High-Water Mark

Chapters

1. Going for a Walk
2. Flora Fields
3. Aftermath
4. Epilogue

1. Going for a Walk

Quicksilver sighed and pushed his chair back from the desk in the corner of his lab. It was the cluttered desk of someone who didn’t take time to clean up, but still knew exactly where everything was in each pile. Closing his eyes, he rubbed his temples with his hooves. He glanced down at his blue cutie mark on his dark red coat. It was the symbol for the element Mercury, a testament to his alchemical talent. He groaned. Figuring out the right combination of ingredients for the most potent version of this mixture shouldn’t be so hard. Previous testing had generated plenty of data, but he still hadn’t found what he needed. He tapped his hoof on the floor idly.

He opened his eyes, sighed again, and ran a hoof through his teal mane. He glanced at another pile of papers on the desk. He picked up the top sheet with his magic and skimmed it. It contained a map along with a description of the indicated site. It wasn’t a solution to the problem he was stuck on, but a nice long distraction would allow him to return later with a fresh perspective.

As he thought, his gaze went up to a plaque mounted above the window. His dad had given him the plaque of his favorite quote after graduation.

"A life unchallenged by the new is unlived, forever mired in the old." -- Clover the Clever.

“Okay, time for something new.”

Quicksilver stood up and walked out of his lab into the main part of the house. He went around the corner, through the kitchen, and out the back door to the greenhouse where he knew his wife Misty was working. More than just a place for botanical research, the greenhouse was her sanctuary of life. It was unusual for a non-earth pony to love plants, but that was part of Misty's charm. He took a deep breath as he entered the greenhouse. It always smelled of earth and new life here.

Misty was hovering by some tall vines, carefully inspecting the small flowers blooming along the main stem. He watched as she slowly flapped her wings. There was just enough movement to hold her position in the air, but not enough to damage any nearby plants. The sunlight shining in through the greenhouse windows was beautiful on her sky-blue coat and made the chartreuse and magenta colors of her mane and tail practically glow. Beautiful and brilliant. And that flank...wow. Quicksilver smiled.

She looked over and saw him watching her. She always felt special when he did that. She relaxed her wings, drifting to the ground, and walked over to where he was standing. She smiled warmly at him, and they nuzzled for a moment. Stepping back, she tilted her head, curious as to what he wanted.

“Hey, Misty, you feel like going for a little walk?”

Her eyes narrowed as she lifted her head back just a bit, eyeing him suspiciously. “Are you talking about a walk around the block or a walk around Equestria?” As it had been a while since their last research trip together, she was pretty sure that’s what he was hinting at. Still, she liked to lead him on a bit.

“Well, it might be a bit longer than around the block.”

“I figured. How many weeks?”

With an embarrassed smile, he answered, “Probably three.”

“Good. I’ve been looking forward to another trip for a while now. So, what’s the plan?” she asked with a grin.

“The headwaters of the Neighagra river run south from the Crystal Mountains. I have a one-page report that notes several potential sites in the foothills. This should be a great place to look for some interesting mineral and ore deposits for my research.”

“Yup, you can never have too much dirt.”

“Please, interesting dirt. I can never have too much interesting dirt.”

They shared a chuckle over this and moved together to nuzzle for a few moments..

Stepping back, Misty asked, “So, when did you want to start this little so-called walk?”

Quicksilver turned to head back into the house, and she followed. “I figured in two or three days. We need to make sure our gear is in order and confirm Tinker has everything he needs to watch the house and greenhouse while we’re gone.”

Misty replied, “I’ll get him the usual detailed list of tasks. So many things around here run smoother since we hired him.”

“You finished your black nightshade project last week, right? Do you have any other botany projects active right now?” Quicksilver asked.

“No, nothing. As long as Tinker keeps things watered, it’ll be fine. And you?”

He glanced in the direction of his lab. “I don’t have any experiments or tests that need to be watched.”

“Then I guess we’re good to go,” Misty said with a smile. “Shall we start packing?”

Quicksilver and Misty got off the train at the small Neighagra Falls station. The weather was clear and the temperature comfortable; a perfect spring day for a walk. Sitting in a chair outside the station office, the station manager greeted the couple as they walked by, “Howdy, folks. Headin’ up to the resort?”

Quicksilver replied, “To, and beyond, all the way north to the foothills.”

With a grin, the station manager said, “Sounds like fun. But do be careful. Mah wife and I have heard some rumors that there may be some highwayponies north of the resort.”

“Thanks for the warning. We’ll be sure to be careful.”

After saying goodbye, Quicksilver and Misty headed north on the road that led to the Neighagra Falls resort.

As they walked, Quicksilver asked, “His comment about highwayponies makes me think. So, do you remember Rule One?”

She glanced over at Quicksilver, “Of course. If we see danger, run away. Danger is best when it’s far away.”

“Perfect. Avoid it if we can see it, run away if it surprises us.”

“And worst case, I got a big strong unicorn with lots of magic to protect me.” Misty gave him a playful shove with her shoulder.

This was the first time since the trip had started that they found themselves alone. They walked quietly, enjoying the gentle sounds of nature all around them.

The road to the falls ran parallel to the river through light forests with heavy undergrowth. Enthralled, Misty looked around with wide-eyed wonder at the diversity of both plant and animal life. The sounds of birds, and the wind in the trees accompanied them as they walked. And there was the ever present roar of the falls in the distance.

“This is such a diverse ecosystem.” She would occasionally stop to study an unfamiliar plant or flower and prance excitedly. "There are so many species here we don’t have around Canterlot. I could probably spend a week following the river and studying all it has to offer.” She glanced at Quicksilver and smiled.

Laughing, Quicksilver noted, “You’re geeking out a bit here. Perhaps we should schedule another trip to the area for some botany research.”

Misty looked at him, smiling broadly. “I’d really like that. And I’d love to collect a few samples to take back to the greenhouse.”

As they drew nearer to the falls the forest began to thin out, providing a better view of the river and the falls themselves. The wide curtain of water thundered from the cliff above into multiple large pools at the bottom, throwing up a huge cloud of mist. A gentle breeze carried the haze away.

“Do the falls look bigger than normal to you?” Misty asked as they moved closer. “They’re always heavier in the spring, but this is a lot heavier than when we were here before.”

Looking at Misty, he tilted his head towards the ground. “Yeah, that’s a lot of water. I can feel the rumble in my hooves from here.”

Transfixed by the sight, Misty softly said, “They are beautiful though.”

They stepped off the path into a grassy area and sat down to enjoy the sight and sound of the falls for a while. They could smell the water in the air and feel the cool mist on their faces. Being this close to the falls made it too loud to hold a conversation, so they just waited quietly. Time seemed to slow down, and they leaned together, enjoying the solitude. Yes, they had a schedule to keep, but a few minutes to enjoy nature and each other was time well spent.

Misty put her lips close to Quicksilver’s ear so he could hear her. “This is the type of perfect moment that even the richest ponies in Canterlot can’t buy.” She smiled as she pulled back.

“Probably time to get going,” Quicksilver shouted over the sound of the waterfall. “All the inns and such are at the top, so we still have a ways to go and some serious elevation to climb.”

As evening approached, they decided to leave their room and find someplace to have dinner. The resort was packed with restaurants and cafes, gift shops, and other tourist attractions. Misty paused in front of a spa.

“I remember this place.” She smiled. “You got me a four-hour treatment here one afternoon.” She absentmindedly stroked her mane. “That was so much fun.” Her focus shifted to Quicksilver. “But I always wondered if it was an excuse so you could run off exploring for minerals.”

Quicksilver laughed. “I deny everything.” Then, as he gazed at the sunset, he softly added, “I remember how nice you smelled that evening.” They nuzzled for a moment as he nickered.

They continued their search and soon selected a small cafe. It had the rustic look of having been built when the resort first opened. Here one could experience a meal rather than rushing to finish it.

Walking up to the cafe, Misty commented, “Do you remember this place from our honeymoon? We ate here several times.”

Looking at her, Quicksilver replied, “I mostly just remember you from our honeymoon.” Glancing at him, she smiled, as a slight blush rose in her cheeks. “Inside or out?”

She checked through the cafe windows. “Looks kind of busy inside. The patio is empty. Let’s eat out here.”

They walked onto the patio and looked around. “Where do you want to sit?” Quicksilver asked.

“Away from the door so ponies aren’t walking by.” She led him to one of the tables near the edge. “Here.”

They sat next to each other on one side of the table. After a quick review of the menu, they chatted until a young mare came to take their order.

While the cafe revealed a wonderful view of the river, their focus was on each other. Once the waitress trotted away, they were left alone on the patio with only the deep hum of the falls keeping them company. For a brief time, they could pretend they were all alone in a place reserved just for them. It was moments like these that allowed them to slow down and enjoy life. The work would come later, but right now nothing demanded their attention or time. So they lingered over dinner, chatting and occasionally holding hooves.

After dinner, Quicksilver and Misty weren’t ready to end the evening, so they decided to explore. There were many places a couple in love could spend some quiet time. As they casually strolled together, they saw a green pegasus guide pony on duty, so they walked over to him.

Noticing the couple approach, he turned to face them. “Good evening, sir, madam. Newlyweds, I presume?”

Misty replied, “We’ve actually been married a while. We’re just spending the night before heading up-river tomorrow.”

He brought a hoof to his chest. “Oh, my mistake. I see a lot of newlyweds here, and you showed all the signs at dinner over there. My apologies.”

“No, it’s sweet. In a place like this, it’s hard to not feel refreshed and renewed.” Misty leaned into Quicksilver’s side a little. His body shifted ever so slightly as he responded to her touch.

“So, up-river. If I’m not prying, business or pleasure?”

Quicksilver took over, “We’re researchers heading up towards the Crystal Mountains. Though I have a question for you.”

“I’ll do my best to answer it, sir.” He took a step closer to hear better over the roaring of the water.

“We noticed that the falls are a lot heavier, and the river level’s higher than what might be normal for springtime. It’s quite a contrast from when we were here before.”

“Yes, sir, they are. We had a very wet winter with above-average snowfall. Combine that with a warm spring, and we’re seeing a lot of runoff from the mountains.” He glanced towards the river, “So, the levels are higher than normal.”

He looked in the direction of the mountains. “And it also appears there may be a storm building up there. That would be even more water, plus more snowpack melting. In a couple of days, these falls could be stunning.”

Gazing upriver, Quicksilver asked, “Is there any flooding going on to the north?”

“I haven’t heard anything about any flooding yet.” He looked back toward the couple. “Although it wouldn’t surprise me if there was, or will be soon.”

Quicksilver nodded to the guide. “Okay, thanks for your time.”

Misty smiled. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, folks. Please have a wonderful evening.” The guide turned to go back to where he had been standing.

