TS&F: S1, Ep5: A Sunset to Remember

"I am sure that is all well and good, Cadence, but I'm afraid that'll have to be put on hold, until the sun sets. You see, Spike and I are already on a tight deadline for this particular event, aren't we, darling?"

"Ngyuh. Hah! Huff! Right, Rarity." It was while the rosy Alicorn spoke with the Unicorn mare and adolescent Dragon about properly meeting Flash Sentry that she caught them frantically setting the stage, with great haste. The set pieces and tools of Miss Trixie's trade were placed and stacked to the side, the backstage if one will, when the wagon was converted into as much of an elongated platform as it would allow. Spike had just completed his task of moving the last of the azure show mare's instruments, as Rarity was about to make the final touches of her makeshift costume for Trixie. All the while, it appeared both the draconic multi-bred and blue Unicorn were most unamused by this sudden shift in both of their intended goals, as they seemingly found common ground in moping beside one another, rather than wondering about the sort of compromise Rarity had in mind.

"You see," she told Cadence, "I was inspired by this amazing idea from the hectic hustling about to make this act happen in time. We begin with a fashion show displaying Discord at his best, and the same for Trixie spontaneously, in the most improvised, yet thoroughly presentable attire possible in a last-minute change of plans, so chaotic that it would spark the two to take things from there. It'll be absolutely fabulous! While the ponies of this village are greatly entertained by the pair's antics and illusions, they will also get a brief taste, a preview, of my vision, imagination and creativity, done in the most abrupt, unexpected of situations, making them wonder-"

"Um...Rarity!" Hearing the purple, scaly youth call out to her for sudden aid, and crash-ting from behind, she was immediately caught back into the zone as it were, concentrating on the next piece to her elaborately sporadic puzzle.

"Sorry, darling," she said, quickly moving onwards to Spike. Then speaking back to Cadence, her focus unwavering, she added, "Please, do tell Twilight that we'll be more than happy to join her in that endeavor, as soon as we're finished!"

"Cadence! Cadence! We have a problem! We've got a very big emergency!" The lavender Alicorn in question then rushed towards her sister-in-law, who collectively ensured to sooth Twilight and keep Flurry to rest peacefully.

"This is bad! This is bad! This is really, really, really, really, really bad!"

"Twilight," the pink, winged mare uttered evenly, "Remember what I showed you."

She was fully aware of Twilight's sudden shifts in moods from confident and motivated to insecure and delirious in practically the blink of an eye. As she watched her sisterly friend take slowing, deep breaths, like when she first did in the Crystal Empire, Cadence began to see the purple of her irises gradually returning to their regular size when well collected.

"Now, start from the beginning," she told her, after nuzzling the little filly on her back to keep her from any further disturbances, "What seems to be wrong, this time?"

"Well," Twilight huffed, still trying to collect more air, "I was just on my way over to Rainbow Dash and Flash Sentry, when I heard what they were saying. They were talking about Flash wanting to see somepony in Ponyville he missed being with so much, and how much he wanted to show her how much she mattered to him. And it appears Rainbow Dash knew exactly whom he's talking about, and is enthusiastically encouraging him to find a way in doing so. Now, given how he's only stopped by Ponyville twice, the second being his very first to stay there, ever, as well as the times we kept bumping into each other, both before and during, I'm starting to think that they might be referring to me!"

Her escalated pitch in tone, and a return to her unbridled self, may have disrupted a few ponies in their fun and mirth, but thankfully that was the minimum, for Cadence had guided them both to the nearest alleyway, where the least bit of attention could be attained. She still could not resist the urge to think of how she still sees that small, Unicorn filly she looked after all those years ago, chuckling at the prospect.

"Calm down, Twilight," she said then with comfort, "Take a few more breaths. In, and out. In, and out. There. Okay, remember what we said about eavesdropping?"

"That it only gives us a tiny piece of truth," Twilight answered plainly, her vocals mostly restored to normal, "And no pieces of fact."

"Exactly," was Cadence's response, "So, all we have to go on from this, is that Captain Sentry knows someone there, somepony he might be having corresponce already. And it's a pony Rainbow Dash mutually knows, herself. That could mean anypony, from you, your friends, to even a well-known acquaintance you have there."

