> Ruin for Pun: the kilala97 Edition
>  by TheMessenger
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Blind Mare's Bluff
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Even after all these years, the staring made him uncomfortable. He was an oddity, something strange and different. It was a fact he was aware of since he was young, but that didn't make the stares ponies shot at him any easier to bear. Even in a town as open-minded as Ponyville, where almost everypony knew his name and face, ponies would occasionally pause from their shopping or strolling to stare at the spikes running down his back, the claws protruding out of his feet, the massive leathery wings on his back, or his long powerful tail covered in scales.

They couldn't help it. They've seen it hundreds of times by now, but the townsfolk couldn't help it. Nervous dragons make ponies nervous after all, even if Turquoise was only part dragon. It didn't help that smoke started to billow out of his nostrils as his eyes shifted side to side. 

Every so often, Turquoise would look up toward the clock tower and glare at the giant metal hands intensely. When the longer of the two beams shifted a tick, his claws dug deeper into the dirt and his jaw clenched more tightly, revealing large white fangs. More than one hungry pony glanced pitifully at the bakery door behind him, then make their way to the closest fruit or flower stand with a woeful sigh. The owners of Sugar Cube Corner, blissfully ignorant to their unintentional sentinel, stood at the cash register, utterly baffled by the lack of customers.

"Where is she?" Turquoise muttered, turning from the clock to the road. Ponies of all sorts of colors and shapes walked to and fro, making their way to the market or to their homes. Turquoise's draconic eyes glossed over them, lingering on each individual long enough to register their appearance before moving on. And as Turquoise started to stare at them anxiously, the ponies of Ponyville grew more nervous and began to trot faster.

At last, he found his target and released a breath of relief as Ponyville released one as well. He leapt to his feet and dashed toward the little peach unicorn with a yellow-green mane. Beside her stood a bulky, tan colored stallion and a dirty golden pegasus mare with her wings folded over the bars of the cart hitched to her. The stallion led a similar wagon, making it difficult for both him and the pegasus to maneuver away from the dragon-pony mix breed thundering towards them.

"T!" the little unicorn exclaimed, waving excitedly as Turquoise rushed toward her. "Wow, you must've really been looking forward to our--"

Turquoise skid to a stop. "Where were you, Annie?" he all but screamed, his ragged, wild attempts to catch his breath giving him a feral appearance. "I was so worried, I thought something happened."

The unicorn tilted her head and squinted out into the distance. "What time is it?" she asked.

"Looks like half past one," the stallion answered in slow country drawl, looking up at the clock tower. "Uh, why?"

"Oh horse apples." Anthea winced. "I'm late."

"You're never late, Annie," Turquoise said, wringing his front claws together. "Did something happen?" His voice grew higher and more frantic. "You're not hurt, are you? What's going on?"

"T, relax," the stallion said, placing a hoof on Turquoise Blitz's shoulder. "Don' need to worry so much, Anthea's perfectly fine."

"She's perfect alright," mumbled the pegasus with a frown.

"You say somethin', Starburst?"

Starburst quickly shook her head and hid her blush with a wing. "Nothing, Del."

"Well, what happened?" Turquoise asked, pulling away from Golden Delicious's grasp. Suddenly, his expression of worry was replaced with a snarl. "And why are you making her carry that?" he demanded, pointing at the wagon that was attached to her. Like the carts Golden Delicious and Starburst had, it too was full of apples, though there was an obvious reduction of barrels.

Golden Delicious tried to step back. "Well, see, Miss Fluttershy and Anthea came over for a visit, and, well, since Pa and Uncle Mac are up in Appleloosa, we figured a few extra helpin' hooves wouldn't hurt."

"So you made Annie work on your farm?" Turquoise said, his frown deepening. "What's wrong with you?"

"T, stop it!" Anthea shouted, grabbing the dragon-pony's foreleg. "Del didn't make me do anything, I wanted to help."

"You wanted--and you let her?" Turquoise exclaimed, glaring at the farmer.

"Hey, she wanted to help, I don' get what's the problem," Golden Delicious said. "And she did pretty well for her first time at apple bucking, didn't she, Star?"

Starburst bit her lip. "Yeah, I guess," she admitted begrudgingly after a moment.

"Look, T, I'm sorry I ran so late," Anthea added. "We lost track of time, but we've still got the entire day ahead of us. Just drop it, okay?"

"But it's not okay," Turquoise argued, his claws folding over into fists. "I can't believe you two, Annie could have gotten herself injured or worse."

"There ain't nowhere safer than Sweet Apple Acres," Delicious said coolly. "Besides, we were there makin' sure Annie wouldn' hurt herself, and Aunt Pinkie Pie always leaves first aid kits on the farm."

"Wait, is Mrs. Pie actually your aunt?" Starburst asked. Golden Delicious waved his hoof awkwardly in the air. 

"Eh, fourth cousin removed by a fifth cousin, or not," the farmer answered with a shrug. "Don' think anypony really knows."

"So would dating Cotton be considered--"

"Stop changing the subject!" Turquoise growled, cutting Anthea off. "S-sorry," he quickly apologized. "It's just, you shouldn't be doing that kind of work."

Anthea's grip around Turquoise's foreleg tightened. "Why shouldn't I?"

Turquoise turned to face his fillyfriend and blinked. "What?"

"Why can't I do a little farm work?" Anthea asked, her eyes narrowing. "What's wrong with helping the our friends. And besides, it turns out I'm pretty good at it. Just ask Starburst."

The golden pegasus pursed her lips. "Just keep rubbing it in, why don't you?" she murmured. 

"It's not safe--" Turquoise began.

"Del was there. Starburst was there. Mrs. Applejack was there. My mom was there," Anthea said. "What, do you really think my mom would let me do something dangerous?"

"No, but--"

"Then why, Turquoise, why?" Anthea demanded, leaning into Turquoise's face. "All I was doing was helping, what's wrong with that?"

"Nothing," said Turquoise as he tried to lean back and escape Anthea's glare. "But what about your bl--" His eyes widened in panic and quickly covered his mouth as Starburst and Golden Delicious looked away uncomfortably.

"What about my what?" Anthea hissed. "My blindness? Is that what you were going to say? That just because I can't see as well as other mares I shouldn't try to do something like farm work, like everypony else? Because it's too dangerous for a blind and delicate mare like me?"

"I just don't want you getting hurt," Turquoise shouted back. "What's wrong with that?"

"You're suffocating me, that's what's wrong!" Anthea screamed. "I'm not made of glass, and I wish you'd stop treating me like I was! Just--"

"Annie, wait!"

Turquoise's warning came to late. As Anthea pushed herself off the hybrid and made her way back to Starburst and Golden Delicious, a small ditch in the road caught a back hoof. The unicorn collapsed, and the cart behind her followed, covering the mare with fruit and wooden shards. Everypony rushed toward her, brushing apples and splinters off her. As Anthea slowly crawled back onto her feet, Turquoise extended a claw, reaching for the unicorn's hoof.

"Are you alright?" he asked as he pulled Anthea up. She nodded, but quickly pulled away, placing her hoof over the front of her foreleg. Turquoise took a step back and stared down at the claw that had momentarily held Anthea's hoof. His eyes started to moisten, and he furiously shook his head. His claw closed into a fist, then opened, and he took a deep breath. "Annie..." he began.

Anthea turned away. The rest of Turquoise's plea went unspoken as his jaw slackened, and his mouth hung open. He let his eyes fall to where Anthea held her hoof and gasped at the stream of red trickled past the pressed hoof and down the limb. 

"You're bleeding!" he cried out. He stumbled backwards and began to sway.

"Whoa, nelly." Golden Delicious ran to Turquoise's side, grunting as the larger stallion fell against him. Anthea pressed harder against the leg.

"It's nothing, T," the unicorn insisted. 

"Nothing?" Turquoise's eyes flew open. "How can you say that? You're bleeding! You can't--"

"It's just a stupid scratch!" Anthea shouted, dropping her hoof and revealing the wound. Blood oozed freely from the gashes, no longer dammed, and Turquoise's started to wobble, forcing him to lean against Golden Delicious for support. "Just, you're always like this, overreacting to every little thing I do. I-I'm can't stand it anymore! I'm going home." 

Anthea ran, pushing past Turquoise and Golden Delicious and forcing Starburst to leap out of her way. "Annie, wait!" Turquoise shouted. He started toward her, only to slip and crash as a stray apple rolled underneath his foot. Turquoise Blitz looked up just in time to hear Starburst click her tongue in annoyance and take off after the fleeing mare. 

"You okay, partner?" Golden asked as he helped Turquoise up. Even with all the earth pony's impressive muscle build, he still struggled to lift the reluctant half-dragon.

"I think so," Turquoise said quietly. He stared past the shops and houses, past the edge of town, to where Fluttershy's cottage stood. He moved forward, toward that direction. 

Golden Delicious stopped him, placing a hoof against his chest. "Where're you think you're headed?"

"Where do you think?" Turquoise growled. "I need to make sure Annie's alright."

"You really think she wants to see you right now?"

Turquoise spun around and opened his mouth to argue, but no protest came forth. His wings folded back against his back, and his shoulders sagged. Golden Delicious's expression softened as his friend covered his face with his claws, and he draped his foreleg over the hybrid's neck.

"Hey, hey, it'll be alright," Golden said. "Just looks like the two of you need a little space."

"She's breaking up with me."

"Nah, no she ain't," the farmer assured, patting Turquoise's back carefully to avoid the spikes. "She wouldn't do that, she just needs some space, just like you. Here," Golden Delicious said, peeling away Turquoise's claws from his face, then guiding him to cart Starburst abandoned. "I need some help gettin' these apples to Princess Twilight, think I can rely on you?"

Turquoise nodded slowly, bending down so Golden could hitch the cart to his back. Once the wagon was in place, the earth pony walked to the remains of Anthea's cart and began sorting out the discarded fruit. Turquoise winced as Golden came across the apple he had tripped on, leaving a dark, ugly bruise on it's side. 

"Sorry."

"Don' worry 'bout it," Golden Delicious said with a smile before dumping the salvageable apples into the cart. "We'll have to clean up the rest when we get back," he added, pointing at the wreckage. Again, Turquoise cringed before following Golden to the castle.

The trip went silently, without a word spoken between the two stallions. The rest of town, however, was as chipper and as loud as it could be, as if to make up for the somber mood. Mares gossiped and giggled around cafe tables covered with iced drinks while stallions guffawed and joked in front of stores. Children cheered as they swarmed ice cream stands and Sugar Cube Corner. Pegasi chatted above on low hanging clouds to ponies sticking their heads out of second story windows. Busy ponies ran by, barely wasting enough time to greet Turquoise and Golden Delicious and receive a hello in return before disappearing off. 

The two stopped and waited for a group of fillies and colts playing a game to pass by. Turquoise watched as a laughing filly wearing a bandana over her eyes chased after the rest of the screaming group.

"Nothing like a game of tag, huh?" Golden said, following Turquoise's grin. He wore a grin brimming with nostalgia. "Course, never really got the deal about the blindfold."

Turquoise turned away. "Wouldn't know," he said, "I don't think I've ever played."

"Seriously?"

"Heh," laughed Turquoise humorlessly, "or more like, I was always playing, but nopony bothered telling me I was It. Everypony just ran."

"Oh." Golden Delicious bit his lip. "Sorry to hear that."

"It's fine, that was a while ago. I don't know why I brought it up, I'm sorry."

"That's okay. Maybe we should get a little get together," Golden suggested, "have a few rounds of tag in the fields."

"Aren't we a little old for that?"

"Maybe," Golden Delicious conceded with a little smile, but he said nothing else, letting silence settle back between the two comfortably. The castle's crystal spire grew larger as they drew closer.

"I'm sorry," Turquoise suddenly said after a few minutes. His pace had slowed and shortened, and he had fallen behind.

"What for?" Golden asked, stopping to wait for the lagging half-dragon.

"I didn't mean to make it sound like Sweet Apple Acres wasn't safe, I was just worried." Turquoise sighed. "I didn't mean to been so suffocating. She probably hates me now."

"Annie wouldn' hate anypony over somethin' like this, least of all you," Golden Delicious insisted. Turquoise had finally managed to catch up, and Golden slowed his own pace to match Turquoise's. "Y'know, I don' think you've every made such a big deal about Annie's blindness before. Why now?"

"It's just..." Turquoise took a deep breath. "I want to be a better coltfriend," he said, "one she really deserves. I spent a night with her old friends while she went out with Miss Amber, and Hot Head said some things that made me think." Turquoise rubbed the front of his foreleg. "It's bad enough I'm not normal, but I can't even treat her right. Sometimes I even forget she's blind and say the most insensitive things."

"T, Annie's always tellin' us not to treat her differently," Golden Delicious said. 

"But I'm her coltfriend, I'm supposed to treat her special, aren't I?" Turquoise asked, his voice cracking near the end. "Aren't I?" he repeated, this time in a whisper. 

"Yeah, but are you treatin' her special 'cause she's blind or 'cause you love her?" When Turquoise said nothing, Golden continued, saying, "You know Anthea. You know she don' care that you're not normal. You know she hates all that pity stuff ponies throw at her, an' how she feels 'bout that special prank immunity Prism and Cotton Candy give her. And Annie's right, she's no delicate flower, she can take care of herself."

The castle doors were now in sight, with Princess Twilight herself waiting at the gates. "What do I do then?" Turquoise asked desperately. "I don't know if I can go back to treating her the way I used to."

"And I ain't tellin' you to," Golden Delicious replied. "You gotta move forward, T."

"How?"

"Dunno," Golden Delicious admitted with a rueful shrug, "but you and Annie are some of the smartest ponies I know, I'm sure the two of you'll figure it." And with those final words, the farmer moved ahead, leaving Turquoise behind to think. 

Golden's lead lasted a good few seconds before Turquoise caught up and overtook him.


*


Anthea glared angrily at the red blur in front of her. The hard ground she sat on stung her bottom, and the wound on her foreleg began to itch, but Anthea refused to move from her position. She continued to stare at the blur, daring it to blink with its nonexistent eyes. With all her attention on the blur, she failed to notice the pegasus following her until she heard her land in the grass beside her.

"So, are you going to open the door or is this some sort of spell my mom taught you?" Starburst asked as she walked to the unicorn's side.

"I didn't bring my key," Anthea grumbled. "I figured Mom would be home by the time I finished my date with Turquoise, but, well, you know."

"Your mom doesn't like the kind of pony who locks her doors."

"She's not stupid," Anthea said, frowning.

"I didn't say she was. I just figured having half a dozen snakes, a flock of raptors, and a couple of bears around would provide enough security," Starburst said as she took a seat in the dirt next to Anthea. "Not to mention everypony knows Miss Fluttershy's got friends in high places." She gestured to the large sign next to the mailbox, which had the image of a draconquus looking through a pair of binoculars standing over over the phrase, in big bold letters, 'Under the Protection of Discord and the Royalty of Equestria, but mostly Discord. No soliciting!'.

"Yeah, well, better safe than sorry, I guess." Anthea sighed. "Why'd you follow me?"

"Hmm, let's see, one of my friends just ran out of town with tears streaming out of her eyes. What exactly was I supposed to do?"

"I didn't cry!" Anthea snapped, wiping her eyes furiously with the back of her leg. She took a calming breath, and exhaled deeply. "Del didn't send you?" she asked after a moment of silence.

"No," Starburst said. She lifted a hesitant hoof and rested it awkwardly on Anthea's shoulder. "I, I wanted to make sure you were alright. You actually kind of scared me back there."

"Really?" Anthea exclaimed, turning in surprise. "You?"

"Kind of," Starburst emphasized. "I mean, when was the last time you actually shouted at Turquoise? Hay, when was the last time you raised your voice at anypony?"

"Well, there was, uh, there was, when..." Anthea struggled for a long minute before giving up with a shrug. "I can't remember."

"See, you never shout. You never really get angry, and you're not supposed to. I mean, you're the pony that calms everypony else down when we get too emotional." Starburst shook her head and shivered. "Seeing you scream like that, it was weird."

"Huh, I guess it be like hearing Prism apologize or seeing Prism admit somepony's better than him or watching Prism hold a steady relationship."

"Exactly, completely surreal," Starburst agreed, nodding her head. "Or like watching Turquoise treat you poorly."

"I--" Anthea lowered her gaze and pawed at the ground. "Yeah, surreal."

"You want to, I don't know..." Starburst cringed. "You want to talk about it?"

"How? All the ice cream's inside," joked Anthea.

"Forget the ice cream, the chocolate, the tissues, whatever constitutes as girl talk," Starburst said. "Let's just have a simple, straight forward, honest-to-heaven one-on-one talk. I-I mean, if you want," she quickly added. "Just, I just want to make sure you're going to be okay."

"What do you want to talk about?" Anthea asked quietly as she dug at the ground.

"Well first off, what are you going to do about that?" Starburst pointed at the scratches on Anthea's leg. "It doesn't look that bad, but you've got some disinfectant anywhere? Better safe than sorry, right?"

"Inside," Anthea answered with a frown. "It's fine, don't you start freaking out over it too."

"Does it look like I'm freaking out?" Starburst challenged. She lifted the afflicted leg and examined the wound closely. "Did you at least wash it out?"

"Yeah, with the hose."

"Then I guess that'll have to do for now," Starburst said, setting the limb down carefully. "So, what happened back there? I could probably count all the times you and Turquoise fought on one hoof. You're like, the perfect couple. What in Equestria happened?"

"We're not. Not perfect, I mean," Anthea said. She reached over to rub against her wound, only for Starburst to smack the hoof away.

"Quit touching it," she ordered.

"Sorry. Anyways, we're not perfect. We're too dependent on each other. You heard about how we separated for little while?"

"Vaguely, I thought it was just a rumor when I heard so I didn't really pay much attention to it," Starburst admitted.

"Yeah, well, it didn't take too long before we got back together." Anthea drew a crude heart symbol in the dirt. "It was pitiful. I missed my T so badly, so desperately needed him by my side, I couldn't last even a couple of days alone on my own." More hearts joined the first. 

"Is this what this is all about, becoming independent?" Starburst asked. Immediately, Anthea shook her head.

"I don't mind being so dependent toward Turquoise, even if it hurts when he's not around. That's not the problem, though I probably sound really pathetic right now," she admitted with a mirthless giggle.

"Maybe, if I didn't know how pathetic Turquoise is without you either. It's like the two of you were destined to be hopelessly together, together," Starburst said, rolling her eyes. "Okay, so what is the problem?"

"Turquoise, he's been treating me differently lately. The whole scene in town? He's been acting like that for a while now."

"Hasn't he always been sort of protective toward you?" Starburst observed.

"Not like that. If he was just being protective, like before, I wouldn't have mind. I like it when he's protective, but this isn't it."

"I don't get it."

"Before, T would get worried when I'd go out, offer to go with me, ask me if I needed any help, but that was it." Anthea explained. "If I said no, he'd stay and wait for me to get back. He never made a big fuss about it, just sound adorably anxious." The smile she wore vanished, and she rubbed out the hearts drawn in the dirt, one by one. "But nowadays, he panics instead of worries," Anthea said. "He won't let me do anything at all unless I'm with him, and it's suffocating. It's like he doesn't trust me anymore, and I hate it."

"I thought you said it hurt when the two of you were separated," Starburst said. "Why does having him around all the time bother you now?"

"It's complicated. I love T, but I still need my space, you know? I mean, you wouldn't want to spend all your time with your mom, but could you imagine life without her?"

Starburst frowned, and her wings quivered uncomfortably. "I guess," she said, scratching the back of her neck. Life with her mother wasn't easy; Princess Twilight Sparkle was an intellectual, she was an athlete, and so it was often difficult for the two to connect. But life without the bookish alicorn watching over her? Starburst shuddered at the thought. "Okay, so sometimes you need a little space, have you tried telling Turquoise?"

Anthea lowered her head. "No," she murmured.

