Roots of a Heart

Chapters

Prelude
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4

Prelude

Celestia soared gracefully across the dark, starless skies. Her strong wings carried her with only the occasional slow flap towards the gentle red glow of the sunset on the far horizon. Below her the endless oceans and fields flew past in a blur, tiny lights now and then flickering in and out of existence among the rocks and trees. Occasionally she turned her head and let her deep purple eyes follow the lights as they faded away behind her. A sad and gently caring smile graced her regal face. The distance seemed to grow with each passing year, the end-point slowly drifting away with the ages.

Descending finally through the cool air, her gold-studded hooves touched down softly upon the vast open courtyard of beautifully patterned cobblestone and impressive carved stone pillars. Her wings folded along her sides as she walked slowly up the long, wide stairs at the foot of the massive iron gates. Her steps on the stone sent loud echoes ringing across the vast open plaza, rebounding off the pillars and grand castle walls. The iron-clad guards along the steps met her with steely, unflinching gazes as the gates opened silently for her.

A copper-coated stallion with sleek black mane and noble eyes, dressed in a suit of rare fabrics, stepped out and bowed before the regent. “Your Majesty! You grace us with your presence.“

Celestia smiled regally and gave a simple nod at the golden scroll case hanging from a silk ribbon around her neck. “We are here to personally deliver a message to your lord.” She spoke as if she had said those same words in this very place a thousand times before, which may well have been the simple truth. “It is Our wish to see him,” she added, more firmly and against tradition.

The servant gave a bow and began to speak, flawlessly reciting what had no doubt been the standard reply for more ages than he himself could remember. “Our Lord greets you and wants to once again reaffirm his sworn oath to your sister, the young Princess Luna. His Lordship's answer to this year's invitation to the Grand Galloping Gala shall remain the same as last year, and all the years before that, until his oath of loyalty stands fulfilled. It is the hope of Our Lord that you will continue to respect his wishes in this matter.”

Celestia listened with patience, her gentle face expressing no great surprise yet hinting at a deeply rooted sadness. “Is that all?” There was a challenge in her voice. It wasn't directed at the greeter.

The stallion gave a little nervous cough. “No, Your Highness. I am also to send His Lordship's most heartfelt compliments to your sister on her return to the blessed soils of Equestria, with the hope that she of all will understand his decision. Furthermore, Our Lord extends his regards to the new bearers of the Elements of Harmony, of particular note the young bearer of Loyalty, with hopes of many years of friendship and great deeds ahead.” The servant bowed as he finished. “That is all, Your Highness.”

The princess regarded the castle and the large gateway behind the stallion. After a moment she looked around at the scroll case by her side. A shimmering light of gold illuminated it as she pulled out a carefully sealed missive, levitating it elegantly through the air towards the greeter. “Tell your master that We are deeply saddened to hear his reply, especially on this unique and wonderful occasion for us all. Tell him that We hope he will accept and read this invitation regardless, and that it may change his heart. Tell him—” She paused, keeping her regal posture and face despite a barely visible struggle to hold back her feelings. She shook her head as if to shake off a thought. “That will be all, thank you.”

The greeter bowed deeply and turned around, disappearing down the richly decorated hall inside with the scroll floating along beside him. Celestia watched him go as the giant gates closed between them.

***

“What's that? What's that? What is that?” Dinky Doo came bouncing joyously down the street behind her mother who was carrying a nondescript brown paper bag in her mouth. Derpy had been working late so Dinky had been staying with her half-sister Amethyst Star after school. Dinky and Derpy were now on their way home.

“What's in the bag?” Dinky pressed on, eagerly prancing around Derpy to get a better look at the object of her fascination.

“Nuffin,” Derpy said innocently, mouth completely full of paper bag.

“Muffins?!” The young unicorn's eyes sparkled with delight.

Derpy looked mildly panicked at the unicorn's keen perception. “No, um, awwles … juft awwles.”

“Sure, sure … apples.” Dinky winked conspiratorially.

Derpy heaved a breath of relief and smiled in satisfaction at her diversion. You're a real sleek con mane, she told herself. “You, um, haf fun to'ay wif your sifter?”

Dinky nodded enthusiastically. “She let me help her and mister Karat in the shop, and then she helped me with my magic. She says I'm getting really good with my light spells.”

“Weally?”

“She says I outshine all the diamonds in the shop!” The little unicorn beamed. “Wanna see?”

“Mhmm,” Derpy murmured as she regarded the filly warmly.

Dinky closed her eyes in concentration. Her little horn lit up brightly in a dancing display of colored lights like the brilliant sparkle of sunlight playing in gemstones. “See?” she said proudly and looked up at her mother. “You like it?”

“Ooh,” Derpy exclaimed, nearly dropping the bag. She caught it in mid-air again and grinned proudly at Dinky. “You're the clevewestest liwwle unicorn ah know!”

The filly beamed, and in the excitement her horn flared briefly and lit up the street in a blinding flash. There was a surprised squeak, a loud bump and the sound of the paper bag being crushed under the weight of two ponies.

“Nooo …” cried Derpy.

“Oh, I'm so, so sorry …” a shy voice said as they stumbled about blindly. “A-are you hurt?”

As the light died and all their eyes got used to the darkness again, Derpy found herself sprawled on the ground together with a yellow pegasus. She picked up the sad remains of the paper bag and tried not to cry. “My muffins …”

Dinky hurried up to her mom and helped her back up. “I'm sorry, mom! I didn't mean to do that. Are they …” she looked at the muffins in dismay. She had looked forward to a muffin, and so had Derpy no doubt. Still, it wasn't the end of the world. “We can get some new ones, can't we? We'll go back and buy some.”

“Mrs. Cake gave me 'em,” Derpy cried sadly. “A special gift, for doing a good job she said.”

Fluttershy staggered back on her legs and looked at the two unfortunate ponies with the bag of crushed and dirty muffins between them. “I-I'm SO sorry, I didn't look where I was going,” she said, looking wracked with guilt. “I-I can make it good again. My friends and I were on our way to Sugarcube Corner for, um, dinner. You can come with me, I'm sure Pinkie Pie wouldn't mind letting you in, um, that is, if you want to. I'll tell her it was all my fault with the muffins.”

Dinky looked at her mother. Derpy wiped her eyes and looked up at the yellow pegasus with a light of hope in her eyes. “You would do that for us?”

Fluttershy smiled at her. “It's the least I could do after bumping into you like that. I'm really, really sorry.” She held out a hoof to Derpy. “I'm, um, Fluttershy.”

Derpy brightened up as if nothing had happened. “I'm Derpy, Derpy Hooves. This is my daughter Dinky.” Dinky waved happily as Derpy shook Fluttershy's hoof. “You're a really nice pony, miss Fluttershy,” the gray pegasus said with a faint blush to her cheeks.

“Oh, um, thank you, Derpy.” Fluttershy smiled as she lead them down the street towards the bakery where the sounds of a party were already flowing out through the door. “I-I think Pinkie had something silly planned. I think she said something about, um, pirates. Just so you are, um, warned.”

***

“Ahoy, me mateys! Bring 'er alongside!”

A familiar pink party pony bounded up to greet them as they entered. She wrapped a hoof around each of them as she lead them inside with a grin the size of her head. She was wearing a red bandanna, golden ear rings and a large hat with a big feather prominently featured. The theme of Pinkie's party was clear as day from the outset. What wasn't clear was why, but that was never clear with Pinkie. “Arrr! Ye scurvy dogs, the party's already started.” She slapped a big hat on each of them and stuck a plastic cutlass in their mouths. “Come join me crew an' I fer a round o' grog an' munchies! We're celebratin' some mighty fine booty tonight, ain't it right me hearties?”

There was a big “Arrr!” from the other four ponies and one small dragon gathered in the Sugarcube Corner which was decorated in a pirate theme for the occasion, whatever exactly that was. Derpy and Dinky had seen the new unicorn and her friends around Ponyville but never talked to them much, except for Pinkie Pie who was hard not to know when you lived in Ponyville.

Pinkie joined in with a mighty “Arrr!” herself and directed Derpy and her daughter towards the table where two places had mysteriously been reserved. Fluttershy trotted behind in shy silence but failed to avoid Pinkie's attention. The pink pony grabbed the yellow pegasus and slapped a hat on her head. “Now, c'mere me bucksome beauty! No runnin' off like that!” Fluttershy squeaked a little, then giggled at the crazy party pony.

There was a loud protest as a rainbow-maned pegasus jumped up on the table, pointing her cutlass at Pinkie. “ 'Ey! That's me lass ye're holdin' there, ye pink scallywag!”

“Ya hah hah hah harrr! The captain takes what the captain likes,” Pinkie laughed dramatically while Fluttershy squeaked in her grasp. “And she gives nothin' back!”

The rainbow pegasus held out a hoof to the orange earth pony seated to her right. “First mate, gimme yar rope!”

“Ay!” The pony gave one nod, pulled a rope out from under the table and threw it to the pegasus.

“Mutiny!” Pinkie crowed and raised her hooves to fight. “Come at me, cur!”

Derpy and Dinky watched in amazement at the blur of colors. The pegasus was upon Pinkie in the blink of an eye, and before anypony knew it the captain was dangling above the table, tied up like a freshly caught fish. The pegasus landed next to Fluttershy and picked up Pinkie's wide, feathered hat. She put it on with a flourish. “Take me lass, will ya? Not on my watch!”

There were cheers from around the table as Fluttershy and the new captain took their seats next to each other. Derpy and Dinky sat down on the other side of the table.

“Welcome aboard, me new hearties. I be yer captain, the dread Rainbowbeard, the Blazin' Buckaneer and legendary Scourge of the Celestial Seas.” She tipped her hat before raising her tankard of grog at the ponies around her. “An' this 'ere,” she pointed the tankard to her right, “be me lass, miss Fluttershy, the bucksomest gall ever to set a sail upon the bright blue ocean!”

“Yar …” Fluttershy said quietly, smiling timidly by the captain's side.

The tankard moved clockwise around the table, pointing at the orange earth pony who had provided the rope. “First mate and grogmeister, Apple Blackjack!”

Applejack gave a hearty “YAR!” and poured them a jug of grog each. “Welcome aboard the Flyin' Seahorse! Just returned from a glorious plunder of ye royal coffers, with a booty to be sung about fer ages to come!”

“Yarr! The one and only aerial hippocampus!” The purple unicorn who now lived in the library grinned widely next to Applejack and swung her mug in the air, spraying the table with grog.

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes, pointing her tankard at the unicorn. “Ay, the one and only. Our navigator and drivelswigger, Twilight Sparkle, is that.” The tankard passed by Derpy and Dinky to the fair, purple-maned unicorn on their other side. “And lastly but neigh leastly, our gunner and fair figurehead miss Rarity the Purple Corsair with her faithful powder monkey, Spike the Dragon”

“Well met,” said the unicorn, the most elaborately and fashionably dressed of all the ponies around the table.

“Yo!” Spike the powder monkey saluted them with a raised tankard and a toothy grin.

“Yo ho!” They all chimed in, mugs of grog clashing in the middle of the table.

“Ya cur, ya forgot me!” Pinkie said from her dangling position above the table.

Rainbow Dash gave a dismissive nod up at Pinkie Pie. “Oh yeah, and … Pinkie the Parrot.”

“Me shoulder be achy,” said the pink pony to nopony in general. “Anypony seen me Gummy? Old gator Gummy will get momma free he will!”

“Don't mind 'er, she talks more'n she thinks,” Rainbow Dash said and threw a cupcake to Pinkie. It was dutifully grabbed and gobbled down. “So tell us yar names, me friends.”

Dinky swung her plastic cutlass in the air. “Freebooter Dinky Doubloon, at yer service!”

“An' I be Derpy Jones, Bread Raider of the Golden Sea,” Derpy said and grimly impaled a muffin on her plastic sword. She held up the golden-brown treasure. “What's this boot ye be celebratin'?”

Rainbow Dash reached down under the table and pulled out a small treasure chest. With a grin she slammed it down on the table in front of her, sending cups and baked goods jumping. “Behold, me hearties!” She flipped the chest open to reveal seven golden tickets. “Straight from ye royal coffers, seven golden tickets, one fer each o' the seas and the reason fer our little party this night. Arrr!”

Derpy and Dinky gazed wide-eyed upon the golden treasure. “Oooh!” As did everypony else.

Rainbow Dash snapped the chest shut again. “Enough gazin', ye scurvy dogs! It be time fer a song an' a jig, yarrr!” The pegasus jumped up on the treasure chest, standing on her hind legs and raising her tankard of grog high into the air. “Sing, dance, me lasses … and lad.” She grinned at the powder monkey. “Party like there be no tomorrow!” As Rainbow Dash danced atop the treasure chest, the others broke into song and cheers.

