> Dusk to Dawn
>  by Azvameth Rose
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 0: Lavender
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Waking up with the usual drowsiness, I tumbled off the bed and struck my noggin on the floor. That was when I knew the day was going to be horrible.





But before I get to that, Hello. My name is a random, blurred, and agonizing sound in the back of my head that takes half an hour to dissipate whenever I try to remember it. 

Luckily, I remember where I came from, and many things I learned, however, actual names of people and places are long gone. This is but a record of what transpired after I woke up one day inside the body of an anthropomorphic, lavender-colored, unusual, and gender-bend pony. I love the idea of losing everyone I know to this. Just kidding, this is a shitstorm that I'll have to cope with until I find my way home, if there is such a thing as a way back home (take into account every possibility, right?). I should have placed this before starting the journal, so, sorry.





"I hate mornings," I mumbled while trying to get up with the finesse of a drunkard.

Now, usually, mornings aren't an issue for me. I have a schedule, and I follow it like clockwork. No matter what, I try to stick to it to the best of my abilities. However, I was in a bit of a predicament. My room had been rearranged overnight by someone. And now, I was tumbling and hitting every possible furniture on my way to the bathroom. Which turned out to be a massive closet cluttered with clothes that fell on top of me.

"DUSK!" A voice called out from outside the room. "What happened to you?"

Now, when someone pulls you out of a pile of clothes you can't escape from, for some reason, you would be grateful. Not me, however, as I lived alone in an apartment. Meaning that someone had broken in, or so I thought. Blinding me, the lights got into my eyes when I tried to get a sense of what was happening. I froze on the spot when my vision got focused and I saw something peculiar.

A giant, anthropomorphic, horned, blue-eyed, blue-maned, white horse was holding my hand with a concerned look on their face. She, I'm guessing it was 'she' based on... nevermind. She pulled me into a hug while crushing me.

"Are you ok? I know you had a nightmare. I shouldn't have left you alone after you came to me," She said while sobbing.

I didn't respond as the only thing going through my mind at the moment was: WHAT-WHAT-WHAT-WHAT-WHAT-WHAT-WHAT-WHAT-WHAT-WHAT-WHAT-WHAT?

"You're not hurt, are you?" The mare asked after breaking the hug and inspecting me. "You hit your head! We better get some ice for that before it swells." She said while dragging me through the halls.

It didn't take long for me to notice that I wasn't home. Around that same time, I noticed my arm was purple. Not like when you hit a wall or anything of like that, I am talking about covered in purple fur from the tips of my fingers to my shoulder. I also came to realize that my nose was wider and purple. Looking down at my feet, I saw that my feet had been replaced with hooves.

I had a set of striped pajamas on that was of a darker shade of my coat. Locks of hair fell in front of my face as I got carried across the building, revealing that my hair was dark purple and two stripes of different shades of bright purple. After getting downstairs, the mare lifts me with ease before placing me on top of a table. I used to be a twenty-five-year-old adult. I should not be that easy to lift.

"Good morning, dearies. What happened?" Another voice asked from behind me.

Glancing over my shoulder, I saw a gray mare with a striped mane colored in white and purple. She also had a horn on her forehead. She looked familiar, Twilight Velvet. The mother of Twilight Sparkle.

"Dusk hit his head," The one who I can only assume to be Shining Armor or some version of him, said while sticking her hand in the fridge and getting a bag of ice. "I don't know how, but I heard a lot of stumbling in my room before I found him."

It took less than a second for Velvet to rush in front of me. She looked mortified as she inspected my arms, legs, head, and torso, looking for injuries. Once she realized only my head was hurt, her expression softened and she smiled before taking the bag of ice from "Shining" and placing it on my head.

"He is ok, Gleaming. It's just a bump in the head. He will be fine," I had a small moment of relief in the sea of panic as I realized that I was not a female. But then I fell into panic again as I realized that Gleaming was a name given to an alternate version of Shining Armor. Thus, it finally dawned on me as I realized the name they referred to me. 

Dusk? As in Dusk Shine? As in the gender-bend of Twilight Sparkle?! No-no-no-no! This is not happening!

"Ouch!" I exclaimed reflexively as Velvet pressed the bag against my head. This is not my voice! And I felt that! I'm not dreaming!!!! I whined in my head while trying to keep a straight face.

That made two characters from a fantasy world. Two characters that were related to a TV show. And I made a third, this was no coincidence. I moved my eyes to scan the room. Seeing a silver spoon on the table, I reached for it and looked at my reflection.

I'm Dusk Shine. Which means I fit the role of Twilight Sparkle. Which means I'll have to fight a bunch of threats and become a prince. Which means I'll have to put my life at risk. Which means I can die. I DON'T WANT TO DIE! I QUIT! TAKE ME TO THE OTHER SIDE!!!!!!

Dropping the spoon on the table, I stared at the size of my hands.

"What's wrong, sweetie?" Velvet asked while making me look at her.

"Are you mad at me?" Gleaming asked with a worried expression on her face.

Averting my eyes from Velvet, I stared at Gleaming for a few seconds. Her worry was genuine. Looking back at Velvet, I saw the same kind of look my mother gave me when I was a child. Feeling a hint of nostalgia, I reflexively smiled at them. It wouldn't be fair to throw my frustration at them when they are worrying for a child I might have hijacked.

"Nothing's wrong," I replied with my weak voice. "I'm ok," I lied while putting on a smile.

Both of them smiled softly at me as Velvet picked my hand and led it to hold the bag on my head.

"Hold it there while I and Gleaming get breakfast ready, ok?" Velvet said while putting me back on the floor.

"Ok, mom," I said with a bit of effort. 

Referring to her as my mother felt weird. But I couldn't mistreat them, or act like they were strangers. That would be cold. They only wanted to take care of their child. There is nothing wrong with that. The smell of pancakes made my mouth water up while I waited on the couch by the living room. My usual breakfast was two toasts with butter and a cup of coffee. The bread wasn't expensive, so it was a good option. And butter was only one option to add to toasts, meaning different flavors for me.

"Breakfast is ready!" Velvet called out. I went to the kitchen as any child would and sat down. "I know it's not your father's cooking. But I wanted to make something on your big day," She said while placing the platter with a pile of pancakes in front of me.

Picking up the fork and the knife, I began to cut the pancakes before eating them. The knife and fork were a bit big to me, therefore, it was awkward for me to use them. They were sweet, and I remembered my mother making me food like that when I was a child. I glanced at the mares only to find them staring at me, initially confused they suddenly pulled out a camera and started to take pictures of me. Tilting my head, I tried to understand what they were fussing over.

"What?" I asked once they stopped taking pictures of me.

"You usually eat pancakes with your hands! It's the first time you ever used the utensils to eat them! And it was so adorable!" Gleaming said while messing with, what I have to call from now on, my mane.

"Right," I said while looking at the pile of pancakes. "What is the occasion?" I asked with a bit of hesitation.

Velvet and Gleaming stared at each other for a few seconds before turning back to me. "My, my! Someone is confident today!"

"That is unexpected from you, Dusk!" Gleaming said with a smirk. "You would be panicking right now on a normal day. Especially on the day of your big Exam."

Freezing on the spot, I processed what Gleaming had just said. My mind went blank for a couple of seconds before a series of images of what test Gleaming was referring to. There was only one possibility given my age: the entrance exam for Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns.

Test? Oh, god, no. Please, no. No! NOOOOOOOOO! I can't make that test! I know shit about magic!!! I am doomed!

Suddenly, I ate everything on my plate as fast as I could. Then I hopped off the chair and rushed from door to door trying to find my room. And, of course, it was the most organized room in the house. That was something I could relate to, needing to organize things was something I had to do. Now, there was only one issue. I wasn't the one to organize the room. Therefore, I didn't know where things were stored away.

It ended up taking me longer than I'm willing to admit to find me some clothes and put them on. It took even longer for me to find Dusk's flashcards (of course, he has flashcards, why wouldn't he?). I ran through the notes as fast as I could, but there was another issue: I don't know the basics of magic. Without knowing that, the notes didn't make sense! They sounded like a bunch of mumbo-jumbo mish-mashed together in a rush.

Mana channeling? Magic output? Spell properties? Spell backlash?! What in the fuck am I reading here?! Is there a short video or a tutorial?! CAN SOMEBODY SAVE ME HERE?!

"Dusk!" A male voice said while knocking on the door. "It's the time! We got to go!"

That had to be Night Light. Twilight's father, and another pony whose profession I was unaware of. I had put on a white shirt with a dark purple necktie and a pair of black pants. I looked like a miniature teacher.

"Nice getup, teacher!" Night Light said while patting me on the head. He looked flimsy like me. "Come on, they're waiting for us downstairs."

I was assailed by another wave of photographs as soon as I got to the last step. Velvet and Gleaming seemed so happy with my test they couldn't stop talking while we headed to the exam site. And there I waited for my turn. At least ten or twelve ponies were waiting in line for the test. There was one other stallion in there besides me. One by one, the fillies and the colt left the examination room. Some were crying, others were jumping with excitement.

As for me, I could feel the cold sweat running down my back. The pressure of this test was crushing my heart. And it only got worse as I looked at Dusk's family. They were reassuring me the entire time. Another parallel to my family, I guess.

"Next, Dusk Shine," A voice called in from the exam room. "Please, 

"Go get them, son," Velvet said while giving me a thumbs up.

"It's your turn, show them what-for!" Gleaming said with a bit more eagerness than Velvet.

"We'll be there for you, do your best," Night Light said while giving me a little push forward.

Almost like we were following a script, the examiners had an egg prepared for me. My test was straight and simple, make the egg hatch. If I knew how to do that, I would probably be done with it after I calmed myself. However, that wasn't the case. I stood there, completely frozen in front of the egg while the pricks took their notes. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw Dusk's relatives with worried looks on their faces. 

They were so excited a minute ago. I can't let them down. If I leave this body one day, I have to make sure that the timeline is preserved. If I fail, they will end up stuck in an eternal night. Or enslaved by a changeling army. Maybe even drained of their magic and life by a centaur. They aren't my family, but they don't deserve that fate. I need to make it! I have to make it!

Those thoughts sparked something in me. Closing my eyes, I searched for the strange feeling that emerged from those thoughts. Suddenly, I could see a starry road before me leading to a white door. The stars were slowly gravitating towards it while the door grew bigger. I forced my hooves to move forward. Step by step, I got closer to the door. When I was about to reach it, I heard a huge explosion.

Bursting open with the explosion, the door began firing beams of lavender energy all around me. The beams flew by me, I looked back and saw them converging into a sphere. The sphere expanded several times before firing a beam at me. Then, a flood of memories and images of Dusk Shine before I took over invaded my mind. The memories flowed into my head so naturally, it was as if they belonged to me.

The flow continued without any resistance on my part. The information he had gathered on the basics of magic got engraved into my mind. And then, there was a gap. Seventeen hours before I took over, Dusk was about to do something and then everything went blank. 

"It's ok, my little pony. You can let go now. Everything is ok," A soothing voice echoed in my head, making the burst of energy diminish.

Regaining my vision, I saw something that made caused me to have second thoughts on my situation. I knew for a fact that the show made her look pretty due to her title and the position. However, I was wide awake and I could feel my body aching as if I had a workout session and overdid it. Based on my newly-found information, I was suffering from magic overuse. So, I could be hallucinating. There was no way that Celestia was that beautiful.

"There, you see? Everything is alright," Celestia said while kneeling in front of me. She held my face so I would look into her eyes. "You can calm down."

I just had the magical burst from the show, right? The explosion by the door, that was Rainbow Dash, right? I did it. I kept things as they should be. Now, I have to make things go as they were meant to go. I need to fight for these ponies until I can return Dusk to them.

"That was an amazing display for a colt," Celestia said with a warm smile. "How would you like to join my school and be my pupil?"

A feeling of relief took over making me smile and tear up. "I would like that very much, thank you."

"So polite, little one," She said softly. "Tell me, what is your name?"

"Dusk Shine. It's a pleasure to meet you," I replied with a warm smile.

"Well, You have plenty to celebrate today, Dusk Shine," Celestia said while grabbing hold of my left hand. "You passed your exam and got your mark, congratulations."

And there it was. The six-pointed star surrounded by six smaller stars. The symbol of magic.





I guess that from this point on, I'll have to make do with lavender.
> Chapter 1: Daily life
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

So, I've been a pony for about a week. And in that one week, I also became a father. Remember the egg I had to hatch? It was supposed to be a chicken egg. It would seem someone in the examination committee needs to get some glasses. Because that egg didn't look like something that would come out of a chicken. 

As it turns out, that egg belonged to a dragon. Supposedly an offering of peace left behind by the previous dragon lord. Before the rupture between dragons and ponies. Nowadays, dragons pass through Equestrian territory and leave without getting in contact with ponies. Which is why there is so little knowledge on them. Princess Celestia told me all of that once she saw the little hatchling clinging to my leg. Something dragons do to their parents.

Now, I went from zero knowledge on magic to basics expert thanks to a burst of magic that turned my-?! Dusk's relatives into plants while making this dragon into a huge beast and subsequently I turned into her father. Yep, I am now a father of a baby dragon at the impressive age of six. I swear, my mother would have been proud of being a grandmother, but this is borderline ridiculous.

I'm just starting to wrap my head around the rules of this place, and then this gets dumped on me. Luckily, Dusk's family has been very supportive and helped me get things set for the baby. A crib, baby bottles, and clothes. The expenses with the school would have skyrocketed if Celestia hadn't offered me a scholarship the day after I passed the exam. I swear that mare is a saint. In any case, today I went to the market with Night Light to find the books required for the school.

Thank the Lord for all the knowledge I got during the outburst. If not for that, none of the books I needed would be useful until I learned the basics. Speaking of which, that door I found during the exam was my mana well. The mana well is the source of power from which a pony draws magic to produce the habilities related to their species. Unlike earth ponies and pegasus, unicorns don't have the innate ability to tap into those wells. They need to discover a trigger that unlocks the well and gives them the ability to channel magic through their horn. Mine happened to be the desire to help those three ponies that took good care of their child.

Now that's out of the way, back to shopping day. There are plenty of shops in Canterlot, more than I ever thought possible. The commercial district was a literal maze of plaques and advertisements. However, in the middle of that chaos, Night Light guided me with an ease that had me in awe. Especially given how many eyes he was catching from the crowd. It was something that I expected, but I didn't think it would be that bad.

Much like the show, this Equestria had more females than males (at least, that seemed to be the case in Canterlot). However, instead of laid back ponies with friendly faces, we seemed to be swimming in a tank of sharks with open wounds.

"Don't let go of my hand, ok?" Night Light said with a calm voice and a gentle smile. "We are almost at Silver Line's Paperwares."

I don't think I ever heard of that one before. Then again, I didn't watch the entire show. I missed a few episodes and had a tad much on my plate as I recall.

"Is it a good store?" I asked while letting him lead the way.

"It's the best store in Canterlot to find books. If you're looking for something specific, that's your place," Night Light said as he finally stopped his march. "Here we are."

The bookstore looked very different from the surrounding buildings. Unlike them, the store seemed simple. And unlike the praises Night Light gave it, there didn't seem to be many visitors coming to it. In any case, I threw him a bone, since he was the expert and I was the baby there was no reason to ignore his advice. Entering the place, I was amazed by the sheer number of books piled everywhere in the shop. I felt like I had entered a bookstore from a famous wizarding world.

Night Light led me to the front desk. A white unicorn mare with a silver mane sat there while browsing through a book. She didn't look old, down goes the fantasy setting. Picking me up, Night Light put me on top of a pile of books.

"Go on, ask what you need," Night Light said while giving me the list of books I required. "Her name is Silver Line."

Oh, that is a bit familiar. Making the kid interact and ask for what they need instead of making them wait in the sidelines. Let's not make them feel ashamed. Polite and direct.

"Good morning, Ms. Line. My name is Dusk Shine," I greeted with a smile. "I need Advanced Spells by Morning Caster, Defensive Spellcraft by Quill Tower, Potion Basics by Berry Dew, Equestrian History by Rune Tales, Calculus Path by Humorous Numbers, Well of Mana by Thread Weaver, Of Tale and Myth by Myriad Bead, Magical Habitats for Magical Creatures by Salamander Hoof, and Prophecies and Tales by Starswirl the Bearded."

"That was a pretty long list, Mr. Dusk," The mare said with a half-smile. "I'm surprised you didn't stutter when reading those names. I got all of them. It's a package for Princess Celestia's school, right?"

"Yep!" I replied livelily. "I was admitted. And I got a scholarship!" I said with the excitement one would expect from a kid that succeeded at their task.

"Is that so? Do you know what scholarship is?" The mare asked with a smirk. She probably expected me to know a ton of words but not know the meaning of them.

