A Ray of Sunlight - Rays of Sunlight

Darkness: *disbelief and fear* What!? But, how!? Where is this strength coming from?!

Sunlight: I said, go away! You won't hurt my friends, or my brother, or even the bullies! I won't let you!

Darkness: *trying to think* No! You-you can't stop me!

Sunlight: *surrounding light intensifies* I. said. GO. AWAY! *light expands violently outwards*

Darkness: *body is torn apart by the light* AAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHHHHHhhhhhhh!

Sunlight: *watches the shreds fade away* And stay out!

. . . .

Sunlight: N-now what do I do?

*world fades to white*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

????:. . . .get away from. . . .

Huh?

????:. . . .she's hurt. . . .

Forest?

????:. . . . .a monster!

Ugh, what happened?

????: No. . . . . not!

I can't feel my legs. Or my face.

????: Did you not see. . . .happened?!

Why does my head hurt so much?

Sunlight: *regaining consciousness* Uhhhh, huh? *sees what's going on* HUH!?

Forest: That wasn't her! It was that, thing!

Glimmering: Yeah and that thing is her!

Forest: No its not!

Glimmering: Yes it is! She's a monster and she almost hurt everypony here!

Forest: That wasn't her!

Glimmering: *starts walking towards them* She's a danger to everypony here Forest! We have to get her before she gets us!

Forest: *stands defensively* NO! You can't! I-I won't let you!

Glimmering: Look around Forest! Look at what she did! That's not your sister!

Forest: *starts tearing up* YES SHE IS! *looks to the other foals* Come on guys! You saw what I saw too! She beat that thing! It's her! *other foals stay put or back away*

Forest: *desperate* Doc! You know it's her! It's Sunlight! Come on! Please!

Doc: *fearfully backs away*

Glimmering: Forest, everypony here can see it. That's not your sister! It's a monster!

Forest: NO SHE'S NOT!! SHE'S NOT A MONSTER!! SHE CAN'T BE!!!

Sunlight: *weakly calls out* F-forest?

Forest: *whips head around with desperate hope* Sis!? Oh my gosh you're okay! *turns and hugs her*

Sunlight: *winces a bit* Owwy, yeah, I'm good.

Forest: W-wait, oh no, you're all cut and hurt!

Sunlight: Y-yeah, it hurts, but that big meanie was worse.

Forest: *tearing up* I knew it! I knew you beat that monster! I knew it wasn't you!

Glimmering: *closer now* Forest that thing isn't Sunlight!

Forest: *jumps around to face her* Yes she is! She just said so herself! Look at her! Its her, not that thing!

Glimmering: It's lying to you! It's going to hurt you! Get away from it!

Forest: *backs up more* NO! I WON'T! It's Sunlight and I won't let you hurt her!

Glimmering: *approaches offensively* Then, I'm gonna have to make you move!

????: *suddenly an incredible light shines brightly, blinding everypony* ENOUGH!!

Forest, Sunlight, Glimmering, foals: *all cover their eyes until the light fades* AHH!

All: *collectively gasp* PRINCESS CELESTIA!!

Celestia: *stern royal canterlot voice* YOU SHALL BOTH CEASE THIS POINTLESS CONFLICT IMMEDIATELY!!

Forest: *cowers but stays by Sunlight*

Glimmering: *cowers and backs up*

Celestia: *lands between the two, stern voice* You should not fight amongst yourselves young ones, it is not safe nor proper to engage in such things.

Glimmering: *realizes* But, Princess! *points to Sunlight* She's a monster! She tried to hurt all of us!

Forest: *calls out* No she's not!

Celestia: *glances at Forest, then to Glimmering, neutral* What do you mean that she is a monster?

Glimmering: She tried to hurt all of us! *motions to all the damage* She shot a bunch of lasers at us all and almost hurt Glizty and Doc and Margy! And she was chasing after us yelling about hurting us in a creepy voice! *points to Forest* Even he almost got hurt and he's her own brother!

Celestia: *turns to Forest* Is this true?

Forest: *falters* No-I-I mean, yes. That, that did happen. But it wasn't Sunlight! It was that, thing! *backs up and stands defensively over Sunlight*

Celestia: *curious* What 'thing'?

Forest: It, it was the actual monster! It, it changed Sunlight, it made her coat and hair go dark! It didn't talk like her, and it didn't act like her! It wasn't her!

Celestia: *frowns and looks at Sunlight*

Forest: *stammers on* B-but she beat the monster! She won! It's gone!

Celestia: Oh? How so?

Forest: She, it, was chasing everypony, but then it stopped. It sounded like it was arguing to itself. Then there was a blinding light from it and a horrible scream. When the light faded Sunlight was back. She beat it! It's gone!

Celestia: Hmm. *approaches Forest and Sunlight*

Forest: *tenses up and flares wings*

Celestia: *gentle calming tone* Fear not little one. I do not have any wish to harm you nor your sister. *kneels down to Sunlight* Are you alright little one?

Sunlight: *hesitant* I, y-yes. But my body and my head hurt.

Celestia: *looks over Sunlight* Yes, I can see you've been through quite a lot. *notices the broken horn nearby and levitates it up* Quite a lot indeed.

Sunlight: P-princess?

Celestia: Yes, little one?

Sunlight: Am-am I a monster?

Celestia: *thinks for a second* I believe. . . .

*Royals suddenly guards fly in from everywhere, poised and battle ready*

Guard: *lands by Celestia* Your Majesty! *salutes* What's the situation?

Celestia: Stand down captain. The situation has already been resolved for us. *glances at Sunlight* But keep your ponies here for now. And prepare a chariot, I will be returning to Canterlot with guests.

Guard: *glances towards Sunlight* Yes, your Highness. *turns and motions to the other guards*

*ponies start gathering around the school, asking questions and the teacher comes forward to Celestia and converses with her*

Forest: *finally relaxes, sighs* Sis? Are you ok?

Sunlight: *looks at her hooves* . . . . N-no. *tears up* Forest, I'm a monster.

Forest: No you're not! You beat the real monster! That wasn't you!

Sunlight: But, it came from me! That makes me the monster too! Glimmering said so herself!

Forest: No it doesn't! *hugs her* It wasn't you! I know it wasn't!

Sunlight: How? It-it had my body! It was me!

Forest: No it wasn't! You're kind, and nice, and happy, and always helping to everypony else! That thing wasn't like any of those! It was mean and scary, it didn't even look like you!

Sunlight: *hopeful* R-really?

Forest: *hugs again* Really. That wasn't you Sis. You're not a monster.

Sunlight: *hugs back* Thanks Forest.

Celestia: *walks back over to the two* Okay little ones, let's get you cleaned up and moving. We have a lot to talk about.

Forest: Huh? Where are we going?

Celestia: *motions the two with her to the chariot* We are going to Canterlot. *remembers* I will also need to bring your parents along. They will need to hear this, and I have much to tell them.

Forest, Sunlight: *stop walking and look down sadly*

Celestia: *stops and turns to them* Little ones?

Forest: W-we don't have any, any parents.

Sunlight: M-mom, a-and Dad, they're gone.

Celestia: *turns back to them both* I am so sorry little ones.

. . . .

Celestia: *resolved* But this only compounds the issue, we need to get to Canterlot. *steps onto chariot*

Forest: *gets on the chariot with Sunlight, gets an idea* Princess? C-could you, maybe, do you know what happened to Mom and Dad?

Sunlight: *aghast* Forest! Y-you can't ask the Princess that!

Forest: Why not? Nopony else will tell us what happened to them! And Mom and Dad always said the Princess knows everything! *to Celestia* Please? Can you tell us?

Celestia: *motions to the guards and the chariot takes off* I am sorry children, but I have never met your parents before, I do not know what happened to them. But I may be able to find out.

Forest: Please, can you? Everypony else just says that the train took them away, but that doesn't make any sense. They always ride the train, how could it take them away?

Celestia: *tenses* . . . . .

Sunlight: P-princess?

Celestia: *dread sigh* It appears, little ones, that I do know what happened to your mother and father.

Forest, Sunlight: *hopeful* Really?!

Celestia:*dread* Yes, and it is truly sad, for it should never have happened. Your parents' train was traveling through a blizzard which should not have been there. It froze the tracks and the train was violently derailed, taking the lives of your parents and many other ponies with it.

Forest: *sad* It, derailed?

Sunlight: *sad* A blizzard?

Celestia: Yes, and I believe it may also be the cause of the creature that attacked you today.

Sunlight: *worried* It was? But, how? What does Mom and Dad have to do with that, thing?

Celestia: I have my suspicions, but I'll need you to tell me exactly what happened to you Sunlight, when that creature took over your body.

Sunlight: O-ok. Well, it started when we got to school this morning. . . .

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*the chariot arrives at Canterlot castle as Sunlight finishes recounting what happened*

Celestia: *deep in thought* Hmm, its just as I suspected. Come little ones, there is something I need to show you. *starts walking towards archives*

Forest: What does that mean Princess? What was that thing?

Celestia: The creature that took over Sunlight was a Shadow Demon. They are a rare occurrence among ponies, but they have shown up a number of times in the past, and even today. They are dark entities that exist in a pony's mind at birth, but remain inactive until a strong emotional surge feeds and awakens them. I believe that when you realized your parents were truly gone Sunlight, your grief awakened the shadow demon inside you.

Sunlight: *fearful* So, it-it was my fault then. I let it out and I. . .

Celestia: No little one. You are not at fault for what that creature did. Shadow Demons seek out and feed on the specific emotions that awakened them. For you, it was your grief and sadness over your parents. The creature took your moment of weakness to possess your body and tried to bring forth that emotion from others so that it could feed off of them.

Forest: But, she stopped it, right?

Celestia: Yes, and that is possibly the most perplexing thing. Few, if any at all, have ever been able to defeat a shadow demon on their own, much less a distraught filly. That you defeated that creature on your own, it means you have great inner strength Sunlight.

Sunlight: But, I'm not strong, I, I can't even push a plow.

Celestia: Not physical strength, but mental. Your mind is very strong little one, your care for everypony makes it so strong and that is what allowed you to defeat your shadow demon.

Sunlight: Really? So, I'm not really a monster?

Celestia: No my little pony, you are not. But even though you can defeat the creature in your mind, you may not always be able to defend yourself physically from it. *arrive at the archives* Fortunately we have ways of helping you with that. *opens the archives*

Forest, Sunlight: WHOA! *both gaze in amazement at the wide array of artifacts within*

Celestia: *levitates over a decorated box* This, should keep you safe from the creature's possession.

Sunlight: Oh my gosh its so pretty!

Forest: Wow! That's so cool!

Sunlight: *looks up at celestia* Do I really get to have this?

Celestia: *nods* Yes little one, its yours. Its protected many ponies over the centuries, and now it will help protect you.

Sunlight: Oh wow! *picks up the bracelet* Uh, Princess? I think its too big for me.

Celestia: *chuckles* Do not worry, it is enchanted to fit whomever is wearing it, simply put it on and see.

Sunlight: Ok. *sets it on the ground and puts her hoof in it, the band glows and shrinks enough to fit her hoof* OH MY GOSH! That's so cool!

Forest: *amazed* Wow!

Sunlight: *jumps around happily, trying out the bracelet* Yay!

Forest: *amazed* Its not moving at all!

Sunlight: *stops and thinks* Wait, uh, Princess? How do I get it off?

Celestia: It would not be a good idea to remove it little one, as it would create a chance the creature could use against you to cause harm.

Sunlight: *sad* Oh.

Celestia: But, removing it usually takes a strong magic user, as the bracelet is only intended to be removed by the wearer's own magic. But considering you were able to defeat the creature on your own, you should also be able to remove the bracelet in the same way with your natural magic.

Forest: *excited* Oh wow! Go on Sis! Try it!

Sunlight: Umm, ok. *lifts hoof up and focuses* HMMM, Get, OFF!

. . . . .

Forest: Aww, it didn. . .

*the bracelet launches off of Sunlight's hoof, straight into the floor, then ricocheting off of walls and ceiling, embedding itself in a box across the room*

Celestia: *surprised* Well then. That was, unexpected.

Forest: *amazed* Oh my gosh! Sis that was so cool! *hugs her*

Sunlight: *stunned* It, it was?

Forest: Yeah it was! Now I see how you easily beat that big bad shadow meanie!

Celestia: *retrieves the bracelet, which remains unscathed* Well, it's a good thing we made them durable. *returns it to Sunlight who puts it back on* It's clear now that you have some impressive inner strength little one. It will aid you when the creature returns.

Sunlight: *stops fearful* Wait, you mean, its gonna come back?

Celestia: Unfortunately, yes.

Forest: But, she beat it didn't she?

Celestia: She did. But she did not destroy it. The creature will regain it's power, and in time it will try again. But you must be ready for when it does.

Sunlight: But, how can I be ready?

Celestia: The creature was born of your grief, and so that is what it will feed on and gain strength from. You must deny it that power, as much as you can. Also, you defeated it before because it was trying to harm those you care about. As long as you have ponies who care about you and you in turn care for them, the creature shall have no power over you.

Forest: *hesitant* Um, Princess?

Celestia: Yes little one?

Forest: H-how can I help? I want to help keep her safe from that thing, in any way I can. *Sunlight hugs him*

Celestia: *smiles* The greatest thing you can do for your sister, is to be there for her. Just your love and support alone can give her the strength she needs to defeat the creature.

Forest: *determined* Then that's what I'll do!

Sunlight: Silly brother, that's what you always do!

Celestia: *smiles satisfied* Now children, I must return you two back home. And speaking of which, who is caring for you now?

Sunlight: Our neighbor, Missus Wool. She's taking care of us until we can care for our house on our own.

Celestia: Then that is where I will take you now. Come, I still have number of ponies that I must speak with before the day is over.

Forest: *follows after Celestia* See Sis. I told you, you're not a monster.

Sunlight: *gazes at the hoof bracelet* Yeah, yeah, you're right. *follows*

I'm scared. Princess Celestia said that she told everypony at school that I wasn't a monster. But I'm still scared other ponies will see it.

That shadow thing, its still in me, even if it's not really me. I don't want to let it hurt anypony, and even though the Princess said my new bracelet would help keep it locked up, I'm still scared of it. I'm scared other ponies will still see it.

I have to go to a new school now, but Forest can't come with me. Mrs. Wooly doesn't have enough bits to send us both there, so he has to stay with everypony else, and I have to go to this new school, alone.

I'm scared of that too. What if that thing gets out again? What if everypony knows it's in me? What if they all hate me for it? What if they're scared of me?

I'm really scared right now.

I wish Mom and Dad were here. They always knew how to make things better. They would know what to do. I miss them.

We asked the Princess about what happened to them. But what she said doesn't make sense. She said that a blizzard caused their train to fall off the train tracks, but that doesn't sound right. Our teacher always said that pegasi control the weather, and they always stop really bad and dangerous storms. So, why didn't they stop this one? I wanna find out why that happened, why that storm was there. I wanna know why Mom and Dad are gone.

Forest doesn't talk too much anymore. He's been going to the hill everyday now to watch the sunset. It's what Mom always did with us during the summer. We'd sit and watch the sunsets together. And sometimes, she'd even paint the sunset, and put it up in the house. That way we'd always be able to see it, even at night.

I've seen Forest taking Mom's paints and brushes and stuff up to the hill, he's been trying to paint the sunsets like she did, but I've never seen any paintings from him. He goes up there with a canvas, but it's always blank when he comes back. A lot of times he's not back until after it's really dark. So I have to go out and get him, so he won't get lost.

Today I'm gonna see if we can go back before it gets dark. I know he doesn't like to leave while the sun's setting but there's no moon out tonight and it'll be really hard to see. I just hope he'll stop taking Mom's painting stuff up here. Its not fun to carry all that back to the house in the dark.

Well, there he is, standing and painting on the canvas like al-. . . . . .Wait! He's painting! He's actually painting! On the canvas!

And, what's that on his flank? Paint? No, that's not paint!

Sunlight: *Gasps at Forest* F-Forest! Y-you got your Cutie Mark!

Forest: *startled* Huh! What? Sis? *looks at flank* Wha? I-I got my cutie mark!?

Sunlight: *runs over and hugs Forest* Yeah, you did! How did you not notice?

Forest: *tired* I-I don't know. I just saw the sunset, and I knew this time, I would paint it. I started painting and I haven't stopped until you showed up.

Sunlight: *looks at the canvas* WOAH! Forest, thats amazing! It looks just like how Mom paints them!

Forest: It, it is? *stares at the painting*

Sunlight: Yeah! She's gonna love this so much when she sees it and . . . . .

. . . . .

Forest: *tears up* . . . . . I miss Mom and Dad.

Sunlight: *hugs Forest* I do too. But I know they would've loved this painting so much! And they would've been so happy that you got your Cutie mark!

Forest: *sobs* R-really?

Sunlight: Really! They'd be so proud of you Forest! So don't be sad! They wouldn't want you to be crying right after you got your cutie mark!

Forest: *wipes away tears* O-ok Sis.

Sunlight: That's the spirit! Now come on! Let's put this up in the house somewhere!

Forest: *picks up painting* Ok!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*several days later*

Forest is at school now, but I don't start going to the new one until tomorrow. I'll bet Forest is showing off his cutie mark to all our friends right now. . . I hope they're still his friends.

I keep thinking about what will happen to our home. Mom and Dad were the only ones who knew how to farm it. They were only just starting to show me how to pull a plow. Mrs. Wooly said everything was fine, that the farm belongs to me and Forest now, which is good, but I don't know how to farm and Forest definitely won't know how. He's really good with art. He's been making a lot of paintings now, and so many of them look like Mom made them. I have a feeling he's gonna be able to do big things with that.

I'm still scared about this new school. I don't know anypony there, but hopefully nopony knows who I am too. Hopefully nopony knows about that shadow thing. Hopefully that shadow thing won't get out again.

Even though I'm scared I still wanna go. I wanna find out what happened to Mom and Dad. I keep asking Mrs. Wooly about what happened to them but she doesn't know. But school must know, and if it doesn't, then it can show me how to find out. And I will find out. I have to! I have to know why Mom and Dad were taken away!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*the next day at school*

Ok! Ok, ok. Everything's going ok right now! Nopony's noticed me. If I just stay near the windows, nopony notices me. Everything's ok! I just gotta stay. . .

Oh no, nonononononono. Somepony sees me! No! How can they see me? I'm near the windows! No! Why are more ponies looking at me now?

I need to get away from everypony before they see that thing! I can't let them see it! I can't let them know!

????: Hello! You there.

OH NO! They're in front of me now! I can't go anywhere else!

????: *panicked* Ah! Roman!? What are you doing?!

????: *patient* Calm down Frost, I'm just introducing myself.

Maybe I can sneak away while they're distracted.

Roman: *cheerful* So, hi! I'm Roman Withers. What's your name?

