cutie mark is there too. It would be a great way to bridge us with the outsiders, given your role."

"Master, can I?" Sweetie Belle asked, and her voice brimmed with hope. "I definitely want to do it. Please!"

"I think it's a great idea," Rainbow replied, "so yes, you most certainly can. You'll have to fit it into your busy schedule."

"I can use my Thursday night nocturnality and other times. I know I can do it," Sweetie Belle declared with confidence. "I've got some ideas already."

"Make sure I'm on Blitz in there," Rainbow Dash told her.

Sweetie Belle grinned. "Of course, Master."

"Anything else?" Rainbow asked, turning her attention back to Twilight.

"From us, no, but you did mention to me the other day you had stuff to talk about that you learned from the students. Would any of that be relevant here?" Twilight replied to her.

"Oh!" Rainbow said as she recalled that conversation. "Maybe. Here, let me just show you all in a little projection from my memory on the table."

Using the always helpful ability during pack meetings, she replayed a vision of her encounter with the students regarding the fear snares.

"Mev magic can do that?" Discord asked, clearly fascinated by the whole affair.

"Only if they're scared of me or the trap or Blitz," Rainbow Dash informed everyone. "Once the fear is gone, which is why it would be hard to show here, they can escape."

"So, theoretically," the first fledgling began,"you could give the younger creatures about our students' age a couple of 'amusement park' rides provided they've still got enough fear in them after the song?"

"Yes," Rainbow confirmed. "The thing is, it's right at the end of the song where the communal fear should level off. We should try to have the outsiders settled by then, and we give our thanks to the audience."

"I think you could still do it," Applejack said. "I still haven't met Blitz myself, but if you've got her in the flesh, from what everyone else has said, she'll be enough."

"Besides that, you could probably bypass the fear requirement by using chaos magic," Sweetie Belle reminded the master mev.

Rainbow raised her eyebrows thoughtfully though she did not comment. She had an instinctual preference to rely on her mev magic for the idea. Still, she could at least sense fear and work from there.

"We could offer other games too," Pinkie Pie suggested. "Something special to our powers, some of us, maybe not all of us but like Darkness and Light should do so something together. Some kind of shadow puppet show or something!"

"Good thinking," Rainbow agreed. "Alright. Now, another part of my part. My dear Awesomevs, you should all be bat ponies that night."

The fledglings cheered and smiled.

"Ready to test it?" the master among them asked with an eager grin.

They all nodded.

Rainbow Dash took on her own bat form. She then activated her red-on-yellow eyes, and a stream of red magic flowed over into Starlight Glimmer's chest. Bat wings grew on her back though the magic did not linger nor wait for her. It made a course over to Fluttershy.

The canary yellow pegasus giggled as she felt her feathered wings transform into leathery flaps.  These wings were more like Rainbow's own bat form than the Flutterbat form she had been practicing.

After that, the magic swooshed over to Rarity. And so on it went through Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and at last, Twilight Sparkle. Each fledgling felt their fangs grow out as well. "It's got flight too. Try it," Rainbow encouraged the rest of her pack.

Every one of them lifted from their seats and began to fly, including those who already could.

"Oh my goodness!" Pinkie Pie screeched with joy. "I love it! I love it! I love it! She zipped about like a blurry pink rocket.

"I don't think I've flown like this since the Best Young Fliers' competition," Rarity noted. She hovered gracefully.

"I'm that much closer to being a dragon," Applejack declared with evident fondness for it.

Spike lifted off to dart around with her where the two enjoyed tiny bursts of flame on their fireproof selves.

Floating up to Discord's perch, a fanged Fluttershy asked, "Discord, what do you think?" as she smiled warmly at him.

The draconequis in question was eating popcorn. He finished chewing his latest bite and answered, "I'm enjoying the show. At this rate, I won't hardly be needed for props and set."

"We'll just see about that," Pinkie pointed at him with a playful air.

Sweetie Belle gazed on at the several vampires flying about and having so much fun together. The sight put her on the verge of happy tears. An idea registered with her for having each one take the bat form at the end of a solo within the suggested song. She quickly wrote that idea down.

"The flight feels the same," Twilight noted aloud.

"Even though we're using chaos magic to get the wings and the fangs on, it is mev magic that makes flight with bat wings so easy for all of us," Rainbow Dash explained.

"Oh," Twilight replied. Rather than trouble Spike, who was enjoying flying with the other bat ponies, Twilight descended to note what Rainbow told her on her own.

"Alright Awesomevs, party's over. We found out I can do it to all of you at the same time. Back to your seats," the master mev instructed them.

The fledglings contentedly obeyed. It helped that each knew they could at the very least request the form during a flexchange if they liked.

As every pony and dragon settled back into their seats, Rainbow Dash read from Sweetie Belle's notes. "Down the line," she proclaimed." We go in order like last time. Primeva, number one…"

The first fledgling answered, "We've covered me already. I got this cool darkness power and was there for Griffonstone. I'll be here to help out for the Nightmare Night show as needed."

"Segunda, number two."

"My bat form is at both wings. It seems related to my wind gift. Since I got the wind, I'm able to do it more often. And in the bat form, I can double the amount of wind I breathe out. I can change the winds with or without it to be stronger or weaker. Another thing that I'm sure Master will explain more about on her turn is that I have been taking care of a roc who gave up his magic for her. He will be back to his very large self Friday. He's doing fine, all things considered," Fluttershy said. "That's it from me."

"Mitria, number three," Rainbow called on the next in line.

"I went with Master to talk to phoenixes last Thursday. She'll tell you all more soon, but in the mean time, I found out something interesting. I used the feathers from the phoenix for a dress I was making and one of my customers warned me that phoenix feathers can sometimes cause temporary deafness. I suffered no such ill effects, but Master, do you think that might be part of my being a vampire now?" Rarity asked.

"That you would be protected from that happening?" Rainbow asked back.

Rarity nodded.

"Yeah, I do think so. None of us got super strong or anything but that sounds like a perk we'd get," Rainbow said.

Twilight glanced over to see that Spike was indeed writing the observation and hypothesis down. Sweetie Belle was too for that matter.

"I offered Master to help with naming her crown," Rarity announced. "However, I am still gathering ideas."

"Maybe it should be lightning-related," Spike quietly uttered. He said it more to himself and did not even glance up while making the suggestion.

Rarity blinked and paused in thought. "Yes, well....I will do some more research soon enough. That aside, I have nothing new to report. I think we'll have an interesting time in the Dragonlands on Saturday, and I'll do my best not to get my hopes up too high. After all, it is still a theory, and we must focus on the work at hoof while there," Rarity said.

"Fyra, number four," Rainbow moved onto the next fledgling.

"Nothing new to report here. Still enjoying my fire gift and now looking forward to the trip just like Mitria here. Almost like a sister camping trip, only the part of Apple Bloom shall be played by Spike," she noted with a smile.

"Heh heh," Spike chuckled at that.

"Quintaza and Pentaza, number five," the master mev called out with a smile.

Pinkie Pie grinned and whistled out Penny.

"Hi everypony, dragon, and draconequis." Penny waved at them all. "I'm still having lots of fun helping out Pinkie Pie. We have the most awesome ideas for the show. Of course some of them are the same ideas since I'm copied from her, but it's still awesome, I promise. Pinkie said she'll work me into the performance for sure."

Sweetie Belle scribbled down a note of that for her song.

"See, Rhezenda's going to make sure it happens," Pinkie pointed at the young unicorn as she informed Penny.

"Many thanks, my filly assistant friend," Penny stated with a polite bow.

"A pleasure," Sweetie Belle replied as she blushed.

"I know my turn's over so until next time," Penny waved her good-bye at everyone again and was soon sucked back into Pinkie Pie's body.

"Rexa, number six," Rainbow Dash gestured toward Twilight.

"We've covered everything I'd like to say for my part in what happened with your trip to Griffonstone and our plans for Nightmare Night. No other news here," Twilight said.

"Your turn Master," Sweetie Belle noted so Rainbow would not have to call on herself.
> Chapter 60 - Look Alive
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Rainbow Dash readied herself and began her turn for the weekly Team Awesome meeting. "Alright, let me tell you all about our trip to see Pee Wee. Not every magical creature can talk to me verbally. Like phoenixes for example. And rocs." She blushed. "But, I can summon Blitz. She's like a trigger that lets them know what I am. So, that's what I did, and Pee Wee suggested I ask his parents for the magic because they're older."

"Ah yes," Discord interjected, "that would make sense. Magic of their nature is much stronger with age. Ancient magic in general works that way."

"Thank you Discord," Rainbow Dash replied. She went on to explain the mother's terms and how the magic was eventually eaten from Rarity by using the crown.

"Did the mother phoenix go to sleep?" Fluttershy inquired.

"No, actually. The rules do work differently for these creatures. She looked tired, but she was awake," the master mev answered.

Spike raised his hand.

"Yes, Spike?" Rainbow asked.

"Fluttershy's magic," he reminded her.

The canary-colored pegasus blinked. "What about it?"

"The phoenixes and I could understand each other pretty well after Blitz gave my title to them. I'm guessing that it's because we had our flexchange the night before. The roc and I...not so much," Rainbow told her.

"Oh, that makes sense," Fluttershy agreed. She closed her eyes and gave a sweet smile.

"So what happened with the roc?" Applejack prodded, trying to get the topic back on track.

"Spike, why don't you give everyone some background info on the molt first," Rainbow Dash suggested.

"Certainly Master," Spike agreed. He relayed much of the events regarding his stone scales and rough day up to the point of encountering the roc.

Soon, Rainbow continued the tale. "Spike hid behind me. Once we realized it was going for all of us, he and I distracted it away from Zecora and Scootaloo. We darted around, but then his molt was nearly finished, so he started glowing red."

"Red? That must have been really confusing since that's your magic aura," Pinkie Pie observed.

"You're right, that's exactly what I asked," Spike confirmed for her.

"At that point, I was able to use my eye enchantment," Rainbow Dash explained to everyone. "So I kinda had it trapped, so long as I didn't look away. Spike got off once I was close enough to the ground, and Twilight happened to find us right then."

Her Rexa nodded in the affirmative and remained quiet.

"She teleported Spike away. Once they were gone, I was able to summon Blitz who did the same trigger she did for the phoenixes. The enchantment broke, which was fine. I felt released from it too. I told the roc Spike was my friend, and I needed to look out for him.

"The roc didn't understand that, so I ordered him to go, figured he could understand at least that. You know, pointing and stuff. Then he actually gestured at me too. I got that he understood I could eat magic. He then actually offered it because he respected me as the winning predator in our situation."

"Cool," Starlight said with proud fascination.

Rainbow Dash blushed. "He did ask to see the bat wings as well. His magic makes him bigger, so when I ate it, he became the size of an eagle. Scootaloo and I took him over to Fluttershy's, and as we all know, she's looking after him."

"I suppose this encounter was how Scootaloo got the idea of offering to be your bodyguard?" Rarity openly wondered.

"Yeah, I think so. She and I actually talked the day before about it. I wanted her to think about why she was thinking of becoming my servant. To find a calling. And I reminded her that I'm different, you know, more vampire me, at night," Rainbow told everyone.

"So she was already looking for clues," Fluttershy said, "and everything must have fallen in place after that."

"Exactly," Rainbow agreed.

"Can you tell us how you pulled off this mev bond?" an interested Twilight Sparkle asked.

"I will show you!" Rainbow Dash agreed with an enthusiastic smile. She projected the previous day's events on the table with magic.

"How long did it take?" Starlight asked.

"A little over forty-five minutes," Sweetie Belle answered for her master.

"I wonder how long an earth pony process would take," Applejack admitted aloud. She thoughtfully rubbed a hoof under her chin.

"Care to indulge us Master?" Starlight Glimmer pried.

"You all know how much I love to, but when it comes to these special outsider mev bonds, I can't. It's an instinct thing. I need to understand the nature of the existing bond and the proposed one," Rainbow confessed.

"Oh, I suppose I understand that, and it's for the best," Applejack replied, shoving the thought away.

Next, Rainbow announced Scootaloo's upcoming little stunt show for the next day. While it was not mev-related, it was a good time to alert her friends. "I ask this as Rainbow Dash, not Master, of course," she said.

Her friends smiled and nodded to indicate they understood and would do their best to be there.

"Anything else on the rest of the agenda, Rhezenda?" Rainbow Dash asked with a wink.

"That's all, Master," Sweetie Belle happily said. She took quite a liking to her charge for the moment.

"Actually, Master, before we all leave," Twilight Sparkle began, "you should test out the chaos magic you can add to our powers. Just something quick to add to what we can already do. We want to make sure they won't somehow clash."

"We can test mine during the lesson," Starlight Glimmer offered, "so go with Fluttershy for now."

Rainbow Dash blinked momentarily as she considered the idea. She soon gave a little nod in agreement. "Yeah, okay. Segunda, you ready?"

Fluttershy nodded as well and blew out a gust of wind. The master mev activated her magic with her red-on-yellow eyes and turned that same gust into a far more powerful blast. The wind whirred around the table and became a harmless, miniature tornado. Not long after, it finished and disappeared with an eerie crack.

Rainbow glanced up at her chaos magic teacher with an uncertain look.

"Well done," the draconequis teacher declared with a pleased and proud smile. He was in no way fazed or bothered by the sound. After all, it was his chaos magic, so that gave it a little extra something. And if she didn't want it, it would be easy to remove.

Rainbow Dash returned that smile and modestly shrugged. "It's a gift," she admitted.

"Mitria," Fluttershy said quietly.

"I guess we can just pretend for me," Rarity declared. She blew out a breath where Rainbow Dash made a towering pegasus figure out of rock. Rainbow turned that rock into a diamond, then a lightning bolt, then a butterfly. "Perfect, darling," the white unicorn said in approval. The figure whisked away into dust, made a rumbling sound, and disappeared. "Your turn, Fyra," Rarity said sweetly.

Applejack's eyes lit up with eagerness. "Here goes." She breathed out a full pony size of fire that flickered in place.

The sight reminded Rainbow Dash of Daybreaker, a nightmare version of Princess Celestia, from Starlight's own imagination. As such, the master mev aimed to make the figure Celestia's size. It worked perfectly. She doubled it after that and split it apart into three apples before having it entirely dissipate with the same eerie crack as the wind.

"That'll do the trick, Master," Applejack said. She tipped her hat as her own sign of approval. Then she glanced over to Pinkie Pie and gestured with a hoof. "Quintaza." 

"You can't really extend Penny," Pinkie Pie warned her master.

"No, she can't," Discord agreed with a firm voice, "but she can conjure her own water to flow with Penny just like she did with the rocks for Rarity."

Pinkie whistled out Penny again and explained the plan. Penny bowed and turned herself into a stream of water.

Discord entered a teacher mode, going so far as to materialize a chalkboard behind him. He wore a pair of thick, black-framed glasses. Holding up a piece of chalk, he lectured, "Remember to think exactly what you envision and want the magic to do." The piece of chalk grew into a strange water whip that curled briefly around the stream that was Penny before it flashed into nothingness.

Rainbow nodded to acknowledge his words and demonstration. She conjured some water of her own from his magic. At first, it surrounded the Penny water form and looked like a thicker stream. Then it extended several coils upward to fill the air and evaporated. Unlike the other elements, it made no unusual sound since Rainbow was making a conscious effort not to this time.

Penny herself reverted to pony form. "Great job Master!" she said and offered a hoof bump, which the master mev happily bumped back. The water clone allowed herself to be sucked back into Pinkie's body since she understood that the experiment was over.

"Your turn Rexa!" Pinkie Pie said with anticipation.

Twilight nodded and blew out a pony of light. Rainbow simply copied the fire idea to make it Celestia's size, doubled again, and then split it apart to copy Twilight's cutie mark. Just like the fire, the light dissipated away. And like the water, it made no unusual sound. "I believe the word we're looking for is 'awesome,' Team Awesome," the sixth fledgling told everyone with evident pride.

The Awesomevs giggled and chuckled as they finally dismissed themselves from their weekly pack meeting.

Starlight Glimmer, Discord, Sweetie Belle, and Rainbow Dash made their way to the library. After a quick lesson on multiple teleports, Discord began to explain inanimate liveliness.

"Relics hold deep magic. There is condensed energy inside. While Grant himself is not a living griffon, their kind has touched him, physically and figuratively, for eons. There is energy not just within but without. That is the shared memory, so to speak. Bonds."

"Bonds? Like mev magic?" a very interested Sweetie Belle asked.

"That I cannot tell you," Discord confessed. "But all the same, for this magic, you, Master, must draw from within your energy, your core, and you demand that a life imitation make itself known."

"Demand?" Rainbow asked, taken aback.

"Fret not," Discord assured her. "An essence like Grant cannot and will not be offended by you doing such a thing. It's more like a way of getting noticed. Your energy is reaching out to his, and it will connect very briefly. You don't even sense it until he responds. I haven't met an object yet that refused temporary liveliness, at least on first contact."

Rainbow stroked the back of her mane with uncertainty but did not argue with her mentor. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and sent forth the commanding thought.

"Hello?" Grant asked.

"Hello again, Sir Grant," Rainbow replied with a smile.

"Ah, Master. Greetings. Well done. I am most pleased to see your efforts are working," Grant said.

"As am I," Rainbow noted.

The idol was just as friendly and agreeable from earlier in the evening.

"He doesn't sound tired at all," Sweetie Belle quietly observed.

"Well, of course not," Grant began to boast. "I have a lot of magic in me, and the permanence is still intact."

"But would a different object be tired?" Sweetie Belle asked him.

"I...don't know," Grant confessed.

After a little more conversation, Grant was dismissed as Rainbow learned how to turn off his liveliness.

"So, turning off is something I have to do?" Rainbow inquired to Discord.

"No no no. It would go off after about hmm...one hour," Discord told her.

She nodded in acknowledgment and said nothing else on the subject.

The next lesson was Rainbow and Starlight practicing an extension of Starlight's own newfound darkness power. Next, Rainbow conjured up natural elements to toy with ideas of how to manipulate them for the song Sweetie Belle was going to write.

"We sure have covered a lot tonight," Starlight said with a smile. "Anything else, Master?"

Rainbow hovered contemplatively in place, thinking hard on her upcoming trip to the Dragonlands and what she might need. "Fireproof," she muttered.

The two instructors blinked.

The master mev met Discord's eyes. "Can I make my servants fireproof? It would help make this trip way safer for them." A thoughtful pause. "Me too."

"But dragons can't burn you with their fire since that's their magic, and you're immune," Sweetie Belle reminded her. "Right?" Maybe it was one of the exceptions.

"Yeah, well, the lava in the Dragonlands is another story," Rainbow explained.

Discord stroked his beard in contemplation. "Yes. Very well. But do remember. Temporal limit. It will serve you as long as it needs to for the day."

"And that's perfectly fine," Rainbow replied with an approving bow of her head.

The last lesson ended before the night did, as usual. Rainbow Dash and Sweetie Belle returned home. They worked on the song a bit more before they took their small bit of rest for a Tuesday night.
> Chapter 61 - Feeling Appreciated
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







At Sweet Apple Acres on Wednesday afternoon, the stage was set for Scootalo's little stunt show. There was a winding wooden ramp, some barrels, and some hoops.

The audience sat on some bleachers facing the staged area. Among them were the Cutie Mark Crusaders and Team Friendship with the exception of Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash themselves of course. Additionally, some students from both the local schools were there.

Wearing her purple helmet with two white stripes in the middle, Scootaloo looked at the audience with quiet awe. She stood with her scooter atop the winding ramp.

"Ready?" Rainbow's voice asked behind her.

Scootaloo looked up at her sister figure and nodded firmly.

Rainbow Dash lifted herself to fly down and play announcer though she still hovered in place as she did. "Welcome everyone to the Scootaloo Stunt Show! This little filly has a big heart and bold attitude! Get ready for something amazing, awesome, and Scooootacular!!"

The audience clapped at the introduction and waited.

With a smile, Scootaloo lifted her hoof and took off down the ramp. She rolled down, winded through, and rolled some more until the ramp sloped slightly back up and helped her shoot out to soar through three hoops. She landed on a wooden plank acting as another ramp to finish her descent. 

Applause and cheers roused through the air.

Next, Scootaloo weaved her way through a few barrels set up below the hoops. She did a few more spins in front before stopping to take a breather as Rainbow Dash moved things around for the next setup. This time, there was still a wooden plank acting as a ramp but only one hoop, and it was raised a little higher than before.

A small bed of hay was on the other side. Past it and slightly above that was a small cloud, each to act as a cushion for her landing though she and Rainbow had a little something extra planned. The audience was left to wonder but did notice the alignment.

Buzzing her small wings, Scootaloo sped up over the plank to spin a full circle before making her way through the hoop.

She tossed the scooter into the bed of hay and thrust herself into Rainbow's waiting forelimbs.

The older pegasus grabbed Scootaloo's forelimbs and tossed her skyward. Scootaloo curled herself into a little ball, doing several flips until she landed safely on the cloud. 

Again, the audience cheered. Rainbow recovered the scooter and set up a basic skating ramp for Scootaloo to finish off her last round of stunts. When finished, the filly wheeled over to stop before the audience. Remembering how Rainbow pointed out she could hover even if she couldn't lift for a longer flight, Scootaloo fluttered upward for a moment before descending into a proud bow. Cheers rang through from hers and Rainbow's friends yet again. 

Rainbow thanked the audience, and the performance was over.

The students from the schools stopped by to shake hooves or claws, compliment her work, and congratulate her for a job well done.

Scootaloo felt like she was flying on the inside. After it was all over, she ran to give Rainbow Dash a tight hug. "I needed this more than I could ever need real flying," she said with tears in her eyes. "But I still want the real flying," she added with a chuckle.

Rainbow Dash held her tight in turn. "I'm sorry it took me so long to realize that."

Scootaloo giggled and fiddled with Rainbow's mane. "I forgive you." She ran off to talk to Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. Rainbow caught sight of a blueish green figure in her peripheral view. The sky blue pegasus approached Gallus.

"Nice show," Gallus nodded his head toward the set.

"I hope you told the star," Rainbow replied to him.

"I did," he said. "Professor Dash, is there…" he hesitated. "How did your trip to Griffonstone go?"

Rainbow Dash stood silent a moment. She wondered if the young griffon had already sensed Grant. After all, the idol himself sensed Gallus the previous night. For now, she played it cool. "Quite well. Do you have some time this afternoon? I actually have something important to show you in particular."

"Me?" Gallus asked in surprise.

Rainbow nodded with a serious look.

"Yeah."

"Meet me at the gym at the school," Rainbow told him.

"Just me?" the young griffon asked.

Rainbow stroked her chin thoughtfully. She wanted to keep Grant and his magic safe. Gallus and his friends were hardly a threat to the idol. Plus, if she did get into the habit of showing Grant off, it would be hard to hide him from the others after awhile.

The mev glanced around to make sure no one was closely watching or listening in. All of the other students had left by this point, and the crusader friends were eagerly chatting among themselves.

Rainbow leaned close to speak quietly with Gallus. "If you bring any of your friends, tell them this part is an actual secret. Only the ones who know about me for real. It is in the best interest of you and Griffonstone to keep it that way." She gave him a stern look. "I'm very serious about this. Do you understand?"

Gallus nodded and took a nervous gulp. "Right, sure. I'll be there."

Sensing his fear, the mev softened into a warm smile and put a gentle hoof to his shoulder. "Hey, it's going to be fine. This is a good thing. I just...need to protect something."

Gallus smiled weakly at that. "If you say so. We'll see, huh?"

"That we will," Rainbow told him, this time with a surefire smile before she glided her way to the chatting crusaders.

Put slightly at ease by her demeanor, Gallus flew off to find his own friends.





Sometime later, at the gym, Gallus, Silverstream, Ocellus and Smolder waited. Yona and Sandbar had other matters to attend to that afternoon. They asked to be informed on whatever happened and promised they would respect this very serious secret.

Rainbow Dash arrived wearing her saddlebags and opened one to pull out Grant.

To the ignorant, they saw a golden object with a clawed foot as its base. A red sphere rested in the middle resembling a something between a saucer and a cup. However, that middle extended into a wing design curling up and around to make its top.

"What's that?" Silverstream asked. She pointed at it in curiosity.

Ocellus blinked, trying to recall if she knew it. "I...don't know," she admitted.

"Well, it looks kinda cool," Smolder said thoughtfully. "And griffon-y. Do you know what it is, Gallus?"

The griffon's mouth hung open. While he had heard his friends, he was too busy soaking in the sight, completely awestruck.

"Gallus?" Smolder repeated, waving her clawed hand to catch his attention.

Gallus' eyes watered, but he tried to hold back the tears. "This is the idol of Boreas," he informed his friends. He wiped his eyes and looked at Rainbow Dash. "Master, how did you get it?"

"Trade secret," the master mev replied proudly, just as she had done with Grampa Gruff back in Griffonstone.

"I don't get it," Smolder said. "What's so special about this thing? Besides, you know, the look."

"This was the pride of Griffonstone," Gallus began to explain. "But it was stolen. And then...lost to an abyss. Its loss is how we don't have a king anymore. 

"We all know the story. Its just...a lot of us didn't really believe it anymore. Gilda told me she saw the idol when Rainbow Dash visited the first time, and not her or Rainbow could get it. 

"I didn't believe her at the time, but when I see it here and now, I can feel a connection with this thing and how real it is after all."

"Same thing happened with Gilda when she saw it back then," Rainbow informed him.

"Why are you showing it to me?" Gallus asked. Though honored, he was quite confused.

"It was part of my agreement for the use I have of this idol," the master mev answered. "He sensed your presence and wanted to be seen by you. And maybe appreciated as well."

"He?" Ocellus asked with intrigue.

"Mm-hmm. More magic inner circle stuff that I can't explain too much. I can probably at least tell you all he gave me his name as 'Grant' since it sounds like a griffon name, and I want certain things from him," Rainbow said.

"Relics can talk?" Silverstream asked.

"Magic inner circle stuff," Rainbow Dash repeated.

The young hippogriff blushed and gave a modest nod. She would not press the issue any further.

"Grant?" Gallus asked, and he broke into an interested smile.

The red sphere glowed for a moment.

"He heard me!" Gallus exclaimed.

Rainbow nodded in agreement. "I'll bring him by to see you again from time to time. That is his wish."

"Wow, thanks Master," the young griffon said. He truly was impressed.

Rainbow Dash pushed Grant closer to Gallus. The young griffon's eyes widened, but he was more than happy to oblige. He knew exactly what to do without Rainbow telling him. He placed his claw at the base holding the sphere to show his appreciation. Everyone stood silently for a few moments to let the griffon have his moment. And the idol too. Once done, a blushing Gallus handed the idol back to the master mev.

"So, can like non-griffons do that?" Smolder asked.

Gallus scratched the back of his head with embarrassed ignorance. "I don't know."

"I'll find out another time," Rainbow Dash offered.

The other students smiled appreciatively at that.

Now, the young dragon of the group had something else on her mind. "Hey Master Rainbow Dash," she said, "I was wondering if it's possible for us to see Blitz again, so long as you're here."

"Real quick," Rainbow agreed. She quickly put Grant away in her saddlebag. She made some distance to summon Blitz. 

The leviathan dread lifted out from her circle. She still looked as translucent and silver as ever. She was not quite as large as when the students first saw her though she was still large enough to look threatening if they did not know any better. 

"A friend of ours wants to say hi to you. Smolder," Rainbow Dash nodded her head in Smolder's direction.

Blitz approached, slithered in a tight circle, and eyed the young orange dragon.

"Hi," Smolder said with a nervous wave.

Blitz broke into a gentle smile gave a little nod to greet her back.

"Can she talk?" Smolder asked Rainbow Dash.

By this point, the pegasus was hovering in the air nearby. She stroked the back of her mane with slight embarrassment. "Sometimes, but we won't do it today. It requires a little more than my own mev magic. It's a rare and special thing too. You will have to make do with her body language for now."

"Yeah, okay," Smolder conceded. "So, uh, how did uh, Blitz tell Spike he was growing up for his molt? He said you translated that."

Still hovering in place, Rainbow folded her forelimbs. She answered, "All body language. Maybe a little master mev instinct in between to help it along."

Blitz herself demonstrated the gestures in front of Smolder, who smiled in eager fascination.

"How big is she for real?" Silverstream wondered, having noticed the difference between this sighting and the last.

"She was able to circle the pirate ship about four times if I recall," Rainbow said.

"The pirates saw her?" asked a surprised Gallus.

"The day before our field trip, yeah. I had to catch up my friends on what's been happening with me before asking for their help," Rainbow explained further.

"Is there any cool new master mev stuff you can tell us today?" Ocellus openly hoped for some more. "Besides the idol, which is very cool to see. And all of this with Blitz."

Rainbow thought for a moment. "Some things have definitely happened, but I'm not announcing every big shift in the life of a master mev. I'll tell you I like the progress my pack is making in getting our Nightmare Night show ready."

Ocellus nodded. "Okay."

"And..." Rainbow paused to smile proudly. She again folded her forelimbs while she hovered, "...the Dragonlands are my next stop this weekend."

"Cool!" Smolder said with a grin, and her entire body perked up at that.

"I do like to hear that part," Ocellus added with a smile.

"That's all from me this afternoon. I have some weather work to take care of next. 

"Blitz, say good-bye to our friends and go back to the void," the master mev commanded.

Blitz circled around the four other creatures and gave a small nod as her farewell before slipping away.

"She's still scary," Ocellus noted with a nervous titter.

The other three students, Smolder included, nodded in agreement.

"I'm glad to hear her power is still working as it should then," Rainbow said. "Now I have to go too. You all take care." She gave a friendly salute and left.

A certain quiet lingered among the group for a moment.

"I'm really glad Master Rainbow Dash is a nice vampire," Silverstream finally said.

The others chuckled at that though they concurred with the sentiment.
> Chapter 62 - Dragon Games
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







On Saturday morning at the library of Twilight's castle, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Spike, and Twilight Sparkle herself stood together. They were making the last preparations before the departure to the Dragon Lands.

The two fillies were not yet transformed into adult bodies and chatted together. "I know you can't tell me everything," Scootaloo said, "but can I know a little more about this trip? Why are we going?"

"We're actually going for lots of reasons," Sweetie Belle explained. "The ones I can tell you are that Rainbow Dash wants to introduce herself as the Master Mev and scout the place. Rarity might be getting an elemental power like what Applejack has. You know, the 'earth' one that Spike guessed on Sunday."

"That would be so cool!" Scootaloo used her small wings to flutter up in place for a moment.

Sweetie Belle nodded in agreement. "But we have to focus on the other stuff. Most of the time, an elemental power comes as a bonus gift for the work."

Rainbow Dash trotted over to approach the young servants. "Are you two ready? You need to stay close to me my or my fledglings during this trip. You're still kids at heart with this transformation. Spike's different since he's been there several times and knows Dragon Lord Ember as a good friend."

"Yes, Master," they said together at the same time with eager smiles.

Rainbow's red-on-yellow eyes surfaced. "Grow up!" she teased. The two fillies grew into adult forms. "Flight for my little sister bodyguard," she added with a smile.

Scootaloo grinned and quickly flew upward, darting to the right before gliding down. She was happily assured the power worked. She could fly today.

"Mitria, over here," Rainbow Dash called forth.

Rarity approached with a graceful canter and pleasant gleam in her eyes.

"Fireproof for all, besides those not already fireproof of course!" the master mev declared to the air.

Spike and Applejack giggled.

"We're ready, Twilight," Rainbow Dash announced to her sixth fledgling.

The alicorn mev nodded. A quick flash of her magic teleported them all to the Dragon Lands. She wasted no time in seeing them off. "Good luck!" She waved them good-bye and flashed away, just as quickly as they had arrived.

"Woohoo!" the Equestrian party heard a young dragon say.

Spike darted in the direction of the voice. "Gorge surfing!" he exclaimed and pointed.

The ponies trotted for a better view and watched the pastime as one dragon slid down a river of lava on a flat rock, akin to a surfboard, lifting off and landing again.

"Wow," Scootaloo uttered. "That was awesome!"

"I said the exact same thing when I first saw it too," Rainbow Dash told her with a smile.

The young dragons turned around upon hearing the pony voices. Rainbow's at least was a little familiar. "You again?" an orange one asked. It was the same one that told Rainbow on her last visit that making peace with ponies didn't mean she could surf in their spot. "Why do you have so many ponies with you?" he asked. 

He seemed irritated to see the group. Yet, in the next breath, he said ever so casually, "Hi Spike. I see you finally got wings."

"Yup," Spike replied proudly. "We're actually here to see Dragon Lord Ember, not gorge surf. Twilight just happened to teleport us here."

"Oh," said the orange one, taken aback. He no longer seemed offended by their arrival. "She's over there." He pointed east.

"Thank you, sir," Rainbow replied with a polite nod. The group began to walk in the noted direction.

The orange dragon gently scratched at his chin, mildly perplexed.

"Not so fast!" another voice shot through the air.

A voice Spike knew all too well. Rainbow Dash and Rarity had some familiarity with it too.

The group paused. With an annoyed sigh, Rainbow turned to see a red dragon with several sharp teeth. Garble. He was taller than both her and Spike, and she had embarrassed him on her last visit.

"Hello Garble," Spike said crossly, and he defensively placed himself in front of Rainbow Dash.

"You!" he pointed past Spike to Rainbow Dash, ignoring the smaller dragon completely. "You owe me a race."

Scootaloo giggled. 

Spike glanced her way and gave up. He shifted clear of blocking Garble from the group, knowing he could not stop whatever conversation was about to take place.

"Shh," Rainbow tried to hush the new bodyguard, but she was helplessly smiling and on the verge of giggling as well.

Scootaloo tried her best to hide her glee.

"What's so funny?" Garble asked.

"Nothing," Scootaloo said innocently.

"My sister is amused because I'm known for my speed. That's all," Rainbow told him honestly. "I could give a demonstration. I'm happy to entertain you," she offered with a sly smile and gestured with her right forelimb to the land in front of them.

Garble glanced at the group of ponies and flared his nostrils. Snorting, he replied, "Yeah, you better."

"Name it," Rainbow said.

The orange dragon approached Garble and whispered suggestions.

"Alright," Garble said, still addressing the sky blue pegasus. "This time we'll let you gorge surf. You race me to the bottom and back to the top. You'll have to find your own board. And look out for the lava on your own."

"We're on it," Scootaloo said as she, Sweetie Belle, Rarity, and Applejack went off to find an acceptable board.

It didn't take long, and Rarity used her unicorn magic to smooth off the dust from what the group found before passing it to her master.

The Equestrian party stood on one side of the lava river, and the group of dragons stood on the other. Garble glared at Rainbow Dash. Rainbow only smiled slyly yet again. She was quite content to be allowed to have some fun before meeting Ember. The orange dragon flew upward and said, "On your marks, get set..." He shot fire out from and said, "surf" at the same time.

The two competitors began their descent, and Garble tried to leave a wake of lava to block the sky blue pegasus' path. He was shocked to see her surfing down ahead of him. Her four hooves were planted firmly on the board with her body angled thinly for optimal speed. Her biggest challenge wasn't going faster than him but making sure she didn't give in to the urge to spread her wings to fly instead. Garble maneuvered to the left and right of several rocks. The two reached the bottom at the same time, and it was then that all the dragons saw how fast Rainbow Dash truly was.

With supreme ease, she shot upward to make a small, lightning quick Sonic Rainboom and land at the top as Garble barely lifted off from the ground.

Her party proudly cheered, and several dragons took a few seconds of shock before adding to the cheers as well.

"Wow," the orange dragon from earlier said. "What was that?"

Rainbow Dash proudly dusted off her forelimbs in a standing hover. "It's called a Sonic Rainboom."

"Master here is the only pony to ever pull it off," Applejack bragged to them.

"Although the Sonic Rainboom usually has a bit more flair," Rarity informed him. "That was like a miniature version of it."

"Master?" the orange dragon asked. "That's strange even for a pony name."

"That's her title, and it's why we're here to see Ember today," Spike explained. He looked at Rainbow Dash with the intent to move things along.

By this point, Garble had flown up to the top and stared in shock at the scene.

Rainbow Dash descended to talk to him and landed on the ground. "Are you not entertained?" she teased with a cocky smile.

Garble flared his nostrils again. He pointed as if to accuse her of something. "Fine. Yes. You're fast. And that was awesome. For a pony." He folded his arms in annoyance.

Scootaloo looked at Sweetie Belle and smiled a big, proud smile. Sweetie Belle smiled back.

"Thanks. Now we really do need to find Dragon Lord Ember," Rainbow said.

"Actually," Spike hovered over to tap Rainbow's shoulder.

Ember flew down to see Spike and everyone else. "Here's something I don't see everyday," the light blue dragon glanced around at everyone with a smile. "I take it that boom is from you ponies."

"Dragon Lord Ember!" Spike fluttered over for a hug.

"Oh, right, a hug," Ember noted quietly, more to herself than anyone else. "Hi Spike. Hey, nice wings. You got through the molt okay, huh?"

He grinned at her. "Thanks. That's a story. But not right now." He gestured over to Rainbow Dash.

Ember met eyes with the sky blue pegasus.

"Yes, the boom was from me," Rainbow admitted. "We were just having some fun." She glanced Garble's way and waited.

Garble looked away for a moment, then at Ember, and then begrudgingly nodded in agreement though he still had his arms folded in annoyance.

"That's good news. So, what brings so many ponies at once to the Dragonlands?" Ember asked.

Sweetie Belle magically opened her saddlebag and lifted the letter from Princess Celestia. She passed it to Ember.

The Dragon Lord took it and read its contents. She lowered it, still holding it in her clawed hands, to look at Rainbow Dash and the others. "A master mev? Really?" she asked. Her voice suggested a small hint of recognition on what that meant.

They all nodded.

"What's it say?" the orange dragon asked.

"None of your concern," Ember said. "This is business for older dragons. I need to escort this group to my dad."

The other young dragons glanced at each other in surprise at that news and left speechless. Garble was included among them. If anything, he felt a little less embarrassed since that meant Rainbow Dash herself must have had some special status. Something about her had changed since the last time he saw her.

As Rainbow had foretold, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were not in any way terrified at this prospect and instead found it an interesting development. The fledglings felt much the same. Spike was perplexed but knew he would have to go along. 

Torch, Ember's dad and the previous Dragon Lord, could be intimidating, in both manner and size, but he was not exactly cruel. He had allowed Spike to leave the Gauntlet of Fire before Spike had decided to compete after all.

"Master, I trust your party will be able to follow me," Dragon Lord Ember said.

Rainbow nodded. "Scootaloo, you carry Sweetie Belle. Rarity, get on my back. Applejack, I'll carry you with my forelimbs. If any of this proves too heavy, we all know what to do next."

Everyone nodded at the master mev's hope to do this part without any more magic than what she had already cast for them earlier. Rainbow was strong enough to carry four ponies at once, so two would not be that difficult, even if inconvenient. Scootaloo had faith in her own strength as well.

The group left and flew onward to another area of the Dragonlands that those who had been there before were not familiar with.

They entered a large cave. Large enough for large, older dragons.

"Dad," Ember said as she glided to approach him.

Torch sat proudly and glanced down.

"Ember, it is good to see you visit," he noted. He saw Spike and the group of ponies. "No way," he uttered.

"Dad, this here is Master Rainbow Dash," Ember gestured. "You told me to let you know if a master mev ever appeared. I have a letter from Princess Celestia, the ruler of Equestria. It states that she is one. The other four ponies are her servants, and Spike is here as an ambassador.

"Master Rainbow Dash, this is my dad, former Dragon Lord Torch. He's told me you can still refer to him as 'Dragon Lord' as well even though he is retired."

Torch nodded. "Very well. Thank you Ember. You should stay for all the things I need to tell Master Rainbow Dash here. Listen carefully, so I don't have to explain it again. Master, I advise your servants remain here as well."

Ember descended to down to stand with the others and listen.

Rainbow nodded. "So be it."

"Right then. I take it you want dragon magic for your reserve," Torch said.

"I do," Rainbow replied.

"We dragons don't mind that, but you must understand, that we age quite differently than ponies. Ember herself is barely old enough to be bitten by you, and it would be better if you ate from an older dragon, such as myself," Torch explained. "But it won't be as simple as you ask, and I agree." 

He paused to watch her reaction.

Intrigued, Rainbow asked, "What would it take?"

"We dragons like games and challenges. Master mevs tend to like such things as well," Torch continued.

"That's true for me as well, Dragon Lord Torch," Rainbow confirmed for him.

"You may have one of your fledglings eat the magic from the Bloodstone Scepter, but once you eat that from the fledgling, the magic is far more potent with aggression than you'll have found from anything else you've eaten. Probably anyway. It will only affect you in this manner, not your fledgling."

Rainbow nervously swallowed, sensing where this was headed.

"You will go berserk," the large green dragon warned.

Everyone in the in Equestrian party tensed but remained still and continued listening. Clearly, there was more to the matter than that.

"I…" Rainbow Dash was at a loss for words yet felt like she was supposed to attempt saying something. "Those are for an emergency."

"It won't be like the berserk state you've no doubt read about. It will be very short, two minutes for every member of your pack, fourteen tops of course," Torch elaborated.

"Oh," Rainbow remarked. She gulped again. "And that is how I will be eating dragon magic?"

Torch nodded. "Yes. We wish to make a sport of it, a challenge for us and a challenge for you.  It's a game we like to call Challenge the Master. Believe me, this is completely different than what ponies go through in Equestria. 

"We are aware of the consequences if you succeed in your bite. We are older and contain a lot of magic, so rather than you taking so much from one older dragon, you will actually be taking smaller doses and be collecting them from several. 

"We will still be able to fly and breathe fire after the game, just be weaker at them for the week it takes to recover. The bite will be enough for a dragon to go down into sleep and knock them out of the game." He peered down, drawing close to her and speaking in a low voice. "And as a little perk, I might add, you may draw blood." 

Rainbow blinked and gasped, bringing her hooves to her mouth to catch her breath. Her eyes widened, immediately turning red. Fangs grew. She gulped and found herself licking her lips, very excited by the prospect.

"Master," Torch said, knowing the exact measure needed to help clear her head, which obviously worked after she blinked a few more times. Her eyes went back to magenta, and Torch didn't need to see her teeth to know they had retracted.

The large dragon chuckled.  "Not much, my little pony, fear not. We will be fine, and you will have a rare pleasure for a magical vampire of your kind." He gestured his large head for Rainbow to go and speak with her servants.

The master mev walked near to see what her friends had to say on the matter. Rarity, being the initial chosen fledgling for this mission, spoke first. "Master, I believe him. The book you have was written for ponies when it warned of the 'emergency' part even if it did mention other creatures. It was most certainly not a guide book for larger, older dragons of his size on master mevs. They are different creatures, and you will have their permission. They're quite powerful."

"I agree with Rarity," Applejack said. "Our work don't involve much combat, and I'm sure there's some of you that wants this even if you're nervous about telling us so. We all know you have an aggressive side. I ain't seen it as much since you first transformed, besides, you know...but maybe that's part of your condition."

Rainbow nodded in quiet agreement and looked to Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. 

"We can handle it," Scootaloo said bravely. "That's what the mev bond is for, right? Even though we're not fledglings, you'll recognize we're not food, either because we really are kids or because of the bond."

Sweetie Belle nodded. "It would actually be a good way for us to learn a little more about a berserk."

"Is it though?" Rainbow asked. "You heard him. This is a lot different than the one that's supposed to happen if I starve. It's an outright game, not an emergency."

"We already know some of the differences," Rarity pointed out, "and if it turns out there are other solid magic objects that can make you go berserk, we really do need to do everything we can to prepare for that possibility. This is a best case scenario without having to test it out on ponies who are ignorant of your status."

Rainbow looked over at Spike. "You're the only one here without a mev bond. You may not be an adult, but I might try to scare you while I'm berserk."

"Maybe we should bring in Twilight," Spike suggested. "She could probably create a force field bubble for us to watch and be shielded from you, especially me. Even if the others don't need it from you, these dragons are big. She can log the information for Starlight."

Rainbow Dash agreed with a simple nod. It was a reasonable idea. "Rexa," she said aloud.

Twilight appeared in a flash and got her bearings of the new surroundings as she spotted Torch. "Wow. What's going on?"

Spike went ahead and explained everything to her.

Twilight nodded. "I'm ready to do my part."
> Chapter 63 - Challenge the Master
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Rainbow Dash fluttered over and landed before Torch. "I will likely accept your challenge, but I have a few questions before we begin."

Torch nodded. "Ask."

"Where will Dragon Lord Ember be during this game?" Rainbow asked. "She is old enough, isn't she? But also the current Dragon Lord."

"Ember will hold the scepter during and after your fledgling eats from it. The traces of mev magic will alert you to leave her be," Torch explained.

Ember nodded in grasping the situation, having pieced together everything she needed from listening to the discussion.

"Aside from injecting me with this aggressive berserk state, what is the purpose of eating from the scepter? Are we reserving its magic for you? My team has the power to make a smaller, backup copy instead of simply storing it in our reserve," Rainbow Dash informed the large dragon.

"Oh, that's quite interesting," Torch said, and he sounded genuine. "Can your team do that after our game? You can work with Ember on the details."

"Yes," Rainbow replied. "But then my next question is: If I were to somehow eat from that copy, would that cause me to go berserk again?"

"No, you would not," Torch assured her. "The scepter's magic can only make you go berserk once. As another master mev has told me, any artifact, relic, or any physical object that can trigger your berserk can only do so that one time. Since it is a copy stored from the same object, its turn will be over."

"So other such objects do exist?" Rainbow asked.

"Yes, but a berserk state from an object will have different rules, depending on the object itself, like its purpose, the creatures who know it, and so on. I can't promise it will be a fourteen minute game," Torch informed her.

"Very well. I wish for my team to be able to watch, and we have the magic we need for that to happen. They will be shielded. Dragon Lord Ember, you are free to join them for a better view if you like," the master mev offered.

"Yeah, that sounds good," Ember said.

"An audience," Torch said with a smile. "We like that as well. Ember, tell the young ones they can watch with the warning that master mevs can eat fear from younger creatures, even if they cannot bite them to eat their magic. Fourteen minutes should be short enough, so that she is more focused on older dragon magic for most or all of the game."

Ember nodded. "Sure thing, Dad."

"I must call forth the other larger older dragons. Wait here," Torch instructed. "Setting everything up will not take long. As part of the game, you will be imprisoned."

"Imprisoned?" Rainbow repeated. Why would they want to do that?

Torch smiled with an eager gleam in his eyes. "We like to see the magic that fights containment."

Rainbow smirked wickedly at that prospect as well. She wanted to feel that magic in her too. "I look forward to it."

"We shall return soon," Torch informed them.

With that, he went to gather more large dragons for the berserk game. Ember left to invite the younger dragons for the spectacle.

Twilight put a hoof on Rainbow's shoulder. "It's going to be alright," she assured the master mev.

"I can't help being nervous," Rainbow confessed. "I feel like I have to perform being a monster of the exact right caliber. Nothing too terrible but also nothing too boring. I don't know how little control I'll have of myself either. I'm not sure I want you all to see me this way."

"We ain't denying it might be hard," said Applejack, "but we do think that between doing this and not doing this, doing it is the better option."

"Right," Rarity agreed. "We have done the respectful consenting part, which a berserk state usually doesn't have."

That, more than anything else, once again helped put Rainbow's heart and mind at ease.





The game was to take place in the wide rocky terrain of the Dragonlands. Several large dragons sat or stood at considerable distance from the small group of ponies and smaller dragons.

In a closer circle, the younger dragons surrounded the Equestrian party and Dragon Lord Ember. Not far from the smallest group, a cage that could hold up to four ponies stood. It had a flat surface and wheels beneath it to roll it around easily. Its door was open, and it was empty.

"Here's the plan," Ember announced. "You," she pointed to Rarity, "are going to eat magic from the scepter. I will be holding it while you eat and hold onto it after that as well."

Rarity nodded in full agreement and understanding.

"You," Ember pointed at Rainbow Dash, "are going to have your wings, forelimbs, and rear legs chained up."

Rainbow nodded in the same manner as Rarity did.

"You," Ember pointed to Rarity once again, "go into the cage first. Then the master mev's servants will place her inside with you."

"Very well," Rarity agreed.

"After that, you will be the eye for the Master Mev that everyone else is in position, ready for her to go ahead and bite for the magic of the Bloodstone Scepter from you. 

"That will be when the rest of us move back and clear to wait. Nobody," Ember stated emphatically, "be alarmed if nothing happens at first. It has been a long time since a master mev visited the Dragonlands. A berserk trigger might not be immediate. 

"We will all have to wait. One cue for us will be if the sky goes dark. It won't be night, but it will look like it. Maybe storm clouds will appear. Maybe they won't. If it takes more than an hour for some reason, we will assume that for whatever reason, it is not happening and move on with other business."

Everyone nodded without comment.

"Let's get started," Ember said.

The younger dragons went ahead and backed away a few steps on instincts of their own.

Twilight Sparkle, Spike, Applejack, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo clustered together and took a few steps back as well.

Ember steadily held the Bloodstone Scepter out with her arms.

Rarity opened her mouth and began to eat the magic from the designated object.

Scootaloo watched with open-mouthed fascination and realized Sweetie Belle was too, even though her friend had probably seen things like this before. The mevs did not look surprised but focused. Spike was somewhere between their concentration and Scootaloo's fascination.

Some of the younger dragons walked forward to help chain up the master mev. Rainbow Dash could still stand, but she could not fly or walk. At most, she may have been able to hop herself forward if necessary. After that, the dragon helpers returned to the others.

Rarity entered the designated cage. Twilight telekinetically lifted Rainbow Dash to join her. 

Ember shut the cage and locked it. She flew over toward the group of Equestrians and stood to wait.

Rarity glanced all around to ensure everyone was in position. "They are ready, Master," she said.

Rainbow looked up, and Rarity could see two determined red eyes in a fierce glare. It was as if she were already going berserk, and this process was a mere formality. The white unicorn mev offered her neck for the bite and felt the two fangs dig in. The master mev's body took on a faint red aura as all watched her eat. The sky slowly darkened thanks to large dark storm clouds that appeared.

Once satisfied with the Bloodstone Scepter magic, Rainbow Dash pulled away from the body that offered it to her

Thunder rumbled in the sky above.

Rainbow Dash felt her head hurt at first. If she were not already chained, she would have been clutching at it with her forelimbs. While she could have broken free to do that, it was her wings that broke their bindings first and turned into bat-like flaps. She growled. 

With great force, she pulled her forelimbs apart. The chains themselves faded away into white magic essence that disappeared. The chains on her rear legs immediately followed, disintegrating as well. The bindings were broken. Her cutie mark's white cloud had turned black to match the storm clouds of the sky.

She turned around and chomped down on a bar of the cage with her sharp teeth and spit it aside. She did the same with two more. "Join the others, Mitria," she ordered in a deadpan voice, staring ahead and not bothering to look at her fledgling. "My game begins," Rainbow Dash said with aggressive zeal.

"As you wish, Master," Rarity bowed and obeyed. galloping to the rest of the group where Twilight promptly created her force-field and levitated the entire group off the ground.

Rainbow Dash paid her servants no further mind.

She darted up to find the nearest adult dragon. She didn't need to look long as she soon felt the heat of flames shoot past her. Pleased, she darted toward a large red one. The attacker sliced his clawed hands through the air. Swish! The wind sang as he missed his target. Swoosh! Another swipe. Whoosh! Another dodge. The vampire evaded yet a third attempt before finally reaching his neck. She bit in to eat his magic, which was plenty tasty.

And then she tasted the blood. Sweet, sweet dragon blood. As Torch said, it was not much. She could not take it all, even if she wanted to.

A large dark blue dragon swat her off the red dragon's neck, batting her down to the ground. He flung his clawed hand to follow, ready to crush her. Wham! A mere second later, he felt a tiny sting right at the point of contact between where she must have been and the ground. Tiny though it was, it was enough, for the blue dragon immediately grabbed his hand to examine it.

The master mev flew up and grinned evilly at him. "No containment," she reminded him with a hiss. The blue dragon made direct eye contact with her though he didn't mean to. He had been warned what that might do. Sure enough, he felt ensnared in her gaze. "Stay where you are," she commanded.

He stared with his mouth open, suddenly unable to move except to do the one thing he was told to do if he made this mistake. "Master," the blue dragon uttered.

"You know it," Rainbow said wickedly, very pleased to hear her mev title. She darted to his neck and bit right in, taking both some magic and blood.

The other dragons realized the master mev was going to be a challenge indeed. She was a small predator, and they were all very large prey.

A large green dragon, a shade darker than Torch himself, tried next. She reminded herself to not make eye contact and not try to actually contain the master. She blew flames that met their mark, surrounding the small pony body completely. Krafwooom! However, when the flames cleared, the master mev looked no worse for wear. Not burnt in the slightest. She was indeed immune to dragon flame. "Unbelievable," the green dragon said.

With her expert speed, Rainbow Dash took advantage of the distracted prey and bit into her neck too.

The other dragons realized that perhaps they should wait for her approach instead of them going to her. The berserk creature had no problem with that. She zipped to the first magenta dragon in her line of sight. They breathed fire at her,  frwhooo, which again, did nothing. They swiped their mighty claws. Rainbow clasped one of those clawed fingers into her forelimbs. Grinning wickedly, she lifted the dragon upward and threw them to the ground, fwump before landing. Rubble scattered from the impact. Two eager fangs sank into the magenta dragon's neck. More blood. More magic.

"How are we supposed to actually fight this thing?" one of the dragons asked Torch. 

"That's the challenge," Torch said with a pleased smile from his perch while waiting for his turn.

Rainbow Dash approached another dragon, one with light blue scales like Ember's that tried to evade her approach and swish his spiky tail to throw her off. The plan succeeded as the tail made contact and threw the berserk mev off course. It was far enough that a gold dragon was closer in range, so Rainbow targeted that one instead. She could deal with that light blue one later. Her desire for dragon magic could be sooner met here and now.

The gold dragon tried to copy the light blue dragon that hurled Rainbow Dash his way, but the master mev dodged his tail and kicked it with her rear hoof, knocking him down to the ground. BAM! She promptly approached for the bite. The downed dragon tried to cover his neck with his hands before she could do such a thing. Annoyed, Rainbow placed herself in his line of sight. He clenched his eyes shut with pained and fearful grimace before they could make direct contact. She growled. "YOUR MAGIC IS MINE!" she yelled, and she bit his clawed hand, leading the dragon to yelp in pain and lift his hand from his neck. The master mev bit the truly desired spot.

As Rainbow Dash flew up to find her next target, the light blue dragon that swatted her away earlier opened a large, gaping mouth behind the pony. She, the large dragon, clamped her mouth shut as if readying to swallow the bat-winged mev whole. The tiny predator inside used her newfound strength for the game alone to pry the jaws open. "YOU...CANNOT...CONTAIN ME!" she growled and escaped, bucking the jaws to thwart the dragon downward. Bapoom! Rainbow dived with the fall to find the dragon's neck and bite in for yet more magic and blood.

The berserk game went on. A few dragons tried to out-fly Rainbow Dash but soon learned she was too fast for them. At last, Torch was the only adult qualified dragon left. He eyed her approaching flight eagerly and tilted his head slightly left to evade her line of trajectory. Rainbow Dash flew past him and stopped to turn herself around, eyeing the back of his head. She charged and his tail flicked her away with no problem at all.

The master mev grinned and chuckled. Thunder in the sky rumbled yet again. She circled around to face her desired meal. Torch kept his eyes open, making sure to not make direct eye contact, keeping the bat-winged pony in his peripheral view. Rainbow Dash approached quickly but slower than her initial attack, and a large clawed hand bat her away like she was an annoying little fly. 

The former Dragon Lord was stalling. So long as he lasted until the berserk ended, he was in the clear to win the game. The berserk creature's whole body twitched. He had magic and blood that she wanted. She needed to find out how to get to it. She flew several feet above where he perched himself. Torch looked up at her, still doing his best to not meet the enchanting red eyes directly.

Rainbow Dash rocketed down, and Torch realized she was like a mini-missile aiming for him. Had she not learned? Suddenly...

BOOM!

The explosive sound shot out and color with it. A Sonic Rainboom filled the air. The circle of rainbow colors were surrounded with yet another circle of hazy red.

Torch's eyes bulged in shock though he still attempted a dodge again, noting the wake of a rainbow trail and red aura. He was too late. Smack! He felt the impact of her body as she swerved in the same direction as his dodge, having caught it in time on this attempt. The move knocked him to the ground. Torch flapped his massive wings to lift himself and realized he did not know where the little master mev went. Her rainbow-and-red trail scattered about haphazardly in the air, and before he could make sense of it all, two fangs pierced into his neck from behind. Fwuuuump. He was down again, this time in a sleeping heap.

Rainbow Dash glanced around in search for what to eat next. No more adult dragons. No more magic or blood. But there was still fear.

She flew toward the younger dragon circle. The younger dragons stared up in frightened awe at having witnessed a little pony vampire knock down so many of their elders. 

"And here you all are," she said with a delighted wicked voice and smile to match, "offering up dessert."

A red circle surrounded them, and a large translucent head lifted out. A leviathan head. A very large translucent leviathan head. The younger dragons' jaws collectively dropped. Thunder rumbled again, and lightning flashed soon after. They heard a hiss that they could not tell if it were from the master mev or the leviathan dread, but then, that was the point of using their confusion to amplify their fear.

"Master," one of them uttered, having seen one of the larger dragons try it earlier.

"That's me," Rainbow said with a gleeful evil smile.

Blitz circled more to make the space feel tighter.

"Aren't the fourteen minutes up yet?" one of the dragons said in a low, terrified voice.

Another shook his head. "It's not like I set a timer."

Blitz finished her ascent and dived down as if to gobble them all up before dissipating away.

The young creatures felt truly threatened, as if the massive ghostly snake could actually do such a thing. They raised their arms as if to shield themselves, bracing for the worst.

It took two seconds for them to realize they were unharmed.

The storm clouds whisked away, and the sky began to brighten.

"Look," one of the young dragons pointed upward.

Rainbow Dash herself followed the indicated direction and slowly descended to the ground. The faint red aura surrounding her body faded. Her bat wings morphed into her usual feathered ones. She gently collapsed to the ground and fell asleep instantly.

The young dragons breathed a collective sigh of relief. The force-field bubble containing the Equestrians and Dragon Lord Ember landed near them. Twilight cast the magical bubble away.

"She took out all of them," a young pink dragon said. "Was that supposed to happen?"

"It's her goal as part of the game. Dad knew it could happen," Ember informed them. "He did make sure I warned you all about the fear feeding."

"I can't believe we forgot," one embarrassed young dragon admitted.

"Did your father tell you how long she would be asleep once the game is over?" Rarity asked. "We know that her meals sleep for an hour after being bitten during the day."

"Fourteen minutes. She'll be out for the amount of time she was berserk," Ember explained.

"And do the dragons she ate from get that fourteen minutes or the full hour?" Applejack asked.

"They'll wake up when she does, is what my dad told me," Ember said. "After all, this berserk was a game. The winners and losers must face victory and defeat."

"We certainly learned a lot," Twilight said, already scribbling some thoughts on a scroll. "Aside from telling Rarity to join us, she didn't seem aware of us at all and completely focused on eating, which fits with the idea of a berserk."

"And her nocturnivlair is secondary to the chase," Sweetie Belle offered aloud. "It seemed to happen only in response to any immediate meal she was preying on. She was not plotting to take them down in any kind of methodical way. She moved from one dragon to the next. If one of them put her closer to another, she changed her target."

"That would be good for evasion, blocking, and distraction, like we been thinking," Applejack added.

"She only used mev magic too," Rarity put in her thoughts as well. "Aside from that super strength."

"I think that is mev magic," Twilight said. "Torch said it was dependent on the strength of her pack and not toot my own horn, but Starlight pointed out ages ago I could make the pack really strong as an alicorn. 

"Your initial point remains of course. Master did not use any unicorn or draconequis or reserved magic of any kind besides the fireproof status she cast earlier today. Since dragon fire is part of their magic, she still would have been immune."

"That's just for this berserk though, right?" Scootaloo asked them all. "Other ones might have different rules."

"Right, but it's all we have to go on, and my instincts tell me that it is what to expect most of the time," Twilight explained.

The fourteen minutes soon ended, and Rainbow Dash groaned, rubbing her head as she sat upright on her haunches.

"Master, are you alright?" Rarity asked with concern.

"Just a little headache," Rainbow said. "Must be an after effect of the berserk. I think it will clear soon." She looked at the younger dragons that had quietly listened to the Equestrian party and watched over her. "Are you all okay?"

The orange one that initially greeted her at the gorge surfing location replied, "Are you kidding? That was the coolest thing ever!"

"How did you do that snake thing?" the pink one asked. "It filled us up with just this...strange...feeling....like umm..."

"Dread. That's her job," Rainbow said. "She is in fact called a leviathan dread, and her name is Blitz. I can summon her on instinct when I sense fear of me, especially in young creatures."

"Wow," said a young brown dragon.

The older dragons began to awake as well and Torch soon approached the group. "You win, Master Rainbow Dash," he said with a defeated smile.

"Thank you, Dragon Lord Torch. Good game. I'm sorry it can be the only one," Rainbow replied.

"Haha," he chuckled heartily. "We'll be quite alright with this one in our memory for awhile. You may now work with Dragon Lord Ember regarding the scepter copy if you wish. I would recommend after that to relaxing yourself in a lava pool."

The other dragons, old and young alike, left the area, to let the mevs do their work in peace. Both the former and current Dragon Lord had instructed them to do so before the game. Ember remained to do her part to help Team Awesome. Torch left as well.

"A lava pool does sound mighty nice," Applejack hinted.

"Yeah, sure, but let's take care of the scepter first. Rhezenda, get out your drawing pad and markers. You brought markers this time, right?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Yes, Master," Sweetie Belle answered.

Ember was told about this idea so held the scepter at a proper angle as she modeled it for the adult-sized filly.
> Chapter 64 - Earth and Lightning
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







In her adult sized and flying capable form, Scootaloo approached Rainbow Dash in a glide. "Is everything okay, Master?"

Rainbow Dash sat thoughtfully on her haunches and glanced up to meet the young pony's eyes. "Well, tell me, Little Sister, how did it feel to watch me become that thing?" she asked.

"To be honest, it was kind of fun to watch," Scootaloo confessed. "You could actually fight dragons hoof to claw, and they barely stood a chance against you!"

Rainbow Dash nodded and gave a confession of her own. "Felt like a cheat."

"They're cheating just by being bigger dragons. It's a power up, and you do need a power up to take them on for actual combat," Scootaloo argued. "Remember the Flash Magnus story that you can't out-fight big dragons but you can out-think them. Here, the roles were reversed. None of them even thought of teaming up against you as a diversion."

"I suppose you have a point," Rainbow conceded with a small nod.

"It's not like none of them struck you ever. Torch did manage to bat you away with his tail and claws. He had the right idea," Scootaloo added. "He almost made it."

"Okay, okay, I get it. I will savor the victory," Rainbow said and playfully rubbed the top of Scootaloo's short violet mane. "I am glad to have you with me on this trip and not scared out of your mind while we're here."

"Me too, Master. I offered my service just in time. I don't think I'll get a fly ability qualification for a long time again," Scootaloo said.

"Sorry Little Sister, but I think so too," Rainbow admitted. "We're still working on the long-term fix for that," she added with a playful wink.

"Does it always feel this awesome?" Scootaloo asked a familiar question to the master mev.

Rainbow Dash smiled warmly at that and gave the same answer. "Wouldn't that be something?"

Sweetie Belle finished her drawing soon after, so Team Awesome Plus moved onto similar steps that took place in the Crystal Empire. Ember readied more bloodstone itself, similar to what was already in the scepter, along with the rock used for the staff. 

Rainbow suggested she add something that could be molded to hold the staff upright since it would be contained in a case. Ember followed that advice and set the collection of assorted items on the ground. The master mev transferred the Bloodstone Scepter magic to her crown and channeled it out from there to meet the similar scepter items with magic channeled from Sweetie Belle. The white unicorn's adult form channeled magic through the drawing, and together, they were able to create a smaller scepter.

Spike was a friend and ambassador to the Dragonlands, but he was not a known protector to have ever saved it from anything. Still, Rainbow Dash said that he was a protector for Ember during the Gauntlet of Fire, so that would help. He held the mini-scepter in his claws, filled it with that memory and energy from his friendship with the Dragon Lord.

Twilight Sparkle was still present so made the glass case, and Rainbow Dash sealed the deal with the extra layer of chaos magic for protection.

Ember looked at it. "Cute," she remarked quietly and sincerely.

"You should name it," Rainbow advised.

Ember carefully tapped her claw to her chin in contemplation. "Jasper. Its name is Jasper. This thing isn't a boy or a girl; it is an 'it' or a 'they.'"

Jasper twinkled in approval.

"Hey, look at that," Ember said proudly as she noticed the items' reaction.

The ground suddenly rumbled and shook beneath the group.

"An earthquake?" Ember asked.











"Master, it's happening!" Rarity exclaimed with a gleeful smile, momentarily holding her cheeks in her two front hooves.

"This one sure was quick!" Applejack exclaimed.

"Huh? What's happening?" Ember wondered.

"You'll see," Rainbow Dash told her. "It's not dangerous at all."

A small collection of reddish brown rocks lifted up from the ground and levitated near the case holding the smaller scepter copy. The rumbling of the ground ceased. Similarly to Amara, a white horizontal line shot out from Jasper into the rocks and turned the same red hue as Jasper while not becoming actual bloodstone gems.

The levitating rocks then approached Rarity. The white unicorn looked at Rainbow Dash as if she still needed her master's approval.

Ember gazed on with silent curiosity.

"Jasper offers you the gift of earth, Mitria," Rainbow Dash said to add formality. "Do you accept?"

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo looked at each other with eager and quietly excited smiles.

Rarity nodded, and without further prompting, opened her mouth. The rocks entered, and she chomped down, easily grinding them to dust before swallowing the whole of the offer. Again, without prompting, she blew out some wind, as Rainbow predicted she would be able to do. That wind solidified into a pony of the same rock color as the ground they stood on rather than the Bloodstone Scepter's red.

Rarity eyed it carefully with a raised eyebrow, and her unicorn magic was able to shape it into a large reddish brown rock diamond. She sent out a warm breath again with careful thought to see it turn into a red gem of the same color as the bloodstone in the scepter. She concentrated again with her unicorn magic, and the large red diamond split into three diamonds. "It starts off as rock, but I can change it with another breath to jewels after I manifest it," she explained to the group. "I can still shape it in either form with unicorn magic since it's from me. And you know what else?"

"What?" Rainbow asked for everyone.

"I think when it's on or closer to my day for the pack, I can probably change the colors," Rarity noted.

"Did you know this was going to happen?" Ember asked the group.

Spike replied for them, "Not all the details, but we thought Rarity might get something like this. We weren't sure, and Team Awesome did know they had to focus on their work for the reserve to help out the Dragonlands more than getting this elemental power for Rarity."

"Do other mevs in your pack have powers too?" the Dragon Lord wished to know and directed the question to the mevs still present.

"Whew, I've been holding it in here Dragon Lord Ember, but yes, we do. Watch this," Applejack offered and blew out her fire.

Ember's eyes widened, and her jaw dropped. "You can breathe fire like dragons can!"

"Thanks to our mutual friend Spike here, yes, I can," the orange earth pony stated proudly.

"H-how?" Ember asked.

Rainbow Dash shook her head. "We can't tell you more than that."

"Oh," Ember realized with slight disappointment though she would not press the issue. "Oh, I see. No, it's fine. That is impressive. What about you?" She pointed to Twilight Sparkle.

Twilight blew out a pony of white light that walked over Ember's shadow to demonstrate that part of its  ability before Twilight sucked it back into herself.

"And these two?" Ember asked, referring to the fillies in their adult forms.

"We aren't mevs," Sweetie Belle admitted, "just outsider servants. We're actually fillies."

Ember blinked. "You are?"

The pair nodded.

"But you did that drawing thing," Ember told her.

"I did, but that's not a natural elemental power you will find from the land itself. It's unicorn and mev magic I've been developing with Master Rainbow Dash," Sweetie Belle explained.

"What about you?" Ember asked Scootaloo.

The orange pegasus blushed with a modest little laugh. "Heh heh, no special powers here," she admitted.

"Oh. Sorry," Ember said.

Scootaloo shook her head. "Don't be. I'm really happy to be with Master regardless."

Ember smiled warmly at that news. Then she looked at Rainbow Dash. "Besides all the obvious master mev stuff, do you have any kind of land elemental gift as well?"

"Not at the moment," Rainbow answered, "but I do think it will happen when the time is right. All of my fledglings now have one."

"And that's not enough?" Ember wondered.

"There's a very strong chance we all have to be with her at the same time," Twilight Sparkle hypothesized aloud. 

All present mevs silently agreed.

"Oh, cool. I'm sorry I'll miss seeing that. I'm curious to know what it will be," Ember remarked.

"It's going to be lightning," Spike said with authority.

"You sound sure of yourself," Ember noticed with a lightly proud smile.

"Well, I'm not 100% sure, more like 99% sure," the young purple dragon admitted. "The team will all be together Tuesday at the latest."

"You know," Twilight began thoughtfully, "I could teleport over to Ponyville and ask the other girls, then bring them here. The Dragonlands is actually a good place for Master to test out lightning power."

"I could just summon them instead of you going to the trouble," Rainbow Dash reminded her. "They can decline a summon if they are too busy. The magic will know. It's not that important this be done right now."

Rarity cleared her throat.

"What's on your mind, Rarity?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"I'm really eager to see it, Master, I am, but I think we should enjoy the lava pool first," the white unicorn mev suggested. "Twilight can gather the other Awesomevs in Ponyville and meet with us later."

Applejack approached and spoke to Rainbow Dash. "I know she ain't a mev or an outsider servant, but could we have my sister here, please? The dangerous part of this place is cleared away from us, and she knows a lot about our pack. It's kind of special to me and her friends that she be with us."

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle nodded in hopeful agreement.

"Very well," Rainbow conceded. "And one more," she decided aloud. The fledgling mevs present looked at her curiously. "Bring Discord if you can," she told Twilight.

Her Rexa took a moment to absorb the request before bowing with a smile. "As you wish, Master."

The group made plans for the exact time and place with Ember's help on how to plan out this new idea. The Dragon Lord was invited to witness what would happen since her curiosity was the reason for gathering the others.





Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Spike relaxed in a lava pool. Scootaloo stood near and occasionally circled it, playing her role as the unnecessary bodyguard. Sweetie Belle sat on her haunches scribbling notes from their trip so far and doodling to practice her drawing if she needed a mental break.

"Are you two certain you don't want to join us?" Rarity asked. "It's not everyday a master mev can make you fireproof."

"We have our jobs for Master," Sweetie Belle said without looking up.

"I know, but it's not like Rainbow would mind," the white unicorn said.

"It's not that," Scootaloo noted. "We both want to use this chance to serve our roles properly."

The Rhezenda nodded in agreement. "Maybe we'll join you in a little bit."

"Oh, I certainly hope so," Rarity remarked. "Applejack, how are you enjoying this?"

"Better than a steam at the spa," replied a very relaxed and contented Applejack.

"And you Master?" Rarity inquired.

"Quite a bit," Rainbow replied with her eyes closed as she smiled, just as relaxed and content as her Fyra.

"This is way better than the last time I got to be in a lava pool from my first visit to the Dragonlands," Spike added. "It was a cannonball competition, and I belly flopped in hard."

"Oh yes," Rarity said as she remembered it too. "You had us worried back then that you'd leave us for this place."

"Sorry about that," Spike apologized.

Sweetie Belle finished her notes. "Scootaloo?"

"Sure," Scootaloo said, flew up to a cliff, and dropped herself in cannonball style with a wide grin.

The entire group laughed and started to lightly splash at each other as they enjoyed the rest of their time  in the lava pool before leaving for the next phase of their visit.





Twilight Sparkle soon arrived with Fluttershy, Apple Bloom, Pinkie Pie, and Discord.

"Master Rainbow Dash!" Apple Bloom galloped to approach her. "I get to see it, really?!" she asked excitedly.

"Assuming it happens yes." Rainbow turned her attention to the other two Crusaders. "You two should be in filly form with your friend," she decided and transformed them back to their usual state. "Fly ability over," she informed the young orange pegasus, who nodded in understanding. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle hugged Apple Bloom with big smiles.

"You won't believe everything that's happened since we got here," Scootaloo said. She looked at Rainbow Dash. "We can tell her, right? This was like super public out here."

"The pubic part another time," Rainbow said. "We focus on why we're all here for now." 

Discord approached her. "Master," he said with a smile and tiny bow of his head.

"Lord of Chaos, I'm glad you are able to join us this afternoon," Rainbow said with a small bow of her head in response. She fluttered over to Twilight. "Where is Primeva?"

"Our guess is that it's going to start immediately once all seven of us are together, and with so many others with us to watch, we wanted to give everyone time to form up. The outsiders should be clustered together separate from us mevs," Twilight explained.

"Allow me," Discord stepped forward and snapped his lion paw to create seven lawn chairs, each with a small table to its right and a glass of lemonade with a straw.

The Crusaders grinned and immediately chose three seats by each other.

Spike quickly explained to Ember who Discord was and invited her to sit next to him. Ember complied with mild interest. Discord chose the last remaining seat.

"Can Penny watch too?" Pinkie Pie asked Rainbow Dash.

"Sure," Rainbow replied with a smile.

Discord snapped his claws to make an eighth lawn chair set as Pinkie whistled Penny out.

Ember's eyes widened, but she had seen too much weirdness lately to comment on everything at the moment.

The fledglings stood in their own separate cluster in view of the outsiders and Penny.

"You can summon her now," Twilight suggested.

"Primeva," Rainbow Dash called aloud.

Starlight Glimmer arrived in a flash and quickly joined the group of fledglings once she saw where they stood.

The storm clouds from the Challenge the Master game returned instantly, and lightning flashed. Wind picked up in the Dragonlands.

Instinctively, Rainbow Dash lifted herself up into the sky. Everyone gazed on with anticipation. The sky blue pegasus opened her mouth. A strike of red lightning shot from one of the storm clouds into her. Starlight herself glowed red all of a sudden. The other Awesomevs realized what happened and smiled.

Another lightning bolt, this time orange, shot into Rainbow's open mouth, and Fluttershy glowed its same color.

"She's getting them in rainbow colors!" Scootaloo eagerly informed everyone but in Spike's general direction. It was his initial idea that involved a rainbow for the master mev's natural element as something all-encompassing.

"We should line up in order," Starlight told the other fledglings.

"Sorry Penny," Pinkie said, "but you should actually be inside me for this. My instinct for it didn't kick in until just now. I'll call you out and tell you more when I can."

"It's okay," Penny replied. "I got to see the first two, so that will help when I re-imagine it later. That's probably why your instincts waited to tell you. Take care Pinkie."

With that, Pinkie sucked Penny back into her body.

Awesomev fledglings not yet glowing moved clear to let only Starlight and Fluttershy stand next to each other.

Yellow lightning entered Rainbow's mouth, and Rarity's body took on a yellow glow. She joined the line. Blue for Applejack. Green for Pinkie Pie. At last, purple for Twilight Sparkle. Together, they all looked up at the small pegasus figure in the sky. 

A rainbow formed from the lined up fledglings and shot up toward the master mev, surrounding her completely like a large ribbon of rainbow colors. It looked quite similar to wielding the Elements of Harmony.

