The second night the eight companions spent in the wilderness happened to be on the verge of a rolling grassy plain which seemed to lap against the forested foothills they’d descended from. Princess Celestia once again did without sleep through the night and, in lieu of conventional shelter, she maintained a protective shield to keep out the worst of the wind and the chill of night. With the sheer amount of walking they’d managed, Applejack and Celestia were the only ones able to stay awake for any length of time. Everyone else seemed to collapse directly into a deep sleep, their muscles shaking.
The following day was even worse. Despite the easy pace that the Princess set towards the south-east, heads began to droop and hooves began to drag. Pinkie Pie had to stop bouncing and walk normally. Rarity and Fluttershy both looked miserable and bedraggled, unaccustomed to such exertions. Twilight would have expected more complaints from Rarity, but whether the presence of royalty, a lack of energy or some newfound fortitude were the cause of her courage Twilight couldn’t say. Even Rainbow Dash, a natural athlete in her own right, hadn’t trained for this kind of endurance march; she looked as exhausted as everyone else. Spike insisted he walk his fair share, but as the third evening painted a beautiful sunset at their backs even Spike began to look like a derelict, shuffling mindlessly forward. The trek became a blur, only occasionally broken by stops to distribute food, crop grass or pass a canteen around.
Celestia kept them moving forward well past sunset, and it became apparent why as they crested a hill and stopped to stare at a brightly lit city nestled in a shallow valley below. “Princess?” Applejack glanced hopefully at Celestia, her ears swiveled forward and the lights of the city reflecting in her eyes. “Is that Manetreal?”
Celestia nodded. Rarity squeaked with delight. “Somewhere down there is a bathtub with my name all over it.” Rarity said. “I’m just dying for a chance to brush out this tangled mess I’ve become.” She twitched her tail to emphasize her point.
Twilight smiled. “And maybe a real bed too, something with covers and a pillow.”
“Oh!” Pinkie Pie regained a bit of her bounce. “And some real food! Not that the food we ate the last two days wasn’t real, but we could have food that’s even more real! Not more ‘real’ real, just realier than the already real food we’ve not really but sort of wanted to toss into a dustbin. . . wait, what was I talking about?” Her eyes brightened as the thought reoccurred to her. “Oh, can we stop at a diner somewhere?”
“Pinkie Pie,” Rainbow Dash shook her head fondly and chuckled, a stray breeze catching her mane and tousling it playfully. “You are so entertaining.”
Celestia wasn’t looking at the city anymore. She stared off into the east pensively. But after a few moments passed, she glanced down at Pinkie Pie and answered her. “I don’t think we will be able to secure transport until the morning. There’s no harm in finding some food and a place to sleep for a bit.” Celestia did something then that no one present had ever seen before. She yawned. “Just remember to stay together.” The companions, galvanized by the prospect of civilized comforts, stretched into a light canter towards the city. They reached the edge of a field of wheat and at Rarity’s and Celestia’s insistence changed their course to go around it. Their excited canter drooped back into a tired trot once they found a road, and as they walked it led them to another road that led into the city proper.
Manetreal was a true city, with cobblestone streets and streetlights and tall buildings packed in close. Despite the late hour, there were still a few ponies out shopping or socializing. A couple of places blared loud music, the smells of sarsaparilla and cider clinging to these bass-heavy and well-lit locales. Pony-drawn carts cruised the streets, many of them slowing down or stopping completely when they noticed Princess Celestia walking with an entourage of bedraggled ponies down their sidewalks. Twilight blinked rapidly, trying hard to focus on her surroundings. The city was large and imposing, an altogether different feel from the cozy cottages of Ponyville, but Twilight noted that the city was relatively clean. She wasn’t quite sure what she expected to find so far from the capitol, but she supposed she expected more garbage, homelessness or unrest. Things she had read about in history books. Some of her suspicions surrounding Princess Celestia diffused as she reconsidered how her rule seemed to ensure everyone great and small was provided for. Whatever Celestia was hiding, she genuinely cared for her subjects.
