The only sound that could be heard within the tent was the natural flickering of the fire, its warm glow illuminating all within. On one side were men, who very much looked like they belonged there. Furs and armour, weathered faces and harsh expressions. On the other side, six friends who could not have seemed more out-of-place if they tried. Twilight and her five closest companions, Pinkie, Applejack, Rainbow, Rarity and Fluttershy. All were sitting quietly, never saying a word and simply staring at one another from across the fire. But in the midst of it all, Twilight leaned to the side, speaking to Pinkie while keeping her eyes on the men across from her.
"Um...Pinkie? What are we doing here again?"
The party mare giggled.
"Don't be silly, Twilight! There's a perfectly good explanation."
The young Princess looked to her, patiently awaiting her answer. But sadly, Pinkie simply looked to the men, specifically to the oldest, who sat in the middle.
"Thanks for letting us be here tonight. Your fire is...very warm."
While Twilight gave her friend a look of annoyance, the elder nodded.
"Your words are kind, stranger. This fireplace has seen many come and go in my long years, but..."
Slowly, his eyes trailed to each and every one of those across from him.
"...I doubt it has ever seen your like before."
To this, Twilight offered a nervous chuckle.
"Yes...well...we weren't really expecting to be here either."
The elder nodded again.
"Maybe so...but such is often the way, that we find ourselves where we least expect."
He closed his eyes for a time, leaving the mares to glance at each other with confusion. But they turned once more, seeing him look back to them yet again.
"There is a question I have often asked those who sit with us. A question of great importance to all."
Carefully, he leaned forward, narrowing his eyes at them.
"...What is best in life?"
Though taken aback by this, Twilight soon began to smile.
"Well...I doubt any of us could tell you. Philosophers have tried answering questions like that for YEARS without success."
But the elder simply threw back his head and laughed.
"Ha! Philosophers?! All they present are questions. Oftentimes...they are questions leading only to more questions. I seek answers."
Raising a hand, he pointed to the mares.
"All have an answer to this question, and tonight...I seek your answers."
Naturally, there was a degree of hesitancy on the part of the ponies, as all bore looks of uncertainty. As Twilight pondered her position, Applejack leaned in closer to her, whispering in her ear.
"We are his guests, Twi. It'd be pretty rude not to say somethin."
Sighing, Twilight nodded to her friend, before looking back to the elder.
"Very well, we'll tell you."
The elder nodded, seeming rather satisfied at that as he leaned back. Twilight raised a hoof to her chin, pondering on the question before looking up, ready to speak as confidently as she felt capable of. Unfortunately, she was interrupted by Rainbow, who gave a brief laugh before giving her answer first.
"I know exactly what's best in life! To have all the po...erm...people in the world look to you and go "wow, that one is great", because you are great."
The other mares looked to her with some annoyance or rolling of the eyes, while the elder, for his part, considered her words.
"Hmmm...you consider fame and admiration to be the best thing in your life? To be the centre of others awe. You have the heart of one of my own warriors, young mare."
Rainbow nodded and smiled widely, clearly feeling happy with both her answer and the response it got. She sat herself back down, so the man just looked to all the others. After a moment or two of silence, it was Fluttershy who then spoke next.
"Um...to know I'm able to take care of all my friends? Like all my little animals, or the girls here? I just think...knowing they're all alright is enough for me."
The man nodded.
"Contentment at the wellbeing of ones closest companions? Yes...I can see it."
The yellow pegasus offered a small smile, before then looking to her other friends. A second passed before Rarity then spoke up herself.
"Well, I don't know about anypony else, but I'd say that what is best in life is that my work has brought some measure of joy into those I give them to. To work as hard as I can, as passionately as I do, and to know that what I give them has made them happy...I think I can safely say that it is that feeling I live for."
Another nod from the man.
"Work for the betterment of others. Admirable indeed."
Smiling, Rarity swept aside some of her hair, waiting for the next mare to speak up. This time, it was Applejack, who promptly cleared her throat before adding her voice to matters.
"Ah can't speak fer nopony but mahself, but...ta me...the best thing in life is family. Having mah sister and brother and Granny and...pretty much all us Apples, knowin we're doin well and livin happy lives...it just brings a smile ta mah face."
And smile she did, looking more than a little proud of her answer, while the elder regarded her carefully.
"Family...yes. If only others of these recent days would regard them as highly."
Applejack gave a tip of her hat to this, sitting back down and, like the others, looking over to Twilight. Her's was the last answer left, and after waiting for her for a few moments, all watched as she finally gave it.
"What is best in life? To me...it would be friendship. The bonds between two people, no matter how different, no matter what might have occurred between them, and to know that it is strong enough to endure the rest of their lives no matter what may come their way...that is what I work for. That is the role I have chosen for myself. And..."
A smile crept onto her face.
"...and if I can stand back, and see a friendship I have made happen...that, to me...truly is the best thing in life."
Her friends all smiled to her, and she herself seemed rather pleased with what she'd said, sitting back down and receiving a few pats on her shoulder from the surrounding mares. As for the elder, he carefully stroked his moustache slightly, before giving a brief nod to the young Princess.
"You set yourself a mighty task, winged one. But a worthy one, it must be said. Well spoken, friend."
Twilight's smile widened, and her friends looked to her with pride. But she didn't get the chance to say anything, because while the elder was calling over one of his servants, Rainbow scooted closer to her and whispered into her ear.
"This place is pretty sweet."
On the other side, Pinkie smiled widely.
"Yep! I'm kinda wondering why I stopped coming to...wherever this is."
The servant that had been called previously now re-entered the tent, carrying a massive silver plate, and the elder looked to his guests with the first smile he'd worn all evening.
"I ask you, strangers. Stay with us this night and dine with us."
Twilight gave a slight bow of her head.
"Thank you, Sir. We'd be honoured."
Rainbow chuckled to this before looking to the man herself.
"What's for dinner?"
Gesturing to the plate, the elder answered.
"A delicacy of both our lands and our people...roasted horse."
Immediately, silence fell over the ponies, and they looked to him with utter horror, which he soon noticed.
"Fear not. It's not cannibalism if ponies eat it."
As the mares took this all in, a look of realisation soon crossed Pinkie's face, and she snapped her hooves.
"Oh, now I remember why I stopped coming here!"
