//------------------------------//
// Finding Happiness 3 
// Story: The Hag, the heroes, and a few other things 
// by Amaranthine Thought 
//------------------------------//

            *** At Canterlot castle, when Luna awakes*** 

  

            Luna groaned and shifted in her chamber, slowly regaining consciousness.  I had sent her from my head as hard as I could, and she had taken some time to recover from her experience before returning to herself.   

Based on the morning light, she assumed that she had only been asleep for the one night.  She climbed to her feet, wincing as she tried to recall what had happened; I had been the single worst thing she had ever found in the dream realm, ever, and she found herself unable to remember.  Nopony else had had my lessons, and nothing had actually fought her, not really.  Not in a dream, and definitely not like I had. 

The first notion that something was wrong was when the guards at her door jumped when she exited and one had run off as the other went to her aid. 

Celestia had been there soon after, filled with concern and worry, and had helped a wondering Luna to the breakfast table. 

“Why art thou acting so strange Tia?” Luna asked her sister, “We have only been slumbering a night.” 

Celestia looked to her with worried eyes, “You have been asleep for three days Luna.” 

Luna dropped her tea. 

“I had feared…  What happened my sister?  Why did you not return from your search for so long?” asked Celestia as Luna stared at nothing, mouth open. 

“I found Hag,” she said after a moment, staring at nothing, memories beginning to return to her. 

“Yes?” asked Celestia, hope rising. 

“I entered her dream.  She was in a forest, and I demanded that she stand down.  But before I could pinpoint her location in the physical realm she attacked me.” 

“And you fended her off?” Celestia said, certain that her sister had been more than a match for me.  She took a sip of tea. 

“I could not!”  Celestia spat out her tea.  “It was as though she knew every powerful and dangerous beast in all of Equestria, and many more I did not recognize!  Such perfect control over her mind that even I!  I!  Princess of dreams was defeated and expelled!” 

“But how Luna?” 

“Twas as if I invaded Tartarus and fought every creature contained within.  As I fell from their numbers she bucked me, bucked me from her mind.  As I was expelled she called out, ‘If you try that in life I’ll rip you into three equal parts!’” 

Luna appeared traumatized and Celestia was horrified.  I was swiftly turning into a pony shaped monster in her eyes. 

“Luna…”  Celestia draped a wing over her sister. 

“I… I don’t think I can…” 

“Shh, I am here for you my sister.” 

The pair leaned on each other for a while, Luna now terrified of me and Celestia angrier than she had ever been.  I had broken the elements, undone Discord’s redemption, and now, I not only defeated Luna, but I had threatened to kill her if I ever saw her again! 

“Sister?” asked Luna as she remained under her sister’s wing. 

“Yes Luna?” 

“I… I don’t think I will try to find Hag in the dream anymore, if that is all right with you.  I don’t even want to go there now…” 

That settled it for Celestia.  Outwardly she only nodded, the same calm expression on her face.  In her mind, she was now set to a course of action.  No imprisonment or banishment for me, I was going to BURN for harming Luna so badly that she not only ran from a fight, she was retreating from the dream realm itself! 

“Take as much time to recover as you wish my dearest sister.  I can manage without your capable help.” 

“Thank you…”





            When the morning sun broke into our hotel room I awoke, stretched, panicked at my surroundings and woke Rose with my scream, and then prepared breakfast after wandering about and checking every part of our room a little like a cat. 

            “Are you sure that you’re O.K?” asked Rose again as she entered the kitchen, rubbing her eye with a hoof. 

            I was feeling better.  This place was bigger than most homes I had seen and was trying to focus on the pleasure at being able to walk about such a large set of rooms: a bedroom, an entry hall, a large kitchen, and a water closet with the strangest seat I had ever seen.  I resolved to ask Rose about that later. 

            “I am growing less afraid Rose, don’t worry.  Do you like your bread toasted or cold?” I asked, selecting several slices.  Bread that came already cut, a marvel that Rose had brought with her.  I love it. 

            “Toasted.” She went to have a seat before stopping, smelling smoke.  “Hag do you…” 

            She trailed off seeing me.  I had never seen a toaster before and wasn’t using it to cook the bread.  I had instead set some moss atop the counter, lit it afire and was using the flames to unevenly burn the toast I held in my mouth.  I had done so many times before with my hands and the use of my mouth had come easily to me after a few dropped pieces of toast and a burnt chin. 

