> The Earth Ponies
>  by RomanCandle
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1 -- Wondering
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Did you hear? About Twilight Sparkle!"
"Who hasn't heard? Isn't it amaaaazing?"
"I know right? I can't believe she turned into an Alicorn!"
"I know! Wouldn't it be awesome if one of the Princesses came and gave me wings?"
"Oh oh oh what if Luna gave me a horn? That'd be soooo awesome. I could, like, make things explode."
"That's not how it works."
"Well you don't just get to fly from sprouting wings. It takes a lot of practice, and, and...and skill!"
"But Princess Twilight could fly fine right after she grew hers, and I saw a baby pegasus flying all over."
"That's different!"
"Nu-uh!"
"Yeah huh!"
"Nu-uuhhhhh!"

A pink filly smiled at the growing, silly argument, trying not to giggle. It was funny how every filly at school had gone princess-crazy after Celestia's personal student had been "promoted." Most fillies wouldn't talk about anything else, and spent recess pretending that the Princesses had swooped down, seen their personal plights against unfair parenting, and rewarded them for their incredible valor and strength of spirit with the crown of a princess. Even some of the colts, despite brushing it off as "too girly", could be seen glossy eyed at times, thinking about the power, prestige, and popularity that would come out of being the first [and only] male Alicorn prince.

Half Note brushed her blue mane out of her eyes and curled up in the morning sun. She picked up a small stick in her mouth and began to doodle in the dirt. She was pretty sure her special talent wasn't drawing, but it was something she enjoyed doing. At least when she was bored.

She scribbled down a few lines and had drawn a small, scratchy pony—herself, as best she could do without colors. She stopped and looked around to make sure none of her friends were watching, and then drew in a crown, wings, and horn. She'd done a very good job of not falling prey to the Princess Craze, and didn't want anybody to think she was anything but content with what she was. She sighed and looked closely at her drawing, and the blank flank of the Princess she secretly wanted to be. 

What would I be princess of? She wondered. Celestia and Luna, everypony knew as the Princesses of the Sun and Moon, Day and Night respectively. Princess Cadance was known to have Love magic nearly perfected where most average unicorns could hardly manage it, and Twilight Sparkle had discovered (or invented, depending on which Theory of Magic you prescribed to—Half Note was not a scholar) the Magic of Friendship, they had already been called the Princesses of such. 

What could I do so specially or different that would make me a princess? Half Note scrunched her face up. It would probably be easier to figure out if she had her cutie mark. Maybe she could look at some of the other foals, and get an idea.

There was one with a tornado, and another with some clouds. Weather? No, the pegasi did that already, and how would she learn about that, anyway? Half Note was an Earth Pony—she couldn't get up in the sky.

There was a unicorn with some jewels—but the closest Half Note could get to that was mining or Rock Farming, and nopony really liked doing that, to the point that if someone offered Half Note wings, a horn, and a crown, but only if she were to be the Princess of Rock Farming, she would politely decline. Well, she could cut and polish precious stones if she tried really hard, but that's not really "Princess" material.

Apples...Flowers...Feathers...Sport cutiemarks...Nopony really had anything that seemed good enough for Princesshood. Half Note looked at the scribbled Alicorn version of herself and wiped it out of the dirt with her hoof, trying to hide her moist eyes from absolutely nopony, because nopony was looking and she wasn't crying anyway.

It's not fair, that all the cool talents need magic or wings to do. Even if I could be an alicorn, what would I do? Grow flowers?Spin in circles? It'd be more embarrassing than fun. She stared at the grass so hard she didn't notice the orange unicorn foal running towards her till she stepped on her favorite blade of grass.

"Half Note! Hi! Whatcha doin? Are ya sick? Your nose is scrunchy."

"Oh, uh, hi Firelock. I was just listening to those guys talking about Twilight and Alicorns and Princesses and stuff." She waved off to the side.

The orange unicorn blinked and pulled her red hair out of her green eyes, squinting. "Who, now?"

Half Note blinked and looked over where she'd gestured. The group of ponies who had been chatting had gone off and were now pretending to zap each other with their mighty Princess Powers. She blushed. Oops.

"Oh uh...I guess I got lost in my thoughts. Ahaha..." She rubbed the back of her head, hoping her coat hid her red face.

It didn't, really. Firelock stared at her friend.
"I dunno whatcha were thinking about, but you should probably stop, or your pretty pink coat will turn bluer than your mane and eyes combined. Then we'll have to call you, like, Blues. And that's a colt's name."

The little earth pony chuckled. "Okay, you win. What's up with you, then?" She stood up and brushed the dirt off her belly.
"...Or we could call you Deep Blue cuz you turned blue from being so lost in thought and then because of your name you'd turn into a seapony and we'd have to keep you in a tank because we're in the middle of Equestria and there's no salt water anywhere nearby so if we didn't you'd choke and die if we didn't."

"What."

"You could be the class pet!" The unicorn was smiling and bouncing up and down. "And then ponies from across the world would come here just to see the Seapony and you'd be famous and I'd be famous and Tornado even because she's friends with us and then we'd be so rich and famous you'd be so happy you'd stop being sad and then we'd have to call you Half Note again, and then you'd stop being a Seapony and because you'd be in a tank you'd drown and then we'd all be sad and turn blue and into Seaponies until eventually everyone died from sadness."

Half Note stared open mouthed at her friend, who had pushed her nose up into her face. All she saw was big green eyes—dead serious green eyes.

"I...I was just thinking about how it's not fair that Earth Ponies don't really have any magic"

A triumphant grin from the orange unicorn. "Is that all? You know Earth Ponies have magic, silly—nopony can make things grow like an Earth Pony, and even Canterlot Castle was built by Earth Ponies because they're the best at it. You just have a more subtle magic than Pegasi or Unicorns. It's nothing to be saaaad about." Every part of the sentence was emphasized by wide, dramatic gestures and faces, ending with an accusatory hoof-pointing.

"Well yeah, everyone knows that, Lock. But, like, Pegasi can fly and change the weather, and Unicorns can get their horns to do just about anything...Any pony, pegasi and unicorns included, can build things or dig rocks or get things to grow—heck, the Everfree forest does that without any ponies at all. Earth ponies can't touch the clouds or levitate or make things explode like unicorns and pegasi, let alone do anything as awesome as raise the sun or invent new magic like the Princesses..."

"Is that what this is about? I didn't think you'd be the one to get all mopey about not being a Princess." Half Note shrunk back under the skeptic stare of her friend.

"Well uh it's not like I really want to be a Princess or anything, but I was thinking about how Princess Cadance and Luna and Celestia and Twilight all have Cutie Marks for big awesome things like the Sun and Moon and Love and Friendship and an Earth Pony can't really get a talent like that." She twirled her hoof in the dirt, catching a line that she knew was a feather from her earlier doodle and returning it to dust.

"Hmmm...Okay, I guess you've got a point. But there's all kinds of talent out there—Pinkie Pie's talent is making ponies laugh and smile, and there are plenty of Earth Ponies who sing or make art—They could become an Alicorn of Happiness or Music or Arts, or even of Growth. Or something. I dunno." She shrugged and blew a lock of red hair out of her eyes. "Look, if it's bugging you that much, why don't we just go look up stuff about Alicorns and the different types of Pony Magics, and then I'll prove to you that it's totally possible for an Earth Pony to do something awesome enough to become a Princess. We'll even get Tornado Bolt to come with us—reading is the only thing that gets her to sit still."

Half Note smiled and sighed. Firelock was impossible sometimes, but she was a really, really good friend. "Okay, but after school? I don't wanna be late for class."

As if on cue, the bell rang, calling the children in. Both fillies jumped, looked at each other, then laughed as they raced for the door. Half Note felt better as she took her seat among the other children. Even if she didn't really ever expect to be an Alicorn, it made her feel better to think that maybe, just maybe, she could—and the promise of finding out later was just what she needed. She'd go to the Library with Firelock and Tornado Bolt after school and learn things and maybe even find her special talent after learning about what kind of magic Earth Ponies had. 

It was a perfect plan, and was going to be a great day. She could feel it.
	
> Chapter 2 -- Research
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Is this really all there is?"

Tornado Bolt grunted under the pile of books she was balancing on her front hooves, her purple mane swaying as she tried to keep her footing.

"Only? Sheesh Firelock, I've got a whole stack here."
"But this is really it? All of the stuff on Pony Magic and alicorns?" The unicorn raised her hooves above her head and bugged her eyes out at the grayish pegasus, who slumped and let the stack topple onto the table.

"Well there would be more if you let me get some of the fiction books. There's this one novel I really liked where the world started with Draconiqueseseseses..." the filly stumbled on the lengthy name, then coughed. "...Draconiqui."

"We're not looking for stories, Tornado! We're doing research, like big, important ponies! We need cold, hard, facts!" The last word was punctuated by a hoof slamming on the table. A small purple dragon poked his head around the corner.

"Hey! Quiet! It's a library in here, you know! Just cause Twilight's off doing some princessy stuff with her friends doesn't mean you can be loud! I am...doing important things, and need some quiet." Spike ducked back into the room.

"Sorry." Firelock muttered, hushing her voice. "I just hope Half Note shows up already, I figured she'd be here before we got all the books on the topic, but then I didn't expect there to be so few..." She picked one up out of the pile. "Ugh, what is this, even? It looks like politics."

"That's probably because it is. Most of the books that talk about Alicorns are political shmargon. Or novels, but you didn't wanna hear about how awesome that one with Harmony in Tartarus--"

"You can tell me later, sheesh! I like a good story as much as the next pony but--"

"Sorry I'm late, guys. I mentioned this to Cheerilee in the hopes I'd get extra credit for it but now she wants me to write a whole paper." Half Note squeezed up to the table.

"WHAT."

"...You didn't mention us, did you, Half Note?" Tornado twiddled her hooves.

"I DIDN'T WANNA WRITE A WHOLE PAPER I JUST WANTED TO PROVE A POINT." Firelock's face put down roots in the table as she groaned.

"Relax, guys, I just couldn't get her to stop talking about all the...the uh...the 'merits such a research project would have on the growth and understanding of all the foals in the classroom to the various natures of magic' or something. She went on and on about it for a while before I was able to leave." She walked up to the table and put her saddlebags down. "So, is this what you've got? It's a good start."

"It's all we could find that wasn't fiction." Tornado commented. "If we wanted more, we'd have to order from another library." the purple pegasus shrugged.

"Oh. Well, okay, I'll see what this one is about..." Half Note picked up a thick, red bound book. "...Princesses in Politics: A Comprehensive Study on the Gender and Racial roles in Equestrian Government. Well, I guess this is as good a place to start as any." She sat down and opened it.

"Woah woah woah. Are you gonna read through the WHOLE thing, or use the index like a smart filly?" Firelock jumped onto the table and pointed an accusatory hoof. Tornado calmly used her own to lower it.

"She's being thorough, Lock. Like a big, important pony. Now if you don't mind, I'm gonna skim through "From the Founders to Fillydelphia". It looks like it should cover the different types of magic pretty well." The orange unicorn blushed a bit, then picked up a smaller book herself.

"Okay, then, I'll start with 'Winter Wrap Up -- Technique and Traditions.' But if it gets too boring and politic-y, just skip to the parts that sound relevant. Not nearly enough ponies remember that, and it's such a lifesaver."

Her friends did not respond, both of them sitting with their faces buried in their large books. Firelock groaned, then settled down to look at the diagrams.





"...So whereas the Earth ponies traditionally used their inherent traits of strength, stewardship, and durability to prepare the Earth for the return of spring--as heralded by the Pegasi since the days of old--Unicorn magick has been found to be just as effective and often much more efficient. Naturally, the planting and growing has been left to those most skilled at it, but it is often with the aid of magical devices. In areas with a high population density of Earth ponies, it is often traditional to use as little outside magic as possible in keeping with traditions..."





"...and at which point, it was decided that for their incredible wisdom and aid in the Battle of Discord, Celestia and Luna would be appointed to rule the schism-ed Nation of Equestria. By setting up the infrastructure of the bit and beginning construction of the Everfree Citadel, they ushered in an era of untold peace and prosperity, which allowed the cultures within to flourish, leading the Spartan Pegasi to convert their militaristic lifestyle to athletic rigor and sportsponyship. The unicorns also greatly profited -- no longer having to collectively channel their energies into moving the celestial bodies their Diarchy now managed, they uncovered untold potential in their telekinesis and innate magical abilities, and were able to bring to Equestria the arts and sciences in ways that had never been possible before. This time period of growth and harmony became known as the Pre-Classical Era, famous for it's conjurers..."





"...And despite numerous couplings between the three races leading to diverse bloodlines, nopony has been known to be born with both wings and horn. Even rumours and accusations indicating illegitimate royal parentage have only included Unicorn foals--all known attempts at such were reclaimed by their respective mothers, much to the chagrin of the fathers who purported the claims initially--and on a single occasion a pegasus with a shed stag's horn adhered to its forehead, which fell off during the mandatory magical checkup. The child was taken to foster care. Suggestions have been made that, much like the elusive Hippogryph, an Alicorn may be procured from an unusual paring. Included in the list of attempts to be made were manticores and dragons, to which, understandably, there were no willing volunteers. Why, then, do we entrust the helm of our fair nation to such an unstable life force, that may or may not even be of pony blood? Why has there yet to be a male leader worthy of note who was not shut down by our 'benevolent' alicorn leaders? Were King Sombra and Discord really the tyrants that our dustiest history texts indicate them to be, or were the Great Sisters merely preventing a stallion from taking the helm..."





"Ugh..." Half Note held her head in her hooves, and stared at the pile of read books they had accumulated. What hadn't been chock full of useless political jargon had been pure speculation or conspiracy theories with hardly a spark of evidence behind their outrageous claims. After going through most of the promising ones, the fillies had agreed to swap out and re-read each others books, in case one of them missed something. It had taken her three days to get through "Princess and Politics", and she came out with nothing more than an apologetic feeling towards every stallion ever and an extreme dislike of the author's tone. They'd been at this a week now, and aside from the headaches, all they'd gotten was that no Alicorn birthings or parentage had ever been recorded, all known Alicorns were strongly magical, and that apparently no author ever found Earth Pony magic interesting enough to talk about it more than "their inherent ties to the Earth".

Half Note groaned and set her head down on the table, feeling her blood throb in her ears. Firelock had been as enthusiastic as ever for the majority of the week, but even now she was looking as bored as the rest of them. Tornado Bolt had just managed to convince the adamant unicorn into letting her read a really, really, really old book full of fables that ponies used to tell their children, on the grounds that "it was so old it was practically history anyway."

The pink filly shifted her gaze from her exasperated orange friend to the pegasus with her nose buried. She was surprised to see her scribbling on a notepad.

"Tornado? What are you doing?"

"Mr mpffm Mrf." She stopped and blinked at the spittle now on her paper, and dropped her pencil. "I'm taking notes."

Firelock rolled her eyes and continued flipping through The Running of the Leaves -- And Other Earth Pony Traditions. "What could possibly be in those old pony tales that we could use?"

"Well, it mentions The Wild Spirits of the Earth..." The pegasus turned her book towards her friends, pointing at a sepia-toned illustration of a long, lithe creature with a coat of scales, a single horn, and a flowing mane. "It  said 'let ye not be found wanting when the fourth of the Wilde Earthen Spirits rears its mightae head, lest Laccarentia claim ye amongst the glorious rays of the Sun, and the sweet harvests of the soil.'" She scrunched up her face. "It's really hard to read through the accents, but I like the pictures."

Half Note took the book from her friend and set it down, looking at the story and the sketch beside it. Even though the picture was done in ink on old, yellowed pages, the face of the semi-equine creature was so sharp and indifferent it made the little Earth Pony feel cold. She shivered. 

"Did it mention any of the other 'Earthen Spirits'?" She asked, rubbing herself to warm up while Firelock took the book and flipped backwards, looking at the stylized drawings of earlier tales.

"Not yet, I only just got to that part. That story in particular was about an Earth Pony who wasn't helping to grow or collect food and instead went out to have fun and ate wild flowers and plants. I didn't get to the end yet, and I'm not sure if I wanna. A lot of the endings so far have been sad."

"Earthen Spirits, huh?" Firelock murmured, holding the book over her head and blowing her red mane out of her eyes. "Well, that's the best lead we got--nothing else has made Earth Ponies out to be anything special at all. I mean, er..."

"I get what you mean. It's not your fault nopony has recorded anything on Earth Pony magic. Tornado, were there any other of these old Fairy Tale books?" The pegasus nodded. "Maybe we'll be able to get somewhere with that. Can you bring them over here? I wanna finish reading this story." the Earth filly gently took the book back from her unicorn friend, who started reading over her shoulder.

"Okaaaaaaay, but don't spoil the ending, alright? I still haven't decided if I even want to hear it or not."

"I promise. Promise too, Firelock."

"Okaaaay fine. I promise to keep my big mouth shut."

"Okay! I'll be back with the other old storybooks!"

And with that, the two little ponies sat down to read.
	
	
> Chapter 3 -- The Tale of Penthes
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Tale of Penthes

Once, in the fields of the lands of our ancestors, there was a young pony known to his kin as Penthes. He was a happy, light soul, and brought joy to those he was around. But when the time came for he and his to place their withers to the plow with the rest, he was not to be found.

For the first day, his kin thought nothing of his transgressions, and smiled and laughed when he returned with the sunset as they always had. Nopony thought themselves immune to fear or idleness, and all was forgiven.

On the second day, the stallions in the field began to speak their discontent. Had Penthes taken ill? He had not seemed so at the evening fire that last night. When he appeared at nightfall, when all the tools had been put away and all the work been done, there were fewer who smiled, and none who laughed.

On the third day, there was much discontent among the tribes. He had laughed and made fun as normal, and the witch-doctor had said she had seen him not. Who was this pony, to shrug his burdens while the rest of them labored?

That night, when he returned, the chief of the tribe spoke up, and went to Penthes.

"My son, have you fallen ill?"

"No sir, no sir, lest ye count the glory of creation instilled in my soul as an illness; at which I must say aye." The young stallion was full of life and his eyes sparkled as he spoke. "I have been spending my days wandering the wilds and tasting the fruits of Sweet Mother, and it has brought me such joy as I cannot describe."

The chief looked in the eyes of this young pony and sighed, for he was old and wise and had seen ponies stricken such before.

"Young Penthes, it is good to revere and enjoy the fruits of Nature, but not at the ignorance of our labors. Leave such trivialities to the flighty pegasi and foalish unicorns--our place is here, with the fields and the soil."

The young pony took aback, and scoffed. "But I have found food and shelter amongst the wildest of the wilds--we need not labor so hard! There should be food for every pony--earth, sky and star--if they were to look for it as I have."

The chief struck his hoof upon the Earth and spake:

"Foolish child! You have lived enough seasons to know that we must feed even those in the sky with our labors, yet you still argue? Begone, then, and take your place amongst the beasts of the wilde! And let ye not be found wanting when the fourth of the Wilde Earthen Spirits rears its mightae head, lest Laccarentia claim ye amongst the glorious rays of the Sun, and the sweet harvests of the soil! For such is what we Earth Ponies stand for! Now if ye will not return to the stallions labors tomorrow, do not return to our fires again!" The chief stomped his hoof once more, for finality.

Penthes stared open mouthed at the head of his herd--before turning with a flip of his tail and walking towards the woods.

He was not seen on the fourth day, nor the fifth. Fillies and Foals claimed to see him near the edge of the clearing as they went about their chores--all claimed him to appear hale and whole. The chief said nothing.

Summer took its leave and Autumn began its descent. The labors in the field sprouted tenfold and all began their work on the harvest, and food was in good supply. There would be enough for the sky ponies and the royal bloodlines, as well as the tribe--but only just. Penthes was seen on occasion near the edge of the woods as the season deepened, and appeared only in need of a bath and a good nights rest. He was seen once attempting to sneak into the fields and collect some of the harvested foods, but he fled once he was sighted.

The chief was asked what should be done.

"The boy has chosen his path, and forgotten his magicks. To give him food and shelter would do no one a kindness. I hope, for his sake, he has enough in his bones to hold him--should he make it through to spring, I shall allow him to return--till then, I stand by my word."

And it was so. Frost began to creep up the leaves and trees and huts, and the food was tucked into storage and delivered to the Pegasi and Unicorns in their turn. The chief saw that nopony in his tribe would starve that winter, and he was grateful. Yet he also saw he would have none to spare, and he wept for Penthes. For as fair Autumn turned herself to Winter, Penthes could be seen skirting the edge of town, scraggled and scrawny.

In the depths of Winter, as the wind howled like the Wendigos, the ponies within the hearth of the village were happy. They were amongst their friends and family, and had not gone hungry. The chief was silent as he stared at the door, and soon the whole clan did too--had they heard a knock?

There twas again--who could it be who would venture out in such storms?

And once more, at the third knock, the chief opened the door and Penthes fell forward into the shelter. He was little more than hide and hair, and he wheezed as the cold left his lungs. The chief looked to the witch-doctor, who merely shook her head. Penthes stammered through chattering teeth.

"I am s-s-s-so so-r-r-r-r-y. I d-d-d-d-did not und-d-d-derstandd..." The chief placed his hoof over his mouth.

"Shhhh, little one. I could not have changed your path, but I am sorry it came to this. We need the magicks of each Pony to make it through the winter--without your aid we have not enough to feed you. But at this late hour in your short life, you have recognized your folly. No aid we can give you is strong enough, but I will not have it said we are cruel." He made a motion to a filly, who brought over a bowl of hot broth. He held it to the shivering stallion's lips as he drank and held him by the fire.

"In this late hour, I give you all I can spare--my home, my hearth, and my heart. In this late hour I try to ease your passing, and hope that with the knowledge you have gained will aid you in Tartarus. Remember that we are not just subject to the magicks of the Earth, but also part of it--and to forsake our magicks is to forsake ourselves. As the day turns to night, so does the Earth--and as we labor in day and rest in night, so do we in summer and winter."

The bowl was empty and the stallion was breathing slowly, but shallowly. His eyes were closed.

"Sleep, Penthes. Sleep and forget your mistakes, that you might remember."

The chief stayed with Penthes all night, until the Stallion was no longer there.

And they wept.


Half Note and Firelock looked from the book to each other, even as Tornado Bolt carried three more collections around the corner. Half Note gulped and rubbed her face.

"Well, Tornado, you were right about these being sad..."
	
> Chapter 4 -- A Quest
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"What do you mean? I told you not to spoil the ending!" Tornado dropped the books she was carrying on the table and swiped the book containing the culprit story from her friend. Her eyes moved across the pages and she sighed. "Actually, that's about par for the course."

"Wait, you mean that the rest of the stories were just as sad?" Firelock was taken aback.

"Tornado just nodded and flipped through a few more pages. "Well, some were sadder and I think one story so far had the main character turn into a prince--"

"Well that's good, right?"

"--but then he got eaten by a dragon."

"Rats."

"I didn't like that moral. It basically said 'if you're an Earth Pony you'd better work or you'll starve and die.'" Half Note crossed her arms and harrumphed. Firelock chimed in.

"Well, I guess for the time it was made it made sense. They didn't have all the farming stuff we have now back then..."

"It's still dumb and mean. But at least they mentioned Earth pony magic, which, SURPRISE! It's growing stuff."

"And that Earthen Spirit. Whatever it's name was." Tornado tried to help as well. "That's why we have these other books, so we can see if they mention the others."

The pink filly turned her head away. "I don't think I wanna read anymore..."

Firelock groaned and grabbed her friend by the shoulders, making her look at her. 

"So, what? You're just gonna pout? We spent a whole week reading that political jargon--heck, I even know what 'jargon' means now--and you're gonna quit because some old pony's tale made you sad?" Both ponies made faces, one a glare and one a hurt look to the side.

"...Fine. I guess there's no point in quitting. But I wanna read a different book, in case this one has all the sad stories." She reached for the new pile.

"Yay!" Tornado clapped her hooves together. "I wanted that one back anyway. I can't leave a book unfinished, it's like quitting a race early. It's just no fun."

Each filly grabbed a book and continued reading stories told to ponies before the time of Celestia. Stories were told of Pegasi falling to inferior opponents from underestimating them, of Unicorns outwitting their adversity, and of Earth Ponies generally getting it stuck to them unless they worked their flanks off. Unicorn princes were punished for their avarice and sloth with the removal of their horns, forcing them to labor in the fields, Pegasi warriors who committed treason or abandoned their loyalties often lost their wings, while if an Earth Pony failed, they died. Even some who succeeded, who had done all they could right, died--albeit perhaps a better death. 

Repeatedly it was shown that you could fight fate by sticking to your virtues and your better natures--unless you were an Earth Pony, in which case you had better hope you were the maiden being rescued by the Pegasi warrior or the Unicorn prince. And with each fable that left the Earth Ponies sitting in the dust while the other ponies got their share of glory, every story that made it clear it was better to be a Unicorn or Pegasus, Half Note curled up tighter, wanting nothing more than to throw the book away. As she came to the close of a story in which two Earth Ponies had fought over a place to build their house, only for a Unicorn to explain that she had just finished building her house and if they would kindly leave her property, the scream she wanted to let out was cut short by an outburst from Firelock.

"Hey! I found one: 'Aestrak, who dries the water from Winter and endless Spring, who brings the seedling from the Earth, would not come that year, and many ponies starved--"
"Oh goody, another one where all the ponies die." Half Note slammed her own book shut. Firelock cleared her throat and continued.
"Er-HERM. T'was not until that brave Earth Pony set out, feeling in his bones that the magik within him had no spirit, that any pony had any hope. Many a mare and stallion bade him not to go--that to seek the Temple of Aestrak was to invite death itself. Markus acknowledged this, bringing nothing with him. He traveled far and long, stopping only to drink from the flooded rivers and to eat what roots and vines could sustain in a land without Summer. He traveled far, far south, into the land of the dragons and the phoenix, where he found the Temple of Earth's oldest and youngest Son, adorned with golden pillars and grapes of the vines.
"'He entered with reverence, for he knew whom he approached. Surrounded by dragonlings and firebirds resplendant sat a great drake, whose golden scales and wings of greenery smelt of the freshest grain. Markus had to hold himself steady, as he swayed from the hunger brought on by such a sweet scent. He bowed low to the Spirit, and waited to be acknowledged. The booming voice spake like wind over a field.
'"What do ye wish from me, younger brother?"
'"Great one, spirit of Fire and Harvest, I come to speak for my tribe. Long have we awaited your coming to dry the fields and let our harvest grow--but you have yet to spread your wings for us, and my kin starve. Is there that which I may do, to spare those for whom I care?"
"'I have waited just as long for one such as yourself--one to acknowledge my importance. For so long the praise was given all to my sister and mother, and so many curses upon me for my harshness. I feared I would rot away in her till my younger and older brother came round once more. What is your name, child?"
"'Markus, great one."
"'Markus, your bravery and reverence shall not be forgotten as long as I live. Return to your people, and I shall be there before you. You will be met with great jubilation, for all shall know of your true self.' And lo, the great dragon bestowed upon the young stallion a mark unseen amongst the Ponies of the Earth--a great sheild, with a sword through it, was adorned upon his thigh. And he returned on his trek, to see the labors of his cousins had borne fruit unlike any known to the season, and the unusual mark upon his hide rang through to all those who saw it, and they knew he had brought the Summer Harvest back to them and yadda yadda yadda then he was the chief of his tribe for a really long time I guess. That was kind of longer than I expected wow." The unicorn leaned back and sighed. "I think I need a glass of water."

