Moonlit Eternity

Chapter 11

Steel Anvil layed in Rainbow Dash's sleeping bag with Rainbow Dash sleeping faithfully and peacefully on his chest. He felt her warm body against his, moving slightly with each small breath. He looked down at her with adoration, seeing through the blackness of that night, the moon being shielded by the massive trees of the Everfree Forest. He kissed the top of her head on an impulse, making his love stir slightly, snuggling into his chest more. He could not sleep, but Rainbow Dash's peaceful slumber was all he needed to be content with his current situation. He looked over at the fire, that was still producing heat, despite the fact that it was dying out, no longer a blazing inferno, but a series of brief flashes and crackles. His ears perked up as he heard a twig snap in the distance. He sat up quickly, waking Rainbow Dash from her sleep.

"Hey! Geez, what's wrong?" She said, rubbing her forehead. He shushed her. She raised and eyebrow and looked at him. She whispered- "Okay, fine. What's wrong?"

"I think there might be something out there." He said to her. "Listen." Rainbow and Steel sat there for a long while, listening for any kind of noise or racket. Besides the crickets singing their ritual song into the night, not a sound was made.

"Yeeeaaahhh, I don't hear anything." Rainbow said quietly.

"Must've been hearing things. Alright, it's fine. I'll keep an eye out. Come on, go back to sleep." He said, laying back down. Rainbow layed down on him again. She kissed him on the lips before nuzzling under his chin.

"To get to the docks to go to Griffon Territory, we're going to have to go through Fillydelphia." Rainbow said. Steel sighed.

"Yeah, I know." He said. She looked up at him.

"You sure that you'll be okay?" She said, worry evident in her eyes. He smiled and stroked her mane.

"Yeah, I'll be fine. Just gonna be a little crazy to see how much it's changed, is all." He looked down into her eyes. Even now, after seeing them so often, the way his irises glowed red at night fascinated her. She smiled at him.

"I guess I get a couple more hours until we have to go, huh?" She said, settling in to go to sleep.

"Yeah. Sleep well." He said. She chuckled.

"Soon, we'll be sleeping well together." She said. "You'll finally be free of your curse and we can go about this relationship normally." He chuckled.

"I just hope that Big Macintosh doesn't want a hoof-wrestle rematch once I'm cured. He'll probably destroy me." He said to her. She giggled.

"Good night." She said to him. He held her close to him and sighed.

"Good night."

_____

Rainbow Dash awoke to the sounds of birds singing and a slight breeze blowing on her and her sleeping bag companinon. She yawned briefly and looked up at Steel, who was still staring wistfully into the bright blue abyss that was the morning sky, or what he could see of it through the thick canopy. She looked around their camp to see that Twilight Sparkle and Applejack had already risen for the remainder of the trip themselves. Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Rarity were all still slumbering peacefully, however. Rainbow got out of her sleeping bag, giving Steel the opportunity to stand as well. The cool autumn air pleasantly chilled the pegasus as she stretched.

"Morning, everyone." She said as she looked at her still-sleeping friends. "At least the ones in the land of the living." The comment made Applejack chuckle. She looked over at her farm pony friend as she put on her signature Stetson.

"Just give 'em a few more minutes. It won't hurt none." She said.

"I was going to. They've all been really good about not complaining. Even Rarity." Rainbow said.

"What about, me?" Rarity said through a yawn as she rose as well. As she stood up, her horn lit up with blue magic as it went to work properly folding her sleeping bag.

"Dash was just talkin' 'bout how much of a good friend you've been, how ya haven't been complainin' and how ya been soldierin' on." Applejack said. Rarity looked at Rainbow and Steel who nodded. She smiled.

"I would do anything for my friends, and don't you forget that!" Rarity said.

"Again, I can't thank you and everypony else here for all of your help. It means a lot." Steel said.

"It's the least we can do." Twilight interjected. "I say that a lot, don't I?" The other ponies laughed. Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy rose at nearly the same exact time. Both were up quicker than the others as well.

"Alright, guys!" Rainbow said. "Let's get all this stuff packed up and hit the road! We're almost to Rambling Rock Ridge. It's smooth sailing from there." Rainbow said. The others all continued to pack everything up into their saddlebags as they prepared to leave. Twilight made extra sure that the fire they had made was completely out by the time they left and continued down the poorly-kept path.

