//------------------------------// // 4 - The Gathering Clouds // Story: Single Point of Failure // by TobiasDrake //------------------------------// Dear Princess Celestia, Physical affection is very complicated. Applejack has been fond of showing affection physically for as long as I’ve known her. She claps hooves, gives shoulder pats, and other gestures involving touching a pony to let them know she’s excited or happy for them. It took me some time to get used to being touched so much even when we were just friends. “Just friends.” That’s an interesting set of words, actually. It seems to indicate that a platonic friendship is in some way lesser than a romantic entanglement. I’m not sure if I agree with that. I’ll need some time to think about this. I’ll send another report when I have an answer. In any case, being touched was a strange experience for friendships already. I’ve long since gotten used to it, but I was not prepared for the amount of touching that happens when you’ve started dating somepony, and I was quite surprised to realize how often I was instigating it myself. In the kind of relationship Applejack and I have built, there doesn’t seem to be much expectation of personal space. If we’re walking, we’re often close enough to touch each other by leaning in the right direction. When we sit, we’re usually right up against each other. We lay together and cross my hoof over hers or hers over mine, and then we just talk. And, of course, there’s the kisses. I knew from the start that this was going to be one of the larger distinctions in our relationship, but I’m surprised by how minor it actually is compared to all the smaller, more casual forms of physical affection we show each other. They are certainly powerful and I’m convinced there’s some kind of magic in them because of the way my heart flutters when we kiss, but it’s far from the most noticeable nuance of our new situation. If anything, I would say the most noticeable are the looks. Applejack has this expression she gets when she’s watching me at times. I catch her staring at me with this hungry look in her eyes, like she’s contemplating a very delicious looking salad. Sometimes she tries to hide it, but other times…well, I’ve taken to calling it her “Contemplating Physical Affection” look or CPA for short. I wonder if I have one? I’ll need to ask her about that some time. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle Rarity was already hard at work on her latest design when Cardinal exited the guest room. “What a lovely morning,” she greeted him. Cardinal blushed. Not half as lovely as you, he thought, but then thought wiser of saying it. “It absolutely is. Thank you for offering your hospitality.” Rarity nodded. “Of course. Why, if ponies weren’t willing to stick out a hoof for each other, where would we be? Savagery, that’s where, and I want no part of that in my home.” “You’re one of a kind, Rarity,” Cardinal told her as he headed towards the door. She stopped him with a sharp look. “I’m really not. Spend some time around Ponyville and I think you’ll find we are a very welcoming town. I’m sure you must have met Pinkie Pie already.” “It would have been impossible not to. So much energy in that one.” “Yes, she can be a tad overdramatic,” Rarity replied with a chuckle. “So, what’s on the agenda for today?” Cardinal sighed, looking at the door. “Headed down to the Apple farm to try my luck with its proprietor again. Stubborn as a mule, that mare.” “Yes,” Rarity answered, “Applejack can be difficult at times, and especially so of late.” She sighed. “Still, I can’t imagine what she’s been going through. I’ve been speaking with Twilight and it all sounds just so horrid. I’m sure if those two just sat down in a room for five minutes then everything could work itself out. So let’s try not to be too hard on the poor dear.” “Of course,” Cardinal confirmed. “She’s lucky to have a friend like you. I’m sure she has nothing but the utmost regard for your opinion.” “Hah!” Rarity laughed bitterly. “Now there’s a good one. Applejack wouldn’t know regard if it bit her on the cutie mark.” She shook her head. “No, she can be a bit thick-headed, but we care about her all the same.” Cardinal nodded. “Of course. That’s what friends do.” “Glad you understand. Now, I wish you the best of luck in your endeavor. Do me a favor while you’re out there? Tell Applejack that Twilight is absolutely dying to speak with her.” “Absolutely.” Cardinal headed out the door, keeping his head turned away to hide his malevolent grin. “I’ll be sure she gets the message.” Twilight woke up from a fitful night of sleep on top of a mattress she’d had to drag back over to the bed. The destruction of her pillow had forced her to use a rolled up blanket in its place and competing worries over the destruction of her library and the fact that she still hadn’t gotten to talk to Applejack kept her from sleeping well. As she approached the stairs, she heard huffs and gags from downstairs. “Spike?” she called down. “Is that you?” Descending the stairs, she found Spike seated at the table exhaling as hard as he could into a bowl full of twigs. “Okay, I’ll bite. What are you doing?” Spike frantically whipped around to look at Twilight. “There’s something wrong