Down the Road

Friendship Rainbow Kingdom Castle; Throne Room - After Midnight

Tired. Oh so very tired, but at the same time, entranced to what now lays before her and maybe even further behind in her mind. Having since forgone the train of thought of doing but a favor for one whom she would never consider using such a word, she instead rustles underneath her ever comfy fleece throw. Reserved in silence of an ever moving muzzle to an ever grinding mind, she only closes it to the lack of assumed substance, finally forced aware of the nearby empty platter.

"Ah think ya went and finished off the last one ah hour ago, Twi." Applejack, the only other one awake in her chair as subtle to almost distracting snores and murmurs soothe the room's tranquility. "Can whip up something, if yer needing."

"Oh, oh it's okay. I just get so lost in all of this..." Looking over the table, and even mares, who carry the spoils of their little war like blankets on but the most vague of information etched over countless parchments. "...how about you?"

"How about what?" She tilts her head, much to the slide of her stetson to which she promptly corrects.

"Anything on your mind?"

"Just how ah can't make a lick of sense over any of this here mumbo jumbo." Leaning forward with a slight squint in her eyes, tilting them back and forth, before rearing back with a light snort. "Ah think ah'm the last kinda pony you'd be needing on this kinda stuff."

Letting her ears flick a few times to the words spoken, eyelids lowered half way in deep contemplation, she lets her expression relax until almost devoid of any and all emotion. Keeping her eyes unfocused for but a few more moments, she instantly flicks them towards one who still struggles to find her worth under drifting stetson.

"!" Applejack, with an expression of unnerved surprise, goes limp in her silent hover several feet above her seat. Still unsure on what to think, she lets the unseen guiding hoof, or horn, pull her slowly counter clockwise until lowered with but one hind leg stuck upon the armchair. Gently raised back up a bit, she is sat back down to similar success. "Ah don't think this here is meant for two, sugarcube."

Eyeing the lack of success, Twilight wiggles her bottom and hind legs a bit tighter with the eventual squeeze of two full sized mares into one throne of magic. Having to tug extra hard, she also frees her fleece for which she then shares without even a word.

"Happy now?"

"Yes." Her reply, even without looking over, serves it's purpose of finality as the green eyed apple farmer beside her only lightly huffs in submission. "I figured since we're both awake, and I'm having trouble keeping so, that you could help me."

"An how am I supposed to do that? Ah can't even move!" To her declaration, she can only feel the stifled shrug.

"I dunno. Talk to me, maybe?" Twilight's iris catches and takes hold of bright green through genuine but poorly executed imitation from one whom still wears the crown. "You know you can always come to me if something is on your mind."

Beginning to shake, much to the tight friction causing an almost perfect unison of bubbling bumping, Applejack begins to snicker and laugh. Wearing a far more common and wholesome smile to the recently worrisome frown, "Girl, ya gotta work on that mother thing."

"W-well I-I'm doing..." Twilight holds her words to the puff of air blown in her face.

"But ya got the friendship thing down better than anypony ah know." Pulling in but a bit more air, much to the squeeze on them both, before looking down onto the table. "Ah messed up, and ah'm not sure how ah'm gonna make it right, is all."

Twilight, unable to move, just reserves herself to listening rather than pushing ahead.

"Harvesting is bout done. So now is the time we go an check things for repairing. Ah was working the fences, this time round, and went and figured I'd push on ahead farther than ah normally would. Ya see, the farm is mighty bigger than y'all might think, and only so many of us that a lot of it goes unused." Closing her eyes. "Or just up an abandoned."

"I know you struggle to fill extra hoofs as more businesses are hiring in town, now."

"Only one little place in the whole dang thing that ah'm not allowed to go." Of such words, even those whom have tried to remain in feign slumber stir but a bit. "None of us are. Least not alone. An even then, last time it was only cause all the family was here and we all went together!" Her emotions slowly getting the better of her. "Ah had to let my durn temper get the best of me."

Twilight, not wanting to interrupt what waited so long to even begin, begins to struggle in and out to what means she could offer in comfort. Finding the lack of words, she strains to free that which had already begun to go numb from lack of blood flow.

