//------------------------------// // Needed Rest // Story: Fate/Amicitia // by Sanguine //------------------------------// “So after I apologized for acting so awful, we both went to the tattoo parlor and I, well…” Twilight lifted up her hoof, showing off the star-and-wings design of her Command Spells to Spike. “Wow! So cool!” His little eyes were shining as he fawned over her ‘ink,’ but the young dragon was nothing if not stubborn, and he quickly went back to crossed arms and a grumpy voice. “Well, I’m still not exactly happy about you trapping us in here. Things were really hairy! By which I mean Mr. Bear sheds when he’s nervous!” He gestured across the room, where Twilight got to enjoy the sight of Fluttershy’s favorite ursine combing clumps of thick hair onto the floor with his claws. Twilight and Rarity both made disgusted faces, but recovered quickly. “Well, you know Twilight. She can be a teensy bit manic at times. The important thing is that we’ve made up, and we all learned an important lesson, as always.” “Yeah, can’t wait to send the Princess a report about this one.” Twilight hoped she was hiding the sarcasm in her voice. She was amazed it was going so smoothly, but then what else should she have expected from one of Rarity’s ideas? If anyone knew how to soothe Spike’s feelings after an awkward moment, it was her. After the battle Rider had ferried the whole party of unicorns and Servants back to Rarity’s home, where Twilight had promptly collapsed into a nearly comatose sleep. When she awoke, once again aching all over from how badly she’d been strained by her spellcasting, she felt like she wanted to sleep for another year at least. Unfortunately, Rarity had been there to remind her of the fact that she had to drag herself out of bed at least long enough to free her ‘captives,’ back at the library. But there was a problem. Once they set Spike and Fluttershy free there were going to be a lot of questions. Why had Twilight had trapped them? What was the fight with Rarity really about? How had they resolved it? Rarity’s plan to explain things was simple: stick to the absurd story Twilight had already fooled Spike with, the claim that she was upset her friend had gotten a tattoo. Disguise the whole ugly mess as their latest misadventure discovering the Magic of Friendship. Despite Fluttershy’s skepticism, if they both told the same story it wouldn’t seem that far removed from any other mundane little conflict that went too far. It was as though they’d never seen some small thing spiral into magical hijinks. It was just a matter of glossing over the more... extreme moments and focusing on making the whole thing seem as trivial as possible. As far as Twilight could tell, Spike was more than happy to go along with that. “Now, can I count on you to clean this place up?” He saluted. “Consider it done, boss!” He zipped away to find his cleaning supplies, and Twilight and Rarity shared a sigh of relief... until Fluttershy walked over with a sour look. “I don’t know what was going on with you two, but it was obviously something much more serious than a silly tattoo! You better believe that I’m going to sit you both down and get a straight answer out of you… um, you know, eventually. When you feel like it. No rush. Sorry if that sounded mean…” As Fluttershy’s little speech tapered off into scuffing her hoof and staring intently at the floor, Twilight couldn’t help but smile. Things felt very normal, and it was a wonderful feeling. The morning went by uneventfully. They cleaned, they chatted. Fluttershy even picked up a big take-out lunch for everyone while dropping by City Hall to let the authorities know about the damage to her home. Other than having to invent an excuse why Spike couldn’t use any kind of soap or water to get the hair off the floor (after all, despite not being easily visible anymore the alchemic residue that created Saber’s summoning circle was still there) it was as stress-free as Twilight had felt in days. That changed rather suddenly as they were cleaning dishes and Fluttershy shared an announcement. “I spoke with Big Macintosh while I was out. Until my cottage is properly repaired my critters and I are going to be staying at Sweet Apple Acres.” It wasn’t welcome news. Even though she’d sorted things with Rarity and Trixie, the fact remained that there was still a Grail War going on in Ponyville. The identities of four of the Masters were still unknown. Archer was still tremendously dangerous, and Assassin had at least been willing to terrorize Rarity even if he had yet to actually attack anypony other than Rider. Trixie claimed that Lancer was a threat as well, and the