//------------------------------// // 05 - A Kind of Magic // Story: Under a new Moon // by OldTimer //------------------------------// Another day of hard work was finally over. Drew helped Big Macintosh loosen the straps that held the plow on his yoke. The red stallion stretched his back, enjoying the feeling of his muscles relaxing. Pushing with his hands on his hips, Drew straightened his back, too. The field was ready for harboring the cabbages. “That was really intense, my everywhere hurts” Drew said, massaging his loins. Big Mac chucked, shifting his signature strand of hay to the other side of his mouth “Eeyup. Plowing the fields is the hardest part of farming, but thanks ta yer help we’ve made in in half time this year. Betcha we’re in fer a huge harvest” “Eeyup” Drew said, imitating the red stallion “Bet Applebloom will be mad at us for weeks, she hates cabbages. C’mon Mac, let’s head home. I need a shower” “Gettin’ all nice and pretty fer yer Shmoopy-doo?” “Oh, come on!” he said, rolling his eyes “As if Applejack and the others don’t tease me enough!” *** Drew had just come out of the shower, a towel wrapped around his hips, when he heard a knock at his room’s door. Applejack called him from the hallway. “Hey, Drew, can Ah come in?” “Sure, just let me put something on” Moments later, Drew opened the door, letting the orange mare in. Applejack looked a little uncomfortable. Putting on a clean shirt, Drew sat on his bed to be at eye level with her. “What’s up, Applejack? You look worried” She scratched one of her front legs, looking down. “Actually, Ah was hoping to have yer help on a certain matter in a certain place” “Of course!” he said “Whatever you need, I’ll help you” “Good, but ya have to promise to not ask anything until we’re there” “AJ, you’re scaring me” “Don’t worry, it’ll be safe. It’s just something Ah don’t want to do alone” They went out, following a small path through the orchard and heading towards the nearby hills. Drew followed Applejack in silence, constantly eyeing her. After about half an hour, they reached a small oak grove. Looking back, Drew noticed they were about two miles away from the farm. From the height he was, he could still make out the familiar shape of their house. They went past the grove, reaching a peaceful clearing. Drew’s eyes widened as he saw their destination. Two tombstones laid in front of them, covered in moss and shrubs. On the left one he could read the words HERE LIES CRIPPS PINK. MOTHER, WIFE AND BELOVED DAUGHTER. Drew didn’t need to ask Applejack whose tombs those were. Just looking at his adoptive sister made him realize that he was looking at her parents’ graves. He put his hand on the back of her neck, gently caressing her mane. She turned her head, looking at him with watery eyes. “So this is what you wanted to show me” he said. She couldn’t answer. Drew moved the weeds from the other grave, reading the name on it. “Apple Goldrush” Applejack shivered hearing her father’s name. Drew grabbed a bunch of weeds and tore them off, throwing them away. He kept cleaning around the graves, until they were free. Applejack took a pair of scrubs out of her saddlebag and gave one to Drew. Ten minutes later the tombstones were clean, so Drew and Applejack sat on the ground in front of them. They stayed like this for a while, simply sitting there in silence. Drew wrapped his arm around her shoulders, gently caressing her mane. That simple gesture made Applejack feeling safe. Her hard shell of strong farmpony crumbled into pieces. She burst in tears, letting out all her frustration. Some minutes later, she calmed down and lifted her head, idly contemplating the stain her tears had made on Drew’s shirt. Sniffling, she finally opened her mouth to speak. “Thanks, Drew. Ah really needed that” “We’re a family, and family means we can always rely on each other” Applejack looked at him in the eyes. He was right, they were a family. They might not be blood related, but the man beside her meant as much as Big Macintosh, Applebloom and Granny Smith to her. She hugged him tightly. “Wanna talk about it?” For the first time in all those years, Applejack felt like talking about her parents. She told him how strong her father was, and how he was able to farm even the driest of fields. She told him about her mother, how beautiful she was and how she came to Ponyville every Sunday to sell the delicious bread she made. She told him how they fell in love, and how happy their marriage was. Finally, she told him about the train wreck that caused their death, not much after Applebloom was born. They went to Trottingham for the Farmers Annual Fair, but