They found an open diner without much of a problem, the aromatic smells of fresh berries and flowers wafting over them as they entered. The place wasn’t large, but it was well lit and clean. Conversations hushed as every pony in the diner turned to stare. Somewhere near the back, a waitress dropped a glass with tiny crash, making Fluttershy squeak and jump. One of the waitresses, a cream-colored earth pony with an elegant coif approached with wide eyes, stumbling over her own hooves. She bowed without taking her eyes off of the Princess. “Y-Your Highness.” She breathed in wonder and apprehension. “I had no idea you’d be in. . . Um, shou. . . that is, if it pleases your Majesty, would you like. . .”
“A table for myself and my friends would be lovely, if you please.” Celestia smiled warmly down at her. “And some menus.”
“Of course!” The waitress scurried over to the furthest corner from the door and motioned everyone towards the largest booth in the place. Conversations resumed around the diner as the seven ponies and baby dragon crossed it, but it was clear that the topics had all changed. Spike clambered up and scooted in, his chin barely clearing the tabletop. Rainbow Dash dropped her packs and flew over the table, taking a seat next to Spike. Pinkie Pie bounced up onto the table, nearly fell over, and blushed with embarrassment while she climbed carefully down the other side. Applejack and Fluttershy took their seats normally, while Rarity levitated a nearby pair of napkins over and tried wiping Pinkie Pie’s hoofmarks off of the table while Twilight squeezed into the booth next to Applejack.
“Honestly Pinkie,” Rarity sounded offended. “We’re dining with royalty and you walk on the table. It’s as though we can’t take you anywhere.”
“It’s like she was born in a barn or somethin’.” Applejack agreed.
Pinkie Pie looked crestfallen. “I’m sorry, I hadn’t really thought about it like that.” Then she perked back up. “I just figured I was dining with friends! Right?”
“Thank you for the complement, Pinkamena.” Celestia’s laughter was warm and affectionate. “Or should I just call you Pinkie?”
“Of course! All my friends do!” Pinkie Pie said. “It matches my mane! And my coat.”
The waitress returned with menus, accompanied by a bronze unicorn levitating a tray of waters. The waitress gasped in horror when she noticed the Princess still standing. “I’m so sorry, your Highness! Um, would one of these stools suffice?” She began dragging a small padded seat over, something that the tall Princess would have serious trouble sitting on, considering her height.
“Thank you, this will do fine.” Celestia’s horn glowed faintly, and with a soft pop the chair became a large, plush and elegant cushion. The waitress looked a little startled, but she set the cushion down where Celestia could settle on it, which she did. Twilight reached out and grabbed a menu, as everyone else did the same.
After setting out the waters, the waitress shooed her helper away and turned back to the table. “W-Would everypony like a minute to look over the men. . .”
“DONE!” Rainbow Dash fairly shouted, jabbing a hoof into the air. “Seasoned hay fries, and a short stack of wheatcakes with dahlias.”
“Open-faced daisy sandwich with applesauce and hay fries on the side, please an’ thank you.” Applejack closed her menu and passed it forward.
“Large stack of sweettoast with extra syrup! And an apple pie. Not a slice of pie, but like the whole pie!” The waitress looked up from writing in her pad, her pencil nearly falling from her mouth. “What?” Pinkie Pie asked innocently, “I’ll share!”
“I’d like the sprout salad please, with tarragon vinaigrette and extra cucumber.” Rarity said.
“Um, I’ll take the salad too.” Fluttershy whispered as she adjusted her wings. “That sounds nice.”
Twilight was still scanning the menu. “Well, I guess I’ll take the alfalfa soup, and a buttermilk salad on the side. Hold the onions.”
Spike piped up. “Any chance you serve sapphires or rubies?” The waitress blankly shook her head. “No precious stones of any kind?” She shook her head again. Spike crossed his arms in a huff. “I thought at least a city this size might cater to dragons. I mean. . . fine, I’ll have a grilled oat and daffodil sandwich and a berry smoothie.”
