SteelEagle

"I am very familiar with the history of pirates. And the term buccaneer has a wider meaning than that- maybe your experience in that area has colored it, but it has a wider meaning. Privateers and pirates were called buccaneer alike- and they were all called pirates, or privateers, depending on one's personal bias. Equestria itself has its own history with such...privateers," Twilight said as she took her hat off and teleported it onto Rose's head. "Indeed, this is not a random hat. It is an exact replica of Captain Goldhoof, former admiral turned privateer around seven-hundred and thirty-one years ago. I don't believe you know her history? Or the myth?" She said before Rose started off on her own accounting of what it took to be a pirate. "I challenge you to go an hour without taking a page out of Swift Squall's school of drama," Twilight said as she started off with a smile. It was hard dealing with...certain styles of creatures. She wondered if there was something in the genetics that made a number of them act as if they were constantly performing stage plays. In any case, it was a historical fact that the majority of pirates, privateers, buccaneers, didn't resort to violence. It was bad business and would put them in the crosshairs of national and sub-national navies. Beyond that, the most common hunter of pirates weren't even the navies- they were other privateers, given permission to hunt the pirates down. Of course depending on who you asked... In any case, she would at least respond to the pertinent question. "As for your real question, Rose? I could. I wouldn't, and I don't need to, but I could. There are worse things than killing a creature that I would be ready to do if it came to it," She responded, her voice lowered before she tapped her cup. "Back to the game. I'm calling you a liar," she said as she showed her dice- one one, one two, zero threes, one four, and two fives.

Rarity looked over the chef some more. There was something...off, about her. Well beyond the abnormal, mythical elements inherent in her very existence. Fact is that she was well aware of the many and varied ways in which the creatures of the world could be wondrous in their own ways. She had been told who she was and Rarity accepted it readily enough- with everything else going on, how could she not? But even within that context there was something going on with Yanhua. She could feel it in the magical currents in the air around her, like the fits and starts of a machine that was clogged, or a ship being battered against its port. She had become more attuned to these things as time passed in the tumult of Twilight and knew better than most the signs. Signs of what, she did not know. But something was wrong with this most wonderful of creatures. Rarity's ears twitched again. She had not sneezed? "I see...but don't you hear the sneezing?" She asked, her brows furrowed. She could hear it clear as day. As night, even. No passing fancy of the moment distracting the world from its appointed deliveries, Rarity knew she was hearing something. But if her friend here wasn't, then she would have to abandon the issue. Her ears twitched. "I think we're just that low. I know the other chefs were driving themselves mad trying to keep up and eventually ran out of most things of any import," she said as she looked over what was being prepared. It would have to do, for now. "I think you have done a marvelous job, considering the circumstances. And look on the bright side, we have no goldenrod nearby. I think," she said as she did her part in preparing the food. Mostly, getting its appearance up to snuff! "Ready?"

Twilight couldn't help but smile at Rose's antics. She agreed wholeheartedly- it was important to flex that magical muscle. Like anything, practice makes perfect. "That is good, Rose. Always work on it. I think you're going to do something wonderful with it," she said proudly. She was sure of it. Rose wasn't going to sulk off the stage of world affairs, she was going to make a wondrous and joyful contribution. She wasn't sure the same could or would ever be said about Hou Shuren, but she was willing to give it a try. Her eyes traced her theatrics, including dropping a conjured version of the Friendship Journal. Twilight conjured up her own copy and gave a small laugh as she flipped through it. "Hehe, well, nocreature ever accused me of being very colorful. I'm glad you found it an interesting page turner, in any case. Looking back, it would have been best to have an editor. I think many of the problems we had accurately conveying the intended message came down to the haphazard way we presented it. Still, it remains a hot seller and over time we have received a lot of great feedback from ponies who found the lessons useful. I am just happy we could help those in need," she said with a satisfied smile. She didn't need Hou's review of the book to know its worth, though it wasn't as full of invectiveness as she was expecting. On the topic of her other entrances into the conversation, Twilight had to pause and at least ease her mind. Somewhat. "Oh, I don't know everything about you, Hou. There is a fallacy common in this train of thought that seeing the timeline in all of its variability and outcomes gives you a perfect understanding of everything in it, which I do not yet have. While certainly it would be accurate to claim that I have a much greater understanding of you than you had intended anypony to know, and I do to a level you will not yet know, I do not have an accurate understanding per se of every momentary decision you make. Certainly I have seen this meeting play out in my mind innumerable times and with impossible variations, but with every word we utter we create an infinity of new possibilities heading into the outcomes. I might have an understanding- might, mind you- of the outcomes, but how we reach them?" She shook her head, though a smile betrayed a sincere level of comfort with the revelation. "Well, I have seen many of them. That does not mean I cannot be surprised. Nor does it mean you are doomed to it. That is why hope lives upon our very breath here," she said as several drinks were summoned. She started sipping from hers- a strawberry smoothie. She leaned back as the two came to an end. She turned her head to face Rose as she spoke. "I think she is referring to a potential infohazard that can impact beings with a multiversal understanding. After all, I am aware and have granular knowledge of the omniverse, and the untold variations of Hou Shuren and Princess Twilight Sparkle that exist therein. Because of the grand multiplicity of it all, the details vary greatly, meaning that any single variation of Hou Shuren and any single variation of Twilight Sparkle are not necessarily informative of-" she pointed to Hou, "-that Hou Shuren and-" she pointed to herself, "-this Twilight Sparkle. Of course, there are numerous problems with this theory, but that relies on knowledge and understanding that she does not have," She said as she took a long drink, and then gently laid the cup down. "And it is also materially unimportant to this meeting. Which she also knows, so I suppose I will start. I came here to request that you cease and desist from soul stealing."