"It's merit given to a student by excelling at an academic field. It can be sports, mathematics, or some other subject. As long as the student excels at it and is recognized by their achievements, they have their expenses with the school covered by the provider of the scholarship. That is usually the school he chose to attend," I replied with a happy tone as I hopped in place, making the pile shake a bit.

Silver blinked several times before bursting into laughter at my response. "That's a bright kid, Mr. Light! I like him! No wonder he got into that school. He needs some decent books. I'll fetch the pack that just arrived. I heard there weren't many who got into the school this year. So, I'll throw a special price for you, Mr. Dusk. How does that sound?" She said while looking at Night Light with the corner of her eye, he seemed to smirk at her.

Please don't tell me that Night Light double-times Velvet.

"That sounds nice, how much for the pack?" I asked while tilting my head.

"About sixty bits," She replied with a strange tone. Glancing over to Night Light, I noticed he was looking attentively at me with a smile.

"Done!" Night Light said while offering his hand. "Good to see you're not a sore loser."

"And you're boasting like usual," Silver replied while taking his hand.

"What happened, father?" I asked while tilting my head.

"Well, Ms. Silver and I here are college friends. I'm also a good patron of her store. But when I told her that you were accepted in Celestia's school with the scholarship she didn't believe me. So, I made a bet that you could surprise her with how smart you were. If you surprised her, she would remove twenty bits off the price," He said while pulling out three gold coins and one copper one.

"There are extra five bits here," Silver said while pushing the copper coin to Night Light.

So, the gold coins are worth twenty bits? While the copper ones are worth five?

"We both know you'll be losing money with a discount larger than fifteen bits. I can't do that to my friend, can I?" Night Light said as he pushed the money back to her. Letting out a defeated sigh, Silver gave me a bookmark.

"This covers the extra five bits. Keep it safe, will you?" She said winking at me.

"Ah!" Night Light exclaimed while snapping his fingers. "I'll check something fast in here, ok? Wait here with Silver, ok?" He said while going to the front of the store after I nodded. After he was on the store's front, Silver poked my shoulder.

"Hey, Dusk," She said almost a whisper. "I have some special books for older colts. When you're older, come by and I'll show them to you," She said in a strange tone. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw eyes that sent shivers down my spine.

I need an adult. Preferably one that isn't her! I mused while feeling my cheeks flush.

"You are adorable," She said while messing with my mane.

"Nope, you don't have it right now," Night Light said while returning to me. "Can you place an order for the Tome of Restorations?"

Tilting her head, Silver raised an eyebrow at Night Light. "Aren't your affinities light and darkness spells? Why bother with a book about healing spells?"

"It's a gift for a friend," Night Light replied with a sheepish smile.

"Say no more. I'll get in contact with my suppliers. Once it's here I'll send you a letter," She replied while returning her gaze to her book. "Come back soon, ok?" She said as Night Light got me on his back.

"No problem," Night Light said while carrying me on his back. I glanced over my shoulder and saw Silver wink at me before sending me a kiss.

I better stay away from this place. FOREVER. I thought while looking away as fast as I could.

With the books out of the way, we focused on getting the rest of the supplies. Notebooks, pencils, pens, they even had sticky notes. Night Light made sure to check if I liked every item I chose. He even got me things I didn't need. Guides on maintenance for lab equipment, safety gear for rune experimentation, he even found me a junior chemistry kit! I remember my father taking me to shop like that, but when I grew older I noticed how much I costed him. I tried to avoid anything expensive, however, Night Light went ahead and got me things that claimed to be of the best quality. I tried to ask him why, and his response was: "Money isn't a problem."

After that, Night Light got us back home without any issues. I wish I had his confidence to walk around as he does with all those eyes on him. It's terrifying how focused these mares are on males. We passed by another stallion on our way home, but he was showing off, so we got fewer eyes on us for a while.

And that concluded our shopping trip. Silver Light is pretty, but it was super uncomfortable to deal with her. I don't think I'll ever pick her up on that offer. The looks she gave me still give me the creeps! In any case, we went shopping a bit late, and the entrance exam was unusually close to the beginning of the semester. That means tomorrow I'll have my first day at school. I can see how and where it will go already.





Yep. Exactly as I thought it would. I mused while walking with my gaze fixed on the floor. Almost every single student at Celestia's Academy is a mare. And all of them seemed to know each other. I felt my social anxiety build up as I wandered the halls alone. This was an elementary school, an advanced one, but still a school for kids. Kids that knew way more than I knew at the time. Kids that had more training than me at the time. In other words, I was royally screwed.

The school grounds were shared between High-schoolers, mid-schoolers, and elementary schoolers; meaning I could see all types of ponies in all their stages of their development. Which led me to an unfortunate conclusion: I'm shorter than everyone. Yep, I was probably the shortest pony in the school. That could either work in my favor, having someone take pity on me and keeping me as a mascot (which was bad in itself), or I would turn into a target for bullies.

After finding my locker, I went to the entrance ceremony. It wasn't anything noteworthy, just the usual speech about new responsibilities, the journey of knowledge, and the usual student representative words of encouragement. That final bit was when I met Cadance, also known as the future princess of love. Yep, I met Cadance before she ascended into royalty. 

And guess what? She is the student council president. That was the only interesting bit of the ceremony, I thought that Princess Celestia would make an appearance, however, she didn't. I was a little disappointed by that, I won't lie.  After that,  we were directed to our classes by having our names called out by a teacher.

Our homeroom teacher was called Smiling Stars (somehow that name made me uncomfortable, I guess that Silver left a nasty mark on me). After introducing herself, she started a roll-call based on where we were sitting. You might as well guess it, but I sat on the first group table on the spot where the roll-call began.

I swear that I felt as if that was the first time I had to do that. After mustering up the courage, I closed my eyes before speaking. "Hello! My name is Dusk Shine! It's a pleasure to meet you!"

"Well, it is a pleasure to meet you too, Dusk. Before I forget, after class, Princess Celestia requested that you go to this classroom," She said while handing me a folding school map with a marked room. "She said that you'll have your private lessons after classes are over."

I felt my entire being shrink at those words, all my classmates started to murmur while I sat on my chair and tried to cover my head with a book. One by one, the other ponies presented themselves. I heard a bunch of names that I didn't recognize, aside from five of them: Lyra Heartstrings, Moondancer, Minuette, Twinkle Shine, and Lemon Shine. As far as I could remember, there was an episode about Twilight trying to reconnect with them. I'm not Twilight, therefore, I don't think I'll end up as their friend.

The first lecture we had was on demographics. A heavy subject for elementary students in my opinion, however, it was very instructive. As it turns out, my observations on the current male-female ratio were on the right track. The population of mares far exceeds that of stallions. This has been a staple that held for many centuries, which led to the belief that mares are superior and thus more abundant. This belief was further solidified with the ascension of the two sisters. According to the teacher, this gave rise to the Laws of Sisterhood. It's a set of rules to shelter and protect stallions as they are rare and considered much too frail. However, some think that stallions are weak because of how they aren't allowed to try and better themselves. Not to mention these aren't official laws per se, even if many treat them as such. 

We also learned about herds and their rules (I don't know why, but hey, I'll take anything that explains things to me). First, a herd starts the moment a stallion and a mare decide to be together in a relationship, temporary or not. Second, the head mare is chosen by the stallion, this mare has a say in those that can be added to the group. Third, a herd can be dismantled either by the stallion deciding to leave it, the mares deciding to leave, or if signs of abuse are found (HEAVY SUBJECT FOR CHILDREN!). Fourth, after marriage, new members may be added, however, they have to make a new ceremony for the new members to make it official.

In short, I'm in a world with reversed roles. And I am prey. Yeah, that's going to work just fine, said no one EVER! What the fuck?! Ok. Calm down. They will make the roll-call again, then it's break time. I just have to find a quiet place to calm myself. Then everything will be fine! I thought while the teacher picked up her checklist.

The bell rang at the scheduled time and we were sent to break time. Everything seemed to be going according to plan. Until I tried to get up, that's when hell broke loose.

"Are you the Princess's pupil?"

"How do you keep your mane so well kept?"

"You're soo small!"

"Can you teach me what you know?"

The bombardment of questions continued as I tried to calm my emotions. I could feel my heartbeat in my ears as I tried to string together any phrase that allowed me to escape that situation. My body tensed up, locking me in place. I had to calm down to avoid another accident like the entrance exam. I could feel the energy flowing from my well towards my horn as I fought with all my might to keep it contained.

"Hello, young Dusk," A familiar voice called, causing me to snap out of the panic.

It was none other than Princess Celestia. Standing by the door, she gestured me to follow. I got up and tailed her as fast as I could. Being around her made me feel safe. Therefore, as long as I have to deal with this world, if I can remain close to her, I will do so.

"You need to be more careful with your emotions, Dusk," Celestia warned me while we walked through the halls.

"I'm sorry, Princess. I guess I'm not used to be in the spotlight like that," I replied with a sheepish smile.

"Well, you better get used to it. The news of you being my student already spread like wildfire. I do not doubt that others will try to approach or even challenge you. If you ever need any help, do not hesitate to ask," She said with a caring smile. I swear this mare is a saint.

Leading me through the school, Celestia had us stop by a garden filled with small ponds and lotus flowers. It was a beautiful garden. Props to whoever tends to these gardens. Celestia placed me on a bench that was a bit high for me to reach without jumping.

"Aunt!" A new voice called out from the corridors. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw a young pink pegasus with a colorful mane and dressed like a mid schooler approach us.

"Hello, Cadance," Celestia said while waving at her.

"I guess, this is your garden this year, aunt?" Cadance asked without noticing me sitting on the bench.

Celestia made this garden?! What the? How does she have time for all of this?!

"Yes, I wanted to try something with water flowers this year," She replied while looking around the garden. "I'm satisfied with the results so far."

Cadance then hopped over the bench and landed sitting on me. I was forced against the bench by her weight while falling on my belly. It was painful considering the difference in height and weight. Though, Cadance did pop my back. I think I grew a centimeter after that. Letting out a gasp, Cadance flew off the bench before turning around to see me. I was lying flat on my belly while taking deep breaths to catch some air.

Celestia immediately cast a spell on me which caused the pain to subside before picking me and putting me standing up straight on the bench. It felt somewhat familiar to what Velvet and Gleaming did whenever I got hurt.

"I'm so sorry!" Cadance said while rushing down to take a closer look at me. "I didn't see you there!"

"It's ok," I replied while Celestia continued to inspect me. "I think you made me taller though."

"Cadance, you need to be more mindful when you do things like that!" Celestia scolded her as she finished checking for injuries.

"It's ok, Princess," I said while stretching towards the sky. "I'm too small to be seen from behind the bench. She had no way of knowing I was here," I replied causing Celestia to frown at me.

"Still, she needed to check if there was a pony there or not. They could be lying on the bench for all we know," Celestia replied with a stern look. She was genuinely concerned about me. It felt good, I am not gonna lie. Even if it is because of what I or Dusk will do in the future.

"I'm sorry, little one," Cadance said while kneeling in front of me. Thanks to my spot on the bench, we were on eye level.

Taking over the conversation, silence reigned through the garden as she stared into my eyes for a few seconds.  Suddenly, her cheeks turned red before she picked me up and began hugging me like a stuffed bear while giggling like a fan-girl after meeting her idol. I felt weird. I knew that Cadance and Twilight were close, but I don't recall Cadance ever fawning over Twilight like that.

"You are so adorable squishy! Like a little teddy bear!" She said while squeezing me like a stuffed animal.

"Squeak!" I said loudly. Hoping that she would notice what she was doing to me. Thankfully, she noticed and put me down before breaking any of my ribs.

"Sorry! Sorry," She replied while blushing at the attitude she had.

Glancing over to Celestia, I noticed she was looking at me with a somewhat similar expression to Cadance's. 

Don't tell me she is imagining me as a teddy too. Please, I barely got out of that hug. Celestia will break me in half if she does that. Although, NO! BAD BRAIN! I scolded before hearing the sound of the bell announcing the end of the break.

"Well, it seems I need to push back our talk until classes are over," Celestia said after pinching her right arm. "I'll see you then, Dusk Shine. Cadance, could you be so kind as to escort Dusk to his classroom?" She asked while walking away.

"Sure thing!" Cadance said before picking me up and putting me on her shoulders. "Hang in there!" She exclaimed before flying through the halls with me holding for dear life.

I swear to god: if I get to the point I grow wings, I'll take a LONG flight lesson before ever attempting any of that! I thought as Candace tried to take me off her head.

After removing me from her head, Cadance kissed me on the forehead before leaving my class. Needless to say, that brought even more attention to me. When we had our next break, I was sure I would be massacred with questions, however, Cadance came by and took me to the cafeteria (she carried me on her back again, although, she was more careful this time around). And that's when I ran into Gleaming.

"Hey, little brother!" Gleaming said while approaching me and Cadance. "What are you doing with Cadance?"

"I wanted to apologize for sitting on your brother," Cadance replied with embarrassment. "And for nearly crushing him in a hug. And for scaring him to death by flying carelessly through the school."

Hearing those words, Gleaming placed her tray on the nearest table using her magic before grabbing me and putting me on the table. This is getting old. I thought while Gleaming checked me, AGAIN, for injuries.

"I'm not made of paper, sister," I muttered while poking her head. "I'm ok. Princess Celestia already checked for injuries. I'm ok."

"Just making sure!" She said with a pouting face.

I swear, I need to make something about this. Otherwise, they won't let me go live in the library when the time comes! I pondered while jumping down the table.

"I appreciate you caring for me, Gleaming. Honest," I said while looking at her eyes. "But I won't break like a glass figure. You can bet on that. I promise I'll be careful, just try to hold the safety checks, please?" I asked with a serious tone.

Staring down on me, Gleaming kept quiet for a while. "It bothers you that much?"

"I appreciate the thought, sister. But unless I come to you or you see me get injured, I would like to request that you refrain from doing that," I replied without flinching.

"I won't stop worrying about my little brother," Gleaming replied while taking her tray. "But I promise to try and hold back on the overzealous part," She finished with a smile.

After that, Cadance bought me lunch. Even after I protested against it, she insisted on apologizing for her behavior. Meaning I had to end up eating her food. As one would expect, my body gets all its nutrients from a completely herbivorous diet.

"That was your big sister, right?" Cadance asked while making a broccoli roll across her plate with a fork. "I don't think she likes me very much. I might be the student council president. But it's mostly because Princess Celestia is my aunt. Meaning most of my friends come from those who have an interest in her. I enjoy the company, but I would like to avoid that kind of relationship."

Give it a couple of years. You two will be married by then. I mused while eating a salad. Better yet, why are you telling me this?

"I don't think it's a matter of hating you," I replied after swallowing my food. "It's more like she is overprotective of me. I think that if you try and talk to her, things will go smoothly," I said while cleaning my mouth with a napkin. That seemed to be enough to earn a squeal from Cadance as she tapped her hooves on the floor while staring at me.

"You look like a miniature adult! It's so adorable!" Cadance said while squeezing her cheeks. "But, I don't have a motive to go talk to her." She said with a sad tone.

"Well, if I end up needing a caretaker, I could mention your name. That way you can try and talk to her back home," I answered before drinking the apple juice she bought me.

"Me? A caretaker?" She asked while tilting her head. "I don't think I qualify."

"You take care of a school filled with children and teenagers. I think you can take care of a colt for a couple of hours," I replied while placing the glass on the table.

"Aren't you a little flatterer?" She said stretching her arm and petting my head. "Be careful, you might end up giving the wrong impression to a filly."

Blushing reflexively, I looked away with a pout before answering her tease. "I don't think that will happen anytime soon."

After that, the bell rang and I returned to the class via Cadance Express. Then we proceeded to the last lesson of the day, at least on the regular schedule. Using the map provided by my teacher, I made my way back to the classroom marked on it. I looked out the window and saw the entrance to the Academy. The room was on the third floor of the main building. Quickly entering the room, I met with Celestia sitting in a unique room. It looked like part of the castle, her study. Where she slept. In front of a fireplace. And according to what I remember, naked.

GO AWAY! I DON'T NEED THIS NOW! I hollered mentally while closing the door.

"Good afternoon, Dusk Shine," Celestia greeted while closing her book.

Why is she always calling me by my full name? I mused while taking a step forward.

"Good afternoon, Princess Celestia," I said while standing idle by the door. "How did you know it was me?"

"I enchanted the door to lead to my study. And I made sure that only you could use it that way," Celestia replied while gesturing me to come closer and making a cushion appear for me. After taking my seat, she continued. "Now, in these classes, I'll be teaching you advanced spells. But I want you to promise not to use them unless necessary."

"I promise," I said while raising my right hand.

"Good. Also, I'll say this before it happens. If you use my name to intimidate or to gain an advantage over other ponies, I will not forgive you, understood?" She said in a tone that made my body grow cold.

"I would never do that!" I exclaimed while scowling at her. "I would never do anything to sully your name!"

