//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Reunions // Story: Galaxia's Equestria // by pchn00 //------------------------------// Chapter 4: Reunions Chapter 4: Reunions Fancy Pants approached his front door cautiously. Jubilant had been living with them for a week now, and he and Rarity had begun to prepare themselves for her unusual greeting. Today he had a surprise in store for the filly however. Stepping to the side of the front door, he instead opened it with his magic. There came the expected pop and shrill ‘SURPRISE!’ which swiftly trailed off into a confused ‘huh’. With a playful smile, the stallion leapt into the doorway. “SURPRISE!” Jubilant shrieked and reared up on her hind legs, flipping all the way onto her back, soon giggling wildly. “You got me!” Fancy chuckled warmly as he closed the door. “It would seem so, wouldn’t it?” Rolling back to her hooves, Jubilant proceeded to bounce circles around Fancy Pants. “Know what today is!?” “Hmm.” He looked down at her thoughtfully. “Well it’s Friday…” “What else!?” “I suppose it’s the first day of May. Nearly summer.” “Uuuuugh! What else!?” “Well I cannot possibly think of anything else today is.” He looked to the top of the stairs to see his wife smiling down at him. “We’re going to Ponyville today to see mom!” “Oh! Well that’s right, isn’t it? I can’t believe it slipped my mind.” Jubilant had a little bag packed already and Rarity was levitating her own suitcase along. “How long are we planning to stay, dear?” His wife made her way down the stairs. “I thought the weekend. If Pinkamena can’t put us up, you and I could stay at an inn. It’s such a charming little village after all. It might be nice to get away from the city for a time.” “Right then! Let me pack a bag and we’ll head to the train station, hm? You already have the tickets I assume?” Rarity smiled and floated a trio from the pocket of her blouse. “First class, ready to go.” Jubilant was still bounding about happily, until Rarity cleared her throat gently. “Jubilant, we’re going out. You have to get dressed.” The filly huffed softly. “Do I gotta? We’re going to Ponyville!” “Gotta is not a word. And yes, you have to. That’s the agreement, isn’t it? You don’t have to dress up inside, but when we go out…” Trapped, Jubilant could only nod. “Yes, Miss Rarity.” Her horn glowed and she vanished with a pop, leaving a bemused Rarity alone shaking her head. Pinkie made her way from the mailbox back to her house with heavy hoof steps. Fluttershy hadn’t been by in a few days, and with Applejack gone she didn’t have any of her old friends about to talk to. Not for the first time she contemplated moving back to the family farm, but that would leave Fluttershy all alone, and she could never do that to her. Tossing her mail on the table, she ruffled through it curiously. It was time to get back to work. This house didn’t pay for itself after all, and if she got kicked out, well… Surprise needed to know where she was if she tried to run away again. That brought a little smile to Pinkie’s face, imagining the trouble her filly was giving Rarity. Her ears perked at a sudden knock on the door. Curiously she opened it… and got a face full of filly. “SURPRISE! I bet I really gotcha this time, cause I didn’t blink!” Pinkie shrieked gleefully, and soon mother and daughter were bouncing circles around the foyer. “You did get me! I never thought you’d knock, and I heard the knock and wondered who it was, but it was you!” She noticed the two adult ponies in the doorway and straightened her hair properly, clearing her throat. “O— oh… Sorry about that.” Rarity smiled warmly. “Not at all. She’s been bouncing all about the train the entire trip.” Pinkie eyed her daughter for a minute with a proud smile. She looked so pretty in her little pastel blue dress. Becoming nobility seemed to have toned Rarity’s use of dozens of gems down a bit, and only a pair of small glittering sapphires were inlaid at the neck. “That’s a beautiful dress, Surprise! Did Miss Rarity make it?” “Uh huh. Um… Can I take it off now, Miss Rarity?” She was fussing with the collar a bit. The mare laughed gently. “Yes you may, Jubilant. Just do so gently! Fold it nice!” She smiled wider as Jubilant went to work carefully unlacing it. “I apologize for our unannounced arrival, Miss Pie. Fancy and I thought it would be nice for you two to visit now and again.” Pinkie Pie had