My Dearest Sunset,
I have recently received a message from the village of Paradise Fields requesting my aid. It would seem that the farmers of the community have been facing difficulties with their crops lately; a mysterious blight has suddenly appeared that they are powerless to combat. If this issue is not resolved soon, it could have a devastating impact on the farmers’ livelihoods, as well as on those communities that rely on them for their produce. This will be your first assignment: travel to Paradise Fields, discover the nature of this blight, and do whatever you can to remedy the situation. Speak with the pony called Rosemary when you arrive; she is the one who contacted me, and will most likely be able to help you with your investigation. I wish you the best of luck in this endeavor, and remind you that you can always call on me if you have need of guidance.
Your Loving Mentor,
Celestia
Sunset read the words on the page over and over, trying to squeeze every drop of information that she could out of them. It seemed a fairly simple task: go to a little village somewhere in rural Equestria and help some farmers with their gardening. However, Sunset was not about to take any chances with this, her first mission. She needed to prove to the princess, as well as to herself, that she was competent enough to handle important business like this without messing up.
While not as helpful as she would have hoped, Celestia’s message was definitely more informative than the brief recollection of the captain she had heard earlier. When she had gone back up to the bridge after watching the ship’s launch, Olive Ridley had been more than happy to share what little information he had on their destination. He had told her what the princess had confirmed: that Paradise Fields was a small agricultural community that supplied food and other produce to nearby towns. He had never been there himself, but he had flown over it several times, recalling the sight of miles of lush, verdant fields.
The ship’s navigator, Bleak Herald, had pointed out the village on the map, a few hours of travel southwest of Canterlot, on the way to Los Pegasus. After getting all she could from the crew, Sunset had returned to her cabin, hoping that the princess would have followed up with more details. Sure enough, her journal had received the message while she had been away, and she had reread it several times already.
Sunset’s mind was already working, trying to imagine what sort of disease could be troubling the small village and why the residents would feel the need to call on the princess herself to help them. Unfortunately, botany had never really been her strong suit, Sunset finding it to be a subject much too slow and mundane for her tastes. Despite their similar education, Nova had also been unable to hazard a guess when Sunset had brought it up with her.
If she couldn’t rely on her own knowledge to address the problem, Sunset reasoned, then she could always do things the old-fashioned way. “Hey, Nova,” she said, “you didn’t happen to pack any books on agriculture, did you?” Nova had brought along a small collection of reference material at Sunset’s request, mostly books of spells and other tomes that Sunset had thought might be useful.
“Sorry,” replied Nova, walking over to Sunset’s half of the room, “I don’t think I did.” She moved over to the small bookcase near Sunset’s desk that she had had brought in. She scanned the spines of the books, looking for anything that could be of even slight help. “You could try...this...or perhaps this.” Nova pulled a few books from the shelf and placed them on the desk. “I think there’s a section on plant biology in this one.”
Sunset rose from her bed and walked over to her desk to see what Nova had come up with. She immediately recognized the familiar pages of their old biology textbook as Nova flipped through it. Why she had let Nova talk her into bringing it along with them, she couldn’t remember. Although, if it actually proved to be of use, then she might have to thank Nova for her foresight, Sunset realized. Mentally preparing herself for a long study session, Sunset sat down and began her search with Nova’s assistance.
The wind whistled in Sunset’s ear and whipped up her hair as she stood on the deck of the Opportunity. Off the side of the ship, she could see fields of crops dotting the landscape, creating a patchwork of color not unlike that of a quilt. Sunset saw a field of bright orange pumpkins next to one full of golden wheat, billowing in the breeze like ocean waves. Beyond the farms, miles and miles of rolling green hills stretched out to the distant mountains and forests, which looked small and unimposing from far away.
It was a beautiful sight to be sure, Sunset thought, almost too beautiful. When she had imagined what a village suffering from a blight might look like, she had pictured dry, cracked soil with shriveled vines clawing their way out of the earth, complete with a tumbleweed blowing by. The disconnect immediately made Sunset confused, perhaps even a little suspicious. She did not dwell too long on those thoughts, however, as she knew that she would soon be able to get some answers.
According to the captain, they would be arriving at Paradise Fields in just a few minutes. He had come down to Sunset and Nova’s cabin a short while earlier to give them his estimate, as well as to invite them up on deck to watch them land. Sunset, having spent quite a while poring over her books in vain, welcomed the chance to get some fresh air and stretch her legs. Besides, it would probably be more productive to get on the ground and speak with the farmers themselves rather than sit there and speculate, she reasoned.
True to the captain’s word, Sunset could soon see a small collection of buildings come into view in the distance. As they got closer, she could see that the “village” was closer to what she would call a hamlet, consisting of just several small buildings scattered around a large clearing in between the surrounding fields. Several small dirt roads led away from the settlement in various directions, spiderwebbing their way across the land, presumably leading to the more outlying farms.
As the ship drew closer to the clearing, Sunset heard the rhythmic beating of the ship’s flippers slow. As they did, there was a corresponding decrease in the ship’s speed. Slower and slower the flippers moved, until they finally ground to a halt just before the ship reached its destination. The remaining inertia gently carried the ship forward until it too petered out, leaving them floating in place above a conveniently empty area that was more than big enough to land the ship.
A few moments later, another sound caught Sunset’s attention. It was a loud hissing, like that of air being blown into a balloon, but magnified significantly. Looking around, she followed the noise to the large beams that connected the ship to the balloon overhead. There were four in total, one in each corner of the ship; she walked over to the closest one to get a better look.
The beam was thick and tough, with a wide pipe connected to it, running from the balloon at the top to the floorboards beneath them. It was this pipe that was the source of the noise, it and the other ones like it on the other beams. Sunset put her ear up to the pipe to get a better listen; up close, the noise sounded even more intense, like the shrill cry of wind in a storm.
“Makes quite a racket, don’t it?” said a voice from behind her. Sunset started and whipped around, only to see Olive Ridley standing there, looking as carefree as ever. “I apologize, Madam Ambass’dor,” he said, noticing her reaction, “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
“It’s alright, captain,” said Sunset, feeling more embarrassed than startled. She realized that the sound of his approach must have been masked by the sound of the pipe, which she had been awkwardly pressing her head against. “I was just wondering what was going on here,” she said, trying save face.
Olive Ridley then explained to Sunset the basics of how the ship’s flotation system worked. Normally, the ship’s balloon was filled with gas that was lighter than the surrounding air, which lifted the ship up. But when they wanted to descend, they had to pump the heavier air from the surrounding atmosphere up into the balloon, making it heavier and reducing the lift it provided the ship. The pipes up on the deck were carrying air from the pumps, the strange machines Sunset had seen in the boiler room earlier, up into the balloon. While Sunset already knew how airships worked in principle, it was still interesting to hear about the specifics.
The ship began to descend slowly, the buildings on the ground becoming larger as the distance to them decreased. As they got close to the ground, the audible rush of air through the pipes diminished, slowing to a trickle. The movement of the ship toward the ground also slowed to a crawl, the last bit of distance taking what seemed like forever to close. Just before the hull of the ship kissed the earth, the pipes went silent, and the ship hovered in place.
The whisper of air was replaced with a brief, but loud grinding coming from the underbelly of the ship. “And that’d be the anchor,” explained Olive Ridley. “Stows away nice and neat when we don’t need it.”
Sunset noticed Steel Rain emerge from the bridge and fly over to where they were standing. She landed with the same poise Sunset had seen her demonstrate previously and addressed the captain. “Landing procedure is complete, sir,” she said.
“Very good,” replied Ridley. He moved over to the side of the deck, the same spot Sunset had walked onto the ship earlier that day. Sunset hadn’t noticed it earlier, but that particular section of the short wall that ringed the deck seemed to be attached to the rest with hinges and a bolt, like a door. Ridley slid back the bolt and pulled the wall inward, leaving a gap a few feet wide. “Miss Rain, would you do the honors?” he said.