Taken back by my reply, Celestia smiled softly at me before replying. "I see. I'm sorry, Dusk Shine. I didn't mean to insult you."

Realizing that I had just screamed at Celestia, I looked at the floor while blushing like a tomato. "I'm the one that should apologize," I said with my voice cracking.

Chuckling at me, Celestia proceeded with the lesson. The first spell she began to walk me through was the Blink spell. It sounds and works similar to warp mechanics in video-games. Think of a place, imagine your location in said place, create a magic flow around you, and then imagine a duplicate of it at the location. Release the original and you enter a different plane during a small period (less than a second according to her) before reappearing into the new area. However, the range is limited. The maximum reach is as far as your eyes can see clearly, meaning I could not Blink from the study to the throne room, for example.

Since she wanted to make sure I didn't Blink out the window, Celestia warded the room to prevent blink from happening outside of it. She also put out the fire to make sure I didn't land on the flames. Channeling my magic I envisioned my body at the study's door. I created a magic flow to envelop me, created a copy of it at the door's location, and then released the original. I messed up and tossed my body at the fireplace covering myself in ashes.

Coughing at the cloud of ashes I created on impact, Celestia helped me up. "You released both sides accidentally. Therefore, the spell backlashed and you were thrown back instead of going forward," She explained while trying to get rid of the ashes on her dress.

"I'm sorry," I replied in defeat.

"I would be surprised if you pulled it off in your first try. No need to worry. Although, I think your mother would be worried to see you come back like that," Celestia said while using a spell to make the ashes fly out the window. Both of us were covered in a layer of gray ashes as Celestia held my hand and guided me out of the study.

Walking through the halls, Celestia didn't say a word until we got to a pair of big, golden doors. She opened the doors to reveal a huge bath complete with garden and illumination worthy of a spa. There were ponds letting steam in different sizes and depths. A small table with shampoos, conditioners, soap, and different types of oil floated inside of each of the ponds.

"You can get a towel over there," I heard Celestia say as the sound of something hitting the floor made me jump. Glancing over my shoulder, I immediately returned to my original position gazing at the ponds. Celestia was naked. Naked from top to bottom. Walking away as fast I as could, I rushed to the towels. After that, I dropped my clothes and rushed to the furthest and shallowest of the ponds.

I tried to clean myself as fast as I could. I didn't want to linger in that place longer than I had to. However, after I finished cleaning my front and shoulders, I was interrupted.

"I'll handle the lower back. That way you can go back home quicker," Celestia said as the sound of something being placed on the floor made me turn into a statue. A bucket of warm water was spilled on my back before I felt Celestia starting to scrub my back with a sponge. I didn't move and I didn't say a word. Once she was done with it, I felt the water falling on my back again and washing away the soap. I was about to get up and walk away when Celestia placed both her hands on my shoulder.

"Would you be so kind as to clean near my wings? I can't reach them without using magic. But that takes a bit of the relaxation away," She asked while handing me the sponge. "I'll sit in a deeper pond. That way you can reach them."

I didn't respond, my body reached for the sponge and I waited for the sound of splashing water before turning around. My God, if someone is mocking me from somewhere, I swear that I will find you and kill you. Her back was delicate as a porcelain doll! Her wings were huge and looked so soft I think I could fall asleep as soon as I laid my head on them. Her mane didn't float once wet but did it look smooth as silk! Her skin was so smooth and soft that the sponge moved up and down without a problem. I can't recall much after I finished rubbing her back. But I have some faint memory of her asking me to clean a specific spot at the base of her wings. I think that I heard, never mind.

After this embarrassing event happened, Celestia had our clothes freshly prepared for use. Then she warped me to the front door of my home and delivered me to Velvet. After she said her apologies for taking so long, Celestia left and we sat on the table for dinner. I think Velvet, Night Light, and Gleaming conversed with me. But I can't recall any of it to save my life. My mind was focused on other matters. I don't know if I can call myself lucky or unlucky at this point.

And that was the basis of my daily life from that day on. Going to school, getting private lessons, and then dealing with new knowledge from this nut-job of a world. 

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to collapse on my bed.
> Chapter 2: Friendly gestures
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

So, I'm eight years old now. 

Yep, I spent two years living in this world. I think I'm starting to lose it. I read the journal for these past two years this morning. And I noticed that I'm slipping away. Who I was before I became Dusk Shine is slowly fading away. I can't help but refer to Father and Mother as my biological parents. I can't say that they are strangers. I can't say that I was once another being. My mind pushes the thought of that me being the real me away as if it was the stupidest thing in the world. Why?

I befriended Moon Dancer. I befriended Lyra. I befriended Minuette! Little by little, I'm becoming more Dusk Shine than whoever I was before this! And the part that scares me the most, is the fact that I don't care. That's right. I don't mind turning into Dusk Shine. I'm perfectly ok with the idea of turning into him. I feel bad whenever I talk as if we were different beings. And to make matters worse, I find myself more attached to this world than wherever I came from. I swear that my attachment to that place is waning so quickly that I might ignore it one day. I'm forgetting that world. And I don't mind it.

I can recall the events I've seen clearly, I know who will be by my side when things get rough. But I'm also changing things around me. I ran into Octavia Melody, an earth pony musician. And I used a spell to transcribe a score piece and called it Hikari modified for strings. She played it and became famous. A prodigy amongst other musicians her age and she just keeps growing. 

I'm playing a dangerous game and there is no sign of remorse in me. I'm altering stories left and right without effort. I know how dangerous it is, but it all feels natural. I only realize what I did once I sit down and look at the records in this journal.

I don't know where this will end. But I pray with every fiber of my being that I don't doom us all with these acts.





There I was walking around in school with my books, minding my own business, when I ran into the bastard prince, also known as, Blueblood. This prick is the worst stallion I have ever seen in Canterlot. He adds and removes mares from his herd like there is no tomorrow. There are rumors of him having children and not recognizing them! Even worse, he supposedly pays them to keep their mouth shut using money from the royal treasury.

That's what you expected me to say, right? 

Sorry to disappoint, but, although he lacks a bit of tact, he is not as bad as he seems. After a couple of bumps with him in the castle, I discovered that the cold-blooded prince loves wild animals more than ponies. Save for a few exceptions, which are his family and a few ponies he trusts. 

I don't know what made him act that way, but I decided not to antagonize him because of his way of dealing with ponies. And one more thing, I asked Princess Celestia about the rumors, and she told me that he is still a virgin. Yep, the most desired bachelor of Canterlot with the worst reputation possible never touched another pony that way. Who would have thought it?

In any case, I apologized for the bump before going on my merry way and wishing him a good day. I kept out of his way, he kept out of mine. Simple and clean, which was the opposite of how I would end up as after the next step in my routine. Since I looked frail to the point of breaking, I decided to do something about it. So, I started meeting Storm Wall during my independent studies time. Celestia thought it would be a good idea for me to seek the knowledge I desired in addition to what she had to offer me. The old PE teacher of the academy. He is a pegasus with a serious workout routine to be as strong as he can be. The only problem is the fact that he is as stubborn as a mule.

I knew he was the stallion to turn to because of who his son is. A pegasus with a ridiculously muscular body and stupidly high stamina. However, he is held back by the minuscule wings that have to move at the speed of a bee's wings to keep him afloat, his name is Snowflake. So, for the past few days, I've been visiting his house and asking him to give me some directions on how to increase my stamina and make some slight improvements to my strength. And the response I got each time was a door to my face.

Therefore, I assumed the following strategy: if he won't teach me how to get in better shape, I'll just do push-ups in front of his house until I tire out. Progress has been slow, however, I noticed the Storm paid attention to me and took notes while I was doing push-ups in his lawn. And I hoped that today he would break and come to me. Knocking on his door, I waited for him to appear.

"You're here again," He muttered after opening the door.

"Will you teach me how to get in better shape, Mr. Wall, sir?" I asked with the usual enthusiasm. 

"Get this thing and be on your way," He said while shoving some papers to me before shutting the door on my face.

Yes! I'm getting to him! I celebrated while opening the paper. It was a series of exercises with the exact number of series I should make per day. There was even a progression table of how I should increase the number of exercises I should do based on my growth rate. Someone went the extra mile. Alright! Time to do this. The school's Gym should have the things I'll need. YEEAH! I celebrated mentally while running back to the Academy. 

I regret this decision. I thought while dragging the assigned weight back and forward in the gym. My arms were burning from the push-ups. My abdomen hurt from all the sit-ups. My legs felt like they were made of lead from the running. According to the plan Storm set for me, the first thing I needed was to get strong enough to move to cardio exercises. And that detail meant he remembered my request to focus on my stamina more than my strength. The situation could only be made worse if there were a bunch of mares staring at the colt that was working too hard for a stallion. Oh, wait. The school has mainly mares.

"Kid, are you ok there?" One of the seniors asked while I finished dragging the weight to its designated spot.

"Y-yes," I said gasping before using my telekinesis to pull my water bottle and taking a sip. "J-just, training."

"Why are you even training?" She asked putting her towel behind her neck. "You're a unicorn and a colt. You don't need physical prowess. Why aren't you in home economics or the cooking club?" The yellow pegasus asked with a smirk.

"M-my father already helps me with cooking lessons," I replied while placing the bottle back in its place. "A sound heart lies within a sound body and a sound mind. I already have the mind bit taken care of. Meaning I need to do something about the body," I replied before moving to the treadmill for the last bit of exercises for the day. Thirty minutes of running.

After I got my mark, it took about a month or two for me to start growing up. Let me tell you, it felt great to be the same size as the rest of the children, even if Cadance still holds me like a teddy bear. She hasn't stopped growing since the day I met her. She isn't as tall as Celestia, but she is getting close to her height in the show (I'm making an estimate here since she used to be a four-legged creature and she is now bipedal). 

"Are you trying to be as strong as a mare?" The yellow pegasus, who I believe was Spitfire, asked while taking the treadmill for adults (yeah, they have one size for kids and one for adults, I am grateful for that).

"No. My potential is in magic," I replied while trying to keep my breathing steady. "I just want to make sure I can run and at least carry things without using runes to reduce their weight. And not having to rely on telekinesis to move every object I want to carry. That's lazy," I explained earning a laugh from Spitfire as she picked up the pace into a full sprint.

She kept speeding up more and more while I tried to keep a steady pace. She's probably trying to discourage me. Too bad it will backfire in a bit. If we were on the racing track, she would probably run past me two or three times. Here it comes. I mused as I watched the inevitable happen. Suddenly, Spitfire let out a gasp as her right leg seemed to cramp. Amidst her confusion, she forgot to fly and tripped. The treadmill was moving too fast for her to land safely.

Using my magic, I stopped her from falling while keeping up with my exercise. And then, I moved her off the treadmill before placing her on the floor. I looked at the timer on my treadmill and saw that I had reached the thirty-minute mark. I stopped it and then got off while breathing heavily with my shoulders.

"Try eating bananas. I hear they do wonders for cramps," I said to Spitfire, who was still staring at me with a confused look, before heading to the showers. I was drenched in sweat and that made me feel uncomfortable.

After getting that part of the day done, I headed out of the gym. On my way out, however, I noticed two things. First, Spitfire was fuming and working harder than when I got there; talk about a blow to the pride. Second, Storm Wall was waiting for me outside of the gym.

"You followed my routine down to the last letter," He said with a frown.

He watched the entire thing?

"I asked for directions. You gave me what I asked. Why wouldn't I follow it?" I asked while tilting my head.

"I take that you only have a few days available to work on your body. Seeing as you only come by two times a week. Am I right?" He asked while keeping a stern look on his face.

"Yes. I have lessons on the other days," I replied before Storm Wall pulled a new set of papers from his pockets. "Here. This is a routine that fits your schedule and won't overwork you like the one I gave you."

Did he just admit he gave me more than I could chew?

"I won't waste my time with a kid that will cut their work in half when no one is looking," He said while placing his hand on my head. "But you're a good one. That should get you to where you want to go. If you need more advice on that front, my door is open."

Smiling at him, I hugged him before heading home. On my way back, I took a peek at the exercise routine. The instructions were clearer and the exercises were things I could do at home. There were special sets of exercises for when I could hit the gym as well as a sleep schedule to help me optimize my rest. 

I don't understand why he retired.

When I got home, I found mother looking at some adds for caretakers. Father, on the other hand, was looking at lodgings for Las Pegasus. 

"What's going on?" I asked after locking the door.

"Oh, hello, son," Father replied without taking his eyes of the catalogs. "I'm checking the lodging that is nearest to the Galla Exposition."

"The what now?" I inquired while raising an eyebrow as I placed my gym clothes on the laundry.

"It's a gathering for fashionistas where they show dresses fit for the Grand Galloping Galla," Mother replied while crumbling an add for a caretaker. "I'm running an entire line of dresses this year, so I need to go. It's a great way to advertise my works."

I can think of someone who dreams of participating that. I mused while picking one of the adds.

"If you're looking for a caretaker, why don't you ask Cadance?" I inquired while placing the pamphlet on the desk.

"Who is Cadance?" Mother asked with a curious smirk.

"She is the student council president. And Celestia's niece. I just thought that, since she takes care of the kids at school, she could handle taking care of one or two kids," I said before being caught from behind by Gleaming, who then proceeded to mess with my mane while holding me in a lock.

"I saw you at the gym today! Are you planning to be a soldier too, little bro?" She said while making sure I didn't escape.

"No! I'm trying to at least carry my things without having runes sneaked into my bag!" I replied while trying to get off her grip.

"Oh, I can feel your fingers. You're doing a good job then. You barely had the strength to grip my arm before," She said while letting me go. "I also saw that thing with Spitfire. Nice job turning that around on her. She was breathing fire when I left."

"Hello, Gleaming," Mother greeted. Earning a wave from sis, mom turned her attention to me. " You were saying?"

"You can try and talk to Cadance about the caretaker thing," I replied before doing a light kick on Gleaming's leg. "How's Barb doing?"

"She is ok. Still sleeping though," Mom answered while scratching her chin. "She sleeps most of the time. But she also seems to be growing."

Well, Celestia did say that dragons have a peculiar way of hatching their eggs. Maybe magic hatching has some side effects? Even when she clung to me, she was fast asleep. I should ask Celestia about this later. I pondered while scratching my chin. Spike was important in the story, so I need to make sure Barb was healthy. Not to mention that she is adorable and I will kill anyone that hurts her.

"Well, sweetie, if you can bring Cadance tomorrow I'll see what I'll do," Mom replied while I nodded.

"Ok! I'll head to my room then," I replied before climbing the stairs.

And another piece of the timeline is placed! I celebrated before laying on my bed and waiting for dinner. Now I just have to invite Cadance to come by because of the job. Everything will go smoothly!





What in the flying fuck happened last night?

Dropping my jaw on the floor, I tried to process the image before me. Cadance, somehow, in some miraculous way, turned into an alicorn overnight. That is insane! I talked to her two days ago and she was soo insecure about her mark! It had to do with her friends who she managed to get together and then they began to fight; I motivated her to try and reason with each of them separately. Then she disappeared for a day, now she came back with a horn on her forehead and she is about as tall as her counterpart in the show!

"So, um, this happened," She said while we sat in the cafeteria. "I am a Princess now," She said meekly. "I tried to reason with them, as you said, and then I got a high fever. When I woke up today, I had a horn."

DID I DO THAT? Wh-bu-how? I mused while staring at her horn.

"Tia says that I found my true calling. And that I performed something special. That caused the transformation," Cadance explained while fiddling with her thumbs. "I'm happy that my talent was right. But, now everyone is staring at me. All the time."

Hearing those words, I shook my head sideways to snap out of my confusion. "Well, you are the second alicorn to ever exist since the banishment of Nightmare Moon. I guess the others are just as surprised as you are, that's all," I said while swinging my legs under the table.

"I received the proposal of seven nobles since I reached the school today. They are breaking into the school to ask me," She said with her head hanging low.

I don't think I'm qualified to handle this!

"Can't you ask Princess Celestia for advice? You two are on the same rank now. You can probably waltz in the throne room, and no one would stop you," I proposed while poking my food with a fork.

"She is too busy preparing the coronation. I'm on my own," Cadance replied while poking her food with a fork.

Geez! She's never been like this! What do I do?!

"I'm not sure what to say," I replied while dropping the fork. "I'm eight years old. And a commoner. The only reason I'm here is that I nearly blew up the examination room on my test. I'm not a royal and I don't know what you're going through. For Celestia's sake, I came to talk to you because my parents need a caretaker. But I think that's out of the question now," I said while looking at the table.

"I'll take it," Cadance replied with a low tone.

"What?"

"I'll take the job if your mother will have me. Anything to get out of the castle for a while," She shot back while staring at me. "Besides," She said before flaring up her magic and dragging me into a hug. "Then I get to snuggle my teddy bear!"

I'm getting Celestia flashbacks here!

