Epilogue

“This isn’t bad.’ Ritter said, finishing his tea. “This is Green Tea, right? Nice to have a change of pace. Most of your drinks seem like they're half sugar."

Two days had passed since they found Ditzy and the Heart's Desire in the Everfree Forest. They were sitting at Twilight's breakfast table on the second floor of the Golden Oaks library, by the windows that overlooked the town.

Twilight glowered at Ritter while she finished stirring honey into her tea. "I didn't hear you complaining until now, mister. Pinkie tells me you're making good progress towards trying all fifty flavors of pie."

“Mhmm.” Ritter said, setting the earthenware cup down on the table. “Point taken. What can I say, you ponies know your desserts."

Twilight rolled her eyes. “I'm glad you're enjoying yourself." she said, taking a sip. "I see that the Doctor finished your dressings. Have you decided if you'll be staying your until wings heal?” Twilight asked, watching him carefully.

Ritter looked out of the window over Ponyville. The storm had been brief but intense, and other than stripping the trees bare, it had left the town largely untouched. Wet, black branches reached for the sky like twisted claws. His wings twinged with the memory of the Timberwolf that had staked both his wings to the ground. Doctor Stable had done a good job cleaning and dressing them, but it would be a long time before he would be able to fly again. At least the bandages themselves were only for a few weeks. Then he had to wait for new feathers.

"I'll be leaving with the bandages, I think. I don't feel like waiting around, for some reason." he said, sipping his tea. "But there are a few things I still need to take care of."

"Oh?"

"I was hoping you could clear up what exactly happened here." he laughed. "My report has blank spots you could drive a carriage though."

Twilight grinned, and nodded. "While you were lazing about in bed, I did manage to put the rest of the pieces together. Do you need a quill and paper?" Her grin turned predatory.

Now it was Ritter's turn to roll his eyes. "I'll just take the summary for now, if you please."

"Fair enough." Twilight said, setting her cup down. "This started when Ditzy became unexpectedly pregnant. When she went to tell Mac, he panicked, and you know how he gets when he's flustered," Twilight paused. "Well, maybe you don't. He just sort of shuts down. Completely clams up."

"I can see how that would be misinterpreted." Ritter said.

"Quite. Well, they fought, and Ditzy took some time off and decided that ending the pregnancy would be her best option. She went to Zecora, because she trusted her. But, like I said, this was unexpected. It was too late for Zecora's interventions. The Tansy Tea would have killed her."

Twilight poured herself more green tea, and picked up the decanter of honey while she was at it. "Ditzy...didn't care. And waited until Zecora left to break into her home and take what she needed anyway. Which led to the expected, tragic result."

Ritter was silent. He buried his beak in his tea and let the steam warm his face, and waited for Twilight to continue.

"Except that she found the flower. She says that it spoke to her, drew her close to it. After which tried to grant her desire, but couldn't. They died, and it couldn't bring her and her foal back to life." Tiwlight finished stirring the honey into her cup, and leaned back. "So it started gathering strength. The ungrantable wish was like a dam across a river of magic."

"How did Zecora get trapped?" Ritter asked quietly.

Twilight rolled her eyes. "She forgot to brew a potion of clear breath for one of her uncles. He has a cold, apparently. When she got back, she saw that her house had been ransacked, and was able to put two and two together. She was the first one to find the flower and Ditzy."

They both sat quietly, neither one willing to break the silence. The large grandfather clock ticked the seconds past slowly.

"And that's how the first person was taken." Ritter said slowly.

"Yes." Twilight said, using her magic to grab a book from the bookcase behind her. "And without her to inform anyone, the plant began to drain more and more power. It started eating the enchantments keeping the forest at bay first, resulting in the strange weather and sudden winds, then trying to turn people into its slaves by promising them their deepest desires."

"Did you ask the Princess about what I saw? About the 'Demon of Desire?" Ritter set his cup down carefully. The sun was already beginning to set, the light through the window tinting the table a deep rose-gold.

Twilight shook her head. "I had Spike send a letter. I haven't heard back," she sighed. "That isn't usually a good sign. Sometimes I wonder just how much the Princess has seen that she's never mentioned to anyone."

Twilight sipped her tea. "But that's something for another day, I think. I hear they're going to name the foal Summerfree," Twilight smiled, "after Big Maintosh's great great aunt, who was a pegasus."

"Hmm." Ritter shook his head. "It can only go uphill from here for them, I suppose. What's with the book?" Ritter nodded at the volume Twilight had retrieved.

"Oh. It's, um, Mareton. The old poet. I was reminded of it when Ditzy, well. Broke all the laws of magic and nature and returned from the dead."

Ritter grinned. "Something you've been taking in stride, I notice."

Twilight's mouth formed a hard line. "Yes, well. Something else I need to talk to Celestia about." Her expression softened, and she used her magic to open the blue-bound book and flip through the pages. "But, anyway. I have no idea how she did it. But it made me think of the passage about the star-crossed lovers. Perhaps the old loon wasn't as loony as we thought."

"What does it say?"

"Here, I'll read it." Twilight said, clearing her throat and reading with a practiced voice.

But, O sad Mare, that thy power

Might raise Musæus from his bower,

Or bid the soul of Colteus sing

Such notes as, warbled to the string,

Drew iron tears down Death's cheek

And made Hell grant what Love did seek!

Ritter's eyes were wide. "Do you really think that's what happened here? The power of true love?"

"I think...that I don't have enough information," Twilight shrugged, and and closed the book. "But I have no better explanation."

Author's Note

Apologies to John Milton, whom Twilight is quoting. A mound has surely formed on his grave by the constant tumbling of his angry corpse.

Tawrich is the personification of hunger. She belongs to the Daevas, a group of demons. Her eternal opponent is Haurvatat.

Haurvatat ("wholeness") is one of the seven Amesha Spentas. She is the personification of perfection and is associated with life after death. She brings prosperity and health. The third month is dedicated to her. Her eternal opponent is the archdemon of hunger, Tawrich.