Twilight sighed and planted her flanks on the ground. “I think that worked a lot better than anything I had planned.”
Pinkie popped up beside Twilight and pressed her face close to hers. “Oooh, what did you have planned?”
“Well, if Applejack couldn’t break through to Luffy, I thought we’d each share moments where we’ve overcome challenges thanks to each other,” Twilight replied. “We’ve all had times where we’ve been hurt, but it’s thanks to friends like you that we’ve made it through.”
“Why Twilight,” Rarity smiled, “I believe that’s one of the finest lessons you’ve shared with us.”
“Thank Applejack.” Twilight pointed a hoof across the meadow. “She’s the one that got the message across.”
Across the meadow, Applejack had embraced Luffy in a hug alongside Fluttershy. Dash drew close to them and joined in on the hug
“You okay?” asked Dash.
“I will be,” Applejack sniffled. “Always hurts talking about it, but I was the only pony here that could.” She glanced over to Fluttershy. “No offense.”
Fluttershy shook her head. “It always hurts when it’s too late for an animal, so I can’t even imagine what it was like… but you and everypony else is always so nice when it happens. So, if you ever want to talk about it, that’s okay too.”
“Thanks ‘Shy.” Applejack wiped her face. “That means a lot.”
Fluttershy turned her head to Luffy. “You too, Mr. Luffy. I’m glad we calmed you down, but I know things like this take a while to get better.”
“Thanks,” Luffy wheezed. He opened his mouth to say something more, but a loud grumble raced out of his throat instead. He gave a small chuckle. “Guess I could use some food first.”
“And some rest,” said Twilight.
She and the rest of the girls crossed over to the others. She looked over Luffy and Applejack. Both still showed their fair share of scrapes and bruises albeit shrunken. Twilight lit up her horn and floated Applejack’s hat back to her.
“Why don’t I send you to Ponyville’s hospital while I take care of things back in Canterlot.” Twilight grimaced. “The last thing they need now is another panic.”
“Oooh! Oooh!” Pinkie waved a hoof through the air. “Send me, send me too!”
Twilight smiled. “Let me guess, ‘Congrats, You’re an Alicorn’ Party at Sugarcube Corner?”
“Close!” Pinkie beamed. She stood on her hindlegs and spread her forelegs wide into the air. “It’s actually a ‘Congrats, You’re an Alicorn and Luffy’s Better Super Party Spectacular!”
“Sounds like a plan,” Twilight giggled. She then straightened her face. “I don’t want Luffy and Applejack stressing themselves if the doctor says they need rest though. I’m still not sure how strong my healing spell was or what recovery effects regaining a cutie mark has. But if things work out well, let’s plan on it for tonight. Sound good?”
“Of course!” six voices replied in unison.
“With lots of food!” Luffy added. He pressed a hoof to his rumbling stomach. “Actually, can we eat now?”
“Emergency cupca—” The cupcake Pinkie had produced from somewhere vanished into Luffy’s void of a stomach.
“Got any more?” he asked.
Everypony chuckled but stopped when they felt a pulsation from their flanks. Save for Luffy, everypony’s flanks was aglow.
“Ooooh!” Pinkie exclaimed. “Neat!”
“That’s new,” said Applejack. She looked up to Twilight. “Any clue what this is about?”
“Hmmm.” Twilight brought a hoof up to her chin. “Well, we did just relieve a disharmonic situation. Maybe it has something to do with our link to the Elements.”
“Or each other,” Fluttershy suggested.
“True.” Twilight looked over her friends and smiled. Her horn lit up. “We can think about it later. Getting you to the hospital comes first.”
“Wait!” Dash called out.
Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Yes?”
“Do you want anypony to come back with you to Canterlot?” asked Dash. “I mean, I’d be pretty freaked out still if I woke up with a horn on top of everything else.”
“I think I can handle it,” Twilight chuckled. “I know there’s a lot of stuff I need to catch up on and even more stuff I need to learn about being an alicorn, but I’m sure everything will be fine. Oh, and Dash?”
“Yeah?”
“As soon as things with the Princesses are sorted out, I’m gonna need a skilled flight instructor.”
“Aw yeah!” Dash pumped a leg.
“See you all soon.”
~~~
“I still cannot express my thanks,” Jinbei said as he lumbered off the train behind Twilight. “Above all else, Ace desired his brother’s safety.”
