Alternate Beginnings: Year Six

Chapters

1 The Sword King's Passion
2 A Forest of False Idols
3 The Dreaded Rhoa
4 A Regal Death
5 Crimson Hues
6 Blind Faith
7 Greed's Folly
8 Echoes of Witchcraft
9 Deadly Rivalry
10 Dark Instincts
11 The Bowstring's Music
12 From Death Springs Life
13 Resistant to Change
15 Gilded Within
16 Smothering Tendrils
17 Black Devotion
18 Hidden Vaal Pathways
19 Ancient Rivalries
Epilogue: One Year Later
14 Unbearable Whispers

1 The Sword King's Passion

January 4th, 998 Domina Solaria

Most nights, the train station in Ponyville is deserted. Just a simple wooden platform, one story building with a thatched roof, windows on each side. Barely enough space inside to hold the cargo that occasionally needs to be loaded on a night run. The attendant supposedly on duty may or may not even be visible, the likelihood increasing if a pony has actually purchased a ticket for the red-eye to Canterlot. Some days the train barely even slows down, just enough for the engineer to verify that there are no passengers or cargo waiting to be picked up, the train merrily speeding along on its way, a quick whistle to say hello and goodbye in the same breath.

Tonight, however, is a different story. Not because a lot of ponies will be taking the train, which has only a single passenger car for the night run. In fact, not a single pony will be boarding the train at this time, despite the twelve individuals congregating around the dark building. Instead, it is Doug Apple who will be riding the train tonight: the human stallion of Herd Apple, one ticket resting in his coat pocket, and currently lounging on one of the pony-style seats. One hand is on his stomach, full from having just left the Apple farmhouse after their customary weekly meal with the entire herd. The other finds itself wrapping around his lead mare, Applejack, the heavily pregnant earth pony content to lay next to him, the two watching the rest of the herd at play as his fingers idly twist the soft hair of her large belly.

Off to the side is his second mare, Rarity, shuffling through the contents of his suitcase; well, not his, the suitcase actually the least gaudy of Rarity's that would hold enough of his winter gear for the week long trip. Occasionally she glances back at him, a furtive look that implies he is packing far too little for a week long excursion into the wilderness of western Equestria. Doug winks at the unicorn, the mare rolling her eyes before going back to his luggage. Her frown widens as she unpacks the suitcase again, trying to find a way to jam more 'essentials' inside.

Rainbow Dash flies over to the pair, her filly Scootaloo following close behind and wondering why her dam left the game. Doug's third mare gives Applejack a jealous glance as she lands next to him, roughly shoving her head between his arm and body and looking up at him, a sorrowful look in her eyes. He smiles, his hand forced off his belly and finding its way to Rainbow's mane, the pegasus cooing, her face breaking into a smile as she rubs her head into his stomach.

Scootaloo rolls her eyes at her dam's display, turning to join her sisters as they scamper around the train station. Apple Bloom, Applejack's first, and Sweetie Belle, Rarity's filly, are both chasing a blue ball around while Lemon, Pinkie Pie's filly, merrily chases after them, doing her best to keep up with her older sisters. Fluttershy is playing goalie, trying to keep the ball away from the two posts holding up the roof. The yellow pegasus, fourth mare in the herd, is none too happy about Rainbow Dash tagging her into the game, but dutifully tries to block one of the balls as it slowly rolls towards her; she lets out a small 'eep!' as the ball bounces off her hooves, Scootaloo dashing in to kick the ball into the other post.

The ball ricochets off the post, bouncing over towards the last two fillies in the herd: Applebaum, Applejack's second, and Hedge, Fluttershy's filly. They are sitting on the raised part of the platform and looking down at a memorization card game, oblivious to the incoming threat. Pinkie Pie, fifth and final mare in the herd, grunts from her spot near the card game; she quickly leans over Hedge, a hoof stretching out, saving the filly from the cruel fate of having the light ball knock into her. Pinkie Pie hits the ball back to the trio before groaning, her pregnant belly making the movement quite uncomfortable. She stretches as she leans over them, the fillies below returning to the card game as if nothing had happened.

The train whistles, Doug glancing up from his mares. The Ponyville train station is otherwise deserted, not many ponies taking the red-eye train to Canterlot. Mostly just cargo cars, taking who-knows-what from Dodge City to Canterlot and points beyond. The only movement besides his herd being one of the train engineers, a spry earth pony dashing back and forth, quickly checking off his checklist as water flows into one of the train's water tanks. A quick pat and Applejack sighs, slowly getting up from her reclined position. Doug tries to grab his suitcase from Rarity; the unicorn resists, a playful, "Noo! I need to fit this in!", holding his atlas in her magic, having managed to fit just about everything else inside.

Doug smiles, "I'll just carry it on board, love." He reaches his hand forward, Rarity briefly flinching before moving her head into his hand.

"Do watch the mane, darling," she says, his light pat to her satisfaction. The rest of the herd follows shortly after, Doug saying goodbye to each pony in turn. He gives a quick pat on the head to each filly before picking them up, Scootaloo finding her way on top of his head as he nuzzles the rest of the fillies. The mares follow next, getting up on their hind legs to embrace him, long ear scratches and longer kisses as they break apart.

Doug waves to his herd, Scootaloo leaping off his head, the filly's small wings barely able to forestall the inevitability of gravity. He walks inside the single passenger car, dragging his suitcase behind him. There are two earth ponies dozing on the back seats, the train otherwise empty. Doug moves to the front; it would be louder, being the closest seat to the engine, but he merely pops out his set of earplugs. He glances outside, waving at his herd from the window as he considers; Canterlot is to the northeast, so the sun will be on the left side of the train, but once they leave for Vanhoover he would want to be on the right, at least for the first few hours of the ten hour train ride. Well, since there isn't another stop in between Ponyville and Canterlot he can just swap seats. Not like anypony is likely to sit next to him anyway; sadly, even if the rest of the train was full they'd still avoid him.

Doug puts his atlas to the side and manages to extricate the travel guide to the northwest part of Equestria he had purchased for this trip, contorting his body to fit the pony style seats and still have the sun's dying light illuminate the pages. He has done almost nothing with the area before. The yaks further north are isolationist, barely interacting with ponies on the best of days. Vanhoover, the only major city on the northern west coast, had never really seen the need before now. Maybe they had a pony retire or transfer, and couldn't find a replacement in time. Cloudsdale is the only other factor that occasionally gets near, but he rarely does anything with the pegasus capital but try to avoid messing with their weather when they drift through an area. Right now, the cloud city is now on a slow southwestern route from the northern center of Equestria. They do all of their own weather scheduling; the constantly changing conditions require more specialization than the rest of the country, and it would be a little too much work for him to try to keep abreast of everything they go through. Plus, they tend to snatch up anypony with a cutie mark that relates to weather scheduling, leaving the rest of the country to struggle with ponies that aren't as interested or talented. Actually, that's probably most of the reason he has picked up so many of the towns and cities in the first place.

Vanhoover, however, now wants his services, or at least the services of his 'Cold Digger' persona. His unfamiliarity with the area helped convince Doug to take a week off of his duties around the farm, not that there are many this deep in winter. Instead, he'll get a small stipend to scout the terrain surrounding the western city, get a better feel for how his scheduling will impact everything, and interview a number of the farmers on their needs. At least there isn't much else going on around the nation weather-wise, just managing snowstorms to keep the ground covered with snow but not buried.

Rainbow begrudgingly agreed to handle any weather emergencies that arose, as one of the two of them has to stay on duty and accessible; otherwise the pegasus would have been more than happy to come along. Applejack and Pinkie Pie are too pregnant to even consider joining him. Rarity scoffed at the idea, though she might have come if he insisted. Fluttershy was somewhat interested in hiking around the wilderness, but not enough to come along, though she had at least seriously considered the idea. He sighs as the train enters the underbelly of Canterlot Mountain, a few of the lights in the passenger car turning on; looks like he'll be alone for the week.

Soon enough, the train pulls to a stop, the other two ponies glancing up but not getting out. Doug slides his suitcase to the other side of the train, swapping seats as the doors open, a large white unicorn stallion entering the train. He has a gold and blue compass cutie mark, long blond mane currently tied back in a tight ponytail, a long, thin bag that juts out past his flank strapped to one side and a larger suitcase encased in a golden aura dragged behind. The unicorn stops just inside the entry way, slowly scanning around the train car. The doors shut behind him, a loud 'clang' against the otherwise silent night. The unicorn glances back to the two earth ponies, both of whom give a slight nod, and moves up to the seat behind and across from Doug.

The human glances back at the unicorn as he walks up, a second take as Doug notices the harsh focus, the furrowed brows, and the way his slow, heavy hoofsteps speak to a grim acceptance of things to come. Doug shifts in his seat, angling his body to keep watch while holding up his travel guide. He focuses on his itinerary, occasionally glancing at the unicorn staring at him; traveling by himself, he has left a lot up in the air. After all, he would just be walking around the forest and mountains, following the contours of a terrain map the Vanhoover weather team helpfully sent him. He would be looking at the farmland, the rivers, getting a feel for the lay of the land that can be difficult to glean from a topography map or a list of requests.

The whistle sounds, an ear piercing screech unnecessary at this time of night. The train lurches forward; probably one of the junior conductors who drew the short straw for assignments, as there is barely anything to do in Vanhoover besides sleep and wait for the return trip. The lights from the less glamorous Lower Canterlot station disappear, replaced by the regular flare of one light that zooms past, disappearing into the abyss as another takes its place. The deep rumble of the engine almost muffles the 'schwing' from in front of Doug.

He looks up, his eyes widening as he sees a gold hilted rapier wielded in a golden aura, the stallion in front of him continuing to stare directly at him. A thin smile replaces the unicorn's hard expression, "You don't mind if I practice, do you?" Doug pops his earplugs out as he slowly shakes his head no, cautiously watching the polished metal, the moonlight glinting off the window and rapier as the train leaves the mountain. The unicorn continues, "Now, most ponies aren't afraid of a blade wielded by a unicorn. Why would a working," he pauses as he takes a long look up and down Doug's body, his face curling to a sneer, "Creature like yourself be different?" The unicorn cocks his head to the side a little, the rapier slowly dancing back and forth, Doug's eyes following the sharp tip. "Run afoul of the law? Forced to go by a sobriquet, mister Cold Digger? If that is, in fact, your real name?"

"It isn't, if you must know." Doug looks back at the unicorn, the pony's eyes never wavering. "Is there something you would like?" He can feel his hands shaking as he holds the book, the dryness in his mouth prompting him to glance down at his bag and one of the water bottles within.

The unicorn smirks, "There is, but first. You look like you could use a lesson." A second rapier levitates out of the unicorn's bag, polished nearly as bright as its sister, though the handle is a deep cobalt blue. "You don't have to worry about hurting me; this one is blunted." The unicorn jabs himself in the foreleg, the metal tip depressing the heavily muscled limb. "You see, a unicorn duelist's control must be perfect." The blue hilt levitates over to Doug, the human cautiously taking the grip in his hand. He glances down, inspecting the oddly shaped cross-guard; the whole section is made to be gripped by a hoof, the guard curving around where a foreleg would have been. He reaches with his other hand, testing the tip and then the play in the blade, swishing it back and forth, the length of the sword blunted as well.

"So, you practice a lot?" Doug asks as he stands, the hand with the blade leading as he steps into the middle of the train car. The unicorn smiles and nods, his horn flaring as the chairs slide one by one to the side, stacking on top of each other and forming an impromptu ring on the walls of the train. "Also, I don't think we've been introduced. My name is Doug Apple, but you probably know that." He slowly advances, holding the rapier ahead of him.

"Oh, held a weapon before, have you?" The unicorn nods, ignoring Doug's question, "But your stance is incorrect; a rapier is a thrusting weapon, the blade high enough quality to barely need more than a light touch to end a fight. It is not some stone tipped spear with which you are trying to penetrate the hide of a manticore." The unicorn's smirk returns, "But, a question first, Mister Apple. What makes you think that you are worthy of Mi Amore, when I myself was cruelly denied, the opportunity callously yanked from my hooves?"

Doug stops, going flatfooted as he utters a surprised, "What?" His eyes barely notice the movement coming from his side; he startles, his rapier coming up to block the unicorn's telegraphed strike towards his shoulder. He grips his rapier, grunting as the golden hilt pushes against his own. His feet adjust, his left foot pushing hard while his arm lifts away, the gold rapier gliding back to the unicorn's side.

The unicorn smiles, "Well, you keep your wits about you, and your strength isn't bad. Passable, I suppose. But you haven't answered my question."

"Because you don't have your facts straight," Doug retorts, dashing forward and lunging at the stallion. Faster than he can blink the gold rapier parries his blade to the side, a rap against his forearm causing him to yelp and drop the blue rapier. The human clutches his forearm to his chest, his hand not responding to commands as pain shoots through his arm. He glances up, his eyes widening as the gold rapier levitates back, the point still aiming at him as it slowly withdraws.

"Oh, don't be foalish, if I wanted you dead you would never have seen the blade coming." The unicorn motions to the blue rapier, "But your initiative did surprise me. Pick up your weapon and resume your position against myself, Prince Blueblood." The unicorn gives a short bow, his rapier mirroring the motion as he looks again at Doug.

Doug winces as his right hand tries to grip the rapier, ending up swapping to his left hand. It feels awkward as he slowly moves back into position, his legs swapping their stance, muttering to himself, "It's a good thing I am not right handed." He smirks before he pauses, holding up his right hand, the limb slowly coming back under his control. "Wait. I've heard..." He taps his forehead with his knuckles a few times, looking up at the ceiling, "I haven't heard of many princes in Equestria. You are the stallion Princess Cadance was with before?"

Rage flashes across Blueblood's face, the aura around his horn flaring, "I should cut out your tongue for that remark, cur!" He stamps a hoof, his eyebrows narrowing, "Where did you hear such slander?"

Doug hastily backs up as the gold rapier advances, his own rapier pointing down, rapidly speaking, "Um, it was either Princess Celestia or Princess Cadance, I don't remember. But they just said a prince, they didn't say a name, and-"

The unicorn stops, directing a glare to the other two ponies in the room. They stop spectating the fight, turning to the windows and pointedly staring at the dark landscape outside. The gold rapier levitates to Prince Blueblood's side, the unicorn walking closer to Doug and saying, "Well, then I would appreciate you to never insinuate that it was I who failed to woo the Princess of Love." He glances back towards Canterlot, the mountain mostly hidden from view by the roof of the train, giving a long sigh, quietly confessing, "Even if I was her first."

Doug responds in a low voice, "I can do that." The human looks out the window at the moon, a little louder, "I'm still curious why you thought I was trying to pursue Cadance, though."

"Princess Cadance, brat." Doug rolls his eyes, Prince Blueblood not noticing as he gazes back towards Canterlot. "She was overheard talking joyously about the Apple farmhouse, and the opportunity 'they' might discover there. Word eventually came to me, and, as you are the sire of that particular herd, the intent was obvious."

Doug relaxes, taking a seat at one of the benches towards the front of the car, idly playing with the blade as feeling comes back into his hands. The two catch a glimpse of Canterlot as the train bends around some of the rolling hills; he asks, "When did you hear of this?"

Prince walks to the window, continuing to watch the brightly lit castle fade from sight. "About a year ago. I did a bit of digging, found out who she was referring to." He sighs, "I had to find out who this pony was, who caught the attention of Princess Cadance, who thought himself worthy of courting the Joyful Princess when I myself was unable. For Princess Cadance is not some sky glider, to be used and discarded, and neither is she supposed to be entangled in the web of lies that plague the nobility. As a Princess, she is supposed to be above all of that, but I also couldn't believe she would be drawn to some common pony from Ponyville, of all places. When I found out it wasn't even a pony who had caught her eye, well, at first I thought it was a joke. Then, when I learned that it was serious, I had to meet you for myself to be sure. I set up the Vanhoover deal in order to get to you and find out who you are." He glances over at Doug, "And I find myself sorely disappointed."

"Well, so, your information is partially correct, but reversed." Prince Blueblood raises an eyebrow as Doug continues, "Princess Cadance applied to join Herd Apple about four years ago. Her application was denied at the time."

"Your herd..." Prince Blueblood stammers, short shakes of his head, "Denied the Princess?" He looks at Doug, bewildered, "For what reason?"

Doug shrugs, "Well, it was mostly my decision. You see-"

Prince Blueblood stands, his horn lighting and his rapier sliding away from his side. He twirls, a glare at Doug as he nearly shouts, "This is the second time I should cut you down for an insult like that; I will not give you a third warning, for there are penalties when you insult the Princesses like that. What possible reason could there be?"

"Because I thought that she deserved better than me." Doug sighs, continuing to look out towards Canterlot, oblivious to the fuming stallion behind him.

Prince Blueblood stops, the rapier slowly withdrawing to his side as his aura fades. He murmurs, "You thought..." He stares at Doug for several seconds before he shakes his head, "I appear to have misjudged you entirely and unfairly, Doug Apple. What do you say we start over?"

Doug nods, a smile on his face, "Sure thing." Prince Blueblood turns, walking a few paces away before turning around and walking back. Doug says in his best Spanish accent, "Hallo. My name is Doug Apple." He mumbles to himself, waving his rapier back and forth, a smirk on his face, 'you killed my father. Prepare, to die'.

The unicorn smiles, "Bonsoire; I am Prince Blueblood." He glances down at the blue rapier, "I didn't quite catch that last part, as I'm not sure I knew your father."

Doug shrugs, "Sorry, it's a... cultural reference, from The Princess Bride, a movie from where I came from. One of my favorites."

Prince Blueblood takes a seat next to Doug, grinning, "Oh? And what evoked that particular memory?"

Doug motions to the rapiers, "So, in the movie, there are two duelists, the characters using rapiers. Probably just that. It was... I suppose, it still is, one of my favorite movies."

"What makes that movie so special, then?" Prince Blueblood watches Canterlot disappear from sight, glancing back at the human. "Most movies here are, well, common fare for the masses. Brief romance, a cheap plot, in both senses of the word."

"Well, it has all the best parts of a story. You know, fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles." Doug gives a long sigh, "It even prominently features a prince. And a princess; well, actually, the woman, or mare, the prince desires to marry."

Prince Blueblood winks at Doug, "Well, I don't know about true love, but I do know a little something about fencing. And probably more on the rest than I care to say here. After all, I hated the studies Princess Celestia put me through. I was always gallivanting off, you see, reading about the epic fights from a thousand years ago, trying to get into whatever trouble I could in order to reenact the hero. Oh, and getting a hooficure afterwards, so nopony was the wiser." He shakes his head, "But, that is a story for another time. How well do you remember the fight scenes?"

Doug shrugs, "Well, it was mostly choreographed fights between actors who barely had a passing knowledge of sword fighting, yet trying to put on an exciting show. Much like me, I guess."

"Well then, Doug Apple, how do you fancy a lesson in sword fighting?"

2 A Forest of False Idols

January 6th, 998

Fortunately for Doug, Prince Blueblood had arranged for the supplies they needed for the week of trekking through the wilderness to be delivered to their room. This saved Doug the stares and potential misunderstandings that have occasionally happened when he went shopping in Canterlot. And, sadly, all too frequently when he has to go into Ponyville. Unfortunately, Doug is carrying the unicorn's supplies, the heavy duty canvas alongside the sheathed rapiers, bumping along the human's back next to his own pack. At least he has lots of experience being a pack mule for the herd. Well, one of the ponies in the herd.

Doug waves goodbye to the hotel steward, the earth pony reluctantly waving back, a forced smile on her face as she glances between Doug and Prince Blueblood. She swoons a little as the unicorn winks at her, turning and sauntering out of the building. She sighs in relief; not that they had been bad customers, just an odd pair, doing weird exercises and acting out some fantasy. At least, she hopes it was a fantasy, not an actual duel.

The two make their way to the northeast, walking along the road towards Unicorn Range, the human's legs still sore from the workout that Prince Blueblood put him through yesterday. "So, what made you want to come out here, anyway?" Doug asks, stretching his legs, "It seems like an out of the way place for a prince to want to come for an excursion. I figured you would take the first train back to Canterlot. That or stick around town, keep hitting on all of the single, and quite a few of the not single, mares in town."

Prince Blueblood looks out at the sparsely treed grasslands to the north, "If you're talking about my public persona then either of those options would not be unheard of, almost expected. But that is the point of being an eccentric, is it not? That I can do nearly anything, within reason of course, and get away with it. But, to answer your question, I prefer the quiet contemplation that the outdoors allows. It is why I love my job."

Doug snaps his fingers a few times, "I know I've heard it before... something to do with maps?"

Prince Blueblood nods, "Chief Cartographer, or Maîtriser of Maps, as the alliterative say. Hence my cutie mark; though it is hardly unique, I still find joy in making sure the map matches the terrain. Your office and mine do a fair amount of work together, I dare say, though I tend to work on the more permanent side of things. As it has been a while since I toured this region, I saw a fine opportunity to combine business with pleasure."

Doug nods before motioning to the two rapiers strapped to his back, "So, do you get to practice with your weapons a lot? Your control is excellent, but I wouldn't think that your job leaves you with a lot of free time. Same with the running exercises; I've been specializing in endurance, ten mile jogs for Running of the Leaves, that kind of thing. Not so much on sprinting and fast cornering."

Prince Blueblood snorts, "The borders of Equestria have barely changed in a thousand years. Yes, we have skirmishes, but never a land grab one way or the other, though occasionally I need to pencil in the label for the Griffon Kingdom. It isn't like the rivers decide to up and move any more. So, I get to spend a lot of time verifying that the terrain has stayed put. The towns can be a little more dynamic, especially the new ones, but I delegate the major cities to other ponies in the office. They can keep track of the minutiae of a changed street name or new buildings. And that, combined with my eccentric persona, leaves me with a lot of free time on my hands, time I find best spent alone. Or with a specific tutor." He glances back, the lonely mountain barely visible over the Unicorn Range. "I have had a long time to practice, many a lonely hour."

"So, what you're saying is that you've done nothing but study swordplay?" Prince Blueblood grins as he gives a halfhearted shrug, Doug continuing, "And here I thought you were the most eligible bachelor in Equestria or something." Doug smirks, "In fact, one of my mares is quite... I don't know if taken is the right word, but she may or may not have a picture of you hidden away."

Prince Blueblood grins mischievously. "Ooh, is it the one with the rose?" At Doug's nod Prince Blueblood smirks, "Yup, that's one of my best sellers. If you want, once we're back at the hotel we can play a small prank on her." The smile on Prince Blueblood's face widens, Doug looking intrigued.

"Oh? How small are we talking?" The road they are travelling splits, the two taking the rough dirt path east.

"Quite simple, really. You replace the picture that she has of me with a hoof signed one, and say nothing to her. Try to figure out when she notices, and if she says anything to you. Does she know that you know about it?"

"I'm fairly certain she does; I've sorted through her things for her, and it was right there, on the top of a stack of items inside one of her side desk drawers. And she didn't bother moving it or hiding it between then and the next time I organized her things."

"Hmm, yes," Prince Blueblood taps a hoof to his chin, "She probably sees it as a harmless diversion. What is her name?"

"Rarity. White unicorn, purple mane, cutie mark is three blue diamonds."

"Hmm, I may have heard that name before. Let's see... fashion designer? I do believe Sapphire Shores mentioned her as one of the better up-and-comers, though I can't recall the article in question. She does primarily dresses?"

Doug nods. "That's impressive that you remember that."

Prince Blueblood shrugs, "Well, I did a little research on the rest of your herd, in the unlikely event that one of them was what drew Princess Cadance to Sweet Apple Acres, but after reading up on each of them I decided it was not the case. And I have to remember all sorts of trivial details on the many members of high society; it is unbelievably boring the kinds of things they find important."

Doug motions to his winter gear, "So, she did this clothing for me, all of it custom and unique. She does suits, but yes, primarily dresses and accessories. She's been somewhat bored as of late; I think she's looking for some sort of large order, something to bide the time until she hits it big."

Prince Blueblood considers, a hoof going to his chin as they walk, "Well, it wouldn't be glamorous, but a good test case. Yes, I can place an order for new uniforms with her, for the Cartographer's Office, of course. Eight of us, four uniforms apiece? That should be a fine test of her abilities, especially if I can get her to do a little personalizing for each worker."

"I'm sure she'll be very grateful for it." The two take a short wooden bridge over a small stream, a small house with a waterwheel visible far to the side. The trees are starting to become more numerous, though nowhere near a proper forest.

"Now, you said something about my being one of the most eligible bachelors in Canterlot." Prince Blueblood sighs, his expression becoming a bit more downcast, "Yes, it is true. The dashing good looks, Tartarus may care attitude, the tiniest hint of aloofness; it all combines to make me nearly irresistible." He looks at his forelegs, "And the sword training and workouts, primarily a mare field though you do see some stallions compete. Actually, nearly all the stallions who do so are unicorns on the horn side. Very few on the hoof side, even among earth ponies. It gives me quite the aura of virility." He shakes his head, "Probably why Mi Amore..."

Doug looks over, wondering why Prince Blueblood trailed off; the stallion is looking off into the distance, a long sigh escaping his muzzle. Doug says, "That does make you sound like quite the catch; if you don't mind me asking, what keeps you from courting another mare now? Or, before you met Cadance, from dating a mare before her?"

Prince Blueblood gives Doug a hard look, "You understand that everything I say here is under the strictest of confidences, yes?"

"What you are about to say now or everything we say for a week?"

Prince Blueblood snorts, "Just now, though I would appreciate a bit of discretion with the rest of our topics."

"You have it."

"Good." Prince Blueblood looks around, nopony anywhere near them on the now snow covered path, "Princess Celestia came to me when I first came of age, which was around the time Princess Cadance ascended. I don't know if it was as a last resort, to try to get me to pursue my noble studies, but it worked. She offered me the chance to date and, should things go well, become the first true Prince Equestria has ever seen. More than the title I already possess by nature of my birth. Not a mere consort, a kept plaything of the princesses, but an actual ruler by their side."

"Wow. And, what did she ask? Just that you learn about nobility?"

Prince Blueblood shakes his head, "More than learning about it, I had to embrace it. I would become one of those nobleponies that I despised. I had to learn to ingratiate myself, how to find out what ponies desired, what they couldn't stand, all without them realizing I was doing it. To become the master diplomat, if needed." He sighs as they head off the path, following one of the streams that feeds into the farmland to the north, "And, when I put my mind to that, of course I succeeded. That didn't stop me from disliking it, from making my unhappiness known by belittling those around me and treating others disdainfully. Unfortunately, that made many of the more eligible mares even more intrigued by me. Especially when I returned none of their advances, merely fleeting flirtations and nothing more."

"...Right."

"And it sounds like you know a little of what happened afterwards. Princess Celestia sent me on a few diplomatic missions, mostly to the griffons, and one to the dragons. The food, the sights, the smells; it was..." Prince Blueblood pauses again as he considers, Doug slowing down, "To sum it up in one word, abominable."

"What?" Doug asks, "That doesn't sound like the kind of opinion a master diplomat would have of another culture."

"Well, you, not being the master diplomat that I am, might think that. But you'd be wrong; Griffons cannot stand pretension. Their sense of when a pony is merely putting them on is as developed as their sense of blood, and they can sniff a wounded pony from a mile away. Nasty sorts, though I am happy to say my first mission put them off of thinking of ponies as weak and helpless prey."

"Okay, this I have to hear. First, how did Celestia-"

"Princess Celestia." Prince Blueblood stares at Doug, a touch of annoyance at his lack of contriteness. "You will use her title with respect."

Doug stares blankly at Prince Blueblood for a few seconds, "Do you know why I don't use her title?"

"Should I care?"

"...Fine. Princess Celestia. Why did she allow the griffons to, um, think of ponies as prey in the first place?"

"Well, it is their land that the ponies were trespassing on. And Princess Celestia respects other nation's boundaries and cultures, and in return she keeps a vigilant watch on our borders. More than a few of the training dummies I practiced with were adorned with genuine feathers. But, Princess Celestia was unhappy with the situation, as even you can guess, so she sent me. You see, the griffons have a very antiquated way of passing laws. Not too unlike the Counsel of Nobles, if a trifle more overt in their hostilities."

The two pass a farmhouse, the dilapted building looking to have been abandoned years ago, a chittering noise emanating from inside. "How much is a trifle?"

Prince Blueblood shrugs, taking a longer route away from the building. "Well, if two griffons dispute how a passage in a bill should read, the victor will write the line with the loser's blood. Often with a quill plucked from the defeated. If the fight was honorable, then they spare the primaries. If not, well, hopefully the griffon has a chick that can carry on his name."

"Really? That sounds pretty barbaric."

"You don't know the half of it. Anyway, I came up to the arena where they do most of their negotiating. The high court was in session at the time, and I entered in the middle of a discussion of the minutiae of the takeover of some aerie or another. Marched right into the middle of the place, started to give my request to Gregory, the acting leader that day. Simple list, really. Number one: don't eat ponies. Number two: don't take their possessions. Number three: well, I never got to number three, as four of the griffons objected to my proposal, loudly and in my face. So, in time honored griffon tradition, I insulted the egg the ringleader's hen, or dam, came from."

"Wait a second." Doug looks up in thought, one hand at his chin, his voice straining a little. "Really?"

"Well, it does one of two things. It can either get them to back down, as only somepony who can back up an insult like that would dare to make it. If that doesn't happen, well, they fly into a blind rage. I'm sure you don't need me to tell you which happened. It is very unfortunate that he didn't see my rapier until it was sticking out the other side of his wing, but, well, I didn't much care for the other option."

"And the rest of them just stood there?"

"Oh, heavens no. The senators, or delegates, or whatever they called themselves that day, they all got up and started cheering, half for me and half for the remaining three griffons objecting to my bill. Gregory just sat there, watching us with his talons folded under his chin. So, the next two were a little more formal with their challenge, as they both grabbed light spears, the ones griffons favor, and came at me together. However, my range is longer than theirs, so they both ended up same as the first. The last one, though, had a bit more smarts than the first three put together. He said it was unfair that I was using magic to win my debate, and that I should fight hoof to claw. Or, at least, I'd pick up my sword and he'd pick up his rock tipped spear." Prince Blueblood smirks at Doug, "They aren't civilized enough to insist on barehoofed combat. At least, not with non-griffons."

"Thank Celestia? I think?"

Prince Blueblood rolls his eyes, "Indeed. Well, I am not as proficient with hoof as some of the earth pony wizards, but that is only because they do not need to split their time between horn and hoof and occasionally showing up to a gathering of nobles. But, nevertheless, I accepted the challenger. The first blow of my rapier to his talons knocked the spear out of his grasp, and he surrendered on the spot." Blueblood spits, "Coward. But, after that, there were no more challengers, and Gregory approved the bill as stated. Which was unfortunate, because I had a nice long series of rules that would have made perfect the relationship between Griffonstone and Equestria. Alas, such is life."

"So, a happy end of one of your diplomatic missions. I take it Princess Celestia decided you were worthy, or whatever, and you and Princess Cadance were together?"

"Briefly. We started dating eight years ago, in early February before Winter Wrap Up, and it lasted a month before she abruptly called it off." Prince Blueblood sighs, "We made love the one time, and it was... indescribably beautiful. Auntie Celestia had insisted that both of us save ourselves for the other, and she was well worth the wait. At the time, I thought it was the same for her." Prince Blueblood's voice catches, his eyes watering, "But, suddenly, she was distraught, beside herself, and left without another word."

Doug grimaces, "That must have hurt quite a lot."

"It did, it certainly did, and though I hate to say it I have never been quite the same since. After the Princess of Love herself, any other pony just seems... common. I cannot see myself with any mare who doesn't measure up, and I despair that all of the ponies who try to catch my attention are just interested in my station. Much like the mares who showed interest in me before Princess Cadance. Nowadays, some of them do not even try to hide their intentions, the overtness of their scheming laughably direct."

"Understandable, if regrettable that you see it that way. How do you figure out, though, if their interest is genuine?"

Prince Blueblood smiles, "So, I have a very simple test to determine who is interested in being with me because of my position as Prince and Noble and all those other titles that get bestowed upon whichever pony is willing to stand there to play the part. And those who are interested in the pony behind the mask."

"And that is?"

Prince Blueblood smirks, "I act as charming and debonair as possible in a group, and as a complete boor and ruffian whenever I can get away with it. Anypony can grin and bear it for a few minutes, maybe even the entirety of one party," his smile grows wider, "But they inevitably break down, call me out on it, and stomp away, indignant that I can be such a rude bastard and get away with it." He laughs to himself, "And their self righteous anger is only increased when they see me pulling the same stunt on another unsuspecting mare, who expects me to act the chivalrous knight but is treated as if her only use it to be a stepping stone over a puddle."

Doug frowns, staring at Prince Blueblood, "Okay, so, this sounds like you are just using this as an excuse to act like a spoiled brat as opposed to any serious way to discern if a pony is right for you or not."

Prince Blueblood shrugs, "Fair enough, and maybe it is a little cathartic to treat those other nobleponies, ones who have never in their life been regarded at as anything other than a beautiful shining star, and who would immediately fire and nightlist any servant who dared to say so, regardless of the truthfulness of such a comment." He glances back at his rapiers, "And it is partially the reason I am so diligent with my training. It is no secret, my talent with a blade, both in hoof and in aura. It keeps the vindictive mares and dams away, merely stewing in their rage instead of their guts."

Doug shakes his head at the imagery, "Still not seeing the goal here."

Prince Blueblood sighs, "I am looking for a mare, a lead mare, who is not afraid to stand up to me. Who, if I was to treat her like a commoner, is a mare who stands up for herself immediately and either walks out or calls me on my behavior on the spot. Not at the end of the day, not when they are at their wits end, not after I do something egregious in front of their friends. The very first time. And, sadly, it has yet to happen." Prince Blueblood looks to Doug, "And I expect you to keep that a secret, at least until I am happily married, as otherwise my entire charade will come crashing down and I will be forced to use something even more degrading to try to find somepony worthy."

"You have it, of course; I still don't think your way is the best, but, you know, to each their own. I imagine it really hurt when something similar happened between you and Princess Cadance, where you felt like it was going extremely well only for her to leave. And now you expect every mare to treat you like that, to leave you at the end of the night and blame you for their own insecurities, and they have only confirmed this view."

Prince Blueblood's pace slows, looking down at the ground. "It... it hurt a lot. More than a creature like yourself could ever dream."

Doug's hand raises to object, deciding against it as Prince Blueblood continues, "And she never told me why. It was Auntie Celestia who came by the next day, and told me that Princess Cadance would no longer be seeing me, and that I was to never pursue her or ask her why. I was so shocked I didn't eat or drink for the rest of the day. I was plagued by nightmares for weeks, taunting me about my inadequacies. Whether it was our personalities clashing, her lack of faith in me as a ruler, or that she was that disappointed with my ability as an amoureux."

"Did either of them ever tell you why she broke up with you?"

Prince Blueblood shakes his head, "No, they never did. And their rejection of me the one time was enough, I don't need another reminder."

"It wasn't your fault." Doug stops, considering for a second before saying, "Well, not your fault personally, that is. Do you know of the partners Princess Celestia had in the past?"

