Applejack peered across the cloth at Twilight, glanced at Rainbow, then stood. "Say, could ah have a word with ya, sugarcube?" She gestured off and wandered, watching for Twilight to follow after her. Without prompting, Rainbow landed beside them, leaving the others to continue chatting and eating. "We need ta talk."
"What about?" Twilight looked between the both of them.
Rainbow rolled her eyes. "You really should know, Twi. Your lover girl, boy, whatever's shared beds with half of Ponyville."
Twilight's expression went flat. "That's not even close to true. Besides, they've really turned that around. They don't want anypony else."
Applejack rolled a hoof. "Is that why Starlight's lookin' at 'em like a big juicy apple?"
All three looked over to see Starlight perched on her belly, watching Silver as if to jump on her as soon as the chance became clear. Twilight sighed softly. "She's been like that with everypony." They peered at her. "I mean everypony in the castle, besides Spike. Hay, she tried to ask me out once, does that make me a degenerate?"
Applejack shook her head slowly. "Ah'm not sayin' ta not be friends or nothin'. It's obvious they like ya plenty." She frowned with thought. "And ya do have a foal togetha and all... I jus'... Please, be careful, alright?"
Twilight offered a hoof and soon all three were hugging. "I know you wouldn't be saying it if you didn't mean it out of care. You're both dear, dear friends, and I appreciate you're willing to talk to me about these things." She let them go and settled on her haunches. "I think I'll be alright. As for Starlight, I think she's a little desperate. She got used to being alone, then being the one in charge, never a partner, never a real friend. Speaking of which, where is her friend?"
Rainbow shrugged. "Hay if I know. So, you're okay with her 'friendshipping' all over you and your castle?"
Applejack snorted into a fit of laughter. "You would phrase it like that. Look, ah jus' wanted to be sure like that you had yer eyes open, and that you knew we were there, as friends. If things go sour, you jus' have to call."
Rainbow thrust a hoof up. "Yeah, we got your back, Twi. Don't feel embarrassed or anything. Can't be worse than when I faked that lame injury at the tryout."
"Ya did what now?"
"Twilight knows what I'm talking about."
Twilight did, and smiled. "Thank you, both of you."
Back at the picnic, Night's gaze fell on Starlight. "So, a whole town?"
Starlight's ears flipped back. "Yes... I'd rather not talk about that. I'm going on a trip to apologize to them next week."
Fast put a hoof out in front of Night. "Chill out, girl. She said sorry about that. Everypony deserves a chance, like Silver said."
Rarity tilted her head. "Was that from Silver first? Very forgiving of you, though I do suppose you weren't personally inconvenienced..."
Fluttershy squirmed. "That's how t-they are all the time."
Pinkie set a slice of cake before each pony in turn. "I feel like we've made it through something, but I couldn't say what. Let's just be happy we're all together."
A small distance away, Silver was watching the Crusaders as they set up their own kites and soared them through the sky. With little nudges, Silver quietly kept them from tangling or crashing as subtly as she could, giving them a chance to notice the issue and adjust themselves. She noticed something she hadn't before. "Oh, you have cutie marks!"
Apple Bloom tilted her head. "We didn't tell ya?!" Suddenly all three were presenting their flanks and Silver burst into giggles. "What? Ya don't like 'em?"
"No no! Nothing like that. They're amazing, and they match." She tilted her head left and right. "You three really are a team."
"Precisely." Sweetie bobbed her head. "We're going to help other ponies that can't figure out their special talent."
Silver reached out and peered at one mark and the next. "They have multiple meanings, layers. Just like Twilight's means the twinkle of magic, but also her closest of friends supporting her, and the six stars that would align to set Luna free."
They stared a moment. Unwatched, their kites crashed. "What?"
Silver tilted her head a little. "What? It's true."
Scootaloo rubbed behind her head. "I never thought of it quite like that. What do you think ours means then?"
Silver almost answered, but caught herself. "Wait, this is one of your jobs now, isn't it?"
Apple Bloom waved it away. "It ain't no harm ta get somepony else's view on it, so long as we don't get carried away. What do you think it is?"
Silver looked from one to the next. "Well, they share the theme, which I assume is the Crusaders." She tapped at her chin lightly. "You have a note right there, and yours is an apple, and yours is a wing." She frowned softly. "There are a lot of ways you can turn that. It's obvious you still have personal destinies, but I can't say what they are."
Sweetie flashed a big grin. "Of course we do! We'll figure that out in good time."
"Yeah, there's no rush," agreed Scootaloo. "Knowing we'll be together is good enough, and that we can help other ponies out."
Rarity walked over at an easy amble. "Girls, everypony having a nice time?"
They gave a chorus of affirmative replies before noticing their kites were tangled on the ground. "Oops," squeaked Sweetie Belle as her horn began to glow and she started undoing the mess.
"We're about to have lunch properly." Rarity pointed back to the blanket. "Come and get something to eat. Pinkie has some cake for you."
With excited cheers, they rushed back for the towel. Before Silver could get far, Rarity moved in the way. "A moment, prince... I know you've had a rough time of things of late, but I need to be crystal clear. If you so much as harm a single hair on their precious little bodies, or fill them with destructive notions, no force in Equestria will keep me from finding you."
