The Town That Feared Nightfall

Think of a small pond where the water was so still that it gave the viewer a sense of ease and calmness. Then imagine that someone had tossed a rock into the pond, thus disturbing the surface of the water. That was the effect that echoed around the lone mare. Her name was Rosey, the name passed down for generations. She wore nothing else but a simple school uniform that, as she descended a spiraling staircase, felt very damp and cold.

The staircase seemed to be endless in it’s descent. There was something dark hidden here, Rosey could just feel it. But there was nothing to see in this black void besides the occasional drip of a rain drop. Rosey could hear the rain echoing back to her along with her hoof steps. She would’ve tried calling out but she couldn’t find her voice to do so. What was this place and why did it feel so cold? Everything seemed dark, almost like she was blindfolded.

But then, as if a light switch was flipped, Rosey saw something down below. She stopped at its sight. Half of her expected it was nothing more but an illusion brought on by that one rain drop that had struck her eye. But it remained there, shining in the darkness like a beacon of hope that she had previous lost.

“Get to the door, hurry” chimed a low voice. Rosey galloped down as fast as her legs would allow her. She must’ve galloped down at least forty two steps before she suddenly came to a screeching stop.

Rosey stared down into the blackness that awaited for her to step off. Was there an invisible floor there or did the staircase just drop off into a never ending pit? She took her next step carefully, making sure there was solid ground before she hopped off. The red door that loomed over her seemed to had just appeared there out of thin air. It’s size intimidated her.

“Open it” chimed the low voice, disturbing the ripples. Rosey had just started reaching for the doorknob when she momentary looked down. Her hooves were soaked in something that wasn’t water. It was something thicker and had a bit more of an ooze to it. Rosey’s head snapped back at the door, her eyes became the size of peanuts. The doorknob had turned on its own accord. There was a loud squeak as the door opened, shortly followed by a high pitched whine. Rosey jolted backwards only to be grabbed from behind. There was a loud thud as her head bounced off of the door, having been forcefully pushed against the red door.

Rosey fell to her knees, “No!” she had cried launching herself forward. There was the sound of wood cracking and creaking. A gust of wind hit her face shortly before a searing pain had surged through her whole body.

“Hey, are you alright?” spoke a deep voice.

Rosey hadn’t moved her legs but just an inch before flinching just barely enough to keep herself still. She opened her eyes to a blurry landscape. She took a great sniff before sneezing something fierce. That didn’t help her sore joints. The scent of freshly cut grass met her nose with fond memories of her days back at home. The type of memories that used to make her smile, but not now. Instead she gagged on the mouthful of dirt that she had somehow managed to swallow.

“That was quite a fall” Rosey heard the same voice again.

Rosey, after unclogging her mouth to allow herself to breath, stared upward. It took a moment for her vision to become stable. The sunlight seemed to be burning, tearing her eyes up and it was quite painful to see. But Rosey kept rubbing her eyes and, in time, she was able to see through the burning sensation. A tree loomed over her, its shadow wrapped over her as if it was a pleasant blanket. Rosey heard the voice once more, turning to peer behind her as she saw the carriage that she had been traveling in for the last few hours.

The voice she had heard belonged to the carriage’s owner. A stallion whose fur was a tangeloish grey, his silver mane swaying in the breeze. He was in the midst of unhooking his harness when he came around the carriage to help the red mare that had fallen. “I’m fine, but thank you anyways” was Rosey’s reply.

The stallion, who shrugged at her words, generously gave her his scarf before turning and jumping onto the back of his carriage. Rosey took a moment to use the scarf to wipe her eyes more thoroughly. She could feel the worn fabric through her eyelids but it did the job just fine. Now that she could see she looked around to see just where in Equestria she was, laying the stallion’s scarf on the carriage’s side when she was finished with it. They were in a dense forest where the trees rose high and blocked most of the sun’s warm light. She stared off ahead and along the dirt road she had been traveling and her eyes were met with a wondrous sight.

Towering walls made from silver stone that, while ancient and cracked, had a polish that gave the illusion of it having been recently crafted. The stones varied from size and shape but most were either cut to be square or rectangle. Rosey loved the craftsmanship and how it looked like the stones were fashioned in a way to where each stone were part of a larger picture. Well picture wouldn’t be the best word, just imagine a hieroglyph and the various symbols and carvings that told a story.

