//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: Home // Story: Earth Ponies Can Cast Spells Too // by Paulicus //------------------------------// “Just how the hay are we supposed to get 'em all back?” Applejack paced the length of the cave, her tail flicking anxiously. “We're at least a day's travel from Appleloosa!” “Probably closer to two.” Rainbow Dash sat in the corner with her hoof to her chin. Applejack sent her a glare. “Point is, we're in it deeper than a jackrabbit in a timberwolf den.” The trio had managed to extract the captives from their sandy prisons, but their survival was still far from guaranteed. The stallions were delirious and unresponsive, mostly unconscious or babbling incoherently. Even the most recent disappearance, the one they'd heard sobbing, did little more than cower weakly. “I don't know. If I had any idea we'd be running a rescue mission, I would've been better prepared.” Twilight lay next to one of the stallions, her eyes closed in concentration as she slowly swept her horn above his body. The pale green glow of her healing spell made his already-pallid complexion even more ghostly. “They're dehydrated and malnourished. Even so, they shouldn't be this ill.” Her magic faded as she finished her examination. She sighed. “My best guess is that whatever the Dark Fey fed them was laced with some kind of magic or poison to keep them docile. Luckily, they don't seem to be in immediate danger. I'm no doctor, though.” She levitated a canteen to the stallion's muzzle, coaxing him to drink. “Can't you just, I dunno, teleport us all back to Appleloosa?” Rainbow Dash said. Twilight thought for a moment, scratching rough calculations in the sand. She grimaced. “Hm… Theoretically. Though it's a long way, and a lot of ponies.” Applejack looked through one of the holes in the sandstone cliff at the vast desert outside. “Sounds like our best shot.” “Ok, I'll try. Come closer, you two; I don't want to risk leaving you outside my reach.” Twilight's horn glowed once again, her familiar lavender aura surrounding the mares and their charges. Her magic grew brighter as she summoned more magical energy. There was a sudden, nauseating lurch, and a bright flash consumed their vision. If forced to describe teleportation, Applejack would probably say it felt something like slamming a speeding wagon through the eye of a needle. “Ugh, I'll never get used to that.” Her vision swam. When the light faded, they found themselves under the waning desert sun, still within sight of the Fey's cave. Twilight's eyes spun in their sockets. When they finally stopped, she looked around and realized where they were. Her ears dropped. “Sorry, girls, seems like I'm more drained than I thought.” “Now what're we gonna do?” Rainbow Dash groaned. Applejack frowned. “What if you left Rainbow and I behind?” “Hey, don't give her that idea!” “Why? 'Fraid you can't handle it?” Applejack said, a hint of a smile coming back to her face. “Heh, you wish, AJ,” Rainbow shot back, though her smirk lacked some of its usual energy. “It doesn't matter. With this many ponies, there's no way I'll get that far – especially not in this state.” Twilight shook her head. “We'll need to find another way.” Applejack looked around, thoughts churning in her head. “Hold on, y'all, I got an idea.” She ripped a branch from a nearby shrub. “We’ve got plenty of rope, and there's lots of brush 'round here. I'd bet my lucky hat we can rig up a sled or two and drag these ponies back. We can travel at night, find someplace to hunker down during during the day. If we make good time, we could be back by tomorrow night!” “Hmm, sounds risky,” Twilight said. “I don't see any other way.” Twilight scratched her chin. “Neither do I. Rainbow Dash, can you find more water?” “Sure! I think I saw a spring not too far from here.” Rainbow scooped up their canteens and flew off to the north. Twilight's eyes brightened. “Oh! And I know a spell that could help with the sled.” The purple aura returned to her horn. Twilight winced, and the aura sputtered and faded. “Ow... I guess I might need to wait a bit before using magic again.” Applejack worked quickly, gathering brush and lashing it together into a sled large enough to carry the stallions while Twilight tended to them. Rainbow Dash soon returned, deposited her burden of water, and helped Applejack finish the sled. They completed their work just as the sun was setting. “Okay, here goes.” Twilight stood next to the stallion-loaded sled, her horn glowing with magic once again. The lavender aura surrounded the sled, and with a faint popping sound, it lifted a few inches off the ground. Twilight smiled as the magic on her horn faded. “Featherweight spell. It's a variation of the basic telekinesis spell, much less taxing than trying to levitate them the entire night. Anything effected behaves as if it were one-tenth its normal weight for the next few hours.” Applejack tugged on the reins. “One-tenth, huh?” “Well, maybe not quite that much, given this many subjects. Still, it should make our job much easier.” “Ride 'em Applejack! Yeehaw!” Rainbow called down from above. “I'll remember that, Rainbow Dash!” Applejack woke from a fitful sleep. Her anxiety allowed her little rest, constantly forcing new worries about Braeburn and the others to the front of her thoughts. What if Twilight's spell failed, or she pushed herself too far? What if they were attacked by another Tatzlwurm, or worse? The little sleep she had managed to get was plagued by nightmares. The salty sweat of a half-dozen ponies tingled her nostrils. Not surprising, considering their shelter. Rainbow Dash sat at the entrance to their little hollow, watching the fading sunlight over the desert. Applejack could see Twilight sleeping on the other side of the pile of stallions. Applejack slowly disentangled herself from her twisted blanket and crawled over to Braeburn's unconscious form. “Braeburn,” she whispered, gently setting her hoof beside him. No response. She touched a hoof to his cheek, hoping for some kind of sign he was okay. “Braeburn...” she whispered