Chapter 16:

To Honor an Elder

The Next Day-

"This does what?!"

Applejack stood on the porch of the homestead with her jaw hanging slack. The sun had just risen into the sky, and with it had come a knock on the door. She'd answered it to find Pinkie standing outside, bouncing on her hooves and wearing a toothy smile. She ushered Applejack outside to show her a tiny vial of electric-blue liquid from her saddlebags.

"It'll make the pain of her arthritis go away," Pinkie whispered. "It has no side-effects and isn't addictive. Tasteless, too."

Applejack beheld the Elder's Elxir with wide eyes. "Where'd you get this?"

"Zecora and I made it," Pinkie said. "It's our birthday gift to her. Slip it in her breakfast and she'll be in tip-top shape!"

"Pinkie, I don't rightly think I can acce—"

Pinkie silenced her with a hoof. "Our grannies were best friends for over fifty years. We both loved it when they came to visit each other. If I had a bit for every story they told us about the things they did growing up and through their lives, I could open my own bakery."

Applejack wanted to reply, but Pinkie's words hit her with a wave of nostalgia. She blinked several times as she tried to force it away.

Pinkie gave a warm smile and gently pushed the vial into Applejack's hooves. "This isn't charity or pity. I love your granny almost as much as I loved my own, and I hate seeing her like this. The only thing I feel bad about is that I couldn't do something sooner."

Applejack stared at the medicine in her hooves. The early morning light filtered through the bottle, turning her coat neon green. "I never knew there was a cure for arthritis. This is expensive, isn't it?"

"And rare," Pinkie said. "Make sure she drinks all of it, okay?"

Applejack cradled the vial like a newborn. "I… I don't know what to say."

Pinkie shook her head. "You don't have to say anything. After everything your family has been through, all I want is to see her smile again. I know that's what my granny would want, too."

Applejack lowered her head, and without warning, seized Pinkie in an embrace. She hiccuped once as she buried herself in Pinkie's frizzy mane.

"Pinkie... t—thank you..." Applejack sobbed. "Thank you so much..."

Pinkie returned the hug and closed her eyes.

"Tonight is going to be special," she whispered. "I want Edith to be able to celebrate with us. After all, she promised my granny that she wouldn't let the past blind her from seeing the present or looking to the future. She's got a lot of life left to live; this is just my way of making it easier for her."

The two broke, and Applejack coughed once, trying to hide her puffy eyes. She fervently wished she hadn't left her hat inside.

"I have to finish getting ready for the day," she mumbled. "I'll see you this afternoon?"

"Yep!" Pinkie chirped. "The orders are all in place. The helpers'll be here at two to start setting up the stage."

"Relatives should be here by then." Applejack raised a hoof and leaned against the porch. The apple trees beyond the homestead bulged with their crops, their branches weighed down by an overabundance of almost-ready fruit.

"Pinkie."

She stopped closing the fastening on her saddlebags and looked up.

Applejack met her eyes and spoke in a level tone. "I'm sorry I couldn't come to the funeral."

A strong gust rose from the west, carrying upon it the smell of wet leaves from the early morning dew. Pinkie inhaled deeply, letting the scent carry her back into some of her fondest memories; those of which she spent with her long-departed grandmother.

"No one held it against you," Pinkie said in a far-off voice. "Manehatten's hundreds of miles away, after all. Did you even hear about it in time?"

"Only just," Applejack muttered. "Think it was like the day before or so. Hard to remember, the time I spent there's just a miserable blur of smog, fancy talk, and prissy tasteless food."

Pinkie snorted, and she went back to her cheery self. "We all knew you wanted to come, and that's all that matters. Now, we have a lot to do today, so we'd better both get going. I'll see you this afternoon!"

Applejack nodded her farewell and went back inside with the vial. Pinkie crossed the farmyard and met up with Ras and Vigil, who were waiting outside the gate. The three of them walked out of Sweet Apple Acres and along the cobblestone path towards Ponyville.

Pinkie hummed a snippet of a merry tune that only she could hear as she walked. She smiled as the depths of her eyes sparkled briefly with a brilliant blue light.

Wait just a little longer Edith, I'll help you soon.

( * * * )

That Evening-

"Twilight?" Rainbow knocked on the door. "You in there?"

Rainbow stood outside Twilight's library with Esra and Tastar a few minutes before six. The sun had just set, and the stars were just beginning to fill the violet, darkening sky. The library was dark and still. The lights were turned off and no movement could be seen from inside. Esra and Tastar flew up to examine the windows and balcony door, which they found to all be locked.

"I think she already left," Tastar said as he came back around.

Rainbow chuckled. "Either that or she's battened down the hatches. This might be her first line of defense."

The two guards had gotten to know Rainbow well enough to know when she was kidding and when she was serious. They were both surprised to find this was the latter.

"Is she really that… dedicated?" Esra asked. He leaned in closer to one of the windows.

"That's one way of putting it," Rainbow said dryly. "Twilight can be devious when she wants to be."

"Do you wanna just go?" Tastar asked. "Not like it'll take long to come back and storm the place if she's not there."

"Yeah," Rainbow spread her wings and jumped into the air. "I'm starving, anyway."

The three of them took wing and rose over Ponyville. Esra and Tastar looked down as they ascended, and noticed that the town seemed emptier than usual. Many houses had their lights turned off, there were very few ponies in the streets, and even the skies above were strangely vacant. Rainbow angled west and led them headed towards Sweet Apple Acres, and as they did, they noticed a long line of ponies heading in the same direction as them on the ground and in the air. Esra and Tastar gasped as they got high enough over the trees in the orchard, and beheld the homestead just beyond.

Sweet Apple Acres was alive. Earth, unicorn, and pegasi alike filled the grounds, dancing, talking, eating, laughing, drinking, and celebrating. Tall lights had been erected all around the farmyard, filling it with warm, inviting lights. A long line of ponies still trickled into the farm, adding to the merry multitudes. The wind picked up, carrying a thin strain of lively music to their ears, beckoning them forward to the festivities.

Tastar gave a low whistle. "That's a lot of ponies."

"Half the town must be down there!" Esra exclaimed. "Does this happen every year?"

"Depends on if there's a good harvest," Rainbow said over her shoulder. "AJ told me they have a lot this year."

The three of them descended and landed over by Rainbow's multicolored bullseye out in an empty field beside the house. They got a better look of the festivities as they approached: A large flat stage had been erected beside the barn, where a group of earth ponies all wearing straw hats played an assortment of country tunes on banjos, fiddles, guitars, drums, and a piano. The center of the farmyard was filled with ponies dancing in tune to the music. Tables had been set up inside and around the barn, where a large assortment of apple-related foods and drinks were set and being served. A long, steadily moving line had already formed, and most of the tables were occupied with jovial occupants. All around the grounds were small groups of ponies engaging in various conversations. Near the farmstead was an especially large crowd, who all gathered around a single pony that the three of them couldn't see from their angle.

Esra wrinkled his brow as he took in more and more of party. "All of this for one mare's birthday? Is she really that big of a deal?"

Rainbow smiled. "Applejack's grandma is awesome. She's the head of the Apple Clan, a pioneer, one of the founders of Ponyville, the oldest mare in town, and the inventor of Zapapple Jam. Combine that with the fact that she's a legendary cook and they have a bumper crop of apples this year? I'm not surprised at the turnout."

"I'd wager there'd still be a lot here even if she wasn't all that." Tastar's stomach rumbled. "The words 'free food' tend to draw a crowd."

"Good food, too." Rainbow licked her lips and she caught a whiff of the scents floating out of the barn. "You guys do what you want. I'm getting dinner."

"What about Twilight?" Tastar reminded her.

"I think I see her." Esra pointed over by the homestead. They followed his hoof to see the pony in question at a table conversing with Fluttershy, who had her back turned to them. "Is that the Bearer of Kindness she's with?"

"Her name's Fluttershy," Rainbow said with a glance, "and yes, that's her. Don't stare at her wings. It makes her nervous."

"What's wrong wit—hooooly Mother of Celestia." Tastar's eyes filled his head as Fluttershy turned and they saw her profile. Her wings, while still folded, covered her entire frame and extended far past her tail.

"Doesn't look like anything's wrong with them to me." Esra hid his mouth beneath a hoof. "Wouldn't you agree, Tastar?"

"Yeah," he said in an odd tone. "Nothing at all…"

"She's out of your league," Rainbow said matter-of-factly and started to walk off. She looked back as she saw they weren't weren't following her.

"You guys gonna give me a little freedom?" she asked.

"All the guards are here," Esra said. He nudged Tastar, who still didn't look away from Fluttershy. "Between the thirteen of us, at least one of us'll have an eye on you."

Rainbow gaze flickered at Tastar, but then shrugged a second later. "I'll meet up with you later, then." She trotted off towards the barn.

A bit of drool was now dangling from the corner of Tastar's mouth. Esra rolled his eyes and smacked his partner upside the head.

"You're in no position to be stepping up to the plate."

Tastar shook himself out of his daze. He laughed as he rubbed his head. "True, but you can't blame me for appreciating the finer things in life."

Esra looked over the crowd, searching for the other guards. It wasn't long though before his eyes betrayed him, slowly creeping over to where Tastar's had been. He finally relented and shamelessly gawked at Fluttershy with a wistful sigh.

"Very fine."

"Mmm-hmm."

( * * * )

Twilight and Spike munched on Apple Kabobs as they sat across from Fluttershy, who'd been regaling them of her visit to Dragon Turtle Lake on Monday. Twilight had never been there herself, but the name and the significance weren't lost on her. What she didn't know about, however, was the presence of an enigmatic creature that Fluttershy merely referred to as 'Master.' She seemed to have known him for some time, and spoke of him with great fondness.

"You said he knows the Princess?" Twilight asked. She tried to keep her voice clear as she chewed.

Fluttershy seemed not to notice either way. "More than that. She found him washed up on the shore of the lake nine hundred years ago, when he was just a baby. She took him back to Canterlot and nursed him back to health, and he lived there for two centuries because they'd gotten attached to each other. She only took him back to Dragon Turtle Lake because he got too big."

"How big is he?" Spike asked.

Fluttershy turned to him. "When he had to leave, or now?"

Spike flicked a piece of crust off his claw. "I'm guessing you don't know the first one, so let's go with now."

Fluttershy thought for a moment. "It's hard to say. The easiest thing would be to say that I'm about the size of one of his eyes."

Spike paused, looking Fluttershy up and down. His lips parted as he got an idea of the scale. "Yeah, I can see that."

Twilight swallowed her bite. "This is news to me. I thought the only pet she had was Philomena."

"Oh, he's not her pet." Fluttershy bobbed her head in time to a new song that'd started. "Dragon Turtles are very reclusive and rare, but they're as smart as ponies. It'd be more accurate to say they're like mother and son."

Twilight stopped chewing for a moment, gauging Fluttershy's face. Her friend wasn't one to jest, but the gravity of such a claim made it sound like a joke. "Doesn't that mean he's, well… a prince?"

Fluttershy giggled. "I asked him that, too. He said Celestia never formally adopted him because it would've been too complicated for him to participate in government affairs. Dragon Turtles have very specific living conditions, and for one as big as Master… it wouldn't have worked out. I know he helps her in other ways, though."

"Like what?" Spike asked.

