//------------------------------// // Scraps of Time // Story: Where Night Meets Day // by _Medicshy //------------------------------// “Alright, Twi, why'd ya call me all the way ta Canterlot right before Apple Buck season?” Applejack stood at the doorway of Princess Twilight's royal chambers, which weren't all that different from the library she'd called home before meeting her friends, barring the stained glass window of her coronation and the two guards posted outside the front door. However, even if the room was 'modest' by royal standards, the country form of Applejack looked entirely out of place. That didn't matter at all to the princess, though, and it didn't matter at all to the farm mare, whose scowl was plain to see as she kept talking. “Ya know this is the biggest crop yet, and I ain't lettin' a bushel go sour just 'cus I was called in here.” Twilight smiled as she looked at her friend, who she hadn't seen in far too long. “Is seeing your friend not enough? Because I was really hoping we could take a few minutes to catch up with each other.” Applejack's scowl remained, though a little of the edge in her voice went away. “Consarn it, Twi! I miss ya too, but I send ya a letter every month, and we still pass that ol' diary around. If this ain't an important emergency, I'm gettin' on the next train.” The little sigh that escaped Twilight was enough to put a damper on Applejack's anger, and the princess closed the book she had on the pedestal behind her, ready to get right down to business. “I suppose you're right. And while it's not an emergency, it is important. I called in all of the girls, but we're spread far enough apart that they just couldn't make it for a little while. But by then, you'd be in the middle of the season. That's why I called you in early.” “Twi, I ain't mad,” said Applejack as she walked over, a warm smile on her freckled face. “I appreciate the thought, and if'n I weren't before the busiest time a' year I'd gladly spend some time with ya, but between the mergin' of the farms and takin' care of little Jazz, I barely got time to breathe, let alone travel.” Twilight's smile came back at AJ's apology, and while she didn't want to rush things, she better than anypony else could appreciate a busy schedule. “No, no, I understand. I'll make this quick. Now... I'm going to ask you a quick question. As time has passed, have you noticed anything odd?” Applejack's face curled in a frown as she tried to figure out what Twilight was talking about. “Um... odd?” A simple nod was the reply. “Yes, odd. Ever since we found the Elements of Harmony.” After a silent moment of thinking, Applejack looked at Twilight for clarification. “Do ya mean 'Discord making it rain chocolate' odd, 'Pinkie and the mirror clones' odd, 'you turnin' into an alicorn' odd, 'all of us turnin' into super ponies' odd, or 'Applebloom wearing her bow different' odd?” Twilight was annoyed that Applejack hadn't figured it out, but she couldn't help but smile at her friend's question. “Closest to the last one, but a little more long term.” A few seconds of heavy thinking passed before Applejack answered. “The farm's been growin' more apples?” Twilight shook her head. “The weather's been finicky lately?” Twilight's expression was flat as she shook her head again. “Granny Smith's memory seems to be getting better?” “Not even close.” Applejack sat down on the floor, tilting her hat forward to block some of the light as she tapped her chin and really started thinking. Twilight slowly leaned forward in that time, her face growing expectant for her friend's answer. After a solid minute of careful thought, the answer came. “I ain't needed a new hat?” “UGH!” Twilight's exasperated grunt came with a flare of magic, pulling Applejack onto her hooves and over to a mirror. “You haven't aged! How haven't you noticed this?” “What?” said Applejack, figuring she had something crazy in her ear. Twilight moved the mirror, making sure it was pointed at Applejack. “In all of the years I have known you you haven't aged a single day. None of us have!” Applejack's reflection looked at her, and she watched it right back. Her blonde mane, her orange fur, the slight bags under her eyes from too many long nights. It was the same face she always saw... though, now that she came to think about it, Big Mac had been slowing down a little on how he worked, and Applebloom was growing into a fine young mare... and looking more and more like her each year. Applejack shook her head, looking into Twilight's eyes for the punchline. “Yer kiddin', right? How'd you ever figure out we weren't agin', and how's that even possible?” Twilight's face lit up, excitement creeping into her voice. “I noticed it at the last big 'Ponyville needs more streamers' party Pinkie threw a few months ago. As I was walking around, I saw all of our friends, both the girls and the rest of Ponyville, and it just came to me. After that I ran a few tests on Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash and, while I can't detect the magic that's causing it, I am sure that we haven't aged! Isn't that exciting?” Twilight's wings were flared by the end of her explanation, the tips buzzing with energy. Exciting was one word for what she'd been told, but Applejack couldn't accept it quite yet. “So