to fight down the urge to rush over and hug Rarity, so much so her body fairly quivered with the effort. “Oh… Thank you so much, Miss Rarity. But please, my friends all call me Pinkie.” “Well Pinkie, my friends just call me Rarity. So no more of this ‘miss’ nonsense, hm?” She looked over her shoulder as her husband brought the luggage. “Can you recommend a good establishment for us to stay? We thought we’d visit for the weekend.” Pinkie scoffed now. “No friends of mine are staying in some crummy old inn! You can stay here of course. I insist!” She giggled cheerily. “It’ll be like a slumber party!” “I think the last time I had any sort of a sleepover was at the academy in my colt days.” Fancy had set the luggage down. “Some of the fellows all wanted to have a big camp out on the school grounds outside, ‘roughing it’ we said.” He laughed. “Thank you for inviting us into your home, Pinkie.” Jubilant was at his side in a flash. “Come see my old room, Mister Fancy!” She was tugging the smiling stallion along. Rarity couldn’t help but notice the twitch of Pinkie’s ear when Jubilant had said ‘old room’. “…she’s settling in very well. She doesn’t like school, I’m afraid. Some of the foals pick on her, you see? Being earth born. But she’s been helping me in the shop a little! She has such a talent with art, did you know?” Pinkie’s smile was soft as she nodded. “Oh I’ve always known. If she’s sitting still, it’s usually to draw something. Though she doesn’t sit still often.” “Oh you don’t have to tell me that, darling. She’s had Fancy and I running about at all hours. Though it’s done wonders for my flank, I was getting a bit chubby I think.” Jerking her head toward the stairs, Pinkie took Rarity’s bag. “C’mon, I’ll show you the room you guys can have. Then I’ll get a nice dinner started.” “Oh you don’t have to do that! I’m sure there are many wonderful eateries in Ponyville.” Pinkie’s ears splayed as she led Rarity to the guest room. “There… used to be. Not really any around anymore. Besides, I insist. You guys are my guests! And Surprise goes crazy for my cooking.” Rarity’s magical aura lit the room as she unpacked the luggage. “She certainly prefers home cooked. I’m not much of a chef I’m afraid, but I’ve been learning some recipes for her sake. It’s… been a lot of work, but surprisingly pleasant. I was hesitant when Fancy suggested we adopt, but... Well, I don’t wish to seem indelicate, but I have a hard time imagining my home without Jubilant Surprise.” “No. No, it’s nice she’s found someone who loves her. And you’re willing to bring her for visits. I really can’t tell you what that means to me, Rarity. I know she can’t stay, but… this is nice.” Rarity wasn’t entirely sure what to say. Pinkie was Jubilant’s mother, and here she was practically throwing the fact that Rarity was to be her new mother figure in the mare’s face. “Well. Shall I help in the kitchen, then? I’d be very grateful for any little lessons you’d be willing to impart.” “Sure! Let’s get cookin’! We’ll do Surprise’s favorite tonight.” Pinkie was bounding downstairs merrily, only sparing a quick glance into her filly’s room. She had Fancy looking through her small library of sketchbooks. “What’s her favorite dish then?” “Oh that’s easy! She looooves pizza!” Rarity raised an eyebrow. “I’ve never heard of… pizza.” “Nopony has! We made it ourselves. C’mon, it’s easy.” While at first a bit nervous at trying to cook something she’d never even heard of, Rarity was finding it was indeed quite easy. Really the only tricky part was spreading the dough into the proper shape, and then it was simply a matter of applying toppings. After the tomato sauce and cheese, a veritable salad bar’s worth of vegetables found their way atop it, then the whole mess was stuck in the oven. “And that’s that! Easy peasy, right?” Both mares had a fine coating of flour, but after looking after the less-than-tidy Jubilant Surprise, she’d gotten a little used to a dirtied coat. A little. “Indeed, it was rather fun. I ah… don’t suppose I could use your washroom?” Pinkie giggled softly. “Upstairs! Third door on the right.” She watched Rarity go, smiling the whole time. It almost felt like old times for a minute. Her ear flicked at the soft knock on the door. Practically bursting with excitement, she threw it open. “Fluttershy! And… Oh… Hi.” It was Fluttershy, with Discord standing at her side, smiling