//------------------------------// // Companions and Causes // Story: Upheaval: Journeys // by Visiden Visidane //------------------------------// Upheaval: Journeys Unified 2: Companions and Causes When the feast was first announced, Canterlot's inhabitants dismissed it as rumors. What could there be a feast about? The legionnaires returning from...somewhere were injured and haggard. They certainly didn't look like they did something that should be partied about. Besides, they had made their purpose very clear from the beginning. These grim, armored ponies from the far-flung reaches of Equestria seemed concerned with nothing but fighting and getting others to fight. When preparations became more obvious, however, the doubts turned into bewilderment and some measure of suspicion. Was the Legion even capable of such a large scale celebration? Sure, they've been seen in small gatherings, enjoying meals and that potent, cheap drink they had a seemingly endless supply of, but a massive party where they invited everypony to partake? There had to be a catch. As such, the inhabitants of Canterlot, even ponies from nearby settlements like Ponyville, approached the central plaza hesitantly. Set up lasted all day and the event officially kicked off with the sunset. What a spread awaited everypony, enough to set mouths watering and to put some hurry in their legs despite lingering doubts. Canterlot's best delicacies adorned long tables across the plaza; still-bubbling tureens of creamy asparagus soup and hearty potato stew, bowls of leafy salads glistening with dressing, steaming mounds of rice of various colors, each infused with some spice and mixed with diced vegetables. From Ponyville, baskets of bright shiny apples, carts of pies, cakes, and other pastries, and barrels of sparkling cider courtesy of the Apple Family. The Legion had refused to be outdone when it came to contributing. From the west came bundles of Dragonspine grass; fine, pointed stalks with a minty fragrance and taste that sent tongues tingling, a variety of Great Delve mushrooms from tough and hearty "Rat Ears" to delicate cave stalks. From the north came Grade A Wintermoss, seemingly unappetizing with its dark green, almost grayish color and dense form, but providing a rich, aromatic taste with each bite. The south provided clusters of bright red, fresh Assassin Vine berries, as well as a heady wine made from the stuff, pungent Snake-Tongue flowers with their forked, red-streaked, purple petals, and the notorious Dragon Kiss peppers, deceptively small and green little things, for the brave or foolhardy. Even just smelling the things from afar cleared the sinuses. The Legion brought more than food, however. Newly recruited Heartland ponies could only stare in confusion when they saw their usually harsh commanding officers. Not a bit of barding in sight, no glares and sharply barked orders. Legionnaires mingled with the rest of the celebrators in casual clothing, all hearty laughs and loud cheers. Even the hard rule of not sharing booze with the Heartlanders was relaxed. Ponies enthusiastically opened cask after cask, not of the cheap booze that the Legion carted in at the start of reunification, but the finest that the Barrier Lands' brewers could make. The celebrators did not eat only to the sound of their own voices as well. The Canterlot Philharmonic Orchestra provided music for the night, though a few discerning patrons were quick to note that they seemed to be missing a cellist. One of the greater highlights of the evening, of course, was the arrival of the royalty. Two of them anyway; Princess Celestia, in her gold-trimmed, white dress, and Princess Luna in black and silver. They took their place by the very center, where they were swiftly surrounded by nobility. To see Princess Celestia, radiant with her flowing mane of colors, heartened every pony who laid eyes on her. Legionnaires murmured among themselves when Prince Terrato was nowhere to be seen, but the Heartlanders couldn't help but be a little relieved. He had always been a frightening presence. After whatever had happened to the Legion recently, even the mere mention of his name darkened the surroundings. For this festive night, it might be better that he stay in the background somewhere. Applejack was the first among her friends to take part in the feasting. She wasn't surprised as she was probably the most involved in the preparations. She had gone through the whole thing with all the frenzy of a wolven charge; making sure that the Apples had a catering spot, picking the best of this year's harvest, preparing all the pastries. For a while, she could barely spare any thought towards her fights, past or future, and she was glad for it. Being able to attend to the family business invigorated her more than any period of rest or healing magic. She looked proudly at her family recipes sitting next to the rest of the food set out. She had charged very little for them; barely enough to cover costs. However, the success of this evening should spread the Apples' reputation towards every corner of the Barrier Lands. Maybe then, the Apples would be known for more than Apple Slice. Tonight wasn't for heavy thoughts like the fate of Apple Slice, however. Applejack looked for her friends. They had not come together this time, given all the little things they had been busy with. She searched especially hard for Twilight, who she had not seen since...that day. Vanguard advised giving Twilight time and space. Applejack had agreed, but she was also aware that they had only a short while left before going different ways for a while. She may not be able to see Twilight for quite a bit once the princess and the prince traveled to the Eternal Herd. She didn't want to part ways without knowing if her friend was going to be alright. Then, there was the other pony she was also anxious to meet. Applejack glanced down, adding to the dozens of times she had inspected her outfit. Rarity had made it, of course. That it was in short order served only as a little extra challenge. Applejack suspected that Rarity must have been just as happy dress-making as she was working with Apple Family business. Even if she only had a day to produce six dresses, Rarity would not only succeed, but come out refreshed. "So tell me, darling, do you have some idea about what you want for the feast? It's a momentous occasion after all. Don't tell me it's galoshes or barding." "No, Rarity, something...uh...I dunno, something to make me pretty. "My dear, there's no such thing. You are pretty. A dress offers perspective. Now, do you at least have an idea as to what Captain Clash will wear?" "Huh? No! Why would I know that? And why should it matter?" "So you can dress to match, of course! This will be your first event as a couple, I believe." "Wha--! Look here, how'd you know? Did he tell you? I certainly didn't!" "Darling, nopony had to say anything. Given all the gooey stares you've been throwing his way this past week, and the little happy glances he does when he thinks nopony is watching, you may as well have been shouting it from the rooftops." "I...well, it's not like I'm hiding it. No, I don't know what Vanguard's wearing for the feast." "That's too bad, but it won't be too hard with a little guesswork. I'm sure Captain Clash will have enough sense not to celebrate in nightsteel, but he won't stray far from his usual aesthetics. So let's see how we can fit you with... Applejack wasn't sure about "aesthetics" or whatever it was that Rarity was harping on about, but she did like her dress for tonight; a simple white dress, low-cut around the neck, trimmed with silver, long skirt, and a simple, apple-themed gold necklace for some color. Not too fancy as this was no formal ball, but just enough elegance to impress. She didn't think at first that she'd look good in white, but she was feeling confident as she walked among the party-goers. Finding a single pony when all of the city and then some was celebrating was all but impossible. Applejack scanned the sky from time to time. Rainbow's bright trail of colors should easily stand out in the night sky. She also went for the less densely occupied places. Vanguard wouldn't be the sort to go for heavy crowds. She might catch sight of Fluttershy as well. It was easy to determine where the densely packed areas would be. One simply had to start with the central plaza, where the princesses were, and move away. She smiled and nodded when Big Macintosh, Granny Smith, and Apple Bloom waved at her. Big Macintosh had promised to take care of any problems with the food for tonight. Granny Smith came along in case he needed to consult with her. Apple Bloom had tagged along to learn, but it didn't take long for her to notice Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo at a distance. In an instant, she was galloping towards them. It only took a few more minutes before Applejack spotted one of the ponies she was looking for. Vanguard Clash was talking to a couple of ponies when he turned briefly and noticed her. That little smile that spread across his lips whenever he noticed her nearby was quickly becoming one of her favorite things to catch whenever they ran into each other. Rarity had guessed right. He had a simple black suit with a white undershirt beneath. Not a single plate of nightsteel in sight. It was more than the outfit though. Vanguard had a tinge of wildness about