"He watches the Great Southern Rainforest," Fluttershy said. "That area is largely untamed and unexplored because the Changeling Wastes are on the southeast border of it. He makes sure the Changelings don't overstep their bounds."

Spike rested his head on his elbows. "I don't know very much about Changelings. Are they friendly?"

"No."

Twilight and Fluttershy had spoke at the same time. They looked at each other for a moment, then grinned and started laughing.

"Trust me Spike," Twilight said, "the less you know about them, the better. And get your elbows off the table."

Spike rolled his eyes. "Yes, Mom."

Twilight ignored the title and now turned her attention to the piece of the legendary pie she'd managed to snag. "So how'd you meet Master?"

Fluttershy gave a small smile. "The first time I came to the lake I saw an island really far out that I wanted to go to, but I didn't think I could make it back. I landed on the shore instead and spoke to a passing seagull. He introduced me to his elder, who in turn asked the dragon turtles if they could give me a ride out to the island. I spent a few days there, and during that time word spread around the lake that there was a pony that could understand animal language. That caught the attention of Master, and he came out to meet me. We've been friends ever since."

"Didn't know I wasn't the only one who had connections to royalty," Twilight said dryly. "What does he say about her?"

Fluttershy put a hoof to her chin. "I haven't asked him much about Celestia. The only reason I know about his past is because he called her 'Mother' the first time we met. He's said that she's really kind and does everything for a reason, but that's about it. Oh, and he thinks that the reason only we can use the Elements is because they've 'left their mark' on us."

Twilight wiped a bit of whipped cream off her chin. "I suspect that as well. Just goes to show you can never be too careful with ancient pieces of magic. It's no surprise that the Princess didn't make the Symbols of the Elements common knowledge. I just wish there was another way I could find them other than leaving."

Fluttershy scrunched her eyebrows. "There really isn't any other way?"

Twilight sighed. "I've tried everything I can think of. The only thing left is to go do a little hunting on my own. Don't worry; I have some ideas on where to start looking. I'll be back before you know it."

"Still though, I hate to see you go."

"Join the club," Spike grumbled.

Fluttershy turned to him. "You're not going?"

Spike's eyes flicked to Twilight for a moment before speaking in an unconvincing monotone. "Someone has to watch the library."

Fluttershy didn't hear his tone over the music, and had relied on reading his lips to get the gist of what he'd said. She gave a sympathetic nod. "You're welcome over at my house any time if you get lonely, okay?"

Spike's face brightened. "I might take you up on that."

She turned back to Twilight. "You'll be careful, won't you?"

Twilight gave a short exhale out her nose. "I won't be alone. We each have our own little entourage, remember?"

"That's true." Fluttershy scanned the crowd, looking for Megnii and Spesci. She didn't see Spesci, but she saw Megnii standing by himself over by the chicken coop. He seemed to be holding a conversation with someone, but there weren't any other ponies in sight. She suppressed a snicker as she turned back to Twilight. "Are yours nice? I was nervous at first, but I've come to like mine after getting to know them."

Twilight searched for her own guards. She saw Blair in line getting food, and Ace standing by the stage talking to a black stallion. Piro was nowhere to be found. "I like Piro. He's clever and helps me brainstorm ideas for my research. Ace is… polite. I don't know him very well, but I get the feeling we don't have much in common. Blair's fine. He respects my space, keeps to himself for the most part, and knows enough about magic that I can carry on a conversation with him. Living with him was uneventful until last night."

"Did something happen?" Fluttershy asked.

"He scared us both half to death." Spike picked his teeth with a claw. "I'm gonna sleep with my earplugs in tonight."

Twilight smacked his claw away and conjured a toothpick made of force for him instead. She looked back at Fluttershy and ran a hoof through her mane. "We heard banging noises coming from downstairs around two a.m. I came down and found him violently flailing in his sleep, hitting the walls and shivering like he was out in a snowstorm. I woke him up; he looked at me, screamed, and then started rambling about something chasing him."

"I've never heard of a nightmare that bad." The current song rose to a crescendo. Fluttershy moved in a little closer to Twilight. "What did you do?"

Twilight went a faint tinge of red. "Um… the wrong thing, apparently. I tried to get him to talk about it, and that made him delirious. He lost control of his freezing magic, yelled some jibberish about the horizon and a seal, and teleported away."

"Teleported?!" Fluttershy yelled. "Where'd he go?"

Twilight rubbed the ear Fluttershy had just shouted in. "I ran into him at the front door of the house the other guards are staying in. Turns out he'd gone to Piro because they've known each other for a long time, and he knew how to calm him down."

Fluttershy relaxed as the music died down again. "Is he all right now?"

Twilight nodded. "Mostly. He's still having trouble controlling his magic."

"It's creepy," Spike said. "He gives off a faint chill that's like he's sucking the warmth out of you."

"Why would that happen?"

"Blair specializes in water and freezing magic." Twilight watched as Blair disappeared into the barn. "And unicorns get their magic recharged through sleeping. If it gets disrupted, it can lead to problems. It's partially my fault; I shouldn't have tried to wake him up mid-dream like that. I'm just glad he didn't hurt himself."

( * * * )

Applejack carried two new barrels of apple cider on her back as she walked over to the beverage table inside the barn. They'd run low from a sudden influx of guests, and now the line was spilling out into the farmyard. She quickly set down the barrels down with ease and pulled out a tap, sticking it into one of the barrels and filling the empty mugs. She slid one over to the first pony in line without looking up.

"You're Applejack, correct?"

Applejack noticed a faint chill in the air that made her hair stand on end. She looked up to see the receiver of the mug: A teal unicorn stallion she hadn't met before, watching her with a patient smile.

She nodded and kept filling the mugs. "Nice to meet ya. You new 'round town?"

"My name's Blair," he stepped to the side and lowered his voice. "I'm one of Twilight's guards."

Applejack paused in her work and eyed him with newfound interest. "Ah, gotcha. She around then? I haven't had a chance to see who's here."

Blair was silent for a moment. He pursed his lips and squinted with one eye. "She's over by the house at a table with Spike. They're talking with somepony I haven't met."

Applejack's eyes went wide. "How'd you…"

"I have my ways." Blair took a drink.

Applejack watched him apprehensively. "Uh, Blair?"

He lowered his mug. "Hmm?"

"Just so you know, that's hard cider."

Blair blinked and smacked his lips. Sure enough, he caught the tough aftertaste of alcohol… strong alcohol.

"Oops," he said. "I didn't mean to—"

"Blair!"

He turned to see Ras staring agape at the mug in his hoof.

"You're drinking without me?!"

Blair shook his head. "I didn't mean—"

"Too late now." Ras grabbed one of his own. "Shouldn't start what you don't intend to finish."

"Ras, we're supposed to to be—"

"—partners in crime?" Ras clinked their mugs. "My thoughts exactly."

Blair looked down at his drink, then up at Ras. His face contorted as the inner turmoil built inside him. "How long has it even been?"

"Too damn long," Ras said with a sip. "You kept saying you were worried about 'providing to a minor.'"

Blair narrowed his eyes. "Watch it."

Ras burst out laughing and leaned on Blair's shoulder. "We're all here, for Celestia's sake. I'm sure the others can manage for one night. That is, if Miss Applejack can keep our little secret."

"The Element of Honesty keeping a secret, eh?" Blair raised an eyebrow as they both looked to her.

Applejack chuckled. "It'd be a bit out of my way to let Celestia know about anything. Now, if she showed up right this very minute askin' about it, that'd be a different story. But I don't see the harm in ya'll enjoyin' a drink or two as long you don't go overboard."

Ras felt Blair's shoulders sag. He raised his mug to Applejack and led Blair to a far away table. His voice faded into the background of the party as they walked off.

"I just talked to Piro. Sounds like you could use a little something to warmyou up, anyway…"

Applejack continued filling the mugs, giving a greeting to any and all that passed her by. The latest song ended and was followed by the ground shaking as the audience gave their enthusiastic applause. The crowd thinned as a few ponies broke away from the main grounds, searching for friends, food, or drink. Applejack raised her chin, looking above the crowd for Mac.

"Please tell me you have more than just booze."

Applejack didn't need to look to recognize the owner of the voice beside her. "Not feelin' it tonight, Rainbow?"

Rainbow balanced a plate of food on a wing as she sniffed the mugs on the table. "I just started a new training regimen," she said with a pout. "I can have the pie since I'll burn that easily, but alcohol's a no-no."

"Mac's bringing in some more normal cider from the house." Applejack caught a flash of red in the crowd, but it turned out to be a thin unicorn she hadn't seen before. "He should be back in a sec."

"How've you been?" Rainbow went around the table to allow the ponies behind her pass by. "Haven't had a chance to catch up with you."

"I'm hangin' in there." Applejack pulled out a handkerchief from under her hat and wiped her brow. "You know how it is this time of year."

Rainbow looked out the back door of the barn, which was open and led out into the apple orchards. The light from the party sparkled off the bright red apples from the closest trees. "Looks like you've got your work cut out for you this season. Think you guys can get 'em all?"

Applejack made a dismissive noise. "You forget who you're talkin' to. There ain't been an Applebuck Season yet this family hasn't handled."

"Don't think your family's ever had an Applebuck Season like this one, though." Rainbow nibbled on a dumpling. "There's gotta be like, twice as much as you normally have out there."

"More'n that." She raised her eyebrows as she saw finally saw Mac, who had hitched himself up to the cart and filled it with half a dozen barrels. He made his way around the crowd to the back door of the barn. "Some of the trees are so laden that their branches are startin' to bend. We were gonna give it another fortnight, but with the way things are going we're thinkin' of starting next week instead."

"You know I'd be more than willing to give you a hoof if you need it," Rainbow murmured through a mouthful of food.

"And you know I like a challenge," Applejack replied. "Don't you worry none about it. I've got my new 'farmhands' to help me out, remember?"

Rainbow gave an evil smirk. "You've been putting them to work, haven't you."

"Pushed their noses to the grindstone the minute they got here." Mac arrived with the barrels of non-alcoholic cider. She took one out immediately and started to fill new mugs. "It works out in the end; nopony thinks anything of them, and they earn their keep. To be honest they've been downright useful, and I enjoy havin' company out in the fields."

"Oh really?" Rainbow said slyly. "You've been 'enjoying their company?'"

"Like you don't know what I'm talkin' about," Applejack said. "How boring does it get sittin' up on one of them clouds by yourself all day?"

Rainbow paused as she downed a mug of cider. "As much as you'd think. I have to do patrols to check on my workers a few times a day, but otherwise I'm alone. I'd talk to anyone, save for Esra. Actually, I take that back; he's not so bad anymore."

Applejack helped Mac unload the rest of the barrels, who then took the cart away on another errand. "Esra's one of yours, I take it? How's it been going?"

Rainbow shuffled. "We had a rocky start. I was running them through flight training so that I wouldn't have to hold back for them as much. I wanted them to be able to do their job, but I didn't think they could because I was comparing them to myself. They realized that before I did, and so they showed me that they have a different kind of strength."

"Different kind?" Applejack echoed. "Like what?"

"Well, Tastar's a—what was it again… Dragoon? Yeah, that's it." Rainbow took a bite of pie and was transported into ambrosia heaven. She continued a moment later. "Esra's a martial artist. I sparred with him to see what he could do, but he wasn't happy about it because he was afraid he was gonna hurt me."

