It was late summer. Celestia had been in Rikuma for two weeks, but for the Equestrian creatures, she’d been gone about three weeks.
The citizens were both excited and nervous. Many were eager for any news from Rikuma at all, and others feared something would happen to the Princess of the Sun. For a thousand years, she had stayed in Equestria, and only made short trips here and there. This was the longest trip she'd been on in ages. It was historical and astounding. Unfortunately, many citizens saw Celestia almost like a mother to the nation, and like any child suddenly separated from his mother, everypony was a little anxious. Thankfully, Princess Luna did her best to support the servants, reassure the crowds, and put on a confident face. Over in Ponyville, Princess Twilight was equally swamped by desperate citizens, and daily had to keep on her own smile-and-wave routine.
Today she was pacing around her castle, waiting for Celestia’s reply to her letter.
When spike received it, he swiftly ran to her.
Twilight snatched it with her magic, relieved for something new to tell the citizens.
To Twilight, Princess of Friendship:
Tell the citizens I will be on my way home soon. Expect me to be back by Fall.
Tell them that I am perfectly fine and am being treated as a highly-honored guest.
Really, I am fine.
The palace here is beautiful, the music is soothing, and the food is incredible. Everywhere I turn there’s something new and exciting to experience.
Of course, I'm not the only world leader here trying to make alliances and arrangments. The Malik of Saddle-Arabia is here as well. He has a very serious composure, but he is pleasant to talk to overall. We keep sharing stories of our homelands, and I can tell he has as much passion for his citizens as I have for mine.
Certainly, The Emperor of Rikuma himself has been an excellent host, treating all of us to the best rooms and sights.
Now, Twilight, I would not go telling everypony this, but I sense something is terribly wrong here.
The Shogun has been avoiding us, and whenever he is around, both he and the emperor grow tense.
I suppose the Shogun is merely being cautious around foreigners, which is understandable, but I cannot shake a deep, worried feeling in my heart. In case you aren't aware, Rikuma has two leaders. The emperor is the head of state, while the Shogun is, essentially, the head of the military. It's a little complicated, and I don't have time to write it all. Suffice to say that the Shogun doesn't seem impressed with me or the malik.
Don’t tell the citizens that. You may tell Luna, and your dearest friends, but don’t let the citizens panic. So far, nothing terrible has happened. Perhaps I'm just worrying over nothing. After all, I'm used to everypony admiring and adoring me. I know that not everypony is going to accept me, my culture, my clothing, or my personality. Hopefully all this will end politely.
Tell Luna I love her and miss her, and I’ll write again soon.
---Celestia
Twilight frowned. Carefully she rolled up the letter, contemplating it.
"Twilight? What's wrong? " Spike asked.
"I'm not sure, Spike. Here, read it for yourself."
Spike read it, and twitched his wings in concern.
"So, the military leader guy doesn't like outsiders? What's the big deal? Not like everypony is going to like each other. I mean, no offense to you, Princess of Friendship and all--you know what I mean."
"No, you're right. Even in Friendship, not everypony has to get along all the time. This is different, though. This is politics... and that's something I'm still new to. I don't know the culture over there, or what's a good sign or a bad. Celestia isn't entirely certain either. Maybe it's nothing, but... I have a terrible feeling, Spike."
Twilight paced around her bedroom, thinking it over.
"Well, are you going to write back to her?" Spike asked slowly, holding the letter.
"Yes, of course. Let me get a pen."
To Celestia, Princess of the Sun:
Don't worry, I'll tell Luna the message, and send your letter to her. Please, if you sense any serious change or danger, inform us at once. Don't worry about the citizens here. Luna and I are handling it very well. What matters most is you come home safely. I'll inform you if anything important happens over here. So far, it's been the usual routine, day after day. Citizens keep asking me for news, and I keep saying what little I know. I've given many press releases, and I will give another later today, since you gave me some more information. Luna has the same situation over in Canterlot. Besides that, everypony is fine. Fluttershy just released some pidgeons back to the wilds, now that they healed. She was very excited, and it was relieving to see the birds flying again. Moonflower also has learned a lot from her lately. Fluttershy says she can splint a broken leg very well. Everypony else is keeping busy and getting along just fine. You take care of what needs to be done over there. Enjoy your overseas trip!
