//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Witness to Harmony // Story: Rise of the Element Gang, Book 3: Heroes United // by Power of Six //------------------------------// Chapter 4: Witness to Harmony The Summer Sun Celebration, many months ago… Twilight’s view I crossed over the rope bridge that had been fixed by Rainbow Dash, approaching the crumbling ruin of the ancient castle, the last known resting place of the Elements of Harmony. The fate of Equestria depended on me and the others finding the Elements and using them to defeat Nightmare Moon. Reading hadn’t served me wrong before and I hoped it wouldn’t now. Feeling anticipation growing in my chest, I stepped through the wooden doors and joined the group. “Whoa.” I heard Applejack’s awed voice echo in the chamber. “Come on, Twilight. Isn’t this what you’ve been waitin’ for?” I felt a sort of special warmth at the kind invitation of the farm pony. Admittedly, I hadn’t been too enthusiastic about having these five mares accompany me into the forest to the castle. But now, considering all that had happened to us after we’d entered the Everfree Forest, I couldn’t contemplate doing it without them. They’d helped me and each other through the worst of dangers, sharing laughs and scares along the way. I was certainly going to miss them when I had to go back to Canterlot… though I wasn’t completely sure why. I walked through the gap they made for me, approaching the multi-branched alter where five stone orbs, each with a different shape carved into them, sat waiting for us. Just like they had been in the reference guide. “The Elements of Harmony! We’ve found them.” I watched as Rainbow and Fluttershy began to lift them up and carry them down. “Careful, careful!” Pinkie counted them as they were laid on the stone floor at our hooves “There’s only five!” “Where’s the sixth?” Rainbow asked. “The book said when the five are present, a spark will cause the sixth Element to be revealed.” I recited. Applejack looked confused. “What in the hay is that supposed to mean?” “I’m not sure, but I have an idea. Stand back. I don’t know what will happen.” Closing my eyes and bowing my head, I knelt before the Elements and began to work my magic. I was vaguely aware of the sound of hooves moving further away, no doubt the others leaving to allow me to concentrate. Silently grateful for their consideration, I returned my focus to attempt to infuse the Elements with my own magical power, hoping the resulting spark would make the sixth Element appear. As I gritted my teeth and increased power, I felt a strong wind before me, heard a rushing in my ears. Opening my eyes, I yelled in fright at the sight of a blue tornado spinning before me, levitating the Elements high into the air. I realized it was Nightmare Moon and she was trying to stop us from beating her. “The Elements!” Without thinking, knowing this was the only way, I jumped into the magical whirlwind. In an instant, I swept off my hooves and transported, carried wherever the Mare of Darkness took me. Dusk’s view Screaming from the bizarre experience, it was all I could as I aimlessly flew within a blue stream of light. I had no idea what was happening. I knew Dialga was sending me somewhere, but what I was going through didn’t feel much like teleportation. When I reached the end of the stream with a rushing feeling in my stomach, all I could see was just a bright, white void that made me shield my eyes to protect them as I floated within it. When the void faded away, I soon met with hard stone as I landed flat on a solid floor, pain shooting from my stomach from the impact. Rubbing it and wincing from the pain, I stood up and looked at my surroundings. It was there that I became confused by seeing the familiar structure of decaying stone. “The Castle of the Two Sisters?” I said to myself as I saw I was placed back into the ruins, though it wasn’t the same room I was in before. This room looked to be grander, larger than the Element Altar Room and there was a throne at the very end, atop a platform with a large window open behind it, allowing the starlight to shine in. “Looks like I’ve been brought to the throne room. Looks pretty nice with all that starlight—wait!” that’s when I had a sudden realization. “How is there starlight in the afternoon?” For a horrible moment, I thought Discord had beaten the girls and he had begun his reign of chaos again, intermittently changing between night and day at random intervals. I was about to run down a nearby hallway to get back and find out when a bright flash and a cloud of purple smoke appeared. While I froze and waited to see what would come out, something rushed in and took me behind a rotting pillar. Surprised once again, I found out that it was Darkrai. “Darkrai?” Before I could ask any more, it held up one finger to tell me to be quiet before pointing to the other side of it. Looking over to see what it was trying to show me, my jaw drop when I saw what came out of the smoke. Or should I say who. The smoke cleared to reveal Twilight Sparkle, coughing from it and lying in a