what caused this? The Elements of Harmony? You becomin' an alicorn? Did Pinkie put something in her cupcakes?” “As much as I wouldn't put it past Pinkie, it would have shown up in the tests, and while me being an alicorn does grant me a longer life span than I would have had as a unicorn, it should have only affected me, much like Shining Armor keeps getting older, while Cadence stopped aging once she reached adulthood.” Twilight shook her head at the thought, not liking that her BBBFF was getting even further away from her in age. “No, I think it had something to do with our connection to the Elements of Harmony.” Applejack frowned again. “But we put the Elements back years ago!” “Yes,” said Twilight, “but we also summoned them into being with our friendship. While I am still trying to figure out the particulars, the Elements of Harmony are ancient and powerful magical artifacts, and we somehow embodied them. We gave them new life, and in return, they extended ours! Isn't that great? We're all going to be giving new meaning to 'best friends forever'!” Twilight chuckled at her little joke, but Applejack's frown didn't leave. If anything, it seemed to be laced with worry. “Twi... how much longer are we talkin'?” The hint of fear in AJ's voice sobered up Twilight's amusement. “Well, until I know more the nature of the magic, there's really no telling. I don't think it's eternal life like Princess Celestia or Luna, but probably quite a long while. You might even live to be older than Granny Smith!” Applejack pictured Granny Smith, the ancient, creaky, wheezing mare she adored... The old mare wasn't what she used to be, and worse than that, she'd started talking about long lost friends... There was a sadness to her stories.. One even her incredibly long life didn't dull in the least. Her gaze dropped to the floor, watching the tear drop from Granny's eye. “That's what I was afraid of...” Twilight folded her wings away, confusion lacing over her voice. “I thought you'd be happier. I just told you that your life was going to be long, healthy, happy, and in the company of your best friends. Most ponies can only dream something like this would happen to them.” Applejack shook her head, smiling at Twilight despite her thoughts. “A' course, that's great news! I just... I dunno what to say.” She had so many kin she was gonna watch fade away... even her little sister... maybe even her son... She shook her head, launching the grave thoughts out with the motion. No, I ain't gonna let somethin' like this get me down! Twi don't even know anythin' about it. Don't go sourin' this already. Applejack looked at Twilight, who was looking back curiously. Applejack's little display and the forced smile she put on didn't hide her feelings in the least. “Twi... do you know when the next train is? I need to get back as soon as possible.” Princess Twilight nodded slowly, not wanting to pry too much. “There should be one that leaves in about two hours. But, if you want, I could get a chariot to fly you home. And you're more than welcome to stay longer here, if you'd like.” Applejack shook her head. “Thanks for the offers, but I can't stay, and I don't wanna mess with your guards. I'll just go... wander the city for a bit.” Applejack turned towards the door, already on her way out. Twilight watched her go, continuing to wonder just what she said that had Applejack acting so strangely. “Well... Goodbye, then.” Applejack turned towards her once more, a haunting look on her face as she answered. “Goodbye, Twi.” It was the first time good news Twilight had given had ever been met with such sadness... The look on her face, the almost fearful resignation... it stuck with Twilight. None of her other friends would take the news badly. In fact, she was surprised by strength of the reactions Fluttershy and Rarity showed, expecting the bigger display to come from Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash. And yet, only Applejack's face haunted her memories, even finding its way into her dreams, the scene replaying in every detail, the meaning slowly becoming clearer as years passed. The late afternoon light spilled in through the window of Rosewater perfume shop, nearly turning that very special shade of red that used to bring a hint of a smile to the proprietress’s face. There was a tiny little window where, as the sun reflected off the clouds, it would be exactly the same color as her son's hair. It used to bring her just that little spark of delight. It used to be when the tears fell, too... Now it was just some light on the wall, signaling yet another day with no sales. Eight in a row, though it really wasn't any wonder. The shelves were barely stocked, almost looking barren compared to years past. Sure, they had more varieties than ever, but so few bottles of each. Rose hadn't really seen the point in making too many. Perfume was a product of peace, and that was a faint memory at best. Rose sighed, the creases on her face standing out as she frowned at the immobile door to her shop. Through the window she could just make out the mailbox, empty... as always. She remembered a time when orders used to overflow from that little metal box, along with the letters from Fleur de Lis and Fancy Pants, and all the other nobles she'd come to know