Chapter 33
EVOE Radio broadcast, dated 1113 AF
Aurora Morning: Good morning, New Canterlot City. Today we have some somber news to share with you.
Fiery Muzzle: That’s correct, Aurora. We received some distressing news just before going live, and we’re really sorry that we have to be the ones to announce it. Yesterday night, shortly after midnight, a spy for the heretics managed to infiltrate the Star Shine Memorial Building and murdered the Grand Master of the Mystics, Lady Nickelplate.
A.M.: Also killed in the attack was a high ranking inquisitor, Lady Hollybright.
F.M.: Oh my. Our prayers go out to their families, and to all the Knights Mystic.
A.M.: Speaking of families, we have a brief statement to read from the brand new Grand Master, appointed by unanimous approval by the Mystic’s Council of High Inquisitors just this morning. Grand Master Steadfast Word said, “We mourn and pray for our fallen leader, taken from us by the foul blades of the heretic--”
F.M.: Wait a moment. Did you say Steadfast Word?
[The recording includes rapid shuffling of papers, muttered conversation not picked up by the microphones]
A.M.: Sorry for the interruption, ponies. Um. B-back to the statement by…
F.M.: You said Steadfast Word. That’s not in my copy. Who...
[More sounds of shuffling. Heated voices. A loud thud]
A.M.: Um… uh, the statement! Yes! “We mourn and pray for our fallen leader, taken from us by the f-foul blades of the heretic forces that even now infest our fair city. I call on all citizens to recommit themselves to the Will of the Saints. We will root out the evil that caused the downfall of our beloved Nickelplate.”
F.M.: Ponies of Canterlot, please listen! That’s not what happened! They’re leaving out…
[The transmission cuts off, replaced by a recorded message about technical difficulties]
1113 AF, Angel’s Rest
“You’ve been a little off your game today, Miss Rarity,” Klieo remarked. “Something on your mind?”
Rarity looked up from the pair’s latest display, a rainbow themed circular rack featuring mostly short skirts and blouses in solids. With the boutique opening soon, they still had to finish refurbishments of the previously empty store, though thankfully most of the hard work was out of the way already.
“My friend is getting out of the hospital any minute now,” she admitted. “I’m a bit worried about her.”
“Your friend?” Klieo mused. “Oh, the one you went off to go save. How is she doing?”
“She’s… healthy,” Rarity said, unsure of how much more she should share. It wasn’t necessarily everypony’s business, after all.
“Ah. Healthy, eh?” Klieo said wryly, nodding in sympathy. She seemed quite intuitive about these things, though Rarity supposed she shouldn’t be surprised, considering.
“Yeah.” Rarity sighed. “Any advice? Terminus and I dropped off a care package for Emberglow this morning, and I just felt so helpless. He’s such a darling, and he always seems to know just what to say to help. I just… don’t want to say the wrong thing.”
“Sure, I can try,” Klieo said. “What happened when you dropped off the care package?”
“We had a pleasant visit. Chatted about her moving in with Terminus and Heartwing and I, at least temporarily. She seemed...” Rarity trailed off, waving a hoof idly while she grasped for the words. “...fragile. Like a pair of gorgeous spun glass slippers. Fine on the surface, but ready to break at a moment’s notice.” Rarity paused, thinking for a moment. “It could just be my imagination. Or I’m just projecting my own fragility onto her.”
“Don’t do that, Rarity,” Klieo admonished. “You’re doing just fine.”
“Today I am, darling.” The boutique went silent for a few seconds, until Klieo leaned over and squeezed Rarity about the shoulders in a sudden hug. Rarity resisted the urge to protest, to squirm out of the hug, to insist she was okay, and instead leaned into her friend’s embrace. Even when things were going well (and they were, today) hugs were always helpful.
“Thank you, Klieo,” Rarity said after she finally did step away. Klieo was smiling. “You’re such a dear.”
“I try.” Klieo blushed. “So. I interrupted you. We were talking about your friend?”
“Right. So like I said, she’s probably getting out of the hospital today. Terminus offered to take her on a more thorough tour of Angel’s Rest, but she said she wanted to explore a bit on her own, first.” The idea unsettled her, but she hadn’t said anything at the time. “It makes me worried, but I’m not quite sure why.”
“Hmm…” Klieo pursed her lips thoughtfully. “She said she wants to explore the town on her own, right?” She shrugged. “Maybe she’s just trying to spread her wings a bit. Metaphorically, of course.”
“Perhaps literally,” Rarity quipped. “Miss Emberglow is a pegasus, after all.”
“Maybe that,” Klieo laughed. “Um, but what I mean is, maybe she feels like she needs a little space to make some decisions on her own. I know when we first brought Colibri home, it was a weird mix of sometimes needing to give her space to test her newfound freedom, and sometimes give her structure and support.” Klieo’s eyes drifted, unfocused. “It requires lots of patience. And love. And time.”
“I want to help so much, I’m just not sure how,” Rarity said, looking down at her hooves. Her mind drifted back to her first few moments, waking up in the cave. She remembered how Emberglow’s first instinct had been to try and protect her, a complete stranger, from the supposed threat of Heartwing. She remembered the way Emberglow had broken down, completely shattered. And then, after all that hurt, Emberglow had done her best to comfort Rarity in her own pain.
It made Rarity feel oddly warm to think about. Emberglow might be the bearer of Applejack’s Element, but those actions reminded Rarity more of Fluttershy’s gentle kindness and self-sacrifice.
“Did you know you usually smile when you’re thinking about her?” Klieo teased. “Do you have a bit of a crush you’d like to confess?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Rarity felt the heat in her face, though, and wondered.
“Uh huh,” Klieo raised her eyebrows and smirked. “I’m not buying it. Fess up, girl.”
