Newsworthy Part 7: Revisions 2

Clink. Rose heard the noise, out of place as she soared over the open valleys. She moved it to the back of her head. Clink, tap, clink, tap, clink, tap, clink, tap... She alighted on a cloud, looking around for the sound. At least it had stopped... Thunk! Tap, Thunk! Tap, Thunk! Ugh! That racket! The cloud beneath her shook, the world fading and tearing. Eventually the noise stopped, but the damage was done. The world around her faded to black to the faint sound of a bell.

Rose's eyes slowly dragged open, blinking blearily in the dark room. Moonlight came into the room from a low angle, the sky outside the window deep blue tinted pink. She looked around, wondering where the noise had come from until her eyes fell on the bed. There was a form in the bed, but it wasn't moving, wasn't breathing. This was a solid, lifeless lump. She got up, walking over to the blanket covered body and pulled it back. The pillows of her bed were arranged in pony shape, Ink Well nowhere to be seen.

Now wide awake, she ran to the stairs, hurrying into the dark room below. She flicked on the light, the pipes and machines gleaming in the clean electric light and casting strange shadows where the bulb's glow didn't fall. Amid the shapes and shadows nopony moved. She weaved between the distillers, pushing open the shop door and seeing her front door hanging slightly ajar, the bell tinkling lightly in the cool breeze flowing into the room. She ran from her shop, closing the door behind her as she went into the early morning air of Ponyville.

She started by scanning the sleeping streets around the area. Unfortunately, due to the hubbub surrounding the 'Ponyville 6,' there were multiple ponies already moving around the streets, with dozens more laying in doorways or on the ground. Rose stood stock still as she scanned the streets, still amazed at the amount of sway one article had.

When none of the ponies in the dim moonlight appeared to be the proper injured one, she took off, picking a road at random to begin her search. She moved methodically, street by street looking down all of the little alleyways and into hiding spaces for Ink Well's bandaged flank. As the moon sank and the sun slowly rose on the day, Rose's searching area widened, including the entire market and residential areas. Even after searching those, he was nowhere to be found.

"How can one injured pony move so fast?" She said as her search further expanded to the park. The morning was now in full swing, and there were townsponies and visitors alike wandering the pathways. She moved between them, asking around for the parchment furred pegasus that had wandered off, but nopony seemed to have seen him. She sat down on one of the benches, serious worry threatening to overtake her. To calm herself she breathed deeply, taking in the smell of grass and wild flowers. "Easy girl. He's a strong pony. He'll be fine. Sure he's not in the best shape, but he got all the way to your house in worse shape than this." She took another breath, running over who she could ask for help searching in her head. "He can't have gone too far down a leg and a wing. If you just organize a search party, you can probably..."

Her thoughts trailed off as the faint scent of lilacs floated past her. She sniffed the air, looking around to see the source of the familiar smell. The flowers in the park were daisies, dandelions and tulips, so it wasn't coming from them, and nopony had walked by recently, so it wasn't a perfume or cologne. Yet the smell still hung in the air. She got up, following it off the path and through the trees, eventually coming to a bush which reeked of the flower, with just the subtlest hint of ash beneath.

Excited, she pushed a clump of leaves aside, revealing Ink Well curled up around the trunk, his bandages all askew and a pained expression on his sleeping face. Letting out a sigh of relief, she shook his shoulder. He started, his wing straining under the bandage and his brace bouncing against the ground as he tried to push himself up. Rose shook her head, trying to stop him with a hoof. "What's with you and hiding in bushes?"

After a few moments of confusion, he looked up at Rose, recognition dawning as his gaze dropped to the ground. "Oh... Hello Rose."

Rose looked at him sternly. "What the hay were you thinking, sneaking off like that?"

Ink Well looked away from her, purposefully avoiding her gaze. "Oh geez, I worried you didn't I? I was hoping I could just disappear and stop burdening you..."

Rose's look softened. "Ink Well, you're no burden, and I don't know where that talk if coming from! Sure, maybe it wasn't fun cleaning up your bandages and keeping an eye on you, but that's because you're hurt, and that's the part I don't want to see. And why wouldn't I be worried about you? Plenty of ponies are!"

Ink Well shook his head. "Were. The others don't need me anymore now that I'm not helping them."