in Canterlot. But the attention trickled, and after his incident at the castle... she was surprised she even still had a shop. She lay her head down gently against the cool glass of the display counter, letting out another disheartened sigh. Closing time once brought so much more to her life... the feeling of a job well done, the expectation of a warm bed and a smiling family awaiting her at home. More memories, fading at the edges as time marched on. Turning her head, her eyes settled briefly an aging book resting on the counter before her pink mane fell in front of her eyes. It reminded her that she needed a manecut, but she didn't really want to go out. With how she felt, she honestly wasn't sure how she'd receive a customer... but if one came, she'd smile like she always did. Some things never left. Brushing the hair from her eyes, Rose reached for the book, sliding it over gently. The edges were a little worn, but it seemed only fitting for a book entitled 'Memories.' They all seemed to be fraying anyway. She'd bought the book so innocently, a promise to herself to make a photo album, like any happy family had. But it had been neglected, and by the time the thought came up again it had already been used for something else. She ran a hoof over the cover, remembering how she'd pretended to be angry when she'd found out. Remembering the smile on his face... that smile she'd known so well... The tolling of a bell pulled Rose out of her happy thoughts, shop owner instincts ground in over thirty years coming into full force as she perked up, smiling brightly towards the door. “Welcome to Rosewater, how may I help you this evening?” She wasn't sure why she didn't tell the pony she was closed, cursing her automatic speaking for not turning them away, but once she saw who it was, why she hadn't seemed much less important. “Princess Twilight! It is a pleasure to see you in my humble shop.” Princess Twilight Sparkle stood just inside the door, her wings folded against her back and visible effort going into stopping her frown at the disorganized shop she had entered. However, when the alicorn heard Rose speak, she shook her head, smiling brightly. “Please, Rose, I know it's been a while, but we're friends. You don't have to call me that.” Rose chuckled softly, her smile straining. “Right, of course. Silly me, Twilight.” 'A while' had been over twelve years, when Twilight's duties to her country had forced her to move from Ponyville to Canterlot Castle and not once visit since... But the thing that left a bitter taste in Rose's mouth, oddly, was that Twilight didn't look a day older than when she'd gained her wings. Time marched on for the ponies in the lowly positions, but the Princesses remained untouched, aloft and removed from what had befallen everyone else. Rose's thin smile fell, her face going neutral as the thought to ask Twilight to leave went through her head again. “What brings you out here? Can I help you?” The Princess smiled, though whether or not she'd recognized Rose's tone was hard to tell. “Well, the Grand Galloping Gala is in a few weeks, and I discovered that I had finally run out of perfume, so it was time to get some more. I also was hoping to pick up a bottle of rose ink, as I seem to be running low on that too.” Everything going on, and Celestia still parties as though nothing is wrong... “Do you have a particular scent in mind?” “Standard for the ink, but for the perfume... you wouldn't happen to have anything from the Everfree, would you? Maybe from the Tree of Harmony?” Twilight looked hopeful, but as soon as she saw Rose's flat expression her smile faded. “Or, whatever you might have around... you know...” Rose took a few steps back, searching her brain as she did. “I think I might still have something in the back... Won't be but a moment.” She pushed the door open to the stills, using its closing to hide the tired sigh she released as she searched for the bottle in mind. It took a little bit of time to search through the quiet, darkened stills and the storeroom above them. Rose remembered when it was her house up here... and then when it was their house, and all the times they'd shared... The tears threatened, but they never came. She wasn't surprised. They'd all seemed used so long ago. Eventually, Rose managed to find a few bottles of fresh rose ink, and even the delicate crystal bottle she'd been searching for, held carefully between her teeth. As she opened the door to the shop, however, her jaw clenched, nearly shattering the glass neck as she rushed to the counter, slamming shut the memory book Twilight was looking through. Twilight took a startled step back, her wings flaring open defensively as Rose spoke, the bottle in her mouth falling and clinking dangerously against the counter. “What do you think you are doing? I don't care if you are a princess, you have no right to go through this without asking me first!” Twilight looked indignant, her unnaturally young face pleading. “Rose, I'm sorry, but you left the book unattended and were gone for so long... I was just curious. And I actually have a few questions, if-” “No,” Rose said definitively, placing the bottles of ink on the counter and righting the fallen perfume bottle next to them. “That is my last bottle of Heart's Desire and