him. He may have tried to dress semi-formally, but there was no hiding that northern ruggedness. Outside of his armor, the muscles along his neck and his flanks seemed to strain against his clothes. The dark curls of his mane and tail spilled all around him, defiant of any attempt to rein them in with a comb. Amidst the perfectly pressed outfits and perfectly styled manes, he looked so...handsomely flawed, charmingly out of place. That Applejack was able to find him in this enormous celebration so swiftly...well, she had to sign it up to affinity. That sounded so much better than coincidence. "You look especially lovely tonight," Vanguard said when Applejack had come close enough. It was all she could do not to grin like an idiot. Not that it mattered. Nightcanter happened to be one of the ponies he had been talking to and the sly grin on her face made it clear that she knew. Next to her was Captain Bad Arc from First Squad, who took one look at her, and frowned. "Oh, look at you two," Nightcanter cooed. "Absolutely adorable!" Nightcanter's bold, red dress clung to her figure tightly. Her mane had been done up, ringlets and all, to show off her neck, and her tail was heavy with jewelry. Applejack's eyes narrowed briefly. That was unusual. Normally, a mare's tail would be under her skirt. A quick glance around showed that the other Barrier Lands mares were the same as Nightcanter. Rarity must be having fits at the moment. "Nightcanter, we're not little foals playing around," Vanguard said. "That doesn't make it any less cute," Nightcanter said. She looked at Applejack. "Offer's on the table any time, Apple." Bad Arc snorted. "Maybe we can talk about something other than who Vanguard's rutting," he said. Applejack could feel herself flush an angry red. Nightcanter answered with a snort of her own, her warm smile quickly replaced by a scowl. "This is a pretty big occasion for reunification, Bad Arc," she said. "A pretty good time to not be an ass." Bad Arc's eyes were on Vanguard, however. "I know a few ponies from the Southern Legion who can help with this mission you're proposing," he said. He glanced at Applejack. "You keep letting these mares sweet-talk you into insane missions, Clash, I hope it's worth it." "It is," Vanguard said. "This isn't the first time Applejack has provided the Legion with something important through dubious means." "I'd prefer solid proof and paperwork," Bad Arc muttered before taking a sip of his drink. "I'm off to find some of First Squad. Don't get drunk and rut, Clash, you wouldn't want to sneak around Ophidus with a pregnant mare. Those damn snakes work twice as hard if they know they're getting an unborn foal as an extra." "And he talks about who Vanguard's rutting anyway," Nightcanter said. "Why is he such a jerk?" Applejack asked. Her frown had lessened with Bad Arc's departure though. "I didn't do nothing to him." "Because he's Bad Arc," Nightcanter replied. "The stallion can't seem to open his mouth without pissing somepony off." She was smiling again when she continued. "But enough of him. I hear you're planning some kind of trip down south, Applejack, maybe you can explain the whole thing better than Vanguard here." Applejack scratched the back of her head. "I...uh...I don't think so. It's more of a gut feeling, really. I'm pretty surprised Vanguard's already trying to get things going." Nightcanter tilted her head. "So you're going to look for a tomb in an Ophidite-infested jungle on a whim?" She glanced at Vanguard. "And here you are so composed about it." "I've gotten used to going along with hunches when it comes to the Elements of Harmony," Vanguard said. "Make sure you sample the local flavor while you're there," Nightcanter said. "The Southern Legion and the Ophidites have concocted a lot of interesting stuff, and recipes get exchanged inevitably. Oh, but listen to me going on about work." She looked back to Applejack again. "So how's the celebration so far?" Applejack's grin returned. "Pretty good. Everypony looks so happy." She looked around briefly. "Say, have you tried some of the apple pies?" she asked. "My family made them, and I'm sure you'll love them. Even the regular apples can match some of the fancy stuff they're serving!" "I haven't," Nightcanter said with a chuckle. "Don't worry, I'll be trying out some of your family's apples before this night's done. I've got my eye set on a big juicy one I spotted earlier." "Great!" Applejack said. "Well, the night's young," Nightcanter said. "I should stop being around the pairs, I suppose." With that, she sauntered off into the crowd. Though there were plenty of ponies nearby, Applejack may as well be alone in a room with Vanguard. His presence near her blurred the details of the faces in the crowd, and dulled the sounds of revelry so she could hear her own heart. This wasn't the first party she went to with him. Back in Fangbreaker, she was so forward and easygoing, dragging him to a dance without hardly a care. Why was it more awkward now when she was surer of her feelings? "So...uh, you really went out and made plans to get to Ophidus?" Applejack asked. She mentally scolded herself already. Why was she talking about serious plans for the future? "A few details to lay some groundwork," Vanguard replied. He took a sip of what looked like sparkling apple cider. "The Southern Barrier Land alone is difficult to navigate. Ophidus is even more so. We'll need guides, and a plan for entry." "I dunno..." Applejack said. "I mean, I don't even know what I'm expecting to find in that tomb if we even find it. This could just be a lot of work and danger over a wild goose chase." "You're trying to talk from my viewpoint," Vanguard said. "Huh?" Vanguard chuckled and took another sip. "That's what it would seem like from somepony not in the know like me," he said. "But I've seen the little glances you give your magic chain. I saw the certainty you didn't even notice on your face when you were talking about the tomb. You've seen things that make this mission more sensible. Don't put your instincts down to placate me." "I didn't mean it that way," Applejack said. "It's just...Bad Arc's not the only pony wishing for solid proof and paperwork." "We'll make the best of what we have," Vanguard said. "It will be interesting to see what Ophidus is like." Applejack raised an eyebrow. "So it's just the two of us?" she asked. "Don't we need other ponies? What about Scarlet?" "We'll work with the Southern Legion," Vanguard replied. "A small group is necessary to avoid getting caught. It will just be me just so you don't have to work with the Southern Legion alone. Scarlet will remain here on standby should the Legion have use for him. I suspect it will be better if he didn't come anywhere close Ophidus." He looked around, his smile getting a little wider. "We're acting like sticks in the mud. We should look for the others. It's going to be a while before we see them once we head off." "You're right," Applejack said. She trotted forward and grabbed a hold of Vanguard's foreleg. "Come on then!" It was easy for Rainbow to find Scarlet despite the crowd. She just had to look for two things; the place where a lot of the booze was coming from, and the loudest pony with the drinks---to be differentiated from the loudest pony with the desserts, which would be Pinkie Pie. Rainbow wasn't joining him just yet. High above Canterlot's main plaza, she could see Applejack and Vanguard making their way through the crowd. She wasn't going to bother those two. From what she heard from Rarity, those two were probably too lovey-dovey to stand. Pinkie Pie was over by the cakes, piling her plate high enough to elicit applause from some of the nearby legionnaires, and disapproving glares from some of the nobles. Rarity was snobbing it up with the nobles near the princesses, probably drinking some weak booze from those stupid tall and thin glasses that could barely hold a mouthful. She couldn't spot Fluttershy, but that was understandable. Fluttershy wouldn't be caught near such a huge crowd of strangers. She was probably in some nearby garden. What worried Rainbow, however, was that she couldn't find Twilight either. She had thought she could find Twilight by Princess Celestia's side, but the two princesses dined by themselves. And then...at the corner of her eye, Rainbow spotted something else; long, green mane slicked back and tied off at the end, at tail to match, a woodland brown coat and that air of unmistakable distance. Longstride sat by himself at an isolated table, briefly eyeing anypony passing close. He wore a slightly disheveled gray suit. His mane looked like it was struggling against the restrictions he had put on it, ready to burst into a wild mess any second. As if he could feel her eyes on him, Longstride suddenly looked up and straight at her. Rainbow could have sworn those eyes were spinning in place. She flew towards him and hovered nearby. "Hey," she said. "I thought you were going to hang out with me and Scarlet." Longstride picked out a piece of sliced fruit on the very small plate in front of him. He had looked away, and gazed at the crowd. "I had agreed because I thought you needed somepony to keep you from getting into trouble because of your drinking or Scarlet Rabbit's goading. I've thought about it, and I realized it's unnecessary. You don't need me, Rainbow Dash, there's no point in imposing myself any further." Rainbow