No Room For Regret

by archonix

3. But I can't forget the places I've been

"Shortly arriving in Ponyville, change here for Appleoosa, Las Pegasus, Little Roan and Dodge Junction! Ponyville next stop!"

There was a peculiar monotony to train travel after a while. The landscape might vary from mountain to grassland to desert or ice, but sooner or later it began to blur into one long stream of vaguely colourful motion. The variation of landscape became simply a way to mark the passage of time. Entire histories would pass by the window as nothing more than a picture-postcard of the next step of the journey, barely noticed before they had disappeared around the next bend or behind the rushing blur of a copse of trees. Once the novelty of speed had worn off – and it had worn off a long, long time ago – the experience was no different to the hundreds of dreadfully dull excursions Star had undertaken in the back of an open-topped cart across some rain-soaked backwater or other.

Whoever had said the destination was less important than the journey had obviously not travelled any significant distance or she would have realised how stupid that little bit of potted philosophy really was.

Or so thought Star.

Perhaps her cynicism wasn't entirely fair. Here at least she didn't have to contend with occasional angry natives (or grad students as they were also known in some lands), she had a roof over her head to keep off the sun and a seat that was marginally more comfortable than a packing crate. She also had, luxury of luxuries, access to the buffet car and its surprisingly extensive selection of alcoholic drinks. Star smiled down at remaining gin she cradled between her forelegs and quickly emptied the glass as the train began to slow.

Her cheer was cut short as the familiar shadow of Twilight Velvet fell across her seat.

"Getting an early start?"

"This is breakfast," Star replied without looking up. The shadow moved just as the train lurched and a silver-grey pony tumbled into the seat opposite, cursing under her breath. Twilight Velvet glared at the floor as if it had just personally insulted her, before turning the same loathing eyes on Star.

"Your morning lectures must be interesting."

"The few students that turn up for them tend to agree." Star glanced over her shoulder at the other members of her herd, currently huddled around a table and playing some sort of card game. A little filly lay on her back between Crincile and Lucent, snoring fitfully. "Guiding?"

"She's asleep."

For a while there was just the clatter of the train as it continued to slow, neither pony being particularly willing to talk. Occasionally Velvet's eyes would snap toward the window and the growing bulk of Ponyville before returning to a spot on the seat next to Star's leg. Her mouth worked, twisting between the wide variety of grimaces the long years of exposure to Star had taught her until she finally spoke.

"If you do anything to screw this up–"

"Oh kick out the horseapples Twilight, there's nothing I could do to make this mess any worse than it already is."

Velvet hummed and raised an eyebrow at the ire in Star's voice. "I rather had the impression you were enjoying this little farce."

"I am. That's why I've taken to drinking at eleven in the morning."

Star let the empty glass slip to the seat beside her. She followed Twilight's gaze out toward the outskirts of the town and immediately wished she hadn't. The gaily coloured buildings shone like a migraine-inducing rainbow of brick and mortar, their intensity only growing as the train drew near its destination.

"Is it a choice, do you think?"

"What?"

"The pink everywhere. The hearts. The whole picaresque candy-cane monstrosity." Star squeezed her eyes shut and waved a hoof at the window. "Maybe it's because they live next to so many existentialist nightmares. Celestia alone knows why she chose to stay out here."

"Have you considered that she might like it?"

"I considered it." Star waved a hoof at the window again, accompanying the gesture with a dismissive snort for good measure. She saw Twilight's jaw tighten, but for once her herdmate didn't rise to the obvious bait.

The train lurched as it crossed a switch, its wheels hissing and squealing against the last bend of the line approaching Ponyville Station. The motion almost tumbled Twilight Velvet from her seat again, but she held on tight, pressing back against the train with a quick flare of her magic and a well-timed hoof. Never once taking her eyes from the view outside. Never letting them come near Star. Suddenly her eyes widened and she stiffened, her ears dropping low alongside her head. Star let her gaze follow Velvet's and found herself staring at a distant figure loping two-legged and upright across the grassy parkland on the outskirts of the town. She grinned.

"Like what you see?"

"How could she possibly do anything with that–" Twilight Velvet squeezed her eye shut and very deliberately turned her head away from the window.

"Wait until you see him up close, dear," Star replied. She stuck her tongue between her teeth for a moment and wiggled her eyebrows. "Those fingers of his make a minotaur look positively pedestrian."

"Star–"

"And he has extras too." She ostentatiously licked her lips and let her eyes flare wide. "And more on his feet I hear. Wriggling away inside his boots like little worms."

"Stop it! Just– just stop!" Twilight Velvet hopped from her seat and turned to leave. She paused by Star and finally deigned to look her in the eye. "You've got a lot to answer for, Star. Whatever you did to encourage this–"

"As you're so fond of pointing out, Twilight, she may have been my daughter but you're the one who raised her."

The hubbub around them grew as the train finally crawled into the station. Ponies left and right began standing, stretching and pulling at luggage, forcing Star and Twilight Velvet apart before they could continue the argument. And that suited Star just fine; it probably suited Twilight just fine too. The last time they'd been able to have a simple conversation without resorting to insults...

"Was it really so long ago?"

Ignoring the confused stare from a stallion in the next seat, Star shook her head and pulled down the slender saddlebag she'd brought for the journey before chasing after the bobbing head of her herdmate.

A cloud of steam drifted down the platform as she dismounted, obscuring Star's view for a moment. When it cleared Twilight was gone, lost in the press of ponies trying to board the train. The crowd was far larger than the size of the station might suggest filling the single line platform to almost capacity even before the train had arrived. It was always a surprise to Star how busy the place could be. She pushed through the crowd, employing the occasional jab of her horn or spark of magic against the flank of any pony that didn't get out of the way fast enough and ignoring the muttered complaints that followed her like a bad smell.

