(Two and a half days later...)

When Applejack poked her head into the Golden Oaks Library, she saw a rather amusing sight. Skyward was painstakingly learning to read and write in Equestrian, and also simultaneously trying to answer Twilight's questions about her homeland, customs, culture and her own written language.

"...so the Gerudo tribe are all mares?"

"Aye--every one hundred years is a colt born. That colt 'tis raised to be the King of the Gerudo. Any others art born females--oddly enough, even if the foal has a Haylian sire, they resemble their dam more often than not." Twilight's quill was a blur across the parchment she was holding in her magic. "What do they do for a living?"

Skyward's left ear flicked, following Twilight's voice as she walked in a circle. "They art thieves--skilled assassins and warriors as well. Quite the challenge in a fight if thou chance upon one."

"Wh-what? But...but don't you...can't you catch them?"

Skyward put down her quill and looked at Twilight with a serious expression. "The laws of the kingdom dost not apply to the Barren Wastes, Twilight. If we catch them in Hayrulean territories, aye, but if they escape into the Wastes, then we cannot pursue. T'would be the same if a criminal from Equestria escaped to Griffin territory, dost thou see?"

She went back to her lesson, slowly writing out yet another sentence in Equestrian; Twilight seemed to chew on that for a little while before she spoke up again. "But if the Gerudo are all mares, then how do they maintain their tribe's numbers?"

The nonchalant answer from the Haylian mare plus the astounded look on Twilight's face sent the farmpony into near silent hysterics. "When they go into heat, the Gerudo seek coltfriends during festivals or one night stands in taverns...or..."

Twilight raised an eyebrow, leaning close to Skyward to hear more. "Or...what?"

There was a very wicked smirk forming on Skyward's muzzle. "No stallion t'will admit it, but 'tis rumored they even sneak into their homes and assault them in their beds. And none t'will admit a mare got the best of them...and I do mean literally, the best."

Twilight sputtered and blushed madly, stomped her hooves, embarrassed at the casual candor of the Haylian pony's reply--Applejack completely lost it and cracked up laughing, pounding a hoof against the floor. The two unicorns looked up to see Applejack laughing her flank off in the doorway--Skyward chuckled and Twilight huffed, shaking her head.

"Hello to you too, Applejack."

The farmpony managed to choke back her giggling as she got up and shook herself. "S-sorry, Twi--hooo! Ah'm sorry, Ah didn' mean t' interrupt. Just...they really go an' do stuff like that?"

Skyward nodded, not looking up from her papers as she began writing anew on a fresh sheet of parchment. "Aye; they hath been doing so for hundreds of years--'tis their way of life and their creed. The problem lies in when they do strike--they are there one moment and gone the next--I hath had the dubious honor of clashing with one such pony in a fight near the Golden Saddle Tavern one year."

Twilight put the parchment aside, coming over to her friend."What are you doing here, Applejack?"

The farmpony pushed back her hat. "Came t' see if you two girls wanted a break. Ya'll been holed up in here neat as ya please fer th' past two and a half days."

Skyward shrugged her shoulders. "Twilight hath a point, however---one must learn to read and write in thy language, else suspicion shalt fall on me and I've no wish to incur as such."

Applejack snorted. "Learnin' t' read an' write's important enough, Ah agree, but ya'll need t' get on outta here once in a while."

Skyward tapped a hoof against the desk, her brow furrowing in thought. "One could use some exercise. I hath not been truly able to practice my sword skills, if not my magic..."

Twilight looked out of one of the windows--it was a nice, bright sunny day; few clouds in the skies...a perfect day for having some fun! "So what did you have in mind?"

"How 'bout we all meet up at Sweet Apple Acres? Ah'll be there in a bit as soon as Ah finish deliverin' some apples t' Sugarcube Corner mahself."

Twilight beamed at her friend. "Then it's settled--we'll meet you there!"

Roughly about ten minutes later both Twilight and Skyward were walking out of town towards the farm. Skyward's leg was fully healed now, and she was able to jump, trot, run and kick all she wanted to. Twilight nudged Skyward, who glanced at her with an inquiring expression.

"I hope you don't mind me asking you all those questions, Skyward--just; hearing about something we thought was complete make-believe but in truth isn't..."