grandly. “Hello Pinkie! I Ran into Fluttershy on her way here and thought, the more the merrier, right!? So I tagged along.” The timid pegasi could only offer a helpless shrug to her friend. “Well of course. You’ll never guess who’s visiting already!” Discord showed himself in without waiting for Pinkie to move aside, casually tossing his hat and cane on his preferred cushion and moving right to the kitchen, working on a second pizza. “I’m so sorry Pinkie Pie, but you know how he is… He saw me leaving the forest and—” Pinkie tsk’d, cutting her friend off. “It’s ok Flutters. And really I don’t mind him coming by, he’s fun! …most of the time. And Surprise loves him.” Now Fluttershy smiled. “She’s here? Did she run away again? Oh she’s such a handful sometimes…” Pinkie shook her head. “Nope! She came with her foster parents.” Fluttershy’s brow furrowed. “Oh but… But isn’t Rarity…” Her eyes widened. “Is she here?” “Mmhm! With her husband, Fancy Pants. Just remember, she’s not our Rarity, okay? I mean, she is… But she doesn’t know us. Oh, but she’s still so nice and she really loves Surprise. It’s so nice to see she’s being looked after right.” “Uncle D! Aunt Fluttershy!” Poor Jubilant looked torn as to which pony to run to first, but she hadn’t seen her aunt in a lot longer, so she flung herself into Fluttershy’s waiting hooves. “What’re you guys doing here!?” Fancy Pants was coming downstairs at a slower pace, gazing at the new ponies in the room coolly, but smiling slightly all the same. Discord approached him first and the two shook hooves firmly. “You must be Jubilant’s mysterious Uncle ‘D’. Rarity had good things to say about you; a pleasure, sir.” Discord smiled grandly. “Oh not at all! The pleasure’s all mine! And I do like that monocle, might have to look into one for myself.” Fancy chuckled. “Well I’m fond of it. Family heirloom and all that.” Nodding to the other stallion, he approached Fluttershy. “And you must be Jubilant’s Aunt Fluttershy. Charmed, my dear.” He lifted her hoof and kissed it gently. Blushing furiously, Fluttershy reclaimed her hoof slowly. “Th— thank you…” She shrank back slightly, hiding inside her mane. Jubilant giggled. “Aunt Fluttershy is super shy around new ponies.” “Aha! Say no more. I think I’ll help your uncle in the kitchen and let you ladies talk.” The wealthy stallion rested his suit coat over one of the seats and rolled up his sleeves, throwing himself into the food preparation with gusto. Rarity was making her way downstairs by now. “Thank you again Pinkie dear, I just don’t feel myself when I’ve a dirty…” She blinked, seeing the two extra guests. “Oh my, it certainly filled up in here. A pleasure to see you again, D.” She received a distracted wave from the brown coated unicorn stallion, and turned her smile toward Fluttershy. “Let me guess… Aunt Fluttershy?” Fluttershy was momentarily speechless, staring at the friend she hadn’t seen in nearly half a decade. Finally after a slightly awkward moment of silence she squeaked out. “Y— yes… hello…” “I am Rarity, Jubilant’s foster mother. It’s so lovely to meet you at last. She loves telling me all about her little walks into the forest. Is it true you live in the Everfree of all places?” Shuffling and swallowing to get over her surprise, Fluttershy could only nod. “Um… Yes.” “Well isn’t it dreadfully dangerous?” Pinkie had taken Jubilant to the sitting room, watching the filly reunite with Gummy and Izzy. “W— well no. I mean yes! But not for me. The um… creatures there are very sweet.” Rarity’s eyebrow shot up. “Sweet? Manticores, timberwolves, and ursas?” “Oh yes. I um, have a way with animals. It’s my special talent.” “Well you may just be the bravest mare I have ever met, I don’t mind telling you. I could never set one hoof in that forest.” Fluttershy made her way to the sitting room as well, settling on one of the cushions. “Oh it’s not so bad, really.” She smiled over at Jubilant wrestling with Gummy. “It’s so nice to see her again.” Rarity felt a now familiar pang in her chest. Pinkie was bad enough, but now here was the rest of Jubilant’s obviously very loving family. It was one thing to hear about them, but to put faces to the ponIEs made it so much harder. “Well we’ll be in town all weekend. Pinkie has graciously offered to allow Fancy and myself to use her guest room.” Fluttershy smiled warmly, watching the filly at play, before looking back to