“I’m still not sure what to make of you,” Twilight said an hour later, as she stood with Vi on the upper floor of the library. “You made it easy for me to agree, but a part of me wonders whether you’ve tricked me into it. How much of what you did was only to get me to agree?”

“I think almost everything I did was trying to get you to agree. But almost nothing was only for that.”

“And all you said was true?”

Vi nodded.

“You really don’t mind being the personal assistant of a baby dragon?”

Vi shook her head.

“You seem to have an odd sense of pride,” Twilight commented.

“I think I have almost no pride.”

“Really?”

Vi nodded. “Pride makes poor decisions. I have no use for it.”

“But if somepony else has pride,” Twilight asked, “would you be considerate not to hurt her?”

Vi nodded again. “I just want everyone to be happy. I care about pride as soon as it affects someone’s happiness, just like anything else.”

“’Just want everyone to be happy?’” Twilight echoed. “That’s what Pinkie says, too. Is that your philosophy?”

“It’s pretty close.”

“Mh.” Twilight gave her a pensive glance. “Fluttershy said you are nine years old...”

“I am,” Vi said, “but I have a condition that makes my mind age faster. It’s probably fully developed.”

“I’ve never heard of that.”

“I’ve never heard of anypony else having it, either. I think it’s the same thing that also affects my mane.”

“Hm?”

“You’ll see what I mean if you touch it.”

Twilight walked closer, bringing a limb to a bushel of the filly’s mane.

“It’s... coarse.”

Vi gave a slight nod. “Unpleasant texture.”

Twilight said nothing, but she kept stroking along the strand in her grip, a frown on her face.

“You can’t see it at all.”

“Yes.”

“Mmhh. Have you-”

“-tested for diseases?” Vi finished her sentence. “Yeah.”

“At a local doctor?” Twilight asked, dropping the strand.

Vi nodded.

“I’ll have a look at it, some time. Could be something magical.”

Vi nodded. “Thanks.”

“How much do you know about math?” Twilight asked, changing the topic.

“I know the basics. Set theory, linear algebra... less about analysis. A lot about probability theory.”

“That doesn’t sound like you’d have an easy time helping me,” Twilight commented neutrally. “I don’t have to use a lot of maths nowadays, but when I do, it’s usually more advanced.”

“I could study it more,” Vi offered.

“Hm. I believe you, but if you really want to help me, I’d rather have a research fellow,” Twilight said carefully. “I love my friends to death, but none of them reads nearly enough.”

“Sure! I love reading.”

“Yes?” Twilight seemed skeptical. “Do you want me to suggest a few books as an introduction?”

Vi nodded. “Make it a generous collection.”

A sleepy dragon entered the library’s kitchen, one claw still rubbing his eyes. On the table, Twilight and Vi sat opposite to each other, Twilight writing on a scroll, Vi reading a book, a half-eaten sandwich on a plate beside her.

“Good morning, Spike.”

“Morning,” Spike murmured, stifling a yawn. “Hey, um,” he said to the filly as he sat down, “don’t take this the wrong way or anything, but I think I haven’t actually caught your name.”

“You can call me Vi.”

“Right.” Spike blinked, looking at the spot in front of him where a few gemstones rested in a bowl of hay fries. “Did you...”

“I thought you would probably ask me to make you something to eat,” Vi said, looking up from her book, “so I did it pre-emptively to be more efficient. I asked Twilight for your favorite breakfast meal – if you don’t want to eat hay fries today, I can make you something else; Twilight assured me that you always want your gemstones.”

“Oh. Hay fries is great! Thanks.”

Showing only slight hesitation, he picked up his fork and took the first bite.

“What are you writing?”

“A reader’s letter to The Post,” Twilight murmured. “They printed this story about ...”

The rest of her sentence got lost as she noticed an error, lighting her horn to erase a bit of ink on her letter. Spike and Vi both looked at her, expecting a delayed answer, but the librarian seemed to have forgotten the question.

Spike shrugged, taking another bite.

“Got any plans for today?”

“Me?” Vi asked as Twilight didn’t respond, once more looking up from her book.

“Well, yeah.”

“I plan to read...” Vi lifted up the book in a light gray cloud, not unlike Rarity’s. “... as much of this book as possible.”

“...oh. Sure.” Spike took another bite. “Well, if I needed your help with something...”

“Whatever you want.”