“Yes, sir,” Steel Rain replied. She moved over to the gap and took hold of a small loop of rope attached to the deck at the edge. Fluttering into the air, she yanked on the rope, pulling up a long gangplank that had been inlaid into the deck. She flew backwards, dragging the long plank out and away from the ship. When it had been drawn out to its full extent, the end of the plank hooked into a small groove in the deck, locking it in place. Steel Rain slowly descended to the ground, delivering the other end of the gangplank to its resting place.
As she did this, Nova Obscura emerged from belowdecks and joined Sunset and the captain. “You ready to go, Nova?” Sunset asked her.
“I’m ready,” Nova responded, a determined look on her face. “How about you?”
Standing there, about to set off on her mission, Sunset felt a mixture of excitement and trepidation at the thought of what might come next for them. “Ready as I’ll ever be,” said Sunset, trying to sound confident despite her rising anxiety.
“One last thing before you shove off, Madam Ambass’dor,” said Olive Ridley, an uncharacteristically serious expression on his face. “Now, I may be your captain, but I’m also responsible for your safety while you’re with us. I know the most dangerous thing around these parts is probably a bumblebee, but still, I’d feel better if you two didn’t run about unescorted. And it doesn’t have to be me; I could have Miss Rain go along with you if you’d prefer. I promise she wouldn’t get in the way of your business at all.”
Sunset found the captain’s concern sweet, albeit a bit patronizing. “Is that a request, or an order?” she asked respectfully.
Olive Ridley chuckled, his usual smile returning to his face. “Madam, I have neither the authority nor the inclination to be orderin’ you around,” he said. “All I want is to make sure you come back in one piece when you’re through.”
“You don’t have to worry about us, captain,” said Sunset, “we can take care of ourselves.”
“I’m sure you can,” Ridley said genuinely. “Just...don’t forget that we’re here for you, all of us are. And you both be back before nightfall, you hear?” he said with a comically exaggerated parental tone.
“We will,” Sunset chuckled, “I promise.”
“Well, I guess that’ll have to be good enough for me, then,” said Ridley. He stepped back and motioned toward the gangplank. “Best of luck to you, Madam Ambass’dor,” he said, giving a polite bow. Steel Rain, who had returned to the deck while they had been talking, also gave a bow.
“Thanks,” said Sunset, “we’ll be back soon.”
“Farewell, captain,” said Nova.
Sunset and Nova took their leave, descending the angled gangplank to the ground. Sunset took a moment to look around once she got there. From that angle, she could see that the Opportunity was hovering a few feet in the air, a fairly precise landing for such a large craft. She could also see the ship’s flippers from close up, the large paddles looking even more impressive than when she had seen them from afar. Emerging from the ship between the two paddles was a thick, heavy chain which led to a large anchor resting on the ground.
“Sunset,” said Nova, “are you sure we shouldn’t bring an escort? It couldn’t hurt.”
“Yes, Nova, I’m sure,” replied Sunset. While Nova’s caution was predictable, Sunset was not inclined to give in. She didn’t want the first thing she did on her mission to be asking for help, especially on an assignment as low-stakes as the one they were on. “We’re just gonna be looking at a bunch of plants; we’ll be fine on our own.”
Sunset led the way into the village, with Nova following alongside her. They could see that most of the buildings were residences: small, one-story, wooden houses that looked old and run-down. One or two of them even looked abandoned, their roofs sagging and their windows cracked. They couldn’t see any other ponies, either moving about the town or in their homes. “Where is everyone?” said Sunset.
“Maybe they’re all out working in the fields,” guessed Nova.
One of the buildings in the village stood out from the others. It was slightly wider than the other buildings and had a shaded porch that ran across its front side. Its wide windows displayed a variety of common goods such as farming tools arranged inside. There was no sign designating it as such, but Sunset could recognize a storefront when she saw one. “Why don’t we try in there?” Sunset suggested. “In a village as small as this, they’ll have to know where we can find Rosemary.”
The two approached the store, the floorboards creaking loudly as they stepped up to the front door. Sunset reached out and gently pushed the door open, not sure what to expect. As they stepped inside, Sunset saw that her suspicions had been correct about the place. Wooden shelves throughout the store displayed even more goods than those they had seen in the window displays. In addition to tools, she also saw a variety of other household items such as cookware, spices, cloth, medicine, and even some candy. A wooden counter stood in the back corner, with the entryway to some back room behind it.
Seeing nopony immediately, Sunset approached the counter. There was a small call bell on the countertop, which Sunset ventured to ring. The bell rang out sharp and clear in the quiet store. From the back room, a voice called out, “Keep your horseshoes on! I’ll be there in a jiffy.” A few moments later, an old, wrinkled mare emerged and stood behind the counter. “Well now, I can’t say I’ve ever seen you two fillies around these parts before,” she said friendlily, adjusting the tiny pair of spectacles on her face. “Either that, or my eyes are even worse than I thought.”
“We just got here today, ma’am,” said Sunset. “I’m Sunset Shimmer and this is Nova Obscura. We’ve been sent here to help your village deal with the blight.”
The old mare narrowed her eyes. “Blight?” she said. “I ain’t heard nothin’ about no...oh, wait a minute!” she said, suddenly perking up. “You must be talkin’ about what’s been goin’ on up at Rosemary’s place.”
“Uh, yeah, we are looking for Rosemary, actually,” said Sunset, somewhat confused by her response. “Do you know where we can find her?”
“Why, sure!” the old mare replied. “She an’ her daughter live just a few miles up the road. It’s a right shame what’s been goin’ on up there. Rosemary’s been havin’ a fit over the whole thing, tellin’ everypony that their crops are gonna be next if things don’t change soon.”
“What exactly has been going on with her crops?” asked Sunset.
Just then, Sunset heard the sound of the front door opening behind her. She looked over her shoulder and saw a young mare entering the store. She was an Earth pony that looked to be just a few years older than Sunset: a full-grown mare by any reasonable appraisal. Her coat was a soft pinkish color; her long, reddish-pink hair flowed like fresh linens from her head. She had bright eyes and a youthful face; she was pretty, but not strikingly so.
The old mare behind the counter spoke up. “Well, what a coinkydink you showin’ up just now, Hollyhock,” she said to the young mare. “Me an’ these nice fillies from out of town were just talkin’ about what’s been happenin’ to your flowers.”
The young mare froze in her tracks, her face expressionless; she looked Sunset and Nova up and down. “Oh?” she said flatly.
“Yeah,” the old mare continued, “they say they’re here from...er, where did you say you we’re from again?”
“We’re here from Canterlot,” said Sunset turning to face the newcomer. “We got the message Rosemary sent us about the problem with your crops. She’s your mother, right?”
“The message?” said the young mare. “What are you...?” Suddenly, her eyes went wide. “Oh.” Her eyes shut and she turned her head to the side. “Oh no. She didn’t...” she grumbled under he breath. She released an exasperated sigh and looked back up at Sunset. “Yes, Rosemary is my mama,” she said calmly. “And yes, we’re the ones who’ve been havin’ problems at our farm. It’s just...I’m sorry, would you mind waitin’ for me outside for a minute. I just need to pick up a few things real quick and then I’ll tell you what you want to know. I promise.”
“Um, sure,” said Sunset, confused by her reaction. She looked over at Nova and signaled that they were leaving.
“Toodle-oo!” said the old mare, waving at Sunset and Nova as they walked out of the shop.
Once they were out and the door had closed behind them, Sunset turned to face Nova. “Well, that was weird,” she said quietly.
“Indeed,” said Nova. “She seemed so upset when we told her why we were here. Maybe things here are worse than we thought.”
“Maybe,” said Sunset. “Anyway, we’ll find out soon enough.”
A short while later, the young mare emerged from the shop, a polite smile on her face. She paused, looking past Sunset and Nova to the Opportunity in the distance. “You know, I’d been wonderin’ what that big balloon was doin’ there,” she said. “I’ve never seen one so close before.” She turned her gaze back to Sunset. “I apologize; we got off on the wrong hoof back in there. My name is Hollyhock, it’s a pleasure to meet you two.”
