The Elements of Harmony and the Savior of Worlds
Chapter 10: Chapter Ten
Previous Chapter Next ChapterJumper Prime-Pinkie can be... intense. And difficult, but not impossible.
Hanzo-Thanks. :)
DreadedCandiru2-More pull in Poonyville, not overall. ;) Big fish in little pond, after all.
OceanLord-Thanks!
sun tzu 1-Well, college in the US can be a bit expensive. Even for a two-income family like Megan and Mike's. As for human/pony relations, Megan kinda comes from... Hasbro Earth. ;) It won't be easy, but it'll be easier than it would seem.
Mr Anonymous 2000-Just wanna say... thanks.
Talia Kirana-Thanks, and I hope I got it fixed. Sometimes I hate .
Thanks to spacebattles for helping out!
Here we go!
Megan placed a book onto a shelf. "So, you've got the Dewdrop Decimal System for organizing these?" She reached down and grabbed another tome, hefting it into place.
Twilight nodded as several books floated up onto shelves. "And on Earth it's the Dewey Decimal System?" She giggled slightly. "Great name. Odd how it's so similar." She rubbed her cheek. "Then again, your Frankenstein sounds a lot like Frankenstallion." She looked over the shelves of books. "I wonder if ponies would enjoy human literature!" She backed up and her head darted around. "Ooh, we can move those books there and bring in a new shelf here!" she said, waving her forelegs about and eyes sparkling. She craned her neck over to peer at Megan. "What do you think?"
The older woman glanced up from a book. "What? Oh!" Megan shook her head. "Sorry, Twilight. Just checking out 'The Maretrix'." She chuckled to herself. "Back before, I brought a lot of books over for the ponies."
The Unicorn floated a few more tomes into place. "Oh?" she asked distractedly. "What subjects?"
Megan shrugged. "Oh, just about every subject. Architecture, politics, recipes. Even one diagramming airplane engines!" She bit her lip to stop a momentary surge of giggling. "From what I remember, the ponies stuffed them all in a subbasement of Fort Canterlot." She suddenly gasped and snapped her fingers. "Hey, do you suppose we could go there tomorrow?"
Twilight opened her mouth to respond, but clamped her jaw shut as memories from Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns assailed her. Rows and rows of ancient texts and books stretched out before the young filly. Celestia stood over her, explaining what all these books meant to Equestria and ponykind...
"Twilight? Twilight!"
There was a pause and Twilight blinked. She gasped and backed up as Megan's face loomed a few inches from her. "Yah!" she screamed, stumbling back and landing on her haunches. "Don't DO THAT!"
Megan backed up, knocking into a shelf and sending some books tumbling to the floor. She shrieked and grabbed at the books, stuffing them onto the shelves but knocking over more books. She continued for a few minutes, drawing laughter from both Twilight and Spike, who was watching from atop a ladder. "Okay, I'm done," she said, turning back to the Unicorn. "Ah, sorry?"
Twilight suddenly jumped into the air, legs kicking at the air. "Sorry but gotta go gotta see Applejack get some... orange juice from her Spike stay here!" she shouted, landing and galloping out the door.
Megan blinked as Spike climbed down the ladder. "Did... I miss something?" Megan asked, looking to the young dragon.
Spike shrugged. "Mares. Who can figure 'em?" He suddenly blushed through his scales as he felt Megan's glare. "Present company excepted, of course!"
Twilight galloped through Ponyville, straight through the town square. She angled herself for Sweet Apple Acres while running past Ponet's artwork, Daisy's flower cart and Applejack's apple cart.
"Hey, Twilight!" Applejack called out as she ran past. "Whatcha in a hurry for?"
Twilight skidded to a halt, legs pumping. "Sorry, Applejack!" she half-shouted. "I can't talk right now. I gotta get to Sweet Apple Acres so I can talk to you!" And with that, she ran off, hooves pounding in the grass.
Applejack's eyes narrowed. She looked to Big Macintosh as her brother stood there, stoically chewing on a stalk of wheat. "Macintosh, yah mind watching the cart? Twilight seems to be in a dilly o' a pickle at the moment."
