The Misfortune of Clover the Clever

Clover could do nothing more than sit there slack-jawed and unable to say or do anything until Elder Dahlia was finally out of sight. No. He hadn't just heard that. Had he? It couldn't be possible, right? At one point was she and Elder Gladiolus really a couple? It didn't seem possible with the way they were always fighting. Was it even true, or had she said it just to mess with his head? And if it was true, was there a chance that Gladiolus was also Azalea's father? Why was he even asking these questions? Didn't he have enough problems without adding the drama of other ponies to his own?

That last thought forced Clover to pause and reflect on everything that had been changing lately. Had it really been less than a month since everything he had known got turned on its head? He had watched his best friend die, society had turned his back on him, and a vision of a distant future had been thrust upon him, a vision he was certain he'd play some sort of key role in. His body had been fused with a strange crystal that had fallen from the heavens, resulting in him going from cripple to one of the strongest unicorns alive. While he was glad to have his magic again, it now liked to act up and do weird things to both his mind and body. Now he was supposed to run off to who knows where and be an ambassador or exchange student or whatever it was he was going to be doing. If there was any silver lining to any of this at all, it was Azalea. Without her, he would've likely gone mad and given up a long time ago.

But even with her support, it was all just too much, too fast. He breathed a heavy sigh as he looked down at the pile of notes Elder Dahlia had added to his own. He felt he hadn't had near enough time to prepare for the trip, but it would have to be enough. There was just no way he was going to be able to get anything more done tonight. Not with the weight of everything that's happened crashing down on him.

He took a moment as he looked around at the mess he promised to take care of. It seemed like such a simple gesture at the time, and he was sure the offer went a long way in helping cure some of the bad blood between him and the elder, but looking at it now, it was probably going to take the better part of the night. Oh well, he thought, supposed he better just get to it, then.

No sooner had he decided to start cleaning that the crystal embedded in his body lit up, along with every book in the room. Same as it had before, everything flew through the air before finding its own way back home to the appropriate shelves. However, unlike before where it had simply caught him off guard and he accepted the convenience, this time it only served to annoy him further and remind him just how strange his life had become.

Clover really didn't have anything else that needed doing before the long trip tomorrow. He had his notes and a few writing supplies, and those easily fit into his pack along with a spare toga. Although, he didn't really see himself ever wearing it again since Azalea gifted him his cloak. It easily covered the worst of his scars, and he had become quite partial to the look.

The only thing left for him to do was make sure he got enough sleep. However, he wasn't even remotely tired, and the idle thoughts that continued to rampage through his head made the possibility of sleep extremely unlikely. And while Clover had never really been much of a drinker, that had been more Pyrus' thing than his, he had found the desire to do so strike him far more often since his friend's untimely passing.

So that was where Clover found himself now. Back at the same wine hall, at the same table he had last shared with Pyrus, and where his friend had pushed him and Azalea together. The wine was watered down just the right amount, and not for the first time, he found himself wondering what it would be like to drink it straight. Very few unicorns had the constitution for it and those who thought they might usually had their request turned down. The owner just didn't want to see good wine go to waste.

Half a glass later, he was finally starting to relax. The turbulent thoughts continued to run through his head, but they were more muted than they had been before. Maybe after another hour, he might finally be able to get some sleep. No one stopped to bother him, although he did overhear a few ponies talking about his recent appointment, despite it having been a private conversation. He had never really given much thought before now, but ponies really did love their gossip, didn't they?

"Is this seat taken?"

The sudden question pulled Clover out of his reverie. He hadn't even noticed someone was standing there until they spoke. He looked to the source to find none other than the same two pegasi he was quickly becoming acquainted with. After shaking his head, they quietly sat down beside him each with their own glass in hoof, although the one Dandelion carried was larger by a sizable margin. However, what caught Clover off guard the most was when Storm Caller placed an extra glass at the empty seat across from Clover.

"We have a custom," he said solemnly. "To set an extra glass when mourning a lost friend."

Clover hadn't been expecting the gesture, nor that they would've known about what had happened. "How did you know?" He asked.

Storm stared into his own mug as he got more comfortable. "The way you keep looking at his seat," he said. "I've seen it a thousand times, especially after a battle. You two must've been close."

Clover nodded as he held back tears. "We were."

"Aye, yu don't need to restrain yerself on our account," said Dandelion. "Why don't yu tell us somethin 'bout him."

All at once, the feelings came rushing out, and tears began to form at the corner of his eyes. "Pyrus was..." He started. "Well... He was a troublemaker. He'd always get yelled at for not paying attention in class, and despite being so talented, he never really held it over anypony's head. He had this way about him, like you'd know he'd have your back if you ever found yourself in trouble. I never had much chance to take him up on that, though. I was usually the one stuck keeping him out of trouble. Unless mares were involved," Clover spared the barest of chuckles. "If it had legs and a flank to match, you can be sure he'd be there, sure to embarrass himself again." Clover looked across the table, nodding to the giant of a mare. "I would have given him thirty minutes tops before he tried making a move."

"Aye," Dandelion guffawed. "And Ah'd have given 'em a black eye fer his trouble. Although, if he kept tryin after that, he might've had a real shot."

"Only because every stallion you hit with those clubs you call legs is usually knocked unconscious," said Storm Caller, not missing the easy jab.

Pained laughter escaped Clover's chest along with the banter. When was the last time he had laughed at anything?

"Anyway," he said. "I never got the chance to properly thank him. If it hadn't been for him, I never would've worked up the courage to talk to Azalea."

"Sounds like he was a friend worth having," said Storm as he slid Pyrus' glass across the table to rest in front of Clover before raising his own. "To Pyrus. A friend like none other."