Prince Blueblood nods, "Of course. They might be glossed over in standard history, her list of consorts, but the fact of their existence is not hidden by any means."

"So, do you know why she never bore any foals?" At Prince Blueblood's impassive look Doug asks, "Do you think it was from lack of trying?"

A snort echoes among the trees, followed by several others, Prince Blueblood slowly quieting down. "The mare is said to have the libido of a filly going through her first estrus, and the self control to make you never realize she is in season. It is a dangerous combination for any stallion she sets her sights on, and the country is lucky she has not taken a consort in generations." He glances back at Doug, "But no, I would have assumed they tried and were unable, but I do not know the reason."

"Well, having been there, I can definitely agree." Prince Blueblood raises an eyebrow as Doug continues, "But, it is part of the reason that Princess Celestia and Princess Cadance came to me. They saw a possibility with me that neither of them had encountered with any pony in the past. They think, then and now, that they would be able to conceive with me."

Prince Blueblood turns, staring at Doug for a long time. He tentatively breaks the silence, "You are saying... you are saying that the reason Princess Cadance broke up with me, devastated me, was because I hurt her by failing to conceive with her?"

Doug pauses a few seconds, his hand going to Prince Blueblood's withers, "No, it..." He takes a deep breath, "It is because you successfully conceived with her, and the embryo aborted itself. The same issue plagues Princess Celestia, and it devastated her when that happened to her, it deeply hurts both of them every time it happens, and Princess Cadance cannot help but think of that devastation when she thinks of you."

Prince Blueblood halts, staring at the ground in front of him. Doug stops, turning and watching as the gears turn in the unicorn's head. "Well." Prince Blueblood's frown slowly turns to a smile, "I guess that explains a lot." He continues walking to the next farmhouse, a new spring in his step as a mare glances at them through a window, "If it wasn't my fault, then maybe there is another mare out there for me. But, I doubt she'll be able to keep up."

3 The Dreaded Rhoa

"That's the fourth one in a row," Prince Blueblood growls as the two walk away from yet another run down farmhouse, "I can't believe it!"

"I know," Doug replies. "I think it's really surprising no one has taken care of this yet." He shudders briefly, "I mean, I live near the Everfree Forest, which has all kinds of things like this going on, but I've haven't heard of things like that happening out here. And I never heard of things that attack ponies so eagerly, and yet nothing is being done." He looks around at the broken fences, something Applejack couldn't stand, yet often didn't have the time to get around and check.

"No, not that," Prince Blueblood huffs. "I'm talking about how these farmers keep thinking that I'm Cold Digger! Me! Prince Blueblood! I'm a unicorn, not a pegasus, for Faust's sake! How dense do they have to be?"

"Well, you have to admit," Doug says as they reach the road, "of the two of us, who would you say is more likely to be working as a weatherpony?"

Prince Blueblood glances over at Doug, then at himself. "You. Probably mixing cloudcrete."

Doug rolls his eyes, the forest around them strangely quiet aside from their voices, "There's just no arguing with you, is there?"

"Yes, I've been told that on several occasions." Prince Blueblood sticks his nose in the air, a haughty, "I think that is what makes me such a good diplomat."

Doug scowls, "I'm pretty sure it isn't a compliment."

"And yet, I'm the one who travels to exotic locales like Griffonstone and Dragon's Lair, and you..." Prince Blueblood taps a hoof to his chin, "What do you do again?" He raises his hoof in the air, his mouthing curling in fake happiness, "Oh, that's right, you listen to the complaints of common farmers and kowtow to their every whim." He shakes his head, going back to a normal trot along the ground.

"That's not..." Doug sighs, looking down at the ground, "Okay, that's exactly my job. But I enjoy it, at least."

"And I love my job, too. I am able to be as brash and harsh and all other manner of abrasive synonyms as I like. And Princess Celestia knows this, and as long as her Highness sends me to the right place, I am an excellent tool at her disposal. And she knows how to wield all of her little ponies as well as she wields her sun."

"I can't believe you accept that so readily and don't even bother trying to change."

Prince Blueblood shrugs, "What can I say, I am who I am, and I see no reason to behave any differently."

The two walk silently for several minutes before Doug says, "So, what do you think about those creatures the farmers were talking about? You know, the ones that each of the farmers thought was a serious issue plaguing their farms, that they would like taken care of, etcetera."

Prince Blueblook glances back to the farmhouse they just left, "What are you talking about?"

Doug sighs, "What about the R. H. O. A.'s?"

Prince Blueblood scoffs, "The Rabidly Hungry Omnivorous Animals? I don't think they exist."

"Rrhhooaaa!!"

Prince Blueblood lets out a shriek, not unlike that of a young filly, as a shadow leaps out of a nearby tree. He grabs onto Doug, spinning the human between him and the large, locust-like creature flying towards them. The rhoa lands on top of Doug, knocking the human to the ground and using its long, thin forelegs to grab onto his arm. Doug roars, beating the creature in the head as it tries to force his hand into the gnashing jaws.

Doug yells, "A little help, please!" as he forces the rhoa's limbs to the side, its mandibles clicking mere inches from his nose, slobber from the crushing jaws raining on his face.

Prince Blueblood takes a step backwards, surveying the situation. "I'm sorry, but you are laying on top of my rapiers. I don't see how I can help."

"No, use your hoof!"

"Okay, but you're still on top of my rapiers."

"Grr!" Doug grunts as he rolls, his arm dangerously close to being bitten off, the four back legs whirling uselessly in the air. A loud 'schwing' comes from behind Doug as Prince Blueblood reaches over, pulling the gold hilted rapier out of the bag, gripping it in his hoof and disdainfully poking the rhoa in the joint between wing and middle leg. It lets out a shriek, turning its head towards Prince Blueblood who pulls the rapier out, this time sticking the rapier deep in the creature's neck. The beast writhes as the rapier withdraws, Doug grunting as he heaves the dead weight away from him.

"Thanks," Doug icily grumbles, inspecting his arms and making sure the only wounds he has are bruises.

"You're welcome," Prince Blueblood says with a small bow. "I still don't know why you wanted me to use my hoof."

"I meant for you to buck the thing off me, not wield the rapier with your hoof." Doug lets out a long sigh, thankful to be in one piece, "Your magic would have been just fine for that."

"That sounds like a really easy way to chip a hoof. It's not like these boots offer a lot of protection against that, you know."

Doug groans as he pushes the rhoa over, looking at the creature. Armor plated thorax; long, muscled, limbs; thick, round abdomen. A morbid thought crosses Doug's mind as he glances over at Prince Blueblood, the unicorn cleaning his rapier off and inspecting the point. "So, do you know how to butcher an animal?"

Prince Blueblood doesn't bother hiding his disgust. "Of course; Auntie Celestia made me learn before I went to the griffon lands, both to accustom me to their culture and acclimate to the very likely possibility of bloodshed and the similarly high chance of the very act being performed in front of me. Why would you want to know that?"

Doug shrugs, "Well, I eat meat, or I can, and I'm looking at a lot of it that I would hate to go to waste."

Prince Blueblood stares at Doug, then at the occasionally twitching corpse in front of him. "You would... eat... that? Do you know where it's been?"

"Well, it seems healthy, and I'll be sure to cook the meat thoroughly to kill whatever parasites are swarming around in it." Doug rolls his eyes as Prince Blueblood takes another step backwards, his eyes going wide and mouth pulling back.

"Eww ew ew! No!" Doug crosses his arms as Prince Blueblood pouts, "Look at it! You are thinking about eating that? No!"

"Maybe it's delicious?" Doug's face lights up, holding a finger in the air, "Ooh, I know! We can both try it, get you used to it, then we can pass it off as a Vanhoover delicacy! And then get your noble friends to try it!"

"I am insulted that you think that I consider any of those stuck up mules as my friend." A second passes before a sneer spreads over Prince Blueblood's muzzle, "Doug, I just had the best idea."

"Yeah?" Doug's mouth creeps into a grin.

"How about, we cut this... rhoa apart, take the meat, prepare it, and I pass it off as a Vanhoover specialty, getting those pompous fools Auntie Celestia forces me to hang out with to try some?"

Doug rolls his eyes, "That sounds like an excellent plan. Now, do you have a knife? Or machete?"

"Pff," Prince Blueblood snorts, "I would think that you are the type to carry around something as barbaric as a machete. I only need my rapiers and my wit."

"Well, I don't have a knife or ax, and I don't think your wit is sharp enough to cut this chitin. We could walk back to the last farmhouse, see if they have anything."

"Indeed, or we could keep walking to the next one, and see if they have anything, and save ourselves several minutes of walking around." Prince Blueblood looks down at the rhoa, "Hey, wait a second."

Doug ignores Prince Blueblood's second statement, "Alright then, you want to carry this?"

Prince Blueblood looks askance at Doug, holding a hoof to his chest and mouthing the word, 'Me?'

"Come on, you could levitate it, and I won't get blood all over me." Doug motions to the body, blood oozing out of the hole in the neck. "I'm just lucky I was on top of the thing when you stabbed it, not underneath."

"Or, we can leave it here, and never speak of this." Prince Blueblood turns, facing the road to continue onward.

Doug holds a hand to his chin, "Maybe I'll just use your saddlebags to keep my hands clean."

Prince Blueblood retorts, "But then the rest of your clothes will have blood all over them."

Doug raises an eyebrow, "But where would-" before Prince Blueblood smirks at him, his rapier waggling back and forth. "Fine." Doug reaches down, grabbing one of the rhoa's back legs. "Lead the way."

"Ugh, you're going to drag it the whole way?"

"Would you like to help?" Doug asks he follows Prince Blueblood down the road, the chitin clinking along the ground.

Prince Blueblood turns, sticking his nose in the air, "No, and if you continue like this you will be carrying the packs the rest of the way."

"That was an option?" Doug pretends to consider as Prince Blueblood rolls his eyes.

"Alright, fine. You win. At least the next farmhouse is close by." Prince Blueblood turns and snorts, his head held in the air.

The two walk along in silence, Doug dropping off the rhoa as they come to the outskirts of the farm. Prince Blueblood steps forward, knocking on the front door, Doug standing off to the side. A mare opens the door, raising an eyebrow at the well-groomed stallion in front of her. She asks, "What can I do ya for?" before she glances off to the side, seeing Doug standing there, and startling back a little.

Prince Blueblood smiles, "Hello, Ma'am, my partner and I are here on behalf of the Cloudsdale Weather Support team, in order to collect information about your weather needs."

"Oh, Cold Digger, it's right pleasant to meet ya!" Prince Blueblood's eye twitches as she continues, "I'd tell ya more, but we've had a right infestation of these varmints about. Makes it hard to think a lot about planning for future harvests when they eat everything right up."

"Yes, yes, we've heard about it. If you have any concerns or feedback with the weather scheduling, we'd be happy to know. However, on a note related to those varmints, do you happen to have a large knife? Or ax?"

"Oh, so, I've got the old wood chipper out back, you see, but what would you need it for?" The mare glances past Blueblood, looking closer at Doug, before glancing to the side at the wood pile.

"We came across one of those varmints. It is... better left unsaid."

"Gonna chop it up to take back home with you to study, eh? I sure hope you do something, those pests have been all over the place! Getting fat off of our hard work! About time, I say."

Prince Blueblood raises an eyebrow, "Indeed."

"Well, why didn't you say so earlier! I'll go get it, you park yourself right there and I'll be right back in a jiffy."

Prince Blueblood looks over to Doug, motioning for him to come over. He gets to the door about the time the pony comes around the side of the house, holding a well-worn ax in her teeth. She walks up to Prince Blueblood, who redirects her with a slight shake of the head towards Doug. She pauses, a brief hesitation before moving towards him and holding the ax out. He takes it with a smile, "Thank you for your help. I have some bits, for the ax."

"Oh, don't worry about it, buddy, it's not a problem. Just glad to see somepony dealing with those R. H. O. A.'s. Thank you, Cold Digger and friend." She nods, first to Prince Blueblood and then to Doug, a friendly wave as she steps back to her house. Prince Blueblood initially smiles before turning and scowling, slowly walking away before a loud 'whew!' and a thud against the closed door comes from the house.

"Hey, only the third one that did that," Doug remarks as they walk back to the road. Both of them stop as they see two more rhoas gathered around the body with several others mingling around the nearby trees. The chitin cracks as the two rhoas tear it apart, exposing the soft tissue underneath.

"I don't suppose we can just walk away from this?" Prince Blueblood asks, inspecting his blue rapier, the gold rapier floating next to him.

"I don't know, pretty sure there are a lot of nobles up in Canterlot."

Prince Blueblood huffs, his horn shining, "If only they were so easily dealt with." The point on the blue rapier shines, glinting as it sharpens. Prince Blueblood whistles to himself as the two rapiers levitate over to the two rhoas, the sharp points stabbing them in the neck. Gurgling noises come from each as the rapiers pull out, the two rhoas collapsing to the ground. "I don't know why the farmers are having so much trouble. Well, besides the lack of enchanted rapiers and my expertise."

One of the nearby rhoas cautiously makes its way to its fallen brethren, a keening call coming out. Many of the surrounding trees echo with the same call, Doug and Prince Blueblood exchanging scared looks. "I think I figured it out," Doug says as the rhoas take to the air, short bursts of their large wings propelling themselves to the center around their fallen comrades. They pause, staring at the bodies for a second before reorienting themselves towards the two. "Run?" Doug asks, slowly backing up.

"More like a tactical retreat," Prince Blueblood says, turning to the side. "You distract them, and I'll... be over there." Prince Blueblood takes off at a fast pace, putting Doug between himself and the rhoas while his rapiers levitate towards the human.

"WHAT?" Doug yells, hastily shedding the bags he is carrying. Two of the rhoas leap towards him as he sprints back, narrowly dodging the second as it tries to correct with its wings. It stops for a second, slowly walking towards Doug before a second powerful leap eats up the distance that Doug put between it.

The first rhoa lays down on the ground, stabbed through the neck by a golden rapier, Prince Blueblood exclaiming, "Good work! Keep it up!"

"Blueblood, so help me, if I get eaten by these I am coming back for you!" Doug yells as the main group leaps towards him. He quickly changes course, the rhoa closest to him dispatched by a blue rapier.

"Don't worry Doug, I feel you're doing well!" Prince Blueblood shouts, inspecting one of his hooves for chips. "Maybe try to hit one yourself, they don't move very much immediately after they land."

"Are you crazy?" Doug says as he takes a wild swing with the ax. The nearby rhoa clicks angrily, mandibles gnashing as it swipes at Doug, many of the others closing the gap.

"Or, just keep running! You're quick!" Prince Blueblood calls, fiddling around with another one of his hooves. Two of the RHOAs that came at him collapse, a golden blur weaving between them. "Whatever you like, just try to be more aggravating! It's difficult to concentrate over here!"

Doug zigzags, dodging away from the two rhoas chasing him as another two make their way to Prince Blueblood. He yawns as his rapiers whirls between them, heavy thuds as they fall to the ground. The rapiers spin towards Doug, the rhoas hot on his heels as he runs towards the fallen saddlebags. The last two rhoas screech at the incoming weapons, attempting to swipe at the metal but find themselves run through just as easily as their brethren.

Doug bends over, his hands on his knees, hard breaths in and out as he recovers. Prince Blueblood walks over, inspecting his rapiers as they return to his side. The unicorn remarks, "Ugh, I think I chipped a hoof running over here. You'll have to do better next time, but I do say we make a pretty good team. Now, what do you say we hurry it up a little, I would hate to be around here for too much longer, the smell will be atrocious."

"Yeah," Doug pants, "I'll get right on that." He straightens up, stretching one leg and then the other. "You're pretty good with those weapons, almost like they're an extension of you."

"Yes, and I have trained hard to get here. The Dancing Duo, I've been called." Prince Blueblood looks down at one of the rhoas Doug is dragging off the road away from the farms, a disdainful look as he levitates the ax. "So, what parts are you interested in? Also, where are we putting the meat? And how are we preserving it? Who will be taking what parts?"

"I think we can stick to major muscles, maybe some of the internal organs. Not that I couldn't eat everything, I'm just less sure of what is safe. Muscles I'm pretty confident on. None of the chitin, the outer shell. As for preservation, if you don't have some sort of spell, um, I think we need to dry it out. And salt it, maybe other spices if we have access to them. Smoke helps dry it out, with the fire."

"You are going to put salt in this?" Prince Blueblood smirks, "Oh, this delicacy will go over spectacularly, though the salt may make it seem too much like common fare. However, if we can keep the salt limited, so it is barely distinguishable, it should work." He looks over at the sun, then at the area around them, "So, you keep watch, and drag the rest of those rhoas over here." The ax comes down with a heavy thunk, separating the leg from the thorax. His magic holds pieces of the chitin apart while continuing his butchering, Doug making his way to the farmhouse to ask about obtaining a large crate or cart. If only they had a wheelbarrow!

4 A Regal Death

January 12th, 998

Doug smiles to himself as the train gets close to the Ponyville station. After dealing with the rhoas around the farmhouse they borrowed a crate and wagon from the farmpony, who was overjoyed the problem is finally getting the attention it deserves. They walked back to town, Doug stopping on the outskirts with the partially prepared bodies while Prince Blueblood bought out every shop's inventory of enchanted food preservation units. He also told the guard about the infestation of rhoas, declining the bounty for the rhoas they had killed.

The rest of the week had been downright boring, in comparison. Prince Blueblood was entertaining as always, regaling Doug with tales of visiting the dragon lands. His meeting the hot headed Dragon Lord Torch regarding overland trade, the significantly less hot headed Sandy Rockbeach regarding water trade, and the hot dragon Ember, who may have had a slight misunderstanding regarding their intentions for each other, and was a pretty chill dragon afterwards. It is funny, he had to explain, because she is blue. In fact, she got him a bottle of fire sauce, juvenile dragon rated, from which he had tried exactly one sip in their presence. Her reaction to his reaction to the fire sauce, however, made him suspect that she was not entirely over her crush for him. Indeed, she was merely making her attraction to him known, as many teenagers are known to do; alas, it is unfortunate that he did not swing that way, and he was saving himself for Princess Cadance regardless. After he had not regained his taste buds upon returning home, he quietly beseeched Auntie Celestia to help with his problem, and she told him to wait a week. And what a miserable week it was, but at the end his tongue had healed and now he has a bottle of fire sauce, nearly unused. At Doug's incredulity to the spiciness of the fire sauce he agreed to mail it to the human. Not that Doug knows what he will do with it, but Rainbow and Pinkie Pie enjoy hot and spicy things and maybe he could water it down a bit.

But, like all good things, the trip had to come to an end. Doug waves to Rainbow as he hops off the train, grabbing the crate full of preserved meat. His mare grabs the suitcase and follows after him; she looks at the crate, saying, "So, uh, I didn't think you'd be bringing anything back." Doug nods, and at his lack of explanation Rainbow prompts him, "Sooo, anything good in there?"

Doug shrugs, "You might like it. We're passing it off as a Vanhoover delicacy."

"Who is 'we'?" Rainbow asks, now definitely intrigued by the contents of the crate. She gets closer, trying to pull the lid off, but it is firmly nailed shut. "Aww, what gives? Is it food? It is food, right?" She buzzes a little closer, pressing her muzzle against the crate and trying to sniff out whatever is inside. She huffs when no smells come forth, the preservation units doing their job admirably.

"It is food, and I doubt you've had it before." Doug smirks a little, "And I don't know if you can handle it."

Rainbow flies past him, sticking a hoof in Doug's chest, "Okay, mister, I don't know what happened to you on that trip, but I'm going to make you eat those words, just like I'm going to eat whatever's in that crate." She leans in close, "Kapish?"

Doug pulls Rainbow closer for a kiss, the mare huffing in frustration. She quickly sighs when Doug doesn't let go, returning the kiss with a bit of extra gusto. He gives her a squeeze, saying, "Alright, Rainbow, I misspoke. I think you can handle it, but I don't think you'll like it very much."

"Why, what is it?" Rainbow asks as the two of them arrive at the Carousel Boutique. "I didn't think Vanhoover was all that special with food. Not like Phillydelphia or Manehatten."

"You'll find out soon enough," Doug retorts, Rainbow pouting as he pushes the door open. She blows a bit of her mane out of her face, annoyance at Doug forcing her to be patient.

The bell at the front of the store chimes, Rarity calling out, "Welcome to the Carousel Boutique!" She steps over, a smile breaking out on her face, "Doug! And Rainbow, good to see both of you!" She walks forward as Doug places the crate off to the side, a quick embrace for her stallion before looking at the crate. "What is in there?" She squeals a little, "Is it rare fabric from the indigenous Vanhoover ponies? They do have some very interesting designs."

"Those are in my suitcase," Doug says, finding and handing a crowbar to Rainbow. "Let me take them up to your room while Rainbow gets the lid off. Don't open any of the containers inside, though." Doug takes his suitcase upstairs; Sweetie Belle pokes her head out of her room upstairs, the filly intrigued by the commotion. She gives Doug a quick nuzzle as he passes her before heading downstairs to investigate.

Prince Blueblood made good on his 'gift' for Rarity; Doug pulls the picture out once he gets inside her room. Why Prince Blueblood has an entire compartment of his trunk solely devoted to pictures of himself, Doug couldn't bring himself to ask. He would probably say that it is to keep up the image as self obsessed playcolt, but who knows. Doug had agreed to keep Prince Blueblood's secrets, after all, especially about how he would act towards any paramours. He reads the lines, a tasteful cursive and massively overdone signature:

It is rare to have such clarity,
To know and dream of the prosperity,
To live with so much popularity,
Indeed, such a peculiarity,
For eyes as gracious as thine, Rarity.
Yours, Prince Blueblood

Doug rolls his eyes as he replaces the picture of Prince Blueblood with the signed copy, a soft click as the drawer slides back into place. He goes to the bathroom, balling up the old picture and flushing it down the toilet before heading back downstairs to hear Sweetie Belle exclaim, "Eww! Eww eww eww! Thith ith dithcuthting!" Doug sighs as he bends the corner, seeing Rainbow and Rarity with sheepish grins on their faces, both of them halfheartedly chewing, a piece of jerky missing about three large bites worth out held in Rainbow's hoof. Sweetie Belle is rolling around on the floor, pawing at her tongue with her front hooves, trying to get the taste off.

Rainbow swallows her piece, looking at the remains. "So, it's... not bad. Not great, and I don't really see myself eating any more of this, 'cause it's kinda gross and stringy, but I've had worse."

Doug holds his hand out, Rainbow giving the piece to him, Doug popping it in his mouth. Sweetie Belle rushes to the kitchen as they look to Rarity, watching the mare slowly chew her piece, eventually swallowing. The water runs in the kitchen as Rarity smacks her lips, "I would say that it is quite the... acquired taste. It is worse than that turkey you had years ago; I don't know if I've heard of anything tasting quite as..." She puts her hoof to her mouth, trying to find the word.

"Repulsive?" Doug says.

"Disgusting?" Rainbow counters.

Rarity rolls her eyes, "Well, if you want to be uncouth about it, then, yes. Very repugnant, yes." She gags a little, "What could possibly possess somepony to make this? It is as if they saw some dead creature decaying on the road and said, 'Hey, bro, let's try throwing that on the fire, see what happens?' Ugh."

"Well, we actually boiled that one," Doug says, Rarity gaping at him. "Prince Blueblood and I found a couple of these things terrorizing a few of the farms we were visiting. Killed a few after they attacked us, and I looked at it and said, 'Hey, fresh meat.' A bit of butchering and cooking attempts later and voila!" He motions to one of the other boxes in the crate, "We basically did nothing to that box, leaving it for later attempts at preparing. I think you might have liked one of the other flavors more than that one, but hey, life is like a box of butchered meat."

Rarity's face slowly turns green as Rainbow points a hoof at the box. The pegasus says, "That was meat? Huh." She looks to the side as Rarity dashes past, heading for the kitchen. They hear the tap running as Rarity and Sweetie Belle wash their mouths out, the two unicorns spitting the used liquid back into the sink, the soap the next thing finding its way into their mouths. Rainbow smirks, "Some ponies, huh? So, what did you plan on doing with the stuff?"

Doug says, "His is to dole it out in small quantities to the nobleponies, possibly some of the ponies that chase after him. Make them think it is some delicious delicacy, and gauge their reaction." Doug flexes a bicep, "My plan is to eat my share. Might help bulk up a little."

Rainbow smiles, "Aww, yeah! Maybe you'll finally keep up with me, huh?"

Doug smirks, "I like the sound of that!" as he charges Rainbow, the surprised mare squawking as he wraps his arms around her. The two crash to the ground, Rainbow struggling from the awkward angle and trying to get her hooves either underneath her or against Doug. She flails as he pins her, finally giving up as he lifts her to his shoulder.

"Oh noes," Rainbow calls as Rarity comes back inside, the unicorn watching the two with a smile. Rainbow weakly moves her legs around, "Woe is me. About to be reduced to a mere meal."

A high pitched voice comes from the kitchen, "Don't worry, Rainbow! I'll save you!" Sweetie Belle charges around the corner, leveling her horn at Doug as she gallops forward. Her horn lights, the nearly full meat container levitating up. Doug and Rarity look in alarm, Doug shielding himself and Rainbow with his arms while Rarity levitates a makeshift barrier in front of her.

The container makes a loud popping sound, all motion coming to a stop as everypony watches the preservation unit. A sizzling sound comes next, Rarity and Doug slowly backing away as Sweetie Belle looks on with a worried look, unsure if she should stop levitating the container and run away or if it safer to stand there, holding it in place.

A few seconds later and a loud 'ding' chimes through the store. The sizzling sound stops, Sweetie Belle slowly dropping the container to the floor. Rarity gasps, quickly sliding a spare piece of fabric under the hot box, a wisp of smoke coming from the lid. Rarity cautiously takes the top off the preservation unit, a mass of thick black smoke escaping. Doug pokes Rainbow in the side, the fascinated pegasus taking the hint and blowing the smoke out the front door Rarity is holding open.

Everypony looks at the blackened husk in the box. Doug licks his fingers, cautiously touching the former meat, yanking his hand back with a grimace at the heat. He sucks on his finger, his face lighting up with surprise. He smiles, "Hey, this is really good! It's Cajun, with lots of great spices!"

Rainbow says, "Really?" directing a bit of wind and cold at the box before tentatively reaching a hoof down. She breaks off a small piece, popping it into her mouth. She chews for a few seconds before she smiles as well, "Aww, yeah, this is awesome!" and going for a second piece.

Rarity madly shakes her head as she glances at Sweetie Belle's side, the mare saying to herself, "Please Celestia, no, anything but this!"

Sweetie Belle grins, looking to her flank while Doug breaks off two pieces, offering one to Rarity. Sweetie Belle frowns at the lack of cutie mark, a dejected sigh as she moves to her dam. She sniffs the air, her mouth starting to water a little at the spicy treat Rarity is reluctantly trying. A small piece levitates in front of her, the filly cautiously trying it and making a face, "This is too spicy!"

"Indeed, darling, it is very spicy. But you did a wonderful job turning something... detestable, into something delicious! At least for a certain section of the community."

"Yeah!" Rainbow exclaims, "What do you say, Sweetie Belle? Want to try to levitate the whole crate?"

"No." Sweetie Belle sighs, "What's the point, not like I'm going to get my cutie mark there." The filly sighs, walking back to the stairs, "I'll be in my room if you need me."

Rainbow groans, going to say something, stopping when Doug puts his hand on her withers. She looks back at him as he says, "Don't push it, Rainbow. Plus, you should probably wait a few days before having any more." At her quizzical look he says, "You know, make sure you don't have any surprises?'

"Like what? Not like it's the first time I've eaten meat, or fish." Rainbow shrugs, "My best friend was a griffon, you know, I got pretty used to the idea. And being around you makes it easier, too."

Doug rolls his eyes, "Well, yes, but were any of them this spicy?" Rainbow shakes her head, Doug saying, "Well, trust me, it might... burn a little on the way out."

Rainbow's mouth hangs open as she turns around, staring at her flanks. She shakes her head, "Yeah, well, it'll be worth it. This is some really good stuff!"

Doug scratches Rainbow's mane, the mare happily moving closer to him as she grabs another piece from the box. Doug whispers to her, "Unfortunately, with Sweetie Belle's magic and cooking being unpredictable at best, I don't know if the rest would have turned out like this. You and Rarity can have the rest of this, since I'm fine eating the other pieces. But, it is really good." He smiles at her, "Who knows, maybe I'll be able to recreate it on my own. I've got lots of raw material, at least. Maybe that fire sauce I'm getting will go well with it. It's a start, I suppose."

Rainbow takes a bite, slowly chewing before she turns, kissing Doug, his tongue finding the spicy sensation on her lips particularly agreeable. "Yeah, well," she purrs, "I can tell how much you like it." She gives him a slow lick on his cheek, ending on his lips, "If you want any more of this, then you're just going to have to eat us right up." Rarity levitates the box, her tail playfully flicking Doug's flank as she heads to the bedroom, a grinning Rainbow and Doug following close behind.

5 Crimson Hues

February 7th, 998

"Well," Applejack says, a smirk on her face as she leads the way for the five leaving the hospital, "That went much smoother than Ah expected."

"Yeah," Doug says, still a little shaken, "It sure was. I only nearly died from a heart attack. Very smooth."

"Oh, come on," Pinkie Pie says, pronking along the snow covered road, "It wasn't that bad."

"Pinkie, I was sure - as in, one hundred percent sure - you, the foal, or quite possibly both were going to die."

-Flashback to fifteen minutes ago-

Pinkie Pie is laying on a hospital bed, a hose running from a large canister of oxygen to her mouth. A towel covers her large lower half, the instruments in the room either beeping loudly or setting off alarms. Nurse Redheart is standing in the doorway, desperately trying to decide if she should run for help, try by herself to stop Pinkie Pie from attempting whatever it is she is doing, or cower in the corner from whatever it is Pinkie Pie is doing. Doug is next to Pinkie Pie, hugging the mare and saying "Pinkie, please, this is ridiculous. Please don't go through with it."

Pinkie Pie takes a deep breath from the hose, attempting to not exhale any more than necessary as she says, "Come on, Doug, trust me on this." She holds her mouth around the hose, the front of her torso beginning to inflate. "Now you need to stand over there."

Doug slowly backs off as Pinkie Pie pushes him away, wincing a little from the light kicks, "It wasn't that bad before, Pinkie, please. Just, do this the normal way. Okay?"

Pinkie Pie ignores Doug, continuing to suck air out of the tank. Her front side becomes as large as her back side, the mare releasing the hose. She gulps several times, exertion on her face as her cheeks compress, the front of her body pushing to normal proportions as her back side further inflates. The towel draped around her pushes out with her body, her lower half still completely hidden from view. She bears down, shouting, "Okay, Doug, get ready!"

Doug hunches down a little, ready to dart to either side as Pinkie Pie's whole body clenches, the towel shaking back and forth, her front hooves held next to her chest as her entire body shudders. A loud popping sound comes from the mare, a towel wrapped object flying across the room directly at Doug. He yelps, reaching out and catching the missile, pulling the towel back to reveal a healthy foal, her bright yellow body mysteriously clean for what is normally an extraordinary bloody affair. He says in a relieved voice as he wipes the cream colored mane to the side, a few dull yellow streaks showing themselves, "Please tell me you already went through this and you're just messing with me."

Pinkie Pie shrugs, a wide smile on her face as the foal raises its forelegs in the air, waving them back and forth. Doug coos at the infant, wrapping one of his fingers around the tiny hoof. He smiles, the foal waving one foreleg back at Pinkie and the other taking Doug's hand and waving it in an arc through the air. Pinkie Pie pronks over, "Say hello to your Daddy, Meringue!"

The foal smiles, giggling as she waves her hooves back and forth. Doug props her up so both of them can see Pinkie Pie, the mare moving in to nuzzle both of them.

-End Flashback-

"You know, Doug," Pinkie Pie says, her foal happily bouncing up and down on her back, "If you were easier to prank I wouldn't need to go to such outlandish lengths to try to get you." Her tail twitches back and forth, Applejack noticing and backing away from the two.

Doug rolls his eyes, "Alright, I'll try to act more surprised when it-" He stops, dropping to the ground, looking wildly around. When nothing happens he looks up at Pinkie Pie, the mare's smile merely increasing. "Okay, Pinkie, what is it?"

Pinkie Pie says, "I already got my prank on you, Doug. And I would say it was quite the success. After all, you didn't expect it was a prank until the end, right? And then you realized it was a prank, and that everything was fine, and life could go on as normal." Pinkie Pie nods to herself, "Yup, all the makings of a perfect prank."

Doug looks over to Applejack as he recovers, saying, "And, well, because I was so worried about Pinkie Pie taking so long I missed a lot of time with you. Your foaling went smoothly, right? I'm sorry I wasn't around for it, especially the end."

Applejack smiles, her colt bouncing on her back, "Eeyup! Smoothest one yet. But he's also smaller than Apple Bloom and Applebaum were, and that definitely makes it easier. Say hello, Pomarbo!"

Pomarbo shies down, one eye nervously watching Doug while a foreleg covers the other. Doug moves over, one hand gently stroking the auburn mane. Two green streaks run through, a sharp contrast to the brown body. He flinches, cautiously pushing his head against the foreign fingers. "Hello, Pomarbo!" Doug says quietly, the foal warily looking up at the deep voice. Doug smiles, the foal shying away again. "Don't worry, there, everything's okay," Doug says, continuing to scratch his mane. "So, Pinkie, did you set up your own party this time?"

Pinkie Pie hedges, "Well, it depends what you mean by your. And set up. And this time. Also, own."

Doug rolls his eyes, "I take it that is a yes?"

Pinkie Pie stands briefly, her muzzle curling to a smile while her forelegs splay to the sides, hooves bending out away from her body. Meringue barely holds on as Pinkie drops back down, the mare's rump bouncing up, Meringue rolling forward to rest on Pinkie's withers. The foal laughs as they reach the Carousel Boutique, the front doors opening to reveal a large number of ponies waiting inside.

"SURPRISE!!"

Applejack leads into the store, Pomarbo immediately hunkering down as many ponies gather around, offering their congratulations. Pinkie Pie follows next, Meringue wobbling as she stands up, big smiles in every direction as the mares congregate around. Doug walks through the doorway, most of the ponies still giving a cheer.

Doug walks through the crowd of ponies, occasional greetings from a few of the mares. He spots Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy; both are standing near the back of the crowd of ponies, Doug joining them and standing off to the side as the crowd settles down, waiting for the next new arrival. Hedge, Fluttershy's year old foal is perched on her back, cautiously watching the action from behind one of Fluttershy's wings. Each greet him with quick nuzzles before going back to watching the entrance.

Applejack and Pinkie Pie make their way to the side, joining three other mares who also foaled today. Carrot Top and Amethyst Star follow Applejack and Pinkie, continuing to chat, Pomarbo grateful to get away from the crowd while Meringue looks around at the new faces. Near them is the party for the fillies and foals born that day; none of his are wearing the colorful birthday hats, though Applebaum and Lemon are excited for the event tomorrow, when they will get to be the star of the show.

Today, though, it is Diamond Tiara's turn to wear the hat. Spoiled Rich is standing nearby, chatting with Silver Set and Time Turner. Silver Spoon and the Apple trio - Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo - are each dancing to the music as Diamond Tiara glides between them, trying out different moves as the song comes to an end.