Macintosh shook his head. "Not a problem, AJ," he drawled out. "Make sure your friend's all right." He looked across the counter, at some potential customers browsing some apples in barrels, but looked back as Applejack stood there next to him. "Ah... y'all going after yer friend?"
Applejack shook her head. "Nah. Give her about fifteen-" She was cut off as Twilight reappeared in front of her, sheepish grin plastered on her face. Applejack blinked. "Tarnation, she's faster than I thought." She nodded to her brother before walking around the cart. "Mind the store!" she shouted as she trotted off.
A sigh erupted from the stallion as Ditzy dropped out of the sky, stopping mere inches from the ground. "I'll take a dozen apple juices," she asked, fishing bits out of her saddlebag and grumbling.
Macintosh nodded and picked up a carton filled with bottles of Sweet Apple Acres' prized apple juice. He set it on the counter and swept the bits into a trough built into the cart for easy Earth pony collection. He looked up as her eyes went in opposite directions and she crossed her forelegs. "Yah all right, Ditzy?"
Ditzy shook her head as she loaded the carton into her almost-empty saddlebags. "Wish I could say yes, Macintosh!" She pulled out a letter and flashed the address at him. "Some foal back at the distribution center sent a bunch of letters here instead of Hoofington. I got my route done early so off I go!" Her eyes focused and narrowed. "I got Dinky home first, but I'm gonna be late." Her face fell. "I am so gonna owe Carrot Top for watching her!"
Macintosh waved a hoof at her. "Naw, now don't be thinkin' Carrot Top will mind, Ditzy. You two have been friends ever since school. That's why yah make good roommates. Just hurry along and should be no problems."
A smile crept across Ditzy's mouth and she reached over, giving Macintosh the best hug she could. "Thanks!" she chirped before turning and flying off, quickly disappearing into the distance.
Applejack followed Twilight down and around a corner into an alley between a pair of houses. She opened her mouth, but shut it as her Twilight peeked out the alley's mouth and looked about. "Sugarcube, what is it?"
Twilight trotted back, passing Applejack and looking around some more. "I know who Megan is," she stated. "I-no." She shook her head. "I know what she is." She went back and raised her forelegs, placing her hooves on Applejack's shoulders. "But it's big and I mean big news!"
Applejack swallowed and skidded back. "Now, sugar. I'm sure it's not as bad as y'all are making it out to be." She leaned forward, eyes narrowing. "Is it?"
A sudden voice from above sent Twilight leaping into the air. "Is what such big news?" Rainbow Dash asked as she descended into the alley. She looked around at Twilight and Applejack, shrugging. "What?"
Twilight groaned and motioned her in close with her hooves. She stood up on her hind hooves and looked around once more before dropping down. "Megan... she's the Mag'ne!" she half-whispered, head darting around a few more times and eyes twitching.
Applejack's jaw dropped, nearly hitting the ground. "Yer-I mean it's-How is she..." She trailed off, a blank expression coming over her face. "How... how... her?"
Dash's wings beat rapidly and she sped back, forelegs out. "No. WAY!" She dropped to the ground, landing. "B-but... she blessed the Pegasi?"
"And tha' Earth Ponies?" Applejack continued.
"And apparently the Unicorns as well," Twilight finished. She sighed and looked to the sliver of clear blue sky visible above the alley. "According to Princess Luna, Megan was around during the dark days of Dream Valley and Paradise-"
"Wait, Princess Luna?" Dash blurted out. "When did she tell you this?"
A groan came from Twilight and her right eye spasmed. "As I was saying, Princess Luna came to me last night and told me Megan had first visited over fifteen hundred years ago." She held up a hoof, waving off Rainbow Dash as she opened her mouth. "There was some sort of... time thing happening, where time in Equestria sped up. So for her, it's only been twenty years since she was last here." She began pacing about, head lowering. "And then in the library, she told me she had brought over a lot of books from-" She suddenly stopped and shoved a hoof into her mouth.
Applejack and Dash turned to each other, then looked at Twilight as she stood there with her hoof in still her mouth. "Sugarcube..." Applejack began. "Are you all right?"
