"So it's like a medal?"
"More or less, yes" nodded Nanda, the morning sun lighting them and their tents "I wouldn't argue with someone that's just wrong"
"But-"
"We argue with people who is wrong, but is intelligent enough to realise that we are right STOP!" Applejack strained to not punch her "Good, you maintained it longer this time. Anyway, intelligent enough to realise that we are right sooner than later. And with "We" I mean "I", of course"
"And Ron?"
"Oh, he's crazier than I am. And wronger, of course. But no, he's just fun to anger"
"Is any of you sane?"
"No, not really"
-ยบ-
Applejack opened her mouth, and closed it. The next time she opened it, she managed to subvocalize a syllable.
"Again, kid?"
Applejack didn't answer. Nanda shrugged.
They kept walking and, a few hours later, had to climb a small hill. Nanda stopped walking, watching the landscape.
"What?" Applejack gave it a look "It isn't anything special"
"Oh, child" Nanda sat "How wrong and right you are"
Applejack didn't answer.
"Its drab, yes, but Pierre loved it. He'd invent excuses to go to Surane with me only to see it" she fell silent for a moment "He said that the morning light played just so with the grass in that hill, see?" she pointed "He'd always say that, "Just so", while he tried to paint them perfectly"
"Pierre?" asked Applejack warily.
"A donkey, a fool, a cretin, a lovely stallion, and a genius who found beauty in the ugliest of things," Applejack shuffled uncomfortably "My husband"
They were in silence for a moment, Applejack expecting Nanda to say anything else.
"Dontch- Don't you miss him?" she asked, unable to keep it in any longer.
"That's why you were mumbling around?" She gave Applejack an odd look "Of course I miss him, but he died thirty years ago. What the forest reclaimed was little more than a replica. But there is something else, isn't there? Out with it, kid"
"You know Twilight" she blurted.
"Well, she is a pretty famous scientist and makes diplomatic travels often," Nanda shrugged before getting up "You'd be hard-pressed to find specialists who haven't met her at least once" She walked, and Applejack followed "Is this about her royal status?" Applejack nodded reticently "Necromancers care little for titles. Death is equalitarian, even to alicorns"
They walked for a moment, Applejack silent.
"Sixth year of the third chaotic era, first loop: the Booty or Bounty disappears from the sea along with its captain, Crucis. Ninth year, second loop: after nearly three days of unarmed combat, Discord kills Queen Catalexis, which compels several gryphon nations to form an alliance and nearly kill him in a decisive attack, which in turn paved the road for the then young Celestia and Luna. Need I go on?" asked Nanda.
"No, I understand" Applejack shook her head "It's just-"
"Too raw? Its why people don't like my trade. Too many uncomfortable truths for them. Until Tim was idiotic enough to fall off the cliff, then they come begging at your door" she added, irritated.