Skyward shrugged--she had her helm hanging on her side again, letting the cool breeze whisper through her half braided mane." 'Tis all right, Twilight. I myself am amazed thou wish to learn of my home, considering thou hast an entire archive of all the tales the lorekeepers hath passed through the ages on thy shelves."

The purple unicorn shook her head. "But it's like Zecora said--only you know the truth. Most of those were just foal's stories. But you know what it's like--the reality of the situation."

"Mmm. I heard Spike delivering a letter this morn to thee--if thou dost not mind me asking, who was it from?"

"Oh, it was from Shining Armor---he's my elder brother, and he's the Captain of the Guard in Canterlot."

Skyward smiled broadly, giving Twilight a firm pat on the back, making the other mare cough in surprise at the nudge. "Thou must be so proud of thy brother. One is certain he is a great soldier."

Twilight nodded her head, looking a tad pensive, but she was smiling still. "Yes, he is. I miss him so much. He lives in the Crystal Empire now."
Skyward scrunched up her nose in thought. "The Crystal Empire, thou say? Hmm...according to thy history, he was wed to Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, aye? That wouldst make him a prince, so...art thou royalty as well, Twilight?"

"Oh hay no! No no no no--I am not. Sure I'm related to royalty but I'm actually NOT royalty," she sputtered, and Skyward laughed heartily. Twilight stuck her tongue out at the Haylian mare, but they both ended up laughing all the same. "What tidings did thy brother have to impart?"

Twilight beamed, practically dancing in place. "He and Cadence are coming for a visit for Nightmare Night!"

"Nightmare Night--aah, that 'tis Princess Luna's celebration. When the foals garb themselves in costumes, and go out into the town to have fun?"

Twilight nodded excitedly. "Exactly! Do you have a costume?"

The Haylian mare waved an armored hoof. "Mine armor will suffice, Twilight. Besides, ponies art used to seeing me in it enough as 'tis...eh?"

Skyward stopped short, frowning as she pricked her ears, turning them forward as much as she could. Twilight stepped up beside her, looking perplexed--but then she heard it too. It was faint, but it was the sound of fillies shouting--shouting in rage. Both mares looked at one another and they broke into a run--Skyward didn't reach for her sword, but she did unlock it from her back as she kept pace with her friend. They rounded the bend to the schoolyard to see Apple Bloom, but she wasn't alone. There was also a little orange pegasus filly with bright fuchsia colored mane/tail and a white unicorn filly with light pastel lavender and light rose pink mane and tail. All three of them were glaring at two other fillies across from them--one was a pink colored filly with a white/purple striped mane and tail and the other was a dark grey filly with a silvery white mane and tail. And Skyward noticed that unlike Apple Bloom and the fillies who were clearly her friends, those two possessed their cutie marks: a diamond encrusted tiara and a silver spoon on the other.

"...never going to amount to anything more than a blank flank!"

The Haylian mare's royal blue eyes narrowed in slowly rising anger, laying back her ears as she removed her helm from the small hook on the side and set it on her head.

"Were I her mother, I wouldst give that little cretin the switch so fast her head would spin 'round," Skyward snarled, and Twilight nodded, also glaring down at the scene.

"Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon has always bullied Apple Bloom and her friends. I wonder why Applejack hasn't done anything about it yet."
"Mayhap because Applejack doth not know of this foalishness. But it must come to an end, afore it truly becomes a battle. Where is the lorekeeper?"

"Lorekeeper? Oh, you mean schoolteacher--Cheerilee might be having lunch right now."

Skyward was about to say something else when the shouting escalated--both mares looked down again to see Scootaloo in front of Apple Bloom, her tiny wings flared in challenge. Skyward shook her head; she knew that stance anywhere--a pissed off pegasus usually meant big trouble, even if the pegasus in question was a pipsqueak. "Twilight, please get Lorekeeper Cheerilee--I shalt handle this."

"Skyward, please don't tell me you're going to use your sword..."

"I shalt not need my sword for what I plan to do. Hurry, Twilight, before this situation spirals further! Go the back way 'round so the twin brats do not see thee, so we may catch them in their own trap."

