Duncan, along with the girl and Spike were, respectfully in a less than stellar mood at the events of Princess Celestia coming to meet and 'talk'.

Twilight, more so than anypony else felt the bitter sting of her mentor's words and disrespectful attitude towards her friends, and she meant all of them. The sheer thought of those words of malice and standoffishness made the unicorn want to gouge her eyes out. Everything that was said was from out of left field, and more and more as the conversation went on, no concrete evidence was given to back her claim.

That, and the head injury that she sustained, while minor, was also a reminder that her teacher, or anyone that is not in right mindset should not be approached unless they wanted to almost have a black eye.

And she never apologized for that!

The tension in that room was so thick, a heated butter knife wouldn't be enough to make a dent. If this was the result of Princess Celestia just meeting Duncan, she wondered how far the depths of her supposed mental issue goes.

Her, and Duncan were okay; nothing broken, just a few bruises and headaches, and while she was confident in her friend, she couldn't help but think that this will only serve to make his time here in Equestria and his opinions on ponies as a whole less than. . .nice.

Because of this, her and her friends were alone in the event something went wrong; Celestia would not help, she would not care, and whatever happened was to be on their heads. What kind of ultimatum was that to give your student? Stand by me, or be left to the wind.

After apologizing to Mayor Mare for damaging the Town Hall, she was happy to know that she was not mad, but somepony has to front the money to get repairs done. While everypony banded together at first to help pay off the damages, Duncan was the one to offer his aid in paying by finding some work around town.

The only question was who would hire somepony they have never met, and a Human at that?

''Well, what now?'' Spike asked, taking a seat on one of the hay seats as everypony else either took a seat or sat on the ground. Laying his rump on a stack of hay, Duncan found that the hundreds of little strands not necessarily poking him, but laying on him every which way made him just lay on the ground cross-legged. ''That didn't go at all how we thought.''

''Yes, dear,'' Rarity said, not particularly wanting to go back over the events of earlier. Seeing that different side of the princess when she saw Duncan, as well as seeing a Human in the flesh for the first time in centuries. The difficult thing now (as if Duncan slamming the princess on the ground was not difficult to see) would for the group to help the resident Human adjust as best as he can to his current situation.

And find somepony that would give him a job.

''I don't know. Duncan sure gave the princess a little bit of a time, and she didn't exactly look the best when she found out we were 'against' her for wanting to help Duncan.'' Rainbow said, attempting to think of something that would help in this venture.

''We haven't done that,'' Twilight looked down at the table in disagreement. She still was surprised that her teacher felt so strongly about Duncan being here that she would be so quick to tell the group that everything would be on their head from that moment on. She never knew Princess Celestia to act so out of character, to be so angry. To have so much murderous intent in such a short amount of time. The thought scared her. ''The princess just has a different idea of what should be done in this situation.''

Duncan wondered about that. Something felt off, more than the princess kicking the crap out of him, as well as him being in this world in the first place. He wondered what the previous Humans before him did for them to be exiled; more than likely nothing good. Celestia seemed to have a personal vendetta herself, so he could only deduce something on a more personal level. And from that, he may have assumed that she may have blamed the actions of few on that of the many, which could have led to the exile of the Humans to wherever they are in Equestria.

''So what's the move?'' Duncan asked, wondering what the pair could scrap together. Also more on one side, he also wondered if he would ever have a chance for a rematch with the Alicorn. Contrary to what just occurred, he lived by a strict code that has gotten him into more fights more than most. And while it is very uncouth to some, he did not care.

''I ain't no bitch.''

''Well, as far as I can see, we need to help Duncan get a job so he can help to pay off the damages, then from there; work on getting everypony introduced and used to him.'' Applejack offered a solution, though there were a lot of holes in it that they may not be able to fill in right away. But what they had was better than nothing.

''D-Does this make us wrong?'' Fluttershy asked a tad scared. She didn't have the slightest clue of what to do, but she always knew to do her best to help those in need, and Duncan fit that description to a t. Princess Celestia telling the group that whatever happened was going to be on them certainly made the whole feeling of the conversation worse than what it was. She didn't want to be doing the wrong thing. She didn't want to be a jailpony! ''And why did she attack Duncan like that?''