Half Note blinked. "So wait a minute. They're saying a Dragon is an Earth Spirit thing? I thought Dragons were all about flying and fire and...hot stuff."

"They do eat gems." Tornado chirped."I can't think of anything else that'll eat any kind of rock."

"Okay, I'll give you that one. So where did it say they were...?" Half Note took the book and looked at it. Firelock spared her the trouble of reading it.

"South, far south--as in the Dragon Wastes. That's a loooong way away." Firelock  tapped one hoof on the table and held her head up with the other, her face scrunched up in thought.

"Yeah, didn't Twilight and Spike and a couple other of the Elements head down there some time? They were gone for weeks." Tornado was buzzing her wings excitedly. "Wouldn't that be neat? Seeing some ancient temple? It'd be just like a Daring Do book, those were my favorite when I was little..."

"It's our only lead--but how are we gonna get there? It's not like there's a train like there is to the Crystal Empire, and no way our parents would take us." Firelock messed with her mane again.

The table was quiet for a while, no pony wanting to speak up. Half Note broke the silence.
"Well, we don't have to tell them..."
"WHAT. We're supposed to just leave and let them call out the Wonderbolts for a search and rescue squad or something? What if somepony in town gets accused of foalnapping, or a slave trade ring, or murder, or all of the above? And we just come waltzing back in after Ponyville has been split in two over the legal trials and accusations and worries and say 'oh sorry we just wanted to research magic and stuff.' No way, man!" Firelock crossed her forehooves and harrumphed.

Half Note blinked. "I meant we tell them we're going on a field trip to Canterlot or something. Maybe we fake a note from Cherilee and then we tell Cherilee we're visiting a friend. Or something. Don't listen to me, I'm just a dumb Earth Pony." Firelock shrunk back under the blue, accusatory, squinted eyes her pink friend leveled at her. Her mouth worked around, like it was trying to form the words, before she sighed.

"You're right, actually. That's not a half bad plan. From what I heard, Spike was fine until he started messing with the Dragons themselves, and there's three of us. We'll have to tell someone where we went though, in case something goes wrong and they do need to send a rescue squad."

The other two foals nodded in agreement. Tornado stroked her chin.

"Yes, but who can we trust to not tell anyone unless we're gone too long?" She eyed the ceiling. "Who is the best pony at keeping secrets?"

All three fillies looked at each other, nodded, and deadpanned. There was only one pony they could trust with something so important. They spoke in unison:

"Pinkie Pie."
> Chapter 5 -- Promises
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sugarcube corner bounced like it usually did at noon on a Saturday. Ponies bounced around, little and big alike. The sun was warm and the smell of baked goods floated on chilled air from the freezers as colts and fillies enjoyed the weekend. Halfnote, Firelock, and Tornado, though, were sitting in an open yet distant corner, looking dejectedly across the crowded interior.

Firelock was the only one who was still scanning the floor for the notorious pink pony. Tornado was buzzing her wings, eager to enjoy the sunny skies outside--it was one of those late spring days where the sunshine tasted of summer but the wind still brought a taste of winter. Half Note was playing with the straw in her fizzy drink, regretting not getting a milkshake. The little orange unicorn, however, was determined to see this through. She had a point to prove to her friend, and by Celestia, she was going to.

"I thought she was always at SugarCube Corner. Do you think she's out saving the world with the rest of them again or something?"

Tornado turned her head, hovering now. "If I say yes, does that mean we get to go outside?"

Firelock rolled her eyes. "C'mon guys, we've got everything planned. We told our parents we were going on our "end-of the year trip" today. We have to find her. And soon," she added. "Or else we'll have to start hiding from all the other ponies, and there's no way we'll be able to avoid them all--we'll get caught." She tapped her hoof on the table in frustration. Neither of her friends seemed interested in their quest at the moment. It frustrated her to think that they'd gone through so much trouble to be stopped by boredom. She groaned and buried her head in her arms. "I guess we can say the trip got canceled..."

"Awww, that's soooooo sad! Where were you going?"

"Not like it matters, anyway. Pinkie Pie...Wait!" Her head shot up. Bright blue eyes stared back at hers with a sincere, sad look. They were framed by a bright pink face framed by a brighter pink mane. "Pinkie Pie! There you are! We've been looking all over for you!"

"What do you mean? I've been all over, but I've only seen you three here!" The older pony bounced, tilting her head and wearing a smile. Two of the three fillies were speechless. One of them, though, had a motor mouth to rival the mare, and the little unicorn was going to put it to use.

"Never mind that. Pinkie Pie, you're friends with everypony, right?"

"Right! You're Firelock and you're Half Note and you're Tornado Bolt and you got your cutiemark when you realized that it was okay to like to race and fly and also to read stories because they were both adventurous in different ways like the winds that make up a tornado--"

"And friends keep each other's secrets, right? Because not keeping secrets betrays a friends trust and losing a friends trust is the fastest way to lose a friend, right?"

"You got that right! Ya know, not everypony can learn as fast as you how important that is--"

"And friends also try to make each other happy, right? Cuz it's nice to see friends smile, right? Well, you saw how sad we were about not being able to go? What if I told you that we need you to keep a secret, and that if you did we'd be able to go on our trip and be happy?"

The pink pony blinked, then squinted. "What kiiiind of secret?" She leaned in conspiratorially. "I don't make a Pinkie Promise I can't keep, you know. Nopony should. Ever."

Firelock blinked back, confused. "Uh, just where we're going. I can't tell you more unless you promise to keep it secret. So will you? Pleeeeaase?" She implored with big, green eyes. "It's reaaaaally important."

Pinkie Pie tilted her head back, furrowed her forehead in thought, then nodded. "Okay. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye, I won't tell a soul where you're going."

"Okay--We're heading south, towards the dragon wastes--" Firelock was interrupted by a sharp gasp, and looked up to Pinkie Pie covering her mouth with her hooves, her eyes wide and cheeks bulging from the repressed outburst. Firelock smiled and rolled her eyes as she continued. "Anyway, we should be fine, but because it's a really long way away, other ponies might get worried while we're gone. We needed to make sure somepony knew, so that if everypony started to worry and get scared for us, they'd know where to go looking. I mean, we're pretty sure we'll be fine--" She looked to her friends, who took a moment to register the cue, but nodded all the same. "--but I mean, just in case. We don't wanna be lost or have everypony go nuts because they think we are lost. When we're not. Because we won't be. We have a map.

Pinkie Pie had lowered her hooves and tilted her head again. "Sooooooo..."

Firelock sighed. "So you can tell ponies where we've gone if, but only if they get really, really worried or we've been gone too long. You know, like, longer than Spike was gone."

The mare nodded solemnly, then smiled and silently went through the motions of her promise once more, finishing with a wink towards the trio. Remaining uncharacteristically silent, she turned away from the table and bounced off, lost into the crowd. Firelock turned a triumphant smirk towards her friends.

"I told you! You guys packed everything, right?" Half Note nodded and turned to her bag.

"Yeah, I've got the map and a notebook right WAHAGHHHH!" The pink filly found a pinker mare sticking her head out of her knapsack and flailed backwards.

"By the way, why is it so important?" Pinkie's head inquired. "I'll keep that secret, too--promise." 

Half Note stuttered, eyes wide. "We...we just wanted to learn about...about Earth Pony magic. We found a story that said something about an Earth Spirit down by the dragons, so we uh...we wanted to look there." She gulped. "Can...can you get out of my saddlebag now? I have stuff I need in there."

Pinkie blinked. "What? Oh! Oh, right. Sorry!" She sucked her head back into the bag, which flapped closed. Half Note looked to her friends warily before opening it up again, and finding the contents undisturbed. She emptied it and searched the bottom for any secret magical devices, and found nothing but the dust from an old sandwich. She turned to her friends and shrugged. The gathered their things and walked out of the bakery, checking Tornado's compass, and starting down the south road.

Tornado swallowed. "Maybe we should ask Pinkie Pie about Earth Pony magic. Ya know, when we get back."
> Chapter 6 -- Borderlands
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The sun rose lazily over the eastern horizon, casting warm tendrils of light across the canopy of the Everfree Forest. The leaves eagerly soaked up the golden rays, and creatures within began to stir and call out to each other.

It was these noises, rather than the rays of the sun, that woke a pile of sleeping fillies, curled up beside the railroad tracks and a dying fire. Half Note opened bleary eyes and tried to pull the pile of blankets closer to her, but found them tightly in the grip of Firelock and Tornado Bolt--there would be no curling up and going back to sleep this morning.

Instead, she slipped her way out, trying not to disturb her friends as she shook herself off and walked to the small creek that wound out of the dangerous forest. The little Earth Pony smacked her mouth with distaste as she looked for a clear spot in the water. Plunging her head into the first one she found, she took a long drink, curing her mouth of the taste of a night's sleep.

Shuffling around, she saw her friends still sleeping, and couldn't blame them--the mornings had gotten chilly again with a resurgence of winter's breath, and she'd much rather be sleeping right now, too. But once she woke up, it took her forever to fall asleep again--so here she was. Half Note craned her neck up and about, scanning for anything dangerous, as well as anything delicious--to which she found neither. She bit her lip and looked back at her sleeping friends before lowering her head and nibbling at the grass.

Grass was a nothing-special food for all ponies. It filled most nutritional necessities and a pony could subsist on it plain for a very long time--could even live off of it provided other fruits and vegetables occasionally wound up in their stomach as well--but you'd be hard pressed to find a civilized pony who still grazed. Ponies had a long history of food preparation, to the point that grazing was considered a sign of poverty at best.

But Half Note honestly didn't mind it.

It wasn't that it didn't seem unusual--the plainest food she could remember having eaten in her short life was a salad of mixed greens--but that it didn't really feel weird. For the first few days on their way out of Ponyville they had found a wide variety of flora to gather and snack on, but as they progressed southward the flowers and bushes of berries pulled closer and closer to the Everfree until they were too close for safety--most dangerous animals stayed well inside the brush, but even Timberwolves would break cover for a meal as easy as three unattended Pony fillies. 

Tornado and Firelock had been in tears after a whole day with nothing to eat before Half Note realized they hadn't thought to eat the grass--and when she'd suggested the idea initially the two had recoiled as though she suggested they eat her leg.

"What? Eat the grass? Right off the ground?!? But...but there's dirt and germs and parasites and we could get infected and sick and there are no doctors out here to get the tapeworm eggs out of our legs..."

Half Note rolled her eyes at the memory as she munched on a spot that seemed particularly tasty--well, for grass anyway. It had taken grumbling tummies and many a facehoof from Half Note before the Pegasus and Unicorn had given it a shot--and it had been so hard to not laugh at their initial attempts. Tornado had grabbed at the ground with her face and yanked back with her neck and wings, ripping out roots and chunks of dirt, while Firelock made a lot of faces before nibbling just the very tippy-tops off. Nopony had taught Half Note how to graze, but she made a point of making loud clipping noises with her teeth as she had walked by them until they caught on and took solid, confident bites that actually put food in their stomachs.

Having sufficiently broken her fast, she took one last mouthful and laid down in the field. She felt each blade in her mouth as she chewed and let her mind wander. It had been about a week now--was it six, seven, eight days? She'd ask Firelock when she woke up. She stared at the clouds and wondered if anypony in town had caught on yet--their story had been they'd be gone for a month and a half, but they'd all known it'd bust before then. She wondered if her friends resented her at all, for being the reason they were out so far from home and all alone. They'd be in trouble when they got back, and they all knew it--they were just waiting for trouble to catch them, and hoping they got what they came for first. 

Half Note was just a filly, too small even to worry about her Cutie Mark, but she felt too old for a moment.

She sighed and bent her neck to nibble some more on the grass--this patch really was a little sweeter than the rest.

"Nyrgh. You couldn't wait to see if we found any flowers or fruit today?" Firelock grumbled and made a face as she slumped her way to the river and dunked her head in it. She pulled it out and tossed her head back with a gasp and a shiver, to which Half Note hid a smirk--the river wasn't that cold. "I still think it's kinda icky."

Half Note shrugged and chewed, not wanting to bother arguing this early in the morning. She instead let the surly orange Unicorn go and poke their Pegasus awake. She did hope her friends got something to eat before too long, though--the Everfree was starting to curl back towards the East and, if she was reading her map right, that meant they were gonna have to either cross Ghastly Gorge or skirt along it's edge through the San Palomino Desert--and she was sure there weren't going to be lots of flowers in there. She regretted not taking a train, but what could they do? They were fillies, they couldn't have bought train tickets by themselves even if they had the bits. Ponies would ask questions.

She continued to enjoy the sun on her back as her friends begrudgingly put plain, unadorned blades of grass into their stomachs for the morning, double checking and making sure everything was packed and the canteens they had brought were all filled with the clear spring water. The morning faded quickly and with little comment from the sleepy trio, as they had gotten used to--not a one of them was a morning pony without the niceties of home--save maybe Half Note, who had been handling everything fairly well.

The Everfree curled back and left itself behind them as they followed the railroad tracks and approached a gaping chasm--Ghastly Gorge. A strain of swampwater spilled over into the crack in the earth and sent up a chilling mist. The tracks were elevated and crossed the gorge at a relatively narrow point but the tracks themselves were narrow. Half Note bit her lip as she looked at their options--duck into the Everfree and risk the dangers of the forest and bog, skirt the edge of the Gorge and take a long, long detour through the desert, or cross on the tracks--and risk being stranded if a train chose that moment to cross.

Looking south, she could see the change in climate already--the flat land made it easy to see the vegetation thin and turn yellow on the horizon. A breeze of cool air from the forest made her shiver, and she thought of tales of hydras and cockatrices. She joined her friends gathering stalks of cattails and bunches of leaves and buds from plants that were growing around the edge. 

"So, uh, guys...where do we go from here?" Tornado asked nervously.

"Well, we either cross, keep heading south, or loop around through the Everfree." Firelock shrugged off the question. "I figured you'd have figured it out by now."

"You don't have to be rude, she was just asking which one we were gonna take. Besides, we've got something to eat other than grass for a few days." Half Note tried very hard to not think about the long trek through the desert.

"I figured you'd pick, Half Note."

The pink Earth Pony stopped what she was doing and stared over the gaping pit. She set the stalks she had gathered down carefully and rubbed her temples with her hooves.

"Well, up till now I've been thinking we'd just walk along the Gorge until it faded away, but it looks a lot bigger here than it does on the map and I'm worried about water and food in the desert and everypony knows the Everfree is full of dangers and the Gorge goes into it and I can't see where it ends and then--" She was bumped by a purple mane.

Tornado smiled at her. "Calm down. You're starting to sound like Firelock." The orange unicorn huffed at the jab, but couldn't hide a smirk. "Just relax and say what you think we should do now."

Half Note took a deep breath before continuing. "Well, the desert could be really long, and while it'd be easier to just walk along it, it might be more risky. I don't wanna dive into the Everfree Forest, either...So I was thinking it'd be better to cross right here with the train tracks. But I'm not sure if that's safe either, if a train comes while we're out there..."

Firelock popped a flowerbud into her mouth and chewed it loudly. "Why don't we just have Tornado Bolt keep watch? I mean, she could fly over anyway, so she flies up to make sure no trains are coming before we start to cross, and keeps an eye out in case one does?"

Tornado nodded. "I could do that. The weather today looks to be good, and I'd love a chance to really stretch my wings again."

Half Note gulped. "Okay, then. No point in waiting--you wanna go up and take a look right now?"

The little Pegasus nodded and buzzed her wings into action, spiraling up into the air. The sun glared in her eyes and the air pulled on her mane, but she spun upward with a smile on her face. She didn't want to make her friends feel bad, but having to walk to keep pace with them had gotten really frustrating. Every step was one less wingbeat, and she reveled in the open sky embracing her. She spent a minute just gliding in a circle, enjoying the sun on her back before really taking a look around. 

She could see for miles with her keen eyes at this height, but a certain degree of her vision was taken up by a mass of greenery. She could see the tracks up and until they curled around the massive forest--after which point everything blurred together except the scenery. She could find the towering peak Canterlot was situated on and see the expansive valley Ponyville sat in, but couldn't make out castle nor villa. Seeing no sign of a train, though, she spiraled back down until she was close enough to yell at her friends again.

"Hey! It's all clear! Get moving, huphuphup!" Once she saw them start across the path, she let herself back into the aether, both to keep a persistent eye in the sky and to relieve underused muscles from their tension. She wondered briefly if they should've had some sort of emergency signal, before her thoughts were distracted by the gentle lull of the thermals.

Below, Half Note gauged each step carefully. The tracks were sturdy, sure, but there were gaps between the planks of wood big enough for a filly's hoof to fall through. Firelock was easily taking the lead, walking with a swift, even pace--Half Note envied her balance. She didn't have to look down and see the gaping chasm below in order to make sure she didn't fall into it.

Firelock was thinking on other things, watching her friend spiral through the sky and looking with longing at the flora on the side of the chasm she approached. That was clover, wasn't it? She imagined she could smell it. She skipped a little and kept herself from running ahead--Half Note seemed to be having difficulty navigating the planks, and it'd be rude to leave her too far behind. She sighed and closed her eyes, wondering on what they would find at their destination. There had to be something, she knew it. She remembered her mother telling her about the inherent magic in everything, and she was convinced that she was right--her mother had been in Princess Celestia's school as well, if not a private student. She just had to find proof, to convince her friends as well. She turned her green eyes back up to the sky, her heart flopping with thoughts of home. She missed her bed, warm breakfasts, goodnights from her mother...

She focused on Tornado Bolt for a minute, and tilted her head with confusion. Her friend was flying funny--she wondered if maybe she was out of practice, and getting sore--she snorted. Heck, she was sore from walking this much. Her legs felt wobbly every time she stood still. She kept walking, trying to not think about it. Half Note was doing fine, and so would she.

She made a face as she continued though--the wobbles weren't going away; it felt like the whole bridge was wiggling. 

Her eyes went wide with realization. She looked back up at the erratic pegasus--who was now low enough for her to see her forehooves waving frantically--then back to her friend who was still nearer the middle of the bridge than the edge. She felt the tremors in her legs redouble and caught the most terrifying sound on the wind.

The whistle of an approaching train.
> Chapter 7 -- Clarity
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Half Note's head shot up and her ears perked.
What was...no. No, no way. Just keep walking. That's the best thing to do.
The little Earth Pony began to sweat and tried to pick up her pace, trying to get a feel for the wobbly wood planks. It was so strange, being on something so unstable, and worrying wasn't going to help her any. Nope nope nope nope nope.
One hoof in front of the other, just keep going.

Firelock was trotting in place, biting her lip and looking back and forth from her friend to the edge of the bridge. Tornado was waving frantically and soon would be within earshot again. The little unicorn was torn between her options--run back and pool their chances at getting off safely, or run forward and guarantee her safety at least? She had no idea how far off the train was, which direction it was coming from, or how fast it was going. But she did know trains took a long advance notice to stop--they had to know there was an obstacle before they saw it, else they'd smash through--and no matter how sturdy a pony, tonnes of steel and coal would leave nothing more than a smear.

She bit her lip and felt a tear tempt her eyelid. She didn't know any good magic yet, let alone anything strong enough to carry her friend or redirect the train. She cried out, once, loud, and took off running.

Half Note looked up at the sounds of her friends distress, trying to ignore the shaking of her legs. The sight of one of her best friends running full speed away from her drained the blood from her face. More slowly than she could afford to, she looked up and saw a purple and greyish form spiraling down and gesturing back towards where they had come.

Now that she was listening, she could just barely hear the sound of her friends voice, strained as though shouting.

A high pitched whistle pierced the air and set her mane on edge and her pupils contract.

She turned back forward and started moving as fast as she could stand--she slipped and almost got herself caught between two planks before regaining her balance. She couldn't see Firelock anywhere, and suddenly wanted to cry. She knew Tornado was too small to carry her, and there was nopony else around to help.

Despair told her to give up, spare herself the effort that would only leave her dying tired; it told her to lay down and accept death with grace--or maybe just lay down and cry.

She felt the tears sting her eyes and her knees wobble.

Another emotion, one as of yet unnamed, slapped Despair in the face. The same emotion stared her in the eyes from the opposite side of the gorge and dared her, dared her to give up right there, and look like a coward to her friends. It challenged her to make Torando watch helplessly--to feel as helpless as she did now. 

The emotion told her death was the easy way out. It spat the word easy, like it were a curse.

Half Note blinked back the tears and gritted her teeth. That wasn't her, and she wasn't about to let that be the last thing she was. She felt a fire in her veins and took off running.

Tornado Bolt stopped spiraling downward and instead hovered and stared.

She had watched Firelock run off the tracks, obviously distressed but able to make it off in time, and watched as Half Note had realized what was going on. She'd watched her friend panic, and had started panicking herself--what could she do?

Now, though, she watched the shaky Earth Pony speed down the tracks like she were a locomotive herself, each hoof landing firmly on a plank of wood. Her heart jumped into her throat as she saw the train start to come round, pulling faster than any pony could hope to on hoof, aided by the power of coal and steam. It was still faster than Half Note. What to do what to do what to do...

She stopped as a thought hit her. 

But for only a moment as she dove down, picking up speed as she hurtled towards her friend.

Everypony knew that Pegasi manipulated the weather, and could bust clouds up with a good kick. Most, but not all ponies knew that, with just their wings, a flock of Pegasi could would and did lift up vast reserves of water to build clouds in order to distribute rain as needed. But very few truly understood the power that was needed to haul that much water.

Granted, it was the strength of hundreds of Pegasi at once, but it was also all the water needed to fuel Equestria's weather for the year.

But this was also just one pony she was trying to help move faster.

Tornado Bolt felt the wind start pulling with her, filling in the vacuum behind her. She pulled out of her dive and flew above her running friend, feeling the air whoosh along side her. It wasn't much, she was sure, but putting the wind at her friends back was the least she could do--she was so close to safety, but not close enough. She swooped up and prepared for another loop. As she flipped around she saw the smoke and steam from the engine pulling around the edge of the forest. She closed her eyes, shook her head, and spun over for another dive.

This time she pulled ahead and pumped her wings, trying to pull her friend forward with the air current. She turned her head back and felt her skin chill as she saw the trains engine pulling around the corner and nearing the bridge at a breakneck pace. She'd never thought a huge chunk of metal could ever move so fast--she had only ever seen them pulling in or out of the station, after all.

She looked instead at her friend, not able to hide her grimace of worry. The little pink pony was looking dead ahead, eyes focused on the edge of the gorge. She seemed to be on fire, her face furrowed with determination as she pounded her way forward across the bridge, faster than Tornado Bolt would have thought possible. It looked like she was going to catch fire--to the point where she seemed to be glowing orange.

The Pegasus filly turned back forward and streaked forwards to the end of the chasm and to safety, pulling off to the side and spinning quickly, knowing that she didn't have enough time for another pass and trying to create as much of a pulling force as she could. 

She closed her eyes as she twisted and felt the wake of the train. 
She did not feel a small body come land beside her, for there was none.
She turned and cried out, tears falling from her eyes. Her voice was lost in the scream of metal that was tearing over where her friend had just been.

She fell down and cried, beating the dirt with her hoof, screaming where nobody could hear her. She turned away from the murderous metal, unwilling to risk seeing the remains of her friend. Instead she looked towards the bushes where she saw a small orange and red form curled up and shaking.

Tornado was shaking now too--but not from fear. She ran towards Firelock and started yelling, just far enough away from the train for her to hear her own words.

"YOU! Why did you run? Why didn't you stay and HELP HER? Maybe, just maybe, she would have made it! You coward!" She reached down and grabbed the other filly by the shoulders, pulling her up and shaking her as she screamed, eyes closed to try to stave off the unrelenting tears. "Now she's dead! DEAD, Firelock, and it's your fault! We could have stayed home, but you had to prove a *hic* POINT.*hic ARE YOU LISTENING?" 

Tornado Bolt opened her eyes and glared furiously at her friend through her hiccups and tears.

Firelock returned the stare with eyes rolled back in her head, hung limply along her shoulders. Her horn was still glowing, though--a pale orange shimmer of magic. One eyelid twitched.

The caboose of the train pulled away and off the gorge, fading rapidly into the background and taking the noise with it. Tornado let go of the unconscious Unicorn and backpedaled, whimpering.

It was then that she turned around, where she saw Half Note panting on the other side of the tracks--exhausted, but alive.

And surrounded by a faint orange glow to match that of Firelocks horn.

The pink Earth Pony ran over while Tornado Bolt gaped, unable to form a coherent thought or word. She felt like fainting. 

"Hey! You guys are okay!" She got within spitting distance of the inert Unicorn before the glow around her horn extinguished and Firelock's eyes rolled back to their olive green irises before snapping shut tight as she immediately began gasping and coughing terribly, accompanied by a small nosebleed. "Woah, what happened to her? I thought she got off the tracks first?"

Firelock opened one eye to stare at her friend and spoke between racking coughs. "I knew HACK HACK BLARCK Magic was never my talent." More rib-wracking coughs. "That was HORRRRK-AKBLAKACK an emotion spell, one my mom helped BLAKRACKHACK--ugh. Write. HACK I think HACK HACK HACK--I think I need a nap." She curled up into a ball and kept coughing. 

Half Note turned to Tornado Bolt, an eyebrow raised in query.

"I...I think she used some kind of spell to help you cross faster. I don't know, I found her passed out and I thought you were dead and so I was yelling but then I thought she was dead too and and and I thought you were all dead..." The Pegasus foal took her head between her hooves and let herself fall in the grass beside her orange friend and started to cry.

Half Note was shaking herself. She never, ever wanted to brush that close with death, ever again. She looked at her friends, collapsed on the ground, each dealing with their respective miseries. She looked at the sun--no longer high in the sky, it was casting long shadows as it neared the horizon. Normally they'd still be walking for an hour or two.

But then this wasn't a normal day. 
Half Note opened her saddlebags and laid a blanket over her shivering friends, then began to pitch the tent for the night.
> Chapter 8 -- High Noon
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

 After the incident with the train, the trio was infinitely more cautious, at the cost of their travel time. The first day following, Half Note had carried Firelock on her back until about noon, at which point she had been too tired to continue. Tornado Bolt spent the entirety of the day looking guilty and doing everything she felt was useful. She hadn't told Firelock what she had said while she was unconscious, but she still felt guilty about it. 