Twilight bolted off towards the schoolhouse, and Skyward focused her magic--she teleported near the left set of bushes lining the path that led to the schoolhouse, and she peered round the corner. The little orange pegasus was clearly spoiling for a fight by this point... the little white unicorn was crying into her hooves, and Apple Bloom was torn between tears and outright rage. Her armor hid the fact she had no cutie mark herself, so she waited, keeping her ears attuned to the insults flying back and forth, and then walked around the corner as if she had just come up the path.

"Apple Bloom? Is that thou I hear?"

Since she was facing Apple Bloom and her friends, the other two didn't see the wink Skyward tossed the three fillies. "So, this is where thou and thy friends go to learn? One assumes these are thy friends, considering how thy sister tells me ye rarely go anywhere without them."
Apple Bloom was totally confused, but she nodded at the elder pony with a watery smile. "That's Scootaloo, and over there is Sweetie Belle. Sweetie Belle's Rarity's little sister, an' Scootaloo's mom works at Ponyville Hospital as a nurse."

" 'Tis a pleasure to meet you both. I am Skyward."

Scootaloo looked up at the armored mare, eyes wide--that armor looked so cool! "Wow...so Rainbow Dash was telling the truth! You really do wear armor all the time!"

Skyward nodded her head at Scootaloo, indicating the faint scar on her left leg where a burn had healed. "Of course. Where I come from, danger is ever present, and one cannot be too careful."

Behind Skyward, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon looked at one another in disbelief. Who the heck was this pony, covered in glittering armor? "We're busy here, metalhead!"

Skyward paid the little pink pig no mind, merely leaning closer to Scootaloo. "Thou seem to know Rainbow Dash quite well, Scootaloo. Is she thy friend as well?"

Scootaloo practically bounced in place at the mention of her idol. "Yeah! Uh--I think she is. But someday, I wanna be just like Rainbow Dash! She is the coolest pony ever! Um...not that you're not cool or anything, but..."

Skyward just laughed. "One is certain someday thou will fly just as swiftly as Rainbow Dash. Keep practicing, and that will be 'tis all ye need."

"Hey! I'm talking to you, plateface!"

Apple Bloom was confused as to why Skyward was ignoring Diamond Tiara's harangue, and came up to her to nudge her foreleg, and Skyward tilted her head a little to look down at Apple Bloom. "Umm...you do know Diamond Tiara's talkin' to ya, right?"

Skyward gave the pale olive filly a puzzled look. "Hmm? I hear nopony else, Apple Bloom--all I hear is you three. Now come, Sweetie Belle--dry thine eyes. Rarity tells me you hath a very lovely singing voice. Mayhap I might be lucky enough to hear it sometime?"

Sweetie Belle sniffed as she hesitantly came up to the strange mare--Skyward produced a handkerchief and gently wiped her eyes, letting her blow her nose as well. With a flick of magic, she cleaned it and tucked it away, letting the little white unicorn filly lean into her legs. "Well...I'd like to think I'm good at it..."

"HEY! YOU! YOU WITH THE STUPID ARMOR! I'M TALKING TO YOU!"

Skyward frowned, glancing around and shrugged before looking down at Sweetie Belle once more. Again, she was completely dismissed out of hand. "Dost thou know any songs?"

Sweetie Belle looked up at Skyward, scrunching her nose cutely as she tried to think. "Umm...just a couple...but...I don't like to sing in public."
Skyward nodded. "Understandable--I also know somepony who despises singing in public--her name is Angelic Hymn. She told one how she absolutely didst not want to get on stage..."

Silver Spoon nudged Diamond Tiara, frowning. "Um, Diamond Tiara, maybe she just wants to talk to those blank flanks. We should leave her alone."

"Hmph--ponies listen when I talk, and she's no different! And I'm gonna make her listen to me!"

Silver Spoon felt a rock slowly begin to form in the pit of her stomach...something bad was about to happen, she just knew it. "Umm--what're you going to do?"

The smirk on Diamond Tiara's face was pure malice as she strutted right up to Skyward's left flank, turned around...

"THIS!"

She coiled her back muscles, raised her hind legs and lashed out with all the force she could possibly muster...

CLANG.

Diamond Tiara's kick didn't really do any damage, much less hurt Skyward, but it did make the elder pony turn her head and cock a disapproving eyebrow at the smirking pink filly. Then, the sound of the schoolhouse door slamming open was bad enough, but the voice raised in anger coming from the door was the ultimate nightmare of any young pony who went to this school.