they never came back. “Tomorrow, it’ll be ten years. Every year Ah come here the day before the anniversary to clean up fer the family visit. This year was different, though. The family has grown larger” Those last words made her smile come back on her face. Drew felt his heart melt. He looked at the mare sitting in front of him, then at the graves. “They must be really proud of you” he said. Tears started to run again on her muzzle. Drew wiped them from her eyes, then turned around, kneeling and bending over a little. “Come on, I’ll give you a lift home” he said, looking at her from behind his shoulder. “What?” she said, blinking away the last of tears. “Piggyback. Don’t tell me you’re afraid of heights!” She laughed. He locked his hands behind his back, allowing her to climb and wrap her forehooves around his neck. He sprung up, effortlessly lifting her with him, and started walking down the hill. “Ya know” she said, leaning on his back “it’s kinda nice to be carried around once in a while. Are ya sure Ah’m not too heavy?” Drew felt like he could carry her to the end of the world. “You’re not heavy at all. And you weren’t so concerned about me yesterday when you made me carry all those hay bales!” They laughed heartily, all the sadness from before finally gone. Applejack took off her hat and put it on Drew’s head, giving him a small kiss on the cheek. “What an honor!” he said. “It’s just a loan, ya’ll give it back when we get home” she turned her face to hide her blush. “Sure thing!” he said “Would you like a little song for the ride?” “Ah’d love it” The Sun was starting to set, giving the sky a wonderful red shade. The hills echoed as Drew’s voice flew through the air. Big wheels keep on turning Carry me home to see my kin Singing songs about the southland I miss alabamy once again And I think its a sin, yes Well I heard mister young sing about her Well, I heard ole neil put her down Well, I hope neil young will remember A southern man dont need him around anyhow Sweet home alabama Where the skies are so blue Sweet home alabama Lord, Im coming home to you In birmingham they love the governor Now we all did what we could do Now watergate does not bother me Does your conscience bother you? Tell the truth “C’mon, AJ, sing with me! The chorus needs for another voice!” Smiling, Applejack leaned her head next to his. Their voices rumbled in the woods. Sweet home alabama Where the skies are so blue Sweet home alabama Lord, Im coming home to you Here I come alabama Now muscle shoals has got the swampers And they’ve been known to pick a song or two Lord they get me off so much They pick me up when Im feeling blue Now how about you? Sweet home alabama Where the skies are so blue Sweet home alabama Lord, Im coming home to you Sweet home alabama Oh sweet home baby Where the skies are so blue And the governors true Sweet home alabama Lordy Lord, Im coming home to you Yea, yea montgomerys got the answer Applejack felt light and happy, an happiness she had almost forgot. She beamed a joyful smile, looking up at the sky and remembering how her father used to carry her on his back when she was a just little filly. Ah knew letting him in the family was a the right thing to do. Ya would have done the same, Pops. He’s got a wide back and an even wider heart. Just like ya. “Drew, can Ah ask ya something?” “Sure. Spit it out” “What’s Uh-lah-boomah?” The hills echoed again, this time with the sound of his laughter. *** Clover the Clever looked at his old mentor, his slender figure standing tall in front of him. He was almost ninety years old, but the only noticeable sign of his age was his beard: once brown and fluent it was now a pure white. Under his robe his body was probably shabby and shrunken from the endless adventures it had faced, but the great unicorn still had his proud poise. His eyes were still as lively as half a century before, and his skills were probably second to nopony else. Turning his gaze to the statues behind his mentor, Clover the Clever couldn’t avoid to wonder who carved them. “These, my faithful student, are the Goddesses of the Sky” his voice was strong and deep. “You mean those from the old pony tale? The princesses who defeated Discord and brought back harmony in the lands? I thought that was just a legend” “Every legend has a grain of truth in itself, my faithful student. This one however is a little different from the others. This one is all true.” Clover the Clever took a moment to think about his mentor’s words. If the statues in front of them were what the old unicorn said, then it meant that Discord and the Elements of Harmony were real, too. The mere thought