The others had left the room, and Honesty was weaker than she was earlier. She was ripe for the picking, if I could just get that… purple?... alicorn away.
How will you counter me this time? You don’t have your precious elements, and I will rip the others apart with her, Celestia.
Princess Celestia had left, leaving me to my thoughts and I hoped that she wouldn’t do something she might regret. Again.
I sighed and sipped my tea, which was almost empty.
I know it seems bad, but please don’t do something that will get us all hurt. I couldn’t bear to watch my friends get hurt like that again. They need time to heal.
There was a window, allowing me to see all the way out to Sweet Apple Acres. The trees were lush, and I could see Ponyville if I tilted my head the right way..
As I sat watching and listening to the birds outside, I finished my tea. There was a drop or two left in the cup as I put it in the sink, leaving the bottom darkened slightly.
I walked back through the castle. Through the silence I could hear the chirping of the birds and the squeaking of the mice in the walls, and it relaxed me.
Whatever the Princess does, it will work out in the end.
As I rounded the last corner that would lead me to the throne room, I noticed the same browning in the crystalline structure of the castle.
I wonder if Apps knows what might be wrong with it. Even without knowledge of the tree itself, she should be able to figure out what it’s lacking. I thought to myself as the door opened.
Discord was in the corner, glaring at Terra. Terra was smiling nervously as Twilight paced the room.
“I know you can’t tell me everything, but thanks for the hint, Terra. Now, I need you to start on that machine, otherwise I won’t be able to fix the-” She paused as she turned around and saw me. “-Fluttershy! Sorry for running out on you… I was just excited...” Twilight started, sounding remorseful.
Before she could start, I butted in. “Twilight, I think you had the right idea. You’re able to wrap your head around such complicated ideas that… I just know that whatever plans you make it will be worth the time you spend.” I reassured her.
Twilight smiled. “Terra mentioned that you had helped her with her… speaking issues. Fluttershy?” Twilight asked hesitantly.
“Yes, Twilight?”
“I… I might need to leave for a while to fix something.” she said, but then quickly added “It’ll be a while, as I need Terra to make a couple things for me, but I will have to be gone from here for a while…” She looked conflicted about what to say next.
“Twilight, know that whatever you do, you’ll have our support. Even if you are gone for a year, we will wait for you.” I said with a smile.
“Ohnono! I won’t be gone for that long! At most, maybe a month or two.” she rushed.
“Then we’ll wait. For now, can we go back to the girls to catch up?” I asked. I put on my most reassuring smile as I said this, hopeful she would be able to reassure Apps.
Twilight nodded and smiled, eyes watery. As she left the room, Terra decided to follow her. Discord was still pouting, though he came when I looked at him with pleading eyes.
We were heading out the double doors of the throne room as Princess Celestia came in. Needless to say, it was a dogpile as hooves and horns poked, and wings and tails wound together.
“O-oh dear…” I stammered out. I could hear Terra silently giggling, and Celestia had a small smile on.
That’s good. At least she’s been cheered up.
Twilight seemed exasperated at how jumbled we were, but even she looked like she had to stop herself from laughing. Discord was… silent.
Wait… I see brown, white, purple, and yellow coats, but where’s…
“Hey Fluttershy, could you try moving a little to your left so I can move my right hoof?” Twilight said, snapping out of my worries.
I followed, and we worked together to untangle ourselves. Discord was not in the pileup, vanishing for whatever reason.
“Princess Celestia, is Discord okay? He seemed…” I struggled to find the right words.
“He’s probably just… recovering from certain revelations. Perhaps he’s still guilty about betraying us to Tirek a few weeks ago. Either way, I’m sure he’ll work it out.” Celestia said with a smile.
I could tell the smile was fake not because I was Pinkie, who practically studied smiling for most of her life, or like Applejack, who could taste a fake smile a kilometer away, but because her eyes still conveyed sadness and regret.
I hugged her, and pulled Twilight to the side.
“Twilight, whatever you need to do to fix the magic needs to wait. It might not seem as important, but I get the feeling that we’re going to need you the next few weeks, if not months.” I whispered to her gently. I tried my best to convey that I would support her decision while also pleading her to change it.
Twilight closed her eyes and steadied her breathing.
