Chapter Four
The festival was in full swing by the time that two Royal Changelings and one Princess reached the grand floor and began to mingle with the crowd. Most of the crystal ponies gave the trio space, stepping back to allow them to pass without any incident.
Finally, they reached their destination, an indigo and cream changeling nymph with a much smaller pink and white changeling foal on her back, and Thorax leaned over to nuzzle her. “Hi, sweetie.”
Lady Metanotum gave her husband a nuzzle back. “Hi, yourself,” she said. “How’s everyone doing?”
“Well enough,” Thorax said. “Luna wanted to come down and see Tagma.”
“Auntie Luna!” The young changeling leapt towards her, with Luna catching her with a giggle.
“How’s my cute little niece doing?” she asked happily, nuzzling the foal’s face.
Tagma just giggled and nuzzled her back. “We’re having fun!”
“She’s been so eager to be here,” Metanotum said. “You know, before we changed, I’d never have imagined freely coming to a place like this. It’s such a wondrous sight.”
“We saw all kinds of amazing things, Auntie Luna,” Tagma said with a child’s enthusiasm. “There are all these games that says you can win prizes but mama and I haven’t been able to win them yet. ”
“Oh really?” Luna chuckled as she lifted Tagma to her back. “Perhaps I can be of aid, beloved niece.”
Tagma giggled as Luna led her off, Pharynx smiling at the sight. “A preview of the future,” he said.
“You said it,” Thorax agreed. “They grow up so fast… hard to believe she’s just a few months old, huh?”
“Yup,” Pharynx said, watching his wife’s head poke out among the crowd and smiled as she stared down the obviously rigged ring toss game vendor who was sweating now. “This should be good,” he grinned with Thorax groaning at the sight.
“Please don’t let it be a repeat of last time, please don’t be a repeat of last time,” Thorax muttered nervously as Luna began to throw several rings.
“It was their fault for complaining that Lus broke their rigged game,” Pharynx shot back as the two of them made their way over to Luna with Metanotum chuckling as she followed them. “If it was a fair game, then Luna wouldn’t have needed to do so.”
“...It’s scary that I have to admit this, but your logic is sound,” Thorax finally said. “But at least Luna could have done it after Tagma was away; we had to deal with Tagma thinking she could get her way by acting like Luna did.”
“...normally, I’d slug you for talking about my wife like that but I can kinda see your point,” Pharynx said awkwardly. “And if you ever tell her that, brother or not, you are dead.”
“And if I tell her?” Metanotum asked with Pharynx’s eyes going wide and gulping loudly.
“Please don-” Pharynx was interrupted by a twin cry of joy. Within seconds, Luna had rejoined them with Tagma holding a brightly coloured alicorn plushy in her hooves.
“We have returned victorious,” Luna said with a wide grin that almost matched her niece’s. “A grand prize for a fair game, is it not?”
“Mhm!” Tagma said. “Auntie Luna was able to win me this big fluffy because those meanies didn’t swindle us poor and innocent mares like last time!”
“Verily,” Luna cheered her before noticing the cough that both Thorax and Metanotum directed at her “But you do know that those words I used last time were Bad Words that no good little filly should ever say, right?”
“Uhuh,” Tagma said. “I know never to say Foulborn inbred bastard ever again.”
“Atatata,” Luna quickly held her hoof over Tagma’s mouth with other families turning to stare at them in shock. “Saying those words that you know never to say is saying them, dear Tagma.”
“Oops.” Tagma blushed. “Sorry…”
“It’s all right,” Pharynx said as he gently nuzzled his niece and allowed her to move onto his back. “Accidents happen. Now, let’s see what sugary treats I can feed you before I give you back to your parents.”
“Yay Uncle Pharynx!” Tagma shouted over the cries of Thorax not to do so.
As Luna watched the pair trot off, she looked at Thorax. “He knows better than to go too far,” she said. “Besides, speaking from experience, I understand that changelings metabolize sugar far more effectively than ponies do, and it does not make her anywhere near as hyper as it would most of the colts and fillies I know.”
“True, but it’s the principle of the thing,” Thorax grumbled.
No, that’s my sister’s Other, Luna thought to herself, mentally snickering at the pun.
“Besides, we are going to do the same to their foal, right dear?” Metanotum said as she nuzzled Thorax’s neck. “Fair is fair, after all.”