"Diamond Tiara! Get your flank over here this instant young filly!"

Five sets of eyes went wide--the trio hid behind Skyward as an enraged Cheerilee stalked down the stairs of the schoolhouse and loomed over Diamond Tiara. As she walked down the schoolhouse stairs herself, Twilight Sparkle barely hid a smirk--she had realized Skyward's plan the second she had seen the armored mare talking to Apple Bloom and her friends and completely ignoring Diamond Tiara's taunting, and ignoring the little stuck up filly herself. Skyward had laid a neat little trap for the brat and she had all but leaped right into it.

"What do you think gives you the right to hit anypony? You're coming with me right now; your father is going to hear about this! You never hit anypony out of anger, do you hear me?"

"But she wouldn't listen to me! She kept ignoring me!"

The scowl on Cheerilee's face could have rivaled a hydra's own terrifying stare. "Well, right now I don't want to hear a word out of you! And considering she was having a conversation with Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, a conversation YOU were not a part of, you should have just walked away! But you didn't, and you chose to kick her instead. You owe her an apology."

Diamond Tiara's face flamed crimson in sheer rage. "I won't apologize to anypony! Especially that...that armored freak!"

Cheerilee grabbed her by the hoof and pulled her into the schoolhouse. "That is it--you are in serious trouble now. When your father gets here..."

Silver Spoon watched as her 'friend' was led away, and turned back to look at Skyward, who raised an eyebrow at her. The dark grey colored filly bolted for the schoolhouse as well, and once she was gone Skyward clicked her tongue, shaking her head. "One pities her sire. Truly, he hath little more than a glass gem rather than a true diamond."

"What's that mean?" Scootaloo asked, obviously puzzled. Before Skyward could reply, Twilight Sparkle spoke up as she approached them. "It means Filthy Rich has a lot of work to do if he wants Diamond Tiara to not act like that. You never hit anypony."

Skyward held up a hoof. "Not unless 'tis in self-defense or to defend thy kith and kin from mortal danger. That, is the only time thou ever does, younglings. Understand? Twilight, should we take them to Sweet Apple Acres with us? Methinks Apple Bloom should inform her sister about this foalish behavior from that little pink piglet."

Twilight Sparkle nodded her head in agreement. "Let me tell Cheerilee we will be taking them home."

While Twilight went to go do just that, Apple Bloom pawed at Skyward's side. "Skyward, why did ya ignore Diamond Tiara?"

Skyward removed her helm and looked down at the little earth pony filly. "Because a bully is never worth thine attention, Apple Bloom. Those who stand by thy side through thick and thin--those are friends worth keeping. Merely ignore her. If she wants to taunt thee, walk away. Pick thy battles wisely. Never raise a hoof in anger; it is after all what she wants."

Scootaloo threw up her hooves and stamped on the ground, pawing it angrily. "But it's SOOOOOO hard not to! Gah! She's so mean and nasty to everypony!"

The armored mare got up, shaking herself a bit then began to walk, the fillies moving to keep up with her. "Maybe 'tis because you three hath something she herself, for all her wealth and fancy trappings does not and likely will never have."

Sweetie Belle looked confused as she scratched her head with one hoof. "What's that?"

Skyward gestured with one hoof at the three of them. "Ye three have one another. Silver Spoon is little more than a sycophant--a hanger's on. A 'yes-pony' as Rainbow Dash wouldst put it. When all 'tis said and done, Diamond Tiara has nothing. But ye three...ye three have everything. Bits art replaceable. But a true friend? That, is a treasure in of itself and can never be replaced."

The three fillies looked at one another, and big smiles touched their faces. Twilight rejoined them at the exit and they left, the fillies running ahead, giggling and talking excitedly amongst themselves.

Twilight nudged Skyward, giving her an approving nod. "That was pretty impressive, Skyward."

The Haylian unicorn backed her ears in confusion. "Eh? 'Tis only the truth I spoke, Twilight, nothing more."

Twilight shook her head. "But still; you taught Apple Bloom a valuable lesson when it comes to bullying. She's had so many problems with Diamond Tiara--even more so than Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle."

Skyward frowned visibly. "Why did she not go to her kin then? Surely Applejack woulds't have handled it..."