“You’re being quite silly,” Rarity informed her blankly, looking away. Klieo giggled.
“Well then, if you don’t want to discuss crushes, you can at least let me in on what the next step for setting up the shop is.”
“I had a flash of inspiration last night, dear.” Rarity seized on the subject change like a drowning mare seizing a life preserver. “A creativity station. With colored pencils and paper, even swatches of fabric. Let customers come up with some of their own custom designs.”
“That could be… disastrous,” Klieo said skeptically.
Rarity laughed. “Well, of course we wouldn’t let their designs become reality without filtering through one of us first. But think of the possibilities! Customers will love it. Plus, if they have foals, it may help keep them occupied while the parents shop.”
“Sounds whimsical, if a bit impractical.” Klieo nodded. “I like it. Would you like me to start drawing up designs?”
“I’d love you to, darling. It could be…”
There was a knock on the door. Rarity and Klieo looked at each other, surprised.
“That could be her,” Rarity mused. Who else would be knocking on the door of a boutique that wasn’t even open yet? “Terminus did give her our address and suggest she should stop by.”
She trotted over to the pane glass front door. It was, indeed, Emberglow standing right outside. She swung the door open wide. “Emberglow, darling. Come in, please.” She motioned to Klieo. “This is my apprentice and partner, Klieo.”
“Um, okay,” Emberglow said carefully, stepping into the boutique. She nervously eyed the minotaur before clearly gathering herself. “Nice to meet you, Klieo.”
“Oh my,” Rarity gasped as soon as Emberglow was fully in the shop. “What are you wearing?”
“Um.” Emberglow glanced at herself. “The hospital had some spare clothing to loan out to patients like me. I wasn’t sure I wanted to put on robes again, until I decide if I still want to be a Knight.” She had on a mostly shapeless cream dress, poorly draped over her lean figure. It was utterly boring.
“Well then, dear, you’ve come to the right place,” Rarity said cheerfully. “We’ll have to get you some proper attire. Klieo, be a dear and get me a sketch pad and a pencil, will you?” Klieo gave her a silly mock salute, and rushed off.
“I don’t need much.” Emberglow held up a hoof. Her tail was twitching nervously, and she seemed to be shrinking into herself. “I really just came by to thank you for the care package. And the book.”
“Nonsense!” Rarity gently laid a hoof over her friend’s shoulders, guiding her into the boutique. Terminus’ words from this morning danced in her head. “A pretty mare like yourself deserves an entire wardrobe of pretty dresses. Life is a runway, darling. Your personal couture should show off your inner beauty while enhancing your outer beauty.”
“I-I could always just go… without,” Emberglow stammered, though she didn’t resist being led into the shop.
“That may be fine for some ponies, but not for you, and you know it.” Rarity smiled, turning to face Emberglow. “Now. Tell me what kind of dresses you liked to wear before you joined the Knighthood and wore nothing more than those erm”— she cleared her throat daintily —“functional, robes.”
Weirdly, Emberglow’s gaze unfocused, and her eye suddenly brimmed with tears. She blinked a few times, and reached up to dash at her eye with one hoof. Rarity didn’t know what she’d said, but she’d affected Emberglow somehow.
Before she could apologize, though, Emberglow spoke urgently. “A dress. A skirt. Long. Um, maybe cream colored, with polka dots? And a b-belt.” Tears were leaking down her cheeks, and she shook her head rapidly. “I’m sorry. I’m being so silly.”
“Not at all!” Rarity protested. Klieo rushed back with a drawing pad and several pencils. Rarity seized the tools with her magic and began sketching out a basic pony figure on paper. “You sound like you know exactly what you want. I’d love to hear about it, if you don’t mind sharing.”
“It was my twelfth birthday,” Emberglow whispered, her good eye staring into space. “It was too much. My parents, they sacrificed so much to get me a pretty dress.” Rarity’s heart ached as Emberglow told the story of the dress, and how she had finally lost it.
As Emberglow talked, Rarity made four possible sketches for designs before she noticed Emberglow’s voice becoming softer and more strained, before trailing off entirely. From the corner of her eyes, Klieo gave Rarity a significant look, before walking purposefully towards the bathroom.
Rarity watched her go, hesitating momentarily with indecision. As tears began to trickle Emberglow’s eyes, though, she made up her mind, and walked over to Emberglow, wrapping a hoof around her and pulling the poor mare into a tight hug. Emberglow sobbed quietly.
“I miss them,” she admitted in a whisper. “They’re back at home. They probably think I’m dead. I wish there was a way to get in touch, let them know I’m okay.”
Rarity patted her on the back. “We’ve found an Element of Harmony. Maybe two, if your mystery mare turns out to be real. Who knows, in no time at all, maybe we’ll have rounded up the rest, and you’ll be able to return home to your parents like the hero you are.”
“That might be… overly optimistic,” Emberglow said, deflating even more in Rarity’s embrace. “Sorry. I’m just so…” She gently stepped out of Rarity’s hug, and blinked, wiping at her eyes with her hoof. “Sorry,” she repeated, her eyes on the floor.
“Think nothing of it, Emberglow,” Rarity said cheerfully, hoping it didn’t seem forced. “Now, I’d like you to take a look at these sketches. Are you interested in a faithful recreation of the dress your parents made, or something inspired by it?”
Rarity flipped the notebook over, and Emberglow leaned in to look through the sketches — designs, inspired purely by Emberglow’s verbal description. Emberglow’s eyes were fixed on the pages of the sketchbook, but Rarity watched Emberglow’s face closely, particularly her sparkling sky blue eyes, still wet from her earlier breakdown. There was an anxious pause.
