The Golden Trail

Applejack considered herself to be a rather worldly mare. Both growing up in Ponyville and numerous world-ending adventures would have that kind of effect on a pony. Be that as it may, it was on this crisp, late summer afternoon that she found herself in an event so odd, she was sure Pinkie had something to do with it.

Gold, Starlight, and Hazel stood together in front of the orchard's main house. That alone would not have been particularly strange, were it not for the fact that Hazel had a metal bat held in her teeth. At the same time, an extremely uncomfortable cloaked Gold appeared to be trying to meditate with a forehoof pointed at Starlight, the Unicorn in question currently holding the former's hoof with her magic.

"What the sam hell-" she muttered, pushing her way past the front screen door. "What are ya'll doin'?"

"Oh, hey Applejack," Starlight smiled, canceling her magic and waving.

"G-Good morning Applejack," Gold shakily greeted, her whole body tense.

"Mornin'," she frowned. "Now, what's goin' on here?"

Starlight and Gold traded sheepish looks for a moment.

"Well," Gold started. "After yesterday's....events, I decided that I will need to take drastic steps to conquer my phobia."

"Alright," she frowned, nodding for her to continue.

"Therefore, I decided that exposure therapy would be the most efficient approach."

"What therapy?" she blinked.

"Basically," Starlight cut in. "Gold wants me to hold small parts of her body with my magic while she's wearing her new cloak."

"Exactly," Gold nodded. "In addition, I intend for her to increase the amount of my body held in her grip by small increments as my tolerance grows."

"Oh, I get it," Applejack smiled. "Like teachin' a foal how ta' swim."

"Correct," Gold nodded.

"Alright, that explains what you two are doin'," Applejack smiled, pointing at the two mares, then raised a brow as she gave the wolf her attention and added, "But why does Hazel have a bat?"

"To knock me out if I have an episode," Gold casually stated.

Silence settled between them, incredulous shock painted right across her face.

"It was not my idea!" Starlight blurted out, raising a hoof.

Hazel did the same, an irritated growl rolling past the bat-handle in her mouth.

"Ah think that might be a bit much," she stated.

"I fail to see the problem," she shrugged. "I cannot die, after all."

Fear flashed right across Applejack's face, her eyes instantly shooting towards Starlight.

"She knows," Gold sighed.

"Oh," she blinked. "When did ya'-"

"Last night," Starlight said, giving Gold an apologetic smile.

"Rarity knows as well," Gold added, further flummoxing the farm pony.

"Ah thought ya' wanted to keep that under your hood," Applejack frowned.

"Yes, well, it turns out that alcohol loosens my lips by a very significant degree," Gold spat, her muzzle starting to sport a small bit of red.

"Good ta' know," she nodded, a small smirk briefly flickering across her own muzzle. "So, how did Rares take it?"

Gold and Starlight traded small smirks before they gave their answers. Answers that made Applejack's jaw hit the floor.

"(Didn't know the priss had it in her,)" Hazel snorted.

Gold chuckled, then translated for her confused companions.

"You seem to be takin' this all really well," Applejack sighed, offering her cousin a concerned frown.

"There is no point in stressing myself out over it," Gold scowled. "I fear I was going to need to tell her sooner rather than later, anyway."

"What do you mean?" she asked, raising a brow.

Again, Gold and Starlight shared a glance, the former letting out a mortified sigh while the latter sported a sheepish smile.

"Ah'll meet ya'll in the dinnin' room," the farm mare sighed, turning towards the house. "Think Ah'm gonna' need some coffee for this."

***

Gold's breath came out in slow, shaky gasps, her eyes tightly closed as she tried keep meditating. Her left foreleg felt like slimy worms were crawling all across it up to her elbow, pushing against her focus. Knowing that the magic in her cloak was harmless made it bearable, like being in the embrace of a tamed beast instead of a wild one. That, combined with the aura surrounding her foreleg sat her right on the limit of her sanity. It was only thanks to her stubborn determination that she was able to last for as long as she had up to that point.

Every now and then, a small remnant of her time with Moonstone would materialize around her. A faint echo of something hitting a stone floor. A muffled voice identical to the demented Unicorn's. The burning grip of shackles on all four of her fetlocks. Before they could move beyond that point, she would reach out to a nearby tree with her magic to ground herself.