Word coming out of the capital had been unusual if not alarming for several weeks. The usually punctual daily royal court releases that had become a mainstay of Twilight's rule had slowed. The previously well organized and timely responses to the prodding of the the various provincial officials- as well as her consistent, gentle meddling in their affairs- also slowed. Appearances in public slowed. Not enough to cause concern for most ponies, however. The nation adored Twilight but she was different from Celestia. The Princess of the Sun was photogenic and made herself available to the public. For centuries she had become so ingrained into society that imagining a nation without her was rough. Twilight? They loved her, but she wasn't a daily presence. So while court watchers raised their eyebrows at the events transpiring, or not transpiring, from Canterlot Castle, they did so with a belief that there was likely nothing much to be concerned with. And maybe they were right. Twilight couldn't tell, and neither could anypony she had called in to help her. There were doctors, the very best and those sworn to secrecy. She had consulted the whole library available to her to no avail. Answers eluded her as readily as reason. In time, she sought more help. Help from those that were closer to her, better to her. She could only hope they could help. After all, what were friends for if not helping the ruler of a nation contend with an unknowable issue that was slowly driving her mad? As Ice Storm would find out right after she knocked, apparently the friends were best used for flying out of doors rather quickly. Too quickly, indeed. Rarity came flying out from inside, breaching the doors and crashing into Ice Storm, sending the pair tumbling until they smacked into a pillar outside. "Arrrghugh....anypony get a number on that carriage?" She said, her eyes rolling around listlessly.

Sunny was having a good day at her stand. Sales were always brisk and on warm, happy days like today, that briskness never seemed to stop. It was a testament to the excellent palates of the city of Maretime Bay that her smoothies were roundly considered, 'pretty good for the price and very convenient' as well as, 'very serviceable and not at all trash'. She was happy to serve. It helped her set apart from some of her competitors. She didn't know why they were always changing flavors and going nuts with advertising. Just do simple stuff well and simple folk would by fits and starts come to rely on you. And she only lost a few customers over the years due to her random bouts of intense proselytizing, which had in turned rebounded into even brisker, happier business once the truth had been revealed. And while that truth meant a great many wonderful things in a great many wonderful ways for wonderful ponies across cities and species, today that truth just meant big bits. Maybe she could buy Pipp a hat for the sun? She didn't know if pegasi flying high in the clouds were easier to get sunburned or not... "Here you go, Pinwheel!" She said as she shot out a blueberry infused smoothie, one of her more popular flavors. It was made with mostly real blueberries, to boot. Pinwheel dropped the required bits and trotted away, Sunny, using her foreleg to sweep them into her bits drawer and shutting it as she took a breath and looked at her next customers. She didn't look ahead- bad business. She'd get too excited if she saw Izzy or Zipp or Hitch and make a mistake, and nopony liked mistakes. Especially the bits, they definitely disliked the mistakes. Luckily, two familiar faces showed up. Well, one familiar face and one newer but hopefully soon enough familiar face. She knew Sugar Moonlight well enough. Pretty well off and well to do Maretime Bay pony who was one of the needlessly remorseful of them all. Gloomy Sonnet, if Sunny remembered right, was much more a stranger. She knew her mostly through the Izzy Osmosis Phenomenon, or IOP. That would not be as helpful today. "Hey there Gloomy, Sugar! How are you two doing?"

Applejack nodded. She wasn't sure how this would necessarily help, but then again she wasn't sure about much else other than her own name and her own belief that she did, in fact, exist. Everything else was debatable as far as she could tell. In any case, she was a baker but not a cook at the level that Twilight needed, and the only creature that could help she would have to trust to see this through. Trust came easy. "Heavy it is," she said as she trotted to a nearby door. After taking a deep breath and grabbing a nearby saddlebag, she opened the door. The neon lights and flashing signs nearly blinded her, but she pulled a nearby rowboat close to her and hopped in, closing the door behind her. "Ah'll be back soon!" She said cheerily as the door closed and a roar was heard. rarity did not follow. She saw the mystical fox was clearly unwell and could not leave her, even as the smells of what she was cooking up took hold of her nose. "Well, despite your condition your cooking skill has certainly remained," she said gently as she drew in closer. She was, unlike Applejack, not a mother or a mare even all that familiar with the many tailed signs of illness. She was proud of her hale and hearty condition! "Hmm. If you say you're fine I'll buy it for now, darling. But I don't think that sounds like a cold. Do you not hear that snapping or crackling sound when you sneeze?" Her ears twitched. "Or perhaps that is just my hearing. It has been dreadfully chaotic lately. You said you were allergic to goldenrod?"