"Why do you guys suppose this path is so...um...so..." Fluttershy said.

"Horrible?" Rainbow finished for her yellow friend.

"Uh...yes, that." Fluttershy said. "You would think that if somepony took the trouble to make a path like this through the Everfree, that they would want to keep it nice."

"Yeah, come through the Everfree Forest every day just to keep a path that is -ow!" Applejack said before she was interrupted by stepping on a sharp twig. "Semi-effective maintained. Ah wouldn't want that job!"

"What Applejack is trying to say is that a path through the Everfree Forest is a path through the Everfree Forest. The environment itself is dangerous enough on it's own, and the path will not change very much over time. Entering every day is just maximizing any risk you take by entering in the first place." Rarity elaborated. Applejack huffed and adjusted her hat.

"Not complaining here, AJ, but, how much longer do we have until we get to Rambling Rock Ridge?" Pinkie asked her orange friend.

"Well, when Ah checked the map back at camp, it looked like we have about an hour to go. Won't be long now." Applejack responded.The ponies continued walking down the wide, unkempt path, listening to birds singing above them and different odd noises around them. Rainbow Dash sighed. She definitely didn't mind walking, but she much preferred flying. An idea popped into her head as she smiled widely. She jumped into the air and hovered above her friends.

"Hey guys, I'm gonna fly above the forest and see how far we have until we get to Rambling Rock Ridge." She said.

"Good idea, Rainbow." Twilight said.

"Yeah, I just so happen to be full of 'em." Rainbow boasted.

"Then why didn't you think of this before? It really could have been useful." Rarity added. Rainbow frowned at her and raised an eyebrow.

"Well, if you're so smart, why didn't you suggest it?" The pegasus said.

"I was merely saying that it would have been prudent of you to have done this earlier." Rarity said. Rainbow touched down in front of her as she was walking. Rarity took a slightly threatened stance at the pegasus intentionally blocking her way. "Honestly, Rainbow, I think you're overreacting a little. We all have little periods of brain...blockage now and again." Rarity nearly shuddered at the lack of elegance in her wording.

"Applejack's been giving us really good readings from her map. I didn't really think about it until now." Rainbow said. Applejack looked at them.

"Now girls, don't bring me into-" Applejack started.

"Well, that's no suprise." Rarity responded to Rainbow Dash's comment, paying no heed to Applejack.

"Are you calling me stupid?" Rainbow asked, narrowing her eyes and tilting her head.

"Well, I don't want to jump to any conclusions, but..." Rarity said, trailing off and looking at Rainbow Dash, raising an eyebrow, aware of her friend's anger toward her.

"Oh, you are asking for it, Rarity." Rainbow snarled, taking a step toward the unicorn.

"You think you're frightening?" Rarity said and gained a mock scared face. "Aaah! Rainbows! I'm shaking!"

"Alright, you little-" Rainbow said as she lunged at Rarity, whose eyes widened in suprise. She had not expected Rainbow to actually try to fight her. She thanked Celestia and Luna that Steel stopped the pegasus just before she reached her. As much as she loathed to admit it, even with her magic, Rainbow Dash could probably kick her flank into next week.

"Calm down, Rainbow!" Steel said, holding his marefriend back.

"But, did you even hear her?" Rainbow said to him.

"Yes, I heard her. But you need to calm down."

"But-"

"Rainbow. Calm down. Please." Steel stood firm. "I'm not going to let go until you do." Rainbow Dash sighed and nodded. Steel let her down and nodded.

"And Rarity, I'm suprised at you!" Twilight said. "I saw the way you were looking at Rainbow. Why would you egg her on like that?" Rarity gasped indignantly at this comment.

"Why, I never!" She scoffed.

"Don't lie to me, Rarity. You were enjoying antagonizing Rainbow, I know it." Rarity quieted and looked at Twilight, who nodded at her.

"It's alright, Twi." Rainbow said. "I'm over it. I really did overreact to the situation. Sorry for almost attacking you, Rarity. Let's just forget about it." As the rainbow-maned pegasus turned to walk, Rarity's guilt over her lie overtook her. She ran and grabbed Rainbow in a hug.