"So there ah was. Whacking and just smashing up a storm, making no better a hole no matter how hard ah swung mah branch. Don't remember much, but ah figure ah was just a cussing up a storm." Letting her shameful expression follow like in story, "Ah didn't see em coming. Heard crunching and ah just turned and swung!"

Twilight's eyes, shut like vices, betray her gaping muzzle driven straight up as if enjoying the drizzle of a cloud on an overly warm summer day. Her bottom jaw, quivering with a strained whisper, seems no more capable of claiming notice than the distinct pop of her now free wing in all it's blood rushing glory.

"Ya know what he went and did next? Got on up and starting asking if ah was ok!" With shameful mixing with deep regret, she closes her eyes in fear of will surely be shown her way. "And that's when the cussing started up again."

Draping her wing over the backside of her down and out friend, Twilight looks down upon her edge of the table. Hovering upon the most uninteresting distraction possible, she raises them while in thought to directly across her way, upon that of an earlier sacrifice to appease the loudest among them. Watching the pink party pony snuggle and even nibble on that of slumbering baby dragon, she pushes away responsibility of future night terrors in the hope of finding something, anything, to make council.

"Sometimes the last place ya wanna be is the one ya can't just walk away from."

"I..."

"Then ya got the times where it's not so bad." Dipping her muzzle with a smile. "Even if ah can't feel mah legs."

Canterlot; Minotaur Consulate - Approaching Dawn

"Have to admit, on account last we spoke, I'd ever see you in front of my desk again." The dark grey fur of three fingers and a thumb tips a tall bottle over into a small glass with the fluid of a smooth voice. "Well, at least not on this side of the ocean, eh?"

"Likewise." The large unicorn stallion in dark blue and grey garment picks up the glass slid his way with an raised brow. "I never expected to see Grakan the Scale Bender of the eastern front sitting behind any desk." Sniffing before taking a sip. "Here, or there."

"Oh! Seeking to bolster my obvious reputation even upon these docile lands, are we?" Holding the bottle up with a hearty shake and mock tone. "The Great Doctor Hoofmender! Known...oh, that's right! It's not." Only to lean in with a sneer. "But not all have two..."

"Grakan." Dr. Hoofmender closes his eyes in exasperation, "What's is that?!"

"It's called getting old." Grakan laughs before taking another swig from the battle. "Happens to the best of us."

"To that, my old friend, I do agree." Raising his glass in the air, much to the slight disappointment sent but concealed from his tipped back view, does the stallion drink in full. "I cannot wait to leave this place, once again."

"I wouldn't normally lecture you, but I'm simply getting too old to give a damn." Twisting the bottle in the air back and forth, the clink of glass reminds of feelings mutual. "She's always going to be your Princess, whether you like it or not."

"I can't stand her voice." Dr. Hoofmender's casual tone of such petty mention masks little to current company. "I'll never have such a instrument, mind you, to cut any with but a word. For if I ever did the very first would also be the very last."

"Being?"

"A string."

"At least that is far less violent to what I first assumed." Grakan sets the bottle down atop the desk, hand still firmly grasped with thoughts upon his wandering mind. "I'd most likely cut her mane. You know, see what happens."

Setting his own glass down, the doctor adopts an expression somewhere between amusement of the act, and apprehension to the curiosity. Staring far too long, the alignment once more between old friends steers the conversation weary.

"What? It just moves on it's own!"

"It's just magic, Grakan."

"With no purpose." Flipping his hand palm up. "And what are we without purpose?"

"Free to decide our own, whether good or bad." Narrowing his own to the roll of another, "It is different, for a pony."

Releasing the bottle, he raises and then slams down both open palms onto his desk while rising from his chair. Standing to full stature, he leans but a little more upon his left hand as his right raises to his center chest as if in mid formal bow. Sporting many places where his coat once concealed, either from blade or talon, he forms a challenging smile to the straight and narrow refusing to be impressed.

"For one such as I, whom may not have been just given but a single mark, I have over the course of my life earned but many. These are not the markings of a diplomat so far removed from conflict that the only thing that continues to grow is his belly, but one who should have never left it! But here I sit, for but a purpose molded from the ashes of one forged in the fire!"

Showing through the folding of his ears, closing of nostrils, the doctor grumbles. "Forged... in something... alright."

