//------------------------------//
// Chapter 7.5: Silver Lining of the Storm Cloud 
// Story: Supremacy 
// by Doom Trot 
//------------------------------//


A miracle!  A miracle has happened!  Oh, bless this day, bless Gorgeous Verity, and bless our son!  She might have risked everything to bring our little colt into the world, but thank heavens she was able to live through it all.  It might have taken the slightest measure of magic on my part, but Gorgeous Verity has delivered our son unto the world, and is already tending to him as if the birthing had no drain on her.  'Tis a shame that Transcendence Lifeblood won't have his first glimpse of the world in someplace like Equestria, but as long as he has his mother and me, I'm sure he'll live a happy and fulfilled life.  Suffice to say that morale for the entirety of the pilgrimage has been raised exponentially.  New life tends to have these sorts of effects.


Pulse thudding, thoughts racing, and wings aching, Flitter Flake glanced to the officers of the law that pursued her.  Seeing that they were steadfast in their chase, she breathed a weak, frustrated sigh, then beat her wings harder, resolute to keep this cloud out of their hooves.  She was barely aware of a small town below as she pushed forward, but she paid it no mind.  Her cloud of police pursuers was enough to keep her moving faster than she'd ever been able (or meant) to go before.  The strain on her somewhat flimsy wings was enticement enough to seriously consider stopping and turning herself in, but an ominous rumble of thunder from within the cloud she'd taken was a strong reminder of why she'd taken it in the first place. Move, Flake. She thought, fighting to further increase her already painful speed and see through tear-blurred eyes. Nopony is safe until this thing is far, far away from any and all structures and buildings. Flitter Flake, although determined, found that the distance between her and the officers was rapidly shrinking.  She would have flown faster, but Flitter Flake had decided that some limits weren't meant to be pushed so far.  As such, she slowed herself, feeling defeated, and began to turn to the police chasing her as she lost speed.  Flitter Flake opened her mouth to speak, but only a startled shriek escaped, considering she had been tackled by a blur of color and torn away from the cloud.

"So," began Applebloom as she entered Scootaloo's room, "ah had a quick chat with that nurse.  Ya know.  The one that ne'er even gave ya any medicine 'n the first place." She scowled at Scootaloo, causing the pegasus filly to grimace warily.
"Wh-what do you mean she never gave me any medicine?  She came here twice!  I swear!" Scootaloo stammered, sounding majorly panicked by her friend's discovery.
"Oh really?" Applebloom said, stomping a hoof. "Then why did she tell me different?  She said that she didn't remember givin' ya any sort o' pills.  Now ya really better start t' 'splain yerself."
Scootaloo bit her lip, a bead of sweat visible on her brow. What do I say?  I can't defend myself if Nurse Mend was never here in the first place!
Mist Wing, his voice calming Scootaloo just enough to stop the perspiration of the young pegasus, quickly thought, Think logically.  If you were sure that it was Nurse Mend here, but your friend has said that this nurse has no memory of ever being here, what can be inferred?
Uh.... Scootaloo's mind went blank for a moment, but she quickly gained a relaxed smile and thought, She's lying!  If it really was her intent to hurt me, she could easily deny ever coming in here the second and third times.
Excellent! Mist thought. See if you can't reason with Applebloom.  Certainly, she'll understand once you explain things in such a way.
Scootaloo cleared her throat, declaring with confidence, "Nurse Mend was obviously lying to you!  She wouldn't want to reveal that she'd ever been here if she was trying to cover her tracks.  If she really meant to harm me, then she'd have to deny ever giving me any medicine to make herself look innocent."
Applebloom mulled over Scootaloo's theory, scratching at her chin. "Ah 'spose that could be the case....but, somethin' tells me she didn't mean t' do ya no harm."
Scootaloo's confident smirk vanished, Scootaloo now looking unsure instead. "Wait.  What?"
Applebloom harrumphed, saying, "When ah talked with Nurse Mend, she was bein' held up by this....oh, what do ah call 'im.....jerk.  When ah asked t' talk with Mend, he got real angry and shouted at me.  Nurse Mend hit 'im in the head fer that, and with just a few words, sent 'im away with his tail between his legs." Applebloom chuckled upon recounting this, but quickly grew serious. "She defended me because ah'm a child.  Nopony who cares that much 'bout us young 'uns is gonna try to hurt one of us.  Yerself included."
Scootaloo blinked at Applebloom's reasoning, suddenly looking panicked once again. How can I argue against that?  Applebloom isn't going to believe me if I say she was putting on an act!
Most puzzling. Mist Wing thought. Nurse Mend, by nature, wouldn't deliberately harm children....yet, you knew for certain that the individual who attempted to drug you was doing so in full conscience.  What could it all mean....
Help me! Scootaloo thought, unable to look away from Applebloom's iron gaze. I don't know what to tell Applebloom!  I don't know how to prove that I'm telling the truth here.
Hold it! Thought Mist Wing, startling Scootaloo. If the pure truth cannot save you, then find a way to bend it.  You may have no evidence that Nurse Mend tried to poison you, but you can always send your friend in a new direction.
So.....lie? Scootaloo thought dubiously, still being further unnerved by Applebloom's silent scolding.
Nonsense!  Bluffs and lies are two different things.  To state what might be possible and describing how it is can be considered bluffing.  To know what you describe is false can be called lying. Mist Wing retorted. Think of what could be considered truth, but cannot be proven at this time.
Scootaloo swallowed hard, pointing a hoof at Applebloom. I hope this works....    	

Rainbow Dash held Flitter Flake in a brutal headlock with her forelegs, the captured cloud thief making choking noises and frantically thrashing about to escape the grip.
"Alright, let's hear it!" Barked a furious Rainbow Dash, who didn't budge at Flitter Flake's struggling. "Why'd you steal that cloud?"
Flitter Flake coughed weakly, halting her thrashing for a moment.  In a (quite literally) choked voice, she answered, "It was a hazard to the good citizens of Cloudsdale.  Despite my observation, however, not a soul seemed to believe that that storm cloud, made by you, might I add, was on the verge of eruption.....or something of that nature."
Rainbow Dash snorted, glancing to the cloud she'd hoof-crafted. "Well, duh!  Every pegasi knows that if you don't handle storm clouds with care, they go off!  And what were you just doing?"
Flitter Flake frowned indignantly, answering in an equally disdainful tone, "I told you.  Saving Cloudsdale."