"Are. They may be a bit distracted now with their own problems, but that doesn't mean they like seeing you all injured and beating yourself up. Come on! You're better than this." She took a step back, offering a hoof. "Now get up. A bush in the park is no place for a conversation." After a few moments, Ink Well took her hoof, and with her help got up to standing and eventually out of the bush, though not without a few snags and scrapes. Once he was out he let go of Rose's hoof, taking a few steps away and still looking ashamed. Rose just smiled at him. "There. Much better. Now let's get back home and fix you up." She looked him up and down, frowning. "You really look a mess."

Ink Well limped ahead. "Yeah, thanks. You really know how to make a guy feel better."

Rose gave an exasperated sigh, nudging him on his way as they headed from the park. "You really need to snap out of this funk you're in Ink Well. So you can't write. There's more to life than one thing! Even if it is your special talent, a few days off of it won't hurt anything, will it?"

Ink Well shook his head. "It's not just that, it's everything. I mean, I'm just useless now, I lost so much, I can't even help the other ponies out after I swore I would, and even once I'm fully healed I've got nothing to return to... And all this focus on me. You, the others, the article... I'm just some little pony, I'm not important. Why all the attention?"

Rose shook her head. "Oh, you saw the one for you? And I thought it would cheer you up. You, sir, suffer from a poor self image. It wasn't just drawing attention to you or anything, it was a memorial from the ponies that remembered you and were sad you were gone. Granted, I'm pretty sure nopony bothered to actually talk to any of them when writing the piece, but it wasn't meant at all in hatred or in spite. And yes, you lost a lot, but there's nothing to be done about that. At least you have your life! You can't return to anything, but you can start over, a fresh start without all the issues you used to have."

He nodded slowly. "Sure, sure, but that still doesn't explain you or the others."

Rose stepped in front of him, stopping him in his tracks. "Darn it Ink Well, we care about you, isn't that enough?" She turned around, stomping off with a huff.

Ink Well was shocked, standing stock still for a few moments before he remembered that they were walking somewhere. As he started walking again, he shook his head. "Good going Ink Well. Said the wrong thing there." He followed Rose, lagging a fair bit behind. When he rounded the next street corner he saw Rose talking with Daisy and Lily, and he hung back behind the wall, listening in to their conversation despite himself.

"... yesterday? We thought you'd have been around the Library or something. Didn't you read the article?"

Rose rolled her eyes. "Yes Lily, I read the article. I just don't think that gossip is that big a thing. Besides, I was a bit busy with my own problems while that was going on."

Daisy gave an exaggerated gasp. "You not caring about gossip? Something must be wrong with you girl! Weren't you the one dragging us around those few weeks ago?"

"No Daisy, that was Lily. I was just the one that introduced you to the writer. You remember Ink Well, don't you?" She gestured behind her, only then realizing that Ink Well wasn't right behind her.

Lily tapped a hoof against her head as she thought, not noticing Rose's confusion. "Ink Well... Ink Well... Oh!" Her face saddened a bit. "He was the one they wrote about, wasn't he? I'm sorry. He was your friend, wasn't he?"

"Is. He's fine, they were wrong about him dieing. I already told you not to trust them." She looked around again, still not seeing the bandaged pony. "If he'd stop hiding, I'd prove it to you." She wandered away, trying to look down the street ahead of her. As she did so, the other ponies gave each other a look.

Lily walked up to her, placing a hoof on her shoulder. "Sure Rose, sure. We believe you."

Rose looked at her, completely confused. "Huh?"

Daisy walked up too, smiling. "Yeah. When I lost Granny Dandelion, I used to see her all the time as well. You remember that, don't you Lily?" Lily nodded, and realization began to dawn on Rose. "If you want, we were just going to Sugarcube Corner. Pinkie is throwing a party and answering questions and I'm sure that would really cheer you up."

Rose pulled away, scowling at them. "No! I'm not imagining this! I'm not grieving! He's just a little slow on his feet since the fire. Here, follow me." She walked back down the street, rounding the corner to find Ink Well leaning against the wall nonchalantly. "There, see?" As the other two rounded the corner, he waved at them.

They took one look at his ripped and pus stained bandages, the burned skin and charred fur beneath, the blood stains on his head, around his mouth and in his smile, and ran, screaming. "Ghost! Undead writer pony! Everypony run for the hills!" They galloped off, a few ponies nearby panicking as well and running in terror.

Ink Well raised a hoof, trying to call them back. "Wait! I'm not..." The street around them was cleared. Ink Well dropped his hoof. "Dead..." He looked back at himself, the burned flesh and bandages, and sighed. "Though I sure do look it... No wonder your friends ran."