The long hours that it would take to study and translate made Rosey feel like a foal again. She loved things like this but there was just one problem with the walls. Something that, when she realized it, had turned her over excited joy into a need that only a pony with a phobia would had understood. The stones used to form the walls were crooked, uneven in such a manner that Rosey had revolted almost immediately.

“Here’s your bag, miss” came the stallion’s voice. It took a moment or two before Rosey reacted to him.

“Thank you” Rosey kindly replied, “And sorry about the logs”. Rosey turned and stared at the stone walls, it took every ounce of her will power to approach the entrance that led inside. It was something of a medieval door that was raised off of the ground. Rosey stared through the wide opening and into the settlement itself. She felt a sense of uneasiness, the silent breeze did little to help her build up the courage to move.

But she forced her concerns away as she step forward. Once Rosey was inside the gates she took a moment to look around herself. Then she dropped into an huge sigh of relief. Having felt a huge weight lifted she said “Oh sweet Luna I thought I’d never get here..”

After Rosey had gathered her bearings she trotted forward but had soon stopped. She turned back at the stallion. He seemed to be handling his cargo pretty well on his own. As she turned back around she saw the crank that controlled the gate. It was tied down in a fashion that struck her as odd. It reminded her how she wrapped presents with colorful bows. In fact the rope itself seemed to be soft fabric. Rosey shook her head as she straightened herself. She moved forward, turning her head at all the different sights that were around her.

The most intriguing sight was a rather small statue that she, at first anyways, had approached unintentionally. Once Rosey had seen the sculpture she wanted a closer look. She came to a small iron fence that surrounded the statue’s base. Rosey stared up at the statue, she noted that it resembled the stone walls in its silver polish. Wings outstretched with a proud posture its eyes gazed out watchfully, its tail wrapped around the pillar it sat on with a firm but also relaxed grip. It was indeed a sight to behold but what was it? Rosey had assumed it was a griffin but its muzzle outstretched into something more fitting that of a dragon, or perhaps a crocodile. She wondered if it was an extinct species or some sort of a mythical creature that only existed in folklore?

Suddenly Rosey heard a familiar voice and her attention was drawn over towards her left. Standing just outside a door was another mare who looked to be around the same age as she was. She had on a red collar that wouldn’t had been out of place for a fancy business dress. Her fur was a shade of dark brown, her blue eyes seemed almost like water through the frames of her glasses.

“Butter Joy!” Rosey said with a smile as the two mares trotted to and embraced the other with a hug.

“I was wondering where you were” spoke the dark mare who, after they had ended their hug, stared at the former. Butter Joy adjusted her glasses and looked over her friend’s red fur and the attire that covered most of her body. “That school uniform fits you, Rosey” Butter Joy had said. “A white shirt, a bright blue skirt and matching collar with a bow tie. They remind me of crushed ice cream, actually”.

“I like the colors myself” spoke Rosey, a grin barely visible on her face. “It’s really good to see you again, though!”

“I know!” Butter Joy replied. “But what took you so long?” she quickly added, replacing her grin with a look of concern as she stared out towards the town’s entrance. “Your carriage was suppose to arrive a hour ago. And, by the looks of it, it’s a bit wrecked”.

“Well..” Rosey coughed as she started to speak. She had a crude, very awkward face as she said “There was a mishap where the carriage kinda, almost...got involved with a hit and run?”

“A what?” Butter Joy gasped as she looked at her friend’s uncomfortable expression. “Was anypony hurt?”

“Not really” Rosey replied quickly, waving her front hoof like she was shrugging something unimportant off. “Although the carriage did go off road momentary. The only real damage was a wheel snapping off”.

“Good thing you were the only passenger” Butter Joy sighed, feeling relieved at what she had heard.

“Well, not if you count the logs as passengers” Rosey laughed unenthusiastically. “It was so cramped they might as well had been other ponies”. It wasn’t everyday that Rosey laughed, either real or forced, but she always made an effort for Butter Joy who had always brought the best out of her. Something that the red mare had missed greatly.