Rainbow Dash groaned with frustration, turning a glare to her captive. "Yeah right!  This baby was sitting pretty with all the other storm clouds, and then you come along and fly it all the way over to Ponyville!  There's a pretty good chance that thing is going to blow at any minute, thanks to you."
Flitter Flake ground her teeth, taking a moment to compose herself with a quiet exhale before saying, "To be clear, this thing was primed by somepony other than me.  Call me the perpetrator for trying to save Cloudsdale from total thunderbolt catastrophe all you want, but I'm telling the truth.  This thing was uniquely aggravated.  I can't say whether it was intentional or not, but that cloud is behaving erratically because of some.....thing....or somepony.  I don't really know what's causing it to act this way."
Rainbow Dash glanced to the cloud, still looking majorly outraged, but her expression hinted genuine curiosity. "....what's odd about it?  Just looks like a shaken up storm cloud to me."
"The anomalies I'm referring to cannot be observed with the naked eye.  If I had my equipment on hoof, though, I could show you." Flitter Flake pointed to the storm cloud as the officers tentatively circled it, careful not to further agitate it. "I first noticed that this cloud was behaving strangely when I neared it with a barometer.  I noticed slight, but frequent, changes to the atmospheric pressure in the storage area.  I pinpointed your cloud as the source of the phenomenon, then took to examining it with an assortment of my equipment.  Get this." She cleared her throat, obviously not especially comfortable explaining herself when held by the neck. "The core of the cloud is actually cooling and heating at a rapid and unpredictable pace."
Rainbow Dash sputtered dubiously, shaking her head. "That's impossible.  Clouds can't heat up and cool down on their own like that."
Flitter Flake rolled her eyes, responding, "Why do you think it was so bizarre?  This cloud, despite what you would call impossible, was demonstrating erratic fluctuations in temperature.  I've only ever seen theoretical scenarios that bear semblance to the situation at hoof, but I know full and well that any such behavior is a sure sign of instability.  As I've said once, I shall say again.  This cloud will unleash its payload, and it stands as a dire threat to any and all individuals within its vicinity."
Rainbow Dash seemed to mull this over in silence, yet she didn't ease her grip on Flitter Flake. "That's a bit hard to believe.  I think we'll leave this up to the police."
Flitter Flake groaned with annoyance, resuming her frantic struggling as she yelled, "Have some sense, you fool!  The police won't be able to do a thing!  I'm the only expert on this stuff you'll ever meet!  I could very well be the only pegasi in Equestria that specializes in the mysteries of uncommon meteorology!"
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes, tightening her choke hold on the mare. "Yeah, yeah.  Keep talkin'."
Flitter Flake continued thrashing about as an officer approached Rainbow Dash, nodding appreciatively. "Thank you very much for apprehending this thief.  She had just enough of a lead to keep out of our reach."
Rainbow Dash nodded in return, seemingly unperturbed by Flitter Flake's grumbling and thrashing. "No problem.  How's the cloud looking?"
The officer turned to face the storm cloud in question, crossing his forelegs and furrowing his brow. "Our little 'scientist' has done well to shake this cloud to the point of nearly shooting off lightning.  However, if we're especially gentle, we should be able to escort this cumulonimbus back to Cloudsdale without any trouble."
The raging Flitter Flake, catching what the police stallion had just said, shouted, "There's going to be trouble if you don't listen up!  I'm not just an expert on this!  I'm the expert on this, and the expert is telling you: find a barren, secluded location and leave that thunderstorm waiting to happen there!"
The officer turned back to Rainbow Dash and her frantic captive, raising an eyebrow in confusion. "Thunderstorm waiting to happen?  This cloud is scheduled for a rainstorm, along with the many other clouds it was stored alongside.  If this cloud is handled properly, it shouldn't produce much lightning at all.  It will only become a thunderstorm under strenuous or agitating conditions." He frowned, glancing back to the storm cloud. "Well, unless.....you didn't tamper with the thing prior to stealing it, did you?"
Flitter Flake growled in annoyance, answering with a ferocious bite on Rainbow Dash's foreleg.  Rainbow Dash, more startled than hurt by the bite, released Flitter Flake with a yelp.  In the second that she was freed, Flitter Flake turned to take off to escape the police.  Much to her chagrin, however, the officer they had been conversing with had a firm hold on her tail.  Flitter Flake flew against this new hold with all her might, but she quickly tired out her already aching wings, causing them to give out and leave her hanging by her tail, held up by the impressively strong jaw of the police officer.  Two more police hurried over to the cloud thief, first binding her wings and then cuffing her hooves.  The two that had cuffed Flitter Flake hooked their forelegs under her's, relieving the officer that had captured her the second time and taking her away.
Rainbow Dash hovered next to the solemn police stallion, glancing from the bite mark on her leg to the one who had left it there and back.  After a moment, she sighed, rubbing carefully at her wound. "Cloudsdale's just got too many crazies these days."
The officer nodded, glaring in the direction of Flitter Flake. "I've seen enough of 'em for one lifetime."
Rainbow Dash chuckled, turning her attention to the now recovered storm cloud. "Well, at least she didn't do any damage with this cloud."
The officer cleared his throat, holding out a hoof to Rainbow Dash. "I almost forgot to thank you for catching up to her.  Thank you, ma'am."
Rainbow Dash shook her head, shaking the stallion's hoof with a bemused smile. "You're welcome....again."
The officer blinked at this, then rubbed at his forehead with his free hoof, mumbling to himself, "Get it together, Bolt.  You ain't old enough to be losing it yet."
Rainbow Dash chuckled once more, eyeing the officer with intrigue.  "Bolt, huh?  What's your full name?"
Bolt cleared his throat, quickly crossing his forelegs once again. "That would be Flash Bolt.  Just call me Officer Bolt.  What's your name?"
Rainbow Dash smiled and raised her eyebrow in a manner that suggested Officer Bolt asked the question as a joke. "You mean you don't know who I am?  You're not serious, right?"
Officer Bolt blinked at the counter-question, answering in earnest, "I'm serious the majority of the time, ma'am.  Your name, if you'd please."
Rainbow Dash sputtered, laughing with amusement for a moment before composing herself and calmly answering, "Rainbow Dash.  Captain of the weather control team.  Winner of the Best Young Flier competition.  Soon to be honorary Wonderbolt." She put a hoof to her chest, smiling smugly as she held higher her nose.
