"There you go Dash, understand?" Rainbow Dash nodded. Thankful that twilight was able to explain the physics in one of the Wonderbolts latest manuvers. Dash couldn't thank her friend enough for all the help she was. Though Twilight insisted no thanks were needed. Dash was always able to do a maneuver but without help it usually took her a while to gigue out how to do it. All Twilight had to do was watch them, once! Then she would be ready to give Dash a lecture over the subject.
Rainbow Dash was still starring at the intricately draw diagram in front of her on a chalkboard in the middle of the library, when her thoughts were interrupted by Twilight. The unicorn was floating a saddlebag onto her back.
"Hey Dash, sorry but I really have to go. You stay as long as you like. By the way are you sure you can't make it to Pinkie's tonight?" Twilight asked.
"Yea, sorry but the weather patrol needs al the help they can get with the storm that is rolling in."
A shadow briefly, flittered across Twilight's eyes. "O-okay then see you latter then. BYE SPIKE!" Twilight called. "Bye Rainbow dash." Rainbow Dash waved her off without taking her eyes off the diagram.
* * * * *
Applejack was in a terrible state. Her beautiful trees were dying. One after the other turning a sickly yellow, their leaves turning into mush and their roots rotting. It was terrible, and to make matters worse she couldn't do anything about it. She had to buck the recently infected trees early, but it couldn't be helped because once they were infected the apples became hallow. Nothing but a shell would remain and the rotting roots made the tree topple.
Applejack was at the verge of tears as she worked. She watched as one of her five remaining zap apple trees fell to the ground with a thud. The zap apple trees seemed to be hit the hardest and there were no more of those precious anywhere in all of Equestria. If just two survived they grew so fast that they would make it, but the way it was going it didn't look too good. They had some seeds of course, but zap apple tees were funny, unless one of the other trees were present there was a one in a million chance of them taking root. At this rate there would be no Sweet Apple Acers next year.
Applejack heard hooves pounding on the dirt path. She looked up and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Twilight!" Then she held her breath, and ran, not daring to hope.
"Hey Applejack"
"Did it work?" Applejack said pushing aside formalities.
"Yes! It did. Sorry it took so long, but the ingredients were so finicky, it was like trying to catch lightning in a bottle. It had Just aged the correct amount of time before......""
"Twilight hun" Applejack interrupted. "The potion please, and hurry!" Gilt rushed over Twilights face, she quickly floated the large blue bottle out of her saddle bag.
"Okay, here it is. Just put one drop on each tree that is infected. After you do that check your orchard often to see if there are any tree just that had been infected before but just started to show signs. This should eventually cure your orchard because it seems that only in a very late stag of infection is the disease contagious."
Applejack was gone before the last word was out of Twilights mouth. She was going at a reckless speed through her orchard. First she saved the zap apple trees, but didn't even stop to see if it was working. Her tees were dying and she was the only pony with the cure. Getting that cure to her trees as fast as possible was all that mattered.
Once Applejack was done she was as tired as she had been when Big Mac was injured. Twilight stood there slack jawed.
"I don't even think I could have done it that fast with my magic!" She exclaimed, " How is that physically possible?"
"My babies were in danger." Applejack said offhoofedly(offhandedly), then blushed once she realized what exactly she had said. "Uh-Uh I guess ah'll see you at Pinkies then." Applejack stammered trying to avoid awkward questions.
"Yea, you should get some rest before though. You probably just ran a marathon or two."
"Nah, I still have to keep watch of my trees, like you said. I couldn't help them for so long..."She broke off choking a little, a single tear cutting a path through the grim of the day. Twilight nodded and said farewell.
She was ten yards away when Applejack called to her. "Thank you" She said her words barely loud enough for Twilight to hear. After that she just sat there exhausted, but with a sweetly relieved smile on her face. As she watched her orchard return to life.
* * * * *
Fluttershy sat in her cabin doing her best to take care of the little ferret, but she didn't know how. It was the first time she had seen a creature hurt like this.
"Oh dear, what do I do?" Fluttershy asked her animal friends in an almost inaudible voice, not getting much of a reply.
"Knock" "Knock" She jumped. "Oh, I hope that is twilight." She rushed to the door and opened it. Twilight stood in the doorway, worried smile plastered on her face. She entered the cottage and began. As soon as your bird got me the message I teleported to the library, got the books, and teleported back as quickly as I could.
Fluttershy was making some not so subtle glances at Twilight then at her saddlebags were the books were sticking out.