Sunlight: *freezes* Uhhhhhhhhhhhhh.......hi!

Roman: *happy patient* Hi again. So what's your name?

Sunlight: *panicked* Oh! Uh, my-my name? Uhhhh. . . .

Frost: *nervous* Come on Roman, she doesn't want to talk to us, how's about we go and, do something else?

Roman: Frost that wouldn't be polite to just walk off. *to Sunlight* I guess you're the new filly right?

Sunlight: NO! I mean, yes! I mean, I uhh, yeah?

Roman: Hey it's ok if you're scared. I know I would be if it was my first day at a new school.

Sunlight: W-well, y-yeah, I am scared.

Roman: Well, can I be your friend? That might make you less scared.

Sunlight: You, really wanna be my friend? Even though I'm new?

Roman: Well yeah. I know I'd want some friends if I was in a new school and all.

Sunlight: *hopefully amazed* Wow. Thanks! *smiles* Oh, I'm Sunlight. Sunlight Days.

Roman: I'm Roman. And this pony here is Frost.

Frost: *cowering* Roman!

Roman: He's just a little shy.

Sunlight: Oh that's ok. I have a little brother and he's shy too.

Roman: See Frost, she knows how you feel. You don't need to be afraid of her.

Frost: *hesitant* O-ok. . . U-umm hi, I-I'm F-Frost.

Sunlight: *cheerful* Hi Frost! I'm Sunlight.

Roman: See Frost, that wasn't so bad now was it?

Frost: Y-yeah, I guess it wasn't.

*RRRIIIIIIINNNNGGGG*

Roman: Oh! We gotta get to class! Come on Sunlight, you can sit with us.

Sunlight: Thanks guys!

Roman: It's no trouble, that's what friends are for after all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*Later after Class*

Sunlight: So you guys don't have your cutie marks either.

Roman: *carefree* Nope!

Frost: N-no.

Sunlight: But, you guys don't seem too worried about them.

Roman: Well my Mom always said my cutie mark will come when its ready. So I guess, there's not really any point in worrying about it.

Frost: Y-yeah, what he said.

Sunlight: Hmm, yeah, but still. You guys have never even tried to get them?

Roman: Eh, we tried one time to get them but that didn't work out too well.

Sunlight: Hmm, well, what do you guys like to do?

Roman: Play games with other ponies.

Frost: Hide in a corner.

Sunlight: No, I mean, what's something you've always wanted to do. Like, something really, really big!

Roman: *deep thought* Hmmm.....

Frost: Uh, I-I dunno.

Sunlight: Come on Frost! There's gotta be something you've always wanted to do.

Frost: W-well, I've kinda. . .

Roman: *idea* There actually is one thing I've always wanted to try. . . .

Frost: Oh yeah? Go on Roman tell us!

Sunlight: *gives Frost a look* Hrm.

Roman: Well, I've really wanted to help ponies make the right decisions. All the time I see the other foals doing things that I just know aren't right. And I wanna tell them some better ways they could do things. But I know no pony would listen to me.

Sunlight: What do you mean? You're great! Ponies would listen to you.

Roman: Why would they though? I'm just some random pony.

Sunlight: No you're not, everypony in school knows who you are. And your voice is really cool too! It got my attention when I was so scared of everypony else in school.

Roman: My voice isn't that great.

Sunlight: Yes it is! I just know everypony would listen to you!

Roman: But, what would I even do? I can't just go out and tell ponies what to do.

Sunlight: Hmm, *idea, gasp* You could run for student pony president!

Roman: Huh? Well, I guess I never thought of that.

Sunlight: *excited face*

Roman: Yeah, yeah that sounds really good! Sunlight that's a great idea!

Sunlight: *triumphant* Yes! And we'll help you too!

Frost: *nervous* Wait, we will?

Sunlight: Yes! We will!

Roman: *worried* Eh, but what if I don't win?

Sunlight: Then we try something else you'd like to do! There's no harm in trying. And we can only learn from it!

Roman: Yeah, yeah! To tell you the truth this is really exciting!

Sunlight: That's the spirit! So, what do we do first?

Roman: Well, I have a few ideas of where to start. Come on, follow me!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*many days later, right before elections*

Roman: *nervous sweats, shaking* Oh gosh, oh gosh!

Sunlight: *calming* Calm down Roman, we've practiced this a dozen times.

Roman: Y-Yeah, but that was with you two! This is in front of the whole school!

Sunlight: Yes, but we've prepped for this, you know everything you're gonna say by heart.

Roman: But, what if I forget something! What if I slip and fall! What if everyone laughs at me!

Sunlight: Roman! Do you breathing exercise like we practiced!

Roman: *Deep constipated horse breath in* GHHHUUUUUUUHHHHHHH!!!!!. . . . . . .*Loud constipated horse breath out* GGAAAWWWWWWW!!!!

Sunlight: Feel better?

Roman: Yes, thanks. I'm still nervous though.

Sunlight: But you still wanna do this, right?

Roman: Of course! This is the best way to makes things better!

Sunlight: Then just keep thinking that and you'll do great! We'll be right here the whole time!

Frost: *cowering behind a box* W-we will?

Sunlight: *pulls Frost out from the box* Yes, we will!

Frost: Oh. . . .yay.

Roman: *breaths deep* Ok! Ok, here we go!

Sunlight: You got this Roman!

Roman: *steps out onto the stage*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*a couple hours later*

Roman: *pacing back and forth*

Sunlight: Calm down Roman, you were great out there! Everypony loved your speech!

Roman: Yeah, but they cheered for all the other candidates too!

Sunlight: Yeah, but it wasn't as loud as the cheering for you.

Frost: *quiet* It was a really good speech. It didn't even sound like a speech too.

Sunlight: See Roman, Frost knows it was a good speech, every pony out there knows it was a good speech too.

Roman: But, what if I didn't win?

Sunlight: Then we try something else, but I have a feeling we won't need to.

Roman: How can you be so sure Sunlight?

Sunlight: Because they're about to announce the winner now.

Roman: *spins around* What!

Announcer: AND YOUR NEW STUDENT PONY PRESIDENT IS. . . . ROMAN WITHERS!

*really loud cheering*

Sunlight: *ecstatic hugs* Roman! You won!

Roman: *amazed* I, I won? I won!

Sunlight: You see Roman! You can do this!

Roman: Y-you're right Sunlight! Oh my gosh you're right! *starts glowing* I-I can make things better now! I can help everypony now! I can make a difference! *shine intensifies*

*glow fades*

Sunlight, Frost: *gasp* Roman! You got your cutie mark!

Roman: *stunned and amazed* . . . . .

Sunlight: Oh my gosh its so amazing!

Frost: WOOOW!

Roman: I-I got my cutie mark! I GOT MY CUTIE MARK!

Sunlight: Do you see now Roman! You're meant to do this!

Roman: You were right Sunlight Oh my gosh! *hugs her* I got my cutie mark, and its all thanks to you.

Sunlight: Hey, its what friends do.

Roman: No its not just that, you got me to try this! I never would have done this on my own, but you convinced me to do this! You're the reason I won, you're the reason I got my Cutie Mark!

Sunlight: Heh, come on, you know Frost helped just as much as me.

Frost: Huh? I, I did?

Sunlight: Yes silly, you've been helping with everything, that makes your help just as important.

Frost: *blushes* Wow, t-thanks.

Sunlight: Oh! Roman! You need to get out there! They're waiting for you!

Roman: *realizes* Oh! Yeah! *runs back out on stage*

Frost: D-did I really help Sunlight?

Sunlight: Oh course you helped Frost. You helped with everything just as much as me or Roman did.

Frost: Oh, I, don't think I really did that much.

Sunlight: *hugs* Come here silly. You did great, Roman knows that, I know that, you should know that too.

Frost: *blushing hard* O-oh, t-t-thanks S-Sunlight.

Sunlight: No problem, now come on! Roman's coming back and its time to party!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*several days later*

Roman: *runs up to Sunlight and Frost* Hey, Sunlight!

Sunlight: Hey Roman! What's up?

Roman: I need your help!

Sunlight: Huh? But I thought you already had the whole committee thing covered.

Roman: No, no, it's not that. There's some ponies asking for some advice, and I don't know what to say to them. But I know you would know exactly what to say to them!

Sunlight: *surprised* Wait, what! I-I can't talk to them!

Roman: *starts pulling Sunlight along* Come on Sunlight! I know you can do this, you're great at helping ponies!

Sunlight: Nonono! I can't talk to them! Besides, they wouldn't even listen to me!

Roman: Yes they would! And you helped me become Student Pony President Sunlight! If you can do that, you can certainly help a few foals with some simple advice!

Sunlight: But, but, but. . .

Roman: Don't worry, I know you can do this Sunlight! *spots the foals* Look! There they are!

Sunlight: Eep!

Roman: Hey guys! Here's my good friend Sunlight I told you about. Just tell her about your problems and she can help you out.

Sunlight: Wait Roman!

Roman: Just hear them out, I know you can do it! *backs away*

Sunlight: *gulp* So, uh, I guess uh, Roman said you ponies need some help?

Roman: *moves back and stands by Frost*

Frost: Uh Roman?

Roman: Yeah?

Frost: Why didn't you help those foals? Isn't that what you've been doing?

Roman: Yeah, I could've, but I have a feeling. Sunlight needs to get out there more, she's great at motivating other ponies to do great things. She just doesn't realize it.

Frost: And, you think this'll help her with that?

Roman: Yes, or at least, I hope so.

Frost: Oh.

Sunlight: *thinking* Ok, so, have you all ever tried to do these things before?

Foals: No. Not really. Nu uh. I'm too scared.

Sunlight: Well have you all ever thought of doing these things together?

Foals: *confused* Huh?

Sunlight: Well, all the things you've told me sound like they would work amazing together! Like you could make something really cool if you all put these talents together!

Foals: I never thought of that before. Wow, that could work! B-but, I don't know these ponies. Yeah, how does this work?

Sunlight: Well, introduce yourselves now. Nothing gets ponies to know each other better than giving a nice friendly hello.

Foals: *hesitant and nervous* Hi. Hello. Hi, what's your name? H-hello.

Sunlight: *confident* See, that wasn't so hard! Now, all the things you all want to do, they all work together, like this. *explains how it'd work*

Foals: Wow, that's amazing! T-that will work?! Oh my gosh let's start now! O-okay.

Sunlight: Good, now I know you guys can do this. But, what's more important, is that you all believe you can do it. Do you guys believe you can do this?

Foals: Yes! Totally! Uh huh! Y-yeah.

Sunlight: Good, always believe you can do it, even if it seems like you can't. Cause then you will find a way through any challenge.

Foals: Wow! That's awesome! O-okay. Let's go then!

Sunlight: Good! That's the spirit! Now you better get started! And do something great!

Foals: *run off* Yeah! Let's go! Woo! Yay.

Sunlight: Good luck! I know you guys can do it! *walks back to Roman and Frost*

Roman: Sunlight that was incredible!

Frost: Yeah, you were really amazing!

Sunlight: *bashful* Eheh, it wasn't that great, they would've realized all that stuff anyway.

Roman: Sunlight, you told them about something none of them had thought of. You just made a group of strangers become friends and gave them a way to combine all their talents! They might even get their cutie marks because of you!

Sunlight: Oh, I wouldn't say that.

Roman: Well, you never know. But, in the meantime, let's go play a game.

Sunlight: Ok! Come on Frost! *grabs and drags Frost along*

Frost: O-oh, um, okay.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*a couple days later*

Roman: *happy conclusion* And that's how Celestia governs Equestria.

Frost: *mind broken* W-wow.

Sunlight: *stupefied* And you learned all this in like four days?

Roman: Eh, it wasn't that hard really. Its all actually really interesting.

Frost: My head feels like ice right now.

Sunlight: Yeah, I'm with you there Frost.

Foals: *really excited run up to Sunlight* Sunlight! Sunlight!

Sunlight: Oh, Hey guys! How are things going?

Foals: Incredible! Amazing! Its the best thing ever! It's so cool!

Sunlight: Woa woa, calm done guys. So things are going pretty well then.

Foals: Its better than ok! Its only the greatest thing ever!

Sunlight: Oh? How come?

Foals: Look! We got our Cutie Marks! *all show cutie marks*

Sunlight: *shocked* W-what! All four of you got your cutie marks!?

Foals: Yeah! Aren't they amazing! And it's all thanks to you! Thank you so much!

Sunlight: What, me? I, I didn't do anything.

Foals: Yes you did! You introduced us! You showed us how our talents could work together! And they did! We all just started practicing our stuff, and we saw how we could make them better! We all worked so well together! And then we each got our cutie marks! And its all because of you Sunlight! We have our cutie marks because of you! Thank you!

Sunlight: *stunned* I-I. . .

Roman: You see Sunlight! You are great at helping other ponies!

Frost: Y-yeah, you really are.

Sunlight: I, I actually did it. I helped ponies.

Roman: Sunlight, you've always been helping ponies. You've helped me, you've helped Frost, you've helped your brother, and now you've helped these foals get their own cutie marks.

Sunlight: I have, haven't I. I can help ponies. *starts glowing* I do help ponies! And, and I wanna keep helping ponies! *glowing intensifies* And I will keep helping ponies! *glowing maximizes*

*glow fades*

Frost, Roman, Foals: *GASP*

Sunlight: Huh? What are you guys looking at?

Frost: *amazed* Sunlight, y-you, you got your-

Roman: *ecstatic* You got your cutie mark!

Sunlight: *shocked looks at mark* What! *GASP* OHMYGOSH I GOT MY CUTIE MARK!

Foals: *surround Sunlight cheering* YAY! Oh wow Sunlight its so pretty! It's as cool as mine! Congratulations! It's a sun!

Sunlight: *happy* I, I did it! Thank you guys!

Roman: *happy* No Sunlight, thank you! You made all this happen! You've earned this!

Sunlight: *super happy* I-haha!

Roman: Come on everypony, let's go celebrate! Come on Frost! . . . . .*turns back* Frost?

Frost: *fixated on Sunlight amazed* . . . . .

Roman: Frost?

Frost: *snaps out of it* Wha! Huh?

Roman: You ok?

Frost: *blushes slightly* Huh? Oh, y-yeah, of course. I'm ok. Uh, what are we doing?

Roman: *pulls Frost along* We're going to have a party that's what. Come on.

Frost: Oh, right. Yeah, let's go, do that.

As always, any grammar errors you spot please point them out to them, its always a big help. Thanks and enjoy the story!
______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Roman just got elected again for Student Pony President. It's no surprise really, he's done such a great job the past three years, so why would they vote for someone else? He's also starting to talk to some of the ponies on the town hall council. I bet they'll just put him right in the mayor's chair when he gets there.

Frost has finally gotten comfortable with his special talent. Considering how much he likes snow, I guess it's no surprise that he'd be great at making snowflakes. And its even more awesome since he's an earth pony too! Now all we have to do is get him some cloud shoes and he can make snowflakes with the other pegasi in town. Though lately he has been acting, different, like, more shy around me then usual. Roman's noticed it too. He thinks Frost has a crush on me. I'm not sure though, I mean, would he really like me? I mean, of course I like him and all but, does he really like me?

And speaking of crushes, Forest definitely has a crush now. He's been going on for weeks about this new filly at school who chased away the bullies. But the thing is he hasn't even talked to her yet. I may have to talk him into talking to her. I mean, if you wanna be with somepony you should at least talk to them. That way she'd know him and he would get to know her. He just keeps daydreaming about her, looking out the window and stuff.

Oh yeah, we finally got to move back into our house! Once I turned ten Mrs. Wooly let us move back into Mom and Dad's house and take care of ourselves. She still stops by to check on us every now and then, and gives us some help. She's a really nice sheep. We still sleep upstairs though. We haven't really gone into Mom and Dad's room a lot, we just go in to keep it clean. Its like, the only thing left that's really them.

I still haven't found out why that big blizzard happened when it did. None of my teachers know and nothing I've learned has let me figure it out either. It's the only thing I really wanna know about Mom and Dad. I have to know why! Why are they gone? Why were they forced to leave us?

Sigh

I know my talent is bringing light and encouragement and stuff to other ponies but, I still feel like I'm supposed to be on the farm, to keep it going, to keep what Mom and Dad made alive. But, I dunno, I'm not doing anything right. I can't get anything to grow! I tried planting the seeds like we've been taught in school, but every year nothing grows! I've tried my own earth pony magic, but that doesn't work either. And I don't know why it won't work either , what am I doing wrong? Is, is it just I don't have any magic for this farm? Does it just not like me? Or does it need Mom and Dad's magic to work?

I just don't know!

But maybe today will be different. Maybe today it'll finally work!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*several hours later*

Ugh, this STILL isn't working!

Why isn't this working? I'm an earth pony! These stupid plants should be growing like it's nothing!

Ugh! Stupid farm!

Stupid dirt!

Stupid seeds that won't grow!

Stupid Earth pony magic!

Stupid! Stupid! STUPID! ST-

????: Arf?

Sunlight: Huh?

Fox: *comes closer* Arf?

Sunlight: *GASP* Oh my gosh, hey there little guy!

Fox: *Comes up to Sunlight, curious* Arf!

Sunlight: Oh my gosh you're so cute! *pats fox head*

Fox: *happy* Arf!

Sunlight: *pets head and back* Aww, you're such a cute widdle fox, yes you are, yes you are!

Fox: *happy whine* Aroooooo.

Sunlight: Awwww, you're adorable little foxy, but I have to get back to work.

Fox: *jumps up and hops around Sunlight* Arf! Arf! Arf!

Sunlight: Aww, I wanna play with you little fox but I really have to do this Earth pony magic thing.

Fox: *continues jumping around* Arf! Arf!

Sunlight: *reconsiders* Hmm, I guess, this hasn't worked for years, another day won't hurt.

Fox: *celebratory* ARF!

Sunlight: *happy* Hehe, ok ok little fox, come here. *holds hooves open*

Fox: *curious head tilt* Aru?

Sunlight: Come on Foxy, its just a hug. Hugs are nice.

Fox: *walks into Sunlight's hug*

Sunlight: *hugs* Yay! See! Hugs are fun!

Fox: *happy sounds* ARU!

Sunlight: *puts him down* Now, if we're gonna have fun I need to call you something better than fox.

Fox: *happy head tilt* Arf?

Sunlight: Hmmmm, how about. . . .*idea* How about Fen Fen! Cause you're a little fennec fox!

Fen Fen: *happy sounds* Arf! *runs off onto farm*

Sunlight: *happy* Hey, Come back here Fen Fen! *chases after him*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*several hours later*

Sunlight: *sad* Aww, the sun's going down now. I'm sorry Fen Fen, but I gotta go home. *starts walking home*

Fen Fen: *happy, starts following Sunlight home* Arf!

Sunlight: *notices Fen following* Huh? No, Fen Fen. You gotta go home now.