final Servant, Caster, had yet to reveal itself. Not to mention the suspect motivations of Ruler. As things stood, Twilight was not eager to let a friend go somewhere she couldn’t provide protection. “Are you sure that’s a good idea Fluttershy? The farm is all the way on the other side of town. You’re much closer to your place here.” Fluttershy fidgeted awkwardly before saying, “Well, to be honest some of my critters don’t really want to stay here anymore after being locked in.” Twilight felt her face contort with shame at that comment. Fluttershy was quick to console her. “I mean, they’re not angry at you or anything! It’s just, you know, birds can get very upset when they’re stuck indoors, and prey animals don’t like the feeling of being trapped. It’s just their instincts. Besides, as nice as your home is there’s really not enough room for them all here. And the noise they make is probably disturbing your neighbors. They’ll do much better in the open farmland.” There wasn’t much Twilight could do to dispute any of that, and it didn’t really feel right to try knowing that her own actions had made the animals uncomfortable with staying. But nagging worries gnawed at her. Sweet Apple Acres was isolated, far from prying eyes. With Applejack’s extended family in town there were a lot of potential masters lurking there. After all, as Saber had pointed out, there was no guarantee that only unicorns could be Masters when every pony species had it own forms of magic. Not to mention that conveniently the Apple Family had discovered a long-lost unicorn relative a few days earlier… “Well, if you don’t mind my company I’ll help you walk your critters over. It’s the least I can do.” As exhausted as she was, until she and Saber had scouted the farm Twilight would never be able to sleep easy. *** Interlude 12-1 Noon’s arrival was imminent. It was the time of day when every shadow died. But one endured. Assassin wandered the green pastures of Ponyville’s outskirts in his corporeal form. Solitude during a lengthy trek on foot had always been something he enjoyed. It gave him time to plan, to ponder, to philosophize. He had been counted as a wise man in his life, by both followers and enemies, and he often contributed that reputation to those days alone on the road between cities where he had nothing but his own thoughts. It was a hot summer day, with no wind and no clouds to dampen the sun. Heat baked the grass dry and it crunched under his feet. From the Grail’s gift of knowledge he knew that the pegasi of Equestria used magecraft to control the weather, and he wondered if those in charge of the town’s skies were slacking off in light of the upcoming festival. Still, it was no bother to him. In his homeland the heat could be a death sentence. The frailest child would not even dignify a day like this by calling it ‘uncomfortable.’ What was a far greater concern was the pain in his chest. He passed a hand over his pectoral muscles and down his abdomen, knowing that there was no physical wound where Rider had shot him. Even the weakest Servant was not so delicate that he was unable to heal a few bullet holes, but the pain from her gunshots lingered nevertheless. Perhaps it was some trick of her pistols? He had no way of knowing if they were simple spectral weapons or some sort of Noble Phantasm. Of course he knew Rider’s true identity, but she was an unusual case among Heroic Spirits, and her powers might take unusual forms because of that. The alternative was that this was a phantom pain, something he was imagining. It wasn’t a thought that he relished. The leader of the Order of Assassins, the Hassan, was bound by duty and doctrine to be an enlightened being. The idea that he was allowing his mind to fool his body, the idea that he was so fixated on his defeat the night before, was a disgrace. How could allow something as mundane as pride warp his perception? He had accepted Rider outplaying him, drawing him into a fight he could have avoided, with a laugh! He had taken great joy in their struggle! But his thoughts lingered on that last moment, when he had used pure skill and mental fortitude to corner her… and his Noble Phantasm had failed. Worse than failed, done nothing! He didn’t dwell on Berserker surviving his attack by a hair, but to have Rider stand there and suffer no ill effect at all was disturbing. He needed a new plan, but all he could do as he wandered the still meadow was rub his chest, the constant ache shattering any train of thought. His thoughts and the pain swirled in an incomprehensible tempest, and because of this he failed to notice as the heat and brightness of the sun started to