The ticket hall was as deserted as the platform was crowded and virtually silent once the door closed behind Star. The only ponies she could see were a haggard ticket collector cowering in his booth, a janitor idly pushing a broom and two of her herd lurking in the shadow of a timetable. She trotted toward them, idly watching the ticket clerk as he surreptitiously took a slug from a little metal flask concealed beneath his desk.

Crincile's cocked eyebrow was the only acknowledgment she gave Star as she approached. The Marquesa was perusing the timetable, apparently fascinated by the little columns of almost illegible numbers and all their variations and caveats. To Crincile's side Glint stood idle and uninterested in the surroundings, his head tilted to one side as he stared at a point somewhere near the ceiling.

"Says here," Crincile mused, "that there's are non-stop sleeper services to the Crystal Empire and Manehattan. For a provincial town they have some very direct connections."

"I can't imagine what sort of influence would bring that about," Star replied solemnly. She glanced at the board but quickly found her gaze straying to a blonde-maned pegasus who had entered the far end of the room. The pegasus turned at that very moment and their eyes met. She winked at Star and quickly looked away again.

The unicorn coughed and tried to push away the happy little thoughts fluttering through her brain. She grabbed Crincile around the withers and pulled her close.

"Where did you disappear to on the train anyway?"

"Oh, did you want me to hold your hoof for the whole journey?"

"Certainly not! I just needed someone to hold my drink."

"You really should cut back on that," Crincile replied as Star lead the trio out of the station building and onto the open, grassy streets of Ponyville. "I saw you sneaking off to the buffet. Twice."

"As I told Velvet, that was breakfast."

"Of course it was, and Glint here is a piece of toast."

"And here I am without any butter," Star said as she idly nuzzled Glint's neck. The stallion leaned in toward her and chuckled, though the way his head tilted toward the sky made it clear his mind was still off in some other realm. A quick jab in the ribs brought his attention back to more earthly matters. He glared at her, rubbing his side.

"What was that for?"

"Just making sure you hadn't let your brain slip out of that pretty head of yours again."

Glint rolled his eyes and snorted.

The three ponies found themselves on a broad avenue leading toward the centre of town, one side of which was lined with shuttered and empty market stalls. A few ponies were hauling away carts, their work finished for the day. In the distance a lone hawker tried to catch the last dregs of trade. Despite Star's earlier complaints she could see there was a certain sort of charm to the place. The air was fresh and clean, ponies cantered back and forth without much care despite the proximity of so much insanity. It was so unlike Canterlot with its heaving stone streets, grimey, dry air and the ever-present miasma of guilty snobbery hanging over the everything. Maybe she could retire out here and spend some time really getting to know her daughter.

Star took another look around at the ruralist fantasy, noting the way everypony smiled like their life depended on it. They were always waving to one another as well. It was like something out of the Trotford Stallions. Maybe I'll come to stay. And maybe Twilight will grow wings and become a princess.

They found Lucent and Velvet relaxing at a small cafe near the town hall, nickering over tea cakes while Velvet's foal stumbled around in the grass with muffin stuffed in her mouth and a huge grin plastered on her face. Occasionally she would pause to nibble at the treat, but most of the time she seemed content to just hold it as part of some foalish game, the rules of which Star knew she would never be able to understand.

For a moment the elder unicorn hung back, watching the little filly as she played under the table. Star had never seen her own Twilight at this age except briefly on her return from Prance, by which time the youngster had started to grow out of merely playing and had begun consuming the contents of her father's library in earnest. The young Twilight had taken one look at Star and then locked herself in with the books and refused to come out until Star had gone to bed.

Her view was interrupted by Glint and Crincile both as they moved to join the pair at the table. Star found herself frowning. The thought had come at her from nowhere– but that wasn't strictly true. She was here, her daughter was here and she was faced with a filly who was almost the spitting image of the younger Twilight. What else would she think about? Logic and reason restored once again, Star sauntered over to the table and flopped down on a spare cushion next to Lucent, earning herself a withering glare from Velvet in the process

"Nice of you to join us at last."

A pot of tea floated toward Star, wrapped in Twilight Velvet's aura. Star stared at it as the tea poured into a cup, followed by a teaspoon of honey and a squeeze of lemon. The simple kindly act was a huge concession from Star's herdmate.

"Your mood seems to have improved."

"Yes, I expect it's the surroundings," Twilight Velvet replied with casual wave that took in pretty much the entire town. "All the pink and hearts and such. It really is rather uplifting."

Star snorted and turned to her tea. It was one of those tiny cups, the sort that the refined gentle mares of high society so adored for some reason. It was barely a thimble, not a patch on the enormous tin mug she kept in her office. That battered old thing had served Star steaming hot mugs of somewhat fortified coffee all the way across Zebrica and Hindia, and would occasionally come out of hiding when she wanted to generate the particular image of the Great Pink Explorer that some of her more easily gulled visitors found so charming.

Cake. Now there was something she never had out in the field, occasional baking attempts by her postgrad field assistants notwithstanding. Star plucked a dainty from the table and popped it into her mouth, savouring the treat and wondering why she didn't partake more often. The university refectory must surely be stuffed with the things, but a steady diet of hard tack and Plantain over several decades had put her right out of the habit.

She stood up, smiling broadly at her assembled herd. "Well. Fun as this little tea party is we do have a carnivorous monster to visit. It wouldn't be wise to keep him waiting."

Lucent pulled her to one side as the others sidled away from the cafe. He tossed a few bits on the table. "Monster, Star?"

"That's what he is according to those scandal rags you always have your nose buried in."

"That would be Glint," Lucent responded with a dour frown. He waved a copy of the Canterlot Times at Star and then tapped her on the nose with it. "I read a respectable newspaper."

"Oh yes, the Times." Star snatched the paper from Lucent's magic and unfurled it, pretending to read the headlines as she and Lucent walked away from the table. "I had the misfortune to meet its editor at the last Dean's lunch. She was rather excited about the latest story her paper was running on the 'monkey fucker'."

"I'm sure she didn't intend–"

"She said it to my face, Lucent. She knew who I was." As they caught up with the others the paper exploded into a cloud of finely shredded fluff that was quickly carried away on the breeze. "Scandal rags."

