The day of the Founding Festival dawned hot and bright. Almost before the sun had crested the horizon the village was wide awake and beginning the festivities. The Leadership Council gathered together in groups of twos. Lead Rockslide with Lead True, Shiny Rock with Pink, and Thistle with Woodpecker. Together they stood before the entire village.

“My ponies!” Lead True reared on her back hooves to grab their attention. “Our herd has enjoyed much peace and prosperity since the coming of the Light-That-Wasn’t! Our healer rose to her station, we met friends who led us to this valley, and together we built a home for our foals to grow up in. Now begins our fourth year residing here and look at what we have accomplished!”

“Our herd grows in number every day! Our fields are laden with food and ripe for harvest! Our future is assured!” She spoke passionately.

“Today we’ve decided to celebrate, for today marks the anniversary of when we first reached this valley so long ago! Eat and be merry, my ponies! There are games for the foals and contests of skill for the mares and stallions! New crafts are being displayed and new marks may be found today!” Now the entire council stepped forward and spoke as one.

“Let the Founding Festival begin!”

Light was at her side in an instant. Thistle couldn’t help the giddy smile on her face if she tried. Ponies were running hither and yon now that the preparations had all been completed. The flowers and laughter and cheer in their air were contagious and made her feel like a little filly again, eager to frolic.

“What shall we do first, Light?” She bumped her sister.

“Partake of the food perhaps? We did skip breakfast.” Light sniffed the air and angled her head towards the food. Logs cut lengthwise held the food brought out from the storehouse. Fruits and berries and vegetables were all arranged artistically. More than a few ponies were already there stuffing their faces.

It all looked good but there was a smell that acted as a siren’s call. Exchanging looks, they and the rest of the crowd followed the scent to where Mountain and Cam had set up a small bonfire. A pot with a handle, like Thistle’s big medicine pot, was bubbling away with cut up vegetables floating in water. Cam was carefully sprinkling some herbs into the mix and stirring it, her tongue stuck out in concentration.

“Step right up, everypony! You’re gonna love this!” Mountain waved at them. “Cam, is it ready?”

Cam lifted the stirring stick and revealed that there was a knot of wood at the end that had been smoothed out and hollowed to hold a small portion of the mix. She sipped and licked her lips for a moment.

“Ladies and gentleponies, may I proudly present, vegetable soup!” Mountain whooped.

“It smells great!” Light sighed deeply.

“And tastes even better! Try some!” Cam used the stirring stick to fill up a bowl. That was much neater than trying to scoop from the pot and she didn’t have to wait for it to cool down. Thistle made a note to ask where she got it.

Light and Thistle got the first bowls. The gathered ponies looked on in interest as they sipped from the steaming soup.

It was warm and filling. The vegetables were soft and she could taste the herbs, basil, thyme, and oregano, without being overpowered by them. Seeing their obvious enjoyment, the rest of the gathered ponies began clamoring for bowls of their own.

“We’ll be here all day folks! One at a time! One at a time!” Mountain served to keep the peace while Cam dished out bowl after bowl. “Thistle, Light, try to swing by Morning and Hornet, see how they’re doing!”

“Will do!” Thistle assured her. Once their bowls were done they left them to be reused and trotted away again.

“That was even better than the mashed potatoes.” Light licked her lips, chasing the last essence of taste.

“Maybe tomorrow I can ask her to teach me how to make it.” She could put off rash treatment a little longer.

“Shall we see what our cousins are up to?” Light asked.

“Let’s.” Thistle had to rear up on her hind hooves to see where they were. Not quite on the other side of the field but close enough. But there was plenty to see along the way.

Summer Showers had her own space that she was sharing with Starlight. She displayed woven baskets of a different style. These ones weren’t plain, but had darker reeds somehow woven into the shapes of ponies, trees, and mountains. Some baskets were decorated with squares and triangles. She had a few decorated mats as well, but what she was really showing off was some kind of new mat, one she was wearing.