Then, Emberglow’s eyes teared up for an entirely different reason than before, and her face broke out into a wide smile.
This was what Rarity needed. This was one of the moments she lived for; the moment when she brought inspiration, light, and joy into another pony’s eyes. Emberglow flipped through the pages, awe clear in her face, before glancing back at Rarity.
“You drew all this just while I was talking?” Emberglow glanced between the half-dozen sketches. Rarity glowed with pride. “Um, oh. You asked…” she paused thoughtfully. “Can you make a dress inspired by the one my parents made for me?” A shadow of something dark and sad crossed over her face. “I mean, you don’t have to go to the trouble—“
“No.” Rarity held a hoof up to Emberglow’s muzzle, stopping her short. Emberglow blushed, but stopped talking, so Rarity put her hoof down again with a small grin. Behind Emberglow, Rarity saw Klieo poke her head in, before walking naturally back into the room, carrying a clean handkerchief in one hand and a glass of water in the other.
“Think of it this way, Miss Emberglow,” Klieo reasoned, handing the glass and the handkerchief to Emberglow, who took it with a grateful look. “We’re going to be opening in a few days. We need lots of advertising, and you prancing about in a beautiful Rarity Original will help spread the word of our new shop.”
“If you’re sure…” Emberglow wiped her eyes with the handkerchief.
“I absolutely must insist, darling,” Rarity said, though she smiled as she said it. “Miss Klieo is correct. It will help not only with advertising, but to make sure my skills aren’t rusty after my long nap.”
Emberglow snorted with amusement, gesturing at the racks of fabulous dresses spread out over the shop. “I think you’ve proved that already.”
“You know, you’re exactly right,” Rarity said, without breaking stride. “In fact, just to prove to myself that I’m back in the game, I’m going to have to see some of these newer designs in action, as it were. I don’t suppose you’d like to try on a dress or two…?” She trailed off, her voice heavy with pleading as she fluttered her eyelashes at Emberglow.
Emberglow blushed brightly. “I-I, b-but, why m-me?” she stammered nervously. Rarity had to hold in her laughter. Klieo didn’t bother, giving an oddly girlish giggle.
“Why you?” Rarity gasped dramatically. “Why, Emberglow, you would be perfect to model some of my newest line! You’re tall and elegant, with a natural athleticism and grace to your movements. Your coloration is quite charming, and would go with any number of my fabulous dresses.”
With each compliment, Emberglow’s face grew redder and redder. She squirmed underneath the barrage of praise, which only made Klieo laugh harder. Emberglow glared at her.
“Now you’re just teasing me,” she muttered.
“Maybe a little, darling. But I’m serious about having you try on some of our creations. Klieo, would you be a dear and snatch the light grey sundress with the pink belt? I think with a little alteration, it would work nicely for Miss Emberglow.”
“I couldn’t possibly…”
“On it!” Klieo sang out, prancing through the aisles of clothing to select the requested dress.
“No you don’t need to…”
“Here it is!” the minotaur called out.
“Really, it’s…”
“Oh!” Rarity called out. “What about the little black formal piece? The one with the rose accent, that you designed?”
“R-rarity, you can’t just…”
“Ooh, yes!” Klieo cooed, dashing over to another aisle and snagging a second dress. “That rose will perfectly accent her mane.”
“Will the both of you please…”
“And what about something more practical? Perhaps the blue and white blouse with a black pencil skirt?” Rarity was trying her best to hold back her laughter at the panic and indignation on Emberglow’s face. She was having too much fun to stop.
More than that, though, Rarity was fairly sure it was working. Emberglow was flustered and off-balance, perhaps, but she wasn’t frozen, or breaking down. Rarity considered herself a good judge of ponies; she was sure the distractions were doing exactly what Terminus had intended.
“That would be perfect for her,” Klieo confirmed. She collected the third outfit, while Emberglow stared on with openmouthed horror.
“Come this way, Emberglow,” Rarity guided the stunned mare towards the dressing rooms. “You’ll have to try these on so I can see how they’ll need to be altered.”
“But…”
“No buts!” Rarity sang. “Don’t worry, I won’t make you buy anything you don’t like.” She shoved Emberglow into the dressing room, sliding the privacy curtain across after she pushed the outfits in after her. “Now try those outfits on, and show us how fabulous you are.”
“For the record, I’m following these orders under formal protest,” Emberglow’s muffled voice came from the changing room, accompanied by the sounds of shuffling cloth as she undressed. Rarity giggled.
“I’m not your military officer, Emberglow. You can refuse whatever you want.”
“You could have fooled me,” Emberglow grumbled, then sighed. “Thank you. For trying to take my mind off…stuff. It’s truly kind of you.”
“You deserve it, darling,” Rarity said warmly.
“Oh!” Emberglow suddenly exclaimed. “These are already altered for wings!”
“Of course, Emberglow. Did you think I’d recommend something unsuitable?” Rarity pretended to be offended. “Don’t be absurd.”
Emberglow laughed. “Okay, I think I…” she paused, grunting slightly. “Um, I might need a little help with the zipper.”
She stepped out of the dressing room in the evening dress, a little black number with glossy black fabric, spaghetti strap shoulders, and an embroidered red rose on the dress’ breast. The skirt was short, but not daringly so, though with Emberglow’s slightly taller-than-average stature, it appeared shorter than it should. Rarity imagined that factored into the delightfully amusing blush that spread across her cheeks. Coincidentally, the evidence of Emberglow’s embarrassment matched quite nicely with the embroidered rose.
“Oh my. Darling, you look gorgeous!” Rarity cooed as she helped her zip up the back of the dress. “Klieo, come look! It’s like this dress was simply made for her!” She was perhaps laying it on a little thick, but Emberglow needed the boost. Besides, she was gorgeous.