fade. However, he did notice once an impossible fog settled over the field. The sky went from brilliant clear blue to a twilight haze of stars, despite the sun still hanging high in the air, and with every step the haze became thicker. Assassin found himself compelled to keep walking and find the source of this oddity. He stepped into denser and denser mist that obscured everything from his sight, until finally a dull orange light appeared before him. He approached it cautiously, and found it was a wooden doorway attached to a stone structure. He pushed the door open… and found paradise. A cozy fire burned in the hearth. Sculptures and paintings and tapestries filled the room. Every piece of furniture was of fine craftsmanship, both decorative and comfortable. Tables all around were filled with succulent meats, fresh fruits, bottles of wine, cream, and honey. Incense and scented candles burned, filling the air with the scent of spices. Of course, he would have been quite remiss to not notice that every chair and couch in the place was occupied by a beautiful, buxom young woman. A tall, blonde-haired girl with tanned skin in a sheer silken robe was the first to notice him. “Ah, a visitor! My lord, we bid you welcome.” This was the cue for the others to rouse themselves. There were a dozen of them. Girls with hair of red, brown, black, silver, green, pure white and deep blue. Girls with eyes of emerald, sapphire, demonic ruby and wolf-like gold. Some had garments that clung tight to their bodies, showing off supple curves, and long legs. Others had flowing robes in various states of transparency, hiding everything and nothing behind satin and lace. They swarmed around him with smiles and giggles and soft hands, eagerly touching his arms, chest and face. The tall blonde who had first spoken gently shoved the sea of softness aside. “Now, now, ladies. Give our fair lord room to breathe! You must forgive them. Most of them have never laid eyes on a man before. They have an… aching… curiosity.” She took Assassin by the arm, holding it close to the softness of her breast. He could feel the warmth and the shape of her body through the thin fabric of her gown as she led him up some stairs. The others followed behind, stalking him with eager grins and blushes. “It is fortunate you’ve come to us, my lord! The master of this tower is gone, you see, slain by a great knight who sought to free us from perceived bondage. But he misjudged our situation so tragically! All the maidens of this castle desire is to serve.” They reached the peak of the stairs, and she opened another door. Beyond that door was huge, decadent-looking bed. A bed which looked like it could easily accommodate a dozen at once. The other girls flowed into the room, giggling and smirking as the blonde beauty led Assassin to the bed. The mattress was goose-down, beyond soft as he sat upon it. “My lord, I could see from the tower window that you are one in need of service. A wound haunts you, does it not?” Assassin tilted his head. “Your eyes are sharp, maiden.” The woman smiled. “You are in need of succor, my lord. And we are in need of a master to serve.” From behind two girls approached, and they let their clothes drop to the floor. Each took their place at Assassin’s side, grasping one of his arms and holding them tightly against their exposed skin, letting their softness wrap around him. Their breath was heavy as they began to kiss his shoulders and neck, tasting his pitch-black skin. The maidens pulled him back further onto the bed, and a third appeared behind him, her clothes already discarded, offering her lap as a pillow. His two attendants laid his head against her creamy thighs, the smell of her and the heat of her like a dream as she gently massaged his aching head. The other two pressed their bare bodies against him, their chests infinitely soft against his rock-hard abdominals. Their tongues began to trace his muscles just as the blonde girl crawled across the bed. “Do we please you, my lord? We are, all of us, mere maidens. We do not know the ways of love.” She pulled her gorgeous face nose-to-nose with Assassin’s blank mask, laying her body flat against his, only a sliver of silk dividing them. The other two and his lovely pillow continued their ministrations as the blonde girl asked, “You will teach us, won’t you?” Assassin let out a small laugh. “I was a teacher in life. Shall I give you your first lesson?” The blonde woman’s smile rotted into a hateful sneer as she felt the cold steel of a dagger against her throat. Assassin began his lecture, flashing back to his own vivid memories as he spoke. “On the day he was inducted into the