"What was that?"

"No," Anthea said more clearly. "I know, I know, first step to any relationship is communication, but I'm, well, afraid. What happens after I tell him how I really feel? I don't know how T'll react."

"Annie, this is Turquoise we're talking about," Starburst said. "You really think he'll do something that'll hurt you?"

Anthea shook her head. "Of course not. I know he would never do anything like that, but I don't want to hurt his feelings. What if he starts think I don't appreciate him anymore, or that I stopped loving him? You know I don't always say the right things at the right times, what if what I say just makes things worse?"

"Well, it's a little late to worry about that," said Starburst. "I'd say it'd be pretty hard to top what you did back in town."

"Ngh." Anthea brought her hooves up to her face and groaned. "What am I going to do? T's probably so upset right now, and it's all my fault. Just, argh, what I am supposed to do now?"

"Are you seriously asking me?"

"Yeah, I'm that desperate."

Starburst winced. "Ow, harsh thing to say to somepony trying to help."

"Sorry, but you were thinking it too," Anthea said, dropping her hooves back to the ground. 

"All you really can do is talk to him," said Starburst. "You know, explain how you feel and stuff."

"You were the one saying it's already too late," Anthea said with a sigh. "T knows how I feel, half of Ponyville probably does."

"Yeah, but T's a stallion, and like most stallions he's kind of slow. He probably just thinks you hate him or something stupid like that." Starburst shook her head. "You have to set him straight," she commanded, poking Anthea in the center of her chest. "Make sure he really gets what's going on, alright?"

"But, I mean, do you really think I can do that?" asked Anthea. "I don't want to end up making things even more awkward between us."

"You can't avoid Turquoise forever, you know. Or do you really want to break up with him?"

"What, no!" Anthea exclaimed, leaning forward and forcing Starburst to step back. "Of course I don't want us to separate, but I just, I don't know if--"

"Oh, stop it with the lack of self-confidence," Starburst nearly shouted, throwing her hooves up in frustration. She took a quick calming breath. "Just, look, take a little time to figure out what you want say first. You two need a little space from each other anyways, but stop worrying so much. It's just a small misunderstanding, and the sooner you explain this to Turquoise, the sooner we can get on with our lives. You free tomorrow?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Stop by Sweet Apple Acres in the morning. Maybe a nice long workout'll help you sort this out."

"You and Del won't mind?" Anthea asked uncertainly. "Isn't that a thing between you two?"

"Del won't mind the company, and as long as you don't get in the way of my training, I won't either." Starburst looked up at the sun and frowned. "I should probably get going, Night Light'll be home soon. Get that wound checked, alright?"

"Yeah, I'll deal with, don't worry about it." Anthea brushed back her mane out of her face and smiled. "Thanks, Starburst. See you tomorrow?"

"See you tomorrow," Starburst said, giving the unicorn a quick wave before taking off. Anthea watched the faint yellow blur disappear into the sea of blue above her head.


*


Anthea gently shut the cottage door behind her. She breathed deeply, taking in the cool morning air. Chirps from the many birdhouses that guarded the path to Fluttershy's house greeted her as she passed, and she giggled as a few robins flew over and perched on her back.

"Good morning," Anthea said cheerfully. The birds sang in reply before flying off, and she hummed a little harmony to match the robins. 

Her chipper mood slowly faded once she reached the familiar trail to the apple farm. Memories from the previous day creeped into focus as she considered Starburst's advice. The pegasus was right, she had to make things right with Turquoise, it was all a matter of how. Perhaps Starburst had inherited some of her mother's wisdom, Anthea thought as she reached out and felt the fence that ran around the Apple family's property; maybe a few hours of laborious farm work would help her figure out what she needed to say.

She heard the chatter of ponies, and smiled. The sounds of ponies speaking, the stronger fragrance of apples, the shift in wood texture of the fence, from a rougher, dustier feel to a more polished touch, all told her as much about her proximity to Sweet Apple Acres as reading a road sign would have.

She could see Starburst, or at least the yellow blur Anthea recognized as her friend, standing by the front gate. As she drew near, she waved and called out the pegasus's name. Starburst rolled her eyes and lifted her own hoof, waving it in response.

"You didn't have to wait for me," Anthea said when she had reached Starburst's side.

"Just wanted to make sure you were okay," Starburst explained, looking down at the bandage covering Anthea's leg. "You sure you're going to be able to work on that?"

"I told you, it's fine," the unicorn assured. She flexed the limb playfully. "See? No problem."

"If you say so," Starburst turned toward the center of the farm and started forward. "Come on," she said, motioning with her head, "Del needs some help harvesting the south side."

"Why isn't June helping out?" Anthea asked, trotting to keep up. "I thought the south side was her area."

"No, she's got the, uh..." Starburst bit her lip. "I can't remember which part she's got for her cherries but it's not the south. And she is helping, just somewhere else on the farm, something specialized, I think." Starburst shrugged. "Del wasn't very clear about the details."

"Okay, but there's lunch right? It's been a while since...I..." 

The hoofsteps following Starburst grew silent. Starburst looked behind her and frowned as she noticed that Anthea had suddenly stopped in her tracks. "What's wrong?" she asked, following, the unicorn's gaze. "Oh." 

Golden Delicious stood in the distance, giving the tree closest to him a solid kick with his hind legs. Apples rained out of the branches and into the baskets waiting below. Golden raised his head and grinned, waving at his workout partner. His smile vanished, replaced with the same wince Starburst wore as he saw Anthea behind her. 

Anthea watched as the green blur approached the large yellow one near the trees. "Hey, Del?" it said. "I got more baskets, where do you--"

The baskets in Turquoise's forelegs slipped out of his grasp as his eyes found Anthea. The dragon-pony bit his lip and quickly looked away. Anthea, however, continued to stare at the green blur with her mouth gaping open. "T..."

"I-I should go," Turquoise said to Golden Delicious, keeping his head low. "I can't stay, not after what happened yesterday."

"T, you can't just avoid her if you wanna fix all this," Golden argued. 

"I'm not ready," Anthea said, shaking her head. "I can't face him now, not after everything that happened yesterday."

"We talked about this," Starburst hissed. "You two want to fix this? Then you've got to set him straight and explain what happened."

"You believe in destiny, T?" Golden Delicious asked. 

"Why?"

"Kinda curious that the two of you happened to bump into each other here. Maybe this is the perfect chance to make things right, yeah?"

"Did you plan this?" Anthea whispered, pressing her lips together. 

"Don't be ridiculous," Starburst scoffed. "You know I'm not that kind of pony. I had no idea T was going to be here too, but come on, does that really matter? Some divine power or freak show of luck just gave you the perfect opportunity to fix things with Turquoise, are you really just going to let it slip away?"

"I don't, I mean..." Anthea and Turquoise took a breath. Turquoise risked a quick glance toward the mare in the distance. He turned away quickly, avoiding Anthea's gaze. "I want to fix things, but I'm afraid--"

"--of making things worse," Anthea murmured. "What if--"

"--I say the wrong things?" Turquoise asked, clawing into the soil. "What if I just end up--"

"--pushing him away even further?"

"So you're just going to give up?" Starburst scowled. "Fine," she huffed, waving her hoof dismissively. "You can go home. I've got things to do anyways." Starburst marched toward the trees, where Turquoise and Golden Delicious stood, turning her back to Anthea. Her ears twitched at the sounds of hoofstomps from behind coming towards her, and she hid a smile. "Decided to stay?"

"I-I want to make things right," Anthea said softly. "I don't know if I can but I have to at least try. I can't lose him, not like this. I have to make him understand. I need--oof!"

Anthea grunted as she walked into something hard. As she tumbled back, something latched onto her shoulders, keeping her from falling. When she opened her eyes, Anthea found herself before a massive green wall that flinched as she ran her hoof along its smooth, cold scaly surface. 

The hold on her shoulders relaxed and released. "S-sorry," Anthea heard Turquoise mutter, though he did not move away.

"T..."

"Well, ain't this wonderful?" Golden Delicious declared, smiling broadly. "Heck, with this many hooves on deck, we might finish the entire harvest 'fore lunch."

"R-right," Turquoise agreed quickly, clearing his throat as he finally took a step away from Anthea. "I'll grab more baskets!"

Starburst stared at the mess of baskets scattered all across the orchard. There were at least three under every fruit bearing tree. "I think we have enough," she said dryly.

"Why don' you and Anthea take care of these ones over here while me and Star deal with the other half over yonder?" Golden suggested, gesturing as he spoke. "Then, once this part of the orchard's finished, we can move to the next."

"Wait," Starburst began, "why--"

"Sound good to me," Anthea said. "What about you, T?"

"Huh? Oh!" Turquoise shook himself and nodded. "Yeah, that's fine, if everypony else is okay with it."

"Alrighty then, holler if you need something," Golden Delicious said. "Come on, Star, let's get to work." 

"Why'd you have Annie and Turquoise work together in that section?" Starburst grumbled as she followed Golden to the area he had assigned them.

"I figured that'd give them a chance to make up," Golden answered, giving his partner a confused look. "Why? Don' tell me you think those two should separate."

"What, no, I get trying to get them to talk to each other, that I'm all for. I just wish we could have stayed in that part of the orchard," Starburst explained. She stopped, spun around, and kicked her hind legs out and against the closest tree. Apples dropped like stones, filling the containers below almost instantly. "You know those trees over there have the thickest trunks. I was really looking forward to a decent workout."

Golden Delicious closed his gaping mouth and chuckled. "Sorry, but I don' think any of my trees besides the thickest would survive Turquoise's help. Don' worry, there's plenty of work to do, I'm sure you'll get something out of it," Golden assured.

Starburst struck the base of the next tree, forcing the stallion to duck down and protect his head from the falling apples. "You think everything'll work things out between those two?" she asked.

"You mean between T and Annie? Yeah," Golden Delicious answered with a nod. "I'd think so. Why, you worried?"

"A little, I suppose," Starburst said, frowning. "I care about my friends, you know."

"Yeah, I know," Golden Delicious said. "Never would've expected you to invite her here though, 'specially after all the complaining you did yesterday 'bout her gettin' in your way of your training."

Starburst hid her blush as she slammed her back hooves against a tree's trunk a third time, showering Golden with apples. The farmer laughed as he picked himself up. Slowly, hesitantly, Starburst's smile grew until she joined in. The laughter echoed through the farm, carried by a gentle breeze.

"Sounds like they're having fun," Anthea said, picking up a few stray apples off the ground with her magic.

"Sure sounds like it," Turquoise said as he leaned against a tree and looked up toward the leaves above. Carefully, he rocked the trunk back and forth, shaking the last few apples stubbornly clinging to their branches. He moved to the next tree, this time flying up until he was eye level to the apples, then pulling them free and dropping them into the bins below.

Suddenly, the entire tree trembled violent, releasing its fruit by the dozens. Turquoise looked down in time to see Anthea pull her hooves away from the hard trunk. "It'll take forever if you just pick them out, you know," she said, looking up at Turquoise. "That's what you were doing, right?" Anthea added with her head slightly crooked to the side. 

Turquoise retrieved the few remaining ones and landed. "Yeah," he said as he deposited them with the rest. "But this way, I can avoid damaging the trees."

Anthea giggled. "That's so you!"

"What is?" Turquoise asked with a small confused frown.

"Not wanting to hurt anything, even if it's just a tree."

"Don't let Mrs. Applejack hear you," Turquoise warned, shifting his eyes side to side as if scanning the area for an orange mare in a large wide brimmed hat. He grinned. "She treats these trees like her babies."

"Wow, poor Del." 

Now Anthea and Turquoise Blitz shared a laugh, a short, quiet snicker followed by a few excruciating seconds of silence that Turquoise thankfully broke by saying, "We should get back to work. There's a lot of apples here we have to harvest."

"Right," Anthea said, though she dragged her feet through the dirt on the way to the next tree. Once she reached the tree, she extended her forelegs and carefully maneuvered around the many baskets. Anthea leaned forward slowly, mentally measuring the distance between her and the trunk. When she was certain of her position, Anthea turned around, bent her hind legs, and snapped them out, hitting the base of the tree with a hard thunk. She then retreated, pulling her legs back toward her, and listened to the soft thuds the apples made as they struck the floor of the basket and each other. 

A second two legged back kick swiftly followed, persuading the tree to yield a few more apples. The mare shook her legs, hopping from one side to the next, then moved on to the next tree. Loud and heavy beats filled the air, Anthea's as well as Starburst's reckless ones and Golden Delicious's slow and deliberate ones, tempered by experience.

"Did Del teach you how to apple buck?" Turquoise asked.

"Hmm?" Anthea wiped her sweaty brow. "Oh, yeah. It's a lot harder than I thought it was, but Del's a pretty good teacher."

"Hmm," hummed Turquoise before returning to his own work. Soon, thuds and thunks were all that kept complete silence away. Between strikes, Anthea would look up and stare at the green shapes above, never certain if Turquoise stared back. As her hind legs slowly tired and became sore, so did her neck. Anthea tried to shrug her exhaustion off, but the growing pain in her thighs reminder her of Golden Delicious's warnings and instructions. It was time for a break, she decided.

Anthea stretched her legs, keeping them extended as she laid down on the grass.  She groaned, rubbing her legs together to relieve their soreness. Closing her eyes, Anthea lifted her head toward the direction of the sun and smiled as the sun beamed back. Suddenly, a shadow fell over her, cutting off the warm rays. When Anthea opened her eyes, she saw a large green figure stood over her.

"Are you, are you alright?" Turquoise asked hesitantly, raising a claw. He started to extend the appendage toward the laying unicorn, only to stop himself and force the claw back to into the dirt. "S-sorry, I--"

Turquoise stumbled back as Anthea suddenly leapt forward, latching herself to his foreleg. "I'm the one who should be apologizing," she said, avoiding Turquoise's gaze. "I shouldn't have shouted at you like that yesterday. I know you were just worried, but even if that bothered me, I shouldn't have just, you know. I should have explained myself."

Anthea pressed her head against the hybrid's shoulder and sighed. This was how yesterday should have ended. "T, do you think I'm helpless?"

"Helpless?" Turquoise repeated. "No, of course not. I mean, you're talented and amazing at magic." He turned to the trees around him, stripped of their fruit. "And apparently a pretty decent apple farmer."

"Then why do you treat me like I can't do anything on my own now " Anthea asked. "What changed? What was wrong with the way you used to treat me?"

Turquoise lowered his head. "I'm sorry," he said. "I just, I wanted to show you how much I cared, how much you meant, mean to me." He timidly brushed the unicorn's mane out of her face. "I wanted to treat you right."

Just as the claw started to withdraw, Anthea grabbed hold of it, pressing it against her cheek. "You were," she said. "You've always treated me like your fillyfriend before, and that always made me happy. But now," Anthea began, frowning, "now you just treat me like some blind mare that trips over her own feet."

"I'm sorry."

"Can, can we go back to how we were before?" Anthea pleaded, her grip around Turquoise's foreleg tightening. "You know, when you'd sometimes forget and tell me how beautiful you thought something was? When you treated me like any other pony? Can we go back to that, please?"

She might not have been able to see his eyes look away, but she saw Turquoise's head turn from her. "I don't think I can," he answered heavily. "Treat you like any other pony, I mean. You're special to me."

"Special how? As in special somepony special, or..." Anthea left the rest of the sentence unsaid, but Turquoise winced all the same.

"Both, I guess," he said with reluctant honesty. "I love being your special somepony, but I can't just forget about your blindness, and when I think about you now, I just, well, worry."

"I'm not helpless, you said it yourself."

"I know, I know, but I can't help it," Turquoise groaned, grabbing at his mane. "I don't want to be way either. I hate having this nagging feeling every time you're not around. I had to keep myself from rushing to your side this entire time. It hurts, and it's hurting you, but I don't know what to do!" Turquoise covered his face with his claws. Anthea reached out and gently rubbed his shoulder. 

"I'm acting a lot like your mom, aren't I?" laughed Turquoise bitterly before sighing. "You don't want to date your mom, I'd understand if you didn't want to, you know, be with me anymore."

"I want to keep dating you, T," Anthea asserted firmly. "Maybe, maybe I just need to prove it to you."

Turquoise lifted his head. "Prove what?"

"That I'm not a weak blind filly that can't do anything," Anthea answered. "Maybe if I show you how capable I am, you'll think differently. I mean, you say you know I'm not helpless, but maybe you don't actually know know, you know?"

"I guess?" Turquoise said, scratching his head. "How?"

"Well, I could, uh..." The unicorn got up and began to pace. She could feel Turquoise's stares as she walked back and forth in front of him. She stumbled over a stray apple, and as she regained her footing, she heard the dragon-pony hiss and rise. When Anthea turned toward him, Turquoise immediately sat himself.

A faint glow lit around the apple, and it floated before Anthea's nose. "A contest," she said. "We'll have a contest. T!" Anthea shouted.

"Y-yes?" 

Anthea turned to the source of the unconfident reply. "I challenge you to an apple bucking competition," she declared. "Whoever collects the most apples wins. And none of that fruit picking stuff," Anthea added, shaking her head. "Only bucking, so no flying."

"A competition?" Turquoise frowned. "Annie, is that really a good idea? I don't--"

"Please, T," Anthea said, trying not to beg. "Let me show you what I can do. Unless..." She took a deep breath. Her thoughts turned to Prism Bolt, as if to try and channel the cocky flyer's overconfidence. "Unless, of course, you're afraid of losing," Anthea said. Something in the smirk she wore sent a chill down Turquoise's spine, and he stepped backwards. 

"I'm not afraid of losing, I just don't--"

"Oh, so you think you've got this in the bag, huh?" Anthea snorted. "Come on, tough guy, I'll beat you with my eyes closed."

"But you're, I mean, I-I'm, what?" Turquoise sputtered. Anthea stifled a giggle as Turquoise shook himself and restored his composure. "What happens to the winner?" he asked cautiously.

"Worry about winning first," Anthea answered. She stretched out and kicked the air experimentally. "Alright, and remember, you have to apple buck, alright?"

"Yeah, I'll try." Turquoise said, rubbing the back of his neck. 

"And you'd better not let me win," the unicorn warned with a glare. "I mean it, T."

"Okay, I'll do my best."

"Your best to not let me win, or your best to try and win?" Anthea asked.

"T-the second?" Turquoise said with little certainty. "Aren't they the same thing?

"Best not to..." Anthea muttered. "Oh yeah, kind of." She quickly cleared her throat. "Okay, whatever," she said, lowering herself into a crouch. Turquoise did the same. "On go. Ready?"

"Ready," Turquoise answered.

"Alright, three!" Anthea yelled. "Two, go!" And with that she was off to the first tree.

"Hey!" Turquoise exclaimed, running toward her. "Wait, that's not fair!"

"You said you were ready," Anthea laughed as the baskets underneath the first tree swiftly filled. She gave the tree a couple more solid hits, listening for the soft thuds the apples made when they hit the ground, before running to the next tree. 

Anthea had just reached the base of her third by the time Turquoise had finally forced himself to move to his first. He looked up at the burden branches above and frowned. It had been a while since he had last tried to apple buck, and it had taken him so long to figure out just how much he had to hold back. After being out of practice so long, Turquoise wasn't sure he could control himself. Memories of toppled trees, jagged stumps, and a gaping Applejack sent him shuddering.

"Maybe I should try helping around here more often," Turquoise murmured to himself. "So I don't forget." 

Carefully, he patted the tree's trunk, running his claws against it. He pressed them into the bark, digging the tips of his claws into the wood. It was thick, sturdy, powerful. Turquoise dared say it could handle a few bucks from a dragon. Well, a half-dragon anyways, Turquoise amended as he pulled back one of his hind legs and kicked through the air. He frowned, his lack of experience demonstrated by his poor technique. He tried again, and then again, until finally he recognized the feel of a proper buck. 