Dash leaned in and held a foreleg up to her mouth. "No, she's not," she whispered.
Twilight removed the hoof, grinning madly. "Sorry, state secret. Can't tell anyone." Her eyes narrowed. "I'm not kidding!"
Applejack nodded, her hat bobbing back and forth. "All right, all right!" She sighed and looked skyward. Her brow wrinkled. "Wait... fifteen hundred years, but it's only been twenty to her?" At Twilight's nod her entire expression fell. "Oh, my stars."
Dash looked over, hopping about. "What? What..." Her mouth opened slightly and her eyes widened. "Oh, my gosh."
Twilight opened her mouth, but closed it. She dropped back to her haunches. "Oh, no," she squeaked out. "All her friends are dead." She looked to the sky as Celestia's sun shone overhead. "Or changed in ways she doesn't know about."
Applejack leaned forward, letting her hat drop off her head and onto a waiting hoof. She balanced it up over her chest. "Poor dear."
The sun suddenly brightened, catching everypony's attention. Celestia appeared, wings flared out as she descended into the ally. She touched down, mane and tail still flapping in the wind. "Hello," she said. "I bring news."
Applejack and Dash bowed while Twilight walked up to her mentor. "Princess, is Megan the Mag'ne?"
Celestia closed her eyes and nodded. "She is, my prized pupil." She knelt down, beckoning Applejack and Rainbow Dash to come forward. "I heard your words about her friends. You are both good ponies for thinking of her."
Applejack swallowed. "Well, yer highness, Megan's a nice lady. She helped track me down in the Everfree Forest when I went a bit loco. And to think all her friends are dead is just plain sad to me."
Dash nodded. "Yeah. Or they're so different." She suddenly swallowed. "N-not that I mean you're and she-"
Celestia waved her off. "I know what you mean, and you're right." She looked over the little ponies. "Tomorrow there will be a party here in Ponyville for her return, but before that, Luna and I wish to meet her in Canterlot to try and break the news to her." She looked to Twilight. "Twilight, would you please accompany her? She'll need all the support she can get."
Twilight's head bobbed up and down. "You can count on me, Princess!"
A smile graced the Alicorn's face as she rose once more. She reached out with a wing, stroking the top of Twilight's head. "I knew I could count on you." She looked to Applejack and Dash. "One more thing. Please gather all your friends together when she leaves. There's something I have to show you at Canterlot." And with that, she stood up, wings unfurling. The Goddess of the sun floated up, into the sun.
All three pairs of eyes followed Celestia as she ascended. Applejack looked to the mouth of the alley. "Twilight, where's Megan at tha' moment?"
Twilight placed a hoof to her chin. "Oh, she's back at the library with Spike." She let out a sigh. "She was helping me with filing the books we got from Ditzy this morning." A chuckle escaped her lips. "So helpful. Was that what it was like back then? The stories say she came over a river of fire to aid the ponies. Did that really happen?"
Dash eyed Twilight out of the corner of her eye. "I'm fairly sure that part was made up, Twilight. Or at least grossly exaggerated." She shifted a bit. "I hope."
Twilight suddenly swallowed. "Oh, no," she said. "Oh, no!" She jumped into the air. "This is bad!"
Applejack and Dash stared at her, Applejack taking a few steps back. "Sugarcube, what's bad?"
Twilight jabbed a foreleg at the mouth of the alley. "I left Megan in the library!" At their stares, she slapped her forehead and dragged it down her face. "Ugh, in the library with all those books! All those books about Equestrian life, times and history!"
Applejack's mouth dropped. "Aw, horse apples!" She looked to Twilight. "We gotta git you back to tha' library!" She looked to Dash, who merely threw up a foreleg in salute.
Twilight's horn suddenly flared. "No time for running or flying!" she shouted as a white sphere engulfed her, Dash and Applejack. When it faded, all three ponies were gone.
Megan sat on the floor, taking bites from a piece of toast smothered in honey. She rolled her eyes into the back of her head. "This is so good," she said. She looked down at Spike, sitting there with a sandwich and carton of hay fries. "You used your dragon breath to make this?"