The unicorn had explained that her mother had been a student at Princess Celestia's school and had focused her education on emotion spells--they were among the harder classes of magic--but the particular one she'd used was rather simple; a motivation spell. Lots of the students would use it to help them study or get out of a slump. Firelock had tried to learn the spells that her mother knew, but for the most part they were too hard for her to manage. That was about the best she could do--pass out and magically incur about the same effects as caffeine and a motivational speaker. When her friends asked how she turned it off when she was in the state she was, she explained.

"Well, when you're using magic, you can kind of feel where what you're doing is at--like how you know where your hooves are even when you're not looking at them. Once I felt Half Note close enough, I...well, I let go, I guess."

The days following had passed in relative peace. The further they pulled from the Everfree, the fewer savage dangers there were--perhaps excluding a tribe of Buffalo they hid from, whose nature they decided to not research--and there was little of interest but the shades of fire at dawn and dusk.

Now, though, they had reached the end of the arid grasslands and desert clime that made up Equestria's southern border, and the Badlands stretched menacingly forward. Bouts of steam issued from bubbling pits in the ground, and the sounds of Dragons in their nests carried over the open air. A gigantic volcano dominated the horizon, and silhouettes of the great beasts could be seen circling and spiraling above it, occasionally spewing gouts of flame. Any paths were obscured by the brief forested area that surrounded the fiery crater, nourished on volcanic ash.

The three fillies gulped in unison. They were small. They were prey. They were alone.

They were also determined.

Half Note sat down and opened her backpack, pulling out the notepad on which they had noted what they felt they would need to remember. She sat down and looked at what was listed.

Laccarentia
--Fourth Spirit
Aestrak
--Summer Temple--
--Dragon Wastes
--Phoenixes?
--Gold and Grapes

It was not the longest list.

She made a face. "It didn't say much about where exactly the temple was. This might be harder than I was hoping."

Firelock rolled her eyes and laid down. "We figured that out a while back. You know, with all the starving and murder trains." Tornado Bolt blushed and looked away. "We'll just keep heading south, and keep our eyes peeled for Phoenixes. Phoenexi? I dunno. Firebirds. There are dragons all over by the volcano but I'm not too interested in brushing up with them."

Half Note sighed and nodded, putting the unhelpful notes away. "I guess that makes sense. We should probably also check the areas with trees first, because I don't think any grapes or stuff like that will grow well out there in the badlands." She stood up and shook herself free of dust.

Firelock tilted her head and looked away to the trees. "Ya know, there's probably a bunch of places for predators to hide and ambush us in there..."

"...As opposed to being out in the open where any hungry dragon could swoop down us because we have nowhere to hide?" Half Note shuffled her hooves.

Firelock remained laying down, but turned her head to respond. "I thought dragons ate gems, not ponies."

"Do you feel like betting your life on it?" A smirk from Half Note was met by a frown from Firelock.

"No...Okay, fine. But can I just lay down for a little longer? I'm sick of walking." The Unicorn pleaded with her facial expression. The Earth Pony didn't buy it.

"We all are, Firelock. Now geddup, sooner we find it the sooner we can go home and..." She trailed off. Home meant no more walking, sleeping in real beds, and eating real, Pony-prepared food again. It meant family and friends and safety--and a bit of being in trouble, surely. She shook her head, focusing on what she was saying. "...The sooner we can go home and stop walking so much." She nudged her protesting friend up.

Tornado Bolt just waited, hovering and looking towards the volcanic nest of drakes till her friends began their trek again. She hadn't pulled out of her guilty funk, and spoke almost exclusively to point out potential dangers or points of interest. Both of her friends had asked her if she was fine, more than once. She would respond with a nod or an unenthusiastic "Fine." They were worried about her, but she was determined to be the best scout possible to make up for her failure at the bridge.

The forest was almost a jungle, filed with lush plants that thrived in the humid atmosphere. Despite the shade, it was uncomfortably warm, heat rising from the ground. Tornado Bolt reluctantly gave up her position above to walk through the brush--it was too thick and tangled for her to fly through. However, they saw no animal larger than a squirrel, though many were far more reptilian than the fuzzy animals of home.

But no sign of a Firebird nest. The day drug onwards and their canteens emptied faster than ever, the heat and humidity making them sweat futilely. When Firelock pointed out that the light filtering through the trees was fading, Half Note and Tornado sighed and collapsed with a sigh of relief. Firelock only abstained out of some sort of pride.

The vote to abstain using a tent was unanimous. The slight breeze through the forest was their only reprieve from the heat. The fire, however, won out on a vote of safety.

Firelock and Half Note both curled up on their blankets and fell asleep quickly. Tornado, however, stared into the fire until her eyes hurt. She then turned her eyes towards the stars, falling backwards with a sigh. She couldn't see enough to pick out any constellations--not that she remembered most of them, but it was saddening to only get a snapshot of an otherwise familiar sky.

Guilt ate at her heart. If she hadn't been so distracted by the thermals, she might have seen the train sooner, and then they could have turned back or moved across a little faster. If she had seen it coming, Firelock wouldn't have had to hurt herself pushing her magical limits. And to think what she said to Firelock, her best friend. She had called her a coward when she had really been trying her best to help.

The Pegasus blinked her eyes and looked away from the sky, and rather to the forest. If she couldn't sleep, might as well do something useful and keep an eye out for predators. This wasn't Everfree, but that didn't automatically mean it was safe.

She blinked again, trying to clear the fog of moisture, and once more to clear the glowing lights imprinted within her eyes. 

The first one succeeded and her vision cleared significantly.

The second did not. The lights remained, obnoxious reds and yellows and oranges.

Actually, they were really pretty. Glowing like little specks of fire in the trees...

Another blink as her brain worked. She sat up and spun around, tangling her blanket around her hind hooves. She rubbed her eyes with her front ones, making sure she wasn't seeing things. Sure enough, there was a little path of living torches stretching out and towards the south, growing thicker the further they went. Watching carefully, they moved and flickered like fire, but her suspicions were confirmed when one flew down and settled with another.

Her wings buzzed with excitement and pulled her up and out of the tangled blanket. She flew between her friends, shaking and poking and prodding and shouting to wake them.

"Guys guys guys guys guys guys! Look look look look look LOOK!"

Firelock groaned and pulled herself up, shaking herself like a dog in an attempt to wake up. "What is so important that it can't wait till morning?"

Half Note was a little slower on the uptake, but transitioned faster. "Is there danger? What's wrong?" She looked around wildly till Tornado Bolt took her head in her hooves and pointed her towards the pathway lit by living light. Tornado's face lit up to match.

"Phoenix Nests! I bet if we follow them south, we'll find the temple! See how they get thicker the further you go? It's gotta lead there cuz the story said something about it being "surrounded by firebirds resplendent" and LOOK at all of them! It totally fits!" 

Firelock's attention had been grabbed, and she let out a whistle as Half Note just stared, mouth agape. "Wow, that's really bright. I bet you can't see their nests during the day, and they're all out flying anyway. But at night, they glow and make a path that's so easy to follow..." She grinned. "It's the best bet we got, and it'll be a LOT nicer walking at night. As much as I hate to give up sleep, we can sleep when it's too hot to walk." She took off running excitedly down the path, and Tornado wooshed after her, choosing to fly close to the ground. Half Note gaped for a moment more before joining them.

The Firebirds squawked as the three fillies tore through the underbrush and into the heart of their nesting territory. The relative cool brought on by night invigorated them, and their bags had been left behind. But the thought did not cross their mind--who would steal their meager possessions way out here anyway?

The night passed by in a blur of laughter and excitement. The trio had not played much since leaving home, and the light brought to their journey by the Firebirds was too much for the fillies to ignore. They teased and skipped and laughed even after they were too tired to keep running, for the concentration of the Phoenixes kept increasing, and soon it was nearly as bright as day but half as hot.

The fillies did not notice the sun rise, but the Firebirds did. Wings ruffled and birds crooned as the golden orb rose high. The fillies slowed down to enjoy the peaceful noise, now quite tired and wondering if leaving all they had brought with them behind was such a good idea. They stopped to catch their breath, and the Phoenixes chose that moment to take off in unison. 

The fillies ducked and covered their heads as the birds tunneled through the forest, moving deftly through the branches and creating a glowing river of flaming color. They moved all in the same direction like an unstoppable flood of feathers and fire. The girls watched in awe till the tail end passed by. 

Captivated, they watched as the flock spiraled around a great pillar of stone, and settled upon it. It was beautiful, a sight unseen. Half Note was the first to tear her eyes away from the shimmering spire, and then prodded her friends and pointed.

At the base of the tower was a golden gateway, draped with vines that held delicate flowers. The sunlight shone off it and dazzled their eyes, making the interior seem impossibly black.

No words were said--none were needed. The three approached the gate, caution, awe and weariness tempering their speed. They stopped dead in their tracks as a massive shadow passed overhead, and a dragon larger than they could have ever imagined landed in front of the gates--which were larger even than him. Smaller, younger dragons clambered off their elders back and gathered around his feet.

The horns on the larger one curled back like a rams, and a pair of tusks jutted from near his jaw. His scales shimmered almost as green as the grass, and his spines and horns and claws blue like the sky. He moved with an uncanny grace for one so large, and bowed to the assemblage of Firebirds. Those closest to the rainbow of youngsters he had deposited kept a wary eye on the drakes. 

The great green one rumbled something in a strange tongue, one that very much felt ancient. The youngsters with him seemed cowed by the words, and the Phoenixes calmed and resumed their regal stature.

He began to speak in a rhythmic manner--perhaps chanting, perhaps reciting some ancient spell. The words were foreign to the three fillies, but they could feel the tempo and emotion in them nonetheless. They remained still, out of equal parts fear and reverence. 

The chant drug on, still the sun was directly overhead. No shadow was cast by the rock, and the dragon ended his chant. He stood in silence for a moment, and the fillies briefly wondered if he had died. They jerked back in shock as he shot a bout of flame from his mouth into that of the cave--a bright blue flame that should have in all rights melted the golden arches.

It did not, and the younger dragons at his feet each added their own flickering fires, though they were unable to maintain them as long. The Firebirds took off in a spiral and dissipated into the sky, taking their glowing presence with them. Only when they were all in the air and gone did the elder dragon stop the torrent of fire, and he bowed low and spread his wings taking off into the sky. The drakes mirrored him, acting in unison and spiraling up and away.

The fillies were rooted in place. The rock around the gateway was glowing red. Minutes passed and the rock faded in color before Half Note tentatively stepped forward, watching carefully for any remaining dragons. Tornado and Firelock followed with equal care and silence. They were not privy to the ways of dragons, but they knew they had just witnessed something sacred.

Half Note approached the structure, still feeling residual heat emit from the rocks around her. The glint from the golden arches was nearly blinding this close, and the interior of the temple dark as night by comparison. She stopped just outside, afraid to enter a place where a dozen dragons had recently emptied their gullets in some unknown ritual.

She turned around and looked at her friends, trying to get an indication of support or encouragement or direction. She saw Tornado gaping and Firelock gulp, both of their pupils shrunk from the bright light. She forced a smile, trying to encourage them herself. She blinked when they did not respond, and instead shook her head and turned around.

Her blue eyes met even bluer ones--deep like the clear skies of summer, set in a wall the same blinding gold as the pillars of the gates in which it was set. 

The pink Earth Pony gasped and backpedaled, falling on her flanks as she tripped on a rock, landing near her friends.

All three of them watched as a dragon at least three times the size of the one who had previously astounded them uncoiled himself from the golden gates. He spread wings adorned with gold and green feathers like brilliant leaves and stalks of grain. He stretched and shook himself, yawning deeply. The fillies caught the scent of grass and grain as he unfurled. He turned his bright blue eyes back on them; not accusing, but inquisitive.

The three fillies couldn't speak.

The dragon blinked and exhumed smoke from his nostrils. The smoke itself was golden, and smelled of dandelions.

Half Note gulped and managed to stammer out one thing.

"...Aestrak?"

The great golden dragon smiled, bearing a mouthful of serrated teeth.
> Chapter 9 — The Oldest and Youngest Brother
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Great Golden Dragon snaked his head back and guffawed, a sound like falling timber.The scales on his stomach were the same blue as his eyes, as were the goat-like horns that jutted from his head amongst a crown of green feathers. He laid a taloned hand across his great, rotund stomach. His raucous laughter faded gradually into a chuckle.

"Ahhh, so strange to hear my name on a Pony tongue."  His voice crackled like fire. "What in My Sweet Mother's name could have brought you so far from your homelands? I hope my children haven't got in in their heads I need any sacrifices—I got over that phase generations ago."

The three fillies stuttered and stammered. Firelock was the first to manage a coherent phrase.

"You...you speak Equestrian?"

"Hmm? Oh, that chanting business earlier has you wondering how you can understand me?" He chuckled again. "I suppose it would be easiest to say I don't really exist in the way you think of existence, and as such don't need to go through all the haphazard...biology you do for communication. Does that make sense?"

Firelock blinked. Aestrak sighed.

"Okay, we'll try again. When I speak, I'm not forming words. See?" He pointed to his mouth, which remained still as he continued. "Think of it like telepathy—you're hearing what I mean directly, rather than going through the tiresome process of creating sounds that you have to decipher. The only reason you even are even hearing words is that this is how you're used to communicating—if you were deaf, you might be seeing written words. A newborn foal could understand what I'm saying, because I am, in fact, not really saying anything."

Firelock nodded slowly, her eyes darting around and her brow furrowed. Half Note and Tornado Bolt responded with empty stares.

Aestrak pinched the space between his eyes with his claws. "Oi, this sort of thing was always done better by my brother. Let's make it simpler. I'm talking to you, and you speak Equestrian. So I'm speaking Equestrian, because it's what you understand. But nevertheless, let us come back to my original question; Why are you, three young ponies, out in the literal heart of Dragon Country?"

Half Note gulped and spoke up. "We...We were trying to figure out what kind of magic Earth Ponies have - "

A gigantic head swivled down and interrupted her. "But you are an Earth Pony. Why did that question merit walking so far when you could have merely looked within yourself?" He chuckled, amused at his own observation.

Half Note fiddled with her hooves and blushed. "Well, uh, we were wondering if...what kind it was, and if, uhh..." She blushed and looked down. "...if an Earth Pony could ever have enough magic or be special enough to be a Princess."

Aestrak pulled his head back and blinked.
Birds chirped. The wind blew.

"...What does a female descendant of a royal house of the Unicorn Tribes, unmarried and not yet ascended to the throne have to do with any of your aspirations?"

"An Alicorn Princess. Like Luna or Celestia or Cadence or Twilight Sparkle - "

"Oh? That's a new name. I thought the most recent one to join the Great Herd was Cadence? Or Cadance? Maybe there two of them...Love twas the element, of that I am sure, and I suppose two would make enough sense...Ach, such a long time ago, I swear on the bones of my Mother that I'd forget my own name if it weren't etched in my soul. Can you sympathize, little one?" He smiled good naturedly.

Half Note nodded at her reflection in his giant teeth. "Uh, yeah, sure." She stared at the great golden dragon, waiting her turn.

He blinked back. "Oh, you were saying?"

"Thank you. You see, Twilight Sparkle was a Unicorn and she wrote a Friendship Spell and then—I guess because of that—suddenly she became an Alicorn. Everypony has been saying that she's the Princess of Friendship; or Magic, because that was her element of Harmony..."

"That makes sense enough." Aestrak leaned back and lounged on the massive pillar of stone and proceeded to pick dirt out from under his claws. "Continue."

"Anyway, everyone started thinking the same could happen to them but - wait, what?"

"Oh? Hmmm. Well, when the Elements choose bearers, especially for the Magic hidden sixth one, they often pick Alicorns, or those comparable in raw power to one." He pulled himself up to all four legs and stretched his wings, blocking out the light for the entire clearing and likely then some—the fillies couldn't see where the feathers ended. The muscles in his shoulders groaned like tree branches in a thunderstorm. Birds cawed somewhere in the distance. "However, I think I understand your question now. You wonder if an Earth Pony such as yourself could achieve the status that you have only witnessed a Unicorn achieve through means that are inherent and—as far as you can tell—exclusive to that...hmmm...sub-race, correct?"

Half Note blinked. 

Firelock whispered; "He means she used Unicorn Magic to become an Alicorn as opposed to, like, farming or flying."

"Oh. Then yes."

Aestrak hummed and changed position to standing on all fours, wings spread, neck aloft and tail curled around the edge of the clearing. He tested his wings, forcing Firelock and Half Note to cling to the earth and sending Tornado Bolt spiraling backwards into a bush.

"Well, the simple answer is yes." He stretched his neck out—eliciting crackles to rival that of thunder—before angling it down to speak. "What is necessary to become an Alicorn is, in fact, equally likely to manifest in any breed of Pony—Though understand that that is still highly unlikely."

A bush in the background rustled and exhumed frustration.

Half Note leaned her head in towards Aestrak eagerly. "And that thing that is necessary...?"

A head the size of a house tilted to the side. "An understanding of a form of Magic so complete it is grasped by Mind, Body and Soul alike."

Half Note looked expectantly into eyes bluer than the skies, and just as silent.

Unlike the bush in the background, which was making noises akin to an upset young Pegasus.

Half Note stamped her hoof. "But you just said that you didn't have to be a Unicorn to—"

"—Yes, I did. Is your grasp of Magic really so limited that you only see it in a Unicorn?"

"Well, I guess Pegasi have a kind of magic being able to sit on clouds and stuff but Earth Ponies don't really have anything—"

Aestrak snarled and recoiled, the trees bending back from the gale his wings whipped up in his distress. Half Note found herself clinging to the dirt for dear life—Firelock had been tossed into the same bush as Tornado bolt. She peeled her eyes back open and saw a dragon larger than a mountain and more golden than all the bits in Canterlot staring at her with eyes that no longer reflected blue light, but now emanated a firey glow—as did the feathers of his mane, wings, and tail, which crackled and spat with the fury of forest fire. His breath was hot and smelled of burning hay and hair, the smoke emanating from his cavernous nostrils now black as death. Half Note felt like she was in an oven.

Aestrak pushed the little filly with the tip of his snout and snarled; "You...you ignorant pup! You don't even understand, do you? You are as blind to it as you are to the back of your head! You can't see how lucky you are, to have been born as you were. You have no idea the insults you've incurred, your blasphemies!" He yanked his head away and spat to the side in disgust. Several trees went up in flame along the path.

Half Note cowered and covered her head, hoping that the deity would smite her quickly.

Moments passed, and she remained un-smote.

She lifted a hoof and opened one eye. She saw the golden behemoth breathing heavily, head turned to the side and eyes closed. Something dark and moist made a trail from his eye to his snout. The fire in his feathers faded slowly back into their original leafy hues as he sighed heavily.

He turned his head and focused his eyes—blue once more—onto the trembling little filly.

"It appears I was mistaken as to what you needed to know. Rage bids me to end you for such dishonor, but if the Pony young are growing up not knowing..." he shook his head. "...Then I take it as my sacred duty to see to it that you are reminded." He turned his head to a bush which had two small heads poking out of it—one orange and red and one purplish gray. They disappeared with the touch of his gaze, but a jerk of his head called them out, ears hung back and eyes on the ground.

"Time has come for me to fly, and you need more than I can teach you. Seek my Second and Only sister, and mayhap she will aid you. But I see you are young in the flesh if not in mind. So, as a parting gift and as an indication of my will, I give you my tokens."

Aestrak rose on his hind legs and stretched his neck to the sky, palms outstretched and held upward as if in exultation.

 I give you strength—as that of the heat of summer."

The trio of young ponies felt their skin tingle.

"I give you vigor—as of a raging dragon!"

They felt like they were floating. Something orange was glowing in Aestrak's palms.

"And I give you virility—to rival any of your kin!

Half Note felt no dirt on her hooves. Tornado Bolt felt no wind with her wings. Firelock felt impossibly hot.

The great dragon slammed his hands upon the soil, caging the three fillies in and bathing them in the orange glow. The fillies felt a fire in their blood and they cried out as bones grew and muscles pulled. Aestrak kept his palms as a cage till the light within faded. He pulled them back as he flapped his golden wings to hover, and grinned at the three wobbly legged ponies he left standing beneath. The beat of his wings did not disturb their posture.

"My little ponies...I give you the gift of fire.

With that he took into the sky, fading rather than shrinking.











A gentle breeze stirred the manes of three young adult mares lying in a most unusual meadow. One of them tried to focus wobbly eyes on something, even just the stars swimming in the sky. A pink Earth Pony with a blue mane held a hoof to her head to try to stabilize herself and ease the throbbing. She turned to the two mares beside her, one orange, unmarked Unicorn, and a purple-tinted Pegasus with a tornado on her hip. 

She looked to her own and gave a mild sigh. Still blank. Figured.

The orange Unicorn sat up and exclaimed; "WAIT. Virility? Ewwwwwwww!" before promptly falling backwards with a groan.
> Chapter 10 - On the Wind
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The town of Appleloosa was bustling as much as a modest village like itself could be. It was a Saturday, and fresh shipments had just come in on the train. Merchants were selling their wares on the main street, calling out to prospective buyers. The founders of the town, members of the noble Apple Family, were loading bushel after bushel back onto the train and signing papers. 

The Salt Block Saloon was the quietest place in the town at the moment, a break of shade from the hot southern sun. The jingle of bells heralded the entrance of three mares, one Earth, one Pegasus, and one Unicorn. The Unicorn and Earth Pony were both clothed in long but simple skirts common to the town - sunburn was a real problem in Appleloosa - while the Pegasus was unadorned except for her saddlebags. The three sat down at a side of the bar. The Pegasus and Unicorn immediately focused their attentions on the small menus laid out - the Earth Pony fussed with her skirt, a pale denim blue to match her mane.

"I never did like wearing clothes, even during winter. They always feel so...frivolous. Urgh." The Unicorn waved her hoof dismissively as the bartender approached.

"Shush, Half Way, you don't want a sunburn on your flank, do you?" She brushed her red hair out of her eyes and looked to the moustached stallion. "A round of sasparilla for me and my friends; we'll order something to eat in a moment." He nodded and walked to the fountain where he began to pour the requested drinks.

The pink mare muttered. "Honestly I'd prefer it to the nothing that's there - OW" She had been jabbed by an elbow. The Unicorn next to her did not look away from her menu as she hissed out the side of her mouth.

"Do you want everyone here wondering why there are two grown mares with no Cutie Marks? We're lucky Haze thought to snag some of the shed dragon scales before we came back this way, and even luckier that the seamstress was willing to trade for them and ask no questions."

"Easy for you to say, yours is some pretty red silken thing. I might as well be wearing pants."

The Pegasus chimed in; "What's wrong with pants?"

"What? Who wears pants? You have to fit your tail through them somehow, and then there's pulling them up with hooves."

"They're more aerodynamic and they stay in place better. I'd be okay with wearing pants."

"Yeah well you're just weird Tor--er, Purple Haze." The unicorn groaned and rubbed her forehead with her hoof. The bartender returned, set the tray of drinks on the bar and raised an eyebrow.

'Purple Haze' stammered and fumbled with her menu. "Oh, um, Daffodil Sandwhich with Hayfries. Please."

The Unicorn Mare tested her drink and folded her hooves before responding. "Your Strawberry Soup sounds delightful; I'd love to try it."

The Earth Pony continued to fidget with her clothes. Purple Haze nudged her. "What? Oh. Just a cucumber salad." The stallion nodded and walked back to the kitchen. To his credit and to the credit of the town of Appleloosa, he didn't ask many questions either.

"Honestly, could you at least try to act like a grown-up? You're acting as depressed as ever. Don't make me make the Seapony speech again."

A bell jingled. "You're trying too hard, I think. You're just a Canterlot accent short of royalty right now."

"At least I don't sound like a sad little -" The Unicorn was cut off as a leg was wrapped around her shoulder, making her adjust for balance.

"Well, now, I haven't seen anything quite so pretty in this old place in far too long." A white stallion with a sleek black mane was grinning at the three mares. Another stallion, dark brown with a lighter brown mane stood behind him, the same expression pasted on his face. "What's a gorgeous little lady like you doing all the way down here, now?" 

She turned red and stammered. His face was just beyond the bubble of polite company. A third stallion appeared from behind them, grey and brown. He laughed out loud. "Aww, poor little lady is embarrassed. Why don't we start out a little easier - what's your name, sweetheart?"

She blushed harder and gaped. Her friends looked at each other, then back to the party, confused. "Uh, uh, Sunfire."

"Name's pretty as your eyes, darlin'. What about your friends here?" The white stallion swept his hoof grandly towards the other two young mares. "It'd just be plain rude to ignore em, wouldn't it?"

The Pegasus waved her hooves in the air. "Hey, now, wait a minute. We're not giving you our names till you give us yours. Stranger danger and all that."

The stallions blinked in unison before they burst out laughing. The Pegasus blushed.

"Oh wow I've never heard a girl put it that way before." The brown stallion guffawed. The gray one was leaning on the wall to hold himself up. The white one recovered first, wiping a tear from his eye.

"Alright, alright, fair's fair. We'll tell you our names, but then you have to tell us your Cutie Mark stories too. I can only imagine what...special talents you might have." 

The pink mares eyes narrowed. The unicorn tugged on the hem of her skirt, pulling it closer. "Well, uh, it's not a very interesting mark. Or story."

The stallion wrapped his arm back around her and pulled her in close. His breath was rancid. "Aww, it's okay. We've got all day to talk about that. Tartarus, even all night - "

The door bells jingled and an accented voice interrupted. "Lucky? I thought you got banned from The Salt Block; What are ya up to now?" A pale yellow Earth Pony stallion stood in the doorway and adjusted the wide-brimmed hat he wore.

The white stallion, presumably Lucky, let go of 'Sunfire' and turned around. The other two stallions turned to face the newcomer as well. "That ban got lifted last week. Hard to justify keeping a poor, lonely stallion out of the only bar in town, ain't it? I wanna know what you're doing in here, Buffalo Bucker."

The new stallion didn't move an inch. "Don't bring the Buffalo into this. You'll call me by my name, like everypony else does. I came in here looking for a cold cider and to relax after a hard days work. You, on the other hoof," he walked over to where the three stallions were standing and mares were seated, turning a critical eye on them. "...Well, it looks like you're hitting up on some tourists who don't know ya well enough to know when ta tell ya to get lost."

Lucky glared. "Hey, now, these are grown mares. You don't getta tell them what, or who, they can and can't do. They get to make their own decisions. Ain't that right, Sun Star?" The white stallion pulled her close to him again. She swore she could see the foul vapors coming out of his mouth.

She muttered. "...It's Sunfire."

"And you don't getta go trick em into cuddling up with yer sorry hide, neither. Go on, ask em if they wanna snuggle with you all night. Be upfront about whatcher doin'. Act like a stallion for once in your life." The new stallion polished his hoof against his blazer and inspected it.