Rarity. “Well I hope you have a lovely stay in town. I’ll probably be at my hut for most of the time; I don’t leave the forest very often.” “We can come visit you, Aunt Fluttershy! I can show Miss Rarity my favorite spots in the forest!” Rarity—if possible—paled beneath her snowy coat. “Eheh… I don’t know about that, dear. We’ll have to see.” Fancy perked up from the kitchen. “I think a hike in the forest sounds thrilling! I’m game.” His wife gasped. “Fancy Pants, absolutely not! It’s dangerous!” He made his way from the kitchen, toweling off his hooves. “Jubilant made the trek frequently; on her own, if her stories are to be believed.” Pinkie shrugged. “I tried to keep her out, or at least make her go in with me, but when she wants to go somewhere…” She poked her filly’s horn. “She goes. It’s hard to stop a filly from running around when she can teleport.” Rarity didn’t quite seem convinced. “… Well we’ll see. I’ll have to talk it over with Fancy, alright Jubilant? Promise you won’t run in there alone.” Jubilant looked to her mom for support, but she unhelpfully looked away. “… Yes, Miss Rarity, I promise.” “Good! Now why don’t you help your uncle set the table, hm?” With a nod, the filly rushed into the kitchen and joined her uncle in levitating the dishes onto the table. Of course the pair had turned it into a game almost immediately, each working to toss the dishes to the table with more flair than the other. Rarity and Fancy Pants watched a little alarmed at seeing the glassware flung about so casually, but Pinkie and Fluttershy barely paid the two any mind at all. Within moments the table was set and everypony was seated, tucking into the meal with relish. The two newcomers were a bit tentative at first, but once they’d tried the unique dish they were enjoying it as much as the others. Rarity remained quiet throughout the meal, allowing Jubilant and Pinkie time to catch up. Though in all honesty, she’d have likely had trouble contributing to the conversation as mother and daughter were speaking at such a rapid pace she idly wondered if they were speaking equestrian or some language the pair had made up themselves. Her husband was talking with D about some safari he’d taken to Zebrica in his youth, and Jubilant’s mysterious aunt was more interested in her plate than conversing. “Well, dinner was wonderful as always, Pinkie! I think I’ll turn in.” Smiling all the while, Discord trotted upstairs; likely to Pinkie’s own room, the mare thought with a sigh. Jubilant giggled as she began levitating dishes to the sink. “Uncle D always runs off when it’s time to do dishes.” “W— well, thank you for dinner Pinkie. And it was nice seeing you again Surprise, and um… meeting you and Fancy Pants, Rarity. I should be going.” Fluttershy had a hug for her niece and friend before she too departed. Jubilant waved until her aunt was out of sight, standing on the porch and watching her go thoughtfully. She didn’t have to look up to know her mom had come out to join her, flopping behind her heavily and resting her head on the filly’s back. “Hi mom.” “Whatcha thinkin’ about?” Casting a quick glance at the kitchen window and seeing Rarity and Fancy tending the dishes together, she looked back toward the not-too-distance Everfree. “Aunt Fluttershy’s element. Does Uncle D have it yet?” “Nope. He’s gonna get it tomorrow. And he said you have been a big help in getting the others.” Jubilant squirmed a little, tucking herself closer against her mother. “Uh huh. The magic one was a little scary, but I made friends with a big dragon!” Pinkie’s eyes shined. She had a good feeling just who the dragon might be. “Tell me all about it.” So Jubilant did. Rarity slowly settled into the guest bed next to her husband. “… Do you think we made a mistake?” Fancy raised a brow, looking at her from the corner of his eye. “In bringing Jubilant to see her mother? Of course not. In fact I think making the trip out here routine would be a good idea. Pinkie Pie is a good loving mother, and Jubilant is a delightful filly. They deserve to spend as much time together as they can.” His wife was fidgeting with her hooves a bit. “But… she’s supposed to be ours now, right? Our daughter? Won’t this… undermine that?” “Oh I don’t think so. She took to us rather quickly after all. And I believe this will only make us closer, to be honest. She’s a bright little filly. She knows we didn’t have to bring her here, and yet we did. You’ll see.” He chuckled suddenly and rolled to face her. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say looking after Jubilant has brought out your maternal side, my dear.” Rarity looked up at him through half lidded eyes. “Come over here and I’ll show you my maternal side.” Jubilant peeked an eye open. Her mom was definitely asleep by now. Carefully, she wiggled out from under Izzy and Gummy, both of whom had taken their usual places on her bed. With a fond smile for both critters, she looked outside, focusing for a moment and blinking from her room down to the back yard. The night was well illuminated by the bright moonlight and Jubilant had a mission. She was going to get Aunt Fluttershy’s element and surprise Uncle D. She was skipping her way to the Everfree, she was so proud of her own cleverness. Unlike so many others in Equestria, the forest held no fear for her. Oh she knew there were dangerous things within, but she’d made the walk alone often enough. Sure it was usually during the daytime, but it was still pretty bright out. Fearlessly, she bounced her way to the forest’s edge, and crossed into it without hesitation. She wasn’t sure why she loved coming in here when everypony else seemed so afraid… but the promise of danger, the unknown… it always made her excited and eager. Jubilant had to resist the urge to stick her nose into every interesting hole, log, or knot in a tree. This wasn’t an exploration mission, it was recovery! Giggling a little to herself, she ceased her bouncing and moved along at a steady trot. A trot that ended abruptly when the light of the moon seemed to just vanish. With a curious frown, she looked up. The moon was still there, big as ever, only… it wasn’t shining on the path. A dawning sense of wonder overtook the filly as silvery luminescence spread off the path in a silvery sparkling trail into the brush. Scuffing a hoof on the familiar path Jubilant looked up at the moon. “There’s something you wanna show me over there, huh?” Of course the mare in the moon couldn’t talk back, but Jubilant knew her most distant friend must have something important to show her. With a happy shrug, she ducked off the path and wandered into the wilds of the Everfree. There was no actual trail to follow, only the silvery twinkling pathway the moon seemed intent on lighting for Jubilant as she walked further and further into the unfamiliar parts of the forest. A nervous little flutter rose in her chest as she heard a twig snap nearby. She halted instantly, ears raised and flicking now and again trying to catch the sound. Just faintly she could make out heavy breathing. She jolted forward again as the moonlit path streaked out faster, almost urgently. Galloping hard, she focused on her magic, blinking ahead several times in rapid succession to get more distance from her swifter pursuer. She risked a glance over her shoulder and let out a wail of fright. Three huge timberwolves were pounding through the brush bearing down on her, jaws wide and slavering sap-like saliva. “Don’t stop running, Jubilant! Don’t panic, and keep running! She’ll come!” Jubilant didn’t know who ‘she’ was, but the voice had never led her astray before. Swallowing her fear, she galloped harder, head lowered. She tried to blink again, but only received a little fizzle from her horn. Feeling her heart sinking again, she nevertheless forced herself to keep galloping. She knew what would happen if she were caught. She tripped and stumbled as a dark form flashed overhead. Grinning excitedly, Jubilant clapped her hooves over her ears as the expected wailing began. All three wolves blundered right into the path of the powerful sonic waves, shattering to splinters that would take days to pull back together. Daring to peek up, the filly was shocked to see her savior hadn’t just disappeared into the woods as usual. Instead she stared up at an imposing mare. Vivid yellow eyes were glaring down at her harshly, weird yellow eyes… like a cat or a dragon’s. Her wings didn’t have feathers, but looked more like those you’d find on a bat. Her glossy coat was a dark grey, nearly black, and her dark purple mane was long and tangled. “What are you doing in here, kid!?” Jubilant’s ears splayed and she shrank back. “Th— the moon…” She pointed over the pony’s shoulder hesitantly. The mare looked back, scowling deeply at the