with my fire breath. It’s gone!” “What?! How can it be gone?!” “I don’t know!” Spike shouted back. “I’ve been trying to send the Friendship Report you wrote in Dodge Junction, but every time I tried to puff, all I got was hard air. I can’t even make regular fire! There’s something wrong with me.” “It’s okay,” Twilight told him, hugging the hyperventilating little dragon. “We’re going to figure this out too. Were you able to breathe fire before you were attacked yesterday?” “I don’t know,” Spike answered. “I was busy trying to get started on reorganizing. I can’t imagine why I wouldn’t.” “Okay,” Twilight pondered, “this is probably connected with the thing that attacked you yesterday. Have you been able to remember any more details? At least something that would tell us whether it was a unicorn or a pegasus?” Spike shook his head. “I keep remembering it differently. I was attacked by a pegasus, a unicorn, and…something else. But they were never there at the same time, and I have no idea what they actually did. I just remember feeling very weak and then passing out.” “You said they were stammering something?” “Yeah. Like it was talking to itself. Or they were talking to themselves. Or somewhere inbetween. I didn’t make a lot of sense.” “Do you remember anything they said?” Spike thought for a moment. “I heard ‘unicorn’ a lot. They might have been looking for you. Or it was.” Twilight sighed. “So we have a unicorn, a pegasus, a something else, and they were never around at the same time. What do you mean by that part?” “I promise, Twilight, I don’t know. I just only ever saw one of them at a time.” “Alright, I believe you. Let’s get to work on the library and see if we can figure out what it or they stole.” “Seems weird to steal books from a library,” Spike muttered. “Why not just walk in and ask for them? It’s a library.” Twilight sat down and contemplated. “You’re right. That is weird. There’s no reason we wouldn’t just loan the book out if the pegasus or the unicorn walked in and said, ‘I need a book.’ There’s a lot about this that just doesn’t make sense. But we’re not going to get any close to solving it until we know what’s missing, so let’s get started.” Apple Bloom was busy packing up her saddlebag for class when there came a knock at the door. She perked up instantly and raced to answer it. “Twilight?!” she asked, throwing open the door. “Sorry, little filly,” came the apologetic voice of a blue stallion with a peach-shaped cutie mark. “The name’s Cardinal. Is your sister home?” Apple Bloom drooped. With disappointment dripping from her voice, she answered, “She’s out back mixin’ pesticides with Granny Smith. She ain’t in the best mood, though, so don’t expect her to take kindly to strangers.” Cardinal gave Apple Bloom a little bow. “Thank ya kindly.” As he started around the side of the house, Apple Bloom gave a quick shudder and went back to packing her saddlebag. She didn’t know what it was about him, but her gut told her that stallion was bad news. “And now quarter turn, quarter turn--” “I know how to mix!” Applejack snapped, then immediately softened. “I…I’m sorry, Granny. I shouldn’t have gone off like that. I just--” “I know you just,” Granny answered. “You’d rather be workin’ the fields with your brother, but until that sprain heals up, ya gotta leave the heavy liftin’ to him.” “I know,” Applejack conceded, continuing to stir the mixture while her mind drifted. Today was Thursday. That usually meant Twilight would be coming by with a couple books to read, but given recent events, it just didn’t seem likely that she’d be showing up. She wondered if it might be best to visit the library herself. Pinkie’d told her they left a message, but maybe Twilight hadn’t received it. Maybe that’s why she-- “G’mornin’, ladies. How are you doin’ on this fine day?” Cardinal rounded the corner to great the Apple mares. And then there’s this jerk. “What do ya want, Cardinal?” Applejack asked in the driest, most frustrated voice she could muster. Cardinal gave Applejack the widest, fakest smile she’d ever seen. “Nothing more than a bit of your time. If you would hear--” “My time’s a bit on the valuable side of late,” Applejack huffed. “You’re gonna have to bargain for it with Granny Smith.” Cardinal took one look at Granny, then nodded to Applejack. “Very well. I shall take my leave. I’m certain you have plenty of mixing to get done.” “Good. Don’t let the gate--” “Hey, AJ!” Rainbow Dash streaked down from the sky. “Ya gotta check out this sweet--who’s this guy?” Dash fluttered in midair, giving Cardinal a suspicious once-over. “He was just leavin’,” Applejack answered, waiting for Cardinal to depart before turning her attention to Rainbow Dash. “Alright, what are ya on about now?” “Oh, I just found this cool spot where the mud makes a wicked slide right down the side of Ghastly Gorge! Ya gotta come check it out with me!” Applejack gave Rainbow Dash an apologetic smile. “I’d love ta, but I really am busy at the moment helpin’ Granny. But since you’re here, do ya think you could do me a favor?” “Of course!” Dash gave Applejack a mock salute. Applejack chuckled. “Thanks, Rainbow. I’d like you to keep an eye on that huckster that just left here. Somethin’ about him don’t smell right to me. Rainbow