"I'm sorry too, Rainbow." She said. "I really was trying to antagonize you." She let go of the pegasus. "You aren't stupid. You're one of the most quick-witted mares I know. I don't know what came over me." Rainbow smiled and nodded at her friend.

"It's in the past, Rares." Rainbow responded, bringing her into a quick hug. This earned a smile from everypony else and a whimper of adoration from Fluttershy, who was shedding tears of joy. Applejack stepped forward.

"Ah hate to break up this precious mement, but we gotta get movin'." She said.

"Applejack's right guys, let's hit it." Steel concurred as they continued walking.

"Yay!" Pinkie spouted. "You guys aren't fighting anymore!" Rarity and Rainbow Dash nodded at her. A sudden rustling in the brush around them grabbed all of their attention. The sounds escalated in volume and quantitiy until they sounded like they were coming from all around them.

"Everypony stay calm." Steel said apprehensively as the sounds got closer and closer. Finally as a sort of a crescendo to the moment, a timber wolf jumped out of the forest onto the path. The group gasped. Out came another timber wolf, followed by another two and another. Finally, they were all surrounded by a pack of sixteen timber wolves, all snarling and barking at them. The ponies back into the center of the barrier the timber wolves made around them and all faced out in a different direction, save for Fluttershy, who was cowering in the middle.

"What do we do?" Fluttershy whimpered.

"We could fight." Applejack said, stomping a hoof.

"That could end badly." Steel responded.

"What's the alternative?" Rainbow asked, wings flaring.

"We run." Steel said plainly.

"That could also end badly." Twilight said. "We probably wouldn't get very far. Plus, we have you." She said, gesturing to Steel.

"We'll have to be light on our hooves." Rarity said.

"Agreed." Steel responded.

"Let's beat these guys so bad, their grandchildren feel it!" Pinkie exclaimed.

"Yeah! We beat the changelings, we can beat these puppies for sure!" Rainbow said.

"Okay. All in favor?" Twilight said. Everypony save for Fluttershy raised their hooves.

"Alright. Applejack, you guard Fluttershy. We need a heavy hitter keeping her safe." Twilight said. Applejack nodded and moved next to the cowering pegasus.

"I'll use my speed to disorient them." Rainbow said, flapping her wings once.

"Pinkie, you-" Twilight began.

"On it!" Pinkie said, pulling a small cannon from her saddle bag. A sign on it said 'Contents Under Pressure'. Twilight looked at it warily.

"Ooookay." The purple mare said, deciding to let Pinkie do what she wanted, trusting that it would cause nothing but complete and utter mayhem. "Rarity and I will provide cover for you guys with our magic and Steel," She said, earning a glance from the vampire. "do what you do best." Steel nodded as they all began to prepare.

"LET'S DO THIS!" Pinkie suddenly screamed, pulling the string on her cannon. With a tremendous boom that nopony had expected, a massive volume of party materials such as streamers, confetti, kazoos, cakes, drinks and other things of that nature shot out of the small cannon and took out five wolves. Steel dashed forward almost that instant at breakneck speed and went to work on the wolves, powerfully grabbing and throwing a timber wolf into it's comrade, producing the sound of breaking bones, or wood, or whatever it was timber wolves really did have inside them. They yelped as a wolf leaped onto Steel's back, sinking it's teeth into his shoulder. He groaned in pain and attempted to knock it off. He was not successful. There was an instant flash of cyan and rainbow and the wolf was gone. Suddenly, it dropped down in front of him, badly beaten and bruised. He kicked it away powerfully, smiling as he kept seeing a streak of Rainbow assault the predators. The wolves looked around and jumped at Rainbow, missing by miles and sometimes even landing on each other clumsily. Applejack grunted as she bucked a timber wolf in the head as it tried to get at Fluttershy. It's wooden head splintered as it flew through the air. Rainbow flew down and did a flip, bringing her back right hoof into the airborne timber wolf, sending it crashing to the ground. It did not move. Rainbow and Applejack nodded to each other.