“Great! So I was thinking about building this super amazing-”

“No!” Both of them looked to Twilight once more, who had finally put the letter aside. “Spike, the reason I’m not helping you with that project isn’t that I don’t have the time, it’s that it’s dangerous.” She walked over next to him. “Mixing up dragon’s breath with unicorn magic in this way is unprecedented. It’s not safe.”

Spike scoffed, but his mood wasn’t ruined sufficiently to impact his appetite.

Twilight frowned. “Vi, if you’re ever asked to assist with something that might be dangerous, ask me first, okay?”

“I’m not sure,” the filly said neutrally. “It would mean placing your authority over Spike’s, but I was specifically assigned to be his number one assistant. I might need his allowance to make that promise.”

“Hey, I’m the authority here.”

“Yes, but we haven’t established that authority is transitive.”

“Transitive?” Spike asked.

“It’s if (A,B) and (B,C) being a member of a relation necessarily implies (A,C) being a member.”

Silence.

“I don’t get it.”

“If I have authority over you, and you have authority over her. If that gives me authority over her, that’s transitive,” Twilight explained. Vi nodded.

“You have direct authority over me anyway because I’m living in your home. It’s just a question of whether your authority overrules Spike’s.”

“I’m for no,” Spike declared, his fork hovering in the air.

“You’re not building that cart, Spike.”

“I think that’s something you two have to decide,” Vi said. “After all, I don’t have authority either way.”

“Well, Spike, I think you’ll have to agree to give me the last word.”

Spike made a face. Twilight chuckled, giving him a pat on the back.

“Fine.”

“Alright,” Vi said immediately. “Sorry, Spike, I can’t help you build that cart.”

“Bah.”

“I’d have advised against it anyway,” Vi continued. “If you try to preserve the effects of both unicorn and dragon magic and then mix them together, the results are unpredictable. While that might sound fun to you, it could theoretically kill everypony in town. The danger of that seems to overshadow the benefits, despite its small probability.”

Silence.

“Um,” Spike said. “Um.”

Silence.

“Really?”

“There is no reason to believe that would happen,” Twilight said. “It’s very unlikely. But... yes, it’s technically possible. We don’t know enough to rule it out. That’s why I don’t want you to do it. I told you it wasn’t safe.”

“Yes, but... you didn’t say... I didn’t think it was that unsafe.”

“Ponies often neglect to communicate scope,” Vi said neutrally.

“Hmm,” Twilight made, giving her another thoughtful look. “Perhaps you’re right. Spike, if I had told you what Vi just told you, would you have-”

“Of course not!”

“Well, then we’re all in agreement now,” Twilight said happily, turning back to her letter, while Vi turned back to her book, taking a bite off her sandwich as she did so.

Spike stared straight ahead for a few more moments, before he slowly picked up his fork and continued eating.

“I’m heading for Sugarcube Corner to meet with the girls.”

Vi looked up. She had been lying on her improvised bed, still reading the same book from earlier in the day.

“Would you like to come?”

Vi’s face lit up, and she slid off her mattress, nodding.

“That’s very nice of you,” she said politely. “Is Spike still here?”

Twilight shook her head. “He left. Something about seeing what Pinkie Pie is up to.”

“Oh, good. He didn’t have any more requests for me today.” They headed downstairs, Twilight opening the door to reveal a sunny afternoon.

“I think he’s a bit intimidated.”

“Ah.” Vi waited for Twilight to close the door behind them before she continued. “I think that’ll pass.”

“How far did you get into the book?” Twilight changed the subject.

“About 200 pages. I’m a slow reader.”

“You’ll make up for that if you keep putting so much time into it.”

Vi nodded. “Twilight, what is Sugarcube Corner?”

Twilight laughed. “That’s Pinkie Pie’s bakery. Actually, her aunt and uncle’s, but she lives there.”

“Do you think it’s safe to go to a public place?”

“I think so. I’ll tell everypony who asks that you’re under my care.”

“But you won’t lie, will you?”

Twilight turned her head mid-walk to examine Vi’s concerned expression, then shook her head.

“You don’t like lying?”

“Not one bit.”

“Hm.” Twilight chuckled. “Why doesn’t that surprise me?”

“Well, I don’t think I’m complicated.”

“No?”

“No.”

“Vi...” Twilight paused. They rounded a corner, passing the fountain. “Do you know... or, do you think that things happen randomly?”

