“Now before you ask, Captain, I haven’t struck any bargains. After Snowy was taken, and you went to regain Twilight’s charts, I convened with the ponies on how to proceed. I elected to search for you, seeing as you might’ve been taken by those who also have Snowy. The ponies were to carry on towards the castle, since these incidents suggest the Elements are much closer than we anticipated.”
“Into these woods Tintin? All by yourself?”
“I was tracking your steps through the brush and mire, and cognized an acute awareness to my surroundings, unlike anything I’ve experienced before. Besides which, I could sense with my ears, eyes, and nose even more than usual, nearly as if I could perceive the world as Snowy does. I avoided certain areas that struck me as harmful or unfriendly, when I’d normally would’ve brushed past them without much thought. That’s when I noticed your steps moving in a similar fashion. Almost like you were more attentive to your instincts, spur of the moment, than I was.”
“Never gave them a second glance,” said Haddock, “or first.”
“But then I happened upon the movement of certain creatures flapping about in the branches. I couldn’t shake the intuition they were following me, so I stopped and see what might happen. I was soon flanked on all sides, when they transformed into the very pony tribe we have with us. I came to learn after, how each tribe of Equestria has qualities of harnessing magic distinct to themselves.”
“Digressing a bit,” asked Spike.
“Right. But see, I reckoned encountering them was the next stage in my efforts locating you and Snowy, as well as knowing more about what we’re up against. I heeded their request, who then brought me to the Colonel.”
They were marching through the narrow path deep within the Everfree at a brisk pace. Because of the thick, countless branches above, there was little to maneuver with wings. It was during the discussion that Galewatch spoke from ahead. “Quiet. We’re approaching an ursa major’s cave. They hibernate this time of year.”
Stepping more steadily and stealthily, the troops, gryphs and dragon slipped past the dark, ominous gape on the mountainside covered by all sorts of brush, vines, and trees. Haddock paused for a moment, seeing if he could catch a glimpse or sound of any sleeping beast. Resuming their rigid trot full stern, the bat pony Colonel continued. “I mistook you and your gryphon friend for mercenaries, coaxing young ponies to help you uncover a heavy bounty from the castle.”
“Not the first time that’s happened,” grumbled the reminiscing Captain.
“But my soldiers reported their findings to me, after hindering Helix’s efforts to immobilize you. How you were lost, disabled, and looking for answers, while also forming genuine ties with the ponies.”
“That sounds better, somewhat.”
“You see, Captain and Spike,” rejoined Tintin, “we stumbled upon Colonel Galewatch’s covert operation. One that’s been in the works for nearly a thousand years. A generational passing of a vital task, specifically to safeguard the Elements of Harmony before their appointed use for renewal, starting with the royal pony sisters. Colonel Galewatch and his soldiers are Celestia’s detail for her Celebration visit to Ponyville.”
“I thought Princess Celestia’s sister turned into the evil Nightmare,” said Spike in confusion.
“Yes, that’s true. But Commander Helix was right to point out that Celestia’s use of the Elements to banish her tormented sister tainted Celestia also, which cut her off from using the Elements henceforward.”
“What my former cadet failed to remember,” said Galewatch, “was the need for both Princesses to heal, reunite, and govern Equestria together, before the world can be fully restored.”
“You trained that guy,” said Spike, jaw agape.
“Before Nightmare swayed him to her own plans for restoration. We’re faithful subjects to Princess Luna, which also includes fealty to her sister of the sun. As such, we were called to keep the peace in Equestria, first by keeping ourselves hidden from ponies who would presume our treason, or think we’re some dangerous unknown, as most ponies are prone to treat any creature that's strange to them.”
“Gosh,” Spike shuddered, holding back a yawn.
“They’ve mostly kept to themselves in the surrounding woods of Hollow Shades,” Tintin offered, “But as daunting and unfair that life has been, Galewatch’s family, and others’, went above and beyond by volunteering to protect the castle ruins and their restorative treasure. With Celestia’s approval, they organized and set down obstacles to hinder unsavory ponies and other creatures of greed. They were also meant to test any who might generate candidates to harness the Elements centuries later.”