Dash grinned. “I’m on it. I’ll make him squeal in no time!” “What? No, just watch him. See where he goes, what he does. I want to know what he’s really doin’ here in Ponyville. He says he’s a farmer but he don’t talk like no farmer I ever met.” “Gotcha! Don’t worry, AJ. He’ll never know I’m there.” “Alright, pal, what’s your deal?!” Rainbow Dash shouted. “I’m sorry?” Cardinal offered. “This flower seems quite lovely and the shade is a perfect match for Rarity’s mane, so don’t you think she might appreciate--” “Can it!” Dash shouted. “I’m askin’ the questions here!” “Alright,” Cardinal sat down. “Ask away. First question.” “Uh…” Dash thought a moment. “What’s your deal?” “I run a peach farm out of Mareietta. I’ve been hoping to spend some time chatting with the Apple family but it appears the young miss Applejack hasn’t taken very kindly to me.” “Aha!” Dash shoved a hoof in Cardinal’s face. “AJ says you don’t sound like a farmer! What do you say to that?” “I never said I was,” Cardinal answered. “I said I run the farm. I have workers to do the farming for me.” “Well, that…uh….” Rainbow Dash scratched her head with her hoof. “That does sort of explain things.” “Oh dear,” Cardinal fretted. “Did she think I worked the farm? No wonder she’s been so cold to me. You know, my daddy always said that miscommunication is the source of all society’s greatest troubles. I should just--” “HOLD ON!” Dash shouted. “You’re not off the hook yet! You’re done when I say you’re done.” “Why, of course.” Cardinal smiled, continuing, “I can tell you are a very dedicated friend to the Apple family. Applejack is lucky to have somepony like you in her life and I, for one, am very happy to hear you’ve reconciled your differences.” Dash nodded. “Yeah, I’m pretty--wait, what are you talking about?” “Oh, where are my manners,” Cardinal answered. “I mean only that it is good to finally have a chance to meet you, Miss Twilight.” “WHAT?!” “Your tenacity is matched only by your partner’s. I wish your relationship only the best of luck.” “You…I…you….” Rainbow Dash was having trouble finding words. “Is something the matter?” “I’M NOT TWILIGHT!!!” she finally exploded. “I’m not…why would you even THINK that?!” “Oh, dear. Have I made some mistake?” Cardinal asked. “I apologize. It’s simply that with the love and dedication you show, I assumed you must be her.” Rainbow’s face threatened to turn into an apple itself. “Alright, explain! Right now!” And explain, he did. “You can tell a lot about a pony by the way they carry themselves. The eagerness with which you tried to get Applejack’s attention despite knowing that she was working communicates an emotional need for her company. You feel obligated to her time even though you must know she shares responsibilities with her farm. “What you don’t seem to know about, however, is that she suffered a tragic injury to her right front hoof two nights ago.” “Wait, AJ’s injured?” Rainbow asked. “Why, yes. She’s suffered a terrible sprain, which I assume to be the reason she’s not working in the fields right now. Somepony who knew about that would certainly not be asking her to trek all the way to some isolated part of the wilderness. To my knowledge, she hasn’t seen or heard from Twilight Sparkle since before the accident. “Finally, you certainly seem like a hot-blooded firebrand, but the only reason I can imagine that you would be accosting me like this in the first place is because Applejack has requested it. You show a great deal of dedication, which tells me that Applejack is somepony who is very important to you.” “Wait, how’d you know about the mud slide?” Dash asked. “I have good ears,” Cardinal answered. “They help me ensure my workers are busy doing their jobs. So, assuming nothing has changed, if you’re not Applejack’s Very Special Somepony, then would I be correct in guessing best friend?” Rainbow Dash looked up at the sky. “I don’t know if I’m her best friend, but I’m probably up there. I’m Rainbow Dash.” Cardinal’s eyes immediately grew. “Rainbow Dash of the legendary Sonic Rainboom? I apologize for the confusion, madam. I must say, the stories do not do you justice at all.” “Yeah, that’s me,” Dash grinned. “So what else can ya tell about me?” “Well, and excuse me for treading on this territory if I’m wrong, but would I be correct in assuming that you’re not very pleased with the relationship between Applejack and this Twilight pony?” “I…” Dash hesitated before answering. “We’re not talking about that. C’mon, we’re going into town. You’re gonna show me more.” “Alright, that looks like the last of them,” Twilight told Spike as she levitated Fundamentals of Cookware into place. “What are we missing?” “Hmm….” Spike ran down the list, checking off the book. “Alright, so we’re missing Daring Do and the Ancient Mareyan--” “I’ve got that one in my saddlebag,” Twilight interrupted. “Applejack and I were reading it before….” Twilight sniffed and Spike quickly moved the subject forward to keep her on track. “Right, okay. Then we’re just missing Scales and Flame: Dragons Throughout History, The Curse of Nightmare Moon, and Map to the Uncharted: A Survival Guide for the Everfree Forest. Seems to be a bunch of books for surviving dangerous situations.” Twilight shook her head. “The