//------------------------------// // Epilogue // Story: Mysteries of a Boring Pony // by Mindscape //------------------------------// I should have been excited, but I couldn’t help but feel terrified. I had submitted my full report at the end of my assignment earlier, but just as I was getting ready to return home, I was informed that Princess Celestia herself had asked to see me personally for debrief me on my assignment. In barely an hour the Princess of Equestria had received, and directly read my report, and now wanted to see me to talk about it. I had royally screwed up. I must have. Dusk Elegy was clearly a far more important pony than anything had indicated if the Princess was so eager to find out more about him. And I had found almost nothing of note on him during my entire surveillance. Or maybe it was because of my direct interaction with him? I had been honest in my reporting. There was no way I could avoid mentioning my bungle that led to the conversation we had. And again, my mind brought up the possibility that the entire assignment was another test, that I would enter the room and find Dusk Elegy there as another instructor grading me on my performance with that smug smile of his. I had been so wrapped up in my own thoughts, making my way through the castle on instinct alone, I almost didn’t realize I had made my way to the Princess’ study before the guards stationed blocked my path. “Who goes?” the stallion asked solidly. I lifted myself up and put on a mask of professionalism, because I certainly didn’t feel that confident at the time. “Agent Whisperwind, reporting as requested by Princess Celestia.” “Very well,” the guard said, raising his spear from the doorway. “You’re expected.” I managed to keep the flinch I felt at those words internal only as the guard rapped on the door to declare my arrival. “Come in.” I recognized the princesses voice from behind the door, and the guard opened the entryway to let me in. Inside, Princess Celestia was sitting beside a low table with forms and other paperwork she had been working on. The large clear paned window at the other end of the room behind her brightly lit the room in the morning sun, and actually made the white floor glare a bit as I entered. The doors closed behind me, and I bent a knee and bowed. “Agent Whisperwind, reporting as requested.” “Ah Whisperwind, how lovely to see you again,” she smiled with an air of sincerity. She returned the quill she had been using to the inkwell and gave me her full attention. “How are you?” I couldn’t help but whither inwardly at the familiarity she displayed. “With all due respect your majesty, could we focus on my debriefing?” “Oh, I’m sorry,” she apologized, giving me another reason to feel guilty. “I realize I summoned you before you returned to your home in Cloudsdale. I wasn’t aware you were in so much of a hurry.” “It… it’s not that Princess,” I hesitated to answer, immediately feeling guilty that I somehow made her believe she was at fault. “I do not wish to be given any special treatment just because of my father’s previous position. If I am to gain your respect, I want it to be for my own accomplishments.” The princess gave me a curious look, then smiled knowingly. “And… how would you prefer I avoid giving you “special treatment” then?” she asked. I hadn’t been prepared for a question like that, and found myself struggling for an answer. “Uh, well… you don’t need to be so… familiar with me. Or call me by my name. Please just treat me as any other new recruit, as that is all I am,” I said, swallowing a part of my pride to admit my inexperience. “Hmm,” she pondered a moment, but there was a playful tone that made it feel as though she wasn’t taking me seriously. “I’m afraid those two requests seem a bit contradictory.” “Your Majesty?” I asked, perplexed by her answer. “It’s quite simple really,” She said as she stood up, stepping closer to where I knelt and with her hoof gently turned my head up to look me in the eye. “I try to be familiar with all my little ponies and learn their names, so if you desire me to be more distant, that in itself would be special treatment.” I blinked as I looked up at her, stunned at what she meant. “You mean… you remember everypony’s name?” She giggled in response. “I try to at least. I will admit, it is a little embarrassing when I forget a pony’s name, but I make the effort that it doesn’t happen often.” Celestia tipped her head curiously. “Did you father never mention this to you?” “I thought it was just because of his position,” I admitted. Captain of the guard would be a position a pony would speak with the princess on a regular basis, but to hear that she made an effort to know each and every pony on staff was a surprising realization. “So, when you asked how I was…” “I was treating you as I would any other,” the Princess confirmed with a gentle nod. It was strange. I had grown up hearing tales of Princess Celestia from my father, and while he spoke highly of her kindness and warmth, it was still told with an air of greatness and otherworldly grace. Meeting and working under