As expected, Hou didn't take the offered hoof. Her arrogance and belief that she needed to maintain an imagined form of superiority. There was the part of her that wanted to react. Not only to the decline of her hoofshake, but the other attempts to get Twilight's blood rising. A younger Twilight would certainly have been perturbed by the needling involving her parents, or the implication that a being such as Hou could have had any impact on Twilight whatsoever. It would be no problem to dismantle the magic she had cast. Easier than breathing. Reduce her to her basic magical properties, separate them into a pocket reality, then erase magic in that reality, then rearrange her in this material universe to anything she willed. That would be fitting, but it wouldn't be right, and so any purchase such dreadful emotions could hope to make against Twilight was dashed upon the rock of her infinite will. She was under no threat here and would therefore not respond to such base attempts. "Hmm. You may believe so, Hou. You have always had a peculiar fascination with what is being taken and given. What is being asked for, and what is being demanded," Twilight responded before shrugging. "Your past is open to me, as are fragments of mine to you. If you wish to continue discussing the past, I believe you will find it a wasteful pursuit. I came here on behalf and for Rose, with an understanding that this is a process she wishes to see take place. To make this clear, Hou, I am willing to speak with you and believe in the goodness of your soul, underneath all the cruelty and malice you have used to obscure it. I am willing to give you a chance, and I am willing to feel some hope for you," Twilight finished before turning to Rose. "Speaking of your simulacrums, you're getting much better with them. The one I was playing cards with started to show some excitement you don't normally share, so that was refreshing," she started with a smile. "Very excited about getting two pairs. Also too excited too early and we had to keep on reshuffling because she would tell me what she had, but nocreature's perfect," Twilight said as she allowed herself to be nudged by magic.

Apple Bloom had to stop herself from imagining just how embarrassing it would look for a Prince and Princess to sing badly at karaoke. Was that how wars started? She didn't really know what would qualify as a national dishonor that would result in such things, but she knew for a fact that if anypony saw some of Twilight's dance moves that would certainly rank right up there. Was it torture? Maybe these high and mighty types should hire ponies to sing and dance in their stead at such shindigs, on account of not wanting to make foals of themselves. Applejack could do it. Applejack could do anything but she could sing her heart out better than most knew. "What do they call them ponies that sing and dance for royals? Uhh...Jestars? If y'all ever need it, ya know on account of them older ponies not being much for song and such, Applejack could do it. She sings real good!" Apple Bloom said proudly as she finished herself and collected the plates and such that were empty. She brought them over to the sink, balanced on her head and back all delicate like. She started getting to work, trying to make sure she got through this part over quick. As she did, she heard her talk about the royal Canterlot voice. Apple Bloom shivered, her eyebrow arched. "Well, can't say much about big disputes or such, but Ah remember tha Royal Canterlot Voice. It seemed magical, leas' that's how Ah reckoned with it. It wasn't just loud, it was deep and felt like you were being hit by a wave. AJ said there was somethin' in it about it being used to get certain reactions, dependin' on yer intent. But all Ah know is it scared me something straight! Can't say that Ah've ever heard Celestia use it, and Ah think Twi did it once accidentally," Apple Bloom pondered as she started up the water for the sink.

"We could certainly try," Applejack said as she rubbed the back of her neck. She didn't look all that confident. "I mean, assuming we don't get lost in some sort of tear in reality or have our atomics switched around by accident. I didn't think Ah'd feel it, but Ah sure did," she said, shivering at the memory. "What are ya looking to restock, by tha way? Ah mean, besides everything. What do you need?" Applejack asked as she rummaged through the drawers to find a baker's quill and some paper. It would be tough to restock everything the way time was flowing outside of the kitchen. If she had a list of specific requests she would likely have more luck than if she went out there, in there, over there, blind. And truth be told, she could use the help. Her life had been a whirlwind of everything all the time. Rarity for her part was still holding her head. As she watched the foreigner however, something caught her eye. She wasn't an expert in such creatures- the only pony who was such an expert was currently going mad, after all- but she was perceptive. And while her brain was still sloshing around it was still together enough to pick up on some less than fantastic details of their new comrade in feast-making. "Dearie," Rarity said as she drew closer, her hoof on the creature's shoulder. She perhaps should not be so upfront and friendly, but Twilight trusted this mystical helper from beyond the seas. Why shouldn't...what was her name again? "Are you feeling well?"

