Sunlight, Moonlight, Love, and Friendship

Chapter 6: Ponies Past and Present.

The long walk wore on them. There was nothing they could do to make the trip go by faster, nothing they could do to shorten it. Half the time Big Heart wasn’t even sure they were going in the right direction. Only Tight Ship’s navigation spells kept them on course. Every day the stories she told grew fewer and fewer, until finally she began to repeat the ones Trotter had heard at the start of their journey. Without that small bit of entertainment the morale of the group just kept falling.

And yes, there were signs of battle. The snow drifted like sands on the dunes, revealing old weapons and even the frozen bodies of the fighters, perfectly preserved. Big Heart hated not knowing if she was walking through an ancient battlefield.

Just when Big Heart was starting to lose track of the cycles they came across a real, honest to goodness sign they were heading in the right direction. Train tracks, frozen over and useless now but they pointed the way there. Big Heart felt she could grow to love trains.

“How much farther is it?” Trotter shouted over the wailing wind. The wind here sounded like voices, and never stopped blowing. Big Heart had tried everything short of using magic to plug her ears but nothing made the noise stop.

“We’re almost there!” She shouted over her shoulder. He was hunched on her back, trying to siphon some warmth through her thick clothes. She felt every shiver that crossed his skin.

She didn’t really believe they were almost there, she said it just to make him feel better. So imagine her surprise when the constant storm died down and she saw the breathtaking form of the Crystal Capital for the first time.

‘Gloomier than I imagined.’ She decided, closing her mouth to avoid eating a flurry of snow. She led the way into the city, followed closely by Quick Fix and Tight Ship.

“Endless Pastures protect me.” The earth pony mare breathed as they crossed an invisible line. On one side it was a harsh and monotonous winter, on the other it was a warm summer’s day.

“I never knew it was so beautiful.” Tight Ship added his own two bits. It was beautiful, no pony could deny that, but it was lonesome too. The streets were empty, the glass windows had layers of dust caked on, no voices of clopping hoof-steps gave life to this city.

“It’s hooot!” Trotter moaned, rolling off Big Heart’s back in his haste to remove his heavy winter coat. Soon their clothes were packed away, where she’d never ever have to wear them again, she hoped.

“This place is huge!” The colt admired the city as they trotted towards the palace at its center. “How many ponies lived here?”

“Maybe a thousand.” Big Heart guessed. She’d never seen that many ponies in one place, maybe even in all her life, so she didn’t know that the city had once held tens of thousands.

“Whooeee, I can’t imagine living all cooped up like this. It’s freezing so hard outside I’ve got icicles hanging from my nose.” Quick Fix sniffed. “Why would anypony wanna live where their backyard cuts off into endless tundra?”

“Beats me, love.” Ship whistled as he looked around.

“For now, let’s just focus on finding Princess Cadence.” Big Heart suggested, though she dearly wanted to find this city’s library. It must have had some amazing stories.

“Big Heart, what’s that crystal floating there?” Trotter pointed towards the base of the castle. On a gleaming pedestal was a crystal heart, floating in space and gently spinning. As they watched it flashed in colors and images none of them understood, but being near it was like being held by her mom. A feeling of love that stayed with you even when the one you loved was gone.

“That’s…the crystal heart.” She sighed in breath-taken wonder. Little foals, trains, flying, buffalo herds, towns, ships, and frozen wasteland, and now the crystal heart on top of it all. Had her life ever been filled with so many wondrous things before?

“It protects the empire, and lets all who dwell within know that they are loved.” She explained.

“Indeed it so does.” With a gasp they whirled around, and as one dropped to their knees.

She was glorious. Pink fur, a tri-colored mane that shimmered and sparkled, two wings and a horn standing head and shoulders above them all. Such a soft, gentle voice, like listening to a mother whisper softly to her foal. Her horn was dimly shining, a beautiful blue aura, thin but strong.

It was love at first sight, you might say. The initial sense that had overwhelmed them soon faded, but forever they would keep the impression.

Big Heart felt tears leap to her eyes. This was a pony that understood. She would know why Big Heart was chosen, surely! She’d fix this mistake, she’d tell Big Heart exactly what she needed to do and then everything would be better!

'But she didn’t do that for herself.’ She inwardly winced. Her fur was clean, but it was thin. Her eyes drooped in fatigue and she had bags under them. She looked like she hadn’t slept in months.