“Hey, it’s no problem,” Sunset said, smiling back at her. “I’m Sunset Shimmer, and this is my friend, Nova Obscura.”
“How do you do?” said Nova.
The friendly expression slowly melted from Hollyhock’s face, leaving her looking downcast. “Look,” she sighed, “I know you both have traveled a long way to get here, and I’m very grateful that you took the time to come and try to help us, but I’m afraid you’ve wasted your time.”
“But you told us you were having problems at your farm,” Sunset pressed.
“Well, yeah,” said Hollyhock tentatively. “We have been havin’ a few minor issues with our latest harvest, but it’s nothin’ that we can’t handle on our own, certainly nothin’ a big-city pony like yourself needs to be frettin’ over.”
“That’s not what we were told,” said Sunset adamantly, “and that’s not what we’ve heard here today.” Sunset was getting increasingly suspicious of Hollyhock’s behavior.
“I know what you probably heard from my mama,” said Hollyhock, “but she’s been...overreactin’ to this whole thing. She’s been runnin’ around the village, tellin’ all the neighbors, and actin’ like the world’s endin’. She’s the one who go the bright idea to send a letter to Canterlot to ask for help. I thought I had talked her out of it, but she must have gone and done it without me knowin’.”
Sunset tried to puzzle out the situation. On one hand, if what Hollyhock was saying was true and there wasn’t a serious problem, then Sunset would have gladly believed it. On the other hand, Sunset was extremely hesitant to risk packing up and leaving without even seeing the problem for herself.
“Hollyhock,” Sunset began, “I’m not saying you’re lying, but I don’t think we can leave without at least hearing what your mother has to say.”
“Alright,” sighed Hollyhock. “If you’re absolutely certain. Come with me; our farm’s just a short walk down the road.”
Sunset and Nova followed Hollyhock out of the village and down one of the dirt roads leading through the fields. As they walked, they passed by rows of ripe, juicy tomatoes, huge watermelons, bright green lettuce, and many other kinds of delicious foodstuff. Sunset’s stomach grumbled at the sight, as she had not had anything to eat since the light breakfast she had had before leaving the castle that morning.
Nova attempted to engage Hollyhock in light conversation as they went, asking her about the village and her farm. From this, they learned that there were only a few dozen ponies living in the nearby area, most of whom lived out on their farms rather than in the village proper. Unlike most of their neighbors, Hollyhock and her mother grew flowers rather than fruits and vegetables. Whenever harvest time came along, they and the other farmers would transport their produce by wagon to a river several miles away. From there, it would be shipped downriver, eventually making its way to Los Pegasus, Ponyville, and many other nearby communities.
As they went further along, the fields became less densely packed, with small, grassy areas and groves of thin trees scattered throughout. Eventually, the road came to a short hill, framed on both sides by trees. “We’re almost there,” said Hollyhock as they ascended. “It’s just over this hill.”
When Sunset’s head finally peeked over the top and she could see what lay beyond, she couldn’t help but stop and stare. On the other side of the hill was a small, shallow valley, every square foot of which was covered in some of the most beautiful flowers Sunset had ever seen. She saw swathes of roses as red as blood nestled near lilies as white as snow. She saw sunflowers standing tall and proud, shining like miniature suns in the afternoon light. Bluebells, daisies, marigolds, tulips, and a hundred other types of flower made an appearance, each boasting vibrant colors of their own. To Sunset, it looked as if a rainbow had fallen out of the sky and landed there on the ground without losing any of its splendor.
“Woah,” said Sunset, too overwhelmed to think of anything more eloquent to say.
“It’s beautiful,” said Nova, in a similarly awed tone.
Hollyhock chuckled at their reactions. “Yeah,” she said, “it is pretty, ain’t it? I guess you just get used to it, seein’ it every day.” She let the have a moment to take it all in before ushering them along. “Come on now, you two, unless you’re lookin’ to get jobs as scarecrows.” Sunset and Nova pulled themselves out of their stupor and followed behind her.
The scent that permeated the air was almost as heavenly as the sights. Sunset could also hear the soft buzzing of bees as they hopped about the flowers collecting their nectar. She was reminded of the many hours she had spent wandering through the castle gardens back in Canterlot. While the gardens were probably the only thing she had ever seen that could surpass what she saw before her, the valley’s sheer size and variety made it a serious rival.
The road ended at a small clearing at the end of the valley in front of another wooded area. A small farmhouse dominated the clearing; it looked old, but seemed to be well-maintained. It had only a single story, but looked big enough to house a small family.
“Well, here it is: home, sweet home,” said Hollyhock as they arrived at the house. “It ain’t much, but...it ain’t much,” she finished despondently. Hollyhock perked up as she remembered that Sunset and Nova were still there with her. “Come along inside. Mama’s probably still in the kitchen.”
She led them up to the house and opened the front door, ushering them inside. They were standing in a small common room from which they could see pretty much the entire rest of the house. On one side, a small dining room could be seen, leading to what looked like the kitchen on the far end. On the other side of the house, there were two other rooms, which Sunset assumed must have been bedrooms. Somepony could be heard moving about the kitchen, accompanied by the sound of cookware on a hard surface.
“Mama, I’m back,” called out Hollyhock. “And I brought guests.”
“Guests?” responded a voice from the kitchen. “What’re you doin’ bringin’ guests 'round here? You know we don’t have time to entertain.”
“No, mama,” said Hollyhock, walking through the dining room towards the kitchen, “they’re here to help us. They...got the letter you sent.”
“Oh, really?” said the pony in the kitchen. The sounds of cookware ceased, and Sunset could hear hoofsteps approaching.
In the entryway to the kitchen appeared a middle-aged Earth pony, although the lines on her face made her look older than that. Her coat was a pastel bluish-purple, and her hair, done up in a lumpy bun with a few loose strands hanging down, was a darker, dull purple. She was wearing an apron stained with powders and liquids of various color. Despite everything else, Sunset could not help but notice a strong family resemblance between her and Hollyhock.
“Well, now,” she said, “who do we have here?”
“Mama, this is Sunset and Nova,” said Hollyhock, gesturing to each of them in turn. “Girls, this here’s my mama, Rosemary.”
“It’s nice to meet you, ma’am,” said Sunset, Nova echoing her.
Rosemary looked them up and down, as if appraising a flower in a contest. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance,” she said, “although, I wish we didn’t have to be meetin’ under such circumstances. We’re in a right pickle here, and I’m about at my wits’ end.”
“That’s why we're here,” said Sunset enthusiastically. “We’re going to do whatever it takes to help you solve your problem.”
Rosemary’s eyes narrowed. “You know, when I wrote to Canterlot askin’ for help, I’d hoped the princess would take the situation seriously,” she said, looking Sunset in the eye. “I’d hoped that she would send somepony a bit more...experienced.” Sunset had heard comments such as this from older ponies enough times to know exactly what Rosemary meant by “experienced”.
“Mama!” said Hollyhock quietly. “Be polite. They came here to help us.”
“And how much help do you think a couple of fillies are gonna be?” said Rosemary to her daughter. She turned back to address Sunset. “I don’t suppose you know anything about flowers, do you? Or any kind of crops for that matter. Heavens, have you even been on a farm before?”
Sunset had been about to butt in after being called a filly, but Rosemary’s challenge stopped her in her tracks. As much as it pained her to admit it, she was woefully unprepared to handle a situation like the one she had found herself in. It had been easier for her to hide behind a veil of false confidence back on the ship, when her troubles had just been words on paper. But there on the farm, with her own ignorance being thrown in her face, she was forced to recognize the gravity of the situation. Still, Sunset was not about to give up without a fight.
Sunset straightened her shoulders and held her head high. “Look, I might not be an expert when it comes to flowers,” she began, trying to sound as confident as she could. “And I’m definitely not saying I’m a better farmer than you. But the princess chose me to come here because she thought I'd be able to help you. If she thinks I can do it, then that should be enough for you too. Won’t you at least give us a chance? If things really are as bad as you say they are, what have you got to lose?”