            “Hag!” she screamed. 

            I pulled the toast from the flames, pushed the moss to the floor and stomped on it until it extinguished.  Another benefit of hooves.  “Yes Rose?” 

            I wondered at her horrified expression.  “There is a toaster right there Hag!” she yelled as she came over to me.  “What were you doing?!” 

            “Making toast.” I said, moving over so she could access the countertop.  She pulled a metallic box from one corner. 

            “See this?” she tapped it. 

            “Yes…” 

            “This is a toaster.  It toasts bread so that you don’t have to SET THE COUNTERTOP ON FIRE TO GET YOUR TOAST!” 

            I thought she was overreacting.  A small fire wouldn’t harm the stone.  After she calmed somewhat, she showed me how to use the toaster to my amazement, and then had another conniption when I broke the thing trying to discover how it worked.  Magic apparently. 

            “Stay here.” She had instructed me, returning me to bed and then returning to the kitchen.  I was confused, and indignant, but I was also relying on Rose.  I could deal with a little disrespect from her. 

            She soon returned with rather nice toast topped with marigolds.  Wasn’t burnt at all.  We ate them as a gentle breeze blew into the room. 

            “I’m sorry.” She said as she munched on hers, not looking at me. 

            “For?” 

            “Yelling at you.  I shouldn’t have, you don’t know any better.  Forgive me?” 

            Pony eyes could be used to break a man I swear.  I couldn’t stand seeing her oversized peepers grow even larger and wobble like that at me. 

            “Yes, yes I do, just stop looking like that!” 

            She calmed immensely.  “Next time, ask before you touch something so I can explain.” 

            I nodded.  “In that case you can tell me something right now.” 

            She waited.  “Why doesn’t the window open?” I asked. 

            She looked behind her and got that stunned expression again.  That was because the window was gone, and she only now noticed that the breeze was entering from the now open hole in the wall. 

            I had tried to open it when Rose had been busy in the kitchen and had pushed a bit hard.  I had figured that it had been stuck.  It had popped free, but had also fallen away.  I did make sure that it wouldn’t hurt anypony before settling down again, using what little magic I had to manipulate its fall. 

            Rose didn’t respond to my touch so I shrugged and ate my sandwich.  Lots to do that day and I needed my energy. 





            The lights!  The sounds!  The crowd! 

            Everything about Manehatten made Rarity happy.  As the group stepped from the platform and entered the city she inhaled deeply and sighed in satisfaction. 

            “I have so missed this place.” she said. 

            Applejack looked around as she trotted next to her.  “Don’t like it myself.  Th city is not fer this pony.” 

            “Let’s just get to the hotel so I can drop off the luggage.” muttered Spike, far overburdened by the luggage of the group. 

            They had made their way down the sidewalk before Twilight hesitated. 

            What was that whistling noise? 

            All of them screamed, as did the nearest passerby as a window landed not an inch from Twilight’s muzzle.  It shattered into countless glittering shards that sparkled in the light and made walking a hazardous affair, and by some miracle not harming any of the group. 

            Rainbow and Applejack looked up, holding onto their sisters to protect them while Rarity levitated Sweetie and looked horrified at the near disaster.  The pane had fallen from quite high up and Rainbow almost went skyward to check on it before Applejack stopped her, grabbing onto her tail. 

            “What the?” Rainbow said, “Let go Applejack!  I’m going to go check what happened!” 

            Applejack shook her head as Rarity explained. 

            “Dash dear, accidents happen.  I am certain that this was nothing more than a quirk of fate trying to get us to realize how tense we all are.” 

            This got questioning looks from most of the group. 

            Rarity sighed.  “It was random chance and nothing will come of discovering why it fell.  I want to enjoy our time here, not spend it fretting over whether or not a window will drop on my head.  Can we just ignore this and continue on?” 

            Twilight almost remarked that the window had fallen from the same hotel that they were going to be staying in but stopped herself.  She realized that Rarity was trying to make everything perfect, and remarks about the window only cast a shadow over Rarity’s ability to choose a hotel wisely. 

            “We do need to drop off our stuff girls!” she said instead in a chipper voice, stepping around the glittering mess.  “We can rest in our room and Spike is getting tired.” 