of the existence of the Spirit of Chaos made him shiver. “But if the legend is true, who carved these?” he said, pointing a hoof to the statues. Starswirl smiled mischievously, his eyes sparkling. “These are not statues.” Clover’s eyes widened. These are not statues? Then what are they? Almost reading his former student’s thoughts, Starswirl spoke again. “I guess it’s time for me to tell you the whole story” Once upon a time, when this world was still young, two Royal Sisters were born in a sacred place. Nopony knew how, but the Royal Sisters had something special: they bore the traits of every single pony race. They had horns and wings. They were Alicorns. Alicorns are majestic creatures, with unparalleled powers. All the ponies immediately acknowledged them as their true rulers. The two Sisters ruled together on the land of ponies, doing their best to keep peace and happiness. Their reign was wise, and their subjects loved them wholeheartedly. But every coin has two sides, and where there’s light, there must also be shadow. From the depths of darkness, another powerful creature arose. Discord, the Spirit of Chaos. Inevitably, Discord and the Royal Sisters had to clash. The battle was long and hard and tore the land apart. None of them could prevail, because the stronger the light is, the darker the shadows grow. Years passed, and ponies suffered from the endless war. Heartbroken by the pain their subjects had to bear, the two Sisters took the hardest of decisions: they put their own lives on the line, channeling all their powers into six magical orbs and creating the Elements of Harmony, the greatest magic ever seen. Using the Elements, the Sisters defeated Discord, banishing him in a stone prison forever. But their bravery had a price to pay. In fact, using that power left them weak and almost dead. With the last of her strength, Celestia, the older sister, scattered five of the Elements in the world and concealed the sixth one in a cloak of mystery. The two Sisters then fell asleep, waiting for the right time to come back. Nopony had ever seen them since that day. “So you’re telling me that those are the Royal Sisters, still sleeping after who knows how many centuries?” “Yes. And we are here to break the seal and bring them back to life” “How?” “Can’t you guess? I’ve spent the last fifty years searching for the Elements of Harmony, and tonight we’re going to use them!” Clover’s eyes grew as wide as saucers. We are going to use use the Elements of Harmony? Is this even possible? He looked at his mentor, his heart pumping hard in his chest. “You seem frightened, my faithful student. There’s no reason to be” “But the legend says that Celestia herself hid the sixth element. How could you find it?” “This is where you become a fundamental piece for the puzzle” the old unicorn said “Finding the five basic elements was somehow simple, all I had to do was follow the magical aura they emit. But the sixth is a completely different story. It took me years to realize how to get it” “And what do I have to do with it?” “The legend says that when the five Elements are gathered, a spark will make the sixth appear” “Yes, I know that part. The five Elements are Kindness, Generosity, Loyalty, Honesty and Laughter. Magic, the sixth Element, makes all complete” “Exactly. You still remember my teachings” “How could I forget?” Starswirl rewarded him with a joyful grin. “I’ve missed you, Clover” Clover gasped. His mentor had just called him by name for the first time in his life. “Master, did you just call me Clover?” “Yes, Clover, I used your name. And I would really appreciate if you could do the same with me” “Master, I...” “Starswirl” he interrupted. “Starswirl” Clover the Clever let that word roll on his tongue, almost savoring it. His mentor had just acknowledged him as his equal. A warm feeling spread in his chest, it was like... a spark igniting a warm fire. Suddenly, a magical mist rose from the ground, engulfing the two unicorns. Starswirl’s horn glowed, and five orbs hovered in the air, circling them. “Are those what I think they are?” Clover asked. “Yes, these are the five Elements! Now look, Clover, the sixth is about to appear!” The fluctuating orbs started spinning around them, electric shocks emanating from their surface. Clover watched in awe as the orbs rotation became faster and faster, their shapes melting in a single ring. A bright light flashed over their heads, announcing the materialization of the Element of Magic. Starswirl’s horn glowed brighter and the orb above him resonated with his magic, humming loudly as it charged. All the light was slowly absorbed in the Element