//------------------------------//
// Act II, Part II: Obfuscation 
// Story: The False Goddess 
// by Zoura3025 
//------------------------------//

"...Ma, pa! There's a sleepin' mare out in the field!" Called a distant colt's voice.
"Well I'll be. Are my eyes playin' tricks on me, or's she one of them alicorns?" A stallion's voice replied.
"She looks wet from being out in the rain. Go get Willow and tell her to grab some blankets, 'kay Dogwood?" A mare's voice asked.
"Alright ma!" The colt's voice replied, followed by galloping.

Gustopha groaned softly as she awoke to the sight of two ponies; a mare coloured off-black with a light pink mane, and a stallion with warm red fur and a graying orange mane.
She yipped a bit, instinctively trying to crawl away from the two adults standing over her.
"Hey now," The stallion said, "It's alright; you don't gotta worry. We've found weirder things out in the field after the rain," He chuckled.
"I must say, it's quite surprising to find a mare of your type out here," The mare admitted.

Gustopha heaved softly and pushed herself to a sitting up posture. "I'm sorry," She admitted, "It's been a rough night." She shivered.
"You don't have to worry, hun. We're not the type to go chasin' trespassers," The mare promised, "I'm Sequoia, and this is my husband Oak," She introduces.
Gustopha sat quietly for a moment, thinking about her reply perhaps a bit harder than she should have. "I'm Plantation," She answered softly.
"Oh, what a lovely name," Sequoia replied, "Won't you come back to the house with us?"
Gustopha hesitantly stood up, feeling a bit awkward at how she stood over the two farm ponies. She towered over them, given her height as an alicorn.
"Alright," Gustopha replied gently, "Lead the way."

She followed Sequoia and Oak through the fields, admiring the multi-fruited trees. "What kind of trees are these?" Gustopha asked.
"Hm? Oh, it's just normal apple, peach, and cherry trees; ever since the blight hit, we've been grafting all the fruit trees together so all the fruits'll survive even if the blight hits all but one of 'em," Oak explained.
"Grafting?" Gustopha asked.
"We take a limb from one tree and notch it into another, so the host tree starts feeding the new limb," Oak explained.
"Like a transplant…" Gustopha murmured, lightly flapping her wings.
"Exactly," Oak chuckles, "Though, admittedly, they're not usually this productive, even with all the care they get," He admitted.
"And it seems like the blight got cleared up in last night's rain," Sequoia added, "How lovely is it that we'll be able to harvest without worrying about picking out all the blighted crops?"
Gustopha hesitated, "Yes, it's… Very nice to see it gone," She stumbled out with a small sigh.

Coming towards them would be a filly and colt; the filly looked to be adolescent, and had brilliant white fur with an orange mane, whereas the colt was a warm mahogany brown with an orange mane.
Gustopha choked up slightly at the sight of the colt; he was the spitting image of Texas, save for a lack of wings.
"Here's the blanket, ma," The filly said quietly, neatly removing it from her back.
"Thank you, Willow," Sequoia said, "Help me get it over our mysterious squatter, will ya?" She requested.
Lost in her own thoughts, Gustopha hardly noticed the two females come up to her, throwing the blanket over her so it covered her back. She yipped from the sudden pressure and shook herself off.
"There y'are, hun," Sequoia said warmly, "Wouldn't want you getting a cold, now; there's been enough sick with the blight goin' around."
Gustopha simply nodded. "Isn't that the truth…?" She murmured softly.

"Oh, where are my manners? These are our two lovely gifts from Celestia; Willow and Dogwood," Sequoia explained, pointing at the filly and colt respectively.
Gustopha nodded, "It's very nice to meet you," She said gently, lowering her head so as to not look so tall and imposing to the two children.
Willow quietly tilted her head, giving a timid smile in response.
Dogwood, however, lit up. "Woah… If you have wings and a horn and a sparkly mane, does that mean you're a princess?" He asked, lightly bouncing on his hooves.
Gustopha hesitated. "It's… A long story," She admitted.
"Don't scare her with your energy, Dogwood," Willow huffed softly.
Gustopha smiled gently, "It's alright," She promised, "I'm just a bit rattled from last night, he isn't doing anything wrong."