Officer Bolt looked her over for a moment, then shook his head, his orange mane tossing about.  With a firm scowl, he said, "It's a good thing you've got a pair of wings like yours.  Nothing else could hold up that ego."
Rainbow Dash dropped her hoof, giving Officer Bolt a look of partial confusion and total disbelief. "Well.  That's...uh...." She blinked a few times, scratching at the back of her neck as she glanced back to the now mobile storm cloud. "Um....see ya." Rainbow Dash flew off, the awkward silence enticing enough to make her pick up speed as she left Officer Bolt.
".....nice mare." Officer Bolt said to himself as he watched Rainbow Dash go. "Somewhat cocky.  But nice." He took off after the storm cloud, peacefully ignoring the chattering officers that surrounded it and pushed it along.

"Ma'am....I don't know what you're so upset over.  I can't recall-" Nurse Mend was interrupted by a ferocious growl, feeling belittled by the mother that stood before her.
"My poor son was injured because of you!  I don't know what you did to him, but he was bouncing off the walls the second we left the hospital!  Just look at him!" With a good measure of force, the mother dragged forward Jitters, who was trembling uncontrollably and staring at the ground.  Nurse Mend grimaced at the ghastly welt on his head, hovering a hoof near the injury.
"I'm so sorry, little guy." She said, patting his shoulder as comfortingly as she could. 
"It's okay....it isn't your fault." Jitters mumbled in reply, still staring blankly at the floor.
"It is her fault, Jitters!" Shouted the colt's mother, causing the shaky child to cringe.
Nurse Mend turned a scowl to the furious mare as Jitters meekly mumbled, "B-but, it was me who ran m-my head into that wall....not her."
His mother put a hoof to her forehead, growling with annoyance. "At least try to use your brain, child.  This vile nurse is obviously-" A quick back-hoof to the mare's nose cut off what she'd been saying.  She stumbled back, stunned that Nurse Mend would actually do such a thing.  Putting a hoof to her nose, she asked in an appalled fashion, "How dare you?!"
Nurse Mend snorted, pointing an accusing hoof at Jitters' mother. "How dare you speak to your own son like that?  You should be ashamed of yourself!"
The mare tossed her mane, turning abruptly and walking away. "Come, Jitters.  We're leaving."
"But....mom, I-"
"Now!" She shouted over her shoulder, not breaking stride.  Jitters sighed, hobbling after his mother.
Nurse Mend turned a pitying look to the colt, whispering after him, "I'm really sorry!  Just put some ice on that bump, and you'll feel much better." The two were quickly out of sight, allowing Nurse Mend to resume her unstable back and forth wobbling. "What is wrong with this place today...."
"Who was she?" Asked a filly as she approached Nurse Mend, which snapped the nurse back into focus.
"Her?" Nurse Mend said, placing a hoof to her chin as she looked in the direction Jitters and his mother had gone. "I.....don't really know, actually." Nurse Mend giggled, sounding somewhat guilty. "I never got her name.  She just stomped on up to me and started yelling....I do feel really bad about that little colt, though."
Applebloom glanced in the same direction, looking puzzled as she said, "She said somethin' 'bout that bump on 'is head bein' yer fault, right?"
Nurse Mend sighed, turning her head to look at Applebloom. "That she did.  I wish I knew what she was talking about...."
Applebloom turned to face Mend, an eyebrow raised in suspicion. "Ya mean....ya don't know what she was yellin' at ya fer?"
Nurse Mend shook her head, rubbing at her temple. "Not a clue."
Applebloom put a hoof to her chin, her tone very deliberate as she asked, "So, what have ya been doin' since ya helped out Scootaloo, exactly?"
Nurse Mend's expression went blank for a moment, then she slowly answered, "If I remember right.....after Scootaloo's seizure was done and over with, I went to the break room for a little shut eye.  We'd been having a really busy day, and I was running a little low on steam.  I only planned to sleep for a short while; no more than an hour.  Next thing I know, though, I wake up nearly three hours later, unbelievably feeling worse than I did when I dozed off."
Applebloom shifted her jaw, brow furrowed in thought. "So, ya didn't do nothin' for that whole three hours?  Ya just slept?"
Nurse Mend sighed, sounding somewhat frustrated. "That's what I thought, but I've been approached with more than one complaint relating to something I did.  Things I don't remember doing, but apparently did."
Applebloom put a hoof to her chin, looking deeply confused. "Maybe....ya sleep walk?"
Nurse Mend shrugged, sounding as confused as Applebloom looked. "Perhaps, but I've never done something like that before...."
Applebloom dropped her hoof, suggesting, "Is 't memory loss?"
Nurse Mend sighed a weary sigh, rubbing at her forehead. "I don't know.  I really don't know what's going on.  I'd tell you if I did, dear, but I'm at a loss." She grinned guiltily at Applebloom, causing the filly to sputter with frustration.
"Thank ya fer yer time, Nurse Mend." Applebloom said, her tone sounding a bit disappointed. "Ah'll be seein' ya." With that, she trotted away, Nurse Mend frowning as the filly went.
"Well, that didn't help her...." Nurse Mend mumbled aloud, sighing once more as she departed in the opposite direction.

"There you go.  All snug and cozy." Fluttershy whispered as she patted the feathery head of the fledgling robin. "Just rest up, and, when you're ready-"
"Fluttershy!" Shouted an airborne Rainbow Dash, startling the pegasus she'd called for right off the branch she'd been perched on.  Rainbow Dash scanned the ground, then dove to meet Fluttershy as the yellow pegasus landed in a heap. "Fluttershy?  You okay?"
Fluttershy breathed a sigh, then picked herself up, wiping the dirt from her face with a hoof. "I'm fine.  I was just-"
"Why are you here?  You should have been helping me with that cloud thief.  Why'd you stay behind?" Interrupted an impatient Rainbow Dash.
Fluttershy sighed once more, seemingly somewhere between frustrated and defeated. "Well, um, I saw this poor baby robin on the ground, right here." She pointed to a patch of grass at the base of the tree she stood beside, then turned back to Rainbow Dash. "He tried to fly on his own, but he couldn't, so I....I-I...." Fluttershy gasped when she spotted the bite mark on Rainbow Dash's leg.  Pointing to the wound with panic in both her eyes and her voice, Fluttershy squeaked, "What happened?"
Rainbow Dash glanced to the wound as she held up her bitten foreleg, then shrugged indifferently. "It's no big deal.  The thief bit me when I had a hold on her."