"Nice one!" Applejack said as she bucked another wolf away, the creature screaming in pain.

"You too!" Rainbow said as a flash of magic nearly missed Rainbow and struck a timber wolf about to pounce on her. Rainbow looked over to see Twilight and Rarity fighting as well.

"Watch your back!" Twilight said before bucking a timber wolf and sending it flying back with a blast. Rainbow nodded.

"Right!" She flew around again, attacking the timber wolves. Steel punched a timber wolf in the side and slammed it into the ground before throwing it into a tree, breaking off part of the trunk. He jumped over to Pinkie Pie and knocked a timber wolf away from her.

"Launch me." She said to him.

"What?" He responded.

"Launch me."

"Where?"

"Into that big one." Pinkie said, determination dominating her features. She gestured to one of the timber wolves, that was, indeed much bigger than the others and was currently approaching Twilight and Rarity, the two unicorns unaware of it's presence. "Throw me as hard as you can."

"Are you sure about this?" He asked her, bucking another timber wolf, disabling it.

"Just do it!" She quickly said. He sighed and picked the pink party pony up, spun and threw her. She let out a battle cry as she flew at breakneck speed toward the huge wolf. She put her back hooves in front of her as she hit the wolf and knocked it down. She stood over it triumphantly, the wolf not moving in the slightest. Most of the timber wolves had either been killed or were fleeing. Rarity blasted a wolf into a tree with her magic and looked on at it as it fled. She panted heavily due to her exhausting so much magic.

"I think we won!" She said in between breaths.

"It certainly appears so." Twilight said with a smile. Rainbow flew up to them quickly.

"Hay, yeah!" She said. "We kicked the crap outta them!" She was joined by Steel, who nodded happily. Pinkie Pie sighed and happily trotted over to Fluttershy, who was still hiding under her hooves. Applejack and Pinkie did a quck hoofbump as Applejack walked over to Twilight, Rarity and the others.

"Hey, it's okay, Fluttershy." She said soothingly. "We won! It's all over now." Fluttershy looked up warily and slowly stood up. Pinkie giggled in adoration for her friend.

"Oh, thank goodness." Fluttershy said, standing up and smiling. "I thought we were goners." Suddenly Pinkie's eyes widened as she saw something behind Fluttershy.

"What is it, Pinkie?" The pegasus asked.

"FLUTTERSHY, MOVE!" Pinkie suddenly yelled as she shover her to the side, out of the way of a timber wolf that had jumped at the pegasus from the brush while her back was turned. It landed on Pinkie instead, knocking her on her back. Pinkie held the wolf away from her with her front hooves, thanking the Goddesses that this one was smaller than the others. It snapped the air between it's jaws, nowhere close to the pink pony's neck. Pinkie did scream, however, as one of the timber wolf's razorlike claws slashed her side.

"Pinkie!" Fluttershy screamed as she bucked it as hard as she could off of her friend. It yelped as it began to limp away. Her friends noticed this and rushed to her side. Fluttersy was sobbing.

"What happened!?" Rainbow shouted.

"That timber wolf was going to kill me, but Pinkie...saved my life!" Fluttershy said in between sobs. Steel ran at the limping wolf. It saw him coming and attempted to flee, but failed miserably as Steel stomped on it's back, breaking the animal's spine, killing it. Steel ran back to his friend's side.

"We really showed them, huh?" Pinkie said through a smile, one eye closed, tears falling. The smile turned to a frown as she winced from her injury, a long gash up her side, which was bleeding quite a bit. "Ow."

"Oh, Goddesses! Pinkie, Ah'm so sorry! Ah thought all the wolves were gone!" Applejack said, crying.

"It's okay, AJ," Pinkie giggled and winced again. "I made a rhyme! Anyways, you didn't know it was there any more than...anypony else."

"Rainbow, fly above the trees to see how far we are from Rambling Rock Ridge!" Twilight said. Rainbow only looked at Pinkie, worry wracking her heart. Twilight grabbed her cyan friend and shook her lightly. "Do it now!" Rainbow flew up quickly and almost immediately returned.

"It's about a quarter of a mile. I can get her there in sixty seconds if I hurry!" Rainbow said. Twilight nodded and looked at Steel.