"Can't breathe," I whimpered before Cadance loosened the hug.

"Sorry," She said with a chuckle. "I'm still getting used to my strength. And tia said my body will change in the following days."

"When did you learn telekinesis?" I asked while suspended in her arms.

"Oh, Tia gave me the basic knowledge through a ritual today after class started. She also gave me knowledge of some basic spells. But it took the wind out of her. She even excused herself from her duties for the day," Cadance explained while squishing me before placing me on the table again.

"Wait, if she is resting now, how is she planning your coronation?" I asked while tilting my head at her.

"That is why the coronation was delayed," She said with a half-smile.

"Oh, got it," I replied widening my eyes at the response. "Was it that bad?"

"She walked to her room as if she was drunk," Cadance replied with a chuckle.

"Ok," I replied while trying to shake the image of a drunken Celestia walking around the castle out of my mind. "I guess I'll see you after my lessons today then?"

"Yes. I bet it will be much better than anything the palace has to offer right now," Cadance said while frowning at the situation.

Yay. I guess I set things in the right path...again. Seriously though, what the hell Cadance?

The rest of the day was about as doable as one would expect. Gossip all around the school, everyone freaking out at the mere sight of Cadance. Suddenly a bunch of stallions appearing in the school grounds with flowers and fawning over her at every corner. Then it was time for me to have my private lessons. Nothing new.

After arriving at the designated room, I opened up the door. On the other side, I met a sleeping Celestia as she laid in a cushion by the fireplace. She looks so peaceful. I should get a blanket for her. I mused while looking around the room.  I found a small cabinet with a handful of fluffy blankets. Based on their size, I assumed them to be hers. Walking over to Celestia's body, I used my magic and my hands to cover her with the blanket.

I guess the ritual must have taken more out of her than she realized. I better go out before. A sudden yank from an unknown force caused me to be crushed in a bear hug.

"Soft, bear," Celestia muttered while holding me the same way Cadance used to. Celestia held tightly me against her chest for a few seconds squeezing me hard before bringing me close to her face. I swear that she smells like vanilla. Once I was close to her face, she pressed the back of my head against her neck. Placing her muzzle in between my ears, she snuggled me like a stuffed animal.

"Good, little pet," She muttered before getting close to one of my ears and biting it softly. I felt ticklish as she nibbled at my ear softly as if to not draw blood. She breathed a bit harder for a few seconds after that, and then let me go.

Scrambling away, I rushed to the door as quietly as I could while my heart pounded like a jackhammer in my chest. My body felt tingly and I wanted to chuckle at the feeling in my ear. But I was afraid that if I did that, Celestia would wake up and see me there. Therefore, I rushed out of the room before blinking as fast as I could to reach home. Though, I had to stop mid-way to meet with Cadance. Then we left to my house so she could meet my mother.

Standing by the front door, Mom greeted us with a smile.

"Hello! You must be Cadance," Mother said while offering her hand.

"A pleasure," Cadance answered wholeheartedly. "Your son is adorable."

"Of course he is," Mom replied with excitement.

And now they are besties. I don't know if that's good for me or bad.

Then we proceeded to have the most embarrassing conversation ever as my mom proceeded to pull pictures of me as a baby. And talking about how fragile I was and how careful Cadance had to be. Yeah, four words and a hand-shake was enough to win my Mother. I swear, it' almost as if mom had decided for Cadance to be with me. She is sixteen! I'm eight! Then again, I have a. NO! As for my father, she just had to win my mother. The only one missing was Gleaming Shield.

"Hey, Dusk! I found some weights you can use in my stuff," Gleaming said while heading down the stairs. "Oh, Cadance is here. The new princess in town. Do you need anything?"

"Cadance here will be your little brother's caretaker while we head to the Galla Exposition," Mother replied while coming closer to the stairs.

"Oh. Is that so?" Gleaming asked before going upstairs. "Have a good night."

What is up with her? She should be head over heels for. Wait. Don't tell me that she is going to her room to hide? I thought before sneaking upstairs. It would be better than standing by another section of How to take care of  Dusk SHine by Velvet. The moment I opened the door, I saw Gleaming, training.

"What are you doing?" I asked while standing by the door.

"Trying to catch up," Gleaming said in between breaths.

"To who?" I asked while walking into the room. I honestly didn't understand why Gleaming was training so hard. She was strong as any other mare.

"To the little star that takes the lead in here," Gleaming said before patting my head. "You're a strong caster, a genius kid, and you're trying to get stronger physically."

"Nope," I said while sitting by her side while she did sit-ups.

"What?" Gleaming said while stopping mid-sit-up.

"I'm not a genius. I'm a regular caster. I only got into the school because of an explosion that made me go into a panic attack," I said while tilting my head. "Not to mention, if I'm talented to learn a bunch of spells, that doesn't mean I'll ever be able to master any of them to the point you have mastered your shield spells. Don't you get it? You got into the Academy on your own. You mastered almost all of the defensive spells currently known. And I'm sure you're gonna make a new spell that's ought to blow every single mage in the academy away," I explained before scratching the back of my head.

"I can't say I know why you think that highly of me," I continued before laying on my back. "But I know you're a lot stronger than me. Both you and mom reinforce that idea every day. I'm trying to better myself so I can stand on my own. And now, I know someone that needs someone strong as you to help them out in school. I don't know why you're at odds with Cadance. But she needs help. I can't help her, but you can."

Staring at me for several seconds, Gleaming smiled at me before returning to her sit-ups. "Thanks for the pep-talk."

I think I just spouted a lot of mumbo-jumbo mixed with facts and a bit of cringy dialogue from an RPG personal link. What am I doing here? I need to find a better way to talk to others. Good lord, I monologued.

"Dusk! Gleaming! Time for dinner!" Mom called from downstairs.

And that was the cue to another session of my mother and Cadance fawning over how to take care of me. Although, it wasn't all bad. Gleaming started to partake in the conversation. They were small remarks and chuckles, but it progressed from the silent treatment to small interactions. That is a win in my book.





On the following day, nothing out of the ordinary happened. I did my studies and dealt with the exercise routine. I doubt anything will happen this soon, but I'm committed to it. The good news is that I saw Cadance and Gleaming talking in school. My sister even stood up against a stranger that got a bit forceful against Cadance. She didn't need to do that, but she did. And that is AMAZING. That is another positive score for me!

Anyhow, today I heard that we will have a special visit to the largest weather factory in Equestria in two days. Guess where it is? Cloudsdale. Guess what else is in Cloudsdale? Flight camp! And that means that there are two mares I can meet there! The spirits of kindness and loyalty!  

That's what you would expect me to say, right?

Well, here is the thing: the flight camp is on the opposite side of the town. Meaning, I would need to cross the entire town, on my own, to meet them. And guess who is not going to walk around town without a guide? ME. As tempting as ensuring certain things happen is, I'm not about to risk getting kidnapped or anything of the sort to do something that will happen later on. I mean, look at Gleaming and Cadance. They are living proof that the world has a set path ready for us. I just made a few bumps here and there.

Another thing to take note: apparently, nibbling the ear of another pony seems to be a friendly gesture. I didn't read it anywhere, because there is no book on social gestures (how I hate that fact). This is a conclusion based solely on the observation of several interactions between ponies. Although, it seems to be a more common practice amongst two mares. I've only seen this gesture happening with a stallion once. And he was with a mare that gave him a box of chocolates. Meaning I can probably try this with someone I care about. But I'll cross that bridge when I come around the confidence to get that close to someone. For now, I like to keep others at arm's length (that does not include family).

I forgot something. Celestia noticed that she missed my class yesterday, therefore, she came up to me to apologize. I told her about me going there and finding her sleeping. Then I mentioned the blanket I placed on her. She asked if anything else happened, and that is when I told her "no". Because I'm a liar. I simply couldn't bring myself to tell her that she snuggled me like a teddy bear and nibbled my ear. Not to mention the pet thing. As delightful as the feeling of being embraced by her was, I am a child. And based on her actions so far, she would probably feel guilty for that.

I guess you can say an uneventful day is a good day for me. Considering the madness that is my life for these past two years.





Ok, how to begin this? 

In the show I watched, there is a small "where is waldo?" thing hidden in every episode. That is a gray mare with a golden mane. She is cross-eyed and tends to cause accidents whenever she is on the screen. She was also beloved by the fans and they gave her a family. A running gag with her is the accidents surrounding her, and her love for muffins.

Well, she crash-landed into our group. And by that, I mean she hit me hard enough to toss us against a building. Luckily, the buildings are made of clouds, therefore, I phased through it. Later that day I learned that its a security measure against aerial accidents. Therefore, all buildings allow ponies to phase through them if they hit them with enough force. But that does not remove the fact that in the middle of the accident, she landed with her butt on my face while she sat up straight. I swear that mare is made out of metal, cause I passed out from the impact, but she kept shaking me until I woke up.

"I'm sorry!" She yelled at me while shaking my body like a ragdoll. How are mares so strong in here? I swear she nearly gave me whiplash.

The violent shakes were enough to wake me, thank god. Because, when I came to, she was about to try CPR me. Thankfully, I put my hand on her face, which caused her to stop before trying anything else.

"I'm ok!" I exclaimed before she hugged me.

"Thank Celestia you're ok! I'm so sorry! I'm always causing accidents," She said with her head hanging low, her left eye shook sideways. "I was running a course at flight camp. But I think I got lost. And then I did it again. Maybe I should stay at home as everyone else tells me."

I will say, I felt bad for her. But I can't change her eyes or anything like that. So, I did the best thing I could think at the moment. "It's ok. I'm no hurt. And accidents happen all the time. How about this: next time someone tells you that you're only good for causing accidents, you retort with, you can say that I'm only good for causing accidents if you never caused an accident in your life!" I replied while putting on a brave face. However, I was breaking on the inside.

Too close! Too close! She is kinda cute, but too fucking close!

Backing away, Derpy blinked a few times before tilting her head at me. "You're not gonna ask?"

"Ask about what?" I inquired while getting up.

"My eye," She said while I helped her up.

"Why would I ask about that? They're there and you can see. And one of them reminds me of doll-eyes. What's the big deal?" I asked while heading back to the group. We didn't go very deep into the building, so getting out was easy. Once I was back with my group, Derpy and I parted ways. However, before leaving she asked my name. After giving her my answer, she continued on her own.

Maybe I can figure something out to help with depth perception? Although, I would also need something to compensate for the information her cross-eye sends. Well, once I get to more advanced spells I might be able to pull something off. Maybe I can try and play Starlight's trick and mish-mash some spells together. The first thing I'll try is mending and prestidigitation.

Lesson time! 

The tour through the weather factory was amazing. The base material for most of the weather elements they produce is water. Water that comes from two sources: one, wild clouds that form over masses of water (they have special scouts for collecting those); two, a massive tornado that is caused by a flock of pegasuses once a year. The second one requires a force, which is measured in wing-power, of eight hundred to be formed; this tornado sends a tower of water to Cloudsdale's reservoir.

With that water, the pegasuses produce clouds, rainstorms, rainbows, snowflakes and so forth. We weren't allowed into the storm sections, but we got to see the work on the snowflakes. Which, by the way, is the physical manifestation of OCD. The weather factory hires hundreds of artists to create designs for every snowflake they create. At least ten different designs each. Once they are done, a specialist analyzes the drawings and eliminates any drawings that have a minimum of seventy percent similarity. With those designs in hands, each pegasus in the winter section receives at least fifteen different designs to recreate in the icicles the flake depicted. Yeah, in this world, every snowflake is unique due to someone's hard work.

That is insane! And to make things crazier, their level of control over the weather neutralizes most natural disasters! Not to mention that can could easily drought villages and also starve them if they wanted. It's scary to even think what they could do us if they suddenly decided to ditch the country. I'm glad that pegasuses tend to be very prideful and loyal to what they believe in, otherwise, we would be screwed.

The tour was cut short when a kid thought it was a good idea to try and drink the rainbow. He ended up spitting fire like a dragon for a good ten minutes. I think there was an item in a fighting game that made something similar. That game was awesome. On our way back, I swear I saw someone that looked like Fluttershy diving in the distance. However, I wasn't anywhere close to her so I couldn't see them and make sure it was her. 

And that was my first visit to the weather factory! It was awesome to learn about how those clouds get to us. And I did get some neat ideas while we were there. Maybe I'll put them to practice one day! But for now, I'll just write some ideas down to remember them later.





List of spells to mish-mash:

-Prestidigitation x Mending.
-Pass without a trace x Blink.
> Chapter 3: Preventive measures
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thirteen.

I am officially thirteen years old. Puberty struck me like a fucking tornado. My voice, although cracky, is deeper than the wheeze that came out of my mouth. Thanks to the hormones, my body is developing at a steady rate. I'm a bit short still, however, I'm not a dwarf anymore. I'm getting muscle mass because of the training. And now I have quite the cardio! I can run for quite a while, although I lack the speed other mares have. It's getting harder to ignore the other things that come with this age. Not on my part, thankfully, but on the mare's part. As one would expect, they have heat periods. And during those periods they get, assertive, with stallions.

I've been doing my best to avoid them. But as much as I would like to avoid them. I have classmates and most of them are ponies I have to interact with. Mom and Dad told me it's ok to be worried about this. But they also told me to be mindful of any mares approaching me out of the blue. I learned about cases of rape and other issues that stallions have to deal with now and then. I can't help but feel for them. I mean it's bad enough to be protected all the time, but then we have them going crazy like that.

To make things worse, I don't know if the butterfly effect I keep causing is good or bad. Cadance is my caretaker, but she seems closer to me than Gleaming. I think I'm making things worse in some way. Therefore, I need to be more careful. However, I think I screwed up things enough already. Therefore, the best I can do is try and keep things working as best as I can.

However, the things I should change and the things I can change are all mixed. And I don't know everything that transpired in the show, therefore, things I think are ok to change could be vital for later plots. This means that I have an impasse. On one hand, I can avoid certain outcomes I'm aware of, on the other hand, I might end up eliminating vital steps to avoid other catastrophes. Tirek is one I should be on the look-out for.

So, for now, I'll try to stick to small changes.





I was sweating cold, badly. Two mares cornered me in the cafeteria.

"You're the Princess's pupil, right?" The one from the right said while using her arm to block my left exit.

"Wow, look at you. Thirteen and looking this good?" The one from the left said while mimicking the mare to my right.

"Hey! Dusk!" Gleaming greeted while walking up to us.

Letting out a sigh of relief, I watched as both mares turned pale as a ghost before running as Gleaming approached.

"Another pair?" Gleaming asked while placing her hand on her hip. Thanks to her daily work-out, Gleaming has the most sculpted body in the academy. Spitfire popped some vessels when she heard that a unicorn was in better shape than her. "I swear, what am I going to do with you?"

"I was planning on teleporting away. But she was close enough to grab me by the horn," I explained while letting out a sigh. "I swear, the way I see it, mares should be flocking to you, not me."

"Says the second hottest student in the school. And the nicest," Gleaming said while hitting my head with her fist gently. "Put some hexes on yourself to make deform your face. That should keep them off your back."

For reasons beyond my comprehension, the school had a pool on the most handsome stallion and the most beautiful mares on the school. I scored second place mainly because of my age. Blueblood was the one before me on the list, for which I'm grateful, I am not about to deal with the trophy on my head. And the nicest was just a compliment on Gleaming's part. Gleaming held second place on the most beautiful mare, second to Cadance. Spitfire fell in the third place, I loved her face when she realized she was beneath both me and my sister.

"And send me to the hospital if I overdo it," I replied while taking a step forward. "I wish I could walk around as freely as you do though."

"Then turn into a mare," Gleaming said with a coy tone. "Break a few hearts on the way too. I would love to see their faces when they see you with the body of a mare."

"Thanks, but no thanks," I replied before opening my book and sitting on a table by the window. "I think that locking myself up in the library would be enough of a reminder of how I felt about the approaches."

I forgot to mention. After turning ten years old, I moved into an old section of the Canterlot Library. It was a storage area until I redecorated it with the Princess's permission. Barb is seven years old now, so she is still back home. I visit every weekend to check on her. This was mainly because of some stalkers that were following me home. In the library, I have the royal guard watching the gates, so if someone wants in, they have to break into the castle. 

Do that, and you're arrested chief.

"If anything, I think that made you look more mysterious," Gleaming said while taking a seat in front of me.

"Why do my plans on that front fail?" I asked while letting down my shoulders.

"I don't know. Why does it bother you that much?" Gleaming asked while staring at the sky. "Did you fall for someone?"

"I guess you can say that," I said while an image of Celestia popped in my head. "Although, I think it's more of a dream than a possibility."

"Well, claim the dream and make it your reality," Gleaming said nonchalantly.

"Why do you take everything I say so lightly?" I asked while deadpanning at her.

"Why do you take everything I say so seriously?" Gleaming replied with a smirk.