“Summer, what is that?” Thistle asked. Starlight stepped back and both she and Light pretended the other was not there. This was somewhat complicated by the fact Light decided to greet her baby sister.

“It’s called a mantle. It’s softer than the sleeping mats are and well,” She shrugged, which looked odd under the woven material. “I figured when it gets colder ponies might like to have something between them and the wind.”

She handed off a second one to Thistle. The material was softer, much finer than what the sleeping mats used. How did Summer work with such fine material? There were no gaps anywhere and when she tried it on she found it draped over her back and sides, almost down to her knees. The was a flap at the back of the neck too. Summer reached for it and pulled it up over her head. It came down to her forehead, covering her ears and somewhat obscuring her vision, but she could already tell this would keep her much warmer in winter.

“Honestly, it’s kind of sweltering in this heat.” Summer acknowledged with a grimace, sliding her flap on and off. Thistle took the opportunity to untie the mantle and slide it off completely. “But what do you think?”

“I think ponies are going to be pounding down your door in winter.” She chuckled. “Are you trading any for beads today?”

“They take longer to make than mats so I’ve only got three for trade today. I think, ten beads?” She suggested. “Oh! But, you don’t have to trade me, Healer Burr! I made that one just for you anyway!”

“Let me pay, Summer. The herd does so much for me already.” Thistle sat down and began untwining a strand of beads from her tail. She was wearing plenty of beads today and she was hoping to get rid of most of them.

“Are you sure?” Summer shifted her weight back and forth.

“I’m sure. You can use them to get something for yourself later.” She suggested.

“Pfft, maybe, if I have time.” She snorted. She was looking at something over Thistle’s shoulder.

Thistle looked. And immediately wished she hadn’t.

“Are my eyes deceiving me or is that a rather large group of ponies following us?” Light whispered in her ear.

“Just this once, Light, I wish it were your eyes.” She did her best not to sigh too obviously. She finished paying Summer and left with the mantle folded on her back. Behind her, Summer and Starlight were swarmed by ponies wanting mantles of their own.

“Summer’s going to have a lot of beads by the end of the day.” She smiled ruefully.

“Cam too.” Light commented. “I don’t think you noticed, but as we left I heard the clicking of lots of beads.”

Huh, the Bead Plan might be working better than expected. The Council would be happy to hear it, she was sure.

Apple Blossom’s eldest daughter, Pom, was offering up clay jars of apple sauce to ponies. Thistle bought a jar and they moved on fast. Finally, they got to the space shared by Brown Branch and Morning Dew where they showed off a line of new carts and sledges. Brown Branch also had a few other wooden implements.

“These are spoons, you can use them to stir and portion out things. I don’t expect them to be real popular yet since cooking is so new.” Brown Branch explained, poking the bowl of stirring sticks with hollowed notches. “Cam’s the one who came to me about it a while back and she mentioned it’d be useful in your medicines, Healer Burr.”

“It would. I was planning to ask where she got hers after I saw it.” Thistle nodded. “How much for two?”

“Eh, call it four beads?” Brown Branch shrugged. Thistle appreciated that she actually wanted to be paid.

“Brown Branch, if you don’t mind my asking, what are these for?” Light leaned over a large pot filled with blocks of wood.

“Toys for foals. I noticed my foals loved playing with them, stacking them up and building tiny huts with them. I figured other foals would like’em too.” Brown Branch explained. “I wish I’d thought to carve something pretty onto them. Lots of other ponies decorated their stuff.”

“What do you think, sister? Should we get a few for your foal?” Light teased.

“It’ll be more than a year before my foal could play with anything, Light.” Thistle rolled her eyes. “I’ll think about buying some then.”

“By then I’ll have some carved ones.” Brown Branch chuckled. “And over here I’ve got something else you might be interested in, Healer Burr.”

She turned around and dragged something out of her cart. It looked like a big block, but Brown Branch had bored little holes in the top and sides and she’d carved it somehow so the top could slide off, revealing the hollow inside. There were wooden latches on opposite sides that, she demonstrated, would keep the top in place even when turned upside down.

