A Future in Peril

Twilight and her friends sat around a large table in the center of the bakery.  The freshly baked cupcakes in the middle of the table filled the room with a sweet aroma.  "It was nice of Mrs. Cake to close early today, so we could have a private get together.  It makes it hard to have a good time when everypony is staring at you," Twilight said kindly.

"I know how you feel," Rarity added.  "It is like they never seen alicorn sized ponies before."  The others laughed happily at Rarity's jest.

"Could you thank her the next time you see her for me, Pinkie?" asked Twilight.

"Sure Twilight.  I'd be glad to tell her," she said sweetly.

"Have you been getting enough sleep dear?" Rarity asked noticing the black circles around the bubbly pony's eyes.

"Not really," Pinkie replied bashfully.

"Pinkie," Twilight began.  "You don't have to work so long at the hospital.  I don't blame you for what happened."

Pinkie lowered her head.  She spoke in a voice that was both sad and tired.  "I can't let that happen again.  I won't let anypony suffer."  Pinkie raised her head up high and looked at Twilight as she said, "I'm going to work hard at this, so I can help all the suffering ponies."  The others smiled at her determination.

"You always did love to make all us ponies smile sugar cube," said Applejack.  "Just please get some rest.  You could even throw us a party.  We sure do miss a good ol' fashion Pinkie Pie party."  Fluttershy and Twilight nodded in agreement.

Pinkie smiled at the ponies.  "Alright, I'll find a reason to throw a party for you gals," she said happily.  "Then, I'll take a long nap."

Twilight chuckled.  "I...think you should reverse the order."

"Right," Pinkie said rubbing the back of her mane.

"Sounds wonderful Pinkie," Fluttershy said.  "Applejack, How is your poor, little pig?"

"She's never been better.  Thanks for comin over and helpin out," Applejack said appreciatively.  "I never would have thought that she hated the food she was eatin."

Rarity moved closer to Applejack, and wrapped her in a loving embrace.  Applejakck turned her head, only to receive a gentle kiss from the white unicorn.  "What brought this on?" Applejack asked.

"The sound of your voice makes me go crazy," replied Rarity.  Applejack smiled and gave her another peck on the cheek.

"Come on guys.  Can't you go five minutes without climbing all over each other?" Twiliight said jokingly.  Rairty and Applejack laughed at their purple friend.

"I can't help it," Rarity said.  "I just love her."

"You've been going out for two months.  Are you sure it's that serious," Fluttershy embarrassedly asked.

"It's been two great ones," Applejack said.  She gave Rarity a knowing smile.  Rarity returned it with a wink.

"How's the library doing?" Rarity asked Twilight.

Twilight smiled.  "I've ordered some new books on the history of Equestira.  They are said to be written by Starswirl the Bearded himself!"  She may have been fooling everypony else, but Rarity could sense the sadness in Twilight's heart.

"Are you feeling alright?" asked the ever concerned Rarity.

"I'm fine.  Why do you ask?" Twilight replied.

Rarity looked sympathetically to Applejack, then back to Twilight.  "Well.  Since Spike had that...accident, you haven't been yourself.  It's surprising that you even came to this little get together."

Twilight's expression darkened.  "He was a brave, little dragon.  The way he shoved me out of that Gulon's* way."  Tears trickled from her eyes.  "Yet with all my magical ability, I couldn't save him.  That creature tore him apart before I had a chance to react."

"I'm sorry for bringing it up, but we all have been worried about you," said Rarity.

"Spike wouldn't want you to be like this," Fluttershy added.  "He's in a better place now."

Twilight gave her a brief smile.  "I know he wouldn't, but it's still hard."  She reached for one of the cupcakes that Mrs. Cake had left for them, and took a small bite.

"What were you looking for?" Rarity asked.

Twilight thought for a moment.  "We were searching for a special object for Princess Celestia.  I can't really say anymore."

The door swung open violently, and (to the relief of Twilight) ended the subject.  The five surprised ponies turned to face a winded Rainbow Dash.  "What in tarnation are yah doin?" Applejack asked.

Rainbow Dash trotted over to the table.  She wore the biggest smile on her face.  "You guys won't believe it," she said excitedly.  "Crimson Dusk asked me to marry him!" Her friends gasped, then squealled with joy.