That was something nopony knew. Even though he was not a citizen of Equestria, what the princess did can still count to assault without cause, and the punishment for that verified from 6 months to a year and a half depending on how severe.

''We don't know!'' Pinkie beamed, then deflated on the thought of what happened. ''But we also don't know how we can handle this, but we need to get everypony on the bandwagon of introducing everypony to him!'' Pinkie bounced up and down in joy, thought was not with the same vigor as she normally had.

''For Duncan's sake, I hope you're right Pinkie,'' Twilight said, not entirely too sure about the state of anything right now.

Canterlot.

''Princess Celestia, calm down, please!'' a maid called, ducking around maneuvering around the princess having a literal meltdown since she came back from her visit in Ponyville. Nothing and nopony was safe from her wrath as chairs, tables, and at one point, an unsuspecting guard across the room and out a window. ''You're going to end up destroying the castle at this rate!''

''I don't care!'' Celestia roared, charging her magic and aiming it at a nearby wall, the bright yellow glow of her horn doing little to deter the maid from having the worst of hopes. A moment later, and a blast of magic rocketed outwards, a high pitched from the second of release almost causing the eardrums of everypony in the room to almost burst and bleed. The wall instantly buckled underneath the force of the blast, throwing dust and marble every which way. Thrusting a hoof forward, she smashed the incoming piece with ease, growling and crouching.

''Princess, please!'' the maid begged, her hooves over her head, scared of out her mind. She dared not intervene past talking the princess down; if she was able to do so.

''AHHHHHHHHHHH!'' Celestia fired another blast at the ceiling, putting more power into the blast. The small crystal chandelier turned to dust instantly, the force of her attacks seriously weakening the structure of the castle. ''Leave.''

''But, Princess-''

''-Now.'' Celestia's eyes glowed the color of her magic. Her body began to shake and the floor began to rumble.

The maid slowly began to fall back, and creep out of the room, and the last thing she was able to see before closing the door was the pure rage in her eyes. Almost a kind of. . .killer instinct.

Celestia was absolutely fuming. The nerve of that. . .Human. He dared to galavant around her land? After what they did. . .how did she miss any stragglers? And Twilight and her friends certainly were quick to jump to the defense of him, and to the disappointment of Celestia; anypony against Equestria were to be considered an enemy and was expected to be dealt with appropriately.

She knew telling her student that the actions of her and her friends from that point on was a hard move to play without more information, but a move is better than no movement. Something had to be done about the menace that she allowed for the time being to exist in her land.

Well, not for long.

Paying no mind to the destruction of the throne room(she was sure Luna was going to take care of it.), she only knew of one pony that possessed the skillset and motivation to take care of this. . .problem. Celestia promised she would not interfere in the life of the human as to not incriminate herself should something come out, though she held very high confidence that it would not.

''That is not to say somepony else will on my behalf,'' Celestia snickered, the crazed look in her eye capable of scaring even her if she was able to look at herself right now.

She would be stronger, smarter, and faster than them. In every way. And she would be their ruler. Nopony would get that privilege, not Luna, not Blueblood; nopony.

But she would need her guardian.

''I am at your beck and call, Princess Celestia.''

''I wish to entrust you with a task I would normally reserve for myself. . .that is, if you wish to prove yourself worthy of becoming my Understudy.''

''That post belongs to Twilight Sparkle.''

Celestia exhaled, opening her closed eyes and taking a moment to think about what the meaning of that was. And then that moment passed.

''She will be missed.''

''. . .''

''And I suggest you bring backup if you need it. Twilight and her friends certainly are no pushovers, especially with The Elements Of Harmony. . .and be wary of your actual target.'' Celestia said, narrowing her eyes and the tone of her voice leaving no room for disagreement.

''The Human known as Duncan, correct?''

''Yes, you are free to use any methods available for capture, but I want him alive and brought to me when the time permits. No disintegration.''

''Yes, Princess Celestia. Worry not; I will secure our prize.''