her was both like being in the presence of a god, but at the same time I was discovering just how… normal she seemed. “Well,” I started, smiling and still at a slight loss, but starting to warm up to the idea of talking casually with an alicorn goddess. “To answer your question, I am doing very well. I am looking forward to getting home to my family. Oh, but I’m not in any rush if you still wish to speak with me,” I added quickly. She giggled at that. “Eager to return to your children?” “Yes, and of course my husband too. Father says he’s eager to help foalsit, but I’m not sure if it really counts as foalsitting if he lives with us too,” I chuckled. “I didn’t think it would be so bad when I started, but a whole month quickly becomes a long time when you’re away from your children.” “Indeed,” She said and her smile changed to something less whimsical and more thoughtful. “Do be sure to spend as much time as you can with your children. Time does move on ever so swiftly.” “I suppose it’s a good thing I only applied for short term missions,” I agreed. “I don’t think I would be capable of anything longer until my children become a bit older and more independent.” “I see. Well I suppose I shouldn’t keep you too much longer then,” Princess Celestia said, approaching her desk once more. Her horn lit up and her magic pushed aside a few papers until she pulled up a folder that I recognized instantly. The nervous apprehension returned as I saw her holding my report. However, I was still more relaxed than when I first entered her study, now after the conversation we shared. I still felt myself standing up a little straighter however as we returned to business. “I commend you for the detail you committed to, even when his movements seemed so… repetitive,” she ended, sounding almost troubled as she flipped through the pages. “But there are some details that I feel are a bit lacking and I wanted to clear up with you, while it would still be fresh in your memory.” “Details?” I asked, suddenly unsure what I had missed. She didn’t reply right away, leafing through the paper as if looking for something, but I could tell from her eyes that she wasn’t really focused on the writing contained within. The Princess closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and released it. “How was he?” she asked finally, looking me in the eye. “Highness?” “I mean… how was his demeanour? His mood? Did he seem… happy?” She asked, almost hesitantly, like she was afraid of the answer. If I had never spoken to him, I suppose I would have had a very different answer, and I would have responded far sooner. But as it was, I had to think about that question. I thought of the loneliness I saw in him and the isolation he subjected himself to for no real reason I could understand. I thought of the near emptiness of his home. The blank calendar, days ritualistically crossed off like some inevitable countdown to an unmarked end. “I… would on first glance assume that he was showing many signs of being depressed,” I began, choosing my words carefully. “For the most part he stays in isolation, with little in his home to display warmth or homeliness. He sticks to a very repetitive routine that only appears to keep up the necessities of survival. Food, shelter, and a reliable income.” Celestia listened stone-faced, impossible to tell what she was thinking, or even how she was reacting to the information she had requested. “However,” I continued. I thought of the ponies that listened to his music in the tavern. Those who clapped him on the back and bought him drinks after experiencing the stories he told with his guitar. I thought of his friendship with Cloudy at the markets. His playful nature and kindness displayed to a total stranger. The friends who came to his makeshift birthday party at the drop of a hat. “While he spends so much time alone, the time he does spend with others is filled with laughter and sincerity. He is well read and insightful. While he appears withdrawn, that only seems to be because he is slow to speak up and prudent in the words he uses. Dusk Elegy has real friendships among his community, and while it is not exciting or glamorous, his life seems fulfilling and, yes… happy.” Her features relaxed slightly. “So that’s it then.” “Oh, but I’m no real psychologist!” I insisted waving my hoof. “I only have a basic understanding, so please take whatever I say with a grain of salt.” Princess Celestia didn’t answer again for some time. She went to the window and looked out beyond the courtyard of the palace, beyond the city and the hills even further. She wasn’t looking for something out the window, but loosing herself in thought. We stood in silence, where nothing moved, save her magically flowing mane and tail. I wasn’t sure what broke the spell, but it felt more than a few minutes before she spoke again. “Thank you Whisperwind. I shouldn’t keep you from your children any longer.” She didn’t turn back to see me, her entire attention was staring out the window, and wherever her thoughts had led her. I wasn’t sure what to say for a moment. I was