Bluebell blend, and two bottles of rose ink, because I was feeling generous. One hundred bits, because you're a friend.” Twilight saw the bottles, but she didn't want to drop the subject of the book next to them. “Rose, if you'd just-” “One hundred and twenty five, and you stop snooping into my personal property.” “Rose, if you'd give me a moment-” “One hundred and fifty and you leave my store immediately.” Twilight huffed, using her magic to pull out a money purse. “Your reaction is worse than Celestia's when she found out I read her diary...” She placed the money on the counter, levitating the bottles into a small pack before walking towards the door. Rose looked at the money, then at the dejected droop of Twilight's tail, feeling a bit of a mule for her reaction. It was originally meant to be a photo album... it still had all the look of one. If it wasn't meant to be shared, why'd she ever put it together? And if she ever wanted another customer, or another pony to talk to, she'd have to stop scaring them away. “Twilight, wait...” Twilight stopped, turning around just in time to catch the coins that had been tossed towards her, a look of confusion appearing on her face. “I overreacted, and you're still a friend. That means you overpaid. And, since you are curious... maybe I wouldn't mind answering a few questions.” Twilight's wings flared with the excitement that shone on her face, causing her to nearly knock down part of Rose's skeleton stock as she ran through the store. “Really? Thank you! It seemed odd as to the reason why you had such an interesting collection of items together in a photo album, and I figured that-” Rose sighed, cutting Twilight off. “Princess, with all due respect, don't make me regret this.” Twilight blushed and sat down next to Rose as the older mare opened the book. “Originally, this was meant to be a normal photo album, but we didn't really like pictures too much and the book sat empty, so eventually I decided to start including happy memories.” On the first couple of pages were pictures of Rose's house, her shop, her family and friends, all smiling. Then two pieces of paper, taped delicately on pages across from each other. The first was the invitation to Applejack's wedding, a picture of her and her husband, Golden Grape, on the front. The second was the birth certificate for Flora, Rose's second child, with a picture of the newborn filly beneath it. Twilight let out a soft coo at the baby picture, which was cut off with a slight gasp when she looked at the date on the certificate. “Who would've believed that was twenty years ago, already?” Rose shook her head, hardly knowing where the time had gone. “She's not so small anymore...” On the next page was a picture of a play date Rose had somehow gotten dragged into. Pinkie Pie was there with Pumpkin and Pound Cake, the trio sitting next to Applejack and her newborn, little Jazz Apple, his rich red fur barely visible for the quilt he was wrapped in, his yellow freckles bright on his cheeks. Next to her was Rose, with Newsprint and Flora, both the same light beige fur, Flora with a mane that matched Rose's burgundy, while Newsprint's was closer to the style, if color reversed: soft pink with just a burgundy streak running through it. They were all smiling at the camera, confetti falling from wherever Pinkie always seemed to conjure it. The sting of tears was behind Rose's eyes, her heart sinking as she looked at the beautiful, innocent moment. It should have been happy, but so much had happened since... She turned away, taking a moment to compose herself so as not to cry before Twilight. However, her precautions weren't needed, since Twilight was focused on the other page. “Is that... a news article? What's that doing in there?” Rose looked at the offending article, glad to have the distraction, though the small joy faded quickly. “It was something...” Inwardly she sighed, feeling the hesitation at that name stir once more. She'd known this would be a bad idea. “... something Ink Well put in there. After so long without me adding any pictures, and no real memorable moments in writing to put in, he suggested it should become a sort of time-line of important events, so that one day we could marvel at everything we'd been through.” She didn't have to read the article to know what it was. The story was about the new Weather Factory being denied to Cloudsdale, by royal decree of Princess Celestia herself. It mentioned the destruction of the original factory, as well as the controversy surrounding it and the Princess, before offering concerns about the unstable and wild weather throughout Equestria. Without the factory, the skies were much more difficult to tame, or so the article said. But Celestia's order had put an end to it. Twilight looked at Rose curiously. “But why did he choose this? Of all of the stories, what made this one important?” Rose shrugged. “In hindsight, its inclusion was rather smart, don't you think? He always did know what was newsworthy and what wasn't, and even when he stopped being a journalist, his hoof never left the pulse of the news.” Twilight wanted to say more, but she figured she was already on thin ice from earlier. Better to wait than risk her curiosity going unsated. Instead she used her magic to flip the book to