My wings aching, sky breaking, hail on the deck
And the airship's one squall away from ending a wreck
Storm or pony, don't know who's the tougher’a ride,
We fight while the earth ponies all cower inside

The storm's flashing, ship's dashing, gasbag's alight
And the unicorns all just stare on in fright
We've got the sky on our shoulders, never ask how
It'll be the storm or the pegasi who break here and now

Clouds kicking, hooves slipping, wind in our manes
We've seen this before and we'll see this again,
A dance with skyfire is good for the soul,
It's a suicide run, but we'll give it our all

The storm's smashing, ship's crashing, falls from the sky,
This is what comes along with intention to fly,
Icarus' landing would be repeated once more,
At least if the Weather Team didn't even the score

The rain's lashing, sky's thrashing, screaming like Hell,
The skyship's in flames where its corpse newly fell,
We rescued the crew, an eye for an eye,
When we promised their safety we did not lie.

My wings aching, sky breaking, hail on the deck
And the airship's now a big burning wreck
Storm or pony, don't know who's the tougher’a ride,
Come hell or high water, we'll never hide.

***

“They're not really together-together, you know. They're just old friends.”

Derpy blushed as she realized she had been watching Fluttershy dancing with the dashing rainbow-maned pegasus. They seemed almost made for each other. She looked up at Pinkie who was still dangling above the table and now looking down at her with a knowing grin.

“Ask her for a dance,” the pink pony suggested. “She won't say no, trust me!”

“Um, I wasn't …” Derpy began, feeling flustered.

Pinkie giggled and snaked herself free of the ropes. It was fascinating to watch. She dangled briefly by one leg before plopping down next to Derpy, turning in the air like a cat. “Come on, I ain't born yesterday, silly filly! You've barely touched the muffins all night. You rarely leave muffins on the table, Derps.”

“Do you think she'd like me too?” Derpy ventured the question as Pinkie was the only one there to hear it. All the others were having fun on the dance floor.

“I have no idea,” Pinkie said cheerfully and nudged the pegasus. “But you could find out, you know. Go talk to her, ask her for a dance, oooh, and you could accompany her to the gala! That'd be romantic, wouldn't you think?”

Derpy looked dismayed. “But I've no ticket.”

“You can still go talk to her.” Pinkie didn't skip a beat. “Hey, Fluttershy!”

Derpy waved her hooves to stop Pinkie, but it was too late. There was no stopping Pinkie.

Fluttershy stopped and looked up as Pinkie pushed Derpy out on the floor towards her. “Oh, hi Derpy. Would you, um, like to dance?” Fluttershy asked innocently, not showing any sign of finding the situation unusual.

Pinkie was busy distracting Rainbow Dash as Derpy looked over her shoulder. She turned back and nodded slowly at Fluttershy. As the other pegasus led her out on the dance floor she could see Pinkie making gestures at her, possibly meant to be helpful, but all she could think to do was keep track of her hooves. If only she could say something. Maybe she could ask for a ticket like the ones in the treasure chest.

They danced in silence. Derpy never did ask any of the questions on her mind.

***

From the high tower of the castle of Canterlot, Luna could see far across the lands of Equestria. Above her the moon shone down upon the castle and the lands below where the last few ponies were now making their way up the path to the Gala. An hour ago the line had been stretching out for miles, or so it seemed. The night was new and the gala was getting under way. For Luna it was the first gala in a thousand years. She had been looking forward to it, more than anything.

Celestia had assured her that he would show up. “He can't say no to you,” she had said. “I gave him your letter with the invitation.” Luna had been hopeful. She had watched the ponies as they arrived at the gala all night, her eyes scanning the horizon for a carriage, or a lone traveler. He would be there … he would never let her down.

The last pony disappeared through the gates below. Luna watched the distance. An hour passed in silence. The cold wind blew her mane and ruffled her dress. She had sat for hours earlier while the servants styled her mane and ensured her dress was perfect. It had to be just perfect for tonight.

Another hour passed. Finally she slipped back inside and trudged down the empty corridors of the castle to her lonely room. It should have been her best night ever. It should have been magical.

Chapter 1

One year later …

The massive iron gates opened silently.

“Your Majesty! You grace—” The copper-coated stallion took a hurried step to the side as princess Celestia walked through the gate. She had a look on her face that seemed to dare anything to stand in her way. “Er, your Highness …” he said helplessly and rushed after her down the grand entrance hall. This wasn't part of the tradition at all.

A pair of guards standing at attention by the base of a grand flight of stairs glanced at each other and seemed to come to a hurried agreement. Clearly the princess did not feature on any list of things they were supposed to keep out of anywhere. They bowed and made sure to be sparse.

Guards all through the castle appeared to reach the same silent agreement as Celestia walked purposefully down winding corridors and ancient halls. She came at last to a heavy door of carved oak and threw it open. “Brother! We need to talk!”

The room on the other side of the door was richly decorated with tapestries and rare paintings covering the walls, thick carpets on the floor and antique furniture of solid wood arranged around the room. The room was overgrowing with decorative plants of a great variety, giving it the appearance of a rain forest. But the most impressive was the domed ceiling painted with vast fields and ancient trees, one side dark under the moon the other side brightest day under the sun. The grand painted vista seemed to move imperceptibly, microscopic leaves blowing in the wind while clouds billowed and stars twinkled. The more one stared up into it the less painted it seemed until, just maybe, one would find oneself floating above the world between the night and day.

A pair of eyes looked up over a set of silver-framed reading glasses. The owner of the eyes, a large stallion, set down the book he had been reading. His coat and wings were an exquisite dark metallic gray and his long, flowing mane was like the finest threads of silver. The horn extending from his forehead was stout and impressive, giving off a sense of great strength. Yet the pain of ages seemed to weigh down heavily upon his broad shoulders as he rose to greet her. “Celestia?” There was a deep melancholia in his resonant voice. “I thought we had—”

The princess cut him off and threw a scroll at his hooves. It unfolded in a silver glow before him. “This has gone on long enough, Terra! You will accept this invitation, and you will attend. I will brook no excuses, do you hear?”

Terra looked down at the annual invitation, wizened eyes not daring to face the princess. It was best, in his experience, to not face Celestia when she was in this sort of mood. “You know I can not break my promise to her, Celestia. Three years. Three years I would endure for every single year she had to suffer, as loyalty demands it. I can not go back on my word now.”

“You can, and you will! I have honored your wish for a thousand years, Terra, even though it pained me to do so. I worked hard to make sure no pony remembered you. I removed your name from every book as you requested. But Luna doesn't want you to suffer in obscurity for her sake, all she wants is her big brother by her side now that she is home. When you didn't show up last year it broke her heart. Is that really what loyalty means to you?”

The great stallion's shoulders sagged as he turned and stepped up to a large fireplace and looked up at the painting above the mantle piece. Three happy ponies looked back down at him from a time before the darkness tore them apart. On his left was a young Luna, looking up at his younger self with brilliant eyes like starry black nights. On his right stood Celestia, ever radiant.

Terra heaved a long, pained sigh.

***

“Do you remember what today is?”

Derpy looked at Carrot Top with an expression of profound non-comprehension. “Um, Monday?” she ventured after a little thought. Yesterday had been Sunday so it followed that it must be Monday today, but something in Carrot's voice made the gray pegasus uncertain. She'd gotten things wrong before, maybe she'd not looked at the calendar right. Her eyes instinctively searched for a calendar somewhere nearby.

“And what date?” The earth pony was standing in front of the door, blocking her way out. Derpy's search for a calendar grew frantic, her eyes rolling around in her head while Carrot seemingly lost her patience. “It's been a year, Derpy. Remember? You've been pining for a year, it's been driving us all crazy.”

“A year?” Derpy's brow was one big crease. “Pining?” She wasn't much good at trees. Fluttershy liked trees … a few wheels began whirring in her head, connecting the pieces into a slow comprehension.

“Since you met a certain pegasus,” Carrot reminded her. “Or have you finally stopped thinking about her?” Derpy shook her head. Carrot nodded. “Didn't think so either, but have you talked to her in all that time? Have you told her what you feel?”

“I gave her a rose,” the pegasus said brightly, eager to turn the conversation to something positive. She had done that. She had been quite proud of herself, for giving Fluttershy a rose during the Iron Pony competition.

“Months ago. And did she take note?”

Derpy scraped the floor. Others hadn't been as impressed. “I just don't know what I did wrong.”

Carrot Top sighed hopelessly and stepped inside to give the pegasus a sympathetic rub. It must be a strange and incomprehensible world for somepony like Derpy, she always thought. The winding mazes of the heart no doubt doubly so. “Everypony was throwing roses, Derpy. We've been over that already. What I mean is, it's time you got out there and let her know. In a way she can't possibly misunderstand or ignore.”

“But—”

“No more 'buts', Derpy. I've been talking with some of our friends, and we all agreed. The Gala is coming up, and you're going to accompany Fluttershy there.”

“But I've no ticket,” Derpy said and looked longingly at the door. The sun was rising and there was mail to deliver. Mail was easy. Mail you could understand. It went in little boxes with names on, like the names on the letters. She was good at mail, and everypony always thanked her when she did a good job with the mail.

“What did I tell you about these 'buts'? You remember Roseluck's good news? With the foal expected in a few months she'll be a might busy. Too busy for fancy parties. She offered to give you her ticket to the Gala instead, and we all agreed it was an excellent opportunity.”

Derpy looked up. “Really?”

“On one condition,” Carrot added quickly. “You are to go there with Fluttershy, and you will make sure she knows how you feel, do you hear me? No 'buts', no excuses, and no mistakes. If you have to just …” Carrot restrained an urge to throw her hooves in the air in frustration and mild despair “… I don't know, grab her and plain kiss her then so be it!” She hesitated. She could picture the possible rejection, and the hell she would endure afterwards. But at least then they could move on. One way or the other. “Just please try something else first, alright? But she must not leave the Gala not knowing. Do you understand? I want you to understand.”

“Bu—” Carrot shot her a glare. Derpy took a step back and nodded.

“Good.” Carrot looked a little relieved. “Roseluck will be waiting for you at her shop after work. After that you will run straight over to invite Fluttershy to the gala, or there'll be hell to pay!” Derpy looked miserable. Carrot almost felt sorry, but if she'd learned anything over the last couple of years with Derpy it was that sometimes you had to be firm or nothing would ever happen. The pegasus was a good pony deep down, she deserved a kind heart to look after her. “Now run along.”

Derpy nodded and hurried out the door. She was going to the gala.

***

The newly restored castle of the royal pony sisters rose up above the gloomy treetops of the Everfree, like a bright new star amidst the darkness and a testament to just how much one could accomplish in a little over a year if only one put one's mind to it. And hooves … a lot of hard hoof work. Luna stood on the balcony of the high tower, surveying with regal pride the procession of lights through the forest. Getting most of Canterlot's elite here for the gala, for the first time in more than a thousand years, was quite an accomplishment of diplomacy in itself. Ensuring their safety wasn't entirely easy these days either, but nothing was going to ruin this night for her.

The princess looked up, her ear flicking slightly in the still night air. “Thou hast been most neglectful in thy duties,” she said to the night behind her. It was punctuated by a long silence.

“It has been impressed upon us,” a voice replied.

Luna lifted a hoof and placed it on the railing of the balcony, leaning out to look over the canopy of the forest. “Once lush beauty grew in this heart, now She wilts and grows wild without Her shepherd,” she spoke wistfully. “Alone and abandoned, old roots and darkness under Her boughs.”

“Yet beauty and life still lurks beneath the fallen leaves, ready to bloom anew upon a touch.”

“Too late—”

“Nothing is ever too late.”

Luna paused. “An amusing sentiment coming from thee, Prince Terra.”

A large, dark steel-coated stallion dressed in a slightly archaic-looking suit of black velvet stepped up beside her by the edge of the balcony. “Old memories can be rekindled, and that which lives in our memories is never truly gone.”

“Surely thou hast a lot of rekindling to do.” Luna didn't look at him. “Also, thou makest more noise than a dragon in a bramble bush when thou tryest to be sneaky. It is not becoming!”

“It must be these big, clumsy hooves, my lady,” he said, waving one hoof idly. “A sign of being a proper stallion, We hear. Surely thou knowest what they say? Big hooves, big—”

“—heart?” Luna cut him off like a sword. “Whoever did say such a thing never met thee, surely.” It could be hard to tell with Luna when she was intent on not showing it, but he thought he detected a wry little smile playing across her lips regardless of the tone.

“We can't have it all. Only thine is perfection, fair Luna!” He turned his head to look at her. “Canst thou forgive Us?”

“That all depends …” said Luna and looked at him expectantly. “Shall We stand here all night, or art thou going to invite Us to the party like a proper gentlemane?”

“Dearest sister,” he said and turned, bowing lightly as he held out a hoof for her her take. “Shall We have the honor of thy company this fair evening?”

Luna nodded and took the hoof. “Certainly, dear brother. Our guests await.”