“Twice did explorers approach the Everfree Forest,” said the bat pony, “Twice they left empty hoofed. But those who established Ponyville a hundred years ago showed promise.”
“But that’s when things took a dark turn. Nightmare Moon makes use of Luna’s ability to traverse the realm of dreams through magic. That constant link informed her of what’s happening, and dispatched those who went rogue decades’ prior, believing in her own promises of restoration as the sole, rightful ruler of Equestria.”
“But they forgot,” Galewatch muttered, “about our own Princess’s current state. After all these years.”
“So that’s what this has been about, eh,” the Captain wondered. “We got caught in the crossfire of a split group of ponies trying to get those confounded Element things?”
“You, Princess Celestia’s student, and the others went looking for the Elements too soon, Captain Haddock,” was the reply. “Nightmare caught wind of this, and orchestrated her renegade agents to hinder and eliminate you by distorting our traps and tests. While you gryphs and pony friends were traveling, our forces clashed against each other.
They started that landslide and riled a stray timber wolf from its pack. Then we distracted them while you were engulfed in shadows that stunned you for hours. They even disturbed a sea serpent some minutes ago and raised the river to flood levels. Thankfully, we managed to disrupt each other without bloodshed. But that can’t last for much longer.”
“But what’s also fortunate,” added Tintin, “is that Galewatch and his forces are helped by a zebra who lives somewhere in these woods.”
“Along with a ghost hound, it seems. Even my sharpest scout can only track its movements after the fact.”
“What’d you mean when you said Twilight looked for the Elements too early,” wondered Spike, eyes half-open.
“It requires the energy channeled through the aligned planets, built up after a thousand years, for the Elements to be open for pure hearts.”
“Ah, makes perfect sense. Princess Celestia was trying to tell her that, I guess. She’s always talking about some small detail that…Twilight missed.”
“Augh,” Haddock moaned, “all this fuss about magic, escaped princess maniacs, and bewitched forests, all because some pony thought he predicted the future by looking at planets and stars.”
“Stars don’t tell the future, Archie,” Spike corrected. “Ponies have been measuring magic…for ages. They calculate the energy from their magical networks, based on orbital positions around the sun, daily rotations, and seasons. That’s how Equestria…keeps the world from spinning out of control. Somepony calculated the right amount of magic to cancel the Elements’ power, because the six planets…kept building up magic for a thousand years by lining up during a solstice, or something. Twilight lost me somewhere after that.”
“Which would then be used to allow for Nightmare’s escape also,” finished the gryphon. “Even as a one possessed by a demon of envy, such knowledge would not be missed by a princess of the night.”
“How’d you find out about all that so fast,” said the dragon, nodding off.
“That’s what I do, Spike. It’s my job to gather as much as I can for a story. Through the library, reports, eyewitnesses, and so forth. Galewatch and his troops learned enough about us to give benefit of the doubt. Especially after finding out Commander Helix took you and Haddock. That’s when we decided to collaborate.”
“Some of my ponies went so far as to share family history,” commented the Colonel flatly.
“Indeed. For these ponies, memory brings their ancestors to the present, to teach and guide them in their own life stories. Which, in turn, enables this generation, and others, to be mindful of their living presence after death. Because you see, for these bat ponies, heritage and legacy are one and the same thing. An ongoing journey towards growth and development, as well as deeper understanding. It’s extraordinary how it fits together, in many respects! Makes me reevaluate my previous encounters with ethnic groups and their leaders.”
“Sounds an awful lot like my Granddaddy telling me stories,” gleamed the sea captain. “Aw, now those would be tales to share with ye, Spike. Won’t that be something, eh? Spike?”
Just then, after such tremendous undertakings, all who were present heard and noticed the purple drake falling fast asleep on the hippogryph’s back. “Oh, the wee lad’s had a trying time.”
“We’re too far from Ponyville for my scouts to escort you,” Galewatch stated. “Our best chance for you three is to reach the Haven before the planets line up. The gorge surrounding the castle isn’t far.”