Curse of Nightmare Moon is a horror novel and Scales and Flame is just recorded history. There’s nothing in it about how to handle dragons.” She walked over to the table and sat down, resting her front hooves on it. “Then why take them?” Spike scratched his head. “I don’t see the connection here.” “Maybe there isn’t one. I’ve been thinking about what you said earlier.” She turned to look at him. “Why steal books from a library? Some tore this place upside-down trying to find something, they attacked you, and all they took were three books we would happily have loaned out in the first place? That doesn’t make any sense. Nopony would do that.” “Then why take the books?” Spike asked. Twilight thought for a moment, then answered. “Maybe they wanted us to think they were here to steal books. Have you noticed anything else missing?” Spike shook his head. “Then whatever they were after, they must have done it while they were here. What do we have here that somepony might want to use?” “Well, we have books,” Spike answered sardonically, but Twilight perked up. “We do have books. Spike, about what time were you attacked?” “It was just an hour or two past lunch.” Twilight stomped her hoof on the table. “That has to be it! I didn’t find you until after the sun had gone down. Whoever these ponies were, they could have been alone in the library for hours. That’s more than enough time to trash the library, read something they didn’t want anypony knowing they’d read, and then make off with a few arbitrary books to make this look like a robbery.” “That makes sense!” Spike shouted. “I think we’ve solved it!” Twilight shouted back, giving a little hop. “There’s a guest at the door!” Spike jumped with her. “Now we just need to figure out what books we have that--” Twilight was cut off by the sound of a hoof knocking on the library door. Spike was already on his way over to answer it. Twilight blushed and tried to quench her excitement. “Oh, right. There’s a guest.” Spike opened the door and greeted the new arrival. “Oh, good afternoon, Apple Bloom.” “Hi, Spike,” the filly greeted. “Is Twilight here?” “I’m right here,” Twilight used her magic to open the door wider. “Come on in. I’m sorry about the mess. We had a bit of a disturbance recently, but we’re taking care of it.” Apple Bloom stepped into the library, taking in the broken vase, torn curtains, and other signs of damage. “This wasn’t my sister, was it?” Twilight shook her head. “No, this wasn’t related. At least, I don’t think it was. So what brings you by?” “Well, uh…” Apple Bloom looked down awkwardly. “Y’said I could come to the library if I needed help with my homework. I know you and my sister are goin’ through some things but--” Twilight cut her off with a warm smile. “Of course I would be delighted to help. Have a seat over by the table. Spike, get Apple Bloom a glass of water. We have some studying to do.” “Alright, what about her?” Rainbow Dash whispered to Cardinal from the bush they were hiding in. Cardinal followed her gaze to Cheerilee, who was headed home from another constructive day of teaching. “Look at the way she greets everypony,” Cardinal whispered back. “Don’t look at her smile. Look at her eyes. What do you see?” “She’s, uh…she’s smiling with her eyes too?” “Exactly. That’s sincerity, Rainbow Dash. She greets mares and stallions alike with the same cheerful sincerity. Even when she sees a couple, there’s not even a second of longing in her eyes, nor does she seem to drift off to thoughts of a special somepony. She greets them and moves on. “That is a pony entirely committed to the life she’s leading right now and proud of it. She’s happy with where she is in her life.” Rainbow raised an eyebrow. “You got that from the way her eyes look when she smiles?” Cardinal nodded. “Ponies who are in pain have a wide variety of ways they show it. Have you looked at Applejack’s eyes recently? She’s tough as nails, so of course she would tell you she’s fine if you asked, but if you just watch her, her eyes tend to unfocus on whatever she’s doing and drift away.” “That doesn’t sound like her.” “That’s because it wouldn’t normally be. This kind of behavior is uncharacteristic of a hard-working farm pony. Something is occupying her mind that is so powerful, it’s pulling her away from her responsibilities.” “Twilight,” Rainbow Dash completed the thought, glancing off to the side. “She’s in pain because of Twilight.” But Cardinal didn’t give her a moment to dwell on it, snapping her back to the present with, “But we see none of that in Cheerilee. She seems happy as a peach.” From there, he gestured to a pair of ponies conversing on a nearby bench. “Look at those two. What do you see?” “Oh, that’s Lyra and Bon Bon. Everypony knows about them.” Cardinal shook his head. “Don’t tell me what you know. Tell me what you see.” “Uh. I see two ponies sitting on a bench.” “Watch the way Lyra’s eyes linger on Bon Bon when she talks.” “That’s Bon Bon,” Dash corrected. “Okay, then watch how Bon Bon’s eyes linger. The way she watches her partner with complete attention. As though she feels like every passing moment with her is a gift. Pay attention to her body language. Every time Lyra turns away or looks at something, Bon Bon leans towards her as though