“Speaking of, I need a drink,” Luna said. “My foal is craving sugar water again.”
“Let’s go get you one, then,” Metanotum said with a smile. “I’m a bit thirsty myself.”
With that, the trio went deeper into the festival.
Twilight had caught glimpses of her friends as she walked through the festival, taking in all the sights. The Crystal Empire had the unique distinction of being able to actually merge the old in with the new considering how recent the Empire’s return still was to some people. She could see that a lot of the prizes were not factory-made but actually crafted by hoof or magic. And it seemed, by casual inspection, that very few of the games were actually rigged unlike the normal carnivals she had passed by in the past.
Still, there was a question that she did want to have a clear answer to, though she expected he already knew the answer.
“If you don’t mind me asking,” she said to a vendor who was serving up hayburgers, next to an older looking stallion with a green nymph in a painting booth. “But is the whole purpose of this festival to further the connection you have to each other and to the Crystal Heart?”
“Pretty much, your majesty,” he said, tipping his head. “The Crystal Heart is powered by the love we have for each other and the festival serves to not only reinforce that but to celebrate it as well. And with the new Empress and our new friends,” he paused to look at the pair next to him, who seemed to be talking quickly between each other, before turning back to her. “The festival has only grown in size. Thanks to her and you and your friends, your majesty,” he said, bowing his head slightly before lifting over a hayburger to her. “On the house, your majesty.”
Twilight nodded, satisfied with his answer, and thanked him for the food and information. As she walked and ate, she saw the tell-tale hat before she heard her friend’s voice.
“Good grub there Twilight?” Applejack asked.
Twilight nodded. “Very good,” she said. “How are you doing?”
“Ah’m doin’,” Applejack said. “Had some… interestin’ times out in Vanhoover.”
“Oh?”
Applejack nodded. “Ah… Ah finally met mah mom’s pa,” she said. “The stallion who went and abandoned her when she married for love, even if it was to a member of the family he hated for so long.”
Twilight’s eyes widened. “What happened?”
Applejack bowed her head. “He’s regretted leavin’ her almost ever since,” she said. “Was actually plannin’ to come back to Ponyville in a year or so, to find us… but Ah found him first.” She sighed. “We had a long, long talk after he figured out who Ah was, about bein’ honest with family an’ ourselves, an’ he’s comin’ back to meet Mac an’ Apple Bloom as soon as possible.”
“That’s great,” Twilight said. “Right?”
Applejack smiled. “Yeah, it is,” she said. “Ah’m glad for all of this, Twi. Ah‘ve been able ta meet mah family and help them as well as seein’ all kinds of differen’ lands an’ farms.” She sighed. “It also got me thinking about somethin’ Slice said.”
“The Apple Itch?” Twilight asked.
“Mm-hmm.” Applejack nodded. “Ponyville’s mah home, but… sometimes, Ah just get the urge to go look an’ see what the rest of the world has to offer. Ah don’t know if Ah’ll ever actually go through with the whole thing, startin’ up mah own farm in some other town, but Ah want to at least see more of the others, learn more about their techniques an’ all. Maybe bring some of that back to help make the Acres better at what we do.” She sighed. “Mac an’ Ah’ve been talkin’, and he says that even if Ah do get the urge to set up somewhere else, the Acres will always welcome me.”
“And even if that wasn’t the case, I’d still welcome you,” Twilight said, walking over to give her a hug while levitating her hayburger in the air. “Like I told you and the rest of our friends, you’re like a sister to me. And I meant it.”
Applejack smiled. “Ah appreciate that, Twilight, Ah really do.” She then straightened her hat and placed a hoof on her back. “Come on, sugarcube, Ah saw an apple bop over yonder and Ah wanna give it a go.”
Twilight smiled back, and let her friend lead her over.
Rarity had to admit that the Crystal Empire really knew how to have a fancy gathering with the simplest of accessories. There were a smattering of gems and jewels sprinkled around but it all worked so well.
Except for some, she had to admit, as she came to a corner and stared at a lamppost, which was -
“Completely not what I said to do,” a stallion complained next to her. He was pushing back a pair of thick glasses onto his nose while staring up at the pole. “I told them to string it with opals, not garnets.”
“Indeed,” Rarity said in agreement. “The colours just clash horribly. I would hate to speak ill of someone, but I fear that individual might have been colour blind.”