silvery path of moonlight. She shifted her angry gaze up at the lunar orb. “You think that’s funny? You almost got her killed!” Feeling herself calming in the strong pony’s presence, Jubilant looked about her surroundings. She was outside of a big cave, the entrance more of a slightly raised hole in the ground than anything. Curiously, she poked her head inside. It was perfectly dark, save a small speck of purple luminescence coming from somewhere inside. She yelped suddenly as she was hoisted into the air by the bat-winged pony. “Lemme go!” The mare just snorted. “I’m getting you to the edge of the forest, and then you’re going home! And I don’t want to… to…” Her voice trailed off as her eyes fixated on the pendant dangling off Jubilant’s neck. The small warmly glimmering heart stone pendant. “… Where did you get that?” Jubilant’s hooves shot up to cover it. “From Mister Fancy Pants! It’s mine!” Now her angry glare turned to a harsh scowl and she dropped Jubilant roughly to the ground. “It’s not yours! Give it to me!” The filly yelped and flailed now, catching the mare in the jaw with a flailing hoof and dropping to the ground. “It is so mine!” She squeaked again as the mare lunged for her, but Jubilant was a quick filly and ducked under the furious mare’s attack. The scary pony hit the ground and just laid there. Jubilant was about to run when she heard… crying? Ears perked, she turned back to the mare cautiously. She was just lying on the ground sobbing softly. Against her better judgment, Jubilant approached and laid a hoof on the pony’s flank. “S— sorry you… bumped your head?” The mare flicked her away with a flap of her wing. “J— just go home, kid… okay? Just go.” Jubilant considered doing just that, but… she didn’t. “Mom says when a pony is sad, I should try to make them smile. And step one is to become friends! So I’m Jubilant. Or Surprise. Or Jubilant Surprise! Though most ponies only call me one or the other.” Eyes narrowed, the older pony leveled a gaze at her. “… Jubilant Surprise?” “Mmhm! Who’re you?” “O— oh um, I’m Echo.” “Hi Echo! Why’re your eyes yellow? How come you got bat wings? How can you scream so loud!?” Echo stared at her quietly now. “… Why are you in the Everfree alone at night, Jubilant?” The filly pursed her lips at her questions going ignored. “I’m on a mission!” Slowly, the mare settled on the ground. “… Oh yeah? So you got that pendant from uh, Fancy Pants?” She wiped her eyes with the back of her foreleg. “Mmhm! It was my birthday present last week!” Echo’s face softened as she watched Jubilant. “Well happy belated birthday then. Would you like to come inside? It’s not always safe out here, even for me.” Keenly remembering the terrifying monsters a moment ago, Jubilant nodded eagerly, following the mysterious mare into her cave. Focusing a moment, she lit her horn in its warm green glow, bringing another smile from Echo. “Just like hers.” Jubilant tilted her head. “Just like who?” Not saying anything but still smiling softly, Echo trotted ahead, fetching the little purple glowing something Jubilant had seen earlier. As she brought it closer, the filly saw it was identical to the pendant around her neck. “It’s just like mine!” Echo looped it around her neck. “It is. It’s called a heart stone. Night ponies—that’s my tribe by the way—give them to our very special somepony. It lets us know they’re healthy and happy.” “Wow! I thought it was just a pretty little gem! So is that why it glows? You know your special somepony is happy?” “It is.” Jubilant looked down at her own gently glowing stone. “But I don’t have a special somepony. And you’re the only night pony I’ve ever met! How come mine’s glowing too?” Echo’s smile shifted to a faint frown as she tried to figure out how to explain things. How could she though? Even she had little to no idea what was going on. What was the filly’s connection to Jennifer? Was it just her reborn, or something else? “I don’t know, Jubilant. It’s a mystery all right. You’d have to ask somepony better with magic.” She knew she certainly had questions for somepony when she saw him next. “Hm.” Just as quickly as the contemplative expression formed on Jubilant’s face, it was gone. “Well it was nice meeting you! I need to get to Aunt Fluttershy’s.” “Right, you said you were on a mission. What’s the mission?” Jubilant frowned now. Echo seemed nice but she didn’t know her. Of course, she