snorted, barely able to suppress a snicker. "You stupid stallion," she said. When Longstride raised an eyebrow and looked at her, she couldn't hold it in any longer. After a moment of snickering, she composed herself enough to continue. "I didn't ask you join me and Scarlet because I needed somepony to watch over me. I just thought you'd be...okay company." Longstride could only answer with silence and continued staring. "What's the matter?" Rainbow asked. "The mighty super sniper afraid of a little fun?" "I have not been 'okay company' to you before, Rainbow Dash," Longstride said. "What makes you think that things will be different now?" Rainbow shrugged. "The party, me showing you that I can take care of myself, all the stuff that happened in the Old Kingdom..." She let out a sigh. "Look, I haven't forgotten that you shot my flank with a poisoned arrow, but somewhere along the line you went from evil sniper who nearly got me killed to weird guy who saved me twice to kind of sort of an ally. We're not the best of friends, but maybe we can slowly get to 'friends" at least, because I really don't want you as an enemy." For a moment, Rainbow could have sworn there was some kind of little twitch by the corner of Longstride's lip, the tiniest ghost of a very minor smile, then it was gone. Maybe she just imagined it. Longstride tried to smooth over some rebellious strands of his mane. He accomplished the opposite instead. More spiky strands stood out like an explosion of grass ready to go. "I'll take up the offer then." "That's the spirit," Rainbow said. "Reunification and all that!" She extended a hoof. "Come on before Scarlet polishes off everything." "There's one more thing I want to say before you get too wasted," Longstride said. "I've decided on my next course of action." Rainbow's excited hover slowed, then she landed next to him. "Really?" she asked. Part of her felt a little down. He was quick. She was hoping they'd be in the same boat longer. That must be part of the super efficient sniper deal, she supposed. "What is it?" "To set up my test, I requested Black Rose to dangle your appearance before Hassyth, a disgraced coatl overlord. He has lost his majordomo, a great number of his remaining slaves, and likely what remaining standing in Ophidus's court once Southern Legion reprisals started. Still, he is a powerful coatl overlord, and poses a significant threat. Losing everything may have well pushed him to commit to avenging himself on you and Scarlet Rabbit." Longstride took a sip from his glass of water. "I created this problem, so I must resolve it. Before anything else, I must eliminate him." It was Rainbow's turn to stare quietly. She had heard the name plenty of times from Scarlet, but to hear it from Longstride confirmed it once and for all. 'I want to go..." Her lips had formed the words and her voice had given them sound before she had even realized what she was doing. When she did, however, it came as no surprise. "This is not your mission," Longstride said. "Yes, it is!" Rainbow snapped. "I'm the one he wants, and I'll never be safe from him until he's gone for good, right? I have to go! And don't even try to convince me that you can take care of this by yourself." "Your friends will not approve of me taking up your time and risking your life," Longstride said. Rainbow crossed her forelegs and lifted her chin. "Well, that's too bad. They all have stuff to do and I have mine." "What of Scarlet Rabbit?" Rainbow's lips twisted at that. She had fought hard to keep Scarlet from rushing headlong into Ophidus. They were unprepared at that time and extremely exhausted. If they could approach and deal with Hassyth as legionnaires, they could permanently put this behind them. "It's his old slaver," she said. "I know he can control himself better now if we watch out for him." "So he'll be my problem too," Longstride said with a snort. "Perhaps I shouldn't have told you about this after all." "You won't regret it." Rainbow grinned and hovered again. "So that's settled. Let's go!" For some reason, when Longstride finally stood from his little isolated table of bland food, Rainbow felt just a little more lighter on her wings. There wasn't a buffet table safe from Pinkie Pie the moment she got to the feast. She had the familiar comforts of Heartland food on one hoof, the interesting, and sometimes bizarre, treats from the Barrier Lands on the other. She piled her plate up quickly, only to realize that there was so much more to try out. She scarfed some of the food down on her plate even as she weaved through the crowd to get to the other tables. There wasn't even time to sit down. There were so many ponies around that some of the treats might be gone before she could sample them. And that wasn't even considering all the strange and fantastic drinks they were serving. She was balancing three plates on her head and back when she stumbled slightly. 'Oh no!' was all that could rush through her mind. Before Pinkie could trip in a horrible crash of plates and food, however, a hoof reached out to steady her. "Slow down, glutton, you'll look like Chancellor Puddinghead's ghost by the end of this night the way you're going." There was no mistaking that voice, or even that manner of speaking. "Sa--" Pinkie nearly choked on a bit of bread. She swallowed, then tried again. "Sable!" she cried out. She turned to find the dark green mare, not in her usual, terrifying wasp outfit, but in a plain, dark blue dress. "That's Sablesteel, Pinkie Pie," Sable said. "Just watch yourself. It'll be a pity if you survived the abyss and died choking on some bread." Some of the plates came crashing down when Pinkie enveloped Sable in a hug. "I didn't think you went to these sort of things!" she said. "Are you enjoying yourself, huh? Have you tried some of that cake by the third table to the left of the princesses? They're amazing!" "Let go, you pink imbecile," Sable growled. "Ponies are staring!" With a sheepish grin, Pinkie backed off a bit, but she was still beaming. After the events of the abyss, she was already confident that the Thorns were now friends. Scary, prickly, friends that shoot poison darts, but friends nonetheless. Maybe she should start at one question, just to get Sable to relax. "So how come you're here?" she asked. "The moon princess told me to come," Sable groused. She picked up a few of the plates and set them on a nearby table. "'Mingle with the crowds,' she said. 'This way you'll understand the ponies of Equestria rather than silently judging them from the shadows'. She probably thinks she's being wise. I think she's spouting enough swill to cause a stampede of pigs." "Oh, come on," Pinkie said. "I'm sure she's looking out for you." "I'm sure she is," Sable replied. With the meals she had with her ruined, Pinkie went back to gather new ones. She took it upon herself to get a plate and pick some choice morsels for Sable. After a few more passes by the buffet tables, they picked a good spot and sat down. That Sable accepted the plate without an angry glare or a puff of noxious smoke was nothing short of delightful. "So let me ask you something, Pinkie Pie," Sable said. "Sure!" Pinkie chirped in-between bites of cake. "What do you plan to accomplish by going to the Deepstone Quarter?" Pinkie stopped mid-chew, and stared at Sable. "Uhhh..." When some crumbs began to tumble out, she shut her mouth and finished. Through it all, Sable watched her with a look of curiosity and disgust. "Well, I want to start by talking to the True Earth Pony clans first." "Talk..." Sable snorted. "The True Earth Ponies were beyond talking to during Frenzy Heart's time, and that was over seven hundred years ago. What have you learned that could possibly move them?" "Oh, stuff like Lexarius's notes on the murder of Rock Maven, the Magma Dart schism..." Pinkie shrugged, then polished off another plate. "I really want to see what's going on down there first." She leaned forward with a smile. "So why are you interested?" "Because the moon princess has tasked me with escorting you," Sable said. She took a few bites of a raisin bun. "I'd be more comfortable knowing we're not on a foal's errand." "Really?" The table rattled and a glass of cider fell on its side when Pinkie set both front hooves against the wood in surprise. "That's super awesome! We're going to have so much fun!" "We better not," Sable said. "This is a mission." "Is anypony else coming too?" Pinkie asked. "I was super worried that I was going to have to do this by myself!" "The moon princess assigned a Special Operations squad to you," Sable said. "I'm assuming it's the same one that was tasked with watching you before." "Captain Nightcanter!" Pinkie nearly squealed. Things were looking even better. She was worried that she was going to do a lot of traveling with just Copper Mane. It was nice to hear about True Earth Pony things, but Copper Mane didn't seem interested in talking about anything else, and it was going to be a long trip. Her mood dropped briefly when she saw Sable look around and try to hide a sigh. "What's wrong?" she asked. "Not liking the party? Maybe we can get the orchestra to play some songs you like." "Don't fuss over me, Pinkie Pie, I'm not a filly," Sable said. She took a bite from the carrot cup cake Pinkie picked for her before looking around again. "Rhapsody would have been badgered into holding some small impromptu concert by