Freedom was truth and freedom was an illusion. These things were both equally true. Hou Shuren believed she was free, when she had constructed a prison for herself and limited her view of the world through its bars. Twilight was the product of a plan that was hatched long before her birth, the continuation of a cycle that had turned itself over long before Hou Shuren or any other creature could comprehend. They were both captives to forces beyond their own understanding. Hou Shuren to herself, Twilight to the universe. Yet it had been Hou Shuren's own choice to chain herself to the capriciousness and vileness of her worst aspects, just as Twilight had eagerly participated and sought out the pieces to her own puzzle. They both made their choices. Either could have opted out of what was in store for them. Who was the chained one and who was the free one? Did such concepts even hold meaning to them? Not to Twilight, at least. She saw beyond it. "I wouldn't necessarily call it bad blood, Rose. Just a bit of feeling out," Twilight responded casually. "After all, this is the first time Hou has met me. Coming to grips with one another can take some time, I suppose," she said with a smile. She was at ease herself, not giving off an air of somepony who looked at this any different from meeting any other new pony. She looked at Hou, shrugging off the attempted slings and arrows. For her part, she was more than willing to see this friendly meeting go off well. She offered her hoof for a hoof-shake. "A good meeting place, Rose. Is this where you two defeated the Fire Hydra? I know what your interest in it was, Rose. Hou, what was your interest in it?" She asked as she got comfortable. Wasn't hard- the jungle was always a great place to relax and unwind. Severe lack of big cats at the moment, however.

In her earlier years Twilight would have been somewhat impatient as she waited for the meeting to happen. Now she knew better than to think that she could hurry things up, as the appointed time cared not for her own desires. Nor did she perceive time the same way. Seconds, minutes, hours were throw-away concepts. The moment and the century, these were real time units to concern herself with. So she played the game of blackjack with Rose's doppleganger and waited for her cue, aware of the past, present, and future, but caring only for the moment. She liked hanging out with those she cared for, and she liked Rose. Enough to have this meeting. She knew who Hou was. She knew what Hou could do and had done. In the fabric of reality she had seen what would be, somewhere. It was hard knowing this and giving the mare a fair shake when her history told a certain, very distasteful story. A mare with all that power who had committed such evils may claim many things in the name of the greater good, but the pantheon of time and space told such tales often with the same conclusion and cause. Still, there were infinite possibilities and Twilight was naturally an optimist. There was no such thing as a lost cause in the infinite fabric of the omniverse. It wasn't long before she was given the signal that it was time to come. She put her cards down and took a deep breath, rubbing her temples in anticipation. with a flash of her horn she then entered through a portal where the other mares were meeting. She wore nothing, not even her crown, nor did she cast any spells or prepare herself in any way. She wasn't coming for a fight or a threat, not that those existed, and she didn't come here to dominate. She came to talk, and talking did not require preparation. "Hello, Rose," she said with a broad smile, reaching in for a half-hug. She liked Rose. Complicated creature, but complicated did not distract from good. After that, she turned to Hou Shuren, Hou the Soul Eater. "Miss Shuren," she said politely as she sat down.

Ahhh, to be a lazy little animal for a day. She could do it without too much issue but her mind didn't allow her to honestly take advantage of the rest it would offer. She dreamed about tax codes and fantasized about zoning codes. She would love to tell herself she was overworked but the truth was that she was a mare who wanted little else than that. "That sounds like a good time. Nothing too big, though. The crew thinks I can be crushed and it is a little hard to dissuade them from that," she said with a laugh as she slammed her cup down and gave thought to what Rose had said. Would she be a good pirate? Depended on the definition. Most pirates were given letters of marquee from one of the various states and given the 'right' to their work on the high sea. Of course, one pony's swashbuckling high seas adventurer was another nation's terrible criminal. Those that made this island home were a collection of those that turned a bit too much into the drift of the seas. At the moment, none of them were proper 'buccaneers'. Time said that would change, sadly. Twilight looked at her dice for a second before placing the cup back over them. "I don't know. I think I would have done very well. More as a buccaneer than as a pirate, perhaps. Four 2's."

She did not forget with whom she was speaking. She knew full well the life and times of Rose, and knew that her heart had been hardened by untold years of suffering and pain. It was why she knew better than to assume that she would be turned by love alone, because of all the feelings a pony could feel, love was the most powerful and transformative, yes. But it was also the one that could engender the greatest fear, the most desperate and terrible desires lay within it. Many were the stories of a pony in the throes of love who would make some terrible mistake and come to regret it. Love needed to be tempered by all the qualities of harmony, or else you would end up with somepony like Heart Stopper out of Kastrot. She would allow Rose to speak in full- it was evidence of her progress that she did not need further prompting to realize the thinness of her old world view. She tapped their mugs and they refilled. "One of the most important lessons to learn is that while we may be powerful and unique, we are not better than anycreature else. We are not superior, we are not above them, and they do not exist for us. We share the same world, breathe the same air, and love the same as they do. When we harmonize with others we create the better future we seek to create. All other methods will fail, in short and long alike, in achieving a better future," she intoned earnestly as she took another drink. "Plus, it's mean. Speaking of mean, wanna play again or should we get back before the crew starts to panic?" She spoke with a smile.