"Ha-ha. I have to meet up with Moon Dancer. We got a chemistry paper to get ready. Then I have to think about my paper for independent studies. I was thinking about rocks and crystals. But there isn't much registered on books," I said before closing the book with a thud.

"Then ask for permission to go to the rock farms," Gleaming replied. "That is the place with the most knowledge on geodes and crystals ever."

I don't recall that being the show. Is it a new addition to this world? I mused while holding my chin.

"Rock farms? If they have so much knowledge, why don't they share it?" I asked while tilting my head.

"Something to do with customs. If you want to know you have to go there yourself. They don't share information through books based on what I hear," Gleaming said as I got up.

"And the reason no one has written the information they shared?" I inquired with a sigh.

"The rock farms are very isolated. And there is one particularly weird one, they have some strange deal with a Huge Bolder that decides some things for them," Gleaming replied while waving me good-bye.

"I see, thanks!" I replied before running out of the cafeteria.

After reaching the meeting point, I found Moon Dancer sitting by one of the classrooms. She was a particularly good friend and one that wasn't horny. Looking at you Minuette. NEVERMIND! Pushing that subject aside, I entered three or four different classrooms before finding Moon Dancer. Sitting by the blackboard, she played with the chalk by making it stand before knocking it down.

"Hey!" I saluted, which made her lazily look in my direction. "You're as sunny as ever."

"How can you be energetic with that much shit you have to deal with daily?" Moon Dancer asked with a frown.

"If I'm not  energetic about the things I need to do, how can I be energetic about the things I want to do?" I inquired while glancing at the pile of papers next to Moon Dancer. Picking them up, I skimmed through the contents. "You did it all?"

"Well, I don't know if you notice, but you tend to do a lot on your own. Helping others and yourself," She said with a faint blush on her cheeks as she flicked piece chalk towards the can. "So, I wanted to do something to help. I know you're having a hard time getting your independent studies paper ready. So, I did this to give you some extra time."

Looking at the paper, then back at Moon Dancer, I let out a sigh with a shy smile as I hesitantly approached her. I don't know what took over me, but, but I. I leaned closer to her and gave her a peck on the cheek. I felt a jolt of energy rush me and before I noticed what had happened, I was half-way home with my lungs on fire.

I just made a terrible mistake, didn't I? I thought to myself as leaned on my parent's front door before cleaning up the sweat on my forehead. I, I wanted to thank her. But, I think I messed up. WHAT DO I DO?! Oh, look, Barb is playing with mom.

Knocking on the door, I waited until mom came to greet me. Which was immediately followed by Barb hugging my leg. I picked her up and held her in my arms while entering the house.

"So, to what do we owe the pleasure?" Mother asked as she took a seat in the kitchen.

"I had a miniature heart attack. And I needed to ask if either you or father could come with me to the rock farms. I need information on Geodes and crystals for my paper," I explained while rocking Barb up and down slowly. She wasn't one to talk much, I think I may need to keep her close so she speaks a bit more.

"Sweetie, I'm sorry but," Mom said while scratching her head. "I have to attend to school performance in Ponyville. It was at the request of the daughter of that family you recommended for the princess. The ones with the zap apples were it? There is someone in the village that is a big fan of my works. So, they asked if I could go there to see their designs for the school play. And your father is coming with me."

Deadpanning at that, I continued to rock Barb as she was about to fall asleep. What do I do now? Sis is out of the question since her training for the guard's test begins tomorrow. Cadance is a princess. Celestia, why did I even think of her? And, there is no one left. Shit. I mused while looking at Barb who had fallen asleep from the rocking.

"Hello there, champ," Father greeted while climbing down the stairs, he was walking funny for some reason. "What's the fuss about?" And he that was not his usual tone. I don't think he was drunk, but something had affected him, that much was a fact.

"Hey, Dad," I greeted without waking up Barb. "I came here to ask for help with a project. I would need one of my parents to accompany me, but mom told me neither of you will be available for the next couple of days," I added as father used the handrail as a clutch to climb down the stairs.

"Well, little guy, you can call in a favor Silver Line owes me," He said without a care in the world.

A waterfall of cold sweat ran down my back as I processed the idea of being alone with that mare for a couple of days. Flashbacks from our first and only meeting made let out a nervous chuckle.

"A-ah, er, a-are you sure I can't ask anyone else about it?" I asked while trying my best to keep my composure.

"Come on! I know I can trust her with my life, don't you agree, honey?" Dad asked after struggling to sit down without falling to the ground.

"I can't deny that. She is reliable," Mother said while using her magic to create a scroll before handing it to me. "There, that identifies Silver Line as a guardian. Now, you can leave town with her, as long as you head only for the rock farms. These papers are very specific about it. So, don't try loopholes," Mom said with a smirk.

I deadpanned as my mother lifted Barb with her magic and pushed the scroll against my face. I am so fucked. I should rephrase that. That is the last thing I want! But I need the data. This is an insane predicament. I REFUSE TO FAIL THE ASSIGNMENT! Dear Celestia, it's like I fused with Twilight. I was a nerd, but this is ridiculous! My body is on the line here! FUCK IT.

And that's how I ended up in a train towards the rock farms with Silver Line.

Send help.





Well, since Silver Line is asleep (bucking finally by the way, why did I write buck?) I better update how things are going so far. As things stand, I'll need to expend half of the next day with her in this cabin until we reach the rock farm. Our first meeting was, thankfully, uneventful. Aside from a small comment, she muttered when I was walking away. She said, and I quote: Too young, needs more time.

Now, I don't care if she sees me as a child. I am, in fact, grateful to whatever star smiled upon me when she decided that I was too young for her. But even if that's the case, I can't lower my guard around her. In any case, I have to give props to whatever it is that created this world. The land is brimming with life, and all of the colors are so vivid I can't help but awe at every change in scenery I can notice.

The train is also something else too. I have fought the drive to drool all over the place. The entire car smells like freshly baked pastries, not to mention the decor is adorably cozy. I loved the designs for train carts in those animated series. I can't remember their names now, but I recall a boy with blond hair and golden eyes sleeping on a train. That train had a rather luxurious cart, but this one makes me feel at ease. Almost as if I didn't leave home.

After spending a good amount of time looking at the scenery, I guess I-.





OK! OK! I am OK!

I woke up and had a blanket over me. Silver Line was watching the window, and before I knew what was going on, she had chased off a bunch of ponies that apparently, were watching me through the cabin's window. And to that, I say: FUCK WHOEVER MADE THIS FUCKED UP SOCIETY! Mentally I may be of age, but I have the body of a child! Give me a break!

The rest of the trip was quiet. Silver Line can be as intimidating as hell. I am somewhat glad I'm traveling with her. Even if she wants younger ponies, she at least has a code on how young she wants them. I just hope the bar isn't just above my head right now. Because if it is, I'll need to make sure to put up barriers, otherwise I might wake up with a naked mare above with a serious case of lust attack.

Back to the travel, the rock farms are quiet, dead quiet, ghost town quiet. Ponies are walking by and there are markets just like any other place. But, the area is barren and most ponies speak in such a calmly manner the whole place seems like a library being watched by a wicked monster that devours noisemakers. Not to mention everyone seems to avoid me and Silver.

Gleaming wasn't kidding when she said they were a reserved bunch. However, it didn't take long for me to figure out what to do. In the inn we stayed, there is a book with a few basic orientations for the town. Yes, I spent the rest of the day reading it, don't judge me. There is a family in town that handles a gigantic boulder. This family is, I kid you not, the Pies. Limestone Pie, Pinkie Pie, Maud Pie, Marble Pie (the daughters), Igneous Rock Pie, and Cloudy Quartz (the parents) are in charge of maintaining the bolder called Holder's Bolder.

And this rock is the one that decides who is allowed to receive the knowledge of the town. It also makes matchmaking. Something about fragments of it falling off it and showing colors for two or more ponies that are meant to be. I don't think the book explains it correctly because the entire thing is off. If they were assigned to maintain the boulder, how can they allow these matchmaking to occur? Since, you know, it chips away at their monument. Meh, I'm not here for matchmaking, so, it will be ok!

All I have to do is visit the rock, and then ask for the Pies to have it evaluate me. However, I do think its a bit problematic to have my paper hinge in the decision of a rock. Well, it's their rules, I'm the outsider. Better stick to the script and hope for the best. And before I go, I think it is obvious, but I will say it anyway: I need to share a room with Silver Line. And just so we are clear: I pulled every preventive measure I could. 

Here is a short list: barrier spell, alarm spell, paralysis spell, sleep spell, stun spell, silence spell, and a snare spell. Those are the superficial ones, I rather not talk about the more extreme measures.





Entry number Sixty-three hundred eighty-nine.

As usual, the mining activities and cultivation worked without a hitch. Beginning at the usual hour, me, my daughters, and my husband went to our assigned shifts. However, it didn't take long for something unusual to happen. A young colt appeared at our farm. He couldn't be over fourteen. And he appeared with a legal companion. He talked to her for a few minutes before entering our farm.

He was a rather odd unicorn, instead of demanding to buy crystals or acting as a noble, he asked if he could be appraised by Holder. He explained how he read about the process to gain our knowledge, and asked if we were available to present us. If the time was inconvenient, he promised to return at a more convenient hour. That was a first. His appearance and posture showed something more akin to an adult rather than a child. I must say it was quite refreshing to see someone from the capital with respect and decent behavior.

He came to me since I was the one in cleaning the front fields. I asked his name, very politely he told me he was called Dusk Shine. He didn't tell me any titles, nor did he mention his family's position. All he told me was that he wanted information on geodes and crystals for a school paper. That was the oddest reason I ever heard for a pony to visit the rock farms. But in any case, I followed the procedures and led him to Holder.

He didn't ask any questions, nor did he comment about our farm. Once he was before the holder, he said the Holder was larger than he had thought. And instead of approaching it, he stood there and asked what he was supposed to do to get appraised. That was when I told him to approach Holder and pick one of the stones beneath it. He didn't question me, nor did he have a sarcastic look on his face. Instead, he walked around Holder, carefully examining the pebbles beneath it.

When he picked his stone, he analyzed it for a few seconds before handing it to me. I took it back home after telling him to wait. 

His stone is a geode rich in natural energy, this means he has a considerable pool of mana. However, it's somewhat fragile. That is the typical stone of a unicorn. Rich in energy, but frail. But unlike the others, it didn't crumble when I applied pressure to the stone. It did crack, however. Exposing a small crystal that had the potential to be a decent catalyst, I'm putting it lightly, with the right cultivation, this can be a strong catalyst. And that was it. He had passed the test. Those with the right energy can sense the fragments of Holder that contain such crystals. And that's how we select those that can know what we know about the earth.

When I told him he was worthy to receive the knowledge, he practically fell on his flank with a smile of excitement. He told me how grateful he was to receive the knowledge. And then, he asked about the capabilities for spell storing in crystals. He also asked about geodes that could conduct magical energy and how to identify them. I invited him into our home and searched for our notes on the subject. During this time, I made sure he could see the pictures of my family. Unicorns aren't particularly interested in the earth. But with their magic combined with our knowledge of crystals, the cultivation process may produce strong catalysts for enchantments.

Not to mention, a child combining both these aspects might have a unique affinity for stones and crystals. That might produce a strong generation of farmers. However, back to the subject that matters. His main focus was on the subjects he mentioned, therefore, he didn't ask about my family. However, when I glanced at the window, I noticed that my daughters were peeking through it. Once he was satisfied, he thanked me again and left with his legal guardian.

After he was gone, I checked the crystal along with the stones of my daughters. His stone is neutral. Therefore, his matchings are yet to be set in stone. However, it seems he has a small resonance with the crystal of Pinkie Pie. We can also peek into places that would allow us to better grow by verifying the resonance of our crystals with samples of rocks from other places. And Pinkie has a resonance with a place by the Everfree. Based on that alone, I believe she will meet with him eventually. 

As for Maud, because of his neutrality, she might have an opportunity. And given her resonance for Canterlot, I believe it might be the time for her to prepare for the degree she mentions now and then.





I got what I wanted. I also ran into one of the Pie sisters on my way out. She had a bruise on her knee. After using a quick healing spell, I helped her up and left. Sadly I didn't meet with Pinkie Pie. Well, I will meet her eventually, so, there is no issue I guess.

And maybe it's for the better, I did make the Apples earn a decent amount of money. And I might have made Celestia get addicted to zap apples. So, I think those are big enough changes for the main cast.

I think I'll stop recording these thoughts. If I eventually get this found out, they might ask what this is all about. And you know, I can't recall my face anymore. So, there is no point in dwindling on these thoughts.

I am Dusk Shine. The future element of Magic, a future prince of Equestria, and an honors student that has some issues to work on. And I don't think I plan on changing who I am, ever.
> Chapter 4: My Fuck up in April
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

BUCK-BUCK-BUCK-BUCK-BUCK! BUCKY-BUCKY-BUCKY-YOU!

I cannot believe this happened! How in the nine rings of Tartarus (yeah, that's a thing here) did I warn myself about the risk of being around Silver Line, and then I fall asleep with her in the same cabin, again?! I should file a report against her! But how do I report: Green-tongued, changeling assault? What in the flying buck (STOP IT ALREADY!) is one of those doing here? Especially HER! She is not supposed to be here until the marriage.  Moreover, WHY IS SHE TARGETING ME?!

Stop it. Calm down and write what happened, ok. WE were on our way back to Canterlot AFTER we got what I needed for the school paper. I foolishly fell asleep in the cabin while Silver was conscious. I'm not sure how much time passed, but I know she didn't do anything to me (I ran five checks in my body, no spells or marks anywhere). That is until I woke up, 'Silver Line' had me laying pinned on the seat as she stared into my eyes. I got ready to scream as loud as I could. But I was stopped by a single motion from Silver's hand as she pressed her index finger against my lips.

"Sh-shhh-shhh," She ushered while a malicious smile formed on her face revealing a set of white glistening fangs. "I promised I would take you to the farms. I didn't say anything about getting you back," She whispered with a voice I had heard a few times before. "You owe me a lot. But since you're still too young, I'll give us both, a preview. That will be my payback," She said before munching gently on my ear.

The tingling sensation ran through my entire body as I bit my lip and felt my blood rush to my cheeks. I saw my reflection in her eyes once she touched her nose with mine. My eyes were the size of peas, and there was a faint glow starting to form around my horn. I could see the sweat rolling down my face as she chuckled. Her mane was long, but it felt longer at that time. Hanging from her head like a set of curtains, it tried to hide our faces. Her horn emitted a faint green glow as she sunk her teeth into her lip that somehow had lipstick on out of nowhere.

Those were only some of the changes as she slowly approached my neck, and then began to kiss and nibble at it without any restraint. It wasn't unpleasant, but it wasn't pleasant either. I felt a mixture of excitement, guilt, and regret take over me as she moved her lips up to my neck and closer to my lips. The panic that had taken over me made me close my eyes before she touched my neck. Therefore, when I managed to open them again, that was when I saw her.

A pair of glowing, green cat eyes on a dark-skinned mare that fed on the love of ponies. I only know of one changeling that has pupils, Queen Chrysalis. I wanted to fight, if I fought her there, even if it meant me losing. However, before I could try to fight, she opened her maw. A green tongue rolled out of her mouth as she chuckled at whatever expression I had at the time. Stretching that thing as far as she could, Chrysalis ran her tongue from my chest up to my neck, and then my cheek.

"Open wide," She muttered before using her tongue to open up my mouth and press her lips against mine. I swear, I thought that she would shove her tongue down my throat, but. She, she wrapped her tongue around mine, and then pulled it into her mouth. 

She moaned and groaned as she played with my lips, lightly bit my tongue, held my head to lock it in place, the sloppy sounds of her making out are stuck in my head, and then she dropped her weight on me. Her body was heavy, soft, and cold. It felt like a cold blanket spread over me as she had her way. Suddenly, she broke away the kiss and sat on my abdomen before making her finger trace her lips gently while staring at me with half-open eyes. She made me feel entranced with her and disgusted at myself. Her form distorted back into Silver Line effortlessly. But given her expression, I don't think she noticed she had partially dropped her disguise.

"Hold back," She muttered while her left hand touched my face and gingerly made its way to my torso. "It's still too early. The taste is right. But the body isn't. A few more years. Hold back for a little while longer. It will pay off," She repeated those words like a mantra while breathing heavily. I could see the steam coming out of her mouth as I gasped for air and coughed a bit. "M-maybe, let him see," She said with a trembling voice as she reached for her shirt and slowly began to lift it.

Thankfully, multiple ponies started making noise in the hall. She got up before walking funnily towards the door. 

"I need to visit the toilet. Lock the door, and don't open until I come back," She said with a funny voice. I didn't respond, she walked out and I locked the door.

She came back after half an hour had passed. During that time, I had opened up my bag and kept rubbing my mouth with a handkerchief father had given me on my last birthday. Her posture was better and there was a strange smell around her. I ignored her and continued to rub my lips, which was when she sprayed something over me. It smelled like a perfume of sorts.