"Okay," the pink earth pony announces, "That was... acceptable. But, you three need to work on your timing." The three Apple fillies glance at each other as Diamond Tiara continues, "You were in time with each other, but not with the music. I made it work, but you'll have to focus on that."

Sweetie Belle says, "Okay, DT, you got it." Diamond Tiara gives a big smile, walking over to the turntable to prepare the next song.

Scootaloo rolls her eyes, another round of glances between the trio; Scootaloo gives a quiet sigh to Sweetie Belle, "It's only for today, right?"

Sweetie Belle gives a half-hearted grin, "Yeah, well, and every day after that, too." Scootaloo gives a grim nod as the two move into position for the next song.

Silver Spoon moves over to Apple Bloom, quietly saying, "Hey, don't worry about it. I didn't think it was that bad. Just DT being DT, you know?"

"Yeah, Ah know," Apple Bloom says, a quick glance to Spoiled Rich. "But, what can you do, ya know? The next song starts, the trio doing their best to follow Silver Set as the music blares, a quick dance beat. Another cheer echoes from the front of the store as the last of the mares expected to foal today walks through the doors. Doug watches the earth pony mare, a pinto colt happily riding her back, make her way through the crowd of ponies. She spots him as the ponies gathered at the front break up, returning to their herds and celebrating the new life.

"Aye-up, Doug," she says in a Cockney accent, a hint of a smirk as she glances at Pomarbo and Meringue. "Two more mouths to feed?"

"The more the merrier," Doug says, winking, "I hope everypony has been treating you well, Jay."

Jay Squeak glances around, getting close as the accent drops, "Can't complain, though I am sad I need to leave for a spell. Back to Trottingham for a year or two. You know how the job can get to you, right?"

Doug slowly nods, "Yup. Better to stay safe and sane, take breaks when needed, right?" He motions to the northwest, "I have to do the same from time to time as well."

Jay Squeak glances at Fluttershy, the mare engrossed with her foal, then to Rainbow Dash, the pegasus watching her carefully. Jay looks back to Doug, her brown maned colt giving a happy wave to everypony, "Well, it's been a pleasure. Good day."

Jay walks off as Rainbow moves over to Doug, asking, "So, who was that? Don't see many pinto coats around."

"Jay. Just saw her a couple times around town. Came over to the house once." Doug shrugs, "Can't say much more about it."

"Oh, okay." Rainbow and Doug walk to the foal section, spotting Rarity chatting with Spoiled Rich.

Silver Set comes up to Doug, the white mare smiling and saying, "So, Doug, how has the party been so far?" She glances at Rainbow, a slight flick of the head; the pegasus takes the hint, walking to join Rarity and watch the foals dancing. Silver Set says, "So, Doug, thought more on what you wanted to do for Applejack? Five years is a pretty big number."

"Well, she's never been that big on spectacle. And I was debating combining it with something for Rarity and Rainbow, since they joined the herd not long after."

"Hmm, but Rainbow might like something grand, and Rarity definitely will be expecting something bigger. I dare say it might be better doing three separate events for each of them." Silver Set puts a hoof to her chin, considering the possibilities. "Unless you are just looking to get them a gift, as opposed to a big event."

"Yeah," Doug says, his eyes shifting to watch the party, "Never been big on large events. Probably prefer something smaller scale. So, yeah, I think a gift would be best. Probably something small; I'm thinking something like a silver setting in the shape of their cutie mark with a gem the color of their coat."

Silver Set smiles, "If you can get the gems in the next couple of days I should be able to put that together in time. I think it would be very nice." She glances at each of the mares, getting another look at their cutie marks. She remarks, "Filthy prefers the more intimate settings as well, though he has to get out there for the store. Leave it to Spoiled for the big parties."

Spoiled Rich walks over, a glance to Silver Set before her eyes settle on Doug. "Good afternoon, Doug," she says after a pause, "I thought I heard my name. Looking to throw a large party, full of upper crust types? Doesn't seem like your type."

Doug shakes his head, "No, that would be... something else."

"Indeed." The two stare at each other for a few seconds before Spoiled Rich gives a polite nod, walking to a different section of the party. Silver Set gives an almost apologetic shrug as Amethyst Star and Applejack walk over.

"Hey, Amethyst," Doug says, the two exchanging smiles, "Applebaum is looking for a rematch."

"Any time, any place," Amethyst retorts, a nod at Rarity as the unicorn walks over. Silver Set smiles, a quick wave as she moves over to the foals.

"Yes, darling, it would be wonderful to have you over again." Rarity smiles as she looks around, her eyes resting on Doug for a little longer than the others. He gives a polite wave to the group, making his way to the refreshment table.

Amethyst Star moves closer to Applejack and Rarity, "So, I thought it went well the last time I was over, but then nothing happened. Is he looking to start something, or is he just being polite?"

Applejack and Rarity glance at each other, Rarity saying, "Well, he can be a little hard to get a read on. Especially when it comes to, well, social cues. You have to be very direct with him, most of the time, as far as what you are looking for, and he'll be direct back. If you leave it up to him he's likely to push in ways you aren't expecting, and it might not be the way he meant. Especially if you want to start something more serious, or even to keep going and go further, but that's partly because of Spoiled Rich's restriction."

"Got it." Amethyst Star smirks, "I hear he likes giving ear scratches, and they are pretty good if you five are anything to go by."

"Oh, he's as happy as a pig covered in mud when he's covered by a pony." Applejack winks at Amethyst, "Ah'd avoid asking him for anything starting in, oh, three weeks or so. Even Ah have trouble around him then, if you catch my drift."

"But before that is fair game? Hmm, might need to take him up on that," Amethyst Star says, returning the wink, the mares watching with smiles on their faces as Doug helps the foals gathering around him with their refreshments.

6 Blind Faith

February 15th, 998

A tiny form twists back and forth, weaving between the apple trees and occasional stump. The click clack of tiny wheels running over the dirt path, an orange blur passing under a sea of green. Rainbow Dash watches from high above, a slight frown crossing the cyan muzzle, clutching a superfluous stopwatch in one hoof and a clipboard in the other. A pencil sticks out from one ear, barely holding in place as she flaps up and down. She gives a decidedly unnecessary glance to the stopwatch, purely to double check of course, before writing down the final lap time for the filly.

Rainbow grins, taking the pencil, holding it away from her body. She takes a deep breath, slowly letting it out, then taking a sharp inhale while she drops the pencil. The cyan pencil, a yellow lightning bolt down one side with an orange and yellow tassel off the eraser, flutters through the air, the point aimed down and spiraling as the wind buffets it. In twenty seconds the pencil will smash into the ground, probably blunting the sharpened tip and getting a bit of dirt on the tassel.

Rainbow flies off to the side, a wide arc making an almost perfect circle, a rainbow contrail coming behind her. One eye follows the tassel, the other tracking her distance from the ground, making sure her acceleration perfectly counters gravity while maintaining a smooth curve. She grins, her filly watching the tassel fall through the air.

One hoof stretches out, the pencil seemingly barely out of reach before she tries to put on an extra burst of speed. Rainbow grits her teeth, her muscles straining as her wings beat against the air; the pencil reached its terminal velocity long ago, but the pegasus can still push herself a little more.

Her hoof reaches down, the pencil inches from the ground before her hoof grabs it, the pencil shattering from the blunt force of a hoof hitting it at two hundred miles per hour. Rainbow slows down, staring at the remains of the pencil in what might be construed by some less awesome pony as disbelief before she stomps a hoof in frustration. That's the third pencil this week! There must be something wrong with the pencils Doug uses to stock his office.

Scootaloo rides over, the filly breathing heavily as she dumps her brown scooter to the ground. She watches curiously as pieces of lead and wood flit from Rainbow's hoof, blowing away in the wind. The two pegasi watch in silence before Scootaloo remarks, "So, that was really cool, right up until the end."

"Yeah, I've gotten just about all my flight back. Still need to work a little on acceleration, I had to put more in at the end than I would have liked. And then, since I was devoting myself to speed I couldn't make the... um... momentum manipulation and inertial dampeners work right." Rainbow sighs, looking back at her wings, awkwardly rubbing her hoof against her mane, "I'll be really happy once I get my full magic back. A midair rescue would be pretty terrible if you just bisected the pony instead of saving them."

Scootaloo rubs her mane, "Yeah, that, um, that would be bad. So, what's momentum?"

Rainbow cocks an eye at Scootaloo, "You don't know what momentum is?" At the filly's sigh and head shake Rainbow grunts, "What do they teach you in school?"

"Life cycle stuff. Like how water rains down on the ground and helps the crops grow. How to figure out the right amount, and what happens to the water once it lands, like why rivers are there."

Rainbow deadpans, "So, farming."

"Yeah. Farming." Scootaloo kicks at the dirt, her tiny wings briefly fluttering before resting against her sides.

Rainbow grumbles to herself as she looks around the apple orchard the two are practicing in, eventually sighing and saying, "Well, not gonna bash farming, not where Applejack might hear me, but we gotta get you learning about the important stuff. So, momentum. Momentum. Let's see here." Rainbow taps a hoof against her chin, then her head, vainly trying to jog her memory. "Momentum. So, I know it has to do with pushing things around. And speed."

Scootaloo looks at Rainbow with a smile, slowly turning to a frown moving as Rainbow lands and starts drawing in the dirt. Scootaloo walks over, looking at the rough picture of a pegasus, an arrow pointing in one direction. Then comes the Wonderbolts with Rainbow's cutie mark leading the formation, lines waving away from each of them to show they are going really really fast. Scootaloo glances up; Rainbow notices, giving a sheepish grin and swiping at the dirt with a hoof. Scootaloo grunts, "So, you were talking about momentum."

"Oh yeah! Momentum. Like, speed. And weight. I think?" Rainbow huffs, "I can't explain this stuff, I just know it! Like, if I'm trying to catch this pencil," she holds up the tassel, all that remains of the pencil she 'caught', "I need to know how much to push it in order to avoid shattering it."

Scootaloo stares at the tassel, "Like you just did."

Rainbow gives a nervous laugh, "Heh, yeah, like I did." She stares at the tassel for a few seconds, a heavy sigh as she glances to Canterlot, snapping back to look at Scootaloo, a drawn out, "Anyway. So, that's momentum. You'll use some of that when you push yourself around on your scooter. After all, it's easier to push a light object around than a heavy one, right?"

Scootaloo nods, a little excitement in her voice, "Yeah."

"Okay, so, you can do the same thing with yourself, to a limited extent." Rainbow pauses, looking at her wings and giving a frustrated grunt, "Actually, never mind. Um, we should probably focus on something else."

"What? That sounded interesting, though!"

"Well, you see, you'd need to split your magic between that and flying, and... um..." Rainbow trails off, rubbing the side of her head and looking to the ground.

Scootaloo rolls her eyes, "Come on, dam, I know I won't be able to fly like you. But, I can still use that moment thing when I'm on my scooter, right?"

Rainbow's eyes light up, "Hey, yeah, that's right! So, let's see, momentum. Momentum." Scootaloo huffs, Rainbow saying exasperatedly to herself, "Come on, Rainbow, if you needed an egghead to explain something you'd go to the library. Or ask Doug. And you don't. You got this!" She turns, smiling at Scootaloo who gives a nervous smile back. "Okay, step one for your training! We're going to run into an apple tree."

Scootaloo's eyes bug out, looking around at the apple trees around them. "Um, is Applejack going to be okay with that?"

"Nah, it'll be fine. Watch!" Rainbow takes off, flying with her hooves pointed at the tree. Scootaloo winces, turning her head to the side as Rainbow smacks the tree with a loud bang. The crack of wood splintering echoes through the trees, a dazed Rainbow staggering over to Scootaloo. "See? Nothing to it." She wobbles a little more, shaking her head to try to clear the stars from her eyes.

Scootaloo raises an eyebrow, "Um, are you sure that's momentum?"

Rainbow nods, "Well, if you want an explain to egghead it then go ask your sire. Or something."

Applejack walks over, glancing at Rainbow before inspecting the tree she ran into. Apple Bloom is following close behind, watching her dam give a short glare to Rainbow. The earth pony mare says, "Okay, Apple Bloom, sometimes a tree will be damaged by a storm, or wildlife."

"Hey!" Rainbow calls, still a little woozy, "I resem... um... resent. Yes! I resent that remark!"

Applejack rolls her eyes, turning back to the tree, "And you'll need to use a bit of magic to help the healing process along. Now, go ahead and put your hooves up on the tree."

"Ah huh." Apple Bloom rests her hooves against the tree, closing her eyes and concentrating on the damaged section.

Applejack moves over to Rainbow as she says, "Now, try to focus on the tree and where it's hurting." Applejack stares at Rainbow, the pegasus looking back impassively. "Fortunately Bloomington the Second has pretty strong bark, or Rainbow might have gone halfway through and gotten stuck. Again."

"Hey, that only happened the one time!" Rainbow pouts, crossing her forelegs, "And it all worked out."

"Eeyup," Applejack says, a wink at Rainbow, the pegasus rolling her eyes, "Doug liked having to come out here and help, too. Now, what in tarnation made you want to charge one of my trees?"

"Well, I'm trying to explain momentum manipulation to Scootaloo. And a big part of that is cancelling out your speed when you hit something!"

"First off, that's not momentum. Not in the way you want it to mean. And you should start with something softer, like a pillow, if you want to practice that."

"Ugh," Rainbow moans, glancing to Scootaloo, "Okay, follow me." Scootaloo hops back on her scooter, the two heading back to the farmhouse as Applejack coaches Apple Bloom, the mare slowly getting more and more frustrated at Apple Bloom's lack of progress.

Rainbow opens the door, Scootaloo following inside. Rainbow pops into Doug's office, the human hard at work during the hot noon hours, Applebaum reading a book in the corner. Rainbow says, "I need a new pencil," as she snuggles next to him, her best puppy dog eyes on display.

"Another one?" Doug says, sliding out a box full of Wonderbolt themed pencils. He pulls one out, holding it up; Rainbow swipes at it, yelping as he pulls it out of her reach. She smirks, going down and getting ready to pounce as he says, "What happened to the last one?"

"Occupational hazard," Rainbow says as Doug hops out of his chair, his body lowering to a wrestling stance. "Demonstrating how a pegasus manipulates her target in order to safely execute a midair rescue." She pounces, aiming her hooves at his hand holding the pencil.

Doug grunts as Rainbow slams into him, one hand pushing against her shoulder while his legs dig into the wooden floor, trying to keep his back from pressing against the wall. Rainbow's hind legs push, toppling the two over and leaving Rainbow on top of Doug, one foreleg trapped between them and the other held against her side by his arm. She grins, her muzzle moving closer and closer to his face. Doug says, trying to keep his hold on the pencil, "And, what exactly happened to the last pencil?"

"Exploded." Rainbow moves down, a quick kiss before she starts pushing towards his outstretched arm, the pencil locked in her sights. "Like I said, occupational hazard."

Doug grunts as Rainbow pushes him down, her mouth finding the pencil. She looks over at Doug, a long wink as she takes half of the pencil between her lips, her tongue slightly poking out of her mouth as he lets go. Scootaloo moans from the doorway, "I'm not getting another sister now, am I? I wanted to learn about momentum."

Rainbow rolls her eyes, getting to her hooves and offering Doug a foreleg. "No, Scoots, not this time," as she pulls him up. "We were talking about momentum before, and Applejack suggested training with some pillows instead of apple trees."

"Ouch," Doug says as Rainbow rubs her muzzle, "Yeah, lighter things are easier to move around. And hurt less when they run into you. But, you can actually catch something when you're going really fast?"

"Well, sure," Rainbow says, motioning for Scootaloo to come over as she squats down, Applebaum looking up from her book with an excited look. "It'd be kinda hard to do a midair rescue otherwise. I mean, the g forces alone would knock out a pony who isn't ready for it."

Doug nods, making a curve with his hand, "Yeah, I remember seeing you make some incredibly tight corners, back when I first got here, that honestly should not be possible."

"Yeah! Um, maybe you can help me explain this," Rainbow says, a smile breaking out on Doug's face. "I mean, not the magic part, probably, but showing what would normally happen. With momentum and whatnot."

"Sure, I mean, this is all physics, right? Mass and motion?"

"Wait, that's what physics is?" Rainbow looks confused for a second, "Huh. Maybe I shouldn't have slept through that class. Not like I needed it, though!"

Scootaloo rolls her eyes as Doug slowly nods and says, "Sure. So, you want to throw some numbers in there or just talk in generalities?"

Rainbow considers for a second before saying, "So, I could perform a sonic rainboom. That's going, um, over seven hundred miles per hour. And it takes a really long time to turn, normally, but if I pour a lot of magic into it I can corner on a bit."

Doug twirls another pencil, "Yeah, so, a lot of things don't work well with zeroes, and the number you get will vary greatly by how close to zero you actually are. But with magic, all that kind of goes out the window."

"Yeah, like I said, I can turn on a bit, multiple times in a row if I have to, but my speed stays the same."

Doug shakes his head, mouthing 'magic' before he nods, looking at the two fillies. He pulls out a piece of paper, writing along, "Generalities it is, at least until we have some of the basics down. So, normally, your speed is how fast you are going. Your velocity is your speed, but in a particular direction. To accelerate, you change your velocity, either in direction, or in magnitude, or how big it is."

Scootaloo gets a somewhat spaced look, mirroring her dam, as Applebaum looks on excitedly. Doug continues, "Turning on a bit - and I've seen Rainbow do it, making a right angle contrail - is incredibly hard. Without magic, the acceleration required is massive. You need to completely decelerate your speed in one direction and then accelerate in another direction. You can do that simultaneously, or at the same time, but then you have an arc instead of a right angle. A circle, or a piece of it, like a curve."

Rainbow nods, "Yeah, that's not what happens. I just decide to go in a certain direction, and burn some magic, and there I am! It's practically required for some stunts and fog obstacles courses." Rainbow glances over as Scootaloo gives a dejected sigh, "Hey there, sport, it's okay."

"Uh, yeah!" Scootaloo says, a bit too much passion in her voice. "I'm fine, Rainbow!"

Doug shakes his head, "Yeah, I don't know how much we'd be able to figure out, at least without a lot of testing, but there are a lot of things that you can do without magic." Applebaum looks very interested, moving closer to look at Doug's drawings. Scootaloo hesitates, torn between pushing her dam to give her more practical training and finding out more about the non magic side of things. The three ponies settle down as Doug begins going into the math behind the equations. Scootaloo rubs her head, her brain already starting to hurt a little as Rainbow begins softly snoring next to her.

7 Greed's Folly

February 25th, 998

"Come now, Sweetie Belle. You haven't been doing that badly," Rarity says, holding up the last of the playing cards.

"It's no use, Dam," Sweetie Belle laments, looking at the cards spread out on the floor in front of her. "I'm not getting any better at it. And I never will." She turns her head, a heavy grunt as her hoof swipes to the side, scattering the small pile of cards in front of her. She sits down on her rump, her front hooves crossing against her chest, heaving up and down as she breathes heavily.

"That's not true at all, darling." Rarity puts a hoof around her filly, squeezing tightly and wrapping her in a hug. "You've been making excellent progress. How long did it take you to get through the whole deck of cards before?" Rarity's horn lights, the deck of cards organizing into a neat pile between the two.

Sweetie Belle huffs, "Too long. Even Snips and Snails are faster than me." Her horn lights, one of the cards slowly levitating. It wobbles a bit, then flops off to the side as another card levitates, the filly giving up with a dejected sigh, the two cards dropping to the floor.

"You have to learn to do things for yourself, Sweetie Belle," Rarity says, replacing the two cards to the top of the pile. "You aren't going to reach your full potential if all you do is compare yourself to those who are doing better. You have to focus on how much better you are compared to yesterday."

"But that's what you do all the time, Rarity. You're always looking at what the fashion ponies out in Canterlot are doing, in those fashion magazines. And you get lots of inspiration for your designs by listening to input from other ponies and what they like." Sweetie Belle sighs, "And I'm always going to be last, all the other ponies in front of me." She shakes her head, "I'll be in my room, if you want to give me another role model to lag behind."

"Sweetie Belle," Rarity pleads, her filly walking out of her grasp, "Come now, dearest, let's not be too hasty here." She watches as Sweetie Belle leaves the room, a heavy sigh escaping her lips. "Some days," she says to herself, "I wish things were a little different."

Rarity slowly walks up to her room, one heavy step after another. She glances to the side as the door to Sweetie Belle's room slams shut, the lack of green aura a sad reminder of the struggle the filly is going through. Rarity makes her way to the master bedroom; the combination of study, designing area, and place for night activities is always in a perpetual state of organized chaos. Just the sort of place where she can lose herself to her inspiration. Her art has always helped before, when times are trying, and she gazes longingly at one of the half finished dresses on a ponnequin. Maybe if she tries reversing the color scheme, that would make it pop out a little bit more, but she is having a very difficult time working with the indigenous fabric.

"Ugh," Rarity wails, an exasperated cry as her pencil levitates down, her rage and disappointment taken out on the piece of paper in front of her. Nothing seems to be working, and twenty minutes later she tosses yet another crumpled paper into her wastebasket. It bounces off the stack of crumpled papers already inside, slowly rolling to a halt several feet away. Rarity groans, levitating the contents of the entire trash basket and compacting it, pressing it back into the wastebasket, and giving a frustrated grunt when three of the crumpled papers fall out. Apparently that trick only works so many times.

Rarity opens her desk drawer; she mutters to herself, "Oh, if only I was a Princess, married to a Prince, none of this would be a problem. Isn't that right, my Prince... Charming?" she stutters, reading through the poetry on her picture of Prince Blueblood. She gets to the signature and grimaces, a voice at the back of her mind telling her that if Prince Blueblood was the sire of Sweetie Belle instead of Doug, none of this would be an issue.

The other part of her mind immediately chides herself; she already has a devoted stallion in her life, a filly with him, and a herd with each member content with and dedicated to every other. She can't live her life through fantasy, thinking of a dream that will never be a reality. For why would Prince Blueblood deign to notice a common unicorn like herself, a beautiful jade hidden away in this geode of an earth pony town?

She grimaces; she can't even keep her fantasies from her recriminations about having fantasies.

But it's not like there are a lot of unicorn stallions around town, just looking for eligible mares to lead them, then or now; well, unicorns she could see herself with. Puppy Dog only got popular after he sired two colts in a row, and Rarity wouldn't have joined with him even if he could have promised her a colt as well. There weren't even unicorn stallions looking to add more members to their herd at the time! Probably why ending up with Doug in the first place was... well, not as unattractive as it might have been, if she had other options. Not that she would leave Doug or the herd, not at this point. It's not like her standing in the town was even affected that much, judging by her continued lack of steady business. Just enough to stay afloat, but never enough to hit it big or attract the attention of the trendsetters. Mm, Trenderhoof, now there is a unicorn who can put a place on the map! And he could certainly find a place on her.

Rarity shakes her head, dispelling another idle fantasy. But, where did this signed copy come from? While she could see Rainbow pulling a prank like this, the pegasus rarely, if ever, goes through her stuff, so how would she have known? Same with Applejack, and Pinkie Pie would never do something this hurtful, playing on her insecurities like this. Doug hardly ever leaves town, much less goes to Canterlot. Even if he did, he'd have to make his way into the noble's court, and somehow pry Prince Blueblood away from the many sycophants always crowding around him. Wait, Doug had mentioned Prince Blueblood had been there during his expedition; had Doug managed to get the signed copy from him then?

But, why would Prince Blueblood have been in Vanhoover? And, what, Doug had somehow managed to get the Prince away from the many mares only interested in climbing the social ladder just to sign this photo? Not like her, she would catch the Prince's attention immediately, and after their whirlwind romance she would be utterly devoted to him, and him to her, and-

Rarity's head thuds into her desk. No, that ship sailed long ago, if it ever even came to harbor. The picture falls back into the desk drawer as Rarity pulls the trash bag downstairs, her hoofsteps heavy in the empty Boutique. She just needs something to take her mind off of this situation with Sweetie Belle. She looks outside, her hope dashed as nothing can be seen through the storm. Not even any customers to break the monotony of the dreary day. Rain is falling, a heavy, ever present thudding coating the town in yet another layer of mud. Rarity moves up to the window, staring out; the landscape undisturbed by anypony walking about, going to stores, or even frolicking about the road outside, singing as they dance from storefront to storefront. Except for that one cloaked figure, slowly plodding his way here.

Rarity moans; why did he have to come here now? Her hooves cover her head, shying away from the open window. She turns, to start her way upstairs, maybe make herself a little more presentable when the door opens, the bell chiming merrily. Rarity glances back to the open door, Doug shedding his coat and boots, smiling initially as he notices her.

A touch of worry in his voice as he makes his way to her, his mouth turning to a frown, "Rarity? You doing okay?" He kneels down, his hand going to her mane as she turns away, trying to hide the tears in her eyes. His arm wraps around, pulling her in close for a tight hug as her head turns into his chest.

Rarity sobs, a halting confession, "Doug, you know that I love you. And I have always been faithful to you, and to the herd."

Doug slowly nods, his hand rubbing up and down her mane, a slightly confused look on his face. She can feel the hairs being pushed out of place, her perfect coiffure a pathetic mask for the shallowness underneath. She feels him going in for a kiss, another undeserved affection; she turns her head, his lips instead finding the side of her neck.

He sighs, one hand holding her tight as he sits down on the floor, the other reaching for her flank. She gives a light gasp as he grips her, rotating her so her back is resting in his lap, her hooves pawing at nothing, her tail uncomfortably bent around his leg. She feels her back side lift, and his hand gently pulls her tail to the side, only slightly ruining the curl as it lays against him.

She looks to the side, a little embarrassed at the exposed position as his hand moves to her belly, resting between her hind legs, fingernails lightly scratching and twisting around her fur. He quietly whispers, "Rarity, what is this about?" She gives the barest hint of a glance to her desk, the picture contained within, before she looks back at him, worry streaking across her face. "Is it the picture of Prince Blueblood?"

Rarity raises an eyebrow, "So it was you?" At his slight nod her hoof pushes against him, her voice raising, "It was you! How dare you!"

Doug sighs, his hands pausing their motions, his eyes briefly closing, "Yes, Rarity. I have a bit of a confession to make. It was me, and-"

"Well, I suppose it can't hardly be any worse than mine," Rarity deadpans, her eyes glaring at his. "Even if you started sleeping with Amethyst Star, it would just be part of the dating experience. Right?" A dejected sigh, "Even sleeping with Silver Set would be acceptable, all you'd have to do is get Spoiled and Filthy's approval." She swipes at him, fuming, "And I can't even have one lousy picture without you turning me into some kind of deplorable monster!"

Doug stares at her for a few seconds, "Um, I don't know where you got that idea in your mind, but I think you'd know if I was dating Amethyst Star, much less sleeping with her. And-"

Rarity cuts him off, an icy, "Oh, well, then just forget I said anything. That's what you'd like, isn't it?"

"Rarity, what brought this on?" At her silent glare he sighs, "It's the picture of Prince Blueblood, isn't it? I'm sorry I pulled that prank on you. It was terribly insensitive, and after I did it I thought a lot about what that picture means."

"Well, you should be sorry." Rarity huffs, "What were you thinking?"

Doug nods, "Well, it has to do with that picture of Prince Blueblood."

Rarity slowly nods her head, "So, you knew about that."

"Of course. I don't know how many times I glanced past it when I was cleaning your things."

"And you didn't say anything? Or care?" Rarity turns her head, no longer looking at Doug, staring at the wall instead.

Doug shrugs, "Well, it bothered me a little initially, I guess, but not enough to really do anything. I didn't really see the harm in it."

Rarity rolls her eyes as she looks back at him, a sarcastic, "Oh, well, that's just fantastic, I suppose. Would you care if I left entirely? Or, what if I just invited Prince Blueblood to buck me. Perhaps we could do it in Sweetie Belle's room, since all you care about is whether or not you are getting any?"

Doug's hand twitches, and he takes a deep breath before responding, "Both of those would hurt me deeply, Rarity. Why would you think otherwise?"

"Because I never see that side of you. It doesn't bother you that I have a picture of the most alluring stallion in all of Equestria in my possession? And not only that, I look at regularly, and sometimes fantasize about how much life would be better if I was with him, rather than stuck in this no account town with you?" For a split second Rarity's eyes go wide as she realized what she just admitted to.

Just as quickly Rarity's anger returns as Doug responds, "Is that what you want, Rarity?" Doug asks, his voice raising. "Do you want me to not trust you, to have to lock you away because you can't control yourself?"

Rarity yells, "Well, it wouldn't hurt to see how much you care from time to time. After all, who wants a stallion who is fine with his mares gallivanting off with whoever they desire?"

"Mama?" A hesitant voice comes from upstairs; the two look up to see Sweetie Belle, tears in her eyes, standing at the top of the stairs. "Is Daddy not going to come around any more?"

Rarity's voice instantly loses her anger, "Dearest, you don't need to worry about that," rolling to her hooves and walking up the stairs. She smiles at Sweetie Belle, "Your sire and I were just having a... discussion about proper roles in the family."

"Oh." Sweetie Belle stares at Doug as he stands, moving next to Rarity, his face neutral. "So, you weren't having an argument."

Doug says in a firm voice, "Yes, Sweetie Belle. We were having an argument." Rarity huffs, glaring at the wall as he bends down to look Sweetie Belle in the eyes, "But that doesn't mean that your dam and I are breaking up. We're just letting each other know how we are feeling, so that we can find a way to work past it." He glances over at Rarity, rubbing her mane; she resists his light pull initially, then grudgingly moves next to him, "And maybe we are both being a little louder than we should."

"Okay." Sweetie Belle moves over, nuzzling Rarity and then Doug, "I don't want a new daddy anyway." She walks back to her room, pausing outside the door, the three exchanging smiles.

Rarity and Doug moves back downstairs, Rarity sitting on her own until Doug sits next to her, his hand on her side. "Well," he says, taking a long time to work through his words, as if he is struggling against the concept himself, "What I was originally thinking about, before we got a little... excited about our discussion. So, Applejack had told me, oh, a year ago or so, that apparently sometimes a herd will have two stallions in it."

Rarity raises an eyebrow at Doug, "Yes, well, that is because the stallions... how do I say this..."

Doug rolls his eyes, "Yes, I know why it normally happens. And I'm happy with how things are in the herd, you don't need to worry about that."

"Okay, then, why are you bringing it up?"

Doug sighs, motioning towards Sweetie Belle, "Because I see how much trouble Sweetie Belle is having. And Scootaloo, and you and Rainbow Dash. Even Applejack and her fillies, they aren't faring too much better. And I know it won't do anything for them, but sometimes I wonder what might be best for the herd, if we did want to continue adding new members. Whether it would be better for everypony if there was, well, a pony for you all."

"Oh, Doug," Rarity says, nuzzling his side, "I don't know if I should hit you or kiss you. How do you possibly expect me to make a decision like this?"

Doug shrugs, "Well, I figured I'd get a say in it as well; I wouldn't do this for just any stallion, you know? And Prince Blueblood, well, he seems like quite the catch."

Rarity looks up at the ceiling, not expecting a response to her rhetorical question. "And you're okay with this?" At Doug's uncertain nod Rarity continues, "Well, um, if we were to go through with something like this, I would certainly need to get the approval of the entire herd. After all, I would be inviting him to potentially join with each of them, especially if we are doing this primarily for new foals." She nuzzles into his side, looking up at him, "And I assure you, I would never consider splintering off, to form a new herd with Prince Blueblood or whichever stallion we are looking to add to the herd. Although if we are only doing it for new foals..."

Doug looks over as Rarity trails off, "What are you thinking about?"

"Well, I like how our herd is. I like the dynamic we have between all of us, and I'm afraid a new stallion might ruin that. Even if it is a pony as desirable as Prince Blueblood." Rarity sighs, "That's the problem with fantasies, isn't it? There are so many parts that just get glossed over and ignored, merely focusing on the fun parts and none of the difficult."

"Oh, that's when your fantasies end too?" Doug smirks as Rarity swipes at him again, a smile on her muzzle. "I wonder if it might be better to do something similar to what Princess Cadance was willing to settle with. Studding, as opposed to joining the herd."

Rarity nods, "I think that would be a better option; though, the more I think about it and as we talk about it the more unhappy I am with it. Both with studding and the potential option to add a stallion." She glances up at Doug, "After all, Princess Celestia and Princess Cadance are confident that our grandfoals would be healthy, closer to normal as far as magic is concerned." She sighs, resting her body against his side, "And, even if we were to go through with this, and I'm not as sure that we should, we would definitely need to make sure that they are worthy. Now, how do we do that?"

Doug shrugs, "Probably talk about it as a herd? Go on a date with him? Can't be too different than thinking about whatever colt one of the fillies decides to bring home." He smirks, "Well, it's probably going to be closer to what happens when Sweetie Belle brings home, I dunno, a Diamond Dog or something."

Rarity laughs, "Now I know you're messing with me. A Diamond Dog? Why, the only way they'd be able to get a pony to stay with them is to foalnap her! Honestly, at least pick a reasonable example."

Doug grabs onto Rarity, the mare giving a quick yelp as he rolls her to her back, splaying himself on top. "I don't know," he whispers into her ear, "I managed to foalnap quite the beauty myself."

"Oh, dear," Rarity smirks up at him, "Good thing I'm not in heat or Sweetie Belle would have a new sister to share her room with." She grins as he nips her neck, going for a kiss as he lifts her up, her moans against his heavy footsteps as he carries her to the master bedroom. Sweetie Belle pokes her head out from behind her door, a slight roll of her eyes before smiling as the two disappear into the master bedroom.

8 Echoes of Witchcraft

April 1st, 998

Doug shoulders the pack, a fairly light one just packed for the day trip. He taps on the door to the master bedroom at the Carousel Boutique, a quick succession in no particular order, the door opening at the light touch. He peeks through the doorway, spotting Rarity as she glances up from her desk. "Sure you don't want to go?" he asks, a quick glance to the south of Ponyville.

"Yes, darling, and thank you for asking." Rarity sighs, getting up from her desk. "Somepony needs to hold down the store, and Sweetie Belle isn't old enough yet to do any more than take orders and run the register."

"Hey, that might be enough," Doug says as he kneels down, a quick hug for the unicorn. "She's probably at school though, isn't she."

"Yes, and doing well, especially since I don't pull her out of class every so often to work on her flight." Rarity shakes her head, "Some days I worry about what Rainbow is doing to that filly. Maybe she's still holding out hope that Scootaloo will be able to follow in her hoofsteps."

"Something like that, yup. Probably figures that Scootaloo isn't getting a job in... oh, what are they studying now, the background of the different cities? Not going to get a job as a historian."

"Indeed. In any case, I need to get back to work, and you should be leaving soon. Say hello to Shav for me." Rarity reaches up, a quick kiss before she heads back to her desk.

"Sure thing. See you tomorrow, Rares." Doug waves, his hand quickly shutting the door behind him as Rarity waves back. He heads out of the Boutique, crossing the bridge to the south, continuing along the dirt road until it reaches the train tracks. The Everfree Forest eerily looms to his left, dark and foreboding even in the bright morning sun. "Hmm," he talks to himself, walking next to the train tracks, "I know the Diamond Dogs settled around here, what, a mile south of the town? So, it should be somewhere around here."