now. Frenzy Heart would be out-drinking his twentieth challenger somewhere. What a coincidence that the party ponies among us were the ones who failed to revive." "What about your other friends?" Pinkie asked. "The other Thorns are partying too right? Or didn't they have anypony to order them to go?" "Longstride's worse than I am," Sable said. "Lion Court's out there probably with a dozen mares dangling off him." Her eyes narrowed. "I can't stand seeing him like that, and he knows it too." The moment of intensity dissipated, and a small smile creased Sable's lips. "Blue Moon's probably got a dozen stallions dangling off him. I'll leave him to it. Too awkward to approach him before he does." Hearing Sable talk about her friends reminded Pinkie to find hers. Deepstone Quarter seemed like a long, lonely trip even with a few friends coming along. Maybe the food could wait. There would always be more food. She stood up and glanced around. "Say, Sable...I....uh..." Sable seemed ahead of her already, eyes gleaming with a knowing look. "Go on, find them," Sable said. "I'll be keeping watch. Might as well start early." Dress pristine, mane coiffured, jewelry sparkling, shoes polished, make-up perfect...oh yes, without a doubt, Rarity was in her type of battle, and she was primed for overwhelming victory. Here she was, near the princesses' table, close to the center of all the action and surrounded by many admiring nobles. Everypony wanted to hear of her part in the previous battles, and she was happy to regale them. Gasps of horror and shock echoed her descriptions of the abyss and the monsters in it, and admiring gazes graced her from all sides when she told of the Elements of Harmony defeating one foe after the other. "Amazing," the called her, "a true heroine of Equestria, an example for us all". That was all very flattering, and very true. "With you around, we have nothing to fear." Rarity did not miss the emphasis, nor did it surprise her. Hammer Chain had claimed that battle was just a different kind of party. The reverse was true, she supposed; parties were just a different kind of battle. Under the shining praises and awed questions was an undertow of simpering, cloying, half-hidden insinuations. "You are enough to protect us, aren't you?" they may as well say. "We can stay here and go back to our luxuries. The Legion just proved how strong it is, and the Elements of Harmony can handle the rest." Oh, but that was never going to be the case anymore. Rarity almost relished the idea of seeing their faces when they saw just how relentless the Legion could be in getting all of Equestria ready to defend itself. She may have felt some sympathy for those not used to hardship when reunification started, but the horrors of the abyss were more than enough to change that. Everypony was needed, and no amount of politicking was going to get anypony out of it. Rarity scanned the crowd for Fleur de lis. She had hoped to speak with Fancy Pants' widow, to thank her for her generous gift, and assure her that it had been put to use. She was unable to, however. Perhaps Fleur was still too much in a somber mood to enjoy any sort of celebration. She could see Lion Court just across the plaza, a mare by either side. She checked his horn for any tell-tale signs of magic being used, but didn't notice any. Well, she supposed he did have an insidious charm to him, even if he wasn't foaling around with your mind. She was going to have to talk to him about that later, but not now when he had so much company. A third figure crossed her vision, however, one that merited a better look. Octavia enjoyed a small glass of champagne by her own little table, and watched the orchestra play. Once in a while, a pony or two would approach her, but she would only give them a passing glance and some absent-minded attempt to talk, enough to clue them in that she was not interested in polite conversation. Rarity smiled, nodded, and excused herself from the current batch of nobles trying to butter her up enough to put in a word or two to the Legion for them. She weaved through the crowd, never a stumble, not a single hoof stepping on a hem, and approached Octavia. "The Canterlot Philharmonic Orchestra is in good form tonight, I see," Rarity said. To her relief, Octavia looked up at her long enough to show that her company, at least, was not so easily dismissed. "A pity they're a cellist short, or so I've heard." "I could not play if I wanted to," Octavia replied. The longing look she shot the seat where she would be told Rarity a different story. "Given my current mood, Warsinger would likely kill the nearest listeners. If I played on a different cello, I'm not sure if it would simply transfer or run amok in a jealous rampage." "That seems like a troublesome thing you gained from being a Thorn," Rarity said. Octavia shot her a sharp look. "It didn't seem so troublesome when it was aiding you in the abyss now, did it?" she asked. Her tone and expression softened, but she didn't say any more. "You said if you wanted to," Rarity said. She took a seat in front of Octavia, taking a sip from her own glass of champagne. "Without that thing, you still wouldn't play?" Octavia sighed softly. "She tricked me, you know. She told me all these things about preserving culture, and the importance of Heartland classics. What she wanted was an agent, and I played the part to the hilt all because of some promise." It took no great leap of logic to determine who this "she" Octavia spoke of. Rarity shook her head. "Don't take it too personally, my dear, Black Rose tricked all of us." "She did." Octavia snorted, then smiled sadly. "I can't even be upset. I was suspicious early enough, but the rush of bonding with Warsinger, of suddenly having the power to do something, then seeing the enormity of what we faced..." Her eyes hardened. "I was so small-minded. It must have been so easy for her to make me dance to her tune, and I deserved it." Her shoulders quivered as she laughed. "Preserving the culture of the Heartland...protecting the classics...it must have taken her a monumental amount of willpower not to laugh." "Don't be so harsh on yourself, Miss Octavia," Rarity said. "There is value in the things you wanted to protect." "You're being kind," Octavia said. "But I have seen the monsters looming over our nation. There are far more important things to do. Despite her fate, I am still an agent of Black Rose. Her cause is now mine." "Really?" Rarity leaned on the table and raised an eyebrow. "You have plans or orders then?" Octavia leaned back on her chair and smiled. "I hear you are heading for the Great Delve," she said. "I'm going there as well. I want to experience the heart of Barrier Lands culture along with finding out ways to master Warsinger." "Interesting," Rarity said. "So you've made arrangements? It must still be difficult to go to the Great Delve." "Of course, I have," Octavia said. "I'll be traveling with you after all. Lion Court as well. You didn't think you'd visit the Great Delve without escorts now did you, Miss Rarity?" Rarity nearly spilled her drink, but she was swift to recover. When she spoke again, only a slight rise in her tone betrayed any surprise. "You're coming with me? I should have been informed then." Her eyes narrowed. Octavia would not be a problem. She'd even be pleasant company especially if Rarity had to part with the others for the time being. Lion Court, however, was a different story. "Consider yourself informed then." Octavia's ears perked, then swiveled towards the orchestra. "A little late on the transition there, Brass," she muttered. "I see you've transitioned to being an agent easily," Rarity said. "What about your fellow musicians? Won't you miss Canterlot on this training and escorting trip of yours?" "I will," Octavia said with a sigh. "I miss them already. But we do not always get what we want. Just another lesson I've had to learn the hard way." "True..." Rarity stared at her now empty glass. It was enjoyable being around all this class and sophistication, even with the annoying attempts at manipulation. After a long time of roughing it with the Legion, it was good to pamper herself again. Still, time was passing her by and these were not her friends. "I should be going, Miss Octavia," she said. "I'm glad we were able to talk." "The same," Octavia said. She gestured for a passing waiter, then pointed to her glass. Nearly all of Canterlot was abuzz with thousands of conversations, laughter, and the clinks of glasses and cutlery. There was hardly a place bereft of the rush of hooves from the hundreds of servers and cooks employed that night. Still, one could still find a few quiet spots for the evening with enough effort and experience. Fortunately, Fluttershy was an expert in doing so. It didn't take long for her to find a little secluded area. It hadn't been too hard. She only needed to follow where all the little woodland creatures had gone to. Small birds fluttered away from the loud noises. Squirrels, mice, and rabbits fled to where they found it safe, whether it was one of the alleys, higher rooftops, or the smaller gardens that could not host a group of reveling ponies. On a little elevated garden, a place some kind unicorn had set up for a variety of birds, Fluttershy watched the party at a distance. She sighed again and looked around. She was observing the party by herself. The birds that had taken shelter