***

“Do you like, um …” Derpy paused to look at the tray and the waiter holding it. “You have any muffins?” The waiter raised a single eyebrow as if to suggest the very question was absurd. “Oh …” Derpy hung her head a little and turned back to look cross-eyed at Fluttershy. “You want little things on sticks?” She was feeling terribly lost for words, and perhaps just lost in general, but the whole reason she was here remained foremost in her mind. She had to make Fluttershy know, somehow.

Fluttershy smiled demurely and picked up one of the little canapés. “Thank you, Derpy,” she said without much apparent attention and looked around at the hall of the castle in which they found themselves. It was one of the halls off the grand main hall, smaller but just as spectacular to behold and not as crowded. “Isn't it just amazing what the princess has done? It's so beautiful, don't you think? Such an awful place a year ago and now …” Fluttershy was slightly ecstatic.

It was like an indoors garden, small trees and flowering plants glittering in the light of the stars filtering in through stained glass windows. Here and there small birds flittered in and out of the branches, and fireflies glimmered in the shadows. “It's even more beautiful than Canterlot. It's like a … a fairy tale!” Fluttershy's voice was full of glee.

Derpy followed her ecstatic companion through the glades of the castle. “You're very beautiful tonight …” she said, trying to turn the topic away from the distracting garden.

Fluttershy blushed a little but didn't seem to put much significance in the words. It was the same always, not so difficult to say things but it never seemed to have much effect. “Oh, thank you. That's kind of you to say. You're looking very nice too. Is that one of Rarity's dresses?”

“Amethyst Star gave me it,” Derpy said. “She said it was from Canterlot.”

Fluttershy smiled, then gasped and rushed off to look at another flower. Derpy followed, dismayed. No mere rose would cut it here, and words it seemed couldn't compete with this spellbinding garden for attention either. Maybe if she could give Fluttershy the whole forest it would break the spell long enough.

***

“We are impressed,” said Luna as they strolled through the halls of the castle, stopping occasionally to greet a pony in passing. “It took Us quite a while to get used to all these changes.”

Terra picked up a glass of champagne from a waiter. “Ah, but of course. We weren't entirely alone, thou must understand. We had our servants and certain duties We could not neglect. Our sister was already strained handling both sun and moon, so We couldn't place any more burdens upon her shoulders. But it didn't matter, it wasn't just the solitude We wanted to share with thee, my sister. It was to see Our work ignored by everypony, as if We didn't even exist, or didn't matter. We wanted to know what thou went through.”

“You didn't have to—” Luna said, briefly breaking out of the formal voice she had maintained for the evening.

“Yes I did. It was important to me, Luna.” He placed a hoof under her chin and looked her in the eyes. Luna's eyes were like diamonds—harder than steel yet shining with the brilliance of a million stars. “Thou art important to Us, Luna.”

Luna returned the look but didn't say anything.

They walked for a time in silence. As they did, Terra glanced around the garden, his eyes following a pair of pegasi wandering among the trees. Luna followed his eyes. “What art thou thinking of, my brother?”

“Hmm? Ah, excuse Us, sister. We must have drifted off.”

Luna nodded. “Incidentally, the yellow pegasus over there is Fluttershy, as We told you about. The new wearer of the Element of Kindness. We must admit that We do not know her companion, however.”

“Indeed, kindness? They seem to be doing well, perhaps we shouldn't disturb them just now,” Terra said and turned to Luna. “Although We look forward to meeting them all in good time. May We be excused for a moment?”

Luna raised an eyebrow. “Will We see thee again if We let thee go?”

Terra smiled. “By my honor, we shall not be parted long, my dear sister. We will be back with thee in a minute, and then We will have to insist upon a dance.”

“Very well, then,” Luna said and watched her brother disappear among the crowds.

***

Derpy followed Fluttershy into one of the small outdoor gardens surrounding the castle. The other pony was completely absorbed in the sights and sounds of the place, barely showing any awareness of Derpy. The gray pegasus wondered how she could compete with a garden like this, when a sound nearby caught her attention.

“Psst!”

Derpy's eyes swiveled around in search of the source of the sound. They found a tall black stallion standing behind the low wall surrounding the garden, shrouded in the long shade of the deep forest. Derpy squinted at the figure. Perhaps the shadows were playing tricks, perhaps it was her eyes acting up again, but she would have found it hard to describe the stranger. There were only a few vague impressions; she thought his mane was long and white, and he wore a wide hat, maybe a suit. Somehow it wasn't clear. He looked haggard, like the forest around him, or perhaps he had been standing tall and regal, like a mighty tree …

The stranger beckoned Derpy closer, and without much thought she followed. “Don't be scared, young miss Hooves. I have been watching you and your friend. I think I can help you gain her attention.”

“You can?” Derpy asked brightly. She was not a pony known to be suspicious, or perceptive, and help was just what she needed. That was good enough for Derpy.

The black stallion gestured for her to get closer still and spoke barely above a whisper. “There is a plant that can help you. It grows in these parts down in the river valley, where the ground is soft. It has large green leaves and tall, deep red flowers. The roots will look a bit like a heart. If you wish to draw the attention of your friend, find this plant and present her with the root but throw away the flowers. Do you understand? This is important, do not ever give her the flowers, only the root!”

“This will make Fluttershy like me?” Derpy looked eager to run off and find this mysterious root.

“It will open her eyes to you. If love is present, her heart will follow.”

“Wow, thank you, stranger!” Derpy said cheerfully.

“Just remember, do not give her the flowers!” The stallion repeated with gravity behind the words, but Derpy was already gone galloping off into the forest.

***

Derpy landed and skidded the last few feet down the river bank. She nearly stumbled out into the water but managed to stop herself with her wings. She could hear the faint sound of music from the gala somewhere above her as she looked up and down the river. Thick mist clouded the valley, obscuring sight. Many plants grew along the river and up the steep sides of the valley. Derpy set out along the gurgling waters with an eye out for red flowers.

A few flowers turned out to be more pink than red, others were very small and didn't have many leaves, or roots. The valley and forest above was growing darker, and Derpy was feeling a little nervous as she continued on. She was about to turn around and try the other way when she caught a glimpse of red in the mud ahead. She galloped through the mist and stopped at the small patch of tall flowers hiding behind a rock. She sniffed the flowers and felt herself smile at the fragrant scent. They were very pretty flowers. Carefully she reached out and pulled them out of the soft ground. Derpy stared at the flowers and their root.

Such pretty flowers, attached to such an ugly, old and gnarly root. Was she really supposed to give Fluttershy this root? Derpy furrowed her brow in thought, trying to remember what the black stallion had said. That didn't sound right. Her memory was probably playing tricks on her again. Her mind reached a conclusion.

Derpy bit off the root and set off back towards the castle with the flowers in her mouth. Fluttershy would love these flowers.

Derpy arrived back at the gala and galloped through the gate, looking around for Fluttershy. She found the other pegasus in one of the many small wings of the palace, lost in birdsong and seemingly unaware of her companion's absence. Derpy came to a halt behind her and held out the flowers proudly, expectantly. “I, um, I found you some pretty flowers, miss Fluttershy.”

Fluttershy turned around with a smile. She looked at the bright red flowers. “Oh my … Are those for me?” She took them gingerly.

“You like them?” Derpy asked hopefully.

“They're very lovely.” Fluttershy sniffed the flowers. “Thank you, Derpy.”

Derpy considered what to do next. She had hoped for something, she wasn't sure what. Something was supposed to happen. Fluttershy was just admiring the flowers, still not looking at Derpy. Maybe Derpy should say something. She remembered again the promise she had made to Carrot. “I, um,” she said, scraping the ground. “I really like you, Fluttershy.” It didn't seem to have much impact. “Actually I, um, love you. Um …” She looked at the yellow pegasus. Something was not right. “Are you alright, Fluttershy?”

Fluttershy dropped the flowers and swayed slightly. The flowers hit the floor as the pegasus toppled over without a word.

“Fluttershy?!” Derpy cried.

Time seemed to drag itself along as Derpy rushed forward and caught Fluttershy in the fall. Fluttershy's mouth hung slightly open and her eyes fixed on something above them. Derpy looked down at her love in her hooves, and into a pair of eyes that no longer seemed to look back. “Fl-Fluttershy?” she cried and shook the pegasus desperately as a crowd of shocked ponies gathered around them. “Fluttershy? I love you! What is wrong? I-I didn't meant to … I didn't know!”

Chapter 2

The world had changed. She had felt a little dizzy, and then it had all changed so suddenly. She could no longer quite hear the ponies gathering around her, their voices now like a distant whisper. She looked up and saw Derpy through a haze, now far off. The gray pegasus was saying something, her lips were moving, but there was barely a whisper heard. “I … don't feel so well,” Fluttershy whispered sadly. It was strange, so relaxed she felt. The visions, the sounds, they were drifting away from her, nearly gone now. “I'm sorry,” she cried. And she knew, this was the end.

“Miss Fluttershy, pegasus of Ponyville, daughter of Sky Skimmer and Sunburst, Element of Kindness,” a solemn but somehow comforting voice broke through the silence. The haze parted behind her and she looked up into the eyes of a tall, black stallion. He was dressed in a suit and his silver mane billowed out under a wide hat. He reminded her of a tree, strong and tall, giving shade and protection to all beneath his shade. “Do not be afraid.” He reached out a hoof to her. “I am here to see you home.”

“H-home?” She had felt very weak as she fell, but now she stood up with ease as she took his hoof.

“All ponies return home, one day,” the black stallion said slowly.

“Will I see my friends again?”

“They too will one day find their way home,” he nodded once. “All living things do. Some travel alone, some get lost along the way, but all find their way across the sea eventually. I am here to show you the way.”

“You don't show everypony the way?”

He shook his head heavily. “It is only my duty to ensure they reach the sea. Most must find their own way across from there, just like they must find their own way through life.”

“W-why me?”

The black stallion's gaze seemed to grow distant for a moment. Up close Fluttershy noticed that his coat, which had seemed black at first, had a metallic sheen and wasn't truly black. “Out of kindness,” he said after a moment of silence. He turned and began walking slowly.

Fluttershy hesitated. The world she had known was nearly gone now. Merely a memory. She thought she saw a glimpse of princess Luna, her face unreadable as she looked down at what Fluttershy realized had to be her body. For a second she thought she saw a stallion by the side of the princess, tall and eerily familiar. She couldn't see anypony else anymore. She turned and looked at the stallion waiting for her in the misty haze. “W-who are you?”

“Here I am prince, up there … I am forgotten,” he said. “You may call me Terra.”

She looked back at the fading image of her life, then slowly turned and followed. “P-prince?”

The haze parted like a veil, and Fluttershy stepped out onto a wide beach. The sand and water stretched out into the dark, infinite horizon with the gentle red glow of the sunset leaving behind a dark, starless sky. Terra gestured out across the sea. “This, and all that lies beyond these waters, is my kingdom … and can be yours too.”

Fluttershy stared. “M-mine?”

The prince nodded. “If I am not being too forward or speaking too soon,” he said and unfolded his wings. He held out a hoof to her. “Allow me to show you, at least, and your heart may decide in its own time.”

She took the hoof, and together they set out across the great ocean.

***

Derpy cradled the lifeless body of Fluttershy, oblivious to everything around her. Ponies were gathering and exchanging worried questions in hushed voices all around, but all this meant nothing to Derpy who had her attention on the flowers. She was trying desperately to find the place where it had gone wrong. Blearily she saw the bright red petals and recalled the mysterious black stallion. She looked at Fluttershy, reluctant to let go of the body, but she had to do something, and there was only one thing she could do.

Derpy kissed Fluttershy on the cheek and lay her down gently. She turned and bumped into Rainbow Dash. The blue pegasus had been staring at the scene but now her eyes turned to focus upon Derpy. “W-what have you done?” She said, her eyes growing angry. “You killed her!”

“I-I never meant to!” Derpy pleaded, but Rainbow Dash was upon her in a flash. “Let me go!” she cried and struggled, but the other pegasus was too strong. “I have to help her!”

Rainbow Dash wrestled Derpy to the floor and stood rose above her like a dark cloud, looking like she was struggling with herself to not do worse. “You've helped enough!” she cried.

“WHAT is going on here?” Luna's voice cut through the noise and made Rainbow Dash look up as the crowds parted for the princess.

“S-she killed Fluttershy, princess! She killed my friend!” Rainbow Dash was clearly holding back tears.

“I didn't know!” Derpy protested through her own tears. “Let me go!”

“No!” Rainbow Dash's voice broke. “I should—”

“Enough!” Luna lifted her hoof to silence them. “Everypony clear out, the royal guard will handle this matter!”

The crowds began to dissolve all around as guests wandered or were led off. Derpy glanced between Rainbow Dash, still standing above her, reluctant to let go, and the exit to the garden where she had met the black stallion. She saw her chance and kicked. Her hooves connected and sent Rainbow to the ground in a heap. Derpy leaped to her hooves and raced madly for the exit, paying no heed to the chaos erupting behind her. She had to make it all good again!