“Somepony mentioned to me that you needed something to keep a rabbit inside.” She smirked. “Been working on this ever since. The holes let air come in, the latches will keep the rabbit from busting out, clever, huh?”

“Indeed.” Her eyes went wide. Thistle had mentioned the idea during a meeting once. Who was it that had brought the idea to Brown Branch’s attention? Woodpecker?

“A rabbit, Thistle?” Light cocked an eyebrow in question.

“I need a better way to test medicines and I can’t keep testing them on myself now that I’m pregnant and I don’t want to put anypony at risk.” She explained, eyeing the box with apprehension. “I’m not especially comfortable testing on rabbits either, but it’s better than testing it on a pony.”

“Rabbits are everywhere and they’re always getting into gardens and such.” Brown Branch sniffed harshly. “I say, have at, Healer! And I know you probably don’t wanna carry this thing all day, so I’ll send it to your hut with my colt. That sound alright by you?”

“Thank you, you don’t have to go to any trouble on my account,” Thistle tried to refuse.

“Nah, c’mon, let the herd give back to you for all you do!” Brown Branch laughed.

Hadn’t she said something similar to Summer earlier? It stung to have her words turned back on her.

“Did you have to stop at every stall along the way?” Morning pouted playfully as they finally came to her half of the shared spot.

“They all had such interesting things.” Light grinned. “And you’ve only got the carts to show today? Sad.”

“Ha! I’ve already traded away three of them!” Morning pointed to three carts that had been set off to the side. That left her with six sledges and two carts. “I don’t suppose I could interest one of you lovely young mares into buying a cart?”

“No.” Thistle deadpanned. Morning didn’t take it badly, simply beckoning them to sit with her. Brook was playing with a few blocks and Busy was lying on his back, kicking his legs in the air. Morning saw Thistle’s look and whispered to her,

“He’s been quiet since yesterday. Still grumbles when we tell him to do something, but I think he’s learned that disobeying gets him nothing but a time-out.” She seemed glad.

“And Brook?” She asked.

“Loves mashed potatoes.” Morning chuckled, tossing her mane. “She doesn’t want to nurse at all anymore!”

“Hmm,” That was a fast weaning process. “How is her stomach taking it?”

“She had the runs for a day or two,” Her cousin grimaced. “That was a nightmare. But now she’s happy as can be. Which is good, because Mountain can finally stop complaining about getting bite marks on her teats.”

Thistle covered her mouth to stop the bubble of laughter that inspired. For some reason trying to stifle the laughter only made it more funny. She choked on her giggles while Morning and Light stared.

“Funny?” Brook abandoned her blocks.

“Hey there, Brook.” Light laid down so she could be eye level with the filly. “Still talking in one word sentences?”

“Yeah!” Brook beamed.

Thistle took a deep breath. It wasn’t that funny. It wasn’t!

Morning was still staring at her, but slowly an evil grin stretched across her face. She gave Thistle ample time to realize the danger coming but no hope of escaping.

“Of course, that just means she’ll start complaining that her teats feel too full.” And there she went again.

“Stop it!” Thistle gasped between giggles. “Shadows Curse it, why is that so funny to me?”

“Ha! You’ve got the mood swings!” Morning laughed victoriously. “Yes! Hornet owes me a massage!”

“I do, do I?” Hornet, just now returning from the food tables with a basket full, entered the conversation.

“Thistle got the giggle fits outta nowhere!” Morning crowed. “And you bet she’d be too level headed to get the mood swings!”

Oh, well, it had been kind of him to have such faith in her. Too bad she’d just proven it was unwarranted.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In the shade of the Wall, Onyx lounged with Sapphire and Emerald. The three of them had been through the stalls once already. They hadn’t traded many beads, but a few useful items had been chosen. Now they were reclining in a good spot where they could see the willow tree and the practice bouts being prepared there.

Onyx looked out of the corner of his eye at Emerald. She was watching the preparations with an inscrutable expression. Did she wish to be over there? Testing herself against the Earth ponies?