Applejack raised an eyebrow. "Did he?"

"A little," Rainbow admitted. She unconsciously rubbed her neck. "He got me in a chokehold and I had to punch him with my wing to get him to break it. We'd agreed not to use our wings though, so technically I lost."

Applejack suppressed a sudden desire to find Esra, hogtie him and roll him down a steep, rocky hillside. "How'd you take that?"

"Not very well." Rainbow tossed her plate in a bin. "I think it needed to happen though. It made me see that I was being a hypocrite, and I feel like an idiot for making the same mistake twice. I stopped pushing them so hard, and we've been getting along a lot better since then."

Applejack sighed. "You never can learn things the easy way, can ya?"

"I wasn't trying to be a jerk," Rainbow said suddenly. "I was just honestly worried that if something happened, everyone would look at them and say, 'She took care of it by herself. You must be useless!' And the whole reason they're here is to make you-know-who be at ease or whatever, right? So I figured I needed to get them on my level. But then after I sparred with Esra, I realized that the only pony who thought they were useless was me."

The Element of Loyalty flickered. It spread out from Rainbow's core, filling her with searing heat and transforming her body into a furnace.

"I know better," Rainbow said. "Everypony has the potential to be something great; all they need is to feel the drive. I know that desire is there for everyone else too, and regardless of what it means, at the end of the day it lets you walk away knowing without a doubt that you gave it your all. I don't know why I've always felt it so strongly, and why it makes me want to make others be the best they can possibly be, but I'm not lying when I say there's no greater feeling, and I want everyone else to experience it."

Rainbow gritted her teeth and stamped a hoof as she looked out at the orchards. A fiery blaze appeared in the depths of her pupils, and she spoke in a louder, confident voice.

"Nopony is useless. It's wrong for anyone to look down on others, but it's especially wrong for me because that's not the kind of pony I want to be. I want to be someone who stokes the flames of inner fire. I want to make everypony feel the same intense, burning desire to improve that I do. I want everyone to look at how they can create a better, brighter future, and most of all, the very, very most of all, I want— "

Rainbow snapped out of her musings and noticed the strange silence around her. She turned, and saw that two dozen ponies had gathered around her, all of them filled with the same awestruck, openmouthed looks of wonder. The ponies at the nearby tables had stopped to stare as well; paused in mid-bite and drink. The crowd around her had been slowly leaning forward, hanging on her every word as her voice gained passion, intensity, and power.

Applejack was no less affected. She rested her chin on a hoof as she leaned on one of the barrels, wearing a giant smile on her face and staring at Rainbow with clear, attentive eyes. "Go on, Sugarcube," she said softly. "Don't mind any of us none. What is it you want most of all?"

The Element of Loyalty flared, and the temperature around Rainbow rose. Waves of heat rolled off her that hit Applejack and her audience. She stared at the floor for a moment before looking back up through her eyelashes.

"Most of all, I want ponies to never give up. If we try hard enough and work together, if we stay strong in the face of doubt, and if we remember the mistakes of the past while looking to the future— "

The fire in Rainbow's eyes filled her irises for an instant. It flashed once, and her enraptured audience flinched as the light became reflected in their eyes. She enunciated her next words, each one shaking with the force of an echoing thunderclap.

"We can do anything."

( * * * )

Pinkie was standing behind the stage speaking with the performers, holding a clipboard and discussing the next round of musical numbers they were going to play. One of them had forgotten their secondary instrument, and she was debating on the best way to acquire an empty whiskey jug when she heard a voice from behind her.

"Mina."

Pinkie's ears twitched. There were only two ponies that called her that, and one of them was no longer in this world. The musicians noticed the speaker and gave polite nods before hurriedly walking away. Pinkie slowly turned and let out a soft gasp.

Pinkie knew that Granny Smith had led a busy life, and that she'd never had much time to invest in her looks. What Pinkie didn't know was that no matter how dirty a diamond gets, it only needs a bit of cleaning to reveal its luster. Granny Smith stood before her in a dress the color of spring grass, inlaid with golden spidery lines that reflected the soft light. Emerald earrings of simple, yet elegant design in the shape of apples adorned her ears, and a beautiful rose agate pendant in the shape of a teardrop graced her neck. She'd let her snow-white hair down to hang free around her shoulders, set in place by an intricate silver circlet. She smiled, and Pinkie caught a brief glimpse of the ravishing beauty Granny Smith once, and still was.

"Wow," Pinkie managed. "Edith, you're—"

"—as gussied up as you'll ever see me," Granny Smith said in her gruff alto. "I almost didn' wear the circlet, but the gal who made this here dress insisted it 'had to go with the ensemble'. Jackie's got some real interestin' friends, I tell ya."

Pinkie giggled. "Rarity's so funny sometimes. She's really good at this kind of thing, though."

"Hmph." Granny Smith motioned away from the party. "Would you mind takin' a walk with me?"

"Sure." Pinkie set down the clipboard and followed her lead.

Granny Smith led them around the side of the farmhouse and to the empty open field beyond. Pinkie held back a happy squeal as she noticed Granny Smith's stride, which was strong and unhindered. They approached Rainbow's haybales, and Granny Smith led them behind, the sounds of the party giving way to the chirping of crickets and the rustling of the cool wind blowing through the trees.

Granny Smith cast her eyes up to the stars, blinking several times before speaking.

"Do you know who gave me this pendant?"

Pinkie knew the moment she saw it, for its origin was a story she'd heard many times. The pendant was special for many reasons, but the one she liked the most was that the giver and the material of the pendant shared the same name.

Pinkie nodded. "My Granny did."

Granny Smith looked down at Pinkie with clear, strong eyes. "Rosie made it herself and gave it to me on my wedding day. It's one the most precious things in the world to me, but I haven't worn it since Pendragon died. This is the first time I've felt it was a special enough occasion to bring it out."

Pinkie blinked. "Why's that?"

A slight upward twitch of Granny Smith's lips was all she betrayed. "Jackie told me what you did."

Pinkie jerked. "She wasn't supposed to tell you! I had—"

"Now don't go bein' mad at her for it," Granny Smith said gently. "You can't rightly blame her; I was mighty surprised this morning after I drank my tea, took a step forward and realized I couldn't feel the red hot poker jabbing into my right hip anymore. And not to toot my own horn or anythin', but I can be pretty convincing when I wanna be."

Pinkie opened her mouth in protest, but the memories of Granny Smith's reprimanding tone and withering stare made her objections fade away. She should've realized Applejack never stood a chance.

"I just wanted it to be a surprise," Pinkie muttered as she hung her head.

Granny Smith sighed. "Mina, I know full well there's no cure for arthritis. My hip's the one that's crumblin', not my brain. Dementia don't even run in the family."

Pinkie flinched, her eyes wide with alarm. "I don't think you're senile! There's no way you could raise three kids on your own and maintain a farm for ten years, not to mention be the head of one of the most notable clans in Equestria if you were!"

Granny Smith chuckled. "Do me a favor and tell that to Jackie. You'd think I've got two hooves in the grave the way she acts sometimes."

Pinkie shifted back and forth. "Edith, I didn't mean—"

"It's okay," Granny Smith said in a soothing voice. "I didn't bring you out here to scold you. After all…"

She winked at Pinkie. "I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth."

Pinkie twitched as the pun struck her like a club to the head. She burst out laughing, clutching her sides as she leaned against the haybales.

Granny Smith exhaled out her nose and bit her lip. "Now, whatever you gave me that's completely taken away the blasted pain, however temporary it is, I'm mighty grateful for that."

Pinkie beamed.

"But I didn't bring you out here just for gratitude." Granny Smith's lips twitched again. "I told you this before, and I still dunno if you'll fully grasp what it means, but that don't stop it from bein' the truth: You are Rose Agate's granddaughter. She loved to pull harmless, playful pranks, but in truth her heart went out to ponies that were sufferin'. She wasn't well known for it though, 'cause she never liked bein' the center of attention. Her methods were subtle, but that didn't make 'em any less effective, nor did it stop her from going out of her way at every opportunity to do as much as she could for ponies. The world's a colder place now that she's gone."

Pinkie got an odd feeling as Granny Smith spoke. It was the same one children get when their parents lecture them about how they're not as clever as they think.

Pinkie swallowed and wet her lips. "I miiiiiiiight know what you mean, but I never thought my granny was a sneaky-sneak..."

Granny Smith gave her a condescending look. "Don't sully the memory of your forebear, honey. Rosie was a lot of things, and all of 'em were good. She pulled these same kinda stunts, or 'shenanigans', all the time. And every time she did, it meant she had somethin' big up her sleeve. I don't think for a minute you lied to Jackie just so you'd get my hopes up and then throw 'em to the ground."

Granny Smith's lips finally gave away, her aged face breaking into a knowing smirk. "I've no idea what you're plannin', but I'd bet the farm you're just waitin' on a chance to spring it on me. I'm givin' you that chance right now."

Pinkie fell onto her haunches. She'd worked nonstop for the last two days with Ras on the best ways to get Granny Smith alone, as well as plausible alibis for what would happen when she did. She took pride in her prowess in subtlety, and it was a rare occasion that she was outwitted. But here, it was a lesson she gratefully accepted, for it made her recognize Granny Smith for what she was, and had always been:

A master.

Pinkie laughed as comprehension dawned at last. She played with a lock of her mane. "I really am her granddaughter, aren't I?"

"It's spooky," Granny Smith said flatly. "You got her curls, as well as her spirit. Don't sell yourself short though; I got a few years experience over ya when it comes to this game."

Pinkie took a quick look around. They were behind the bulls-eyed haybales, completely concealed and alone. Granny Smith really had given her the chance. She stepped in close and spoke in a hurried whisper.

"Technically, I didn't lie to Applejack. I just told her enough of the truth so that she'd fill in the gaps on her own. It's not my fault she came to the wrong conclusion."

Granny Smith raised an eyebrow. "And why would you need to do that?"

Pinkie lowered her chin with a mischievous smile. "Because the Princess doesn't want her to know yet."

Something in Pinkie's expression made Granny Smith's eyes gain a far-off look. She shook her head clear to stay in the present. "About what, exactly?"

Pinkie's closed her eyes for a moment, concentrating on the desire to remove pain and suffering; to soothe the aches and hurts of this world and fill it with happiness and love. The Element of Laughter responded, spreading out from its place in her heart and filling her body with warmth and joy.

She giggled and snapped open her eyes, which were now half-filled with shining azure light.

"This."

( * * * )

"I think we're overdressed," Grovi said with a wince.

Rarity was walking up to Sweet Apple Acres with Elo and Grovi, who were wearing a pair of matching black tuxedos complete with velvet ties and cufflinks. Rarity wasn't wearing anything other than her earrings and platinum necklace, and hadn't thought to say anything to Elo and Grovi about appropriate attire. She'd met up with them on the way there, and now was trying her best not to laugh as the ponies that passed by gave them funny looks.

"I should've realized that Canterlot doesn't have very many hoedowns," Rarity said with a smile.

Grovi took off his tie and loosened his collar. "If they do, they're really well hidden."

Elo plucked at his tux. "This may as well be a different world. Seeing this kind of thing makes me wonder what our lives would've been like if we hadn't been stuck in the city."