Fen Fen: *confused head tilt* Aru?

Sunlight: *lays down* Fen Fen you gotta go home. You gotta go back to your family now.

Fen Fen: *understands finally, shakes head* Arf! Aruuu, arf!

Sunlight: Come on Fen Fen, we can have fun again another day, but you gotta go back to your family now.

Fen Fen: *shakes head more* Arf Aruuuuu!

Sunlight: Come on Fen, I'll see you again. *gets up* You gotta go home now.

Fen Fen: *runs after Sunlight, whining* Aruuuuu!

Sunlight: No Fen! Go home!

Fen Fen: *runs in front of her, shaking head* Aruuuuuu! Aru arf!

Sunlight: *confused* Fen Fen? Do you have family to go back to?

Fen Fen: *shakes head* Arf!

Sunlight: Oh, oh dang. *sad* Aww Fen Fen I'm sorry. I-I know that feeling.

Fen Fen: *insistent* Arf. *jumps onto Sunlight*

Sunlight: Ah, w-well. I have always wanted a pet. Ok Fen, you can stay with me.

Fen Fen: *happy* Aruu!

Sunlight: *happy again* Hehe, come on Fen Fen, I'll introduce you to my brother. He's awesome!

Fen Fen: *excited* Arf!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*several minutes later at home*

Sunlight: Hey Forest! I'm back! And I have a new friend!

. . . .

Sunlight: Forest?

Sunlight: Ah! There you are! Forest look! I found a new friend, and. . . . Forest?

Forest: . . . . . .

Sunlight: *sigh* He's daydreaming about her again. *walks over to Forest*

Fen Fen: *confused head tilt* Aru?

Sunlight: *pokes* Forest. Hey Forest! Foooorrrreeeeessssst!

Forest: . . . . .

Sunlight: *sigh* Hey look its the new filly!

Forest: *shocked* AHHFORESTHELLOISNAMEMINE! *looks around* Huh? Sis?

Sunlight: Well it's good to know something still gets your attention.

Forest: *embarrassed* Ehehe, yeah, sorry. I was just, uhhh. . .

Sunlight: Thinking about that filly again?

Forest: Y-yeah.

Sunlight: Come on Forest just talk to her. You've been doing this for weeks now and you still haven't even said hello.

Forest: I know, its just, what if she doesn't like me?

Sunlight: Forest, you'll never know until you say hello to her.

Forest: W-well, yeah, but, what do I say to her? I don't even know what to. . .

Sunlight: You go up to her and say, "Hi I'm Forest Sketch, do you wanna be friends?" Its as simple as that.

Forest: Is, is it really that easy?

Sunlight: Yup! You can do that easily Forest.

Forest: Huh, yeah, yeah I can do that. I can do that!

Sunlight: Hurray! Now in the meantime, there's someone I want you to meet!

Forest: *looks around* Uhh, who's that? I don't see anypony around here*

Sunlight: Well Fen's not a. . .*looks around* Huh? Fen Fen? Where are you?

Fen Fen: *pops head out, hesitant whine* Ruuu?

Sunlight: Oh, Fen Fen it's ok you don't need to be scared. Forest's not bad, he's my brother!

Forest: *spots Fen* Whoa! That's a tiny fox!

Fen Fen: *comes over to Sunlight* Aru!

Sunlight: I know! This is Fen Fen! My new pet!

Fen Fen: *approaches Forest curious* Arf?

Forest: Wait, this is your pet now? Just, taking it in and all that?

Sunlight: Yup! Fen doesn't wanna go anywhere else. Basically followed me home whining the whole way. Besides, just look at how cute Fen is!

Forest: *pets Fen* Yeah, I guess it is pretty adorable. *notices mud on paws* Huh? *looks at Sunlight's hooves* Uh, Sis?

Sunlight: Yes little bro?

Forest: You know you guys are tracking dirt everywhere right?

Sunlight: *looks down* Huh? *panicked* Oh no! *grabs Fen* Come on Fen Fen! We gotta get cleaned up! *runs off to bathroom*

Forest: *sigh*

Sunlight: *pops head back out* Oh yeah Forest, you might wanna go on to bed too. You're gonna wanna be rested for when you say hi to that filly!

Forest: Eheh, right.

Sunlight: Goodnight Forest!

Forest: Goodnight Sis.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*one bath later, in Sunlight's room*

Sunlight: *happy sigh* Doesn't that feel much better Fen? We're all squeaky clean now!

Fen Fen: *trying to shake fur dry and shivering, whimpers* Aruu.

Sunlight: Huh? Oh, you're cold! Hold on, I can do something for that. *looks around* Hmmm, *spots a doll, GASP, idea, grabs doll* Here Fen, I got some for you!

Fen Fen: *shivering goes to Sunlight* Aru?

Sunlight: *picks up and puts the dress on Fen* There you go!

Fen Fen: *happy and warm* Arf!

Sunlight: Yes! And you look even more adorable now! *hugs* You're sooooo cute Fen! Like a-a-uh, wait. Fen are you even a girl?

Fen Fen: *still happy and warm* Aru?

Sunlight: Uhhhh, *flips Fen over real quick* Oh. You're not a girl Fen. . . . . Oops.

Fen Fen: *confused* Aru?

Sunlight: Ummm, well I guess I'll just take that off you then. *tries to take the dress off*

Fen Fen: *alarmed* Arf! *struggles free* Aru!

Sunlight: What? Come on Fen, you can't wear that! You're not a girl!

Fen Fen: *whines* Aruuuuu! *gets comfy*

Sunlight: But, but Fen! *thinks*

Fen Fen: Arf!

Sunlight: *thinks* Well, you are pretty happy with it. And you do look adorable in it.

Fen Fen: *affirming* Arf!

Sunlight: Hmm. Plus you are a pet, and I'm really sleepy too, so I guess it's ok. *YAWN* Oh well.

Fen Fen: *success* Arf! *tired fox yawn* Yarrruuu!

Sunlight: *gets into bed* Pfft, your yawn is silly Fen. Come on, let's go to sleep.

Fen Fen: *jumps onto bed tired* Aru.

Sunlight: *hugs Fen* Ah, goodnight Fen Fen.

Fen Fen: *curls up* Aru.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*the next day en route to school*

Sunlight: Ok Fen. School doesn't really like pets, so you'll have to wait outside. I'll be able to play with you during recess.

Fen Fen: Arf!

Frost: *comes running up to Sunlight* Hey *pant* Sunlight! *pant* I need to *pant* tell you *pant* something!

Sunlight: Oh perfect timing Frost! Meet my new friend Fen Fen! He's a fennec fox!

Fen Fen: *happy* Arf!

Frost: Huh? Oh wow that's a tiny fox!

Sunlight: I know right! And he's so adorable too! You wanna hug him? He really likes hugs!

Frost: Uhh yeah, sure! *hugs Fen*

Fen Fen: *happy whines* Aru!

Sunlight: So Frost, what was it you wanted to tell me?

Frost: *nervous* Oh, uhhh, it's not important, let's keep petting Fen Fen here!

Fen Fen: *happy for more attention* Aru!

Sunlight: What? But you sounded so excited about it!

Frost: *nervous* Oh, well, uh, don't worry about it, it was nothing really!

Sunlight: Come on Frost, you can tell me. If you got that excited, it's gotta be important.

Frost: W-well ummmm, ok, b-but it's r-really not that i-important a-at all r-really.

Sunlight: It's ok Frost, just take your time.

Frost: *breathes in and out* Ok! Ok, ok. Well, uhhh, S-Sunlight, I-I well, have always, ummm, a-admired the way you can always cheer up ponies. A-and just the way you talk is amazing, and you're always so cheerful and friendly and, w-well. W-would you wanna, only if you'd like too that is, maybe, let me be your sp-special s-somepony?

Sunlight: *frozen* Wha-what! He-he really does like me! T-that's, that's. . .

Frost: *worried* S-sunlight?

Sunlight: *smiles big* Yes. *hugs Frost*

Frost: *tears up* R-really? J-just like that?

Sunlight: Well yeah silly! You're really amazing Frost, even if you don't see it. You've been there for me for so much. So yes I wanna be your special somepony.

Frost: *hugs back* T-thank you Sunlight!

Sunlight: No Frost, thank you.

Fen Fen: *happily jumping around* Arf! Aru!

Frost: Um, Sunlight?

Sunlight: Yeah Frost?

Frost: *scared* Umm, t-there's s-something else I n-need to t-tell you.

Sunlight: Ok, what is it?

Frost: *really nervous* I-I. . . W-well, *starts shaking* I-I'm. . .m-m-m-m-my p-parents, w-well, *hyperventilates* W-w-we u-uhh. . .

Sunlight: Frost calm down, it's ok if you don't wanna tell me right now.

Frost: B-but I just t-told you I like y-you and all. This is i-important t-too.

Sunlight: Yes, but you're even more nervous about this than about telling me your feelings. It's ok really, you can tell me when you're ready.

Frost: B-but I don't wanna keep secrets from you.

Sunlight: And you're not. Frost, you just take all the time you need until you're ready to tell me. I'll wait as long as you need, and I'll be ready to listen when you are ready to tell me. There's no rush for this.

Frost: O-ok, but, can we still hangout and stuff?

Sunlight: Of course we will! You're my coltfriend now! We'll hang out just like always! But with lots more cuddles!

Frost: T-thank you Sunlight, again.

Sunlight: Hey it's no problem. Now come on! I wanna get to school so I can tell everypony about my new pet and my new coltfriend! Come on guys!

Fen Fen: *excited* Arf!

Frost: Oh, yay.

Its getting close to the end of school now. Most ponies have either left school already, or have a job to go to based on their special talent. Roman's obviously going into Withervale's town council, Frost I'm sure will start working with the weather team, Forest will become some great artist, and me. . . well. . . .

I don't really know what I'm going to do. I don't know what kind of career my talent would be best suited for. Everypony else knows exactly where to go to fully utilize their talent's potential. But me, I just don't know. I mean, my talent is talking to other ponies and encouraging them. How in Celestia's name do I find a career that does that?!

I don't know what I'm going to do. But right now there are bigger things to worry about. Forest has holed himself in his room for over a week now. For the past month he was really excited to talk to this Autumn filly after we had our talk, but one day he just came home from school and he had this, sad expression on his face. Since then he hasn't gone to school or even talked to me.

Fen Fen's been keeping an eye on Forest for me, since I can't always be there. Making sure he at least eats. But really all Forest's been doing is sitting in his room and painting. And his paintings are everywhere! I'm surprised he can even sleep in there. I mean, they are really beautiful and all, but still, I'm worried for him. If he's like this, then I'm pretty sure that filly turned him down, although I can't really be sure, since Forest won't even talk to me. I wish he would though, I could help him through it if he would just talk to me.

But I guess I just have to wait until he decides he's ready to tell me. As for today I have to go to school and keep trying to figure out what the heck I'm going to do about. . . .

Wait, I just heard Forest's door. . . .

Oh my gosh he's coming downstairs, I hope he's better now!

Wait, why's he got his saddlebags?

Forest: *comes down the stairs trailed by Fen Fen* Hey Sis.

Sunlight: Hey Forest, how are you feeling?

Forest: *determined* I'm great Sis, I've never been more certain of what I need to do than I am now.

Sunlight: *confused* Huh? What are you talking about Forest?

Forest: Sis, I know what I want to do, and I know where I need to go to do it.

Sunlight: Huh? Forest I'm not following you, what about school? What happened with that fi-

Forest: I'm going to Canterlot!

Sunlight: *shocked* W-wait WHAT!?

Forest: And I'm going now.

Sunlight: *shocked and confused* W-WHAT!? F-FOREST, w-why? H-how?!

Forest: I have enough money for a train ticket to Canterlot. If I take my art supplies with me I can auction off my art pieces and then rent an apartment. And then I'll work my way up from there.

Sunlight: No! Forest, that's not what I meant! Why are you leaving? And why so suddenly?

Forest: Because, I know what I'm meant to do now. And I want to do it.

Sunlight: Forest, is this about the filly? What hap-

Forest: *starts leaving* Sorry Sis but I gotta go now if I'm going to catch the train.

Sunlight: *panicked jumps in front of him* WAIT! Forest stop, y-you're just leaving! *thinks fast* Do you even know what you're going to do when you get there? What you're gonna eat? O-or where you'll sleep?

Forest: Yeah, I'll get money for an apartment from auctioning off my art.

Sunlight: Forest that stuff takes time. Do you know where you're going to stay tonight? Or what you'll have for dinner?

Forest: *pauses* W-well, no, I guess hadn't thought of that.

Sunlight: Well then you can't leave yet! *starts moving towards kitchen* You need food at the very least!

Forest: W-well ok, but be quick please!

Sunlight: I will! Come on Fen! *goes into kitchen*

Fen: *follows Sunlight* Nyah!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*in the kitchen*

Sunlight: *panicked pacing* Oh Celestia! Oh dear Celestia! What is even happening!?
*turns to Fen* FEN WHAT IS EVEN HAPPENING!!??

Fen: *worried* Aruu?

Sunlight: *pacing* Forest is just up and leaving! For Canterlot! He's never even been to Canterlot before!

Fen: Arf.

Sunlight: *despairing* That filly must have really turned him down bad. *despaired* Oh no! What am I going to do Fen!?

Fen: *tilts head* Aru?

Sunlight: I could probably just tackle him to the ground and keep him from leaving, but that wouldn't really help. He seems really dead set on doing this.

Fen: *consoling pat* Aru.

Sunlight: Ugggghhhhhh. He said this is what he's meant to do. What does that even mean?

Fen: *shrugs* Arf?

Sunlight: I guess it means this is his dream? But, I can't just let him leave, can I? But then again, he may just leave anyway at another time.

Fen: Arf.

Sunlight: *sigh* I don't know if I keep him here Fen. *pauses* But, if he's going to leave, I'd like him to have all the help he can get. *starts getting some food*

Fen: Aruuu.

Sunlight: *worried* I am worried about him Fen. I don't want him to leave, but I also don't want to stop him from following his dreams. I just wish I could give him something more than food. Hmmmm *thinks*

Fen: Aruf.

Sunlight: *idea, looks to Fen* Canterlot is a big place, and it's probably pretty lonely if you don't know anypony there. . .

Fen: *confused* Aruu?

Sunlight: Fen Fen, I need you to do something for me.

Fen: Aru?

Sunlight: I need you to go to Canterlot with Forest.

Fen: *shocked* ARFU!!!! *shakes head*

Sunlight: Fen Fen please. I know you don't want to but he's going to need someone to help keep him safe!

Fen: *jumps to Sunlight* Aruuuuu!

Sunlight: *hugs Fen* Fen Fen please! I know Forest doesn't give as many hugs as I do, but he's just as kind. And he's going to need someone like you to help him. Please Fen, do it for me please?

Fen: *looks up to Sunlight* . . . . . . . . *nods* Aru.

Sunlight: *hugs Fen tighter* Thank you Fen Fen. Thank you so much!

Fen: *sad* Aruu.

Sunlight: *grabs the food* Come on Fen, maybe if we're lucky we can talk him out of it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*back at the front door*

Forest: Hey Sis, thanks for the food.

Sunlight: *tentative* Forest, do you really need to do this?

Forest: Yes. I know what I want to do Sis, and the only place I can do that is in Canterlot.

Sunlight: But, do you really need to leave now? And so suddenly?

Forest: I've been thinking about it for a while now Sis, and I know I'm ready. I'm ready to go now.

Sunlight: *sigh* I can't talk you out of it, can I?

Forest: Sorry Sis, but I know I have to do this.

Sunlight: *sigh* A-alright then. *hesitates* Then Forest, there's something I want you to do for me.

Forest: Umm, sure Sis, what do you need?

Sunlight: *takes a deep breathe* Forest, I want you to take Fen Fen with you.

Fen: *jumps up on Forest's back* Arf!

Forest: *surprised* What?! Sis I don't think -

Sunlight: Forest you've never been to Canterlot before, and you don't know anypony there. It's going to get lonely very quickly, Fen here will keep you company so you won't be so lonely.

Forest: B-but Sis, I'm not like you, I can't care for a pet! I don't even know what to do!

Sunlight: Fen's pretty good at taking care of himself. Just let him roam around outside and he'll handle himself. But you Forest, are going to want some company while you're there.

Forest: But, but-

Sunlight: *desperate* Please Forest?

Forest: *concedes* Ok Sunlight, I'll bring him with me.

Sunlight: *hugs Forest* Thank you Forest.

Forest: *hugs back* You're welcome Sis. *pulls away* But, I do have to go now. *walks out the door*

Sunlight: *sigh* Okay. *waves* Bye Forest! Bye Fen Fen! Good luck!

Fen: *waves back* Arf! Aru!

Forest: *determined, walking down path* Bye Sis! Love you!

Sunlight: Love you too little bro! *watches the two walk out of sight over the hill*

Sunlight: . . . . .

Sunlight: *goes back inside*

Sunlight: *plops onto the carpet*

He, he's gone.

T-they're both gone. J-just like that.

I-I can't believe that just happened.

BONG

Huh?

BONG

Oh, and it looks like I'm gonna be late for school.

BONG

I, I guess I'd better get going.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*later at school*

Sunlight: *slowly walking to class*

Frost: *runs up to Sunlight* Hey, Sunlight!

Sunlight: *looks up* Huh?

Frost: Where've you been? You missed the first class and- *notices her face* H-hey Sunlight, are you ok?

Sunlight: I, no. No, I'm not.

Frost: What happened?

Sunlight: F-Forest, he, he left, for Canterlot.

Frost: What, he just, up and left? Just like that?

Sunlight: Well, he'd been giving it some thought for a while.

Frost: But, he didn't even tell you before hoof?

Sunlight: N-no, he didn't.

Frost: *confused* But that, that doesn't even make sense?

Sunlight: Yeah. I just hope Fen will be able to keep him safe.

Frost: *shocked* Wait! He took Fen Fen with him?!

Sunlight: No, I convinced Forest to take him with him.

Frost: What! B-but you love Fen! Why?

Sunlight: Because I love Forest too. And I know he's gonna get lonely if he's there by himself. I wanted to make sure there was someone else there to watch out for him.

Frost: Wow, I-I'm really sorry Sunlight.

Sunlight: Hehe, it's ok, its not like I'll never see them again. They're just, not living at home anymore.

Frost: S-still though are you gonna be ok?

Sunlight: . . . . .

Frost: *hugs Sunlight*

Sunlight: *hugs Frost* Thanks Frost.

Frost: Come on, let's get to class. Get your mind off it.

Sunlight: Ok.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*later after school*

Frost: *hugging Sunlight* How are you feeling?

Sunlight: *sigh* I'm feeling better about it. I mean, its not the end of everything. They're only in Canterlot, which is like a 30 minute train ride away. I can still go and see them, and they can always come back here. We could get train passes to make things cheaper, and I've always wanted to see Canterlot. So, I guess its not really that bad.

