//------------------------------//
// A Private Viewing 
// Story: The Visiting Team -- Part I 
// by Lets Do This 
//------------------------------//

"I still cain't get over it," Applejack said. "And I lived through it. At least, I think I did..."

"So don't we all!" Rarity nodded. "That's what's truly strange about the entire, er... incident."

"Yeah." Rainbow Dash crossed her forehooves in bafflement. "That other reality, or timeline, or whatever it was, it feels like a dream now. Almost."

"Oooh..." Fluttershy cringed. "More like a nightmare, at times."

"Can we do it again?" said Pinkie Pie, bounding eagerly.

The five ponies from Ponyville were gathered in the main exhibit gallery of the Canterlot Archives. Before them stood the huge clockwork orrery, its numerous chalices holding five inert stone orbs, each with an abstract geometric symbol embossed on its surface. A sixth orb, larger and plainer than the rest, surmounted the central axis.

"The Elements of Harmony..." Twilight Sparkle said, in awe herself. She briefly glanced around at her Canterlot friends: Tempest Shadow, Starlight Glimmer, Trixie Luna Moon, Sunset Shimmer, Moondancer, and Cheese Sandwich -- the Advanced Projects group. "And I feel the same way you do, Applejack," Twilight went on. "I remember finding the Elements with all of you, reawakening them, using them to defeat Nightmare Moon, like it was only yesterday. Which, in a way, it was..."

"Errright," said Rainbow, scratching her mane. "Still haven't totally wrapped my brain around that one. Guess that's what we get for hanging around with crazy ol' Discord, huh?"

Fluttershy winced at that but said nothing.

"And I thought," Twilight said, "seeing as you five were still here in Canterlot, that we should all have a look at the Elements again -- together."

"We do appreciate that, dearest," Rarity said gently. "Given what they meant to all of us."

"Yeah." Applejack gave the Elements a speculative look. "Don't suppose we might try firing 'em up again? Just for old time's sake? After all, we've got all the ponies we need, right here."

Twilight shook her head. "Don't think we haven't tried, A.J. But we seem to be missing one important thing: the 'spark', the connection the six of us had to the Elements in that other timeline. That seems to be essential."

"Ah, I see," Applejack nodded. "Well, now... there's a pity."

Fluttershy hunched nervously. "Oh, I really think we're better off having the seven of you as the Heroes of Equestria. You're much more experienced at this than we are. I'm not sure I'm cut out for a life of adventure..."

"Hear, hear!" said Rarity, delicately fluffing her mane. "Personally I'm much better suited to spending a long weekend planning my new fall line. Not gallivanting about trying to save Equestria from destruction at the last minute."

"Speak for yourself, sister," said Rainbow. "I thought it was awesome! And I wouldn't mind having your fan club, either." Rainbow pointed a hoof at the Archive's main doors, where the Royal Guard ponies were keeping back a crowd of excited onlookers, allowing Twilight and her friends a viewing of the Elements in relative privacy. "Is it always like this for you gals?"

"Pretty much." Twilight nodded uncomfortably. "We're nearly as popular as Princess Celestia these days."

"Well, you are an Acting Princess, my dear," Rarity enthused. "Which I think sounds absolutely smashing!"

"I suppose," Twilight allowed. "Though practically speaking, the title mostly just grants us the authority to do... whatever it is we need to do. Once we've figured out what that is." She sighed. "Yet wherever we go, there are always crowds..."

"And banners, and brass bands..." added Moondancer.

"And politicians and celebrities," Sunset grumbled, "glad-hoofing us and grabbing photo-ops. It can be a real circus at times."

"Huh!" Trixie flourished her magician's cape. "The Great and Powerful Trixie has no idea what you're all so worked up about. When life hoofs you an audience, you put on a show!"