After Grovi had told Rarity about his and Elo's childhood, she'd invited them over the next day to let them know two things: The first was that she was deeply flattered they were treating her like a noble, but she didn't want them to do anything that made them uncomfortable. The second was that she'd defer to their judgment when it came to her protection from now on.

Elo and Grovi had insisted they didn't mind treating her the way she deserved to be, and in regards to her protection, the only additional stipulation they had was that she wear her new necklace at all times.

"One must never be ashamed of their roots," Rarity said firmly. "For better or worse, they've shaped you into who you are. Your morals, appreciation for decency, and sincerity come from your exposure to the callous side of the upper class. To condemn that would be the same as condemning yourselves."

Rarity had expected some kind of rebuttal or questioning as to what she meant. What she got however, was a duo of suppressed snorts and snickers. She turned and found both of them staring at her with hooves over their mouths, wearing the same nostalgic smile she'd seen them wear several times before.

Rarity went a tinge of red and looked down at the ground, shuffling her hoof. "I did it again, didn't I?"

The three of them had developed a camaraderie ever since then due to Rarity's resemblance to Grovi's sister, and while he and Elo tried not to make a big deal out of it, there were times when the similarities were… entertaining.

"We're gonna start calling you Crysti at this rate," Grovi joked. "Or maybe Rarysti."

"Crystarity?" Elo offered.

Rarity gave a snort of her own. "I think you already called me that once by accident. But do you understand what I'm saying?"

"I believe we do." Grovi gave her a shallow bow. "A wise lesson from a wise Lady."

"I wouldn't know it if I didn't have it hammered into my own head." Rarity turned back to look at the sleepy village. "I was born and raised in Ponyville, but my heart lies in the city. I've had to adapt my crafts at times to accommodate to the tastes of the local clientele, and while I'm grateful that it's strengthened my skill-set, I much prefer it when I get to make something a little more chic."

"That's probably what threw us off," Grovi said. "I thought that this might be a formal occasion after we saw that dress you made for the guest of honor."

"That's different, dear." Rarity could now see the stage around the corner of the barn. "This is Edith's night to shine, and she deserves to stand out... not that she needs much help to do that."

Elo nodded to a passing stallion in stained overalls, who burst out into a raucous guffaw after taking one look at him. He turned back to Rarity. "This Edith is the Bearer of Honesty's grandmother, correct? The one you went to the spa with this afternoon?"

Rarity nodded. "She's aged rather well, don't you think?"

Elo shrugged. "I can't say I'm interested in older mares, but if her looks run in the family, the Bearer of Honesty must be a real beauty."

"I'll admit I'm jealous of Applejack sometimes," Rarity said with sigh. "Some mares have to try very hard to look good, and others only have to rely on their genes. It makes me wish she paid more attention to herself."

The three of them arrived at the front gate of Sweet Apple Acres. To their right was a long winding line going into the barn. The band was on intermission, and the farmyard was a chaotic mass of bodies and noise.

"See anyone you know?" Grovi asked over the din.

Rarity laughed and stepped aside to let Berry Punch pass her by. "I think you mean, see anyone I don'tknow. One of the advantages of growing up in a small town is that everypony knows each other within at least one acquaintance."

"Seems like that could be a disadvantage too," Elo said.

"It does lead to gossip at times," Rarity admitted. She winced as she remembered some of the assumptions she'd made at times due to hearsay. "Although the ponies of this town are hardly a vindictive sort. Again, a side effect of a small town. You can't afford to burn bridges when there aren't that many to begin with."

An earth pony mare with a blue and pink manejostled Rarity from behind, causing her to stumble and fall into Grovi.

"Huh? Ah! I'm so sorry Rarity!" Bon-Bon tried to help her, but was cut off as Elo politely, but firmly pushed her into the party without a single word. Grovi supported Rarity with a hoof.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

Rarity was about to reply when a wave of dizziness swept over her. She stumbled again and leaned on him.

"I just... need a moment," Rarity murmured, ignoring the stares she was getting.

Grovi whispered in her ear. "Did you stop taking your medicine again?"

"No!" Rarity said. She ducked her head as she realized how loudly she'd spoken. She dropped down to a mutter. "I swear I've been taking it."

Elo turned and saw that Rarity was barely supporting herself as she leaned on Grovi. He bit his lip and disappeared into the crowd.

"How often?" Grovi asked.

"As much as I did before," she dodged.

"Which is?"

Rarity hung her head and closed her eyes. "Twice a week."

Grovi led them over to a table. "It's getting worse, isn't it?"

Rarity held a hoof to her head as she tried to stop the world from spinning. "I don't know why. It's never been this bad before."

Grovi watched as she swayed back and forth as if in a gentle breeze. "Did you sleep at all last night?"

Rarity gave a soft whimper. "The minute I felt myself drifting off, the dreams came in quick vivid flashes again. They were so powerful I couldn't get back to sleep, even with the pills."

Grovi leaned forward and took his hoof in hers, his voice oddly urgent. "What did you see?"

Rarity cast her mind back to what she had seen the previous night, and as she did, a cool drop of water landed in the depths of her core. It rippled outward, turning into a swirling spiral that spread outward through her body like a whirlpool of flowing water.

Rarity opened her eyes and looked up at Grovi. Her pupils were filled with a cool silver light, and her faint whispers lingered in his eardrums.

"A bolt of lightning being guided by a trio of colorful shadows, streaking across the sky and disappearing into the horizon.

A pair of warm, glowing blue lights hovering over Ponyville, bathing the citizens in their luminance.

A beautiful rainbow, cloaked in crackling flame. It explodes outward in a shockwave with a sound like thunder.

A massive circle of ponies and wild beasts facing outward, guarding a gentle pink light that shines like the sun.

A flawless diamond wall being struck again and again by a trio of hammers. Each of their blows shakes the very foundations of the earth, but the wall stands strong.

A river made of silver glass held at bay by a tall, impregnable dam. The waters of the river are rising, and on the other side is a featureless void.

A cracked opaque glass sphere, frozen in time and teetering on the edge of collapse. The silhouette of a pony is inside, still as a statue and baptized in a chaotic spectrum. Beneath it is an abyss, and from it comes a noise... an agonizing, excruciating noisethat pierces my soul like the sharpest knife."

Grovi looked around. The band had started again, and Rarity's message was almost lost to the sudden outpouring of music. He spoke a little louder.

"What was it? What was the noise?"

Rarity shivered, and the silver light in her eyes faded away. "Screaming."

"I brought some help."

The two of them looked up to see Elo standing beside a thin red unicorn. Rarity met eyes with the newcomer, who gave a sharp intake of breath and clucked his tongue.

Rarity raised her chin at Piro's reaction. "I assure you that I—"

"—should be lying down," he finished for her. He rounded on Elo and Grovi. "How could you let her come here in this state?!"

Grovi shot Elo a dirty look. "You didn't need to go get Piro. She's just having a dizzy spell."

"You know what dizzy spells could mean for her," Elo shot back. "She might be hovering on the edge of the Danger Zone."

Piro, meanwhile, hadn't sat idle. He had his hoof on Rarity's forehead as he muttered to himself.

"Are you a doctor?" she asked icily.

"No, I just like checking the temperature of every mare I meet," Piro snapped. "My name's Piro. I'm a medic and one of Twilight's guards, and you Miss Rarity, are deep in Magical Fatigue."

Rarity was at least thankful that the three guards were standing around her and blocking her from view. She noted the way Piro's eyes swept across her, so similar to the way her mother's did every week. She relaxed and held out a hoof, having long ago learned that the best way to deal with doctors is to let them at least check the basics.

"Do you know the nature of my condition?" Rarity asked.

"I know it has something to do with your magic not getting recharged." Piro took her wrist in his aura. "Are you not getting enough sleep?"

Rarity flushed as she felt a familiar tingling sensation racing through her veins as it measured the speed of her heartbeat. She groaned and rubbed her eyes. "You have no idea."

"This isn't the place for this." Grovi looked around apprehensively. "Can we do this another time?"

"Won't be another time," Piro made a tiny ball of red light and brought it close to Rarity's eye, which he gently held open with his magic. "I'm leaving tomorrow with Twilight."

Rarity jerked away. "Wait, what?!"

"She'll be back," Piro said in an offhand tone. "She's going to tell you when she finds you. Oh, and on that note: Elo, Grovi, go to Blair right now. He has something to tell you."

The two guards looked at each other. Elo gave Grovi a pointed look and gestured towards the party. Grovi looked back one more time to Rarity. "You sure you'll be all right?"

"I'll be fine," Rarity reassured him. "I'll just have a little chat with Dr. Piro here before I go meet up with the others."

Grovi hovered for a moment longer. Elo grunted and yanked on his partner's tail.

Grovi yelped. "Okay, okay!" He followed Elo into the party. "Yeesh, didn't have to do that…"

"You're not in the Danger Zone," Piro said, "so that's good at least. You must feel like you've been run over by a cart, though. I assume you're friends with the Bearer of Honesty; I'm sure she'll let you lie down in the h— "

"That isn't necessary." Rarity said. "I'm quite capable of taking care of myself."

"Any doctor will tell you that if you push yourself much harder right now you're going to be in serious trouble." Piro sucked on his teeth. "You need to sleep. Preferably for about three days straight."

Rarity lowered her head as her body ached at the mention of sleeping for that long. "And as much as I wish I could, I unfortunately can't. Don't worry; I've taken steps to deal with this. I see a specialist once a week that's been treating me my entire life."

"Does she check your font?"

"That and other things," Rarity said patiently. "She's very knowledgeable about my affliction, and you can be assured that between her thoroughness and my own experience with my symptoms, I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself. The only reason I'm running ragged tonight is because I got ambitious and made something that's out of my comfort zone."

"What was it?" Piro asked.

Rarity produced a triangular violet manepin out of her saddlebags. "I've been reading a lot about Spell Fusion lately. I was going to show this to Twilight and see if I did it right."

Piro wrinkled his brow. "May I? I'm somewhat versed in advanced magical arts, as well."

Rarity gave him the pin. "Help yourself."

Piro took it in his aura and mumbled a few words, inspecting it back and forth. Rarity watched him expectantly.

"I'm impressed." Piro returned the pin. "Spell Fusion is a very delicate process, regardless of the level of spells you use. I didn't know you were talented in Abjuration."

Rarity laughed. "I wouldn't say that. I have a lot of time on my hooves some nights due to my condition, and Twilight gave me a spellbook as a gift some time ago, and it seemed like the easiest thing to do since you can combine any two spells, even low-level ones, so I—"

"Rarity!"

Rarity looked over to see Twilight waving at her from the edge of the crowd. Standing beside her were Rainbow, Fluttershy, Applejack, and Spike.

"Oh! There they are." Rarity delicately got to her hooves and put on an enthusiastic mask. "I think I'll be going, Piro. It was very nice to meet you."

Piro glanced at the other Bearers out of the corner of his eye, and then leaned in close to her. "I highly recommend that you don't use any magic for several days, not even telekinesis. Even if you can't sleep, your font will recover a little bit during the day, and that's better than nothing."

"I'll keep that in mind," Rarity replied. "Thank you."

Piro stepped away, gave a slight bow and went about his business.