Rainbow Dash felt the power from it enter her body as she momentarily glowed white from the collection of all the colors together. She laughed bombastically at the still dark sky. One of the laughs turned into a thunderous sound. Seven lightning bolts, one white, one red, one orange, and so on for the entire rainbow of glowing colors, shot down from the storm clouds.

Scootaloo yelped as it seemed the green bolt just missed her. She was not the only one. Discord's tail curled in at the sight of a close red bolt. Rarity and Applejack saw a blue bolt shoot down right between where they stood. Even so, each bolt conveniently missed striking any of the living creatures directly.

"Formidable Lightning!" Rainbow Dash shrieked in joy.

The Awesomev fledglings collectively took a moment to look away from their master and at each other into huge smiles. 

"Oh Master gets to use her alternative pack name idea for her power," Fluttershy said happily.

Rainbow Dash descended as the dark storm clouds faded. Her fledglings closed in for a huge group hug. After that, the Crusaders did their own separate hug with her. Once they were done, Discord soon stood to approach, offered his lion paw for Rainbow Dash to bump, which she did. Then he went ahead and hugged her too. Rainbow hugged him back. Spike did the same thing as Discord, bumping claw to hoof, and then they hugged each other.

Discord chose to leave at that time and bade farewell to everyone, casting away the extra chairs, tables, and such, with him.

"Wow Spike," Twilight said. "Maybe you didn't get every detail exactly right, but still. It was definitely lightning, and it did involve a rainbow after all. Broadly speaking, you guessed quite well."

Spike blushed. "Heh, I guess I did."

Ember lightly glided toward Rainbow Dash but merely bowed her head, honored to be a witness to the special moment for the group. "That was awesome," she said quietly with a small smile.

"More like THAT WAS SO AWESOME!" Scootaloo declared happily, fluttering up in place for a moment. Her two filly friends giggled.

Ember chuckled. "Yes, of course. Any other business today, Master Rainbow Dash?"

"A little practice if I may?" Rainbow asked. She held out a hoof gesturing to the open rocky terrain of the Dragonlands.

Ember nodded.

Rainbow's friends took a few steps back. The master mev opened her mouth, and thunder blurted out. The seven different lightning bolts appeared again with the same effect despite the lacking storm clouds.

"Is it always like that?" Scootaloo asked.

"Let's find out," Rainbow said. She tried again and was able to do a single white lightning bolt that was not as formidable as her first two uses of the magic. It struck at a further distance from the gathered friends. She tried again, and she could do three different red lightning bolts.

Rainbow turned away from everyone. "All of you stay put," she ordered. She made her thunder sound, and the seven bolts shot out straight from her mouth. She chuckled mischievously.

"Wow," Sweetie Belle uttered for everyone.

"Is seven the limit?" Twilight asked her master.

"Most of the time," Rainbow replied. "I might get a boost near and on my lacking flexchange night and on Nightmare Night itself."

"Oh, maybe the rest of us get a boost on Nightmare Night as well?" Starlight asked.

"We'll find out soon," Applejack said with a smile.

"Nightmare Night is going to be the best funnest night party ever!" Pinkie Pie declared.

Rainbow Dash looked to Ember. "We are now finished with our business here, Dragon Lord Ember. Thank you very much for your assistance and hospitality."

"Don't sweat it," Ember replied. "What's Nightmare Night anyway?"

Twilight Sparkle gave her a brief breakdown.

"Can I come to the show?" Ember asked hopefully.

"Of course," Spike said, looking guiltily to Rainbow after saying so. The master mev nodded quietly with full approval.

With that, further arrangements were made before Rainbow Dash assigned Starlight with teleporting everyone in their group back to Ponyville.  Twilight had done plenty of going back and forth already, and it made sense given Starlight's rank as Primeva.

They were ready to depart the Dragonlands.
> Chapter 65 - Captivating Prizes
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







With a magical flash of light, Starlight Glimmer teleported the large group of Team Awesome Plus into the throne room of Twilight's castle. Without a word, everyone understood they wanted to have a brief meeting. The mevs themselves immediately went to sit in their thrones. Spike followed suit. The Crusaders were not told to leave, so each one stood near their older sister, ready to go if dismissed.

"If we're inviting Dragon Lord Ember, perhaps we should send out other invitations beyond Equestria too," Twilight Sparkle suggested to Rainbow Dash.

"Are you thinking just those who know or all of the representatives for the other kingdoms?" Rainbow asked.

"Oh goodness, I'm not sure," Twilight realized.

"The ones who don't know yet are Thorax and Prince Rutherford," Spike noted to everyone. "Thorax at least knows Discord, so it shouldn't be too much of a stretch for him to think it's Discord's magic conducting the show."

"We could just tell them early," Pinkie Pie suggested. "Tell them in the invitation itself or combine it with Princess Celestia's letter. We're heading to both places in the near future anyway. They'll know to expect us."

"I think that's a good idea actually," Starlight echoed and turned toward Rainbow.

It all sounded well and good to the master mev. She had no objections. "Make it happen, Team Awesome," she ordered.

The mevs with the ideas smiled, ready to do exactly that.

"How's the song going, Rhezenda?" Twilight asked Sweetie Belle.

The young unicorn smiled and pulled out a scroll that she magically passed to Twilight. "I wrote it as if Rarity and Master received their power since we planned to use chaos magic even if they didn't get it today."

Twilight read the song with a smile and made copies to pass to all of the other Awesomevs.

"What do you think?" the Rhezenda asked everyone.

"It's wonderful darling," Rarity said first.

"Mighty fine job," Applejack concurred. 

Similar sentiment ran through the entire group.

Rainbow Dash studied intently and made a few suggestions for her portion. Sweetie Belle happily noted them down. "Looking really awesome already," Rainbow assured her despite the requested changes.

"We could rehearse at the farm tomorrow," Applejack told everyone.

They all nodded and chattered in full agreement. Fluttershy offered to ask Discord to be there, which of course, the group was glad to accept.





At Sweet Apple Acres, Team Awesome and their many willing, helping friends gathered. Such friends included Spike, Discord, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Big Mac and Granny Smith were near not to help so much as to watch.

"Basically, we're moving down the line," Twilight reminded everyone. "Rhezenda, Master and Blitz, each of us in order, then Master and Blitz again, then all of us together, then Rhezenda to close it out. That's the song, mostly."

Everyone nodded.

"After the song, we offer the snare ride and the games," Pinkie Pie interjected.

They all nodded again.

Twilight went on, "Sweetie Belle will be playing her part as the announcer and to be our representative on the ground level during the games. Scootaloo will guard Master. Apple Bloom has offered to be on hoof for anything else we didn't think of, a sort of courier or gopher. And we have accepted."

Some cheerful murmurs and thanks were uttered amidst smiles.

"Master, I do have an interesting piece of news for you," Twilight announced, "and it is something we should have everyone present for."

"Oh, what is it?" Rainbow asked.

"Hold on. I'll be right back," Twilight said, and she teleported away. When she returned, Princess Cadance was with her.

"Cadance," Rainbow greeted with a friendly smile.

"Master Rainbow Dash, it is a pleasure to see you again," Cadance greeted back, and she smiled too.

"How may I be of service?" the master mev asked with a respectful bow of her head.

"Twilight has invited me to your show on Thursday night, and I had an idea," Cadance began.

Rainbow raised an interested eyebrow at that.

"Because your show happens on a Thursday, that means that a weekend soon follows. I can take a small vacation here in Ponyville to visit my sister-in-law with my family," Cadance explained. "Shining Armor will take care of Flurry Heart and have her away from the show as Twilight has suggested to us, given the nature of the performance. There are some possibly scary parts for the very young?"

"Right," Rainbow confirmed.

"Because I would be here to spend time with Twilight and on a small vacation, that would mean there are three days I can manage without my magic," Cadance told her.

"Oh, you are ready?" Rainbow asked hopefully.

"Yes. And if you don't think it's too..." the pink alicorn cleared her throat, not entirely sure of what word to use. "...bad, I am actually willing to let you eat my magic during your show as part of your performance."

At first, there was only stunned silence. 

"Did my ears deceive me?" asked Discord. "You're not only willing to have your magic eaten but done so publicly?"

Cadance nodded. "I am. It is a very special night for both this group as a pack of mevs and for everyone else attending the show."

"Well, I suppose if she's willing..." Applejack quietly murmured though she sounded unsure.

"Unexpected but not bad," Pinkie Pie noted with similar uncertainty.

"Favorable, really," Rarity thought.

"It could be fun," Fluttershy quietly noted.

Sweetie Belle tugged at Rainbow's forelimb. The master of Team Awesome craned her neck down to listen. "It's like from that book. I don't know if she read the same one, but there are vampires that eat a victim live on stage. The audience assume it is part of the performance," the Rhezenda explained. She spoke loudly enough to be overheard.

"You are correct," Cadance told them both. "I have read a vampire novel where that happens. Those circumstances were more dire and frightening in the book for the victim."

Rainbow smiled wickedly. "You tell me Rhezenda. As my link to the outsiders, what do you advise?"

Sweetie Belle grew thoughtful. "Is it going to be bad for you because of so many watching?" she asked.

"No, this is different," Rainbow said. "It's a show. It's meant to be seen. My usual meals are not like that."

"Then I advise you accept. You have her permission, and it will sell the idea of what you actually are. We can work it in at the start of the song. As we move on, the audience will move on too. They'll see Team Awesome is still there to perform for them and not eat their magic beyond what we're already saying about their fear during the whole thing."

Rainbow Dash addressed Cadance. "I don't think it will be too 'bad' at all, and I accept your proposal."

The team went on to work in the necessary changes.





On Monday late afternoon, the Crusaders walked alongside each other in the direction of Rainbow Dash's house.

"Do you think something's wrong?" Apple Bloom asked.

The group had decided to just show up and hope she was around rather than taking the time to get a hot air balloon or other transportation.

"I don't know," Sweetie Belle said, "but she was supposed to pick me up like usual, and she didn't. It just feels like this is the place to check. Maybe she got sidetracked."

Scootaloo fluttered up as much as she could, which she noticed was more than usual, but it still would not be enough to reach the front door.

Sweetie Belle was about to say they could try the platform elevator, but something made her pause.

To their surprise, Blitz slithered down.

"Rhezenda," Blitz said.

Given how rarely Sweetie Belle was allowed to hear the magical pet speak, and that neither Scootaloo nor Apple Bloom had ever had the privilege, the Crusaders were all the more alarmed. "Blitz! Oh my goodness, is something wrong?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"I am not sure," Blitz admitted. She turned solid. "Get on," she ordered the fillies.

The three looked at each other and got on. Blitz lifted them toward the door. Sweetie Belle at least had a key so unlocked the house for herself and her friends to enter.

They did not have to venture far to see a pained vampire sitting and cringing on the floor. She sat hunched over on her haunches with her bat wings out. Those wings and her ears were drooping.

"Master!" the trio anxiously said together as they saw Rainbow Dash.

Tank bravely stood near her with a worried expression on his face.

Blitz returned to her quiet, ghostly form and followed the fillies.

"What happened?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"My wings transformed all on their own, and they won't change back," an out of breath Rainbow Dash told them. "My fangs are out early and won't pull back in either. My eyes keep staying red. My body feels...weird. Like I'm about to transform, even though I already am...and I can't...yet...and not...the same. It's so slow..."

"Is it from the berserk on Saturday?" Sweetie Belle wondered.

"Maybe?" said an uneasy master mev.

Her tail flicked, and she clutched at her head, where her forelock met her ears.

"She's not going berserk again, is she?" Apple Bloom asked with evident fear.

"No," Scootaloo assured them with a new sense of confidence. "She's not."

"Do you know what this is?" Sweetie Belle asked in surprise at her friend's calmness.

"Not exactly," Scootaloo admitted, "but..." She swallowed nervously. "I-I think..." She hesitated. "I-I think she's turning into a dragon."

"What?!" the other two exclaimed.

"Oh," said the pained Rainbow Dash. "That would make sense. It must be my prize for winning the game. I'm sure Torch wanted it to be a surprise."

"But don't your transformations like...not hurt?" Apple Bloom asked, still worried, and she gestured her yellow forelimb at Rainbow's body in general.

"Heh heh, it's a gift from dragons. It can't be an easy one to give or receive," Rainbow informed her. "It probably hurts because it's my first transformation and takes more time. When I was first zapped into being a master mev, rest assured, that hurt too. I'm glad for it, but it did hurt."

Blitz circled around Rainbow Dash in a cheered up fashion.

"Yeah, you can watch," Rainbow told her.

Tank reached out to touch one of her hind legs.

"Hey buddy, it's just another master mev thing. I'm going to look even more different real soon. Think you can handle it? You don't have to be here," Rainbow noted.

Tank smiled gently and nuzzled the leg. He gave her a little nod. He would be staying.

Sweetie Belle picked him up and pulled him away to give Rainbow space to transform. Scootaloo gently nudged Apple Bloom further back as well.

Finally, the new transformation took its next step.

Two dark blue horns grew out from Rainbow Dash's head, right where she had been clutching a moment ago, between her forelock and her ears. 

Her rainbow tail solidified into one more reptilian and sky blue to match her coat. Darker blue spines grew along it, and a rainbow-colored set of fins that took shape at the tail's end.  They flared out to two on each side, unlike Blitz's three, and ending in a longer tip. The shape was otherwise quite similar to the ghostly snake. The rest of the master mev's coat soon followed to become more like a dragon's scales.

Her rainbow mane stayed as it was. 

The hooves took the shape of clawed hands and feet. The claws themselves matched the same color as her new tail spines.

The mev's underbelly changed color as well though this blue more closely matched the blue of her own mane.

Her wings grew ever so slightly as well.

A small circle of wind whirred around her and dissipated, as if to signify the process was done.

"Wow, Scootaloo, you were right," Apple Bloom noted. "How could you tell?"

"I don't know," Scootaloo confessed. "Just her body language. The thing about transforming. We are kinda sisters, and now we've got the mev bond too so maybe that."

"Does it still hurt?" Sweetie Belle asked with evident concern.

Rainbow Dash wiggled her whole body and lifted up to happily test flying in the dragon form. "No, it's fine now," she told them all.











The crusaders breathed a combined sigh of relief, and Blitz slithered around the master mev before dismissing herself. Tank's whole body seemed to sigh in relief as well.

The master mev landed and transformed to her usual pegasus form, then dragon, then pegasus, then dragon yet again.

"Does this mean you can be a dragon whenever you want?" Scootaloo asked with a huge smile.

"Eventually," Rainbow said, studying her new claws. "Like Torch said, dragons age differently than ponies, so the timeline for this thing will be different too. It took longer to become a dragon than did it to become a master mev."

She diverted her attention from her claws and back to her younger sister.  "Today's my day for the pack because I don't have a flexchange tonight. I can probably do it only on Mondays at first. With enough time, it'll expand to the whole week. I do like it, it's really cool, but I don't think it serves any purpose beyond that," she admitted with a nervous smile.

"Another perk." Sweetie Belle smiled too. "Should we add it to the show?" she openly wondered.

"Nah," Rainbow said. She flicked her new longer tail and examined it. "We have plenty ready, and I like what we've got going. Let's focus on Team Awesome as mevs with bat pony forms still. Dragons are actually not that big of a deal around here with Spike and Smolder living in Ponyville-"

"But you're the dragon!" Scootaloo pointed out with fervor. "That is a big deal."

Rainbow blushed but continued, "And Dragon Lord Ember stops by every now and then. It's not like I'm one of those big older dragons in this form."

"...eventually though?" Scootaloo pried.

The mev shrugged. "I think the dragons have to be pretty old to get that big, far more than a pony's life expectancy."

"Is your life expectancy the same as a pony's or a dragon's or you know...forever?" Apple Bloom timidly asked.

"You got me," Rainbow confessed with obvious uncertainty. "I'm not your usual type of vampire. I'll make the best of it however much time I'm given. I like being a master mev a lot after all."

"Right," Apple Bloom agreed with a smile.

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom soon took their leave. Tank was returned to his room. Rainbow Dash and Sweetie Belle set to work on preparing for the next pack meeting.

"Dragonlands, explain about the berserk," Rainbow said aloud, staring at the notes. "Bring Jasper, show them to everyone. Talk about our nature element gifts. Down the line. For my turn, inform everyone I showed the idol of Boreas to Gallus and how that visit went. Bring up the dragon form I just got then."

Sweetie Belle nodded. "Where to next? The Changeling Kingdom or Yakyakistan?"

"Neither," Rainbow told her.

The unicorn filly blinked at that. "Oh, are we taking a break?"

"Yes and no. I'm doing something very different this weekend. You can only go with me for the one that's here in Ponyville. We are to bring Amara and help Twilight host Princess Cadance during her visit on Saturday," Rainbow explained.

"Where can't I go with you?" Sweetie Belle wished to know.

"Tartarus," Rainbow answered. 

The filly's eyes went wide. "What's there for you?" she nearly whispered.

"Not a what but a who. I will finally be ready to see Tirek as my new self," Rainbow explained.
> Chapter 66 - Meeting In Between
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Team Awesome gathered for their weekly pack meeting on Tuesday before Nightmare Night. Morale was high from the events of Saturday in the Dragonlands and with the upcoming Nightmare Night show.

"Alright, let's get started," Rainbow Dash announced. "Everyone here, even those of you not mevs, was there on Saturday, but we will mention it at least soon. Before we get to that, I will tell everyone what happened before our gifts. The former Dragon Lord, Torch, said to receive dragon magic was going to be more than I just ask to eat it, and they give it to me."

"Oh, so how did you get it then?" Fluttershy wished to know.

"Everyone who wasn't there, I need you to stay calm. Got it?" Rainbow said.

They nodded, except Discord, who squinted in anticipation. He sat perched on a magic-made tree as usual.

Rainbow caught the look he was giving her. "I mean it," she told him sternly.

He nodded with a stern expression of his own but turned his tree into a throne to sit between Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie.

"To get to the dragon magic, they told me it would work as a game. A game!" she emphasized. "Rarity ate the magic from the Bloodstone Scepter, and I ate it from her. That particular object and its magic intentionally triggered a berserk."

The group unaware of this news gasped. Discord's jaw dropped with the bottom of his chin landing on the nearby table, leaving him speechless.

"It was a short berserk," Rainbow Dash explained further. "Fourteen minutes because we have a full pack. It gave two minutes per each member. The older dragons knew the risk and willingly joined the game. We took this chance to learn more about a berserk as well. For instance, we learned that objects that can cause a berserk on me can only do so once."

Discord's jaw lifted, and he recomposed himself to a calmer state. He cleared his throat with a professional air and inquired, "And just what else did you learn?"

Twilight Sparkle relayed the information the team discussed while Rainbow Dash was asleep.

Discord stroked his beard as if to nod in approval when all was said and done.

"The things we do with this information can't be said in front of Master," Twilight informed him.

"Of course," he agreed.

"It is concerning about the fact that we now know actual objects can cause a berserk," Starlight Glimmer noted.

"It can't be that many," Twilight said.

"I agree," Rainbow told them. "Of all the magic objects we've encountered since you moved to Ponyville, I can only think of one that might cause a berserk."

Everyone stared at her in a horrified silence.

"And what object would that be, Master?" Starlight eventually inquired.

Rainbow Dash looked at all of them looking at her, as if surprised they didn't think of it themselves. "The Alicorn Amulet," she said.

They waited without speaking for her to explain more.

The master mev took her cue. "It turned Trixie's magic aura red like mine is. Her eyes turned the same red as my vampire red eyes when she cast magic wearing it. It corrupted her. It can't corrupt me the same way as a pony who wears it, but a berserk from eating its magic doesn't seem far-fetched for an alternative."

"What should we do?" asked a worried Fluttershy.

"Twilight, you're still keeping it safe, right?" Rainbow asked.

Twilight nodded.

"Is there a way to destroy it or something?" Applejack asked everyone.

Discord answered before both Twilight and Starlight could. "The problem with that is how easily that can make things worse. The magic could find another host if you tried to break it apart physically whereas the berserk would only happen the one time.

"You could send the amulet to limbo or another dimension, but you run the risk of other unknowns or creatures finding it. We all know you retrieved the Pillars from limbo and that the sirens wreaked havoc in that other dimension. 

"As risky as it is, it is still safest keep it here and in Twilight's care. To be honest, I'd suggest you do nothing else. Master won't try eating from it, will you?"

"Discord, if I ever find out I need to eat from it to do my job, I will," Rainbow told him. "I don't see how unless I actually need to trigger a berserk immediately for some reason or find out my guess is wrong. But to address your main concern, I won't eat magic from it unless I feel I have a really, really good reason."

"I suppose that will have to suffice," the draconequis conceded. He couldn't fathom a scenario where Rainbow Dash would feel it necessary himself.

The Primeva and Rexa of the pack looked at each other and nodded. "We think that is best as well," Starlight informed the group.

The others accepted the advice from the magic experts at the table.

"Moving on," Rainbow Dash noted, "we made a similar copy of the scepter that we did with the Crystal Heart. Rhezenda," she addressed Sweetie Belle.

Sweetie Belle pulled out the case from her saddlebag and placed it on the table.

"Everyone, this is Jasper, as named by Dragon Lord Ember. This one does not have a gender, so we are to use the words 'it' and 'they' when referring to it," Rainbow explained.

"And Jasper is what gave Rarity earth," Pinkie said with a proud smile. "Right?"

"Right," Rarity said happily. "I was able to show you all what I could do with it on Sunday, and I know I'll have more to work with since Nightmare Night is on my own flexchange night this Thursday."

"And of course you all saw my lightning since we were all there," Rainbow Dash boasted with a smile.

The fledglings all cheered and clapped their hooves.

"Master," Sweetie Belle said.

"Yes, Rhezenda?" Rainbow asked.

"Who or what is the lightning gift actually from?" the filly wished to know. "Penny is from the mirror pool. Applejack's fire is from Amara and Spike. Starlight's darkness is from the Abysmal Abyss. Twilight's light is from the Staff of Sacanas. Fluttershy's wind is from the idol of Boreas. Rarity's earth is from Jasper and the rocks in the earth in the Dragonlands. Is your lightning from the sky of the Dragonlands?"

"Not exactly," Rainbow answered her. "More like the sky was the transmitter. I could not get it until every fledgling had a natural element power. The sky of the Dragonlands sent the bolts into me that lit up the glows in the others. Then they sent the rainbow in to make the gift whole. 

"If you want to name a single source, it's the same one it's always been. The source of my power altogether, the land of this world. It just wanted the magical process of everything that happened before, which makes sense. That day felt as special as it did because of what we all did together as mevs and friends- as Team Awesome."

The other mevs smiled sweetly at that.

"And maybe it's not every element at once, but lightning has some cool properties that link it to nearly every one of the natural elements we've been given in some way. It shoots from the sky and into the ground, connecting it to the earth that way."

"On more rare occasions, it can go from the ground up too – in zones not managed by pegasi," Twilight Sparkle added.

"Nice," Rainbow replied. She smiled and continued, "It is light against the dark in a storm or at night. It can cause fire. Since it usually shoots out from clouds, it connects to water that way. You can't really connect it with wind, but it has a link to all the others in some fashion."

"I suppose if you want to link it to wind," Spike offered, "lightning tends to happen during storms where it might be windy, so the wind touches it that way."

"That's kind of stretching it, but noted anyway," Rainbow said with another smile and gestured at him, then looking to Sweetie Belle.

"Oh neat," Sweetie Belle said as she noted that down.

"Up next is Nightmare Night, but we have most of what we need ready," Rainbow announced.

"We could just rehearse the song at least," Pinkie Pie suggested.

They agreed and did exactly that with Discord's willing help to make a similar stage as they planned.

Once their rehearsal was done and other last minute notes and preparations made, that was considered the end of their Nightmare Night discussion for the meeting. They were ready for the next part.

"Down the line we go," Rainbow Dash said. "Primeva, number one."

"Nothing new to report here," Starlight told everyone.

"Segunda, number two."

"We're still pretty sure I'll have my full bat pony form, no chaos magic necessary, tomorrow night," Fluttershy offered with a smile. "The roc recovered on Friday, as expected, and returned to his full self before leaving my care. That's all from me."

"Mitria, number three."

"We discussed it all through our talk of the Dragonlands. We've been so busy with Nightmare Night and such, your crown's name is still pending. Rest assured, I haven't forgotten. Nothing else from me to report this week," Rarity said.

"No rush, and I look forward to it," Rainbow replied. "Fyra, number four."

"I was there at the Dragonlands, but the only thing remotely resembling news is that I do think Apple Bloom is considering offering her servitude for Master once she finds the right calling," Applejack said.

"Oh, is that why she helped out the way she did on Sunday?" Starlight Glimmer wondered. "Testing the waters to see if that's it?"

"My sister just likes to help ponies and spend time with her friends period," Applejack said. "So I can't say if it was that. I mean, she's made it no secret to you, Master, that she's tempted."

"Right," Rainbow agreed.

"Will you accept?" Fluttershy asked.

"Very likely, but it is important to me that Apple Bloom know what she wants out of such a mev bond, even if it is as simple as wanting to be with her friends more and specific to the work of Team Awesome," Rainbow answered her. "Scootaloo's was as simple as wanting to spend more time with me, and it's worked out great for our first mission where she was my bodyguard. Apple Bloom may even choose the same role. I joked with them that they would be like my Secret Service that way."

The others laughed.

"Nothing else to report from me," Applejack concluded.

"Quintaza and Pentaza, number five."

Pinkie Pie whistled out her water-based assistant.

"Hello everyone," Penny greeted the others with a bow. "If I may be so bold, Master, I was hoping I could see a replay of what I missed for your lightning power," she requested.

"I'm happy to oblige," Rainbow Dash told her and used her magic to project the memory on the table.

"Wow!" Penny's eyes sparkled with a huge smile. "Thankies!" she declared. Satisfied, she bade the group farewell and returned into the reserve.

"That covers my part of things," Pinkie Pie said.

"Rexa, number six."

"Like Pinkie Pie, we covered everything I would wish to discuss from Nightmare Night. I'll go ahead and remind everyone that Cadance will be here on Thursday. Shining Armor has decided to wait and simply bring Flurry Heart with him on Friday. We should bring Amara here to visit with them, maybe even liven her up to speak to Cadance if our mev magic considers it worthwhile enough to cast," Twilight said. "You should be the one to cast it if we do," she told the master mev.

Rainbow Dash nodded.

"That's all from me," Twilight told everyone.

"Your turn, Master," Sweetie Belle said.

"Very well. I showed Grant to Gallus and allowed Gallus to have his friends there. I gave them extremely strict instructions that it was a secret. Yona and Sandbar were not present, but they were no doubt informed," Rainbow Dash said.

"Is it dangerous to tell so many?" Fluttershy timidly asked.

"It can be, but I think it's a risk worth taking. It will strengthen their own group's friendship bonds," Rainbow explained.

"Oh, okay," the canary-colored pegasus smiled at that.

"You all saw my lightning, but believe it or not, I got another gift from our time at the Dragonlands," Rainbow Dash announced.

"Really?" asked an interested Rarity. "Do tell us, Master," she nearly squealed.

"Yeah, tell us!" Pinkie urged.

"I will show you," Rainbow offered. She lifted into the air from her throne transformed into her dragon form on the spot.

"A dragon form?" asked a pleased and fascinated Starlight.

"I can show it to you all because we're at a pack meeting, but it's not something I can do whenever. Monday nights only for now, and special times like this with all of you," the master mev explained. "I am assuming it is my prize for winning the Challenge the Master game."

"Did it hurt to get?" Fluttershy asked in concern.

"It did," Rainbow admitted, "but I had Blitz, Tank, and actually all three Crusaders with me to support me while it happened yesterday."

"Oh, that's a relief," Applejack said. "My little sister being there and helping you out still," she added with a smile.

"Yes, she was," Rainbow said and returned to her fanged pegasus form. She descended back into her seat. "This weekend, I will be here to help host Princess Cadance and rest up from Nightmare Night on Saturday. Fluttershy, are you free Sunday?"

"Yes, Master," Fluttershy said, suspecting she knew why.

Rainbow Dash took a deep breath. "Sunday, I want to visit Tirek in Tartarus," she announced to everyone else.

Discord spoke before the rest. "Are you sure?"

"It's an instinct I can't ignore. I'm ready to announce the change in myself to him. I assume I am ready because we have our natural elements, and Nightmare Night will have passed," she explained.

The draconequis stroked his beard in thought and cleared his throat. "I want to go with you, Master, out of both curiosity and to provide protection given that he is dangerous. Even if he can't eat your magic, he can have a way with words as he did with me."

"I might have to protect you instead," Rainbow reminded him.

"We are friends. That's what we do," he reminded her back with a playful smile.

"Very well. You may join us. Primeva, I want you to come too," Rainbow said. "I will not have Sweetie Belle or Scootaloo with me for this visit. I think Tartarus is not a proper place for them even with magical adult forms and mev bonds."

"I can and will be with you," Starlight assured her.

"Twilight," Rainbow said.

The alicorn princess nodded. "I will get with Princess Celestia and Princess Luna to make the necessary arrangements."

"Do be careful Master," Applejack said worriedly. "I know you got protection, but it's not like I've ever actually seen anyone or anything try to drain your magic since we all transformed."

"Of course she'll be careful," Fluttershy said. "That's why she's having friends go with her."

"Right," Applejack said with a hopeful smile.

"Anything else Rhezenda?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"No. We didn't do anything for Project Mercury except to show the idol of Boreas to Gallus," Sweetie Belle said.

"Oh, something else I should tell you all about that little meeting," Rainbow realized. "The idol lit up on the sphere when Gallus addressed it as 'Grant' to indicate Grant heard Gallus."

"That's amazing!" said a very interested Twilight Sparkle.

"Before we end this meeting," Starlight said, "I was wondering Master if our magic is willing to let us be bat ponies for a brief amount of time like last week?"

"All in favor?" the master mev asked with a sly smile.

Every Awesomev fledgling smiled and raised their right forelimb. "Aye!" they all said.

Rainbow's eyes turned to their red-on-yellow, and she transformed the fledglings into bat ponies instantly. They enjoyed flying about the room with their altered forms for two minutes.

"That's enough," the master told them so as to not accidentally drop anypony mid-flight.

The fledglings returned to their seats and were transformed back into their usual pony forms.

"Awesomevs dismissed. Lessons up next for me," Rainbow Dash said.

With that, most of the others left. The lessons were mostly practice to make sure Rainbow understood everything she would need to do for her part in the show on Nightmare Night.
> Chapter 67 - The Night Before Nightmare Night
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







"Oh, I'm so super excited for tomorrow!" Pinkie Pie hopped up and down in place. Every mev was gathered in the staff room for the school though they were sparing a few moments to talk of their upcoming show. "Look! Look everymev!"

The enthusiastic pink earth pony blew several bubbles out of her mouth, commanding them to close in a circle around her head, before widening larger, and eventually popping away.

The others laughed in amusement.

"What a cute little trick," Rarity noted.

"I get to really call on water that isn't just Penny. A Nightmare Night bonus and extra confirmation that I am indeed the Fledgling of Water." Pinkie folded her forelimbs and gave a knowing nod at her conclusion.

"Oh how wonderful!" Rarity clapped her hooves together in delight, soon calling forth some of her own earth power to toy with it.

The other mevs followed suit.

"I'm betting this here lasts us until the end of Friday," Applejack told the others. No mev disagreed.

"This will give each of us enough time to rehearse the part we've been doing with Master's and Discord's help," Starlight suggested to them.

"I think that's an excellent idea," Twilight replied.

The afternoon was spent at Sweet Apple Acres to finalize such matters.





Later, when it finally was the night before Nightmare Night, Fluttershy contentedly glided into the open door of Rainbow Dash's cloud house. She found her master sitting on her haunches on the couch in pegasus form instead of with her usual bat wings for a flexchange. The canary-colored pegasus looked at Rainbow with quiet curiosity.

The master mev smiled at her and went on to explain, "I have some ideas on how to make this night special for you. Waiting to take on a bat form seemed like a nice little touch for the start."

At that, Fluttershy blushed. "I appreciate that, Master. What are your other ideas?"

Rainbow blushed back, but she answered, "Dance a waltz with me. When we are done, that is when I will bite you." She smiled enough to show her fangs. "I've seen it in films."

Fluttershy giggled. "I've seen it too. Do you have...proper attire? I do say you would making a dashing vampire in a suit." She winked.

Still blushing, Rainbow Dash nodded. "Mitria was kind enough to arrange that for me."

Her magenta eyes shimmered to red, casting a basic unicorn spell for clothing she had learned, and Fluttershy soon found herself in a familiar black dress from a past Nightmare Night. It was definitely suitable for a vampire, she silently agreed.

As for Rainbow Dash, she wore a black suit, white-collar shirt, red tie, and red cufflinks. Fluttershy could easily picture Rainbow's fitting time at Carousel Boutique while Rarity tried to get the outfit just so.

The second fledgling was very pleased with the outcome. She noticed Rainbow's eyes remained red to match the chosen suit. "I like it very much. How about...you bring out your bat wings now. I won't mind. It will feel like a proper transformation, Master."

"As you wish," Rainbow replied with a fanged grin. Her wings transformed immediately. She reached over to the side of her couch to pull out a ready record player. She carried it to the open foyer of her home that offered enough space for the dance.

At last, the two mevs felt ready, and Rainbow turned on the music. They danced with their hooves following one line, then another, halting, and spinning as they knew appropriate. The song concluded, and Rainbow dipped Fluttershy with her head flung low and back, exposing her neck. The master vampire leaned forward and bit in as the two gently dropped to the floor.

Upon Fluttershy's turn to bite back, she rolled them over to switch positions and sunk her teeth in. Her wings spread wide and became their bat form as she lifted her head to display the transformation. Her turquoise eyes turned a pinkish red. Her fangs simply remained. She let her ears become more batty. Feeling the time was right, she bent down and kissed Rainbow Dash on the lips. 

Rainbow rolled them over to change positions yet again. They kissed at each other's necks a little longer until Rainbow stood upright and offered a hoof to help Fluttershy stand as well. "You look beautiful this night, Segunda Fluttershy," the master told her fledgling.

The bat pony Fluttershy in a black dress blushed with a small, bashful smile. "Thank you, Master. You look rather 'dashing' yourself, as I knew you would."

Rainbow blushed as well and stroked the back of her multi-colored mane. "Thank you, my…" she paused and finally said it, "love." Her still red eyes darted over as she carefully watched Fluttershy's reaction.

Fluttershy only smiled sweetly with a subtle blush. "You must say that to all the girls," she teased.

Rainbow chuckled. "I just might in due time. I love you all so much. The master takes care of her fledglings after all."

Fluttershy put a hoof up to Rainbow's chin for a tiny lift, maintaining her sweet smile. "Indeed. This fledgling is very happy tonight." She put the hoof back down to touch the floor.

"Then your master is most pleased as well. Did this power complete as expected for you?" Rainbow asked.

Fluttershy nodded and showed how easily she could transform between pegasus and bat pony a couple of times.

Not long after, the two removed their dancing clothes. As always, they enjoyed each other's company for a short time after the flexchange but did not intend to spend all night together. Each had more they wished to do before the sun rose.

"I can escort you home," Rainbow offered. "We'll fly together with our bat wings!"

"Oh, that sounds lovely," Fluttershy said, fluttering up in place. She was more than happy to approve yet another idea to make her night special.

Soon after, the two mevs glided out from the house and felt the crisp night air through their wings. They enjoyed the starry backdrop together.

When they reached Fluttershy's cottage, they gave each other yet another small kiss. Fluttershy's animal friends had been around for her practice sessions and explanations, so they knew to expect a bat pony to return home this particular night.

"Good night, Segunda," Rainbow said.

"Good night, Master," Fluttershy replied.

As she lifted back into the air, Rainbow Dash soon reverted to a fanged pegasus with magenta eyes. She flew home to grab a saddlebag and placed the idol of Boreas inside it. She chose not to bring any of the other items from the students' homelands, given they were supposed to be under her protection and not widely known to be in her possession. Ember might have told Smolder through some means about the events of Saturday, but Rainbow could not assume that to be the case. With that, the master mev flew to the school, sensing the students hoped they would see her before the actual show the following night. It was a good idea, after all, to prepare them for what to expect beyond what was listed on the fliers Rarity made.





Rainbow Dash was not alone in the school gym for long, as all six of the known student group appeared.

Ocellus stood in front of the others smiling. She politely bowed and said, "Master Rainbow Dash."

The other students merely bowed without saying the title.

"Kingdom Sixers," Rainbow said with a smile, bowing in mid-air.

The students looked at each other a little puzzled and then chuckled.

"Is that your name for our group?" Silverstream asked.

"It is," Rainbow confirmed, "unless you have a name I don't know about."

"We usually just go by Student Six," Gallus admitted, scratching at his head. "But then, that could mean any six students I guess," he conceded.

"I will use it if that is your preference nonetheless," the master mev offered.

The students nodded.

"We know it's kind of generic," Smolder said, "but it's what we like."

"Student Six it is then," Rainbow declared.

She swooped over to her saddlebag and pulled out the idol of Boreas.

"Grant!" Gallus exclaimed and flew to follow her, so he could see and touch the object of interest.

Gallus' friends followed more slowly, giving room to Yona and Sandbar especially since they had not seen the idol yet. Grant gave an obligatory glow to show his connection to the young griffon. The students chattered briefly before Gallus passed the idol back to Rainbow Dash.

"Have you figured out yet if we can touch it the way Gallus does?" Ocellus asked.

"Well," Rainbow considered. "What do you think?" she asked Gallus.

Gallus innocently pointed at himself. "Why me?" he wondered.

"You're the closest griffon I've got to asking permission," she explained.

"Oh," he realized. "Sure," he approved with a casual shrug.

"Be more sure than that," Rainbow instructed him. "We're dealing with a magical item here."

Gallus blushed and scratched at the back of his head. He took a deep breath. "Yes, I approve," he noted more firmly with an air of authority.

Each student took a turn of touching the idol as Gallus did. They sensed no connection but no rejection either, which the master mev told them was a good sign.

At last, Rainbow put the object away.

Smolder saw that as her cue. "How did your trip to the Dragonlands go, Master Rainbow Dash?"

"Awesome," Rainbow answered plainly.

"Can Master Dash not tell us more?" Yona wondered.

Rainbow sighed. "I suppose if you have the book, it's no secret that I can go berserk."

The students glanced at each other and looked at her. They gave small, solemn nods.

"And you went berserk in the Dragonlands?" Smolder asked to be sure.

"Not for an entire night. It was only short enough to play a game with the bigger dragons," Rainbow told her.

Smolder lifted from the ground and hovered in place with her flapping orange wings in excitement. "You played with my elders? Really? Who won? How did the game work?"

"I will not tell you the trigger, but I will tell you everything about the game after that point," the mev offered. She went on to explain the rules, that she was imprisoned for the first part, that she had temporary super strength, and that she could still think well enough to pursue her desired food. She explained how she won by biting every adult dragon participant and about the young dragons' encounter with the fear snare the Student Six themselves had experienced.

The young students enjoyed the tale. They were familiar enough with their professors' flair for story-telling of her exploits during class.

Once all was said and done, Smolder asked further, "What else happened?"

"That you can tell us," she quickly added.

At that Rainbow Dash smiled mischievously. Her eyes shimmered red, and the students were surprised to see a very large bubble of silence cast inside the gym. Ocellus explained to the others what it was.

"What's it for? Are we about to get really loud?" Silverstream wondered.

"Loud enough to warrant one," Rainbow warned her. The devilish smirk remained.

They waited with anticipation and saw the master mev open her mouth. To their, surprise, they heard thunder and at a safe distance, they saw the seven lightning bolts shoot down from the gym's ceiling and harmlessly land to not strike at anyone or anything. It still gave the group a collective jolt.

"Whoa!" Silverstream yelped.

Yona, Ocellus, and Gallus screamed.

"I got that," Rainbow told Smolder with a proud smile.

"From the Dragonlands? How?" Smolder prodded.

Rainbow Dash shook her head. "That story is too long and too much to tell. You'll see it at the show tomorrow night, provided you are going. I will be aiming closer to where you are." She winked at them. "I promise it won't actually strike you though."

"That seem scary," Yona muttered and shuddered in place.

"We can handle it," Sandbar assured her, placing a comforting hoof to her backside.

"Maybe we could practice now since the silence bubble's still on," Gallus suggested.

The others, except for Yona, nodded. The young yak shook her head. "No. No. No."

"We'll all be right here with you, Yona," Ocellus encouraged her.

"I'll stand right next to you," Sandbar offered, continuing to comfort her.

That was enough, and Yona conceded to try it with her friends.

"I've got an idea," the master mev told them all. "I'll ensnare each of you, just long enough to let the thrill pass."

"I dare you to try," Silverstream declared proudly.

The others laughed, and Yona gave a consenting nod based on what Gallus, Ocellus, and Silverstream told her about the night they let Rainbow Dash play with them. 

The master mev and the students successfully practiced together. Silverstream found the bolts striking close enough that she could not so easily escape a snare as she did two weeks ago. Yona was still the most nervous of them all, but she found herself enjoying the time with her friends all the same.

After that was over, Rainbow Dash felt the time was near to tell them they needed to get back to sleep. Smolder sensed it and whispered over to Yona and Sandbar, who nodded. 

"Can we see Blitz as big as you can allow here before we go?" Smolder asked Rainbow Dash.

The master mev nodded and summoned her pet. The students trembled at the sight, frozen in fear. Blitz gave a playful bite in their direction like she could easily eat them all up, and they took a collective breath of relief that she could not do any such thing in her standard ghostly form. 

"How about the solid form?" Smolder asked.

"Not happening," Rainbow refused her firmly with a shake of her head. "It's a special, rare thing to do in front of outsiders, and I intend to keep it that way. That part will have to wait for tomorrow night. Plus, I can't give the entire show away to you all."

With that all said and done, the mev instructed the students it was time for them to take their leave. They yawned at the reminder that it was indeed getting late enough that sleep was a proper thing to do, and they bid their farewell to Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow herself considered sleep a good option with so much planned for all of Thursday night, so she went home to bed as well.
> Chapter 68 - The Show
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


[Author's Note: Song Lyrics Video]












Rainbow Dash stood on a small hill and smiled as she watched the sun set at Sweet Apple Acres in Ponyville on Nightmare Night. Sweetie Belle stood to her right, Scootaloo to her left, and Apple Bloom to Scootaloo's left. The fillies were silent. Their hearts excitedly pounded within, but all of them wished to be professional. After all, two of the three were servants, and Apple Bloom had an important promise to keep. She wanted to help Team Awesome. The night would enlighten her pending decision to officially become a servant too.

The master mev smiled warmly at Sweetie Belle who looked up at her with a respectful and expectant gaze. "Alright you three. First up is Rhezenda. Remember, do not fly until I give the last bit of pegasus magic to all three of you at the end here."

"Yes Master," they replied together.

Rainbow Dash closed her eyes before revealing the red-on-yellow that allowed her Rhezenda to take on a new form. Sweetie Belle felt her own horn whisk away, and her feathered wings take shape. She fluttered them in place with quiet pleasure, at last allowing herself a smile up at her master.

The master happily nodded back in approval.

Scootaloo was next. While Rainbow Dash had free reign of the reserve this night, she still took the precaution of changing Scootaloo by using unicorn magic for growth instead of chaos magic. Then she granted Apple Bloom a pegasus form.

The three fillies gathered tightly together. They watched Rainbow unfurl her own feathered wings. She exhaled a mighty breath of red magic that entwined itself around them all before being absorbed into their wings.

Scootaloo wasted no time in trying the flight first, which was fine by her friends. She and Sweetie Belle soon began to guide Apple Bloom on a beginner level. The earth pony filly was actually going to hide these wings soon with an usher outfit so as not to attract too much attention away from Sweetie Belle during the show itself. Still, she had permission to use them when not in sight of the audience.

The three fillies flew away to meet with the other mevs readying themselves for the performance.

Rarity walked forward soon after. She and Rainbow Dash quickly returned to the main house and were allowed to borrow Applejack's bedroom for their flexchange.

Once that was done, Rarity whispered with a smile, "It even tastes better tonight."

Rainbow nodded in agreement. "It does, my lovely Mitria."

Rarity blushed. She smiled with happily closed eyes at a few brief strokes Rainbow gave her mane. They had a busy night ahead of them.

Decidedly ready, the two mevs went on to meet with the others.





Elsewhere and later at Sweet Apple Acres, a large circular platform akin to a ring surrounded several bleachers. The setup stood in place of where the corn maze was usually found on Nightmare Night. The ring itself had seven spaced out poles, each pole linking to smaller long, curved platform to act as a stage for the mev on their given turn during the performance. Each curved platform had a curved wall to match for the backdrop of whatever their act would entail. Inside the ring, a little less than half inward, several of the bleachers faced one particular curved platform stage. Behind that platform were two large screens hovering to the right and left. Discord had figured their location to be the optimal distance for anyone who could not see the main spot easily enough. 

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo acted as ushers directing the audience to inform them it was extremely important that they not crowd and that they made sure to leave gaps between parties because of some of the magic that would be present during the show.

One such party was the Student Six. Yona shivered. "Yona still not sure about this."

"We won't force you," Sandbar said. "We just thought it would be fun and not as scary if we all came together."

"Right, and Master practiced with us in the gym last night for this exact reason," Silverstream reminded her.

"Let the fear settle with each scary part, if you find more than our little preview did, and it's all good," Smolder suggested for encouragement.

"I'll go with you if you really do want to leave," Sandbar offered.

Yona shook her head. "No. It okay. Yona want to see."

"That's the spirit," Ocellus said.

"Yeah, we'll all be fine," Gallus declared with confidence.

In another place, Spike sat with Thorax to his right and Ember to his left. Queen Novo and Princess Skystar sat behind them. Prince Rutherford sat to Thorax's right since they were the two leaders not yet visited by the master mev in their respective kingdoms. 

Grampa Gruff declined the invitation so was not with them. Gilda seized the opportunity as her curiosity got the better of her, and she suspected Rainbow would include something interesting, maybe even flying maneuvers Gilda herself could appreciate. She sat next to Princess Skystar who was lively and reminded Gilda of Pinkie Pie. She was amused to find out that they were good friends.

Princess Celestia and Princess Luna sat behind all of the representatives of the other kingdoms. Team Awesome had actually approached Luna to ask if she wished to say or do anything to start them off since the night honored her Nightmare Moon form. Luna declined the offer and informed them she would play that part for Ponyville later in accepting offered candy at her statue.

Thorax addressed Spike. "The changelings back home are eager for me to learn more about pony vampires and tell them about it when I get back. I actually don't know Rainbow Dash very well either. We were all quite surprised to find out we can't take her form anymore."

"This is not going to be that much of a tutorial on these types of vampires," Spike warned him. "It's more illusion than reality because their powers can only work the way do for this night, and we are having Discord help too."

"I'm kind of surprised. He always seems so...attention-grabby," Thorax remarked.

"I heard that," Discord materialized and hovered in front of them with obvious annoyance in his tone.

"Well, you are," Thorax said, unfazed and with a slight smile.

"I'll have you know that it's thanks to me that they can even do so much of the extra stuff," Discord reminded him sternly.

"You're just proving my point," Thorax teased him, still smiling.

"Shouldn't you be getting the lighting ready?" Spike suggested.

"Ugh. Fine." Discord rolled his eyes and materialized away.

"Can purple dragon at least say if these vampires are actually scary?" Prince Rutherford asked. "Yaks never seen a leviathan."

"I don't want to spoil the whole thing. Just remember this. One, don't panic. And two, when the Master Mev tells you to stay still, you better listen," Spike advised.

"Interesting," Rutherford said with a thoughtful nod.





Spotlights lit up over the targeted circular platform for the audience's view, and a small cloud carrying a small pony hovered over. The platform itself lowered into an obscuring darkness. Sweetie Belle addressed the show attendees using the headset Discord created for her.

"Hi everyone. Many of you know me as a unicorn filly here in Ponyville by the name of Sweetie Belle. Tonight, I present to you something more. Tonight, I shall play my role as Rhezenda, the right hoof to the Master Mev. I am her link to you and your link to her. It is her wish that tonight I appear before you as a pegasus. There are a few points of our performance that might scare you a lot. The natural elements of the land we live on will affect you, and you will be near magic that is cast. We promise it is all in good fun and ask that you do your best to stay in place, especially when you hear thunder, and enjoy the show. We shall now truly begin."

The hovering cloud moved clear, and the initially targeted circular platform rose with Princess Cadance standing alone. She used her alicorn magic to hold a microphone. Fog surrounded her, leaving only her neck, head, and mic in view. Cadance began to sing. Some of the smoke cleared as Rainbow Dash stood from a prone position and began to circle her meal as a fanged pegasus. She sang her next turn with an evil smile as her eyes turned red. Back and forth they went until Cadance offered herself, and Rainbow Dash accepted, allowing her feathered wings to morph into bat-like flaps.


Cadance and Rainbow Dash Duet

Cadance:
Master, where are you?

Rainbow Dash:
I am here, my beautiful alicorn dear
How might I serve you?

Cadance:
Rumor has it you're a vampire
That does not drink blood
But instead eats magic

Rainbow Dash:
Indeed, you look rather tasty to me
Is such a thought one that you find tragic?

Cadance:
It cannot be so

Rainbow Dash (smirking):
Wouldn't you like to know?

Cadance:
I dare you to prove it to me and all
A challenge you cannot resist.

Rainbow Dash:
Ha, it certainly won't take much convincing
If that is what you insist


During the feed, the microphone Cadance magically held dropped with a notable thud on the platform. The audience gasped, pulled fully into the act.

The platform lowered and Sweetie Belle's cloud hovered over once more to begin the original first verse of the song, now slightly edited after Cadance volunteered to be in the show. She addressed the audience directly with a tiny bounce in her joints to entice them further.


Sweetie Belle Solo

Welcome all to this very special night 
Did you know vampires live among us? 
Does that give you a fright 
After watching that bite?
Call them 'mevs' and stay without a fuss. 
We'll tell you more
With a great big flash
Here are Blitz
And Master Rainbow Dash


The cloud with Sweetie Belle teleported away. Blitz herself raised her head upward in her mostly translucent form with Rainbow Dash standing on her head. The master mev used her power to make only that part solid enough to hold her steady and act as her platform. Rainbow looked at the audience with a hungry, evil smile.

They gasped, and as hoped, the sight instilled fear into them, much to her pleasure. She told them as much to start her first full solo verse of the song as Blitz herself swayed or bobbed her large head to the music. During the verse, Rainbow built up from a low growl into a forceful command of the audience to scream for her. For added emphasis, she and Blitz each made a mock bite closing in on them. It worked, and Rainbow's raucous laugh filled the air, basking in it for an extra line. As the verse readied to move onto introducing Starlight, Blitz faded and disappeared.


Rainbow Dash Solo #1

Oh, how your fears fill me with delight 
It certainly fits upon this Nightmare Night
Now outsiders
Now I command thee
Listen well
You better
You better
SCREAM FOR ME!
Such perfect glee
The magic of your fear right here is my dinner
Moving on to more fun things
Meet the first of my fledglings
Primeva Starlight Glimmer


A spotlight struck Starlight's stage, now positioned into the main view of the audience. In standard unicorn form, she sang to them with her head slightly hunched into her shoulders. Sweetie Belle flashed in and stood on the stage with Starlight, acting intimidated. Starlight continued and blew out a copy shadow of Sweetie Belle's pegasus form. The filly herself remained standing and looked on in amazement as the mock shadow playfully flew and darted around over her. Eventually, Sweetie Belle flew a little to play with the shadow. Starlight gestured at the one she wielded with pride. The spotlight on them intensified to drive home the next point about a contrast to light. As Starlight repeated her title to finish her solo,  her bat wings immediately thrust out as she spoke. The audience took another moment to collectively gasp in awe.


Starlight Glimmer Solo

Lurking ready
Holding steady
Behold my shadows upon your gaze
From my mouth, this one obeys
Against the light, it does have starkness
For I, Primeva, am the Fledgling of Darkness


The spotlight where Starlight and Sweetie Belle still stood shut off completely, and Starlight's platform whirred methodically to the right, to give enough time for Rainbow Dash to provide a transition while a cold small wind passed against her, and the entire audience as well to introduce the next mev. The sky blue vampire chose to hover and dart about without a platform to stand on while she sang.


Rainbow Dash Solo #2

Such beautiful dark wings
Oh, I feel a chill of breeze that does pass on by
More upon us shall we meet
The second of my fledglings 
Segunda Fluttershy


The next staged platform arrived, and the spotlight for it lit up to show Fluttershy standing with her wings flared. Sweetie Belle flashed onto the stage with her. Fluttershy smiled softly and blew out some wind to brush Sweetie back a little and then another strong gust to veer into the audience's direction. The winds continued harmlessly enough while not yet fading. Fluttershy sang her verse for the song with a gentle chill in her voice, fluttering and hovering to her preference as she did. She twirled up in her hover, and as she sang her specific title, just like Starlight before her, Fluttershy's feathered pegasus wings turned to bat-like flaps.

The audience smiled in understanding the expected pattern for the next four mevs. No doubt the master mev of the pack had something extra planned.


Fluttershy Solo

Here is my breath of gale pushing through
Ready yourselves, it will not harm you
The thrill I give is one I wish to charm you
Feel the blast whisked to a breeze
Now, how thinned
For I, Segunda, am the Fledgling of Wind


Again, the spotlight flicked off, and the shift into the next transition began with Rainbow remarking on the fledgling who just performed before introducing the next. With a playful air and friendly smile, she darted about in flight during such lines.


Rainbow Dash Solo #3

Such lovely blasts she brings
Rock on, rock on, we're gone
Henceforth to meet verily
The third of my fledglings
Mitria Rarity


Rarity, in standard unicorn form, had a proud pose of confident air at the ready with a smile. Like the two fledgling mevs before her, Sweetie Belle was flashed in to share the stage with her older sister. Like Starlight did, Rarity used her elemental gift to make a copy of the Rhezenda's filly form. It did not fly freely but instead morphed into still poses to copy Sweetie's own rehearsed stances, gradually shifting from plain rocks to beautiful multiple colored jewels. She ended with a proud bow, and vampire bat wings took shape at her sides.


Rarity Solo

It is not wind that I bring but solid rock
Designs I can move and then can lock
More than the dirt upon which you might stand
Deeper in fact may be something grand
Beauty beyond such untold worth
For I, Mitria, am the Fledgling of Earth


Spotlight off, stage whirring, Rainbow Dash swooped in for her animated gestures and transition from her number three to her number four.


Rainbow Dash Solo #4

Solid I say to these fine things
Heating up, we blaze on
To the next in the pack
The fourth of my fledglings
Here is Fyra Applejack


Applejack's platform arrived, and she stood with her head bowed, her right hoof clutching at her hat before she began. To change things up to how they were with Starlight and Rarity, this time Sweetie Belle was required to do some basic flight near and above the audience for a pony of flames to follow her. This one did not resemble her stature but instead Applejack herself. For extra flair, the orange mev had other smaller flames hovering a safe distance from their captivated audience and Sweetie Belle. When finishing the verse, a skeletal fire of her forming bat wings took shape before they solidified, and the flames extinguished themselves at her silent command. 


Applejack Solo

Shot out with the utmost care
Flames burning through me to the air
Setting them just right
Bringing warmth to our night
From my heart as a vampire
For I, Fyra, am the Fledgling of Fire


Rainbow Dash's next transition followed a similar pattern to the ones before it.


Rainbow Dash Solo #5

I enjoy that warmth of the burn she brings
Now we flow on to she 
Who streams 
Beneath the sky
I present to you 
The fifth of my fledglings
Quintaza Pinkie Pie


Pinkie brought out Penny, and Sweetie Belle was flashed into stand with Penny on her side of the platform, the left part in the audience's line of sight. Penny turned into water. Pinkie whistled out more and the combined river streamed around the pegasus filly before making a path through the audience while not actually splashing anyone. The extra water disappeared. Penny swirled around in water form as Pinkie drank her back in. Pinkie herself then turned into her bat pony form.


Pinkie Pie and Penny Duet

Pinkie Pie:
Whistling forth
She's out
Behold another me
Her name, I'll tell you
It is Penny

Penny:
My title is Pentaza 
To share with Quintaza
I sprung from a pool
And I got some powers that are cool
Watch what I can do
Watch as I course through

Pinkie Pie:
We're so happy since the night that we got her
For you see
It is thanks to Penny
That I, Quintaza, am the Fledgling of Water


Rainbow Dash flew in again for the last transition of one fledgling to another.


Rainbow Dash Solo #6

Those two leave me
Dripping with pleasure
Beyond which I could ever measure
Now we flash on to our next treasure
A shine upon which we will all soon marvel
The sixth of my fledglings
I give you Rexa Twilight Sparkle


The spotlight for Twilight focused on the alicorn mev's own body so that the rest of her platform was still obscured in darkness, allowing her to demonstrate the light elemental power around Sweetie Belle as the pegasus filly joined her. Eventually, the light's coalesced into an alicorn pony who's wings turned into bat-like flaps at the same time as its wielder.


Twilight Sparkle Solo

My open lips
Shooting bright beams
Enchanting visions that might seem
To make quite a sight
Behold my contrast to the night
For I, Rexa, am the Fledgling of Light


At that, six of the seven platforms lit up to reveal a fledgling mev in bat pony form. Smiling, they all lifted off. Flashes of their pony legs and bat wings swooped down over the audience, shooting out light gusts of wind in their wake. The audience did not scream or gasp, but they were most rapt, and at least a few of them ducked. When done, each fledgling had landed on a platform near the opposite of their origin.

The audience looked on in smiling, breathless wonder as at last the Master Mev herself stood on the main platform of their targeted view.


Rainbow Dash Solo #7

Darkness to Light
Darkness to Light
We share upon
This glorious Nightmare Night
Do I sense a decrease
In our dear viewers' fright?
But wait my friends
There's more
That I, Rainbow Dash,
Have in store


The platform disappeared completely while a spotlight remained on Rainbow Dash's hovering figure.  Blitz materialized in her ghostly form with her head below where Rainbow sang.


Now you might be wondering
If I, the Master, am not a fledgling
Besides Blitz at my command
Just what is it that I can bring?


The master mev gestured toward her pet. The translucent serpent figure became a solid, tangible being to the increasing awe of the audience. Rainbow Dash kept singing because, as she promised, she had more. 


Shocking I tell you
I promise I will miss
So long as you are still
I will have to hold you still
Brace yourselves


Thunder escaped from her lips, but the lightning that usually followed did not strike immediately. Rainbow wanted some more lines so that she could announce her powerful move in just the right way.


Right now
Here it is


She stood on Blitz's head and worked her way up into a loud, forceful proclamation of her elemental gift.


The thing that I can bring is
My FORMIDABLE LIGHTNING!


Thanks to Nightmare Night's special nature, fourteen lighting bolts, two with each of the rainbow colors and two white struck near portions of the audience. For any figure she sensed a certain level of heightened fear that could lead to them fleeing, Rainbow Dash cast a tiny snare that could not even be seen, just enough to hold them in place until they realized they were not in danger. She held true to her promise as a means to keep them safe. Many screamed nonetheless. Rainbow Dash cackled at them and let the snares go once she sensed enough calm.


Once more you have screamed for me
Again, I am filled with such perfect glee


The master mev finally began what she told her fledglings she truly wished to do. She rode Blitz in the leviathan dread's solid form and laughed evilly. The entire ring holding the poles and platforms disintegrated to make for a wide open space where Blitz could slither freely in the air. She and the master mev were at a visible distance from the audience, some of whom were still reeling due to the Formidable Lightning.

A new rectangular stage took shape where the six fledglings gathered in their bat pony forms to sing to the audience as everyone watched the ride of the large serpent figure.


Fledglings Sextet

Behold our Nightmare Night
Behold our Nightmare Night
Hear from our words what will be said
We have a leviathan dread
The gracious pet of our master mev
Quite a sight she leaves in your head
Behold our Nightmare Night
Behold our Nightmare Night
Looking on you see
Pouring on that speed
Blitz obeys the master
Hence they move faster and faster
Hence they move faster and faster


Blitz turned around to target the bleachers where the audience sat.

The fledglings sang some more.


Here they come
Don't dare run
Here they come
Don't dare run
The end of the ride is near


The leviathan circled the entire group of outsiders before positioning her head where Rainbow Dash stood on it. They were above and to the left of the stage for the fledglings who still addressed the audience and then their master.


Whew, a relief that you're still here
In disbelief and despite your fear
Master, they have bravely stayed
As we planned, a panic not made


Rainbow looked at the fledglings with a proud, interested smile. Still perched on Blitz's head, she then happily addressed the audience to start her last solo portion of the song.


Rainbow Dash Solo #8

You did it, well done
I know I had fun
You may now toss aside your fears
If you please
Or keep them if you like
Either way I'm at ease


Rainbow Dash quickly lifted off from Blitz's head and danced with her next few lines before descending to join the middle of her pack, in the exact same order Rarity had created on the fliers.


Nearly finished are we
My fledglings and me
Here we go
Let's end the song
For this show


The entire pack together sang their thanks.


Team Awesome Septet

We had a grand time 
With zeal and zest
Now if you like
It is time to rest
Many thanks to you we send 
Our dear outsider friends
We hope that your wonder did blossom
From your local pack of mevs
Thanks again and signing off
We are Team Awesome


They all bowed together, and Blitz dismissed herself into the ground.

The audience clapped and stomped their hooves or claws in delight. They cheered. Some of them even whistled.

The bat pony mevs backed away behind a curtain of the stage, pleased to know their performance was a success.
> Chapter 69 - Nightmare Night and After
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo hovered next to each other watching over the fear snare ride Rainbow was providing to interested attendees. A familiar figure to them both approached.

"Well, here's someone I didn't expect to see," Rainbow Dash greeted Lightning Dust with a smile. She hovered down and landed to speak with the other mare. Scootaloo fluttered down to join her.

"Master Rainbow Dash." Lightning Dust smiled back. "You foiled my plot to tell the world about you. How could you?"

The two pegasi laughed, and Rainbow turned her attention back to the attraction she hosted.

"Lightning Dust? You knew?" Scootaloo asked uneasily.

"Hey kid," Lighting greeted her with a friendly air. "I found out the night before I left Ponyville. I was actually planning to talk to the master here about how I was out of line and I guess more properly apologize for what I put you through. I am sorry. Truly."

"Oh." Scootaloo's tension eased. "Apology accepted."

"So, what's why you were there," Rainbow noted in understanding, not looking at either of them.

"Then what happened instead?" Scootaloo asked.

Lightning Dust gestured to the snare rides. "That, for starters, only I didn't get a ride. She trapped me."

The mev chuckled mischievously. "I can take you for a spin now," she offered.

"Maybe in a bit," Lightning said.

"What else happened?" Scootaloo asked.

"I survived a vampire bite," Lightning said with an eager brag and a wink.

"Master, you ate her magic?" Scootaloo addressed Rainbow Dash.

"Yes, I did though not while she was trapped. We made an agreement. Magic for info. I gave her a copy of my book," Rainbow explained.

"I read the whole thing," Lightning Dust informed them. "Lucky you, huh?"

"I'm enjoying it," Rainbow Dash confirmed with a nod.

"So, the ride only works if you're scared?" Lightning nodded her head in the direction.

"Most nights that's true. Tonight's special. I can bypass that rule to set the initial trap. I like the part where a creature can free themselves after a thrill so have left it in. Ready to go?" the master mev offered.

"Bring it," Lightning Dust said. "And make it fast. You know what I like."

"The pleasure's all mine," Rainbow Dash replied with a gloating smile.

Lightning Dust's ride went faster than anyone else's since Rainbow Dash knew she could handle it. The aquamarine pegasus rival succeeded in releasing herself, at last satisfied that she understood the night of her visit that much better.

She bade farewell to the master mev with a friendly hoof bump and compliments to the show.





"I must say, that was exciting to watch," Princess Celestia told Twilight Sparkle as Twilight and Starlight Glimmer were shutting down their booth for their combined demonstration of light and dark. 

Discord, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Spike, and Rarity had already left for the night to return to their respective homes. Applejack was with Scootaloo and Apple Bloom to wrap up everything else. The fillies were going to play for the rest of the night soon. 

"The Fledgling of Light," Celestia said with another excited breath. "I must admit, as both your former teacher and the princess who raises the sun, it makes me rather proud."

"Thanks, Princess," Twilight said with a modest smile.

Princess Luna arrived and flew down to greet them. "An exquisite show. Well done. Natural elements. I do see such things in dreams myself."

Starlight walked up to the group, and Luna addressed her. "And here my substitute for those three nights is appropriately the Fledgling of Darkness. I know our relationship is not like Celestia's and Twilight's, but I am proud of you as well nonetheless, my friend."

"Oh thank you Princess Luna," Starlight replied with a sincere, respectful smile.

"The two of you must have a very special link," Celestia said.

"Yeah, it's pretty cool," Rainbow Dash's voice reached their ears.

All four ponies bowed. "Master."

Rainbow twitched in the air. "Wow. Now that's something I don't feel every night." She went on to properly bow in turn. "Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, I hope you enjoyed the show."

"We did, Master," Luna replied. "Is Princess Cadance alright?"

"She's sleeping soundly as expected and made arrangements with us, mainly Twilight, to handle the next three days. She'll recover just fine, I'm sure," Rainbow told them.

Sweetie Belle, temporarily back to her unicorn form after the show ended, walked up to the group next. "Well, the outsiders are clear, except of course the few of us who have a special status with you all."

"Can you tell us the general reaction, if they believed us overall or not?" asked a curious Starlight Glimmer.

"Mm-hmm, they believed us, and they were entertained. We impressed them with the natural elements of the world we live in, and it's time for everyone to move onto the next thing," Sweetie Belle answered. "Except of course for Thorax and Prince Rutherford due to how they were informed."

"Did anything come up with our titles?" Twilight wondered.

"Funny enough, the elements were kind of a diversion, especially with how I referred to you all in my closing statement after the song. I think even if they do address you in jest, it will more likely be by element than by the mev title Master gave you. But I do think you can expect at least a few of your students to try out your mev titles tomorrow," Sweetie Belle explained.

"That's alright then," Twilight said, and Starlight quietly nodded in agreement.

"Do you need me for anything else, Master?" Sweetie Belle inquired.

"No, Rhezenda. You are dismissed. Have fun with your friends," Rainbow said.

With a flash of red in her eyes, Sweetie Belle received her pegasus form once more.

"I see my nocturnality is being well used," Luna noted.

"And we thank you for it," Rainbow replied with a smile.

"Have you used my dream magic?" Luna openly wondered.

"Not yet; in fact, I was hoping maybe you could give me a lesson or some advice on how I might be able to use it," Rainbow answered.

"That would be a pleasure. Let's go over a few points now if you wish," Luna offered.

"Much appreciated," Rainbow said.

The two walked off together for the brief lesson.





The Cutie Mark Crusaders played together for most of the rest of the night. Scootaloo wanted to make the most of her fly time. Rainbow Dash eventually joined them so the two sisters could get some fun fly time in together since there was no telling their next chance before the hopeful success of Team Awesome's efforts.

They flew up. They flew down. Rainbow Dash demonstrated loops and quick dives. There were some advanced moves beyond Scootaloo's ability, such as how to glide both backwards and upside down. Rainbow increased the magic to let her experience them nonetheless.

As the master mev sensed the sunrise growing near, she warned Scootaloo it was time to stop. The younger pegasus fluttered down and gave her hug.

Nightmare Night ended. The sun began to rise.

The Crusaders went to prepare for school, and Rainbow Dash flew home for a quick stop to prepare for her day as well. She arrived, checked in on Tank, brushed her mane, and brushed her teeth. She was ready to leave when she felt a summon and immediately teleported into the library of Twilight's castle. 

The master mev took a moment to understand where she was. She saw Twilight, who obviously cast the summon, and a smiling Princess Cadance.

"Oh Master, I hope you don't mind," Twilight said, "but this was just too good to wait on telling you."

Rainbow smiled with interest. "Tell me what?"

Twilight nodded at Cadance, and the pink alicorn smiled. Her magical aura lit up on her horn as she lifted a few books to demonstrate.

"Princess Cadance's magic is back early!" Twilight declared. "It's because of Nightmare Night, right? Or the show? Or both? Is it both?"

"Rexa, calm down," Rainbow said with an amused smile. "I'm certain it was both. That helps the whole show look like…well, a show."

"I knew it!" Twilight pranced in place. She gasped with wide eyes. "Maybe you could eat Princess Celestia's magic next Nightmare Night! Then she'd only have lost it for the one night too!"

"Whoa," Rainbow said, "let's not get ahead of ourselves. We don't know how long we get to be mevs, remember?"

"Oh, come on, you don't really think it's that limited, do you?" Twilight pointed out.

Rainbow sighed. "No, I don't, but I also don't want to think about next year's Nightmare Night until you know, it's actual month again. We go back to our other work now."

"Fine," said a disappointed Twilight.

Cadance giggled in amusement.

"I need to take care of the weather before school, so I'll be off. Cadance, I'll bring Amara to see you tomorrow," Rainbow said.

"I look forward to it," Cadance replied.





Rainbow Dash arrived at school for her first class of the day. The students looked at her with eager smiles. An aquamarine filly with a short orange mane and purple bow raised a hoof. The teacher called her name.

"Are you really a vampire?" the student asked.

Other students nodded to indicate how they wished to know the answer.

Rainbow raised an eyebrow with a devilish smirk. "What do you think?" she asked the student.

The young student nodded. "I think you are."

"She is not," a lavender colt argued. He looked to Rainbow Dash. "Are you?"

Rainbow chuckled mischievously. "Is it a problem if I am?" she asked.

He swallowed nervously. "No, Master," he caught himself saying on instinct.

Rainbow's eyes wandered to the other curious student brave enough to speak.

"No, Master," she agreed.

"We won't tell our parents if that's what you're getting at, Professor Dash," another student interjected. "None of them believe it."

The other students nodded.

"Fascinating," Rainbow replied.

"So, can you tell us?" the skeptical colt asked.

"I am a master magic-eating vampire," Rainbow said. "If you have any magic-related problems, you are welcome to come to me outside class hours though I recommend seeking help from unicorns you know first. That is all I will tell you regarding my status as the Master Mev. We must move on with our real class after all."

The students nodded, but the colt wanted more. "Could you prove it?"

"We are done with the topic," Rainbow reminded him and went on to teach class.





Friday afternoon arrived, and Rainbow Dash stopped by the clubhouse to check in on the Crusaders and make sure their school day went smoothly after they stayed up an entire night. She was quite surprised to see several items bunched together on the floor. One was a mug used for apple cider. Another was a barrel used to collect apples. There was also a flask and a copy of the journal Rainbow wrote with friends. The picture of Rainbow with Applejack and Rarity in jumpsuits that was usually mounted on the wall rested with the other items on the floor.

Apple Bloom herself sat on her haunches with a smile. "Master," she said. She was alone.

"Crusader Apple Bloom," Rainbow Dash greeted with the respectful title and bow of her head before gesturing with her hoof. "What's all this?"

"Oh, well...I was going to finally talk to you about officially becoming a servant of yours, and I was trying to think of what items I might be able to use if you were ready whenever I next saw you. The other two sensed you coming, so that's why they're not here. They suggested we talk now because you've already got plans both tomorrow and Sunday."

"Oh." Rainbow Dash brightened at the news. "What sort of service do you wish to offer?"

"It's about what you're expecting. I know you were joking, but I admit, I like the idea. I want to be the other Secret Service bodyguard with Scootaloo during the day, when I'm not busy with chores, family, and crusading. I think I could fit it in. And then, to add a little something to that and make it at least kinda different from Scootaloo's, I can be a gopher like how I helped out for Nightmare Night. When I'm not guarding you, I'll just do the extra stuff. Moving between point and A and B or whatever else you need...or is you know, convenient since I know I'm not needed really either, same as Scootaloo." She blushed. "I am doing it to spend time with my friends, Team Awesome and the Cutie Mark Crusaders. That ain't no secret."

Rainbow Dash nodded. "That's all well and good, but it is still real servitude. You must answer to a master. You're mine, just like all the others."

Apple Bloom blushed again. "I know, but I almost feel left out not being there. I was kinda nervous about it when Sweetie told us on her first offering herself, but honestly, it has worked out great for you both. If we find something awesome out of this between you and me, all the better. I know I'm not as close to you as either of my Crusader friends or Applejack or Rarity, but you and I are friends. I know that's true, and that it's important to you for this type of thing."

"It is," Rainbow agreed.

"Are those terms uh...good?" Apple Bloom asked.

"They are," the master mev said. "I accept your offer."

Apple Bloom breathed a sigh of relief. "Applejack's probably just outside since my friends went to fetch her in case you accepted. Do you think we can do the bond...now? I know it might take a long time since I'm an earth pony."

Rainbow Dash glanced out the door to see that indeed Applejack stood at the bottom of the steps with an interested smile. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo stood with her. "Come on up," she invited them.

"Master accepted my offer," Apple Bloom announced eagerly, as they all entered.

"I knew she would," Applejack said gently.

"Did you talk to her about a title?" Scootaloo reminded her friend.

"Oh, no, I forgot," Apple Bloom confessed. "Master, do I need one?"

"No. My other bodyguard does not have one, and like her, you will be on the outer edges of the circle," Rainbow explained. "Unless of course, you have one picked out."

"Nothing that I really liked. I'm already enjoying my current 'Crusader' title whenever you say it," the red-maned filly noted.

"Then no mev bond title," Rainbow agreed.

"So, can we do the bond today?" Apple Bloom asked to confirm.

"Yes," Rainbow told her. "First question. Do you have a ready-made pit here on the farm?"

Applejack and Apple Bloom nodded.

"And it can fit the two of you at once with these items?" Rainbow wondered. 

The two sisters nodded again.

"I need to stop by the house to get the crown," Rainbow informed them. "Apple Bloom, you get situated in the pit. Take all of this," she gestured at the items," and set them just like you were when I entered the clubhouse. Due to the nature of our friendship bond and you being an earth pony, it's actually a good idea to use a collection like this. That will combine into a magic stream that will enter my crown."

"Should Applejack be with me?" Apple Bloom asked.

"If you want her company, and I'm not back yet, sure. The magic won't know where to go until it has the target we intend to use. It's going to work like what I did with Scootaloo. Your sister will be with you, a touch of some kind would help. The magic will gather into the crown. I'll eat from it, direct it back to the crown, and then Applejack holds you while it finds its way back to you. It will probably aim for your hooves since that's what touches the earth most or the cutie mark since that's a concentrated magical point of your body and part of our bond with each other," the master mev explained.

"Oh that's right," Apple Bloom lit up with a smile. "You're the one who gave me the idea to just start trying things out before we even made a group."

Rainbow Dash smiled at the reminder and flew away. Everything went as planned and expected when the master mev returned. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo stayed above the pit to keep Apple Bloom company and chat. The collection of items created a stream of magic that entered the crown. Instead of thirty minutes, it took sixty. The master mev ate Apple Bloom's magic from the crown, channeled it back, and the stream took thirty minutes to eventually reach the cutie mark on the earth pony filly's flank. Applejack stayed with her sister the entire time. The touch of choice was simply a hoof to the younger sister's backside.

With the magic exchanged, Rainbow Dash, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo helped them out. Rainbow did a quick test run to give Apple Bloom an adult form and switched her back soon after.

