Rise of Ponietheus

by twitterdick

8. Twilight Sparkle: Reprieve

The forest churned around Twilight Sparkle and her friends as they all gathered in a clearing. The large, long leaves on the trees shook slightly in a breeze, and the group was surrounded on all sides by crackles and snips of sound echoing from the wood. The forest was still very much alive, untouched by the still storms that raged outside it's borders. The still sun shined out overhead. Thoughts buzzed in Twilight Sparkle's head, crashing against the borders of her mind and thrashing about in her skull. She thought of Fluttershy, Celestia and Discord; each trapped in the darkness. She thought of the destruction stewing in her home and of the tall white beast that brought it. She thought of him leering down on her, gazing with that pale blue eye exposed from those sickly bandages, and all that grim metal. She thought of the disease he wrought upon her home, and on her friends and comrades.

Lastly she thought of Applejack. And Spike. Poor thing looked like he was about to break down.

"I'm tired… of running!!" shouted Rarity thru her panting, breaking the cold, soporific silence that had cast itself upon the group. She clasped her hoof to her chest and ventilated.

Protean Joy hastily moved in front of her. "Listen to me," he said, "You're hyper-ventilating. If we don't slow your breathing down, you'll pass out. I want you to try to take in as much air as you can then breath all the way out. When you breathe, try to feel it in your gut. I'll do it with you, okay? Follow my hoof."

He brought his hoof up with inhales and down with exhales. Rarity nodded and struggled to follow. Still, her sporadic breathing slowed, and, with time, she was calm.

"That's it," Protean Joy said, smiling, "Good las."

He turned to his Sergeant, who stood diligently at his commander's side. "Mogadon," he said, "Have you any water?"

"Sir, yes sir," he responded softly. He stuck is nose into his saddlebag and pulled out his canteen. "Give Lady Rarity a few sips and help her calm down," Protean Joy ordered. His subordinate did so, and the commander next took a stance in the middle of the clearing. "Are any of you lot hurt? Scraps, cuts; anything at all?"

"I'm all good!" said Pinkie Pie with a forced smile.

"I'm… yeah, I'm fine…" Rainbow Dash said meekly as she let herself nestle down between the roots of a nearby tree.

Twilight pulled the book away from Spike and discarded it nearby. "We're fine here, thanks…"

She pulled Spike close to her. "Are you alright, Spike?" she asked.

Spike sniffled but belligerently held back his instinct to sob. His whole body was stiff from the effort. "I wasn't scared…" he said, "I wasn't. At least, not for… me." He looked over at the commander snapping into his managerial duties, then Pinkie Pie, then Rainbow Dash, then Rarity and winced. He buried his face in Twilight's shoulder and whimpered, "…Don't let them… see me… cry."

Twilight brought her wing around him.

Pinkie Pie spit the brown book out. "Who was that? What did he do to Fluttershy?" she asked.

They all went silent. Rarity slurped down some water and coughed.

Twilight frowned and looked up and around for Princess Luna. "Hey, does anypony see Princess Luna anywhere?"

Protean Joy looked at Mogadon sternly. "Stay with her," he said, motioning towards Rarity. He was then the only one to move. He wondered around the clearing, methodically scanning the sky in various directions. Pinkie Pie looked over at Spike as he hid behind Twilight's wing. She covered a soft, sympathetic frown then joined Protean Joy in watching the sky.

Twilight Sparkle looked over at Rainbow Dash. She was uncharacteristically withdrawn and somber.

"Rainbow Dash, are you holding up alright?"

Rainbow Dash's eyes met Twilights. They settled beneath her relapsed brow as if pulled from a dream or overwhelming thought. She gave a look like she just now realized where she was, the reality she occupied.

"Rainbow?"

"Yeah, yeah… I'm ok!" she said. Twilight Sparkle was unconvinced.

"Why don't you come over here? Closer to the rest of us?"

"No, I-…I'm fine right here."

"Rainbow, what happened back there? When he stared at you, I mean. I felt-"

"He didn't do anything! I'm fine, I told you!"

"Rainbow!!" Twilight's aura of sweet motherly understanding gave way to a sharp tone, "You've got to talk to me. That… that stinging I felt. Tell me what happened!"

"Stop it!!" Rainbow Dash cried. She curled up at the base of the tree.

"Hey, calm down Twilight," came a soft coo from Spike, "Relax, she'll talk to us when she's ready."