Spike nodded, a confident smile on his face. "Works almost every time!" He chuckled and scratched the back of his head, around his spines. "Well, except the first few times I tried it." He shrugged. "Who knew drapes could go up like that?"
Megan shrugged, but the sound of the door opening caught her attention. She looked over as a mint-green Unicorn with a stylized lyre on her flank and saddlebags walked in. "Twilight!" she called out. "I'm returning the books Bonbon and I checked out." She looked around, spotting Spike-and then Megan. Her eyes widened and she backed up. "Oh, you're the one we saw... earlier..." Her breath quickened.
Megan rose to a kneeling position. "I remember you from outside Sugarcube Corner, yes!" She placed a hand on her chest. "My name's Megan, and I'm a friend."
Spike spoke up, waving his arms at Megan. "She is, Lyra! She helped us find Applejack and Twilight really trusts her!"
Lyra kept her eyes on Megan. She stopped backing up and stepped forward, hooves clattering on the floor of the suddenly silent library. "Well, all right. But what are you? I've seen pictures of creatures like you, but you're still so different!"
"I'm called a human," Megan explained. She scooted over, holding out her free hand. "I'm from a planet called Earth. And I just want to be your friend." She looked to the side at Lyra's cutie mark. "Do you like music?"
Lyra nodded, mouth hanging open. Her eyes slowly narrowed as she focused on Megan-or rather, on Megan's arms. She suddenly galloped forward, skidding to a halt. "What are these?" she exclaimed, grabbing Megan's arm and looking over her hand. "They're like Spike's claws, but longer and thinner and no sharp talons! What can you do with them?" she asked, looking up into Megan's eyes with an earnest expression.
Megan's mouth hung open. "Ah... They're called fingers."
Lyra suddenly let go and trotted around, looking all over Megan's body. "And your hindlegs, do you-do you stand up on them? Do you walk on two legs or four or what?" She stood up on her own hindlegs, planting her hooves on Megan's arm. "And that mane! Is it a mane or some other word?" She stared up at Megan, grinning. "Come on, tell me!"
Megan stared back, jaw slack. She closed it and shifted her weight. "Lyra, I'll be happy to answer your questions if you climb off of me, all right?" She slid her arm away from the Unicorn and shuffled to her left, letting the Unicorn drop gently back to the floor.
Spike walked around, holding his arms up between the pair. "Okay, okay! Lyra, back up. You're freaking Megan out!"
Megan held up her hand and waved Spike off. "No, it's all right Spike. Lyra can ask all the questions she wants... as long as she recognizes the concept of 'personal space'."
Lyra cleared her throat and glanced away, blushing. "Sorry about that," she mumbled. "I guess I was a bit overwhelmed at first. Those hands of yours are so cool!" She looked back up at Megan. "I play the lyre, but I use my hooves for it and not telekinesis. So when I saw those I just... freaked a bit."
Megan's brow furrowed. She sat back down and crossed her legs. "Wait, you use your hooves? Why not your horn for it?"
Lyra scoffed and waved her off with a hoof. "Oh, please. That's the easy way! There's an Earth Pony named Octavia in Canterlot. She trimmed down the walls of her front hooves so she could maximize use of the toe and plays a double-bass." She sighed and her head lowered. "I listen to her concert broadcast over the radio every night, and I want to play as well as her. Someday I want to audition to play at the Grand Galloping Gala and be lauded as much as she is!"
Megan wiped her eyes. She reached out and placed a hand on Lyra's comparatively tiny shoulder. "Lyra, as long as you play from the heart, it doesn't matter if you use your horn's magic or your hooves or even... fingers. Your love will come through in the notes for all to hear."
Lyra snorted. "Thanks, but I still think it'd be easier using those fingers of yours." Her lips twisted. "I wonder..." She looked around before focusing on Spike. "Spike, Twilight can transmute things, right?"
Spike backed up, but a bright flash of light near the door sent him jumping back behind Megan, yelping.
The light disappeared and Twilight, Applejack and Dash stood there, the latter two covered in soot. Applejack wobbled on her legs, her entire face turning green. "Well, that was worse than the talent show." Her cheeks suddenly bulged and she turned, racing up the stairs to the second floor bathroom.