Sincerely, Twilight Sparkle
Spike sent the letter away in a burst of flame, and Twilight relaxed her wings.
"Everything will work out well. I'm sure of it," Twilight declared.
"Yeah, you're right. I'm sure Celestia's got it covered," Spike said with a confident flap of his wings.
Flash entered the room, donning his blue and purple armor, which matched the armor of the other guards under Twilight's watch.
"Twilight? It's time for another round of Smile-and-Wave," Flash chirped.
"Ah, right on schedule," Twilight sighed, looking at the clock.
"Will the newspapers ever stop bothering us?" Spike groaned.
"It's their job to report things, Spike. What else are they going to do?" Twilight said with a hint of amusement in her eyes.
She paused, and added, "Spike, send messages to the other Five Councilmembers. I want to discuss the letter with them."
The "Councilmembers" were her best friends, of course. In these days, they were called the Council of Harmony, and watched the Cutie Map from Friendship Castle, which was also called Harmony Castle.
Spike nodded confidently and walked to another room.
For a moment, Twilight stared out one of her windows, watching the press conference gather. Beyond the stage and the crowds, her eyes took in the sight of Ponyville. The town, which had once been a quaint, country place, had boomed and thrived. More and more ponies, donkeys, minotaurs, and other creatures came here to live near the Councilmembers. Everycreature longed to see them in person, read the Friendship Journal, and be close to these heroic Ponies. After saving Equestria so many times, Twilight and her friends were highly regarded, and many came to this town, thinking it would be the safest place in the entire nation to live. Although the economy had boomed in that time, it was hard to keep up with the town's demands, now that it was a city. Carpenters went from small-time work to suddenly building houses every day, and their shops and teams grew into big businesses. Stone masons, too, were never short of work to do, and on every corner was another entrepreneur starting up a business that was sure to thrive. It was a beautiful sight, but required much work. The mayor, though she was quite thorough and knowledgeable, was getting very old. More and more work was given to Twilight to oversee, since she was royalty. In time, Twilight knew that she would be the ruler of this town, and there would be no mayor anymore. On the one hoof, Twilight was honored to have such responsibility, and genuinely wanted to care for her ponies. On the other hoof, Twilight felt overwhelmed more and more each day.
It was a blessing to have such a relaxed husband, and so many good friends.
Pinkie Pie, Spike, Starlight, Fluttershy, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Flash, all of them were wonderful.
Surely, together, they could handle anything.
"Ready, Dear? You've been staring a while." Flash remarked, poking her with his wing.
"What? Sorry. My mind wandered. I'm ready," She said. For a moment, she adjusted her tiara with her magic, and took a deep breath. She put one hoof to her heart, then moved her hoof forward, and let out her breath.
Once more, she stepped outside her crystalline castle, stood on the stage, and gave yet another update.
"Princess Twilight Sparkle will now give the latest news," Flash Sentry announced.
The crowd instantly quieted, and Twilight cleared her throat.
"Princess Celestia sent me a letter this morning. She assures me that all is well. She plans to return no later than fall. There is nothing for you to fear. Now, any questions?"
Dozens of reporters spoke at once. Cameras flashed. Twilight smiled.
...yet another day... passed.
So many questions were asked that she felt her brain throbbing with contemplation over every tiny, mundane detail. Many ponies weren't even asking about Celestia! They asked random, irrelevant things about Twilight herself, or the guards, or the castle, or the economy.
Now was not the time to talk about the price of tea in Zuoji or whatever it was. However, she did best to remain calm, smile, wave, and give appropriate answers. She'd learned much from the elder princesses, and as the current stand-in ruler of half of Equestria, she had to be bold and confident.
By some miracle, she managed to get through the press conference without losing her last brain cells.
The citizens were relieved to hear their princess was safe, and everything calmed down… for now....
“Good job, Dear,” Flash whispered as he escorted her back into the castle.
“Thanks. I just hope everything will work out over in Rikuma,” She whispered back as the guards shut the doors behind them both.
In the Cutie Map Room, her best friends, and her student, were waiting for her, and the sight of all of them together helped soothe her worried heart. Though Starlight Glimmer wasn't officially on the Council, she was deeply important, and often helped keep tabs on the city for Twilight. If anypony would be the next 'Mayor" of this town, it very well could be her.
