//------------------------------//
// "What if she turns on us halfway through?" 
// Story: An It Harm None 
// by DuncanR 
//------------------------------//

Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash and Applejack sat at a table while Maggie busied herself about the hut. The furniture, like Maggie herself, was small: even sitting upright on the floor, the ponies were at a comfortable height for table conversation. They’d huddled together hoping to discuss the situation and come up with a suitable plan, but they hadn’t talked much. They sat quietly and occasionally glanced at Maggie.
Their hostess ignored them utterly as she rummaged. She hadn’t bothered cleaning up any of the mess she’d made during her earlier panic attack, and was now kicking discarded pots and pans out of her path and stepping barefoot over broken glass and spilled jars. She kept a tight grip on her broom at all times but never once swept anything.
Dash leaned close to Twilight. “It only took you and A.J. a week to whomp up a nicer place than this.”
“Shush, you!” she whispered back. “Should we even be discussing this without her? Maybe we should—”
There was a loud crash. They turned to see Maggie standing on her tiptoes and trying to reach something on a tall shelf. She let out a frustrated grunt and swept aside several clay bowls, all of which fell to the floor and shattered.
Dash leaned close. “I think we’re on our own for this one.”
“We need her!” said Twilight. “She knows so much about the Drizzly Bears. About the Millstone, the storms, the forest... about everything.”
There was a frustrated scream as Maggie struggled to open a crusty glass jar. She slammed it against a table lid first, and finally beat it with a metal serving spoon. The jar shattered and she scooped some of its gooey contents into a mixing bowl, glass splinters and all.
“That’s great,” said Dash. “You can interview her all you like. When that’s done, we set out on our own.”
Twilight shook her head. “We could certainly ask her to share information. But if we want her expertise, we have to bring her along with us.”
Applejack nodded. “There’s a big difference between book-smarts and know-how.”
“But we don’t need her,” said Dash. “We could to do this ourselves if we had to, right?”
Twilight paused in thought. “I think so, but we don’t know how long it would take. Or how dangerous it would be. We could spend a whole week studying the runic inscriptions, and they might not even tell us what we need to know. At the very least we’d have to return to Ponyville and bring the rest of our friends. I’d feel a lot better if all six of us were together.”
Applejack leaned her chin on the table. “I’d feel a lot better if I could tell my family about all this. We were due back a week ago.”
Twilight rested a hoof on her back. “I can send a letter to the Princess and she can pass it on to Ponyville. They’ll know we’re okay.”
“Yeah. I guess we’re lucky Spike showed up after all,” said Applejack. “Hey. Where is the little tyke?”
The three of them turned to see Spike seated at a table on the other side of the hut. Maggie set a plate in front of him, then sat down with a plate and cup of her own.
Twilight gave her friends a panicked look, then she rushed across the hut and snatched Spike’s meal out of his hands. He’d scrunched his eyes shut as he’d opened his mouth, so it took him a moment to realize his hands were empty.
“Spike! You should know better than to accept food from strangers!”
Spike frowned at her, unimpressed. “Strangers? I thought you said we were trying to get on her good side.”
“I said we...” Twilight looked to Maggie and moderated her tone. “I meant that we should try make a good impression. But we don’t want to impose on your hospitality. ”
“You’re spoiling him,” said Maggie. “If you feed him nothing but gemstones you’ll rot his teeth within a year. They should be a ‘sometimes’ snack.”
“Spoiling...?” Twilight looked down at the meal she’d taken from Spike. It was a metallic crystal made of crazy, squarish spirals and right-angled ridges that had grown over each other in layers. Its surface shone with a spectrum of oily, iridescent colors.
“Bismuth...?” Twilight said. “You’re feeding a baby dragon bismuth? Do you have any idea what that could do to him!?”
Maggie looked at her, bored. “Do you?”
“Well... no. But that’s reason enough, don’t you think?”
“He’s a growing dragon. His body needs metal.”
Spike stared at the unappetizing crystal. “Are you sure it does? I mean... ugh.”
“It’s like spinach.” Maggie held up her own sandwich: rough, grainy bread packed with dark, limp greens and slimy paste. “You can tell its good for you because it tastes terrible.”
Twilight contemplated the wild and crazy crystal. “How much do you know about dragons?”
“Not much,” she said, “but I know a lot about babies. Mother taught me to be a midwife. I help animals give birth, sometimes.”