            They all nodded, some more slowly than others and resumed traveling, a pony already sweeping at the glass. 




  
            The lights!  The sounds!  The endless streams of life! 

            I was terrified of everything.  Nothing about Manehatten made me feel safe or comfortable or happy in any way.  I remained attached to Rose Bush as she walked while consulting the map. 

            We entered into the main room of the hotel and I looked about.  More carpets, plush furniture, and everything was either gold or red, or beautifully cut wood.  A massive chandelier hung from the ceiling and several ponies were present, some guests, and some workers. 

            Rose was too caught up in the map and I was on her other side when we passed a large group of ponies when we exited the hotel.  I didn’t see them, they didn’t see me and neither of us noticed, either taken by the hotel’s elegance, or consumed with trying to find a path. 

            Rose and I exited into the street and I began trying to take deep breaths to steady myself.  It was like my chest was being squeezed by a bear and my eyes strained to see a threat that wasn’t there, my heart beating hard and fast. 

            “Left, then right and straight.” Rose said, putting the map away.  “We can go to the park first Hag, I’m sure you will feel better when we get there.” 

            “Yes, fine.” I squeaked.  Even my voice rebelled, my throat constricting against my attempts to speak normally.  Rose gave me a concerned look and led me onwards. 

            It was all a blur to me until we came to the park.  Scattered trees and carefully planted bushes and flowers amidst the city.  A trail winded through it, lamps along the path and benches set at nice places.  A true wonder for people who loved nature. 

            It was dead and cold, but I knew why it was dead and cold and I did feel better.  Ponies had built this, and no voice or life would be found in pony made nature. 

            “Like walking in a graveyard…” I muttered, for the first time since our arrival at Manehatten stepping away from Rose Bush. 

            “Come on Hag!” she said, “It a very nice place here and you like nature!  It’s nothing so… morbid.” 

            I looked at her pouting at me.  She was adorable. 

            I sighed.  “Fine Rose, fine.  I do like the place and it is very pretty.  That better?” 

            She nodded happily. 

            We wandered through the park, enjoying the unnatural perfection of the place.  Rose somehow managed to find a rose bush (it had not been there when I walked by and then she was picking blooms from the bush) and I relaxed after nearly a day spent in terror. 

            This place was little more than a broken toy, or an empty room, but it gave me a center I could balance on.  Even if I wandered from it I would be able to sense it and that emboldened me. 

            It wasn’t much, but I might be able to actually travel Manehatten without turning into a ball of fear and anxiety. 

            After laughing with Rose at the sight of foals playing I set my mind to my search. 

            I walked up to a random pony. “Moment of your time sir?” 

            “Yes…?” 

            “Might you know where I can find some happiness, loyalty, or magic?” 

            He looked at me as though I was mad and began backing away, not looking at me.  “I… uh… ask her!” he said, pointing at Rose and then rushing off. 

            Seemed I would need another approach.  Rose trotted over to my, trying to hold in her laughter. 

            “Is that something you do?” She managed, “just go up and ask everypony where you can get some… happiness, loyalty and magic?” 

            She just about fell over in laughter as I glowered at her. 

            “It’s important.” 

            Didn’t seem to work on her, she was still laughing.  I sighed.  I would need to explain myself to Rose Bush and get her to help me before I got the entire city thinking me a mad mare. 

            “Rose!” 

            She got up, still giggling, “Hag?” 

            “I am trying to find the physical forms of those things so I can fix something.  It is not a funny thing or a strangeness of my age!” 

            She looked at my expression, and seemed undecided if I was strange or serious or whether either or both deserved more laughter. 

            “But those things can’t… you don’t just pick up some happiness Hag.” 

            “I know that.” I said, “But I need to find it anyway.  Got it on good faith that they exist.” 

            Rose sighed.  “I just don’t know Hag.  Why are you looking for such strange things?” 

            “I just do.” I said.  “Mind helping an old mare look for something most ponies think doesn’t exist?” 

            She thought about it for a moment.  “Is this important to you?” 

            “Very.” 

            “Then yes, I’d love to Hag.  Lead the way!” she said with a happy smile. 




   
            “But we haven’t been crusading since forever!” 

            “And you are not going to!  You got very lost last time!” 

            “But Rarity!” 