Twilight gestured at the little filly in question. "Apple Bloom isn't the kind to go running to her sister for everything. She may be small, but she's tough. She always wants to solve things her way--even if most of the time it ends up in a mess."

Skyward laughed. "Sounds like ye know this from experience."

Twilight rolled her eyes expressively. "Oh you don't know the half of it--those three go looking for their cutie marks and complete chaos ensues..."

When they arrived at Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack was there already, along with Rarity, and the two of them seemed to be having a heated argument. They were pointing hooves, ears were laid back and Applejack stomped her hooves a few times. Skyward facehoofed and winced, rubbing the spot where her armored hoof had hit, and sighed.

"Din's burning mane--from one battle to another, 'tis seems to be the order of this day."

"Let's figure out what's going on." The two mares approached--the closer they got the louder the argument became.

"...can't jest up an' go, Rarity, Ah've got apples t' buck! Nightmare Night's on it's way an' so's winter fer that matter!"

"Applejack, do be sensible! The last time I went out there, I was dragged underground by those terrible monsters!"

The farmpony stomped a hoof, snorting. "An' yet ya whined an' cried yer way outta trouble--Rare, c'mon now. Spike'll be all the protection ya'll need!"

"Hey, what's all the fuss about you guys?"

Applejack and Rarity turned to see Skyward and Twilight approaching---the three fillies had run into the farmhouse for a snack.

"Rarity wants me t' go out with her t' the Gem Fields, but Ah'm up t' my ears in work! Nightmare Night's comin' 'round th' bend an' Ah got a ton of work t' do! Ah got apples t' buck, pumpkins t' harvest, never mind th' baked goods Ah gotta make, an THEN Ah gotta start gatherin' stuff fer the apple bobbin' contest..."

Rarity sighed, flicking her mane out of her face. "But I NEED gems to complete our costumes! And Skyward doesn't have a costume, so I must make her one too! This is her first Nightmare Night after all!"

Skyward gently shook her head. "Rarity; one thanks thee for thy generosity, but I have mine armor, thou know this..."

"Oh pish...please, my dear! Dress up for just one night! But I can't complete ANY of them if I don't have the gems and I don't want those revolting Diamond Dogs coming to get me again..."

Skyward frowned, holding up a hoof. "Hold, back up the basket chariot--Diamond Dogs? What, pray tell are those?"

Twilight Sparkle nudged Skyward, pulling a book out of her saddlebags and opening it to show a picture of a scruffy looking canine, wearing a diamond studded collar and faded vest. There was also a second picture of a much larger version wearing armor and carrying a lance--Skyward's eyes narrowed at that one--armor and a lance? That would be a bit tough to get by...that meant they had more reach with that damn lance...

"Diamond Dogs are a sort of bipedal canine that live in caverns underground. They are VERY good at digging and they absolutely love gemstones...but it also means they'll do anything to get them. They aren't very bright, however."

Applejack smirked wickedly at her friends. "Heh, Ah'll say they ain't too bright fer sure. Those dumb mutts grabbed Rarity when she was tryin' t' find more gems fer an outfit she was makin' fer a client of hers. But by th' time we came t' rescue her, she'd done a hay of a job on her own."

Twilight pondered the problem for a few minutes--Applejack had a lot of work to do, and Nightmare Night was within the week, roughly about five days away. And Rarity did indeed need the gems...

"I have a solution. Rarity, we'll all go with you, but first, let's help Applejack knock out some of her chores so she doesn't have so much to do later on in the week. Skyward and I can help buck apples and get things set up, then we can all go to the Gem Fields--four ponies can carry more than one. What's more, Spike does need more gems, so it works out for everypony."

Applejack and Rarity looked at one another, and then smiled, nodding their heads in agreement. "I find this arrangement to be most satisfactory, Twilight."

The farmpony nodded. "Yep, that'll be most appreciated, Twi. Sky, ya told me ya came from a farmin' village, so you know anythin' 'bout applebuckin'?"

Rarity shook her head, almost chidingly. "Applejack, she is a unicorn like Twilight and myself, she could just use her magic."

Skyward interjected, shaking her head a little bit. "Hm; one must admit that I dost not know how to applebuck...my clan and village primarily grew pumpkins, and large ones at that. But I am willing to learn if thou think me worthy of teaching."