heap. “Twilight?” I was confused by her presence here and how she even got here. Before I could talk go out to talk to her, I was once again shocked by the appearance of another pony. Before the throne was an alicorn mare with feathers and fur as black as the night she bought, her mane and tail having that strange gaseous quality, decorated with twinkling stars. This was in contrast to a set of fierce battle armor she wore, glinting wickedly in the moonlight, as did her cat-like, pale blue eyes. All of this fitted the description of only one pony. “Nightmare Moon?” It seemed impossible, but here was Nightmare Moon, laughing wickedly with stone orbs floating around her. “But… how?” It was then that I started to think, trying to figure out what was going on. None of this made any sense. The girls defeated Nightmare Moon and turned her back into Princess Luna. “How could she revert back to this? Did she get infected with Black Blood again?” I couldn’t make heads or tails of how this could be happening. “I don’t understand. Dialga didn’t tell me about this. How—Wait a minute…” from remembering the Legendary, I soon realized what was going on and what Dialga had meant when it said Shield and the others couldn’t follow me. To be certain, I then looked to Darkrai. “Darkrai… do you… know me?” the Darkrai looked to me and shook its head, confirming my suspicion. “You were just trying to keep me safe from Nightmare Moon, weren’t you?” this provoked a nod. “Of course. If Nightmare Moon is here and you don’t know me, then that must mean… I’m in the past! Dialga must have used its Roar of Time to send me back to the day Nightmare Moon escaped. So maybe… what Luna wants me to find is lost to time! But why send me to this point? There’s no way I can search without messing up the timestream. If Nightmare Moon or Twilight or any of the girls see me…” Before I could think any more about it, I then realized something off about this scene. “Hold on, Twilight told me that she and the girls worked together to defeat Nightmare Moon. Why is she alone?” This wasn’t right. Twilight was by herself, yet she’d told me she was with all of her friends when they used the Elements. They had to be here or else they wouldn’t be able to stop Nightmare Moon. At this point, Twilight bowed her head to charge, snorting from her nostrils. Nightmare Moon actually gave a smirk of amusement. “You’re kidding. You’re kidding, right?” Though worried for her, I didn’t watch what happened next for my attention was dragged away to sounds of ponies worrying outside. Rushing to the window, I followed them to the spot where I’d been in the present day, the structure built into the side of the cliff and the silhouettes of five ponies running around inside. Knowing that it was the girls, I soon realized that they had no idea that Twilight was up here, panicking as they searched for the unicorn. “This is wrong.” I was now beginning to worry. “If those girls don’t get up here, Nightmare Moon will win.” From there, I knew that I had to get those girls to come up here. “I got to get them up here, but how? I can’t go right up to them and tell them to follow me. That’ll mess up everything. But if I don’t find a way to get them up here, Equestria will be plunged into eternal night!” at that moment, I was wishing I still wasn’t infected with Black Blood so I could be able to use my powers. As El Dragon, I could convince the girls to follow me easily. But using my elemental powers could ultimately speed up the corruption and that was a risk I wasn’t willing to take. It was there that I began to think, trying to figure out how I was gonna get the girls up here. “Come on, Dusk! Think! How do you get the attention of the girls who haven’t met you yet without being seen?” At that moment, I remembered something, something that Dog had told me months ago, back when we were on our way to Appleloosa… “Yeah. Oh, that reminds me. I’ve been meanin’ to talk to ya about somethin’.” “What is it, Dog?” “Me and AJ had a little talk and she told me the day she and the girls met. Ya see, AJ told me that your magic had been makin’ her think about that day.” I raised a brow at that. “What does my magic have to do with that?” “Well… she told me that it reminded her of somethin’ she saw that day, after Twilight was taken by Nightmare Moon.” “Remind her of what?” “She’s not actually sure, but she thinks she saw somepony with magic like yours.” I was surprised by this. “You mean she saw somepony with magic like my own?” “That’s what she told me.” Anypony else would have said that this was just a coincidence, that it had to be something else instead. But I, who could be willing to believe the impossible, knew that there was no way this was a coincidence. Seeing how I am thanks to Discord, I can at least try and ensure we all had our future. Even if that means I won’t be in it. With that, I decided to put a hold on the search, I put my focus in helping the girls defeat Nightmare Moon. “Hey, Darkrai!” I said, making sure Nightmare Moon and Twilight didn’t hear me, managed to get the Pokémon to come over before whispering