worried I had stepped into something private. “If… if that will be all, your Highness,” I stumbled out. “Yes, that will be all. Thank you again.” I bowed once more to her back and made my way to the door. But my hoof stopped on the doorhandle. I know I didn’t need to understand, but there was so much that I still didn’t know. It wasn’t my job to understand, just to obey and fulfil my mission. But she was hurting. I was sure of it. If there was anything I could do to help I wanted to do it. But I just didn’t know. “Why was I watching him?” The words came out before I could stop them. “Who is he?” The room remained silent. Quiet enough I could hear the pumping of my heart, racing at the thought of asking not just one, but two questions I had no right to ask. I swallowed, about to apologize for my audacity, when she spoke. “This is all I can do. It’s as close as I can get.” Hoof still on the door, I turned back to see the Princess hadn’t moved from her spot by the window. “Tell your family you love them Whisperwind. Your Father, your husband… your children. Every day if you can. Love cannot be forced, or bartered, or bought. Only given. Promise me, you’ll remember that.” I nodded meekly. “I promise, Princess.” “Good. Have a safe trip home Whisperwind.” My mind was filled with questing thoughts the entire flight back home, so much so that I found myself drifting more than once and had to correct my flight path back towards Cloudsdale. Dusk Elegy. Princess Celestia. A birthday that wasn’t a birthday. The painting in his room. The Mare in the Moon. “Tell your family you love them.” My thoughts were attempting to make connections, some more outlandish than others. At the very least, Dusk Elegy was important to Celestia, I could surmise that much from what I’d just seen. I’d heard that a few decades back Celestia had started taking on a personal student every now and then, and some of them had been close. Could it be something like that? His skill in magic could very well be something that would have caught her attention. But then why would she need to keep tabs on him so secretly? Did they have a falling out? It seemed so bizarre that anyone could have complaint with the Princess, especially with how caring and close she was with the ponies that worked under her. Of course, as I had to remind myself multiple times, it was no longer any of my business. My assignment was over. I was heading back to my family. I shook my head to clear the pervasive thoughts as my home came into view. That’s right, I hadn’t seen any of them for over a month, and I couldn’t wait to be back. I flew high over my house to see if I could catch sight of my children, and I saw both of them, Flitter Wing and Twister, playing in the back yard as I circled in the air. I let out a shrill whistle to let them know I was there, and they both looked up and cried out in glee. “Mommy’s home!” They shot up into the air to meet me and it only took them a few moments to fly all the way up to me. I held open my hooves to catch their tiny bodies in their tackle hug. I let my wings relax as all three of us went into freefall for a moment, holding the little giggling bundles in my forelegs and smiling at them. “Oof, you kids are getting fast. You knocked the wind out of me with that hug,” I exaggerated slightly. “Mom, you’re back!” “We missed you so much!” “Grandpa Bold Feather told us some really cool stories.” “Did you know he once fought dragons to protect the princess?” “And Twister ate a bug yesterday.” “No I didn’t!” I couldn’t help but laugh from the infectious energy, and I hugged them both tighter. “Oh, I missed you two. I love you both so much.” Past the rushing of wind against my back I heard the door open, and then heard my husband gasp as the three of us fell towards the floor of the cloud. “Want to scare your Dad?” I asked the kids. Their beaming smiles were all the answer I needed. I turned my head to see the ground rushing up to us. Squinting through the rushing wind, I wanted to time this juuuust right. Clutching my children in my forelegs, I twisted round and flashed out my wings in a single solid beat, catching the three of us in the air inches from the ground. The kids were a bundle of laughter and excitement at the sudden lurch. I set them down on the ground as they laughed hugging each other tightly. While my wing had healed fully by now, it still twinged a little, reminding me that I should probably take it easy for a little longer. I looked up as I landed to find my husband with a hoof to his heart, sighing in relief. “Must you do that every time?” he asked, exasperated. Before I could answer the throaty laugh of my father came from behind him. “I’m surprised you’re still not used to it after so long,” Father said as he ambled out the door to meet us. “If I worried every time she did something dangerous I’d worry myself into an early grave.” “Hello to you too Father” I smirked. “Holding down the fort while I’ve been gone?” “Of course” he said, groaning loudly as he eased himself into his rocking chair on the porch. “Just a couple of small matters of