here all fled in terror when she arrived. Before, this would have upset her greatly. Now, she could understand them. She suspected that she would run away from herself if such a thing was possible. Her ruined eye didn't throb or ache as it did in the Old Kingdom, but she knew she exuded a presence that wafted from that eye, like a seeping cold mist that settled around her. A momentary chill from that presence sent the animals of Canterlot, who were strangely suspicious of her to begin with, running. The quiet was both comforting and eerie as a result. She wasn't comfortable with all that loud cheering and drinking, but a few chirps would have been welcome. Her ears perked when something did break the complete stillness. The faint hum of a magical spell came from behind her. She tensed on instinct. She never did like that sound. Teleportations always gave off a sense of urgency. Why use magic and unsettle whoever's nearby when you can have a leisurely walk or flight? Pale blue light gathered within the garden, materializing in the shape of a very familiar looking stallion. "Blue Moon?" she asked. Sure enough, it was a very light blue stallion who stepped out of the spell. Fluttershy held her breath briefly. Blue Moon was clad in a white, twin-tailed long coat, trimmed with silver with buttons that glinted in the moonlight. Underneath, he had a ruffled shirt. He looked so gorgeous, that Fluttershy was sure he was prettier than her. His outfit though...Fluttershy was no expert in current fashion, but even she was sure that this was a very archaic look. He looked as if he had stepped out of a history book or was attending some kind of costume party for history enthusiasts. "Good evening, Fluttershy," Blue Moon said. The deep tone cut through the image of femininity. He bowed slightly, right foreleg bent across his chest. It was almost mocking, the way he gestured so formally in an almost empty garden, but his face was all seriousness. "Um...good evening," Fluttershy said. "How did you find me? And why?" Blue Moon's horn glowed, and multiple points of light appeared in front of him. Like before, they traced a glowing outline of a place. This time, all of Canterlot, from its beautiful spires to its winding streets. With a wave of his hoof, Blue Moon caused the image to close in on a particular spot. After a few moments, Fluttershy realized that it was the very garden they were in at the moment. Two pony-shaped glows marked where they were standing; a white glow for Fluttershy and a dark blue glow for Blue Moon. "I've been in Canterlot for a while now," Blue Moon said. "Enough time to place my locators and map it out. As for why..." He zoomed out the map again. With another flourish from his hoof, Blue Moon caused hundreds of little dark blue dots to appear. Among those dark blue dots, however, were six white ones. "Here are the Elements of Harmony," he said. "All mingling with fellow ponies. All except one. I had to wonder why." He let out a little sigh. "That and I was getting a little tired of the company I kept attracting." Fluttershy stared wide-eyed at the image. "That's amazing..." she said breathlessly. "Does that mean you can find anything and anypony in Canterlot? What about all Equestria?" "Given the ideal situation, yes for Canterlot," Blue Moon replied. "Equestria is far too large to be covered by my divinations." Fluttershy lowered her head a bit. She had nursed a very brief hope that he could point out and find what she was meant to find in the Eastern Waters. Perhaps if she could make it easier for him... "What do you mean by the ideal situation?" she asked. "I've had the time and freedom to set up my locator wards," Blue Moon replied. "Even then, I have to physically go to these calculated locations first or have others go there with my wards. I can only have so many wards active, so I cannot possibly cover all of Equestria. I also have to consider opposition. A powerful illusionist like Princess Luna can easily shroud Canterlot from such an large encompassing spell or, if she's feeling particularly devious, she could hijack my wards and feed me false information. This was why Black Rose opted for individual scrying agents so she had multiple points of entry, and she could isolate compromised--" Blue Moon stopped and looked at Fluttershy in embarassment. "My apologies, I'm sure you're not interested in hearing me drone on about magical tactics." "Oh no," Fluttershy said. "I don't mind at all. I was actually thinking how incredibly useful that might be if I..." She turned away, suddenly aware of a blush coming on. "I'm sorry. I must sound like I'm thinking of ways to use you." "That's not such a bad mindset to have," Blue Moon said. "It also happens to be the other reason why I was looking for you." He cleared his throat. "I am informed that you are planning a trip with none other than Starswirl the Bearded." Fluttershy could only nod. She didn't know how he knew about that. She hadn't told anypony, not even her friends. She didn't want them to worry so much over the fact that she was going to the Eastern Waters. She doubted that the royalty went around spreading the news. Still, Blue Moon seemed to have so many ways to find out things. "I do not know where your destination may be or what goal you have in mind, but I would like to offer my aid. I have seen Starswirl the Bearded; I know he possesses a great deal of useful knowledge. However, he admits to having lost nearly all his magical power." Blue Moon's eyes hardened. "At the risk of sounding arrogant, I am a capable and experienced spell caster, likely the best one you can obtain short of the royalty or an Element of Harmony." "I...um...I..." Fluttershy slowly backed away. Was she the one to give permission on this? Shouldn't Blue Moon be asking one of the royalty? Or Starswirl? She paused, realizing that he had mentioned meeting Starswirl earlier. He probably already asked, and Starswirl told him to ask her. "Okay? I don't really mind if that's what you want. It's just...um...don't you have more important things to do? I mean, not that I'm telling you what's important or not..." "I would think that protecting the Element of Kindness on her important mission would take high priority in the Legion's list," Blue Moon said. His mood softened as he continued. "On a personal note, I would feel better working on a task as close as possible to doing my sister's bidding." At that, any thoughts about the trip to the Eastern Waters, or even Blue Moon's abilities, faded to the corners of Fluttershy's mind. "I'm sorry," she said. She tilted her head slightly as she stared at him. "Are you alright?" Blue Moon raised a hoof. "Please don't concern yourself. As far as my sister and I are concerned, the campaign is not over. Even unspeakable horror as the enemy's captive would be just one more setback for her. She'd scold me for tormenting myself when I could be working on the victory that she is still, no doubt, confident of." Fluttershy walked closer. There was genuine confidence in that statement. She shouldn't be surprised. He was Black Rose's little brother after all. She may not know a lot of his history, but she heard the story he told in Sky Mirror Lake, and she could see some of his feelings emerge once in a while under that calm mask he constantly kept on. He may have been the one who went against her, no matter how briefly, but he was also clearly the one who believed in her ability the most. But there was no hiding that hurt in his voice. Just as there was no hiding the fear in Black Rose's eyes back in the abyss. Fluttershy put a hoof on Blue Moon's shoulder. He looked ready to shrug it off, but he let it stay. "We'll save her," she said softly. "I know we will. Come with me, if you like. I don't know what we'll find where I'm going, but I promise we'll use it to help everypony." "Thank you," Blue Moon said. "You won't regret this." "I won't," Fluttershy had to smile. Not just to encourage Blue Moon either. Her new presence sent animals fleeing, but that didn't have to mean that she had lost any ability to comfort and care for. She looked behind her, back to the party that had all of Canterlot abuzz. Blue Moon had mentioned that her friends were all out there. How were they doing? What about Redbrand? There was an incredibly large amount of booze flowing throughout the party. She hoped he hadn't decided to drown himself in all that alcohol. She flapped her wings to warm them up. "Going to mingle now?" Blue Moon asked. "Yes," Fluttershy replied. "I like the quiet places, but I'll be going to plenty of those soon. Are you going too?" Blue Moon sighed. "Yes, I suppose I will. This is a strange party, though. There are dances forming up, but none of the mares appear to have their dance cards ready." His horn glowed with the telltale hum of another teleportation spell. This time, it didn't seem so ominous to Fluttershy. It took a specific sort of pony to both notice Prince Terrato’s absence and be disheartened by it. After all, the highlight of the evening was Princess Celestia, restored once more to her glorious form. In her gold-trimmed white dress, she presided at the center of the plaza, easing into conversations with both nobles and high-ranking legionnaires alike while sparing plenty of time to speak with even the servers who had a question or two. Prince Terrato, however, provoked more sighs of relief than any kind of concern. Most