“What do you mean by ‘randomly’?”

“Well, do you believe that there is something guarding, or steering events? Regulating?”

“You mean if I believe in an indifferent universe?”

Twilight paused again, then nodded. “Yeah.”

“I’m agnostic on that. An indifferent universe seems more likely apriori, but what I’ve seen so far marginally points into the other direction. Ask me again in two years.”

“If you still live in Ponyville by then.”

Vi nodded. “What do you think?”

“A clear ‘no’ to indifference,” Twilight responded. “We’re here.”

Vi stretched out a limb, signaling the older pony to stop.

“Even if you’re right, then accidents still happen. You don’t think that gives you a free pass to take risks, do you?”

Twilight turned her head, smiling. “Of course not. That’s why I didn’t allow Spike to build the cart.”

She pulled the door open.

“... hear a cry for help, so desperate that it reached me all the way up in the clouds! Why, somepony seemed to be down at the bottom of the well! I was just about to take a nap, but I couldn’t just sleep if somepony depended on my heroicness, now could I?”

“Um.”

“I leaned down from my cloud, and there it was again, a cry right from under the earth. And then, I zoomed into the well. I knew it would be dark and dangerous, but I didn’t let that stop me. Danger’s my middle name. Rainbow, Danger, Dash!”

“Oh. I guess it’s easy for me to forget how small you are.” With a friendly chuckle, Twilight lifted Vi onto her back, right in time for her to see Rainbow Dash putting on sunglasses, causing a disbelieving giggle from the filly. She was standing on top of the counter, speaking to a small crowd.

“Thinking back on it, I acted pretty awesomely heroic that day.”

“Awesomely heroic that day and awesomely arrogant ever since,” said a mare from beside them. “Howdy, Twilight. Why, and hello to you, too.”

“Applejack, this is Vi,” Twilight introduced. “She’s under my care. Vi, Applejack.”

“A pleasure-” Vi began but was cut off by Rainbow Dash suddenly appearing next to the farmpony, pulling her close.

“Hey Applejack! How would you like to be immortalized as my friend?”

Vi’s smile disappeared.

“Immortawhat?”

But already, somepony with a camera had begun to take pictures of both of them while Rainbow Dash forced her oldest friend into a number of questionable postures.

“Are you taking notes?”

Vi almost lost balance as Twilight took a peek at Spike, keeping her position with a surge of magic.

Spike was wearing a gray hat, a brown jacket above a white shirt, and a black tie.

“Yup! I was hoof-picked by Rainbow Dash herself! To write her autobiography!”

“Ermm... autobiographies are supposed to be written by the pony they’re about?”

“Maybe for your normal run-of-the-mill ponies. But I’m far too busy saving lives to stop and write. That’s why I hired Spike as my ghost writer.”

“Ahh!” Pinkie Pie, who had been standing just a few yards off, shrieked loudly, jerking away from the cake she was eating. “Spike’s a ghost!” She was out of the bakery in a blur.

“... aaanyway. Spike here writes down everything- hey, who are you?”

“Somepony who would appreciate not to be immortalized next to you, if that’s okay.” The filly jumped off Twilight’s back, offering Rainbow a hoof. “Call me Vi.”

“Vi, huh? Well, what words would you use to describe my awesomely heroic act?”

She didn’t seem to notice the gesture.

“Saving a pony from the bottom of a well? That sounds neither dangerous nor heroic, just responsible. The odds of hurting yourself should be miniature.”

“Hah! Then what would you call saving as much as four elderly ponies at once from falling to their deaths?”

“Depends. How did it happen?”

“Aha! Somepony who wants to hear more about my heroic acts!” Rainbow Dash did a backflip, re-taking her position on the bakery’s counter where everypony could see her. “Why, I was just gliding through the air, expecting nothing out of the ordinary, when I could see a crack in the floor of the retirement home’s terrace! Before my eyes, it widened, and I knew that if I didn’t step in, all of their fates would be sealed! So without hesitation, I swooped down, catching the terrace in its fall! I slowed it down before it could hit the ground, allowing all four of our beloved elders to live another day!” She flapped her wings, returning to the waiting filly. “Now? How’s that sound?”

“Like a one-in-a-million coincidence,” Vi responded. “And like you’re really strong.”

“You’re spot on, champ! Really strong aaand?”

“Um,” said Vi. “I’m not sure I should answer-”

“From which level did they fall?” Twilight interrupted.