Suddenly, they heard a distant yelp that Tintin recognized instantly. “Snowy!”
“That’s definitely the ghost hound, Sir,” said one of his soldiers.
“Move!” They pounced forward with greater haste, rushing past the tangled overgrowth, jutting roots and fallen debris. They stopped before a wide fissure where the castle ruins could be seen through a blanketing fog. To their right, one could see a bridge of rope and planks, fully intact.
“The ponies made it across,” said Galewatch. “But they won’t know where to start looking until-”
“Colonel,” said another soldier, “look!”
The six planets were seen most clearly, as beaming dots made a perfectly sound sequence cut across the starry sky. Rays of light seemed to filter through the heavenly bodies. Craters that shaped the face of a unicorn on the bright lunar surface vanished. Nightmare Moon has returned.
“You three find the stairs down. They’ll lead you to the Haven. Nothing that acts violently, or has dark intentions can enter or harm you.”
“What does this haven look like,” asked Haddock.
“You won’t miss it.” With that, the bat ponies transformed upon lift off, departing from the young gryphon and seabird’s sight. Lightning and thunderheads accumulated over the ancient ruins, where more and more flying creatures flocked overhead as rivals.
Tintin and Haddock hear Snowy again, prompting them to look down towards the ravine floor. What they saw was not Snowy, but a black canine with the size and shape of a fox terrier. Suddenly the Captain spotted something that stood between the dog and themselves.
“Tintin, steps.” The gryphs, with a slumbering Spike in tow, headed down with caution. Reaching the bottom, Tintin looked to find the black terrier rushing away from them, but then stopping before a soft glow around the bluff. They advanced gingerly towards the canine, not quite sure what to make of it yet. They stopped directly before the creature, as it yelped at Tintin again.
“Milou,” he called, “Milou, is that you?”
Upon witnessing the familiar shake of its downcast head, paws to its ears, and groans, Tintin got the confirmation he needed. “Take it this wasn’t from one of my fountain pens?”
That was when Snowy turned about and raced towards the glowing region of the crevice. Tintin and Haddock stood agape at the sight ahead of them. They had entered a wide, deep cavern, bearing inside it the most amazing, bizarre sight either gryph have seen throughout this whole endeavor. It was a massive piece of gem, quartz, or diamond, reaching the furthest heights of the ceiling with jagged, yet elegant branches and limbs. At the stem’s center was a six-pointed, magenta star, with five hexagonal shapes showing dimly on its members.
“Tintin,” gasped Haddock, “is that…?”
“The Tree of Harmony,” he answered in kind, unable to take his eyes off the glorious spectacle that also touched their cores. One of gentle warmth and tenderness that neither would expect to occur. “Of course! The Tree’s vast grotto served as the Haven, for those living near the castle during a terrible crisis.”
“Like the one we’re facing. Makes me think of the Fiery Bush, it does.” At the Captain’s words, loud clashes and rumblings were heard and felt overhead, through the fissure’s stone walls. While the situation was certainly dire, it did not trouble them too greatly. “Do hope those ponies are alright.”
“I suppose that’s all we can do right now.”
“Doesn’t make it easy, does it?”
“Sometimes, the simplest action proves the most difficult.” The young gryphon sighed with exhaustion and resignation. Sitting himself onto the floor with his reunited pet and friend, he stroked Snowy’s ears and looked at the shivering drake on the hippogryph’s back. “Probably best to keep him warm.”
“Aye,” Haddock nodded, “for a fire-breathing reptile, he’s still without fur or blankets. Augh, I haven’t got me trousers back still. Should be fine without this sweater.”
“Agreed.” With that, Tintin placed the check suit onto the stone-cold floor, since he took it off before entering the forest. He removed his loosened tie around his shirt’s collar. As for Haddock, he rested Spike slowly upon it, with his sailor’s hat serving as a pillow, and the blue sweater snuggly wrapped about the dragon. He kept on the white shirt he wore underneath. Snowy contributed by cuddling close to Spike, who unconsciously brought his arm about the canine with contentment. The two strangers of this wondrous land sat beside the resting pair, staring quietly ahead and hearing the noises from above grow less frequent. “What are we to do now, Captain?”
