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We all looked back at Ponyville, and said our final good-byes. Applejack was the first to speak.
"Ya know, Ponyville... You were a nice place ta stay. An' now.. I'm gonna miss bein' here. All the folks, how nice they were to a stranger like me, when ah arrived all those years ago. Now, fer as long as ah can remember, ah've been the most honest, hard worker ya'd ever get at the farm." Her eyes had begun to water. "Ah can't really see ma'self in a happier place than where ah turned out, at this town. Sweet Apple Acres and ma friends here, they all made this town one to be proud ta live in. And ah couldn't be happier in any other place."
Next was Rarity.
"And this town had better be even more fabulous when we come back." Rarity said that, looked around, and tried to give her friends a reassuring smile as she continued. "Even though one or two of us might not come back, this will still be one of the grandest towns I've ever lived in. I will continue to love this town and the hard working people, along with the fashion I created in it with all of my heart."
Rainbow Dash spoke up next.
"And who knows, there might be a flyer in here that's almost as good as me! So hopefully you won't be lacking too much awesomeness to spread around. I mean, I am pretty good, but try not to completely replace me. I might not come back, but I will at least say good-bye to the town I loved flying through."
Dash looked around, and nodded to Fluttershy to go next.
"I.. uhm.. don't have much.. to say. It's just that... well.. All the animals here in this town are going to miss me so much. I hope they can be happy with who they have instead. The only thing I can do, is hope that this town stays as beautiful and amazing as it always has been. The sights have just been all so pretty, and I can only hope to return to this town, and have it be more beautiful than when I left it. And the animals.. To be happier."
She was shaking by the time she finished her short speech. Next was Pinkie Pie.
"Ooh! Ooh! My turn!" She went up smiling as she always had. "I really hope that the Cakes don't have too much trouble with anything they have to do, without my help, they might not be as productive or cheerful as usual without me there. I also hope that if I come back, I can have the best party EVER! Talking about parties, this town had better be cheerful while I'm gone! If it isn't, and I come back to a dreadful town, I'm gonna make everypony happy again!"
She had left with a smile, as she always does with everything. Last but not least, there was Twilight Sparkle.
"Dear Ponyville. I won't be around for a while, but you were the best town anypony could dream of living in. Everything that went on in that town always mixed together so well. Sweet Apple Acres, the Cakes place, Pinkie's Party House, Rarity's Boutique, Fluttershy's house with all the animals, My tree-library in the middle. Can't forget Dash's cloud work. With everything that went on, I don't think I could have wished for a better town to experience the happiness of friendship with. I'm not sure about coming back myself, this journey is going to be dangerous, searching for something that might not exist. That's part of the reason we can't promise to come back."
Twilight looked back at the rest of the group. "And I couldn't have wished for better friends to share those experiences with. Even though I'm not saying good-bye to them, I'm saying good-bye to the town I lived in. The town we lived in. The memories of this town have just been so wonderful to look back on, and we can only hope for more things to happen in the future if we come back."
With all of their speeches done, Twilight and the group headed off. First stop was Zecora, and giving her the grain.
"I see that Luna has indeed, given a gift to need. I shall care for this grain in place of you, so you can set off on your journey anew." Zecora placed the grain inside of a small container, built for preserving the life of such grains of dust.
After staying with Zecora for a few moments, the group headed off down the path, away from Ponyville. It was hard for them to leave, but they knew they had to do it.
The forest had lead to an open field, one dirt strip leading from the forest to another place. They didn't know how long that road would last. They had small talk from time to time, but nothing too serious until Applejack asked "Haven't y'all wondered what would happen if one of us lost ahr Element? And what would happen ta the others?"
"I was thinking the same thing the past few days Applejack. I had often thought about the worst things that could happen, much like turning into the opposite of our Elements. What our new Elements of Insanity or Chaos would be. I've come to the conclusion that if we turned into what our opposites would be." Twilight continued.
"Applejack: The Element of Lies.
Fluttershy: The Element of Anger.
Rainbow Dash: The Element of Betrayal.
Pinkie Pie: The Element of Sorrow.
Rarity: The Element of Greed.
And me, I don't know what the polar opposite of Magic could be, other than maybe Strength."
They shot each other worried looks as she was mentioning the list of opposites.
"I can't see myself being so down, I mean look at me! We could party right now!" Pinkie, still as cheerful as ever.
"True pinkie, but that doesn't make you immune to the spell."
"She's right, and the worst that could happen is us turning into the opposite of what we are, like Twilight said. I can't see myself betraying you guys, but with the spell knocking around our emotions, I have a feeling that the worst is yet to come."
Rarity spoke up to add to what Dash had just said. "And me being greedy? I could never take something from my friends out of greed for me wanting it more!"
"No, but the spell could. The spell alters our emotions AND feelings. It makes us feel whatever it wants."
"But Twi, could it really get powerful 'nuff ta make us hurt each other? Well.. Now that ah think 'bout it, it did turn Rarity against Dash. But could it effect all of us with all the same feelin's or emotions?"
