[Moth] Gypsy's Song - 2.4

"I would like to see the local fashion, and possibly look at some of the shops."
>"We should find an inn as soon as possible, before they run out of rooms."
>"Oh! And food! Ponyville's got some great stuff, especially from that Sugarcube Corner place. Have you ever been there, Bell?"
>"You know I haven't. What moth-driven caravan actually comes to this town during the day? Traders get here either before the crack of dawn, or in the middle of the night."
"Oh? Why is that?"
>"They think we're Breezies."
>Actias looked herself, Bell, and Acteus over before giggling softly.
"We are much too big to be Breezies."
>"Ponies around here think they're funny."
"I find it quite humorous."
>"Mhm. What else are we going to do?"
"We could look around and speak with the locals."
>"And we can go to the library, or even that farm up on the hill over there!"
>"Sounds good. Despite being the center of attention, Ponyville doesn't really have much to look at."
"I have heard it is filled with legends."
>"Yeah, ancient legends. Nothin's happened here in... centuries."
"It would still be fun to learn about them."
>Bell opened his mouth to object but Acteus closed his mouth with a hoof.
>Bell just looked down and pondered for a moment.
>"Yeah. Yeah I think it would be fun. You're right."
>Actias smiled and buzzed her wings excitedly.
>"So, what's first?"
>"We should go book a room at the inn, definitely. We can park the wagon there and get our things settled."
"Yes, establishing a base of operations is definitely our top priority."
>Actias giggled at herself.
>Bell and Acteus wheeled the cart up the road that led to the market square.
>They turned down another road, just before the square opened up, and trotted to a small plaza.
>Several wagons were parked in front of a three-story building.
>"The Mare In The Moon.' Interesting name for an inn. Let's go inside and check it out."

>Bell and Acteus unhitched themselves as Actias hopped out of the cart.
>They trotted inside together, and were immediately greeted by a rather unnoteworthy mare.
>"Welcome to The Mare In The Moon! Looking for a room?"
>"Yeah. Room for three?"
>"Hmmm. We're all booked for anything more than two, but I can give you a discounted rate on a two-pony room, if that's alright."
>Acteus spoke up just as Actias and Bell exchanged a glance.
>"Sounds perfect!"
>"Fantastic. One night is fifteen bits for the group."
>"Neat!"
>Acteus turned to Bell and nodded toward the mare behind the desk.
>"You're up to something, aren't you?"
>Acteus just raised his eyebrows and smiled wider.
>"Am I ever?"
>Bell sighed and pulled three five-bit coins out of a pouch on his hip.
>"Alright, here's the key to your room. It's down the hall to your left. Seventh door on the right, room A-14."
>She slid a key across the desk to Acteus, who gave the key to Actias.
>"You go check the room out, sis. We'll start bringing our things inside."
>Actias nodded and started down the hallway as Bell and Acteus trotted outside.
>She unlocked the door to their room and stepped inside to find two small beds, a table with a lamp on it, and a dresser between the beds with another lamp.
"Quaint."
>She sat on the far bed and bounced a little bit as Bell and Acteus returned from outside.
>"Bed!"
>Acteus darted past Bell, dropping everything he was carrying, and jumped onto the free bed and started bouncing around.
>"Didn't even give me a chance to get dibs on a bed, did you?"
>"You can share with Actias, just like you did last night!"
>Bell tensed up and glared at Acteus.
>"That was a one time thing."
>"Was it?"
>"Yeah."
"Bell. If you would like, I can rent my own room."
>He looked up at Actias with a light smirk.
>"Don't try to guilt me. It'll work."
"I do not believe I was trying. Am I really that bad?"
>"No, but... I don't know, it's kind of awkward with your brother around."