my plan to it. After telling it all I had in mind, we nodded to each other and got to work. I just hoped it works. Applejack’s view “Twilight, where are you?” I called out, the others all running around and searching for her. We’d heard her scream from outside and arrived to see her jump into the midst of some kind of tornado, which had disappeared an instant later with her and the Elements. Though I hadn’t known her all that long, I was still worried about my friend, as we all were and hoped that she wasn’t hurt. “Oh, where could she have gone?” Rarity despaired. “She could be anywhere in this ghastly forest!” “Come on, we gotta find her!” Rainbow declared. “We can’t let Nightmare win.” “What she said!” Pinkie agreed. “Ooh, what’s that?” “What's what?” Fluttershy gave a squeak of fear a second later as I turned to see what they were looking at. I didn’t really know what to make of it. It looked like Twilight, had the same fur and mane color as her, and was the same size. But there were no eyes, no mouth, and it was sparkling, twinkling with a magical glow. It turned its head, looking around at us all, as if it recognized us. It was almost like the blue smoke Nightmare Moon became, only…not dangerous. At least, that was what my gut told me. “What the hay is this? Some other trick from Nightmare?” Rainbow looked about ready to attack, but I held up a hoof. “Wait a sec, I don’t think it means us harm.” I stood and watched it for a few moments, then it galloped away to a passageway. It stopped in the doorway and turned back to face us. “W-w-what is it?” Fluttershy asked, all frightened. “I think… it means for us to follow it.” Rarity suggested. “Perhaps it can lead us to Twilight.” “Is that it?” Applejack asked this strange thing. “Can ya lead us to our friend?” The thing didn’t say nothing, but it did nod its head. I looked in that direction to see another part of the castle, which was filled with a magical light, pulsating like a beating heart. I looked back at the glowing thing. “Is that where she is?” Again, it didn’t say. Instead, it galloped silently away, no hoof marks being left behind it. “Hey, come back!” Pinkie was about to run off, only to be held back by Rainbow. “Now hold on a sec! This could be a trap.” Rainbow said suspiciously. “Trap or not, it’s our best chance at findin’ her. Come on!” I took the lead and sprinted down the passage as fast as my legs would carry me, the others following swiftly behind. I didn’t know exactly what that thing was or if it had been caused by something, but I knew—deep down—it was leading us to Twilight. I couldn’t explain it, I just knew. I was like that when it came to being honest. No one’s view Ahead, unknown to the group, Darkrai was watching the girls as they followed the apparition. It transformed into a shadow and went more ahead when it saw them closing the distance between it and them, going in the direction the glowing pony was going. Dusk’s view After doing it for a while, I had opened my eyes to see Darkrai appear before me. “Did it work? Are they following it?” I asked, provoking a nod from the Pokémon before I looked to see the five of mares sprint off down the passage. I kept my concentration, kept my focus on maintaining the color form. Luckily, thanks to Darkrai’s help, I could keep an eye on its progress as I led the girls through the castle over to the throne room. It was a good thing it was here because, as I expected, using my magic was causing the corruption of the Black Blood to accelerate. The veins on my claws had already become pitch black, cracking streaks of the same color already formed around the bite mark on my neck. Not only would using my elemental powers affected my condition, but using magic also increased the rate of my corruption. Hopefully, it wouldn’t take them long to get here and history would remain on track and I can be able to stop before the corruption got too far. As I kept going, even with the Black Blood rapidly coursing through me, I could hear Twilight in the background along with hearing Nightmare’s cruel laughter of triumph. “But… where’s the sixth Element?” She said in disbelief before I felt a small shiver in the ground as she stomped her hooves. I didn’t dare turn around, no matter how much I wanted to, combined with the urge to run out and help her. I had to keep my concentration, to make sure that the girls were on their way. No distractions, just this one last thing. I had to… THUNK! “Ow!” Just as I felt a sharp pain on the back of my skull, Darkrai grabbed me and pulled me away, hiding us before anypony could notice. Whatever hit me broke my concentration, ending the spell. I just hoped that it wasn’t before the girls knew exactly where to go. Looking back at what was going on, I saw my fears were realized with the sight of a defeated Twilight lying on the floor and Nightmare Moon with a triumphant smile as she was surrounded in shards of stone, no doubt the Elements. “You little foal, thinking you can defeat me!” Nightmare said to Twilight. “Now you will never see your princess or your sun! The night will last forever!” I