again. Braeburn's eyes cracked open, his gaze aimlessly wandering in every direction. He muttered incomprehensibly. Applejack understood none of it, except what might have been a pleading “No...” She wasn't even sure he could see her. “Not sure what I was expecting,” Applejack thought, sighing to herself. “Braeburn... I'll get ya out of this, I swear. I ain't havin' ya come back just to die on me again, ya hear?” Applejack slunk back to her blanket, hoping to find a bit more rest before they set out again. Whether Rainbow Dash hadn't noticed, or just pretended not to, Applejack wasn't sure – and she didn't really care. After an hour with no luck, Applejack groaned and pulled herself to her hooves. She looked at her saddlebags longingly. “I can't believe I'm sayin' this, but... no time for coffee.” She shook herself, willing the fog of sleep away. “Good, you're up. The sun's almost set.” Rainbow Dash sounded awake and energetic, despite spending the last few hours on guard. “Yeah. Gimme a few minutes to stretch my legs, and I'll be ready to go. Hopefully Twi's rested up enough to get us a little farther this time.” “You're telling me! The less distance we have to carry these guys, the better.” Applejack raised an eyebrow. “You say that like you're the one carryin' them.” “Heh, right. Scouting for threats is no picnic, but you're definitely doing the heavy lifting here – no pun intended.” “Just go wake Twilight, Rainbow.” Applejack walked to the cave entrance, her stiff joints popping as she stretched. “I don’t know how that pegasus is so upbeat at a time like this… Though she does tend to feign confidence, even when she's nervous. I suppose that's her way.” After verifying the stallions were still stable, Twilight gathered them together for another attempt at teleportation. Once again, there was a flash of light and the feeling of sudden acceleration. When it faded, the ponies found themselves in the desert, a few miles from their makeshift camp. The returning stars dotted the darkening sky like raindrops. “I'm afraid that's the best I can do with so many passengers,” Twilight said, sweat dotting her brow. “Don't worry, sugarcube. We've probably saved a few hours in just that jump alone. That's real progress!” Applejack clapped her friend on the shoulder. Twilight smiled, panting. “Thanks. I just hope it's enough.” So their night continued on, with Twilight casting a spell every few hours, bringing them inexorably closer to their destination. They knew they were close when Rainbow Dash reported lights on the horizon. Twilight took a deep breath. She adopted a confident expression, despite the exhaustion evident in her features. “Okay, girls, gather round. If we're lucky, this'll be the last time.” Applejack brought the sled to a stop, breathing hard despite Twilight's featherweight spell. She wasn't sure which was less pleasant: dragging ponies miles through the desert, or the nausea-inducing lurch that came with teleportation. “One last jump...” she told herself. Flash. Warm light from the lantern mixed with the faint green glow flowing from the rune on Applejack's shoulder. The contrasting light cast strange yet beautiful patterns around the room. Applejack sat at the desk, her quill hovering over the page before her. She looked around at the shelves and cubbies stuffed with scrolls. The inks and reagents for Applejack's runes were kept in Twilight's library – it didn’t seem safe to keep them here with Applebloom running around. When she had first started her studies with Twilight, the scrolls had resided in Applejack's bedroom closet. They quickly spread out to her dresser, then her nightstand, and soon they threatened to overtake her entire room. The study had sat unused for years when Applejack finally decided to convert it to her own use. “Sure am glad to have my bed to myself again,” she thought, a small smile cracking her lips. Applejack yawned as the cloud of sleep pressed on her mind. She shook her head, grasping the quill once again with her magic. She needed to write while the memory was still fresh. “It wasn't easy, but we finally got those ponies back to Appleloosa, thank goodness. The townsfolk were happier than Pinkie Pie in a confetti stand to have their friends and family back. There was cheerin' and hollerin' and I reckon not a dry eye in the house. Still, they were pretty good about giving those ponies room. The doctor came right away and rushed 'em off to the hospital. He said they'll be fine, just needed some time to recover. Good thing we got 'em back when we did, though. “Still, those ponies are gonna have to live with what they've been through for the rest of their lives. Who knows how long it'll take for them to come to grips with it. Some of those that went through it the longest are gonna have the worst time of it. Desert Star, Lucky Strike –” Applejack paused before writing down the next name, her quill wavering for a moment as her concentration lapsed. “...Braeburn. They'll never be the same. Hell, when Braeburn finally woke up he was so jittery he could barely sit still, jumpin' at the littlest things. I'm glad to have him back, but what's the cost?” Her eyes drifted to an old picture frame tucked in one corner of the desk. It was hoof-made out of apple wood harvested right here on Sweet Apple Acres. The picture within had faded over the years, but it still showed its occupants clearly standing between rows of heavily-laden apple trees. There was a smiling couple standing in the center with a little foal held tight between them. At their feet sat a stout colt, next to a much smaller orange filly. To one side stood a younger version of Granny Smith. Applejack reached out a hoof and gently touched the picture, tender memories flooding back to her. Applejack felt a chill run through her. She stood up and walked to the window, but when she put her hoof up to close it, she found it was already shut. “...Maybe that's enough for tonight.” She put her writing supplies away and headed to bed. The next morning was a fairly typical one at Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack was in the western field, tending to her chores, while Big Mac was harvesting the eastern orchard. Applejack could feel the sun shining down on her through the cloudless skies. The crack of hooves on wood and the sound of apples tumbling neatly into their baskets combined with the creak of wagon wheels to form a familiar and comforting rhythm of hard work and heavy breath. For the first time in months, Applejack was starting to feel normal again. As she loaded another bushel of apples into her cart, Applejack paused. She couldn't help but ponder why she was suddenly feeling so well. Of course, the answer was obvious: she had, through her own power and with the help of her friends, rescued the missing Appleloosan ponies and her cousin, even though they'd all been thought dead. And yet, something was still nagging at the back of her mind. She loved Sweet Apple Acres. It was her home, like a part of her family. She was safe here. All of the Fey hunting, this rune magic… everything that had happened. What did it bring her? Stress. Grief. Pain. She could just leave it all behind, go back to the way things were. The horrors she'd seen... that's something nopony should ever have to go through. Still... Applejack couldn't help but wonder what else was happening out there. How many ponies had lost loved ones? How many were missing without a trace? She was in a unique position to help those ponies. She couldn't just abandon them because it was unpleasant. She was the bearer of one of the Elements of Harmony, and that was a responsibility she couldn’t ignore. What kind of pony would that make her? She shook her head, eyebrows furrowing in frustration. “Why am I even thinkin' this? 'Course I'm gonna help.” After all, Applejack always helped other ponies. It's who she was. She told herself that was the end of it and tried to get back to work, but something else made her look up. She cursed. Applejack and saw a nearby hill topped with a single tree. She recognized that hill. It was a place she'd tried to avoid, a place that bought up memories she'd rather not remember. Yet, as she looked up at that nearly-treeless knoll, she knew that another visit was something she'd put off for far too long. It was a beautiful sight. The hill overlooked all of Sweet Apple Acres, from the farmhouse to the farthest orchards. Ponyville was visible as a distant cluster of houses, and she could just make out the Everfree Forest. Rolling hills gave way to mountains in the distance, all framed by an ocean of blue sky above. It truly was a beautiful place. Applejack sat in front of two plain wooden monuments. They had worn over the years, but were still clearly recognizable. The lilies planted there had just reached their fullest bloom. “Ma, Pa... sorry it's been so long since my last visit. I'm just, you know, busy and stuff.” Applejack removed her hat and fidgeted nervously. “So much has changed since you've been gone. There's these weird Fey thingies comin' around, and Twilight's been teaching me about this new type of magic she made... but, you probably don't wanna hear about that... I started usin' your study again, Pa, hope that's okay...” “Why the hay'd I even come up here to start...” Applejack's ears fell, her mouth curving into a frown. “Aw, hell, what am I supposed to say! I miss you both so much... I'm grateful for all the things I have, for all my friends... but damn if I wouldn't trade it all away just to see you one more time...” She felt the sting of tears forming in her eyes. “I know it's silly, but I can't help but think that if I had gone with ya, maybe I could've done something. Maybe if I tried harder you would've never left and you'd still – damn it...” Tears were flowing freely down her cheeks now. “I've done so much since you've been gone, but... I don't want to be strong! I don't want to take care of everypony! I just want ya back! It's not fair, damn it! It's not fair!!” Applejack leapt to her hooves, slamming her forehoof into the tree. A loud crack echoed through the orchard. When she opened her eyes, she was shocked to find a fissure running up the length of the trunk. She saw a fading white light in the runes on her foreleg. “But I didn't... I wasn't even tryin' to...” Applejack sat back down on the grass. She stayed there a long time. She thought of her past, about the happy times that motivated her, about the trials that had made her the mare she was... Applejack decided that, wherever her path led, she would not live with regret. Twilight was right – whatever was going on in her head, Applejack needed help. She stood up, put on her hat, and turned back towards Ponyville. She knew just the pony to talk to. Twilight sat in her room above the Golden Oaks Library, going through the large stack of scrolls on her desk one-by-one. “I can't believe there have been so many in just one week,” she thought, marveling at the fact that many of the scrolls detailed new Fey sightings. As she read, Twilight referenced her list of scouting teams and their locations, deciding who to send to investigate each incident. “Hoofington? That's a little unexpected, though I suppose it could have traveled inland... I think Trail Blazer's team can handle that one.” She scratched a few more words with her quill and set another scroll aside. “Okay, what's next... Preens? That's just outside of Manehatten. Jade Star, maybe...? Hmm, that looks like it might be a little beyond her abilities, though. I suppose I could send Octavia... but she was pretty upset when the last one interrupted her concert...” Her concentration was interrupted by a loud crash from downstairs. “What in the world was that?!” Twilight rushed downstairs, half-expecting to see Rainbow Dash sticking through her wall once again. Instead, she found a small yellow filly with a red bow sitting in a growing puddle of black ink. “Applebloom! What are you doing here?” Applebloom smiled nervously, ink spattered all over her coat. “Well, ya see... I kinda thought that since Applejack was so good with her rune magic, maybe I could be too, ya know. So I came here tryin' to find that ink she uses