Her heat was on its tail end, and he was hopeful that she’d caught. She wouldn’t be allowed on patrols if she was pregnant.

Another potential foal on the way and Sapphire due any day now. She was leaning against his side and her stomach rose and fell with her breath. She looked even more serene in her sleep.

With Sapphire asleep he and Emerald didn’t have much to say to each other. It was odd to think he spent his days in the company of more mares than stallions but the conversation hardly changed. If Coal could see him now he could imagine what his brother would say.

“You allow them to soften you, weaken you.” His brother’s phantom voice drifted into his ears.

Onyx didn’t feel weakened. On the contrary, his magic had never felt stronger. Perhaps lifting stones every day was helpful in building strength.

No pony had ordered him to fight. No pony had sent him on patrol. He had a spear, but it was smooth and unnotched. Emerald’s had more wear than his.

He didn’t have to fight if he didn’t want to.

He looked at Emerald again. Instead of looking at the practice bouts as they started, her gaze had been turned towards the food tables.

Ah yes, it was getting close to lunch time, wasn’t it?

“Emerald, I’m going to collect lunch for us. I’ll only be a moment.” He carefully shifted Sapphire off himself without waking her.

“Remember to snag some strawberries if you see them!” Emerald called softly after him. “Sapphire loves those.”

The split logs fashioned into tables were piled with food. Veggies, fruits, and flowers decorated every surface. Young Camellia, healer-in-training, was adding chopped vegetables to a pot for more soup. Ponies were sitting nearby drooling in anticipation.

He saw a basket of strawberries and stretched his magical grip out for a few.

“Oh!” A rose red mare with a two toned green mane gasped in surprise, having reached for the strawberries just as he lifted them away.

“My apologies, miss,” He cleared his throat.

“None are necessary,” He did a quick double check at her words, her tone. She spoke softly, with a gentle sway to her voice that made him think for a moment a unicorn mare was standing before him.

But no, she was an Earth pony. No horn adorned her forehead and on her flank, though he quickly ripped his gaze away, he saw a gravestone mark.

“I’ve surprised you.” She stated, confident without being blunt.

“Ah, forgive my lapse in manners. I am Onyx. Might I know your name, miss?” He bowed his head politely.

“I am named Rose Bud. It is a pleasure to meet you, Onyx.” Spoken with such impeccable diction and grace.

“I apologize if this comes across as rude, but may I ask, your mark? What meaning does it hold?” He found himself asking.

“Most of the herd would assume it means I have a talent for carving markings into stone, carving the deceased’s magic mark so their graves can be found.” She smiled, inviting him in on a joke.

“But that is only most of the herd,” He noted her word choice. “What do you think?”

“I?” She turned her head, making her braid swish most fetchingly. “I believe my mark means for me to tend to the dead, to their memories, so other ponies can visit and remember those who have moved on to the Endless Pastures.”

“Endless Pastures, grave keeper?” He blinked, curious.

“When we die, our spirit, our soul, is called away to the Endless Pastures. There, we have no fear of predators, for there are none. There, we do not hunger, for there is food for every stallion, mare, and foal. There, we do not thirst, for there is water wherever we may take our rest. The weather is always fine and our loved ones await to lead us in peace and safety.” She closed her eyes as she recited.

“A beautiful notion.” He commented. “You know, the unicorns have a similar belief. We call it the Shadowlands.”

“Shadowlands, stair builder?” She smiled in challenge.

“When eyes close for the final time they open again to the Shadowlands. All is shaded as dusk is, and the stars shine endlessly above to light our way.” He straightened up. “Sweet songs drift on the breeze and the paths are smooth. It is in the Shadowlands that we take our eternal rest, sleeping with our mother’s lullabies always in our ears.”

“How sweet it sounds.” She sighed. “I would stay and speak with you longer, stair builder, but today I promised to turn my attention to the living. I promised to spend time with my family, and so I shall. Good tidings to you and may you find the sweet rest you are looking for.”