"Steel, you follow her on foot. We'll move as quickly as we can!" Steel nodded and picked Pinkie up. She winced again.

"Sorry, Pinkie." Steel said as he put her on Rainbow's back.

"Pinkie, hold on as tightly as you can!" Rainbow said, feeling Pinkie Pie's blood on her back. "We're gonna get you some help."

"'Kay...do you still get free ice cream?" Pinkie asked, gripping around Rainbow Dash's neck. Rainbow teared up at this.

"Let's go!" Rainbow said as she lauched herself into the sky. Steel nodded and took off into the forest, looking up to follow Rainbow, his powers still preserved by the shade. Rainbow looked back at Pinkie, who whimpered nearly silently as she approached the small town at Rambling Rock Ridge.

_____

"It's a miracle, really. The slash barely missed a major artery and the cut is deep, but it is the cleanest cut from a timber wolf attack we have ever seen here. It bled clean, as well. We went ahead and washed her and stitched the wound up, and as long as the bandages are replaced regularly, it should knit up just fine with next to no scarring. Your friend should count herself lucky." The doctor said outside the emergency wing of the hospital at Rambling Rock Ridge. He was a gangly but fit earth pony, with a tan coat and a brown mane. The ponies sighed in intense relief. Applejack wiped the tears she was shedding away, and Fluttershy sobbed.

"Well, can we see her?" Twilight Sparkle asked the tall doctor.

"Sure, she's in room 213." He said. "But please make it brief. We want her to get her rest. We'll have her moved to Ponyville General the day after tomorrow.

"Thank you, Doctor." Rainbow said to him. He nodded.

"She wouldn't stop talking about all of you." He added. "She must really love you all." This caused everypony to smile. They walked through the emergency wing, observing several injured ponies, one in particular they heard, but his scream was as profound as anything they were seeing. It made Applejack shudder. They eventually reached Pinkie's room and walked in. Pinkie Pie was indeed fine, laying in her bed, eating gobs of ice cream and laughing at a show on the television in front of her. When she saw her friends, she smiled.

"Hey, guys!" She said happily. They all greeted her in return. "I got the ice cream! I knew they would have some!" Everypony laughed.

"How're ya doin' sugarcube?" Applejack asked her pink friend. She smiled.

"I'm okay, really. It still hurts, especially when I laugh,but I'll be fine." She responded.

"Then why exactly are you watching a comedy show on the television?" Asked Rarity, who gestured to the large box hanging from the ceiling in front of Pinkie's bed.

"Well, I'm going to laugh at a lot of things anyway, so I'd rather laugh at something everypony finds funny. Not just something I find funny." Pinkie retorted.

"As good a reason as any." Rarity said with a smile.

"You were awesome back there, Pinkie." Rainbow Dash said leaning toward the pink pony. "You really hung in there, and you didn't cry-"

"Yes, I did, silly filly!" Pinkie said with a sweet giggle.

"I didn't see a tear." Rainbow said. "Did any of you see her cry?"

"I would think I would have, due to my super-sight." Steel added. He only had enhanced vision in complete darkness, but Pinkie Pie didn't know that. Pinkie blushed, noticeable even through her pink coat.

"Oh, stop it, you guys!" PInkie said, moving a hoof at them. She then winced in pain and giggled lightly. "Yeah, I keep forgetting I got attacked by a timber wolf." The other ponies laughed.

"Yeah, you really need to take it easy." Fluttershy said. She walked toward Pinkie and put a hoof on her shoulder. "Listen, I really can not thank you enough for what you did back in the forest. You put yourself in harm's way just to save me...I-If our r-roles were reversed..." She began to cry. "I would've just run away..." Pinkie Pie, in return, put a hoof on Fluttershy's shoulder.

"You wouldn't have." Pinkie said in a smooth, soothing voice. "I know it. You would have done the same thing. You've faced a dragon before to save us. I know you wouldn't hesitate to save me." Fluttershy sobbed as she gently hugged Pinkie, minding her bandages. Rarity sniffled and wiped a tear from her eye. Eventually, Fluttershy seperated from Pinkie and stepped back.

"So, how long did the doc say he was gonna keep me here?" PInkie Pie asked.