He looks to the right, the trees all starting to look the same. He looks back to the left, a wary eye watching the Everfree for any of those timber wolves that had attacked Fluttershy. His hand nervously goes to the ax loosely strapped to his pack, though even that would likely do little if they attacked as a group. Much better off running from them, hoping to get to safety fast enough. Or at least a position where he wouldn't get flanked as easily. He looks back to the right; the trees are too thick to maneuver through easily, and he definitely doesn't want to get lost in there.

The clearing the Diamond Dogs settled in should be coming up any minute now, the light from the sun illuminating more as it gets higher in the sky. Doug focuses again on the Everfree, a startled gasp as he sees a brown form walking through the forest, occasionally hidden behind one tree before reappearing several trees ahead.

His hand goes back, unstrapping the ax, grasping the wooden shaft near the sharpened metal head. It is difficult to make out, the creature lurking behind those trees; it has a vaguely equine shape, but it could also be a wolf, the magic of the Everfree playing tricks on his eyes. And nopony would be suicidal enough to venture into the Everfree. Well, besides his foals, but he doubts that message will ever get through to them until something terrible happens.

Doug glances back to the west, trying to stay as far from the Everfree as he can while still remaining out of an easy ambush from the woods to his right. The timber wolves aren't exactly restricted to the Everfree Forest, after all. He glances back, trying to find the brown figure in the shadows, growing more and more nervous when he can't find it.

A voice comes from in front of Doug, the human startling back, "I've heard a wand'rer in these lands. You must be the one with hands." The brown figure steps out from behind one of the trees, a smirk as she pulls back the cowl of her brown full body cloak.

Doug says, "Oh jeez," as he backs up a little, raising the ax and pointing it at her, "You're not a timber wolf."

"Like you, I wear coats as a second skin. I am afraid, it must look quite foreign." The cloak pulls off even more, revealing a white and two-tone-gray equine figure, golden bands around her neck and foreleg. "Zecora is my chosen name, potion craft my claim to fame."

"I'm Doug," the human replies tentatively, "I work in Ponyville." He glances around, the sounds of the forest and woods echoing around them. He clips his ax back to his pack, continuing to walk down the train tracks and saying, "I'm a human; you are?"

"I hail from far, the Zebrican plains, and venture for the many gains." She gives a quiet sigh, "Though even after years of entering here? Always they regard me with so much fear."

"Yeah, I didn't exactly get a great reception either." Doug raises a hand to his chin, a slight smirk, "So, I can't help but notice, but you have a great gift for rhyme."

Zecora smirks back, "Yes, yes, some of the time. I find it makes life more sublime. What brings you out so far away today? I think this is a ways out of your way."

"Meeting up with some old friends; been a few years since I've seen them, and I'm kind of interested in how things are going."

"Ah, the ones who hope to make it big? I too go to the dogs who dig."

Doug nods, spotting the clearing up ahead. "So, you come to Ponyville often, or to see the Diamond Dogs?"

"Once a month I come and go, more frequent should my stocks get low. The Diamond Dogs, more time may pass, less frequent need I rocks and glass."

The two enter the clearing, mostly grass, rocks, and dirt. There are no signs that any creatures live in the area, a frown spreading on Doug's face. "So, um, this is my first time here. Any special way to get their attention?"

"Some days they greet when I arrive, rarely waiting more than five. Other times, I must knock; upon this, slab of rock." Zecora moves to one of the small boulders, striking her hoof against it three times. Doug turns, looking around him and trying to spot any of the arriving Diamond Dogs.

After a minute he looks back; Zecora has a peaceful look on her face, her body held calm and still. A rumble underneath Doug's feet causes him to look down, squinting at the small pebbles as they shake back and forth near his toes. "Um, is that-" he cuts off as he looks to the side, Zecora no longer standing there. "Hello?"

The ground underneath Doug splits open, two large paws grabbing onto the human and dragging down. The world goes black as he disappears under the surface, desperately staving off his fight-or-flight instinct, merely hoping that whatever is capturing him has good intentions. Not like he could dig himself out, as they seem to be going down very quickly, a large amount of dirt finding its way around him and filling the hole behind them.

After fifteen seconds Doug stops moving, the sounds of scuffling around him. "Hello?" he says, a hesitant look around the pitch black room. He holds his hand in front of his face, not able to see anything at all except for the false pinpoints of light his mind imagines.

"What? Doug, you no recognize me?" a somewhat familiar voice says, Doug trying to locate the source in the dark.

"Kole?" Doug says, getting to a seated position and trying to look around.

"Yes! Very good! But, I over here."

"Sorry, I can't see anything in this dark."

"Oh." Doug feels a paw grab his hand, Kole saying, "Follow me. Find light."

"I'm sorry, Doug, for this your plight; should have brought potion of dog-sight." Doug hears the sounds of hooves on dirt follow him as the dog yanks him to his feet. He blindly waves an arm around, trying to find if the ceilings are high enough or a wall to steady himself against as Kole pulls him along.

"So, Kole, how are the pups?"

"My pups or your pups?"

"Oh, congratulations! Didn't know Shav had another litter."

Doug can hear the esteem in Kole's voice, "Oh, yes, Shav make Kole very proud. Pups growing up big and strong!" After a minute of walking through twisting and turning passages Doug hears the sound of metal on metal, a red lantern lighting in front of him. Kole turns, giving Doug the lantern and finally allowing Doug to look around.

It's impossible to tell how far underground he is; he would guess it has to be a good distance, not that Doug could really say one way or the other from walking around the tunnels. The walls are rough packed dirt and stone, the occasional glint of a gemstone buried inside. Many corridors branch off from the large cavern, a good number of Diamond Dogs of all ages making their way back and forth. Doug spots Shav making her way from one of the paths, waving as she comes into the light.

"Greetings, Doug!" Shav bounds over, a quick embrace for Doug before glancing over, "And Zecora, good to see you too. I trust Kole wasn't too rough on you this time?"

"Once I learned how not to fight, the discomfort was only slight." Zecora smiles, with a wink. "A warning I not give to Doug; gladly, no harm to the big lug." Kole pats his head awkwardly, looking away with a forced smile.

"Are you talking about me or Kole?" Doug asks, Zecora only returning a wry smirk. Doug looks back to Shav, "So, yeah, definitely not the method of transportation I would normally take, but it worked. Looks like you are making a lot of progress on your home!"

"Yes! Work goes well, though the gems we find are scattered very sparsely. Makes it difficult to try to find them, especially when we dig through an area we already dug through before and a gem or two turns up. It can be hard to keep the dogs in line, as they might collapse the whole place on us if they dug freely!" Shav glances to Kole, the dog smiling and waving at the three before walking off.

Doug nervously looks to the ceiling, "I sure hope that doesn't happen while we're here. Or at all, I mean."

Shav chuckles, "Yes, me too." She looks to Zecora, "The usual?"

"A potent mixture did I draw, for tooth and gums and aching claw," Zecora says as she withdraws a package, the clink of vials against each other. "One drop will do the trick, mix water glass and drink right quick!"

"Perfect." Shav barks twice, one of the bigger Diamond Dog pups coming over, wearing a metal helmet. "Get the box for Zecora." The dog gives a quick salute, Shav turning back to Doug. "Well, they're learning quick, at least."

"That one of mine?" Doug says, motioning to the large Diamond Dog as she leaves.

"Um, no, yours are..." Shav nervously rubs the back of her head, "Yours are a little on the runt-y side of things. But, they're always coming up with ideas." She motions to Zecora, "For instance, they were the ones scouting around and found Zecora. Offered her some gems and other things we make around here in exchange for her medicines."

"A profitable exchange for both of us, for potions heal both pain and pus."

Shav nods, "They also came up with the method to bring her here. Way better protection from the monsters of the Everfree, since we don't have a big entrance we have to guard. A little harder to get in and out, but we manage easily enough." She flexes her digging claws, a few of the other dogs doing the same as they walk by. "Speaking of..."

"This is him! This is him!" A short Diamond Dog rushes over, followed by a lanky dog and a bulky dog. The three bound closer, Doug smiling at them as they try to climb up his side. The first two are met with reasonable success, able to lick Doug's face as he picks them up. The third one leaps at Doug with his arms held wide, knocking the three over. Doug laughs, rubbing their heads as they slobber all over him.

"I'm Spot," the short one says, "And this is Fido-" he points to the lanky one "-and this is Rover." The bulky dog gives a wave, slowly taking his weight off the human.

"I'm Doug, as I'm sure you know. Nice to meet you all."

"Yes, it's been good, living here with uncle Kole and Brutus. Is Doug staying with us now?"

Doug shakes his head as Shav says, "No, Doug won't be staying, he is just here to visit. Now, you three, you have work to do." Shav pulls two of them off, Rover slowly getting off by himself. The three dogs wave, quick barks as they continue with their work. "So, want a quick tour of the place? Unfortunately, not a lot to see except for tunnels."

"Um, sure, if you want. I came to see you, see how things are going, but if you are looking to trade then I'm sure we can set something up. I know Rarity is often looking for more gems to use in her work."

The Diamond Dog returns, holding a rough wooden box. She gives it to Zecora, the zebra taking it with a smile and placing it in her saddlebags.

Shav says, "Hmm, I think we should be able to get enough gems for your mate, especially if she comes here to assist in locating them." Shav turns to Zecora, "Are you ready to leave now?"

"I too would like a tour of this place, as I rarely see others face to face. I do not mind the walk around, as fascinating are the sights and sound."

"Suit yourself." Shav leads the two through a few of the warrens, storage rooms, and mushroom farms. There is even an underground river, the area around the flowing water reinforced with stone. They also peek in the armory, two dogs working on crafting metal helmets, breastplates and spears.

"Preparing for anything in particular?" Doug asks, looking at the spears. The contempt essence on the tip makes it extraordinarily sharp; he warily tests the tip, his light touch drawing a drop of blood.

"Timber wolves." Shav sighs, "They have become more and more numerous. The spears break them up, but only temporarily, as if we are fighting a hydra made of wood and bark."

"I have a substance you might use, presence is hidden, like a ruse." Zecora goes through her saddlebags, "I must keep two for Doug and me, but trade the rest for spear or three."

Shav looks at the bottle Zecora pulls out, "How long does each application last, and how many applications?"

"Just a light dab, to tip of snout; four hours will no scent come out. Three bottles did I bring with me. Applications? Maybe twenty three."

Shav raises an eyebrow, "Do you make up those numbers on the spot, or it'll actually work about a hundred hours?"

"Broken over many uses, you see; but yes, that's right, approximately."

"Deal." Shav moves over, grabbing three of the spears, the two blacksmiths on duty looking over at her as she wraps the spear tips in a heavy cloth. Zecora straps the spears to her side, pulling the stopper on one of the bottles. She carefully lifts the bottle over her head, one drop coming out and landing on her snout. Zecora motions for Doug to get down and he does, one drop coming out of the bottle and landing on his nose.

"Wow, this stuff must be really nice to have out in the Everfree." Doug rubs his nose, the liquid spreading around like a balm.

"It is a potent strength, indeed, that I make with blue flower seed." Zecora looks over to Shav, "Sadly, I feel that I must now depart, or timber wolves might rend my flesh from heart."

"Wouldn't want that to happen. Hmm, I guess I can dig you out. Who wants to go first?"

Shav digs a tunnel for Zecora, then Doug, dragging the two to the surface. "Thanks, Shav, for everything. Glad to see things are going well!" Doug says, a wave as he looks around the clearing they started in.

"Of course, Doug. You should send over Rarity one of these days, I'm sure the pups would love to play around with her."

Doug chuckles, "Yeah, just put her to work again. I'm sure she won't mind, as long as she can keep her hooves clean."

Shav laughs, "Did we go to the same place? The whole warren is made entirely of dirt. At least there are lots of gems. Good day, Doug and Zecora." Shav waves, disappearing back under the ground.

Doug and Zecora walk a little ways before Zecora says, "It appears we must now part ways; I would like to see you in future days."

"Yeah, Zecora, I'd like that too. So, um, you live in the Everfree Forest?"

Zecora nods, "You know the path the catapillt took? Follow that path to babbling brook, go downstream to fat wide tree, and that is where you will find me."

Doug takes a deep breath, slowly letting it out as he shudders. "I don't know, I'm not sure about going into the Everfree."

"It is not right, to live in fear, not with the cause so very near. What course of action can you take, the hold of chains that bind to break?" Zecora looks towards Ponyville, then back at Doug.

Doug shrugs, "Well, we did beat the catapillt. At least, the town and Celestia did. I helped a little, I guess."

"Then special trophy should you take, to remind you that foes we make, of those that we cannot befriend, then surely they shall come to end." Zecora dons her brown cloak, waves, and disappears into the Everfree Forest.

Doug stands still for a minute, watching the trees Zecora disappeared between. He sighs, walking back to Ponyville where he stares at the large pile of rubble at the southern end of town. He walks up to it, picking out a small round stone, tossing it back and forth as he walks to Sweet Apple Acres, a smile slowly creeping along his face.

9 Deadly Rivalry

April 20th, 998

The commotion in the Apple family room temporarily subsides as a knock comes at the front door, quickly escalating back to the previous din. Nearly the entire herd is home and at play in the centrally located room; it makes it quite difficult to maneuver around unless everypony is sitting still, engaging in whatever game or conversation they have going. Rainbow and Applejack are playing Junior Ponopoly with Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo; Rarity and Applebaum are watching the five, sipping tea and eating crackers, respectively; Pinkie Pie and Lemon are popping in and out of the kitchen, delivering after-dinner snacks; Fluttershy is pushing a small toy around with Hedge and Pomarbo; Meringue is off on her own, doodling on a scrap of paper with a few crayons.

Lemon balances a tray of drinks on her back, making the delivery to the five at the Ponopoly game. She walks to the door and stretches up, barely able to reach the bar that runs across the middle. Her weight pushes the door open, revealing a smiling Amethyst Star holding a wine bottle. Lemon turns back, yelling over the rest of the ponies, "Doug! Amy is here!"

Rarity gives Lemon a reproving glare; the filly gives a smile while hunkering down a little, returning to the kitchen and out of the line of Rarity's gaze. Rarity gives Amethyst an apologetic look, saying, "I'm sorry, darling, but they sometimes forget their manners when everypony is here."

"Oh, it's not a problem," Amethyst grins, a little too much enthusiasm to cover her dislike of the chaos in front of her. Doug exits his office, making his way over to the unicorns. "Good evening, Doug! Has your day been going well?"

Doug shrugs, "Can't complain; it's been going fairly smoothly, for around here." He glances to Rarity, "Did you want to play in here, or my office?"

Rarity shakes her head, "I would much prefer somewhere quieter, where we can at least hear ourselves think." She turns back to the main room, saying, "Applebaum, come join us upstairs." The filly gets up, walking to the stairs while Rarity gets several plates of snacks for the group. She glances to Amethyst Star, "Did you bring glasses?" At the shake of the unicorn's head Rarity grimaces, wondering if Applejack has anything appropriate. Or matching.

Three reasonable finds later, two of which came from Pinkie Pie's saddlebags, and Rarity heads upstairs, the items levitating near the ceiling, out of the way of everypony in the way. Doug has set up a low table in the master bedroom, not many other spaces available with the whole herd around. Rarity asks, "So, are we playing with the same teams?"

"Sure," comes the reply from Amethyst, "I need some redemption after that last game. I really thought we would be able to make it."

"Yes, it happens," Rarity says, sitting down across from Amethyst, "I believe the score is three to one?"

"Yup! We're in the lead," comes the cocky reply, Applebaum smirking at the two unicorns, the earth pony filly pushing a box over so she can stand at the table a little easier.

Doug sits down, cross-legged opposite the filly, "Now, remember, Applebaum, confidence is good."

"Yeah, but we don't want to rub it in their muzzle." Applebaum looks to the side and sighs, a quieter, "Is it rubbing it in their muzzle when we say we shouldn't rub it in their muzzle?"

Doug leans across the table, pausing as Applebaum leans in close. He says, loudly, "Yes."

Applebaum rubs her ears, wincing a little at the unexpected noise while backing off. Rarity and Amethyst hide their smiles with a hoof, Amethyst pulling out the bottle. "Can I interest anypony in some rose petal wine?"

Rarity levitates over the three glasses, saying, "Sure, I'll take a glass." She glances over at Applebaum, who is eyeing the red bottle eagerly, "I'm sorry, Applebaum, but you are a little too young for your own glass." She leans over conspiratorially, "But, as long as you don't tell Applejack I'll let you taste some of mine."

The filly's eyes light up, resting back on her box and closely watching Rarity levitate the glass over. Rarity pauses for a second as she considers, then pours a small amount from her own glass to the one Doug will be using, and sliding that one to Applebaum. The filly eagerly takes the glass, hesitating from chugging the entire thing as Rarity shakes her head.

"Observe," Rarity says, taking a small sip from her glass. "It might taste a little different than your normal apple juice, especially once you have swallowed." She takes a second small sip, levitating the glass back to the table.

Applebaum carefully takes the glass in her hooves, trying to lift it like Rarity did. She grunts, struggling with getting the glass to the proper height to not soak her muzzle with the red liquid. She lifts, higher and higher, until a small amount touches her outstretched tongue. She smacks her lips, her hooves briefly loosening and the wine glass slipping from her grasp.

Doug and Rarity both move, each trying to save the wine glass from toppling out of the filly's hooves and staining the wood floor. Their haste turns out to be unnecessary as Applebaum grips the glass again, quickly gulping down the mouthful of liquid remaining. She looks at the two, her eyes resting on Rarity and burping. "This is good!"

"I'm glad you like it, Applebaum; I made it with Roseluck's help." Amethyst smiles, pouring a glass for herself and topping off Rarity's glass.

Rarity takes the glass out of Applebaum's offering hooves with her magic, holding it still as Amethyst tops the glass off, then levitating it to Doug. The filly stretches her hooves out, trying to grab at the full glass, but Rarity shakes her head. "I'm sorry, darling, but you can have a little more after a few minutes. I wouldn't want your sire to accuse me of getting his partner drunk in order to win." She winks at Doug, her stallion returning the wink as he takes a sip of the wine.

Doug swishes the liquid in his mouth for a few seconds before swallowing, a light grimace on his face. He sets the glass down, taking the deck of cards and shuffling a few times. "We ready to begin?" he says, watching his filly bore a hole into the glass in front of him.

Amethyst and Rarity take a sip from their glasses, nodding as Doug begins dealing. Doug glances at his nearly full glass, taking his cards and looking over them. Amethyst asks, "Do you not like the wine?" as each pony takes their cards, Applebaum having trouble holding all the cards in her hooves at once.

Doug picks up his glass, peering at the liquid within, "Never been a big fan of wine. Or the alcoholic ciders Applejack and Big Mac brew, for that matter." He takes another sip of the wine, a slight shrug at the taste, swirling the liquid in his glass. "I'd just as soon be drinking apple juice, honestly. The taste isn't bad, at all, I just don't care for the alcohol."

Amethyst hides her grimace as the bidding commences, saying, "Oh? There a particular reason for that? I don't imagine you as a particularly violent drunk, not like some of the mares in town."

Doug shakes his head, "No, I just shut down. I don't care about interacting with anypony else, so I just sit by myself."

The bidding completes, Applebaum the first stallion. The filly takes the opportunity to go downstairs, grabbing two of the bottles of apple juice in the pantry. She comes back upstairs, the game already finished and Amethyst dealing the next hoof of cards. Applebaum passes one of the bottles to Doug, taking the other to her seat.

Amethyst smirks, "So, there aren't any deep, dark secrets that you are afraid of leaking out?"

"From here? Well, I can't exactly tell you those secrets, if there are any, now can I?"

Amethyst says in a sing-song voice, "That's not a no~o!"

Doug nods, "Yeah, it's not. Fairly standard non-answer, can't really say I'm lying one way or the other. And you don't want to know about the secrets from before I got here."

"Oh? Why is that?"

Doug shrugs, "Because if I told you, I'd have to kill you." Rarity smirks while Amethyst startles back. Doug sighs, "Yeah, see, that's a joke, a good indicator of gallows humor. Not exactly the kind that gets a warm reception around here." He takes another sip of wine, setting the glass far away from himself.

"Well, it hardly seems to be a subject to joke about!" Amethyst says, shaking her head, "But I think you're right, I don't really want to know more. Maybe it is better if you don't drink."

Rarity finishes off her glass of wine, motioning with her muzzle to Doug's glass. He motions forward with his hand as he picks up the next hoof of cards, Rarity levitating his glass next to her as Amethyst refills her own glass. Rarity pours a half inch into her empty glass, sliding it over to Applebaum. The filly eagerly grabs the glass, a little splashing onto her brown coat as she downs the wine.

"How much are you planning on giving her?" Doug asks, the second round of bidding finishing quickly. Rarity shrugs; Doug is the stallion this time, Applebaum's normally slow and methodical play becoming a little sloppy. "Remember to count the cards, Baum," Doug says, the filly becoming a little frustrated at remembering which and how many trump cards have been played.

"Hey, no helping!" Amethyst moans, refilling her glass of wine again.

Doug shrugs, "Sorry? My goal is to help her learn to play better; I can give you the same pointers too, if you'd like."

"Yeah, it's not like he's telling me what to do," Applebaum says, staring at the cards in front of her.

"Ugh," Amethyst moans, "It's bad enough I'm being beaten by a human, I don't need the same from his filly, too."

Applebaum sticks her tongue out at Amethyst, the mare returning the gesture. Doug snaps his fingers, the two ponies turning as he looks directly at Applebaum, saying, "Hey. None of that. Do it again and we stop."

"Sorry, Daddy," Applebaum says, hunkering down a little as she looks at her cards. She tentatively makes a play, frowning as Rarity stops her.

"Sorry, dear, you are starting on the stallion's side."

A tear comes to Applebaum's eye, the one trick penalty for a misplay the difference between potentially making her bid and failing. She sobs a few times to herself, looking over at the cards again to see if there is something she can do.

"It's okay, Applebaum, I don't mind if you take it back," Amethyst Star says, smiling at the filly. Amethyst is a little startled as the filly looks to Doug, the human's stony face remaining impassive.

"No, Amethyst. I messed up." Applebaum sniffles, sliding one of the tricks to the small pile by Rarity. "It's okay." The filly avoids looking up as she finishes out the hoof, going down by one trick at the end. She gives a heavy sigh, a glance to her sire surprising her.

Doug beams a smile at the filly, "I'm proud of you, Applebaum. It takes a lot of integrity to lose, when you could have cheated or taken an unfair advantage to win." He turns to smile at Amethyst, a slight shake of his head; the mare was initially about to object, but returns the smile, saying nothing.

Applebaum grins up at Doug, hopping off her seat and dashing under the table, jumping into his lap. He strokes her mane as she snuggles next to him, his fingers making long strokes down her back.

Rarity moves next to Doug, whispering in his ear, "You're not the only one who's proud," a light nip to the soft cartilage. One hand comes up, moving between her ears, the unicorn giving a heavy moan as he begins scratching.

"Aww, now I'm getting jealous," Amethyst says, moving next to Doug. "I don't suppose I could get some of those?"

"If you want." Doug maneuvers Rarity, the mare following his scratching fingers as he backs up, sitting against the side of the bed. Rarity cuddles into his side, resting her eyes while Applebaum remains on top of his chest. Amethyst walks up, laying her head on his stomach and looking up at Doug.

Applebaum asks as she looks between the two mares, "Is this one of the times I need to go to my room and play quietly?"

Doug's hand briefly caresses Applebaum's mane before he says, "No, dear, if you want to stay you can." The filly snuggles next to him while his hand moves to Amethyst, the mare grinning as she watches the fingers move past her eyes. His fingers find the sweet spot between her ears that all of his mares really enjoy, Amethyst moaning as his fingers dig in. She grunts as his fingers stop pushing as hard, glancing up as he says, "So, Amethyst, what are you looking to get out of this relationship?"

Amethyst presses her head into his hand, trying to get his fingers to push harder again. "The same thing every mare is looking for, right? Stability, other mares and foals to interact with." She smirks up at him, "A foal, and... healthy interaction when that isn't the goal."

The scratching resumes, Amethyst smiling at the contact, "Okay, I get that; but, why me specifically?"

"What, you looking for me to stroke your ego or something?" At Doug's stare she sighs, looking over at Rarity, "Well, as you know, there aren't a lot of options for unicorn mares here. And I'm not moving to Canterlot or Phillydelphia just to meet a stallion, you know?"

"Okay, but you still haven't answered the question," Doug says, pulling Rarity a little closer. "Because, and I may be misinterpreting here, but you haven't exactly clicked with us; not just me, but with the rest of the herd. You hang out with Rarity, and do fine with Applejack and Rainbow Dash when you're working on the season Wrap Ups, but aside from that? It's been, what, five or six times that you've come over, and you only really spend time with Rarity and myself. Would it really be worth it to join this herd knowing how things would be with the others?"

"Honestly, Doug? It would be." Amethyst Star sighs, "You don't know what it's like, going to sleep every night and wondering if there is some stallion out there who will give me a chance. Especially not one who has such a loving and accepting herd like you have here."

"I appreciate that you think that, Amethyst." Doug lets out a long breath, "But I don't know if... pity for your situation is a good enough reason to join the herd. Not that I don't enjoy your company, but I don't see it going any further than spending time together, playing games like this."

"Ah, the good old 'let's just be friends' speech." Amethyst turns her face more into his chest, "Nothing I haven't heard before."

"Well, if it makes you feel better I don't mind keeping up the ear scratches."

"Make it a full massage and I can live with that." Amethyst smirks up at Doug, rubbing her head lower, bumping into Applebaum.

"Sure thing." Doug lets go of Rarity, both hands working along Amethyst's withers. "Have you thought about asking Big Mac out?"

"Applejack's brother? No; I'm pretty certain he's, how do I say, looking for an earth pony."

"Well, he might not be as set on that as you think." Doug waves his hand at the two, Rarity still resting against him and giving a slight nod, "It's Applejack that, no offense, has a hard time with unicorns. You might have to be pretty aggressive, though, Big Mac can be pretty shy about dating and trying to find somepony to help out around here."

"None taken. So, he's looking for somepony to help run the farm? Hmm, I might have a shot at that." Amethyst pushes up slightly, splaying her body over Doug, "Right after you finish that massage."

10 Dark Instincts

May 10th, 998

An unlit lamp sits on a dark wooden table, the only furnishings of an otherwise crowded barn. The room is silent, the windows shuttered and door closed, the many wooden crates lining the painted walls providing a second barrier against any moonlight seeping through. The barn door creaks loudly as a hoof, shrouded in shadow, pushes against it. A few drops of liquid can be heard splashing against the metal hinges, the same hoof giving the door a few test pushes back and forth. Satisfied at the lack of sound, the door opens completely, the hooded figure slipping inside. A soft glow emanates; the dim light of a lamp glows softly, a sliver of moonlight painting one of the walls a bright silver as the pony retreats to the darkness.

A few minutes later the soft fluttering of wings can be heard, a second hooded figure entering through the open door. The yellow wings quickly disappear under the fabric as the pony takes their place at the table, nodding to the first pony in greeting. A short nod in return, the first figure opening one of the purple saddlebags at her side, a few items withdrawn in the shadow before the bags disappear under the table.

Shortly after, a third pony appears in a dark pink robe, muzzle covered in forest green paint and sticking out from under their cowl. The pony pronks up to the table, unable to keep still as they bounce in place - up, and down, and up, and down. The second pony doesn't seem to mind, beyond watching with slight movements of her cowl as she follows the pronking while the first pony takes furtive glances to the side, more and more annoyance with every breath.

Inside the farmhouse, two heads raise. They give a quiet nod to each other, the two ponies extricating themselves from their stallion's clutches. They move to the closet, removing two black hoods and full body cloaks, carefully stowed under an assortment of tan hats. They exit the room, the only sound the soft tap of one set of hooves on the wooden floors. The two ponies make their way to the barn, the second pony closing the door as the first pony tucks her blue wings under her coat. They make their way to the table, each taking a seat and nodding to those around them.

The first pony to enter the room holds her hooves together, scanning the four cloaked figures in front of her. The pony breaks the silence, an ominous echoing, "Welcome, all, MoHA. We gather this night to discuss a matter of utmost importance."

The last pony to enter the room says, "Rarity, Ah know, you like the intrigue, but can we git with these costumes? Ah feel ridiculous."

The pony identified as Rarity gasps, "You used my name! I told you to never use my name!"

The third pony pronks up and down, "Ooh, does that mean we can call you whatever we want?"

The fourth pony says, "No, Pinkie, I think Rarity wants us to use those fancy code names she came up with." She grunts, putting her elbow on the table and resting her head on her hoof, idly scratching at the wood with her other hoof.

Rarity pulls her hood back, pouting, "Well, fine, ruin all the hard work I put into these outfits. I still don't know what you don't like about the name Wind Sprint."

Rainbow tugs her hood and coat off, "Because it's an exercise, not an awesome code name! Now, what did you call the mares of Herd Apple here for, anyway? And why isn't Doug here?" The rest of the group follow suit, removing their outfits with which Rarity makes a neat stack in the corner. "This better not be about that studding thing."

Applejack nods, "Pretty sure we each told you that we ain't interested, but if that's what you and Doug want to do, then we'll support it, even if we ain't happy about it."

Rarity scoffs, "No, it's not about that. And besides, I would only consider that under one condition." A dreamy expression comes over Rarity's face, "I would meet the Prince at a party in Canterlot, only the highest class of ponies in attendance. We-" Rarity glances over as Applejack loudly clears her throat, the rest of the ponies looking sourly at her. "Ahem. Very well. As we know, the five year prohibition that Spoiled Rich set down is nearly up. So far, Doug has made nearly no effort at returning the interest of any of the mares that have shown interest in him or that have come to us. Amethyst Star has been the latest who has openly tried, and he essentially told her he was not interested in pursuing such a relationship with her."

"Is that why she's hanging around Big Mac more often?" Applejack asks, eyeing Rarity suspiciously; the unicorn nods in return, a slight smirk on her face.

Rainbow rolls her eyes, "Come on, Rares, Doug is perfectly happy with us and the foals. Why do we need a sixth mare, anyway?"

Applejack says, "Ah'm inclined to agree with Rarity here. Ah've enjoyed my time with you all immensely, but we've stagnated, you know? It's been great adding foals to the herd, but it's been just the five of us mares for five years, now. And to be honest, there are quite the number of single mares in Ponyville." Applejack looks down, "And Ah sure didn't like being one of them."

Pinkie Pie nods her head rapidly, "A new mare would be a great addition! They could help out with all sorts of new games and ideas!"

Fluttershy says, "I think it would be nice to have a new member, too. I love all you girls, and I think another pony would add to that."

Rainbow shakes her head, grumbling, "Well, I don't like being all alone here, so fine, if we can all agree on a new member, then I'm in." She perks up a little, "And six mares is supposed to be a lucky number, too."

Applejack nods her head, "Well, Ah'm glad we've come to that agreement. So, now, we've all seen the interest that Doug has received so far. Those that have come to us are welcome to continue to try. But, Ah think we're going to have to take it into our own hooves to pick which mare we set him up with next. So," Applejack looks around the room, pausing at each pony in turn, "What kind of mare are we thinking of adding?"

Rainbow says, "Well, she's gotta be athletic, loves sports and being outdoors."

Fluttershy says, "Well, I don't know about that; while I think being outdoors and with animals is good, I think she will prefer staying inside and cuddling up with a good book."

Rarity says, "Inside? No, she needs to be outside, willing to be seen with Doug and each of us, going to fancy restaurants and such."

Fluttershy quietly says, "Fancy restaurants?" as Pinkie Pie says, "I know I like getting to know ponies and all, but I think she's going to have gotten a lot of her crazy powerful abilities from studying books."

Rarity says, "What? No, the proper way to learn is by meeting others, learning from them!" as Fluttershy says, "I don't think she needs crazy powerful abilities, just enjoying simple things like oatmeal," as Rainbow adds, "That sounds great and all, but what kind of pegasus gets their powers from books?"

Applejack yells, "QUIET DOWN Y'ALL!", the silence broken by Pinkie Pie exclaiming, "Oatmeal? Are you crazy!"

Applejack continues, "Alright, Ah can see that each of us is very... opinionated about what kind of mare we want to join. So, each of us is going to propose a characteristic that prospective mares might have, and whether or not the next mare should have it. Each of us will be able to vote yay or neigh, give our reasons." Seeing everypony nod in response Applejack continues, "Ah'll go first. Ah know how much Doug likes being all introverted and such, and it's a real sacrifice for him to be social with us, going to big parties and whatnot. You can see it in how much he likes that weather job of his. So, Ah think he will want a mare that's interested in books and studying like him."

Rainbow groans, "You mean a nerd?"

Applejack glares at Rainbow, "Now, Rainbow, Ah probably should have specified, but Rarity will have the first chance to comment, then you get to say your piece." Rainbow loudly sighs but nods, shutting her mouth.

Rarity considers, putting a hoof to her chin before saying, "I agree, I think that a more studious pony would be a good influence around here. I vote yay."

Rainbow watches Rarity for a few seconds before saying, trying to keep as much of the edge out of her voice and failing, "That sounds like the most boring, un-awesome, um... boring pony ever. I vote neigh."

Fluttershy says, "Um, I would like another nice, quiet pony. Yay."

Pinkie Pie scoffs, "A pony who doesn't like parties!? Neigh, neigh, neigh! Though she might come to like them after she's been to a few!"

Applejack rolls her eyes, "Sorry, Pinkie, you only get one vote. Rarity, you're next on the quality, Rainbow, you get the first comment."

Rarity hums to herself before saying, "Well, not be exclusive or anything, I love you all, but I think the next pony will be a unicorn. We have two pegasi, two earth ponies, and only one unicorn. We even had the chance at two alicorns!"

Rainbow laughs, "What, and we need a second human, so there are two humans as well?"

Applejack smirks, "No, if'n we did that Ah think we would need two more humans, so he has two human mares."

Rarity rolls her eyes but stays silent, looking at Rainbow. The pegasus responds, "Well, I don't think it has to be a unicorn. He'll probably get another earth pony. Though I know a couple pegasi that wouldn't say no if he asks."

Fluttershy says, "Um, are we saying what we think he will pick or what we think a mare should have?"

Applejack thinks, "Hmm. Ah think what the next mare he would ask out, or that he would strongly consider if we set them up on a date."

Fluttershy says, "Okay. In that case, yay."

Rainbow Dash adds, "In case it wasn't clear, I say neigh."

Pinkie Pie bounces slightly in her seat, "Oh, it'll be a unicorn all right. Yay!"

Applejack says, "Ah'm with Rainbow, Ah think it'll be another earth pony. He sure likes his earth ponies." She winks at Pinkie Pie, who gives a confused look back. Applejack says, "Alright, Rainbow, what do you think it'll be?"

Rainbow Dash exclaims, "Oh, I know this for sure! She's gonna be awesome! Like, super crazy powers!"

Fluttershy quietly says, "Oh, um, I don't know, I don't think so. I think she'll be... nice. Neigh."

