Celagia

"Hey guys, look! Snow!" A slightly broken, excitable young mare's voice came from some feet behind them.

"Woah," gasped a male voice, "where's it coming from?"

"The clouds, silly," giggled the first speaker.

"I know that, but... Where are the pegasi making it? What's making it fall?"

"We're on the edge of the World here, Soarin. Things get wild if you go too far," his oldest friend reminded him gently, a little reverence in her voice for the uncharted lands ahead.

"I... Wow. It's beautiful."

"I know, right?"

"Spitfire... I - I'm glad you came out here with us. I-"

"What're you talking about, dummy? I'm the captain here! Of course I was coming!" She shoved him playfully, but he had not been expecting it, and tumbled face first into the fast-whitening ground. Spitfire laughed, then reached out a hoof to help him up. He awkwardly began to rise, and stumbled back down. But two firm hooves reached out this time, and Spitfire pulled him upright once more.

As he stood he found himself staring straight into her face. She had taken her mask off, and her mane, the last of the dye long faded, was filthy and matted from months on the go, but he only noticed its chromatic brilliance. Red and orange against the evening sky, the clouds lit a deep pink by the descending sun, it rippled in the winter breeze. Spitfire's eyes - her deep, green, calm eyes - gazed into his own, with a look of mild concern.

It took Soarin several seconds to realise he was gawping.

"I... Uh, thanks," he blustered, awkwardly, looking around, uncomfortably searching the ground and his mind for a change of subject. He found one quickly - or rather, it found him, as it sailed towards him at seventy miles an hour.

"Oof!" Soarin was sprawling once more, as Spitfire and Rainbow Dash burst out laughing. Snow was plastered across his black mask and obscured his goggles.

"Oh man," Dash spluttered, "That was priceless!"

"Aw come on, girls!" Soarin groaned indignantly. "My mask is soaked. How am I gonna get it dry now?"

"You don't need it, airhead." Spitfire playfully batted at his head with a hoof. "We're miles out. Nopony's following us. You can take it off for good now," she said with a smile.

"You're right, I guess," Soarin admitted, ripping the mask off. His greasy mane lightened as it caught the breeze and flapped around his head. "I..."

"What?"

"...Nothing. Nevermind." Spitfire gave him a kind smile, and walked over to the tent they had pitched that evening.

"Now what?" Rainbow asked, slowly flapping up behind him to hover at his shoulder.

"Now?" Soarin yawned. "I'm probably gonna go to bed. I'm exhausted," he confessed.

"No, you dingus." Dash grinned at him teasingly. "What're we gonna do now? Wait for instructions?"

"For more, yeah," Soarin said. "But probably for a bit longer than that too. I don't think Celestia's gonna want us to wander far."

"So, what then? How long do you reckon we'll be waiting for?"

"Until Dr. Twilight and her friend get here. They're setting off... Next week, I think the Princess said."

"Next week." Dash's jaw dropped. "But... It took us, like, three and a half years to get here. We don't gotta wait that long... Surely?"

"I hope not," Soarin admitted, "I sure hope not."

The snow fell heavily, piling up around their hooves as the sun set on the camp on the hills. There was only the wilderness around them. Woodland to the south and east, plains to the west... In the far north, there were the slightest shadows of mountains against the horizon But no signs of other ponies anywhere. They were truly alone. The two ducked inside the canvas tent and were gone, as was the world, lost in a swirling myriad of crystal white.

Equestria

A frigid breeze blew the violet mane from her eyes, and she gasped. Not with cold, but with gratitude - for now she could see properly once more, she could see the night sky in all its majesty stretching across the celestial dome above her. The night was even clearer than on the night of the Solstice - Twilight stood, a giddy, reverent grin on her features as she picked out the Winter constellations in the black-blue of the void. There was Gallae's Horn, reaching up to point to its cosmic neighbour, Onyssia, the Night Dragoness. And to its east, her favourite cluster of all - Luna's little vanity in her night - the Risen Sister...

