"My poor dear...." she gave Harry the bear one more nuzzle. Rarity was still in the mess of a cottage, rummaging, hoping to find at least anything that could assist them in their trip. Fluttershy managed to save her coat, which, albeit was dirty and quite beaten up from the fire, was still quite salvageable so she might as well make the best of it. Rarity exited the cottage shortly after, and did some critters as they scurried out along with her. She watched as they all scurried away to Fluttershy, who continued to give her last goodbyes.

Rarity managed to find a scarf for herself. It was all she had for now. She managed to salvage a blanket as a makeshift bag to bring with them some necessities, although lacking alot. She managed to find her pouch of bits, which was a big relief. They planned to visit town once more to buy some supplies. Hopefully the place cleared out after the night. Riots were the least of their worries for now however as it had dawned on them if the rain station was even remotely available for them to travel with. They can't think of any other means of transportation at the moment....

Fluttershy was teary eyed as she spoke to a few of her birds for the last time. "....p-please be safe....and make sure to watch out for weather changes- a-and make sure to migrate together so that you could watch out for each other in case you bump into anything or something..." she sniffled. The birds tweeted and chirped. She knew they understood. She smiled tearfully. She then felt a tug on her tail and turned to.....

.....Angel....

".....oh, Angel..." she held her tears, but they poured out of instinct. "I......I'm sorry...." she reached down to face him eye to eye. Her usually mischievous little rodent, who would always throw tantrums when he's upset, who would always have a smirk of trouble, was for once, replaced with a look she couldn't understand. Most of her animals changed faces ever since the fire. Those that lost loved ones grieved and the rest grieved for those they knew. It was...... truly a change.

They understood that she had to leave, but still, they were hesitant. It wasn't because they worried for themselves- most of them lived in the wild before. But they knew that their caretaker weren't like them.....

But she stood strong and gave Angel a last kiss. She panned over to the rest of the animals, and gave them a nod. "....stay safe, everyone. G...goodbye now," she sniffled and turned towards Rarity and walked over. She was surprised however as she was suddenly pulled back into a furry hug by Harry, while was then joined in by many other animals. This time, she couldn't even stop herself as she cried hard. Rarity sympathized with her yellow friend. The animals were practically her life. She felt a little guilty for yelling at her about them the day before. Rarity suddenly felt something soft hugging her from behind, and was surprised to find a squirrel hugging her farewell as well. It was even more eyecatching when suddenly she witnessed a few birds fly above her and dropped something on her head.

Fluttershy was reluctantly let go from the hug. She turned back to them, giving them a wave. She watched as they moved into the forest slowly. She wiped the tears from her eyes and turned back to Rarity, who suddenly let out a gasp. She was met with Rarity staring at....something on the ground. A stuffed bear? "....what's that, Rarity?"

"....i-it's....."

It couldn't be.

She gazed back up at the set of birds as they flew away into the distance, and back down at the bear. She felt her tears starting to well as she picked it up carefully. Fluttershy got closer, wondering what it was. "....Rarity?"

Rarity picked it up and inspected it carefully. It was covered in soot, but wasn't badly harmed, aside from a small tear at its arm. "...." She started bawling. Crying out. Her throat caught her a bunch of times but she couldn't stop herself.

Sweetie's little bear, Richard.

And Fluttershy too soon figured that out. Rarity gazed up again at the direction the birds went, although they were far from gone at that point. With a trembling smile, she stammered at the sky. "....t-thank you......"

The town was quiet. Ponies kept to themselves. It seemed that even the marketplaces were closed. Most were recovering in their own homes from past days. Although, it didn't lessen the gazes Celestia and her guards got as they made their way through town. Her guards surrounded her however they could, making sure no one came close to even harm the princess. It seemed that the Princess' visit wasn't that much welcomed by many. She didn't expect much fro them anyway, she understood them. They felt betrayed probably. But there was not much she could've done. It seemed that....

...she had put too much faith onto that little pupil of hers.