As they walked away, Misty asked, “Does this change our plans?”

“Perhaps. If the foothill streams and tributaries are at flood levels, it won’t be safe for us to be poking around the hillsides. Though we’re in no rush. We can take the time to head up-river a day or two and see what it looks like for ourselves. Worst case, it’ll be a nice walk.”

“And a few days of vacation,” Misty added. “It’s been a long day. Should we head back to the room so we can get an early start?”

“That sounds good.” They walked quietly for a few moments. “You know,” Quicksilver quipped, “just because we’re not newlyweds doesn’t mean we can’t act like ones.”

Misty smiled and gave him a little wink.

They were up early the next morning. It was a long walk to the next town, and would take them all day. They wanted to arrive well before nightfall. They shivered as the chilly morning air pawed at them. Misty leaned close to Quicksilver’s side, and they picked up their pace. Chatting about nothing important, they simply enjoyed each other’s company.

The path had moved away from the river running through a densely forested area. The trees were higher here, with a canopy that obscured the sky. Very little sunlight filtered through, making the path a little dark despite it being mid-day. It was deathly quiet and a touch foreboding.

Quicksilver’s eyes darted between the trees above and the surrounding underbrush. An occasional breeze would rustle the leaves overhead. Their hooffalls seemed unusually loud. They stopped talking as even whispering seemed inappropriate here. Misty subconsciously ruffled her wings and nervously glanced over her shoulder. Staying in the center of the path, they keep a wary eye on their surroundings, their ears constantly flicking this way and that.

After rounding a small curve, they stopped mid-stride. Misty gasped softly as Quicksilver’s body tensed. The path was blocked by a unicorn and two earth ponies. The couple retreated a few steps. The earth ponies stood with hooves wide and heads lowered, stealing quick glances at the leader. The unicorn's stance was upright, relaxed, and he regarded Quicksilver and Misty through half-closed eyes. They felt like prey under the threatening gaze of a predator. The unicorn glanced past them for a moment before looking at them again. Hearing a rustle from behind, Quicksilver’s ears flipped back. A quick glance showed the pair flanked by two more earth ponies. They crouched, muscles tense, ears forward and alert. His gaze returned to the unicorn.

“Good morning. It’s a lovely day for a walk,” the sea-green unicorn opened with a threatening grin. “Sorry to have startled you.” He ran a hoof through his rather sparse dark blue mane.

Quicksilver didn’t respond. His eyes narrowed as he kept focused on the unicorn. His ears flicked this way and that at the slightest hint of movement. Misty took a step closer. Her wings fluttered nervously.

Raising a hoof to his chest, the unicorn said, “I will have to insist you drop your bits and continue on your way without them.” He stomped his hoof to the ground with a soft thud.

Everypony stood their ground for a few seconds. Quicksilver could feel Misty trembling slightly as she leaned against him. He felt his breathing and pulse quicken. His muscles were tense, prepared for flight. He watched for an opening.

“That wasn’t a request,” the unicorn said with a bit of an edge to his voice. His eyes narrowed. At his nod, all five highwayponies took a step closer.

“Close your eyes,” Quicksilver whispered to Misty..

Squeezing his eyelids tight, Quicksilver cast a single flash of bright light. The highwayponies let out a yell of surprise and began to shake their heads, rubbing their eyes to clear their vision.

Quicksilver teleported himself and Misty as far as he could see down the path. They appeared in a flash of magic. Misty glanced back where the five ponies were. They still looked confused, except the unicorn. He was pointing directly at Misty. He could see again. He could see her. “Come on!” Quicksilver urged. She turned and followed him as they galloped around the next curve. The way was clear for another teleport. Quicksilver stepped next to Misty and teleported again.

As soon as they appeared, Quiksilver shouted, “Let’s move.” He galloped forward, Misty close on his heels. Approaching the next curve, he glanced backwards. The highwayponies were just rounding the previous bend. His muscles strained as he pushed harder. Breathing fast, Misty struggled to keep up.

He winced as his rear hooves slipped on loose rocks. His legs shot forward from under him. He landed hard on his hocks. Unable to stop, Misty spread her wings and leapt into the air, gliding over him. With a grunt, he regained his hoofing and pushed forward. He caught Misty’s eye, nodded once, and increased his pace. He sprinted down the road, his hooves barely touching the ground.

Misty slowed her flight, dropping back behind and above Quicksilver. Her eyes went wide. “You’re bleeding!” she called out. He replied with a snort and a shake of his head. He pushed on.

As if emerging from a dark room, they broke free from the forest into open meadows. He galloped on, with Misty gliding beside him, finally free from the oppressive feel of the forest. He shook his head to clear the sweat-soaked mane from his eyes.

Quicksilver occasionally glanced behind to look for any pursuit. With labored breathing, he said, “Misty… Go high and see… If they’re still back there.”

She leaned to one side and banked to turn around. Beating her wings with all her might, she gained altitude to see the road behind them. In a few moments she glided down just above Quicksilver. “They’re gone. They never came out of the forest. We’re clear.” Quicksilver didn’t slow. “Did you hear me? We’re okay. You need to slow down now.”

Quicksilver could feel the breeze from her wing on his back. He looked at her for a couple strides, then dropped to a trot. He snorted and shook his head, throwing a fine spray of sweat in all directions. He slowed to a walk as Misty landed next to him. He breathed hard, gasping for breath.

“Quicksilver, stop for a moment. I need to check your legs.” He stopped, and she backed up behind him. She lowered her head and looked at the back of his legs. “They’re pretty scrapped up, but it doesn’t look deep.” She stepped forward again and gestured with her hoof, “The river is right here, we need to wash off the dirt and blood.”

Unable to stand still, he struggled to catch his breath. He glanced down the road behind them. “You’re… You’re sure… That we’re okay?”

“Absolutely. Perhaps they didn’t want to be out in the open, or just couldn’t keep up. I could see the entire road back to the forest. They are not following us.”

Dropping their saddlebags, they wadded into the river. Misty gently cleaned the dirt and blood off Quicksilver's legs. He then submerged himself to wash off the sweat from his body. They grabbed their saddlebags on the way to the road, where they continued at a brisk walk.

“How do you feel?” Misty asked.

“Better, now that I’ve rinsed off.” Looking at Misty, he smiled. “Hey, thanks for your help, and, well, everything you did.” She returned the smile.

“Do your legs hurt?” She glanced back at them.

He twisted his body, trying to see the backs of his legs. “A little, but it’s not bad. I doubt I even need a bandage.”

They walked quietly for a while, each lost in their thoughts.

Misty broke the silence. “We should probably talk about this.”

He looked at her. “You’re right.”

Meeting his eyes with her own, she said, “I was scared back there. I mean, really scared. We’ve never had this kind of a problem before.”

Gazing down the road as they walked, Quicksilver said, “Rule One sounds great when we talk about it. And it would work fine for something like an Ursa Minor. But I hadn't considered being ambushed and surrounded.”

“Still, you did great getting us out of there. My hero.” She smiled and leaned against him for a couple paces.

“You know, your flying worked really well.” He paused for a moment. “If you needed to escape quickly, flying would be the fastest way.” He looked at her. “We should think of a signal for that. You’re a strong flier and could get away in seconds. It would be easier for me not having to worry about you.”

Misty shook her head. “I don’t think I could leave you behind like that. I mean, I see your point, perhaps it even makes sense. I’m just not sure I could do it.”

“We don’t have to decide right now. But I’d like to talk about it sometime in the future after we’re home, safe, and can think about it more logically.”

She cocked an eyebrow at him and smirked.

“What?” he said, looking back his eyes a little wide.

“I know what you’re doing, Mister Academic. You just want time to do some research and write a paper to try and convince me. You’ll probably ask me to edit it too.” She stuck out her tongue at him.

Quicksilver let out a good laugh. “You know me too well. But, now that you mention it…” Misty gave him a playful shoulder nudge as they walked along.

Their pace allowed them to reach the next town by early-afternoon. Turning off the main road, they walked the short distance to the outskirts. It consisted of a couple score buildings backed by large fields. Their hooves clip-clopped on the cobblestone main street as they walked through town.

Misty pointed ahead on the left. “There’s the sheriff’s office.”

Inside, they found the light brown earth pony sheriff sitting at his desk. He was easy to identify by the tin star pinned to his vest.

Looking up, the sheriff greeted them, “G’day folks. How can I help you?”

“Hello, sheriff. We wanted to report an attempted assault and robbery on the road up from Neighagra Falls.”

The sheriff let out a long sigh. “Lemme guess, a unicorn and three earth ponies?”

“Four actually, plus the unicorn.”

“Oh, he musta picked up another flunkie somewhere. We had trouble with them last year. They were arrested and spent a few months in prison. I guess they didn’t get the hint. Slow learners.” The sheriff stood, giving the couple a quick look from head to hoof. “You two okay? I didn’t notice anythin’ when you walked in, but now that I know what happened...”

“We’re fine, sheriff,” Misty said. “My husband here fired off a couple spells so that we could get away. We didn’t see them following us, but we were moving pretty fast to get away.”

“Whew, I’m relieved to hear that. They haven’t hurt anyone yet, relying on intimidation and their numbers to get what they want. But I fear the day they might decide to take it up a notch.”

The sheriff sat down again and pulled out some papers from his desk. “If I could take just a bit more o’ your time to do some paperwork about the attack, it would be a big help.”

Quicksilver and Misty sat down in the chairs in front of the sheriff's desk. “Sure thing, sheriff, we’re glad to help. Once we’re done, we just need to go find a room for the night and get some dinner.”

2. Flora Fields

The next morning was much like the previous one: up early, breakfast, and on the road. The sun was low in the western sky as they approached the next settlement. As they rounded a bend in the road, they saw several dozen houses organized around a core of larger buildings spread out ahead. Even at a distance, it was noticeably larger than the previous town. Tired and dusty from the day’s travels, they hoped it had a nice inn for the night. Sleeping under the stars could be romantic, but tonight they wanted a good dinner, a warm room, and a soft bed.

As they got closer, they could see that the buildings and houses were perched on a bluff overlooking a large floodplain. To the west of the river lay a variety of cultivated fields surrounding a small hill. A number of small structures were visible on the hill. To the east of the settlement, various types of fruit orchards extended to the edge of the forest. Scattered ponies could be seen going about their business.

As they walked into town, a tan earth pony with a red mane noticed them. He changed directions and trotted up to them.

“Hiya folks. I’m Mayor Bigwig. I saw you walking up, so I thought I’d be the first to welcome you to Flora Fields.” He extended a hoof which Quicksilver bumped.

“Mayor. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Quicksilver.” He tilted his head towards Misty. “And this is my wife Misty.” He looked around. “It’s such a lovely setting for a town.”