the next page. “Oh... she sent that?” Rose nodded, looking at the letter, each word elegantly penned. “Yes. While he and Princess Luna were pen pals for a long time, for some reason this was the only letter he kept here. He said one day it would be important... I remember reading it once. It was mostly Luna being disgruntled at Celestia's political decisions, annoyed that she wasn't getting a say, and worried what would become of the country. But then, at the end...” It was then that Rose realized Twilight knew precisely what she was going to say. She could even see the words Twilight's eyes were running over. We received permission from Twilight Sparkle before sharing this fact, and we hope she does not begrudge us for telling you, but the ponies who embody the Elements of Harmony have become timeless. It is unknown if they are truly immortal or simply have extended lives, similar to those exalted to alicorn status, but this news speaks of a greater purpose for each of them. She has yet to break the news to the others, but we are sure our sister will let us know the result. The letter continued from there, but Twilight caught Rose's eyes as she looked up, curiosity lighting deep within them. “So,” said Rose, knowing the answer stood within the pony before her. “Did the news go over well? Have you figured out just what is going on?” Twilight sighed, wondering how often this would come up in her life. “The news went over fine, or as fine as big news ever does, and we don't fully know the effect the Elements of Harmony had on the six of us yet. But so far signs point to extended life, not eternal life.” Rose busied herself with turning the page, something Twilight was very glad of. Applejack's face was haunting her again... and seeing the tiredness in Rose's eyes, she was really starting to understand it. On the next page pictures returned once more. There was another birth certificate, this one for Wind Key, the youngest of Rose's children, a picture of the newborn pegasus filly beneath it. There were a few more pictures included: The completed family gathered around the Hearth's Warming tree, little Wind Key riding the aging form of Ellipsis, their collie. A shot of Ink Well flying over the house, his hat on Wind Key's head as she cheered from his back. They shared the same fur color, the same mane color, they even shared wings. The only thing Rose had seemed to give her was her eyes: ivy green, intelligent, and curious. At the bottom of the page was one more picture. It was simple, just the five family members at the park, the children playing while Rose and Ink Well looked on. She couldn't remember, now, who took the picture, or who had taken the time to put the nice border around it, but she couldn't help but smile at the sight. 'Days at Play' had been written on the elegant, winding ivy border the picture had, and deep down Rose felt a true longing for the past. She wished, now more than ever, that those days could have gone on forever. After a long while Twilight cleared her throat, pulling Rose from wherever she'd gone to. Rose quickly turned the next page, but Twilight didn't complain. It was the first real smile she'd seen since she'd entered the shop, and the next few two pages did nothing to keep it there. They were covered in news articles, in stark contrast to the happy times of before. 'Drought in Equestria,' 'Weather Riots in Manehattan,' 'Cloudsdale Targeted for Rain Shortage,' 'Princess Celestia Denies Weather Factory Again,' and, most discouraging of all, 'Royal Guard Clamps down on Protestors.' Each article had a paragraph or two attached to them, but the final one came with a picture: ponies of all races in chains in the Manehattan Central Park, surrounded by a full compliment of Royal Guard with the Canterlot sigil. Twilight quickly turned the page, wanting to get rid of all of those unhappy bureaucratic nightmares she'd had to live through, only to be hit with the biggest insult of all. In bold letters, spanning the entire width of the page, 'New Lunar Republic Secedes from Equestria.' The entire article was there, from start to finish, making Twilight scowl at the words. And then, remembering the pages before, and the first article in the book, she glared at Rose. “He knew...” Rose looked at Twilight, seeing the sudden anger, and matched it calmly. “He was able to see the dots long before they could be put together. And by the time he tried to talk Luna out of it, it was too late.” Twilight looked down at the page, still glaring at it all. “But why didn't he warn us? Why didn't he tell Celestia or me?” She looked on the next page, already knowing the articles she'd see. 'Elements of Harmony Split Up! Loyalty and Laughter Join Luna,' 'Nationalities Called into Question: Cities Side with Lunar Republic,' 'Spells Fired in Manehattan, Equestria Declares War,' 'Gryphons side with New Lunar Republic, Draft Enacted for Needed Soldiers.' It was all a mockery of her ability as a Princess, unable to stop this, unable to keep the land together, despite everything she'd done. She remained loyal to Princess Celestia, did everything her teacher asked of her as the head mage, studying the wild magic of the Everfree Forest... But nothing she did was enough. Nothing she did brought her friends back from their betrayal... nothing she did could bring the land to harmony again. Rose didn't respond to Twilight's question. She knew the answer, that he had sent more than one letter to them both, but she wasn't going to argue with the princess now. Not once she remembered what was on the next page. While Twilight stewed over the articles of the war, Rose flipped the page. Immediately, though it was still mostly articles and paperwork, the way they were put in the book changed. They looked more like the pictures from earlier, and Rose knew precisely why. She'd had to take over the job, because of the first article on this page. 