Fluttershy, now airborne, rushed over to Rainbow Dash, examining the wound as she put a hoof to her friend's shoulder. "D-doesn't it hurt?"
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes, shaking her head. "No.  Not really."
Fluttershy hovered a hoof near the bite mark, glancing up to Rainbow Dash as she said, "W-well, even if it doesn't hurt, you should probably put some disinfectant and a bandage on it."
Rainbow Dash brushed away the hoof on her shoulder with a wing, holding higher her foreleg to more closely show Fluttershy the bite. "She barely broke any skin, Fluttershy.  Relax.  I'm fine."
Fluttershy landed lithely, eyeing the wound with concern for a moment longer, then said, "Okay.  If you say so......"
Rainbow Dash sighed, taking to the air once again. "So, I caught the thief and turned her over to the police.  The cloud is still in one piece, and nopony got hurt." Fluttershy nodded to Rainbow Dash's leg, causing the airborne pegasus to shrug. "Well, nopony was seriously hurt.  Now, the thief is in custody, and the rain storm will start as scheduled."
Fluttershy put a hoof to her chin, looking to the ground as her expression became that of puzzlement. "Nice work catching her and all, but, um, why would she take that cloud in the first place?"  
Rainbow Dash put a hoof to her own chin, looking equally puzzled. "She did try to explain herself, but her reasons sounded sketchy at best."
Fluttershy dropped her hoof, looking intrigued. "What did she say?"
Rainbow Dash moved her hoof to rub at her temple, answering, "Well, she claimed to be an expert on 'the mysteries of uncommon meteorology.'" She spoke the title with a good measure of mockery in her tone. "She noticed something weird going on with her.....barometer?  Was that what she said?" Rainbow Dash shrugged, continuing with, "Anyway, she said that the cloud was heating up and cooling down on its own.  From that, she figured she should get it out of Cloudsdale, because apparently that meant it was gonna blow up."
Fluttershy seemed to run Rainbow Dash's summation through her head in silence, after which she said, "What's so hard to believe about that?"
"Are you kidding?" Asked Rainbow Dash. "You may not have met her, but I can tell you that the mare we're talking about was not right in the head.  How could I believe her?  How can anypony believe her?"
Fluttershy frowned at this, pawing the ground and turning her gaze to Rainbow Dash's hooves. "Well, did the police, um, check to see if what she said was true?  Did you, for that matter?"
Rainbow Dash sputtered, shaking her head. "Of course not.  You don't just stick your hoof into the heart of a storm cloud, Fluttershy."
Fluttershy sighed, grinning meekly as she turned her attention back to Rainbow's face. "Right.  Silly me....but, isn't there some way to, um, check inside without simply sticking your hoof in there?"
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes, clearly fed up with the discussion. "It doesn't matter, Fluttershy.  That quack was obviously lying, and now the police have got her under control.  As long as that cloud is safely returned to Cloudsdale, what she said isn't important."
Fluttershy nodded, her expression still troubled as her eyes wandered. "Um....okay." She seemed poised to pursue the issue further, but Fluttershy said nothing beyond her quiet assent.
Rainbow Dash sighed, absently rubbing at her bitten leg. "Well...I guess we can head to that party now."
Fluttershy glanced to the robin's nest, then nodded. "Yeah.  Let's go." Fluttershy took to the air, flying alongside Rainbow Dash as the two proceeded back to Ponyville.

"Well, I can already say that Equestria seems like the ideal place to live." Silver Gleam mused, drawing a few proud smiles from those he spoke to. "I've been here for less than one day, and I can say with full confidence that Equestria's citizens are the most friendly ponies in the world." This compliment triggered chattering amongst everypony within earshot, the conversations clearly smug on the part of those who were citizens of Equestria.
"I'm guessing you're a bit of a traveler in that case?" Asked a mare behind the silver stallion.
Silver turned to see two mares, standing side by side.  He nodded to the one on the left, who was clearly the inquirer, judging by the expectant look on her face. "That I am, ma'am.  That I am."
"Hmm....Equestria might be a nice place to live, but it can get a little boring here." The mare put a hoof to her chin, eyeing Silver with intrigue. "Got any interesting stories to tell?"
Silver chuckled, nodding curtly. "I might just.  But, before I tell you about where I've been and what I've done, I'd care to know who you are." He held out a hoof, smiling warmly. "My name's Silver Gleam.  What's yours?"
The mare returned the smile and shook Silver's hoof, answering, "Lyra Heartstrings." She nodded to the pony at her side. "This is Bon Bon."
"Hi there!" Bon Bon said, nodding to Silver Gleam.
"A pleasure to meet both of you." Silver chimed, dropping his hoof. "Now, what sort of stories are you interested in hearing?"
Lyra pondered the question for a moment, then asked, "What are some of the most dangerous places you've visited in the world?"
Silver grinned at the question, casually answering, "Not a one of my destinations can compare to the jungle nation of Apegentina in terms of danger."
"Apegentina?" Lyra asked, raising an eyebrow. "I've never heard of that place before."
"That's perfectly understandable." Silver said, stroking his beard. "Despite the country's surprising political strength and  physical size, its government has gone out of its way to ensure the country remains invisible.  My guess is that they don't want any tourists parading around." Silver cleared his throat, continuing with, "Nonetheless, we were sent on a diplomatic mission to the capital city, Alpha's Throne.  We were assigned to establish a treaty with the nation that would allow us to survey and deforest small portions of land within their borders in exchange for a large sum of precious commodities." He held a hoof to his chest, smiling smugly. "The majority of which consisted of silver.  There arose a complication, however, when we discovered the barbaric nature of the citizenry." He shook his head, sounding dire as he said, "Every last male was trained to fight, and every last citizen despised the use of or potential for magic."
"Wait....what?" Interrupted Bon Bon, causing Lyra to quietly roll her eyes. "Why would ponies dislike magic?  And why would they be 'barbaric?'"
Silver chuckled at this, saying, "Valid questions.  Why would ponies dislike magic or behave like barbarians?  However, neither of those questions relate to the country of Apegentina." Bon Bon looked utterly dumbfounded by this as Silver paused, his smile wry as he said, "The citizenry of Apegentina consists of gorillas, milady."
"Oh..." Bon Bon giggled at this, putting a hoof to her chin. "A whole country of gorillas, huh?"