>"I don't even care! It's good for both of you!"
>Acteus started to giggle as he continued bouncing on the bed.
>"Fine."
>Bell walked over to the bed Actias sat on with his head lowered, and set everything he carried at the foot of the bed.
>"I don't want to make this an every night thing, though."
"I am very sorry, Bell. I will sleep on the floor tonight."
>He looked up at her and tilted his head, a bit annoyed.
>"I can't do that to a lady. It's fine, really."
>Neither of them had noticed the squeaking of Acteus's bed stop, until they flinched at the sound of a train's horn.
>"Must be tuckered out. Let him rest, we can come get him before we go out to eat."
>Actias nodded and hopped off the bed.
>The two ponies snuck out of the room and locked the door behind them.
>Bell stuck the key in his pouch.
>They left the inn and trotted out into the market square.
>"You said you wanted to learn about the legends around here, right? Best place for that would either be here or the library."
"Well, since we are already here, I suppose speaking with the locals might be a good idea."
>Actias looked around for a moment, scouting out a pony that might look like they knew about the town's history.
>With none standing out to her, she decided to lead Bell to a vendor that sold honey.
>"Oooh, moth-ponies! Never really see your kind around, aside from the early morning and late night. What brings such a lovely couple 'round here?"
"We are not a cou-"
>"Oh, me and the miss's just tied the not. Travelin' around Equestria, learning about her history and whatnot for our honeymoon."
>The stallion behind the counter guffawed pleasantly.
>"Well she is quite the catch, sir. She looks a bit familiar. You ever come to Ponyville before?"
"I have never left Treble Town, but-"
>"Well, golly gee! Here."
>The stallion plucked a jar out from under his counter and placed it before Actias and Bell.
>"For the newlyweds, a sweet taste of home, fresh from Dust Valley."

>"Well, thank you kindly, sir! Say, my wife's been real curious about the legends around here. Know where we could hear some stories?"
>"The library, as a matter of fact. The mare that works there's quite the expert. She... shouldn't have much trouble talkin' to you moth-ponies."
"Hm?"
>"She's a bit on the shy side. Real introverted, real quiet. Never had much of a chance to talk to her, but I know she's got friends in high places. Good for business from those noble types."
>"Thanks again, sir."
>Bell nodded to the stallion, picked the jar up by the wire handle, and started to walk toward the center of the town.
>Actias quickly dropped several bits from her own pouch onto the counter.
"I insist."
>She trotted after Bell, giving the vendor no time to object.
"That was dishonest of you."
>"Y'do what y'can."
"I paid him."
>"S'your choice."
"Please, Bell. I know you are a gypsie, but please do not stoop to stealing. At least not in my presence, where I can help it."
>Bell looked over at Actias, who looked uncomfortable with what had transpired.
>"Sorry. It won't happen again."
"Promise?"
>"Promise."
"Thank you."
>Actias stifled a giggle as they walked.
>"What?"
"Nothing!"
>"What is it?"
"Nothing, just that... You were quite comfortable with the notion of us being wed, yet you hesitate just to be near me."
>"Don't flatter yourself. I would've done the same thing if it was Acteus."
"Of course you would."
>They continued walking for a short while, before stopping in front of a very large oak tree.
>A plaque on the door read: "Elements of Harmony Memorial Library."
>"This is it."
"Elements of Harmony.' I have never heard of those."
>"They've got something to do with one of the princess of Equestria or something. Not a lot of information on what happened to them."
>Actias hummed to herself as she pushed the door open and trotted inside with Bell in tow.
>"Good afternoon, and welcome to the Elements of Harmony Memorial Library."

>The rehearsed line caught Actias's attention, despite there being no one around.
>Or so she thought, until a teal-coated unicorn with a muted rainbow mane and muted magenta eyes crawled out from underneath the front desk.
>She popped up on the other side and waved to Actias and Bell.
>"My name is Reverie. If the two of you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask."
>The vendor was right about her not having much trouble speaking to them, but Actias detected no hint of the mare being introverted at all.
"Do you know about any legends?"
>"As a matter of fact, I do! Do you have any in mind that you'd like to know about?"
"Are the Elements of Harmony a legend?"
>The mare just stared at Actias with a somewhat pained smile.
>"They are the greatest of legends. Are you interested in hearing about them?"
"I believe we have time, right Bell?"
>"If you want to do everything that we planned, then... How long is the story going to take?"
>"Well... It's a pretty long story. I suppose I could give you a brief overview, and let you check books out. You two are part of the caravan, correct?"
>"Yeah, but we're on a bit of a special errand, so."
>"That's no bother. Not many ponies come around here to check out books. Especially not books on subjects that nearly every pony in Equestria knows about."
"We do not know about it."
>"I have an excuse. She doesn't. She's from Treble Town, of all places."
>Actias pondered for a moment, tapping a hoof on the floor.
"I have no excuse. We have a perfectly good library in Treble Town, and I have just never bothered to visit it."
>"We'll take the brief overview, then. We should be coming back around here about three weeks from now."
>"You can take all the time you need with the books."
"Oh! Thank you."
>"Not a problem. Would you like to follow me and hear the story while I look for the books?"
>Actias and Bell nodded.
>Reverie smiled and led the two moth-ponies into a large room behind her.