"I don't gotta take no flack from you, Braeburn. How's that Buffalo filly-friend of yours doing? Did you go with her to make prayers to their 'Earth Spirits' so that you might live long and have many, many, filthy little cross-breed children - " 

Braeburn punched him in the mouth, knocking him into the bar and one cup full of sasparilla. He put his hoof back down.

"I told ya to keep yer mouth shut about that. Ain't got nothing to do with here or now."

The other two stallions helped Lucky up, his coat stained with the sticky brown drink, his face red. "Why, you little - "

"Now what's going on?" The bartender had stepped out of the kitchen, interrupting the angry stallion. He glared at the trio. "Lucky Strike? What did I tell you about harassing my customers? That's more than enough. Out."

The stallion stammered. "But...he hit me! I didn't do nothing to nopony! Kick the rotten Apple out!"

"Lesse now. I got you and your little posse plus three pretty mares and a spilled drink? I know just what you were up to, and I ain't having it. If you want something to drink of mine again, send somepony else to fetch it for ya, cuz I'll buck your sorry flank right back out the door. Now out, before I call the Sheriff."

Lucky muttered something and headed out the door angrily, trailing his "posse". The bartender walked over to where the three mares were sitting and grabbed a rag. "So sorry about that. Lucky Strike has been a problem for a while - your lunch is on the house." He turned to Braeburn. "Same goes for you. I know you ain't a fighting pony. I don't even wanna think what they said to make you lash out at em."

Braeburn sighed and set his hat on the table. "They ain't said nothing that ain't been said before. Just some cold cider, please." The bartender nodded then went back to the kitchen. Braeburn turned and smiled a sheepish smile at the three mares, who were just staring now. "Mighty sorry ya had to see that, but I didn't wanna see you get taken advantage of or nothing. Appleloosa's worked hard to get a good reputation and I don't wanna see it ruined for anypony, especially because of that rascal."

Sunfire waved it off. "Not a problem, sir, we - "

"What was that about Buffalo Earth Spirits?" Two pairs of green eyes turned to the pink Earth Pony.

Braeburn looked away first. "I'druther not talk about it." 

Sunfire stuck her head between the two and smiled wide. "She didn't mean anything by that, sir, nothing at all, it's just she - " Her head was pushed aside by a pair of pink hooves.

" - We're actually all the way out here researching Earth Spirits, and we actually just hit a standstill. Can you tell us anything about that?"

Braeburn sighed. "Well, I don't know too much. A while back we had a scuffle with the Buffalo over our orchards. We got it settled after a bit, and in the process I made a darn good friend in a one Little Strongheart. Thank you," He nodded to the bartender who had returned with a frothy mug in his mouth and a tray with three plates on it balanced on his back. Purple Haze tackled her sandwich and Sunfire tasted her soup once the plate was set down, glaring at Half Way. "...Anyway, that's what Lucky was ranting about. Ain't nothing came of it, mind you, just he don't see the point in making friends with mares if they ain't lining his bed, and I guess he can't imagine anypony else thinkin' any different. Don't help that most folk didn't have a pretty picture of the Buffalo to start with." He took a long drink, then stared at the contents.

"Yes, that's great, but about the Spirits...?"

"Oh. Right. Well, the Buffalo are really keen on rituals. I couldn't tell ya everything about em, but I do know they have a Spirit assigned to a lot of important things in their lives, and some way to honor that Spirit. That's part of why the orchards were such a contest, ya see. We needed the trees for food, but the ground was sacred to em. They used it for their annual Stampede. They'd run across across it to the west near the start of autumn, in honor for the dead and to secure a peaceful passing for the old. A Buffalo's last Stampede is somethin' real important to em." He scratched his chin with a hoof. "I don't remember much else...Did that help?"

"Mmmhm, just one more thing: Do you know anything about the spirit that ritual honored? The name, maybe? A description?" Half Way had completely neglected her food, and Purple Haze was stealing some of it.

"Not so much. They run to the coast and get there about when all the leaves turn color. They have some sort of ritual when they get there, but I don't remember too much about it, since I only got it second-hoof. I think, though..." He tilted his head to the side in thought. "I think that particular spirit is a lady. Strongheart said something about a sister."

Half Way brightened. "Did it happen to be something like 'Second and Only' sister?"

"...Yeah, actually, that sounds real familiar. Can't be sure, though I'd bet my money on it." He took another long drink. "By the way, I just realized I don't know a darn thing about you ladies. I apologize if I was, er...overstepping my bounds back there. Everypony has a different tastes."

Half Way chuckled and Purple Haze looked up with a mouthful of lettuce and a raised eyebrow. Sunfire groaned.

"You weren't, believe me. I've met Dragons with better smelling breath than him."

Braeburn guffawed. "Now, why don't I doubt that?"
	
> Chapter 11 -  Feelings
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The cliff was tall and steep and the wind was strong and hot. Three mares and a stallion stood at the edge and looked down at the winding dirt path. It twisted and turned until it was swallowed up by a field of thipis. Smoke could be seen rising from fires and forms could be seen moving placidly between the cloth walls and tending to various unidentifiable chores.

Braeburn pulled his hat tighter around his ears. "Well, ain't gonna find anything out sittin' here watchin' em. Let's get down there and introduce ya'll." He turned and jerked his head. "It's no short walk."

The three mares followed with nods of approval. They followed with even paced steps and little conversation. The orange Unicorn who called herself Sunfire stopped to wipe sweat from her brow and then sped up to request a drink from Braeburn's canteen.

Purple Haze watched them with a tilted head and blinked. It didn't feel that hot out to her. 
Oh well. Whatever. she shrugged her wings and let the wind carry under them for a moment, just barely pulling her off the ground. Grown wings are really nice. I don't have to flap as often, just catch the wind. So nice... She jerked her head and angled herself back towards the ground and back into step with her friends.

Well, mostly just Sunfire and Braeburn. Half Way was humming quietly and walking in an odd rhythm with her eyes closed and head bobbing. The Pegasus raised her eyebrow. Maybe Aestrak's "gift" was making her friends act weird. I feel normal anyway. Huh. She sighed a little and looked back towards the lead where Sunfire was still talking with Braeburn about something, canteen still held in her aura and moving back and forth as she spoke. 

She nudged the pink mare with a wing and broke her trance. "Hey, whatcha humming?"

Half Way stuttered. "Uhhh, nothing, really. I just got a tune in my head. It was...interesting. I don't really have a name for it. It's mostly just a beat, anyway, not really anything. It just...felt good." She blushed and looked at the dirt as she walked.

The Pegasus sighed and looked up. "You seemed really into it. I'm just bored being here on the ground when I could be up there in the sky. I just wanna stretch my wings, so badly. Oh, sorry. But it's hard to explain. Maybe it's like the music in your head?"

"That makes sense, I suppose." The Earth Pony looked back up and smiled, but nothing more was said. The only sounds were the whisper of the wind and wilds and the occasional snippet from Sunfire's tirade that trailed back towards them.

"...and then my mother says..."

Half Way was tapping her hooves again.

"...you would not believe how ridiculous the entry test was, only one student ever passed outright, but that's another story..."

She was humming again. Short, powerful beats in varying pitch. It was pretty, in a foreign way.

"...I had no idea there were that many kinds of apples..."

In fact, the way her hoofbeats punctuated the tune was quite infectious. Purple Haze had to hold herself back from joining in. Her singing voice was terrible.

"...I uh don't have much experience cooking. I tried once. Just once."

The sun began to set, turning the sky a brilliant orange and casting a golden glow along the landscape. The thipis glowed like cones of amber and the Buffalo walking among them beads carved out of a dark wood. The Pegasus whistled - art was not her field, but even her untrained eye knew that this was the work of a master.

Not for the first time on this trip she regretted not having a camera.

She stumbled and backpedaled, having walked right into the butt of her Unicorn friend. Purple Haze yelped and flailed as she collected herself. She looked back up and saw many two-horned heads looking up at them. She heard the crackle of fires she couldn't quite see. Sound traveled well over the flat terrain.

Braeburn waved and walked up to a smaller, lady Buffalo who was running out to greet them, feathers on a band across her head. The other Buffalo nodded to him as he passed, but returned their stares to the trio of mares. Sunfire and Purple Haze shifted uncomfortably. Half Way continued tapping her hooves and humming, bobbing her head and almost dancing in place. 

Some of the Buffalo turned to each other, their whispers barely audible but still unintelligible. The Pegasus and Unicorn shared a glance before turning their attention to the Earth Pony beside them caught in a perpetual swaying motion.

"Shhhh, knock it off, they're staring." Purple Haze stepped between her friend and the nomads, flaring her wings to shield her from their observation.

"I think you're offending them somehow." Sunfire leaned her head sideways and hissed out the side of her mouth, shooting smiles and waves at the Buffalo, who continued to stare and whisper despite their efforts. 

Half Way shook her head and blushed.

"Sorry. It's just caught in my head, and it's really hard to ignore." She tried to shake the jitterbugs out of herself, but continued her little dance. 

Sunfire turned her head and glared at her. She cowed. "I guess I can contain myself." The pink pony locked her knees and stopped humming. Her hoof kept tapping, though.

Braeburn walked back, trailing the little Buffalo from earlier. "Ladies, this is Little Strongheart. She says you'll be welcome to stay a while and talk to them, but, well..."

Little Strongheart picked up where Braeburn trailed off. "But our rituals are sacred. Even our own children do not take part in all of them until they have proven themselves ready. We will tell you all we can and you are welcome to stay as long as you like, but I cannot guarantee that you will learn what you wish with us." She had a unique rhythm to her speech, her words each enunciated cleanly and precisely.

Sunfire nodded and waved a hoof. "Oh, that's perfectly fine. We'll take whatever we can get, thank you for your hospitality and everything that comes with it. And thank you, Braeburn," she turned her head and bowed. "For vouching for us. It was very kind of you."

Braeburn shrugged it off. "Aww, it was nothin'. I'm gonna head home, though, got lots of work in the mornin'. Think you ladies'll be alright headin back on your own?"

Purple Haze spoke faster than Sunfire this time. "Oh, we got this far by ourselves. I'm sure we'll be okay - besides, if there ends up being any thing to worry about I think the Buffalo would be nice enough to help us back." 

Braeburn nodded and tipped his hat to Little Strongheart. "Give Cheif my regards. G'night, ladies." And he turned and trotted back up the path. Sunfire shot her a look.

"What? What did I do?"

"...Nothing. Nevermind."

The wind had stopped. A Buffalo coughed. Half Way started humming again.

Little Strongheart broke the silence. "...Well, we are almost done preparing the food for the evening. You're welcome to join us and I'm sure we have room for you to sleep."

They were led to the center of the camp, where a few ornately painted thipis were arranged facing a large central fire. Four large, male Buffalo were stationed with drums in a ring around the fire. They began asking questions of Strongheart in a language the ponies did not recognize. They started up their own conversation in turn - or rather Purple Haze and Sunfire did. Half Way was tapping her hoof and humming, looking up at the darkening sky.

"Why are you still pouting? I can't apologize if I don't know what I did."

"I am not pouting. You did nothing wrong."

"Suuure you're not. All I did was tell Braeburn he could go home. Did you want him to stay here the whole night? Out here with us?"

The Unicorn bit her lip and turned away. The Pegasus blinked once, twice, then started giggling.

"Oh well shoot. You had a crush on him didn't you?"

"I did not!" She spun around, her face redder than her mane. "He was...he was just really nice and I thought it'd be nice to have him around to help if we needed it..."

"I bet you thought he was cute. You thought he was cute didn't you?"

"I did not! He's gotta be like ten years older than me anyway, that'd just be gross."

"Nopony else knows that."

"Tornado - Purple Haze - shut up."

"Firelock and Braeburn, sitting in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G..." The Pegasus merrily clapped her hooves as she sung. "First comes love, then comes marriage, then commmfppffMMMF? -" The orange Unicorn had clapped a hoof to her mouth. 

"Seriously. Shut up. The Buffalo are staring at us."

She lowered her hoof and her friend looked up to see an ocean of brown eyes staring at them and a susurrus of the strange Bison language. Purple Haze closed her wings out of embarrassment. 

"Oh buck I bet they all speak Equestrian." She clapped her hooves to her face. "Sorry."

A large, powerful-looking Buffalo adorned with an ornate feathered headdress parted the crowd and approached them, an equally tall but thinner Buffalo adorned with a headdress of bones and turquoise followed to the side and slightly behind. The larger of the two spoke in a deep, resonant voice.

"Equestrian is the prominent language of this land. There are few creatures that roam this land who do not speak it, many more savage and uncivilized than us. But while what you said was...intriguing, that was not what got our attention. It was your friend, here." And he gestured with his horns to Half Way, who was drumming on her thighs and humming that same little tune she'd had stuck in her head the whole day, eyes closed and head bobbing with the music inside it, oblivious to the attention she was receiving.

The Unicorn blushed and started waving her hooves defensively. "I am so sorry she's been doing that all day I'm sure she doesn't mean anything bad by it she just has a song stuck in her head - " The thinner Buffalo raised a hoof that clattered with bone jewelry and Sunfire shut up immediately. She spoke in a voice that was strong but rasped like the crunching of leaves.

"What she does does not offend us, Star-Pony. We are simply curious as to how."

Half Way continued her musical endeavor. Purple Haze was the one to respond.

"How...how what?"

The skinny Buffalo chuckled. "How she came to know that song. The same song our drummers were to sing tonight. How does this Earth Pony who comes here to learn of Spirits already know our Spirit Song?"
> Chapter 12 - Music
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The silence was only broken by the unearthly rhythm of Half Note's song. No pony nor buffalo spoke a word for a moment, rendered silent either by respect for their Elder or by confusion.

The larger of the two Elders spoke up. "I am Chief Thunderhooves. This is our Shaman, Mourning Dew." He stopped and looked to the side at she to whom he referred. The Shaman nodded and he continued with a snort. "We would not usually share even so much as her title with outsiders, but it appears we have a special case."

Mourning Dew tilted her head and looked at the two ponies who were not caught in some strange trance. Her eyes were old.

"The names dear Braeburn gave us...Those are not yours."

Firelock blinked and pursed her lips. Tornado Bolt was taken aback. "How'd you know that?" Firelock covered her eyes with her hooves.

The old Buffalo chuckled. "You three move and act as old friends, but your names do not. That, and you both called each other by different names just a moment ago."

"Oh. Right."

"I heard one Firelock. I assume that would be you, young Unicorn. It matches your appearance well." Firelock nodded, face still ensconced by her forelegs. "There was a Tornado, that would be you - "

"Tornado Bolt." The Pegasus corrected her. There was a moment of silence. Chief Thunderhooves coughed.

"...Tornado Bolt and Firelock. Good, strong names. They shape you well, little Ponies. Now I ask you to tell me the name of your friend here, she who is lost in the music."

"Her name is Half Note, ma'am." Firelock said as she lowered her hooves. She blinked and added. "I suppose it's kind of funny, her name being a musical reference and now she's picked up some strange Spirit Song..." Tornado Bolt groaned and shook her head.

The Shaman just nodded and walked up to the pink mare, slowly and respectfully. Half Note was still caught in herself, oblivious of what had happened around her. The Buffalo gently laid a hoof on her shoulders, breaking her trance.

"What? Huh? Oh shoot, I was doing it again. Sorry."

Dew sat down on the ground in front of Half Note. Some of the Buffalo in the crowd shifted uneasily, and a few murmurs arose. The Elders calm voice quieted them quickly.

"You have nothing to apologize for, young one. That song was beautiful and precious. Where did you learn it from?"

A pink face turned red and the Pony possessing it rubbed the back of her neck. "Well, I...I didn't. It was just inside my head. I never did do much with music, it wasn't anything that special - "

The Shaman silenced her with a lifted hoof. "You mean to say, then, that this song you sung was not anything that you sought or that was taught to you by an Elder - but that you found it, unguided, within yourself?"

"Ummm...Yeah. Yeah, actually, that feels about right."

The Shaman nodded and hummed a single low note as she stood, a thoughtful noise. She turned to Thunderhooves, bones and stones on her headdress clattering together as she did so.

"We should delay the song tonight. I have other matters to attend to with this young pony."

The chief grumbled and said something in the language the ponies did not understand. The Shaman responded in kind. The exchange was brief, but Thunderhooves nodded resolutely at the end.

"I concede. We will delay until you have done with your work - if you are right, any thing lost by our continued delay will be restored tenfold. But be swift as you may, Mourning Dew, for soon the fading light shall be gone."

The Shaman nodded back and turned again to Half Note. "Young Pony, please come with me. I feel we have much to discuss, and you much to learn." Half Note gulped. "You have nothing to fear, we let no harm come to our guests."

The pink pony nodded and followed, offering a sheepish smile to her friends as she moved towards one of the most ornately painted tents with the ancient Buffalo. Firelock stared with mouth agape, as did many of the Buffalo that formed the crowds. The latter dispersed within a few minutes save for the drummers, though the former remained stuck in the pose for a few more, until one Pegasus prodded her.

"Well, what did they say?"

"How should I know?"

"Well you seemed so shocked I thought maybe you did..."

"No, I don't, but something is strange. I thought she just had a song stuck in her head, but now a private council with a Shaman? Did you miss what Strongheart said about their rituals and whatnot? They're very secretive about them, and now she's...I don't even know what!"

"I think you're overreacting."

Firelock groaned and buried her head in her hooves. "I'm always overreacting. But I'm worried. Can you blame me?"

Tornado Bolt shrugged. "Probably not. You do better thinking than me. But no point worrying unless you can figure out something to do about it."

The Pegasus crossed her hooves behind her head and let herself fall backwards to the ground and stared at the stars. The Unicorn continued to inspect the inside of her own skull until it was tapped. She opened her eyes and saw a young, unfamiliar Buffalo with a small necklace of bone squares. It had a single cube of some glossy, black stone in the middle. The Buffalo bowed.

"Mourning Dew has requested your presence in her tent. I have been sent to bring you."

Tornado Bolt sat up and looked to Firelock, who did the same. The Pegasus shrugged, dusted herself off, and followed the apprentice. Firelock grit her teeth before following. 

The tent in question was highly painted with bright blues, reds and yellows that formed shapes of creatures Firelock didn't recognize among some she did, mostly Buffalo and birds. A few feathers and carvings dangling about the entrance made a clattering noise as the flap was pulled aside. 

The inside was smoky and dimly lit, few small fires giving a warm but eerie light. Firelock saw that Half Note, sitting on a mat across from the shaman with her eyes closed and legs crossed, had removed the skirt she had worn up till this point. Her flank was still blank as blank could be, and Firelock wanted to run before they got caught. But the young Buffalo who had led them in simply made a nodding gesture to two other mats set on either side, completing the circle. 

Firelock then noticed that the Shaman herself was free of all adornments. Relenting in the absence of persecution, she removed the skirt she herself wore and placed it carefully next to Half Notes, and took a seat. There was a small pile of assorted objects in between them all, bones carved and raw, feathers and precious stones. She felt a little dizzy looking at them.

Mourning Dew spoke without opening her eyes, in the strange tongue of the Buffalo. Firelock was feeling more and more uneasy about not understanding what was said around her. The Shaman continued - or repeated, Firelock had no way of knowing - in Equestrian.

"Pony and Buffalo have had similar naming customs for time immemorial. However, there is a key difference: We Buffalo take two names in our lifetimes. One, we are given by our families at the time of our birth, to give us shape. The other we find, later in life, and that name defines us. I brought Half Note in here to find her second name, for she is tied close enough to the Spirits to hear their song without teaching. However, I have found something intriguing.

"Ponies, in lieu of a second name, find a marking. This marking indicates who the pony is, as does our second name. I was surprised to see Half Note unmarked with such a talent. This means she does not know who she is. I can see now you do not either, young Firelock. You are all younger than you appear, and so much older as well."

She hummed and began a small chant as she rearranged the objects in the center. Firelock was so dizzy she was feeling nauseous. There must be something in the smoke.

"I see now why your ties are so strong. I cannot show who you are - there is not a soul who can. But perhaps..." She trailed off. "...Perhaps I can aid you in your quest. It will take time..."

Firelock noticed her eyes were closed. She wondered how long they had been like that. She thought about opening them, but they didn't move. She didn't really want to anyway. The lights inside her eyes were soft and beautiful...





Firelock was back outside, sitting on a bench around a large fire. The drummers were there, and Half Note was among them. She had a small necklace of feathers strung about her neck. Everyone was quiet. Mourning Dew stood with Half Note and the drummers, and was speaking to the young mare. Firelock blinked and shook her head. Chief Thunderhooves was sitting beside her, and she nearly jumped at the realization.

"What...What happened? What's Half Note doing?"

"Mourning Dew found your names for you - except for hers, Firelock Summertouched. Never before we given a Pony a second name, but it was felt that this was an exception worthy of repeating thrice."

Firelock blinked. 

"Your friend will sing with us, and you all will run. A Pegasus flying among us is sure to be a good omen, especially one already so firmly tied to the spirits as you are. Half Note...I can only guess."

Firelock rubbed her face, a dull headache filtering in through her sinuses. "I'm sorry, I'm very confused..."

"You three will be joining us in our Stampede to honor the Second and Only Sister, Summertouched. Half Note will lead our drummers in the song, and Mourning Dew shall teach you all what she can." The old Bison sighed. "Our paths align for a time, young Pony. Now be still, and listen to the Song."

The drummers began to beat together. After a moment, Half Note stomped her hooves in time.

The beats began to differentiate and syncopate. Half Note followed seamlessly.

A wordless chant began with one drummer. Another picked it up. Then another, and the other.

Half Note continued to dance, her every motion a note in the song, her mane and tail snapping like the wind.

And then she, too, began to sing.

And the sky sang with them.
> Chapter 13 - Stampede
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Firelock adjusted the feathers strung across her brow. The headband did not sit well on her head for her horn, either sliding up when placed above or falling down to cover her eyes when placed below. For the first time in her life, Firelock envied those around her with flat, featureless foreheads. She sighed.

Several days they had spent with the Buffalo, learning the ins and outs of their daily lives, and the smaller, simpler traditions. They were a nomadic people, moving about as the seasons changed to follow food and favorable climates. The Stampede, in addition to being a very spiritual affair, was also their Autumn migration north and west to just south of Los Pegasus, where they spent their winters by the sea. 

The journey was always long and hot and hard, and it was not unusual for elderly Bison to die on the path. However, this was considered the most favorable time for death, as the Stampede honored the Second and Only Sister, who was the guardian of passing souls, among other things. The Buffalo still would not share all the details, but Mourning Dew had promised to relinquish more once the Stampede had begun.

Which was very, very soon. Firelock grunted and adjusted her headband again, looking out over the massive herd. Strapped to the back of the larger Buffalo (Firelock guessed that the males were larger, but most of the Buffalo didn't speak to her and it felt rude to ask who was which) were canvas boards that drug along the ground, laden with the materials for the thipis as well as any material goods worth carrying. 

It appeared everything was packed, with only a few members just finalizing their preparations. Firelock pulled herself off her rump and walked to the front of the mass, where Mourning Dew and Chief Thunderhooves stood side by side, facing the western horizon and talking quietly to themselves. Tornado Bolt hovered behind them, with Half Note standing off to her side, fidgeting a bit. Dancing with the drummers each night appeared to clear her head of the incessant tune, which had only made her more nervous at her newfound position. Firelock stepped up to the place she had been instructed to take on the other side of her Pegasus friend and stamped her hooves to get comfortable.

"Nervous?" She jumped a bit.

"Me? What about Half Note -"

Tornado Bolt laughed. "I already know she's nervous, she's talked all she's gonna by now. I think the run'll be good for her, honestly. But you..." The Pegasus shrugged. "Iunno. Unicorns aren't know for their speed or stamina..."

Firelock gaped. "Wait! You think I can't do it!"

"Ap ap ap ap! I don't think you can't. I'm..." Tornado Bolt made a plethora of faces as she groped with her words before settling on a dejected look. "I'm worried you won't."

Firelock glared at her. "Do you think I'm weak, or do you just not trust me to tough it out?"

Tornado Bolt flinched like she'd been hit. "I...Neither, just - I only -" She buried her face in her hooves and shook her head.

Thunderhooves chose that moment to turn around and bellow to his tribe in his native tongue. A monosyllabic answer from the crowd was echoed by a synchronized stomp that carried across the plains. The Ponies jolted to attention.

He bellowed again, and was answered in kind, more enthusiastically than before. Half Note and Firelock shared a look.

A third bellow and a unified roar answered him, followed by the cacophonous applause of thousands of hooves beating against the soil. 

The three Ponies tensed as he bellowed one final time and jerked his head forward, eliciting one more resounding second from his tribe before they took off towards the horizon.

Half Note and Firelock were nearly trampled as such. jumping up from surpirse rather than forward initially.

They ran, a thousand plus powerful and Stampeding Buffalo immediately behind them, keeping pace with the Chief and Elder in front, who were proving themselves with long, supple strides. Firelock had to pump her legs to keep up, and found herself breathing heavily quickly. She glanced to the side to see Tornado Bolt winging through the air easily and Half Note showing no signs of stress yet. 

She grit her teeth. If they could do this, so could she. She did her best to ignore the odd looks from some of the Appleloosans who passed out apple pies to the passing Buffalo as they ran through the orchards. Ponies wearing the dress and performing the rituals of the Buffalo was sure to bring attention. Firelock just hoped that nopony would recognize them as the missing fillies from Ponyville. They'd pressed their luck already.

Hours went by and she felt sweat stinging bugbites under her coat. The sun had been at it's peak when they had started, and it felt like it had hardly moved. It was so hot and so dry and they had been running for so long. Even with an adult body Firelock didn't think any pony could be so tough as to keep doing this for so long. She chanced another glance at her friends.

They too glistened with sweat, but Tornado Bolt was keeping an easy pace with her wings and Half Note was still maintaining her stride, focused on the earth in front of her.

The Unicorn gaped at them. She could only imagine what the Buffalo behind her, who had grown up with this ritual, thought of her - a newcomer given a place of honor at the front, struggling to keep up. She thought briefly about trying one of her mothers spells before dismissing the thought -Unicorn magic wouldn't help her until she had a better grip on that, and she was pretty sure that Aestrak hadn't given her that. He'd just given her bigger legs to get more tired on. 

She closed her eyes and tossed her head, trying to forget about everything that hurt.

Forget your legs as long as they keep moving.
Forget the bug bites, you can't do anything about them.
Forget how hot it is, the wind will keep you cool.
Don't think about anything except keeping your hooves moving.
Don't stop.
Don't stop.
Don't stop don't stop don't stop don't stop don't stop.

The setting sun bored through her closed eyelids and seared itself into her mind, she turned her head and pressed on, tears burning her eyes. She barely felt the wind on her skin or the Earth beneath her hooves, she just kept running. It hurt too much to think about anything else.