"Excuse me um-Twilight but can we talk later. I need to have those books." Fluttershy said in a loud(for her) voice. "That is if you don't mind." She finished meekly.
"of-Of course. I'm so sorry. Here you are. Twilight said floating Fluttershy the books; "Ferret Fevers, Animal Accidents, and Binding Bones.
Fluttershy didn't respond, just laid the books out and quickly scanned to the appropriate pages and diagrams. Every once in a while she would go into the corner of the room to adjust the blankets and bandages of the poor creature accordingly. The little guy had been stepped on by a manticore. Thank goodness it only stepped on its leg or it cold have been a lot worse. But aside from a leg bone that was shattered is also had a small infection which was causing fever. Thanks to the books though things were looking up.
Finally satisfied that she could do no more Fluttershy flung her self down on the couch, but not before checking to see if any animals were already on it. She had sweat on her brow from the two hours of constant attention to the ferret. The stiches had to be put in just right and the bones had been really hard to set properly. She had to have Twilight help for that.
"Thank you Twilight for coming so quickly." Fluttershy said while finishing off her cup of tea. "Oh, I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't gotten here in time."
"Oh-oh yes I am glade I could help."
Fluttershy looked at her friend, she seemed troubled.
"What's wrong Twilight, if you don't mind me asking. You seem down.
"Oh it is nothing to worry about really." Twilight said gazing out the window. "I just felt guilty about leaving AJ by herself. I really hope I arrived in time. I couldn't even teleport to her, because I didn't know how the potion would react. If she doesn't pull the farm out, I-I just don't think I could face her. I should have had Rainbow fly it with instructions. (Sigh)
Fluttershy looked to her friend, and instantly knew the mental torcher she must be putting herself through,... needlessly!
"Oh, well I do hope Applejacks farm is okay, but I don't think you should be feeling guilty. I mean, we all saw you running yourself ramped and staying up until Celestia raises the sun." Fluttershy had been steadily raising her voice throughout, but suddenly stopped when she caught herself. "I mean, that is....if you.....
"Twilight looked a little shocked. She just starred at Fluttershy for a moment then looked down at the floor a time.
"I, um.. Thanks for the advise fluttershy. I will um, think it though. See you tonight at pinkies......bye.
"Oh no" Fluttershy though mistaking the look that passed over Twilights face, "I scared her away."
"Um, bye" Fluttershy managed to whisper right before Twilight closed the door. She stood still for almost a minute, before returning to her caretaking for a few hours before she had to go to Sugar Cube Corner.
* * * * *
Rarity simply couldn't wait for twilight to come over. It had bee way too long since she and Twilight had any 'girl time' at all. That and she just had to see how Twilight looked wearing her latest piece. It was going to be "Fabulous!!" Rarity came out of her mental ranting to see, Sweetiebell on the floor having apparently fallen shortly before her outburst, now giving her a mean look.
Sweetie got up muttering something before walking out the door and shutting it ,non too softly, behind her.
"I thought I got onto her this morning about slamming doors. It is almost like she is deliberately disobeying me." "Humph"
Just then Twilight walked in the shop, looking back over her shoulder at something.
"Uh, Rarity Sweetiebell just walked past me looking really upset, is everything okay?"
"Oh I just don't know what has gotten into her." Rarity exclaimed. "She just stormed off. Oh, but enough of the gloomy stuff. What have you been up to lately. Anything new the princess has you working on?"
Twilight eyes got a little wider, not by much, but Rarity's trained eye could tell.
"Well....yes there is some research the princess has me doing."
"So the norm then?" Rarity knew there was more too it but didn't press and she could tell Twilight appreciated it. "Well, is there somepony special that has caught you fancy then."
Twilight blushed heavily.
"There is! There is! Rarity exclaimed glad that the stuffy librarian might be getting out more. "Does the lucky stallion know yet?"
Twilight didn't answer.
Wait, it is a stallion isn't it darling?"
After what felt like days of diligent pestering and questioning all Rarity managed to get out of her was tha it was indeed a stallion, he was a pegasus, and that he was a teacher at some college in Cloudsdale.
"Well, fine if your not going to tell me then how about you come with me and try on some dresses?!
"I don't think so Rarity, I..." Twilight was cut off by Rarity's pleads.
"Oh please Twilight please. please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please......ect."
Twilight couldn't get a word in edgewise, so finally she levitated a clock off the wall and showed it to Rarity. She took one look at it and gasped.
"Twilight I would love to stay and chat dear, but if we don't hurry we'll be late. Which is simply unthinkable."