“I have been thinking that fellow is colour blind,” the stallion groused as he pushed back his ill-kempt mane. “I have been seeing more of his arrangements across this festival and it is terrible; it makes me look like I didn’t do my job properly for her Empress. I take pride in my work, shadows blast it!”
“It is not all bad,” Rarity said, placing a hoof on his light green shoulder. “Sure there are a few misalignments, but the cut of your gems is flawless.”
“Oh please, you are just saying that,” he grumbled, though his cheeks were heating up slightly.
“My special talent is gems, darling, so I do know what I am saying,” she flashed him a smile. “And while I have been to the Packland mines as well as several diamond stores, these are simply the best I have seen so far.”
“Why thank you miss,” he said, flicking his tail behind him. “I’m Gem Polisher.” He held out his hoof to her.
“Rarity Belle,” Rarity said, happily accepting his hoof. “And I do believe this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”
Gem Polisher smiled. “A pleasure to meet you, miss Belle. I have heard that you are among the premiere jewelers in Equestria that aren’t part of some sort of mega corporation.”
Rarity smiled back. “Well, to tell the truth, I do have plans to expand my operations into a small chain and open up boutiques in other locales, but with individuals whom I trust to run things and stay true to my methods. I have no desire to mass-produce, but to create unique works made specifically for the people who desire them.”
“A wise business arrangement. I would enjoy expanding as well, but not at the cost of what makes my practice unique,” Gem Polisher then flicked an ear in confusion and pushed his glasses back onto his nose again. “But I’m curious to why you haven’t been to Diamondia to get the resources directly from the source.”
Rarity wrinkled her nose. “Let us just say that the Diamond Dogs and I have had a run-in in the past, and they are terrified of me now,” she said as the two walked into the festival together. “It all began when they kidnapped me.”
Far, far from the Crystal Empire, at the same time that Rarity was talking about wanting to open additional boutiques with people she trusted to run things according to her standards, a mare’s nose twitched before she turned her head away from the outfit she was working on, and let out a powerful sneeze.
“Oh dear, twice in as many days,” she whispered. “I hope I’m not coming down with something.”
“It probably just means somepony’s talking about you, dearie,” the older mare she was fitting said. “Good things, I’m sure.”
The bluenette smiled. “Thank you,” she said.
It was much later in the day, with the festival beginning to wind down, when Twilight began to meet up with her other friends. She saw young Tagma, and gushed over her and promised to foalsit her when they came to visit, and learned that Luna and Pharynx had retired back to the castle so Luna could rest her hooves. Applejack had turned around the corner, talking to a pony with an apple cutie mark before the two shook their hooves and parted while on the other end of the street she saw Rarity chatting happily with a stallion who definitely didn’t seem her type but if her friend was happy, Twilight wasn’t going to say anything.
“Hey Twi,” Rainbow Dash said, hovering in the air while Pinkie pronked over. “Have a good time?”
“Mhm, did you two have fun?” she asked.
“Sure did Twilight,” Pinkie said “This was almost as much fun as Nightmare Night!”
“Yeah, these ponies really know how to party,” Rainbow Dash chuckled before tilting her head. “Hey, who’s that with Rares?”
“I’m not sure, I haven’t had the time to talk with them yet,” Twilight said. “And I didn’t want to interrupt them, they seem pretty happy and I didn’t want to interfere.”
“What, you think I’d go bug her about it?” Dash looked insulted. “I’d do it afterwards, not while they’re together now.”
“That’s… better, I guess,” Twilight said, awkwardly scratching the back of her head.
“Nobody said you would do that Dashie,” Pinkie said. “You know how important relationships are to Rarity and you wouldn’t mess with that. Besides, if Rarity like likes Gem Polisher then I’m happy for her.”
“How do you know his na… you know what, I don’t want to know,” Twilight said, reflecting it would be easier on her mind not to ask certain questions.
“Silly filly.” Pinkie was suddenly up in her face. “I know everyone’s names when it comes to people who’re helping set up super-duper big parties like this.”
Twilight blinked. “Oh.”
“Yeah, oh,” Rainbow Dash blinking. “I thought you’d know for that other reason.”
Just then, they noticed that the two were coming closer, and still talking.
“I will see you later then,” Rarity said, waving goodbye to the stallion. “Have a good night.”
“You too, Rarity,” he said, looking straight at her and not the pole in front of him. With a wince from everyone nearby, the stallion shook his head and said he was fine before trotting off into another corner, leaving her to face her friends.