"Let's get inside before the rain starts up again, kids," Sequoia hummed, "You two still have school to go to tomorrow morning."
The kids shared a small huff, but bounded back towards the large farmhouse.
"You have lovely children," Gustopha complimented gently, following the family back to the house.
"Oh, they're sweethearts. Troublemakers at times, but they help out when we need 'em," Sequoia chuckled.
"Show me a kid who ain't a troublemaker and I'll show you a liar," Oak joked, laughing a bit.
Gustopha gave a small chuckle, thinking about the "trouble" she'd likely caused from her excursion. She just needed some time to think, without the weight of the world pressing down on her.

Inside the house, it was quite warm, and it was neatly furnished in lots of wood and warm rugs and blankets. Gustopha was a bit big for the house's doors, but managed once she was inside.
"Please, make yourself at home," Sequoia said warmly, "I'll get some breakfast going for all of us."
She walked to the kitchen as Gustopha, Oak, Willow, and Dogwood settled themselves among the furniture of the room.

"So… To what do we owe an alicorn's visit all the way here out in Full Cart's Hollow?" Oak asked.
"It's… A long story," She admitted, "You could say I was practicing flying and forgot to stop," She hummed, evading the stallion's gaze.
"Alicorns have to practice flying?" Willow asked, "I thought they knew everything, like Princess Celestia does."
Gustopha froze slightly at the mention of her adoptive sister; the one she had run away from the night before. "Well, no," She replied matter-of-factly, "Alicorns still need to learn things… I'm still learning quite a lot," She admitted as she looked away.

"Well… If you're an alicorn, what are you an alicorn of?" Dogwood asked.
Gustopha looked at him and tilted her head, "What do you mean?" She asked.
"Well, alicorns usually have an element. Princess Celestia has the sun," Dogwood commented.
Gustopha tensed a bit. "Well…" She trailed off briefly, "I heal the land; and I talk to it. I removed all the blight in your field last night, and caused the rain," She explained.
Oak chuckled, "Surely, you're giving our legs a good ol' tug," He remarked.
"I'm not sure what I could say to convince you. There was blight here, and after I landed, it was removed," Gustopha reasoned.
Oak nodded, "Alright then… How'd ya get rid of it?" He asked.

"Well… First, I exorcize the blight from the soil, and then I purge it from the resultant clouds. The purging turns the blight into fresh water," Gustopha explained.
Oak nodded slowly. The foals listened in amazement.
"So… You use magic to clean the soil?" Willow asked.
Gustopha nodded, "Exactly," She replied, "Even if the soil isn't blighted, I can talk to the land, and fix problems. Say it's salted, or drained of nutrients," She added.

Oak chuckled, "You sound like you'd be mighty handy to have around the farm," He remarked, "I know a few of the folks at the old store would pay well for that kinda service."
"Can she stay, pa?" Dogwood asked, tail swishing excitedly.
"I don't see why not, assuming she wants to," Oak replied, looking at Gustopha.
"I would be honored if you would have me, Mr. Oak," Gustopha replied, bowing her head respectfully, "I endeavor to help how I can."
Oak laughed, "Hey, don't go gettin' all fancy on me, now. While you help around the homestead, you're just one of the family," He remarked.
Gustopha tensed at the word. "Family…" She murmured softly.

"Breakfast's ready, you four. Come on over," Sequoia called from the kitchen.
The foals darted to the table, but Oak lingered as he watched what looked like panic flash across Gustopha's face.
"Hey now," He said softly, "Everything okay up there?" He asked.
Gustopha shook herself off, "I just… Remembered something, that's all," She excused, standing up, "It's nothing to worry about. Thank you for welcoming me into your home," She expressed.
Oak nodded slowly, "If you're sure," He replied, leading the way to the table.
Gustopha followed quietly.