A few feathers of paper skittered past Twilight Velvet's nose. She watched them until they were lost to her sight and then rolled her eyes toward Star. "This wouldn't have anything to do with their story about your little tet-a-tet with Cinnamon the other year, would it?"

"No it would not have anything to do with their laughably foalish attempt to destroy my career and portray me as a heartless herd-breaker merely because our courting was a little unorthodox."

"Unorth–" Velvet halted in her tracks, blinking hard as she tried to think of a response. "Star, she only courted us because of the scandal you two caused with that silly stunt on the palace roof!"

"I didn't think it was so bad. Besides, whatever the newspapers said she was already courting us by then and you know it." Star glanced at Twilight and then at the little filly riding her back. Guiding Light was staring at Star with uncomprehending eyes and the remnants of her muffin still clinging to the hair around her mouth. "And what are you looking at?"

The little filly grinned at Star and pointed a hoof. "Silly pony!"

"That sounds familiar," Star muttered darkly.

The group resumed their trek through the centre of the town. As they passed the library Star glanced briefly up at the window she knew had been Twilight's bedroom and was struck by the sudden realisation that somehow this human had managed to pull young Twilight away from her books. She was so lost in the thought that she didn't quite notice the others had stopped. Only a well-timed glance saved her from walking into Lucent's rear, not that she would have complained all that much. The stallion looked at Star as she stepped around him and sidled up to his shoulder. His forelegs tramped at the freshly cut grass of the street and he turned his eyes toward the building before them.

"Is this the place?"

Lucent's head bobbed as he eyed the door. Whilst it wasn't the largest they had ever seen – the main doors on the family mansion of Lachrimose House were far larger – it was enormous compared to the building it was awkwardly faced into. Little else about the house distinguished it from its neighbours, save that it was a little larger than average.

"Of course it's the place," Star huffed. She rapped on the door and stepped back to wait. "You spend all your time observing the stars, you think you'd be more detail-oriented."

"I am, my dear. I can certainly spot the little details that tell me when a particular star is about to explode."

"Amusing."

Star glanced to one side as Twilight Velvet sidled up next to her again. Whatever feud had existed between them was forgotten for the moment as the wide-eyed unicorn stared at the door. She took a step toward Lucent without a word. The others pressed in closer as well, wrapping around the two stallions like a brightly coloured wall. Even Star felt the urge to push herself in front of them, standing between her stallions and the ill-defined danger that door presented to the primitive parts of her mind. Instead she locked her knees and pounded on the door again.

"You'd have thought they would send someone to meet us," Glint said quietly. He lowered his head across Lucent's withers and fixed Star with one of his mare-killing grins. "They did know we were coming didn't they?"

"Oh my dear Glint, I'm shocked at how little you must trust me to say that." Star lifted her snout in the air and pouted. "It's almost like you think I'd just have us turn up unannounced."

"Mmm."

The conversation was interrupted by a thump and the sound of muted voices beyond the door. The sound of laughter spilled out into the street as the door opened and Twilight Sparkle followed close behind, her head turned back to the shady interior of the house as she stepped out.

"I'll just deal with this and we can–"

Twilight's voice died in her throat as she came face to face with the herd. Her forelegs locked, bringing her to a stumbling halt and she stared at the group with wide, uncomprehending eyes. For a while she simply stood there, barely moving, barely seeming to even breathe. Then something seemed to tick over in her mind and bring her back to life. She closed her eyes and held up a hoof.

"Excuse me a moment."

Twilight backed away and closed the door. A loud screech slipped out around the hinges, accompanied by a bright flash of light and a sound akin to a bursting paper bag. Lucent, Velvet and Glint all turned to stare at Star and all three let out the same exasperated sigh.

"Well." Star lifted her hoof and eyed it critically. "Perhaps I neglected to mention exactly who would be arriving. Or when."

"And you wonder why she never wants to have anything to do with you," Twilight Velvet grumbled as the door popped opened again. The mare opening it peeked her pale green snout through the narrow gap and cautiously eyed the herd.

"Oh. Star." The door swung wide and the mare stepped out, moving with the sort of fluid grace that would make a cat look clumsy. She tilted her head toward Star and pursed her lips.

"Loopy."

"It's Lyra. Don't try and convince me you forgot." Lyra Heartstrings grinned and shook her head. "I should have known it was you when Twilight teleported herself under the bed. It'll take ages to coax her out again."

"Nonsense, I'll have her out in moments!"

The mare snorted and rolled her golden eyes. For a brief moment she smiled again, until her gaze moved to Glint and the expression faltered into confused recognition. The filly on Velvet's back yawned and lifted her head to stare wide-eyed at the strange new pony.

"I see you brought the rest of your family along."

Star bristled at the tone of Lyra's voice. She drew herself up to her full height, one leg raised in what she hoped was an image of aloof nobility, though the way the other three wobbled just a little didn't help the image much.

"Some of them." The stance wasn't working. Possibly regretting her 'breakfast' a little, Star lowered her hoof and tried to steady herself before she fell over. "I thought it would be a nice surprise."

"Star, your idea of a surprise is treated as a capital crime in some countries." Lyra's gaze idly roved across the herd. The smile was back again, the one that Star had never quite been able to read even though she considered herself to be a fairly good judge of other ponies' moods. Knowing when she had pushed her luck too far was a useful skill for a one such as she, but with Lyra it was impossible to tell.

"Maybe it would be best if we took this indoors," Twilight Velvet said quietly, still fussing with her foal. The youngster kept trying to peer past Velvet's head at Lyra. "I'd rather not have the whole town subjected to one of Star's little episodes."

"My little–"

"Not to mention it's getting just a little chilly out here," Lucent added with a wary glance at the sky. A thin layer of cloud had rolled over as they'd waited and was now blocking out more and more of the sun as it thickened. Star could see pegasi flitting amongst the clouds, corralling the weather into what she hoped would be an overcast but dry afternoon.