‘If she knew how to fix things she would’ve done it already.’ She tried to smother that voice into silence, but it only grew louder. ‘She’s lost someone she loved.’

She knew the feeling. After her parents had died she’d wandered aimlessly for weeks, not sure what to do and grieving hopelessly. Eventually Big Heart had found some peace and recovered, but something told her that Cadence was still grieving.

“Princess Cadence, my name is Big Heart, I’ve come to seek your advice.” She raised her head a few inches out of the bow.

She read the indecision and anxiety in the princess of love’s eyes, but finally the mare nodded. Her whole body seemed to shake as she led them into the castle and up to the throne room before she commenced pacing in a well worn spot on the ground.

“T-There’s nothing I can do.” The mare argued with herself. “I have my hooves full keeping the barrier up!”

Big Heart shared an uncertain look with her companions and stepped forward. Princess Cadence seemed to have forgotten them, and was now endlessly arguing herself over what she should do. It was unsettling.

“Princess Cadence, what barrier are you talking about?” She stepped in front of the mare when it looked like she’d continue without hearing her.

“The barrier all across the northern border, it keeps the Yetis out.” She tapped the tip of her horn. Big Heart watched in petrified bewilderment as it sparked faintly. That did not look like a healthy horn. This close, Big Heart could feel the heat bleeding off it.

“The Yetis?” She repeated dumbly. She wasn’t sure if they were mortal creatures or magic monsters, but she’d heard enough terrifying tales about them to last a life time.

“It takes three hundred years for Yetis to be lulled back to sleep after they’ve been woken up.” Cadence told them. “Did you know that? Three hundred years. It’s only been….I’m not sure how long it’s been.”

Big Heart scrunched up her nose and tried to do the math. It had been 87 years since the fall, how long had the war against the Yetis lasted? Two-three years?

“It’s been 85 years since the end of the Yeti War, your highness.” She finally answered.

“Eighty five years, I still have to hold the barrier for 215 years before the Yetis will be calm and the ponies safe.” She paused in her renewed pacing to stare out a large window. “No ponies in the Crystal Empire anymore, how far south have the Winter Winds moved? Must be two hundred miles.”

She bit her lip nervously and fidgeted in place before resuming her march. Big Heart watched her with sad eyes. She didn’t fully understand what the loss and years of solitude had done to her, but it was clearly an awful thing, like watching a granddam forget the names of her foals.

“The Winter Winds, do you mean the snow?” She asked. Spring never came to the lands north of Canterlot Mountain.

“Yes!” The mare flinched. “I tried to keep it from spreading but by the time word got to me it was already traveling too fast to catch. I couldn’t turn it back, only stop it.” She froze, wide-eyed.

“It hasn’t gotten past Neighagra Falls, has it?” She asked desperately. “I thought that spell would last a life time! Oh, if only Twilight could tell me a better one. She probably knew one that could turn the snows back!” She fretted.

“PRINCESS!” Cadence looked at her askance, wide-eyed and blinking.

“Princess,” She coughed, trying to recover from suddenly raising her voice. “The snows haven’t gotten past Neighagra Falls, I promise. And they never will.”

“Please, we came here because I ascended and I don’t know what to do as a princess of Equestria.” She continued, making sure she kept the mare’s eyes on her.

“I don’t know much magic, I don’t know exactly what happened back then to Celestia or Luna, I don’t know how to help other ponies. I need your help to figure out how to do all that.” She finished.

Princess Cadence was holding an impenetrable barrier across the northern border to keep the Yetis out. Well, that explained why she’d never tried to take over Equestria. Big Heart couldn’t keep a spell going for more than an hour, she’d kept up the same one for 85 years.

“I-I-I—!” The mare shuddered and shrunk back, ashamed. “I don’t know. I don’t know what the right thing to do is. I never have!”

“Princess!” Big Heart snapped to get the mare’s attention back on her. “It’s alright if you don’t know. I’ll figure it out myself, step by step if I have to.”

“But I would like your help.” She tried not to beg.

“You have it, for what it’s worth.” Cadence assured her.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Rooms with dust covered furniture. Big Heart couldn’t believe bringing a broom to life had actually come in handy. She owed an apology to Madam Pinch Twist. Quick Fix and Tight Ship hadn’t wanted to be separated after watching them earlier, and Trotter was with her, as always.