Flash shut the door and stood nearby while Twilight took her seat, with Spike at her side.
“Celestia better get back soon, or things could get worse around here,” Rarity remarked as she adjusted her mane with her magic while looking in a small mirror, “For the most part, everypony’s optimistic, but there are more and more neigh-sayers as time goes on.”
“We can keep them happy though!” Pinkie said with a hop in the air.
“Of course, here in Ponyville, but what about other places?” Fluttershy murmured with a shake of her head.
“Twilight, what ELSE did that letter say?” Applejack asked, leaning forward with a serious look on her freckled features.
“Yeah, I get the impression you’re hiding something. Why’d you bring us all here?” Rainbow asked as she hovered in the air nearby.
With a heavy sigh, Twilight tapped a hoof on the table, admitting, “I don't want you telling anypony this, but Celestia feels there is some hidden political tension between the emperor and the shogun of Rikuma. So far nothing bad has happened, but she’s worried it’ll escalate.”
“So? That’s the other side of the world. Why do WE care?” Rainbow pointed out with a shrug.
“Because, Dash, if it DOES escalate while Celestia is there, Equestria could…” Twilight paused, looking down at her shiny new shoes.
...was she really about to say… “go into war”?
War?
It was such a foreign word that she hardly believed it was possible, yet… it was.
“Equestria could what?” Pinkie asked, tilting her head to the side curiously.
With a gulp, Twilight finished with, “Go to war.”
Fluttershy gasped, and fear filled her eyes.
“W-war? No, never. We aren’t warring creatures. That won’t happen, right?”
“WAR? Please, Twilight, Equestria’s been at peace for a thousand years, with only a bit of tension here and there,” Rainbow dismissed with a flick of one of her forehooves, “Not gonna happen. Now, if we’re done here, I have to go to a Wonderbolt meeting. We’re working on some complicated movesets.”
“Dash! Twilight has a point: this is serious,” Applejack snorted while folding down her ears, “We should at least prepare.”
“We’re Equestria, known for HARMONY--surely no war will touch us,” Rarity dismissed with a shake of her head, “Celestia is a wise and patient creature. I’m certain she can persuade any tension to cool down.”
"I doubt we'll go to war either, but if war happens out there, it could still affect us indirectly," Starlight Glimmer pointed out, "We may lose our trading routes with other nations, if they're all busy fighting."
"But why would they fight if one guy is a little upset? It doesn't make sense!" Rainbow Dash retorted, waving her forelegs in the air.
"Well... you do have a point. Maybe nothing will happen," Starlight agreed, shaking her head.
"Uhm, how do you prepare for war, exactly?" Fluttershy asked with a gulp.
Dead silence filled the room. Once or twice, somepony opened her mouth, only to close it again. Not a single creature there, not even Flash, was certain how to prepare for war. Now, preparing for a monster attack, a thief, a natural disaster was doable, yes, but war? That word was so foreign that it didn't feel real. It felt like some bizarre, far-off legend.
"If we do go to war, Princess Celestia will make a plan, with Princess Luna's help. I'm not sure if any of us would be directly involved in that, since we are the uh... guardians of Friendship, after all," Flash suggested with a shrug.
“Yes, I agree. Celestia can handle it,” Twilight said with a nod, “you can go now, Dash. I know you're eager to leave.”
Flash opened the door, and a rainbow burst of wind flew by him, almost knocking him over.
The sound of her speed echoed down the hall and faded away, followed by the opening and closing of other doors. With a sigh, Twilight face-hoofed, and Flash calmly closed the door.
"Guess she was late," Spike commented.
"Rude," Rarity groaned, "She should be old enough to know better. Hmph."
“If we’re done here… I guess I’ll go back to my animal sanctuary,” Flutterhy sighed, sliding off her chair.
“Don’t be sad, Fluttershy! It’ll work out, I just know it!” Pinkie said, bouncing around the room, “Also, I just got the BEST idea for a new cup cake! Seriously! THE BEST! I’m thinking of adding dried mango bits all over! MMMm--MM!”
She licked her lips as she thought of it, and the other ponies brightened at the thought, except for Applejack.