Hashshashin, an acolyte of our Order was given potent drugs, his mind expanded to a state of nirvana and his body forced to the peak of physical sensitivity. Once this was done, he was taken to the Garden of Paradise. A true Eden on Earth. Anything he could ever wish for waited there. Every food he could crave was fed to him, every drink he could thirst for filled his cup, and every lustful fantasy that his mind could conceive was fulfilled again and again until he was utterly spent of desire. All by an army of hundreds, even thousands, of eager, loving virgin girls... and boys, and for that matter anything else that a more twisted mind might want. Once it was over, the newly minted Assassin was told the experience was a vision of his place in Heaven. It was the afterlife he would earn by serving the Order. Imagine it: infinite pleasure, for eternity, in exchange for their miserable mortal life. It is the perfect method of indoctrination, creating soldiers ready, even eager, to die for the Order." He paused, giving her time to process his words and grimace at his dagger, before continuing. "It also serves another purpose. Once you’ve experienced the Garden, the memory never fades. Not even for those that rise to the highest ranks and learn it was all an illusion. That memory is an Assassin’s most powerful weapon. What pain or torture could ever harm him if he has that memory to relive? What treasure could ever hope to tempt him?” As he spoke, the other women began to disappear, even the one whose lap was his pillow. Assassin found them and their sudden egress quite interesting, because he was certain they were not just illusions. By the time he was done speaking only the blonde laying over him was left. “So, Caster, having heard my lecture, have you fully grasped your miscalculation?” “I suppose so, Old Man of the Mountain.” She remained very still, and so Assassin made a point to keep his knife very still as well. “Tell me; is that your true face Caster? Be honest.” “What a cheeky question. Where does your ‘true face,’ hide, Hassan-i-Sabbah?” “Touché. You may step away now.” Caster gingerly crawled back from the blade, all the way off the bed and back to her feet. Assassin stood up, his blade still poised, and as he did the castle began to fade. In only moments they were back in the meadow, the hot summer sun still beaming down. “Assassin,” Caster began, “I come to you seeking an alliance.” “Is that so? You must be a poor negotiator if you have to put that much work into softening up your mark.” She struck a rather haughty pose. “How rude. Don’t disparage my charms just because you happen to be immune to them. They’ve corrupted even the most virtuous souls.” He ignored her words and continued. “I have no need for an alliance. Only one Servant in this war is any threat to me.” “Big words for a shadow. I assume you must mean your precious sea dog? Berserker already survived your Noble Phantasm once, and you’re a fool if you’re that dismissive of Archer.” Assassin tilted his head in amusement. “So it would be the height of wisdom to instead put my trust in a temptress? Even Assassin knows that Caster cannot be trusted. Deception swims in the blood of every mage.” Now it was Caster’s turn to smirk. “Well, if that’s how you really feel, by all means continue your walk. I am sorry to have troubled you. How is that pain in your chest, by the way?” “Healing at a decent pace.” “How does the grand master of a secret order of killers become so bad at lying?” Assassin turned away and faded into his spiritual form, but as he did he heard Caster’s last words. “When you tire of the pain, return to me Assassin. I’ll be waiting to ease your burden.” Interlude Out *** Sweet Apple Acres was still bustling with activity. Apple Family members buzzed around the orchard, collecting as much of their premature harvest as possible. Time before the Summer Sun Celebration was running out. They were eager to maximize both their profits and the time they would get to enjoy the festivities. Twilight was making a show inspecting "a fascinating fungal growth," on one of the trees, giving her a scientific excuse to let Fluttershy go on ahead, out of earshot. “So, what do you think Saber?” Despite being invisible, she could almost see him stroking his beard in thought. “It's as I said Twilight, I can’t tell if any Servants have been near this land. I am no mage, sensing magical residue or energy signatures is not in my skill set.” Twilight sighed. “Well, I had to ask at least. So, do you sense any Servant here now?” “No. But that only means so much. If Lancer or Archer made their base on this farm I would have a chance to surprise