“Eh?”
“I’m not one to ask that sort of question,” he admitted. “But our situation hasn’t improved much. We still have no means of sustaining ourselves, not to mention lacking suitable instruments for any other leads. And this one has yet to shed any light on the matter.”
“Don’t suppose we can ask those ponies for help after this hullabaloo?”
“We could, assuming all bodes well. But that might entail communicating our entire situation, as per their request.”
“Yea, that’s true also. Though my experience living off the wild ocean tigress has taught me one thing to share for our plight.”
“And what’s that?”
“Any moment can be our last. Even if we’re locked into a sort of rhythm with the tides of danger and adventure, that still doesn’t shake off the imminent possibility. So if ever we’re to be caught in a rut, we can at least make it one of living on a prayer. One for each day, and one for each night.”
“One step at a time, eh Captain? Down to the last?”
“Too right, Mr. Tintin. Too right.”
Talons to each other’s shoulder, they shared a moment of silent gratitude, and petitions of hope, patience, and peace of mind, at least ‘til the storm had passed. But that was not to last, since both gryphs caught sight of a broad stallion standing upon the cavern’s entryway. His gold, feline irises refracted the Tree’s light.
“Helix,” Tintin whispered. Snowy was growling more with wary than aggression. The bat pony Commander removed his helmet, and then his armour, one piece at a time. When he had finished, he stepped forward, passing the grotto’s threshold undeterred. “Nothing that acts violently, or has dark intentions.”
Helix passed the gryphs who remained seated, feeling anxious, yet also calm they were on equal ground with their former captor. He gave the dormant drake a quick glance before staring at the Tree with quiet admiration.
“My father always brought me here,” he stated evenly. “Telling me stories of our ancestors gathering to prepare, teach, share, and seek solace from this place. He even pointed out to me where the sisters stood in finding the Elements. Generations of waiting. For the day we no longer have to conceal ourselves. Despite a less than desirable outcome, we won’t have to wait for much longer.”
He then turned to face Tintin. “Like I said. Finding the Elements their true bearers was my primary goal. The spark to reveal the sixth will soon be underway, and my troops are retreating as we speak. But know comes the start of a grueling process to right many wrongs.”
“Is that all you came to tell us,” the youth asked him, suspecting otherwise.
“I also wanted to return these to your friends’ library.” The Commander placed the Everfree map and castle plans neatly beside Tintin. “Despite training me every technique, Colonel Galewatch had yet to reveal all his secrets. I simply borrowed those for points of reference.”
Then he turned about, seating himself at Tintin’s port side. “Myself and those with me, we still doubt Equestria will deliver true peace, healing and unity. My guess is it will find itself divided again, after a few more centuries. Those Elements simply allot Equestria with borrowed time.”
“And Princess Luna?”
“She may not be of our kind, but that doesn’t detract from her status as our reigning Duchess of the night. Renders her honorary kinship among us. The stories we shared with each other, Mr. Tintin. A thousand of your lifetimes could never put to paper the volume of such a family’s journey.
And yet, I also consider you as such, as I’m sure others under the Colonel also recognized. A fellow creature of the stars, illuminating the truth in the shadows with the moon’s gentle glow. We may not befriend each other, if ever at all, but I do hope we meet again with greater understanding towards each other.”
“As do I, Commander.” Raising his right talon, the bat pony was witnessed by Haddock to receive and shake with Tintin sincerely.
“Mr. Tintin, Captain Haddock, until next time.” Suddenly, he shifted into a raven, whose black feathers offered a reflective sheen from the Tree as he departed.
“Even the moon gets its glow from the sun.”
“Tintin,” Haddock exclaimed next, “look!”
Turning about, the young gryphon saw where the sea captain was staring. The Tree of Harmony started to shine. But not just at a constant level. It grew brighter, and brighter, and brighter, with each passing second. “Tintin, what do we do?”
