After double checking that everything was packed up, I glanced at the clock in the room. “Better get it over with.” I was wearing the Sunflower set and it was nearly a quarter to three. If there was a media mob down there, I was going to need all that time to get behind the bar. If there wasn’t a media mob, then I’d be safely behind the bar that much sooner.

Once I’d made sure the hat was in its proper place, I made my way through the hall and stopped just before I got to the stairs, peeking down them. There was a mess of paparazzi ponies there, talking with each other while they waited for me to arrive. I took a moment to marvel at how easily I was walking with the heels on the boots, a task which would have been daunting a year ago.

I finally started walking down the stairs once I was done procrastinating and everything went silent. The moment I stepped onto the floor, everyone seemed to remember what they were there for and started snapping pictures, flashes going off left, right, center, above, and as I made my way through, behind me.

One pegasus stallion was buzzing around me, asking most of the questions I was hearing. “Miss Xiao Long, I’m Persistent Question, Baltimare Chronicle. Do you plan on going back to the Carne Den? If so, are you planning on coming back here? Do you know anything about that metal disk past the buffalo lands? Have you-”

I got fed up with him pretty quickly. “Can someone hold this stallion still for a moment?”

Appleseed got up from his spot at the bar, walked over, and brought his hoof down on Persistent Question’s tail, stopping him cold without a word. “Thank you.” I turned my attention to the pegasus. “Please, stop asking so many questions. You are a nuisance, and if you don’t stop-” I slowly cracked my knuckles, the sound causing him to flinch back. “-I will throw you out. Understood?”

The pegasus quivered ever so slightly as he answered. “Y-yes, Miss Xiao Long.”

I waved Appleseed off and he went back to the bar. “Thank you.” With that, I was back on the way to the bar myself, the camera flashes no longer accompanied by questions directed at me, but rather by discussions among themselves. “That’s better. I wish I didn't have to do that, though."

Once I made it to the bar, it was 3, and I pulled out my project from the previous night from under the bar. It was a semicircular piece of firewood, and on the flat side, I had burned a message into it: 3 bits per press question. If it went according to plan, it would assure either peace or profits, maybe even both.

For the first hour, I was serving a constant mix of drinks and answers, sometimes at the same time. To my pleasure, I didn't have to throw anyone out, and working in the shorter heels was much better than the higher ones. The smile I wore was much more genuine than before, thanks to that bit of relief.

After the press had died down, and likely spent most of their bits, a light orange earth pony mare with a wavy bright red mane came up to the bar. The regular patrons seemed to respect her quite a bit if the subtle change of behavior was anything to go by. "Well, seems I was wrong. You really are here, Miss Xiao Long."

I turned to her with a slightly curious look. "Can I help you?"

"Name's Sweet Cider. I thought the whole town was playing a trick when I kept hearing that you were filling in for little ol' me."

"And I've apparently done better for the week I've been here than the three before me."

"A different barmaid every week?"

"No, it was Mr. Tender most of the time," the stallion next to her said before taking a sip of his rum. "The three before Yang all washed out pretty quickly. I saw each one of them fail."

"I bet they're feeling pretty bad now."

"We are!" A trio of drunk mares at a table shouted in unison.

Sweet Cider briefly looked at them before turning back to me. "So, what was with the herd of ponies heading to the train station? They all had cameras and stuff."

I showed Sweet Cider the block of wood. "They either ran out of bits or questions. I made a lot with this little thing here. Made it myself last night from a piece of firewood. I'm taking it home with me." I glanced to the side and saw a mug get drained, so I got back to business.

Sunset came, and so did a royal guard, fully armored. When he came in, everything went quiet. Nobody stopped him as he made his way to the bar. "Yang Xiao Long?"

"Official stuff?" I asked.

"The princesses want me to escort you to them in Canterlot."

"Official stuff. Is it urgent?"