Twilight regarded her with newfound respect. “Really? That’s... wow.”
“Dragons don’t give live birth, of course. They lay eggs. But after they hatch, they have to eat metals to build up their strength. It goes into their scales and spines, their teeth and claws... even their bones and muscles.”
Spike’s eyes widened. “Really?!”
“Oh, yes. Dragons can’t grow strong without a proper diet. Eating nothing but gems will probably stunt your growth as you get older.”
“Stunt my—!?” Spike clenched his fists and his claws scratched little furrows in the table. “Ahhh-gimme-gimme-gimme!” He leapt from his seat and snatched at the metal crystal.
Twilight levitated it out of reach. “Maggie. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t fill my dragon’s heads with crazy ideas.”
Maggie arched an eyebrow. “Even if they’re correct?”
Twilight straightened up. “If you can provide me with a reliable reference book about baby dragons, then I’ll believe you.”
Maggie pointed at the bookshelf. “Third shelf from the top. The red cover.”
Twilight looked at the cluttered bookshelf. “Really?”
Maggie nodded. “It’s a bestiary that lists a variety of magical animals. There’s a short chapter on dragons.”
Twilight gasped. “That would be incredibly useful! We know so little about them. Thank you so much!”
“Thanks. I wrote it myself.”
Twilight lowered her head with an exasperated sigh. “No rigorous peer review process, I assume?”
“You will simply have to read it and judge for yourself.” Maggie took the book from the shelf and brought it to Twilight. “The proof, as they say, is always in the pudding.”
Twilight watched as Maggie took her plate to a different table and sat alone. Spike jumped up and snatched the crystal out of the air and bit into it, but winced and rubbed his jaw: the crystal was undamaged.
“Ugh... maybe those gems really are rotting my teeth.”
Twilight snatched both the crystal and Spike’s ear, and dragged them both back to the table. Applejack and Rainbow Dash watched her, expectantly.
“I think...” Twilight hesitated. “No. I know she would be invaluable on this quest. And we wouldn’t be endangering her, either... she can defend herself.”
“That’s what I’m worried about,” said Dash. “What if she turns on us halfway through?”
“She needs us just as much as we need her,” she said. “And besides, we can’t know what she’ll do until it actually happens. The proof really is in the pudding.”
The three friends turned to look at Maggie, sitting alone, slumped over her sandwich. They stood up and walked to her table.
“Pardon me,” said Twilight. “May we sit with you?”
Maggie stared back, her cheeks bulging with limp, leafy greens. “Whatever.”
The three ponies moved the chairs aside and sat on the floor, coming to eye level with the little witch.
Twilight gently cleared her throat. “If the Drizzly Bears are creating these storms, we need to put a stop to it. They’ve wandered all the way back to our village.”
“Not my problem,” Maggie said with her mouth full.
“Well... we were thinking...” Twilight trailed off as she saw something fall out of the sandwich: a tiny little earthworm. Another one wriggled out from between the spinach and waggled in the air. “Uh... there’s a...”
Maggie gave her a withering glare. “Do you want something from me?”
“Right. Well. You see... are you sure that sandwich is fresh?”
Maggie took another bite. “Nothing is certain.”
“Y’all excuse me,” Applejack said as she left the table. “I just need some fresh air is all.”
Twilight waited for her to leave before continuing. “So, Maggie. You mentioned earlier that the Drizzly Bears cause a lot of trouble for you.”
“When mother is away, yes. Which is almost always. But they have learned to stay out of my lands.”
“You know more about them than the three of us combined. You also know about this Millstone. What I’m saying is... we could really use your help.”
Maggie spit on the floor. “Get lost.”
“But the storms!” said Dash. “Don’t you want them to stop? And don’t you want the bears to leave you alone?”
“The bears already leave me alone because I leave them alone. If I were to invade their stronghold it would be a grave offense. As for the storms, they don’t bother me. I send them away.”
“Send them...?” Dash shot up and slammed her front hooves on the table. “You’ve been sending those storms over to Ponyville! This is all your fault!”
“I invite you into my home. I allow you to pester me with questions. I even forgive your trespassing, and this is how you repay me? By accusing me?”
“We brought you home after you got hurt! We saved your scrawny butt!”
Maggie shot to her feet and locked eyes with a pegasus six times her mass. “The bears never would have attacked me to begin with if you hadn’t antagonized them!”