Frost: . . . . But,

Sunlight: Yeah, but I'm still gonna miss them. The house is gonna be kinda empty without Fen or Forest there. But its ok! Forest is going out to follow his dreams! If he's doing that, then I should be happy for him! And I will be happy for him!

Frost: That's great Sunlight!

Sunlight: Yeah. Thanks for being here Frost. You really helped me a lot.

Frost: *embarrassed* Oh, it was nothing, really.

Sunlight: I'm serious Frost, thank you.

Frost: T-thanks, Sunlight. *hesitates* Umm Sunlight?

Sunlight: Yeah?

Frost: Umm, since you're feeling better, there's something I wanted to tell you about.

Sunlight: *serious* Oh? Is it that thing from earlier?

Frost: Y-yeah, it is.

Sunlight: Well Frost you don't have to tell me if you're not ready.

Frost: *pauses* No, no I have to tell you now. This might be the last chance I get to.

Sunlight: Huh? What do you mean? What is it?

Frost: *hesitant* W-well, i-its. *deep breath* You know how my Special talent is about snowflakes?

Sunlight: Yeah, It's really awesome too! Especially since you're an Earth Pony!

Frost: *despaired* Y-yeah, well that's the problem.

Sunlight: *confused* Huh?

Frost: My family's consisted solely of Earth Ponies for generations. And not one of them had any kind of talent related to a pegasus specific talent.

Sunlight: Well that just makes your special talent even more special!

Frost: I wish my Father would see it that way.

Sunlight: *worried* What do you mean?

Frost: He, he can't accept that his son has a pegasus special talent and not an earth pony talent. So, h-he thinks, he thinks my Mother was with another stallion, a pegasus stallion.

Sunlight: *appalled* W-what?! B-but that's crazy! Special talents can be anything! They aren't confined to any race!

Frost: *sad* He doesn't see it that way. And its been going on ever since I got my Cutie mark.

Sunlight: *shocked* What!? B-but that was over a year ago!

Frost: I know, it's only gotten worse since then. *tears up* A-and now, now they've had enough of it. . . .

Sunlight: *scared* What are they doing?

Frost: *despaired* T-they're getting divorced, and my Father is moving away. And my Mother might move as well. B-but, I don't know what to do. I-I feel like my family is being torn apart, and its all my fault.

Sunlight: *frozen* T-torn apart. . . . .

Why does this seem familiar? This feeling? Wait. . . . I know where this is from.

I felt like this back then. Back when Mom and Dad. . . . back when they died. I felt just like this. And then. . . . .

And then that thing got out!

Oh no! Oh dear Celestia no! I can't let that darkness get out! If it does it'll hurt Frost! It'll hurt other ponies!

I can't let it out! But the princess said it was tied to my emotions, specifically that emotion, which means, I can't allow myself to feel that way.

But, but that means . . . . . oh no . . . . . Frost . . . . .

Frost: *worried* Sunlight?

Sunlight: *tears up and turns away* I-I'm sorry Frost. I-I can't help you.

Frost: *disbelief* W-what?

Sunlight: T-there's nothing I can do Frost.

Frost: *despaired* What? B-but, y-you said.

Sunlight: *tries to walk away* I'm sorry, I have to go.

Frost: *desperate* WAIT! S-Sunlight please!

Sunlight: *keeps walking away* I'm sorry Frost, but there's nothing I can do to help!

Frost: *breaking down* But, but what about everything you said before!?

Sunlight: *stops*

Frost: Y-you said that you would wait as long as I needed, until I was ready to tell you! You said that you would be there for me when I told you! You promised you would help me! W-what happened to all that!?

Sunlight: I-I can't Frost. This is for your safety.

Frost: *confused* What!? S-Sunlight that doesn't make any sense!

Sunlight: Frost, there's, something I haven't told you or Roman.

Frost: Huh?

Sunlight: T-there's, a, a creature, it's in my mind. It-its dangerous. It can take over my body if I'm too despaired. A-and last time it got out, it almost hurt a lot of ponies. I-I can't let that happen to you Frost, I just can't!

Frost: *despaired disbelief* I-I can't believe it. Y-you're g-gonna leave me, a-and l-lie a-about it too.

Sunlight: I'm not lying Frost. I'm doing this to protect you! I can't stand the thought of that thing hurting you!

Frost: B-but what about now! What about everything I told you about!?

Sunlight: *sobbing* . . . . . I-I'm sorry Frost.

Frost: *empty* W-well, well then, I guess, I guess I know what my c-choice will be, w-with my parents.

Sunlight: . . . . .

Frost: *turns away* G-goodbye Sunlight. *walks away*

Sunlight: *hangs head sobbing* G-goodbye, Frost. I'm sorry.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*later, in town*

Sunlight: *wandering aimlessly, head hung low, sobbing*

I, I can't believe it. They're all gone now. Forest, Fen. . . .Frost. And once Roman finds out he'll never want to talk to me again.

I-I can't believe that happened. I can't believe I did that!

But, but it was for his own safety! Right?

I guess I can't really blame him for not believing me.

It did sound like a terribly horrible excuse.

B-but now what? What do I do now?

I protected Frost, but I still lost him. I can't believe I did that. . . .

. . . . . .

I can't do this. . . .

It's done!

It's over!

He's gone! He left!

And there's nothing I can do to change that!

I can't let myself be sad over this anymore.

Otherwise that thing could still get out.

I have to move on!

But what do I do? Forest and Fen are gone in Canterlot now. And I can never face Roman again.

What do I- OOOFFF!!!!

Sunlight: *rubs head* Ow. *looks up at a poster*

THE ROYAL GUARD WANTS YOU!! JOIN TODAY!!

The recruitment center for the guard?

Wait, the guard. They, that might be somewhere I could go.

Sunlight: *turns towards the door*

I could actually do something there. I would actually be helping somepony. I'd be helping a lot of ponies! And there wouldn't be any room for sadness. No chance of that thing getting free.

Yeah, yeah that'll work, that's what I'll do.

I guess, now I know what I'm gonna do with my special talent.

I still can't believe it. I can't believe I did that. I really did that. Why did I do that!?

????: WHO THE HELL ARE YOU!?

I'm protecting him aren't I? Aren't I?

But what about his parents, I didn't protect him from what's happening with them.

????: SO WHO THE HELL ARE YOU!?

No, I just, left him, without any help, I left him behind . . . . I abandoned him.

That's what I did, I abandoned him. I should've stayed with him, I should've helped him!

????: AND WHO THE HELL ARE YOU!?

I could've handled whatever was going on! I could've toughed it out. I could've!

But I didn't, and now its too late to even . . .

????: *in front of Sunlight* SO JUST WHO THE HELL ARE YOU!?

Sunlight: *Startled* Huh! What!?

Sargent: CHECK YOUR EARS RECRUIT!! I SAID WHO! THE HELL! ARE YOU!?

Sunlight: S-Sunlight Days from Withervale SIR!

Sargent: AND JUST WHY ARE YOU HERE?

Sunlight: T-to help Ponies SIR!

Sargent: WELL, KEEP THIS UP AND LATRINE DETAIL WILL BE THE ONLY HELP YOU'LL BE GIVING TO ANYPONY!! *moves on*

Sunlight: *relieved sigh*

I can't keep doing this. Its all in the past now. I have to move on and focus on the here and now.

And I can start by listening to who everypony else here is.

Sargent: *to the next mare in line* SO JUST WHO THE HELL ARE YOU!?

????: Peppermint Mocha SIR!

Sargent: AND JUST WHY ARE YOU HERE??

Peppermint: To do whatever I want SIR!

Sargent: WELL I HOPE YOU LIKE COOKING MOCHA!! CAUSE WITH A NAME AND A MARK LIKE THAT, YOU'D BE GREAT ON COOKING DETAIL *moves on*

Peppermint: *scowls* No SIR!

Sargent: *stops* What did you say Recruit?

Peppermint: I said I will NOT be cooking ANYTHING. SIR!

Sargent: Recruit, If you are assigned to a task You WILL Complete it, No Matter WHAT IT IS!!

Who is this mare?

Peppermint: I Will NOT COOK SIR!!

Sargent: Then I'm sure you'll enjoy latrine duty and fifty laps around the compound, and afterwards you can be on cooking detail for tomorrow Morning.

Peppermint: *grumbles* I will fight you asshole

Sargent: What was that recruit? Are you threatening me?

Peppermint: *scowls deeper* *crouch's slightly*

Sargent: *calm* Hmph, very well then. Come at me recruit.

Peppermint: *suddenly flares wings and launches forward to tackle Sargent*

Sargent: *sidesteps her and catches her using her momentum to slam her into the ground*

Peppermint: *impacts hard stunned* AGH!!!

Sunlight, Recruits: *shocked*

Wha-what was that!?

Sargent: *turns towards the rest of the recruits* This, recruits, is why you are here. To learn discipline, to respect the chain of command, to follow orders no matter if you like them or not. Some of you may even learn to give the orders. But this, *points to Peppermint* will lead to chaos in a battle. You will learn to work as a team with your fellow guard, or you will get ponies killed.

Well, that's, uhhhh. . . . .

Sargent: *to Peppermint* Get up recruit, you've still got those 50 laps to run, and the latrines won't be cleaning themselves.

Peppermint: *low grumbles*

Sargent: What was that recruit?

Peppermint: *growls out* Yes sir. *gets up to start running*

Sargent: Good, we may make a soldier out of you yet. *to Sunlight* DAYS!

Sunlight: *perks up* Yes Sir?

Sargent: Good, you're paying attention this time. *motions to Peppermint* Go run those laps with Mocha.

Sunlight: *surprised* But. . .

Sargent: *scowls*

Sunlight: *sighs* Yes sir. *follows Peppermint out*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*a short bit later around the compound*

Who the heck is this mare? She just started a fight with Sargent over cooking detail. I wonder what's up with her?

Hmm, maybe I should try talking to her.

Sunlight: *runs up beside Peppermint* Uh *huff* Hi!

Peppermint: *speeds up a little and gets ahead of Sunlight*

Welp, that didn't work. Maybe I need to try something else.

Sunlight: *catches back up with Peppermint* So umm, *huff* Where are you from? *huff* I'm from Withervale.

Peppermint: *speeds up even more*

Sunlight: *keeps pace with her* Cause, *huff* I know you didn't say where you were from *huff* and everypony else did. *huff*

Peppermint: *speeds up to racing pace*

Sunlight: *keeps pace with her* Come on. The Sargent said *huff* we need to work together as a team! *huff* And all!

Peppermint: *starts sprinting*

Sunlight: *keeps pace* Hey uh, *huff* we're going pretty fast. *huff* You might wanna *huff* Slow down a bit.

Peppermint: *suddenly skids to a stop*

Sunlight: *stops ahead of her* Hey. *huff* Are you o-

Peppermint: *looks up furious* SHUT UP!! JUST SHUT UP!!

Sunlight: *backs up a step, shocked*

Peppermint: I AM NOT TAKING ORDERS FROM SOME DAISY PICKING WIMP WHO CAN'T EVEN PAY ATTENTION FOR FIVE MINUTES!! *starts walking again* I'm not taking orders from you, or anyone. So just shut up already.

Sunlight: *curious* Then, then why are you even here? Being in the guard is all about working together to protect Equestria.

Peppermint: *starts running again*

Sunlight: You can't do that if you just ignore everything anyone says. You'll get ponies killed if you do that.

Peppermint: *stops* . . . . Maybe, you're right. But maybe, I just don't care right now.

Sunlight: *confused* Huh?

Peppermint: I'm going to finish this run, and I don't want to hear anything from you. Got it? Good. *starts running again*

Sunlight: *frustrated* What is with her!? She's just so grumpy. Ugh, I'm just gonna leave her alone for now. *starts running again*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*hours later*

Peppermint: *walks into compound panting*

Sunlight: *Walks in after Peppermint* Hmm, maybe I can talk to her now? Ponies are usually calmer after they've worked out a lot. *catches up with Peppermint* Hey! Peppermint!

Peppermint: *walks faster* Can't talk now I have latrine detail to get to.

Sargent: Mocha! Hold it right there. *walks up to the two*

Peppermint: *turns to Sargent with a scowl* Yes sir?

Sargent: You're off the hook. One of our cadets did something worse than a little insubordination, so they're stuck with solo latrine detail for a week. Consider yourself lucky.

Peppermint: *disbelief* What.

Sargent: Now get to the barracks you two, we've got an early start tomorrow. Dismissed. *turns and goes*

Sunlight: Hey isn't that great! You don't have to clean toilets now!

Peppermint: *starts trudging to the barracks* Lovely.

Sunlight: Hey come on. You gotta be at least a little happy you don't have to clean up other ponies' filth.

Peppermint: *grumbles* I'll be happier when I get away from your yapping mouth.

Sunlight: What was that?

Peppermint: *walks into the barracks* Nothing. Just don't bunk anywhere near me, got it?

Sunlight: *sigh* Fine, we can talk again later.

Peppermint: *walks off to find an empty bunk* Hopefully not.

Sunlight: Ok then. Seeya later Peppermint! I think I'm growing on her. *goes to the nearest recruit bunk* Uh hey, is this bunk spot taken?

Recruit #1: Yeah, I'm already bunking with somepony else.

Sunlight: Ok then. *goes to the next bunk* Hey are you already bunking with somepony?

Recruit #2: Huh? Oh yeah, they're just going to the bathroom now.

Recruit #3: I think there's only one other bunk available now.

Sunlight: Oh? Where's that at?

Recruit #3: *points down the room* Its back towards the Sargent's door.

Sunlight: Thanks! *walks towards the bunks in the back*

Peppermint: *annoyed* What do you mean this is the last bunk that's open!?

Sunlight: *confused* Huh? Last bunk? Does that mean what I think it means?

Recruit #4: I mean that's the last set that doesn't have anypony in it. You're lucky, you get to pick which bunk you want before the last recruit gets here.

Peppermint: *growls* Not really, *notices Sunlight* She's already here.

Sunlight: *smiles* Hey bunkmate!

Peppermint: *gets in Sunlight's face* I. Get. Top. Bunk. Got it?

Sunlight: *cheerful* Oh good, I wanted the bottom bunk anyway.

Peppermint: *scowls* Good. *turns and with a flap launches herself and lands lightly on the top bunk*

Sunlight: So, Peppermint, could you tell me where you're from?

Peppermint: *sigh* Look, Sunnymail-

Sunlight: Sunlight.

Peppermint: Whatever. Look, it's nothing personal, but I'm not here to make "friends" with anypony, and I'm not here to have fun, ok. Just leave me alone.

Sunlight: Ok, so why are you here then?

Peppermint: . . . . That's my business.

Sunlight: But, Pepper, just because you came here without intending to make friends, doesn't mean you can't have any.

Peppermint: *turns away* . . . . .

Sunlight: Pepper?

Peppermint: *pained* I do want friends

Sunlight: Huh?

Peppermint: Just forget it and go to sleep. We're getting up early tomorrow remember. *lays head down*

Sunlight: . . . . ok Pepper. *gets in bottom bunk* Good night.

Peppermint: . . . . . . . Night.

Well, I think she likes me now. Or at least, she doesn't specifically hate me. Progress Sunlight, progress.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*next morning 5 AM*

Sargent: *slams open door going through the barracks* WAKE UP!!

AAAAAHHHHHHH

Sargent: EVERYPONY UP AND AT EM!! WE'RE WASTING TIME HERE!! I WANT EVERYPONY IN FRONT OF THEIR BUNKS BEFORE I TURN AROUND!! *reaches the end of the room and turns around*

Recruits: *all standing at attention in front of their bunks*

Sargent: GOOD!! *starts walking down the line of recruits critiquing their stance* Stiffen those shoulders! Get those hooves together! Recruit get your ass down! Chin up!

Sunlight: *glances at Peppermint staring straight ahead* Well, it seems like she's calmed down now. I guess a good night's sleep will do wonders for anypon-

Sargent: Days get your eyes forward!

Sunlight: *brings eyes forward again*

Sargent: *finishes walking back down the room* ALRIGHT RECRUITS!! EVERYONE GIVE ME TEN LAPS AROUND THE COMPOUND THEN MEET ME ON THE PARADE GROUND FOR MORNING TRAINING!! DISMISSED!!

Sunlight: *follows the other recruits out of the compound* You know, I kinda like the running part of this.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*hours later after Morning training*

Sunlight: *limping rigidly* Ow. Ow. Ow. Welp, that was fun, I can't feel any of the muscles in my body anymore.

Sargent: ALRIGHT RECRUITS!! TAKE STOCK OF YOUR AMOUR!! ANY PROBLEMS TAKE THEM TO MAINTANENCE!! MEET AT THE MESS HALL AT 1100 HOURS FOR BREAKFAST!! *leaves through his door*

Sunlight: *gets back to bunk and sees her armour on a stand* Oh wow! *mesmerized* Its so shiny! *picks up her helmet*

Peppermint: *limps back to the bunk* Ow.

Sunlight: Hey look Pepper! We've got our armour now!

Peppermint: *looks over her own armour* Great, I get to feel sore with a ton of metal on my back now.

Sunlight: *puts helmet on and finds its swiveling* Woah! Uhh, Pepper? Are our helmets supposed to spin?

Peppermint: *irritated* What are you talking about? These helmets don't *sees Sunlight* . . . What are you doing?

Sunlight: *can hardly see out of her helmet* Ummm, I think my helmet is too big.

Peppermint: Wow, really? You might want to take it off then.

Sunlight: *nods* Yeah, yeah I think I'll do that. *turns around and smacks into the bed post* AGH! *backpedals into the armour stand behind her causing it to fall and scatter other recruits around her, knocking into more recruits and armour stands causing a loud ruckus*

Peppermint: *facehooves* Oh dear Celestia you're an idiot.

Sunlight: *swivels helmet around so she can see everything around her* Oh. . . . Oops.

Sargent: *barges through his door* WHAT IN THE NAME OF LUNA IS GOING ON??!!

Recruits: *all scramble to stand at attention*

Sargent: *sees all the knocked over armour* WHAT HAPPENED!!??

Recruits: *several point to Sunlight and Peppermint*

Sunlight, Peppermint: *still saluting*

Sargent: *walks over to the two* Days, why is your helmet lopsided?

Sunlight: Sir! Because it's too big Sir!

Sargent: Then why are you still wearing it!?

Sunlight: Sir! I was about to take it off, when I hit my bedpost and then bumped into the other recruits Sir!

Sargent: And you Mocha?

Peppermint: Sir! I told her to take it off and replace it Sir!

Sargent: *looks around again, sees some recruits nod their heads, and others shake them, sighs* Very well then, give me Ten laps around the compound, then get your gear replaced with a set that fits.