"O-Okay. Th-That is enough," Gold forced out, opening her eyes.

Starlight nodded, canceling her magic.

Gold shook out her foreleg and stood up.

"How long was that?" she asked, panting.

"Twenty seconds," Starlight smiled.

A small shaky smile formed on Gold's lips.

Three seconds longer. That is twice as long from where I started total.

"I feel that should be a good place to stop for the day," she sighed.

"Fair enough," Starlight stated, doing the same. "Plus, I'm getting kind've hungry."

"(Same,)" Hazel snorted, spitting out the bat.

Gold let out a small chuckle, then translated before saying, "Food sounds great. Let us see what we can put together at the barn."

"Actually," Starlight cut in. "I was thinking we could get something from town today."

"Why?" Gold frowned, raising a brow. "Is there a problem with my family's cooking?"

"No-no-no-no-no! Nothing like that," Starlight hastily cried, hooves up in a placating manner. "I just think that you should mix it up a little. Plus, I wanted to check on Pinkie."

Gold flinched, a look of guilt spreading across her face.

"I see. Do you....know where she lives? "

She nodded, turning and gesturing over her shoulder for Gold to follow. Gold reluctantly did so, keeping a fair distance from the mare. Hazel moved to her side, giving the golden mare a side-eye with a raised brow. Gold shook her head, suppressing a deep shudder. The wolf's eyes held an understanding shine, but she still let out a disappointed huff at her actions.

"It will take time, Hazel," she bitterly whispered. "Let it pass."

"Whatever," the wolf snorted. "Just don't wuss out halfway through."

"I will do no such thing," she frowned. "This is something that needs to be done and I fully intend to see it through to the end."

"Spoken like a true Apple," Hazel smirked, almost knocking the mare over with a playful hip-bump.

"T-Thank you," she staggered, regaining her hoofing with a small smile.

"No problem," the wolf shrugged. "Now we just need to get you to loosen up a bit. Might make it easier for you to find a mate."

"The Maker willing," she groaned, rolling her eyes. "Though I fear my manners are here to stay."

"Maybe getting you drunk will fix that," she said, her smirk turning predatory.

"Say one more word and I will light your tail on fire" she flatly stated, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.

"Just saying," she shrugged. "You're a lot more fun when you're drunk."

"Never again," she grumbled, staring at the ground with a rapidly growing blush.

"We'll see," Hazel chuckled, shaking her head.

"We will not," she growled.

***

If Gold were to sum up the entirety of Ponyville into a single word, it would be "strange". Given what had happened the night before, she was sure that a good number of the ponies in town would've been ready to run her out. Instead, she received friendly smiles and greetings from almost every pony she passed. A few asked her what she had given Pinkie or if there was a way that she could teach them how to make the drink. When she politely told them that she could not divulge that information, they looked disappointed, but still handled the refusal with grace.

This treatment continued until they made it to a café for lunch.

While Gold looked over her menu, she continued to mull over the oddity that she had experienced so far. While pleasant, it didn't feel natural to her. Even now, she was still used to the cold indifference or venomous distain of those she used to see as her peers.

"Are you okay?" Starlight asked.

"Hmm?" she blinked, then hastily added, "Oh! Yes. I am fine. I was simply...thinking."

"About what?"

"About how....different Ponyville is compared to Canterlot."

"I get what you mean," Starlight chuckled. "Trust me; this town is pretty unique."

"I would not know," Gold huffed. "I spent my whole life in Canterlot. Until now, I never had anything to compare it to. To call it an adjustment would be the same as calling the sun a little bright."

"Is it that drastic?" Starlight asked, taken aback.

Gold nodded, her gaze turning distant as she watched the café's patrons and staff go about their business.

"While it wears a pretty golden coat, Canterlot is quite an ugly place to live. For every ten ponies living happy and moral lives, there is a nobel house pulling strings to own them. As such, bits and influence hold the city in a near stranglehold. Family relations, both savory and otherwise, draw lines in the sand that are constantly crossed or redrawn. The shadow Canterlot casts always covers a deep pool of blood."

"But the Princesses-" Starlight nervously started.

"Can not be everywhere at once," she cut in, still watching the crowds. "The nobles know that and are more than capable of taking advantage of every loophole they can get to bypass any law that gets in their way."