feared that she was right, but that was then replaced with relief and hope as I heard the rest of the girls coming upstairs, their voices echoing from the staircase. Seeing now that plan worked, I couldn’t hold back the proud smile I had. “I… I did it.” I said to myself, knowing now that I had saved the future. “I really did it!” From there, I then turned to Darkrai and gave it a grateful smile. “Thank you, Darkrai. I couldn’t have done it without you.” From there, I then watched as it held up a hand, showing me something in its palm. I looked to find a fragment of stone lying in its palm. It must have been what hit me, becoming launched from when Nightmare Moon destroyed the Elements. It was strangely shaped, but that wasn’t what held my attention. It was black, except for a small segment of color on the black stone, which was a dark blue. The color of my fur. It was… just like the six that hung around my neck. “For me?” I asked it, provoking a nod from it. Gently, like it was a precious diamond, I took the stone and held it in my claw. My eyes traveled over it as I examined it. Something felt different about this stone. Maybe it was because it was a shard from the Elements? No, that can’t be it. I’ve seen them before and none of them had my color on them. Yet it felt… unique. For the first time, I thought about the significance of these stones. Why did I keep finding them? Why did I feel so compelled to keep them, like they were the most important things in the world? They were nothing, they were just pieces of rock…and yet, why did I feel like there was more to it than that? Pushing that aside, I then looked to Darkrai and gave him another smile of gratitude. “Thank you, Darkrai. I promise I won’t lose it.” I whipped my head up as Nightmare Moon let out another bout of laughter, once again hearing the calls of the girls assuring Twilight they were coming. Still feeling that sense of duty, I took this stone and added it to the six already around my neck. Peeking out for behind the pillars, Darkrai and I then watched to behold the events that were about to unfold. “You think you can destroy the Elements of Harmony just like that?” Twilight said, smiling confidently as the girls joined her. “Well, you’re wrong, because the spirits of the Elements of Harmony are right here!” “What?” I felt the beginning of a smile at Nightmare's disbelieving tone, the fragments of stone beginning to glow at her hooves. It was happening, the moment I had hoped and wish to see! “Applejack, who reassured me when I was in doubt, represents the Spirit of… Honesty!” Some of the fragments, which were surrounded in an orange aura, flew to Applejack and began hovering around her. “Fluttershy, who tamed the manticore with her compassion, represents the Spirit of… Kindness!” Another group that shined with pink light soared towards the timid pegasus. “Pinkie Pie, who banished fear by giggling in the face of danger, represents the Spirit of… Laughter!” Pinkie tingled with happiness as she was next with a set of fragments that gave off a light blue aura. “Rarity, who calmed a sorrowful serpent with a meaningful gift, represents the Spirit of… Generosity!” Rarity looked down at the fragments that flocked to her, said stones glowing in purple. “And Rainbow Dash, who could not abandon her friends for her own heart’s desire, represents the Spirit of… Loyalty!” Rainbow smiled confidently as she received the last of them, this group giving off a bright red light. “The spirits of these five ponies got us through every challenge you threw at us.” Nightmare looked fearful, desperate for a reprieve. “You still don’t have the sixth Element! The spark didn’t work!” “But it did! A different kind of spark.” Twilight turned around to face the five mares before her. Even from here, I could see the tears of happiness shining in her eyes as they passed over me, lingering for a fraction of a second. “I felt it the very moment I realized how happy I was to hear you, to see you, how much I cared about you. The spark ignited inside me when I realized that you all are… my friends!” In that moment, a bright flash of light, one that made me squint from the brightness, appeared above her as did another stone orb that came to a stop near her head. Seeing this, Twilight turned back to face Nightmare, who was now terrified. “You see, Nightmare Moon, when those Elements are ignited by the…” She paused, searching for the right words, “the spark that resides in the heart of us all, it creates the sixth Element: the Element of… Magic!” As the fragments glowed brighter than ever before, gathering near the bases of their necks, I closed my eyes and bowed my head. Though I knew what was coming as Nightmare screamed in defiance of what was happening, I felt that I should do this. I added my wish, my hope, that the Elements would work, that they would free Nightmare Moon of her dark powers and return her to good…as she should be. No one’s view As Dusk closed his eyes, unknown to him or the other ponies present, the stones around his neck began to glow, becoming surrounded in a rainbow aura of