"Do I get any kind of extra magic like Sweetie does?" Apple Bloom asked. "Scootaloo said she was able lift herself more than usual when we went to your house on Monday."

"Is that so?" Rainbow looked at her little sister with a smile.

Scootaloo nodded. "Is it too much to hope that it would happen if you don't find a cure for me? Like, if enough time passes? I get flight through our mev bond instead. It would be magic to offset the wing size like how Bulk Biceps does."

Rainbow Dash gave it some thought. "If it does, it would still operate similarly to now. The flight would be in service to me and my work since that is the purpose of the mev bond."

Sweetie Belle nodded to confirm from personal experience. "I can't just draw and bend anything I feel like."

"Well, it would be better than nothing," Scootaloo figured.

"So, do I get something too?" Apple Bloom asked.

"It would make sense, from the experiences of your friends," Rainbow told her. "It'll be fun to find out, won't it?"

Apple Bloom smiled and nodded at that. "Yes, Master, it will."
> Chapter 70 - Awesome Crusaders
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Rainbow Dash and the Cutie Mark Crusaders were surprised to find the entire rest of Team Awesome in the throne room when they arrived to show Amara to Princess Cadance. The pink alicorn princess herself sat in Rainbow's throne as a casual observer.

"What is every mev doing here?" Rainbow asked.

"We know it was hardly necessary for all of us to be here, Master," Rarity began, "but still, we wished it so because it was rather special."

"What was?" asked an even more curious master mev.

"We felt it," Starlight Glimmer announced. "We all felt when the last Crusader bonded with you at the same time yesterday. None of us ever felt the others when they happened, but just as we all sensed a completion of the pack, we sensed a completion of their trio joining our team in full."

The fillies themselves smiled widely at that and hopped up and down together giddily.

"This calls for formality then," Rainbow Dash decided. "Awesomevs, line up as you did when we properly informed Princess Celestia and Princess Luna about our pack."

The fledglings happily obliged.

"Crusaders, you have an order as well." Rainbow pointed to Sweetie Belle, then Scootaloo, then Apple Bloom, "One, two, and three."

They smiled and lined up in their order opposite of the fledglings, feeling officially inducted together.

"You already have a group name through the Cutie Mark Crusaders. When you serve my pack, Team Awesome, you are—naturally—the Awesome Crusaders."

Everyone chuckled but agreed.

"Awesomevs, I give you the Awesome Crusaders," Rainbow Dash declared. Her fledglings bowed together toward the fillies. "Awesome Crusaders, this is my pack, Team Awesome. You know their titles, and you may address them as such, preferably when we are speaking of and dealing with our work to serve this world together."

The fillies' eyes collectively lit up. Even if the restriction was already lifted through Nightmare Night's performance, they still felt honored.

Rainbow Dash listed each fledgling off, and each bowed in the same wave as when the pack name was first chosen. "Primeva Starlight Glimmer, Segunda Fluttershy, Mitria Rarity, Fyra Applejack, Quintaza Pinkie Pie, and Rexa Twilight Sparkle."

Afterward, there was more hoof bumping and hugging between friends. Soon, Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie left. Starlight Glimmer and Twilight Sparkle stayed in the throne room. Cadance stood to watch where the Awesome Crusaders chose to sit before selecting a seat for herself. Sweetie Belle took Fluttershy's throne. Scootaloo took Pinkie Pie's, and Apple Bloom took Applejack's leaving Rarity's open for Princess Cadance.

At last, Amara was magically lifted out of Sweetie Belle's saddlebag and placed on the table in her protective case. Rainbow Dash's eyes turned red as she carefully used magic to slide the top open and lift Amara out, placing the mini-heart on the table. The master mev's red eyes turned red-on-yellow, and the heart flickered with light as she spoke.

"Hello?" Amara said to all, just the way Grant did.

"Hello, Amara," Rainbow Dash greeted her.

"Oh Master, it is such a pleasure to hear you address me so," Amara declared. "And Princess Cadance, I am so happy to have you visit me."

"The pleasure is mine as well," Cadance replied. "Is everything okay staying with Master Rainbow Dash?"

"Yes, it is. Rhezenda looks after me, and I have friends through other objects in a similar situation as myself. I've met Grant and Jasper and Pearl."

"Pearl?" Rainbow inquired.

"Oh yes. You did not give her a name, but she knows she's from a pearl, so that's the name she gives the rest of us. She's a little different you know. She has no traces of your mev magic. She said you sucked it all away," Amara explained.

"Oh. Well, I thought it was the right thing to do at the time since I was only borrowing her solidity to help me exchange magic. I had no big plan back then, just sensed I should request something like her so did. Is she offended at all by my choice?" Rainbow Dash wondered.

"No," Amara replied, "she is not. It's just that the rest of us feel like the traces mean something significant, like it links us more strongly to you, so maybe they should be there."

"Point well made. I will consider the matter more on my own time. Please, continue your talk with Princess Cadance," the master mev encouraged.

"There isn't much else for me to say," Amara admitted, "but I wouldn't mind hearing about the Crystal Empire since I exist for it."

Cadance smiled and began to tell Amara of what the place was like. Amara knew, but it was still nice to be reminded. The ruler of the empire spoke of how things were going in general and of her family. Shining Armor and Flurry Heart were in fact playing in one of the guest rooms at the castle. Once both Cadance and Amara were satisfied, Rainbow Dash turned off the object's livelihood and put her back in the display case. 

To fulfill her new role, Apple Bloom was sent to invite Shining Armor and Flurry Heart to see Amara in the case since the conversation was over. The earth pony filly was delighted to do so. Shining Armor was still moved by the object's smallness and cuteness. Flurry Heart herself was fascinated and curious. She lifted the object with her magic and could sense that there was something different about the case even if she couldn't understand what. She sensed enough to carefully place it down even if the case itself was sufficient protection for the heart inside.

The visit ended, and the Awesome Crusaders left with the master mev to return Amara to Rainbow's house before moving on with their Saturday as Cutie Mark Crusaders.





Shortly after lunch on Sunday afternoon, Rainbow Dash's group of herself, Starlight Glimmer, Fluttershy, and Discord arrived at the doors of Tartarus. Starlight used her magic to open the door, and a large, black, three-headed dog greeted them.

Fluttershy approached him with a smile and pet at his chin. "Hi Cerberus. We hope that one of the princesses told you to expect us."

Cerberus nodded and turned around to escort them to Tirek's cage. The weakened centaur looked at them with interest behind bars. "Well well well. Discord and two of Twilight Sparkle's friends." In near disgust with a crinkled nose, he pointed at Starlight. "Who are you?"

Starlight only stared back with venom in her eyes.

Discord cleared his throat. "A proper introduction for her in a moment," he offered. "Lord Tirek," the draconequus said to act as an intermediary and gestured specifically at Rainbow Dash's hovering figure, "I present to you Master Rainbow Dash."

Rainbow herself landed to face Tirek, up through the bars of the cage, and waited to see if the magic-eating centaur had anything to say in response first.

Tirek stared at her hard for several seconds. "A master mev?" he asked Discord.

"Correct," Discord confirmed.

Tirek studied the sky blue pegasus all the more. An orb of magic energy appeared between his horns as he tried to eat her magic. A sudden white force thrust him into the back of his cage with a large clang. It had to be the master mev's combined natural protection of general magic immunity and drainage immunity. The centaur coughed, stood up, and dusted himself off. He squinted at the quartet of visitors before at last, he said simply to Rainbow Dash, "Master."

The master mev bowed politely as she said, "Lord Tirek." She stood upright and gestured to Starlight. "This is Starlight Glimmer and you know Fluttershy." Each fledgling mev nodded in turn.

Tirek stroked his chin with interest. He attempted to use his magic to eat from them as well. He was not thrust backward as with the master. Instead, nothing happened. "Your fledglings, I presume," he said.

"They are," Rainbow confirmed.

At last, Tirek decided to target Discord to see what Rainbow Dash would do. With a quick thunder clap, a red lightning bolt shot out from her mouth, disrupting the orb between his two horns. "That's new," Tirek remarked. "And what does a master mev want with me? Trying to take someone else's magic forever? Or perhaps you've already found a way to do that yourself?" the imprisoned centaur asked slyly.

Caught off guard, Rainbow was ready to ask about such a power when Fluttershy placed a gentle hoof on her shoulder. The master mev shook off her curiosity. She took a deep breath. "I've come because my instincts suggest I be here. I've reached a milestone in my growth as a master mev."

"That lightning bolt?" Tirek asked her.

"Yes," Rainbow confirmed with a nod.

The centaur raised an eyebrow at her in deep contemplation.

Rainbow's three companions silently took a few steps back, realizing that though they were allowed to observe the conversation, they were to stay at a distance from it.

"I...can feed you," Rainbow Dash offered. "And as strange as it may sound, I thought maybe...we could be friends."

"Because we both eat magic from living creatures?" Tirek asked, trying to level his tone to not sound too interested or too offended.

Rainbow nodded nervously. "Yeah. Like I said, strange. Just to start from. Hopefully we can find some other common ground later."

"Well, I don't know about being friends Master, but I'd hardly be one to turn down free food," Tirek admitted. "They'll let you?"

"I am restricted in how much I can give, but yes, I can give you something," Rainbow informed him. She opened her mouth and blew out a tiny white orb of magic. It floated toward Tirek. "It's from my flexchange last night."

Tirek ate the morsel offered and licked his lips. "Earth pony," he muttered, "but it certainly is different than most. It has a watery essence to it as well."

"Yes, she does," Rainbow agreed.

"What do the others taste like?" Tirek asked with an interested smile.

Rainbow smiled back. "If I come visit you again, I'll share a different one next time—how's that?"

The other magic-eating creature nodded in acceptance of such an offer. He didn't say anything for awhile, still considering her idea. He wasn't a friendly creature, but he knew the value of having an ally, which was how he convinced Discord to turn on his friends before. Still, she was one of the ponies responsible for putting him in this wretched place, and he wasn't sure about master mevs, having never met one in person before.

"If you need time to think it over, I can come back another day and check in," Rainbow said, pulling Tirek out of his thoughts.

"Hmm? Yes, I think that would be wise," Tirek agreed.

"Very well. Today was just a basic introduction. I'll visit another time to at least feed you," Rainbow said. "Until next time, Lord Tirek," she said with a bow.

As Tirek saw her start to turn around, he quickly called out to her, "Have you gone berserk?"

Rainbow paused and glanced his way.

"Is that how you got that red lightning?" the imprisoned centaur was curious and admitted as much.

Rainbow stopped, considered if she should answer, and eventually decided given the nature of how public it was where it happened, even if all the way in the Dragon Lands, she could tell him. "In a way, yes." With that, she and her companions left.





At Twilight's castle in the throne room, Rainbow Dash, Starlight Glimmer, Spike, and Twilight Sparkle sat at their respective thrones. Rainbow brought out the pearl from her saddlebag and placed it in front of the group.

The master mev's eyes flickered red-on-yellow and instead of waiting for the object to speak first, rainbow herself did so. "Hello Pearl," she greeted.

"Hello Master," Pearl replied, flickering with a glow like Grant and Amara had done before her.

"Amara told me you are the only object in Rhezenda's trunk that has no traces of my mev magic," Rainbow noted.

"Yes. All the others think that's important. I must confess, I myself don't know that it is," Pearl replied. "I've certainly felt plenty connected to you and Rhezenda given how I was used in service directly to you."

"Right. The thing is, all of those other objects are in service to other kingdoms or a specific job that isn't directly to me," Rainbow explained. "As for you, I knew you were magic and that my work involves reserving it or backing it up, so that was the initial reason for my request. I didn't intend to bond with Sweetie Belle the way we eventually did with your help."

"It's certainly not a problem that happened," Pearl noted succinctly.

"That's good to hear," Rainbow replied. "I have decided that what Amara told me is significant and have two of my fledglings with me; one of them is who was with me during my visit to Mount Aris, Rexa Twilight Sparkle."

"Oh, you wish to have someone eat from me again?" Peal realized.

"Yes. Before that, I need to know if you have any objections for any reason. I also want to understand if you work like Grant, who indicated that the magic returns after a week, just as it does from a living creature," Rainbow explained.

"So long as the Magic Pearl itself sustains its magic for the week that I am out, my magic will return. I won't be able to talk to you while it's gone," Pearl said.

"Will you still be able to talk with the other objects? My understanding is that you have all become friends," Rainbow noted.

"My voice will be weaker, but it will be enough," Pearl answered. "After all, I will have the traces of your own magic left behind."

"True," Rainbow agreed. "Do you want a new name?"

"No. The others are so named based on their origin. Pearl suits me just fine in that manner," the tiny piece replied. "As for your initial concern, I have no objections whatsoever."

"Very well then. I'm turning off the liveliness, so that we can move on," Rainbow said.

"Until next time, Master Rainbow Dash," Pearl bid her farewell.

With that, Rainbow Dash instructed Twilight to eat the magic, which the fledgling did. Spike and Starlight left the throne room to find other things to do in the castle. Rainbow and Twilight conducted their usual flexchange and weekly Sunday night reading afterward.
> Chapter 71 - Schooling
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







At the Cutie Mark Crusader clubhouse on Monday afternoon, a long white sheet of paper with four different drawings in the form of a list was tacked onto the wall. Sweetie Belle magically held a red colored pencil. Apple Bloom paced in a circle. Scootaloo sat near a window, thoughtfully tapping her chin.

Apple Bloom stopped walking and spoke. "Okay, we've tried shirking chores, pestering, disguises, and fighting."

Sweetie Belle checked off each item as Apple Bloom said them and held her hoof to her chin in thought like Scootaloo did.

A familiar knock rapped at their door. Sweetie opened it with magic. They made sure it was Rainbow Dash before all three bowed together to say in unison, "Master Rainbow Dash."

"My dear Awesome Crusaders," Rainbow greeted with a smile and a bow of her head. She looked at the visible list still on the wall. "What's that?"

"We're trying to figure out how to get into Twilight's school," Sweetie Belle freely admitted to her. "I don't suppose you can help us out with that?" she looked up with a hopeful smile.

"Please Master," Scootaloo held her two front hooves together.

"Yes. Please!" Apple Bloom copied Scootaloo's gesture.

Rainbow Dash blinked curiously before pausing to think for a moment. "Why can't you go?"

"Twilight told us we can't," Scootaloo explained. "That's why I sneaked into your class today."

The other two fillies nodded.

"She says we don't need them," Apple Bloom explained.

"Really?" asked a confused Rainbow Dash.

They nodded.

"And what do your parents and guardians say?" Rainbow prodded.

All three of them blushed.

"We haven't actually asked any of them, but I kinda doubt Applejack would let me if Twilight says no," Apple Bloom said.

"And we're all kinda assuming that's your answer too," Scootaloo admitted regretfully.

"Well, it certainly isn't my decision," Rainbow agreed. "But seriously, talk to them first. Applejack's not your only guardian, Apple Bloom. Granny Smith and Big Mac have a say in looking after you too, don't they?"

Apple Bloom nodded.

"You really think they'd let us?" Scootaloo asked. "I mean, Twilight might still refuse."

"I suppose you have a point there. Let's go talk to her, all four of us," Rainbow offered.

The Crusaders collectively lit up with huge smiles at that.





"I told them they can't go because they already know everything about helping others in need and being there for each other," Twilight Sparkle said from behind her desk at the school.

"Is that how you screen all of the other students?" Rainbow asked. "Do you give them some kind of entrance exam and if the score is too high, they can't attend here?"

"Well...no," Twilight admitted.

"I know for a fact that you let a filly their age named Cozy Glow transfer in this morning. If the girls talk to their parents and guardians, and they say yes, are you still going to refuse them?" Rainbow Dash pried further.

"You put that idea into their heads, didn't you?" Twilight realized with a dry expression.

"We haven't asked yet," Apple Bloom said. "We're doing this as respectfully as our master wishes us too. Promise."

"They may be my servants now, but they are still magical creatures who can ask for help from a master mev," Rainbow Dash explained.

Twilight sighed. "Rainbow Dash, they don't need these classes."

"So? They want to be here, and they'd be great students. They could tutor other students or help out teachers if you want to level them up or something," the sky blue pegasus argued. "I'm sorry Twilight, but the lack of necessity is not a good reason to refuse admitting them here when you don't do that to anyone else, especially if they do get permission from the proper channels."

The three fillies looked up at the alicorn headmare hopefully.

Twilight sighed again and took a moment to think it over. "You four wait here."

In a flash she was gone and in another flash she returned with Starlight Glimmer. Twilight then went on to explain the entire situation. "So, as our guidance counselor, could you guide us into what is best for these three?"

Starlight tapped her chin in thought. "I think you're both right. These three would make better teachers than students here. Tutoring would be a good idea, but Twilight, you do teach things about magic in your class that they won't learn anywhere else and might not actually know. Everything is so hooves-on at this school, it would actually be a good experience for them. I say combine the ideas. Have them talk to their parents and guardians with the offer of an internship. All three already assist Master in some form. They'll be our assistants at the school, so they can be learning and helping."

"Like one day we would actually be teachers here?" asked a very interested Apple Bloom.

"Is that a career you three want?" Twilight asked. "You already have your crusading, both for cutie marks and now for Team Awesome."

"Master's managing with all her jobs and is very accommodating to all our schedules. If our parents and guardians say yes, it's just a switch of our current school with this one," Sweetie Belle pointed out.

"We are totally ready for an upgrade," added an enthusiastic Scootaloo.

Rainbow Dash glanced slyly at Twilight Sparkle.

"It does make more sense the more I think about it," Twilight realized, thoughtfully tapping a hoof to her chin like Starlight did a moment earlier. "Alright, girls, here's what we'll do. I'm going to write you a letter of acceptance for this internship to make the offer Starlight said. You still need actual permission from your parents and guardians to be enrolled as interns."

"We're on it," Apple Bloom said happily.

"Can I talk to my parents before we go to your house?" Sweetie Belle asked Rainbow Dash. "You could just wait in a different room. Then we can work on tomorrow's agenda."

"That's fine," Rainbow agreed.

"Let's find out Sweetie's parents' answer before we talk to our guardians," Apple Bloom suggested to Scootaloo. "We can guard Master in the meantime." She looked at Rainbow Dash, who nodded in quiet approval.

"Alright, sure," Scootaloo agreed.

Twilight was able to quickly draft the letters magically giving one to each of the fillies.

With the letter of acceptance, the Crusaders did not have to wait long for an answer from Sweetie Belle's parents. They were quite proud of their younger daughter for receiving one. They wished the other two fillies luck.

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo grinned with eager hope, and the four ponies left.

"Well, I better get to talking to my family then," Apple Bloom said.

"I'll go with you," Scootaloo offered. She looked at Rainbow Dash. "If we finish before sunset, we'll stop by to tell you two the news," she offered.

"That's fine, Little Sister," Rainbow Dash consented with a friendly nod and wave.





At Rainbow Dash's cloud house, Sweetie Belle stared out a window between checking her notes to present to Rainbow. She eventually caught of two galloping figures, and she smiled brightly to run to Rainbow Dash, who was already swooping in to grab the unicorn filly and take them down to meet the others.

"Well?" Sweetie Belle asked.

Both the other two fillies grinned. "They said yes!" the two said at the same time.

"We're all going to Twilight's school together as interns!" the fillies declared together and hoof bumped as a trio.

Then they smiled upward at Rainbow Dash, who hovered nearby. The sky blue pegasus gave each of them a congratulatory hoof bump one at a time. "Make me proud for this job, Crusaders."

They giggled.

"Of course, Master," Apple Bloom replied with a proud smile.

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom waved good-bye. Rainbow Dash and Sweetie Belle returned to the house.

After the sun set, Rainbow Dash paced back and forth in the air in her dragon form. Sweetie gathered her notes and spoke. "Alright, so since the last meeting, we found out on Wednesday that the fledglings get a little boost early for Nightmare Night, then we of course did the actual Nightmare Night show. On Friday, Apple Bloom officially became a servant of yours. On Saturday, we visited with Princess Cadance, showed her Amara, found out about Pearl." The unicorn filly paused. "Have you uh...done anything for that yet?"

"I had Rexa eat her magic last night since she was the fledgling with me for that mission. She went as support when we got Pearl. I offered to give Pearl a new name, but she declined. She's quite friendly like both Princess Skystar and Silverstream," Rainbow Dash noted. Sweetie Belle scribbled in that piece of news for Sunday in her recap.

"Your fledglings were there with us to be named the Awesome Crusaders as a group in service to you," Sweetie smiled as she noted that part.

"Awesome indeed," the master mev agreed. 

"How'd it go yesterday with Tirek?" Sweetie Belle wondered.

"About as well as can be expected. Since you weren't with me, I've assigned Starlight with noting the details. She'll help me go over them tomorrow night."

The Rhezenda nodded. "School for today?" she asked.

"I guess it was technically a short job, and it affects everyone but Discord there," Rainbow said. She paused in thought.

"Is something wrong?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"We've never invited Discord to see the school," Rainbow realized with a worried tone.

"I-is that bad thing?" the unicorn filly grew concerned as well.

Rainbow Dash frowned. "It's certainly not something I'm proud of. I'll have to talk to Twilight about that on my own later—hopefully before the pack meeting."

Sweetie Belle pulled out a small piece of paper and magically wrote down a reminder she would give to Rainbow once their current meeting was over.

"Are we back to traveling this weekend?" Sweetie Belle inquired.

"Yes. Bigger crowd than past trips now that I have three filly servants, assuming all of you can make it, and I'm bringing one more fledgling than usual," Rainbow noted.

"Oh, we can all make it. We've been wishing for another trip the three of us can take together since Mount Aris," Sweetie Belle assured her master.

"Great. We're going to the Changeling Kingdom. You three, plus Fluttershy, Starlight and Pinkie Pie, making us a party of seven this time around," Rainbow said.

"No Spike?" Sweetie asked.

"No Spike. Starlight will serve in a similar role to what he's been doing for us. She and Thorax helped save Equestria, and she even visited the place with just her and Trixie. Most of what I know about the Changeling Kingdom is actually what she's told me from that experience," Rainbow explained. "Pinkie Pie hasn't been on any trips, and while I wanted everyone to go at least once, we're now in a position where I could actually have everyone go at least twice. To do that, I have to bring Pinkie Pie this time."

"Are there any interesting magical objects there?" the unicorn filly wondered.

"We'll get a better sense for that when we get there," Rainbow replied, "but I would say don't get any hopes up on anypony getting any powers. That phase for us is done."

Sweetie Belle nodded. "Is there a next phase?"

Rainbow shrugged. "I honestly don't know, Rhezenda. I wouldn't expect it, but I can't say with certainty."

"Okay," the filly noted with acceptance.





"So, this is the School of Friendship." Discord spread his arms wide with a big smile as several pony students stopped to stare at him in curiosity while he walked down a hallway with his closest friend hovering at his side.

"Yes," Fluttershy said happily. "We're so very sorry we didn't invite you before. Rainbow Dash had to remind Twilight," she noted sullenly.

"I was a little hurt," Discord admitted, "but that's neither here nor there nor anywhere. I'm here now. Show me. Tell me. What sort of magical things are taught here?"

"Oh, that's mainly Twilight's class if you mean magic besides friendship magic. A lot of our students aren't unicorns after all," Fluttershy explained.

"Well, yes, but you have a master mev who teaches here," Discord replied openly. "She could make all of them unicorns in the framework of the school for a class or a day."

Fluttershy giggled at that. "That may well be, but that's not the sort of thing we teach here, even if they do know what Rainbow is after Nightmare Night."

"So be it," Discord sounded disappointed. "Still, lead on dear Fluttershy."

The canary-colored pegasus smiled sweetly and continued with her tour as a substitute for their usual Tuesday tea in the afternoon.





The door of the CMC clubhouse opened to show a young peach-colored pegasus filly that looked mildly familiar to Rainbow Dash.

"Professor Rainbow Dash," the Crusaders greeted her, and their eyes collectively darted to their guest for why they did not use the usual title.

"Oh Professor Rainbow Dash," the other filly followed suit. "What are you doing here?"

"Cozy Glow, right?" Rainbow inquired.

The filly nodded. "I just transferred here yesterday."

"Twilight is already having us tutor one of the students at the school," Scootaloo eagerly explained. "We'll officially transfer over soon and can still help out Cozy in the meantime."

"I'm really struggling after just my first day," Cozy said in a cutesy sad voice. "But these three have helped me so much already, I just know I'll get better."

"Right on, Crusaders." The pegasus teacher grinned and offered a hoof they all bumped. "Are you ready Sweetie Belle?"

"Yes, I am," Sweetie said with a smile, magically grabbing her saddlebags. "We'll see you three later." She waved at the others.

After they left, Cozy looked at Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. "Where are they going?" the filly wondered.

"Sweetie helps out Professor Dash as an assistant for one of her other jobs," Apple Bloom explained.

"Other jobs?" Cozy blinked with innocent curiosity.

Apple Bloom smiled warmly back at her. "Yeah, Rainbow Dash is a busy mare."

"What other jobs? I mean, I know she's a Wonderbolt and professor at the school," Cozy told them.

"Err..." Apple Bloom paused and glanced at Scootaloo.

Scootaloo bashfully rubbed at the back of her neck. "It's kinda hard to explain, and we're not supposed to go around blabbing everything about it."

"True enough," Apple Bloom agreed with a nod. "She's kinda like a special diplomat, I guess you might say. I hope that will do."

Scootaloo chuckled. "Yeah, I think that works."

Cozy Glow glanced from one crusader to the other, and they looked at her with hopeful smiles. "Oh...okay then. Does it have a title?"

"'Master,'" they both said together at the same time.

The other filly was slightly taken aback because it seemed instinctual from them.

"Just 'Master'?" Cozy asked.

"Well, I guess she's also still in charge of the weather for Ponyville," Scootaloo remarked thoughtfully.

"We best get back to studying," Apple Bloom advised.

Scootaloo nodded in full agreement. "Let's do that."

Cozy Glow knew she could not wrangle anything else from them so continued on with the lesson, filing the curiosity away into the back of her mind.





On Tuesday night right after the sun fully set, Rainbow Dash and Starlight stood together in Starlight's bedroom.

"Are you ready, Primeva?" a fanged Rainbow Dash asked.

"Yes, Master," Starlight replied sweetly.

Two magenta eyes flickered red-on-yellow, and Starlight grew two bat wings onto her unicorn body. She flew upward and darted about her room before spreading them in a near embrace of her master.

Rainbow kissed Starlight's neck for a short while before she bit in to the lilac fledgling's neck. Starlight bit back, and eventually her wings whisked away completely. Rainbow's own feathered wings turned to bat flaps and embraced Starlight instead. The two mevs stood locked together for several seconds.

"Is my Primeva satisfied?" Rainbow asked.

"You know I am," Starlight whispered. "And you, Master? What of your pleasure?"

The still bat-winged master mev smiled. "Mmm, yes. It is right where I want it to be."

The two released their embrace, and Rainbow Dash reverted to a fanged pegasus form. They made their way to the throne room together.
> Chapter 72 - Naming the Crown
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Rarity stared carefully at the mirror, then at Twilight Sparkle. "We just go through, and that's all there is to it?"

Twilight nodded. "Yes. Everything's been arranged. The other Rainbow Dash will meet us on the other side—just her."

The white unicorn took a deep breath of relief. "The others aren't too offended, I would hope."

"Certainly not," Twilight replied. "They know I'll explain more later if I can."

"Very well then. Let's have at it, shall we?" Rarity said with an optimistic smile.

"Yes, let's," Twilight agreed, smiling too. "I'll go first. Walking on two legs can be a little disorienting, so I'll catch you."

Rarity nodded. "Very well."

The alicorn went through, soon followed by her friend.

Rarity felt her body contort strangely between realms before finally reaching the other side of the portal. She found her new bipedal body nearly toppling over as she reached out her sudden hands to catch herself.

"Whoa!" a voice she had so wished to hear said.

A purple hand caught her right, and a blue hand caught her left. Rarity looked up to see Twilight and the human Rainbow Dash they were scheduled to meet.

"Rainbow Dash!" Rarity immediately stood up straight with an eager smile, letting go of the other girls' hands.

Rainbow Dash smirked as she suddenly spun a soccer ball on the tip of one of her fingers. "Hey, Rarity. I heard you want my help with something."

"Indeed," Rarity admitted. "Do you have a place where we can speak in private, if that's not too much trouble?"

"Sure, come on," Rainbow Dash replied. The human girl motioned for the pair to follow and led them to her own home, quickly making their way up the stairs to her room. The room was adorned with posters of people Rarity assumed to be professional athletes. Indeed, at least one team's symbol was a lightning bolt. "I see you are athletic like my Equestrian Rainbow Dash friend."

The human Rainbow Dash blushed. "I'll take your word for it. Twilight doesn't actually tell us much about our other selves. We're usually a bit busy fighting off weird magic or you know...high school things."

Rarity nodded. "So I've heard."

Twilight blushed and nervously twirled a lock of her dark blue hair. "S-sorry."

"Don't sweat it," Rainbow replied, waving the remark off with her hand. She sat down at a chair by her desk and gestured that Rarity and Twilight should seat themselves on the bed.

"Indeed, no worries," Rarity added. "She is about to find out more anyway."

The two Equestrian visitors sat on the bed as they had been directed.

"Alright, so what's up?" Rainbow Dash asked.

Rarity brushed her own purple hair aside. "Well, bear with me here. To start, let me just say that nothing terrible is happening. There is no fighting off magic with my request. I'm just seeking your assistance to name something."

Rainbow blinked but waited for the pony in human form to continue.

Rarity met her eyes. "Do humans know anything about vampires?"

At that, Rainbow Dash chuckled. "Well, we don't really 'know' anything. They're not real over here, I think, but as the story goes, they're undead creatures that drink blood with their fangs—nocturnal too," she answered.

"Right. Well, in Equestria, we have much tamer versions of vampires that are called 'mevs'. Magic. Eating. Vampires." She gestured with a finger as if to strike each word of the acronym as she spoke. "Your pony version back home became a master mev sometime ago," Rarity explained.

"But magic-eating sounds bad for a place loaded with magic," Rainbow Dash replied, mildly confused.

Rarity smiled bashfully. "Yes, well. We have arrangements to feed her and ourselves. I'm one of the fledglings in the pack. My title is Mitria."

"Title?"

Rarity nodded. "Yes. I am her third fledgling. She gave a title to each of us."

The human girl looked at Twilight. "You?"

Twilight blushed. "Yes. I am Rexa, her sixth."

Rainbow Dash smiled in fascination. "Cool. So, tell me me more about this naming thing..."

"Yes," Rarity said. "Master...that's your title over there..."

"Neat."

"...has a special crown that she wishes to give a name. She is struggling with finding something that fits. I offered to help but am struggling as well. Spike suggested perhaps the human world could be of assistance. Rexa made the arrangement with Sunset to have me ask you in particular for your advice. If it helps, each of the mevs in our pack has a natural element power as well. Master's is lightning."

Rainbow Dash smiled. "That does help. I've got at least one idea." She immediately stood from her chair and rummaged through a shelf of video games, picking out one game in particular.

"Tekken?" Rarity replied as she read off the cover.

"This is a fighting game," Rainbow Dash explained as she put the game into a console.

As the game loaded up, Rarity saw a young muscular man with spiky black hair as purple lightning surrounded his aura for a moment before he punched at the air. "Who is he?"

"Jin Kazama," Rainbow Dash answered.

Rarity blinked. "That must be it." She looked at Twilight. "It's Jin!"

The other fledgling blinked at her. "As in, that's the name of the crown?"

"Well, I certainly think so. Just 'Jin'—not the 'Kazama' part. Obviously we'll have to run it by Master and the stubborn crown itself, but it definitely feels as right as right can be. Rainbow Dash, does the name itself have any special meaning?"

"'Benevolence'," Rainbow Dash replied.

Rarity put a contemplative hand to her chin. "Yes, that might work."

"The Jin in the game has a dad and grandfather who also have lightning stuff when they fight. Kazuya and Heihachi," Rainbow Dash noted further.

"No, I don't think either of those is right," Rarity noted thoughtfully.

The human girl went on to show Rarity the game, explain some of the story, and a later game so Rarity could know his voice. Rainbow then even showed her guests some other video games and other characters. 

Both Rarity and Twilight were deeply fascinated by a unicorn named Ixion in a fantasy role-playing game with a lightning-based power. "Well, if lightning were my element, I think I'd go with that," Twilight bashfully admitted.

The other two girls with her chuckled.

"Perhaps I would as well. I suppose that one can be a top preferred alternative," Rarity remarked.

None of the other names resonated on the same level with the third fledgling as much as 'Jin' did.

Rainbow Dash still wrote them down just in case the master mev or the crown rejected Mitria Rarity's initial choice.

With Rarity at last satisfied she had thoroughly explored their options, she and Twilight Sparkle prepared to leave.

"So is this mev thing a big secret with your group?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Is that why you wanted to meet with just me?"

"Not a big secret, but I just wanted to keep things simple, as it were. I will be telling our own group these name ideas for our weekly pack meeting tonight in fact," Rarity explained.

"Assuming Master is fine with it—and I do believe she will be—I'll come back another time and fill you all in on more details," Twilight explained.

"Fair deal," Rainbow Dash replied with a nod.

She offered out her hand, which Rarity promptly shook. Rainbow and Twilight hugged.

"Thank you for all your help," Rarity said with sincere gratitude.

"Yes, thanks very much," Twilight added.

"No problem. It was actually fun," the human girl said and escorted them back to the portal.

With all said and done, the two ponies left the human world.





Another Tuesday night meant another Team Awesome pack meeting. For most of the fledglings, going down the line would be a formality. They did not have much of anything to report beyond the obvious collective experiences they went through on Nightmare Night and formalizing the Awesome Crusaders. A notable point of interest was how things went in Tartarus. Rarity had only told Twilight and Spike of her intent to finally try naming the crown.

Discord, Spike, and Sweetie Belle were all present. Perhaps it was not so chaotic to put in a temporary throne for himself, but Discord decided to go with it all the same. He felt more properly included at these now regular weekly meetings, and he had gone on actual mission two days ago himself after all.

"Let's get started," Rainbow Dash announced. "First up. Nightmare Night."

Huge cheers rose all around from everyone.

"Nightmare Night was a success. The outsiders did not panic and let us let them in on the fun. I got to ride Blitz and have my laughs. We had a song. Rhezenda predicted they believed us but were also ready to move on," Rainbow said. "My own students actually seem to mostly believe it, but there seems to be an age factor. Their parents...not so much."

"That's been my experience," Rarity said.

"Mine too," Applejack added.

"Me three and me four if you count Penny," Pinkie said with a smile and giggle.

"Same here," Fluttershy said with a sweet smile.

Starlight and Twilight merely nodded to agree with the rest of them.

"Have any of you been called by your mev title?" Twilight couldn't help asking.

"Yeah," Applejack admitted. "Not much, just a couple of students have tried it. I guess it don't bother me as much given the uh…process...of how we presented it."

More murmurs of agreement ran through the group.

"What about you, Master?" Twilight wondered. "Since you were top billing for the show and it has a different power than ours."

"The students from the other kingdoms and Sandbar are taking full advantage of it," Rainbow informed them. "Other students in my own classes have started using it."

Spike noted it all down in his scribbling.

"Up next, as you all know, Apple Bloom has become another servant of mine," Rainbow said. 

More cheering.

"Growing quite the collection, Master," Discord said with an intrigued smile.

Fluttershy giggled. "Funny you say that. We even gave their group an updated name when they serve Master."

"Really?" he asked with interest.

"We are the Awesome Crusaders since we're going to help out Team Awesome and all," Sweetie Belle told him.

He laughed in amusement.

"Interestingly, the fledglings all felt the completion of this collection," Rainbow added.

"That is fascinating," Discord agreed.

Twilight cleared her throat. "So, how was that earth pony bond process done, Master?"

Rainbow Dash smiled, flashed her magenta eyes to red-on-yellow to create a projection of the experience on the table as she explained it.

Twilight smiled when it was all done. "Did you realize that each filly was at a different level for these? Apple Bloom had to be in the lower point of the earth, Sweetie at the ground level—or rather, the table acted as her ground. Scootaloo was in the sky."

"No, I'll admit that did not occur to me," Rainbow replied, "but so long as we're talking about that sort of thing, check this out."

The projection cleared away and a medium red circle formed on the table. Inside it formed another smaller red circle where she projected the entire pack. "This is us, Team Awesome."

The other mevs all smiled in fascination.

Next, she placed the figures of the outsiders present just outside the smaller circle. "Here's Rhezenda. Not fully in the pack circle but as close as Discord and Spike. In a way, she's actually closer since she's at my side quite a bit."

Discord and Spike themselves looked at their own figures with interest.

The two new servants were added in what Rainbow deemed appropriate places. "Here's Scootaloo near the edge of the bigger circle," she said to everyone. "Apple Bloom herself is the one who pointed this all out to me since she was still outside the circle at the time. Now listen to this. When asked to be brought in," the figure of Apple Bloom shifted into the circle next to Scootaloo, "the role she chose was to be in part bodyguard and the other part a gopher."

"Meaning," Twilight said with pleased understanding, "she's still the closest to the outside of the circle even if she's in because of how she moves away from you or us to do that part of her role."

Spike realized Twilight was looking at him, and he began to note down everything the master mev had said.

"Moving on," Rainbow told everyone and deactivated the projection, "I brought Amara here to the castle during Cadance's visit. They had a good talk. Amara happened to mention that the other objects in Rhezenda's trunk know and speak to each other as friends."

"Wow, really?" said Pinkie. "That is so cool! Do they have object parties in there?"

"That didn't really come up," Rainbow said, "but it turns out that the tiny piece of pearl I brought back from Mount Aris had no traces of my mev magic because of how I tried to leave it intact. It goes by the name of Pearl for them. Amara herself said she felt that might be important, so to bring Pearl up to that patterned link with the others, Twilight ate her magic yesterday. We have no need to return it directly, so it will actually go back on its own within a week's time."

"Is she as nice as Grant is?" Fluttershy wondered. "And Amara too. She must be nice if things went well with Princess Cadance."

"They're all very nice," Twilight answered for Rainbow.

"Not that I mind," Applejack said, "but I wonder why that is."

"Friendship magic I presume," Rarity said. "Rainbow goes to these places to offer her services, but every one of them has a friendship connection to us already in some form."

"I guess, but the idol of Boreas is for us to help Scootaloo, not Griffonstone," Applejack reminded her.

"It's actually both," Starlight interjected. "We did mange to get griffon magic from him despite Gilda refusing that part of Rainbow's requests on our visit."

"Oh, yeah," Applejack conceded.

"I don't activate their liveliness often, but Pearl did alert me that I won't be able to speak with her during this week she's out. She said she will weakly be able to speak to the other objects," Rainbow noted.

"How interesting," Discord casually remarked.

"It's been a useful ability you've taught me," Rainbow told him.

Discord nodded pleasantly.

Rainbow glanced at the agenda Sweetie Belle had ready for her. "Moving on again, let's talk about visiting Tirek in Tartarus," the master mev said. "Discord helped me make a basic introduction. I told Tirek I was there because I felt it the proper time. I said I could feed him a little bit and did. I told him maybe we could be friends."

"Really?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"That seems a mite odd, Master," Applejack noted carefully.

"I agree," Rainbow said, "but Fluttershy brought up the point she and Discord became friends. It's not impossible and worth a shot."

"Well, what did he say in response to that?" Rarity prodded with interest.

"He wasn't sure, but he'd take me up on the free food. I'll let him think on the idea and visit him again another time," Rainbow answered.

"It really was that simple?" Twilight asked.

"Almost," Starlight said, meeting eyes with Rainbow Dash.

"Oh, right. He asked if I'd gone berserk and if that was how I got my lightning power," Rainbow remembered. "I told him yes. Alright, enough on that. Starlight, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie, are you three available for a mission this Sunday to the Changeling Kingdom?"

"I am," Starlight answered first.

"Yes, Master, I am as well," Fluttershy said.

"Me three!" Pinkie eagerly declared.

"Awesome," Rainbow said. "That will put us back on track to continuing Project Mercury. We have nothing else to report on that this week. Let's go down the line now. Primeva."

"Beyond the things we all did together as the entire pack, I was here when Master brought Amara and went with Master to Tartarus on Sunday. Besides that," she blushed, "I'm going to admit I've taken a liking to being a bat pony for flexchanges."

The other mevs giggled in amusement. Sweetie Belle's cheeks flushed red.

"That's it from me," Starlight said.

"Segunda," Rainbow continued to her second fledgling.

"I can finally be a bat pony anytime at night," Fluttershy told everyone. They all cheered for her. "I went with Master to Tartarus on Sunday too, as you all know. And it's not exactly a mev related thing, but I showed Discord around at the school today after Master pointed out to Twilight we hadn't done that," Fluttershy said.

"We're mighty sorry about that," Applejack told him.

"Indeed, shame on us," Rarity agreed.

"Super sorry, Discord," Pinkie added.

"Like everyone else, I am sorry Discord," Starlight spoke as well.

Rainbow and Twilight had already made their fervent apologies earlier in the day.

"Yes. Well, all's well that ends well and all that," Discord said. "I'm glad you all came around. Thank you, Master."

Rainbow blushed. "Oh, I was just trying to right a wrong from us."

"And that can still be appreciated," the draconequus told her with an authoritative air of one of his clawed talons.

"You're welcome then," Rainbow replied.

"No more to report from me," Fluttershy told everyone.

"Mitria," Rainbow called upon the next in line.

Rarity smiled proudly. "I am happy to report I do believe I have a fitting name for your crown."

Rainbow Dash smiled at that. "Let's hear it."

"Wait!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed. She used her magic to lift out the crown from a saddlebag and set it in front of Rarity.

"Alright, let's hear it," Rainbow Dash encouraged her fledgling.

"Jin," Rarity said confidently.

The crown shimmered and lit up to a golden glow for a moment before that glow shifted into a red hue. The red was slightly more subdued compared to Rainbow's usual magic aura, but it was familiar enough to all present at the table, especially the mevs.

"I think he likes it," Applejack noted.

"He does," Rainbow Dash told her. "Jin...finally. I'm glad to know it."
> Chapter 73 - Remote Idea
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







"Oh, should we liven him up for this moment?" Twilight Sparkle asked.

Rainbow Dash eyed the crown. It seemed fitting, and Jin at least did not protest. "Only a moment," she decided. Her eyes flashed red-on-yellow.

"Yes, Master?" Jin inquired.

"Oh, he sounds just like the young man in the game," Rarity remarked.

"Heya...we all just wanted to say 'hi' now that we know your name, if that's alright," Rainbow Dash said.

"Yes, that is fine. Hi," he replied.

"Hi Jin! How does it feel to be master's super important awesome hub thingie?" Pinkie Pie asked him.

"Hmm. No complaints," Jin answered. "I am a young object with a lot happening in here, but I do my part. as required of me."

"That's good to hear," Rainbow Dash said. "Did you have anything you wanted to say or request? You are a big help to our team, after all."

"I am content that you have found a fitting name," Jin replied. "I do believe that will be enough for me to connect with you if a request comes along. For now, I am fine. I suppose I will admit that I prefer to keep to myself actually."

"I see what you're saying. You don't mind having the liveliness on for the moment since you just got your name but actually prefer it off unless we have a specific request," Rainbow noted.

"Correct," Jin answered.

"So be it," Rainbow Dash replied to that. "I'm turning it off now then, so good-bye."

"Good-bye," Jin said.

Silence lingered.

Eventually, Sweetie Belle put Jin away. "Great job, Rarity," she told her older sister with a proud smile.

Rarity blushed with a modest smile in turn.

"Anything else, Mitria?" Sweetie Belle went on, grinning.

Rarity giggled, certain her sister was happy to use the title in such a way. The older unicorn cleared her throat to become more serious. "Yes. I wished to explain that Master's human counterpart actually helped me in finding that name today. I did ask she keep our meeting between us until somepony else can stop by and tell the group more about the rest of us," Rarity explained.

"I could do it," Twilight Sparkle quickly offered.

"Very well," Rainbow Dash approved. She looked at Rarity with expectant eyes in case there was still more.

"And now I am finished," Rarity noted.

"Fyra," the master moved on.

"I helped my little sister bond with Master on Friday. That was my flexchange day too, ya'll," Applejack said. "We heard a lot about that already. That's it on my end of things."

"Quintaza and Pentaza," Rainbow said.

Penny said hello, and Pinkie admitted she didn't have any other news. She did tell Penny they finally had a mission ahead of them, and the two pink earth pony forms happily danced together at the prospect. "It'll be funny because having another Pinkie around won't be strange to them at all," Pinkie said with a little giggle. Penny giggled too and was soon after. Pinkie ended her turn.

"Rexa," Rainbow called upon the last of her fledglings.

"I hosted Princess Cadance, Shining Armor, and Flurry Heart. I even got to see Amara talk. I ate the magic from Pearl. Besides that, I was there for our group gatherings. Spike and I regularly tend to our archives since we're learning so much about mevs. I'm starting to understand why the book we have left so much out. It's a lot of information, and there are certain developments that are not easily explained or predicted, and I do believe some things packs wanted to keep to themselves privately. Our pack probably developed a bit differently too. That's all from me," Twilight said.

"Your turn, Master," Sweetie Belle told Rainbow Dash.

"We covered most of what I've been up to earlier. A little something is that as you all know, the Crusaders are incoming interns at the School of Friendship. It was a short job that I helped them get to that point with Starlight's guidance and Twilight's acceptance."

Everyone nodded with quiet smiles.

"That's a wrap, Awesomevs. Meeting over. You are dismissed." The master mev concluded the meeting with authority.





The night moved onto the expected magic lesson.

"What should we cover tonight?" Starlight Glimmer asked. "The changelings won't be expecting you to shape-shift the way they do, and it's inherent in their own magic."

"Not to mention shape-shifting is very easy once you actually have the magic to do it," Discord added.

"I suppose it was easy that one time I tried it as Starlight way back when," Rainbow Dash admitted quietly.

"Do you need anything for us Awesome Crusaders?" Sweetie Belle inquired. "Do we get to use our forms since the changelings are so open about that kind of thing?"

"Hmm," Rainbow grew thoughtful. "Only on request," she noted. "If they ask for a demonstration, that is when we would do such a thing since it would be in service of a client."

"Oh, well that would be alright, and I think it could happen," Sweetie figured. "So what are you learning then?"

Rainbow Dash tapped a hoof to her chin and flared her wings out as she thought, not really sure what that would be. Eventually, she looked to her two teachers. "Let's cover whatever you two think is either useful or fun," she suggested to Starlight and Discord.

Discord put a lion paw up to his chin and tapped at it thoughtfully as he started to pace back and forth.

Starlight had mimicked the gesture with a hoof and stared up into the library though she stood in place. "I've got something in mind," she soon offered aloud. "I want to tell you about something interesting from the changelings that I didn't see in the kingdom itself."

"Oh?" The master mev grew curious.

"They had a way to remotely communicate with Chrysalis. I didn't get a good look at the objects they used, but they must have had magic in them," Starlight explained. "They set them on the table, and then there were these beams and then a projection of Chrysalis herself."

"That is interesting," Rainbow agreed.

"In the human world that Rarity just visited, the girls there use these things called 'cell phones' where they can remotely talk to each other anytime. Instead of having to summon each other the way you do with us or us with you, they just call each other up when they're not nearby. 

"It would be extremely useful for our work. I'm thinking if we find out more about the remote communicator from the changelings, we might be able to create cell phones for us to use here in our world," Starlight told her master and glanced over to Discord.

The draconequus nodded. "I know the devices Starlight's talking about. They are a convenience if I've ever seen one. I'm sure that if you can't find a way with unicorn magic, my own could be used since it would be in service of your pack."

"Well then," Rainbow decided, "tonight, you two are going to lecture me about cell phones, and we'll try out some chaos-based ones. How's that?"

The two teachers smiled and nodded. Sweetie Belle found herself a seat to quietly observe the lesson and take notes on her master's behalf. She glimpsed a faint shimmer from Jin in the saddlebag and hoped it to be a friendly hello. Given that, she smiled pleasantly at him before turning her attention to her notes.

"Discord, could you make us an example?" Starlight requested.

He snapped his lion paw fingers, and one appeared hovering in the air.

"It's like a small playing card," Rainbow Dash remarked as she noticed its rounded rectangular edges.

"They can take different shapes, but I think Discord chose a good example. These kind have a screen—which with the magic we can use—we'll actually be able to create a visual link," Starlight explained. "They call it a 'video' call over in the human world."

Rainbow grabbed the cell phone with a wing and stared at it.

"This type uses a touch screen. The humans have hands, so they use their fingers quite a bit for these devices. They can answer, make calls, and do a lot more like record videos or play games, but we should stick with a basic video call," Starlight recommended. "You and Fluttershy will be able to use your wings like fingers. Twilight and I can use our magic to imitate a touch. Applejack and Pinkie Pie might have a harder time, so maybe we'll have to come up with something for them," she continued.

Upon hearing that possible issue, Rainbow Dash switched the phone from her wing to holding it in the grip of her fetlock. It was a bit tight and unwieldy. She poked at it with her muzzle. She set it down on the floor and tried tapping at it with her hoof, then her tail. If she angled the rounded tip of her hoof just the right way, she could maybe touch the screen in a specific area, but it was easy to miss and still felt unwieldy. "You're right. I'm not seeing how Pinkie Pie or Applejack can handle this thing without a little help."

"Like what?" Sweetie Belle was curious. "Give them wings like yours or a unicorn horn like Starlight's?"

"I can activate magic with my eyes. It stands to reason they'd be able to do so as well since they are my fledglings," Rainbow answered.

"They can do that?" Sweetie Belle was really surprised and fascinated by that idea.

"Something to test for if we get a cell phone. Another pack meeting would be a good time," Rainbow suggested.

The young assistant wrote the idea down.

Rainbow turned her attention to Starlight. "So, tell me more."

"Since it's for the pack, we can keep it really simple. Over there, they use phone numbers and store them. We can use our cutie marks for how we target who we're calling. Discord, can you make us another? I want to show Rainbow how it would work."

"Certainly," he agreed and snapped his talons to create another.

Starlight took it in her magical grip and dialed the solitary Rainbow Dash cutie mark. The first phone Discord created blared a large, annoying horn. 

Rainbow covered her ears with her wings. "Can we change the sound?"

"Oops," Discord chuckled to himself and stifled a laugh. "Ahem." He snapped his talons, and the sound became a more pleasant ring. "They're called ring tones, and humans have way more options than they ever need. I imagine you mevs should consider a different one for each of you." A light bulb literally appeared over his head. "They should be based on your natural element."

"That's a great idea...for the ones that make noise," Starlight said with an embarrassed smile.

"No, I don't mean specifically a fire crackling or wind whistling," Discord explained. "I mean, that could be confusing so does have its own appeal to me, but more the musical tone should match the idea behind such sounds. Darkness would probably have a lower pitch, for example."

"Oh," Starlight realized. "I suppose it's a good thing Master has Sweetie Belle as her Rhezenda then, huh?" she said, smiling at the unicorn filly.

Sweetie Belle lit up with an excited smile and looked at Rainbow Dash.

"I agree," the master mev said. "Rhezenda is perfectly suited to compose or select proper tones for us."

The idea was happily noted down.

"Alright, back to showing you how it works," Starlight said. "I press the cutie mark button, and it sends a signal to your phone, which then rings. You see my cutie mark to tell you who is calling. You press that on the screen, and then I appear." Starlight waved from appearing on the screen of Rainbow's phone.

Rainbow looked at it, then at Starlight with a breathless, fascinated smile.

"We'll have to make a button to end the call," Starlight said. At that, Discord promptly added one to the screen on Rainbow's phone in the corner. The fanged pegasus understood its meaning and pressed the button with a feather.

"Now you try calling me," Starlight suggested.

Rainbow nodded and pressed the solitary Starlight Glimmer cutie mark. The other phone squawked like a loud chicken. The two mevs rolled their eyes with smiles in Discord's direction. He shrugged with a playful air. Starlight answered nonetheless.

"Hello, Master," she greeted.

"Hello, Primeva," Rainbow Dash replied with a pleased smile. "Can you call multiple ponies at once with these things?"she asked her teachers.

"That's...a little complicated," Starlight said with slight hesitance. "I think we should start with just one pony to one pony. Once we understand using these things better, we can try that too."

"Very well," Rainbow conceded. "Is there a way to make it quiet if we're busy at work or something? Like it should only make sound if it's an emergency? And then can somepony leave a message?"

"Uh," Starlight replied with uncertainty. "You know, I'm not sure, but Sweetie's writing it down. We are using magic. I can ask Twilight to ask these questions when she goes to tell them more about us as mevs."

Rainbow nodded. "Do that," she ordered.

Starlight herself wrote the assignment down.

The lesson wore on until Starlight and Discord told Rainbow as much as they understood about how cell phones worked. Sweetie Belle ended up with several notes of what the master mev wanted the magic to actually do.

With the lesson over, Rainbow Dash was ready to leave but Sweetie Belle stopped her.

"Can you give me a few minutes to talk to Starlight, Master?" she inquired.

"Sure," Rainbow replied. "I'll wait for you outside."

"Ummm...actually, maybe you could go even further, like out for a nice fly," the filly suggested.

Rainbow cocked her head in curiosity at the suggestion but did not protest. "Well, alright." She decided it was best not to dwell on the matter, have faith in her Rhezenda, and a solitary flight did sound nice.

With that, the master mev left.

"I suppose I should make myself scarce as well," Discord said.

"Uh, not yet," Sweetie Belle informed him.

She lifted Jin out from the saddlebag. "Can you do the liveliness? Please?" She gave him her best, imploring smile.

"What are you up to?" he wondered, very much intrigued. 

"Yeah, I thought you wanted to talk to me. Jin said he liked to keep to himself unless we had a specific request," Starlight said in slight concern.

"Just...trust me, okay?" she told them.

The two magic instructors exchanged glances.

Starlight eventually gave an approving nod.

Discord sighed. "Very well." A quick snap of his lion paw fingers, and the crown lit up.

"Rhezenda?" Jin asked, and he sounded pleasant, not at all bothered.

Sweetie Belle smiled nervously. She took a small swallow before saying, "I hope it's okay to talk to you about this..." She licked her lips and stared at the lighting bolt in the center. "Do you know anything about how to end a berserk early?"

Starlight smiled but said nothing. It was a good idea to ask such a source, and she was curious to know his response.





Rainbow Dash flew up into the night sky to enjoy the cool air and soft breeze through her mane, coat, and tail. She practiced simple movements from past routines and upcoming ones. The pegasus flew up into a little loop, just fast enough for a faint rainbow trail. She turned over and swam along her back against the night air with a smile.

She did a few more loops before trying a dash between one chosen spot over another. She made sure to stay high enough to not disrupt the sleeping residents of Ponyville. She tried to will her dragon form on, but it refused. Being a bat pony would have to do. She looped again and dived further down to swipe through and dodge between a collection of trees, practicing part of her routine from the Best Young Flier's competition. She moved onto other movements based on upcoming routines with the Wonderbolts.

Finally, she decided to take a sip of some water at a nearby lake. Once done, she sat down to rest a moment. She took that moment to observe and appreciate her reflection. It was a thing she did often enough with her extra night time. She glanced to her right, left, and behind her before giving the reflection a silly vicious hiss. The mev chuckled to herself in delight. Next she held out a hoof and wished she could make it a set of claws, but her magic still denied her. "Time," she noted with a mildly disappointed sigh.

Then she smiled. It was something to look forward to, after all. She stood back up and readied herself to fly again. Jin finally had a name, and the thought put her heart at ease.

Soon, she would be taking another step in Project Mercury. Making cell phones was another exciting and interesting idea. All told, Rainbow Dash was glad to know she had such things to look forward to in the near future.

She picked up Sweetie Belle soon after. The Rhezenda successfully revealed nothing of what she learned from Jin in her talk with Primeva Starlight Glimmer.
> Chapter 74 - Chrysalis
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Wednesday night at the School of Friendship, the Student Six waited and watched from the window for  Rainbow Dash to enter her gym at the school. By now, it had become a habit. The master mev preferred to encounter them this particular week night.

"Master Rainbow Dash," Ocellus spoke for the group yet again when they entered.

"Student Six," Rainbow greeted them all with a polite bow from where she hovered.

She brought out the idol of Boreas, just like the week before. Gallus looked it over, showed his appreciation. and allowed his friends to do the same. They sensed the same generally neutral response of no connection and no rejection from the idol. After all that, it was put away.

Changing the subject, Silverstream gleefully exclaimed, "Your Nightmare Night show was awesome!" She hovered slightly off the ground and raised her forelimbs enthusiastically.

"Yeah, that was a great show," Smolder agreed. "I'm glad we got to see Blitz all big and solid like that."

"It scary but good scary," Yona added.

"We were all impressed," Ocellus told her.

"Cool song, cool effects," Gallus noted.

"Totally," Sandbar piped in.

"What do you have planned for next year?" Silverstream asked with a smile.

"Yeah, tell us," Gallus said.

"Next year?" Rainbow asked. She smiled with a light roll of her eyes. "Give me a break. Not you too."

They collectively blushed.

"The night is done, and I have plenty besides next Nightmare Night to keep me busy. I don't even want to think of the next one for awhile now," the master mev told them. "Break time from that kind of that thing."

They chuckled but did not persistt. Instead, another student changed the subject again.

"Did you go anywhere this past weekend?" Smolder asked.

"I did, but I did not acquire anything of interest," Rainbow said, "and I think this particular trip is one I will keep to myself."

"What about soon weekend?" Yona wondered.

"The Changeling Kingdom," Rainbow announced proudly.

The other students nearly congratulated Ocellus at this news.

"What's there for you?" Ocellus wondered.

"Magic of course," Rainbow replied.

"Our changeling magic?" the petite student inquired.

"That is part of my interest," Rainbow admitted.

"So you've been to Griffonstone," Gallus said, "and Mount Aris."

Rainbow Dash and Silverstream both nodded.

"The Dragonlands," Smolder proudly declared, pointing to her own chest.

Rainbow nodded again.

"You're going to the Changeling Kingdom soon," Ocellus reminded everyone.

"Master Rainbow Dash go to Yakyakistan soon too, right?" Yona asked.

"That is my intent, yes," Rainbow confirmed for her.

"And of course you already live in Equestria," Sandbar noted.

"So you're going to have visited each of our kingdoms as a master mev?" Silverstream realized.

"Yes," Rainbow said.

"Does anything super cool happen when you do?" Smolder wondered. Her eyes sparked with interest.

"Hopefully, I will have everything I need for one of my clients," Rainbow answered. "Beyond that, mainly the satisfaction. That's super cool if you ask me."

The students heartily agreed with sincere smiles.





It was Friday afternoon in Ponyville at the School of Friendship when Twilight Sparkle, Starlight Glimmer, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash waited in Twilight's office. 

Twilight herself paced anxiously "Oh, I've been planning this retreat for weeks, and we're already ten minutes behind. Where is that photographer?" She nearly growled.

Right on cue, a distraught voice could be heard saying, "No no no," repeatedly. Soon, the doors to the office burst open. A light green unicorn with an orange mane and ladybug for her cutie mark stood on her rear hooves and held the open doors with her two forelimbs. She wore a camera around her neck and trot into the room. "I'm so sorry!" she declared in a high pitched tone. "Can you forgive me?" she asked with imploring green eyes, then looked down and away. "I don't expect you to forgive me," she muttered. Looking up again, she still pleaded, "Forgive me?" She blinked and smiled wide with hope.

Twilight could only muster an annoyed grumble.

Starlight walked forward to address the photographer with a more friendly tone. "Of course. I'll help you set up—"

"Princess Twilight," the photographer blatantly snubbed Starlight though her voice remained bright and cheery toward Twilight. "Thank you so much for this. The Canterlot Historical Society is thrilled to document the friendship work your teachers do. Let me just pretty you all up," she said. With that, the unicorn photographer began to quickly yank out pieces of mane hair from Twilight and her friends. She started with Twilight, then Fluttershy, then Pinkie Pie, then Rarity, then Applejack.

Rainbow Dash herself was hovering, as she tended to do, and the photographer reached up to yank a rainbow-colored tail hair. 

Immediately upon the point of direct physical contact, she was thrust backward onto the ground near the still open doors of the large office. She also wasn't a unicorn anymore. In her place was a very startled tall changeling, Queen Chrysalis. Chrysalis stared at her long dark forelimbs in confused horror. The mane hairs she had gathered dropped to the floor.

Twilight used her magic to immediately close the doors, magically lift the mane hairs and set them aside on her desk.

"Chrysalis?" Starlight asked. She sounded more intrigued than alarmed.

Chrysalis stared at seven faces looking on her with curious interest and patience, which surprised and confused her that much more. No one yelled her name or blast her with a beam of magic or pounced to hold her in place. Those were the sorts of reactions she expected at being revealed. She seized the moment and immediately turned back into the unicorn photographer. She plastered on a fake smile. "Well, I'll just be going then."

Rainbow Dash fluttered down, placing herself between the doors and Chrysalis with a stern expression. "You most certainly will not," she said firmly.

The unicorn form frowned and made a dash for the door only to be zapped with a red lightning bolt to fling her back. On the point of magic contact, she found herself again in her tall changeling form. Rarity blew out small rock formations that surrounded Chrysalis' hooves to lock the tall changeling in place.

"Rainbow Dash said you will not be leaving," Rarity insisted with firmness to match her master's.

The other fledglings nodded with her and serious expressions on all their faces.

Chrysalis stared at all of them even more confused. Why would Rainbow Dash be the one in charge and not Twilight Sparkle? Had she missed something? Why did Chrysalis transform back twice now at some kind of contact with the sky blue pegasus? It was a frightening effect on her. To her alarm, a red circle appeared on the floor around where she stood. She looked at Rainbow Dash incredulously. "Master?" she asked with a hint of recognition at what she was dealing with now. The circle immediately disappeared, and Chrysalis continued to stare at Rainbow Dash in disbelief. The rocks holding her in place disappeared as well.

"I will cast them right back if you try to leave before you are dismissed," Rarity said firmly, gesturing with her right forelimb in the process.

"A master mev?" Chrysalis said, looking at Rainbow Dash. "Since when?"

"That is not something I will answer now. We are not friends, Queen Chrysalis," Rainbow told her. "You quite emphatically declined Starlight's offer of friendship when I last saw you and regard her as an enemy. Starlight is one of my fledglings, and I will take care of her as one of my pack. That means you will not be given privileged information for the time being."

"'For the time being'?" Chrysalis repeated as a question. She was very interested at those last few words.

"Do you wish to consider friendship again?" Rainbow offered though her voice remained stern.

Chrysalis quietly sneered. "Not especially though I'm aware master mevs make for powerful allies."

"Is that a 'no'?" Rainbow asked.

Chrysalis' face twitched. "I want your power, Master Rainbow Dash. Call it 'friendship' if you like, but I don't want to be friends with her," Chrysalis said the last word with notable disgust and gestured at Starlight Glimmer.

Rainbow looked from Chrysalis to Starlight, back to Chrysalis again. "That's a pity," the master mev said. "Starlight's a powerful ally to have too, and she didn't have to be turned into a vampire for that."

The other mevs all chuckled together at that.

Chrysalis merely looked away with annoyance.

"Twilight, how about you and the girls go on without me," Rainbow suggested without taking her eyes off Chrysalis.

"At least one of us should stay with you," Twilight suggested in turn.

"I'll do it," Starlight quickly offered.

Chrysalis growled.

The other mevs giggled and began to depart in agreement nonetheless. Twilight whispered their destination to Starlight, who nodded in acknowledgment. Soon, the other girls were gone.

Rainbow Dash walked over to the desk where Twilight had set the mane hairs down. She tenderly placed them in an envelope and sat at Twilight's desk.

Chrysalis eyed her, then Starlight, and remained silent.

"Why don't we start with you telling us what you were planning to do with our hair?" Rainbow proposed, pushing the envelope into focus on the desk.

"I'd rather not, my friend," Chrysalis replied with sharp sarcasm for the last part.

"Friendship requires compromise," Rainbow said with a sly smile, gesturing a forelimb up as if of course they all knew that.

"Make me," Chrysalis challenged and closed her eyes with a smile of her own.

Rainbow rolled her own magenta eyes. "Then just tell me what you want of my power."

"I want to take over Equestria," Chrysalis said with a fanged smile, still keeping her eyes closed.

Rainbow leaned back and thoughtfully tapped a hoof to her chin in contemplation. "And how would your subjects fare under such a rule?"

Chrysalis helplessly blinked and looked at Rainbow Dash in confusion. That was definitely not the response she expected. Two red eyes peered back at her, and Chrysalis suddenly felt the enchantment hold her.

"What were you planning to do with our hair?" Rainbow repeated her question from earlier in a slightly more demanding tone.

"I have a spell that can make copies of ponies. I wanted copies of each you to find and use the Elements of Harmony so that I can destroy you all and then create a new hive of earth ponies, pegasi, and unicorns," Chrysalis admitted.

Rainbow was very interested at this information, but she hid it well, focusing on maintaining her enchantment. "How were you going to make these copies?" she inquired further.

"The spell requires a picture, a piece of the pony, and their cutie mark on a tree. From there, I can blast my magic to convert some of the tree essence into a pony," Chrysalis explained.

The enchantment deactivated, and the changeling queen shook it off, looking down at the floor quietly, ashamed of herself for being taken in so easily.

"Copies," Rainbow muttered to herself. She rubbed her chin in thought with keen interest. 

"Master, what are you thinking?" asked a concerned Starlight Glimmer.

"I'm thinking I'd like to see that," Rainbow answered truthfully.

"What?!" both a startled Chrysalis and Starlight asked at the same time.

"Is it really so surprising?" Rainbow responded to them. "It's advanced magic. Part of my job to manage this stuff." Then her voice became hungry and wicked as she added, "Honestly, they sound positively delicious." Her magenta eyes flashed red too. The Master Mev licked her lips and closed those eyes with a smile.

"Oh, of course," Starlight blushed at how easily she forgot that her master might feed in some way from such magic.

"You think you can eat my copies?" Chrysalis asked aghast with a hint of disgust.

"It's what I do," Rainbow reminded her with a proud smile. "I wouldn't even need to ask permission for eating during the day—because they're mine, based on my fledglings." Her eyes turned red again. She held out her forelimbs to grab at the invisible idea of having such beings in her clutches and cackled evilly. "Want to feed me?" She raised her eyebrows twice over to prod the idea along, keeping her eyes in their red color.

Chrysalis was left speechless at first. Her mouth moved as if she were about to speak, but the words were beyond her. Despite all the warnings from ages past of what master mevs were like, seeing it live was a different matter entirely. Reluctantly, she met eyes with Starlight Glimmer in hopes the unicorn could guide her on what to even do in response.

"You could just say no," Starlight reminded her.

"Oh, I wouldn't eat them right away," Rainbow assured Chrysalis, as if that would be a comfort. "I'm curious to see them too. Would they be different? How different? Little details, like if their personalities differ since they will be born from you—and us. And really, I should know if copies are a threat to the Tree of Harmony."

Chrysalis swallowed and weighed her options. The more she thought about it, the more obvious it was to simply go through with the whole thing. She had a chance of fulfilling her evil plan and already knew the mev's intentions for this process. "Very well," she agreed with a sly smile.

Rainbow loudly clapped her front hooves together, most pleased. "Let's do this." She grabbed the envelope with the hairs of her fledglings and instructed Starlight to teleport the three of them over to meet with the others.
> Chapter 75 - Copy That
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







"Master, I must insist the rest of us be present to witness whatever happens," Twilight Sparkle told Rainbow Dash. "We're actually headed in that same direction. I made a camp site in that area as part of the retreat."

Both Rainbow Dash and Starlight Glimmer smiled. "Sure Twilight, that's fine," Rainbow said. Both of them were content to oblige. "Maybe keep a little distance and stay out of sight—at least at first."

"I think that would be wise," Twilight agreed.

"Not yet," Chrysalis told them.

They paused and glanced her way. She took on her unicorn photographer form. "I need pictures of each of you," she explained with a daring smile.

"Oh, be sure to get my good side," Rarity said, fluffing her purple mane and posing with an inviting smile of her own. She fluttered her eyelashes momentarily too.

Chrysalis rolled her eyes but took the desired picture and followed suit with the others.

"Something simple if you please," Applejack said, tipping her hat before posing with her right forelimb slightly bent in front of her left forelimb.

"Me next! Me next!" Pinkie said. She stood on her hind legs, outstretching her forelimbs, looking ready to attack and pounce.

"Um, I guess if it's...necessary," Fluttershy noted quietly, glancing down at the ground.

Twilight Sparkle simply sat on her haunches with a warm smile. She made no comment whatsoever.

Finally, Chrysalis looked up at the hovering sky blue pegasus. Rainbow Dash grinned with a confident smile and pose, pointing her forelimb in the camera's direction.

"You should get Starlight too!" Pinkie suddenly exclaimed.

The photographer stared at her with narrowed eyes in restrained annoyance. "No, I don't think that's necessary."

Starlight blushed. "She is still Chrysalis after all."

Pinkie rolled her eyes. "Spoil sport," she muttered, now annoyed as well.

"Anyway," Chrysalis said, shape-shifting back into her tall changeling form, and addressing Rainbow Dash, "I do still require some of your hair—mane or tail, doesn't matter."

Rainbow willingly plucked some out herself. "You'll need some of Starlight's magic to make my copy due to my immunity."

Chrysalis gave her a puzzled look but proceeded with her plan as the entire pack watched her. She placed each photo against a tree. "Now would be a good time to make yourselves scarce," she told most of the group.

All but Starlight Glimmer and Rainbow Dash quickly hid themselves behind some bushes at a distance.  The master mev and first fledgling stood near some trees and watched as Chrysalis centered herself among the trees she had chosen for the pictures and hair. The changeling's horn lit with a powerful magic green glow, starting to blast from one image to another. Starlight made sure to add her own beam into the tree with Rainbow's hair and image before the green magic struck it.

The trees melted away into wooden flowers spawning out the clones. They were paler with small loose hairs, and each one's cutie mark looked slightly altered in some way from the pony they copied.

They all looked at Rainbow Dash and bowed, including the copied Rainbow. "Master," they collectively said together.

Chrysalis' jaw fell open in horror. She had not expected to lose them to the mev so easily and quickly.

Rainbow Dash bowed in turn. "Copied friends. Do you all have names besides our own? A little modifier perhaps? Chrysalis Twilight, maybe?"

"'Mean'," the Twilight copy corrected. "I am Mean Twilight Sparkle."

"Oh really?" asked an intrigued Rainbow Dash.

"Well, outside of whatever you tell us to do of course. Any orders for us, Master?" Mean Twilight wished to know.

"For now, let me do a quick inspection on each of you. I want to see why the Mean title was chosen," Rainbow said. She studied her own copy first, noticing the upside down cutie mark. "So, what do you think of the rest?"

Mean Rainbow's eyes darted to them, and she scoffed as she rolled her eyes. "They're a bunch of losers," she muttered.

"Hmm." Rainbow raised an eyebrow and couldn't help smiling in fascination. They really were mean, weren't they? She approached the Mean Pinkie Pie. "Queen Chrysalis here wants you to find and use the Elements of Harmony. What do you think of that?"

"Hunting down some annoying elements? This is the worst day ever!" Mean Pinkie folded her forelimbs.

Mean Fluttershy kicked some dirt in Mean Pinkie's eye. "No. Now it's the worst day ever." She laughed evilly.

"Take it easy there," Rainbow said, holding back a laugh and wiping away an amused tear.

Chrysalis watched with continued incredulousness.

"Those Elements are mine!" Mean Rarity trotted into the center of the scene. "Along with this rock. Oh and that twig."

"I got all kinds of Elements right here under my hat," Mean Applejack gleefully lied to Mean Rarity. "I'll let you see them for five bits," she lied again.

"Seen enough?" Mean Twilight said to Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow glanced over to the Awesomev Twilight still writing notes on a scroll. She finished and gave Rainbow a nod that she had all the details she wanted. 

Then Pinkie Pie enthusiastically waved a hoof, and Rainbow instinctively knew what she wanted. 

"Not just yet," Rainbow said to Mean Twilight.

She gave an inviting nod for Pinkie to join her with the group of copies.

The pink earth pony whistled Penny out and explained what was going on to her water clone.

Chrysalis looked at Rainbow and Starlight, mouth agape, before glancing at the extra copy to see what she would do.

"Hi, I'm Penny," Penny greeted Mean Pinkie with a friendly wave. "I'm a copy of Pinkie Pie too." She held out a forelimb.

Mean Pinkie stared at the forelimb and rolled her eyes, refusing to  shake it or bump it in any way. "Ugh," the tree copy grumbled and threw herself onto her own back on the ground.

Penny snickered. "A bit nicer though. I guess she doesn't even act like us because she's from you," Penny informed Chrysalis with a hint of disapproval and to offer up an unprompted lecture, echoing Rainbow's suspicion from earlier.

"I'm right here," Mean Pinkie Pie grumbled and sat upright on her haunches.

"She seems kinda grumpy," Pinkie noticed, ignoring the other copy's words, "and she looks paler." 

Penny studied Mean Pinkie's cutie mark. "The middle balloon goes down like a frown instead of up like a smile," she told Pinkie in amusement.

"Still. Right. Here," Mean Pinkie reminded them resentfully.

Pinkie Pie suddenly gasped. "Master!"

"Yes, Pinkie?" Rainbow wondered.

"She's like my Discord-ed form!" Pinkie alerted her.

"You're what?" the grumpy copy asked.

"I wasn't there for most of that," Rainbow reminded her friend.

"Oh. Well, each one of us became the opposite to the behavior of our element. I didn't like laughter at all," Pinkie explained. "I was a grump like her."

"That's because laughter is annoying," said Mean Pinkie. "All of you are really boring. I am bored listening to you jabber on. Haven't we had enough of these two?"

Pinkie and Penny looked over to Rainbow Dash. 

"Yeah, I think so," Rainbow actually agreed. "That's enough," she told the pair with a nod.

They did not argue and returned to the other observing mevs.

"Satisfied now?" Mean Twilight inquired to the reigning master.

"Quite," Rainbow said with a grin.

"Listen to your Queen, not her!" Chrysalis called out and urged her creations.

Mean Twilight sized Chrysalis up with her eyes and snorted. "Sure thing," she said sarcastically. She looked at Rainbow Dash. "Now what?"

"We're heading over to see the Tree of Harmony," Rainbow informed them."After that, I will eat all of you."

"Ugh. Why?" Mean Rainbow said with an annoyed voice. "We won't taste nearly as good as them." She pointed over to the fledglings.

"Don't sell yourself short," Rainbow said with a warm smile.

"Pfft. Whatever." Mean Rainbow rolled her eyes.

"Being in you will mean that I have plenty of power that's mine, mine, mine!" Mean Rarity declared with greedy zeal. She shrieked and cackled.

"You can't eat me," Mean Applejack said slyly. "I'm immune to mevs. I got it from you."

"Fine, whatever I doubt a magic reserve is as boring as this place," Mean Pinkie grumbled.

"I'll get my kicks in before then," Mean Fluttershy said with wicked delight as she laughed evilly again. Her shifty teal eyes scanned the area.

Mean Twilight openly wondered, "Will you summon us? The pink one's already got a copy."

"Penny is very different from all of you, even if she is a copy. I really can't think of much use for mean copies other than my amusement," Rainbow chuckled. 

