It was later in the day.  The two newly Bondeds had very naturally saught the privacy of some time alone.  Every pair did it.  But in this case, no one was surprised to find that the twins idea of privacy included each other and each others Bondeds.  The unique foursome were the talk of the Academy - there was even some idea going round that the Elders were hoping to talk to the twins about this development to gain the perspective on how such a Bond felt and what was its likely potential.  Someone said that a messenger bird had gone out to the Royal Institute to the famous scholars Arwyn Lathen and Salina Tabritha to inform them of the development.  But that could be just be the Academy rumour mill at work.  What was certainly known and felt was a relief that the close brothers would continue to share one anothers futures for some time to come - and that if they did have to part on their separate Roug duties one day, that a soulmate would accompany each of them.

Elsewhere at the Academy, the daily routine carried on.  Dinners were still being cooked in the kitchens, lessons were still being held in classrooms and the Wyn-potentials were being gathered by the Wyn faculty and prepared for the inevitable Y'cha to come.

It was not such serious topics that occupied everyone however.......

<<Hey, Sandstorm! Wait up!>>

The tall, chocolate-maned stallion paused and waited quietly for the other unicorn who was now galloping towards him up the road. There was no need to turn around. Every mindvoice was distinct, but Lure had a certain smoothness of tone, a warm and mellow way of folding around the other's thoughts...

<<Ho, Lure!>> Sandstorm sent cheerfully as the gold and white stallion pulled up beside him, the latter's sides heaving ever so slightly as he slowed to an amiable trot.

<<Hullo! Are you headed to the Meadow for the Flankball game?>> There was a glimmer in his friend's eye. Perhaps, thought Sandstorm, the glimmer of competition?

<<Of course! Ricochet recruited me this morning to play goalie... I assume he thinks I'm not nimble enough for offensive play, and he's probably right! Can't you just see me...driving the ball down center field and then whap! A clod of dirt underhoof and its down I go! Like a stone.>>

Lure laughed. <<Yeah. Remember that time Jester dared you to jump the hedges out by the archery range?>>

Sandstorm snorted as they left the road and began to cross the soft turf of the unBondeds meadow. <<Trex, I thought I'd broken a leg when I came to, with the medicos standing over me, and Jester chortling like a imp. Speaking of which...>>

The dun paused as the two approached the playing field. There was Cobalt, on one side, and the recently mentioned Jester. Ricochet was standing about a hundred yards away, seemingly in communique with both Flutter and Radiance.

<<It seems the teams are already forming!>> A lock of golden mane had fallen into Lure's eyes, but the wicked glint was still obvious in his mindvoice. <<Since you're off to Ric's team, I suppose I'll give Cobe and Jester a hoof. Hope you don't mind...>>

<<'Course not!>> sent Sandstorm, and he didn't. It was difficult for the large stallion to keep hard feelings alive for anyone, especially when he felt everyone else's feelings so deeply...

<<Hey, Klutzy!>> the mindvoice was Jester's, but the tone was more friendly and familiar than mocking... The compact little clown-colored stallion was always more than glad to see his friend at full strength, trotting around like a powerhouse. There had been more than a little guilt and tension between them these past few months. Jester turned his attention back to the stalwart grulla who was acting-captain of their team. <<So, old man...who's got goalie, then? I think Sandstorm'll be a tough one for the other side. He's not so graceful, but he won't hesitate to throw himself in front of the ball...>>

<<Well...>> Cobalt sent slowly, mulling over his options, <<Starfall's supposed to join us soon, but I think he'd be better on the offensive line. Fanfare, as well. I want you on defense, but...>>

<<I'm too scrawny and not gutsy enough for goalie, got it.>> Jester was not above, even, mocking himself, though his mindvoice remained friendly, upbeat. <<How about Guardian? He's new, yeah, but he's so big! And brave!>>

<<Not coming. I asked him at lunch yesterday, but he said he'd promised Kenyon he'd help show some of the newer students around the barn.>>

<<Who does that leave, then?>>

<<Well, here comes Lure... and Memory is also coming, I believe.>>

<<Memory?!?>>

A slow, cool breeze rustled through the grasses now and lifted colored strands of manes and tails like  streamers against the pale sky. As the unicorns continued to discuss their strategies, others began slowly to arrive. First Starfall and Parade came bucking and leaping over the horizon in a planned display of rodomontade. Nightshade trotted in, by herself. Fanfare, Skydancer, and Bullseye each trickled in as the teams began to take their places on the field. And finally, as if by afterthought, the small-framed Memory. He might not have come, even, had not Cobalt made it a special point to invite him.