“You helped out a lot too,” Spike said from atop the cloak that covered Twilight’s back. “That karate stuff you did during all those fights was awesome. Sure you can’t teach me a little?”
“I would love to.” Jinbei hefted his shoulders and sighed. “But now with Luffy awake and put back on the right track, I must make haste back to my home.”
Spike frowned.
“But perhaps you can visit sometime.” Jinbei flashed Spike a smile. “It’d be quite impressive to be the first dragon to learn Fishman Karate.”
Spike’s eyes widened and glimmered like diamonds. He spun around and pressed his face close to Twilight’s. “Can we, Twilight?”
Twilight blinked, her eyes stung a bit and the bags under them felt heavy. She breathed deeply and felt the weight of the two massive stacks of papers floating at her sides and also in the saddlebags under he cloak.
“Of course,” she said with a smile. “Just be a little patient.”
The trio came to a stop in front of the Golden Oaks Library. Twilight sighed and the papers at her sides sunk lower to the ground. She looked back at Jinbei.
“Let me just drop my things off, then we can get over to Sugarcube Corner.”
“Of course,” Jinbei replied. “You don’t need any help moving all these things, do you?”
“If I hadn’t been on my hooves all day, this would be nothing.” Twilight glanced up at her horn. “Actually, I did the math on the train and I should be completely wiped by now.”
“Being an alicorn has its benefits,” said Spike.
“And disadvantages,” Twilight added. She looked down at the doorknob. A glow encased it and twisted it to left. Twilight flinched when the sharp crack or wood and the groan of metal bending sounded from the door. She sighed and pushed it open. “All this new unfamiliar magic is still quite confu—”
“Surprise!” a chorus of ponies boomed.
The lights came on and revealed a mass of streamers and balloons now filled the library. A variety of snacks and beverages were piled high and tables scattered around the shelves. Near the back, a band of Ponyville locals brought their instruments close and began to play. Beside them was a collection of spin tables manned by an electric-blue maned jockey. Above all this hung a large banner that read, “Congratulations!”
“Welcome back!” Five voices shouted.
Twilight and Spike found themselves in a hug. Both of them wiggled and wrapped their hooves and claws around the girls as well. A chorus of applause went up from the other guests.
“Jinbei!” Luffy called out.
Luffy leapt over the other guests with a massive plate of food balanced on her back and smiled up at Jinbei. He then lowered his head to the ground.
“Thank you for everything!” he exclaimed.
“Please, I do not deserve your thanks,” said Jinbei. “But I am glad to see you up and in good spirits.”
“Speaking of good spirits…” Twilight opened one of her saddlebags. Luffy’s eyes widened when a straw hat floated out and over to him. “I believe this is yours.”
Luffy snatched it up and placed it on his head with a wide smile. “Thanks."
A pink hoof then lifted a plate of cake up to Jinbei’s face. Pinkie grinned at him and then turned to the rest of the guests. “Let’s get this party started!”
The music flared up. Glasses clinked and dances were had. Everypony wore a wide smile while they sung and danced. Applejack joined in every now and then but kept mainly to the sidelines alongside Fluttershy and Jinbei. Rarity was lost amid the sea of guests but could sometimes be picked out socializing with various ponies. Pinkie and Dash remained on the dance floor for dance after dance, only leaving to raid the refreshements whenever Luffy turned his head away from them. Twilight switched back and forth between the dance floor and the outlying group, though Pinkie often pulled her back to the former.
Everypony had a good laugh when Luffy jumped to the top of the wooden horsehead in the middle of the room with sticks extending from his mouth up to his nose. He spun atop the statue and his dance appeared as if he were shoveling something.
When the door opened up, he stopped and all the guests spun their heads toward it.
Zecora entered into the room with Law at her side. Everypony glanced down at sling his left foreleg was in.
“I apologize for being late,” Zecora said, “but my acquaintance was in an injured state.”
Fluttershy zoomed over to the pair. “Oh, Mr. Law, what happened?”
“Well, with the Princesses away, I’ve been exploring some of this island’s medical techniques.” Law glanced at Zecora. “Your friend here was showing me some of the local herbs when a boulder crashed through the forest.”
“An angry beast it must have been,” Zecora commented. “Perhaps an Ursa disturbed from its den.”