Her grin grew even wider at the memory of its discovery. Her discovery, sort of. The Princess' grateful thanks...

"Twilight, darling, come on! It's absolutely freezing out here!"

Twilight turned to face the snowbound road one more, grasping the suitcase's handle in her magic and trotting down the dirt track to catch Rarity. The bleak fieldscape around her was dotted with naked trees, their leafless upper branches struggling against the midwinter wind.

"You have to take time to appreciate the simple things in life, Rarity," Twilight said with a wide smile.

"Well, I'll certainly be appreciative of a warm fire and an Apple Family welcome. If we ever get there-"

Twilight laughed. "If we ever get there? Rarity, if a half-hour walk is too much for you maybe you shouldn't be coming with me to Celagia!"

"I was joking, Twilight, honestly - look, it doesn't matter now. There it is!"

The two unicorns crested the hill to see the road sloping gently down to the Sweet Apple Acres gate. Some way inside the white perimeter fence was the cosiest, homeliest dwelling Twilight Sparkle had ever set hoof inside - the Apple Family's farmhouse. Golden light spilled out from the windows, and then from the door as a mare burst out and into the night, her just-as-golden tresses billowing in front of her as the wind caught them.

"Hey! You two!" Applejack shouted as the unicorns picked up their pace, pushing through the blisteringly cold onslaught. "Git yer flanks in here!" Stepping back into the kitchen, she chuckled as Rarity galloped past, gasping and panting. "Come on, Twi'".

Twilight Sparkle made her unhurried way across the yard, the black fabric suitcase leaving a drag trail through the snow behind her. Her face was red with the cold, but she was grinning still as she finally stepped inside and the farm mare swung the door shut behind her. Releasing the suitcase, she reared up, greeting her old, down-to-earth friend in a loving hug.

"It's good to see you again, AJ," she panted, realising just how rough it had been out there now she finally stood in the kitchen. A roaring fire burned in the hearth over by the dining table, at which sat a huge, deep-red earth pony stallion, who gave a tiny, bemused smile as Rarity threw his meek wife opposite him into an enthusiastic embrace.

The kitchen was a cosy affair. A cooking range stood on one wall, surrounded by counters, the pantry, and with cooking implements, pans, spatulas, knives, hanging from hooks on the walls and ceiling. Photos were framed above the hearth, of Apple family members, of friends, of old, loyal pets long gone. A bookcase stood in one corner next to a battered old sofa, decked out with a sparse few articles. The counter in the middle of the room was cluttered with papers, and it reminded Twilight of her own office. She gave a little grin at the memory of her being the most organised pony in town. Only because she had had an assistant...

"Hello, Fluttershy." Twilight trotted round the kitchen counter to greet the others. "Hello, Mac."

"Hi, Twilight," Fluttershy squeaked as Rarity refused to relinquish her grip.

"Oh, goodness, it's so warm in here, it's delightful-" Rarity finally pushed herself away, unzipping her thick white winter coat as she moved to the sofa in front of the fire. "You have no idea what it was like on the way over!"

"It was really windy," Twilight agreed, "but it's a beautifully clear night." She moved in to give Fluttershy a slightly gentler greeting. "Hi, Fluttershy. You look like you've been doing great. I'm sorry it's been a year," she apologised. "I've been so, so busy with my research."

"It's OK," gasped the yellow pegasus as she pulled away. "I... I know you love your work..."

Twilight grinned guiltily. "I guess I do. Hello, Mac," she said, ambling around to the other side of the table to give the great draft pony a friendly hoofshake. "It's good to see you again."

"Same to you, Doctor Twi,'" Big Mac replied in his deep bass voice.

"Mac, you know you don't have to call me Doctor," Twilight jokingly chided.

"Sure you don't, seein' as she ain't a proper doctor an' all," Applejack joked, as she came to join them at the table, carrying a tray laden with mugs of hot, spiced cider. "You ever fixed a broken hock, Twi?'"