“We’re big enough to be a town with over two hundred and fifty ponies living here, but officially we’re still a settlement. We hope to change that soon with an application to be recognized as a town.” He gestured around with his hoof. “We’re obviously an agricultural settlement, almost totally earth ponies living in harmony with the land. We do this without any unicorn magic or pegasus weather management.”

“So, how did you come to establish this settlement?” Misty asked, tilting her head slightly.

“I spent years as a low-level political figure in Manehattan. Then one day I heard about a group of earth ponies from all over Equestria who wanted to find a place to settle and build a home for themselves. After contacting them, I helped them find this location for a settlement and work through all the legal paperwork. Seeing what they had planned, I decided to get out of the steeplechase and join them. They appointed me as the settlement's unofficial mayor. Perhaps one day it will be official,” he added with a large smile.

“Well, it seems like a wonderful place and a great plan,” Quicksilver said. “I hope it all works out for you and everypony here.”

“Thank you. So, we don’t get a lot of tourists this far north of the falls. What brings you to our little settlement?”

“My wife and I are researchers. My field is alchemy and magic, and Misty is a botanist. A few times a year, we like to get out in the field. This trip will take us all the way north to the foothills to explore some mineral deposits, and hopefully collect some new samples to take home and study.”

Misty added with a smile, “It also makes for a nice vacation, so we are perhaps ten-percent tourists too.”

The couple glanced at each other and snickered. The mayor smirked a little as he shook his head.

“We do have a concern though,” Quicksilver added. “We’ve heard that the heavy snowfall last winter and warm spring have made for really high river levels. We’re headed towards the foothills, but if the water is too high, it may not be safe.”

“Let's go take a look.” Mayor Bigwig led them towards the edge of the bluff.

“The Neighagra River carries lots of rich soil down from the foothills. Regular flooding deposits it on the fields to the west. That’s what made this area so desirable to us. You should see how green the fields will be this summer.”

“Oh, that must be beautiful,” Misty said.

“It sure is,” the Mayor answered.

As they reached the edge of the bluff, Bigwig looked down. “As you can see, the river has already overflowed its normal channel.” The water has spread out into the fields adjacent to the river. “But as I said, that’s not unusual.” He pointed to the middle of the plain. “We have a few dozen ponies living on that hill out there, mostly during spring and fall. It’s a long walk from the settlement to those far fields. They’ll be cut off from us during the flooding, but they’re safe from the high water up on the hill.”

Quicksilver asked, “What about the storm moving in?” He glanced north. “You can see the clouds forming over the mountains from here.”

“Yes, that worries me a bit. But this is a huge flood plain that can hold a lot of water. We’ve never seen it get high enough to threaten the hill out there, and this bluff and all the land to the east is even higher. You don’t have anything to worry about here, although I agree you may want to re-think continuing up towards the mountains.”

“Okay, good to know we’re safe up here. We can afford the time to stay here a day or two and see what the river does. And if it gets too high, we can always return another time. Speaking of which, is there an inn or someplace where we can get a room for the night and some food?”

“Absolutely. That’ll be the Oats and Rye Inn on the north end of the settlement. You can’t miss it, it’s the largest building we have. It’s a family business run by Mr. and Mrs. Lodge and their two daughters.”

“You’re fortunate to have such a nice place here,” Misty added.

“Yes, we are. Mr. and Mrs. Lodge ran a big fancy hotel in Canterlot before. When they heard about this group of ours, they wanted to be a part of it. They sold the hotel for a nice profit, came here with us, and opened this inn. I think they were looking for a more laid-back and relaxed lifestyle, though I’m not sure it worked out for them.”

Misty raised an eyebrow. “Why, did something go wrong?”

He shook his head. “It’s more like something went right. They don’t get a lot of overnight guests. Though that restaurant is another story.” He laughed. “It’s the social center of the community. There are ponies sitting at the outside tables throughout the day, chatting, and there always seem to be folks having a meal inside.” He smirked and started trotting away from the bluff. “The Lodges complain about how busy they are all the time,” he rolled his eyes, “but it’s obvious how much they love it. I think it’s the regulars they see here instead of the impersonal mix of ponies they’d get in Canterlot. Here they pretty much know everypony by name.”

“Sounds wonderful,” Misty said. “I think we’ll head over there now.”

Quicksilver added, “Thanks for all the information, Mayor. I’m sure we’ll see you around.”

“You folks have a nice evening.” With a nod of his head, he went on his way.

Quicksilver and Misty headed north to find the inn. As they approached the building, they saw several of the outside tables occupied with groups of ponies. Some were having highly animated discussions while others just sat quietly, enjoying the day. Several of them smiled or nodded at the couple as they headed for the front door. They walked to the reception desk where a smiling mare waited for them.

“Good afternoon, folks. What can I do for you?”

While Misty wandered towards the restaurant on the right, Quicksilver went up to the desk. “Hi. We’d like to get a room for the night, if you have any available.”

“Certainly. Just for one night?”

“That’s the plan, but the weather may force us to extend that a day or two. Is that okay?”

“That’s fine. We’ve got two rooms with in-room facilities and the rest with common facilities at the end of the hall. Though we don’t have anyone up there right now, so I’ll put you in one of the nice rooms for no extra bits.”

Quicksilver smiled, “That’s very kind of you. Thank you.”

Just then Misty returned. “This place feels so, I don’t know, comfortable. And the menu is full of tempting options.”

Mrs. Lodge beamed at the compliment. “You’re all set. You’ll be in room two, which is at the top of the stairs. Here are your keys. Checkout is at noon, so if you decide to stay longer, please let me know. Dinner time can get busy, but when we have guests, we reserve a table so you’ll be able to eat any time you want. Enjoy your stay and thanks for selecting us.”

Quicksilver snickered as he grinned. “Sure, since there are so many other inns to choose from.”

The mare smiled and shrugged. “Old habits…”

Misty suppressed a laugh and playfully jabbed Quicksilver in the shoulder. “Don’t be rude.”

A couple of ponies were waiting to pay their bill, so Quicksilver and Misty thanked Mrs. Lodge and headed up the stairs. As they entered the room, Misty put their saddlebags in a closet by the door.

“This is nice,” she said as she surveyed the room.

“It’s no Canterlot hotel, but it’s a lot nicer than sleeping under Luna’s moon. Especially with a storm moving in.” Quicksilver sat on the bed, bouncing a couple times to test the softness.

Misty walked to the window. “I can see the orchards from here.” She looked back at Quicksilver, smiling. “I love seeing healthy growing trees.”

“The botanist loves a view of plants. No surprises there,” he said with a chuckle. “Anyway, I could use a shower and a little nap before dinner.” He stretched and yawned.

“Oh, that sounds wonderful.”

It was dusk outside when they decided to head down for dinner. As they descended the stairs, they could hear conversations and laughter from the restaurant. As they entered the room a few ponies turned to give them a curious look. In a settlement of earth ponies, a unicorn and a pegasus were a bit of a rarity.

The waitress trotted over to lead them to their reserved table. As they made their way through the room, customers would smile or nod as they passed. Misty noticed a young filly with a yellow coat tentatively wave at her. Misty returned the wave with a large grin. The filly’s face lit up with a huge smile and more vigorous waving.

“Seems like a friendly place,” Quicksilver said softly.

“The fillies sure are,” Misty replied, still grinning.

The dinner was simple, but hearty; appropriate for ponies who worked hard for a living. Misty raved about the daisy and greens salad. Quicksilver smiled as she rattled off the various plant species included, some of which were rare in Canterlot dining. For their main course, they had ordered two different varieties of oat and cheese quiche. “Let me have just one more taste of yours” was a common refrain as they ate. If this was how the Lodge’s ran their inn in Canterlot, it’s no surprise it was successful.

The restaurant echoed with laughter and lively talk of ponies enjoying the evening with friends. Though at a few tables ponies leaned together and talked in hushed tones. Quicksilver would occasionally catch fragments of worried talk about the river levels and the approaching storm. The herd was unsettled.

With little else to do, they lingered over dessert. The dinner rush was over and a calm settled over the room with the remaining ponies chatting softly. As the last remaining groups began to filter out, Quicksilver and Misty decided to head to their room.

“So what’s the plan for tomorrow?” Misty asked.

Quicksilver sat in one of the chairs by the small table in their room. “I’m not sure. We can’t really plan out the day with the uncertainty of the storm.”

Misty joined him. “Yeah, true. If the storm’s bad, we could be stuck here a day or two.”

“Well, you ready for some sleep?”

“I’d rather just sit and chat for a while first,” she said with a smile.

Bam. Bam. Bam.

Quicksilver let out a groan. He opened his eyes and looked towards the door. He wasn't sure what time it was, but it was still dark out.

"Who is it?" Misty asked softly, still mostly asleep.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

"Please, Mister Quicksilver, I need to speak to you,” came a muffled voice through the door.

Quicksilver groaned again as he turned on a bedside light. "Just a moment," he called while he rolled out of bed and walked to the door. He opened the door to see a light yellow mare standing in the hallway. Her eyes darted between Quicksilver and the room behind him. Her dark green tail flicked nervously.

"Sorry to disturb you so early. The mayor would like to speak with you both right away. It's really important."

Her voice trembled as she talked. Quicksilver noticed the nervous movement of her legs and the hint of fear in her wide eyes.

"Two minutes," he said, closing the door. He turned and walked back towards the bed.

Reaching out, he gently shook her. "Misty, get up, I think something's going on."

She sat up, eyes fully open and ears forward. "Any idea what?" She slipped out of bed.

He headed towards the bathroom. "No. But given the nervousness of that mare, I don't think we should delay."

"Saddlebags?" Misty asked.

"I don't think so, not until we know what's going on and what we might need."

They opened the door and stepped out of the room. The mare, clearly relieved to see them, turned and headed towards the stairs. "Please hurry, they’re waiting for you."

They raced down the stairs. Eyes wide with worry, the Lodges watched them pass through the lobby. “This way,” the mare said without looking back. She broke into a brisk trot. Glancing at each other in surprise, Quicksilver and Misty galloped a couple strides to catch up.

Despite the hour, light poured out of many houses. Misty swiveled her ears to a couple hushed murmurs. Their guide swerved from the main street. They skirted the edges of gardens and yards, dodging any trees or bushes. The mare jumped a short wall, Quicksilver and Misty right on her heels. Ahead of them was another row of houses.

Misty ducked under a fruit tree in somepony’s front yard. "Where are we going?" she asked.

Without looking back, the mare replied, "They're gathered at the bluff overlooking the river."

They emerged from among the houses and galloped a few paces to where a large number of ponies were collected. Quicksilver looked around as they approached.