Luffy scratched at the back of his head. He glanced to the side and whistled an innocuous tune. When he felt Law's eyes on him, he lept down and bowed his head. “Thanks for all your help. I owe you a lot.”
Law shook his head. “This is why I didn’t want to come to this, but the pink one insisted in her invitation.”
Pinkie clamped down on Law’s shoulder. “And nopony should miss out on a party like th—”
Pinkie vanished in a pop and Law sighed. “Okay, that gives me a few minutes. I’m just here to give a checkup and it appears you’re in fine health. So, I’ll be on my way now.”
Law spun back towards the door. Before anypony could say anything, the door slammed. Pinkie popped out a room at the top of the stairs and shrugged.
“Gee, he’s even worse than you were at first Twilight.” Pinkie produced a slice of cake and shoved it into her mouth. “Oh well, more for us!”
The music started up again and the lights of the party glowed from outside the library. Law trudged on but stopped at the edge of the Everfree. He looked up to see Dash floating nearby, her body outlined by the light of the moon. Her eyes flared a deep crimson.
“I’m not big on celebrations, so you’re better off not wasting your time,” Law said.
Dash slammed to the ground beside Law but still glared at him. “I don’t care about that. I wanna know where the hay you’ve been.”
“I told you, out learning about some of this island’s medicine.”
“Before that,” Dash growled. “Don’t tell me you were just sitting up in your ship while Tartarus was breaking loose in Canterlot!”
Law sighed and lit up his horn. His cap lifted off his head and single pink feather floated out of it. Goosebumps raced up Dash’s legs at the sight of it.
“There’s a whole lot of things you don’t know and shouldn’t stick you nose into,” said Law. He spun around and faced the Everfree. “I think I’ve spent enough time here and I’ve got enough strength now to move my ship, so consider this a goodbye. Straw Hat needs about two more weeks of proper rest, so keep him here until then.”
“I’ll be sure to relay the message.”
Dash and Law’s eyes widened when a pony trotted out of a nearby gap in the trees. His coat was dusty although its faded fur made it hard to tell. A collection of twigs and leaves filled his silver mane and beard.
He looked at Dash and smiled. “Unless you’d be more willing to tell Luffy.”
“And who the hay are you?” Dash asked, wings tensing up.
“A friend,” the old pony said.
~~~
The door to the library opened and Dash stepped in. The guests all gasped when the unfamiliar pony followed her in.
"Uh, hey, everypony," she squeeked. "Brought a new guest back with me."
“Dash!” Twilight bolted over to her. She jabbed a hoof at the unfamiliar pony “What is he doing here?
Dash's forehead creased. She looked back and forth between Twilight and the pony. "But, I... I thought you said you were a friend of Luffy's, not somepony Twilight knows!"
"Well, I haven't actually met him." Twilight stared at the pony. "But I'd recognize Starswirl the Bearded regarless."
The pony gave a hearty laugh. “Aw, darn it, I really will own the captain for that bet!”
“That voice!” Luffy jumped up. Across the room Jinbei too was alert. Both of them rushed over to the door.
“Rayleigh?” they both exclaimed.
“Who is…” Twilight trailed off and looked over the pony again. While the mane, coat, and face matched, the black crown on his flanks and the scar across his right eye didn’t fit with the historical depictions. The resemblance and the pressure she felt coming of the pony added to her confusion.
“Ah, my apologies,” Rayleigh said. “As I explained to your colorful friend, I’m an acquaintance of Luffy."
“Did that Kuma jerk send you here too?” Luffy asked.
“Not quite.” Rayleigh glanced out at the party. “Perhaps discussing this in private would be best.” He then turned to Twilight. “With your friends as well.”
~~~
All the girls, Luffy, Jinbei, and Rayleigh sat at the round table in the middle of Sugarcube Corner. They could still faintly hear the sounds of the nearby party, but the music had died down since they’d left.
Rarity leaned back in her chair. “I just don’t believe it, to think this Kuma fellow was doing all he could to actually save your crew.”
“It bodes well for the rest of your crew though,” said Jinbei. “They’re also probably on islands now looking for ways to get back.”
“Great!” Luffy exclaimed. “We’ve all got Vivre cards so it’ll be easy to get back to the ship!”