“Very nice.” Klieo nodded.
“It doesn’t show t-too much leg?” Emberglow asked nervously.
“Not in the slightest.” Rarity nodded confidently. “Just the right sort of dress for showing off that lovely figure of yours. Not an everyday sort of outfit, mind you. That’s what the sundress or the blouse is for. Now, let me take some measurements. This would just need a few alterations to be perfect for you.”
“I thought I was just trying it on?” Emberglow raised an eyebrow.
“Of course, of course,” Rarity waved a hoof vaguely. “Indulge me.”
Emberglow rolled her eyes, but said nothing as Rarity went to work with a measuring tape and pins. Moments later, Rarity waved her back towards the changing room.
“All done, dear. Try on the next one.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Emberglow saluted sarcastically, before retreating behind the curtain. “You know, you’re starting to remind me of my mother.”
“Oh?”
“She’s a strong mare too, and she nearly always gets her way.” Rarity heard Emberglow sigh over the shuffling of cloth. “And she’s usually right.”
“You know, somehow I don’t see you as the type to argue or rebel against your mother,” Rarity remarked.
“I wasn’t,” Emberglow admitted. “But nopony’s perfect. I was a teenager once, too.” She stepped out of the dressing room, wearing the blouse and pencil skirt combination. “Well?”
“Hmm…” Rarity pursed her lips in concentration. “The skirt and blouse do work, but...”
“There’s something missing,” Klieo said while Emberglow glanced back and forth between them, nervously. “Accessories?”
“Just so, Klieo,” Rarity said with a grin. “I wonder…” She trotted over to a display case full of inexpensive costume jewelry, pulling out a simple necklace made with bright faux turquoise beads. She levitated it around Emberglow’s neck, then clopped her hooves together in delight. “That’s just the thing! It sets off your eyes so nicely!”
“It does?” Emberglow asked unsurely, lifting the beads with one hoof to look at them.
“Yes, and it’s just the accent this lovely ensemble needed.” Rarity stepped around Emberglow, glancing at the outfit from all angles. “Only a few alterations needed, I think. Now, let’s see the sundress.”
Emberglow disappeared behind the curtain one last time to change into the dress. Rarity grinned at Klieo, who leaned in to whisper softly.
“I think it’s working, boss,” Klieo was clearly holding back giggles. “She’s acting annoyed, but I think you’re cheering her up.”
“Good.” Rarity smirked.
A few moments later Emberglow emerged, shuffling her hooves nervously in the sleeveless pale grey dress, so light it was almost a cream.
“What do you think?” Rarity asked her partner.
“Well, with this piece, I think her the bright color of her mane becomes the accent the dress needs,” Klieo said thoughtfully. “Do you always wear it up like that, in a ponytail?”
“I just like it out of the way,” Emberglow mumbled.
“That’s fine,” Klieo held up her paws in a placating gesture. “It wasn’t criticism, and it looks nice for you. But with this dress, it might be fun to try it down. Something to think about.”
“I think it would look just marvelous down, darling,” Rarity said.
“Y-you do?” Emberglow stammered, and out of the corner of Rarity’s eye, she saw Klieo smirk. “Um, maybe I could try it.” She reached up with her hooves, undoing the practical but boring mane tie she usually wore. Her short mane cascaded around her face, a few strands trickling in front of her eyes.
“Here, allow me, dear,” Rarity’s horn ignited, and she gently rearranged Emberglow’s mane, brushing it back out of her eyes to drape loosely behind her ears. Emberglow’s eye twitched back and forth awkwardly, unsure where to look.
“There we are. It’s like you’re a whole new mare,” Rarity cooed, levitating a small mirror over so Emberglow could see how she looked. “It’s no replacement for a real makeover, but it will do for now.”
“Makeover?”
“Oh yes, dear. Klieo’s sister, Colibri, showed me the most delightful spa here in Angel’s Rest, fed by a natural hot spring. It’s absolutely marvelous, I’ll have to bring you along some day.”
“Um…” Emberglow was looking anxious, and Rarity reached out to comfortingly touch her shoulder.
“Am I moving too quickly for you, darling?” she asked. “I know sometimes I can be a bit much.”
“N-no, you’re perfect! I mean, you’re just fine!” Emberglow’s smile was still a bit anxious, so Rarity backed away a bit. “I’m just overwhelmed, is all. This is all so different than what I was used to.”
“What is it that Terminus always says? One day at a time, darling. You’ll get there.”
Emberglow’s smile softened and became a little more genuine. “I hope so too.”
* * * * *
In the end, Emberglow had left wearing the sundress. Rarity had overridden her protests with one of her signature maneuvers: the puppy dog stare complete with fluttering eyelashes. It had reduced all of Emberglow’s complaints into wordless stammering. Her mission complete, she finally let the poor mare leave, but not before recommending an excellent bakery where she could purchase herself some goodies.
“That mare’s really into you, you know,” Klieo commented as the two were heading home for the night.
“It wasn’t really that subtle,” Rarity noted, smirking.
“So?”
“There’s potential,” she admitted with a hint of a blush. “But if anything were to happen, it would have to be at an absolutely glacial pace. She’s not exactly in a stable place right now, and if I’m being honest, neither am I.”
“That sounds smart.” Klieo nodded. “So, what are your evening plans? Care to join me for dinner?”
“I probably shouldn’t,” Rarity sighed regretfully. “I’m going to check in with Heartwing. He said there might be a council meeting tonight.”
“Good luck with that,” Klieo said. They gave each other a wave as they split off to their respective destinations.
Rarity hummed a little tune to herself as she walked, quite pleased with the way the afternoon had turned out. Even though the boutique wasn’t even open yet, she was already bringing smiles to ponies’ faces with her couture.