"You are no different! I remember the first time we met. This... greenhorn unicorn, fresh from the docks, enlisting to be a field medic on the front lines? Prosperous!" Twisting his hand in the air back and forth, "His name isn't good enough, is exactly what I said."

"I'm not quite sure whatever it is that you're trying to get across, Grakan, but..."

"That perhaps we can judge too harshly, when presented with something unable to properly fight back." Leaning back upon his creaking chair, knuckles upon the underside of his jaw in rest. "You would do well to know that initially, it was denied."

As if caught in the act, the Doctor lets a bit of surprise show through expression alone.

"But then..."

Canterlot; Minotaur Consulate - Ten Days Prior

"Sir!" A rather young in coat Minotaur stands in rigid posture and salute before the overly large dark desk once more, much to the concern shining through his eyes in doing so. Daring not to speak on his own, he can only remain until informed otherwise.

"I've already denied their request. If the pony wants to wait there all day, then I am fine to oblige." Shuffling but a small clump of papers before placing them off to the side. Giving his head an idle shake to the thought, he pushes himself on his rickety chair towards the only window to the world outside, yanking the curtain in order to peer out. "...soldier."

"Yes, Sir!"

"How long has she been standing out there?" His tone, flat but serrated like a knife, cuts even a heartbeat.

"For almost half an hour, Sir!" Only to inhale sharply to the slow creak turning his way, letting but a tenacious few seconds linger before the hard stomp of hooves come and pass him by, much to his relief and quick follow.

Thundering through the consulate with little grace or care, the dark grey Minotaur merely waves his open hand to any and all whom tries to assist or come to his aid. Clearing the entire way to and from, he finally reaches the large double doors to the consulate that both his hands firmly grasp, letting his grimace precede what he could only fear would come next.

"...and I look forward to such an event. You can be sure that I shall attend." Princess Celestia, standing just before the consulate back to front, cranes her neck down towards the group of fillies and colts. "I Promise."

"Yay!!" The little group jump or prance before taking off, just as far more almost shove and push to get just a bit closer.

"Oh, please don't push aside your fellow pony." She dares not show even the slightest worry or harsh judgement to the actions before her. "My home is your home, as is my ear to anything that you may have to say. But please, be only kind to those who seek the very same." Beginning to turn with but the faintest of pace. "I shall return, momentarily."

Coming muzzle to muzzle in stare to that of far less diplomatic horns, she holds her aloof expression even as one far more down to earth takes a bit of pity. With two hooves stepping aside to the gradual passing of four, the doors slowly close once more.

"Thank you for seeing me, Ambassador Grakan." Celestia stands in wait for him to pass by once more, forced to take the smallest steps in order to match in pace. "I know my little ponies can get overly excited, and hope the commotion did not disturb you so."

Passing him by one last time through his modest office door, Grakan shuts and then locks the door once her lingering tail passes through, snorting at it's linger. Walking to around the other side of his desk, he gestures for her to sit before doing so himself.

"You must indulge my curiosity, Princess, as to why you would come yourself without guards to the consulate at this hour of morning. I would say that I have not a clue, but then we would both be wasting our time." Reaching to a bit behind, and then even a bit more much to the dust beginning to cover his hand. "I always find just a bit, just enough."

Lifting her brow, she remains silent to the dark red hue of rounded bottle sat upon the desk with two large glasses. Doing her best not to show her apprehension, she can only widen her eyes to the blue liquid filling the cup clear to the brim. "T-thank you."

Doing the same to his own, he lifts his glass to toast without words with the one held in golden glow. Downing his with little trouble, he never lets one eye lose sight of the princesses cringe both before and especially after. Much to the flapping of her wings as her muzzle remains agape, gasping for air, she cringes one more time before dabbing her muzzle clean with a feather.

"Now I know something is wrong." Grakan gently sets his glass back on the table. "What did you ponies do, now?"

"There is one whose life depends on what you have denied, which is certainly within your right." Celestia reaffirms her posture and puts on an non confronting expression, but one neither of weakness. "I have come to ask that you may reconsider."

"No pony would need a pint of our life. And unless you've taken to holding one of my own without informing me..." Giving an expression forged in the face of far less fair. "Then there is little reason for me to concern ourselves in your affairs."