Rose shrugged. "Between you and me, they've always been excitable." She looked at him, still frowning from her conversation earlier. "We heading back to the shop or what? It's already way past opening..."

Ink Well nodded. "Yeah. Let's get going." They slowly made their way back to the shop, both of them quiet the entire walk. As he walked up to the door, he looked over at Rose, who'd checked her pace to match his but was otherwise lost in thought. She seemed... troubled. "Roseluck? Something on your mind?"

She looked over at him, slightly miffed. "Please, Rose. Roseluck's the name on my bills." She walked past him, opening the door.

He ducked through it. "Sorry... didn't mean to bring something up..."

Rose shook her head as she went past him, opening the door to the workroom. "No. Sorry. I don't mean to snap. I just... I used to be so close to Lily and Daisy, but," she sighed, "I guess I changed or something... We're just not so friendly."

Ink Well shrugged, slowly making his way to the work table. "Everypony changes. Sometimes it's a way of thinking, sometimes it's just circumstance, but nothing stays the same."  Bloodstained papers were still scattered around the area. As he got himself seated, Rose walked up, placing down a bowl of water and bringing over the clean bandages.

"Maybe you should take your own advice, Inky." She smiled at him, then moved behind him, removing the old pus and bloodstained bandages from his side, head and hooves. As she did, Ink Well washed himself off, feeling uncomfortable for the attention being given him. As she removed the last bandage from around his wing, revealing the straps holding it steady and the stitches along his side, her thoughts took over again. "It hasn't just been happening lately, though the Equirer issue was the final straw. It started a while ago. Ever since they became all... intimate a few months back. I've just become a third wheel."

Ink Well frowned, examining his burned flesh worriedly. "You seemed friendly enough when I met you three." He moved to stand and Rose kept him sitting, beginning to bandage his hooves.

Rose shrugged, continuing her task. "It's not like we're not still friends. I've known them forever. It's other stuff getting in the way..."

Ink Well's hung dropped. "It's me isn't it. I'm taking up all your time and keeping you from your friends..." He winced as the bandage tightened, then relaxed as the lilac smell hit him.

Rose moved to the next hoof, continuing her work. "No, no, not at all. This has been going on for years, ever since they started getting all lovey-dovey. I was jealous and felt left out, and they tried to solve it by asking me to get in on it and, well, I just don't swing that way, so I had to decline, but that caused some uncomfortable times..." She tightened the bandage, moving to the last one. "And it's hard being a single filly in this town. There's, like, six colts, four of which are taken, one who just isn't interested, and one who'd be more interested in you than me. There just isn't a date to be found." She tightened the bandage to a slight yelp, blushing slightly as she loosened her grip. "I'm sorry, I went way too far there, didn't I?"

Ink Well shook his head as he waved the pain out of his hoof. "No. It actually answered a question or two I had." He stood up, letting Rose get to work on fixing the bandages around his midsection and wing. As she did, Ink Well kept talking. "And I get where you're coming from, though not for the same reason. Relationships just never work out for me. Not that I went searching, but I always got distracted with a story or a deadline or some manuscript I was working on... Not conducive to filly friends." Rose tightened the bandage, setting it into place, tapping him on the back and smiling at him. Ink Well smiled back. "Thank you. And there, now we're even in embarrassing revealed facts."

Rose motioned him to lower his head. "Sure." She fixed the bandage, glad to see his mane trying to grow back in already. As she finished it, she looked up to the clock in the room. It was well past noon. "Oh well, much too late to open the shop..." She looked at him, all spiffy in his new bandages, and smiled. "Looks like it's going to be a slow day today. You cause me a lot of trouble, you know."

Ink Well rubbed the new bandages on his head with his good hoof. "I know. I'll make it up to you." He put his hoof down, walking to the stairs, and turned back as he reached the bottom of them. "I promise."

---

The next morning Rose woke up to see Ink Well sitting on the side of the room, touching his front hooves to his lower hooves and stretching side to side. Unfortunately, every time he moved the hoof in a cast it fell lower than the other one, the brace clinking against the wood floor. Despite this, Ink Well was smiling. Rose got up, stretching herself to remove the kinks before walking over to him. "Well somepony's happy. Why are you up so early, and what are you doing?"

Ink Well looked at her, smiling. "Oh, just limbering up. Today's flight day, isn't it? Got to make sure I don't pull anything and get grounded again."

Rose tapped a hoof against her forehead. "Right! Your wings are free today aren't they? You sure you're ready for this, because the nurse said that waiting before flying wouldn't be a bad thing."