Turquoise took a deep breath and looked back at his tree. "Okay," he whispered, kicking the air once more. "Remember, breath in." Turquoise inhaled, his chest puffed out and his raised leg tense. "Then, release!" 

The clawed hoof shot forward and struck with a loud thunk. Turquoise opened his eyes and looked down toward the baskets, at the single apple he succeeded in knocking down. He blinked, then shifted the baskets around, looking for any fruit that might have fallen behind. The ground was just as bare as the baskets, and a quick glance up into the leaves confirmed his failure, to which Turquoise answered with a growl.

He took a few more practice bucks, this time with more force behind the kicks. The air whistled shrilly as Turquoise's leg cut through the air, and he grimaced. The strikes slowed, with reduced force and more control behind them. "Alright," he muttered, positioning himself. "Breath in, and release!"

The entire tree shuddered as Turquoise's back hoof made contact with its trunk, and for a heart-stopping second, he thought he heard the sound of splintering wood. Leaves and loose twigs rained down, making little nests in Turquoise's mane, and he could hear the soft thuds of apples fall into baskets and into the grass. Slowly, he turned around and sighed in relief at the sight of the still-standing tree. His claws had left a small imprint in the bark, but there was no sign of lasting damage. Success, he thought to himself, allowing a large grin to spread across his face as he turned and prepared himself to gather any apples that failed to land in the basket.

Instead, he found Anthea with her horn lit. Apples flew off the ground and out of his baskets and into the ones Anthea carried on her back. "Annie," Turquoise said lowly, and suddenly the apples fell back to earth. "Are you, cheating?"

Anthea ran, keeping a sturdy magical hold on her baskets. She could hear Turquoise's thundering hoofsteps as he chased after her. His wings opened and flapped noisily, building up his momentum.

"Hey, we said no flying!" shrieked Anthea as she ducked behind a tree and maneuvered around it by the feel of her hooves. 

"I'm not flying!" Turquoise laughed, trying to circle around the giggling unicorn. "Come on, give me back my apples."

"Nuh uh." Anthea spun around and bucked with all the might she could muster. The miniature hailstorm of apples wasn't enough to bury or trap the half-dragon, but it was enough to delay him. By the time Turquoise lowered his forelimbs that he used to shield his head, Anthea had escaped to the next tree.

"Anthea, get back here!" he exclaimed as he followed her, only to be showered again by apples. As the two danced from tree to tree, neither noticed Golden Delicious or Starburst approach.

Starburst scowled as she set down the bushel she carried. "Well, so much for finishing this before lunch," she said, looking up into the sky.

"That's okay," said Del as he too placed his baskets aside before sitting down in the grass. "Least those two look happier."

Starburst sat down besides him. "You sure you're alright with them slacking off like this?" she asked. Golden Delicious shrugged.

"Look at 'em, Anthea's still gettin' them apples down. Bit sloppy, sure, but they're still gettin' work done. Don' worry, we'll still finish early," Golden Delicious declared. "Work's important an' all, but ain't nothin' wrong with a short game of blind mare's buff."
> Releasing Regrets
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Even for a private library, the place felt unnerving quiet. Night Light shivered for perhaps the tenth time that hour, despite the lack of wind or chill. He fought the urge to turn around and scan the room, past all the shelves and curtains. There wasn't anypony else in here, Night Light knew that, and still he felt uncomfortable, as if he was being observed by hidden and intrusive eyes. The busts of historic figures decorating the paths through the shelves did nothing to alleviate his anxiety. They stared at him with their white, lifeless eyes, like guardians glaring at an unwanted intruder.

How ridiculous, Night Light told himself. He had every right to be here. It was his home after all, since his birth. This was his library, and these were his books. Night suddenly winced at the thought and sighed. No, that simply wasn't true, at least in his mind. This massive collections of tomes, filled with literature from every field, magically and mundane, was still hers. 

But here he was, rifling through stacks of them like they were his to toss around. Two crates sat by his side, one labeled KEEP, the other marked DONATE, both swiftly running out of space. Night Light paused to clean his spectacles against the collar of his dress shirt before cracking open the next book. Oh, he recognized this one, a independently published collection of amateur short stories written by somepony under the pseudonym Radical Danger.

"Maybe Icy or Prism'll want it," Night Light muttered, setting the book to the side. He moved to the next but hesitated after seeing the title. It was a rudimentary magic instruction manual, several years out of date. As he slowly turned to the table of contents, memories of the hours he and his mother poured into this tome flooded his vision, forcing Night Light to blink away the water in his eyes. The book immediately went into the DONATE box. 

The library door suddenly creaked open. Night Light turned to the entrance, surprised that somepony besides him dared to enter. Spike perhaps, or the princesses, ponies that belonged here, more so than he. His curiosity cooled as a yellow pegasus mare barged in, her hoofsteps echoing against the crystal floor. Seeing that the unicorn had noticed her, she started to raise a hoof to wave, but Night Light had already turned back around, reaching for the next book.

Night tried to focus on the text in front of him, to gauge damage and usability, to ignore the maddening clicks that drew closer. His hooves began to shake as the steps grew louder and louder. His hold on the book tightened, threatening to crumble the page. The words in front of him danced into a blur, and he quickly rubbed his eyes to clear them. 

"Hey."

Night Light bit his tongue, forcing himself silent. Why was she here? If there was anypony that didn't belong here, it was her. There was a sudden tearing sound, and Night Light looked down to find a ripped piece of paper in his hooves. 

"You alright?"

Night grunted as he slammed the book shut and slid it to the side. He'd have to fix that one at a later time, when he could concentrate. 

Starburst sighed as she sat down next to the sulking unicorn. "It's hard to imagine that she's actually, you know, gone," she said. 

"Hmm," was Night Light's response as he went to the next book . 

"It's just, I always thought she'd be here forever," Starburst continued. "And now that she's gone--

Night Light let the giant textbook fall with a slam. "And what?" he growled. "Now that she's gone, what?"

Starburst's eyes narrowed. "What's your problem?" she demanded. "You've been giving me this attitude ever since the funeral. You're upset, I get that, but that doesn't mean I'll let you take it out on me."

"Like Mom did for you when Father died?"

Starburst scowled and jabbed a hoof into her brother's chest. "That was low, Nighty. I was stupid, and I wish I could've apologized--"

"So why didn't you?" Night Light said coldly. "It's been ten years, a literal decade. When was the last time you bothered visiting?"

"I've been busy," Starburst snapped. "You know that. Mom knew that, and she understood, even if you can't or won't."

"Then why did she waste her last words calling for you?"

Night Light's scream echoed through the castle. The silence following was deafening. Starburst stared with her mouth wide open as Night Light struggled to catch his wild breath. Slowly, Starburst shut her gaping mouth and swallowed. "What?"

Night Light struck the table top. "Just, nothing," he said, rubbing his sore hoof. "Forget I said anything."

Two powerful hooves grabbed Night Light's shoulders, forcing him to face Starburst. "No," she said fiercely. "What did you mean, she wasted her last words calling for me?"

The unicorn struggled against his sister's hold, but she was too strong to break free from. Night Light shut his eyes, and his horn began to glow blindingly bright, forcing Starburst to remove her hooves and shield her eyes.

"She didn't want to see me," Night said, straightening his shirt. "She didn't want to see Princess Celestia or Spike or anypony else. She kept going on and on about needing to apologize to you before it was too late."

Starburst stopped rubbing at her eyes. "Apologize, to me?" she said. "For what?"

"Don't know," Night Light answered. He crossed his forelegs over his chest and looked away. "It's too late to ask now."

"She didn't say anything else?" Starburst asked. "Anything to you or Anthea?"

"Nothing," Night Light said, scowling. "No blessing or good bye or final instructions, just questions about where you were so she could say sorry. And all I could say was, she's coming, she's on the way, she'll be here soon."

"Nighty, I'm sorry, I didn't--"

"I've heard enough apologies," Night Light growled. His glare was quickly replaced with an exhausted look, however, and as he turned away, he let his shoulders slump. "I shouldn't have said anything," he said. "I didn't mean, I'm just so, I shouldn't have said anything." Night Light shut his eyes.

"Nighty," Starburst said, reaching out with a hesitant hoof, "I don't know what to say. I'm sorry I didn't make it, truly."

Her brother shuddered at her touch. "J-just leave me alone," Night pleaded, hiding his face behind his hooves. Slowly, he lowered them, revealing wet cheeks and bloodshot eyes. "Please, I-I have work to do." Night Light gestured to the stacks of books on the table before him.

"Can I at least help?" Starburst asked. "There has to be something I can do. Nighty, please."

Night Light sighed and pushed a book toward the pegasus. Starburst opened it and discovered not a single word inside. Instead, lines of ridges and bumps ran across the pages. "It's one of Mother's personal spell books that she transcribed in Braille. I shouldn't have to tell you who that's for."

"You want me to give this to Anthea?" asked Starburst.

"Mom made it for her," Night Light said without bothering to look up from his own text, an atlas of modern Equestria. "Anthea should have it, it's what Mom would've wanted."

Starburst tucked the book under her wing. "I can pick up some dinner while I'm out," she offered. "Is there anything you'd like?"

"Your choice. I haven't got the appetite," Night replied. The atlas went into DONATE. "You should probably get going soon, it's getting pretty late."

"Right." Starburst slowly made her way to the library exit. Every few steps, she'd turn back to the unicorn hunched over his desk. Night Light didn't seem to notice or care, ignoring the worried glances his older sister shot at him. When he heard the door finally close behind Starburst as she left, Night Light sighed and let his head rest against the open book before him like a pillow. His soft sniffs resonated along the library walls, stopped short by the solid door guarding the library entrance.

At least, that's what Night Light assumed. He failed to notice that Starburst had left the door slightly ajar, leaving an opening large enough for his cries to escape and reach Starburst's ears. She had paused and had turned back toward the library, but her feet remained glued to the crystal floor. Starburst eventually forced herself to move, but it was not toward Night Light. With her teeth grinding together as she clenched her jaw tightly, Starburst left the hall, moving past the portraits and pictures.

She ducked her head low and ran through the castle, away from her brother's cries, away from the implied accusations, and away from the mutterings of her own traitorous conscience:

If you had been there for him, if you'd been there for her...

Cleaners and stewards stepped to the side as Starburst galloped past. She felt her shoulder begin to bruise as she forced the front gates open with them, the impact barely slowing her down. The moment she felt the old archaic dirt road connecting most of Ponyville beneath her hind hooves instead of cold crystal, she leapt and spread her wings. 

They carried her to the sky, each wing beat propelling her closer to the clouds above. Starburst breathed in cool crisp air and started to relax. Her tense muscles loosened, and her wings straightened out, letting her glide almost lazily. 

Starburst sighed. Her mother may have had wings as well, but she had been born a unicorn. Princess Twilight Sparkle simply couldn't understand the soothing embrace of thermals like her husband or daughter, just like how Starburst never felt the same thirst for knowledge her mother and brother had.

The pegasus shook her head and tried to focus on flying. She couldn't afford distractions, even if gliding took very little effort on her part. Thankfully, the skies were clear of traffic. It was rather late, after all, most ponies were likely at home preparing supper with their families. Starburst considered returning to the castle, but the thought of returning to Night Light without completing her task sickened her. He needed some space anyways. 

The old cottage on the outskirts of town came into view. It surprised Starburst that even after all these years, Anthea's old home still looked the same. A generation later and it was still the same quaint little house Fluttershy had left behind, covered in birdhouses and greenery. A pair of jays suddenly joined Starburst and followed her as she landed. They perched themselves on her back and sang their greetings. 

Starburst brushed them off with her wings and ignored the dirty looks the birds shot at her before they flew off. She wasn't in the mood for cheer and song, and with a cursory feather brushing, she marched to the cottage's front door. Even the color was the same, Starburst marveled before rapping her hoof against it.

Her knock sounded pathetically weak, unsuited for a pony like her. Starburst raised her hoof and struck again, this time knocking much more loudly. 

"In the yard!" a warm voice called out from the back. Slowly, Starburst made her way around the cottage to the source of the sound, walking carefully around the various animals that were in her path. Bunnies scurried underneath her, playfully chased by squirrels and chipmunks. Birds flittered this way and that, teasing the flightless chickens below. A pair of bears playfully wrestled, tumbling and rolling in the grassy meadow.

Starburst looked past it all, toward the mare at the side whispering to a couple of herons. She approached the mare, clearing her throat when she got close. The mare turned and squinted. A pointless endeavor, Starburst knew, but she let Anthea appraise her with her near-sightless eyes.  

The mare smiled. "Starburst!" she exclaimed. Anthea started toward her, only to be pulled back by a heron. "Stop it," she giggled as the large bird nibbled at her ear, "that tickles." Anthea turned back to the pegasus drawing nearer. "How've you been? We haven't talked since the memorial."

Starburst winced at the mention of the funeral. "Yeah, well, I'm still coping, I guess."

"Oh, right." Anthea's friendly smile wavered. "Sorry."

"It's fine, don't worry about it," Starburst lied, waving her hoof as nonchalantly as she could pretend. She looked around. "Is it just you today? Where's Turquoise?"

"I think he with his father," Anthea explained as she gently stroked the heron's neck. "Spike was hit pretty hard, maybe even harder than when Rarity--"

Starburst struggled not to scowl. "Look, could we talk about something else, please?"

"Oh, sorry." Anthea rubbed the back of her head in embarrassment. "Anyways, what brings you down here?"

"Night Light and I--" Starburst coughed. "Night Light's been trying to sort Mom's belongings, and he came across one of your old spell books." She reached to her side, where she had tucked the book under her wing, but felt only her feathers and her rough coat. "That's weird, where did I--" 

Starburst's eyes grew wide, and she groaned. "I can't believe it, I must have dropped it or something. Ugh, what's wrong with me today?"

Anthea rested a hoof against Starburst's shoulder. "Something wrong?" 

"Nothing really, except that I'm a idiot," Starburst grumbled. "Night Light found an old spell book in Braille and figured it was yours. I was supposed to bring it to you, but I lost it on the way here. Just, okay, it's probably not to far from the castle, I probably dropped it there when I took off."

"Starburst?"

"Okay, just give me a few minutes, and I'll have that book for you, okay?"

"Starburst, you don't--"

Anthea felt a sudden gust of wind. Startled animals all around her cried out as Starburst took off and cut through the air like a rocket. Anthea frowned, keeping her eyes on the sky and scanning for a yellow blur against the hazy blue background. The herons tugged at the unicorn's mane with their bills, forcing her to turn. Anthea reached out slowly, and gently stroked the the birds when she found them.

Minutes later, the birds squawked noisily, and she heard a thud from behind, followed by several heavy pants. A yellow blur swayed in front of her, until it lost its balance and collapsed. Anthea quickly ran over and helped the fallen pegasus climb back onto her feet.

"You okay?"

Starburst nodded. "Just fine," she gasped. "It's been a while since I've had to fly that fast."

"Yeah, leave the racing for Prism and Icy. What was it that you'd always say, you're a fighter, not a runner?"

Starburst's chuckle came out as a wheeze, and she pressed a hoof against her heaving chest to slow her breathing. "Yeah, that was it." She coughed and picked up the book laying in the dirt. "Anyways, here's the book," Starburst said, holding it toward Anthea. "Sorry it's a little dusty. I-I could clean it first, if you like."

Anthea stared past the offered tome, her head cocked to the side. She stood there, regarding Starburst and the book with dull eyes. Starburst's foreleg acted as a testament to her training and strength as it held the heavy spell book for so long without wavering, but eventually the pegasus began to shift uncomfortably. 

"Here," she tried again, stepping forward and pressing the book against Anthea's chest. "Take it, it's yours. Princess Twilight would have wanted you to have it."

"Why do you call her that?"

"Call who what?" Starburst asked.

"Your mother. You always refer to her by her title." Anthea frowned. "The last time I remember calling her mom was when we were still kids, and let's face it, that was a while ago. Why?"

"Well, just, I mean, it's just proper," Starburst finally settled. "Pr--Mother's royalty, she should be addressed as such."

"But you don't mind that I don't call you princess."

"That's not, I'm not a princess," Starburst argued. "Not really."

"Then captain. Do I need to start call you Captain Starburst now every time I want to say your name?" Anthea demanded. 

"J-just take the book already!" Starburst growled. She all but shoved the tome into Anthea, forcing her to step back. The herons glared and chirped angrily, but Starburst ignored them. "Look, I've got a lot to do, and I need to head back home so I--"

Images of Night Light hiding his tears and echoes of their earlier discussion wormed into her thoughts. She watched her brother's features distort in frustration and exhausted defeat, and old imagined accusations returned. Starburst took a step back and let the book fall to the ground. She sat and raised her hooves, covering her face with them. "S-sorry, I-I didn't mean to, oh heavens above."

When Anthea rested a hoof on the pegasus's shoulder, she didn't struggle or shrink away. "I'm a horrible daughter," Starburst whispered. "I should have been there."

"Hush. You're a lot of things, but I wouldn't call you a horrible daughter," Anthea said. "Difficult, sure, but that doesn't make you horrible."

Starburst rubbed her eyes furiously. "How about missing your mother's last words to you?" she grumbled. 

"Night Light told you? He was the one who made us promise not to say anything. Figures." Anthea sighed and wrapped her forelegs around the pegasus, pulling her into a hug. "Want to talk about?"

"I-I don't know," Starburst sniffed.

Anthea tapped her chin thoughtfully "Well, want to help me take care of animals?" she asked.

Starburst lifted her head. "Huh?"

"Whenever I was upset, Mom would let me help with the animals," Anthea said, gesturing toward the yard's interior. "After an hour feeding chickens and grooming bears, I'd feel better."

"I don't know," Starburst said. She rubbed her foreleg awkwardly. "I mean, I don't think I should bother you anymore than I've already."

Anthea tilted her head. "Why would help bother me?" she asked. "I could actually use a pair of working eyes right now."

"You sure?"

"Definitely," Anthea assured, pulling Starburst toward the herons. Starburst reluctantly followed. 

"What do you need me to do?" 

"I need you to guide these fellows down to lake," Anthea explained. "You know, the, uh, the one besides the old swimming hole."

"Got it." Starburst took a few steps forward before turning back to Anthea and the birds. "Um, they're not following."

Anthea and the herons stared at each other. "Huh, guess they're not. Hmm, let me think." Lowering her head, prodded the first bird with her horn. It squawked angrily but made no other protest before making its way to Starburst's side. The other bird followed.

"That's a little mean, don't you think?" Starburst said as Anthea approached. 

The unicorn shrugged. "Yeah, but there's not a lot I can do. Communicating with animals was Mom's talent, not mine." She sighed. "Whenever I come back here, I always wonder if I could've helped Mom with her job better. Maybe if I had a different cutie mark, we could've spent more time together, or maybe I could have kept her cottage instead of giving it away to a real animal caretaker." 

"If you had a different cutie mark, you wouldn't have been you," Starburst said. "But yeah, I get what you're saying. So, where's the current caretaker, and why aren't they helping out?"

"Oh, I told him to take the day off, that T and I'd handle things for today," Anthea explained. "I guess they figured the daughter of Fluttershy ought to be able to manage at least for a day, and well, I kind of bit off more than I could chew." She laughed. "I didn't even tell T about volunteering us like this, but I just really wanted to do this, to remember what it was like."

"Remember what it was like, huh?" Starburst's words were laden with bitterness, and she bit her lip as she heard them for herself.

"What's wrong?"

Anthea had noticed her tone as well. A lie would be pointless, but Starburst still considered telling her that everything was okay, that nothing was wrong, that she was just tired, if only to delay; she could see the lake draw closer.

"And don't tell me everything's okay, I can tell something's wrong."

"I--" Starburst turned away and scowled. "I wasn't."

"So what's wrong?"