>"We have six wings at the library, each named for one of the six elements. There are six books in the series, and each one is kept in a different wing, as each one has more of a central focus on the corresponding element."
>Actias looked up at a sign that hung from the ceiling of the room: "Kindness."
>"This wing has all of the library's books on subjects that deal with ponykind, animals, plants, and nature. Now, the Element of Kindness was a very meek mare. She was very shy of her fellow pony, but absolutely loved animals."
>They approached a small podium.
>A glass case with a yellow velvet pillow rested on top of it.
>But, the inside was empty.
>"Hmm... Oh. Oh! I forgot that he had come by for the books... I'm sorry, we don't have them in right now, and I'm not quite sure when we'll get them back. A local celebrity of sorts likes to come and check all six books out at the same time every now and then. He keeps them for... quite some time."
"That is quite alright. I believe the brief summary will serve its purpose."
>"Are you sure? I can run out and get the books from him."
"Oh, no. If this is something he does frequently, the we will leave him be. Perhaps when we come back through, the books will be available."
>"Okay, if you're sure. Anyway, like I was saying, the library has six main wings. We're in Kindness right now, but upstairs we have Loyalty, Honesty, Generosity, Laughter, and Magic."
"You said each one serves a different purpose?"
>"Yes. Loyalty holds all of our books on athletics, Honesty has agriculture, Generosity has fashion, Laughter has things for children, and Magic is... rather expansive. It has almost every other subject that the others don't encompass."
"Interesting. To think that a tree could house so many books."
>"It used to be smaller. If I remember right, I read something about Dust Valley having enormous trees, and sometimes they get hollowed out into houses. Hollow Shades does something similar."

>"Eh. Only tree we've got carved out in Dust Valley houses a bar."
>"Anyway, these six Elements were heroes in Equestria. They're the ones that saved us from Nightmare Moon and brought Princess Luna back. They defeated the god of chaos and reformed him. They saved the Crystal Empire way up North. They saved Equestria from a lot of stuff, way back when."
"Are they still around?"
>Reverie shook her head sadly.
>"They've been gone three-hundred or so years."
"What happened to them?"
>"I can't say. There are only a dozen that know of what happened, and they're all under oath not to ever speak of it."
"Fair enough. Thank you for your time."
>"I hope I've told you enough."
"Plenty. I am excited to read these books now."
>Actias and Bell turned from Reverie and left her in the Kindness wing.
>"Was that all you wanted to know?"
"It is a good start. I am not particularly knowledgeable of Equestrian history."
>"Where to next?"
"We should fetch Acteus, then find a fashion shop, and then head to Sugarcube Corner."
>"What about the farm?"
"I am sure it was just a suggestion. If Acteus is already tired, then I am sure you will be tired soon, too."
>"Fair enough."
>Bell and Actias crossed the market square, and followed the road back to the inn.
>Once they entered the building and walked down the hall to their room, they noticed Acteus's snoring had stopped.
>As they unlocked the door and walked inside, they found Acteus lying on his bed, hugging his pillow as tight as he could.
"Acteus?"
>He grumbled.
>"You okay?"
>He grumbled again.
>Actias trotted to the side of his bed, only to find he had started eating the pillow.
"Acteus, please."
>"I'm hungryyy."
"We are going to Sugarcube Corner after we go look at clothes."
>"And no, you can't eat the clothes."
>"Fine!"

>After speaking with the mare at the front desk of the inn about a replacement pillow, of which they had many just in case a moth-pony got hungry, the trio were on their way to the market square.
>The crowd in the square had started to diminish as the sun hung on the horizon.
>Since the ponies in the square were few and far between, the trio were able to ask someone where a good fashion store was.
>They were pointed in the direction of the Carousel Opera House, which incidentally also housed a small fashion boutique.
"Hm. A fantastic likeness of its name."
>"It's cheesey."
>"Do you think they have bumper wagons?"
>Actias and Bell tried not to laugh as Acteus trotted inside.
>They followed him and trotted down the hall on their right, heeding the directions from a sign on the wall.
>A bell chimed as Acteus pushed a glass-pane door open.
>"Welcome to the Carousel Opera House's premiere boutique! Hm...?"
>Actias and Bell entered behind Acteus.
>"Oh? Oh! I recognize you!  You're the moth-mare from Canterlot. You had a performance at a club a few weeks ago. Your singing brought me to tears. It was really quite beautiful."
>"Hey, look. You get to meet your first fan."
>Actias smiled nervously.
"Hello. I am -"
>"Actias, I know. Is that little filly with you? Falsetto?"
"She is back in Treble Town."
>"Oh! Well, give her my regards, please. And if there is anything you need help with, please don't hesitate to ask."
"We will not, miss...?"
>"Forgive me, I seem to have lost my manners."
>The unicorn mare waved a hoof beside her face.
>"Becoming star struck will do that to a pony, will it not? I am Curio, owner of the boutique and opera house, and fashion expert."
"Thank you, miss Curio."
>Curio turned to attend to her ledger, but stifled an excited giggle.
>Acteus trotted off to the back of the boutique as Bell and Actias started looking at clothes from the front.
>Actias noticed Bell's gaze never left the mare.
"Do you know her?"

