//------------------------------// // Chapter 34 // Story: A Filly's New Hope // by Mocha Star //------------------------------// “All hitched up and ready ta go!” “Eeyup!” Nova shouted from the back of the wagon. She looked over the side to Lime. “Ya all set?” “Heh, eeyup. Let’s get a move on home.” “Yay!” The group began a steady trot in line with traffic, the sun rising and the sky almost clear. A warm summer’s breeze blew through town, and even though the scent wasn’t totally pleasant, the feeling was. “Look! Look!” Nova shouted and pointed to the north. “It’s Las Pegasus! They’re bringin’ it closer! It’s so pretty.” “Yeah, they move it up and down the coast ta gather farm’n goods and fish,” A pony passing them said. “Ew, fish? Like, meat?” “Hey, young mare, it’s actually really good cooked and it’s more fillin’ than any salad. Try it sometime, you’ll like it.” “No thanks, sir. Ah’ll eat a bushel of apples b’fore I eat a meat.” “Meh, yer loss. Comin’ through!” “Grape, you’ve never even wondered about meat? What about what the cats eat, or dogs?” “Safe, let them eat whatever they want. Ah’m not tastin’ anything that ain’t grown from the ground Ah walk on.” “Hey, suits me just fine. But I’ve had it, too. Guard training. Not too bad with salt and mixed into a salad.” “Euck! I’m totally barfing now.” “Grape, don’t be makin’ a mess back there. If ya make me waste any drinkin’ water I’m gonna be mighty sore.” “Ugh, fine. Are we there yet?” The adults around them chuckled, from both sides of the street. “Sweetie, we haven’t even left the city yet. We’ve got a week trek, at least, so spend time polishin’ yer hooves or countin’ trees, cuz it’s gonna be a longer trip than it was to get here.” “Ugh, why can’t we just be there already? Ah wanna see my friends and Smith and sleep in a real bed that smells like home.” “This’ gonna be a long trip,” Tree mumbled. “Ah’m gettin’ hungry. Can we make a stop by that place over yonder? They got salad and shakes. Ohhh, I’ve gotta pee. How long ‘til we’re outta town? Can I have a snack? Trek, can I read somethin’ ta practice? Where’s that quill? Tree, can I look in the supply boxes fer paper and quill and ink?” “This is gonna be a really long trip.” “Pack up camp, Nova, we’re gonna be home by lunch!” The filly whooped with joy as she galloped around the tent, pulling stakes and loosening poles as she went. “Home, home, home, home, home!” Lime giggled. “Well, we know she’s gonna sleep good tonight.” “Eeyup, and with my home bed and my Smith. Ah’m gonna get to bed early and sleep late,” he winked. He helped to fold and roll the tent while Lime bundled the rods, Nova took the stakes, and they all rolled them tightly inside the tent. With a team effort they loaded their sleeping bags and supplies into the cart and were cantering quickly down the road. “Lime told me that the last part of the race is the easiest, and I think this’ like a race home!” “Nova, yer a pot of golden bits when a pony needs three bronze.” “Huh?” “Filly, just run ahead and tell me what ya see over the crest.” Nova took to the fastest gallop she could and shot ahead. “That girl can run,” Lime told Tree, “she’s guard material, I’ll say it again before the day’s out.” “Yeah… so, um,” Tree gulped, “you stayin’ the night? We’ve got a nice place, ya know, and yer practically family after all this trekkin’.” “I’d love to, but duty calls. I’ve got a two hour flight back to base camp then, ya know, military stuff. But, I’ll see what I can do, and perhaps I’ll write often. But, well, the only thing I have is trouble saying goodbye, and to have to say goodbye to such an amazing family.” “I understand, we’re gonna miss ya somethin’ fierce. And yer always welcome at the farm, ya know.” “Heh, eeyup,” Lime smiled softly. “And someday, maybe I’ll settle down in your town for a spell. Make a home, family, ya know, the works.” “We’ll be there the whole way if’n ya do.” They fell silent and kept on the trail, hours passed until Nova ran ahead again to check the progress. Minutes later she skidded to a stop at the top of what should have been the last hill. “Well, that’s it, I guess. Home sweet home, right?” Lime nodded. “She’s in shock, it seems. Wouldn’t be surprised to see a tear in her eye after being gone so long. It must be beautiful this time of day and year, not to mention the town might’ve grown a few houses since we left.” “Heh, that’d be nice. Have about twelve houses, it’d be nice to see the town grow so much so fast.” They approached Nova and the filly turned her head to look at them. The look they saw sent them on edge, they galloped ahead as fast as they could and stopped at the top of the hill. “What in tarnation?” “This, is the same town?” “Tree, what happened? It’s so different!” Nova exclaimed as she pronked in place. “Let’s go, Tree! Let’s go!” she looked at him and the town. “Missy, you go ahead, this’ gonna take a minute to fathom.” Nova took off like a bullet, top speed, down the hill and toward the town. “Well, let’s get home, Tree!” Lime said with a nudge and grin opening her wings and taking the lead. The stallion yipped in joy as he took to a fast trot, pulling the cart as fast as he safely could. Nova looked at the buildings as she ran through town. Homes, businesses, new constructions, a schoolhouse, playgrounds, even a bakery that smelled of fresh bread and muffins that filled her senses with awe passed by her as she