"Just, I don't know where to begin." The herons stopped as Starburst stopped and watched as the pegasus flopped onto her back. "I want to remember all the great times and awesome stuff I did with my mother, but I can't. There's nothing there!" Starburst growled, frustrated. She stretched toward the sky, reaching for the sun. "And I can't help but wonder, if I were a unicorn like Night Light or if I liked reading, maybe I'd have these nice memories to turn to. Maybe I'd have spent more time with her." 

She lowered her hoof onto her chest. "Maybe, maybe it'd hurt less."

Anthea sat besides her. "You can't help who you are. If you were a unicorn or had different interests, you wouldn't be you anymore. Don't you like being you?"

"I do, most of the times. Other times, I don't know. Anthea?"

"Hmm?"

Starburst rolled over and looked to the mare next to her. "You were close to my mother. D-do you know what she'd want to apologize for?"

Anthea shook her head. "Sorry, I can't say for certain. Maybe, maybe she was sorry she didn't spend as much time with you as she liked. You know, you and her are more alike than you think."

Despite herself, Starburst snorted. "I'm an athlete, she's an intellect. I like working out, she's into reading and research."

"You're both ambitious, driven, and the most powerful mares I've ever known. You're both super serious sometimes, really fun and laid back at others, and you really really love your friends," Anthea argued. "You're both also really self-sacrificing and tend to put a lot of unnecessary blame on yourselves. Oh, and you apparently have the same mane style."

"No we don't!" Starburst snapped. "Mine's short and hers is long and all princess-like."

"But you agree with everything else?"

Starburst turned away and muttered something under her breath. Anthea giggled. "You know, Princess Twilight would talk about you all the time," she said.

Starburst slowly turned back around. "To you?"

"Yep. I learned more about you from her than I did about magic." She giggled again as Starburst groaned. "I was honestly a little jealous."

"Wait." Starburst raised a hoof. Her mouth hung open as she shrugged to speak. "Did I hear you right? You were jealous of me?"

Anthea nodded. "Don't tell anypony, but I've always had this weird dream, when I was still at the orphanage. There's a dinner party or some sort of get-together for adults, and all these ponies are talking about their children are, but my parents are the loudest. I can't see them, they're like shadows, but they're bragging about all I can do and everything." 

Her lips twitched into a half-hearted smile. "I've never heard Mom bragged about me to anypony. That's okay, that's just how she is, but hearing Princess Twilight praise you and talk about all you've done just made me wonder if my mom was proud of me too."

"She--" Starburst began to shake with laughter. 

"Did I say something funny?" Anthea asked, more confused than offended.

"No, no, it's just, oh my goodness!" Starburst threw her head up and howled. 

"Star, are you okay?"

Starburst fell back in the grass. "Yeah," she said, her tone steady and serious. "You know, I've actually always been jealous of you."

Anthea blinked. "Of me?"

"Well yeah. I mean, you're Little Miss Perfect. Talented, wonderful, and Mom wouldn't stop talking about how you were going to be the next greatest magician of the era. I honestly thought she had replaced me with you."

"You know she wouldn't," Anthea asserted.

"Yeah, I know, I was silly, but you could relate to her in ways I couldn't. And since I couldn't do anything magic like you, I thought she didn't really care about me, at least not the same way she did about you and Nighty." Starburst rested her hoof against her forehead. "And I couldn't even bring myself to hate you because we're friends."

"Is it my fault you two were so distant?"

"What? No, of course not!" Starburst quickly assured. "I should have said something to her. If we had talked, things would have been different. Maybe, maybe I would have been here to say good bye."

Slowly, she stood up and dusted herself. "Now it's too late to even say sorry."

Starburst had only moved a few steps forward before Anthea latched onto her. "Annie, what are you--"

"Stop blaming yourself."

"If I had just tried to talk--"

"Princess Twilight's just as guilty as you are."

"And she tried to apologize!" Starburst snarled, causing Anthea to recoil. Her features, twisted in rage, softened. "She realized she did something wrong long before I did, but I couldn't even give her the chance to make things right! She died saying sorry without ever knowing if I'd accept."

"Do you?"

Starburst blinked back tears. "What?"

"And do you accept?" Anthea asked. 

"Of course!"

"Then tell her."

"How?" Starburst pulled away. "She's gone now."

"Shout it out," Anthea said. "Shout it out so loudly, she'd have to had heard. Go on," she prompted when the pegasus simply stared.

Starburst shook her head. "You're crazy."

"Well, so much for Little Miss Perfect then. Go on," Anthea said, gesturing. "Who else going to hear, the birds?"

As if in answer, the herons looked down at Starburst. Slowly, she stepped away and mumbled.

"I couldn't even hear you from here," Anthea said with a disappointed frown. "Come on."

Starburst sighed and took a deep breath. "I forgive you."

Anthea shook her head. "Not to me. Come on, louder."

"I forgive you."

"Louder."

"I--"

"Louder!"

"I for--"

"LOUDER!"

"I FORGIVE YOU!" Starburst screamed, shutting her eyes as tears streamed from them. "And I'm sorry too! I should have said something. Please, don't leave without hearing this! MOM, I'M SO SORRY!"

Starburst collapses, clutching her face with her hooves as her shoulders shook. Anthea held her, adding her soft cries to Starburst's wails. Even the herons gave their screeches and squawks to the cacophony before running off. For the moment, the two mares laid there, supporting each other as the echoes of Starburst's cry tapered off and faded. 

"Y-y-you think she heard?" Starburst whispered, loosening her hold on Anthea. The unicorn smiled.

"Well, they say loved ones are always close by and with us, so I'd say you might have overdone it. Guess you really didn't have to go louder."

Starburst snorted. "Well gee, thanks, now I feel stupid." She brought a hoof to her neck and rubbed it. "My throat hurts."

"But how's your heart?" 

Starburst's hoof lowered onto her chest. "Hurts less."

Anthea pressed against her friend's shoulder. "So, worth it?" 

The pegasus nodded. "Worth it," she agreed. The two shared a smile before separating. Starburst rubbed the back of her head awkwardly and cleared her throat. "I should finish helping you here and head home soon. Night Light's waiting for me, and I should be there for him." She looked around and frowned. "Um, where'd we leave the birds?"

"Maybe you scared them off," Anthea suggested. "Look around the lake, can you find them?"

Starburst stared out toward the lake dyed orange as the sun sank below the horizon. "There," she exclaimed, pointing at the edge of the beach, where the pair of herons splashed. "You want me to grab them?"

Anthea shook her head. "This is their home, they can take care of themselves for the time being. Speaking of which," she began with a shiver, "we should probably start heading back home ourselves. It's getting pretty cold, must be getting late."

"I'll walk you back," Starburst offered, but again, Anthea answered with a head shake.

"I can find way back, you don't have to worry about me," she assured. "Besides, didn't you say Nighty was waiting for you?"

"Yeah, but what he or Mom say if they knew I didn't make sure a friend made it home safely, hmm?" Starburst smirked at the other mare's pout. "Especially after that friend did so much for me."

"Oh, that's low, playing the friendship card." Still, Anthea giggled before saying, "Alright, come on, stop trying to guilt-trip me, let's go."

With that, the two mares made their way back by the light of the setting sun. Starburst's wings remained pressed firmly against her sides as she walked. Occasionally, she would turn her head toward the lake behind before hurrying to catch up. Anthea set the pace as she followed the dirt trail by feel, using her hooves to avoid the grassy edges until they tapped against the hard stone pavement of the path leading to the cottage. 

Lights could be seen through the cottage's window. The entrance was guarded by a large creature, with great leathery wings and claws. As the mares approached, he smiled and waved. 

"Looks like Turquoise's back," Starburst announced as she waved back. Anthea grinned widely before waving as well. Within seconds, Turquoise Blitz had rushed to the unicorn's side and greeted her with a kiss on the cheek, which Anthea swiftly returned. 

"How've you been?" he said, turning to Starburst. "We haven't seen you since, I mean, in a while."

"I'm doing better," Starburst answered as she and Anthea shared a look. "I heard you were with your father. How is he?"

Turquoise's smile wavered. "He's managing," he said after a moment. "Would you like to come in? I can make some tea or something."

Starburst stopped the dragon-pony hybrid with a lifted hoof. "Not this time, sorry. I have to get home soon. Maybe next time?"

"Of course," said Anthea, giving her friend one more hug. "Bring Nighty along."

"I, I'll see what I can do." Once Anthea released her, Starburst waved, then took to the skies. The half-dragon and the unicorn stared up into the slowly darkening sky until Turquoise, no longer able to distinguish Starburst's flying figure, guided Anthea to the cottage.

"So, I bumped into Safari while in town today," he was saying as he opened the door and held it for Anthea. "I wish you had mentioned the volunteer work to me. I would've loved to helped, you know."

"I know, but Spike needed you more than I." Anthea leaned against her husband, following his movements as they made their way through the little house. The new owner had kept most of the furniture, making use of Fluttershy's tables and cabinets. Even the birdhouses and shelters that hung from the ceiling remained, though their inhabitants were strangers to her. The rug in the center of the living room, however, felt wrong and out of place, and Anthea squirmed uncomfortably as her hooves brushed against it. The couch that Turquoise helped her onto also was not Fluttershy's, lacking the bunny fur and Draconequus hair she was so familiar with.

"Besides," she continued, "I had Starburst with me. You didn't have to worry."

"I know, I know, it's just, Dad said..." Turquoise bit his lip. "Never mind. I guess I'm a bit disappointed I couldn't help around here too."

"Well, there wasn't much to do today, maybe we can find more work tomorrow," Anthea said, finding Turquoise's claw and pulling it closer. "We'll have to ask Safari in the morning."

"Sounds good," agreed Turquoise. "So what did you and Starburst get done today?"

"Oh nothing much. Just releasing egrets."
> Baseball Bat
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The kitchen was silent, save for the clock hanging on the wall. There it sat, ticking away as it counted away the seconds. Both the clock's hands and the sky outside, painted orange by the rising sun, visible by the window above the sink, told of the early hour. Two bodies huddled over the table, their necks bent and backs hunched. The lightly colored mare shivered and wearily brushed a lock of hair out of her eyes. A large leathery wing extended and draped over the mare's shoulder, covering her like a blanket. The mare sighed and laid her head against the neck of wing's owner. He smiled at the mare's touch, flashing a set of pointed fangs. 

For a moment, the two shared a look, staring into the other's eyes before reluctantly turning to the pair of ruby red tickets sitting on the table in front of them. The mare sighed again, this time out of exhaustion, while her mate's grin turned into a frown. 

"You know," Turquoise began, drumming on the table's edge, "we don't have to go." The taps ceased as he started to rub his claws against each other. "I mean, I know you were looking forward to this, but we could always do something else for our anniversary."

Anthea hummed as she removed herself from Turquoise. She stared at the tickets. "It be an awful waste, though."

"We could give them away," the scaly stallion suggested. "Surely there's somepony in town that could use them." 

"It's too late now," Anthea said. "If the day of the cruise wasn't today, maybe. When does boarding start again?"

Turquoise turned to the clock. "One hour, but the taxi arrives in ten minutes," he answered before resting his chin on the table, right beside the tickets. "We really should've planned this better. Maybe if we had looked for a babysitter earlier, this wouldn't have been a problem."

"Yeah, who would've thought everypony in Ponyville would be busy on the same weekend?" Anthea said with a huff as she laid down beside Turquoise. She opened her mouth to continue speaking, only to be stopped by a series of loud knocks from outside. She and Turquoise immediately raised themselves, wincing as their heads collided with each other. Muttering apologies, the two cradled their heads and waited for the room to cease moving.

"You think that's her?" Turquoise asked, staring out of the kitchen, past the living room, toward the front door being pounding on. A muffled shout came from the other side.

Anthea nodded. "That has to be. Come on." She got up on her feet and went forward, moving as quickly as she could while feeling her way through the house. Turquoise followed closely beside her, rushing forward every so often to push aside furniture and forgotten toys in the blind mare's way. As the couple drew closer to the door, the knocks grew louder.

"Sheesh, it sounds like she's trying to bust in," Turquoise muttered as he reached for the latch. "She knows why she's here, right?"

"Well, I--"

The door flung open, striking Turquoise dead center in the nose. As he stumbled back, a dark gray mare leapt into the house, breathing heavily with her wings spread and her horn glowing. She scanned the room until her eyes found Anthea.

"Nidra--" Anthea began before the mare pushed past Turquoise and placed her hooves on her shoulders.

"You alright?" Nidra asked, checking over the unsettled unicorn. "I came as soon as I heard. Where'd they go?"

"Where'd who go?" Turquoise demanded with a claw over his snout. "Am I bleeding? Please tell me I'm not bleeding."

The mare gasped and released Anthea. She slowly raised a hoof and pointed at the dragon-pony. "You're, you're alright?"

"Sure, alright," grumbled Turquoise. He lowered his claw, looked down into it, and grimaced. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"But, Anthea, your letter..." Nidra sputtered, her hoof jumping between the two. "It said Oasis and Apollo were kidnapped and Turquoise was attacked."

The unicorn frowned. "I didn't write that. I just said we had an emergency and needed your help. Who'd you get the letter from?"

"Illusion," Nidra answered before groaning. "I should've known."

Anthea turned to Turquoise. "Why did you send the letter to Illusion? We knew he was busy."

"Dad always had the spell linked to Princess Celestia," Turquoise considered, scratching his chin. "Maybe that had something to do with it. Sorry."

"Well, I'm here now." Nidra kicked the door shut with a scowl. "This emergency had better be just as important. I'm not supposed to be up this early."

Anthea and Turquoise shared a nervous look. "It's--"

"Who's at the door, Mom?"

Everyone turned to the top of the stairs leading to the second floor. A little pink filly slowly descended the steps, rubbing her eyes and yawning as she attempted to brush her mane with her hooves. At the sight of the alicorn guest, she gasped and skipped down the rest of the way, her wings stretched out in excitement. 

"Princess Nidra!" 

Almost instantly, the princess's expression brightened, and she held out her forelegs, catching the filly in a hug. "Hey, Oasis," she laughed. "It's been a while, huh? I hope you've been practicing."

"Uh huh," Oasis answered, nodding and flapping her wings, the same kind growing out of her father's and Nidra's shoulders. Lowering her voice, she added, "But Dad's not a lot of help. He's not as good as a flyer as you are."

Nidra chuckled. "Well, let's see if we can get in a few flying sessions later, okay?"

"Oasis, why don't you see if you and Daddy can fix your hair?" Anthea said, extending herself forward. When her snout found her daughter's cheek, she gave her a quick nuzzle before the filly was released. The two mares watched as Turquoise and Oasis headed upstairs looking for a hairbrush.

"So, the emergency?" Nidra prompted.

Anthea sighed. "Remember last week, when Turquoise won those cruise tickets at Creme's charity dinner?"

"Yeah?"

"Well, we need a babysitter, somepony to watch over Oasis and her little brother."

"Okay?" Nidra waved her hoof in a lazy circle. "And?"

"Well, my first choice was my mother, but Cerberus got a tummy ache so she and her friends are in Tartarus right now."

"Again?" Nidra said, raising an eyebrow.

"Yep, so that means she and Turquoise's parents can't do it."

"What about Del or June?"

"Del's in Appleloosa and June's in the Crystal Empire," Anthea explained. "And I'm pretty sure Apollo's still banned from Sweet Apple Acres after his last adventure."

"And Claire's with my brother, so those two'll be too busy too. What about Cotton Candy or Starburst?" Nidra asked.

"Busy and busy," Anthea said, shaking her head. "The only pony in Ponyville not doing anything is Prism Bolt, and, well..."

Nidra leaned against a wall and frowned. "And let me guess, that just leaves me." 

"What, you're not upset that you're our last choice, are you?" Anthea asked as she stepped up to the alicorn's side.

"Please, I'm not that petty," Nidra said, folding her forelegs over her chest.

"So you'll do it?" 

"I didn't say that," the princess replied, turning away from Anthea's wide grin. "Look, I love Oasis, but did it ever occur to you that, as a princess of Equestria, I might also have something to do this weekend?"

"Do you?" Anthea leaned forward. "Is it a date?"

"What, a date?" Nidra tried to move away, but the wall behind her kept her from escaping. "No, it's nothing like that, just, you know, I have that thing, at the place, with, uh, the ponies..." She groaned. "Alright, fine, maybe I don't exactly have anything planned, but that doesn't mean I'm not busy. Something might come up."

"Like a friend asking for a favor?" Anthea asked, tilting her head.

Nidra's eyes narrowed. "Like something important."

"So Turquoise and I aren't important?"

"That's not, I meant like a national emergency or something like that." The princess breathed deeply. "Look, Annie, I know how much you and T need this vacation, but I just don't think I'm up for babysitting. You know I'm horrible with foals."

"You handle Oasis pretty well."

"Yeah, but--"

The patter of hooves alerted the two of the filly's approach, her mane curled and carefully styled. Turquoise walked behind her, carrying a brush. Behind him was a little colt, rubbing his eyes as he sleepily followed his sister and father down the stairs. He yawned, revealing a single pointed fang amidst a row of flat incisors. While Oasis all but bounced toward Anthea and Nidra, the colt shuffled his clawed hooves lethargically. 

"Apollo," Oasis hissed, reaching over and giving him a shake. "It's the princess, stop acting so rude."

Slowly, Apollo blinked. He finally removed his hoof from his eye and shook his head, looking around as if trying to determine his location. Eventually, those draconic eyes of his, almost as prominent as Turquoise's, found the princess. "Morning," he muttered before throwing his head back and yawning. "Is it time for breakfast yet?"

As Turquoise, Anthea, and Oasis planted their faces into the centers of their hooves, and, in Turquoise's case, claw, Nidra bit back a smirk. "Well, you're quite brave, aren't you, young colt," she said, leaning over Apollo, "speaking so flippantly before royalty."

"Nah, just tired." Apollo yawned again. 

"Please excuse my stupid brother," Oasis pleaded, shoving the sleepy colt to the side. "Would you like to join us for breakfast, Princess Nidra? Mother and Father must depart soon, but I'm sure we have some time before the babysitter arrives."

"Um, about that..." began Turquoise, rubbing his neck as he glanced over to his wife.

Anthea quickly cleared her throat. "Oasis, Apollo, how would like it if Princess Nidra watched over you this weekend?"

Nidra threw a dirty look at the mare, but before she could express her displeasure with words, she was interrupted by a scream.

"Can she? She is?" Everypony's ears flattened against their heads as Oasis started to squeal. Her wings shot out, knocking Apollo to the floor, and she began to hop excitedly. "Yes yes yes yes, a thousand time yes." Blushing as she noticed her parents and the princess's discomfort, Oasis forced herself to stand still, pressed her wings against her sides, and coughed.

She dipped her head toward Nidra and swept a foreleg behind the other. "We would be honored if the princess watched over us," she said, her tone still and steady, though the grin threatening to break out across her face betrayed her enthusiasm.

Nidra bit back a groan and shivered. She forcefully turned away from the filly's shimmering eyes and whispered something into Anthea's ear. The unicorn giggled and rolled her eyes before turning to her daughter.

"She said..." Anthea paused and leaned forward, watching Oasis shake with anticipation. The filly nodded rapidly, urging her to continue. "She said, yes."

Once again, a high pitched cheer forced everyone to cover their ears. As Turquoise tried to calm Oasis, Anthea reached out toward Nidra, pulling her into a hug. "Thanks."

"You owe me," the princess grumbled, patting her friend's shoulder. "You two should get going soon."

The two separated, and Anthea made her way to Turquoise's side. Oasis sat snugly between his forelegs while Apollo stood nearby. "Alright dears, while we'll gone this weekend, Daddy and I need the two of you to be on your best behavior, okay?"

Oasis nodded immediately, but Apollo took a little longer to answer. He frowned before asking, "Why can't we go with you? I wanna go on a cruise, it sounds like fun."

"Sorry, kiddo," Turquoise chuckled, ruffling the colt's mane, "maybe next time. But doesn't spending time with a princess sound pretty fun too?"