“Well” Butter Joy started to speak, her gaze fixed on the stallion who had just then rolled his carriage through the front entrance. “Burnt Oak is the only outsider that regularly travels here. We don’t cut down our trees, due to them protecting us, so his shipment of wood is really an important factor to---”

“You’re just lazy” interrupted Rosey. Butter Joy broke her gaze away, staring over at her red friend who went on further to say “You don’t want to cut down the forest animals’ homes so you pay another pony to do it for you”. Rosey then made a face, the type of face you flirt with. “Or maybe you just like seeing him?”

To anypony else the type of grin that Rosey had would been quite forward, almost offensive, but to Butter Joy it was merely a friendly jest that she just couldn’t resist in returning. “As if he’s my type” spoke the latter, a snort tucked away underneath her laughter. “I would rather date your brother”.

Rosey planted a hoof on her friend’s shoulder, saying “You never even met my brother!”

“I saw pictures” Butter Joy shied away as she replied. “Wasn’t he suppose to come with?” she then asked, turning back over to see Burnt Oak and his carriage.

Rosey shrugged even though she knew Butter Joy wasn’t paying attention. “He decided to just stay behind” was her answer to her friend’s question. “I would say you know him but being that you don’t---”

“Who did the carriage almost hit?” Butter Joy interrupted, having just seen what she assumed was the carriage’s damaged wheel.

“I have no idea” was Rosey’s reply. “I was half asleep at the time and I dozed back off pretty quickly” Butter Joy turned to face her friend. Rosey shifted her eyes around a bit. She didn’t lie but she felt that the red hood that she had overheard Burnt Oak talking about wasn’t worth the trouble. What would she even say, that Red Riding Hood nearly got ran over? “It was a very long trip..” Rosey finally blurted out.

“Do you want to check in at the inn and get some rest?” Butter Joy said in response.

Rosey took a moment to think on her answer, she looked at the surrounding buildings as her thoughts went back and forth. Most of them resembled structures dating back to the fourteenth century. “I much rather have something to drink first” Rosey had answered. She would love to explore the place and to discover any secrets that the town might be holding. However she felt that her body needed a recharge, her belly growling didn’t really help either.

“The heat getting to you, I take it?” returned Butter Joy who, before getting an answer, had already trotted back to the building that she had came from. Rosey followed closely behind her, staring up at something that hung over the door. “Yes, this is my pub that I wrote to you about”.

“You do know I can see the sign, right?” responded Rosey, her gaze fixated on the golden letters that were itched across the sign. She commented on it further, asking “I take it that the leaping mare is suppose to be you?”

“As if!” Buttery Joy blurted out in laughter. She raised a hoof to her chest, exhaling softly as she lowered it.

Butter Joy motioned for Rosey to enter first. She felt like she had been blind folded by how dark it was inside her friend’s pub. She moved slowly and carefully, using her sense of hearing and touch to guide herself along the wall when she felt something. It was a switch that she had unintentionally flipped, her eyes unshielded as the light momentary blurred her vision.

“WELCOME TO RISKY TOWN!” boomed many different voices that had erupted immediately once the lights were on.

Rosey had jumped in a way that she had pressed herself up against the wall in a curved shape. Unable to catch her breath the red mare stuttered inaudibility. Huddled before her were ponies who all had a genuine smile to their faces. Above the group, as well as various tables and lambs, were brightly colorful balloons. The words congratulations written over them in a sloppy, almost childlike fashion. Rosey felt somewhat more at ease as she took in this sight, but her heart was still in her throat and it was beating something awful.

“Hope we didn’t scare you too badly” came Butter Joy’s voice. Rosey, still stuttering as she spoke, was answered by Butter Joy who then said “It’s a surprise party! Both for finally visiting me here, and for your collage enrollment!”

Rosey remained silent for the first couple moments after her friend had finished her sentence. Not because she was mumbling, nor because she was frightened as after hearing her friend’s voice she had calmed down considerably, but because she wasn’t sure what to say. Why would Butter Joy throw her a surprise party, something that she had never done before? Further more why turn out the lights? Just to scare her half to death?

The group before Rosey were talking all at once and she could only make out a word or two before they were drowned out by the amplified volume that their voices created. She wasn’t sure if the wall was bouncing the sound back or if the ponies were really just that loud. It was beginning to give her a headache but then came a soft and gentle voice that had caught her attention. When she had heard the voice she was in the midst of letting go of the wall and wasn’t expecting him to be right beside her.