The herd was nervous. Small groups talked in hushed voices. Some ponies, unable to stand still, wandered aimlessly around the edges. Several, eyes wide in fear, watched the trio trot up.

Quicksilver and Misty moved to the edge of the bluff. "Woah, it wasn't this high last night," he exclaimed. The light from the full moon illuminated the scene before them.

When he’d last seen the river, it was just starting to spread out into the fields. Now the water extended as far as he could see. And it looked deep. Deeper than a pony could ford. Waves on the surface and floating debris made it clear the current was stronger than a pony could escape from. Mayor Bigwig trotted over to them, his mouth set in a hard line, brows knitted

"Thank you for coming. I'm so sorry to bother you, but as you can see, we have a problem.” He looked down at the base of the bluff. “The river has risen much faster and higher than normal, and we have no way to communicate with the ponies living on the hill out in the middle of the floodplain.” He pointed to the lights just visible on the top of the hill. “I hate to ask this of you," he turned to address Misty, "but could you please fly out to the hill-top and find out how they're doing?"

Misty turned towards her husband, who gave her a slight nod. "Sure, I can do that."

She smiled at Quicksilver. "I'll be right back."

She extended her wings, giving them a test flap. Trotting forward to gain momentum, she jumped into the air pumping hard to gain altitude. She headed towards the lights on the hill.

Quicksilver watched her fly out of sight until she was swallowed by the darkness. His brow furrowed as he scanned the empty sky for a few moments. He lowered his head and started pacing back and forth along the edge of the bluff. Every so often he’d look towards the hill for any sign of Misty's return. He’d snort softly and continue his vigil. He reminded himself that it was just a quick flight out and back. There shouldn’t be a problem.

After about ten minutes, somepony called out, “There she is.” Quicksilver spun around mid-stride and followed where the pony’s leg pointed. Scanning the sky, he let out a sign of relief as he spotted Misty. She was almost back. He took a few steps forward. She flared her wings to slow down and landed in front of Quicksilver. They came together and touched foreheads for a moment.

The mayor stepped up to the couple and asked, “What did you find out?”

"They’re worried about the flood level out there. The water is rising faster than expected, and it’s too late to escape, even to the west. While some of the larger stallions could probably still make it, most of the mares couldn't, and there's no way the foals could handle water that deep. They're okay for now, but if the river keeps rising..."

“Hello!” They looked up to see a pegasus approaching. He descended to land a few paces away. Trotting up to the mayor, he asked, “Are you Mayor Bigwig?”

“Yes, I am” he answered.

“Good. I’m trying to warn each town on the river.” He pointed north. “There’s a big storm over the mountains, moving south. It’s causing massive flooding.”

“How high is it getting?” Quicksilver asked.

“Easily double the flood levels from earlier today, and still rising. My town has lost several buildings and we’re evacuating to higher ground.”

“Double…” the mayor whispered to himself, glancing towards the hill.

“At least that. I’m sure you’ll be okay up here, but you should still be prepared. I need to get moving. Have a long way to go tonight.”

He looked back at the pegasus. “Okay, thanks for the warning. Fly safe.”

“I think fast is better, to stay ahead of this storm. Good luck.” He then launched himself into the air and turned south.

The mayor looked to the north. "The wind is picking up, and the lightning is getting closer.” He shifted his focus to the hill. “This is going to be bad. Really bad."

Quicksilver felt the first drops of rain. He looked up and squinted as more hit his face. Misty held out her hoof, feeling for the starting rain. Clouds were starting to obscure the moon, cutting the light it provided.

"If the flood levels really double... That hill isn't high enough for those sorts of water levels. We’re an earth pony settlement. We don't have any way to rescue those ponies out there. And there's no one else we can ask for help in time...." He looked directly into Quicksilver's eyes. “Is there anything you can do to help us?” He glanced over to Misty, and then back to Quicksilver.

Quicksilver thought for a few moments as he gazed towards the hill. “I did a project in school on long-distance teleportation beyond line-of-sight. I got pretty good at it. With enough focus, I should be able to transport two ponies per trip. Though the magic drain is going to force me to rest for a bit after each teleport loop.” He looked back to the mayor. “How far away is the hill?”

"About four and a half furlongs," the mayor replied.

He closed his eyes for a second as he did the math. "That's pretty far, but I can make it work. How many ponies are out there?"

"There should be seventy-three."

Quicksilver's eyes went wide. "Seventy-three... I'm not sure… I don't know..."

"I can take some too," Misty declared, stepping forward. "I just need some sort of a sling or harness to carry a pony as I fly."

At this, two identical ponies stepped forward from the crowd. One called out, “We’re on it.” They both trotted off towards the settlement. Quicksilver quirked an eyebrow as he looked at them through the haze of rain. He shivered when a gust of wind slapped a wet lock of mane into his eye.

The mayor explained, “Those are the twins. They’re our mechanical wizards.”

Quicksilver spoke up, “Misty, are you sure? Ponies are heavy, and it’s a long flight. I can’t have you risk yourself like that. I can’t risk it…”

Misty laid a hoof on his shoulder. “I know. But you know I’ve always been a strong flier, and I can fly circles around you.” She grinned for a moment, then looked him right in the eyes. “Quicksilver… I can do this.”

He drew in a long breath. “I don’t know…”

“Look. You’ll need to rest between teleports.” She raised a hoof to her chest. “I can probably do the loop as fast as you can. If I can carry a third of the ponies, that’s fewer trips for you.” She pointed at him. “We can make this work.”

“And I’ve probably already lost the debate on this, haven’t I?”

Misty just smiled innocently, tilting her head with eyes wide.

Quicksilver turned to face the mayor. "Okay, we'll do our best to rescue as many as we can."

Bigwig brought a hoof up to his chest. "Thank you so much. I don't want to put you at risk, but we're desperate.” He gestured towards the hill. “Those ponies are our friends and family. Anything you can do will make a huge difference."

The twins galloped back, carrying a collection of straps, ropes and canvas. They slid to a stop in front of Misty.

"Misty, is it?"

"Yes," she replied. She stepped forward, looking at the tack with narrowed eyes.

One twin organized everything on the ground while the other explained, “This is a litter arrangement that two ponies can use to move heavy things. We’ll adjust it so you can carry a pony slung below you. First, we'll put on this yoke…” The other twin slipped the yoke over her head and rested it on her withers. “And, with your permission, this harness over your flank." Misty nodded. Then she lowered her head and widened her stance.

The twins each took a side, wrapping the straps over her flank and around her legs. They pulled each strap tight with their teeth before securing it. Her ears went back a bit as they worked, wincing each time the straps bit into her skin.

“You okay, Misty?” Quicksilver asked.

“Yeah. I wish… I just want this part to be done.” She grimaced.

“I’m sorry, miss,” one of the twins said softly. “We’re almost done.”

With everything secured, the canvas was then attached by ropes to the yoke and harness such that it would hang below her in flight. One twin walked around Misty, inspecting each component, while the other talked.

"Now remember, make sure the pony's legs reach over the front and back of the canvas, but between the ropes. The canvas will wrap around their sides, and their legs will prevent them from sliding off. They should be secure for the flight."

"Got it. That makes perfect sense." She turned towards Quicksilver and added, "Are you ready?"

"Almost." He lowered his head, and his horn flared as he cast a spell on the ground. A light blue glowing ring appeared at his hooves. Runes glimmered around its edge, and short lines of magical energy rippled upwards from its center. The spell continued to shimmer after he was done casting it.

"That's my anchor point here. You fly out to the hill first. I can focus on you for the teleport and then cast an anchor there too. Then I can move back-and-forth at will."

"Oh, one more thing," one of the twins added. "When you take off and land, make sure to go straight up and down. Otherwise, the litter might snag on something."

"Right." Misty turned and gave Quicksilver a brief nuzzle. "I'll see you out there." And with a jump, she was off.

Quicksilver watched her until she was out of sight. Then, he closed his eyes and reached out with his magic. He could immediately sense her still moving away. After a bit, she stopped. She must have arrived. He focused on her location, and suddenly, he was standing next to her.

"What took you so long?" Misty quipped.

"Rush hour traffic, you know how it is." He smiled at her.

Quicksilver quickly glanced around. They were at the very crest of the hill. Scattered around were a dozen or more buildings, some made of wood, some temporary canvas tents. All the ponies were collected in a loose group. Several mares stared at the two newcomers with wide, frightened eyes. Stallions stood protectively by their families, glancing around. Quicksilver had seen this before. This was a herd on the verge of panic, ready to stampede. Yet there was no place they could flee to.

He turned to face the crowd. "Who's in charge here?"

A gray earth pony stepped forward. He was easily a full head higher than Quicksilver and simply dwarfed Misty. "That would be me," he said. "Heavy Pony’s the name."

An old poem written by J. Tull came to Quicksilver’s mind. It spoke of heavy ponies, the land, and plows slipping and sliding free.

"I'm Quicksilver, and I think you already know my wife Misty. We're going to do our best to get everyone off this island before..."

Heavy Pony gave him a single nod.

Quicksilver continued, “I apologize for being curt, but we’re working against the clock. I assume mares and foals first. Give Misty the smaller ponies.”

Heavy Pony addressed some ponies at the front, "Green Sprout, you, your sister, and your foal are first. Move!"

The three trotted forward. The mares helped the little filly maneuver onto the litter. Misty immediately took off and headed for the bluff. They could hear her talking gently to the filly as she flew away.

While Misty prepared, Quicksilver cast another anchor spell at the hilltop. He was ready when the two mares moved to stand on either side of him.

"Closer. We need to be in contact for the spell to be the most efficient."

He closed his eyes and reached out for the anchor spell on the bluff. Then, in a flash, they were there. The mares thanked him, and moved forward to watch for Misty and the filly.

Quicksilver focused on charging his magic. It was only the first loop, but he needed to pace himself. He heard the mayor tell the twins, “Make sure everyone returning from the hill gets to the clinic so Nurse Forte can check them.”

He looked up and saw Misty approaching the bluff. His muscles relaxed. He drew in a deep breath, and exhaled. She came down carefully so as to not land on the filly. The filly’s mom thanked Misty. Then the two sisters and filly moved away from the bluff.

Quicksilver moved closer. "You okay, Misty?"

She smiled and nodded. "Yes. Let's go again."

Misty lifted off and headed out over the floodwaters. Quicksilver focused, and with a flash was on the hill again. He tilted his head. The ponies now stood in two groups. One had all the foals and most of the mares. The other had everypony else. Several ponies moved around the edges of the groups, keeping the herd calm.

Quicksilver pointed at the two groups. "I thought it was mares and foals first," he said to Heavy Pony.

He frowned, glancing at the groups. “I was concerned about the weight.” He looked at Quicksilver. “So she gets the smaller ponies, you get the larger ones.”