“Fluttershy, I’ve thought of every way I could to stay, but Terra and I might end up having to go together. I said that I would be able to just teleport around, but I underestimated the amount of magic I would need. Now that I think about it, both of us will have to go.” At my sad smile, she continued. I’d love to stay. But Luna and Celestia have to deal with the nobility and panic before it spreads too far, which only leaves Terra and I. So, knowing that she can’t use the magic she’s emitting, I need to go with her to help her.” my book-smart friend explained.
I scrunched my eyebrows in thought when she said that Terra needed her help.
“What’s out there that needs you to go?” I asked fearfully.
“... It would be better for you not to know. Either way, Terra will need some protection and mobility, which I can give her. So even though I’ll be gone for a bit, I will come back. If not for you, then to seek answers.”
I nodded understandingly, and she turned to let me lead her to the others.
I just hope that they are still able to stand when you come back...
I watched AJ pace around one of the tables. She was so lost in thought that I couldn’t get her attention, though I only called her a few times before giving up.
Pinkie was reading a cookbook, probably browsing through the snacks section, with Rarity pointing at the recipes and making comments. I was lying on a cloud above them, probably around the fifth floor of the open library.
Heh… Twi’d never let me in her old library with a cloud out of fear of water damage. At least this castle has enchantments that keep the books from getting damaged.
Twilight had found this out after she had forgotten to close a window in the library during a storm. The storm was to counter the effects of the drought that Tirek had caused by absorbing all the pegasus magic. It was also to loosen the soil that had hardened slightly since earth ponies couldn’t till the earth or help anything grow.
Though, I had to admit that Canterlot had it the worst by far. Their city nearly crumbled several times due to both Tirek’s rampage and how he siphoned some of the magic holding the city up.
It was a little known fact outside of Canterlot, but a large chunk of the city was built on a slab that had enchantments to decrease the weight of the stone floor and increase the strength of the beams holding it up. Tirek siphoning ambient magic, along with the innate magic of the four pony tribes, meant that the city became unstable and nopony could fix it.
Pretty lucky that they had been one of the last stops for him, otherwise more might have kicked the bucket. I morbidly thought as I stretched out on my pillowy cloud.
I started napping, and had some action-filled dreams too, when I was awoken by a minor shock spell.
It wasn’t painful enough to send me flying off my cloud, but it was enough to get me up.
“Hey! Rainbow!” I heard the egghead call from below me. She was with Flutters, and Pinks and Rarity were where they were before.
“Yeah?” I called down, lowering myself slowly.
“You know the rules! No! Clouds!”
“Your books won’t be damaged, Sparkle. I don’t see why-” I was cut off by a shock that was mildly stronger than the one she had administered before. This one felt like those joy buzzers Pinkie and I had used on each other as pranks.
I yelped and threw the cloud at the ceiling, where there was an open window. The cloud floated out and away, while I dove down to Twilight to…
I feel like I should be doing something…
Eh. Probably nothing.
“Hey egghead! How you been?” I asked, ignoring the fake glare she was sending my way.
Her glare turned into a devious smile that made me nervous.
Then all of the girls and I were teleported onto a bed -probably in Twilight’s room- with all of us laughing like foals.
Pinkie was snorting, Rarity was doing her best to hide her mirth, and even Applejack was giggling a little bit.
Good to see she’s not so far off that she’s not able to enjoy the moment. I thought with relief.
Twilight jumped in the middle of the impromptu ring, and we all hugged. Sappy as it might have been, I was happy to see Twilight back as much as the others were.
“T-Twilight?” Fluttershy piped up.
“Yeah?” She said with a smile wide enough to rival Pinkie’s.
“Could you, Applejack, and I talk alone for a little bit?” When Twilight began to respond, this time with a somewhat slightly muted smile, Fluttershy interrupted her with “I know you want to catch up, but there’s something important-”
Twilight put a hoof on Fluttershy’s barrel, an understanding smile adorning her face. “Fluttershy, if there’s something that you think is important, it’s okay to ask. I assume that it is something... “ Twilight paused, eyes darting around. It looked like she had forgotten a word. I could tell because it was a look in the eyes I had had often. “Ah! Private?” She said the first part in hushed surprise, and the last in the same calming tone she used prior.
Fluttershy nodded.