"That should keep you from any troubles," She said while taking her seat and tidying up her mane. "I would advise that you take a bath once you get home. And regarding that preview, you'll get the full course once you're eighteen. Consider it a birthday gift," She added with a blink followed by a smooch on my cheek, which seemed to get a groan from someone on the outside of the cabin.

I swear, I will make you regret revealing yourself. I promised mentally while pushing myself towards the furthest corner of the cabin.

The remainder of the travel went without a hitch. I took better care of my body and raised a barrier every single time I went to sleep (note to self: sustaining spells while asleep causes migraine), therefore, I was safe, I think. I hope.





I swear, on everything that I hold dear that I will murder the bitch that did this to me. As soon as I find that fucker (hey, it's back), I will ensure they have a good long lecture.

So, I'll try to explain the blur that occurred through a total of seventy-two hours to get a presentation ready for a talent show that held my tutelage with Princess Celestia hostage.

I arrived at the station with Silver Line (Bitch number one, the one I'm looking for is Bitch number two) and was greeted by none other than my teacher, Princess Celestia. 

"Where have you been?" She asked as soon as I stepped out of the wagon, surrounded by ponies, in the middle of the station's platforms. You can guess how much I wanted to disappear at that moment.

"I, I went to the rock farms. I needed information for a school paper," I replied while rubbing my right arm.

"And you didn't notify me, because?" Celestia inquired with a stern look as soon as Silver Line began to pat my head. "Who is this?"

"I-In order," I stuttered while gulping. "I thought you were notified since I asked permission to make the field research," I said while handing her the paper I made during the trip back. "Secondly, this. This is."

"Silver Line. I own a book store and Dusky's parents asked me to be his guardian for this trip while they were out in business," She explained while resting her hands on my shoulder, I shuddered at the contact. Celestia must have noticed because she changed from a stern look to a scowl. "He was my teddy bear during our travel," That last part made Celestia crush my paper before Silver walked away without much reverence.

Please beat the crap out of her. Please, beat the ever-living crap out of her. I chanted in my mind as Silver looked over her shoulder to wink at me again. I swear that Celestia's mane turned into a flame for less than a second. I would pay to see her in an actual fight with the queen. And I bet that in this instance, the queen would end up in the dungeons. In chains, stripped of her usual belongings, NO! BAD! STOP! BAD BRAIN!

"Dusk," That was the first time she ever called me by my first name, I am so screwed. "I think it would be best for you to avoid that mare from now on. Based on your reaction alone, I can tell she makes you uncomfortable. Maintaining relationships like that isn't healthy, nor is it good for your image," She scolded with concern.

Did she probe my mind?!!! I thought while shuddering at her warning.

"I understand," I replied with my head hung low. "I didn't have anyone else to turn to. And I needed to get the paper done," I added with an apologetic tone.

"If need be, I can assign a guard to escort you in case another project like this arrives," She said with a more caring tone while petting my head. "You are a brilliant young colt, you are also very blessed, and you are very handsome, therefore, you need to be mindful of those that approach you," She added while kneeling and making me look at her.

Don't try to kiss. Don't try to kiss. Don't try to kiss. Why must you tempt me so?!!!!!! I repeated while feeling my cheeks flush.

"I forgot what I came here to talk about. I shall contact you once I recall the theme I wished to converse," She said while getting up, and then cleaning up her dress. "Let us go, your living quarters have been modified to better suit your needs," She added while leading the way.

I followed without much thought. On our way back, I realized that the ENTIRE town followed us on our way into the castle. It was almost like a parade. The ruckus caused by our stalkers caused ponies to poke their heads out from the buildings that, in my eyes, looked like they were arching over us forming a tunnel. And in that tunnel, my guiding light was Celestia. No one around us got any closer than a ten feet radius, it was almost as if there was a dome shield around us. One could compare it to a march through the enemy territory as they fired volleys of arrows at us.

When we reached the gates, I bowed to Celestia before running towards the library. The path through the gardens felt safe, the white walls surrounding the castle made me feel safe. I had never taken note of how secure I felt inside these walls. It was almost as if nothing could touch me as long as I remained there. A sanctuary with a lovely stream filled with colorful koi and some lotus flowers that were in bloom. The other gift was the lovely forest filled with birds and critters, the peace and serenity evoked by that place made me think of enchanted forests as I dashed through the place. I think some birds swooped in and followed closely as I ran through the area.

After clearing the forest, the library came into view. My lovely home away from home, the place was originally a tad run down due to disuse, however, after I moved in, the place got better little by little. I started by repairing the cracked windows, then I moved on to clearing out the dust and checking the books present and absent. The next step was getting back the missing books from the residents that had borrowed them, and then I sent a note to the princess regarding the missing books that had to be replaced. It took me half a year, but the library was back in shape, and visitors started coming back.

After entering the building I saw some of the renovations Celestia had mentioned. There was a deck for me to sleep in, and an entire section had been modified to serve as a bedroom. There was even an extra bed for Barb. And it looked like the ones responsible for the changes had also moved my things from the old bedroom to this new place. The hourglass at the center was fancy, not to mention useful. It was a twenty-four-hour hourglass, meaning I could keep track of time without using the sundial outside of the building or the big clock-tower from the school. There was also a telescope, it was pretty advanced when compared to the things you usually see in children's rooms. 

Originally, I turned the old storage room into my bedroom by putting on a bedroll in it. It felt like camping out, but this situation didn't last long. Princess Celestia had the room filled in as soon as I mentioned I had restored the library (good thing too, apparently I'm allergic to dust, I sneeze and let magic blasts out of my horn when I do so). But I don't think this is what's important right now. 

What's important is the fact that, once I reached the library, I received the second wave of news that destroyed my day for the following seventy-two hours. As I said, I entered the library seeking refuge and solace in my books. However, I heard the sound of laughter and giggling coming from my old room.

This is crossing a line! Come on! This is my home for Celestia's sake! I thought while stomping towards the door. I had my fill of jackasses for the day at that point. Therefore, I had to stand my ground at least once. Grabbing the handle, I took a deep breath before bursting the door open.

"Ok! Who let you in and what are you doing in my house, Lyra? M-Moon Dancer? And, Vinyl Scratch? Did I get that last one right?" I asked while tilting my head. Then I realized that my voice had turned soft again, thus I shook my head before continuing. "Nevermind! Why are you three here??"

"We are preparing for the talent show in three days," Moon Dancer said while looking over some papers. "We were trying to decide what we should do. But we needed your input since you are the one appointed as the head of the group. And the one with the most risks here," She added while looking over some papers.

"I'm sorry," I replied while having my eye twitch at the part of the risk. "Would you kindly explain to me had do you mean by risks?"

"The Princess didn't tell you?" Lyra asked before I nodded negatively. "Your tutelage is being disputed by a student appointed by Naighsay. He claims that you're not suited to be a student of the princess. Celestia said otherwise and made a bet. If you get a better place than that student, you keep your position. You lose, and Celestia has to give up on tutoring you."

Taking a deep breath, I clapped my hands together and pointed them at the group. "T-that doesn't sound too difficult. I-I just need to place higher than her!"

"She is currently in the first place," Vinyl added. I swear I heard my soul being crushed at that moment. "The solo presentations finished yesterday. The group acts start in three days."

"I utterly despise every fiber of the creature known as Naighsay. And I will destroy him on a molecular level. Correction, I will erase him on an atomic level," I said while my left eye twitched at speeds I dare not mention. "Group act. Singing. Lyra, you handle the instruments. Vinyl, you handle the lighting and effects. Moon Dancer, you will sing and dance with me. I will use my mother's studio and make ourselves a tuxedo and a dress. Lyra, I'll have the music sheets prepared for you in a couple of minutes."

From that point on, I entered a state of pure stress and adrenaline. Rushing upstairs, I used the new study to quickly transcribe my pick for the music. I also had the lyrics written down with the correct tempo while also differentiating the singers. If that son of a bitch thinks he can mess up the world and take me away from Celestia, he's got another thing coming!

After handing the sheets and the lyrics to their respective owners, I began a series of blink spells to get home faster. I kicked the door open before rushing to my mother's studio.

"I need to make this work. GAME ON!" I screamed before firing up my magic. Several utensils began to fly as my mind became muddled by the sheer amount of spells I started to use non-stop. I can recall several pieces of fabric flying around along with scissors, thread, needles, and I think a sewing machine. I swear someone walked up to me and started talking, but before I knew it, I was back at the library with a dress and a tuxedo laying on my face.

That was how I started the second day. This is when the drill Sargeant came out. I ran to Moon Dancer's house as soon as I ate (by that I mean taking an apple and eating half of it, I was running on spells and water at that point). I think I shoved her mother out of the way before giving Moon Dancer the dress. Then, once she stored it I grabbed her wrist and ran back to the library. The poor thing nearly collapsed with all the exercise. But I didn't have time for pity or a calm demeanor.

Therefore, I proceeded to burn the choreography into Moon Dancer's mind. At the time, I didn't realize how close that dance forced us to be. That was three-quarters of the day done. Moon Dancer has a good memory. And like me, she seemed VERY motivated to dance perfectly. Next was Lyra, I didn't have to do much. In that regard, she was as talented with the instruments as Octavia. But with the bonus of being a walking band due to her magic.

That left Vinyl. I was partially aware of her relationship with Octavia, but them being sisters went over my head like an airplane. SO, the good news is that, once I explained the nature of the song and when she had to do the effects she showed me while I rehearsed my parts. It was a spectacle. The only variable that concerned me at that point, was me.

STEPPED WRONG! Fix the angle! Watch the tempo! Fix the posture! Too fast! Wrong spell! Misstep! Too slow! You dropped your partner! DO IT BETTER! Don't you want to keep your tutor! You're not even trying! Maybe Naighsay was right. You're not good enough! Keep it up we only have a day to do this right! Come on, you pathetic worm! Do it again! AGAIN! AGAIN! AGAIN! AGAIN! AGAIN! AGAIN! AGAIN! AGAIN!

This went on for several hours. Needless to say, I was terrified of this mess.

My memories are clearer after I woke up on the day of the group acts. I woke up on the floor of the library smelling like I hadn't bathed in three days (which was the case). The talent show would be held at night. That meant I had to get myself ready and prepare to blow an entire audience away in thirteen hours. I shouldn't state the obvious, but I was running on fumes and my body was overworked.

Sore muscles, rigid joints, tired eyes, lead limbs, and so forth. I was a mess. After cleaning up and finally eating a normal meal, I realized I had no condition to dance. So, what did I do? I decided to use a spell, that I learned on my own to help me be in a more fit condition. However, this spell has a few drawbacks and its effects wear out fast. Once cast, the Renewal spell causes the target to feel refreshed for a total of four hours. Fatigue and other aliments disappear for the duration of the spell, allowing for peak performance in any event. 

Although this may sound like cheating, it isn't. By peak performance, it means the target will perform at the best of their CURRENT capabilities. It does not enhance their performance. It is the same as you performing if you had a normal rest and had prepared for it. I was prepared, however, I lacked the rest. Moreover, some drawbacks make this spell unusable in any event. The moment the spell ends, the target's fatigue hits them like a freight train. The stress from before is multiplied and added on top of the original stress causing the target to collapse. Almost all competitions in Equestria take at least forty minutes up to an hour at the very least. Meaning that I had to cast it at the right time to keep myself from collapsing during the event. Not to mention this spell wasn't exactly easy to perform, meaning that if you mess up, you might lose your event as the spell's drawbacks hit you like a train when you fail.

So, as the time for the event approached, I dragged myself to the school's theater. I used the walls as support while navigating past the ponies around me. Plenty of them chuckled and stared at me while I tried my best to reach backstage. Luckily, along the way, I met with Moon Dancer, who helped me reach the area with ease. After that, we waited in the backstage area along with the other participants.

"Are sure you can do this?" Moon Dancer asked while I almost passed out due to exhaustion.

"It's not a matter of can or can't. It's a matter of having to do it. I have the right spell for it," I replied grumpily while trying to keep myself up. However, Moon Dancer picked my head and placed it on her lap while patting my head gently. I felt a bit of my stress melt as she stroke my fur. "What are you doing?"

"We are the last team out of seven. You have at least two hours to try and rest," She said with a calm voice while my eyelids got heavier. "I'll wake you up when the last one comes up," She added as I finally passed out.

I'm not sure how long I passed out, but as promised, Moon Dancer woke me up by gently nudging me and poking my head. Opening my eyes, I saw her eyes focused on me as she smiled softly.

"Feeling better?" She asked as I got up, I felt strangely recharged. I knew about the effects of short effective rests, but this was ridiculous.

"I do. It's time," I said while preparing to cast the spell.

"There is no need to. That spell will just stress you up again. Trust me. Do some stretches, it will work better for you," She replied with a somewhat stern tone.

She has a point. The spell will force me to exhaust myself once it runs out. But, will it be enough. I pondered while holding my chin.

"Just trust me," She said while taking my hand. Since the optimal time to do the spell was out by that point, I had no choice but to follow her advice.

"Very well," I replied quietly before starting to stretch my arms, legs, and other joints for the performance. My stiffness started to diminish as I followed Moon Dancer's instructions. By the time we finished those exercises, I felt warmed up and my joints were very loose. And thus, we were called forth for the last show. "Ready?"

"As much as I can be," Moon Dancer said with a soft smile.

"Thank you," I replied while walking towards the stage.

There were a thousand eyes focused on us. The spotlights illuminated us as if we were in a shooting gallery. I will not lie. I was scared. I felt a sudden urge to run away and disappear. However, I was well aware that I couldn't turn my back now. I had to rush forward and win back what was mine. Not only for myself but, for the sake of everyone in that place, for everyone in this world. If I lost my tutelage, I wouldn't be there to save everyone in the future. I would not have the princess's support or a means to fight back against the ones that will try to take over Equus.

Therefore, I tried to find something to focus on. My saving grace was a pair of eyes in the audience. A pair of eyes looked anxiously at me. In the audience, I saw Princess Celestia. Her posture was tense, her eyes worried, and I could see that she was tearing down on a piece of paper. She was anxious too. It made me feel bad to see her like that. So, at that moment, I decided to focus on reassuring her and her alone. Taking a deep breath, I put on a smile painted in gold.

"Welcome everyone, I hope you enjoy our presentation," I said out loud while offering my hand to Moon Dancer. She took it, and thus, I gave the signal for Lyra and Vinyl Scratch. Thus the music started.



Pulling Moon Dancer in as soon as the first cord stroke, I focused solely on the choreography. We danced, and danced, and sang, and moved across the stage like there was no tomorrow. Spinning and stepping around, we performed the number as programmed. The dress and tuxedo looked plain since I had little to no skill at sowing. But they served their purpose for the initial part of the song. 

All of the eyes were focused on us. Moon Dancer smiled brightly as she sang with her gaze fixed on me. I put on a facade as I shifted my focus on my partner.  Watching her hooves and body, I kept my rhythm while fighting the urge to speed up and run away from the audience. But, whenever those thoughts tried to take me over, I would stare into Moon Dancer's eyes. Her gaze wasn't that one of someone who thought of me as a friend. No, the words that left her mouth from the song were honest. She was in tune with the song in such a manner she was impersonating the violinist from the show. I could see her dancing and perform on the stage.

And thus came the line that would change everything in that presentation. I kept this from Moon Dancer, Lyra, and Vinyl.

"Only for you, I gather the stars. Because with you is where they belong!" We sang in unison as I fired my horn and used a transmutation spell. Gathering the energy in my hand, I threw a smokescreen of blue fog and sparkles. And once the violin and piano duet gained focus in the melody, I took Moon Dancer's hand and we started a waltz as I dispersed the smokescreen.

Our outfits for the show had been completely transformed. The once beige dress was now a deep blue that reflected the light from the spotlights creating an effect as if she was wearing a sky full of stars. My plain black tuxedo looked like a sunset. She was the beautiful night that was filled with stars that guided us forward, a constant beauty that existed every night. Meanwhile, I was the sunset that existed for a few moments, and could only be seen a few times. Inconsistent, yet, there to shine for a few moments. 

We reached the finale of the song and using one last spell, I made myself disappear into a cloud of light orbs as I said the final words. 

"I promise you that when I find that I'm missing you I'll play," I said as my body began to disappear. Moon Dancer opened her mouth and in unison, we finished as I disappeared due to the illusion. "Our symphony." 

Silence. We waited for a couple of moments as I tried to remain calm. With a sudden burst of magic, I destroyed the illusion as if breaking a mirror and both of us made a reverence to the public. 

Please, please, please! I begged mentally while breathing heavily and staring at the ground.