"You would be correct, to know that no pony nor has any Minotaur come under such aid in need. But an aid in need remains, regardless. Is that not enough for the mighty Minotaur to rise and give but would be given in kind?"

"We rise to any cause that riles but the best within us, no matter when, or where." Giving his empty glass but a few spins with his fingers. "Something that many a pony could never claim, even if the anchors of those who can must somehow carry all the weight."

"I can offer..."

"I want to see whatever it is that your hiding." Letting his eyelids drift halfway. "You have given aid and the world has suffered, far too many times. If we are to also claim responsibility, then by my King's hand we shall not do so blindly."

"...my personally prepared..."

"However, in kind, if what you hold is deemed only as you say, then along with full discretion only to my King you shall have any and all that you shall require from us." Doing all he can to keep his expression as hardened as intended. "Do you accept the terms?"

"...double fudge sponge cake."

As words and and expressions die down, each seems to consider what has been offered, to which they do a subtle nod.

"Agreed."

Present Time

"I can't believe she bribed me."

"I can't believe she actually showed you."

"That's what happens when you lead with your heart." Grakan shrugs. "You make mistakes." Giving a few chuckles to the look sent his way. "I have no reason to make a move against something that poses no threat to King or kin, so do not worry."

Staring just a bit longer, Doctor Hoofmender finally let's his eyes drift farther towards the pendulum on the wall, causing them to widen in surprise before letting his front foreleg rise and give gentle caress. "I think..."

"Before you go, I did have something that I wanted to ask you." Leaning farther inwards over the table, causing the doctor to rear back a bit in response. "Isn't it a bit mortifying to number parts of the body before it's dead?"

Shaking it off, Doctor Hoofmender gives his friend a nod before passing off the question as something of a crude joke. Making his way out of the office, and soon the consulate itself, he never says another word. Trotting in the wane of chilly moon light, he snorts going down the street, leaving behind another with an even greater look of surprise still sitting with elbows resting on the hard wooden desk.

Graken, seemingly lost in his thoughts, looks as if fallen asleep before slowly reaching inside one of his metallic wrist cuffs. Sliding out a small clear sphere, like that of a marble with strands of milky substance moving at it's core, he brings it to eye level with a glare. Like with many races, what a Minotaur lacks from birth can always be made up with a tool, even if only to help see but a bit better.

"She looked at me the same way, too."

Palace of the Royal Sisters - Breaking Dawn

Sunrises. She always enjoyed them, even if none would ever truly know why. The first gleam of light across the horizon, basking but every treetop and mountainside ablaze, means so much for so many a different reason depending on the pony. Changing of the Guard at the palace, start time for many a farm across the land, and the good morning kiss for a full night's rest. But for her...

"Careful, sister." Luna nudges her voice in between the private moment. "You wouldn't want to confuse one of the new guards."

Filling her lungs with the cool air of lingering mist, she smiles with the gentle shake of her head to bring her out of her stupor. Finally opening her eyes, of which had been closed for some time, she once more looks out across the fire brought to but the closest clouds in the sky. Looking to her side, in full attention of teasing teal, she winks her own in dismissive play.

"No less confusing were the palace to know to whom you've been spending many a cold night." Showing an earnest smile, but for but a moment before it's slow retreat of possible teasing going too far. "I did not mean to offend..."

"It is not the tease, but the context that brings concern." Turning her head her way but without letting her sight leave her sister's own, ushers Celestia to follow her lead. Making their way towards the very edge of the balcony, one downward gaze leads to but another, with only one knowing exactly what to look for. "Tell me, sister. What do you see?"

Dipping her muzzle a bit more, looking down upon what would normally only be seen by their own eyes, she looks a bit back and forth. Humming to herself, much to the patience beside her, she narrows her eyes but a few times before doing a subtle nod.

"My garden." Earning herself no reaction beside her. "Our garden?"

"I mean of the things that reside within the garden." Letting one lone eye serve vigil to the slight movements of Celestia's muzzle, sometimes craning her neck even farther down and then again back up. "They move about?"

"Oh!" Now raising her brow knowingly. "Discord."