and–” “What? Applebloom, this isn't even the right – ugh.” Twilight brought her hoof to her forehead. “Are you okay, Twilight?” Spike cracked open the kitchen door. “Applebloom? What're you doing here?” He cocked his head. “We're fine, Spike. Applebloom was just leaving.” Applebloom tried to stand, but slipped and landed with her legs splayed out beneath her. She wore a pleading look on her face. “But what if this is how I get my cutie mark?! I gotta–” Twilight's magic aura enveloped both her horn and Applebloom, lifting the filly and pushing her towards the door. “I admire your enthusiasm, Applebloom, but you're far too young to be learning about experimental magics. Maybe I'll teach you about potion-making some other time, but right now I'm very busy!” “But–” “No buts!” Twilight deposited the filly outside the library door. “I'm already behind on my work, and now I have to go buy more ink. Go home, Applebloom.” Applebloom looked at the ground, kicking at the dirt with her hoof. “Okay. Sorry, Twilight.” Back inside, Twilight looked at the black puddle on her floor. “Note to self: Don't store all the writing supplies in one location.” She looked towards the top of the stairs. “And there’s no way that little inkwell will last through all those scrolls.” She sighed and turned toward the door, telekinetically grasping her saddlebags and placing them on her back. “Spike, I'm going to buy more writing supplies. Would you mind cleaning this up?” she called. “Already on it!” Spike emerged from the kitchen towing a mop and bucket. “Thanks, Spike,” Twilight said, ruffling his spines. “You really are the best assistant a pony could ask for.” “Geez, Twilight, you're embarrassing me,” he said with a smile. “Go on and get your things.” Twilight shut the library door behind her, pondering how she could avoid this situation in the future. “It seemed like such a promising organizational system, too.” “Well, maybe not technically a pony.” Applejack stood under the heavy shade of an oak tree, a short way inside the Everfree Forest. The tree-home before her was similar in character to the Ponyville Library, though the decorative bottles and carved wooden masks hanging from the branches set it apart from Twilight's home. Not to mention the locale – the Everfree Forest was far more unsettling than Ponyville. Applejack raised her hoof to the door and knocked twice. She waited, but heard no sound from inside. Just as she began to wonder whether anyone was home, the door gently swung inward. A striped zebra wearing exotic golden jewelry stood just inside. Zecora’s face brightened when she saw who was standing on her doorstep. “Ah, my pony friend, Applejack. What brings you through Everfree, here to my shack?” Applejack had never figured out why Zecora always spoke in rhyme. When she first found out, it was one of the reasons she had been nervous around the zebra. Now, it was the endearing trait of a good friend. “Oh, ya know. Just swingin' by is all,” Applejack said, tipping her hat. “Twilight, RD, and I just got back from our outing yesterday, y'know.” “So I'd heard,” Zecora started, stepping back into her home and motioning for Applejack to follow. “But of details from your trip, I've had little word.” Applejack followed her inside, hung her hat by the door, and took a seat at the main table. “Well, it wasn't too different from the last outing. We tracked down the Fey we were lookin' for and sent him back home. Took some doin', but we got it done.” “I must say, I do not envy your duties as a ranger. These Fey often seem to be filled with great danger.” Zecora picked up a bottle and a pair of cups. She poured a thick juice into each cup and sat down at the table, offering one to Applejack. “I count myself lucky that my encounters with them have been few. The ones that appear here seem small and harmless, like a shrew.” Applejack took the offered cup and sipped. The juice was strange, and tasted strongly of bitter berries. It had a pleasantly sweet aftertaste, though. “Yeah, Twilight says the actual intrusions mostly happen closer to Equestria's borders. The ones that make it farther inland tend to be small and sneaky, but they usually seem more curious than dangerous, luckily. It's the big ones you gotta watch out for.” Zecora nodded and sipped the bittersweet drink. “I see. And what news of your cousin? I haven't heard the latest state he was in.” “Oh yeah, that.” Applejack cast her eyes downward. One of her ears flicked involuntarily. “It was pretty surprising, finding everypony alive, that's for sure. We got 'em back to their kin as quick as we could, though, and the doctors patched 'em right up. They should be fine. But... I don't know how long it'll take 'em to get over all that they've been through. It was pretty rough.” Zecora looked at Applejack solemnly. “Ailments of the mind are difficult to cure, but you Apples are strong; I'm sure he will endure.” She swirled the liquid in her cup. “Thanks, Zecora.” Applejack looked up at her friend and smiled softly. “That's kinda why I'm here. I've been having... trouble, recently. I don't know why, but I haven't been able to... well, control myself like I normally do. And I'm not exactly sure how, but somehow all this,”–she waved a hoof over the rune on her cheek–“is related to my temper. You always seem so calm and centered. I was wonderin'... is there any kind of tip or secret to staying relaxed that ya’ll could show me? Like maybe some kind of special tea or something?” Zecora nodded again, thoughtfully lifting her cup and slowly finishing its contents. “Your problem, I think, I can see. But it is not tea you need, my little pony.” “So you'll help me?” Applejack's ears perked up. Zecora smiled and rose from her seat. She walked towards the back room, motioning for Applejack to follow, and led her through a back door to a clearing next to a small pond behind her hut. Touching a hoof to one of the hanging bottles, Zecora tipped a small amount of white powder into a wooden bowl. There was a soft poof, and a light blue smoke began to rise from the bowl, creating a thin haze around the