“How was everyone’s day?” she asked.
“Probably not as good as yours, sugarcube,” Applejack as she walked up to them, nudging Rarity. “Ah see ya finally managed to land yerself a catch.”
“Gem Polisher and I are just friends who have agreed to potentially share a business venture, nothing more than that,” Rarity huffed. “Though... he is much nicer and far more respectful than most stallions I have pursued in the past, I will admit.”
“Eh, you’re not wrong there, Rares,” Rainbow shrugged her shoulders. “And he seems interested in you, opposed to that jerk Blueblood.”
“True. But, as I said, for now it is just friendship and a potential business partnership,” Rarity said.
“I just hope you don’t block him out if something more were to form,” Fluttershy said as she walked towards the group, smiling softly.
“If something were to happen... I’d like to see where it leads to,” Rarity said slowly, smiling to herself.
“Hey Fluttershy, I didn’t see you today,” Twilight said., turning to her friend. “Did you enjoy the festival?”
“I did, though I only came out in the afternoon,” Fluttershy said. “It was a lot less busy so I felt better about joining then.”
“That’s all right,” Pinkie said, appearing by her side and leaning into her. “No one’s judging you.”
“She’s right,” Rainbow Dash said, flashing her a smile. “We know you still have trouble with crowds, and there’s nothing wrong with that.”
Fluttershy smiled gratefully.
“So who was that pony you were talking to before Applejack?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Just one of mah cousins,” Applejack said. “He moved over here when the Empire returned and Ah was just catchin’ up with hi’.”
“That’s nice,” Twilight said as they began to head towards the castle itself. They continued to talk about their day as they entered the doors, only to pause as Spike came up to Twilight with a sealed letter.
“This came for you earlier Twilight,” he said while holding an open letter. “And this one was addressed to me to say it wasn’t an urgent letter and that I didn’t need to interrupt the festival for you.”
Twilight smiled. “Thank you, Spike,” she said as she accepted the sealed letter and studied it, before looking surprised.
“Who’s it from?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“It has the seals of all three of the rulers of the undersea kingdoms,” Twilight said. “Queen Novo, King Leo and Queen Schuberta.”
“The Siren Queen?” Applejack asked, an interested look on her face.
Twilight nodded.
“What do they want?”
“I don’t know yet,” Twilight said. Opening the letter, she read it, and smiled. “That’s interesting.”
“What?” Spike asked.
“They’re offering to help teach me some of their magical specialties,” Twilight said. “Water magic and the like.”
“But don’t you know water magic already?” Rainbow Dash asked before her eyes went wider. “Or do they mean water magic?”
Twilight’s ears flicked as she tilted her head, then nodded. “Okay, we’re clear. And some of both, actually. The standard kind is good for improving focus and control, the more advanced kind has its uses too.”
“But Water itself?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“I’m not sure but I am curious to learn what they have to teach me about it,” Twilight said. “I do know that Water is the element of change, and is associated with adaptation. Queen Novo’s Pearl of Transformation is representative of that, she mentioned once that she made it when she was experimenting with that aspect of her powers.”
“Do the others have that kind of significance?” Rarity asked curiously.
“They do, but I only know Fire and Water’s for certain,” Twilight said. “If I ever meet Air and Earth, I’ll have to ask what theirs are then.”
“So what’s Fire?” Rainbow Dash asked eagerly.
Twilight smiled. “Fire is the element of power, associated with the drive to achieve. Dragon Lord Torch explained it as being closely related to their ambition.”
“I wonder who Earth and Air could be…” Rarity said, tapping her chin.
“So do I,” Twilight said. “But both Queen Novo and Dragon Lord Torch said they’d reveal themselves in time.”
“And the other seasons too,” Applejack said. “Ah know the Alpha is Summer and that windigo lady is Winter but Ah’m mighty curious to what Spring and Fall are capable of.”
“I don’t know for certain,” Twilight said. “But I can make an educated guess that Spring’s powers are associated with growth and new life coming forth. Fall would be their Opposite, so… endings and things going dormant, and the harvest maybe? I have heard that they’re associated with Earth and Air, respectively, like Summer and Winter are associated with Fire and Water.”
“But didn’t the Alpha talk about bringing in a good harvest?” Pinkie asked
“Though again, summer is when you prepare things for harvesting, not actually harvesting yer crops,” Applejack said. “Twilight’s interpretation makes sense to me.”
