“Thanks for having me over, Twilight.”
The librarian smiled as she served her friend a cup of tea. “No problem, Arcanica. I’m always happy to spend time with my friends, especially since Spike is out helping Rarity today.” She set the teapot down before eyeing a stack of books in the corner. “Normally I’d use the opportunity to do some research or light reading, but I’ve been trying to not simply destroy my social life with studying.”
“Well, I suppose we’re both trying to socialize a bit more,” chuckled the red author as she took a sip. There was an awkward silence between the two unicorns, neither really sure what to discuss. “So… learn any interesting magic lately?”
“A couple spells, nothing too fancy.” Twilight took a sip from her own cup. “Been perfecting a clothes-creating spell I learned while studying Pinkie’s psychic powers.”
Arcanica laughed at that. “Ah, finally witnessed the Pinkie Sense first hoof, huh?” She shook her head as she remembered her own encounter with it. “I’ll admit, it’s a little jarring to get used to.”
“That’s an understatement.” The two fell silent again, only for Twilight to try this time. “So how’s the next book coming along? I noticed you’ve been doing a lot of research and hoofwork on it.”
Arcanica shrugged as she looked into her cup. “It’s coming along, I suppose. Been trying to make sure it’s geographically accurate and that I get any large historical points correct.” And trying to make sure I don’t accidentally reveal the truth.
“Oh, alright. Where is it supposed to be this time?”
“I’m doing a more fantastical take on the fall of Marethon, rather than my usual forbidden town or long lost civilization schtick.” Not that she was making up her own version of history or making towns, but Twilight didn’t have to know that part.
“Marethon… wasn’t that the one that fell apart because of social inequality?”
“So that’s what Celestia told anypony who didn’t see the city. Interesting.” To her credit, Arcanica had grown out of flinching every time a previous “Herald” popped in to visit her. Although, Great Pillar could have picked a better time to pop up regardless of Twilight not perceiving his presence. She tracked him with her peripheral vision as he perused the shelves of the library.
“Yeah, that’s the one,” she told her friend. “Nopony knows for sure what happened 800 years ago, just that there were riots and the whole city burned for it. Seemed like the perfect setting for one of my stories.” Minus the truth of the creatures that were created and why it stopped existing.
“That’s actually pretty interesting, Arcanica.”
“So this one doesn’t know the truth, I assume?” She nervously watched the Earth Pony specter study her friend. “I imagine she would be quite interested to know there’s a whole other plane of existence for her to study. Assuming, of course, she doesn’t go insane.”
“Yeah, it’s certainly something, I suppose.” She was saved from having to continue any further when Spike burst into the library.
“Twilight! Help! Rarity, giant dogs, taken away! Help!” he screamed incoherently at the two unicorns.
Twilight quickly grabbed her assistant and sat him down. “Spike, calm down! Take a deep breath and explain to us what happened.”
He took several deep breaths to stop himself from hyperventilating before starting his story. “Rarity and I were collecting gems for her new line of outfits for Sapphire Shores out in the gem fields. When we had collected a bunch of gems, a bunch of Diamond Dogs foalnapped Rarity and stole all of the gems!”
“Diamond Dogs? HERE?!” Arcanica stared in shock at the baby dragon as he nodded. “Since when was there a pack of those things this close to Ponyville?”
“You know about them?” asked Twilight as she comforted Spike.
She nodded. “They’re one of the more sentient monster types in Equestria. They have an obsession with gems like dragons, but they prefer to hoard them rather than eat them. They practically worship gemstones, and they probably saw Rarity’s gem finding spell and assumed they could use her to find more gems.”
“Then we have to go rescue her!” Twilight put Spike on her back and moved towards the door. “I’ll get Applejack and Fluttershy. You grab Pinkie and Rainbow Dash and meet us at the gem fields. Rarity needs us!”
“On it!” Arcanica followed her friend’s lead and bolted out the door in the direction of Sugar Cube Corner. Pinkie Pie was the easier of the two to find, and would be the most helpful in finding Dash. Ducking into an alleyway, she used a quick Shadow Walk to get to the bakery sooner, idly noting how much easier the spell was becoming to use.
She slammed open the bakery door, startling Mr. Cake at the register. “Oh, hey there, Arcanica. How can I help you?”
“Sorry, Mr. Cake, not here for a snack.” She looked around frantically. “Where’s Pinkie Pie? We have a bit of an emergency.”