Rainbow huffs, muttering 'nice' and folding her forelegs in front of her.

Pinkie Pie says, "Ohh, I love crazy powers! Like-"

Applejack puts a hoof in Pinkie's mouth, "Ah'm sorry Pinkie, no demonstrations of what crazy powers this next mare will have. If she's anything like each of us you know she's going to have at least something special about her. Ah vote yay."

Rarity rolls her eyes, "I think he had his shot at mares with crazy powers, and he didn't take it. Not to say she won't be special in her own way, but neigh."

Fluttershy quietly asks, "My turn?" Applejack nods, and Fluttershy considers before saying, "I think she'll be... shy."

Pinkie Pie gasps, "You mean, like, she won't like parties? And she'll be super concerned with her studies? And likes spending time with books more than ponies because she never really took the opportunity to get to know other ponies and go to their parties?" At Fluttershy's barely perceptible nod Pinkie grasps her mane in her hooves, steam coming out of her ears. "Neigh, neigh, neigh! We need more party ponies!"

Applejack ignores Pinkie's antics, "Well, knowing Doug, Ah think he has a soft spot for the shy ones. Yay."

Rarity says, "Well, I do hope he picks a mare with at least a little social grace. Neigh."

Rainbow Dash shakes her head, "His lead knows best, Yay. He's going to go for the shy, nerdy kind."

The mares fall silent for several seconds before Applejack prompts, "Alright, Pinkie, you go next."

Pinkie Pie bounces up and down, "Oh, me, it's my turn! Hmm..." She considers, moving her hoof over her chin, then her chin over her hoof. Applejack coughs and Pinkie says, "Well, I can't think of anything that isn't too spoilerific, so I'm going to say her coat is a different color than the rest of us."

Applejack scoffs, "What kind of silly requirement is that? Doug don't care about the color of a pony's coat, no more than Ah do. Neigh."

Rarity squirms, "Well, I do know of a few ponies that are somewhat interested and are different coat colors than us, at least within a few shades. As much as I hate to say it, yay."

Rainbow taps her hoof on her chin, "Yeah, I'm with Rarity. There are quite a few pegasi on the weather team that are pretty different from each of us and interested in him. Yay."

Fluttershy says quietly, "Yes, well, there are a lot that do share a color, too. Neigh."

Applejack looks at the tallies for the different questions, "Alright, so each of us voted yay on three, and neigh on two. And each quality got three yays and two neighs. So, Ah guess each quality passes, so we're going to get a bookish unicorn who is crazy powerful but doesn't like showing off that power, and is a different coat color than all of us." Applejack deadpan stares around the room, "Y'all know anypony that fits that description?"

Each mare puts their hoof on their chin, trying to think through all the ponies they know that might fit.

Rarity tentatively offers, "Sunset Shimmer?"

Rainbow shakes her head, "Got herself banished."

Rarity shakes her head, "Shame, she was cute, too," as the mares go back to scratching their heads.

11 The Bowstring's Music

July 10th, 998

"Hmm," Pinkie Pie says to herself, trying to keep her excitement contained, merely pronking in place as she watches the activity in front of her. The pink pony is audaciously hidden on top of the mover's cart, her poofy mane camouflaged by the balloons around her.

A mint green coat. Definitely different than the rest. Check.

Unicorn. Easy enough to confirm. Check.

Enjoys studying. Well, a little harder to tell one way or another. But, carefully monitoring the moving ponies gives some insight into her habits and likes, and there are definitely some bookshelves in there, sheets of music, and all that points to somepony who isn't afraid of what lies behind the cover of a book. Check, but maybe a note for later confirmation.

Nice. Hmm, well, she seems to be greeting everypony around her, though a lot of them are still a little cautious around the new unicorn, most are giving her the benefit of the doubt. Close enough, check.

Crazy powerful. Hmm, definitely harder to tell, especially if she is shy about showing off those powers. Only one way to find out.

Pinkie Pie disappears as the unicorn picks up the last of the boxes, waving goodbye to the earth ponies helping her move in. The unicorn turns, the orange aura opening the front door. She takes a step forwards, shrieking loudly as the box held in front of her explodes open, packing peanuts flying in every direction. Pinkie Pie exclaims, "Welcome To Ponyville!" as she bursts out of the box, raising her forelegs to the sky. "I knew I recognized you! Lyra Heartstrings!"

Lyra takes a cautious step backwards, breathing heavily as the box falls to the ground, Pinkie Pie bouncing out of it as it lands. She hesitantly says, "Yes! That's me, moving to Ponyville." She looks into the box, amazement that the plates inside are unbroken. She looks back up, maintaining her smile while muttering to herself, "They were right to warn me about you."

Pinkie Pie pronks around, her voice getting more and more excited, "That's great news! I mean, I kind of got the impression that you were moving to Ponyville because you have the moving ponies moving your stuff into a house here in Ponyville, but you can never be too sure," Pinkie's head twists around as she says, "Riiigght?"

Lyra smiles, "That's right!" enjoying watching Pinkie Pie unravel herself. "I remember you! You're Pinkie Pie, and you threw that Spring Celebration party!"

"Yup! That's me, the premiere party pony presently present in Ponyville!" Pinkie Pie pronks around as Lyra gathers the box, folding it back up and stuffing the packing peanuts inside. Pinkie Pie sticks her head between Lyra and the box, "So, do you like surprises?"

"I do like surprises!" Lyra says, stepping into the house.

"SURPRISE!!"

Lyra grins, dozens of ponies crowding into her house and smiling back at her. A few blow on noisemakers, a pony shoving a plate of cake into her hooves. She looks around, some of them more familiar than others, as Pinkie Pie pronks around the room.

Each pony waves as Pinkie Pie identifies them, flashing their cutie mark, "This is Mayor Mare, this is Filthy Rich, his lead mare Spoiled Rich, this is..."

Lyra waves as each pony in turn, and three minutes later the rapid fire introductions are complete, having gone through over a hundred ponies. Lyra takes a bite of cake, grinning as Pinkie Pie takes a deep breath, the pink pony now introducing the fillies from town. They all gather around the mint green mare; she smiles down, "Oh, look how big you've all gotten!" She levitates over one of the boxes, an orange lyre appearing that matches her aura. "Who wants to hear a song?"

The fillies excitedly clamber over each other, trying to get closer as Lyra strums her lyre. "Alright, sing along with me!" She starts, "The wheels on the cart go round and round, round and round, round and round."

Pinkie Pie mentally pumps a hoof. Great with foals, definitely nice, now just to nail down the powers part. She certainly isn't bad at the lyre; pretty good, now that she thinks about it, though that song didn't really test her abilities. Not at all like Pinkie Pie will test her. An evil smirk slowly grows across Pinkie Pie's face as she ominously taps her hooves together. Lyra's song finishes, the foals waving as they head to the refreshments. Pinkie pulls out a harmonica, grinning as she says, "So, you play a lot?"

"Yup! It is my talent, after all." Lyra's flank bounces a little, waving it back and forth as she smirks at Pinkie Pie. "You can't possibly be thinking to challenge me with that!"

"Oh?" Pinkie Pie says, a grin growing on her face. "Lay down, Lyra, I challenge you..."

An explosion of balloons and streamers cloud the room, Lyra trying to glance around, her vision completely blocked. She clutches her lyre close to her body, her hooves slipping as the floor seems to push against her. Suddenly a bright light shines through the balloons above her, the wall of colorful confetti fluttering to the road around her.

"To A Riff-Off!"

Pinkie Pie whips out her harmonica as Lyra levitates her lyre next to her and grips it in her hooves, both pony's eyes glinting as they stare each other down. All of the ponies from the party are watching, some from nearby houses, others gathering on the streets. Pinkie Pie starts out, a warbling up and down, her eyes narrowing as Lyra harmonizes the warbling. Off in the background Apple Bloom chases a tumbleweed, Lyra upping the ante by singing along, a rising "Wuah, wuaah, wuaaah!"

"Oh, that does it!" Pinkie Pie exclaims, pointing a hoof at Lyra, "The Riff-Off is set for high noon!"

Lyra looks up at the sky, "Um, Pinkie, that's, like, four hours from now. Can't we get this out of the way now?"

"Oh. Um, well, sure. We can do this now, if you want." Lyra nods; Pinkie Pie smirks, "Very well! The Riff-Off commences now!"

Pinkie Pie begins, a harmonica-ized version of the Summer Wrap Up song, Lyra countering with a rendition of Fall Wrap Up. The two glare, both starting the Winter Wrap Up song, their tempo increasing faster and faster. Smoke begins to come out of Pinkie's harmonica, the metal turning red as Lyra's lyre bursts into flames. Both ponies drop their instruments, dancing on their hind hooves and blowing on their forehooves.

Pinkie Pie and Lyra glare at each other as they both whip out spare instruments. Lyra quickly strums a few notes while Pinkie Pie blows through a quick scale. Pinkie Pie leads with a riff of her Smile song; after a few bars Lyra counters with the intro of Beethooven's Sunlight Sonata. As the music continues she levitates her first lyre up, harmonizing with herself as her hooves strum along the spare.

Pinkie Pie interrupts, sitting down and using all four hooves, her smoking harmonica playing the treble section of Beethooven's Noise while the cold one plays the base clef.

Lyra stares at her for several seconds as the music continues before saying, "Okay. Wait. Stop right there. How are you playing two harmonicas at once?"

"Oh, it's easy!" Pinkie Pie continues playing the base section as she explains, "I just blow on the one in my right hoof with the right side of my mouth, and the left harmonica with the left! Then, when I need to take a breath, I just keep blowing on the right, and alternate back and forth until I'm done breathing!"

Lyra stares at Pinkie Pie for a few seconds before shaking her head, "No. Uh-uh. That's not how breathing works. You only have one set of lungs!"

Pinkie Pie uses the right side of her mouth to talk this time, "Yes, but I have two lungs, don't I?"

Lyra sputters for a few seconds, "No! Well, okay, yes, but you only have one windpipe! Even if I allow you to somehow compress one lung while inflating the other lung, the air would just go back and forth, not... actually..."

"Just ask Doug! He'll tell you I'm very talented with my mouth." Pinkie Pie puts a hoof to her muzzle, looking up, "He can probably verify the simultaneous sucking and blowing thing too."

"Okay, that's more than I needed to know." Lyra levitates both lyres again, strumming on the two and closing her eyes, a brief meditation before she begins Kovtchai Skies' Flower Waltz.

"Ooh, I love this one!" Fluttershy exclaims from the back, immediately clapping her hooves over her muzzle. Pinkie Pie joins in, transitioning to a decent transcription with a banjo and kazoo instead of the normal stringed instruments and horn.

All the nearby ponies turn as two earth ponies gallop over, dragging two jumbo speakers attached to a horseshoe emblazoned turntable. A white unicorn with a two-tone blue mane casually spins two records in her hooves, slamming them down and joining in as the nearby ponies cheer.

Some time around noon the party breaks up, Pinkie Pie announcing, "Lunch is inside for everypony!" She points a hoof towards the center of town, "Or head to Sugarcube Corner for the after party!"

Sweetie Belle prances around Rarity, exclaiming, "Sis! Did you hear me! That was so much fun!"

Rarity smiles down, "You did very well, Sweetie Belle." She glances to the trio, "Now, back to the Boutique, we have lots of studying to do!"

Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom grin while Scootaloo huffs, the three following Rarity back to the Carousel Boutique. Applejack returns to her apple stand, quickly counting up the bits left around the empty baskets. Rainbow Dash flies back into the sky, a number of pegasi following after and heading towards the Everfree and a few of the threatening clouds.

Lyra walks up to Pinkie Pie as the ponies disperse, wiping a few beads of sweat from around her horn. "Whew! It's been a while since I've had to mare up like that. So, who won?"

"Who won what?" a confused Pinkie says; a few moments pass before she says, "Oh, yeah! The Riff-Off! I completely forgot we were doing that! All I can say is that you passed!"

Lyra grins, "Glad to hear it!" Her face falls slightly as she considers, "Passed what?"

"Oh, you'll see! You remember where the Apple farmhouse is?" Pinkie Pie points a hoof towards Sweet Apple Acres, her grin growing larger.

"Sure do!"

"Okie dokie lokie! Just come by around dinner tonight!" Pinkie Pie looks suspiciously at Lyra as the unicorn's smile drops slightly, "Something wrong?"

"I... might be a little busy tonight, Pinkie. My best friend is coming in, and I was going to help her move in with me."

"Ooh! Is she your best friend like my sister Maud and I are best friends? Because we're, like, the bestest best friends a pony could ask for! We make rock candy together, and eat rock candy together, and make necklaces out of rock candy together that we then eat together!" Pinkie Pie sits down slightly, "But, I only see her once a year or so. But you'll be living with your best friend! That's even better!"

Lyra laughs nervously, "Yes! I do, um, like living with my best friend!"

"Well, if you'd like, both are you are welcome to come to dinner! It might be a little crowded, but only half the herd should be there." Pinkie Pie leans in conspiratorially, "And if you'd prefer, we have ways of making the rest of them... disappear."

Lyra giggles, moving in a little closer herself, "That sounds..." She trails off as she realizes, a look of worry coming over her face. "Oh, um, Pinkie Pie, this isn't... a... date, is it?"

Pinkie Pie nods a few times, grinning madly, "Yupperoonies!" she gasps, "Oh!" Pinkie Pie leans in, "Your best friend isn't a... human, is she?" Lyra shakes her head, confusion on her face as Pinkie Pie wipes some sweat off, "Whew! Well, if your best friend is anything like you then I know she'll fit right in!"

"Yeah, um, that's the thing, Pinkie Pie..." Lyra glances around, no other ponies nearby, "I really appreciate the offer, I do, it's just..."

"Oh, you already have a stallion in your life?" Pinkie Pie sighs forlornly, flopping to the ground, her limbs going in all directions. "I should have known, a mare as beautiful and talented as you can probably get any stallion she wants," She pronks back up with a wink, "Am I right?"

"No, it's not that. And if, um, we ever consider expanding our little group, then I'll keep your offer in mind. You are still with Doug, right?" Pinkie Pie nods, smile still plastered on her face, a little confused at the hold up. "Well, Pinkie, it's just... you see..."

"Oh, I see," Pinkie Pie smiles, "Trying to not appear too eager. I get that." She winks at Lyra, starting to turn away, "Well, one or two tonight, it shouldn't matter."

"Okay, Pinkie, I think we'll both show up, and thank you for the offer, just... don't expect us to treat it as a date."

Pinkie Pie turns back, quietly exclaiming, "What? Why not?"

"It's not that we have anything against Doug, we don't, it's just that Bon-Bon and I, we aren't... into stallions."

"Oh, well, Doug's not really like any of the other stallions! He's like one of the mares a lot of the time. He takes charge, isn't into fashion, and his massages!" Pinkie Pie shudders with her entire body, flopping back to the ground.

Lyra smiles, "Okay, Pinkie. Again, thanks for the offer. We'll still come over for dinner, and keep an open mind about it." She turns back to her house, a quick wave, "See you soon!"

"Okie Dokie, Lyrokie, see you tonight!" Pinkie Pie pronks off, both exhilarated that things went well and a little miffed at the likely rejection.

12 From Death Springs Life

"Mama, the birds are pretty!"

"Yes, Hedge, the ducks are very pretty." Fluttershy sits at the pond at Sweet Apple Acres, her fifteen month old foal watching the ducks swimming around the pond, mesmerized by the waterfowl moving back and forth over the still water. Tiny ripples spread from each, the ever growing circles running into each other from every which way. Some cancel out, other waves becoming larger, and still more forming ephemeral patterns that just as quickly disappear.

The ducks quack to each other, brief bursts of sound to let the others know everything is still okay, and to not mind the strange yellow and pink creature and her tan foal. An occasional longer whistle comes out, the other ducks in the pond floating closer to inspect the newly found food source, then deciding that it is the same one a different duck discovered five minutes ago. A few of them paddle closer to the ponies, a brief warble wondering if the bread they have is as tasty as it looks.

Hedge briefly glances at her dam; getting a small nod and a hoof motion forward, a soft, "Go ahead and feed them, dear," Hedge takes the small loaf of bread next to her, trying to rip a chunk of the hard crust off with her hooves. She slowly gets frustrated, picking it up and whacking it against the cloth spread underneath the two ponies. Fluttershy watches with a small smile as Hedge grunts and takes the bread, gnawing a bit of the crust off with her growing teeth. She spits out the crust, starting to work her hooves on the exposed dough inside.

"Ahem," Fluttershy coughs; Hedge looks at her dam, then follows the mare's gaze to the piece of bread she spit out. She gets up, grabs the piece in a hoof and goes to throw it into the pond. Fluttershy says, in a quiet voice, "No, Hedge, we don't give the pieces that have been in our mouths to the ducks. Only give them pieces your hooves have touched, and only if your hooves are clean."

"Why?" comes the curious response, Hedge, backing up and looking at the small crust in her hoof. Aside from a few obvious tooth marks the bread still looks edible, and only a small amount of saliva is visible. It landed on the cloth, so no dirt on it, either. Hedge peers closer, trying to figure out what is wrong with the piece of bread.

"Oh, dear," Fluttershy ponders, looking across the pond, the ducks starting to gather near the ponies and honking to each other about a potential new source of food. "Would you like the long answer or the short answer?"

"Short answer." Hedge eats the crusty piece before taking the small loaf, tearing it down the middle and ripping out a bit of the soft dough. She flings it towards the lake, her tiny forelegs unable to throw the piece the several yards to the ponds edge. She slowly walks forward as one of the ducks grunts, hopping out of the water and waddling over to the piece of bread resting in the dirt.

Fluttershy thinks for a few seconds before saying, "Because it's gross." Fluttershy smiles, watching Hedge and the duck stop, both about a foot away from the piece of bread. The duck takes a cautious step forward, then another, then a quick sprint forward, grabbing the bread in his bill and darting back to the water with a whistle. Fluttershy says, "McQuack says thank you for the bread, and he let his family know that you might have more."

Hedge looks back at the loaf of bread, then at the ducks congregating at the waters edge. She sprints as fast a year old foal can, getting to the loaf a few seconds later. She tears off a piece, running up to the pond and flinging the piece as far as she can. It lands a few feet past the ducks, the closest three turning and racing. Hedge asks as she returns for another piece, "Why is it gross? And why could he eat the dirty piece? That way more gross." She looks at one of her hooves, shaking off a little of the wet dirt that had gotten on her hooves.

"Um, because things that we think are gross are more likely to make us sick. It might not always be true, but a good rule of hoof." Fluttershy takes a bite of her own loaf of bread, chewing the hard crust; she swallows some and spits out a small pile of mush. "Now, if you found this out in the field, would you eat it?"

Hedge looks around at the field surrounding them, then down at the soggy piece of bread, then at her dam, a hesitant, "Um, yes? It was just in your mouth." She looks out at the ducks, "And lots of animals feed their young like that."

"That's true, lots of animals have to help their young like this. There are lots of chemicals in your mouth that help with digestion, and baby birds especially might not be able to handle it otherwise. Or, because the food is easier to transport that way." Fluttershy grins, "Who wants to carry a wriggling worm when you can chew it a little first?"

"Eww, I don't want to eat a worm," Hedge says, her tongue sticking out a little.

"And that's what it means to think of something as gross." Fluttershy smiles as Hedge grabs another two pieces of bread, walking to the water and tossing them to the ducks. The ducks quack in thanks, Fluttershy saying, "Now, Hedge, remember that you need to eat your bread too, to grow up nice and strong."

"Okay, Mama." Hedge waves at the ducks; they raise a wing as they paddle back to the center of the pond. She stares at the lump of mush, "If I didn't know that was bread, and was only in your mouth, then I wouldn't eat it."

"Very good, Hedge, that's exactly right. You don't know if the animal that spit that out was sick, or if it was because it tasted bad and might be poisonous, or have gone bad. And we definitely don't want you getting sick."

Hedge shakes her head as she eats the rest of her bread. Fluttershy gets up, packing up the remains of their afternoon snack, balancing the empty basket on her back. The two return, but not to the farmhouse, but to the chicken coop. Fluttershy knocks a hoof on the wooden wall, opening the door to reveal a dozen chickens. Most are perched on their nests atop laying boxes, a few chicks wandering around the fenced in yard on the opposite side.

Fluttershy walks in, Hedge cautiously following behind; the mare greets them, "Hello, Apple Cluckers!" She moves to the rooster, the red bird looking at her with one eye, then the other. He cackles, strutting back and forth before settling back down. "Okay, Giz, I'll be sure to check her out." Fluttershy nods at the rooster, collecting the eggs in the laying boxes as she walks past.

Hedge follows closely, her first time peering around the inside of the coop. She smiles at the rooster, the red bird softly crowing at the foal. She steps over the straw, watching her dam inspect one of the hens, getting a little closer as she notices the frown on Fluttershy's face.

Fluttershy grimaces as she inspects the egg, the brittle shell immediately apparent. There would be no more eggs from Gander, at least none usable. She glances to the side as Giz steps up, a brief exchange between the two chickens. Fluttershy sighs, nodding at the rooster; the hen looks down at the ground, her body slowing down. "I'm sorry, Giz, but I think it's her time." The rooster warbles, the hen softly clucking in return. "We could try, it's worked in the past, but I think Gander is too old. The chance of it working, is... she's not a young hen, any more. I'm sorry."

Giz straightens up, a brief nod to the hen, and walks back to his spot at the entrance. He watches as Fluttershy slowly runs a hoof along the hen's head, the bird settling down and resting.

Fluttershy frowns as her hoof carefully moves next to the egg. She slides to the side a little; Hedge moves closer to get a better look as Fluttershy tries to pick up the egg. The shell cracks, thin lines of white and yellow seeping out. A tear rolls down Fluttershy's face, landing and mixing with the yolk.

"Mama? What's wrong?" Hedge asks, staring at the broken egg.

Fluttershy shakes her head, her voice straining as she eeks out, "You're too young, Hedge. Go play with your sisters."

"But Mama, I want to know." Hedge pushes her head against Fluttershy's leg, "What's wrong with Gander?"

Fluttershy sighs, "Gander is getting old, Hedge. Her body can't make strong eggs any more." Gander lowers her head even more, Fluttershy taking a small cloth and wiping up the remains of the egg.

"Why?"

Fluttershy sighs, "Nopony knows, Hedge. Nopony knows why we have to get old, why we all have to eventually pass on."

"You mean, why we die?"

Fluttershy nods, looking on as Gander's two young hens gather near. "Ponies have come up with reasons, but not even the Princesses know for sure."

"Oh." Hedge looks at the eggs in the basket, mouthing the words as she counts to herself. "The chickens, they come from eggs, right?"

"That they do, dear." Fluttershy takes the dirty cloth, wrapping it so the gooey section is in the center, and places it in the basket.

"Why do we eat the chickens?"

Fluttershy pauses, the normal din of chickens moving back and forth coming to a standstill, an eerie silence as the chickens stare at the two ponies. Fluttershy gives a nervous smile, "Um, Hedge, we don't eat the chickens."

"But we eat their eggs," Hedge says in a firm voice, oblivious to the scratch of talon on wood, "How is that different?"

"Do you want the long answer or the short answer?"

Hedge stares at her dam, a hard look, her voice deeper to keep it from cracking, "Long answer."

Fluttershy settles down on the straw floor, the ring of a bell coming from the farmhouse and signalling dinner is ready. "The chickens, they are able to lay many more eggs than they need to sustain their numbers, to keep the number of chickens the same. Each hen can lay one egg a day, or so. Half of those eggs are hens, and half are roosters. The roosters we send to other farms, so they can start their own families." Fluttershy pauses, a deep breath as she knows exactly how many are sent to griffon chefs. "And the hens, a similar thing. Some we keep here, some we send to other farms so the ponies there can have their own eggs."

Fluttershy motions to Giz, the rooster watching her carefully, "However, if every egg each chicken laid became a chicken, we quickly would have too many chickens, and we wouldn't be able to feed and house all of them. So Giz, our head rooster, only mates with the hens at a certain time, and with certain hens. We leave the eggs of those hens alone, so they can grow into chickens. The eggs the other chickens make we use in baking. We do this because we haven't found a widely available, cost effective substitute. In essence, we trade protection and food to the chickens, and in return they give us the products of their bodies. Either of us could stop whenever they wanted, if they didn't like what was happening." Fluttershy smiles at her foal, "I know I used a lot of big words there. Did you understand?"

Hedge slowly nods, "Um, I think so. We give the chickens food and a home. They give us their eggs. No chicken has to, um, go hungry?" At Fluttershy's careful nod Hedge continues, "And everypony is okay with this."

Fluttershy nods, "That's correct, Hedge. Very good." She looks at the farmhouse, the sky starting to darken, "Are you getting hungry? I heard we have company today."

"Okay. Yes, I'm hungry." Hedge walks out, looking back at Fluttershy. The mare is staring at the wall behind Gander. "Mama?"

"Hurry along dear, I'll catch up." Hedge nods, pushing open the door to the coop and making her way to the farmhouse.

Fluttershy peers at the wood. The apple trees that had given their lives to build this chicken coop. Maybe some had been knocked down in a storm, others intentionally felled. The straw from the wheat, consumed by all to continue life. The eggs in her basket, inert fats and proteins and carbohydrates that, should a different hen been chosen, might have held life. She glances to Gander, the elder hen back to resting after her grown chicks have left and returned to their own nests.

Fluttershy walks to the entrance, a glance at Giz getting the rooster to follow her. They leave the coop, the door closing behind them; Fluttershy says, "Giz, are you happy here?"

Giz struts back and forth, "I am cock to many hens. I have struck a good bargain, as my cockerel did and his cockerel before him. Why do you ask?"

Fluttershy looks down, a hesitant, "I am... I am sorry if this offends you, but my stallion can eat animals. He does not have to, but it would be a great help if he had... if he had your permission to..."

Giz nods, looking over at the farmhouse. "I have seen this stallion of yours. He is kind to us." He turns, looking at Fluttershy, "She is of little use, and too old to molt again. If Gander approves, or any other hen at the same stage, then you have my permission. I expect he will need less eggs, should this be the case?" At Fluttershy's nod he continues, "Then I would like an increase in the number of chicks."

Fluttershy smiles, "I'll talk to Applejack about it, and they will likely live on other farms." Giz shrugs, moving back to the coop. He moves to Gander, a few low clucks that Fluttershy has difficulty making out.

Gander sits up a little more, struggling to her legs. She addresses Fluttershy, barely croaking out, "I have lived a long life. I have two good hens here to carry on my name. I am content." Gander lifts a wing, a few feathers left behind in the straw, "It would make me happy to be able to continue to provide, even if just one last time." The hen sighs, as best a hen can do, "And I would rather it be quick."

Fluttershy solemnly says, "Thank you, Gander. Um, meet us in the yard. Doug will be outside very soon." The chicken nods, slowly following behind as Fluttershy leaves the coop. Fluttershy's weighty steps echo in her ears as she glances back, seeing the lone chicken settle down near the outside door of the yard, the chicks all returning inside.

Fluttershy enters the farmhouse, only the clink of one set of hooves on the dishes from the dining room. Hedge is there, slowly eating the hay on her plate. The foal glances up at Fluttershy, giving a sad smile as she goes back to her food. Fluttershy grabs a sharp knife, hiding it under a wing as she continues along, spotting a slightly embarrassed Doug. Lyra is sitting in front of him in a very awkward position, her rump on the floor while her hind legs stick out in front of her. Doug is sitting on his knees, his arms rubbing the unicorn's withers. An earth pony she vaguely recalls as Bon-Bon, the filly all grown up, is sitting next to Lyra, an envious look on her face as the green unicorn loudly expresses her enjoyment through moans and grunts.

Fluttershy waits until the massage is over, still mulling over everything. Doug walks over, rubbing some of the oil off his hands as he says, "Hey, 'Shy; you look pensive."

"Yes. Come with me?" Doug follows Fluttershy outside, the two heading to the chicken coop. "Um, I was talking with Hedge about the chickens, and eggs, and it got me thinking. Doug, the chickens are okay with you..." She trails off, her mane hiding her anguished face.

Doug stops outside the door to the chicken coop, as he bends over, kneeling down and running his hand along her mane. The chickens inside the coop are chattering to each other, perhaps a bit loud for this time of day, but nothing out of the ordinary. Gander pushes the door open, sluggishly making her way to Doug and resting her neck and head in his hand. Doug stares at the chicken, then at Fluttershy, understanding dawning on his face, a low, "And you are okay with this?" Fluttershy gives a slight nod, though she still isn't looking at him. "Tell me about her, Fluttershy. What she was like."

Fluttershy takes a deep breath, her voice breaking as she says, "Gander was a good chick, raised with many of her sisters and brothers. She was one of three from that clutch that stayed here at Sweet Apple Acres, and is the last of them with us." Doug rubs Fluttershy's neck with one hand, the chicken giving a soft cluck, as he sighs heavily.

Fluttershy carefully rests a hoof on Doug's arm, "It's okay, Doug, she's ready." Fluttershy closes her eyes, a soft sob as she feels the motion next to her, a soft crack that silences the birds inside the coop for a brief second before the noise resumes.

The human stands, cradling the limp form in one arm as he leads the mare to one of the barns. He opens the door, a light flicking on, and the two make their way into the dug-out cellar. Fluttershy glances around at the empty space; the Apple family normally stores their cider in these basements, but increased demand has really cut back on how much space they need, only a few full barrels and few crates along the walls.

Fluttershy watches with morbid interest as Doug pulls out a table, a metal plate, and a large bowl. He sets the chicken, taking the knife from Fluttershy and draining the blood. "So, Prince Blueblood told me about the time he spent learning how to do this," Doug says, anything to break the dreary atmosphere. Fluttershy continues to watch, closer than she thought possible. But she would persevere.

"How he learned from the castle's griffon chefs. How he had to go through the entire process." Doug hands move as he talks, following his words. "Killing the chicken, plucking the feathers, removing the feet and the guts. How and where each part would be used. And the chefs, they enjoyed taking his disgust and forcing him to go through the motions, over and over and over until he was so used to it that it became normal. They challenged him, implied he was a coward when he thought he couldn't handle it. And so he stayed, and learned." Doug sighs, "Prince Blueblood enjoyed doing the same to me, with the rhoas." He motions with the knife towards a few of the empty preservation units, "And I learned from him, how to go through the entire process, just with a different source."

Fluttershy offers a quiet thanks to the chicken as Doug wraps the butchered flesh with some of the enchanted material, then places it in one of the preservation units. She watches as Doug replaces the units against the wall, the remains into another bag to be buried. She stares up at her stallion, a quiet, "I finally got your name." He flashes a forced smile, going back to the unhappy task of cleaning the area. "Please, Doug, don't tell Hedge. Not until she is older."

Doug nods, washing off his hands before grabbing the bag and a shovel. Fluttershy follows, a short walk to the edge of the farm. A short while later and the remains are buried, Fluttershy carving a small marker in the nearby tree. The two return to the farmhouse, Applejack waiting for them at the side door, the rest of the house quiet in the dark.

"Something happen, partner? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Doug nods, "You could say that. I'll tell the rest of the mares tomorrow morning, unless you really want to hear it earlier, but it isn't a happy tale." He glances past Applejack, "Lyra still here?"

"Nah, she said her goodbyes just after you left. Bon-Bon said something about you making good on that massage for her. Ah think Rarity got a time for her to come back." Applejack sighs, "Just like Pinkie feared. And Ah liked her, too."

"Well, can't win them all, I guess." Doug says, quietly leading Applejack and Fluttershy upstairs.

13 Resistant to Change

July 28th, 998

Doug raps his knuckles against the wall, the trio of fillies looking up at him. He says, "Hey, girls, a letter came for the three of you." He looks around the farmhouse, the trio perking up and trying to find what he is searching for. "I also have one for your younger sister; do you know where Applebaum is?" He holds the letter up: a normal white envelope, slate gray calligraphy reading 'To Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo; Sweet Apple Acres', and a small purple wax heart sealing the letter closed.

Apple Bloom gets up, a slight shake of her head as she takes the letter from Doug in her mouth. She walks back to Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo and sits down, using both hooves to rip open the envelope; the letter falls out, pristine white stationary with the same gray writing. The trio start reading as Doug snaps his fingers; the three glance up at him as he says, somewhat shortly, "Hey. I asked you a question."

"Ah don't know," Apple Bloom says as she lays down, engrossed in the letter. She squeals at the same time as Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo joining in a few seconds later. The three begin prancing around, Doug raising an eyebrow but not saying anything, as Apple Bloom exclaims to her sisters, "Ah knew it!"

"I know, right?" Scootaloo adds, "That's why she wasn't able to play with us!"

"Yeah!" Sweetie Belle says, "She was spending all that time with her dam, helping at the store! Maybe that's where it happened?" The trio continue to frolic around, their excited shrieks growing louder and higher pitched.

"Maybe she said in the letter!" Apple Bloom says, the three hurriedly going back to the letter and reading through it again. Doug throws his hand into the air as he goes back to his office and shuts the door, Apple Bloom excitedly flipping the letter over.

Scootaloo protests, "Hey! I wasn't done yet!" She tries to flip the letter back over but Sweetie Belle sticks a hoof out, pinning the paper to the floor.

"Shh!" Sweetie Belle remarks with a smirk, "You know, for a pegasus you're pretty slow sometimes."

"You take that back!" Scootaloo says, tackling her sister, Sweetie Belle yelping in surprise before she starts pushing back.

The two flail at each other as they roll around, Apple Bloom continuing to read the letter. They bump into her, Apple Bloom exclaiming, "Hey!" as she tries to pry the two apart. This merely entangles her with her sisters, the ball of limbs knocking into Doug's office door.

"If you're going to rough-house," Doug says, an exasperated tone in his voice as he opens the door, "Take it outside!"

The trio stops wrestling, chorusing, "Sorry Daddy," as they walk to the front door. Scootaloo's flank bumps into Sweetie Belle's, prompting the unicorn to knock back into the pegasus with a little extra oomph, the two quickly escalating as they roll into the door.

"Oh," Doug adds, Apple Bloom turning while her sisters stop wrestling, "Let each of your sisters know I'm looking for them if you run into them."

"Sure thing!" Scootaloo says, holding the door open for Apple Bloom. "Now, where were we?"

"Ah don't really remember," Apple Bloom says, glancing at the letter in her hoof. "Oh yeah! We have Silver Spoon's cute-ceañera to get ready for!"

"Do you think we should get her a present?" Sweetie Belle asks, glaring as Scootaloo lets the door close on her while the pegasus tries to glance at the letter.

Scootaloo grabs the letter from Apple Bloom's hooves, the irritated earth pony saying, "Hey!"

"I didn't get to finish reading it!" Scootaloo says, flipping the letter over and starting at the top. "Hey!" she says as Sweetie Belle levitates the letter up, her wings fluttering as she tries to grab the letter out of mid air. She jumps up a few times, hooves straining to reach the letter as Sweetie Belle smirks, sticking her tongue out. Scootaloo rapidly gets fed up with the game, glaring at Sweetie Belle.

"Eep!" Sweetie Belle cries as Scootaloo changes course and chases after the unicorn. The letter falls down, blowing away in the wind as Scootaloo quickly catches up to her sister, the two rolling around in the dirt. Apple Bloom chases after the letter, the wind taking it higher and higher as it blows to the south. She comes to a stop under one of the apple trees, the branches catching the letter high up.