Sunlight: *grimaces* Y-yes sir. *walks off to exit the barracks*

Sargent: Mocha, you too.

Peppermint: What.

Sargent: You heard me, get going.

Peppermint: But I didn't-

Sargent: *scowls* Recruit.

Peppermint: *growls* Fine. *walks off after Sunlight*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*minutes later around the compound*

Sunlight: *slowly sorely running* Owww, I can't even feel my legs anymore.

Peppermint: . . . . .

Sunlight: Hey Pepper, how are you feel-

Peppermint: Shut up! And stop calling me that!

Sunlight: Oh come on, not again!

Peppermint: *stops and turns, getting in Sunlight's face* NO! Just shut up! Your little fuck up back there just ruined everything for me!

Sunlight: Huh? Come on it wasn't that b-

Peppermint: *furious* No, ponies may ignore your first mistake, but the second time it happens it just confirms what they thought about you before. Now everypony there thinks I'm some sort of ass who's just going to screw with them all the time! All thanks to you and your stupid armour! What were you even doing!

Sunlight: *shocked and backed up a few steps* I-I, I was just messing around and-

Peppermint: Messing around?! You think you're going to "help" anypony by messing around!? No, you're not! You're just going to get in everypony's way and fuck up everything for everyone!

Sunlight: B-but I-

Peppermint: This isn't some sort of summer camp where we all sing songs and roast marshmallows together, this is training so we can know how to defend Equestria. This isn't some kind of game, its serious training to prepare us for dangerous jobs! Get that through your thick head, or just fucking leave. *turns around and starts running again*

Sunlight: *stunned* I-

Peppermint: No, just shut up, and don't talk to me ever again. *continues running and disappears around the corner*

Sunlight: . . . . . Wow, deja vu. *starts trotting again*

She's right. I haven't really been taking this seriously have I?

I've just been using this as a distraction to keep me from thinking about what I did to Frost.

Do I really even want to be here?

It's only the second day since I came here and I've already messed things up for somepony.

. . . .

I do wanna be here. I know I do. This is the best way I can think of to help other ponies. If I'm here, I can help protect Equestria, from monsters, and that "thing" inside me.

I know I want to be here. But I can't mess around anymore, Peppermint's right, this isn't a game. I need to stop treating it like one.

Sunlight: *speeds up wincing* And I can start by getting a set of armour that fits.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*days later*

We've started the training in earnest now. We run laps every morning followed by physical exercises that work out every muscle in our bodies. But the real fun starts at noon.

We are being taught how to use every weapon we can. Spears, halbards, swords, bows, crossbows, maces, hammers. The only issue is being an earth-pony, I have to stand on my hind legs to use those weapons, which isn't easy, and frankly just doesn't feel right. But Sargent says you get used to the feeling eventually, so I'll keep it up

The weapons training is followed by an elaborate obstacle course which uses all of our muscles we trained with in the morning. We climb, run, balance, swim, dig, and crawl the whole thing, and by the end of it everyone's covered in mud and sore muscles. A few weeks of this and our bodies will be in perfect condition for standard guard operations.

After all that we have classes about the different battle formations and tactics we'll need to do. How different squads can operate together, and about the different aspects of each chain of command. In addition we are being taught about every known monster in Equestria and beyond, and how best to subdue them. In all honesty, I didn't think you could take down something like an Ursa Minor without killing it, but apparently its been done before by a single unicorn.

We've also begun training in our armour to get used to its weight. In all honesty it's not that heavy once you get used to it, although that could also be because of the training. The armour is actually what makes the royal guard so uniform, each armour set has an enchantment that changes the wearer's coat and voice to match that of the rest of the guard. Thankfully we don't have to have that on while in the compound, as it is not easy to tell your squad mates apart when they all look and sound the same.

I haven't spoken to Pepper since we last talked. We're still bunked together but we haven't said anything to each other at all. I've seen her talking with the other recruits, so that's good. I've also made friends with a lot of the other recruits myself, and Sargent has split us up into our squads. Pepper and I are in the same squad. Which means that at some point, we'll have to talk with each other.

Sargent says we'll be put through our first major exercise in a couple weeks. I don't know if I should be looking forward to it, or dreading it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*a few weeks later just outside a gorge*

Sargent: ALRIGHT RECRUITS, LISTEN UP!! THIS IS THE NEXT FAZE OF YOUR TRAINING!! YOUR GOAL IS TO GET YOUR SQUAD THROUGH THE GORGE!! THERE ARE VARIOUS OBSTACLES TO IMPEDE YOUR PROGRESS. YOU MUST WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE IT PAST EACH ONE. THE OBSTACLES ARE NOT LIFE THREATENING, BUT CAN RENDER YOU INCAPABLE OF MOVEMENT. AS SUCH, YOU DO NOT NEED EVERY MEMBER OF YOUR SQUAD TO COMPLETE THE GORGE TO PASS!! IF YOU DO NOT PASS YOU WILL HAVE TO RUN THE GORGE AGAIN UNTIL YOU DO!! UNDERSTOOD?? GOOD LUCK!! *departs*

Recruit #4: Alright everypony, we're moving in!

Squad: *moves into the gorge*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*farther inside the gorge a large barrier of boulders block the way*

Recruit #4: Hmmm, alright, looks like we're climbing up. *approaches the boulders*

Peppermint: *flies up away to the top*

Recruit #4: Wait! Mocha! Dammit, we're supposed to stay together.

Recruit #1: Should I go and bring her back?

Recruit #4: No, we don't need anyone else running off.

Recruit #3: So what do we do?

Sunlight: *starts climbing* We climb up after her.

Peppermint: *flies back down* Hey guys.

Recruit #4: Mocha what do you think you're doing? We're supposed to stick together!

Peppermint: I was scouting the route ahead.

Recruit #4: And you couldn't have said you were?

Peppermint: We needed to know what's up ahead. And we may have a problem with this route.

Recruit #4: That doesn't excu- What? Why?

Peppermint: There are Manticores up ahead.

Recruits: *shocked*

Recruit #4: What!

Recruit #3: *nervous* A-are you sure?

Peppermint: I'm sure, there are dozens of deep caves in the cliff sides, and I could see manticore tails sticking out of a few of them.

Recruit #1: *skeptical* Hmm, I want to see this for myself.

Peppermint: You could, or we could spend the daylight thinking of a way to get past them.

Recruit #4: Mocha's right, we need to put our heads together and think of how to get past those things.

Recruit #1: Fine.

Recruit #2: Can't we just bash our way through them?

Sunlight: They're probably nonlethal manticores if they're in here, but I'll bet their venom would still paralyze us if we get stung.

Recruit #4: Hmm, that's very possible. Maybe we could sneak past them?

Recruit #3: Our armour's really loud, its been echoing off the gorge's walls this whole time, I don't think we'd get very far without alerting them.

Recruit #5: What if we distracted them? Have one of the pegasi go through and draw them down a side tunnel so we can move past them.

Recruit #1: I don't like the idea of being bait.

Peppermint: Plus Manticores can fly, so we can't guarantee we'll be able to lose them.

Sunlight: Hmm, there's a side branch in the gorge a few hundred meters back, we could take it and bypass the manticores completely.

Recruit #2: That'll take a lot longer than if we go straight through these guys.

Peppermint: And how do we know if that'll get us to the other side? It could just lead us to a dead end and then we'd be stuck.

Recruit #1: I can go take a look.

Recruit #4: We need to stay together!

Peppermint: And it'd be a waste of time.

Recruit #1: We need to find a way out of the gorge. And it'll only be a short scouting above the gorge.

Recruit #4: *sighs* Fine, but get back here as soon as you find out.

Recruit #1: Got it. *flies up over the gorge's top in the direction of the side branch.

Peppermint: Hmpf, maybe Days could be our bait. She's a pretty good runner.

Recruit #4: We're not using anypony as bait. And if this works we won't even have to go through the manticores.

Peppermint: *grumbles* Too bad, would've gotten rid of some dead weight.

Sunlight: *looks at Peppermint*

Recruit #4: Hey! We aren't "sacrificing" anypony here Mocha.

Recruit #1: *flies back to the group* Ok, we're good to go, it looks like that path will lead us right to the end. And it doesn't even connect back up with the manticore route at all.

Recruit #4: Good. *gives Peppermint a look* Alright ponies, break's over, we're moving out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*later down the side branch*

Sunlight: *in the rear with Peppermint, glances at her*

Peppermint: *staring straight ahead*

Sunlight: You know Pepper, its ok to listen to others ideas once in a while.

Peppermint: Didn't I say to never call me that again.

Sunlight: *sigh* Fine, Mocha.

Peppermint: It still would've been faster to go through those manticores.

Sunlight: But at what cost? We don't know what their venom is like. We would've lost too many of our squad.

Peppermint: Hmpf, I can think of one pony we could afford to lose.

Sunlight: Is this still about what happened on day 2? Look Pepper I'm sorry, ok.

Peppermint: Don't. Call me. that. And sorry doesn't mean you're right about everything. Especially something like this.

Sunlight: Mocha, I've been through the same training you've been through. I'm just as capable and qualified to make these decisions as you, or anypony else in the squad is.

Peppermint: It's only a matter of time before you fuck up again and ruin things for somepony else. Maybe this'll be it.

Sunlight: Pepper. . .

*the path opens up into a wide passage*

Recruit #4: Hold!

Squad: *all stop*

Recruit #3: Is that the end of the gorge?

Recruit #2: Looks like it.

Recruit #4: Hmm, it's too open in here. Everyone stay alert, and move carefully.

Squad: *slowly advance forward*

*a few steps later* FWOOOSSHHH

Recruit #4: What was that?

Recruit #5: INCOMING!! SCATTER!!

Squad: *all scatter*

*firebolt impacts the spot where they were* FWBOOOOOMMM

*The whole corridor comes alive with firebolts flying to and fro*

Peppermint: *takes to the air* MAKE FOR THE EXIT!!! *zooms down the corridor*

Squad: *individually get up and start sprinting for the exit*

Recruit #4: *gets up* WAIT!! WE NEED TO STICK TOGETHER!!

Sunlight: *runs up and moves her forward* Come on!

Recruit #3: #5 ON YOUR RIGHT!!

Recruit #5: *dodges an incoming bolt*

Recruit #2: #3 BEHIND YOU!!

Recruit #3: *ducks an incoming bolt*

Peppermint: *ahead of the others dodging bolts left and right*

Recruit #1: MOCHA!! TO YOUR LEFT!!

Peppermint: *can't hear and spots it too late, Bolt impacts her left side* GAHH!!! *impacts the side of the corridor, her helmet falling off, and rolls down to the floor*

Recruit #1: MOCHA!! *hesitates for a second then flies past her*

Recruit #5 and 3: *run past Peppermint*

Recruit #2: *runs past Peppermint*

Sunlight: *panicked, shouting over the firebolts* WAIT! WE CAN'T LEAVE HER!

Recruit #4: YES WE CAN!! WE DON'T NEED EVERYPONY TO FINISH TO PASS THIS!! *runs past Peppermint* SHE'LL BE FINE!!

Sunlight: *sees Peppermint's burns as she passes* It doesn't look like she'll be fine.

We're leaving her behind. . .

I'm leaving her behind. . .

Just like Frost. . .

No

Sunlight: *stops running and turns around*

Recruit #4: DAYS!! COME ON!! SHE'S NOT WORTH IT!!

Sunlight: STAY TOGETHER, REMEMBER!! *runs back to Peppermint*

Recruit #4: Dammit! *hesitates, then turns and runs for the exit*

Sunlight: *comes up to Peppermint*

Peppermint: *laying on her side groaning* ggaaaaahhhhhh.

Sunlight: GET UP!! *moves to her good side and gets shoulder under Peppermint* COME ON MOVE!!

Peppermint: *slowly starts getting up* What are you doing, ah! Finish the course!

*firebolt impacts nearby* FWABOOM

Sunlight: NOT WITHOUT YOU!! NOW PUT YOUR WING AROUND ME!! *braces Peppermint's good side*

Peppermint: *flops wing over Sunlight's back and leans against her*

Sunlight: OK! NOW MOVE WHEN I SAY!! *starts moving forward* LEFT!! RIGHT!!

Peppermint: *shuffles hooves forward then trips and falls on her burns* AHH! Just fucking go already! Leave me!

Sunlight: NO!! NOW GET UP!! I'M NOT LEAVING ANYPONY BEHIND!! *pulls Peppermint back onto her hooves*

Peppermint: AHH!! *leans on Sunlight again*

Sunlight: *commanding* NOW MOVE WHEN I SAY MOVE!! *starts moving forward again* LEFT! RIGHT!

Peppermint: *looks to Sunlight* . . . . . *starts moving hooves with Sunlight's*

Sunlight: LEFT! RIGHT! LEFT! RIGHT! *spots an incoming bolt* MOVE RIGHT NOW!!!

Peppermint: *shuffles right with Sunlight*

*firebolt impacts next to them* FWBOOOMMM

Sunlight: LEFT! RIGHT! COME ON, WE'RE ALMOST THERE!!

Peppermint: *panting hard* Huff! Huff!

Sunlight: *reaches the edge of the corridor away from the firebolts*

Squad: *waiting at the end*

Recruit #2: Woah.

Recruit #3: She actually pulled her out of there!

Sunlight: *safely away from the gorge's edge* MEDIC!! *huff* SHE NEEDS A MEDIC!!

Sargent: *runs over with a medic pony* Calm down Days, calm down. We've got her.

Medic Pony: *takes over supporting Peppermint and guides her to a nearby tent*

Sunlight: *exhausted* Is, *huff* Is she gonna be ok?

Sargent: *calm* Don't worry Days, she'll be fine. Those burns aren't as severe as they look. They're minor at worst.

Sunlight: *confused* Huh, really? They seem pretty severe to me.

Sargent: Well then it looks like the serum works then.

Sunlight: *very confused* What?

Sargent: Those firebolts are made of special potions design to stimulate the nerves to simulate the feeling of real burns. The actual fire on them only burned away her fur and hair. She took more injuries from it hitting her and impacting the wall than what the fire did to her.

Sunlight: So, she's gonna be ok then? She wasn't really in any danger?

Sargent: She'll be fine yes, and no, she was never going to die. But that's not the point now is it?

Sunlight: It's not, is it?

Sargent: Look, you did really well in there Days. Not everypony has the courage to go back for their comrades in the heat of battle, especially if it's somepony they don't like.

Sunlight: Yeah? *looks to her squad* Well, thank you, sir.

Sargent: *nods, then heads over to the rest of the squad*

Sunlight: *gets up and walks over to Peppermint's tent*

Medic Pony: *finished bandaging Peppermint's burns and wing* And don't remove those bandages until tomorrow, ok?

Peppermint: Yes ma'am.

Medic Pony: Good, *walks off to another recruit*

Sunlight: *walks up to Pepper* So, how bad is it?

Peppermint: Well, these bandages will remove the potions causing the burns, but the Doc wants to keep me a few days to make sure I didn't bust my wing on the cliffside.

Sunlight: *sigh* Well, that's good.

Peppermint: Why did you come back for me? You knew as well as anypony that I wasn't really in any danger. And you risked failing the squad. What makes you think-

Sunlight: I don't care. I've left too many behind already, I'm not leave anyone else behind, ok!

Peppermint: *stunned* . . . . .

Sunlight: *turns to go*

Peppermint: Hey Sunlight?

Sunlight: *turns back* Hm?

Peppermint: *hesitates* . . Winston Town. I'm from Winston Town.

Sunlight: *smiles* Really. That's just on the other side of Canterlot from my town.

Peppermint: *looks to the side* Yeah. . . . Thank you, Sunlight.

Sunlight: *smiles even bigger* No problem Pepper. *walks out of the tent*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*one year later*

*on the parade grounds*

Sargent: ALRIGHT RECRUITS!! YOUR TIME HERE IS ALMOST UP!! YOU HAVE TWO WEEKS BEFORE YOUR POSTINGS INTO THE ROYAL GUARD DEVISIONS ARE FINALIZED!! UNTIL THEN, YOU ARE DISMISSED FROM THE COMPOUND!! *smiles* ENJOY YOUR FREE TIME!! DISMISSED!!

Recruits: *all disperse some going to barracks and some leaving the compound*

Sunlight: *catches up to Peppermint* Hey! Pepper!

Peppermint: Hm? What's up?

Sunlight: So, what are you going to do for the next two weeks?

Peppermint: Well, I was just gonna hangout around here.

Sunlight: Aww, that's no fun! What about your parents?

Peppermint: *scowls* Sunny, I already told you. I am not going back.

Sunlight: *sighs* Right, right. *darting eyes* So in that case, would you maybe, wanna come to Withervale with me? *smiles*

Peppermint: *surprised* Really? I kinda don't have anywhere to stay.

Sunlight: Well you can stay with me. My house has plenty of bedrooms.

Peppermint: *gets a distant look in her eyes* . . . . .

Sunlight: *confused* Pepper? Hey Pepper! *waves hoof in front of Peppermint's face*

Peppermint: *snaps out of it* AH! Oh, yeah, umm. *blushes faintly* Yeah sure, that'd be pretty cool.

Sunlight: *happy Success* Yes!! Grab your duffel and meet me at the gates, we've gotta get going if we wanna catch the 12 O'clock train.

Peppermint: *heads towards the barracks* S-sure.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*a few minutes later at the compound gate*

Sunlight: Alright you set?

Peppermint: Yup, I'm ready to go.

Sunlight: Alright! Then we're off! *starts walking down the path away from the compound*

Peppermint: *walks after* So, you have your own house?

Sunlight: Well yes. It was my parents, but when they passed away they left it to my brother and I. And I've just never had the urge to move anywhere else. Well, you know, except for the Guard, and all. That place is my home, and It'll be great to see it again!

Peppermint: Wow, I'm sorry about your parents though.

Sunlight: Ehh, its alright. I've moved on from it. Mostly.

Peppermint: *raises an eyebrow* Oh. So, uh, where's your brother?

Sunlight: Oh he's in Canterlot right now. He's a pretty big artist right now, making all sorts of art for the nobles. I've seen a few news articles about his pieces. He's been doing pretty well up there. *looks in the direction of Canterlot*

Peppermint: *looks down in thought* hmm, yeah. *looks up* So tell me Sunny.

Sunlight: Yeah?

Peppermint: What exactly are we going to be doing for the next two weeks?

Sunlight: Well I was thinking about it, and the annual harvest festival is going to be in full swing when we're there!

Peppermint: I've never been to one of those, what's it like?

Sunlight: Oh well you've got all the stores open and selling their best specialty foods. All the games and booths everywhere. And a large dance that goes on all night long in town square, every night! Oh, and lots and lots of other ponies. Like, a lot of ponies.

Peppermint: Really? It gets that big of a crowd?

Sunlight: Well yeah, it brings in ponies from all the surrounding farms. Plus Withervale is already crammed pack so all those ponies just make even it more so.