Celestia finally turned her gaze to the waitress. The waitress’s hooves shook slightly, though she tried not to show it. Celestia leaned down and said, “I’ll take the fried carnation sandwich, extra hay fries and a box of crullers, please.” The waitress stared for a bit too long. Celestia added, in a fair imitation of a certain mink-maned earth pony, “What? I’ll share!” Everyone at the table burst into giggles, startling the waitress who shook her head, wrote it down and put her pencil away.
“Heh. Of course, your Majesty. Right away.” She scampered off to put the orders in. As she vanished around a corner, the sounds of nervous and excited whispers drifted out.
While the companions started in on their ice waters and settled themselves comfortably, Twilight took a deep breath. “Um, there’s something I’d like to say.” Seven sets of eyes turned to look at her. “And I want to say it in front of everypony.” She turned to the cute reptilian member of their group. She’d gone over this so many times in her head that the words came out smoothly. “Spike, I owe you an apology. I know I said I didn’t want you coming with us, and I still kind of feel that way, but I. . .”
“I know Twilight,” Spike interrupted. “You just wanted to keep me safe. I understand.” There was a sad undertone to his voice.
“Yes, exactly.” Twilight continued, brushing back her mane self-consciously. “And it’s only because I care about you. . . But that’s not what I wanted to say. What I wanted to say was. . . I never meant to hurt your feelings and. . . and I’m glad you’re here.”
Spike looked as though a tiny weight had been lifted off his scaly shoulders. His smile seemed sad and happy at the same time. “Thanks Twilight.”
“Besides,” An excited Rainbow Dash added. “You rode a changeling like it was nothing! And I saw that sweet move you pulled keeping my Element out of their smelly hooves. You were awesome!” She wrapped an arm around Spike and gave him a friendly hoof-noogie. “You’re the reason I get to wear this swag around Manetreal tonight!” She tapped her necklace with a hoof.
“Oh, you don’t know the half of it!” Pinkie Pie squealed. “He burnt off a piece of that changeling’s leg, and it poofed next to Celestia just like all those letters he’s sent!”
“Hahah! What? Ewww! That’s fantastic!” Rainbow Dash folded her forelegs to her chest and laughed hard. “That’s so hardcore!” Applejack and Twilight laughed a little too, while Spike blushed. Rainbow Dash wiped away a tear with a fetlock.
“Hardcore?” Fluttershy was so taken aback, she spoke at a normal level; the Fluttershy equivalent of yelling. “It was gross! But. . . it was very effective.”
“Spike was thoroughly indispensable.” Rarity said. “And we’re all so very proud of him.” Spike’s blush deepened noticeably, and he grinned.
Celestia nodded in agreement. “I would add that such praise may be used to describe each of you. As far as I’m concerned, medals all around. When we return to Canterlot, of course.”
Twilight mentally cringed away from the discussion. Unwanted memories of failure haunted her at the Princess’s words. I don’t deserve a medal. Twilight thought, I deserve to be locked up for nearly getting everypony killed. Memories of losing her fight with Cinder, failing to open the stone doorway, triggering the initial attack, all played through her mind as the food was brought out, and her friends laughed and bickered while Twilight ate in silence. She barely tasted her food, despite her hunger. When they had mostly finished eating, while Rainbow Dash and Spike were helping Pinkie finish the pie she’d ordered, and Pinkie and Applejack snacked on crullers, Twilight found something she wanted to ask the Princess. She came back to herself and refocused on the conversation.
Rarity seemed to be stating something very important. “All I’m saying is that I think it would be quite sensible to try to look my best, no matter what the situation.”
“Ok.” Rainbow Dash leaned forward, clearly trying hard to make a point. She barely swallowed before started speaking. “I can see being lost in the woods with a bunch of ponies, but what if you were lost by yourself? All hungry and alone? Then what would the point be of trying to brush out your mane?”
“I reckon she’d want to look gussied up on account of a rescue by some handsome stallion.” Applejack drawled.