"What's stoping somepony from blowing the whistle on them?" Starlight frowned.

"In the simplest of terms, blackmail, bribery, and assassination. It also helps that many of the families have legitimate businesses that give them massive financial pull in the public eye. This allows them to have a long list of shields against the Guard and the Princesses' ire."

Starlight gaped at her, unable to find the words needed to properly describe her thoughts on this particular matter.

When she did find her words, all she could muster up was a frail, "Thats all so....scummy!"

"I agree," she sighed, giving the mare a sad smile. "Looking back on it, it was no wonder I became what I was. I feel that it was only thanks to my grandmother's influence that I became a monster as opposed to a demon."

Slowly, her smile became much more warm as she continued.

"In contrast, Ponyville is much more honest. In this town, what you see is what you get; a rustic town with some extraordinary elements to it. After so many years of paranoia and bloodshed, it feels so strange to be in a place like this."

"I...think I get where you're coming from," Starlight nodded, a nervous smile gracing her muzzle.

Gold gave her a passing glance, then a dejected sigh before she took a sip of her tea.

"You are uncomfortable around me," she flatly stated, making Starlight flinch.

"M...Maybe," she relented, shame wilting her form.

Gold frowned softly at her in silence for several seconds, then sported a rueful smile.

"I would consider you unwell if you weren't. Even if I have left that life behind me, it does not erase my sins."

"Right," Starlight sighed, glaring into her own mug. "Trust me. I know how that feels."

To Starlight's shock, a comforting, yet shaky, golden hoof rested on her shoulder.

"L-L-Let us talk about something less depressing," Gold stammered, shaky smile gracing her muzzle as she pulled her hoof back.

"Good idea," she smiled. "So, what's it like being Gaia's student?"

"She is very..." she started, tapping a hoof on the table while she fished for the right words. "I suppose 'doting' is the right word."

"Really?" she blinked.

Gold giggled at the reaction.

"I know that such a thing would seem unthinkable, given her form and reputation, but Gaia is a very kind and nurturing being. I can tell that she worries about me and is eager to see me grow. In a way, she treats me more like one of her pups than a student."

"Must be nice," Starlight mused.

"It is," Gold allowed. "But make no mistake; Gaia does not coddle me."

"What do you mean? don't you spend most of your sessions meditating?"

"That is part of it," she nodded, taking a sip of her tea. "But that is only to tend to plants. Gaia's domain is more than just herbs, trees, and shrubs. At her core, Gaia is an apex predator and to be her student means that you must prove yourself worthy of that very same position."

"How do you do that?"

"It is very simple," she smirked, faint glint of pride passing over her orange eyes. "You must defeat an alpha."

Starlight balked at that, the implications of what Gold was saying not lost to her.

"How many?" she asked.

"Ten," Gold stated, still smirking as she admired her hoof.

"You killed ten Everfree alphas?!" she stammered, almost falling out of her chair in shock.

"Of course not," Gold huffed. "I merely subdued them. You cannot earn respect from a corpse, after all."

"Right," Starlight sighed, a small smile gracing her muzzle as she softly added, "Thought I was going to have another 'Trixie' moment for a second there."

"Pardon?" Gold frowned.

"Nothing," she chuckled, waving the question away. "So, which ones did you beat?"

While the dodge put her a bit on guard, Gold held her proud smile and regaled her companion with tales of her accomplishments. All the while, a small red spider hid high in the rafters, its eyes trained on the pair of Unicorns far too intensely to be normal.

***

"Are you sure she needs to drink this?" Starlight asked, eyeing a half-gallon bottle of puke green liquid held in her magic

Gold nodded, staring at the ground as she was guided through the late afternoon crowds.

"Th-The b-b-brew she drank b-bypasses n-n-normal poison immunities, i-including the normal hangover cures we ingest. A-As such, a similar brew must be consumed to counter the effects."

"it looks like a pony already tried to drink this and failed," she grimaced, shaking the thick sludge around in its bottle.

"It will work," Gold asserted, still trying to look anywhere, but at the glow of her companion's magic. "Gaia and Hazel drink it every time they have too much to drink a-and they recover almost instantly."

"Have you drank it?" Starlight asked, raising a brow.