“May I take your bag, Ms.Rosey?” the kind pony asked, bowing a little as he spoke to the red mare that had jumped at his voice.

“Um...sure, I guess?” was Rosey’s reply. The pony took her bag gladly, carrying it to a counter where various paper bags and sweets were laid.

Rosey was unsure what to do or what to even say but luckily Butter Joy had taken the initiative. She dragged her friend by the leg and began introducing her to the group. “This is Milkshake and Poppy, their last names are Dancer” she spoke pointing towards the two closest mares.

The former mare nodded with a wide grin that showed off her teeth while the latter waved and barely made eye contact. Both of the mares shared the same teal green fur and dark blue mane. While Milkshake’s mane was messy Poppy’s was straight and clean. Poppy also lacked the darker streaks that ran down her sister’s mane.

“And that is Crystal Pop” Butter Joy spoke, now pointing towards a purple mare to the far right and closest to the counter. She then gave a groan induced sigh, saying “Who shouldn’t be drinking by the way”.

In the midst of gulping down her drink Crystal Pop turned to Butter Joy, which resulted in cider running down her chin. “You set out the drinks for this party, you can’t blame me for taking one” was the purple mare’s reply. “OK maybe it was two, fine three...no honestly, it was only three so will you stop with that stare?”

Rosey glimpsed Butter Joy shaking her head with the faintest of smiles just before pointing over towards other ponies. All of whom Rosey waved and nodded to but paid no real attention. She was able to take in their names quite easily and when her friend came to finishing off their introductions she had them all noted in her mind. The last pony that was introduced was another red mare.

Rosey only had to take one glance at her brown friend before concluding that the two were sisters. But then again many ponies share similar mane styles and they weren’t exactly unique in their facial features. But as she stared at this other red mare the appearance of Butter Joy was all to event. But perhaps if she too wore glasses then another pony might conclude the same possibility.

This other red mare was Sky Pop, a name that Rosey recognized from her friend’s letters. “Welcome to Risky Town” was Sky Pop’s reply after having been pointed out. “In case you weren’t yet told I am the owner of this building” she spoke before glancing at the brown mare beside Rosey. “Yes Butter Joy that makes me your boss. Don’t think I’ll let you ignore those papers I gave you. I expect them back before three, as scheduled”.

Butter Joy spoke in a fast manner “I’ll get to them later, I promise”. Sky Pop attempted to comment further on those papers but she fell on deaf ears as Butter Joy turned to her red friend. Rosey had such a smirk on her face that she looked rather laughable. “Sky Pop’s the town’s mayor, if you haven’t already guessed by her tone” Butter Joy whispered as the two trotted off.

Rosey didn’t really say much after the introductions were over. However as they took to their seats Rosey happened a glance towards a group that were already seated at a table. A group of ponies that Butter Joy hadn’t made any mention to and it wasn’t until being asked that she had answered Rosey with “Their from out of town”.

“And you don’t know their names, why, exactly?” Rosey wanted to ask her friend but had trailed off as she took a second, more closer look at the group. She uttered a small scream. The seat she had leapt from tipped over with a loud thud. Butter Joy thought she had fell and jumped to catch her, only to feel the cold floor with an even louder thud.

Without any hesitation Rosey galloped towards the group’s table and began fangirling over the pink mare that, at seeing her, gave a grin that was larger than her own face. The mare was Pinkie Pie, one of six mares that were famous far and wide for saving Equestria multiple times. “Oh my gosh!” squeaked Rosey. “I can’t believe I’m actually meeting you!” the red mare was trying to bounce up and down but her hooves remained planted on the spot.

“I take it you’re a fan?” spoke a pony that sat next to Pinkie Pie. If Rosey had been paying attention to him she would had recognized him as the stallion from earlier that had generously took her bag. But she wasn’t paying him attention, or to anypony else for that matter. She was all too focused on his pink partner that sat right in front of her.

Words couldn’t express how Rosey felt. She was just so thrilled and excited that her attempts of saying words all failed to leave her lips. She had never met Pinkie Pie in person before and now that she was actually within breathing distance her mind became cluttered. It wasn’t until Butter Joy had joined her that she was able to talk, although a bit heatedly as she said to her brown friend “Why didn’t you tell me she was here!?”

