As Rainbow Dash and Spike walked down the street, she was overwhelmed at what had happened while Ponyville was under the Queen's rule. She also saw just how remarkably quickly they were healing. There were ponies dancing and singing in the streets. The old diners were now open again, with plenty of food freshly in stock. Even the mayor was back to being mayor. The town re-elected her after her unlawful step-down the Queen ordered. Everything seemed like nothing ever happened. However, a few places were missing ponies that belonged. Suger Cube Corner was missing Pinkie Pie. All of Fluttershy's animals were in the wild, or a shelter. Sweet Apple Acres' prized farm mare was currently a prisoner of war, whereabouts unknown. The town's tailor and fashion diva had left them to their own tacky garments. Ponyville was coming back, but some scars couldn't heal.
But she couldn't dwell on the bad. She had to think about the good.
"So, this new eatery. It's nice?", Rainbow asked as her and Spike walked.
"Well, it's not really new. Just, not in hiding anymore."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, when the Queen became a dictator, she rationed everypony's food. It was nasty and didn't really fill you up. It was enough to keep you alive but, that was it. So this couple of zebras, who had recently moved in, decided to open an underground shop, where they would take your daily rations and add some water and wild herbs, and they made some kind of soup with it," Spike licked his lips. "It was great! They turned that old, dry stuff into something new and tasty. I never went out much, but I had to make time once in a while for that!"
"So, do they still use that stuff?", Rainbow was looking a little scared. She had tasted imperial rations before.
"Oh no. They're keeping the idea, but using whatever food a pony brings from their home, or the market. It's exploding! If freedom returns, they'll easily have a popular franchise. And it all came from just trying to do something nice for the ponies around them."
"Well you're making me hungry! When do we get there?"
"It's just a block over."
When they got there, Rainbow found it to be a small building, room enough for a small kitchen, and a lawn of picnic tables.
"What a a quaint little building," Rainbow admired.
"Quaint? You're starting to sound like Ra-uh, some fancy couple...down the street," Spike's countenance fell.
"Relax Spike. We're here to remember the good, not the bad. We can talk about the past. It might be better if we can escape the present once in a while," she gave him a reassuring smile.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. Hey, remember that time when you stuck Opal in that tree? It seemed like the only thing that would get Rarity outside was the desperate cries from her terrified cat!", he began snickering.
"Yeah, it takes a master to know what to do to get a diva out of a pity tantrum," Rainbow she snickered with him.
"Oh! Remember when Twilight saved everypony from Discord?" I mean, that was awesome! How she used the elements of harmony."
"Yeah, she was pretty awesome," she looked like she was about to change moods entirely.
"You know what? I never heard the whole story about what happened to you guys when Discord came. I mean, I know what he did, but y'all never talked much about what it felt like."
"Oh, wait, we're next in line. Did we even bring anything?", they were now standing at the window to the kitchen.
"Oh yeah," he reached into a -very manly- hand bag, and drew out some ingredient he had brought. "I've got some gems for me, of course, and I brought a bouquet of roses for you. Now don't jump to conclusions or anything! I hear that among ponies roses make one of the best stews here."
"Okay, let's give them our stuff and find a table. So what were you saying about Discord?", Rainbow finished as they found a table.
"How did it feel, to have your entire nature, and inner self turned around like that. I mean, Applejack couldn't tell the truth, Fluttershy was a jerk, Pinkie Pie hated laughter and happiness, and that was a dark day. Rarity went nuts about hording stuff for herself, and you abandoned everypony. Now, I know that wasn't really you, I mean, look at who you are now. You're Commander Dash, the leader of the Resistance, the final hope for Equestria. So, what happened deep down?"
Rainbow Dash was at a loss for words. "You kinda caught me off guard there. But don't sweat it. It was...weird. Have you ever fought yourself, I mean literally? It felt like there was another me, and she was bent on abandoning her friends. I just had to stop her. I just had to keep her from leaving, but then I failed. She left, and "saved" some random cloud and fell asleep on it, the bum! But when Twilight put my element around my neck, the other me began to die. And then she just vanished."
"Wow...that is deep. Oh, would you look at that, foods ready!", he licked his lips.
"Can't wait to dig my face into this Rose-stew-thing!", she promptly stuck her entire muzzle in it.
"BAAHAHAHAHAHA! I didn't think you were serious!", Spike was in tears.
She raised her face out of the stew and looked puzzled. "What?"
Then a silence fell over them. She looked confused, and Spike had stopped laughing and was confused as well. And then she burst into laughter, followed by Spike.
"You're face was epic! You thought I wasn't joking!"
"I thought you were serious!"
The two joined in one more fit of laughter, and then began to make their way back into a serious conversation. They talked about more instances in their friends' past. They recalled how Applejack made Pinkie blow milk out of her nose in front of the Princess, and everypony thought she would be disgusted, but she laughed along. They talked about how Fluttershy found her special somepony, and how he left her. They talked their way form start to finish of their friends' history together. It was a short run, but the three, if Applejack were still alive, were all that remained.
Across the street, Feather Weight was watching from against the wall of a furniture store, his chosen guard duty position.
"Pst! Feather Weight!", a hidden voice whispered to Feather Weight.
"Huh? Is that you Flicker?", Feather Weight recognized the hushed voice.
"Keep it down! You know I'm a known imperial! The fact that I'm even here alive is a miracle!"
"Oh, sorry, what brings you here?", he brought his voice to a whisper as well. While making sure not to move his head in the direction of the voice, as to not draw attention to the bush it came from.
"The Queen has changed your mission. She wants you to kill Rainbow Dash!"
"What? Why?"
"Because we already have Applejack. If we kill their leader they'll have no one to turn to. And then we can use Applejack as leverage! They'll try and keep the fight going, but once they see Applejack has joined our side, they'll lose faith!"
"What? You know she'll refuse! She refused last time!"
"But the Queen has more ways than negotiation to make them bow! She will be beaten into submission, and if all else fails, she'll die!"
"And if she's dead, they'll lose faith anyway! Tell the Queen I've done as she's asked. Better yet, tell her majesty you helped me do it!"
"Very well. When? Where?"
"Midnight, wherever the Commander lays her head!"
"I shall see you then! Stay close!", and with that, the bush slipped around the back of the building. Feather Weight remained leaning against the wall.