“Though I guess whoever they are,” Rainbow began only for Rarity to interrupt with whomever. “I don’t think they’re ponies.”
“What makes you say that?” Rarity asked.
“Well, Equestria tends to move the seasons along manually, along with our weather control,” Rainbow Dash said. “I can’t imagine they’re happy about that.”
"Actually, that's just what Princess Luna said about them a few months ago, after... well, you know," Twilight said. "Our weather manipulation and changing the seasons manually is apparently a sore spot between them and Equestria, and until the day Chrysalis got sealed, none of them had entered our lands since before the first Nightmare Moon incursion. Even Princess Celestia doesn't know who the other two are. And it's not like we can change our ways for them," she added. "We can't really change Equestria like that overnight and I am not sure if Equestria could handle having its weather being natural even if it were a gradual shift."
“Considerin’ how many ponies are still freaked about the Everfree just fer havin’ things do it all on their own, Ah see yer point,” Applejack said. “Though if’n more Earth Ponies set hoof in the Packlands’ forests and let themselves really feel the magic there, an’ the life, like Ah did, maybe they’d be more open to letting things go more naturally.”
“Not only that but a lot of pegasi would be out of a job if we were ever to shift to a natural weather system,” Rainbow Dash said. “There’s a huge industry based on clouds designed just for the weather and it would leave hundreds unemployed and very angry at you if were to shift it on them. Just like how those astronomers were mad at Luna when she started making her new constellations and threw their maps out of order.”
“I know,” Twilight said with a sigh. Then she brightened. “On the other hoof, she did get a lot of mail from ponies calling her the ‘greatest mural artist of all time’.”
“Really?” Fluttershy looked surprised.
“Really,” Twilight confirmed, before looking back to Rainbow Dash. “As for weather matters, even if there was some downsizing, there would still be a need for the teams. Predicting and preventing the more violent storms, for instance. You don’t need to worry about that though,” she said as Rainbow Dash started to open her mouth. “I have done some research into a potential scale-back, and as it stands, the soonest we could implement such a thing would be about… fifty years from now, I think.”
“Why so long?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Partly because so many are opposed to the idea and have the system wrapped up in so much red tape that even my methods in Byzantion wouldn’t be as effective, partly because Equestria’s so adapted to having it manually controlled that it would take that long to let the natural magic spread and do its own thing,” Twilight said. “It would also be very costly because we would need to import a lot of food as our farms wouldn’t be as reliable as they are now if we were to do it, and other businesses would affected by the change as well.”
“Ah can see that,” Applejack said. “Makes sense.”
“That’s all happening if everyone agrees to the new system,” Fluttershy said. “If those in the noble court argue some part of your plan isn’t good enough, they could completely delay the entire setup you have going.”
Twilight nodded. “Which is one of the reasons I want to get as many bugs worked out of this before I even try to present it. And even then, it’ll take several years before I get that far. That is all on the notion I would even think it would be beneficial for Equestria in the end.” She sighed. “I do vastly approve of how well the Packlands’ methods work, and I think it would be good for Equestria to adapt them, but between the potential complications and the sheer amount of pushback I know there’d be against some of it, the work of actually trying to figure out how to set it up gives me a headache the size of Mount Canterhorn.”
“If anyone could do it, it’d be you egghead,” Rainbow Dash said teasingly.
“So when are you going to visit them?” Rarity asked.
“I would need to work out a proper time for my schedule for when I could go see them,” Twilight said.
“If it were not to be an imposition, I would like to attend as well,” Lady Aputsaiq said, sliding into view.
“How did you-” Twilight began, fighting the urge to flare her wings.
“It’s a good spell you have in place, your highness but it does not prevent one from reading lips,” the windigo said. “And I am rather adept at phasing through walls and barriers, given my nature. It might be beneficial if you were to create an additional spell to mask your mouths when you create your silencing spells. It is becoming common knowledge you do it often and your rivals might take advantage of your lax nature to learn your secrets, like I did.”
“Ah didn’t even realize ya had put it up,” Applejack said. “Ah didn’t see yer horn glow.”
“It’s a skill that takes a lot of practice,” Twilight said. “And considering we were talking about Powers primarily, I felt it was necessary.”
“A wise idea as others would try and use you to their advantage,” Lady Aputsaiq said, tipping her head. “Or react poorly to what they think you are and what you are capable of.”