“Pinkie, Mango cupcakes? I mean, I guess it’d work, but it sounds so… strange,” Applejack said as she pursed her lips and adjusted her hat.
Twilight giggled and adjusted her crown with a wing for a moment before saying, “You can all go now, Girls. That’s all I wanted to say. Just a little warning to be cautious, but still optimistic.”
“Thank you for your honesty, Twilight,” Applejack said as she stood up, “I know it’s worryin’, but like Rarity said… it’ll probably be fine.”
“OF COURSE it’ll be fine. This is CELESTIA we’re talking about. If she can avoid war for a millenia, why not a few more years?” Rarity said with a dismissive wave of her tail.
“Yeah, it’ll probably be fine,” Spike agreed as he held the door open for the other ponies.
“Yup! It always works out, one way or another!” Pinkie agreed as she bounced out the door.
“I hope so…” Fluttershy sighed as she drooped along behind.
Twilight exchanged a look with Flash, wishing she could say more to comfort them, but no… she was just as uncertain as they. With a comforting nod, Flash put a wing around her shoulders, and that simple action helped her relax.
“Twilight, is there anything you want me or Sunburst to do?” Starlight Glimmer asked. She was trying to stay cheery for her former teacher.
“No, nothing. You can go now, Starlight. Thanks, though,” Twilight said with a nod and a wave of her wing.
Though Starlight wasn’t certain about that… she decided to ask Twilight about it later, when she didn’t look so tired.
It was late summer, but thanks to Earth Pony magic, apples were already ripe. Indeed, the Apple family was always busy with something, and in this time of year it was apple-bucking. This family could not be more aptly-named.
At 28 years of age, Applejack was still strong, organized, and energetic, but with a foal to take care of, her priorities were shifting. She was glad Apple Bloom was an adult now, and AJ didn’t have to worry so much about the work with her and Big Mac around.
With those two working the fields and Silver Shill working with organizing, shipping and bookkeeping, AJ could breathe and focus on keeping her eyes on her energetic daughter.
That is, when AJ wasn’t busy galloping around fixing fences, adjusting pipelines, or feeding the chickens and sheep.
Ha, nothing could slow her down, no, not even a very, very energetic foal.
Unfortunately, it was a bit hard to focus on work after what Twilight said. On the one hoof, Celestia was a great leader and surely she could avoid war, but on the other---
Applejack tightened the loose bolt so much that she almost got her wrench stuck. Her eyes opened wider and she opened her jaw, releasing the tool.
“...okay, I have got to focus,” she sighed while adjusting her scarf.
Her scarf… Granny’s scarf. It’d been a while since Granny Smith died--about three years now-- but it was still heartbreaking to think about.
It was just a few months after Pinkie’s wedding, actually, in the wintertime….
Of course, they all knew Granny was gonna die eventually, but when she didn’t wake up that day, it still took everypony by surprise. Within just a few weeks, all Granny’s dear, elderly friends were gone, too.
Now Apple Bloom wore Goldie Delicious' scarf and AJ wore Granny’s, in loving memory.
“We don’t have time to reminisce! Get back to work!” Applejack scolded herself as she leaned forward.
Carefully she took the wrench off the pipe bolt and stepped back, examining the pipe.
Good, no accidental damage.
“AJ! AJ!”
Her sister’s voice cut into the moment, and she turned around to see Apple Bloom trotting over to her.
Putting down her wrench in her toolbox, Applejack asked, “Yeah?”
“Silver wants to know where you put the spare blue ink.”
With a sigh, AJ closed her eyes, trying to remember.
“Hmmm… oh! I was walkin’ through the kitchen and put it down, err, somewhere in there. Sorry!” she remembered with an epic facehoof.
“Gotcha! How’s the pipes for the squash comin’?” Bloom asked, trotting closer to look at the irrigation system her sister was working on.
“Pretty good. I had to replace that elbow joint there, and it wouldn’t come off for the longest time,” AJ groaned, adjusting her hat with one forehoof, “But it’s all right now, and I was just tightenin’ up this here bolt where it was leakin’.”
Bloom leaned forward, inspecting the bolt. With a proud smile, she nodded and said, “Looks good! I’ll go back to foal sittin’ now.”
“Foal sittin’? I thought you was helpin’ Big Mac!”