With a single nod, Quicksilver replied, "Good thinking. Thanks."

Heavy Pony nodded to one of the groups and two ponies trotted forward to be evacuated. One of the ponies slid in the deepening mud. The rainwater formed small channels that crisscrossed the ground. Quicksilver charged his magic for the next teleport.

The heavy storm clouds obscured the full moon, plunging the scene into darkness. Nothing but a black void filled the distance between the bluff and the hill. Leaves and other bits of debris were buffeted in the stronger winds. To protect themselves, many of the ponies had turned to face downwind. They huddled together for warmth. Those that moved about splashed through the puddles on the ground.

Everypony was soaked, with matted manes and tails. Rivulets of water dripped off them onto the ground. And all the while, the floodwaters continued to rise.

Over half the ponies had been rescued. As Quicksilver returned with the next two, he swayed and had to catch himself before he lost his balance. Snorting, he shook his head to clear his eyes. He was drained.

Mayor Bigwig moved closer. "Are you doing okay?" His eyes narrowed and forehead furrowed.

Quicksilver widened his stance to steady himself. "Yeah, I think so. I've never done this many teleports in a row before. It's hard." His head was a bit low, and the strain was visible on his face.

"I was concerned this might happen, but we have an idea." The mayor turned towards the collected ponies. "Group one, it's time."

Six ponies stepped forward and walked over to Quicksilver. They gathered around him, and each reached out a hoof to touch him. Some closed their eyes, and others just stared off into nothing. As they focused, their hooves began to glow, and Quicksilver could feel magical energy starting to flow into him. He felt refreshed, stronger.

"Earth ponies can do this?" Quicksilver exclaimed.

"Yeah, we're good for more than just growing oats.” Bigwig grinned. “We use this technique to strengthen sick or injured ponies, shortening their recovery time. It's not very efficient, which is why we're using six on one here."

Quicksilver could feel the warm earth pony magic trickling into his body. It was foreign, different. He couldn’t put his hoof on it, but it somehow seemed more “earthy” and carried a sense of life and renewal. It was almost as if he could smell the scent of newly turned earth that reminded him of Misty’s greenhouse.

The flow of magic stopped, and the six ponies stepped away.

"How do you feel?" the mayor asked. "Did that help? Can you teleport again?"

"Yes, it's better. I'm not back to normal, but I feel strong enough to do another loop or two." He held his head higher, eyes open and alert. He stood more erect with a wide stance against the wind.

"We have more ponies ready to help you after each trip. We'll do what we can to keep you going as long as you are able."

"Right. Be sure to ask Misty if that will help her. I don't know if a magical recharge or whatever you guys call it, will be of much help for a pegasus. Though ask her the next time she returns."

For the first time, Quicksilver allowed himself a hint of optimism. There were only ten ponies left on the hill. Just a few more trips.

The scene went blinding white. A crack of thunder shook the ground. Several ponies yelled in startled panic. A couple bolted towards the safety of the settlement. No lightning had struck that close yet. Quicksilver wondered if being exposed on the bluff was safe. He didn’t need a physics degree to know that wet ponies standing on wet ground in a lightning storm was asking for trouble. He squinted against the driving rain as Misty landed.

He walked over to her, wincing as debris blown by the wind hit his face. "Misty, I think you should stop. You look really tired. And the wind..."

She shook her head in a futile attempt to keep her mane out of her eyes. "I will. Just one more trip. There's one last mare I can rescue."

Misty took off. Her head was down as the driving rain pelted her. The empty litter jerked below her as the wind caught it. Quicksilver fidgeted, tapping his hoof on the ground impatiently. He gulped as the strong gusts wobbled her, and she dropped slightly. “Hurry up,” he whispered to himself and glanced to the six earth ponies. As soon as their hooves left his side, he teleported to the hill. He sighed in relief. Misty was just ready to start her trip back to the bluff.

He looked at her, squinting against the rain, mouth open to speak. She cut him off. “I’m okay. Don’t worry.” She strained to lift her last passenger into the air. Her wings beat hard as she struggled with both the weight and the wind. Slowly and shakily, she rose in the air. The ropes snapped taut with the weight of her passenger. Once airborne, Misty started forward. The wind immediately pushed her off course. She struggled on, flapping hard.

A strong gust blew strands of wet mane in Quicksilver’s eyes. He cleared his vision just in time to see Misty cant dangerously to one side. With her wing pushed vertically, she plummeted towards the raging waves. The harnessed mare hit the water with a splash. One of Misty’s wingtips slapped the water. She twisted her body to right herself. She beat her wings furiously as if she were trying to escape Tartarus itself. The mare emerged, dripping wet and hanging onto the sling for dear life. The wind buffeted Misty back and forth like a ragdoll as she fought for every inch of altitude. Another gust pushed them deeper into the darkness. Quicksilver and Heavy Pony glanced at each other, eyes wide with fear.

The large stallion put a hoof on his shoulder. “She’s strong. They’ll make it, although they’ll hit land south of the settlement.”

Quicksilver nodded. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. His heart rate slowed as he exhaled. Calmer, he teleported the next two ponies to the bluff.

Once the flash of the spell left his eyes, he quickly looked around. Misty was nowhere to be found. He bolted from between the two ponies. Eyes wide, he yelled, “Someone help!”

The mayor galloped over and slid to a stop in front of Quicksilver. “What is it?”

“The wind! Misty has been blown down-river.” He glanced in that direction. Flashes of lightning bathed the scene in stark, cold light. Bits of debris carried by the river shown momentarily before fading into the darkness once more. “She needs help!”

The twins stepped forward. "We'll go now and follow the river. Don't worry, we'll find her." They hitched up a nearby wagon and galloped off, the wagon rattling and bouncing behind them.

Quicksilver watched the twins until they were out of sight. He gritted his teeth. He needed to go find Misty, but more ponies needed to be rescued. As he pranced on the spot, the next six ponies surrounded him. He froze when he felt their magic wash over him.

He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. His focus returned. He looked towards the hill. There were seven more ponies out there, and they were waiting for him to return. They needed him. The earth ponies backed up, and he flashed back to the hilltop. He glanced around. Time was running out. The floodwaters would soon inundate the hill.

The next two ponies stepped up when another one gasped. Quicksilver turned and noticed the stallion staring wide-eyed to the north.

Following the pony's gaze, they squinted through the driving rain. It only took a moment to spot a white line on the surface of the water. It was moving towards them, fast.

Heavy Pony mumbled, “The next town has a reservoir… If it was breached…” Then he yelled, “That’s a flash flood!” He turned to face Quicksilver. “You have to go! Now!”

Quicksilver shook his head. “I won’t have time to get back!”

“Go!” Heavy Pony stomped a hoof on the ground.

Quicksilver snorted. “No! That’s not an option. Everypony, gather in tight. And I need all the magic you can share.”

Heavy Pony moved behind with his chest against Quicksilver’s tail. the others huddled close.

“Can you teleport us all?” he asked.

“No.” Quicksilver’s horn began to glow.

“Then what are you…”

“Less talk, more magic.”

Quicksilver widened his stance. He could feel the magic from the seven ponies around him. He hoped it would be enough.

As the wave approached, the submerged hill rose up to meet it. The buildings at the north end of the hill exploded as it hit them. The dark wall of water rose up like a monster ready to pounce.

One of the ponies yelled out, “We have to run.”

Heavy Pony turned, his eyes red. “Do! Not! Move!”

"Now!" Quicksilver hissed through gritted teeth. He cast his spell.

Time froze. Through the blue translucence of the shield spell, he could see every drop of rain as if frozen in space and time before him. The wave towered over him. Like a giant maw, it was filled with debris and personal items from the destroyed buildings. At the crest he saw a pony toy doll that once belonged to some filly. He thought of Misty.

The shield spell flared bright blue as the wave hit it. The water hissed, as if angry at being denied its prey. Even through the spell, Quicksilver felt the impact. He slid back, stopped by Heavy Pony behind him. The shield rippled and creaked as debris peppered it.

Quicksilver regained his footing in the slippery mud. He looked up as the rushing current continued washing over the blue dome. The water slowly abated, leaving only a small patch of ground to stand on. Not a single pony breathed.

Quicksilver dropped the shield. "Everyone but the next two ponies, step away. I’ll be right back." He teleported away.

Back on the bluff, another six ponies were ready.

"That wave..." the major started. "What happened?"

"Everyone is okay, but we're out of time. Get back!" Quicksilver called and flashed away. The six ponies stopped mid-step and stared, wide eyed, at where he had been standing.

Back on the hilltop, he realized the water reached up to his fetlocks. The hill was submerged. He glanced at Heavy Pony who looked on, jaw clenched, lips pursed. The next two ponies stepped up. By reflex he returned to the bluff. He nodded to the six waiting ponies and hung his head. He needed more magic.

As he waited, a mare galloped towards the bluff. “Where’s Quicksilver?” she called, sliding to a stop in the mud. Bigwig pointed at Quicksilver who raised a hoof. She trotted over.

She panted hard. “We made it... We landed well down-river... Misty got us safely to shore.”

“Is she okay? Where is she?” His face twisted with worry.

“She’s exhausted, but she told me to tell you she’ll be fine. I galloped here and ran into the twins.” She stopped to catch her breath. “They know where to find her. Don’t worry.”

"Thank you," Quicksilver replied. He opened his mouth to say more, but the words caught in his throat. He closed his eyes and shook his head. With rainwater streaming down his face, no one could see the tears he shed.

A pony called out from the edge of the bluff. “Mayor, it’s bad. The water...” He pointed down at the water. “It’s risen several hoof-lengths in the last few minutes.”

“I gotta go.” And with a flash, Quicksilver was back on the hill. He jumped in surprise. The water was to the top of his legs. This was more than “a few hoof-lengths.” Quicksilver looked to see Heavy Pony standing just inches away. His face was calm, his eyes a little sad.

"Quicksilver, thank you for what you've done. Get these last two out of here. There's not enough time for another trip. But it's okay, we saved them all."

"Not yet we haven't!" Quicksilver was defiant. "You hold on, you hear me? Do not give up!” He pointed a hoof at Heavy Pony. “I'll be back for you, and you'd better be here."

He teleported back to the bluff. The two evacuees bolted away. Quicksilver waved off the next six ponies. "No time, I gotta go." Before anyone could respond, he was gone.

When he landed, he gasped, shocked by the depth of the water. It reached his withers, splashing over his back. The current pushed him over. His hooves slipped in the slick cold mud as he struggled for purchase. Falling meant getting washed away. The dirty water splashed in his eyes. It meant never seeing Misty again. Suddenly the ground was gone, and he started to topple over. He grunted as his side impacted something solid. Heavy Pony stood rigid against the current, squinting in the driving rain. Quicksilver flashed him a smile and braced against him as he quickly regained his hoofing

“Thanks.” Quicksilver heaved. Glancing upriver, he spotted a large tree coming towards them. He gulped. It rolled and churned in the waves, barreling straight at them. Its dark, bare branches reached out of the frothy waters. The wet splintered wood shone like a dozen daggers in the low light. “Time to go.”