Ink Well shook his head. "No way. I am so tired of being grounded. I haven't been on the ground this long since I pulled a wing in mom's dance class, and that was because I didn't stretch beforehoof. But this time I'm ready." He stopped stretching, placing down his braced leg and pushing himself to standing. "Let's do this."

"Alright." Rose walked over, untying the bandages around his right wing and removing what held it down. As soon as she stepped back, Ink Well tested the wing, moving it up and down and wiggling the singed feathers. "Anything wrong?"

Ink Well tried it once, smiled, and then pushed himself into the air with his good legs and flapped hard. He sprung into the air, making a quick lap around the room before hovering before Rose, a giant grin on his face. "Nope, everything's fine! My, I'd missed this..." He flew out the window, carefully the first few feet into the open air, but soon zipping out into the sky and circling the building, laughing the whole time.

Rose watched him spiral through the sky and couldn't help but smile herself, but something about watching him zip and turn around her building caused her heart to sting. Oh what she would give to be up there with him... "Be realistic girl. It just isn't going to happen." Ink Well flew back through the window, fluttering to a soft landing in the middle of the room. He turned, smiling a smile that seemed to proclaim to the world that nothing could go wrong. Rose smiled back, unable to fight the joy radiating from him. It was the happiest she'd ever seen him since his second visit, and yet her heart twinged again...

She ignored it, walking over and bumping against him playfully. "Now that you've had your fun, it's time for you to make it up to me."

Ink Well looked at her, smile not fading at all. "Oh? And what do you wish of me, Miss Rose?"

Rose shrugged. "Nothing big. Just helping me restock the shop. Yesterday I lost a lot of time looking for you when you ran off, I wasn't even able to open. I'm running behind on my perfume making, so I need you out front running the store."

Ink Well's smile faltered. "You sure about that? You saw what happened when your friends saw me. How do you know I won't go scaring them off with my looks?"

Rose looked him up and down. "True, you look a mess, but at least today it's a clean, newly bandaged mess. You'll be behind the counter most of the time anyway, ideally they'll only see the one on your head."

Ink Well raised an eyebrow. "Well what if somepony needs help or something? I don't know anything about perfumes."

Rose smiled smugly. "You aren't getting out of it for that. You honestly don't need to know much. It's all their preference, you just facilitate." Ink Well looked unimpressed with her response. "Look, don't worry about it. If you really need help, I'll be in the back and you can come get me, alright? Please?" He still wasn't convinced. "You promised."

Ink Well looked at her asking him and, after a moment, smiled. "Okay, I'll do it. I did promise, and I do kind of owe you a lot."

Rose nodded. "Thank you. I'll open up and everything, you just get set up behind the counter, alright? It's not like I'm expecting any big rush. It'll probably be a quiet, boring day."

---

It most certainly was not a quiet, boring day. Within minutes of the shop opening Ink Well had his first customer, and while the customer did not run screaming, she was put off by Ink Well's injured look. But, in spite of this, she made a purchase and was on her way with no trouble at all. However, how he looked didn't seem to be a problem at all, as within an hour there was a small crowd within the shop, and by midday Ink Well was well overrun. Customers were flocking in with requests and purchases and questions to the point that Ink Well just couldn't take it, so he ducked into the back room. There Rose was working overtime to keep the front stocked.

He closed the door quickly against the sound of dozens of customers asking questions, putting his back against it to keep the noise out. "What the hay Rose, I thought there wouldn't be a rush!"

Rose ran between two machines, adjusting one with a back hoof as she read the dials on another. "Look, I have no clue what happened, is there some big day I don't know about?"

Ink Well backed slowly away from the door, watching it for any sudden moves. "I don't know, but I think it's about now I should tell you I don't really do well in crowds."

"Tough hoof beats, that's how it is today. Geez, even the Gala rush wasn't this bad!" She finished capping a row of glass bottles, arranging them carefully in the box before jamming it and the half-dozen under it into Ink Well's hooves. "Here, these are the florals, back row, go get 'em."

Ink Well hovered back towards the door, braced hoof making carrying the tower of boxes difficult. "Are you sure you don't want to help me out there? I could really use it."

"Sorry I can't be more helpful, but I've got two more batches coming out for most of the scent bases. If we sell out of those, we're done for the day, alright? Now go!" Before Ink Well could answer, Rose pushed him through the door, shutting it on the sound that flooded in. She cringed slightly at the loud clinks of glass that came after her action, but was relieved to hear no breaking.