            Rarity sighed as the three fillies all gave her pleading expressions.  The group was out for lunch and the three girls wanted to go play in the neighboring park.  Their sisters were less than willing to see them leave their line of sight ever since they had vanished, apparently taken by me, three weeks ago. 

            The girls were itching to find adventure and fun times and Rarity was balancing their happiness with her minor fears.  She sighed. 

            “Fine.” 

            “Yay!  Thank you Rarity!” called Sweetie as all three ran for it. 

            “Stay close by!” she called after them. 

            “I’ll go and keep an eye on them Rarity, don’t worry.” Spike said as he jogged after them. 

            Rarity nodded, her fears lessoning.  Perhaps she was just being overprotective of her younger sister.  Applejack hadn’t been concerned over Applebloom wandering off and Rainbow didn’t seem to hold any fear of the girls getting hurt or taken by a pony again. 

            She frowned as she recalled my deception before tossing the thought away.  The girls are perfectly all right and they do so enjoy rushing off on those ‘crusades’ of theirs.  I’m being concerned over nothing.  It’s not like they will meet Hag in the park. She thought. 





            I was playing hide and go seek.  With a grown mare.  In a hedge maze that I could see over. 

            I wondered why that was my life for a moment before calling out “Marco!” 

            “Polo!” came the response. 

            Bit to my left.  Rose had gotten the idea that I needed something to distract me and her mind had gone to children games as the perfect way to do so.  It did perk me up, but really; I was an old woman hunting for a grown mare.  I probably looked ridiculous.  And what or who is Marco or Polo anyway? 

            “Marco!” 

            “Polo!” came a small chorus.  Seemed some foals had decided to join us.  That made the game far more normal.  I often played with children and I smiled. 

            The nearest voice had come from quite close so I cautiously stepped to the hedge.  I was going to give the little thing quite the surprise. 

            “Got ya!” I said, the hedge jumping out of my way and I leapt forward seeing… Scootaloo. 

            My heart just about stopped and she was no better as I fell on her in my shock. 

            “Granny?!” 

            “Scootaloo?!” 

            “You’re squishing me!” 

            “Hag?” 

            “Scootaloo, what happened?!” 

            In the midst of the hedge maze I was soon surrounded by Rose who was confused, two stunned and rapidly smiling fillies and one extra stunned filly that was wiggling out from under me. I stood up and she got out from under me and whirled around, already smiling. 

            “Grandmother!” they said as they tackled me. 

            “Not so rough now, I’m an old mare!” I said, smiling widely as I held them closer. 

            “Grandmother?” asked Rose, a small smile on her face and an eyebrow raised in a questioning manner. 

            “Oh, they aren’t mine.  Met them a while past when they got hurt.” 

            “So you don’t secretly have a husband and children?” 

            I am certain she spotted the faint look that passed over my face.  The question had bit a bit deeply, but I recovered in a moment. 

            “Nope!”  Applebloom said. 

            “Grandmother found us after we got hurt by timberwolves!” Sweetie said. 

            “She chased them off and patched us up!” Scootaloo added. 

            “She even went an fixed my legs!” Applebloom concluded. 

            “You saved three fillies from timberwolves!” Rose looked overjoyed while the fillies looked amazed at her immediate acceptance of that fact.  I wondered at that. 

            “You really are a gift from the sky Hag!” she joined the girls in embracing me.  “You saved me, and now these girls tell me you saved them!” 

            “It was nothing!” I protested. 

            “It weren’t nothin!  Ya said I might not a been able ta walk again!” 

            “You kept us safe and happy grandmother!” 

            “It was awesome living with you, and even better when you kept showing us how to do stuff!” 

            I teared up.  “But I lied…” 

            “Don’t care!” they all instantly said with some vigor. 

            I broke down in joy.  I thought that they would have hated me.  That they would never want to see me again.  That I might never see them again. 

            And now they were back and they still loved me and my heart was melting. 

            As I began crying I embraced the girls and a rather confused and lost dragon hatchling stumbled from a bush. 

            “Girls?  Where are… you…” he just trailed off at the sight of the girls squeezing me in happiness, misty eyed.  Myself holding them close, tears wetting the girls’ manes, Rose holding onto me with a content smile. 

            Rose looked up at him, the only one to notice the rustle. 

            She carefully got off and crept over to his unmoving form. 

            She pushed at him.  “Go on, go away, you might not be safe here.” 