Then, there was a clap, and another, and another, and it suddenly evolved into a big ovation. All ponies in the audience celebrated our show. Screaming, whistling, and clapping. I felt a rush of adrenaline as both of us stood up to watch the audience. We had done it. The three of us managed to pull a presentation out of our asses while earning applause from the public. My mind was lost in a haze of tension, adrenaline, and fatigue as the finalization came along.

The other participants were called in and all of us stood there. Four groups were called for the best spots amongst the best of the group acts. We weren't called. I felt my heart shrink and hurt as I watched them earn the medals. And then, there was the roll call for participants that were qualified for the top spot in the talent show.

"We call for group performers contestants, Dusk Shine, Vinyl Scratch, Lyra Heartstrings, and Moon Dancer," Neighsay said as we stepped forth. My legs were shaking and my head was spinning. However, I stood my ground as we waited for our competitor. "We call for the solo performer contestant, Sunset Shimmer," He said as a mare slightly older than us walked on stage. 

SUNSET?! SHE IS THE BITCH NUMBER TWO?! I screamed internally. She supposedly knew more than Twilight at some point. SHIIIIIIIT!

"Judges, cast your votes. Those that believe that the solo act should be named victorious, raise your hand," Neighsay said as he raised his hand with a malicious smile.

The bastard! He is the one that pushed the bet! I concluded as random ponies in the audience raised their hands. There were a total of 13 votes for Sunset, the judges were scattered across the audience.

"Those that believe the group performers should be named victorious, raise your hand," He ordered as I closed my eyes hard and lowered my head. There was a moment of silence. All I could hear was my heartbeat in my chest. "Fourteen votes, for the group performance. Dusk Shine and his group are victorious."

Opening my eyes in disbelief, I fell to my knees while staring at the crowd. Everyone in the group jumped me and hugged me while laughing and celebrating. My arms hung limply by the side of my torso. My vision blurred from the tears swelling up in my eyes as I let out a scream of joy. All of the tension came washing down as I collapsed in front of the audience. All the fear, rage, anxiety, and determination rushed my heart like a tsunami. 

And thus, before I knew it, Moon Dancer had taken my head and kissed my cheek. And then Vinyl, and finally, Lyra. As soon as that dawned on me, I felt the rush of adrenaline peak once more. And for some reason unbeknownst to me, I ran away from the auditorium while taking the trophy and screaming like a manic.

Needless to say, I Fucked up badly in April. 

And now I want to bury my face on the ground and never again see the sunlight.
> Chapter 5: Who is Dusk Shine?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I do believe an update is due. A long time has passed since I last touched it. So, here are some rough descriptions of the events between now and back then.

According to this, my last update was after the talent show five years ago. I won't try to make an excuse as to why I haven't touched this record. So, I'll go straight to the point. 

Well, as one would expect, the talent show had a lot of repercussions on my daily life. Not only did I debunk a prodigy single-handedly, but I also did so while being a colt with the backing of three fillies that weren't part of a herd nor did I take them as part of mine. The scandal that followed and the number of outrageous claims were not pleasant at all. But, better touch each subject step by step.

First of all, I became a type of celebrity. I couldn't take two steps out of my classroom, bathroom, or my private sessions with Celestia without mares clinging to me or without being flirted with, regardless of age. That did a number on my ability to trust others as well as my social life as my sister started acting like a bodyguard for most of the day. I don't regret winning, I regret the fact I had to take part in it. In short, I don't trust most females. This is an issue. 

Especially when most of the population is female.

I'm far from being completely ok with this distrust issue. However, I can't just overlook how many of them tried to use me as a means for a goal.  And that's not touching the tip of the iceberg on that matter. I would say we scratched the surface of this matter at the top of such an iceberg. I despise the high class of Canterlot. And I wish nothing but its destruction, save for Celestia and a handful of ponies that still have a soul among these wretched snakes in the skins of ponies.

Secondly, my teacher. 

How to begin? 

Well, it would appear that my presentation and insane methods to achieve this victory didn't pass by her. So, naturally, she reprimanded me for being so reckless as to try to desperately win the competition while being sleep-deprived. However, what happened when I defended myself was what threw things out of wack. For starters, it seems my dedication/adoration of Celestia did not go unnoticed by her. Her behavior changed, and her looks are filled with worry whenever we interact. And as I grow older, she seems increasingly worried about it. I am unsure whether this is my fault, or the fault of nobility trying to use me to reach her.

The more the days passed after that night, Celestia began with the excuses that I should have more time for my dedicated studies. Therefore, our study sessions were reduced to one session a week, which progressed into once two weeks, eventually hitting the every month mark until we only see each other at her request. It would seem that my steady growth and alterations to my magical abilities started to make her more conscious of me. Out of all the changes, you could pin the most notable one being a kind of pull toward those of high magical ability or high potential. I have some level of control over the urges, so long as I notice the pony's potential before they trigger their magic. That way I can brace and prevent myself from attempting to interact with them. This pull is a special problem due to my distrust of others. An unnatural force draws me towards those with power, but my psyche pushes me away from interacting.

The strangest thing about this separation from Celestia was how the older I got, the further apart we got from each other physically speaking. I forced myself to excel in every field I could in an attempt to make her proud and maybe talk to me more. Necromancy, illusion, abjuration, conjuration, transmutation, evocation, void, soul, and heart, I studied all types of magic currently known to ponies. However, as my achievements seemed to make me grow into a bigger celebrity, the worst part of it was that Celestia also stepped away from me. Even as I stepped into the royal court as a royal magician, our physical distance only increased.

Yeah, I might have gone above and beyond with my studies and gone a tad too far.

I insist on the specification of physical, because of the tension and familiarity in the few conversations we have. Being in her presence is extremely alluring and I wish I could spend more time with her. But that also makes our few meetings even more pleasant. 

On a side note, as far as my knowledge goes, I feel like these studies should have been easier. I can understand magic quickly enough to learn how to cast it after one or two tries. However, when it comes to mastering magic, I struggle a lot. The Blink Spell is a magic spell I learned years ago; I should have mastered it in a couple of weeks based on what I know about myself. However, only recently have I managed to start chaining blinks. And my limit is two. I remember a link of at least four blinks. This is off-putting, to say the least. It could mean that I don't have the same traits as I should have. It could be a side-effect of training my body to develop beyond magic fields.

Now, back to the updates.

I also started to make experiments with spells to combine them. A little trick from a mare called Starlight Glimmer, someone who will become a problem in the future. And someone I can't reach due to her isolation in the desert. I'm well aware of her powers, and I know where the edge of her abilities lies. 

So, if I can do what she can, she loses her edge. This, also, caused Celestia to walk away from me. Especially when I managed to make my first combination. Evoque Duplicity s a spell that creates a phantasm image that imitates the caster. However, it can't touch objects. So, I combined it with two other spells. Detect Thoughts, a spell that creates a two-way connection between two creatures allowing them to share thoughts and read each other's minds. Create Golem, this spell is self-explanatory. With this combo, I created a body double that could perform preset actions and behaviors.

I showed this spell to Celestia. She was quick to use Dispell Magic and send me away without a word. 

However, the room's temperature rose by at least two degrees when she saw my body double.

Third, I've been working to get stronger. Although, I should focus solely on magic due to my nature as a caster. I can lift about as much as a non-training earth pony. And that is a lot for male unicorn standards. Again, I can't match the might or speed of a mare. But, I need to get good enough to defend myself. Plus, with a little trick I learned, I can temporarily match a mare's strength. That's one of the plus things that I had during these five years. I have also been mimicking a battle stance from a game I liked. I got quite good at it too, so I can wield a two-handed sword if push comes to shove. 

Sadly, my creation magic is yet to allow me to make a practical version of their weapon. And I would need to make a bonding ritual to make it have the same functions as the original weapon.

Fourth, and probably one of the important ones. Vinyl, Moon Dancer, and Lyra, these three were kind enough to help me during that crisis. And I've been an extremely lousy friend after it. I'm well aware of how I should be interacting with them by the time Nightmare returns. However, it was bad back then, it is bad now. And I hate it. Due to my popularity, I started running away from the school grounds as soon as the bell rang. So, my interactions with those three got limited to classroom talk. And I'm not oblivious, I know that hurt them. They look disappointed whenever I bolt from the classroom. I know I can trust them, in my heart. But my head keeps screaming the opposite.

Now, for the main reason for this entry. I'm about to turn eighteen. And when Barb found this diary and brought it to me, I recalled the train incident after meeting the Pie family. 

Queen Chrysalis promised to come for me once I became of age. This is a major disruption of the timeline. I investigated her and her bookstore. Everything is squeaky clean. The store's papers, the exchanges, and so forth. Everything about her store is perfect. How she managed all of that is insane. I got no dirt on her. And I don't have a way to prove her identity. Their shape-shifting skills aren't magic. Dispell magic doesn't work on them (believe me, I tried). Meaning it's either a skill or part of their physiology.

SO! I need to prepare for Chrysalis's assault. 

I'm calling it, Operation Doomsday.





"Da-Dusk? Why are you placing wards around the house?" Barb asked while I casually around placing defensive walls and mines around the library. Mind you, these are concussive mines. I'm not about to kill anyone if I can avoid it.

Even if they deserve it. Celestia would not be happy with me turning into a killer.

Although she remained around the same size as a big baby through my initial years, once I hit fourteen years, Barb took the size of a six-to-seven-year-old filly. She also learned how to create a special green fire that allows her to send letters to anyone she has met at least once. Another thing is how perceptive she is. So, she often caught on to me acting weird pretty fast. She is a good dragon, and she always has my back.

And she is one of the few females I trust.

"Does it have to do with that book I found beneath your bed in a chest?" Barb asked while putting her hands on her hip with her little yellow dress.

"Just making sure everything is safe. There have been some tracks near the windows and prints on them," I replied while running my hand across the window. A faint lavender glow emanated from it for a couple of seconds before disappearing. "And that concludes with the electrical wards. So, is there anything you want me to cook for dinner?" I asked while clapping my hands together and adjusting my clothes.

Right, my wardrobe. I have some new clothes now. My go-to combination is a lavender vest over a white shirt with a bright purple thin tie and a pair of dark purple pants. I also had purple shirts and T-shirts of various colors, blue pants, a full tuxedo, and other things. At some point, my mother came up with gothic-style clothing. 

I never used it though. I should also mention my star seems to be turning darker as I grow older. I am unsure as to why that is, but it is happening. My intentions to protect this place haven't changed, so it might be because of my growing concern for the nobility of Equestria.

"That should be my line!" Barb said while crossing her arms and huffing. "You promised I would cook on your birthday!" She added while I dropped my shoulders as the memory of the promise crossed my mind.

"Right! I just forgot. Sorry about that," I replied while scratching the back of my head. "How about red-fruit salad? The one you made for Mom's birthday?" I said after pondering for a few seconds.

"Sure!!" She replied happily before running off into the kitchen.

And she is acting like my caretaker again. I guess being away from her for long periods made her want to be of use to me so I would keep her around. I should get her into a school or something. I mused while chuckling at the idea of her acting like a mother one day. But, based on things from the show, I knew she could end up falling for Rarity, Ember, or even Thorax. Either way, she was about as strong as an earth pony and could cause some serious damage with her claws. She would be a good addition to the front lines. But, since I'm her father, I cannot allow her to get hurt.

I'll kill anyone that lays a finger on her. And that's the end-game scenario for them. I rather not go into detail about what will precede the death.

Suddenly, the sound of knocking on the door made me go stiff. Turning around to face it, I cautiously walked towards the door while summoning a sword made out of magic. A little combination of Spiritual Weapon and Shadow Blade. Like the rest of my combos, it was a tad unstable. So, my arm got a tad numb whenever I used it. I opened the door and was greeted by a small pop of confetti.

"Surprise!" My parents and Gleaming said while I fell backward and dismissed the spell. Another thing, these combos break rather easily. "Happy Birthday!" They sang before Gleaming took my hand and had me stand up.

"Hey, um, hi!" I said while trying to regain my composure.

They all pushed their way inside as I continued baffled by the sudden visit. Guiding me to a table that I didn't recall setting, I found myself before a feast of pies, salads, sandwiches, and a cake in front of me. Some of the food seemed to have been prepared in advance and standing proudly in front of me, stood a puffed-chested Barb with a smug smile on her face.

"You!" I said while pointing at her with my index finger. She simply smiled at me with a cocky attitude.

"Me!" She shot back while making smoke come out of her nostrils. "I made sure to make these while you were worried about setting up a defense system around the house," She added pridefully while crossing her arms.

"Why would you set a defense system around your house?" Mom asked while I let out a sigh of relief.

"Stalkers," I replied promptly causing her to choke at her tea.

"Is it that bad?" Dad asked with a worried look as he tried to help mom unchoke. 

"Well, no one has broken in. But there have been a lot of tracks right outside my windows. And some of them suggest ponies camping there," I replied while picking a serving of Barb's red-fruit salad.

"Why are you so relaxed? I can ask my friends in the guard to keep," Gleaming said before stopping mid-way. One glance from me was enough for her to recall why I was doing things on my own. She seemed to ponder over something for a bit before speaking again. "I better not. You did get the attention of the guard too. Some wonder if you will join the ranks anytime soon," I should have mentioned this, but Gleaming is now a part of the Guard. As a Young Private, but still a part of them nonetheless.

For a mare to climb the ranks is harder than for a stallion. Simply because of how the higher-ups stay away from danger.

"I don't intend to join the army. The armor is too shiny to my taste," I replied with a smile. "Though, it would be a perfect match for you, sis," I added before she bonked me on the head with a light punch.

Suddenly, more knocking on my door happened. However, Barb rushed to the door to open it before I could get up. Tilting my head, I waited for the new visitors to enter. Knowing Barb, she only invited ponies I trusted to visit. I am skeptical of most ponies. But there is a handful of them I know I can trust. 

The newcomer was none other than Cadance, also known as the hottest topic for all stallions and mares around Canterlot. Celestia still held the top spot for the most desirable mare in Equestria, however, Cadance was right on her heels. Regardless of the popularity pool, Cadance was another face I stopped seeing after a while. But in this case, it was mainly due to her duties as a princess slowly increasing as time moved on. One of the few things I didn't fuck up. I hear that Gleaming and her are good friends, which is good. They need to get married in the next few years.

Back to the record, Cadance walked in with a neatly wrapped box. She placed the box on top of the table before walking close to me. I stood up and had to look upwards to look her in the eye. Cadance looked at me for a few moments before leaning forward and giving me a peck on the cheek. That threw me for a loop with how accidental it felt, especially since Cadance glared at Gleaming, who was giggling like crazy behind her.

Even now, they are still star-crossed lovers. 

Turning to me with her cheeks flushed, Cadance used her breathing exercises to remove the blush. "You've grown," Cadance said softly as she tilted her head.

"So have you," I replied before gulping and taking a seat. 

There was a moment of silence as everyone seemed to be thrown off by the gesture. We sat by the table, Barb brought in some snacks and placed them on the table. She then turned to the entrance and with an annoyed tone, Barb took a deep breath before screaming.

"Are you going to come in or what?!" Barb cried out impatiently.

Tilting my head at the scolding, I felt my heart race as Celestia entered the room with a thin package in hand. It had been months since I last saw her. Most of our conversations occur through Barb's fire mail nowadays. I'm pretty sure Barb called her in since I mentioned our lack of face-to-face meetings while I was in a bit of a downer moment. Needless to say, My self-control began to diminish with every step she took toward us. My gaze fell to the floor.

"Hello, Dusk," Celestia said with a soft voice while I felt like something bad was about to happen. "I see you're doing well."

I didn't respond. I couldn't bring myself to look at her. Not knowing what I did to make her angry at me, there was nothing I could do that couldn't make things worse. Therefore, my best reply to her was a nod.

"I want to ask you something. Would you look at me, please?" Celestia said when I felt a small hand on my back. Glancing to the side, I saw Barb putting on a soft smile and nodding to me.

Raising my head, our eyes met. I felt the awe and entrancing effects of her magenta eyes. But, I also felt dread. Her smile filled me with a bittersweet feeling. I was happy that she was there, but I also was terrified. Everything I did up to this point, was to help everyone. And, to make her happy. I am well aware that Celestia is lonely. That she is waiting for her sister to return. But, I don't know how to put this, fuck it, I want to help her feel less lonely. Maybe help her feel at ease.

"It's good to look you in the eyes, my dear student. Tell me, do you know what your teachers tell me?" Celestia inquired while taking a seat in front of me. I could see my family and Cadance looking back and forth between us. I shook my head. "I'm told, that they can't keep up with you. That they don't have anything to teach you. Because you already covered all of the subjects in our program. And that means you are wasting your time there. I do not wish to see your time wasted. Therefore, I have gone through the table of teachers, and I got permission for this."

Celestia then handed me the package. The present was carefully wrapped with green paper. There was also a red ribbon on the edge of its square shape. After hearing her explanation of my situation, I shivered in place while holding the present. It looked like a frame. My blood ran cold at the idea that had just popped into my mind. I couldn't believe it. Glancing up, I saw Celestia nodding to me.