made her way home. “Apple! Smith! We’re home, where are ya?!” “Nova?” the green mare said, dropping the clothespins and laundry she was hanging. “Nova!” she ran to meet the filly and they both stopped a length apart. They took the sight of each other in and moved close, nuzzling. They embraced into a tight hug as time stopped. A clatter and thunk got their attention just before they were tackled from the side onto the ground, a laughing bundle of family. Tears of joy flowed, nuzzles and kisses were shared, and finally, a hug that warmed the hearts of everypony that watched it happen. “Tree, Ah’m as happy as a hen in a silo ta see ya both home, safe’n sound. Now, ya knwo the town done went’n growed while ya were away, but there’s a reason why,” she looked to Nova, “it’s a’cuz’v you, young mare.” “Me? Did I do somethin’ wrong?” “Darlin’, what you did on yer trek across the lands, you changed the whole country. Princess Celestia herself made a buncha decrees and laws, even made our family officially nobles with a seat at the national council. Filly, ya put our town on the map, and everyone across the lands and beyond know of Ponyville.” “...Wow. So,” Nova rubbed her forelegs together, “does this mean I can have extra dessert?” The adults laughed while the filly’s ears lowered nervously. “Darlin’, you can have free dessert at the bakery every day fer a month fer all I care. C’mon, let’s show ya the next surprise.” Nova beamed a smile that would have made a demon sigh in awe. “Yeah!” Apple Smith led them to the center of town where a round two story building was being erected. “This’ the town hall, cuz we’re gonna need one bein’ a real town’n all. But, that leads me ta the next surprise,” she pulled a gem from her mane and placed it on the ground. Rearing up she landed on it, shattering it. “Wha-? Why’d ya do that for?” “Just wait a tick, you’ll see.” A few seconds later there was a flash of golden light above the town hall and ponies bowed in unison as Celestia landed in front of the Apple family. “Rise, my little ponies,” she softly spoke as her wings flared, “I see the filly that has caused so much change has returned home. Tell me, do you know why I’m here?” “Uh, I’unno. Cuz Apple Smith broke that gem and it was expensive?” Celestia chuckled softly. “You, your story, and your life have shown me that there was still injustice in the land. My advisors, nobles who are no longer in my court and have been stripped of most of their lands and status had kept me in the dark as to the plight ponies suffered though. Slavery, indentured servitude, ownership of other sapient beings was to be abolished generations ago. “I would have never known if you hadn’t set an example with the gryphons you released.” “Uhm, how’d that,” Nova gulped as she looked up at Celestia, “make stuff happen.” “My, a filly with so many questions is destined for greatness, indeed. Come, walk with me while I explain.” “O-kay.” “You see, my little pony, gryphons are not in favor of ponies beyond property and meals. Until now, that is. Word travels faster than you did across the land, and the gryphon kingdom heard of your kindness. They sent word to their ambassador to share your tale and enlighten me as to the horrid conditions they’d seen ponies living in but chose to overlook. “Needless to say I wasn’t pleased to find out that way, but it also opened negotiations and brought a treatise between our peoples that was not possible before. Oh, are you understanding what I’m saying?” Celestia looked down to the filly that was hopping from spot to spot, distracted as any child would be during a lecture. Celestia chuckled. “Starlight Nova,” the filly stopped and looked up. “You have done many good things with one act of kindness. As such, the plantation you were working at has been transformed to a farm, where you may plant whatever you wish, as the land is yours, the title of Miss is bestowed upon you as well.” Celestia leaned down. “That means you’re the boss of your own farm.” Nova gasped and stumbled back, falling to her flank. “Wow. Really?” she asked with wide eyes. With a soft smile, Celestia nodded. “And the ponies that hurt you are not going to be a problem for you. You have farmhands as well, everything is taken care of and you can live there, or here. Or, if you choose, I can have a mansion built in Canterlot for you.” Nova’s mouth hung open. “A… mansion? Mine? Uh, I… I… I… I…” “Oh, dear. It seems I broke her,” Celestia smiled back to her family that was following. “You can take care of her, help her make the right decisions, and be the pony she’s meant to be, right?” “Yes, your majesty,” Tree and Smith bowed their heads, “until our last breath.” “I… I… I…” “And you, Miss Starlight Nova, I’ll keep an ear out for the great things you do in life.” Nova gulped and looked up to Celestia. “I, thank you, from the bottom of my heart to the top of it.” “Fare thee well, my little pony. Continue to be the kind pony you are, okay?” Nova nodded as Celestia flapped her wings and turned to Canterlot. Her horn flared and in a dull flash, she was gone. “Well, it seems we need ta have a party!” A white pegasus shouted from above. “I’ll tell the townsponies, y’all get ready fer one heck’v’a shindig!” Hooting and hollering filled the town square as Lime looked on from a distance. With a nod and soft smile, she cast a spell, turned away, and flew high into the sky on gossamer wings.