'Famous Writer makes Attempt on Princess's Life.' The article continued below, the picture of the broken window at the castle next to a photo of Ink Well himself mid-flight looking hunted, determined, and intelligent. Yesterday evening famous writer Ink Well, known once for his revealing news stories and more recently for his Traveler book series, attacked Princess Celestia in her own study at the Grand Galloping Gala in retaliation to the draft. Reports are unclear, but after luring the princess up to the room, some kind of struggle broke out, during which time Ink Well crashed through the stained-glass window and soared into the night. He was chased by the Royal Guard, but was lost among the clouds. From there the article had 'eye witness' accounts and words from the Princess and guards, before concluding with this: His whereabouts are unknown, but he is to be considered highly dangerous, working with the Lunar Republic, and should be detained on sight. If any information is known, please send a report to your local guard immediately. On the page across from it was a wanted poster of Ink Well, the 'picture' used likely drawn, as the evil sneer on his face was one she couldn't even imagine him having. He was public enemy number one, wanted for treason and assault on the Princess, with a 100,000 bit reward for information leading to his capture. Twilight looked at the pictures, then at Rose, the princess's glare now joined on her face by a determined frown. “I promise that we will find him, Rose. He still has a lot to answer for.” “I'd honestly rather you not.” Twilight's anger flared at Rose for a moment, a fire burning behind her eyes. “What do you mean by that?” Rose looked at Twilight, her face carefully flat. “Did you know that the punishment for treason alone, let alone assault on a royal, is death? The guards made that very clear seven years ago when they turned my house upside down looking for him. Three times, once in the middle of the night, scaring the living daylights out of my children and me.” She flipped the page, letting her hoof rest over the bottom half of it, just showing the top to Twilight. “Though it wasn't until they froze our bank account and had half the town convinced we were spies that Newsprint joined the army.” At the top of the page was Newsprint's call to action, a picture of him in his full armor next to it, above a letter talking all about training and how he missed his sisters and being at home. “You see, while he knew of his duty to his country, Newsprint also knew that he didn't have to join. Once Ink Well had run from the draft, the rest of us were labeled as dodgers, and weren't going to be asked for fear we'd have sympathetic tendencies with my husband. However, with all of the stigma over our house, Newsprint just knew, as the big brother of the household, he had to clear the family name.” Rose looked at Twilight, who was now watching the older mare with rapt attention. Because while Twilight's anger had burned behind her eyes, Rose was poised like a tiger. Calm, collected, and ready to pounce when the moment was right. “Oh, we tried to stop him. Wind Key kept arguing that their father had left because he refused to watch Equestria fight with itself, which was true, while Flora appealed to him thinking about what he was doing. I, of course, didn't want him hurt. I was his mother, after all, and I didn't care at all what reputation our family had. Sure, I had already seen a sharp drop in business, but what was a little money to see my son safe, at home, and far from the battlefront?” “But no, he left, our name was saved, and everything would have been just fine, were it not for the Battle Beneath Cloudsdale.” Rose moved her hoof slightly on the page, revealing the picture of the devastated landscape. She had traveled there, on hoof, to take the picture. She'd wanted to be there, to know where it had happened. Huge, burned craters pock-marked the ground, next to the rubble-filled lakes that showed where the buildings had crashed from the clouds. “I'm sure you know all about that, though, since you were there. You know how the gryphons joined the battle, turning it against our soldiers. How a magical barrage was sent down into the fray, one you swear you didn't order. How no retreat was called for our own troops...” Twilight knew without asking what was about to come. She remained stoic as Rose revealed the other page, with the black-bordered letter from the army, the Medal of Harmony pinned to the page. “For giving the ultimate sacrifice to protect our nation,” Rose recited, looking Twilight in the eyes and daring her for an explanation. “And neither you nor Princess