heartlanders simply assumed that the grim and stern prince wasn't interested in parties or quite possibly anything that wasn't fighting. Even some legionnaires believed that their prince had skipped the festivities to get straight to work. Then, there were those who had actually spent time with him. Legionnaires who had been stationed in places he personally commanded knew that he would not pass up a night of revelry. Princess Luna, garbed in black and silver, joined them in knowing. Back in the Herd, her brother was known for his love of feasting. He wouldn't have missed this at any other time but now. She dealt with her own fair share of admirers. Her efforts during those troubled times when Twilight Sparkle was banished had neither been missed nor forgotten. Ponies lined up to thank her, offering gifts and a seemingly never-ending barrage of toasts to her name. Legionnaires from the north, still aware of her role in Bastion City, joined these ponies. Throughout the entire process, however, she kept glancing here and there, hoping to catch a glimpse of anything that might point out where her gloomy brother was. It seemed like hours of friendly small-talk, incessant praise both heartfelt and cloying, before Luna saw her chance to walk away for a bit. She looked to her sister briefly. In response, Celestia nodded. No words needed to follow that. While everypony continued to fawn over Celestia, Luna sidled off to find her brother. First, she ducked into a secluded little place, away from prying eyes. It only took a simple disguising illusion to keep distractions away. Next, she had to find Terrato. She was no master diviner like her sister, but a basic locating spell proved sufficient enough. Terrato didn't bother hiding his presence. Perhaps, he banked on the notion that nopony in their right mind would want his company during such a festive night. He would be mostly right too. Luna winged her way past Canterlot's beautiful spires, still marveling that these delicate structures had remained untouched despite all the great changes and battles recently. Past the busy streets and the reveling ponies, she found a small empty area; a dark spot amidst the many lights of the city. She landed at the edge of the area with all the caution that she had when she first approached her brother after her long exile to the moon. Immediately, the air grew still, and the atmosphere grow heavy. All of Canterlot may be celebrating at the moment, but this one spot felt nothing but bitter mourning. She landed on the soft grass of a seemingly private garden; a garden that she was sure wasn't here a few weeks ago. Ever since they returned from the abyss, Luna had expected some kind of giant monument from her brother; an imposing structure that reflected his loss. He was a master builder, he had cause, and she doubted anypony would have tried to restrain him. Nothing showed up in Canterlot, or anywhere in Equestria for that matter. She knew of Black Rose's tower in the Barrier Lands, and thought that he might recreate that. Terrato never did. Instead, this little garden showed up in a distant corner of the city. Rose bushes bloomed around her, an impossibility in the winter. Most spread deep crimson petals. A few sported flowers even blacker than the night sky above them. This was no simple garden with strange, magically-crafted flowers, however. The air was deathly still even though there was a fine winter breeze blowing all throughout Canterlot. Luna had arrived by flight, but the subtle shifts in the magical currents around this place reminded her that she was only able to without any trouble because Terrato let her. The pathways that normally crossed this part of the city had been moved about, some twisting around themselves to make room. Even some of the buildings had been surreptitiously moved and transmuted. Luna took a step towards the darkened figure of a lone alicorn sitting by a table, his back turned against her. Terrato was staring at the night sky, where a waxing crescent moon graced the evening. Luna was flattered over the attention, though some dark part of her suspected that he was silently wishing it was Black Rose who had raised that moon. On the table was a tall, long-necked bottle, its cork resting nearby, and a short, squat drinking glass with a wide rim. The moonlight made whatever liquid that was in both the glass and the bottle appear thick, syrupy, and black. Another step, and Luna deigned to speak. "Big brother," she said softly. The mood simply didn't allow for anything more. A second glass materialized in an instant. Then, the bottle rose and filled it, all without Terrato even glancing at Luna or the table. Terrato said nothing, but the gesture was clear in its intent. Luna swallowed as she looked at the drink. There was a palpable aura around it. It looked like blood; same color, although just a bit darker, same consistency as well. The smell was different though, and was enough to make her head spin a little. This drink didn't come from this world. "No thank you," she said. "Then, leave," Terrato said, his voice soft and husky. "We go by Ida Feast-hall Rules here, Luna. You can't share my company if you won't share my drink." Luna lifted the glass and held it against the moonlight. "I don't recognize this brand from Equestria or the Herd," she said. "What's it called?" "It's called 'Bibe, quin parum soror'." Luna sighed as she took a seat next to him. Ida Feast-hall rules weren't even official in Ida, just something alicorns followed informally when the fights dwindled down and the feasting started in that plane of the Herd. Alicorns loved to invoke it outside the battle plane as well, although it's usually the one without a drink doing the invoking. She took one more sniff and winced at the heady, acrid smell. It wasn't blood at least. Her brother may be bloodthirsty in some ways, but not literally. There was no delaying any further. Terrato took a pull from his own glass, draining a quarter at once before glancing at her. With a shrug, Luna took in her first mouthful. Bitter, liquid fire ran down Luna's throat. She gagged and retched, but not before it had already burned its way down. Her chest grew warm, her eyes watered, and her knees shook from the initial, horrifying assault on her senses. She was drinking lava, or molten metal. After that blaze came an aftertaste of ashes, and what she could only describe as nigh-unbearable regret. She could barely set the glass down for fear of dropping it and spilling this otherworldly horror on this world's ground. "What..." Luna swallowed some lingering drops left in her mouth and winced again. "What is this?" Terrato halved his glass with another pull. "Liquor Fortiter called it 'Regret'. He brewed it after his daughter joined the Oceanus's rebels. It's supposed to give the drinker some impression of his feelings over the loss." He snorted. "I thought it was some sappy, over-artistic take on something simple like a good drink." He swirled the liquid in his glass. "Gladio couldn't believe it when I asked her to send me this bottle." Luna took another sip. The sting was less, likely because most of the nerves in her throat had quit on her after that first awful wave. She took pride in her constitution, but she doubted she could make it to the bottom of this glass. Terrato looked ready to get to the bottom of the bottle. He was already halfway through. "Big brother..." she said. Terrato was back to staring at the night sky. There was no vicious scowl in his face. He didn't look on the verge of tears either. Luna knew that her brother was strong, but he had not so much as shed a tear over his former student's fate. His eyes were hard, his lips were tight and grimly set. "I shouldn't have stayed here," he said. Luna could only look on. She didn't believe that for an instant, but she didn't want to argue with him. He didn't need an argument with anypony at the moment. She suspected that such a notion had probably simmered in his mind the moment he decided to stay in this world after Discord was defeated. He had never said it, however. He never even hinted it. "I shouldn't have even come. Somepony else should have done the job; Arcem, Saltare, Mercuria, Tempestas, Ferrus...they could have served. They could have formed the Legion themselves. They might have argued with Celestia and got her to reconsider the division. And then..." Terrato finished off his glass, then refilled it. Along the way, he topped off Luna's glass, which was barely a quarter down. "She could have stayed as an outstanding legionnaire. She could have risen to the top, made all the difference she could, then died at peace. She could have gone to the Herd, and she would have been happy." He brought his glass on the table hard after another pull. "Happy!" "Even if you'd never have met her?" Luna asked. She took another sip, letting the awful liquid burn up what was left of her throat, and slowly rot her guts. She was going to need some serious healing magic later. If she even survived this drinking session. "Yes," Terrato said. "Sixth's bones, yes." He let out a...something, like a mixture of a sigh and a snort. Luna made sure she was downwind of his breath. The brief warmth of its passage was enough warning as to what that fell cloud would do to anypony who caught a whiff of it. "Instead, she got me as the horrible alternative." He shifted his gaze downward and into his