“I have been warned of that in the past,” Twilight said. “And so have my friends,” she said, looking at her friends around her before at the windigo. “Why exactly would you want to meet the sea rulers?”
“Because we are connected,” Lady Aputsaiq answered candidly. “Winter is closely associated with Water and tends to align with Night, while our Opposites are the same - Summer is closely associated with Fire and tends to align with Day. Likewise, Spring is closely associated with Air and tends to align with Life, as Spring is the season when the most new life comes forth, while Fall is closely associated with Earth and tends to align with Death, as Death causes substance to return to the Earth from which it sprang. I have been gone for too long and I would like to gain contact with the current bearer of the Mantle of Water.”
Twilight nodded. “I can’t speak for them myself, but if they wish to meet you, I can let you know when I reply.”
Lady Aputsaiq raised an eyebrow with a smirk gracing her face. “You were careful to withhold which of the triumvirate is the current Lord or Lady of Water; I am impressed.” She then bowed towards Twilight. “I eagerly await your response, your highness.” She then stood up and walked away from the group.
“She is an… interesting character,” Rarity said delicately.
Twilight nodded. “I had first thought it was due to the time difference causing a cultural clash, but now I am sure that this is just her way of trying to be helpful.”
“Wanna explain that one Twi?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“I met her last night, she was pretty clearly seeing if she could use me to get the windigo lands back from the yaks,” Twilight said. “After I told her I couldn’t and wouldn’t do it unilaterally, she seemed to respect me more for it.” She sighed. “Key word, seemed. I’m still trying to figure her out.” She then sighed again. “She is right though, I do need to mix up my silencing spell as others can start to read my lips if I am not careful. One of the reasons I prefer to use it in a closed space rather than out in the open like this.”
“So will you tell them about her request Twilight?” Fluttershy asked.
“Oh, absolutely,” Twilight said. “I’ve already scheduled a talk with my fellow adult alicorns, and maybe Pharynx, Shiny and Thorax, about what she wanted last night. Now we have something more to talk about.” She considered for a minute. “I wouldn’t deprive her of this simple request; beyond being rude, she could easily reach out to Queen Novo on her own but it would sour our relationship if I refused to help her out like this after she started to teach me some Winter magic and I don’t see the need to antagonize her if I don’t have to.”
“Makes sense sugarcube,” Applejack shrugged her shoulders. “Worst that they can say is no.”
“I know,” Twilight said. “And aside from that, handling the lands situation without offending either side is going to be very, very tricky, which is one of the reasons I’m going to be talking to my fellow Princesses about it.”
“So you’re going to go talk to them?” Rarity asked.
“After dinner, which will give me time to compose a proper list of what I should bring up to them,” Twilight answered.
“Which is ready,” Spike said with a smile. “I made Fettuccine al burro, with a few special touches of my own.”
“Yum yum,” everyone else replied.
The meal had been lovely, like always when Spike cooked something, with it being even more tasty than usual due to the young dragon having more choices in ingredients from the royal pantry. Cadance and Shining’s cooks had even stolen Spike back afterwards so they could brainstorm more ideas for the future which made Twilight beam in pride for him.
Twilight had excused herself to better compose a list of her points she wanted to bring up to the other princesses, running them over in her head with Rainbow Dash following her.
“Hey Twi, can I talk to you about something?” her friend asked as she hovered by her side, looking concerned.
“Of course,” Twilight said, turning to face her friend. “What’s the matter?”
“AJ told me before that during her time going around visiting her family, she was able to talk to you know who,” Rainbow Dash’s eyes fluttered about, letting Twilight know who exactly she was talking about. “I know it’s not good for us to try and force it or anything, but I haven’t been able to get so much as a whisper from mine. Am I doing something wrong or…?” Rainbow Dash shrugged, looking pleading at her.
“I don’t know, Dashie,” Twilight said with Magic humming in displeasing fashion. “There must be a reason for it; maybe the girls and I-” the words died in her mouth as Magic hummed louder with Twilight blinking owlishly.
“Is everything okay?” Rainbow Dash asked.
Twilight blinked again. “I’m just speculating, and I don’t think Magic’s happy about it,” she admitted. “But maybe we can help-” she grimaced as Magic buzzed louder again. “Okay, I think Magic is trying to tell me something now.” Twilight said.
“She’s not being direct?” Rainbow Dash asked with concern.