Rarity carefully weaved through the crowd to close the distance to her friends. It took her longer than normal as she was alternating between keeping a normal pace and trying not to bump into anypony. The others didn't notice, as they had fallen back into conversation amongst themselves. She came into earshot just in time to hear Rainbow in mid-rant.

"—not a matter of how long you're going; it's that you're going at all!"

"I didn't want to resort to this, believe me—"

"Then don't!" Rainbow said. "There has to be some other way to find the other Symbols."

"Don't be irrational," Applejack cut in. "You honestly think she wants to go?"

"Of course I don't, but that doesn't mean I like it." Rainbow crossed her hooves. "This sucks. You've only been here a few months, and now you have to go again."

"It's not going to be for very long," Twilight said. "A few months tops, and then once I finish my thesis I'll be taking a break for a year."

"I give it a month before you crack," Spike said as he lounged on her back.

Twilight squinted and pursed her lips. "Applejack?"

"Yeah?"

"Swat him for me."

Applejack obliged, giving Spike a face-full of Stetson. They broke into laughter as he almost lost his balance.

"Will you be spending that m—year here, or in Canterlot?" Fluttershy asked.

"Here," Twilight said, shifting as Spike readjusted himself. "The only thing in Canterlot is my family, and they've got their own lives going on. I'd have to either go back to the palace or move back home, and in either case all I'd be doing is lounging around reading books all day. "

"And you're not gonna do that here?" Rainbow teased.

"Of course I will," Twilight said, "but here I get paid to do it."

They all laughed again.

Applejack turned and acknowledged Rarity, who had been listening in. "Fashionably late, I see."

"Believe it or not, I didn't mean to be this time." Rarity took a deep breath. "I was going out the door on time when I decided to check my mail, and saw that I got an invitation to attend the Canterlot Fashion Week!"

"You really got in?!" Fluttershy clapped her hooves. "That's so great!"

Twilight looked at Applejack and Rainbow, who both shook their heads with a shrug.

"Um, when is it?" Twilight asked.

"The third week of this month!" Rarity danced in place. "I submit a piece every year, but this is the first time they've ever accepted me. Oh, this could be my chance to make a real name for myself!"

"You're going to Canterlot for an entire week?" Rainbow asked.

Rarity's excitement faded, and for an instant she looked very tired. It passed though, and she continued with a nod. "I was thinking about where I'd be staying and how I'd be transporting my ensembles, and then I lost track of the time. This is going to be a lot of work, but I'm very excited to do it. I only have ten days to get ready."

A smirk crept up on Spike's face. He leaned forward and whispered something in Twilight's ear, causing the smirk to spread to her face, as well.

"Have you made reservations anywhere?" Twilight asked.

"Not yet," Rarity said absentmindedly. "I only just found out less than an hour ago."

"Don't bother then," Twilight said. "I can get you in somewhere for free."

"You don't need to do that," Rarity said with a dismissive wave. "I have a little bit of money saved up. I'm sure I can find somewhere nice to stay."

"Doubt you'll find somewhere nicer than what we had in mind." Spike jumped off Twilight's back and sat on the table to be eye-level with all of them. "Unless there's somewhere better than the castle suites."

All of them slowly turned their attention to him, save for Twilight.

Rarity tilted her head, alternating between looking at the two of them. "The…cas—buh?"

"I'm the Princess' personal protégée, remember?" Twilight was finding it harder and harder not to smile as she beheld Rarity's face. "That comes with a few perks."

Rarity took a step back. "I couldn't possibly impose on the Princess like t—"

"Canterlot Castle has sixty guest rooms," Twilight said. "In the ten years we lived there, not even half of them were ever filled."

"We used to play hide-and-seek in them all the time," Spike said with a nostalgic smile. "Drove the maids nuts. And even by if some bizarre coincidence they are all full, you can just stay in Twilight's tower."

"Ix-nay on the ower-tay!" Twilight hissed out of the corner of her mouth. She shot Spike a look that promised pain and suffering.

"You have a tower?" Rainbow asked.

Twilight turned back to see that all the attention had shifted back to her. She coughed once and became very interested in the ground. "That doesn't matter. The point is that you're not imposing, and there'll be a place open for you regardless of whether there are any guest rooms. And don't worry about having to behave because you're around the Princesses. The Castle is huge. I doubt you'll see either of them."

"Actually she might," Spike pointed out. "You're all kinda in her good graces right now because of Luna. She might ask you to dinner or something."

Rarity was swaying back and forth at the implications of dining with royalty. Applejack put out a hoof to steady her.

"Gotta love connections. You'll have to—" Rainbow was about to continue when a thought struck her. She straightened and scratched her nose.

"Hey, Twi? I'm gonna be in Canterlot around that time too for a Wonderbolts show. I wasn't planning on staying the night, but… think you can hook me up?"

Twilight chuckled. "I think I can work something out."

Rainbow did a small victory pump with her hoof.

"U—Um, if it's not too much trouble," Fluttershy began, "could I possibly go too? I've always wanted to go to Fashion Week, but with hotel expenses I didn't think—"

"Say no more." Twilight looked to Applejack who had zoned out and was tapping a hoof in time to the music. "How about you?"

Applejack raised an eyebrow. "A Fashion show, the Wonderbolts, or Applebuckin' Season. I dunno Twi, that's a toughie."

Twilight laughed. "I'm just checking."

Rarity finally snapped out of her daze. She squeed and hugged Twilight. "You're the best friend ever, you know that?!"

Twilight's ears went pink at Rarity's sudden gesture of gratitude. "It's no big deal, really!"

"No big deal?!" Rarity echoed. "You're getting us into the palace! I'd call that a pretty big deal!"

Twilight gave a guilty smile and raised her eyes to the sky. Rarity broke away, still smiling and giggling like a schoolfilly.

"I've never seen that necklace before." Fluttershy was looking at Rarity's newest piece of jewelry. "Did you make it?"

"Partially," Rarity said. "I had the idea and started it, but then Grovi finished it for me."

"I'm assuming Grovi's one of your guards," Rainbow said. "We really should just all meet up and introduce each other so we know who we're talking about."

Rarity looked over and saw him standing next to a table talking to Blair. "He's such a dear. It broke while I was making it, and he fixed it for me. Not only that, he then reinforced it and placed enchantments on it!"

Twilight was staring at the necklace with a curious look in her eye. "Does that symbol mean anything?"

Rarity shook her head. "I saw it in a dream and thought it was pretty. My brain has a tendency to make random things sometimes."

"It's beautiful," Fluttershy murmured. "The sapphires match your eyes."

"Yeah," Spike said wistfully. "Beautiful."

Twilight pursed her lips as she stared at the jewelry. "Huh."

"Oh! That reminds me." Rarity reached into her saddlebags and pulled out the triangular manepin. "Twilight, I have a gift for you."

She looked up. "What is it?"

"I was going through that spellbook you gave me for my birthday and I decided to try my hoof at Spell Fusion." Rarity set the manepin on the table. "Seeing as you're the one who gave it to me, I thought you should be the one who gets to have my first real success."

Twilight blinked several times. "You actually read an advanced Abjuration spellbook written in Old Equestrian Grammar?"

"Why is everypony so surprised?" Rarity said, her gaze darting all around. "It's not like I'm inept at magic."

"I—I never thought you were—I just, well…"

Rarity raised an eyebrow. "Just what?"

"Never mind." Twilight took the pin and examined it much in the way Piro did. She raised her eyebrows and frowned.

"Very impressive." She admired the manepin as it caught the light. "This is as stable as anything I could make."

"Perfect, it's yours." Rarity set it in Twilight's mane. "It goes perfectly in your pink streak."

"What?" Twilight said. "Oh no, I couldn't—"

"You're getting me into the palace, dear." Rarity considered the placement of the pin. It set half of Twilight's mane to the side, giving her an exotic look. "And I never would've made it in the first place without you. Besides, who knows? It might come in handy while you're away."

Twilight's protests were drowned out as the musical number ceased and the ground shook with applause. The lead musician stepped up to a microphone and cleared his throat.

"Thank ya'll kindly for the applause. Now if'n ya don't mind, the Guest o' Honor would like to come up and say a few words. So if ya could give her your attention, she'd be mighty pleased."

"Hey gals!"

All of them turned to see Pinkie standing behind them holding a slice of apple pie. She chewed on it thoughtfully as she looked past them to the stage.

"There you are, Pinkie!" Rainbow exclaimed. "We've been looking all over for you!"

"Obviously not in the right places, silly." Pinkie took another bite. "You know I work behind the scenes. A party doesn't run itself, you know! Never mind that though, Edith's about to speak!"

They all turned over to see that Granny Smith had indeed taken the stage. She walked forward, still wearing the dress and jewelry. She seemed different from before though: Her stride was strong, her posture was straight, and her wrinkles, while still present, were faded. She cleared her throat into the microphone, causing everypony to wince as it became amplified across the yard. Her eyes widened as she took a step back, turning a faint shade of red.

"Sorry 'bout that," she said. The gruffness in her voice had vanished, leaving it deep and smooth. "Not used to these modern do-hickeys…"

None of the others saw the single tear that fell from Pinkie's eyes when she heard Granny Smith speak. She smiled and quickly looked down at her dessert.

"Thanks again for makin' the dress," Applejack whispered to Rarity.

"Shh!" someone whispered from in front of them.

"I wanna thank ya'll for comin'," Granny Smith said. "Every year I get talked into throwin' this here shindig, and every year ya'll surprise me by showin' up and bringin' your friends. Not that I mind o'course, just means we can get more ponies hooked on our apples."

The audience chuckled.

"That'd be what we call a shameless plug, by the way," Granny Smith said with a wink. She waited a few moments while the audience became silent again before continuing.

"Seventy-three years is a lot of life to live, my friends. It comes with a lot of things, but what I think is the most important are the memories. I remember comin' down from the northern mountains with my family. I remember back when the Equius Valley was nothin' but hills and meadows and Ponyville was just an idea. I remember helpin' to build this here farm and countless other buildings in town, then watchin' as ponies came to settle here and start their own lives."

Granny Smith closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. "Speakin' of ponies, I remember them too: Good, bad, happy, angry, smart, dumb, silly, sad, broken, mischievous, resolute, you name it. I seen ponies born, come of age, build a life, have children of their own, and then pass on. It's been hard at times, wonderin' what decides who goes and who stays, and like everyone else I've had my highs and lows. But regardless of all that, I don't regret what I've done with my life, or the choices I've made."

Granny Smith stood tall as she looked out over the crowd. "I ain't claimin' a thing in terms of knowledge or wisdom, and ya can take my words for what ya will. But if there's one piece of advice I can give ya'll, it's this: Friends and family are what make it all worth while. Time's a funny thing; it seems to move so slowly, yet at the same time, so very fast. Whether ya only get a few decades or a century, ya need to use the time ya have 'cause it don't wait around. Cherish the present, look to the future, and don't dwell too hard on the past. If ya do that, I can guarantee you that when it's all said and done, you can look back at it all and say this:"

Granny Smith spotted Applejack and singled her out, her fierce orange eyes boring holes into her granddaughter's. She gave a small smile.

"It was a life worth living."

( * * * )

Meanwhile-

"You want us to just come out and tell her?" Elo asked.

"And then push her to develop her powers as fast as you can."