{{Memory!}} Cobalt called out as he recognized the slight little buckskin trotted hesitantly towards the field. <<Glad you can join us! I know you said you wanted to play goalie, but Lure's already called it... why not a defensive position with Jester and Nightshade?>>

Memory simply nodded his head and sent the older stallion his thanks. The truth was, he had only acepted to play in the first place because he hadn't wanted Cobalt to be disappointed in him. But he had requested goalie because he figured he might stand quietly alone for most of the game, thinking his own thoughts and only occasionally having to throw himself in front of a ball. Jester and Nightshade both intimidated him, in different ways, but he supposed defense was better than *offense*...he quickly surveyed the unicorns forming each teams offensive line: Cobalt, Starfall, and Fanfare on one side. Ricochet, Flutter, and Radiance on the other. Light! The belonged to a different universe, those 'corns.

When everyone had taken their place, Cobalt and Ricochet each stepped forward from the offensive line and crossed horns, created a small nook between them where Flutter then placed the ball. The other offensive players then assumed what they thought would be the most strategic positions: Fanfare and Radiance by their captains, Starfall and Flutter farther off -- and it was no wonder!

The muscular grulla and the athletic paint whinnied their challenges, and with a "snick" of their horns and a flip of their heads, the ball went flying into the air... It was Ricochet who got to it first, the tip of his multi-colored horn butting up against the tough black skin of the ball. Starfall, however, was quick to intercede, and with a powerful thrust, launched the ball towards the opposing goal with the broad part of his forehead...

...and the ball sailed cleanly over Sandstorm's head and out of sight.

{{Nice job, show-off!}} sent Flutter with some annoyance. {{Now how're we gonna get it?}}

{{Now, now. Calm down...}} Cobalt sighed and turned to Jester, who was trotting up from farther down the field. {{Can you 'fetch' it, Jester?}}

{{I can try!}} came the red-maned stallion's cheerful response. He closed his eyes and stood perfectly still. For a moment, nothing happened, though every unicorn could smell the magic burning in the air. Memory wrinkled his nose.

Then, with a sparkle and a "pop!", a roundish object appeared on the ground right in front of Jester's hooves. It was not a ball.

{{Uh oh...}} Radiance stifled a chuckled. {{That's not the ball. In fact, that looks like...}}

Flutter groaned. {{Heidi's favorite mixing bowl! Light trex it, Jester! Are you trying to be funny? She'll beat us *all* with the big, wooden ladle of hers!}} The appaloosa filly huffed. {{Can you send it back, or what?}}

Jester shrugged. {{I can try, but my magic seems to be a bit off the mark today. Better to just try and sneak it back in...}}

{{Ho ho!}} sent Radiance, conjuring up a collective mental image: an angry army of flying ladels, jabbing and whacking them all from above... {{You better do that by your lonesome, Jester. She already *hates* you!}}

{{Now, now...}} Cobalt sent again. {{Rather than risk another...accident, would someone be willing to go look for the ball?}}

{{I'll go!}} sent Skydancer, two enormous white wings already unfolding gracefully from his dappled back. {{I can scan from above.}}

{{Me too.}} sent Sandstorm gallantly. Though in truth he was only looking for one more way to be a hero...

Cobalt nodded and Skydancer took to the air, while Sandstorm galloped off in the direction of the ball.

As luck would have it, Skydancer had veered off a bit towards the woods, so it was Sandstorm who spotted it first. Right by a group of older Academy students. The dun 'corn paused for a moment, remembering that there had been a flood of Bondings recently. All of the unBondeds had felt a bit of unease lately (he had felt their unease along with his own!), whether they feared that they would be next (like Eclipse) or *anticipated* it with longing and desire (like poor Cobalt!). As for himself, Sandstorm figured he would be happy either way, though as he approached these students (some of them already Bonded and some of them fearing, too, that this class would leave them behind), he felt, as they did, that Bonding was such a perfect and beautiful thing...