One in particular caught her eye, scooting back and forth at the head of a multihued trail of light, her indistinct shouts alternating between encouragement and berating. After some time it seemed she gave up the directing and dove away from the group, angling straight toward Star and the house.

"Is that Rainbow Dash?" Crincile edged a little closer to Lucent.

Lyra nodded confirmation and looked up at her herdmate. "She must have finished her shift."

"She's coming down awfully fast."

It was true. Normally a pegasus would at least try to slow down as they came in to land, flaring their wings in the sort of pretty display Star always enjoyed watching when she had the chance. Dash didn't seem interested in stopping as she plummeted toward the group, or even slowing down. Her wings were folded flat and her forelegs were tucked tight against her body and if not for the riotous laughter echoing across Ponyville it would have been easy to assume she was about to crash.

Scant feet from the ground Dash's wings popped out, pulling her into a perfectly executed swoop and flare over the heads of the assembled ponies. Sadly Star had little time to admire the view. The young pegasus seemed to lose concentration and careened straight toward Star. Rainbow's wings seemed to wrap around Star's body like an all-encompassing shroud, which would have been immensely enjoyable if not for the rest of the pegasus following along behind like a rainbow-hued boulder.

Strangely it was the wings that hurt the most. Rainbow Dash's physique was lithe and frankly rather admirable, quite a change from the languorously plump mental midgets high society tended to surround Star with, but that robust strength carried over into every part of the pegasus' body. Including the two very large and powerful wings that had just left a rib-cracking bruise down either side of Star's barrel.

Still, she thought as they tumbled across the street, it wasn't as bad as that time when–

Her musings were cut short by a loud yell and an all-encompassing green blur. The yell was Rainbow Dash, though it was more of a surprised shout than anything reflecting the various aches and pains Star felt after her unexpected tumble. The green blur... Star sat up and blew a clump of grass cuttings from the end of her snout.

"Talk about a roll in the hay," she muttered. Rainbow Dash sat up next to her, frowning at the sound of Star's voice. "Well hello my dear, did you enjoy our little tumble?"

"Star?" Rainbow shook her head and body, sending a spray of grass into the air. She sat up on her haunches as Lyra trotted across the street to meet them. "Lyra! Did you see that?"

"Yes Dash, I saw your amazing new acrobatic trick that's sure to wow the Wonderbolts and get you on the team without all that pesky training they have to do." Lyra poked at the grass with her hoof and frowned at Star. "I'm sorry about this. I promise she's working on her landings."

"Hey I can land just fine! I'm on the ground aren't I?" Rainbow Dash ran her hooves over her mane, dislodging a shower of grass. "What are all these ponies doing outside the house anyway? Did Twilight invite more of those hippy-logies to come poke at Lero? You know he hates that."

"Hippologists," Star said. Rainbow Dash's eyes narrowed.

"And that's another thing, what are you doing back here?"

"Am I not allowed to visit my own dear daughter? Even if she does choose to hide away from me when I do."

Rainbow looked to Lyra, who shrugged. "She's under the bed. Long story."

"Actually it's a very short story," Star countered.

Rainbow fluffed her wings but didn't bother climbing out of her grassy shelter just then. Between attempts at preening the worst of the grass from between her feathers she stared hard at Star with an expression that seemed entirely too knowing for the unicorn's liking. "You brought the whole family huh?"

"I only brought a selection, the others will be arriving tomorrow. If I'd wanted real fireworks I could have brought her all her brothers and sisters–"

"Wait wait wait..."

Rainbow held up a hoof for silence as she stood. She shook her head, dislodging a few blades of grass from her mane, then stepped back and flapped her wings with a single, powerful stroke. The grass exploded away from her into a swirling cloud of green. Somehow the majority managed to land on Lyra. She raised her eyebrow at Dash. The pegasus stuck out her tongue.

"Twilight only has one brother," she said as Lyra began picking grass from her coat. "He's a cool guy."

"She only told you about one brother. Did you honestly think a herd as large and old as mine would only have two foals?" Star shook her head in mock disappointment. "Really now, I thought you were much smarter than that."

"Hey!"

Star backed up a step. She'd forgotten how easily provoked Rainbow Dash could be. The flier's wings were already itching the flare, twitching and quivering against her body in a sign of her profound irritation. Fortunately for Rainbow's pride and Star's skull, Lyra stepped between the pair before either could escalate the situation. She put a restraining hoof on Rainbow's neck and turned to face Star. Even with the grass hanging from her fringe she projected the clear image of a pony who was not to be trifled with

"Twilight only told her friends about her brother a few days before his wedding." Lyra lowered her hoof again and her eyes seemed to focus on some point behind Star's head. The moment passed. Lyra brushed a hoof through her mane and smiled again. "I was one of Princess Cadence's flower fillies and I didn't even know Twilight was the groom's sister until she showed up on the day. Of course my memory's a little hazy what with one thing and another, but I don't remember you being there either."

"Yes, well communication has never been this herd's particular strong point and to be frank she's never got on all that well with them. Or they with her." Star paused. It would have been easy to drop some little joke then, but for once she didn't want to press the point. "Perhaps we should go inside. The others are no doubt getting restless."

"No doubt. Hey Rainbow?" Lyra turned to her companion. The pegasus was idly poking a hoof in her ear and staring up at the sky with a frown. "You wanna go and let Lero know what's going on?"

"What? Oh! Yeah sure, I can do that. I haven't seen him all day!" Rainbow leapt to the air with a powerful thrust of her wings and was gone in moments, crossing the short distance to the house like a stone shot from a sling. Star hummed appreciatively as she watched the receding pegasus.

"She cuts rather a striking figure, wouldn't you say Loopy? If I were a few years younger..." Star sighed and shook her head. Strangely Lyra didn't seem to share the sentiment.

"Even if you were and she were available, she's about as interested in mares as you are in being kind to your daughter."