Tempest glared at her, and Trixie disgruntledly fell silent. But Twilight hadn't even noticed. She was staring at the waving, smiling crowd outside the doors, looking conflicted. "Sometimes," she said quietly, "it does get a bit much. I wish we weren't quite so much the focus of everypony's attention. It would be nice to take a break from it, at least for a little while."

"Well now, there's an idea," Applejack said quickly. "Why don't y'all come visit us in Ponyville? For real, this time? Spend some quiet-time with friends, away from all the ruckus?"

"Not a bad idea," Starlight said. "Maybe at the same time we could find out how the five of you came to be living in Ponyville in the first place?"

"Sounds like a win-win plan to me," Sunset nodded. "What about you, Twi?"

Twilight tipped her head, considering it. And Rainbow Dash sniggered.

"Ya know," she stage-whispered, "our version of Twilight would've yelled 'research paper!' five seconds ago."

Applejack silenced her with a scolding look. "Whaddaya think, sugarcube?" she asked gently. "Sound all right to you?"

Twilight looked tempted, but hesitant. "I wouldn't want to impose on all of you, not after all that's happened. We've disrupted your lives enough as it is."

"Wouldn't be no trouble, hon. Ya know that," Applejack said. "Not for friends like y'all."

Twilight finally nodded. "All right. Just give us a little time to wrap things up here first, and we'll come visit."

"All righty, then," Applejack said. "We'll head on back ourselves and get things ready. You just give us the high-sign, whenever you're thinkin' of heading down, and we'll be waitin' on ya."

"And we promise," Rarity added, "we'll keep it a low-key, quiet sort of visit. Right, Miss Pie?"

"Absolutely!" Pinkie Pie beamed insanely.

Twilight nodded, grateful to have such good friends, in either timeline.

Then she stared up at the Elements again. No longer sparkling gemstones in gilt clasps, they were simply inert, powerless stone spheres. And too, they were simply... not needed. She and her Canterlot friends had created an alternative: the Field of Harmony. It was more powerful, quicker to invoke, easier to reconfigure in a pinch...

... and wasn't the Elements.

Twilight sighed, quietly and regretfully.

And felt a hoof on her shoulder. It was Sunset, eyeing her concernedly. "What is it, Twilight?"

"I don't know." Twilight shrugged. "Maybe nothing. But what if there was something for which the Elements were actually needed? And now, well... we don't have them anymore..."


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A few days later the Friendship Express was chuffing and puffing to a stop before a small clapboard-sided depot building. The heart-spangled engine and candy-colored passenger cars rattled and thumped together, the engine gushing steam, the brakes gently squealing.

The doors of the First Class car slid open, and Twilight stepped out onto the platform, looking about nervously.

"Ponyville," she whispered, as if haunted.

She was quickly followed by Spike, then Tempest and Grubber, and then the rest of the Advanced Projects team. And all of them stared around at the otherwise empty platform.

"Wow," Sunset said. "I've heard of quiet little towns..."

"But this takes the cake," Moondancer agreed.

"Where is everypony?" Spike asked.

"Hmph. Trixie has seen graveyards livelier than this."

"Shh!" Starlight warned her, nodding towards Twilight, who was still staring around at everything.

And then Applejack appeared, trotting out through the door of the depot building. The freckled farm pony doffed her eleven-gallon hat in a friendly fashion. "Howdy, y'all! Welcome to Ponyville!"

"Hi, Applejack," Twilight said, relieved. "Wow, it's so quiet here! We were expecting to find the whole town waiting for us."

Applejack nodded. "Mayor Mare was all for welcomin' ya with a big hootin'-and-hollerin' shindig, key to the town, the whole works. But the five of us got together and talked everypony round to it. No big hoo-hah, no crowds, no pressure. Ponyville's just gonna be your home-from-home, for as long as you care to stay. And everypony here will do their level best to make it feel that way."

"Thanks, Applejack."

"Shoot, Twi. Just the way we do things, down Ponyville way. Now, don't y'all worry about luggage, we'll see to that. Just come along of me, and I'll walk you up to town."