"Indeed." Silver inhaled deeply, sounding less grim as he recounted the journey. "We were sent there with nary a clue of what their policies were.  New Unicornia hadn't had much communication with the country, and the treaty proposal had to be hoof delivered to Alpha's Throne.  As soon as our ship docked, it was clear that this wasn't going to be a normal mission.  It was plain as day that we weren't welcome."
Lyra raised an eyebrow at this, asking, "Because you're unicorns, or what?"
Silver shrugged, answering, "Well, Apegentinians are skittish, superstitious individuals that often distrust outsiders.  I'm sure our treatment wouldn't have been much different if we weren't magic users, but I digress.  Simply put, we either terrified or infuriated every gorilla we met.  They seemed to fixate on our horns, and would always either cower or behave aggressively whenever we used magic.  The second we stepped off the boat, we were on our own.  Every inn of every city or town we came upon would refuse to give us a night's rest.  The majority of the population could only speak their native 'tongue,' and those who were able to speak to us would usually call us something like 'heretics,' or other things of that nature."
"Sheesh." Lyra said, eyeing Silver Gleam with pity. "That sounds awful.  If nopony....or, if none of the gorillas liked you, then why did you stay?  Why not pack up and leave?"
Silver Gleam shook his head, answering in earnest, "I asked myself that a few times while we waited out the ludicrous rainstorms that the jungles had to offer.  Our mission, however, wasn't to make friends with the locals.  We were to report to the nation's monarch in Alpha's Throne to discuss the treaty.  According to our briefing, the king of Apegentina was supposedly remarkably intelligent.  We could only assume that we wouldn't be so harshly persecuted once we reached the capital.  Of course, navigating the dense rain forests that covered the nation was difficult enough, never mind the occasional mobs of gorillas that would chase and attack us.  Suffice to say that getting from the port to the heart of Apegentina, where our objective lay, was not easy.  After about two weeks of hard travel and dodging spears, however, we finally found ourselves in Alpha's Throne.  It was there that-" Silver stopped what he was saying as somepony tapped his shoulder.  He turned to find a familiar pink mare holding a cup filled with punch in her teeth.
"Would you like some punch?" She asked, transferring the cup to her hoof and offering it to Silver.
"Why, thank you very much!" He said, his horn aglow as the cup levitated out of Pinkie's hoof.
"No problem!" Pinkie nodded, beaming brightly as she asked, "So, how are you enjoying the party?"
"It's magnificent, madam!" Silver answered, bowing lightly to Pinkie Pie. "One of the best celebrations I've ever attended." He stroked his beard for a moment as he eyed Pinkie, then chuckled, saying, "Sorry to say that I never learned of your name.  Sincerest apologies for so rudely forgetting to introduce myself earlier." He held out a hoof to Pinkie Pie, content not to mention what she'd done to Opulent. "I thank you from the bottom of my heart for hosting this party, miss...?"
"Pinkie Pie!" She answered, grabbing Silver's hoof and shaking it at an intense (and most likely painful) speed. "You'll never meet a pony that loves to party as much as I do!  I've dedicated my life to singing, dancing, joking, laughing, throwing the best parties in Equestria, and putting smiles on everyponies' faces!"
"My my!" Silver chimed as he withdrew his hoof from Pinkie's hyperactive shaking. "That's a grand introduction if I've ever heard one.  A pleasure to meet you, Miss Pie."
Pinkie sputtered, giggling as she waved dismissively. "Oh, just call me Pinkie!  Or Pinkie Pie!  Or Madam Pinkie, if you prefer!  But probably just Pinkie Pie, because I don't do a lot of fortune telling lately.  You could also call me Pinkamena, but nopony outside my family calls me that!  My full name is actually Pinkamena Dianne Pie, but I haven't been called that in forever!  Well, not like really forever, just not in a really long time.  I haven't seen my mom, my dad, or my sisters in a really long time, so it makes sense that I haven't been called by my full name in a really long time!  I guess I-" She froze, blinking a few times before turning her head in the direction of a pair of unicorns that stood on either side of a downed earth pony.  She grinned at this, sounding much calmer as she said, "Excuse me.  I have something to take care of." Pinkie turned to the refreshment table, trotting away without another word.
"So, what do you think of Pinkie?" Lyra asked jokingly.
Silver chuckled, answering, "I think she's impressively hospitable.  Very nice, full of energy, and there's something contagious about that smile of her's." At this, he took a sip of punch, cringing as he swallowed it.
Lyra looked puzzled by this, asking, "Something the matter?"
Silver coughed lightly, shaking his head. "No, not at all.  This punch is just a bit....strong, is all."
Lyra looked to the punch bowl just across the room, already starting towards it as she said, "Strong or not, I'm parched.  I think I'll get myself a glass."
Silver eyed his cup with suspicion, oblivious to Lyra's departure. Haven't tasted anything quite like that in a while.  It couldn't possibly be....of course not!  The nice hostess wouldn't allow such a thing to befoul the party's refreshments.  You're being paranoid. He exhaled, paused, then took a longer draw from his punch cup, swallowing hard to keep down the alcoholic concoction. Yes, paranoia.  It's all in your head.

"Well, we best be gettin' home." Applejack said as she entered Scootaloo's room. "Visitin' hours are up, and Scootaloo needs 'er rest." 
Applebloom turned a despairing frown to Applejack, but made no complaint as she walked away from Scootaloo's bedside. "Ah guess ah'll see ya tomorra, Scoots.  Rest easy, pardner." Applejack nodded to Scootaloo as she and her sister exited the room, leaving the young pegasus alone.
Well, (mostly alone) it would seem that Applebloom has met something of a dead end in her search. Mist Wing thought.
I guess so.  I can't prove that Nurse Mend tried to poison me, but Applebloom can't prove that she didn't. Scootaloo thought, a guilty expression her face. It feels like I'm lying to her. 
Do not fret, child.  Your friend has met no harm through your simple misdirection. Mist Wing thought comfortingly. You did what was necessary.
But didn't you say that being truthful was best?  Something about it being powerful and absolute? Scootaloo thought in confusion.
Ah, that I did.  The strength of an incomplete truth unmarred, however, isn't quite so strong as an incomplete truth with the slightest alterations.  After all, how can you be confident without the whole truth? Mist argued, only furthering Scootaloo's confusion.
So, what's the 'whole truth' in this case?  I know that Nurse Mend intentionally forced those pills down my throat.  That's completely true. Scootaloo retorted.