Rarity leaned back, gesturing grandly. “The council rests.”
“I don’t know.” Rainbow Dash looked unconvinced. “Seems like a lot of trouble to go through when you’re playing the ‘you never know’ card. I think your energy might be better spent finding food, or your way home.”
Spike finished his slice of pie. “Hey, what if you were rescued by a stallion who really goes for the ‘mussed up and rolled in leaves’ look?”
“Spike!” Twilight gasped in shock.
Rainbow Dash leaned in again. “Hey yeah! He’s got a point!”
Rarity shrugged eloquently. “That clearly would not be my type of stallion.”
Celestia tracked the conversation fondly. Twilight reached out and touched her wing, and Celestia turned her smile on her student, a question in her eyes. Twilight glanced at the trio of balloons adorning the flap on Pinkie’s pack still cinched around Celestia’s flank before quietly venturing her question. “Princess? What exactly does the Eleme. . .”
“I would urge you not to speak of it.” Celestia interrupted. The table talk stopped as faced grew serious. “It isn’t necessarily safe to discuss these things in public. Despite my preparations, that creature managed to bring a dangerous power into my country, within my borders. Word of that getting out would benefit nopony.”
“So, that’s what’s important?” Twilight asked incredulously, “Making your subjects blindly believe that you can protect them?” Her tone made it clear that Celestia could do no such thing.
The Princess seemed to grow taller and her voice darkened a shade. “I speak of our safety, Twilight Sparkle. There are other beings in this world who covet power, even if we do not mention changeling hives. Knowledge of the power we carry could be dangerous to those of us here.”
Twilight ducked her head sheepishly and glanced away. “Of course. My apologies, your Highness.” Applejack glanced between the two, looking a little lost.
Celestia looked mollified. “We can discuss this further once we have a place to rest.” Celestia glanced towards the door where a crowd of ponies had formed, trying to glance in through the windows or take pictures through the open door.
“That sounds lovely.” Rarity produced some bits and left them on the table, next to the neatly-stacked dishes she’d used.
“Woah,” Rainbow Dash said, “I don’t think they were planning on charging the Princess. I mean c’mon, we’re dining with the ruler of Equestria.”
“Half of the ruling Diarchy.” Rarity corrected. “And yes, and despite forgetting to introduce herself, I thought our waitress did a fine job keeping her head. One doesn’t expect royalty to drop unannounced into a common diner. A nice tip is the absolute least we can do.” Rarity glanced around and dropped her voice to barely a whisper. “Even if her hairstyle is a touch out of date.”
As the cluster of ponies moved to get up, Celestia motioned them all to sit back down. “Please everypony, just a couple of minutes more.” Everyone sat back down without question. Twilight looked around at her friends before she returned to her seat. Rainbow Dash drummed her hooves on the table, at least until Applejack glared her into silence. Twilight silently wondered which of her friends would be the first to question the Princess. She should have guessed.
“Why aren’t we leaving?” Pinkie Pie asked innocently. Even after days of tiring hikes through rough terrain, she couldn’t seem to sit still.
“We are finding a place to spend the night.” Celestia glanced at the door again, but she failed to elaborate.
“Oh.” Pinkie seemed satisfied with that answer.
Applejack didn’t. “Uh, yer Highness? How exactly are we finding anything?”
“And here he comes now.” Celestia smoothly stood, motioning everyone else to do the same. “Please gather your things.”
“Uh, here who comes now?”
Just then a short bespectacled earth pony with a graying mane and a fancy, if dated, suit bustled through a crowd of ponies by the front door. “I say,” His voice sounded as old as the rest of him. “Shift your flanks and stop gawking. I say, young filly, move along!” He adjusted his thick glasses and peered across the dining area. “Ah, Princess Celestia, there you are.”
“Mayor Hayfield, such a pleasant surprise. It’s been far too long.”