“I KNEW IT!” A pink blur shot out of the kitchen, leaving multiple cakes and pies on the counter before stopping in front of Arcanica. The pink pony had a frantic look on her face. “My flank’s been super itchy all morning and my belly’s been really gurgly! That means somepony close to me was going to need rescuing!”
“How do you even- no, not focusing on the specifics.” She shook her head to derail her inquiries. “Pinkie, Rarity’s been abducted by Diamond Dogs. Twilight and I are getting everypony together at the gem fields to rescue her. Do you know where Rainbow Dash is?”
She nodded before barreling out the door. “I sure do! Let’s go!” Nodding to the baker, she followed the pink mare out the door to retrieve their pegasus friend. Apparently, she was doing tricks around city hall, which Arcanica would have noticed had she run normally. Once they explained it to her, the three quickly made their way out of Ponyville to the rendezvous point.
Fortunately, Twilight and the others were already there. “Alright, I found them. What’s the plan, Twilight?”
“Well normally I’d suggest we go down the hole they used to abduct Rarity, but… well…”
“See fer yerself why that’s not exactly possible.” Applejack pointed at the fields and they saw multiple large tunneling mounds scattered about.
“Holy moly, that’s a lotta holeys!” yelled Pinkie as she looked at the field.
“What do we do now?” complained Dash.
Twilight started into the field. “Everypony pick a hole. One of them has to lead to Rarity.” She was about to go down one when a plume of dirt shot her into the air. “AAGHH!” She landed on the ground and groaned in pain. A Diamond Dog popped out to blow a raspberry at her before ducking back in. “Okay, not the best idea.”
“Quickly everypony! Before they’re all blocked up!” The mares began in earnest, only for the Diamond Dogs to keep rebuffing their efforts at every chance.
“Twilight, can’t you do something with your magic?” yelled Rainbow as she frantically flew from tunnel to tunnel.
“I think I know just the spell!” Igniting her horn, Twilight began casting a spell. Arcanica wasn’t sure what she did, but seeing the mounds collapse into open funnels gave her an idea about her friend’s attempt. “Everypony go!” The red unicorn dove down the nearest tunnel, not noticing she was the only one in her tunnel as she slid down into the network below.
“OOF!” she slammed into the ground under her tunnel. Evidently, the tunnel she had chosen was dug out of the ceiling for some Tartarus-forsaken reason. Getting to her hooves, she looked around the barren, torch-lit tunnels carved in the stone, taking note of the pockmarked walls where gems had probably once been.
“Twilight? Girls? Anypony?!” She received no response, leaving her to conclude she was left on her own. “Great going, Hoofcraft,” she muttered to herself. “You go on another friendship adventure and somehow don’t end up with your friends.”
“Well you still have me,” pointed out Storm Breaker. “I feel offended you don’t consider us friends, Arcanica.” He put a hoof over his heart and pretended to swoon dramatically at the supposed betrayal.
“I chose to associate myself with Twilight and the others,” she pointed out as she set out down one of the tunnels, the former pegasus in tow. “From what I can tell, I can’t get away from you and Pillar even if I wanted to.”
“Wait, only two of us have bothered speaking to you?” He looked amazed as she flew beside her. “Strange. I mean, I understand why Black Diamond wouldn’t want to spend time around you since he hates unicorns, but none of the others? Not even Rune Cluster?”
“I believe I’ve seen her section of the Book, but I was more focused on learning about what Pillar had done at the time.”
“Well, believe me, Arcanica, you two would get along wonderfully!”
She rolled her eyes as she came to a fork in the tunnels. “For some reason I doubt that, Storm Breaker.” She looked back and forth between the two paths. “Hm… which one should I take?”
He floated into her line of view with a confused look. “Why aren’t you using your powers? I’m certain Pillar had chronicled a spell for tracking down life forms.”
Arcanica raised an eyebrow at his statement. “Not even going to question how you know why I’m down here, but I haven’t tried it yet.” She held up a hoof but didn’t feel a breeze from either option, so that technique was out. “If I had managed to try it out, maybe I’d use it. But since I don’t have the Book with me, I won’t even try it here.”