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, both fillies covered in dirt, breath heavily as they stop next to Apple Bloom and look up, trying to spot the letter. Apple Bloom says, "Sweetie Belle? Can you get the letter down? It's stuck way up there in the tree."

"Hold on." Sweetie Belle focuses, her horn lighting but the letter unchanging. "Nope. It's too high up."

"This wouldn't have happened if you didn't take the letter from me, you know," Scootaloo grumbles, crouching down.

"Yeah, well, it wouldn't have happened either if you didn't tackle me either," Sweetie Belle retorts, mirroring Scootaloo as they both get ready to pounce.

"Girls! You need to stop fighting, we have a problem here!" Apple Bloom looks up at the letter, "Maybe if Ah buck the tree, the letter will fall down! Then, Sweetie Belle, you can catch the letter!" Apple Bloom looks over, a heavy sigh as Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle are back to rough-housing. "Okay, that does it!"

Apple Bloom charges in, putting her earth pony strength to work as she rams Scootaloo in the side. Scootaloo flops over as Apple Bloom turns towards Sweetie Belle; the unicorn paws at the ground, trying to back off and stop herself from overbalancing. Apple Bloom pushes Sweetie Belle, the unicorn flipping over and landing on her back. Apple Bloom stands above her, putting a hoof on Sweetie Belle's chest, "You give up yet?"

Sweetie Belle nods, a cautious look to Scootaloo as the pegasus gets up.

"Oww," Scootaloo moans, rubbing her side, "That hurt."

"Yeah, well, we need to focus," Apple Bloom says. "How are we gonna get that letter?"

Sweetie Belle says, "We could go ask Doug, or Rarity."

Scootaloo grunts, "Yeah, or we can take care of this ourselves. Apple Bloom, how about you buck the tree. If it's anything like what you hit me, then the letter should come loose, right?"

"Okay!" Apple Bloom says, "Can you try to grab the letter when it falls, Sweetie Belle?"

"If I can find it," she says, looking up at the tree. "Oh, there it is! Okay, I'm ready."

"Alright," Apple Bloom takes a deep breath, moving up to the tree. She spins, just like her dam taught her, and plants her forehooves into the dirt, her hind legs delivering a powerful buck to the tree.

Scootaloo yells, "It's coming down!" as the branches above shake, the letter coming loose and fluttering down.

"I got it!" Sweetie Belle yells, the letter encased in her green aura. "Now I-"

Sweetie Belle collapses to the ground, an apple falling on her head and stunning her. Scootaloo yelps, chasing after the letter as the wind catches it, blowing it further to the south. Apple Bloom checks on Sweetie Belle, the unicorn quickly recovering and gasping as the letter blows out of the apple orchard. The trio stops at the edge of the trees, watching the letter as it flies into the forest beyond the edges of their farm.

"Well, I'm not going in there," Sweetie Belle says, the branches of the Everfree Forest ominously swaying back and forth.

"What, you chicken?" Scootaloo taunts, strutting back and forth. "Brawwk bawk bawk bawk."

"Yes. You can call me a chicken all you want, but unless you go in there you're just as big a chicken as me." Sweetie Belle smirks, "Actually, you'd be a little chicken, goes with those little wings."

"I'm not a chicken!" Scootaloo stamps a hoof, "And I'm going to prove it." She forces a smile on her face, one trembling leg taking a step forwards. Her hoof crunches against the dried leaves between the Apple orchard and the forest, train tracks splitting the clearing.

"Um, Scootaloo, please don't go into the forest," Apple Bloom pleads, a nervous twinge in her voice. "Ah really don't think that its a good idea. Um, anypony remember where the party is? Or when? Maybe we don't need the letter."

"I think it's at the Rich house," Sweetie Belle says, "And Pinkie Pie is preparing the party, so you know it's going to be good!" She glances back towards the farmhouse, a cautious sniff at the stench of decaying leaves around them.

"Hey!" Apple Bloom says, trying to show a little enthusiasm, "Doug said that Applebaum also got an invitation. Maybe we can check her letter?"

Scootaloo huffs, trying to cover her relief, "Fine, if you insist." She laughs, "Maybe, uh, maybe none of us are chicken, huh?"

In the forest, barely visible from the treeline, a large orange paw grabs the letter out of mid air. The rest of the massive creature is shrouded in shadow, just the outline of leonine face that takes a cautious sniff of the paper, a smile at the fragrant scent. It opens its mouth, sharp teeth devouring the paper. It frowns at the lack of flesh attached to the smell, stalking back into the dense foliage.

The trio watch the shadow slink away, looking around at each other. "Did that just happen?" Scootaloo says, a touch of confusion in her voice.

"Um, Ah sure hope not," Apple Bloom says, nervously backing up. "Ah think we should go back to the farmhouse now."

"I'm with Apple Bloom here," Sweetie Belle says, her body quivering, the trio quickly making their way back to the farmhouse. On the way they spot Applejack with Applebaum in tow, going over how they collect the apples and how to buck a tree. Sweetie Belle calls out, "Hello Applejack! Oh, and we were supposed to tell you that, um, Doug has a letter for Applebaum."

"Howdy Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom." Applejack looks at the trio, a harsh command in her voice, "What were you doing in the south orchard?"

"Nothing," Scootaloo says, a large smile on her face.

Apple Bloom hesitantly asks, "Um, Sis, there isn't anything to be afraid of in the Everfree, right?", a nervous glance behind her.

"No, there's plenty dangerous things in the Everfree, and you three shouldn't be playing anywhere near there. Who knows, a timber wolf might leap out and snap you right up!" Applejack shakes her head, "Nopony is foalish enough to go into the Everfree and for good reason."

"Oh. Okay." Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle force smiles on their faces as well, Applejack giving them a suspicious look. "So, um, can we take Applebaum to get her letter? Then we'll bring her right back!"

"Alright, 'Baum, go with your sisters. Ah'll be around here."

"Okay." Applebaum follows the trio back to the farmhouse, quickly heading inside.

Apple Bloom hesitantly knocks at the office door, opening it at Doug's curt, "Come in." She grabs the filly's letter from Doug, opening the expensive stationary for each pony to read. Each of them reads it, a quiet gasp as they glance to Doug's office; he already told them off once today, and they didn't want a repeat, especially if he might forbid them from going to the party as punishment.

Apple Bloom walks back to the office door, slowly opening it, "Um, Daddy, Silver Spoon's cute-ceañera is starting in an hour, at the Rich house. Um, we're supposed to bring a present."

"Okay," Doug says, barely looking up from his work. "You going to be back for dinner?"

Apple Bloom glances back, a shake of her head. "Ah don't think so."

"Okay." Doug glances up, "I think Lemon is still with Pinkie, so just make sure Applebaum gets home safely." He gets up, "Now, come're, you." He picks up Apple Bloom, walking out of his office and gathering all four fillies in his arms, getting a hug from each of them. "If you don't see Applejack, I'll tell her. Just stay safe getting there, okay?"

"Okay!" chorus the four, hopping out of Doug's arms, the human returning to his office and shutting the door.

Sweetie Belle says, "Hey, we should get Silver Spoon something from each of us!"

Apple Bloom says, "What do you think she wants?"

Scootaloo grins, "I know! She's always playing ball with us, right? How about we get her a ball, and we all sign it!"

"Ooh, Ah like it!" Apple Bloom runs off, finding the blue soccer ball the group enjoyed playing with. She hesitantly walks back into Doug's office, a smile at her sire as she grabs a black marker. She quietly closes the door behind her, bounding over to the three and saying, "Ah think she'll like it too!" as she pulls the cap off, carefully writing her name on the ball as Scootaloo holds it still. Scootaloo hastily scribbles her name before Applebaum tentatively takes the pen, Apple Bloom coaching her sister on how to write her name. Sweetie Belle levitates the marker last, signing her name with an artful cursive.

"Where'd you learn that?" Apple Bloom asks, in awe at Sweetie Belle's fancy writing.

Sweetie Belle pouts, "Rarity's always making me practice. It takes so long, too," she sighs, "But, it does help with my magic. I'm a lot neater than when I started, and sometimes she has me help around the store, filling out order forms. It's really boring."

"Well, maybe you'll get a cutie mark as a sales clerk," Scootaloo laughs, Sweetie Belle shooting her a glare. They walk out the front door; Scootaloo grabs her scooter, racing off to tell Applejack while the other three make their way to Ponyville.

15 Gilded Within

August 1st, 998

"Hey, Doug," Pinkie Pie says, pronking into the kitchen at the Apple farmhouse, smiling at the aroma of breakfast cooking on the stove. "Can you watch over Lemon and Meringue for me today? I've got a big order to deliver and I need somepony to keep an eye on them."

"Sure thing, Pinkie," Doug says, preparing a small plate of hay, "I assume you're eating breakfast here, too?" At the pony's vigorous nod he whips up the batter for two more stacks of pancakes. The earth pony mare pronks over, looks at the various ingredients he has scattered over the counter, and pulls out a hooffull of gummies, chocolate chips, and acorns. She makes three carefully piled piles on the counter; Doug looks over, "Those for your pancakes?"

"Yep! Well, I was hoping you could split them among each of ours. Lemon and Meringue need lots of energy, just like me!"

"Mhmm; I don't suppose they are going to need all that energy hanging around here? I kind of like the peace and quiet; maybe they'll play outside." Doug nonetheless takes the offered candies, splitting them between the pancakes he is cooking.

"Oh, don't be silly, just look at me! I eat sweets all the time and I'm always super duper fantabulously excited in the morning!" Pinkie Pie holds a hoof to her chin, "But, then sometimes I take an early nap after the breakfast rush, just like Rainbow. But then it's back to work for the lunch rush!"

Doug slides a plate of pancakes over to Pinkie Pie, pieces of candy studding out of the top and sides. She takes a deep breath, relishing the saccharine scent before dumping half a bottle of syrup and messily devouring the entire thing, her face now covered with the sticky substance. Doug smirks, "You've got a little, something," Pinkie Pie stands still as he reaches over, dabbing his finger in the corner of her mouth and coming away with a tiny drop of syrup.

He licks his finger off as Pinkie Pie says, "Did you get it?"

"Nope," comes the quick reply, Doug reaching over and wiping another small section of Pinkie's muzzle clean, or at least slightly less syrupy. Pinkie Pie slowly bounces up and down, Doug saying, "Almost got it, hold on."

"You know, you should just use your tongue, rather than your finger!" Pinkie Pie says, her own tongue teasing out of her mouth and lapping up a bit of the syrup. "Much faster that way!"

"Well, sometimes I like to savor the moment," Doug says as Pinkie Pie stands up, moving her head closer to his. She kisses him as he leans forward, leaving a small amount of syrup on his nose.

"Oh, silly! Now you have a little you need to clean up!" Pinkie Pie reaches up, her tongue straining to lick Doug's nose as her chin touches his, depositing a little syrup as she finds the syrup on his nose. "Oops! There's a little more!" Pinkie Pie smirks.

Lemon says, "Um, is breakfast going to be ready soon?" from the doorway, her younger sister sitting in her diaper next to her.

"Oh, your dam is just helping me clean up a little," Doug says, Pinkie Pie desperately clutching at him as he backs away. He grabs two plates, one heaping with hay and one full of pancakes, turning off the stove and walking to the kitchen.

Pinkie Pie reluctantly drops to four hooves, her tongue stretching out and licking the rest of her face clean. She nuzzles Lemon and Meringue before saying, "Love you two, but mama's gotta head off to work! Thanks again, Dougie!" Pinkie Pie says, her normally exuberant personality a trifle subdued.

Doug reaches down, taking the six month foal from Pinkie Pie. He sighs as the mare pronks out of the room, saying to the youngest Pie, "Now, this isn't going to be like every other time, is it?" The foal smiles up at him as if she has no idea what he's talking about. "We're almost there, right? Just a couple more tries and we'll get you potty trained!" He places their plates at the low table, the two quickly taking their seats and starting their breakfast while he returns to the kitchen for his own plate and to finish the rest of the herd's breakfast.

Doug sniffs as he returns to the dining room, a heavy sigh as the tell-tale stench of a full diaper hits him. He picks up Meringue, the foal protesting the food disappearing as Doug carries her to the bathroom. "I knew it," he says, quickly changing the squirming mess of limbs, "As soon as your dam is gone, boom. There it is." He sets her down, shaking his head as the foal darts back to the kitchen to finish her breakfast. "I think she's managed to change just as many diapers with you as with your sister. Goose egg."

Doug cleans up the bathroom before heading back to the dining room. Applejack is going in and out of the kitchen, bringing plates of hay and apples for the remaining fillies and foals. The youngest quickly polish off their food, scampering off outside to start playing in the cool autumn air. The trio remain in their seats, slowly picking at their plates of hay.

"Daddy?" Apple Bloom hesitantly asks, the three fillies looking up at their sire. "Are we poor?"

Doug glances to Applejack, a confused look on both of their faces. "What brought on that question?" he asks, Applejack only returning a slight shrug.

Apple Bloom pushes her plate, only hay remaining on it. "Well, at Silver Spoon's cute-ceañera they had lots of really good food. And we don't have that around here."

Sweetie Belle adds, "Or at Rarity's."

Scootaloo says, "And all we have around here is hay and apples."

Applejack says, "Well, we have other things, too. Like pancakes."

Scootaloo rolls her eyes, "Made of hay or wheat."

"Well, we also have carrots. Doug gets orange juice for us, sometimes. And, um," she glances at Doug, trying to not list off any of the items that he primarily eats, such as nuts or the meats. "We sometimes get cupcakes and donuts from Sugarcube."

"Well, that's 'cause Carrot Top rents the land near us for her carrot farming, and gives us a good deal," Apple Bloom says, a glance towards the carrot fields.

"And Pinkie Pie brings home the old stuff they couldn't sell that day," Sweetie Belle says.

"And we don't ever eat out as a herd," says Scootaloo, looking around the room at the plates for all the foals, "So, are we poor?"

"That's not something you three need to worry about," Applejack says, moving over and running a hoof through Apple Bloom's mane, then Scootaloo's.

"I think that's a yes," Sweetie Belle says, a heavy sigh as she stares at her plate.

"Well, I know it may not seem like we have a lot around here," Doug says, moving over to Applejack. He wraps an arm around the earth pony, smiling as he hugs her. She smiles, returning the hug, a slight eye roll as he turns her head, sharing a kiss. "But I would say we are plenty rich. Maybe not in how many bits we have, but in the other things that count. Things like family, and values like hard work." Doug sits back a little, "I don't know how everypony else defines poor, but I always saw it as lacking necessities, like not having enough food, or a roof over your head." He looks at the fillies, "Do you feel like you are lacking anything?"

The three fillies glance to each other, Apple Bloom saying, "Well, Ah like it around here, but sometimes Ah'd like some bits to spend on, um, things. Like a new ball."

He leans over, the three fillies gathering around. "Now, what I hear you all saying is that you'd like to help out more around the farm. Doing jobs, not just chores."

The trio excitedly nod, looking between Applejack and Doug. Apple Bloom says, "Ah know that Ah'd like to help out more where Ah can. Ah'm a big filly!" Her sisters' smiles grow larger, beaming up at Applejack with wide eyes.

Applejack nods, "Well, Apple Bloom, we can rig up a cart for you to haul around. Help save us from making to make as many trips from the orchard to the barn. Maybe even help sort and crate the apples. And, if you prove that you can hoof that, you can help me with hauling apples to the train, or with selling apples in town." Apple Bloom smiles, giving her dam a nod.

Sweetie Belle tries to meet Applejack's gaze but ends up shying away. The filly says, "Um, I don't know if I really want to help out around the farm."

Applejack smiles at the unicorn, "That's fine, Sweetie Belle, working on a farm ain't for everypony. Ah bet Rarity likes it when you help out around the Boutique, right?"

Sweetie Belle slowly nods, "Well, she's been having me help with small things around the store. Mostly cleaning up, because she doesn't like how I organize things."

Applejack sighs, "Yes, well, your dam can be very particular when it comes to her stuff. Gets all funny-eyed when things are out of place, or at least different than what she wants." Sweetie Belle gives a sad smile; Applejack rubs her mane a little, "But don't take that too hard. Doug had to learn too, and he's been helping over there, well, since before you were around." Doug smiles down at Sweetie Belle, the filly moving over to nuzzle him.

Applejack turns to Scootaloo, "So, Ah think we could use some sort of delivery pony. Ah've seen you on that scooter of yours, mighty quick. If'n you can hoof a bag of apples on that, we could use somepony to make deliveries to houses."

"Um, I suppose I can try that," Scootaloo says. "I was also thinking about asking Rainbow about delivering the weather schedules and updates."

"Ain't no reason you can't do both," Applejack says with a smile. "Just make sure it doesn't interfere with your schoolwork. You don't want to be delivering things your whole life, do you?"

"But, isn't that what the mailponies do?" Scootaloo says, a light coming on in her head. "Hey! Maybe I could be a mailpony!"

Sweetie Belle pushes forward a little, "Does this mean that we can have some bits? We could get a new ball!"

"Yeah!" Scootaloo adds, "Especially since we'll be working and all!"

Applejack's mouth purses back, a quick glance at her stallion, her eyes saying everything that he already knows. He leans back a little, his hand going to his mouth as he considers the fillies' request.

"Please, Daddy?" they chorus, looking up at him with wide eyes. Applejack stifles her snort; Doug always gives in to that, the big softy. "Pretty please?" they continue, Apple Bloom tentatively putting a hoof on his knee, the other two quickly following along.

"Well, I don't suppose it would be that bad an idea," Doug says, an apologetic glance at Applejack. The mare cautiously smiles back, her expression clear that she hopes he isn't giving away the farm. "You all do need to learn basic money management." He gets up, heading to the office and coming back with a pencil, a few sheets of paper, a small bag, and the folder the herd keeps their finances in. He sits down, cross legged as he glances to Applejack before focusing on Scootaloo, saying, "So, what do you think a courier gets paid?"

"What's a courier?" asks Scootaloo, glancing to her sisters.

"A deliverypony," says Sweetie Belle, "Like, if you got that job with Rainbow hoofing out the weather schedule. Or delivering packages."

"Oh." Scootaloo puts a hoof to her chin as she thinks, "Um, maybe ten bits an hour, and it only is about three hours of work a week if I took the job with Rainbow."

Applejack's eyes bug out a little at the thought of losing nearly one hundred bits a week to the fillies. She stammers, shaking her head a little; fortunately for her Doug intervenes, saying, "Well, if you got a job paying that much that would be great, but unfortunately we can't give you that much of an allowance unless you are spending it on essentials." The bag jingles as he pulls out twenty bits, spreading them on the ground between him and the fillies. They look at the bits, more than they generally see around the farmhouse.

"What's essentials?" Apple Bloom asks, a quick glance at the table before her gaze returns to the bits in front of her. "Hay and stuff?"

Doug nods, "Yup. Major things like food," he pulls away three bits, making a small stack next to his leg, "Lodging, which is where you are sleeping, renting a room, that kind of thing," five bits disappear, a slightly larger stack, "Taxes are another big one," eight of the bits slide away, "Medical bills or insurance," as two more bits join the rest, leaving a mere two bits remaining in front of the fillies. They gaze longingly at the bits stacked next to his leg, then back at the two bits in front of them, glancing back and forth between each other.

Applejack asks, "What's insurance?"

Doug knocks the side of his head with the heel of his hand, "Oh, right, you don't have that. Actually, you do, it's just more like single payer." At the ponies' blank stares he continues, "You pay for minor treatments and checkups, while the government helps pay for the big things, like Rainbow's hospitalization, and a portion of your foaling costs."

"Oh, right," Applejack says. "Continue."

"Then there would be utilities, paying for the weather, though I think that we consider that taxes. Then, you want to save for the future, in case something happens." Doug slides one bit away, the last bit sitting all alone. "Leaving not a lot of money for whatever else we would like to buy." As the fillies' continue staring at the bits he sighs, "Anyway, there are a lot of expenses that we need to keep track of." Doug pulls out the folder, opening it up to the third page. "This is a list of all our expenses." He flips back to the second page, "And this is a list of all the money that we have coming into the herd. The fourth page is a copy of Rarity's Boutique expenditures and income." He pulls the bits out, making stacks of five in front of him, "Each of those bits represents about five percent of what we spend. As you can see, the money coming in and the money coming out are pretty close to each other, though we are saving a little bit each month."

Sweetie Belle looks at the numbers closely, Apple Bloom right next to her. Scootaloo holds a hoof to her head, the numbers all starting to swim next to each other, the cramped writing on the tightly spaced page. Scootaloo says, "So, you're saying we aren't going to get anything?"

Doug shakes his head, "No, I'm trying to give you an idea of what it's like being an adult. A lot of it isn't very fun, but necessary. So, we can let you each make a few of those choices. If you prove you are up to the task, and can manage your money responsibly, then we can let you take more and more control over the decisions you make as far as finances go. For instance, let's say you get your thirty bits a week." Doug puts his hand into the bag, withdrawing ten more bits.

Scootaloo interrupts, "I'd make more than that, 'cause I can work more than just the one route."

"Sure, but let's keep our example small, for the moment." Doug slides the thirty bits in front of the pegasus, "What do you want to eat for breakfast?"

Sweetie Belle exclaims, "Ooh! Donuts from Sugarcube Corner!"

"Hey!" Scootaloo says, crossing her hooves over her chest, "I'm answering here!" At Sweetie Belle's shy nod Scootaloo thinks for a few seconds, saying, "Um, muffins at Sugarcube Corner. And an orange juice!"

Doug smiles, "Okay, that sounds delicious. How much is that?"

Scootaloo pauses, tapping her hoof several times against the floor. "Four bits?"

Doug nods, taking four of the bits back, "Sounds about right, especially if you got the big muffins. So, how much per week?"

Scootaloo stares blankly at Doug, the gears slowly turning as Apple Bloom sighs, answering for her sister, "Twenty eight bits."

Scootaloo glares, "Hey, I was getting there!"

Sweetie Belle taunts, "You know, for a-"

"Finish that sentence," Scootaloo glares, spinning and pointing a hoof at Sweetie Belle. "I dare you."

Sweetie Belle gulps as Applejack says, "Now, Scootaloo, no need to threaten your sister. And, Sweetie Belle, Ah don't know what you were about to say, but if it weren't nice then you shouldn't be saying it at all."

The two sigh, saying together, "Yes, Applejack."

Doug smiles, "Okay, so Scootaloo, how many bits does that leave you with."

"Um... two bits?" Scootaloo counts out two bits, then counts out the other twenty four bits, sliding them back to Doug with a heavy sigh.

"Good! So, working your three hour job gets you buying breakfast at Sugarcube Corner instead of eating hay and drinking apple juice here." He glances to Applejack, "What's our cost of breakfast here, wholesale?"

Applejack motions to the folder, "You have it there, but Ah'd say less'n two bits a week for hay'n juice."

"Mostly because we have an abundance of hay, but that sounds about right." Doug turns to each filly in turn, "And, if you three want to start making those decisions, we can let you. But, and this is the hard part, you will have to live with the consequences of your choices. Your dams and I won't bail you out if you need money for something and you've frittered it away eating at Sugarcube, or wherever the money went."

Scootaloo says, "Okay, so I don't eat at Sugarcube Corner every day. You saying I would get to keep the, um, twenty eight bits a week then?"

Doug nods, "If that's the scenario, then yes; you would essentially be saving those twenty eight bits a week, in order to spend on something else." As the filly's eyes grow wide Doug leans over, "Just remember, however, that you won't be getting thirty bits a week to spend on breakfast." A sigh from the three fillies, disappointed at the news. Doug tries to give them a reassuring smile, "I know we don't have the numbers here broken down, showing exactly what we spend on you three, but if you would like we can come up with some of them, especially in areas that you might have some leeway as to what you spend your bits on. Such as food, or entertainment, though you'll have a hard time beating your dam's prices."

"Oh," comes Scootaloo's tepid reply. "But, if we were working, we could spend that money?"

"Most of it," says Applejack, "At least, whatever we pay you is yours to spend. If'n you get a job somewhere else, we might need to pull out some for taxes."

"And that's because we file as a herd," Doug adds, "But you really don't need to worry about taxes just yet."

"Okay!" the three chorus, trading happy looks as they scamper away, discussing what sort of 'help needed' signs they had seen around town.

16 Smothering Tendrils

September 12th, 998

"Oh, ponyfeathers," Rarity moans, looking outside the Carousel Boutique. Doug walks over, glancing outside at the many ponies disappearing into their houses, the muffled shouts as they warn each other of the coming danger. "Well, there goes the rest of the business for today."

"What just happened?" Doug asks, a touch of worry in his voice as he cautiously walks to the window, trying to spot the disturbance and failing. "Is something going on? I don't hear the siren."

Rarity shakes her head, a heavy sigh as the mare turns away from the window. "No. The rest of today might just be the slightest bit of an overstatement. Well, I'm not going to need to work in the front of the store for a few hours." She swoons back, her 'woe is me' look lost on Doug as he stares out the window.

"So, all that time I spent cleaning up in the back, like you asked, is going to be wasted by you going on another creativity spree?" Doug rolls his eyes, a mocking impersonation of Rarity's heavy sigh as he shakes his head.

"Oh, hush, darling, my bouts of inspiration aren't that bad." Rarity holds her head up, flicking her tail back and forth, "Now, I don't know if there is any space in the back room for anypony who doesn't apologize for such an uncharacteristically rude remark." She walks towards the back room, a haughty look over her shoulder at Doug.

The human considers for a few moments, one hand stroking his chin, before he walks to the front door and grabs his light rain jacket and one of the old bags he used to transport gems, loaned to the Diamond Dogs and now emptied into Rarity's many boxes. "Alright, then," he says, a wave and a smile for Rarity as he opens the door. "Good day!"

Rarity huffs, "You aren't serious, are you?" She stares, her mouth hanging open in disbelief as he dons the jacket and walks outside. "Darling! Wait!" She rushes forward as the door shuts behind him. She calls into the thick glass, "It's not safe out there!" Her warning falls on deaf ears, the solid construction blocking the noise. Rarity watches from the window of the Boutique; she gasps as she spots a mysterious brown figure pawing at the ground off in the distance, Doug's path taking him closer and closer to... her.

Doug stretches as he walks out of the Carousel Boutique, glancing around at the deserted streets. Well, the sooner he gets to Fluttershy's cottage, the better; hopefully the mare isn't too terrified by whatever is happening. He pauses for a moment, seeing a figure he has only glimpsed once or twice in Ponyville, giving her a quick wave.

Though it is difficult to make out under the brown hood, the mare's mouth twists to a smirk, "Hello, Doug! Again, I see; would you like to come pick herbs with me?"

"Hey, Zecora!" Doug says in a loud voice, his long strides eating up the distance between them. His voice trembles a little, "Um, out in the Everfree?" At her nod, he reluctantly says, "Um, sure, I guess, but... is it really safe out there?"

"Of course, for there we will tread, the many dangers blue and red; for perils, those unseen, we will use this powder green." Zecora reaches a hoof into a worn bag, withdrawing a measured hooffull of green powder. Doug gets a few feet away from her and she blows, a cloud of green dust billowing around him. He coughs, waving his arm in front of his face as his other goes to his mouth, trying to stop himself from inhaling any more.

From her store, Rarity gasps as Zecora takes Doug's sleeve in her mouth, leading the human into the Everfree Forest. The unicorn fearfully glances from side to side, her hooves covering her head as she shakes. "This is all my fault!" she moans loudly, falling to the floor, "No!" she shouts, slapping herself on the chin with a hoof. "Ow," she groans, shaking her head from side to side at the pain. Her head quickly raises back up, "I need to tell somepony!" She dances on her hooves for a few seconds before saying, "Rainbow Dash! She'll be able to help the fastest!" and darting outside the Boutique.

Doug rubs at his eyes, finally getting a little vision back. He glances around, the black and white trees around him looming ominously. The cloaked figure next to him still pulls his arm along, leading him along the wide clearing the catapillt made when it attacked. A large number of dark colored flowers are blooming on both sides of their path, Zecora following a winding route that avoids all of them. "What the hay was that?" Doug asks, a little testy about the whole situation.

"A powder of my own mix, the problem of no light to fix," Zecora responds, letting go of his sleeve. "The flowers to each side, beware, their use is many but one must take care, to never touch the petals with bare skin, or else face curses thick and thin."

"Got it." Doug looks around, the sun shining in the sky but darkened, white clouds against a gray sky. "Why is my vision black and white?"

"Your color sight has been subsumed, for something must be consumed, to grant you this dark sight, for the Everfree can be as night." Zecora carefully plucks several dozen of the flowers, Doug holding the bag open for her. The two leave the field of gray, coming to a fast running stream, the water babbling loudly against the birds tweeting back and forth.

"Do you plan these rhymes out in advance? Or just very talented at it?" The two take a right turn at the stream, the sun disappearing from the sky as the trees completely cover them. They occasionally splash into the stream, bare feet and hooves against the well worn stones of the streambed.

Zecora smirks, "Alone I am most of the days, plenty of time to plan my plays, few questions difficult to predict, and as such easy to depict." The two leave the stream, a hush coming over Zecora as she stops. The two hold their position for several seconds, silent except for the human's soft breathing. She sighs, "I did not wish this to be used, but necessity cannot be refused." She pulls out a vial of gray liquid, a drop to Doug's nose as the human hunches over.

Doug gasps, trying not in inhale. Fumes from the droplet spray off from his nose, distorting the air in front of his face. Anywhere he looks through the hazy gas is starkly lit in deep blacks and bright whites. The forest around him lights up, the stream turns to a void, the banks of the stream faint lines of color twisting and turning around the trunks of trees. "What did this one do?" he asks quietly, trying to keep his breathing low and steady.

"This is a vial of dark detection, to show the corruption's reflection." She holds the vial up, an inky blackness gripped by a faintly glowing hoof, the rest of her body etched in sigils of white despite the cloak on her. "A Timber wolf has been here soon, perhaps more will come before the moon." Zecora shakes her head, motioning with an etched hoof, "Everywhere that they have tread, brightly lit for us to dread."

"Yeah, plenty of that going on," Doug says, his voice shaking as he backs into the stream. "Your house isn't far, is it?" He shudders as he takes another step, his foot slipping in the barely visible water. "I want my rock."

Zecora confidently strides through the water, Doug struggling to keep up, "My humble abode is not far, a stone's throw from where we are. Remain strong, for you will see, the ring of bright around my tree."

Doug grunts, "Yeah, easy to say, right?" as he tries to stay in the tight corridor of black, both banks of the stream swamped in white. The two come around a bend in the stream, a dazzling circle of white and black appearing in front of him. The colors swirl into and out of each other, tiny dots of black in a sea of white that get engulfed by a tidal wave of black, a small white dot surfing along the center.

The slippery rocks offer no purchase to Doug's distracted legs; he overbalances, his foot sliding out from under him as he tries to regain his footing. The human tumbles down, his arms flailing to the sides, desperately trying to find something to grab onto. His hand slashes against the rough roots of one of the nearby trees, a heavy grunt as his back slams into the rocks under the water. Zecora glances back at the sound, a look of horror as she spots the trickle of red. Doug winces as he sits up, rubbing his back and hand and trying to wash the blood into the stream, putting pressure on his hand to try to slow the bleeding.

Zecora yells, "Tarry not, do not relent! If you wish flesh to not be rent!" A rumble can faintly be heard off in the distance, the zebra's eyes growing frantic as she reaches into her saddlebags.

Doug groans, "Oh, come on," as he struggles to his feet, slipping again on the smooth rocks. The rumble grows louder as Zecora pulls a small crystal vial out of her saddlebags, holding her breath as she fumbles with the stopper, trying to remove it with her mouth.

A loud smash from the side startles the two, both looking with wide eyes as two large trees crash down, the falling trunks a short distance from the stream. With only fearful glances behind them Doug and Zecora race along the banks as the small trees along the water's edge are bent to the side like twigs.

A huge orange creature bursts through the trees, violently roaring at Doug as he sprints away. The large red dragon wings on its back give it an unexpectedly powerful burst of speed, nearly catching him as it swipes with a large paw, the human barely staying out of range of the slashing claws.

Zecora twists, a midair leap as she flings the vial; it crushes against Doug's bare chest, the foul substance contained within splattering all over him. He gags, sinking to the ground and vomiting as the manticore's scorpion tail swings above him, the momentum from the swing of paw and tail taking the creature slightly off balance. Zecora sprints away, a loud ululation that draws the attention of the manticore as she dances from tree to tree.

The manticore glances down, a hasty step away from the extremely pungent odor; it looks back at Zecora, a vengeful roar as the zebra disappears behind the trees. It dashes off in the other direction, a rough path carved through the trees as it disappears into the dense foliage.

Doug grimaces as he glances to the side, his body convulsing as he tries to recover. He spits a bit more bile out as he slowly pushes up, crawling to the stream and trying to rinse his mouth and body off. A short distance in front of him Zecora peeks out from behind a tree, a sigh of relief the human is still alive. "Good thing I don't wear pants," Doug groans, splashing a little water against his face, trying to control his shaking limbs. "What the heck did you hit me with?"

"Let's just say that sweet scent is skunk musk, a vile ward against claw and tusk." Zecora pauses, backing away as he gets closer. "The scent of your blood I had to hide, for manticores are not the only ones that seek your hide."

"Yeah, well, thanks for that, but you are kind of the reason it was necessary." Doug continues walking along the stream, finally spotting the large tree as he breaks into the circle of black and white.

Zecora grimly nods, her tone slowly growing more chipper, "Yes, and I am sorry it was required, but since it has, in fact, transpired, I do hope that you would thus, help me find herbs more dangerous?" Her mouth stretches to a wide smile, the void where her eyes would be twinkling with specks of white.

Doug raises a finger, "On one condition." Zecora tilts her head as he says, "Say something without rhyming."

Zecora laughs, "Doug, I would rather with you lay, than not to rhyme the words I say." She gathers a few bags from her home, strapping them to her back as she smirks at him. "I have some refreshments inside, if you need a break before we ride."

Doug sighs, "Okay, fine, whatever. Lead on, rhyme all you want, what do I care." Zecora returns inside her house, grabbing a bowl of what he assumes is food and bringing it out, dropping it on the ground a good ten feet away from him. She moves to the edge of the circle, waiting for Doug to grab the meal.

"I am sorry but I must stay, at very least this far away, for if I get that musk on me, I will not collect the bee's honey." The zebra glances up, dark clouds barely visible over the Everfree canopy growing larger.

"Seriously? Just for honey?" Doug starts chewing a piece of bread, his tongue starting to taste the honey on the flat cakes. His face lights up, "This is really good; what's in it?"

The two start walking, Zecora leading a few yards ahead, a trail of white following behind her, "The honey of the sweat bees, know for their many properties, to keep one's water level high, even when the air is dry." The air above them booms, a stroke of lightning trading from one cloud to another. A light rain begins to fall, Doug zipping up his jacket.

"So, an antidiuretic? Why would you need that out in the jungle?" Doug glances back at the stream, then at the water starting to come down around them, "Especially when water is somewhat readily available?"