must be the pony that saved her more than once when she got into trouble in the Everfree, but still… “Tell her.” The filly had never disagreed with the voice before, but she wasn’t sure now. “I don’t wanna.” Echo blinked. “You don’t want to what?” “Don’t you start arguing now, tell her!” “I wasn’t talking to you.” Then Jubilant looked away again. “You’re not my boss!” Again the mare blinked in confusion. “Then who were you talking to? Who’s not your boss?” Jubilant scowled a little. “… I dunno who she is. She talks to me sometimes, tells me what to do and stuff. She’s usually nice and helps me. Miss Cheerilee said it was an imaginary friend, but I think she’s real… just… invisible? Or somewhere else.” Echo leaned in close now. “What’s she sound like?” Jubilant shrugged. “I dunno. Like a mare, or an older filly I guess.” “What’s her name?” Again, Jubilant shrugged. “She won’t tell me.” The mare was on her belly now, edging closer to Jubilant. “Can… she hear me?” “Yes.” “She says yes.” Now Echo was looking at Jubilant, but the filly got the distinct impression she wasn’t looking at her, not that that made any sense. “Is it really you?” Jubilant tilted her head, flicking an ear. “She’s not talking now.” Echo snorted and stood up. “W— well… make her talk!” Eyes wide, the filly looked up at the mare like she was crazy. “How am I supposed to make her do anything? She talks when she wants to.” “Please, Jubilant; tell her about what you’re doing here.” Scuffing her hoof and fighting back a pout, Jubilant sighed. “I’m collecting the Elements of Harmony for my Uncle. We’ve already got three! I need Aunt Fluttershy’s, Miss Applejack’s, and that mean Private Rainbow Dash’s and we’ll have ‘em all.” Echo leaned in again. “The Elements? What’s your uncle want with them?” “I dunno. But he said it was to make mom happy again, so I’m gonna find em!” With a nod, the night pony lifted Jubilant onto her back. “Well then we better get to your aunt’s. Hold on tight.” Jubilant squeezed her neck like a vice. “A— are we gonna fly!?” “Yup. Don’t be scared, I won’t let you fall.” Her eyes were shut as tightly as she could manage when Echo began to gallop. Jubilant felt a lurch as the mare leapt into the air, then the sound of her wings flapping furiously. She was keenly aware of the wind rushing through her mane and over her muzzle, and it felt… awesome. Cautiously peeking an eye open, she almost slammed them shut again at the sight of the trees and ground rushing by in a blur… but something kept them open. Slowly, she loosened her grip on Echo’s neck and raised herself up a little bit, a smile forming. Flying was awesome. Several monsters of the Everfree would scatter away from the unknown wailing creature rushing by in a blur, its cry of ‘Woooo!’ striking fear into all their hearts. Fluttershy’s ear flicked gently. She’d heard something coming from the main room of her hut. Panic was her first reaction. Had Galaxia’s soldiers found her? Or was it some hostile critter looking for a late night snack? She winced as she heard a crash and one of the jars on Zecora’s shelves shatter… but her rapid breathing eased at the very familiar pair of voices. “Knock it off, kid! You’re gonna wake her up!” “I didn’t mean to! It’s dark, lemme light the hut up!” Bemusement and irritation warred within the pegasus’ heart at the sound of her goddaughter arguing with Echo. She’d run into the night pony soldier now and again, but they only exchanged brief greetings. They were whispering rather loudly, the sort of whispering young ponies thought their elders could never hear. With a soft sigh, she stepped into the main room. “Can I help you girls?” Both froze up instantly and looked at Fluttershy like fillies with their hooves caught in the cookie jar. Which is precisely what she’d expected from Surprise, but seeing the same look mirrored on Echo—who was certainly not a filly anymore—brought a little giggle from Fluttershy. “H— hi Aunt Fluttershy! Shouldn’t you be sleeping?” Carefully picking her way across the entry room, Fluttershy began to tidy the mess Jubilant made. “Shouldn’t you be sleeping?” “Well I uh... I’m here on important business!” Echo opted to remain silent, watching Jubilant quietly. “Is that so? And what business is that?” “Uncle D and I are collecting the Elements of Harmony! We only need three more, and yours is one of them!” “Oh. Oh yes of course, just one