Ann had just returned from her weekly trip to town for supplies. She idly hummed a little tune as she stepped into the house. Before she even had a chance to close the door, the alchemist turned towards her, rattling off instructions.
“Put that stuff down somewhere.” He waved his hoof. “It’s not important. Get our saddlebags. On the table, you’ll find two lists.” He pointed at them. “Pack your bags with the items from your list. Do the same for my list. We’ll be leaving within the hour.” He closed a book he’d been looking at and tossed it aside.
It only took a second for her to recover. She kicked the door closed and set down the packages. “Where are we going?” Stepping to her table, she levitated the lists and began skimming through them.
He did not look up from the papers he was reviewing. “We are going to Canterlot, and we won’t be stopping anywhere tonight. It’s a long walk, and we have no time. Princess Celestia is expecting us. No more questions. Prepare yourself. We can discuss more as we trot.”
She set the lists down. “I should have everything ready in a half hour, perhaps less.”
If they hadn’t been in a hurry, it would have been a wonderful day for a walk into town. The sun was deliciously warm on their faces, and the grounds were flanked with infinite shades of green plants. As they trotted down the road, Ann’s curiosity could no longer be contained. “Why has the princess sent for you?”
“Have you ever heard of The New Lunar Republic?”
“Yes. It’s a group of ponies who follow Princess Luna, or perhaps more correctly, Nightmare Moon. I don’t know much about them other than that their numbers have been declining in the last few decades.”
He nodded as he glanced at her. “You are correct. Princess Luna always had her followers; ponies who aligned with her rather than with Princess Celestia. Despite the banishment of Nightmare Moon, a remnant of true believers think they can force Princess Celestia to end the banishment. And right now, a small army of her followers is marching towards Canterlot with the intent of forcing the princess to do this.
Ann gasped. “Can she? Can the princess bring back Nightmare Moon?”
He shook his head. “No. The power of the Elements of Harmony can not be undone in this age.”
“And we are going to Canterlot to…?”
“I have been aligned with Princess Celestia from before Princess Luna’s revolt. I provided some small service to the castle in the resulting chaos. Now, I go to lend my service again. As my apprentice, you also come and may have some part to play.”
As they approached Canterlot, the road became packed with ponies leaving the city. Most carried simple saddlebags. Some carried pack saddles loaded with boxes, bags, or bundles. And a few pulled carts loaded with all their valuable possessions. Ann caught glimpses of furniture, artwork, or the occasional statue. What were they thinking? she thought to herself. Their faces all wore the same expression: fear. Few talked in hushed voices, and nopony smiled. The alchemist and his apprentice moved off the road to walk parallel. It was the only way to make progress toward the city.
The alchemist studied the city skyline. “I see no smoke or fire. This is probably an evacuation rather than refugees fleeing a fallen city. I hope we are not too late.”
They encountered fewer and fewer fleeing ponies the farther into the city they got. This allowed them to move faster, and by mid-morning they were standing in the antechamber in the castle. The guard opened the door to permit the alchemist and apprentice into the throne room. Ann's eyes were like saucers as she took in the grandeur of the space. The room was somewhat longer than it was wide, with an ornate vaulted ceiling. The side walls had regularly placed tall narrow glazed windows. Sunlight streamed through the glass, lighting up the entire room. The spaces between the windows were filled with large hanging tapestries depicting life in Equestria. A variety of small tables and empty chairs lined the walls. A few royal guards were standing at attention at their posts. Two officers walked past them on their way out.
And at the far end, seated upon her throne, was the Princess of the Sun. Ann gasped softly. She never thought she would ever actually see the princess in person. Yet here Ann was, walking down the plush maroon carpet. She took several slow deep breaths to steady herself and glanced sideways at the alchemist. How much closer are you going to go? she thought. She faced forward again. The princess was looking directly at her. Ann wasn’t frightened by the princess's gaze, she just felt… small. She fought to keep her ears upright. She willed the alchemist to stop walking. Too close, too close!
Finally, the alchemist stopped. “Princess Celestia,” he said and bowed low. Ann copied his movements perfectly even as her heart raced in her chest.
The princess smiled. “Greetings, Master Alchemist. Thank you for answering our call. And is this your apprentice you have written about?"
Rising from the bow, he gestured towards Ann. "Yes. This is Ann. I felt it was important that she accompany me here. She is very skilled and has much to offer."
The apprentice bowed again. “Princess Celestia.” She hoped the princess couldn’t see her legs shaking slightly.