"What?!" Luna suddenly rears up and throws her forelegs over the banister, using rather fierce movements in guiding her muzzle towards any and all movement. Growling, "I don't see..." before glaring towards the giggle. "Ooooo."

"Oh, okay." Smacking her lips a few times for less than appreciated encore. "I see quite a few animals."

"And at the base of the far tree, near the lily pond?"

"Ah. A monkey." Blinking a few times. "Be careful around that one. He bites."

"And maybe not the only one if you don't take this seriously." Sending a clear warning through an overly loud chomp, much to the elder sister slightly scooting away. "Now, in regards to the monkey, what else is it?"

In request, does one sister honor another, much to her apprehensive stare.

"I... Well it's a mammal, primate specifically. His name is Bobo, loves lemons, and is three years old." Slowly widening her eyes to the gaping maw doing the same towards her side along with the pitch of her voice. "A-and... um... I don't know! All he wants is someplace safe, food and water, and some of my attention." If only to find more, "And maybe a girl monkey, but maybe not after the last one beat him up so bad."

Opening her mouth to speak, only to close it once more, Luna seems to stare thoughtfully down into the garden. Tilting her head, as the monkey seems to cup his tiny hands, looking all around as if to anticipate something that no longer resides there.

"That bad?"

"Oh yes. I sent in one of the guards to separate them, only to became her next target." Doing much the same as her younger sister down upon the garden. "He's the one who seems to glare into the garden whenever I station him there every Tuesday."

"And if that monkey were to suddenly approach that guard, not as a mere pet of the garden, but something able to suddenly both speak and understand anything that could be said?" Intently looking for honest reaction. "What might happen?"

"Oh, I would most assuredly need to give him more time off for his mandatory therapy." Flickering her eyelids to the mere thought. "And while for a mere moment I would be rather enthralled, I must admit the experience might be rather concerning."

"They were rather impressive, if I must say so myself. Even you would feel but a bit dwarfed if next to one. The very first time I caught sight, I will never forget." Letting loose a huff of air from her nostrils, she seems to only offer a light shrug. "Nor shall I upon seeing one being fed dry hay from the very hand of the one who now resides beneath us."

Turning to her sister who only seems to welcome the understanding. "I would prefer to have been told, yesterday."

"I do confess to having held back on what information I showed you, even of what to send Princess Sparkle." Holding a more serious expression herself. "Time is not equal upon all realms that we may walk, nor does it wait idly by. To be judged upon a single day, no matter how profoundly lacking, deserves at the very least a second chance."

"You're purposely keeping him asleep." Of no question, but a statement, void of discernible judgement thus far.

"Did you not just absorb what was made in revelation? He shall wake up confused, without familiar council, other than with what should not be able to make any at all." Looking across the horizon instead of the garden. "He may very well go into shock."

"I understood, Luna." Still looking upon her sister with just a thoughtful expression. "But he has no where else to go, and while that will not change no matter how long he slumbers, his health will not be spared the harsh reality chosen for him."

"Chosen?" Lifting her brow with a few subtle nods. "A positive delusion, if even that. If you only consider my concern for his reaction, then even that could be easily sold no worse for wear. But if we do not tend care to what we do today, we certainly shall, tomorrow."

"I want him woken." Letting well performed tone lower to something a bit more equally personal, to company kept. "The minotaurs are having their reenactment at the Gala in five days and I wish not to offend by being unable to keep my word to attend. I know you have reservations, and I would be lying if I did not wish we could simply send him back, but we are princesses, not his owner."

Refusing to return even one in glancing, Luna simply continues her forward gaze.

"Then may I ask, to whom are you considering for first contact?"

"Myself." Looking curiously towards the silent turn and slow departure of her sister. Beginning to do so herself, before the halt and crane of neck to look back upon her anchors her hooves, Celestia seems unsure to ask. "Is something wrong?"

"Come to my chambers later this evening. We shall need to make you a bit more presentable, both mind and body."

Nodding, Celestia seems to linger with eyes drifting onto the marble below. "Luna?"

"Yes?" Making half turnaround, taking notice onto which still only peers down.

Finally looking up back up, anchoring both their sights. "What changed your mind?"

"That, dear sister, shall be up to him to answer."