Twilight nodded along to what the yokai was saying. There was nothing in truth behind her words. It was why she had heard it before from her, and would hear it again, and in the infinite string of time-space was always, would, and will always hear it. That didn't make it any less true, or change the effectiveness and truthfulness of what she was brought here to do. It was why she had been brought all the way here in the first place, after all. "Yes. Yes you are right. Magic- my magic- magic has gone haywire. I need your knowledge and your recipe and your work and your food to solve this," Twilight said through a stomach grumble. "There is...more to it, but yes. You have it right as to what the role currently needed is. And I think you will find that it will be helpful for you, too," she said, managing a pained smile. As the trio faded from view and into the next room, the entire throne room was overtaken by a firey void. Not that Applejack or Rarity seemed all that excited about it. The door to the kitchen opened. It appeared to be for all intents and purposes normal. It was indeed the royal kitchen, with several stations worth of space to cook a variety of meals at once as well as prepared to handle large state dinners. The staff was all there, a variety of mares and stallions and many of them some of the best in their fields and used to high pressure situations. The kitchen was stocked with almost every ingredient a pony could ask for, and in large enough quantities to satisfy the urges of an Alicorn- which in even normal times was extensive. At the moment though, almost everything was untrue. The kitchen looked like a warzone, barren of supply and with its vast staff either passed out in exhaustion or two steps removed from it. The Apple family, what remained of it here, lay together in a pile. The stations were a mess, the cupboards were bare, and Applejack looked to the foreign yokai for salvation. "So, whatcha need?"

My Little Pony: Tell Your Tale is a short-format episodic show released on YouTube every Thursday. These short slice of life looks into the Mane 4 (plus Hitch) help show the world of the current generation while having a lot of fun with the characters. This topic will be for discussions about the show and why Zipp is best pony.

Twilight looked around. Yes, it was very eventful. Was it? Was anything truly eventful? Atoms collided and these formed the creatures around her. She loved them so much. But was love real? Was anything truly real, except magic? If reality could blended and painted and nothing was true, was magic real? She took a breath. Her brain matter mattered some more and she shook her head and moaned. She was so hungry. "Yanhua, I'm sorry. There is so much happening, and I don't- uggh," she said as she held her head in her hooves. Her stomach rumbled, and the castle shook. Applejack ducked out of the way of a falling piece of debris which uncovered Rarity, who was a bit too small. Filly sized for a filly, sized. "Oh, finally! I couldn't move that leaf, it was simple too rough! Too big!" The small Rarity said as Applejack put Rares in her hat. "Twi, a little-" Rarity was normal again, and the two tumbled down. Twilight took another deep breath. "I'm hungry. I'm...very, very hungry. I can't stop eating, but my hunger never sates," Twilight said as her eyes danced in color. "Yep. Ah had tha whole Apple clan here cookin' up all sorts of things for her. Ain't do a bit of good," Applejack said as she pulled herself up off of the jungle floor. "As of last count, between what I am eating here and in all other timelines and realities, I am consuming well over sixteen billion, four hundred and six million, three hundred thousand, and seventeen calories a day, but it doesn't stop. The hunger doesn't stop, and it is driving me mad," she said, the final word causing a fracture in spacetime that momentarily showed other, alternate versions of the meeting. Twilight stared at them and they stopped. "I have...a lot of problems, but I was hoping you could solve this one. I don't need a lot of food, I think. I hope. What I need is the right type of food," Twilight said as her eyes flashed. They stayed lit as she moaned in pain. "So we're reckonin' somecritter like you may have an idea on what ta do, bein' one of them..." Applejack began before she looked at Rarity, "what was it that Twi called her?" Rarity shrugged as she pulled herself up. "I don't speak that language, darling. And even if I did, I don't even remember my own name. What do I remember is that Twilight believes you could help," Rarity said as she approached the foreign creature. "An' don't be worrying about yer secret slipping out. We ain't telling nopony." Twilight pulled herself back up, her wings now blazing with fire. "You have access...to my kitchen and all staff there. I think it is...mostly fine, Applejack? Same with the quarters?" She asked hopefully. Applejack nodded. "You also have a royal dispensation to get what you need, when you need it. So, can you...will you help me?"