As she approached Heartwing and Terminus’ house, she saw a pegasus colt sitting in the front yard. He wore nondescript robes over his grey fur, and his yellow mane was cut tragically short in a military style cut. He jerked to his hooves as soon as she neared, saluting with a hoof to his chest.
“Miss Rarity, ma’am!” he squeaked, and she grinned. “I’ve been sent to give you a message, ma’am!”
“Ooh, how dutiful!” Rarity cooed, charmed by the adorable young colt. “And you are…?”
“Grey Torrent, ma’am!” The foal saluted again. “I’m a page.”
“Oh, working towards Knighthood, then.” Rarity nodded. “Very admirable. What is the message, young sir?”
“Um, Sir Heartwing said there’s a council meeting. He told me to fly here and wait until you got here, then escort you to the meeting.”
“Well then, lead the way, my stalwart companion!” Rarity beamed at the way the small colt puffed up at her compliments. He led the way to City Hall, while Rarity made small talk. “So, what makes you want to be a Knight?”
“It’s my momma, ma’am,” he said proudly. “She’s one of the best scouts the Knights Discordant ever had. I just wanna earn my armor so I can fly at her side.”
“I’m sure she’s proud of you, Grey,” Rarity said. “What’s it like being a page?”
“Um, hard.” He gulped. “There’s lots of training and stuff, and I have to do wing-ups and laps every day. But Momma’s a good coach.”
“I’m sure in no time at all, you’ll be as fit as your mother,” she replied, and he beamed.
Grey Torrent led her all the way to the doors of the council chamber, which were wide open. The other council members were already waiting, save for Heartwing.
“Good evening, everypony. I hope I didn’t make you wait.”
“Not at all,” Cobalt said. “We’re a bit early, anyways. We were hoping for a chance to talk to you before Heartwing showed up."
“You think he’s going to try again?” Ninelives said cryptically. All of the other council members sighed in exasperation, while Rarity looked between them with confusion.
“Every so often, Sir Heartwing attempts to do something silly by trying to resign, or something,” Cobalt explained. “He’ll start to feel guilty about something, and gets into a spiral of negative thinking. We mostly just veto him outright every time.”
“We’re overdue,” Ninelives muttered, as the other council members nodded. “It’s been, what, two years since the last time?”
“At least that much,” Cobalt nodded.
“We should probably give him the benefit of the doubt,” Top Brass said. “We don’t know for sure…”
“Don’t know for sure about what?” Heartwing asked suspiciously as he trotted into the room. He seemed slightly out of breath, and he carried a stack of papers in his magic, which he deposited in front of Ninelives. “Here, take a quick look at those.”
“Just discussing the possibility that you were going to do something stupid,” Ninelives said idly, while his eyes drifted over the reports he’d been handed. “I mean, we all agree that you’re overdue for another ‘I’m not worthy, you deserve better leadership’ style meltdown.”
Heartwing gaped, his gaze drifting between the expressions on the other council members.
“I’d like to make a motion,” Rarity spoke up. “Can we, as a council, release a statement of complete and utter confidence in Sir Heartwing’s leadership, even in these somewhat tumultuous times? That should forestall any…” she cleared her throat, “…ahem. Time wasting foolishness.”
“Traitor,” Heartwing grumbled.
“There is a motion on the table,” Mayor Cactus Flower said formally. “Do we have a second?” Everypony except Heartwing raised their hooves. “We can probably move directly to a vote, then.”
“You ponies are crazy,” Heartwing grumbled.
“All in favor of releasing a statement declaring our unanimous support for Sir Heartwing?” The mayor’s question was followed by a chorus of ‘ayes’. “Any opposed?” Everypony stared at Heartwing, who shook his head with a wry smile. “Very well. With five ayes and one abstention, the motion passes. I’ll draft a statement for you all to sign as soon as possible, if nopony minds.”
“Are we done with that?” Heartwing said with an eye roll. “Good. Thank you all, by the way. Your misplaced confidence aside, you’re all very kind. Now if we can move on to today’s business, I’ve got some interesting news.
“You all know by now that one of our newest citizens, Emberglow, has been revealed to be the Element of Honesty. We have some more information on that subject to share.
“Emberglow has been having dreams, in which she has been conversing with a crystal pony who claims to be the Element of Laughter. Emberglow’s a smart mare, so not only was she skeptical about the reality of these dreams, she also came up with a way of testing whether or not they were actually happening. The good news is, our Element of Honesty is not crazy. There really is a crystal pony, named Topaz Glitter, who appears to have found the Element of Laughter. And she has a way of communicating with Emberglow in shared dreams.”
He paused for a moment, letting the council members digest this information.
“The bad news is, she’s part of a delegation of diplomats the Empire sent to the Diarchy. So this Topaz Glitter is hiding dead center in the middle of our enemy’s strength. Her safety is dubious at best. I don’t think the shield of diplomatic immunity will mean a bit to the Diarchy if they were to find out she has the Element of Laughter.”
“She brought it with her?” Cobalt snorted incredulously.
“I don’t know for sure,” Heartwing said. “I’ll have Emberglow ask when she next has a chance. But that leads us to the important part. The Elements are making themselves known.” He reached into his robes, pulling out a small pouch and gently spilling the Element of Kindness onto the table. “Even this one has been glowing intermittently over the last few weeks. We have a little time, but we need a plan for finding the others before the Diarchy can.” He paused, motioning at the stack of papers he had handed Ninelives earlier.
“Reports from inside New Canterlot City suggest the new head of the Mystics is sending out expeditions. He’s been amassing naval forces near and inside the barrier islands outside of Jubilation. Ostensibly they’re hunting pirates, but they’ve been observed by the zebras making landfall on several of the islands, as if searching for something.”