Her ear twitched. What was that? Some sound. Her name. Someone was calling her.

Someone behind her. She planted her hooves into the dirt and screeched to a halt, turning around with her heart pumping wildly. Half Note, Tornado Bolt, and the entire tribe of Buffalo had stopped, and Tornado Bolt was calling her back.

She shook her head and galloped back.

"Why did you stop?"

Thunderhooves grumbled. "The sun has set, and so shall we. We pack up at sunrise, to continue the journey."

Firelock blinked and nodded.

She blinked some more.

Tornado Bolt flew down and waved her hoof in front of her face.

Firelock blinked more. She could feel her knees shaking. She could feel every bug bite, every hair laden with sweat and dirt. She could feel every pulse of her heartbeat through every inch of her body, all the way down her legs to her hooves.

Oh, Celestia, my hooves.

Firelock tilted over and passed out.







Halfnote munched on a pie and looked around the fire to her collapsed friend. Firelock was still sprawled out on the ground, exactly where she had fallen, snoring heavily. Mourning Dew had checked her earlier and said that she had collapsed out of exhaustion and should be left alone. The Earth Pony hadn't been too comfortable with the idea, but she wasn't a Shaman. She figured a good nights rest was probably the prescription. Half Note wished, though, that she could at least move her friend to a more comfortable sleeping place.

Tornado Bolt swooped down, clutching a pie of her own. She took a big bite out of it and let herself fall backwards onto the ground, a mirror of the orange unicorn save for the wings and carefully clutched pastry.

"That was soooo hard today. Do they do that everyday, do you think?" Tornado Bolt wiggled her legs in the air to emphasize her exhaustion.

Half Note swallowed. "I dunno. Probably until they reach their destination. I hope the next few days aren't so hard, I don't know if Firelock can take it."

The Pegasus perched herself up on an elbow. "I know...but hey, You should call her Summertouched. I like the names the Buffalo gave us - they sound like the names of heroes from some epic story."

The Earth Pony snorted and took another bite. "I sure don't feel very heroic."

"I bet that's just cause they haven't given you one yet. I love mine - Stormwing. It's just so...just so awesome. I hear it and envision a Pegasus stoically soaring at the head of rumbling thunderclouds, like she's leading them into battle. I almost wanna write a book about it, except it'd ruin the fun of reading it. And Summertouched. Well...It's not as awesome as Stormwing but it's got that mystical, magical feel that fits some kind of sorceress or something. I can only imagine what your's will turn out to be."

"Probably something to do with gardening. Or rocks." She munched the last of her pie and made a face as she dusted off the crumbs. Tornado Bolt stared at her friend with her brows furrowed for a minute. The look on the Earth Pony's face was one of discontent and unhappiness. Tornado Bolt blinked a few more times before launching herself into the air and at the offending expression.

"What is wrong with you?"

"I...I don't...what?"

The Pegasus groaned and put her hooves to the sides of her head, as though she were trying to keep it from exploding. Her eyes were windows to the frustration she felt inside.

"It's just...we've all worked so hard, come so far just to prove to YOU that Earth Ponies aren't...I dunno, less than Pegasi or Unicorns, and Firelock and I have done so much and tried to help all we can and we even came to face with a giant Spirit Dragon who got super pissed when you acted like you had no magic so obviously you must have something and THEN we come find Buffalo who have this super secret ritual song that you just so HAPPEN to MAGICALLY know and yet you still seem to think that all Earth Ponies are good for is gardening." She panted a bit before continuing. "It's just...I thought with all we learned so far that, at the very least, you'd have some kind of faith that there's more to it than that. You're even getting all this special treatment from the Buffalo because you can dance but..." She sniffed and wiped a hoof across her face, backing up. "...It's just not enough for you, for some reason. I don't even know what to say."

Half Note stuttered. "It's not that - I didn't mean - I just - "

Tornado Bolt stopped her. "You know what? Just don't. I'm gonna go eat with Thunderhooves. If you wanna sulk, find somepony else to sulk with." And with that she turned, picked up her pie, and flew off towards a more central fire.

Half Note stared for a while before burying her face in her hooves. She just sat there quietly for a time, until she was tapped on the shoulder. She lifted her eyes into those of the Shaman. She had a pie.

"Summertouched has yet to awaken?" Half Note shook her head. Mourning Dew made a 'tsk' sound. "It is an ill omen. I pray she wakes before we leave on the morrow."

Half Note stared at her. "What? Won't we wait for her? She can't run like this, Unicorns just aren't built to handle physical stress as well."

The Shaman sighed and settled herself on the ground. "The Stampede does not wait. Any who fail to keep up are left behind, for the Sister to guide to a better plain."

It took the Pony a moment to realize what she said. "Wait, so if somepony can't keep up you just leave them to die? You don't even try to help them?"

"It has been the way of our people for as long as our memory serves. The Stampede gets us to lands safer for the winter and makes passing easy on those too frail to last it out. Better to pass quietly in sleep than from starvation and cold. When we rest, we recover, but when we run we do not stop."

Half Note gulped and looked behind her to the rest of the tribe. Was she just imagining it now, or did it seem smaller? She couldn't see any elderly looking Buffalo, but had she seen any before? Maybe there was a reason for that...

"I assume you are wondering how our children handle this. Those too young to run are carried by the strongest of the tribe, often their parents, taking turns, when their legs falter. Little Strongheart has her second name because she was able to run the Stampede unassisted so young. She is strong, in so many ways. Summertouched should be fine, given proper rest. An average Unicorn would have given up early on, or found some clever way around the situation, but not her." The old Bison's eye sparkled and her voice took on a tone of pride. "Her name is well fitting. Not only did the First and Youngest Brother's gift touch her deeply, she is flighty yet passionate - like a flickering flame, or a summer's breeze. I had worried I had read her wrong, for she had no mark, unlike Stormwing. She already knew who she was, and so it was much easier. Perhaps the Unicorn does not know who she is yet, but it shows through."

Half Note leaned back and looked at the stars. "But you couldn't see mine."

The Shaman shook her head. "No, young one. You are full of potential, completely untapped. Your soul is wrought with confusion. You have an ear for the Song of the Spirits, it is true, but that is not all you are." She hummed a tune that made Half Note's hoof want to tap. She let it. "I have a feeling, perhaps, that your Mark and your name shall somehow be tied to music, but I am not sure. You seem to have an affinity to it, but still I cannot say." She nodded to the pie she had set down. 

"Make sure Summertouched eats when she wakes. The first day is the hardest, but she will need the strength." She got up and turned to leave, but stopped before fully rounding the fire. "One more thing, my little Pony."

Half Note pricked an ear in attention.

"It is bad luck to speak during a Stampede, and you will need all the rest you can get. But I know you came to learn about the spirits, so each night you stay with us I shall answer you one question. Your friends may each ask one as well, provided they are awake enough to do so."

Half Note tilted her head. Was that a joke?

The Shaman lingered.

Oh right. Questions.

"Uhm, can I ask one now?"

The Shaman nodded.

"Okay, uh...Does the Second and Only Sister have any other names?"

The Shaman closed her eyes and nodded.

"A good question. She has many. The Wind Weaver. The Four Wings. The Eternal Sunset. But..." And at this the Shaman stalled, squinting her eyes in thought.

"The shortest, simplest name she has ever been given...Zephyr."
> Chapter 14 - Sunset
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Half Note was lonely.

She had been pounding the Earth with the Buffalo for weeks, maybe months now, putting one hoof in front of the other as best she could. When the sun set she would meet up with Mourning Dew and talk. Most of the time Half Note got simple details on the nature of Zephyr and aspects of the nomadic culture. Other times, Dew would ask her questions about Pony life, to which she responded as best as she could. She talked about farms and markets and Canterlot and Alicorns. They talked about a lot of things.

But Half Note was lonely.

Talking during the Stampede was taboo, so even though she ran next to both of her best friends in the world she couldn't say a word. And though Half Note had rapidly acclimated to the strain of the non-stop running, Firelock was always too tired at the end of the day and even Tornado Bolt was showing signs of weariness. Neither of them had come to eat with her and the Shaman since the first night, and the Earth Pony could see all too well the resentment in the Pegasus's eyes to attempt a conversation starter on her own. 

Surrounded by thousands of Buffalo, Half Note felt acutely alone.

She poked at the bowl of porridgey stuff that was dinner and looked over to the fire her friends shared with some of the younger Buffalo. Tornado Bolt was waving her arms dramatically and gesturing to Firelock, who was laying on her back holding a bowl over her face. The words were lost, but she heard Tornado's voice admonishing those of the young Bison and prodding Firelock until she levitated the bowl away from her face in a green glow that matched her eyes and twirled it about. The Buffalo were silent for a moment before whooping and applauding. Firelock waved a hoof before letting the bowl plop right back down where it was a moment ago.

Half Note sighed and ate more. The brown mushy stuff was good, even if it didn't look like it.

The Shaman hummed and looked at her adoptive pupil.

"You have yet to ask me a question, young one. Surely you are not out of them yet?"

Half Note stared at her bowl, now empty, before turning her eyes to the old medicine woman. "...How much longer?"

Mourning Dew blinked. "Come again?"

Half Note huffed. "How much longer until we're done and I can go home and be done with this whole stupid thing?" She slammed her bowl down on the ground. "I should have never left home, all that's happened since we got here has only been dangerous or stupid or made my friends hate me! The only thing that even points to Earth Ponies not being the dupes of the whole world is that big dragon Aestrak, and he only got pissy when I said I didn't have any magic! He didn't tell me any what kind, just that I was horrible for not already knowing. As far as I can tell, Earth Ponies have the short end of the stick and nopony else wants to admit it. Firelock and Tornado Bolt are running themselves ragged just to prove a point and even though all the evidence points to any Earth Pony magic being something stupid they don't wanna be wrong."

She shook her head and hid her face with her hooves. "I don't like seeing them like this. I don't like them being mad at me. I just want to go home, fix this stupid 'gift' he gave me and act like none of this happened. I want to get to Las Pegasus and get on a train and go home already. I wanna go home." She curled up in a ball on the ground and let herself cry. She cried and cried, and Mourning Dew sat there, her eyes and mouth closed. 

Half Note eventually ran out of tears, and tried to quell her breathing. She turned big, puffy eyes to the closest thing she had to a friend right now, who sat still and motionless. The pink Pony hiccuped.

"Three weeks."

Half Note sniffed and wiped her eyes. Her hooves were dirty and the grit made her eyes water more.

"Three weeks, and we reach our destination. Is that all?"

Half Note turned her head away, ashamed of her tears. "One question per night, right?"

The Shaman shrugged. "It is a common question asked by children to their parents. I do not think it counts."

Half Note poked at the ground. Mourning Dew sat quietly, waiting for an answer.

"...What do you know about Earth Pony Magic?"

The Shaman mad a thoughtful noise and looked aside. It was a quiet moment before she responded.

"I know little about your kind, Half Note. The path the Buffalo take is very different from that traversed by any pony at all. I know you resent the association of Earth Ponies with farmers and manual labor, and I cannot blame you - to have any title impressed upon you by the circumstances of your birth or other nature is unfortunate and unwanted. But consider how you described your Unicorn and Pegasus sisters - you thought them first artisans and athletes, in the same way you resent being thought of as a laborer." 

She sighed through her nostrils. "I do know what you have told me of your own side of this world. Where I and my kin run wild and free upon the Earth as do the winds, we are just as subject to their fickleness. Should the weather on the Stampede be cruel or disfavor the foods we eat, my kind suffers. We go hungry as often as we feast. Our own magic lies in hearing what the Earth is saying, and heeding the advice it gives. It is a small, humble one when compared to that of your kin.

"But from what you tell me of the Pony world, each of the three has an inclination towards one role. Perhaps the Unicorns sometimes resent their association with the scholarly and artistic - I'm sure there must exist those among them who wish to be athletes, or to live simpler lives like those of the farmers. And while it may be harder for them to achieve these things, they are still free and capable to do so.

"But the talents of a Unicorn favor the path of the scholar, and so so many follow it, for ease if not their own desire. So, I am no Earth Pony, and I know little of your magics. But what I see from the stories you have shared tells me that it does exist. Maybe it is simply a proficiency with plant life, who am I to say? But your kind thrives by staying in one place, by working with the Earth instead of being subject to it, as I am. There is a magic in that, I think. Perhaps subtler than the other Ponies, but brighter than that of the Buffalo.

"Although, I do admit I have never seen a Pony of any kind pick up on the Song the Earth Sings with us before. Perhaps you have some Buffalo in you? That could explain much."

Half Note blinked, and noticed that her eyes felt less puffy. They still itched, though, and she rubbed a foreleg against her face to subdue it, and let herself smile at the prod from the Shaman.

"I don't think so, but maybe. Thanks, Mourning Dew."

The Shaman nodded. "Now, to your other question."

The Pony blinked. "...I thought I only got one?"

Dew smiled. "About my culture and knowledge on magic, yes. About your friends? That is a different story."

Half Note grimaced again. "...They're mad at me."

The Shaman shrugged. "They feel that you've given up. Have you?"

A sigh. "I...I want to. Or, wanted to, I guess. It felt pointless, like we were doing all this for nothing. What you said helped a lot, though." The pink mare chuckled. "I suppose if nothing else I should see this through so that the big giant dragon doesn't come eat me." She chanced a smile, which slowly faded. "That doesn't mean they don't still hate me though."

Mourning Dew walked over to Half Note and lifted her chin with a hoof. Blue, watery eyes met stoic brown ones.

"They felt you wanting to quit, and that hurt them. Let them know that you haven't, and the wounds will start to heal. They are your friends, after all, and if what you told me about recent events is true...well, then that's a kind of magic in and of itself, isn't it?"

With a quiet smile the Shaman left the fire and walked to her thipi, leaving Half Note alone with her thoughts. She looked to the fire where her friends were strewn about in sleep and smiled sadly to herself. 









The next day was different. The three ponies stationed at the head of the Stampede ran in silence. But the silence wasn't quite so cold anymore. Tornado Bolt had noticed something different about her friend - a change in her posture or stature, she wasn't quite sure what. But it was better than the downcast and resigned appearance she had worn for so long, and the improvement in her friend cheered her up.

That night Half Note shared their fire, though she didn't say anything.

The next day was better. Firelock finally felt like she was getting the hang of things, that she could really pull this off. She almost regretted that they were almost through. 

That night the three had a small, simple conversation. Not the banter of the good friends they were, but friendly nonetheless.

The next day was even better, that night accompanied by friendly chatter and laughs. 

The next, even more so. It didn't feel like long before the three were back to the strange and wonderful dynamic they had had when they had set out, if cut short by the long days and lessons with Mourning Dew. But things were better, and that was all that mattered to Half Note.

At least until the lights of a Pony city teased the horizon and turned a small range of mountains a beautiful shade of gold. 

As the sunset that night, she was pulled aside by the Shaman, who led her to Thunderhooves. He sat alone at a large fire, in all his ceremonial dress. He usually preferred to, once the running was done, remove his headgear and relax with his fellows.

"Half Note." He grumbled her name, as though struggling with what he said. "You have run with us, and run with us well. You have earned your place among us, and proven your worthiness as a dancer. But..." He lulled again. "...this next night is the end of the Stampede, and the dance is...different. You will start alone, but you will finish with a partner. Do nothing to offend her, do you understand? Continue dancing, and if she dances with you, dance with her back. This is important."

Half Note gulped and nodded. The Chieftain sighed and looked to the west, where the sun had dyed the sky a myriad of purples and golds.

"I understand what you came along with us for, young one, and I feel you shall soon leave. Be careful, in all that you do." With that he rose and left. 

"I'm sure you'll do fine - I have taught you well, have I not?" Mourning Dew walked up to Half Note and patted her on the shoulder before walking off herself. 









Half Note felt heavy. 

She stood in the middle of a ring of drummers, fires, and Buffalo. There was no music, just the whispers of tired voices rustling through the tribe as they waited. The sun was on it's decline, but not yet on the horizon.

Covered in more feathers than Tornado Bolt, Half Note did not feel like flying.

The dance was important, and as soon as they had finished running the pink Pony had been ushered aside and been decked out in every piece of ceremonial gear that would fit her frame. Several minutes had been wasted on a debate over how important the horn cuffs were and if they would stay on her ears. Long story short, they didn't. Half Note looked around the crowds and saw two familiar faces, orange and purple, giving her encouraging smiles.

Half Note was laden from head to toe in beads and baubles - but she felt a little lighter.

Chief Thunderhooves and Mourning Dew walked to the center of the circle. The whispers died.

The Chief and Shaman were as over-dressed and adorned as Half Note. They stood end to end, staring in silence at opposing ends of the circle. 

When they spoke, they spoke in unison, addressing their tribe in their native tongue. Not for the first time, Half Note regretted not learning more of it. She was able to pick out the name Zephyr, and what she was fairly certain was a color, but the rest was just pretty sounds.

The pair of leaders punctuated the end of their speech with a stamp of their hooves and walked calmly out to the edge of the circle. When they sat down, the drummers began in their typical, slow and steady fashion.

Half Note let herself fall into the music she had become so accustomed to, and let her feet guide her through the tempo and humming the tune to herself.

She nearly faltered when the music slowed and lost a piece of what she was used to. She opened her eyes and saw, across the circle, a young white buffalo, lithe as a cat, dancing along with her. Half Note continued to move her feet as her brain whirred.

I've never seen her before...She must be the other dancer.

The worry melted from her mind as the music picked up once more, and she let herself spin in circles, her tail and feathers and beads spiraling around her. She worked her way towards the center of the circle, where the dance had always ended. So too did the white buffalo, spinning and whirring in step.

When they reached the center, neither stopped. Instead, they spun and twirlled and stepped around each other, bowing and spinning and lilting in unison. Half Note had never done this before, never kept dancing when she'd reached the center, but the music hadn't stopped - if anything, it had picked up speed - and she would do the same.

Somewhere in her head she knew with how much she was moving she should be getting dizzy. All she felt that was strange was a bubbling in her gut. It felt tense, waiting.

With a particularly solid stomp on the ground with her alabaster partner, she let it out. 

She started singing a wordless song.

So too did her partner, with a voice unlike any she had ever heard before. It sounded like a thousand echos across a mountain range from a thousand voices singing in harmony. It was eerie, yet unequivocally beautiful.

She felt the wind whip around her head, tossing her mane and tail. She didn't care - it felt great. She heard voices, familiar voices, shout loud with concern. She let herself keep dancing. She felt the heavy reverberations of the drumbeats intensify, and she followed the music like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Then it all stopped. 

She opened her eyes again, and looked into those of her fellow dancer - they shone purple, then gold, then pink, then purple again, shifting like the setting sun. Half Note gulped and looked around briefly. The Buffalo had their heads down in a bow - all of them, even the Chief and Shaman. Her friends, though, were sitting straight up, staring wide eyed and slack-jawed.

Half Note heard a chuckle, and turned back to the white buffalo. She was smiling now, and raised an eyebrow at the Pony across from her. She smiled back sheepishly.

The stranger snorted with a smile and shook her head. She turned and walked towards the sun, now just barely keeping it's head above the coastline. Half Note blinked - when had there been a path through the crowd there?

She blinked again. The white Buffalo had turned back to her and nodded to her friends before jerking her head. Half Note looked back to them and saw them look to her. She shrugged, turned back to the stranger, and nodded before following. 

Light hooffalls and wingbeats let her know that, whatever she was walking into, Half Note was not alone. She felt warm inside.

They followed the white buffalo in silence. There was nothing to say as they were led along an invisible path through a forest and up a mountain. The sun seemed to slow in it's decent, keeping the world locked in the golden hour as they progressed upwards. Time didn't seem to be working right, but they were unconcerned - whatever dangers lay ahead, they were together.

When they reached the peak of the mountain, Half Note let her gaze wander from side to side. It was impossible to tell where the sun had gone - the entire sky was lit up in the golden haze of dusk. The smaller mountains reflected it back and twinkled in rainbows. 

She looked back to the white buffalo, who was now sitting in the center of the plateau. Half Note realized that, as high up as they were, there should not be the soft grassy carpet they now stood upon, and the wind that teased her mane should be much colder. But it was all very pleasant, very calming. 

Half Note briefly wondered if she'd died.

The thought was banished when the white buffalo collapsed with a thud on the ground. She had only time to gasp before the wind rushed in and pulled her body apart like dust, twirling the fragments of their guide around like sparkling stars.

The three Ponies stared as the ashes spiraled around, growing bigger but never thinner. They shone brighter white with the golden light as they swirled and thickened; brilliant, blinding light.

Half Note covered her eyes as the light surged, and blinked to clear them as it faded. Where the white buffalo had fallen now stood a great crane, with a tail plumed much like a peacock, but the colors...Oh, the colors. Half Note would never be able to describe them with justice - the feathers shimmered like polished gold or fine cut gems, colored like the setting sun and a burning fire and so many things at once. Half Note's eyes burned as she saw colors she never knew existed. Only the beak and feet were so easy - a subdued, matte steel.

The bird ruffled it's feathers and took a step forward on silver feet to match it's beak. Half Note noticed that there was an extra pair of wings, one draped along the ground and the other held at attention at the shoulders. The bird lowered her head and turned so that her eye was trained on the three ponies - they were acutely reflected across the iris as it shifted from gold to purple to pink and back again. When she spoke, Half Note recognized the voice as the one she had sung with.

"My brother sent you?"

Half Note, Tornado Bolt and Firelock all nodded together. 

Zephyr smiled, no small feat with a beak.
> Chapter 15 - The Second and Only Sister
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Zephyr hummed. The gigantic, four winged crane swayed her neck and head about to the little tune as her echoing voice weaved up and down. Half Note recognized the music as the song that had been running through her bones since they had first come to the Buffalo. She found herself humming along. Embarrassed, she stopped herself.

But so too did Zephyr, tilting her head and turning her swirling rainbow eyes upon the pink mare. "Why did you stop? You have such a lovely voice. "

Half Note gaped and flushed. "I...I guess I felt it was rude to interrupt."

"Nonsense, child. A falling leaf does not detract from the beauty of autumn, but rather adds it's own distinct note to the overlaying harmonies. It is the same with music - you can never have too many good voices."

"With all due respect," Tornado Bolt interjected. "We didn't come all this way just to hear you two sing - even if it is very pretty."

"Oh? Pray tell what, then, so we may continue."

The pegasus rubbed the back of her neck. "Well, um...it's a bit of a long story...Y'see, uh..."

"Something about the Magic of Earth Ponies, brought about by the ascension of a one Twilight Sparkle - proclaimed to have found her domain in the Magic of Friendship. I am correct?"

"Uh, yeah, that's about right. Um." Tornado Bolt dug at the dirt with her hoof.

Zephyr chuckled. "Aestrak told you that, in order to become an Alicorn, a pony must have a grasp on a form of Magic so complete that it wholly encompasses the triumvirate of Body, Mind, and Soul. Upon hearing this, you wondered - how might an Earth Pony attain such a feat?" Her eyes had turned to Half Note once again.

The pink pony nodded. "Yeah. He got really upset when I said that it looked like Earth Ponies don't really have any magic. I mean, everypony talks about how good we are at growing stuff and working with rocks and how tough we are, but that's not the same as being able to levitate things or teleport, or fly and shape the weather. They just don't compare - any Pegasus or Unicorn can grow a garden or build things or get really strong, but an Earth Pony can't do anything one of them can't."

Half Note flinched a bit, realizing how much she had said and expecting a reaction like the one she had provoked from the Golden Dragon. However, Zephyr had only settled into a sitting position, magnificent wings and tail curled about her. Her eyes were closed as she nodded.

"Hmm. I think I see the problem. Can you tell me, little pony - what is the difference between dirt and Earth?"

Half Note blanched. After a few precarious moments of silence, Firelock chimed in. "Uh, one refers to the stuff on a small scale - like a dirt clod, or dirt in your mane - while the other is usually used on a broader scale, like farmers tilling the Earth?"

Rainbow eyes blinked. "I had not thought of it that way. I suppose you are correct, in your own way. Your mind is sharp, but pointed in the wrong direction. Let me try another - this Twilight Sparkle, she attained her wings via the Magic of Friendship. How is that limited to a Unicorn - or a Pegasus, for that matter?"

Half Note scratched her head. "Well, any pony can be friends with another pony, but she cast some kind of spell thingy that did the...thingy. I wasn't there, but I heard there were a lot of magic beams and some explosions too. Or something like that."

Zephyr clucked her tongue and ruffled her wings. "Again, you miss the point. I cannot tell you, nor can I show you myself. What a bother." She ruffled her wings again and turned toward the sun, suspended over the horizon and glittering bands of gold.

"I think I am running short on time. What a pity. Laccarentia won't be much more of a help, I am afraid. But you must speak with my Youngest and Oldest Brother as well, or he will surely be jealous and you will make no more headway."

"Laccarentia...? That sounds familiar..." Firelock tapped her chin, then gasped. "OH! He was named in the Tale of Penthes."

The crane nodded. "That is good that you know him. My brother does not like to seek attention, but he is a jealous soul nonetheless. It will serve you well to show him some respect. But do be careful. I would hate to never again hear your voices on the wind."

The ponies nodded. Half Note cleared her throat. "Uh, thank you, I guess. That was more helpful than what Aestrak told us. A little, anyway. But, uh, would you mind telling us where to find your Youngest and Oldest brother? We only found you because of the Buffalo. It would be really helpful to not have to rely on luck like that again."

Zephyr giggled a little. "Oh, you say it like luck is unreliable. Very well, but on one condition - I want to see you dance."

Half Note blushed red through her pink fur. "Uh, are you sure?"

"Certainly. That's why I brought you here in the first place. I must admit I would have been shocked at the presence of an Earth Pony where I expected a Buffalo, but for my brothers word and you did so well. Quickly now, the sun must set soon. I shall sing myself if your friends are not able."

Half Note got to her feet and looked back at her friends. Firelock was smiling a too-wide, nervous smile, while Tornado Bolt was stiffling a giggle behind one hoof and waving her on with the other. She sighed and stepped forward.

Zephyr smiled and tapped her talons on the ground, matching the beat that was still pounding inside the Earth Pony's head. She began to sing the Spirit Song in her thousand lilting voices, hitting notes unbelievably low and unimaginably high at once, like chimes in the ocean. Half Note shuffled her feet as she bid away her nerves, then felt the music resonate in her bones again.

She let herself dance. She closed her eyes and let the wind of her motion whip through her mane and across her face and into her ears. Behind her eyelids she saw shimmering golds and reds and purples and blues that wavered and undulated with Zephyrs singing. A deep note struck in time with her powerful stomp - a series of higher notes were met with light, agile movements. 

She spun and stepped and stopped, and had to take a moment to remember that she was not just a dancer, not the wind or the song. Her name slammed back into her, and she felt suddenly tired.

The sound of her friends beating their hooves upon the ground in approval broke through her haggard breaths. She looked back at them first, seeing their smiling faces, before she turned back to Zephyr.