“Yes, yes.” The mayor of Manetreal made his way over to the group. “And here you go dropping in without your entourage and without so much as a spot of notice. Half the city already seems to be talking about your arrival, and I hadn’t a clue. You’ve made me look a right foal, you know.” As he drew near enough to make out the state of the Princess’s mane he pulled up short. If anything, his voice seemed even more tired. “Ah, more ‘troubles’ I see.” He glanced around at the rest of the crew. “And troubles enough to involve the famous Element Bearers.” He sighed.
“You are correct.” The Princess conceded. “And since you are here, perhaps you can assist me and my companions.”
“Yes, yes, of course. Lodgings at the Place d’Hooves is already being secured for you, although I will have to make additional arrangements for our other guests.” Rarity squeaked with delight, while Pinkie Pie and Applejack exchanged a confused glance. Mayor Hayfield took no notice. “What else might you need?”
“A train to the coast, departing as early as possible.”
“Well,” The mayor nodded to himself. “That certainly can be done. And if you cannot stay, I understand. However, perhaps you can explain the passenger train that arrived two nights ago bearing injured ponies and tales of changelings. That caused quite the stir you know, the papers are still talking about it.”
Celestia nodded her head the smallest fraction. “I understand. There is at least one changeling hive within our borders, and I would suggest remaining vigilant, but I can assure you they are not an immediate threat. Standard security protocols should suffice.”
The old pony nodded, his glasses sliding up and down his nose as he did. “Of course, your Highness. That’s a relief to hear.” Twilight wondered how she could know that, after the attack on Canterlot. Did it have something to do with the Element of. . . Deception, was it? Or something else altogether? Mayor Hayfield had already turned towards the door. “Well, we have transportation waiting out front. Let’s get you all settled in.”
They all made their way outside, where the street was filling with onlookers being ushered back by a few police ponies. A pair of carriages waited in the road, each drawn by a pair of smartly-dressed stallions. The mayor led Celestia to the first cart, followed by Rarity trying very hard to fix her mane and trying equally hard not to look as though she were fixing her mane. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie joined them. Twilight, Applejack and Spike angled towards the second carriage. Twilight glanced backward to find Fluttershy trying to hide behind her tail. Fluttershy met Twilight’s gaze and blushed, but she didn’t stop hiding until they made it to the door of their cart.
After they piled in, and the cart started moving, Spike asked, “So where are we headed? Plass de Hooves, or something? Is that some kind of hotel?”
“I reckon it must be, but by all rights you’re askin’ the wrong pony.” Applejack said.
“Rarity seemed excited.” The way Spike said it, it sounded like anything she found exciting must be the most wonderful thing in history.
Fluttershy forgot to slouch down out of sight from the sidewalks as she spoke. “Oh. The Place d’Hooves only the most elegant hotel in the city. Probably in all of Equestria. Only the most important and most famous ponies stay there. Why, I bet it’s just spectacular.”
“I don’t care if our room’s got a satin slip’n’slide, a disco bowling lane and emeralds pour out the faucet so long as the bed’s comfortable.” Applejack adjusted her Stetson on her head.
Spike’s eyes became dreamy. “You really think there’s a faucet like that somewhere?”
Twilight shook her head in wonder. “I don’t understand. What kind of nutrition do you even get from gemstones?”
Without missing a beat, Spike replied, “Minerals.”
Twilight rolled her eyes. Spike shrugged, smiling to himself. The carriage continued down the streets, making the occasional turn. Twilight hesitated, as though she was about to say something but thought better of it. Applejack noticed and said, “Out with it, sugarcube. What’s got yer tail in a twist?”
Twilight glanced around with a troubled expression. “Is anypony else curious about what else Celestia isn’t telling us?” She asked softly.
Spike looked exasperated. “Why do you keep doubting the Princess? You pried at her secrets less than a week ago, and now she’s taking us around the world to answer your questions. What more do you want?”
“No Spike, she’s right.” Applejack’s brow creased in thought. “I feel like there is somethin’ we’re missing. I just can’t put my hoof on it.”
Fluttershy glanced around nervously. “What do you think it is? Something scary?”