Rosemary showed no reaction as she listened to Sunset. When Sunset finished, silence hung over the room. After a moment, Rosemary breathed a defeated sigh. “You’re right,” she said. “You’re absolutely right.” She chuckled disconcertingly. “We’re at the end of our rope. I’m not in a position to be turnin’ away anyone’s help right now.”
“Rosemary, we want to help you,” said Sunset in a much gentler tone, “you just have to let us. Just...tell us what’s going on, and we’ll see what we can do to fix it.”
“Alright,” said Rosemary. “Why don’t you two have a seat? I’ll tell you everything I can.” Sunset and Nova sat down at the dining room table with Rosemary, who sent Hollyhock into the kitchen to fetch them all some tea.
“Now, it all started about three or four weeks ago, if I recall correctly,” began Rosemary. “I was out tendin’ to the flowers in the north field one mornin’. We had some beautiful lilacs growin’ up there; red ones, pink ones, white ones, the whole shebang. Anyway, I went over to give ‘em a drink, but something was wrong. A huge patch of ‘em had somehow gone from bein’ their usual, colorful selves to bein’ pure white, and not just the normal sort of white neither. It was a pale, sickly sort of white they were, like the color a pony turns when they’re under the weather. They’d completely lost their color, petals, stems, leaves, and all.
“Now, normally such a thing happenin’ wouldn’t be a huge cause for alarm. There are several sorts of disease that can rob a flower of its color, all of which are fairly easy to deal with, but this was different. I’d never seen a crop with symptoms that bad before, and I started fearin’ the worst. I tried all my usual remedies, but none of ‘em did the trick. Even my last-resort cures didn’t do any good.
“I was right flummoxed. Luckily, I was able to find the answer. I was lookin’ through an old book of home remedies, most of which I already knew, but I was desperate. That’s where I found it. There was a short snippet about blights from olden times, so old that they’re more legend than history nowadays. I only read it on a whim, but am I sure glad that I did. If I hadn’t, I never would have found out about wraithrot.”
“Wraithrot?” said Sunset grimly.
“Yes,” said Rosemary. “And the name is the most pleasant thing about it. Apparently, it was first seen centuries ago in small communities to the south. From there, the rot spread like wildfire, infectin’ any kind of plant it could get a hold of. And it’s most noticeable symptom? It turned any flower, any vegetable, any tree it touched as white as a sheet, hence the name. And that wasn’t all. Any food taken from an infected plant would be spoiled rotten, making ponies sick from just a single bite. If they hadn’t wiped out the blight as quick as they did, there would have been famine all across Equestria for years.”
“So, what did they do?” asked Sunset, who was very absorbed by the story. “How did they stop it?”
“They used the farmer’s last resort,” said Rosemary. “They put their fields, their orchards, and their nurseries to the torch. Thousands of square miles of land were burned to the ground. Ancient forests that had been growin’ since before the foundin’ of Equestria disappeared as if they’d never even been there. Many ponies lost their homes and their livelihoods, but in the end, they succeeded; the rot was gone, never to be seen again...well, until now, that is.”
Hollyhock re-entered the dining room, carrying a tray with teacups and a kettle. She poured cups of tea for everyone while her mother continued.
“I was shakin' in my horseshoes after I’d finished readin’, but at least I knew what we had to do,” said Rosemary. “Hollyhock and I went to work straight away, pullin’ up the affected plants and burnin’ ‘em to ash. We thought that’d be the end of it, but we weren’t that lucky. Soon after, we found even more plants with the rot, and in bigger bunches than the first time. We’ve been at this for weeks, tryin’ to stamp it out. Every day we burn more and more, and every day it keeps comin’ back. At this rate, if things keep goin’ they way they are, we’ll lose our entire crop within a month.
“And that won’t be the end of it, neither. If we go, then our neighbors will be next. They’ll lose their crops, and then the trees and grass will carry wraithrot throughout Equestria. Paradise Fields will be gone by the end of the season. And by the end of the year, it will have gotten from here to Ponyville and everywhere in between, and we can say goodbye to a good chunk of Equestria’s food supply.”
Sunset felt cold as she listened to these final words. She sipped the hot tea held between her hooves, but it did little to warm her. Envisioning the consequences should she fail her mission did nothing to bolster her diminishing confidence. She gulped, then opened her mouth to speak. “If you were having so much trouble, why didn’t you send for help sooner?” she asked.
Hollyhock squirmed uncomfortably in her seat and Rosemary’s jaw clenched. “In hindsight, I probably should have,” said Rosemary. “I had wanted to send word to Canterlot soon after the outbreak, but I was...persuaded to wait and see if we could solve the problem ourselves.” Almost imperceptibly fast, Rosemary’s eyes darted over to Hollyhock, before returning to Sunset.
“Well, we’re here now, that’s what matters,” said Sunset in a serious tone. “I understand why you’re so worried, Rosemary, and I know I probably wouldn’t have been your first choice, but I’m going to give it my all anyway. Whatever I can do to save your farm, I’ll do it. I swear, I’ll find a way to get you through this.”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep, young lady,” said Rosemary, a forlorn smile on her face. “But if you’re still willin’ to give it a go after hearin’ all that, then you must have somethin’ worthwhile in you.” She turned to the side to address her daughter. “Hollyhock, why don’t you take them out to the north field; let them see for themselves just what’s goin’ on.”
“Yes, mama,” said Hollyhock, rising from the table. “Come along, you two. Let’s get goin'.” Sunset gulped down the last of her tea and followed Hollyhock out of the room, Nova close behind her. The three walked back to the front door and exited the house, the heat of the afternoon sun once again beating down on their heads.
“Hollyhock,” said Sunset once the door was closed, “can you tell us what’s really going on? Why were you trying to downplay things earlier? And why did you tell your mother not to call for help?”
Hollyhock sighed and turned to face Sunset. “It...it wasn’t that bad at first. I really thought we’d be able to handle things on our own, and I didn’t want my mama to start a panic by tellin’ the princess that there was a famine comin’. And when you actually came here, well...I just didn’t want you to be jumpin’ to conclusions. I know what my mama thinks but, to tell you the truth, I’m still not entirely sure this is wraithrot we’re dealin’ with. It could be that she’s just wrong, and it’s somethin’ entirely different. Anyway, you’re here now, so you can see for yourself and make up your own mind. Come on.”
Hollyhock turned abruptly and began walking away. Nova moved to follow her, but Sunset put a hoof on her shoulder to stop her. Nova looked back at Sunset, confused, and Sunset leaned in to whisper in her ear. “Nova, I want you to stay here with Rosemary,” said Sunset.
“Why?” said Nova quietly.
“I think there’s more going on here than Hollyhock’s telling us,” said Sunset. “Try talking with Rosemary. See if you can find out anything else.”
“Alright,” said Nova hesitantly.
Sunset gave Nova one last look before catching up with Hollyhock; Nova stood there, watching the two walk off to the north. Sunset came up alongside Hollyhock and slowed to match her pace. Hollyhock took a quick look around. “Hey, what happened to Nova?” she asked.
“Oh, she was...feeling a bit tired,” Sunset said, trying to sound natural. “I told her to stay back at the house and rest.”
“Oh, okay,” said Hollyhock, seemingly unsuspicious of Sunset’s cover story.
The two followed a narrow path through the flowers up to the north side of the valley. As they drew closer, Sunset began to see large patches of bare earth amongst the flowers. The patches grew larger and more frequent as they went, until eventually they combined into a single, large clearing. In the center of the clearing was a wide pit in the ground, with a large pile of firewood nearby.
“That’s where we’ve been doin’ the burnin’,” said Hollyhock, indicating the pit. “And over here, you can see the problem for yourself.” Hollyhock walked over to the edge of the clearing, where there was a scattered bunch of ominously-colored flowers. From a distance, Sunset had thought they looked like any of the other white flowers that decorated the fields. As she went closer, she could see that her initial appraisal was far from accurate.