"The catapillt was not alone, for corrupting powers do not atone, they do not give up so readily, and the water fouls most easily. That stream we passed is quite unique, no other waters should we seek." Zecora comes across another stream, this one flowing a little faster. She backs up a little, a running leap to the other side and avoiding the water entirely.

As Zecora moves on Doug follows her path, easily clearing the brightly lit stream by several feet, the mud on the banks squelching as he nearly slips again. "So, you use the honey to venture further into the Everfree? Doesn't that seem, I dunno, a mite dangerous?"

"The bees that we seek, they cannot help but take a peek, should they catch a whiff of that musk, their home will be a barren husk." Zecora pushes past another set of branches, a giddy laugh at the prospect of getting more of the rare herbs, especially those she cannot collect alone. "Then other ingredients we might find, to brew potions for strength and mind."

Doug flatly stares at Zecora's back, huffing as the zebra doesn't turn back. "So, I'm bait."

Zecora laughs, "That won't be your only duty, I do need somepony to carry, all the ingredients that we find, I hope that you don't mind."

"Did you bring a bottle for them or something, or do you expect me to carry a bunch of ingredients mixed in this bag?" Doug grunts as he pushes through another overgrown section; at least there aren't any thorns, just sharp twigs and leaves, the woe essence Rarity crafted into the jacket crackling occasionally as its power is spent preventing small cuts and tears. At least the bramble patches are spread out, giving the essence time to recharge.

Zecora flashes a bottle from her saddlebags, dropping it back in as she continues on. Doug sighs, keeping up until he notices a bright circle on the ground, partially buried in the mud. He moves over, picking up the solid metal ring, about one foot in diameter, though he can't tell what it is with the black and white vision. Something heavy, though; not iron or steel. Maybe lead? Or gold? He shrugs, bringing the metal closer to his head; not feeling anything he shrugs, looking up at Zecora's retreating form. He opens his pack, the ring going inside, quickly zipping it back up as he hurries after her.

Several minutes of trudging through the forest later, the brambles feeling even more overgrown, and Doug nearly runs into Zecora. The zebra has stopped, looking up a twisted and rotten tree, a faint buzzing heard from above. "Can you smell their lair, high above?" Zecora asks, glancing back at Doug. "Or is your nose still stuck with foxglove?"

"Yeah, can't smell a thing," Doug says, still reeking of skunk. "Also, isn't that poisonous? What the heck did you hit me with?"

Zecora softly smiles, "It merely increases the potency, for what else would drive away both bear and bee?" She looks up to the tree, a few large bees starting to come out, "Now, just get a little closer to their hive, the rest of them should soon arrive. I will move to grab their honey, and maybe a larvae or thirty."

Doug gulps, "Did I mention I hate the Everfree?" as he moves closer, the buzzing around the hive increasing tenfold as the pungent odor reaches the insects inside. Thousands of bees, each the size of a tennis ball, swarm as they leave, making a beeline for the source of the stench. Zecora slinks to the side, swiftly climbing the tree and entering the deserted hive as Doug shuts his eyes, holding still as the bees land on him. "I thought you said it drives away the bees!" he yells, a deep breath as several of the bees land on his face. Fortunately, their constant motion allows him to continue breathing as they crawl over his body. Doug winces, tiny pinpricks along his skin as the bees probe every inch of his body, the bees two or three layers deep in some areas.

Meanwhile, back in the small clearing, four sets of hooves thunder along the forest, the brown earth pony in the lead coming to a halt. His three earth pony compatriots; one brown, one gray, one white; all stop, scanning the forest for any sign of movement as their black maned leader sniffs the ground. His nostrils pucker, his Spanish accent saying disgustedly, "What foul creature came by?" The four glance around before he says, "Ah! Look! The ground! The ring fell here, and now it is gone! We must follow the trail!"

"But, Doctor!" the dark gray earth pony says, "What creature leaves tracks like that?" The four look down, five small circles in front of two larger ones.

"Is it a Sass Squash?" the white pony asks, a stammer in his voice as he shakes.

"Don't be ridiculous!" the Doctor harshly speaks, "Those live near farms, not in the Everfree. Onwards!" The four give chase, the foul stench easy to track in the rain.

Up above, maneuvering through the tight treetops, a brown pegasus grits her teeth as she inspects her saddlebag, a long tear from an arrow leaving the ruined canvas empty. "Come on, it can't have been far, I wasn't that far away." She hears a muffled, 'Onwards' and gasps, holding onto her pith helmet as she drops out of the cramped canopy and abandoning stealth for speed. She slows down, her prismatic gray mane and tail swishing eagerly back and forth as she spots the four earth ponies charging through the forest. She unhappily sighs, the lack of a golden glint an even worse sign than seeing one of the Rings of Scorchero in Dr. Caballeron's possession.

17 Black Devotion

In the middle of the hive the heavy air reeks of sweat and body odor. Zecora quickly searches the orange honeycombs, her eyes darting back and forth over the innumerable cubbyholes for a virgin queen larvae. At the same time, her hooves dump gallons of the foul smelling honey into one large jar after another, the full jars finding their way back into her saddlebags. She grins as she spots her quarry, delicately plucking the royal jelly and larvae out of one of the honeycombs. She smirks at the small insect, a smaller jar containing the writhing creature. Finished ransacking the hive, she turns, poking her head out of the otherwise deserted area, gasping as she watches four earth ponies break out of the jungle below.

"Why, hello there!" calls the earth pony in the lead, his black slicked mane ignoring the falling rain. Doug is standing still, a slight turn of his head not visible as the bees swarm around him. The four creatures in front and one above shine brightly despite the bees between them. Dr. Caballeron says, "Slow going?" addressing the column of bees, unsure if this is the creature that took his ring or if it might know where to look.

Withers, the white stallion, nervously says, "Um, boss? Are we sure?" The other two earth ponies shuffle back and forth, slight nods at their compatriot's question, glancing around at the cacophony of raindrops hitting the leaves and ground.

Dr. Caballeron shakes his mane, "Stand your ground!" He turns back to the swarm of bees, "Now, I don't know if you happened to find a certain golden ring of mine, but I want it back. Now." He smirks, taking a threatening step forward, his henchponies quickly following suit and growling menacingly.

A white pith helmet sticks out of the low hanging branches, a brown muzzle following soon after. Daring Do mutters to herself as she readies her whip, trying to figure out the situation and when she can steal the ring back from whichever pony or creature has it. But, she needs to find the ring first, and it's obvious none of the ponies have it. Her eyes narrow as she spots the zebra in the hive; what sort of game is happening here?

Dr. Caballeron laughs, "Ah, a creature of few words, I see. Well, I have traveled a long way for this ring, and I am not leaving here empty hooved." He paces back and forth, his eyes narrowing at the swarming statue. "Then, let me make it worth your while, mister... bee creature. I will set fire to you and your hive unless I find the ring in my possession."

Doug raises one arm, pointing the bee covered limb at Dr. Caballeron. He bellows in as deep a voice he can manage, "I am the Dread Pirate Roberts!" The ponies in front of him glance at each other, Dr. Caballeron giving a nervous laugh. Doug continues, his ominous tone growing louder, "There Will Be No Survivors!" Up above, Daring Do disappears into the foliage, barely peeking out at whatever this new monstrosity is. Better to let those ponies figure out what it can do.

Dr. Caballeron laughs, "Okay, that's a nice act. Now, hoof over the ring, and nopony gets hurt." His henchponies slowly back off, Dr. Caballeron quickly saying under his breath, "Stand your ground!"

Doug raises both arms to the sky, Zecora gasping and reaching into her saddlebags. She throws a bit of green powder towards him. It strikes the ground, a large puff of green smoke billowing around his feet as he shouts, "THE DREAD PIRATE ROBERTS TAKES NO SURVIVORS! ALL YOUR WORST NIGHTMARES, ARE ABOUT TO COME TRUE!!"

The four ponies back up, hundreds of the bees swarming around Doug breaking off at the sudden appearance of the smoke cloud. Their buzzing mixes with the ponies' screams, the soft earth trampled as the three ponies dart around, trying to avoid their pursuers. Dr. Caballeron shouts, "Stand Your Ground!" to no avail, the stomping of hooves retreating in three directions, an angry grunt from the doctor as his henchponies flee into the jungle.

One arm lowers to Doug's side as he takes a stride forward, the other pointing ominously at Dr. Caballeron, more and more bees flying off his rapidly shrinking body, deeply chanting, "THE DREAD PIRATE ROBERTS IS HERE, FOR YOUR SOULS!" The bees swarm further out, a few drawing close to the brown pony. Dr. Caballeron decides he has finally had enough, frantically withdrawing and shouting, "I'll get you for this, Daring Do!"

Doug stands there for a few seconds, the sound of hoofsteps receding into the jungle. Zecora nimbly jumps down the tree, evading the sweat bees as some of them return to the hive, others continuing to congregate around Doug. He turns, looking at Zecora, "So, what now? And who is Daring Do?" Doug turns, looking up at the trees above, the shining white pegasus visible through the foliage, one arm pointing up, "And, who is that staying up there? Another one of that guy's henchponies?"

A rustle from the trees above, the brown pegasus poking her head out. She grunts out as she drops to the floor, hovering above the mud, "Hey! I'm not with those goons."

Doug swipes a hand, clearing away the fumes still emanating from his nose. "Rainbow Dash!" he exclaims, moving forward slightly. The pegasus slowly backs up, Doug realizing he is still covered in bees. And stinks to the high heavens. "Oh, um, right. Also, Rainbow, what happened to your voice?"

Zecora moves a little closer as Daring Do says, a quizzical look at the weird creature shedding bees in front of her. "Um, why do you think I'm, uh, Rainbow Dash?" At the zebra's blank stare and the swarm of bees still moving over Doug she says, "Ugh, sweet Celestia you stink. I hope, for your sake, that's some sort of curse." The zebra slips behind Doug, reaching up and undoing the clasp on his pack.

"You're not?" Doug swipes the air again, squinting at the pegasus standing in front of him. "There's more than one mare with such a beautiful prismatic mane and tail?" The soft clink of glass on glass comes as Zecora deposits the full glass bottles, her saddlebags now considerably lighter while the large backpack settles lower on his back.

"I'm flattered you think my mane is prismatic," Daring Do says, her tail swishing back and forth, "But's it's just there in black and white. And, I guess, gray, but that's really a combination of black and white." She sighs, "At least the dialogue will look better in the book. Anyway, um, I'm looking for one of the Rings of Scorchero. Big gold thing. You seen it?"

Zecora shakes her head as she steps away from Doug, a few of the bees following her and the slight stench she acquired, "On this magical artifact, I am sorry, but it must lie with another quarry."

Doug says, "Wait, I might have. Is this it?" He takes the pack off of his back, shooing away a few of the bees and setting it down, backing off a step.

Daring Do looks at him, backing up slightly. "This some sort of trap? Nopony trusts somepony this quickly. And just on their word."

Doug shrugs, "Well, that's probably as good an indicator you'll get, right? If you don't want it, well, so be it." He goes to reach for the pack before Daring Do holds up a hoof. The pegasus warily looks around before taking a cautious step forwards.

No traps are sprung, and Daring Do nervously reaches a hoof over, unzipping the pack and digging around inside the pitch black container. The rustling of flowers and the clink of glass on glass before her face lights up. She grins, trying to pull the heavy golden ring past the glass jars before a shouted laugh from behind startles her. The three turn, gasping as Dr. Caballeron and his henchponies exit the treeline again.

"You were bluffing!" Dr. Caballeron announces, "I knew it! I knew you were bluffing! You were working with the esteemed Daring Do all along!" The four earth ponies fan out, each of them a mean look on their muzzle. "And your trick to scare us away, you thought it was oh so clever, didn't you? Well, it has merely allowed us to witness the location of the ring." He sneers wickedly, "Dead or alive, I don't care, but I will have that ring! Get him!"

"You know what I'm thinking?" Daring Do smirks, brandishing her whip. The loud crack as it snaps out, an inch away from Bill's muzzle, the brown earth pony startling back.

"I hope it rhymes with fun," Doug says, pulling the pack onto his back.

Zecora stomps her hooves on the ground, a threatening look in her eye. She stares down Rogue, the gray earth pony stalling as they circle around each other, "Your choice to rhyme may bore, of all the choices you could pick more," the earth pony hesitates, wary of some sort of spellcraft from the strange creatures, "But I can think of only one, and that word is, simply, RUN!"

Doug and Zecora turn tail, dashing away as Daring Do laughs to herself, "You know, that's the word I was thinking of! But their-" she dodges Rogue, one of the earth ponies, as he tries to tackle her, "Hey! I'm trying to write the story here!" She casually sidesteps Bill's charge, both of them recovering and making their way into the jungle. "You don't want yourselves painted like the doo-"

Daring Do lets out a loud 'oofus' as she is tackled into one of the growing puddles by Dr. Caballeron, her muzzle smeared with mud. She spits out a bit of dirt, cringing in pain as he smirks above her, "You know, Miss Do, if you spent less time monologuing and more time executing your plans this would be less of a problem. After all, you remember the time with the Crystal Skull?"

"Oh, jeez, not this again," Daring Do moans as Withers ties her up. "Ow, watch the wings!" She flinches again as he secures the knot, her wings incredibly sensitive for some unknown reason.

"Sorry, Dare," he says, Dr. Caballeron glaring at him. "Just gotta, you know, make sure you don't escape again."

"Indeed," Dr. Caballeron continues, "After all, it was quite possibly one of the most epic struggles I have ever been a part of, the time I made out with the crystal skull."

"That's what you did with it? Eww," Daring Do smirks, following Withers as the three race into the jungle, their journey continuing upwards, the rain getting heavier as their hooves squelch in the mud.

"That is not! Ugh, please, I thought you wrote for children? How is that where your mind goes?" Dr. Caballeron glares back, staring at Daring Do.

"Hey, uh, might want to watch where you're running," Daring Do says, the three barely skidding to a stop before they would have toppled off a cliff into the raging river winding through the Rambling Rock Ridge. "Yeah, um, I'm pretty sure nopony wants to go in there. At least cat four," they glance down, spotting Bill and Rogue running along the canyon edge, trying to follow something in the water below. "And only somepony completely suicidal would dive in there."

"And why is that, Ms. Do? I swam a category four rapids before, if you remember, when I took the crystal skull from you. Upstream, no less!"

"Okay, that wasn't a cat four rapids, that was you in a boat. And we were going downstream. And these rapids don't stay cat four, they turn into cat five as you near the waterfall." She looks up, "And with this rain, it'll be at least a cat six, probably the entire way down." She stops, a hoof to her chin, "And then there's the waterfall."

"So, then, I hope your friends decide that you are more important than that ring very quickly, or you will all be taking a very short flight at the end of this voyage." Dr. Caballeron points a hoof to the waterfall in the distance, "Because otherwise, very soon, you will all be tumbling down! Just like you did when I took the crystal skull from your hooves!"

"Um, pegasus over here." Daring Do tries to flap her blue dotted wings, wincing in pain as she pushes, still restrained by the rope. "Ow. What the heck did you do to these ropes?" She glances at Withers, the earth pony shrugging, before she looks back at Dr. Caballeron. "Oh. Right. You were saying?"

Dr. Caballeron ignores her, galloping in sight of Doug and Zecora. The two are paddling hard against the current, trying to find a spot on the solid rock walls that they can grab onto and stop from coursing down the rapids. Doug has one arm firmly locked around Zecora's neck, helping keep the struggling zebra's head out of the water as his legs try to find purchase against the many smooth rocks in their way. Their deadly journey finally comes to a pause as Doug finds a good angle balancing against two rocks, one leg on each, Zecora desperately holding on as the water threatens to push them over.

"Well, you two, it seems we are at an impasse! You are no match for my brains, and I am... wait, I am plenty of a match for you! I suppose I can offer you a deal!"

"I really just want to go home!" shouts Doug, "Can you promise me that?" He maneuvers Zecora, the zebra now between him and the rock, her denser body riding lower in the water.

"No, Roberts! Don't do it! You must save the Ring of Scorchero, you mustn't let it fall into the hooves of Ahuizotl!" Daring Do cries, struggling against the ropes.

Doug shouts, "Who are you talking about? And I really want to make it out of this alive!" His body bobs up and down, his legs tensing against the rocks, the last two semblances of safety between them and a six hundred foot drop.

Dr. Caballeron laughs, "A wise choice, Roberts! I have plenty of rope over here."

Doug nods, waving an arm, "Yeah, sure, that's great! Throw me the rope!" The other holds onto Zecora, the zebra whinnying in fear.

Dr. Caballeron continues, yelling, "But, I do not expect you will accept my help! Because I am only waiting around to kill you!"

Doug shouts, "What? I don't think you're supposed to do that. Or tell me that you're going to do that."

Daring Do retorts, "Yeah, and I thought I was bad with the occasional slip of the tongue."

"Oh, please, Miss Do." Dr. Caballeron shakes his head, "You thought there were extra dimensional aliens, that time I acquired the crystal skull from you!"

"Hey! I was proven right about that! The device beamed up one alien, putting it somewhere in Equestria. I'm sorry I thought they were archaeologists." Daring Do pouts, looking to the side as Dr. Caballeron turns towards her.

"And your breaking of the device, preventing all of us from learning its secrets?" Dr. Caballeron stamps a hoof, glaring at Daring Do. "Think of what we could have gained from such a device! The knowledge! The profits!"

"Hey, um, I do not suppose you could speed this up? Even if you're only waiting around to kill us?" Doug yells. "I'll take pretty much any guarantee, or no guarantee! I just don't want to die falling from that gigantic waterfall over there. I only trust it slightly less than I trust you!"

"Oh, please, is that all you think of?" Daring Do paws the ground, "The bits you could get from selling something?"

"Really, Miss Do?" Dr. Caballeron laughs, turning to gaze at the stranded duo. He taunts, "And you are so much more noble with, what, your idea that everything belongs in a muse- Aaaah!"

Daring Do rears back, bucking Wither in the side. The white pony stumbles back, coughing loudly as Daring Do charges Dr. Caballeron. The surprised brown pony grunts as her head and shoulder impacts his side, knocking the two over the edge of the cliff. Daring Do tries to flex her wings but the movement is extremely painful, the ropes still tied around her and refusing to come loose. The two scream for their lives as they plummet down the steep ravine, the raging water below eager to devour them under white waves.

18 Hidden Vaal Pathways

Dr. Caballeron slams into the water, a torrent of white erupting above him as his hooves hit the bottom of the river. Powerful muscles flex, propelling the earth pony to the surface. He breaks out of the water just as quickly as he went under, gasping for breath as he desperately paddles upstream. Shouts come from above, impossible to make out over the crash of the rocks around him, the rapid water slowly leading him towards Doug and Zecora despite his best efforts.

Daring Do smacks into the surface next to Dr. Caballeron, a loud crack as she disappears under the waves. Several seconds pass, a seeming eternity as the raging waters churn down the ravine. To Doug's sight, two bright forms hit the dark water, one surfacing and trying to paddle away while the winged one sinks to the bottom, unmoving.

"Zecora, hold on tight!" Doug yells, maneuvering the zebra to keep his legs locked in place. She whinnies in fear, shaking her head as he lets go. She grimaces, trying her best to keep his legs pinned against the rock. Doug flops to the side, his back screaming in pain as he reaches out underwater, his eyes barely able to make out the shining white form drifting lifelessly along the bottom. One arm reaches out, snagging the pegasus' hind leg while the other struggles to reel his body back, thrashing against the surface.

Doug's head snaps out of the water, a deep breath to his screaming lungs, his hand splashing waves away from him as he drags the limp pegasus out of the water. He spins Daring Do to her side, blue spots clear on her wing. Doug pulls her close, trying to find if the pegasus is breathing over the crashing water surrounding them. A brown hoof rams his side, Dr. Caballeron desperately trying to hold on to anything in reach as the water threatens to send him hurtling over the waterfall. The human staggers, only held in place by Zecora's body pinning his legs against the rock, the stallion's hoof slipping from his body and grabbing hold of the corner of the rock.

Dr. Caballeron stares into Doug's eyes, pure orbs of fear into a swirling haze. The stallion tries to shout something but a wave of water slams into his mouth, leaving him sputtering for air. One hoof goes to his chest, trying to help him cough up the liquid in his lungs, his eyes growing wide as he realizes it was the hoof with which he was holding onto the smooth rock, no longer able to hold onto anything as he slips away.

An arm reaches out, grabbing his hoof, Doug roaring with primal rage as he hauls the earth pony back to him. He yells, "Hold on, you whorse!" as he lets go, his attention turning to Daring Do. The pegasus is still not breathing, Doug frantically trying to remember what to do. Chest compressions? Mouth to mouth? He starts with the first, pushing the mare against the rock as Dr. Caballeron clings to Doug's back with both hooves. A rope splashes down next to them, Doug ignoring it as he continues to compress her chest again and again, hoping against hope he is pressing against the correct spot as he feels the ribs bend underneath him.

Zecora gasps as she notices the blue dots on Daring Do's wing, the zebra reaching into her waterlogged saddlebags and pulling out a small vial. Daring Do coughs, expelling the river water from her lungs as she turns against the rock. Zecora dumps the vial over the pegasus' wing, the pegasus continuing to retch as Doug holds her firmly in place.

Dr. Caballeron shouts, "Ah ha! It is mine!" as he grabs the ring from the open pack. He struggles to pull it out, digging deep with both hooves as it pops free. He turns, leaping away from the rock and grabbing the rope with one hoof. He laughs, a mad cackle as his three henchponies haul him up, waving the ring back and forth as if to say goodbye to the doomed three. Daring Do turns, glaring at the stallion as Doug unties the rope from her cleansed wings. Dr. Caballeron shouts out gleefully, "Many thanks, Daring Do! For without your help, I would not have be-"

He drops the ring as he staggers; his hooves seem to deflate, losing their ability to hold onto things, the stallion madly clinging to the rope, all four clutching limbs covered in blue spots. The ring falls down, landing in the river, quickly swept away by the swift current. Dr. Caballeron's shouts as his henchponies drag him up and over the edge of the cliff, difficult to make out over the raging rapids, "NO! I'LL GET YOU, DARING DO!!"

Daring Do shouts, "No!" as the ring slips under the water. She stretches her wing, amazed at the lack of pain, and bursts out of the ravine. She flies down, watching the waterfall for the telltale hint of gold, flitting back and forth and growing more and more desperate as she cannot find the artifact.

Doug winces in pain, the zebra still pinning his body against the rock. He pushes her away, trying to maneuver Zecora to a position where the zebra is not crushing his legs. She slips against the smooth rock as she tries to get up, her front hoof smacking him in the side of the head as she tries grabs for anything to hold on to, searching for either the rock or for him. Doug topples back, slightly dazed from the hit, managing to take a deep breath just before he crashes into the water. He sees Zecora on the opposite side of the canyon, flailing sigils of white and black as she tries to swim upstream. Doug spots a bright ring of white shining on the river floor, quickly maneuvering towards it. He dives down, one hand grasping for the ring as his body rushes past, managing to grab on as he is swept by. The ring in hand, one arm comes up over the water, briefly bringing his head above the waves to take a deep breath as he lunges towards Zecora.

Daring Do finally spots the golden ring cascading over the waterfall, much later than she expected. She darts forward, latching on and pulling, a squawk of surprise as the unexpected weight drags her down and into the water. Her wings beat, straining against the water as she tries to get away from the crushing, tumbling force. She falls, twenty, thirty, forty stories before she breaks away from the waterfall, gasping as she sees two hands holding onto the ring. She loops both elbows around the ring, desperately pulling the rest of Doug out of the waterfall, fifty stories down now and falling fast. A zebra follows, clinging to Doug's torso, his legs wrapped around her barrel.

Daring Do strains, her wings beating hard and fast as she puts out as much force as she can, trying to slow their descent just a little more. The three slam into the water, their splash a mere drop compared to the thousands of gallons pouring down around them. Their grasp broken, each tumble under the deluge, the two equines searching for anything to orient themselves as they spin about, the turbulent water forcing their bodies under and giving them no indication of where to go.

Something grips her hind leg, Daring Do trying to kick it away before it tugs her closer, overpowering her feeble attempt to get away. A bubble escapes her mouth as she sighs to herself, closing her eyes, letting herself be dragged to the bottom. After all this time, devoured by a plunge pool dwelling monster. At least the ring is going with her, never to fall into Ahuizotl's paws. Something tightens itself around her neck, her forehooves failing to force the vice-like tentacle pulling her along.

Daring Do gasps as her head breaks the water, the dark storm clouds overhead blocking out any vestige of the sun and continuing to dump rain on them. Daring Do looks over at her savior; the Dread Pirate has one arm helping support her, the zebra clinging to his back. She gives a heavy sigh, just resting against his arm and trying to recover as they float down the Ponyville River, a slight frowns as he paddles to the side just a little, not making for the shore like she wants him to.

A brief splash to the side as Doug grabs something and says, "Well, we made it." He looks at Zecora, "Just so you know, I blame you for this."

"This adventure I did not foresee, I merely wanted herbs for my remedy. But, when disaster struck, we did not make it out just thanks to luck." She squeezes his body a little tighter before relaxing again, just letting them drift.

Doug smiles, "Hey, thanks for that, and you're welcome." Zecora nods, smiling at him, a few moments before he says, "So, Zecora, what was in that vial? That healed her wing?"

Zecora smiles as best she can, "A vial I will always take, when contact with Poison Joke one might make. It merely is a bubble bath mix, the blue dotted effects quick to fix."

"Oh. That's what those flowers are?" Zecora nods, resting against him.

"Hey, Dread Pirate Roberts. Thanks for everything back there." Daring Do shakes her mane as her wits return, "Really glad to be alive." She glances to the forest edge at the bank of the river, getting ready to fly off. She quietly gasps, dunking her mouth under the water as she sees a manticore prowling along the banks, unwilling to test her sore condition against the manticore's wings.

Doug nods along, "Yeah, me too, just glad to be alive and uninjured, just sore. By the way, the name is Doug. I just took on the Dread Pirate Roberts name because, well, nopony would surrender to Dread Pirate Doug Graves." He reaches up, a soaked pith helmet finding its way to Daring Do's head. "Also, you forgot this, Daring Do, if that is your name."

"Hey, thanks!" Daring Do exclaims, adjusting the helmet, content to continue drifting down the river. "Actually, I think that second name is a mite scarier," Daring Do says, a bit of a wink.

"Heh, that's probably true, but I don't really want the publicity, not really." Doug starts paddling, slightly speeding up their journey along the river.

"Hmm. Well, I might need to modify a couple other things about what happened, make it a little more believable, but, you know, it should be fine." She turns to Zecora, "How do you feel about being a Jungle Queen?"

"A designation I do not mind, a fitting calling for my kind." Zecora turns to Doug, "Doug, I hope that you don't mind, since in our journey we did not find; I hesitate but I must ask, will you come back to complete our task?" Her smiles beams at him again, trying to wrap her muzzle around his body so he can see her.

"You're kidding, right?" Doug glances back, the short shake of the zebra's head enough for him to sigh loudly. "Fine. On one condition."

"Doug, I am afraid that I must say, I do not think Daring Do will join in this three way."

"What? Why-" Doug's head dunks underwater, courtesy of a certain pegasus. He comes back to the surface, sputtering and spitting water out of his mouth. "What was that for? That wasn't my-"

His head goes under again, this time from the zebra pulling him backwards. Daring Do laughs as they float down the water, her mirth disappearing as Doug does not resurface. "Hey, you can let him up now, Zecora."

The zebra raises her hooves, "I am not holding him under, for where he went, I-"

Zecora disappears under the water, Daring Do gasping at the bubbles coming to the surface. She beats her hind legs, trying to get her wings out of the river when a torrent of water explodes next to her, showering her as she brings her wings up to keep the water out of her eyes. She yells, bracing herself as Doug grabs hold, her hat floating on the surface as the two plunge under the river.

The three surface, Zecora coldly saying, "That was a blunder."

Daring Do pops up from directly underneath her hat, "I don't know, Zecora." She points a hoof at Ponyville, the town coming into view as the rain finally clears up. The three leave the Everfree Forest, "I'm about ready to call it quits. Gotta get-" Daring Do glances around, diving under the water. She resurfaces, a desperate, "Where's the ring?" She glances to the sound of splashing, gritting her teeth as Doug paddles away from her. "Oh no you don't," she growls, flying above the river, a spray of water following behind in the air and a wake on the surface just underneath. She tackles the human, the two disappearing under the water with a small splash.

Several seconds pass before a mass of bubbles rise to the surface. Several more seconds pass before Doug surfaces first, dragging a retching Daring Do to the surface. "Sorry about that," he says, the mare heaving in and out.

"You kneed me in the gut," she drawls, shaking her wet mane over him. "I should knee you in the gut. My ribs still hurt from whatever happened back there." She glances around, "Besides, wheres the ring?"

"Oh, you mean this device?" Zecora asks, bobbing to the surface, the heavy golden ring camouflaged by her golden jewelry. "It fit so nice, he said I could keep it." She leans over as Daring Do flies near, a stage whisper, "I do not think he means it."

Daring Do reaches out a hoof, "Yeah, well, I need to take it for safekeeping. And I can't let anypony else know I was here, or word might get out of where I've taken it." Zecora sighs, removing the ring and holding it up. Daring Do takes it, glancing at her split saddlebag. "Well, it'll have to do." She flies off, grabbing a vine and wrapping it around the tear. Ring goes in the bag, bag around the pegasus, and the pegasus flies off towards the train station, waving goodbye to the two.

A few minutes pass, Zecora watching the forest before she paddles to the edge, Doug a few yards behind. She stands on the bank, finally able to dry her coat. Doug takes off his backpack, asking, "How the hay did you wear all that gold the entire time?" The zebra hoists the ill-fitting container to her back. She turns, a wave and a wink to Doug before she disappears into the trees.

Doug shakes his head, starting the trek back to Ponyville. He spots a gray rainbow blur in the darkening sky, a wave catching her attention. Rainbow zooms over, exclaiming, "Doug! You're alive!" Rainbow tries to pull up but plows into him, knocking the two to the ground. She wraps all four legs around him, her normally brash voice quivering, "We were afraid you were gone forever in..." she shakes as she eeks out, "The Everfree Forest!"

"And incredibly glad to be out of there," he says, Rainbow resting her tired wings and nestling her head under his chin. "Hows the rest of the herd?"

"I think they saw me zoom over." Rainbow glances back, her magenta eyes squinting in the evening light, "Yeah, they're gathering on the bridge, heading this way. What the hay happened out there?" Doug stands, picking Rainbow up as she continues, not giving him a chance to answer, "I mean, you probably noticed, but there's this huge storm out over the Everfree, so we couldn't safely send in a search party without it quickly becoming a dozen stranded ponies. And we didn't even know where you had gone!" She hugs him tightly from her perch on his back, "And so we were just hoping that you were okay, and scouting where we could." She squeezes even tighter, her forelegs nearly cutting off his airflow, "I'm so glad you're okay!"

The two reach the rest of the herd, mixtures of relief and disgust playing among the ponies' expressions. "Well," Doug says, "You're probably wondering what happened with me and Zecora."

"Yes, and why you smell so incredibly bad!" Rarity says, coming close for exactly one nuzzle before backing up several paces, grimacing at the stench.

"Ooh!" Pinkie Pie exclaims, "Did Zecora mix up an evil brew?"

"I don't know about evil, but there were potions involved," Doug says, "Actually, there was quite a bit of evil. And we danced with death a few times. The raging river especially. And the bad guys."

The mares gasp, Pinkie Pie standing on two legs and holding two forelegs to her muzzle. "There were eeevil dances?"

"Um, there was a big chase scene at the end, culminating with a waterfall," Doug says, groaning as he rubs his back, a collective gasp again coming from the ponies as they walk back. "I might have strained my arm and back." Rainbow grunts, not leaving her spot on Doug's back, merely trying to rest more weight on his hips.

Rarity, from out ahead of the group and upwind, asks, "And that powder she blew in your eyes! What did it do to you?"

"It was enchanted powder," another gasp, "That messed with my vision. Still have that going on, I can just see in black and white. Another one was really weird, this ghostly haze that let me see corruption. That one is gone now, though."

"She's an evil enchantress!" Pinkie Pie yells, dashing off.

Applejack nuzzles Doug, "Well, Ah've heard enough. Ah sure ain't stepping hoof into the Everfree, not unless Ah gosh darn have to." She walks alongside him, "But, Ah also know Granny Smith ain't gonna let you step hoof into the farmhouse, not smelling like that, so we might be bedding down in one of the barns. Ain't like Ah never did that growing up."

"Yeah," Fluttershy quietly adds, slowing down as they near her house, "I don't know if I really want to hear any more, especially if it's scary tales about the Everfree Forest. I'm glad you're safe, Doug, but I need to call off the animals searching for you."

"And I need to return to the Boutique, business picked up considerably when you were gone. So many ponies inquiring about and purchasing some of the sturdier clothes inspired from your more, ahem, rugged line. I think a lot of them were preparing to help out, if we did need to search through the forest. I do hope I don't get a lot of returns, now that the scare is over."

"How about you, Rainbow?" Doug asks, looking back at the pegasus, "You want to hear more about it?"

"Eh," she replies noncommittally, "If you really need to talk about it, but right now I'm just glad you're back and safe."

"Yeah, me too," Doug says, a relieved sigh as he, Applejack, and Rainbow walk through Ponyville, heading towards Sweet Apple Acres.

19 Ancient Rivalries

November 20th, 998

Applejack, Rainbow, and their four fillies are sitting around the table, the six silently eating their dinner of hay and bread sandwiches. A piece of hay occasionally falls, a tongue going down and lapping it up, the clink of plate against table as the muzzle pushes it around. A soft burp from Applebaum, nopony reacting as Rainbow follows suit.

A soft knock at the front door causes six heads to turn, the four smallest turning back to their plates as Applejack and Rainbow stare at each other. They both flick their heads at the door; Rainbow's mane flops to the other side, Applejack's ponytail swaying back and forth.

Applejack clears her throat, "Ah'm pretty sure the junior mare is the one who gets the door."

Rainbow retorts, "And I thought it was your house, and you're the host." She takes another bite, "Plus, it's probably Doug's moves, anyway."

Applejack huffs, "Well-"

They both stop, turning again as the knock on the door comes again, a little louder and more urgent. The door to Doug's office opens, the irritated human walking out, glaring at the two bickering mares before he opens the door. He forces a smile on his face, "Hello, Diamond Tiara." He looks out at the light snowfall, a trail of small hoofprints along the path to the gate. "What brings you here?"

Diamond Tiara stammers, "Oh, um, I just wanted to know, are Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo here?" She nervously glances around, Doug opening the door more and holding his hand to invite her inside.

"Come in, it's cold out there," Doug says, pulling his light pajama set a little tighter as Diamond Tiara cautiously walks in, shutting the door behind her. "Apple Bloom and Scootaloo are here, Sweetie Belle is with her dam."

"Oh, okay, that's fine." Diamond Tiara glances to the dining room, seeing the six ponies eating. "It's kind of cold in here, too."

Doug says, "I can get you a blanket, or maybe something warm to drink."

"Ooh! Do you have hot chocolate?" Diamond Tiara squeals a little, dancing back and forth on her hooves, "I like the kind with the little marshmallows!"