“Girls, I hate to ask, but can I see what Fluttershy and AJ need? I’d love to catch up with you all, but I have a feeling it is important.” Twilight turned to the others.
Looking around at the others, I saw a consensus that the three deserved a bit of privacy. I was, of course, understanding that I couldn’t be in the room, but something about AJ’s bags under her eyes and Fluttershy’s growing worry put me on edge.
I looked at Twilight. “Call us if anything happens, okay?” I said more than asked. I just hoped that my gut was wrong.
We sat on the other side of the door. Or, rather I sat. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie were playing something.
At least they’re not playing pranks! I thought, remembering the bouquet they set outside my door with powder in it.
I sighed at the thought of my hair being undone by their antics, but had to admit it was a clever joke.
Looking at the two, I began wondering why they never took their friendship to the next level. They seemed so alike, after all.
“Rainbow Dash, Pinkie dear, could I ask you two a question?” I called out to the rambunctious mares.
A pink blur raced over to me and booped me on the nose. I blinked, still trying to process that she had booped me, as Rainbow dash grabbed a cloud from somewhere.
“Shoot.” Rainbow said.
I can’t blame her for being uncouth. It’s simply in her nature. Though she would look good in one of those dresses… perhaps I can arrange a ponyquin about her size so I can test out a new dress.
Before my mind could clutter with the gift for Rainbow Dash, I shelved the thought for later.
“While watching you two, I came to wonder why the two of you never became an item. I mean, you both are so alike, no?” By the end of my question, the two looked uncomfortable. “If you’d rather not say, or it’s just because it would hamper with our dynamic, I understand.” I said firmly.
“We tried, though it was several years before we met Twilight. One of the reasons Dashie was so nervous around me was because of the month or two we tried dating…” Pinkie trailed off, seemingly lost for words.
“We… sigh. I want to figure out how to say this without seeming offensive or dim, so hold on.” Rainbow lay on her back, flicking hooves back and forth in uneven rhythms. After a moment of silence, she finally spoke up.
“Pink and I stand for quite similar things, element-wise. She inspires others to be better and brighter through being… well, Pinkie. Then there’s me. I inspire others to be the best, but only by helping. Loyalty isn’t kind in anything but its duty. It isn’t cheerful, besides the victories keeping its friends happy. Even back then we were like that, and we got into arguments because I couldn’t see things from her perspective. And I… I said something I regret. I regretted it from the moment it came out of my mouth. It still haunts me, and I don’t know if us being in a relationship would work.” Rainbow said somberly. She averted her eyes at the end out of shame.
Pinkie put a hoof on the back of her barrel, rubbing it softly. She had a soft smile, even though she must have been reminded of something terrible.
“If I might ask, what-” I began to ask, but was cut off.
“I swore I wouldn’t say anything to anypony.” Rainbow said. Pinkie looked side to side, seemingly afraid.
An emotion most unusual on the peppy pink pony’s face.
“I was actually going to ask what the argument was about.” I said with an apologetic smile towards Pinkie.
“Oh. You’ll think it was dumb…” Rainbow trailed off. “Every time I think about it, I remember just how dumb I was with how it started.”
“Nonsense. Now, remember that I don’t wish to pry. If you don’t want to say, don’t. But know that I won’t judge you based on a long past mistake, darling.” I said with a small smile.
“Sigh. It was after a long day of kicking clouds, and I had several new recruits. I was manager, even then, because of the raw power and skill I had. Pinkie saw me training them, having them take on challenges that were past their level. I encouraged them, and it was for good reason I did that, but Pinkie thought I was hazing them.
I tried explaining that I was prepping them, then evening out the work after they figured out how to do what they needed. She still thought that the others should have helped. They were elsewhere, divvied up into made-up divisions to buck clouds.
The three or four that I was training were moving clouds to and from the everfree to build up endurance. If I didn’t do that, they wouldn’t be able to take on some of the worse storms that crop up around Ponyville from time to time. If they didn’t have the power or endurance, they could have lost their lives fighting a tornado or wildfire. The clouds there are harder to move, being made of an untamed magic from the Everfree, so it definitely wore them down quite a bit. We argued and… I exploded. Simple as that.” Rainbow explained.