Sunset saw various types of flowers growing in the area, most of which were of the coloration one would expect of them. Several dozen of the flowers, however, were completely white, just as Rosemary had described. But the particular shade of white these flowers exhibited was not the sort one could see on a lily, a daisy, or any other pleasant-looking flower. They had an unnervingly unnatural appearance, as if they had been drained of their very essence. Sunset could see how wraithrot got its name; the flowers in front of her looked positively ghostly.
“Spooky-lookin’, aren’t they?” Hollyhock said grimly.
“Yeah,” replied Sunset, still transfixed by the sight.
“I gotta finish pickin’ the rest of these before suppertime,” said Hollyhock, “but you’re welcome to see what you can do.” She picked up a wicker basket laying nearby and moved off to a nearby clump of the flowers.
“Right,” said Sunset hesitantly. She was unsure of how to proceed, her tentative plans seeming less promising with the problem right in front of her nose. She reached out and gently stroked the petals of a chrysanthemum, which didn’t feel any different from its healthier neighbors. She lowered her head to it and inhaled deeply, again noticing no significant difference between it and any of the other nearby flowers.
One hunch that Sunset had gotten when she had heard of the disease’s resistance to conventional cures was that it might have been magical in nature. If some sort of spell had been placed on the affected plants, then that would explain why Rosemary’s home remedies had been ineffective. Enchanted objects weren’t always noticeable at a glance, but there were ways of finding out for sure.
Sunset concentrated and called forth the magic within her, channeling it through the horn on her head. She reached out with her magic and embraced the flower in front of her, which began to glow with a blue-green aura. Normally, an enchanted object would have a distinct feel to it, typically described as it feeling “alive”, and a unicorn could perceive this if they listened closely enough to hear its metaphorical “heartbeat”. Sunset, however, could feel nothing; the flower felt as magically inert as the dirt it was growing in.
Sunset was a bit disappointed by this revelation. She had hoped that the problem might have had its roots in magic, therefore being a bit more within her area of expertise than a more conventional disease. Luck was not on her side that day, however, and she was forced to resort to some of her backup plans.
She next tried a simple first aid spell she had learned years ago. It was intended to be used for healing minor injuries, like cuts and bruises, but Sunset thought that it might be able to help her out all the same. The flower glowed brightly for a moment, but then faded back to its former pale appearance. Only slightly perturbed, she tried a few other simple spells that she thought were at least tangentially relevant to the situation.
Several minutes passed as Sunset worked and Hollyhock picked. When Hollyhock’s basket got full, she would carry it over to the pit and deposit its contents inside before returning to the flowers. As she picked, she gradually worked her way closer to where Sunset was.
Having exhausted all of her magical fixes without any noticeable success, Sunset uttered a frustrated sigh and let go of her magic for the time being. She took a deep breath to calm and refocus herself. She glanced over at Hollyhock, who had seemingly taken no notice of Sunset’s difficulties. Sunset’s mind once again turned to Hollyhock and her mother, thinking that she might be able to make some progress on that front if not on the blight.
“So, Hollyhock,” said Sunset casually, “aside from...recent events, how have things been going for you and your mom?”
“Not too bad, I suppose,” said Hollyhock, putting her work on hold for a moment. “The rains have come on time this year, and we haven’t had any issues with pests recently. Mama and I have been gettin’ by just as well as ever, for what it’s worth.”
“What do you do when you’re not working?” asked Sunset.
Hollyhock chuckled. “Well, I don’t get that much free time,” she said, “but sometimes, I’ll take walks in the groves nearby. It’s always so peaceful hearin’ the wind in the trees and feelin’ the grass on your hooves. If you find a nice shady spot under a tree, you can doze off for hours if you’re not careful. And if the work’s real light, then I can even head down to the river and have a swim.”
“That must feel good after working out here all day,” said Sunset. “Who do you go with?”
“Normally, I just go on my own,” said Hollyhock wistfully. “There ain’t really anypony else for me to hang out with.”
“You don’t have any friends nearby?” said Sunset.
“It’s not that,” said Hollyhock. “I’m friends with most of the ponies ‘round these parts. It’s just that...most of ‘em are closer to my mama’s age, or they’re much younger than me. They’re nice folks and all, they’re just not the hangin’-out-with type, and I’m way too old to be playin’ around with a bunch of fillies and colts.”
“Sounds like you don’t get to have that much fun around here,” said Sunset.
“I didn’t mean to make it sound that bad,” said Hollyhock, smiling. “It might seem like just a chore to you, but I genuinely enjoy tendin’ to these fields.” Hollyhock reached out and gently caressed a beautiful orchid in front of her. “I love watchin’ these flowers grow big and beautiful. I like imaginin’ all the ponies around Equestria I’m makin’ happy with my work.
Maybe that carnation I grew will end up bein’ given to some pretty filly by her special somepony. Maybe some pony sick in the hospital will see my daffodils by his bedside and find the strength to carry on. Maybe my poppies will end up on a headstone and make that pony’s family feel just a little bit better. I wouldn’t give up doin’ what I’m doin’ for anythin' in the world. But...” Hollyhock looked Sunset in the eye, a serious expression on her face. “Can I ask you somethin?”
“Of course,” replied Sunset.
“You ever feel like...like maybe you could be doin’ more than what you are?” said Hollyhock. “Like you could be so much better, accomplish so much more than what you are, except you can’t because...somethin’s holdin’ you back?”
“Yeah,” said Sunset, “I know exactly what that feels like.”
“I’ve had this...dream...this fantasy, really...ever since I was a little filly,” said Hollyhock. “I’ve always imagined that, when I got old enough, I’d move away from Paradise Fields. I’d move to the big city, to Manehattan, or maybe Canterlot, and when I got there, I’d open my own flower shop. I’d grow the most beautiful flowers you ever did see. Ponies would come from all over Equestria just to see what I grew. And I’d make a lot of money so my mama didn’t have to work all day just to make ends meet. She could be happy again...” Hollyhock emerged from her reverie and chuckled. “It’s silly, really.”
“No!” said Sunset awkwardly loudly. Hollyhock looked at her, startled at her outburst. “I mean...that’s not silly, Hollyhock, not at all,” said Sunset, catching herself and continuing in a normal tone. “I’ve seen what you and your mother have done here. You have incredible talent. And what’s more, you have drive, you want to do bigger and better things with your life. Not everypony’s like that. Not everypony would have the courage to leave their home and try to make it big somewhere else, but I think you do. I think you could do all that if you really wanted to.”
Hollyhock looked away, the slight hint of a blush on her cheeks. “That’s awful nice of you to say, Sunset, but it’s still just a dream,” she said. “I don’t really think it’ll ever happen for real.”
“Well, why not?” said Sunset. “What’s stopping you?”
Hollyhock sighed. “It’s mama,” she said. “She’d never leave this farm if she had a choice. I’ve tried talkin’ to her before, tellin’ her that we might have better luck someplace else. She wouldn’t hear a word of it, that stubborn old mule. She thinks we wouldn’t last two weeks if we left, even though we’re just barely lastin’ now.”
“Well, have you considered...going without her?” said Sunset.
“I couldn’t do that,” said Hollyhock. “As much as she annoys me sometimes, she’s still my mama. I wouldn’t wanna just leave her here by herself. I want to be with her, just...not here.”
Neither of them said anything for a moment. “I’m sorry, Hollyhock,” said Sunset, breaking the silence. “I didn’t mean to drag you into such a personal conversation.”
“It’s alright, Sunset,” said Hollyhock, smiling at her, “I don’t mind. It’s nice to finally have somepony I can talk to about this.” She looked up at the sun for a moment. “It’s gettin’ on. We should finish up here soon and start headin’ back.” She looked down at the flower that Sunset had been experimenting on. “I take it you didn’t have much luck with that.”
“No,” said Sunset. After listening to what Hollyhock said, Sunset’s inability to banish the blight only made her feel worse. Frustrated, Sunset ripped up the flower and added it to Hollyhock’s basket. She decided to help Hollyhock finish picking that last of the diseased flowers, as she needed some time to think before making another attempt. The two worked silently, collecting the last of the flowers and taking them to the pit.