Twilight glanced at Applejack. “I think Celestia knows exactly what the changelings would have done with the Elements if they’d gotten a hold of them.” Applejack nodded in agreement. Twilight smiled and continued. “I thought you caught that, AJ.”
Applejack nodded. “Yeah, it didn’t feel right when she said she didn’t have a clue.”
Spike raised a claw in the air. “Wouldn’t the changelings have used the Elements of Harmony to take over Equestria? Enslave the population, that sort of thing?”
“I would think so.” Applejack said.
Twilight thought for a moment. “Celestia said that using the Elements against their intended purpose might destroy them. Maybe the changelings just wanted the Elements broken, so they couldn’t be used against them.”
Fluttershy seemed to be half-hiding behind her mane. “But. . . but if that were the case, why wouldn’t she just tell us?”
Twilight leveled a serious gaze at her friend. “That’s what I’ve been asking myself the past two days. It just doesn’t add up” The four of them sat in contemplative silence for awhile.
“Well, here’s my trouble.” Applejack leaned forward earnestly. “See, every time I see Princess Celestia, I can’t help but trust her, you know? Just looking at her makes me feel like everythin’s going to be horseshoes and hammocks.”
Spike and Twilight nodded their agreement. Twilight in particular looked torn as she said, “That’s what makes all of this so unbearable. I know she’s hiding something, but every time I’m near her it’s like I’m the one who’s wrong for even thinking these things.”
“Don’t you trouble your head overmuch, Twi’. Even if she’s playing her cards a mite close to her chest, I don’t think she’s lookin’ to harm anypony. Besides that, we’ll keep our eyes and ears open. And should it come down to it, we’ll be on your side. She might be the ruler of Equestria, but you’re our friend. Ain’t nopony can change that, am I right?”
Spike jumped up and gave Twilight a hug as he said. “Of course!” Startled, Twilight hugged him back. Fluttershy closed her eyes, smiled and nodded.
Applejack smiled too, patting Twilight on the back. Then she turned contemplative again. “Twilight, why is it we only seem to have this sort of conversation durin’ carriage rides?” Twilight giggled, and that set everyone else to laughing.
The hotel they eventually arrived at was as large and as glamorous as any of them could have wished. Unfortunately, they were all too tired to enjoy it much. Twilight barely took in the beautiful artwork, the dazzlingly enormous chandelier and the expensive carpeting before she found herself collapsed atop a sumptuous bed and mumbled something about needing the washtub. Barely one moment later, Pinkie Pie was jumping up and down on the bed right next to her, jostling her around. Twilight wanted to glare, but her eyes wouldn’t open. “Pinkie Pie. . .” Twilight mumbled. “Go away.”
“But Twilight, you’ve got to get up!” The spastic pink pony punctuated each word with an extra-high bounce.
“Twilight became angry with her friend. “Go to sleep, Pinkie! We need to get some kind of rest before morning.”
Pinkie Pie sproinged off of the bed, landed nimbly on her hooves and touched her nose to Twilight’s. She giggled. “This is morning, sillypants. And Celestia says we can sleep on the train. C’mon!”
She bounced away, revealing an amused Spike munching on some fancy-looking rye chips. “You know?” Spike said with a tired smile, “I think this is what they call ‘karma’.”
Twilight said something that sounded like “Mmmff.” She blinked blearily around the hotel room. “What time is it?”
“It’s almost dawn.” Rainbow Dash said. She was slumped next to her packs against the wall. Her rainbow-colored mane spiked chaotically in every direction, slightly obscuring eyes that radiated a mix of exhaustion and determination. “Celestia’s already downstairs. We’re supposed to meet her once Rarity’s done washing up.” Rainbow Dash’s gaze tracked from the closed bathroom door to following Pinkie Pie as she bounced through another circuit of the room, her cotton candy mane poofing and fluffing with each bounce. Twilight rubbed some grit out of her eyes and leveled a questioning glance at Dash. The cerulean pegasus explained. “Room service showed up. They brought coffee.” Twilight’s eyes widened with alarm.