"Twice," Twilight shot back, equally insincere.

"Well, shoot," AJ laughed. "Maybe we should keep you down on the farm so that AB don't keep having to go down to Ponyville General!"

"When was Ah ever at the hospital?" a new voice asked from the door to the hallway.

"Hi, Applebloom," Twilight said, moving over to greet AJ's younger sister. Rarity sat up on the sofa as the younger earth pony strolled in.

"Hello, dear."

"Hi, Twilight, hi Rarity." Applebloom smiled at her older friends. "Glad y'all could make it for Hearth's Warmin'."

"Oh, darling, I wouldn't miss it for the world!" Rarity replied, "there's nowhere I'd rather be right now. Especially not with my parents, you know how they like to spend the winter..."

"I don't really understand it, myself," Fluttershy mumbled. "I-I mean, it wouldn't feel like Hearth's Warming to me without the snow..."

"I know," Twilight agreed, nodding. "I mean, the Eastern Isles are supposedly beautiful even in the Winter, but I'd rather spend it with friends and family - well, friends, I guess." She squirmed a little. "I kinda feel a little bit guilty about not going to my brother's place with my parents..."

"Don't fret none about it, darlin'," Applejack said soothingly, hoofing her a mug of cider before settling at the table with her own. "They're always in Canterlot, but I ain't seen you since last Hearth's Warmin'! How're things in the shinin' city?"

"Oh, same old, same old," Twilight answered, waving the question away with a nonchalant hoof. "I've moved back into lodgings at the castle because I've been working more closely with the Princesses this past year, but nothing else has really changed."

"Don' be daft, Twi'! Movin' in at the castle's a real big deal!" Applebloom gasped. "There are loadsa ponies who'd give anything for just one night in the castle."

"Yeah, well, when you know the Princesses as well as I do, it's not really that special. And I did live there for most of my foalhood, remember," Twilight replied.

"Um, what about you, Rarity?" Fluttershy ventured cautiously. "We... Uh, we saw the reviews for your play... We couldn't get tickets though..." She shrank back into her chair a little. "I'm sorry..."

"Don't worry about it, darling," Rarity laughed it off. "I honestly don't mind. It wasn't like any of us knew I was going to end up on stage, and we weren't exactly in the area, as such. Canterlot was as far west as the tour ever came."

"I would've liked to see you though..." Fluttershy mumbled. She stared down into her steaming mug. "I heard you were very good..."

"Eeyup," Mac agreed, nodding.

"Well, I don't know about that." Rarity was blushing - it could easily have been from the heat from the fire, but everypony in the room knew the former fashionista too well.

"Aw, come on, Rarity, we all knew you were great," AJ insisted. "Y'even got an interview in the National, and they sure don't go into all that fancy celeb nonsense. Now, Ah'm not callin' you nonsense or anythin', but I will say Ah'm surprised you ain't goin' on about it. Back in the day, you woulda been giddy as Pinkie at cider season to be in the spotlight. What changed?"

"Oh," Rarity said, slightly blindsided by the question. "I guess I... I overcame some old delusions, I think. I stopped being so worried about fame when I moved to Canterlot. I don't like to talk about it, but I had a rather horrible experience at a charity dinner I attended quite soon after my move."

"What happened?" Applebloom pressed, but Big Mac shook his head.

"Ain't no place to be pryin', sis. If'n Miss Rarity don't want to talk about it none then we shouldn't push her."

"Thank you, Mac," Rarity said, looking up gratefully at the farmer. "But enough about me - what about you? How's being a father treating you?"

A massive smile spread across Mac's face and his eyes went slightly out of focus. "She gives me reason to be. Family's always been important to me. With a wife and daughter to care for I feel more alive than ever, even if I'm just still an old applebucker." He turned his smile to Fluttershy, who sat opposite him, looking up at her husband from the corner of her eyes as she blushed, facing slightly away.