She allowed time for another repose for her adoptive sister by spirit and marriage, as she watched Twilight begin to recollect her thoughts and calm her senses completely.

"You're right. Of course, we don't have anything further to suggest it. But, what if that were the case?"

"I understand you still have some uncertainties about this," nodded Cadence, "But let me tell you something, if you still want to be a good, true friend to him, don't hesitate to proceed as planned. Regardless if he and Rainbow were talking about you or not, just keep to the original plan of establishing a friendly basis with him first. At least for the time being. And if he opens up to you about that, or doesn't, you just establish with him how you are uninterested in pursuing that form of a relationship, until further notice."

"But how do I go about doing that?"

"Stallions like it simple and to the point," she smirked, "The more sensible and rational ones, anyway. In fact, they can be too forward and direct at times, while also frustratingly locked up at others. Just say to him that you'd like to be his friend, and that he'd be a friend to you and the others as well. So long as that's been firmly established, let the rest handle itself from there. Besides," she then added, "I highly doubt Sentry would be considering those thoughts for you already. He is a very sensible pony not to express having attractions and affections toward anypony so soon. I mean, consider how few and brief the encounters you both had, and so far in between. Not much time to really talk to each other, let alone deeply ponder about it."

"Yes, that's also true," smiled Twilight with a firm resolve, "It can be really hard to know for sure about that kind of thing, when given so little time to develop it. Something so, very serious and life-changing on both sides."

"Exactly," she nodded back with comforting affirmation, "After all, it took your entire foalhood for Shining and me to recognize how much we meant to each other."

After sharing a chuckle between the Alicorn mares, they simply continued onward in a casual stride, deciding to ponder on other matters. After knowing that not all of Twilight's friends were readily available for the meeting, at this time, they went on their simple walk across town without too much concern for whatever lies ahead.

They decided now was a good time to get some fresh air, away from the crowd of ponies, as well as allow for their stomachs to settle. Although the baking contest was most certainly enjoyable in more than one way, it was definitely upsetting in another. The villagers playing host began to reduce the excitement to a low simmer themselves, and started to wait until the fiery disc in the sky began to set. If not for that reprieve, Starlight, and even Applejack doubted how much longer their aching bellies could last.

It was at that point they opted to meander around the village themselves, especially after the cooking and consumption of such scrumptious goods.

"Hoo-ey! Ah sure wish Pinkie Pie were here for that finale! Not sure Ah can have 'nother bite, now."

"Tell me about it," the light purple Unicorn replied to the orange mare, "They were all pretty good. Delicious, in fact."

"Recon a bit of each goes a long way, huh?"

"And a lot more goes even further." Exchanging a bemoaning chuckle between themselves, the Earth Pony farmer and her friend decided to see the sights overall, rather than spend any more energy on games and events.

"Gotta say," AJ spoke up, as they sat down at the end of the road, "This bein' a rare opportunity to take a day off the farm, Ah need to take a load off still."

"No kidding," Starlight Glimmer remarked, "I've been wanting a break from my Friendship studies also. I wonder what Spider Bite's up to, himself."

"Ah'm guessing Twah's been keeping yah both pretty busy."

"No complaints from me, so far. And none from him either. Just got to know when to step back, and take a breather. That's all."

"Tah chillax?"

"Exactly," she sniggered back at the playful reference towards their Pegasus friend. They had gone off to the very edge of town, now viewing the titanic landscape of the mountains surrounding the vale.

"You know," Starlight muttered, "It's been quite a while since I've been able to spend time with each of you individually, except for a brief lesson on Friendship, every now and then."

"Heh," said Applejack in kind, "Ah s'pose it ain't since that whole mind controlin' spell incident that we got tah know more 'bout each other."

"Right," sneered Starlight playfully, then shifted somberly, "With everything that's happened, the way that they happened, and what could've happened, I just think I should take as many chances to grow more deeply bonded with all of you."

"Yah mean after the whole Chrysalis-foalnapping thing?"