“It’s not even that dangerous,” he pointed out. “Besides, you’ve been using more complex spells that that one for a while now. Just how often have you been using the Shadow Walking spell to get around?” She ignored his comment, but he knew he had gotten his point across. “Just try it out! It couldn’t hurt to embrace your gift, now would it?”
She sighed heavily. She did know the spell he was referring to, she had considered using it to track Pinkie Pie’s movements, but the long-term effects of using the Book’s magic worried her. The more of the spells I use, the more attuned I become to the Void, and the sooner I become like… She looked at the heavily transformed pegasus before nodding to herself. “Fine, I’ll try the spell.”
Closing her eyes, she reached out to the power that she associated with the Outer Planes. It was hard for her to not notice given the siren-like feeling that always called out to her from it. She felt her whole body come to life as she began casting the spell. Sure, the power of the Void was dangerous, but sweet Celestia was it addictive. Focus, she told herself. Find Rarity.
Completing the spell, she felt a pulse extend from herself and pass through the nearby walls. She felt the life energy of multiple beings. Most had a savage, bestial energy about them, but seven stood out to her. The smallest was a small, comforting flame, which she assumed to be Spike. Close to it was a brilliant flare of raw power, a charged storm waiting to break out, a gentle breeze of calmness, a radiant bubble of excitement, and a resolute mountain of conviction. Alright, so there’s Twilight and the others. Now where is… aha! The energy closest to her was like a gleaming diamond bursting with light: Rarity.
“Alright, going left!” She took off down that tunnel, not bothering to dismiss the spell since it was her compass to navigate the corridors. “Ah crud, there’s Diamond Dogs in the way,” she muttered as several of the bestial auras began moving to cut her off.
“Why stop yourself with just a detection spell?” asked Breaker as he flew alongside her. “Don’t you know more than just how to get around?”
He’s got a point. There may not be enough shadows to go directly to her, but I know more than just a couple of movement spells. She was excited as she galloped down the halls. She had never used this magic for so long, and it was exhilarating! The walls, while barren, seemed to have more life in them the longer she held onto the power from the Void. A couple of Diamond Dogs sprang from the walls around her, one armed with a spear and the other holding a rope muzzle.
“Not so fast, pony! You come with us!” snarled the spear holder.
She skidded to a halt and grinned at them. Her right eye felt warm and for some reason, could see a little more clearly than her left. “Sorry, you mangy mutts, but I’m afraid that’s not happening.” Two runic circles appeared behind her before each fired a claw-bearing chain at the two creatures. The one holding the rope dove into the wall, leaving his partner to be quickly tied and pinned to the ground by the snake-like chains.
“It over now, pony!” The rope-bearer dove at her from above with the muzzle in hand, only to be zapped by a black magical energy from her horn.
“Yes, it is.” She pinned him to the roof of the tunnel before covering him in black crystals, leaving him stuck the stone surface, making sure to leave his head exposed. “There we go, that should hold you nicely for a while.”
“Well that spell looks familiar.”
She smirked at Storm Breaker’s comment before giving the spear-wielder a similar treatment. “I never said I hadn’t read Black Diamond’s chapter, just that I haven’t spoken to him. After all, if I was at Pillar’s section then I had to go through Diamond’s section.” Content that the canines were secured, she continued on her way. “He had a variety of interesting spells in there. I imagine that stallion Sombra he mentioned was quite helpful in fleshing out his section.”
The former Herald chuckled. “I suppose you could say that about Sombra. He was certainly quite the genius when it came to magic.”
The two continued in relative silence through the tunnels, with Arcanica crystalizing the Diamond Dogs who got in her way and occasionally using their tunnels to get closer to Rarity. Ultimately, she reached the cavern Rarity was located in. “Alright, now to save my friend.”
“Good luck, Arcanica,” chimed the specter as he began dissolving. “You probably won’t need it.”
Silently entering the room, she was prepared to imprison the dozen or so canines in the cavern, but stopped when she saw Rarity bossing them around to renovate the cave and collect gems for her. She herself was being attended to like some manner of Princess. “What in the name of Celestia?”
“Arcanica?” Hearing her friend, the white unicorn turned to face her, forcing her to release the power she had been channeling the entire time and making her suddenly feel cold and emptier. “Oh, Darling! It is you!” She primly walked over and hugged the other unicorn. “I was simply having these ruffians refurbish their caverns for me.”
“Make the white pony stop!” begged three of the Diamond Dogs as they took notice of the newcomer. “Her whining hurts us!”