"Y-Y-Yes," Gold forced out. "That is how I kn-Know that it is safe."

"But you can't die, right?" Starlight whispered.

"Not permanently, at least," Gold spat.

Starlight gave her a confused blink, earning a weary sigh from her companion as she explained.

"I can experience death, but the second my body reforms, I return along with it. Simple as that."

"Oh," she frowned.

The duo continued their march in silence, neither willing or able to continue that particular line of questioning. Fortunately, it wasn't long before Gold was granted a completely new thing to question. As strange as Rarity's home and business was, it didn't hold a candle to where Pinkie hung her hat. Towering over her was what appeared to be a giant gingerbread house, with white frosting framing the building's windows, door, and roof. At the center of said roof stood a tall tower crafted to resemble a three-layered birthday cake, the top most layer shaped like a pink-frosted cupcake with three lit candles on top. Various types of candies decorated the building in seemingly random places, the candy cane handle on the door appearing to be the only piece put on with a specific purpose in mind.

Gold fell to her haunches as she took the odd building in, jaw slack with confused wonder.

"Yeah, I had the same reaction the first time I saw this place," Starlight chuckled. "Can't say it doesn't fit Pinkie though, right?"

Gold nodded, slowly regaining enough of her composure to close her mouth. After taking a few more seconds to fully compose herself, she stood up and made her way towards the bakery's door. When she opened it, she was instantly hit with the smell of fresh pastries and happy cheers. Fighting against her nerves, she forced herself past the threshold into the lively dinning room beyond. A quick glance through the crowded space guided her towards a gangly yellow Earth Pony stallion with a short orang mane and tail manning a cash register. Next to him was a large display showing the wide variety of sweets they had for sale. Ignoring them, Gold weaved her way past tables and wandering patrons to reach the main counter.

"P-Pardon me," she forced out, breaths shaky from the strain against her instincts. I-Is P-P-Pinkie Pie in?"

"Yes?" the stallion nodded, eyeing her with suspicion. "Are you a new friend of her's?"

"Sh-She is m-m-my cousin," Gold managed to get out, meeting the stallion's eyes with a nervous smile.

"Really?" he pressed.

Before she could respond, Starlight managed to stagger up to Gold's side.

"It's okay Mr. Cake! I can vouch for her," she smiled.

The stallion, Mr. Cake, nodded at Starlight and his features instantly softened.

"Sorry if I came off as harsh," he sighed. "It's just, Pinkie's not doing too well right now and I didn't know she had a cousin around here. Well, outside of the Apples at least."

"That's actually why we're here," Starlight said, shaking the bottle she was levitating. "Gold managed to brew something that should take care of Pinkie's problem."

"Wait, did you say Gold?" Mr. Cake asked, switching his focus between the two mares.

"Yes? Why?" Starlight asked, a hint of worry coloring her tone.

The same could be said for Gold's features, the mare already taking note of any available escape routs the room had to offer.

A soft smile from the stallion made Gold put such planning on hold, especially when he followed it up with, "Pinkie has been going on for a while about meeting somepony by that name. Said that she was a little skittish, but a real sweetheart of a mare."

"O-Oh? Really?" Gold blinked, a small blush coloring her cheeks. "As flattering as it is to hear that, I fear that I am not worthy of such kind words."

"Says the mare that made some medicine for a sick cousin," Mr. Cake smirked, nodding towards the floating bottle.

Gold's blush grew, sheepishly pulling her hood further over her head to hide it. Starlight and Mr. Cake chuckled at the display.

"M-May we please go treat Pinkie Pie now," she forced out, staring bashfully at the ground.

"Alright, alright," he chuckled. "Just head down the hall and take the staircase on the left. Her room is the one with her name on it."

As he said that, he pointed towards a hallway to the left of the main counter.

Nodding in thanks, the two mares quickly made their way towards it, one of them trotting a bit faster than the other.

"Looks like somepony isn't used to praise," Starlight smirked.

"S-S-Silence," she hissed, trying to pull her hood further down.

Starlight rolled her eyes, but happily kept any further comments on the matter to herself. For the moment, at least.

When they reached Pinkie's room, all good cheer fall out of the two mares. In spite of the bright and cheery colors and candy decorations covering the door, a grim aura radiated off of it like thick tarry mist. They traded nervous looks, before Gold eventually worked up the nerve to lightly knock on the door.