"How I treat my offspring–"

"Is entirely my business today," Lyra finished. She stalked around Star, no longer even pretending to smile. Now Star was viscerally aware of just how feral and cat-like this mare's movements were, every motion of her body as precise and deliberate as an intricate clockwork. She half expected Lyra's pupils to have narrowed to snake-like slits. "I don't know what the issue is between you and Twilight. She hasn't chosen to share that part of her life with me yet. As long as you're under our roof you keep it to yourself."

"I can't promise anything on my daughter's behalf."

"I'm not asking you to," Lyra replied curtly. The smile was back again, just the hint of a curl to her lips, but her golden eyes remained cold and impassive. "Now, as you said the others are probably becoming impatient. Shall we?"

Lyra held out a hoof toward the house and smiled broadly. With a stillness that seemed quite unnatural she waited until Star turned away, then dropped her foreleg to follow the elder unicorn.

The short walk with the accompaniment of her now silent escort reminded Star of a time she'd been arrested for public indecency in her university days. The events leading up to the moment had been fun even if the roof of the Snowdrop Building had been slightly traumatised by the affair. The experience of being marched across campus to a waiting paddy wagon by two very sturdy Royal Guard stallions had been extremely educational.

The others looked expectantly at Star as she walked toward them, but rather than say anything she simply followed Lyra into the house. She was soon rewarded with the sound of several ponies trying to squeeze through the door at the same time.

Beyond the tiny cloistered porch was a comfortable living room with an eclectic sprawl of furniture spread around it. The walls rose far higher than the size of the room would have suggested, high enough that Princess Celestia would have had little trouble spreading her wings. Coupled with the narrow size it gave the space an awkward, confined feeling that was at odds with the inviting warmth of the decor.

The herd huddled in the middle of the room until Glint snorted and flung himself onto the couch. He bounced up and down a few times before sprawling in a classic pin-up pose. He winked at Star.

"Now that's comfortable."

Soon the others had joined him, spreading around the room until only Star and Lyra were left standing. The younger unicorn kept glancing at Glint and frowning. Eventually she managed to drag her eyes from the stallion and onto Star, perhaps coincidentally as Rainbow Dash kicked open the door. Quiet conversation echoed briefly around the room as the pegasus sauntered toward them.

"We managed to get Twi out from under the bed. She's kinda upset but Lero's talking her down, so..." Rainbow looked about the room. "Kinda crowded in here."

"Warm too." Lyra's comment was accompanied by another furtive glance at Glint. The stallion shot her a wink and another grin. Rainbow Dash frowned at her partner.

"You okay Lyra?"

"Fine. I'm just curious to know who everyone is since Star's letter kind of implied she'd be here by herself."

The herd turned to look at Star, their expressions ranging from confused to resigned. Lyra's smile was back too, though the slight flush of her cheeks rather ruined the effect. Rainbow Dash frowned again but then dismissed the thought with a shrug and sat down on the floor. "Twi hasn't told us anything about you guys. I met Lucent and her mom– no, wait, Twilight. The other Twilight. Velvet." Rainbow rubbed the side of her head. "I mean I met you two and–"

"What Rainbow is trying to say is that you should introduce us," Lyra said. She settled herself next to the pegasus, moving as close as she could without quite touching her. Star filed that little tidbit away for future thought as she turned to the group with a broad smile.

"Very well. Rainbow Dash, Loopy–"

"Lyra."

"– this is Crincile, Lucent, Twilight Velvet and her filly Guiding Light, and Glint Garnet."

"Hi guys." Rainbow held up a hoof in greeting, though Lyra was strangely silent. She stared at Glint for a moment and then, quite without warning, jumped in the air and squealed.

"The Glint Garnet?" Lyra bounced across the room in a most undignified way, a grin stretching almost from ear to ear as she advanced on the poor stallion. "Oh my god I love you!"

"Your– your what?" Confused by the odd profanity and even odder behaviour, Glint shook his head and tried to restore the aloof grin he'd held up to now but it was evidently beyond him. He scooted backward on the couch. "Um. Well it's nice to meet a f-fan, I suppose. Even if they are rather, ah, enthusiastic."

Lyra's eyes widened and she flopped back and away from Glint, panting slightly from the exertion. "Right, sorry. It's just I never– I had posters of you all over my room when I was a filly. You were so gorgeous! I mean you still are!"

"A filly you say." Glint glanced at Crincile, who shot him a cheeky wink before moving to Lyra's side. The younger unicorn blinked up at her, just a hint of confusion creeping into her gaze, followed shortly by the brightest blush Star had ever seen.

Lyra took another step back and hung her head. "Well now you think I'm crazy."

"If it helps, I just about up and fainted when I met him," Crincile replied. She rubbed a comforting hoof across Lyra's withers and lightly pressed her cheek to the younger unicorn's face. "He is gorgeous, there's no denying it."

"And I don't think you're crazy," Glint added, though his lips quivered just a little as he smiled. Lyra could see the obvious lie and shook her head. He glanced at Lucent. The elder stallion shrugged.

"Perhaps we should start again," he rumbled. "I remember you both from my son's wedding. An interesting day."

Lyra nodded slightly, letting her attention fall from Glint to the foal gamboling around her legs. She smiled at the filly. "Interesting is one way to put it. I'm afraid I don't remember much about the day."

Star let her attention wander from the conversation. It was only covering things she'd heard before and besides, she found weddings about as enticing as foals and undercooked fish. A quick step brought her to Rainbow Dash, who was watching the proceedings with marginally more interest than Star felt.

"Perhaps I should go and attend to my daughter," she said quietly. Rainbow Dash frowned.

"She's pretty mad at you, Star."

"That's normal." Star sidled past the pegasus and made for the door to the next room. "So I'll just–"

"Wait!" Rainbow turned to haul Star back but she'd already reached the door. It opened under the light touch of her magic and she stepped through, ignoring the pegasus wrapped around her abdomen as much as she possibly could.

"–nywhere near me again I might..."