Blair sat at the table farthest away from the crowd near the apple orchards, sipping on a mug of cider and looking up at Elo and Grovi. They were standing with their backs to the crowd to hide that their mouths and ears were covered in a teal aura that emanated from Blair's horn. They spoke in normal tones, unheard by the rest of the crowd as Granny Smith made her speech.

Grovi lightly ground his teeth. "I don't know if we can do that."

Blair took a swig of his drink. "Why not?"

Elo sighed. "Rarity's been getting weaker. If she tries to use her powers now, she could put herself into Magical Exhaustion."

Blair flattened his ears. "I guess Megnii wasn't the only one not paying attention to the briefing. Their powers are completely separate from the magics that the three races innately possess. She'd have an easier time putting herself in Magical Exhaustion by overeating."

"She doesn't know her limits though," Elo snuck a glance over at Rarity on the other side of the crowd. She looked fine… thanks to years of practice and a considerable amount of makeup. "If she overexerts herself from using her powers, it'll exacerbate her condition—"

"—and she'll crash and burn," Grovi finished with a cringe. "Hard."

Blair rubbed his upper lip. "What's making her so weak?"

"She's been getting less and less sleep." Elo adjusted his tie. "She's already an insomniac, but we think her Foresight power's making it worse."

There was a loud applause. They looked and saw that Granny Smith had gotten off the stage. Grovi turned back to Blair. "She's trusted us more with her protection, at least. I got her to take her medication and made her some Font Gems, but that's like putting band-aids on a gushing wound."

"I don't know what more we can do, though." Elo frowned. "Her mother's a sleep doctor. I have a hard time believing she hasn't done everything physically possible for her."

"She doesn't listen to her anymore," Grovi reminded him. "Rarity said she'd defer to our judgment when it came to her safety. We can use that to take more drastic steps."

"You know she won't listen to us either when it comes to her condition; she loves her work too much." Elo ran a hoof down his face. "It's just like Crysti all over again, workaholic to the bitter end. We should've just gotten her out of the city by force. If we had, she'd still be ali—"

"Crystal Song would be dead regardless of whether or not she'd evacuated the city in time because she lived one thousand years ago." Grovi had closed his eyes and clenched teeth. "You're doing nothing but making a fool of yourself."

Elo's eyes flashed as he turned to his partner. "Oh, I'm sorry Mr. Hypocrite; I guess you're the only one who's allowed to confuse themselves with their predecessor. Or is there some other reason why you've been doting on her?"

Grovi rounded on him. "How dare y—"

"Both of you shut your bucking traps."

They both turned to Blair, who was staring hard at them with uneven eyes. There was a faint slur in his voice as he spoke.

"If you're going to be a couple of morons and talk in public about things that'll blow our cover, you could at least take a page out of Ras's book and be subtle about it."

Elo and Grovi blinked several times. Elo eyed the mug of cider Blair had been drinking.

"Are you… drunk?"

Blair drained his mug in response, slamming it down on the table with a belch. "I'd like to see you not want a drink after being made completely helpless, shown the horrors of Tartarus, tortured, threatened with death, and then reminded that you have an uncontrollable magic addiction that instantly kills everything within a half a mile radius."

Elo and Grovi's jaws were now hanging open.

"Is that what happened to you?!" Grovi said in a rushed whisper. "Piro only said—"

"I didn't tell Piro the specifics because he wasn't moaning and whining like an old nag." Blair wiped his mouth and crossed his hooves before continuing.

"You've had twenty years to come to terms with what we are. Yes, we have all the memories of the Knights leading up to the point we were placed in the constellations and put into stasis, and it's hard to differentiate between us and them. And yes, I still have to double check to make sure I don't introduce myself as Libra. None of that matters. You need to tell Rarity she's the avatar of the Element of Generosity so that she can be ready to stop Nightmare Moon's unkillable army of psychotic monsters from breaking out and getting to Princess Luna. If you don't, the next time you go to sleep you're going to find yourself dangling out over Tartarus like a worm on a hook with Horizon holding a blade over your proverbial throat. Got it?"

It was at that point Ras emerged out of the crowd, carrying a pair of mugs on his back. He sat down, slid one over to Blair, raised his own to take a sip...

…and almost choked as he saw the wide-eyed, incredulous expressions on Elo and Grovi's faces. He nudged Blair, who adjusted the Private Conversation spell so that he was included.

"Did Blair inform you of his little escapade last night?" Ras put down his mug so he wouldn't spill any from laughing. "I should've warned you he's in blab mode before I left. This is the first time we've given Horizon alcohol, so it didn't take much. "

Elo and Grovi said nothing. They just continued to stare.

"If it's any consolation, my reaction was the same." Ras snickered. "The kid's really got our bits in a vice, doesn't he?"

"What's left of him does, anyway." Blair sniffed the new mug. Sure enough, Ras had gotten him more hard cider. He shrugged and took a sip.

Elo had managed to recover enough to register what was being said. "I—I thought he... you mean Horizon's aware?! Of everything?"

Blair nodded. "He sees, hears, tastes, touches, and smells everything we do, from all our perspectives."

"Two of which are drunk." Ras waggled his eyebrows. "I hope it's screwing with him."

"You and me both." Blair took another pull.

"He's supposed to be a vegetable!" Grovi whispered. "I thought Zemblani—"

"Partially transmuted Horizon's body into energy and shattered his mind to pieces when the bastard used him as the target for an unstable barrier spell created with sloppy Spell Fusion and then threw him into the original Gate to wedge it open." Blair traced the edge of his mug. "However, his subconscious survived the ordeal. These last twenty years it's lurked in the back of our minds, seeing our thoughts and going through our memories. You may as well treat it as a separate entity at this point."

"To which I reiterate: Ophiuchus is almost as bad a name as the one you tried to stick me with." Ras facehooved. "I shudder to think what you'd name your kids if we could reproduce."

Blair burst out laughing.

Elo's face contorted as he took in the information. "So… he's the one pushing us to do this?"

"Yep," Blair said. "He's thankful that we saved him and are keeping him stable, but he won't think twice about severing our link to him if we don't do what he says."

Elo and Grovi looked at the ground. They were silent for a time before Grovi spoke up.

"I guess we don't have a choice."

"Glad you can at least see that much," Blair said in a chipper tone. "And with you two, that makes everyone."

Ras opened his mouth in mock offense. "You didn't tell me! I just happened to be sitting here the whole time."

Blair looked at him out of the corner of his eye. "You weren't supposed to tell Pinkie. Technically, I should write you up for violating orders."

Ras snorted. "Be my guest; we'll run out of time before I get brought up before the board."

Blair gestured at Ras to the other two guards. "Subtlety. You might want to get a few pointers before you tell Rarity."

"There's no subtle way to tell her that she can create anything out of thin air with her mind," Elo protested. "This isn't gonna go over well regardless."

Blair let out a short laugh. "Is she still in stage one?"

"Yes."

"Maybe."

Elo and Grovi had spoken at the same time. They looked at each other.

"Huh?" Elo said.

Grovi bit his lip. "I haven't told you about this because I don't know what to think. I'm not exactly a guru when it comes to interpreting the deeper meaning behind prophetic dreams."

Blair paused. "She's been telling you what she's been seeing, hasn't she?"

Grovi nodded. "One thing I've noticed her repeating is a dam that's blocking a body of water. She says that the waters are rising, and on the other side is empty space."

"That's so very helpful," Ras remarked dryly. "What do you think it means?"

Grovi could feel Elo's accusing stare boring holes into him. "If I had to guess, I'd say that the river is the Element of Generosity, and that something is blocking it. I've no idea how, or even what it might be. All I know is she hasn't manifested any of her other powers yet, and this might be the reason why."

"I can't believe you didn't tell me about this!" Elo's nostrils flared. "I could've helped you figure this out! Don't you—"

"It had nothing to do with whether I trust you or not," Grovi said without looking at him. "You know how private she is. I didn't want to betray her trust."

"Which is what I'm banking on." Blair straightened his shoulders. "Hopefully that trust is enough to keep her from going to the Princess."

"Wait, you still want us to keep…" Elo stamped a hoof and looked away. "Horseapples."

Blair raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong?"

"Rarity's going to Canterlot in ten days," Grovi said, "and she'll be there for an entire week."

Blair clenched his jaw. "That's a problem."

"What should we do?" Elo asked.

"Depends," Blair replied. "Think she'll want to see the Princess?"

The music of the band filled the pause as Elo and Grovi looked at each other for a moment. They both seemed to come to the same conclusion, and nodded at the same time.

"Yeah, she will." Grovi said.

"Then let her." Blair cracked his neck. "I'm sick of this skulking around. We're not supposed to interfere. So don't."

"What do you think will happen?" Ras asked.

"Wouldn't be so apprehensive if I knew that." Blair played with his mug. "The Princess might just refuse to see them for all I know."

Elo ran a hoof through his mane. "This doesn't make any sense. Why can't the Princess just come out and tell them herself? Why us?"

"Oh, come on."

All three of them turned to Ras, who rolled his eyes. "I don't know why she won't tell them herself, but it's pretty obvious why she chose us as her replacements."

Blair swished his tail. "I guess we're all just a bunch of idiots then. Mind enlightening the rest of us?"

Ras smirked. "It's never any one reason, regardless of the circumstances. We have a vested interest in them recovering, so we'll push them harder than anypony else. We know the reason why they have to recover quickly, so nopony else needs to get involved. We've already seen war, and have dealt with creatures much more powerful than us, so there's no question of our abilities. And most of all, a normal group of soldiers isn't gonna know what to do if the Bearers go rogue, but we might be able to hold them off long enough to send a warning out. And since we're not alive, it's no big deal if they kill us."

Elo and Grovi's eyes fell as the gravity of the last reason hit them. Blair stared into his mug. "Given this some thought, eh?"

Ras sighed. "Was either that or strike up another thrilling conversation with Vigil. The idea of spending another two months with him gives me the chills."

"Speaking of which..." Grovi shivered. The three of them looked at Blair.

Blair felt their eyes on him. He looked up and exhaled out his nose. "No one knows what it means. The Lifeforce spell was forbidden even before the war. Doubly so now, after what Libra did with it."

"I've been meaning to ask you," Grovi began. "Isn't Rarity's Soul Tether power kind of the same?"

"Yes and no." Blair looked out at the orchards. "My magic was intended to be a means to track ponies by seeing their lifeforce, but it was discovered that you could feel it as well with a minor alteration. Rarity's magic allows her to envelop another's lifeforce in her own so that it doesn't bleed out into the Void. She can also take it into herself if the target's body is too damaged."

"So," Ras hung on the word as he swayed his head. "What's to stop her from becoming addicted like you?"

Blair rubbed his brow. "Lifeforce addiction comes from a combination of two things: The first is that when you use the spell to sense other living creatures, it tricks you into thinking all the lifeforce you feel is yours. The second is from being abruptly severed from all your targets. It causes your body to thinks you just lost a huge chunk of lifeforce, and demands that you replenish it. So you do it again and again... until you run out of bodies."

"I get that," Grovi said. "But what makes Rarity's Soul Tether different?"

Blair turned back to them. "She can tell the difference between her lifeforce and that of her target's."

"Oh," Elo said.

"That's still dangerous," Grovi said. "You also said she can take someone's lifeforce into herself. What's to stop her from doing that?"