Apollo glanced over toward Nidra, who raised a hoof and gave a small wave. "Yeah, maybe," he answered with little commitment. "Why do we need a babysitter anyways? I'm not a baby."

"Of course you are," Anthea cooed, latching herself onto the colt. Apollo yelped and tried to escape, but Anthea's magical kept him from breaking her physical one. "You're my little baby, forever and always."

"Mom, stop it!" Apollo cried as he struggled. Nidra managed to keep her mirth hidden, but Oasis shook with giggles. Apollo's limbs grew limp, and he pout as he stopped trying to fight off the affectionate unicorn. 

A horn blared from outside, and the colt finally slid out of Anthea's embrace as she released him. "That's the taxi," Anthea gasped. "The bags, where are the bags?"

"They're in the living room. Don't worry," Turquoise assured, gently but firmly holding his wife back with a claw, "I'll get them. You just make sure the taxi knows we'll be ready soon."

"Right, okay." Anthea took a deep breath, then turned to Oasis and Apollo, giving each a hug a a quick kiss on the forehead. "Be good," she said sternly as her lips left Apollo's head before pulling him into another hug. Though his eyes were rolled, Apollo returned the embrace as enthusiastically as Anthea did.

"Do you have to go?" Nidra heard the colt whisper, almost whimper. 

Anthea bit her lip. "No, Daddy and I don't, but we'd really like to. Tomorrow's a really special day for the both of us, like a birthday, and we've haven't had much time to ourselves, and..." She looked over at Turquoise as he approached with a pair of suitcases and blushed. "I'm sorry, Mommy's being selfish, isn't she?"

"That's okay. You'll be back in time for my birthday, right?" Apollo asked.

"Of course," Anthea assured, nuzzling the foal's cheek. "It's only for the weekend. Try not to get into too much trouble, okay?"

Another impatient blare came the taxi. "Shoot." Anthea's embrace tightened quickly before she and Apollo separated just as suddenly. "Oasis, please watch your brother," she said as she grabbed one of the suitcase and nearly ran into the wall. 

Nidra led her to the door. "Have a safe trip, you two," she said. As Anthea passed, the two mares shared another quick hug before the unicorn dashed out and waved at the taxi waiting for them. Before following after her, Turquoise bowed awkwardly toward the princess.

"Thanks, Nidra," he said, raising his head. "This means a lot."

Nidra lifted a hoof, but it stayed there wavering in the air before lightly tapping the dragon-pony's shoulder. "Just make sure the two of you come back home happy, alright big guy?" she ordered.

Turquoise returned her smile before running off. From the doorway, Nidra, Oasis, and Apollo watched Anthea and Turquoise pack their luggage and pile in quite snugly in the taxi, given Turquoise's size. Those standing at the doorway waved as they in the taxi waved until the cart began to move and grow smaller and smaller. Soon, the taxi disappeared from view, and Nidra released a hefty sigh.

This is going to be busy weekend.

The sound of soft sniffs drew her attention, and she looked down in time to see Apollo wipe his nose and his eyes as he tried vainly to follow his parents. 

This is going to be one heck of a busy weekend Nidra amended. Her wing hovered hesitantly over the colt's shoulder for a moment before returning to her side. Instead, she looked away, pretending she saw nothing. Once Apollo had calmed down and had hidden any signs of crying, Nidra cleared her throat. 

"Alright, I guess we'll spend the rest of the day in the palace," she announced as she tapped on her chin thoughtfully.

"We get to spend the day in Canterlot?" Oasis said, already jumping onto her feet in gleeful eagerness. 

Apollo, however, frowned, evidently less excited. "Why can't we just stay at home, in Ponyville," he asked. 

"Because I work in Canterlot," Nidra answered shortly. "It'd be easier to keep an eye on the two of you there. Hmm, the palace isn't too far. Oasis, how well do you think you could handle a distance like that?"

"I've never tried flying somewhere that far, but what about Apollo?" The filly gestured to her brother. "Even if I could fly all the way to Canterlot, how would Apollo get there?"

"Right, right, he doesn't have wings." Nidra rubbed her forehead. "Ugh, it's too early for this. Wish I came with a chariot escort."

"What about the train?" Apollo asked. "That's how most ponies get to Canterlot."

"But the princess isn't most ponies," said Oasis, shaking her head. "If ponies saw her walking down the street out in the open, we'd be trapped by the crowd within seconds. We'd never make it to the train station."

Apollo's lips tilted into an incredulous frown. "Would a mob really form?" he asked. "I mean, Ponyville's got our own princess, and Princess Twilight never has any trouble making her way through town."

"Yes, but that's Princess Twilight Sparkle. She's, well..." Oasis's hoof drifted in the air as she struggled with an answer. "She's the people's princess. She approachable and everypony's friend. But Princess Nidra's special. You can't just walk up to Princess Nidra."

"How does that explain why a crowd will form around her but not Princess Twilight?"

Oasis sighed and placed her hoof on Apollo's head, giving it a condescending pat. "Perhaps one day, when you're older, you'll understand."

"Well, we might not have much of a choice," Nidra said as she pull the curtains aside and peeked outside through the window. "It's still pretty early, we might not run into anypony on the streets. If we're careful and quick, if we--"

Apollo's head sprung up. "Like spies?" 

"Yeah, sure, like spies," Nidra said absently. She let the curtains fall back over the windows. "Does your mother have a sweater or something like that? If I could hide my wings--"

The door suddenly flew open with a noisy bang, knocked aside by a wave of colored paper bits that showered over everypony. A pink earth pony stood just outside, wearing a huge smile. She leaned over a large cannon, it's smoking barrel pointed into the house. "Ooh," the mare sang, "have a nice trip-a-versary, we're sad to see you leave. But life's too short to--"

"Mother and Father already left, Mrs. Pie," Oasis interrupted as she tried to remove the confetti from her mane. "You just missed them."

Pinkie Pie all but tumbled over the cannon as her song came to a forced stop with an audible screech. "What?" she screamed. "You mean I'm late? But I spent all night preparing a short good bye and see you on Monday party for them. I even made an apology cake." 

The mare pulled out a large cake decorated with pink icing flowers on the edges. In the center, written in chocolate, it read Sorry for being too busy baking cakes and stuff to babysit.

Apollo licked his lips. "You know, we still haven't had any breakfast yet."

"Absolutely not," Oasis sniffed. "It's far too early for something so sweet and so filling." Turning back to Pinkie Pie, she smiled sadly. "Sorry, Mrs. Pie, but surely you could turn this farewell party into something else, for somepony else."

Pinkie Pie gasped. "Of course! I don't have to let this party go to waste. Maybe for Pound's three-week-and-a-half-aversary with his new fillyfriend, new record by the way. Or to celebrate the recent lack of arsonists at town hall. Or, or, or..." She gasped again and leapt inside. Nidra found herself once more stuck between a wall and a mare without a care for personal space.

"Or a party to welcome to Ponyville for Princess Nidra!"

The young princess tried to smile politely as she attempted to move past Pinkie. "Oh, please, no, not on my account. From what I understand, much of the town is busy, and I really must be--"

"Too busy for a party for a princess?" Pinkie Pie snorted. "Come on, Niddie, it hasn't been that long since your last visit to Ponyville. You know how much we love parties and cake and piñatas and..."

A trickle of sweat dripped down Nidra's brow. Slowly, she motioned the foals toward the door, around the bubbly mare as she listed all the games and snacks she'd prepare. "Yes, sounds lovely, but there's no need something so, er, extravagant."

"Really?" Pinkie Pie tilted her head and frowned. "But last you were complaining about how your birthday bash wasn't extravagant enough."

"Yes, uh, well, a lot can change in a year," Nidra replied with a forced grin. "And besides," she added, laughing weakly, "this is so sudden. I'm sure everypony already has plans, and I'd rather not--"

Again, Pinkie laughed. "Please, as if we couldn't spare a few minutes welcoming everypony's sixth favorite princess."

"No, really, it's, did you say sixth?"

Pinkie pushed herself off the wall, away from the princess and toward the open door. Oasis and Apollo stepped out of her way as she inhaled and screamed, "Hey Bon Bon! Yeah, you, oh and Roseluck too! You ponies busy? Too busy to welcome Princess Nid--"

A spark flew from Nidra's glowing horn, and Pinkie Pie suddenly collapsed. Nidra's horn lit up again as she all but carried the foals out the door with her magic. "Okay, let's go, let's go."

Slowly, Apollo turned away from Pinkie's motionless body. "You killed her!"

"What?" The princess nearly tripped over the colt's accusation, and Apollo and Oasis dropped to the dusty dirt road. "No, she's asleep. Really."

"There's a spell that can make ponies fall asleep?" Apollo's fearful expression morphed into one of fascination as his eyes widened and his jaw dropped. "Cool. Does Mom know it? What about Princess Twilight? I wanna learn how--"

"Later!" Nidra pushed the foals forward. "Right now, run!"

"Hey, it really is Princess--"

Another flash and suddenly the vender and her customer were slumped over the flower stand, crushing petunias and scattering petals. "To the train station," Nidra ordered, lowering her head and charging into town. She spared Oasis and Apollo a quick glance over her shoulder. "Keep up!" she shouted, fighting urge to gallop ahead.  

With two wing flaps, Oasis was airborne. She scowled as the wind undid all of her mane brushing, but at least now she could match Nidra's pace. Apollo, however, had more difficulty as his claws dug into the dirt with each hurried step, and he quickly lagged behind.

"Hey, wait for--whoa!" The body of a snoring stallion fell at Apollo's feet. He tried to leap over, but the stallion rolled in his sleep and struck the colt's hind leg, pitching him forward face first into the ground. 

At Apollo's cry, Nidra turned back. Biting back a curse, she rushed to his side and threw him roughly onto her back before galloping off. "Hold on!" she commanded, only to wince as Apollo's claws grabbed tightly around her wings. With Oasis just barely behind, Nidra ran through Ponyville, charging past houses and passed out ponies she had enchanted, littering the streets with sleeping ponies.

The station was soon in view. They could see the ticket booth and the platform, both which were rapidly approaching. The mare behind the booth's window blinked tiredly as Nidra, Apollo, and Oasis drew close. As their figures grew larger, so did the ticket clerk's eyes. She rubbed them and squinted, then reached for the mug resting precariously on the sill in front of her.

A pair of hooves slammed against the window, shaking the entire booth. The mare shrieked, drenching herself with coffee. "I need three tickets to Canterlot, now!" Nidra shouted while Oasis landed beside her and tried to catch her breath.

"O-o-okay, just, one m-m-moment please." The clerk ducked down and pulled out a coffee stained calendar. "T-t-the next train t-to Canterlot is, uh, i-i-is--"

A shrill whistle rang out. "All aboard that's comin' aboard!"

Nidra swore loudly, causing the mare behind the glass and Oasis to blush. Grabbing hold of Oasis, she ran forward onto the platform, where a few ponies and a train met them. The station master stood at the edge, staring at his watch before nodding at the stallion leaning out of the train foremost car. The train release another whistle, but just as the wheels began to spin, Nidra, with Apollo on her back and Oasis cradled in her magic, brushed past the station master and jumped onto the caboose's railed platform. 

Ignoring the shouts from the station master, Nidra made her way into the car. With a groan, she let Apollo slide off her back and slumped against wall. "Mother's going to kill me when she finds out," she muttered, bringing a hoof to her forehead. "You two alright?"

"I'm alright," Oasis answered. She sat beside her brother, nuzzling him. When he didn't react, Oasis frowned and gave the princess a worrying look. "Apollo, are you--"

"That. Was. Awesome!" the colt exclaimed, leaping to his feet. "Did you see that? We flew! We flew and jumped onto a moving train, just like in those Old West stories Grandpa Spike tells us. That was so cool!"

"Yes, cool," Nidra mumbled, leaning her head back. The panicked use of her magic had taken its toll on the princess, and her head throbbed uncomfortably. She shut her eyes and sighed, wincing as she rolled her sore shoulders.

"That was so much fun! Can we do it again? Can we?" Apollo placed his hooves on the princess and shook her before Oasis could stop him. "Can--"

"No, knock it off!" Nidra shouted, shoving Apollo away. Her scowl swiftly disappeared, however, and her eyes flew open before Apollo had even finished tumbling. "No, wait, I..." she began, raising a hoof uselessly as Oasis hurried to her brother's side. Nidra's heart and features sank as the filly glanced over to her with a timid, unsure look.

"Sorry, I..." Nidra looked away. "I'm sorry, I-I'm just, using that spell so many times in succession and running all the way through town like that leaves me stressed and tired and, and I'm sorry Apollo."

Nidra slowly turned to the colt. Apollo kept his head low and avoided the princess's gaze. He huddled closer to his sister. "Will you be alright?" she asked carefully.

Apollo nodded but continued to stare at the ground. With nopony else to turn to, Nidra looked to Oasis. The filly smiled when their eyes met before she returned to gently patting her brother's back. The smile was reassuring, and Apollo seemed to begin relaxing as well. Still, Nidra sighed.

This is going to be harder than I thought the princess said to herself before closing her eyes and drifting to sleep.


*


"Princess? Princess Nidra?

Nidra groaned and shook her head before rolling onto her side.

"Please, you have to wake up."

Slowly, her eyes fluttered open. Oasis sat before her with Apollo right behind. "What's going on? Are we in Canterlot yet?"

A blush creeped across Oasis's face. "Um, actually, we fell asleep too, and--"

"Now approaching: Manehattan Grand Central Station."

"What?" Nidra flung herself up and stared out of the window. A forest of tall skyscrapers and vast buildings greeted her that swiftly disappeared as the train was swallowed by a tunnel. She turned from the windows and started to pace. "How did we end up in Manehattan? This train, this train was for Canterlot, wasn't it? There would have to had been a transfer to get from Canterlot to Manehattan, I'm sure of it. How could this have happened?" Nidra turned to the foals. "Did we ever stop at Canterlot?"

The two glance at each other before Apollo shrugged and Oasis shook her head. "I don't know," Oasis said. "We only woke up a little while ago."

"Great, perfect." Apollo and Oasis flinched as Nidra stomped past them. Her hoof shook as she grabbed hold of the caboose door's handle, and she took a deep breath to steady herself. "Come on," Nidra said, gesturing to the two. "Let's talk to the conductor, maybe find some answers."

They got up and made their way to Nidra's side and left the train car together. The station platform was already growing crowded as ponies and luggage bags streamed out. Carefully, they walked onto the platform and trudged through the mob to the uniformed stallion lazily leaning against the engine with his eyes glued to his watch. Oasis and Apollo suddenly found themselves pressed against the princess's sides as Nidra kept them together with her wings.

"Ahem," Nidra greeted when they drew near the stallion by the train engine. The conductor didn't react, continuing to find interest in his watch. "Ahem," Nidra tried again, only for the stallion to continue ignoring her. "Ahem!" she tried a third time, this time more loudly.

The conductor rolled his eyes. "An excuse me sir would've been nice," he said snottily as he lowered the watch. "Well, what is it?"

"Excuse me, I am Princess Nidra."

"Didn't ask for your name," the conductor said, though his eyebrows did rise at the sight of Nidra's wings. "Well, wha'daya want?"

Oasis gasped, and she and her brother looked nervously toward the fuming princess. Nidra took a few breaths before muttering something too quietly for them to hear. "This train is from the Canterlot-Manehattan line, correct?"

"Hardly," the stallion scoffed. "It's the Ponyville-Manehattan line. Yeah, never thought there'd be enough traffic between the two to need one either," he said when Nidra's mouth fell open and her eyes widened in shock. He checked his watch one last time before placing it back into his pocket. "Well, ma'am," he said, tipping his hat before walking away toward the crowd. 

"Wait, wait!" Nidra ran forward and stopped the conductor. "Look, I need to get back to Canterlot. Ponyville will work too, but we can't stay here."

"What, Manehattan ain't good enough for a princess?" the stallion scoffed. "Look, I'd like to help, but I'm on my break. See that little mare behind the glass over there?" Nidra followed his gesture toward the ticket booth. "Maybe she can help. Me, I've got more important stuff to deal with."

The conductor shook a tin lunch pail in Nidra face, forcing her to step aside. Oasis watched the stallion disappear into the crowd before turning to the princess beside her. "How in Equestria could he act like that to you? He could lose his job or at the very least be banished and imprisoned!"

"If only," Nidra grumbled. "Being a princess doesn't hold as much weight in the big city as you'd think. Well, at least on the streets anyways," she added, rubbing her chin. "Hotels and restaurants, fancy establishments and the like, those know how to treat royalty. Out here?" Nidra scoffed. "I'd have just as much trouble hailing down a taxi as anypony else." 

With a sigh, she started toward the ticket vendor. "Come on, keep together," Nidra ordered, holding the two foals close with her wings. "If I end up losing you two here of all places..." Oasis and Apollo felt the princess shudder.

The mare behind the glass, noticing Nidra and the foals approach, quickly sat up and smoothed out her uniform. "Yes, can I help you?" she asked when they arrived.

"We need tickets for the next train to Canterlot."

The mare's small smile faltered.  "Oh, I'm sorry, but all trains to Canterlot are delayed indefinitely, until the rails are repaired. It could be some time, I'm afraid."

"What about to Ponyville?" Nidra asked. "Is there still a train to Ponyville."

"A train to Ponyville?" the vendor repeated. She ducked down and flipped through a notebook. "Yes, most certainly. In fact, you're here just in time for the twelve o'clock."

Nidra breathed out a silent declaration of thanks. "Perfected."

"That will be eighteen bits total, miss." A small slot at the window's sill slid open, exposing a little collection tray. Nidra blinked slowly before paling.

"Miss, is everything alright?"

"Y-yes, just..." The princess turned to Oasis. "Tell me one of you brought money," she whispered.

Nidra grew whiter as the filly shook her head. Desperately, she looked to Apollo, who simply copied his sister's motions. She turned back and watched the vendor's appearance sour; the mare started to frown, her eyes narrowed, and she began to tap on the counter impatiently. With a bored shrug, she slammed the collection tray's gate shut and waved them away.

Nidra opened her mouth to protest, but a forced cough from behind cut her off. A line of ponies had formed, waiting for the princess to finish her business. The pony who had coughed, a stern looking mare with glasses and her mane in a bun, gave Nidra a look of annoyance tempered by mild sympathy.

Sorry, her eyes said, but you're in the way, and I'm a very busy pony.

The mare lowered her gaze as Nidra threw out her own glare. With an angry huff, she led Apollo and Oasis away, forcing through the crowd toward the station's exit.

"What now?" Apollo asked, doing his best to keep up. Noticing the colt's struggles, Nidra slowed her pace.

"Well, like I said, Manehattan's hotel's definitely know how to treat a princess, so we won't have to worry about finding a place to sleep, if it comes to that. The problem is finding a way to get back." Nidra frowned. "If I can get a telegram to the castle, they could send me some funds. We'll have to stop by the post office," she said as they stepped out onto Manehattan's streets.

Apollo's draconic eyes grew large at the sight of the massive buildings towering overhead. His ears perked at the clicks and clanks of taxi cabs rolling by and the calls and chatters from all ponies around him. The scent of grilled carrots drew him toward a metal cart, where a stallion in a greasy apron served ponies of all sorts of attire, from the bright yellow vests of a construction worker to the professional jacket and tie of a business pony. Bright lights from the billboards grabbed hold his attention like a beacon, advertising Bridleway musicals, the latest fashion lines, even cat food. Apollo's head swerved as he tried to take in all of Manehattan, its sights, its smells, its sounds, its ponies, everything. He took a step forward.

"Be careful!" 

Nidra's cry and the impact against her wing jolted Apollo out of his trance. His heart leapt to his throat as a taxi thundered past, less than a foot away. 

"What were you thinking?" Nidra demanded, pulling Apollo away from the edge of the sidewalk. "This isn't Ponyville, where you can just wander off and do whatever you wish! Do you understand?"