clearing. Applejack sniffed the smoke. It smelled of unfamiliar fruit. The zebra walked back towards the center of the clearing, tapping a small brass bowl with her hoof on the way. It emitted a long, gentle ringing that continued to sound. Zecora pushed her body up, effortlessly balancing on her hind legs. She motioned for Applejack to do the same, then brought her hooves together in front of her chest. “I'm not so good on my hind legs.” Applejack managed to stand, but with far less grace than Zecora. Zecora simply smiled, adopting an open pose and signaling Applejack to do the same. “Almost there, but not quite. Lift your shoulder, open your chest... There, just right.” Applejack wasn't sure what to think. She felt silly trying to balance like this in the middle of the forest. Still, she trusted Zecora and tried to mimic her movements. The zebra took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. She closed her eyes, a visible serenity settling on her frame. “Empty yourself, think no thought,” she said in a gentle, soothing tone. “In your mind no trouble should be wrought.” Zecora led Applejack through a series of movements, slowly sweeping her forelegs down, out, and up. “Breathe, and feel your tension drain…” She arched forward, almost landing back on four legs, before rising back up with forelegs outstretched, breathing deeply and releasing it once again. “Nothing left. No stress, no pain.” She slowly stretched her back legs, first the right, then the left, forelegs flowing forward in small arcs. With each movement, Applejack could feel the awkwardness leaving her. As they continued, she let the worries and stress of the previous days and months leave her. The smell of smoke and gentle ringing helped focus her mind entirely on the present. She felt each movement and breath with deeper awareness than she had ever thought possible. By the time Zecora ended the pattern with a deep bow, Applejack felt more peaceful than she had in a very long time. “That pattern is possibly my favorite one. I do it each morning to greet the sun.” “Wow, Zecora, I gotta say, I feel amazing,” Applejack said, settling back onto all four legs. “What is that anyway?” Zecora smiled. “It’s a practice passed down through my people, an ancient art. I’m glad you enjoyed it, though it’s only a start.” “Well sign me up!” Applejack rotated her limbs, feeling the looseness in each joint. “I’d love to come by again and learn some more, if that’s okay?” Zecora nodded. “I would be happy to. But another time; there is much to do.” “Thanks, Zecora! Wish I could stay, but you’re right. I’ve got chores that still need tacklin’.” Applejack waved as she trotted back towards the front of the hut, grabbing her hat as she went. “I’ll have to get me one of them fancy ringin’ bowls sometime.” Twilight happily trotted down Ponyville's main boulevard, her saddlebags filled with newly-purchased writing supplies. Quills & Sofas was always a pleasant shopping experience. Davenport had sold her on their reinforced ink wells, and she even bought a new rack that would help her organize her inks by color and grade. “I'm just glad the magic-conducting inks weren't stored in that closet. Those would be much more difficult to replace.” Twilight had had to turn him down (again) on his Super-Deluxe Griffon-Down Mattress. Something about sleeping on griffon feathers didn't feel right, even if they were legally acquired. A small growl interrupted her thoughts. She turned her head, looking around for the source. When she heard it again, she realized it was coming from her stomach. “Oh,”–she chuckled–“I suppose it has been a while since breakfast. I should stop by Sugarcube Corner on the way back and pick up some cupcakes. Spike would like that.” After a few minutes, Twilight arrived in the open square in front of Ponyville's most well-known bakery. She heard the town bell sound one-o'clock and saw the lunchtime crowd dispersing. “Perfect timing,” she thought to herself. Inside, Twilight could hear the sound of rapid packing coming from behind the counter. She saw a few ponies waiting in line for their orders. She recognized one of them – a white-coated unicorn with a blueberry mane and a blue-and-yellow cross for a cutiemark. “Nurse Glowheart, hello!” “Oh, hello, Twilight.” She turned and smiled. “So glad to see you've finally returned from the south.” “Me too. That was one of the longest missions we've been on, but it was well worth it.” Twilight breathed a sigh of relief. “I wanted to thank you again for teaching me that healing spell. It really saved our hides!” Nurse Glowheart chuckled. “Good, good. I have to say, I'm impressed that you've been able to master it as much as you have. I guess that's why you represent the Element of Magic!” “Thanks,” Twilight said, her cheeks reddening slightly, “but I'm still nowhere near your level. It took me almost five minutes to stitch up a cut. I've seen you set bones in half the time!” “Don't worry, I'm sure you'll get there.” A bubbly voice from the front counter interrupted their conversation. “Order up!” Nurse Glowheart turned her head, deftly catching the flying paper sack with her magic just before it collided with her muzzle. “Thanks, Pinkie!” She turned back toward Twilight. “Sorry, Twilight, gotta run! Busy day at the hospital. It’s ‘Take Your Child to Work’ day and... Well, you can imagine how that’s going.” She rolled her eyes. “Good luck!” Twilight waved as the nurse hustled out the door. “Twilight, you're back!” Pinkie said, wrapping her in a massive hug. “You were gone so long, we should have a party!” “Thanks, Pinkie, but let's save that for another day. I'm still catching up on my mail.” “Don't you worry, we'll have one later and it'll be super-duper!” Pinkie said as she let Twilight go and hopped back behind the counter. “So what can I do ya for?” Twilight smiled. “For now, I'd just like a few cupcakes.” “Cupcakes?!” Pinkie's eyes widened, a look of shock on her face. She raised her hooves to her cheeks, then disappeared into the back of the store, leaving behind a poofy pink blur. Twilight stood, completely