            Spike swiveled his head to look at her.  “What, not safe?” 

            Rose nodded, making a shushing motion.  “Hag really likes dragon scales.” She whispered, “And she would want yours too.  Go on back to where you came from before she sees you.” 

            Rose was trying to save Spike from the same fate at the teenaged dragons, even if I wouldn’t do that to Spike, even then.  He was far too small for any use then, and now I would never even think about descaling him. 

            Spike grew concerned, but his duty still kept him there.  “But the girls…” 

            “Are fine, I will make sure of it.  Now go.” 

            Rose pushed him off, Spike hurrying away now that he had another to watch after the girls while he got the bearers.  He had almost been hurt by a nasty pony by the name of Hag… his thoughts stopped as my name came to the forefront. 

            HAG! he thought, pushing his tiny feet to go even faster.  He had to tell Twilight about this! 





            Rose turned back to us, I was finally calming down and stopped crying. 

            “Care to tell me the tale Hag?” she asked with a smile. 

            “I shall Rose.” I said.  I turned to the girls, “This is Rose Bush girls, and she’s been traveling with me.  Want to go to lunch with us?” 

            They nodded and the five of us went off.  Rose had tried to explain restaurants to me, but I still didn’t really get it.  Some people took you into their home and cooked for you for money was what I understood them as.  It was a very strange thing, but I was feeling curious instead of scared, following Rose with a jump to my step. 

            We were seated and I nagged Rose.  “Why was that pony wearing a strange outfit?”  “Why are there so many tables, this place doesn’t look like any house to live in.” and “They want how much!?” 

            I knew I was being insufferable after a time, especially when the girls began giggling at my antics, so I shut up. 

            “Is that all Hag?” Rose asked with a sigh. 

            “Yep, I’m done.” I wasn’t, but I wouldn’t keep bothering her. 

            “Good.” She looked up, “Now you can tell me about your saving these fillies.” 

            So I did.  I told her when I first found them, the three of them very quiet when I described their injuries and Rose looking sick and horrified.  I still didn’t understand the reaction; the girls had been hurt bad, but not that bad, right? 

            “Bro… broken legs…?” Rose asked, looking pale. 

            “Pretty bad too.  I got the bones in place and set them.  Her legs were like broken sticks, and if somepony else had found her she might have not regained their use.” 

            “an when I woke up she gave me this icky thing to eat an th pain went away.” 

            “That was thorn vine Applebloom.” 

            “Isn’t thorn vine poisonous?” Rose asked, leaning forward. 

            “Raw it is.  If you boil it, it loses the tendency to cause internal bleeding.”  The fillies all gagged at that. 

            So I, with the help of the girls, told her the tale of the time they spent with me.  The things I had made them eat to recover (Rose looked ill again) the things I had made that they had loved (she looked interested, and I thought I might make something for her) and the lessons I taught them.  Which she undermined. 

            “Fey aren’t real!” she had insisted, the fillies insisting right back. 

            “They are too!  And so are the… kiesterthings!  Like timberwolves!” 

            “geistermen.” I said. 

            “Those!  Fey are too real an they will take away unsuspectin fillies ta their place where they never get seen again!” 

            Rose sighed in defeat.  “You shouldn’t fill their heads with tales Hag.” 

            I sighed.  Seemed she would never believe me on that unless she actually saw a fairy. 

            “But you did a wonderful thing.” She said, looking up to me again, “You saved their lives and helped them recover and you should feel good about that.” 

            I nodded in some pride.  “But why did you lie to them and their families?” she asked. 

            That stung.  I winced and thought about it. 

            “Lots of reasons.” I said vaguely. 

            “What reasons?” Rose pressed, supported by the looks the girls were giving me.  They were waiting to see what I would do and say.  Their oddly large eyes watching to see what I would do.  I spent a moment to think on it, and then decided. 

            I sighed and looked down, “They represented more than themselves.” 

            “What do you…” 

            “I’ll get to it!”  I snapped, recalling my past. 

            “I didn’t always live in these parts.  I once lived in a snowy place, very far to the north.  There had been a village that I tended to, keeping them healthy and safe.” 

            They all nodded.  At some point in time I had told them all about a hag’s duty to defend her people. 

            “I lived in my hut in my forest and the foals would flock to my home wanting to hear my tales, or fix some toy, or give them some treat.” 