Applejack laughed. "Ah'll teach ya how t' applebuck like a real Apple! But, yer gonna need to take off yer armor and hoofcovers...ya might break the trunk by mistake."

"Of course. Is there a place where one may put mine armaments?"

"C'mon, I'll show ya where. Twi, Rarity? The stuff fer Nightmare Night's in the shed next to th' house! If ya'll could get it into that there wagon, Ah'd be much obliged!"

With that settled, Applejack led Skyward into the house and into her room--there was an empty chest where Skyward placed her things, then she followed the orange mare out into the orchard proper.

"Okay, now; ya listen up good, ya hear?"

Skyward came to immediate attention, ears pricked forward and standing ramrod straight--Applejack blinked; then laughed--realizing how much like a drill sergeant she must have sounded like.

"Relax a little bit, Sky; this ain't th' Royal Guard. Now, this is how ya applebuck. Ya back on up to the tree...and where ya wanna kick, is right here. Right close t' th' center of the trunk. Ya aim too high, or too low, and ya won't shake it 'nough t' get any apples. Like this."

Applejack coiled her back legs and lashed out with a powerful buck--but this wasn't meant for a fight. Her hooves connected with the tree trunk with a 'thunk' and the tree shook visibly--apples were shaken loose from their perches and tumbled down into the wooden buckets about them in neat piles, a few falling out and landing around them on the grass.

Skyward raised an eyebrow, nodding her head slowly at the feat. Even if it was work on a farm, that showed her Applejack knew how to control her strength so she wouldn't break the trunks of her trees. But given that, it meant she also could deliver a devastating blow--a lot of ponies underestimated earth pony strength, which was a moronic thing to do. Skyward knew better--her own father was an earth pony and could break rocks with his powerful kicks if he wished to do so. "Impressively done, Applejack."

The farmpony waved a hoof, grinning. "Eeh, I've been doin' this ever since I was a filly. Big Mac taught me how. Okay sugarcube, yer turn!"
Skyward blinked at Applejack as she walked over to another tree full of apples and turned her back to it, gauging the distance before she coiled her back legs in preparation for a buck.

Applejack spotted immediately how tense Skyward's legs were. "Easy now. Don't think of th' tree as an enemy. Think of it like...like a really stubborn pumpkin ya gotta get out of the garden."

Skyward relaxed her legs a bit, then lashed out with a buck of her own. Her hooves hit the tree with a solid 'whunk'--it shook and a few apples patted down, but not all of them.

"Good try, but a 'lil more force this time." Skyward coiled her legs again and this time, bucked hard enough to get the apples out of the tree; and dodged a falling apple that almost smacked her in the head. "Why didst thee call me 'sugarcube'?"

Applejack bucked yet another tree, more apples pouring down like fruity rain into the wooden buckets, and stifled a laugh when she saw the Haylian unicorn duck away from the apple. "Ah call only my closest friends an' mah sister that. An' Ah consider you a friend. Yer a good pony, an' a hardworkin' one at that. Ya do have a bit of a temper, but considerin' yer a no-nonsense pony when the horseapples hit the fan, it balances out. But yer willin' t' learn new things too an' yer not stuck up 'bout it."

Skyward smiled as she bucked another tree. "Kind of ye to say so, Applejack. One is honored by thy praise."

The farmpony shoved a bucket of apples over to the waiting cart in the orchard and smiled at her friend. "Ah don' say things Ah don' mean, sugarcube."

Skyward also pushed another bucket along, hopping into the wagon to begin putting the filled ones into the wagon bed, and putting out empty ones for Applejack to take. She did use a little magic to make room for the full baskets, but other than that, the farmpony noticed that she wasn't using her magic much if at all. "Hey Sky--how come ya ain't usin' yer magic?"

Skyward slammed another tree with her hooves and began pushing the full baskets towards the wagon. "Well...for one, I did not wish to offend thee--Twilight told me a tale of how all of Ponyville 'wraps up' winter, and when she used her magic to aid thee, thou scolded her for it. Also my father, Mossy Boulder taught me this: 'The Goddesses gave thee four sturdy hooves and a strong back--use them well, not just thy horn Nayru blessed thee with.' '

Applejack came over and bumped Skyward lightly with one hoof. "Ah appreciate yer consideration, sugarcube; but if ya wanna use yer magic, go ahead. An' I apologized to Twi later on; somepony made th' mistake of not puttin' her on a team or tellin' her what to do. But, she organized everythin' an' Spring came on time that year instead of bein' late. Do you guys do th' same thing?"