The farm pony turned and headed off, with Twilight and the others following her, down the platform steps and around the depot building, then up the hoof-path into town. And as they went, Twilight stared around in awe. The quaint, thatched-roof houses... the small park areas with hoof-carved statuary... the cozy private gardens and small flower-beds...

"It's just like I remember," she whispered to Sunset. "All of it. It's like constant deja-vu, everywhere I look. I keep remembering places I've been, conversations I've had -- except we haven't really been here before, have we? Apart from Cheese Sandwich, for Pinkie Pie's party all those moons ago."

Sunset shrugged. "Depends whether you call those divergent realities Discord cooked up for us real or not. But hey, they're your memories, Twilight. And nopony can argue with that, right?"

"I suppose not."

Up ahead, Applejack was casually pointing out sights along the way, in no particular order and seemingly as she noticed them. "That there's the costume shop. And over there, that's the post-office. Up this street here, we have Sugarcube Corner. Best eats and treats in town, Pinkie Pie makes sure of that. And down this-a-way," she went on, ambling down Trotter Avenue, "we have the town square, and our Town Hall. Lotta important ponies like the Mayor work there. And over here... wayall, Twilight, I reckon ya might recognize this place..."

Twilight did. She stared up at the aged oak tree, with its doors, windows, and balconies. There was an old, weathered telescope on the upmost balcony, a beehive hanging near one of the windows. The mahogany front door had a large candle painted on its upper panel.

And the sign out front... Twilight read it aloud:

"Golden Oak Library."

And felt like she'd come home. She swallowed, overcome.

Applejack smiled proudly. "The town did want to do some kind of big honorarium for y'all. So we talked it over, and decided we'd give you this place, Twi. It'll be like your own home, here in Ponyville. For you and the whole gang, any time you wanna come visit us."

"Oh, Applejack!" Twilight felt like crying. "It's perfect!"

"C'mon inside." Applejack waved a hoof. "The others are waitin' on us." Trotting over to the door, she pushed it open, and the group followed her in.

And were immediately hit with a blast of streamers and confetti.

"SURPRISE!" screamed Pinkie Pie. The party pony, along with Rarity, Rainbow, and Fluttershy, were standing in the main room of the library... which was now littered with confetti.

"Pinkie!" Applejack shouted. "We told ya! Low-key, remember?"

"Ab-so-tively, A.J.!" Pinkie said, grinning. "I kept it as low-key as possible. Just me and my trusty party cannon." She patted the cannon proudly.

"It's all right, Applejack," Twilight said. And then she stared around at the library's main room: its bookshelves, carved into the walls and loaded with volumes... the librarian's desk, stacked with old returns... the central table, with its horsehead statue...

It was just as she remembered it. And she'd never been here before. It was both comforting, and eerie, at the same time. Clearing her throat to cover her nervousness, Twilight smiled around at her Ponyville friends.

"It's wonderful being here with all of you... uh, again. Sort of. You know."

"Eee-yeah, still haven't totally got used to that." Rainbow shrugged. "But hey, I'm good!"

Fluttershy smiled nervously. "It's really nice seeing all of you again."

"Absolutely, my dears!" Rarity delicately flicked confetti from her mane. "And we'll do everything we can to make you feel right at home. Consider the five of us your personal ambassadors. Anything you'd like, just let us know."

"And we'll make it happen," Rainbow added. "You can count on us!"

"Yes, indeedy!" put in Pinkie.

Twilight just smiled wordlessly in thanks. Then she and the rest of the Advanced Projects group wandered about the room for a bit, looking the place over, and chatting with their Ponyville counterparts.

And Sunset took the opportunity to draw Applejack aside and whisper quietly. "Thanks for the help, A.J. This whole deal with Discord, it was rough on all of us. But I think it may have gotten to Twilight a lot worse than she lets on. Right now, getting her out of the spotlight for a bit is exactly what she needs."