lilac, pink, cyan, peach orange, indigo, cream yellow, and dark blue. While left in awe, Darkrai shields its eyes to protect them from the blinding light. Looking forward, it then watches as the light that surrounded Twilight and her friends unleashed a rainbow-colored beam at Nightmare Moon, the corrupted princess being caught in a rainbow spiral. “Noooooo! Nooo!” Nightmare Moon screamed out as a rainbow tornado formed around her, the Elements of Harmony purifying her from her corrupted state. With one bright flash, the six mares gently floated back down to the ground, now wearing their respective Elements. At the same time, the stones around Dusk’s neck ceased to glow as well as all noise and movement seemed to stop. Dusk’s view When silence filled the room, I opened my eyes to see that deed was done and the prophecy was now fulfilled. Even with a slight headache and fatigue afflicting me now, I was a little bemused at how peaceful it all looked now. The girls were all on the floor, the Elements of Harmony sparkling around their necks. Well, in Twilight’s case, on the head. They were all unconscious from using the power of the Elements. I noted as well that Rarity’s cut tail had grown back to full length. “So this is why Dialga sent me here.” I said to myself, coming out of hiding. “I was here from the beginning. If I didn’t help them, they never would have defeated Nightmare Moon. I helped the prophesized wielders find their destiny. How about that?” Looking to the front of the throne, I also saw that Nightmare Moon was gone, leaving in her place Princess Luna, who was looking a little different from when I’d seen her the first time. Slowly and softly, I approached Princess Luna. She was even smaller than when I’d met her and her mane didn’t have the same sparkling quality that it would later. It was strange, seeing her like this when before she’d been cackling with evil intentions, but was so much more right. I smiled down at her, still remembering when we’d shared those candy apples at the Gala, her warm smile and carefree laughter. That hadn’t even happened yet so…that was something for her to look forward to at least. “Welcome back.” I whispered, flicking her fringe out of her face before Darkrai came over and hovered around Luna, looking much concerned. After a moment, I then realized why Darkrai was acting like this. “Now I get it. You’re her Pokémon, aren’t you?” this caused Darkrai to nod at me, for which I gave a smile of assurance. “Don’t worry. She’ll be just fine. I promise.” Looking at my raised claw, I then remembered that my corruption and looked to see how much it had been increased. I sighed as I saw that almost half my torso was now covered in black cracks, losing my smile now that I knew that I closing to the complete corruption. Looking back at the girls, I gained a small smile as I was feeling the affection and gratitude for them. There they all were, the wielders of the Elements of Harmony, at the beginning of their friendship. I knew that, for them, this was only the start of many adventures, some I had even shared in. Seeing all this and knowing what might become of me if I didn’t find a cure, I thought this would my last chance something before I left, even though they wouldn’t hear me in their current state. And these words would not be for when I returned to the present, but also… possibly my last goodbye to them. “Hello, girls.” I began, crossing over to them. “You haven’t even met me yet but…you will. It’s not a bad thing, that’s for sure. I don’t regret ever meeting any of you and I’ll never forget the time I spent with you.” I moved to the farm pony, straightening her Stetson as an apple-shaped jewel was around her neck. “I still don’t think my trilby ever truly rivaled to you, Applejack. When me and the guys first came, you spoke to me before you even knew me. In a way, you were my first friend when I first came to Ponyville. Much like I was and still am with Dog, I am proud to have known such a dependable and honest pony as you.” Going to Rainbow, I could see the ruby lightning bolt glinting around her neck as she lay there. “I admire you in so many ways. You’re brave, daring, confident… everything I’m not as just me and could only really hope to be. I did try, but I don't think I ever compared. With Shield joining with you, the Wonderbolts will improve ten-fold once they take you on, Rainbow Dash, as I know they will.” Somehow, she still looked happy, even in her sleep. “I barely knew what true laughter was until I met you, Pinkie Pie. Regardless of how random and unpredictable you are, you could always bring a smile to my face, no matter what my mood. Please know that I tried and…I hope you'll always remember me as Mr. Psychic Pony.” Moving on Fluttershy, I noticed that even her breathing was gentle and quiet, lying peacefully on the stone. “You and I were alike in so many ways. I didn’t think that there was anypony who could be just as nervous and unsure of themselves as you, Fluttershy. But you have a kindness and compassion that makes you truly special. The same kind as Leon. Though he