"He said that he was going to move you back to Ponyville the day after tomorrow." Rainbow said to her.

"I guess you guys'll just have to go on without me, huh?" Pinkie said.

"No." Steel responded almost immediately. "We're going back to Ponyville as soon as you do." The girls gasped, including Pinkie.

"What're you talkin' 'bout?" Applejack said. "We can't just give up now!"

"Indeed! We're not going back!" Rarity added.

"We're going back and that's final." Steel said. "This is exactly what I was afraid was going to happen, and it did. You heard the doctor. What if we lost Pinkie today?"

"But we've come so far!" Rainbow said. "We're not going to stop."

"Yes, we are." Steel responded, stubborn as a mule.

"But Steel," Twilight began.

"We're going back." He interruped her.

"No you're not." Pinkie said, a legitimate frown and look of disapproval lacing her features. "You're going to finish this."

"Pinkie, look, I-" Steel started.

"I don't want to hear it." Pinkie said in a tone that was sweet and understanding, yet undeniably stern. "It's my turn to talk." She cleared her throat and looked at Steel in the eyes. "Are you crazy? How could you have come all this way, gone through so much, learned so many things about all of us and yourself and just give up now? The whole reason we all dropped our daily lives for half a week was because we trusted in you and cared for you. Now you need to listen to me. You're going to finish this, you're going to lift this curse off your shoulders and the first thing you do when you get back to Ponyville is lay in the sun. Then, you're going to come see me in the hospital. Is that clear?" She finished. Everypony was stunned. None of them had ever heard or seen Pinkie Pie act in such an authoritative manner before. "Is that clear?" Pinkie said again. Steel nodded. Pinkie returned to her cheery, sweet self again. "Thank you." She said with a small giggle.

_____

They all continued talking for a while before the nurse entered the room and annexed the group back to the waiting room to let Pinkie Pie get her sleep. They couldn't help but comply. They all said goodbye to their friend and sat in the waiting room. Nopony talked, not even Steel. Rainbow looked at Steel, then Twilight, the Applejack, then at Fluttershy, and finally at Rarity.

"So..." She began. "When are we going to get moving?"

"Soon, I suppose." Steel said. "Pinkie wants us to continue, and she's not having us go home, so we will. For her."

"Ah'll go ahead to the train station and meet you guys there." Applejack said. "Ah can't stand this place. There's just too much death here." She stood and left the hospital.

"I think I'll stay here with Pinkie Pie." Fluttershy said. "She needs somepony here with her, and I'll be useless to you guys anyway. I'm just...extra baggage."

"You are not useless, Fluttershy. Don't ever let me hear you talk like that about yourself again." Rarity said sternly. Fluttershy nodded and looked down at her hooves. "But if you do truly want to stay here with Pinkie Pie, I will not stop you." She hugged the yellow pegasus. "Be safe on the way back to Ponyville." Fluttershy nodded as Rarity followed Applejack out of the exit.

"Bye, Fluttershy." Steel said as he walked out.

"See ya, flutters." Rainbow said as she hugged Fluttershy. "Love you." She followed Steel out.

"You did fine, Fluttershy." Twilight said, putting a hoof on Fluttershy's shoulder. "Pinkie could really use you here." She left through the automatic doors as well.

"Well," Steel began. "Shall we? The sun's killing me." Rainbow looked at him and smirked. He looked at her and realized almost immediately the expression was true in a sense. "Oh you're hilarious." Rainbow giggled mischeviously.

"Yeah, we'd better go." She agreed.

"The train station's further down this road." Applejack added. "We gotta move quick. The train leaves in..." She looked at the large clock on a small building. "Tarnation! Ten minutes! Let's go!" She said. Everypony ran down the road, Steel having to stick to the sidewalk right beside the buildings to stay in the shade. He nearly bowled over many an ambling pony enjoying their day. He apoligized to each one quickly with short phrases like "Sorry!" or "'Scuse me!" However long in the shade he stayed, he could not avoid several patches of sunlight and the effect had a nearly immediate effect on his stamina. Finally, with three minutes to spare, they made it to the train station and bought their tickets. Rainbow Dash and Applejack smiled widely and ambled onto the train as if nothing had happened whereas Steel Anvil, Twilight Sparkle and Rarity panted heavily from the physical exhaustion. After they were all boarded, they took their seats in a small cabin across from each other.