befuddled. She glanced around at the empty parlor. “Was it something I said?” she wondered aloud. “I almost forgot these!” Pinkie suddenly sprang from behind the counter, slamming down a tray between the two mares. “Gah! Pinkie, where–how–?” Twilight said, wondering how Pinkie got from the back room to the front counter. “Does she have some kind of secret party tunnel or–” Her train of thought was interrupted as she saw what adorned the tray before her. There were about a dozen cupcakes, each one nestled in a clear, cubic case. She could see strangely familiar swirls on the cake beneath the frosting. “What are these, Pinkie?” Twilight leaned in for a closer look. “I call them Runicakes! Orrr Magicakes! Or Runi-Magicakes! I'm not sure yet.” “You don't mean...” Twilight trailed off as she began to realize what she was seeing. Pinkie grinned widely, obviously happy at Twilight's surprise. “Yep! I snuck into the library while you were away and read your notes. I know some of your spells are really tricky, even for you, so I thought a ready-made pre-packaged spell up your sleeve – not that you normally wear sleeves – might come in handy sometime!” Pinkie’s grin lessened slightly. “Oh, sorry about sneaking into your house, by the way.” “But, Pinkie... How...?” Pinkie chuckled, draping one hoof over her friend's shoulder. “Oh, Twilight, it was easy! Just mix up some extra ingredients, put a few squiggles on the batter, and let 'er bake!” She said with a wink. “Took me a bit to figure out the recipe though. 'Fraid I could only get this much done before you got back.” Twilight glanced between her friend and the cupcakes on the counter, unsure if she should believe what she was hearing, or if this was some kind of elaborate prank. “But we were only gone for one week! How could you have managed this so quickly?” “Actually, I didn't have time to work on this until the weekend, so it was more like three days.” Twilight's jaw dropped. Gears turned in her head as she struggled to comprehend the speed with which Pinkie had accomplished what took her over a month of dedicated study. “Hey! Let me show you how they work!” Pinkie bounced back towards the register, abruptly slamming her face into the wooden counter – hard. Twilight heard a muffled crunching sound. When Pinkie raised her head, a narrow red trail flowed from her nose, which now pointed noticeably to the left. She winced. “Ow...” Twilight snapped back to look at her friend again. “Pinkie, what are you doing?! Here, let me–” Pinkie held up a hoof. Without speaking, she opened one of the cupcake cases. The frosting showed a simple red cross on a white background. She tossed the treat into the air, gulping it down with one bite. Almost immediately, her nose began to softly pop back into place. Pinkie nonchalantly wiped the blood from her nose and spread her forelegs out wide. “Ta-daaa!” Twilight shook her head, finally regaining her composure. “I... Wow, Pinkie, I'm impressed! I can honestly say that I never expected you to come up with anything like this. And so quickly!” “I know, right? But once I got the idea in my little head, I just couldn't get it out!” Pinkie giggled. “I came up with a few other recipes, too. Look!” She pointed her hoof towards a cupcake with a single feather motif. “This one makes you really light. It's great for bouncing and swimming and stuff! I had to use a pegasus feather to make it work. And this one”–she pointed to one that seemed to depict a tiny sonic rainboom–“is like a sugar-rush for your magic! Oh, and this one – well, I made a list.” Pinkie paused and reached into her mane. She produced a small scroll, which she handed to Twilight. “I know how much you love lists!” “You never cease to amaze me, Pinkie Pie.” Twilight smiled. “Thanks, Twilight. Now, I don't want to be rude, but the Cakes have a big order to fill this afternoon and I gotta get bakin'!” Twilight grasped the boxed cupcakes in her magic and carried them towards the door. “Thanks again, Pinkie, you really are something special.” “Anything for a friend!” Pinkie called back, waving. “I really need to get Pinkie back in my lab sometime,” Twilight thought as she left Sugarcube Corner. Halfway back to the library, Twilight stomach grumbled again. She had forgotten to get any cupcakes she could actually eat for lunch. “Shoot.” Rainbow Dash hovered outside of the Carousel Boutique, wondering what Rarity could possibly want with her. When the two of them came together, it was usually because Rarity wanted to 'make her look like a proper lady,' or because Rainbow had crashed into her boutique after messing up an awesome trick. She tapped a hoof on her chin, but she couldn't remember breaking anything of Rarity's too recently. “What the hay, might as well see what she wants. I can always fly away if she tries to get me to play dress-up again.” She opened the door to the boutique, the tiny chime ringing as she entered. “Hey, Rares. I heard you were looking for me?” Rarity looked up from her sewing machine. “Rainbow Dash! Just the pegasus I wanted to see!” She stood up and approached her friend. “I have a very special surprise for you,” she said sweetly. Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes, suspicious. “You'd better not be trying to dress me up in one of your frilly outfits again.” Rarity chuckled. “Oh, darling, of course not! Well, I mean, not exactly. I do have some outfits, but they’re hardly–” The pegasus started to take off, but Rarity grasped her tail with her magic. “Wait! Just allow me to explain,” she said, giving Rainbow a cross look. Rainbow Dash turned back to her friend. She sat, crossing her forelegs. “You've got 60 seconds.” Rarity huffed, but her eagerness quickly returned. She smiled. “Well, I know that you've become rather fond of that new spell Twilight made for you. The one that lets you go 'sight unseen,' as it were. I hear you've been making good use of it out in the field.” Rarity moved slightly closer to Rainbow Dash, giving her a sidelong glance, as if she knew some dark secret. “I also know that all of your equipment doesn't come with when you use