them, the range of their detection is only slightly larger than mine. But they could easily be far from here on some sort of errand or scouting mission, and if Assassin or Caster were hiding here we’d never find them. Assassin can conceal his presence perfectly, and Caster would sense me coming far in advance and have all the time in the world to hide.” Twilight let out an annoyed groan. "Well, I guess it's up to me." She focused her mind on her Command Spell, feeling for even the slightest twitch that would indicate the presence of a Master among the Apple Family. She wandered the rows of apple trees, the cornfields, the cart paths, trying to look like she was just hiking and keeping he distance from the farm ponies. Based on what she'd seen with Trixie and Rarity, the Command Spell only reacted when the pony was actively using magic. Otherwise it remained dormant, masked from detection. With a unicorn it was easy, if they were using their horn she would feel the reaction instantly. But how was one supposed to tell with an earth pony? Earth pony magic was very subtle. Even the greatest magical scholars were constantly debating even it's basic definition, other than the generally accepted theory that magic was what allowed them to work so well with plants. Attempts by pegasi and unicorns to operate farms tended to end with a lot of dead crops. Unfortunately, even that one factoid wasn't any help. There was no planting or pruning or tending of any kind taking place in the orchard, just a harvest. Twilight doubted any magic was brought to bear during apple-bucking. Still, she wandered, trying to feel anything from any of the Apple Family ponies and coming up empty. She was so focused on her hoof she didn't notice there was someone else on the road until the conked heads. Twilight rubbed the bump on her skull. "I'm sorry, are you ok?" she asked. The pony she'd hit was actually somewhat familiar. Her tan coat was immaculately groomed, and her long mane was an absolutely radiant golden blonde, painstakingly straitened and conditioned, with a slightly darker stripe running through her tail. The other pony rubber a similar bump. "Yes. I'm so sorry, I'm just so exhausted today I didn't look where I was... oh, I know you! You're Applejack's friend. I met you when you moved to town during the last reunion. I'm Apple Cobbler, do you remember?" A memory of being stuffed full of baked goods until she was sick the day she moved to Ponyville came to Twilight's mind. "Right, of course. Nice to see you again. I'm so glad that you all came into town to help Applejack with the harvest." "Well, it wasn't exactly my first choice of leisure activity. I'm an exhibition baker, kicking apples off trees isn't exactly my forte. But when family calls I'll always be there. And now that AJ can't work Granny really needs the-" Twilight cut her off. "What happened to Applejack?" "You didn't hear? She collapsed in the field yesterday. It gave everyone quite a scare. She's resting at the house right now with Cousin Apple Island." After almost forgetting why she'd come to Sweet Apple Acres out of worry for her friend, the mention of that name brought Twilight's thoughts back into focus. "Is she accepting visitors? I'd really like to talk with her about her condition." Apple Cobbler said it shouldn't be a problem, then offered to walk back to the house with her. That was fine by Twilight. If Apple Island was a Master, the more witnesses around to make sure she couldn't do anything the better. They made small talk about trivial things. Apple Cobbler told her what an exhibition baker was, basically a pony who made especially fine desserts for contests and high-society clientele. An artist of sorts, but with food as a medium. Having to look good for judges and fancy dinners certainly explained why she took such good care of herself, and why she wasn't eager to help with apple-bucking. She claimed that the networking she could do with all of the wealthy tourists coming into town for the Celebration would be worthy any amount of manual labor. Twilight was content to let her talk about herself. Apple Cobbler seemed nice, but there were more important matters at hand. As they approached the house, Twilight mentally steeled herself. She would have to hide any reaction if she sensed or saw Apple Island had a command spell, or she would give herself away. It would take discipline, courage, and- "DAG NABBIT BRAEBURN, YOU LET ME OUTTA THIS HAMMOCK RIGHT NOW OR I'M GONNA SHUCK YOU LIKE A CORN COB!" Of all the things Twilight expected to see when she reached the house, Applejack held captive on the veranda, literally strapped into a hammock with