"Yeah," she nodded to the farm mare, "After all of that, and what could've happened to you, Twilight, Trixie and all the others...I don't know. I feel like there's more that can be done about it. I mean, from here on out, that is."

"Ah hear yah, sugarcube," said AJ with understanding, "Just gotta learn to enjoy the company yah got s'best yah can, while yah still got the time."

"And it's not just that, though," Starlight added firmly, "I feel like there's still something else we're missing from all of this. Something very small, but at the same time very important."

"Yeah. It's like Ah can't shake this whole feelin' in mah gut. An' it ain't just talking 'bout the baked goods, neither. Feels like there's still a whole, lot more that needs tah get done."

"For instance, not having some kind of signal to know who's who, like Trixie and I did with Thorax and Discord."

"And like Twilight does with Cadence." Thus, uplifted by the prospect, they had decided to take this opportunity in also knowing about each other a bit more. They both also knew how it was a great way to deepen and solidify their friendship, given how rare this occasion was between the two of them.

"Why don't you tell me more about how you got Winona?"

"Well, shoot," muttered Applejack with a smirk of her own, "There ain't much else tah say, 'cept maybe the mamma dog that Ma found. Poor, little critter was so lost and alone, Ma figured she might've wandered off, got lost in the Everfree. Mama must've seen that the litter was still inside her, so she right'n took that little feller in. While she was havin' them pups, Ma, Pa and Granny Smith sent flyers to all the nearest towns and stations. Ah just helped watchin' her the best Ah could. By the time the owners managed to come by and pick her up, the pups came around also. Recon the forest spooked the mamma dog so, she just let instincts kick in and ran off. We finally got tah know the dog's real name then. And they let us keep one of them pups as thanks."

"What was her name," asked the Unicorn mare.

"Sheila."

"I remember this little hideout Sunburst and I used to have in the glade near home," Starlight began, taking her own time to reminisce, "We would find some of the strangest nocturnal animals wandering into it. Almost as if they knew we'd be there. That kind of strange. The possums, owls and raccoons would just linger there, and we sometimes play with them, while my own parents were busy and we took a break from learning. Twilight's own story of getting Owlowiscius reminds me of that too."

"Yah got to name any of 'em?"

"I called a raccoon Bandit Rex," giggled Starlight in reply, "A possum Mitts, and Sunburst called an owl Lookout. And they became the gang of tricksters in our little playtime adventures." After sharing a good laugh between them, AJ decided to start opening up a little on what she could remember about her late parents, Bright Macintosh and Buttercup, then they picked up from there.

"I don't even know where to start with my family," smirked Starlight, hearing what Applejack had later said about her brother and sister. "I mean, there's stuff that I can talk about, sure. But…it's…it's just…"

"Harder tah figure in how to go 'bout doin' it." After the Unicorn somberly nodded, Applejack became aware there was some difficulty in explaining things that had been hard to bear for anypony, especially since a very young age.

"Ah've got relatives in Manehatten, just so yah know. Maybe if you've been there, yah might be familiar with some of them, or some-"

Suddenly, something strange cut the mare from her trail of thought, prompting her to twitch her ears, and her snout to cringe. Lifting her Studson further up from her field of vision, the orange Earth Pony felt rather queasy and unhinged by the quiet disturbance that she felt through her natural instincts. It was while she caught a most unusual scent in the air, she felt prompted to examine her surroundings with much more focus, paying attention to any shifts or movements.

"Applejack?" Starlight Glimmer could not shake from the same inner tension she felt also. Only, for her it was the most unusual detection of energy she felt through her horn. The shifting in the air, the slight change in its warmth, the scent, the sunlight, the soft flutter of a hovering moth, the sudden stillness felt throughout the local atmosphere. Something. Something was on the outskirts of Our Town, beyond the joyful celebration that was so jubilantly enkindling everypony's spirit. And it was invisibly lurking directly before them, right underneath their snouts. Whatever it was, it was definitely throwing both friends into unease, causing them to wonder what to make of it.

"I don't know what it is, but something about this whole thing seems to be putting me into such a state of disparage." The white mare ignited her blue aura once more, as she placed the finishing touches onto the dark violet cloth embroidered with gold and silver swirls and beams.