Pinkie looked sad that her friend was sad, and quickly dragged Rainbow out of the conversation by booping the prismatic mare’s nose and shouting “YOU’RE IT!!”
Their antics continued, seemingly undeterred by what Rainbow Dash had confessed.
Those poor dears… Well, I think it all worked out in the end!
It was optimistic to think, but Pinkie and Rainbow had gotten to talking again at least. Maybe they would look past their differences and try anew?
If that time comes, I do hope they clue us in. I have no doubt that Rainbow would think it “uncool” to have her friends doting over her and her marefriend.
I smiled and resumed examining the crystal of the castle. I liked how it gleamed, but was unsure of how to get material from it without damaging the tree.
Perhaps there’s …
“So, you’ve been hearing a voice that has been trying to do what Discord did when he returned the first time?” Twilight summed up from across the table she summoned for us to have tea on.
Flavor ain’t bad. Not a tea drinker maself, but wouldn’t mind if ah had this every now and again.
Tea? Please. It’s a drug you ponies self-administer to make yourselves feel in control. You. Are. Not. You will never be in control of what happens, and that will haunt you when you lose your friends. Your family. I should know, Apple.
Even if that’s whas goin’ on here, ah need to talk with ‘em. Tell em the truth. And YOU are outa line, mister.
Least ah could tell it was a masculine voice tha’ seemed to be hauntin’ me. One I’d never heard before, and hoped never to hear again.
“Twilight, what are you thinking about?” Flutters asked, snapping me out of a stupor I wasn’t aware that I was in.
I noticed Twilight had closed her eyes. I could see her eyes movement below the eyelid, and she was clearly deep in thought.
“This might be one of Celestia’s, Luna’s, or Terra’s original students.” She finally let out.
‘Shy and ah cocked our heads.
“Original? How long ago was that?” Fluttershy asked.
Twilight was silent.
“I’d like to answer that, but I can’t.” Before we could argue, she cut us off. “Again, I want to answer. But I’ve made a deal with an… entity… that I wouldn’t tell any of you their names or anything about them. I know it’s hypocritical of me, but I can do other things. Though I can't give you information, I can still help..”
Lying and holding secrets like her mentor. The APPLE doesn’t fall far from the TREE now does it APPLEjack. And, if that’s the case then your sister… well, I don’t envy her fate. Nor your brother's.
Ah could practically feel the face of whatever was speakin’ grin maliciously.
“Applejack, you feel cold.” ‘Shy said worriedly. “Are… are you okay?”
I stepped back from the table, feeling my eyes burning and panic setting in.
Ah… can’t think bout that jus yet. Ah need to hold out. Fer them. Jus… keep… it….
Then my world exploded with cyan and white.
A boom came from the other room, and boy was I shaking like crazy. I had jitters all over my body, but not like the one when I predicted the doozy.
This wasn’t a new set of jitters either. It was one I had felt constantly throughout my childhood.
Ignoring Rarity and Dashie, I barged in to find… snow?
Looking around, I felt like I was in that novel, The Lion, the Queen, and the Wardrobe of the Narnia series. But deep inside the transformed room, I could feel something that made my chilled skin tingle with anticipation and dread.
Dashie and Rarity came in behind me, but I couldn’t focus on them. I needed to get to the others.
I began running through where the room had been moments ago, and was reminded that I couldn’t shimmy space like I usually did.
So, guess I’ve gotta lean on my other skills. Baking and engineering.
As I ran, I bucked a snowball above me as hard as I could. As the snow was relatively flat, I didn’t have to worry about running into anything. I watched the snowball fly while running, and it hit an invisible barrier in the sky, about the height of Twilight's old tree if I trusted my Pinkie-ness.
Okay. So, Twilight must have put up this room to stop Applejack from exploding ice magic or something and now they’re trying to defuse the bomb.
Running through the snow, my only guide was the feeling of dread. It led me right to Twilight, who was straining to cast a spell of some kind.
Beside her was Fluttershy, who was ramming into a blue ball of ice.
Well, she was trying to ram it, but she wasn’t really hurting it per se. It was like a nudge on a mountain, but she was still trying.
I reached into my mane, hoping that that still worked. I grabbed out a cupcake.
Wait wait wait. It works, but not what I need?! CURSE YOU SHARP CURRENT’S LAW!!