Twilight smirked as she revealed her dice. One 3, and four 5's. "Not a liar at all. But oh my, what an accusation," she smiled as she put her dice back in the cup. "You're gonna have to make that back up to me, somehow," she said as she stuck out her tongue. It was fun to play games with Rose, like most of her friends. They all played differently and sometimes she had to learn how to adapt to it each and every time. She didn't know if she had a particular style. She imagined herself as somepony with keen observational skills when it came to how to play such games. Hopefully she didn't play the fool too often! She swirled the cup in her magic as Rose spoke. She believed she knew exactly who this creature was and had her eye on the...threat...for some time. She believed in the best of everycreature and she had every reason to believe in the quality of a heart no matter how well hidden behind the veil of a hardened, armored exterior, but she also knew better than to allow herself to struck down low by naivety. "I believe I know who this is. We can speak of motivations and goals as well as means, but if we are thinking of the same creature, then I do not have much hope. Somecreature with her capability could do a great deal of good. What does it say when she does not?" Twilight said as she stopped swirling the cup. "I would still meet with her, of course."

It took Applejack a few seconds to gather her wits. After all, being tossed out of a castle at high speeds was something a pony couldn't get used to, even if it had happened a few times in the past day or so. Her eyes had heavy, darkened sags underneath and her mane was a mess of tangles and nervous strands that poked out at the best of time. She got the help she needed to pull herself up and off the ground, dusting herself off as her hat was returned to her. The manner in which it was returned was strange, but strange was a word she tossed around a lot lately. Little else could faze her now. "Thank ya kindly," she said, wearied as her eyes looked down. "Sorry 'bout, uhh, that introduction. Not very properlike, was it?" She asked with a tired smile before losing it as she looked back through the doors. "Ah'm Applejack, Ah guess you could say Ah know tha Princess. Nice ta meet ya, ma'am. I'd say Ah'm here ta help, but Ah don't reckon Ah'm helpin' Twi much out here anywho," she said with a sigh. "Best if we do a...what would Rares call it. Walk and talk?" Applejack asked as she started trotting back inside. There was something very, very wrong. Paintings floated in bubbles, their contents changing by the moment as if they were alive. Guards were caught in time loops. Cutlery ran around as if they were chickens with their heads cut off. Chickens with their heads cut off were guards. The ground underneath changed, aging and de-aging rapidly. Waves of living sound echoed to and fro. And through it all, Applejack looked less worried and more tired. "Ah don't know what tha hay ta call it, but Twi is sick. Or maybe she is, we don't know. She don't know much either, ta be honest. Her magic is going haywire. So is her mood. Ah can't quite make heads an' tails of it, but Ah can tell you that it don't seem to be getting better. Ah don't even know half of what she is talkin' about and tha half Ah do understand Ah don't get, get it?" She asked with no small hint of annoyance. The ground was now water. She forded it with a large table and some spears. "She called us a few days ago but...uhh, maybe just a few days ago, Ah can't quite say...but beyond making sure she isn't going of tha deep end or nothin' nutty like that, Ah don't think we're doin' much," she said as the makeshift boat started to bump up against a door. Applejack slowed the impact and then used it to push open the doors, jumping out before the table sunk. "Rarity, is she okay?" Applejack asked as loudly as she could. It was hard to see through the jungle, but such was it. "Yes! Well- yes?" Came the faint response. Applejack started stepping through the jungle, ignoring a litter of rabbits that looked like Rainbow Dash. "Well that's goo-" she began before she was picked up in a purple magical glow and ripped through the jungle, which parted way to the back of the 'throne' room. "Applejack! I'm so sorry, I didn't think my sneeze would-" A panicked Twilight blathered, her voice cracked and broken and nearly unhinged. "Ya only blew me apart for a few seconds. So that's better," Applejack replied before she was dropped at the throne steps. "Oh! Sorry! I can't- wait, my chef is here!" Twilight said as her eyes locked onto Yanhua. Her eye was all pupil, bigger than it had any right to be and edged by deep red lines. It would change every few seconds, all iris and no pupil, all pupil no iris, all combinations impossible or sane. Her eyelids twitched, her horn blazed a dark indigo as an energy wave of multiple purples seemed to radiated between her mane and into her coat. She was taller, bigger than before, and looked every part like a madmare. "I've been waiting for you!"

"Five fives. I'm sure she would enjoy that. Aloe doesn't relax half as often as she should. Truth be told, I was a little upset when I heard that Lotus kept on extending her vacation. I understand it was technically a work vacation, but still," Twilight revealed as she removed her hat and allowed it to rest on the chair's top. She was sure that Aloe would have a grand old time, though the more intimate intimations were kept out. She didn't need to know anything about their love life, after all. Romance and physical attractions were always best shared with only the intended. Unless it was a herd, but then again this wasn't a herd. "Albedo..." Twilight started to think about Albedo, and understood why Rose may have concerns. However, it was not as deeply unexpected as she might have thought. All creatures had differing behaviors when they were young. Most of it came down to what was required for their survival. Pony young, indeed most young, required direct aid in their nutrition. They needed food, they needed water, they needed help taking care of themselves. As such, there were a number of behaviors. Crying for attention and to indicate displeasure or pain. Giggling to indicate happiness or social acceptance. Mimicking of behaviors in order to fit in. Before the consciousness came into play, the subconscious of a creature laid the groundwork. For a changeling, even a unique one like Albedo, things were different. Albedo did not require direct food and water, and her inbuilt changeling senses required a keen sense of observation to be able to take on the forms of others. Culturally, it was why there was mistrust between changelings in the past. They were always trying to see into others and they knew it, so they built up walls to protect themselves. "I wouldn't be too worried, at the moment. She is a unique being who will have unique traits and interactions. You shouldn't worry about that just yet. If the behavior continues once real socialization occurs, then we can help her along."