Derpy galloped through the garden and out through the gate to the forest where she had met the stallion. Her eyes searched the place but found nothing but trees and growing shadows. No black stallion and no hoof marks in the soft cover of the forest. Above her she could hear the beating of wings and calling of voices. They were looking for her, and would find her if she didn't run. She set off again, into the forest, hoping it was the right direction for the river valley where she had found the flowers.

She could hear the calls behind her growing fainter and more distant as she ran and leaped over old roots and under low branches that tore and beat at her dress and skin. A treacherous root caught her hoof and sent her flying. She hit the ground and rolled several feet before coming to a stop. She sat up, crying, and looked around. She could no longer hear the calls or the sound of wings behind her, or see the path. Any path. The trees loomed over her, ancient and gloomy.

A distant bird screeched as she got up and limped through the dense thicket, pushing aside thorny branches. She felt lost and all alone in the world, and all she wanted was to find a way to get Fluttershy back and make everything right, to fix her mistake.

After a while she left the ground and flew up into the branches. Maybe if she could get a view of the forest she would know where to go. The trees were dense and the canopy almost impenetrable. Derpy pushed and crawled her way through the dark, leaf-covered clouds towards the open sky. She wasn't sure how close she was when she became aware of eyes all around her, staring at her from the darkness. Small, red eyes that glared at her without blinking. Derpy paused and stood still, holding her breath and feeling the sweat run down her face. A small branch snapped under her hoof and a cacophony of screeches cut through the stillness. A swarm of black wings and beaks burst out from the trees and swooped down upon her.

Derpy cried as she slipped on the branch and fell, hitting the ground. The birds were upon her, pecking and screeching, before she could recover. She screamed for help and waved her hooves frantically at the black birds, but there were too many and she was all alone, lost in the forest …

A bright light shone through the forest. The birds screeched and flapped their wings in anger at the blinding glow. It lit up the whole place until it was impossible to see, glittering and dancing like sunlight in a diamond. So this is it, Derpy thought as she held a bloody hoof up to her eyes. The light at the end … she had heard about it. She didn't think it would be so beautiful.

“You leave my mom alone you … you little meanies!” A familiar voice broke through.

Derpy was confused. She heard wings flutter and birds screech, little hooves galloping, and then the noise faded and she felt somepony by her side.

“Mom! A-are you alright?”

As the light faded, Derpy looked up at her young daughter's worried face. “D-Dinky?” she stammered.

The unicorn lit up when she heard Derpy speak, and hugged her as she sat up. “Mom! What happened? What are you doing out here?”

Derpy wasn't sure if she shouldn't ask the same question. Last she knew, Dinky had been left in Ponyville with Carrot Top. She was too thankful and confused to think that far. “F-Fluttershy, she's … I k-killed her!” Derpy cried. She told Dinky of her meeting with the black stallion, of the flower and what had happened after. “And … I-I need to help her!”

Dinky helped her mother up and brushed the worst of the branches and leaves out of her mane and the torn remains of her dress. “Come, let's get you to Zecora. It's not far, I passed by on the way. She can look at your wounds, and she knows all about plants. Maybe she can help.”

Derpy sniffed sadly and nodded as she followed Dinky. “Why are you not in Ponyville?” She asked weakly after a while.

Dinky looked a little ashamed. “I missed you,” she said in a low tone.

“I'm glad you found me …” Derpy said and nuzzled her daughter.

***

Zecora's hut lay nestled in a small hollow of trees within the forest. Derpy had never been there, but she had often seen the zebra when she came to Ponyville and knew that she was a friend of Fluttershy's. The crooked old tree which made up the outside of the home made Derpy shiver a little as Dinky led the way to the small door and knocked.

There was a moment of silence as they waited, then the door opened and Zecora looked out at them from within. “Ponies outside my door, that I have not seen before,” she looked at Dinky, then gave Derpy a concerned glance. “What bad luck befell your friend? Tell me and her wounds I shall attend,” she said and lead them inside the cozy little home, closing the door behind them.

“She was attacked by birds. Big black birds with evil little red eyes.” Dinky explained how she had found her mother, while Derpy sat down heavily in the middle of the room next to the big cauldron.

Zecora rummaged around a bit among her shelves and came back with a small pot of dark, fragrant salve. She took a little on her hoof and began smearing it on Derpy's wounds. “You should act with greater care. What errand brought you to their lair?”

Derpy sat and whimpered as the salve burned in her wounds and scratches. After the initial burning the salve soothed and her wounds magically began to heal. Meanwhile Dinky told Zecora what Derpy had told her of Fluttershy and the flower. The zebra shook her head sadly. “Blood of the Heart, a lover's soul depart. A grave mistake you made, poor Fluttershy I can not aid.” She put the little pot of salve down and looked hard at Derpy. “Should have only given her the root, or his warnings gave you not a hoot?”

“I-I didn't know …” Derpy sniffed.

Dinky hugged her mother. “Please, miss Zecora, she didn't mean to. Can't you help us at all? Maybe the stallion who told us about the flower can help, do you know where we can find him?”

Zecora turned and looked out the window at the forest outside. “They have gone beyond the endless sea, to find them is beyond both you and me.” She seemed to hesitate before turning around slowly, looking carefully at the two ponies. “You said, miss Fluttershy you tried to woo, tell me if your love for her is true?”

Derpy looked up and nodded vigorously. “I love her true. I-I would … I would travel to the end of the world for her, I would!”

Zecora looked at her for a time, then trotted up the the big cauldron in the middle of the room and looked into its bubbling depths. “There is one …” she began slowly, looking back up at them. “A mare, but of her you must beware.” She turned and looked at Dinky seriously, as if to make sure she listened. ”Through the great swamp you have to go, and listen not to voices that glow. There you will find a mare by a lake, approaching her would be a grave mistake. She can show you the secret way, to the lands between night and day, but do not let her come near, if your lives you still hold dear.”

Dinky nodded solemnly. “Through the great swamp, do not listen to any voices, find the mare by the lake and don't let her come near,” she repeated, then looked a little uncertain. “How can she help us if we can't come near her?”

“Like all she bows to the great Shepherd, they who wield the staff she can not hurt. Keep a stick between you and her, but drop it and be her fodder.”

***

They said goodbye to Zecora and ventured out along the path the zebra had described. Dinky led the way, lighting up the path ahead of them as the forest grew darker again. She glanced back at her mother who had been silent for a while. Derpy was walking with her head hanging near the ground. Dinky backed up a little. “Don't give up, mom. Zecora knows all about the forest, if she says this mare can help us then we just have to find her.”

Derpy heaved a long, hopeless sigh. “Miss Zecora is right … it's all my fault. I always m-mess things up.”

Dinky rubbed against her softly. “You are a bit forgetful, mom, but you know we love you no matter what. We'll find a way to save Fluttershy, if we have to walk to the end of the world, remember? The end of the world? And beyond if we have to.”

“What if I make another accident?” Derpy asked miserably. “And cause the end of the world?”

“You won't,” Dinky said and patted Derpy on the mane. “Not as long as we stick together.” The young unicorn looked around and found a long, straight branch. She ran over and pulled it up, shaking it about in front of her with her magic. “I'll be your squire and follow you, to keep the bad accidents away from my mommy knight. If any of them get too close I'll beat them silly with this mighty staff! Just like Zecora said!”

“I'm glad you're with me,” Derpy said and sniffed, smiling sadly.

Dinky lowered the branch and smiled. “I will follow you to the end of the world and beyond, if it comes to that. You can always count on me. Now, we have a fair mare to save!”

Derpy straightened herself up. “Yeah! I'll not let Fluttershy down.” She looked around, a momentary look of confusion on her face. “I-I forgot which way.”

Dinky smiled and pointed the stick. “This way, mom.”

Derpy brightened up and followed Dinky as they headed down a low slope into a slowly deepening valley. The forest grew damp and icky, small rivers and ponds of brackish water dotting the landscape, forcing the two ponies to walk around them. Dinky kept her stick in front of her as she glanced around at the still, lifeless swamps. No animals seemed to live here, and the only sound was that of their hooves sinking into the soft ground, sending bubbles of decay and mud to the surface. Dinky shivered in the misty stillness, glancing back frequently to make sure Derpy was still with her.

As she glanced back, her hoof struck something hard. Dinky stopped and looked down, taking a few steps back and holding a hoof to her mouth as a grinning face looked back at her from the shallow water. The skull looked old, green and covered in the mud of ages, but there was no mistaking the general shape or the horn extending from the forehead. She looked at her mom and steeled herself. “We s-should be careful. Remember Zecora's warning.”

They continued, a little slower than before as Dinky searched the ground before them with the stick to make sure it was safe. More bones lay scattered in the mud and water, sticking up here and there. Ponies and other creatures, all of the same fate. Dinky wondered how many, and what their stories were. Had they sought the same as Derpy and her, here in this dark and gloomy land? She looked up at the sky where the moon still peeked out from behind a cloud, soon to disappear entirely.

She heard a little fascinated sound from Derpy and looked around to find her mother already bounding off in the wrong direction. A flickering light moved through the misty darkness somewhere, drawing Dinky's eyes to it. A sense of fascination took on a life of its own and pulled her legs out of the mud. Derpy was already just a ghost in the fog ahead of her as Dinky found herself following, trudging blindly through the swamp towards the light.

The light flickered and danced between crooked trees and hanging leaves, a warm glow pulsating with visions of rest and soft pleasures, an escape from worries and concerns that had plagued them on their journey. There were whispers in the air, soft voices lulling Dinky into a walking sleep. She trotted as in a dream, hazy thoughts bubbling through to the surface. One repeated itself. “Listen not to voices that glow,” it warned. Her hoof struck something hard and she caught sight of a bit of white in the water. “Listen not to voices that glow.”

Dinky's head felt heavy. She forced it away from the light and stopped. Her mind cleared. Terrified she realized that she could no longer see her mother. A light sprung up in the distance, reflected in the brackish water beneath her. Dinky turned, struggling to not look again. “Mommy!” she called, her voice dampened and weak in the vast, empty swamp. She felt alone, lost, abandoned. Many lights flickered around her now, hungry, vengeful. Dinky cried and shut her eyes.

“Go away,” she cried and her horn began to glow, a bright, warm light burning away the darkness and blinding out the cold, flickering lights in the mist. “Leave my mom alone!” Her legs shook, she didn't dare to open her eyes. The voices hissed and receded, fading away into the deeper swamp.

She stood in the middle of the swamp, cold and crying while her horn burned, until she heard wings and felt Derpy's hooves around her. “I'm sorry, I'm so sorry,” Derpy whispered and held her close. They sat in the light together for a time, until everything was silent again but for the beatings of their hearts.

***

The lake was hard to distinguish from the rest of the swamp, but there was a house along its shore. House was perhaps too much said, as all that remained was a ruined foundation and a few walls held up only by the plants growing thick around it, clinging to the ancient stones. The rest had long since fallen to the ravages of time and the highly chaotic weather of the Everfree. Derpy glanced out across the dark, mirror-like surface of the shallow lake. Here and there she could see dark plants moving under the surface, like fields in a gentle wind.

Dinky walked close beside her, holding the stick guardedly in front of them both and looking around as if expecting something to jump out any second. Her horn was still glowing, the strain of keeping it up for so long evident on her face, but Dinky had refused to let go.

Derpy stopped at the edge of the lake, as best she could determine it, and peered into the water at her feet. “Zecora said there would be …” Derpy searched her memory. “A mare? I don't think anypony lives here, not in a long time,” she said and looked up again. A little off there was a small boat resting calmly upon the water. Derpy walked through the water towards it, followed closely by her daughter silently keeping both stick and light going.

The boat bopped up and down lightly in the ripples of their hooves as they approached. It didn't seem to be tied or anchored to anything. As they approached there was a sound of something breaking the surface, dripping of water. A face emerged over the edge, peeking at them from behind the boat. Derpy yelped and stepped back while Dinky nearly dropped the stick in a hurried effort to point it at the face.

“My my,” the other pony said, smiling sweetly, “guests, and ponies no less.” Her skin was like dark green glass, smooth and glittering with drops of water, while her mane was black and sleek with water weeds in it. She rested her hooves on the edge of the boat, considering Dinky and the stick with her dark eyes glinting seductively. “You don't need that stick, young squire. Why don't you put it down?”

“N-No!” Dinky said and edged closer to Derpy, holding the stick protectively between them and the water horse.

“I won't harm you, I know why you have come,” she said without moving, her eyes following Dinky closely. “I can help you.”

“I don't trust you,” the two ponies said as one. Dinky waved the stick a little, her magic tiring her now. “We know you, you're wicked! Zecora told us, and she's nice.”

“You look tired, little one,” she said, smiling still. “Put down the stick and we can talk. It will be so much easier.”

“No!” Dinky repeated, waving the stick again.