Now twilight was giving her an odd look, but then Twilight sighed, rolled her eyes and followed her out.
* * * * *
Pinkie was excited. Well she was always excited, but tonight she had a reason to be. Almost all of her bestest friends were coming to her for a change.
"If only Dashie didn't have to work then it would be perfect!"
Pinkie had everything planned for all possible outcomes of tonight, and that means everything from cupcakes to Lyra dressed as some bipedal creature stuffed into a magic hat. That though was a last resort that even Lyra didn't know about, would she be surprised or what?
Suddenly Pinkie twitched and shivered violently until she was practically having a seizure. The world was spinning and her vision went fuzzy. Then it all stopped just as soon as it began.
"oooooh! That one was a dooosy. My pinkie sence has never been so violent or so strong before, wonder what it means."
This was quickly forgotten as Pinkie turned her head and she saw Fluttershy walking up towards Sugar Cube Corner. She was walking kinda quickly as if to outpace the approaching night.
"Oh! Oh! Oh! Fluttershy you're early. Great! Never too early to start a party. Here want a cupcake." Pinkie pie said pulling one out of her mane and offering it to her. Fluttershy hesitantly took it but didn't eat it right away. She must have been hungry though because when she turned away for a second to set the table there was no sigh of the cupcake when she turned back to Fluttershy.
Once it was full dark, Pinkie had just set the final touches to her decorations and her food when Applejack walked in whith a skip to her step and wearing the biggest smile a country filly ever did smile. Pinkie of course new why. Applejack had thought herself destitute this morning and now she might have enough to last her until next season. It would be tough, hard work but she had seen the apples pull out of much worse a situation.
"Oh Oh Want to see who can smile the widest?" Pinkie challenged,.. and lost to Applejack, who wasn't even trying."Oooo. That is one super duper wippity-woppity of a smile you got there Applejack." Pinkie said holding a magnifying glass to Applejaks face to take in every detail. Applejack just gave a sort of half nod and took her seat at the table. Eleven minutes later in strolled a fashionably late Twilight sparkle along with Rarity.
There was a general ruckus of sound as the friends gathered around and greeted each other and asked how things were. All except for twilight who was, for all Pinkie could gather, lost in thought. Pinkie was just as jovial and loud as the rest if not more so, but like a good host she kept her eye on everything. Pinkie wondered if the rest of their friends noticed, she was just about to speak up when Twilight Cleared her throat loudly.
"Need a cough drop?" Pinkie offered.
Twilight shook her head and said," It is really good to be together again, I just wish Rainbow was here." There was nods all around from this, except for Pinkie who nodded her head so fast their was tree Twilight for a few seconds and all of them continued, "I am glad I was able to see you all before I leave.."
"Leave but to were?" Rarity asked voicing everyponies thoughts.
"Calm down I am just going to research some for Princess Celestia And will be back befor three or four days are past you'll see. I just wanted you all here to say farewell."
"Oh no," Pinkie thought, " it's a going away party, quick gat to find my artichoke."
"Wait, can we come with?" Applejack asked after a pause.
"No, I think it would be best if I went alone. Evan if that wasn't so you have a farm to restore. Well sorry to not stay longer but the royal chariot is waiting out side."
As the rest of here friends looked there was indeed a covered chariot outside.
They All waved farewell as...
* * * * *
.....Twilight stepped into the chariot. She looked back to see each of her friends in turn. Each waving her off right before one of the guards closed the door cutting her off from her friends, and the world seemed ever colder because of it.
She was distracted by a faint sent in the air of the cabin one she almost recognized. The guards cologne perhaps. It didn't matter she had more important things to worry about like the mission she was currently undertaking, but she couldn't help but thing of her conversation with Fluttershy She had been wrong when she said she could not have done any thing else. The had been up all night but not for Applejack, she had been researching for Celestia, which was currently why she was in this chariot. She had been so focused on Celesia's project she left the potion in the fire too long and had to make a second. Her ill attention had cost Applejack a great deal.
She was distracted for a second by the steady drum of rain on the roof and was instantly glad Celestia had thought to send a covered chariot.
Twilight was going over her report to Celestia about her findings when....she found she couldn't focus she didn't know why. then it hit her the smell from earlier was stronger she had pushed it to the back of her mind but now it over powered her. She went to open a window but was thrown to the floor as the little cabin rocked violently. She staggered to the window.
The guards were not in sight,and she was falling rapidly towards the ground.
Author's Note
Thank you for reading. I think I rushed tis a bit so sorry. Please leave a comment, and the next chapter will be called" Twilight the fallen"