to fill the gap. It’s like she’s connected by an invisible thread.” “Applejack does that,” Rainbow Dash muttered to herself. “Now look at—URG” Cardinal gasped, putting a hoof over his chest. He pulled himself out of the bush and collapsed, struggling for air. “Hey!” Dash put a hoof on his back. “Are you okay?! What’s going on?” Cardinal coughed, then shook his head. “I’m fine. I just need…I’ll be fine. Have to--” He was cut off by another throb, a sort of pulse that ran through his body. “The boutique!” Cardinal choked out. “On it,” Rainbow Dash answered before tucking under one of Cardinal’s front legs and lifting it over her shoulder. “This way,” she told him as she propped him up and started walking him in the direction of the boutique. As they arrived at the front steps, Cardinal winced and pried himself off Rainbow Dash. “I’ll only be a moment,” he told her as he struggled to climb the stairs. He stopped at the door, looking back to her. “Thank you. You’re a good friend.” Apple Bloom frowned at the book in front of her. “I don’t know, Twilight. I’m just not gettin’ it. Maybe I’m not smart enough.” Twilight shook her head. “You are one of the most clever little fillies I know, Apple Bloom. You just need to learn how to visualize it. For example, let’s say I’m trying to do some renovations on the library. I have four boards I need to nail up and I have twelve nails. How many nails can I put into each board?” “Well, that’s easy,” Apple Bloom answered. “That’s three nails to a board.” Twilight nodded. “That was an easy one. Now, let’s look at this one. 4x/2=10. So, I’ve nailed up four boards right alongside each other. I’ve put two rows of nails in them and there are ten nails to a row. On a given board, how many nails are there?” “Uh….” Apple Bloom tried to picture it in her head. “Well, there’s two rows and ten nails to a row, so that means there’s twenty nails in all, right?” Twilight nodded. “That’s right. So you can write that down.” 4x/2=10 4x/2=20? Twilight gave Apple Bloom a knowing smile. “Do you still need that “divided by two” part? You’ve already solved that piece of the question.” “You can solve ‘em in pieces?” Twilight nodded, so Apple Bloom marked that part off. 4x/2=10 4x/2=20? 4x=20 “But wait,” Apple Bloom thought. “That doesn’t seem right. The rows wouldn’t be symmetric.” Twilight shook her head. “You’ve already solved the rows. Now, how many nails are there in each of the four boards?” “There’s five,” Apple Bloom answered. “So is that….” Twilight nodded to her, prompting Apple Bloom to grin. “It’s five! Thank you!” 4x/2=10 4x/2=20? 4x=20 x=5 Twilight smiled. “You’re welcome. Now, let’s see about this next problem….” The minute the boutique door closed, Cardinal collapsed. Heaving on the ground, he muttered to himself, “Not now. I need more time.” Glancing at the door, he contemplated Rainbow Dash. He almost had her eating out of his hoof; it would be the easiest thing in the world to lure her inside. Did he still need her, though? Yes, he quickly realized. She would be pivotal to today’s events, and he couldn’t take for granted that she was ready for her part. Events had nearly derailed themselves too many times already, and he might never get another chance like this. If Rarity hadn’t gotten to Twilight before Fluttershy…. But that just left…Cardinal looked up, listening to the light sound of snoozing coming from the boudoir. There was another option. But…it was Rarity. From the beginning, he’d been trying to avoid crossing that line. She was…she deserved better than that. But there wasn’t time to find somepony else. As indecision gnawed at him, he suddenly felt lightheaded. He had to make his choice soon, and he couldn’t afford to screw this up now. Not when he was so close. With a deep breath, he staggered to his feet, fighting to compose himself. I’ll only take a little. “See?” Twilight told Apple Bloom. “I told you that you’d get the hang of this. That’s five problems now that you didn’t even need my help on. You don’t give yourself enough--” “She misses you, y’know,” Apple Bloom cut her off. “I…I’m sorry, but I had to say something. She doesn’t like to show it, but she misses you. I heard her cryin’ last night. I think she’s real tore up about what happened ‘tween you two.” Twilight didn’t know what to say. She thought about the fight they’d had. She still didn’t understand what had even caused it. “Has she said anything about me?” she asked. Apple Bloom shook her head. “She won’t talk about it, but I think she’s hopin’ you’ll come by the farm. She said you were supposed to be there last night, but then you weren’t.” “I didn’t realize,” Twilight told her. Her mind was racing and her heart began beating faster than it had in the last couple days. Applejack did want to talk to her after all! She might just have a chance to-- A large, heavy knock struck the door. With hope in her eyes, Twilight opened it with her magic, and wasn’t entirely disappointed. It wasn’t Applejack, but Big Macintosh was standing on the other side. “Oh, hello,” she greeted him. “Are you looking for Apple Bloom?” “Eeyup.” Twilight backed away from the door to allow Big Macintosh inside. “She’s right in here. We were working on her homework. Is it time for her to head home?” “Eeyup.” “Alright,” Apple