“You think…” Ninelives pondered. “The sea shanty? The one about Captain Celaeno? But those islands were searched centuries ago. If there were any treasure there, it would have been found ages ago.”
“Unless they know something we don’t,” Heartwing suggested. “Either way, I think we should mount an expedition to Jubilation. There is at least one Element of Harmony in Zebrica. Maybe two.”
Rarity was lost. Captain Celaeano? A sea shanty? She nearly asked, but closed her mouth and sat back to listen. She was sure she could ask him later.
“Seriously? No objections?” He asked, then shrugged. “Okay then. Myself and Rarity will go, obviously. Also Miss Emberglow. I’d like to take at least one other Knight.”
“Hmm,” Cobalt mused with a smirk. “I wonder which one.”
“Just so!” Heartwing said cheerfully. “For my morale, of course.”
“It doesn’t hurt that he’s also a very competent Knight,” Cobalt noted. “Okay, so just the four of you?”
“I’d rather keep the group small.” He glanced around as well. “Really? None of you are objecting?”
“Of course I object,” Cobalt sighed. “None of us want you to go.” The rest of the council were nodding their agreement. “But we don’t exactly have a choice. None of us understand what’s going on here. This business with Elements, and magic trees, and ponies waking up from a thousand years ago? Way over my head. But not, I think, over yours. Or Miss Rarity’s.”
“You might not like the next bit, then,” Heartwing said. “I’d like to reiterate the Last Chance protocol.”
“The Last Chance Protocol?” Rarity asked, confused. The other council members were leaning forward, their faces a mixture of concern and consternation.
“Standing orders for all Discordant, and our military forces,” Ninelives muttered, though he didn’t look up from reading the papers. “If something happens to the Big Guy, the next in charge approaches the nearest Crystal Empire forces and surrenders ourselves to Princess Flurry Heart’s command. We then hopefully get absorbed into whatever military structure she decides on.”
“As backup plans go, it feels… drastic,” Cobalt eyed his boss. “Are you sure…”
“I won’t leave you all hanging just so I can go off on a magical friendship quest,” Heartwing declared. “My ponies are going to be taken care of, no matter what. While I’m gone, if you don’t hear from me via enchanted scroll for over a week, I’m ordering you to follow the Protocol.”
“He’s right,” Ninelives suddenly interjected, setting the reports down on the middle of the table. He eyed Heartwing. “How much do you trust these reports?”
“Individually? Not much. But since there’s at least a dozen witnesses…” Heartwing trailed off worriedly.
“Don’t tease us, darling,” Rarity said, annoyed. “What’s in those reports?”
“Naval movements by Jubilation. But also,” he looked up in concern, “strange sightings in the northern Diarchy,” he replied. “Unusually cold weather patterns, and multiple reports of voices on the cold winds.”
Rarity’s eyes widened. “You mean like the old Hearth’s Warming tales?”
Heartwing nodded. “Places like Vanhoofer and Stalliongrad are being hit by dramatic winter storms, and multiple ponies are reporting hearing voices on the winds. Howls of rage and of hunger. Nopony has seen a Windigo yet, though.”
“Pardon me if this is obvious to everypony else,” Rarity said carefully. “But… why haven’t the Windigos shown up long before now? With Equestria this far out of balance, I would have thought they made their chilly presence known much sooner.”
“We don’t know,” Heartwing admitted. “Something has stopped them from overtaking Equestria with their blizzards. But something has changed, and they’re starting to come back.”
“But you think the Elements are appearing in response?” Rarity guessed.
Heartwing nodded. “I think so. And I believe that the Windigos returning are a symptom of the disease the Elements are meant to fix, not the cause.”
“So we find the Elements, while keeping in contact with this other pony, Topaz, who is also apparently looking for the Elements.” Rarity nodded. “So why Jubilation? And what is this about a sea shanty?”
Heartwing grinned. “Let me sing you a song.”
Heartwing tapped a hoof as he began to sing a rhythmic ditty about a princess entrusting a treasure with a pirate captain named Celeano. Rarity’s mind wandered back to the adventurous captain herself. It wasn’t hard to picture the pirate, her cocky grin or her dashing, heroic figure. Another lost friend, another pang of loneliness in her heart.
Heartwing finished the song, and for a moment Rarity didn’t realize, still lost in her memories; long-lost pictures of a graceful airship, a brave crew, and even a very different song about being awesome. She felt the moisture trickling down her cheeks before she even realized she’d started crying.
“Oh, come on!” Heartwing protested, breaking her out of her memory. “My singing voice isn’t that bad.”
“It’s exactly that bad,” Ninelives deadpanned as he made a gagging motion with one hoof. “Stop it.”
Rarity blinked to cover her own reaction. The other council members were looking rather unimpressed with the song, appearing either annoyed or bored.
“Everypony’s a critic,” Heartwing moaned melodramatically. “Well, if we’re through slandering my obviously superior singing skills, can we talk about the song?”
“Is it a true story?” Rarity asked. “I mean, obviously the princess is Princess Twilight. Did she really give one of the Elements to Captain Celano?”
“It’s possible. The Diarchy seems to think so; they’re searching the islands the song is likely referring to. I’d like to look into it.”
“So,” Ninelives said, leaning forward lazily onto the table, “I suppose we can expect another expedition soon…?”
“One thing I’d like to add, before we go much further,” Rarity cut in before Heartwing could answer. “Emberglow needs time to come to terms with everything that’s been happening. She needs time to adjust to the changes.”
“It will take some time to arrange safe passage to Jubilation anyway,” Heartwing said, nodding. “Besides, I’d like a chance to learn more about the Element of Laughter. Some time should be fine.”