glass. That wasn't true. Luna knew it, and she believed in it wholeheartedly. It was his grief talking with that awful liquor goading him on. Who knew what would have happened? Perhaps whoever replaced him would have censured her when she merged with Umbra. Celestia could have gotten worse without any sibling by her side. It was pointless to consider them at the end of the day, just as it would be pointless to simply point it out to him. "Big brother," Luna tried again. Against that wall of sullen depression that surrounded him, every word she considered seemed gravely offensive, but to say nothing at all would be worse. She was scared at the moment; scared that she'd make things worse. She quaffed some of the horrible drink both to placate him and maybe just loosen her frightened tongue a bit. "Black Rose loves you. I haven't known her for long, but I've known her long enough. You stoked that fire in her, and it's your strength she drew from. Maybe it's true that somepony resembling her would be happy if you had not come at all, but I know that somepony would not be Black Rose." "No, she wouldn't be, would she?" Terrato said. That hard sullen glare he had kept on since they left the abyss softened. "I would have beaten her out of existence, she said..." he mumbled. He looked away, but that tremble in his voice told Luna enough. His glass rose to his lips, and came down empty. It took a long time before he spoke again. The tremble was gone when he did so. "Why are you here, Luna? You have so many adoring fans out there, but you'd rather melt your guts in this lonesome place." The world was already starting to spin, her head was throbbing, every part of her innards were threatening open revolt, and Terrato just refilled her glass for the second time, but Luna still managed to smile. "Because I love you too, big brother. So does big sister, and so many ponies here in Equestria. Tonight, of all nights, I just want you to remember that." A small, faint smile briefly made an appearance on Terrato's face. Though it was gone as swiftly as a passing breeze, Luna saw it as a sign of victory. There was no easing the pain her brother felt, she knew that from the start. To be able to offer even the smallest comforts, however, helped both of them. "I love you too, little sister. I know I don't say it often," he snorted. "or at all, but I do. As I do Celestia, and this nation I've become so fond of." He filled his glass again. Luna's as well, even though she only got in a sip after the last one. Luna didn't need to say more after that. All the better. Now, she had to concentrate on finishing this glass off and finding a way to keep it empty. "Luna." The sudden mention of her name caught Luna halfway through a sip. She cut it short hastily, nearly gagging yet again. "Y-yes?" she asked. Was that a slur? Was she slurring? This wasn't good. "Have you ever thought about going home? For good?" Luna looked for telltale signs of her brother's typical joking. That couldn't be, not with his mood. But that question... "Sometimes," she said. "Not by being censured of course. The Eternal Herd would not be home without you two. Why?" Whatever ghost of sentimentality that was still hanging around Terrato dissipated. He looked on at the night sky, but he was seeing something else now. "I never thought about it for a long, long time. At some point, I was acting like we were going to do this forever." Terrato took another pull. The bottle was almost empty at this point. "But I see an end to it now," he said softly. "I don't know how it's going to happen, but I see an end." Well, here was the big feast at last. Twilight finished the last crumbs from her plate, and watched the ponies group up for dances. With her plate clean, that was one more item from her mental party checklist completed. So far, Twilight had sampled a balanced combination of Heartland and Barrier Lands fare, she had spent some time with her parents, Shining Armor, and Cadance, she had spoken with Princess Celestia for a bit regarding their upcoming journey before the princess was swept away by a tide of nobles. Twilight had also sat quietly near the orchestra to take in some of the music, looked around to check out all the decorations, observed some of the legionnaires and Heartlanders interacting, even spoke with some of the patrolling sentries about how things were on their end. Eventually, all the dilly-dallying had to come to an end, and that left Twilight with the last remaining, and most important, objectives of the night. Her friends. Some of them were easier to both find and speak to. She had spoken with Rarity just before the party started, and had consulted with her all throughout the week when it came to the dress she was going to wear. Pinkie Pie had happily spent the week speculating with Twilight about the Great Delve, sharing some of Copper Mane's stories, and preparations. Even Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, engaged as they were with their own concerns, had the time for a conversation or two. And... Oh, who was she kidding? It was Applejack. Of course it was Applejack that had her hesitant up to this very moment. After that heartbreaking realization earlier, she had not been able to even say a word to Applejack. She had thought that she was angry. Perhaps she was during those first few dark moments. She didn't want to be. She had known that it could happen. She had considered it over and over after they saved Rainbow. She shouldn't be angry, or envious, or even sad. She should be happy because her friend was happy. In her head, she knew that perfectly, but her heart had not caught up apparently. Or it had, and simply refused to feel as she should out of spite. She didn't want to show any of these ugly feelings to Applejack and Vanguard. They shouldn't think that their relationship was making anypony unhappy. But time was running out. Soon, she'd be off to the Eternal Herd for an unclear length of time. She didn't want to leave without making things clear. The crowd was swirling away from the princesses-- no, just Princess Celestia. It looked like Princess Luna had disappeared at some point. The current song was winding down, and Twilight could guess why. Dances were coming up. Twilight hesitated at the sight of the gathering ponies. What if she stumbled onto Applejack and Vanguard while they were about to dance? What an awkward and intrusive moment that would be. Maybe she should sit the dances out and wait for a better time. "Twilight!" an all too familiar voice called from a distance. Yes, of course. At the very precise moment Twilight thought that, Applejack had already found her. With her back to a corner now, she slowly turned around, hoping she had some kind of pleased smile on her face instead of a pained grimace. With all the effort she was putting into it, the chances were quite even. It must have been closer to a smile since Applejack was all smiles herself upon seeing Twilight. 'Good,' Twilight thought. 'That's one part clear. Now, I should say something reassuring.' She looked behind Applejack, expecting to find Vanguard. She surmised that the two came to the feast together, forelegs linked and dressed to match. Vanguard was conspicuously missing though. Maybe he didn't even attend the feasting at all. She didn't put it past him to be more involved in some background Legion operation going on while everypony was having fun. "Applejack," Twilight said. She gave a little wave. When Applejack swiftly trotted over, Twilight had to stand her ground with effort, afraid that she might bolt. "Thank goodness, I found you!" Applejack huffed. "This crowd is so huge, I thought I was better off finding a needle in several haystacks!" "It certainly is quite a party," Twilight said. She tilted her head a bit upon seeing that Applejack was alone. "Vanguard not with you?" Applejack's brows furrowed slightly. "Everypony's going to say that every time I'm by myself, aren't they?" she asked. "We're not joined at the hip." She sighed before continuing. "I told him I wanted to talk to you so he said we should split up so we could find you faster. I know where he'll be after a while. Or he might spot us. But first...how are you, Twi? We haven't talked since...well..." "I'm fine, Applejack," Twilight said. She spoke with conviction, as if they were in a dire situation and Applejack was asking if she could keep up the fight. The look on her face must have been enough to take Applejack aback so she relaxed a bit. "I'm sorry for running off, and for not speaking to you all week." She smiled. This one came more naturally this time. Once the first words were spoken, the rest was easier. "Congratulations, I hope you're happy together." Applejack's lips twisted, a grin half-pleased and half-embarrassed warred with the need to be serious and composed. She actually looked a little constipated. "Sugarcube, don't say congratulations," Applejack said. "I didn't win a contest, and Vanguard's not a prize. It was just...a hard time for all of us, and I'm glad it's done." "I know," Twilight said. "But don't they tell the bride and groom congratulations too?" "We ain't married yet," Applejack said. She sighed "Tell me we're friends, Twi. Tell me you're okay, and this party'll be a hundred times better." Twilight answered with a brief hug. "Of course we are," she said. "And I am." As if on cue, the music suddenly shifted. The relaxing atmospheric