“I was! I was just takin’ a little break, honest!”
“Apple Bloom, I know you: you love Pippin so much you’ll just cuddle her all day.”
“I won’t! Really!”
“OH, yes you will! I’ll go back and take care of my own foal while you get back to your work. Now.”
Apple Bloom gave her sister a fake pout, but ended up giggling it away. The two exchanged a quiet laugh and nodded to each other.
As her little sister trotted away, AJ had another reminiscing thought.
For a moment, she remembered when Apple Bloom was just a little filly, desperate to earn her cutie mark, all those years ago… ah… AJ was so proud of her. Everypony was proud of Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo.
“Okay, time to go find the foal,” AJ chuckled, breaking out of her thoughts.
Silver Pippin was in her playpen, batting around some jangly bell toys. Her pale green pelt and orange mane caught the afternoon sun’s light with a dull glow, and when she saw her mama, her green eyes lit up with excitement.
She lifted up both forelegs, making her cute, tiny noises.
With a warm smile, AJ bent down and nuzzled her daughter, holding back a giggle of her own.
“You’re always so happy, you know that? Good. Good for you,” AJ murmured as she thought again about what Twilight said.
Pippin giggled, booping her mama’s nose with one of her tiny hooves.
“Ha ha, boop,” AJ whispered, gently booping Pippin back with the tip of one hoof.
Pippin put both of her hooves on her face, giggling again.
“Honey, you there?”
Remembering all her work, she pulled her head out of the playpen and called, “I’m in the nursery, Silver!”
Hoofsteps echoed down the hall, and a moment later, Silver Shill poked his head in the door.
“Ah, good. Pippin doin’ all right?”
“Yup. She’s her usual, happy self.”
“... and you aren’t?”
AJ didn’t want Pippin to see her sad, so she walked away, turning her back to the playpen before letting her smile fade. Silver’s teal eyes clouded over with a worried, sympathetic look as he leaned forward and whispered,
“...what else did Twilight say?”
AJ bit her lip.
On the one hoof, she wasn’t supposed to tell the public, but on the other… this was family, and she didn’t keep secrets from family. She left the nursery, gently shutting the door with one of her hind hooves before answering,
“Celestia says there’s some kinda tension between the Rikuma emperor and his advisor or somethin. No, not adviser, uh, Shogun. Yeah. Maybe it’s nothin’, but it could be a real big SOMETHIN’ and it’s botherin’ me, but I’m not supposed to talk about it because we don’t want nopony gettin’ upset over just a little somethin’ that might be a big NOTHIN’.”
Silver nodded his head slowly, thinking it over in his quiet, methodical way.
“... Well… you’re right… could be nothin’ at all… could be awful bad… I think we should just stay positive and go about our business.”
Those quiet, slow words sank into AJ’s worry, dispelling it all.
“You’re right. Worryin’ won’t do any good. Besides, we don’t got time to worry. You, uh, you won’t tell anypony else about that, right?”
“Course not. Anyway, don’t worry about Pippin. I’ll just move my bookkeepin’ in there and keep her company while you do your thing, Honey.”
“Thanks. I’m still surprised I didn’t fall over from exhaustion before you came along to the farm.”
“Now, Honey, you are one pretty tough pony,” he complimented her with a quick nuzzle to her cheek, “Don’t worry about a thing, okay?”
“Yes, Honey, I won’t.”
Rarity stepped off the train, entering Canterlot’s station. With all the increased tourism to and from Ponyville, the station had expanded, and a second railroad was in the works. Ponies filled the area, exiting and entering the train quickly while the conductors were calling out the next stop. The station was filled with the scents of steam and smoke from the train, contrasted by the sweet perfumes of the refined ponies trotting around.
Echoing down the station were dozens of voices, all mixing together into one vague din that hovered around the area like a thick, invisible cloud.
Newcomers would find it distracting, but to a veteran traveler like Rarity, such things were home--especially since she was actually in her new home town now.
There, near a bench, was her family.
Fancy Pants was keeping a watchful eye on the carriage, where little Gold Karat was looking around at all the passing Ponies. Beside them was Fleur de Lis, Fancy’s bodyguard and personal assistant.
Not that anyone would really think she was a tough pony who was a skilled fighter, of course.