“Big Heart, what’s wrong with her?” Trotter asked as she was sweeping a small mountain of dust away.

“She’s heartbroken, I guess.” She began hesitantly, not sure she’d understood everything that had happened in that throne room. “She lost everypony she loved.” That must’ve been hard for the princess of love.

The years alone, dwelling on the past, couldn’t have helped.

“She lost them and convinced herself that it was all her fault.” She finished lamely. That didn’t feel like it was enough to fully explain what had happened, but Big Heart didn’t know what else she could say.

She lied awake for a long time, thinking about what it took to break the back of such a strong mare.

‘Will I grow that big someday?’ She thought before surrendering to sleep.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

The days had a different pattern from the one in Dodge Junction. At the start of the waking cycle Big Heart would wake up and fly out her window for practice. She’d come back to have breakfast with everyone and then Tight Ship and Quick Fix would go off somewhere with Trotter while she talked to the princess. The “lessons” she gave weren’t organized but Big Heart tried hard to remember them anyway. Most of it was about Equestria and life before the war, the big exports, the alliances and non-aggression treaties and the trade agreements.

Sometimes Cadence would get distracted and her mind wander off on a tangent involving ponies back then, mostly Shining Armor, the mortal stallion she’d loved. Their wedding would make for an interesting story when she got some alone time with Trotter.

At around lunch time they’d meet up again, and afterwards she’d go to the library with Trotter. Or to the park. Or just exploring. It didn’t matter, that was their alone time.

After that, she’d take him flying. She was always careful when she did so, she made him hold on and she never went too fast, but she showed him the world from a bird’s eye view.

They’d meet for dinner again, and gosh Cadence could cook, and they’d have more lessons. This time Trotter and the others would stay and listen in. That was when they would discuss the plans for the future.

It was difficult to get Cadence to commit to a firm answer about any of the proposed plans. Not only had she been isolated from the rest of the world for decades but she was too afraid of saying the wrong thing that she found it easier to just say nothing at all.

‘So really, I should’ve expected her to take a stand sooner or later.’ Big Heart reflected. They’d been discussing the herds today. Which ones had the most power? Which ones had the most influence? Who led them? How could they convince them to follow her?

“The Cake Herd is the most influential herd in all Equestria.” Cadence had said, unexpectedly.

“I’ve heard of that herd, but they don’t travel like one, do they? They’ve never come to Dodge Junction, at any rate.” Quick Fix hummed thoughtfully. She and Tight Ship had been invaluable with their knowledge of the herds and their traveling habits.

“No.” Cadence shivered, sides heaving as a nameless terror gripped her. Was there a name for the fear of making decisions? Big Heart didn’t know if there was, but Cadence definitely had it.

“They don’t move much, but they’re the most influential?” Big Heart studied the board. It was a huge map of Equestria with little mountains and valleys in it, it was marvelous. She wanted one.

“The largest.” Cadence swallowed and said. “If you want the herds to follow you, then first you must go to them.”

The Cake Herd was located at the base of Canterlot Mountain. There was a small town there called Ponyville, but nothing else for miles if this map was accurate. Ponyville wasn’t even on Tight Ship’s map!

Besides the Cake Herd there were also little figures for the Noble Herd, the Mixed Herd, and the Discordian Herd that no one really wanted anything to do with. Those four were the herds with the greatest numbers and power, she’d need at least two of them on her side to have any hope of reuniting Equestria.

She’d heard of them all, but the Cake Herd was the one she’d heard the most of. (The Discordian Herd had the more interesting stories though.) The Cake Herd was one of the first ones, right next to the Noble Herd. They’d been founded by a pegasus and a unicorn, brother and sister, she recalled. There had also been an Apple Herd some time ago, but the two had been joined in marriage and the Cakes had overtaken the Apples. Ponies said that the Elements of Harmony had been involved with that herd, in family members perhaps.

Herds followed bloodlines. Marriages, adoptions, those were mapped out and alluded to all the time. If two herds wanted to form an alliance they’d do one or the other, creating a blood tie to bind that herd to them.

The Noble Herd only did marriages, and then only if you were a unicorn and both your parents were unicorns too. They were snobs, but they had a wealth of magical knowledge to trade and plenty of numbers.