"Well?" Mean Twilight prodded. "That's a thing you can do, right? It's in service to yourself as a member of the pack. I'm sure we could be useful too if we had to be."

"I'm not promising anything, but yes, I'm sure it's a possibility." Rainbow giggled as if she were being tickled.

"All of you are okay with this?" Chrysalis asked the group. She gestured out a long holey forelimb with the same aghast air she had when Rainbow first let her know she wanted to eat them.

They all rolled their eyes at Chrysalis. Mean Twilight spoke for the group of copies. "We're magic. She's a master magic-eating vampire. And we all have a connection to her fledglings or just her." She nodded to the Mean Rainbow Dash. 

"You have a connection to me too. I made you!" Chrysalis exclaimed.

"Oh. Right," Mean Twilight replied indifferently. She again addressed Rainbow Dash. "Where is the Tree of Harmony, Master?"

"This way," Rainbow motioned for them to follow.

Chrysalis tailed the group. They were close to the Elements now, weren't they?

The other Awesomevs and Penny continued observing from a safe distance and followed too.

Rainbow Dash led the Mean 6 down several stairs, nearing the campsite.

"Ugh. What's this garbage?" Mean Pinkie Pie asked in disgust upon seeing several tents propped up at the bottom.

"Badger installation art," Mean Applejack replied. "Ya see…"

"Just retrieve the elements!" Chrysalis yelled from behind them, still grasping at straws for control of the situation, especially knowing how close they were now.

They looked at her and said nothing but continued onward nonetheless. Mean Fluttershy leaped onto a tent and stepped on it with evil laughter.

The observing Team Awesome would have been annoyed and upset if it weren't for the fact that they were watching the whole thing unfold as research. They suspected the behavior of these creatures would affect the Tree of Harmony's response to their presence.

Mean Rarity grinned as she greedily used her magic to grab at various items, such as a picnic blanket, wood for a camp fire, and a mug.

Mean Fluttershy messed up another tent.

Mean Pinkie Pie reluctantly dragged herself along the ground.

Mean Twilight smiled wickedly and grabbed their attention as she picked up Mean Pinkie with a hoof. "Once we get the power of the Elements, no creature but Master, not even 'Her Majesty' can tell us what to do. Master finds us funny. She will let us stay out longer if we prove our worth. Just follow my lead. Got it?"

They all cackled together and trotted along to finally bear witness to the tree.

"Oooooh! That one's mine," Mean Rarity pointed with another greedy evil grin at the purple diamond crystal stored in the upper right branch of their view. It flicked to black for a moment.

Rainbow Dash silently noticed but made no move against the tree or the mean copy. She hovered quite high behind them and to their right, so she could watch what would happen. The Element itself remained in the tree, so she remained in her observing position.

Mean Rarity giggled and began to walk over to the coveted Element, but Mean Fluttershy tripped her. "Oops. I'd say sorry, but I'm not," the sadistic pegasus wickedly stated. Mean Rarity grabbed her, and they started to fight.

Rainbow Dash glanced over to the Kindness Element. The pink butterfly crystal on the lower left flicked to black.

"Stop it, fools!" Mean Twilight told the two fighting ponies, having also noticed the ominous black flicks.

Mean Applejack, Mean Rainbow Dash, and Mean Pinkie Pie approached closer to the tree.

"We need the Elements to take out Chrysalis!" Mean Twilight told them. She gasped upon seeing Chrysalis right behind her all of a sudden.

"How dare you! I created you!" Chrysalis reminded her. She shot a blast of green magic at Mean Twilight.

Mean Twilight immediately put up a magic shield as she felt herself thrust backward from the power.

Mean Applejack bucked at the tree with an indifferent glare at her target. The orange apple crystal on the lower right branch flicked black.

Mean Pinkie Pie shrieked with eerie high-pitched laughter as she forcefully pushed at the trunk. The blue balloon crystal on the upper left branch flicked black.

Mean Rarity and Mean Fluttershy continued fighting, as did Chrysalis and Mean Twilight. Mean Applejack kept bucking. Mean Pinkie Pie kept shrieking. Amidst all the tension, Mean Rainbow Dash descended from her own hover in the center of it all and plopped herself to a resting position on the ground. She indifferently shut her eyes to the ensuing chaos. The red lightning bolt on the top centered branch flicked black.

Mean Twilight grunted and finally grinned evilly as she sensed enough power to push back at the green beam that had been shooting into her shield. As she realized she was about to overpower Chrysalis' magic, the star cutie mark at the center of the tree turned black and remained so, instead of just flicking like the others. From there, the black branched to the other Elements in the tree. White wispy tendrils shot out from each one of the cutie mark shaped crystals and grabbed their respective mean copy. Mean Twilight gasped as she felt the power around her own neck.

"Uh-oh," Rainbow Dash muttered to herself, sympathetically for them.

Chrysalis watched with shocked awe as her creations melted from the power of the Tree of Harmony right before her eyes.

"Fools!" Mean Twilight declared. "You ruined everything!" she shouted. 

The whole tree glowed white except for the black of each element as a mass of power spread out in a large circle. The light flashed away, and six logs, each bearing a color matching the coat of its pony copy, fell to the ground.

Rainbow Dash at last descended and stood before the logs. She tapped at them with an intrigued hoof and blank expression.

Chrysalis silently observed and realized she had forgotten about the master mev entirely amidst all the chaos. 

Rainbow Dash sat on her haunches. She picked up the orange piece of wood with her hooves and bit right in with her fangs as if to eat a long sandwich. She chewed and swallowed. "Not what I had in mind, and I have to admit not my preferred physical form of such food, but it will do." She stared at the tree for a moment and gave it a little salute.

Every element twinkled back, as if in approval.

Rainbow glanced over to Chrysalis. "I guess copies can't use the Elements of Harmony after all. I'm glad we got that cleared up."

Penny snorted as she and the others approached. "I could have told you that."

"And miss out on this?" Rainbow asked, referring to the log she was eating. She took another bite.

Penny giggled. "I can't imagine wood tastes better than water."

"It's not just any wood, just like you're not just any water. With some magic flavor, trust me, this is delicious. This one tastes like baked apples, no surprise there," Rainbow said with a devilish grin.

Applejack chuckled. "Are you really eating mine first because it's Friday?"

"Yup. I think I'll save each one for each day," Rainbow Dash decided.

"Does this mean you can't summon them as mean ponies since the tree already switched them back?" a curious Twilight openly wondered.

"Let's explore that idea some other time," Rainbow suggested. "I'd like to speak with Chrysalis alone."

"As you wish, Master," Twilight agreed. "We'll be nearby cleaning up the camp site."

The other Awesomevs and Penny nodded before leaving with the alicorn princess.
> Chapter 76 - A New Student
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Chrysalis gulped and walked near Rainbow Dash. She sat on her haunches next to the master mev and gazed at the Tree of Harmony.

Rainbow Dash quietly finished eating the Mean Applejack log and licked her forehooves clean as she did so. Then she said, "Right, onto business. I will not help you take over Equestria."

Chrysalis said nothing at first. She remained quiet and contemplative.

"But," Rainbow said, "I think I'd like to keep you around."

These words caught the changeling's attention. Chrysalis glanced at her, incredulous again. "Why?"

"Before we get into that, let's make sure we're on the same page on some things," Rainbow noted. "This whole revenge scheme you've got against my pack, especially Starlight, needs to stop.

"I am obligated to take care of them as their master, and they are my friends. I won't be so easy on you if there is a next time. I don't look at petrification or outright killing as something I won't do. Not to say I want to do those things, just saying...if that's what it takes to stop you, I will do it. You knowing about this place needs to not be a problem."

Chrysalis considered the logic behind such threats—and that she would do the same for her own hive in the past. She quietly nodded. "Of course, Master."

Rainbow eyed her and waited.

"I will stop my attempts at revenge, and my knowledge of this place will not be a problem," Chrysalis added. She meant it. In a sense, she was trapped. In another sense, she was intrigued by her newfound position with the mev.

"Excellent," Rainbow replied. 

"So...why do you want to keep me around?" Chrysalis wondered.

"I'm going to the Changeling Kingdom on Sunday with some of my servants," Rainbow explained. "Meeting you today could be a coincidence or it could be a sign that you're supposed to come with me for some reason. In case it's the second, I'd like you to tag along. Maybe you could help us out, coincidence or not."

"Why would I do that?" Chrysalis asked.

Rainbow shrugged. "I'd like us to be friends. It's a thing a friend would do. Even if not, you strike me as the type who likes to feel useful and powerful. 

"Being with us will put you in that position since you might know something Thorax doesn't. There's a particular magic we're hoping to find. Plus, you could reconcile with your former subjects, or at least start trying."

"I don't want to reconcile with them!" Chrysalis hissed. "They betrayed me!"

"Have you given any thought to why?" Rainbow asked.

"It's Starlight's fault!" Chrysalis exclaimed.

"The changelings changed their forms of their own free will after they learned they could do so and not starve. The only one making that out to be a bad thing is you," Rainbow pointed out. "Have you ever thought of how badly that reflects on you as someone with such a powerful title as 'Queen'?"

At that, Chrysalis' lip trembled. Somehow hearing a master mev say it, hit her harder than any other creature. After all, master mevs had actual magic in the use of their title. They understood and cared more than most others about what a title meant to their company. Chrysalis stared at the ground in shame.

A thoughtful pause passed over between the two. Rainbow gestured up at the Tree of Harmony in front of them. "Do you know which one's mine?"

"I would assume it is the lightning bolt," Chrysalis noted.

"Sure, but which harmony element is it?" Rainbow asked with a sly smile.

Chrysalis looked at her in confusion.

"Ah, you don't know that each one has a name," Rainbow realized. "They're not just pretty gems in cutie mark shapes."

The former changeling queen sighed and rolled her eyes. "Fine. What is the name of your harmony element?"

"Let's make it a game," Rainbow offered with another sly smile. "I'll give you some hints and if you guess right, I'll give you a little something as your prize."

Chrysalis raised an eyebrow. "Very well," she agreed with mild interest.

"You said your former subjects betrayed you, and I brought up my own element. I'm a master and have servants. There's a certain element between us for our mev bond. That element something you feel lost to you from your subjects. What is it?" Rainbow asked.

Chrysalis thought carefully before finally saying, "Loyalty?"

Rainbow blew out a tiny wispy pink heart in Chrysalis' direction. "You are correct."

The changeling glanced at her and then slurped it up. "How did you…?"

"Trade secret," Rainbow told her.

They sat quietly as Rainbow waited in mild hope that her questions and little game sparked something of consideration and hope in Chrysalis herself. Games were things friend played and an easy start to a friendship for younger creatures. Older creatures could do it too, even if it not as easily.

"When you said 'keep me around' earlier, do you just mean long enough for this trip?" Chrysalis asked. She gulped, uncertain of what answer she even wanted for her question. She had been on her own for some time now. "Am I...with you, somewhere for this?"

"Longer. I doubt you and the other changelings will resolve things in a single trip," Rainbow admitted. "I've got some ideas. I'm still not helping you take over Equestria, but....you know...if I were to help you take over Equestria, you would have to reconcile with your hive."

Chrysalis said nothing, but she was clearly thinking those words were significant. "And then...if you were to help me take over Equestria, what would be next?"

Rainbow chuckled. "It's still not happening, but sure, I'll humor you." Her expression grew stern and serious. "I would tell you that I must erase everything that you are as I mold you into a proper alicorn permanently. Such a transformation would take months or years. That would be for a mere chance too, no guarantees. Somehow through it all, we we would have to figure out how to give you the power to move the sun and moon. I cannot eat that magic myself because of what I am."

"Is that why you have denied me?" Chrysalis asked. She wasn't sure she'd agree to such a term. The cost was severe, but then, attempts at ruling Equestria had cost her plenty twice over already. She had nothing but herself at this point.

"In part, yes," Rainbow answered with a weary sigh. "Nonetheless, such a transformation would require some education. Two alicorns rule Equestria. If they somehow become indisposed, Twilight Sparkle, another alicorn, rules Equestria. Twilight just so happens to be one of my fledglings, an expert on magic, and headmare to a school of friendship. She earned her wings through a demonstration of leadership. That's what you were asking of me: to lead Equestria.

"The best possible place for you to be, to learn about leadership, friendship, Equestria, and so on, this kingdom you supposedly wish to rule, is as a student at Twilight's School of Friendship."

"They would never accept me," Chrysalis quickly hissed in response. "And even if they did, I just...I'm so old compared to them or even you and the other teachers."

"Well…" Rainbow noted thoughtfully, stroking her chin with a hoof, as she expected this resistance, "...before the school was built, Twilight had one student who stayed in her castle. As her master, perhaps I could arrange something if we took you on as a client." The master mev agreed that perhaps a more private setting was better. "Or find a way for you to stay with me even. I'm no princess, but I do have some leadership experience."

Chrysalis' jaw fell open.

"Twilight's pretty busy, so her time to teach you is quite limited—mine too. I think you'd learn best by observation once the timing lines up properly. While I know you have your resentment toward Starlight Glimmer, you're going to have to get over that. She lives at that castle still and was a student to Twilight herself at one point. She was that one student. She can teach you as well. I think you two would actually get along well once you worked past your animosity for her," Rainbow continued.

The frustrated changeling clenched her jaw but continued listening.

"I don't expect that to happen overnight either," Rainbow noted. "So, what do you think? You won't come out the other end as the ruler of Equestria, but I think it beats colorful logs that end up feeding me. Well, for you. At least if you run off again, I probably have more new food to look forward to, I suppose." Rainbow gave her a wicked smile.

Chrysalis couldn't help chuckling and shook her head with a wry smile. After a settled pause, she decided, "I'll...go. And the rest."

"Good. That's progress," Rainbow declared happily. "Meet me at Twilight's castle mid-day tomorrow. I will see to it that the proper arrangements are made. I need to talk to my Rexa to figure out who will be your main teacher and roommate."

Chrysalis smiled weakly, nodded, and left. 

Rainbow Dash joined her friends in cleaning up the campsite and relayed the result of her conversation with Chrysalis.

"So, what do you think?" Rainbow asked Twilight.

"Both options are a bit risky, Master," Twilight considered. "You've got Rhezenda's trunk and your crown, but I've got the Staff of Sacanas and some other things...."

"Well...you did let Starlight stay with you..." Rainbow reminded her.

"I suppose I did, but that felt a little more friendly once we connected with each other," Twilight admitted. She sighed. "I think...have her stay with me for now. Starlight and Spike can both keep an eye on her, and I do think that Jin and the others can sort of guard us indirectly with how they connect to the rest of Equestria."

Rainbow Dash nodded in agreement. "All good points. I was mainly thinking to approach this like when you took Starlight on as your pupil, and Chrysalis must get over her hatred for Starlight. She will have three potential friends besides me with three roommates too."

Twilight nodded. "True. Just...I will provide shelter, but I think she should be more your charge, your student, than mine."

"Fair enough," Rainbow conceded. "We'll take some precautions, but I think she is sincere in giving up on the revenge scheme and leaving the tree alone. Even though I'm not helping her rule Equestria, she sees something of an opportunity to her favor if she sticks with us. That will help."

Again, Twilight nodded in agreement.

Starlight recommended she teleport over to the Changeling Kingdom. She wanted to alert Thorax about Chrysalis joining them for the visit and make sure he approved. Rainbow agreed. When Starlight teleported back, she said the changelings were nervous but would do their best for the visit in two days.





Chrysalis arrived at Twilight Sparkle's castle on Saturday as Rainbow Dash instructed. She was in her unicorn photographer disguise from the previous day. Starlight Glimmer opened the door. "Welcome to your new home," the lilac unicorn said with a warm smile.

"So this was the place decided?" Chrysalis asked, slightly nervous..

"Yup," Starlight answered.

Once inside, Chrysalis reverted to her changeling form. "Is Master Rainbow Dash here?" she asked.

"Yes, she's in the library along with Twilight, Spike, and three other ponies we'll tell you more about soon," Starlight said. "Do you wish to speak with her before I show you to your room and give you the tour?"

"You're doing that and not Princess Twilight?" Chrysalis wondered.

"Yeah. You and I need to learn to get along," Starlight explained. "You don't have to like me or be friends with me, though I'm up for it if you change your mind. You do need to let go of your hatred for me."

"I see," Chrysalis acknowledged dryly. "Let's get the tour over with first."

Starlight proceeded and finished with the library where Rainbow herself was waiting while reading a book. Flanked on each side of her seat were Scootaloo and Apple Bloom, who were at least pretending to read while occasionally whispering to each other. Sweetie Belle sat near Rainbow Dash and was practicing her drawing. Twilight and Spike were busily going over something for the school.

"Queen Chrysalis is here," Starlight informed everyone.

Twilight immediately stopped what she was doing and gave a respectful bow. "Welcome to your new home, Queen Chrysalis."

Chrysalis looked over to see an expectant smile from Rainbow Dash. The three fillies near the master mev stared blankly at her. Chrysalis again met Twilight's eyes and said with a respectful bow in turn, "Thank you, Princess Twilight. You are being more than hospitable for taking me in."

"I do have some concerns," Twilight freely admitted, "but I serve my master, who in turn takes care of me and serves the land as a whole. We are putting a lot of unfounded faith in you for this. Do you understand that?"

"I do," Chrysalis replied.

"Good," Twilight said and returned to her station.

Spike gave the caste's new resident a timid wave from where he stood and said nothing.

Rainbow herself approached with the fillies at her side. "Good afternoon, Queen Chrysalis."

"Am I to keep my title even though I no longer rule my hive?" Chrysalis asked her.

"A new one or even removal would be appropriate," Rainbow admitted, "but all in good time. It is only your first day with us after all. As you know, I am a master mev. I have a full pack named 'Team Awesome'. You encountered us all together yesterday with your little incident."

Chrysalis coughed. "Yes."

"Tuesday nights we have pack meetings, and I take lessons in magic here at the castle. Due to the fact that you are very freshly in my care and our history together, you will not be allowed in the castle during that time. I will find someone to host you until I have sensed you are ready to be in the same building," Rainbow explained sternly. "Understood?"

"Of course, Master," Chrysalis replied. "That is proper."

"Allow me to introduce you to my younger servants," Rainbow offered. "This is Rhezenda Sweetie Belle."

"Hello," Sweetie offered pleasantly.

"She is my right hoof and a link to outsiders," Rainbow explained. "These two are my bodyguards. This one here is my little sister, Scootaloo," Rainbow gestured.

Scootaloo waved with similar pleasant air as Sweetie Belle. "Hiya."

"And this one is Apple Bloom," Rainbow stated.

"Hey," Apple Bloom addressed Chrysalis with a simple, friendly air.

"Sweetie is Rarity's younger sister, and Apple Bloom is Applejack's younger sister," Rainbow said.

Chrysalis said nothing at first and looked at the three fillies with interest. "I must admit, I'm surprised that you have child servants."

"We have our reasons," Rainbow said with a small smile. The crusaders smiled as well. "These three are often known as the Cutie Mark Crusaders for a role they serve in Equestria as part of their special talent. When they serve my pack, they are the Awesome Crusaders."

The girls helplessly giggled with affirming smiles.

"For now, what I want to understand is if you are capable of changing the way your subjects did," Rainbow said. "It doesn't have to be now because it would actually have more power and more impact if it happened among your former subjects tomorrow."

"Oh," Chrysalis said. "I'm not sure I could do such a thing as easily and quickly as they all did...or that I would want to do that."

Rainbow Dash became contemplative. She considered that she had not named it in their agreement and that from what Starlight, Twilight, and Spike told her, Thorax still kept his initial appearance when first befriending Spike. Plus, Chrysalis was right. It might not be so simple with her being their former queen. "You raise good points," the mev acknowledged.

"Do I need to hide what I am to the ponies here in Ponyville?" Chrysalis asked. "Just go around as the unicorn I usually am?"

"Do what you think is best. My team is here to help you, so we will do our best to handle any concerns," Rainbow assured her. "It's not like we ever announced to everyone that all was well with Discord."

"That's true, I never thought about that," Scootaloo said to her friends.

Rainbow's accommodating nature put her new client's mind at ease. "Thank you, Master," Chrysalis said.

"I hope that covers everything I need to say to you today," Rainbow told her. We will all meet here again tomorrow. Starlight will be teleporting us. It will be myself, the Awesome Crusaders, Starlight, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie. The changelings have been informed you will be with us and approved of your visit."

"Very well," Chrysalis noted with a light nod.

"Good. Awesome Crusaders, let's move out," the master mev instructed with a playful smile, and the four departed together.
> Chapter 77 - The Changeling Kingdom
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------



On Sunday morning at Twilight's castle, Rainbow Dash, Starlight Glimmer, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, the Awesome Crusaders, Twilight Sparkle, and Chrysalis gathered in the library. Twilight was present to see everyone off.

"My first mission traveling as a servant to Master Rainbow Dash!" Apple Bloom hopped in place between Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. "What are we allowed to know for this one, Rhezenda?"

"Not much besides what Master and I already told you," Sweetie Belle admitted. "I should warn you, it's not going to be anywhere near as cool and as exciting as our trip to the Dragonlands."

"Nothing can top that," Scootaloo pointed out with a proud smile. "But you did see one of the coolest parts at least."

Chrysalis overheard the conversation and raised an eyebrow. She addressed Rainbow Dash. "What happened there?"

Rainbow had been listening too. "Oh, it was awesome," she said. "I got to fight dragons in a berserk state and got my lighting bolt power."

Starlight addressed the young trio. "Maybe there's no berserk game or new natural elemental power, but the changelings are really nice. They have a lot of fun activities they enjoy with each other. When you three are not attending to Master, you'll probably see some of that."

"No complaints here," Apple Bloom said. "Ocellus sure is plenty nice for us to get along with alright."

"Ocellus?" Chrysalis repeated, again addressing Rainbow Dash.

"She's one of the students at the school," Rainbow explained.

"Yes, one of our top students in fact," Twilight added.

The other two fillies nodded among their own group and smiled.

"Team Awesome, Crusaders, and Queen Chrysalis, is everyone ready?" Rainbow Dash asked the entire group.

"Yes, Master," they collectively replied.

Rainbow smiled. "Primeva, teleport us all to the Changeling Kingdom as Thorax advised."

Starlight nodded. Everyone but Chrysalis waved at Twilight Sparkle. With a flash of Starlight's unicorn magic, they left the library with only Twilight in it.





When they arrived, many changelings stared at the large party with smiles. There was a banner with the images of all the ponies and even Chrysalis herself, to Chrysalis' own surprise. "Welcome Master Rainbow Dash and everyone else," Thorax greeted them.

The changelings applauded politely to their guests.

"King Thorax," Rainbow said with a bow of her head. "Thank you for such a warm welcome. Everyone, this is my party for today." She first introduced Starlight Glimmer, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie,  then the Crusaders, then finished with, "and I'm sure you all remember and know your former queen, Chrysalis."

The changelings went ahead and bowed respectfully, even if she was no longer their ruler and left them in such a bitter manner. She was now coming peacefully as a companion to the Master Mev.

Chrysalis could hear her own heart pounding and was near tears of honored joy, shocked at seeing such a welcome. She wiped her eyes. Without a word, she gave a slight bow of her head back, and that was satisfactory for the changelings to stand upright.

"Can we see the vampire form now, Master?" a changeling citizen requested.

Several others nodded eagerly. Thorax managed to get pictures for them, but they could not see it live any other way.

Rainbow transformed before them to reveal her red eyes and bat wings. She flew upward and partly opened her mouth to show the fangs before landing back on the ground.

"Just how bad is the shock if we try it?" another changeling asked.

"Ocellus said it hurt a lot," Thorax answered. "You can still walk and go about your day, but it is painful, she told me."

"I just can't help it," one of them said and tried it. He twitched and flew back, then rubbed his head. "Not for the faint of heart," he recommended to the others, who laughed.

"What about the water copy of Pinkie Pie?" a changeling asked. "Can we meet her?"

"Oh definitely," Pinkie said with a smile and closed eyes. She whistled Penny out. "Penny, we're here. You can be out during our visit the whole time."

"Yay!" Penny said and waved to the changelings who pleasantly waved back.

"How about the fillies?" a changeling inquired. "Do they transform too? The white one can be a pegasus sometimes, right?"

Sweetie Belle blushed and modestly nodded.

"She can," Rainbow admitted. "Ready, Rhezenda?"

"Yes, Master," Sweetie said with a respectful bow and found herself in her pegasus filly form soon after. She flew up to show that the wings even worked.

Scootaloo glanced up with a slightly jealous smile, but she knew her turn for true flight would come eventually.

"Wow," said some of the changelings. Others chatted among themselves. Chrysalis looked up, quietly impressed as well.

"What about the others?" a changeling asked, referring to Scootaloo and Apple Bloom.

"I have an adult form available to all three," Rainbow said. "Let me switch Rhezenda back real quick."

Sweetie Belle landed and became her unicorn self.

"Ready, girls?" Rainbow asked with a smile.

They nodded.

The master mev's eyes flickered to red irises on yellow sceleras, and her Awesome Crusaders grew to their adult forms.

The changelings nodded in approval at the magic similar to their own.

"You three may as well stay like that since it takes magic to undo," Rainbow said.

They giggled and nodded in agreement.

"Anyone else?" the changelings asked Rainbow.

"Fluttershy can be a bat pony at night. All of my fledglings can be given a similar bat pony form whenever our magic allows. Mev magic has rules. I can show you the fillies because I can't do that as a pegasus," Rainbow explained.

"Does that mean the rules would let you show the bat pony forms?" a changeling asked.

Rainbow nodded. "It does."

"Can we see that too?" another inquired.

"We promise it will be the last of our transformation requests," offered yet another.

"You should ask about the dragon form too!" Scootaloo suggested suddenly.

They chattered. "Next to last?" one asked with an embarrassed smile.

Rainbow glanced at her fledglings who pleasantly smiled and nodded.

"Very well," Rainbow agreed and transformed them too.

"Heehee," Pinkie immediately took advantage of being able to fly. Penny remained an earth pony since she was not a fledgling but a magical water essence. She liked keeping the distinction too.

Rainbow gave a quick flash to show her dragon form to fulfill the actual last request. Chrysalis' mouth fell open. She liked it. She liked it a lot. She wanted to touch it or even better, have the dragon Rainbow Dash touch her. The other changelings gazed on with approval before Rainbow decided to switch back to her standard pegasus form.

One daring changeling announced they would attempt the dragon form. As expected, they failed. "Okay, that one burns," the changeling wheezed after the attempt.

"I'm surprised," a fanged Starlight said to Thorax. "I thought shape-shifting would be nothing special to all of you."

"Oh, we can still appreciate it," Thorax replied, "especially from ponies who typically can't. That must require some special magic. We certainly don't know anything about having one living being we cannot take the form of. That's a new one on us."

"Master mevs are quite rare," Chrysalis informed him, "and they are usually more discrete than this one."

Rainbow blushed and stroked the back of her mane with a hoof.

"So you've encountered them before?" Thorax asked her.

Chrysalis shook her head. "Not directly, no. I've just heard things over the years."

"Hmm, alright then," Thorax said. He turned his attention to his subjects. "Everyone, please go about your business. I'll be giving the tour soon."

With quiet chatter among themselves, the other changelings followed his instructions.

Thorax's older brother, Pharynx approached Chrysalis. "You're here even though you haven't accepted love and friendship like the rest of us?" he bluntly inquired.

"Yes," Chrysalis replied plainly. "Master Rainbow Dash and I have an arrangement."

"Interesting," Pharynx said. "What is it?"

"It's a bit hard to explain," Chrysalis admitted. "In short, she thinks she can help me. I'm here under her suggestion and supervision."

"Okay," Pharynx accepted that answer.

"Let me show you and the others how things are. Starlight's already seen this tour but no one else," Thorax offered.

"We'd be happy to see it," Fluttershy replied, still in her bat pony form.

"Yuppers Puppers!" Pinkie agreed from still flying in the air.

"Lead the way, King Thorax," Penny encouraged him.

The Crusaders themselves nodded with smiles, soon followed by Rainbow Dash and Chrysalis. Thorax showed them that the hive had theater, swing dancing, a weekly potluck lunch, craft time, and a Feelings Forum. At that last item, Chrysalis sneered.

"You could try it," Thorax suggested gently. He and the other changelings had prepared themselves for the possibility.

Chrysalis' left eye twitched. She saw everyone watching her and waiting.

She met eyes with Rainbow Dash. "It's optional," the mev told her with a warm smile.

The former changeling queen certainly had feelings to express, so she did. "I've been very...angry," she growled, "since I lost you all to her...and him." She gestured at Starlight and Thorax respectively. "When I was your queen, I had power and a home. I was on the verge of having everything I could have ever want before they ruined it. Since then, I have been lonely and powerless up until two days ago, and I've hated it. I do not rule as I once did, and it infuriates me...to no end."

No one said anything to let the feelings have their moment to resonate.

"I'm done," she grumbled.

They all nodded and one of the changelings timidly said to her, "You don't have to be alone." Others nodded and looked at her with hopeful eyes.

"You can come back and stay with us," another said.

Chrysalis gulped at how easily they made such an offer and thought back to Rainbow's own words advising of reconciliation. "...I appreciate it, but for now, I will stay with Master Rainbow Dash."

They merely nodded and didn't say anything else.

"Perhaps other guests wish to participate," the leading changeling for the forum offered.

Pinkie and Penny happily took the stage. "We hare just so happy!" Pinkie told them.

"And having such a good time being out together with all you changelings," Penny added. "I'm kinda sorta part changeling myself with some magic to make my appearance a little different from Pinkie."

"Oh," so me changelings uttered, and the group generally offered light applause.

Fluttershy soon followed. "All of you are so nice. It's just...so wonderful to be here with such a kind group."

They blushed and lightly cheered for themselves.

Then they urged Rainbow Dash to say something as well, and she could only tell them, "I feel awesome being here today with all of you." The changelings were perfectly content to hear it.

After that, Rainbow Dash approached Chrysalis. "I need to meet with Thorax in private. Do you think you can manage in their company nonetheless without me? Starlight's in charge after all."

Chrysalis glanced to Starlight who smiled mischievously. Chrysalis found that amusing but refused to show it. She looked at Rainbow Dash. "Actually Master, I would recommend I be with you. Thorax might not know how to answer some of your requests. I may not have met any past master mevs myself, but I know a few things useful to you."

"So you're willing to help me out?" Rainbow asked with a hopeful smile.

"I'm curious," Chrysalis admitted with a shrug.

"Appreciated," Rainbow replied and lightly tapped Chrysalis in gratitude. She approached her filly servants. "You three must wait outside."

"Everywhere is outside here," Apple Bloom gestured to the hive and sky.

"I have my ways," Rainbow reminded her.

At that, Apple Bloom nodded. The fledglings were left to mingle with the other changelings.

Thorax led the way for Rainbow Dash and Chrysalis to his throne. Rainbow directed everyone to stand back and give her space while she activated her chaos magic to create four walls, a door, and a light fixture on the ceiling, placing the throne in a single room building. She made sure to give Chrysalis, herself, and Thorax enough space. She directed the Crusaders for where to stand guard and alert. Her Secret Service would be on each side of the door, and her Rhezenda would be pacing or sitting or standing in front of them—which exact thing didn't matter, so much as that she needed to be nearby.

With that, the Master Mev, Thorax, and Chrysalis entered the makeshift room.
> Chapter 78 - Changeling Magic
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Thorax sat at his throne and asked, "What can I do for you today, Master Rainbow Dash?"

"I want to eat magic from an adult changeling," Rainbow informed him. "The magic returns in seven days."

Thorax looked down thoughtfully for a moment, then back up at her. "May I ask why you need changeling magic?"

"In part, to help one of my clients. In another part, to add the Changeling Kingdom as part of my territory to protect as a master mev. We ponies will gladly help regardless, but that would let us tap into our reserve or mev specific powers more easily. That's links us to this specific bond and work," Rainbow explained.

"I understand," Thorax replied and then offered, "I can do it. The others know the nature of your power from your show, so they'll be understanding for the week I'm out. I don't want to ask any of them to do it. Do you have any other requests?"

"I do," Rainbow replied. "Starlight told me about some kind of remote communicator device that likely contains magic. It sounds like something quite useful to our pack."

Thorax looked at Chrysalis as he said to Rainbow Dash, "We needed several to link to each other, and they only reached out to something Queen Chrysalis had."

Chrysalis nodded in confirmation. "You at least had the sense to keep the devices I hope. I can show her how they work."

"I did," Thorax replied to her. "What else, Master Rainbow Dash?"

"Do you have any relics or magical objects that you use? Something like Chrysalis' throne but that does not drain magic?" Rainbow Dash inquired. "Something I can take back with me either as it is or as a small backup copy."

"I thought mevs were immune to magic drainage," Chrysalis noted.

"We are," Rainbow assured her. "My work extends beyond my pack," she added with a small smile.

To that, Chrysalis gave a slight tilt of her head in acknowledgment.

Thorax rubbed his chin in thought with a forelimb. "Princess Celestia has the Talisman of Mirage already in her care in Equestria."

"You gave it to her?" Chrysalis asked in subdued alarm.

"Yes. It's a way to represent our culture to the others. The ponies are friends with more creatures than each other and changelings," he reminded her.

"Something here today during my visit," Rainbow noted further.

"The Mirror of Insight," Chrysalis announced to them.

"Isn't that what the remote devices linked to?" Thorax asked her.

Chrysalis nodded.

"What does it do?" Rainbow asked.

"Aside from remotely linking to the communicator network, it can reveal a changeling's true form. It can also dispel illusions," Chrysalis explained. "It's the counterpart to the Talisman of Mirage."

Rainbow smiled at that. "Fascinating. King Thorax, will you be using it once we find it?"

Chrysalis looked at him, silently daring him to decline.

"Oh, yes, yes I will," he said with an uneasy smile. "Anything else?" he offered.

"May Chrysalis stay here at the hive with you all on Tuesday nights?" Rainbow requested.

Thorax blinked before saying, "Yes, of course."

Rainbow Dash looked at Chrysalis, who nodded at her. The former changeling queen found that acceptable as well.

"Anything else?" Thorax asked again.

"Not likely, but let's see these devices. I will wait to eat your magic until I am about to leave," Rainbow figured.

Thorax nodded. Those terms were fine with him.

With that, the three left the temporary building since Rainbow and Thorax would return to it later.

"Master," the Crusaders happily ran up to her, waiting for the latest news.

"What's next?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Queen Chrysalis is going to lead us to something that should be interesting," Rainbow told the group. "Apple Bloom, get Starlight, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Penny to join us."

"Yes, Master," Apple Bloom said eagerly and left to do just that.





Thorax dug out several small oval shaped devices from underground in one section of the hive. Chrysalis herself found another place underground to find the Mirror of Insight. The mirror itself was an oval in a simple solid black wooden frame. Chrysalis also dug out the stand for it and used her magic to hinge the mirror onto the stand itself.

The interested parties for the task at work gathered in a wide open area just outside the hive. Curious changelings observed and began to watch as the Master Mev and her servants listened to the former and current ruler explain things.

"These are the transmitters," Thorax said and pointed to the four compact oval devices.

Each one was split almost all the way down the middle by a black line that then forked in two black lines fanning outward. He put four of them in four different points of an invisible square. Immediately, the last placed device opened up on its lower part, and green magical energy buzzed presently like the device itself was a glowing bug.

A green line of the magic met into another transmitter, then another, and another. The four objects raised into a grimy web-like substance, and a magic green whirlwind formed above it into something akin to a screen. The screen was in a frame of magic that looked like green fire inside black fire. Chrysalis' image appeared on it, given that the former changeling queen herself was already positioned properly.

"You need all four to make the link," Chrysalis informed Rainbow Dash, "and the mirror itself is the receiver."

"Do you use the transmitters yourself?" Rainbow asked Thorax.

He shook his head. "No, we don't. You can have them for your pack."

All the Awesomevs smiled at each other.

"What about the receiver?" Fluttershy asked Rainbow Dash.

"The way I'm hoping to use remote communication, the original receiver is not going to work. I think we can tweak a copy or even several copies." Her eyes wandered to Sweetie Belle. Rhezenda nodded and smiled at the prospect of using her ability specific to Rainbow's mastery. "I'll need Starlight and Discord's help on Tuesday, but we all know the gist of what we want to do. Since it's in service to the pack itself, it will be quite malleable."

Starlight Glimmer quietly nodded in affirmation.

"Rhezenda, get started. Make ten rounded rectangular drawings like the device we saw on Tuesday night and with this material in mind. Seven on one page, three on another," Rainbow Dash instructed her. "Starlight, show her to refresh her memory."

Starlight nodded and used her unicorn magic to create the designated size for a pony usable cell phone.

Sweetie Belle set to work. Rounded rectangles were easy enough. She colored in some streaks to indicate the material was reflective. The others did not have to wait long.

"Do you have any mirror glass we can use?" Rainbow Dash asked Thorax. "If it has even a trace of what's used in the actual receiver, that helps. We are taking the actual glass." She made sure that was clear.

Other changelings nearby were already setting to work to find what Rainbow Dash wanted and returned with ten mirrors, all larger than what was necessary for a given playing card. Thorax explained that they did, in fact, have traces of such magic. The traces were too small to be of any use to the changelings themselves. Fluttershy helped remove the frames for the mirrors since she was the mev initially chosen for this mission. She bunched the larger ones on one end of a pile and the smaller ones on another.

The canary-colored bat pony stood ready for what she knew was next.

"Once you take the magic, it is gone," Chrysalis informed Rainbow. "For these objects, it does not return, not even the original."

Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes to stare Chrysalis down.

"The transmitting magic," Chrysalis clarified, "because of how you plan to manipulate it with the other devices. The other parts will return within the week. That is how you want the magic to work to your favor, is it not?"

"It is, that just seems too easy," Rainbow noted.

"She's right," Thorax assured Rainbow. "They are linked with the transmitters. You'll be taking those completely, so the magic is going to cut off with how you plan to use all of these things together."

"So be it," the sky blue mev conceded. "No complaints. Everyone else, stand back and give us some space," she commanded.

The observing changelings backed away, as did all of Rainbow's companions and Thorax. Chrysalis walked away from the mirror.

Sweetie Belle brought out Rainbow's crown from a saddlebag and set it near the pile of mirrors.

"Segunda, eat the magic from the Mirror of Insight," Rainbow instructed her fledgling.

Fluttershy opened her already fanged mouth and began to eat the magic that streamed into her body. "Done," she told Rainbow Dash when finished.

Rainbow flapped her wings to lift herself above the ground between Fluttershy and her crown. "Send it to me," the master mev instructed further.

Fluttershy nodded and blew out the stream like a distant airy kiss. Rainbow sucked it in and let it sit in her to mix with the other magic in the reserve. Once she felt ready, she channeled it toward her crown.

Sweetie's adult form was already activated, so Rainbow Dash had to only activate the magical shimmer  for Sweetie to cast her special magic. The Rhezenda readied the two different sheets of drawings with magical levitation. With Sweetie Belle ready, Rainbow Dash put on her crown, and a stream from that shot toward the pile of mirrors. Sweetie's magic shot from her horn to her drawings toward the same pile.

With a flash of green light, ten rounded rectangular cell phone screens appeared spaced out on the ground next to a couple of excess larger mirrors that turned out to be unnecessary for the job.

Rainbow Dash landed softly on the ground. She and Sweetie Belle stepped forward to inspect the screens together. "They are the proper size," Rainbow determined as she held one with her wing. "You all let them be," she told her fledglings. "Starlight, Discord, and I will explain this more fully on Tuesday."

They nodded in acknowledgment.

Rainbow Dash flashed her eyes to red and yellow to secure the screens to be indestructible. Once done, Sweetie Belle tucked them all into her saddlebag.

"Starlight, you be the one to eat from the transmitters. Fluttershy got an extra turn through one of our other trips," Rainbow instructed her first fledgling.

Starlight nodded and ate from the transmitters in a separate nearby pile.

Sweetie took the dormant transmitters into the saddlebag with the screens.

With one of the remaining mirrors, Sweetie Belle and Rainbow Dash quickly made a small copy of the Mirror of Insight with a proper case.

"Wow," Thorax uttered with an impressed smile.

"We tend to have leaders name them, so, do have any ideas?" Rainbow asked him.

"Oh, ummm...Ida," he decided.

Ida gleamed for a moment in approval.

"All set for that," Rainbow Dash told him. "Thanks, King Thorax."

"A pleasure," he replied.

"Ready for the rest?" she asked.

He nodded. "As ready as I can be, yeah."

The two returned to the small building she created surrounding his throne. She explained the eye enchantment. Thorax noted he understood and soon succumbed to her bite.

The party from Equestria stayed an extra hour to ensure Thorax woke up in good health aside from his lack of changeling magic.

The changelings asked Rainbow Dash for a small performance given what her friends told them about her flying ability and her enjoyment of performing. Rainbow Dash was more than happy to oblige, especially with how accommodating the changelings themselves had been from the start. A Sonic Rainboom soon lit the sky to several cheers of a delighted audience.

Soon thereafter, the party from Equestria departed. Although the trip lacked the intensity of the trip to the Dragonlands, Team Awesome Plus left the Changeling Kingdom satisfied. They spent time with friends that could freely know who and what they were. Even Chrysalis found enjoyment at having been useful and treated with the respect expected of a friend to the Master Mev.

Rainbow herself still found immense excitement. She was one step closer to making cell phones for her pack.
> Chapter 79 - She Dreams of Power
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Late Sunday afternoon, Rainbow had sent the Awesome Crusaders home. She would stay, as was customary by this point. She would have her flexchange with Twilight and night reading. Before all that though, she went with Chrysalis to her new room at the castle. She wanted to give it a quick inspection. After all, Chrysalis was her charge.

The room had a bed, a dresser, a full length mirror, and an end table.

"Everything looks to be in order," Rainbow announced. "Tomorrow, we are going to conduct a little exercise I'll tell you more about it then."

"Exercise?" Chrysalis asked with intrigue.

"Yes. I want to properly prepare myself since it will be a new thing for me too," Rainbow told her.





Twilight Sparkle stood with a ready smile at the sight of Rainbow Dash arriving to her room. "So...how did it go?"

"The room's good. She had no complaints, and neither do I," Rainbow informed. "I'll be over tomorrow night. I'm going to try out something new with her."

"Oh, what is it?"  Twilight asked with interest.

Rainbow's eyes lit up and she leaned in close to explain as quietly as she could.

Twilight gasped. "Rainbow, you've never even done anything like that...I'm not sure even Princess Luna has."

"Well, I'm a master mev and not a princess so yeah. I think it'll be good for her. Call it a hunch. If the magic thinks I'm wrong, it will stop me."

"I suppose so," Twilight admitted. She became more composed with a warm smile. "I hope you're right and know you probably are."

"Now come on, let's get to the fun stuff," Rainbow said with a fanged grin.

"Yes!" Twilight said with equal eagerness.

The pegasus took her temporary alicorn form, then bit in to Twilight's neck.

Twilight grew her own fangs and soon bit back.

The two held each other in an embrace for a moment. When they pulled away, Twilight told Rainbow Dash, "Night reading. I'm sure I can find something to help with your idea."

"That would be great, Rexa. Thanks," Rainbow replied.





Sunday ended. Daytime Monday ran its course for Rainbow Dash with weather work and teaching at the school. Because of her plans with Chrysalis for the night, Rainbow and Sweetie Belle worked on their Tuesday team meeting agenda in the afternoon instead of evening. Sweetie went with Rainbow to Twilight's castle and would wait in the library.

The sun set. Rainbow arrived at Chrysalis' new room.

The tall changeling allowed her in.

"Here's what we're going to do," Rainbow began. "Thanks to Starlight, I have an idea of what both the ruling princesses of Equestria actually do to rule Equestria. While we have determined that I will not help you rule Equestria, we have been following a similar path to it, to teach you. We are going to combine that information with dream magic. You will experience what ruling Equestria would be like for you as an alicorn princess. 

"I will be watching and not intervening unless you speak my title because it turns out to be a nightmare—if that happens. Then the dream will cease. Time will blur regardless. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Master," Chrysalis confirmed with a respectful nod of her head. Rainbow had already instructed her to prepare as if she were going to sleep for the night.

"Close your eyes," Rainbow commanded.

Chrysalis did as she was told until she felt like she was waking up even though that meant the dream started. She found herself in a spacious white room. She was in a bedroom and staring up at the awning of the bed she laid in. The sheets and awning were golden. She stared at her own body and saw her coat was a light green color to match the unicorn disguise she usually wore. She stepped out of the bed to find a mirror and examine herself.

Her mane did not flow like Celestia's but otherwise looked similar in shape and thickness with the orange hue that again matched her unicorn disguise. She wore the same crown on her head as Celestia and the same jeweled necklace

She wasn't sure about the pony form, but the room and accessories were certainly appreciated. 

The dreaming changeling noticed the sun had not yet risen and a to-do list appeared in front of her. It reminded her that it was the ruling alicorn princess' responsibility to raise the sun. She focused her pretend alicorn magic, and the sun rose granting day to her unseen subjects.

The dream shifted her into a carriage being pulled by four armored white pegasi. The magical list reminded her to smile and wave. Chrysalis did and saw ponies stop to look at her with respect or admiration. As an alicorn, she could not feed on their love the way she could as a changeling.

It was time to cut the ribbon for a store opening, which was simple enough with the still plastered on smile.

At a rose garden contest where the ruling princess was deemed a judge, Chrysalis stared at the flowers clueless. She sniffed. A pony attendant indicated she need to examine more. Everyone looked at her expectantly to name the winner. This was definitely something she did not know or understand, so she simply picked the last one. The task was a far cry from a nightmare, but it was mildly annoying. It gave her some insight to ponies' expectations of a leader.

Her face ached from all the continuous smiling, and she noticed that other ponies noticed if her expression faltered. 

The dream shifted her to a meeting with delegates concerned about timberwolves. Again, clueless, Chrysalis could only stare blankly at them before asking why timberwolves were a problem.

They looked at each other, startled, and at her, explaining that timberwolves attacked ponies and were dangerous. Could Princess Chrysalis tell them if there really were timberwolves in the Whitetail Woods? Chrysalis looked helplessly around for a nonexistent aide besides the magical to-do list that only said for her to dispel the rumors.

Taking a deep breath, the dreaming changeling asked what events led the delegates to believe the rumors. The delegates told her a few tales about their own citizens. The rumors sounded rather baseless to Chrysalis, but this was a dream. She confidently told the delegates that she would have the matter looked into by an established force and send a guard with them. That left them apprehensive, but they agreed to it.

Town hall. Three hours of other ponies squabbling about inner Canterlot politics. Terribly droll.

Day over. Sun down. Time to raise the moon. Time to sleep. Day begins. Moon down, sun up. More smiles, more waves, more public appearances. Back to the castle. Time to sit on the throne and wait. A letter from Twilight Sparkle that the school was still a success and would Chrysalis like to have dinner on Saturday? She set it aside. Right, of course. The other princesses could request her appearance.

Time to watch the play for Hearth's Warming about how Equestria was founded. Spring was almost here, time to use magic to wrap up winter. Moon down, sun up. Moon down, sun up. On repeat. On and on it went. The days and the ponies blurred together. More smiles, more waves.

Time to raise the sun, but it was not just any day of raising the sun. No, this was the Summer Sun. Ponies stayed up all night. This one was special. She must perform the magic with utmost grace and poise.

Twilight and her friends were here to help. The Rainbow Dash here was not the master watching, just the envisioned dream.

Summer sun up. The ponies were happy. Chrysalis felt happy too. She was proud of herself and to see their adoring gazes upon her.

More blurs.

Time to meet Queen Novo. King Thorax. Prince Rutherford. Dragon Lord Ember.

More days passed. More smiles and pleasantries and waves and concerns and arguments and suns and moons and guards and...friends?

Seven ponies in particular would appear again and again, not always, but enough to become familiar. They could be friends if Chrysalis ever let them.

Discord would appear to tease her and make trouble, which was exasperating.

Finally, a sun set, and Chrysalis awoke from the dream to see Rainbow Dash sitting at attention on a chair near the bed.

"I believe you have experienced enough," Rainbow told her.

Chrysalis blinked, then nodded without a word.

The master mev waited patiently for her client to say anything.

"It was pleasant at times but a little dull too, to be honest," Chrysalis finally said. "Everyone's always watching you, and you can't just leave whenever you want. It's almost like an extremely well furnished prison on a pedestal. That was something new when I lost my hive. I didn't need to be with them or looking for food for them. I was on my own, so I could go wherever I wanted, whenever I wanted. I would have to give up that freedom, wouldn't I?"

Rainbow nodded. "Yes."

Chrysalis was contemplative at this realization. "Is it a dream I can have again?" she asked.

"No, not from me anyway," Rainbow decided. "This was to give you an inkling, a starting point. You'll find a path from here and with what my team will do for you in the days to come."

"Very well," Chrysalis replied. Indeed, she did not want an exact replica of the dream to become her life.

"I do have a request to you myself," Rainbow quietly noted.

Chrysalis glanced her way, curious.

"May I eat your magic tonight?" Rainbow asked gently.

Chrysalis smiled. "I have something the Master Mev desires? Even with what you ate from Thorax yesterday?"

Rainbow blushed and smiled, then shrugged. "Yeah."

Chrysalis grimaced. "I'm not sure it's wise to do that. I think will be disguising myself as a unicorn until  I've had more time living in Ponyville and feel more comfortable here. I want to keep my changeling magic for now."

"Understandable," Rainbow agreed with a nod. "It was worth a shot," she added with a smile of her own.

"Rainbow Dash," Chrysalis said suddenly.

"Yes?" Rainbow wondered, intrigued by her client's quickness. There was an underlying sense of urgency in the words.

"I...you...I'll be your friend if you still want to do that," Chrysalis told her.

"I'd like that very much Chrysalis," Rainbow said with a friendly smile. After a a slight pause, she asked, "Can I call you 'Chryssy'?"

Chrysalis blushed and nodded. "Yes. Yes, Master, you may." She added more sternly. "But only you."

"Oh, master privilege. I like," Rainbow declared proudly. 

"Might I request a privilege as well?" Chrysalis asked.

"Let's hear it."

"Can I see your dragon form again?" Chrysalis asked, her voice full of hope.

Rainbow transformed instantly and smiled at her. "You like this look on me, huh?"

Chrysalis nodded. "I don't know why." Her gaze fell on the clawed hands. 

Rainbow Dash noticed. "Yeah, hands are definitely new. These things are so fun." She wiggled all her fingers for them both to see, then examined the sharp points of her claws. She really liked having claws. They made her feel more threatening as a vampire. "You change into things with hands often?"

Chrysalis shook her head. "I haven't had the need."

"Yeah, but you can shape-shift for fun," Rainbow reminded her.

Chrysalis snickered. "I suppose." She reached out and touched the hand with her hoof. Chills ran through her.

Rainbow noticed how much Chrysalis seemed to like it, so she moved the hand closer to gently linger on Chrysalis' cheek. "Do you like this?"

Chrysalis closed her eyes and smiled. "Yes." She suddenly felt love from Rainbow to her. She opened her eyes, and there was no wispy heart this time. "How…?"

Rainbow smiled warmly. "How what?" She was loving Chrysalis loving this interaction.

"Nothing," Chrysalis said, deciding to keep it to herself. Rainbow was immune to being badly affected by her eating such love.

"Your wings…" Rainbow informed her.

Chrysalis glanced back to see that they were shiny and light blue. No holes poked through them. "I'm changing like the others," she gasped. "Already?" she whispered with a confused look on her face.

"We did just become friends," Rainbow reminded her. "You're not upset, I hope."

Chrysalis glanced at them. They did look and feel better than her old ones. "No," she decided. "They're...acceptable."

Rainbow laughed. "Right. 'Acceptable'. Well, Chryssy, I'll be on my way. If I don't see you during the day tomorrow, I'll see you at the start of the pack meeting. You have yourself a good night."

"Thank you Master. Good night," Chrysalis replied.
> Chapter 80 - Meeting Cell  Phone Users
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







On Tuesday night at Twilight Sparkle's castle, Chrysalis was allowed in the throne room to at least meet the entire pack, Sweetie Belle, Spike, and Discord. She was there for an official introduction and notice before Starlight would escort her by teleport to the Changeling Kingdom. She stood between Twilight's and Applejack's thrones.

Discord scrutinized Chrysalis' physical form. He hovered over the table and faced Chrysalis.  "I've got my eye on you," he said as he stretched out and enlarged one of his yellow eyes before pulling it back.

"Duly noted," Chrysalis replied.

"Alright, get a move on," Rainbow urged her.

Starlight nodded, and the two disappeared. The powerful lilac unicorn soon returned alone.

"Okay, let's get started for real. We'll go ahead and discuss Chrysalis first," Rainbow began.

"Fine," Discord said. He folded his arms and with an annoyed look, he told the group, "I don't trust her."

"That's fair," Rainbow agreed. "We didn't trust you for awhile either."

Literal steam blew out through his ears as his face visibly reddened akin to the shade of a tomato, but he didn't deny it.

"Alright, this one's a bit complicated. Chrysalis wants to rule Equestria, and that's beyond what I'm willing to do for her. However, if we can teach her about the path required to do that, I think we've all got something to gain." Rainbow explained.

"Like what?" a skeptical Discord questioned her.

"Someone who cares about Equestria and could be a good leader either in or out of it to a smaller scale region," Rainbow admitted.

"That's how you think it's gonna end?" Applejack inquired.

"That or she'll become an expert actress or some other hobby," Rainbow remarked.

"Does she know that?" Pinkie asked.

"Not in those exact words, but I've made it no secret that I'm grooming her to learn about friendship, leadership, Equestria, and so on, from all of us," Rainbow said. "We need a springboard, and this is it. Her wings have already changed after just a few days. She figures a possible new reformed look would be different for her than the other changelings, due to her former position as their former queen."

"We have some understanding of what you mean Master," Rarity said carefully, "but perhaps you could tell us more? Is there even anything for the rest of us to do? With Scootaloo, we've known to visit the kingdoms and gather magic. This task is very different, and it strikes me as something mainly between you and Chrysalis or Twilight and Chrysalis. There is no potion to prepare."

"Let me start with telling y'all about some progress we made last night. She has accepted my friendship," Rainbow explained.

The other Awesomevs nodded.

"She has been peacefully in the presence of her former subjects at the hive for the Changeling Kingdom," the master continued.

"There really weren't any problems?" asked an intrigued Applejack.

"I suppose there was some tension when she used their Feelings Forum to speak," Fluttershy said, "but they were all patient. No one got hurt. She even helped us out for the magic we found there."

"I was there and can confirm," Starlight added.

"Me and Penny saw no problems with that either," Pinkie said.

"None of you think she did anything to the magic itself?" Discord asked them.

"Well, we certainly didn't see or sense anything like that," Rainbow remarked thoughtfully. "But maybe you could help us get a sense for it when we use it later tonight, for an expert second opinion."

"Very well," Discord agreed, with a hint of pride.

"What else, Master?" Twilight prodded Rainbow to continue on what was done.

"Yesterday, I gave her a dream of what it would really be like to rule Equestria based on what Starlight told me. She knows some stuff from that time she spent the day she spent with Celestia and Luna when she switched their cutie marks," Rainbow told them.

Starlight blushed but said nothing.

"How'd it go? How'd it go?" Pinkie wondered openly and eagerly, pushing for more information.

Rainbow projected the conversation from the previous night onto the table, so she wouldn't have to repeat everything herself.

"Well, she certainly seems sincere there to me," Fluttershy said gently, looking up in Discord's direction.

He tapped an eagle claw to his chin in quiet thought. He didn't disagree.

"Ruling Equestria can be boring and like a really lavish prison?" Pinkie scrunched up her nose as she asked the air with serious thought and mild disappointment.

The other mevs simply shrugged.

"The only one of us who knows anything of what that might be like is Twilight," Rarity reminded everyone.

They all looked at the alicorn princess with them.

With a sheepish look, Twilight told her friends, "I've never ruled a kingdom, unless you count the time the Tree of Harmony went all wild with the vines, but I can relate to the other part. That's definitely how I felt when I first got the castle and was twice not called upon for a map mission. I was still trying to get a grip on who I even wanted to be. And there was that time that Discord pretended to be sick, and Cadance told me that life in the Crystal Empire was predictable."

"Oh, right," Discord noted.

"What's next then?" Rarity wondered.

"Well," Rainbow said, "what we really need is to give Chrysalis things to do. Think on a small scale, odd job type of way. I need Chrysalis to experience ordinary pony life and find out what she likes and doesn't like. We can also find out what she's good at and not good at. So, Awesomevs, your part is a simple command. Find a short-term project you can supervise or help Chrysalis with."

"I suppose she could learn about basic apple bucking on the farm tomorrow afternoon," Applejack offered.

"You know," Starlight said, "it might be better if you wait until Friday. We've figured out that a given fledgling's magic is strongest on the day of their exchange. When Discord was without magic, we looked at it as our day to serve the pack."

"In that case, I can show her around at the sanctuary tomorrow instead," Fluttershy offered. "I'm sure I can give her something simple like feeding some of the animals."

More chatter passed through the room, and the mevs came up with options based on their own places of work where Chrysalis would be able to assist.

After that concluded, Rainbow said, "Let's talk about how our visit to the Changeling Kingdom went."

The others sat at attention and waited.

"This was very much not discrete after our stunt for Nightmare Night," she admitted with an embarrassed smile.

Her friends chuckled.

"We were greeted by the entire hive. They had an interest in our own shape-shifting magic so since I can't do that as pegasus, I was able to show them. Thorax was extremely accommodating. He flat out gave us everything we requested."

"So, we have changeling magic?" Rarity asked, eager and hopeful.

"Yes," Rainbow happily confirmed with a nod. "I admit, I even asked for Chrysalis' last night, but she made the point it's better for her to hold onto it for now. Still, let's move on. Rhezenda, bring out the screens and the transmitters. Put them all in the middle of the table."

Sweetie Belle nodded with a small smile.

"What are those?" Rarity asked with interest.

"You'll see. We're not done yet. Rhezenda, did you make the frame pictures?"

"Yes, Master," Sweetie answered proudly.

"Give me the crown, and let's take care of that now," Rainbow commanded.

In a few short minutes, frames to match the screens were on the table briefly before the physical essences were combined with Rainbow's magic to create ten physical cell phones.

"I'll pass them to you soon but first...Twilight, Starlight, did you find out what I wanted to know?" Rainbow asked them.

"Yes," Twilight answered with a smile. "I will be right back," she said.

Everyone waited several minutes, and from the door, four ponies entered. One was another Rainbow Dash, another was Sunset Shimmer, and then there were two Twilight Sparkles. One of them wore glasses and was a unicorn instead of an alicorn.

"Wow," said Sunset for the other two as she met the eyes of the others.

"Everyone," Twilight announced, "this is Sunset Shimmer, the other me, and the other Rainbow Dash from the human world."

Welcoming chatter shifted through the others at the table.

"We heard Equestria wanted to learn about cell phones," Human Twilight said.

Human Rainbow flew up to closely face her pony counterpart. "Hi," she greeted with a curious smile.

"Hello Awesome," Rainbow replied with a friendly wink. Her fangs peeked out as she spoke.

The other Rainbow blushed and chuckled. "For the record, I have not turned into a vampire over in our world. I don't think they're real over there." She looked at the cell phones on the table. "They've made the physical stuff," she said as she addressed her human world friends. She stood on the table and reached out with her hoof, then put the hoof to her face at remembering she didn't have hands in this world. She planted her hooves on the table and grabbed one of the phones awkwardly with a wing to lift it and show it to her two unicorn friends. The other visitors stood near Twilight's throne where the alicorn princess had already seated herself.

Sunset used unicorn magic to grab it from Human Rainbow and show to Human Twilight.

A lecture soon ensued as Twilight from the human world explained what cell phones were, how they worked, and answered Rainbow's questions that Starlight already gave her from the past Tuesday lesson.

Team Awesome learned about having a 'do not disturb' option and being able to leave voicemails. Human Twilight telekinetically gave Rainbow a small booklet full of advised features that Equestrian cell phones should have, such as being able to take pictures and use text messages. She advised that Rainbow eventually find a way to make styluses, small mechanical pen like items to help navigate through a phone, especially for ponies.

Once the lecture ended, and any lingering questions were answered, Human Twilight asked, "Can we stay and watch?"

"Certainly," Rainbow answered her.

Sweetie Belle laid out the ten phones separately spaced out on the table, seven above three.

Rainbow Dash's eyes switched to red-on-yellow and a whirlwind of red magic surrounded the cell phones as she specifically added the features based on Human Twilight's advice. Discord gave them a quick inspection before approving that they weren't tampered in any way by Chrysalis. Sweetie magically lifted the phones and found they were labeled by cutie mark. She passed each one to the appropriate mev and took three labeled with the Crusader cutie marks to herself. Rainbow had not explained at length how those would work, but Sweetie understood mev magic enough that they would not be as easily accessible as the other cell phones.

"Alright, Starlight, let's show them this thing in action," Rainbow suggested.

Starlight nodded and used her unicorn magic to call Rainbow, who demonstrated the call with enthusiasm to everyone at the table.

Applejack lifted hers with both hooves. "How are Pinkie and I supposed to use these until we get the stylus thing sorted? Getting our mouths or noses onto the buttons is mighty awkward."

"I'll have to find a proper material for the styluses. Until then, use your eyes to tap into the reserve magic," Rainbow instructed.

Applejack grew thoughtful and tried it. To everyone's interest and surprise, her eyes flashed red when she did. She could hold the phone steadily in place and pressed a button to call up Pinkie Pie.

Pinkie was already holding the phone with her mane, and her blue eyes flashed red to use magic to answer. "Wow, it worked!" she told everyone with a big, enthusiastic smile.

"Have we been able to use unicorn magic like that this whole time?" Applejack asked.

Rainbow Dash shook her head. "No. We are meeting very specific conditions to do this. Most of the time, one of our unicorn-magic-using members is enough—or myself—to perform the magic. The point of these phones, though, is for when we aren't together and trying to reach each other without having to teleport. Think of it as an extension of the summon magic."

"Oh okay," Applejack accepted that explanation.

"Girls, these are to be used for Team Awesome so don't go overboard. They're like a work phone," Rainbow informed her fledglings..

"How do the Awesome Crusaders' phones work?" Rarity inquired.

"They are for them to call any of us in case of an emergency or for me to call upon them myself," Rainbow explained.

"But I can't call Sweetie Belle?" Rarity wondered with a disappointed tone

"For pack business?" Rainbow checked.

Rarity blushed. "I was hoping for more beyond that."

"Think that on the night of our flexchanges. It needs to develop. For now, no, you can call her on pack business because one, she's your sister, and two, you helped me make the bond. The same will work for Apple Bloom and Applejack, but that won't be true for most of the other fledglings and the Crusaders," Rainbow told them. "We've got to have some limits and restrictions, and this factor makes them special."

"Understood, Master," Rarity said, both determined and satisfied.

"Wow, cell phones in Equestria," Human Rainbow Dash said with a pleased and impressed smile.

Sunset Shimmer chuckled. "I remember when you said you didn't think they had cell phones here."

"Thank you three very much for your help," Rainbow lifted into a hover and gave them a polite bow.

"No problem," Sunset replied. "It gave us a great excuse to stop by and help out our pony friends. I can't believe you all became vampires. Wow, I've missed a lot. Does Princess Celestia know?"

"She does," the alicorn Twilight assured Sunset.

With that, the human world visitors were soon sent back, and good-byes were made.

"Up next is Yakyakistan," Rainbow told her friends.

"Yay!" Pinkie declared from her seat. "This one's mine, right?!"

"Yes, Pinkie," Rainbow confirmed with a smile.

"Anyone else?" Starlight asked.

"Aaand...Rarity," Rainbow said.

"Oh, yes, certainly, Master. I would be happy to accompany you. That makes two trips for each of us then, doesn't it?" Rarity replied.

Sweetie Belle brought out her notes to be sure. "Starlight went to Griffonstone and the Changeling Kingdom. Fluttershy went to Griffonstone and the Changeling Kingdom."

Team Awesome's first and second fledglings smiled pleasantly and chuckled a little at having been assigned the same two places.

The unicorn filly continued. "Rarity went to the Dragonlands and will go to Yakyakistan. Applejack went to the Crystal Empire and the Dragonlands. Pinkie Pie went to the Changeling Kingdom and will go to Yakyakistan. Twilight went to Mount Aris and the Crystal Empire. And, Twilight played a big role in the Dragonlands. Starlight and Fluttershy also went with Master to Tartarus."

"Is it really just myself and Pinkie for this mission?" Rarity inquired. "I think it would be rather nice if we actually all go on this one together, especially given that it's the flower we seek."

Agreeable chatter ensued from the other fledglings.

Pinkie raised her hoof. "Yes! I don't mind at all, Master. It would make my trip feel special with so many of our friends there instead of a smaller group."

"I suppose we could try out the phones while we search the place," Rainbow considered aloud.

"Please Master," the other fledglings all said together at the same time.

Rainbow's whole body twitched, and she chuckled. "Okay, okay. We'll all go. This Saturday, in case we need to stay overnight. I've got a Wonderbolts show on Sunday so might have to teleport early. Everyone else can make it?"

"Pass," Discord declared from his perch. He smiled. "I like to hear how you all do without me," he noted with an interested grin.

"I'll pass too," Spike said. "Ten of you with the Crusaders to help out Rainbow Dash is more than enough assistance. It'll give us guys a chance to play Ogres and Oubliettes while you're gone. Well, I'll invite Chrysalis just in case, since you said you wanted stuff for her to do."

"Appreciated Spike," Rainbow told the young purple dragon. "Applejack, anything you can tell us about the flower now before we go?"

"I'll stop by Zecora's to borrow the book with the picture," Applejack offered.

Rainbow Dash picked up the phone and reminded Applejack it could take pictures and be sent by text to the other Awesomevs for pack business, thanks to the recommended features from Human Twilight.

"Well, I'll be," Applejack said with a smile. "I'll borrow the book and share pictures then. There might be extra pages with more info."

"Anything else on the agenda Rhezenda?" the master mev asked.

"Down the line," Sweetie Belle answered.

None of the Awesomevs had much to report that hadn't already been discussed, so the meeting concluded swiftly after.
> Chapter 81 - New Things
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







"Good morning, everypony," Princess Celestia said to Twilight and her fellow teachers for the School of Friendship. She greeted them in Twilight's office on Wednesday.

Two pegasi guards brought in a chest before bowing and leaving the room.

Celestia used magic to open the chest and revealed six objects of interest that contained magic. "These are the crown of King Grover from Griffonstone, the Talisman of Mirage from the Changeling Kingdom, and the cloak of Clover the Clever from here in Equestria. We also have the Amulet of Aurora from Mount Aris, Knuckerbocker's shell from the Dragonlands, and the helm of Yiksler from Yakyakistan." 

The first two items were ones Rainbow Dash had heard about in her travels to their respective originating kingdoms since becoming a master mev.

"Are you feeding us or something?" Applejack asked Celestia though she didn't sound like she believed it.

Celestia chuckled pleasantly, "No, I'm afraid not, Applejack. These magical artifacts were entrusted to Equestria as a means of friendship from the other kingdoms. I would like to give them to the school since they represent students from each of the kingdoms who attend here. There is no need to reserve their magic or make a back up since they are ours to keep. The magic in them is to stay fully intact as it already is."

The fledglings all looked at Rainbow Dash to see their master confirm this truth. Rainbow nodded with closed eyes before opening them to assure her pack, "We must listen to Princess Celestia on this matter."

Twilight examined the artifacts. "They're already covered in one of our books, so this would help me with my class. I could make it fun with a scavenger hunt and call it a spellvenger hunt."

"I think that is an excellent idea," Celestia told her.

"Oh, can you help me with the prize? How about a personal tour with you of the Canterlot Archives?" Twilight asked with a hopeful smile.

"I would be more than happy to do that for your class," Celestia agreed with a respectful and happy nod.





That night at the gym, Ocellus was relieved to see Rainbow Dash. The other students were with her. After the usual brief reunion with Grant, Ocellus asked, "How did you trip to the Changeling Kingdom go, Master?"

"Awesome," Rainbow Dash replied proudly. "The whole kingdom welcomed all of us together, even Queen Chrysalis."

Ocellus looked at her friends and then at Rainbow Dash. "Did you say 'Queen Chrysalis'?"

"Yeah, long story. I really can't tell you much besides the fact that we're friends now, and she's a client of mine," Rainbow admitted. "Team Awesome is doing our best to look out for her and help her out."

"Master Rainbow Dash, I really don't think that's wise. Chrysalis can't be trusted. She's probably lying to you and just waiting for the right moment to strike," the young changeling said worriedly.

"A fair suspicion to have," the master mev agreed, "but my business is my business. I'm glad you're looking out for me though, my dear student."

"Master," Gallus said quite seriously, "you can be manipulated. You're not infallible."

"And how would you know?" Rainbow asked with an evil, playful smile.

Gallus face-palmed at the frustrating nocturnivlair.

She laughed mischievously and went back to talking about her visit. "Here, I've got something to show you all. Check this out."

She reached into somewhere in her body, and held out her cell phone with her wing.

"What's that?" Ocellus asked.

"It's called a 'cell phone'. It uses remote communication. I can press a button of the servant I want to talk to based on their cutie mark, and their cell phone answers, provided I am calling about pack business. Mev magic has rules based on conserving magic after all," Rainbow explained.

"So we can't see it in action?" Smolder asked and sounded disappointed.

"No, my visits with you all are not an actual job for my pack. It's just a little something I like to do to develop our friendship bond," the mev confessed.

The students blushed with modest smiles.

"You made this with changeling magic?" Ocellus asked.

"Yes," Rainbow confirmed.

"How come you can show it to us if you can't make a call?" Silverstream wondered.

"That's standard magic for all of us in all the land. Some books call it 'cartoon logic.' We've got what you might call a pocket dimension where objects we carry do not appear until necessary. It's how you can pull a book out of thin air," Rainbow reminded her.

"Oh, I never realized we do that," Silverstream noted thoughtfully.

"We don't even think of it as magic, especially because it's not consistent. There are times we have to carry an object without the pocket dimension nonetheless," Rainbow informed the young hippogriff. "It depends on our story."

The students chattered quietly at that realization.

"Chrysalis knows you have these?" Ocellus inquired with concern.

"She even helped," Rainbow informed her.

"How are you not worried about that? She could have done something to them," the changeling pointed out.

"I know," Rainbow answered, "but you're going to have to entrust my team with our approach on the matter. It is still my business. Celestia gave Luna and Discord a second chance if I must remind you."

Ocellus nodded. "Anything else from your visit?"

"I performed a Sonic Rainboom," Rainbow announced proudly.

The students giggled.

"The other changelings were quite interested in our limited shape-shifting abilities," she continued.

"Oh, yes, of course. It's what we do, so it's nice to see it in similar magic," Ocellus agreed with a smile. "Is there anything you can do that I didn't see on Nightmare Night?"

"Yup," Rainbow answered. "I can change my filly servants to adult forms, and I myself can turn into a dragon on Mondays. Sunday was close enough with the service to a client to do it then. We're too far from both the day and the service for me to do it here."

"You can turn into a dragon!?" Smolder repeated.

Rainbow nodded with a quiet smile and blushed.

"Well, can you stop by some Monday night so we can see it?" Smolder prodded.

Rainbow hesitated. "I'm usually busy Monday nights. Just catch me during a free moment at school during the day. Just like old times." She winked in recollection of the first fear snare with them.

Smolder nodded.

"You have more filly servants?" Ocellus realized. "So that one that was thinking about it decided to join you?"

"That she did," Rainbow admitted.

"One of the other Crusaders?" Gallus wondered.

"Yes," the master mev confirmed.

"Which one?" Silverstream asked.

"Well, Scootaloo was the one I was talking about then, but actually, Apple Bloom serves me as well by this point," Rainbow informed them all.

"Why Master have so many servants? Fillies small," Yona noted.

"Because I am a master, and each have a service they wish to provide," Rainbow's eyes lit to red for a moment.

Yona felt chills down her spine. She recalled when Silverstream, Ocellus, and Gallus described such behavior. It was from when Rainbow first told them about Sweetie Belle being her servant.

"Plus, she just said she can make them bigger," Gallus pointed out.

"What else from the Changeling Kingdom happened, Master Dash?" Ocellus was finally ready to get back to the topic of her homeland.

"I have said that which I'm willing to say," Rainbow replied.

"Yakyakistan next?" Yona asked with a hint of hope.

"Team Awesome and then some are headed there on Saturday," Rainbow confirmed.

"Yaks not have much magic," Yona reminded her.

"You know what I just realized," Rainbow said to them with a smile. "Maybe I can't show you a phone call, but I can show you something quite convenient from these things."

They looked at her, intrigued.

Rainbow pressed a few buttons until a picture of a flower appeared.

"That teal star lily," Yona said.

"Any tips on how we might find them?" Rainbow asked.

"They rare," the young yak explained. "Find at cave fronts. Why master mev want flower?"

"Business," Rainbow replied simply.

The visit ended soon as the students still needed more sleep than the master mev.





On Thursday afternoon, Rainbow Dash hovered high as she examined the books in the school library. She sensed someone watching her from the floor. She turned her head and looked down to see a very curious Cozy Glow. The petite filly said nothing, only looking up in silent wonder, so Rainbow returned to examining the books.

"Are you looking for something, Professor Dash?" Cozy Glow asked.

"Nothing in particular," Rainbow noted. "Just anything that sparks my interest."

Cozy looked side to side to make sure no one was watching their talk. "Professor Dash, are you really a vampire?"

"I am," Rainbow answered nonchalantly, still examining the books. It would be hard to hide such a fact after Nightmare Night, even from a new filly in town.

"And no one has a problem with that?" gasped Cozy Glow.

Rainbow Dash chuckled. "I'm a bit different than what most creatures expect when they hear that word."

Cozy again looked around to make sure no one was watching them. "A mev?"

"Yup," Rainbow answered with a proud smile, this time looking at Cozy directly.

"Are there any books about mevs?" the young filly asked.

"I've only ever found one. It's called Mevs: An Explanation." Rainbow Dash darted away momentarily and returned, holding the book. "The school has a copy," she offered.

Cozy fluttered up closer to look at the red-bound book. She took it from Rainbow's hooves and read the first paragraph. She looked at Rainbow Dash. "You're a master type?"

"I am," Rainbow answered again with pride.

"The other teachers are fledglings?" Cozy asked.

"Haha, my lips are sealed on that one," Rainbow replied even though undoubtedly Cozy must have known it was on full display at the show for Nightmare Night. Nonetheless, Rainbow added, "And indeed, that is the extent of what I will say on this matter. I don't tell everyone everything. That means you too."

"Surely you can tell me something," Cozy pleaded. "Is this your separate job? Apple Bloom and Scootaloo said Sweetie Belle assists you with something but wouldn't say what. This must be it."

Rainbow smiled at Cozy, folding her forelimbs. "Then what are you asking me for? Sounds like you've got it all figured out already, you clever filly." She gave the young pegasus a friendly wink.

Cozy blushed. She took the book and left to read it in full.





Students stood in the main entrance to the school and listened intently to Twilight Sparkle on Friday. Spike hovered nearby. Discord stood not far to Twilight's left. Further to Twilight's right and behind her, stood the crusaders. The other teachers of the school stood to the sides of the students among the listening audience. "For this afternoon's Spellvenger Hunt, you'll need to use the artifact's history to find where they're hidden in the castle," Twilight announced.