Ink Well was just happy he didn't have to balance the boxes long, as before he'd hardly flown over the counter the bottles began to empty from the boxes, quite the queue forming before the register. By the time he got to where the perfume belonged, there were only two containers left, both snatched away right under his nose. With a huff, he flew through the nearly barren aisle ways, attending to the mob before the register as fast as he could.

Another few frantic hours passed before the crowd thinned, not due to a lack of demand but due to lack of supply. Rose brought out her newest batches, not fully confident in their quality due to their rushed nature, but the ponies ate them up and they disappeared as quickly as anything. It took both Rose and Ink Well behind the counter to take care of everypony there, and even then it took another fifteen minutes after closing time before the last satisfied pony left, flying into deepening afternoon light, 'Rosewater' bag held gladly in her teeth. "Thank you! Come again!" Rose called after the pegasus before closing the door and flipping the sign to 'Closed.' She sighed, leaning against the wall. "Wow, who would have thought that was going to happen? I normally have enough stock for everyone in Ponyville four times over, and I ran out!" She laughed. "Did you catch why they were buying so rabidly?"

Ink Well flew from aisle to aisle with broom and dust pan in hoof cleaning broken glass. A million mixed scents clogged the air from the test sprays and spills of all the ponies. Between two aisles he paused, answering her. "I think one of them mentioned something about getting close to Rarity, but that was hours ago." He dumped the glass shards from the pan into a trash bin with a horrible crash, then landed next to it, visibly tired. He looked over at Rose, the bandage on his head soaked with sweat and the others on him disheveled, and smiled. "Slow day, huh?"

Rose smiled back. "So I was wrong. At least it's not all bad. With the haul that came in I think I can finally afford that compressor I wanted." She pulled herself off of the wall, stretching out before gesturing to the door. "Would you like to go get something to eat? I'm buying."

Ink Well shook his head. "It's wonderful offer, but right now I sort of want to spread my wings. Being locked in here all day really was kind of anticlimactic after they were freed, you know?" He looked at the injured look on her face and frowned. "Sorry, is that alright?"

Rose's expression softened, but the previous look burned itself on Ink Well's mind. "Yeah, of course it is. Who am I to stop you? You get out there and fly."

Ink Well took a hesitant step forward. "Are you sure? It's not like it's-"

Rose cut him off. "No, no, it's fine. You go have fun soaring. I'll just... go start on restocking or something." She walked from the front door to the back one, opening it. "I really shouldn't stop working just because I had a good day."

Ink Well walked after her, frowning. "I didn't mean it like-"

"I know you didn't. Now you go out and fly. Have a good time." The door slammed shut, leaving him alone in the shop.

Ink Well looked at the door, a puzzled and sad look on his face. "Good job Ink Well, wrong words again..." He walked out of the front door, closing it behind him to the slight tinkle of the shop bell. After a few steps, his face lit up and he stomped down a hoof. "I know! That's it! That'll be perfect!" He lifted off, flying quickly into the rapidly dimming light.

---

As evening turned to night Ink Well hobbled upstairs, smiling playfully. Rose looked at him suspiciously. "Ink Well, what did you do?"

Ink Well looked hurt. "Now why would I do anything? I know I touched a sore nerve earlier, and I just thought of a wonderful gift to make it up to you. But if you don't want it..."

Rose raised an eyebrow. "Gift? I don't see a gift."

Ink Well smiled. "Of course not. It's too special to have me fumble it up the stairs. Come on down, it's waiting in the shop." He hovered in the air for a moment, grin only spreading before disappearing into the workroom. Rose followed, curiosity getting the better of her. She walked downstairs through the long quiet distillery, opening the door to her shop.

Behind the door stood Ink Well and a slightly annoyed Twilight Sparkle. As Rose entered the room, Twilight circled her, seeming to size her up. After a few moments of silent scrutiny, Twilight nodded. "Yes, I think I can do it. But I'm only doing this once."

Ink Well landed next to her, shaking her hoof. "Thank you so much. It means a lot."

Twilight let go of his hoof. "Just stick to your end of the bargain and everything will be fine."

Ink Well nodded. "Of course, of course. I'll be a witness against them in your trial."

"Good. Glad we're all clear." She looked at Rose. "You ready?"

Rose looked confusedly between the two ponies. "Um, ready for what? What are you two planning?"

Twilight braced herself on the floor. "Alright. This is going to feel a little weird, but you need to stay relaxed, okay? This takes a lot of energy and we only get one shot."

Confusion turned to worry on Rose's face. "One shot at what? What are you planning?"