"Pinkie Pie? Are you okay?" she asked.

Silence, then a faint pained whine greeted them from behind the barrier.

"I will take that as a no," Gold mumbled with a cringe, then, in a slightly louder voice said, "We are coming in."

Another weak whine greeted them.

Well aware of what a hangover can do to a pony, Gold quickly opened the door just long enough for her and Starlight to enter the room before silently closing it. When she did, an odd sight greeted her when she turned to face the room proper. All of the windows were covered with thick black curtains, bathing the room in dim and gloomy light. In it, the pink walls and party decorations held a haunting ambiance that reminded Gold of an abandoned fairground from a horror novel.

Pinkie laid on her back in her bed right in the middle of the haunting scene.

The normally bubbly mare looked about as well as Gold expected. Her mane and tail were as straight and limp as the curtains shielding her from the light. Her whole body was pale to the point of almost becoming white, the sole exception being her face which had turned a rotting shade of green. Her baby blue eyes were glassy as she stared blankly at the ceiling. A foul-smelling bucket stood near the bed, neither mare needing to think too hard to guess what it was there for or why it was in its current condition.

Ignoring the bucket as best they could, the two mares cautiously made their way towards their ill friend. Starlight silently cringed when each clop of her hoof made Pinkie whine. It wasn't until they were standing at Pinkie's bedside and hoofed the bottle over to Gold that she noticed a small inconsistency; Gold's steps were completely silent. In fact, every move Gold made was casual in motion, but absolutely devoid of any sound at all. If she wasn't watching her, Starlight was sure that she would've forgot that the golden mare was even there in the first place.

When Gold silently pulled the cork out of the bottle, she leaned down to Pinkie's ear and very softly whispered, "I am sorry for what you are enduring. What I am about to give you will help, but it will not taste very good. I need you to drink all of it. Do you understand?"

Still staring blankly at the ceiling, she gave a faint nod.

"Good," Gold whispered. "Now, open your mouth."

Sluggishly, Pinkie complied.

Offering her cousin an apologetic smile, she tilted the bottle's contents into Pinkie's mouth. Pinkie's eyes widened the second the concoction hit her tongue, but barely reacted beyond that. Pitiful whimpers fell out of her as more of the vile sludge slid down her throat. Tears fell down her face as her eyes turned towards the two mares treating her, cutting both of them deep in their hearts.

"I know this is unpleasant, but I promise that you will feel better when it is over," Gold cooed, a sad smile gracing her lips.

The only response Pinkie gave was a small nod before tightly closing her eyes.

For two long minutes, the three mares waited for the bottle to empty. As more and more of the thick mixture fell into Pinkie's gullet, she gradually became more animated. Slowly, color started to return to her features in steady increments. Her Breathing became more relaxed between gulps of potion. By the time the bottle was emptied, the only visible signs of weakness Pinkie sported was weariness and a look of general disgust.

"How are you feeling?" Gold softly asked, setting the bottle down by the puke bucket.

"B-Better," Pinkie weakly smiled, then grimaced as she added, "And you were right. That stuff was nasty."

"How bad was it?" Starlight asked, giving the empty bottle a weary glance.

"I would say, about as bad as it looked," Gold shuddered. "Though I feel that neither I nor Pinkie can complain about the results."

Pinkie gave a weak nod at that, then a wide yawn.

Gold smiled at that and said, "Now we should let you get some proper rest. Would you like us to get you something before we leave?"

"Some water, please," she mumbled, her eyes already starting to close.

"Of course ," Gold nodded, already making her way towards the door.

"And I'll take care of this for you," Starlight grimaced, levitating the bucket and bottle a safe distance away from herself.

Pinkie just nodded at that as she drifted off to sleep.

After completing their tasks, the two mares made their way back towards Sweet Apple Acres. As the sun started to touch the horizon, Starlight eventually worked up the nerve to ask something that had been eating at her since they left Pinkie's room. A question that got a small genuinely friendly smile out of the golden mare.

"How do you move around without making a sound?"

"Would you like me to teach you?" Gold calmly replied.

"Sure!" Starlight beamed.

Still smiling, Gold put a hoof to her chin in thought, then said, "I suppose we could find some time for lessons."