...and suddenly, it was as if the ground had begun to shift away, swallowing him down, swallowing itself like sand....

Brightness! My mother's (human!) face, a slow smile. A memory of my *toes*, small and wiggling and pink at the end of my foot. *Two* legs! Fingers! Sandstorm could feel himself running across the soft grass, running on four legs but also two, the feeling and image of his hind end and the heaviness of his head being there and simultaneously *not*, as if he had two bodies, *two* heads: one his own, and one so comfortable and yet so alien... two eyes close together, like a hunter searching for...

ME!

YOU!

The words called out by two voices who somehow could say both at once, because it would mean the same.

...and then, just as quickly, it was over. Sandstorm was standing beside a young man (*his* young man, he realized now with a protective sort of pride), and he knew, without a doubt, that this moment and every moment after would be indeed far more perfect than every moment before. <<Tady.>> he sent simply, and waited.

The momentary melancholy was quickly replaced by his own reassurances.

It was a beautiful day…Tady smiled to himself.

A soon heated discussion had pulled Tady from the top of the hill. The non-Wyn minds, a group of academically sound non-battling Roug aspirants, scribes and statisticians of future valor or at least as much valor as a scribe can aspire too. The quartet began rolling over many subjects that plagued Uen… As the game of Flankball began…

"No, really!You can not expect a failed Wyn to stay in the Light." The taller of the two young men smacked the back of one hand into the palm of the other… as he rationalized.

"If they can not stay IN THE LIGHT… they never belonged in the first place." the shorter of the duo disputed as he emphasized with a sharp encompassing gesture

"What I don’t understand is how the academy can allow some one… train someone… they almost have to know will go against them in the end." The frumpy female added quite contritely.

"The Academy does turn away those it does not deem worthy." Tady intervened unsure of the target for this discussion.

"With all the expectations, training and conditioning they go through…" The taller exclaimed

"The draw of the dark, to use the power, they feel the light had spurned…." The shorter seconded

"We should lock them up…" The frump whined.

"Hide them away, wash their brains of all Academy knowledge… we are practically laying down the welcome mat for the Dark Queen and her forces to waltz right in and have a nip by the hearth." She punctuated with a flip of her bangs

"The Academy looks for the good in people… some inner conflicts can not be resolved until the way is shown, others…" The young man’s features drew blank

++

In an instant, Tady’s world turned upside down. He was being sucked down and away from everything he knew. Reaching out brushing by something that seemed very solid, very real, and very safe, only to be again pulled away from it.

Then ebbing in the flow, quite peaceful,as if this was all he were too ever know…

He felt contentment in that.

++

"Tady?" The three chimed

The trio involved in Tady’s discussion watched as a ball rolled to a stop at his feet, watched the mildly incensed demeanor of a debating politician fall away to absolute nothing.

Whispers were passed as the large chocolate buckskin slowed his approach, head low.

"Do you suppose it’s a bond?" The young woman stared with wide eyes…

++

Ahead of him a glow and its brightness increased in an effervescent volume.

I know…

{{YOU}}

{{ME}}

Disembodied voices echoed in his mind

Reaching for the light, finding himself again, reaching for that very safe, very real object. Becoming emersed in it, he breathed it in, allowing it to fill every fiber. Then passing through… with a definite residual affect as the two souls parted.

{{Tady}} The voice beckoned him

++

"Tady?" The taller asked…

A glimmer in the young man’s eye, a return of color to his cheeks, a sharp breath and the hint of recognition. Quietly, turning about the young archer laid eyes upon the source, the only voice that rang true at this moment.

"It… is… a bond…" The shorter stammered as he stared on at the pair. Of the three none had actually seen a "bond" in progress. All three’s expressions faded into awe…

"Just like any great debate the proof is in the physicality…" The frump coined

"One can not get much more evident than this." Finished the taller

++

{{Tady}} he sent simply and waited

{{Sandy}} Tady reached out with his mind for the first time. A broad smile warmed his features.

{{Tadhg Seorise??}} Sandstorms head jerked

{{Had to add a few extra letters to feel special?}} he cocked an eye

{{My families ancient and forgotten tongue}} Tady extended a hand, and even though he had touched this muzzle tens of times before…

{{Bonded??}} Sandstorm breathed deep the scent of his young man