of Magic, until for a second everything turned pitch black. A loud, blinding explosion of light deflagrated in the darkness of the night, brightening the forest like the Summer Sun. When Clover regained consciousness, the first thing he saw was his old mentor looking at him. “Is... Is it over?” he managed to ask. Starswirl didn’t answer. He limited to turn his head and point to the place where the statues of the Princesses once stood. Instead of two cold statues made of stone, there were two limp figures laying on the ground. Aided by his mentor, Clover got back on his hooves. The two cautiously approached the unconscious Alicorns. The faint movement of their breathing confirmed that they were alive! “I can’t believe it, they’re real! The Royal Sisters are not a legend!” he said, turning to his mentor. “Yes, Clover. And all of this couldn’t have happened without you. You felt it, didn’t you? The spark that only true friendship can create. That was the key to make the sixth Element appear.” “You’re right, my little pony” a female, suave voice spoke to them. They turned their heads and saw Celestia, the Princess of the Sun, towering them in all her magnificence. Not far from her, Luna, the Princess of the Night, was looking at them, smaller in size but equally majestic. Clover and Starswirl bowed to the Royal Sisters. “Stand up, my little ponies” Celestia said “Your heroism brought us back to life, and for this we will always be grateful. Your names?” “I’m Starswirl the Bearded” “I’m Clover the Clever” “How long have we been asleep?” Luna asked. “I’m afraid nopony can answer your question, Your Highness.” Clover said “My guess is at least a millennium” “My stars” Luna said “we have been missing all these years. How have our beloved ponies been living during our sleep?” *** Applejack and Rainbow Dash were having one of their usual quarrels. Drew was amazed at how they could be so competitive towards each other. This time they were talking about some sort of race. “So, cowgirl, are you ready to eat the dust behind my tail? “Pffft, don’t make me laugh! This time Ah’ll beat you running backwards, so Ah can see yer face while mah flank pass the finish line first!” Laughing at his sister’s cockiness, Drew joined the conversation. “One day I’ll have to wash that bad mouth of yours with a soap bar, AJ” “See, AJ? Even your brother thinks you stand no chance against me” “What’s the matter this time?” he asked. “Ah was remembering this cloud kicker here that next Saturday there’s the annual Running of the Leaves, and Ah’m gonna show everypony who’s the boss!” “The Running of the Leaves? Isn’t it that race through the woods to help the leaves fall from the trees?” “Exactly” Rainbow Dash said, puffing her chest “and this year I’m in for a great victory!” “Easy, pardner! Ain’t ya forgetting that Ah’m running, too?” “Sounds fun. Maybe I’ll take part in the race, too” Both mares looked at him. “No offense, Drew, but Ah doubt ya can keep up with us in a race” “I know that, AJ! I’m not so silly to think I can win against you or Dash. I’m just saying that I can manage to finish the race not in the last place” “Ah still doubt that. Ah reckon yer legs are stronger than more ponies Ah know, but a race is jest another thang. You need a pony’s stamina.” “Then what about a little bet between us?” he said with a smirk on his face. Applejack ears perked up. Drew had just flicked her switch. “What are we gonna bet?” “I bet you I can end the race in front of somepony else. The loser will serve a family dinner in a butler outfit.” Applejack chuckled. Spitting on her hoof, she extended it, waiting for him to do the same thing. “It’s on, then” Drew spat on his fist, bumping her hoof. “Oh boy, this will be so much fun! Just don’t make things easier for me making a fuss with Rainbow Dash like last time you two raced together” “Darnit. Twilight told you about that?” “Oh, not only that.” he said, grinning “I’ve got a couple more aces up my sleeve, just in case” *** Halfway in the race, they were running through Whitehall Woods. The front group had passed already, shaking almost all the leaves from the trees. Twilight and Drew were going at their pace, enjoying the wonderful view. Behind them, another group of runners was following. Turning back to judge the distance between them, Drew smiled. His legs were responding well and he was already anticipating his victory over Applejack. “If we keep on at this pace, we could end the race about in the middle of the score” Twilight looked at him, then at their whereabouts. Heaps of leaves were on the ground, resting at the bases of the trees. “Say, is it so important for