He charged his horn. A tree limb struck the water surface, showering him in droplets. He fired his spell just as a pointy branch reached for his face.

They appeared on the bluff. As the spell dissipated, all the water caught within it splashed in a circle around them. They were both soaked with water pouring from their manes and tails. Quicksilver fell to his knees with his head down. He breathed deeply. Then he collapsed onto his barrel, legs folded beneath him.

Heavy Pony turned to address the mayor. “I was the last one. Everyone’s off the hill. But it’s underwater and all the buildings and equipment are gone; wiped clean.”

“The stuff can be replaced,” replied the mayor. “The ponies can’t.” He looked down at Quicksilver. “Are you okay? Can you get up?”

He shook his head, then asked, “Where’s Misty? Is she back yet?”

Bigwig glanced down the road. “I’m sure they’ll be back soon.” He looked back to Quicksilver. “We need to get you over to the clinic so Nurse Forte can check your condition.”

Without looking up, Quicksilver replied, “I’m okay, just tired. I’ll wait.”

The mayor stepped forward and lowered his head. “You’re obviously drained, and you may be injured.” He motioned to a couple of ponies to come over and help.

“No!” Quicksilver shook his head and glared at the mayor. “Not until Misty gets back.”

The mayor backed up. Looking at Heavy Pony, he tilted his head towards Quicksilver.

Heavy Pony bent down. “I know you’re worried. I promise I’ll wait until they show up and then come tell you.” He rested a hoof on Quicksilver’s shoulder.

Quicksilver met his gaze. “I can’t leave. Not until I know she’s safe.”

“Please, you need to be checked.”

Quicksilver shook off his leg. “No! I’m staying.”

Heavy Pony remained at Quicksilver’s side. Most of the rescued ponies and those in the crowd had already left due to the fury of the wind and rain. Bigwig walked over to those still waiting and urged them to seek shelter. There was nothing more to do tonight. In a few hours, dawn would come, and there would be a lot to do then. A few minutes later they heard the rattle of the wagon approaching.

“We found her,” one of the twins called out. “She’s tired, but okay.” The wagon slowed to a stop.

Quicksilver raised his head. “Heavy, help me up.”

Heavy Pony extended a hoof as Quicksilver struggled to stand. Weak and unsteady, Quicksilver walked to the wagon. Looking over the side, he saw Misty lying with her legs folded under her. The harness was piled in a corner of the wagon.

He moved around the side of the wagon to get closer. “Misty? Oh, thank Celestia. Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. Tired, but fine.” With their eyes closed, they nuzzled. He nickered softly.

Quicksilver pulled back. “What happened? I saw you get blown down-river. I thought I’d lost you.”

“I couldn’t fight the crosswind, so I just flew straight for whatever land I could find. Walking back was too much, so I waited until these two came to get me.” Her eyes went wide. “Are you okay? Is everyone safe?”

“Yes. Heavy Pony here was the last one. We got them all. I’m not sure how, but we got them all.”

“Alright, that’s it,” the mayor said as he walked over. “Put Quicksilver in the wagon, and take them over to the clinic. Then we need to move everypony inside before we drown in this rain or get blown away.”

They helped Quicksilver into the wagon next to Misty, and everypony headed away from the edge of the bluff. Quicksilver put his head down and closed his eyes. The trip was a hazy blur. He heard ponies talking, but their voices seemed far away and unintelligible. He was vaguely aware of being taken up the stairs and helped to bed. He looked to see that Misty was beside him, already asleep. He listened to her breathing as he slipped away into a dreamless sleep.

3. Aftermath

Quicksilver awoke to a room awash with soft morning sunlight. He yawned and stretched. The bed was comfortable and warm. And then he remembered. Eyes wide, he jerked his head around to look for Misty. He relaxed with a sigh at seeing her sleeping soundly next to him. He reached out with a hoof and gently touched her, just to assure himself she was really there.

He slipped from under the covers to the floor. Momentarily light-headed, he leaned against the bed to steady himself. His balance returned, and he stood up straight. Slowly, he turned and went into the bathroom to clean up. Afterwards, he stood in the doorway for a few moments, watching Misty breathing softly. As quietly as he could, he left the room and headed downstairs to get something to eat.

As he descended the stairs, he stopped and leaned against the wall. Still a little weak and unsteady, he continued at a slower pace. As he reached the bottom, he was greeted by a smiling Mrs. Lodge.

“Good morning, dear. I do hope you’re feeling better today.”

He nodded. “Yes, I think so.” His attention was drawn to two ponies trotting over from the restaurant. He recognized them as the twins who had helped Misty.

“Good morning,” one said with a smile. “It’s good to see you up.”

The other added, “If you’ll excuse us, the mayor wanted to know as soon as you were awake.” With a small dip of their heads, they trotted outside.

Quicksilver watched them leave, then turned back towards Mrs. Lodge. “That storm last night sure seems to have cleared up quickly. It looks like a beautiful day.”

She looked nervously outside. “Uh, well, you see, Mr. Quicksilver, the storm was actually two nights ago.” She glanced towards the stairs. “You two slept all day yesterday.”

He stared at Mrs. Lodge for a moment, unblinking. “Huh.” He glanced outside and back again. “All day?” Bringing a hoof up to the back of his head, he added, “I guess that explains why I’m so hungry.”

Hearing hooffalls on the stairs, he looked up to see Misty coming down.

“Misty! You’re awake. How are you feeling?”

She smiled at him. “I think I’m okay.” She winced as she fluttered her wings. “I am a little sore though. Did I hear correctly that the storm was two days ago?”

He glanced at Mrs. Lodge. “Seems so.” He watched Misty as she reached the bottom of the stairs and turned toward him. “Over twenty-four hours of sleep is a new record for us.” They both laughed.

Misty walked over to him, and they nuzzled for a moment. They closed their eyes and stood quietly together, basking in each other’s presence. The sound of galloping hooves approaching drew their attention to the door as the first of the twins returned from delivering his message.

Quicksilver smiled as three ponies entered. “Mayor. Heavy Pony. Good to see you. Is everyone from the hill doing okay?”

Mayor Bigwig replied with a smile, “Everyone is fine.” He paused for a moment. “Thank you. Thank you so much.” His forehead furrowed. “Are you two okay? We were worried because you were asleep for so long.”

Before Quicksilver could reply, a white unicorn mare stepped into the inn. The other twin trailed her by a few paces and waited outside. She cut a direct path between Bigwig and Heavy Pony straight to Quicksilver and Misty.

“Good morning.” She nodded slightly. “You probably don’t remember much from the other night. I’m Nurse Forte. Are either of you in any discomfort?” With an almost imperceptible lift of her head, she regarded each of them in turn.

Misty said, “My wings and back are a bit sore, but that’s it.” Quicksilver just shook his head.

“That’s good. Allow me to do a quick magical scan.” She closed her eyes as her horn began to glow, and each of them in turn were surrounded by a blue aura.

The mayor noticed the quizzical look Quicksilver gave him. “We’re an earth pony settlement, but everyone is welcome here. Nurse Forte moved here from Manehattan with her husband when we founded this place. She’s a nurse practitioner, and we’re very lucky to have her here. I guess she found the idea of running her own clinic in a frontier town to be more appealing than catering to the rich and privileged in the big city. Go figure.”

“Shhhh!” Nurse Forte hissed without breaking her concentration. The mayor and Heavy Pony both took a step back. Bigwig looked a little like a scolded foal. Heavy Pony’s eyes went wide as he glanced between Nurse Forte and the mayor. His look screamed, “It wasn’t my fault, it was him.”

Finishing her scan, she said, “I don’t sense anything amiss. But I want to see you both in my office this afternoon for a full physical.”

Quicksilver replied, “Oh, I don’t think that’s really neces--” An icy stare cut him off as she locked eyes with him.

“This afternoon.” She did not move or even blink.

The mayor and Heavy Pony took another step backward.

“Yes, ma’am,” he squeaked, shifting his weight nervously. “We’ll both be there right after lunch.”

Her face softened into a pleasant smile. “Wonderful. I’ll see you then. Now if you’ll all excuse me, I have patients waiting at the clinic.” With a nod to the mayor, she trotted out the door.

“We’re lucky to have her, even though she scares us all to death,” the mayor said softly. Everyone stood silent for a moment. Heavy Pony blew out a breath, glancing at the mayor. Quicksilver and Misty looked at each other.

Mrs. Lodge spoke up, “Right, you two need something to eat. Let’s get you seated.” She signaled to one of her daughters who came over and led them to their reserved table.

There were a few small groups at various tables who nodded or smiled at them.

With bright eyes and a chipper smile, she asked, “What would you two like to have this morning?”

“I don’t have any idea.” Quicksilver sighed. “Just bring me something.”

“I’ll have what he’s having,” Misty added.

After a bit, she returned with haycakes, a couple of muffins, a small bowl of fruit, and orange juice for both of them. As breakfast progressed, the conversation became strained, filled with unfinished sentences and unanswered questions. For perhaps the first time ever, they didn’t know what to say to each other. It was clear to both of them that they were avoiding the manticore in the room. As breakfast ended, Quicksilver saw that Misty was fighting back tears.

“Misty, what is it? What’s wrong?”

In a strained voice tight with emotion, she said, “I was so scared. Everyone was counting on us. I wasn’t sure I could keep going. And I could see how weak you were getting. I was afraid that… What if you had… What would I have done…” She put a foreleg across her eyes, rested her head on the table, and started to weep.

Each incomplete sentence felt like it physically struck him. Quicksilver jumped off his chair and wrapped both forelegs around Misty, resting his head against her neck.

Misty continued, “In the wagon, on the way here from the bluff, I asked Heavy Pony what happened. He told me what you did.” She lifted her head and pulled back to look Quicksilver in the eyes. “I was so proud of you. Though I know his type. No matter how bad he said it was, it was actually ten-times worse. Quicksilver, I almost lost you. I know I almost lost you.”

He sat down and pulled her into his embrace. He whispered, “I’m still here. I’m not going anywhere.” Misty was trembling as she wept. After a few moments, he pulled back so they could again look eye-to-eye.

“Yes, it was pretty bad right at the end. I did what I needed to do. The whole time I… I was haunted by one thing…”

He lowered his head. “When you took off on that last trip and were blown down-river, I panicked. My mind raced with things I could try. Telekinesis. Shields. Teleportation. And then you were gone. All this magic I have, and I was totally helpless.” He looked back up at Misty. “I believe in you, but it was so far, and you were so tired. I couldn’t shake the thought that it could be the last time I saw you.”