Twilight's voice trailed off as Star entered the room. Her daughter was seated at a table with two others. The first was a zebra, which was unusual enough out here in the sticks, but Star's eye was immediately drawn to the figure at Twilight's side. The human. Though they'd met before and she'd even gotten to know him a little it was still unusual to see such a strikingly odd pairing, despite her own dalliances in the past.

Three pairs of eyes moved to Star and then to Rainbow Dash, who was still ineffectually tugging at her body. When it became clear Star wasn't giving any ground Rainbow Dash roughly pushed past the unicorn and sat down in front of her.

"Don't you ever listen?"

"No." Star pushed past Rainbow in turn and sauntered up to the table, for some reason feeling inordinately pleased with the way all three of its occupants were staring at her. She smiled and settled into a chair. Behind her, Rainbow Dash snorted.

"Maybe you should try it some time."

Star leered over her shoulder at the pegasus. "And miss out on the opportunity to have your hooves all over me dear?"

Rainbow's ears dropped flat against her head and her eye twitched. Wings fluttering against her sides, the pegasus began to circle Star with a menacingly slow gait that seemed strangely familiar. Star deliberately looked away and found Twilight frowning at her with an expression so similar to her namesake that she almost burst out laughing.

The human slipped his hand around the back of Twilight's neck, pausing to brush his fingers against a spot near the base of her skull. The sight brought a smile to Star's face.

"Another way you take after the old mare?" The smile broadened as her eyes narrowed. Twilight just glared at her. "Well. Perhaps not."

Lero placed one of his hands on the table. "Rainbow, maybe you should go check on Lyra."

"You sure about that, big guy?"

"Yeah." He smiled just a little as he glanced toward Dash. His hand was gently stroking Twilight's cheek from behind, though Twilight seemed disinclined to react to it. "I've got things here."

They sat in silence as Rainbow left the room. Star let the cheery grin fade from her face and closed her eyes.

"So, now I'm not in mortal danger any more–"

"I don't know about that," Twilight replied. Her eyes were cold when Star looked at her and her mouth was turned down. Strangely her ears were up, more alert than angry. Star couldn't tell if that was a good sign.

Lero was as unreadable as ever.

"At least we'd be keeping it in the family." Star tried another smile, but the humour was lost on her daughter. Again. She looked across the table at the silent zebra and pondered her for a moment. "Oh, this must be Zecora! Twilight has told me so very much about you, my dear. I must admit I was surprised at the way she apparently reacted at your first appearance."

"Mother."

"No surprise should be found in Twilight's behaviour," the Zebra said through a conciliatory smile. She patted Twilight's hoof. "Besides, by her actions she was soon my saviour."

"Well if you want to excuse her that's your choice," Star replied. She could almost feel the heat of Twilight's embarrassment and couldn't help a little grin. "Interesting patois... Impalawi?"

"It is of my home yes and you are correct in your guess," Zecora replied. She put her drink to the table and leaned toward Star with a curious frown. "You have left this shore and travelled those lands before?"

"Oh, more times than you could count, for as long as I can remember," Star said. For a moment she was back on the plains, swishing through long grass up to her belly as she trailed behind a nomad herd. "Longit moy talky natta yula goit so."

"Grassy natta sah!" Zecora's jaw flexed and a grin spread across her face at the familiar sound of the plains creole. She leaned toward Star a little more as she replied, waving a hoof at Twilight and kicking up her chin. "Yula filly sayit none yula talky natta mo! Her sayit nothin ava neither so. Yula gan takit wayso grassy sittin? Yula heddy im'lawi forit filly droppin?"

"Forit ola them amagola!" Star bobbed her head toward Twilight and then pointed over her back at the invisible horizon. "Him droppin afta mangwa sayit ana sittin pretty assdrag so, aba makey heddy round ava ways round futh makey heddy home forit him droppin borundi su so. Makey spittin moy mo, mula sittin pretty so ya?"

Zecora laughed and pounded the table with her hoof. "Yula lanya spitty selestis so! Mula hearit bein asstalky mo!"

"Mula spittin ava ways so sah. Ana sayit her droppin moy makey abalwa numlhambi mo. Mula heddy im'lawi su aftrit, wela digup loada duncan nattawraps. Moygqama mo."

The zebra glanced at Twilight and nodded her head slowly. "Filly sisinu moy gula kickit like mad so ya?"

"Makey kickit like ass mo," Star replied. She tapped her hooves against the table while she thought of a way off the topic. "Say yula tailin duncan kula ulwandle way sah?"

"Hah soy, heddy ava way sah, heddy selestis su way afta dunlosin umsebenzi, osa wa umama dun dirtlala njalo njalo see?" Zecora rolled her glass between her hooves and stared into it. Her expression was unreadable, but that wasn't surprising. Zebra were very good at hiding their emotions when they wanted to. "Moy gula sadlike mula thatha lango waitab afta mula stickin wet muddy and ava iminyaka makey no bits so."

"Yula makey gula bits settin ubesebenza in ava doin so?"

"Oh! Makey assdrag loada bits so sah! Mula moy fixit lodge dun wrapit so, makey so pilin bits soy ngangukudayisa amasimba. Ola selestis hlambi." Zecora tapped the front of her head with her hoof and blew a raspberry. "Awanubuchophoi!"

Star burst out laughing. "Yula sayit so ya! Yula sittin down wet muddy after so ava ways!"

"Better to sit in mud and share friendship than live in finery and let it slip," Zecora replied. Again Star laughed, this time at the solemn tone of Zecora's voice as it delivered so many horseapples. The Zebra's mouth twisted into a smirk as she tugged a bottle from her saddlebag under the table and set it on the table. "Please tell me more of your journeys about my lands, Star Sparkle of Canterlot. Perhaps I know of things and places yet that you do not?"

"Yes, let's get ratted and reminisce the old country."