“The terrace was on the first floor,” Rarity answered, taking a stroll to stand next to the magician. “Ponies seldom die from a fall of three yards, Rainbow Dash, dear.”

“But old ponies could seriously hurt themselves,” Vi pointed out. “Are you Miss Rarity?”

“Why, yes! To which lovely filly do I owe the pleasure?”

“You can call me Vi.” They shook hooves. “I live with Twilight.”

“Oh? What unexpected news. Are you a relative?”

“Not exactly,” Twilight chimed in. “A story for later.”

Rarity nodded. Throughout all this, all but a few ponies seemed to have lost interest in Rainbow Dash, and a number of conversations had broken out among the crowd. A giggling Pinkie Pie came bouncing back into the room.

“Hey, Vi.” Spike showed up, showing the filly a number of claw-written pages. “This is all of Rainbow Dash’s speeches! Do you think you could-”

“Rejected,” Twilight said sternly. “We’re not helping Rainbow Dash boost her ego further.”

“Come on!”

“I’m serious, Spike. This is no laughing matter! There is a real lesson to be learned here.”

“I’m afraid Twilight is right.” Rarity took Spike’s transcripts in her telekinesis, throwing a look at them. “Dear, you write fast.”

“You could just talk to her,” Vi suggested. “But remember that preventing any serious accident should almost certainly have priority over personal behavior.”

“That’s mighty simple. I like it.” Applejack gave Twilight a friendly poke. “Why don’t you get her right now?”

“I’m not sure...”

“I think your lovely friend is right,” Rarity supported.

“You can frame it in a way that isn’t demotivating,” Vi said. “This could avoid potential escalation, too.”

“Alright. Pinkie Pie?”

A pink blur materialized next to the group.

“Yes? Hi Twilight! Hey, who are you? Oh my gosh I haven’t seen you before are you new in town what’s your name mine’s Pinkie Pie hi!”

“Hi, you can call-”

“Pinkie,” Twilight interrupted. “It is very important that you don’t throw a welcoming party for Vi here. Can you do that?”

Pinkie’s ears drooped. “No welcoming party? But why not?”

“It’s a secret,” Twilight said, “now listen. We want to tell Rainbow Dash not to be arrogant, can you help?”

“But...”

A pause.

“Vi, do you really not want a welcoming party?”

“I’d be very grateful if you didn’t throw one.”

Pinkie Pie bit her lip. “Alright then...” She sighed. “Should I get Dashie?”

Twilight nodded, and Pinkie Pie left.

“Now you got to know all of the elements,” Twilight said to Vi, who nodded.

“Err, what’s up?”

“Rainbow Dash!” Pinkie said hysterically, grabbing the pegasus by her shoulders before Twilight got to say anything. “You’re boasting, and Twilight says that’s bad, and now there is a friendship problem and you should probably write a letter to Celestia but you also need to stop boasting, or maybe at least do it a little bit less, or does she need to stop at all, what do you think, Twilight?”

“Less would be marvelous,” Rarity responded in Twilight’s place. “Rainbow Dash, darling, you truly need to learn the virtue of modesty.”

“Modesty? Ha!” But Rainbow Dash looked a bit unsure. “Uh, come on, guys. It’s all in good fun! Don’t you want me to be a hero?”

“It’s great that you’re a hero,” Twilight said compassionately.

“But a real hero doesn’t brag,” said Applejack.

“Celebrating your accomplishments is natural,” said Twilight.

“But rubbing them in everypony’s face is not,” said Applejack.

“And there is no need to brag for other ponies to appreciate you,” Rarity added. “On the contrary, they’ll probably do it more if you’re more modest.”

“Uhm... for real?”

All four nodded.

“Oh... okay then. Yeah, you’re right, I was bragging a bit. Um...” With a gaze at the filly, she changed the subject. “So, who’re you again?”

Vi, who had unmistakably been standing next to Twilight the whole time, offered Rainbow Dash her hoof once more.

“I live with Twilight,” she said as the pegasus took it. “Call me Vi.”

“Well, great! What am I supposed to do with this, now?” Spike asked, gesturing with the transcripts Rarity had returned to him.

“Now Spike, I made this outfit for you, but I’m not sure I like you wearing it in a bakery. Why don’t you return it to me and have some fun at the party?”