Doug smiles down at the filly, "I think we do, let me heat up some water for you." At the table Apple Bloom and Scootaloo snicker a little to themselves before going back to the small portion they have left.

"Thank you, Mister Apple," she says, a small smile up at him. Diamond Tiara moves to the table; most of the fillies have finished their dinner, Applejack and Rainbow starting on their second plate.

"Hi, Diamond Tiara! What brings you here?" Apple Bloom asks, a glance to her dam asking for permission to leave the table, Applejack nodding in return.

"Yeah!" Scootaloo says, a smirk on her muzzle as she hops back, "Your dam kick you out for putting a hoof on the table?"

"No! Not this time," Diamond Tiara huffs. "Silver Spoon just has some of her friends over." She mutters something unintelligible to herself, grunting, "Where's that hot chocolate?"

Doug peeks out from the kitchen, "Just another minute to warm the water. I'm sorry, but we're out of the kind with marshmallows."

"Oh," comes the haughty reply, "Just regular marshmallows will do, then."

"Sorry, Diamond, we're out of those too. Just regular hot chocolate." Doug motions back, "Maybe I can get you something else?"

The pink filly sighs, "Very well, just the hot chocolate, it'll have to do."

Scootaloo whispers to Apple Bloom, "Have we ever had marshmallows in our hot chocolate?"

Apple Bloom whispers back, "How often do we have hot chocolate?"

The two stare at each other, nodding at the same time, "Whenever Pinkie Pie is here."

"Whatcha talking about?" Diamond Tiara says as she walks over to the two.

"Nothin'," says Apple Bloom, a glance at Scootaloo. The pegasus stares back at her, her mouth quickly turning to a large smile.

"Is it about what game we'll be playing?" Diamond Tiara smiles as her hot chocolate arrives, a brief yelp as the hot cup burns her hooves.

"Um, we haven't figured that out yet," Apple Bloom says. She watches Diamond Tiara stare at her hot chocolate, waiting for the infernal liquid to cool down enough to be drinkable. "Sometimes, Ah like to blow on it to help cool it down."

"Well, maybe it shouldn't be so hot in the first place," Diamond Tiara says, a glance towards the kitchen, "Our stove knows how hot to make things." She gives a tepid blow to the hot chocolate, a short flick of her tongue confirming it is still too hot.

"Well, maybe next time you can make it yourself, you're old enough," Doug mutters to himself, forgetting the ponies' better ears. He says, a little louder as he leaves the room, "I'll be in my office."

Diamond Tiara turns back to her drink and huffs, "Ugh, maybe a spoon or something to stir it with."

Scootaloo pulls a leftover piece of hay from her plate, using it to stir the hot chocolate. She gives a small smile as she backs off, Diamond Tiara glaring at her. Scootaloo says, "Hey, it was around."

"I just hope it wasn't in your mouth," Diamond Tiara says with a grimace, continuing to stir the liquid. She looks "What's your sire doing?"

Apple Bloom says with a sigh, "Oh, it's some play by mail game the Pr-... um... some ponies up in Canterlot are playing with him. The rulebook is, like, thicker than our school textbooks. Ah think he's going to be playing it most of the winter. "

"Seriously? What kind of pony plays a game like that?" Diamond Tiara shakes her head back and forth, smiling as her hot chocolate reaches the desired temperature. She takes a sip, a slight frown at the bland taste, nothing like the rich chocolate she has at home. She quickly forces a smile to her face, remembering her dam's training as she takes another sip.

Rainbow Dash moves over, clearing all the plates, "I know, egghead games, right? But I've got the perfect game for us! It was one of my favorites growing up!" Rainbow Dash takes the plates and glasses to the kitchen, calling out, "I've got it up at my place, it'll just be a few minutes before I'm back!" Rainbow shuts the front door behind her as she zooms off into the dusk sky, the sun and moon trading places.

Applebaum moves over, "Mama? Can I go play with Daddy?" as Pomarbo lays down, taking a nap at the table.

Applejack nods, "If you're quiet, and he says it's okay. Have fun." She pats the filly on her head, Applebaum scampering to the office door. Diamond Tiara stares at the mare, raising one eyebrow. Applejack smiles as she moves over, "Ah sure hope that filly devotes as much time to studying as she does to those games of his." The mare gently lifts Pomarbo, placing the brown colt on her back.

"So, what game is it, exactly?" Diamond Tiara asks, trying to peek into the office from her spot, only managing to see a large map of Equestria along the wall.

"Atlas of Allies. Ah think it's set in the time when Nightmare Moon attacked, but imagines Princess Celestia didn't beat her sister with the Elements, and instead fought her to a standstill. And then Nightmare Moon goes off and rallies a bunch of her allies." Applejack shakes her head, "And then the players take the pieces, representing the forces of Equestria, and they move them around the board."

"Doesn't sound that hard," Diamond Tiara says, shaking her head.

A burst of cold comes into the house as Rainbow Dash opens the door, clutching a blue box in her hooves. "Who wants to play Storm Hunters?" She rips the cover off, revealing a blue and purple box. "The rules are simple. We each have five pieces, and you put them on your board, wherever you want. You guess an elevation; like ground, or sky, or strato; and then a number, like one or four. If that is where I had a piece, then it's a hit! and I lose the piece, and you get to go again. If you miss, it's my turn. And I'm undefeated!" Rainbow smirks, rubbing her hooves together as she looks around the room. "So, who wants to be my first victim?"

Scootaloo raises a hoof as Diamond Tiara says, "I'll play!" Scootaloo pouts a little as Rainbow nods at Diamond Tiara, the pink earth pony moving up to the purple side.

"It's okay, Scoots, you can play the winner. And that's gonna be me!" Rainbow smirks, scattering her pieces over her side of the board. "Okay, you ready Diamond Tiara?"

A long series of knocks comes at the door, Apple Bloom getting up and answering. Derpy Hooves is standing there, a package in her mouth. "Pakath fo' Col' 'Igga?"

"Okay! I'll take it to him," Apple Bloom says, smiling up at Derpy. The mailmare drops the package down, a brief glance at her list. She smiles down as Apple Bloom grabs the package, closing the door for the filly and flying off. "Daddy!" Apple Bloom calls, the package at her hooves, "You got more moves."

"Well, this is it," Doug says, opening the door to his office. A cheer comes from Rainbow as she scores another hit. "Time to see what happens." He takes the package, ripping open the paper and closing the door to his office.

"Ground four," Rainbow says, her smirk growing larger as Diamond Tiara glowers, pulling off her second cloud. "Just one piece left! You give up yet?"

"Never!" calls the filly, though only one of Rainbow's pieces is off the board. "Let's see wha-"

"YES!!" comes the shout from the office, all the ponies turning at the sudden interruption. "Suck it, Celestia!"

Applejack and Rainbow glance at each other, slightly mortified as the fillies giggle and quickly return to their game.

Meanwhile, in Canterlot:

In the center of the room sits a gigantic table, a blown-up map of Equestria spread on top. The land is divided into dozens of territories, hundreds of small pins of many colors dotting the landscape. The northeast corner of the board: the cities of Baltimare, Manehatten, and Fillydelphia, and the nearby mountains, are covered in black circles and pins. The rest of the board is dominated by white, though the forces are spread thin, each representing a garrison force and the small amount of influence they have. A token force is in the mountain city of Canterlot, more an honor guard than a serious defense force, with a larger white group surrounding the Crystal Empire to the north.

"Okay, do we have Cold Digger's list of moves?" asks Princess Celestia as she walks up, glancing over the gigantic map of Equestria. Captain Spitfire and Captain Shining Armor are waiting around the table, nodding in greeting to the princess. Spitfire has a rare expression on her face, boredom, while Shining Armor is nervously glancing over pages of notes and strategies. One orange pegasus guard with a blue mane is standing at attention at the door, watching outside.

"Not yet, Your Highness, but it should be arriving shortly," says Flash Sentry, glancing back to the princess. "Any minute now."

"Oh, ponyfeathers," says Shining Armor, one hoof rubbing his head as he looks back at the table, "Should we have hedged more?"

"Oh, whoop-dee doo, this again," Spitfire groans, rolling her eyes, "If we hedged any more she'd force a draw by holding all three cities on the last turn. It's been a textbook battle so far. Who does she think is riding to her rescue? She's been going for Crystal, but she doesn't have the forces to do anything with it."

The clop of hooves down the hallway gets the attention of the three ponies at the table. "Moves are here," announces Flash Sentry, bringing the sealed folder over. "Princess?"

Princess Celestia nods in thanks, her horn lighting. The folder of moves opens, long lists of troop movements, production queues, and battle orders. She scans through, the sealed envelopes of secret moves and contingencies laid to the side. "Everything seems to be in order," she says, methodically going through the list of moves for Nightmare Moon's forces.

"Ugh, she reinforced to hold Baltimare? I was sure she would retreat!" Spitfire glowers, looking at their own list of moves. "I suppose we wait another turn to capture, but that guarantees we take two cities and the win. Where did she pull back from?"

"Everywhere else, it seems; she even conceded Hollow Shades." Shining Armor sighs, "We'll still take Fillydelphia next turn, and the losses will be heavier for her than if we captured her troops in the mountains. And we'll take Baltimare too, you're right. What was the point of that?"

Flash Sentry glances down at the game board, a large mix of white and dark circles overlaid on the game board and slowly shifting about as the troops and their influence changes. The dark circles, Nightmare Moon's forces, are now forced into just three cities, all of the surrounding territory turning white. He says, "When it's like this, Celestial forces win, what, ninety percent of the time?"

"Ninety three," comes the fast reply, the unicorn looking over his notes. "But we haven't been pushing as hard, even though it's been pretty standard play. Nightmare forces on the retreat, their only hope is nearly gone. Normally they would have lost more ground, but she has kept up the retreat more sporadically than I expected. She's keeping us on our toes, not just letting us run roughshod over them. She's lost a lot more units, and kept us tied up and not capturing her cities, but now they're all stuck, her mobile forces all tied down."

"But, why not crush them before? Why wait until now?" Flash says, motioning at the small concentration of forces in the northeastern cities of Manehatten, Fillydelphia, and Baltimare.

Spitfire sighs, "We'd spread ourselves too thin trying to take all three cities at once that last turn, and she's got a very mobile force that can punish us splitting up. Figures a pegasus would know hit and run tactics so well." The Wonderbolt shrugs, "But now, her forces are all stuck. Even if she takes Crystal, we take three cities, two if we're unlucky, and it's a Celestial win. Easy."

"And why hasn't she built up more? That's what always happens when my sisters and I play." Flash motions to the turn marker, "We'd always have a much more even game by this point."

Shining Armor says, "Then Nightmare Moon's forces won't capture the Crystal Empire when Sombra attacks. And it's never worth it for the Celestial side to hold the mad King off and keep the Crystal Empire in the game. Once it's gone, there goes her chance for a flanking attack from the north. And if you play a textbook Crystal-less game, then Celestial's win is nearly guaranteed. You can pull all of your defensive troops you have to station around the Crystal Empire and bring them into the battle for whichever quadrant Nightmare tries to hold. If you think they are going to go for Crystal, and it's pretty easy to tell with how much they have spent on research, you either hit them hard before it comes into play, or make sure she doesn't invest enough in the Crystal Empire to do anything with it."

"And she didn't do that?"

"We'll have to see, my little pony." Princess Celestia holds up the folder of secret moves from the four previous turns of the game, adding the fifth one. "You have yours?"

"Well, we know what ours are," Spitfire says, pulling out five sheets of paper. "Blank, blank, blank, blank, blank. No bits devoted to secret projects."

Flash asks, "So all your bits went to reinforcement and more units?"

Shining Armor nods, "In order to keep up the pressure, yes. Her last defense was a little weak, but let's see. It's no good to get the Crystal Empire if you lose your stronghold in the northeast."

Princess Celestia levitates the first folder over, "Twenty on research reduction."

Spitfire's raises an eyebrow as Flash Sentry says, "With the turn multiplier, that's seventy out of two hundred."

The next folder tears open, "Twenty on Crystal, twenty on research reduction."

"Okay, so sixty for each of them. Sixty out of two hundred on Crystal, one thirty on research." Flash jots down the numbers on each of the research pages.

"Wait, full research? Why go for so many movement abilities?" Spitfire glances around the map, "She's got nowhere to fly to."

"Next folder is empty."

"Really?" glances trade around, Shining continuing, "I guess she did need to fortify the Foal Mountains that turn, and it paid off. That by itself bought her one of the cities not being captured until the last turn."

"Next one, turn four. Twenty on Crystal, twenty research, twenty on flight, and twenty on air evac."

Spitfire sputters, "Flight? Air Evac? Nopony gets those. Where is she flying?" She looks over the map, "All our forces have air defenses, boxing her forces in. We've whittled her down to three territories and we're taking each of those on the last turn, if not two." A horrified look comes over her face as Shining looks up, the two staring at each other. "She's going full Sombra."

Shining Armor drops down, "No." He bangs a hoof on the table, "Nopony's gone full Sombra in a professional game ever before and won. They lose everything else too quickly."

Flash Sentry totals the numbers, "Okay, so, forty each gives one hundred on Crystal, one seventy on research. Forty out of one hundred on flight. Forty on air evac, gives one air evacuation from a one friendly city to a friendly city, short range."

Princess Celestia rips open the last folder, "None on crystal, twenty on research and air evac. Ten on flight." She continues reading, "And contingency moves G if Nightmare takes Crystal Empire, H otherwise."

Shining Armor tosses down his pencil, having totaled the research in his head. "Let's see the moves."

Flash Sentry methodically adds the numbers nonetheless, announcing, "Okay, so two hundred on research, that completes. Half cost on all research costs as well as one free air evac, air drop, and land rush. So she finishes Crystal Empire. We didn't get halfway there to counter, so the Crystal Empire fully secedes to Nightmare Moon's forces. Flight finishes, doubling the range of air drops and air evacs. At thirty each, she has a total of three air evacs, one air drop, and one land rush."

Princess Celestia rips open contingency move folder G, sliding the paper to Shining Armor.

"Okay, evacuation orders Alpha. All surviving units in Manehatten air evac to Crystal Empire. Bravo: same thing, but from Baltimare. Charlie: same thing, from Fillydelphia." Princess Celestia pulls forty pins out of each city, moving them to the Crystal Empire in the northeast. "Okay, land rush. Thirty units each to Foal Mountains and Neighagra Falls. Loses two each from our defensive forces around Crystal." He sighs as the pieces slide over, "Cutting off our reinforcement to Canterlot." He reads the last order, "Yup. Air drop: sixty units from Crystal Empire to Canterlot. Loses one for each territory she flies over, and another ten from our forces surrounding the empire. So loses thirteen, lands forty seven. We can roll the dice, but I don't think the odds are in our favor."

Spitfire laughs, "What? We only need the equivalent of, what. A six, twenty times in a row? Doable." She leans forward, looking at the board. "How did she get the money for that?"

"We didn't take any cities." Shining Armor sighs, motioning to the board. "We advanced the first turn, and built up a lot of forces, and she full retreated. Classic Sombra. Counter to Sombra is to rush, everywhere, hard. And she managed to defend two spots, when we thought she would full retreat again the next turn. Takes heavy losses for it, but slows us down. Then, turn three, we take those territories, recoup our earlier losses. But, she reinforces instead of abandoning Foal Mountain. This delays our regrouping even more, buying her the fourth turn to dump money into evacs instead of reinforcements. If we had predicted the spots that she decided to defend then we would have forced her to spend a lot of bits on replacing those units. Then, she wouldn't have the full numbers to rush Canterlot. Or, without the land blockade, we would reinforce Canterlot, and the odds are about fifty fifty of a coup. If she has to reinforce twice then its about eighty five percent in our favor."

Princess Celestia picks up dozens of six sided dice in her magic, "Okay, what's the first thing that happens?"

Shining Armor looks at the arranged forces, "Okay, first off, Nightmare Moon's lead general and first company charges the palace guards. He rolls sixteen dice, we roll eight." Eight white dice and sixteen black dice fall from Princess Celestia's magic. "Okay, so, we lost three and won five. Not bad at all. Defensive multiplier knocks off eight troops." Five white dice roll against eight black dice. After a few more die rolls, "Okay, only the general lives on Nightmare side, we lost all of our guards. Great battle for us, commend the troops if we make it out of this. Next up, the throne room."

"Oh, dear," says Princess Celestia, her voice wavering, "I don't know that I've ever played a game where my throne room is assaulted. Canterlot, certainly, but to get this far?"

"Yeah, well, you're no slouch," Captain Spitfire says, her hoof on her chin as she looks up. "Oh, ponyfeathers, it's been a while since I've had to look at the Princess hit tables. What is it, the Princess takes out a troop when she wins the roll or ties. Loses a hit on a tie, ten hits total to beat her. But she loses outright if you have all rolls tied or higher than hers, with at least one higher, after lining them up. Still capped at five dice, something like that?"

Shining Armor nods as Princess Celestia levitates the dice back up, twenty white dice and a single black die falling down. They scatter around, bouncing here and there as Shining Armor pushes the next company of black soldiers into the staging area, Nightmare's second general leading the next wave of attacks on the throne room. A large Nightmare Moon figurine joins the third and last company of troops, a small tray keeping the units together. Spitfire and Flash hold their breath, the two watching the dice come to rest.

"So, what happens now?" Flash Sentry asks, looking at the scattered dice and starting to arrange them by number. There are lots of fives and fours and twos, a few three and ones, and a solitary six. On the black die.

Shining Armor glances at the die rolls, a double take as he tries to find a six on one of the white dice. He shrugs, incredulous at the outcome, "Well, one in two thirty isn't impossible, and it was a forgone conclusion anyway. Let's see. Canterlot falls, the Celestial forces surrender. The blitz against Princess Celestia succeeds, captured by Nightmare Moon's general." He motions to the Nightmare Moon figure, who would have attacked with the last company of black forces, "Since the general captured you, instead of Nightmare Moon, I suppose you would be her servant, as a reward for singlehoofedly subduing the great Celestia."

"Mm," Princess Celestia purrs, seductively licking her lips, "I can live with that."

Captain Spitfire's hoof slams into her forehead, a heavy sigh from the Wonderbolt as Captain Shining Armor and Flash Sentry trade confused glances.

Epilogue: One Year Later

June 30th, 1000 DS

Doug looks over from his book, the sleeping forms of five fillies strewn out on the floor. His middle three had roundly insisted that yes, this year would be the one, that this time it was different, that they would at least make it to moonrise on this, the longest day of the year. He smiles to himself, the wry kind when you start forcing yourself to do something and then decide that you like doing it as he carefully picks each filly up, two nestled in his arm and one of the youngest in his hand. Two trips later and they are cuddling together, a small heap of browns, and tans, and yellows, their manes a similar mix with the apple red and green thrown in.

He'll probably get them up early in order to watch Celestia raise the sun; it is an extraordinary sight, after all. Doug has only watched it from the farmhouse when Celestia is in Canterlot, barely able to make out the shining glow around the castle. Maybe next year he'll use the telescope that Rarity got for the fillies. This year he won't need it, after all. Next year, however, is when the big celebration will be in Canterlot. It would certainly be a nice vacation for the herd, but prices would be exorbitant. The herd was already getting offers to rent their rooms out to ponies who wouldn't mind the few hours walk to Canterlot and had the foresight to plan ahead, or queries from the Oranges from Manehatten about staying with family.

But, that is a decision that can wait for tomorrow, or the day after. Doug smiles to himself, looking over the fillies, all tucked away in their room. He yawns, feeling only slightly tired, and heads to the kitchen. It has been years since he has needed to pull an actual all-nighter, not since college so far away and long ago. Not just staying up late, making sure he will meet the deadline for emergency corrections to a weather schedule after a missed rainfall. Or for some massive storm that got out of hoof, throwing everything nearby out of order. Or watching some spectacular that Celestia put on at midnight, the warm bodies of his herd cuddling around him. Like many, if not all, of the ponies Doug prefers to do little during the night, unless there is a specific event going on. Even if there is, a lot of them only watch for Celestia's sake, the alicorn trying to keep the memory of her sister a pleasant one. Or at least remind ponies that there are pleasant memories of Princess Luna, and not just her murderous descent into Nightmare Moon.

Doug looks outside, half expecting to see Applejack making the trip back to the farmhouse with a cart of sleeping fillies behind her, but the road is deserted. He smiles to himself; maybe the trio will make it through the night after all. He glances back towards the foals room; it is tempting to head back to the party Pinkie Pie is throwing, but unless he wants to cart the fillies back and forth himself again he'll have to contend with the contents of the kitchen. Not worth the potential mishaps they love to get into if they wake and find there is no adult supervision. And it is quite unfortunate; Pinkie's parties tend to the amazing side. This one, despite it being such a huge event to everypony else, is just another party for Pinkie Pie, just the color of decorations a little different: the mare always goes all out. Especially as the parties get later and all the fillies go to bed; the mare has developed a much better flair for those kinds of parties ever since she joined the herd. Not that she ever let on when young foals could be watching.

The kitchen is a bit of a mess, the remainder of Lemon's attempt to gather food for each of her siblings. Doug cleans up the spilled oats and hay before grabbing some cheese, eggs, and bread. He deliberates; something salty would be good, but Applejack doesn't like it when he brings any of the meat in the farmhouse, complaining that the pungent odor lingers no matter how quickly he eats it. She doesn't even like making out after he's had a meal of it. Well, no sense in giving them something to complain about, not on such an important night. He hovers over the stove, looking between the eggs and frying pan before shrugging. He picks up a glass, breaking the eggs into the glass, and throwing the shells in the trash. He grabs a carton of apple juice and makes his way to his office, getting a head start on the August weather schedule.

Hours later a heavy knock at the front door reverberates through the house. Doug wearily glances up, checking the time; it is almost four in the morning, so most likely an irate Applejack with a sleepy filly or three. He sighs, grabbing the empty plate, glass, and carton. More food will help him stay up the next hour before he needs to wake the fillies, minus whichever pony or ponies fell asleep, and make it to and back from Ponyville. Why she didn't open the door herself, though, he grumbles to himself as he makes his way to the front door.

He opens the wooden door, looking down at a pair of golden horseshoes attached to long white legs. His gaze raises as his sleepy mind processes that, yes, it is in fact Princess Celestia standing in the doorway, her wavy mane a rainbow of color behind her. He stands there for several seconds before slightly bowing his head, "Celestia! I was not expecting you. Would you like to come in?" He glances at the trash in his hand and the board games still open behind him, "Please, pardon the mess."

Celestia nods, a pleasant smile conveying the familiarity she yearns for, "I would like that very much, my little pony. You know, I think you are the only one I don't need to remind to not use my title. How has the night been treating you?"

Doug shrugs, moving towards the kitchen, "Oh, it's been going very well. I'm looking forward to you raising the sun tomo-" He cuts himself off, a brief grin at the correction, "I guess, later today." He glances back, peeking at the alicorn from the doorway, "Would you like anything to eat? I'm sure there is a cake or four back here."

Celestia nods, her smile creeping larger, "Yes, but then what will you have?" They chuckle as he heads into the kitchen; Doug finds a cake in the pantry and some crackers for himself. He grabs a unicorn fork and butter knife, bringing everything out into the dining room. He places the cake - a small, short cylinder decorated with orange and white icing, two vanilla layers sandwiching a sugary mess of confetti - and silverware in front of Celestia, taking his seat next to her. Doug eats a cracker before getting back up and returning to the kitchen, grabbing a carton of milk and pouring himself a glass. He returns the milk to the fridge before grabbing a new carton of apple juice and a glass. He briefly considers before grabbing more cheese and returns to the dining room. He pours Celestia a glass of apple juice, leaving the carton in easy reach, and takes his seat again.

Celestia says in between bites, "This cake must be a Pinkie Pie creation, it is very good. Would you like a piece?"

Doug takes a small nibble of a cracker with cheese; he slowly chews and swallows before saying, "Only if you are offering."

Celestia grabs her glass of apple juice; what starts as a polite sip while she thinks turns into chugging the entire glass. She puts a hoof up to her mouth, pantomiming considering her options. Finally making her decision, she slides her plate closer to her barrel, guarding it with her other hoof. "You make a wise choice, human," she threatens, taking a bite of the cake and hunching over it, furtive glances to each side.

Doug stares at her before a smile breaks out, laughing at the ruler's antics. Celestia grins as well, though when Doug glances down at the cake a fearful look comes over her mouth. She stammers, "Now, you... you wouldn't steal the cake from a Princess, would you?"

Doug opens his mouth before gasping, covering his ears as a deafening voice shouts, "NO, BUT WE WILL!!"

Author's Note

If the comments look weird, there was a large edit that moves much of the ending to Year Seven.

14 Unbearable Whispers

The four Apple fillies arrive at the Rich mansion, the courtyard decorated with gray, silver, and purple decorations. Randolph greets them at the front door, the butler ushering them through the spacious entry room to the main party area. Their hastily wrapped present finds a place on the table with many others, all sorts of shapes and sizes, though most are larger. Lots of ponies are gathering around the party room: some congregating at the delicious smelling snack table, others at a few of the games, the largest group being the Pin the Tail on the Pony game, and others dancing around Pinkie's sound system.

The trio scampers around the room, oohs and aahs at the blown-up pictures of Silver Spoon's new cutie mark, a decorated silver spoon with an amethyst heart set in the hoofhold. Applebaum breaks off, heading to the snack table to hang out with Lemon and a few of the young fillies in their class. The trio make their way through the crowd of fillies, walking up to Silver Spoon in the far corner. The filly of the hour is showing off her new cutie mark to the other fillies in their class. Silver Spoon spots the trio and waves, her sister Diamond Tiara smiling next to her.

"Your cutie mark!" Sweetie Belle squeals as she gets close, rushing over and tentatively putting a hoof on Silver Spoon's flank, admiring the intricate design. "It's so beautiful! How did it happen?"

The gray filly grins, a few of the other fillies that already heard the story moving away. Silver Spoon says, "I don't think I'll ever get tired of telling it! So, yesterday the baker, Ms. Swirl, she comes into dam's shop, looking for a special present for her special somepony."

Sweetie Belle grins, "Oh, and she's been looking for so long, too! I'm so happy for her!" In a little lower voice, "I don't think she ever really let Pinkie Pie forget how she ran off with Daddy, you know?" She snickers, "It's so nice that she has somepony in her life now!"

"I know, right?" Silver Spoon grins, "Anyway, I was working the register when she came in. She asks about getting something custom made, right? Tells me that it's for this stallion who came by a couple months ago, delivery pony type. Starts telling me that, well, the two of them got to talking, you know, and they really hit it off. And now he's coming by more and more frequently, and she wants to get him something special to propose with, right? 'Cause she doesn't think he'll be the one to do it, most stallions aren't. His name is Carrot Cake, and he told her how he always wanted to work in a bakery, making his namesake cakes, but he has to deliver flour and other ingredients as part of his, um," she twirls her hoof in the air a few times, "Apprenticeship."

Scootaloo says, "Hey, kinda like your dam is doing with you, right?"

Silver Spoon nods, "Yup! So, dam hears me talking to Ms. Swirl and comes over from the back room. She was working on designing a couple new patterns for some contract up in Manehatten, stuff that they would then make out there. Dam saw how excited I was getting about the whole thing and that we would be making something special for them and so she told me that I was going to get to design and craft it! And, she cut Ms. Swirl a deal, saying that she stood by everything sold at the shop, that if there were any problems just to come right back and we'd fix it, and that the discount was for me making it instead of her. So, I got a pencil and some paper and made a quick sketch of a fancy spoon, since they're bakers, you know? And I put the little heart design on the top. Ms. Swirl just loved the design at first sight! I thought it was a little plain, so I put in the swirls around the heart. Really makes it stand out a lot better."

"Aww, that's so sweet!" Sweetie Belle exclaims, stomping her hooves on the ground, the other Apple fillies joining her.

"I know!" Silver Spoon beams, "And, so, dam lets me go through all the steps, just making sure that I remember everything, even though I'm the one doing all the work." She smiles at her dam, the mare standing in a corner off to the side, chatting with Pinkie Pie. "I don't mind, it's just her reminding me what to do and when, in case I forget. And I don't even need the help! It's, like, everything is just coming so naturally to me! Ms. Swirl goes off on some errands, says she'll come back in four hours when I've finished. So, I make the mold for all the curved spaces on the spoon, since it's not, like, a flat or twisted piece of jewelry, and it'll take a bit of fine manipulating. And I pick out a nice amethyst for the gem; I would have liked one that matched her hair or cutie mark a little better but Mrs. Rarity didn't have anything that matched the color any better either. She did help me cut it, though, said it looked very beautiful, and whoever got this present would be a lucky pony indeed!"

"When did you get your cutie mark?" Scootaloo says, enraptured by the story.

"I'm getting there!" Silver Spoon exclaims, then pauses; "Actually, I don't know when it happened exactly. You see, I finish making it, and Ms. Swirl comes back in. She sees the spoon, and she's so happy with the gift, she's ecstatic, and then she notices that my cutie mark is there! And it looks exactly like the spoon I made! Well, she doesn't want to take the spoon now, she says that I should have it because it's my cutie mark, right? I look at Set, and she's hanging back, letting me decide. And I say to Ms. Swirl that no, this is her gift for her special somepony, and that I was happy to make it for her and that she should have it. And she's all in tears now, and thanks me and Silver Set for such a special gift. Gives me a big hug, and dam gives me the whole commission, too!"

"That's so awesome!" Scootaloo says, a wide eyed look as if dreaming about having that much money, "You know what you're going to do with the bits?"

Silver Spoon shakes her head, "No; dam was talking about saving a bit of it, put towards when I get a special somepony. I'll be getting a place of my own, especially if I'm lead mare. I mean, dam owns the flat above the shop but we rent it out, since this place is plenty big enough for the herd. But when I get my own herd then I might need to go someplace else." Silver Spoon nervously glances around, a little self-conscious about the luxury surrounding them, "So, um, if you want to try some of the snacks and desserts they are right over there! It's all Pinkie Pie stuff, and it's really good! But, I don't have to tell you all that, right?"

The three Apple fillies shake their head, spotting Lemon and Applebaum standing near the snacks. A group of older fillies with their cutie marks come over, Silver Spoon turning to chat with them and telling her cutie mark story again. The three wave goodbye, Silver Spoon returning the wave before going back to talking. The trio head to the snack table, gathering a heaping plate of the hoof food each, Apple Bloom saying, "Ah'm so happy for her. Ah hope that Ah can get my cutie mark doing something with Applejack! Ah really love spending time with her."

Sweetie Belle grins and nods while Scootaloo huffs, kicking at the carpet. "Yeah," the pegasus says, "The only way I'm getting a job doing something with Rainbow is by printing and hoofing out the weather schedules."

"Ah'm sorry, Scootaloo," Apple Bloom says, "Ah wasn't thinking about you when Ah said that."

"Nah, it's cool," Scootaloo says, a slight sigh, "Nothing I'm not going to hear for the rest of my life."

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean that it isn't going to get better!" Sweetie Belle says. "Maybe when you get your cutie mark you'll be able to fly with her!"

"Yeah!" Scootaloo exclaims before taking a bite of the crackers, the rich cheese a bit much for her taste. She shrugs, eating the rest of it, then starting on the chocolates. They each turn, hearing a bit of commotion coming from the present table.

Silver Spoon and a group of roller derby fillies, all with their cutie marks, are around the presents, many of which are now unwrapped. "Oh. My. Celestia. Who got her this?" says Bolt, one of the older fillies, disdainfully picking up the blue ball. "Didn't they realize that you would be using a full size ball, now that you've got your cutie mark and you'll be playing with the big fillies?"

"Yeah, and look at it!" Hairpin Turn scoffs, "They didn't even bother getting you a new one, just the old one they had laying around."

Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo look at each other, tears in their eyes as they shrink down. They try to slink away, going back to the food table and hoping nopony realizes that it was their gift. They hunch over as Diamond Tiara moves next to them, grabbing a bit of cheese as she tries to hide her eavesdropping.

Silver Spoon says, "Hey, you three, stop that." She runs a hoof over the three signatures, "I like it; it's a great gift to remind me of all the time we spent playing together." She smirks as she glances over at the three derby fillies, "You'd think you'd remember those times a little better, or do they need to beat you again to jog your memory?" The trio look at each other, a little surprised at the change in Silver Spoon's voice; they hadn't heard the gray filly say something forcefully before.

"Hey!" Finish Line exclaims, pointing a hoof at Silver Spoon, "That's all foal stuff. And it only happened a couple times before we started trouncing them. It's way different now that we're in the big leagues." The two other roller derby fillies nod along, smirking as they tap their pads.

"Uh huh," Silver Spoon's smirk gets larger, "And when they get their cutie marks and join us I bet they'll beat you there too."

"Hey, maybe that can be our present to them," Hairpin Turn says, poking Bolt in the ribs, "A ball of the correct size! At least then they'd be able to play with us, you know?" She gives a mean laugh, "You'd think they'd stop when they could barely feed the first three."

"Yeah, maybe they'd be able to afford a proper gift if they did." Bolt shakes her head, "Heaven's Sun, that human, you know?"

"Jeez, don't remind me," Finish Line says, a glance to the snacks table, "I'm surprised there's still food here."

"Hey! I didn't invite you here so you could bad mouth my friends," Silver Spoon says loudly, glaring at the three, "And if that's all you want to do then please leave."

"I'm sorry, did we say anything bad about your friends?" Finish Line looks between Bolt and Hairpin Turn, the two returning short shakes of the head. She turns back to Silver Spoon, "Unless you think that human is your friend. You going to shack up with him like the rest of those losers?" Finish Line smirks, the fillies behind her bumping hooves against each other.

"HEY!" Diamond Tiara yells, stomping over, "You three are no longer welcome to this party. Please, do us all a favor and leave."

"Hah! Need some blank flank to fight your battles, Spoon?" The three roller derby fillies shake their heads, "Later, dudes."

"The nerve of some ponies," Diamond Tiara says, holding her nose in the air as the three older fillies leave the room. Silver Spoon sighs heavily, her body shaking as a few tears form in her eyes. Diamond Tiara slowly runs a hoof along Silver Spoon's back, the gray filly relaxing as she slowly settles down.

The Apple trio comes over, Apple Bloom saying, "Hey, um, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. Thanks for standing up for us."

"Ugh, no need to thank me, I couldn't stand them insulting my sister either." Diamond Tiara smirks, moving over to wrap Silver Spoon in a hug, the filly smiling back.

"And, Silver Spoon, thank you, too. It really means a lot to us that you invited us here." Sweetie Belle's smile gets bigger as Silver Spoon smiles back and wipes a tear from her eye.

"And thanks for standing up for us, too!" Scootaloo says, the trio joining Diamond Tiara in hugging Silver Spoon.

"You're welcome, I guess; I couldn't stand them being mean to you all!" Silver Spoon gives a forced smile, glancing at their plates, "Just, um, try to leave some food for everypony else."

The trio nervously rub the back of their heads, small laughs as they glance around. They grab their plates, taking them off to the side where they hurriedly finish the rest of their food, then joining Diamond Tiara at the Pin the Tail station while Silver Spoon greets another set of fillies.