“Are you sure about that?” asked Rayleigh. “Kuma spared you of terrible fate. One all too common among rookies.”
A heavy silence fell upon the group. Luffy shuddered.
“I have a suggestion, but I’ll need your girls’ help as well,” said Rayleigh.
“Anything to help out Luffy,” said Dash. “That’s what we promised Ace.”
“I’d like you to use the Elements to free Discord.”
“What!?” Everypony save Jinbei screamed.
“Are you nuts?” Dash exclaimed. “We just got through fighting the biggest bad guy yet and you want us to unleash an even worse one!?”
Applejack clamped a hoof onto Dash’s shoulder and brought her back down to the table. She then stared at Rayleigh. “I got about a hundred questions now about what you’re thinking or how you know about Discord and the Elements, but Dash has got a point, we’re in no shape to deal with Discord, especially with the Princesses still missing and that Blackbeard fella still on the loose.”
“Oh, him.” Rayleigh breathed deeply but then smiled. “I’m not sure about the Princesses but I doubt Blackbeard will be troubling you.”
Pinkie rubbed her chin. “And what makes you say that?”
“Well, while I was swimming here, I can across a ship along the coast.” Rayleigh’s eyes became hidden behind the glare of his glasses. “I may have caused them a little trouble. I doubt they'll be bothering you anymore."
Twilight sunk into her chair, breathed and then straightened up. “That’s a bit of a relief to hear, but that still leaves the matter of Discord. What in Equestria could he do to help you… or anypony for that matter?”
“There’s a certain island I want to go to help Luffy with his training,” Rayleigh explained. “Getting there is a bit of a problem without the proper ship though and I doubt the materials to craft one exist in Equestria.”
“I think we should do it.”
Everypony spun their heads toward Fluttershy. She squeaked and sunk into her seat.
“Fluttershy, dear, do you mind explaining?” asked Rarity.
“Well…” Fluttershy stood up and revealed that her cutie mark was glowing. “There’s this.”
“That could mean anything!” said Dash.
“Yes, but honestly…” Fluttershy gulped. “I’ve always felt a little bad for Discord.”
Dash let out a groan but Pinkie slammed her mouth shut.
“But he’s such a meanie,” said Pinkie. “You even said it yourself.”
“I know,” Fluttershy sighed. “But he also seemed so angry. Maybe if somepony actually talked to him, he wouldn’t be as bad.”
“I’m more on the side of keeping that varmint in stone,” said Applejack. “But we can always use the Elements after we free him and he helps out Luffy.”
“I’m not sure.” Twilight stared at the table. “Tirek was right about one thing: we’ve been using the Elements a lot lately. If we free Discord, it may not be possible to re-seal him properly again.”
“How about this,” said Rayleigh, “I’ll need to borrow Luffy for a few days so we can get out a message to his crew.” He looked to Jinbei. “I could use your help with this too.” He then looked back to the girls. “Why don’t you think about things during that time?”
“Hmmm, that sounds fair,” Twilight murmured.
Pinkie raised up a hoof. “There’s just one thing I gotta say then.”
“What is it, dear?” Rarity asked.
“There’s a bunch of victory cupcakes I stashed around the library, and you’ve still got to find them!” Pinkie bolted out the door, echoing, “Last one back to the party is a rotten egg!”
“After her!” Luffy declared. He rushed to the door but stretched his head back to Rayleigh. “We can get to that tomorrow, right? I really wanna eat those cupcakes!”
“Of course,” Rayleigh chuckled. “Enjoy tonight. If all goes well, they may be some of the last sweets you enjoy for a while.”
“Yeah!” Luffy exclaimed before his head snapped back to his body.
The rest of the girls followed after him with Twilight and Applejack trailing at the end of the group. Twilight looked to Rayleigh and smiled.
“You’re invited too.”
“Oh-ho,” Rayleigh mused. He scratched at his beard. “I did mean to grab some cider while I was here.”
“You’re in luck then,” said Applejack. “We broke open one of the reserve casks for tonight.”
Rayleigh stood straight up. “We have no time to waste.”
The moon wheeled through the sky while the music played throughout the night. Eventually, the tunes died down and the guests went their separate ways. At the end of it all, only nine ponies and one dragon remained in the library strewn about on couches, pillows, and the wooden horsehead. Regardless of their sleeping position, they all wore smiles in their slumber.