With my hands trembling, I tore the paper hesitantly. Within it, I saw a frame containing a piece of paper with Celestia's signet on it. Written in bold capital letters, I saw the message that filled me with dread. My eyes widened while scanning the present as my voice finally decided to manifest.

"Graduated with honors, Dusk Shine. A certificated mage and tutor in magic, you have received the title of Grand Master," I muttered with a shaky voice.

My family started crying while hugging each other in their spots. I also had my eyes drenched in tears. However, unlike their joyful tears, my tears were filled with a bitter taste. While honored with the idea of Celestia granting me that certificate, I knew the other implications of those words. My heart ached. I was ready to let out a scream. However, what came forth was something else.

"Princess, why?" I said in a low voice as I locked eyes with her again.

"You've worked so hard through all these years, why shouldn't I reward you?" Celestia said with a strange look on her face. I couldn't tell what it meant, but there was a hint of poison in there.

"No, that's not, why are you pushing me away?" I inquired while crushing the green paper in my hands. Celestia didn't respond. But her eyes darted away for a second. "Do you think I don't understand what this means? This means I no longer need your tutelage. This means that I am no longer your private student."

Silence. A dreadful and mortifying silence reigned in the room. I felt my head acting up. A ringing sound hammered in my skull as I felt a voice screaming that I shouldn't have trusted her. That had she left me. I started tapping my hooves on the floor. Celestia stared back at me with a neutral expression. Tears rolled down my face as I got up slamming my hands on the table.

"Princess, tell me what I did wrong," I said in a low growl as the room seemed to get warmer. There was no response. "Princess, WHAT DID I DO!?" I screamed while clenching my fists. Celestia's facade seemed to be breaking. However, still no response. "What was it?! Was it the experiments with mixing spells?! Was it that stupid popularity pool!? Was it the fucking talent show?! Was it my lack of friends?! I'm working on it! I swear I'm trying! But this place is horrible for my health! I feel like ponies are monitoring every move I make! I know it's irrational! But, I swear, I swear to you. I'm doing everything I can! Please, Just let me know what I did wrong! I'll fix it. Just, don't leave me..."

At this point I had my eye fixed on the table as my head hung low. My arms slowly crumbled along with my legs as I got on my knees. I just stood there sobbing in a mess of tears and rapid breaths. Suddenly, I heard Celestia stand up.

"You didn't do anything wrong. And that's exactly the point!" Celestia hollered before I heard her walking away. The last thing I heard for quite a while was the sound of the front door getting slammed and the sound of glass shattering.

My surroundings turned into a blurry mess. I got up and smashed the frame on the ground before rushing off and locking myself in my room. The emotional distress from the situation caused me to collapse on my bed without delay. I slept curled up in a corner while hugging my pillow. I forgot about the whole reason I had prepared the warding spells and why I had dubbed that day "Doomsday."

That night, I woke up to the sound of something unlocking. I didn't react to it. I was too tired to move, let alone open my eyes. I heard steps getting closer to me. I continued in my curled-up form in the corner. The steps grew quiet right behind me. It didn't take long before I felt a little pair of claws clutching around me. Unless Chrysalis turned herself into a child, the one behind me was Barb.

We didn't share a word. We simply lay there all night close together. I drifted away at some point, and when I woke up, Barb was still behind me, and I was facing the wall. There was a scent of food being cooked. Since mother was around last night, there was a chance she stayed home after my outburst. But I won't deny it, there was the second option, which would be that Chrysalis managed to get inside and was doing something in the kitchen as well. The third option was Barb being a fake one, but that was hard to believe since Chrysalis seemed to accidentally drop her disguise the last time she was near me.

Gently freeing myself from Barb's grasp, I managed to sneak away from the room without waking her up. I found the newspaper resting by the front door, I got it and checked the front page. When I read the news, I felt something snap inside me.

Plastered on the front page, was a picture of a young unicorn mare with a book in her hands, and in capital letters a name I thought I would never see in this world.

Twilight Sparkle, Local Librarian of Ponyville, has found an Ancient book hidden in Golden Oak Library!

"Who the hell is Dusk Shine then?" I mumbled to myself as I dropped the newspaper on the floor.

It might be worth mentioning this, but there was an unconscious Changeling Queen by the bushes on the side of the door.

But that had little importance when compared to the question of who the hell was I in the grand scheme of things.
> Chapter 6: The Next Step
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

So, after a properly baffled moment of perfect confusion, I decided to bring in the intruder, and handle things myself. I was well aware of who I wasn't now, and I am not the element of magic. My mark was always wrong, and it was far too dark for me to be the right pony. The moment that realization hit me, the thing went pitch black along with my mane, save for the pink and lavender stripes on it. My lack of mastery of spells was another dead giveaway, my misunderstandings and growing rift with Celestia should have made me see the entire picture.

Honestly, I wouldn't put it past destiny to be playing a joke on my existence at this point. I might have pushed the entire world out of whack with my interventions, and that caused someone to need to correct the timeline and everything else. And since I am not the one supposed to save this land, I might need to fade into obscurity or start making a life of my own. Without the grand schemes and preparations, I had come up with the threats of the future.

However, seeing as I had one major threat slouched over my couch, I decided to rid the world of that one before things went haywire. Or, that's what I would have done originally. You see, I rigged the entire house with defenses with the sole intent of capturing the Queen and having her at my mercy just so I could turn her in and be rid of the mess that was bound to come for her. But, if I do that, others won't come to trust Twilight's judgment on things. I may not be the hero, but I cannot deny their growth, not if I am to live in this world.

There is too much hinging on their development and their relations. In truth, if they are too far apart because of her original personality, her presence in Ponyville would only make matters worse.

If Twilight cannot rise to the challenges of the future, we are doomed. If the rest of the group loses their bonds or ignores each other, we are doomed too. So, my thoughts at that moment were focused solely on how the fuck could I get her out of the town without raising an alarm. Mainly because I didn't want her to try and have her way with me as well. But also for the sake of not fucking up the timeline any more than I already had.

So, I wound up sitting on a chair while watching a changeling queen sleep with a series of lavender chains on her.

"Good morning, what is that?!" Barb greeted me as I used a spell to keep her mouth shut for a moment. 

"This is the reason I was setting up barriers around the house yesterday. Now, I don't need a scandal. I need to figure out what to do. And I am in a bit of a pickle right now. And that's not covering all the things I need to figure out. I need a job, a new place to live, and to build a new life," I said while letting go of the grip on Barb's mouth.

"What do you mean?" Barb asked with her voice cracking.

Damn it, she must have taken it as me trying to leave her behind.

"Celestia cut us off yesterday. When she gave me that gift. I don't have a scholarship anymore. Mom and Dad have enough to worry about back home and add problems with their projects and Canterlot taxes. So, we can't just move back in. Because of my reputation, I can't get a job here without the risk of being harassed if not assaulted. Meaning, we have to leave Canterlot and get ourselves a new house."

"I might be able to help with that," We heard from the distorted voice coming from the couch.

"Good, you're awake. I don't have to drag your butt out of this town without getting caught. I'll let you out of those restraints. And you'll leave. Try to make any moves on us and you're getting another bug zap. Got it?"

"Wait! Don't throw me out, please," Chrysalis pleaded immediately.

"Wow. That sounded almost like genuine fear. That's amazing," I mumbled while trying to figure out where to move out to.

"No, no. You don't understand. I need this. I don't have anyone to turn to right now," Chrysalis continued while trying her best not to cry.

Spectacular performance if I do say so myself.

"You have an entire hive at your command."

"How can you?"

"You would be surprised about the stuff I know. I know you were planning on invading. I know you have a huge army that can change shape and impersonate everyone around us without issue. And I know you feed on love."

Chrysalis stood there with her mouth agape. Her shoulders dropped and her head hung low. I could hear something resembling a growl happening as her body trembled.

"I-I, I don't have anything anymore. Not even my plans." She cried quietly as I watched the tears fall off her face and onto her legs.

"I'll have you hold up right there, because, that sounds like genuine regret and sorrow. So, keep that mouth moving if you don't want another nap." I replied while holding my head. Chrysalis looked at me with the same predatory look from when we went to the rock farms before nodding. I released her before she purred a bit.

"There was a coup."

"A coup?"

"Yes, I lost everything. Not one drone remained at my command."

I stared at her for several seconds before giving my answer to her statement. "Not buying it."

"It's the truth!"

"And I am destined to save the land of all evil. See? I can lie too."

"If you want to hand me over to the guards, feel free to do so."

"Wow! You're truly selling it here."

"Fuck you!"

"Dusk," I heard from the side as Barb pulled my leg. "What happened to you? You're making her cry. That's not you."

"..."

I looked at Barb and saw my reflection. I was the same color as the broken Twilight Sparkle from the events of Discord's return. I wasn't disheartened though. I think I was never truly lavender, just this color. And I never noticed it because of the assumptions I made. I was never the lavender pony meant to guide them to a brighter tomorrow. But that meant I had to rely on someone else to keep Barb and my family safe. That was when it hit me.

I can still save everyone. Not as Twilight Sparkle. But as Dusk Shine. I may lack the power of the element of Magic. But I know things. And I trained this entire life for it. Yes, I can do this. But I need space and a cover for it. And I may have just landed the gold mine here. Might as well make full use of it.

"Alright. In light of the desires of my beloved daughter, I won't be sending you to your doom," I said as I made a dramatic pause to allow Chrysalis to shake off her confusion. "However, this gift won't come for free. You said you had a way for me to get a place to live. Explain."

"I, I have safe houses all over Equestria. Most might be raided by now, but Ponyville should be safe. It's too close to Canterlot for Wysteria to send her drones in."

"A house in Ponyville, I can work with that," I replied while tapping my chin. "There is a small school there. I can use my title as a teacher to land a job as an assistant teacher. But that would mean being exposed to the fillies and colt's mothers. I need a shield. And that's where you come in, Chrysalis."

"What?"

"You will assume a disguise of my choosing. You will remain in that form while out in the public, while we are at the safe house, you will drop the disguise so long as we don't have visitors. You will play the role of the head mare. However, you will answer me, understand?" I asked as Chrysalis rapidly nodded. "Do not act without my consent unless we are in danger of being exposed. And if you try anything, Barb here will maul you before we hand you to the authorities. And trust me, dragon strength is no joke."

"Dusk, are you sure about this?" Barb asked while turning to me. "You're not acting like yourself."

"It's ok, Barb. I'm just making sure we will all be safe. Or do you want me to get harassed by those country mares?" I said dramatically before winking at Barb.

"That won't happen," Barb replied while showing me her teeth.

"And she is going to make sure it stays like that," I said while pointing at Chrysalis. "I'll supply you the energy you need. But you'll remain under our command. Try anything and you'll wish you wound up in the dungeons."

"I get it already. You grew into those fangs, didn't you? And your personality is matching your colors at last."

Huh, so I never was bright lavender.

"Dusk, what are we doing?" Barb intervened as I got up from the chair and used my magic to prepare our things.

"For the first time, I'm thinking for myself. For the first time, I'm thinking like, Dusk Shine," I replied while walking towards the window as the clothes floated around the place and into the bags. "Get excited, Barb. We are heading toward the next step of our lives."





(Celestia's POV)

"Over a thousand years of experience, teachings, and hands-on experience in leadership. And I can't get around handling a colt properly! What is wrong with me?!"

"You two should have just talked instead of you walking away on him like that. You put yourself in this pinch, Celestia."

"And what did you expect me to say, Cadance? Oh, sorry little Dusk, you're too perfect of a student. Could you maybe dial it back so that I can offer some help? My apologies, you are too good of a colt and stole my heart when you were twelve because performed by risking your health just so you could win a stupid bet that I made on impulse. Yes, quite the lovely advice, Cadance."

"Loving someone is messy, you of all ponies should know that. It's not simple. I can barely wrap my head around the idea of getting two ponies close. But the one thing I noticed is this, whenever two ponies that like each other talk it out, they can find a way to start understanding each other."

"Even Still! It won't matter if we try to talk! Dusk pushed past everything I was expecting from him. When I saw that gray little colt bursting with magic, I had expectations, and he just went past them! No, he charged through like a damned bull! How am I supposed to help? How am I supposed to get close when he seems to have some goal that is far more important than his safety? More important than his feelings? He keeps charging on ahead, I am right by his side but he can't afford to look around. Damned Tartarus, I fear he might end up hurt while chasing this goal."

"Well, we either try to be a part of his path or we will be left behind. And I am sure we can't get any closer if we just keep watching him charge ahead. If he can't afford to look to the side to see us, let us be there pushing him rather than waiting for him to turn and ask."

"How? It feels like he has some type of foresight. That colt is not normal. And that's one of the best parts of him." I said before letting out a defeated sigh. 

Cadance had been by my side ever since I rushed out of the birthday party at Dusk's library. How I managed to hurt him that badly was beyond me. I failed not only as a teacher but as his friend. He didn't need recognition, he needed time. He needed someone else to spend time by his side. But I hid away because I was afraid of what that little pony was doing to me. I was scared of how fond I became of him. I thought he would become a great wizard, and he did. I wouldn't put it past him giving Starswirl a run for his money, but that might be my pride speaking.

I thought he would be just as crucial as that bright little mare, Twilight Sparkle. I tutored her from a distance, I taught her the nature of magic and the powers of harmony. And I have no doubt the bonds she made would be the key to reviving the elements. She is ready for it, but I didn't take into account that the more I distanced myself from Dusk to both teach her and protect me, the more he suffered for it.

"Even IF he can predict the future, there is no guarantee that he will be strong enough for it. So, if you want to, and I mean, WANT to protect, or just support him, I think we first need to clear this mess. Before he walks away from you and maybe even from me."

I stood by the window for a while, watching as the train left our town. The sun shone above us as all of our subjects continued with their lives. None of them were aware of the dangers that were mere days away from reaching us. I sighed heavily before turning back to Cadance.

"Niece, do you think you could come with me? I don't think I'm ready to talk to him alone."

Cadance smiled kindly at me before nodding. Without a word, I whispered us away to Dusk's library. 

We stood before the door, I felt my body freeze before that frame as if I was about to speak to my sister after all this time. I knew how badly things could go when you hurt someone's heart. Nightmare Moon was proof of how far someone can fall when their heart is broken by those they trusted. Cadance laid her hand on my shoulder, making me turn o face her. With a reassuring smile, she gestured to the door.

Hesitantly, I reached for the door and knocked on it.

There was no response. I did it once more, but no answer came forth. I started to worry as Barb was sure to come by whenever someone knocked at the door. My worries only grew as I sensed a faint hint of magic by the door. Looking for its source, I found a small scorch mark by a couple of runes.

These are sleep and paralysis runes.  Did Dusk set up a trap? Why? And why is it triggered? I wondered before hitting the door harder.

"DUSK! Dusk, are you ok?!" I yelled while hammering the door.

Seeing the lack of response, I bashed it open causing the door to break off its hinges. I rushed toward his room, only to find it empty. The bed was neatly set, the drawers were empty, and even the books had been reorganized. I ran back to the main hall of the library, everything was clean. I saw Cadance holding a closed envelope by the hourglass. I jumped over the railings and flew toward her.

"What did you find?" I asked while glancing at the envelope. 

My name was written on it. Cadance handed me the envelope before I hastily tore it, nearly damaging the letter inside.

Dear Princess Celestia,

I am thankful for all the teachings you passed on to me. And I am grateful for all the opportunities you've given me. Not only have you taught me how to be the best magician I could be, but you showed me that I lacked the will and objective to live for.

Thanks to you, I now know what I must do. I will continue to pass on your teachings to the young minds of Equestria. Once you find this letter, I should be about to leave for the town where the stakes and rewards go hand in hand in their scales.  I don't think I'll come back to Canterlot, maybe for a visit, but I don't think I can come to stay without falling back on relying on you.

For the end of being better, I ask you this, if you wish to say goodbye, find me at the station. But please, don't come after me. I need to walk this part of my life without your help. And worry not, for I have found someone to help me on this path.

Barb sends her goodbyes too.

Your faithful subject, Dusk Shine.

The letter fell off my hands as I charged another spell and teleported to the station. But despite my hasty decision, the train I had seen leaving was the one headed for Las Pegasus, the cities where stakes and rewards go hand-in-hand. If I left in chase, there would be widespread panic. Even more so since I just appeared at the station without an escort and started running around the place in a blind panic. Once I had recollected myself and teleported Cadance and me back to the castle, I managed to utter my first words after reading the letter.

"I might have lost Dusk," I said while sitting on the bed.

Cadance didn't say a word, I could hear her crying as she sat by my side. I felt her wing spreading over me to cover and calm me. I pushed too far and once more lost someone dear to me, all because I decided to distance myself.

Bad habits are the worst ones to be rid of.