"I got this one, Twilight. It's ok," said Pinkie Pie. She walked slowly over to Rainbow Dash, sitting down near her, but still keeping herself at a comfortable distance. Rainbow Dash's eyes were clamped shut, her head buried in her hoofs. Twilight felt the spark of agitation fade. She calmed and sat back into the warmth of the soothing sounds of the forest.

"Hey, Rainbow Dash. How are you holding up?" Pinkie Pie asked softly.

"I don't wanna talk about it! Don't make me talk about!" Rainbow Dash snapped, her voice raspy and weak. She remained buried in her hooves.

"I'm not going to ask you about what happened, I just want to know how you're feeling."

"Not very good! Can't you tell?"

Pinkie Pie inched closer.

"It's ok to be scared, Rainbow. The noise, the whispers, the wind; that by itself was overwhelming, let alone having that big scary guy… do whatever he did. But it's ok now, Rainbow. You're here with your friends, and he's back there. Try calming down now."

Rainbow Dash whimpered, but exhaled and brought her head up.

Twilight had never seen Pinkie Pie so calm and in control. She honestly thought that silly pony didn't have it in her. It just reminded her how grave the situation had become. The kingdom was lost, Fluttershy corrupted, Celestia and Discord gone… and Applejack missing. She moved her attention up, to the sky, looking for Princess Luna.

Spike pulled away from her, wiped his nose, and made his way to Rainbow Dash's retreat. He motioned passed Pinkie Pie and sat beside the settling Rainbow Dash and put his hand on her shoulder.

"It's over now, Rainbow Dash," he said, surprisingly calmly, "We're safe here and you don't have to worry now."

"Yes, it's… alright now!" pipped in Rarity. She remained where she was. Her voice revealed just how winded she was. Mogadon stood ramrod still next to her with a stern, stoic expression. Rarity guzzled down the last of his water, and he promptly placed the canteen back in his saddlebag. Rarity smiled at him - he didn't respond - and continued. "Mr. Sticky-Darkness can't get in here and he isn't going to make us run around anymore… If he makes me run again, I'll beat him." Her remark summoned an uneasy smile from Rainbow Dash.

Twilight felt the cue that she should chime in, the guilt from losing her temple settling on her stomach. "I'm sorry I raised my voice at you." She said, "This whole thing has got us all stressed and I didn't consider your feelings. It's easy to try to bury the emotions and thoughts you'd rather not have, but that won't make them go away. I'd like you to tell us what happened, but I'm not going to force anything out of you, Rainbow. And I am very glad that you're okay."

Rainbow Dash chuckled thru her terrified sniffles and shakes. "Ok softie brigade…" she joked weakly and rather softly, "Keep this up and I'll end up as girly as you guys."

"Except me, of course!" Spike said - an obvious joke.

"Ha! Especially you, little Spikey-Wikey!" Rainbow Dash teased, nudging the little dragon.

The group managed to muster a laugh. Laughter was a welcome feeling in the stress of the night, the moonbeams beating down on the tired group. Rainbow Dash got herself up, smiling weakly thru her uneasiness, but a good feeling was settling on all of them.

Protean Joy then pointed up into the sky. "There!" he shouted.

Luna descended through the tree line and gently landed. She a strange look of shock about her; a confused surprise captured on her brow and face. Her wrinkled lip and stern expression matched her stiffness.

"Princess! Are you alright?" asked Twilight Sparkle.

"I'm fine…" said Luna, "And you?"

"I'm fine as well, but a little shaken. I… think we're all a little shaken."

She couldn't help but look at Rainbow Dash.

"What's happened?" asked Spike, "Did he follow us in?"

Luna shook her head. "No. He told me to leave."

"Leave?" said Mogadon, "You're Majesty, why not? There's nothing stopping us. We could get you and Princess Twilight Sparkle to safety."

Luna smiled. "I appreciate your concern, young soldier, but such a move would only grant reprieve from the inevitable. Wherever we when, he would just take his storm there."

"And I for one am not going anywhere," said Twilight Sparkle, "Nopony attacks my friends."

Spike cocked his head. "Twilight?"

"If we put our heads to it, we could beat this guy. The Elements of Harmony are just sitting in the library," Twilight said, "I seriously doubt that's what he's after, and, even if it was, he'd have no idea that it's there. Plus, that's where Fluttershy is."

"You're… you're not suggesting… we go back in there, are you?" Rarity said.