you to win the bet with Applejack?” “Well, it’s all in good fun. Why you ask?” “Oh, nothing in particular. I was just wondering if those leaves were as comfortable as they looked” she gave him a look that left no doubt about her intentions. “You mean...” She smiled a mischievous smile, wiggling her tail. Suddenly, the bet with Applejack didn’t matter anymore. The butler outfit was not a big deal, after all. “You sexy little devil!” A sharp turn gave them the perfect chance. As the following group was out of sight, they leapt on the side, hiding behind a large cedar tree. Moments later, the group of followers passed by, and the last of the leaves fell from the trees, partially covering them. Settling on their leaf mattress, Drew took Twilight in his arms, kissing her. “You were right, this place is just great!” “Did I ever fail you?” she said, looking at him with sultry eyes. She leaned against him, nuzzling his neck. The leaves under them rustled softly. “Aaaaaand, two of the contestants are having a very interesting clash! How will this end? Stay tuned on the official race announcement for the results!” The amplified voice came from above them, breaking the charm. Looking up, Drew spotted a familiar pink pony staring at them from the hot air balloon. “Looks like at the back of the race there is way more action than in the front! What you think, Spike?” “Eeeewww! Get a room, you two!” “PINKIE!” Drew and Twilight both yelled. “What? I’m the official announcer, it’s my duty to report everything to the audience. Do you mind if I take a picture for the paper?” the pink pony said, producing a camera out of nowhere. Twilight groaned. “Yes Pinkie we do mind! Why don’t you go back to the front group?” “Okie Dokie, Mrs Grumpy-Pants! Just be sure you save some energy to finish the race!” The balloon floated onward, carrying Pinkie and Spike away and leaving them alone. Drew was hardly containing his laughter. “What’s so funny?” “Oh, come on! Don’t you find this hilarious? And, for the record, I don’t mind having my picture in the news” “Yeah, just imagine the headlines: Local librarian and farmer busted doing naughty things in the woods. All the details and pictures on pages 3 to 8” “Pages 3 to 8? That’s a lot of naughty things. Silly me, I was thinking you only wanted to make out a little” “Well, I can understand if you don’t want to get messy” she teased “we can always go back to the race and catch up with the others” “Who said anything about that?” he said, grabbing her and rolling in the leaves to hide completely under them. At the finish line, a crowd of ponies was waiting for the first ones to come. A grey pegasus, hovering at about thirty feet from the ground, was looking in a binocular for the upcoming final rush to the goal. As he spotted a dust cloud approaching, he gestured at the referee who was waiting with the checkered flag in his mouth. “Here they come!” “Who are they?” a brown stallion asked. “It’s Applejack and Rainbow Dash! They’re almost head to head! Right after them there are Blossomforth, Bon Bon and Thunderlane!” The crowd started cheering for their favourites. The cacophony of voices grew louder as the leading ponies were getting closer. “It’s an all out war for the leading position!” the gray pegasus cried, his excitement more and more evident “Thunderlane is catching up and it seems like there will be a three ponies battle for the first prize! Wait a second, Applejack is sprinting! Looks like she’s putting some distance between her and the other two!” Applejack was running like there was no tomorrow, but Rainbow Dash wasn’t the kind of pony to give up so easily. The cyan pegasus gave all herself to catch up with the farmpony. No more than two hundreds yards from the finish line, they were head to head again. “It’s a clash of titans! Who’s gonna win this year?” the gray pegasus shouted. The two mares crossed the finish line together. The referee waved the flag and the race was finally over. “Ah won!” Applejack exulted. “No way, missie! I won” Rainbow Dash retorted. Moments later, the referee’s assistant came, holding a piece of paper in his mouth. At the same time, Pinkie and Spike jumped out of the balloon. “Where have ya’ll been?” Applejack asked “Ya missed mah awesome victory!” “Oh, nothing important. We wanted to report the little incident Drew and Twilight had but we weren’t welcome” “What? Did they hurt themselves?” Applejack’s expression suddenly changed from brave to worried. “Oh, not at all” Pinkie reassured her friend “they were frolicking in the leaves and apparently didn’t want us to be there while they went all kissy-wissy like this” to emphasize her