"To Pyrus," said Dandelion probably a little too loudly, if the turning heads were anything to go by. "May every mare he didn't bed be the lesser fer it."

"To Pyrus," Clover finally said as he raised Pyrus' glass. "A true friend who will forever be missed." Together they all threw their cups back, not lowering them until every drop had been drained. It might've just been his imagination, but the wine tasted sweeter than normal as it ran down his throat. Maybe it was just the rite the others had pushed him into. Either way, he felt a lot better than he had moments before, a little dizzy from drinking so much all at once, but overall much better.

"Ha!" Laughed Dandelion as she playfully shook his shoulder. "Look at him," she said. "He's got a right glow 'bout him now. Now if only we can git some meat on them scrawny bones."

"Give him a month of drills and a hearty meal, and not even his own mother will recognize him," Storm Caller laughed along.

"So aside from raising a glass to the dear departed," Clover let out a fuzzy hiccup. "What other pegasus customs will I have to learn? Like what else do you all do? Surely you do stuff other than just fight? I mean, you weren't born fighting, were you?"

"Oi," Dandelion groaned and rolled her eyes before getting up to fetch a fresh round of drinks. "Here we go again."

"No, of course not," Storm Caller grinned manically, ignoring his comrade. "Unless you count my little colt Storm Chaser, that is. I swear he came out of his mama already kicking and looking for a fight before I even had the chance to push him off a cliff." He puffed his chest out like the proud parent he was. "He learned how to handle lightning so much faster than the rest of his class. When he's finally grown, I'm sure he'll be..."

Clover awoke to a world of pain. It felt like someone had split his head open and taken the opportunity to drive in a spike while they were at it. He thought he already knew what pain was. There had been the sunrise. This definitely didn't trump that. The crystal burning through his body as it used him to create advanced magic had hurt as well, but this was more like his brain had been been dragged through the sand and then spritzed with lemon, just for good measure. The kind of agony that just didn't make any sense.

"Clover! You here?!" Came the painfully loud shout, along with the thunderous slamming of a door.

He grabbed at his ears in an attempt to block out the painful noise. It was around then that he noticed Azalea hovering over him. She looked like an angel with the way the light outlined her form, although that same light still hurt to look at.

"Clover! What's wrong with you?!" Azalea shouted again. Why was she shouting? He was right here.

She drew a bit closer and immediately jumped back, pinching her nose in the process. "Ugh, nevermind," she said, "I think I just figured it out."

Another painfully bright light filled Clover's vision, pink this time, and forced its way into him. A soothing sensation soon ran over his entire body along with whatever spell Azalea was casting. It slowly bled its way into every corner of his mind, bringing comfort with it that Clover certainly hadn't been feeling when he woke up.

By the time the light dimmed, it no longer hurt to look at, the throbbing in his head was finally gone, and he now looked up at his relieved marefriend. "What was that?" He asked. "What did you do?"

"I don't know if I should be surprised or impressed you made it through all of Pyrus' shenanigans without ever getting a hangover," she said. "What happened after I left you at the library?"

He quickly recounted the events after she left. From running into her mother, and accidentally creating a new spell, to his encounter with the two pegasi. Although, the details got a bit fuzzy after that.

"I think I know what happened," Azalea concluded. "Pegasi don't dilute their drinks. Their higher metabolism makes it unnecessary. That mug you had must've been far more than you could handle."

"I'm never drinking again," Clover promised himself. "Not like that anyway. The pain just isn't worth it."

"Hmm..." Azalea pondered. "I don't think that's going to be an option. Pegasi love their drink, and we'll both be at Mount Boras before the next sunset. Don't worry, though. There's a few easy spells I can show you, so this doesn't happen again."

Clover spent the next hour cleaning himself up and finishing the last of his packing. It was going to feel weird leaving the place he had spent his entire life, although it probably wasn't going to feel near as weird as being the only unicorns in a city full of pegasi.

Pack slung over his back, he closed the door on a home he didn't know if he'd ever see again. Azalea walked beside him, her own bags filled with the meager belongings they were allowed to bring. They were set to leave right after the conclusion of the Summit. Clover just hoped he was truly ready for the journey.

If the Summit would ever start up, that was. It had been an hour since it was supposed to have started. Very few unicorns filled the seats, probably because most of them had already gotten over the novelty of seeing ponies from the other tribes. As for the missing earth ponies and pegasi, many of them were busy packing their respective camps as they prepared for the journey home.

If Clover had been following the flow of the summit as best he could, there wasn't really much to discuss today anyway. It was mostly just a few formalities, along with reaffirming their various plans and promises going forward.

However, something wasn't quite right. The representatives from each of the tribes were all present. Chancellor Thistle sat there, looking down her nose at the others while Rock and Roll either took notes or stared blankly at a wall. Storm Caller and Dandelion looked none the worse for wear, definitely far better than Clover had felt that morning. Commander Thunderhead had started off looking relaxed, but he was gradually starting to look more worried as time went on. That concern was shared by the Elders Dahlia and Gladiolus as the third of their number had yet to arrive.

"What do you suppose is going on?" Clover whispered to Azalea. He wasn't the only one to ask that question. That same question had been bouncing off the walls constantly for the last half an hour.

"I don't know," said Azalea as she bit her lip. "But it isn't like Elder Lily to be late."

The door finally swung open, allowing the briefest of relief to wash over the waiting ponies. However, when it wasn't Elder Lily that ran through the door, but instead a panicked looking unicorn guard, concern was replaced by dread.

"It's terrible!" They shouted, barely taking a moment to catch their breath. "Elder Lily has been murdered!"