Star watched the drink as it was poured, disappointed to find it looked more like weak brandy than the sort of treats she'd tasted on the grasslands. She lifted the glass to her lips and took a tentative taste. It burned as she swallowed it, enough that she had to take a moment to let the fire die away in her throat before she could breathe properly. The spirit was pungent and smoky, a heady blend of overripe fruit and open fires burning in the bright of spring.

She bit back on a cough and stared at her glass with renewed interest. "I've never had this before. What is it?"

"It is a brew of ancient provenance, though many view it quite askance. In the tongue of Roam the ancient city, it would be named as aquavite."

"Water of life?" Star held her glass up to the light and peered through the pale liquid within. "It looks more like– well. What's it made from?"

"Barley, corn and water fresh, smoked and brewed, distilled from mash–"

The table shook as Lero fell off his seat, arms flailing as he tried to catch himself before he hit the floor. For once any of the grace the human seemed to possess was gone as he hauled himself up to the table and grabbed the bottle in both grasping hands.

"That sounds like..." He sniffed tentatively at the bottle and winced at the smoky scent of the brew within. "Bourbon! You made bourbon!"

"Boar Bon is its name in Prance," Zecora replied slowly, watching the human with wary eyes as he snuffled at the bottle's neck again. "Is this another freakish happenstance?"

"Everything about his world is a freakish happenstance or a horrendous coincidence, or a bad pun. If I hadn't already met him I would swear somepony was making the whole thing up." The human rolled his eyes at Star and shook his head. All the while his hands rolled the bottle back and forth, fingers curling and uncurling around the age-pitted glass. "Is this like that 'scosh' you were talking about last time I was here?"

"Scotch." Lero placed the Aquavite back before Zecora and returned to his seat. "It's kinda similar, comes from a different country though. Bourbon is originally from Kentucky. It was never my favourite, to be honest I didn't even drink that much, but dad always liked when I bought him a bottle for his birthday. Always Elijah Craig, never anything else or he'd sulk for weeks afterwards. We always drank the first glass together."

The human covered his mouth with one of his hands, the other rattling gently on the table as he stared at Zecora's bottle. His fingers slowed their steady tattoo and then stopped altogether. He reached out to twine them in Twilight's mane, teasing just shy of her ear. The unicorn edged closer to her mate and leaned into his embrace, the movement drawing his hand around the side of her neck and shoulder.

"You know how you can end up missing something that didn't seem that important before you lost it?"

The door to the lounge loomed in Star's mind, almost physically dragging her gaze toward itself as her thoughts roved toward the ponies beyond it. Abruptly her attention was drawn to her daughter's face. With her eyes closed and her head leaning against Lero's side, Twilight was the very image of contentment and peace. Star nodded slowly as she considered the sight.

"I think I know what you mean."

The four fell silent as a contemplative mood settled over the room. With nothing better to do Star tossed back the drink in a single swallow. It burned into her throat rather more fiercely than she'd expected, leaving her wheezing as she tried not to choke. By the time Star had recovered Zecora was chuckling behind her hoof and even Twilight had cracked a bit of a smile.

"Lightweight," Lero muttered. He put his other hand across Twilight's chest and shuffled a little closer to her. The younger unicorn bit her lip as she looked at Star.

"Mom, what are you doing here?"

"Why, am I not allowed to vis–"

"Don't you dare start that again mother, you know exactly what I'm talking about." Twilight pulled away from Lero's side and placed both her hooves on the table. "You turn up unannounced on our doorstep in the middle of the day with half the family hanging on your tail and act like I should be just fine. I'm not fine mom. What are you doing."

Another silence fell as Twilight glared at Star, her right eye twitching just a little. Beside her Lero shifted in his seat, his discomfort plain to see and unlike Lucent, who was prone to kicking things when Star started annoying other ponies, it was clear he wasn't going to intervene.

"Well?"

"If I'd known you would feel so strongly–"

"You would have come sooner!" Twilight's hooves pressed against the table hard enough to make it creak. "You know, I've never once had a straight answer out of you. Why can't you just tell me what you're doing for once?"

"Fine. If you want the truth I thought it would be beneficial for the others to meet your new family. And with all this talk of weddings flying around, well, it's only fair that we have some say in the arrangements isn't it?"

"Absolutely not!" Twilight twitched again as Lero's hand came to rest on the back of her neck. The action drew her head around to her mate, her cheek falling against his shoulder and her nose coming to rest just short of his chin. Twilight stared up at Lero with a pleading expression. The human leaned back and gently kissed Twilight on the snout.

"Twilight, I would like to see the rest of your family," he said quietly as he brushed a lock of her mane back from her face. Twilight's gaze faltered.

"If I'd had some warning–"

"Well let's just pretend you did, okay? I kinda want to meet your dad."

"Wait, really? But– no it doesn't work like that if you're thinking about what I think you're thinking. Traditional courting usually requires some formal arrangement between your mother and mine." She glanced at Star, who returned the gesture with a snort. "I don't see that working out."

Lero chuckled and shook his head. "Twilight, I only want to meet the guy. If he's anything like you he could be fun to know."

"I-I suppose..."

"If it makes you feel better, Star can stay in here, I'll get Rainbow to come and–"

"No," Twilight cut in before Star could say anything. The younger unicorn glared at her mother again.

"Are you implying I wouldn't be able to handle Rainbow Dash?"

"The implications of you being in the same room with her are what I'm worried about," Twilight shot back. Star's eyebrows rose quite dramatically.

"A compromise I might suggest." Zecora poured another measure of the aquavite into Star's glass and then her own. She raised one toward Lero and bowed her head. "That I should cater to your guest."

"I– huh. Are you sure? I mean that'd be great but I wouldn't want to impose."

"It is no imposition, my friends. We have much to discuss, to many ends and secret tales of far off lands." Zecora lowered the glass and pushed it over to Star, though her steady gaze remained on Lero. "So let me take her from your hands."

"Well. If you're sure," the human replied. He waited for Twilight to hop from her chair before slowly standing until he towered over everything around him. Star found herself craning her neck a little to keep his face in view. She'd forgotten how tall he was.