“Girls!” Twilight said and gently pushed them apart. “We both need to take responsibility. We’ve both made accidents.”
Maggie slapped her hoof aside. “So what if I have? Why should I care what happens to your stupid village?”
Dash glowered at her, but Twilight pushed her back into her seat before she could speak.
“Maggie, please. We could do this ourselves, but we would greatly appreciate your help. This problem needs to be solved quickly and with a minimum of fuss.”
Maggie fell back in her chair with a frustrated sigh. “That’s your best offer? If I help you, you’ll agree to cause less trouble for me?”
“Offer?” said Twilight. “You mean... you want us to pay you for this!?”
“I’m not going to help you for nothing. I thought that would be obvious.”
“We’re not making an offer,” Twilight said, “because it’s just the way things are. If we don’t deal with it now it’ll only get worse. We could really use your help... but if you refuse to help us, we’ll be perfectly content to solve this problem without you.”
Maggie looked about the room for a moment.
“Then no. I won’t help.” Maggie pointed at the door. “Leave.”
Twilight clenched her jaw and looked about the room.
“Alright,” she said. “You win. We’ll give you... a third.”
“A... third?” Maggie said.
“Yes. One third of what we were going to be paid for the trip.”
“Twi?” Dash said. “Aren’t we—”
Twilight clopped a hoof against the table. “One third, Maggie! Take it or leave it!”
“Two thirds.”
“Half.”
There was a quiet moment. Dash’s eyes darted between them.
Maggie nodded. “Half.”
“Alright,” Twilight said, “it’ll make the expedition a loss for us, but half it is.”
“Then I will help you. But I’ll need to visit mother before I go.”
Dash tilted her head. “Didn’t you say your mother was away?”
"From home, yes. But she’s never very far. I visit her every week.”
“Of course,” said Twilight. “We’ll wait outside.”
“I should hope so. Since this is my home. Which I’ll be away from.” Maggie took her broom and went to the door. “Wait in the yard until I return.”
They watched her leave.
Rainbow Dash turned to twilight. “So... half? Of everything we were going to be paid?”
“I thought it was a reasonable offer,” she said, “given the circumstances.”
Dash nudged her shoulder. “Nice haggling. I bet A.J. would be proud!”
Twilight looked away. “I’m not so sure. It wasn’t very honest of me.”
 
 
 
Everyone exited the sod hut and went into the front yard where Applejack was still waiting, near the huge stallion from before. It was the first time they’d seen him in the light of day, and even with his head bowed low, he was huge: Applejack was only at eye level with his shoulder. His coat—his olive-drab coat—was shaggy and mottled. His tail looked like stringy swamp muck and his mane covered his eyes like a curtain. A gooey mix of mucus and saliva dribbled from his chin. 
Applejack was standing in front of him, leaning as far back as her sense of balance would allow. She brightened up as soon as her friends emerged from the hut.
“Hey, y’all! How’d it go in there? Everything okay?”
Maggie went to the stallion. “I need to visit mother. You watch the house while I’m away. Don’t let anybody inside.”
He nuzzled her neck and she responded with a gentle pat. His runny nose didn’t seem to bother her.
“Geez,” said Dash, “whaddya feed him?”
“Grain,” Maggie said as she rummaged in the stallion’s saddlebag. “It’s a perfectly natural size for him.”
“That’s not natural,” Dash whispered. “He’s even bigger than Big Mac, and he’s a draft.”
Maggie glared at Dash. “Tarnhoof isn’t a pony, you ass. He’s a horse. A Moorland Percheron. Horses are bigger than ponies.”
“Wait a sec,” said Applejack. “Ponies are horses... aren’t we?”
“All ponies are horses. Not all horses are ponies.” Maggie took something from his saddle bag and tied it her belt. She patted Tarnhoof’s neck and looked him in the eyes. “...Try not to get flirty. I don’t like you talking to strange mares.”
They watched as Maggie walked down the flagstone path and went into the forest, barefoot.
“So,” said Dash. “Tarnhoof? That yer name?”
Tarnhoof gave a prodigious belch. When he inhaled his breath sounded like a phlegmy, gummed-up bellows.
“Yeah. So.” Dash turned to Applejack. “I’ll just wait over there if you need me.”
“Right,” said Twilight. “We’ll be just over there.”
Applejack watched them walk to the other end of the yard. She looked back at Tarnhoof.
“So, yeah. I’d better...” She chased after her friends. “Hey, wait up!”