A purple magic aura projected the six items of interest and switched to a question mark.

"When you spot one, touch it with your magic shield to keep track of your score," Twilight continued.

An image of two ponies finding the Amulet of Aurora showed wrists with shields that lit up with a check mark.

"I've made a list of pairs, and Spike here will pass out the shields. A friend of ours, Discord," she gestured to the tall draconequus figure, "has also offered to make the game a little more interesting and more fun—something like a haunted house. Don't panic and just enjoy yourself like so many of you did on our show for Nightmare Night," Twilight urged. "Us teachers, Starlight, Spike, and Discord will be watching from the teachers' lounge, again thanks to Discord's help. Our intern assistants, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo, will be wandering the halls to keep an eye on all of you and be available for any help you might need."

The students chattered with friendly hopeful murmurs as they received their magic shield wrist bands.

Twilight magically raised a gong and declared, "Ready. Set. Spellvenger Hunt!" as she used its rod to tap at the gong, making the initiating sound.

Smolder flapped her orange wings and flew next to Ocellus who already had a direction in mind. "I hope you know where you're going," the dragon said to her petite changeling friend.

"The helm of Yiksler," Ocellus said with certainty as she pointed her forelimb ahead.

"Eh, works for me," Smolder replied with a playful shrug and continued following.

The two approached a hallway lined with empty suits of armor along its walls.

"In our book, it says Yiksler was an honorable Yak warrior," Ocellus began to explain. "Any enemies that saw him put down their weapons in fear. I think this artifact must be in one of these suits of armor."

Smolder looked left, then right, lingering on the line to her right before dryly saying, "I'm guessing it's that one."

Ocellus was examining her book, looked up, and smiled.

They put their wrists up to its sides and received their check marks.

"Yes!" Ocellus said with excitement. "One down, five to go."

Smolder smiled proudly too and firmly clapped her hand against an offered hoof, accidentally knocking Ocellus down on her haunches. The young orange dragon helped her friend stand back up.

In the teachers' lounge, the group cheered at seeing two students find their first artifact.

"And now..." Discord said with an eager smile.

Ocellus and Smolder heard metal and glanced to the side to see the armored figure next to the one wearing the helm walk forward.

"Whoa," Smolder said.

It charged at them.

"Yikes!" Ocellus said as they cleared out of the way.

Satisfied, the armored figure returned to its station.

Smolder chuckled. Ocellus nervously laughed, but nonetheless, the two moved onto look for the next item.





Silverstream and Gallus walked side by side into the library.

"We're totally going to win this Spellvenger Hunt," Silverstream said confidently.

Gallus smirked and replied, "Yeah, I doubt that, but at least I have a good idea of where one of the artifacts is."

He led Silverstream to a wall with framed pictures of a yak, a griffon, and a hippogriff. Each wore one of the artifacts of interest and were presumably the original owners, Yiksler, King Grover, and Aurora. He lifted his magic shield to see two purple circles light up, indicating he was close. Gallus flew upward and approached. He spread his arms and gently pulled  back the frame to reveal the crown in a rectangular hole, placed on a decorative stand.

"The crown of Grover!" Gallus informed his friend. "Score!"

The two students placed their wrists to its sides to receive their shield check marks.

Gallus continued to tell Silverstream, "They say it's magic, and King Grover used it to become the first ruler of Griffonstone." He landed on the floor with a proud smile.

Silverstream followed and smiled at him.

"I know. Pretty sweet, right?" he asked.

"You paid attention in class," Silverstream said with a sweet, admiring, and sly smile.

"What?" Gallus replied, startled. "If you ever tell anyone—"

The frame shut back on its own, drawing their attention to it. The face of Grover stretched out in a moan toward them.

"Whoa!" Gallus said, impressed.

"3D face thing!" Silverstream pointed with enthusiasm.

It stretched out as if to bite them before pulling back into its frame.

"Nice job, Discord," Gallus declared to the air before he and Silverstream moved on with their search.

From the teachers' lounge, Discord grinned in pride.

Soon after, Sandbar led Yona up a flight of stairs, explaining they were looking for Knuckerbocker's shell, which was like a sea shell, but if you blew into it, you called a dragon. He recited a poem and guessed it was up past the stairs. Yona was not sure, but she followed. The stairs raised to give her a little push upward with each step, and the yak student giggled. They found the shell hidden in a drawer of an end table, put it away, and continued.

The Spellvenger Hunt went on with random chaotic flair to the amusement of the students. In the end, Smolder and Ocellus won the hunt altogether.
> Chapter 82 - Yakyakistan
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------



"You want me to play a game?" Chrysalis asked Spike. She stood in the doorway to her room.

"Yeah, Ogres and Oubliettes. Discord makes the game come to life to make it more fun. Each player has a class. I'm a mage, Big Mac's a knight, Discord's an archer. Rainbow Dash has played a rogue with us, and Pinkie Pie's been a bard," Spike further explained.

Chrysalis rubbed her hoof thoughtfully to her chin. "Very well, I accept your invitation," she announced with as much authority as she could. "Rainbow Dash and the rest are busy that day after all."

"Yup," Spike agreed. "That's the idea."

She gave him a somewhat polite nod, and the matter was settled.





Saturday arrived, and ten ponies for Team Awesome Plus boarded a train to the Crystal Empire. They were making a stop on the way to Yakyakistan to say hello to Cadance with Amara. They would even leave the heart there while in Yakyakistan and pick it up on the return trip. Rainbow Dash did not intend to ask outwardly about magic from a crystal pony, but it was on her mind.

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom wore black suits at Rarity's insistence they look the part of a Secret Service for such a big excursion. She suggested it would be fun, and they found they actually agreed with her. They rather liked it. Sweetie Belle declined whatever Rarity had in mind for Rhezenda. She rightly assumed Rarity thought of the role like a secretary. She wasn't sure what she wanted instead, aside from maybe a suit too. To that, Rarity happily obliged, so Sweetie could match her friends. Rarity added a small horseshoe pin to differentiate it, given the "right hoof" idea behind Sweetie Belle's role.

"You know, Master herself would look rather dashing in a suit, if you'll pardon the pun," Rarity said thoughtfully while they all rode the train.

Sweetie Belle smiled and looked up at Rainbow Dash. "I think so too."

"I know she does," Fluttershy added with a knowing, sweet smile.

Rarity fluttered her eyes hopefully at Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow blushed. "Not for this trip, but I'd be happy to do it another time."

Rarity giggled to herself with a stifled grin.

The party arrived in the Crystal Empire, and Rainbow Dash greeted Cadance formally. Sweetie Belle passed Amara to Cadance, and the ruler of the Crystal Empire secured her in a room she deemed appropriate with Shining Armor to look after it.

After that, Cadance met with Rainbow Dash privately in yet another room. The Awesome Crusaders found themselves standing guard for their master with the Crystal Empire's royal guard outside.

"No doubt you are wondering about your last request, the magic from a crystal pony," Cadance said to Rainbow inside.

Yeah, I am," Rainbow admitted.

"We have a volunteer," Cadance informed the master mev.

Soon, an older crystal pony was escorted in to join them. Rainbow recognized her as as the librarian, Amethyst Maresbury. "Master Rainbow Dash," she greeted with a polite bow.

"Ms. Maresbury," Rainbow returned the bow in kind.

"I never thought I'd live to see the day...an actual master mev," Amethyst uttered, clearly impressed.

"It's always a pleasure to meet ponies who appreciate my being what I am," Rainbow said with a warm smile.

"I'll be waiting outside the door," Cadance told them and left the room.

"May I see the vampire form and the leviathan dread?" Amethyst asked.

Rainbow Dash quickly obliged. She showed Amethyst that Blitz could change size easily and demonstrated how to pet the magical sea serpent, all while maintaining her full vampire form. After that, Blitz was soon dismissed.

"Before I eat, I am curious," Rainbow began, "is your coat actually harder to bite compared to most ponies?"

Amethyst giggled. "Perhaps when the Crystal Heart is fully powered, which it is not at the moment."

"Okay, good to know. Are you ready?" Rainbow asked.

"Oh yes, certainly," Amethyst said. The two red eyes enchanted her. She felt a bite and then fell into a pleasant sleep.





Rainbow Dash opened the doors to the room and stepped out. The guards and Cadance entered.

The Awesome Crusaders caught sight of the sleeping Amethyst inside before the doors closed.

Apple Bloom looked to Sweetie Belle. "Did she…?"

Sweetie shook her head and put a hoof up to her own mouth. She would not answer, and it was obvious enough nonetheless.

The master mev looked at her young bodyguard. "No questions on that," she said.

Apple Bloom nodded solemnly.

"Told you," Sweetie Belle muttered quietly.
Scootaloo gulped but said nothing. Even if she had seen Rainbow Dash eat in the Dragonlands, it felt different when it was a solitary sleeping pony. In a blink, she recalled what Torch said about a week long recovery and managed to whisper that information to Apple Bloom. She also remembered Rarity saying that daytime meals usually slept for an hour so relayed that as well. The two breathed sighs of relief.

Cadance rejoined them. "I do have a little something else for you too," she told the group.

Rainbow raised an eyebrow. Before them appeared a case and inside were several small slender crystals. "Twilight told me you all were hoping to craft something like magical pens for a tool you now have. I thought these would be suitable, and your magic could do the rest."

"Awesome," Scootaloo commented with an enthusiastic smile and victorious raise of her forelimb.

Rainbow smiled too. "They are awesome...and perfect. Thanks so much, Cadance."

"A pleasure," the alicorn replied with a respectful nod.

The master mev's eyes quickly flashed to red and yellow. She pulled out her own cell phone to try the new stylus with a wing. It worked. "Here," she told Apple Bloom. "You try it."

Apple Bloom gave it a try with her mouth. She looked up at Rainbow Dash and nodded in approval with a slight smile.

"They work great, Master," Sweetie Belle said.

With a satisfied look, Rainbow turned back to Cadance. "Awesome and perfect—we knew it. Well, then, we best get these to the girls and be off. We'll be back either later today or tomorrow."

Cadance politely bowed her head. "I look forward to it, Master Rainbow Dash."

With that, Rainbow Dash and the Awesome Crusaders delivered the new styluses to the rest of the group.

"Oh, thank goodness," Applejack noted. "Just in time for our search today, huh?"

"Mm-hmm," Pinkie Pie added.

"Yeah," Rainbow agreed.

From there, the party put on their winter clothes of scarves, hats, and hoof coverings. They set out for the trek to Yakyakistan.

Pinkie whistled out Penny and put her copy in winter gear. They bumped hooves and happily bounced together as the group began their journey.

"We could teleport like usual," Starlight Glimmer suggested to the group as they tread through the snow. "Twilight's been there even if I haven't. I have at least seen it on the map too."

"I vote 'no'," Pinkie said. "We can keep an eye out for caves or the flower. Plus, it gives us all more time to enjoy the adventure together."

"I can be out longer this way too!" Penny said with a joyful hop.

"You might turn to ice if you're out too long," Starlight warned her. "I don't think you've ever been this far north, have you?"

"Oh my, I didn't even think of that," Penny realized with a slight droop of her ears.

The two Pinkie forms looked over to Rainbow Dash as if the master mev could resolve the whole matter.

"Primeva is right. You need to be careful about that. You're magical water essence, so you would need careful thawing," Rainbow explained.

Penny shivered in place but nodded. "I'll stay out for now. It will only get colder as we get further north, so I want to make the most of it."

"No teleporting it is," Starlight relented.

The group walked up a mountain and passed by a cave with a growling yeti. Fluttershy spoke to him to grant the group easier passage.

Penny's teeth chattered. "I better get back inside," she informed Pinkie.

Her host nodded and drank her back in.

Pinkie showed them a massive valley. "Yakyakistan is over there," she pointed with a hoof. "I'd say now this calls for a teleport."

Everyone agreed with the exception of Rainbow Dash, who wished to fly herself nonetheless. Starlight happily obliged for the others.

Pinkie Pie knocked on the massive, tall, wooden doors, which opened. 

Prince Rutherford was not difficult to find. "Many ponies come visit," he noticed.

Pinkie bowed and explained to him, "Today's the day for Rainbow Dash to visit as a master mev. We decided to bring a lot of friends for fun. That and we're looking for something."

"Oh? What ponies look for?" Rutherford asked.

"A teal star lily," Pinkie answered. "Yona told us it was rare and can be best found at cave fronts."

"Mm," Rutherford nodded in agreement. "Yona right. Why ponies want that flower? It magic. Oh," he laughed heartily. "You want because it magic?"

"Not just any magic," Twilight Sparkle said. "It's good for fusing magic in a way that would help us a great deal for one of our clients."

"Ponies take flower home?" he asked.

"Assuming it's possible, of course," Rarity admitted aloud. "We don't need it for nearly a month, but given that it's rare, we don't want to miss our chance either."

"In that case, you need magic ice for magic flower," Rutherford explained. "That will store flower right."

Pinkie Pie looked at Rainbow Dash with a slight realization.

"She's practically made for it," Rainbow agreed with the unstated thought.

"Oh, pink pony thinking of using water copy, yes?" Rutherford realized too

Pinkie nodded. "It's just...she's my friend too. I'll miss her. What if she's so frozen I can't talk to her until we use the flower?"

Rutherford pat her on the back, quite hard. "It be okay. She magic. You all super magic users and eaters. Ponies find way to be with friend."

"You really think so?" she asked him with a mix of sadness and hope.

He nodded reassuringly. "Yes."

"We should talk to her ahead of time," Rainbow decided. "Starlight, Twilight, are either of you able to make a warm zone for our water friend?"

They shook their heads.

"We might be able to do something if we pool our natural elements together," Rarity offered. "Applejack has a pony's worth of flame on her after all. I could create a rock platform."

"Prince Rutherford has place for you," the yak prince told them and led them to a hut. "Create platform and fire here."

Applejack and Rarity nodded at each other, creating a designated spot. Rainbow Dash hovered nearby. Everyone else waited in a cluster together in the hut. Pinkie Pie whistled out Penny.

"Oh wow, my own little warm spot! Yay!" Penny declared. She looked at Pinkie Pie. "Is something wrong?"

"You remember how Master said you could help us with our work?" Pinkie asked with a weak smile.

"You need me to be an ice Pinkie for the flower, don't you?" Penny knowingly declared with minor pride.

Pinkie nodded. "How did you know?"

"A hunch, especially after Starlight pointed out I might become ice around here. It makes sense. The flower helps fuse magic after all," Penny said.

"You're not mad or scared?" Pinkie asked.

Penny shook her head. "It was always the plan. Maybe not the exact plan, but you know, it's actually kind of cool, heh heh," she snorted, "'Cool'. Get it?" 

Pinkie smiled and nodded. "Like ice!" She clapped her front hooves proudly together.

"It's my own special skill to help Team Awesome," Penny explained. "I'm proud to be this magical essence. Happy to help! I like hanging out with you, Pinkie, but I'm also...well, me. I want to have a mission."

"But if you're ice, I might not be able to talk to you," Pinkie pointed out. "I'm not sure I can even suck you in."

"You will be able to draw her back into the reserve," Rainbow told her.

Penny put a forelimb to touch Pinkie's. "It's going to be fine. I'll bet I can talk to you on your flexchange day, like today! We can even test it out if you find it!"

Pinkie hugged her. "Right.  Okay. If you and Master are 'cool' with it, then so am I. Heh heh."

Penny giggled.

"Alright, come back in," Pinkie said, and with that, the magical copy was sucked back into the reserve.

Applejack and Rarity tended to their own mev magic as well.

"Let me talk to Prince Rutherford before we begin our search," Rainbow told them. "Everyone stay here."

They all nodded.





"Master pony want yak body magic?" Rutherford asked.

Rainbow nodded.

"Yaks no fly, no have horn magic. What magic yaks have for master pony to eat?" he asked.

"Strength. It's magic similar to earth ponies," Rainbow explained. "They have magic that is considered 'passive' more than 'active' and is linked to the land they tend."

"Oh," Rutherford understood. "Hmm. What happen to yak who give Master magic?"

"The magic is gone for a week, so most likely, the yak would be weaker for seven days," Rainbow answered.

"What yaks get for this?" Rutherford continued asking questions.

"The magic goes into a reserve that can help if some other force ever took your magic away," the master mev told him.

"That very not likely," he pointed out.

Rainbow nodded in agreement. "I know, but I also know it is my obligation to make this offer. My power is a delegation. I know that enriching my reserve with diverse magic from the many kingdoms in the land will benefit the land altogether too. Please, Prince Rutherford."

Rutherford became thoughtful. "Okay," he eventually conceded. "Prince Rutherford find proper yak while ponies search for flower."

"Thank you, Your Highness," Rainbow said. "Do you have any physical objects that contain magic specific to your kingdom?"

Rutherford nodded. "One of our music players. Very special."

"With your permission, I would make a backup copy of that as well."

"Mm, granted," Rutherford said in approval.

Rainbow bowed and returned to her friends.





The large party decided to split up into pairs: Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo, Applejack and Apple Bloom, Rarity and Sweetie Belle, Starlight and Pinkie Pie, Twilight and Fluttershy.

Apple Bloom zipped ahead of Applejack, darting this way and that in the hopes of being the one to find the magical flower.

Applejack rolled her eyes followed by a warm smile. "We all hope to be the ones who find it, sugarcube. You don't gotta rush it so much."

"Yeah, but I'm the gopher. I'm supposed to find and fetch things. I want it to be like my power. I hope I get one," Apple Bloom noted. "It is for making a potion after all."

"That would be nice, I agree, but this is also Pinkie Pie's designated mission, and it's Saturday," Applejack pointed out.

Apple Bloom gasped at the realization. "Dang it, I should have gone with her. Do you think it's too late to trade with Starlight? Hey, it may be Saturday, but your day was yesterday, so maybe we've still got a chance." She swished ahead with the same fervor.





Pinkie Pie and Starlight Glimmer walked near a cave and scoured the snow-covered ground. Pinkie sniffed.

"Do you actually know what it smells like?" asked a curious Starlight.

"I will when I do smell it," Pinkie assured her. "It's Saturday~!" she sang.

Starlight chuckled. She telekinetically lifted a great deal of snow and held it above the ground for Pinkie to get in a good look.

"There!" Pinkie leaped at the sight of a flower.

"That one's yellow, not teal," Starlight said.

Pinkie dug it out anyway. "Trust me. My mev senses are a tingling. It's the exact same shape with the star. Call Master."

"Alright," Starlight agreed with a sigh, plopping the snow back down, some of it falling directly on Pinkie Pie.

The pink earth pony blinked and shook it all off with an amused smile.

Starlight's new cell phone appeared in a poof and she gave Rainbow Dash a call. She and Pinkie showed the flower on the screen. Starlight pointed out the color, and Pinkie pointed out the shape.

"Search nearby for anything that might change the color," Rainbow advised. "Check inside the cave. I'll suggest the same to the others."

"We'll call you back if we find anything," Starlight agreed.





Applejack and Apple Bloom heard a bloop sound.

"What was that?" the younger sister asked.

Applejack's cell phone materialized in front of her. "Oh, it's the phone." She grabbed it with her hoof and read the text message. "Master says we should look inside caves for anything that might change a flower's color. Pinkie found a yellow one with the proper shape, and she's quite sure it's the real deal."

"Oh neat. Come on. We're not far from the last cave we passed. Let's check there," Apple Bloom galloped in the suggested direction.

Applejack followed. "Slow down, Little Sister. I don't remember you being so fast."

Apple Bloom giggled and turned back to face her older sister. "Maybe it's a little bonus power as a new servant."

"Heh, maybe," Applejack agreed.

They continued onward.

"It's dark in there. I don't suppose these fancy schmancy phones have flashlights in them?" Apple Bloom asked, pulling hers out. She found an icon for a flashlight. "Oh wow, they do. Look Applejack!" she pointed and directed the light straight into Applejack's eyes.

"Dagnabbit, Apple Bloom. Watch where you point that thing!" Applejack grumbled at her.

"Sorry sis," Apple Bloom replied bashfully and pointed it elsewhere.

Applejack shook her head clear and recomposed herself, then tried out her phone too. "I don't believe it."

Apple Bloom climbed on Applejack's back, suggesting she be on the lookout and shine the light within the cave's walls.

"Just don't shine it in my face again," Applejack muttered.

The two entered and found several paintings at first. They didn't know if the images were from yaks in days past or the current group they knew now. The pair continued onward until Apple Bloom gasped. "Applejack, over there! To the right!"

Applejack led them to a glowing pool of blue water. Within the cave's wall just above it were multiple green and black crystals. Applejack sniffed. "There's magic in them. I'll bet we can change the color with all this. Let's get everyone over here."

She pulled out her stylus and typed her response as best she could manage with her mouth. The other ponies soon joined them. The unicorns and alicorns of the group used their horns as torchlight for everyone's benefit.

Rainbow Dash suggested everyone stand at some distance to give her and Pinkie Pie some space. She herself would move out of the way once she had a sense of whatever needed to be done.

Rarity and Applejack made their warm platform again, just to be on the safe side, as Pinkie whistled Penny out from the reserve.

Penny looked at the water and the crystals in fascination. "Once you have the flower teal, I stand with it in the water to ice over. I'm not sure how you actually get it to the color though."

"I do!" Apple Bloom suddenly offered.

Everyone turned to look at her.

"Pretty sure I do that is," she added with a blush. "You use the black crystal to suck out the yellow color. Then a green to make it, you know, green. Dip it in the water once that's done. It will take on its teal color. Then Penny goes into the pool with the flower on her, and she'll freeze to her ice self."

"Any pony best suited for doing all that with the crystals?" Rainbow asked. "Like you?"

"No, actually, Pinkie Pie," Apple Bloom suggested.

Pinkie pulled out a black crystal and placed it against one of the yellow petals of the flower. She stuck her tongue out with a look of deep concentration. The color drained and turned the flower white. Pinkie put the black crystal back in the cave wall. She took out a green crystal, repeating the process to see the petals turn green. "So far, so good," she said with a half-pleased, half-nervous air. Using both hooves she put the entire flower into the water.

She lifted it out to ensure the teal color properly formed.

"Awesome!" Penny shrieked.

All of the group cheered.

Pinkie gave her friendly copy a hug. "Be okay," she said and put the teal flower in Penny's hair.

"I Pinkie Promise," Penny said. She hopped from her platform into the pool. Thick white ice immediately crystallized over her entire body. It shattered into several small icicles to show a clear block of ice encasing the mirror pool copy with a surprised expression. She had expected to be able to see through it and was afraid for a moment she wouldn't.

Pinkie Pie waved at her.

Penny smiled from within. "I'm fine," she said in a contained echo.

The fifth fledgling breathed a sigh of relief. The entire party behind her followed.

"I can't move or talk much, but it can be done—still best for having me out only on your day and pack meetings," she told Pinkie Pie. She stiffly shifted a forelimb to show what she meant.

Pinkie nodded and hugged the block. An obvious shiver ran up over her entire body In a flash, she whistled the icy block back into the magical reserve. "Mission Teal Flower Accomplished," she said to Rainbow Dash with an ambivalent smile and voice.

Rainbow hugged her. "Thank you Quintaza and Pentaza," she whispered.

Pinkie hugged back, comforted.





The Equestrian party returned to Yakyakistan to tell Prince Rutherford of their success. Pinkie whistled out Penny to show their accomplishment.

He was quite happy for his friend and proud his theory proved true. He also met with Rainbow Dash to offer up a yak he found willing to fulfill her request. "This yak famous yovidaphone player, Yigrid. Her music magical."

"Lovely," Rainbow replied.

She quickly and privately tended to her meal.

Not long after that, she had Pinkie help her create a small copy of the music player. When prompted for a name, Prince Rutherford chose Anat.

With missions completed, Team Awesome Plus departed to the Crystal Empire. There, they met with Cadance, saw Amethyst was alright, and looked over Amara. They stayed the night before returning to Ponyville to all enjoy the rest of their weekend.

Discord and Spike reported to Rainbow Dash that Chrysalis enjoyed the Ogres and Oubliettes game with zeal. There had not been any problems with her.
> Chapter 83 - Another Friendship School
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







On Monday at the School of Friendship, Rainbow Dash hovered by Rarity as the two listened to Twilight Sparkle. The alicorn was reading off her latest postcard from Starswirl the Bearded in her office. He wrote of continuing to learn about friendship on his journey after being in limbo for over one thousand years. Once finished, Twilight posted it next to several others lining the glass cabinets behind her desk.

"It must be gratifying to have your idol writing to you about the friendship lessons he's learning," Rarity said.

"Totally," Rainbow concurred.

"I'm not sure I'll ever get used to it," Twilight happily confessed. "Of course, if he really wants to learn about friendship, he could just come to our school."

"You learned from field experience too," Rainbow pointed out with a sly smile.

The three of them heard a door open, and Cozy Glow peeked into the office. She revealed several wooden crates that Rainbow and Twilight soon learned contained numerous sewing machines. Rarity had ordered them with her own bits for her class. Between all that, Cozy brought out a stack of fliers which caused Twilight to release a startled sigh.

Rainbow Dash saw a perplexed and stressed expression from her friend, so she grabbed one to read herself.

Rarity read the same thing aloud from the one Twilight passed to her. "'Why waste your time at a friendship school that's just a school? Learn everything they teach and more at Friendship University!'" The white unicorn grew alarmed, and Cozy Glow looked worriedly at Twilight as well.

Twilight looked side to side at nothing before sighing and looking up at Rainbow Dash. Her sky blue pegasus friend's expression was neutral and patient, staring back. "Tell me we can do something about this," the purple alicorn said hopefully.

"Of course we can. We need to start with a basic scout of the place," Rainbow suggested and folded her forelimbs with a knowing expression. "It's in Las Pegasus. I was actually thinking of going there soon to check out this awesome roller coaster the Wonderbolts told me is closing soon."

"Right, but we'd go there for this," Rarity told her. "If it's as good as you say, there's bound to be a long line."

"Probably, but if things work out to give us time for it, I'm taking it," Rainbow explained. "You're both welcome to tag along of course."

"Fine, fine," Twilight muttered in agreement, not especially interested. "Let's go see if there's anything to worry about first. Cozy, did the students already see these?"

Cozy quietly nodded.

The three teachers trot through the halls to see many students looking them over and overheard the Student Six discussing the place excitedly as Ocellus noted the same lessons in half the time. For her, that meant twice the learning. Gallus loved the idea of it being in Las Pegasus, noting a wish to skip Rarity's class for a road trip.

"Yes, I think we need to look into this school," Rarity said quietly among her observing friends.

"Let's bring Chrysalis along," Rainbow Dash suggested.

Before she could find Chrysalis however, she overheard Smolder tell the others, "Yeah, but then we wouldn't see Master Rainbow Dash as much. I still haven't even seen her dragon form."

"Good point," Silverstream agreed.

"Let's see if we can find her now. It is Monday after all," Smolder suggested.

Rarity and Twilight looked at Rainbow Dash.

The master mev herself blushed but stepped forward as if she were simply passing through the halls. "Did I hear someone mention my dragon form?" she asked them with an eager smile.

"Master Dash," Yona hopped ever so slightly in pleasant surprise.

"Ha, no need then I guess," Smolder said. "Master, can we see it today?"

"Sure, sure, let's head to the gym, just like old times," Rainbow told her and winked.

They all did just that, where Rainbow Dash happily showed off her dragon form.





"Hey Chryssy," Rainbow greeted.

"What is our task for today, Master?" the tall changeling inquired.

"We're going to Las Pegasus to investigate this Friendship University with Twilight and Rarity," Rainbow explained as she held up the flier with her wings to show it to Chrysalis.

"Like this?" Chrysalis gestured to her full default changeling form.

"I'll admit, I think your unicorn disguise would be best," Rainbow said.

"Very well." Chrysalis consented with a nod and transformed instantly.

"You up for a roller coaster ride too?" the pegasus asked

"I'll think about it," Chrysalis noted dryly as they soon left the room.





Rarity put a thoughtful hoof up to her chin as she said, "I don't like to judge solely on appearances, but what kind of friendship school is this?"

It stood in front of an amusement park with a large poster of a book tacked over numerous bright lights.

"Only the best friendship school in the West.." a unicorn nearby answered, "..and maybe all of Equestria!"

Numerous happy ponies enthusiastically galloped or flew to follow him, causing Rarity to stumble back.

"Ponies get that excited for friendship?" Chrysalis asked in confusion.

The three teachers looked at each other before Rainbow finally answered, "Honestly, this is kind of strange even for us, but it's our first time here. Fluttershy and Applejack have been here though, and they told us some things about the place. The ponies here are generally excited or excitable since Las Pegasus is kind of like a big party."

Chrysalis raised her eyebrows. "Really? That's...well, I don't know if it's anything, but consider it noted."

The others nodded with slight smiles.

The quartet of pony figures entered the same room as the ponies before them and saw two podiums. Chrysalis observed the numerous standing ponies clearing themselves out of the way at the sight of Twilight Sparkle. Eventually, they all reached the front.

"There's more ponies here than at our whole school," Twilight remarked.

Rainbow raised an eyebrow and glanced to the crowd more closely. "No, there isn't," she hissed.

Chrysalis stifled a laugh at the pair.

"Well, still, it's a lot," Twilight insisted. "Who is running this place?"

Just as she asked, the lights went out and a male voice announced, "Welcome friends. You are about to embark on a journey of amazing magnitude, one that will change your lives forever."

Another quickly followed and added, "Prepare yourselves to embrace a new path and become students of Friendship U!"

Spotlights shone upon a white paper background that was soon busted through by two unicorn stallions with red and white hair. They wore matching hats and attire.

"Flim and Flam. Of course," Twilight grumbled.

"Should I know who they are?" Chrysalis asked Rainbow Dash in a hushed whisper.

"Not already. You'll see for yourself. Just watch for now," Rainbow advised.

Flim and Flam sang together, declaring empathy for having trouble making friends and how far Twilight's School of Friendship was to Las Pegasus.

The audience looked stressed, including Twilight, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash for different reasons. Rainbow shook in place when they referred to Ponyville as "some backwater," as if to lessen its merits compared to a city like Las Pegasus.

Eventually, Twilight couldn't help interrupting as a chalked figure on a chalkboard that she smelled a rat.

Flim and Flam saw an opening, referring to her as a respectful competitor.

Twilight grew irritated, denying that was why she was here.

They continued on, ignoring her, eventually leading to a boast that their school was about to be accredited.

The enthusiastic audience smiled and chanted, "Friendship U!" over and over again.

Chrysalis watched them all in bewilderment at the musical act.

The song concluded, and a stunned Twilight could only ask, "Accredited?"

"It means officially recognized or authorized," one of the brothers offered.

"We know what it means," Rarity replied. "But who would accredit this place?"

"Why the EEA, of course!" a familiar voice to Twilight, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash answered.

Other ponies backed off and made way for a gray stallion with black hair to appear.

"Chancellor Neighsay?" asked a stunned Twilight.

"The Equestria Educational Association has taken an interest in institutions that teach friendship in a pony-first environment," he replied.

Chrysalis quietly raised an eyebrow at that phrasing.

Neighsay continued addressing Twilight. "Surely, you didn't think your school has a monopoly on the subject?"

Rarity smiled. "Well, she did write the book on it."

"Ah yes," he replied dryly. "How to teach friendship to creatures who will one day use it as a weapon against us."

"Friendship magic doesn't work that way!" Twilight protested.

Rainbow Dash descended from her hover to stand next to Twilight. "It's true."

Rarity nodded.

Chrysalis' eyes darted to them and then to Neighsay. She stayed quiet and continued watching everything.

"You'll have to forgive me Princess Twilight, but I remain skeptical. This university appears to be a promising option for ponies who prefer to stick to the EEA book on the subject," Neighsay said.

"You can't be serious. They're obviously up to something," Twilight stated with a disapproving frown. She emphatically pointed with her right hoof. "It's Flim and Flam!"

The two unicorn brothers gasped with indignance. "Well, that certainly wasn't friendly," Flim said. Their eyes watered with tears.

"One would think the headmare of a school of friendship, albeit an unaccredited one, would behave differently," Neighsay said.

"Excuse you?" Rainbow asked.

Twilight stared at the floor with a forlorn look.

"Unless she is trying to undermine the competition? Hmm?" Neighsay prodded further.

The prospective pony students all gasped in horror.

"I...No...What? I am not!" Twilight sputtered.

"Now wait just a minute," Rainbow interjected. "We are scouting the competition," she declared proudly. "These two have a track record with us." She pointed at the brothers.

"I thought the Princess of Friendship would be friendlier," a pegasus stated.

Flam seized the opportunity to offer the other ponies to demonstrate their friendliness by signing up for some classes.

"Why don't I show you around?" Flim offered, leading Neighsay away. Twilight, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Chrysalis quickly followed.

Sensing their approach, Flim turned around.

"I'm sorry," Twilight said to him, "but approval from the EEA won't convince me that this school is what you promise."

"And what would it take to convince you?" Flim replied with a sly smile.

"Well, somepony whose opinion I respect, for one," Twilight noted snootily, airing out her wings.

That only made Flim happier. "Really? Somepony like this?"

He opened the door, and everyone peeked through to see none other than Starswirl the Bearded sitting at a table next to a stack of papers. "Twilight?" he asked with a welcoming smile.

"Uh-oh," Rarity muttered.

Rainbow Dash face-hoofed in mild frustration.

Chrysalis could only keep watching, not entirely sure what was happening.

Twilight's lip trembled among clenched teeth.

She trot into the classroom, which was empty of other Friendship University students. Rarity slowly tread behind. Rainbow flapped her wings and hovered near Twilight. Chrysalis walked next to Rarity.

Flim trailed them all.

"Starswirl? What are you doing here?" Twilight asked.

He happily clapped his hooves together as he answered. "Why, studying friendship at Flim and Flam's wonderful school!"

Flam soon entered to join the whole group along with Neighsay. "How's it going in here?"

Neighsay followed. "I'd heard rumors you returned, but I didn't believe it until now. And if a pony of your stature is studying here, there really isn't anything else I need to see." He stepped forward. "I, Chancellor Neighsay, hereby confer upon Friendship University complete and unreserved accreditation."

The unicorn twin brothers smiled victorious.

Twilight, Rarity, and Rainbow gave irked glances.

Chrysalis raised an eyebrow. For a pony paranoid about non-ponies such as herself, a changeling disguising themselves as Starswirl or any of the students didn't even occur to Neighsay.

"I-I don't understand," Twilight said as she approached Starswirl where he sat. "Why would you come here and not my school?"

"My travels brought me to Las Pegasus," Starswirl explained with a smile. "I didn't come for the school, but Flim and Flam convinced me to try it out."

"You can't trust Flim and Flam!" Twilight told him, almost growling. "They tried to con the Apples out of their farm! They sold fake health tonic! They run a resort in Las Pegasus!"

On her last point, she finally did growl and flexed her wings ending in an exasperated sneer.

"Technically, our resort is a legitimate business," Flam pointed out.

Starswirl got up from his seat. "I spent a thousand years thinking the worst of a 'bad' pony." 

"Uh..." Rainbow started to say. As far as she'd been informed, those thousand years felt like an instant in limbo. 

Rarity put a hoof to the pegasus' shoulder and shook her head. Given that, Rainbow decided not to press the issue.

The gray unicorn offered a forelimb to Twilight's shoulder with a gentle look. "You taught me to look for the best in him. Whatever Flim and Flam's past may be, starting this school shows they want to change for the better."

Flam hugged his brother, and they both grinned.

Twilight frowned with skepticism. She bowed her head in disappointment as she told Starswirl, "I wish I could believe that."

Starswirl smiled. "Besides, what's untrustworthy about opening a school of friendship?"

The alicorn's ears drooped as she became contemplative and suspicious.

Starswirl continued nonetheless. "They don't even charge for classes."

"I don't know," she admitted, "But I know they're up to something and until I find out, I'm begging you, please come to my school instead."

"I understand feeling threatened by competition," Neighsay interjected. "But my word, Princess, I wonder if the ill-manners of the creatures at your school aren't contagious."

Chrysalis grit her teeth.

"I think I will take my leave before I become infected." He started to exit the classroom and tripped.

"Oops, I didn't see you there," Chrysalis told him with a fake innocent smile.

Meanwhile, Rainbow took advantage of the delay and stood in front of the door.

"Excuse me," Neighsay said after he got up. "You're in my way."

"You just insulted several of my friends. Apologize," Rainbow ordered.

"You...how dare you!" Neighsay replied in angered disgust.

"I really would do what she says," Rarity suggested with a hint of nervousness.

Twilight nodded. "They are our friends too."

Starswirl thoughtfully stroked his beard.

Flim and Flam watched, bewildered.

Chrysalis smiled. "I third the motion."

Neighsay rolled his eyes, turned to Twilight, and bowed. "I am sorry, Princess." He looked at Rainbow Dash. "And for the creatures you call your friends."

Rainbow frowned but cleared herself from his path, and he left. She looked over at Chrysalis who nodded.  That would do.

"Flim, Flam, I wonder if I might have a moment with these four," Starswirl said.

They tipped their hats, left the room, and shut the door.

Starswirl approached Rainbow Dash. "You know, it's impossible to tell just by sensing your presence or your magic. It's all the same, but I just know there's more going on here than meets the eye from how these other three are acting. Somehow, it all points to you. Care to explain?"

Rainbow blinked with a blank expression. She paused a second to think. "I turned into a master mev two months ago," she informed him plainly.

Starswirl's eyes widened, and his mouth fell agape. He took a moment to collect himself.

Rainbow gestured with a hoof to Chrysalis' form. "Starswirl, this is Chrysalis. She is the former changeling queen. Chrysalis, this is Starswirl the Bearded, a famous unicorn guy from way back, not sure if you two know each other."

"We don't," Chrysalis admitted.

"Chrysalis is one of my clients. Due to the nature of her request, I brought her along in pony form. We're here to help Twilight investigate this school."

Starswirl's mouth fell open again with another realization. "You're a fledgling mev?" he asked Twilight.

Twilight blushed but nodded with a smile.

"And me as well," Rarity admitted with a blushing smile of her own.

"You think the school is harboring a magical imbalance?" Starswirl asked Rainbow Dash with a hushed and concerned whisper.

"More like a scam," Rainbow replied, again, plainly.

Twilight sighed.

"I promise I will visit your school soon," Starswirl offered in comfort. He looked to Rainbow Dash. "I really don't think an investigation is necessary."

"They have a track record, sir. My fledgling has concerns. I must help her," Rainbow told him.

He smiled warmly at that. "Of course. But you know, be respectful of this competition all the same."

"Let's go girls," Rainbow said while still looking at Starswirl. She turned to the others. "We've got work to do."
> Chapter 84 - Ponies in Disguise
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Twilight Sparkle and Rarity walked down a hallway side by side. Chrysalis trailed them with Rainbow Dash hovering next to the disguised changeling.

"You don't think they're running an actual friendship school, do you?" Twilight asked Rarity.

"Darling, of course not," Rarity told her. Her eyes darted to Rainbow and Chrysalis, and she nodded in Twilight's direction.

"Yeah, something does seem off about all of it," Rainbow concurred.

"I suppose I could try to enroll today," Chrysalis offered with a sly smile. "Other ponies have seen me with the three of you, but Starswirl aside, they do not know me. I'm only here as a friend and to observe after all."

At that, Twilight and Rarity paused in their walk.

"Yes!" Rarity agreed excitedly with a sly smile of her own. "We need to investigate, but not just you."

Twilight put a hoof to Rarity's chest. "I know Rainbow said we're scouting and investigating, but I'm really not comfortable with us poking around so openly. Other ponies will think I'm 'threatened by the competition,'" she said with a frown.

"Then we can do it in disguise like Chrysalis," Rarity suggested. "Master at least can use the changeling feedback from Ocellus."

"Oh yeah," Rainbow realized. "Pretty sure it's the last one."

Rarity lit up again. "Oh! And maybe we could use the new changeling magic in the reserve!"

"Ummm..." Twilight hesitated. She looked at Rainbow Dash. "Can we, really?"

Rainbow rubbed a thoughtful hoof. "Well, we're more here for you than Chrysalis and might not really 'need' it in this case. The magic would stop us. My guess would be 'no'. But hey, just try it."

Twilight took a deep breath, seemed to focus, and nothing happened. "Not for me...although that might be my own hesitance to use it." She looked at Rarity.

The white unicorn also tried and could not transform.

They both looked at Chrysalis.

"Is there any trick to it?" Twilight asked.

"You are at least envisioning the form, right?" Chrysalis asked.

They both nodded.

"Then I would say the magic has denied you," she told them. "Indeed, I think Rainbow and myself could handle it."

"Perhaps so, but I think we can still manage," Rarity said. "We'll improvise another way." She gestured for Twilight to follow her into a supply closet. Rainbow Dash and Chrysalis waited outside. After some time, Rarity exited and declared proudly, "In these disguises, we could pass as students at our own school." She wore a blue baseball cap backwards. Her mane and tail had a few loose strands of hair. She wore a pink short-sleeved shirt over a cream-colored long-sleeved shirt. Underneath the cream shirt, she wore light blue shorts to match her cap. Additionally, she had a small cloth ankle band tied in a knot on her left rear hoof.

"I don't know, Rarity," Twilight said from behind the door.

"Ah-ah," Rarity said. "What did I say about using our real names?"

The door opened and out walked a frowning Twilight Sparkle wearing an eye patch and sticky note over her cutie mark. "Sorry 'Plainity.' But I'm pretty sure this," she pointed at her eye patch and flexed her wings, "isn't enough of a disguise."

Chrysalis laughed and shook her head. She quickly pulled them both back into the closet. Rainbow heard a lot of shuffling around, and finally, they returned.

Twilight wore the long-sleeved cream colored shirt over her wings to hide them. Her mane and tail were done up into buns, and she still wore her eye patch. Rarity's ensemble was the same except for the missing extra shirt.

Chrysalis quickly pulled Rainbow in too. "Ditch the rainbow mane and tail for thick black and purple waves. Change the cutie mark to a standard yellow lightning bolt. Make your eyes green."

Rainbow obeyed and turned into a different pegasus pony with the features Chrysalis described while maintaining her sky blue coat.

"There," Chrysalis told the three as she and Rainbow exited the closet.

Twilight looked at herself. "I don't know. It's definitely better but…"

The same pony they all saw when they arrived approached. "Hey, strangers. Are you three new here?" He gestured to all but Chrysalis.

Rarity blew a bubble with bubblegum. "We sure are," she said with a lower pitch than usual in her voice. "Completely new," she assured him with firm eyes.

"Yup, total newbies, that's us," Rainbow echoed.

"Great!" He jumped in place. "See you in class."

Rarity squealed in proud delight after he left. She grew serious. "Now, I've read enough Shadow Spade to know the key to going undercover is rehearsing your backstory." She cleared her throat. "I'm 'Plainity,' and I love bland-old-normal stuff. No frills for me."

Rainbow snickered, barely able to contain her laughter.

Rarity smiled proudly nonetheless. "Okay, your turn," she told Twilight.

Twilight thought hard and finally looked to Chrysalis with a hopeful smile.

"Bunny Study," Chrysalis said, patting the bun done up in her mane. "I'm sure you can come up with something from there."

"I like to learn and am here to learn about friendship," Twilight said with slight hesitance to Rarity.

"Perfect!" Rarity sang.

"And you," Rarity pointed to Rainbow Dash.

"I'm Bolt Shot," Rainbow said. "And I'm here on vacation, but my friends 'Plainity' and  'Bunny Study' and…" she looked at Chrysalis.

"Lady," Chrysalis told her.

"'Lady,' convinced me to check it out. I prefer kicking out bolts from the sky and a smooth flight, but sure, what's wrong with learning how to make friends?" Rainbow said with a casual shrug.

"Lovely. And Lady, what about you?" Rarity wondered.

"I'm here as an observer. I'm a photographer and journalist. I'm interested to know what this place is like, so I can report on it for The Canterlot Chronicle," Chrysalis said. "What a sensation to have Starswirl the Bearded here."

"Now, how do we start our investigation?" Rarity asked Twilight.

"I think we should split up. You and Lady enroll in some classes and find out what they're actually teaching. Bolt Shot and I will look around and see what we can find, assuming I'm not recognized," Twilight answered.





Rarity quickly became the star pupil of Flam's class as he asked about being thoughtful, which she linked to her generosity element. Chrysalis watched the class follow the leading example. She took note of the lesson herself. She wondered how Rainbow Dash and Twilight's side of things was going.





Twilight peeked into a dark office. "Hello?" she called out to an empty room.

Rainbow darted to one end of the hallway and the other. "You look. I'll stand guard."

"The door is open, so I'll just assume it's okay to come in and look around, unless somepony says it's not," Twilight told the dark room.  She grabbed a couple of sheets, and both of them sounded appropriately interesting and well-advised.

"They're coming," Rainbow hissed.

Twilight darted out to join her, and the two stood with fake smiles outside the door.

"Oh why hello," Flam said with a sly smile as he peered closely at Twilight. He wore a camera slung around his neck. "Perhaps the two of you would like to speak to us in our office."

Nervous sweat dripped down Twilight's temple. "Mm-hmm," she hesitantly agreed.

Once inside, Flim pulled off the eye patch and undid her bun. Flam took a picture.

"A-ha!" Flim said. "Did you really think an eye patch and a bun and a shirt was enough of a disguise?" Flim said to lecture her. "Okay, actually, when you put it like that, maybe it could fool some ponies, but still. Not us."

"Indeed, I'm sure we agree that everypony will recognize the Princess of Friendship in this photo of you planning to sneak into our office," Flam said.

"I can see the headline now," Flim said. "'Princess of Jealousy! Twilight Sparkle bent on ruining her competition!"

"That is not what's going on here," Rainbow said forcefully to them, still in her other pegasus form.

"So sad," Flam agreed with Flim, ignoring the pegasus he didn't recognize. "A news story like that could ruin your reputation. Not to mention involving yourself with an innocent student. Nopony will want to go to your school after that."

Twilight's lip trembled.

"Just wait until the papers get a hold of this," Flam went on.

"Princess Unhinged!" Flim added. "It'll be the talk of Equestria."

Rainbow was about to give them both a piece of her mind when Starswirl entered the room. "Well, gentleponies, I've finished another stack. The lessons in these worksheets are quite fascinating. Twilight? What's going on here? Where is your ma…I mean, where are your friends?"

Rainbow stepped forward and shape-shifted to her usual daytime form.

Flim and Flam's mouths fell open.

"We were investigating, like I said, and these two were just threatening her for our efforts," Rainbow Dash pointed at the unicorn twins and sneered.

"And you had to stoop to snooping in our office?" Flim asked.

"The door was open, and the pages were laid out on your desks. Almost like a trap," Rainbow told them, narrowing her eyes.

They both started to sweat nervously. "But you two entered in disguise," Flim argued.

"Honestly Princess Twilight," Flam said, "envy does not look good on you."

They showed the picture of them taking off her disguise.

Starswirl looked disappointed and startled.

"I'm not envious," Twilight insisted. "These two are up to something. I'm just trying to find out what!"

"Master Rainbow Dash, I made my point to be respectful and this is the example you set?" Starswirl asked. "The only ponies I see up to something here are the two of you."

"Did you just call her 'Master'?" Flim asked, perplexed.

"It's a title," Starswirl said and waved the matter off with a hoof. "Well?" he prodded at Rainbow Dash.

"Well what? We're scouting and investigating. I think they're up to something too, and yes, I did think we had to stoop to snooping. It was more discrete," Rainbow answered.

Starswirl sighed in disappointment. "Twilight, you are not acting as the Princess I know." He left the room.

Twilight's eyes watered with tears.

Flim and Flam smiled wickedly.

"Well, it's about to be the Princess all of Equestria knows," Flim said confidently. 

"Unless…" Flam offered, "you decided to drop the whole 'uncover the scam' thing."

"Then we'll rip this silly picture up and not let it completely and utterly ruin you and your school," Flim finished.

Twilight moaned with a forlorn look to the floor.

Rainbow Dash glared at them. "Blackmail," she hissed. Her eyes flashed red, startling the two to back away in mild fear. She licked her lips before turning her attention to Twilight. She felt the best thing to do was to lead Twilight out, clear the air, and think. She'd rip the picture up herself if she had to, but before all that, she'd see if they and their friends could find a better solution. "Come on."





Gathered in one of the halls of the school, several pony students listened intently to Rarity disguised as Plainity. She she told them, "You can be generous with all sorts of things. Gifts, compliments, your time."

They chattered excitedly before running off, leaving Rarity and Chrysalis standing together.

Twilight and Rainbow Dash approached. Both looked disappointed.

"Hey Bunny Study," Rarity said. "Where are your buns? And your eye patch?" She gasped. "Was your cover blown?"

"You could say that," Twilight replied dryly. "Flim and Flam took a picture of me as they removed the disguise, basically showing I was sneaking into their office. If I don't stop investigating, they're going to tell everypony that I'm trying to sabotage their school because I'm jealous."

"But but but.." Rarity sputtered akin to cute broken record, "…that's ridiculous."

"I don't know," Twilight replied. "Maybe I am just upset that Starswirl came here instead of my school. Flim and Flam may have actually turned over a new leaf. We should probably just go home."

Chrysalis cleared her throat.

The three ponies looked to her.

"They charge for the worksheets," she told them all plainly and used a hoof to flip her orange mane.

"They do?" Twilight asked.

"Well, what's wrong with that?" Rarity asked. "I mean, I was thinking of returning the sewing machines to advance here, but they have to cover expenses. Flam insists everything extra goes to improving the school and...oh, I think you're onto something. That is the scam, isn't it?"

"Let's find out," Twilight said with a smile. "Thanks Chrysalis."

Chrysalis blinked with a startled blush and followed the group.
> Chapter 85 - Reputable
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







In a classroom, Flam magically levitated a substantial stack of papers to Starswirl the Bearded. 

Starswirl magically levitated a bit to offer. "These lessons are so valuable," he said. "Are you sure I can't give you more?"

"Ah ah ah!" Flam said with a smile where he stood next to his grinning brother. 

Flim was seated at the teacher's desk for the classroom. 

Flam continued, "Unnecessary. Being able to share them with a pony like you is our real reward."

At that, Starswirl contentedly left the room.

A unicorn pony who had been standing behind Starswirl offered a bit as well. He had a light brown mane and wore a sweatshirt.

The attitude of the brothers suddenly shifted. "Oh my," said Flam with disapproval. "And you want to study alongside Starswirl, hm?"

The pony averted his gaze before confessing, "It's all I have."

Flam accepted the bit, magically levitated a worksheet to the pony and ripped it in half.

The student pony pouted.

"Come back for the rest when you can afford it," Flim said to him.

The pony fell to a prone position and begged. "Wait! I'll sell the shirt off my back!"

The twins were now pleased to hear such a desperate offer. "That's the kind of determination that'll get you to the next level, student whose name I know," Flam said.

The unicorn student received the other half and smiled hugely in relief.

The Awesomevs and Chrysalis all peered into the room to witness the whole debacle with the student. They quickly walked away before the twins could see them.

"Twilight, maybe I should take over the investigation," Rarity offered. "Think of your reputation!"

"My reputation isn't worth much if I won't risk it for what I think is right," Twilight replied. She smiled slyly and added, "Besides, I have a plan."





Flim and Flam walked together with a bag of bits in tow to their office. 

Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash stealthily followed them.

The unicorn twins opened a secret passage to a large area with loads of bits piled everywhere.

Flam happily dumped the bag into a large pile and slid down a ladder with a big smile, landing near Flim. They both stood at the image of a painted thermometer.

"Well, brother of mine," Flim said, "we've got almost all the bits we need to expand our resort. If we add another level of classes and worksheets, we'll be there."

Flam walked toward a small model of their resort and replied, "Maybe we should add two levels, just to be safe." He tapped a red button, and the model powered up to spin a Ferris wheel. Spotlights lit up, and a mini water fountain poured water.

"Ah! It's a thing of beauty. But I was thinking, what if we added another extreme pool slide here?" Flim pondered aloud. He magically lifted a blue flag and set it down at the indicated spot.

"Sure, as long as the pipes for the musical chocolate fountain go through here," Flam agreed, planting a similar flag for his idea.

Twilight's voice carried over as she lifted a hoof. "But shouldn't it go closer to the pudding hot tub here?"

"Fair point, but – " one of the brothers started to say. He paused in thought, and blinked. Both brothers looked over in shock.

"What?" they said at the same time.

A disapproving Twilight Sparkle met their gaze. "I knew your school was a scam," she told them.

Rainbow Dash hovered behind her with a cross expression of her own and folded forelimbs, ready to act if necessary.

"Well, well, well," Flim put on his best voice of confidence despite evident perspiration at the sight of Rainbow Dash. "If it isn't the Princess of Jealousy. I guess we'll be going to the papers after all."

Rainbow flew down into his face. "Just you try it," she told him icily. 

"I suppose we'll just lead your students into this secret room of bits and resort expansion plans!" Twilight added.

Flim backed away from Rainbow Dash to stand by his brother. They both grew all the more nervous.

"Let's not get hasty," Flam said. "You have something on us; we have something on you. Let's just call it even."

"I don't think so. You can destroy my reputation if you want, but using your students' bits to expand your resort is wrong, even if the lessons you teach are good ones," Twilight replied.

"Of course, they're good," Flam boasted. He began to magically lift a large stack of sheets in a wide folder. "We copied them from your book."

"Plagiarism too?" Rainbow asked in disbelief. She turned to Twilight. "And you didn't notice?"

Twilight shrugged.

"We just skipped every other page," Flim added to the conversation. "All the lessons, half the time!"

Rainbow became thoughtful and pondered if that was why Twilight didn't notice the plagiarism.

Twilight groaned. "Fine. If you really want to call it even, give back the bits and stop charging for my lessons. Then you can teach them as much as you like."

The brothers looked stunned for a moment before saying, "Nah," at the same time.

"Running a school is more work than we thought," Flim admitted. "Besides, we almost have everything we need."

They made a dash for the door that suddenly, magically opened to reveal Rarity still in disguise and Chrysalis still in her pony form.

"I think not!" Rarity said dramatically.

"Plainity?" asked a surprised Flam. "My star pupil?"

"Not Plainity, but…" Rarity said in a lower voice as she led into her usual higher tone to reveal herself as, "Rarity!"

"Who?" Flim wondered.

Chrysalis stepped aside discretely.

Rarity continued with her dramatic revelation. "We decided to bring somepony else here to listen to everything you just said!"

Starswirl himself stepped forward.

"Hey Starswirl. We were just about to—" Flim started to say.

"Return the bits you've collected from your students and close your school?" Starswirl finished for him.

Flam gulped and said, "Yeah. That."





Outside the closed school, Flim and Flam stood by a cart full of bits with guilty expressions as they returned the money to their former students. Rarity stood near to oversee the whole thing.

At a distance along the stairs, Twilight stood between Starswirl to her right and Chrysalis to her left. Rainbow hovered behind the space between Twilight and Chrysalis.

Starswirl sighed. "Ah, it seems I'll never stop learning from your example, Twilight. It is a valuable lesson to stand up for what you know is true." He thoughtfully stroked his beard. "I wish I had known it as well."

He glanced to the hovering nearby pegasus. "And Master Rainbow Dash, I see now what you see in offering such support that you did. Twilight is very lucky to be in the company of such good friends as you three."

"I am not her friend," Chrysalis corrected him. "But she is lucky I was here nonetheless, and I certainly learned a thing or two about the decisions an alicorn princess is faced with when her reputation is on the line. It's not all adoration and roses and unending love or respect for standing by idly."

Starswirl nodded in quiet agreement. "Are you really so against being friends with such a pony?" he wondered.

Chrysalis sighed with s slight smile. "No, I'm not. Alright fine. We're-friends-if-she-says-we're-friends." She slurred her last set of words together as closely as she could. "That's just two mind you," she told him firmly and looked up to see an approving smile and nod from Rainbow Dash.

Twilight smiled. "I hope one day you realize the more the merrier Chrysalis, but for today, I would be honored to be your second friend. I really am grateful for your help."

"Yes, well...you're welcome," Chrysalis said with subdued pride.

"I'm sorry we missed the roller coaster Rainbow," Twilight noted.

Rainbow had descended to stand near her friend. "Hey, it's cool. I doubt it could measure up to riding Blitz in the ocean or on Nightmare Night anyway. Plus, this, you know, feels pretty good," Rainbow said.

"Thanks for returning our bits," a former student remarked, "but how are we going to learn about friendship now?"

Disappointed murmurs passed through the gathering of many former students.

"Well, I can refer you to a fairly reputable establishment just outside of Ponyville," Starswirl offered.

"We're outside of Ponyville?" Rainbow asked. "Since when? I thought we were on the edge but still technically considered in."

Twilight smiled and shrugged, not overly concerned with such a detail.

Starswirl nonetheless continued, "I'm quite certain the headmare would consider letting you in."

At that, Twilight giggled in agreement and nodded her head.

The ponies of Las Pegasus cheered.





Upon returning to Ponyville, Rarity and Twilight told Rainbow and Chrysalis they both wanted to wrap some things up at the school. Rainbow decided to escort Chrysalis back to the castle.

"I don't suppose the Master Mev wishes to be her dragon form this Monday?" Chrysalis lightly remarked, still in her unicorn disguise as they entered the lobby. Despite being in the castle, she felt a strange desire to keep it on for the time being. "Spike told me it is when you are most freely able to do it."

"Oh he did, huh? I suppose I never told him not to tell anyone and have told certain other friends myself," Rainbow considered aloud. "I actually wore it a little earlier today. But still...sure, why not? You like it; I like it."

With that, she transformed in an instant and rose up into the air with a playful spin. A devilish idea entered her mind, and she swooped Chrysalis into her arms before zipping down the hall.

Chrysalis nearly protested but gave into the moment with a smile. Sure, she could fly if she simply shifted into her true form, but she could enjoy the embrace and the wind whipping against her body in Rainbow' Dash's scaly arms.

Rainbow found Chrysalis' room and set her down. "Master escort has arrived!" she decreed with a playful tone.

Chrysalis uncharacteristically giggled. "You are a silly mare, Rainbow Dash. Well, dragon. Mev. Whatever. You know what I mean."

"Hmm. The former queen of the changelings can't name my true form? How intriguing," Rainbow said with a mischievous chuckle.

Chrysalis smirked. "Can you?"

"Of course I can. All of the above!" Rainbow declared, reclining in the air, resting her arms against the back of her head. "Master privilege."

Chrysalis chuckled in turn. "A silly master then since you love your title so much."

"Music to my ears," Rainbow said with a pleased smile, and her eyes fully closed.

A sudden shriek alarmed her. She opened her eyes as she said, "Chryssy, what's wrong?"

Chrysalis had at last decided the time was appropriate to shift back to her true form, but her true form shocked her. Her black skin was replaced with a light yellow. Her usual stringy green mane was a mix of orange and gold. "My, my form…" Chrysalis uttered.

Rainbow landed to the ground, took a deep breath, and examined it. "Not acceptable?" she asked in concern.

Chrysalis exhaled. "It just took me by surprise, Master."

"You should take a closer look in the mirror. See if you like it after all," Rainbow suggested.

"Good idea," Chrysalis agreed.

Rainbow stayed to watch Chrysalis do exactly that.

The tall changeling blinked and shifted back and forth between her former true form and her current new default. The new one could easily pass for an alicorn without a cutie mark if it weren't for the butterfly wings on her back. It was rather funny. There she had been debating with Rainbow Dash about the master mev's "true" form, and here Chrysalis' own was in the midst of changing, provided Chrysalis herself liked it well enough. Of course, she could simply go back to her old default whenever, so was it really that much of a change?

Rainbow circled around the room in a hopeful hover.

At last, Chrysalis eventually declared, "This is also acceptable." She transformed back into her old default and explained, "I'll be in this form until we can properly inform the others. And I do still like it too."

"Cool. I can go tell Twilight now since she's still at the school and check in with her and Rarity on everything." Rainbow offered.

Chrysalis smiled and bowed her head politely. "As you wish, Master."

Rainbow gave her a quick hug. "I'm happy for you, Chryssy."

At that, Chrysalis blushed. "You best be going," she whispered.

The sky blue dragon gave a salute and instantly flashed back into a pegasus before leaving her colorful trail behind.





At her office once again, Twilight read to Rarity and Rainbow Dash aloud, "'Of course, if I ever go to a school again, I'll make sure it's yours. In friendship, Starswirl.'"

Rarity put a hoof up to her chin in thought. "I still don't understand how Flim and Flam could have gotten a copy of your book. It's not exactly on sale."

Cozy Glow opened the door and informed the teachers, "I finished straightening up in the library. Professor Rarity, I just wanted to make sure you're definitely keeping these."

"But of course, darling," Rarity said with an air of certainty. "If there's one thing I learned at Friendship University, it is not to give up when you know what's right, and I know teaching friendship through sewing is right! I just need to figure out how."

Cozy and Twilight both nodded and smiled at the same time.

"Say Cozy," Rainbow said, "did you send Twilight's book to Flim and Flam?"

Cozy put a hoof to her chin innocently and blinked. "Why would I do a thing like that?"

Rainbow shrugged. "Beats me, but you do have the kind of access to Twilight's stuff for that to happen. Between myself, the other teachers, Starlight, the interns, and Spike, well, you're sort of an unknown for me. You're in the best position to do it, so to speak."

Both Twilight and Rarity blinked at that and looked at Cozy intently.

Cozy sweat nervously. "Oh Professor Dash, you get the funniest ideas in your head." She laughed.

Rarity squinted at that. "It's a simple yes or no question, dear."

At that, Cozy's eyes darted all the more. "Yes, okay, but I just…I thought if anyone could popularize your work Headmare Twilight, it would be them. I thought they might not be scammers about it since the resort in Las Pegasus is a legitimate business. now You do want your ideas spread far and wide, right?"

Twilight sighed. "That's all well and good, Cozy, but for things like that, you should just ask me straight up about such ideas."

Cozy stared at the floor with a forlorn look. "You're right. I'm really sorry."

"It's fine. It all worked out in the end," Twilight told her with a proud smile.





Later that evening, not far outside the door to Rainbow Dash's home, a portal opened and out stepped Chancellor Neighsay, Starswirl the Bearded, Flim, and Flam.

"I'm telling you, something is not right with her," Flim said indignantly. "Her eyes turned red!"

"And I'm telling you that she's something called a 'mev'. She can do that. She eats magic. We're practically offering up a four-course meal here!"

"Well, you didn't have to come," Flam noted in annoyance.

"Maybe not, but I actually don't mind if she eats my magic. It's for a good cause. Plus, somepony has to warn you three. You really are better off not disturbing her. But so long as you are, for me, there is something of a natural curiosity to her manner at night. I want to see nocturnivlair in action. It all sounds very interesting and...somewhat amusing."

"Hmph," Neighsay muttered. "She's a nuisance, if anything. I can't fully trust your opinion after the stunt you pulled today."

"They were scamming the students!" Starswirl told him indignantly.

Before Neighsay could argue back, a door opened. Sweetie Belle greeted them in her adult form. "My my, what is this? Did I hear something of an offering for my master?"

Flim and Flam nervously glanced at each other. The white unicorn hand fangs as she spoke, but she was clearly not Rainbow Dash.

Neighsay smugly smiled at her, unfazed. "We figured we would 'scout' and 'investigate' this master mev creature, since she felt it quite alright to do at the university today."

Sweetie Belle innocently blinked at him, then smiled back. "Such information has cost another pony magic before and may cost you as well, though only for a week. Are you certain you wish to do that?"

Neighsay walked past her into the cloud house. "I'm aware of this legend, but seeing as how mevs have not been around since before Equestria was founded, you'll excuse me if I remain a little...skeptical."

A large silver snake slithered along, causing Neighsay to jump back in alarm. "Aah!"

A red circle appeared around his hooves. He glanced down at it with a stern expression, and it soon faded.

That didn't stop Flam from jumping into this brother's forelimbs. A red circle appeared around them too, but they were busy watching the scene unfold.

Starswirl studied the creature in interest.

"I mean, it's not like it would be hard to prove," Rainbow said, descending down in full vampire firm with red eyes, bat wings, and the usual fangs at night.

Blitz mocked a bite near Neighsay and chuckled before slithering away.

Neighsay glared up at her. "I'm aware that magic can sometimes allow ponies limited shape-shifting abilities. And that bat wings over pegasus wings for Nightmare Night is entirely doable."

Rainbow nodded. "Hmm, I suppose you have a point there."

She noticed Flim and Flam. Her eyes lit up and glowed for a moment, licking her lips. "I'll have you two for certain."

"Um, you know what, on second thought, maybe we should get out of here," Flim said. Flam jumped out of his arms. They were about to bolt for the door but realized they were stuck.

Nonetheless, Sweetie Bell had already closed it, blocking their way. She stood by it and told them, "You were already warned when you entered here."

"Starswirl?" Flam asked.

"Master mevs don't have to ask at night. I tried to tell you both!" Starswirl reminded them in annoyance.

"Well, can't you do something about it?! Magic is your specialty, and she's a friend of Twilight Sparkle who idolizes you," Flim pointed out.

"Hmph. I already warned you and so did this uh..." Starswirl turned the white unicorn.

"Rhezenda," Sweetie told him.

"Rhezenda," he repeated in agreement.

"Chancellor Neighsay, help us out here. We can use your magic portal thingy!" Flim exclaimed. "Right?"

"Hmph. Not yet. These are still probably mere parlor tricks. She is toying with us."

"I am toying with you, yes, but I am a legitimate threat too. Tread carefully sir. My instincts tell me you're about to make a big mistake."

Neighsay rolled his eyes. "Oh please."

Starswirl's eyes suddenly widened, his own instincts agreeing with the master mev's. "Don't—"

"Do your worst," Neighsay told her with an arrogant sneer.

Rainbow's eyes suddenly turned completely red, and she took on her dragon form in an instant.

Sweetie Belle's mouth hung open in deep concern. She had never seen this happen in their time together. "Master?"

"I am fine, Rhezenda. It is my victim who has sealed his fate," Rainbow said, sounding like she herself was in a trance.

Sweetie Belle suddenly came to a realization. "Oh!"

"What? What is it?" Flam asked her.

Sweetie Belle swallowed nervously. "When a mev eats magic, it's only gone for a week."

They both sighed in relief. "That's right. You told us that."

"....unless somepony says something like that," Rhezenda added.

"Well then what?" both brothers asked in concern.

The dragon lunged and quickly bit into Neighsay's neck without further warning. Neighsay himself had only watched the conversation, still not fully believing in the danger...until now. The vampire drank in his magic and found it quite tasty. He fell, and she let him. She had no wish to be gentle with a stallion so spiteful. She wiped her mouth before smiling wickedly. "All of it is mine forever now."

The unicorn brothers looked at each other. "Now, see here, he did not speak for us!" Flam insisted.

"We're okay with the one-week deal!" Flim added.

Rainbow turned to them and stared intently. At last, she nodded in approval. "I accept." She turned to Starswirl. "I may need your assistance regarding him."

Starswirl nodded sympathetically. "He was warned, more than once. True hubris if I ever saw it. I will relay what transpired here to the princesses as your witness."

"They know what I am, so there's that too," Rainbow noted.

"That will help, no doubt. Now am I to understand you will eat my magic as well?"

"As much as I would like...only if you wish it. We are on good terms compared to these other three. Plus, maybe things won't look so bad if I spare you tonight."

Starswirl chuckled. "I really wouldn't worry about it, Master. However, to help these other three home and general assistance for a time, perhaps I can offer myself later."

"I look forward to it, then," she told him with a respectful smile.

"I have so many questions...the snake, this dragon form. Perhaps you will tell me about it then too."

Rainbow smiled. "Gladly." She turned to Flim and Flam. "Come on you two, I'll make it pleasant enough," she offered. "One at a time, I don't like being watched while I eat...usually." She nodded over to Neighsay's fallen form.

After Rainbow tended to them both, Sweetie Belle greeted her in the living room.

"So...everything's going to be okay?" the Rhezenda asked with a hint of apprehension.

"Well, not for Neighsay, but I think besides that, yeah," Rainbow acknowledged.

"I have heard some very not nice things about him from some students at school. He mistreats non-pony creatures."

"He does," Rainbow agreed with a serious nod. She looked at Sweetie Belle. "Starswirl will handle it. I trust him. Way, way back, when I first turned into a master mev, we all wondered if I could take a pony's magic forever, like Tirek can. Tirek himself even hinted at the ability when I saw him in Tartarus. So...now we know...yes, I can do it...if I am invited to. That is my 'worst' as a master mev."
> Chapter 86 - Mercury Benchmark Meeting
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Tuesday night arrived for another Team Awesome pack meeting. Chrysalis had already showed off her new form and been escorted to the Changeling Kingdom.

"Yakyakistan is our main topic for tonight," Rainbow Dash announced to everyone. "We got the flower and thanks to Penny, we are able to store it for the time we need the magic in the reserve to grow. Primeva, you're the one who led this idea to me, so, you have the floor for our next steps."

Starlight Glimmer cleared her throat. "Thank you, Master. Alright. Hear me out, the whole way again."

Everyone nodded.

Rainbow blinked and listened.

"We got changeling magic for this project on November 10th. One month from that is December 10th. Or—if we want to give the flower's magic time to be with Penny and the reserve for a full month, that would be December 16th.

"I'm not finished," she assured everyone with a serious gaze.

Rainbow shifted slightly in her sight but kept quiet.

"The actual potion mixture requires three days to incubate. I'll explain why we should wait soon. If we wait and do it on the 19th, it'll take another three days for the potion to actually take effect, assuming we've done this whole thing properly. 

"Due to the giving nature and communal magic alive in the air on Hearth's Warming, I recommend we actually wait until December 19th. Three days to incubate, and the potion is ready on the 22nd. Three days to take effect will land on December 25th."

Rainbow Dash stared uneasily down at the table. "But if it fails…" she muttered.

"I know," Starlight replied. "That would be very disheartening, but the extra magic enhancement from that particular day only helps our chances," she insisted. "I promise you it is for the best, Rainbow Dash."

The master mev's eyes watered at the thought, of the possible success, of being able to give her sister flight on a special day. She wiped them away with a few feathers of her wing. "Okay," she said with a determined breath. "Let's plan on doing that. Rhezenda, have Apple Bloom study with Zecora on this matter in the meantime. That should help too."

Sweetie Belle smiled warmly and stated, "Got it. I think it's a good plan too."

"Is Penny okay?" Spike asked.

"Let's check in, shall we?" Rainbow Dash replied. "Quintaza Pinkie Pie, you have the floor."

Pinkie leaped on the table, whistled, and showed the frozen Penny.

"Hi," Penny said stiffly through her icy shell.

Discord leaned in and looked close. "I could limber you up a bit," he offered.

Pinkie stopped him and shook her head. "No. She needs to stay like this. We both know it even if we don't know exactly why. She can still talk on my flexchange day and at a pack meeting like this one."

The draconequus blinked but nodded and returned to hover near Fluttershy.

"How you holding up in there?" Rainbow Dash asked Penny.

"It's cold obviously, but all in all, well enough. The flower's magic is intact," Penny assured her.

"You can sense it?" Starlight asked with a hopeful smile.

"Oh yeah," Penny said. "You Awesomevs are lucky to have me to tell you that this thing is definitely suited to your project's goal."

"And we appreciate it very much," Rarity told her. She spoke with succinct conviction in her gratitude.

"We really are," Rainbow said. "I hope you don't feel like a prisoner to us."

"It's fine, Master," Penny replied. "I am magic and a copy of Pinkie Pie. I promise, I am right where I belong, as you intended."

Rainbow smiled. "I'm glad to hear that. Again, thanks for everything you're doing for us."

A stiff, icy salute followed, wholly sincere nonetheless, and Penny was soon whisked back into Pinkie Pie.

Rainbow Dash glanced over to the agenda Sweetie Belle had ready.

"Down the line," the master mev told everyone. "Primeva, number one."

"Magic lessons are going well," Starlight said. "We're very glad to have the cell phones even if we've only mainly used them in Yakyakistan. Hey Master, I was wondering, is it possible for us other Awesomevs to acquire a bat pony form, like Fluttershy has?"

Fluttershy smiled and blushed, modestly staring down at the table.

Rainbow put a hoof to her chin thoughtfully. "Well, the thing is, it's a special thing for her based on a past power and experience. It's actually a little different than my bat form. I think that if you could get a bat form, it would be more like mine where it's just the wings and fangs. The ears stay like a pony's instead of like a bat's. No eye color change. No cutie mark change. Some of the specialty to Fluttershy's form should stay intact."

At that, Starlight smiled with arm indigo eyes. "That sounds wonderful actually."

"The best way to find out is to just start trying it. Instead of me granting the form to you during our flexchange, we do it in our usual pony form. Afterward is when you try it yourself. With enough time, it might happen," Rainbow Dash explained. "That's how Fluttershy regained her form at will. Even on our first flexchange, we both felt something."

Fluttershy gave a small nod to confirm. "It's true."

"I'd like to start trying then," Starlight decidedly announced.

"Me too! Me too! Me too!" Pinkie Pie said excitedly.

"Me three," Rarity agreed with a blush. "Ha, and I am number three."

"And number four Fyra would also like to seek this power. It'll make me feel closer to being a dragon," Applejack reminded everyone.

"Darn it, I can't say 'me five' because I already said me too," Pinkie groaned.

Twilight Sparkle became thoughtful. "I have to admit, I'd feel left out if every Awesomev could do it but me."

"One of us! One of us!" Pinkie chanted and giggled.

Twilight giggled back. "You know what, I'll try too, but I'm going to wait to see how the rest of you manage. As the alicorn mev and last fledgling, I feel it is the proper thing to do."

"Much appreciated, Princess Twilight," Applejack replied with a friendly wink.

Twilight blushed.

Fluttershy giggled. "Bat ponies galore."

Rainbow Dash grinned. She was liking the idea too.

"That was a fun tangent but back to other stuff," Starlight decided. "Chrysalis and I played Dragon Pit today. She won, so she was happy. And she doesn't seem to be spewing hate at me every turn, so I consider that progress. Nothing else to report."

With a nod of acknowledgment, the master went on to say, "Segunda, number two."

"Well, I am liking my bat pony form whenever I want though our magic still seems to affect it. I prefer it still closer to my actual flexchange night," Fluttershy said.

"Then why don't you have it on now?" Pinkie asked. "Your turn is tomorrow."

"It's different for a pack meeting," Fluttershy answered. "Even Master sticks to just her fangs during our meetings."

"Okay, if you say so," Pinkie replied, letting the matter end there. She certainly understood the sense as an Awesomev herself and what she could or would do on or closer to Saturdays.

"Some of my animals were scared of Chrysalis at first, but they warmed up to her. She only needed a little bit of help for the actual task of feeding them," Fluttershy informed everyone. "Nothing else to report."

"Mitria, number three."

"I will defer to Twilight for our little escapade to Friendship University yesterday. Besides that, I showed Chrysalis around at my boutique, and she helped me dye some fabric. Her own sense of style strikes me as a bit Gothic," Rarity considered aloud.

"That's all well and good, but did she actually accomplish the work okay?" Applejack asked her.

"Yes," Rarity stated. "Nothing else to report here."

"Fyra, number four."

"Apple Bloom is plum pleased to have her part in our Yakyakistan trip. For Chrysalis, we tried out a bunch of things at the farm for her to do. We were trying get a feel for her strengths and weaknesses, what job suited her best. So far, we all agree she's strongest at checking which apples are good or bad for eating. I think with some extra practice, she'll be a good cook too," Applejack reported. "That's all I got tonight."