The Mixed Herd preferred adoptions, they never turned away a child, whether they be pony or not. Their current Herd Leader was a griffin, she thought.

No one knew for sure what the Discordian Herd’s deal was. Sometimes word came that they’d stolen food from another herd, or that they’d been seen performing odd rituals somewhere. Ponies said they were insane and followed Discord’s will.

‘Of course, ponies also say the Element of Kindness, Fluttershy, travels with them so I can’t be sure how much of that is true.’ Big Heart would reserve her judgement until she met a representative of the herd.

The Cake Herd did marriages and adoptions, they didn’t have any stringent entry rules either. It was well known that if you wanted to walk with them all you had to do was claim one as a friend.

If it came to adoption, Big Heart would volunteer herself. She’d never give Trotter away to somepony else.

If it came to marriage, Big Heart would volunteer herself. She’d never dreamed of having a special somepony before, but if making an alliance with them involved marriage then there was nothing she could do. She couldn’t just think of herself, she had to think of all of Equestria too.

But maybe they would follow a princess. She could hope her wings and horn and good, strong legs would be enough to convince them.

She didn’t believe it, but she could hope.

_____________________________________________________

“Big Heart?” They were walking between the aisles of books in the Crystal Empire’s Main Library. More books than she could ever read. Big Heart was in heaven.

“Yes, Trotter?” She hummed happily, browsing the spine titles.

“What happened to all the ponies here?” She stopped browsing to look at her little brother. He wasn’t looking at the books, he was looking at the tables and chairs left for readers to sit in. Ten tables, nearly fifty chairs, it was the biggest library she’d ever been in.

“…When war comes to a city, the first thing anypony does is send the foals somewhere else to be safe.” She began. “Their families send them to other family members or friends out in the country or to other cities.”

“I read some of the travel records once,” She paused, remembering a long winter Night. The constant blizzards kept them inside the townhall building for weeks before they could move for warmer pastures. Desperate for anything to do, a little filly named Big Heart had read the travel records from before the railroad town had been abandoned.

“In this city’s case, they packed their foals onto the trains and sent them south to Canterlot.” She tried to remember the exact numbers but they were faded in her mind. All she knew was that the mayor of that town said that the trail of orphans stretched for miles.

“As for the big ponies, most of them would’ve enlisted in the army.” Not just as soldiers, but as medics, nurses, suppliers, cooks, any job that needed doing.

In times of crisis there was never a shortage of willing and able-bodied ponies ready to fight. It might seem strange than an herbivorous and peaceful race would be so ready to go to war, but their enemies sometimes forgot that ponies are a herd race. Ponies were not well suited to being the aggressors in a war, not like the minotaurs or the gryphons, but when pressed against a wall with their friends and foals behind them anypony could rear up and strike out.

Equestria had never been successfully defeated by any of their enemies.

“After the war,” She stopped again to think about what she should say. She wasn’t even sure what she was saying was the absolute truth. Only Cadence could know for sure what had happened to the survivors, but Big Heart was loathe to remind her about her empire’s fall.

“After the war,” She tried again. “There would have been a long period of grieving, and lots of ponies probably left because this city no longer had their loved ones in it. So they went to find new homes where they could raise their foals without being reminded of the past.”

“And they left Princess Cadence all alone.” Trotter frowned.

“We can’t blame them, Trotter.” Big Heart shook her head. “Neither of us really understands what real war is like.” ‘And I hope we never do.’

“Wise words.” They both jumped. Princess Cadence had come up behind them and listened in on their conversation. Now she looked sadly at the both of them before taking a deep breath to speak.

“Big Heart, may I have a word?” She asked nervously.

“Of course.” They both stepped forward.

“Privately.” Big Heart hesitated. It wasn’t time for a private lesson, this was supposed to be quality time with Trotter. She looked down at him and saw him shrinking back in disappointment.

Cadence never initiated any talks. She never bothered them when she thought they were doing something else. She’d certainly never interrupted their quality time before.

‘It must be important.’ She bit her lip. Trotter looked up to see what she’d say. If possible he shrank back even further, ears pinned to his head.

“I-I’ll just, go back to our room for a while.” He sniffed and galloped off.

“Trotter!” Big Heart called after him, half a mind to fly after him.

“Big Heart, please,” Cadence’s voice stopped her. “I-I need to tell you something.”

She waited a moment more, then led the way to a couple of chairs.