Spike hesitated, but then shrugged, stripping out of his clothes. Voicing her approval, Rarity folded all of them neatly together and carried them towards the entrance. “I’ll be back in just a minute,” she announced in a sing-song voice.

Applejack snickered. Spike threw her a disapproving look.

“I still haven’t gotten the teleportation spell to work,” Twilight murmured. “It would allow me to transport these clothes directly into the boutique without needing to walk there. I’ve been working on it for months.”

“Twilight, do you think this is big enough to write a letter?” While Rainbow Dash asked this, Pinkie Pie was sneaking around them to get close to Vi.

“Do you really have a secret?” She asked in a whisper.

Vi nodded.

“Can you tell me?”

“That depends on you,” Twilight said to Rainbow Dash in the meantime, ”if you think you learned something important, you should write one. It doesn’t have to be long.”

“Um,” Vi said, “I can, but I don’t want to.”

“I wouldn’t tell anypony!”

Vi hesitated. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay.” Pinkie Pie straightened herself, demonstrably turning her head away. “I understand.” Then, a moment later, she was looking back at the filly, smiling. “Is this your first party in Ponyville? How do you like it?”

“It’s fine,” Vi said. “Did you throw it?”

“Me?” Pinkie Pie giggled. “No, silly! Nopony threw this party! It just happened because Dashie was bragging and then lots of ponies came together! That’s why there are no streeeeeamers! If I throw parties, they’re even more fun!”

“Shouldn’t you be serving customers, Pinkie Pie?” Twilight reminded her.

“Oh. Hehe. Ooopsie!” With more giggles, Pinkie Pie began bouncing towards the same counter Rainbow Dash had been standing on just a few minutes ago.

“Do sales actually freeze when she’s not there?” Vi asked.

“Hm,” Twilight made. “I think most ponies probably wait until she’s back, but a few probably also just serve themselves and drop some bits in the cash register, however much they think it’s worth. I don’t think anypony will steal, but I guess it’s not an ideal system.”

“I think that sounds pretty good, actually. I’m starting to like this town.” Vi let her gaze drift among the many ponies who were still there, even though nothing out of the ordinary was supposedly happening anymore.

“I ain’t havin’ that for my sales,” the farm mare commented. “Ain’t no good service to leave customers to themselves, and there are still some folks out there whom you can’t trust to be responsible.”

“I think it’s different,” Twilight said. “You have a more professional business. And the few ponies who’d be willing to steal probably don’t come to Sugarcube Corner on account of Rainbow Dash flying heads-first into a well.”

“Hey, it was a perfect dive, alright? Didn’t even bruise a wing!”

“She is a very good flier,” Twilight agreed. “But townsponies can see her whenever they want. This is more of an excuse to have a good time.”

“Does this happen in other places?”

Twilight gave her a curious look... lasting a lot longer than what seemed appropriate.

“I’m not sure,” she said eventually. “I don’t think it is a thing in Canterlot. Could be a trait of more rural areas. Would you like some treats?”

Vi hesitated. “I’m very grateful that you’re letting me live at the library. You don’t have to spend any more bits on me.”

Twilight giggled. “Nice of you to worry. But the offer still stands.”

“If it’s no problem, then I’d like to try.”

“Pick your favorite,” Twilight said, floating four bits her way. “As a rule of thumb, the more colorful they are, the more sugar will be inside.”

“Thank you.” Vi took the bits and made for the counter. When she returned a minute later, carrying four bits and two muffins, Rainbow Dash and Applejack were wrapped up in a conversation about local competition, of which Twilight didn’t seem to take a big part of.

“Pinkie Pie-”

“-didn’t charge you because it was your first purchase,” Twilight completed her sentence as Vi returned the bits to her. “Shouldn’t surprise me. Thanks.” She also took the second muffin Vi offered, taking a bite. “How’s it taste?”

Vi took a careful bite of hers, chewing, swallowing, and thinking about her answer.

“Still very sweet. But pretty good.” She took a second bite. “Does Pinkie make them?”

“Some of them. Judging by the low amount of sugar on these two, I’d guess against it.” She kept her eyes on the filly, a slight frown on her face. “You really seem to have the mind of an adult.”

Vi nodded.

“How is it to grow up so quickly?”

“I think I’m pretty different from most ponies,” Vi said carefully, “and I don’t know how it is for others. So I don’t really know how to answer.”

“But you are doing okay?”