"Quintaza, number five."

"All of you were there for what happened in Yakyakistan. Since we were gone, all day, I didn't have any time with Chrysalis. I might have her help out at the bakery on Saturday," Pinkie told everyone. "I just showed you how Penny is doing. Nothing more on my end."

"Rexa, number six."

Twilight relayed the events concerning Friendship University from the previous day to everyone.

"Ha, that'll show Neighsay for sounding off before he's rightly checked his stuff," Applejack said.

"I certainly hope so," Twilight noted.

"I honestly would have expected better from somepony in charge of most of the schools in Equestria," Fluttershy added softly.

Twilight nodded and concluded her turn with, "That's it for me."

"Your turn, Master," Sweetie Belle said.

"I showed the Student Six my cell phone. Yona was the one who suggested we look at cave fronts," Rainbow told everyone.

"How are things going with Chrysalis?" Fluttershy wondered. "Besides the obvious," she quickly added, referring to Chrysalis' new default appearance.

"Well, she enjoyed the game just fine while you were all gone," Spike reminded them. "She might even play with us again."

"She has accepted Twilight as her second friend," Rainbow happily announced.

The others smiled and nodded, except for Discord. "I still say she needs to be watched very carefully," he said with authority.

"She is," Fluttershy assured him. "She's with the changelings now and still not allowed in the castle during pack meetings.  Plus, we have you to help us out."

At that, Discord smiled and nodded proudly in approval.

Sweetie Belle glanced up at Rainbow Dash and pointed to an item on her notes.

Rainbow nodded and sighed. "I have to tell you all what happened last night."

The others all glanced at her, fully attentive to her serious nature.

She relayed the events of the previous night in detail regarding the visit from four unicorn stallions, most notably taking all of Chancellor Neighsay's magic.

"Hmph. Serves him right," Rarity said indignantly.

Twilight blushed. "That's a bit harsh, but...I can't say I disagree."

"Same to Flim and Flam so far as I'm concerned," Applejack added. "They got off easy. So, Twilight, did you hear about this from the princesses or Starswirl yet yourself?"

Twilight nodded. "I did. There was not much to discuss. Princess Luna sent a letter about it, saying I would hear more from Rainbow Dash. They don't plan to punish her if you're worried about that. Starswirl sided with her as a witness and explained the numerous warnings Neighsay ignored. It's unfortunate for Neighsay, but he is stuck without his magic. That's not changing. Right, Master?"

Rainbow nodded. "It's mine now. I don't think my powers would even let me give it back to him."

"Us earth ponies manage," Pinkie said. "He will too. He's still got his portal and probably access to other artifacts. It's not like when Tirek took so much of our magic, and most ponies just outright collapsed. He's probably even still got a cutie mark, right?"

"He does," Rainbow replied. "He can go about his day like an earth pony with a unicorn horn on his head. He'll still be doing his thing for the EEA." She paused and stared at the table a moment. "Unfortunately," she muttered.

Twilight smiled softly. "That's out of your jurisdiction, Master."

Rainbow blushed with a nod and slight smile of her own.

"Well, I do feel a little sorry for him," Fluttershy said, "but I understand why things happened the way they did. We forgive you, Master."

Rainbow blushed again. "Ya'll are my fledglings though, so you're a little biased."

"True," Starlight agreed, "but it's not like we agree with you on every little thing—or even big things. We just know what you are, better than most."

"And I'm not one of your fledglings," Discord interjected. "I, for one, am glad to have avoided such a mistake myself. It sounds like the sort of thing I would have done ages ago."

"Oh, so you forgive me?" Rainbow Dash asked with a playful smirk.

"Well, it still makes you a bit scary, but we're friends now. I've gotten past that. I don't know this 'Neighsay' fellow from dirt, but he sounds like he deserved it. I guess it's more...I don't really think of it is a thing to forgive you for. It's your business, you know," he finished with a shrug.

"Fair enough," Rainbow replied. She looked at Sweetie Belle. "How about you, Rhezenda? You were there and seemed a little unsettled by all of it."

"Well, I was," Sweetie Belle confessed, "but it's not like I'm mad at you, Master. I guess I was more worried that you would get in trouble. But um...." She blushed. "I was glad that I got to greet the guests the way I did...and...I saw you eat."

Rainbow blushed too, closed her eyes, and smiled. "That you did. It could not be helped. So you took some enjoyment from that?"

"Y-yes," the young assistant hesitated to say.

Rainbow chuckled. "It's alright. That's part of why you wanted to be my Rhezenda, right?"

Sweetie Belle grinned in agreement. "Right."

"Well, then, that covers that, yes?" Rainbow asked her.

The young unicorn nodded.

"What's the plan for this weekend, Master? Are you going anywhere? Huh huh huh?" Pinkie prodded.

Rainbow looked at her team for a moment, eyes shifting around the table in thought. "I want to go to Cloudsdale to show Chrysalis around, may as well drop in to see my parents and finally tell them I'm a master mev," she announced. "It has been over two months now."

"Am I going too? And Scootaloo and Apple Bloom?" Sweetie Belle asked.

Rainbow confirmed for her, "Yes. After all, I'd rather tell my parents alone, so rather than leave Chrysalis by herself, she'll have you three to keep her company and keep an eye on her."

"Maybe I should come too," Fluttershy offered. "None of them really know the city like you and I do since we're both from there."

Rainbow nodded. "Sure, sounds like a plan."

"Anything else to report from your end, Master?" Rarity inquired.

"I'll probably check in with the students sometime this week, provided they are still in good shape in everyone's classes," Rainbow said.

The others all confirmed for her that the students slept well enough during the week.

"Yeah, I think that's it. Here's hoping to a good end to Project Mercury. I'd hate to see it fail as a planned gift for Hearth's Warming. We make the potion one month from today," Rainbow reminded them all from Starlight's given dates.

"Oh, I can't wait!" Pinkie said. "Not just for Penny's sake but for Scootaloo too. I hope she likes it. I mean, why wouldn't she like it? She asked us to do it for her, right?"

"Right," Rainbow agreed. "I hope so too."

Twilight nodded with a pleasant smile. "I'm sure we're all hoping for the best for our young friend."

Everyone nodded and murmured in agreement.

Rainbow sighed a happy little sigh. "Alright, Team Awesome, this meeting is over. You are all dismissed."
> Chapter 87 - Different Approaches
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Rainbow Dash and Rarity faced a classroom of interested students on Wednesday as Twilight Sparkle spoke. She explained to the class that the two ponies had very different interests that kept them busy but being friends was so important to them, they always made time for each other. The lesson was on compromise in friendship. Today was a Day of Fun they planned for each other.

Before they parted the classroom, a curious Silverstream raised her clawed hand to be called on and asked, "Ooh, ooh! What amazing stuff are you going to do together?"

"Buckball," Rainbow answered.

"Shopping," Rarity followed.

The students looked at the ponies in confusion.

"It's a whole day," Rainbow Dash told them with a smile. "We have time for both and then some."

Rarity nodded in agreement. "Yes, indeed. Twilight has a special treasure hunt planned for us later, even after all that."

"If there's time, we're going to chat about a book swap thing we're trying too," Rainbow said. "I read Shadow Spade, some of it anyway. She read Daring Do. I think. Did you have time for it?"

Rarity sighed in reluctance. "I'm so sorry, Rainbow, I'm afraid I didn't. I know how much you like your action, but for me, it was quite ridiculous and too over-the-top."

Rainbow sighed in turn. "Then I won't feel as bad admitting I got bored of all the clothing descriptions so didn't finish yours either."

"Do you two even have anything in common? How can you be friends?" Gallus asked.

"It's really quite easy," Rarity told him.

"We've been friends for like a super long time," Rainbow added.

"And we know all the same ponies," Rarity stated with confidence.

"Um, is that it?" Smolder asked.

"Oh, certainly not," Rarity denied. She took a moment to think and suddenly found herself struggling. Bringing up their mev bond felt inappropriate in a classroom setting, even if Nightmare Night had given away that they were mevs. They hadn't exactly stated they exchanged magic every Thursday. It was still an intimate and personal affair for all of them. Plus, it didn't actually say what they had in common besides being mevs at all.

Rainbow caught the delay and gave her own attempt. "Well, even though we show it differently, we both have an eye for visual flair and a sense of style. It's more obvious with Rarity and her fashion, but I do have an image and showponyship with my flying."

Rarity nodded. "We even help each other with those respective professions. Rainbow sometimes models clothes for me, and I am sometimes her private audience to give her feedback on her flying. To be honest, the differences actually help bring us together that way."

"Right," Rainbow agreed. "There was that time during the Cloudsdale Best Young Flier competition when I totally saved Rarity's life!" She lifted into a boastful hover.

"Yes! And I once proved Rainbow Dash's innocence to her beloved Wonderbolts when she was being framed for a mysterious incident!" Rarity informed the students with an eager smile of intrigue.

"She was so into Shadow Spade," Rainbow chuckled. "She kept changing outfits. I was getting really frustrated, but she totally pulled through for me."

Rarity smiled happily with pride.

"Cool! What else?" Sandbar asked.

"Hmm," Rarity noted thoughtfully. "We take trips with our sisters and Applejack and Apple Bloom for camping trips once a year."

Rainbow nodded. "Yup."

"Is that all?" Yona wondered.

The two nodded, at last satisfied with their team answers.

"That doesn't seem like much," Smolder stated with a shake of her head.

That was not what the two mares wanted to hear. It felt rather awkward to be put on the spot as if they needed to create some pristine image of perfect friendship and compromise. They were growing nervous. 

Starlight Glimmer sensed it. She had brought Rarity here and watched the whole thing. The lilac unicorn jumped to the forefront of the scene and told the students, "Uh, look, it may seem like Rarity and Rainbow Dash don't have that much in common when you try to put it into words but sometimes friendships can't be explained. You just have to see them in action to understand."

Twilight's eyes lit up at that. She thoughtfully stroked her chin with her forelimb. "Actually...that's a great idea!"

Rainbow Dash and Rarity looked at each other, then at Twilight.

"Twi, I know what you're trying to do here, but you're making us super self-conscious," Rainbow told her quietly.

"I must agree," Rarity heartily noted in a low voice.

"But it's a perfect way to demonstrate your friendship," Twilight told them. "Don't you want the students to learn from your example?"

"That's just it," Rarity replied. "We both feel we've given a sufficient answer. Putting it on display doesn't sound much better."

Rainbow nodded. "Yeah."

"Please?" Twilight flashed them a beseeching grin.

They both sighed. "Very well," they relented together.





First, they tried buckball without much success. Rarity couldn't be bothered to stand still and wait to catch a ball in a basket. Rainbow Dash conceded that while she'd never known any other unicorn players to find their role boring, she could see how Rarity might. She certainly didn't envy the position herself.

The observing students took notes.

"See?" Twilight said to them. "They did something Rainbow Dash likes, so now it's time for something Rarity likes. Compromise! Not to mention, Rainbow gained some perspective on how some unicorns might feel about this game."

Shopping was next and bothersome for Rainbow Dash. 

Rarity was looking for shoes. She liked a pair of magenta boots and green stilettos. 

Rainbow didn't like either. The boots shook off too much pink glitter everywhere that wound up all over her hooves, and the stilettos sounded useless because of the heels. "Honestly, you look better without them," she told Rarity. "Dresses are better suited to your body."

Rarity blushed at her master's words. "I appreciate the sentiment Rainbow, but work with me here."

"Retractable heels?" Rainbow suggested with thrown up forelimbs of exasperation.

"Oh, perfect!" Rarity brightened at that.

"Rainbow Dash and Rarity trust each other enough to speak honestly of their dislikes and frustrations yet continue on with their activity," Twilight told the students.

Up next was a venture to search for some gemstones together in a cave. They happily hoof bumped and smiled. Rarity was content to find gemstones, but Rainbow found disappointment. She lacked Maud's expertise of finding a hollow chamber for a place of interest. In her efforts, she crashed into Rarity's cart and shattered some gems.

"You ruined my gems!" Rarity yelled.

Rainbow glanced around nervously. "Sorry!" she said. "Just uh…let me fix it." She nervously used her hooves as if she could piece them back together. She needed to try other things first before resorting to magic, even if chaos magic had the solution at a simple shimmer of her eyes. Too bad rainbow lightning bolts couldn't repair broken gems. It was her main freebie.

She immediately glanced at the colors, trying to figure out the shapes they were and finding the best matches.

The students blinked in wonder.

Rarity blinked too, and she smiled softly. She put a hoof on Rainbow's shoulder. "It's alright. We'll fix it together." She explained the types of gems and guided Rainbow into helping her.

Twilight sighed in relief. "Sometimes friends make mistakes, but then they help each other make things right and stay good friends."

"I'm afraid I'm no Maud either," Rarity told Rainbow sheepishly after they'd gathered all but some blue gemstones of interest to her.

"I'm Maud," Maud's voice came to them.

The students watched the scene.

"Hi Maud," Rainbow greeted her. "Know of any good treasure spots? A secret door or chamber maybe."

Maud blinked slowly. "No."

Rainbow Dash hung her head in disappointment.

"Perhaps you could guide us into how we might find one?" Rarity asked.

"Okay," Maud consented.

She slowly led them and explained how she found her own residence. The two didn't find any such special chamber, but they did find a hollow spot of bright blue gemstones, and that was satisfactory for both.





At last, the planned treasure hunt arrived. The students observed as Twilight told the two friends with a sneaky smile that the Amulet of Aurora had gone "missing". They needed to use Rainbow's knowledge to search for lost treasure and Rarity's understanding of finding clues to work together and find the culprit.

"We're not following this time?" Silverstream asked as they all left Twilight's office.

"Us watching is making them on edge, even if they're smoothing things over in between. Trust me. These two are great teammates. Not watching will relax them both, and they'll tell us later how the actual hunt went," Twilight explained to her and the others. "Then I hope you all will truly understand how they operate."

Rainbow Dash and Rarity searched the office. Rainbow eventually noticed the blue glitter leading out from the door. She didn't grasp it was from the amulet instead of Rarity's boots until Rarity pointed out the color. Then, Rainbow came to a realization. She explained the amulet was made out of Azurantium, just like the Amulet of Atonement in the Daring Do book Rarity couldn't bring herself to finish. As such, it would leave a blue glitter trail. They followed that trail.

"Rainbow Dash, slow down! You're flying past important clues!" Rarity said out of breath and panting, unable to keep pace with her fast friend. She pulled out a magnifying glass and examined something on the ground. "It's a print but definitely not a hoof. Are those claw marks?"

"I found a big clue too!" Rainbow stated from hovering some yards away as she gestured to a swamp.

Rarity approached and looked at it uneasily. "I hope you don't expect me to wade through that."

Rainbow Dash grabbed a nearby cattail with her mouth and dipped it in. They saw it sink into the thick, bubbling green water. She shook her head. "Nah, it's too deep. We'll get stuck."

"Clever!" Rarity remarked. "What Daring Do book did you get that from?"

Rainbow rubbed the back of her head as she admitted with a shy smile, "Actually, I learned it at Scootaloo's Filly Guide camp."

Rarity smiled back. She tapped a boot to her chin as she considered aloud, "At least you can fly across."

The pegasus attempted to do so, only to encounter several geysers that were too close for comfort. She flew back to join Rarity on the ground. "Nope! If one of those geysers burns off my wing feathers, I'll be out of the Wonderbolts for weeks." She sighed. "Unicorn magic?" she asked weakly.

"Certainly," Rarity said with a proud smile. "I'm on it."

Instead, Rainbow Dash stared at the swamp thinking of other possibilities, just in case. "I could slingshot my way through, but I'd need two perfectly placed trees, some stretchy rope, and a pith helmet. I don't think I could use a live Cragadile for a raft like Daring Do did in Book 4." She glanced over at Rarity's work.

The white unicorn happily boasted, "Ta-da! The SS Cragadile, at your service." She'd used her magic to put together wooden planks and vines to make a small boat for the two of them.

"That is awesome!" Rainbow told her, thoroughly and visibly impressed.

"I am an Awesomev too after all," Rarity replied with a friendly wink.

Rainbow Dash giggled.

They started to push the concoction together. "How did you know how to do that?" Rainbow asked.

"Hmm, a designer like me has to learn to be resourceful," Rarity told her. "We may have been friends for a 'super long time,' but you don't know everything about me!"

They managed to get the boat in the water, and Rainbow Dash used her wings to propel them forward without a word between the two. She maneuvered to follow the blue trail of sparkles and avoid the geysers as they crossed the swamp together.

Once they reached the other side, Rarity was disappointed to realize aloud, "The glitter trail! It's gone."

"Let me fly up a bit for a better look," Rainbow Dash suggested. Up she went to soon find the trail they were looking for. "It's right here. I don't know how the thief made a gap in the trail. Maybe threw it upward or something."

"Well, what are you waiting for? Go on," Rarity urged her hovering friend. Rainbow descended closer to the white unicorn than the trail. "Fly up there and get that amulet!"

Rainbow Dash glanced at her with  a sly smile. "We're doing this together, remember?"

"But how can we? Oh!" Rarity soon found herself swooped into Rainbow's forelimbs as her pegasus friend lifted her. They arrived at a cliff where the blue glitter trail again reached a ground.

Rarity whimpered in a slight panic. Rainbow hadn't picked her up like that since the night they worked on a report with Sweetie Belle tagging along.

"Sorry, but I wasn't leaving you behind in that swamp," Rainbow landed in front of Rarity and told her with a smile.

"Thank you," Rarity replied with sincerity.

They stared at a wooden door together. 

Rarity tried to open it with her magic telekinesis and failed. 

Rainbow knocked on it with her hooves. "Maybe the key to unlocking this thing is in these inscriptions," she suggested, pointing to a curled design on the door.

"Or perhaps the key is right here," Rarity told her with sly smile. She removed her boot, magically pulled out a long metal bar from the heel and used it to unlock the door. "Retractable heels, remember darling?"

Rainbow  Dash chuckled. She was impressed. "Not so useless after all."

"This feels so much better," Rarity said with a relieved sigh.

"You mean not being watched and analyzed?" Rainbow asked her.

Rarity nodded. "Every little thing you and I never think about, suddenly, we did think about. I was on the verge of thinking of your interests as less than mine, that you didn't have any appreciation for the things I do. I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry too. I was getting so bored and frustrated while you were shopping, but yeah, a boot that turns into a stiletto is actually cool," Rainbow remarked. "I'm glad we didn't explode at each other into some huge dramatic scene saying we weren't friends anymore or anything."

"Oh, that sounds just dreadful," Rarity agreed with a shudder. "It would certainly put a damper on our Thursdays," she added with a flirtatious wink.

Rainbow Dash chuckled. "My Mitria gets it."

They hugged.

"Now let's go find that amulet!" Rarity happily declared.

"Yeah! Ha ha!" Rainbow lifted into her hover, and they continued on, to follow the trail to its end.

Rainbow Dash pushed open a trophy case against a wall to realize they entered a hallway in the school. "Wait. That tunnel leads to the school? A secret passage? Awesome!"

They soon arrived to see Spike holding the Amulet of Aurora with a smug grin.

"Spikey-Wikey is our culprit?" Rarity asked in surprise.

Twilight nodded. "Tell us what led you here, if you don't mind."

The two friends were happy to regale the students and explain how their different experiences helped them with their hunt.

"Yona understand now," Yona told the others as she looked at her notebook. "Friends not always need be same. Differences can actually be good."

"And awesome!" Silverstream nearly screeched in victory.

Smolder examined her own notes in thought. "I guess it makes sense when you do see it in action."

The other students nodded, at last satisfied.
> Chapter 88 - Cloudsdale Parents
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







On Saturday, Rainbow Dash and Chrysalis stood together outside Twilight's castle. They were waiting for others to arrive, for their planned trip to Cloudsdale. Chrysalis looked as she did back when she first met Rainbow as a master mev, including her wings.

"Why do you want to go in your old default dark form?" Rainbow asked with genuine curiosity to Chrysalis.

"Hmm," Chrysalis wondered if she could explain it to her friend. "It's sort of a test if that's alright."

Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow. "What sort of test?"

"I'd like to see if the ponies in Cloudsdale are accepting of me as my old appearance. I hope that your kind is not more accepting of my kind because the skin we have happens to be a lighter color. Know what I mean?" Chrysalis pondered. "Not to mention Neighsay, who didn't even find that good enough."

"Oh," Rainbow considered. "Well, to be honest, I think most of Cloudsdale hasn't even seen reformed changelings up close."

"Am I reformed?" Chrysalis asked with a smirk.

"Well, you're not plotting the demise of me and my friends as far as I know," Rainbow replied with a nonchalant air, followed by a returning smirk.

Chrysalis laughed.

"That is, as you like to say, acceptable," Rainbow added, still smiling.

Chrysalis chuckled a little more. "Very well. I assume you aren't going to hide who I am to your parents."

"You're the client. How do you want it to go?" Rainbow Dash asked.

Chrysalis sighed. "I want to get more comfortable around ponies as a changeling form in some capacity. Can you at least tell me what they're like?"

"Enthusiastic. Very, very enthusiastic. They can be a bit much," Rainbow admitted honestly with a subtle edge in her voice. "Proud of me for breathing. I have actual awards from them for stuff like 'Best Bath Taker Ever' and 'Best Napper.' Granted, I was a great napper back when I needed more sleep, but no one else sees that as the wondrous thing they did."

Chrysalis chortled. "Alright then. It seems to me that if there are any ponies who can handle seeing me like this outside you and your team, it would be them."

"Can't argue with that," Rainbow agreed. "Alright. Well then, since the others aren't here yet, let's see if you're going to need a cloud-walking spell." She dashed away and dashed back in an instant with a lowered white cloud.

To demonstrate, Rainbow Dash stood on it. "Pegasi, griffons, and hippogriffs can stand on clouds without actually having to fly—along with walk, sit, and lie down. We have magic in our bodies that allows us to do so. I've never seen a flying dragon do it or a changeling, so today's a good day to find out if a changeling can."

Chrysalis fluttered up and found herself plop right through, catching herself before striking the ground

"Hmm, so maybe it's the feathers," Rainbow openly contemplated.

"I suppose that's a mild perk if we were really were trying to make me an alicorn," Chrysalis muttered dryly. Curious, she tried shape-shifting into an alicorn form that closely resembled her lighter "reformed" look and still slipped right through. 

"Master," a bright voice greeted. "And Chrysalis." Starlight Glimmer gave them a polite nod.

"What are you doing here?" Chrysalis asked. She saw Starlight had two chests with her. "That's a bit much to take to Cloudsdale."

"Oh, this is actually for a trip I'm taking with Trixie to Saddle Arabia. I will not be going with you all today. I'm heading out after helping with the cloud-walking spell for those of the group who can't do it naturally," Starlight answered. "Well, most of you. I can give Rainbow a quick lesson if she ever needs to do it."

"Oh. Okay," Chrysalis stated with approval.

"Are you going to Cloudsdale as an alicorn?" Starlight asked in sincerity.

Chrysalis immediately transformed to her dark form. "No, we were actually testing cloud-walking magic right before you got here. Apparently, it is not a power we changelings possess nor can emulate taking on a pony form."

"How fascinating," Starlight noted. She looked the dark form up and down. "So, you're going like that?" she asked with the same curiosity Rainbow had earlier.

"Yes," Chrysalis said firmly.

Starlight glanced Rainbow's way.

"She's got her reasons. We already talked about it," Rainbow said.

"Well, alright," Starlight replied.

Soon after, Fluttershy and the Awesome Crusaders arrived. The entire group took care of matters to ensure everyone would be able to walk through Cloudsdale with ease and that Rainbow Dash knew how to cast the cloud-walking spell.





Rainbow Dash decided to escort everyone to her parents' house first. That would clue said parents into the fact that something was going on before she sent her servants and client on their way.

As they arrived, the door itself opened wide, and a pegasus mare swooshed out to grab her daughter. "Rainbow honey!" said Windy Whistles with the foreshadowed enthusiasm.

Rainbow Dash's father, Bow Hothoof, soon followed and pat her forelock. "Good to see you, kiddo." He hugged her tight as well.

Before Rainbow could tell them to back off and give her some space, they noticed her companions. As such, they then backed off and gave her some space.

"Fluttershy, it's been awhile!" Windy said with a bright smile. "How are you, dear?"

Bow gave a friendly, winged salute as his greeting to her.

"Oh, I've been doing wonderful. Thanks so much for asking," Fluttershy said, lifting into a happy hover.

"And Scootaloo. We see you brought your friends," Bow noticed. "Greetings yet again, small ponies. How are you three?"

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle smiled giving a "hi" and "hello" respectively.

"It's great to see you both!" Scootaloo hugged them each tight. "We've been super awesome!"

Her friends nodded in agreement.

Windy finally met eyes with Chrysalis. She smiled and blinked uneasily. "You…" she started to say.

Carefully, Rainbow began, "Mom, Dad, this is Chrysalis. She used to be the queen of the changelings."

Chrysalis gave a polite bow of her head.

"Weren't the changelings bad because of her?" Bow bluntly asked.

Chrysalis stared at him icily. "Yes."

He took a small, timid step back.

"Things are different now," Rainbow explained. "She and I recently became friends, and I have some business with her. In fact, I actually came today because I wanted to talk to the two of you. So, Fluttershy, if you would…" 

Fluttershy nodded. "We'll be back soon." 

Scootaloo stepped forward and motioned for Rainbow to come closer. "You can tell them about my request. They're like family to me."

Rainbow Dash nodded with a pleasant smile.

Scootaloo rejoined the group. She and the others waved before parting.

"Wow, you must have been busy," Windy said to Rainbow.

"You have no idea," Rainbow replied, "but you're about to."

"Well come on in already," Bow instructed his daughter.

The three family members went in and sat together at the kitchen table.

"Oh, I can't wait to hear!!" Windy exclaimed. "Just what has my daughter been up to that leads to such an interesting group to be here with her today?"

Rainbow smiled and took a deep, nervous breath. Even if she had done this so many times now, it was different with her parents of all ponies. "I...turned into a vampire."

They stared at her and blinked before chuckling.

"Good one," Bow said. "Now tell us what really happened."

Rainbow rolled her eyes with a smile. She expected as much, but she continued, "That is what really happened. It's specific type of vampire called a 'master mev.' The 'mev' part is an acronym for Magic Eating Vampire."

"You can eat magic?" Windy asked, clearly fascinated.

"That's impressive though worrisome," Bow said thoughtfully.

"It definitely was my first night, but Twilight found this book that explained this transformation better. I was able to find a way to eat without hurting others," Rainbow went on.

"Oh, so your friends know?" Windy realized. "Including those five that were just here?"

Rainbow Dash nodded. "Yup." It was all coming together for them.

"What's the 'master' part for?" Bow asked.

"A lot," Rainbow answered. "It's a job to manage and reserve magic, so I'm in charge of that. I was literally zapped by a column of light from the ground to the sky to have this power...I…" she cleared her throat. "I have a pack and am the master of six fledglings...and some other servants. And funny thing, if you actually call me by my title, you get this tiny whiff of power. Well, most ponies. It might be different since you two are my parents. The book didn't really cover that."

"Oh well then we definitely have to try it," Bow said. "Master Rainbow Dash." Barely a pause passed before he added, "Whoa! I certainly felt that. It must be stronger for us. You try it, Honey."

"Master Rainbow Dash," Windy said as well. Her eyes widened in glee. "That's amazing! You're the most amazing master ever!"

Rainbow blushed with an embarrassed smile.

"The thing I feel is quite strong, just like your father says," Windy informed her. "That's so cool that your parents get a boost!" she added in delight.

"I'll have to tell Twilight. She's taking notes on all kinds of things on my being a master mev," Rainbow said.

"We could certainly use some notes ourselves," Bow replied. "Can you tell us more?"

"Well, I can't tell the two of you everything. I have clients to protect—" Rainbow started to explain.

"Oh, aren't you just the most considerate thing?" Windy said with pride.

"But I can tell you that I've traveled a lot to meet up with friends, old and new, to help out in new ways. Oh, I do have something I can show you," Rainbow realized. She quickly showed off her lightning bolt power.

Windy leaped into a cradled position in her husband's forelimbs.

Rainbow chuckled mischievously.

"Lightning for you is just perfect, Rainbow Dash," Bow said, impressed.

"Spike thought so too. He predicted it," Rainbow told them.

Windy hovered and returned to her seat. "Such lovely colors—six to match your mane and tail and white for all. Simply amazing! What else? Tell us more! You simply must tell us more!" She gasped. "Who's in your pack? Is Chrysalis one of your vampire fledglings?"

"Chrysalis is a client, actually, but as far as fledglings go, they're actually my friends. You know, Starlight Glimmer, Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Twilight Sparkle," Rainbow answered.

"Fluttershy's a vampire fledgling? How fascinating," Windy noted. "Has that affected your relationship in any way?"

Rainbow Dash blushed. "Mom, you know I don't like to talk about her like that with anyone. Us turning into vampires hasn't changed that."

"Well, I thought it might. Vampires can be such romantics you know," Windy said with a breathy smile. She gasped upon a sudden thought. "The Princess of Friendship is a vampire for you! You two must really be great friends."

"We are," Rainbow replied, bashfully stroking her mane.

"What about Scootaloo and her two friends?" Bow realized. "You brought them along with Fluttershy and Chrysalis. Oh, are they your other servants?"

"Yes. Sweetie Belle is my Rhezenda, and Apple Bloom and Scootaloo are my bodyguards," Rainbow explained.

"Filly bodyguards?!" Bow asked. He tapped a hoof to his chin. "Intriguing."

"What's a Rhezenda?" Windy wished to know.

Rainbow chuckled. "It's a special title she came up with. I thought 'assistant' would be too boring." She went on to explain its meaning between the two of them.

"You're absolutely right, dear," Windy said in hearty agreement. "That is just so lovely!"

"She must feel pretty special to help you out like that," Bow offered.

Rainbow nodded. "She does. I have seen to it."

"Because you're just so awesome that way," Windy put her hooves around Rainbow's cheeks adoringly.

At the same time, Bow noted, "You even sound like a master vampire when you talk like that."

Rainbow backed away from her mother in a small hover. "Thanks."

"That can't possibly be all," Bow said. "What else can you tell us? Or show us! You must have fangs and since you're a pegasus, I'll bet you even get bat wings or something."

"You're not wrong," Rainbow replied. "That's one of the perks of being a master. I can change my wings, eyes, and teeth at will."

"Well come on, show us!" Windy urged while moving to stand closer to her husband since she was slightly scared from the earlier lightning bolts.

Rainbow Dash demonstrated her vampire form.

"Wow, you are just the most awesome vampire ever, aren't you?" Windy said with pride. "Chosen by the land and sky itself."

"A Wonderbolt, off saving Equestria with her friends, and now a master vampire," Bow started to tear up. He buried his head into Rainbow's shoulder. 

She pat him. "I'm glad you two are taking the news so well." She couldn't fathom anyone else's parents swelling with as much pride over their daughter becoming a master magic-eating vampire.

"Of course. We just love you so much," Bow cried.

Rainbow smiled warmly. "There's a little more."

He looked up in awe. "Really?"

"I'm not sure how open Scootaloo has been with two of you about this fact, but she can't fly like most pegasi her age," Rainbow began.

"Oh, that's right. You know, she told us when we first met her and went to go see you, but it hasn't come up since," Windy told Rainbow.

"It's a disability," Rainbow stated seriously.

They blinked and waited patiently for the master mev to continue.

Rainbow swallowed. "I offered, and she accepted that I investigate it and possibly find a cure."

Windy's eyes watered as she asked in a small voice, "Did you find one?"

"Well...we have a plan, but it needs a little more time. In a few weeks, we're going to mix up a potion with the magic that we have stored in our reserve. It'll need a few days, but Starlight's estimate is that it will take effect on Hearth's Warming," Rainbow informed them.

Bow teared up again and buried his head into Rainbow. 

She pat him again too.

"Oh, it just has to work!" Windy said filled with tremendous hope.

Bow wiped his eyes. "You'll tell us, won't you?"

"Of course," Rainbow said with a hopeful smile of her own. "Hey I know! Why don't you two come down to Ponyville on Hearth's Warming? I'll be hanging out with the girls, like I usually do. Stop by Twilight's castle in the afternoon. We'll tell you how it went, or is going. Magic of this caliber takes time. My team's been working on it for a month and a half already. Still have a little over a month to go—although now we're mostly just waiting."

"Just wow. Being a master mev has even got you to be more patient," Windy said.

"I guess," Rainbow muttered, having not really noticed though it made sense with all the other extra instincts her transformation gave her.

"So what's Chrysalis' story? How are you helping her?" Bow wondered.

"Classified," Rainbow told them bluntly.

"Of course dear," Windy said agreeably. She got excited all over again with a hearty squeal and hugged Rainbow tight.

"Alright, I think that's enough 'Confess to My Parents I'm a Vampire' time," Rainbow remarked. She pulled out her cell phone to text Fluttershy she finished that part of her business for the day.

"Oh, what's that?" Bow wondered.

"It's called a 'cell phone.' It's a magic device for communication. I learned from some humans how they work with a different kind of magic in their world. Thanks to the changelings, including Chrysalis, we found a way to mimic it," Rainbow explained.

"Wonders never cease," Windy beamed.

Soon after, the rest of Rainbow's friends returned.

Windy picked up Scootaloo in her arms with an enthusiastic motherly embrace. The two parents nuzzled her close and wished her well and good luck with her request.

Windy then attended to getting drinks for everyone with Apple Bloom's help. Scootaloo tailed them. Rainbow chatted with Fluttershy. Sweetie Belle quietly observed the whole scene in case she was needed in any way.

"And you too, Ms. Chrysalis," Bow offered. "I certainly hope I didn't offend you earlier. We look out for our daughter, and the things we've heard…"

"Yes, I'm aware. My drones kidnapped her, among others, before I was dethroned. I get it," Chrysalis said. "I was not offended, just as blunt and honest as you were."

Apple Bloom passed them each a glass of juice.

"You're not still bad, are you?" Bow asked worriedly.

Sweetie Belle stared and listened intently.

Chrysalis smirked. "I won't hurt your daughter, sir. She is helping me. It is in my best interest to ally with her, so I have. She is one of my two friends."

"Oh, who's the other?" Bow wondered.

"Twilight Sparkle," Chrysalis replied.

"Well, I suppose that's alright then," Bow said, comforted. "Good luck with your request, Miss."

"Appreciated," she said with authority in her voice and a bow of her head.

The two clinked glasses in a small toast before drinking.

Sweetie Belle quietly breathed a sigh of relief to herself and drank her own glass of juice.

"How'd seeing Cloudsdale go?" Rainbow approached and asked Chrysalis.

"Fascinating," Chrysalis answered. "I've never seen anything like it. Even though all changelings can fly, our hive was—and still is—rooted to the ground. We took to the skies at our convenience but actually staying to reside in them never occurred to me. I'm sure some drones have made their way this far, but I've never seen it so up close myself. And manufacturing weather? That is certainly convenient. Making lightning and thunder sounds fun."

"It is. No one caused you any trouble, did they?" Rainbow prodded.

"Well, I certainly got some stares," Chrysalis admitted, "which I suppose was expected. But still, nothing much beyond that. I think I overheard a remark about reminding someone of a unicorn who had butterfly wings once."

"They meant Rarity," Scootaloo offered and proudly relayed the whole tale of Rainbow's second ever Sonic Rainboom.

"Yay!" Windy proclaimed and clapped her hooves in applause.

"And that's why she's the pride and joy of this household," Bow boasted.

"That's certainly fortunate you were able to pull through in the end," Chrysalis remarked with intrigue, addressing Rainbow Dash. "It seems the layered drama empowered you."

"Friendship can do that," Rainbow said with a knowing smile.

Chrysalis smiled softly in turn.

"We didn't get a chance to see the Cloudiseum if you want to show her that too," Fluttershy told Rainbow.

"Sure, let's get a move on. Thanks for everything Mom and Dad," Rainbow Dash prepared to leave.

"We'll see you on Hearth's Warming," Windy said.

Scootaloo paused and looked at them.

"For good luck and support of your hopefully big day," Bow encouraged her.

The pegasus filly smiled hugely and hugged them both. "I know it'll be sad if it doesn't work, but knowing you two will be there will help. It means a lot to know I have so much support."

The trip to the Cloudiseum went smoothly and easily given Rainbow's Wonderbolt status and access. The group wrapped up their trip and returned home.
> Chapter 89 - Celestial Acting
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







The teachers for the School of Friendship, except for Twilight Sparkle herself, were attending to a stage made not far from the school. Starlight Glimmer was with them too.

Pinkie Pie descended slowly and happily from an umbrella amidst a collection of confetti and streamers. As she landed on the wooden floorboards of the stage, she said with pride, "Confetti is ready! Hoo hoo!"

An annoyed Applejack flung a paintbrush she held in her mouth into its bucket as she told Pinkie Pie sharply, "Wormy apple cores, Pinkie! How many times have I told ya to keep your special effects away from my sets?"

"Three hundred twenty-seven," Pinkie answered simply. She gestured with a hoof upon a realization. "Ooh! Unless you just DID. Then it's three hundred twenty-eight." 

Applejack rolled her eyes and muttered, "Ugh."

Meanwhile, Starlight walked next to Fluttershy while telekinetically holding a script. She said, "I can't believe you've memorized your lines already, Fluttershy."

"Once you get past terrifying, paralyzing stage fright," Fluttershy began with a shiver and look of such terror in her eyes. Her demeanor changed with matched ease and a pleasant smile as she continued, "...the rest is easy. Now I just hope Princess Celestia says we can do our play."

Starlight nodded and smiled in agreement.

"Oh! As soon as she sees these fabulous costumes, all she'll be able to say is 'brava!'" Rarity boasted as she pushed a rack of the costumes in question. She wore a length of measuring tape draped over her neck.

Rainbow Dash herself said nothing as she fixated her attention on aligning a stage light. From the corner of her eye, she saw the two expected figures of Twilight Sparkle and Spike approach. "Heads up!" she called down to the others. "Here comes our answer." She descended to hover near her friends as they all gathered together.

"Wonderful news, everypony!" Twilight announced.

"Yeeeha!" Applejack motioned with both forelimbs in celebration. "We get to put on our show?"

"Even better. Princess Celestia is gonna be our star!" Twilight announced with a smile.

Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Starlight Glimmer collectively gasped.

Spike folded his arms and said dryly, "Yeah, that's how I felt, too."

"Celestia? Starring in our play? This is huge!" Rainbow proclaimed with a big smile. She stroked the back of her mane and asked with an uneasy smile, "She does know not to raise the sun during the actual show, right?"

"Of course!" Twilight said. "And even if by some warped chance that did happen, the sun is only raised once during the show. There's no way she'd raise it six times."

Rainbow's entire muzzle twitched—at least it was Monday.

Starlight put a hoof to her forelimb in comfort. "It'll be fine, Master. We all know to be careful, including Princess Celestia. I'm sure she hasn't forgotten you."

"She was a little nervous at first," Twilight moved on and informed the rest, "but I told her not to worry. With us helping, it'll go smooth as…"

"Silk!" Rarity cried in emphatic horror. She blurred away and buried her head into a chest as she rummaged through an assortment of fabric. "I must find the silk! If Celestia is going to be in our play, we have to take everything up to the next level!" The stressed white unicorn proceeded to telekinetically dump the costumes she was so proud of only moments ago into a nearby trash can. "None of these old ideas will do!"

Pinkie Pie burst her torso and head up from within the trash can as she heartily agreed, "Yeah! Forget my regular party cannon. For princess-size effects, we're going to need 'Big Bertha!'" She descended back down. A moment later after a crash, she could be seen shoving the cannon she spoke of toward some still undetermined place.

"Grr...Pinkie!" Applejack growled.

"What?" Pinkie Pie asked innocently.

Rainbow darted near Twilight, shoving her mev unease aside and deciding to throw herself wholly into the moment. Her friends were excited; she had an idea and could oversee the sun matter during the actual play. "Our play is gonna be AMAZING! I gotta tell everypony I know!" With a wink, she added, "And even the ones I don't!"

With a zoom and a bang, Rainbow Dash left an unusually casual Sonic Rainboom behind to boost her away for her chosen task.

The ponies she told were ever so delighted to hear the news and happily helped spread the word even more.

Sometime later, Rainbow Dash returned to boast of her success to the others. She swooped into the backstage area where she found them all gathered. "All right! I just finished telling everyone to come to our play!"

"You...did?" Twilight asked nervously.

"Yeah!" Rainbow answered with a smile. "You should've seen how excited they got when they found out Celestia was in it! They said they'd tell their friends, and then their friends would tell their friends. Chrysalis too though she thinks it will be better to still be more discreet and in pony form. Everyone in Equestria is gonna see this thing!"

Rainbow finally glimpsed some horrified and nervous looks from everyone she was informing of such news.

She descended from her hover and asked Twilight, "Uh, did I miss something?"

"Just a bright light of hope being snuffed," Twilight answered.

Rainbow frowned but kept quiet. Twilight wasn't finished.

The wisteria alicorn continued, "But that's okay. If we can't cancel the show, I know what we have to do."

"Be honest with Celestia and give the lead role to somepony else?" Applejack suggested.

"Not a chance!" Twilight said firmly.

"Huh? Why?" Rainbow asked.

They spoke at nearly the same time, and all the friends knew Rainbow was a little behind on what was happening.

"Because she's a terrible actress, that's why!" Applejack explained. She turned to Twilight again. "Twilight, you know truth is a huge part of friendship," she said sternly.

"And so is making another pony's dreams come true," Twilight replied softly. "Look, I promised Celestia that this time she could be a part of the play instead of just watching it. And I plan to keep that promise."

"But...how?" Fluttershy asked.

"Acting lessons?" Twilight suggested with an uneasy smile.

"Who could teach Princess Celestia to act on such short notice?" Starlight wondered aloud.

Rainbow put a thoughtful hoof to her chin and brightened. "I have an idea!"





"You want to give me acting lessons?" Celestia asked Twilight Sparkle as they walked together in the school hallways towards a classroom.

"I do, but your teacher may surprise you. You have my word, as well as Master Rainbow Dash's, she is uh…" Twilight hesitated.

"She's what?" Celestia wondered.

Twilight sighed and opened the doors to show Rainbow Dash and Chrysalis.

"Alright?" Twilight tried with a hint of nervousness.

"Queen Chrysalis?" asked a befuddled Celestia.

As during the visit to Cloudsdale, Chrysalis chose her older dark form for this encounter with similar reasoning. Celestia wouldn't have to ponder who she was by the change in her new default appearance, nor would an explanation be needed for the how and the why. Celestia herself would have to entrust Team Awesome.

Chrysalis bowed. "I am surprised to find myself here too, Princess Celestia. I promise you no harm—unless you find a critique of your acting skills harmful that is."

Celestia blinked. "No, of course not," she replied awkwardly. "If there's anything I can do to be a better Equestrian thespian, I will! What do you have planned?"

"It's quite simple, really," Chrysalis said. "I will demonstrate to you how it is done while taking on your very appearance. You will copy. I will tell you what you are doing wrong and what you are doing right. 

"Worst case scenario," the tall changeling told her with a mischievous smirk, "I will act in your place during the play."

Celestia's mouth dropped as she took it in, and then she brightened into a smile. "Quite the motivator indeed. You're on."

When Celestia was monotone, Chrysalis would show her what it sounded and looked like to put her in the place of an observer and then what it should actually be like. The same went for over-excited and too quick with her words. The same for moving to close to the Royal Canterlot voice.

It was a Celestia Mirror show of good and bad acting.

The entire display left Rainbow Dash tremendously amused. She could not help herself. She doubled over in laughter and collapsed to the ground. Spike found himself doing the same.

"Ignore them," Chrysalis advised with confidence. "You need to be able to carry on if the audience behaves the same way."

Twilight Sparkle could not find it as funny and would flash away to check on the set where the group was trying to fix a broken sun prop. Between all of the action, no one had alerted their master of this fact. So far as Rainbow Dash knew, the play's director was checking in on things in general.





At last, Chrysalis felt satisfied with her student's skills. Celestia demonstrated for Rainbow and Spike who were finally settled enough to watch and give their approval as well.

Night fell, and the audience started to take their seats.

"Okay, okay, okay," Twilight said nervously as she paced backstage amidst her friends. "Celestia's acting is uh...handled. So, where are we with the sun?"

"What?!" asked Rainbow Dash with an evident edge in her voice.

Twilight paused and clenched her teeth in fear, drooping her ears.

"Don't worry, Master!" Pinkie stated. "I've got this. To make sure the show's a hit, I've whipped up the biggest, bestest, flashiest fake sun ever!"

Everyone gazed on in horror at a mass of fireworks Pinkie lit with the quick clack of a lever.

"Pinkie...that looks unsafe," Twilight pointed with a hoof to the prepared fake sun.

"Why would untested magic fireworks that I bought in a back alley from Trixie at midnight be unsafe?" Pinkie asked casually with folded arms.

The fireworks answered themselves as they rocketed out everywhere, narrowly missing the ponies and dragon present, who dodged clear to the best of their ability.

Twilight grit her teeth as she gazed up to see the final, large rocket finish its fuse and blew up from behind the curtain.

Applejack ran to douse her painted house props in water.

Fluttershy cowered on the floor with Rainbow Dash patting her pink mane. Starlight stood near to watch over them both.

Rarity blew the smoke away from her costumes.

Spike clasped and hung from one of the still standing lights. Another fell and crashed into the wooden floor.

Pinkie Pie blew off soot and smoke from Twilight's own horn.

Twilight's eye twitched. "Aaaah!" she screamed. "We got our lead actress to act, and then everything else goes wrong with the props and the set!" She panted in frustration.

A curtain fell, and Twilight followed the gaze of her friends to see Celestia and Chrysalis.

"What happened?" Chrysalis asked.

"Pinkie Pie," Applejack grumbled.

"Present!" Pinkie Pie declared with a grin, raising her forelimb.

"Regardless of what happened, we need to salvage this!" Rarity reminded everyone.

Fluttershy peaked out from a magenta curtain, then turned to her friends to tell them, "Ponies are taking their seats for the show!"

Rainbow followed suit from her hover. "Heh heh. Standing room only!" she boasted. "Did I do a good job of advertising this thing or what?"

The others bordered on glaring.

"Sorry," Rainbow muttered between flapping wings.

"Can you use your chaos magic?" Spike suggested with hope as he pointed to Rainbow. "You can't possibly fix all of this fast enough as a pegasus?"

"Is that a challenge?" Rainbow asked with fire lighting up in her eyes.

"No!" Spike urgently waved his claws to settle her down. "It's Monday, right? And it's for Twilight!"

"Focus, Master, please!" Applejack told Rainbow.

Rainbow took a deep breath and examined what they had at their disposal. Her eyes flickered to red-on-yellow, and nothing happened. She shook her head. "Not urgent enough, sorry. The set, props, costumes, and stuff don't look good, but a play can go on with all of that, even if it doesn't look picture perfect."

"What about the sun?" Applejack asked. "We don't have one at all, and we can't have Celestia raising the real thing."

At that, Rainbow's eyes lit up again. "You can do the sun!" She pointed excitedly with a hoof. "My dragon form fire won't cut it. You control the actual path and shape of yours. Just you know, don't burn anything."

Applejack gasped. "You're right."

"Oh, that's right, our fledglings gifts might help us," Fluttershy stated.

Rarity breathed out some rock formations to help prettify the damaged painted house props.

Twilight picked up the fallen light and ascended. "Starlight and I can do lighting."

Starlight joined her as she levitated her whole body with a confirming smile.

"I don't have any extra earth in me for the costumes I'm afraid," Rarity said.

"Maybe if I gave them a little breeze, that will give them a pleasant effect, which can make the damage seem not so bad," Fluttershy suggested.

"Penny's still frozen, so I have to sit this idea out," Pinkie informed them all. "I really don't think we could use water for anything anyway." She sighed. "Besides putting out fire if Fyra burns anything."

"I won't!" Applejack insisted.

Rainbow touched Pinkie's shoulder and said empathically with a smile, "I don't think lightning can be much help either."

"It will be enough," Celestia gently informed them.

"Places, everyone!" Twilight commanded.

"Go ahead and enjoy the show, Chryssy," Rainbow said to Chrysalis. "I'm going to help out Pinkie Pie with all the extra stuff."

Pinkie smiled and nodded happily as she stood, ready to do her part.

Chrysalis transformed into her standard unicorn form with a polite nod to go and join the audience.

The damage was noticed by the audience but as the team hoped, it passed for a decent enough play to perform all the same. Celestia's acting even seemed to improve all the more with the added pressure. When all was said and done, many flowers were thrown to the stage, and the entire troupe ended the matter proud and satisfied.
> Chapter 90 - Meeting
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







In Starlight Glimmer's room, Rainbow Dash at behind her Primeva. She began to kiss at Starlight's shoulder, working her way toward the unicorn's neck.

Starlight closed her eyes and moaned in pleasure.

"My Primeva," Rainbow said between kisses.

"My master," Starlight replied in turn.

"Ready, my love?" Rainbow asked. She had, indeed, taken to sprinkling the word on occasional exchanges with her fledglings, who appreciated it deeply.

Starlight smiled in content. "Indeed, I am." She chuckled. "As the outsiders like to say, 'dinner' is served."

Rainbow Dash bit right in, and Starlight soon bit back.

Afterward, she tried to grow bat wings, then looked at Rainbow Dash. "I felt it," she told Rainbow with a smile.

The master mev nodded and smiled as she replied, "I did too."

"Do you think it will take longer since I don't have wings?" Starlight wondered.

"Nah," Rainbow shook her head. "If it takes longer, it is a way to honor Fluttershy, so that her form is still special. We have changeling magic in the reserve now and Twilight in our pack. That helps."





Soon after, every usual pack meeting participant was ready. Chrysalis herself was invited in to discuss her particular case. She wore her new default look, as she was most comfortable in it around Team Awesome.

"You've made two friends among us and helped ponies through helping my friends," Rainbow announced proudly. "Our trip to Cloudsdale went smoothly enough, all things considered."

"Minimal tension with your parents," Sweetie Belle added from her notes. 

"Princess Celestia knows of our having a connection to you here, even if not the details on the how and why of it," Rainbow continued.

Chrysalis nodded along without a word.

"So, you have reached the point where I will no longer require you to leave the building during a pack meeting though other than a point like this to talk about your specific case, you are still not allowed in the throne room," Rainbow Dash stated. "That applies to all outsiders but these three anyway." She gestured to indicate Spike, Sweetie Belle, and Discord.

"Very well," Chrysalis said with confident acceptance of the term. After all, she was a client on friendly terms with two of their number.

"Thank you for help with the play yesterday," Twilight said.

Chrysalis smiled modestly and gave a sincere, "You're welcome."

Rainbow examined Sweetie Belle's notes for her. "Let's take a break from the travels this weekend," she advised.

"That means you can party with me!" Pinkie Pie told Chrysalis with an eager grin. She pulled out her party cannon and gave it a blast. "We'll make even more cupcakes!"

"Chocolate," Chrysalis said quickly and simply as a demand.

"Oh alright, twist my forelimbs, why don't you?" Pinkie said and twisted them into each other as demonstration.

"That's it. You're dismissed," Rainbow Dash told Chrysalis.

"Might I still visit the Changeling Kingdom tonight anyway, as we've been doing?" Chrysalis asked.

Rainbow paused and saw no reason to deny it. "Sure," she said. Then she she bowed her head in Starlight's direction. "Primeva…"

Starlight nodded and teleported the two away before quickly returning by herself. The changelings had no objection to their former queen visiting again.





"Alright, let's get started on everything else," Rainbow Dash announced.

"I can't believe it's already been a week," Pinkie said. "But I guess that's good since if things keep moving so fast, the sooner we can thaw Penny."

"Let's go ahead and check in with her," the master mev advised.

Pinkie Pie whistled Penny out.

"Hi everyone," Penny said from her ice block.

"Hi Penny," Fluttershy replied in a sweet voice.

"How are you feeling and how's the flower?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"We're both good. Even though I'm not thawing yet, I can move a little more easily when I am out as more time passes during this month. I think this process is going to give me and Pinkie a power upgrade," Penny informed her.

Pinkie nodded with a grin. "Ice powers!" she clapped her hooves together excitedly.

"Cool!" Sweetie Belle couldn't help interjecting with an interested smile.

The mevs giggled at her word choice.

The unicorn filly blushed. The pun had been unintentional, but it still fit just fine.

"Well said, Rhezenda," Rainbow replied with an approving smile. "That's great news, Penny. You will have certainly earned it with all the help you're giving us."

"Thank you, Master," Penny said.

"Let's review the dates while you're out. Primeva…" Rainbow Dash turned to her first fledgling.

"Right," Starlight said with a nod. "Less than a month to go for making the potion and for it hopefully taking effect. We are three weeks and two days to be exact for when we mix it."

"Sweetie, has Apple Bloom had anything to add that we should be doing in the meantime?" Rainbow asked.

"We should probably redo the thing where we checked for the proper size the day before we start—just in case she grew at all since the last one," Sweetie Belle explained.

"I trust you can make the proper arrangements for that," the master noted.

Sweetie Belle smiled proudly. "Yes, of course Master."

"Moving on. Down the line," Rainbow stated. "Primeva, number one."

"I tried the bat form and felt a little something on the inside," Starlight announced. 

"That's how it was with me when I started," Fluttershy informed everyone.

"You know, it is quite possible your power needed to complete first before the others could make this attempt," Discord added.

Rainbow rubbed a hoof thoughtfully to her chin. "Yeah, that makes sense."

"Much appreciated darling," Rarity said to Fluttershy, stroking at her own purple mane.

The canary-colored pegasus blushed. "It was something I wanted for myself, but I'm happy to share."

"Moving on, Master," Starlight began to change the subject, "I think we're far enough in our lessons that we don't need to do them every week—unless you have a particular thing you wish to learn at the time."

Rainbow blinked. It made sense though it still caught her completely off guard.

"I must agree," Discord stated. "You know how to properly and precisely imagine what you want your magic to do. Starlight and I can answer advanced questions, but I think the only thing we haven't taught you is how to shoot a blast of energy, which I certainly assume your instincts know. And frankly, your lightning is quite effective as is—perhaps even better."

Starlight nodded with a smile. "And I agree with that!"

"But I've only been at this for a couple of months. Didn't you and Twilight study magic for years?" Rainbow asked, still very much stunned.

"We did," Starlight assured her, "which is actually part of why you learned it so fast. Plus, your nocturnal reading time helped a lot. You know super advanced stuff, even if it only surfaces for when we might need it. You are different from a unicorn too."

"This just feels kind of sudden. Like a graduation," Rainbow muttered. She was not exactly convinced.

"My graduation as Twilight's pupil was sudden too. I've been there, but the time is right," Starlight assured her

A flash of nothing happened, and Discord groaned. "I hate it when I forget."

A graduation cap and gown appeared on Starlight Glimmer instead.

"Just pretend that's you," Discord said and gestured at Starlight while talking to Rainbow Dash. "Congratulations!"

He blew through a noisemaker he materialized for himself.

Streamers burst across the room.

Pinkie laughed heartily with her whole body and shot off her party cannon again. She made a huge gasp. "We should give Master a true graduation party!"

"Whoa," Rainbow waved her forelimbs, unsure of the idea. "They're still going to teach me. We're just scaling back."

"We can still celebrate!" Pinkie insisted. "C'mon, just a little party right here and now."

"'Little' huh? Right here and now? Better keep to that," Rainbow replied and folded her forelimbs. "Make it short," she ordered.

Pinkie giggled. "If you insist." She bounced away to return with drinks and balloons.

Rarity made a brief departure to return with a real cap and gown at her boutique that she loaned Rainbow Dash.

The swift party started and ended, as the entire group knew that it was a tangent from their usual meeting.

Back to business, Starlight Glimmer concluded her turn.

"Segunda, number two."

"We had a lovely time in Cloudsdale while I showed Chrysalis and the Awesome Crusaders around. Nothing else to report here," Fluttershy answered.

"Mitria, number three."

"Mainly just more time with our resident former changeling queen. I was right. She is quite adept at sewing," Rarity said.

"Fyra, number four."

"Still turning out to be a good cook for Chrysalis. Apple Bloom's doing well too, been studying with Zecora just like you asked," Applejack informed her master.

"Quintaza, number five."

"We covered everything I've got to report with Penny already. No Chrysalis time for me since she was off in Cloudsdale with you this weekend," Pinkie Pie explained.

"Rexa, number six."

"Thanks so much for all your help with my play yesterday," Twilight Sparkle said to her friends. "It is now connected to our mev selves since we called upon our natural elements for help. That's it from me," she told the others.

"Your turn, Master," Sweetie Belle said.

"I told my parents about my being a vampire, and they were umm...proud like they always are," Rainbow hesitantly said.

Sweetie Belle and Fluttershy giggled.

The others smiled at the thought.

"I think it's time I visited Tirek again," Rainbow said, "but let's have just one other mev accompany me."

"I'd like to be the one if that's alright with you, Master," Twilight announced.

"It is," Rainbow replied with a nod of approval.

Soon, Team Awesome concluded their meeting.

Rainbow Dash decided she and Sweetie Belle should head home to give her teachers a break on the night of her sort-of graduation.





The following Wednesday afternoon was when Rainbow Dash chose to visit Tartarus.

"Master Rainbow Dash," Tirek greeted Rainbow Dash with a smile and bowed.

"Lord Tirek," Rainbow bowed in return.

He glanced over to her sole companion for the trip, Twilight Sparkle. "I see you still don't wish to see me alone."

Twilight bowed and took several steps back to create some distance.

"Yeah, seems for the best. You hungry?" Rainbow asked.

Tirek drew near her. "Yes, Master, I am," he told her plainly.

Rainbow gave it some thought, trying decide which magic to offer and chose Fluttershy. Even though they did not exchange magic the day before, they did spend some time together. She blew out a small white orb of magic, which Tirek accepted.

"Airy," he remarked. "I suppose you're here to ask about the 'friend' thing."

"Actually, I thought we could try something friends and non-friends do first," Rainbow explained. She glanced Twilight's way. The wisteria alicorn magically lifted a box out from her saddlebags and levitated it over to her master.

Rainbow took it and placed it on her back. Her eyes flashed red as she quickly enlarged Tirek's cage and teleported herself inside it to join him. She took the box Twilight gave her and set it down. "Do you like to play games?"

"I don't exactly have much opportunity, being stuck in a small cage for eternity in Tartarus," Tirek stated dryly though he was fighting to hold back a smile.

"Perhaps you would like to use this opportunity," Rainbow said and gestured at the box with a hoof. "We simply name off positions and try to remove each other's items off the board. It's called Battlecloud."

Tirek scratched at his chin thoughtfully. "I suppose since it is rather boring in here, a game would be alright."

"Before we start, I have to warn you. I can be quite competitive," Rainbow told him.

Tirek snickered. "I'm quite sure I could handle it. We aren't 'friends', remember? It would actually seem appropriate given our current status. I won't take offense."

"Alright," Rainbow grinned. "You're going down!"

Tirek chuckled. "We shall see, won't we?"





"Ha! In your face!" Rainbow Dash boasted.

Tirek put a frustrated palm to his face. "Again?" he moaned.

"Four to three. Are we upping it to best out of nine?" Rainbow asked, rubbing her hooves together in earnest. Her wings flared out with pride.

Tirek sighed and shook his head. "No, no, I think I've had enough."

The blue-feathered wings suddenly slumped. "Really?" Rainbow asked in disappointment. "Was I…?"

"You're annoying, yes, but I did myself no favor by saying it was fine," Tirek said. "I am done with losing this game."

"I could give you some tips," Rainbow offered.

"That's quite alright," Tirek said.

Rainbow scrunched up her face but started putting the pieces back in the box quietly.

"You're more of a strategist than I thought," Tirek remarked, eyeing her carefully.

Rainbow smirked to herself.

"At least when it comes to a game," Tirek added and continued eyeing her to watch her reaction.

Rainbow looked his way. "Are you insulting me or complimenting me?"

"Both," he said with a teasing smile.

"Yeah, well, you're a loser." She stuck her tongue out at him. "But hey, you lost to me, so that's understandable."

Tirek cackled in amusement. "Are you this much of a pain as a friend?"

The pegasus shrugged. "I've learned to adapt on who needs what from me," she admitted and finished putting everything away. "Of course we both know the best way for you to really answer that question."

Tirek shook his head. "It's not going to be that easy. I appreciate the food and the game, but you can't bribe me into a friendship. Just remember, it was your idea to play a game before we discussed my answer."

"The game was for us to do something together. It sounds like you didn't even have much fun, so I'll drop it—or bring a different game next time," Rainbow noted.

"Next time?" asked a surprise Tirek.

Rainbow snickered again. "If you want me to stop visiting, I will. We don't have to be friends for a visit, obviously. And I am the only creature I know of that can feed you without hurting anyone else in the process."

"You do know I don't actually need to eat magic to survive," Tirek told her. "Otherwise, I'd be dead in here by now."

"Yeah, but magic tastes good," Rainbow said. "It does taste good to you too, doesn't it?" she asked to be sure.

Tirek nodded quietly.

"So, what's it going to be Lord Tirek?" Rainbow asked him cheerfully.

"Oh, I'm sure I'll be hearing from you again soon, whether I want to or not," Tirek noted, looking away in thought.

Rainbow raised her eyebrows at that. "Really? I can stop."

"Forget it," Tirek waved her off. "Yes, another visit is fine."

"Anything else?" she further pried.

Tirek hesitated. "I think next time will be the last time," he muttered.

Rainbow blinked. "As you wish," she said with a bow before leaving.
> Chapter 91 - Frightening Test
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------



On Wednesday night, Cozy Glow glared at a letter back from Tartarus. It was from Tirek, and it did not provide her the answers she wanted from him. He told her she was wasting her time. Rainbow Dash really was a master mev who had at least two fledglings. That meant Equestria had a reserve already in place to combat a massive drain on the land's magic. Cozy knew he was holding back something though she could not imagine why. Didn't he hate Twilight and her lackeys, Rainbow Dash included?

Plus, Cozy Glow was only mostly convinced Rainbow Dash was a master mev. Princess Cadance had played the part of her victim for the Nightmare Night show, but from what Cozy Glow heard from others, the alicorn princess was known to have and use her magic the following day. As such, maybe Rainbow Dash was not a master mev—or not like the ones in the red book.

The annoyed filly fumbled through her books again, intently studying the mystical magnet section. She re-read about mevs from the book Rainbow Dash showed her. Then she looked up other artifacts that caught her interest and stopped at the sight of a dark necklace with a red gem called the Alicorn Amulet. Mystical magnet. A mev pack. She tapped a hoof thoughtfully to her chin. Then she smiled. Oh, she was so clever. Now she just needed the right time and place to enact her idea.





As Cozy busied herself with such things, the Student Six found themselves scattered from each other underground, beneath the library of the school. They had all seen Twilight Sparkle talk oddly to them and somehow magically teleport them away from each other in this strange place.

Gallus stared wearily around an enclosed space and could hear Rainbow Dash's wicked laughter somewhere above and outside from where he was. She knew he hated feeling trapped. "Why are you doing this?" he asked with evident fear in his voice. 

"I thought a late night snack would be nice. Besides, you know what you have to do, don't you Gallus?" Rainbow's voice taunted.

Gallus closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "It's a test. If there's a test, there is a way out."

"Good griffon," Rainbow's playful voice approved.

His claws reached for the lights. He figured out some lights made the place tighter while some made it expand and eventually worked his way out. He was none too pleased to not find Rainbow Dash anywhere in sight.





Elsewhere underground, Smolder flew to meet two chatting mares who were having tea together—yet again. This encounter was the second time.

A familiar sky blue rainbow-maned figure with a playful, mischievous smile descended and looked at her. "Why don't you join the party?" Rainbow teased.

Smolder looked at the pegasus and held out a scaly arm to ward off the idea. "This is so not for me."

"You sure?" Rainbow Dash questioned. "I don't know, looks like it might be fun. Maybe they could help you out."

The other mares nodded. "She's so cute and adorable," one said.

"But maybe she's afraid of being cute and adorable," the other said.

At that, the hovering pegasus chuckled. "I know what that's like. But you know, if she is scared, then I can have a little snack while I'm here." She closed her eyes with a contented smile and rubbed her stomach with a hoof.

Smolder stared up at the teacher with indignance. "No! You can't. I can do this!"

Rainbow Dash eyed her with a taunting smirk. "Prove it."





The actual Rainbow Dash was nearby but not actually underground with the students. She was lifting weights in her gym that same night when a familiar sensation gave her pause. She sensed an uptick of fear regarding herself in particular even though Blitz and Grant were her only company.

The students had to study for a test, so she knew they would not be stopping by tonight.

Grant barely counted as company, except that he responded at the same time as her mev senses were feeding her the fear in question. The idol glowed from within her saddlebag.

Rainbow Dash pulled him out and stared side to side before turning her eyes red and yellow to activate his liveliness. "What's going on? Do you know?" 

"I was hoping you could tell me, Master," Grant replied. "Something is happening to Gallus."

"I'll check it out. I have to put you away for now," Rainbow said.

"So be it, Master, but please, if I can help in any way…" Grant started to say.

"Yeah, sure. And if not...I'll bring you out once I know Gallus is safe," Rainbow informed the idol.

"Much appreciated," Grant replied. His liveliness turned off.

Rainbow placed him back in the saddlebag and dismissed Blitz. She could follow the sense of fear herself. It led her directly to the school library and eventually an open grate with glowing crystal formations branching upward and leading to a cave below. At that, the master mev smiled. "What beautiful magic," she uttered. "It's like the Tree of Harmony." She paused at a realization to herself. "Oh, maybe it is the Tree of Harmony."

"Master!" Rainbow heard Gallus' voice. He sounded one edge.

"Gallus, you're alright," Rainbow turned and greeted him with a smile.

"What's the big idea trapping us down here? I thought you gave warnings now!" he pointed at her angrily.

"Whoa, settle down," she raised her hooves defensively as she hovered. "I didn't trap you. I sensed fear of me all the way to the gym and came to investigate. Grant was worried," she explained.

"Grant?" Gallus asked.

Rainbow Dash pulled the idol out from her saddlebag. 

It glowed. "Is he alright Master?" Grant's voice asked.

Gallus' jaw fell. He had never been allowed to hear the idol talk.

"He's a little mad at me, but I think we're in a misunderstanding here," Rainbow admitted.

Before the griffon could respond and explain further, "You!" came another angry, young voice. Smolder approached the group wearing a blue dress, make up, and a tiara. "How dare you put us in here like this! Didn't you get enough out of scaring us the first time and on Nightmare Night? What, did you still have some extra changeling magic in you to be Twilight?"

"Huh?" Rainbow Dash asked. Her face scrunched up in confusion.

"I've been with her this evening, and she didn't trap any of you." Grant glowed and spoke in Rainbow's defense.

Smolder stopped in her anger and blinked in surprise. "Did Grant just...talk?"

Gallus nodded seriously.

A crackling sound emanated from above, and branches closed in further around the grate.

Rainbow Dash looked up with the two students. "I might not be having fun with your lot tonight, but the magic in this cave is," she told them. With an interested smile, she asked the pair, "Is it a game?" The playful look and tone were all too familiar to the two students there.

They stared at her in confused shock, then each shook their heads to snap themselves out of it.

"It's a test," Gallus explained.

"Did you see any of our friends up there?" Smolder asked her.

"Nope, the library was empty," Rainbow Dash informed them.

"We better go find them," Gallus suggested. "Unless of course, you can fix this all up for us Master."

The nearby crystal branches glowed in response to the suggestion.

"That's cheating," Rainbow translated, again with a playful smile. "Go ahead. Grant and I will stay here in case they come back. I'm sure at least that much would be alright."

Gallus and Smolder nodded and left.





After a short period of time passed, Gallus returned with Silverstream.

"Master! Did you set up the test?" Silverstream asked with keen interest.

"Ha, I wish," Rainbow admitted freely. "It's so intense! And the fear…" She licked her lips.

They all sensed Ocellus and Smolder approach.

"Where are Yona and Sandbar?" Silverstream asked them.

"The way out is closing!" Gallus alerted the group.

"Master, what are you doing here?" Ocellus asked.

"Well, I originally came to investigate, but now, I'm just eating. Hope ya'll don't mind," Rainbow said and rubbed her stomach.

"No time for all this, we aren't leaving without those two." Smolder gestured toward where she hoped they were in another part of the cave.

They all heard a sound approach and soon Yona's voice as well. She greeted them, "Yona find you guys!" She gasped. "And Master." There was a notable amount of spiders with her.

The other students recoiled from those spiders though Silverstream calmed herself enough to respond, "Hey, Yona. Who's your spider army?"

"Yona always scared of spiders but then Yona meet Spindle!" Yona held out a hoof and showed them one of the spiders up close.

The other students leaned in and heard the spider squeak.

"Yona realize no reason to be afraid! Spiders and yak friends!" Yona declared. "So Yona ask new friends for help finding old friends!"

"Do you think your new friends can help us find Sandbar?" Gallus asked.

Spindle gestured in a direction, and the five students soon followed.

Rainbow Dash trailed them since Sandbar was the last of the group.

When they arrived, they saw Sandbar pointing at an illusion of Rarity and Rainbow Dash, telling them off. "If I have to give up on them to make you proud, then you aren't the ponies I thought you were. I don't care if I disappoint you. You disappoint me."

The fake Rarity and Rainbow Dash smiled and disappeared in a flash.

"So even though you can't be copied by changeling magic, an illusion of you can be made?" Ocellus asked the real Rainbow Dash.

"I think it would depend on the source," Rainbow informed her. "I'm pretty sure this magic is from the Tree of Harmony, which is linked to the land, which is the source of my power. We got it all sorted, so it's not like I mind either. I'm sure the tree's counting on that."

"Come on, we need to get out of here!" Smolder reminded everyone.

The group hurried to the enclosing crystals.

Sandbar led and couldn't get out.

"Now can you help us?!" a desperate Gallus asked Rainbow Dash.

Just then, a purple glow caught the group's attention. It was an image of Twilight glowing and sparkling all over. She levitated in the air but was not flapping her wings. She smiled. "Master, how kind of you to join us this evening."

"Ah, you must be the Tree of Harmony—or something like that. We'll go with Twilight Tree. It is a pleasure to meet you in a way we can talk to each other verbally," Rainbow said, putting a forelimb to her chest and politely bowing in a hover.

Twilight Tree giggled. "Same."

Silverstream pointed and asked in her own hover, "The Tree of Harmony turned into a sparkly version of our headmare to talk to us? Did I miss a chapter in class?"

"Yup," Rainbow declared proudly, folding her forelimbs. "It was Magic is Mysterious last Tuesday."

Silverstream gasped in horror and shame.

Gallus nudged the young hippogriff with an elbow. "She's just messing with you."

Rainbow Dash winked. "Gotcha."

All the students laughed, Silverstream included.

After the laughter died down, the Twilight image informed them all, "Like all living things, I change as I grow. As I have grown, so have my abilities."

"I'm a bit rusty on Pony history, but since when does the Tree of Harmony trap creatures in a cave with their biggest fears?" Gallus asked, his anger renewed from earlier accusations on Rainbow Dash.

"You chose what you saw in my roots, not me," Twilight Tree told him.

Sandbar gasped with a realization as he told the others, "Our friendship got us past our fears!"

Twilight Tree nodded and continued, "You were more concerned with each other's well being than your own. You were strong when your friends were weak. You let each other in and showed that you would be there for each other, no matter what." She spread her wings wide and declared strongly, "Friendship is in your nature."

With a whooshing sound, the crystal branches retreated, allowing for enough room for the students to make their exit. The vision of Twilight was gone.

"That's your cue," Rainbow Dash told them.

They began to leave, but Gallus noticed the master mev was not following them. "Aren't you coming, Master?" he asked her.

"Not yet," Rainbow told him. She passed him Grant. "You can chat it up a little longer if you want until I'm back. Take care of him."

"Sure, thanks," Gallus agreed with a smile and departed.

Rainbow Dash stood alone.

A pony figure glowed and materialized in the form of Fluttershy.

Rainbow blushed and stroked the back of her mane bashfully. "Cute." She scanned the cave walls. "So...you've grown this much, huh?"

Fluttershy Tree nodded pleasantly.

"Did you uh...are you...why I am what I am?" Rainbow Dash asked her.

Fluttershy Tree nodded. "I had a say in the matter, yes."

"Look, I don't mind, I love being a master mev, but is there a reason you didn't just ask or offer or whatever with this kind of ability?" Rainbow pondered aloud and gestured at the vision with a forelimb.

"I couldn't back then. My projection and imitation powers stem from the mean pony copies you brought to me," Fluttershy Tree explained. "If you recall, we did not speak verbally then either. The magic has had time to develop further."

"Oh, right," Rainbow replied. "That's kinda cool. Do you have a visiting hours policy? If Twilight knew about this, she'd come here with a million questions and fill up lots of books with your answers and so on."

"I would like to keep some mystery. Tell her I will do my part to protect Equestria and will appear when I see fit," Fluttershy Tree offered. "The same goes to you, of course."

Rainbow nodded. "Of course. Sure, I get that. Thanks then. It really was really cool to meet you in a way we can talk to each other."

Fluttershy Tree smiled sweetly in response. "I agree. I am glad you are enjoying your calling. Keep up the awesome work, Master Rainbow Dash. Now...farewell."

"Farewell Fluttershy Tree," Rainbow said with a modest smile.

She flew upward to find six tired students excitedly telling the idol of Boreas about their test. They were nearly finished with the tale, and Smolder yawned.

"We can't go to sleep now," Sandbar said. "We'll miss the test."

"The test! I nearly forgot," Gallus realized.

"Whatever do you mean?" Grant asked. "You just told me about it. You all passed beautifully."

"No, he means the other test. The one from the real Headmare Twilight we're supposed to have today," Silverstream informed the idol with a sleepy voice.

"Master, what is happening to them?" Grant wondered.

"They're just tired and falling asleep," Rainbow explained. "Don't worry kids. I got this. I'll explain to Twilight what happened and get you an extension."

"Oh, thank you Master," Silverstream said, closing her eyes and resting her head on her arms.

"Time to go back to your usual state, Grant," Rainbow informed the idol as she took it from Gallus.

"Very well," Grant consented with a whisper.

She put him in her saddlebag and sat on her haunches for a moment to smile and admire the scene. She exhaled and questioned to herself if she should just leave them there or put them in bed. Rainbow Dash didn't have to ponder long as she sensed another presence approach. Her head turned, and Cozy Glow gasped in a strange startle, backing away.

"Surprised to see me?" Rainbow asked with a mischievous smile.

Cozy Glow nodded nervously. She gathered her thoughts quickly and told Rainbow Dash, "I just went to get my notes to help them out, and was trying to find a certain one, then got distracted by a bunch of others and caught up in some stuff. I lost track of time, and when I got here, I saw you. I just can't believe you looked right at me just as I got here. To be honest, it was kind of creepy...like you really are a vampire."

Rainbow Dash chuckled and replied, "Cool," taking the remark as a compliment.

"Say, why are you here anyway?" Cozy wondered.

Rainbow Dash stretched for a moment. "Research," was all she answered. "Think you can help me get these six to their rooms?"

Cozy nodded. "Did something happen to them?"

"Adventure! Friendship! Awesomeness!" Rainbow joyfully declared and added, "With a dashing taste of fear on the side."