“I don’t know, Captain,” he called back, talon raised to shield his eyes. “Just look away!”
“I can’t!”
Tintin noticed his own failure to turn his eyes from the blaze ever intensifying. He did not know whether Snowy and Spike awoke to this new spectacle or not, but could only sense the light’s warmth penetrating his eyes as they tightly closed. Even the insides of his eyelids were engulfed in pale luminosity. He was overwhelmed to the point of unconsciousness.
“I said give me the keys!”
“Oh, yes. It would most certainly please me.”
“No, Professor wait!”
“Ye sure you don’t want your coat, Calculus?”
“Stop calling me a goat!”
“What have you done?”
“Oh, dear. It looks like it’s opening up a portal towards the sun.”
“Hurry, turn it off!”
“Don’t be daft! I leave it on, we’ll turn to ash! I’m turning it off.”
“No, you won’t.”
“You shoot, and none of us will survive.”
The first thing Tintin sensed was the cold, hard stone against his cheek. He remembered the sensation of falcon feathers that were a part of him. Before recalling further, another feeling occurred on the other side of his face. The sun’s warmth rose and radiated upon him, followed by a puff of air that was joined by a whimper. Something wet brushed against him. He flickered his eyelids open to a blurred whiteness blanketing his vision.
“Snowy? Where’s Haddock? Spike?” His eyes widened with realization. “Calculus!”
He got up to find himself in the confines of an ancient, abandoned chamber, with cracks and gaping holes throughout the walls, floor and ceiling. The sun penetrated its dawning presence upon its occupants. Tintin spotted Spike laying peacefully behind Snowy, who regained his white terrier fur. Next he saw Captain Haddock, still a hippogryph, rising stiffly from his own recurring slumber. He rushed over to help him, as he noticed six waking ponies present about them, with a seventh sprawled at the furthermost corner to the west.
“Steady, Captain! Steady.”
“Tintin,” he moaned. “I remember. The Professor.”
“Yes, Captain. Professor Calculus, I’m remembering also.”
“How could we forget that cockamamie codger? He built us that ludicrous shark submarine, helped me regain Marlinspike Hall, sent us flying to the moon with his ridiculous rocket ship. That was his pilfering portal tha-Oof!”
“Wha-Oof!”
“You’re back! You’re okay!”
“You’re here! You’re alive!”
“Uh, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash,” beamed Pinkie, “I think those bone-crushing hugs are supposed to come after a warning.”
True enough, the prismatic Pegasus seemed to have the poor sea captain in a chokehold. Tintin was faring less badly, but the yellow mare embracing him squeezed the air from his lungs.
“How did you get here,” marveled the purple unicorn. “What happened to you? Where’d you go?”
“One question at a time, please,” wheezed Tintin, as Fluttershy released him swiftly from embarrassment. He huffed with an air of relief, as did Haddock after prying himself away from Rainbow, who then preened over her new gem piece. “Starting with that tiara you’re wearing.”
“Tiara?”
“Twilight,” groaned the waking drake.
“Oh, yes!” Rarity noted with awe and wonder the sight on Twilight’s head. “Most resplendent! And look, I have a livery collar of my own. And my tail’s good as new!”
“Wait a minute,” said AJ, “We’ve all got fancy jewelry.”
“Twilight!” Racing up to the mare after waking, Spike leapt with furious speed and held to his sister’s neck tightly. “Please, don’t go away again.”
“Spike,” she stuttered with shock and confusion. “You were with them?”
“Afraid he’s had quite the ordeal, yes,” replied the gryphon. “As I’m sure we all did.”
“Yea, no joke,” grunted the hippogryph, “So much for a twenty-minute jaunt with an eight-hour lead.”
“You prefer a flat ten?”
“How about ye put a sock in it.”