That it is.  That fact alone, however, only stands as part of the whole truth.  If we knew why she did so, it would have been more sensible to tell Applebloom that her intentions were in fact malicious.  We know that she meant to poison you, but why?  Without knowing this, Nurse Mend will be difficult to corner and convict. Mist Wing thought.
Well.....alright then. Scootaloo thought, unconvinced by Mist Wing's logic.  She rubbed at her bandages, then listlessly glanced about the room, unsure whether she was relieved or distressed by her recently achieved solitude.  She glanced to the empty bed at the far end of the room, wondering who had occupied it last.  The sheets were neatly folded, the pillows were perfectly fluffed, and it seemed like a boringly plain section of the room.  That is, until a flash of blue light obstructed the poor filly's vision.  She squeezed shut her eye, startled by the sudden burst of light.
Where did that come from?! Scootaloo thought, rubbing at her eye.
From nowhere, child.  What you saw just then was an aspect of the Eyes of Revelation.  Take another look at the bed across from yours. Mist Wing instructed, his sagely voice sounding somewhat enthused.  Scootaloo squinted at the bed once more, her eye still sore from the blue flash.  This time, however, she could see the silhouettes of two ponies through a veil of royal blue tint.  The larger stood beside the bed, the smaller wrapped in its sheets.  The image lingered for a moment, but the blue tint, along with the silhouettes, quickly faded, Scootaloo's vision returning to normal.
Excellent! Mist Wing thought. You're already gaining such skill!
What the hay was that?! Scootaloo thought, frantically scanning the empty bed with her unassisted eye. There were two ponies there!  Who were they?  How is this freaky thing with my eyes involved?!
Calm yourself, young one.  Your gift is a tool for observation.  You've already seen through the Eyes during the present.  And now....you've just gazed into the future! Mist Wing responded, leaving Scootaloo dumbfounded.
You can't be serious....I really just saw the future? Scootaloo thought, not able to believe such a thing.
And to think you're progressing so quickly!  Why, you'll have these skills mastered by the end of the week! Mist Wing thought, sending Scootaloo into a panic.
Progressing?  Mastered?!  I don't even know why I've got this weird new power, let alone how I'm supposed to use it! Scootaloo thought.
Don't dwell on it, young one.  Forgive my excitement.  You've only proved your potential, is all.  Rest now, my young pegasus.  You've dealt with much this day, and you deserve the serenity of sleep. Mist Wing thought, doing little to stifle Scootaloo's panic.
Sure.  Of course!  I'm just supposed to forget about all this and sleep!  Is that right? Scootaloo snapped.
....yes. Mist Wing thought in earnest.  Scootaloo growled, putting a hoof to her temple.
Oh, okay.  Just checking to make sure. Scootaloo thought bitterly, repeatedly striking herself on the temple in an attempt to drive out Mist Wing.

Sweetie Belle stepped away from her partially complete science project, yawning and rubbing at her eyes. "Rarity....I'm exhausted....can I stop for the night?"
Rarity, who looked lost in thought, blinked at the question, lightly shaking her head before saying, "Sure.  Sure, Sweetie Belle.  However, you'll have to work on it all day tomorrow to have any hope of finishing it on time."
Sweetie nodded appreciatively, shuffling away from her project. "Good night, Rarity..." She yawned again, looking ready to doze off as she walked.
Rarity rested a foreleg against the arm of her chair, gazing at the ceiling for a moment before yelling after Sweetie Belle, "Be sure to wash up!  That mache has made you filthy!"
"Got it!" Groggily replied Sweetie Belle.
Rarity, now alone, sighed grievously, removing her foreleg from the chair's arm and resting her head there. He's so sweet, yet I would do something so heinous.  Can I call myself a lady for so deviously withholding the truth from this good stallion? Rarity turned her attention to her hoof as she watched it lazily swing from side to side as it hung from the chair. But how do I tell him?  I can't simply confess.....or can I?  Does he even know I was there?  If that's actually the case.... Rarity sputtered with frustration, stepping down from her seat and pacing about. His knowledge does not change what I did, and what I did was unacceptable!  I must apologize to him posthaste! Rarity inhaled sharply, as if mustering confidence.  Whatever confidence she'd gleaned from the air, however, promptly vanished as she breathed a guilty exhale. Well, maybe not posthaste.....near future, perhaps?  Sometime tomorrow, for sure. Rarity furiously shook her head, stomping to both vent frustration and help accentuate the other side of the conflict. No!  You've already put this off for long enough!  You're going to Pinkie's party!  You shall apologize to Silver Gleam!  No excuses! Rarity nodded resolutely, as if given the instructions by somepony else.  She hurried to the stairs, quickly arriving at the room Sweetie Belle was staying in. "Sweetie Belle!  I'm going out for a little while.  I'll be back shortly, darling, so don't worry while I'm gone.....Sweetie?" Rarity stepped inside, finding Sweetie's bed to be empty.  Rarity stared at the bed in bewilderment, but a faint noise just down the hall grabbed her attention.  She trotted over to the bathroom, finding the sound to be running water.  She opened the door, this time finding the sleeping Sweetie Belle, curled up on the floor with soaking hooves.  Rarity chuckled at this, shutting off the faucet and gingerly placing a hoof on Sweetie's shoulder. "Well, at least you washed up first." With her magic, Rarity used a nearby towel to dry Sweetie's hooves, then replace the towel and gently place the filly on her back. "I suppose I should move you to a proper bed before I go....Oh, how cute you are when you sleep." Sweetie Belle responded to this compliment with a rather voluminous snore, smacking her lips and mumbling something unintelligible.  Rarity sighed, sounding a little less sincere as she said, "Yes....very cute indeed."  

With reddened cheeks and tears forming in the corners of her eyes, Bon Bon stomped to the exit of Sugar Cube Corner.  Many eyes turned to Lyra, who watched the mare storm out with confusion.  A few seconds after the door of the bakery closed, however, Lyra took on a look of panic, frantically stumbling after Bon Bon.  The crowds they had left in their wake looked utterly flabbergasted, many sounding stunned as they chatted amongst themselves.
"Wow...that...just wow..."
"That was a bit...rude."
"I didn't think those two were actually...you know..."
Silver Gleam stared solemnly at the bakery doors as he listened to the fervent chatter. Perhaps I was wrong.  It would appear there is something wrong with this punch after all....well, I suppose this little mess is my fault.  I'd best go evaluate the damage. Silver hurried to the door, peeking his head outside to look for the wayward mares.
