Bound by Harmony

The morning sun had not yet risen when Twilight stirred from her slumber. The bed creaked as she shifted onto her elbows, using one hand to rub the sleep out of her eyes. A sound caught her ear as her senses slowly began to function. Getting up and making her ay to the window Twilight could see Mac and Amelia going about the farm.

Mac manned the plow and began to till the earth, making way for a new cabbage patch to form. Amelia was off to the side a ways and chopping some wood to use for the stove. She guessed this was what made her wake up. It was still much too early to be up, but once she was awoken there was no going back to sleep. Sighing, Twilight rose from bed and quietly stepped out of the room, careful not to wake anyone else up.

She met an elderly mare walking calmly down the hall, carrying a basket of laundry and humming to herself. Even the matriarch herself was awake at this hour?

"Mornin' to ya, young 'un. Had a good rest did ya?"

She stood at least a head or two shorter then herself, with white hair wrapped in a bun and clad in an orange dress and white apron. Her fur was a faded pale green tint and her eyes, sunken in by age, were as bright as a young filly.

"Oh! Uh, yes ma'am. Thank you so much for your hospitality and letting me and my friends stay the night in your home."

"Oh, drop the 'ma'am' if'n ya please! Call me Smithy!"

"Smithy?"

"'Course! Any friend of muh granddaughter's a friend 'o' mine after all. Please make yourself at home. Breakfast will be ready in about 20 minutes. Be a dear and wake yer friends 'fore then."

"Yes, ma- Er, I mean, Sure thing Smithy."

Giving Twilight a nod Smithy went back to walking down the hall and disappearing around the corner.

"She's a spritely ol' gal, ain't she?"

"Yes, Miss Smithy is such a kind-"

Twilight gave a start as she turned to see Amelia standing behind her, smiling with a stalk of wheat between her teeth.

"AH! Oh, my! Amelia!"

"Hahahahaha! Sorry, Twilight. Couldn't resist it."

Amelia moved beside Twilight and peeked into the room, chuckling as she saw Raine hanging halfway off her bed. Diana was sleeping with her feet on her pillow and her head resting at the foot of the bed. Fauna was sleeping soundly, snuggling into her pillow. Reina was snoring slightly, with her hair disheveled and drool coming down the corner of her mouth.

The farmer closed the door quietly and turned to Twilight.

"Glad to see they're restin' well. So what woke you so early, Twi?"

"Well, I heard something outside of the window and I guess that was what woke me."

Amelia nodded her head and scratched her ear nervously.

"Ah. Sorry about that. We're all early risers, getting the work started even before the sun has come out. But since yer up, ya can help me with the equipment ready."

"'Equipment'? Why are we using equipment?"

"Ya got a better way to train?"

Twilight rolled her eyes and followed Amelia outside. Together they walked out of the house, traveling past the barn and heading out to the fields. They were going back out to where they had found Amelia and Reina duking it out, back to that same unassuming boulder.

Moving it aside, it revealed a wide hole with a ladder leading down into an underground cellar. Twilight followed Amelia down the ladder and stepped into the cellar. It was lined with stone bricks and shelves, with a single and long couch made for resting on. The shelves were lined with an array of weaponry, ranging from old-fashioned crossbows and swords to the more high-tech laser edged gladius and long swords, energy shields, pyro daggers and stinger pistols. She also had on display an impressive collection of armor, some that were kept in mint condition while the other sturdier sets of armor showed signs of use.

"So......do the others know?", Amelia spoke as she entered in a code into the number pad of the weaponry case.

"'Know'? Oh! You mean.....about you?"

Amelia sighed as she disengaged a breastplate from its stand.

"Ah haven't been called by that name in three years, Twi."

Twilight swallowed a thick wad as guilt washed over her, steadying herself by gathering a few daggers and sliding them into their appropriate scabbards and then attaching them to the right frogs.

"I apologize for resorting to that, Amelia. I know you're still sensitive about that but I needed to convey the seriousness of the current situation. Drust has been released, and is now causing trouble in Canterlot. Since Celeste has been imprisoned it's been only me and Spike defending the people. The others have been helping as well, but they are limited. That's why......we decided to take Drust down. For good this time. And to do that....we need you to not only bring about the elements full strength, but to use your power."

Twilight pointed to the covered part of Amelia's face. Amelia turned away as she carried several stacks of armor toward the ladder.

"That....is askin' too much of me, Twi. Ah said ah'd help ya but....I will not rely on this power to do so."

"Amelia...."

"Now quit yer gabbin' and help me get this ready. We've not much time and Ah need to get the trainin' started if we're gonna have a ghost of a chance."

Securing the armor to her back Amelia climbed the ladder and disappeared above ground. Twilight sighed and did the same, gathering the daggers and securing them to her back.....only to cry out in alarm as she toppled over from the unexpected weight, crashing to the ground with a loud "OOF!" and causing the weapons to clatter noisily and spread all over the stone floor.

She groaned as she noticed a sliver of color coming over the sky as she eyed the entrance.

"It's going to be a looooong day....."