One eye moved slightly, fixing Derpy in a calculating glance. “I know where He took your beloved Fluttershy. I know how you can find her, and win her back. If you truly love her, tell your daughter to put down the stick and I will tell you all I know.”

“Y-you won't hurt us if we put down the stick?” Derpy asked uncertainly, as she glanced at Dinky.

“Mom, no! She's trying to trick us!” Dinky tried desperately to persuade her mom.

“You have so foalishly walked right into my lake,” she said, her gaze still not leaving Dinky. It had a hungry look shining through now. “If I wanted to hurt you I would have simply snuck up from behind,” she licked her lips, “and snatched the little one away, stick or no stick.”

“Wh-what if I say no!?” Derpy asked defiantly.

“Yeah!” Dinky added. “We know you can't hurt us, you're lying!”

The mare ignored Dinky. “Then I won't tell you a thing, and you will go home in shame and never see your beloved again.”

Derpy looked at Dinky. Dinky looked at Derpy.

“Think about it,” the mare said, her voice luring them. “You can't make me speak. But I will tell you freely if you let down the stick.”

Dinky gnawed her lip and looked at her mom. After a while she reluctantly lowered the stick. It touched the water and floated for a second, then disappeared suddenly like a fly snatched by a fish. “Hey!” Dinky yelped in surprise.

The mare grinned wickedly, holding up the stick in her long, dripping tail. “Thank you, and your hooves are very nice, by the way,” she winked at Dinky. “You wouldn't miss just one, would you? It wouldn't hurt … for long.”

Derpy scooped up Dinky and let her climb onto her back, sitting between her wings. “You tell us how to save Fluttershy now!”

“Of course, of course,” the mare said, sliding around the boat towards them. The two ponies backed away as she disappeared below the surface and emerged in front of them. “He has taken her beyond the endless sea, where all ponies go eventually. He wants her as his bride you see, so he led her to his castle.”

“H-he?” the two echoed each other.

“Mmm, yes. Prince Terra, the Forgotten Prince, he who once ruled these lands and all things that live or grow. We have not seen him in a long time, that is why the forest is not quite as it used to be.”

“Prince?” Dinky said, while Derpy backed away further as the mare edged closer to her. “There's no prince, never was.”

She laughed, a bubbling, joyful laughter. “That's because he's forgotten, silly filly, or don't you pay attention? Once all ponies knew his name and paid him respect. He kept the forests and the wild places, and when a pony grew old and their bodies crumbled he showed them the way back home to the eternal fields beyond the sea. But then there was that sad business with his sister, Princess Luna and the eternal night. He and Celestia imprisoned her in the moon, you know. Grieving for what he had to do to his beloved little sister, he then went into exile, swearing to share her pain. Such a silly romantic,” she said derisively. “And now he has taken your beloved friend away, too soon, too soon, and denied her her proper fate.”

“Her proper fate?” Dinky wished she had her stick now. The mare kept circling her like a hungry animal.

“That's between him and me, I'm afraid I can't divulge such information. But you can still save her, and help me in the process, yes, help me.” Her tail brushed against Dinky. It was cold and sticky to the touch. “This boat,” she gestured at the dingy old vessel, “will take you down the river and across the ocean to where you need to go. All you have to do is climb aboard, it knows the way. But I must warn you,” she said, her voice turning grave for a second. “Never, for any reason, must you leave the boat before you reach the other shore beyond the endless sea. Once you get in this boat, you must not leave it, in return it will take you to Prince Terra's land safe and sound. From there you will be on your own to find his castle, and your lost love.”

Dinky looked at the boat. “How can we trust you're telling the truth?”

“You can't,” she smiled. “But would you rather stay for dinner?”

The two ponies looked at the boat uncertainly. It looked ready to fall apart. Dinky sighed. “I guess we don't have a choice.” Together they climbed aboard. The boat rocked and magically came loose of whatever had kept it by the shore. It drifted slowly out onto the shallow lake.

The mare dived and swam along with them. “Remember, don't leave the boat until you reach the other shore,” she said, and with that she disappeared among the weeds of the lake.

Chapter 3

The sun never moved here. It sat eternally just below the horizon somewhere between night and day. Time just didn't seem to flow the same as it did in the world above. Fluttershy had already lost track of the hours and days as she wandered the castle and its gardens, getting to know the place in which she now lived.

There were great halls, a thousand rooms, winding corridors and stairs that never ended, balconies and towers. There were flowers and trees, lakes and hot springs, hills and fields going on forever. Animals frolicked in the gardens, and servants were never far if she needed them but politely out of the way when she wished to be alone. And it was all hers, he had said, if she wanted it. Fluttershy had never wanted to rule anything, she had been happy in her cottage with her animal friends, and her pony friends visiting. She missed her friends, all of them.

But everything had to end, and it wasn't bad. Fluttershy was no stranger to death. She had buried many of her animal friends over the years, but she had not expected it to come so soon for her. She had cried a little, sometimes, but the fear was gone now. She already felt at peace here among the quiet trees and animals of the garden. And she felt safe, for the first time truly safe.

She had picked her own room, a small one near the ground, near the gardens with a view of the forests. It reminded her a little of her cottage back in Ponyville. She wasn't sure what was expected of her. Terra seemed nice. She found him easy to be around. He sometimes joined her in the gardens or invited her for dinner, just the two of them, but mostly he left her alone—because deep down she wished to be alone right now, she suspected. She had a lot on her mind.

Princess Fluttershy, ruler of the underworld?

She paused at the gates of the garden, looking out over the fields where the dead worked and, well, lived in a sense. It was hard, thankless work to tend the earth but it did not tend itself. This was true in the world above where the pegasi managed the skies and the earth ponies the soil. Even the sun and moon needed a gentle hoof. But how many ponies thought of the dead? From death sprung new life, and indeed all life. The unicorns tended the heavens, pegasi the skies, earth ponies the soil, and the dead … tended the very earth itself.

Fluttershy realized, she had never truly understood this until now when she gazed out over her domain. The rulers of the underworld were the dead, who worked its fields, who made the world tick and things grow in the world above. And a princess … a princess should be kind, a princess should care for and guide, not rule her subjects … thankless jobs needed the most thanks, and who better to give it?

Princess Fluttershy, shepherdess of souls … she found herself smiling, a smile of contentment, as she trotted down the path towards the fields of the dead.

***

The river meandered through the swamp, the little dingy boat steered by invisible winds upon its waters. Dinky hung over the edge of the boat, tiredly watching the water around them and lighting up the dark until she could no longer keep her eyes open. Slowly the young unicorn slipped into the bottom of the boat and fell into a deep slumber, the light dying out from exhaustion. Derpy lay down next to her and wrapped a wing around her to keep her warm.

Time seemed to pass. Derpy was sure she had not slept, yet she could not say how long it had been. She looked up at a dark, rocky ceiling. Somewhere along the way the swamp had faded behind them and become just a winding river through tall, jagged cliffs. Only, there was no sky, just rocks. Derpy tried to remember when she had no longer been able to see the sky, when they had left the world above, but there seemed to be no transition. Perhaps she had closed her eyes for just a second, she thought, but didn't really believe it.

Caves and tunnels drifted by as the river widened and split off into smaller rivers and streams. Here and there on the rocky shores shadows wandered, ponies walking about as if in a dream. None of them seemed to notice the boat or its occupants.

The winding, cavernous tunnel opened into vast reaches of sand. The ceiling receded upwards until there was nothing but blackness above. One by one little stars blinked into existence upon the sky. Ahead of the boat the river disappeared into the ocean upon whose dark waves the setting sun painted its dying embers. Dinky awoke and peeked over the edge of the boat as the shore disappeared behind them, faster than it should have, as if the whole world moved around the boat, leaving nothing but water behind and in all directions around them.

The two ponies glanced into the depth. The abyss seemed to open up and suck them in, fill them up. They pulled away from the precipice, hugging each other in the middle of the boat as the hours trickled through the hourglass.

Derpy's stomach was the first to break the silence with a low rumble. Dinky's followed the cue. The young pony looked around the boat. “We don't have anything to eat or drink,” she said with the sinking feeling of realization.

Derpy looked at the edge of the boat and said, “There's water.” The shivering in her voice stressed that she didn't want to lean over and drink of it if she could at all help it.

“You can't drink sea water,” Dinky said, as if that was the least concern should you be daring enough to lean over and take a swig. “It makes you sick, I think.”

They looked with dismay at the distance. The void seemed only to grow, within and without. It was hard to tell if the boat was even moving or simply sitting in the middle of the ocean, forever lost. Derpy licked her dry lips and closed her eyes. After a while she fell into a restless sleep.

Days, maybe weeks went by, drifting away behind them without a change. Derpy sank a mouthful of sand, or so it felt, and opened her heavy eyelids. For a time she couldn't remember where she was, she wasn't even quite sure who she was. The only thought in her mind was that of the gentle lapping of water against the side of the boat. Blessed water. She crawled across the bottom of the boat and hauled her head over the edge, staring into the clear blue ocean. Her tongue hung out of her mouth as she leaned over, closer, closer to the water. Blessed, refreshing water!

Dinky opened her eyes, blinking feebly. Derpy was leaning over the edge of the boat. Dinky lay in the boat and stared, her body aching with thirst and hunger. Derpy leaned a little more, hanging precariously on the edge for a moment. Dinky blinked, slowly, her mind still far away in the lands of sleep. There was a brief moment of panic as Derpy balanced on her stomach, then fell over the side with a splash.

***

Dinky's mind snapped to attention in one horrified instant. She half jumped, half stumbled over to the edge where her mother had disappeared. “Mom!” she cried in terror as she looked over the edge into the black-blue emptiness. Dinky hurried to the back of the boat and squinted her eyes hard. There was nothing to see, no sound nor sight as far as the eye could see. It was like the shore, as if the whole world moved around the boat and disappeared in its wake. Whole continents could have disappeared in the blink of an eye, what hope had a single pony?

Dinky collapsed in agony and sorrow, crying dry tears as she rolled up in a tight ball. Around her the world rushed past as it always had.

***

Derpy gasped as she broke the surface and emerged into the cool air, but only for a second. Before she could regain her bearings a current dragged her down again, pulling her deep into the choking depths of the sea. Her lungs were screaming, her body was aching as she flailed wildly, trying to fight free of the relentless pull of the water. She was losing her strength, and the battle. Darkness crept in all around her, grasping her in its merciless fingers. The world fell silent around her as she sank.

***

The boat hit the shore and scraped against hard rock before coming to a halt. Dinky opened her reddened eyes and wiped her nose as she looked up. Vast stretches of sand and fields met her vision where before had been just water. In the hazy dawn—or was it dusk?—she could make out several figures silhouetted against the fields. Dinky crawled out of the boat weakly and staggered half in dream towards the nearest figure. “Please …” she begged, before collapsing in the sand.

She wasn't sure how long she had been lying there when she felt somepony press something against her lips. Cool, refreshing water poured over her lips and tongue. She sank every drop greedily.

“It's alright,” a soft voice said. “Don't worry, there's plenty more.” The empty bowl was pulled away briefly but soon returned with more water.

Dinky opened her eyes. There was something familiar about the voice. She turned a little and looked up into a pair of sorrowful cyan eyes peering back at her with kindness. Dinky blinked. A yellow pegasus was sitting next to her, holding the bowl. Her long, pink mane was crowned by a wreath of golden leaves and emeralds. She seemed to shine against the fields behind her as she smiled mournfully at Dinky.

“F-Fluttershy?!”

***

Derpy coughed until her chest hurt, then continued coughing violently, spitting out water while desperately trying to breathe. She was on a floor. Somepony was beating her on the back.

“That's it, get it all out, mate,” a deep voice said.

Slowly she became aware of other sounds around her, hooves trotting back and forth on hard wood, ponies muttering to each other as they worked. She managed to open an eye and look around between coughs. She was lying on the deck of a ship which looked like it had been hammered together from pieces of driftwood. Several scruffy-looking ponies were milling about, currently busy sorting out a big net woven from old clothes and different-colored ropes.

Derpy looked up at the pony beside her. He had a big jolly face and wore a hat with an old and somewhat weathered feather. He held out a hoof to her. “Big Crabbe, Quartermaster,” he said. “Welcome aboard the Queen of Roses. Good thing young Merry Melody in the crow's nest saw you out there. Not a good place to be swimmin', mate,” the big, jolly pony said.

Derpy looked up at the crow's nest where a young, wild-maned pegasus was peering through a rusty old telescope. Derpy stood up unsteadily and shook off some water and seaweeds stuck to her flank and mane. “Um, D-Derpy Jones,” she said, still too confused to think clearly.

The ship went silent. Big Crabbe was looking at her flank, so was everypony else. Up in the crow's nest Merry looked down, then focused her telescope on Derpy's flank. There was a bit of murmuring from around the ship, the words “bubbles” and “Derpy Jones” repeated more than once.