Quicksilver’s eyes glistened with tears. “I know what you felt. I know, because I felt the same thing standing on that hill. And I’m so, so sorry.”

They embraced and softly sobbed together. Quicksilver tightened his grip. Misty opened her wings to wrap around him.

The other patrons, many with tears welling in their own eyes, quietly got up and walked out of the restaurant to pay their bill and leave.

After a few minutes, the two drew apart, using napkins from the table to dry their eyes.

Quicksilver said, “Let’s head up to the room, clean up, and walk around town until it’s time to go see Nurse Forte. I need to be outside in the sun, with you.”

Misty nodded, and they got up. As they walked past Mrs. Lodge, also dabbing her eyes, Quicksilver remarked, “Sorry, it looks like we drove everyone away.”

“Don’t worry about it. Lots of folks in town are dealing with what might have happened the other night. It’s good to get it out, but it’s also painful. What you just experienced is normal and healthy. Keep sharing with each other, and you’ll be fine.”

After strolling around for a while, Quicksilver and Misty found themselves on the bluff. The clear sky and bright sun completely changed the scene. The fields were still flooded, but the water was calm, almost peaceful. Much of the hill was visible again. The terror of that night was gone, and tranquility had returned.

“It’s like the other night was just a bad dream,” Quicksilver said softly. Misty only nodded and moved closer to him.

They stood for a while, each lost in their memories, and, as if by mutual agreement, both turned to head back towards the settlement.

As they wandered among the buildings, Quicksilver spotted Heavy Pony. The couple pivoted in his direction. As they approached, they noticed him sharing a nuzzle with a mare. A young colt stood by, watching.

“Hi, Heavy Pony. So, you have a family?” Catching her eye, Quicksilver nodded at the mare.

“Hi, you two. Yes. This is my wife Summer Fields and our colt Golden Harvest.”

“Nice to meet you both,” Summer added with a smile.

“I know you two,” Misty said cautiously. “I carried both of you off the hill. Summer, you were the last mare out, when we were blown down-river.”

“Yes, that’s right. I wanted to thank you. You were so kind and reassuring to Golden when he was scared. It was so hard for him to fly off alone with a stranger.”

Quicksilver turned to Heavy. “Why didn’t you say something?” He pointed at the two with his hoof. “We could have gotten them out on the first trip.”

“I was in charge of everyone’s safety. I couldn’t show favoritism.” He glanced at Summer. “Besides, I tried, and my wife rejected it,” he said with a wink.

She smiled back and then looked back at Quicksilver. “He was in charge of getting everyone to safety, and I was overseeing the foals and mares. I had to stay until they were all safe.”

“I’m not sure I could be that brave,” Misty said, looking down at the ground.

“Are you kidding me?!” Summer almost shouted, stomping a hoof. “You flew like twenty trips carrying ponies as large as you are to safety through a storm I had trouble just standing in. I have never seen anything like that in my entire life! Every time I saw you returning to the hill, I wondered how you could convince yourself to take that risk again.”

Misty replied softly, “How could I not?”

She looked down to see Golden Harvest cautiously walking up to her. He reared up and wrapped his front legs around her neck. Instinctively, she lifted one leg around him, returning the hug.

“Thank you for saving me and my mom.” He squeezed a little tighter.

Misty closed her eyes and spoke softly, “Oh, honey, you’re welcome.”

He let go and stepped over to Quicksilver. Looking down, he pawed at the ground once in indecision. Then he lifted his head and raised a hoof. “Thanks for saving my dad.”

Quicksilver gently exchanged a hoof-bump with the colt. “Your dad is a very brave pony. It was my pleasure to help him.”

Satisfied, Golden Harvest grinned for a moment before trotting back to his mom’s side. He pressed tightly to her side as if to hide from any further attention.

“Just the ponies I needed to see.”

Everypony turned to see Mayor Bigwig trotting up.

Heavy Pony gave him a simple nod.

“Good day, Mayor,” Quicksilver said. “What can we do for you?”

“Well, now that you’re both up and appear to be feeling better, the town is wrapping up the planning for a party in your honor. It will be tomorrow night in front of the inn. The whole town will probably show up.”

“Well, you see, we’re not really party ponies. And we don’t want all that attention. It just feels awkward.”

The mayor nodded. “I understand that.” He paused for a moment. “This community went through a really scary situation. It was hard for those on the hill, but it was also hard for all the relatives and friends here on the bluff. There’s a lot of pent-up emotion. Nurse Forte was clear that it is required for the emotional health and well-being of the community.”

Misty grinned. “I imagine that’s a direct quote.”

The mayor laughed. “Yes, it is. You don’t have to do anything. I’ll instruct everypony to be respectful and not talk you into another coma. Though honestly, as you hear ponies’ stories, I believe you’ll get something out of it too.”

“Well, you can ignore what Quicksilver said.” Misty gave Quicksilver a playful shove with her shoulder. “We’ll be there, and,” she glanced at Quicksilver, “we will have fun.” He smiled weakly.

“Right!” said Summer. “And we’ll both be around to help if it gets a little overwhelming. My husband can be very effective at getting ponies to back off a bit when needed,” she added with a smile. Heavy Pony just rolled his eyes and smiled back.

Quicksilver snickered, shaking his head. “Well, Nurse Forte will be expecting us soon. We need to grab something light to eat and head over. And I have the impression we should not be late.”

“Oh!” the mayor exclaimed. “That’s right, you don’t want to keep her waiting. Go, go!” He shooed them away with his hoof. “We’ll see you at the gathering tomorrow.”

The sun dipped low as ponies gathered in the street in front of the Oats and Rye Inn. The air hummed with the sounds of talking and laughter as the crowd milled about amongst the refreshment tables stocked both by the inn and the residents in true frontier style.

After a while, the mayor stood on the porch of the inn and addressed the crowd.

“My friends and our honored guests. Doing something new and different is often difficult. We knew that when we first founded this settlement. We all wanted the type of life that earth ponies can have, with a close connection to the land and all it provides.“ He gestured to the crowd. “And look at us now. Every member of our community has food and shelter. We have vast fields to the west, and a thriving orchard still expanding to the east. We have economic strength and brisk trade with neighboring towns. We have been successful.”

He paused, glancing in the direction of the river. “It hasn’t always been easy. The first couple of years were hard. We’ve had many hurdles to clear. This last week brought one of the biggest risks we have ever faced. Though, as if to remind us of the connection we have with the unicorn and pegasus races, we were spared from disaster by visitors and new friends.” He looked directly at the couple. “Quicksilver and Misty risked everything to save our families, relatives, and friends.” He scanned the crowd again. “While we can not repay a debt like this, we can make tonight a collective ‘thank you’ from everypony here. Please feel free to speak with them this evening if you wish. I just ask that you be respectful and not overwhelm them.”

He looked back to Quicksilver and Misty. “Finally, I want to personally address Quicksilver and Misty. I know it wasn’t your intention to be heroes in a little earth pony settlement, but that’s what you are. And you are our friends. We’ll always be grateful for what you’ve done here. Thank you.”

And with that, the street exploded into thunderous hoof-stomping and cheering. The attention was embarrassing. Quicksilver rubbed his neck, and Misty stepped closer to him. Ponies who were close turned to face them, smiling brightly as they cheered. Misty’s ears dropped as she hid her face in his neck. Finally, the mayor raised a hoof. It took a while for ponies to notice, but after a few moments, they quieted down. “Please, everyone, enjoy the evening.”

As Quicksilver and Misty strolled around, they noticed two young fillies walking towards them. The bright yellow one cleared her throat.

“Hi. I’m Daff, umm, Daffodil.” She had one front leg crossed in front of the other, eyes downturned.

Misty replied, “Hi there. Wait... Aren't you the filly who waved at me in the restaurant a few days ago?"

Looking at Misty, she smiled. Then the smile faded as she resumed talking, "This is Bluebell. She's my bestest friend in the whole world." She put a foreleg around her dusty-blue friend.

“Hi, Bluebell. I’m Misty.” The corners of Bluebell’s mouth went up just a bit.

Daff pawed at the ground and continued, "Our parents think we don't understand, but we can tell something’s wrong. They just… act and talk wrong.” She paused and glanced at Bluebell momentarily. “Bluebell lives on the hill with her parents each spring or, um, used to live.”

“Oh, I see…” Misty said softly.

Daff blushed, her hoof scraped the ground once more. “My mom thought I was asleep, but I wasn’t. I stayed up watching the bluff out of my window. All the adults were out in the rain. I knew it was bad. And the storm… I… I was so scared.” She shivered and clenched her eyes shut.

Misty sat down in front of the fillies. "I'm sorry, honey. I'm sure no one wanted you to be scared."

"But I was. I heard my parents talking the same way they talked when grandma got sick last year. A few days later, she... she..." Daff looked down and pawed at the ground again.

Misty reached out and stroked her mane. She noticed a mare standing a short distance off, wiping a tear from her eye.

Daff took a deep breath and looked Misty in the eyes. “Then I saw you flying back with Bluebell. I yelled so loud my mom came in to see what I was doing. We watched you land. Later you brought back her mom too.”

For the first time, Bluebell spoke, barely above a whisper, “You said we’d be okay, but I was so scared, flying over the water. You fly so good. Thanks for bringing me back to my friend.” She and Daff looked at each other and smiled.

“Oh, you’re welcome.” Misty smiled. “I’m so glad to see you two reunited.” She glanced up at the mare again who smiled back and nodded.

Both fillies jumped forward, each wrapping one of Misty's forelegs in a hug. She nickered softly, lowering her head to briefly nuzzle each one. After a moment, they jumped back. With big smiles on their faces, the pair turned to trot off.

Looking up, Misty saw the mare still watching. Holding a hoof to her chest, the mare silently mouthed, “Thank you.” Misty smiled and nodded in response. The mare turned and walked in the same direction the fillies had scampered off in.

Quicksilver took a step forward and sat down next to Misty. “Are you okay?” He put a foreleg around her shoulders and squeezed.

“I think so.” She rested her head against his neck and whimpered softly. “There was no time to think about what they all felt.” She pushed deeper into Quicksilver's fur.

He gently patted her arm. “Who?”

She raised her glistening eyes to him. “Everypony here. Unlike us, all they could do was just… wait and hope. Wait for a miracle so that they’ll survive till morning. Hope that they’ll see their family and friends again.” She shuddered as she took a breath. “Like a certain filly, secretly watching from her room, muzzle pressed to the cold windowpane, wondering if she’ll ever play with her bestest friend again. Compared to all that, flying back-and-forth over the river was a pleasant distraction.”