All four of her glimmering wings were spread full, feathers of royal violets and reds caught the light of the setting sun. 

She spoke again, the thousand voices now resonant as one. "You did well, child - very well. You shall share in the gifts I give to the Buffalo in accordance with our ancient pact. But first, your request.

"Head North. North, to the City that Shimmers. Head North further still, till you can go no more - there you shall find Laccarentia, deep within his lonely cave. Be wary and respectful, and do not fear."

She began to beat her first set of wings. Those between the first and her legs remained held at attention, but leaves began to spin in the generated wind.

"As you travel, you shall fear no storm to pass. The thunder is your ally, the lightning your friend. They shall lend you their grace, their power."

Her second set of wings began to beat as well, snapping back while the first was forward, and forward whilst the first was back. The spinning leaves began to spin around her tighter, much in the way the dust of the White Buffalo had condensed and expanded at once.

"Your rest shall come easy, and never fail to find you when you need it. The souls of your kin in passing shall be guided gently onward, and know no pain."

The great crane lifted her feet from the ground to tuck them against herself, pulling herself and her tornado of leaves further into the sky. Her fan-like tail spread out beneath her, the light of the setting sun easily reflected in the shimmering colors of her plumage.

"Wherever you travel, know you will have the Four Winds at your backs. I shall dull the teeth of Winter for you, that you might come to see the Spring. Farewell, and never forget the Song of the Wind."

The spiraling wind erupted in all directions. The three ponies shielded their eyes from the force that threatened to bowl them over. When it had calmed, they removed their hooves to see that Zephyr was gone, and the sky getting steadily darker. Nothing but a few fluttering, amber leaves remained.

Tornado Bolt coughed. "We...We should probably head back. It's getting dark."
> Chapter 16 - Wind Dancer
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The walk down the mountain was significantly shorter than the walk up. What had been a mountain surrounded by an amber-toned forest had been reduced to a small walk over one hill and up another before they could see the Buffalo encampment again. It had only been a few minutes, not nearly enough for Half Note and her friends to breach the slew of questions that had come from the conversation with Zephyr.

The camp was quiet, only a few fires tended by even fewer Buffalo, and a handful sleeping along the tents. It was understandable - the Stampede was not easy on any body, even those used to it. 

Half Note had a pit in her stomach, worrying that she might have done something wrong in leaving the dance like she did. A few of the Buffalo raised their eyes to look at the trio as they walked in, but none of them spoke a word. A few nodded silent acknowledgement, but nothing more was given. Half Note felt her face get warm under her fur, despite the autumn breeze that rose to cool her. 

As they approached the tent decorated with beads and paintings and smelling of incense, Tornado Bolt fidgeted. 

"Do you think we could maybe just leave and all? I mean, we should probably be heading north ASAP, and it's not like we have anything super important to do here?"

Half Note shook her head. "Whatever we did and however bad it was, we need our stuff - it won't be a short journey and we'll probably need to get into a town for supplies at some point, and Firelock and I can't have ponies asking out our blank flanks - somepony will put two and two together and try to make us go home." Despite her words, she hadn't made any motion toward asking for permission to enter.

Firelock piped up into the silence. "Actually, there's - " She was cut off as the flap opened, knocking several hanging beads and baubles into her open mouth. She sputtered as Mourning Dew tilted her head at them.

"If you were hoping to leave quickly, perhaps you should have tried harder to do so quietly." She looked Half Note up and down with a critical eye before turning around and saying. "Nevertheless, if you wish to leave soon, you should collect your things." After only a moments hesitation, the three Ponies followed her into her thipi.

The first thing Half Note noticed was that the incense had changed. Gone were the thick, sweet spices that had pervaded throughout the summer. Instead there was a subtle crisp smokiness, not unlike the smell of fallen leaves. The next thing was their meager possessions left undisturbed where they had left them - the final was that they had a fourth pile keeping them company. She recognized the ceremonial clothing she had been covered in for the dance and swallowed nervously - she didn't remember taking them off.

Firelock shifted nervously and opened her mouth before Half Note blurted "I'm really, really sorry about all that, I didn't mean...It wasn't...I hope I didn't...I messed it all up, and I'm sorry."

Mourning Dew blinked at her - for the first time, the Shaman seemed genuinely confused. "...I don't understand. What are you sorry for?"

Half Note worked her mouth mutely for a moment before stuttering out "But..but I left in the middle of the dance, and probably left the ceremonial clothes in the dirt and then when I came back everything was put away and nobody was saying anything and - "

Mourning Dew chuckled. "Oh, child, I think you don't understand. The White Buffalo seldom invites anyone to join her on her journey - let alone three of our company. It is a blessing when she comes to join in the dance, and leaves a bitter taste should she not. It is a better omen than any of us could have imagined or hoped for. And we're not the only one's who have benefited, I see."

Firelock nodded vigorously. Half Note cocked her head. "I don't get it. What..."

"Your leaving was rare and confusing, yes, but once everyone understood what had happened it was a different matter. This winter is sure to be a good one - spring and summer too." The shaman smiled and shook her head. "What a shame - you said you should leave soon?"

Torando Bolt nodded. "Yeah, and we need the clothes so that nopony calls these two freaks or nothin."

Mourning Dew raised an eyebrow and Firelock glared at the Pegasus "Hey, you know, if you just - "

Half Note interrupted her. "She is right, though. We need to get going as soon as possible. I hope that doesn't cause any offense or anything?"

Mourning Dew nodded. "Of course. But the day is late and the night is young - will you at least stay for the commemorative feast? It is very nearly in your honor."

Half Note blushed. "Of course. I suppose it wouldn't hurt if we spent the night and started up again after a full nights sleep. How soon does the feast start, do you know?"

The shaman flared her nostrils and sniffed. How she could smell anything through her thipi and the incense was a mystery, but she responded. "Oh, smells like they're almost done at this point. Care to walk with me?"







Half Note picked at her food. While the brown mush they had eaten throughout the stampede was bland and uninteresting, at least it wasn't quite as confusing as what was before her now. Some kind of veiny leaves, spicy smelling sticks and this odd, dark blob. She prodded it - maybe a mushroom, or some kind of mold?

Mourning Dew and Thunderhooves had been taking turns addressing the tribe; while one spoke the other would eat. They had been speaking in the Bison tongue, which left the Ponies mostly out of the conversation. Despite their extended time with the Buffalo, they had only managed to pick out a few words. Half Note was able to recognize mentions of the Stampede and the bravery and endurance of the tribe, but any sort of meaning she had to piece together herself.

Firelock leaned toward the Earth Pony conspiratorially. "Hey, I know this probably isn't the best time, but at this rate you're never gonna notice. When you were up on the hill, dancing with Zephyr, you kind of got - "

Tornado Bolt shushed her, earning herself a frumpy face. "They switched to Common Equestrian, which means that we should be listening!"

Half Note nodded and switched her attention to the elders. Both had stopped eating, at least for the moment, and though she missed the introductory parts they hadn't gotten so deep that she was completely lost.

"...these three Ponies who held their own against the trials of the Stampede, despite not being raised with it in their blood. They have graced us with good fortune from the Second and Only Sister not seen in generations. They have earned their names by our rights - let us welcome them properly."

Thunderhooves took over. "Bison! What say you to these three Ponies?"

The same stomping of hooves and wordless shout that had accompanied the start of the Stampede was given to them. Mourning Dew took the lead again.

"Stand, Firelock Summertouched - who showed us the fire that resides in your heart!"

The Unicorn blushed and rose, more fire in her face than one would guess was in her heart at the moment as the applause was seconded.

"Rise, Tornado Bolt Stormwing - who brought the wind beneath her wings which fed such fire!"

Tornado Bolt showed no such reserve, leaping into a hover and thrusting out her chest proudly to the percussion of cloven hooves. The Shaman turned and grinned at the Earth Pony left sitting before she concluded.

"Step forward, Half Note Winddancer - May the Sister always guide your hooves!"

The tribe roared in approval, and Half Note felt her cheeks go red. She had thought the silence from earlier was out of reproach - but the reaction she was receiving here led her to believe that it was more out of respect than anything else. The applause went on and on uninterrupted until she had to relieve herself with a chuckle.

"Well, you were right - having a Second Name does sound pretty awesome. Now, if I could get my Cutie Mark and stop worrying about Ponies catching us because of it, that'd be great."

Firelock stared at her a moment, then nearly impaled her own hoof on her horn. "That's what I've been trying to tell you all night. Look at your butt, you dummy."

Half Note took a moment to register that - then looked at her flank, where a series of lines and swirls the color of her mane were adorned with three musical notes - like a gust of wind with a song on it.

"Oh."
> Chapter 17 - Cold Shoulders
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Half Note rose with the sun, and she would have beat it in a fair race. While it was still peeking over the horizon, the pink Earth Pony was on her hooves, collecting her meager possessions. She'd been given a few gifts from the Buffalo - feathers and beads and the like - but her favorite was a fringed jacket with swirling patterns of blue beads, given to her by Mourning Dew and the young Buffalo they had seen at her side on occasion - the Shaman had called him Night Owl, and the way she treated him led the mare to believe he was either an apprentice or a close relative.

Smiling, Half Note donned the jacket and felt the soft, smooth material settle on her coat. She looked to the denim skirt she had picked up in Appleloosa, and grinned wider, happy to trade the uncomfortable garment for this treasure.

As she picked it up in her teeth, her grin was replaced with a grimace. Underneath the unloved garment lay the red, silken skirt that Firelock had worn. The Earth Pony looked over to her friend, sleeping soundly under a blanket. She couldn't get rid of this one yet. 

She shook her head and finished packing up, leaving the skirt out for Firelock, no longer envious of the fine material it was made out of. A few minutes passed after she had finished packing, and her friends still slept - she proceeded to pack away the few things they had as well before waking them up.

Tornado Bolt grumbled, but rose quickly. Firelock seemed to rise with grace, but moved much more slowly. The Pegasus was hopping from one foot to the other while the Unicorn collected herself and her things. She lingered a little bit in donning the red skirt - only a moment, but Half Note noticed.

"Are you done yet?" Tornado Bolt whined even as Firelock hefted her few remaining possessions onto her back.

"Yeah, yeah." The Unicorn huffed and turned towards Half Note. "Well, we should get going, I guess. Any ideas on how we're going to get to the Crystal Empire?"

Half Note blinked. "Um...I figured we'd walk?" She started out, putting the rising sun on her right side. "Why the Crystal Empire?"

Firelock snorted, but followed nonetheless. "The bird said 'North to the City that shimmers.' Seemed pretty straight forward. As far as walking, I don't know about you, but walking all the way through the Frozen North until we find the Crystal City doesn't sound that fun to me."

Half Note stopped and blushed. Firelock walked ahead of her before turning around and leveling her eyebrows - who knew eyebrows could be so derisive - at the Earth Pony. "Well? Any ideas, Winddancer?"

She gaped, mouth moving up and down with no sound. Tornado Bolt shrugged from above "We could walk to Los Pegasus and catch a train to the Empire from there. It might take us a few weeks to make it, but I know we can't be too far."

Firelock glared at Half Note for a moment before nodding. "Best idea we've got. As far as anypony else is concerned, we're adults. We can get tickets easily enough." She squinted at the Pegasus. "You still have the leftover bits from Appleloosa, right?"

"Pfft no, I ate them. What do you do with extra bits."

The Unicorn rolled her eyes and started walking. "I think we're fine. If we're short we can pawn off some of the things the Buffalo gave us. Shouldn't be hard in a city like Los Pegasus." Half Note touched the beaded jacket she wore and bit her lip, but followed the Unicorn once again. Compared to the months of the Stampede, their relaxed pace felt agonizingly slow. Yet they slowly left the camp and it's sleepy Buffalo and moved North and West - towards the coast and the big city. Though they moved slow enough that conversation was possible, Firelock said nothing, keeping her back to her two friends. Half Note desperately wanted to break the silence, but wasn't sure how, and thus lingered behind. 

Tornado Bolt stopped swooping above and dropped down to hover near the pink Pony's face. "So whatdya think your Mark means, huh?"

Half Note's ears folded back at the same time as Firelock's. The Unicorn quickly shook herself and sped up slightly. Half Note noticed; Tornado Bolt did not, keeping her attention on the Earth Pony mare. 

"Well, I guess it has something to do with how I could hear the Spirit Song, or something about dancing..."

Tornado Bolt shook her head and cut the thought off. "No no no, that's how you earned it. I wanna know what you think it means."

Half Note stumbled. "I'm not sure what you mean."

Tornado Bolt sighed. "Look, okay. My Mark is a Tornado. Have you ever seen me do anything with weather?"

Half Note shook her head. Tornado nodded.

"Exactly. See, when I got mine, I was really confused for a bit. What I did was, see, some of my friends back in Cloudsdale thought reading was super-lame. I really liked it, but I didn't want my friends to think I was lame, so I laughed when they called people eggheads and read Daring Do at night when I went home. But then one day they got a hold of a book somepony had checked out from the library - I don't even remember what it was called, but they were talking about throwing it over the edge of the city. They were laughing as they dared each other to be the one to do it, and all I could think about was what could be in that book, what story or what knowledge, how awesome could it be and they wanted to literally throw it away without even looking. Then one of them dared me to be the one to do it."

Half Note blinked into the silence. "...And?"

"I said no. I made up some excuse about how it was the library's property and it was probably illegal. The colt who dared me shrugged and then tossed it over the edge. I dove after it, caught it, flew back up and called my friends names in so many big words that if they had understood what I was saying they probably would have beat me up right then and there. When I took the book back to the library, the librarian asked me what I got my Mark for."

Half Note said "That doesn't have anything to do with tornadoes, though."

The Pegasus laughed. "That's what I thought at first. I tried a bunch of weather stuff right after I got it, but I stunk at it. My dad worked as a weatherpony, and when I complained to him that my Mark must be wrong, he said something like 'Well, tornadoes are the hardest form of weather to control. It can take a whole town of Pegasi to make one change direction.' And then my Mark made more sense. I do what I want, what I think is right, and sucks to be the Pony trying to make me change."

Half Note hmmed and stared at the grass that she walked over.

Tornado Bolt positioned herself to hover in front of the pony, locking eyes with her. "So you got yours doing some fancy spirit stuff with some Buffalo. That's gonna be an awesome story, but coming out with" the Pegasus waved her hooves and spoke in a mocking, high pitched voice "'Well I guess I'm good at dancing or something' is a pretty lame conclusion to draw from it. So, what do you think it means?"

The Earth Pony stopped. "I'm...not sure. I'll have to think about it, I guess."

Tornado Bolt nodded and started flying forward again. "Fair enough - it took me forever to figure mine out, can't expect you to have yours ironed out the next day."

Half Note chuckled and trotted to catch up with her friends. "I'm not used to you being so...deep. When did that start?"

The Pegasus turned a winning grin on her "Since this turned into an adventure story, that's when!" She laughed. "One of us has to be the wise, mentor figure!" 

The two ponies caught up to the Unicorn, who, while still silent, had a trace of a smile on her muzzle.
> Chapter 18  - Hiding
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The weather had picked up a distinct chill in the morning when the three Ponies first saw the sparkling signs of Las Pegasus rise over the horizon. The arid scrubland they had been walking on still got more than warm during the day, but it was clear that they wouldn't last much longer.

The signs were not lit - likely turned off at the first sign of daylight - but the many reflective surfaces of buildings and billboards gave the city a sparkle against the still-dark western sky. A few sparse clouds floated along the outskirts - Half Note recognized them as Pegasi homes, and cocked her head.

"Hmm, I thought there'd be more."

Tornado Bolt looked at her funny. "More what? Lights?"

Half Note shook her head. "Cloud homes - It's Las Pegasus, isn't it?"

Tornado chuckled. "Well, yeah, but it's also a tourist town. Most other Ponies couldn't get in on the action if it was all floating in the sky, could they? Those houses are probably the houses for the rich snobs who can't stand the ground or something."

Half Note shrugged. "Okay, I'll buy that. But why is it so...dry and desert like? Appleloosa didn't have enough Pegasi to manage the weather, but it sounds like they have plenty here."

Tornado shurgged back at her. "I dunno for sure. I've heard my dad mention stuff about 'prescribed droughts' or something like that. Maybe the plants here don't like as much water. Probably why there aren't any clouds that aren't making somepony's house."

Half Note scrunched her nose. "Why would anypony want to come to this place then, if it's supposed to be so dry all the time?"

Firelock looked over her shoulder at the two Ponies lagging behind her. "Games or something - my parents went on vacation here once and left me at home with a babysitter. They said I couldn't come because it was some kind of 'grownup fun'. Whatever that meant."

Tornado Bolt snorted. "It's probably boring math stuff. I hope we can get the train tickets and get out of here before we get roped into something."

The other two mares nodded and continued, finally coming across the dusty path that led to the gates. They could see the early sunlight glimmer off the train tracks that wound away from the town - but no sign of a train on it's way or at a station. The path on which they walked was beaten and old, but looked ancient. Despite being outside such a large city, there were no immediate signs of recent use - weeds were sprouting out of the packed earth, and the only bits of refuse were a few glass bottles, the labels bleached away and their contents long evaporated. 

Firelock shuffled a little as she walked. "I bet most Ponies come in by train. It's a long walk from here to anywhere else. Yeah."

As the city drew nearer, small, sagging houses came into view against the base. These streets showed a great deal more use, with many bumps and potholes in the dirt road from many hooves - some of the larger potholes seemed unusually regular - sharp indentations, almost like a large hoofprint. But none of the hooves that packed the dirt to stone could be seen at the moment. The outskirts of the city were silent. 

Half Note felt her coat stand on end. Something felt wrong. She wanted to say something, but one look at Tornado Bolt kept her quiet. The Pegasus' face showed that the unease was mutual. Firelock's posture had turned stiff, as well.

The Unicorn whispered as though afraid to break the silence. "I know it's morning, but it's not that early. There should be Colts and Fillies going to school, at least..."

Gradually the sagging houses and dirt road merged into larger, newer buildings and paved roads. Neon signs started to appear by doors - none of them lit or open. Signs that spelled "HOT COFFEE", "CASINO" and "STALLIONS! STALLIONS! STALLIONS!" hung dark and limp in windows, all equally foreboding as the empty streets.

Firelock, trembling slightly, picked a door at random and knocked.

There was no answer.

The sun had long since begun it's descent by the time the three found their way to the train station. Unlike the little wooden structure from Ponyville, the large, concrete building had an almost governmental feel to it. It stood out among all the other fantastically shaped buildings by it's sheer simplicity - and that there appeared to be light behind the drawn shades.

No words were needed as the trio picked up pace towards the door - Firelock arrived ahead of the others, and tugged on the double doors - they didn't budge. A glance passed between Firelock and Half Note, and they hesitated just long enough for Tornado Bolt to grunt and knock loudly on the doors.

"Hey, anypony in there? We wanna take the train!"

The Pegasus received a pair of uncomfortable looks for a few seconds before the door clicked and opened ever so slightly. A pale yellow face stuck out ever so slightly for just a moment before the door opened fully to reveal the blue mane framing the frantic eyes. The mare in the door way beckoned them in rapidly. "Quick, quick, he's not out there, is he?"

Tornado Bolt blinked. "Who?" Her question was ignored as the firghtened mare grabbed her and pulled her inside. The door was left open, and Half Note and Firelock quickly followed, only to have the door shut and locked behind them immediately. The interior was darker than the bright morning outside, and it took a moment for their eyes to adjust. A few candles burning were the first things they noticed, followed by a few haggard, frightened faces nearby. Tornado, being the first in, was the first to adjust, and the first to question.

"Okay, what's going on here?"

The mare who had pulled them in - a Pegasus herself - flushed and stuttered. "I'm...I'm sorry. We don't know where he is and if he was nearby we couldn't risk him finding out we were hiding in here or Celestia knows what could happen and - "

"Okay slow down, who is 'he?'" Tornado frowned, hovering.

The yellow mare gaped. "You...you don't know?" Tornado narrowed her eyes. "...T-Tirek. A giant centaur who's been eating magic straight out of Ponies. I...I assumed you were hiding from him, like we were. It's a National Emergency, how did you not know?"

Firelock stepped up. "We've, ah, been out of the loop for a while."

A nod. "I guess you were lucky, then. Tirek is a breakout from Tartarus who's been terrorizing the country. He came through here a few days ago and got nearly everypony - everypony in here was able to hide from him somehow. We spent the first few days gathering up as many victims as we could -"

Half Note gulped. "Did he...did he kill them?"

A shake of the head. "No, but you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference. With their magic drained, the Ponies he got to could hardly talk or move, even the Earth Ponies. We grabbed everyone we could find and took them here and put them on the train to the Crystal Empire." The yellow mare scuffed her hoof. "We're hoping the Crystal Heart will help somehow, or at least keep Tirek at bay until we can do something about it. As for us, well...the last train was yesterday, and we fit every pony on it we could. We think we have the city clear, so we're going there when the train gets back. We just....we just don't know if Tirek...found the train, or if he'll find us somehow." 

The mare shivered, bit her lip and looked to the side for a moment, before turning back. "My name is Sun Shower, by the way."

Half Note and Firelock shared another worried glance as Tornado Bolt shrugged and replied. "Tornado, Firelock, and Half Note."

The two glared at her as Sun Shower cocked her head. "Those names sound familiar...are you from around here?"

Tornado shrugged again. "Not really. Been traveling around, doing some research. Might have heard our names come up from some academics or something."

Sun Shower made a face. "...If you say so. Anyway, you're welcome to wait for the train with us. A few ponies have opted to walk, but, well...we don't know how that's turned out."

Tornado nodded. "Sounds good to me. We'll letcha know if we leave, at least." 

Sun Shower nodded in response and walked away. Firelock grabbed Tornado with a hoof and pulled her to eye-level.

"Why the buck did you just use our real names after we had aliases and those pretty-plot Buffalo names you were so fond of?" She hissed through clenched teeth.

Tornado Bolt rolled her eyes. "It's like you weren't even listening. National Emergency kind of trumps runaway foals, don't you think? Even if she did recognize us, what could she, or anypony else do with things the way they are?"

Firelock's eye twitched. "I don't know! That's the problem, featherbrain! We literally had two other names you could have used that wouldn't have had any risk with them whatsoever, and you just decide to use the most risky option!" 

Half Note put a hoof on Firelock's shoulder. "You're right, we should have used other names. But there's no point in arguing about it now - changing our names will just make us stand out even more." The Earth Pony looked up at her Pegasus friend. "But in the future, let's not drop our real names without asking each other first, okay?"

Tornado Bolt crossed her forelegs and sighed. "Fine. Can we use the Buffalo names then? I like Stormwing better than Purple Haze."

A weak voice spoke up from the corner. "...Would...would you please be a bit more quiet...I...You woke me up."

The three mares turned towards the voice and saw an Earth Pony stallion lying on his side, eyes dull and grey even for the dim lighting. What's more, the blanket he was under failed to cover his blank flank.
> Chapter 19 - Cold
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The stallion's golden coat and brown, fluffy mane stood out in stark contrast to his limp expression. The yellow shirt he wore was bright, while his eyes only showed the faintest tint of green. The three mares stared at him for a moment, and he seemed to take that as their compliance, as he laid his head back down and closed his eyes.

Half Note worked her mouth, but no words came out. Firelock was the first to speak up, in a whisper. 

"Okay, so we're in the middle of a national crises, where there's a monster out there ripping the magic out of Ponies. We need to focus. What do we do if the train doesn't come soon? How long do we wait?"

Tornado shrugged, and replied in a slightly-less-quiet whisper. "I dunno. The train ride could take a week, depending on how fast it goes. How fast do you think we could walk through the Frozen Wastes?"

Half Note grimaced and whispered herself. "Probably not very fast, or for that matter, very long. We're not really geared up to face winter, and it's already started getting cold down here. The best we could do is walk to another Equestrian city and hope the train comes through there."

Tornado raised an eyebrow. "Well if this Tirek guy is as dangerous as he sounds, I don't think it's any safer out in the open. And if he's the reason for the delay, the other trains won't be running until he's taken care of somehow. I don't like waiting, but even if we were super lucky with perfect timing, at best we might save a day or two."

Firelock nodded. "Good point. We're just going to have to wait it out, I guess."

Half Note shivered. "I hope the train gets here soon. This place gives me the willies."

The three sat in silence for a while, the hushed whispers of the few Ponies with enough wherewithal to keep up conversations the only sound aside from the errant breeze against the windows. Tornado Bolt fidgeted where she sat, Firelock twiddled her hooves, and Half Note laid here head down on her forehooves and stared at the stallion who they had woken earlier.

"Tirek drains magic..." She furrowed her brow. Aestrak and Zephyr had both been insistent that Earth Ponies did have magic - and the victim in front of her was further testimony to that. What she couldn't figure out was what that magic was, even as she stared at a Pony who had been drained of it.

The stallion was motionless aside from the rise and fall of his chest. Other ponies walked around or stepped over him, and he hardly flinched. As Half Note watched, Sun Shower came over with a cup of water in her hooves and gently prodded him.

"I brought you some water, Cheese."

He mumbled "Not thirsty."

The yellow Pegasus frowned slightly. "You haven't been thirsty since you got here. You still need water, even if you don't feel like it."

He cracked open a single eye before dipping his muzzle into the bowl and swallowing. He received a pat on the head, and Sun Shower started to fly away. Half Note stood up and followed her.

"So...was he uh...did Tirek..."

Sun Shower nodded and kept flying, though a little slower so Half Note could keep up. "Yeah. I know it's tragic for everypony, but seeing him like that...it hurts a little more than the others."

Half Note raised an eyebrow. "Why's that?"

The Pegasus stopped and shook her head. "Right, out of towner. He came through here a few months ago, some crazy party pony. He was full of energy then, and seeing him like that..."

Half Note nodded. "So is it any easier or harder on Earth Ponies, do you think?"

Sun Shower shrugged. "I couldn't tell you. Everypony drained of their magic has acted about the same. It's not like you can get them to talk and compare it." She shook her head. "I just try to remind them to eat, drink, and maintain some basic hygiene."

Half Note grimaced, but the Pegasus continued undaunted. "We've had to clean up a few messes, but we've got a schedule down for most of them so we don't have to wait for the smell - they won't even tell us when they have to go, they just...mess themselves, like asking for help is too much work. It's like taking care of big quiet foals, honestly."

"So...ah...nothing different about the Earth Ponies than the others?"

Sun Shower shrugged again, dipping the cup under a water spout against the wall. "Moving them is harder than a Pegasus or Unicorn, but that's mostly just the muscle mass, I guess."

Half Note frowned. "So how long has Tirek been...doing this?"

Sun Shower swirled the water in the cup and turned the water off. "I don't know, exactly. We've only been hiding a couple days - the state of emergency was announced just before that - you remember the morning the sun was all wobbly? Everyone was joking that Celestia had a hangover until Tirek himself came through. But from what I've heard, Tirek had broken out of Tartarus earlier and they were hoping to take care of him quickly and quietly to avoid panic. It might have been a week, it might have been months." She frowned. "How long have you been out of touch?"