There was a substantial pile of flowers there by the time they were done. As Sunset stood beside it, she could smell the lingering scent of ash mixed with the fragrance of the flowers. Hollyhock took several pieces of wood from the nearby pile and arranged them in the pit. She got a box of matches that was sitting nearby and was about to strike one of them when Sunset stopped her. “I can take care of that,” Sunset said.
Sunset once again reached out for her magic and concentrated on the pile of plant matter in front of her. She cast a simple spell, igniting a small spark of flame toward the bottom of the pile. The flame quickly spread, encompassing the entire mass in under a minute. Sunset and Hollyhock stood silently as they watched the blaze. Minutes passed, and the pile gradually shrank until all that was left was cinders and charred pieces of wood. Hollyhock turned and kicked some dirt into the pit, smothering the remains of the fire.
“Come on,” said Hollyhock. “We’d best be headin’ back now.” She and Sunset began their walk back to the farmhouse. As they went, Sunset thought about what Hollyhock had said, and about what she might do next to try and help. No bright ideas popped into her head, unfortunately. She also wondered if Nova had managed to get any more information out of Rosemary while they had been gone.
Nova stood in front of the farmhouse, watching Sunset and Hollyhock walking off to the north field. Sunset’s words floated around in her head, giving her a lot to think about. While Nova had found Hollyhock’s behavior a bit odd given the circumstances, she was not as suspicious of her as Sunset seemed to be. Perhaps the stress of the situation had just been getting to Hollyhock, Nova thought, and she was trying to think optimistically.
Whatever the reason, she would learn no more by standing out in the sun until they returned. She turned around and headed back into the house, closing the door gently behind her. Rosemary could not be seen in the dining room, presumably having returned to the kitchen, where she had been earlier. Nova walked over and poked her head into the kitchen, where she saw that Rosemary had indeed resumed her work. “Um, Rosemary? Ma’am?” she said politely.
Rosemary looked up from what she was doing for a moment, before looking back again. “Back so soon, dear?” she asked.
“Sunset thought that I should stay behind and lend a hoof while she goes to see the flowers,” said Nova hesitantly. While she thought that Sunset was being a little too paranoid, she still preferred to tell such a white lie rather than openly confront Rosemary about their suspicions.
“Well, I suppose I could use another pair of hooves,” said Rosemary. “I’ve just been experimentin’ with some mixes that might help stop the blight. Have you ever done this sort of work before?”
Nova looked at the countertop where Rosemary was working. She saw bottles, jars, and other small containers filled with various liquids, powders, roots, herbs, and other strange ingredients that she couldn’t identify. Several pots simmered on the stove, sending multicolored steam wafting up into the air. Rosemary herself was grinding something in a mortar, producing a fine, red powder.
The scene reminded Nova of the long hours she and Sunset had spent learning to brew potions together. While she had done well in those lessons, she had never quite managed to match Sunset’s talent for the discipline. Nova had often needed to rely on Sunset to help her out when she got confused by a certain formula. Perhaps this might be an opportunity to demonstrate her own abilities, Nova thought.
“I’ve done a little bit,” said Nova humbly. She moved over to the counter to stand beside Rosemary, who put her to work performing simple tasks such as measuring, mixing, and cutting. Nova was a bit overwhelmed at first having to keep track of all the different pieces of the puzzle before her, but she eventually got into the groove of things.
The two worked for a while with minimal communication. When Nova got more comfortable, she started thinking about the task Sunset had assigned her and how best to go about it. She didn’t think that jumping into a conversation about Hollyhock would be the most effective way of going about things, so she decided to try weening her way into it. “You’re very good at this,” she said.
“I ought to be after doin’ this for so long,” said Rosemary.
“And how long might that be?” said Nova.
“Many, many years,” said Rosemary. “Since I was around Hollyhock’s age, I reckon.”
“Does she know how to do this as well?” said Nova.
“She knows the basics,” sighed Rosemary, “but that filly’s never had the patience to learn much more than that.” She shook her head. “I just don’t know what goes on in that head of hers. She’s gonna have to take over the farm someday, and then what? Who’s she gonna turn to then to lend her a hoof?”
“You don’t think she could handle it by herself?” said Nova.
“We have a hard enough time handlin’ it with the both of us,” said Rosemary. “Don’t get me wrong; she has talent. I’ve seen her raise the most beautiful buds you ever did see, but she doesn’t take it seriously enough. She runs around with her head in the clouds, daydreamin’ and spoutin’ off childish nonsense. One of these days, she’s got to pull herself together and start actin’ like a grown mare.”
“What do you mean by that?” said Nova politely. “She doesn't strike me as being childish.”
“I’d imagine she’d seem mature to a pony of your age,” said Rosemary. “You just haven’t known her long enough, I suppose. She doesn’t have a head for the practical side of runnin’ this place. She doesn’t know the first thing about markets, transport, supply, or anything like that. She just wants to spend her time growin’ pretty flowers and skippin’ through the fields like its all a big game. Heck, if she had her way, she’d have us pack up and move to Manehattan or somethin’ foolish like that.”
“Manehattan?” said Nova. “Why would she want to go there?”
Rosemary stopped her work for a moment and looked up at Nova. “She somehow got the idea in her head that we’d be better off if we just sold the farm, moved away to the big city, and opened a flower shop,” she scoffed. Rosemary shook her head and resumed her work. “It was cute hearin’ her say things like that when she was younger, but it’s high time she start thinkin’ about things like an adult.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t quite follow,” said Nova hesitantly. “Why is starting a flower shop such a bad idea?”
“I can forgive you for wonderin’,” Rosemary sighed. “You don’t know the trade like I do. Places like Canterlot and Manehattan are home to the best florists in all of Equestria. If you want to make it there, it’s not enough just to be good, you have to be the best. You gotta be willin’ to fight the fight and show everypony that you’re a cut above the rest. Those snooty high-society ponies don’t care about the love and attention we put into our work. If some little filly like Hollyhock tried to make it in a place like that, they’d get chewed up and spit out like moldy hay.”
While Nova was mildly insulted by Rosemary’s comments about Canterlot ponies, she realized that she had no real grounds to disagree. She had spent enough time around the ponies of Canterlot’s elite to know just what they were like. While Nova was far too polite to ever speak ill of them openly, she had heard many such disparaging comments come from the mouth of Sunset Shimmer.
“Besides,” continued Rosemary, her tone softening noticeably, “we could never leave this farm. Our family has lived here in Paradise Fields for generations. We were some of the first ponies to settle this part of Equestria all those years ago. This place is our home, and our family has put its blood, sweat, and tears into makin’ it what it is today. It just wouldn’t be right to abandon their legacy to run off chasin’ a dream. Family comes first, plain and simple.”
Nova had often heard her own parents say such things. They had never tried to hide how proud they were of their daughter for her relatively high social standing, even before she had been made Sunset’s assistant. When she had been younger, such treatment had made her feel special, like she was some sort of heroic underdog from an old legend. As she grew older, however, she had come to have a much more mature understanding of their feelings.
Still, Nova did not think less of them because of this; she knew their pride and affection toward her were genuine. She understood that they were merely two ponies of humble origin and humble status who wanted their daughter to have a better life than they did. And if their daughter going up in the world led to them also going up in the world, Nova could not fault them for taking some personal pleasure in that. Her family had done so much for her throughout the years that Nova would have gladly made personal sacrifices if it meant doing some good for them in return.
“I suppose you’re right,” said Nova. “Family does come first.”
Nova returned to her work, thinking about all that Rosemary had said. The conversation died down, returning to the minimal communication necessary for carrying out the tasks at hand. As they neared the end of their preparations, Rosemary began condensing the various mixtures they had been working on into a collection of jars sitting on the counter. Each jar ended up being filled with a different concoction, each having a distinct coloration and consistency. Rosemary sealed the jars and put them away.
“I’ll take these new recipes out to the north field tomorrow,” said Rosemary. “Hopefully our time wasn’t a complete waste.” She began clearing the countertop of equipment and cleaning up any stray spills. “I appreciate your help, Nova. And...thanks for listenin’ to what I had to say. Celestia knows my Hollyhock doesn’t want to hear it.”