She was perfect for the job.
“Karat, look: Mommy,” Fancy said, gesturing with a hoof to Rarity.
Karat looked over, and his blue eyes widened in excitement and he waved his hooves to Rarity.
Seeing her baby, husband, and faithful companion again, Rarity smiled and trotted over.
With her magic, she picked up Karat and held him close for a quick kiss to the cheek, and then pulled him in, letting him feel the fluffy faux fur collar on the elegant cape she was wearing.
“Yes, Darling, Mommy’s home!” Rarity cooed for her baby, before turning to the others and saying, “Ah, it’s good to see you all again.”
“Welcome home, Darling,” Fancy Pants said as he stood up and gave Rarity a kiss to the cheek, “We’re all glad to see you.”
“Oui. Not much to report around here,” Fleur said with a bow, “Welcome home, Madame.”
Rarity put Karat back in his stroller and said, “Good. That’s what I like to hear. No bad news, nothing went wrong, all is well.”
On the way home, Fancy Pants filled her in on the state of the store.
“The opera singer, Bright Morning, bought one of your Lavender Dream dresses, and now it’s soared in popularity. Besides that, the stock is pretty well-kept, and Sassy has been doing an excellent job in ordering the needed fabrics for your next projects.”
“Good. Do you suppose we should hire a third pony to work there?”
“Hmmm… perhaps soon, but it’s not entirely needed. I know how much you enjoy being at the stores yourself. Tell me, how are things in Ponyville?”
Rarity looked around, taking in the sights of all the buildings and ponies around her as she pondered what to say.
“Twilight heard from Princess Celestia. Apparently the Princess is going to return by Fall. That’s about it.”
“Celestia should return soon, before ponies really start to worry. Nopony likes having their chief princess gone after a thousand years of her being here constantly,” Fancy Pants noted as he used his magic to polish his monocle on his vest.
“I agree. Before we know it, she’ll be back, everypony will relax, and we’ll all return to normal.”
“Pinkie, these are DELICIOUS! We should put mango on EVERYTHING!”
“YES!... wait, wait, OH, we could use mango puree and mix it in with the flour, to give it REAL mango flavor! What do you think?”
“I think we should try it! We could use it in the next party!”
“YES!”
Pinkie bounced around the kitchen, gathering ingredients for a mango cake. Ever since she got married a few years ago, she’d lived in her own house with Cheese, where they brainstormed all kinds of party and food ideas. Some of them turned out weird, but most were absolutely scrumptious!
When Lil’ Cheese came into their lives, things slowed down for a bit, but having a foal of their own to take care of made them ten times happier, and gave them MORE ideas to work with.
For the next hour, Pinkie and Cheese worked on pureeing mangoes. They only had a few to work with, but the mangoes were amazingly juicy, and smelled utterly scrumptious with their sticky, gooey, fruity goodness of golden delight.
It was incredibly hard to stay clean and resist the urge to chow down on them.
However, they managed to endure it, and soon baked a yellow-colored, mango cake. As soon as it was cooled, they frosted it with yellow-tinted mango frosting, and sprinkled it with dried mango bits.
“Okay, now for the official CheesePie family taste-tester,” Cheese said with great ceremony as he washed his hooves.
Pinkie’s face grew serious and she nodded. In a blur, she darted away, and returned with Li'l Cheese, who looked around at the messy kitchen with a happy squeal. He knew what this meant.
Li'l Cheese was almost five years old now. He was filled with excitement and wonder at everything his adoring parents did. He had his mother's pink, curly mane and tail, and a light yellow coat. Sparkles filled his bright green eyes, which matched his father's, and he clapped his hooved together eagerly with a giggle.
“CAKE!” Li'l Cheese cheered as Pinkie put him into the highchair.
“Yup! It’s taste-test time,” Pinkie said with a giggle, “Look, here it comes!”
Cheese Sandwich carefully lowered his head down, putting a plate with a piece of frosted mango cake down for his son to see.
As if he was already an expert, Li'l Cheese narrowed his eyes, sniffed the cake, and looked at it from different angles.
Nearby, his parents watched with wide, anxious eyes.
Li'l Cheese sniffed again, and then bit into the cake. Chewing it over and over, he rolled it around his tongue and analyzed it with a scrunched-up expression on his yellow face.