Tintin took this moment to examine everyone’s current state. He picked up his blue check suit and neck tie to put back on, noticing Haddock doing the same with his own sweater and hat. Rainbow bore a gold neck brace with a lightning-shaped ruby, Fluttershy’s was that of a rose diamond butterfly, Rarity’s being that of a violet rhombus-cut gem, while Pinkie’s brace had a sapphire shaped like a balloon, and Applejack’s held an auburn fruit. But Twilight Sparkle’s caught his attention the most, recognizing the same colour and shape from the Tree’s stem beneath the castle.
“Looks like you’re both right, Twi and Tin,” said AJ. “All that wasn’t hooey how we’re all here at the right place and time, to represent the Elements of friendship.”
“Indeed, you are.”
“Princess Celestia!” Twilight raced towards the towering, white, regal presence, who had been sitting and embracing the dark blue pony lying on the floor earlier. The other ponies took a sudden bow of reverence, which prompted Haddock and Tintin to fumble in kind. “You’ve been waiting here all along?”
“I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long, my star pupil.” She lowered herself to receive both Twilight and Spike into a warm embrace with her vast wingspan. “But I couldn’t be here, until you let true friendship enter your heart and unleash the fullness of your magic.”
“Something I had to experience, for myself?”
The ivory mare of horn and wings nodded. She was slightly taller than Haddock, with the prism glitter of her mane and tale flying through an unknown breeze, and lavender irises that spoke serene, timeless wisdom. “And I’m glad you did. Though I was very much surprised when Spike told me you made friends so quickly, and set out before my sister’s escape.”
“I must admit,” said Twilight, looking Tintin’s way, “I never would’ve made that obvious connection without help.”
“It’s always good to have a second pair of eyes, certainly.” She smiled before turning towards the rising regent of the night, also with horn and wings, and taller than Tintin. “Allow me to introduce you to my sister, Princess Luna. Luna, I’d like you to meet my faithful student, and her new friends.”
“Hail,” she stammered with uncertainty. “We givest thee thanks for all thou hast done for us.”
Of course! Centuries of lingual and social development are bound to show, given the circumstances.
“Mighty fine to meet ya, Princess,” bowed the orange mare. “Name’s Applejack.”
“Rarity, my liege.”
“I’m Pinkie Pie!”
“Rainbow Dash!”
“Oh, I’m Fluttershy, Your Highness.”
“I’m Twilight Sparkle.”
“And I’m Spike!”
“And who, pray tell, might thou doth be,” asked Luna. “Ye gryphon and hippogryph emissaries?”
That was when Haddock and Tintin realized how the room’s full attention submerged them into oceanic scrutiny. Wondering stares, curious looks, they came from the eight mares and small dragon, prompting the gryphs to face each other. They turned at last to Snowy, who was wagging his tail with yapping anticipation. Almost as though he had waited for this opportunity. They turned about to face each other again, then back towards the staring troupe.
Clasping his talons together, Tintin offered, “Captain Haddock, what say you to a nice stroll back to town?”
“Yea, Tintin, that’d be best. Along with a nice glass of cider and, er, one from Barley and Oats as well.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Celestia gleamed. “A chance to get acquainted, and learn about each other!”
“My thoughts exactly, Highness.” Tintin and Haddock bowed, as they made their exit from the castle with the others.
“I’ll go get the stuff ready for when you get back,” said Pinkie, who with a mad surge crossed the bridge and took the unused road. From the distance they heard her voice echoing. “We’re going to have a party!”
“A voice in the wilderness,” mused the gryphon.
“I was wondering when she’d say that,” AJ smirked.
“Only if it's not much trouble, Princess. We wouldn’t ask if we felt it unnecessary.”
“Thinkest thou no trifling doubt of our hospitality,” said Luna, as they approached the golden chariot. “Whilst the warm welcome from these dear ponies dost soothe us, we findeth attending to thy discourse in tranquil trot more soothing, methinks.”
“Honestly, we were otherwise occupied on other things during the parade, ourselves.” The jubilant spectators of stallions, mares, and foals began to disperse, as shouts, songs, and jokes of festive merriment dwindled.
“Quite so,” she nodded, noting the hushed, expended demeanor of Tintin and Archibald Haddock. Looking back, she saw her sister dictating a decree to the purple drake in the six mares’ presence. Luna continued, “Art thou certain travailing with us, mine sister and myself?”