>"I know her husband. He pretty much runs the apple trade in Equestria."
"Oh? Well, they must have had business in Canterlot during my performance. What a small world."
>"I just find it a little weird that she's star struck by you. Especially when she frequently visits Canterlot."
"You know quite a bit."
>"When you travel all around Equestria and frequent certain places and customers, you get to know a little bit about them. Not that I've ever worked with her and her husband directly, but I have seen her around Canterlot."
"Ah."
>"Are you going to try anything on?"
"Probably. Are you?"
>"I wouldn't look good in a dress."
>Actias looked up at a mirror and stared at Bell's reflection with a smug grin.
"You would look quite dashing in a suit, though."
>"Maybe."
>Bell wandered off for a moment as Actias started looking through sparsely stocked clothing racks.
>Each and every article of clothing was spaced several inches apart, and no two were the same.
"Hmm..."
>She stared at a few dresses, but noticed none of them were catered to moth-ponies.
"Excuse me, miss Curio?"
>"Yes?"
"Umm..."
>Actias looked to her side and spread her wings out before looking back at Curio with a quizzical look.
>"Oh, this is quite embarrassing. I try not to display my moth-pony line. It's... a little inadequate."
"I am sure it is fine."
>Curio just gave an uncomfortable look before trotting to the back of the room and through a door.
>"What'd you say to her?"
>Bell trotted back up to her with several dress shirts and suit-coats draped over his back.
>Acteus followed behind with several garments that could not possibly match or look good together.
"Nothing!"
>Curio quickly trotted back up to Actias with several dresses draped over her back.
>"Sincerest apologies. I try not to display this line too early in the day, to keep non-moth-ponies from... well, stealing your culture, I suppose."
"Is that typically a problem?"

>"Not too much, however it is a tad frustrating on my part, personally, when all of my clothes are designed for specific kinds of ponies."
>Actias and Curio glanced over at Bell and Acteus, who carried clothes tailored for pegasi and bat-ponies.
>"Of course, some exceptions can be made, if a pony is in dire need of a makeover."
>"Hey!"
>"Acteus isn't that ugly, come on!"
>"Who said anything about that handsome devil?"
>"Oooh."
>"Oh. Ouch."
>"I'm joking. You're both quite handsome. Give me just a moment and I'll find something tailored more to yourselves."
>Curio snickered and shook her head as she trotted back to the back room.
>They waited while Actias tried one of the dresses on.
"Hm. It is quite snug, especially around the base of my wings."
>She stood in front of a mirror, turned twice, and stretched her wings out.
>Bell blushed and turned his head as his eyes met hers in the mirror.
"Does it look good?"
>"Yeah."
>"Nah! It's too brown for you. You need something white or black, or even mostly green!"
>Actias turned to her brother and tilted her head.
"I would never have taken you to be knowledgeable about this kind of thing."
>"You learn a thing or two when you travel a lot."
>Curio trotted back up to the trio as Actias began to remove the dress.
>"He's right. Try that white gown on."
>Curio gave Bell a tuxedo jacket, dress shirt, and bow-tie.
>He put the garments on, tied the tie with Curio's magical help, and turned to the mirror to find Actias wearing a gorgeous, expertly crafted, white dress.
>He stared at her in reserved awe for a moment, before looking up at himself.
"You look absolutely handsome."
>"You too. I mean, uh..."
>Actias smiled as she looked at herself in the mirror, and tried to stifle a giggle as Acteus trotted up behind her in a rainbow assortment of clothing.