Gustopha looked at the table, noting she'd be a bit tall, so she gently pushed an empty chair aside and sat on the floor, sniffing the air as Sequoia brought out a large tray of scrambled eggs, toast, and fresh fruit.
"It looks lovely," Gustopha complimented softly.
Oak nodded in agreement, kissing his wife on the cheek as she sat down, "As always, of course," He chuckled.
Dogwood reached for the spoon in the eggs, but was stopped by his mother.
"Dogwood, let our guest eat first," She huffed.
Gustopha gave a small smile, opting to oblige Sequoia's generosity, taking a neat spoonful of eggs, a couple pieces of toast, and some of the fruit from the large plates before her. She didn't take too much, not wanting to abuse the kindness of the farm family.

She began quietly eating as the family dished out for themselves, with Gustopha's eyes calmly drifting over the dining room and kitchen they were sitting in. She didn't even notice the family's conversation, focused entirely on her own thoughts.
"So, Plantation, Oak says we have you to thank for all the blight goin' away," Sequoia said.
Gustopha jumped lightly at her name. "Ah, yes," She replied softly, "If I had a better way to prove it to you, I would," She admitted.
Sequoia chuckled, "I believe ya, hun. It's not every day that all of a farm just heals itself from something like the blight," She commented.
Gustopha gave a small smile, "I suppose you're right," She replied, "Regardless, thank you for your hospitality."
Oak chuckled, "Don't go thankin' us yet. We've got a day's work ahead of us, what with the fresh soil bringing the harvest early," He laughed.
Gustopha chuckled a little. "I endeavor to help all I can," She expressed, "It's only fair I attempt to repay your kindness."
Sequoia smiled, "Well, we'd certainly appreciate another set of hooves around the farm," She commented.

The table fell quiet as the family and Gustopha ate. Gustopha enjoyed the warm atmosphere of the house, and allowed herself to relax some.
Willow broke the silence, "If you're an alicorn, doesn't that mean you're a princess?" She asked.
Gustopha hesitated for a moment, before shaking her head, "It's a bit complicated, but to keep it short, I am not a princess," She lied, voice a bit harsh, "There are things a princess does and has that I'd never live up to." She looked away.
Willow blinked, "Like what?" She asked.

Gustopha sighed, "A princess is expected to lead her subjects, and put their needs before her own. She's supposed to be strong, both in terms of her power and her spirit," She explained, "I am not such a pony."
"You helped our farm, Ms. Plantation," Dogwood argued, "That sounds like putting others b'fore yourself to me!"
Gustopha sat quietly for a moment.

"Kids, I think it's best you left the princess talk out of this for now," Oak commented, "If Plantation says she ain't a princess, then we oughtta respect that."
Willow and Dogwood resettled in their seats. "Yes dad…" They murmured softly.
Sequoia looked around at the empty plates; pretty much everything at the table had been finished completely, save for a few crumbs of toast.
"Well, if we're all done, I'll get to washing so you four can start on the farmwork," Sequoia said, standing up.
"Would you like some help?" Gustopha asked, watching as Oak and the foals got up to head outside.
Sequoia chuckled, "I can handle some dishes by m'self, don't worry," She promised, "Go ahead and head outside with the others."
Gustopha simply nodded, following Oak and the foals outside.

Oak smiled up at all the trees. "Well now, you've done a number on our orchard," He chuckled, "I haven't seen the trees this full since before the war."
Gustopha smiled awkwardly, "Hah… Plants do seem to grow well in the soil I've worked," She admitted, looking at the multicoloured trees.
"All the more for us to preserve for the winter; I'm sure Sequoia's gonna have a ball teachin' Willow about preserves with the bumper," Oak chuckled.
Gustopha watched as the foals dragged large wooden buckets over from a root cellar, laying them out. She was impressed such small ponies could carry so much; but then again, they were earth ponies. Their magic likely lied in strength.

Gustopha watched as the others arranged the buckets beneath the trees, beginning to buck away at the trunks. The fruit fell easily, yielding produce almost all the time.
Gustopha didn't think she had the talent to buck a tree. She especially didn't want to injure the plants; Equestria needed all of its living farm crops intact.
So she walked deeper into the orchard, horn igniting as she began gently plucking fruits from the overgrown branches, neatly assembling them into large masses, sorted by fruit type, following along behind her as they were pulled by magic.
It took a considerable amount of thought to pluck the trees clean, and the amount of energy required to keep her bounty steady as she walked only increased with each piece of fruit added. How they managed the entire farm by hoof was beyond the alicorn; then again, her magic was the reason the trees were so dense with fruit to begin with.