* * * * *
“Are you coming home for dinner?” Heartwing asked as they left the council room. “Terminus said that he was going to meet up with Emberglow after her exploration to bring her home tonight. She should be all moved in by now.”
“I’ll be along when I can,” Rarity said, nodding her head to a figure that was waiting for them outside Town Hall. Klieo had a pensive look on her face. “It seems I have something to take care of with my business partner.”
“Um, Miss Rarity?” Klieo stepped over, with a respectful sort of curtsy for Sir Heartwing. “There’s an issue with that friend of yours. Miss Emberglow?”
“Oh dear. Is everything all right?” Rarity asked.
“I… think so?” Klieo shrugged noncommittally. “She’s at Colibri’s pub, and she seems like she’s having a hard time. Colibri sent me to find you.”
Rarity and Heartwing shared a worried glance.
“I’ll go see what’s happening. You head home. Don’t wait up for us,” Rarity told him. “Don’t worry, I’ll bring her home.”
“Good luck,” Heartwing sighed, before trotting off in the direction of his home.
Rarity felt a growing sense of worry as she followed after Klieo. “Do you know what’s happening?”
“Not exactly,” Klieo shrugged. “It’s not an emergency, if that’s what you’re worried about. I think your friend just needs somepony to look out for her tonight, that’s all.”
“I see. Well then, I hope I can be what she needs, tonight.”
The Cocoon was quiet, with few customers. Colibri stood behind the bar, and waved at Rarity when she entered, nodding towards the lone figure sitting at a round table in the center of the room.
Emberglow was slumped over the table, her head resting in her folded forehooves, her gaze frozen on the mug that was set in front of her. It was full of beer, and looked untouched. Emberglow’s eyes were unfocused, though they flickered to Rarity as she entered. She was still wearing the sun dress.
“May I join you?” Rarity asked politely. Emberglow nodded wordlessly. Rarity slid into a seat next to her. “Colibri was worried about you.” Emberglow gave her a puzzled look, and Rarity nodded to the bartender. “Should she be?”
“I don’t know,” Emberglow whispered. Her voice sounded hoarse. “Probably. I’m acting weird.”
“Weird? How so?” Rarity tried to keep her voice gentle.
“I was fine when I left your shop, a few hours ago,” Emberglow began, one hoof reaching out to trace the side of the mug. “I was fine.” The last came out with a harsh sob. “Sure, you left me a little flustered, but I was feeling good.” Rarity’s heart broke a little as she heard the desperation and tension in the mare sitting next to her. “A few other ponies looked my way as I explored a bit on my own. I don’t know what they were thinking, but they were looking. I felt pretty. Maybe for the first time in…” she sighed. “I can’t remember how long.”
“Emberglow…” Rarity breathed.
“I went to that bakery you recommended. The stallions there were very nice. I bought the prettiest, best looking cake they had. Milk chocolate, with strawberries. It was beautiful. They’d colored the frosting pink, and there were strawberries all over the top.” Her eyes suddenly focused on Rarity. They were full of tears. “I’ve spent my entire life controlling my desires and impulses, but I’m not ashamed to say I lusted after that cake.”
There was something in her voice that made Rarity dread what was coming.
“I went outside. You know that little park, just a half block from the bakery?” Emberglow didn’t wait for Rarity’s nod. “I found a bench, and was getting ready to dig in. But, I couldn’t.”
Rarity cocked her head quizzically, and Emberglow sighed, sitting up slightly.
“Do you know about the vows we swear as Knights? Your knights swear a vow of chastity, and a vow of poverty. The words are, we ‘take no pay, and live in holy poverty’. In practice, that means we basically own nothing.” She hit the table with her hoof for emphasis. “For the last few years, the only luxuries I’ve had have been ones bought and paid for by others. I didn’t get paid.” She patted her waist, and Rarity heard a clinking sound. “This is more bits I’ve had in my entire life. Possibly combined.” She laughed, and it was a strangled, hysterical sort of sound.
“I ended up giving the cake to some foal and his grandpa, playing in the park,” Emberglow snorted. “I really hope I didn’t scare them, but I might have looked weird. I just… couldn’t.” She stared at Rarity, and her eyes were wet. “I know it’s all made up now. I know it’s all horseapples. I know it’s wrong. Then why do I still feel guilty!?” She slammed her hooves down again, making the mug of beer jump and vibrate. Rarity glanced nervously at Colibri, over at the bar, but the pub owner didn’t seem too worried about Emberglow possibly damaging her table.
Emberglow will have good days and bad days, Terminus had said. Just like you do. Today felt more like good hours and bad hours.
“So next I came here,” Emberglow shrugged. Her voice quivered. “I thought m-maybe if I got d-drunk enough, I’d stop caring about how nothing makes sense any longer.” She whimpered as she gestured to the still-full mug of beer. “Did you know drunkenness is a sin?” She gave another hysterical laugh. “It isn’t, you see. It’s all made up. But if you could explain that to my guilt, that’d be great.” Her head flopped down, burying her face in her forehooves as her shoulders shook with sobs.
Rarity opened her mouth, then closed it again, feeling utterly helpless. The mare in front of her seemed such a far cry from the pony who had left the shop earlier, all blushes and smiles. Her heart ached for something to say to make it all better, but what?
“I...” she began, “I’m sure…” She paused, her mouth soundlessly forming words which seemed empty and meaningless. She couldn’t even begin to understand what Emberglow was going through, and it hurt.
The silent tension between them suddenly became unbearable, and she lamely reached forward and patted the crying mare on the shoulder, an impotent act of comfort. Rarity hated herself a little for not being able to come up with anything better.