“We’ll give her back! Just make it all stop!”
The others arrived from another tunnel, with Spike riding Twilight for some reason, yelling as if they were charging into battle. “What in tarnation?”
“Hey girls, I found Rarity.” Arcanica then gestured to the whimpering and groveling dogs. “They said we can have her back.”
“Well, this was somewhat… anti-climactic.” The group, now including their resident designer, made their way out of the caverns with several carts of gemstones. Evidently, the Diamond Dogs had been all too willing to not only hand them over, but even show them all the way out when Rarity started complaining.
“Alright, Sweetie Belle, you didn’t forget anything at home, did you?”
“No, Rarity.” The small filly rolled her eyes as they stood at the train station. She had her saddlebags on and a small suitcase beside her.
“Toothbrush? Shampoo? Extra Blankets? Stuffed Animals?”
“Rarity!” She was blushing at the older unicorn’s smothering questions.
“Rarity, she’s just staying the weekend at my place. It’s not like she’s going away forever.” The unicorn author rolled her eyes as Applejack and Twilight finished loading an apple tree onto the Friendship Express. “I’ve got things covered. There’s nothing to worry about.”
“I know, Darling. I’m just being sure.”
“All aboard!”
“Okay, behave yourself, be polite, and don’t drive Arcanica crazy.”
“Rarity.”
“Make sure you brush your teeth two times a day, and your mane and tail three times.”
“Rarity.”
“Oh! Also remember to- EEK!” She was picked up by a red aura and placed on the train right before it began to move.
“Your train is leaving,” Arcanica told her simply as she began moving away.
“Bye, you two! See you when I get back!”
“Bye Rarity!” called the small filly as she waved back to her sister. When the train was gone, she picked up her suitcase and looked at Arcanica eagerly.
“Alright, Sweetie Belle. We’ll head back. I’m sure Bookworm is done cleaning her room by now.” The two made their way through Ponyville, with Sweetie Belle literally bouncing in excitement. Knowing what was coming, she grabbed her suitcase with her magic so she could talk.
“I’m so excited! This is my first sleep-over at somepony’s house outside of the Crusaders!” she cheered as she ran about excitedly. Arcanica smiled at her energy, but never broke pace. “Sure, we hang out at Apple Bloom’s house or sleep in the club house, but I’ve never stayed at somepony else’s home like this before! It’ll be so much fun!”
“I’m sure it will,” chuckled the author. The two eventually made it to her building and started up the outside staircase. Once again, I’m so glad I had this built. I was getting tired of always going through the shop. She opened the kitchen door for Sweetie Belle and followed her in. “Book! I’m back!”
The two heard an excited cheer before Bookworm came running out. “Hey Sweetie Belle! You excited for this weekend?”
“You bet I am! This will be so much fun!” Her voice squeaked as she bounced in place with her horn shooting out a couple sparks from her excitement.
“Well how about you two get Sweetie Belle settled in, and I’ll whip up some lunch. How’s that sound?” The two cheered before taking her suitcase and ran down the hall to Bookworm’s room while happily chattering.
“Well they were certainly rather precious.”
Arcanica’s smile dropped as she glared at the visitor calmly sitting at her table. Like the others, her eyes were radiating the now familiar shadows, only hers’ had emerald irises peaking out rather than the red and violet of the other two former Heralds. Unlike the two stallions who preferred to bother her, the mare was a unicorn, with her golden mane and tail braided and a soft pink coat. Her Cutie Mark was of an arcane circle, similar to the kind used in more advanced spells. Her legs however, were a bizarre set with dragon arms for her forelegs and her hind legs were more lupine in nature. Her snout, to complete the chimeric transformation that awaited a Herald, resembled some manner of beak.
“I assume you’re the Rune Cluster that Storm Breaker has told me about?” She turned away from the mare and began making some daisy sandwiches for her and the girls. “You picked a bad time to introduce yourself, you know. I’m babysitting this weekend.”
“Oh I simply wanted to check in and see how the current Herald is doing,” she replied as she took a seat at the table. She rested her head on one of her claws as she watched Arcanica work. “See how much you enjoy using the magic left behind for you to study, check to see whether you’ve begun your metamorphosis… you know, normal things.”
Arcanica set the first sandwich aside and cut the second one if half. “I’m fine, Rune Cluster. And I haven’t started turning into something like you and Storm Breaker.”