“It’s no trouble at all, ma’am,” said Nova.
Rosemary gave Nova a small smile. “I have to start gettin’ supper ready now,” she said. “Why don’t you go out and check on the girls? They should be gettin’ back by now.”
Nova nodded and smiled back at her. She left the kitchen and headed back out in front of the house. The sun was hanging low in the sky, only a short while away from retiring for the day. Nova looked out across the flowers in the direction Hollyhock and Sunset had been walking earlier. To her delight, she saw the two ponies on the path, walking back toward the house. She walked out a few feet and waved a hoof in their direction. She saw Sunset pause a moment to wave back at her.
Sunset and Hollyhock soon reached the clearing where the house stood, and Nova went out to meet them. “Welcome back, you two,” said Nova cheerfully. “Did you have a productive time?”
“Well...um...” said Sunset, looking off to the side.
“We managed to get the rest of the infected flowers disposed of,” said Hollyhock, quickly coming in with a save. “Who knows, maybe that’ll finally be the last of them?”
“It never hurts to stay positive,” said Nova. “Anyway, your mother is preparing dinner and sent me to fetch you.”
“Thank heavens for that,” said Hollyhock. “I’m starved.” She began trotting toward the house, looking over her shoulder to address Sunset and Nova. “Come on! Let’s go see what she’s cookin’ up.”
“Uh, you go ahead,” said Sunset, “we’ll catch up.”
“Alright,” said Hollyhock, continuing toward the house, “but don’t be too long, you hear?”
Sunset and Nova waited until Hollyhock was out of earshot before speaking. “Is everything alright, Sunset?” said Nova. “Did you make any progress with the blight?”
“No,” said Sunset in a frustrated tone. “I tried everything I could think of and nothing worked.”
“We knew this wasn’t going to be easy,” said Nova. “You shouldn’t beat yourself up just because you didn’t get it on the first try. Maybe you just need to sleep on it. We’ll go back to the ship and get a good night’s rest, then tomorrow, we’ll come back bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and tackle it together.”
“You’re right,” sighed Sunset, giving Nova a smile. “It’s been a long day. I could use some rest. What about you though? Were you able to find out anything else back here at the house?”
“Well, I was able to find out a little more about Hollyhock,” said Nova, “but I don’t know if it’s anything that important. Rosemary seems to think that she’s immature and that she wouldn’t be able to handle the farm on her own without help.”
“Immature?” Sunset scoffed. “Why in Equestria would she think that?”
“Apparently, Hollyhock thinks that they would be better off moving away to the big city and doing business there instead,” said Nova.
“Hollyhock told me the same thing,” said Sunset. “She also told me her mom thinks they couldn’t make it in Canterlot.” Sunset shook her head. “Being stubborn is one thing, but ignoring a good idea staring you in the face is another. Hollyhock is great at what she does,” she said, gesturing to the flowers surrounding them for emphasis, “they could totally make it there, or anywhere else for that matter.”
“Well, she is talented,” said Nova, “but leaving your home and starting a new life someplace else is a big risk. Maybe Rosemary just thinks that their place is here, and not trying to fit in to city life.”
“If we can’t figure out something soon,” said Sunset, “she may not have a choice.” Sunset’s ominous remark left an awkward silence in its wake. “Come on,” she continued, “let’s go say our goodbyes, then start heading back.”
Sunset and Nova walked over to the house and went inside again. They could hear Rosemary and Hollyhock in the kitchen, presumably preparing their evening meal. Sunset walked over to speak with them, Nova close behind her. “Rosemary, Hollyhock,” she said, standing in the kitchen entryway, “We just wanted to say goodbye really quick. It’s getting late, so we’ll go ahead and leave you two to your dinner, but we’ll be back first thing in the morning.”
Rosemary looked up from her cutting board where she had been chopping vegetables. “Oh, you don’t need to leave so soon,” she said. “Stay and have supper with us. In fact, why don’t you two stay here for the night? No sense in you leavin’ if you’re just gonna come back tomorrow.”
Hollyhock’s head snapped up from the stove to look at her mother. “Mama! They can’t spend the night!” she said, quietly but enthusiastically. “W-where are they gonna sleep?” Sunset thought the worried-looking expression on Hollyhock’s face seemed a bit much for a concern over sleeping arrangements, but didn’t question it openly.
“That’s very kind of you, ma’am,” Nova chimed in, “but it’s really not necessary.”
“Oh, I insist,” said Rosemary adamantly. “You two came all the way out here just to help us. It’s the least we can do to repay you.”
Sunset did not particularly relish the idea of spending the night in the old farmhouse, but she also didn’t want to offend the pony they had been sent there to help by refusing her hospitality. “Um...alright,” she said. “I suppose we could spend the night here. As long as it’s not too much trouble.”
“Of course not,” said Rosemary friendlily. She turned to address her daughter. “Hollyhock, go and set up the spare bed in your room.”
“But that bed’s not big enough for two ponies,” said Hollyhock.
“They can sleep in your bed and you can sleep in the spare,” said Rosemary in a tone that made clear that the matter was not up for debate. “Now quit your bellyachin’ and get to it.”
“Yes, mama,” Hollyhock sighed. She stepped away from the stove and walked past Sunset and Nova toward the bedrooms.
“If we’re going to be staying the night,” said Nova, “we should probably let the captain know.”
“You’re probably right,” said Sunset. “You wouldn’t mind...”
“Leave it to me, Sunset,” said Nova. “It shouldn’t take me long to pop back to the ship.”
Nova walked back out the front door and started trotting back toward the village. Sunset decided to go check on Hollyhock and see if she needed any help. She walked back to the front of the house and saw Hollyhock at the end of the short hallway leading to the second bedroom, trying to wrestle a foldable metal bed frame out of a closet. “Let me give you a hoof with that,” she called out, walking down the hall.
Sunset grabbed hold of the bed and helped Hollyhock maneuver it out of the closet. “Thanks,” said Hollyhock flatly. They moved the bed over to Hollyhock’s bedroom door, which she opened for them. They pushed the bed into the room, letting Sunset get a good look at the space.
While fairly small, the room was sparsely furnished, keeping it from feeling cramped. Hollyhock had an old-looking bed that seemed big enough to fit two ponies comfortably. A short dresser sat along the far wall, with an array of knick-knacks and other objects on its surface. The open window bathed the room in the warm, late-afternoon sunlight and let in the gentle smell of the fields.
They set up the bed in the open space in the center of the room. Next, they went back to the closet and got a thin, rolled-up mattress, which they took back to the bedroom and unrolled on the bed frame. Hollyhock’s awkward silence as they worked was beginning to make Sunset feel a bit guilty. “Sorry for kicking you out of your bed, Hollyhock,” she said, hoping to clear the air a bit.
“It’s alright, Sunset,” sighed Hollyhock. “It’s not your fault...none of it is,” she finished quietly.
Sunset turned away, Hollyhock’s response not being as encouraging as she would have hoped. She looked at the dresser nearby and the items arranged on it. They were fairly mundane things, mostly: a brush, a small mirror, some hair ribbons, a flower in a glass of water. Something that caught her eye, though, was a photograph in a small wooden frame.
In the photo, Sunset saw three ponies sitting in a grassy field, smiling. A purple-colored mare a bit older than Hollyhock, presumably Rosemary, was holding a very young, pink filly, who was unquestionably Hollyhock. The third figure was a messy-haired stallion about the same age as the Rosemary in the picture, leaning in and giving her a kiss on the cheek.
“Been a long time since that was taken,” said Hollyhock, walking over to the dresser.
Sunset looked at Hollyhock, her focus on the picture interrupted. “I didn’t mean to stare,” she said apologetically.
“Don’t worry,” said Hollyhock lightheartedly. “It’s not like lookin’ at it will do it any harm.” She reached out and took hold of the picture, looking at it deeply.
Sunset moved to stand beside Hollyhock and looked down at the picture as well. “Is that...” she said hesitantly.