tale, Pinkie grabbed Spike in her hooves, literally showering the baby dragon with pecks on the cheeks and making funny noises. “Hey, cut it out!” Spike yelled, the green scales on his face turning pink. Applejack blushed furiously. Rainbow Dash burst out laughing. “Seriously?” Rainbow asked between fits of giggles “do those two even know the word modesty?” “Holy horseapples, what a pair of lovebirds!” Applejack said, her face still red “hey, fella, what does the photo finish say? Did I won?” The referee was still examining the picture with his assistant. Finally, they came to a conclusion. “And now I’m proud to announce that this year’s winner of the Running of the Leaves is...” All the ponies went silent. “Applejack! She won by a noselenght!” The cheers exploded from the crowd. Applejack was carried in triumph. Rainbow Dash just scoffed. The rest of the participants arrived in small groups. As the last ones crossed the finish line, the crowd started to fade, leaving only Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie waiting for Drew and Twilight. Spike had already headed back to the library to take a nap. Finally, Drew and Twilight came. Twilight slowed down to let him cross the line in front of her. “It took you two long enough” Rainbow said, straining to keep the corners of her mouth down “was the view nice?” “Quite” Drew said “Well, looks like I managed to finish the race in front of somepony else. Guess I won the bet after all” “Sugarcube, finishing the race in front of your girlfriend doesn’t count” Applejack bluntly declared “Besides, she clearly let you win so it’s a double win for me today!” Drew shrugged. “A bet is a bet. better head home and get changed for the show. I suppose you won’t spare me the humiliation of being seen by all our friends, too” “You betcha, big boy! I won’t miss this for all the cider in Equestria” Rainbow Dash said. *** Later that evening, Drew was getting ready to fulfill his promise. Rarity had provided the uniform, and once again Drew was amazed by the white unicorn’s sewing talent. The tail-coat fitted perfectly and he had to admit to himself that he looked really fabulous (as Rarity would have said). He was giving the last touch to the tie when there was a knock at his room’s door. “Drew, darling, may I come in? I’d like to check your dress before showing it to everypony downstairs” Rarity’s voice said from behind the door. “Sure, come in. I’m almost ready” The door swung open and Rarity came in. She gave Drew a quick glance, then adjusted his tie and collar with her magic. “Voilà, perfect!” She said in her singsong tone. “I have to say it, Rarity, you have really outdone yourself this time” Drew said, watching himself in the mirror “It’s a pity that this dress will be used only once” “Oh, don’t even say it, darling, it was a pleasure! And I have a little surprise for you” “Really? What is it?” “Oh, just a little extra Twilight asked me to do. Come in, dear, don’t make your lover wait” One moment later, Twilight entered the room, wearing a maid dress that perfectly matched the one he was wearing. Drew’s eyes widened as she stopped in front of him. Her outfit was made with attention to the smallest detail, from the choice of fabric to the length of the skirt. She was even wearing fishnets and black paint shoes on her back hooves, while her front ones were wrapped in lacy white socks. Words failed Drew, all he was able to do was looking at her with his mouth agape. “I take your silence for a compliment” Twilight said, blushing. Drew closed his mouth, swallowing. “You’re stunning” Then he turned to Rarity “Was this your idea?” “Oh, not at all, darling. I had the dress ready for Applejack, in case of your victory. Twilight just came over to my boutique and asked for it. She wanted to surprise you.” “Well, I’m surprised” He bent down to reach her snout, kissing her. Rarity squealed at the view. “Ooohh, it’s so romantic! Just like in those novels where an innocent maid is seduced by the butler!” Drew smiled at Twilight, straightening himself. He struck a severe pose, winking at the mare in front of him. She gave him an understanding nod. Rarity deserved a little prize for her magnificent work after all. “Well well well, miss Sparkle. It seems that your foul behaviour got you into trouble once again. This time I won’t forgive you so easily!” Getting the hint, Twilight raised a hoof to her forehead. “Oh, please, mister head butler, don’t kick me out of the Apple Mansion” she said in an exaggerated theatrical tone “I can’t lose this job! My poor family depends on me!” “No can do, miss Sparkle. I won’t fall for your pathetic excuses!” “Oh, please