Derpy felt suddenly rather shy. A reddish tint covered her cheeks. “Um,” she said as she looked around for cover.

Big Crabbe looked around. “Get back to work, you dogs!” There was more murmuring as everypony went back to work, but more slowly than before. The quartermaster turned back to Derpy who had meanwhile sidled off to hide her hindquarters behind a rickety old barrel which contained, from the looks of the cracks, seaweed. “You, er, said your name was …”

“Derpy,” said Derpy, uncertainly.

The big pony nodded. “Derpy … Jones?”

“That's, um, just a silly name. Not … not my real name,” Derpy explained. “Jones, that is. Not my real name. Derpy is my real name. Derpy … Hooves.”

Big Crabbe studied her again. “You don't, er, remember where you got that name?”

“My name?” Derpy was uncomfortably reminded that she often forgot things she ought to remember, but until now at least she hadn't forgotten her own name. Her eyes searched for something to remind her of what the other pony might be talking about. “My mom gave me it. Not Jones, though, I … just came up with that as a filly.”

“Hmm,” Big Crabbe scratched his scruffy chin. “You better come, there's somepony you should meet,” he said and gestured for her to follow.

The crew watched as Derpy followed Big Crabbe below deck. They passed through a long room with one long table on one side and crude hammocks and piles of dried seaweed on the floor for bedding on the other side. It all gave the impression of having been created from nothing more than what could be gathered out at sea, and yet some effort had obviously been made to make the place as homely and comfortable as possible given what they had to work with.

“Aye,” Big Crabbe said, reading her face, “it ain't fancy, but it's our home. Whatever it lacks in facilities it makes up for in good company. You'll like it after a time.” He stopped in front of a crooked door and knocked carefully. “Missus Rose?”

There was a pause, perfectly measured. “You may enter, mister Crabbe.” It was a mare's voice, with the kind of refinement that suggested age and nobility. More than suggested, in fact, it seemed to cultivate it. For some reason it reminded Derpy of miss Rarity back in Ponyville, only much older.

Crabbe took off his hat and held it in front of him as he opened the creaking door. The room beyond was sparsely and cheaply decorated in the same manner as the rest of the ship, and yet gave off an impression of richness. An elderly unicorn was sitting on a pillow made of old clothes and patches in the middle of the room, painting on a piece of bleached wood in front of her. She was old, at least as old as Granny Smith and perhaps even older than that. She was dressed in clothes resembling high fashion but made like everything on the ship from scraps. And yet she sat with perfect grace as she turned to look at the two with a warm, welcoming smile.

“Missus Rose, this is miss Derpy, er, Derpy Jones she calls herself,” Big Crabbe said as they entered the room. “Derpy, this is our first mate, missus Pacific Rose, standing in for the captain while he, er, she is absent.”

Rose stood up and adjusted a pair of small glasses to have a good look at Derpy. “My, is it so?” She walked slowly but with grace, her eyes shining as she looked at Derpy up close. “Derpy Jones! It really is, isn't it?”

“So it's true?” Big Crabbe said excitedly, fumbling with his hat. “The story is true?”

“Did I ever give you reason to doubt my word, mister Crabbe?” Rose said, fixing him with a stare.

“No! Of course not,” Crabbe said hurriedly. “I never meant to suggest …”

“Um,” Derpy said uncertainly. She was feeling very lost, and still both wet to the bone and completely exhausted. “What are you talking about?”

They looked at her, then Rose gestured for her to sit down. “Mister Crabbe, see to it that our guest is fed and accommodated,” the old mare commanded. Crabbe bowed and galloped off. Rose turned to a small cabinet. Her horn glowed and an old flask, half full of a greenish-brown liquid, was pulled out along with a pair of wooden cups. “I am very sorry if our accommodations are not exactly royal, my dear,” she said and offered Derpy a cup. “But I hope you will find them adequate. Here, this will do you good.”

Derpy sipped the drink. It didn't taste very good at all, but as she sank the drink a pleasant heat flowed down her throat and out into her body and limbs. Rose gave her a grandmotherly smile. “I remember in the old days when I was but a filly we had the most delightful pear trees. Every year our neighbor made pear cider with a hint of rose and other flowers for the whole village,” she gave a longing sigh as she sat down opposite Derpy. “Seaweed cider just ain't the same at all, but of course the crew does their best with what they've got. They are a very good bunch, like family, when you get to know them.”

She sat for a time looking at Derpy as if thinking of old times. “Do you know the story of old Derpy Jones?” she asked finally.

Derpy looked around as she thought. She always looked around when she thought, as if her eyes might find the answer written on the wall somewhere. “Um, not really, missus Rose.”

“You may simply call me Rose, my child,” she said, smiling. Her horn glowed again as she pulled out a small golden locket in a chain around her neck. She opened it carefully and glanced at the old pictures within. “I shall tell you the tale, then, of Derpy Jones and his crew of lost souls.”

***

Fluttershy helped Dinky up and hugged her. “Oh, Dinky, I can't believe you're here. What happened? Poor Derpy must be devastated.”

“We … we came to f-find you, Fluttershy,” Dinky said weakly, shivering from the cold water. “Mom felt so terrible about w-what she had done, so we came to bring you b-back. She r-really l-likes you, Fluttershy.”

Fluttershy wrapped a blanket around the young filly. “You … came here to find me?”

“Mhmm,” Dinky nodded and sniffed sadly. “She didn't mean to hurt you, she just d-didn't know better. She just wanted you to k-know how she felt and thought the flowers were a good idea. B-but now she's gone and I don't know if I'll ever see her again,” Dinky cried.

“G-gone?”

“She f-fell off the side of the boat. I … I couldn't stop her, it all happened so f-fast.” Dinky buried her face in the blanket.

Fluttershy held her tight and looked out over the ocean. Some got lost along the way, she thought. But all find their way across the sea eventually. Eventually could be a long time. “I'm sure she's out there somewhere …”

“But she can't find us, can she? It's just water …” Dinky went silent, then she pushed free of Fluttershy and stood up on shaking hooves. “I can show her!” she said excitedly, her eyes manic as she strode towards the water.

Fluttershy hurried after her. “Dinky, wait. You really shouldn't walk, you're still too weak.”

Dinky ignored her and waded through the sand to the edge of the sea. She closed her eyes and gritted her teeth as her horn began to shine. She was not weak, and she was going to do it. She had to do it. For her mom.

Fluttershy trotted nervously around the filly. “Please come with me, you need to rest. I'll talk with Terra, he's the prince, I'm sure he can help us find your mom,” she pleaded desperately. She held up a hoof to her eyes and took a step back as a flash of pure white light reflected in the calm waves and lit up the sky.

Dinky dug her hooves into the sand and lowered her head, ignoring the pain shooting through her skull and spine like daggers of lightning. The light flared, rising and falling like waves. The world was silent around her. All was light, stretched out across infinite reaches.

***

Derpy looked at the two halves of the locket. One half showed a young mare who Derpy assumed was Rose, long ago. The other half showed a dashing young pegasus in a captain's outfit, standing before the wheel of his ship. He looked oddly familiar to Derpy, as if she had seen him before but she couldn't place him. Something about the eyes.

Rose ran her hoof fondly over the picture. “Derpy Jones, when we were both young, and newly wed. A handsome stallion he was, and the finest dancer I ever saw,” she said, smiling softly at the memory. “He of course became famous—some would say infamous, hah, I'm surprised you haven't heard of his exploits. The good old stories of pirates have not gone out of fashion, have they?”

Derpy thought back. Her mother had always read stories to her when she was a young filly, every night. She had liked pirate stories, but she always found it hard to remember things.

Rose went on. “We both loved the sea, of course, and each other very dearly. We traveled everywhere together and he showered me in riches,” she said, smirking. “I could tell you many a tale about how he got said riches, oh yes. But it is his last venture I was getting at,” she said and looked at the little picture sadly.

Crabbe knocked and entered the room carrying a plate of food. He sat it down in front of Derpy and bowed before leaving the two. Derpy was too hungry to look too closely at the food. She didn't even care, if you had been lost at sea long enough even seaweed and rain water would do.

Rose continued as Derpy cleaned the plate. “We were headed for Shanghay, carrying a valuable cargo of ancient treasures, when we ran into an unexpected storm. The pegasi tried to keep it under control long enough for the ship to pass, but it proved too wild. There are freak storms out on the open sea that are not like the storms back in Equestria. It's like the Everfree, things work differently, and you can't always control them. We nailed or tied down what we could and prepared ourselves to weather the storm. I remember that night, as lightning struck the mast and waves crashed against the hull. I remember holding on to him as the ship went down. I don't remember much after that, only one thing …”

Derpy munched on a hoof-full of fried seaweed and listened attentively to the tale. “Derpy told me, just before the waves tore us apart … he swore that he would come back for me, one day he would find me. And I knew he was telling the truth. And then he was gone.”

“I woke up again, clinging to the battered remains of a lifeboat. I knew I was dead, I don't know how, I just knew. There was nothing but water to see in every direction, no signs of the ship or any of the crew aside from myself. I drifted for ages, but it didn't matter, time doesn't really flow down here as it does in the world above. I gathered what pieces of wood I could find drifting on the waves and expanded on the boat as best I could. I survived on rainwater, seaweed and anything else I could get from the sea. I had a lifetime of experience at sea, so I knew how to make do. And every once in a while I came across another poor straggler lost at sea. The boat became a ship, and home to the ponies you now see here with us. We are the lost souls of the endless sea, forever sailing in search of our final destination. And all this time … all this time I have waited for a sign, for my dear Derpy to return and lead us home.”

Derpy looked up. “I was named after a famous pirate?”

Rose smiled. “Oh, more than that, more than that, my dear …” she said. “Long before all this, Derpy and I had a foal, a wonderful little colt who grew to become a mighty stallion and built a life and reputation of his own. Deep Blue, we named him.” She looked expectantly at Derpy.

Derpy chewed thoughtfully at her seaweed, eyes scanning the room. Suddenly she stopped. “G-grandpa Blue?” She stared from the locket to Rose. “Y-you're my …”

“Great grandmother,” Rose said, dabbing her eyes with an old hoofkerchief. “You know, old Derpy Jones also had bubbles on his flank. The sea was his life, he always said. But I didn't have to look, you know, because you have his eyes too. They always unnerved other ponies, gave him a fierce reputation they did.”

“Others just laugh at mine,” Derpy said, looking downcast.

“Well, don't you care one bit what other ponies say, sweetie. You are your own pony and there will always be somepony who likes you for who you are, and you know what? That's all that really matters.” Rose reached out and patted her hoof. “It's a shame you had to go and pass away so young, but that's life they say, can't argue with it.”

“I'm not dead, um, I think,” said Derpy, looking up. “I sailed here with my daughter, Dinky, to find somepony … I, um, accidentally gave her a bad flower and I have to find her and bring her back. But now I'm lost and I don't know where Dinky is, or where anypony is.”

Rose lit up in a bright smile. “Traveling to the end of the world to save the one you care for from the claws of death, that's my Derpy! Don't you worry, I am sure you will find your way, and it looks like our fates are intertwined. I never lost faith, I never did. I always knew you would find me one day.”

“M-me? But I-I'm not Derpy Jones. Not really.”

“You have his spirit and good heart. You are here on a heroic quest,” Rose smiled. “It is fate, my dear.”

There was a shout from above. “Missus Rose! Missus Rose! There's a light! Merry saw a light on the horizon! There's light!” the voice of Crabbe called, ecstatically.

Rose winked at Derpy, “Fate,” and stood up slowly. She pulled a shawl off a nearby chair and wrapped it around her shoulders before heading out. Derpy followed.

They emerged back on the deck of the ship. Rose followed the pointing hooves, squinting her eyes. Derpy followed her gaze. A distant light flickered and wavered low on the horizon. Rose looked around at the stunned crew. “Well? What are you waiting for? Scurvy dogs the bunch of you! All ponies at the sails, hard to starboard! Keep your eye on that light, Merry!”

“Aye!” they all cheered and rushed to their posts.

The old mare was grinning from ear to ear. “Aye! Love will find a way, my child. Love always finds a way.”

***

Dinky felt herself falter. Her body trembled violently, her head screamed. She sank down on the cold, wet sand, breathing heavily. The light burned on, brighter than ever. It burned, like a little sun in her mind. She cried, but would not let go. She took a long breath and let out every ounce of air in her lungs, screaming out her pain.

Fluttershy was standing several feet away, as close as she could force herself to be, listening in horror. The light was too bright to look at or approach, the heat washed over her and drenched her coat in sweat. She had debated running for help, but what if the filly collapsed and needed her? She couldn't just leave her.

A sound echoed across the fields, a long, merry horn blowing on the wind. Fluttershy opened an eye carefully, protecting her face with her hooves and squinting at the sea. A small dot rose up over the horizon, growing bigger. “It's … I think it's a … a ship!” Fluttershy stammered. “It's a ship!”