>"We look good."
"You look ridiculous."
>"He looks like a storm hit a silk cart."
>"It's better than looking like an old wedded couple!"
>Actias and Bell glanced back up at the mirror, then at each other, and scrambled apart.
>Curio laughed aloud as the two moth-ponies wiggled and shook themselves out of their clothing.
>"I take it you two aren't interested in those outfits, then?"
"Not quite."
>"Definitely not."
>"Fair enough. I'm afraid I have to close up shop in a few minutes. How about you, sir? Are you interested in that outfit?"
>"Ye-!"
"No, he is not."
>"Absolutely not."
>"Aww! I look good in it!"
>"You... really don't, sir. I don't know what drove you to pick such a mish-mash of color, but it definitely doesn't even go with itself."
>"Okay..."
>Acteus stripped the clothing from himself and gave the garments to Curio.
>"Thanks for letting us try stuff on."
>"Absolutely. Feel free to drop by any time."
"I will most certainly try."
>Curio took the clothes back to her counter as the trio left the boutique.
>"Are we gonna go eat now?"
>"Yeah. Looks like the sun's already set, so we should hurry over to Sugarcube Corner. No doubt they'll be closing soon, too."
>With the streets of the village almost emptied, the three moth-ponies hurried on their way to the cupcake-topped building.
>Acteus and Bell tripped over each other, leaving Actias the only one to make it inside.
>"Oh, hello dearie! Welcome to Sugarcube Corner!"
"Hello."
>"You look like the kind of mare that would love a honey cake, or some honey cookies. Give me just a moment, I believe we have something in the back."
>The rotund mare trotted from the counter just before Acteus and Bell managed to trot inside.
>Two voices sounded from the kitchen as the mare disappeared.

>"Already got something ordered for us?"
"Honey cookies and cakes, apparently. I was not given much of a choice, nor any choice at all."
>Actias just shrugged as Bell and Acteus gave her curious looks.
>The mare trotted out with a tray in her mouth.
>On top of it sat two plates: one stacked with cookies, and the other with several slices of cake.
>However, none of the three moth-ponies were particularly focused on the food, save for Acteus, whose attention was perfectly divided.
>Instead, Actias was completely awestruck to the point of tears.
"August? August!"
>Not for a lack of being able to contain herself, but a lack of care, she launched herself at the familiar creature.
>"What? Who- oof."
>He grunted as she launched herself into him, arms wrapped tightly around his waist.
>She started to sob into his shirt.
>Acteus and Bell awkwardly trotted outside to wait for whatever was happening to end.
"I have missed you so much! Oh, if only I knew you had not moved so far away, I would have visited sooner."
>The creature just awkwardly placed a hand on her head and pet her softly.
>The mare at the counter smiled awkwardly and looked up at the creature.
>They both shrugged, completely confused, but broke their gaze from one another as the door to the shop opened and shut once more.
>"March?"
>Actias let go of the creature and turned around to come face to face with a confused bat-mare and bat-filly.
>Tears of joy were welled in Actias's eyes, but the excited smile on her face started to fade.
>"Hey..."
>"Who is this?"
>"I have no idea."
"Oh, sincerest apologies! My name is Actias. I see you are acquainted with my friend August. But... you are not the mare he met in Canterlot."
>"No. We met here. A year ago."
"Preposterous! August had lived in Treble Town for quite some time. Certainly longer than a year!"
>"Excuse me, miss?"
>Actias turned to the creature, whom she had mistaken for her August.
"Yes?"

>"My name is actually March. I'm... sorry, but how could you have me confused for someone else?"
>Actias looked the man up and down, blinked twice, and shook her head.
>She shook her head several times, in utter disbelief, as an agonizing moan escaped her lips.
>Acteus and Bell ran back into the building as she wailed, sobbed, and crumpled to the floor, hooves covering her face.
>This man, a creature so familiar that she had somehow mistaken for the only one she had ever know, was not her August.
>In her utter excitement to see him again, she mistook the brown-haired, blue-eyed creature for her silver-haired, brown-eyed human.
>The filly that stood beside the mare was beckoned to by the more rotund mare at the counter.
>The two disappeared into the kitchen as the bat-mare approached Actias.
>She laid beside her and placed a hoof on her shoulder.
>"Ma'am? Are you okay?"
"No! No I am not okay!"
>"Speck?
>"Hush, March. Ma'am, can you tell me about this 'August' of yours?"
>Actias sniffled as the kind bat-mare, Speck, helped her up off of the ground.
>Bell trotted up to Actias's other side and allowed her to lean against him without question.
>They led her over to a large table, where she, Speck, Acteus, Bell, and the human, March, sat.
>The human carried the tray of cookies and cake with him.
>Acteus reached for it, but hesitated as he looked up at March, who simply nodded.
>Bell scooted his chair close to Actias's so she could have someone to cry on, despite his hesitation toward physical contact.
"He looks just like you, except... his hair is white, and his eyes are brown. He is not quite as youthful as you are..."
>Actias looked away from March and sniffled.
"I had hoped to see him again."
>March just looked down at Speck, completely amazed and curious.
>"So, you met someone that looks like me?"
>Actias nodded and struggled not to start sobbing again.