After a joyous cheer and communal embrace amidst the aforementioned group, the gryphon sighed as the sea captain lowered his head. “As it surely may cause slight pain, all around, I believe the things we have to face mustn’t be left alone.”
“We still got our friend lost somewhere,” Haddock moaned. “We need all the help we can to find him.”
“And we certainly want to be sure we do our part to resolve matters among your own subjects. Seeing as we’re now very much involved.”
“Indeed?” Celestia stepped forward with the other mares and dragon to join the discourse. “You both have done so much for me, my sister, Twilight, and Equestria, despite your own displacement. Are you sure this is something you’re willing to partake?”
“Princess Celestia,” asked Twilight, “what do you mean? What are they doing?”
“We’ve got our work cut out for us, lass,” said the hippogryph, removing his cap. “You’ve got your new assignment here. Still have our own, we do.”
“Wait,” Rainbow stuttered, “you’re leaving?”
“Something else happened after our portal malfunctioned,” Tintin replied. “Otherwise, Professor Calculus would’ve been with us all along. And we can’t fully remember the incident still. But the one thing that matters now is finding him. We need to learn all that we can to prepare for an extensive search for our friend.”
“Including how to make full use of our wings,” Haddock added.
"Oh," Pinkie cheered, "maybe you can learn about parkour too!"
“I’m still just shocked at what happened to you,” said Fluttershy. “Making you forget how to fly?”
“It must’ve been a highly enhanced spell to block short-term memory, as well as hinder avian motor skills,” Twilight pondered, but still saddened like the rest. “I suppose Canterlot does offer the best means of support for you, given the circumstances.”
“We promise,” Tintin offered, after a knowing glance to the Captain, “we’ll share all the details when we can.”
“And as a journalist, truly,” said Rarity, “you’ll most certainly contribute a column or two of your travels and findings, won’t you?”
“I see no reason why not,” he shrugged.
“Really?” Celestia raised her brow with intrigue. Tintin’s occupation was simply overlooked from the previous discussion.
“We’ll collect every Canterlot Gazette about you guys until you come back,” beamed Pinkie.
“It would finally give me a reason to look at a newspaper, I guess,” shrugged Rainbow Dash. “So long as it’s something really awesome.”
“And with all that you’ve learned last night,” continued Celestia, “I can see how you think you’ll be of help to us in turn.”
“You two just make sure to get yer friend and yourselves back in one piece, ya hear,” AJ finished.
“Yeah, speaking of which,” said Spike, slouching with anxiety, “I think I need a short break back in Canterlot too.”
“Spike, you too?” The purple unicorn was growing more unsteady by the second.
“Only for a couple of weeks,” he stuttered. “I’ll help pack and send stuff that you need to move in. But I just want to be with…Mom and Dad for a little while? After everything that happened. Maybe see our brother too, if I get the chance. A-and after that, I’ll come right back to be my sister’s number one assistant again. As always!”
“Well,” she shuffled her hoof with a glum face. “I mean, if you feel you really have to, just be sure to tell them to write while you’re there. Especially Shining Armor, he always forgets.”
“I promise.” She wrapped her hoof around the purple dragon, who reciprocated with his own paw, before letting him go to climb aboard the chariot.
She then stepped towards the hippogryph. “I know we didn’t exactly have the best first meeting in Equestria. I just want to let you know that your initiative in meeting me, before I went on a checklist to see my other friends, that really meant a lot. You not only set a good example for me to follow, but you also showed me that I was somepony worth meeting beyond my status as personal pupil to Princess Celestia.”
“Augh, think nothing of it, Twilight. It’s like I told Spike, here. I’m just glad to have others to call family and care about. As the last of the Haddocks, I swear to you I’ll see to it he’s in good ha-hoo-claws.”
“Thanks,” she smiled, bashful at his words of endearment. Then huffing a deep sigh to alleviate as much tension as she could, Twilight Sparkle approached the young gryphon.
“I can’t thank you enough for helping me, Spike, and my new friends.”