“What is it?” She tried her hardest to sound patient and understanding, a tone that invited other ponies to confide in her. Trotter had already been chased away, she didn’t want to spook Cadence into silence. That would’ve ruined her afternoon for nothing!

“There is a reason the Cake Herd never roams far.” The pink mare began haltingly. “An important, perhaps the most important reason of all.”

“Can you tell me?” Big Heart questioned.

“No!” Cadence shuddered. “I can’t! O-Only an official member of the herd can tell you the whole story.”

“B-But that reason, it’s the most important thing of all.” She repeated herself. “W-When you get there, when they see what you are it won’t matter to them.”

“Because—Because they already follow the will of a princess.” She finished.

“A princess?” ‘But not you.’ Big Heart realized.

The reason the Cake Herd never moved was because they were guarding the lost Princess of Friendship!

There was another princess she could’ve gone to, one much nearer to Dodge Junction than Cadence had been. A princess with great influence over one of the Big Four Herds!

‘Wait, why does she need somepony to guard her?’ She wondered. Princess Twilight was said to be greatly gifted with magic, the most powerful unicorn since Starswirl the Bearded even before her ascendancy! She’d turned whole armies to stone!

And why never reveal herself? Equestria never would have fallen apart if at least one princess had stood tall. Cadence had soon been busy here in the Crystal Empire, but Twilight’s war had been finished.

“I don’t understand.” She whined. “This is too much for me! I’m just one pony that ended up becoming a princess completely by accident! I’m trying to do the right thing for Equestria but I don’t understand herds or intrigue except in stories!”

“I’m sorry.” Cadence wept. “I’m so sorry. I-I’ll take the reins on this. Maybe—Maybe if you help from the shadows we can figure this out!”

Big Heart watched the mare grow steadily more panicked. Big Heart had always been nervous talking to groups of ponies, and she wasn’t used to being in charge, but Cadence had done enough, hadn’t she?

‘I don’t know where the line is, but I think Cadence crossed it a long time ago.’ Equestria had taken more than the Princess of Love had been willing to give.

No gentle reassurances would do here. She wouldn’t hear anything from Big Heart now except for a sharp order.

‘If I do this, there’s no going back.’ She knew. ‘I won’t be able to stay here any longer in hiding. I’ll have to be Equestria’s princess.’

She took a deep breath, the last one as a filly just entering her thirteenth year.

“Cadence!” She barked. The mare reared a bit but she stopped hyperventilating.

“Cadence,” She continued in a gentler tone once she realized she had the princess’ attention. ‘Don’t be the princess they want, be the princess they need.’

“How far away from the barrier can you be before your magic won’t reach it anymore?” She asked suddenly. The last thing they needed was a Yeti uprising.

“I can hold it from anywhere in the world.” The mare straightened up at the sound of her tone.

“I won’t ask you to tell me anymore than you’re allowed to.” She decided. “You’re considered an honorary member of the Cake Herd, aren’t you?” A shaky nod was her answer.

“Alright, when we leave this place you’ll lead Trotter and myself to Ponyville so we can meet with them.” ‘And with Twilight.’ She added silently.

“I-I can do that.” Cadence nodded.

“Is there anything else you can tell us without getting in trouble?” She asked.

“Rainbow Dash is there, at least, the last I heard she was. I haven’t seen her in ten years but she’s the Element of Loyalty.” Meaning she was likely still there.

“I-I think Fluttershy comes and goes, she travels with the Discordian Herd sometimes.” Cadence informed her.

‘The Element of Kindness travels with the Herd of Chaos.’ Nope, not thinking about that.

“That’s all I can say.” She clearly wanted to say more but she wasn’t sure the information was dangerous. Big Heart would have to accept that for now, and hope that the mysterious Twilight Sparkle would let her in on the secret.

“Thank you.” She said with all honesty. “This is going to be a great help!”

She couldn’t take anymore. No more mysteries or secrets or empty libraries. Big Heart took to wing and flew through the front doors, racing for the palace where she hoped to find her brother. She wanted nothing more than to pretend to be normal for a couple more hours.

Trotter had proven to be tricky to find. He wasn’t in their room like he’d said he’d be. Confused and a little worried, Big Heart had gone to Quick Fix and Tight Ship. Neither of them had seen him either. He wasn’t in the kitchen, or the throne room, or in the fields getting flowers.