She never.... never thought that it would become this way however. She looked around, the town itself wasn't in a good shape in itself. She the understood what Zecora meant by fires. Plenty of the houses and buildings were charred. She passed a few spots that were nothing but rubble. She felt pity for her ponies.....

.....it was too late to say that however.

She sighed as her eyes trailed around half lidded. In the distance, her eyes were caught by the tower. The castle. It felt somehow sickening as she gazed at it. Her eyes however paused as it caught the eyes of a guard, standing at the balcony. Quickly, she looked away.

.....she remembered the time she employed troops for Twilight. That guard....could've been someone she knew personally if she had looked closer. But that gave her an even more sickening feeling. Thoughts of worry for their livelihoods, whether they were okay or felt safe were replaced with memories of news where she learned of the sickening acts of cruelty bestowed by those men. At this point, she couldn't reason with herself. Their ruler must've given them the orders..... but even then, if they were good ponies, they would've quit. But then again, it might've been a life or death situation if they chose to be unfaithful to the ruler SHE had employed them to. For her sake and for their new ruler. She suddenly felt the pang of guilt she had always felt thinking about how many lives she might've ruined.

"Princess," Blade coughed to get her attention.

"H-huh?" she broke out of her daze and looked in front as they stopped. They arrived at the town hall. They were also greeted with questioning gazes unsure faces of council members as they were guided up the stairs. She could hear them murmur among each other. Of how incompetent the Princess was. Of the audacity she had to be late for the meeting. Of how she should've came regardless, are her citizens lives less important than her own?......

She kept her eyes to herself this time, not daring to eye any of them. And as quick as they got up the steps, the doors swung open, and the guards stepped aside. Celestia was greeted with....the disheveled look of Mayor Mare. Her mane was unkept, her fur was matted as if she had just climbed into the office through the back window from a warzone of some sort. Celestia gulped, but remained courteous. She bowed, "Mayor Mare, forgive me fr my late arrival. I was caught up
in some other matters unfortunately...."

Mayor Mare stared blankly, which..... made the whole ordeal awkward. That was until another grey mare pegasus came from behind and gave he a little tap, which snapped the Mayor back into reality. "Uha-AGh! Ah-ahm, yes! Yes.... it is quite alright, my dear...- my princess! - Your highness!..... ahm...." she gazed up at the princess and with a quick smile she turned and guided towards the meeting room. "L-let's get to it...y-yes...." she stammered as she did.

Celestia raised a brow but quickly followed along with her guards from behind. The council members trailed behind as well.

She felt a sudden tap at her side as she faced the grey pegasus again. Her mane was blonde and her eyes were....misaligned. "Ms Mare hasn't been sleeping well....please excuse her..." she explained apolegetically. Celestia offered a smile.

"It is quite alright, dear. It is my bad for not coming by as fast as I could. The town doesn't seem in good condition.... is everypony alright?"

The pegasus looked down at her hooves. "Most of us are, fortunately. But....there were some that didn't make it."

Celestia felt bad. "...what is your name, if I may ask?"

"...my name is Derpy, Mayor Mare's assistant-" she was interrupted however by the loud opening of the meeting room. The door squeaked violently, which made alot of them wince from the sound. Mayor Mare jumped herself. "Ah-ahem! I'm so sorry!"

"....Ms Mare, I warned you not to open the doors too fast...." Derpy murmured to herself.

Mayor Mare glanced over to Celestia with a forced smile, which she awkwardly returned with a smile of her own. "...n-now now, we shan't dawdle. Ahm....l-let's get the meeting started."

Author's Note

I've been gone for awhile haha...... I'm very sorry. I just had alot on hand. With the quarantine and all, I figured I have some time to spare for once.

Hope quarantine is doing well for y'alls. Ugh, my year of student are supposed to have our big important test this year.....don't know how that's going to go now. Anyways tho, safe safe everyone :) stay home, sanitize urselves, all that yadda yadda, aight? ^^