Ink Well moved next to her, still smiling. "Don't worry. It's a surprise, and you're going to love it. Just close your eyes, everything will be alright."

"But-"

He placed hoof on her shoulder. "Trust me."

Rose looked into his eyes, drawing strength from his assurance. She nodded. "Alright go for it."

Ink Well smiled. "You won't regret it." He took a few steps away as Twilight's horn began to glow. Rose closed her eyes, trying to breathe deeply and keep calm as a tickle ran through her body, a bright light bleeding through her eyelids.

Ink Well's smile faded to awe as he watched the power emanating from Twilight's horn. Bright blue tendrils surrounded Rose, radiating light as they slowly enveloped her in a cocoon. The tendrils lifted her in the air, brightening as Twilight redoubled her efforts to maintain the spell. As he watched, the light brightened further, blinding him as he tried to look upon it, then to a point where it burned through his eye lids.

A flash, shooting almost solid beams of light from the windows and far into the Ponyville night. Ink Well opened his eyes, blinking as they slowly adjusted back to the normal lighting of the room. Twilight stood in the same place looking shaky and tired. Across from her, standing and blinking as her own eyes adjusted, was Rose, two magnificent butterfly wings adorning her back. They glittered spectacularly in the dim light, cream bodied with rose colored patches within and ivy green trim along the edges.

Everypony in the room was stunned with the beauty of the wings, including Rose herself. She tested them out carefully and giggling with glee as she rose in the air. "Oh, wow! This... this is amazing!" She fluttered over to Twilight. "Thank you! Thank you so much!"

Twilight shook her head, woozy. "Don't worry about it. But be careful, those are made of gossamer and morning dew, so they aren't very durable. But the spell lasts for three days, so enjoy them while you have them."

"I will!" As Twilight left, Rose flew around the room, glee on her face as she spun and danced in the air.

Ink Well stood at the door, watching her joyful flight. "Hey, I know you're having fun in this shop, but wouldn't you rather feel the wind in your mane?"

Rose came to a stop, hovering just before Ink Well. "What? Now? But it's dark out."

"That's the best time to fly. Nopony else in the skies, cool air rushing past, stars above and clouds below..." He held out his hoof, smiling. "There's a storm over the Everfree Forest, and I was wondering if you'd give me the honor of your first flight."

Rose hesitated. The wings were one thing, but flying at night, especially over a storm, having never flown before... And over the Everfree Forrest no less... But there was that smile Ink Well had on. It said that everything would be okay, if you just gave him a chance to make it so. Against that... what could a pony do?

She put her hoof in his, letting him lead her out of the door and into the street. The streets themselves were beautiful, bathed in the cool light of the moon and sparkling as the last of the magic seeped from the air. The lights of the houses in town painted warm mosaics on the land, turning even the most mundane aspect of the sight into a work of art. In this dark wonderland, Ink Well's wings slowly flapped, lifting him into the air for Rose to follow. A gentle breeze blew from the Everfree, rustling against her wings as she flapped them tentatively, slowly hovering from the ground. Slowly, gently, the two light ponies took to the skies, drifting against the currents of the air.

The wind carried the sound of thunder to the two ponies, causing Rose to grab Ink Well's hoof more tightly. Ink Well pulled his hoof away, flying slightly ahead and urging her onward. "Don't be scared, it's just a signal of rainfall to come. We have much bigger plans, a little thunder can't stall us now." He spun away before her, laughing and prompting her to join. She soon followed, the duo spinning and twirling through the skies of the outskirts of town.

Ink Well had been right, and Rose had no real words to describe what she was feeling now. Exhilarating was really the best word for it, just an unbridled joy that extended all around as the world opened up above and below, curving away to lands far beyond. Even though she wasn't moving fast, she felt like she could reach the stars from here, or just keep going forever, seeing everything the planet had to offer... It was wonderful, the urge to just go, the freedom given to her as the wind picked her up... Breathtaking...

The pair danced over treetops, pulling higher as the rains began to fall to weave and hop between the clouds. The moon moved slowly above them, a multitude of stars guiding its path. Amid it's light they came upon the roiling sea of fluff that made up the storm, lightning jumping between the clouds. Without a hint of reservation Ink Well came in close, landing on the moving wisps. Rose landed beside, careful as her hooves slowly sunk into the plush vapor beneath her, relieved to feel the odd sensation of the cloud holding her weight.