“Nice of you to worry,” Vi said, echoing Twilight’s sentiment from earlier. “I think so.”

“Good.” Twilight smiled. “That’s all that matters.”

“You’re certainly well-mannered for yer age,” Applejack chimed in. “How long yer gonna be here?”

“My best guess right now is that my personal preference will be to stay for the foreseeable future,” Vi responded, once more in a careful voice. “The limiting factor might be how long Twilight is willing to put up with me.”

“As long as you behave this well, you don’t have to worry.”

This earned a smile from the filly, so warm that it made Twilight blush.

“And as long as you’re my loyal assistant, I’ll allow you to stay, too!”

“Your assistant?” Rainbow Dash echoed skeptically.

“Yup! Want me to demonstrate?”

“Spike has full authority over me,” Vi said dutifully, before Twilight had a chance to scold him for his bragging. “I’m only tolerated at the library because I agreed to enter his service.”

“Um,” Spike said. “Yeah. Exactly! Want to bring me a muffin?”

Vi nodded, giving Twilight a questioning look, who rolled her eyes, pulling out nine bits for the filly.

“With gemstones and extra splinters!”

“Will Pinkie Pie-”

“-know which one?” Twilight finished her question. “Yes.”

Vi nodded, making for the counter once more. She returned just in time to see Rarity re-join the group, and Rarity returned just in time to see Vi deliver the muffin.

“Thanks,” Spike said, licking his lips at the sight of the treat.

“How very nice of you,” Rarity commented, before clearing her throat. “Ahem-”

“Vi’s my personal assistant!”

“Oh, is she, now?”

Vi nodded.

“How wonderful. Ahem, ladies?” There were some responsive murmurs, so Rarity continued. “I’m afraid I must announce that I won’t make it for our weekly picnic next Tuesday. I’m planning a three-day visit in ... mnnhhhh... Canterlot!But, I will make it back for your birthday party on Thursday, Twilight.”

“Canterlot, huh?” Twilight seemed thoughtful. “Have you already booked a room or hotel?”

“Why, yes, I have.”

“Could you still cancel your reservation?”

“Well... I suppose so, but why would I have to do that? Please, don’t tell me my presence is already requested elsewhere!”

“No, no.” Twilight chuckled. “Nothing like that. It’s just that I might have a surprise for you. I’ll let you know if I do. When are you leaving?”

“Tomorrow morning, I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to see Canterlot on a Sunday.”

“Tomorrow... Spike, can you make sure to be in the library in an hour?”

“Mh-hmh,” Spike made, his mouth full. At Twilight’s doubtful glance, he swallowed. “Library in an hour. Got it!”

“Great! Vi, you can stay however long you want.”

“Unless I want you to go back with me,” Spike added. “I’ll let you know.”

Vi nodded. “Of course.”

“Well, Twilight. Whatever it is, it is very nice of you, especially considering it is your birthday coming up, not mine.”

“Hehehe... you don’t need a birthday to do something nice for your friends, Rarity! But who am I to tell that to you of all ponies?”

Rarity brought a hoof to her mouth, stifling a giggle. Vi was watching the scene, a smile on her face.

Author's Note

A gust of wind caught Fluttershy's mane from behind, blowing a strand in front of her eyes. She brushed it off, licking her dry lips as she pressed on further into the forest, her eyes set ahead. The flora beside the path was rich and vast, among them plants she hadn’t enountered in months, but despite her gnawing hunger, she made no attempts to find something edible.

Click, click. Tick-tick-click.

She turned her head, spotting a forest spirit sitting on a branch to her right, its misshapen head turning above its white body, perhaps greeting her with this familiar clicking sound. Fluttershy raised an eyebrow, halting in her walk as she watched it, yet always prepared for the worst.

Click. Click. Tick.

It spun around a few times, then it jumped off its branch, disappearing into the covert of trees.

"Shoo," Fluttershy murmured under her breath, wincing at the hoarseness of her own voice.

She was used to a lot, but she knew this was stretching it. She should... what was that thing Rainbow Dash would do, if she were here now?

Fly?

Or just run?

Or perhaps...

But the spirit was behind her now. And if Rainbow Dash truly was reckless enough to have attacked it, then that just proved how stupid she was.

A sigh escaped her lips.

She was out of food, out of water, and she was running low on energy to go much further. Yes, Rainbow Dash would be proud of her.

It was time to fly.