does annoy me at times, he sure knows when to be kind when it is needed. If I ever had a little sister, I would want her to be you.” Still as beautiful and stylish as the day I met her, I still bowed to Rarity as I had done before. “Rarity, my dear cousin, you’ve done so much for me: taught me to dance, gave me a chance at love, and supported me all the way. I do hope you achieve your dreams and become the best fashionista out there. I’ll never forget your generosity… and I’ll be keeping the hat, just so you know.” Lastly, there was her, the diadem shining in the stars and sparkling like her name. “And you… Twilight Sparkle… where do I begin? From the day we met, I always hoped you would be my friend. You gave me that friendship and so much more besides. I don’t know you had ever wanted to take it further, but that’s something I’ll hold onto anyway. I’ll never forget you.” I leaned in close and whispered in her ear. “Remember: together, you are unstoppable.” With one kiss on her cheek, an action that she had once done with me, I tore myself away from them and proceeded slowly towards the passage. Knowing they would wake up at any moment, I was planning on going somewhere to avoid them seeing Dialga bringing me back to the present. It was a little ironic that, chronologically speaking, the first time I saw them—at the start of it all—would be the last time. It was then that I stopped for a moment and thought about the stones around my neck and began realizing it. “These stones… I found them at certain points in time.” I said to myself. “Three of them, I found after I started working with Shield, Dog, and Leon; then I found the next three after the girls threw me that party after I got out of the hospital; and now I got this new one around here.” My eyes widen as I now had a theory about these stones. “Could this new stone… be what Luna wanted me to find?” At that moment, I felt a sudden tingle. There was this blue energy darting from my leg, tingling throughout my whole body, and growing stronger with every passing second. “Looks like Dialga’s bringing me back.” I said with a slight laugh. Well, at least I would be back in my own time and not be a stranger out of time. As the light swept over every inch of me, I turned back around, sure that I saw them beginning to stir. “Goodbye, my friends… and good luck.” Remembering something I’d once seen, I raised my claw in farewell. Placing two claws each together, leaving only my thumb, I was about to quote a wise man. “Live long and prosper.” With that, I watched as I re-entered the stream, going through time back to the present. Though I found what we need, I would need to first take care of this corruption. If I don’t find a way to do so… well, let’s just hope everypony can be able to handle whatever I might become. Twilight’s view Never in my life had I felt so tired, so spent of energy. Moaning incoherently, I rubbed my head. I had a splitting headache and would need a good sleep, but I was sure I would be quite all right. Then I felt elation, a surge of triumph. We had done it! We’d rediscovered the Elements and defeated Nightmare Moon! With my friends… “Ugh, my head…” I heard Rainbow groan. “Everypony okay?” Applejack asked. “Oh, thank goodness.” Rarity sighed with relief, looking at her tail, which was back as it was. Fluttershy was looking in her direction in awe. “Why, Rarity. It’s so lovely.” “I know! I’ll never part with it again.” Rarity said, wrapping a hoof around her tail, which has suddenly grown back to how it was before. “No, your necklace.” she corrected. “It looks just like your cutie mark.” “What? Ooh.” Rarity then noticed the necklace around her, the jewel resembling a diamond. “So does yours.” Seeing the very jewels we were wearing, I had no doubt these were the Elements of Harmony, now taken new forms. While the girls all had necklaces, I had some sort of crown. As they all marveled over their individual Elements, I turned away from them, looking at the passage where we’d all arrived. Just before we’d used the Elements on Nightmare Moon, I could have sworn that I saw somepony there, watching the proceedings silently in the shadows. He—at least, I thought it was a he—had just stood there, watching the whole thing. I’d only seen him for an instant and hadn’t thought much on because of the moment, but now… who was he? Also, while I had the unconscious urge to rub it, why did my cheek feel warm? “Twilight?” I turned to see Applejack looking at me with concern. “Ya okay, sugar cube?” I looked at her, then back at the passage. There was nothing there and there wasn’t any sign anypony had been there in the first place. Maybe I’d just been seeing things, a trick of the light perhaps. There had been a lot going on. “Nothing.” I finally said. “I just thought I saw something, that’s all.” “Really? What?” I thought for a moment. “Nothing, but… I think it was a friend.” Applejack gave me a curious look, and then smiled reassuringly. “I’m sure it was, whatever it was ya saw.” “Yeah…” I glanced back at the spot and smiled. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”