“Oh my goodness I love coffee!” Pinkie Pie blurted in a sing-song voice. “It’s the bestity best! The Cakes have never sold any but I can’t imagine why not because everypony would want to drink a mug or three or five! Twilight! you should totally try some!”
Rarity flung the bathroom door open and stepped out, her mane and tail perfectly styled. Her coat fairly shone in the light. “Finally!” She spun gracefully in place and struck a pose. “Oh, finally I look good enough to walk through this hotel!” Spike spilled the plate of rye chips all over the plush carpet and scrambled to pick them up. Rainbow Dash stood up and slung her packs over her flanks.
Pinkie Pie gasped dramatically. “Oh Rarity you look so amazingly amazing! I mean you look so amazing that only using one amazing isn’t enough! I need two!!!”
Rarity looked nonplussed. “Thank you Pinkie Pie, but do be a dear and stop speaking in italics if you please. Perhaps you should go check up on the Princess.”
“Okey dokey LOKEY!” Pinkie Pie ended the last word on one hoof, and then vanished out the open door.
Twilight dragged herself off the bed. “One second. Um, Rarity, do you mind lending me your brush? I didn’t pack one myself.”
Rarity gasped, “Twilight!” She sounded downright scandalized.
“I know, I know. . .” Twilight sighed. “I should have thought I’d need one sooner or later.”
“No darling,” Rarity levitated her brush to within Twilight’s reach. “I’m shocked you feel the need to ask. In fact, take it. I packed two.”
Twilight smiled. “Thanks Rarity. You’re wonderful.” She shut herself in the bathroom and quickly ran her mane under the sink.
Stepping aboard the train car at the Manetreal train station, Twilight felt anxious. She tried to glance everywhere at once, never quite certain what she was looking for. Although the train sat solidly atop the tracks, radiating stability to Twilight’s heightened senses, she didn’t quite trust it. The events of the last few days had left her twitchy. The eight of them filed into an empty passenger car with the exception of Pinkie Pie, who bounced aboard. It was a simple affair with thin carpeting and bland canvas-covered cushions atop the benches. As they stashed their packs and claimed seats, Twilight turned to the Princess. “Celestia?”
“Yes Twilight?”
“Um, don’t take this the wrong way, but. . . why are we back on a train?”
“Yeah,” Applejack leant Twilight her support. “You know, ‘derail my train once, shame on you. . .’ and so on.”
Rather than take offense, Celestia smiled. “I understand the risks. Here, gather around me and I’ll explain.” As the final whistle blew and the train lurched into motion, everyone made themselves comfortable. “A train is still the fastest way to get to the coast, and we’ve already lost more than two days. I have no wish to delay ourselves or those waiting for us any longer than we must.”
“But,” Twilight looked around the passenger car. “There are ponies aboard the other cars. Innocents just making a trip. Aren’t we endangering them?”
Celestia looked grave. “Yes. But it was a choice between endangering a train with few innocents, or a city with many. And the longer we might have delayed, the greater the danger would have become.”
Twilight pondered for a moment, trying to get her fuzzy brain to work in straight lines. “Okay. You’re worried that the changelings tracked us to Manetreal, so we needed to cause a stir going into the city so that everypony would know that we left.”
Celestia agreed. “Yes. I’d prefer to guard a train full of bystanders rather than have an angry hive of changelings sweep through the city searching for us.”
Pinkie Pie, who had spent the time on the train so far rocking back and forth with both hooves clamped over her mouth, burst into loud, babbling speech. “Omigoshomigoshyou’reso SMART!!!” She sprang from her seat and bounced around the train car. “You’re like a regular smarty smart super awesome brainy royal PONY GENIUS!!! You’re a total-OOF!”
Rainbow Dash managed to catch up to the pink earth pony and cram a hoof into her mouth. “Pinkie Pie,” Rainbow dash said very slowly and calmly. “What did we talk about in the carriage?”