"That is exactly what I'm suggesting. Fluttershy's down and out, and who knows where Applejack is… But if we find her and find a way to reverse whatever that darkness is, then we can use the Elements of Harmony and defeat the dark harbinger. If we don't, that storm will keep spreading and who knows what kind of damage it will do."

Rarity grumbled to herself. "…if you make me run more, I will kill you…"

"Count me in!" said Pinkie Pie, "The towns all dark and spooky, so you need a pony who knows how to get everywhere from everywhere! Oh yeah, and I'm one of the elements. DUH! I have to go!"

Rainbow Dash smiled. "Me too. Wherever you go, I'll follow, Twilight."

Rarity sighed. "Alright, fine. I'll come too."

Spike closed his eyes and exhaled. "Me too," he said, "but we need a solid plan before we do anything."

"Solid plan…" Rainbow Dash said, "I'm going to hit that guy so hard he'll be digesting his teeth for a week."

"I admire your gusto, Ms. Dash, but I've been a soldier for a long time. I know first hand the repercussions of attacking a foe that's got you outmatched," said Protean Joy, "We've got Princess Luna and Princess Twilight Sparkle, sure. They're no slouches when it comes to magic, but that… thing defeated two of the most powerful magic users on this planet AND the entire Royal Guard regiment save two in under an hour. Face it: we are at a terminal disadvantage should we engage this 'dark harbinger' directly. We need a different plan."

Mogadon's pale eyes caught his commanders. He smiled subtly and recited, "A single cut can kill a manticore, and a single decision can destroy nations."

Protean Joy smiled. He and Mogadon looked like they were communicating telepathically

Twilight Sparkle cocked her head, "What's he saying?"

"It's a quote, Your Majesty," Mogadon said.

"From whom?"

"A long dead strategist named Equo Facie. She employed brilliant tactics and took down two superior forces with an inferior one," said Mogadon.

Protean Joy shrugged. "Think of her as the 'Starswirl the Bearded' of soldiers…"

Mogadon dipped his head down and grinned. "He might be strong, but he's just one pony. He can't watch all of Ponyville by himself. Should Her Majesty be quiet and careful, she could wander about the whole town right under his nose. We need to exploit our advantage; subterfuge."

"Subterfuge?" asked Spike quickly, "What's that?"

"Umm… trickery; deceit," explained Luna, "Think of yourselves as fleas on the back of a hound. He can scratch all he wants, but he can't rid you."

"Oh! Is it like going undercover??" asked Pinkie Pie.

"Exactly!" responded Twilight Sparkle in a smooth, authoritative tone. Her mind buzzed carefully, pouring over what words would be best to use. She had to do everything she could to reinforce the calm atmosphere of the clove. "Taking this guy head on isn't working, so let's do the opposite."

"I don't understand…" said Rainbow Dash, "How is sneaking around going to stop this guy?"

"There is an old saying…" said Luna, "'Information is power'. We know very little about the dark harbinger - who he is, what he wants, how he operates."

"Oh, so we're going scouting?? Gathering intel on the enemy!?" squeaked Pinkie Pi.

"Precisely!" said Twilight Sparkle.

"Um, one little problem," said Rarity, "It started raining that black stuff that got on Fluttershy. If we just go waltzing into, sneaky or not, we're going to get the black stuff all over us, and then we'll end up just like her."

"Can't Princess Luna part the clouds? She can open a window for us!… uh, so to speak," suggested Spike.

"That's a good idea, Spike, but it'll be obvious where we were. We'd stick out in that storm like a sore hoof!" said Twilight Sparkle, "The dark harbinger would single us out in no time, then what? We'd be back at square one."

"Whilst it's true I can part the clouds in a limited area, I have to concur with Twilight Sparkle," said Princess Luna, "However, in the name of subterfuge, such a process could provide a quaint distraction. I could possible conjure several proxies, and lure attention away from you."

"Uh, translation?" said Spike, looking up to Twilight Sparkle.

"Remember when she made the Shadow Bolts? She could do the same thing here!" Twilight Sparkle explained, "If we could find a way to remain unaffected by the rain, Princess Luna could part the clouds to guide around a fake set of us, and distract the dark harbinger. While he fixated on 'fake us', real us could travel around unnoticed."

"That's all fine and dandy," croaked Rarity, "But that black rain is our largest concern. How are we suppose to sneak around town unaffected by the stuff?"