“Welcome, Windflower. We are pleased to meet you.”
Ann raised her head, perhaps a little too fast. She felt just a little bit lightheaded.
The princess chuckled. "Your master has told us of both your true name as well as what most call you. Still, we think Windflower is a beautiful name for one such as you. Her eyes twinkled. "You must be very tired from your long journey here." She glanced to the side of the room. "Thunder Surf?"
A member of the Royal Guard standing along the wall stepped forward and saluted.
"Would you please see to Windflower's needs and take her to her room?"
"Yes, Your Highness." He stepped smartly over to Ann. "Miss Ann, if you would please follow me?"
As they walked out, Ann asked, "What about my master? I'm sure he's tired too."
"It would appear the princess still has some business with him."
Once out of the throne room, Ann leaned against one of the large pillars in the antechamber. She tried to control her rapid breathing.
Thunder Surf stepped closer. "Are you feeling well?"
She waved a hoof at him. "Yes, yes, I'll be okay. I'm just a little..."
"Overwhelmed?" he offered.
Ann nodded. "I was born and raised on a family farm outside a small town. I've never even been to the city. Now all of a sudden I'm not only in the capital, but I'm meeting the princess herself. It's just so much to take in."
He snickered. "Believe me, I understand. I've been where you are now. If you can walk, let's get you some food. You'll feel a lot better after a meal and some sleep."
Ann pushed herself off the pillar, and they started walking down a hallway. "The dining area is just down here on the right. They have a wide variety of food available and can make almost anything you might want."
They reached the room, and Ann peeked around the corner. It was an elegant setting, with white tablecloths on huge tables, each with a fancy centerpiece. A few ponies were having lunch with waiters hovering nearby.
Ann backed up. "Nobles, dignitaries, and delegates. I can't eat in there." She turned to look at Thunder Surf. "Where do you eat? Can I eat with you? Anyplace but in there."
He snickered. "The princess did say to attend to your needs. If you need a less formal dining area..." She nodded vigorously. "Then it is my duty to provide that. This way, please."
They took some stairs down a couple levels to a much less fancy part of the castle. "This is the guards' mess hall. Perhaps you will feel more comfortable, although the food won't be as nice."
She smiled at him. "Thank you. I eat pretty basic stuff, so this will be fine."
As they entered, a group of ponies sitting at a table looked up.
"Hey, Surf, that your special filly?" one said.
Another added, "Or your sister?"
And a third, "Can you introduce us?"
"Cool it, colts," Thunder Surf replied. "This is a guest of Princess Celestia. She just found the air in the formal dining room a little... thin."
The first guard who had spoken stood up. "Our apologies, miss. We had no idea. I don't believe we've ever seen a royal guest eat down here before." The other two guards rose and bowed.
Ann smiled. "Please, it's fine. I'm a practical mare. This looks perfect, and I feel very safe with you all here."
The three stallions returned her smile, sat down, and resumed their meal. Thunder Surf led her to a counter where some food was laid out. "Take whatever you want. If you desire something different, I can call the cook to see if he can accommodate you."
"No, no. This looks fantastic." She levitated a plate off the stack and began adding some things to it. "Is there food out all the time?"
He followed along as she worked down the counter. "Yes. We have guard shifts all day, every day. It doesn't matter what time of day it is, there are ponies getting meals before, during, or after a shift. It's actually pretty quiet in here right now."
Ann stopped to look at him. "You're not eating?"
He shook his head. "No. My break isn't for a couple hours. I'll just grab some tea while you eat."
Ann took her plate with a modest selection of food and followed Thunder Surf to a table. She began to eat. "Hmmm, this is really good." She closed her eyes as she chewed. After a few minutes, she asked, "Thunder Surf, can I ask you something? I could really use a distraction."
He took a sip of his tea. "Sure, what would you like to talk about?"
She sat her fork down to take a roll. "Well, as I'm eating, I was actually hoping you'd do the talking. Where are you from? How did you become a member of the Royal Guard?" She took a bite of her roll and watched him expectantly.
He took another sip of tea. "Well... I grew up in a coastal village of mostly earth pony farmers. I was always large for my age, and with size came strength. I think the second most common thing I heard my mother say was, ‘It sounds like the thunder of surf at the shore, stop running in the house!’”
Smiling, Ann asked, “What was the most common thing?”
“How much she loved me,” he said with a grin.