Pinkie Pie’s whole body vibrated in place, but she answered Dash’s question. “Mmf ffdnt trrk mmfmff dknk kfff.”
“That’s right. You shouldn’t talk after drinking coffee. Now, do you think you can try sitting down again?”
Pinkie Pie glanced around before answering, her shaking becoming somewhat less violent before her worried eyes met Rainbow Dash’s and she nodded. “Mmm hmm. Rrr trr, drshr.”
“It’s okay,” Rainbow dash consoled her. “Just try to have a seat with us.” Pinkie Pie lunged back to her seat, zipping her lips and miming throwing away a key.
“Heheh.” Spike sniggered mischievously. “The next time we need to enter a changeling hive, we could just caffeinate Pinkie Pie, count to three and throw.”
Celestia smiled fondly. When the car was quiet again, Celestia continued. “To answer the true question, I do not yet believe we are safe. At the very least,” she dropped her voice to barely above a whisper, “I don’t think Cinder will give up his Element quietly. Yet we escaped his hive at the height of his power, and he knows it. He may try to recover his treasure before we leave the continent, but I do not believe he will succeed. That, and he must catch us first. The sooner we can get out over the open ocean, the sooner I can dispose of this dark relic.” She gently patted the packs cinched around her waist.
“Well that’s a relief.” Rarity sighed. “But I’d feel even more reassured if I learned the spell for revealing changelings. I’ve gone far too long without it.”
“I agree, Rarity. Twilight and I can teach you, which is part of the reason I paid for the entire passenger car, that we would have the privacy required to practice.”
Hopefully she means after a nap. Twilight thought.
“Part of the reason?” Rainbow Dash asked. “”What’s the rest of the reason?”
Celestia hesitated, glancing out the window as the city began to give way to countryside. “In all honesty, Rainbow Dash, I need to reveal a secret to you all. Something I probably should have explained before today.” As Celestia spoke Twilight’s eyes brightened and her back straightened. Relief flooded through her, and she felt like laughing. Finally, Celestia would reveal what she’d been hiding all along. Twilight could stop second-guessing her and the world could go back to normal.
“I wish to reveal to you all what I know of the Elements.” Celestia’s voice provided a soothing counterpoint to the clacking of the train. “The simplest theory, and the one I believe is most accurate, claims that the Elements we have discovered are naturally occurring deposits formed in response to long-term exposure to ley lines, or magical currents. These gems, if they are of the correct size and constituency to resonate perfectly with the specific energy flowing through them, will absorb and be changed by this energy, slowly enchanting the gem. The stone can then act as a focus for magical energy, allowing one to draw it through the artifact and manipulate it at will. The location and quality of the stone reflects the kind of power it controls, and therefore how it might be used.”
Rainbow Dash looked like she was trying really hard to follow. “So that diamond thing you snagged off of that changeling guy was an Element, buuuuuut it was a bad one?”
“To put it bluntly, yes. It has been attuned to and harnesses the powers of trickery and lies. It was rumored that there was an Element of Deception in existence somewhere, but I could not find it. How the changelings might have discovered it I don’t know. But in any case it is dangerous to wield. Lies beget lies, and the power to change what ponies think is true is potent indeed. We must not let it fall out of our hooves.”
Twilight almost laughed out loud at the irony, but she contained herself. She felt crestfallen. Celestia wasn’t going to explain herself here. The theory behind the Elements was something she’d already been familiar with, and beyond that little else was surprising. Yet as she swallowed that disappointment again her mind followed another thread to its logical conclusion. “An Element can act as a magical focus?” Twilight asked aloud. “You mean the way a unicorn’s horn does?”
“In my long life I have never heard of any earth ponies or pegasi who have come in contact with an Element before, but the theory is sound. The spectrum of power available would be limited to what specific energy the Element is attuned to, but your Elements should allow contact with magical power, whether joined or separate. In short, each of you can probably use a little magic.”
Pinkie Pie exploded off of her seat. “I can do WHAT?!?!”