Blair gave him a condescending look. "Does it strike you as very generous to steal the lifeforce of others? She won't use it in that way anymore than Fluttershy will use her Fearsense to dominate those around her. Besides, it'd do absolutely nothing for Rarity because lifeforce can't be merged.All it'd give her is a lot of very confused, panicked voices in her head."

"Blair!"

The four of them turned to see Twilight walking up to them. Blair quickly released his spell.

"All the girls are together. Do you think you could get all the guards so we can introduce everypony to each other?"

Blair looked at his mug, drained it, then looked to the others. They all shrugged, and got to their hooves. Blair followed suit, putting on his best sober act.

"Sure."

( * * * )

The next fifteen minutes began as an awkward affair as the six Bearers introduced themselves and exchanged pleasantries between the thirteen guards. Blair and Ras helped to lighten the mood, their joking and jovial attitudes breaking the ice between the two parties. Everypony started to open up and converse, and the tension lessened considerably. Spesci bantered with Rainbow about the finer points of cloud manipulation. Tastar talked with Twilight and Spike about possibilities for him to visit Drakkenridge to learn more about his parents. Norric had a subtle conversation with Pinkie, the former not picking up on the latter's hints that she knew more than she was letting on. Applejack feigned interest as Grovi discussed the finer points of metalworking. Rarity sat with strained patience as Piro borderline interrogated her about her condition, and Fluttershy smiled awkwardly as Esra asked her polite questions about animal care with only a slight stammer.

During the exchange, Megnii looked over and saw Ace was standing alone by the house, ignoring the others and staring at the band with a far off look. He walked over him. Ace noticed his approach, and the two stood side by side for a moment before Megnii cleared his throat.

"You never were much for socializing."

Ace closed his eyes. "This isn't my thing."

"I know you don't mean anything by it," Megnii said gently. "Some ponies just prefer solitude."

"Would be nice if I could actually get some," Ace grumbled. "Never thought I'd say it, but I miss my old quarters back in the palace."

Megnii chuckled. "The rest of us were always jealous of you for that. Not even Blair got his own."

Ace rolled his neck. "The Princess just gave them to me. I never requested them."

"We always figured she was trying to bribe you so you'd take on an apprentice." Megnii looked at him with inquisitive eyes. "Was that really the reason?"

Ace sized him up. He saw no hint of resentment or bitterness in Megnii's face; only curiosity. He relaxed his shoulders. "She asked once, right after we'd settled into the palace. She wondered if there was anything she could do to convince me to be more open-minded than Cancer, who took the secrets of the Cardinal Blade style to his grave. I told her there wasn't, and that was the end of it."

Megnii sat on his haunches. "Do you mind if I ask why? It seems like a waste for such a beautiful sword style to be lost."

"There's nothing beautiful about it." An uneaten apple rolled out of the crowd to rest at Ace's hooves. He picked it up and examined it. "The hearts and minds of this era are untouched by darkness, pure as newly fallen snow. I would preserve that innocence, not stain it with the knowledge of the killing arts. Once you've trained your mind to see the world as a canvas, your blade as a brush, and your foes nothing but vessels of crimson paint... there's no going back."

"You might be doing more harm than good by holding back such knowledge," Megnii pointed out. "If war came again, the Cardinal Blades could save countless lives."

Ace's voice dropped to a whisper. "Or cause countless deaths."

"Don't be so hard on yourself." Megnii lightly punched Ace's shoulder. "Tendoncutter valued the sanctity of life above all else. Can't you find somepony in this era that shares that mentality?"

Ace was quiet for a moment. "It's a very special pony that can master the art of war and still think that life is precious. I know how Cancer acquired his beliefs, but I'll die before I make another suffer like he did. If I'd met such a poor soul by chance I might've guided them, but it's too late now."

"Because we're running out of time?" Megnii said uncertainly. "Or have you let your skills slip?"

Ace made a derisive snort. "I doubt I even could. My blades are as much a part of me as my legs or tail, so much so that I feel a constant itch in my horn when I'm not wielding them. I can't even imagine what it'd be like not have them on me, let alone not be able to use them."

Megnii's gaze flickered over Ace's body. There was no indication in his posture or movement that he was carrying anything, concealed or not. Megnii tilted his head.

"Where?"

Ace lifted one of his forelegs and showed it to Megnii. Just visible through his coat was a faint discolored blotch on his skin in the shape of two crossed swords. His other foreleg had the same mark.

"Blademelding spell," Ace whispered. "Not exactly proper etiquette to wear a quartet of longswords at a party, now is it?"

"Megnii?"

Fluttershy had emerged out of the crowd. She gave Ace a quick glance before clearing her throat. "Have you seen Spesci? I can't find him anywhere."

Megnii raised his chin to look over the crowd. "I haven't seen him since I was over talking with the chickens."

Ace raised an eyebrow. "...talking?"

Megnii smirked. "Long story."

Fluttershy brightened. "Applejack told me they all recovered, maybe I should go che—no, I came over here for Esra. At least, I think that's his name. Is that right?"

"I'll see if I can find Spesci for you." Megnii trotted off. As he did, he looked back once at Ace.

"Wind at your back."

Ace nodded. "Sun warm your face."

Megnii left, inadvertently leaving the two alone. She looked at him once before redirecting her gaze and slowly backing away.

"I—I'll just be going now…"

"You have beautiful eyes."

Fluttershy stopped and looked up at him. Ace's face was haggard and worn, with age lines and crow's feet marring his otherwise youthful appearance. His eyes were tired and distant as he stared at her.

Fluttershy's lips parted. "What?"

Ace didn't reply. He lowered his head in a bow and walked past her into the crowd, speaking in a whisper that sounded like a plea.

"I pray you never lose them."

( * * * )

The band switched over to slower tunes as the party continued into the night. The crowd thinned as the couples took their turn on the dance floor, and the ponies who'd just come for the food now returned to their homes. Granny Smith decided she'd exchanged enough pleasantries and small talk for the night, and instead wanted to watch the party wind down. She retired to the porch swing with Applebloom, the two enjoying a moment of companionship as they rocked back and forth on the old creaky swing.

Applebloom looked up at Granny Smith. "I'm glad you're all better."

Granny Smith smiled. "I am too, hun."

"Does this mean you can help me with my chores?"

Granny Smith chuckled. "You're not getting' out of 'em that easily."

Applebloom giggled. She was quiet for a while as they rocked. However, a thought resurged in her mind that'd been eating away at her for the past week. She'd tried to bring it up several times, but every time she did, her throat went tight. It was only in that moment that she finally found the courage.

Applebloom looked up. "Granny?"

"Yeah?"

Applebloom's lower lip quivered once. She shook her head and took a deep breath. "I don't hate you."

Granny Smith stopped, and put a hoof around Applebloom in reply. She leaned in and nuzzled her grandmother's side, shutting her eyes as she released her pent-up feelings.

"I was just angry and sad because those tools were Daddy's and I liked to pretend him and me would fix things around the farm all day and he'd teach me all sorts of things and we'd be together and we'd go into the house for dinner and Momma and Grandpa and everypony else would be there and we'd talk and be happy but Applejack says I can't do that because it hurts too much when you remember it's all in your head and—"

Applebloom felt a hoof running through her mane. She opened her eyes and saw Granny Smith looking at her with a sad smile. Her tone was firm, but not unkind.

"Do you understand what Jackie told you?"

Applebloom gave a small, strained nod.

"Are you sorry for the hurtful things you said to me?"

Applebloom's eyes started to water. "I didn't mean it!"

"Shhh." Granny Smith gave her a gentle squeeze. "I never once thought you did. But I want you to know that the worst thing was 'you only care about the stupid apples.' Do you know why?"

Applebloom sniffled and hung her head. "No…"

Granny Smith bent down and kissed her granddaughter's brow. "Because I care about the smart ones, too."

( * * * )

Twilight and the others sat at the same table she and Fluttershy had been at earlier. Rarity had pleaded fatigue and had just left with her guards, saying goodbye to Twilight and wishing her a safe trip. Spike had succumbed to the combination of lulling music and the inevitable food coma, and was asleep next to Twilight. The five of them now sat and relaxed in each other's company, exchanging stories back and forth and catching up. The band announced it was playing its last song of the night, and so they shifted the discussion to the elephant in the room: Twilight's departure.

"When are you leaving?" Fluttershy asked.

"First thing in the morning." Twilight curled her lip. "Part of me just wants to stay up all night and sleep on the train."

"Where you headin' first?" Applejack was leaned back in her chair looking up over the top of the farmhouse.

"Whinnyapolis," Twilight replied, "and from there I'll move on to the other northern cities."

"Why there?" Rainbow didn't bother to hide the bitter tinge in her voice.

Twilight had been trying all night to make Rainbow feel better about her leaving, but she'd stubbornly insisted on sulking. Twilight had given up at this point, and ignored the note of resentment. "The Princess told me that I should look into businesses that exemplify the traits of the Elements. Whinnyapolis is known for its focus on medical research, and so there are a lot of hospitals in the area. I figure one of them might have some records on the Symbol of Kindness, or maybe even Laughter."

"It's the best medicine, after all!" Pinkie hummed along with the band.

"Goin' out on a hunch and hopin' for the best is a long shot," Applejack pointed out.

"Better than no shot at all." Twilight grunted and rested her chin on the table. "This'd be so much easier if I could just get into the Millennial Archives. My array is done, I've already found what schools of magic the two Symbols I have are associated with, and there's even an easy way to get the answer! I just can't use it!"

Fluttershy rubbed Twilight's shoulder. "Couldn't somepony else go in there and write them down? And then show them to you afterward?"

"That would get them stripped of their access, job, title, and I'd immediately fail the assignment." Twilight leaned her head on Fluttershy's hoof. "I have to explain to the committee that will be reviewing my spell how I found them, and they're incredibly picky about my work because I've advanced through the curriculum so fast."

"Okay, here's the plan," Rainbow said in an emphatic tone. "We sneak into the Archives, get what you need, spend the time you'd be running around Equestria here in Ponyville coming up with a good cover story, and you use some kind of spell to make everypony forget if we're spotted."

Twilight looked up through her eyelashes. "Rainbow…"

"I'm kidding," Rainbow said with a wink and a smirk. "I'd totally have your back if you did something like that, though."

As usual, Twilight didn't know whether to be flattered or frightened by Rainbow's insinuations. The two emotions always cancelled each other out, but a tiny voice in the back of her mind couldn't help but explore the possibilities of such a daring venture.

"Didn't know University teachers were so strict," Applejack said. "I'm suddenly glad I had to run the farm after school; rules as tight as that wouldn't sit well with me."

"I don't know how other ponies do it," Twilight muttered. "I've only been going for this degree for a few years and I'm already close to tearing my mane out over these professors. I'm almost looking at this as a vacation."

"I'm just glad you'll have your guards with you," Fluttershy said. "I hear ponies in the city can be really aggressive... especially to mares."

Pinkie snorted. "Twilight's not in any danger! If anypony gives her a hard time, she can just blast 'em!"

Twilight jerked and went wide-eyed. "What?!"

"Yeah! Send 'em flying!" Pinkie sat on her haunches and waved her hooves. "You know, lots of big magic and explosions and stuff!"