subordinates that don’t always listen to their captain.” I exhaled in surprise as the kids leapt on my back. “Ah, I see.” “Again, again!” Twister cried holding my mane and jumping up and down. “Maybe a bit later kids,” I chuckled. “Maybe … never?” my husband asked again hopefully. “Please Whisper, I’m going to have a full heart attack one of these days if you keep that up.” “Aw, but I like making your heart flutter,” I said, giggling at the rosy tint that took his cheeks suddenly. “N-not like that Dear.” I stepped up and gave him a long kiss to stop his stammering. “I love you too Silver Lining.” Our wings wrapped around each other and I stayed there in his embrace that I hadn’t felt for a month now. I’d always heard that old phrase, Absence makes the heart grow fonder, but I think I was starting to understand what it actually meant. Silver Lining coughed to get my attention. “I honestly would be content to stay like this till long after the sun sets, but I really should get back to make sure dinner doesn’t boil over.” I patted him on the back and broke away. “Go on Silver, go save our stomachs from disaster.” “Well, not sure how I should take that comment about my cooking.” “Oh go on,” I said, with a light smack of my wing across the back of his head as he smiled. I kissed him again before he escaped. “I love you.” “I love you too Whisperwind,” he said, stepping away. “But I really need to get back to the kitchen.” As soon as he was inside, I felt a tap on my shoulder from Twister. “Now can we go again?” I sighed at the excitable little scamp. “Maybe some other time Twister, I’m already tired from my trip home.” “Aw.” Both of their faces fell and they jumped off my back. “Come now then soldiers” Father barked. “Attention!” The kids smiled and quickly saluted, Twister in particular was puffing out his chest in an attempt to look bigger than he was. I decided to stand back and watch this new game Father must have introduced to them while I was gone. “The commanding officer has returned, and is exhausted from her trip. Give her time to recover and you can speak more at mess in thirty minutes. For now, free time to do as you please, but be sure to return on the hour, or no supper. Dismissed!” “Sir Yes Sir!” they said in unison, and then broke into a run off the porch. “Come on, I’m gonna be the captain of the guard, protecting Princess Celestia, and you can be the dragon trying to attack her.” “Why do I have to be the dragon, can’t I be the princess?” “But I need a dragon to slay.” “But I don’t want to be slayed.” We both smiled, watching the kids run off for their game. “So,” I started, raising an eyebrow suspiciously. “Protecting the princess from dragons?” He shrugged innocently. “What? Why should Flash Magnus have all the stories about protecting ponies from dragons?” “You’ve never even seen a dragon in your life.” He waved a hoof dismissively. “Details, details.” Something clicked together in my mind all of a sudden. Flash Magnus. Famous as he was among pegasus-kind, he was also part of a group of ponies from around Equestria, led by… “Starswirl the Bearded. Of course, that’s where I’d heard his name before.” “Hmm?” “Oh, no it doesn’t matter” I told him. But of course, my thoughts had been drawn back to my previous conundrum. “Speaking of names” I found myself saying. I couldn’t believe I was about to do this. “Have you ever heard of a unicorn named Dusk Elegy?” He pondered for a moment. “Hmm, Dusk Elegy?” “Maybe somepony who used to work at the palace?” I added. Father’s brow crinkled in concentration as he thought about it, but in the end, he shook his head. “Sorry, can’t think of anypony by that name. Why do you ask?” I sighed, slightly defeated. If my Father didn’t recognize the name, it was unlikely it was anypony from the castle. Another dead end in a mystery I’d probably be better off forgetting. “It’s nothing, just a passing curiosity.” He narrowed his eyes in my direction. “There’s something you’re not telling me. This wouldn’t happen to have anything to do with your first mission would it?” “What? Of course not,” I said, hoping he couldn’t detect the blatant lie as I said it. “I could get in loads of trouble if I brought my work home with me.” “Hmm, if you say so,” he said, though I wasn’t sure if he was entirely convinced. “You can keep your secrets, I can see where I’m not wanted or needed,” he joked. I hugged him and gave a kiss on the forehead. “Of course I missed you too Father. I love you just as much.” He gave me one of those curious half smile, half frowns as he regarded me. “So, what’s all this then?” “What’s all what?” I asked, even though I had a feeling I knew what he was talking about. “You’re not one for public displays unless it’s making that husband of yours uncomfortable, yet you’ve been talking about love more in the past five minutes than I’ve heard from you all year. I know you’ve been away for longer than usual, but it still seems a bit much coming from you." I sighed. He had a point. It wasn’t something I did very often. “Just… something Princess Celestia told me at the end of my briefing that had me thinking.” “Oh?” “She seemed really… contemplative. And sad. The Princess told me to ‘Tell my family I loved them every day if I had the chance.’ And I promised her I wouldn’t forget.” I shook my head to dispel the melancholy I remembered from earlier today. “I don’t know, it seemed really important to her, and she has a point. Why not spend the time you have letting the ponies you care for know that you love them?” “Hmm. I see,” he said, letting his gaze drift to the children playing. I followed to see Twister pretending to wield a shield from the imaginary fire that Flitter Wing was roaring at him. It seemed they had agreed to play dragons and knights after all. “I suppose it’s not surprising at this time of year” he said after a moment. “Hmm?” “She’s likely thinking of her own family. The one she lost.” “But, I thought Princess Luna disappeared earlier in the year? Why would now be so important.” He didn’t answer immediately, instead leaning back in his rocking chair and placing a hoof on his scarf. The movement drew my eyes to the red knitted fabric, and I felt like something was tickling at the back of my memory. “Princess Luna was not the only family she lost that night. She’s likely thinking of her child.” I blinked in astonishment. “Child? I didn’t know she ever had a foal.” “They were never related by blood, but Celestia and Luna both raised him as their own family, though young Lucky Hope always seemed closer to Luna. When that terrible night occurred, Lucky Hope was grief stricken, and though it took a few days for him to run away, that was the night he left the castle, in spirit if not in body. About a week ago now, it would have been his birthday, or rather, not knowing the actual date of his birth, the day they celebrated was the day he was found.” He smiled sadly, patting his scarf again. “I was there that first night he was found you know. Just recently assigned to Captain of the Guard. It was back when the castle resided in the Everfree Forest. A terrible snowstorm was raging and we were hunting a wild magical surge that had concerned the Princesses. I’m ashamed to admit, the Royal Guard, and myself included were unable to keep up with the Princesses through the storm, so by the time we caught up with them, they had already finished their task. And they had found a tiny colt, shivering in the cold. Princess Celestia asked for my scarf, which I gladly surrendered to for the child. And the rest is history.” He chuckled at the memory. “Never got that scarf back in the end. I had to get another one, but I know it went to a good home.” I sat there, dumbfounded by the tale as everything clicked into place. Dusk’s fascination with the night sky. His adoptive mother who spent most of her time awake at night. A birthday that wasn’t a birthday. Here I had been, trying to figure it all out on my own, and the answers were right here. Dusk Elegy, was Lucky Hope. The adoptive child of the Princesses. But it didn’t answer everything. In fact, it raised even more questions. Why did he refuse to return? Why did he continue to isolate himself so much? Was it just because he didn’t want to be found? “What happened to him?” Father shook his head solemnly. “I don’t know. For a number of years The Princess used whatever opportunity she had to search for clues on his whereabouts, but then one day she just stopped. When I asked her, she told me that Lucky was fine, and that she would respect his wishes. Though she did well to hide it, I could see the pain in her eyes as she said it.” He took a deep breath and sighed before continuing “I think… I think she did find him, but it didn’t go well. And, if by not speaking of his fate was his wish, then I would respect her wish not to speak on the matter any further. We all did. Though the staff at the castle missed him deeply, he became a silent memory, barely whispered of. I dare say now there are few who alive who even knows of his existence.” “A secret child of the Princesses. But why would he just leave?” “Who could say?” Father replied. “Perhaps he wished to mourn in his own way, or perhaps the pain was too much to remain where such happy memories were tainted by grief. But I believe he found his own place in life. If he had been in any danger or strife, there was no way the Princess would abandon him. He was loved too dearly for that.” Father turned to look me in the eye with a rare intensity. His eyes were damp as he stared at me. “I just pray he knew that.” The meaning was not lost as I pulled him into a smothering hug. “I’m sure he knew. There’s no way he didn’t know he was loved.” “I love you so much my little Whisper,” Father croaked. “I know. I love you too Father,” I said, my own voice cracking as the unbidden tears escaped my eyes. “And know that nothing would be so terrible that I’d leave you behind.” “I know. But parents cannot help but fear for their children.” We stayed there for… I don’t know how long, just comforting each other. An extended expression of love between a father and daughter. Between parent and child. I couldn’t imagine what kept Dusk Elegy away