Oak stared at Gustopha as she walked towards him, followed by large balls of apples, peaches, and cherries.
"Where would you like me to put these?" Gustopha asked, visibly straining to keep her magic steady from the sheer masses of fruit.
Oak nodded, "Just settle 'em in the cellar," He replied, before chuckling, "Sequoia's gonna love you for sortin' 'em while you pick."
Gustopha nodded, walking inside the root cellar and carefully padding down the sloped entrance, carefully settling the apples, cherries, and peaches each in their own separate corner of the room.
As she left, she watched the foals bringing their own large buckets of fruit over, stepping aside to allow them in.
The harvest would go quite productively, especially with the alicorn's help. The extra "set of hooves" Gustopha would lend would certainly help the family fill up their cellar.
The family was, however, called in for dinner eventually.

"Well, I gotta say, you make one heck of a farmhand," Oak chuckled, "We're gonna have a comfy winter, that's for sure." He patted the alicorn's side as they walked to the table.
Gustopha smiled gently, "I'm glad I was able to be a help," She expressed, "I haven't worked my magic with simple levitation like that ever before."
"I still can't believe you can carry that much just by thinkin' about it," Dogwood commented.
"It's a bit more complicated than that, but it does put strain on my horn if I overuse my magic," Gustopha said as she sat down, "When I purify the blight, my horn catches on fire."
Willow blinked, "On fire?" She asked, "Like, in a fireplace?"
Gustopha nodded, "Feels hot and everything; you could cook a pie over it, if you were brave," She chuckled softly.
"Careful now," Sequoia joked as she settled a large casserole on the table, "I'll sucker you into baking duty tomorrow," She warned with a laugh.
Gustopha smiled, "I wouldn't be opposed to that," She replied.
Sequoia chuckled, "Well then, I suppose it's a deal," She said with a smile.
Gustopha nodded and dished out some casserole for herself, and the rest of the family followed soon after.

Gustopha smiled to herself. It was nice to be around ponies who so unabashedly enjoyed their lives. There was no insanity, no desperation, no injuries… Just warm, smiling faces. Happiness.
Gustopha watched as Dogwood darted outside after finishing his food.
"There he goes," Sequoia chuckled softly.
"Where's he going?" Gustopha asked.
"He likes watching the sunset," Willow explained, "Even when it's raining or freezing outside, he still goes out."
Gustopha smiled, "Would he mind having some company?" She asked, looking at Oak and Sequoia.
Sequoia chuckled and shook her head, "Go ahead," She replied, "Oak 'n' I'll take care of the cleanup."
Gustopha thanked them and stepped outside, just in time to watch the sun fall below the sky, only to be replaced by the moon and stars.

Gustopha sat next to Dogwood gently, following his gaze to the moon.
"The sunset was extra pretty tonight," Dogwood said, "The trees are all shiny from being healed from blight."
Gustopha smiled gently, "Are you heading back inside, then?" She asked.
Dogwood shook his head.
Gustopha simply nodded, ponderously gazing on the moon.
"Ma says that a whole bunch of Luna's soldiers an' stuff got banished to the moon," Dogwood commented, "So I like to look at the moon sometimes, to remind them that there's still folks down here who think about 'em."
Gustopha nodded slowly. "I'm sure they appreciate that, Dogwood," She replied softly, giving a small smile.

"Do you think Luna ever lets 'em look back?" Dogwood asked.
Gustopha thought for a moment, "I'm not sure," She admitted, smile fading, "I never met Luna… I only heard stories."
Dogwood's eyes remained fixed on the moon, "I hope to meet one of 'em someday," He expressed, "I wanna hear all sorts of moon stories."
Gustopha's smile returned, and she gently rested a hoof on Dogwood's back, "What kind of stories would a moon pony tell?" She asked.
Dogwood thought for a moment, "I think they'd talk about the stars. They're a lot closer than us to them, aren't they? I bet it's like a whole other world up there," He pondered wondrously.