moment girls. Just sit still and um… try not to break anything.” She gave them both a faint smile before slipping to the back of the hut. Echo planted her behind on the floor immediately, but frowned as Jubilant began to wander into one of the side rooms. “Fluttershy said to stay put.” A little snort was the filly’s only response. She rummaged around in the other room a minute before walking back out with a jar held in her magic. Curiously, Echo peeked in and blinked. It looked like a tiny gold star was zipping about the jar, constantly bouncing off the glass as if it were trying to get to Jubilant. “This is Aunt Fluttershy’s secret treasure.” The night pony leaned in, nose almost touching the glass. “What is it?” Her voice was a hushed whisper. “I dunno. But she says whenever she’s scared or sad, this makes her feel better. It’s really pretty, huh?” “I think it wants out.” Tilting her head, Jubilant began to move back and forth… the little golden speck following her movements. “I think it does too! … Aunt Fluttershy might get upset…” Before Jubilant could stop her, Echo reached out and flipped the lid off. The speck rushed out into the open air in a flash, streaking around and around overhead fast enough to look like a whirling ring of gold. The filly shrieked in alarm as it stopped whirling and rocketed right into her horn. A warm golden glow spread from her horn to suffuse the rest of her body in gentle light. Slowly, she uncurled from the tight little ball of shivering filly she had become. Echo sucked in her breath as Jubilant opened her eyes. The vivid blue had been replaced by an equally vivid golden color. “Wow…” The big golden orbs blinked. “Wow what? Where’d it go!? Did we lose it!? Aunt Fluttershy is going to be so angry… Sh—she might give us… ‘the stare’….” “Why would I need to do that, Jubilant Surprise?” Jubilant gulped. Nopony used her full name unless she was in trouble. “N— no reason…” With a gentle frown that belied the furious storm the usually timid pegasus could unleash, Fluttershy bore down on Jubilant. Looking from the filly’s new eye color to the empty jar lying on the floor. “You opened the jar?” Echo finally spoke up. “I did, ma’am. I’m sorry, but it really seemed to want to get to Jubilant.” Gently, Fluttershy lifted Jubilant’s chin, staring deeply into her eyes and holding the pose long enough for her goddaughter to get uncomfortable. Then she smiled. “I see. Well here’s the Element of Kindness, Surprise. You have to take very good care of it, alright?” Clutching the fourth Element to her chest, Jubilant could only nod. “I promise, Aunt Fluttershy.” With a last gaze at the filly’s eyes, Fluttershy shoo’d the pair toward the door. “Alright, you two go home. straight home, Jubilant Surprise.” “I’ll make sure she gets there safely, ma’am.” “Good. You girls be safe. And I’ll see you again soon Surprise, alright?” “Alright, Aunt Fluttershy! And thanks!” The happy filly didn’t wait for an invitation and just bounded onto Echo’s back, who accepted the burden wordlessly. Fluttershy watched from her doorway as the two flitted out of sight. Jubilant was unaware that her foster father routinely checked on her each night to make sure she was tucked in securely. If she had, she may have tried some sort of decoy in the bed. As it was, a rather distraught Fancy Pants found the filly’s bed empty. As he turned to charge back to the guest room and rouse his wife, he nearly bowled over Uncle D. The curious stallion was smiling that large smile of his. “Something wrong?” “Jubilant is missing. I think she must have run out, we need to search for her immediately.” “Of course, of course. Let’s head out right away. No sense waking the mares and getting them all worked up. She’s probably just trotting around town. She has trouble sleeping sometimes; bad dreams. Have you noticed?” Fancy allowed himself to be lead downstairs, away from the guest room and toward the front door. “We have. She… screams in her sleep at times. Though she’s never woken herself. I don’t suppose you know what troubles her?” D’s smile shrank just a bit as he took up his cane and stepped outside with the noble unicorn. “I do, and I can tell you what exactly it is that plagues her sleep.” His horn was glowing with the same wild cacophony of color Jubilant’s did when she teleported. “It’s time for you to wake up, Fancy Pants; you’re going to be needed very soon.”