"That's amazing!" Twilight exclaimed.  "I'm so happy for you both!"

"Thanks," replied Dash, "but that isn't all."

"There's more?" Rarity said bewildered.

Dash nodded her head.  "He said that you guys could help with the wedding like you did for Cadence's.  With you all running the show, I know it will be twenty percent cooler"

The five ponies squealed even louder.  "I'll get right to work on your dress," Rarity said with designs swimming sporadically through her mind.  "I'm thinking velvet...wait, silk.  Silk and emeralds...."  Her voice trailed off, as did her mind.

"I think I found the excuse to throw a PARTY!" Pinkie shouted.  The others busily chatted about their ideas, when the door swung open again.

"You should really cut the noise down, or else some random pony might spread the news," Dusk said walking in.  He was accompanied by Celestia and Luna.

"Princess Celestia!" Twilight exclaimed as they all bowed at the royal alicorns.

"I told you that you don't have to bow at me my prized pupil," Celestia said affectionately.

"Sorry," Twilight said apologetically.  "Old habits."

Luna trotted over regally to Dash.  "My brother speaks highly of you.  Is thou really the one that pulled off the fabled sonic rainboom?"

Rainbow Dash raised her head proudly.  "Yeah, that's me," she said rubbing her hoof against her chest.  "I'm probably one of the greatest ponies around."

"Greatest braggart is more like it," Rarity snickered.  Rainbow gave her a threatening look.

Dusk trotted over to his bride-to-be, and stood next to her.  "She's the greatest mare anypony could ask for," he said.

"If that's the case, why did she choose you?"  Celestia joked.

Dusk grinned at his sister's attempt to tease him.  "I don't think we have the time to list off all the reasons."  Celestia and Luna giggled at his reply.

"Are you going to marry us?" Rainbow Dash asked Celestia.

"Of course," she replied.  "It would be my pleasure to marry my brother to a beautiful pegusus."  Dash blushed at the comment.  "Plus, Luna has a surprise for you both."

"I've decided to create a new constellation in the night sky," Luna said.  "I think thy visages would be perfect.  T'will be my greatest masterpiece yet."

'My face will be in...in the sky?" Dash stuttered.  "That's so awesome!  Thank you Luna!"

"T'is my pleasure," she said with a hint of pride in her voice.  "I'll see to it they are the brightest stars in the sky on your wedding night."

"So, Celestia..." Twilight began before being cut off by somepony shouting outside.

"Help!  For the love of Celestia, help me!" somepony cried in terror.  The nine ponies hurriedly ran out the door.  There was a crowd gathered around the town square.  Everypony looked as if somepony had been murdered.

"Everypony please step back," Celestia ordered.  "Can anypony tell me what happened?

A blue and white pony pointed at the fallen earth pony on the street.  "He just came into town screaming and yelling about some sort of attack."  Cuts and burns covered his yellow coat..  His unkempt, hazel mane was covered by a strip of leather that could have been a hat at one time.  His feral, green eyes darted around wildly.

"Braeburn?" Applejack said running to her cousin.  She kneeled down, and cradled his head lovingly in her hooves.  "Braeburn!  What happened?"

He looked at her as if she was a stranger.  She could see the fear in his eyes.  "Applejack?" he said with a shakey voice.  "Applelossa is...gone" He blurted out before fainting from exhaustion.

"Braeburn!  Wake Up!," shouted Applejack.  "Pinkie Pie!  Get over here!"  Pinkie Pie ran over to the injured pony.  She quickly began working on him, trying to keep him breathing.

"Princess Celestia, what do you think happened to him?" Twilight asked.  "It looks like he survived something terrible."

Celestia didn't answer.  She was too focused on the mark that was burned on Braeburn's side.  It was a black rose with a snake fiendishly curving around the stem.  "Get my carriage!  Take him to my private doctor in the castle," she ordered.  "I want him kept alive."

"What's the matter?" Twilight asked quizzically.  She had never seen Celestia act this way.

Celestia gave her a serious look.  "I don't think he's a survivor," she said sternly.  "I think he's a warning."

* a hodgepodge of various creatures, usually described as being the size and shape of a dog, with some cat like features such as the head, ears, and claws. It also supposedly has a thick coat of shaggy brown fur and a tail resembling that of a fox.  It is a gluttonous creature that eats anything.