A chill ran through the princess as Apollo shrunk away after nodding. Prompted by a nod from Oasis, Nidra pulled the colt closer to her. "Listen, Apollo, I-I am sorry. I should not have shouted. I just want to make sure the two of you stay safe. I don't want to act mean, and I apologize if I've seemed that way."

"I want Mommy."

Apollo had spoken under his breath, so quietly that Nidra almost didn't hear. Almost, and she felt something inside her shatter as if struck by those words. For a moment, she felt nothing. Then, there was warmth by her side. Nidra turned and found Oasis leaning against her. No, not leaning, Nidra amended, embracing. The filly smiled, and slowly, Nidra felt warm again. Wordlessly, she folder her wings over Apollo and pressed him against her chest. She lowered her head and began to hum. It was a lullaby, one her mother used to sing, though Nidra could never get the lyrics right without butchering the entire thing.

Still, her hums seemed enough; Apollo had returned the embrace enthusiastically. For a moment, the three sat there on the street holding each other tightly, ignoring the looks and glances of the pedestrians passing by.

Apollo released himself from the princess almost as suddenly as they came together and blushed. "I'm, I'm alright," he assured, doing his best to look serious. His appearance dissolved into a pout as Oasis giggled, and Nidra's sides stung as she fought the urge to join in. Instead, she blanketed the colt's shoulder with her wing.

"Come on," she said, nudging him forward before jerking her head at Oasis. "Let's see who the Marette'll kick out to make room for us."

"The Marette?" Oasis squealed. "The hotel where anypony that's anypony stays at?"

"The same, though perhaps sending a telegram first would be a better idea." Nidra quickly shook her head. "No, I'd need a return address first."

"Um..."

"Yes, Apollo?" Nidra said, looking to her side.

"I was just wondering," Apollo began before becoming distracted by a trio of fedora wearing stallions in gray overcoats. "Um, yeah, could we do a little, um, exploring?"

"Exploring?" Nidra repeated, her eyebrow raised.

"Yeah, exploring. I mean, Manehattan's so..." The colt bounced while he thought of a word. "...big, and there's all these things, and what are those buildings for, and where's everypony going, and I wanna see it all!"

"All might be a tall order for a day, especially without any bits." The princess chuckled. "Still, I don't see why we can't visit a few places. Let's see, if I recall correctly, tours to the Statue of Liberation are free for foals on weekends after twelve, or was it before twelve?"

"Oh, I'd love to visit the Manehattan Art Gallery," Oasis said longingly. "I don't suppose..." The filly slowly looked to Nidra and pleaded wordlessly with a forlorn gaze. 

"That should be doable," Nidra said. "Mother made a recent contribution from her personal collection, one I doubt the curators will forget soon. That might be enough for an admittance." She turned to Apollo. "What about you? Is there anywhere you'd like to see in particular?"

"Um, uh..." Apollo chewed his lip as he thought. Grandma Rarity used to tell all sort of stories about Manehattan, of the different places she had been to and the ponies she had met. There was, there was...

The colt frowned as he tried to remember his grandmother's tales. Just as he was about to give up with a shrug, a fluttering red flag caught his eye. Several others flew beside it from long poles extending from a rounded building. The structure's shape and the white marble pillars that extended from the base to the ceiling reminded him of the ancient colosseums pre-Equestrian pegasi would compete in. Like the one in Cloudsdale, Apollo added, only this one was made from stone instead of clouds. 

"What's that?" he asked, pointing. Nidra followed Apollo's gesture toward the building and frowned. She recognized the building as important, but for the moment it's identity and purpose escaped her. She lit up at the sight of the banners hanging over the entrance, the picture of a crimson pegasus with golden feathers and headband jolting her memory.

"Ah, yes, the Warmblood Stadium," Nidra answered, nodding. 

"Warmblood?" Apollo gasped. "You mean the baseball team."

Nidra hesitated. "Yes," she said slowly after a moment of uncertainty, "the baseball team. Do you follow the sport, Apollo?"

"Do I?" The colt laughed. "I love baseball! It's like, my favorite sport ever."

"Last month you were into hoofball," Oasis said, rolling her eyes. Apollo stuck his tongue out in response.

"Yeah, 'cause it was hoofball of season, duh." He turned back to the princess. "Maybe they're playing right now! Can we go? Can we? Can we? Please?"

"Apollo!" Oasis hissed. Her nudge in his side calmed her brother, or at least quieted him, and had won a glare from the colt. It vanished vanished after Apollo followed Oasis's motion toward Nidra and noticed the thoughtful frown on the alicorn's face.

"I mean, we don't have to, I guess." Apollo rubbed the back of his neck. "Whatever's cool." He looked up as Nidra's hoof brushed his shoulder.

"I'm afraid we might not be able to see much of the stadium, much less a game," she said with a sad smile. "Tickets are out of our reach, after all. Will a simple tour around the edge, perhaps a peek inside, suffice?"

"Um, suffice means..."

"Will it be enough?" Nidra explained.

"Oh, yeah. Yeah, sure! Really?" Apollo began to bounce excitedly as Nidra nodded. "Yes! Come on, let's go!"

"Calm down, the stadium is going nowhere," Nidra said, keeping Apollo and Oasis by her side as they crossed the street toward the sport arena. Names of ponies she had never heard of spewed from Apollo's mouth as they approached. Nidra turned to Oasis for clarification, but the filly looked just as lost as the princess certainly felt.

Apollo soon became quiet, however, once the stadium drew close. Though she never felt much interest in sports, Nidra could still appreciate the impressive grandness of Manehattan's stadium. Designed to house thousands upon thousands of ponies, it put most of Canterlot's architecture to shame in terms of vastness. They could hear cheering and shouts echoing from deep inside, and for a moment Nidra felt empty. 

Is this what the common pony likes? she thought as she considered the great number of ponies within the coliseum's walls. How many ponies were there that she, as a princess, couldn't connect with, couldn't even begin to understand? Nidra turned to Apollo and noticed a small gleam of wanting as he stared.

Shouts from a group of stallions standing at the entrance pulled her out of her thoughts. The one in a simple white shirt and red cap grumbled loudly at the stallion in the full suit. The third stallion, an older, wider pony also in a suit and tie, nervously dabbed away the sweat from the top of his head.

"Well wha'da want me to do?" the suited stallion was saying. "Ms. Shores had something come up, and there ain't nothing we can do about it. Can't you just start the danged game without some star throwin' the first pitch?"

"Youse crazy?" the pony with the hat shouted. "Maybe, if this weren't the game of the century. We've finally got the Cream Drafts on our turf, and we've gotta crush 'em in style. We don't start this off with a bang, youse gonna see blood in the stands."

"Maybe, maybe we could find somepony else," the older stallion suggested, letting his handkerchief fall to his side. "There, there must be somepony in this city, Bridleway stars and models." He gulped. "I-if it came down to it, I-I suppose I could..."

"No offense, Mr. Mayor," began the pony with the hat, "but that just won't cut it. It's gotta be bigger, like Sapphire Shore's big, maybe even Princess Luna big."

"And even if was somepony else that big in this city, how are we supposed to get them here in time for the first pitch?" added the suited stallion.

"Ahem."

The quiet sound of a throat clearing caught the arguing ponies' attention. They turned to find Princess Nidra standing behind them with two foals, one on each side of her. With her head held high, she spread her wings, throwing shadows over the staring stallions.

"Is this big enough?" she challenged. The stallions exchanged looks before stumbling clumsily into bows.

"P-P-P-Princess Nidra, w-what an honor," the mayor sputtered. "I-I wasn't aware you had a visit scheduled."

"I didn't, so I take no offense to the lukewarm welcome I've so far received." Nidra watched as the stallion sighed in relief before turning instead to the pony wear the red cap. "You mentioned needing somepony to..." She motioned to the pony who quickly caught the cue.

"Throw the first pitch, Your Highness," he said. "Course, if youse ain't to busy with, uh, royal stuff, Manehattan'd be awfully grateful if you could do it." He lifted his gaze. "You'd be making a lot of ponies in the stands happy."

"Very well," Nidra announced, and everypony breathed out in silent cheer. "However," she added, causing the stallions to freeze up again, "these two must be granted admission." Nidra placed her wings over the foals, drawing the stallions' attention toward them. Apollo looked up, gaping, and returned the smile the princess gave him. She could feel him shake with anticipation.

"Yeah, no problem, box seat's got room," the suited stallion answered, ignoring the glare the mayor shot at him.

"But that's my seat, with the important ponies! I don't want some foals with me for--"

Nidra cleared her throat.

The mayor shrunk back down. "W-well, since Sapphire Shores isn't here, I suppose there'll be room in the box."

"Yeah, yeah, perfect." The pony with the cap staggered to his feet. "Come on, I'll walk youse through what you gotta do," he said, leading the princess through the stadium's entrance. Everypony else swiftly followed, moving past the ticket stands and snack vendors. The mayor and the suited stallion sudden turned toward a flight of bright blue stairs, shepherding the foals away from Nidra and her guide. 

"This way, kids," the suited stallion said as the hatted pony led Nidra further. Before disappearing, the princess waved to Oasis and Apollo, which they returned. "Don't worry, you'll be seein' her again soon enough."

Apollo all but bounced up the stairs, shaking at each step. "Apollo, calm down," Oasis said as she followed behind. The suited pony chuckled.

"First ball game?" he asked. Apollo nodded furiously. "Well, you're in for a treat." He pushed open the door at the very end of the stairway and held it for everypony else.

For an area boasted as being 'box seats', Oasis was not impressed. The seats themselves were made of some cheap rubbery plastic without cushioning or any means of comfort. Her keen eye spotted popcorn kernels and drink stains all over the hard concrete ground. If these were the box seats, she shuddered at what the regular seats were like.

Apollo rushed forward, ignorant to the stares the other patrons gave him as he pushed by. He stopped at the rail that guarded the very edge and used it to prop himself up. "Wow, look, we can see everything from here! Come on, Oasis, look!"

Oasis joined her brother, moving much more carefully and receiving fewer glares than he had. When she arrived at the edge, she realized just how close they were to the game. The third baseman was less than a stone throw away. If it were for the guardrail, Apollo, with the way he kept leaning forward, might have fallen right into the outfield.

"Isn't this a little close," Oasis asked nervously.

"Yeah, isn't it great!" Apollo grinned as his grip on the railing tightened. "I can't believe it! I'm totally gonna catch foul ball!" 

Oasis slowly backed away and sat herself on one of the uncomfortable seats. She could feel the sticky surface cling to her bottom. She took a breath and tried to relax. Turning to Apollo, Oasis smiled. His excitement was contagious to the point where even she was starting to have trouble sitting still.

"And now, approaching the pitcher's mound of the Warmblood Stadium, the sensational pony of pop herself, Sapphire Shores!"

Even amid the cheers and applause, Oasis could hear somepony planting a hoof in their face. Something tugged at her wing, turning her attention back to the baseball diamond. "Look," Apollo said, pointing toward the elevated patch in the center, "it's the princess."

Nidra made her way to the pitcher's mound at a slow and steady pace. Cheers eventually died into murmurs as ponies realized who was making her way across the field. It might have been her imagination, but she could have sworn she heard somepony in the crowd say, "That's not Sapphire Shores." At this distance, Nidra doubted anypony would've been able to see her eyes roll, but she fought off the temptation.

Complete silence greeted her as she climbed the little hill. Thousands of ponies, in every which direction and of every color, stared. Her ears flattened as the stadiums buzzed alive with static. "And now, on the pitcher's mound of the Warmblood Stadium, Princess Nidra!"

Two small cheers from the box echoed out, followed by a hesitant applause. Slowly, the noise grew louder until the entire stadium was filled with cheering and hoof stomps. Nidra smiled. She lifted a hoof and waved to the stands. She extended her leathery wings and relished in the gasps and sounds of wonder. She wondered how many ponies here had even seen a regular bat pony, let alone the bat pony alicorn. 

The pony beside her coughed, drawing her attention. With an exaggerated bow, he held the soft ball toward her. Nidra took it and let it roll between her hooves as the pony stepped to the side. Other ponies wearing similar colors also stood by, though they were focused instead on the pony at the very end, swinging a large wooden club over home plate. The pony straightened his helmet before lowering into a stance, keeping the bat steady with his hooves.

Nidra lifted the baseball, and the entire stadium became dead silent. She inhaled, pulled back, lifting herself with a flap of her wings, and flung the ball with as much force as she could muster. It flew through the air with a whistle, straight at the batter. Screaming, he lifted the bat to protect himself, only for the ball to force the bat back until it met with the pony's helmet, knocking him back into the catcher. 

"Fowl!" an umpire cried, throwing his forelegs in the air before rushing to the other referees who were checking on the injured player. Up in the box, Apollo cheered as he tossed the ball he had caught in the air.

It didn't take the princess long to notice that just about ever jaw around her was dropped. "Is something the matter?" Nidra asked the pitcher who had flinched when she turned to him. "I was told to throw the ball as hard as possible at the pony with the stick. Was that not the right pony?"

"N-no, that's not exactly the problem." Gesturing to her to lower her head, he whispered into Nidra's ear. As he explained, Nidra's face began to redden.

"Ah, oh dear," she muttered.

"It's fine, I'm sure he's fine," the pitcher tried to assured. "Heck, uh, can I say heck around you?"

Nidra sighed. "Oh, why the heck not?"

"Um, yeah." He chuckled nervously. "Yeah, I'm sure he'll be fine. This'll probably be the highlight of his entire career. Not many ponies can say they were knocked clean off their hooves in a game by a baseball bat."
> Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	As the little cottage grew closer, Turquoise's steps became heavier and slower. One claw fell into a puddle, and he winced as he removed it, sighing as he tried to shake off the clinging mud.

"Something wrong?" The mare beside him asked. Despite the cloudiness in her near-sightless eyes, her hooves kept dry. 

Turquoise shook his head. "It's nothing,  Anthea, nothing."

"Oh." They took a few steps forward in silence, then, "You know, you don't have to come with me. I know last time was--"

"Yes, yes I do," Turquoise said firmly. "She needs help, more than you can provide."

Anthea pressed her lips together and turned away with a frustrated huff. "You don't have to be so mean about it."

A gust of wind blew by. "Sorry," Turquoise said, "I'm just, well, still a little uncomfortable, I guess." He bowed his head shamefully, avoiding Anthea's gaze. "Sorry."

A light pink hoof tapped softly against Turquoise's cheek. It traveled down under his chin, forcing Turquoise to look up. "Hey, it's fine," Anthea whispered, pressing her forehead into his snout. "You're right, and I'm sorry I snapped. It's just so frustrating seeing Mother like this and being so useless. I can't even take care of her properly, and I should be grateful you're here, but I, I, ugh!"

The unicorn pushed herself off Turquoise and quickly wiped at her eyes. "S-sorry, just, I just--"

A large leathery wing draped over her shoulders. "Hey, hey, it's fine," Turquoise cooed. "Just being there with her helps, even if she, well..." The hybrid bit his lip. "Well, you know."

Anthea took a deep breath. "Yeah, okay, okay." She turned to the cottage ahead, now just a stone throw away. "Alright, let's get this over with."

They walked forward, through the muddy trail leading to the little house. A few songbirds poked their heads out of the tiny birdhouses guarding the path, warbling mournfully as they passed.

"They sound hungry," Anthea noted with a frown. "Mom never forgets to feed them."

"Well take care of them before we leave," Turquoise promised. They had finally arrived at the front door. The little garden that greeted them was infested with gnarled weeds that threatened to choke out the last remaining flowers. "Should we do something about the garden?"

Anthea thought for a moment before shaking her head. "Not unless she mentions anything."

"Alright." Turquoise's claw tightened around the door's handle. He pushed forward and stuck head in. 

"Hello? Ms. Fluttershy?" he called, stepping inside with Anthea right behind him. 

"How bad is it?" she asked, feeling Turquoise wince beside her.

Turquoise stared at the mess before him. Books and papers covered the ground, along with glass shards from broken picture frames. Bundles of cloths and cleaning rags hung over tables and furniture while dresses and gowns were thrown haphazardly on the floor. 

Turquoise reached down and retrieved a pair of photographs hiding under a cracked frame. He winced again at the smiling faces of a cheerful yellow pegasus and the little pink filly tucked in between her forelegs in the first photo. The second was of himself, the filly grown into a mare, and the same yellow pegasus as before in between the two. All three were well dressed, with him and Anthea in white, and a pink floral gown for the pegasus, who also wore a look of pride. 

"Pretty bad, I don't think we can clean everything today."

"That'll fine, we can come back tomorrow. I-if that's alright with you," Anthea added hurriedly. "If you're busy, we could do it some other time or I could try to clean everything myself."

"Don't worry, I'll be here," Turquoise said. They moved deeper inside, into the living room. There, in the corner rocking chair, slept the yellow pegasus from the pictures, though the pink of her mane had faded into a light gray. Her brow wrinkled as they approached, and slowly, she opened her eyes and yawned. She blinked several times before focusing on Turquoise. 

"Oh, oh my, what time is it?" Fluttershy looked around her frantically. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Spike, were we supposed to meet today?"

Turquoise cleared his throat nervously. "Y-yes, that's right. I, uh, guess I'm early."

"Oh, and you brought a friend." Fluttershy smiled warmly at Anthea, but the gesture chilled her. "Um, hello," Fluttershy said softly with a wave. 

Anthea took a deep breath and stepped out from behind her husband. "H-hello," she said, doing her best to return Fluttershy's smile. "I'm Anthea, a..." She hesitated, her fake grin faltering. "I'm a friend."

"Ah." 

The silence between the two grew as both Fluttershy and Anthea looked down shyly, away from the other. Turquoise cleared his throat.

"So, uh, would you like some tea?" he asked, lifting himself up.

"Oh no, I'm sorry." Fluttershy struggled to rise from her chair. She gave Anthea another smile, this time out of embarrassment. "I haven't offered you anything yet. I must seem so rude. Spike, please sit, I'll prepare tea."

With gentle but firm claws, Turquoise forced Fluttershy back into her seat. "It's fine," he said, "I'll take care of it."

"Well, if you don't mind." Fluttershy settled back snugly. There was no reaction as Turquoise removed a knitted quilt from the floor and blanketed her with it. "If you like, there are a few cupcakes in the kitchen. Pinkie Pie was here earlier." She turned to Anthea. "Have you met Pinkie yet? She likes to throw newcomers a party."

"Yes, I've met Mrs-- I mean, Ms. Pie already. Er, I mean Pinkie."

"Oh, that's nice." Fluttershy turned to the dusty window and smiled. "She likes to throw newcomers a party. She's a wonderful baker. I have some of her cupcakes in the kitchen, if you like."

"Oh, no, that's alright," Anthea assured, holding up her hooves. "I'm fine, thanks."

"If you like," the pegasus was muttering. Anthea sunk back. Had Fluttershy even heard her? Anthea pressed her hooves together to keep them from shaking.

"I'm sorry, I never asked for your name."

She was smiling. Anthea couldn't see it, but she knew Fluttershy wore a smile, a polite little one normally reserved for passing strangers and third-degree acquaintances. Anthea bit hard into her lip to keep herself from crying out.

"It's Anthea," she managed to say shakily.

"Anthea," Fluttershy repeated. "It's beautiful. What a lovely name."

"Thanks." This time, Anthea's smile didn't appear forced. "My mother always thought so."

"Ah."

Silence reigned once again as the conversation came to a halt. Fluttershy shifted in her seat, and her blanket dropped to the ground. Anthea's ears twitched at the soft thud the quilt made, and she turned to the colorful blur her eyes perceived. She reached for it. "Um..."

"Hmm?" Fluttershy opened her eyes and yawned. "Oh, I'm so sorry, I must have drifted off. I'm sorry, what did you say?"