            “I was happy.  Until I messed up.” 

            The group leaned in, caught by my words as I sighed. 

            “I was awoken in the night and rushed to my village.” I stopped for a moment. 

            “And?” they asked, Rose watching me like one of the children I had just told her about. 

            “And it was gone.  Burning.  Everypony dead.” 

            They gasped.  “I found who had caused it and fought him.  My spell messed up somehow, and I later awoke in the Everfree.” 

            “I lived in the wood for some time fighting… nothing important.  I found the girls hurt and while I would never leave a foal to its fate, I also found myself thinking about the children I didn’t save.  The ones that died when I could have saved them.” 

            “Hag…” Rose said, tears in her eyes as she tried to contain herself. 

            “So when they were getting better I didn’t want them to go.  They made my pain fade.  It felt like I was making up for my mistake, like I was helping all those that I didn’t when I should have.” 

            “So I found their families and told them that the girls were nearby and that they could visit somepony else, the girls safe and recovering with them.  Then I came back and told the girls that their families knew that they were with me and wished them a speedy recovery.  I lied to them all.” 

            “I hurt them bad Rose.  I thought that the girls would never want to see me again.”  The three huddled closer to me, holding me tightly, eyes screwed shut. 

            “But now I know otherwise.” I said, smiling a faint smile and ruffling Scootaloo’s mane, just how she liked me to. 

            Rose was in tears from my tale, but the girls looked up to me. 

            “We could never hate you grandmother!” Sweetie said. 

            “Ya did lie, but ya were hurtin and alone!” Applebloom said. 

            “And you kept us like family!” finished Scootaloo.  “We weren’t family, but you didn’t care!  We would never hate you, even if everypony else does!” 

            The girls were trying to get me to sob in public again, I just knew it. 

            I took a deep breath.  “We’re supposed to be eating girls.  Perk up Rose, the past is gone and there is no use crying for what was.” 

            “But…” 

            “Rose.” I wiped at her tears and pushed her head up.  “I want to see you smiling.  I worked hard to get you to smile.” 

            She gave me a weak grin and I nodded. 

            “Now that’s better.  Enjoy your greens and I’ll eat my cooked carrot.” 

            “You know girls.” Sweetie said. 

            “Yeah?” 

            “Rarity might be looking for me.  It’s been awhile since we left and she would have finished eating by now.” 

            All three gasped and began stuffing their faces like hogs. 

            At my disproving look Applebloom managed to swallow an entire plate of hay in one go and looked up at me. 

            “Sorry grandmother, but our sisters had told us not ta go too far!  We gotta get back afor they start worryin.” 

            “No excuse to eat like a pig.  Hurry along, make sure that your families don’t worry too bad.” 

            I made sure to clean them, especially Scootaloo, from their mess before waving as they rushed off. 

            Rose smiled at me again, her eyes a bit red but happy once again.  “You really would make a wonderful grandmother.” 

            “I would spoil the little dears rotten.” 

            “You would, wouldn’t you?” she hummed in contentment, looking out of the window at the girls as they ran to the park. 

            “You are thinking of something, aren’t you Rose?” 

            “I want you to be my foals’ grandmother, even if you aren’t family.” 

            Just about spat out my carrot.  “You want me to…” 

            “You would be so perfect Hag!  Sunny would have loved you.” 

            Her dead child.  She was saying that her dead child would like me and that she wanted me to join her family even if I wasn’t related to her.  I didn’t know whether to be touched and honored, or to tell her that she needed to be extremely cautious about such things.  Family was not a trifling matter.  I came to a choice fairly fast. 

            “I… Thank you Rose.  I would love to be considered your foal’s grandmother.  But keep calling me Hag, it would just be… unacceptable for you to call me mother or something.” 

            She nodded.  “I just know that you will be perfect Hag.  And I already got a mom, she lives in Grass, where I was born.  You would be more like an aunt.” 

            “That’s not… well, I suppose it’s not too bad.” 

            “Then come on auntie!” she giggled as she hopped from her chair. 

            Or maybe it would be too bad.  “Not auntie!” I called after her as I followed.  “Aunt is fine, but not auntie!  Sounds like achy and I don’t like that.” 

            She laughed and we left together, smiling. 