"Mm...aye and nay. The pegasi control the weather, aye, but Princess Zelda oversees the lot of that; especially when the seasons begin to change. Nayru's Vanguard begins preparing spells to aid Farore's Armada to make sure the transition goes smoothly, and Din's Battalion begin moving snow and such once word comes from the princess and the Captain of the Royal Guard."

"Well, next year you'll get t' see Winter Wrap Up, up close an' personal. C'mon, let's get these apples t' the barn! An' Sky--Ah can't imagine what yer goin' through; Ah know its wearin' on ya somethin' fierce. But try to enjoy yer time here. We like havin' ya here, sugarcube, an' believe me when Ah say we're gonna miss you somethin' fierce when yer gone; if ya find a way back."

Skyward smiled broadly and gave Applejack a comradely thump on her withers. "Likewise, Applejack. And I am enjoying my time here; one just hopes nopony gets suspicious about mine true origins."

They ferried the apples into the barn, and came back out with an empty cart to get more apple baskets. Applejack, hearing a clatter, looked over to see Twilight and Rarity moving and arranging things in the bigger wagon that Big Mac would take to town for Nightmare Night.

That sparked a thought in the farmpony's mind. "Hey, Skyward?"

Skyward levitated four baskets of apples and placed them in the wagon, glancing at her friend over the lip of the wagon bed. "Aye?"

"Why don' ya let Rare make ya a costume? Never mind yer armor fer one night. Ya can take yer sword an' shield if ya want, but c'mon--we're all going t' dress up, and she really wants to make you somethin' nice t' welcome ya to Ponyville."

Skyward bit her lower lip, a thread of cold fear running though her. But Applejack had a solid point and Rarity was a very fine tailor--she knew if Rarity had a shop in Hayrule she'd have business coming out of her ears from the nobleponies alone. "...Very well then. I am just so used to having mine armor all the time. It feels..."

Applejack cocked her head at her friend. "Safe? Familiar?"

Skyward nodded as she nosed another empty basket into place. "Aye. I hath a set of armor for formal functions, but that 'tis back in the castle..."

Applejack kicked aside a bruised apple into a smaller bucket and blinked. "Ya don't wear dresses?"

Skyward's ears flattened and she closed her eyes as dark memories flooded her mind. "...Not really, nay."

Applejack frowned--she knew something was really bothering Skyward, especially if it came to wearing a dress. Something traumatic had to have happened to her friend for that kind of reaction--the observant farmpony could tell. She'd have to let Rarity know about that for sure to avoid a nasty confrontation. The farmpony pulled the filled wagon to the barn and they began unloading the apples to put into the storage bins. "Ya wanna tell me what happened, sugarcube? Mind, its none of mah beeswax, but Ah don' like t' see any of mah friends upset."

Skyward hesitated--could she trust Applejack, and not just because the pony in front of her was the bearer of Honesty? She took a deep breath and looked Applejack in the eye. "Wilt thou promise me thou shalt not tell anypony about this?"

Applejack nodded her head. "Ah'll do ya one better--Ah'll make ya a Pinkie Promise. Cross mah heart an' hope t' fly, stick a cupcake in mah eye. I Pinkie Promise to tell nopony why ya won' wear dresses."

At Skyward's 'what the buck' look, Applejack gestured to her with one hoof. "Trust me--its better than a contract sealed in blood. And nopony breaks a Pinkie Promise--trust me when Ah say t' do so is a fate worse than death."

Skyward raised an eyebrow at this and the fact Applejack looked a little scared when she did say that last piece. "One shalt take thy word for it...I shalt remember that in future. But...thou see...three years ago at Midsummer Festival, I made friends with a group of noblemares. They were impressed with my skills in battle and one thought they wished to be friends. So one of them presented me with a dress--"

Skyward conjured the image of the dress in question--it was a filmy garment done in lilac, going to gradient shades of violet and trimmed in gold--a very pretty thing indeed.

"I wore the dress to a party they invited one to. But in truth; they made a spectacle out of me. They mocked me, laughed at me for the dress I was wearing, the cosmetics...it turned out they hath only wished to get close to me to use me as a joke for their own amusement--the dress they gifted me was in truth a concubine's outfit!"