Celestia even bothered to sign the paper. And do you know who sent me condolences?” Twilight remained silent. “Fluttershy, written from her medical camp where she was treating the wounded, Rarity, delivered just before she disappeared, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie, both from the New Lunar Republic. Even his enemies cared more about his falling...” Twilight looked down at the medal, all that was left after that day five years ago, she knew. Anypony lost in the blaze... there wasn't enough to recover. The response was robotic. “I am sorry for your loss.” Rose snorted angrily. “Applejack at least was sincere when she delivered the flag, the letter, his medal, and his training helmet to remember him by!” She then flipped over the page, not wanting to look at it anymore. “And you know nothing of loss.” The few items on these pages were placed in half-heartedly, as if they didn't matter, or the pony involved just didn't care. Still, the headlines were clear. 'Magic Attempt Made on Princess Luna's Life.' 'Tornado Tears Through Canterlot.' The beginning of the end, as it were, as pegasi, angry at the fall of Cloudsdale, attacked Canterlot, while unicorns tied to Canterlot tried to assassinate Princess Luna. Since then, a pegasus was a rare sight in the skies of Equestria, while many in the New Lunar Republic could scarcely recall the last time they saw magic. So many pegasi had fled, even from Ponyville, where the stigma hardly stood. Some for fear of retribution, some to avoid the dungeon, and some in search of another. There was a missing pony poster taped across from the headlines, asking for information on Wind Key. One morning she'd just disappeared after an argument with Rose. She'd been angry over Newsprint's death, furious at her country for letting her brother die and wanting to make it right... She hadn't been seen since. However, folded up beneath the poster, there was a letter. It was nothing special at all. There had been no return address, no pomp or circumstance to its arrival, nothing at all to make it stand out compared to the long list of tragedy Rose's photo album contained. And yet, for her, it was one little note of hope. She remembered getting it, just after she started putting the posters up. She was in a dreadful state, having lost two children in less than a month, when Flora brought it in. She opened it up, smelling the familiar rose scent that wafted up while reading those few words. She is in Manehattan, and she is safe. There will not be another one lost. That was five years ago... It was a long, long time to hold out hope. Twilight looked at the missing pony poster with sadness in her eyes, having no idea how it would feel to have something like this happen, especially after the loss on the page before. The closest she could imagine would be if something had happened to Spike, twice, and even then it didn't seem to stack up. She wanted to ask about it, or try to offer some solace to her old friend, but nothing seemed to come out. She may have lost her friends, yes, but they were still alive, and even after all this time she held out hope that one day they might even be her friends again. The two mares stood in an awkward silence, Rose wishing for Twilight to leave, and Twilight wishing she knew the words to say, when the bell above the door rang. “Mom? Are you still here? I think I left my key in the greenhouse, and I need to-” The voice stopped as a young mare, looking maybe slightly younger than Twilight, came around the shelves, stopping in her tracks at the sight of the Princess in the shop. Immediately she bowed low to the ground, unintentionally showing off her cutie mark: a crystal flower, like only Rose had seen before. “Princess Twilight, what an honor to have you in our shop. Please tell me if there is anything you need.” Twilight shook her head, about to speak when Rose cut her off. “I already took care of her, Flora, thank you. Though I suppose it is time to close up the shop...” Twilight took the hint, closing the photo album on the counter and smiling from Rose to Flora, who was in the middle of getting up. “Ah, yes. I should be leaving anyway. Thank you again, Rose.” Twilight made her way past Flora, getting one clear moment when their eyes met. Hers were the same emerald green as Ink Well's... with the same intelligence behind them too. “Nice to see you again, Flora.” She made her exit, feeling the weight of Rose's eyes on her and doubt behind her own earlier actions as she took flight back to Canterlot. As soon as the door closed, Flora walked up to Rose. “Mom, I'm sorry, if I'd known you were with such an important client I wouldn't have barged in like that.” Rose just sighed, her shoulders and ears drooping as she did. “It's alright, Flora. It really is. We were just done talking, anyway.” She grabbed the album off of the counter, walking with her daughter to the door before closing it and locking it with a key ring. She then turned, giving the ring to Flora. “Here you go. Just make sure it finds it's way home eventually.” After Flora nodded, Rose started off on the road to her house, the weight of the day heavy on her back. It would be nice to curl up in bed and let them all go away... The eighth day in a row of that too. It was just one of those days.