“Oh, him,” muttered the unicorn. “I doubt you’d ever be anything like him.” She studied her claws, occasionally picking at the table with them. “His metamorphosis was unlike most of ours. His was directly caused by Ydrex’Ktala driving him to embrace of the Void and Their gifts.”
“As for yourself?” she asked quite simply. Finished with the sandwiches, she went about preparing some glasses of milk for the three of them.
“I transformed after quite literally throwing myself into the Void on numerous occasions in the pursuit of more knowledge,” she replied offhandedly. She shrugged while leaning back to stare at the ceiling. “Not that it helped my case when it came time for my exile.”
“Celestia?”
She nodded. “Apparently, transforming as you study the expansive impossibilities of the Outer Planes around the time the God of Chaos is wreaking havoc is a good way to look as guilty as possible.” She shrugged as she turned her eyes back to Arcanica. “You’re taking this rather well, you know.”
“After Storm Breaker pops up literally everywhere to annoy you, you get used to Eldritch half-pony chimeras walking into your kitchen.” She set three spots at the table before raising her voice. “Girls, lunch time!” She looked at the pink specter. “Sorry, but I’m afraid you’ve gotta go.”
“No problem, Arcanica.” She stood up and started towards the wall. “Time means nothing to somepony once they ascend, so I’ll be fine. I’ll visit you some other time. Farewell, young Herald.” As she touched the wall, her body dissolved into a mist, leaving no trace of her presence.
I wonder if that’s a spell she can teach me…
“Hey sis, what’d you make?”
She turned to the two eager fillies as they climbed into their seats. “Nothing special for a lunch, just some simple sandwiches.” Taking her own seat, the three dug into their lunches, with Arcanica looking at the two. “So, any plans for until dinner?”
“Well, we were thinking about going to play with the other Crusaders, is that alright?” asked Sweetie Belle.
“Fine by me, just don’t get into any trouble or come back covered in tree sap.” Sweetie Belle nervously rubbed the back of her head while Bookworm looked confused at the specificity of the statement.
“Tree sap?”
“Don’t ask,” begged the white filly.
“Well you two can go once you finish eating. Just be back by 5 o’clock.”
The two cheered before quickly inhaling their lunches and chugging their milk. Bookworm put their dishes in the sink before the two quickly left the house. “Bye sis! See you later!” SLAM!
She shook her head at their hyperactive antics. “Kids,” she chuckled as she calmly finished her own lunch. No reason to rush. All she had going on today was writing and making a proper Seaward Shoals dinner. All the time in the world.
“We’re back!” Arcanica looked away from the large pot on the stove top. She was about to greet the two fillies but instead simply stared in shock at their condition. “Um, we can explain?” Sweetie Belle nervously provided.
The two fillies were drenched, as if they had just gone swimming. At the same time, there were random tree branches sticking out of Sweetie Belle’s mane and tail, Bookworm had a fish in her mane, and both had random splotches of paint on their coats. “I’m almost scared to even ask what you four got yourselves into, today.”
“Well, Apple Bloom wanted to-”
“Bathroom!” she told them with a pointed hoof. “You two can explain this while you’re cleaning yourselves off and dinner finishes up.” Not wanting them to track paint and water in her house, she elected to simply pick them both up with her magic and haul them into the bathroom. Once the tub was filled and the two were cleaning themselves off, and the fish thrown out the window, she let them resume their story.
“So, what happened was, Apple Bloom and I wanted to try getting our Cutie Marks in water painting,” started Sweetie Belle. “But at the same time, Scootaloo wanted to try extreme ziplining.”
“So, we all decided they could try combining them into one singular activity since that would be an awesome Cutie Mark for any of them to get,” continued Bookworm as she helped untangle the tree branches.
“Extreme Zipline-Water Painting doesn’t explain the fish or why you two were drenched in water and actual paint.” Arcanica ran a heavy-duty scrubber over both fillies to remove the paint from their coats.
“Well, I left my water paints at Rarity’s house, and we didn’t want to break in, so instead we used regular house paint from Apple Bloom’s house.” She then sheepishly laughed. “And since we needed water to do water painting, we had the canvasses in the water to zipline over as we painted them.”