Butter Joy gave no answer. Instead she spoke to Pinkie Pie, saying as she failed in her attempt to remove her red friend “I had no idea she’d react this way”.

“It’s quite alright” spoke another pony seated at the table. “I’m Axl, and you already met my twin other there” the pony named Axl pointed at the stallion seated beside Pinkie Pie.

“Hi” were the words of another stallion. His eyes poked out from underneath his mane, their yellowish hue seemed almost ghostly. A large tooth clamped against his lip as if holding it in place. He glanced at Axl’s twin, who had introduced himself as Speedy, before retreating back behind his mane.

Speedy was a light shade of blue that resembled the sky in how bright it looked. His mane was similar to his fur and had a large, single white streak in it. Axl, who sat on Silver’s left, shared most of his features but with slight alterations. The most noticeable difference was that his fur more closely resembled a grey teal and, while Speedy’s mane was messy and uneven, Axl’s was clean and curved around his eye looking like it had been recently groomed.

Rosey nodded her head to the two brothers when she took notice of the third stallion. How did she not see him sitting there? He stood out quite well with his grey fur, looking almost monochrome compared to the other three. But this wasn’t the only reason he stood out to her. It puzzled Rosey even further as to how she missed him when she saw his ears. They resembled those of a bat. Rosey saw the fangs which stuck out from his upper jaw. His wings were black, pointed in their ends and they looked more fleshy than feathered. This stallion was in fact a bat pony, a race that in recent years had gotten a rather bad reputation.

“Don’t worry about Silver” spoke Speedy, having caught Rosey’s face as she looked his friend over. “He might look scary but he’s safe”.

“I’ve never seen a bat pony before..” Rosey whispered aloud. Feeling very intrigued she said “Remind me to ask you some questions later”. Rosey smiled at Silver as she gave his body one more glance before turning back to Pinkie Pie who, during the red mare’s short distraction, had stuffed a large slice of cake into her mouth. “Well that solves it” the red mare grinned proudly. “Who else but Pinkie Pie could gulf down that large of a slice?”

“That’s not even her record” returned Speedy. Smiling at each other he slid Pinkie Pie a much smaller piece of cake that she happily ate.

Many thoughts flooded Rosey’s mind as she tried to think of something to ask the pink mare. For example she wanted to ask what was she in town for, as well as her favorite flavor of pies and how in the world was she able to swallow that plate just now. Speedy spoke suddenly, making Rosey lose her train of thought as she just then had noticed something odd about the two brothers.

For as long as Rosey knew Butter Joy she had never really questioned her friend’s lack of a Cutie Mark. It was just something that she had grown used to and eventuality had stopped noticing it. A Cutie Mark is an image of one’s talent when they come to understand what it talent was. It can be of any picture, of any object that relates to the pony in question. Cutie Marks were so important to ponykind that it became accustomed, almost like it was necessary in order for one to understand their role in life.

Rosey took a glance around at the other ponies in the pub before turning back at the table before her. Only Pinkie Pie and Silver had visible Cutie Marks, however the theory she had just thought would soon be debunked as she heard Speedy’s voice.

“We’re waiting for our friends to show up” were Speedy’s word. Pinkie Pie had said something too but it went unheard as Speedy then said “Ms.Pinkie’s sister, Ms.Maud, as well as a couple others, are suppose to meet us here in a few days”.

“So, I take it you’re not from this town then?” Rosey asked the blue Earth pony. She looked a bit dishearten but had almost immediately returned to her previous fan girly state. However just as she opened her mouth she heard Speedy’s brother.

“They stayed behind in Canterlot” Axl sounded voice bored and uninterested when he said this. “I can’t stand crowded streets like that. So, I’m thankful that this place isn’t as packed as the walls made it seem to be”.

“Canterlot huh?” replied Rosey. She became interested as she leaned against their table, looking rather seductive as she asked the pink mare “I bet you were accepting yet another reward for bravery and likability?”

“If by likability you mean so lovable they should make plushies of her” laughed Speedy, his hoof on Pinkie Pie’s shoulder.

“I’d rather have a plushie of you” responded Pinkie Pie. She leaned closer to the blue Earth pony, whispering loud enough to be heard saying “That way if you happen to go missing I’d still have you safe and sound in my hooves”.