Dash simply dropped down to the floor, landing with a thud. She covered her face with her wings and sucked in several deep breaths. "Twilight, next time WARN us when you're gonna do that!"
Twilight blinked. "Sorry," she mumbled. Her eyes lit upon Lyra, Megan and Spike. "Oh, oh!" She dashed forward and looked around rapidly at the three. "Lyra, what are you doing here? Megan, what are you doing? Spike, what's going on? Any problems? Any problems at all?"
Lyra cantered back. "I was just, just returning the books I checked out." Her horn glowed and her saddlebags opened, four books floating out and onto a counter near the back. She leaned forward even while retreating. "You all right?"
Twilight focused on her. "Of course I'm all right! Why wouldn't I be all right? Who said I'm not all right?" She looked to Megan. "So... what have you read? Anything? Nothing?"
Megan suddenly stood up, holding a hand out in front of Twilight's face. "Whoa, whoa!" she exclaimed. "Twilight, deep breaths. Suck it in and let it out." She looked to Dash. "What happened?"
Dash uncovered her face and looked up. "Just... a meeting. Nothing big. Twilight forgot some stuff and had to tell us."
Megan glared at the Pegasus, but sighed and shook her head. "All right." She looked back down at Twilight. "I haven't had much of a chance to read any of the books. So is there anything wrong?"
Twilight shook her head. "No, Megan. I can state that there's nothing wrong." She looked to Lyra. "I'll get the ledger so you can sign it. Wait there for a moment."
Twilight walked around the counter and floated a large book out from under it, letting Lyra sign her name in a column. Lyra waved bye to Megan before trotting out. "I'd better head out, too. Bonbon hates to be kept waiting. It was nice meeting you!"
Megan waved after her, chuckling. "Now that was interesting." She checked her watch. "Actually, might be a good idea for me to get going, too. That paperwork I told you about?"
Twilight nodded. "I'll walk with you back to the hole." She turned and walked over to Dash, leaning down. "Get Rarity, Fluttershy and if you have to get Applejack to kick Sugarcube Corner's door down to get Pinkie Pie!" she whispered.
Dash nodded. "As soon as the library stops spinning, I will."
Twilight bit her lip and patted Dash on her pole before turning to Spike. "Watch the library, Spike," she said.
Spike straightened up and tossed out a salute. "Aye, aye, Twilight!" He looked up at Megan and waved. "See you tomorrow!"
Megan smiled and waved back. "Same here, Spike." She collected her backpack and rifle before following Twilight out the door and through downtown Ponyville to the edge of the Everfree. She stopped and knelt down by the Unicorn. "Twilight, thanks," she said.
Twilight eyed her. "For what?"
Megan shrugged. "Just spending the day with me. It was fun!"
"Sorting books was fun for you?"
Megan shrugged. "I spent time with two friends and ate some good food. And I met Lyra, who might be insane." She leaned forward and winked. "But it was still fun."
Twilight shook her head. "One thing you might wanna remember is all the ponies in Ponyville are crazy." Her horn began glowing.
Megan's brow furrowed. "But you're a pony in-" Her words were cut off as she was enveloped in light, disappearing from Equestria.
The sun dipped low in the horizon as Twilight, Applejack, Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy gathered near the hole in space. Fluttershy sat back on her haunches, dabbing at her eyes and sniffling. "That's... so sad!" she cried out.
Rarity patted her friend on the shoulder. "There, there, dear. It's all right." She looked to Twilight. "So, fifteen hundred years for us but only twenty for her. When she learns, it will be horrendous."
Twilight sighed. "I know." She looked up as the sun disappeared down the horizon. It flared and Princess Celestia descended once more to Ponyville.
Celestia landed and quickly held up a hoof. "Please, no bowing," she said. "It's embarrassing."
The ponies chuckled slightly and remained standing. Fluttershy took a few timid steps forward. "P-Princess?" she stammered out. "I-It's true? Megan really is the Mag'ne?" She suddenly waved her hooves. "Not that I was doubting you, Twilight! Of course I believe you! It's just so... unreal!"
