Pepper awoke with a start. A glow lit up the room as the unicorn's horn emitted a faint, reassuring light. What had woken her-

*'Snap.'*

The door shutting quickly clued Pepper into that simple fact. She looked out the window and saw her friend walking slowly towards the pond on her property. Not again...

Pepper sighed, going back to her bed, but not falling asleep. Sky Duster, that poor unicorn...

This wouldn't be the first time she had gone off in the middle night to think. Pepper knew there was a lot more going on in her family than Sky would admit. Why her friend kept it all bottled up, she didn't know.

What she did know, was that Sky refused to go into detail as to what was eating away at her. These past three days had shown Pepper one thing; her friend really needed some help. Something was terribly wrong with Sky, and Pepper didn't know what to do. It had started when her friend had gotten a letter, the day after arriving in Ponyville no less.

The pond was disturbed by a few ripples fanning out from the shore, the surface then returning to the smoothness of normalcy. The stars shone brightly, no clouds staying their splendor from view. The disturbance came again, spreading across the surface of the pond.

A few more tears fell from Sky Duster's face, hitting the water and sending ripples across the pond's surface.

Her head hurt. It wasn't a physical pain, but that of having so much bottled up inside, her mind and heart felt like it was going to burst. The worse part was poor Pepper. Sky knew her friend wanted to help, but there was no way she'd be able to help. She didn't know what it was like. Pepper's family was fairly tight-nit. They made sure to contact each other every week or two via mail, even if it was a single line saying hi.

Sky had since shredded the letter out of frustration, but the words still flashed through her mind, clear as if they were written in the water in front of her.

Hope you made it to Ponyville safely dear! Your father has an extra seat on one of those new sky-barges, and asked me to come along! I know we said we would visit in a week or so, but you know how things come up....

Oh yes. She knew perfectly well. It had started as small things, a school presentation, a field trip, simple things really. All those times, something had 'come up.' Then her brother.......

After that, it had gotten worse. Birthdays, holidays.

Comforting their daughter after she lost her home.

A burst of anger overtook Sky, and she sent a mini-tidal wave across the pond, her hooves shaking. A lot of good being out here was doing for her. Usually she'd be able to think through her frustration, but not tonight. That letter had been too much.

Sky Duster made her way back to the simple farmhouse, pausing to look up at the glorious night sky briefly.

“You know, some help would be nice. Nothing huge, just...something.”

A certain dark-furred alicorn smiled gently as the words echoed themselves around in her mind. The large telescope on their balcony did more than magnify sights, but also sounds. It was an archaic way to survey their kingdom, but effective.

“Lulu, what are you smiling about now?”

Princess Luna simply shrugged, nodding to a scroll that was being levitated by her sister.

“Nothing that would put the kingdom at risk, we assure thee. Has Toxic written us another note?”

Princess Celestia nodded, but her usually gentle features tightened as she relinquished her hold on the scroll.

“Yes, a simple question really. I saw what it was...” Celestia's voice softened into almost a whisper.

Now Luna was more than curious.

“Sister, what is wrong?”

Celestia shook her head, her well-practiced all-is-well smile plastering itself on her features.

“Nothing Luna. It just caused me to think.”

She could fool nobles with that smile, but not her sister.

Luna rolled her eyes, settling down to read the scroll. She had spoken to Toxic Shield a few days ago, so what new developments could merit a letter? Perhaps nothing, and he was merely saying hello. That was one of the many things Luna enjoyed about their exchanges, simple conversation.

Her expression softened as she read the report, but her features quickly changed to that of one deep in thought. Luna's eyes widened as she finished reading the short letter. Strange feelings breeched the dams set in place in her heart, and a very old pain wormed its way into her mind. She would visit Toxic soon, that much was certain.

In the meantime, Celestia would need to lower the moon tonight. Toxic's question, while very innocent, had stirred up some feelings Luna had hoped wouldn't return. The parchment was placed on a desk in Luna's study, where it usually lay. The princess of the night then stared out the large window, her thoughts mulling over the letter.

Dear Princess Luna,

All is going well here. I've met a few more ponies, and been keeping steady records of the tests. So far, nothing to report. Now that I'm familiar with a few of the townsfolk, I'll start asking to install those water house meters. Perhaps I'll talk to Pepper again. I meant to do so these past few days, but stuff just came up. Good stuff, not bad.

Oh. And I know you and your sister have probably been asked this before, but I am curious of something. I mean it in the nicest way of course, and don't wish to pry. It's a foalish question, really...

I was just wondering, do either you or Celestia wish you had some special somepony?

Regards,

Toxic Shield.

Luna looked up at the night's sky, shaking her head sadly. Toxic had no idea that such a simple question, however innocent, could be so painful. A few shooting stars crossed the sky, matching the tears that traced their way down the princess's cheek.

So very painful.

Toxic trotted happily down the street, the morning air brisk and cold. The sky was only a bit cloudy, apparently the Pegasus ponies were on schedule for a storm later this week. May as well enjoy the outdoors while he could.

First things first; sample water at Pepper's, and ask her if it would be alright to install the monitoring tool. It looked like a giant cube, part metal, part blueish crystal, that latched around the main pipe running into the house.

Which would be underground. Hooray digging.

For the first time in quite a few months, Toxic found his mind somewhat at ease. He had more than enough bits to cover expenses, and little do-dads that he enjoyed picking up at the market. Housing wasn't a problem, and he had a job- and a vacation job at that.

Toxic glanced around at the serene scene of the village starting to gain the low-key hustle and bustle of mid-morning. A few ponies were talking to early customers, while others just wandered around, looking into various shop windows. Where was that bridge-

It was a brief jab in his heart, nothing more. A flickering of emotion that was quickly squashed. Toxic turned and walked to the next bridge, averting his eyes from the two earth ponies on the nearest crossing. A happy squeal caused him to look up, and saw one of the ponies with her hooves to her mouth in shock. She was a light purple, and the stallion a dark tan. He was on a slightly-bent hoof, a small ornamental box in his mouth. The intention was obvious, as was the mare's answer as she grabbed the stallion in a hug.

“Yes!”

Toxic sped up to a trot now, filling his lungs with the clean air as though to cleanse his mind of the depressing thoughts that threatened to invade. No, not this early in the day.

He was certainly happy for the couple, but there was always that ending emotion, like a bitter aftertaste, that prevented him from being fully at peace.

Will I ever-?

Toxic stopped the thoughts there, instead aiming across the bridge towards the house in the distance. Ok.

Step one: Ask if it is alright to sample the water, because that would be the polite thing to do.

Step two: Sample water.

Step three: Ask to install monitoring device.

Step four: Figure out what to do for the rest of the day.

Author's Note

Ok! Sorry for another semi-short chapter.
This is going to change. I wanted to get SOMETHING out there for you all, while I work on both writing the new chapters, AND editing the previous ones. Going to add some detail/ect.

But expect the chapters to be longer in the future. I can't pinkie-promise it (because we all know what happens if you break one of those....)
But that's the plan! Enjoy!