"Why would you do that?!" Bon Bon shouted as she turned to Lyra, who bit her lip in panic.
"I...uh..." Lyra glanced away from Bon Bon, rubbing at the back of her neck. "I don't know..."
"You don't just tell ponies private stuff like that!" Bon Bon shouted as she jabbed at Lyra's shoulder, which didn't seem to affect her. "I hate it when you get like this!  Don't you ever think about who you're hurting when you blurt out secrets?"
Lyra rolled her eyes, her guilt plainly turned to annoyance. "You know, it isn't really that big a deal.  So what if a few ponies know about your-"
"It is a very, very big deal!" Bon Bon interrupted, turning away from Lyra as a few tears began to trickle down her cheeks. "I trusted you Lyra....trusted you with such an intimate secret.  Then you shout it to everypony at the party like that.  How could you?" She sounded a great deal more meek and defeated as she asked this, but Lyra's irritation only became more adamant as she circled around Bon Bon to meet her face to face.
"Bon Bon, you need to stop being a foal about all this.  So what if I told everypony there?  Most of them already know about you and me.  What difference does one little detail make?" As Lyra chastised her, Bon Bon's quiet crying grew to outward sobbing.
"Don't you care how much this means to me?  I thought what you and I had meant more to you...." Bon Bon sniffled, struggling to regain any composure. "What you said in there....I would have never said the same thing about you if it were true.  Why did you have to?"
Lyra sputtered, shaking her head slowly. "If such a stupid little secret is all it takes to set you off like this, then maybe I have made a mistake." She leaned closer to Bon Bon, sneering as she said, "A mistake in my choice of fillyfriend." 
Bon Bon gasped at Lyra's words, her sobbing worsening as she looked to the ground. "Lyra....this isn't like you....why would you say anything so harsh....especially to me, of all ponies." 
Lyra, not immediately answering, glared at her fillyfriend, then turned away with a sigh as she answered, "You've got to toughen up, Bon Bon.  This relationship is gonna fall apart if you're always going to be this weak..." Bon Bon sniffled once more, turning away from Lyra as she rubbed at her eyes.
Oh dear... Silver thought as he glanced from Lyra to Bon Bon. I haven't made a mess.  I've created a catastrophe.... He stepped through the door, gulping as he silently approached the two.  Standing between them, he cleared his throat before saying, "Hello ladies....um....I believe I owe the two of you an apology."
"For what?" The two asked in unison.
Silver looked to Lyra, sounding unsure as he answered, "For.....Miss Heartstrings' behavior."
Bon Bon looked to Silver Gleam, her cheeks tear-stained and her expression grim. "What are you talking about?"
Silver, struggling not to grimace at the hopeless look that Bon Bon wore, answered with guilt, "The punch.  I have reason to believe that it was tainted with alcohol.  Your friend has likely been heavily intoxicated, and is suffering from badly impaired judgement."
Bon Bon sighed, her watery eyes drifting over to Lyra, who held high her head and refused to turn to face Silver Gleam. "Is this true, Lyra?  Are you....'intoxicated?'"
Lyra shrugged, sounding snooty as she said, "Maybe I am, maybe I'm not."
Silver shot a glare at Lyra, then turned a pitying smile to Bon Bon. "I'm dreadfully sorry for not warning her when I had the chance."
Bon Bon shook her head, waving a dismissive hoof as she said, "Don't be sorry....Lyra might be acting unusual, but that doesn't change what tonight would have ended up like."
Silver raised an eyebrow at this as Lyra turned to glare at Bon Bon.  The two asked in unison, "What's that supposed to mean?"
Bon Bon scowled at Lyra, but answered softly, "Lyra and I....we've been having a few problems lately.  Our relationship has been a bit rocky ever since-"
"Ever since what?!" Lyra shouted, her outburst startling Silver Gleam and Bon Bon.
Bon Bon, now sounding more forceful, answered, "Ever since we took that trip to Los Pegasus, Lyra.  Don't you remember?"
Lyra rolled her eyes, her tone venomous as she said, "You just can't get over anything, can you?  Why can't you let that go?"
Bon Bon's frown deepened, her scowl more formidable as she said, "You know what you did, and you did it in full conscience, with no alcohol to blame!" At this, the two glared at each other in silence.  After a tense moment passed, they turned away from one another once more, their disgusted harrumphs somehow synchronized.
Silver Gleam looked from Lyra to Bon Bon, unable to find the words to express his opinion of the matter. Excellent work, Silver.  You've brought this conflict to a head.  You very well might have ruined a relationship and a pair of lives.  Outstanding. He stroked his beard, brow furrowed as he looked to the ground. "Well....uh....perhaps-"
"I know you mean well, but this just isn't the time or place to talk about this." Bon Bon interrupted. "Maybe later, but for now...." She sighed, lowering her head as she began to walk away from the two. "I'm headed home.  Don't wait up, Lyra."
"Didn't plan to." Lyra responded bluntly, saying nothing else as Bon Bon departed.
Silver bit his lip as he glanced to Lyra, then broke into a run to catch up with Bon Bon.  He trotted alongside the mare, feverishly saying, "Miss Bon Bon, don't go!  If you leave like this, your relationship might be irreversibly damaged!  Are you sure you can't talk this out with her now?"
"Look, this isn't your problem.  I'm tired, frustrated, and kinda angry." Bon Bon answered without breaking stride or looking at Silver Gleam. "I don't want to try to work out anything right now.  Especially if Lyra's drunk like this...." At this, she sped up, leaving Silver behind as she turned a corner.
Silver came to a halt, stamping in frustration as he glanced back to Lyra, who still stood just in front of the bakery, nose held high. "This is your problem, Silver, and you've got to make it right." He hurried back to Lyra, oblivious of the swarm of police that escorted a massive storm cloud just overhead.

"You're making a mistake!" Flitter Flake shouted as Ponyville came into sight below. "If you're going to insist on bringing back that storm cloud, being the idiots you are, you could at least steer clear of Ponyville.  You know, so nopony gets vaporized."
"Can it, thief." Said one of the officers that carried her along. "You're already in pretty deep.  Try not to go any deeper."
Flitter Flake glared at the officer for a moment, then glanced to the ground.  Taking a deep breath, Flitter Flake mumbled, "If I'm going down, you two go down with me."