“Is there something I can help you mares with?” a voice suddenly asked. Rarity looked up with surprise. Colibri had stepped over from the bar, and was standing beside their table with a sympathetic smile. It was just the salvation Rarity needed; Colibri had experience with this sort of thing. She motioned to an empty seat next to Emberglow.
“Yes, Miss Colibri. As you may know, Miss Emberglow here has recently arrived in our little city. She’s having a difficult time, and I’m finding myself quite helpless to assist. Do you have a moment to share some perspective?”
“Sure,” Colibri sat, and Emberglow raised her tearstained eyes to meet Colibri.
“Sorry,” she whispered. “I’m a mess.”
“We’re all a mess,” Colibri shrugged, with a smile. “It just means you’re in good company. Hi, I’m Colibri, and as a bartender and bar owner it’s my sacred duty to listen to all the troubles and woes of my customers.”
Emberglow laughed weakly, and held out a hoof for Colibri to shake.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Emberglow.”
“I’ve heard about you, Emberglow,” Colibri said brightly. “My friend, Galileo, plays music with his band here sometimes. He mentioned that you were the hero that saved his kid. Guess that means you’re drinking for free tonight.”
“I… but I…” Emberglow stammered, glancing at her mug. “Um, I haven’t even finished my first one yet.”
“You haven’t even tried it yet,” Colibri raised an eyebrow. “That’s my personal, homebrewed cream ale, Emberglow. Are you going to insult me by not even tasting it?” Emberglow gaped, and Rarity nearly opened her mouth to intervene, but a look from Colibri silenced her.
“N-no, but…”
“Take control, mare,” Colibri said, her voice firm. “Own your decisions. Own your choices. Own your life. Nobody controls you but you.”
Emberglow sat up with a grunt, and seized the mug. She stared at it, her hooves shaking. With one quick, jerky motion, she raised the mug to her lips and began to drink. She didn’t stop, chugging the entire mug in small gulps until it was gone. She then set the mug back down on the table dramatically.
“There. I did it!” She sounded proud of herself, then her ears wilted as she shrank. “Oh, Saints. I’m proud of myself for drinking a single mug of beer. How pathetic is that?”
“Not as much as you might think,” Rarity admitted. She thought of her own first few days in Angels’ Rest, and each time she’d cried her eyes out in the bathtub at Terminus and Heartwing’s house. “How was the beer?”
“Good?” Emberglow shrugged. “I have very little experience, but it was sweeter than I expected.”
“You did have it sitting there for a while.” Colibri pursed her lips thoughtfully. “You really have to experience it ice cold, out of the tap. I’ll go get you another.” Colibri was up and prancing away before either of them could say anything. Soon enough there was another mug, just as full, in front of Emberglow. Colibri glanced apologetically at Rarity. “Sorry. I didn’t get anything for you yet.”
“I can wait,” Rarity replied, her eyes on Emberglow, who was staring at the mug.
“Own your choices, mare,” Colibri repeated, and Emberglow nodded. She picked up the mug, looking even more confident this time as she began to drink. This time she savored it, sipping slowly at the amber liquid.
“I actually really like it,” Emberglow said sheepishly, blushing a bit. She fell silent, her eyes sinking to the table. Rarity watched as Emberglow sat back in her seat, at least some of the tension leaking out of her muscles. “How do you both know just what to say?”
Rarity was about to protest that she’d done nothing, that it had all been Colibri. But the comment died on her lips, shrinking before the look of unadulterated gratitude on Emberglow’s face.
“It’s the same thing my dad told me.” Colibri said. “I was a lot younger, and it wasn’t beer. It was putting on a dress for the first time. It was all I’d ever wanted for years, and when it came time, I just… couldn’t. If it hadn’t been for him I probably would have spent those first few weeks naked.” She giggled.
“Putting on a dress?” Emberglow sounded confused.
Colibri nodded gently. “It was one of the ways I took control.” Her gaze became distant. “I’ve been where you are right now. Many of us have. Angel’s Rest is where the everypony that doesn’t fit into the Diarchy wash up, if they manage to survive. I promise, it gets better with time.”
Suddenly the bell over the door rang, and a group of earth ponies trotted into the pub. “Oops. Looks like I have to go work. One last thing. Emberglow, it looks like you’re doing better now, but this isn’t gonna go away overnight, okay?” Emberglow nodded. “It may be tomorrow, it may be next week, but sometime soon you’re gonna go through all this again. That’s perfectly fine. When it happens, do me a favor. Take control, and own your choices. And if it gets too much, it’s okay to come to me for some liquid confidence, okay?” She smirked and tapped Emberglow’s mug.
“Right,” Emberglow said, taking another sip.
“Great.” Her smirk widened into a smile. “Before I trot off, can I get you ponies anything to eat?”
“I would love another one of your delightful fried tofu salads,” Rarity said. She glanced at Emberglow. “I highly recommend them.”
“Sure, I’ll try one.”
“And to drink?” Colibri asked.
“I would love a cosmarepolitan,” Rarity said. Emberglow eyed her curiously. “Never had one?” Emberglow shook her head. “Well, I’d recommend them too, but you need to drink some water first.”
“Okay,” Emberglow said.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can then, with two salads, two cosmos, and some water,” Colibri winked at them.
Rarity waited a few moments before turning to Emberglow.
“Are you really feeling better, darling?” she asked cautiously. Emberglow nodded slowly.
“A little, I guess,” she said. “I’m just frustrated now.” She waved a hoof impatiently. “I’m just ready for this all to be over with. All this drama, the scrambled eggs that make up my brain right now.”
“It takes…”
“Time, I know,” Emberglow growled, then shot Rarity an apologetic look. “Sorry.”
“Think nothing of it, darling.”