"Well, I could summon a bubble or a shield of some sort," suggested Twilight Sparkle, "It's a very mundane spell actually, but one big enough to encompass all of us would take a toll on me. I could only keep it up for a limited time, and I'd have to stay very concentrated on the spell. It would be a great last resort, but there has to be something else we can do, right?"

"Oh, I got it!" shouted Rainbow Dash, "When characters in some of the stories I read have to go into dangerous environments, they wear 'hazmat suits'."

"What's a hazmat suit?" asked Pinkie Pie.

"It's a big piece of clothing you wear that covers your whole body!" said Rainbow Dash, "If Twilight's bubble could get us to Rarity's house, I bet she could whip some up! Then the rain would get on the suit, not on us!"

"Good idea, but let's say we even get that far. Then what? How are we supposed to defeat that terrifying pony? What if we can't find any weaknesses or anything?" asked Pinkie Pie.

"We've got all the time in the world," said Protean Joy, "He needs to sleep, he needs to eat and he's a fish out of water. This is just some place to him, but you lot know every nook and cranny. He'll slip up sooner or later."

"Patience and prudence are the virtues you all should employ. wait and watch," said Princess Luna, "It is of no doubt the dark harbinger will seek my proxies, and with that, I will be in grand peril. Study his movements, study his methods. No force in this universe is infallible. You simply must wait for an opportunity and seize it. You may not get another."

"So we're just going to sneak around and wait until he flashes some big weakness at us? That's our plan??" said Rainbow Dash, "I get we can't just charge at this guy, but I think we need something a bit more solid than what we got before we go into town."

"Well, how about we start with what we already know about the Dark Harbinger?" said Twilight. She looked straight at Rainbow Dash.

'If this guy can crack the bravest pony I know in one little instance, who knows what he can do to the rest of us. Just tell us what happened, Rainbow! I don't want this to bother you anymore.'

Rainbow Dash stared at Twilight and sighed, but there was no anger or resentment in it. There was just a weary resignation - a quiet, calm acceptance.

"I probably have the best first hand knowledge. He… it felt like he went in my head."

At that, Luna brought grimly her head down low. She smoothly but firmly nudged Twilight out of the way and brought her face near Rainbow Dash's. Rainbow Dash sank back uncomfortably and her cheeks tightened in correlation with gritting teeth. Luna's face was remarkably serious.

"What did it feel like? Waves? A stinging?"

Rainbow Dash blinked and rubbed her nose. "It… it slithered, I guess…"

"Slithered? Did it feel like a grub had laid down on your brain and rolled back to and fro?"

Rainbow Dash raised her brow. "Yeah, that could describe it."

Luna brought her head back up and peered at the benevolent Sun blazing above. Her eyes wandered around and she wiggled her tongue between her teeth on the left side. "Crude," she said.

"Huh?" Twilight said. She tilted her head and stared straight up at the Princess.

Luna shook her head. "Crude mind reading magic," she said, "Masters of such would be more subtle. He's powerful, but he's crude and short sighted. Still, he must be very old. Many live and die without developing the ability to touch minds."

She laughed nonchalantly to herself then, "'A heretofore unnamed old evil sealed away before returning to reap havoc on little old Ponyville.' That sure sounds familiar…"

Twilight stirred, "Princess?"

Luna ignored her. She brought her head back down and looked straight at Rainbow Dash. "Did you see or hear anything? Words? Noises? Anything?"

Rainbow Dash frowned. "I… didn't really see anything. There were noises though… it… it sounded like a wind tunnel, or… or, like, a piano that's out of tune. Or something… I don't know. There was this repetitive grinding. Then I heard some voices. Well, not really voices so much as… thoughts. Y'know, like when you think of stuff and hear a voice in your head but you don't really 'hear' it. It was like that. I think he was talking to me. Or… singing? There was something like a choir singing just at the edge of hearing."

"What did he say to you?"

"...It was frantic and sad. I tried asking him why he was here, but all he said was he's here to conquer. I told him I wasn't afraid of him… I mean, I really was, but I didn't want him to know that… Saying that seemed to really make him mad. And he shouted 'feel afraid' at me. That's when I heard Twilight Sparkle shouting at me, and then I came back here. But my head still hurt, like he had left tracks in there. I couldn't help but be afraid… Like he forced me to be afraid or something…"

A silence fell upon the group.

"That's really it." Rainbow Dash said. Her eyes flickered in a disappointment at the dying hope that relying the information would ease the pressure on her mind.