Anthea quickly withdrew her hoof. "Oh, no, nothing," she said. "So, um, I hear you like animals."

Fluttershy began to beam. "Oh yes. It's my special talent, taking care of critters. It's actually a little odd," she said, looking around the room. "Normally, there would be the cutest little bunny hopping around here right now. I wonder where he went?"

"Maybe Angel went out to play," Anthea suggested. As she spoke, Turquoise walked in, carefully balancing an old tea set on a tray. He dusted the coffee table with a nearby rag and placed the tray down before picking up the fallen quilt and draping it over Fluttershy. As she watched the green blur she recognized as her husband fuss over the yellow shape she knew to be her mother, Anthea frowned. 

"Hmm, maybe," Fluttershy said before thanking Turquoise for the tea. "His name is Angel. I think you would've liked him."

The wrinkled, old hoof shook as it tried to raise the dainty, little tea cup to its owner's lips. Turquoise gently took hold of Fluttershy's hoof with his own claw to steady it. She took a sip and smiled.

"Thank you, Spike, this is amazing."

Anthea drank from her own cup and tasted nothing but warm water. Taking hold of the sugar box with her magic, she removed two cubes and added them to her drink. "Would you like some sugar?" she offered, holding the container up.

"No thank you," Fluttershy replied. She yawned and the cup suddenly slipped from her hooves. Turquoise grabbed for it but was too slow, and the cup shattered against the floor. "Oh dear, I'm so sorry," she said. "I don't know why I'm so tired today."

"Maybe, maybe we should call it a day," Turquoise said, turning to Anthea. "It is getting pretty late."

Anthea turned to the window. She could feel the light and the warmth of the sun. "Yeah, I guess so."

"Hmm, I guess I could use a nap." Fluttershy tried to lift herself from the chair, her legs quaking as they pushed down on the chair's arms. With Turquoise holding her, she slowly rose and hobbled toward the stairs. 

"Um, maybe you'd better sleep on the sofa tonight,"  Anthea said. Her horn lit up, as did the living room couch. The cushions began to stretch and rearrange themselves until a queen sized bed now stood in the center of the room.

"Oh my," Fluttershy exclaimed, her eyes widening. "You're quite talented."

"Thanks, I've studied under the princess."

Turquoise was helping Fluttershy into the makeshift bed. "Really? Maybe you know Twilight..."

She yawned once more, her eyelids heavy and drooping. Smiling weakly, Fluttershy pulled the quilt Turquoise placed over her to her neck. "I'm sorry we didn't get to talk much today, Spike," she said, patting the dragon-pony's claw. "I'd still like to hear about your and Rarity's day together."

"Uh, yeah." Turquoise rubbed the back of his head. "Sure."

Fluttershy turned to Anthea. "And it was a pleasure to meet you today, Miss, um..."

"Anthea."

"Anthea." Fluttershy closed her eyes. "What a lovely name." She became silent, and soon her soft snores were the only sounds in the cottage. She didn't stir as Turquoise bent over and swept the porcelain shards into a neat pile and cupped them in his claws.

"I'll start cleaning this place up," he whispered, standing up.

Anthea followed the clicks Turquoise's claws made against the floor as he went to dispose of the broken cup. "What should I do?" she asked.

Turquoise hesitated. He looked around the room for inspiration. "Do you have a spell for dusting?"

Anthea shook her head. "I mean, if you pointed me at what needed to be dusted, I could summon a breeze or something like that."

"That's okay. Oh, uh, you, could you watch over your mother, make sure sleeps alright?" 

Anthea raised an eyebrow. "Wait, you want me," she said, placing extra emphasis on the word, "to watch--"

Turquoise paled. "I mean, look, er, you know. Sorry."

The unicorn tried to muffle her giggle. "I know, you're just too easy to tease, even after all this time." She slowly approached Fluttershy's side. "I'll keep her company."

"If there's trouble, shout, okay?"

Anthea nodded. "Got it. Don't forget to feed the birds."

"Right, got it." 

Turquoise's footsteps grew softer and softer until they finally disappeared. Anthea turned to the old mare sleeping beside her. "Guess it just us now, Mom," she murmured. "Want to talk?"

As if in response, Fluttershy exhaled loudly. Anthea felt her warm breath and shivered. "Guess not."

Fluttershy's brow furrowed, and she started to frown. The blanket fell back to the ground as she started to flail weakly. Light from Anthea's horn shined over the pegasus, like a sunbeam, and she slowly relaxed. Her limbs fell back against her sides, and the frown disappeared, replaced by a content grin.

"Well, at least I can do that," Anthea muttered as she levitated the quilt off the floor and tossed it over Fluttershy. She couldn't tell how well she managed to cover the old mare or if she'd be warm enough like this. She considered calling Turquoise but immediately decided against it. "You'll be fine like this, won't you?" 

Fluttershy said nothing, responding only with a snore. Anthea sighed. She turned her head, as if scanning the room, before reaching out toward the sleeping pegasus. Her hoof timidly approached Fluttershy's, as if closing in on something scalding. When the blanket rustled as the pegasus turned in her sleep, Anthea froze and stood frozen for minutes before continuing closer. At last, she brushed against her mother's fur, as soft and as warm as she remembered. 

Carefully, Anthea's hoof descended down Fluttershy's foreleg until it reached the bottom. Her fetlock tightened around Fluttershy's, and, as she bent down to meet it halfway, Anthea slowly lifted Fluttershy's hoof and pressed it against her cheek. She waited, waiting for a loving caress or a playful pinch. Her heart soared when she suddenly felt pressure against her face, and it swiftly sank after Anthea realized that in desperation, she had simply pressed the hoof deeper into her cheek.

Even as water rolled down Anthea's cheek and against the hoof, wetting the yellow fur around it, Fluttershy barely stirred. Defeated, Anthea released the leg, letting the limb fall limply along Fluttershy's side. She sniffed and covered her face, forcefully holding back her tears and muffling her cries as her shoulders shook. Her horn began to glow, but Anthea's shaking only grew more violent, her sobs more audible, her face more stained.

Anthea suddenly felt something hard and warm press against her back as a pair of canvases draped themselves over her. She let her hooves fall as she turned and buried her face into Turquoise's chest. She screamed and screamed as he held her tightly until eventually, she grew slack in his arms. Slowly, Anthea pushed herself away from Turquoise to wipe her face.

"I'm alright," she insisted, anticipating the question. Turquoise could only nodded meaninglessly before walking over to the couch to fix Fluttershy's covering. 

"It's getting late," he said, looking to the window. Just in the horizon, he could see the setting sun painting the looming clouds above bright red. "We should go home, or do you think we should stay here in case something happens?"

Anthea sniffed and shook her head. "He'll take care of her, he said he would."

Turquoise frowned, clearly doubtful. "We haven't seen him all day, are you sure?"

"Mother trusted, trusts him. The princesses trust him," Anthea said as she got up. "Let's getting going. I'm not sure I can stay here much longer."

"Annie..."

The unicorn hissed as she bumped into the coffee table. "Could you help me to the door? I'm, I'm just tired, that's all."

"Sure." With one last glance back at the old mare sleeping away behind him, Turquoise held Anthea to his side and slowly guided her to the front door. The door creaked open, and both shivered as wind howled by. In the corner of his eye, Turquoise thought he spotted something slither by, but he had blinked, and the shadow had vanished.

"Hey, Annie, did you s--"

"Hmm? What was that, T?"

Turquoise cleared his throat. "Nothing, never mind." Instead he looked up and frowned at the clouds rapidly forming above. "Was there another storm scheduled today?"

"Oh, shoot." Anthea brought her hoof to her forehead. "Right, there was a mix up this week, and, well, it's a long story." 

One droplet had fallen onto Turquoise's snout, and he could already feel several more. "Tell me later, when we get home," he said, gently prodded Anthea forward. The two hurried off just as the clouds opened up, and the torrents were released. Fluttershy's cottage turned smaller and smaller until it disappeared, swallowed up by the rain and the dark as the skies turned to black.


*


Once again, Turquoise found himself dodging puddles as he followed the old dirt trail. There was no unicorn mare beside him this time to guide around mud, however, and his steps seemed heavier than before. Several times, he looked back toward the town, yearning to return home, but Anthea's stubborn insistence drove him forward.

She was right, of course, as always. Anthea could take care of herself, she had colds before; Fluttershy needed his help far more than she did. Still, Turquoise couldn't help but worry, even after their daughter promised to watch over her. 

Shaking his head, Turquoise tried to focus on the task before him, mentally listing a series of chores. Though he had successfully tidied the kitchen, much of the rest of the house was still a mess. He hadn't even seen the upper floor yet, and he tried not to imagine the state of Anthea's old bedroom.

The cottage drew closer, despite his slow, reluctant gait. As he passed the birdhouses, a few of their inhabitants peeked out at him. One brave songbird flew by and landed on the dragon-pony's shoulder, cheerfully chirping away. Several more joined the first, turning Turquoise into a walking bird post, and he couldn't help but laugh.

"Guess you guys recognize me from yesterday, huh?"

The first bird sang a few short notes in response before taking off. The others followed, leaving Turquoise's back covered in down and loose flight feathers. Shaking his shoulders to rid of the fluff, he continued toward the cottage door. With his claw around the door handle, Turquoise turned to his right, searching encouragement. Anthea was missing, of course, and slowly, Turquoise turned back to the door. 

"Alright," he muttered, tightening his grip on the door handle as his forelegs quaked. He pushed forward and stepped inside.

Their endeavors yesterday were not wasted; the floor was clear of debris, and Turquoise had little trouble making his way through Fluttershy's cottage. A few bits of clothing still hung over the seat of chairs, but everything else was in their proper place. Even the photos on the wall were dusted and gleaming, with Anthea's grin bringing out Turquoise's own. 

His eyes arrived at their wedding picture, preserved in a beautiful frame. Turquoise stared at the seemingly flawless craftsmanship. Had he repaired the frame before leaving last night? Odd, perhaps he had forgotten. He continued through the cottage.

Turquoise found Fluttershy in the living room, awake, alert, and standing, and he immediately froze as she turned around. She wore a small frown, and her brow was furrowed in confusion. Her lips moved as she spoke to herself silently. Her eyes widened as they fell on the strange looking intruder. Turquoise caught hold of his breath, trying to keep still as he waited for Fluttershy's reaction.

"Where have you been?" she said at last, her voice soft but surprisingly firm. Turquoise began to relax. "I've been looking everywhere for you, silly. Come on, it's time for breakfast."

Turquoise let Fluttershy nudge him toward the kitchen, where a small bowl sat on the floor. A few cucumber slices were inside the bowl. 

"There you are, a nice delicious salad," Fluttershy said before walking to the sink. She hummed as she wash her hooves. "Now I know how much you want to go out and play, but you have to eat first."

Turquoise picked up one of the cucumber slices and stared at it. 

"What's the matter, Angel? Don't you remember how much you love cucumbers?" 

He placed the vegetable in his mouth and started to chew. It was tasteless and left a sickly sweet aftertaste after he had swallowed. 

"You wouldn't stop eating them last week," Fluttershy said with a giggle. "Oh, I'm so glad Discord wasn't too upset when you stole his sandwich." She began to frown. "Still, that was an awful thing to do to a friend, and I want you to promise to apologize to him the first chance you get, understand?"

Turquoise started chewing the second slice. Fluttershy's eyes narrowed, and he immediately swallowed.

"Well?"

"I-I, uh, yeah, promise," Turquoise bumbled through. Fluttershy's glare vanished, and her smile returned. 

"That's good. It's nice to see everypony getting along. I hear Discord and Princess Celestia are spending a lot of time together." She sighed. "Maybe I should start look for a special somepony too."

Fluttershy's cheeks reddened, and she gasped and shook her head. "Oh, how silly. What am I thinking?" she said with a giggle. Fluttershy placed her forelegs over Turquoise's shoulders and pressed his head against her chest. "As long as I have you and all my friends, what more could I ever need?"

Silent seconds passed before she released Turquoise. "Is something wrong? You're being awfully quiet today."

"Uh, no, it's nothing," Turquoise answered, rubbing his claws together awkwardly. "But, um, what about children?" he asked suddenly. "Don't you want children of your own?"

"Children? I, I don't know." Fluttershy ran her hoof through her mane as it extended over the side of her face. "I guess I've been so busy later, I've never gave it much thought. Well, no, that's not exactly true," she admitted, brushing her mane back and tucking a few strands behind her ear. "I've always dreamed of taking care of a foal, telling them stories, tucking them in at bedtime, waking them in the morning with gentle nuzzles." Fluttershy smiled as she stared wistfully past Turquoise. "Oh, but don't worry, they'd never be able to replace you," she quickly assured, giving Turquoise another hug. "It's just a dream after all. I don't even have a stallion I like."

"You could adopt."

"Adopt?" Fluttershy tapped her chin. "I, yes, I could always adopt. But haven't I already, I mean, wasn't there already a--"

Turquoise rushed forward and caught her as she began to sway. She brought her hoof to her forehead and moaned. "I-it's alright, Angel. I'm just feeling a little dizzy. Could you help me sit down?"

"Yeah, hold on," Turquoise instructed. Holding onto the staggering pegasus, he made his way to the living room and helped Fluttershy onto the couch.

"Thank you, Turquoise. I think I'll just close my eyes for a few minutes." She yawned. "Don't worry, it's just for a few minutes."

"Yeah, o-okay."

"And don't tell Annie. I don't want her...to...worry..."

Soft snores slowly filled the room. Turquoise sat by the old mare's side for a few minutes before making his way to the kitchen on the tips of his claws, keeping his journey silent. He threw the remaining cucumbers into the compost bag and gave the bowl a light wash. Taking the bag of spoiling materials, Turquoise walked to the front door and went outside. He circled the cottage and emptied the bag onto a small ditch behind the house, then climbed over the fence and into Fluttershy's backyard. He made his way to a shed at the very corner where a large bag of bird feed sat waiting for him inside. With the bag secured to his back, Turquoise started back to the front of the cottage, toward the birdhouses.

He could hear the impatient chirps and squawks as he walked. A pair of birds suddenly ambushed him, flying around his head and pecking at the bag of seeds on his back. "Hold on," Turquoise said, waving them away. "Give me a second, alright?" 

"Annoying, aren't they?"

Turquoise turned toward the cottage entrance. There, leaning its head lazily against the door, sat a familiarly odd figure. Its mismatched legs were crossed while a paw and a talon sat folded over the creature's chest. Its outstretched tail served as a perch for a family of chickadees. The two bothersome birds left Turquoise and rested instead on the figure's horns.

"Oh, uh, um." Slowly, Turquoise set the bag of bird feed down and rubbed the side of his neck. "Uh..."

The creature shook his paw carelessly at him. "Don't worry about all that pomp and circumstance, Celestia knows I sure don't. Discord works fine." One eye, bright red within a gold ring, opened. "It's what my friends call me, after all."

"Ah, right." Turquoise coughed. "Well, uh, good afternoon."

Discord snorted. "Little Annie not here today?"

"She has a cold," Turquoise explained. "We got caught in the storm yesterday."

"Huh. Sucks."

"Yeah, it does."

The conversation ended, but neither the draconquus nor the dragon-pony moved. Seconds passed in silence, until the wind whistled by as it carried a tumbleweed between the two. Turquoise watched the mesh of branches roll by before clearing his throat.

"So, are you here to see Fluttershy?" he asked. 

The birds resting on him flew off as Discord shifted in his place. Sitting up, he was now eye level to the large dragon halfbreed standing in front of him. "See Fluttershy?" he repeated, his tone oddly steady and unemotional. With a low, mirthless chuckle, he shook his head.

"Are you alright?" Turquoise held up his claws and leaned back. "Sorry, I didn't mean to assume or anything, I just thought she'd might enjoy the company."

The laughter died away. "I bet your mom and pop told you all their little stories about how they save Equestria, huh?"

"Yeah, they, did," Turquoise answered cautiously. "Why?"

The smile Discord wore was forced. "Oh, no reason really. I was just wonder how dear old Fluttershy would react to seeing big bad Discord suddenly out of his stony prison after all the horrible things he made her and her friends do? Can you imagine what she'd do, how'd she react?" The smile grew wider but colder, more pained. "Oh, I'd bet it'd be chaotic."

The last word was spat out venomously. Turquoise swallowed but stood his ground even as soil Discord's spittle landed on sizzled. "She still remembers you, the reformed you I mean," he said, taking a step forward. "Fluttershy, she mentioned you and Princess Celestia being together. She remembers. I think she'd like to see you."

"I've been watching her for a while, you know," Discord said, giving no sign of registering Turquoise's words. "I've seen Fluttershy reminisce about her grandchildren fondly, then suddenly freak out because she surrounded by all these pictures of complete strangers. What she remembers and what time she lives in is pretty much random. I can't even begin to predict where she'll end up. Who knows what she'll remember me as, who she'll see me as." He turned to Turquoise. "You saw it yourself. One moment you're that inappropriately named rabbit, the next Fluttershy's calling you by name."

Turquoise's protest died before it grew into anything more than a desire. He lowered his head and closed his mouth. Discord was right. "Isn't there anything you can do? I mean, your magic, can't it heal her?"

"Heh, that'd better amazing, wouldn't it?" Discord muttered bitterly. He lifted his talon to his face and snapped. Turquoise squeezed his eyes shut, and his claws dug into the ground as he bracing himself.

"Nothing." 

Turquoise opened his eyes. He looked around but saw nothing out of the ordinary. When he looked to Discord for an explanation, the draconquus merely repeated himself:

"Nothing. There's nothing we can do but try to keep her comfortable. I mean, it's not all bad." Discord stretched and got up onto his feet. "We've still got our memories, so at least we know they happened, right? Even if Fluttershy can't remember them, or us, we've still got her up here, right?" He tapped his temple with a small, sad grin as Turquoise held a claw over his heart.

"Memories," he muttered. "They never last, do they?"

"No idea," Discord answered with a shrug. "They're a funny little phenomenon, memories. I mean, you're a hare today, dragon tomorrow."
> Our Little Escape
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


The town was crowded. It normally was this time of day, this time of year. The sun had just begun its daily descent, and ponies rushed from house to house, store to store, doing their best to finish their errands before the chilly autumn evening arrived. Friends and acquaintances greeted one another as they passed by, and those who had the minutes to spare carried their conversations through the entire journey through town. Every now and then, a pony would bump into another, as one would expect in such a crowded town, but this was Ponyville, and such accidents were resolved with a few simple apologies from both parties.

Even Api, as impatient as she was, held back the immediate urge to snap at the clumsy stallion that had trotted into her and caused her to drop her bag of caramelized carrots. 

"Sorry, sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going," the stallion said hurriedly as his magical glow cleansed each carrot before depositing them back into the brown paper bag. Api was bent over beside him, picking up the books scattered around.

"Nose deep in a book 'gain?" Api clicked her tongue. "That's a bad habit, Nighty."

Night Light Jr. rubbed the back of his head as he laughed weakly. "Sorry, I was just in the middle of--"

"Some important discovery that'll change the entire way we look at horseshoes and scented candles, no doubt," Api droned dully. "Aw, loosen up," she said when Night Light started to pout. She stuck his shoulder playfully, her grin widening as she saw the stallion wince. "Look, I'm sure it'd be pretty interesting if I understood a lick of what you were talkin' 'bout, but I don't so it ain't."

"You shouldn't say that so assuredly. You're smarter than you give yourself credit, you know." The unicorn paused for a moment before smirking. "But, you're probably right."

Api chuckled. "So, uh--"

"I think we should get off street," Night Light said. "We're blocking traffic." He passed the paper bag to Api before gathering his books. "Anyways, it was good to see you, but I have get going."

"Hold on." Api stopped him with a grab at the blue and purple scarf around his neck. Her hoof retreated and quickly adjusted her own. "So, uh..." She cleared her throat. "Cider this Friday?"

There was a sad tilt in Night Light's smile. "You're leaving that morning, remember?"