Gustopha smiled. "Well… If they ever come back, you can ask them, okay?" She promised gently, "We'll set them up somewhere with plenty of fresh fruit, and ask them about their stories about the stars."
Dogwood sidled a bit closer to the alicorn. "I'd like that, Ms. Plantation," He expressed, "Sometimes I wish I could send them letters; maybe they'd write back."
Gustopha sat on that thought for a long moment. Celestia had banished Luna and potentially hundreds of other ponies to the moon. Surely, Gustopha could handle something small, right?
"Go ask your mom for a pencil and a piece of paper," Gustopha requested.
Dogwood nodded, scampering inside for a brief moment.

Gustopha stared ponderously at the moon and stars as she awaited Dogwood's return. She remembered what her mother had once told her; how the sky was far vaster than any pony could ever know.
She pondered that thought for a moment. How vast was it? Did it truly encompass all that which laid in the night sky? Could she really send something to the moon?
"I have to try," She told herself quietly, closing her eyes to meditate briefly.

"I got the paper and pencil!" Dogwood excitedly chirped a few minutes later.
Gustopha smiled, eyes opening as her horn illuminated, magicking the paper and pencil over to her.
"Alright, tell me what you'd like to say. I'll write it out for you," She explained.
Dogwood thought for a long moment.
"Okay, ready," He said.
Gustopha nodded.

"Hello moon ponies. I'm Dogwood, from earth. I just wanted to apologize for all the bad things the adults say about you; I know they're just sick and tired of the war and blight. I forgive you; me and my new friend Plantation both do," Dogwood said, briefly catching his breath, "I know it's hard to think about somepony so far away, but we just want to say that we hope we can be friends some time. Take care of the stars for us, okay?"
Dogwood sighed a little as he finished.

"That was beautiful, Dogwood," Gustopha said. She'd diligently noted everything he said, save for her name, which she corrected without a word. She would tell the family the truth eventually.
"I'm sure they'd love to be friends after reading something from the heart," Gustopha added, smiling warmly at him as she carefully coiled up the scroll.
"Y'think so?" Dogwood asked.
Gustopha nodded, "I know I would, at the very least," She said, gently ruffling his mane.

Gustopha laid herself on the ground, resting the scroll out in front of her.
"Now," She said, "When I start magicking the scroll to the moon… It's going to hang still for a minute, and then I'm going to move it as fast as I can. When it starts moving fast, I want you to wish on it as hard as you can, like a shooting star," She explained.
Dogwood nodded, standing at attention, "Alright, Miss!" He replied dutifully.

Gustopha's eyes closed, and the scroll began to glow faintly as it was held aloft in her magic. She breathed slowly and evenly.
Her horn glowed brighter as the scroll began to move up. It accelerated quickly at first, but leveled out quite fast… Gustopha needed to give it more energy. Her horn glowed even brighter, and she felt the heat build at its base.

Dogwood closes his eyes, "I'm gonna start wishing, miss," He said quietly, holding his hooves together as if he were praying. He was praying. He was praying for peace, for the future of all ponies. He was praying for the adults to stop ranting about the war, and for things to get better.

Gustopha's horn ignited into a white hot blaze of magic. She breathed harder now. The note flew faster, streaking into an incredible gold trail as it was accelerated harder and harder.
Gustopha grit her teeth. It was almost there; within the moon's reach, really. She pushed herself harder, her horn's blaze glowing brighter; enough to outshine the lights of the house around her.
Then, all of a sudden, a lurch. Gustopha gasped as her eyes shot open. She'd done it. She banished the letter to the moon. The streak of magic in the sky faded.
Gustopha shook her head off, dispelling the small flames that clung to her horn post-cast.