"We have no way of knowing, we just have to wait and see. We can't really tell what the spell is capable of, or if it will grow in power over time. Only time will tell, and I sure hope it doesn't get too powerful."
"I just hope it doesn't turn me against you all."
Fluttershy had finally spoken up.
"Flutter... ah don't think it'll get bad 'nuff ta do that. Ah've seen what it done ta them, but ah don't think-"
"Applejack, think about it. The spell goes for the weakest, nicest ones of the group." Twilight had shot an apologetic look at Dash. "Not saying Dash is weak, but.." Then continued. "We have no way of knowing if it will effect just one of us, or all of us. Or who it strikes harder."
The group had stopped for a moment, looked up, and saw that it was beginning to get dark again. They have been walking for a while now, and they could use some rest. They were still on the dirt road, but in more of an open area. Twilight decided to rest here for the night, so they set up what they had, so that they could sleep as comfortably as possible.
Applejack and Fluttershy had stayed up for maybe an hour talking to each other, looking at stars, laying in the field of grass, beside the big dirt road created by the carts going back and forth between towns and villages.
"Applejack, what do you think... about.. Me having the chance to be.. changed... Different, or even opposite of what I've been? I'm.. scared."
"Well, ah don't reckon that anythang'll change fer us bein' what we have been. It's been pretty easy ta keep it away from the others, considerin' the way we've been actin 'round 'em. And ah don't think you changin' like 'at'll really keep me, or the rest of us from tryin' ta help ya."
Applejack smiled at Fluttershy, and tried to give more confidence to her, as they were laying in the field, slightly snuggled, trying to keep warm during the night, looking at the beauty of the stars together.
In the moonlight and starlight, Applejack looked so beautiful to Fluttershy, and was rather jealous of her natural beauty. Applejack pointed to a shooting star, but saw that Fluttershy still had her eyes fixated on Applejack's body, admiring every delicate detail. She had begun to gently smile, close her eyes further, and touched her mane with her hoof, slowly going down to the ribbon keeping it from flowing everywhere.
Fluttershy then repeated the process, stroking Applejack's mane, and admiring the soft natural beauty of her colors, and how well they mixed together, to create such a beautiful figure. Applejack then started doing the same to Fluttershy, causing her to fully close her eyes, her hoof still going up and down her mane.
Applejack snuggled even closer to her friends body, feeling more natural warmth emanating from her skin. "Flutter..." She opened her eyes just in time for Applejack to kiss her gently on the cheek. "..Applejack.. Thank you."
She broke her soft, delicate lips off of her skin, and simply said "Yer welcome, sugarcube."
They laid there for a few more minutes, just admiring each others beauty. Fluttershy's mane had fallen across her body gently falling on the ground infront of her belly, colors mixing so well in the moonlight. Applejack had never seen such beauty before. They laid there for several minutes, in the middle of the grass field.
Fluttershy had gotten comfortable enough to lean towards Applejack, making both of their eyes close completely. Their lips touched for the first time, as they kissed each other gently. After a few moments of sharing their thoughts about that, they returned to camp, and slept in their separate make-shift tents.
The next morning, they had simply looked at each other as they were being woken up by Twilight, telling them all that breakfast was done. Twilight of course, being an early riser, had gone ahead and woken up Pinkie to help her cook.
They had begun walking like they usually did, making small talk about several things while walking, taking occasional breaks. They had begun to wonder if they were even on the path to any town or village of any sort.
The talks that the others had as they were walking through the dirt trail, unaware of Fluttershy and Applejack talking to each other softly, taking a chance of being seen walking very closely by one another, they talked for a few moments, then went back to their positions.
They had seen a few people every now and then, walking on the same dirt road towards them, heading for Ponyville on cart to drop off and pick up supplies. Another rest, and they decided that a few more moments of walking to a wider area would call it a day. After setting up camp, walking all day had tired many of them out, including Fluttershy, Twilight and Rarity.
They had set up another camp, this time again, they had been walking for a while now, and had begun to see what looked like a tower way off in the distance. That had given Twilight and the others a little hope, knowing they were close to civilization. The night before they had arrived, they were all tired, so they didn't pay any special attention to their surroundings, which gave Applejack and Fluttershy another night to be together.
"That was pretty good, wasn't it Flutter? Goin' behind 'em like 'at and talkin ta each other."
"Good idea to walk behind just a little, as they were talking. I feel more comfortable with everything, now that you've given me more courage."
"Shucks, I didn't do much ta help ya, I just helped ya.. last night."
She had moved closer to Fluttershy, both laying in the grass, just like the night before, and kissed her once again. "Like that." She smiled at her, giving her even more comfort and hope to look forward to for the travels ahead. They had been snuggling more this night, beginning to feel love for each other for the first time.
They had kissed a few more times, lying next to one another, keeping themselves warm because of their body heat.
Laying in the grass, stroking each others manes, and kissing each other.. It was like a dream come true for Fluttershy to finally experience love like this, and she had begun to think about all the other ponies that she could have done this with, and it had been Applejack out of them all.
Applejack had been thinking the same thing. Fluttershy, of all ponies.
They wouldn't want it any different.
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End of Chapter 2