"Oh, right." Api tucked her muzzle under the scarf, hiding behind the pattern of pies knitted into the green weave.

"Maybe when you get back." He turned away and breathed heavily, his breath visible in the cold fall air. "It's going to be a pretty quiet with you away, not to mention Echo's--" 

Api looked up in time to catch Night Light rub his eyes. "Anyways, I-I'll see you at the tomorrow, I-I mean, at the party tomorrow. You'll be there, right?"

She couldn't help but snort. "Like I'd miss my own farewell party."

"Good. There's, uh, something I want to give. To you I mean." With a stack of books floating next to him, Night Light smiled awkwardly. "See you then."

"Yeah."

They separated, and soon, Night Light Jr. disappeared into the crowd, moving deeper into Ponyville, toward the castle that served as his home. Api Apple walked in the opposite direction, toward the edge of the town, where fewer ponies wandered the streets. She continued to move just as slowly however, with her head low and her bag crushed against her. 

The paved road transitioned to a dirt one, and the buildings and shops that made up much of the town were replaced with small houses and trees. The red and gold leaves crunched in protest underneath Api's hooves as she followed the trail. 

The wind howled by, and Api tightened her scarf. "Wish I had a hat," she muttered as the wind blew her mane to and fro. She trudged forward.

The farmhouse in the distance grew larger as she drew closer. She walked around the wooden fence that surrounded their land, under the little archway that said Sweet Apple Acres, past the orchard trees stripped of their fruits and leaves. There, just to the side, was a little sign with the faded image of a red cherry, designating Red June's section of the farm. It was a little odd, well, at least Api found it odd, how similar her cousin's cherry trees and the rest of the family's apple trees looked when naked. 

Maybe, when she returned, she would find those bare branches adorned with thousands of tiny white snowflakes or maybe with white and pink blossoms. Maybe even fruit. She shook the thought away and moved on.

Api sniffed at the air. The faint scent of apple cinnamon pie was there, traveling all the way from the farmhouse. Light peeked out of every window, and she could hear laughter and hoofsteps, the unintelligible rumble of conversation, the creaking of the kitchen floor board, all the sounds of life and family. If she tried hard enough, if she strained her ears, maybe she could distinguish the airy Trottingham lift of her father's from the warm and comforting twang of her mother, aunt, uncle, and cousin. 

Was her cousin-in-law there as well? Api couldn't remember if Prince Valiant Heart had been visiting, but if Red June was here, so was her prince. Api sighed, then smirked. She took a step toward the house when a sudden gust flew by and snatched away her scarf, carrying it away.

The bag fell to the ground. Api tore after the scarf, her visible breath flowing past her like mist. Her heart reached a crescendo as it flew higher and higher. She lowered her head and broke into a full gallop. Her knees bent as she prepared to launch herself after the scarf.

As suddenly as it appeared, the wind vanished. The scarf dropped. Api caught it before it could fall into the dirt. Breathing heavily, she brought the scarf to her face and sniffed. "Granny."

She wrapped it around her neck and pulled until it hurt to swallow. She tried to loosen it ever so slightly, then simply tightened it again. This was fine, Ape decided before looking around. The farmhouse was behind her; she had passed it and had gone deeper into Apple property. It was still familiar territory, for her at least. Api had spent a good part of her life here after all. She patted the worn down ramp leading to the little house sitting in a tree. 

So many memories. So many adventures. It had been her little escape from the monotony of daily life, from the endless farm chores and school-related woes, where she and her friends could plan and prepare. The paint had long since peeled away, but Api still found her clubhouse, their clubhouse, beautiful.

The wood creaked in protest as her hoof pressed on the ramp, and she hesitated. Api scowled at herself. Cowardice and hesitancy didn't suit her. She leapt onto the ramp and charged forward. She half-expected the whole thing to collapse under her weight, she wasn't a filly anymore after all, but it stood as it had faithfully years and years ago. 

The doorway had gotten smaller, no, she had gotten bigger. Api had to duck down as she pushed open the door, which scraped against the floor. The hinged squeaked, begging for grease. It was like hearing a foal cry. Api's heart broke.

She had expected the place to be dusty, dark, and deserted. It was indeed dusty, but it wasn't dark enough to hide how deserted the clubhouse wasn't. "What are you two doing here?"

The unicorn and the pegasus looked up, startled, then looked toward each other, embarrassed. "Oh, you know." Pixel tittered. "Trying to surprise you."

Api raised an eyebrow. "Well, color me surprised. Not sure how you'd figure I be comin' here. I wasn' even plannin' on it."

"No, we were trying to find you something to take with you," Pixel explained. "You know, to remember us by."

Api's mouth fell open. "Oh, c'mon, Ponyville'll only be a day away by train. I can visit anytime after I get settled," she protested. "You don' think I'd actually forget 'bout ya'll, do you?"

"A lot could happen, even in just a few months," Pixel responded excitedly. She began to pace. "A few months could become a few more months, and then a few years! Maybe somepony makes you an offer you can't refuse. Maybe you end up in debt and have to change your identity and everything. What if you fall in love?" She gasped and rushed to Api, placing her hooves on her shoulders. "What then? Did you ever think of that, Admiral?"

"Pixel, I don't--"

"Think about it! You meet a stallion. You date. You have his foal. He leaves you, and you can't come home out of shame. How are you going to find time to remember us when you're busy working yourself to the bone, trying to support yourself and your child? How, Api, how?"

"Pix--"

"How?"

"Let me breath!" Api pushed her away, her face red. "Calm the bloody el down, would you? You really think that'd happen to me? Me, of all mares, falling for some tosser who got too much blood going to one bloody head and not enough to the one that matters?"

"Well, maybe." Pixel rubbed the back of her head. "No, I guess not." She hung her head shamefully. "Sorry, I guess I wasn't thinking straight."

Api smiled and helped the mare back up onto her feet. "You rarely do, Pixel," she said, her rural accent returning. The smile wavered. "Don' go changin' that while I'm gone, you hear. I want to see Pixel Bit bein' as awkward as I remember her when I get back."

"I'm not that awkward." Still, Pixel smiled. "You'll write, right?"

"Course. You'd better too." Api turned to the pegasus. "Both of you, alright? I wanna hear about everythin' happening in Ponyville and Cloudsdale."

Pixel sniffed as Echo stepped forward and nodded. The three mares shared a smile before huddling into an embrace. Seconds passed by, along with the cool autumn air, and the three drew even closer, tightening their holds around one another. Finally, they separated. "So," Api said, rubbing the back of her neck before clearing her throat. "So, find anything interesting?"

"Not much," answered Echo. "We cleaned this place out pretty thoroughly. Found some candy wrappers and a few toy parts. Oh, and this."

She held up a shabby old square of cloth. Once upon a time, it might have had a magnificent ruby hue with a lovely golden lining that glimmered in the light. There had been the crest of a purple shield masterfully stitched to the back with a large gold S in the middle. Pixel's mother had always asserted that she had done most of the work, with a little help from her sister the seamstress, though the mysterious smile Pixel's aunt wore convinced the three otherwise. 

Mrs. Rarity would have likely fainted at sight of her creation now. The color had faded to a pinkish gray. Stray strands of fabric stretched out from the side, trying to escape. The gold lining had grown dull and dusty. The shield's stitches were beginning to stick out, and the S, while still readable, if a bit indistinguishable from the number five, had lost its shine. 

"Is, is that..." Api's hoof was hesitant. When Echo gave the cloth to her, she held it at leg length. 

"It's our old cape," Echo said. "I'm not sure whose it is. Pixel can't remember where hers is, and, well, neither can I." She sighed. "Is it yours?"

"I-I don't know," Api stammered. "It's, it's been so long, I think I forgot, I mean..." She took a deep breath. "Geez, I can't even remember what the S stood for."

Pixel placed an assuring hoof on Api's shoulder. "Hey, it's fine. We get it, it's been a while. I mean, can you remember the last time we had a meeting together at the clubhouse?"

"It's always at Sugar Cube Corner or town hall or something like that these days." Echo walked to the entrance and ran her hoof along the old rotting door frame. "Last time I remember hanging in here was when we were still foals."

"What're you talkin' about?" Api demanded. "Pretty sure we were all teenagers last time we were all here. Remember, the Nightmare Night dance party? Trying to set Nightly and Icy up with dates?"

"Wait, with each other? Since when? Are they still--"

"No! Come on, Pix," Api groaned. "Icy ended up with you, then Echo went with Nightly."

"Hmm, no." Pixel folded her forelegs over her chest. "I think I'd remember going out with Mr. Cool Guy."

"Oh, right, I remember now." Echo laughed. "Icy didn't know about your sugar problem and took you out candy collecting before the dance began. He ended up giving the best sweets to you."

"'Sweets for the sweets'," Api said extravagantly before breaking into a laugh. Echo grinned.

"Exactly. Anyways, you ended up destroying half of Ponyville after picking a fight with a Ursa Major, crashed and went comatose, then woke up two days later with no memory."

Pixel tapped her chin. "Huh, that would explain why Mom still won't let me out on Nightmare Night without super supervision. Oh!" A giant smile lit across her face. "I remember the last time we met here," she sang.

"Really?" Api ran through her memories. She frowned. "When?"

"Well, okay, so it was really only me and Echo, but--"

"Oh, Celestia," Echo groaned, shaking her head.

"What?" Api turned to Echo, then back to Pixel. "What?"

"Well, remember that one Hearts and Hooves day?" Pixel asked. "The one where you just happened to run into Nightly while on the way to the library while he just so happened to be looking for a mare to help him test a new 'intelligence sharing' potion that he just so happened to discover that day in a book that just so suddenly appeared at the top of his reading list?"

Api's jaw fell. "You serious? You mean the two of you were responsible for the whole love poison fiasco? Seriously? You two are the worst. I couldn't look Night Light in the eye for a whole month!"

"It couldn't have been more than a week," Echo disputed. "Remember, he asked you out the following weekend."

A bright red glow gleamed across Api's face. "It was just milkshakes!"

"And Winter Wrap Up that year?" Pixel questioned with a knowing smile.

"That was as friends! We're friends, nothing wrong with hanging out with friends."

"What about that one Hearth's Warming eve?" Echo added in.

"W-we got caught up in the moment, that's all! I mean, with the music and all that mistletoe following us around, we--" Api gasped. "Was that you too? Agh!"

"Hey, we learned from the best," Pixel snickered, poking at Api's side. 

"Pft, yeah right," Api scoffed. "Come on, remember getting Prince Valiant and my cousin alone together right beneath her favorite cherry tree just as it began to flower? Petals and bird songs in the air, floating around a perfect pair." She smirked. "Now that's perfection."

"Ugh, this place was wallpapered with charts that entire week," Echo groaned, bringing a hoof to her forehead. "That was almost as bad as your huge romance web or whatever you called it."

"Oh geez." Pixel giggled. "I can't believe I forgot about that. Remember how I kept getting caught in the yarn? Oh!" The unicorn gasped and clapped her hooves together. "I think I know what the S stands for!"

"You do?" Api leaned forward excitedly. "What is it? What is it?"

"Shipping!"

Pixel's triumphant smile was met with confused frowns. Her friends looked to each other, only to receive the same blank look in return. They slowly turned back to the mare hopping before them, looking expectantly. "Eh? Eh?" Pixel prompted.

"What do boats have to do with anything?" Echo asked, her eyebrows raised.

"I think she's talkin' 'bout makin' deliveries," Api ventured.

"What? No, it's, um, you know." Pixel waved her hoof around desperately in Api's face. "You know, ships? Shipping? Admiral?"

Api rubbed the back of her head, "Yeah, see, I never really got that nickname."

"Seriously?"

"I just figured that was just you were bein' you." Api shrugged. "Besides, I'd have figured the S had somethin' to do with adventure. I mean, remember all those fun times we had?" The mare smiled fondly as she stared past her friends, at the blank dirty wall that had once been covered in posters and lists of activities. "Snorkeling in the lake, exploring that old abandoned cave, looking for diamond dogs, catching vampire fruit bats, climbing Princess Twilight's castle..."

Echo rolled her eyes. "Starburst got so angry at us for that one."

"Well, we did end up breaking the window to her room," Pixel snickered. 

"...dragon taming..."

Pixel and Echo suddenly shuddered. "Yeah, let's not relive that memory," Echo said, her throat tightening.

"Oh, it wasn' that bad," Api scoffed. "Mr. Spike was a great sport, and we even got a few good shots in."

"Yeah, but remember what Claire did?" Pixel whispered, her eyes darting side to side as if her half-dragon cousin could appear at any moment.

"Okay, yeah, well, it was fun while it lasted, right?" Api laughed weakly and withered under Pixel and Echo's glares. "Okay, bad example, but the important thin' was that we tried and had fun and that Pixel's mane only took a week to grow back. Now that was an adventure."

Pixel and Echo exchanged looks before breaking into grins. "I guess we did have our share of adventures," Echo said as she leaned against the wall. "A good number of close shaves."

Pixel joined her. "We've had some good times together, the three of us," she agreed.

Api suddenly plopped herself between the two and wrapped her forelegs around their shoulders. "And we're gonna have a bunch more. Adventure's still out there, just waiting for us." She stretched her hooves forward, reaching out. "There's just still so much to see. Equestria's a huge place. C'mon gals, next stop, Appleloosa!"

Echo shifted uncomfortably. "Um, Api--"

"Out on the frontier, where the buffalo roam. A land brimmin' with danger." Api laughed. "C'mon, can ya'll picture it? Stampedin' with the local buffalo, drivin' horse drawn carriages, racin' bandits and protectin' crops from thieves." She took a deep breath. "Can't you smell the adventure?"

"Api, we won't be there, remember?"

Api's mouth hung open in silence at Pixel's words. Slowly, her wild smile faded. Her forelegs dropped to her sides, and she let herself slump down against the wall. "Oh." 

"I mean, it still sound freaking amazing," Pixel quickly added, "a-and boy, I can't wait to hear all about it. In your letters, I mean." She swung her hoof as enthusiastically as she could.

"You guys won' be there." Api swallowed. "This, I don', is this really gonna be a solo adventure? I-I mean, we've always had them together."

"Well, Appleloosa's a pretty, uh, relatively big town, right? It's not like you won't be around other ponies." Pixel's smile was strained, forced. "You can always find somepony else while you're there."

"But we won' be together!" Api snapped, causing Pixel to cringe. The earth pony's features immediately softened her. "Sorry, it's just, it's always been the three of us, or two of us, or two of us plus Icy and sometimes Nighty and occasionally the Pie twins. I'm with one of you, anyways. And, and..." Her breaths came out in short, quick bursts. She began to shake as she fought to keep the watering of her eyes from becoming tears.

"It won't be the same without us, without me and Pixel." Echo placed a comforting hoof on Api's shoulder. "That's what you're thinking, right?" 

Api nodded. She rubbed her eyes furiously. She suddenly rushed forward as Echo's touch became an embrace. "E-Echo?"

"It's just until your cousin Braeburn recovers," she heard the pegasus say quietly. "You'll be back in no time, so don't worry, please."

"Hey, she's right." This time, Pixel Bit's smile appeared more relaxed, more natural. "And like you said, Appleloosa's, what, just a day away by train? It's not like you can't visit us."

"Not everyday." Api's gaze was lowered to the floor. "Maybe not even every week. I might end up too busy to see ya'll. And soon Echo'll be up in Cloudsdale, so who knows when we'll all be together 'gain." Her entire figure seemed to sink. "It just won' be the same as before."

"We're not the same as before. Nothing is," Echo said with a sigh. "You're taking over the Apple farm, least until your cousin gets better, I'm going to Cloudsdale to study. We're all growing up now, I guess. We're not fillies anymore." Echo patted the dusty old floor board below her. "It's been nice, but now, well..." Slowly, she stood up. Pixel and Api watched as Echo made her way to the clubhouse exit. She looked over her shoulder, toward her friends. "Maybe it's time to move on, you know?"

Pixel and Api watched Echo leave. They heard her hoofsteps fall against the creaking boards. The two simply sat there, staring at the spot Echo had been, until Api, wiping at her eyes, climbed to her feet and ran forward. The tattered cloth fluttered to the ground, right beside Pixel.

When she got to the threshold, to the boundary between the clubhouse interior and the outside, Api hesitated. She shook her head and forced herself forward. Cowardice and hesitancy didn't suit her, never did, but despite the determine glare she wore, Api found herself moving slowly, very slowly, down the ramp. She stopped and looked back.

It wasn't the clubhouse she remembered. That one stood tall and proud, like a castle. This was rundown and dull, its beauty faded and fading. Perhaps one day, the door would swing smoothly and the floorboards would stop creaking and everything would be painted in a new shiny coat. Api took a deep breath and charged down.

Echo stood at the bottom, waiting, stepping out of the way when Api jumped the rest of the way down. Api made her way beside Echo. They turned to the doorway and waited.

"Hey, Echo? Sorry."

The pegasus blinked. "Sorry? About what?" 

"I, well, I guess I just kept makin' this about me, but you're goin' through the same stuff' I am." Api looked up into the sky. Stars twinkled and winked as they looked from above. "Honesty, I'm feelin' mighty jealous of how well you're takin' everythin'."

"Please." Echo released an empty laugh. "I'm downright terrified about going to Cloudsdale. I mean, I've lived on the surface my entire life, now I'm about to spend the next two years in the clouds with ponies who might not even know what a rabbit looks like." She shuddered. "I'm scared, Api, real scared."

"Well, you're doin' a fine job of hiding it."

Echo's eyes met Api's. "Remember all those adventures we've had, the ones that were actually kind of dangerous? You'd always act tough, tell us all these encouraging words. You've always made me feel braver, you know?" Echo smiled. "Guess it was time to return the favor."

The smile was shared briefly before both turned back to the clubhouse just in time to see Pixel Bit tumble out and miss the ramp. "Pixel!" they shouted, rushing toward the fallen mare curled among the orange leaves.

"Pix, you okay?" Api asked. She helped the unicorn up and dusted her, checking for bruises and cuts.

"Y-yeah, of course," Pixel said, her voice cracking. She quickly ran her foreleg against her eyes, brushing away tears. "I-it's me, remember? At, at least I'm not on fire or anything." She tried to laugh.

Api looked up from her fussing and frowned. "Pixel, what's wrong?" 

"It's just, I don't know if I'm ready to move on or grow up or whatever, okay?" Pixel held up the dirty, old cape and pressed it against her chest. "I don't want things to change. I want us to stay together, always. I want us to stay friends. Please," she sobbed into the cloth, "please stay with me."

Api stood on her right, Echo on her left. Both mares leaned toward the crying unicorn as she hid her face with the old cloth and held onto her. "Pixel, we can't," Echo said quietly. "There're things we need to do on our own."

Api gently removed the cloth from Pixel's face. "Sorry, Pixel. I wish we could all stay together like this too, but Echo's right. That's jus' how life works, I guess, it changes. But hey, you remember why you came here for, don' you?"

Pixel shook her head. She looked to Api expectantly.

"You tryin' to find somethin' I could remember ya'll by." Api chuckled. "C'mon, you really think I'd forget you and Echo? You think Echo'll forget the two of us?" She grinned. "Naw and nope. Life'll change, right? Not a whole lot you can do 'bout that."

"But that doesn't mean we can't still be friends," Echo finished. She smiled as well. "Maybe we won't be living in the same town, and maybe we won't see each other everyday--"

"But we'll still have each other. And besides..." Api stepped away. She moved toward the decrepit, dull clubhouse, their clubhouse. "No matter how long I stay in Appleloosa, Ponyville'll still be my home. No matter where we end up, we'll still have Ponyville." She playfully prodded Pixel's forehead. "We'll still have each other." 

The unicorn wiped away the last of her tears and returned Api's smile. Api draped the tattered, old cloth over the ramp leading to the clubhouse.

"And we'll always have our little S cape."