from Celestia. It was clear that she loved him, so much so that she sent me to watch him from a distance. To ensure he was happy and healthy, as any parent would be concerned about. We might have stayed longer still, but the sound of rapping on the door frame broke us out of the moment. “Sorry, I hate to interrupt, but dinner has been ready for a minute, and I don’t want it to get cold.” “Thank you Silver,” I said, extracting myself from the hug with my father. “Whisper, is everything all right?” Silver Lining asked. I quickly wiped the tears from my face. “Yes. Everything’s fine,” I told him, hugging him tightly in response. “I’m just so glad to be home.” Sleep did not come easily that night. My mind still reeling with the revelations and questions of the day. I lay awake, staring at the ceiling of my bedroom, silently listening to Silver’s calm, rhythmic breath beside me. It felt strange in a way that he could sleep so soundly. Didn’t he know that my world had been rocked so thoroughly that my mind could hardly rest with everything that was going through it? Well, of course he didn’t know. I hadn’t told him. I hadn’t even revealed to Father what I’d come to realize this afternoon and what it meant. Celestia didn’t tell any of the staff what had happened to Dusk… Lucky. Father and the rest of the staff hadn’t spoken about him amongst themselves out of respect. Now I couldn’t tell anypony what I had discovered. And Dusk wasn’t telling anypony much of any of it. My line of work dealt with secrets and deception on a daily basis, but even to this level felt silly. Who benefited from all the silence? But seeing as Celestia had remained silent on the true nature of my mission even to me, it wasn’t really my secret to tell. I probably shouldn’t have even learned the truth from my father. It was only chance that he felt particularly reminiscent today that he was willing to break his own self-imposed silence. I tilted my head to the side, peeking out the window where the moonlight seeped into the room, shedding just enough light to room to be reasonably illuminated to my sleepless eyes. Possessed by an odd impulse, I slipped out of bed, careful not to wake Silver, and took a scarf from the rack in the wardrobe. As I wrapped it around my neck I stopped when another small revelation hit me. The red knitted scarf under Dusk’s bed. That wasn’t a place you would keep something you expected to wear. It was a place you kept something safe. That was the scarf my father loaned the princesses to keep him warm as an infant all those years ago. I’m sure the realization would have meant more to me if I hadn’t been wracked by more impressive revelations all afternoon, but now it was just one more on the pile of thoughts that kept me from sleep. I finished wrapping my own scarf around my neck and creeped outside, careful not to wake anyone. The winter air gently pulled at my hair and turned my breath into a light mist outside. I strode out to where the cloud underhoof made a small hill and sat down in the brisk air. Looking up at the moon and the Mare in the Moon I sat and stared. “So, are you Princess Luna? Or somepony else?” I quietly asked to the air. “There are so many secrets kept about that night. And in such a short time I’ve discovered so many more. Questions I never even knew existed. Do you have the answers? What happened that night? Why did Dusk Elegy… Lucky Hope feel the need to leave? Run away and change his name? What was so terrible he couldn’t stay with his family? Do you even know any of what’s happened since you appeared on the face of the moon?” More silence. I didn’t really expect anything else. I sighed. “Figures. I knew I’d have to be keeping secrets when I joined this job. Secrets even kept from my family. I just never thought they’d take up so much of my energy.” “Mommy?” a little voice asked, somewhere behind me. I turned around to find Flitter Wing poking her head out the back door. “Flitter, what are you doing up?” She trotted over to me. “I couldn’t sleep. You’re not leaving again so soon are you?” “No, no of course not,” I reassured her, opening my wing and inviting her to sit with me. She quickly bundled up next to me as I pulled my wing around us, shielding a little of the cold air from us. “I just couldn’t sleep myself.” “What are you doing Mommy?” Flitter Wing asked. I looked down at the little filly taking shelter under my wing. How to answer that question. The thoughts and questions swirling around in my head with no conclusion in sight. I sighed, turning my gaze skyward once more. “Just… looking at the stars.” We sat there in silence for a moment longer, keeping each other warm in the winter air. “Stars are pretty” Flitter said at some point. “You know,” I said with a smile. “Somepony once told me, that you could stare up at the night sky for a lifetime, and still find more to discover.” “Really?” Flitter asked, eyes widening in wonder. “Wow. Who told you that?” I thought for a moment on how precisely to answer that question. “I heard it from… one of the most interesting and fascinating ponies I have ever met.”