"You know…" said Rarity, "If I were to describe how Fluttershy and Princess Celestia looked under the dark harbinger's spell, I would say they looked afraid. Based on that story, it sounds like the guy is practically demanding ponies to be afraid."

"Maybe that's why it felt like he was slithering around in your head!" said Spike. "Maybe he was looking for what you're afraid of."

"The overwhelming atmosphere we all felt… all the darkness and noise… and the lack of noise… Maybe that's the point?" said Twilight Sparkle "Maybe he's driving ponies into a fear induced catatonic state… but how and why, those are the really big questions."

"Well…" said Pinkie Pie, "We won't find any answers sitting around here…"

Luna smiled. It was that particularly weary smile - one of bleary resignation. "We're going to need help."

"Help?" asked Twilight Sparkle, "From whom?"

"…If a messenger is required, I volunteer," said Mogadon. He still stood directly where his superior had ordered him to. "I have no wings, but I can run -- and I know the roads. At the very least, I could accompany Your Majesty, keep you-"

Luna smiled at him, but politely shook her head. "No, it's not them we need help from…"

"Princess Luna, if I may…" said Twilight Sparkle, "I agree not to call for aid - anypony that answered would just get caught in the storm and end up in the same place we are. But, he could at least warn them. If we go back in there, we may not get another chance to come back out."

Luna sighed. "Do what you wish. You're a princess now, you don't have to take orders from me. If you wish to warn others, than take whatever steps are necessary to warn them."

Twilight nodded. "It couldn't hurt, and it would be wise to at least get somepony to tell others what has happened. Commander Protean Joy and Sergeant Mogadon could get to the Crystal Empire in a day or two. They could warn my brother and Princess Cadence."

Protean Joy bit his lip.

"And, if I may ask, Princess, just who are you getting help from?" Twilight asked.

Luna looked at her grimly with that sour resolution. "Someone that might help if appropriately incentivized."

Twilight raised an eyebrow. "Some…'one'? An ally?"

Luna shook her head. "I wouldn't call her an ally. But she has a powerful group of followers. She lives up in space, that's why none of you can accompany me."

"'She?' Who's she?"

Luna sighed. "She's a powerful warrior named Gaea. Don't get too excited. She isn't exactly friendly or charitable… and, comparatively, she makes Discord seem quaint and approachable."

Twilight blinked. "Princess, I'm confused."

"You'll see soon enough, young Twilight Sparkle," Luna said. She spread her wings out and prepared. She looked up towards the hazy sun, then back to Twilight Sparkle. "Strange things happen to one's perception of time when traveling between here and there. What feels like twenty minutes to me will be half a day for you… maybe longer. If you venture back into Ponyville, seek shelter after a few hours. I will not be able to contact you until I return, but I will. I wouldn't want to make you sleep at the wrong time."

She bent her head down by Twilight's ear and whispered, "Don't be afraid to be the leader. Nopony can cultivate their talents like you can."

Twilight smiled. "Good luck, Princess…"

And, with that, Luna was off.

Twilight swallowed. "Spike," she said, "Take up a letter…"

"I, uh, don't have any paper…" Spike said.

"Oh, I do!!" said Pinkie Pie. She stuck her face in the sides of her saddlebag and pulled out a fresh clump of paper, a quill and ink. She set the items down near Spike, then stuck her face right back in her saddlebag. "I've also got streamers, balloons that haven't been blown up yet, red and blue icing, a pair of earmuffs, some blue ribbon that would go wonderfully with Rarity's eyes, a jar of pickles and my toothbrush!!" She pulled each item out after she said it and placed them neatly in a row in front of her. "Mommy always told me to pack a toothbrush. Dentists are terrifying!"

"Pinkie! You were supposed to pack actual supplies!" Rainbow Dash said, "Why the heck would we ever need any of those things!?"

Pinkie Pie sneered dramatically. "You never know when balloons or earmuffs or toothbrushes will come in handy. When, I say when we actually need this stuff, I'll be expecting your apology."

"Oh brother…"

"Girls!" said Twilight Sparkle, "Shush!" She turned to Spike.

"Spike, take a letter;

Dear Princess Cadence,

Something terrible has happened in Ponyville! A dark harbinger has brought a storm from the north and is infecting the citizens here with some kind of dark magic. Should this darkness be brought upon you, avoid all contact! Have your subjects stay indoors and away from any and all windows. The dark harbinger also seems to be able to sap fire, so prepare for pitch blackness.