The horn blew again, a jubilant greeting of the homecoming ship.

Dinky's head hit the sand, the light flickered and died with a faint breath of air. There was a breathless pause, then a last flash of light, this time from Dinky's flank.

Chapter 4

“Dinky!”

Derpy's heart sang as she saw land and spotted the filly on the shore. In an instant she forgot everything else and set off, rushing towards land. “Dinky!” she called with joy, but as she neared the shore her heart sank back in her chest. She landed next to Dinky and fell down on her haunches in the sand. The unicorn did not move or open her eyes. “Dinky!” she called again and reached out to touch her. “S-she's burning!” she said and looked through tears at Fluttershy who had rushed to her side. “W-what's wrong with her? W-why won't she wake up?”

Fluttershy leaned down low to listen at the filly's mouth. “She's still breathing. Thank goodness, she's still breathing,” she said, too lost in concern for Dinky to react to Derpy's arrival. “We need to get her to the castle,” she said as she lifted the little filly carefully. “Help me carry her, please.”

Derpy lay down so Fluttershy could help Dinky onto her back. Once the filly had been secured, Fluttershy turned and hurried across the beach towards the fields with Derpy carrying Dinky close behind.

Ponies were trickling in from the ship now, settling on the beach behind them. Some were kissing the ground, others dancing or singing in joy. A few other ponies were gathering from the surrounding fields to greet the newcomers.

Rose jumped off an old dingy lifeboat and trotted up the beach, watching the two pegasi rush off with Dinky. When they finally disappeared out of sight she looked down and sighed blissfully at the feeling of sand under her hooves.

***

“I'm really, really sorry,” Derpy said after the initial panic had worn off a little and she had had time to realize who she was flying with. They had left the beach and were now following the outline of a wide road below. Derpy had simply followed Fluttershy, trusting the other pegasus to know where they were going. “I really am.”

Fluttershy backed up a little so that she was flying next to Derpy. She checked on Dinky before giving the gray pegasus a sad look. “It's me who should be sorry, Derpy. I should have paid more attention to you. I shouldn't have ignored you like that. I-I didn't realize how you felt,” she said, looking down as the ground rushed past below. “You were always a great friend, I really like you too, Derpy.” She looked back up and reached out a hoof to Derpy. After a moment's hesitation she pulled it back. “Maybe we could have gotten to know each other better. Maybe … maybe we could have been closer, but now … Oh Derpy, now I just don't know how we can be together.”

Derpy reached out as Fluttershy pulled her hoof back. “Come with me, Fluttershy. Come back to Ponyville with me.”

Fluttershy looked away. “Derpy, I'm … You know I'm dead, Derpy. I-if the dead could just return as they pleased no pony would ever stay dead, would they? Some things you can't simply change, Derpy.”

They flew in silence for a while. Finally Derpy said, “I could stay here with you.”

Fluttershy reached out and looked at her. “Oh Derpy, don't say that.”

***

A copper-coated stallion greeted them as they landed on the grand stairs of the castle. “My Lady, you have returned,” he said and looked at Derpy and Dinky with some surprise. “Who is this you have brought with you?”

“We need to see prince Terra, mister Edict,” Fluttershy said with urgency in her voice.

Edict looked a little uncertain, clearly not used to such a rush. “The master is in his study, My Lady.”

“Please get him down here,” Fluttershy persisted as she led Derpy inside the grand hall and helped Dinky off her back. “And please have somepony bring some water and blankets.”

The stallion looked at the young filly and gave a quick bow. “Of course, My Lady.” His hooves echoed against the floor as he hurried off. Barely had he left before a pair of servants came galloping with fresh water and blankets. Fluttershy laid Dinky on the blankets and bathed her head with the water.

Derpy looked on helplessly. “W-will she be alright?” she asked hopefully, knowing that Fluttershy often took care of little critters. Maybe a little pony was not so different.

“I … I don't know, Derpy,” Fluttershy admitted. “I don't know what's wrong with her.”

Derpy sat down heavily and stroked the filly's mane. Her eyes settled for the first time on the lighthouse emblazoned on her flank. Three stars circled the top of the tower. “She got her cutie mark,” she said with sudden excitement, failing to hold back tears. She felt her heart swell with both pride and sorrow. “My little guiding star …”

Fluttershy looked at the mark and gave Derpy a sad smile.

Echoing hoof steps sounded down the hall. They looked up to see Terra as he approached, looking between Derpy and Dinky. Derpy blinked at the great stallion. “Y-you?!”

Terra stopped and gave Derpy a little nod. “I am sorry that our last meeting had to be the way it was, miss Derpy. My name is Terra,” he said and looked down at the unconscious filly on the floor before him. “And this is your youngest daughter?”

“You know each other?” Fluttershy looked up in surprise at Terra.

“He was the one who told me about the flower back at the Gala,” said Derpy, feeling the rage boiling within her.

“I did,” Terra said, a hint of sorrow in his voice. “And I do feel I owe you an apology and some explanation. But first …” Terra knelt down and reached out to place a hoof on Dinky's forehead.

Derpy stepped in and batted his hoof away, glaring at him. “Don't you dare touch my daughter, how do I know you won't kill her too?”

Fluttershy gasped a little and reached out for Derpy. “D-Derpy, Terra would never do such a thing!” Fluttershy said, trying to get Derpy to sit down. “If … if you won't trust him, then trust me. For Dinky's sake.”

The prince sighed, clearly pained by the accusation. “I am afraid I have not made myself deserving of your trust in the past, but for what it is worth I hope to change that.”

Derpy huffed and reluctantly backed away, but she kept her eyes firmly on Terra as he knelt back down and examined the young filly on the floor.

“What is wrong with her, w-will she be alright?” asked Fluttershy nervously.

“She is in shock right now,” the prince said as he rose back up. “I saw the light from my study, very impressive, but it is a dangerous thing for a unicorn to exert herself to such a degree when her body is weakened. She has not had much to eat or drink in a long time, it is a great fortune that she has not suffered worse.” He looked down at the unicorn again. “I do not think there will be any lasting harm to her, but I can not say how long until she regains consciousness. For now the best cure is calm and rest.” He turned to a servant. “Give her a room in a quiet part of the castle, make sure it is dark. Have a nurse see to her.”

The servant bowed and picked up Dinky. Fluttershy rubbed Derpy's back reassuringly. “It'll be fine.” Derpy looked far from sure as they watched the servant hurry off with Dinky.

Once the servants had been ushered off, Terra turned back to the two pegasi. “When I warned you about those flowers, Derpy, I did so knowing full well that you were likely to forget my words.” He took a long breath. “I knew what would happen.”

“Y-you … knew?” Fluttershy gasped. Derpy wrapped her wing around Fluttershy, glaring at Terra.

Terra nodded sadly. “I couldn't be absolutely certain, could be she heeded my warning, but I knew that was unlikely. And it was a chance I had to take.”

The words hit Fluttershy hard. She wasn't sure how to handle this and felt tears press at the corners of her eyes. “W-why?” She wanted it to make sense, to have meaning.

“It was a kindness,” he said, a hurt look on his face. “The moment I saw you at the Gala, I saw your future as well. You would eventually have wandered off from the castle, enrapt in the splendors of the forest. Derpy would have followed, and you would have come upon a lake. I will … not go into detail,” he said. “But you would have ended your days at the bottom of that lake, your body the plaything of a monster. Derpy would have been gravely wounded trying to save you, and only narrowly escaped with her life. Her daughter would have found her in the forest.”

Terra closed his eyes, clearly pained to think of the vision he had just described. “When I saw you, Fluttershy, I recognized the beauty and kindness of your heart. I could not bear to see this fate come to pass. But I am a shepherd, I guide my subjects, I can not simply stop Fate. I can not give life, but like any conscious creature it is within my power to take life.”

“So … you told Derpy, knowing the flowers would k-kill me?”

“Yes,” Terra admitted. “It was the best I could do, and it might not have worked. But it did.” He lowered his head at them. “I am sorry that I had to do this, that I caused you both this pain, but it would have been a greater pain had I not. All I hope is that you will see the mercy of my choice and not hold it against me.”

Fluttershy looked down. “You couldn't have told us?”

The prince shook his head. “The consequences of tampering with Fate can be dire. At best you would have died anyway, in some equal fashion. At worst it would cause chaos and … Discord,” he said grimly. “To know when ponies die and having little power to act upon that knowledge, that is my burden, and it is a burden and knowledge I can not share. I could not even tell my own sister at the time, for fear of what her knowing might do.”

They were silent for a time. Derpy and Fluttershy looked at each other. The anger and frustration was subsiding as the prince's words settled. A sadness replaced it. “I guess … I guess I understand,” Fluttershy said at last. “I can't blame you for what you did, I just … wish it didn't have to be that way.”

Terra looked to Derpy. The gray pegasus looked down and nodded a little before looking up again at the prince. “I want Fluttershy to come back with me.”

“It is not that simple,” Terra said with a shake of his head. “I can't simply let the dead walk back into the world of the living. It would upset the whole balance of the world and cause unimaginable chaos.”

“Can not, or will not?” Fluttershy broke in.

Terra reached out and took her hoof in his. “Look at me, Fluttershy. I have all the time in the world to wait for you, what is a lifetime to me? If I could give you life I would do so in a heartbeat.”

Fluttershy looked at Derpy, then at Terra's hoof in hers before looking up at the prince. “Even if it meant me choosing Derpy instead of you?”

Terra looked down for a moment. “Would you?” He looked back at Fluttershy. “Can you say that you love her truly?”

Fluttershy looked at Derpy. The gray pegasus looked back. The hope in her eyes made Fluttershy want to cry. She looked down. “I …” the hesitation in her voice spoke clearly. “I don't know.” She could practically hear Derpy's heart break.

“Are you willing to find out?” Terra said, letting go of her. “There may be a way,” he said reluctantly, “for you to return together, but only if your love is true.”

Fluttershy tried to stay strong. She cared for Derpy, she might even say she loved the poor pegasus. It was just so sudden, and when she thought of Terra and his kingdom under the earth suddenly she wasn't sure what she felt. “What must I do?” she said after a moment.

Terra lifted his head. His horn began to glow and the magic enveloped the three ponies. Fluttershy felt the world shift and snap back into place. She found herself standing in the middle of great rolling fields. All around her the souls of long dead ponies were working. They didn't seem to notice her and Terra. She looked around for Derpy but couldn't see her. “W-where are we? Where's Derpy?”

Even as she spoke, Terra's magic rolled across the land like a silvery wave. Fluttershy gasped and held up a hoof to her mouth as she watched the ponies change, one by one. A flutter of black wings turned into a storm as dark clouds of birds rose all at once. Millions of feathered souls. Fluttershy stared at what had been ponies a second ago.

Terra turned to her. “Your friend is out there, one among them all. If your love for her is true your heart will show you the way to her.” A large, ornate hourglass appeared in his hoof. “You have until the last sand has run out. If you have not found her by then, she will return home with her daughter.”

“A-and if I do find her?” Fluttershy asked, feeling suddenly very afraid.

“I will offer you a way back with her. You may not like it, but it is all I can offer, and for you and Derpy alone to decide. If you truly love each other I think you will know what is right.” He looked at her sadly. “Listen to your heart.” With that he disappeared, leaving Fluttershy alone in the middle of the great field. The hourglass hung in the air, and turned over. A single grain of sand dropped into the bottom.

***

“Um, excuse me?” Fluttershy approached a pair of ravens. “Excuse me?” They looked up at her without much interest. Fluttershy wondered if Derpy would even recognize her. “Um, is one of you Derpy?” She felt so terribly stupid for asking. The two black birds looked at her unhelpfully. Maybe they weren't Derpy after all.

“Um,” she said, hurrying to catch up with another bird passing by. “Excuse me? Are you, um, are you Derpy?” The bird shook its head and carried on.

Fluttershy looked out over the fields and skies, blackened by birds as far as the eye could see. Her heart sank. How could she hope to ask them all? Even without the pressure of the sand trickling away it seemed like a hopeless task.

She steered towards a large group of ravens. “E-excuse me, have any of you seen my friend Derpy?” None of them appeared to answer. “Only, it's really important,” she pleaded. “I have to find her so I can return to Ponyville.” This seemed to gain their attention. Fluttershy smiled hopefully. “You understand, don't you? I helped you all, remember? When you were tired or sick?” She had met many souls in her short time here. They all seemed to have something they needed help with, and Fluttershy had been happy to offer them her kindness. “Perhaps, um, perhaps you could help me find my friend?”

She had helped them and shown them kindness, but a raven's heart is filled with envy. They had it all figured out. If she returned to the land of the living they would not enjoy her kindness again. The birds gave each other calculating looks and set off in every direction, screeching in dire warning to their fellows.

Fluttershy squeaked in startled surprise. “Wait, please! What are you …” But the ravens were gone, their warning cries echoing back from far and wide. They were quickly joined by many more. In an instant the whole of the land was a cacophony of voices. And then it fell quiet.