“Yep,” said Hollyhock softly, “that’s us: me, mama...and my daddy.”
Sunset paused, unsure of how to proceed. “What was his name?” she said eventually.
“Cypress,” said Hollyhock. “Although, mama called him Cy.”
“And...how old were you when...” Sunset began.
“Around the same age I was here,” said Hollyhock, referring to the picture. “I was too young to really remember, too young to really understand when it happened. Even now, all I really have are snatches of memory, vague feelin’s here and there. I remember the smell of his hair; I remember him holdin’ me tight. I can even remember his voice a bit.”
“What was he like?” said Sunset.
“Well, mama says he was a lot like me,” said Hollyhock, smiling. “He was full of life, she says, always lookin’ to make the best out of every day he had. He loved to joke around and have fun, and he always tried to drag mama into it too. Drove her crazy, she says, but I can tell she liked that about him all the same. And he never stopped lovin’ her, not even a little bit.”
Sunset saw Hollyhock’s eyes getting moist; she put a hoof on her shoulder. “Sounds like he was a really great guy,” she said. Hollyhock said nothing, merely nodding her head. She sniffled and raised a hoof to wipe her eyes, putting the picture back in its place.
“Come on,” said Hollyhock, “let’s finish up here and go help mama with supper.” Together, Hollyhock and Sunset fetched some extra bedding and finished preparing the bed. They returned to the kitchen, where they helped Rosemary with the dinner preparations. Sunset did what she could, but her minimal cooking experience limited her usefulness. By the time the three of them had finished the meal and set the table, Nova had returned.
When she got back to the house, Nova told Sunset that the captain had agreed to let them spend the night there. His earlier reluctance to let them go about on their own had apparently resurfaced, but after Nova had explained the situation, he had given in. She had also brought back some of Sunset’s research materials, in case they needed some inspiration the next day.
The four ponies sat down at the dining room table, where Rosemary served them each a helping of the hearty stew and warm cornbread they had prepared. The stew was a simple recipe containing common ingredients such as cabbage, potatoes, and onions. While Sunset and Nova were both used to eating much fancier meals, they still found the food before them to be delicious in its own right.
They made smalltalk as they ate, mostly led by Nova, who discussed recipes with Rosemary in between ladylike bites. Sunset and Hollyhock were comparatively uncouth, quickly gulping down mouthfuls of food to appease their hungry stomachs. Eventually, there was a break in the conversation, which Rosemary took as an opportunity to address Sunset and Hollyhock. “So, girls,” she began, “you were out there quite a while today. Did you happen to make any progress with the blight?”
Sunset looked away from her, trying to think of a good answer while she finished chewing. She had anticipated that Rosemary might ask her about this, but had been unable to come up with a flattering way of saying that the problem had stumped her. She swallowed and took a deep breath. “Well, not exactly...” said Sunset sheepishly.
“We got rid of the rest of the infected flowers, for what it’s worth,” said Hollyhock.
“But as far as finding a cure goes, I’ve got nothing,” said Sunset.
Rosemary looked gloomy, but unsurprised. “I hate to say I told you so, so I won’t,” she said. “Best we can do is learn from our failures and try again.”
Hollyhock sighed and put her spoon down. “Mama,” she said in a serious tone, “I think it’s time we start talkin’ about a backup plan. We need to decide what we’re gonna do if the worst comes to worst.”
“Now, don’t you start on that, young lady,” said Rosemary sternly. “We may be up a creek without a paddle, but it’s way too soon to talk about givin’ up.”
“But you said it yourself: if we can’t fix things soon, we’re done for!” said Hollyhock. “And I’m not sayin’ Sunset won’t be able to find a cure; maybe she will. But how long is that gonna take? Days? Weeks? Months? By the time we have a solution, it might be too late. If we lose our entire crop, we’re not gonna be able to come back from that, blight or no.”
“Stop it, Hollyhock!” said Rosemary. “I know what you’d have us do, and the answer is still no.”
“But why?” said Hollyhock. “Do you really have so little faith in us? So little faith in me? Even Sunset thinks we could do it, and she’s from Canterlot herself.”
Sunset really wished Hollyhock hadn’t dragged her into the familial dispute. At the mention of her name, Rosemary turned her intense gaze toward her. “I don’t know what my daughter has told you,” she said, “but I’d appreciate it if you stayed out of our family’s private matters.”
“Look, I didn’t come here to tell you what to do with your lives,” said Sunset, trying to sound as polite as possible. “Hollyhock told me about you two potentially leaving the farm, and no, I didn’t discourage her. All she wants is to some good for the world; all she wants is to be the best she can be. And she wants a better life for herself and for you. I don’t see what’s so wrong with that.”
Rosemary’s expression was hard as a rock as Sunset spoke. “I can forgive a filly like you for thinkin’ that way,” said Rosemary in a measured tone, “but Hollyhock is a grown mare. It’s high time she stop thinkin’ about such childish things.”
Hollyhock slumped back in her chair, forelegs crossed. “I bet daddy would have been on my side,” she grumbled to herself.
“Don’t you bring your father into this!” said Rosemary. “You don’t know what he would want.”
“I know he wouldn’t have wanted his wife and child to work themselves to death over this farm if they had the chance for somethin’ better!” said Hollyhock.
“Hollyhock! We are not leavin’, not now, not ever, and that’s the end of it!” said Rosemary.
Hollyhock swiftly got up from her seat and stormed out of the room. “Hollyhock, wait!” Sunset called out, but her words were ineffective. Hollyhock exited out of the front door, slamming it behind her. Sunset moved to stand up and follow her, but was interrupted.
“Don’t,” said Rosemary quietly. “She’ll be back. She just...needs some time.” Rosemary was staring down at the table; the fire in her eyes had gone out, leaving her looking sad, hurt even. Sunset had half a mind to ignore her and chase after Hollyhock anyway, but she did not. She had enough sense to realize that Rosemary was probably right. After all, she knew firsthand that some ponies liked to be alone when they were angry.
Sunset sat back down, and the three did their best to continue the meal, despite the awkwardness hanging over the room. They ate slowly and silently, barely even making eye contact. Sunset managed to exchange a glance with Nova at one point, who did her best to express her sympathy with just her eyes. When they had finished, Sunset and Nova quietly excused themselves and left the table, while Rosemary cleaned up.
The sun had set, leaving only the barest hints of light streaming into the house. Sunset and Nova made their way to Hollyhock’s room, where they prepared for sleep, neither wanting to discuss what had happened at dinner. Soon after, they heard the bedroom door open and saw Hollyhock enter the room. She closed the door gently and quickly walked over to the bed they had set up for her. Sunset only caught a brief glimpse of her face before she threw herself down on the mattress and covered herself with the blanket, but she could see that her eyes were red and that her cheeks bore traces of moisture, haphazardly wiped away. “Hollyhock,” said Sunset softly.
“Goodnight,” said Hollyhock flatly. Sunset said nothing, merely looking at her for a few moments, wishing there was something she could do or say to help. Sunset turned to look at Nova, who was already in bed. Nova looked how she felt, Sunset thought, Nova also looking over at Hollyhock. Nova looked up at Sunset, the two exchanging a concerned glance. Nova gave the slightest shake of her head, as if to say that there was nothing they could do.
Sunset sighed and blew out the candle on the dresser that had been lighting the room. She moved over to the bed and climbed in, she and Nova settling into comfortable positions. When they had been younger, Sunset had often had Nova for sleepovers, Nova sleeping alongside her in the bed that had seemed so big and empty to her as a filly. Back then, as it did in that tiny house in that tiny village miles away from home, Nova’s company gave Sunset a much-needed sense of comfort and support.
They looked at each other from across the bed, their eyes slowly adjusting to the darkness. Nova reached out and held one of Sunset’s hooves, giving her a gentle smile. Sunset smiled back at her, feeling the warmth of her hoof on her own. Nova’s eyes slowly closed, her smile never leaving her face. Sunset watched her for a moment, before finally allowing herself to follow suit and drift off to sleep.