The two Apple sisters burst out laughing. "You great lug, you!" Applejack chortled banterously, "When'd you get all philosophical?"

"Sometimes it's more like Fluttershy's taking care of you, anyway," Applebloom giggled, no real derision in her voice.

"Eeyup," Mac conceded, now blushing too. "Seems like it."

"By the way, I know somepony mentioned Pinkie before," Twilight cut in, saving the two soft-spoken lovers from further embarrassment. "Did she manage to make it back from Manehatten?"

"Oh, yeah," Applebloom answered. "She's just stayin' with the Cakes an' all. Y'know how much Pound and Pumpkin love their Auntie Pinkie."

Everypony smiled at that. "And Pinkie loves children, too," Twilight said. "I'm so proud of her for what she's doing..."

"We all are, sugarcube," AJ agreed, nodding. "She'll be at the Winter Market tomorrow, y'can find her then."

"Are we going to the Market?" Rarity asked.

"Why wouldn't we be?" Twilight answered, slightly surprised. "It's only here once a year after all, and the Apples... You guys do have a stall this year, right?"

"O'course we do! We'd be missin' a trick if we didn't," Applejack responded emphatically. Her family all nodded, even her sister-in-law.

"There's not going to be anypony back here, Rarity."

"Oh, well, of course! Silly me." Rarity gave a self-conscious smile. "I mean, I... I don't mean anything. I do want to see the market after all, it's always a highlight of the season."

"If you want some time back here on your own, sugarcube, that's fine by me. Yer gonna be here for a couple of weeks, if last year was anythin' to go by," Applejack told her, assured. Twilight and Rarity glanced worriedly at each other, and the farm-pony noticed. "Yer not goin' anywhere, are ya?"

"Well..." Twilight began, unsure of how to respond. I can't believe you didn't plan for this! she berated herself. You were always going to have to tell them!

"Twilight is going to be undertaking a research trip for Princess Celestia," Rarity informed the kitchen. "And I am going to be going with her - to help take measurements and the like. I don't fully understand the scope of things, but-"

"Yer goin' on a trip for the Princess?" AJ blustered. Fluttershy squeaked as old, grief-laden memories came back to her. "Like RD did?"

"I - no!" Twilight insisted. "Nothing like that! We're-" She paused, gulping. "We're not going nearly as far as Dash, and we've got better transport. We're going by train out to the first, uh, observation point. I-"

"You are gonna come back, right?" Applebloom suddenly asked at a yell.

"Ssssh!" Fluttershy hissed. "Angel's asleep!"

"Yes," Twilight lied. "We're coming back. We'll probably be back for Hearth's Warming next year. We're on a schedule, see, that's why we've got to leave so soon."

Silence fell in the kitchen, interrupted only by the crackle of the fire in the hearth. Suddenly, the gap between Rarity and Twilight on the sofa and the Apples at the table felt like a vast, impassable gulf as the farming family absorbed this information. Twilight shifted uncomfortably, giving Rarity a worried glance. The white unicorn was looking downright shamefaced.

It took several long moments before Applejack could bring herself to meet Twilight's gaze again. "Wha... What day're ya goin' on?" she asked, voice wavering.

"Two days after Hearth's Warming."

"And ya only tell me now?" AJ shouted, springing up - but she was quickly pulled back down by the yellow pegasus, whose own eyes were glistening with worried tears.

"Applejack..." Fluttershy murmured.

"I - you - Twilight," the orange mare went on, voice lower but still angry, "RD's bin gone for more'n three years now. Pinkie's off on her own in Manehatten - I know I ain't seen ya in a year anyway, but... Do ya really have to leave us... Just like that?" She shuddered. "Just knowin' yer gone'll make it seem like... Well, yer gone," she finished, simply. "Every year it just seems lonelier around here."