“Will you ever let that go?” Speedy laughed, sighing as he slid himself in his seat.

“Shouldn’t had been caught, then” came Silver’s voice. Rosey noted that he sounded very laid back, almost relaxed. “Just be glad you didn’t make a Pinkie Promise”.

“I was helping Ms.Fluttershy!” Speedy replied, quickly adding to his defense “Something Ms.Pinkie actually gave me permission to do!”

“Just keep using that excuse” Pinkie Pie grinned as she spoke. It almost sounded like she was teasing the blue Earth pony but Rosey couldn’t be sure if that was her intention.

Speedy gave yet another sigh and Butter Joy took this moment to drag Rosey away from their table. Despite the red mare trying her hardest to stay in that one spot she was ultimately dragged away across the pub. “You can talk with Pinkie all you want tomorrow” Butter Joy whispered to her friend. “Come on, it’s been two years and you don’t want to catch up at all?”

“Sounds to me like you’re jealous” came a calm and rather collected voice.

Butter Joy sighed heavily as the two mares were approached, the brown mare’s eyes rolled as she turned to face them. This mare’s fur was a deep blue, her wings outstretched to offer something of a hand shake. “Fritter Belle” spoke Butter Joy, shaking Fritter’s left wing. “And I’m not jealous” she said shortly before adding under her breath “I just want time to catch up, is all..”

“Charmed to make your acquaintance, Ms.Rosey” Fritter Belle spoke warmly as the red mare shook her other wing. “As to what you’re thinking, no. I’m not this town’s only Pegasus” the winged mare spoke, her voice nearly as kind as Speedy’s. “Although at the current moment me, Scootaloo and Jolly Taffy are the only ones in town”.

“In town?” replied Rosey. She tilted her head, asking Fritter Belle “You mean this isn’t the whole town?”

“Of course not” Butter Joy was the first to answer her. “I probably should’ve told you, but as I can’t get a moment alone..” Butter Joy sighed, groaning as she stared off.

Rosey hadn’t noticed it before but Butter Joy seemed to be getting more frustrated by the minute. It was unlike her to the point that Rosey had a rather silly idea. She thought of a Changeling who had failed to learn the personalty of the pony they replaced, and thus was so overwhelmed that it did every little thing wrong that it thought would be the right course of action. She laughed at the mere picture she had conjured up. Butter Joy had just took her glasses off, cleaning them with her collar, this was enough to prove her idea wrong and confirm that she was not a fake.

“Everypony else that lives here is away on a getaway” came Fritter Belle’s voice. Rosey turned her attention around and had just barely caught a glimpse of a smile, almost like the winged mare was enjoying Butter Joy’s growing annoyance. She then shifted her eyes back on Rosey, saying “The trip is actually an annual Holiday for us”.

“I don’t think she needs to hear all that” spoke Butter Joy. She attempted to trot pass her dark friend, only to be stopped by Rosey who asked what she was talking about. With a mind that felt so locked and blank it irritated her eyes Butter Joy sat down in the nearest seat. As she slumped her head down onto the table there was a loud noise followed by a voice. “Dang it Crystal Pop...” she said with a mumbled groan, “Those glasses were old..”

Fritter Belle had the faintest of grins painted on her face when she answered Rosey. She told the red mare “Think of it like Stallion and Mare Day. But the entire town, young and old, goes on a week long vacation”.

“A vacation?” Rosey replied back. She became more curious, asking just what exactly was this Holiday about.

Fritter Belle’s mane had slid to where it was over her eye, Rosey thought that it made her look a bit sinister with that smile. Fritter Belle went on to explain that the Holiday was formed over four generations ago. Working months on end building a brand new settlement led to many stressful nights, something Rosey could always relate to. The town’s ancestors were master stone builders and from the passed down stories it was evident that they loved building the town. But after about the first year came to its close they realized that they needed a break from their work.

Their break became common, taking it once a year to just relax and ease their weary bones. Rosey wondered if anypony had actually broken a bone or two, considering that Fritter Belle had just told her that it took at most five years before the settlement was completed.