forgive me!” she cried, falling at his feet “I’ll do whatever you want but please, don’t fire me!” Holy apples, she’s really good. Drew smiled mischievously, getting ready for the grand finale of their little role-play. He grabbed her in his arms, holding their bodies close and facing her. “Whatever I want, you say? I suppose I could forgive you if you agree to pay with your body” “Oh, woe is me!” Twilight cried, now fully immersed in her role “Trapped in this mansion and forced to be at this evil butler’s mercy! Whatever shall I do?” “You will love me, miss Sparkle! You will love me like I love you! I’ve had my eyes on you since the first time you walked in this mansion!” Their lips met. The show was over. A suffocated yelp brought them to reality. They turned their heads where the sound came from and saw Rarity looking at them with a dreamy expression. “Go on, darlings. Don’t mind me” Rarity said, panting hard with her eyes still half lidded. “I think we went a little overboard” Twilight said. “Yes, I think that too. Better get downstairs and give Rarity some ice to cool off. The real show is about to start” Drew came down to the living room, welcomed by the whole gang except Rarity, who was following him. As he made his appearance, Rainbow Dash couldn’t contain her laughter anymore and fell on her back, holding her sides. “You look just like a penguin!” she said, barely managing to breathe between her giggles. Affected by Rainbow’s laughs, the others followed and joined the cyan pegasus in the uproar of hilarity that ensued. “Yeah, yeah, let’s all team up and mock the guy in the tail-coat” he said, rolling his eyes. He turned around, to let the bystanders admire his ensemble. “Puh-lease, everypony, I think he looks quite dapper” Rarity protested “Drew, dear, don’t pay attention to them, this suit fits you perfectly” “Having fun?” Twilight asked the audience, appearing from upstairs. All of them froze at the sight of the purple unicorn wearing the maid dress, until another burst of laughter echoed in the living room. “Seriously?” Dash asked “Are you going to help him serve dinner dressed like that?” “As a matter of fact, yes. We’ll be your servants for tonight’s dinner” The dinner wore out surprisingly well, with Drew and Twilight serving the meal and performing every task the diners asked them to do (actually, it was mostly Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie). Rainbow Dash didn’t miss any occasion to ring the silver bell that was placed on the table to call for the servants and make them do some odd task. Even Applejack and Big Mac got into the role of the landlords and didn’t miss the chance to get their turn and give their command to Drew. As Applejack rang the bell for the first time, Drew elegantly walked to her, bowing solemnly. “Has Milady called?” he said, fighting to keep a straight face while his sister blushed. “Yes, Jeeves, Ah would like some fresh water” Drew raised an eyebrow, then bowed again before going back to the kitchen. Moments later he came back, carrying a pitcher filled with water. He poured the liquid into Applejack’s glass, then he stepped back. “Every wish is my command, Milady” Applejack couldn't help but feel uncomfortable at being treated like a noblepony. She waved her hoof to dismiss him, wondering if her victory had somehow backfired. Drew might be keeping a plain expression, but was probably laughing inside. Once the dinner was over, Drew had to insist with Applejack to stop her from helping him doing the dishes. Being forced to do nothing was something the industrious orange mare wasn’t really used to. On the other side, Drew was having such a good time in teasing her that he wanted the fun to last as long as possible. Later that night, everypony except Twilight and Spike had returned home. Granny Smith was sound asleep on her rocking chair and Applebloom was in her room playing with Spike. Big Macintosh was in his room, too. Applejack, Twilight and Drew were sitting in the living room, chatting over a cup of tea. Twilight, her dress hanging back on the crutch, was snuggled on the couch with Drew, resting her head on his shoulder while he casually played with a loose lock of her mane. “That was really fun!” Drew said. He had changed back to his normal clothes, too “You should have seen yourself, Applejack, you looked like a fish out of the water!” “That’s because ya’ll kept bowing at me and doing all the chores! Ah’m not the kind of pony who sits down and let somepony else do all the work! And what’s up with you” she said, pointing her hoof at Twilight “being all suited up and teaming with him to make me feel