Unsure of how to respond, he took a momentary pause. “I can’t say how much I contributed. I pushed us to look for answers when it simply wasn’t the right time. If anything, Spike and all of us may have been well off had we waited.”
“Not sure I agree, sugar cube,” said Applejack. “Here you are, stranded, lost, confused and just plain desperate as Winona stuck in a zap apple tree. The fact you went out of your way to help us while trying to find answers, on your first day here, I reckon that’s something Spike can really look up to.”
Twilight nodded, and continued, “I kept him cooped up in my private study with me for so long. I think he needs this as much as I need to be with my friends. Maybe he can find new friends along the way, himself. You’re not responsible for what happened to him.”
“Perhaps not. It’s just another difficulty of mine, I suppose. Relaying that to my conscience.”
“What you said to us while in the woods? Well, one of the things. How you couldn’t understand if we were making a difference, but knowing that it was okay to not fully understand? It reminded me of Trailblaze Pastel, another of Princess Celestia’s pupils. He was an earth pony pioneer in magical computations of orbiting planets, and was widely known for teaching in riddles. He said, ‘We’re always disputed until we realize we’re lovable monsters ourselves, beyond our pony comprehension.’ I never really took time to reflect on it, until now.”
Of course, he thought with consolation. Another strange correlation.
“Nothing unfolds by accident,” recalled Tintin with a smile.
“Including the accidents," finished Twilight in kind. "Thank you, for everything.”
She saw him brush over the quiff of his feathers for another pause. “You’re most welcome. And thank you also, for your words and help. All of you.”
That earned a shared, heartwarming smile from the others.
“Maybe you and the Captain can help Spike make new friends, the way you helped me.”
“That won’t be a problem,” smiled Tintin after a deep breath. “Besides Haddock, I’m sure someone else will enjoy the extra company. Wouldn’t you agree…Snowy?”
He failed to locate the fox terrier in his direct vicinity. Looking about him and near the chariot, the young gryphon huffed with annoyance. “Oh, Snowy. He’s at it again.”
Suddenly, all heard the ruckus of a snarling cat followed by a familiar yap in chase.
“Opal!”
“Snowy, heel! Snowy!” The white terrier chased an equally blanch feline up the library’s tree limb. From there, Opalescence hissed venomously at a barking Snowy. Tintin grabbed him by the collar. “Snowy, come here! Bad, dog. I'm sorry, Rarity. He's always finding something to chase.”
"Reckon he and Winona would get along just fine," AJ remarked.
“Opal should be fine now,” stated a frantic Rarity, trying to calm herself. “But that does remind me of your wardrobe, Tintin.”
“Er, you got us new outfits?”
“Well, not for the both of you I’m afraid, Captain,” the white unicorn admitted. “However, I can take your measurements here and now. I'll then mail them to you, as soon as they're done.”
“So long as it’s something with trousers or a kilt, that’d be most gratefully appreciated.”
“I thought you might. Though I’m glad you mentioned it to me, to be sure.” With that, she whipped out her spectacles, pencil, notepad and tape measure with her horn’s blue glow, then went straight to work. “Now hold still, s'il vous plaît.”
“Whoa, hey! Do mind the knee, Miss! Blew out in a maelstrom, it did.” All who were watching either shared a hearty chuckle, fought for composure, or, like Rainbow and Pinkie, rolled on the floor. As for Twilight Sparkle, she found it suitable comeuppance for yesterday's ruffled-mane debacle.
“Pilfering peepers! Ye sure you’re not from a sailor’s family?”
“Oh, don’t be so dramatic.” She stepped back to jot down the size of each section. Then she chanted vibrantly, “All set! Merci, mon Capitaine.”
“Sorry, Haddock,” spoke Tintin smugly, trying to contain himself. “I failed to warn you.”
“I take back what I said the day before. This here’s a relation to Castafoire, she is.”
Hopping into the chariot with the jovial drake, anticipating their next adventure, Snowy yapped and barked with equal delight as he gazed forward to the precipitous horizon.