A raven approached her and pecked her hoof fondly. Fluttershy looked down. “Um, is that … is that you, Derpy?” The raven cooed. Fluttershy lit up and reached down to pick up the raven when something pulled gently at her tail. She turned around and saw another bird looking up at her. “Um …”

A third raven approached her. Fluttershy looked between them. “Y-you can't all be Derpy,” she said. “Please, you have to help me.” Two more ravens landed on her back and rubbed their heads against her in affection. “No, please … y-you're not helping,” she cried.

Behind her the sand trickled slowly but inexorably through the hourglass.

***

Derpy sat in a field, feeling all alone since Terra had left her there. She preened a wing and chirped sadly. A sudden commotion of screeching made her jump and look up as a swarm of ravens passed overhead before disappearing on the horizon. Derpy looked in the direction they had come from. After a moment to consider she hopped a few feet, set off and flew clumsily in that direction.

***

Fluttershy was about ready to cry, or scream, or maybe kick something. All the ravens seemed to have gotten it into their heads that they were Derpy. Maybe … maybe she would know Derpy when she saw her, maybe if she looked her in the eyes she would know … if only she could look all the ravens in the eyes, but there were so many. She rushed from raven to raven, but they all had little beady black eyes that looked back with deceptive friendliness.

She was so frustrated she could just possibly kick and scream and cry at the same time.

A raven landed on her head. She looked up, daring to hope, just possibly hope. The raven flapped its wings at the movement and let out a little series of chirps. Fluttershy paused and held out a hoof. The bird landed and chirped again, a happy little melody, a merry little tune that somehow reminded Fluttershy of the sea and Pinkie Pie's parties.

Another melody crept over her lips as she hummed to herself in remembrance.

My wings aching, sky breaking, hail on the deck

The bird bobbed up and down and shifted from leg to leg as it turned around on her hoof in a little jig. It chirruped again, mimicking her melody. Fluttershy smiled and leaned in to whisper, “thank you, you merry little bird! Thank you!”

Fluttershy rose up over the fields and sang as she flew, scanning the skies and fields while listening for a reply. The merry raven followed behind, happily chirping the same fragment of a melody over and over, the first line of each verse.

The storm's flashing, ship's dashing, gasbag's alight

Clouds kicking, hooves slipping, wind in our manes

The storm's smashing, ship's crashing, falls from the sky,

The rain's lashing, sky's thrashing, screaming like Hell

My wings aching, sky breaking, hail on the deck

Some birds joined in uncertainly, others stayed silent in confusion. A few enterprising ones tried making up their own melodies. Fluttershy prayed only one would know the right continuation, a pony who had once sung this very song with her in the Sugarcube Corner.

***

Derpy alternately flew and jumped along in a rough direction she hoped would take her closer to Fluttershy. An old bird seemed to have decided to tag along for the ride, flying behind her as she made her way across the fields. Occasionally it chirped encouragingly at her.

She remembered vaguely what Terra had told her, about finding Fluttershy and listening to her heart. She wasn't sure how long it had been, and she was starting to get worried. She could see many other birds, everywhere she looked they sat or flew about, but no sight of Fluttershy or anypony else.

She was feeling increasingly sad when a voice reached her from far away. She stopped and listened before turning in the direction of the sound. The voice grew louder and there were a lot of other birds now, all gathering together. Derpy struggled to get through. When she failed she stopped to listen. She recognized the melody, and there were words too, but she couldn't remember them. Many other birds were screeching along too, making it hard for Derpy to hear.

There was a flutter next to her as the old bird that had followed her landed next to her. It gave her a little nudge and whistled the tune on the air encouragingly. Derpy struggled but slowly began to understand. She whistled the first bit of the melody and stopped … she tried to remember what came next, but her memory came up blank. She hung her head sadly.

Next to her the other bird hummed quietly in her ear.

And the airship's one squall away from ending a wreck

Derpy brightened up and puffed up her chest, squawking out the next line of the melody. It wasn't very beautiful, but it was loud and full of longing.

***

Fluttershy heard the reply above the chaos of screeches, standing out like a single tone of harmony. She spun around and hurried through the swarms of birds towards the sound, trying hard to hear it over the noise. She was so close …

And then another voice joined in, and a third, suddenly all the birds were singing the same two lines. Fluttershy stopped, feeling her hope dashed.

A third line was added somewhere. Fluttershy hurried towards the sound, but almost instantly the whole flock joined in again as they caught on to the scheme. She was crying as the fourth line joined the choir.

That was it. She sat down on the ground, birds everywhere, all the same.

She felt herself losing it, tearing up. “W-why are you doing this to me?” she cried loudly. She had wandered these fields, helping all the souls of the dead she came across, offering them a kind hoof wherever she could. And this was her payment? “Was I not a friend to you a-all? Why do you repay me l-like th-this?!” She stared at the ravens around her with eyes full of a steely anger despite the tears rolling down her cheeks. “Y-you should be ashamed of yours-selves! You're nothing b-but mean, cold-hearted little b-birds!” she howled.

The birds around her hung their heads at the sight of Fluttershy's tearful eyes and sound of her scolding words. Silent shame spread through the clouds of feathered souls, and one by one the birds spread their wings and set off, soon disappearing on the wind.

Fluttershy sniffed and looked down as something pecked at her hoof gently. She looked at the empty fields around her, then down at the bird in front of her. She didn't have to ask, only one bird could look so pitiable and yet so lovable. Fluttershy picked it up and wiped her eyes, smiling. “Derpy, you found me …” she whispered and kissed the bird on its beak.

A warm glow surrounded the bird and lifted it into the air. Fluttershy backed away and held up a hoof to her eyes as the bird disappeared in a flash of light.

Derpy sat down and studied her hooves and wings as if seeing them for the first time, then looked up at Fluttershy. The yellow pegasus rushed forwards and wrapped her hooves around Derpy.

Neither of them noticed Terra, standing a bit away with his gaze on the fields. His eyes betrayed a deep sorrow as he waited in silence for them. When they eventually looked up and noticed him, he turned towards them. “I promised you a way back, and since you have proven that your love is true I have no qualms about offering you this option … even if it means losing you, Fluttershy,” he looked away as he spoke.

They looked at him uncertainly. After a time he sighed and returned his eyes to them. “I stand by my word, but I can not grant life. Only the living have life to give. I can return you to the lands of the living, Fluttershy, but it means a sacrifice from the one you love. A measure of her own life.”

Derpy and Fluttershy looked at each other. “You mean …?” Fluttershy said uncertainly.

Terra gave a solemn nod. “Also know that should you return, the Lady of the Lake may seek to claim the life I stole from her. I will leave you alone to consider my offer. It is, sadly, the best I can do.” He turned around and walked towards the castle with heavy hooves.

***

Fluttershy looked out over the fields where ponies, all looking shameful, were slowly getting back to work.

“Derpy …”

Derpy looked at her. Fluttershy could see she knew what was coming. It hurt, but anything else would only hurt more.

“Derpy, I can't go back with you,” she said finally. “Not if it means … what it means.”

The other mare looked up at her pleadingly. “I don't want to live long alone.”

Fluttershy took Derpy's hoof. “Derpy, think of your daughters, and your friends and family.” She looked Derpy deep into her eyes. “Derpy, I love you too. I wasn't sure, but now I am. I wish I could have known earlier, and that we could have been together even for a short time. But I can't ask you to give of your own life for my sake, and I … I can't put my love for you above my love for everypony. There are ponies here who need me, who … who need a kind and loving princess. And there are ponies up there who need you, too, ponies who love you very much and would gladly spend their lives with you.”

Derpy was crying as she tackled Fluttershy in a tight hug. “I love you, Fluttershy.”

Fluttershy squeaked a little at the hug before returning the gesture. She was crying now too. “I love you, too. And I'm glad I got to tell you … at least.”

***

Dinky turned over in the cool bed and opened her eyes to look up at Derpy. Her mother was sitting next to the bed, looking down at her sadly. “M-mother? What happened?”

“It … it's a long story,” said Derpy. She stroked Dinky's mane quietly for a time then lay her head down next to her and closed her eyes.

Dinky snuggled up close to her mother. “Are we going home?”

Derpy nodded with a sad sniffle.

***

Rose smiled at Derpy and reached out to hug her gently. Behind her the crew of the Queen of Roses looked on with respectfully bowed heads. “It is better to live and love, my dear,” said the old unicorn and rubbed Derpy's shoulder. “I want you to know that I am very proud of you, and that old Derpy Jones would be too. I know you will go far and see much, and find love even if right now you think you have lost it.” She smiled and wiped a tear from her eye as she looked Derpy over, as if trying to save the image in her memory for all time.

Derpy tried to stammer a reply, but Rose stopped her. “You don't have to say anything, dear.” She turned her head to look at her crew. “Oh yes, we have a little gift for you,” she said as Big Crabbe approached holding a large scroll seemingly made from pieces of old sails. Rose levitated it out of the quartermaster's mouth and held it up to Derpy with a wink. “Following your heart is fine and good, but sometimes you need a proper map to find the sunken treasure. I think you know where this one leads. We all wrote you a little greeting on the back too.”

Derpy took the scroll gingerly and hesitated for a moment, then wrapped the old mare in a tight hug.

“Easy now, dear,” she chuckled. “I'm a frail old lady.” As Derpy finally let go of her she turned to look at Dinky with a warm smile. “I am sure I don't need to tell you to look after you mother, young lady?”

“No, ma'am,” said Dinky snappily. The depressing mood of the farewells had not entirely drained away her joy of having found her cutie mark. She was practically beaming still.

Rose gave the young pony a hug too. “That's what I like to hear.” She let go and looked at Derpy. “What are you waiting for then, dear? Don't let us keep your love waiting.”

Derpy hesitated, then gave Rose a final hug and turned around. Dinky smiled and waved at the crew before following her mother.

Fluttershy and Terra were waiting nearby, standing with their backs to the great open sea and the rolling waves. Fluttershy's mane was blowing in the gentle wind as she approached them and wrapped Derpy in a tight embrace. Derpy could feel the other mare's heart close to hers, beating in sync.

“I guess this is our last goodbye,” Fluttershy whispered.

Derpy was crying as Fluttershy kissed her.

***

Derpy looked back and saw the last flicker of yellow and pink disappearing against the light of the setting sun. It cast its dying glow on the dark waters as the sea rushed past beneath her wings, and then the great celestial sphere dipped below the horizon and gave way to the gentle glow of the moon. Vast forests and fields replaced the sea and everything seemed like just a memory.

Terra guided them down near the edge of the forest and turned to look at them. “You have returned home safely, as I promised. I must return, for there is much I must see to when I officially join my sisters on the throne of Equestria. I hope you bear me no ill will,” he said.

Derpy shook her head a little as Dinky crawled off her back. Terra nodded, then bowed and turned to spread his wings. Derpy watched him set off and disappear against the dark sky. Once she could no longer see him she turned towards the lights of Ponyville.

She stopped and tensed. Two ponies were coming up the road towards them. She recognized them immediately …

“Please don't be frightened, Derpy,” Twilight said as she emerged into the light of the moon. The purple unicorn looked like she had been crying a lot lately. As did the rainbow-maned pegasus by her side. “Princess Luna told us what really happened,” Twilight said to hurriedly deflect the tension.

“Yeah, we know it wasn't your fault,” Rainbow Dash added. “I'm … sorry I blamed you. Fluttershy was my best friend, I just didn't know how to … to handle it all.”

“You're not mad at me?” Derpy asked uncertainly.

“You're a fool, Derpy,” Rainbow Dash said and got a hoof in the side from Twilight. “But you're our foolish friend,” she continued and gave Derpy a sad hug.

“We know how much she meant to you, too,” Twilight added. “And we … we knew you would want to be there for the funeral.” She gestured towards the town where flickering lights were being lit now. “All her friends are there to see her away. When Luna told us you were coming we wanted to make sure you and Dinky were there too. She would have wanted that.”

***

Derpy lay the rose down on the grave and stood up, looking at the newly planted tree in the soft light of the candles and stars.

“I will never forget you, Fluttershy.”

***

Dear Princess Celestia

Sometimes it is kinder to end things than to prolong what should not be, and to remember that there is always more than one pony in your life and in the world. Our love for one should never come at the cost of all those whom our lives touch—our friends and families and all those who depend upon us. When a whole world depends on you it is even more important to remember that you can never put yourself or any one pony above the rest. But I know this is a lesson you must have learned long ago, and better than anypony.

Better than your brother, too, but I think he is starting to learn. Terra is very charming and so courteous, he always makes me blush. I think he is going to propose to me soon, but I'm still not sure. I guess I'm a little shy, and I still think of Derpy. I hope she finds love in her life too, and that when the day finally comes and we meet again she will tell me all about it.

Yours Truly,

Maybe-one-day-Princess Fluttershy.