Rosey found herself astonished at this tale despite feeling inclined to believe it. “I mean I heard that it took over twenty years to build the pyramids, but just..” the red mare had mumbled, then a thought came to her. She could picture the pages of a book she had read perfectly in her mind. A book that gave in depth details on various myths and legends regarding a group of master stone carvers. She wondered if perhaps there could be any relation between it and this town.

“We’re very proud about this place” Fritter Belle’s voice grasped Rosey’s attention as she spoke. “Though if you ask me, the walls were probably what took the extra years”.

“That and we keep adding onto the town” Butter Joy could be heard rambling, although not to the two mares.

Wanting to know more about their history Rosey went to ask Fritter Belle a question about their ancestors and who they were. She wondered why, out of the entirety of Equestria, they had chosen to build so far away from other settlements. Was it because the forest was grand and full of life? Or could it be that they just wanted to be left alone? Rosey wouldn’t get her answer, however, as she heard Butter Joy’s voice once again.

“No, my talent isn’t cooking” Rosey could hear the boredom in her friend’s voice.

Rosey turned her attention to her brown friend. Butter Joy remained in the same pose but her head was raised, staring at three fillies that were now huddled around her. Their eyes sparkled with glee. One of them had noticed Rosey staring and, in a rushed fashion that had knocked over her seat, offered her hoof to the red mare.

“Hey Rosey!” spoke the orange filly, her wings fluttering in a fast mannerism. “Do you have a Cutie Mark, by any chance?”

Surprised of the question Rosey glanced over at Butter Joy. The way she had shrugged made it seemed like she had said the words “I have no idea” and she looked rather calm.

“Yes, I have a Cutie Mark” Rosey had answered the orange filly.

The red could had lifted her skirt to reveal the Cutie Mark on her flank but she felt somewhat uncomfortable about that. She didn’t even accept the orange filly’s jester. She actually felt like trotting away from them but she didn’t. The way this filly’s eyes shimmered made Rosey feel something, rather strange. Something familiar that she could just barely remember but couldn’t manage it.

Rosey gave the bow around her neck a tug, “I see you three have Cutie Marks as well” she commented after seeing the fillies’ identical Cutie Marks. They resembled a shield, each barring an unique image in the center. “Wait a second” Rosey suddenly spoke, having just realized that these fillies were sitting by themselves. Minus

“Their with us” came Speedy’s voice. The red mare turned to the blue Earth pony, saw him waving and just nodded her head back at him. “Fair warning. They’ll talk your ears off about Cutie Marks”.

“Cutie Marks, huh?” responded a dangerously curious Rosey. She would soon come to regret asking them “You three like Cutie Marks, I take it?”

The three fillies erupted in a loud and collective “YES!” which had caught the attention of the pub’s occupants.

“See our capes?” spoke another of the fillies, green sparkles fell from the tip of her horn as she said “It's our official symbol of the Cutie Mark Crusaders!”

“Cutie Mark...Crusaders?” Rosey replied, a hoof to her chin. She examined their capes closely. They were made of a light brown fabric that bared a blue and yellow symbol on the back. It was lazily stitched in but somehow it fit them. The capes’ underside were entirely golden, shimmering with each movement that the fillies made.

Rosey suddenly heard laughter. It was Speedy telling her “Don’t say I didn’t warn you” which she found rather odd. Talking to these foals couldn’t possibly be that bad.

“It’s our club!” spoke the third filly, her orange eyes wide enough for Rosey to see her own reflection.

“Where our mission is to help ponies with their Cutie Marks!” the unicorn filly happily declared as more sparkles fell from her horn.

“Sounds like a fun talent to have” Rosey replied, genuinely smiling to the fillies. She found them to be quite adorable, and judging by their beaming faces and their jittery mannerisms they seemed to have such energy that she had only seen one other time. A small filly that was so full of....something, that was difficult to remember right then so she had to brush it off. “Well then” she began giggling as she spoke, “What do you think of this town?”

The three fillies stared at one another before they crawled atop the table, huddling together in something of a victory leap as they proudly declared “To help the town get their Cutie Marks!“ The pub fell silent safe for the clop of the fillies’ hooves as they fell back to the table.

“Wha-how in Equestria would you do that?” Rosey had responded to them. She hadn’t expect them to do that, jumping midair like they were about to fly. She had almost expected there to be a light shining behind them and felt a little bit silly at that thought.