"I know," Twilight admitted, guiltily. "But... But I am coming back, AJ. I promise." Rarity stiffened, hoping Applejack's uncanny sense of truth wouldn't kick in right now - and she was lucky. The earth pony was focusing on calming herself - and anyway, she noted, mentally, it's not technically a lie. Twilight might still come back. It might be - it might be me that stays. No, it should be me that stays! I promised Twilight that I wouldn't let her stay, I wouldn't let her down! She frowned involuntarily, though, as a nagging doubt crept into the back of her mind.

But is it really that simple?

"Well, then," Applebloom said, breaking the hush that had once again fallen, "I guess we better just make sure this is a darn fine Hearth's Warmin', right? Give ya both a... A good sendoff!" Her brother smiled at that.

"Eeyup," Mac agreed. The two unicorns on the sofa glanced hopefully at the other two mares. At length, Applejack finally sighed.

"Alright then, I guess. Ah trust you Twi', Ah really do... Ah just..." She swallowed. "Not to point hooves or nothin', but Ah know you an' Celestia were in cahoots with Rainbow. Can ya not tell us where she's gone?"

Twilight shook her head miserably. "Sorry AJ," she mumbled. "But at least out work should help her come home sooner. It's... Kinda related."

"Alright," the farmer relented. "If yer goin', yer goin', I guess..." Without warning, she leapt to her hooves again. "Right. Ya both most be exhausted, ya had a long day of travellin' - what d'ya say we git you each a room?"

The two unicorns stood up with grateful smiles. "Oh, thank you, darling," Rarity gushed. "I didn't want to say anything, it's been so long since we last talked, but..." As if to emphasise her point, she yawned. "I am, as we said in the company, as awake as the second spot at the Canterbury Royal. My, that was a night to forget."

Applejack grinned. "You'll have ta tell me that lil' tale for sure. Now come on you two, but quiet-like - Little Angel's all tucked in."

"Goodnight girls," Rarity cooed, pulling Fluttershy into another hug, somewhat gentler than before, and the pegasus gratefully reciprocated. "We'll have a good chit-chat in the morning, I promise," she continued, moving to Applebloom.

"Night, everypony," Twilight said. "I - oh, I should probably leave that here." She nodded at the suitcase. "One moment..."

Fluttershy squeaked as Twilight's horn lit up, enveloping the case in a soft lavender aura. "There we go." Twilight beamed. "All locked up."

Applejack frowned. "What's in there that ya don't want us to see?"

"You'll probably find out at Hearth's Warming," Twilight said with a grin. "I don't want a certain little someone cantering down in the morning and going through the strange case that appeared in the night."

"What did you get her, Twilight?" Fluttershy asked.

"Nuh-uh!" Twilight shook her head, grinning secretively. "It's a surprise. You'll have to wait and see."

"It's, um, not anything... Unsuitable, is it? I-I don't want her... I don't... I don't know..." the little pegasus trailed off. Twilight giggled.

"Fluttershy, what would I possibly get her that's inappropriate? You know me! I'd get her, like, a book, or some kinda science kit or something."

"I don't know..." Fluttershy gulped. "Rainbow Dash used to read some... Scary books..."

"I think gritty is the word you're looking for," Twilight humoured her. "But don't worry. Even I know that Dark Draftchester isn't a book little fillies should be reading."

"Oh, Twi', one more thing before ya go," Applebloom said. "You ever seen an antelope before?"

"A couple," Twilight answered, curious. "There are often delegates from other societies in and around the castle. Why do you ask?"

"'Cause there's bin one at the market for a couple a days now," replied the younger mare.

"Really?" Twilight's interest was hooked. "What's he doing there? Especially at this time of year!"

"He's a true-ba-door," Applebloom informed her. "He sings songs an' tells stories. Folky stuff an' that."

"A troubadour..." Twilight repeated. "Sounds worth a look in. He'll definitely be there tomorrow, right?"

"From what Ah heard, he ain't leavin' until day after Hearth's Warmin'."