Do not engage the dark harbinger directly. Do not touch anything that's been infected by the darkness. And, most importantly, don't send any aid here - they'll just be caught in the storm. I'm working on getting the Elements or Harmony, and Princess Luna is fetching some allies from a distant place.

Tell my brother not to worry.

-Twilight Sparkle."

Spike scribbled her words down.

"Can you send it to her with your breath?" she asked.

Spike shook his head. "That only works with Princess Celestia."

Twilight nodded. "Very well."

She turned to Mogadon. "Knight Sergeant, you volunteered as a messenger, so you will become one. Take this letter and deliver it straight to Princess Cadence in the Crystal Empire. Do not let it out of your sight until you see it in her hooves. Understood?"

Mogadon bowed. "Yes, Your Majesty."

Twilight smiled and turned away. "Knight Commander Protean Joy will accompany you," she said.

Protean Joy moved up beside Twilight Sparkle rather meekly. He opened his mouth, said nothing, then closed it again. He tried to slink off as if he hoped she wouldn't notice.

She had noticed.

"Yes?"

Protean Joy swallowed. "Might I request to accompany Your Majesty instead?" he said, "Mogadon could outrun me in his sleep, and, frankly, I believe my talents are more suitable for what you and your friends are diving into."

Twilight looked down. He made a point, but she honestly didn't really care either way.

She shrugged and looked at her friends. "How 'bout it everyone?"

"Sure!" said Pinkie Pie.

Spike smiled and nodded.

Rainbow Dash shrugged, and her face mimicked Twilight's own opinion.

"If we have to run, he's carrying me," said Rarity.

Twilight Sparkle looked back at Protean Joy, and, for the first time, felt like a member of royalty. "Request granted, Knight Commander."

Protean Joy smiled.

"Shame…" said Mogadon, "I was looking forward to watching our dear commander fade into a little spec on the horizon behind me."

"Sergeant, my feelings," Protean Joy said. He placed his hoof on Mogadon's shoulder and bore a genuinely warmhearted smile. "You're a good kid at heart, I think. You'll pull through."

Mogadon remained stoic. He shrugged. "Sir, I am merely running down a road with little to no obstacles, hazards or any kind of predators, sir. Sir,you're the one that's being placed in danger, sir."

Protean Joy laughed. "Do you have a problem with that, soldier?"

Mogadon shrugged. "Sir, I think it's an idiotic and unnecessary risk, sir."

"Well then, let's just hope for the best then. I'll see you on the other side, Sergeant."

"Sir… Sir, hope has no effect on the outcome of events, sir. And… permission to speak freely, sir?"

"Spit it out, kid!"

"Sir, 'seeing you on the other side' seems unlikely… sir."

"What? Are you going to miss me?"

Mogadon hesitated. He looked down, his face still stern, then back up. "…Most likely, sir."

Protean Joy laughed again. "Get running."

Mogadon nodded. He looked at the other ponies in the clearing and they looked back at him. "I don't know any of you and most likely I won't get the chance to. But, you know… good luck and everything." His lip stiffened and he looked down. He closed his eyes and moved his head around, like he was trying to recall which direction the Crystal Empire was. Then he faced north and opened his eyes again. He looked back at them all again, dismissively shrugged, then disappeared into the forest.

"Oh! And if you see Discord, tell him we'd like him to come back!" shouted Pinkie Pie.

They were all quiet for a bit.

Pinkie Pie frowned. "I don't think I like him."

Protean Joy shrugged. "He's like that. All head, no heart."

Pinkie Pie shook her head. "I don't think I'll miss him."

"Ladies, Spike… Joy," said Twilight Sparkle, "Here's the plan: We will head from here to Sweet Apple Acres. To my memory, it's not very far. Plus, we won't be able to travel for long before Princess Luna makes me fall asleep again, so we'll be able to rest there before certain ponies are forced to run some more…"

"…and we can look for Applejack," said Rainbow Dash.

"And we can look for Applejack," said Twilight Sparkle, "We can also get some food and some sleep. Who knows what time it is, and we need to keep our energy up. Pinkie!"

Pinkie Pie has picked up the brown book and tucked it into her saddlebag. Hearing her name seemed to startle her.

Twilight Sparkle sighed, but smiled. "Which way to Sweet Apple Acres?"

Author's Note:

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