With a gulp, Pinkie and Father Cheese held hooves, waiting for the judgement from the great taste-tester.
Then, with a dramatic swallow, Li'l Cheese looked up again, taking a big, BIG breath.
“YUMMY! BEST CAKE! YUMMY, YUMMY! MANGO IS DELICIOUS! ”
Cheese and Pinkie cheered, bouncing around the room, and Li'l Cheese cheered too, waving his forelegs in the air excitedly.
The new cake had passed the judgement of the taste-tester.
Not everypony was so happy, though.
In her animal sanctuary, Fluttershy made her usual rounds, but her heart was heavy, and her eyes were down. She tried to tell herself it would be all right, but she kept thinking about Celestia, and Rikuma, and what if.. What if… would… would there really be a war?
No, no, surely not. With the power of Friendship, surely there’d be no horrible war, right?
The closest thing they had to a war was the Storm King invading their land, but with Friendship he was stopped, so… why worry about some far-away Kirin who probably didn’t care about Equestria?
Nevertheless, her heart was heavy, and she found it hard to keep up her usual, healing smile and cheer for her animal friends.
“ Miss Fluttershy?”
Fluttershy blinked and turned, seeing her adoptive daughter behind her.
Moonflower was a dark-colored Bat Pony with a white mane and tail, and bright, pink eyes.
She was far too observant and compassionate to ignore Fluttershy’s odd behavior.
“Oh, Moonflower, I… I’m sorry, I’m just a bit worried about something Twilight said today,” Fluttershy sighed as she sat on a log bench, “Maybe it’s nothing and I should push away all this anxiety, but… I can’t stop thinking about it.”
“I can keep secrets, if you’re afraid of telling somepony,” Moonflower murmured as she sat beside Fluttershy.
For a moment, Fluttershy looked away, debating if she should talk about it or not. After all, it was just a vague note of some POSSIBLE tension, and not an actual war declaration. What was there to worry about, right?
Then, the leathery feeling of wings wrapped around her, and when she looked down, she realized that little Moonflower was hugging her with her small bat wings.
Grateful for the filly’s love, Fluttershy wrapped one of her feathery wings around her and relaxed.
“Well, Moonflower… Princess Celestia will be back by Fall. Everything’s fine, but she’s worried something bad might happen, because, well, some of the political leaders are… tense around each other. Maybe it’s nothing, but it has me worried that something could go very, very wrong.”
Moonflower looked up and narrowed her eyes in worry.
“I hope nothing goes wrong… but… if it’s so far away, it shouldn’t bother us, right?”
Fluttershy leaned down and nuzzled her, saying, “Right. We’ll be fine over here. Probably nothing will go wrong.”
Moonflower was her little gift from above. Although Fluttershy was deeply admired and adored, nopony had wanted to marry her. She watched on the sidelines as her other friends all got married--Pinkie Pie first, in the year 1007, then the others in a row, over the past years. Pinkie Pie and Cheese had a beautiful, happy boy in the year 1008, in July. Rarity was married that next winter, in 1009, and not long after, Applejack and Silver Shill were married. Starlight and Sunburst were married next, in 1010. At first, Fluttershy was content to be a bridesmare, and cheered for her friends at every foal shower, wedding, celebration, party, invitation, everything. However, when all of them were engaged or married--even Starlight Glimmer-- she struggled with jealousy, confusion, and even depression. When would it be her turn to be someone's special pony? What if nopony ever wanted to marry her? Was there something wrong with her?
She tried to keep her chin up, and keep herself busy. Besides, her animals loved her, in a family way. Maybe that's the only family she needed, besides her aging parents and her brother. Still, there was an empty hole in her heart.Every time one of her friends had a foal, she was joyful, then angry, then lonely. It was a burning, cold cycle that she couldn't escape. Still, she kept her chin up, and found solace in her sanctuary. After all, the animals needed her. Even if nopony wanted to marry her, they still appreciated her. Perhaps that would be enough.