She marveled at the crispness of the stars twinkling above her, her breath glistening as it crystallized in the high altitude air. She turned to find Ink Well limping along the cloud ocean as though he were looking for something. She followed curiously as he disappeared down a slope, part of a basin in the clouds. A hole was formed beneath, giving a clear view of the untamed wilds of the Everfree forest as lightning flashed, briefly illuminating the treetops below.

Ink Well flew to a small cloud in the center of the basin, motioning for Rose to join him. As they stood, there, the storm winds increased, whipping about them in every way. Rose was worried, the rain whipping against her and stinging. But Ink Well held her steady with a wing, shielding the rain until the wind changed once more. Rain drops were pushed upwards, swirling just above them before  freezing and drifting around them in perfect snowflakes. The water splashed at their hooves and fur, quickly covering them with a thin layer of ice as the frost around them swirled with the air. At the center of the flurry of activity, the moonlight shone down through the ice crystals, breaking into a rainbow that surrounded them on all sides.

The earth pony stood enraptured, not willing to move lest the spell be broken. "This is beautiful... Far more so than I ever could have imagined..."

The pegasus beside her just nodded slightly, watching the clouds shift and the snow cease its movement, falling below the cloud layer once more. "This is what I'm challenged with getting across in ink. One moment that only a third of the ponies who ever live will be able to see, if they are lucky, and in the right place, and even then only if they really look..." He stood, the moon glistening off the frost what little there was of his mane. "I try to build in words a memory so strong that ponies across time will be able to experience it... And I don't think I'll ever truly succeed."

Rose turned to him, finding him looking down at her, a sadness in his eyes. As they stood in that moment, piercing winds blew from the clouds around them, chilling her to the bone. She took a step closer, moving against him as she shivered in the cold. "Thank you for giving me the chance to experience it."

His right wing folded around her, shielding her from the wind and knocking off part of the sheen of ice that had formed on her mane. "I couldn't let you not." He gave her a smile, the sadness in his eyes edged with a hope that hadn't been there before. "Everypony deserves a chance to fly." Their eyes locked, a common thought passing between them for just a moment. Ink Well leaned in...

And was caught off balance as the cloud dissipated beneath his cast. He slipped, tumbling into a shower of ice rain falling beneath. He pulled himself up from his dive, getting soaked as he made his way back up through the hole in the clouds and onto the moonlit mass above. Rose flew over to him, worry first on her face for the fall, but leaving quickly as she stifled a laugh. Ink Well stood shivering, soaked to the skin with all of his fur and what had grown back of his mane and tail pulled by the flight and frozen out behind him. As she laughed, he flew over, bumping her playfully with his side and crackling some of the ice from himself. "Yeah, yeah. Very funny. Now let's get back to the house before I shiver apart the storm."

She nudged him back, a warmth seeming to emanate from within as she looked upon his frosted face. "Whatever you say, Ink Fell." Ink Well started laughing at himself before he'd even taken off, and the two ponies sailed back to Ponyville that night amidst the constant reverberations of mirth.

---

Twilight awoke the next day to the sound of things being moved downstairs. "Spike sure is being loud this morning." She grumbled as she got up in the early morning light, brushing her hair and getting ready for the day.

A loud crash from below pulled her from her preparations. "What is he doing down there?" She went out the door to her room and down to the main area of the library, annoyed at her assistant. She turned into the room and said, "Spike, what's going on?"

As her eyes fell over the room and her jaw dropped. It was a mess, the books and decorations flung every which way, with the door to the basement ajar and papers trailing across the ground. The drawer on her desk was sitting upside-down in the center of the room, even the ink pot and quill thrown aside and spilled. She ran to the back room, seeing it in a similar state, the wood horse statue overturned and thrown next to two bundles of rope that sat in the corner.

At the very back of the room tossing books left and right were two strongly-built earth ponies with red masks over their mouths. As Twilight entered, they looked at her, startled by her presence. One of them made a move at her with a length of rope. While caught off guard by the aggressiveness, she reacted quickly, magicking the rope back around on him. As she did so, the partner tossed the book he was holding, hitting her on the head. As she was stunned, the two ponies bolted, shattering a window as they made their escape to the streets below. Twilight ran after them, looking out of the shattered window with a mixture of anger and confusion. "What was that all about?"

A muffled noise came from the two rope bundles in the corner. Twilight walked over, seeing green spines poking out of one. Worried, she untied the bundles, releasing Spike and Owlowiscious from their bonds  Spike jumped up, hugging her tightly as Owlowiscious returned to his perch. "Oh Twilight! It was terrible! They came in while I was trying to make your breakfast and they just started ransacking the place! There wasn't anything I could do!"