"Well I'll have to have a talk with him, then. I don't often get a chance to talk to foreigners, even in Canterlot. The ambassadors are always too busy to answer my silly questions." Twilight grinned. "Aw, now I'm all excited about seeing this guy! I'll be up all night thinking about what I'm gonna ask him, and-"

"Twilight, dear," Rarity hissed from the hall, halfway up the stairs. "Would you please come up here? AJ says she won't go clattering around looking for bedding until you're up-"

"Sorry!" Twilight hissed back, coming to join her. "Night, everypony - sorry, Rarity, it's because Little Angel is asleep."

"It's alright, Twilight, I just - I - Ohhh," Rarity yawned. "I'm just so - so tired."

"You get your rest, Rarity." Twilight gave her friend a knowing smile as they reached the dimly-lit farmhouse landing. "We'll talk in the morning-"

"Hope ya don't mind sharin', girls," Applejack whispered, coming out of her own room with a pile of bedding balanced on her back. "Ah shoulda got the ol' camp bed outta Angel's room before ya got here," she apologised, pushing into the spare room with its big old wood-framed double bed.

"Don't worry about it, Applejack," Rarity replied. "I think we'd both much rather sleep in a proper bed than next to the floor."

"Ya pair of sissies," AJ chuckled. "Fair enough. I'll just get this sorted, an' you two can get some shut-eye."

"Let me, Applejack," Twilight offered, taking the bedsheet in her magic. "I should be able to handle this a little easier-"

"You unicorns!" Applejack laughed quietly, trying not to wake the sleeping filly down the hall. "Ah... I'll never unnerstan' you." She grinned at the two tired unicorns as she backed towards the door. "You sleep in if you want to, OK? I know yer not here fer long, but... Don't put yerselves out, girls. If ya gotta go, ya gotta go, an' I don't wanna wave you off dead on yer hooves 'cause ya were runnin' around fer us."

"I-" Rarity yawned again, a great, wide, jaw-popping yawn- "I really appreciate the sentiment. Thank you, Applejack."

"I'll see you in the morning, AJ," Twilight said as she took to one side of the big old bed. "Thanks for putting us up."

"Not at all, sugarcube," AJ replied with a gentle smile. "Not at all." The door shut with a gentle click, leaving the room illuminated only by the moonlight glow in the window.

Half an hour later, Rarity's body heaved gently up and down next to her, deep in her dreamless sleep, but Twilight's eyes were wide still. Gazing to the window, she could see the fringes of the leafless apple orchards stretching up, their woody fingers grasping out at the night sky to touch the celestial array of stars that webbed out above them in the heavens.

An antelope in Ponyville? Twilight wondered. At Hearth's Warming? It's an Equestrian holiday, so I guess it makes sense that he's not at home, but still... Wow. And he's a storyteller - maybe he'll tell us some tales from his homeland! She grinned with foalish glee. I love hearing folk tales from the people who've always known them. It makes them so much more magical...

She sank down into the pillow and rolled to look at Rarity beside her. She smiled a little as she remembered that this probably wouldn't be the only time they would bed down together. Once they left Ponyville, they'd probably spend many nights sleeping rough - if not in Equestria, definitely when they arrived in the wilds of Celagia.

Oh, Rarity, she thought. Thank you for talking me into going... And thank you for agreeing to come... You know it's going to be me, though, don't you? She imagined herself asking her this, and in her mind the snow-white unicorn began to bluster excuses. It was always going to be me. It... Just took you to remind me of that.

Below them, raucous laughter echoed up through the floorboards as the Apples drank and talked. It doesn't mean I'm not scared, though, Twilight's train of thought rolled on, I will miss you all - You just reminded me that some things... Some things have to be done. I - I'm glad - I'm glad you're... But the thought faded as Twilight slipped into unconsciousness. The two unicorns shifted a little in their sleep as the night wore on, both of them lost in Luna's dark night.