"I hear ya." Applejack nodded. "Nopony should have to go through all that. We'll make sure to keep things nice and quiet while you're here. Pinkie Pie made everypony promise, after all, and ya don't wanna go breakin' no promise with her."

"I'll bet." Sunset grinned, recalling the excitable pink-haired girl she knew from CHS, on the other side of Star Swirl's mirror.

"Um..." Fluttershy was saying, "I'm really glad you wanted to spend time with us again, Twilight. After Discord shuffled us around so much, I was afraid you might not... uh... I mean..."

Twilight trotted over and hugged her. "I felt the same way, Fluttershy. Like I said, I wanted to be with all of you again, but wasn't sure it was right to impose. But a good friend --" She smiled at Sunset. "-- reminded me that the best way to let somepony know you've really missed them, is to go see them and tell them yourself."

"Darling!" Rarity sighed. And she and the other four ponies -- Applejack included -- crowded around Twilight and Fluttershy in a big group hug.

Then Pinkie bounded over the group and nudged Cheese Sandwich's shoulder. "Hey there, fellow party pony! Ready for a rollickin' good time?"

"You know it, Pinkie!" He grinned. "I've been brushing up on cake recipes, so we can have ourselves a good old-fashioned bake-off."

"And I've been working on some wonderful new songs we can sing for everypony -- it'll be tee-riffic!" The pink pony was suddenly holding ten instruments, making enough noise for an entire marching band.

Then the instruments abruptly fell silent. Pinkie nervously glanced around at Twilight and the others.

"If... that's all right?" she asked, in an uncommonly small voice.

"Why wouldn't it be, Pinkie?" Twilight smiled reassuringly at her, and the party pony smiled back. "And everypony," Twilight added, turning to the others, "don't feel you have to wait on me. Get on out there and enjoy yourselves."

"Yeah!" Rainbow pumped a hoof. "Like Rarity said, we're your ambassadors. So each of you pick a pony, and let us show you the best time ever, right here in good old Ponyville!"

"Yee haw!" shouted Applejack.

Many of the ponies quickly teamed up and headed out, chatting and laughing together. Which left Twilight sitting in the middle of the Library's main room, gazing around at shelves and shelves of books...

All of which wanted organizing.

Spike rolled his eyes. "Guess I know where we'll be for the next few days..."

"Spike," Twilight gently scolded.

Tempest was glancing around as well. "We'll just... give the place a once-over. Make sure it's secure. C'mon, you," she added to Grubber.

"Right with ya, boss!"

Tempest turned and stalked away, the hedgehog trotting along smartly at her armored hooves. And Applejack shook her head in amusement.

"Never out of uniform, that one."

"Nope." Sunset laughed. "We need to take Tempest fishing or something, help her unwind."

Twilight nodded. "She does take her job pretty seriously. And you know, there's times I'm glad she does? But you're right, Sunset. We need to make sure she has a nice time too."

"Wayall," Applejack said, "y'all know if she's ever played buckball?"

"Couldn't say," Sunset replied. "But no harm in asking, right?"

"Fair 'nuff. And the same goes for you, Twi," Applejack went on. "Now, ya gonna be all right in here for a spell?"

"Oh, I'm not going to sit around in here all day, Applejack."

Startled, Spike dropped the book he was holding. "You're not?"

"Of course not. Starlight was right: it would be great to find out how Applejack and the others came to be living here. And it's the perfect excuse to wander around, see a little of the town while we're at it."

"Hey, works for me," Sunset agreed.

Twilight smiled. "C'mon, Spike! While we're waiting for Tempest, let's see what we can find out about the town's history in here."

She trotted off towards the shelves, Spike following along beside her. And Applejack leaned over to whisper to Sunset.

"Thought we were tryin' to help Twilight relax, here?"

"Shh..." Sunset put a hoof to her snout. "This is her kind of relaxing. Trust me on this..."