‘Oh duh, why did I bother learning those Finder spells?’ She nearly slapped her horn with her hoof. A Finder spell couldn’t be used on a living thing, but she didn’t need to search for Trotter himself. Ever since she’d learned that spell she’d had him carry her buffalo beads with him, just as a precaution.

He was on top of her.

Now completely bewildered, Big Heart looked up. She’d ascended herself on accident, it was possible Trotter had somehow changed into an alicorn too and was flying above her now.

No, nothing but empty skies. Not even a fluffy cloud to sit on. She charged the spell again, thinking she might have made a mistake.

He was on top of her, still.

‘Okay, that’s weird.’ She looked up, trying to figure out why the stupid spell wasn’t working the way it was supposed to. She’d practiced for two days to get that spell and had been able to find Trotter in Dodge Junction no matter where he hid himself!

He was on top of her.

Where? She wanted to ask the spell. She flapped her wings, traveling through the air trying to figure it out. Up, the spell said, up, up, up.

A little to the right.

Big Heart hovered and recharged the spell. On the right, it pulled her.

‘Well, don’t I feel silly as a foal.’ Somehow or another Trotter had found a way to the top of the castle. He was sitting in the center of it, looking out over the landscape. He hadn’t noticed her.

‘Don’t know how he got up there, but at least I’ve finally found him.’ She sighed in relief and came in for a landing.

“Hey, I’ve been looking for you!” She smiled as she cantered up. “I got really confused when my Finder spell pulled me upwards.”

“One who doubts what their senses tell them does not run long.” She paused mid-step. That was Bovine, she knew it was. What did it mean?

“Trotter, I’m sorry I blew you off like that.” What was the closest thing in Bovine she knew? “My alone heart sorrows when you run far.”

He snorted, unable to contain a grin at her massacre of the Bovine language.

“I’m sorry too.” He said in Sun and Moon blessed Equine. He finally lifted his head to meet her eyes.

“I know you’re busy and it’s only going to get worse, I know!” He tried to reassure her.

“Talk to me,” Big Heart laid down next to him. “I don’t know how to help if you don’t tell me what’s wrong.”

“…What if someday you decide you don’t want me anymore? Like my parents did.” His voice shook with emotion.

“Trotter,” Without another word she placed a wing over him to hold the colt close. “That’s never going to happen. You’re my little brother now, I’ll never be able to leave you behind or give you away or anything!”

“Big ponies look after little ponies.” He gave a tearful smile.

“You got it!” She nodded, satisfied. “It doesn’t matter how busy I get being a princess, I’ll always make time for you whenever you need me. I promise.”

“I love you, Big Heart.” He nuzzled into her side.

“Love you too, Trotter.” She nuzzled him back.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

They still had most of a month before Quick Fix and Tight Ship were expected back at the Falls, so the time was used for preparations. And stories, Big Heart had learned a dozen new ones in the library.

“Princess Heart,” Big Heart looked up from her latest book to see Quick Fix and Tight Ship sauntering in. Lately they’d been referring to her by her title and second name. Fix did it for the sake of efficiency, she just wanted to shorten it a bit but wasn’t willing to leave off the title. Ship followed her lead.

“What do you want us to do once we get back to Dodge Junction?” She asked.

“Huh?” She tilted her head quizzically.

“What Fix means is, after the Migration’s over do you want some of us to come up to Ponyville?” Ship explained. “You’re going to need a loyal guard, and messengers, and who knows what else while you’re trying to pull the nation together.”

That was maybe the most she’d ever heard him say.

“Ship’s right,” Quick Fix nodded. “You don’t know yet if you’ll get the loyalty of the Cake Herd or any other herd yet. You’ll need every helping hoof you can get!”

“We’re traders mostly, but we can spread word of ya all around! And I’ve got plenty of kin folk who’d be willing to come stand by you!” She grinned. “After all, ya can’t fix Equestria unless everypony knows about ya!”

“That’s a good point.” She admitted. “If you do that for me then only send the ponies you can spare or who volunteer, and wait until you’re absolutely sure the Migration is over with.”

“Don’t you worry none, Princess Heart!” Fix beamed. “We’ll be as careful as a couple of a mice sneaking past a cat!”

“Be careful on your way back, both of you.” She commanded. And bring me word about Quick Draw’s foal, she didn’t add.