 
 
 
The three friends stood together and quietly contemplated the overgrown yard. Tarnhoof remained where he was, never once speaking.
“So,” Applejack said. “she’s going to visit her mother?”
Twilight nodded. “That’s correct.”
“But didn’t she say her mother was away?”
“Away from home, yes. She might live nearby, or be out on an errand.”
“Yeah,” she said. “I guess so.”
Dash glanced around and flexed her wings. “Geez, I’ve been sitting too long. I think oughta stretch my wings for a—”
“Don’t even think about it,” said Twilight. “She’s visiting her family and deserves some privacy. And spying on her won’t make a very good impression.”
“Yeah... yeah.”
A rustle in the forest startled all three of them. Maggie emerged from the foliage and went to her front door without a word.
The three friends shared a look, then approached the door.
Twilight knocked twice. “Hello? Are you coming with us?”
There was the sound of rummaging. Eventually, Maggie emerged with a broom and a small backpack.
“Could someone carry this for me?”
Applejack smiled. “Why, I’d be happy to—”
Maggie tossed the pack haphazardly onto her back and applejack let out a strangled gasp as the unexpected weight staggered her. Maggie marched on.
Twilight caught up with her. “Did you get permission to come with us?”
“Permission?” said Maggie. “I’m not a child. I do as I please.”
“Then why did you visit her?”
“I just needed someone to talk to. She always helps me sort my thoughts.” She turned her broom around for use as a walking staff. “I also wanted to say goodbye. I don’t know when, or if, I’ll return.”
Applejack caught up with them, struggling under the tiny pack. “Don’t you fret none. We promise you’ll come home safe and sound.”
Maggie pursed her lips. “We will see what comes of this.”
 



 
They trudged through the jungle for half an hour, and reached the vast mountain range. The long row of frozen rock loomed over them, and a maelstrom of storm clouds whorled around each of the peaks.
“That’s different,” said Dash. “They weren’t doing that before.”
Maggie leaned on her broom. “The bears weren’t angry before. They make smaller storms now and then... but this is bigger."
Dash lifted her nose. “Toldja they were up to trouble.”
“I never said they weren’t,” she said. “Just that I didn’t need your help.”
“Please you two,” said Twilight. “We need to think of a plan. And this time, it’s got to be a good one.”
“Ah’m open to ideas,” said Applejack. “Maybe our friend here could—”
Maggie glared at her. “I’m not your friend!”
Applejack flinched back. “Sorry! Jeez, sorry!”
“Maggie,” said Twilight, “What would you do? How would you solve this problem?”
She pursed her lips. “I use special charms to turn the storms away from my home. I could make enough to protect Ponyville.”
Rainbow Dash flapped her wings. “That doesn’t solve anything.”
“Fine. I could make enough charms to encircle the mountain. That would keep the storms contained.”
“We don’t need lucky knick-knacks!” said Dash, “we need a real solution! We need to put these bears in a world of hurt!”
Maggie’s steel-grey eyes fixed on Dash. “I could awaken the volcano.”
They stared at her quietly for a moment.
Dash lowered to the ground. “Can you really do that...?”
Maggie looked at the mountain. “I know one way to find out.”
“No,” Twilight said, “we can’t solve this problem through force.”
“Yes we can,” said Maggie. “You’re just afraid to use enough of it.”
Applejack and Rainbow Dash watched as Twilight Sparkle considered Maggie’s suggestion. Her face went through several stages of contemplation, each tinted with a different emotion.
“Maggie,” she said at last, “would your plan work?”
“A volcanic eruption won’t damage the Millstone. It’s indestructible. But it would bury it under a river of lava... and when the lava cooled, it would be trapped under a river of rock.”
“And if someone excavated it, would they be able to use it again?”
Maggie paused to think. “They could, but it would take a hundred years to dig it up. Even longer to find it.”
“No... no.” Twilight turned to the mountain. “We need a solution that will last more than just a few centuries.”
“The Keystone,” she said. “The Millstone of Misery won’t work without the keystone. It was supposed to be lost in ancient times, but if the Millstone is active again the bears must have recovered it.”
Dash brightened up. “Then all we have to do is take it from ’em!”
“Perfect!” said Twilight. “Where can we find it?”
“Probably inside the Millstone... which is in the heart of the stronghold.”
“That does complicate things,” Twilight said. “But I’m sure we can think of something.”