Skyward angrily stomped a hoof, taking a deep, shuddering breath and squeezing her eyes shut--before she could stop it, a tear broke free and landed in the dirt.

Applejack came over and gave the upset mare a hug--she couldn't imagine the pain Skyward had been feeling at being humiliated like that. "Ah bet Princess Zelda was pretty mad."

Skyward sniffed, trying to pull away, but Applejack held her firmly. "S-she was utterly furious with what they had dared to do. I know not how she found out--one supposes a servant at the party informed her about what happened--I know not their fates, but one never saw them again. Their manses in Castle Town were empty, and nopony seemed to know what happened to them. One learned she hath banished them from Court and Castle Town, permanently; and the noblemares were forced to take the Walk of Shame to the western bridge gates of Castle Town."

Skyward opened her eyes--tears leaked free from their confines and she tried to pull away again, but Applejack hugged her close as if she were her own sister, just like Apple Bloom. "S'no shame t' cry, sugarcube. Those damn gilded nags got 'xactly what they deserved. Nopony should ever be treated like that."

Skyward sniffled and sobbed quietly into Applejack's shoulder, the farmpony trying to comfort her friend. Eventually she pulled back and Applejack smiled at her. "Feel better?"

Skyward quietly nodded her head. "...A little, aye."

Applejack gave her friend a playful noogie; Skyward yelped, but laughed, playfully putting up a fight before she got loose. "Ya can tell Rarity what kind of costume ya want too ya know. But, given yer tastes, Ah think ya might be mighty surprised fer what she got in mind fer ya. But Ah can understand why ya don' wanna wear a dress. Heck, after that, neither would Ah for that matter!"

Twilight's voice suddenly filtered in from the doorway. "Applejack, Skyward! You two done putting those apples away? Rarity needs those gems!"

"We'll be right there, Twi!" Applejack hollered back, and then looked at Skyward with a comforting nod. "Just remember this, Skyward. Yer among real friends here--ain't no doubt 'bout that. Meet us outside after ya get yer stuff an' wash yer muzzle so th' girls don' suspect nothin'."

Skyward nodded, giving the mare a hug before she dashed inside--she met with the girls outside and after picking up Spike from the library, the four mares plus one dragon went off to the Gem Fields. Skyward was wondering how they were going to get gems in the first place--they didn't have any pickaxes, shovels or brushes with them--but her unspoken question was soon answered when Rarity lit her horn. She moved this way and that, and when she pointed out a spot, Spike all but pounced on it and dug like a Wolfos, exposing a pile of glittering rubies, diamonds and sapphires.

The girls gathered the gems as Rarity found them--Skyward however, kept a sharp watch for trouble...Rarity had told her (with interjections from Twilight, Applejack and Spike) about her own encounter with the damned mutts, and Skyward had made sure to sharpen her sword as a result.

Aside from a couple of rock snakes and the occasional mole or two, there wasn't any sign of the Diamond Dogs. But Skyward didn't let down her guard; from the experiences she had, if something seems too peaceful, it usually is too good to be true. But nothing reared its ugly head that day, so they went back to Ponyville and to Carousel Boutique. Rarity took Skyward's measurements and hummed as cloth, ribbon, gems, scissors, needle and thread whistled through the air.

Rarity smiled as she tacked a few sheets of paper with sketches on them to a corkboard. "Oooo; I can't wait; this year's Nightmare Night is going to be so much fun! Skyward, dear, would you like a dress fitting as well?"

Skyward bit her lower lip and shook her head at Rarity. "Mmm...not today--mayhap another time? 'Tis getting late, for one, and second, one is sure that with seven of us, thou hast so much to do. Where is thy sister, one wonders?"

Applejack scratched her head. "Prob'bly with Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. Speakin' o which, we'd better go get 'em from Sugarcube Corner. Ah'll bring her by Rarity, so ya won' have to."

With that, the four mares parted ways--Skyward, after some hayburgers and hay fries and a chocolate drink called a 'shake' went back to her studies. The Haylian mare turned to look out of the window with a troubled expression--as much as she knew she needed to return to her land...

She was slowly coming to the realization that she didn't want to leave this one.