silly?” Twilight giggled, turning her head up to give a small peck on Drew’s cheek. “It’s my fault if we ended last in the race” she said, blushing “The least I could do was taking my share of shame” “You were super cute in that dress. There’s no shame in it” he said. Applejack couldn't help but smile at how a great couple they were. Yawning, she admitted her defeat. “Looks like Ah can’t win against you two” she said, looking at the clock on the wall “better get to sleep and call it a day. Wanna stay here fer the night, Twi? Our guest room is now Drew’s room, but Ah don’t think ya’ll have problems sleeping together. Jest remember that Applebloom sleeps right next to you.” she winked at them saying the last words. A spare bed was put into Applebloom’s room to accommodate Spike. Drew let Twilight in his room, closing the door behind him as Twilight climbed on the bed. He reached her under the blanket, sliding his arm under her head to hold her close. Twilight laid her head on his chest, feeling his warm breath behind her ear. Not much later, she fell asleep. Drew cocked his head, whispering in her ear before falling asleep. “I love you, Twilight” The corners of Twilight’s mouth curled up in a faint smile. *** One century had passed since that night, the night in which the Royal Sisters came back to life. Luna was sitting on the balcony of her chambers, idly staring at the night sky. It was New Moon, and the firmament stars were the only lights illuminating the dark blue sky. For her, having the celestial body she shared her name with hidden by the Sun had a special meaning: it was the only time she could perform a very special spell without being noticed. Spreading her wings, Luna took off, gracefully gliding in the dark. Once she was far enough from the castle, she landed on a secluded field, safe from unwanted views. She made sure nopony was in sight, then closed her eyes, channeling all her power in her horn. An invisible, yet extremely powerful aura engulfed the space around her, making the ground shake and the small pebbles levitate. Suddenly, her eyes shot open, glowing with magic. A blue beam was sent through the night, aimed at where the Moon was. Luna took off, faster than anything else. Flapping her wings, she gained more and more speed, unstoppably ascending to the sky. Faster. I need to be faster. Reality started to fade around her as her ascent took her higher and higher, the barrier of air fiercely trying to stop her, until it shattered, powerless against the Princess of the Night. Here it is! The Sonic Rainboom! A thunderous explosion of every shade of blue announced her reach of supersonic speed. However, Luna was still accelerating, heading outside the atmosphere and leaving a trail of blue behind her. As she reached the depths of space, her body was surrounded by a barrier of raw blue energy. A casual observer on the ground could have mistaken her for a shooting star. Here I come, Moon! She reached the apex of her ascent, taking advantage of the momentum to make a quick turn towards the Moon. Her goal was right in front of her, but Luna couldn’t let her guard down even a little. Without slowing down, she darted through the cold space void headed to the surface of the Moon. Another beam of energy from her horn distorted the view in front of her, like ripples made throwing a stone in the water. Luna dived into the ripples, disappearing from her world. With a crack of thunder, another blue sky welcomed the Alicorn Princess. Luna finally slowed down, elegantly flapping her wings to land gracefully on the underlying ground. Catching her breath, she scanned her surroundings: she was in a grassy field, with no sign of civilization for miles. Not far from her stood an oak tree, a sacred tree as old as the world she was now in. Under the tree, a cloaked figure was waiting for her. Luna trotted towards the tree, her heart pounding in her chest. As the figure recognised her, it took off the cape from its head, revealing itself as a young man. “Luna” he said, his eyes widening in joy. “I’ve missed you, my love” she said, covering the last steps in a quick gallop. *** Drew woke up in the middle of the night, his ears ringing. Twilight was still peacefully sleeping beside him, snoring softly. He recognized instantly the source of the noise, it was not something physical. It was ringing in his head. He got up, reluctantly leaving the warmness of the sleeping unicorn in his bed. Looking out of the window, he spotted in distance the unmistakable shape of the Princess of the Night, looking at him. “I hope I’m not intruding. Can I have a word with you?” the voice in his head said.