“As I grew up, I realized farm life was not for me. Even as an earth pony, I seemed to have zero talent for working with growing things. But I was strong. Unfortunately, that resulted in a never-ending series of requests: please drag this heavy thing, please lift this heavy thing, please push this heavy thing.” He rolled his eyes. “I was getting sick of it.”
“I can imagine,” she said as she chewed.
“Then one day two members of the Royal Guard came through town looking for possible recruits. Three of us signed up that day. A couple of weeks later we were at the basic training camp. Over the next few weeks, the other two gave up and returned home. But not me.” He sat up a little straighter. “I’d finally found something I enjoyed and that I was good at. Skip forward a few years and I’m a member of Princess Celestia’s private guard. I love it.”
“I’m sure your mom and your whole family are very proud of you. Being a member of the private guard is no small achievement.”
He smiled. “They are. Of course, they wish I was closer to home.” He shrugged. “But they can see how much I love my work, and they know how important it is.”
He drained the last of his tea. "Looks like you're done?" She nodded. "Then let's show you where your room is so you can rest for a while."
Ann stifled a yawn with her hoof. "That sounds great. And you were right, I feel a lot better now."
Ann placed the dish with the last ingredient on the scale. Even after all these years, she would still estimate the amount and then place it on the scale. Seldom did she need to further adjust the amount. This felt right. She knew who she was when she was preparing mixtures. She could focus on the process, and all her anxieties about where she was faded into the background.
After weighing, she poured the ingredients into a mixing bowl with the others. Once it was thoroughly mixed, she dumped it into a larger cylinder and put the top on.
She heard a noise behind her, and somepony cleared their throat. "So, this is where you got off to. I should have guessed."
Without looking back, she replied, "Hi, Thunder Surf. I had a great little nap, and then found somepony who could point me to the castle's compounding lab." She started to turn around. "I feel more at home when I'm--" She gasped. "Princess Celestia! Master?" She bowed deeply.
The alchemist stepped forward. "Ann, so… what have you been mixing?"
Her eyes darted between her master and the princess. "As I said, I found my way here to explore. This place is amazing. I mean, just look at that scale..." The alchemist cocked an eyebrow. "Oh, right, sorry. So I was exploring when the chief medical officer came in. He knew who I was when I introduced myself. We got to talking, and he explained that he was concerned that they may run out of a couple critical mixtures should a conflict erupt. He said the normal mixers had already been evacuated." She smiled. "I told him that mixing is what I do and offered to help." She reached over and gave the scale a gentle tap, causing it to swing up and down.
“He asked me to prepare two mixtures: one that’s used to stop bleeding, the other to reduce pain so wounds can be stitched closed. He told me to follow the formally documented mixing instructions.” She tapped the open book on the table. “They’re almost the same as the ones I already know. He asked me to mix enough to fill these two cylinders. I just finished with the second one.”
Princess Celestia took a couple steps into the room. "Master Alchemist?"
He turned to face the princess. "If my apprentice mixed these, you can be assured they are correct and as the formulas prescribe."
"Very well." She glanced at one of her guards. "Sergeant, please see that these are delivered to the medical wing."
"Yes, Your Highness." He walked to the table. "Are they ready to go?"
Ann held up a hoof. "Just one second..." She double-checked that the lids were secured, and the labels were applied. "Yes, they're ready."
He levitated both containers and walked out of the room.
"Windflower..." Ann turned to face the princess. "Thank you for your work. We desperately hope those mixtures are not needed in the coming days, but if they are, we are glad they were prepared by someone so skilled." She glanced at the alchemist. "Master Alchemist, we look forward to your return. Be safe." The princess then left the room, taking all the guards with her save for Thunder Surf.
Ann looked at the alchemist. "Master, you’re leaving?"
He sighed as his shoulders slumped. "Yes. There is... a serpent, prepared to strike. The princess has asked me... I am accompanying a group being sent to defang it. In my absence, you will serve the princess in any way you can."
Eyes wide, she shook her head. “But master, I don’t... I’m not sure I’m ready.”
“Apprentice..." He paused and took a step closer. "Ann. You have already helped without being asked. You are skilled, wise, and understand the responsibilities of your actions. I don’t know what you may be called upon to do, but I am confident that you will act in a manner that I will be proud of. Remember your training and remain alert to the events around you. They will guide your actions.”