Peppermint: Your town is that small?

Sunlight: Yup! One of the smallest sized towns with the largest population density in Equestria!

Peppermint: *surprised* Wow, well this is gonna be real fun.

Sunlight: I know right! *gives Pepper a big hug* We're gonna have so much fun Pepper! Just you wait!

Peppermint: *blushes slightly* Ehehehe right. I'm looking forward to it.

This, this isn't right . . . .

*On a small hill just outside of Withervale*

Sunlight: . . . . .

This shouldn't have happened. She should still be here. Those kids shouldn't be walking away from their best friend's grave. They should be laughing and playing. They should be carefree, but now, now. . . .

They saw her die, same as me. They're kids! They shouldn't have had to see that!

I should've known. I should've known she'd be thrown off course by Storm grabbing her. I should've known she'd hit the overhang.

I could've turned. I could've caught her.

I could have . . . . . but i didn't.

I should have known, but I didn't.

Peppermint: *walks up next to Sunlight gently* Sunlight. . . .

Sunlight: *doesn't notice* I could've caught her. . . . .

Peppermint: *drapes her wing over Sunlight's back, nudges her gently* Hey, Sunlight.

Sunlight: *comes out of her thoughts* Huh? Oh, Pepper.

Peppermint: *gently* It's time to go Sunlight, everypony else left already.

Sunlight: *distant* R-really? It's been that long?

Peppermint: Yeah, it has. *uses her wing to start guiding Sunlight away from the grave* Come on. Let's go home.

Sunlight: *lets Pepper guide her* Y-yeah, ok.

*later back in Sunlight's house*

Peppermint: *laying with Sunlight on the couch, rubbing her back with her wing* How're you feeling?

Sunlight: *staring at her hoof* I-I don't know. Empty.

Peppermint: *continues rubbing Sunlight's back* . . . .

Sunlight: I just, I could've saved her Pepper. I could have!

Peppermint: Sunlight, you did all that you could've possibly done and more. You managed to get to the exact spot that filly was going to land. Very few ponies can do that.

Sunlight: It didn't matter in the end. She still crashed, she still died, and I still could've done something about it.

Peppermint: What could you have done Sunlight. You said it yourself, that filly's-

Sunlight: Misty.

Peppermint: Right, Misty's decent path changed when her friends tried to grab her, and she was already too close for you to change direction. There was nothing you could've done.

Sunlight: But there was! I just wasn't thinking. I could've jumped to the overhang, or-or-

Peppermint: *grabs Sunlight's face and looks her in the eye* Sunny, there was nothing more you could've done. You need to let go.

Sunlight: *tears up* B-but there had to have been something!! There just had to!! I-I'm just too dumb, I didn't realize-

Peppermint: *shakes her slightly* Don't say those things! You are not dumb! You are the mare who led our squad to take down an Ursa Minor! You are the one who led us out of the Wintry North! And we were ready to follow you into Canterlot against the changelings! You are anything but dumb, Sunny! You are brilliant! Please don't let one mistake, even this one, make you doubt that!

Sunlight: *teary eyed* I-I. . . . *smiles* T-thank you Pepper. I-I needed that.

Peppermint: *joking tone* No problem Sunny. *squeezes her gently with her wing* After all, somepony needs to keep you level headed.

Sunlight: *forced laugh* Ehehe yeah, it is a good thing I have you around. *somber* I just can’t stop thinking about this. It just seems like there was something more I could’ve done.

Peppermint: I know Sunny. And I guess this isn’t something you can just forget in a day, but don’t let this get into your head too much. This probably won’t be the last time this sort of thing happens to you, or me.

Sunlight: *somber* Yeah, you’re right about that.

Peppermint: *thinks* Hmm. . . . . hey I know something that’ll make you feel better. *sits up*

Sunlight: *curious, turns to Pepper* Oh? What would that be?

Peppermint: *turns Sunlight’s head forward* Here, keep your head forward. *pulls Sunlight’s bangs back and starts curling her hair*

Sunlight: *mock surprise* No, the super serious Pepper is doing girly filly Sunlight's hair!? I'm shocked beyond belief!! *smiles*

Peppermint: *continues to curl Sunlight's hair* Yeah, yeah I know. But hey, you're the one who's always saying we should do each other's hair.

Sunlight: I'm almost surprised you even know how to do a pony's hair.

Peppermint: How do you think I get my hair to curl up like this?

Sunlight: That's where the "almost" comes in. I kind of thought your hair just poofed into that form every morning. *snickers*

Peppermint: Laugh it up Sunny, but hair like mine takes an expert to keep it from falling apart.

Sunlight: *teasing* Oh, so you're an "expert" at doing ponies hair.

Peppermint: Well I kind of have to be, my Mom certainly never taught me anything about beauty.

Sunlight: *somber* Did they send you another letter?

Peppermint: *crisp* Yes.

Sunlight: Wow, that's the first one in a while. Have you opened it?

Peppermint: Of course not. Why would I read anything from them?

Sunlight: Because Pepper, they're your family! And it's been over 10 months since the last letter. Maybe they've changed.

Peppermint: Well, I guess I know you're feeling better Sunny, focusing on my problems more than your own.

Sunlight: Pepper . . . .

Peppermint: There, you're all done now!

Sunlight: *sighs* Fine Pepper, you win this round. *turns to face Pepper* How do I look?

Peppermint: Damn you're pretty cute.

Sunlight: *blushes* Aww you think I'm cute.

Peppermint: *stands up from the coach to hide her blush* Yeah yeah, don't get used to it.

Sunlight: *starts laughing* Bwahahaha!

Peppermint: *turns to Sunlight confused* What's so funny, Sunny?

Sunlight: Oh, hehe, just the thought of you, being any kind of romantic. Haha! It's too much.

Peppermint: *scrunches face* HEY! I can be romantic!!

Sunlight: *breaks out laughing, rolls over onto her back* BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

Peppermint: *scowls with scrunch face* Ugghh.

Sunlight: AHAHAHAHA! *realizes something* ahahaha. . . . . .

Peppermint: *notices* Huh? What's wrong Sunny?

Sunlight: I, I just, it almost doesn't seem right. I'm here, having fun with my best friend, while those kids just lost their's.

Peppermint: *sighs* Damn, it was working so well. Sunny you can't keep worrying about them. They have each other, they'll make it through this.

Sunlight: I know but, I wish, there was something I could do, you know. Something to keep this from ever happening again.

Peppermint: *groans under her breathe* Sunny there's not really anything you could physically do. You could be the quickest, most reactive pony ever, but even then, you couldn't stop every bad thing from happening.

Sunlight: *sigh* Yeah, I can't. *idea* But a team of ponies could.

Peppermint: *stands over Sunlight* Oh no Sunny, I know that face. Don't be getting any ideas about this, you already have a team. Our squad, the Guard, that's your team.

Sunlight: I know Pepper, but think about it, a team of ponies that could react to sudden situations instantly because they'd be everywhere!

Peppermint: Sunny, that sounds like a good idea, it sounds like a great idea even, but you're already in the Guard.

Sunlight: *sigh* I know, I know.

Peppermint: Don't get me wrong Sunny, it is a really great idea, and I'm sure you'll find a way to turn that idea into a strategy for us somewhere down the line, but it's just not going to happen here.

Sunlight: *long sigh* Yeah, I guess you're right.

Peppermint: *leans down and gives Sunlight a wing hug* Hey, it is a great idea Sunny, just like all your other ones. But it's not something you can pull off here. If you want, we could send some letters to the mayor here, and they could probably do something with this.

Sunlight: Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.

Peppermint: *cocky* Yeah, I have my moments too.

Sunlight: *holds in a laugh* Psshht! Come on Pepper, you've had plenty of good ideas before.

Peppermint: Not nearly as many as you.

Sunlight: But they've all been just as good.

Peppermint: Nahh, yours are always better anyway.

Sunlight: Come on Pepper, don't be so modest.

Peppermint: I'm not, I'm being honest. You've always been the better leader.

Sunlight: *shakes her head* Oh Pepper . . . . . . *sighs* Thank you.

Peppermint: Hmm? For what?

Sunlight: For making me feel better. For helping me through this. For just being here.

Peppermint: Hey, that's what best friends are for right?

Sunlight: Yeah, best friends.

Peppermint: *stands up* Don't get sappy on me Sunny. We've still got supplies to get before our train leaves.

Sunlight: *rolls off the coach onto her hooves, stretches* Yeah, I guess we do. *takes a deep breathe* How long do we have?

Peppermint: Our train arrives at 7:10. We need to be on it before 7:20. *hooves Sunlight a list* Here's your half of the list.

Sunlight: *looks the list over* Alright then, we have five hours. I'll see you at the train then?

Peppermint: *walks over to the door* Yup! *slings her bag over her back* Bet I can get mine done before you.

Sunlight: *looks up from her list* Wait, what!?

Peppermint: *opens the door* See you at the train! *zips out the door*

Sunlight: PEPPER!! *sighs* Figures she'd make a competition out of groceries and hair brushes. *calmly grabs her own bag and locks the door on her way out*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*later in town*

Sunlight: *sprinting through town* Dangit Pepper! You just had to give me the items located on the opposite sides of town!! You're the one with the stinking wings!! You should be flying back and forth!!

????: Honey stop! There's nothing you can do about this!

Sunlight: *ears perk up, slows down, curious* What was that?

????: But I saw that filly falling! If I had done something maybe that poor kid wouldn't be gone now.

????: Dear, there's nothing you can do about that now. Let somepony else handle those things.

????: *sighs* Yeah yeah.

Were they just talking about, never mind. Forget about it. Pepper's probably already at the train.

Sunlight: *continues running*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*a few minutes later*

Sunlight: *continuing to run past groups of ponies*

????: There's got to be something I could do to help.

????: What could you possibly do?

????: I-I don't know, but there's got to be something to keep such a horrible thing from happening again.

????: Yeah, I just wish somepony knew what to do.

J-just ignore it. Just ignore ALL of it! It's just ponies gossiping.

????: This just made things worse. First all the crime, now that poor filly.

????: Yeah, somepony should do something about it.

Its nothing!! Keep going!!

Cherry: I really wish we could do something.

Sunlight: *skids to a stop and turns towards the foals* T-them too?!

Cocoa: I do too. But what can we do. We're just some foals.

Cherry: T-there has to be something!

Storm: *thinking deeply*

Cocoa: S-storm? Do you have any ideas?

Storm: *sighs* No, but we'll think of something. There is something we can do, I just know there is. There is something we can do for Misty. There just is.

Cherry: I miss her.

Cocoa: *puts his wing around Cherry* I miss her too Cherry.

Storm: We'll make this right guys. I promise we will. Come on, let's go. *leads the group away*

Sunlight: *tears up* Dammit. So many, there's so many ponies, that want to do something. I-I know what to do, but, Pepper, the Guard. They need me, but, everypony in Withervale, I can help them. . . . But . . . Dammit! *turns and sprints towards the train station*

Dammit dammit dammit. I have to. I have to!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*a short time later at the train*

Sunlight: *arrives panting and out of breathe* Ok, the train's already here. Now where is Pepper?

*tap, tap, tap*

Sunlight: Huh? *looks towards the tapping* Ok, she's already on board. Oh Pepper please forgive me. *boards the train and moves to Pepper's room*

Peppermint: *slinging her bag up onto the rack* Hey Sunny, looks like I won. What took you so long?

Sunlight: Pepper I, I'm not going back.

Peppermint: *stunned* W-what?

Sunlight: I-I can't go back Pepper. I have to stay here.

Peppermint: *worried and confused* What are you talking about Sunny?

Sunlight: *desperate* Pepper, what we talked about, the idea, it can work! I heard, ponies, so many ponies talking about wanting to do something, wanting to help, and, and I can do that! I can give them a way to help!

Peppermint: Sunny, t-there's, you can't! You're with us, you're in the Guard already!

Sunlight: I know but, Pepper, I-I have to! I have to make things right!

Peppermint: But there's nothing to make right!! You did nothing wrong!!

Sunlight: But I did Pepper!! I did and this is the chance to make it right!!

Peppermint: *disbelief* So, so that's it then. You-you're just going to abandon everything! TWO YEARS, we trained together, so we could make a difference, TWO YEARS, we spent learning and preparing, and you're just going to throw that all away!! FOR ONE DEAD FILLY!!!??

Conductor: ALL ABOARD!!

Sunlight: *backs out of the room* Pepper, I have too.

Peppermint: *desperate, angry* WHAT ABOUT US HUH!!??

Sunlight: *sad* The squad will do great with you leading them Pepper.

Peppermint: *tearing up* That's not what I meant and you know it! What about US!?

Sunlight: *turns to go* Pepper, I-I can't.

Peppermint: *reaches out her hoof* Sunny, please, wait I . . . I . . . . *bites her lip*

Sunlight: *stops* Please Pepper, please don't say it.

Peppermint: I . . . . g-good luck.

Sunlight: *breathes out* T-thank you Pepper.

Peppermint: *hangs head* . . . . . .

Sunlight: S-see ya. *jumps off the train as it departs*

Peppermint: . . . . .

Sunlight: *lands on the ground past the station, stumbling and falling in tears* OOF!! *lays there sobbing* Oh dear Celestia, I can't believe I did that. I-I did it again. It happened again.

Sunlight: *picks herself off the ground* But I have a reason this time, a REAL reason. *starts walking away from the station, holding back her tears* And I better put it into action. I won't cry, I won't fail this. I have to succeed, for the town, for those kids, . . . . I have to, please Pepper, please forgive me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*a long walk later, at the Town hall, approaching dusk*

Sunlight: *walks up to the entrance* I really hope the Mayor's still here. *opens the door and walks in*

Huh, Town Hall's a lot smaller than I remember it.

Secretary: *clears her throat* Excuse me Miss, do you have business here? It's past office hours.

Sunlight: *walks up to the secretary* Actually yes I do. I would like to see the Mayor if they're still in.

Secretary: *looks Sunlight up and down* I'm sorry but Mayor Withers is currently too busy to deal with any farming issues.

Mr. Withers?! Farming issues? Oh, the dirt from the station.

Secretary: If you want I can make an appointment for sometime next week-

Sunlight: Nono, it's not a farming issue, and I'm not a farmer. I have some information that Mayor Withers will find very useful.

Secretary: *scowls and looks Sunlight up and down again* Hmmm, fine, but make it quick. *gets up and leads Sunlight to Mayor Wither's office*

I wonder, is "Mayor Withers" who I think it is?

Secretary: *opens the office door* Mayor Withers, you have a visitor here. She says she has some important information for you.

Sunlight: *follows her inside, shocked* Oh my gosh it is!

Mayor Withers: *looking down at his desk, agitated* Pearl not now! I thought you were going to- *looks up and sees Sunlight, smiles surprised* Sunlight!?

Sunlight: Roman Withers! I thought it might be you.

Roman: *surprised* Oh my gosh Sunlight! I-how, when, *clears throat, shock turns to happiness* It's so great to see you! *goes to Sunlight*

Sunlight: *steps up and hugs Roman* It's great to see you too Roman! *cries and laughs a little* Haha.

Roman: *notices her tears* Hey are you ok?

Sunlight: *wipes away tears* Yeah, I'm fine, its just, I'm so glad to see a friendly face right now. *breathes in and out* Oh wow, so, you did it, you're the mayor. I shouldn't be surprised but-

Roman: Yeah I know, I didn't really expect to get the position this soon myself. But I earned it, and now I'm here! But what about you? Last I heard you were in the Royal Guard?

Sunlight: *somber* Yeah, I was until recently.

Roman: *worried* Why, what happened?

Sunlight: Oh, that's a long story for another time. *remembers* But, that's not why I'm here.

Roman: Oh right, Pearl said you have something for me? *remembers as well* Speaking of, I forgot to introduce you. *turns to Pearl* Sunlight this is Pearl Point, my secretary and good friend. *turns back to Sunlight* Pearl this my foalhood friend Sunlight Days. She's the one who helped me get my cutie mark.

Pearl: *surprised* This is her?

Roman: *proud* Yup!

Pearl: Wow, I honestly thought she'd be taller.

Sunlight: *confused* Huh?

Roman: *embarrassed* Oh nothing, I've just, told her a lot about my childhood is all.

Sunlight: *raises her eyebrow* Oh really now?

Roman: Uhhh, *clears throat* Anyway, you have some important information for me?

Sunlight: *remembers* Oh yes, its not so much information, more of a plan.

Roman: *moves back behind his desk* Oh?

Sunlight: Yes, you, uh, remember the incident from a few days ago?

Roman: *face falls* Oh yes, I haven't been able to forget about that until, well now actually. *somber* And I'm so sorry you were caught in the middle of that Sunlight.

Sunlight: *pained* It's ok Roman, I got myself involved in all of that. You have no reason to be sorry for that.

Roman: *sigh* Right, well I wish Canterlot felt the same. They've been up my tail for days now about rectifying this whole situation. And because of the increase in crime they want me to stop it now before it gets too out of hoof. Add to that the increasing complaints from the citizens, and I'm just trying to find a way to make it all work.

Pearl: Canterlot's "solution" isn't really helping matters either.

Roman: Yes, they want to simply punish one of the ponies involved with Ms. Snow's incident. But the problem is I can't punish anyone related to it!

Sunlight: *hurt expression* Well I-

Roman: Don't even think about it Sunlight! I've already granted full protection to both you and those foals involved with this. But you all aren't really the issue. Canterlot wants the parents punished or the construction workers reprimanded. But I can't do that either! None of the parents were responsible in any way! And the construction workers hadn't broken any specific rules. I'm just stressed out right now about this whole mess.

Sunlight: Well, what if I told you my plan could fix all of those issues.

Roman: *ears perk up, intrigued* Sunlight, if you have a solution to this mess, I'm all ears.

Sunlight: Ok, well here's what I have in mind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*a few days later, in town hall*

Sunlight: *looks out onto the crowd as they enter the main hall, sighs* Ok, almost time.

Roman: *walks up to Sunlight* Hey, you ready?

Sunlight: *breathes in, and out* Yeah, yeah I'm ready.

Roman: *smiles* Don't worry Sunlight, you've got this. It's an amazing plan, and they'll think so too.

Sunlight: Yeah, yeah you're right. *spots Cherry, Cocoa, and Storm enter the hall, smiles and waves at them*

Foals: *spot Sunlight and wave back, then move to sit at the front of the hall*

Roman: Well, looks like that's as many as we're going to get, time to get started.

Sunlight: *takes in a breathe* Alright.

Roman: *steps up* Greetings citizens of Withervale. I am aware that many of you have concerns regarding the tragedy that occurred during the Harvest Festival last week. Well I am glad to say, that I have an answer to your concerns. My good friend here Sunlight Days is the planner behind this solution, and she will tell you of the details.