Half Note bit her lip. "Well, we left Appleloosa halfway through the summer..."

Sun Shower balked. "Celestia, that was months ago! Autumn is almost over. Did you walk the whole way?"

"Well, ah, we were doing some research on the Buffalo Stampede..."

"Wait wait wait, the Stampede? They actually let you? Why would you even want to?"

Half Note shuffled her hooves. "It's a bit of a long story..."

Sun Shower set the water bowl down. "I think we have time, at least until - oh speak of Tartarus..."

A faint vibration in the earth turned into a fainter rumble. Many of the Ponies who had been laying about stood up and started to try to wake others. Sun Shower went straight to Cheese and started shaking him gently.

"Cmon, Cheese! Time to get up!"

Half Note looked around with ears pinned back as the the rumble and vibrations got louder - everypony who could be seemed to be excited, but Half Note felt very, very nervous. She was about ready to panic when a familiar screeching noise made it clear what was going on.

"The train!" She ran over to her friends, who were already standing up. "You guys ready to go?" 

Tornado and Firelock nodded - Sun Shower grunted "Care to give me a hand? Cheese is a lot heavier than he looks."

The stallion in question was slumped, eyes half open on an uncaring face as the Pegasus tried to lift him up - his torso was about an inch off the ground, and not going any higher. The three mares helped as best as they could - which was quite a lot. While Half Note did have to admit that Cheese was far heavier than she would have expected a stallion his size to be, the four of them were able to lift him up fairly easily. Only Firelock and Sun Shower seemed strained at all. She credited it to the months of running with the Buffalo. With a few encouraging words from Sun Shower they were able to get him to the platform just as the train screeched to a halt. 

Other Ponies carried each other onto the train - Half Note was relieved to see that there was more than enough room for everypony. After getting Cheese into a seat, Sun Shower dusted off her hooves and turned to the three. "Thanks. I'm gonna go talk to the conductor real quick."

A few awkward minutes passed, only a few comforting whispers in the background as Cheese and the other drained Ponies stared off into nothing. Sun Shower came back just as the train started moving.

"He says that everything's gone smoothly, but since there's nopony to flip the switches he can't turn around back to the Empire. So we'll be going the long way around, through Ponyville, but we'll get there all right."

Firelock shifted uncomfortably. "Will we be stopping there?"

The Pegasus shrugged. "He said we'll stop anywhere there are Ponies as long as it's safe and we have room. It's a rural farming town, though, so it should be pretty quiet."

Tornado Bolt lowered her eyebrows. "You know there's a Princess living there now, right?"

Sun Shower blinked before a look of recognition appeared in her eyes. "Oh, I remember that. Well, that'll be good. Maybe we can get some official word on what's going on."

Firelock gulped. "Yeah. Yeah, that would be good."

The three Ponies felt a chill run up their spines and their coats stand on end as something rumbled in the distance.
> Chapter 20 - In the Distance
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

As the train picked up speed, the rumbles in the distance grew stronger and more frequent. Half Note attributed it to something in the mechanics of the engine, maybe from lack of maintenance. She didn't know that much about trains. Looking to the other seats where her friends had settled down, they looked to be sleeping - curled up on the seats with shallow breaths. She leaned her head on her hoof and stared out the window, at the rolling plains. A few wispy clouds lingered ahead, but nothing kept her interest. She turned to Sun Shower, who was sitting with her head tilted back and eyes closed, but twiddling hooves showed her to be awake.

"So uh, how do we know this train is actually going to get to the Empire, anyway? I'm not sure I get it."

The yellow Pegasus opened one eye to look at her, then yawned, stretched, and scratched herself. "Well, I'm not a train engineer, but when this guy came through the first time he explained that in times of emergency any train station can flip a switch, and it puts all the tracks on a circuit that just goes all around Equestria in order to prevent accidents while not shutting the system down entirely. He said that when a train turns around there's not just the engineer inside managing things, but somepony in the station flipping switches that put them on a different track that loops around and puts them on another one, or something like that. They normally communicate with all the different trains to make sure that one train doesn't try to turn around just as another starts coming down." She wiped her eyes. "It takes a lot of coordination, which is why we're set on the circuit going one direction. But it goes through every major station, including the Empire, so it's only a matter of time."

Half Note frowned. "What if there's something...on the track?" A rumble shook the train, the windows rattling.

Sun Shower tilted her head. "What, like another train? He said that the switches to parking stations still function, and that an engineer could work them by himself if he was patient and willing to walk back and forth a lot. Anything other than that shouldn't be a problem at all - trains are so big and fast they just blow over pretty much anything in their way that's not as big as them."

The Earth Pony shuddered. "Tell me about it." She looked back out the window as another rumble rattled it. The clouds she could see in the distance had changed from wispy to large, dusty puffs that cast odd shadows. It looked like they'd be riding into a dust storm - but that couldn't be right. Ponyville was surrounded by forest, and the desert climate of Las Pegasus had given way to green fields and trees hours ago. Half Note turned back to Sun Shower. "Did uh, did he say the circuit went through Appleloosa?"

The Pegasus frowned. "No, it's pretty much a straight shot to Ponyville. Appleloosa isn't on the main circuit. Why do you ask?"

Half Note bit her lip. "Well, uh, I didn't think Ponyville was dry enough to get a dust storm like this. Rich farmland shouldn't be swept up that easy, ya know?"

Sun Shower walked over to Half Note's window and peered out. "Huh, that is weird. I wonder what-"

The rumble came accompanied with boom, and the Pegasus fell on top of the Earth Pony. Half Note would have sworn the train jumped. The cloud of dust up ahead seemed to grow darker, and the train started to accelerate.

Picking herself up on shaking hooves as the sleepy passengers roused, Sun Shower stammered "I...I thought he said we were going to go as fast as was safe? Why would he accelerate when there's earthquakes or something..."

Half Note looked away from her bleary eyed friends back at the Pegasus, who's eyes had gone wide with pupils shrunk. Ears tucked tight against her skull and tail tucked firmly between her legs, the mare looked ready to run. Half Note followed her gaze out the window and saw a strange silhouette looming over the treetops in the distance. A bright light cut through the debris near the shadow's peak, and another boom and rumble followed. Half Note felt her blood freeze as she saw pieces of trees and rocks fly through the air and disintigrate, and a malicious laugh echoed across the landscape. She turned back to Sun Shower, only to find the mare hyperventilating on the floor, holding her head and tears spilling out of her eyes.

Tornado and Firelock, still waking up, were still visibly shaken, though they hadn't looked out the window and seen the towering shadow. She looked to Cheese, and found him unchanged - listless stare piercing the distance, face and body slumped on the uncomfortable seating without a care to position or comfort.

As another boom tore through the air, the train - now moving at speeds that Half Note was sure would definitely not qualify as safe - entered Ponyville. She gaped as she saw parcels of land torn up by what must have been incredibly powerful magical blasts or gigantic impacts. A mountain that had stuck out a little further than it's neighbors looked ready to collapse, a hole punched through it, still smoking as it crumbled.

Another boom, and her attention shifted back to the silhouette. As the train sped through the town, she came to realize that the monstrosity was facing away from them, and she thanked her lucky stars it hadn't looked their way. She turned back to her friends, now fully awake and gaping open mouthed at what could only be Lord Tirek wreaking havoc upon the landscape. They turned to her, and Tornado cocked an uncomfortable grin.

"Well, at least we don't' have to worry about stopping in Ponyville, right?"

Another rumble and the train jumped. Ponyville was small, and the speed the train was tearing across the tracks ate up the town quickly, leaving the cloud of dust and destruction behind, along with the resounding booms and laughter. The three had curled up against each other and watched the destruction unfold upon their hometown until it was well in the distance and the train had begun to slow. Heart still racing, but beginning to calm, Half Note remembered that there were still other Ponies on the train. Turning first to Cheese, she saw he was still unchanged - completely unfazed by the terror they had just ridden through. Turning to Sun Shower, it appeared the mare had fainted at some point.

Half Note hefted her onto a seat - noting how much easier she was to move than Cheese had been - and tried to arrange her in some sort of comfortable fashion. When she was sure that the mare wouldn't wake any more sore than already mandated, she walked back to the seat where both of her friends were now curled up together, still shaking slightly. Squeezing herself between the Pegasus and Unicorn, she curled up as well, and as the adrenaline wore off, she quickly succumbed to sleep.
> Chapter 21 - For Real This Time
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Half Note stood in a forest. Around her, birds chirped, leaves rustled, and other forest creatures made their forest creature noises. 

A pretty little bird fluttered down in front of her, and began to peck at the grass. She smiled and said hello, but the bird ignored her. 

She frowned, and another, larger bird fluttered down. It began to fluff and caw at the smaller one, beating it about the head with it's wings. The smaller bird squacked and cowered and dodged, but didn't fully fly away.

Half Note exclaimed her displeasure, and tried to separate the two birds, but they didn't notice her hooves as they came between them, and continued to squabble.

Frowning, she walked away, and found a squirrel trying to pry open a nut. She offered to crush it with her hooves. But the squirrel didn't seem to notice.

Frustrated, she tried to grab the nut, but her hoof went through it. She tried again, with the same result.

She ran through the forest, passing by all kinds of creatures. None of them so much as looked at her, or moved out of her way.

She ran and ran and ran, but the forest never seemed to end. She stopped and turned around, but saw no hoofprints; no indication of where she had come from or where she was going. There was no sign that she had been here, and no sign that she was here.

As far as the forest was concerned, she did not exist.

---


Half Note awoke to a rush of warm air and a cold sweat. She was still on the train, which was still chugging along. She pulled herself out of the pile that was Firelock and Tornado Bolt and looked at the windows - all of them were closed. Blinking, she looked out the window and saw all the colors of the rainbow sparkling through the sky and fading off into the distance.

Something moved behind her, and she turned to find a pair of green eyes and a grin the size of Canterlot. 

"Would you look at that!" The stallion jumped, his goofy grin never leaving his face as he clambered over the seats and smushed his face against the window. "I can't remember the last time I saw something so magical!"

Half Note swore she could hear the glass squeak as he smiled. As her friends stirred, she rubbed her eyes and let her brain catch up with waking up - and the memories from the previous days pulled to the front of her mind. She looked to the side, and saw Sun Shower waking up slowly. She turned back to the stallion.

"...Cheese?"

He pulled his face off the glass and beamed at her "In the flesh! Thanks for helping me on the train earlier. I wouldn't have got to see that -" he gestured to the window, where the rainbow sparkles were still faintly visible. "- if I was still lying on the floor of the train station! Your name is Half Note, right?" She nodded. "You know your mark has quarter notes on it, right?"

She turned and looked at her rump before shaking her head. "Weren't you just...drained of all your magic or something?"

Cheese shrugged. "Well, I got better. Probably because of the rainbow thing." He pointed at his own behind, now adorned with what looked to be a sandwich accordion. She looked back up at Cheese, who patted his head and frowned. "I miss my hat, though."

Firelock was running her hooves through her mane, trying to straighten it out - Tornado had drooled and it was stuck at a weird angle. She stopped and turned to Cheese. "So...you have your magic back?" Cheese nodded emphatically. "Can you tell us what it was like without it?"

The stallion frowned and looked away. "I...don't really want to. It was like being tired, but you can never get enough sleep. I didn't want to do anything. Even breathing felt like too much work." He shuffled uncomfortably. "It's not something I want to think about that much."

Firelock sighed. "That's fair enough. What's important is that you're better." She looked out the window - the sky only faintly sparkled, the rainbow having long since faded, but snow had begun to fall, and looking ahead you could see the beginning of the Northern Tundra. "How close are we to the Empire, do you think?"

Tornado Bolt pushed the Unicorn's head out of the way and peered. "Can't be more than an hour, I think - those clouds aren't Pegasus made...but I can't see the Aurora yet, so I dunno."

Firelock rubbed her head and glared at the Pegasus. "Thanks, very helpful." Tornado turned and grinned. Sun Shower got up on shaky legs and looked at Cheese, and sighed with relief.

"Oh thank goodness, it's over. Oh, goodness." She swayed and brought a hoof to her head. "I think...I think I should stay laying down. Did...did Tirek get the train?"

Tornado Bolt snorted. "No, you just fainted." Firelock dug an elbow into her gut. "Ow! Well, you did."

The Unicorn rolled her eyes. "You're probably still experiencing shock. Laying down is probably a good idea. I think I'll go make sure the conductor knows what happened, and see how close we are to the Empire. I figure the Ponies who left earlier are going to want to get back, so the station will probably be pretty busy when we get there. We'll probably be the only ones getting off." She tried to smooth her mane out once again before frowning and opening up the door. A gust of cold air rushed in behind her, and everypony shivered until she closed the door behind her. 

Cheese Sandwhich rubbed his chin with a serious look on his face. "This definitely merits a party, but should I throw it at the Empire, or wait till we get back to Equestria proper? The Empire is closer, but Tirek didn't make it all the way up there. Or, I could throw it right now on the train - but no, then only the Ponies on the train would get to party, and that's not fair. A lot of the Ponies will be at the Empire, but most of them will want to go home before they want to celebrate..." he continued muttering under his breath. Half Note looked at Tornado and Sun Shower - the former relaxed but unkempt, mane tousled from sleeping in a pile, while the latter was still visibly shaken, taking deep breaths with her eyes closed. The Earth Pony sighed and closed her eyes, listening to her own heartbeat.

A few minutes passed before Firelock returned, face flushed. 

"Ah, uh, the conductor was very happy to hear that the rainbow fixed everypony's magic. He ah, he said that we should be at the Empire in about 45 minutes, and we can take more Ponies on to take them back to their homes." She rubbed the back of her neck. "We can, uh, we can get off there, though it'll probably be crowded."

Tornado Bolt raised an eyebrow. "You all right? You seem kind of flustered. You upset that I was right about how far we were?"

Firelock blushed. "No, um...The conductor was so relieved, he um...he kissed me when I told him what happened."

Tornado blinked, then burst out laughing. "Darn it, Firelock! You're really taking that Gift of Virility seriously, aren't you?"

"Sh-Shut up!"
> Chapter 22 - Rest
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Crystal Empire gleamed behind the secure dome projected by the Crystal Heart. Within that shell, Ponies embraced each other and wept with relief. If one looked closely enough, bursts of confetti and a lightshow other than the trademark aurora could be seen gleaming through the spires, as an impromptu celebration took place. 

On the outside of the dome, however, three mares walked through the blistering winds. The colors of their coats were barely visible through the layers of protective clothing. Ears were tucked snugly in thick hats, scarves were wound tightly around their faces, thick boots met almost as thick leggings that met an even thicker coat. The only giveaway that they were indeed Ponies and not animated coats were the tails of red, purple and blue that flicked on occasion. 

Their backs were burdened with bulging bags. Every now and again, the mare with the blue tail would fumble a pink hoof out of the boot and into a pocket, look at a compass, and continue on, though perhaps with a variation of a few degrees.

The sky was not bright by any measure - the thick clouds kept dumping snow, blocking most light and covering the tracks of the trio within a few minutes, but even so it began to dim. A dull grey began to fade to black, save for the wandering rainbow lights of the Crystal Aurora. Before the light was fully lost, the three mares had approached an outcropping of rocks - the mountains were still some distance away - and found a degree of shelter from the wind. In the relative calm, they worked together to clear the snow and pitch a large, canvas tent. It was rough, but thick and well-lined. From the bags came all sorts of rolls of similarly thick canvas and spokes, which were set up within to form cots.

Another bag provided firewood and tinder - while the tundra was not barren, anything flammable was thoroughly soaked through with snow and ice. Pink hooves revealed themselves and struck a match, lighting the flame. Nearly instantly the fire warmed the interior of the tent, though the wind howled and raged just beyond the rocks. 

Scarves were unwound and boots removed, and soon the faces of the three mares were visible and breathing the chilly - but no longer freezing - air.

Firelock sighed. "That was a very, very long walk."

Half Note rubbed a hoof through her mane - it had stuck to her head beneath the hat, and itched terribly. "Well, we actually walked less than we have before - only like half the day today."

Tornado Bolt was already laying on a cot, rummaging through one of the bags - they were all the same bland canvas, so there was no telling who had carried it. "Considering the snow, we probably traveled even less than normal, since we were moving so slow."

The Unicorn scrunched her nose at them. "I mean it was tiring - at least the Stampede was on level ground that didn't reach up to your withers."

"Yeah, okay, sure, whatever." Tornado stuck her face in the bag with her hooves, and pulled out a few tins with a red label. The pony in the picture had a large white hat and a curly black moustache. "You guys hungry? Cause I'm starving."

Half Note and Firelock didn't hesitate to nod - soon two more tins were tossed at them, along with a metal tray and a stand. Half Note cracked open the top of each tin before setting them above the fire. The wind howled.

When the sauce within the tins began to bubble, Half Note removed them carefully, and soon each of them was quietly enjoying their dinner. Firelock was the first to finish, and she sighed again. "Do you have any idea how far away we are?"

Tornado Bolt wiped a hoof across her forehead, clearing away a streak of tomato sauce. "I dunno, not like we got given an exact destination or anything. All we got is 'go all the way north then down into a cave' or something like that. How far is all the way north?"

Half Note shrugged. "Well, until there's no more north. I figure it's probably at the base of the mountains we're coming up on - I think that nopony's been across them before, so that'd make as much sense as anything else."

Firelock frowned. "I hope you're right - that we can probably reach before we get too low on supplies to come back. I'd hate if it was over the mountains - I don't think anything that lives there could be particularly friendly."

Tornado brightened. "Wanna hear a Yak joke?"

Her two friends frowned. "No."

The Pegasus slumped, and resumed smearing her food all over her face in a process generously called eating. Firelock twiddled her hooves and looked at Half Note.

"I've gotta admit, I'm a little worried. It's so cold out here - what if we use up all the firewood or get sick or hurt? It'll be the middle of winter by the time we get there, even if it is just at the base of the mountains. We...we might not make it."

Half Note slid up next to her and nuzzled her a little. "We're not stupid, even if we are just kids - when we reach half of what we brought, we turn back. We packed like, a months worth of supplies according to the Crystal Pony who sold em to us - including an emergency signal, remember?" Firelock just looked at her hooves. "If we get into really bad trouble, like we can't get out of it bad, the magic flare they gave us will fly right back to the Empire's ranger station, then guide the ranger to where we launched it. We're not the first Ponies to go out into the tundra, and we're not unprepared at all."

Firelock shuffled but conceded with a nod. She bit her lip before continuing. "So, uhm...How about the uh...Laccarentia we're supposed to be looking for. What do you think he...or she...will be like?"

Half Note cocked her head in thought. "I haven't really thought about it. I guess the other two were alright, though Aestrak was kind of cranky and Zephyr was weird. I figure he'll probably be big, I guess. I just hope he can actually give us some answers - what those two told us was pretty much that we should know, but didn't, and they couldn't explain it. I really, really don't want to have to keep walking all around Equestria forever." She kicked at the dirt. "I'd just...I'd like to be done, you know? This has been really cool, but it's also been a lot of work, and at this point I just want to know what we're missing."

Tornado Bolt groaned, her face more red than grey at this point. "I hear you on that. I swear, if this guy goes sorry, your answers are in another spirit, I think I'll just die right there."

Firelock and Half Note chuckled, and the snowstorm outside continued to roar.
> Chapter 23 - Midnight
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The mountains loomed. While the three young mares had by no means been traversing easy terrain before, the mere foothills of the giants now before them were truly frightful. The world could not decide if it was going to be impossibly smooth or impossibly sharp, and had settled on a compromise - the weather had shaped the rocks into dangerous knives, and left the ground slicker than wet glass beneath the carpet of snow. They walked close together, and slowly, as the night grew steadily darker.

The wind had picked up to a screaming roar long ago, and tore hungrily at their clothing, nipping at their skin through every imperfection in their layering. As what little light there was faded - the Aurora did not reach quite this far - they looked at each other. Though most of their faces were obscured by many layers, they all knew. They couldn't pitch their tent here - they needed better shelter.

Carefully, a small lamp was lit, and by it's meager light they continued through the bitter cold of night, huddled close to keep the cold at bay. Slowly, slowly, slowly, the giant teeth of the Earth rose before them, visible only as a slightly deeper darkness against the moonlit stormclouds.

They stopped as one when the lanterns light reflected off a wall of glassy rock before them - polished into smooth, sharp edges, it had appeared to rise suddenly from the darkness. With careful steps, they approached, and saw a dark spot among the reflective, frozen surface - a cave. Shelter.

They moved in as quickly as they could, and their clothes crackled with the sudden movement - snow had melted and re-frozen against their coats. While the inside of the cavern was just as cold as outside, if not more, the wind did not penetrate beyond the very mouth, and within a minute they had a small fire going. The three stayed huddled close together, seated on the bags that they had carried on their backs, as the small fire ate away at the cold. Even when the air had warmed, it was several minutes before Half Note revealed her pink muzzle and spoke.

"So...do you guys think we can go any further North anymore?"

One head was shaken, and another scarf revealed the orange muzzle of Firelock. "No way. Did you see how steep this mountain is? There's no way we could climb it, and who knows how long it'd take to go around it." She bunched her shoulders and shivered. "No, I think one way or another, this is the end of the line."

Half Note nodded, and rubbed her ears beneath her hat. "I don't think I can argue, honestly. But...well...we are in a cave, and we can't go further North..." she looked up from the ground, to the blackness that was the depths of the cave. 

Firelock looked with her and shuddered. "I guess we should at least make sure that there's nothing else in here with us before we go to sleep, if only just so that we don't end up a three-course dinner." She picked up one of the burning logs in a hoof and stood up. "And hey, if it's the cave we're looking for, then great, we can go home."

Half Note followed her lead, grimacing. "We'll head home even if it isn't. There's no way we can go any further. One way or another, we're done here."

Tornado likewise picked up a torch, albeit without speaking, and together the three walked deeper into the cavern. Their lights illuminated mere yards in front of them, and the end of the cavern never appeared. Perhaps it was minutes, perhaps it was hours, but when Half Note looked back behind her there was no sign of the little fire they had left at the entrance. She stopped for a moment, and turned to the side, squinting at one of the walls. It was only a moment before Tornado Bolt and Firelock came to her side. Firelock squinted for a moment before raising an eyebrow at the pink Earth Pony.

Half Note raised a hoof and put it against the wall - even through her boot, it was freezing to the touch. But there was something else, too, and she walked over to the other side, and did the same. Tornado shook her scarf out of her face.

"What are you doing?"

Half Note put her hoof back down. "I've got a weird feeling. I think the walls are kind of curved, and the floor is at a really gentle slope. Hang on a second." She set her torch on it's side, and let go. Sure enough, it rolled gently down the corridor, and slowly leaned to the right before disappearing behind the wall. She reached into her coat and brought out the compass. It was still pointing North. Frowning, she shook it - she knew they had turned, but surely not a whole rotation? Still, it told her that North lied ahead.

She trotted down the corridor, holding the compass in front of her. Tornado and Firelock watched over her shoulder. They came upon the torch she had let roll, caught against a rock. Even though she knew that they had turned a corner - a wide one, but a corner nonetheless - the compass had always said that North was further down the tunnel. She looked to her friends. Firelock had her brow furrowed and her mouth a tight line, staring intently at the compass. Tornado looked up and met her eyes, before shrugging.

Half Note grimaced and put the compass back in her jacket. Picking her torch back up, she continued walking. None of them spoke, and the only measure of time was the flicker of their torches, which continued to burn. After some time - Half Note had tried to keep track in her own head, but couldn't keep count past a minute for some reason - the tunnel opened to a wide cavern, filled with ice. From behind them, wind rushed in and extinguished their torches, but the light in the cavern did not seem diminished. Looking to the roof, the icicles sparkled against the black rock like stars in the sky.

The cavern was silent, save for the breathing of the three ponies, who stood and shivered. Firelock was the first to break the silence.

"It's really....really cold down here, guys." She looked behind her as if to run.

"TO FEAR THE COLD IS TO FEAR NOTHING, LITTLE PONY."

The voice froze them in their tracks. It was as deep as the night sky, yet light as a clinking glass. Half Note saw a slither of movement on one side of the cavern, but it was gone before she could focus on it.

"IT IS VERY RARE, THAT A PONY SHOULD CHOOSE TO VISIT ME..." The voice hissed, and something skittered across the ice. "MORE THAN ONE, EVEN LESS SO..." A tinkling noise came from the ceiling. "AND THOSE THAT MAKE THAT CHOICE SELDOM TRULY KNOW WHAT THEY SEEK...SO TELL ME, YOU PONIES THREE..."

The silence that followed was eerie - not even the rattling of her teeth made it to Half Note's ears, as though sound itself had frozen. She turned around to look at the entrance to the cavern, to find it no longer there. Tornado and Firelock turned as well, and as one they turned back around, and screamed.

Before them was a gigantic, skeletal, serpentine face; grinning with black, needle like teeth and framed by curved antlers that appeared to be made of black ice. Though it appeared to be staring directly at them, there were no eyes - simply a black void that stretched from the tip of the nose to the base of the horns. The voice boomed across the silence.

"WHAT BRINGS  YOU TO ME?"
	
> Chapter 24 - The Youngest and Oldest Brother
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Laccarentia's body spiraled around the cavern, black spines trailing his length. His long, serpentine neck tapered to a gaunt chest, skin taut against his ribs. From then on there was little between his back and his belly - if he had been a normal creature, he would have long been dead from starvation. His impossible length only thickened where gaunt yet wicked limbs sprouted. The pair that sprouted from his chest sprouted claws with spikes on all the knuckles, while the other two pairs were like insect legs that ended in a vicious point. His flesh appeared to be a ghostly white, and his face was, in it's entirety, like a long, hooked beak - though the grin he bore showed row after row of thin, pointed teeth.

Despite every instinct telling her to panic - and Tornado Bolt trying to hide under her tail - Half Note swallowed her fear and stuttered out.

"We, we came to ask you a q-question, Laccarentia."

The serpent twisted his coils, the spines clinking like crystal. "THEN ASK."

Half Note shuddered at the sound of his voice, but pressed on. "We've...we've been wondering, what kind of magic Earth Ponies have, exactly."

No muscles moved on Laccarentia's face, but the tone of his voice betrayed amusement. "YOU CAME TO ME TO BETTER UNDERSTAND EARTH PONY MAGIC? YOU HAVE A STRANGE SENSE OF HUMOR."

Firelock trembled. "Well, we read about you and your...your siblings, Laccarentia. The other Earth Spirits. We found Aestrak, and he was offended that we didn't know what it was, and he sent us to Zephyr, who sent us to you."

