“We do have a few loose ends,” said Cookie.

“Some unfinished business,” said Pansy.

“And I suppose we can cover this, if for no better reason than to keep these two from twisting my foreleg.” Clover indicated her companions with her chin. “There’s no reason to leave you hanging and ruin your holiday, not over minor spoilers. A few day’s advance notice shouldn't cause too much damage.”

“On Hearth’s Warming Morn you will get a big basket delivered,” said Pansy. “It’s from Spike. He really wants you to know that he’s not mad, and there are no hard feelings. The basket is full of his Hearth’s Warming cookies, and they’re the way you like them, unfrosted.”

All three mares made faces at this.

“Oh, and Twilight Sparkle did not make him do it,” added Clover. “This is all Spike’s idea.”

“You aren’t going loose your teaching certificate,” said Cookie. She grinned at Quiz. “I hope you weren’t counting on using that as an excuse to get out of teaching. You get a mark on your record, and you’re on probation. Cheerilee will be reviewing your lesson plans very carefully.”

“That seems unusually generous,” said Quiz. She blushed. “I am, after all, a… pornographer.”

“Accidental pornographer,” corrected Pansy. “This is just a suggestion, but I think maybe you should read more poetry.”

“The Ponyville Board of Education had a simple choice," said Cookie. "Deal with angry parents who will eventually calm down, or deal with an angry Princess Luna, who won’t. I suspect it helps that the offending poem happens to be Miss Pince Nez’s favorite.”

“And Diamond Tiara?” asked Quiz.

“She gets to think about what she did to you,” said Cookie. “While one holiday vacation with her parents. At least I’m sure she’ll think about it, at least a bit, as she enjoys herself at the beach. She might not even laugh.”

“Not all our stories have happy endings,” said Clover.

“Finally, you will find something in your bag that you overlooked,” said Pansy.

“And with that, I believe our work here is done,” said Clover. “If you haven’t learned what we’ve tried to teach you, then we just can’t help you, Quizzical.”

“At the very least, I do feel better,” said Quiz. “I take back what I said about the world being better off without me. It seems that I have done good after all, and it feels good to know it. The feeling is difficult to explain…”

“It’s called pride, Quiz,” said Cookie. “You should cultivate it. You’re entitled.”

“I shall trust you on that,” said Quiz.

There was a long silence, as the three mares stared at each other. Finally, Cookie asked, “Is that a victory? Do we get to count that as a victory?”

“Oh, let’s,” answered Pansy. “This is Quiz we’re working with, after all. Good going US!!!”

At that, the three mares rose and did a three-way high hoof. “Founders of Equestria, Self-Worth Advisors! Yay!!!”

“But I still do not understand,” said Quiz. “You made it all sound so extraordinary. I do not feel extraordinary. Nothing I did felt extraordinary at the time.”

“It’s all about ripples, Quizzical,” said Clover.

“Ripples?”

“Ripples,” said Clover. “Everything we do and say in this world creates ripples. They flow and reverberate through all of creation. What we do to or for one pony effects the next pony they meet, and so on.”

“And you are just getting started, Little One,” said Cookie. “It isn’t much of a spoiler to say, we expect much more from you in the future.”

“The best that we can hope for in this world, is that we create good ripples,” said Clover.

“And you, Quizzical Greystone, create ripples that are wonderful!” said Pansy.

“I think that I understand that,” said Quiz. “What do I do now?”

“Now you go to sleep,” said Clover.

“Sleep? But I do not feel…”

And Quiz fell asleep.

Quiz slowly opened her eyes.

“Oh, good. She’s awake.”

Quiz was on the train. Across from her sat Sunflower and Marigold. Quiz sat up carefully when she realized her head was resting against Weaver Bird.

“How do you feel, Quiz?” asked Weaver. “You really scared us for a while there.”

“I am well. There is not even a headache,” said Quiz. “What are you all doing here?”

“We all just happened to be in the station when you had your accident,” said Marigold. “You staggered onto the train, then fell over onto the seat. You’ve been out ever since.”

“We were chatting, and discovered how we all know you,” said Weaver. “We’ve been kind of watching over you ever since.”

“Crazy coincidence, huh?” said Sunflower. “Hay, why are you looking at me like that?”

“Oh, no reason,” said Quiz.

“Well, stop it, it’s creepy!”

“Sorry. What are you all doing here, anyway?”

Sunflower pointed to a box under her seat. “I was picking up samples. They’re from the Everfree Forest; very rare and very valuable. We couldn’t send them through the mail. So, naturally, Professor Seedling sent her intern to personally carry them.”

“I’m heading home from a sales trip to Manehattan,” said Weaver. “Rarity actually recommended me to Coco Pommel! I have a whole bag full of orders. I can’t wait to tell Persimmon all about it.”

“That is great news, Mrs. Bird. Please tell your daughter that Miss Fancy Graphs said hello.”

“I’m on holiday leave,” said Marigold. Quiz noted, quite happily, that there was not paint hiding the bright yellow mark on her forehead. Quiz also saw that Marigold sported brand new corporal’s chevrons.

“Then you are doing well at your new post, Miss Marigold?”

“Oh, sure. I really like Eutaw County. It’s… interesting. And some of the egg heads at the base need keepers even more than you did, Quiz. I got passed over by the honor guard again, but I didn’t do that badly trying out. Maybe next year. Until then, I’m happy where I am.”

“That is very good news,” said Quiz.

“Um… are you looking at me funny now? What gives, Quiz?” asked Marigold.

“Never mind, it is nothing.” Quiz’s brow furrowed in deep thought. “I might have heard their voices, in my sleep... could my mind have inserted them into my dream... was it all a dream after all?”

“What was that, Quiz?” asked Weaver.

“Oh, I was formulating a hypothesis. But it is not important. It is most likely wrong.”

“Are you sure you’re okay, Quiz?”

“Oh, yes. I have never felt better.”

The train pulled into the Canterlot station. Through the window Quiz could see her parents and her older brother. They waited on the platform, standing with dignified good cheer. Beside them was Quiz’s little sister Delight, bouncing up and down without restraint, in completely unashamed excitement.

Quiz was on her hooves, and went to the door before the aisle could fill with passengers.

“Quiz!” called Weaver. “Slow down. You’ve been out of it all the way from Ponyville!”

“But I feel wonderful,” Quiz answered. “I cannot be held back.”

Quiz was out the door while it was still opening.

“Quiz!” cried Delight. She dashed towards her sister. “Quizguizquizquizquiz!!!”

Quiz made the mistake of trying to catch her. When the sisters were finally untangled, and the rest of the family had helped them up, there were hugs all around.

“I will have us all home soon,” said Chisel Greystone VII. “It will only take a moment to get our carriage. But I must first go to the cafe across the street, where I sent our draft stallions to stay warm while we waited.”

While they waited for her father and the carriage Quiz went to a troupe of Celestial Army volunteers, who were ringing bells in front of the station, dressed as the Founders of Equestria. As she stood by the bright yellow kettle, Quiz looked in her bag for some loose change. The moment she opened the bag, she remembered that she didn’t have any change. Then she found three one bit coins, which appeared to have been caught in the pages of her notebook. Quiz used her magic to drop the coins in the kettle.

“Thank you, young filly,” said the mare dressed as Clover the Clever. “Your contribution is appreciated.”

“Yes, Ma’am, I know,” said Quiz. “Merry Hearth’s Warming to you.”

The volunteers rang their bells with vigor, and cried, “Merry Hearth’s Warming!”

Author's Notes:

Thank you for reading, and Merry Hearth's Warming!