"Heh.  Fat chan-" The officer was interrupted as Flitter Flake twisted suddenly, sending the heads of the two police ponies on a collision course.  This was enough to muddle their smooth flight, allowing Flitter Flake to slip off their forelegs in the resulting chaos.  As her cuffed hooves cleared those of her captors, she laughed triumphantly and spun to face the two as she spread her wings.  Her eyes widened, however, as she suddenly remembered the binding ring that prevented her from flying. I did not think this through properly. Flitter Flake screamed in terror as she plummeted, fruitlessly reaching for the police she had escaped from as she rocketed downward.  At the last second, she closed her eyes, too afraid to face impact.  What she met, however, wasn't solid ground.  With a startled shriek, Bon Bon was flattened by a flightless pegasus that had fallen from the sky.  Flitter Flake opened her eyes, astounded to find that she hadn't been harmed.  A weak groan from the pony below her, however, was clear indication of one not so lucky.  Flitter Flake rolled onto her hooves, glancing from Bon Bon to the skies.  The two officers she had escaped from had now regained their focus, and were diving toward her, along with all but one of the officers that had been tending to the storm cloud.  Flitter Flake sighed, standing over Bon Bon as she slid the chain that connected the cuffs of her forehooves under the downed mare's chin. "I'm really, truly sorry about this....whoever you are." As the officers neared the two of them, Flitter Flake twisted her hooves and pulled at the chain.  Bon Bon's daze was cleared by this as she frantically attempted to remove the chain around her neck, but to no avail.  The police that had chased after Flitter Flake landed in a semicircle around the two, some looking furious, others looking fearful.
"I don't want to hurt her." Flitter Flake said. "But I will if I have to." She slightly tightened her choke hold on Bon Bon, causing her hostage to breathe in sharply through clenched teeth.
"Let her go immediately!" Barked one of the officers.
"No.  That isn't how negotiation works." Flitter Flake said, holding Bon Bon's head closer to her's. "You listen to my terms.  You agree to my terms.  Then I release the hostage." 
The police pegasi exchanged disgruntled looks, one finally asking with reluctance, "What are your terms?"

"Hmm....odd." Rarity observed as she trotted along, watching the group of Cloudsdale police dive toward Ponyville. "I wonder wh-" Rarity stopped what she was saying as she collided with a mare that had swiftly rounded a corner, a few of her grocery items falling to the ground.
With an indignant scoff, the mare that had crashed into Rarity shouted, "Watch where you're going!"
"Sorry!  Terribly sorry!" Rarity said as she magically retrieved the items that had fallen and replaced them. "I was a tad preoccupied with-"
"It doesn't matter." The mare starkly interrupted, situating her groceries without saying another word.  Rarity, thinking her to be rude, opened her mouth to reprimand the mare, but was silenced when she yelled over her shoulder, "Jitters!  Pick up the pace!" Rarity looked in the direction she had yelled, spotting an earth pony colt struggling to run to his mother.
"S-sorry, mom.  My ankle is just-"
"Try to keep up, child." Jitters' mother hissed at him, turning and continuing forward without another word.  Jitters sighed, nodding to Rarity as he hobbled behind his mother.  
Rarity glared at the irritable mare as she disappeared from sight, mumbling, "Well, how rude." With a dismissive shake of the head, Rarity continued toward Sugar Cube Corner. "No matter.  Now, what to tell Silver Gleam....hmm...." She mulled over several variations of the same apology as she trotted along, finding none of them to be adequate.  By the time Sugar Cube Corner had come into sight, along with Silver Gleam, Rarity still hadn't decided completely what to say. Come now, Rarity. She thought as she quickly ducked out of sight. You have to confront this sooner or later....no, no, no.  Sooner.  You have to confront this immediately! With a nervous gulp, Rarity stepped out of hiding, working to keep her expression looking guiltless as she trotted toward Sugar Cube Corner.  She froze, however, when Opulent Majesty suddenly appeared from inside with Patsy Craft magically in tow.  Unable to continue toward Silver Gleam, Rarity stood where she was and watched, only now noticing the pony Silver had been conversing with before Opulent captured his attention. Lyra?  Why is he out here with Lyra?  And where's Bon Bon?  For one to attend a party without the other is rather unusual... Rarity's focus, however, was turned to the conversation between Opulent and Silver, neither of whom had spotted her yet.
"So, who's this?" Opulent asked with an indicative flick of the head.
"Just....a mare with relationship problems, is all." Silver answered, Lyra turning away from him with a frustrated scoff.
Opulent shook his head, sounding annoyed as he scolded, "Leave her be.  It's imperative that we vacate the premises at once."
Silver sighed, then asked despairingly, "What have you done this time, Opulent?"
Opulent turned abruptly, already starting for the Hay and Stay as he said, "I've only dealt with that psychotic mare that so rudely assaulted me earlier today."
"'Dealt with?'  Need I ask how?" Silver asked warily.  
"Don't worry yourself, Silver.  I haven't harmed her.  I simply had a word with her, is all." Opulent said, stopping for a moment and glancing to Silver. "Now come along.  You can continue your petty counseling tomorrow." He looked forward once more, continuing on his way as Patsy hovered behind, glaring at Silver as she passed by.  
Silver breathed a heavy sigh, placing a hoof on Lyra's shoulder as he said, "We'll have all this straightened out before you know it.  I promise."
Lyra, without looking at Silver, quietly muttered, "Sure.  Whatever." Silver frowned at this, but turned to follow Opulent all the same.  
Rarity watched the three depart, then looked to Lyra, hurrying over to her and asking, "What's all this about?"
Lyra shrugged, seeming to ignore Rarity as she turned and began walking away. "Hay if I know.  Why don't you just-" A sudden clap of thunder from just above Ponyville silenced Lyra, stopping her in her tracks.  She and Rarity turned their attention to the storm cloud that had loosed the bolt of lightning, only to witness a flurry of strikes erupt in quick succession.  The two could only watch in disbelief for a moment, but Lyra quickly shook away her shock and rushed to where the first strike had occurred.  Rarity, still somewhat dazed, chased after her, heading the stampede of concerned ponies that poured out of Sugar Cube Corner.





The moon shines bright, spirits are high, and the air smells of new beginnings.  Camps are already being assembled on this beautiful beach, and we're all anxious to start our adventure.  I must admit, I had my doubts about this journey, but we've made it far.  Now truly begins the life of a fledgling nation.  Now truly begins New Unicornia.