The filly with her chuckled. "Professor Dash, you say the strangest things."

"I get a little weird sometimes, especially at night," Rainbow Dash freely admitted. 

To the surprise of them both, they heard the library door open and in walked Sweetie Belle.

"Oh hi," the young assistant greeted the pair with a smile. "I'm just grabbing some books for....whoa, what happened?" She saw the group of sleeping students on the floor.

"A story for later," Rainbow told her. "However, you've got good timing. Cozy was about to help me get these kids to bed. I could use your help too. I think I can get everyone but Yona. Is your magic strong enough for her?"

Sweetie Belle blushed. Her magic had grown stronger the past several weeks, as she had hoped in being the master mev's assistant. "Yes, Rainbow Dash, it is."

"Awesome, let's do this. Get my saddlebags too, will you? Cozy, help me get Ocellus, Smolder, and Sandbar on my back."

Cozy did as Rainbow instructed. Rainbow grabbed Gallus and Silverstream, one with each forelimb.

"I do believe five is my limit," Rainbow Dash admitted.

"You're really that strong?" Cozy asked at the sight of Rainbow Dash carrying five sleeping creatures.

"Heh heh, a hero's got to train, you know," Rainbow replied as she smiled between strained breaths. 

Meanwhile, Sweetie Belle had taken the saddlebags and magically lifted Yona. "See ya Cozy. Take care."

"Yeah, see ya Cozy Glow," Rainbow added.

"See ya," Cozy Glow replied. She politely waved them off.

After they left, she returned to where she had found the entire group, trying to piece together just what had happened while she was gone. It all sounded very intriguing. A curious glow from the grate caught her eye. She approached and scanned it. Then her lips curled into a small smile.
> Chapter 92 - Interference
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Early Monday morning, before the sun had even risen, Cozy Glow studied her chalk drawing of the Alicorn Amulet. Her plan was two-fold. She would try for the drain, just in case Rainbow Dash was not really a master mev or not really immune to this kind of magic. Even if there were truly a pack of mevs who lived in Ponyville, she might still manage to properly delay and distract them. The original idea of taking away all unicorn magic would remain intact. She could take advantage of the pony students' unease, point the blame to the initially unaffected non-pony students and be regarded as a leading, guiding force, an Empress of Friendship.

If the mevs did interfere, they were in store for a surprise. The magnet would summon the amulet instead. It would be drawn to Cozy as the one who cast the summon. Only Rainbow Dash among them could hope to stand up against the dangerous object. Cozy was confident in her own cleverness. She could outwit the master mev. Rainbow was known mostly for speed, which wouldn't amount to much in the face of the amulet's magic. It would overwhelm and overpower all her friends, based on what Cozy knew of Trixie using it.

The scheming filly placed the magical artifacts Celestia donated the school in a circle surrounding her drawing.

She completed another drawing surrounding the one of the amulet.

"There. Everything is ready," she proclaimed with a small smile to herself.

A small orb of teal energy appeared. To her surprise, it flashed red momentarily. The amulet outline glowed red too and then seemed to mold into the ground, disappearing into the bedrock. Cozy tapped a hoof to her chin thoughtfully and waited to see if the drain was skipping straight to the summon since it was quite likely the red flash was related to the fact the gem in the amulet was red. The orb remained teal after the flash.

She decided to stay for a few extra minutes to see if the red flashed again.

It didn't.

She sighed quietly to herself. "I suppose it won't be too much longer," she murmured to the air. "I'll check back on you every hour or so, just in case. We are possibly dealing with mevs after all."

Indeed, the presence of Team Awesome and the magnet taking place on their home turf slowed the drain down considerably. The morning passed without a hitch.





"Lunch is ready, Your Highness," a servant pony of the Crystal Empire told Princess Cadance at noon.

The pink alicorn flew up from her throne and descended to the long red carpet leading to and from her former seat. She paused in her trek and contemplatively made her way to the Crystal Heart. There, she watched it spin once. It radiated out a glowing red circle encasing the empire in a translucent red force-field.

Cadance stared at it with intense scrutiny. Shining Armor and Sunburst, having been informed of her detour approached to look at the heart as well. Flurry Heart watched the entire thing in quiet confusion with them, clutched in her father's grip.

"What is it?" Shining Armor asked.

Adjusting his glasses, Sunburst looked at the heart, then out and up to the red force-field surrounding the entire Crystal Empire. "Protection of some kind but from what?"

"I'm not sure," Cadance admitted, "but I'm going to Equestria immediately to see if Rainbow Dash knows anything."

The other two nodded in agreement with that plan. Flurry Heart reached out for her mother. Cadance approached and looked on her daughter with a sincere gaze. "Mommy has to go somewhere, but I'll be back as soon as I can. Promise."

The tiny foal frowned, a tear forming in her eyes, but her protest went no further as she received an affectionate nuzzle. She clung to her father afterwards and watched as Cadance teleported away in a flash.





As Cozy Glow had taken six magical objects from a chest at the School of Friendship, Sweetie Belle had been caring for another six magical objects in the white trunk Rainbow Dash gave her. They were Pearl from Seaquestria, Amara from the Crystal Empire, Grant from Griffonstone, Jasper from the Dragon Lands, Ida from the Changeling Kingdom, and Anat from Yakyakistan. The Crystal Empire was a kingdom linked closely with Equestria.

Sweetie Belle would check the trunk often and once learning they had friendship among each other and liveliness if activated, she would talk to them. She drew them for practice. She lifted them with her magic. They could feel her, and they knew her. This was especially true for Pearl and Amara, just as they knew they all had a trace of mev magic thanks to Rainbow Dash.

So, when Sweetie Belle's unicorn non-mev magic began to drain, Amara felt it first. She was the first to be named among them and hailed from a land of ponies, knowing unicorn magic from Cadance too. 

Tucked away in the chest with the others, Amara spun in her invincible case and shook up and down to alert the other objects of what she sensed and what she did, to advise they protect their respective original homes. The mystical magnet Cozy setup was finally at work and absorbing unicorn magic in Ponyville. Amara did not know Cozy Glow in any way, but she knew enough to sense the draining magic and that with enough time, other creatures were at risk.





Deep within Seaquestria, the Magic Pearl radiated the same red glowing circle outward from itself that the Crystal Heart in the Crystal Empire did. That caught the attention of the sea ponies residing within. Princess Skystar was among them, having felt a sudden curiosity to check in on it anyway.

"What was that?" Skystar uttered. She swallowed nervously and swam up to the surface. She was shocked to see a large translucent red force-field surrounding both Mount Aris and Seaquestria. She immediately turned herself into a hippogriff and flew to the throne room.  "Mom! Mom! Did you see? Do you know what that is?"

Queen Novo followed her daughter to finding a nearby window. Her mouth fell open.

"Is that a bad thing or a good thing? It came from the Pearl!" Skystar explained.

"Not just the Pearl…" Queen Novo informed her daughter. "I'm afraid its both. Something is preparing to disrupt the magic across the world, but that my daughter, that is the Master Mev's protection for us. Remember, she took a tiny piece of pearl with her and scouted our kingdom."

"So what do we do?" Skystar asked.

Queen Novo sighed. "For now, wee wait."

"Well, we gotta tell her, don't we?" Skystar said. "What if she doesn't know?"

"She'll find out soon enough," Novo told her daughter. "Of that, I am quite certain."





Gilda watched with a truly perplexed expression at red gusts of wind flowing from the Abysmal Abyss. They merged into forming a translucent force-field surrounding Griffonstone. "Rainbow Dash, what is going on?" she uttered to herself.

Gabby approached. "What is that thing?" she asked.

Gilda shook her head. "I don't know, but something tells me it has to do with Rainbow Dash and when she was here to get the idol of Boreas."

The other griffon blinked. "She has it?" Gabby whispered in shock. "When did that happen? How did she get it?"

Gilda held up a clawed hand to shush Gabby. "None of that matters. The point is, yeah, she does."

"Please tell me. Please please please," Gabby begged.

Grampa Gruff coughed as he arrived at the scene. "That mev wouldn't tell us much, but it wasn't long ago. She has it with Gilda's...approval."

Gilda nodded quietly with closed eyes in confirmation.

"Oh, okay," Gabby replied and put at ease. 

Gilda paced trying to think of what to do and remembered the story about a magic-eating centaur. If he was out there, the safest place for the three of them was still here in Griffonstone. That was the point of calling the mev thing a job after all. Losing flight magic if they left the field's protection would rather defeat the point.

"What do we do?" Gabby asked.

Gilda sighed. "Let's stay put for now. If it's not gone by tomorrow, we'll set out. Give Dash some time to handle it."

Gabby nodded. "Yeah, okay, that sounds like a good plan."

Grampa Gruff coughed but his lack of protest was understood for agreement.





Ember watched as the Bloodstone Scepter she held radiated out a red glowing circle through the Dragon Lands. She flew out to an open area and stared at a sudden giant red force-field. "That's...odd," she commented aloud to herself. She went to find a scroll and ink, so she could send off a letter to ask Spike what it could mean.

To her surprise,  her father, Torch, flew in and approached. "Dad!"

"Ah, Ember, good, I found you," Torch said. "Send word to Master Rainbow Dash right away to tell her about the force-field that just went up. It must be a warning from Jasper since our magic here is perfectly intact."

Ember nodded. "Okay, yeah...sure," the younger dragon agreed with a quiet nod at this information. She wasn't too far off from what he advised, at least.





Thorax blinked quietly from his seat at an ongoing play at the hive for the Changeling Kingdom. Curious, he stood up quietly and made his way to the mirror linked to Ida. A few interested changelings followed their silent king. Thorax made it just in time to see the mirror swoosh out a glowing red circle.  Everyone looked at their surroundings to see the red force-field in place.

"Is something wrong with Master Rainbow Dash?" one timidly asked.

"I certainly hope not," Thorax uttered

"What do we do?" asked another changeling.

"All of you are going to stay here. I'm going to Equestria," Thorax announced.

They nodded solemnly in acceptance of his decision.





Multiple yaks paused in their swaying of a song after their hearty lunch at the realization that their music player stopped. Prince Rutherford lifted his bangs just in time to see the same glowing red circle spread across his kindgom.

"What that mean?" one yak asked.

"Magic problem," Rutherford noted, blowing his bangs upward in contemplation.

"Should yaks do anything?" another yak asked.

Rutherford shook his head. "No. Team Awesome handle it. Yaks not need much magic, and force-field protect us now. We go tomorrow if force-field not gone then."

The other yaks nodded in agreement and went back to swaying as the music turned back on soon after.





Sweetie Belle was with Rarity, helping her older sister teach. The younger unicorn was the acting assistant for the class. The stack of sample patterns she levitated with her magic suddenly fell from her grip and gently descended to the floor. She tried to pick them up again by using her horn, and nothing happened.

Rarity took notice of the fallen patterns. "Sweetie Belle, are you going to stare at them all day?"

Sweetie looked up at Rarity and told her sister, "I can't pick them up with my magic all of a sudden."

Another unicorn in class raised their hoof and offered in support, "I can't lift my needle with my magic all of a sudden either."

Rarity quickly picked up the fallen patterns and set them aside. There was only one other unicorn in the class, so she asked that unicorn to lift a small piece of fabric. The one she asked could not do it.

"How come your magic works bur ours doesn't?" a student asked.

Rarity stood in thought for a moment. "We'd best go see Rainbow Dash right away," she told the unicorn students. "Sweetie, come along. No doubt Rainbow could still use your assistance. I trust the rest of you can handle the assignment for now?"

"Yona can," Yona announced firmly.

The other students nodded and murmured in agreement.

Rarity led the two unicorn students and Sweetie Belle to Rainbow Dash's gym. As expected, that class was playing a game. None of the students were unicorns and even if they were, Rainbow's games tended to require flying or running and certainly not unicorn magic.

Rarity cleared her throat to catch the master mev's attention.

Rainbow heard her. "Time out, everyone," she instructed her students and flew down. "Mitria, they are too young," she teased with a playful wink.

"Haha, very funny, Master, but there is indeed a reason I bring you these unicorns. Their magic has stopped working," Rarity explained. "Sweetie Belle's too."

The younger white unicorn nodded solemnly at that.

"Really now?" Rainbow asked, quite intrigued.

The other two unicorns nodded to confirm.

She sniffed them. "You're drained," the master mev noted. She sniffed Sweetie next. "You're not as depleted. My magic's still in there."

Sweetie Belle looked up at Rainbow Dash hopefully. "Does that mean I can use magic as your servant?"

"Try it. I order you to lift one of those balls," Rainbow said with a gesturing forelimb to a basket full of red balls.

Rhezenda obeyed and succeeded. Her magic aura was red as she did.

All of the students began to chatter in awe.

"How are we drained?" one of the unicorn students Rarity brought asked Rainbow Dash.

"I'm not sure yet," Rainbow Dash admitted. "We can rule me out since I can't bite kids or eat during the day without permission," She studied the sample victims closely. "Eyes and cutie marks look the way they should, so it wasn't Tirek. He's still in Tartarus." She paused for a moment, thinking back to when she last saw him. He told her he would be seeing her if he wanted to or not. Did he know something? She examined the horns. "I'm going to touch each of your horns to check something," she warned the two students.

They nodded in nervous agreement. She ran her feathered wings along the edges of each unicorn horn. Each student found it a surprising pleasure and did their best to hide this fact given the severity of the situation.

"No invisible dampening rings. I better scan the school," Rainbow Dash decided. Looking for invisible disabling machines was a stretch, but the commonality for the troubled unicorn pair and Sweetie Belle was their location.

Galloping hooves and the slamming of a rushed open door could be heard with a forceful lilac forelimb seen preceding its lilac owner.  "Master, three unicorn students have come to me to tell me their magic stopped working," Starlight Glimmer announced in panic as she arrived at the gym. She stopped at seeing the other unicorns already present.

Twilight Sparkle came in shortly after with a more subdued rush in her movement. "Rainbow Dash, Spike was barely able to get two letters out, one to me and one to you. Something's wrong with his ability to receive mail. The one for me is that we are being called to an emergency meeting in Canterlot." She magically guided the other letter from Ember.

Rainbow Dash read it. "Wow," she uttered.

"What is it?" Twilight asked with worried anticipation.

"Well, it's good news and bad news," Rainbow informed her. "The good news is the Dragon Lands got a force-field that they think is thanks to our visit. The bad news is that's all they know."

"Probably related to whatever is draining unicorn magic here—as well as Spike," Rarity suggested.

The other mevs nodded with silent agreement on that theory.

"Hopefully Celestia can shed some light on this at the meeting," Twilight remarked.

Cozy Glow stood at Twilight's side and poked her head out. "Didn't we learn about another magic-eating creature in class?" she asked them. "Tire…" she pretended to struggle to remember his name.

"Tirek," Rarity finished for her right away., "Master has already deduced that he is not the guilty party."

"Really? How?" asked a curious Cozy Glow with slightly exaggerated innocence.

"It's my job to know this stuff," was the only explanation Rainbow Dash gave as she stared at the letter. She rolled it up and passed it to Sweetie Belle. Rainbow landed on the ground and pulled out her cell phone to send word to the other Awesomevs. "Twilight, I think we should cancel classes for today," she suggested.

Twilight nodded. "I agree wholeheartedly Rainbow. Cozy, see to it that the other students are informed. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle are probably going with us."

Rainbow silently nodded while still texting to confirm.

"Why?" Cozy wondered.

"They're needed to help Rainbow Dash for our meeting," Twilight explained.

Rainbow turned to her other students, which included Smolder and Gallus among them. "Everyone, classes are cancelled for the rest of the day. Tell the other students."

Gallus and Smolder exchanged glances.

"But I thought that was my job," Cozy said.

"Yeah, you could use a little help," Rainbow told her. "May as well get my own class to spread the word since they're right here."

Gallus approached Rainbow Dash and asked, "Professor Dash, anything else we can do to help?"

Rainbow sighed. "I'm a bit overwhelmed at the moment so stand by. I promise I will come to you if there's anything to be done."

With that, the mevs and Cozy left for Twilight's office.

Gallus gulped nervously and glanced Smolder's way.

Smolder frowned. "Come on, let's find our friends. I'm glad home is safe for now, but I'll feel better if we're all together for whatever this is."

"Yeah, I think that's best too," Gallus agreed.
> Chapter 93 - Finding the Source
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







"Throughout our city, unicorns have been reporting tales of their magic failing," Celestia announced to a large group for the emergency meeting in Canterlot. The group included Team Awesome, the Awesome Crusaders, Spike, Princess Cadance, and Thorax.

"Are there similar troubles in Ponyville?" Luna asked.

"Yes. There were numerous reports from the unicorns at our school that their magic isn't working," Twilight replied. "Plus, Spike struggled to receive two letters."

"I didn't see or sense any such problems when I left the Crystal Empire. Instead, a red force-field seemed to be generated from the Crystal Heart," Cadance explained to everyone.

"The same thing happened in the Changeling Kingdom but with our Mirror of Insight," Thorax added.

Rainbow Dash smiled to herself. "Good work, Amara," she uttered quietly.

"Master, could you explain any of this to us?" Luna asked her.

At that, the master mev nodded. "The backup copies are working better than intended," she explained. "The source must be here in Equestria, and the objects in my care are able to sense certain things here. I'm betting Amara—that's a backup we made for the Crystal Heart—shielded the Crystal Empire at the realization unicorns were losing their magic here. That force-field is keeping the magic of the unicorns there intact. The other objects must have followed suit to protect their own respective kingdoms. They are able to communicate with each other and regard each other as friends."

"But unicorns aren't in those other kingdoms," Celestia noted thoughtfully aloud.

Spike coughed and raised his arm to remind her of his own struggle.

The tall alicorn blushed and nodded.

"Can you still breathe regular fire?" Applejack asked him.

He tried it, and small puff of green flame erupted. "It's a little harder than usual but yeah," he informed her.

"Right," Rainbow noted. "Unicorn magic is prominently active magic compared to the more passive kind you'll find in other creatures. Spike's mail ability is more active too. If you think back, Tirek went after pegasi and earth ponies after he had taken a lot of unicorn magic. We suspect my own berserk would work in the same way, and I would eat unicorn magic on my own without a pack."

"You think this drain will go beyond unicorns and Spike?" Celestia asked in concern.

"If it goes unchecked and isn't found, yeah, the same thing could happen," Rainbow Dash warned.

Just then, a pegasus mail pony with a canary-colored coat and red mane entered in a rush. He saluted and told everyone, "Letter for the Princesses, from Starswirl the Bearded."

Spike quickly took it and held it in front of Celestia.

"Starswirl says exactly what you just told me, Master," Celestia informed them all.

"Rainbow Dash, do you think this is the work of Tirek?" Luna asked.

"No," she answered, "but I do think he might know something. Let me confer with my team, and we'll keep in touch," Rainbow said, giving Luna a respectful salute.

Before the group a could depart, a black portal opened, and Neighsay stepped through.

"Ah princesses, I'm glad I caught you," he said, eyeing the large group in audience. He stared at Rainbow Dash, and his eye twitched. "So, it's her, is it? This creature  has finally shown her true colors. Need I remind you what she did to me?"

Rainbow frowned at him, but Starlight reached out a hoof to touch and calm her. That was enough.

"On the contrary," Luna quickly said in Rainbow's defense. "Master here is preparing to investigate, given that this sort of thing is her delegation from our land."

"Oh?" Neighsay asked with a skeptical, raised eyebrow, followed by another twitch. "And what of the school?"

"We cancelled classes, given the severity of the situation," Twilight told him.

The chancellor glanced over at Celestia and Luna, who both nodded. "We had to cancel class here too," Celestia noted, in reference to her own magic school.

"Yes, I suppose you would," he relented. His disapproving gaze turned to Rainbow Dash. "Does your investigation include the non-pony creatures at your school?"

With a smile that betrayed her frustration at his presence, Rainbow Dash answered. "I'd love to tell you, but we really do need to get going. The longer the magic drains, the more everyone is at risk." She looked over to Celestia and Luna who each gave a subtle nod she was dismissed. "Primeva, if you would."

Starlight nodded, and the entire Team Awesome entourage was gone in a flash.

Neighsay sneered in place. He opened his portal with his medallion and left without a word to anyone else.





In the throne room of Twilight's castle, Team Awesome, Sweetie Belle, and Spike sat. As Apple Bloom and Scootaloo headed toward the door to perform their bodyguard roles, Chrysalis anxiously fluttered in. "Oh good, you're all here," she said in her darker previous default form. "Master, I am deeply concerned. My shape-shifting magic is working properly but with some extra difficulty compared to usual, and my telekinesis isn't working at all."

"Unicorns here in Ponyville and over in Canterlot are experiencing the same thing," Rainbow Dash told her.

Chrysalis blinked. "So, what are you going to do?"

"We're actually about to discuss that right now," Rainbow explained.

Chrysalis softened into a smile. "Oh, good."

Rainbow looked back at her with a guilty smile. "Sorry Chryssy, but could you...?"

"Oh of course. Excuse me then," Chrysalis said and readied to leave the throne room. "Is there a way I can help?"

"I'll have someone let you know if there is, my friend, thank you," Rainbow Dash assured her.

Chrysalis smiled again at that and left. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom closed the doors and stood as sentries outside the room.

"We need to split up," Rainbow Dash announced to all of her fledglings and Spike. "Starlight and I are going to Tartarus to talk to Tirek," she decided.

"That's a mouthful," Spike quietly commented.

Sweetie Belle, meanwhile, began her notes.

"Twilight and Fluttershy, I want you to go under the library to where I encountered the Tree of Harmony and talk to her. If there was ever a time for her to 'see fit' to appear before us, this would be a good one," Rainbow said. "If she doesn't appear there, go to the Everfree Forest and check the direct source where the Elements of Harmony are stored."

"Spike, you're with us," Twilight immediately.

"Got it," Spike replied.

"Should we call on Discord for help?" Fluttershy asked the group. "Spike and Chrysalis still have most of their magic."

"I wouldn't recommend that," Starlight warned. "This effect is very similar to Chrysalis' destroyed throne, and Discord couldn't cast any magic then."

"Yeah, but it's not like you need magic to be useful," Applejack said, folding her forelimbs.

"And you were the one who used him as a diversion," Pinkie Pie pointed out.

"Yes, but we should hardly summon him without warning him that might happen," Rarity added.

"Is that possible?" Twilight wondered.

Rainbow Dash brought out her phone dialed a Discord button she made on it.

"Master!" Discord answered. "Truly amazing! So you do have a Discord Emergency Line! I knew it!"

Rainbow smirked and asked him, "Where are you right now?"

"Just at home. Why? What sort of emergency prompts a call from you?" Discord wanted to know.

"Magic is being drained out of Equestria. We're pretty sure you would be affected if you teleported over here," Rainbow explained.

"Then why are you calling me?" he quipped.

"One, to warn you and two, in case you could help us out," Rainbow noted.

"Hmm. Well, the main draining magic I know of is Tirek of course. Have you checked on him?"

"Not yet, but I intend to get myself over there as soon as our team has finished the rest of our plan," Rainbow explained.

"I'm afraid I haven't much else to offer," Discord confessed.

"That's alright, thanks anyway. If you need to come to our dimension for any reason, try the Crystal Empire, the Dragon Lands, or the Changeling Kingdom. They have force-fields up protecting from such a drain," Rainbow explained. "Other kingdoms like Griffonstone, Mount Aris, Seaquestria, and Yakyakistan probably do as well, but those are the three I can confirm."

"Ah, duly noted, Master," Discord said as he gave a salute in thanks.

"Alright, I gotta go and work with the rest of the team. We'll catch up with you after we've fixed this mess," Rainbow said.

"Ta-ta," Discord replied and ended the call.

"Back to the plan for us," Rainbow Dash told her team, who she knew overhead the conversation well enough. "Rarity, you and the Crusaders search this castle from top to bottom. It's magic, grew from our own counter to Tirek, and hosts some magical artifacts that could be acting up."

"You can count on us," Rarity said firmly with a determined nod.

Sweetie Belle silently nodded in agreement.

"Applejack, you and Pinkie Pie station yourselves here and slowly spout out unicorn magic from our reserve to restore some into the ponies here. We can't just release a lot all at once because that won't solve the real problem. It should at least aid Ponyville and maybe even Canterlot," Rainbow explained.

"Aye aye captain," Pinkie Pie agreed with a salute.

"We got this," Applejack nodded with a confident smile.

"Let's go. Equestria is counting on us," Rainbow told them.

She outstretched a forelimb, to which her fledglings gladly reached as they all briefly touched before raising them.

"Go Team Awesome!" Pinkie Pie shouted for all of them.

In a flash, Starlight Glimmer teleported herself and Rainbow Dash away into Tartarus.





"Master Rainbow Dash," Tirek greeted with a polite bow from his cage.

"Lord Tirek," Rainbow bowed respectfully in turn. "Magic is draining out of Equestria. Do you know anything about it?"

"Maybe," he replied with a shrug.

Her eyes quickly turned red and her tone vicious. "I asked you a question. You will answer me."

Tirek strained and twitched, fighting the enchantment. "I mean it, Master, maybe."

"Explain," Rainbow commanded, her eyes returned to magenta, to Tirek's own surprise. Her tone now sounded firm but not as vicious as before.

Tirek shook off the enchantment from a moment ago to compose himself. "Not long ago, I received a letter asking me about how to drain magic, but I explained to the contact about your pack. I told them that it was a wasted effort. It would seem they ignored my warning."

"Was this before or after my last visit?" Rainbow asked him sternly.

"You know perfectly well the answer to that," Tirek replied. He stared at her in tired defeat.

She understood. It must have been before her last visit. "Who was your contact?" she asked.

"Somebody going by the name of 'Cozy Glow,'" Tirek answered. "It could be an alias for all I know."

Rainbow and Starlight looked at each other in shock, but Rainbow held up a hoof to stop Starlight from teleporting them right away.

"Anything else?" Rainbow asked.

"No," Tirek said.

Rainbow narrowed her eyes, waited for a moment, before finally saying, "Alright, let's go, Primeva."

Starlight nodded and teleported the two back into Ponyville at the entrance to the School of Friendship.





Meanwhile, Twilight Sparkle teleported herself, Spike, and Fluttershy into the library at the School of Friendship.

"Gah!" Cozy Glow screamed at the sight of them.

"Cozy Glow, are you alright?" Twilight asked in concern. "I didn't mean to startle you."

"I'm fine. What are you doing here, Headmare Sparkle?" Cozy asked as innocently as she could.

"Investigating. What are you doing here?" Twilight asked back.

"Umm, the same thing!" Cozy replied. "I thought maybe I could help out by seeing if I could find out how the magic is being drained."

"Oh perfect, so are we," Fluttershy noted with a friendly, sweet smile.

"That's great initiative," Twilight agreed. "Come on everyone."

She magically opened the grate with her horn, and the party of four descended down the crystal branches.

"Wow," Twilight stared at the area, mesmerized and near tears as she smiled.

"It is beautiful," Fluttershy agreed.

The four eventually reached the teal orb that Cozy Glow created earlier in the day. The Alicorn Amulet image was still obscured, to Cozy's own relief.

"Oh my goodness," a worried Fluttershy uttered at the sight.

"No kidding," Twilight agreed.

"What is it?" Spike asked.

"It's a mystical magnet, but how did the artifacts get here?" Twilight asked in confusion. "Cozy Glow, you were the last one to touch them."

"Last I saw, they were all safe and sound in your office," Cozy Glow lied with an innocent air and expression.

"Still, it's a good thing we found it, right?" Spike pointed out, not suspecting the filly at all. "How do we fix it?"

"We don't," Twilight told him. "We inform Master right away." She pulled out her cell phone to do exactly that.





At Twilight's castle, Rarity and the Crusaders found nothing out of the ordinary and continued their search. Applejack and Pinkie Pie were able to figure out how to spout out magic by copying how they had seen Rainbow do it at times. Pinkie Pie had whistled out Penny so as to let her friend not be disturbed while the fledgling mev worked on her assigned role. Penny could not do much but watch.





Rainbow pulled out her cell phone to receive Twilight's call. "Master, we didn't hear from the Tree of Harmony directly, but we've found the source. It's a mystical magnet created from the artifacts Celestia donated to the school." Twilight held the phone to show the mystical magnet through their video call.

"Oh wow," Rainbow uttered. "Okay, you all stay put. I need to bring in some extra help. Twilight, did you run into Cozy Glow at all when you got there?"

"Yes, she's right here with us," Twilight said and showed Cozy wave in the background.

"Did you need something from me Professor Dash?" Cozy asked innocently.

"Yeah, did you tell all the other students about classes being cancelled? Is that all taken care of?" Rainbow asked. It was the best excuse she could think of for what to say.

"Of course!" Cozy said with a cheery smile.

"Great, thanks," Rainbow replied. She needed to think fast. She did not like the idea of having either one of her fledglings being on their own by telling one to remove Cozy from the area. However, Cozy's presence was dangerous if she knew how to set up the thing in the first place. Rainbow needed to at least warn them somehow. "Twilight, switch to audio only."

Twilight looked at her surroundings to see if there was any danger. She sensed none but eventually obeyed nonetheless.

"Twilight, Cozy's the one who set up that magnet," Rainbow explained in a low voice. "Be on your guard and ready to restrain her if necessary."

Twilight thought for a moment before putting on a fake smile, "Okay, understood Master. We'll be extra careful."

Fluttershy sensed the sudden shift in Twilight's tension. The pegasus mare stared at the orb and at Cozy Glow. She gulped. Spike stood patiently, not quite grasping all that was happening. He still suspected nothing. All three of them did not overhear Rainbow's exact words.

"We'll send word to the others still searching in the castle to join all of you. Starlight and I will see you soon," Rainbow said.

"Got it," Twilight replied.

With that, the call ended.

"Should I go on ahead?" Starlight offered to Rainbow Dash. "I can help them out, just in case. I know it doesn't take long for the others to go from the castle there, but still, I would feel better about it since you and I are closer."

Rainbow thought for a moment. "Yeah, be careful Starlight. I don't know how a pegasus filly could hurt three grown mares, but if she slipped by us all this time and set that up…"

Starlight nodded. "Right. You can count on me."

"I know," Rainbow said with a gentle smile and gave her Primeva a hug. "Thanks."

Rainbow Dash pulled out her cell phone and called Sweetie Belle first. "Rhezenda, get yourself and the others to the throne room.  I'm on my way there with an update for everyone."

"Yes, Master," Sweetie Belle replied with simple obedience.

The sky blue figure turned tail and darted to the designated meeting place. Her rainbow blur trailed behind her as she did. "Fyra, Quintaza, you can stop," she told Applejack and Pinkie Pie. She knew using their titles would help draw their attention and senses to the command. They were quite focused on their task.

The two earth ponies obeyed. Penny returned in to the reserve.

Once everyone was present, Rainbow Dash explained the situation. "So, here's what we're going to do. Crusaders, you three are coming with me to my house to get Rhezenda's trunk."

"The rest of us just hop on over to the others under the library?" Applejack asked.

"Actually, I want you to make a stop at Gallus' dorm first," Rainbow told her. "Rarity, you explain the situation and say I could use their help. They've already offered, so it shouldn't take much convincing."

The other three mevs nodded.

"What exactly are we doing with so many creatures and stuff?" Scootaloo wanted to know.

"All in good time, Scoot. We need to hurry," Rainbow told her.
> Chapter 94 - Code Red
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Gallus paced about his his dorm with his five friends sitting or standing in unease. They had reluctantly agreed to stay put due to Rainbow Dash suggesting they stand by.

The group was quite surprised and mildly relieved when they heard a knock.

Gallus darted over in an instant and opened it. His eyes widened at the sight. "Professor Rarity...and...Professor Applejack—wait, where's Master?"

Rarity smiled pleasantly at him. "She has requested your help, but let me explain before we go."





Waiting by the mystical magnet, Twilight paced back and forth, her eyes occasionally darting over to Cozy Glow. Fluttershy stood in uncomfortable silence. She only had a vague sense that something was amiss. For whatever reason, Twilight could not tell her aloud. Cozy hovered, suspecting she was already suspected but acting the part of thinking they hadn't caught on to her yet.

Spike stared from Twilight to Cozy and back. He was about to ask if something was wrong, when they all heard hoof steps approach.

All four of them relaxed at the sight of Starlight Glimmer.

"Where is Master?" Fluttershy asked.

"She'll be along soon," Starlight answered. "Cozy, we're going to need you to give us some space, back up from that magnet, and put a shield around you."

"What for? I've been near the orb with the others, and I'm just fine," Cozy protested.

"While this is true, Rainbow Dash is a master mev. She has certain reactions to both children and magic," Starlight explained.

Fluttershy nodded. "I have to agree with Starlight on that."

"Yes, she has a good point," Twilight all too quickly agreed as well.

Spike raised a hand. "I can vouch for that." While Rainbow had never badly affected him in any way, he had been a witness to her effect on other kids and logged it himself as Twilight's assistant.

On cue to that exact thought, Cozy said, "But Spike's a kid too. Why not do the same for him?"

"You know, actually that's not a bad idea," Spike agreed with a nod.

Three three mevs met eyes with each other before Twilight said, "Okay, but separate shields."

Cozy gulped. She decided that the amulet would be powerful enough to still be drawn to her, and Starlight was probably telling the truth, even if an ulterior motive was driving it. "Okay…" she slowly conceded with a hint of hesitance in her tone.

Starlight cast a teal shield around Cozy Glow while Twilight cast a magenta shield around Spike.

Soon, the other fledglings arrived with the Student Six.

"Hey! You all tricked me! They're kids too, and they're here now!" Cozy pointed out angrily.

"We're not just any kids," Smolder said with a smirk as she folded her arms.

"We were specially requested," Sandbar noted.

"Friends with Master," Yona added with a firm nod.

Cozy sneered at all of them and growled.

A flash of white light, and suddenly, Rainbow Dash, the Awesome Crusaders, and Rhezenda's trunk had joined the entire group. The master mev was already wearing her crown.

"Whew," Rainbow said and wiped her brow, removing the crown from her head for a moment. She glanced around. "Alright, cool. Everyone's here," she announced to her young servants. She glanced over to Cozy Glow in a shield. "And that one's restrained, which is good."

"Seems a bit overcrowded in here," Applejack remarked.

Rainbow smiled. "True enough. Crusaders, I want you all to take Spike upstairs. Guard our exit and entrance.

"What about her?" Apple Bloom asked, pointing to Cozy Glow.

Rainbow Dash rubbed a hoof to her chin thoughtfully and glanced at Starlight.

"The shield should stay near me," Starlight explained, "so at least one of them should stand guard over her." She approached closer to Rainbow Dash and whispered. "It will probably de-activate with whatever we're about to do, right?"

Rainbow nodded. "Yeah."

"I'll do it," Scootaloo volunteered. She could probably fly if things took a turn for the worse since it would be in service to the master mev.

"Yeah, that sounds good," Rainbow Dash noted the approval.

Instantly, the Crusaders took on their mare forms. They exchanged glances among themselves and nodded, each ready to do her part. Twilight released her shield over Spike. He, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom left the area to watch over the entrance from the school library.

Starlight was able to move her shield and Cozy Glow a fair distance while Scootaloo followed and positioned herself to stand guard.

"Alright, kids, you set yourselves up next to the item from your kingdom—and don't touch it yet," the master mev instructed.

The students followed those instructions.

"Awesomevs..." Rainbow Dash said. She pulled out Pearl first, then passed the object to Twilight, who took it into her magical grip.

The master mev took out Amara, glanced over to Applejack, and passed it to her fourth fledgling. "Stay right there for now. We'll sort this one out soon."

Applejack nodded.

Next was Grant. Rainbow Dash passed him to Fluttershy. The yellow pegasus made her way to Gallus.

The master mev passed Jasper over to Rarity, who then worked her way over to Smolder.

Rainbow Dash pulled out Ida and squinted thoughtfully. "No..." she decided and put Ida right back. Fluttershy had eaten magic from both Grant and Ida, so the changeling magic needed to connect with something else that another mev ate from, and they had something still indirectly connected to Ida. "Starlight, get out your phone."

Starlight nodded. She understood her master's thought process and stood next to Ocellus.

Rainbow Dash passed Anat over to Pinkie Pie. The pink pony gave a quick bounce in place and joined Yona.

"That leaves whoever goes with Sandbar and the cloak from Clover the Clever I think," Applejack noted. "Does the Crystal Empire count as Equestria?"

"It should," Twilight announced. "They were good enough to host the games, and we are connected by friendship."

"It's gonna have to," Rainbow Dash agreed. "Jin and I need to be at the center. I could try taking the cloak with us, but I think you being there is the better way."

Applejack nodded and took up her position by Sandbar and the cloak.

"Alright, Student Six. Each of these objects causing the drain is devoid of mev magic. My fledglings have ones with traces of our own from our visits over the past few months. Touch the hoof of the fledgling with you, then the object linked to this drain. Expect feedback. We're here to help act as a buffer, but this is a very, very strong concentration of power. It is going to explode, so we're mitigating damage here. We'll take a hit, but we can manage."

"Before or after you do something?" Smolder wished to know.

"After," Rainbow Dash announced. "All of you be ready. This process might knock me out, so I'm counting on you to handle whatever happens next."

"You can count on us, Master," Starlight said for everyone.

Typically, a magnet such as the one present could imprison a pony, but master mevs were immune to drainage and most magic that could be cast. As a central point of the designated reserve, Rainbow Dash was confident that her powers were perfectly suited to this exact task.

There was one niggling problem, but there wasn't much to be done about it. Cozy Glow was obviously quite clever, so the hole in her plan of ignoring Tirek's warning and doing it anyway had to mean something. Whatever that something was, Equestria needed its magic back, and this method was still necessary to do so. Rainbow had her fledglings ready to take on whatever challenge awaited them on the next phase of this scheme.

"Alright, Jin," she said quietly and took a small breath. "Let's do this."

The crown glowed with a mix of gold and red for a moment in agreement.

The Master Mev flew up into the orb and hovered safely.

Gallus, Ocellus, Sandbar, Silverstream, Smolder, and Yona followed the instructions she gave them a moment ago, touching the hoof of a fledgling and then the relevant artifact to their homeland.

Each of the artifacts touched by a student shot a white jagged beam of light, granted magic from the fledglings and the other artifacts held by the mevs.

The beams concentrated on the large orb of collected magic before a shockwave of blinding white light shot outward. The shockwave reached all of Equestria, restoring magic to the relief of many unicorns. The red force-fields in the other five kingdoms flickered away to the relief of their inhabitants, undoubtedly aided by the artifacts held by the fledgling mevs.

The fledglings were focused on their master as they saw her start to fall and lose consciousness. Scootaloo resisted the urge to leave her post as she saw Twilight catch Rainbow Dash in a telekinetic grip. The magic guided the body to safely land on the ground in front of the alicorn mev. Thankfully, Rainbow's prior instructions allowed this bypass of her immunity. Twilight kept careful watch that the crown was still intact and on Rainbow's head.

The students collectively wiped their brows. Though their task had been simple, the magic did give them a jolting shock, as they had been warned. They assured a concerned Fluttershy that they were okay from the impact all the same.

The shield around Cozy Glow had disappeared as Starlight Glimmer expected might happen. The first fledgling was about to rectify that, but she was soon distracted.

Red magic lifted out from the chalk drawing on the ground that was no longer obscured, and the Alicorn Amulet quickly coalesced into solidity.

"No!" Twilight, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie exclaimed.

"It can't be," Applejack muttered.

"Primeva," Fluttershy murmured in fear.

Primeva Starlight Glimmer's jaw dropped momentarily before she turned her attention back to Cozy Glow and quickly re-cast her shield with a determined expression.

Cozy grinned evilly from within that shield, reaching her forelimb out, still ready to accept the amulet's power. It had to come soon.

The ground shook, throwing everyone off-balance.





Up in the library, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Spike waited.

"Something's wrong," Sweetie Belle suddenly uttered in realization.

The other two looked at her inquisitively.

Rhezenda gulped. "We need to get back in there. Now."

She spoke with such urgency and knowing of her stronger connection to Rainbow Dash, the other two simply nodded and followed.





Starlight quickly teleported over to Rainbow's body and shot a blast of magic at the amulet, but the amulet seemed to have a desire and life of its own with all the magic that had been charged to summon it. The powerful object dodged with ease.

Scootaloo glanced between it and Cozy Glow. The bodyguard spread her wings wide and stood firm, facing the thing with a quick glance to the filly in the shield.

Starlight next tried to grab the amulet with her magic, only to receive an electric shock in response. That was enough for her to lose her grip on the shield containing Cozy Glow again.

At that, Scootaloo immediately turned around and held Cozy Glow tight, as if to hug her.

Twilight repeated the attempt Starlight did of trying to grab the amulet with her magic. She was met with the same result of an electric shock. It could not be held.

The amulet wanted only the Master Mev.

Cozy struggled within Scootaloo's grip. "Let me go! It's mine! I summoned it! Me!"

"Come on, we need to get that thing out of here," Applejack told the others.

Fluttershy nodded in determination and flew off to try and grab the amulet but upon contact, she immediately sensed it burn her hoof. The sensation startled her enough to drop it. "Tch," she hissed in pain.

Pinkie Pie furrowed her brow and swiped for the amulet as well, soon feeling the same burn as Fluttershy. She focused all her energy on holding tight and felt the ice within the reserve, thanks to Penny. It cooled the touch some, but it still did little good. She was soon met with an electric shock Twilight and Starlight felt when contacting it with their unicorn magic.

The pink fledgling ended up throwing it into the air, and Applejack caught it in her mouth but spit out just as quickly. Instead of burning hear, it had felt far too cold.

The students nearby were still dazed and busily recovering themselves from the small earthquake that threw them off-balance.

Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Spike arrived. The white unicorn among them gasped at the sight, immediately recognizing the amulet. Starlight had made sure Sweetie Belle knew its shape. 

Cozy bit Scootaloo in the arm to escape and flew to grab the necklace. It burned her to the touch, but she endured as she placed it around her neck as fast as she could.

"Yes! Hahahaha!" She laughed a hearty wicked laugh, but it didn't last long. She started to twitch. She tried to compose herself and fight off a strange, gnawing sensation that suggested she remove the necklace and give it to Rainbow Dash. "I am the most powerful being in all Equestria!" Cozy declared. Wicked magic coursed through her veins. She involuntarily twitched again and grabbed at her neck like she was choking. "S-stop it."

"Cozy, you need to take that necklace off right now," Starlight warned her sternly.

Sweetie Belle ran to Starlight's side. "Listen to her Cozy Glow. That thing is nothing but trouble. You might think you're using it, but it's using you."

The other fledglings, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Spike rushed over to Rainbow's body to try and move her only to find themselves blocked by a red translucent bubble that only became visible when they drew near.

"Master!" Scootaloo exclaimed among them, helplessly knocking her hooves against the bubble. Soon, the bubble got annoyed enough with her that it shoved the bodyguard away with a powerful zap of magic.

"Scootaloo!" Apple Bloom rushed to her friend's side.

"Ha! Why would I do a thing like that?" Cozy Glow asked, grinning, soon followed by another twitch and gripping sensation on her neck.

"Because I'm sure you can sense it too," Starlight said in trepidation. "That amulet doesn't want you. It wants Rainbow Dash."

"I'm the one who summoned it! It's drawn to me!" Cozy argued. Her mind warped and hubris filling her, she proclaimed, "If she's the problem, I'll just have to blast her to oblivion. She's not immune to everything!"

"No, Cozy, don't!" Starlight yelled, but the massive blast was on its way. It ricocheted from Rainbow's invulnerable body, directly back at Cozy Glow.

The young filly's eyes widened in horror as the blast knocked her back into Gallus and Yona. While they had mostly recovered, they did not really understand the panicked nature of the fledglings or the strange magical amulet. All three fell over and were knocked down to the ground.

The act was enough for the amulet to free itself from Cozy's neck and quickly fly toward Rainbow Dash. In a flash, it was on the master mev's neck instead.

Rainbow blinked her eyes and finally started to awaken. "Oh," she rubbed her head in uncertainty.

Everyone stared and waited with baited breath. The fledgling mevs, Sweetie Belle, and Spike hoped strongly that Rainbow was somehow wrong about what the thing could do to her and that her usual immunity would kick in. After all, she had just deflected that blast from Cozy Glow. Rainbow hissed, and the entire group felt a strong pulse beat into the air, hitting them in their cores all at once.

"Master, please, get that thing off of you," Starlight pleaded in a desperate whisper.

The amulet solved the matter for Starlight itself, shattering immediately. The pieces fell to the ground, and a red mist curled its way up toward the mev's mouth, entering with ease.

"Jin..." Starlight uttered. She had to be ready with how things were going. It was not looking good.

Jin managed to flash himself off from Rainbow's head and onto Starlight's hoof. The unicorn gulped but immediately gave him to Sweetie Belle, who tucked him away into her pocket dimension.

Rainbow Dash could not reply. Her body was transforming for the berserk and more slowly than usual. Her feathered wings blinked between their usual state and their bat wing counter parts. Her fangs visibly grew through strained breaths. Her red eyes stared at no one just yet as they hid behind closed eyelids.

To everyone's surprise, including the fledglings, Rainbow Dash's sky blue fuzzy coat turned scaly. Her tail flickered between its usual rainbow hairs and a scaly one with fins. Her hooves were slowly turning into hands that would soon grow claws.

"That's her dragon form," Spike noted quietly.

Smolder looked from him to her. "But...something's not right about it."

Spike gulped. "It's the berserk."

Rainbow groaned. "Primeva…" she whimpered. "It's happening. I'm so hungry," she said desperately. She started to laugh and cackle. "So, so hungry."

Starlight swallowed. She didn't need to see anymore. "Code Red, Rexa," she uttered.

Twilight nodded and teleported everyone she could into the Canterlot throne room. "Is everyone okay?" she asked while doing a head count.

They took stock among themselves and realized at least one of them was missing.

"Where's Cozy Glow?" Spike asked.

The fledgling mevs looked at each other as they quietly contemplated the answer together.
> Chapter 95 - Berserk
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Chrysalis nervously paced alone in her room. Team Awesome had left but at least let her know they had a plan and work to do. She had felt her magic return, but they still weren't back yet. She walked up to a window and peeked outside just in time to see the sky turn dark. It was still afternoon, and there was no moon out. 

She sensed that something must have gone wrong and scowled. "Oh, now what has happened?" she muttered to herself irritably and returned to pacing.





Below the library, it was just Cozy Glow and the master mev turning berserk—in a dragon form at that.

The filly of the pair gulped nervously as it seemed the transformation had finished. The dragon opened her enchanting vampire red eyes, searching and finding a target.

"Child?" Rainbow Dash asked in a scratchy voice, bordering on disappointment at first, recognizing the form before her as a child before grasping the form was a known entity with a name. Then the vampire broke into a wicked grin. "Not just any child! A toy!"

A crack of thunder, and seven lightning bolts came truly close to scorching Cozy Glow's peach-colored coat. The whole matter caused the filly to yelp in fear. "Aaah!"

The evil mev laughed with delight. She wagged a clawed finger at Cozy Glow. "You've been naughty."

A red circle quickly formed under the filly, ensnaring her. Cozy stared down at it, caught mid-air. She swallowed, finding herself completely incapable of not being scared of this eerie dragon resembling her teacher. "Master mevs won't bite children, even when berserk," Cozy said aloud, trying to gather her wits and remind the creature in front of her. She then repeated it like a chant to herself as if to ward off a spell.

"First time for everything," Rainbow growled with another wicked smile, baring her sharp fangs. She quietly opened and closed her mouth in anticipatory hunger. Formidable Lightning struck again. Cozy screeched in terror, causing the mev to go into a fit of diabolical laughter. "Gotcha!" Rainbow Dash snarled, soon followed by a gleefully proud, evil smile. "Oh, you are fun!" she declared, pointing at the filly.

Cozy concentrated with all her might, tightly closing her eyes and still feeling helpless. Her body dipped closer to the circle. She opened her eyes to stare down in front of her, and there was something off about the ground. Instead of the dark blue bedrock, it swirled like a miniature storm of light gray clouds in front of her. "What are you doing to me, Master?" Cozy whimpered.

The dragon chuckled a wicked little chuckle. She reached out her clawed hand and grabbed Cozy Glow by a back hoof, ever so reminiscent of the story of Achilles' heel. "Saving you." The mev's pupils thinned into slits. "For dessert."

Rainbow Dash let go, dropping the filly into the strange grayness. Cozy found herself incapable of flying as she fell. She was then quickly surrounded by a mist, giving way to nothing but occasional glimpses of silver scales that had to be something like a large snake. She could only assume it was the rumored leviathan dread from the show for Nightmare Night.

Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash shook her entire draconian body, ready to take action. "Time to eat for real! My game begins!" she declared with an eager, evil smile.





In Canterlot, Starlight Glimmer informed all present, "It would seem that our powers thought it best to leave her with Rainbow Dash."

"But why?" Fluttershy wondered.

Starlight sighed. "Revenge. She did try messing up our home territory. I can't imagine the land itself is too pleased with being manipulated the way she managed—even if she is a child."

"Please, tell us, what is going on?" Celestia's voice carried over to the others. Luna stood by her side.

"Good news, we fixed the drain," Twilight Sparkle began to explain. "Bad news, thanks to extenuating circumstances, Rainbow Dash started to go berserk. The transformation was nearly finished when we decided to get everyone out and come here. Princess Celestia, we need to activate the berserk reserve right away."

Celestia nodded seriously, and Luna nodded too. The ruling alicorns immediately set to work to find the proper ponies to alert. They had heard thunder earlier and caught sight of a darkened sky as they barked orders to make everything ready.

"We should probably get Chrysalis over here," Fluttershy suggested. "I mean, I know she's probably safe as a client but just to help her keep updated with what happened. That sky is bound to make her uneasy."

Starlight nodded in agreement and returned very quickly with the tall changeling.

"Alright, now tell me what is happening," Chrysalis ordered impatiently.

Starlight motioned for the changeling to follow as they approached Sweetie Belle and began to discuss things.

As she did that, Discord was summoned in by Celestia herself and assured the first drain itself was gone. 

"Do you remember what we talked about for this possibility?" Celestia asked him.

"Yes, I do, and my opinion remains the same. I'm telling you, it won't work. Her immunity's going to regard it as me casting magic on her," Discord told Celestia with folded arms.

"I thought the magic was regarded as what directly affects her body?" Luna noted.

"That's a simplified version of it. With the likes of a master mev, there are always exceptions or twists like how changelings can't take her form even if they aren't anywhere near her. Besides, normally, Rainbow isn't berserk, is she? Don't you get it? Teleporting everyone away is effectively the same thing as containment,"  Discord explained. "A master mev berserk is designed to combat that, except of course if what Jin told us to do actually works."

"I ask that you at least try," Celestia urged. "If you manage, we can get everyone to safety much more quickly."

Discord sighed and snapped his talons. A flash of white, followed by a resounding boom, and red smoke knocked him onto the floor.

"Alright you win, Discord, I'm sorry!" Celestia approached to help him up.

He dusted himself off as he stood. "Perhaps now you see my point," he said. "I can act as bait, but I cannot be the solution."

The two ruling princesses and draconequus looked over to Starlight Glimmer who was busily talking to Chrysalis and an older looking Sweetie Belle in the room.

Once concluded, Starlight approached them, the students, and the other fledglings. "Alright, everyone. We all know the plan?"

They all nodded except for the students. Gallus raised his hand. "Not us."

"Right. Sorry. Okay, real quick. The best defense against a berserk is evasion and distraction. You six won't be much of a diversion because Rainbow's going to be focused on finding and eating magic primarily from unicorns," Starlight explained.

"What if we stand in the way of her target?" Gallus suggested.

"Bad idea," Starlight explained. "Rainbow might not bite you, but that doesn't mean she can't touch you. She will physically move you out of the way as fast as possible."

"And that would certainly be a problem being that she is your teacher," Rarity reminded them.

"This is different. She was forced into the berserk against her will," Smolder argued crossly with folded arms.

"Yeah, and Yona and friends can handle it," Yona said firmly.

"We have to be able to do something!" Silverstream proclaimed.

"I'm getting to that," Starlight assured her. She yawned. "Look...here—here's how you can help us." Then she started to stumble and nearly fell in place.

Twilight helped her stand. "Tiredness," she told Starlight apprehensively. "I guess that's another effect from this berserk. It must be hitting you first and hardest because you're Primeva."

"Oh bother," Starlight muttered.

"We can still do it," Sweetie Belle said with encouraging determination.

Starlight nodded. "Right. I'm tired, but I'm not out of this yet."





The berserk mev smashed through the multiple floors of the School of Friendship and rose into the darkened sky. She sniffed the air between the edge of Ponyville and the edge of Canterlot. She was about to fly over to Canterlot when she caught sight of a familiar solitary unicorn she recognized as Lyra Heartstrings.

Lyra waved up at her with a friendly smile. "Master," she offered as if trying to get Rainbow's attention.

Smiling back, Rainbow flew down and pounced, biting into the unicorn without a word though she heard a second whispered "Master," as she did so, much to her own pleasure.

Soon, Luna appeared with a formation of five more unicorns behind her. The unicorns were armored with helmets protecting at least the sides of their necks. Four held spears ready with their forelimbs, but one carried a spear telekinetically. "Master," Luna said with a serious tone. "I must ask you to please stand down. Do not attack Equestrian citizens. This is your territory, remember?"

Rainbow looked up from her position over the sleeping Lyra and licked her lips with a smile, baring her sharp teeth. "Game," she growled and immediately pounced on the unicorn holding a spear with magic. The targeted unicorn tried hurling his spear at her body, only for the spear to bend in on itself against the dragon's tough blue scales though her pony coat would have been just as effective in a berserk state. Her fangs bit right through the helmet and spit the metal out before she dug into his neck. While all present were aware she would be more prone to outright attack, they mistakenly assumed she would go after Luna first.

Luna tried her magic on the immune mev to no avail for a simple telekinetic lift, and the attempt rebounded her on with a shocking thunderclap, hurling the alicorn away several feet. That was new. The worst they had expected was nothing to happen at all when trying magic on the master mev. The other four unicorns had their instructions and watched, ready to spread and flee in different directions to invite her attack and keep her away from unsuspecting ponies.

They saw her drawing away from her meal, and they all ran further into the main road of town and spread. They couldn't separate too far. It was crucial to keep the mev on them for as long as possible.

Rainbow Dash darted to one and rolled with him on the ground before biting into his helmet. He tried to punch her in the face but was met with immense pain in response and cringed as she bit into his neck. The wicked mev chuckled and lifted her gaze. Now there were only three more.

Another charged at her, ramming into her side, but the hit merely left the attacker dazed. She pried his helmet off with her claws and dug in. Two left.

The next unicorn charged straight toward her face and placed his forelimb over her eyes as if to shield himself or anyone against enchantment, and the mev's magic in general. The eyes were how she activated her magic, so maybe if he blocked them out—a strong dragon tail grabbed the forelimb and tossed him forth several feet.

"Bad decision," Rainbow hissed in disapproval as she pounced and bit him, leading the unicorn to scream in agony compared to his compatriots. Apparently, that plan was not a good one after all.

The last unicorn lost herself to sympathy and tugged at Rainbow's tail, trying to pry the mev off the fourth unicorn. That plan didn't work either as the tail merely wagged the unicorn one way and another until slamming her to the ground. The dragon mev back-flipped to land and bite in to the last unicorn of the group.

Luna stood over the fourth unicorn, who groaned in pain. "Master, he is not asleep," Luna alerted the master mev, hoping that Rainbow had something to do or say about that.

Rainbow finished eating magic from the fifth unicorn and met Luna's eyes.

The night alicorn took an uneasy step back, struggling to break free of the automatic enchantment.

"So, make him sleep, Princess," Rainbow Dash commanded in a low growl. "I will not counter."

Luna gulped and obeyed, casting her own magic to do exactly that. Afterward, she felt compelled back to seeing the enchanting eyes.

The mev inhaled, relishing in the fear before she at last released Luna's gaze and flew away, much to the alicorn's own astonishment. Everyone in on the plan had assumed Rainbow Dash would go after alicorn magic before unicorn if given the opportunity. Was it because Luna ruled over the night? She hoped that it didn't mean Discord wouldn't be enough either. After realizing her shock was distracting and delaying her, Luna flew onward to find Rainbow Dash again. She was ready to find more of the reserve waiting for them. Hopefully, it would not be much longer. She dreaded to think of what this creature could do for an entire night plus the remaining part of what should be day.





With a snap of his talons, Discord successfully teleported himself and the entire group of fledglings, crusaders, students, and Chrysalis, to stand in front of the Tree of Harmony.

"Here we are," he announced to them all in a proud bow. "I guess I'm allowed to do this much at least."

The gems in the tree automatically released and floated over to their respective fledgling with the exception of Loyalty. They turned into a necklace for Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie. Twilight's Element turned into a crown.

Starlight took a deep, nervous breath and pulled out Jin. She dare not wear the crown over her head but instead held it outstretched with a forelimb.

Loyalty at last responded and attached itself to the lightning bolt symbol on the crown.

"Good," Starlight said in relief. "Now outsiders, we need a little boost from each of you."

The gems began to glow and so did the students, with the exception of Sandbar. The students themselves realized their glows matched certain colors. Gallus glowed red as did Loyalty, so he flew to Starlight's side.

Ocellus went to Kindness. Silverstream went to Honesty. Smolder went to Generosity. Yona went to Laughter.

Sandbar looked at Twilight. "I guess I can't be Magic, huh?"

Twilight smiled warmly. "No. Magic is complicated, and we are going after a creature that feeds on it, especially active unicorn magic. She cannot eat friendship magic though, so I'm sure we'll help at least a little."

He blushed and stood by her side nonetheless.

"Alright, touch the gems," Starlight instructed the group, yawning again.

They did, and most students felt a little something between themselves and the Elements.

Power concentrated from each, except Magic itself, and zapped into the crown. Loyalty merely glowed.

"That's enough," Jin said with authority, and the magical zaps stopped. "Now, Chrysalis..."

The tall changeling blinked in surprise. "Yes?"

"A dash of magic if you will," a more feminine voice told her. "Think of your friendship with her when you do. Something from a client is bound to help further."

"Oh, so it is gender fluid," Rarity remarked to herself.

Chrysalis heard the remark so was not as confused about the shift in the voice. She looked at all of the others looking at her, imploring her aide. She quietly stepped forward before doing as Jin had instructed.

"Rhezenda too, please," Jin added.

Sweetie Belle was still not accustomed to shooting magic zaps, but Rarity remembered the day her sister became Rhezenda. The third fledgling stepped toward the young assistant, held her hoof, and Sweetie Belle was able to shoot the necessary blast.

Without further ado, most of the Elements of Harmony returned to the tree. Loyalty remained in place on the crown.

"I am ready," Jin announced, returned to his usual male voice.

"That's really it?" Gallus double-checked with Starlight.

"For this stage, yes," Starlight answered and tiredly blinked her eyes, then yawned. "Discord...the throne room..."

Fluttershy yawned too, feeling the tiredness setting in on her next. "Please hurry..."

He nodded and snapped his talons, teleporting all of the group to the throne room of Twilight's castle.





Celestia knew to be there and was waiting for them with Spike. "Twilight—is everyone still alright?"

"Starlight is getting more tired. Fluttershy has started to get tired too. They can still talk and move around. I'm afraid we fledglings won't be able to help much after this point," Twilight explained. "We want to be out of range for her to command us to do anything."

"Scootaloo...scout the area," Starlight instructed in her tired voice. "Try not to get her attention. Don't go too far."

Scootaloo nodded and flew off, returning soon after. "Six down, all unicorns. I didn't see Luna or Rainbow Dash."

"Rainbow didn't eat Luna's magic?" asked a curious Twilight Sparkle.

Scootaloo nodded. "Looks that way."

Starlight addressed the group. "Our dear outsider friends, time to find her. Celestia, you stay with us for now. We don't want Rainbow going after you unless Discord's not enough."

Celestia nodded in silent agreement.

Sweetie Belle magically lifted the crown and put it in her saddlebags. "Right. We're on it, Primeva." She gave a salute as Rainbow herself often did.

With a snap, Discord flashed the Crusaders, the Student Six, Chrysalis, and himself to just outside the city hall in Ponyville.

Once there, the draconequus snapped his lion paw fingers and shot a large white blast of magic upward that then lit into several fireworks.

It did the job of attracting Rainbow's attention at least. The sky blue dragon gazed inquisitively at the sight before realizing that it wasn't unicorn magic. She had already had draconequus months ago. These victims were fresh and more desirable. From behind, Luna saw the decision not to pursue. She reluctantly pulled back to alert Starlight Glimmer back at the castle. The reserve units were working as intended, keeping Rainbow Dash focused on them instead of others. Many non-reserve ponies had taken to staying inside, correctly assuming the darkened sky meant that matters were not fully resolved.

Celestia teleported herself to Discord and the others. She shot out a golden blast of magic toward the darkened sky in the shape of a large sun outline.

Rainbow Dash was busy eating magic from a unicorn when she sensed a flare of magical energy blinking and lighting up the area. She looked up into the empty dark sky once finished to witness a second blast. "Celestia," she hissed wickedly under her breath. She wouldn't pass up the chance for the last of all alicorns to be her meal now. No one and nothing could stop her from having that.

With a beat of her leathery wings, she lifted into the air and swiftly flew to the source.

The tall white alicorn waited below and stared up at Rainbow Dash. "Master," she said seriously. They made eye contact, and Celestia was enchanted immediately with ease. She soon felt a pleasure she would never experience again.

While Rainbow Dash ate, Sweetie Belle tried to magically place Jin over Rainbow's head by letting the crown drop. However, right before it would have made contact, the dragon tail swiped just beneath to hold it before tossing it aside.

Apple Bloom picked it up in her mouth and tried a more direct approach, but the tail thwarted her too, batting her away.

At that, the six students nodded at each other and all piled themselves onto the tail which continued to flick up and down, regardless of their added weight.

Varying colored lightning bolts shot from the sky, barely missing them, and the entire group held firm.

Finally, Scootaloo swooped in with her magically aided flight and at last placed the crown on Rainbow's head while Discord and Chrysalis acted as shields between Scootaloo and either side of the wobbling tail.

A blast of wind shot out from where Rainbow was, knocking them all upward. Every flier of the group used their wings to catch themselves and regain balance. Discord and Chrysalis caught everyone else in a magic telekinetic field to ease their descent.

On the ground, Rainbow Dash slept soundly, returned to her standard pegasus form. The crown had a barely noticeable hint of a red magic aura, placing the berserk into what everyone hoped would be a more manageable state whenever she awoke.
> Chapter 96 - Passing
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Rainbow Dash blinked her still red eyes open to find herself on Starlight Glimmer's bed in Twilight's castle. Chrysalis stared at her with a neutral expression before smiling. "Master, you're awake," she greeted, in her default golden form. The changeling friend noticed that there was no automatic enchantment from the vampire, taking that as a good sign.

"Chryssy?" asked a confused Rainbow Dash, as she began to sit up. "What are you doing here?" She rubbed her head, then felt the gold crown. "Oh, my crown is still on me."

"Yes," Chrysalis answered. "It is still day. Night and the next genuine sunrise have not yet transpired since your berserk triggered. So—"

"Time?" Rainbow demanded though Chrysalis knew to expect this shortness from what Starlight predicted. The mev now sat fully upright in the bed.

"Three o'clock in the afternoon," Chrysalis replied.

"Oh," Rainbow remarked. "Well, what are you doing here in Starlight's room?"

"Everyone, myself included, deemed me the safest creature to greet you since I am your present client and friend," Chrysalis explained. "We weren't sure how your mood would be once you awoke. Starlight suspects you'll be more aggressive and snippy until your berserk would truly be over. Your crown is simply containing it to help you think more clearly, be in more control. As I'm told, Jin relayed this plan to Sweetie Belle at some point, upon her request."

Rainbow stared down thoughtfully. "Good job, Rhezenda," she muttered." She tapped her forehooves together, staring at them, and then looked up to ask sincerely, "Can I eat your magic?"

Before Chrysalis could answer with a good-humored smile, Starlight Glimmer teleported into the room in a flash, with Sweetie Belle at her side. "Master!" Starlight greeted with a huge smile. She embraced Rainbow tightly in a hug. "How are you feeling? Are you okay? We didn't hurt you at all, did we?" She fired off the questions rapid, worried succession.

Rainbow Dash chuckled and fluttered herself up out of the bed, then landed on the floor. She put a hoof to Starlight's withers. "I am pleased to see you, Primeva. You did well." The master mev placed the hoof down and then looked at Sweetie Belle with an approving gaze. "You too, Rhezenda."

Sweetie Belle smiled up sweetly and in relief. "I just figured I should ask him," she replied modestly. "Thanks, Master." Rainbow Dash reached out her forelimb, and they hugged.

Starlight herself breathed a huge sigh of relief too. That was enough. "How hungry are you?"

"Hungry enough to ask," Chrysalis informed Starlight in a low voice. Her tone was a dry, knowing one though not meant in anger.

"Master, she is a client and already told you 'no' weeks ago," Starlight lectured Rainbow.

"Yeah, but she's my friend too, and we were having a moment," Rainbow defended.

Both Starlight and Chrysalis chortled. Sweetie Belle smiled silently at the scene.

"I'll turn into a dragon, and you can say my title. It should feel amazing since I'm still sort of berserk," Rainbow offered.

Chrysalis smiled at that. "That is rather tempting. I'll think about it, alright?"

The master mev grinned. "Alright."

"I believe I shall take my leave," the changeling announced, immediately shifting to her past, darker default. She left the room to give the others some time together. Sweetie Belle looked to the mevs to see if she would be dismissed, and she was not.

"Status report," Rainbow commanded, intended to Starlight no doubt.

Starlight answered, "You ate magic from ten unicorns and Princess Celestia. All ten unicorns were from the berserk reserve, thankfully. We were able to activate them in time. Since it was technically day when you ate from them, we expect them all to awaken soon."

Sweetie Belle pulled out a paper and pen with her magic to quietly write notes on the state of things.

"I haven't even been out for an hour?" Rainbow asked in surprise.

"No. You weren't berserk long, and just like in the Dragon Lands, you woke up after the same amount of time your berserk lasted," Starlight explained.

"Wow," Rainbow muttered in quiet surprise.

"You expected differently?" Starlight prodded.

"Yeah, thought I'd be out until sunrise," Rainbow admitted. "Not the one for the end of my berserk, the one after that...or maybe a whole week."

"That long? Really?" Starlight was surprised to hear this line of thinking and becoming concerned.

"Well, I mean, yeah. If I'm awake, can't we just give the unicorns I ate from their magic back from the reserve?" Rainbow Dash wondered aloud, almost arguing the point.

"I just assumed they would be blocked off due to the circumstances," Starlight replied.

Rainbow nodded thoughtfully. "Hmm. Makes sense. Maybe we should try…" She began to step forward, as if about to do exactly that then and there.

Starlight stopped her. "They can manage a day or two based on the times you just told me. Let's try then. Right now, you need to rest and wait for this berserk thing to finish."

Rainbow Dash scowled, gesturing a forelimb back at the bed. "And just sit here?" She began to hover as she sometimes did when anxious or restless.

"No, just….not that, okay?" Starlight pleaded. "You might get knocked out or go full berserk again from feedback. I really don't want to chance anything there."

"Okay," Rainbow conceded reluctantly as she landed. She sat and folded her forelimbs in annoyance but trusting her Primeva nonetheless.

"Master, what happened to Cozy Glow?" Starlight asked in a concerned and serious tone.

"Oh, she's in the void with Blitz," Rainbow answered casually, in a complete mismatch to Starlight's concern.

"You can do that?!" Starlight asked in shock and alarm.

Sweetie Belle kept taking notes, but looked up to watch them in slight concern too.

"Uh, usually, no, but the circumstances kinda demanded it. I couldn't leave her alone because of what she did but still needed to eat. We need to figure out what to do with her," Rainbow admitted.

"....Shouldn't you get her out of the void now?" Starlight suggested.

Rainbow Dash nodded in neutral compliance. A red circle appeared on the floor to Starlight's room, and Cozy Glow emerged out of a gray mist.

Starlight cast a magic a shield around the pegasus filly, like she had done earlier underground that afternoon.

"What's happening? What's going on? Counselor Starlight, Sweetie Belle, is that really you?" Cozy asked, clearly unsettled from her time in the void. At the sight of Rainbow Dash, the filly backed away into the shield.

Rainbow smiled at the frightened Cozy Glow and licked her lips. "I suppose you'll have to do for now."

Sweetie Belle gulped but said nothing and focused on her notes.

Rainbow glanced over to the young white unicorn and snickered. "And you too then, Rhezenda."

Rhezenda blushed. "If it pleases you, Master," she replied with a modest nod.

Rainbow closed her eyes, taking in a satisfied breath. "It does."

To that, Sweetie Belle could not help smiling anyway. She did still like Rainbow's vampiric nature after all.

Starlight lowered her head to meet Cozy Glow at eye level. "Master can think a little more clearly now but still isn't entirely herself. I'll have to take you into custody in Canterlot for the time being. Your parents will be notified and disciplinary action decided in a few days." The first fledgling raised her head back up and looked at Rainbow Dash. "I'll be back soon, Master. Everyone else is in the throne room. I'm sure Chrysalis has told them you're up. Go ahead and see them."

"Will do, Primeva. Thanks," Rainbow replied. "Come along, Rhezenda."

"As you wish, Master," Sweetie Belle said, putting her away notes. It felt good and right to be with Rainbow Dash in the moment.

With that, the master mev found her way to the throne room and was surprised to find that everyone included not just her fledglings but Discord, Luna, Spike, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and the Student Six. Celestia must have been sleeping in one of the other rooms.

Fluttershy rushed over and embraced Rainbow Dash, soon followed by all the other fledglings. After that, the other two Crusaders hugged her, then Discord, then the Student Six, then Chrysalis, then Spike.

Luna approached, hugging her last. "Master, I hope you are in better control of your faculties," the night alicorn said as she pulled away.

"Princess Luna, my apologies for my actions," Rainbow Dash stated with a bow. "I had some control but not enough, as you saw. I am aware we exchanged words and what we said."

"And we are aware it wasn't entirely your fault. Speaking of which, where is the one at fault?" Luna asked.

"My Primeva took her into custody. They were going to Canterlot, but if you're here…" Rainbow started to trail off.

"We have made the proper arrangements for that. Starlight knows where to go. I am simply confirming that is what happened," Luna assured the master mev.

"I see. Then yes. My Primeva believes it is best to wait for this berserk, even contained, to fully pass before we cast judgment on what to do with her. I'm more inclined to be rather hard on a child in this form," Rainbow Dash admitted.

"She drained the magic out of Equestria and summoned a soul-sucking amulet for power!" Gallus exclaimed. "Maybe you should be hard on her, huh?"

To that, the red-eyed mev smiled wickedly but said nothing.

Luna raised a forelimb to halt that line of discussion any further. "While I understand and relate to your feelings, that will be left to us when the time is right. Rainbow Dash is given specific powers in response to these matters, as you yourself know and have done with her guidance."

Gallus reluctantly backed down at that.

"Not up to you," Rainbow told him in a whisper with a sly smile. She seemed to be enjoying this exchange. She bowed her head as if about to tip her her hat but made sure the crown remained on her head.

The young griffon soon figured out she must have been feeding off his fear, but he didn't really mind. He said nothing further and considered the matter closed.

Luna turned to Rainbow Dash. "Please accept my thanks and my sympathy for what transpired today."

"I thank you too. Do you uh...have any more reserves willing to give up their magic?" Rainbow asked with an imploring and embarrassed smile.

Luna chuckled at the hopeful red eyes. "We are all sorry that you are so hungry, but we must ask you refrain from taking any more. That includes asking nicely though the gesture is appreciated."

Rainbow Dash half-frowned, but she understood. Then an idea struck her. "Can I go to Tartarus and ask Tirek?" she suggested.

Luna couldn't help smiling and conceded on that idea. With a nod, she replied, "Yes, that is permissible, Master."

"I'd like to go with you," Fluttershy offered in a soft voice.

"I'll be the teleport escort since Starlight's busy," Twilight volunteered.

"Very well. Make it so, Rexa," the master mev ordered, in a pleased hurry.

With a flash of teleport magic, the three of them were gone.





Once in Tartarus, Tirek stood with his back to the group and hands folded behind that back. He slowly turned around as he spoke.  "Master? Back already? And what an interesting head piece," he greeted with a smile. He took note of her red eyes and the red aura on the crown. "That's a seal, isn't it?"

"Oh, right. I'm berserk right now, sorta," Rainbow told him, touching the red bolt gem for a moment herself, feeling a sense of security.

"Cozy Glow's doing?" Tirek asked plainly.

"Not on purpose, I am sure, but yes," Rainbow answered him.

"Then what are you doing here?" Tirek wondered with genuine interest.

"I have come to request your magic," Rainbow answered with a polite bow. She stood up and looked at him with a plain gaze. "May I please have it?"

Tirek could tell she was sincere. The seal was helping her stop herself from outright attacking others, himself included, but it had not removed the urge to eat. He supposed he was a good candidate, given the circumstances. "You know, you could just take off that crown and let the berserk still run its course. It sounds like Equestria is plenty prepared for you."

Rainbow Dash chuckled. "I do know." She looked at him in a way that made Tirek suddenly feel quite vulnerable despite her red eyes not having an active enchantment. "You have not answered my request."

Tirek swallowed. He could deny her quite easily, he reminded himself. He was not truly in danger here with her. They had it all under control. "And what would you give me in return, Master Rainbow Dash?" he wondered.

"Nada," Rainbow answered sharply. "I'm hungry, and you're food. I want you to feed me. It is that simple."

Tirek couldn't help smiling at that. He rather liked this partially berserk Rainbow Dash. She was more stern mixed in with her usual aggression. "Aren't you afraid I'll remove your crown and set you loose here in the depths of Tartarus?"

"I'm hungry. You're food," Rainbow repeated, clearly not afraid of his subtle threat.

"Master, he does have a point," Twilight said uneasily. She was afraid.

Fluttershy nodded. "Please Master. Maybe you shouldn't…"

"You two are hereby ordered to put the crown back on if it comes to that," Rainbow told them, keeping her eyes locked onto Tirek. "That should suffice."

"Yes, of course, Master," they replied in unison, both recognizing the loophole. This would allow Twilight to use magic and easily put the crown back in place, if it came to that.

Tirek tapped his chin thoughtfully. It wasn't like he was even using his magic, being trapped in Tartarus for eternity, and she did feed him herself twice before without his asking. He tried and failed to shove the notion aside that he was perhaps helping out a friend. He did manage to convince himself that "perhaps" was far enough removed confirmation that he could give her an answer. He sighed. "I suppose it's not like I'm using it. Very well...you may," he replied with a polite bow.

Rainbow teleported herself into his cage and locked eyes with him, activating her enchantment instantly. She said nothing and bit right in. After that, the three mevs stayed the full hour to ensure Tirek recovered. Twilight used her cell phone to explain that plan to Sweetie Belle.

"When will I see you again?" Tirek asked from behind the metal bars of his cage after he awoke. His voice bordered on hope with a tinge of fear.

Rainbow stood with her back to him, slightly turning her head in his direction. "Thanks for the food, Lord Tirek, but I must be off. I'm in no condition to answer such questions from you right now. Until next time, if there is one." She turned to look straight ahead. "Rexa, let's get out of here," she instructed.