Twilight hugged him back, shushing him. "There there, Spike, everything's okay now. Did you get any information from them? Who they are? Where they're from?"

Spike shook his head. "Nothing. I heard one of them say something about a file, but that's it."

Twilight stiffened where she stood. "A file?" Spike nodded. Twilight trembled with anger. "That is it! I'm not waiting any longer. Those ponies are getting what's coming to them!" She ran over to the writing desk, levitating a piece of parchment, a quill, and a new bottle of ink from where they were strewn around the room.

She put quill to parchment, preparing to write when the door opened, Rainbow Dash flying in. "They came back! Those ponies tried to attack me again!" Behind Rainbow walked in all of Twilight's friends, each looking equally angry.

"I found those meanies in the bakery! There was frosting everywhere! It was a waste of good sugar!"
"All of the animals warned me about them. I asked one of the bears to lead them away."
"My Boutique was in shambles! All of those dresses, torn and strewn about. It was the worst possible thing to ever happen!"
"They almost pinned us down at the Acres! Big Mac had to come in and show 'em what for! I tied 'em up, but they got out somehow."

Twilight frowned at her friends. "Yeah, they were rummaging through my house too. This is the last straw. I'm sending my letter to Princess Celestia. The Equirer is going to have the royal guard to deal with." The quill whipped across the paper, the letter forming rapidly beneath it. "With all of us testifying they're going to be shut down immediately. The Princess won't possibly let them continue even for a day after attacking her student!" The quill tapped the final punctuation in place, then the parchment folded itself up and sealed itself. "Spike! Send it!"

Spike grabbed the paper, torching it with his fire breath and sending it out in a flurry of green fire and ash. "It's on its way!"

Twilight smiled to the rest of the ponies. "There we go! It looks like this is all finally over."

Pinkie bounced next to her. "I hope so! It's getting hard to stock all of these parties! So many ponies to feed!"

Rarity looked at her funnily. "Really? That's where you complaint came from? Not the mobs or the rumors, but the food?"

Pinkie looked at her like she was crazy. "The Equirer is a good magazine! Why would I be angry with its fans?"

Rarity looked about to let loose a storm when Applejack put a hoof on her shoulder. "Don' bother Rare. You know she's a few apples short of a bushel."

"Ow!" Pinkie jumped up, looking at her left front hoof. "Ow ow ow ow stop stop stop stop owwwwwwwwwww!" She hopped around the room holding up the hoof.

Fluttershy hovered behind her, worried. "Pinkie? What's wrong?"

She hopped in place, spinning round and round. "My knee is pinchy! My knee is really really pinchy! Owwww!"

Applejack's ears dropped. "Pinchy knee? Now? Here? Where's it at? When?"

Twilight raised an eyebrow at her friend. "Applejack, why are you so worried?"

Applejack grabbed a book and dropped down to the ground, holding it over her head. "A pinchy knee means there's a fright comin'! Don' you remember yer Pinkie senses?" The other ponies all looked worried as they recalled.

Twilight walked over to Pinkie, stopping her hopping with a hoof. "Pinkie, when is this scary thing going to happen?"

Pinkie concentrated for a moment, slowly moving her leg up and down and testing her knee. "Tonight, right near nightfall." She pulled her knee up again, keeping weight off of it. "And it's a big one!"

Twilight pushed the issue. "Who's it happening to? Where will it be?"

Pinkie shook her head. "I don't know! I can't figure out the center of it!"

Spike belched to the side of the room, a scroll forming from the spout of green fire that came out. Twilight floated it over, opening it. "It's from the Princess! 'Twilight, I have read your letter, and these are very serious accusations. We can not close them down just on your rumors unsubstantiated, so I sent the head of the Equirer a letter detailing yours and your six friend's complaints and letting them know that they will be under guard investigation until proven innocent or guilty. They sent back a letter saying they would try to settle your grievances with them on their own. I will contact you again when a decision has been made.'" She dropped the letter, looking worriedly at it. "That was not what I expected."

Applejack looked puzzled. "Wait, your six friends? Who's the sixth?"

"Ink Well." Said Twilight and Pinkie in unison. Twilight looked at her, confused. "How did you know it was him?"

Pinkie shook her head. "No! That's where the feeling is centered from! Something scary is going to happen to Ink Well!"

Twilight looked at Pinkie, then at the letter. After a few moments, she folded it up. "Looks like it's time for us to help him."