“And may you wander in peace, grave keeper.” He watched her walk off, tail lightly swaying, to rejoin her family. An older mare and stallion, her mother and father? And another stallion he recognized as Pink Peach’s mate, Pucker Thorn.

A stiff breeze swept her tail to the side and Onyx realized he was staring. Fighting back the blush, he shoveled some food into his baskets and hurried back to Emerald and Sapphire.

Blazing Stars, it wasn’t proper for a stallion to ogle a mare so! At best he should have a talk with her mother about…perhaps…

Ah, but Rose Bud was an Earth pony.

He stopped in his tracks for a moment, caught on the possibilities. He didn’t have to prove himself as an able warrior to gain a mare’s blessing to pursue their daughter. He only had to convince the mare in question to ‘Follow’ him.

Maybe Earth pony herd laws weren’t so bad after all.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Woodpecker faced Silent Current in the fifth bout of the day. As always, he did not allow the silence to unnerve him. Silent was by far his greatest rival in fights, aside Lead Rockslide himself. He had to prove he was strong enough to win.

Silent Current sped towards him, dull spear held for a charge. Woodpecker almost side stepped, but thought better of it and moved into a charge of his own. Before they clashed, he ducked his head down then up again, rocking his spear against Silent’s. It unsteadied the other stallion, nearly knocking him off his front hooves. Woodpecker kicked off with his hind legs and slammed into his opponent.

Silent grunted. He stumbled back two steps, three. Woodpecker tried to bring his spear around for another strike but Silent was faster. A sharp rap to his right knee nearly sent him tumbling. He forced himself into a roll to avoid a downward stab.

On his hooves, he turned and bucked. He struck Silent’s chest and pushed him back, nearly knocking him over.

A twist and he was the one charging. He hadn’t managed to knock Silent’s spear out of his mouth but Silent wasn’t in a good position. He was stumbling back on his hind hooves. Then, forehooves flashing, he tried to slam his full weight onto Woodpecker.

He dodged, swiping his spear against Silent’s side. That would bruise later. For now, Silent huffed and struck out with a leg to force Woodpecker back.

Separated, they circled each other.

Again, Woodpecker pushed himself forward. He tossed his head and angled his spear. Silent blocked but Woodpecker was ever so slightly larger than he was and used the weight to his full advantage. Back, he knocked Silent. Back!

Silent lost balance. He fell onto his back and before he could roll away Woodpecker had placed the tip of his dull spear against his vulnerable belly.

“Winner, Woodpecker!” Lead Rockslide announced. The herd began to cheer and stomp in appreciation.

“Good fight,” Woodpecker panted, spitting his spear out. His sides were heaving and his legs were shaking. His knee throbbed where he’d taken a blow earlier but that seemed to be the worst of it.

“Hey, Woodpecker, congratulations!” Tender Roots called to him on his way to the circle.

“Finally wore Healer Burr down. Can’t wait to see what your foals will be capable of!” A stallion he didn’t see laughed boisterously.

“Shoot, I’m just excited for Healer Burr!” Flood Plains joined in. “Snagged herself a good stallion and she’s got the Lead in the bag!”

Ponies were happy with the direction things were going. He’d worked hard to make himself popular with the stallions and patrol ponies. Now that his most important match was over he could take his rest near his dam.

“Good show, Woodpecker.” Cardinal smiled proudly. “Tell me, how does it go?”

“I have their full support. If any feel differently, they’re keeping quiet.” He smirked. “And Dam, have you given more thought to our prospects?”

“Mm, there are a number of young mares who’d do well in your group.” She adjusted herself.

He’d mostly settled on River Stone. She was a good, solid mare. His dam had cautioned that he might want to look for an older mare as well, one with some experience in foal rearing. There weren’t many unattached mares that matched that criteria though.

He had secret hopes that a suitable Pegasus might turn up in a few weeks, but he hadn’t breathed a word of that to his dam. No, there’d be no faster way to turn the entire council on him than to share the secrets they’d discussed. With Shiny Rock’s, and Pink’s, skills it wouldn’t be long before they discovered where the leak had come from.