it. Twilight's been helping me in that regard. I just can't bear to see a lady – however inappropriate the title – forced to strip down in the wilderness.” She made a dramatic show of concern with her hooves. Rainbow cocked an eyebrow. “Your point?” she said flatly. Rarity adjusted her glasses, adopting an air of confidence as though she were presenting a new clothing line at a Canterlot fashion show. “I've come up with an outfit that should let you turn invisible with all of your belongings.” Rainbow Dash's mood abruptly changed. She broke out in a huge grin, unconsciously spreading her wings and hopping into the air. “Whoa, really? Why didn't you just say so!” “Really, darling, the presentation is half–” Rainbow Dash fluttered around the room in excitement. “I can't tell you how annoying it's been to slough off my saddlebags and Celestia-knows-what-else whenever I want to do some proper scouting. Not to mention fighting or–” Rainbow Dash paused abruptly, turning back to look at Rarity. “Wait, 'should?’” “Well, yes. That's why you are here. As I said, Twilight has been helping me with this little project. Based on what's she's learned from studying that dreadful weapon you brought back from the desert”–Rarity cringed–“we picked out some materials that might work with the invisibility field created by your spell. I have a couple of outfits made up that I'd like you to try on and see how well they perform in practice.” Rainbow Dash landed, her mouth askew as her inner dialogue debated the pros and cons of submitting to another dress-up session with Rarity. “Though, if you're not interested...” Rarity said, coyly. “No! I mean, yes!” In the end, Rainbow Dash's curiosity won out. She flew over to Rarity, smiling. “Ok, let's do it!” “Excellent!” Rarity clapped her hooves. After a few minutes behind the curtain, the pegasus emerged and stood in front of the mirrors. Rainbow Dash looked at her reflection with one eyebrow raised. She wore a garment made of alternating strips of blue and white silk that vaguely resembled a slim-fitting dinner gown. “You look marvelous, darling! The white really complements your eyes.” Rainbow Dash eyed the garment skeptically. “Did you have to make it so... floofy?” “Whatever do you mean? I didn't put a single frill or sequin on it,” Rarity said innocently. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Anyway...” Her muzzle contorted in concentration. Wispy lines of white light slowly flowed from under the dress. After a few moments she began to fade, then suddenly vanished from sight. The dress, however, was still there. Rainbow sighed. “Hmm...” Rarity rubbed her hoof on her chin. “I thought animal fiber might have had at least some kind of resonance with your magic. Oh well, on to the next one!” A few minutes later, Rainbow Dash once again stood before the mirrors, this time wearing what looked like a nearly-translucent white robe. “Well, this is better – definitely more aerodynamic.” She kicked her legs a bit to test the fabric. “I could see this belt coming loose in a fight, though.” “I can always reinforce it once we're done here,” Rarity said with a wave of her hoof. “Why did you take the time to make entire outfits, anyway? Wouldn't it have been easier to just make a few scarves to test or something?” Rarity chuckled. “Oh, Rainbow Dash, you should know by now that I never do anything halfway.” “Heh, I suppose I should,” Rainbow said, smirking. “Now, this outfit is made of magically-reinforced gossamer. It's much stronger than it looks. Give it a go, I'm sure it'll work this time.” Rainbow Dash concentrated, once again activating the wind-and-cloud rune on her foreleg. When she turned back to the mirrors, she still saw the faint outline of the robe adorning her body. Rarity leaned forward for a closer look. “How intriguing! It would appear that the gossamer thread does something, even if it's not completely invisible. I'm sure Twilight would love to hear about this.” Rainbow Dash sighed again. “I suppose this is better than nothing, if I can't strip it off for whatever reason.” “Oh, we're not quite done yet, Rainbow Dash.” Rarity winked. “I saved the best for last!” Her horn glowed, and she brought out a black and gray body suit. “I call this the Advanced Stealth Mark II Fabulous Assault Outfit!” The unicorn giggled with delight. Looking closer, Rainbow could see that it was woven from some kind of dark fiber in a diamond scale pattern. “Wow, that's actually pretty cool! The name could use a little work, though.” “I, yes, well... ahem.” Rarity took a moment to gather herself before proceeding. “It's a fiber found inside old dragon scales – sustainably harvested, of course. Did you know they shed scales naturally? – Anyway, it’s tough, but breathable, and with just enough stretch to fit a variety of body shapes. Twilight was also able to weave in a few enchantments that should help attune it to your own magic.” “Ahh, yeah! Let's give it a shot!” Rainbow Dash repeated the process, standing before the boutique mirrors and activating her invisibility spell. The light underneath the dragon-fiber suit made a subtle, flowing incandescence where it peeked through the garment. Rainbow Dash soon vanished, leaving behind no trace of her presence but the excited squeals of herself and her friend. “Awesome!” “Hmmm... maybe I could increase the reach of the spell matrix by using some kind of physical carrier...? That might work.” Twilight sat hunched over a pile of scrolls in the Golden Oaks Library. Her concentration was broken by a knock at the door. She turned and pulled the door open with her magic. “Howdy, Twilight!” Applejack said warmly as she entered. “Hello, Applejack. You're looking more chipper than usual. Anything special happening?” “Not really, I just stopped by Zecora's earlier today. She gave me some tips on relaxin' and such. I feel like a million bits!” Applejack grinned. “Well I'm glad it's working for you. What brings you to the library?” “I'm hoping you might be able to help me. I had an idea for a spell, but I'm not quite sure where to start.” Applejack looked pointedly