"A week?" Twilight smiled quizzically, searching and failing to find the proper tone. "Rose, I have no doubt Rarity could run this place for a week. You could probably last a lot longer. Not that I would take that bet," she shrugged. "Not because I fear I would lose. I don't think I would lose. But I don't like to bet with the lives and well-beings of other creatures, even if the lives aren't being...well-beinged," she said as she looked around. After a moment, she looked back. "They may not be the best types of creature, Rose, but they aren't pawns in a game. The only game being played-" she tapped her cup magically, "-is waiting for me to finally win one. Speaking of...three fours," Twilight said as she leaned back. Twilight had to suppress a small amount of sadness. She needed to get Rose off this subject. What had started as a fun day between friends was venturing into territory she knew was not best for Rose to wallow in. She had come and was coming a long way and Twilight didn't want to see her start to fall back. Luckily, she was a creature of love greater than ambition and she knew what would really bring out the best in Rose. Or what Twilight thought was her best. "So, what are you going to be doing for Aloe's birthday? That is coming up soon. And what about Albedo's development- I haven't seen her for a while. How is Albedo coming along? Her development, I mean?"

Word coming out of the capital had been unusual if not alarming for several weeks. The usually punctual daily royal court releases that had become a mainstay of Twilight's rule had slowed. The previously well organized and timely responses to the prodding of the the various provincial officials- as well as her consistent, gentle meddling in their affairs- also slowed. Appearances in public slowed. Not enough to cause concern for most ponies, however. The nation adored Twilight but she was different from Celestia. The Princess of the Sun was photogenic and made herself available to the public. For centuries she had become so ingrained into society that imagining a nation without her was rough. Twilight? They loved her, but she wasn't a daily presence. So while court watchers raised their eyebrows at the events transpiring, or not transpiring, from Canterlot Castle, they did so with a belief that there was likely nothing much to be concerned with. And maybe they were right. Twilight couldn't tell, and neither could anypony she had called in to help her. There were doctors, the very best and those sworn to secrecy. She had consulted the whole library available to her to no avail. Answers eluded her as readily as reason. In time, she sought more help. Help from those that were closer to her, better to her. She could only hope they could help. After all, what were friends for if not helping the ruler of a nation contend with an unknowable issue that was slowly driving her mad? As Yanhua would find out right after she knocked, apparently the friends were best used for flying out of doors rather quickly. Too quickly, indeed. Applejack came flying out from inside, breaching the doors and crashing into Yanhua, sending the pair tumbling until they smacked into a pillar outside. "Arrrghugh....anypony get a number on that sledghammr'?"

Twilight no longer had anything to drink. She motioned over to the bar, and the bartender started working on it. "Black Ice was a powerful Kastroti Unicorn Warmage several centuries ago. was the last Unicorn to control the city of Kastrot, and such was his power that he forced Acroneighos to retreat behind its walls for decades, and cowed the Earth Ponies of Hippostion near utterly. He was the only leader of armies to score victories against the Aquillans, Saddle Arabians, Acroneighsians, Equestrians, Caribou, and Hippostions. A dozen kelpie kingdoms were put under his thrall. His power in this hemisphere was vast, untouched. He was the most powerful unicorn since King Sombra, and a much shrewder military leader. He conquered this island and used it as a slave trading hub. Whole settlements from Zebrica, Saddle Arabian military leaders, bright young unicorns from Equestria, griffons with the strongest wings- bought, sold, traded. Celestia herself was wounded by him and had to retreat from public view due to her own shame- the Long Winter. The first sign of her diminished power," Twilight stated matter of factly. Indeed, it was rarely discussed in Equestrian history, let alone the history of other nations. That had everything to do with the most intensely poor historiography that was commonplace in Equestria. One of Twilight's real passions was solving this for future generation. "He was paranoid. He survived routine assassination attempts, constantly changed his security measures, consulted with arcane and necromantic sources- yet in the end, he made a fatal error. There is no order in Puerto Aguilla. He died one day, and no one knows how. Was he poisoned? Attacked? Cursed? Hexed? Hundreds of theories have been proposed. In the end, it didn't matter. He wasn't just killed, his very essence was snuffed out. Within a few years his influence had faded, and the untold sufferings that lay at his feet faded from memory," she ended with a trailing of her hooves. The bartender approached and Twilight opened a hole in the shield for him. Drinks delivered, bits given, and he left. "I have my own theories, of course. There is a belief that while locked up, Discord experienced everything. While unable to see or feel in that state in the traditional sense, he could still influence. Perhaps he was so furious at Blace Ice's attempts to bring order to chaos to an island that through its history has been devoted to him that he struck Black Ice down. Areas strong in chaotic energy such as this land could have allowed it. He has never denied it when I've asked. of course, that could be him playing a trick," she ended with a joyless laugh as she gathered her dice up and started shaking the cup. "It is unknown how he died. What is known is that this island is a graveyard of ambitions and a testament to hubris. Maybe it is important that it is an object lesson in humility for the proud and powerful." She slammed her cup down. "Ready?"