Bloom said, gathering her school supplies into her backpack. “Thanks for helpin’ me, Twilight.” Twilight nodded to Apple Bloom. “Of course. No matter what happens between me and Applejack, I’ll always be here to help you.” Twilight gave the little filly a hug. “And remember: when you don’t understand the problem, try to visualize it in a way that makes sense to you.” “I will. Thank you.” Apple Bloom trotted out the door, followed shortly by Big Macintosh. When he got to the door, however, he stopped and looked back at the unicorn. “Twilight.” He hesitated as though searching for the right words, then went with them. “Don’t be a stranger.” Rainbow Dash was still waiting outside when Cardinal exited the Carousel Boutique. He had his head held high and seemed almost like a brand new pony. “Sorry about that,” he told her. “Heart condition. I must say, I do appreciate the help you gave in getting me here. That was a very heroic thing for you to do, Rainbow Dash.” Dash beamed. “Nah, really. It was something any brave, noble pony with a heart of gold would have done! Cardinal nodded to her. “You are a true hero, Rainbow Dash.” Rainbow Dash fluttered into the air. “Thanks. I’m glad you’re okay. I should probably get going, though.” “Of course. One more thing, Rainbow? About everything we’ve talked about today. Now that you have more of an understanding of how people can use observation to glean important information, I wanted to warn you against trusting too easily. There are people who will use that information against you in the most horrible of ways.” “Pfft. Like I’d fall for that,” Rainbow Dash boasted. “Don’t be too confident. Imagine, for instance, a devious manipulator wanted to turn you against Applejack--” “Then they’d be flapping against a hurricane, ‘cause that will NEVER happen.” “Yes, but supposing someone were to try, your feelings regarding Twilight Sparkle would be their point of access. Only you can come to terms with those, but remember: even in the hardest of times, your dearest friend will always have your back.” “Yeah. I know.” Rainbow Dash scoffed at Cardinal. “You’re not telling me anything I haven’t already learned. AJ and I are like this,” she clacked her hooves against each other for emphasis, “and nopony’s ever coming between that.” With those words, she flew off, leaving Cardinal alone on the front steps of the boutique. It had taken Twilight the better part of an hour to work out all the things she wanted to say to Applejack, but then she was out the door and trotting towards the farm. She hadn’t felt this good since the fight. There was still the mystery of the library thief to deal with, but that could wait. Right now, the most important thing was fixing her relationship with Applejack. She still wasn’t sure what they were fighting about but she was sure that if Applejack just talked to her, they could work it out. As she rounded the corner and headed out of town, she felt a strange shadow pass over her. She stopped, looking up, but there was nothing there. The sun had already hit the horizon and was on its way down, casting its violet and oranges across the sky. Twilight briefly thought back to her first date. I ain’t ever seen nothin’ so pretty as my apple grove gets when it’s all lit up by the glow of twilight. Holding that thought in her heart, Twilight started walking again, but every so often she glanced up again. Something didn’t feel right. Crossing through the gate, she started to approach the farmhouse. She could see a light on inside and guessed the family was already sitting down to dinner. She stopped and took a moment to mentally go over everything she wanted to say to Applejack. Applejack, I’ve been thinking for the last couple days and although I don’t know what I’ve done to hurt you, I want you to know that I feel-- There it was again. That strange shadow whipped over her, drifting in the direction of the barn. She glanced up and thought she could see a shape disappear around the side. What is that? With a puff of magic, Twilight lit up her horn and followed the shape. Rounding the corner, she called out, “Rainbow Dash? Is that you? Why are you sneaking around?” As she came around the side, she saw him. Standing before her was a light blue pegasus with wings unfurled and a cutie mark shaped like a bullseye. “Twilight Sparkle,” he greeted her. “Hmm. I expected more.” Twilight blinked. “More than what? I don’t even know you.” “No, not from you. From me.” The pegasus looked into the air and closed his eyes. “I thought that finally meeting you again might bring me some sense of closure or epiphany or some moment where everything falls into place. I thought this moment would mean more. But it doesn’t. You’re just a unicorn and I’m just…well, I am.” “Again?” Twilight asked. “I don’t remember ever meeting you before. How do we know each other?” “You wouldn’t,” the pegasus answered. “We are both so much less than we were in that moment.” “Are you one of the ponies who attacked the library?” “Hmm, how to answer that.” The pegasus circled around Twilight, looking up for the moment. “You could say I am, but you could also say I’m not. If your answer seems vague and difficult to decipher, have you considered whether your question might be