  

            The girls found the bearers tearing the park apart looking for them.  They got quite the yelling session due to Spike telling them that they had found Hag and that I had wanted to rip his scales off.   

Rose hadn’t known any better, but still, who goes around and tells people… tells thinking beings that somepony wanted to hurt them without making sure of that? 

            “Why didn’t ya’ll run from her?!” Applejack had said. 

            The three remained silent.  “I can get them back to safety!” said Pinkie, putting on an air of comical seriousness as she raised her foreleg to her forehead. 

            Twilight thought about it.  Spike had been upset, but had said that Hag had been with another pony.  She also hadn’t hurt the girls and they were returned after only a short time this time.  A plan occurred to her. 

            “That’s not necessary Pinkie.” she said after a moment’s thought. 

            “What in tarnation do ya mean Twi?!  My little sis is runnin inta danger an huggin it!” 

            “She does have a point darling.” 

            “That’s just it!” Twilight said, confusing her friends.  “Hag won’t hurt them and she trusts them!  The girls can.” She stopped and looked over at the three fillies who were watching them. 

            “Over here.” Twilight said, trotting a short distance away. 

            Pinkie stayed to keep an eye on the girls as the rest followed her.  “Here’s what I’m planning.” Twilight whispered to them. 

            “Hag won’t hurt them and she trusts them right?” she said. 

            “I suppose…” they murmured. 

            “So the girls can keep an eye on her without trouble!” 

            “Twilight it is far too dangerous for Sweetie to be playing at spy.” Rarity said. 

            “That goes for my sis too!” 

            “Girls!  Come on!  This is our best chance!  We can learn more about Hag, keep track of her movements, learn about her, and then recapture her and the elements!  The girls won’t even be in danger, they told us themselves and we have empirical evidence!” 

            Try as they might the bearers couldn’t come up with a better idea, or even a different one. 

            “But what if Hag knows that we know.” Rainbow said. 

            Twilight hesitated.  “Knows what?” 

            “That we know she’s here, and that we’re ready to go and give her a good beating.” 

            “… I’ll need to ask the girls.  But I am sure that it won’t matter anyway.  Now, we just have to convince the girls that we like them spending time with Hag, so they don’t give it away.” Twilight said. 

            “We went and yelled at th mites fer days and now we need ta convince em that we didn’t mean it an don’t care if they spend time with an evil pony.” Applejack said in a sarcastic voice.  “Somepony else kin do that ta Applebloom.  I won’t go an lie, speccialy not ta my own little sister.” 

            “I can handle this Applejack, don’t worry!” Rarity said, already heading over to the girls. 

            “Alright girls.” She said as she approached, the three fillies clustering together preparing for another lecture. 

            “Your sisters have overreacted.” 

            The girls all looked up in shock.  Had they heard that right? 

            “We have determined that you are correct: Hag is a fine upstanding pony and we are being quite unreasonable with you three!” Rarity threw a leg over her eyes and cried, “Just tell me you can forgive us!” 

            Sweetie hugged her sister and told her that she did so, Applebloom and Scootaloo mimicking her with their own sisters even if Applejack and Rainbow couldn’t look their sisters in the eyes. 

            The girls were overjoyed at the bearers telling them that they could visit me whenever.  The three of them asked and were granted the ability to rush back to me and ask me where I was staying so that they could enjoy my presence without relying on randomly bumping into me. 

            I was pleasantly surprised when they returned.  Their sisters had forgiven me they told me, and the girls wanted to know where Rose and I were staying so that they could visit. 

            Anyplace else this would have given me great concern.  Forgiveness when I had done so much against them?  Foolhardy to think so!  This was a trick to get to me and get me when my guard was down!  But the tree had forgiven me with no reason to, and I had hurt it far worse than I had hurt the bearers.  So I took it as is, assuming peace had been achieved. 

            Rose gave them the number for our room (we were in the same hotel, which surprised us all) and they told us their own, so that I could make a visit to the girls’ sisters.  Forgiven or not I was going to apologize and try to make up for the pain I had put them through. 

            They left happy and content, my own life looking up.  I figured I could even ask them to help me heal the tree.  My troubles seemed to be reducing in number and I began singing as Rose and I walked through the city.  Rose had been happy because I was happy and tried to sing along.  For never having heard the song until right then, and not knowing the language, she didn’t miss a single word.