melodies picked up the pace into an all too familiar tune. Twilight's eyes widened. That was the dancing tune that Pinkie used for her parties. After all the gruesome fighting they've had to do, she hadn't forgotten that silly tune. The other celebrators looked frozen for a second as well. They recognized that tune. Some of the nobles tried to recover and pretend that it was all new and silly to them, but Twilight didn't believe it for a second. Those from the Barrier Lands appeared to recognize it too, impossible as it may be. Some of them suddenly talked about how similar it sounded to this song or that song. Mostly, they shrugged their shoulders and looked happy to bob to the music. "Over there," Applejack whispered with a chuckle. She pointed towards the orchestra. Pinkie Pie was standing next to the conductor and thanking him profusely. When she saw Twilight she jumped up and waved with both front hooves, her grin reaching from ear to ear. A few feet away from her, a thoroughly embarrassed dark green mare with a long wavy mane of gray put a hoof to her face. The gesture didn't last long, however. Pinkie grabbed a hold of the other mare's foreleg and all but dragged her towards Twilight and Applejack. "Come on!" she yelled. Whether she was addressing Twilight and Applejack, or the other mare was unclear. "Let's get dancing!" They were about to join in with the now-dancing crowd when Twilight spotted Vanguard coming towards them. She froze for a moment, her heart hammering in her chest. By Celestia, he did look handsome tonight. She was suddenly conscious of her own appearance. The dress Rarity made for her was beautiful without a doubt. Her hair was meticulously brushed and her coat all but sparkled. She could only hope that was enough. "Twilight," Vanguard said. He gave a little nod of acknowledgement and a small smile. Twilight had to smile as well. That was the typical Vanguard greeting. "You're looking well tonight." Twilight nodded. "Thanks," she said. "You should go into more parties, Vanguard, you look good like this." Vanguard snorted. "I'll be happy to be on my next mission." Next to him, Applejack did a little cough and looked away. "Let's not keep Pinkie waiting though," he added. "That's Sablesteel she's dragging along. Not even the Thorns are safe apparently." Twilight giggled and trotted ahead. She bumped against somepony and turned around to apologize, only to find an embarrassed Rarity looking ready to blend into the crowd. "Twilight, I'm so glad you made it!" Rarity said. "You're quick to get out here," Twilight said with a snicker. "Well," Rarity huffed. "As much as I adore the class and sophistication, it's important to balance out the evening by cutting loose a little." She turned her nose up even as she bobbed to the music. "I mean this is to celebrate reunification as well, correct? A proper balance of refined endeavor and boisterous revelry should be on course for tonight." "Of course," Twilight said. "I'm sure that was exactly what Pinkie was thinking when she got them to play this song." "No doubt," Rarity said without missing a beat. "Despite her preferred themes, Pinkie knows her parties." She looked up, a frown slightly creasing her face. "And here comes Rainbow Dash and her drinking bud-- oh my, there's two of them now. Is that--?" Twilight followed Rarity's gaze. She recognized Scarlet Rabbit in his poorly-pressed suit. The ribbon on his collar looked ready to be undone and it was clear that he hadn't even bothered with his mane. There was another stallion following behind the two, either because he was too reluctant to join them directly, or because he simply couldn't fly as fast. Surprises were clearly not over yet, however. Fluttershy trotted towards them from another direction, accompanied by Blue Moon. Twilight frowned; there was a pattern emerging here. Black Rose may be gone, but her will could easily live on with the Thorns. Seeing the gentle, pleased look on Fluttershy, however, settled Twilight's mind a bit. It wasn't just Fluttershy's face. Sablesteel looked ready to bolt out of embarrassment despite her attempts to look irritated. Longstride seemed trapped by an invisible cage, strange eyes shifty, hooves fidgety from far too much restraint. Blue Moon was openly smiling, even bobbing to the silly tune that could be heard even in a foal's party. These were not the faces of hardened agents in the middle of an operation. The other two Thorns were likely about, but they weren't worrisome. At least, not right now. For once since she'd seen them, the Thorns just seemed like ponies. The others must see it too. They probably saw it earlier. Pinkie grabbed Sablesteel by the front hooves and tried to spin her around. Sablesteel swore loudly but cut herself short as she stumbled. "Isn't this the best party ever, Twilight?" Pinkie asked as she spun close. "So many new friends!" Twilight giggled again. That was twice now on a single occasion. She hadn't done that in so long. Around her smiles and dancing whirled together, blurring lines between her friends, Thorns, even random ponies nearby. She let what traces of awkwardness melt away to the familiar rhythm and joined the rest. After Pinkie's party tune proved surprisingly effective in getting ponies into the mood, the dancing music came after another. First were a few Canterlot favorites, which the legionnaires laughingly stumbled through as the Heartlanders showed them how. When unfamiliar tunes came up, ponies switched roles in good humor. Twilight laughed through it all; joined hooves with her friends, skipped, stumbled, even bumped into strangers all in good fun. It all winded down too quickly, however. The orchestra slowed down to a softer tune. Some of the more winded staggered back to their seats, faces red and smiling. Plenty remained however. It wasn't too hard to tell who they were from the shy smiles, the cheeky grins, the slightly too close proximity to one another. Twilight, as many of her friends, decided to sit this one out. Pinkie, of course, failed to read the mood and was trying to get Sablesteel to stay for the next. Sablesteel replied with a panicked yank of her forelegs and all but flew off to the nearby seats, Pinkie following behind in confusion. Applejack stayed of course, her cheeks redder than any apple as she took Vanguard's foreleg. Twilight stared at the two and watched every little affectionate fidget. She dared the jealous feelings to smolder, to challenge her resolve to be happy for her friends. There was a mild ache, a small burn from leftover feelings that won't go away, but it was far less than what she expected. The tune was unfamiliar; a slow, passionate, Barrier Lands melody reminiscent of a quiet moon-lit meeting between two lovers. Applejack's steps were slow and hesitant, she stumbled slightly after the first few steps. It was understandable, but Twilight got the sense that there was some intentional shrinking on Applejack's part just to get Vanguard to attend to her so closely. A minute of watching the slow dance was enough. Satisfied with how she reacted, Twilight turned around and made her way to some of the lonelier spots in the party. The little turn she did to face away felt a little over dramatic. She hoped nopony was watching. But it felt good, to see them, talk to them, and leave them alone without being buried in bad feelings. Besides, it was getting a little late and she was a little full and winded. A little rest, a little talk with her friends, then time to turn in. The music had faded to the distance and the lights had dimmed a bit when Twilight spotted the odd figure of a pony stumbling towards her. Her eyes narrowed when it suddenly changed shape. It looked like a slightly tall pegasus for a moment, then a horn appeared, then the horn disappeared and the figure was half its previous size. It had to be illusion magic. There was no transition to these changes. The figure didn't grow a horn, it had no horn in one second then a particularly long one in the next. It didn't shrink or grow, it just...became. Twilight already had a shield out as she cautiously approached. Perhaps she should be calling for aid, but she wanted to get a better look first. "Purpura..." That was Princess Luna's voice. Either this thing was good at mimicking voices or...wait, the illusion shifts would make more sense. Twilight reached out with a few simple dispellings. If the figure was hostile, it would counter them easily enough. It didn't. The bizzare shifting stopped, and it was an all too familiar alicorn princess who was stumbling towards Twilight. "Princess Luna!" Twilight said. She hurried over and offered support when the princess looked ready to topple. Luna was sweating despite the cool night air. Her legs shook and each hoof seemed inclined to step in its own direction. "Vos...auxillio..." Twilight could only give a puzzled look. "Princess, what are you saying? I don't understand--" "Latrinas...celero..." "Princess, are you talking in...um...Eternal Herd? I can't--" Luna grabbed her by the shoulder and yanked her close. "Celero aut suus 'vestri crus!" Those last few words barely registered in Twilight's mind. When Luna spoke, a hot cloud of indescribably horrid stench wafted from her mouth. The instant it touched Twilight's nose, the world spun and clouded over with darkness. Something struck the back of her head and the instant she realized it was the ground, she was out.