The three fillies went on about their talent. They explained how their goal is to help ponies to understand their Cutie Marks better and how they help foals to gain their own Cutie Mark. It was like their profession and Rosey could see how important it was to them, as well as their joy from doing it. There was something about their faces...but what was it? The way they smiled? Their large, colorful eyes? Perhaps it was their innocence that sparked some sort of old memory. Something happy from her own childhood, something joyful that she had long since forgotten about.

“Can y’all imagine how big our names will be if we help this here town get their Cutie Marks?” the Earth filly asked her two fellow Crusaders. “Mah hooves are just shaking at the thought!” the Earth filly roared loudly, her tail wagging like an dog’s had caught Rosey’s attention. Why was that so...

“Yeah, mine too!” replied the orange filly, her wings fluttering so fast that Rosey could only see the blurred outline of them.

“Maybe we’ll become famous like our big sisters!” replied the Unicorn filly. Her grin was so wide that Rosey wondered how her cheeks were even able to hold it. “Oh! Can you just imagine if the Cutie Map started calling us?”

“Now that would be awesome!” returned the orange filly. Her grin was so wide that Rosey was certain that it must had broken even Pinkie Pie’s record.

The three fillies went on about how grand their names will become and how thrilled they were to be in, as the Earth filly had said, a diamond mine for them. Rosey had attempted multiple times to get a word in, to talk to the foals but she was drowned out too quickly and couldn’t even get half of a sentence in. Finally Butter Joy had stood up. She took Rosey by the hoof and, along with Fritter Belle, trotted away to a vacant table that sat against the furthermost wall.

“I could not even hear myself think” spoke Butter Joy. After getting herself situated she lowered her head, her front hooves rubbing against her temples. “They just kept asking me question after question, after question..”

“I found them rather likable” replied Fritter Belle, her grin ever so evident on her face.

“Of course you would” returned Butter Joy. She then took a bottle of cider that laid across the table, glaring at her side before tossing it. What she then mumbled couldn’t had been heard as right then Rosey had asked her who those foals were. “I seriously have no idea” was Butter Joy’s reply. She nabbed Rosey’s cup away, chugging it down without any care. “I only know their names. You see the orange one? That’s Scootaloo. Sitting across from her is Applebloom and the other, the one with the glowing horn, is Sweetie Belle”.

“I’ve only ever met one other pony like her” Fritter Belle replied. She too had a cup of cider but she wasn’t drinking it. Instead she ran the tip of her hoof across the cup’s rim. “It’s rare, you know. A horn glowing whenever their happy” she explained, humming. “I find it rather interesting”.

“Interesting..” Rosey whispered silently. She hadn’t really noticed it but now that she looked at the filly it was quite obvious.

Sweetie Belle’s horn was glowing without the accompanied aura that initiated magic being used. She remembered back from her teen years about a interesting book, one that dwelt into the subject behind horns changing color depending on the Unicorn’s emotions. It was a rare occurrence. So rare in fact that most believed it to be just be a myth or urban legend, actually it was very similar to how bat ponies used to be seen up until a few years ago.

Rosey turned her attention over towards Silver, the bat pony that sat with Pinkie Pie and the two brothers. She was curious about him. She wanted to ask questions and study him privately to learn all that she could about him. Of course after she had spent time with....

“Hang on” Rosey then spoke in a whisper. “Where did Pinkie go?”

Rosey turned herself around to ask the other two if they had seen Pinkie Pie move. It was then that she received such an startling sense of surprise that she fell backwards, tipping over not only her seat but the table opposite theirs. How did Pinkie Pie get in that seat without being noticed? It gave Rosey an unsettling, almost eerie feel.

Fritter Belle helped Rosey to stand, saying “Sweetie, you’re mumbling” as she straightened the bow of her collar.

“I hadn’t seen a pony jump like that since I first met Speedy” Pinkie Pie said with a giggle, her lips soaked with foam. Rosey gave a few more mumbled replies before Pinkie Pie had took her by the hoof and preceded to drag her towards the center of the pub. “This is your party” Pinkie Pie spoke, pulling a cloth from her mane. She then blindfolded and spun Rosey around. “I want us to begin with my favorite game. Pin the tail on the pony!”