Then, one day, a sickly, thin, orphaned filly crawled into her sanctuary, shortly after Starlight Glimmer and Sunburst were married. She was so malnourished that her dark pelt became a light, blue-grey color. Her silvery mane and tail were thin and falling out, and she had many cuts and scratches bleeding. Fluttershy opened her wings and let the desperate filly in. Moonflower survived a timberwolf attack that killed every bat in her village. She had galloped and flown for weeks, terrified of seeing anything on four legs. Exhausted and delirious, she trudged and dragged herself to Fluttershy's place, not even knowing where she was. It took weeks of intense medical care for the filly to recover, and even then, it was many more moons before her pelt, mane and tail were restored to full health. At first, Fluttershy tried to find a good adoption service or a foster home for the little Nocturnus mare.
Sadly, nopony wanted a batpony daughter. It had been a thousand years, but the bat ponies were still looked-down on for being associated with Nightmare Moon. What truly happened in that ancient time, only Celestia knew now, but the modern-day bat ponies were wrongly accused of many disgusting things, including cannibalism. Fluttershy and the others of the Council of Harmony did NOT believe such false legends, but even with all the friendship and harmony they had, it was nigh-impossible to get rid of a thousand-year-old grudge that the nation held. Hence, Moonflower had no place to live, except under Fluttershy's wing. That dark hole in her heart suddenly didn't feel so deep anymore. 1011 that Summer, Twilight Sparkle and Flash Sentry were married, then Applejack and Silver Shill had a sweet, wonderful baby girl. Not long after, Rarity and Fancy Pants had a son the fall of that same year that AJ became a mother! However, this time around, Fluttershy was able to celebrate without a deep, hidden frustration, or an icy-cold loneliness. This time, Bridesmare Fluttershy didn't feel so jealous or lonely. This time, when Fluttershy arrived home, she had her own filly beside her. Even if nopony asked her to be a wife, she still had her own family member to invest in and love.
Of course, she hesitated to officially adopt Moonflower. Fluttershy knew little of Nocturnus customs, and was uncertain if even calling her a "Bat Pony" was offensive or not. Even basic things like that were unknown to her. Besides, poor Moonflower suffered immensely, and still grieved her dead family. Fluttershy didn't want to make her grieving worse, and thus didn't bring up the topic of adoption. Initially, Fluttershy took her on as a student, and began teaching her how to care for animals. Obediently Moonflower observed everything, took many notes, and soon helped ease Fluttershy's tasks. Discord liked the new filly very much, and often popped in randomly to see how she was. Moonflower was wary of him for a long time, but eventually treated him like a funny, old uncle. When Chrysalis came around too, Moonflower eventually treated her like an eccentric, stuck-up aunt that surely must have a good heart... somewhere.
In other words, Moonflower was always polite and courteous. She owed her life to Fluttershy and the Council, and loved every creature that the Council loved, no matter how peculiar they were.
It was now the year 1012, almost 1013. Twilight and Flash were married just about a year. All of Fluttershy's Pony friends were married, and several were mothers.
Fluttershy didn't feel jealous, or angry, or depressed.
All was well in her heart.
She only hoped that her Moonflower would be safe, and there would be no war for her foster daughter to suffer through.
“I dunno, Dash, it sounds like it could be trouble.”
“Soarin, pleeeease, it’s so far away that I doubt it’d affect us. Now, if it was something in GRIFFONSTONE or Yakyakistan, yeah, I’d be more serious about it,” Rainbow Dash said as she flopped onto the couch after a long day of practice.
Soarin flopped onto the ground, spreading his wings out to let them relax a bit.
“Yeah, you’re probably right. Still, I wouldn’t be so chillax about this.”
“Okay, let’s just say that MAYBE war breaks out. We can just use the elements of Harmony and BAM, everyone’s friends, right? Done. Nopony gets hurt!”
“I don’t think the elements work like that.. Do they?”
Dash looked up, and then a guilty look came to her eyes and she flopped back to the couch, admitting, “Okay, so it’s not QUITE like that, but… you get the idea. We’ll be fine. Before we know it, Celestia will be back, Pinkie will throw a huge party, and this’ll all be old news. All kinds of creatures get tense when meeting new people, right?
It’s probably nothing.”
Rainbow Dash was a straightforward mare. She didn't have time to reminisce, or moan and groan, or contemplate. She had training, eating, sleeping, and her husband. To her, life was perfectly fine. Everypony else was ridiculous.