"Important, but not urgent. You may take your time. I'll be waiting at the train station." Without another word, the stallion left.

"Well, good thing I've already packed up. Don't think I'll change clothes, though."

"Well, it's been an honor having' you here, Yang," Mr. Tender said after everything was closed up and I'd brought my suitcase down. "Ah've got your pay right here." He picked up a big bag of bits and set them on a table.

I picked up the money bag. "Thanks. It's been a good trip, and I'm glad I could help out.” I wanted to say more, but I was drawing a blank. “Well, I think I’ll be on my way, then.” With a wave, I left the saloon and went around to the back. Bumblebee had a bit of sand on her, but I was able to easily brush it off before setting the suitcase on the seat and pulling her along. With the suitcase there, it made the walk into a minor balancing act, but it was far from unmanageable.

The guard was waiting at the train station, as he said he would. "The next train leaves in ten minutes, Miss Xiao Long. I've already paid for tickets and cargo for your bike."

I gave a mock sigh of defeat. "The one time I was hoping to really spend some money here and you dash the chance away. Oh, what is a girl to do?"

"Spend those bits on snacks on the train? Honestly, I was only given enough for the tickets, and I'm getting a bit hungry."

"Hm, that sounds like a good plan. Here." After handing him the bag with my pay, I brought Bumblebee and my suitcase up to the cargo car towards the front of the train, got it loaded up, and joined my guard escort on the train a few cars down. Not to my surprise, it was the dining car, and he was already looking over a menu. "See something you like?"

"There are some good sandwiches here, but I don't want to spend too much of your bits."

I managed to fight back a yawn and got a simple idea. I went up to the drink bar at the back of the car, a unicorn stallion waiting behind it. "Got any bottled drinks?"

"Lemonade, root beer, multiple flavors of soda, water, fruit juices, and milk," he said. "Which one strikes your fancy?"

"Milk. Warm. How much?"

"4 bits."

"I'll be right back." I went over to my guard and took five bits out of the bag. "Get whatever you want, buddy."

"Thank you very much," he said.

Just as I started going back to the bar, I turned back to him with a question. "How long is the ride?"

"About ten hours straight to Canterlot, so if you want to sleep, you've got time."

"Thanks." I went back to the bar, handed the stallion there the five bits, and got my drink. After getting directions to the sleeping car, I started going that way, sipping my warm milk along the way. Just as I closed the door to the sleeping car, the train started moving.

After finishing the warm milk and throwing away the glass bottle, I got a bed, pulled the blanket out from the backpack, and lay down. The gentle rocking of the car, the sound of the rails, the warm milk in me, and the warm blanket didn't so much ease me into sleep as they did fire me from orbit.

"Good evening, Yang."

I looked next to me and saw Luna laying there, both of us on a bed that looked like it was made for her, in the middle of a smoking crater. "Hi, Luna. Anything new?"

"From Celestia's memories? Nothing of note."

"Hm." For a while, we just lay there, then I got a question. "Why not try going through your own memories?"

"A few reasons. I can't use my techniques on myself, and even if I could, I'd only show myself what I wanted, not necessarily what I needed. Aside from that, my memories from before my time as Nightmare Moon are a bit. . . Fragmented. Not severely, thank goodness. Just a few small gaps here and there. Dark magic like what I used does things to the mind if one's not prepared or skilled enough."

"I guess that makes sense." More silence played out until a random question came to mind. "What happens if you fall asleep in a dream?"

"That's just a very deep sleep. You don't die, unlike what the old stories say happens."

"Huh. Well, is there anything else going on?"

"Not really. Want some warm milk?"

I watched as a glass of the stuff appeared in front of me, the liquid not spilling out of the horizontal glass. "Sure, I'll have some." I reached up, grabbed the glass, and drank its contents in one go. "I'll see you later, I guess."

"Of course. Sleep well, Yang."

Author's Notes:

And thus, Yang is done in Appleloosa and is on her way home.