leather belts, had not made the list. Applejack was struggling, trying to escape her restful prison, but all she was succeeding in doing was twisting herself up more and more. Her cousin Braeburn, a handsome yellow stallion in a snappy vest, was shaking his head at her. "Cuz, I wouldn't have to tie you down if you'd just stay in your sick bed." "I ain't sick! I just fell over, it wasn't anything to fuss about! I need to get back to work, the orders we've got comin' in for these apples could pay to renovate the whole west orchard! You know how many fruit bats are livin' in those trees?" Braebrun actually got an annoyed look on his face, replacing his usual smug smile. "Now, I'm plum tired of arguing with you Cousin Applejack! You passed out in those trees, and Granny told you to stay in bed! Bed is where you're stayin'! You're lucky I'm letting you sit on the porch! Now why don't you actually trust somepony else for once in your life. In case you forgot, I've got an orchard of my own. I know how to buck apples, and I know how to make sure my workers are buckin' them properly too!" The rant seemed to catch AJ off-guard, and she frowned at herself. "Well, I didn't mean... I'm sorry Braeburn. I'll leave you to it." Twilight actually smiled as she walked up the wooden steps. "Well, I can't say I'm happy that once again worked yourself to the point of exhaustion. But being willing to trust someone else to do a job for you is a pretty big thing for you!" "Oh, Twilight!" AJ blushed a bit at the comment, but decided to change the subject. "If you came to check on Fluttershy she's out at the barn getting the place ready for her critters." "To be honest, I came to check on you. I couldn't believe you passed out working." "Yeah. It's the darndest thing, I've been gettin' plenty of sleep and I made sure to share the load all I could. But every day I just feel more tuckered out. I really did learn my lesson last time I overworked myself. I just don't get it." A new voice chimed in, seemingly from nowhere. "Yes, it's a real mystery. And since yesterday several more of our Apple family members are looking worn out, even the ones that went to bed early. It's as if something is just sucking the energy right out of them." Apple Island stepped out of a shadowy corner, her burnt-orange coat and red and green striped mane as striking as the first time. Twilight didn't twitch, didn't react at all except for a friendly smile. "Yes, Apple Cobbler here did mention she'd been feeling tired. We bumped right into each other because of it." "Oh, how awful. Were you hurt, Miss Twilight? Or you, Cousin Cobbler? I'd just feel awful if the only other member of our family who actually takes care of their hair had something happen to them." The two shared a lady-like laugh, and got into a quick chat about the incident. Twilight did her best to remain calm. She stuck out like a sore thumb from the rest of her family, and not just because she was a unicorn and a full grown blank-flank, but nothing about Apple Island struck her as sinister. Still, if she was a Master, she could be extremely dangerous. She had not forgotten Archer, not forgotten he hadn't hesitated to try and take her life. Even Assassin had attacked Servants rather than ponies. He must have been under orders, which meant one of the remaining four masters was ruthless and deadly. Twilight killed time, chatting with Applejack about whatever little nothing popped into her head. She kept stealing glances at Apple Island, hoping for a glimpse at the bottom of her front hooves. Her focus caused her to once again be startled when the front door of the house was kicked open. "Your snack is served Cousin AJ!" shouted a particularly boisterous pony with a long green mane tied with a bow. She practically shoved a hot fruit tart in Applejack's mouth, allowing her no chance to argue about being waited on. A flashback to something similar reminded Twilight that this was Apple Fritter. Apple Island paused her conversation to shout in their direction. "Fritter, dear, what did I say about being more considerate? We are trying to nurse Applejack to health, not choke her back to unconsciousness." The young pony had been ready to shove a second tart down AJ's throat when she stopped herself and smiled sheepishly. "Hehe, sorry Cousin Island. I wasn't thinking." She let out a monster yawn that belied her apparently high spirits. "It's alright dear, I know you're been tired too. I just hope we don't catch whatever is 'tuckering you all out,' as they say. Right, Applebloom?" Twilight hadn't even noticed the small filly, who was balancing a cup of lemonade with a long straw on her rump. Applebloom