Suddenly a lot of it made sense. “And I’m guessing the zipline broke as you girls went down together and the paints didn’t mix with the water, leading to you all getting covered in paint and such?” The two nodded in embarrassment. “And I’m going to go out on a limb and assume Granny Smith wanted to teach you a lesson about stupidity and that’s why you didn’t get cleaned up there?”
“Well, that, and, we sorta spent most of the day just setting everything up.” Sweetie Belle rinsed off her mane before climbing out with Bookworm following her.
Arcanica sighed as she massaged her forehead. “This must be what being a parent is like,” she muttered. “Alright, well you two dry yourselves off in here. I’m going to finish up dinner and set things up.” She opened the door before looking back at them. “And for this little stunt, you’re both doing the dishes after dinner.”
“Yes, Arcanica.” The two fillies started toweling each other as she went back out to the kitchen. Grabbing three large bowls out of the cabinet and some plates, she quickly set the table. She honestly had no idea how long it would have taken without magic, but she didn’t bother thinking it over. Once the large pot was on the table, she pulled a tray out of the oven.
“So, what did you make for dinner, sis?” Apparently, the two were done drying off and were taking seats at the table.
“It smells really good, Miss Arcanica.”
“Just ‘Arcanica’ is fine, Sweetie Belle, and I’m shooah it does. It’s a traditional recipe from Seawahd Shoals,” she switched to the accent she spent years getting over to give a hint.
“What’s with that accent?” asked Sweetie Belle. “It sounds exaggerated.”
“It’s how older ponies talk back home,” explained Bookworm. “But if she’s talking like that and it’s a ‘traditional’ recipe, then…” Her eyes lit up as she started to figure out what was in the pot.
“Somepony figya’d it out. Tonight, we’re eatin’ sea cakes and chowdah.” She started laughing as she set a dish of the fried goods on the table.
“Sea cakes and chowdah?” Sweetie Belle looked extremely confused, making the two sisters laugh.
“Chowder,” explained Bookworm. “Everypony in Seaward Shoals appreciates a good bowl of chowder, and sea cakes are something we usually have alongside them.” She watched eagerly as her sister gave her a proper serving of chowder and set three of the small dough balls on her plate. “You’re going to love it, Sweetie Belle!”
“And it’s a traditional white chowder. Not one of those gross red chowders from Manehatten.” Both sisters shuddered as Arcanica finished serving everypony. “Well? Dig in, girls!” Sweetie Belle, unsure how to start eating the chowder, watched both sisters for a moment. Bookworm started by eating a large spoonful and humming in delight while Arcanica tore a sea cake in half before dipping it in her bowl.
Deciding to simply try it herself, Sweetie Belle took a sip from her bowl before her eyes widened. “Wow, this is great! Thank you, Arcanica!” She dug in, and even tried it with one of the pastries.
“No problem, Sweetie Belle. I’ve been meaning to make this for a while, but you staying the night presented the perfect excuse.” Arcanica, now out of sea cakes, simply began using her own spoon.
“What’s in this?” asked Sweetie Belle. “I’ve never had stuff like this before.”
“Well I’m not surprised you’ve never had them before, since they’re sort of a regional thing and even then, I don’t think Rarity would eat them since both can be unhealthy sometimes,” she said with a smile on her face. “As for ingredients, the chowder is made with potatoes, cream, some salt water, seasonings, and a bit of seaweed, while the cakes are a little more complicated.”
“Seaweed and salt water?”
Bookworm picked up for her sister. “Seaward Shoals built itself out of the coast line, so there’s a lot of seaweed and salt water in some of our really traditional foods.”
“But, isn’t salt water bad for you?”
The sisters shrugged. “Only if you drink it directly out of the ocean,” explained the older sister. “Seaward Shoals ponies know better than to do that, so our cooking isn’t as dangerous as drinking ocean water.” Dinner progressed from there, and once the leftovers were saved, both fillies went about cleaning the kitchen like they were told. Once they were done and were drawing in the living room, Arcanica smiled at how well they were getting along. Maybe this wasn’t such a bad idea.
This was a very bad idea, she thought angrily as she vented her kitchen. The girls, for some reason, decided to surprise her with breakfast. Instead, they had somehow managed to burn not just the eggs and toast, but the oatmeal and even the juice they had prepared. The two fillies were cleaning the dishes and pans they had scorched while cooking while she took care of the room itself. I feel like this is going to be a long day.