"Did it make it?" Dogwood eyes, his eyes wide with anticipation.
Gustopha nodded, "It did," She replied, "I don't know where on the moon it will go, but it made it," She said.
Dogwood nodded, "Do we go inside now?" He asked.
Gustopha nodded tiredly. "Yes, let's… Casting that note was very exhausting," She admitted, standing up with a slight grunt and limping towards the house.
Dogwood walked beside her, "Are you okay, Ms. Plantation?" He asked.
Gustopha nodded. "I'll be alright," She promised, "That spell's just a lot all at once; even for a tiny little letter."
"Alright, Miss," He replied, pushing the door open for her.

Oak quickly trotted over as he watched Gustopha limp into the house. "Woah, what the heck happened out there?" He asked, "First thing it looks like the rapture's going off outdoors, next you're comin' in here like you got your flank walloped."
"We sent a letter to the moon!" Dogwood explained, greatly excited.
Oak stared at her, "'Sthat true?" He asked.
Gustopha nodded tiredly, "It is," She replied, "It was a very intense spell," She admitted, settling herself on the floor in a heap.
Oak looked at Dogwood, and the colt gulped slightly.

"Don't be upset at him. It was my idea to send the letter," Gustopha requested.
Oak nodded slowly, "Well, alright. I just want my colt to know he needs to be careful with an alicorn's help," He commented, ruffling Dogwood's mane, "C'mon, off ta bed with you before ma finishes tucking Willow in. You've got school tomorrow."
Dogwood huffed a little, "Alright, fine… G'night, Ms. Plantation!" He said, trotting up the stairs.

Gustopha laid her head tiredly on the carpeted floor, breathing slowly as her eyes closed.
Oak sat next to her. "You sure you're alright, Plantation?" He asked, "I don't want you to be run ragged under our watch."
Gustopha smiled a little, "Really, I'm alright… Just a little winded from exercising my magic so much," She insisted, "I'd tell you if I were being overwhelmed. Thank you, Mr. Oak."
Oak rubbed her head and chuckled wistfully, "A letter to the moon… If you hadn't said anything, I'dve assumed my boy went loony," He remarked.
"The world can be a strange place," Gustopha commented softly.

Sequoia gently walked down the stairs.
"Oak. You couldn't at least let her have the couch?" Sequoia chided.
"I'm plenty comfortable on the floor, ma'am. You don't have to worry," Gustopha insisted.
Sequoia chuckled, "If you insist, hun," She replied, yawning softly as she crawled into a chair.
Oak took his seat on the couch, and picked up the book he had been reading.

Gustopha rested her head on the carpet and breathed a deep exhale of comfort.
Her horn illuminated dimly as she unfolded the blanket on her back, allowing it to cover her body, rolling to the side a bit as she relaxed.
Her eyes twitched open as she felt her head being lifted.
Sequoia looked at her, "Oh, I'm sorry hun," Sequoia said gently as she nestled a pillow beneath Gustopha's head, "I was just tuckin' ya in since you looked like you were asleep."
Gustopha smiled weakly, "Thank you, Ms. Sequoia," She replied softly, "I don't think I'll be awake much longer," She admitted with a soft chuckle.
Sequoia smiled, "You get a good sleep, now. I'll put you to work baking tomorrow," She joked, laughing a bit.
Gustopha chuckled gently and allowed her eyes to close, listening to the soft hoofsteps of the other two adults leaving the room. It didn't take her long to fall asleep with the day prior being as exhausting as it was.





Texas Toast smiled awkwardly at Plantation. "Hey, I know you really wanted to go see that play on how alicorns get made," He greeted, "So…" He trailed off, pulling two tickets from his wing.
Plantation gasped, "Woah! Where'd you get those?" She asked.
"Mom gave me a few bits so I could buy them," He says, "C'mon, the show starts at high noon," He smiled, darting off.
Plantation huffed and ran after him, letting him lead her to the theatre.

Texas gave the tickets to the door keeper, and set a wing over Plantation as he walked her in, finding them a seat around the middle of the theatre.
"I thought you liked sitting in front," Plantation said.
"Yeah, but you like sitting at the back, so we compromise," Texas giggled.
Plantation smiled, leaning against him, "Alright, Tex… Compromise it is," She giggled.