A long, forked, black tounge slid out from between Laccarentia's teeth and flicked at the three Ponies. "AH, YES. THEY MADE THEIR MARKS ON YOU, I SEE. BUT THEY DID NOT ANSWER YOU?"

Half Note shook her head. "No, not really. When we talked to Aestrak, he said that we should know. With Zephyr, she said she thought she understood why we were confused, but didn't have the time to explain." She stopped, blinked, and looked up at the terrifying maw. "Are...are you in a hurry too?"

Laccarentia laughed, and she felt chilled to the bone. "NO. NO I AM NOT. I NEED NOT RUN THIS RACE, FOR I HAVE ALREADY WON. SO, TELL ME THEN - WHAT PUZZLES YOU SO THAT MY SIBLINGS SENT YOU TO ME?"

Firelock shook her head. "We were wondering about Alicorns, and Aestrak said you had to have a complete understanding of a kind of Magic to become one, right?"

"THAT IS CORRECT."

She nodded. "Unicorns can do all kinds of Magic, and Pegasi have weather manipulation which kind of counts, right?"

"ALSO CORRECT."

"But..." here the Unicorn stumbled, and looked to Half Note. Half Note sighed and continued.

"...But the only things we could think of that are attributed to Earth Ponies, are, well, things any Pony can do. A Pegasus can be strong, and a Unicorn can grow things - but an Earth Pony can't fly, or levitate something with a thought. Maybe we're better at those things, but...but it's not really magic, is it?"

Teeth were shown in what had to be a grin. "AH, THAT WOULD BE WHERE MY BROTHER WOULD HAVE GOTTEN ANGRY AT YOU, WOULDN'T IT?" The three nodded, and the serpent laughed. "AND THEN, I IMAGINE, IS WHEN HE GAVE YOU HIS GIFT OF FIRE. QUITE LIKE HIM - HE SAW YOU DROWNING AND OFFERED YOU A GLASS OF WATER."

Half Note furrowed her brow. "I...I don't get it. What do you mean?"

His coils spun as the serpent shifted, surrounding the three Ponies. Tornado yelped and tried to keep something between his empty face and herself, but he was looking down upon them. Half Note craned her neck, attempting to meet his eyeless gaze.

"I MEAN THAT I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND EARTH PONY MAGIC. YOU HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY IT, SPOILED BY IT. AS A FISH DOES NOT CONSIDER THE WATER WHICH SUPPORTS HIM WHOLLY, YOU CANNOT SEE THE LIGHT WHICH HAS LONG AGO BLINDED YOU." His coils spun and legs skittered, but his head remained stationary, leering down at them with it's darkness even as the walls of the cavern disappeared behind his ghostly flesh.

Half Note pulled herself up and glared at the serpent, despite the chill that ran down her spine. "So you mean to say that there is so much Earth Pony magic that we just don't notice it anymore? Is that it?"

Laccarentia laughed, and drew his coils tighter. The three were soon pressed tightly against each other, though they could not feel any warmth radiating through their layers of clothing. "YES, YES. THAT IS EXACTLY IT. THERE IS ONLY ONE MORE SUITED TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION THAN I." He leaned his head down, the curl of his thorny antlers surrounding them. "BUT YOU WOULD NOT UNDERSTAND HER GIFTS WITHOUT FIRST UNDERSTANDING MINE. I CANNOT SHOW YOU EARTH PONY MAGIC, FOR YOU HAVE SEEN IT ALL YOUR LIVES - BUT I CAN SHOW YOU WHAT IT'S ABSENCE IS. THEN, WHEN YOU SHALL MEET THE YOUNG MOTHER - YOU WILL UNDERSTAND."

He raised himself up, his gaunt, skeletal limbs all held out at his sides - impossibly tall, yet still encircling the three completely, so that the cavern was nothing but Laccarentia's coils and the three Ponies. 

"WOULD YOU ACCEPT THE GIFT OF ICE?"

Half Note and Firelock shared a look, and turned to Tornado Bolt. She had her wings pressed firmly to her sides and shook violently with every breath. The Earth Pony and Unicorn held out a hoof, and the Pegasus nodded and took them. They embraced, and Half Note raised her head to the serpent. 

"We've come this far - we're not turning back."

"THEN THE PACT IS MADE?"

Three nods. A toothy grin.

"VERY WELL. YOU WILL KNOW THE LIGHT ONCE IT IS TAKEN FROM YOU - BY SHOWING YOU THE DARKNESS THAT IT HAS KEPT AT BAY. WHENCE YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU HAVE LOST, YOU WILL WISH FOR THE MAGIC YOU THOUGHT WAS MUNDANE. FOR NO MATTER HOW FAST THE LIGHT TRAVELS, THE DARKNESS IS THERE, WAITING."

A moment of stillness - Half Note couldn't tell if her heart was beating as the void in Laccarentia's skull stared into her soul.

"I GIVE YOU THE OLDEST GIFT OF ALL."

He lunged - and they felt nothing.
> Chapter 0 - Nothing
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was dark.

At least, Half Note thought that it was dark. She certainly couldn't see anything. There weren't even the faint, glowing squiggles that accompanied shut eyes.

She tried to squint or blink, to test the darkness, but found that she could not. She wanted to rub her eyes, but could not do that either - she couldn't feel her hooves.

Come to think of it, she didn't feel anything. She couldn't feel any ground or motion, or any skin to feel those with. She couldn't hear the breathing of her friends.

She wanted to panic, to run and scream their names, but she couldn't. If she had hooves, she couldn't use them, and if she had a voice, she couldn't tell either. 

It was terrifying, to say the least. She had absolutely no information to orient herself - no sense of up or down, no visuals to describe, and no sense of...a body, to feel like she was somewhere. For all she knew, it was just as likely that she was moving at lightning speed as it was that she was motionless.

It was hard to say how much time it took for her to calm down - she couldn't feel her heartbeat, and had no external timepiece to judge herself on - her thoughts had been chaos and panic for...however long she had been panicking. She couldn't tell how fast her thoughts were or weren't. There had to be some kind of time, because, well...she was thinking, and thinking took some time, right? She just didn't know how much.

Half Note had never missed her alarm clock before. What she wouldn't give to hear it's annoying screech, telling her that it was time to get up - but then, what did she have to give right now?

What was she? Did she have a body, and just couldn't feel it? If she couldn't feel it, was it really hers? 

Come to think of it, could she even think if she didn't have a body? Was her brain thinking, and she just couldn't feel anything - or did she not have an actual mind anymore? What was she? Was she even a she? Calling herself "it" didn't feel right. She'd stick with she, even in this...nothingness, if only out of habit.

She stopped herself there - if she had lungs, she'd be taking a deep breath, but she couldn't tell if she did - and tried to organize her thoughts. It was easier said than done, though. Clearing your mind is easier when you have something to focus on, and are able to ignore everything else in exclusion. With nothing but her own thoughts, Half Note found it difficult to keep herself in check, and would find herself meandering from one thought to another, until she couldn't remember what she had meant to be thinking about. Every time she came to that realization, it frustrated her further - if she couldn't remember what she was thinking, how could she have any idea how much time had passed?

She wanted something, anything to fill the void other than her own thoughts. It was far harder to remember sights and sounds and smells when you had nothing available to compare them to.

A thought gripped her. The last thing she could remember was a serpent's head diving at her, riddled with teeth like needles of black ice.

She knew what that meant, but she didn't remember any pain...

"ARE YOU ENJOYING YOURSELF?" The unmistakable voice did not wait for a response - whether Laccarentia did not care or simply knew Half Note could not answer, she couldn't guess. "THIS IS THE BEAUTY OF THE WORLD AS IT WAS WHEN THERE WAS ONLY ME...BEFORE MY SIBLINGS WERE BORN. I DO MISS IT SO...THE QUIET, THE CALM. THERE WAS NO DISTURBANCE - NO NEED FOR ANYTHING, EVEN TIME. WHETHER IT EXISTED OR NOT DID NOT MATTER, FOR IT HAD NO USE TO ME."

The silence resumed and Half Note's brain whirred. She couldn't see anything - what was Laccarentia talking about? Time not existing? Her thoughts tumbled against each other for...a while, she supposed, before they were interrupted again.

"OF COURSE. I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN. SPOILED LITTLE CHILDREN DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THEMSELVES WHEN ALL THEIR TOYS ARE TAKEN AWAY." The voice took on a tone of definitive disdain. "WHY I DARED TO HOPE YOU MIGHT SHARE MY...ENTHUSIASM FOR THE WORLD AS IT WAS AND WILL BE...PAH. I'LL HAVE TO TRY A DIFFERENT APPROACH..."

His voice faded away, and Half Note felt grateful and terrified at the same time. While the serpent was terrifying, and his words had clearly shown he was unhappy, he was the only thing aside from her own thoughts to keep her company. Regardless of what he had said about time, having something come from outside her own head assured her that it was moving forward, even if it gave her no way to measure it.

Alone, the time that passed could have been minutes, hours, or an eternity before the chilling voice returned. "BRACE YOURSELVES, LITTLE PONIES."

Before she could think on what that meant, Half Note was suddenly bombarded with sensation - dirt on her hooves, air on her skin, smells, sights, sounds - it was glorious and terrifying at the same time after what she had been through. As she gathered her wits and pulled herself together she began to sort out sounds. On shaking legs she stood up and wobbled over to Tornado Bolt and Firelock - hardly a hoof away from her and each other, but the distance didn't matter. They were laying on their stomachs and sobbing, and the Earth Pony nestled herself between them, holding them close. 

The mutual warmth and closeness gradually calmed them, and they were able to get their bearings. Half Note was the first to lift her head and make good use of her eyes.

There was improvement - but very little. While there was now a definite separation of the Earth and Sky, they were both lifeless shades of grey - the sky differed primarily in that it's surface was unmarred by the lumps, bumps, and shadows of the ground. She stood up, legs still shaky, and scanned the sky. There was no sign of the Sun, Moon, or Stars - just an endless expanse of gray.

She would have thought she was colorblind, save for the very bright pink muzzle occupying the center of her vision. Normally, she wouldn't have noticed, but she was noticing everything now - not that there was much to notice. As she slowly adjusted to the sound of her own breathing, the smell of her own sweat, and all the miraculous signals her body was sending her, she found little else. 

She kicked the ground with a hoof, and was rewarded with a slight poof of dust - and dust was the only appropriate word for it. Calling it dirt was far too generous, and to call it soil would incite the wrath of any farmer worth their salt. The only saving grace was that it didn't stick to her coat, but flaked gently back to the ground. The small amount Half Note inhaled only cemented her opinion of it - definitely dust.

Keeping her body low with her friends - they had both stopped crying, though Firelock had her head buried in her hooves, and Tornado was curled up, eyes wide as she shivered. She looked around once more, and found a frustrating lack of landmarks. After the months spent traveling on hoof, the Earth Pony had taken a bit of pride in being able to orient herself. But here, she had no Sun or Stars to guide her, no landmarks to work towards, and no compass to give a name to what she couldn't see with her own eyes.

She opened her mouth, then shut it again. She looked back to her friends, and wrapped her hooves around them once more, closing her eyes and breathing slowly.
> Chapter 0 - Missing
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The grayness did not change.

The three splashes of color that were three mares, did, however.

The orange one gradually lifted her head, and shortly after the purple one stopped shaking. 

The Pony in the middle, pink and blue, took a moment to register this. She cleared her throat, and her voice came out a little hoarse.

"I'm guessing we went through the same thing."

Her companions shuddered again, and she squeezed them a little tighter. A deep breath, and Firelock spoke up.

"I really, really don't want to do that again."

Tornado nodded and, despite shivering again, managed a smirk. "Lesson learned - don't accept gifts from strangers."

Half Note grinned a little back. "Especially if they're magic Spirit snakes."

Firelock nodded, her face set in a grim line. "So...what do we do now?"

They looked at each other, and Half Note bit her lip. "Well, he said he was going to show us what the world was like without Earth Pony magic, right? All we have to do is figure out what's missing."

Tornado shuddered again. "But he took away everything."

Firelock furrowed her brow. "At first, I guess. But...but now we have something, right? We can see things, and actually observe stuff." She wiggled her hoof into the ground. "We can safely say that Earth Pony magic doesn't have anything to do with...well, dirt?"

Half Note wrinkled her nose. "I think calling this stuff dirt is an insult to dirt."

Firelock snorted. "Well, if it's not dirt, then what is it?"

The Earth Pony shrugged. "I dunno. Makes me think more of dust, I guess? Like, dirt is different colors of brown, with rocks and stuff innit. This is just...well, dusty."

The Unicorn frowned. "Well, it's the ground, whatever you want to call it. What else do we have?" She looked up. "We've got a sky, but no clouds or Sun or Moon or Stars..."

Tornado snorted. "Pretty sure Earth Ponies don't move the Sun - that's an Alicorn's job."

Firelock glowered at her. Half Note rubbed her chin. "Well, I mean, there's no Sun, but there is light coming from somewhere - I cast a shadow, see?" She waved her hoof at the ground, which was indeed darker beneath her. "So, well, that's something, right?"

Firelock frowned. "Well, I guess so. We've got light and shadow - it's just like night and day got smushed together and all the color seeped out."

Tornado Bolt looked up. "Yeah, all the colors are gone. What about that?"

Half Note wrinkled her nose. "Well, gray isn't a great color, but it is still kind of one...lemme try something." She began to pound her hooves into the dirt, sticking her tongue out the side of her mouth as she jumped about.

A few moments of her pronking and grunting was all it took for Firelock to ask. "What are you trying to do, exactly?"

She stopped and caught her breath. "Trying...to put color back into things? It seemed like a good idea." She turned a darker pink.

Firelock sighed. "Well, it was the best we had, I guess - but there's a lot more than just the color missing." She swept a hoof at the endless gray desert around them. "Maybe color is a part of it, but I don't think it's the whole picture."

"Ha, I get it."

"What? Tornado - that wasn't a joke."

"Sounded like one to me."

"That would have been painting, featherbrain."

"Pfft, you paint a picture, it works."

Half Note played in the dust while her friends bickered. She grinned a little at their antics, but slowly focused more and more on her doodles. It was just squiggly lines, at first. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and she had sorely missed being able to see things. But little loops and swirls became shapes, became things that she missed. Things like trees, flowers, and Ponies. She wrinkled her nose.

Firelock threw up her hooves in exasperation. "Well it doesn't really matter, Tornado, because we're in some wasteland, and we have no idea how to get home!" She gnashed her teeth. "We can't even figure out what we were trying to because everything is gone!"

Tornado folded her ears back. "It's...It's not that bad, 'Lock -"

The Unicorn snarled. "Yes, yes it is, Tornado! Where are we? Is this Equestria? Where is everyone, and everything then, huh?" She kicked at the dirt. "I don't think Laccarentia was like the other Spirits we talked to - I think he was more like, like a monster; like Nightmare Moon, or...or Discord!"

YOU DARE?

The serpent in question suddenly returned, needle teeth bared and coils occupying every inch of space that wasn't otherwise occupied. They slid and shifted against each other, spines clinking like glass needles and the sliding of smooth, scaly skin an eerie cacophony. His horns of black ice gleamed as he continued.

"NIGHTMARE MOON IS ONE THING - SO NEAR WERE HERE DESIRES TO MINE I MIGHT HAVE CALLED HER MY OWN. BUT DISCORD? THAT VILE WHELP AND I HAVE NOTHING IN COMMON. THE MERE THOUGHT THAT WE MIGHT BE ASSOCIATED DISGUSTS ME. I SEEK THE PEACE AND ORDER THAT EXISTED BEFORE MY BIRTH - THAT ABOMINATION SOUGHT TO DISRUPT EVERY INCH OF MY PARADISE."

Laccarentia tossed his head and hissed before continuing. "TWAS BAD ENOUGH TO BE BORN AND TO SUFFER THE INDIGNITIES OF MY SIBLINGS AND THEIR...CREATIONS - BUT I WAS GIVEN MY SHARE OF TIME, AND TOOK SOLACE IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT ONE DAY ALL WOULD BE AS IT WAS ONCE MORE. BUT YEAR AFTER YEAR, FOR EONS, I HAVE BEEN DIMINISHED BY YOU AND YOURS, PUSHED TO THE SIDE AND MOCKED!" His teeth were bared, his gaping mouth showing the complete darkness within.

"ONCE THOSE WHO BREATHED HOPED ONLY TO ENDURE MY TIME AS I ENDURED THEIRS. BUT WITH EACH PASSING YEAR, THEY HAVE FLAUNTED MY IDEALS. YOU FEAST AND CELEBRATE - " He wailed, dragging his claws across his gaunt skull. " - MY TIME WAS TO BE A TIME OF REST, BUT YOU PONIES MAKE SUCH NOISE, IT NEVER STOPS!"

He wailed and thrashed and gnashed his teeth, and the three Ponies held each other and shook as his spines rattled and legs skittered. As suddenly as his tirade had begun, however, it stopped - and Laccarentia was nowhere to be seen. To be heard was another mattter.

"I AM DONE WITH YOU CHILDREN. FIND THE YOUNG MOTHER AND YOUR WAY BACK, OR DON'T. I CARE NOT FOR THE AFFAIRS OF MORTALS."

Half Note gaped and stammered. "But - but how do we find her? We don't even know where we are!"

Silence answered her. She shouted. "Laccarentia! Please!"

The answer was the same.

She screamed.
> Chapter 27 - Fractals
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Half Note snarled and beat the ground. She screamed and kicked and bucked and shouted words that she didn't know the meaning of - only that they were for when you were very, very angry. Dust plumed upwards and swirled downwards, only to be kicked up again. Tornado Bolt and Firelock backed away - the thrashing and bucking meant any attempt to calm the Earth Pony would likely end in injury. They waited, awkwardly shifting, as the screams of fury dwindled and dwindled, until Half Note collapsed in the dust with a sob.

They were by her side in a moment. Unable to offer words, the merely offered their weight and warmth to the Earth Pony as she shook and gnashed her teeth. Occasionally, between sobs, a few comprehensible words slipped out, but they quickly faded back into the exhausted fury that was Half Note. 

Time passed, and gradually she calmed enough for Tornado Bolt to swallow and venture "So...what now?"

Several minutes passed with the only sound being sniffles before Firelock contributed. "Well...Um...he said to 'Find the Young Mother' - that's all we really have at this point."

Tornado huffed. "But we don't know how. He didn't tell us who she was, where she was, what she looked like - and even if he did, everything looks the same for miles."

Firelock rested her head on her hooves. A few minutes passed before she perked it back up. 

"I think I have an idea. We've been really far south, really far west, and really far north - maybe we should try going east!" She looked at Tornado expectantly.

The Pegasus blinked. "How does that help?"

Firelock blinked back. "Um, I heard that Pegasi can tell which direction is North..."

Tornado snorted. "Yeah, we can. Wanna know how? It's to the left of the Sunrise, and the right of the Sunset."

The Unicorn lowered her head back down. "Oh. Okay."

Half Note hiccuped and shifted her weight. "It was a pretty good idea though, 'Lock."

The three sighed and laid down together, staring and the endless expanse of gray that stretched to the horizon.

Eventually, Half Note rose. The gray dust slid off her coat, not even sticking where her tears had streaked down her face. Still, she shook herself and flicked her tail. Firelock and Tornado looked up at her, and she turned to them and shrugged.

"We should probably start walking. I figure whatever we need to find, it's not here, is it?"

Firelock hummed in the back of her throat as she nodded and rose, brows furrowed. Tornado simply shrugged and lugged herself up with her wings. 

They moved in the direction they had been facing when they rose. Steps were taken slowly, and the grey dust slid back into place as their hooves rose, falling back into place as though they had never been moved. Half Note and Tornado Bolt both stared at the horizon, the former numbly processing each step while the latter scanned for any change.

Firelock, meanwhile, had fallen slightly behind. She was constantly looking around, her forehead wrinkled. None of the three were sure how much time passed walking - their legs were not tired, but it felt like ages nonetheless - when the Unicorn pulled herself between her two companions.

Tornado gave her a nod, though Half Note continued her trudge. Firelock cleared her throat, but when eye contact was made she only managed. "Hey."

"Hey yourself." Trudging.

A nervous swallow. "I uh, I had another idea."

An ear tilted towards her. A moment of silence, and she continued.

"Um, the three spirits we've seen so far...Well, uh, they had their names, right? But they also had titles. Um, I think Zephyr had the most." She stumbled on her own hooves. Picking herself up, she continued. "But um, each of them had something about being siblings. Like, ah, Aestrak was the Oldest and Youngest Brother, Zephyr was the Second and Only Sister, and Laccarentia was the Youngest and Oldest Brother."

Tornado stopped watching the horizon to give the Unicorn her attention. Firelock continued.

"Um, so when he said 'Young Mother...' I can't help but think that maybe...he meant that..."

"He meant to find his Mother?" The Pegasus jolted upright midair. "That's weird. I don't think spirits actually have moms."

Firelock shrugged. "Well, I mean, it's also weird that you have two brothers, one who is Oldest and Youngest, and the other is Youngest and Oldest. Spirits are weird." She bit her lip. "Still, though, I think maybe this Young Mother is connected to the other three."

Half Note shook her head slightly, though it had risen above her shoulders during the conversation. "That makes sense, but how is that supposed to help us find her?"

Firelock looked at her hooves. "Well, it's kind of hard since we didn't write stuff down after we left our bags behind. But, um, if they're all tied together, maybe we can find a pattern between them, and figure out something about her that could help? Besides," she sighed, "If we're going to be walking for who-knows-how-long, it couldn't hurt to have something to talk about."

Tornado shrugged, then nodded in agreement. "Fair enough. What should we start with?"

Half Note furrowed her brow. "Well, their names, I guess. Aestrak, Zephyr, and Laccarentia."

Firelock contributed. "Aestrak was a Dragon, Zephyr was a bird - with four wings, and...I don't want to describe Laccarentia, but...we know what he looked like. Like a snake with six legs and horns and spikes."

Tornado straightened. "Huh, kind of like a Basilisk."

The Earth Pony and Unicorn stared at the Pegasus, who took a moment to realize. She cleared her throat. 

"Um, in some of my favorite stories, there are made up monsters. A Basilisk is kind of like a Cockatrice in that it can turn ponies to stone, but sometimes it's described as a snake with six legs. It's not really perfect, but, well, it's pretty close."

Firelock nodded. "Okay, close enough, we'll call him a Basilisk since nothing else really matches." She scrunched her nose. "Those three don't have much in common there...well, I guess they all have six limbs if you count wings?"

Tornado tapped her hooves as she counted, muttering under her breath. "Four legs, two wings...Four wings and two legs and - " she gasped a little " - Ohhhh you're totally right."

Half Note nodded, the ghost of a smile playing at her face. "So whoever this Young Mother is, she probably has six limbs too."

Firelock nodded, and Half Note sighed and looked up to the dull, grey sky.

It wasn't much.

But it was something.
> Chapter 28 - Roots
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Half Note groaned and rubbed her face with her hooves

"Six legs. We've got twelve between us, which is twice as much." Tornado bolt gesticulated. "So, stay with me here, I think we're supposed to use half our legs."

Firelock looked up from where she was sprawled on the ground. "How, exactly?"

Tornado shifted her eyes. "I mean...I dunno. We could cut them off and -"

"I am not cutting off my legs!"

"You didn't let me finish!"

The pink Earth Pony let herself fall onto her side and stared at the grey and gray horizon. How long had it been? Days? Months? Hours? She didn't know. She remembered lots of talking, sure - she remembered lots of silence, too - but trying to put a time on it was all but impossible with no Sun or Moon or stars to watch go by. The gray stayed gray and the grey stayed grey as ever. All she knew was that they had been walking a lot, and talking even more.

"You didn't even count your wings, that's fourteen limbs, not twelve."

"They - they don't count, Firelock!"

"If they count on Aestrak and Zephyr they count on you too."

"Well, I'm not some kind of wacky spirit so clearly they don't count!"

"That is makes no sense at all, Bolt."

She ignored the banter of her friends and tried to remember what they'd gone over already. They had walked for an excessive amount of...whatever passed for time here, she was sure of it, and nothing new had shown up - no mountains, no trees, nothing but grey and gray. They had tried to build things with the dust, but it didn't work - everything they'd built crumbled back down the second they stopped building it, leaving the flat and grey flat and grey again. Spit hadn't held it together - Half Note snorted at that memory - and Tornado had refused to entertain the thought of trying any other bodily fluids or byproducts. 

She huffed. Whatever they needed, it didn't seem they could find it or build it. It just wasn't here.

She blinked. Then she buried her face in her legs and groaned.

Tornado Bolt and Firelock stopped their bickering and looked at her with concern. Firelock bit her lip and stood up, but was interrupted.

"Guys...we forgot the most important thing Laccarentia said." She dragged her hooves down her face. Her friends remained quiet. "He said he could show us the absence of Earth Pony magic. So, what's missing?"

Firelock huffed. "We didn't forget, it's just that everything is missing, so-"

"Not everything. Just Earth Pony magic. So what's left?"

Tornado rubbed her front leg with a hoof "Well, I mean, there's the ground and the sky, and light and darkness but...well, aside from us, not really much of anything else."

Half Note pulled her hooves off her eyes to look at her friend. "So everything that isn't the sky, the ground, the air, light, and darkness is Earth Pony magic - or somehow related to it."

Firelock quirked an eyebrow. "There are no rocks. Are you saying rocks are magic?"

Half Note rolled over onto her back with a sigh. "Well, not exactly. I mean, maybe what makes rocks rocks and dirt dirt instead of..." she waved a hoof around "...this grey is Earth Pony magic. We couldn't even make a pile of the stuff stay together - maybe it's because there's no Earth Pony magic to make it work that way. Earth Pony magic makes stuff stick, and sometimes that stickiness makes rocks, and sometimes it makes...things more complicated than rocks."

Tornado Bolt perked up and Firelock's expression softened slightly. "I mean...that sounds like...like physics, not magic, Half Note." The Pegasus flew higher while the Unicorn continued. "I mean, I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure stuff staying together is because of, like, chemistry and gravity and stuff? Something about magnets, maybe. I dunno. Not magic."

Half Note tapped her hooves together. "But remember when Aestrak yelled at us, about how it was like...being blind to the back of our heads, or a fish who didn't think about the water? I think maybe he was trying to explain that it was something that was just...everywhere. Whatever's missing is what separates this dirt from rocks - and probably rocks from living things too, for all I know."

Firelock huffed. "I mean, I see your point, but I don't understand how that - "

"Guys! Guys!" Tornado shoved her face between theirs. "I think I know which way is East now!"

Firelock blinked, then snorted. "I thought you said Pegasi didn't have some magic internal compass."

Tornado scoffed. "We don't, dummy."

"Well, then, what changed, smarty-pants?"

The Pegasus smirked and pointed a hoof towards the horizon, where the gray had started to take on a little more brightness - leaning in to silver and edging on towards white.

"Because I'm pretty darn sure that that, you big dum dum, is a rising sun."