Twilight felt all eyes on her. She fidgeted and hunched down. "I—I can't do anything like that! I might read a lot of books and study a lot, but that doesn't mean I have a big font or anything! Do you even know how unicorn magic works?"

"Sure!" Pinkie picked up a twig and put it on her forehead. "You just concentrate on the thing you wanna explode, and kablooey!"

"Pinkie, the amount of magical power required for any spell from the Evocation school is immense." Twilight looked up as she delved into her vast knowledge of the arcane arts. "Rather, it's not so much the harnessing of the energy that's difficult, it's the proper channeling and safe direction of it. The unicorn acts as a conduit between the energy being generated and the target of the spell, and most Evocation spells come in the form of a ray or projectile because of this. Manifesting any kind of spell at a distance is much more difficult, as the unicorn must extend their magic through the air to the chosen destina —"

Twilight stopped as she looked down and saw the amused looks on all her friend's faces. Pinkie's shoulders were shaking as she tried to hold in her mirth.

Twilight rubbed her eyes. "I'm just digging a hole, aren't I?"

"Climb out before you dig any deeper," Applejack advised.

Pinkie recovered and smiled slyly at Twilight. "Don't worry; I know you'll have tons and tons of fun, even if you don't get to explode anything. And maybe you'll have a surprise for us when you get back! I know we'll have one for you."

They all stared blankly at Pinkie.

"We will?" Fluttershy said.

"You'llllllllll see." Pinkie closed her eyes and nodded her head out of sync with the song being played by the band.

Twilight looked at her friends. Rainbow was staring at her with a fierce, forlorn look that spoke volumes. Applejack was stoic, but her clenched jaw gave her away. Fluttershy cleared her mane out of her face and rubbed something out of her eye. Pinkie was glowing, her playful face turned up in her eternal smile.

Twilight stared at all of them, trying to burn this moment into her memory. There was so much more she wanted to tell them—reassurances of safety, promises of swift return, reluctance over this course of action—but she realized it'd all been said. There was really only one thing left, and even if it was only temporary, it was still the hardest thing to say.

Twilight felt her eyes burn. She hung her head and tried to say it, as well as how much she'd miss them. Her voice broke. She tried again, but she still couldn't get the words out. She was about to try a third time when she felt herself swept up in Rainbow's embrace. It was quickly followed by Applejack's, Fluttershy's and Pinkie's as they all joined the hug.

Some words don't need to be said. In fact, trying to do so only cheapens their meaning. All that mattered in that moment was action, and Twilight realized that it meant more than anything she could put into words.

So she didn't try. Twilight just closed her eyes and hiccupped as she hugged her friends back as hard as she could.

It was enough.

( * * * )

The party wound down an hour later. The last few guests and relatives said their farewells before going their separate ways. Pinkie's helpers were an efficient bunch, and dissembled the stage and the lights within a half hour. They took the equipment and headed back to Ponyville, allowing the darkness and solitude of the countryside to creep back in. Applejack, Mac, Strauss and Norric had just finished cleaning up the barn, and now came up to the farmhouse to see Granny Smith and Applebloom together on the porch. Applebloom yawned as she looked up at them with half-lidded, fluttering eyes.

Applejack and Mac chuckled as they beheld their sleepy sibling.

"I think somepony needs to go to bed," Mac said.

"M'not tired," Applebloom slurred. She rested her head back on Granny Smith's leg. "Just restin' my eyes a minute…"

Granny Smith adjusted the bow in Applebloom's mane. "You can rest your eyes a lot longer than a minute if you go upstairs, honey."

"Too warm." Applebloom snuggled closer to Granny Smith. "Don't wanna move."

Mac picked her up before she could protest and set her on his back. "Big day for a little filly, wasn't it?"

"M'not little," Applebloom mumbled through Mac's mane. The two went into the house.

Norric and Strauss hung back as they saw Applejack still standing on the porch. Strauss caught her eye and gave her an inquiring glance. Applejack nodded at Granny Smith. Strauss motioned for Norric to follow him inside.

The night sky was alive with vibrant stars, and farmyard was dark and still as Applejack took Applebloom's place on the porch swing. The only evidence of the party was a few mugs, plates, and bits of food still strewn about. The two of them sat for a few minutes before Applejack spoke up.

"Still can't believe what Pinkie did. What're we gonna do with all that money we were savin' up?"

"A few things come to mind." Granny Smith pointed at the wooden shed. "Tearin' that thing down's the first one."

Applejack wrinkled her brow. "You sure? You weren't very enthusiastic the last time I brought it up."

Granny Smith barked out a short laugh. "I got no right to be nostalgic after tellin' Applebloom what for. It needs to be replaced before it comes down on somepony's head, no matter who built it."

Silence returned. Applejack began to rock the porch swing, then took off her hat and played with the frayed ends of her ponytail.

Granny Smith watched her, letting her fidget for a few moments before taking the initiative. "You've got somethin' on your mind too, I see."

Applejack didn't meet her eyes. She kept playing with her mane before finally speaking in an unsure voice.

"Is your arthritis really gone?"

Granny Smith's eyes twinkled. She lowered her chin, her lips turning up in a mischievous smirk. She spoke in a clear, confident voice.

"No, it isn't."

Applejack jerked. The words had lingered in her ears, like Granny Smith had spoken in an echo chamber.

"What'd you say?!"

"My hip isn't cured," Granny Smith repeated. "I still have arthritis. Pinkie pulled a very mean prank, and is a terrible pony."

All of her grandmother's words had echoed, but her last sentence rang in Applejack's ears with the force of a bell. She clutched her head and staggered off the porch swing.

"Okay, stop! Whatever you're doing hurts!"

Granny Smith's eyes widened. She looked down and muttered something Applejack only caught the last part of.

"—like that old proverb. Little different though…"

"What's going on?!" Applejack demanded.

"A very good question," Granny Smith said calmly. "One I don't fully know the answer to myself. I didn't mean to hurt ya, so sorry about that. I'm guessin' the stronger the lie, the stronger the reaction you have to it."

Applejack opened her mouth to say something, and then closed it. She repeated the motion several times, each time trying to form a different question. Each one was either crazy, contradictory to what she knew to be fact, or impossible. She finally settled on the question that seemed like it would answer the most.

"Why're you lying?"

Granny Smith gave a sly smile. "How do you know I am?"

"Your voice sounds like we're in a cave." Applejack rubbed her ears. "How're you doin' that?"

"I'm not doin' it." Granny Smith met her eyes. "Do you feel anythin' else?

"Feel?" Applejack checked herself. "No, why?"

Granny Smith raised a hoof to her chin, her eyes never leaving her granddaughter's. Finally, she got up and put a hoof on Applejack's shoulder.

"I can't even begin to tell ya how proud I am of you. I never once doubted ya, but it does my heart good to see that you've taken the groundwork I laid down and turned it into somethin' great."

"What?" Applejack shook her head. "Why're you—I ain't done nothin' impressive compared to you. You and Grandpa were the ones who built the buildings, set up the fencin' and planted the apple trees. All I've done is keep things going."

"I'm not talkin' about the farm." Granny Smith poked Applejack in the chest. "I'm talkin' about you. You're strong, reliable, steadfast, hardworking, and beautiful to boot. And while I'll take some credit, you're the one who's made the choices that turned you into what you've become. I only wish Jonny and Cinny were still around so they could see."

Applejack flushed at the praise. She looked down at the ground and shuffled a hoof. "I—but… well, y—you really think they'd be proud of me?"

"Without a doubt," Granny Smith said immediately. "I didn't just put you in charge because my hip started to go. I knew I could rely on you. I knew I could trust you."

A tiny dot in Applejack's heart pulsed once. She flinched as a warm sensation spread out from her core in a crystalline pattern.

Granny Smith ran her hoof along the railing of the porch. "I have two things that I consider to be my life's work: This here farm, and the three of you. Nothin' made me happier than when I put those pieces together, and while we all wish your Momma and Daddy were still with us, I'm glad I was able to raise you with my own hooves. You've turned into a damn fine mare, this is just the icing on the cake. I only hope I'm around to see what you do with it."

"Do with wha—AHHHH!"

Granny Smith tensed at the echo-filled scream. She turned and saw Applejack, completely rigid and pupils filled with emerald light. She was staring at something inside the house with flared nostrils and gritted teeth.

"What are those things?!"

Applejack gasped and put a hoof over her mouth as she heard her own voice. She turned back to Granny Smith, then into the house again. She did so several times with nopony saying anything.

A set of voices floated out from inside the house.

"So much for telling her tomorrow."

"Shut up, Norric." Strauss snapped. "Calm down, Applejack. I know we look… bizarre, but we're not going to hurt you."

Granny Smith walked over to see what had gotten Applejack so riled up. She saw Norric and Strauss standing beside the dining room table, looking completely normal, albeit a little guilty. They winced and shuffled their hooves under Applejack's accusing stare.

Granny Smith thought back to what Pinkie had told her about Applejack's Truthsense ability. She spoke out of the corner of her mouth.

"They ain't what they seem, are they?"

Applejeack could see. Norric and Strauss's bodies were semi-transparent, comprised of swirling, colorful plasma. It raced along the inside of their bodies like a stream, rotating in a spiral pattern around a tiny golden ball in their chests. Most disturbing of all was their eyes, which were nothing but empty, unblinking holes.

The Element of Honesty pulsed in response to Applejack's panic. The tendrils of power fortified and tempered her body, making her feel denser, like her body was made of diamond. The sensation reached Applejack's limbs and flowed out past her hooves, making her feel like she was an extension of the planet itself. It washed away her fear and replaced it with another emotion, one that welled up and rose immediately to a breaking point:

Anger.

Applejack lowered her chin as the emerald light filled her irises.

"Tell me what you are." Applejack raised a forehoof in the air. "Right…"

"WAIT!" Strauss and Norric yelled.

"NOW!" Applejack stamped her hoof as hard as she could.

There was a splintering crunch. Applejack's hoof went straight through the porch, hit the ground below and caused a shuddering tremor that ran through the house and farmyard. Applejack yelped as the boards gave way, causing her to stumble and fall through. The roof of the porch shook dangerously, and Norric and Strauss steadied themselves as the shockwave rattled the walls and foundations.

"Jackie!"

Granny Smith had seen what Applejack had intended and leaped away in time thanks to her renewed agility. She rushed over to the hole in the porch.

Applejack groaned as she got to her hooves. She was unharmed, and looked more surprised than anything else. She stared down at her hoof, then over at Granny.

"Did I just—"

"Give us another thing to spend our savings on? You sure did." Granny Smith looked up at Norric and Strauss with narrowed, dangerous eyes. "I hope you boys are in a sharin' mood, cuz you're gonna be doin' a lot of it."

"We're under orders—" Norric began.

"Enough." Strauss picked up a cup that'd fallen off the table. "The jig's up."

Norric whirled on Strauss. "Blair told us not to—"

"This is salvageable," he hissed. "Don't make it any worse."

"Stop your mumblin'," Granny Smith said. Her voice was as cold as ice. "Mina told me why you're really here. You ain't got no more secrets to keep."

The two guards looked to her, and then to Applejack, who had gotten out of the hole. She kept her glowing eyes on them as she backed away into the farmyard to prevent herself from doing any more harm.

Strauss gave a dark laugh. "That's where you're wrong."