wrong?” But that was all the answer Twilight needed. Her horn glowed with magic. “What are you doing here? If you’re planning to attack the Apples, I’m not going to let you.” The pegasus’s eyes grew and he stifled a laugh. “The…the Apples?! You think I’m here for a bunch of country bumpkins? That’s precious.” Twilight winced at the insult to the family, narrowing her eyes. “No, Twilight Sparkle, those ponies in there? They aren’t ponies who matter. They’re just window dressing. A pretty decoration you wear as you go about your day. In the end, this will all come down to you and me, just as it always does.” “You’re wrong,” Twilight insisted. “My friends have always supported me, and I in turn support them. That’s true of all my friends. We are stronger together than any one of us could be apart, and we use that strength to succeed.” The pegasus nodded. “Let’s--kkhk” He staggered suddenly. In an instant, Twilight thought she saw his wings flicker in and out of existence. She blinked in confusion. Was the dim light of evening playing tricks on her eyes? The pegasus shook his head, then shot a sharp glare at Twilight. “Out of time. This conversation is over.” And then he lunged straight at her. Using her magic, she defensively caught him in mid-leap and tossed him backwards, but he straightened his wings and used the momentum to right his course. Twilight raced around the barn after him, coming back towards the farmhouse. “Hey!” she shouted into the air. “Get back here!” She took a sharp look to her left and saw one of the Apples’ applebucking carts flying through the air in her direction. She caught it with her magic and tried to set it down, only to be blindsided by the pegasus swooping down and ramming into her. The cart hit the ground roughly and skidded across the grass. Twilight rolled across the grass, shook her head, and looked up. She could see the pegasus approaching her for another swing and locked her spell on him again, stopping his momentum and shoving him back the way he’d come. His back slammed into the house, cracking the wood where he impacted, and he hit the ground, seemingly winded. Twilight approached “Now you’re going to--“ “TWILIGHT SPARKLE!!!” The last voice Twilight wanted to hear in this moment shouted at her from the front porch. She looked away for just a moment, her eyes spying Applejack marching down the steps towards her. When she looked back, the pegasus was gone. There was no sign he’d ever been here, save for the broken wooden beams and the upturned cart. “What in tarnation do ya think you’re doin’?!” Twilight shot a frantic look back to Applejack, and then to the spot where the pegasus was supposed to be. She realized immediately what this looked like. “This…this wasn’t…I….” “Twilight?” Apple Bloom asked from the porch, but Applejack shot her a quick look. “Go back inside, sugarcube. Ya don’t need to be here for this.” Lowering her head, Apple Bloom walked backwards through the doorway and into the house. Twilight took a step back, shocked by the way Applejack phrased that. “Applejack, listen to me. There was this stallion. He was here and--” Applejack raised an eyebrow, then gestured a little bit over her head. Twilight could hear her voice start to perk up as she spoke, sounding almost hopeful. “What'd he look like?" “It was a pegasus with a bullseye cutie mark.” Applejack seemed to droop at that news. “Oh. Not an earth pony with a peach?” Twilight shook her head. “You have to believe me. Please, I came over here to talk to you. I wanted to--” “Walk with me,” Applejack cut her off, then started towards the gate of the farm. “We don’t need to do this in front of the house. Apple Bloom’s probably listenin’ at the door already.” Do what? Twilight trembled with fear as she followed Applejack. “Applejack, you need to know that I would never do anything to endanger your family. Please, you know how much I care about them.” “I want to believe that,” Applejack said as they approached the gate. She faced the woods, refusing to look at Twilight. “I want to believe ya came out here ‘cause ya wanted to make things right with me. I want that more than anythin’, Twi. For the last couple days, all I could think about was makin’ things right with you.” “Then do,” Twilight urged her. “It’s the truth. I came here to--” “But,” Applejack continued, “I remember how ya get when your reports ain’t goin’ well. Big Macintosh still has that doll ya cursed. He tries to hide it, but we all know it’s there. So I want to believe you, but…” Applejack shook for a moment, and Twilight thought she saw drops falling from her face. “Applejack, please….” Applejack sniffed and then continued to speak, never looking at Twilight. “I just don’t know. I have to think about my family right now. I don’t know if you’re close enough to your family to get it, but they come first. I don’t get to have what I want until I make sure they’re taken care of, and they do the same for me.” Twilight took a step back, terrified of where this was going. “Applejack, what are you saying?” Finally, Applejack turned to look at her, and Twilight could see the tears streaking down her face. “I toldja when this all started that I’d always be your friend. I meant that, Twi, and I will be. Bein’ with ya has made me happier