Twilight nodded and teleported the entire group away.





They returned to find the throne room emptied of students, Chrysalis, Spike, and Discord. Only the other fledglings and the Crusaders waited. Each one of them wanted to be ready for whatever their master needed.

Fluttershy pulled Rainbow aside to talk to her in a low voice. "Master, I think it is best if we act as though you are sick, and I be with you in your cloud house until sunrise tomorrow."

"Chryssy said she might be my dinner," Rainbow told Fluttershy, nearly pouting. 

Fluttershy considered the time and how far away sunset was. It would be only another two hours. "I'll head home to check on my animals and pick you up later tonight. I know you won't remove the crown, Master, but none of us want you alone in this state of mind. Please."

Rainbow nodded. "Okay. I can stay with Rexa and read in the library."

"Right....Master," Fluttershy said with a sincere, imploring gaze.

"Yes, Segunda?" Rainbow asked.

"Do you only call us by our titles when you are berserk?" the second fledgling wondered. "I couldn't help noticing you haven't used our pony names to address us once this entire time."

"Hmm, yes, Segunda. This is sort of a peak vampire status in me, you might say. That urge causes no harm to anyone, so I assume that is why Jin isn't mitigating it," Rainbow explained.

"Oh okay," Fluttershy replied with a satisfied and sweet smile, finding it a minor point of interest in a fascinating creature. "And I was wondering...if you don't mind...just why did you turn into your dragon form when berserk?"

Rainbow Dash blushed. "I like the form. So long as I'm in an aggressive, hungry state like that, it's the form I wanted. Simply put, I thought it would be cool. That tail helped too."

Fluttershy giggled. "I actually do understand that. I'll be back for you soon, Master."

Rainbow waved at her second fledgling. "Until then, Segunda."

She did as she told Fluttershy she would, and once the sunset fully passed, Rainbow made her way, escorted by Twilight, to Chrysalis' room where she knocked.

"Master," Chrysalis greeted in mild surprise, still in her past, darker default form.

"Might we do what we discussed earlier?" Rainbow asked hopefully.

Chrysalis smiled and laughed lightly. She bowed her head. "Yes, we may." She held the door open for Rainbow to enter, and Twilight stood off to the side outside the room to act as a sentry for when her master would be finished.

Inside Chrysalis' room, the tall changeling waited and watched as Rainbow shifted into her dragon form.

"You might not be able to shift even to that form for a week, you know," Rainbow said.

Chrysalis sighed. "I know...but I will do it for you, my friend...and for me too," she said with a friendly wink.

Rainbow grinned a fanged grin.

Chrysalis sat on her haunches to feel the clawed hands cusp both sides of her face. She smiled down at the figure and said, "Master," right before Rainbow silently bit in. True to Rainbow's suggestion, the sensation was amazing—and well worth its cost. Chrysalis herself felt a small pang of guilt that she was happy this berserk happened since no other circumstance would allow for this particular feeling in such a feeding otherwise.

She collapsed, her body automatically shifting to her new default, golden form. Rainbow picked up that form to place Chrysalis in bed before leaving.

Not long after, Fluttershy arrived to escort her master home and stay there to look after Rainbow Dash until sunrise.
> Chapter 97 - Assorted Meetings
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







After the sun rose on Tuesday morning, Fluttershy stared intently into Rainbow Dash's magenta eyes. The canary-colored pegasus was scanning for any hint of remaining problems. The crown was off, and Rainbow looked as expected of a daytime master mev.

"How hungry are you?" Fluttershy asked.

"Standard level," Rainbow replied. "I will accept if offered or on a mission that would benefit our work."

"Any side effects?" Fluttershy questioned further.

"No," Rainbow answered with a modest shake of her head.

"Are you sure Rainbow?" Fluttershy prodded. "You went through a lot yesterday."

"Okay, maybe I can grow a unicorn horn on myself more easily since I've got magic from something literally called an Alicorn Amulet. Still, I'm me. Default pegasus form most of the time, magic for mev stuff, got my other jobs...hopefully." She smiled weakly.

"I'm sure no one will hold it against you," Fluttershy offered in a comforting voice. She touched a gentle hoof to Rainbow's shoulder.  "We did what we could, knowing the risks. This is what you are, and you did save the magic in this world for the long-term, just like a master mev is supposed to do."

Rainbow nodded and took a deep breath, trying to convince herself that was true. "Right." She sniffed, managing to fend off some tears.

A pause lingered in the air for a moment.

Turning her head to meet Fluttershy's eyes, she asked, "Back to school today?"

"Soon. I'm going to leave you alone in the room for a few minutes. You've been stuck with one of us constantly at your side this entire time," Fluttershy noted. "I'm sure you could use a little privacy. And if it turns out you do need me to stay and still look after you..."

Rainbow Dash smiled warmly at that. "My eternal sweetheart," she said and the two briefly nuzzled before Fluttershy left the room.

The recovering master mev stretched her wings and her limbs, electing to do a few wing-ups. She tried out her vampire form to pegasus form to check that her limited non-reserve shape-shifting magic still worked properly. She trotted around her own room, simply taking in the sense of being home and secure. "Yeah, I can do it," she murmured to herself. Feeling ready, she stepped out to join Fluttershy and was off to take care of the weather, as if all the stressful events of the day before didn't happen.

Of course, the day before was still acknowledged in another way. After school, Rainbow Dash was summoned to the throne room for a similar inspection from Celestia and Luna. The mev allowed Sweetie Belle to accompany her.

Chancellor Neighsay was with there too. He stood still as he listened to the meeting.

"And how about you, Princess Celestia? How are you feeling?" Rainbow asked.

"I miss the convenience of my magic, but I am in otherwise good shape, much as I have heard from Luna, Twilight, and Cadance already," Celesta replied. "The sun can still rise and set."

Neighsay decided it was time to speak. "So am I to understand then, that you just let her do whatever she wants?"

Luna sputtered and giggled.

Celestia stared a moment at the one who made the remark, maintaining her composure. "Master Rainbow Dash abides by many standards, Chancellor Neighsay. It was her leadership that instructed Team Awesome to be ready for a possible berserk. She told them to not explain their methods to her beyond that. Equestria would be in much worse shape otherwise."

"I ask most of the time, Chancellor. Your circumstances were unique," Rainbow Dash reminded him.

"Master was the one who knew the amulet might be a danger to her," Sweetie Belle stepped in to say. "Cozy's method to summon it was...not something we could prepare for."

"I'm inclined to agree," Luna added, in a more serious tone than her earlier giggle.

Celestia nodded in further agreement.

"Hmm, yes," Neighsay conceded. "I suppose given everything I have been informed of thus far suggests that to be true. Still, we must always be wary of her. She can turn into a monster easily."

"Not easily!" Rainbow fired back defensively. "That filly didn't even do it on purpose! She didn't know!"

Celestia held out a hoof to silence and calm her, to which Rainbow Dash obliged.

Neighsay sighed. "Believe it or not, I do understand your meaning, Master." He paused. It was his first attempt at using the title, and he felt the power of it in that moment. He didn't comment on it though. "But surely you understand my caution."

Rainbow stared back with an ice-cold glare. She could remind him it was his own fault, but since he finally showed her some level of respect and even used her title, she simply said, "Yes, Chancellor."

He nodded, satisfied.

Moving things along, Celestia asked Rainbow Dash, "What do you think is the proper timeline for dealing with Cozy Glow?"

"Let me discuss matters with my pack tonight. We have our usual meeting anyway, and I'm back to standard operating level," the master mev answered. "I can return Wednesday afternoon for us," she gestured to Celestia and Luna, then to herself, "to decide matters further from there. I would like to see her myself today before I go."

Both Celestia and Luna nodded in approval.

"Shall we presume the same for Tirek and Chrysalis?" Luna inquired.

Rainbow Dash briefly conferred with Sweetie Belle on her own schedule, then turned to the princesses. "If we move the meeting to Thursday instead, sure, I can give you both a status report on our work with them," she offered.

"We would appreciate that," Celestia said. "Chancellor Neighsay, your presence will not be necessary at that meeting."

"Understood, Princess. I will be checking in with what methods are available to me," he replied.

"Fair enough," Celestia said.





Rainbow Dash, alone, entered a small room where Cozy Glow sat silently reading a book. The filly saw her and trembled, backing into a wall.

The mev smiled gently. "It's day out, and I'm not berserk. The effect should not be as strong."

"You put me in a void," Cozy hissed in evident fear.

Rainbow Dash chuckled. "Not denying that. What would you have done or found the proper thing to do?"

The guilty filly couldn't look at the sky blue pegasus and gave no answer.

"Mm-hmm. I'm actually not here to terrorize you, as much fun as that would be. We have business to discuss, young lady," Rainbow Dash informed informed her.

Cozy shuddered. "Just keep me away from you."

"That's not an option. I'm sure you're clever enough to understand why," Rainbow replied.

Cozy nodded slowly.

"So why'd you do it?" the master mev asked.

Cozy stiffened and refused to answer.

"I shall assume as power grab due to the amulet," the mev remarked carefully.

Without a word, Cozy nodded.

"You know, you and I now have an unusual mev bond now," Rainbow Dash began.

That caught Cozy's attention to at last look directly at Rainbow Dash directly. "We do?"

"Yup. Your magic was in the amulet when it fed itself to me. My magic surrounded you when I placed your entire body in the void," the mev continued.

Cozy swallowed. "What does a 'mev bond' do?"

"It makes you my servant," Rainbow told her plainly.

Cozy stiffened again. "I…" She wanted to deny it and was horrified to find her heart and mouth unable to do so. At last, she at least managed, "You have no use for a pony like me, Master."

"Sure I do. You know, the whole 'draining magic thing' and 'intentionally summoning a dangerous artifact' thing? Don't ever do those things again," Rainbow said with a casual, friendly laugh.

Cozy at last relaxed slightly and released a tiny laugh herself.

"Those are real orders, but more seriously, I actually prefer to be friends with my servants before accepting their service. Obviously, our circumstances have decided otherwise," Rainbow noted.

"I suppose that means you're hoping we might become friends?" Cozy glanced up at her in wonder.

"That would be helpful, yes," Rainbow agreed with a nod. "But I know I can't expect you to turn over a new leaf overnight and fall to my whims at a mere flap of my wings."

"Actually, the second one is true, isn't it?" Cozy asked. "With your eye enchantment. And if you have the magic of the amulet in you...plus maybe magic from certain other creatures. Not to mention the orders you just gave me with this 'mev bond'."

"I don't think those orders are out of line, considering your actions. Outside of that, I'd hardly be a worthy master to anyone if I resorted to such methods," Rainbow Dash told her. "We need to respect each other if we are to become friends."

"You respect me?" Cozy asked with surprise.

Rainbow chuckled. "Do you respect me, Cozy Glow?"

Cozy gulped. "I fear you, Master. And if I truly am a servant bound to you through this mev bond, I have no choice in the matter of respecting you, do I?"

"I'd say you do, judging by your reaction when I first entered the room," Rainbow reminded her.

Cozy Glow blinked at that realization.

"My respect is not all or nothing, Cozy. I have little respect for you, but it's enough to not want you to die or suffer deep physical pain. And I'd rather have a useful servant out of you than a useless or treacherous one. Is that acceptable?" Rainbow asked.

"Yes, Master. I respect you a little as well in that I am in awe of the power you possess. At the same time, I don't respect that you use your power for silly little shows instead of taking over Equestria yourself," Cozy admitted.

"Hey, my shows are awesome!" Rainbow countered with an amused smile. "There actually is power in them, but we can talk about that later. As for taking over Equestria, I consider that as silly as you think my shows. I don't feel a need to acquire power of that scale through some hostile take-over. Fortune has smiled upon me well enough already. I have a full mev pack, and nothing can truly compare to that."

The younger pegasus became contemplative of that. "Interesting," she muttered.

"Moving on, let's discuss your sentencing," Rainbow Dash decided aloud.

Cozy gulped. "Yes, Master."





On Tuesday night at Twilight's castle, Team Awesome gathered for their pack meeting. They discussed the previous day's events. Everyone played their part effectively to end in minimal harm to Equestria. They collectively realized that the magic gathered from the berserk was indeed locked into the reserve for the week the unicorns who lost their magic would take to recover.  They had done a basic review of things until they reached the subject of Cozy Glow.

"I met with her parents," Twilight Sparkle explained to all present. "It was certainly enlightening and disappointing. Despite them choosing to enroll Cozy Glow in our school, they did so begrudgingly at her request. Neither one of them spends much time with her, knows about her grades, cares about her grades, or even cares about what she's doing when she's not in school. They are expecting us to take Cozy off their hooves, and they seem glad to be rid of her.."

"Goodness," Fluttershy noted, "I know what she did was bad, but I feel a little sorry for her to hear about that."

Rainbow Dash sighed. "So, based on that, she is better off not left in their care."

Twilight nodded. 

"Got any ideas, Master?" Applejack asked.

"I spoke with Cozy myself yesterday, so let me catch you all up on what we talked about before we go further," Rainbow noted and relayed the information about their unique mev bond and discussion of respect.

"I know you like us being servants and all, but given how it happened, could you undo or cut off the bond?" Applejack wondered.

"No," Rainbow answered with certainty. "Just like I can't give Neighsay his magic back or the reserve unicorns their magic back until it recovers on its own. This bond is locked."

Everyone remained silent for a few moments. At last, Twilight cleared her throat. "So...if Cozy is not going back to her parents and is a servant to you, what's next?"

"I need to meet with Prince Rutherford about the idea, but I was actually thinking of having her stay in Yakyakistan for a few months to sort of help clear her head and give some distance between her and Equestria," Rainbow suggested.

"Wow, really?" asked a fascinated Starlight Glimmer.

"Is there a reason why there instead of anywhere else?" Pinkie Pie wanted to know.

"The yaks don't take no flak," Rainbow said with a smile at knowing Pinkie would appreciate the rhyme.

The pink earth pony smiled to confirm.

"The yaks themselves don't have much magic to drain from their own bodies. Magic exists up there, but it's more complicated and difficult to manipulate, especially in any harmful way. They are proud of themselves as they are and are disciplined in what they do.

"I hope that it is a better environment for Cozy to experience before returning to Equestria. That will give the creatures here time to heal and be more willing to forgive her for her actions," Rainbow explained. "To be clear, she isn't banished. I will visit her, and she will visit us from time to time."

The others nodded in understanding.

"I believe I speak for all of us when I say we support your idea," Starlight offered.

Only Discord seemed to hesitate, but given what he'd experienced with past mev packs, he was rather impressed with how Team Awesome handled themselves since their inception. He cleared his throat akin to how Twilight did earlier to indicate he wished to speak.

"Yes, Lord of Chaos?" Rainbow asked him.

"I have no objection, but thinking on this whole affair, a curiosity has sprung to mind. Just why didn't you take my magic as bait yesterday? Luna says you didn't go after her either."

"I've already eaten your magic and Luna's. I wanted magic fresh to me," Rainbow answered. "I don't know if that was a particular thing for this berserk or a regular thing for all of them. They seem to have different rules when the trigger method is different."

"Oh, I see. Hmm, fascinating," Discord noted.

Returning to the topic, Rainbow said, "Alright. Twilight, I trust you can make the arrangements with Prince Rutherford. I can be present if he requires it."

Spike scribbled the relevant information down, and Twilight nodded in confirmation.

"Moving on, Celestia and Luna want an update on our work with Chrysalis and Tirek. Rhezenda and I have already made our notes given what you all have already told me in past meetings with Chrysalis. Do any of you have anything to add?" Rainbow Dash inquired.

"She gave Jin a bit of magic to seal your berserk," Starlight said.

"And she let you eat her magic last night too," Twilight added, "so she's without magic now."

"She's actually in her room now, instead of the Changeling Kingdom," Starlight explained. "I can bring her in. I have a theory."

"Okay," Rainbow consented with a nod.

The pair quickly returned with Chrysalis in her new default form.

"Now...just try it," Starlight told her.

Closing her eyes, Chrysalis focused and was able to transform. "I...I can do it?"

"Oh, I get it. She can do it when I'm closer to her," Rainbow realized.

Starlight nodded with an eager, proud smile.

"Well, that's certainly good to know," Chrysalis remarked.

She soon excused herself, and the meeting moved onto discussing Tirek.

"I guess he's something for me to handle largely on my own," Rainbow Dash figured.

"You should still have a fledgling or two with you when you go," Starlight advised.

"Yeah, good idea," Rainbow Dash replied. "I do intend to make at least one more trip, given how the last three went."

Finally, it was time to check in with Project Mercury. Thankfully, the events of the previous day did not interfere with that plan. They were two weeks and two days from preparing the potion. Penny was growing more nimble and said she suspected that the magic gathered from the berserk helped, in addition to the already existing one of time passing.

"Anything else?" Rainbow asked Sweetie Belle.

Sweetie scanned her notes. "Jin told us you might be tired after the berserk, especially with using the seal. How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine," Rainbow answered with a pleasant smile.

The meeting soon adjourned. Rainbow Dash had no particular lesson question for the week. She decided that sleep was a good option, just in case.
> Chapter 98 - Status Report
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







Rainbow Dash decided it was best to meet with Tirek before she updated Celestia and Luna. She was accompanied by Starlight Glimmer. Once the pair arrived in Tartars, Rainbow stood outside Tirek's cage and looked at him.

The centaur merely stared back at her without a word at first.

After several seconds, she decided she would be the one to begin. "Hello Lord Tirek."

"H-hello," Tirek greeted with a hesitant voice.

Rainbow cocked her head for a moment and sniffed. "Not that I mind, but why is there such an uptick in fear of me from you?"

Tirek nervously scratched at his head and shrugged. "I-I don't know. I mean, it's not like I can use my magic here, so-so why would it scare me that a master mev can eat it, right? I mean, that's what you do. That's what I do." He gestured his arms toward her, then away, as he spoke. She was no longer berserk, so she wouldn't even think to look of him with that piercing, though not enchanting, glare, as she did when requesting his magic.

Rainbow Dash nodded as if she understood though she wasn't entirely sure that was why. It could certainly be part of it. Nonetheless, she would pry no further. "Yes, well. I'm actually here to talk to you about the whole visiting and friending thing."

Tirek shifted where he stood. "Y-you're not mad about what happened with Cozy Glow?"

Rainbow Dash looked at him, confused. "Why would I be mad about that?"

"I didn't tell you about her letter when you came by with the game," he reminded her.

"Oh. Well, that definitely would have made things easier. You should have, but that wasn't my business here that day. Plus, you and me were like I don't know...frenemies or something. You know, we're working on that. I'm glad you warned her on your own," Rainbow replied. "So no, I'm not mad. If anything, I'm relieved you didn't do worse."

To that, the centaur scoffed. "Master, there is nothing I could have told that child to make things worse for you."

Rainbow Dash snickered. "I'm flattered."

They both sighed at the same time.

"So...do you want me to visit again?" the master mev asked.

Tirek snorted. "Even after all that, to be honest, I don't know." He chuckled and shook his head with an amused smile. "'Frenemy.'"

"Friend," Rainbow said, as if to correct him.

Now he looked at her, confused. "I beg your pardon?"

"Frenemies then. Friends now, at least on this side. Thank you for your magic when I was hungry. It felt like a friend helping me even if my mind was a bit off at the time," Rainbow confessed to him.

Tirek chuckled. "As I said when I gave it, it's not like I was using it though I would certainly be interested to know if you ever do."

"Well....I hope it never comes to that," Rainbow admitted.

"You're too soft, you know," Tirek muttered softly with a genuine tone.

Rainbow's magenta eyes flitted down a moment. "I'm not."

Tirek could sense there was something she wanted to say but was stopping herself for some reason. "Care to...elaborate on that point?" he pressed.

She gulped. "I guess I did just say it felt like you were a friend, so I can tell you...I've done it."

"'It'?"

"I actually did find out I can take someone's magic and keep it." Rainbow explained.

The listener blinked in interest. "How?"

She shook her head. "It doesn't matter.  The point is I can, and I did. I felt in a trance at the time, but I still would have done it. I wanted it."

"Please...Rainbow Dash, it actually does matter. I would like to avoid such a mistake myself," Tirek suggested.

She snickered but decided to confess further. "I suppose it's not confidential information." With a sigh, she went on, "Someone said to me, 'do your worst,' and it turns out...that is my worst. My magic considers such words as permission. I am happy to take it then." She smiled quietly to herself.

Tirek nodded thoughtfully and smiled, taking delight in Neighsay's mistake, even if he did not know the name of the victim. "Well, then...good to know."

A moment passed between them.

"If I say you can visit me, how often can I expect you to do so?" Tirek inquired.

Taking a moment to think, Rainbow Dash offered, "Once a month."

He thought about it. "And the game?"

"Well, not Battlecloud. Cozy Glow's got a chess piece cutie mark, so that game's on my mind. How does that sound? You ever play chess?" Rainbow inquired.

"As a matter of fact, I have. Alright. I am fine with at least one more visit next month for a game of chess," Tirek decreed.

"That sounds good to me, Lord Tirek. Until then," Rainbow said and bowed respectfully.

"Until then, Master," Tirek replied and bowed respectfully as well.

With that, Starlight helped teleport the master mev back to Ponyville.





That same night, after her flexchange with Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash met with Chrysalis at Twilight's castle.

"How are you feeling?" Rainbow asked as she hovered near the tall changeling.

"Inconvenienced, but I'll get over it," Chrysalis replied, referring her to temporarily lost magic. "And at least I can switch to my old default when you're here." The old default was the current form she wore.

"Chryssy, I need to give an update to the princesses tomorrow on some things, and one of those things is you," Rainbow explained.

"Me?" Chrysalis asked. "What is there to discuss? They've seen my reformed look after what happened on Monday. I've been here for a month, and everyone's safe and sound. I even helped your seal on your berserk."

"All true, and that's great. The thing to discuss is what's next. Do you want to keep doing what you've been doing with us the past month or is it time for you to move on? Do you want to go back to the hive?" Rainbow asked. "Do you feel like you've learned anything about leadership from us? Has it been enough?"

"Oh," Chrysalis murmured to herself, as if she hadn't truly thought on such things for some time. She contemplated for a moment. "Everfree," she muttered quietly.

"Beg your pardon?" Rainbow Dash asked.

Chrysalis looked up at her. "There's an abandoned castle in the Everfree forest. It's near the Tree of Harmony."

"Yeah..."

Chrysalis swallowed nervously. "Does it belong to anyone?"

"Well, it used to belong to Celestia and Luna. Now we all just visit it and take care of it sometimes. It can actually be kind of creepy because it's got these contraptions inside."

"Really?" a very intrigued Chrysalis asked. "Well, anyway...c-could I live there...one day?"

"You want to live there? Why?"

To that, the changeling blushed. "Where to start? The hive welcomes me, and I'm glad for it....but it's still not really 'home' anymore. I don't want to live there as a former queen, and I'm not taking the throne back either. This place is my home now, and yet...when it is time to move on...Everfree sounds nice. It's not too far away from my friends." Chrysalis winked at her. "And it's a place I could make my own..." She sighed. "Strange as it may seem to you, it's also where our friendship began. I lost my mean copies. At the time, it was all very confusing and frustrating...but...I've grown since then. I would be closer to the magic that started our friendship."

"You want to be near the Tree of Harmony?" Rainbow further probed.

"Sure," Chrysalis replied with a casual little shrug. "That's not the main reason—I'm more interested in the castle. It's a place I could feel...in power. The Elements being nearby doesn't hurt. Hey, I could even guard them for you."

"Whoa, Chryssy, I'm not so sure about that," Rainbow said nervously. "You were just trying to steal them a few weeks ago."

Chrysalis blushed and chuckled. "True. I know that, but...I've changed. You know I have. Still, don't worry. I'm not heading over there anytime soon. I do feel like I've learned things as a student here, Rainbow Dash, and I think I could still learn more. Is there some kind of next phase we could do?"

Rainbow grew thoughtful, and such thoughts led to her arrangement with the yaks regarding Cozy Glow. "You know what? I think there is. But give me a little time. Not until after Hearth's Warming. We could go check out the other kingdoms. I can make the rounds again and check on how they're doing. There was the drain and force-fields. I could make sure all is well. You could get to know other cultures."

Chrysalis' eyes lit up excitedly. "We could both be dragons together in the Dragon Lands. I'll bet your form gets free reign there."

The master mev giggled at the thought and soon calmed herself to consider that. She landed from her hover. "That's something worth finding out for sure.

"Alright, well, then. I'll tell Celestia and Luna you're still studying, but we're broadening your horizons by traveling and exploring the world. As for Everfree, I'll mention it to them, but they might deny you pretty quick. How's that?"

A sigh followed from her changeling friend. "Well being denied already would be unfortunate, but if you have to tell them, you have to tell them. As for the rest..." she paused, and the two friends met eyes, "'acceptable'," they chimed together at exactly the same time before bursting into shared laughter.





On Thursday, Rainbow Dash met with Celestia, Luna, and Twilight Sparkle. Sweetie Belle was with them all in her usual Rhezenda role.

"Let's start with...Chrysalis," Celestia implored.

"Sure. As the two of you know, she's achieved a 'reformed' appearance like all the other changelings," Rainbow began.

"Might we ask how that transpired?" Luna inquired.

"Friendship, just like the other changelings. She accepted me as a friend and eventually Twilight as well," Rainbow answered with a quick gesture to Twilight, who nodded in agreement.

"Do continue," Celestia further urged.

"Right. So, she's a client of ours learning to improve her leadership skills and better understand Equestria. She visits the Changeling Kingdom once a week. They have not given her back charge of the kingdom, but they are all on respectful terms with each other.

"She has helped out my fledglings on menial tasks, getting to know how things work. I've even shown her around Cloudsdale. She helped us as a friend on the day and night of my berserk," Rainbow went on, as suggested. "That included a dash of magic into my crown, Jin. Plus, she let me eat her magic that night."

Celestia and Luna sat together, quiet and thoughtful.

"After I talked to her about our progress thus far, we've decided to take it up a notch. I'll show her the other kingdoms since I want to check in on the places anyway," Rainbow noted.

"That all sounds well enough," Luna remarked. "Forgive us for prying, but just how did you encounter Chrysalis in a way that made you want to accept her as a friend?" she wondered.

Rainbow grinned. "Oh, it was devious on both our parts, and it is quite the tale. Are you sure you want to hear it? That could take awhile."

Both the sisters smiled, unable to hide their interest.

"Yes, please," they said, trying to sound regal and professional.

Rainbow told them all about the encounter, the mean copies, the Tree of Harmony's reaction, the decision and reasoning behind wanting to help Chrysalis, even including the former queen's desire to rule Equestria. Such information was relevant for the part not yet discussed on the castle. Rainbow told them about declining to help that, and offering to have Chrysalis be a student to Twilight instead, akin to Starlight Glimmer before her.

When she was finished with that part of the story, she gave the sisters a moment to take it in.

"That was indeed very interesting...and devious," Luna said.

Celestia only nodded. "Anything more then?"

"Yes," Rainbow replied. "Now she does have a long-term goal beyond that, but...you two might deny her.  I've already warned her of that."

"Do tell," Celestia implored.

"She wants to live at your old castle one day," Rainbow admitted. "The one in the Everfree forest...near the Tree of Harmony."

The princess' eye silently widened, but they did not immediately deny the notion either.

"Why?" Luna probed, much as Rainbow herself had the night before.

Rainbow turned a moment to examine some notes from Sweetie Belle to relay the reasoning as she could best remember when they made the notes.

Celestia sat with a furrowed brow, hesitating in thought, and Luna simply stared at her older sister. "Do you trust her?" she finally asked, addressing Rainbow Dash.

"Me? Of course. She's helped me more than once and out of genuine friendship too. I mean, she's a client and does expect something out of my service, but her living in your old castle is not part of our agreement. She will accept a refusal, and she knows I would enforce that," Rainbow answered. She was careful with her words.

"And you, Twilight?" Celestia asked.

Twilight blinked, then prepared herself to speak. "Yes, actually, I do. She's helped me as well in her own way when we became friends. We invited her along for an investigation, and she contributed."

"If we did deny her, then what?" Luna pressed, this time toward Rainbow Dash.

"Then she probably stays at Twilight's until she can find a suitable place," the master mev replied.

"Right," Twilight agreed. "I know that can be done."

Rainbow went on, "She doesn't want to live at the hive anymore, even if she visits on good terms there."

The princesses looked at each other. "I'm sure we could find her a place if we needed to help," Luna told Celestia. Despite her words, her manner suggested hesitance.

The older sister nodded. "True, but...this might actually be...a good thing...if she truly is...trustworthy?"

Luna nodded. She turned to Rainbow Dash. "We will not deny her today, but we would want to build trust with her over time, as she has done with the two of you."

Rainbow nodded. "I think...that will work out."

"We hope that to be true," Celestia said. "Now let's move onto Tirek."

Rainbow nodded. "He and I have agreed that I can visit him next month for a game of chess. Beyond that, I would like to continue visiting him, if he will let me, once a month. I don't think he'd go so far as to admit that we're friends, but he's certainly starting to act like we are," she explained.

The princesses nodded.

"I suppose that's good news," Celestia considered. "And Cozy Glow? What's happening with her?"

"Prince Rutherford has agreed to let her stay in Yakyakistan to have some time away from Equestria and give everyone time to heal. Her parents have agreed too. That will be for three months. She will be schooled in a similar manner to yaks her age. I'll be visiting her once a week and occasionally bringing her back under Team Awesome's supervision," Rainbow stated.

"And after those three months have passed?" Celestia prodded.

"A lot can happen in three months, Princess. I myself haven't even been a mev three months You can rest assured, it's on my mind. I don't have an answer for you yet. I will do what I hope is best for both Equestria and Cozy Glow herself. She is now a servant of mine on a strange technicality. She won't be draining magic out of your subjects again. That is an order I have given her," Rainbow explained.

"Interesting though a small comfort," Celestia noted.

"I agree," Luna echoed.

The meeting soon concluded after that.





Rainbow Dash entered Spitfire's office and cleared her throat to announce her presence.

Spitfire looked up from some paperwork. "What is it, Dash?"

"Uh…" Rainbow hesitated. She had mistakenly assumed Spitfire herself would have something to say to her, even if Rainbow was the one arriving to this room. "So you know the big magic drain that happened on Monday…"

Spitfire met her eyes and nodded. "You had something to do with that?"

"Fixing it, yeah," Rainbow replied. "It's kinda my job as a master mev."

Spitfire smiled. "That's great, but what about it? All of us were fine that day." She tapped a gold hoof to her forehead. "No horns."

"Well, something happened after I fixed the drain," Rainbow told her.

Spitfire grew serious with the way Rainbow said it. "What?"

Rainbow sighed. "I went berserk."

Spitfire cocked an eyebrow and waited for her visitor to further explain herself.

"It's this state that I go into if I don't get enough magic to eat. That's how I ended up needing the way I usually eat, but this berserk can also be brought on in other ways," Rainbow continued. "The pony who caused the drain was manipulating things to summon an artifact they thought would give them power."

"And it made you berserk instead?" Spitfire wondered.

"In a roundabout way, yeah," Rainbow agreed with a nod.

"Was anyone hurt?" Spitfire asked.

"Well…" Rainbow swallowed. "Yes."

"Rainbow, how bad was it?" Spitfire prodded, her concern growing. She started to stand from her seat but immediately paused and sad down. She instinctively calmed herself. It could not be that bad. Otherwise, she would have heard more from someone other than Rainbow Dash herself.

"Ten unicorns were bitten and are without magic until a full week passes from when I bit them. They are part of a reserve for this sort of thing. I can't eat magic to raise the sun or moon, so Celestia's been able to do that," Rainbow answered.

"Wait, you ate Celestia's magic?!" Spitfire asked in shock.

"Y-yes. She was bait for how they got me to stop," Rainbow explained. Now her anxiety was spiking. "I can't eat magic that controls the sun, so that's why she can still do it without any trouble."

"Why are you telling me this?" Spitfire inquired with a slight suspicion in her tone.

"Because when I told you I turned into a vampire, Celestia assured you I found a way to eat without hurting anyone," Rainbow replied. She was clearly on the verge of tears. "But...but...now that I've hurt some ponies…"

Spitfire's eyes gently darted around in thought. "...You're fine," she eventually said.

Rainbow's watering eyes shone back filled with hope. "Really?" she whispered.

"Rainbow Dash, you see more of this stuff than I do up close, but I know there are times when magic is out of our control and makes ponies do things. That's just how it is here in Equestria. You still have the trust of both Celestia and Luna, right? Even after all that?"

Rainbow nodded. "Yes, I do. They are fully informed on the situation."

"Then you're fine. I'm sorry other ponies got hurt, but it sounds like it could have been a lot worse. This berserk isn't a common thing, is it?" Spitfire wondered.

"No. I've only had it happen to be me one other time as part of a game with some older dragons," Rainbow replied.

Spitfire cracked up at that.

Rainbow Dash blushed, realizing that yes, that would definitely sound funny to someone not familiar with what she did as a master mev. After Spitfire settled from the laugh, Rainbow added, "There might be other relics or artifacts out there, but they are rare and conditional. Once an object has made me go berserk, it can't do it a second time either."

"Oh, well, that's good news," Spitfire contemplated aloud. "Look, if it ever actually happens during training or a show, then I'll have to re-evaluate things, but for today, we're good. Can you eat pegasus magic or just unicorn?"

"I can eat pegasus magic too but have a preference for unicorn. It returns after seven days all the same," Rainbow explained.

Spitfire nodded to acknowledge she understood. "Alright Dash. Thanks for telling me. I know you could have glossed over it, and I'd be none the wiser. It shows you care."

"Thanks, Captain," Rainbow replied.

Spitfire smirked. In the entire meeting, she'd forgotten the title, but now was the perfect time. "You're welcome, Master."
> Chapter 99 - Ending Project Mercury
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------



Three days before Hearth's Warming, the Team Awesome entourage gathered into Zecora's hut. Not every mev needed to be there, but they all felt it appropriate given the significance of what they were about to do. They were readying the last phase of Project Mercury.

Pinkie Pie stepped forward and whistled Penny out from the reserve.

Rainbow Dash stood in front of the literally icy figure. She took a deep breath, finding and searching for the magic of both the Crystal pony and the Crystal Heart before exhaling. The breath of magic from her mouth streamed around Penny, carefully melting the icy encasement.

Next, Penny nimbly plucked the flower from her hair with a hoof and offered it to Zecora with an exaggerated bow of her head.

Zecora sniffed the flower and smiled in approval. She showed it to Apple Bloom, who sniffed in approval as well.

Sweetie Belle brought out the idol of Boreas for the permanence to be extracted. Fluttershy ate from it; Rainbow Dash ate from Fluttershy. The master mev channeled the magic into a ready cup of water with the flower in it. The magic turned the water and flower a bright red.

The next set of actions were all from Rainbow herself. She blew out changeling magic and hippogriff magic, intertwining them into two streams that darkened the mixture all the more. The flower itself began to disintegrate, causing the liquid to slosh around as the flower performed its duty of fusing and mixing the different types of magic. The liquid turned into a dark, blood-red potion.

Zecora and Apple Bloom examined it carefully, sniffing and checking the temperature.

"Do not be fooled by its crimson appearance," Zecora informed Scootaloo. "No doubt it is for vampiric flair adherence."

The master mev's eyes happily lit to red, and she licked her lips with her fangs visibly peeking out. She sniffed and inhaled the scent. "Quite fitting, yes," she agreed, visibly enthralled.

To everyone's surprise, she swiped the cup and drank the newly made potion immediately.

"Uh, Master, why did you do that?" Starlight asked nervously. Her and everyone else were doing their best to not panic and hope this was some kind of instinct. "That potion was for Scootaloo, you know."

Sky blue wings fluttered into their bat shape. "Because it looked like blood, and I'm a vampire," Rainbow said with a fanged grin. She looked over to Scootaloo. who stared at her with a horrified, stunned expression. "It is not gone, Little Sister. I just need some water," the master vampire assured her charge.

Apple Bloom quickly readied exactly that with a silent, worried expression of her own.

Before anyone else could protest or question further, Rainbow Dash blew out another stream of magic that re-entered the cup, and the drink was no longer red. Instead, it looked like a magical teal water. "There, all better. This is much more suited for a child to drink. It is now fused thanks to the flower and the Master Mev." She set the cup down, bowed as graciously as she could, and at last backed away, her gaze following to her seated little sister.

Scootaloo gulped and nervously stared at it, Rainbow, and the cup once more. This was it. The moment was here—or rather, an important moment to lead to another. She was really going to do this. If everything went as she hoped, she would be able to fly in three days. But what if she couldn't? After Rainbow and the others went through so much trouble just for her?

A soft breeze told her Rainbow Dash was hovering near. A sky blue hoof clasped her shoulder. Scootaloo looked up into the eyes of its owner. "It's time," Rainbow told her softly. The master mev was still in full vampire form, but the red looked as sincere as her more frequent magenta. "Master commands you to drink," the bat pony said with a playful wink.

Scootaloo eased into a comforted smile. She felt relaxed and ready, so she downed the drink. Her entire body felt warm, and her small wings tingled. She fluttered them. She could not get any more off the ground than before, but that was expected. She hoped far more than she wanted to hope that three days would have her answer—the answer she had wanted ever since she noticed she might have a disability at all.

"Thank you very much Zecora," Rainbow's voice pulled Scootaloo's attention back to the present hut and gathered group.

"My help to give was a pleasure, though much effort was done by your tearm's measure," Zecora reminded the ring leader of her many visitors.

"Well,  I won't deny that either," Rainbow replied with a proud smile. "Alright, team, let's move out. We're not going to stand around here for three days while we wait and hope."

With that, the entire party left and bade farewell to Zecora who was inwardly hoping just as much as they were.





Flying.

She was flying.

But how could this be?

It was just a clear night, and she was alone.

Three days had not yet passed.

Not even a full night—this night—had passed.

"Well, I figured this might qualify," a familiar voice said, and Scootaloo turned to her right to see Rainbow Dash suddenly flying alongside her.

Scootaloo blinked. "'Qualify?'"

Rainbow smiled. "You know, I don't get to use dream magic often. Most of my clients don't need something like this."

"But I do?" Scootaloo asked.

"Well, 'need' might be pushing it, but you gotta admit, it is a nice touch," Rainbow said, still smiling.

Scootaloo smiled back. "Yeah, it is."

"It's not too frivolous by my power's standards. This dream will help you mentally prepare and practice. Thinking of dreams is what helped you on your confidence run after all," Rainbow Dash pointed out.

Scootaloo's eyes lit up, and suddenly the two of them were sea ponies underwater.

Rainbow chuckled at their new forms and new environment.

"Swim with me!" Scootaloo declared with an eager smile. She darted off in a flash.

The sound of swooshing through water followed with a sudden rainbow blur catching up to Scootaloo.

"How'd you do that? You don't rainbow trail in the water," Scootaloo remarked.

"Dream magic!" Rainbow proudly sang, spinning around in place. She became a rainbow-finned blur until she finished and struck a pose.

Scootaloo giggled. She tried and saw a violet blur trail after herself too.

"Awesome!" she squealed.

A pause passed before Rainbow decided to say something. "Months ago, you asked me if flying was like swimming, and I never got to give you an answer."

"So, is it?" Scootaloo wanted to know.

"Sometimes," Rainbow said with a nod, "but I feel like that more often when I'm flying slow instead of fast."

"Really?" Scootaloo asked in interest.

The water disappeared, and they were in the sky again. Rainbow Dash drifted into a drawn-out vertical circle as she said, "When I am most relaxed, the air is my ocean, Little Sister." Scootaloo stared down and saw Rainbow hovering on her back slowly, gently descending with a confident smile. The older pegasus twirled up and upright. "But you know...everyone is different. You've lived on the ground all your life and still have your stunts. Like you've told me, you're going to forge your own path. Maybe it will be different for you."

"Right," Scootaloo agreed with a soft smile. A tear welled in her eye. "Maybe I didn't 'need' this to fly in a few days Rainbow, but it sure feels needed as your sister."

Rainbow Dash hugged her. "Then I'm glad we had this time together."

"Me too," Scootaloo whispered and soon felt the dream fade away.





The next few days passed, and Hearth's Warming Day itself had at last arrived.

Scootaloo bolted out of bed and ran to the bathroom to inspect her wings. She grabbed her camera and took a picture to compare to the past three days. A hesitant smile formed as she could see the evidence that yes, the wings were slightly bigger. They had grown to the proper size expected of a filly her age.

She inhaled her hope. "Please please please," she begged the air.

She flapped her wings and hovered a good five seconds longer than she was usually able to do without help from her mev bond with Rainbow Dash.

"Okay okay okay," she said as she paced around the room. "That's fine. It's a gradual change. This is a good sign. The flight will probably be here once we're all together," she reminded herself in an assuring tone. 

She clambered to the living room to see the Hearth's Warming tree and collection of gifts.

Scootaloo hopped and paced. Wake them? Don't wake them? She didn't have to debate long as two familiar figures entered. Both of her aunts smiled warmly at her.

"Come on, let's open presents," Scootaloo said, as she pranced in place.

The two mares quietly complied, knowing their niece was a bundle of nerves today. They were informed enough to know what this day meant to Scootaloo beyond their presents for the morning.

Once the gifts were opened, and the family thanked each other, they moved onto breakfast. With the meal nearly finished, Scootaloo's aunt Lofty asked, "So, is it ready?"

"It's not instant," Scootaloo explained. "I took the potion three days ago. Just now, I could hover longer.   Starlight Glimmer thinks that even though I'm not Rainbow Dash herself, the friendship magic going into the whole thing will make it happen once we're all together this afternoon."

"That's wonderful, dear. What time shall we be there again?" her aunt Holiday inquired.

"Stop by around 5," Scootaloo suggested.

They all heard a knock at the door.

"I sure hope that's Sweetie Belle," Scootaloo declared and zipped over to the door, stumbling part way through an attempted flight.

Holiday, meanwhile, stepped over and opened the door.

Sweetie Belle peered down at an upside down Scootaloo, the pegasus of the two flicking her violet tail before righting herself.

"Scootaloo, I know you're excited, but you could get hurt trying too much too soon," Rhezenda lectured with a gentle smile.

"How did you know what happened?" Scootaloo asked.

"Lucky guess," Sweetie Belle admitted with a friendly giggle. "Apple Bloom's helping out Applejack with the Pies visiting.  They'll join us later at the castle."

As the two stepped out into the snow-covered ground of Ponyville, Scootaloo asked, "So where's Master? What's she up to now exactly? Is she already there?"

"Yes, she is. She's helping Twilight ready the castle," Sweetie Belle explained.





"Uncle Blaze!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. She rushed over with a surprised smile, tumbling onto a stallion with a rainbow mane and same coat color as her dad.

"Whoa there speedster, I'm not getting any younger," Rainbow Blaze said with his back on the ground.

Rainbow Dash held out a hoof to help him up. "I thought I was supposed to help keep you on your hooves and ready for any challenge." She mocked a few punches in his direction without actually hitting him.

"Well, I'm a bit older now so it's a little harder," Blaze admitted. He pulled his niece in for a tight hug, making sure to leave her wings free for what was next.

"You better let me go or else!" Rainbow Dash threatened with a knowing smile on her face.

"Bring it," Blaze challenged.

"You asked for it," she warned.

Her wings fluttered with a couple of feathers working their way toward his neck. The stallion held out as long as he could before breaking into giggles and letting her go. "Alright, alright, I give. You win."

"That's right. This Rainbow wins again!" Rainbow Dash declared. She cupped her hooves to her mouth as she made a mock crowd cheering noise.

"Haha, that you did, kid," Rainbow Blaze agreed. "This time," he added with a wink. He held out a hoof for his niece to bump and could not pull away fast enough to tease her and tell her she was too slow. She really was a quick one, he knew.

"Mom and Dad, you didn't tell me he would be here," Rainbow said to her parents as they stood in the lobby of Twilight's castle together.

"Surprise!" the three elders said together.

"We thought maybe you'd want to update your uncle on what's been happening the past few months," Bow told her with a look.

"Right," Rainbow agreed with a nod. "Come on Uncle Blaze," Rainbow said, tugging at her uncle's hoof and leading him to a room where they could talk more privately. "I doubt you'll be as proud as Mom and Dad over this, but it is a big deal for me."

"Alright, alright, I'm going," Rainbow Blaze said.

Once inside, Rainbow admittedly abruptly, "I'm a vampire now. I eat magic instead of blood. It's a type of vampire called a 'master mev.' See. Mev. Magic Eating Vampire," she gestured with her hoof as if the words were in front of her.

"No kidding?" Rainbow Blaze asked with an interested smile.

"Yup. I got help to feed me, so it's all alright—well, most of the time," Rainbow Dash told him.

"Most of the time?" he asked back with concern.

Rainbow Dash sighed. "Something happened a few weeks ago that triggered my berserk. It messes with my head. I'm dangerous then, but a berserk isn't common or easy to trigger."

"Oh...well, we do live in Equestria. You on the ground with all these unicorns too," Rainbow Blaze noted.

"Right though it was a pegasus filly that came up with the scheme," Rainbow Dash said. "And she didn't do it on purpose."

"Unbelievable," the uncle remarked with a shake of his head. "Well, I'm glad you're you now. So aside from that...congrats?"

Rainbow Dash blushed. "Not what I usually hear but yeah, I like it a lot."

"Well, I don't mind being one to say it. What are favorite uncles for?" Rainbow Blaze asked.

Rainbow Dash giggled and lightly tapped him in the shoulder. Today was going to be a good day. She could feel it.





"Hey Scoot," Rainbow greeted with a warm smile just outside the castle.

Scootaloo glided lightly into Rainbow's forelimbs. "It's starting to work more and more like you said, see."

"That's awesome," Rainbow Dash replied. "I'll alert everyone you're here." She pulled out her cell phone and sent out a text message to many.

The doors to the castle opened and out came Cozy Glow leading Rainbow's parents and a stallion Scootaloo knew to be Rainbow Dash's uncle from a past Hearth's Warming visit. As Rainbow had told it, her uncle was really into sports and was with Rainbow Dash when they found out the Equestria Games were not taking place in Cloudsdale after all. He helped cheer her up and train for her flag routine, as well as being a generally encouraging figure in her life albeit more subdued than her parents.

Bow and Windy greeted Scootaloo with an enthusiastic hug, and Blaze gave her a polite shake of his hoof.

Chrysalis, Spike, Twilight Sparkle, and Starlight Glimmer soon stepped out from the castle as well.

"Oh Scootaloo, has Rainbow asked you yet?" Twilight said.

"Asked me what?" Scootaloo replied.

"Not yet," Rainbow Dash admitted. "The Student Six chose to stay behind yesterday, instead of going home. So long as we're having so many here to watch and support you...can they join us?"

"Oh, sure." Scootaloo scratched the back of her short violet mane with a timid smile.

"I'll go get them," Twilight offered and trotted away.

"We're here!" Applejack's voice announced as Apple Bloom scurried over to her two crusader friends.

"Did it happen already? We didn't miss it, did we?" Apple Bloom asked.

"It's getting stronger with each passing moment," Scootaloo explained, "but I'll do my best to wait for everyone else to finish getting here."

In a flash, Discord and Fluttershy appeared to join the group with the draconequus having teleported the pair in together.

"Lord of Chaos Discord and Segunda Fluttershy of Pack Team Awesome have arrived," Discord half mocked a formal introduction of the pair as he bowed.

Fluttershy smiled. "Yes, we have."

"I hope I'm not too late," Rarity said as she trotted up to the group. "Here you are, my dear," she said to Scootaloo, giving the filly a purple scarf, matching the shade of her usual helmet. It had a small pair of white wings emblazoned on one end.

"Thanks Rarity," Scootaloo replied with a grateful smile.

"Quintaza and Pentaza are here!" Pinkie announced as she slid in upon a slide of ice that soon materialized into Penny's pony form.

Not long after that, Twilight arrived with the students.

"Alright, is that everyone?" Rainbow asked aloud. She mentally checked and made a head count.

All of Team Awesome, Penny, all of the Awesome Crusaders, Spike, Discord, the Student Six, her parents, her uncle, and Chrysalis...yes, these friends or friends of friends would do well enough. Scootaloo's aunts would stop by later. She felt a little bad that Tirek could not be here, but she had convinced herself he was too far removed from Project Mercury for it to be appropriate. He and Scootaloo hardly even qualified as acquaintances. Cozy didn't help in the Project Mercury venture either, but she was visiting the area for Hearth's Warming and under Team Awesome's care. Plus, Rainbow wanted the filly to grow into part of the group as Chrysalis had, if such a thing were possible.

"Yes, Master, it is," Starlight Glimmer confirmed.

Sweetie Belle levitated a checklist of her own. "Yes, Master," she doubly confirmed.

"The givers with magical gift needing magic of the giving are all gathered," Pinkie declared happily.

Spike silently mouthed the words in almost confusion. They sounded like a tongue twister he could not possibly repeat.

"And then some!" Penny added.

Rainbow Dash took a deep breath. "Alright Scoot. Sorry it can't be a more private tutorial setting, but we're using magic. Friendship magic is the strongest there is."

"I know Rainbow Dash, I know," Scootaloo replied. "It's okay, really." She readied her stance, fluttered her wings in place, and lifted into the air. "It's working!" she told everyone excitedly and then started to fall.

Rainbow Dash caught her. "Careful, Squirt. Maintain focus. You're just excited, which is understandable."

Scootaloo nodded and repeated her efforts. She hovered in place longer, getting used to the repeated flapping she had seen Rainbow Dash do.

"More like Cozy than me," Rainbow herself advised. "You're closer to her size."

Cozy herself fluttered as an example. "I flap a little fast so maybe a teensy bit slower than me."

Scootaloo nodded and fluttered the wings faster, matching the suggested pace as best she could.

"Follow me," Rainbow commanded.

Scootaloo nodded and flapped her wings into the same path as her sister. They went higher.

"Let's try a glide," the older pegasus suggested. "Hold your wings out and let the air carry you until you sense you can't rely it anymore."

Scootaloo copied Rainbow's actions and did that.

"Good, good," Rainbow said. "One big flap to go up as high as you can." Her sister demonstrated.

Scootaloo followed. She could not go as high, but she grasped the basic idea.

"We should go back down," Rainbow said. "Let's try a landing."

Scootaloo again followed Rainbow Dash observing when to slow and coil her wings into an easy canter. She smiled proudly at herself. She had done it. Magic assisted this time, but it was still with her and inside her.

Windy and Bow rushed past Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle to hug her tightly and hold her in the air. "Woo woo woo!" they said before setting her down.

"You did it Scootaloo!" Sweetie Belle nearly shrieked and gave her friend a huge hug.

"You're a real flier now!" Apple Bloom added and hugged her too.

The others soon congratulated her, offering hugs or a basic nod or hoof, claw, or wing shake, depending on the species.

They soon returned to the castle to enjoy their holiday. They left Scootaloo alone with her big sister so the pair could have a moment.

Scootaloo smiled and looked up to see Rainbow's eyes watering. A blue forelimb pulled her in close and held tight.

For a long time, neither of them said anything and simply held close to the moment.

Scootaloo felt her own eyes soon water as well. They stood together for several seconds. "Thank you, Rainbow Dash," Scootaloo finally managed to say in a soft voice. "This is the best gift ever. I mean...not just the flying...but all of you here today...our friendship..."

Rainbow swallowed as several tears helplessly streamed down her face. "I uh...we tried...you know, Team Awesome and so many friends out there."

Scootaloo pulled away to see Rainbow look down a moment. The master mev had bowed her head. She looked up again, as she could not stop the tears from still streaming. "We're all happy for you. We're glad to have been of service." 

A long pause lingered in the air. The two stood together, and Rainbow wiped her tears. At last she fluttered her wings, lifting into a hover. "Let's fly for a bit and then enjoy the rest of Hearth's Warming with everyone."

Scootaloo lifted into the air, ready to do exactly that. She knew it in her heart. She could feel it in her body. She really had the ability to fly, at long last.
> Chapter 100 - Warmth
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------







In Tartarus, Tirek was quite surprised to hear a portal open. He saw Luna accompanied by two guards.

Luna magically levitated a small package toward him. "From Master Rainbow Dash," she said simply.

Without further ceremony, they all left.

The whole affair intrigued Tirek. He opened the box to find a small letter and a bottle. Unfolding the paper, he read the following:

Lord Tirek,

In accordance with our agreement, I will not visit until next month. Apple cider is one of my favorite drinks, and you've never tasted my Fyra's magic. I've added a small trace of it in the bottle. It is no substitute for freedom, but it is what is within my power to give you this day. Happy Hearth's Warming, my friend.

Master Rainbow Dash

Tirek opened the bottle and took a sniff. He unabashedly smiled with no one present to observe him and took a drink. "Warm," he remarked. "Interesting choice, Master." He raised the bottle in the air, in a toast. "My thanks...friend."





Applejack breathed out orange fire onto some logs in Twilight Sparkle's fireplace. "There ya go, Master. Nice and warm."

Rainbow Dash yawned and stretched for a moment before curling up close to it on the floor. "Thank you my fiery Fyra."

"And here's a blanket for some bonus warmth," Rarity offered. She levitated over a navy blue blanket with a silver trim. The master mev recognized the color scheme from the dress she wore on their first flexchange. How lovely.

"Thanks Mitria," Rainbow said sleepily. "Sorry girls. I did not know Hearth's Warming would tire me out like this. Might be a counter to Nightmare Night even if they're not far apart on the calendar. Any ideas, Rhezenda?"

Sweetie Belle blushed. "Yes, Master. I think it's several things actually."

"Oh?"

"Well, I mean, we just finished the cure for Scootaloo today...and you went berserk not long before that. The magic knew our plan for this cure, so the tiredness waited until now. This is the price for the seal on the berserk we had....Jin told us it might happen, but then it didn't until now. Next year...you might still get tired, but I don't think it will be this strong," Sweetie Belle explained.

Rainbow Dash and nodded and yawned. "Well, sorry all the same, girls."

"It's okay," Fluttershy said, gently stroking the blanket covering Rainbow's backside. "It sort of makes sense. You don't need much sleep most of the rest of the year. It might not be the opposite time of year as Nightmare Night, but the nature of each holiday is different. And, like Rhezenda said, we've officially completed our biggest project."

"We'll be sure to tell everyone else what's up," Twilight Sparkle offered.

"Should we let them wake you before they leave?" Starlight asked.

"My parents and uncle, yes. I don't see them often. I see everyone else plenty around Ponyville," Rainbow said and closed her eyes.

"Master!" Pinkie Pie declared as she bounced into the room.

"Hmm?" Rainbow blinked and raised her head.

"Here is a plate of cookies for you, just in case you want a snack sometime tonight." The pink earth pony placed it down. "Chrysalis helped."

"Oh, thanks. Tell her thanks too," Rainbow said and rested her head into her forelimbs once again, closing her eyes.

Primeva, Segunda, Mitria, Fyra, Quintaza, Rexa, Rhezenda. Yes, they all knew. Sleep was ready for her.

"Wake me for my flexchange at the latest," she uttered with a final yawn.

The fledglings and assistant quietly departed the room and turned out the light. They left the master in the near dark except for the orange glow of the fire.

Rainbow's mind drifted to events earlier in the day.





"Scootaloo!" Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle called out at the same time, as their friend joined their table in the dining room.

"How was your first flight with your big sister, huh? Apple Bloom asked with an eager smile.

Scootaloo glanced back to see a smiling Rainbow Dash approach from a fair distance behind her. "The best!" she happily told her friends.

"Master!" the other two fillies again spoke in unison though Sweetie Belle galloped over for a hug.

"Rhezenda," Rainbow said, stroking her pink and purple mane. "Crusader Apple Bloom," she greeted with a polite nod.

"Oh Master. Do you think anything we do can feel as awesome as this does ever again?" Sweetie Belle asked.

Rainbow Dash chuckled. "To be honest...no...but hey...if it did....wouldn't that be something?"

The Awesome Crusaders collectively giggled at that.

"How are you feeling?" Sweetie Belle asked another question.

Rainbow smiled at her. "Great. You?"

"Same," the young unicorn replied.





"So, have you figured out anything about what you'll do with me when my sentence is over?" Cozy Glow asked with an innocent tinge of hope in her voice.

She and Rainbow had finished a round of chess in the library. Her master was preparing to leave and speak with others soon enough.

"I have considered adopting you," Rainbow Dash admitted.

"But?" Cozy prodded. The older pegasus sounded far from certain.

"As a master mev, I am responsible for artifacts like the ones you used for the drain. While my magic has a way of avenging itself, as we both know, other ponies can still get hurt along the way," Rainbow reminded her.

"Yeah, but now that I know your magic does that, I wouldn't risk it," Cozy Glow argued.

"Even assuming I'd believe you and give you the chance, I have four jobs that keep me away from my cloud house quite a bit. It is far easier to take care of a tortoise with Fluttershy's help than...well, be almost a mom to you."

Cozy looked disappointed to hear that as her ears drooped.

Rainbow chuckled. "You actually liked that idea?"

"Well, I mean, yes. Think about it, Master. You know I want power. You have power. It's not power I can take, but I know that you share. So being adopted by you would, theoretically, open the door to more power for me," Cozy explained

Rainbow nodded. "Hmm. True," she agreed with sincerity.

"Would you deny me just for wanting it?" Cozy asked.

"'Just' for that? No, but...well, with what you did, it does make you dangerous. All I need is for the wrong thing to happen on the wrong day and poof, my ward has destroyed everything I've worked for," Rainbow said.

"But I wouldn't!" Cozy protested.

Rainbow held up a wing to silence her. "That, of course, is a risk in any plan short of killing you or petrifying you, and I won't do that. I will give you a chance to prove yourself as I've done with Chrysalis. My other thought is to have you study abroad as an information officer for me."

Cozy grew contemplative. "What, like a spy? Why?"

"A spy," Rainbow uttered with an amused chuckle. "The places you would be in would know exactly who you are and why you are there, so I'd hardly call it 'spying' though you can still title yourself Agent Glow if you like. Seems a good fit."

Cozy giggled. She thought so too.

"As for why, it seems like a service that might fit you. You're smart, and the more my team understands magic in our territory—even outside Equestria—the better. The main problem is you are not trustworthy. Rutherford allows you in Yakyakistan because he does not see you as a threat, even knowing what you did," Rainbow explained.

Cozy had grown still and thoughtful at that. At last, she looked up. "I'm okay with that idea too. I'd rather be adopted, but that one's okay. I'll earn your trust and theirs too. You'll see, Master."

"I would definitely like to see that happen," Rainbow replied. She stood up and pat Cozy Glow lightly on the head, which the filly did inwardly appreciate, before leaving the room.





Eyes closed and face lit by the warming orange flames, Rainbow Dash thought of Tirek. She hoped he liked her gift. No, he had to like it. He enjoyed her offerings before. She could ask all in good time, next month. She opened her eyes, grabbed one of the cookies Pinkie had left for her, and her memories returned to the castle and earlier in the day.





"Student Six!" Rainbow Dash called out as she approached a table of six young friends.

"Master," Gallus greeted for all of them with a polite nod.

"Everything good with Scootaloo's flying?" Smolder asked.

"Yup. She's having a great day," Rainbow answered. "How are you six enjoying Hearth's Warming in Ponyville?"

"It's not same as home with our own holidays but still good with friends," Yona replied.

"Oh yeah, I overheard some of that yesterday. What are your holidays like?" Rainbow asked the group. She was soon regaled with tales of other winter holidays that she had overheard in passing the previous day. She cackled evilly at hearing Smolder retell the winning story from the previous year's Feast of Fire in the Dragonlands. Once all was said and done, she considered aloud, "You know, maybe we could all take a trip to see Celaeno and the crew again since we're all on a holiday break, assuming they're not too busy."

"I totally want to see them again!" Silverstream declared excitedly.

"Yeah, they were pretty cool," Gallus agreed.

"I'm for it," Smolder further concurred.

"Yona okay so long as friends there," Yona added.

"Yeah, I want to go," Sandbar said.

"Awesome, I'll check in with Starlight for an escort. I'm showing Chrysalis around the world, so this would be a good trip for her too," Rainbow remarked.

The students showed signs of hesitance in their expressions, but Ocellus reminded them all," Well, she did help us the night Master went berserk and has been in Ponyville for almost two months now."

"Plus, friends protect each other," Yona said.

"Right. If she tries any funny business, we'll be ready," Smolder said with a confident smile and pushing her fists together.

"That won't be necessary, but I understand being on your guard," Rainbow told her. "Anyway, I'm off."

They waved her good-bye as she made her way to a table where Discord and Spike sat.





Rainbow Dash finished her cookie and was about to go back to sleep when a knock at the door revealed her parents and uncle.

"Dashie," the father called in gently.

Rainbow yawned. "Come on in. You caught me before I drifted off again."

"Your friends told us that you don't normally need much sleep as a master mev, but today has taken its toll on you," Windy noted with concern.

"It's not a bad thing," Rainbow assured her. "Lots of animals rest up during the winter. Tank is hibernating right now. I just need more rest than I usually do. I'll know better for next year."

"Right, of course," Windy said softly.

"We're heading out now so just wanted to say our good-bye before taking off," Bow told his daughter.

The four gathered into a large group hug, and Rainbow bade them farewell before positioning herself into a curled up form near the fire again. After a little more sleep, she woke yet again. Her mind wandered back to where she left off in her recollection.





"Master, how good of you to stop by," Discord said, and a rose grew out from his lion paw as he offered it.

Rainbow Dash sniffed and inhaled its magical scent before Discord made it multiply into several more that disappeared in a flash. "Nice," Rainbow told him.

"So, how's your day going, Rainbow?" Spike asked in interest.

"I'm starting to feel kinda tired to be honest," Rainbow confessed, "but I'll get to sleep later. I'd like to at least say 'hi' to everyone while they're here. Today's kind of special for me too, even if it's Scootaloo who got to fly."

"Yeah, I guess finishing Project Mercury would be a big deal for the team," Spike considered.

"Oh definitely," Discord agreed.

"How about you guys? We don't hang out much now that I don't have as many lessons or travels," Rainbow noted.

"I'm great! We got presents and treats! I just love Hearth's Warming!" Spike told her.

"Yes, yes. I am well as well," Discord concurred.

"Glad to hear it. See you guys around," Rainbow waved at them and lifted into the air to go find Chrysalis.





The tall changeling was with Pinkie Pie in the kitchen, helping the earth pony cook the same cookies that would be later given to Rainbow Dash.

"We want lots of different shapes for fun!" Pinkie told her helper. "Oh hi Master!"

"Master, what are you doing here?" Chrysalis asked in surprise.

"Checking in on you before I hit the hay," Rainbow answered.

"Oh Master, why would you hit the hay?" Pinkie asked. "It didn't do anything to you."

"Training, but I meant sleep," Rainbow answered.

"I'm fine, Master," Chrysalis said. "It's a nice holiday."

"Great. Hey, want to meet some pirates? I'm taking the students on a trip if said pirates aren't too busy. I really need to figure out how to get cell phones across the world," Rainbow said.

Chrysalis chuckled. "Pirates? Really?"

"Yeah, they're friends of mine. I'm showing you around other places in the world and thought you might want to tag along," Rainbow told her.

"Hmm. Yes, very well. I accept your invitation," Chrysalis replied with a sincere and official air. "And perhaps I can help you figure out getting cell phones into the world. That might get me into the good graces of your princesses and build their trust."

"Yeah, it might! Awesome! This is going to be so much fun," Rainbow remarked.





Rainbow Dash fluttered her eyes open at the gentle touch of a canary-colored forelimb.

"Master," Fluttershy told her gently. "It's time."

Rainbow raised her head and bit into her second fledgling's neck without a word. Fluttershy was surprised at the quickness of it all but was unhurt. She soon bit back. They sat in a warm embrace for a short while.

"Still tired?" Fluttershy wanted to know.

"I think I'll be on a regular pony sleep schedule until New Year's Eve," Rainbow Dash admitted.

"Oh," Fluttershy said in a soft voice, teetering on the edge of disappointment.

Rainbow nuzzled her and flared out her feathered wings, transforming them to bat-like flaps. Fluttershy followed suit. Rainbow clasped her hoof and led the fledgling out a window up into a cloud in the sky. The master mev lay on her back and stared upward.

Fluttershy understood immediately and followed suit, snuggling up to Rainbow Dash.

"How have you been, Fluttershy?" Rainbow asked.

Fluttershy stared Rainbow up and down curiously and quietly realized that her master was checking in on her life in general. While Rainbow had done this before, it seemed the upcoming end of the year was a time of reflection. "Wonderful," Fluttershy answered. "I have my animals, Discord, you. I missed you while you slept—we all did—but it was still a good day. My sanctuary's doing well. I don't use my mev powers much, but I still appreciate having them of course."

"Good," Rainbow said. "Tell Starlight I want every Awesomev ready for something like this. The seven of us on a cloud, staring up into the sky as the new year arrives at midnight next week," Rainbow said.

"Oh that sounds so nice. As you wish, Master," Fluttershy said.

They cuddled a little longer before Rainbow flew Fluttershy back to her house and returned to the warm fire at Twilight's castle. Shew knew her Rexa would understand the wish to spend the rest of the evening here.





Rarity sighed in content as she felt the gentle stroke of a sky blue forelimb. 

"You are so beautiful," Rainbow Dash murmured.

Rarity blushed. "Thank you, Master."

"How's life with you Rarity?" Rainbow asked.

"Hard to imagine it could be better," Rarity replied. "Business is booming. Sweetie's so happy to help out at the school and you though she does miss the travels. I'm glad you'll let her join you tomorrow, for seeing the pirates. Somewhere between it all, I find time to practice my earth. It's not something I can give or sell to customers, but it is ready if we need it."

The third fledgling felt some more gentle strokes on her white coat. "Good," Rainbow noted with approval.

"You are asking all of us this, aren't you?" Rarity questioned to the master mev. "It feels a little different than usual."

"It is. The end of the year draws near. I'm recharging with the extra sleep and making sure we are ready for what comes next. I want to be ready to help any of my fledglings if they need it. I take care of you, right?" Rainbow reminded her.

Rarity smiled with a quiet, happy contemplation to herself. "Right."





Applejack's body slammed against a wall. "Flexchanges really are something else to fight off your tiredness like this," she spat and regained her balance before charging toward Rainbow for them to wrestle each other to the ground.

Rainbow rolled her over and headbutted her. "No argument there."

Applejack countered and bucked Rainbow up into the air, then grabbed the colorful tail in her teeth and flung the pegasus to another wall. She readied herself for the next incoming attack though it did little good as a blue and rainbow blur rammed into her. A couple of punches later and the two lay on the floor, out of breath.

"Now?" Applejack asked.

"Now," Rainbow confirmed with a nod and planted herself over the earth pony to dig her fangs in for a bite.

Applejack returned the favor, and as she did, the damaged bedroom repaired itself.

The two mares soon stood, neck by neck before pulling away to meet each other's eyes.

"Strong as ever, Fyra, thank you," Rainbow said.

Applejack smirked. "'Twas a pleasure."

"So besides that, how ya been?"

"Been good," Applejack answered with a nod. "Farm's good. School's good. Family's good. Hey, even my fire's good. I mainly use it to help with the cooking around here or just to play with it."

"Good," Rainbow answered and nearly collapsed as Applejack caught her. The tiredness had returned now that the actual exchange was over.

"And now, I think I'll use it to warm ya up for another night. Come on, I'll walk you home. I'm sure your magic will let me get everything set up proper at your house," Applejack offered.

"Yeah, it had better," Rainbow mumbled grumpily.





Pinkie Pie squinted with a serious expression. "Penny and I have devised the most perfect pie in all existence."

Rainbow Dash squinted back, just as seriously. "But I hate pie."

"Then you know what to do," Pinkie told her and flung the pie into the air, aiming it at Rainbow's face.

Immediately, Rainbow Dash grinned evilly and shot laser beams from her eyes. The blasts ripped the pie to pieces that Pinkie caught in her own mouth. The pink mev slurped it up around her face, and red levitating magic flung all the rest in her direction.

"Mm-hmm. Delicious! Too bad you missed out, Master. It really was the best pie ever," Pinkie remarked.

"I'll have a taste filtered through you," Rainbow replied with a wicked smile.

"Hee hee," Pinkie giggled and bounced to Rainbow for their actual flexchange to take place.

"Yes, you do taste delicious this night," Rainbow agreed. "Strawberry and whipped cream?"

"And fledgling mev love!" Pinkie enthusiastically added. "On the Saturday after Hearth's Warming, the magical day of giving, no less."

Rainbow chuckled. "No complaints. So, tell me, Pinkie Pie, how is life for you?"

"Well…" Pinkie said, slowly drawing out the word she readied to ramble. "I'm so happy to have Penny back in action. Ice powers are awesome, but of course you would know that—what with being master of Team Awesome and having us Awesomev fledglings. Besides that, I've been partying it up, baking, the usual stuff. I kinda miss Maud since she spends so much time with Mud Briar, but since he makes her happy, I'm at least happy for that."

"Good," Rainbow said and nodded with approval.

"And you, Master? How is life for you?" Pinkie prodded.

Rainbow Dash yawned. "Tiring, but good. I'm over halfway done with this weird sleepy week."

Pinkie gave Rainbow a tight hug. "I can't wait 'til you have your energy back!"

"Same here," Rainbow concurred.

"Come on. I'll bounce next to you while you walk back to Twilight's. And carry you if you fall asleep. Applejack's going to set up another nice cozy fire for you, and Fluttershy's making sure your house all good to go when you get back to normal for a master mev," Pinkie offered.

Rainbow nodded and sleepily followed.





"Master," Twilight Sparkle cooed in Rainbow's ear.

"Hmm?" Rainbow Dash snapped awake.

"We need to do our flexchange," Twilight informed her.

Rainbow nodded and sat up. A unicorn horn quickly took shape on her head as she touched horns with Twilight. They let their magical streams intertwine, as usual. Rainbow bit Twilight, and Twilight bit her back.

Once settled, Rainbow asked, "And how are you, Twilight?"

"I'm well, keeping busy getting ready for next semester," Twilight answered. "I'm going to miss you tonight in the library."

Rainbow smiled. "I'm gonna miss it too. Pick out something for me to read for next week then, how's that?"

"I'd love to, Master," Twilight replied with a warm smile. "Just two more days, right?"

"Right," Rainbow told her with a quiet little nod. "No flexchange tomorrow. Starlight has everything ready?"

"Trixie's going to give us some fireworks, but she'll be grounded, and she's perfectly okay with that," Twilight explained. "The Awesome Crusaders will be having their own celebration in the castle with Spike. They don't mind either. I'm letting them."

"That all sounds like a fine plan," Rainbow said and curled up again for another full night of sleep.





On Monday evening, Starswirl the Bearded arrived at Rainbow Dash's house. "Master, I hope you are doing well with your umm...'recharge' is what your Rhezenda called it."

Sweetie Belle had made arrangements to invite him, as it seemed a proper time to her. She was quietly present with them at the moment.

"I am. It's nearly over, and I get more energy back for my flexchanges at least. Even though I don't have one tonight, it is 'my' night for the pack. Plus, Rhezenda and I usually spend some time together these nights anyway," Rainbow explained.

"I'll leave you to it then," Sweetie Belle told them.

"Actually..." Rainbow began. "If you want to watch this time, I'll allow it."

Sweetie Belle's eyes widened in shock. "You really don't mind?" While she had witnessed such a thing with Neighsay, that was spontaneous and unintentional. This feeding would be planned.

"I really don't...for this time. Although...Starswirl, is that alright with you?"

"A rare witness to my own feeding? No, I don't mind it all. That gives the whole affair it's own special flavor, doesn't it?"

Rainbow smiled. "Yeah, I think so too. Well then, when you are ready..."

"Might I see that snake again and learn about it first?" her guest inquired.

"Blitz? Sure," she agreed.

The leviathan dread was summoned, and Rainbow Dash explained what the ghostly snake was. "Twilight has more notes on her too, but you get the idea."

Starswirl was petting Blitz with pleasure and looked up at the master mev. "Yes, yes I do. Well, then, it was nice meeting you properly Blitz." He bowed his head politely. The pet dismissed herself and returned to her void. "Now I am ready, Master," Starswirl said.

Rainbow Dash glanced over to Sweetie Belle who was patiently watching them in quiet fascination. The vampire lit her eyes to red, approached, and dug her fangs into Starswirl's neck. The unicorn's magic was strong and aged. She had never had anything like it. His millennia in limbo added some interesting flavor too, like a sticky candy that was not really sticky at all.

Unlike most victims, he did not succumb to sleep right away.

"That's odd," Rainbow noted, as she and Sweetie Belle explained the matter to him.

"I think it's because of your own tiredness lately," Sweetie Belle offered.

The master mev nodded. "Certainly could be. Well then, Rhezenda can escort you out. I need a drink and then must rest."

Starswirl bowed politely with a light touch to his own hat.

"Have a good night, Master," Sweetie Belle told Rainbow Dash.

"Have a good night too, Rhezenda," Rainbow replied.

With that, the pair left.

Rainbow began to prepare her drink. She stared at a cup of water. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, blowing out a red stream of magic that turned the liquid to a blood-red color. In full vampire form, she downed her drink with an evil smile. Maybe it wasn't real blood, and she'd never truly be that type of vampire, but the act itself would do for entertaining the mimic of such a thing. She at least had dragon blood that one time. Such thoughts led to her dragon form taking shape but only momentarily. She flew to her own bed before setting down under a blanket, back to the form of a sleepy, fanged pegasus. It was cozy, warm, and certainly a wonderful night's sleep.





With the sun set on New Year's Eve, the master mev was fully re-energized at long last.

"That's a relief to hear," Starlight said upon such news.

Rainbow nodded. "So...before we start...how have you been? I've asked everyone else."

Starlight blushed. "I've been great. There's not much going on, but it's still nice. I help out at the school, and that's plenty for me. Trixie and I will have some time together tonight. Chrysalis seems to be warming up to me finally too."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah. We're not super close friends or anything, but she's at least more friendly in attitude with me."

"Cool," Rainbow uttered with a pleased smile.

Starlight smiled back. "Well, then..."

"Right, let's get to it," Rainbow agreed.

After an intimate exchange, Starlight was able to grow two bat wings. "It's ready!" she declared with an enthusiastic smile.

Rainbow nodded in deep satisfaction. "Yes, and we will all take form tonight!"

Starlight hugged her tight. "Perfect!"

Team Awesome spent most of their New Year's Eve enjoying each other's company in Twilight's castle until a good fifteen minutes before midnight. Quickly, they readied themselves as Twilight grabbed a proper watch for a countdown. Rainbow helped Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie grow bat wings and to transform Twilight's already existing ones.

The group made their way to a large cloud bed Rainbow had prepared for them.

Seven mares with fangs and bat wings stared up into the starry sky as they happily counted down together.

"Ten! 

Nine!

Eight!

Seven!

Six!

Five!

Four!

Three!

Two!

One! 

Happy New Year!"

Pinkie Pie pulled out her party cannon and blew out a mass of confetti over all of them. Trixie shot out numerous fireworks from below on the ground.

Rainbow Dash grinned wide at the sight. She had a lot of friends, a powerful team, and delicious magic. The land saw her fit and worthy.

It had not taken her power away after everything that happened with the more recent berserk. She had even fixed a magic drain right before that. She was serving her purpose and would for the foreseeable future.

As the year closed out to bring in more awesome times ahead in the next one, she soaked in the transition, resting in proud content with her closest friends.


~The End~