Sunlight: *steps up, looks over the crowd* Wow, there's a lot of ponies here. Doesn't matter, what you say does. Hello, everypony. Just as Mayor Withers said, I do have a solution. I've heard, many of you saying that you want to see a change, that you want to help make that change. I know that feeling, as I have felt it as well. It is a feeling of helplessness, of feeling like you have no power to change the wrong in the world. But with this, I believe we can all make the difference we want to make.

Pearl: *walks up to a board behind Sunlight and writes on it*

Sunlight: What I'm proposing, is the formation of a volunteer organization, that will be able to respond to any situation, much like the tragedy that occurred last week, instantaneously. You might be wondering, how? Well, the answer is simple, it is because our organization will be everywhere, at once!

Pearl: *finishes writing on the board, steps away*

Sunlight: The Withervale Instant Response Team will be made up of ponies from all over Withervale who want to make a difference in our town. They will be trained to react to most situations, and be able to get to sudden situations sooner than our Emergency fire and medic ponies could. They will be able to prevent sudden tragedies from occurring, and will be able to stop the basic crime that is tormenting our town.

Crowd: *listening in awe*

Sunlight: But, I keep mentioning "them". This is the only problem in this plan as the "them" do not yet exist. It is you, Withervale, who must be the ones who step up and protect our town. And so now, I ask you all, who among you will join me in protecting our town?

Crowd: *begin cheering, stomping and raising their hooves, while some instead leave the building*

Sunlight: *hears the applause, and tears up with joy* T-thank you ponies, thank you.

Cherry: Ms. Sunlight! Ms. Sunlight!!

Sunlight: *hears Cherry as the crowd dies down* Oh, yes little one?

Cherry: Why is it called Wirt?

Sunlight: *confused* Wirt? *looks back at the board and sees the acronym, blushes embarrassed* Oh, uhh, its a work in progress.

Crowd: *chuckles lightly*

Sunlight: *clears her throat, recovering her composure* Right, anyways, that is only the basic information of this solution. We will now break up anyone who wants to join us into groups where we will go over the finer details of this organization and what you will be doing as a member of this group.

Crowd: *starts breaking up into groups as aids direct them into smaller meeting rooms*

Roman: *walks up to Sunlight* You did great Sunlight, it worked.

Sunlight: *sighs in relief* Yes, it actually worked. I, kind of can't believe it.

Roman: *chuckles* Yeah, I know the feeling. I have it almost every day.

Sunlight: Wow, I don't envy your job then Roman.

Roman: *smiles* Hey, you gotta love your work. *starts heading to a meeting room* Now come on, we've got ponies to brief.

Sunlight: *follows after him* Right!

It worked, it actually worked! Oh Pepper, I wish you could see this. I wish you could know. But I know you'll be a great leader for them, better than me even. Please Pepper, be safe.

EXTRA EXTRA NEW GROUP FOUNDED TO COUNTER CRIME!!

NEW GROUP WITHERVALE INSTANT RESPONSE TEAM FOUNDED BY MAYOR WITHERS AND SUNLIGHT DAYS!!

WIRT MEMBER STOPS PETTY ROBBERY!!!
WIRT MEMBER SAVES FOAL FROM WELL!!!

WIRT FOUNDER SUNLIGHT DAYS BEGINS TRAINING NEW MEMBERS!!!

RUMOR THAT WIRT FOUNDER SUNLIGHT DAYS IS A ROYAL GUARD DESERTER!!

WIRT PROVE THEMSELVES AFTER STOPPING POTENTIALLY DISASTROUS FIRE

WIRT SWELLS WITH NEW MEMBERS!!
WIRT FOUNDER BEGINS NEW TRAINING REGIMENT FOR ALL MEMBERS!!

WIRT MEMBERS STOPPING CRIME!!

MAYOR WITHERS OFFICIALLY MAKES THE WIRT A BRANCH OF WITHERVALE'S GOVERNMENT!!

REMAINING FIRE FIGHTING AND LAW ENFORCERS MERGED WITH THE WIRT!!!

RUMORS PERSIST THAT WIRT FOUNDER SUNLIGHT DAYS IS OVERWORKING HER "VOLUNTEERS"!!!

WIRT MEMBERS SAVE A DOZEN PONIES AFTER CONSTRUCTION SITE COLLAPSES!!!!!

WIRT MEMBER QUITS FROM FOUNDER'S "UNFAIR TRAINING"

WIRT ELIMINATES ALL CRIME IN WITHERVALE!!!

A DOZEN WIRT MEMBERS INJURED AFTER TRAINING ACCIDENT!!

TOWNSPONIES QUESTION WIRT LEADER'S METHODS!!

WIRT MEMBERS QUIT AFTER "CRAZY" NEW TRAINING!!!

WIRT MEMBERS BEGIN MASS HOUSING FOR HOMELESS!!

WIRT MEMBERS EXPRESS WORRY ABOUT FOUNDER'S STATE OF MIND!!

HARVEST FESTIVAL APPROACHES, WIRT MEMBERS GROW MORE WORRIED!!!

*Sunlight's Office, Town Hall, one week before the Harvest Festival*

Sunlight: *writing on a top down map of Withervale*

Hmmm, if there's three ponies here, here and here that would cover falling angles from 180 degrees around Market Square. And if there's two ponies on top of Town Hall they could see across the entire town. And then-

Roman: *enters Sunlight's office* Hey Sunlight, I've got those reports you - *notices how engrossed she is in her work* Hey, Sunlight.

Sunlight: *too focused to notice Roman*

Roman: *steps up next to Sunlight* Hey, Sunlight! *taps her on the shoulder* Sun-

Sunlight: *jerks back surprised* AHH! *realizes who it is* Oh, Roman, its you. Uh, sorry about that.

Roman: It's fine, but are you doing okay? You don't look too great. Did you get enough sleep last night?

Sunlight: *sighs* I can't afford to sleep Roman. There's too much that needs to get done before the Harvest Festival.

Roman: *raises his eyebrow confused* What do you mean? The events are all planned and taken care of, decorations are already being put up, and the weather team is working to make the perfect fall scenery. Everything is planned and being put in place.

Sunlight: I meant for my team Roman. I still have to figure out where everypony's going to be stationed.

Roman: *long sigh* Sunlight, you can't assign every member of the team to a spot and make them sit there. We've talked about this, it'll be fine if they're all walking around enjoying the festival.

Sunlight: *shakes her head* No, Roman it won't be! What if something happens and no one's watching!

Roman: Sunlight, we have over 200 dedicated ponies on this team. Every one of them remembers what happened last year and is ready to stop anything like it from happening again. But they also want to enjoy the festival, they can't do that if they're stuck in one spot the whole time. They're not soldiers Sunlight.

Sunlight: *turns away from Roman* No, Roman that's not enough! I can't accept that no one will be watching if something goes wrong! Everyone has to have a plan so they can react to ANY situation!

Roman: *sigh* Sunlight that kind of action is what's causing these accidents! They're getting bad, ponies are starting to question us and lose faith in you. If ponies stop believing you can lead this organization they'll stop trusting in us completely. And if that happens it could badly delay our team when something bad does go wrong.

Sunlight: *looks back at the map* Don't worry Roman, after this Harvest Festival goes perfectly nopony will doubt our team or me anymore. It just has to be perfect.

Roman: Sunlight you're not seeing the real problem here!

Sunlight: And what would that be?

Roman: You! When we started this team a year ago you were so full of hope and energy. But you've lost that energy, you're never happy anymore, and you've become harsh and overbearing to everypony on our team! You've become something else, something that cares more about procedure and regulations than the ponies you're leading. And its gotten ponies hurt. And if it keeps up, more ponies will get needlessly hurt. You used to have a passion for this that just pulled ponies to you, it drove them to do the very best they could do for this town. They believed in you, and you believed in them. But I haven't felt that passion from you in months, heck you haven't even smiled in months!

Sunlight: I-

Roman: *interrupts her* And if you can't see what you're becoming, then I have no choice.

Sunlight: *questioning* What do you mean?

Roman: I'm removing you from the WIRT.

Sunlight: *shocked* W-WHAT!!??

Roman: Until the old Sunlight comes back, you are not to give any orders or commands to any WIRT member, and they will not head anything you say.

Sunlight: *completely stunned* I, but, you can't!

Roman: Sunlight please, I just want my friend back.

Sunlight: *hardens her face glaring into Roman's eyes* . . . . . *turns and broodingly stomps out the door*

Roman: *hangs his head and sighs* I'm sorry Sunlight.

*traveling the town streets, the next day*

Sunlight: *wondering aimlessly down the streets of Withervale, her head to the ground, deep in thought*

I can't believe it. I just can't believe it! Why did he do that! He's going to ruin everything! I had everything planned out perfectly!! Nothing was going to happen without somepony noticing, but now, now nopony will be watching. Heck a filly could just plummet right from the sky and nopony would notice them at all!

There has to be someway I can still get everypony to their positions for the Festival. Maybe if I mail the town layouts to everypony and say its from Roman they'll-

????: *pops up in front of Sunlight out of nowhere* HIYA!!

Sunlight: *jumps back surprised out of her skin* AHHHHHHH!!

????: *smiling big and wide* AAAHHHHHH to you too! *extends her hoof out* Hi! My name's Pinkie Pie, what's yours?

Sunlight: *calms down and scowls* Sorry miss but I don't have time to chit chat. *turns to leave*

Pinkie: Oh but I'm not here to chit chat, I'm here to teach you! *points hoof to Sunlight*

Sunlight: *stops in her tracks, turning to Pinkie raising her eyebrow, unamused* What?

Pinkie: I'm here to teach you silly!

Sunlight: What in the name of Equestria makes you think you're supposed to teach me anything?

Pinkie: *super speed talking* Well, I was going about my day when suddenly my Pinkie sense hit me! *her body twiches as she lists each action* It was a double knee twitch right eye flutter left ear flop back tingle!! That means somepony needs me to teach them,*whispers to Sunlight* its a rare one!! * jumps around emphasizing each action* So I quickly ran around Ponyville but couldn't find who it was I needed to teach. Then I realized it was somepony that wasn't in Ponyville! So I started going around to the next town and searched all over for the pony I needed to teach. But it wasn't anypony there. Then I came here and my Pinkie sense went off the charts! I knew it was somepony in this town! So I trotted around looking for the pony but then found this neato party supply store and just had to go inside!! Then I came out and my Pinkie Sense went crazy again! The pony was close, I looked around and noticed you were the only pony that wasn't smiling! Then I knew it was you!! So I came over here and introduced myself, and you went AHHHHH and I went AAAAAAHHHHHHH and here we are!! *smiles without missing a beat*

Sunlight: *brain slowly processes what just happened* . . . . . I-I, what?

Pinkie: So are you ready to get started!?

Sunlight: *shakes her head* I-I, No.

Pinkie: *confused* Huh?

Sunlight: I said no. I'm sorry Ms. Pie but I don't have the time to spare for some random pony to teach me some random thing I don't need. *starts walking away*

Pinkie: But, it's not some random thing! I have to teach you how to smile!

Sunlight: I don't need to be taught how to smile.

Pinkie: Oh really? When was the last time you smiled?

Sunlight: I've smiled plenty since- *suddenly stops, remembering what Roman said, echoing through her mind*

". . .heck you haven't even smiled in months!"

How does she know?

Sunlight: *glances back at a beaming Pinkie Pie*

Who the hay is this mare??!!

Maybe. . . maybe its worth a shot.

Sunlight: *turns back around to face Pinkie sighing* Alright, Ms. Pie, lets see what you have to teach me.

Pinkie: *instantly crushes Sunlight in a massive hug, happy as can be* Oh yes! This going to be so much FUN!!

Sunlight: *being crushed, yet notices the stares from other ponies, calls to Pinkie in a strangled voice* O-okay, b-but can we, m-maybe go s-somewhere less, guh, public!

Pinkie: *drops Sunlight gently, still smiling* Oki dokey lokey!

*a short while later, on a hill at the edge of town*

Pinkie: *does a little bounce* Alrighty let's get started!!

Sunlight: *sits down with a huff* Let's get this over with. Where do we start?

Pinkie: *pops up behind Sunlight* We start by finding your inner happiness. And then we-

Sunlight: *incredulous* Wait, wait what? It's just smiling. That's not hard, see. *smiles*

Pinkie: *swings her head back and for* Nuh uh uhh. That's not a smile.

Sunlight: *frowns* What are you talking about, of course its a smile!

Pinkie: *touches her hoof to her chest* But you're not smiling from your heart. A real smile is full of happiness and cheer and so much joyous laughter you can barely hold it all in!

Sunlight: *deadpans* It's just a smile.

Pinkie: But smiles are important! They show how happy you are, to yourself and to other ponies! They can make you feel happy if you're down in the dumps! And they can turn even the worst of times into a laughter fest!

Sunlight: *disbelief* How, exactly can you tell if a pony's really smiling then?

Pinkie: *gets close and points to her eye, whispering dramatically* It's in the eyes!

Sunlight: *raises her eyebrow* It's in the eyes?

Pinkie: Yup! And, I know the best way for you to learn it! *music starts playing from somewhere*

Sunlight: What? *ears perk up* Where's that coming from*

Pinkie: *does a little spin, holding out her hoof* Come on! I bet you can sing great!

Sunlight: *realizes what's going on and frowns unimpressed* You have got to be kidding me.

Pinkie: *still holding her hoof, the music starts repeating* Come on, let's get your groove thang moving!

Sunlight: *her expression doesn't change in the slightest* No.

Pinkie: *strains to keep smiling, the music starts to falter* Eh, he he. Come on, it'll be fun.

Sunlight: *scowl grows deeper, emphasizes her words with a hoof stomp* I said, no.

Pinkie: *music falters and dies into silence, while her hair deflates slightly, and her smile flips into a sad frown* B-but, everypony likes a song.

Sunlight: *stands up* This was a waste of my time. *turns to go* I can't believe I spent all morning playing sing-a-long with a big pink child.

Pinkie: B-but, we haven't ev-

Sunlight: No, just, just don't Ms. Pie, ok. We're done here.

Pinkie: *looks down at the ground thinking for anything, then gets an idea with a happy little light bulb* You know, there was a time when I thought my friends had all left me. I thought I'd done something wrong and they didn't want to hang out with me anymore.

Sunlight: *stays silent and keeps walking*

Pinkie: So I did what you're doing, I stopped smiling, I acted nasty and super suspicious to other ponies. But my friends came to me, and they helped me realize that they hadn't abandoned me. They helped me to smile again.

Sunlight: . . . . . . .

Pinkie: Do you have friends?

Sunlight: *snaps back* Of course I have friends! They- . . . . . *stops in her tracks*

They're. . . Not. . . . . many.

. . . . .

Oh Celestia.

I haven't seen Forest or Fen in almost four years.

Frost was- . . . . .

And, Pepper . . . . .

My squad . . . . .

Misty . . . . .

I've, I've lost most of them.

But, the kids, Cocoa, Cherry, Storm. They're still with me, even after what I've done to everypony else, they're still my friends.

And, Roman. He's still trying, oh Celestia he is still my friend. And he's been trying to help me this whole time!

But, everypony else, everyone on the team. Can I still be their friend?

Maybe, but, then again maybe not.

But, I, I want to be . . . .

Sunlight: *slowly turns back towards Pinkie with her head down* I, I used to have a lot of friends. B-but now they're not many. And the ones I do have, I'm afraid I might lose them too. *looks up at Pinkie with tears in her eyes* I-I don't want to lose anyone else.

Pinkie: *hair starts to re-inflate, walks towards Sunlight* You don't have too. Your friends want to help you, you just have to let them.

Sunlight: *sobs a few times* H-how do I, do that?

Pinkie: *puts a hoof on Sunight's shoulder, hair once again poofy* You can start, by giving them a smile! *smiles herself*

Sunlight: *surprised at first then begins to laugh and sob at the same time happily*

Pinkie: There! Now that's a smile!!

Sunlight: *laughter dies down with her sobbing, still smiling* Thank you Ms Pie.

Pinkie: *waves her hoof* Oh please, call me Pinkie. All my friends do!

Sunlight: Alright then. *remembers and holds out her hoof* Oh, I'm Sunlight. Sunlight Days.

Pinkie: *grabs Sunlight's hoof and happily shakes it* Hello Sunlight, its great to meet you, even though we kinda met like an hour ago!

Sunlight: *laughs lightly* Thank you, Pinkie, I can't even begin to say how much you've helped me here.

Pinkie: *smiles knowingly* Weeeeellllllll, there is still some stuff left to learn.

Sunlight: *smirks knowingly* Well, I do want to learn more. And, I believe you had a song you wanted to sing about it?

Pinkie: *almost explodes from her excitement, pumping her hoof into the air* YEEESSS!!! *music starts to play once more with vigor*

*late the next morning, outside Mayor Wither's Office, Town hall*

Pearl: Alright Sunlight. Roman should be finishing up with his meeting now. I'll go in and let him know your here.

Sunlight: Ok, thanks Pearl.

Pearl: *smiles and nods* No problem. *goes inside and shuts the door*

Sunlight: *breathes in deeply, and then out slowly*

Pinkie: *friendlily nudges Sunlight* Hey, don't worry Sunlight! You're gonna do absolutely amazing!

Sunlight: *laughs lightly* Thanks Pinkie. You know you didn't have to come with me.

Pinkie: *mock shock* What! And leave my new friend hanging? Never!

Pearl: *opens the door* Sunlight, Roman's ready.

Sunlight: *steps through the door* Here we go.

Roman: *turns around from window, fixing Sunlight with a skeptical glance* Hello Sunlight. I just finished up meeting with the rest of the WIRT leaders. We've finished planning out how the team will be split up during the Harvest Festival.

Sunlight: *stops in front of Roman's desk wincing slightly* Right, w-well that's, good.

Roman: *neutral face* So, what did you want to talk about?

Sunlight: *breathes in and out once more* Roman, I wanted to apologize. I wanted to protect everypony in this town so much, I forgot about everypony I was leading. And when you tried to make me realize what I was doing, I did nothing but brush you aside. I kept on ignoring everyone around me telling me to stop. And if you hadn't pulled me out like you did, I could've destroyed this whole team. I almost ruined everything, and for all that I'm sorry.

Roman: *keeps his neutral face* Well-

Sunlight: But now I've realized what's wrong. And thanks to my new friend, I know how to fix things.

Roman: *starts walking around his desk to Sunlight* You know, that won't be easy. A lot of ponies have lost their trust in you. A lot of the townsponies don't think you should be leading this team anymore.

Sunlight: *faces Roman with a determined smile* I know. But I'm not going to just give up. I have to try. And I'll keep trying until I've made things right, I owe it to everypony on the team to give them my best. And right now, my best is trusting in everyone else's judgement.