had a worried look on her face as she regarded her trapped big sister and her yawning cousin. "Yeah. But they're all gonna be just fine, right Cousin Island?" Apple Island gave her young relation a warm smile and a wink. "Of course, sweetness. I promised you didn't I? You and I will take good care of everypony until they're feeling better." Applebloom seemed satisfied by this answer, and moved in closer so her sister could sip her drink. But at the last moment, her hoof caught a knot in the floor and she and her glass tumbled to the ground... only for both to be caught by a deep green magical aura. The same aura that glowed around Apple Island's horn. Twilight held her breath, waiting for her hoof to be shocked by pain... but nothing happened. The spell continued as Apple Island set the glass on the ground and set Applebloom back on her hooves, and still she felt no reaction from the Command Spell. Once Applebloom was safe, the unicorn even walked over to give her a lecture about watching where one stepped, and rested her forehooves on the filly's shoulders, giving Twilight a clear view that both were unmarked! Despite all her worrying, Apple Island was not a Master after all. Twilight's relief was immeasurable, so much so that she decided to stay and share Applejack's snack. Just as she had through the morning, she reveled in the feeling of normalcy. She wasted a good two hours asking Applebloom about her school, learning all about Apple Fritter's hobby whittling knick-knacks and giving them as gifts to her friends, getting hair care tips from Apple Cobbler that even Rarity didn't know, and refusing to be the one to untie poor Applejack. It was the most fun she'd had in what felt like years. *** Finally, it came time for her to leave, and Apple Island offered to walk her to the gate. They trotted along in silence, enjoying the late-afternoon warmth. Twilight almost felt like she owed the other unicorn an apology, even though she hadn't actually said or done anything rude to her, but before she could think about it further Apple Island spoke. "Miss Twilight, I want to tell you something in confidence. I didn't want to mention it in front of the others and worry them needlessly, especially Applebloom. But you're Princess Celestia's apprentice, I'd be a fool not to ask for your counsel." Twilight told her to go on. "Something about this outbreak of fatigue isn't right. I suspect magic is to blame." "What makes you say that?" "I suppose you'd have to call it... intuition. I know I'm not an expert, but whatever is exhausting them does not seem natural. You see, after Applejack passed out in the field we made her rest, and by the end of the day she said she felt fine. But then she went to sleep, woke up the next day after a solid eight hours, and somehow she was exhausted again. How can SOME rest cause you to recover and then MORE rest make you worse? Now it's spreading as well. It affected Applejack strongly enough to knock her out, and the very next day it strikes a dozen other ponies, but only enough to make them bleary-eyed. A normal fruit bat just takes a little bit of juice from every fruit on the tree, you see, while a vampire fruit bat sucks the fruit into a dried out husk, seeds and all. But in either case, it's deliberate. Something is feeding, and in this case we're not discussing fruit juice. What could steal vitality itself other than magic?" Every sentence made Twilight more and more concerned. Apple Island was right, it didn't seem natural, and odds of something like this not being related to the Grail War seemed awfully slim. It seemed her one-day vacation from fear and worry was over. "Thanks for telling me all this Apple Island. I want you to keep your eyes open for anything suspicious. If you sense anything magical that's out of the ordinary, or see any unusual creatures, I want you to come strait to me. Whatever you do, keep a low profile. I have a bad feeling about this." Apple Island seemed quite relieved as she made her goodbyes. Twilight wished she could say the same. But whatever this was, at least she wasn't facing it alone. Tomorrow she, Trixie, Rarity and all their Servants would figure out what was happening at Sweet Apple Acres. She would have preferred to do it tonight... but she wasn't entirely sure she could walk all the way home before her aching body made HER pass out. Not one to let an opportunity slide, Saber joked, "I hope you don't plan to make a habit out of forcing me to carry you home. Putting you to bed once was fine, but you're taking the title 'Servant,' a bit too literally if you keep expecting it." Twilight smirked and began her long walk toward bed.