With ears perked, Silver nodded quickly. "Jesus, Rarity... They're foals, and adorable. I want them to be healthy and happy, just like you. If I do something wrong by them, I'll roll over and accept your fury."
Rarity tilted her head at Silver a moment. "Very good. I do hope that will be the only time I need to mention that." She turned and began walking towards the towel. "That aside... I know you've been going through quite the difficult patch. If you need a pony with refinement that isn't part of the horridly tangled web you've woven for yourself, stop by. We can talk over a cup of tea, hmm? Perhaps you could divulge to me the tale of how you ended up... Pinkie, really darling?"
Silver flushed, but Rarity kept right on talking as she went. "It's not as if you're the first stallion she invited to her bedroom, mind." She glanced back at Silver. "Or mare, or..." She paused, raising a hoof to her face. "You know what, nevermind. She probably dragged you into it come to think of it. She's been my friend so long, you must understand. I get defensive of her. Still, a foal... Do you think she can take responsibility? She's babysat before, certainly, but her own, all the time..."
Silver reached out a hoof for Rarity, setting it on her shoulder without resistance. "We will all be here for her, all of us. This isn't what I planned, at all, but I won't abandon it, not for a moment, not for anything."
Rarity smiled gently. "I'm sorry for snapping at you. You aren't a bad pony." She turned away and trotted briskly for her place at the picnic blanket, joining the conversation as if nothing had happened.
Silver settled where she had left off, to find Night Watch snuggling in against her possessively. Fast gently nipped at one of Night's ears. "She isn't going anywhere, silly."
"Prove it."
Fast looked like she tried to do that, but ultimately gave up. "Alright, fine, but she's here now, let's enjoy her, and everypony else." She reared up. "Hey, Crusaders, want to ride a real dragon after we eat?" A chorus of filly sounds responded positively.
Spike tilted his head. "I'm not big enough to ride..."
Fast grinned at him. "You're invited too."
The various baskets with lunch were popped open and servings began to go around. Starlight brought her basket over to Silver and her mares. "I have a special treat for you three."
Night raised a brow at her. "Oh? What would that be? Wait, let me guess..." She seemed to run some quick numbers. "fifteen percent chance of imported hamburger from Griffonstone." Starlight shook her head. "Ten percent odds on an old family dish you prefer and wanted to share." Star tilted her head as if considering that, but shook it quickly. "Twenty percent chance of steak?"
"None of those." Starlight pulled the lid back to reveal a container filled to the brim with spaghetti, laced with bits of fish.
The smell caught Silver's attention, perking up. "Oh my god! I haven't had that for a little while." She reached out. "Thank you, that was very thoughtful of you."
Night sniffed at it curiously. "I smell fish... wheat? Tomatoes..."
Fast snickered a little. "What, never had pasta before?" Suddenly she was sporting her own fangs, as lunar as the rest. "Let's savor our predatory nature and eat up."
Starlight set out three plates for them and served up each with a happy smile. That her gift was accepted seemed quite delighting to her. "I admit, I had a little help..."
"Twilight?" Night twitched an ear. "Almost certain."
"Well, yes. She supplied the idea and I agreed." She set out a few condiments in shakers, then looked at the remainder curiously a moment. "Is... it alright if I try some?"
Silver quickly rolled a hoof. "Please, go ahead. Fish isn't poisonous to ponies or anything, and you cooked it, of course you can have some."
Starlight served herself a smaller plate, and soon all four were slurping up their meal with delight, and getting red sauce across their snouts, not that any of them minded in the midst of enjoying themselves.
"Are these yers?" Applejack was pointing to a large platter of fried brussel sprouts. Silver quickly nodded. "Not bad. What's that yer going t'town on?"
Food was exchanged, enjoyed, and washed down with fizzy drinks and pleasant conversation. Night even allowed Starlight to remain close to them, perhaps mellowed by a full belly and Silver's presence.
They were just getting ready to pack up for the end of a pleasant lunch when a pony came dashing up to them, eyes wide with worry. "P-Princess Twilight, emergency!" As if on cue, Spike suddenly burped up a letter.
Twilight put a hoof over her face before taking the letter in her magic and quickly unfurling it. She scowled at its contents. "He's back, like we knew he would be." The other girls grew grimly determined, as did Night, but Fast and Silver were left confused, along with the CMC. "No time to explain. Tirek's up to his tricks, and we have to stop him before it gets out of hoof." She rose to her hooves. "Silver, can you clean this up?"
Silver spread her wings quickly. "Wait what? You're going to go fight Tirek of all people, and you're leaving me behind?"
"Yes."
The finality of it made Silver recoil, only to scowl and rise up tall. "No."
All of Twilight's friends joined her in a loud, "yes!"
Night set a hoof on Silver's back. "We worked too hard to get you back. This is our problem to deal with, our price to pay. We'll be back before you know it. You and Fast stay here."
Rarity smiled. "Make sure the fillies are safe, alright?"
Applejack nodded. "Ours and yer own. Someone has ta watch th' fort."