"Considering what Trixie has on," the azure Unicorn flatly stated, "Not feeling so great and powerful might support that notion."

"Pish-posh," Rarity sharply retorted, "you look absolutely fabulous, darling. Simply divine."

"After today, Trixie will take this to the nearest fireplace." As she made the final adjustments to the new cape, Discord and Spike stood to the opposite side of the Trixie's stagecoach. The pair continued with their efforts in the upcoming show, having Discord and Trixie disgruntled and set apart with what was about to come. What none seemed capable to fathom was the comically spiteful sight the four had made of themselves, with Dicord and Trixie pouting more and more pathetically with every passing second, and Rarity with Spike continuing to work on them.

"Can't believe Trixie has ever been such a…a," Trixie moaned in exasperation, "softy! To allow such a travesty to befall on a pony as magnificently talented as I!"

"My, my. You're worse than Rainbow Dash, when I prep her."

"I still fail to see how this is totally necessary," whined the draconic malady, gesturing at his own attire.

"Trust me," Spike answered with enthusiasm, "I know this looks ridiculous at first, but when you step out after the sunset, it'll look even crazier!"

"That isn't very reassuring, Spike," Discord quipped with dull bemusement, as he watched the little, purple Dragon smooth out a few wrinkles in the newly bedecked suit. "Honestly, I do believe this'll prove to be a disaster."

"Hey!" Hearing Spike's indignant snap prompted him to sharpen his focus on the young drake. "You're the one who asked for my and Rarity's help, didn't you?"

"Yes, but-"

"So you do actually trust us to do our best jobs in helping you, right?"

"I suppose I did, but now-"

"And you and Trixie obviously can't get along about how to do this. So, what you're seeing is what you get, and stop throwing a fit about it."

"I say," shrugged Discord, "being talked down to by a Dragon hatchling like a child of all things is definitely a new one."

"Helps to be Twilight's number one assistant," puffed Spike proudly, "So stop squirming around, why don' you. You're going to love how awesome this'll be! Especially when you know Rarity got her hooves on this project!"

"Had I heard that from a pony, fully grown, and with a professional opinion," groaned the draconic multi-bred, "And not from the smitten baby Dragon, I might've been more inclined to be comforted by that. You do know that I can simply rid myself of this entanglement called a monkey suit, don't you?"

Both Spike and Rarity fiddled with the costumes for a short while longer, now fully ignoring their counterparts' obnoxious and ongoing complaints. After rehearsing with Twilight on what to say, when to say, and how to say their conversation with Sentry, Cadence and she allowed for the time to progress around them with serenity. They now awaited for the spectating sight of wonderment that was soon to be witnessed. Hearing even the constant wallows of misery from the Unicorn mare and Draconequus prompted the two princesses to share a brief moment of mirth amongst themselves.

Just then, they both sensed a rather awry disturbance through their Alicorn, heightened awareness of unwarranted changes in the local area's magic.

"Cadence," Twilight uttered with bristled tension in her voice, "What do you think's going on?"

"I'm not sure," warily replied the vigilant mother, now having her light blue glow around her filly as a barrier.

"Hey, Twah! Cadence!" It was then also that AJ and Glimmer eagerly jumped into the rising conversation. "Starlight and m'self found us something we think yah got to see!"

"Rarity, Spike," Cadence asked firmly, while gently raising a waking Flurry Heart to the two, "Would you mind taking Flurry, and watch her for a minute?"

"We'd be glad to, surely," said the white Unicorn, "But I doubt how much help we'll actually be in doing so, considering our current task potentially distracting us."

"Can't that wait for a little while," asked Twilight.

"What about Pinkie Pie," offered Spike, "She's always great with Pound and Pumpkin Cake. She'll be an even bigger help with Flurry."

"Spike," scolded Twilight.

"What," he shrugged defensively, "I'm just saying."

"And how about Fluttershy," added Rarity, unaware of the bewildered response from her lavender friend, "She was truly a marvel when looking after the Crusaders that one time."

"Wait," said Twilight, revealing her true reason to be shocked and flustered by the mere mention of the two mares. "Has anypony seen or heard from Fluttershy and Pinkie?"