Quicksilver gave her a firm hug. “You need to remember she did get to see her friend again. You rescued that scared and helpless little filly, her mom, and a bunch of others too.” He looked directly into Misty’s eyes. “You were the hope they were waiting for.”

“Yeah, you’re right. It just makes you think.” She paused for a moment. “I understand now.”

Releasing the hug, he shifted so he could face Misty. “Understand what?”

She looked around the crowd surrounding them. “I think I understand much better why tonight is so important to these ponies.”

Quicksilver added, “And perhaps important to us too?” Misty nodded and smiled. “How about we wander around some more now?” Misty nodded again, wiping her eyes with her leg. They stood up and continued walking through the gathering.

"Hi, you two."

Quicksilver and Misty turned around to see the twins behind them accompanied by two identical mares. Quicksilver and Misty stared blankly for a moment.

One of the mares spoke up, "Nope, you're not seeing double. We're twins too."

The other mare added, "Yup, twins married to twins." They both giggled.

Quicksilver and Misty sat down as the two sets of twins launched into a rapid-fire explanation.

"We grew up in the same town."

"Our houses were about a block apart."

"We played together all the time."

"The best was playing pranks on other ponies."

One of the sisters pulled a hoof around her husband’s shoulder. "Two of us would sit somewhere. When a pony walked by, one of us would say 'hi', the other wave." He gave a little wave.

Misty and Quicksilver switched their gaze to the second sister as she continued, "The other two of us would be down a ways, in the same pose. Then we'd wave and 'hi' the same." Her husband smiled and gave an identical wave.

“We practiced together to get it exactly the same.” One of the mares grinned.

Her sister flashed her a carbon copy of the same grin. "Ponies would be so bewildered."

"The looks on their faces..." The four ponies glanced at each other and laughed. They sat down with Quicksilver and Misty.

"Anyway," one of the stallions continued, "We wanted to thank you for what you did the other night. We had friends on that hilltop. Good friends. I'm not sure this community would have survived, had we lost all those ponies."

Quicksilver’s smile faded. "I hope you realize your part in that. We ran out of time to rescue ponies at the end. Without that sling you two made allowing Misty to help, we'd have lost about a third of the ponies."

One of the mares added softly, “That third included our older sister and her youngest foal, Bluebell.” The other mare nodded.

Quicksilver continued, "And I didn't get a chance to thank you two for finding Misty and bringing her back. I was a bit of a wreck until I saw her safe again." He put a leg around her and pulled her close.

The stallion glanced at his brother while rubbing his neck. "They were just things that somepony needed to do. Things that we could help with. We were just doing our part."

“Well, it meant a lot to us. Thank you.” Quicksilver bowed his head briefly.

“Yes,” Misty added. “Thank you.”

"Anyway, sorry about the overload with our story. We don't want to keep you, just beyond saying hi and thanks." With that, the pair of twins got up, smiled at them one more time, and walked off into the sea of ponies.

Quicksilver and Misty turned to each other and burst out laughing.

“Twins married to twins. That’s amazing,” Quicksilver said.

“Oh, that felt good.” Misty gasped as she stopped laughing. “If they didn’t live so far away, I bet we could all be great friends. They’re clearly our kind of strange.”

“Absolutely. What about something to drink?” Quicksilver stood up and reached out to help Misty up. Still snickering, they headed towards one of the refreshment tables.

Night had descended upon the settlement. The otherwise dark street bathed in light from the inn. The Lodge family started cleaning up, as the crowd slowly thinned out. Quicksilver and Misty had just finished a little snack.

“Look over there.” Quicksilver pointed. “That’s Nurse Forte.”

“We should go say hi,” Misty replied.

Forte noticed them approaching and smiled pleasantly. “Good evening, Quicksilver, Misty. I trust you found the evening enjoyable?”

“Yes, we did, although it’s been exhausting.” Misty sat down, and Quicksilver joined her. “Don’t get me wrong, it’s been good. We’ve met a lot of ponies and heard some moving tales from the other night.”

Forte took a seat in front of them. “Yes, dealing with the emotional repercussions can be tiring. But as we discussed, your mental wellbeing is critical. Tonight is just as important as the private conversations you’ve shared and need to continue to share.” She gently touched Misty on the shoulder.

“And remember when you return home to be open to seeking out professional help. Especially if you notice any long-term signs of stress.” She paused as she stared at the ground.

Misty broke the silence. “Was there something else you wanted to tell us?”

She looked up. “Yes, there is. It wasn’t appropriate during your physical yesterday, but…” She cleared her throat. “I would like to apologize for the other night and not being able to assist you. All my magic training is in support of medical care.” She waved her hoof. “I can’t even teleport across a room. And when I showed up on the bluff, the mayor ordered me back to the clinic. He made sure each rescued pony was directed to the clinic so I could check them for injuries. Some ponies were also ready to provide first aid immediately, should it be needed. He of course made the right decision based on the situation.” She paused in thought for a moment.

“The mayor’s lack of formality can be… irksome, though he is more than competent both in administration and crisis management. I believe he may be the leader this settlement needs, someone whom I can respect.”

Quicksilver and Misty glanced at each other. Before they could say anything, Nurse Forte stood up.

“It’s evident to me that this gathering has taken its toll on you. And I was very specific in my instructions that you two need to rest. Therefore, this evening is concluded and you two should return to your room.”

They both stood up as Misty spoke, “Thank you, Nurse Forte. We appreciate all your help.”

Quicksilver added, “And no need to apologize about the other night. We all had a part to play. ”

Forte stepped forward. “Enough, you two. To your room, now.” With a surprisingly warm smile, and a wave of her hoof, she added, “Shoo, shoo.”

Misty’s ears and head both drooped as they walked up the streets of Canterlot. “I am so tired. I can’t wait to get home.”

“You know it. Perhaps we should have rested another few days before starting the three-day trip back. It was kind of exhausting, but we’re almost there.”

Coming in the front door, Misty called out, “Tinker, are you here? We’re home.”

There was a crash of something falling to the floor in the kitchen, and Tinker practically galloped into the front room. His eyes were wide as he slid to a stop.

“Oh, thank Celestia. You’re both okay. We didn’t know what had happened to you. Both your parents have been by to see if I’d heard anything. All the flooding… We didn’t know....” His breathing was fast and shallow.

“Whoa, whoa, slow down, Tinker,” Quicksilver blurted out and gently pushed the hyperventilating stallion away. “Calm down. Please, back up, start at the beginning, and explain what’s going on.”

Tinker took a deep breath and nodded. “A few days after you left, we got news of a huge storm in the Crystal Mountains and flooding along the Neighagra River both above and below the falls. We knew you were in the area, but no one knew exactly where. The reports from below the falls were pretty bad. Lots of destroyed buildings and such along the river. We assumed it was bad where you were also. All we could do was wait for some word.”

Quicksilver tapped his chin. “It did get a little tense where we were during the flooding, but as you can see, we’re both fine. We can tell you more about it later.” He turned to look at Misty. “Misty, you should fly to your parent’s place and let them know what happened so they know you’re okay. I’m going to trot over to my parents and do the same.” He cleared his throat. “Oh, and you may want to downplay a few of the more, well, dramatic parts of the story that could upset them.”

“I think that would be a good idea,” she replied with a smile. “Tinker, we’ll probably be gone for a few hours, so you can finish whatever you were working on and head home. We’ll see you tomorrow.”

After that bit of excitement, life quickly returned to normal for the couple as they picked up where they had left off before going for a little walk.

Unfortunately, Quicksilver still had to figure out the mixture ratio problem he has been working on.

4. Epilogue

Quicksilver trotted up to the greenhouse door and looked in. "Hey, Misty! We got a letter from Mayor Bigwig!"

She spun around to face him. "From Flora Fields? What's it say?"

"Don't know. Haven't read it yet. I figured we could read it together." He squinted at her. "You’ve been, shall we say, highly focused for several hours now. It's time you took a break."

Her eyes sparkled, and she laughed. "It's okay, you can call it obsessing. I know I get a little lost in here sometimes." Quicksilver chuckled with her. "Let me make some tea, and we'll do it right."

Once the tea and snacks were ready, they went to the front room of the house. Quicksilver sat on a couch, and Misty snuggled up next to him. She softly blew on her tea.

Using his magic, Quicksilver opened the letter, and began to read.

My dear friends,

I hope you are doing well and that your research is progressing.

It's been almost nine months since that night, and a lot has happened. With the final harvest of fall completed and winter preparations underway, I finally found a moment to write.

In the aftermath of the flood, we had a couple families decide to leave and head back to their former towns. It's sad to see residents leave, but it happens for a number of reasons. On the other hoof, that freed up space for two additional new families from the waiting list. Due to limited resources, we must manage the number of new families added each year.

Speaking of new residents, we have our first pegasus in the community. His name is First Class, and he came here with his wife to open an Equestria Postal Service office. His special talent is long-distance flying, and he loves making the trip to Canterlot three times a week. This is a huge improvement to our mail service, as the regular EPS wagon only makes the loop every couple weeks (and even less in winter).

And now for the big news, and the actual reason I wrote: Flora Fields is officially a town!

I was able to complete the application paperwork during summer. First Class personally delivered it to Canterlot. A few weeks later, two pegasi from the castle literally dropped in to inspect the settlement and do some interviews. A month after that, we received the official notification.

A few days after that we held our first town hall meeting. Everyone was there. The first official business was when someone made a motion, unanimously approved, to install me as mayor for the first term of the office. So it looks like I have a job for a few more years.

I am so proud of these ponies and what we all have accomplished together. That includes you two and the hoof you had in getting us here.

I believe that brings you up-to-date on the big items. Heavy Pony says hi. Even Nurse Forte asked me to send her regards. Yes, I was shocked too.

I hope you will get up this way again one day. Everypony would love to see you.

Warmest regards,
Mayor Bigwig

Setting her empty teacup down, Misty clopped her hooves together. “Wonderful! They finally made it.”

Quicksilver put the letter on the table and took a long drink of his tea. “I remember the mayor telling us about the original ponies that first started working on creating the settlement. It must be so fulfilling to see a vision like that succeed after years of work.”

“I’m not even a little surprised they made Bigwig the first mayor. After all the work he’s put in.”

Quicksilver gazed up at the ceiling in thought. “You know, I have absolutely nothing to base this on, but I think Norse Forte was the one who made that motion. You remember what she said about him at the party?”

Misty threw her head back laughing. “I bet you're right. I’d love to find out.”

“Hey Misty, next summer, do you think you’ll feel like going for a little walk? There’s this new town I’d like to visit.” He grinned and winked at her.

She smirked back. “Well, we never did get that ‘interesting dirt’ you wanted.”

-- The End --