at the countless shelves. Twilight's eyes sparkled with excitement. “Ooh! You want to research your own spell? What're you looking for?” “Well, it seems to me that most of the Fey we've fought are usually too quick to pin down, or too big to get 'em where we want 'em. You have something that could help with that?” Twilight tapped her chin. “Hmm... do you mean some type of advanced telekinesis?” Applejack waved a hoof. “Nah, you've seen how long it takes me to get a telekinesis spell running. I'm thinkin' something a bit more on the simple-and-direct side.” “Let me have a look.” Twilight trotted towards the magic section of the library. “Oh, by the way, Applebloom stopped by earlier,” she said, looking over her shoulder at Applejack. Applejack's flicked her ear. “Yeah, I heard. Sorry about that, Twi. She's already gotten a stern talkin'-to. I'm thinkin' I should send her over here for a few days to make up for it.” “If that's what you think is right, I can always come up with chores for her.” Twilight lifted books from the shelves, examining the covers one-by-one. “Spike could probably use a break, anyway. He's been working himself so hard in my absence.” “Say, what do ya got here?” Applejack asked, noticing Twilight's notes on the main table. “Transformation and... these are divination signs, right?” “They are! I've been researching some new spells. That one is supposed to be a medium-range communication spell for Rainbow Dash, something that will help her stay in contact with us when she's scouting. Unfortunately, I've been having trouble getting the range up to where I'd like it. I'm exploring the idea of using small breezes as carriers, though that comes with its own disadvantages – Ah, this might work.” Twilight floated a small red book over to Applejack. “On page 42, you'll find Busby's Battering Ram spell. It works by manipulating the magical field of the target to control their movements. It might suit your needs, though it lacks precision.” Applejack cracked the book open and scanned the page. “Thanks, Twilight! This is just what I was looking for.” “Just remember, AJ, even with your earth pony magic, direct-action spells like this could have a reduced effect on the Fey. I haven't had the chance to fully document the irregularities in their magical auras.” Applejack slipped the book into her bags and headed for the door. “I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for the help, Twi! I'll send Applebloom over first thing tomorrow.” Once Applejack had left, Twilight walked back to the table containing her spell research. However, it was only a scant few hours before she was interrupted again. Spike came down the stairs, holding a scroll in one claw. “Twilight? You're gonna want to read this.” A purple flash marked Twilight's arrival on the road into Sweet Apple Acres. She knew how unsettling her sudden apparation could be, so she made an effort to restrict her teleportation to less-crowded areas when possible. “Besides, a little trotting does a unicorn good,” she thought. As she walked towards the farm, she tried to keep her expression neutral. Her eyes shifted to the loosely-furled scroll floating beside her. “What could be so important, and on such short notice?” she wondered. She pulled her eyes away, looking back towards her destination. The sun would be setting soon, but she had to tell her friends tonight. “Guess we'll find out soon enough.” The farmhouse came into view, and Twilight could hear activity coming from behind it. When she turned the corner into the backyard, she saw Big Mac sitting at a picnic table, the remains of dinner still scattered on its top. He was watching Applejack lying on her back in the grass, balancing Applebloom above her on four hooves. “Again, Sis, again!” The yellow filly giggled, smiling widely. Applejack chuckled. “Okay, but this is the last one, then it's off to bed with ya.” The levitation rune on her body glowed with a pale green light, and a matching aura engulfed the smaller pony. Her tongue protruded from her mouth in concentration. When she was ready, she pushed her legs upward. “Yeah! Woohoo!” Applebloom gently floated into the air, slowly spinning head-over-heels. Her legs kicked at the empty air, and a huge smile adorned her muzzle as she laughed with glee. “Whee!” Applejack gently pushed her sister a few more times before setting her back on the grass. She took a deep breath and let it out as she stood. “Alright, time to sleep now. Off with ya.” “Aww, just one more time, Applejack, pleeease?” Applebloom looked up at her with wide puppy-dog eyes and a tiny pout in her lip. Applejack chuckled and playfully ruffled her mane. “You tried that last time, sister. Better get some new material! Now go on, you've got chores in the mornin'.” “Oh, alright.” Applebloom smirked, her eyes returning to normal. She said goodnight to Applejack – and to Twilight, once her presence was noticed – and ran inside the house. Big Mac followed slowly behind. “You seem to be getting along well,” Twilight noted with a smile. Applejack nodded. “You bet! Can't let a little trouble get in the way of a beautiful evening, after all.” She gestured towards the sunset over the open orchard. Twilight watched the waning sunlight streaking between the clouds. “It certainly is.” “So, what brings you over so late, Twilight?” Applejack asked, offering some of the leftover pie to her friend. Twilight politely declined. “I'm sorry to do this so suddenly, especially just days after we came back to Ponyville, but Princess Celestia has called a meeting of the High Council.” Twilight floated the scroll over to Applejack. “Has she, now? What's it all about, exactly?” Applejack quickly scanned the letter. “I don't know, she just says that it's very important we attend. Everypony will be there – military generals, top scientists, civilian liaisons – you name it.” Applejack looked up at Twilight, the brow of her hat casting a slight shadow over her features. “And with you here so late, I'm guessing this is happening real soon, ain't it?” Twilight nodded. “We leave for Canterlot in the morning.”