"No."

"I'm afraid I haven't, dear."

"I didn't either."

"Shoot fire, no Twilight." The simple fact that all answered in the negative, including herself, Applejack then decided to snap all attention back to her saying, "Well applesauce! That's definitely a bad sign! Twilight, Cadence, now Ah really think you two got to see this!"

"What we discovered," shakily added Starlight, "Might give us a clue as to what might be happening."

"What're you talking about," sharply asked Twilight, now with even greater discomfort than earlier today. "What do you mean? What did you two find?"

"Recon it'd be easier to show yah, and even quicker to explain it on the way." Catching the gravity of the situation, Spike quickly volunteered himself.

"Um, I think that means I stay and watch Flurry."

"Thank you, Spike," graciously answered the filly's mother.

"I suppose I need to partake in this investigation," firmly stated Rarity, who urgently joined in the sudden gathering of the group. They all rushed to the edge of town in a hastened trot, passing where Rainbow Dash was with Captain Sentry, who both sensed an uneasy shift in the wind through their ruffled wings.

"You felt that, didn't you?"

"I did," somberly nodded the orange stallion.

"Hey, Twilight," Rainbow called out, "Noticed anything weird just hap-"

"Not right now, Rainbow Dash," sharply stated the mare in question, choosing not to face the two directly as she passed, "We need to start looking for Pinkie and Fluttershy this instant!"

"You think they're missing," the blue Pegasus asked, as she and Flash took flight alongside the rest.

"They could very well be, darling," answered Rarity, "Nopony has even heard a peep about them all the while."

"If you want," said Starlight, "I can look around, and ask my friends in the village if they know anything."

"That'd be very helpful," Cadence answered, "Thanks, Starlight." At that, as the light purple mare made her way back to town, the rosy Alicorn silently gestured her covert Captain to remain also, and keep watch. Despite his apparent reluctance in his stiffened, hovering stated, Flash Sentry followed the quiet order from his departing regent. He gave a short nod, and darted in the opposite direction of the mares.

"Hey," shouted back the rainbow Pegasus, "Where's he going?"

"My guess is," shrugged Princess Cadence, "He might believe to be of some help to Starlight in asking other ponies."

"The two of them can even round everypony up for a searching party, if need be," Princess Twilight added, "Now, come on!"

"Alright. Man. Twilight, you're not going to believe who that guy-"

"I said not now, Rainbow Dash!"

"Okay, okay," grumbled a startled Pegasus in reply, "Sheesh. Guess it'll have to wait 'til later, huh?"

But as the troupe pressed on in their search, now in full gallop, the orange Earth Pony could not shake this unnerving sense that her lavender, Alicorn friend was deliberately ignoring something. Or someone. At that, Applejack rushed over to Twilight's side opposite of Cadence, catching a glimpse of a deeply upset Twilight Sparkle who looked directly ahead of her, and tried to focus. AJ did the same, and picked up the pace to lead the way, as she waited for the opportune time to question her about it.

"So..." the azure mare stiffly stood, shifting her amethyst eyes toward the rigidly posed Discord. "Just you and me. Standing here. Like this. By ourselves."

"Maybe this is an opportune time to bond a little more as friends, isn't it," flatly stated the draconic mismatch.

A silent pause carried on between the great and powerful mare and reformed master of chaos. The two separated figures continued to stare at each other, as the rest of the world and festivities began to move on around them. Neither could even fathom what to say to one another, as they previously witnessed the unfolding growth of tension amidst the departing ponies. The fact that they had been left to their own devices, unsure of what to do or make of this situation, seeing as how they were not even acknowledged by their friends in the sudden panic and sense of urgency that Twilight ensued, nothing else seemed to come to mind as to their own responses to all that. Perhaps, had they been given a more suitably appropriate role to play in the ponies' current endeavor to search for their friends, or at least been released of their costumes filled with pins and needles, they might not have felt so awkwardly placed. At least, not as badly. Instead, the two oddly dressed, and pinpricked creatures, once sulking in their complete, hostile takeover by Rarity and Spike's shenanigans, had no clue as to what to do or say next.