Rara was beyond excited by how well the first song went. It wasn't a hard song by any stretch and allowed both of them to get a good workout going vocally and with their instrumentation. She had chosen it for that very purpose, easing Applejack into it. "Great work, AJ. We will make a stage mare out of you yet," Rara said with a wink as she got up from her piano and looked out at the stagehoofs, including Azure. The younger mare looked up and nodded. "Good down here boss. Maybe Apples can work on her eye level for the audience but that'll come with time. Want anything up there?" Azure asked. Rara stretched her legs out in front of Applejack. She didn't know why. Well she did. "We should be good. I think we'll hit track 7 now. Should be a lot of fun! And Apple Chord can show off her fiddling skills," she said with a wink as she made room for the other musicians. Unlike the first song which could easily be done with just them, you needed some instrumentation backup on this one. It was also far more lively than the first song! "Did you have fun, Apples? Your voice was on point. Very smooth transitions. i think we both work well together, though I could do more work on hitting the notes a little better. Country is just different enough to throw my vocal rhythm off. Still, I think by the time we nail Discord Went Down to Ponyville, I'll have it all set!" Rara continued, her nervousness billowing and mingling with multiple flavors of excitement. And like a taste of many flavors, each sensation brought with it a cavalcade of emotions that she kept well-bottled and seasoned with professionalism. Still, it was hard. Even in the best of times there was that kernel of fear that had existed in her for so much of her career, telling her that she was lesser than the sum of the production's parts. The mare besides her had showed her that this was untrue, but only slowly did the concerns of a lifetime wither and die on a shorn vine.

Sunny imagined her parents were well aware of the unification event. How could they not be? If anything she imagined they would be curious about the return of their magic and the development of their neighbors. From there, it would take not much more than a few passing rumors to filter and mingle about for them to discover the truth of the event. "I'm sure they know about it. Hard not to, right?" She said, motioning towards her friend's glowing horn. "Is it that easy for a unicorn to move out of home? Can you just walk away from home one day and carve a home out of a tree with your horn?" She asked playfully, wondering what else her horn could do. "Does it hurt when you use it to cut down trees? Do unicorns ever use it to fight one another?" She asked with imagined awe. After all, gladiator fights with horns were a popular subject of some of the trashy cinema that had once been made about the other species. She knew more had wrapped production and were now being shelved, though she bet some low-rent distributor would see to it that they made something from it. As she wondered about the sleazy entertainment industry in her own city, she did have a moment of appreciation for the barter economy run in Bridlewood. It would certainly make everything a little easier to understand. She wasn't sure why bits were worth more or less depending on factors beyond her control. Did bartering economies even have inflation? And if so, what would it take the form of? "Interesting. I mean, I guess it works. Just seems so strange to me. Not bad strange, just strange. Like ketchup on a hot-wrap," she said as she took another big bite of her pizza. "Enjoying it?"

Yeah, that made sense. Gallus knew he got his tail kicked and whipped but he knew for a fact it could have been a lot worse if Sky Beak was everything that he said he was. Which Gallus had no real reason to doubt, mind you. He still partially blamed Silverstream for putting him in that position, but any thought that toed that line was shortly rebuffed. He had every opportunity to withdraw but his ego hadn't allowed him. He would have to get better at this whole ego thing if he wanted to be a quarter of the griffon he wanted to be. Until then, he could only hope to not run into a strong-winged dude like Sky Beak again. Thankfully he didn't have to relearn how a city's architecture worked like he had when he first moved to Ponyville. Constantly flying at windows was disconcerting for the ponyfolk, it seemed. Griffons liked to build their buildings vertically, with the higher floors being of greater import and the lower floors being trashier. Griffonstone was so broken that there wasn't much that was beyond a few stories, but other Griffon cities did a good job of reminding him just how awful his home city was. As they made their way inside and the father took a seat, he waited for Silverstream to find hers. "Can't say that it shocks me. Everything about Griffonstone sucks. Though I do know that we don't like to share, so I doubt we exported anything good. Why do that when you can hoard the good stuff for yourself?" he asked, trying to keep most of the bitterness off his tongue. He finally took his seat. "What do you normally get here? Besides salmon juice, I mean?" Gallus asked Silverstream as he tried to make himself look as casually comfortable as he could, and stressing out the whole time about it.