"I could use a nap." Rarity said.

"That ain't a bad idea, Rarity." Applejack said before pulling her stetson down to shield her eyes from the late afternoon sunlight, settling in for a nice rest.

"Rainbow, could you be a dear and lower those blinds?" Rarity asked her pegasus friend.

"Yeah, it'd help, that's for sure." Steel added, still slightly out of breath. Rainbow nodded and pulled the blinds down, making the cabin immediately dark. Twilight pulled a book out of her saddlebag and illuminated it lightly with some magic, just enough to read, but not enough to bother the prim, white unicorn next to her. Rainbow put her head on Steel's shoulder.

"Gonna get some rest?" He asked her.

"No, actually." She responded. "You'd think I'd want to, wouldn't you? After everything that has happened today. But, suprisingly, I'm just not tired." She further snuggled into Steel. "I'm pretty content to just lay here like this until we get there."

"I'm not complaining." Steel said before kissing her on top of her head.

The train ride was not a bad one by any means. It was smooth and not nearly as bumpy as the ride to Canterlot was with only thirty more minutes on the travel time. The group reached Fillydelphia as the train screeched to a halt at the station. Applejack yawned widely as she tilted her stetson back up and left the cabin. Rarity continued to sleep until Twilight nudged her to wake her up. The night air chilled them all as they left the station and walked through the town of Fillydelphia. Steel, in particular, marveled at how much the town, which looked a lot more like a city now, he had grown up in had changed. Tall buildings replaced the locations of the small, quaint huts that he used to visit for any goods he purchased. He could no longer discern where his old house was, or where Sugar Song's bakery was. The sheer amount of time that had passed since that terrible night had a bad effect on Steel's memory. Rainbow pressed herself into Steel, as a sign of affection, but also as a sign of reassurance.

"You okay, hun?" She asked him. He nodded.

"Yeah, I'm just spellbound. It's changed so much. It's so crazy." He replied. "This isn't my home anymore, though Rainbow. My home is in Ponyville, with you." Rainbow Dash smiled and kissed him on the cheek. They all eventually reached the dock and purchased their tickets to find the ship waiting. They still had half and hour to spare.

"Alright." Applejack said. "We're here. Everypony got their passports?" The group nodded before proceeding.

"We have thirty minutes." Rarity said. "Would you all like to go get a drink before we leave?"

"There'll probably be drinks on the boat. Let's go explore it." Rainbow added.

"It is a pretty big ship." Twilight added.

"I guess I'm the minority here." Rarity said. "Let's go, then." They all got onto the boat and entered the main atrium and were immediately stunned. The ship looked fairly average on the outside, but on the inside it was like a ballroom. An orchestra played in the corner, with the cellist everypony in the group, save for Steel, knew as Octavia.

"I am so incredibly underdressed." Rarity whispered to Applejack.

"You ain't wearin' nothin', sugarcube." Applejack replied, raising an eyebrow.

"Exactly!" The unicorn said, throwing a hoof into the air. "Well, at least my mane is still intact. Hard to believe after all we've been through today." They walked around the room appraising all of the decorations and fancy ponies One beautiful mural had caught their attention when Rainbow Dash heard a very familiar voice from behind her.

"No way...Rainbow Dash?" Rainbow's eyes widened at this voice as she, as well as her friends, turned quickly around to face the source.

"Gilda?"

Obligatory End-of-Chapter Author's Note: And BOOM! I'm sorry did I just blow your mind?...Yes? No? Maybe? Eh, whatever. I figured with the ponies going to Griffon territory, I would include Gilda in here. What will happen? Will Rainbow Dash and Gilda fight a brutal battle in the middle of the ballroom? Will they make up from their past conflict? Will I ever stop asking these stupid f*bleep*king questions? On a side note, GEEZ, did the last chapter get a negative reception. Two or three more downvotes(I think)? The readers on this site really don't like gory stuff, do they? As always, I'd appreciate a comment on what you think so far. Cheers!