Rarity nodded. "It is a bit odd, that mare being one of the founders of Equestria and the Giver of Gifts, Defender of the Stable and Guiding Light." She shrugged. "Although her clothes are reminiscent of descriptions of the Mag'ne's appearance."
Celestia nodded and beckoned them closer with a wave of her wing. "Now stay close together," she said. "There's something I need to show you at Canterlot, and it'll be quicker teleporting there than walking or flying."
Dash and Applejack exchanged a glance before taking a step back. "Beggin' yer pardon, your majesty," Applejack began, looking away, "but the last time we teleported with Twilight we ended up a might... sick."
Celestia half-smiled. "Don't worry, Applejack. My technique is a bit more refined than Twilight's. Even though she's making remarkable progress on her own," she said, casting an approving eye at her apprentice.
The six ponies gathered around Celestia. Her horn blazed and they all vanished.
The darkened halls beneath Celestia's School for gifted Unicorns flashed as Celestia and the ponies appeared there. Dash blinked twice. "Wow, that was better," she said.
Celestia gestured down the hallway, lit by flickering torches and carved roughly from the rock. "What I'm about to show you not many ponies know of," she explained. "Twilight was here for her first real lesson, and I ask you other five not to reveal what you find here."
Pinkie Pie raised herself up on her hindlegs and crossed her barrel. "Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!" she finished, placing her hoof over her closed eye. "After all, the fastest way to lose a friendship is to break trust."
Celestia smiled at her. "Quite true, Pinkie Pie." She turned and led them down the hall to a large steel door guarded by three members of the Royal Guard. "Password?" the Earth pony asked.
"What nerve!" Rarity exclaimed, but she quickly shrank back as the Pegasus glared at her.
Celestia paid her no mind. "The future," she stated, waiting for the guards to unlock the door and open it. "This is the Vault," she explained as they stepped inside. "Also, I ask you not to touch anything. The books and other items are protected from age and rough handling, but the spells have a limit."
Dash dropped to the ground and began walking as they walked inside. She looked around at the shelves and books and diagrams. "Whoa," she half-whispered. "These are the Gifts of Knowledge she brought from the Herd?"
Celestia paused and turned to Dash. "Even in the timeless myths of ancient Dream Valley, there is a core of truth to the tales of the Mag'ne," she said, casting a sidelong glance at Twilight and winking. "She didn't slay Tirac with a flaming spear, but instead used the Rainbow of Light."
Pinkie Pie scratched her head. "The Rainbow of what?"
The alicorn paused for a moment. "Today, you would know it as the Elements of Harmony." She quickly held up a foreleg and waved the gasping ponies off. "And that is also a tale for another time. For now, there's something I wish to show you in the back."
Twilight swallowed. "The mural?"
Celestia nodded. "The mural." She turned back and trotted to the far back wall, the ponies following. She stopped in front of the painting of the Mag'ne, sighing. "The paint covering her face was enchanted by an old Mage named Spellion...
Celestia stood in front of the large wall and the painting of Megan. "Do you have to cover the face?" she asked.
A cloaked Unicorn stood by her and Luna's side, horn glowing. Paint floated up and onto the face. "I am afraid so," Spellion said. "The omens and visions are clear-clearer than they've ever been. Megan must sink into the mists of history, until such time she returns."
Luna sighed. "It's just not fair!" She stamped her hooves against the floor. "Megan and Danny and Molly should be remembered as more than just myths and legends!"
A voice from behind caught their attention. "But will we be able to move forward in their shadows?" The two alicorns and Unicorn turned as Wind Whistler hobbled in, her forelegs draped over a walker. Her coat had faded from blue to gray and her movement was slow. "The core of truth will still be there, but ponies will be able to better stand on their four hooves without relying on them."
Luna sighed. "I guess." She turned as the paint obscured Megan's face. "But I'll always remember her."
"... And thus the three faded into myth and legend," Celestia finished. She was sitting down in the Vault, Twilight, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Dash, Rarity and Fluttershy sitting around her in rapt attention. "I still don't know if it was the right decision, but we have managed to carve a nation from the wilderness."