“No I think this is a lesson she is trying to make me learn,” Twilight said, going over their conversation in their heads. Whatever the issue was, it was about her friends trying to help Dash which now, due to Magic, literally gave her a bad taste in her mouth. Wincing, Twilight managed to say, “I believe it has something to do with all of us helping you. Something that didn’t go right.”
“Well that’s pretty narrow,” Rainbow Dash muttered. “It could be both anything and nothing ‘cause I can’t think of a time that you guys didn’t actually manage to help me with an issue.”
Twilight looked at her friend and noticed a slight twitch of her friend’s wings. Subconsciously, Rainbow Dash knew of something and Twilight was trying to think of a time when they didn’t really manage to help their frie-
“Mare-Do-Well,” she said with a gasp with Rainbow Dash flinching.
“What about that, Twi?” Applejack asked, with the rest of her friends walking towards them. “Ah hope we don’t need to do that again.”
“Of course not, I learned my lesson from that whole mess ages ago,” Rainbow Dash scoffed, though she didn’t look completely honest.
“No…” Twilight shook her head, reeling at this revelation. “Girls, we were wrong back then.”
“What do you mean Twilight?” Pinkie asked with wide eyes.
“Yeah, I was pretty full of myself and I did need some help getting some sense into my head,” Rainbow Dash sighed. “Like you yourself said, soon after we met Swift-Pad, you tried to talk to me and I just wasn’t listening.”
“Maybe so, but it wasn’t the right way to do regardless of the fact.” Twilight said stiffly. “It was us attacking your special talent. It would be like us having a superior farm just to teach Applejack a lesson, or tell everyone in Ponyville to only go for Cheesy’s parties to teach Pinkie a lesson, or… well, you get the idea.”
Rainbow Dash shook her head. “No, that’s not what you did,” she said. “You reminded me that my ego was getting out of control because I did go around showing off just to puff up my own consequence, and yeah, the way you did it was annoying, but it was the only way you could think of to get through to me because I was being so stubborn about not wanting to hear what you had to say. And maybe I’m still not happy about it, but it worked.”
“Still, partner, Twi’s right,” Applejack said, looking down. “It wasn’t the right way to go about it and Ah’m ashamed it took me this long to realize it.”
“Same here, darling,” Rarity said, shaking her head. “You are our friend and you deserved better.”
Fluttershy nodded her head and went to hug her friend. “I’m sorry we hurt your feelings like that,” she said, with the rest of them hugging Dash, with Dash accepting their words and hugs back.
Much better
“Who said that?” Dash asked, pulling back and looking around.
You were just asking about me, the voice said, sounding amused.
Rainbow Dash blinked. Loyalty?
Indeed. The Mantle still sounded amused. You might still be missing one thing, but you have indeed managed to heal that broken bond between each other and now we can talk.
Uh… okay. Rainbow Dash blinked again. Missing what?
You’ll know when the time is right, Loyalty said. Suffice to say though, it is something related to Harmony as well as myself, and you are not the only one who has yet to achieve this. I can’t say more yet, but if you need me for anything else, I’m here.
Rainbow Dash nodded slowly, then saw the others looking at her questioningly. “It’s Loyalty,” she said happily. “He’s speaking to me!”
“Congratulations,” another voice said from behind them, and the girls turned to see Cadance walking up. “Twilight’s told us that Magic was speaking with her, so I just knew you all had to be starting to hear your Mantles too.”
“Love talks to both of us when she feels the need,” Shining Armor added, stepping up beside his wife.
Twilight blinked. “But…”
“You’re probably wondering why, when Shiny isn’t a Power himself?” Cadance asked.
Twilight nodded.
“Love is like that,” Shining Armor said. “Since my heart is connected to Cadance’s in one of the deepest ways possible, Love is willing to reach out and speak to me, even though I’m not their bearer.”
Twilight nodded. “I… see.”
Cadance smiled. “If any of you girls ever want to talk with either of us about your Mantles, you’re welcome to,” she said.
Rainbow Dash smiled back. “I might just take you up on that.”
The others nodded as well, and Twilight felt a mental nudge.
If you want to talk more to her about our communications, you have my blessing, Magic said to her. Love may not be one of Harmony’s sub-Powers, but she does understand us better than most of our fellows, and we do consider her a friend.
Twilight gave her a mental nod. Thank you, Magic. I might just do that.