Learning Pink had been mentored by Shiny Rock was an enlightening experience. He’d never thought his sister had taken to the subtle arts. They had more in common than he’d once thought.

A shame he couldn’t tell his dam that. She’d often despaired of turning Pink into a proper little gossip.

“Any more plans for today, Woodpecker?” She brought him out of his musings.

“I was thinking of tracking Thistle Burr down for a bit, let the herd see us together.” He hummed thoughtfully. “Then again, she may not appreciate that. She seems to be dedicating the day to her family.”

“Stroll by and see if your company is unwelcome, dear.” She advised him. “Before you go, any good gossip on how the Leadership Council plan to close out the Founding Festival?”

“We’ll gather near the food tables and Thistle Burr will speak,” He was quite looking forward to that. “Then I believe Mimic, Melody, Chime, and Emerald Daze will be providing music before everypony goes home.”

“Music? My, how delightful!” Her eyes gleamed. “And the unicorn mare is involved? I’ve heard she’s a rather wishy-washy mare, flitting here and there.”

“She’s unfocused.” He confirmed. “I’m unsure if that’s simply her personality or if she’s unhappy about her…living arrangements.”

“Not fond of her stallion I’ve heard.” She hid a smirk behind a delicately raised hoof. Nopony looking at them would even begin to guess their true conversation. “Think it might be possible to tempt her away?”

“I’ve laid the foundations in letting her know it is possible to leave her stallion if she finds him wanting.” He sighed. Truth be told he wasn’t that fond of Emerald. She struck him as flighty and insecure. He would’ve preferred Sapphire but she seemed perfectly happy with Onyx.

“Good, good.” His dam lowered her hoof and started stomping in time with the crowd. Oak Leaf had just beaten Tree Stump, his sire.

Thistle’s dinner sat uneasily in her gullet. This morning Lead True had made the opening speech. Now the sun was beginning to set and after a long day of games and fun it was her turn to speak to the herd.

Woodpecker stood beside her looking as unflappable as ever. Pink was occupied with waving to Puck. Shiny Rock was standing a little apart from them, openly staring at the much reduced food on the tables. Rockslide and True Blue stood together, just as she and Woodpecker did.

Now the herd was gathering. Foals were covered in fruit juice and dust from roughhousing. Mares and stallions had their braids shaken loose by the busy day. They were all talking to each other, occasionally looking over to the Council.

She had to get their attention. And then she had to speak.

“You’ll do fine, Thistle Burr.” Woodpecker whispered.

She couldn’t afford to do anything less.

Taking a deep breath to steady her courage, Thistle reared onto her hind legs and whinnied.

Quickly, the herd fell quiet. They watched with gleaming eyes as she settled back down.

Words, words, words!

“Thank you, everypony!” There, just the tiniest hitch in her voice. At least she hadn’t stuttered. “Today marks a new era for us, an era of peace and prosperity and I am so grateful to be sharing it with you!”

That sounded good. How to keep going?

“Everypony has worked so hard to build this home for us, from the ponies constructing our homes to the ponies in the fields, the ponies patrolling the valley against danger and the ponies who take it upon themselves to watch our foals so we might focus on our endeavors.” She continued, “This is the start of our fourth year here and I hope there will be many more to come! Tomorrow, we’ll all go back to work and continue building this great home of ours. But tonight, let’s celebrate our arrival to True Valley!”

The crowd cheered. She nodded to Mimic, Melody, Chime, and Emerald. Together they stepped forward and arrayed themselves in front of the herd. Mimic stood beside Emerald while Melody held up a set of reed pipes and Chime sat down in front of some upside down pots.

There was a moment of quiet.

And then they sang.

“True Valley, the land I see
A land of bounty
Our Leads guide us
So we can live free

True Valley, a land of love
We always feel such hope
We’ll work together, make new things
True Valley, our new home!

Author's Note

Publishing this one kind of early because I won't have access to my laptop in the morning. Have a good week, everybody!