He reached out to touch her cheek. She moved closer and gave him a hug. She whispered in his ear, "Please, be safe." After a moment, he stepped back. As he stood up straight, all the fatigue left his face. He turned and headed for the door.
Suddenly, Ann called out, “Master, wait…” She levitated two paper wrapped balls and trotted over as he looked back at her. “Here, take these.”
He quirked an eyebrow. “I see medical needs are not the only thing you’ve been mixing. These are larger than the ones you usually make.”
She smiled softly. “I assume that wherever you are going, you won’t be doing a magic show.”
“Indeed.” He opened the flap on his saddlebag, and she put them in. “Thank you.” He strode out of the room.
Thunder Surf stepped forward. "Miss Ann, are you okay?"
She looked at him with a hint of tears welling up in her eyes. "He's an old stallion. I’m afraid he could be hurt, or..."
"I've heard a few stories over the years. I think your master may be more capable than you realize. Try not to worry. There is a group of royal guards with him. Although... I'm not sure if they are tasked to protect him, or if he's there to protect them." He gave her a little wink. "Still, it's getting late. May I escort you to your room?"
She shook her head. "No. First I must clean up. You never leave your mixing space a mess. Everything must be cleaned and put away."
He nodded. "Of course. I understand." He smiled at her. "Would you like some help?"
"That would be great. If you could put away the raw ingredients... Each is labeled. They go on the shelves over there." She pointed at them. "The shelves also have labels. So check the empty spots and put each container where it goes. I'll clean the mixing gear."
It didn't take long to put the lab back in order. Ann picked up her saddlebags and walked to the table with the rest of the paper balls like the two she had given to her master. She started putting them in the bag.
Thunder Surf walked over. “What are those?”
She allowed her hoof to gently set on one as she closed her eyes and smiled. “They’re magic.”
Thunder Surf softly asked, “Magic?”
After a few moments, Ann opened her eyes again. “I was the only unicorn in a family of earth pony farmers. My parents loved me, but they didn’t know what to do with me.”
“I bet that was hard.”
She nodded. “It was. There was no magic school, so I had to learn by asking questions of every unicorn in town willing to listen to me. Most considered me too young to be interested in such things.” She paused as a smile crept onto her lips. “One day, my brothers took me with them into town to see some old wizard perform. They said he showed up once a week and would sometimes do tricks.”
He tapped the floor with his hoof. “The alchemist, right?”
She laughed. “Yes. It was the most amazing thing I’d ever seen. He did unicorn magic. He did magic with alchemy before I knew such a thing existed.” She turned around to face Thunder Surf.
“He used a lot of smoke bombs in his shows. He’d set them off among us. We’d run and jump through the smoke yelling and laughing.” Again her eyes closed and she leaned forward as if to leap. “I can still smell the sulfur.” She looked at him. “It was… wondrous...”
She reached back and tapped the table. “So, smoke bombs can be very useful.” She winked, and then packed the rest of them into her saddlebag. Once she was done, Ann took one last look around the lab to make sure everything was in its place. Then they left and started walking towards the guest wing.
After they’d gone a short distance, she glanced at him. "Thunder Surf, can you tell me what's going on with the New Lunar Republic? I've been in my room or the lab and haven't heard anything."
"Some of our information is unreliable, but we estimate a force of several hundred has moved into Canterlot. That's more than the Royal Guard can fend off if they attack the castle. I know they’re working on plans for the defense of the castle, but that’s above my pay grade.”
Ann was quiet for a few paces. “The medical officer spoke of evacuations…”
“Yes.” He nodded. “Word went out before you arrived to evacuate the city. But it’s hard to notify everypony, and many won’t leave assuming the princess will fix everything. And as you know, earlier today, an evacuation of the civilians in the castle was started. It should be done by now.”
“Which is why the lab mixers are already gone.” Ann added.
“Yes. The few civilians that remain are volunteers, as dedicated to the princess as the Royal Guard. Our observers indicate their forces are still spread throughout the city and in some camps outside it. They won’t move tonight."
"And what of me?"
“Honestly, I’m not sure. Your master thought it important to bring you with him. The princess sees something in you, or you would have been evacuated. I gather you want to be here?”
She nodded enthusiastically. “Yes…”
“Then I assume when the time comes, you’ll know what to do. I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow, but from what I've seen, I believe you will be ready."
They arrived at Ann's room.
"Try to get a good night's sleep." He opened the door. "Rest well, Miss Ann."
"Thank you, Thunder Surf. Thank you for everything you've done for me."