Her gaze slipped back to Twilight as Lero opened the door. She wasn't looking at Star, or at anything in particular for that matter. Instead her eyes were dancing rapidly back and forth as if reading some invisible book. Only when Lero's hand brushed against her ear did she snap out of it, finally looking up at her mate with a weak smile.

"Kafillinu kickit so sah," Zecora said as the door closed behind the pair. "Yula fily sittin kin to ubuhlanya."

"Her inhlizi moy tailin afta ubabakhe."

"I think not, Star Sparkle of Canterlot."

Zecora's steady gaze rested on Star for quite some time, breaking only for a moment as the zebra took another sip of her drink. She placed her glass on the table and took a deep breath in through her nose.

"You think what you want," Star grunted. The only reply was a gentle nod from Zecora, which was more frustrating than she thought possible. "I never pretended to be a good mother. I don't see why I should bear responsibility for the way she was raised when I didn't have anything to do with it."

"I do not claim knowledge of such as that, but your relationship appears to need work from where I'm sat. To blame her and her father for such things would be to blame the pegasus for your joy of her wings," Zecora concluded. She took another sip of her drink and smacked her lips.

The drink before Star remained untouched. She had admitted at least temporary defeat to the potent beverage and it seemed this human was made of sterner stuff than she had thought if he could drink that without being knocked on his side, though perhaps he merely had the advantage of previous exposure.

Quiet laughter echoed through the door, dominated by the sound of Lucent's throaty rumble. Star found herself leaning toward the door, toward the family beyond it. She quickly righted herself and snatched up her drink once again, downing half of it without even waiting for the taste. It seemed to be the best way to drink it. She barely even wheezed this time.

"I would like to know what troubles you so," Zecora said. Her voice was quiet but comforting. Star waved her glass in the general direction of the bottle.

"Refill me and I might tell you." She waited as the glass refilled and then sat back in her seat with a contented sigh. "This boar bon of yours is starting to grow on me. Where did you say it was from?"

Zecora seemed about to protest the change of subject, but then she pursed her lips and shook her head. "It is from the land of Bokswana, wet and marshy, near the great forest of the Iqwaharshe."

"Oh, those wonderful stick-in-the-muds. My third expedition was supposed to trail them until they told me where to find the Kuur city of Great Tswana." Star shook her head and took another swallow of her drink. It was easier each time. How peculiar. "Rather naive when you think about it. I never did find the place, but then neither did that idiot from Cavelbridge so it wasn't the complete career ending farce I'd worried about at the time. Thank Celestia for small mercies."

As she contemplated her drink again another round of laughter echoed through the room, louder this time. Evidently the rest of her herd were enjoying their time together, despite Twilight's earlier reaction. Perhaps there was something to think about in that.

Perhaps.

"I know it's a long shot, but I don't suppose you know anything about Great Tswana?"

"I have once been there," Zecora replied. "But such a journey was rare."

"Well it was worth a try I supp–" Star frowned. She let her mind bounce back over the last few moments and found her frown growing deeper. "Did you say you've been there? As in actually been to the city? It was meant to be lost!"

"My visit was many years ago, but if you wish I can tell you all I know."

"Oh I wish, I wish!" Star downed the rest of her drink and quickly hopped around the table. "Everything. The history especially, I've gathered snippets but there are huge holes in our knowledge of the Kuur that nopony has ever been able to fill."

"I have much of the place at my homely tree. I could show you if you came with me." Zecora gathered up her bag and flopped it over her back with little ceremony before tugging on a cloak. "Be warned though, the Everfree Forest is cruel. It does not suffer lightly a fool."

"I've been in worse places," Star muttered. She turned to the door, then paused. For some reason she couldn't quite face the prospect of walking out that way. There was no other door except to the kitchen, and that had no way out apart from a window that was far too small for someone of her age to be crawling out of.

"We could wait–"

"No. Not going to wait. I wish to see immediately!"

The rhyming, it was contagious. Star closed her eyes, pushed the thought aside and let her magic flow to her horn. Despite the amount of alcohol she had consumed she still had a fair reserve; it was probably doable if she was careful. She pulled Zecora over to the window and stared at the road for a moment to get her bearings.

"This might get a little bumpy."

Before the zebra could speak Star let her magic flare through her horn. Despite the alcohol the spell mostly ran true, teleporting both of them out into the street in a flash of light, though a few inches higher than she'd intended. Zecora gasped and staggered as they fell to the ground. Once she had steadied herself she raised an eyebrow at Star.

"I can do shields as well," Star said with a cheery grin. "Something of a family speciality, you might say. Now let's go see what you've got shall we? I've waited a long, long time for an opportunity like this and I don't want to waste a moment."

Zecora nodded slightly and set off toward the distant Everfree Forest at a slow trot with Star following along behind.

"I suppose you'll want some payment for this," Star said after a short silence. Zecora only smiled.

"No bits shall match my price," the Zebra sang quietly. Her ears flicked and turned toward Star for a moment. When she spoke again her voice sounded hoarse. "Of Twilight I am fond as friends must be, Star Sparkle. To see her hurt by her mother so, to see her taunted by love she can never experience, that causes me great pain."

"No rhyme to make the point hit home?"

"No rhyme, Star Sparkle. My mother was lost to me and did not return to haunt my waking hours. You still haunt your filly; I see it in her eyes, in her face. My price for my hospitality and my knowledge is that the torment might end in this place."

"Maybe when I get back..." The unicorn glanced at Zecora's saddlebags and noted the bottle still rattling around inside them. "Would you happen to have more of that boarbon lying around?"

"I have a small amount imported at great expense. It could be yours." Zecora smiled slightly. "For suitable recompense."

Star took a breath and looked over her shoulder. The house where her daughter lived was lost behind its neighbours already, just one more thatched pink palace amongst the crowd. She turned away from the sight and set her face toward the path.

"I think we can come to some sort of arrangement."