>"Well, hey. I guess that means I'm not the only human in Equestria."
>March laughed and looked down at Speck, who looked at Actias.
>"Which means, miss moth, you aren't alone either. Hey, you've got two ponies just like you right there at your side."
>Actias smiled softly.
"He had always wondered if he was alone in this world. I suppose he meant it less in the 'only one of his kind' sense, and more in the friendship sense."
>"Well... I tell you what. I've got connections, so we'll see if we can't find this guy, alright?"
>Actias perked up with an ecstatic smile.
"Really?!"
>"Why not? If you want to see him again, you should be able to... Nothing bad happened between you two, right?"
"No. He... met a mare he knew as a child."
>"Woah, hold on there. As a child? You said he was older than me."
"I believe he is. He had wrinkles around his eyes, unlike you."
>"Well, I'll be... A human that's been here since he was a kid. Wrinkles around his eyes? Guy can't be younger than thirty-five. We have to find him."
"Please, inform me if you ever do. I live in Treble Town, you can easily contact me through the Musician's Guild there."
>"Will do, miss..."
"Actias."
>"Actias. Well, let me get a box for this food. If you drop by in the morning, I'll tell you anything that's been dug up."
>"We have an early morning ahead of us."
>"Hm. I could relay the message to your destination?"
>"Don't know where we're headed."
>"I'll see what I can do. Where are you staying for the night?"
>"The Mare In The Moon."
>"I'll give everything I find to the front desk, then. Right before sun up?"
>"We should still be here, until just after sun up, yeah."
>"Perfect. Does that sound okay to you, Actias?"
"It sounds wonderful. Thank you so much."
>"It's what we do."
>The man stood from the table and walked back into the kitchen.

>The little bat filly ran out of the kitchen and clambered up into Speck's lap.
>She looked up at Actias, then at Speck.
>Speck ruffled the filly's mane.
>"Sirocca, this is Actias. She lost someone, and we're going to help her find him."
>"Hi."
"Hello."
>"And the other two are her boyfriend and her brother."
>"Woah! No. No, no, no."
"We are traveling companions. Nothing more."
>Speck gave Actias a sly smirk.
>Actias furrowed her brow and frowned.
>"We never got your names, by the way."
>"I'm Bell, and this is Acteus."
>Bell pointed at Acteus, whose face was pressed against a cleanly licked plate.
>Sirocca giggled as Bell took the plate away from him.
>March walked back into the room and set a couple of boxes in front of Bell.
>"There's the last of our honey cookies and cakes, and an... empty box..."
>He looked down at Acteus, who had his face buried in the cake that was brought out earlier.
>"Is he okay?"
>"This is normal for him."
>"Alright, well. I gotta get my family home and get these leads started. I'll drop any information off with the mare at the front desk."
"Thank you, again."
>"It's no trouble. Helping ponies is what we do."
>Actias hopped out of her seat and rounded the table to give March a hug.
>She let him go and hugged Speck and Sirocca.
"You have no idea how much this means to me."
>"You can thank us when we find him."
>"Food's on the house, by the way."
>Actias nodded and started toward the door with Bell, Acteus, and the boxes of food in tow.
>She tried not to run back to them and hug them a second time.
>She just waved and smiled as tears dripped down her cheeks.
>They waved back as the trio stepped out into the night.
"Neither of you seemed surprised to see something like him."
>"I thought he was a really ugly diamond dog. What is a human anyway?"
"I am not quite sure, but they come from another world."

>"Neat."
"They are certainly nice, though I find it strange that they look largely the same."
>"Interesting. You think if your human and that human ever meet, something big will happen?"
"I believe it would be a monumental moment for the both of them, along with everyone involved."
>"What if he can't get any leads, or find anything?"
"Well..."
>Actias stopped for a moment and looked at Acteus, then Bell, then back at Sugarcube Corner, where the man and his ponies stood, silhouetted in the window.
"I think that would be perfectly fine. If my August's departure allows for more ponies to come together, then... perhaps it is for the better."
>The trio continued walking back to the inn with a mutual excitement to get to sleep so the morning would come sooner.