than I ever knew I could be, but I think we both know this trial of yours has gone cross-eyed.” Twilight shook her head. “Don’t do this.” Applejack took a deep breath, then continued. “I have to. This ain’t easy for me, Twi. Just about the hardest thing I’ve ever done, I reckon. But it’s over. I need to ask ya not to come back to the farm for a while. I need….” She choked on the words, took a deep breath, and tried again. “I need time to figure out how to stop loving you.” And there it was. Twilight could feel her heart shattering from the weight of Applejack’s words. She stumbled backwards as her mind raced to find something to say, anything that would make this all go away. She panned feverously through what she could say or do, and nothing quite seemed to be able to defuse this. “There really was a pegasus,” she tried, but Applejack just looked away. “Please don’t make this harder,” the farm pony insisted. Slowly, trembling, Twilight stood up and started for the gate. “I…I’m sorry,” she said weakly, but if Applejack heard her, she gave no sign. Finally, as she passed through the gate, Twilight looked back at her and stopped for a moment. “It wasn’t just an experiment,” she told her. “I think I might have loved you.” With those words hanging in the air, Twilight left the farm. Every step was a fight against her heart, which was desperately trying to send her back to the farm. She knew she couldn’t go back to the library. She needed help. She needed someone to talk to her and tell her things would be okay. Spike wasn’t really suited for that. As she drew closer to town, she made up her mind to go find Rarity. Rarity would know what to do, what to say, how to make it stop hurting like the entire world had just come to an end. She would-- There was that shadow again. Twilight whipped around, lighting her horn instantly. Pain and loss switched instantly to rage. The pegasus was not going to get another chance at her, not after what he had just put her through. “Get out here!” she shouted at the forest. “You have no idea what you just took from me! I--” Something else stumbled out of the woods. A dazzling white unicorn walked on shaking legs, then stopped and shook his head. Twilight wasn’t sure he even noticed her until he started to speak. “Twilight Spark-Spark-Spark Twilight….” It wasn’t the same voice as the pegasus. It was…familiar…. Then the unicorn vanished. In an instant, he was simply no longer there, and she heard the pegasus to her left. “It’s not time,” the pegasus insisted. “It’s not time.” Then he flickered right there in front of her eyes, passing in and out of existence several times in the space of a couple seconds. “Has to be her,” the unicorn existed, replacing the pegasus in the blink of an eye. “No other choices.” Twilight slowly backed away from the assault on logic before her. She poured through her knowledge of magical creatures to find an explanation for what her eyes were showing her. “What are you?” she asked, and in that moment she saw. The unicorn and the pegasus flickered in and out of each other and for an instant, Twilight thought they almost looked like an alicorn. But then something else emerged. She saw him for just a split second but there was no mistaking his shape. “Discord,” she whispered into the night. The unicorn reasserted itself and that familiar voice poured out. “Twists and turns are my master master mast-mast-mast--” and then it was gone again and she was alone in the woods. Twilight started down the path again, trying to get to town before they returned. “She’s close!” The pegasus shouted from her left, suddenly coherent. “Give her a prize!” Then the unicorn was to her right, chiding, “No prize to give her. Can’t find fulfillment in a book!” “Guess it’s all for me,” The pegasus responded. “And I NEED IT!” Twilight looked back and forth between the places where the two kept swapping. They had both started to advance on her one after the other, flickering between which existed at a given moment. “It’s too early,” insisted the unicorn. “I’m not ready. She shouldn’t see me. It’s not time.” “I don’t have time!” the pegasus shouted back. “There’s not enough. It’s never enough. Nothing is enough! I need…I…I need….” Twilight prepared the strongest spell she knew while the two shades of Discord bickered with one another. She pointed her horn at the pegasus, but it was the unicorn who suddenly lunged at her, crying into the night, “I NEED A UNICORN!!!” Twilight was startled, but unleashed every ounce of magic she could conjure. The unicorn stopped in place as it came at her, but her spells seemed to do nothing to dissuade him. Instead, he stood still in the path, drawing the magic into his horn. She flung spell after spell at him, but every ounce of magic she summoned kept getting pulled in. Twilight backed up, but the unicorn began advancing on her again and it was in that moment she realized that even though she wasn’t casting anything, her magic was still being drawn out. She tried to teleport, but the spell broke before she could even cast it, feeding the unicorn. Her limbs went weak and she stumbled, and the last thing she saw before she passed out was the unicorn, still stealing her magic, and the briefest flicker of Discord’s triumphant grin.