Roman: *stops in front of Sunlight* . . . . . *smiles* Now that's the Sunlight I know. *grabs Sunlight in a big hug*

Pinkie: *squees in the background*

Pearl: *finds something interesting to look at on the floor*

Sunlight: *hugs back* Thank you Roman.

Roman: *laughs lightly* You're welcome. I'm just glad to have my friend back.

Sunlight: Well, it's good to be back. *whispers to Roman* But you may want to stop with the hugs, you might make Pearl jealous.

Roman: *blushes slightly and laughs, shaking his head* Haha, it is good to have you back.

Sunlight: *smirks at Roman* You already said that.

Roman: That's cause I mean it.

Sunlight: *gets determined* Well, I'm ready to get started Roman. Is there anything left for the Harvest Festival?

Roman: *laughs* There are a few things, but you may want to get some rest before you get back to it. You still look terrible.

Sunlight: *glances at her hair* Oh, right.

Pinkie: *pops up between Roman and Sunlight* This is no time to rest! This calls for a party!!!! *jumps into the air with confetti exploding everywhere*

*on a hill on the outskirts of Withervale, almost noon*

Sunlight: *lounging within the shade of a tree, sighing and breathing in the soft noon wind*

????: *slightly taunting yet conversational and friendly* Well hello again my Little Light.

Sunlight: *without opening her eyes responds cheerfully* Hello Darkness! How are you today?

Darkness: *sarcastic* Oh you know, same old same old. Trapped in your mind, planing ways to get out, plotting your downfall, that sort of thing.

Sunlight: Ooh sounds like you're pretty busy then.

Darkness: Yes, I am a very busy demon. But enough about me, how are you on this gloriously Sunny day, and why are you not leading you're knock off Guard Brigade?

Sunlight: *ignores the taunt* Roman said I've been overworking myself, again. I don't really know what he means, I only worked like 12 hours a day this past week. That's nothing compared to the Guard, so I figured it wasn't much. Of course Roman thought otherwise.

Darkness: Yes Roman, always seems to be looking out for you that one is. It's so beautifully sickening.

Sunlight: Yeah, he does that a lot. Said if I don't take a day of and relax he'll take me off duty for a week. *happily sighs and smiles* The downsides of your best friend being mayor. They're also your boss.

Darkness: Hmm, your friend was really going to take away a week of your pay? That's quite scandalous, don't you think?

Sunlight: *nonchalant* Ehh, I can go without a week's pay. I don't exactly use much money anyway. The house has been paid for for years, I get my own water, and my bills are already paid. *realizes* Come to think of it I really only use my money for food nowadays.

Darkness: Speaking of food, how is your little farm doing?

Sunlight: *slow sigh* It's not. I still can't grow anything, after ten years of trying every cure-all, potion, and spell I haven't grown a single thing.

Darkness: *taunting* Aww, maybe you just don't have the "magic" for it.

Sunlight: Yeah right, Mom and Dad were both farmers, its my blood Darkness. I just have to keep trying, I'll figure it out eventually.

Darkness: Yes and in the meantime you'll just let all that rich, fertile, empty farmland go to waste not growing anything.

Sunlight: *disregards the bait* I'll use it someday. *thinks for a second* You know Darkness, one of these days I'm going to give you a proper name.

Darkness: *curious* Oh? And what prompted this sudden urge to gift me with something that I don't need?

Sunlight: *theorizing* Well if you have a name that'll give you an identity, and that identity will make that urge to completely destroy my mind and take my body, much much smaller than it is right now. And then I'll be one step closer to making you nice and sweet and happy.

Darkness: *chuckles* I have to say Little Light, that is the most amusing attempt you've come up with yet.

Sunlight: Oh come on you aren't the least bit excited about the prospects of having a name?

Darkness: Why would I care about having a name that sounds like your's?

Sunlight: Because it would-

????: HEY SUNLIGHT!!

Sunlight: *opens eyes and sits up looking towards the voice* Huh?

Storm: *flying in towards Sunlight waves*

Sunlight: Oh its Storm! Sorry Darkness, I gotta go, talk to you later.

Darkness: *fading out* Very well Little Light. I look forward to it.

Storm: *comes in and landings dramatically beside Sunlight, holding an envelope in her mouth*

Sunlight: Well hello Storm. That was a pretty impressive landing there.

Storm: *boastfully proclaims* If wath wathen if! *lays the envelope down to try again* It was wasn't it!

Sunlight: Looks like the extra flight practices are working out for you huh?

Storm: *waves it off* Nahhh, I aced that months ago. I'm getting real practice, and learning some real tricks with my new job. *stands proudly*

Sunlight: *smiles knowingly* You mean delivering mail?

Storm: *doesn't miss a beat in answering* Yes!

Sunlight: *rolls her eyes smiling* Well I see you've brought me a letter. Would that be my mail?

Storm: *remembers* Huh? Oh! That's from Mayor Withers, he wanted me to give you that before I started my route for the day.

Sunlight: *curious* Oh really? Did he say what it's for?

Storm: Nope, he just said to read it right away.

Sunlight: Hmm, well ok then. Thank you for delivering this Storm.

Storm: *stands up tall again* No problem Ms. Sunlight! Just doing my job, speaking of which, I gotta get going. Seeya! *takes off and zooms away*

Sunlight: See you later Stor- Oh, she's already gone. *looks to the letter and opens it*

Dear Sunlight,
I know I gave you the day off and I don't want you working today,
but I'd like you to stop by Town Hall when you can. I found something
that I think you'll want to see. Come to the records room when you
get here.
-Roman

Sunlight: *curious and intrigued*

What did he find? Well, I've got nothing to do today, so might as well head on over.

Sunlight: *gets up and starts to make her way to Town Hall*

*a short while later within the records wing of Town Hall*

Sunlight: *checking the rooms to see where Roman is* Hey Roman! Are you here!? Where's this "something" I should see? Roman??

. . . . .

Sunlight: *keeps checking rooms*

Hmm, I guess he's not here right now. Maybe he's in his office right no-

Sunlight: *pauses, noticing a closed unattended file report on the reading table of an empty record room*

Sunlight: *curious* "The Train Disaster of . . . *breathe stops for a moment* "Withervale" *heart skips a beat as she realizes the contents of the file*

Mom! Dad! This. . . c-could it be?

Sunlight: *barely containing herself walks over to the file and delicately, as if it were about to turn to dust, opens it, and begins to read, becoming almost spell bound*

This report file covers the incident hereby dubbed The Train Disaster of Withervale.

After a long and arduous investigation, we have finally gathered all the information to figure out the events that caused and occurred during the tragic train incident this past winter.

Two days before Hearths Warming Day, the Withervale weather team had finished preparing the town's snowfall and cloud coverage for the season. However they had a large excess of clouds that was blocking the flying path between the town and its sky district. Because of this the weather team leader in conjunction with Mayor Gold decided to push the excess clouds out west so that the weather team wouldn't have to spend Hearth's Warming busting clouds. So the weather team gathered all the excess clouds together and use large controlled gusts to send the clouds and they're accompanying snowfall out west towards the mountain of the Whitetail Woods.

However the weather team of Brackensville, located just west of Whitetail woods, had the same idea. And, we found found out, they had already sent a full form of their intentions to all the surrounding towns so as to avoid weather collisions. We found the form they sent to Withervale unopened and buried under a pile of late and unfilled weather reports. At the same time the Withervale Weather team did not notify the surrounding towns of they're intentions, as the decision came as a last minute assessment.

Both towns sent their snow clouds with strong gusts of wind to the Mountain of Whitetail, intending for the mountain to act as a natural weather barrier to stop the clouds from going any further. Unfortunately the two snow systems collided above Whitetail Mountain. The gusts of wind combining the two snow fronts together, and because off the mountain, turned the gentle falling snow into a blinding blizzard. This blizzard encompassed the entire Whitetail Mountain region, and the railway that ran through it.

Due to the lack of communication between the towns, nopony knew this treacherous storm was over Whitetail, and so the regular 2:30 train to Withervale departed from Brackensville on schedule. The conductor had been made of aware of the snow pushed over Whitetail mountain from Brackensville and had prepared for the snow by having the engine outfitted with a snow plow and stronger lights to pierce through the snow. Thus when the train hit the edge of the blizzard the conductor continued on unaware of the dangerous storm she was entering.

The conductor started to realize something was wrong as the train began its ascent up the mountain. The snow was far thicker than the few inches she was told it would be, and the falling snow was anything but "gentle". It was coming down so much and so fast visibility was almost none existent at 20 meters. Surviving passengers agreed with this stating, one mare stating, "The world just disapeared into a white veil after a few inches away."

By the peak of the mountain the conductor knew that things were wrong. The piled up snow was starting to overcome the tiny plow on the front of the engine, and if the train stalled they'd be stuck on Whitetail mountain. Because of this she kept pushing the train, as she thought that once it reached the top of the mountain she could use gravity and momentum, along with controlled braking, to easily push past the snowfall on the descent. Unfotunately, she wasn't able to recognize when the train had reached the peak.

Due too the unending snowfall there was just as much snow piled up on the descening tracks as was on the ascending path. The train only picked up momentum once every one of the passenger cars had passed over the summit, at which point the train began rapidly accelerating as the conductor had hoped. The conductor knew she had to slow the train down for the sharp turns down the mountain. However, when she tried to control the speed of the train she found the caboose brakes had frozen up, meaning she would have to use the brakes from the engine in order to stop the train. By the time she realized this the train had accelerated past safe downhill speeds, so she acted quickly, applying the engines brakes as conservatively as she could, but it was too no avail. The weight of the cars behind the engine was pushing it too much too slow down easily. So the conductor decided to put on the full brakes to slow the train down.

What events that follwed next occured rapidly, so much so that most ponies aren't even sure what exactly happened. The conductor states that the train hit ice on the rails, making all the braking useless. At the same time the train hit one of the sharp turns, the engine was able to stay on the tracks due to its weight, but the much lighter passenger cars were not as lucky. Once the engine started applying brakes again it cause the cars behind it to buckle against the stopping force. Combined with the icy rails it was too much and cars began sliding off the tracks. The force of this pulled even more cars off the tracks continuing until the entire track except for the engine were derailed.

Many of the derailed cars had fallen onto their sides, injuring many passengers in the process. A few cars along with the caboose had fallen over the side of the hill they were on and rolled down it to the bottom, severally injuring most of their passengers and seperating them from the rest of the train. The conductor at this point realized the danger that everyone was in, as the blizzard had not stopped its rampage, it seemed to be worsening in fact. The conductor organized as many ponies that were able and began tending to the wounded as best they could.

In normal derailement circumstances a pegasus from the train would fly to the nearest town to alert them of the derailement. However due to the blizzard's conditions it was impossible for a pegasus to fly through it. The tracks ahead were still buried in snow so anypony trying to hoof it would just lose their way and be lost to the blizzard. The conuctor and the able bodied ponies decided to hunker down and wait for a rescue team to arrive. they speculated it would be at least an hour for everyone to realize that the train had had an accident and then maybe another couple for help to be orgainzed and arrive. So with that in mind they set to work treating the wounded and injured as best as they could.

They attempted numerous times to get to the cars that had rolled down the hill, but they could not see through the blinding snow where the cars were and could not spot hazards on the way down. After three more ponies were injured trying to get down the hill the conductor called off any more rescue attempts, deeming it too dangerous to send anyone down there. They continued helping the passengers as best as they could, moving them into cars that still had heat from the engine, but space became limited and those few cars became horribly crowded.

Accounts from survivors in the fallen cars gives us a glimpse at what happened to those ponies. Three cars including the caboose rolled down the hill. Survivors say it seemed as if they were falling forever, as the cars kept rolling and rolling and rolling, untill they all violently stopped, crashing up against a line of sturdy trees. Nearly everypony in those cars recieved various injuries ranging from minor to severe. In addition there was panic and confusion about what had happened, many ponies fearing for there lives causing chaos.

Amidst this chaos two ponies stood out and calmed and reassured the other passengers. They organized all the passengers, using what little resources they had to tend the wounded and keep everypony warm. One was a light orange pegasus mare, while the other was a tan brown earthpony stallion. Accounts describe these two working in tandem with eachother like only two trusted old friends could. They brought the passengers together and reassured them of their survival. Survivors say those two ponies were the reason any of them survived at all.

The two ponies were also the ones who attempted to make contact again with the rest of the train. They made three attempts to climb the hill and reach the train, and all three times they failed. On the third attempt they became lost in the blizzard for over half an hour, stumbling back into the fallen train cars nearly frozen to death. The other passengers did what they could to keep the two ponies warm, but as the hours passed and no rescue came, resources dwindled, and the two ponies opted for the others to have what precious sources of heat remained.

The same was true for the ponies on the main train, the conductor did her best to keep everyone calm, but as hours passed and no rescue came, ponies began panicking. With resources quickly diminishing and the heat sources dying, ponies tried to hoard as much as they could for survival. The conductor put a stop to this, providing equal rations to everypony on board. The panic finally died out, 10 hours after the initial derailment, and the ponies worked as hard as they could to keep moral high and everyone warm.

16 hours after the initial derailement however, all conversation and activity had subsided into an air of eventuality. Most ponies were silently trying to keep warm while praying and hoping for rescue, and desperately trying to keep the grip of death from overcoming them. Within this long period of silence is when most of the passengers lost their battle for survival, and fell into the icy embrace of death.

Finally, 22 hours after the initial train derailment, a Royal Guard search team located the derailed train and the surviving passengers within. They were unequiped to handle such a large scale situation and brought out as many injured as they could. Another hour later a full rescue team arrived, clearing away the blizzard and bringing full aid the surviving ponies.

Despite the valiant efforts of many ponies on the train, many of the passengers on board perished. Of the original 380 passengers and crew on board only 116 survived, with most ponies subcoming to the overwhelming cold. Of the 20 crew-members only 8 survived, including the conductor. From the 64 passengers and crew in the seperated cars and caboose only 12 survived. The dead include nearly everypony who sustained a serious injury, 2 of the 4 crewmembers, and the two ponies who had so bravely fought for everyone's servival.

This incident is being regarded as the worst pony made disaster in Equastrian history, with less than 30% of the original passengers and crew surviving a disaster that never should have happened. The effects of this have been far reaching, from the shores of Manehatten, to the quite outpost of Appleloosa. Ponies are wanting to know how such a thing was allowed to happen, and what will be down to prevent it in the future.

Due to all the compiled evidence, personal accounts, and the Princess's personal demand for a resolution, a proper full investigation has been launched onto the mayor of Withervale and its weather team. The aim is to determine how such a disaster was allowed to happen, and take measures to prevent it from ever happening again.

We hope that the results of this investigation will prevent such a disastor from ever occuring again, and that ponies will not let such a thing be repeated.

Sunlight: *just its and stares silently at the end of the file report* . . . . . . *finally manages to find her voice* H-how, how did you find this?

Roman: *standing just outside the doorway behind Sunlight* It was buried in the deep archive section of the library. It was mixed in with a budget report from two years before it even happened.

Sunlight: *still staring at the file* Then, that explains why I could never find anything on it. It was all hidden away.

Roman: *looks down* Yeah, it was. *looks back up at Sunlight* A-are you going to be ok?

Sunlight: *laughs lightly with a sob* Y-yes. Yes I will be.

Sunlight: *turns to Roman smiling with tears in her eyes* I'm just happy that *sob* that I finally know. After ten years of searching, I finally know what happened to them. They died saving other ponies.

Roman: *smiles sadly at Sunlight* Yeah.

Sunlight: *recalls* The investigation it mentions. What did they find out?

Roman: *sad sigh* Nothing. The mayor managed to escape blame, even though he was the one who told the weather team to do it.

Sunlight: *thinks* So, nothing was done to keep something like this from happening again?

Roman: No, I'm afraid not.

Sunlight: *stands up determined* Well, I think its time we changed that.

Roman: *surprised* Really? Sunlight a full scale investigation wasn't able to do anything, what could we-

Sunlight: *steps up in front of Roman, looking him in the eye* Roman, you are the mayor! Its your job to guide and protect the citizens of this town and those under your care. Didn't you attain this because you want to doing everything you possibly can to protect everypony?

Roman: *remembers and smiles* yes, yes I did. Alright then, we'll fix this then.

Sunlight: Great! Let's get started!

Roman: *stops Sunlight* Hold up. Before that you might want to have these. *holds up letters*

Sunlight: *confused* Huh, my mail? Roman the newest coupons can wait until we've fixed this.

Roman: Even if its from Forest?

Sunlight: *swipes the letters out of Roman's grasp* WHAT!! Forest!?

Roman: Yeah, I take it he hasn't wrote in a while?

Sunlight: *frantically tears open the letter* It's been seven months since his last letter!

Roman: Wow, that's a pretty long time.

Sunlight: *finishes prying the letter out of its envelope* You're telling me! He hasn't asnwered any of my letters so I hope he explains why he's been so quite. *eagerly reads through the letter*

Roman: *starteds contemplating the options ahead with preventing future weather disasters*

Sunlight: *finishes reading with a giant grin on her face* Oh. My. Celestia!

Roman: *leans in* What? What is it?

Sunlight: *about to burst with happiness* He, he's coming home!

Roman: He's coming for a visit!?

Sunlight: No! He's moving! He's moving back here! My brother is coming home!! *realizes* Fen Fen's coming home!

Roman: *surprised and happy* Wow, how long has it been since they moved away?

Sunlight: Almost five years now.

Roman: *shocked* Really! And they haven't visited once have they?

Sunlight: *sighs* No, they haven't. When they first left for Canterlot Forest wanted to come home for visits but since I was in Guard training I couldn't take off to see him. And when I got out of the guard he was the one too busy to see me. Always an event that was already planned. *shakes her head* But none of that matters anymore! My brother and friend are coming home!! *realizes and gets to her hooves excited* Ooh! I have to get the house ready! And I need to move my stuff out of his room! *starts heading head the door*

Roman: *follows after Sunlight* Wait when are they getting here?

Sunlight: *reaches the entrance of Town Hall* Tomorrow. Oh gosh there's so much I need to do!

Roman: *smirks* Well then, I hope you enjoy the next few days off with your brother.

Sunlight: *doesn't fully realize what Roman said* Oh don't worry, I will. There's so much we'll need to catch up on and- *realizes with outrage* Hey! What about the weatherteam? And work?

Roman: *waves it off* Oh don't you worry about that, I'll handle the weatherteam preventions. And you need to take a brake, a real brake. And this is the perfect opportunity.

Sunlight: *about to protest but stops* I. . . . *sighs* Fine. You have a point. I'll take a few days off.

Roman: *smiles* Good. Now you better get going. Tomorrow will be here before you know it.

Sunlight: *gets excited again* Yes! *turns around and starts sprinting back home* See you later Roman! And Thank You!!

Roman: *shouts after her* Your welcome!!

They're coming home! Fen is coming home! Forest is coming home!

My family is coming home!!