Applejack scratched her head. "It just don't seem right ta' me," she said, sighing. "Megan and her siblings deserved to be remembered as who they were, not some trussed-up legends."
Celestia bowed her head and blinked. "We lost a number of records during Nightmare Moon and a few other incidents. Often memory replaced the written word, and Spellion advised Luna and I not to correct any misconceptions." She rolled her eyes. "Always was a silly pony, that Spellion." She slowly rose to her gilded hooves, yawning. "I'm sorry!' she said, blushing. "I'm not usually up this late unless it's an emergency. I'll get you back home."
Rarity waved her off. "We wouldn't think of it, your highness. You need your beauty sleep and it's probably a beautiful night out for a walk." She rose from the floor, joints popping. "Oh, Lotus and Aloe are going to have their work cut out for them tomorrow!"
Celestia led them outside the Vault and down the hallway a few dozen paces. "Stay safe, my friends," she said. "And I'll see you tomorrow at the party."
Rarity smiled, but her right eye began twitching. "Party?" She looked to Twilight and grabbed her shoulders. "What party?"
Ditzy flew through the night sky, grateful for the full moon hanging overhead. She descended as Whitetail Woods thinned out and the small hamlet of Hoofington appeared. She touched down at the edge of the town and looked up at a street sign. "Let's see..." She walked along, coming upon a small house at the outskirts, a single-story hovel in slight disrepair.
She noted a light in the window and rapped at the door. After a few minutes it opened and a blue Unicorn with a silver mane stood there, blinking. "May the-may I help you?" she asked.
Ditzy focused both eyes forward. "On behalf of the Equestrian Postal Service, I wish to express sincere apologies. Your mail was sent to Ponyville by mistake." She dug into her saddlebags and laid envelopes and three newspapers at her feet. "I'm sorry."
The Unicorn grunted. "Ponyville, of course. It's... thank you." Her horn lit up and the mail floated inside. "Mistakes happen," she grunted out.
Ditzy looked back up and smiled. "Thanks!" She stepped back and turned, spreading her wings. "Now back to-"
The Unicorn held up her hoof. "Wait!" she exclaimed. "You're flying back to Ponyville?" At Ditzy's nod, she shook her head. "You'll be back after midnight, if you make it at all. Is there a phone in Ponyville?"
Ditzy rubbed her chin, one eye drifting away. "Yes, in City Hall and one in the library."
The Unicorn reared back, but stopped. "No, no!" She sighed. "Okay, come with me. There's a phone in the local tavern. We'll call Ponyville and let them know you'll be back tomorrow." She waved a hoof around in the air. "It's not much, but-Ack!"
Ditzy wrapped her forelegs around her and hugged tightly. "You're the best!" she exclaimed. "Thank you so much!"
The Unicorn grunted and blinked back tears. "No, I'm not. Maybe one day, but I'm still trying." She pulled away from the hug. "Let me get my change purse and we can go make the call."
Trixie went back inside her three-room house and up to a table in the main living area. A small bag filled with bits floated up and over her head, hanging from a cord. She paused before a corkboard with several newspaper clippings from Equestria Daily, the Canterlot Times, the Manehattan Post and a few other sources. She focused on one large photo of Twilight Sparkle. "One day, Twilight Sparkle. One day!" She pumped a fist into the air, but her entire body shrank into itself.
Barely six weeks had passed since leaving Ponyville, and Trixie paced by the lake at the outskirts of her hometown, her face twisted by rage."I'll take her!" she shouted into the air. "She'll be mine and her friends will die and Ponyville will burn! How DARE THAT LITTLE UPSTART MOCK ME!"
She paused at the edge and looked down at the clear water, still as glass. She gasped as she saw the reflection of a pony twisted by rage, completely and totally possessed-and alone. So alone and no one else and so pathetic and weak. She skittered back from the lake. "Who is that?" she screamed. "That... me? ARGH!"
Trixie let a single tear fall. "One day I'll get up the courage to go to Ponyville and thank you for saving my life." She turned from the corkboard and exited her house, the door closing behind her. She looked to Ditzy and nodded. "All right, let's go."
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