#radiant ember

This is the entire DRA main group (sans the parent characters) which I've wanted to do all together for a while. This also includes the 6.5 siblings (Callisto Carnival, Dawn Chaser, & Hearth) for the first time as I've not drawn them before haha. Designs may not be final if I draw them again someday.

I really liked thinking about where each character would be and what they'd be up to. There ended up being plenty of little hidden details too which I really enjoy.

This is isometric (done with iso grid paper) and the floorplan is actually one I've had for the Maeda household for a long time, kinda... if you've read Crashing Waves & Bloody Sand, this is the same layout I used for the scene in that fic (albeit a little ponified lol)

Here's a background only version, with the Maeda home photos instead.

Lastly, here's some close ups:

Over 1000 years ago, the Crystal Empire was taken over by a nefarious unicorn named King Sombra. Under his rule, the Empire became a dark land; Sombra enslaved the crystal ponies and stole away the Crystal Heart, a powerful relic capable of channeling the residents’ light and love to protect the Empire. When active, the Heart radiates a powerful magic which gives light and warmth to the land, protecting it from being overcome by darkness or the region’s intense  winter storms. 

Without it, the crystal ponies are weakened and unable to use their combined magic to defeat King Sombra. Over time, their coats dull, and the light fades, making it easy for Sombra to control the populace with a combination of magic and force. Though their spirits are slowly being worn down, and the light that would normally bolster their hearts no longer reflects from their hearts or coats, some resistance remains.

Before King Sombra’s reign, Carnellian and Beryl Brilliance held important roles in the Empire; they were Treasurers, helping to manage the Crystal Empire’s finances, currency, and the organization and protection of the nation’s many treasures, including many magical artifacts created to protect the Empire. When the Crystal Heart was lost to Sombra, the two of them were part of an attempt fight back. The resistance had little success, but when  the remaining citizens managed to obtain help from the neighboring nation’s princesses, it seemed like their chance.

A group of crystal ponies, including the two former Treasurers, charged the castle in an attempt to recover enough magical artifacts to fight back. The plan was to use them to help defeat Sombra and recover the Crystal Heart; or, if that failed, to evacuate as many ponies as possible from the land before the worst came to pass.

In the end, Celestia and Luna were able to defeat the tyrant king, but not before he managed to place a curse that dragged the Empire into limbo for a thousand years. After failing to recover the Heart, the resistance faltered. Though many of them attempted to escape their fate, only a handful of attempts succeeded. Many fled from the land while the Princesses were in combat with King Sombra. Some of them managed to traverse the frozen north and survive in Equestria, where they would live the rest of their days without ever seeing their homeland again.

After choosing instead to try to recover the Heart, Carnelian and Beryl knew it was too late for the rebels to escape that way. Instead, they led the group to a relic that they hoped could save them; the Cabochon Compass. During the reign of Princess Amore, it was used to transport ponies and goods in and out of the Empire, something that was normally very difficult and time consuming prior to the advent of Equestria’s railroads. With hope in their hearts, the resistance members aimed the needle toward Equestria, and began sending each other, and their loved ones, someplace they knew to be safer than here.

However, they had no way of knowing how things would end up. When Carnellian and Beryl sent their very young daughter away, then followed themselves, they expected to all find each other on the other side of the journey. The rebels weren’t experts wiith the Cabochan Compass, but everypony would surely end up in Equestria. Even if there were mistakes, they could regroup and find one another. Unfortunately, King Sombra’s curse ruined these plans. In the midst of the Empire being dragged into an unknown limbo, time slowed and warped. 1000 years would pass in both a blink of an eye and a timeless void.

In the end, the ponies who managed to escape using the compass probably did end where they intended to go… but the when was another matter. A few arrived at similar times and spots, but most of them were scattered across different times and places in Equestria. Those lucky enough to arrive in past or present may have managed to reunite with refugees from the Empire, and find new lives among the ponies of Equestria, even if they would never see their home again, and eventually, their ancestors would no longer be crystalline like they were.

The majority of them were not so lucky. Carnelian and Beryl’s daughter ended up far enough into the future that the Crystal Empire had become a distant memory. Left alone, she was barely able to remember her parents’ faces and the last words of the ponies around her before the end.

If only I had been wiser, if only we hadn’t failed… if only, if only…

Radiant Ember would grow up an orphan, knowing nothing of the Empire or the circumstances that led to her being separated from her family. She believed her parents had abandoned her; they’d failed her, failed to be parents, or failed to save themselves.

She knew she would not fall to the same fate, no matter what. She vowed to survive, and become so capable that she would never fail. She would strive to better herself; so she wouldn’t have to rely on anypony else, and so that she’d be looked at with respect instead of the pity she’d come to know as a filly. This determination fueled her, driving her onward. It became her reason to get up in the morning, the one thing she’d sacrifice everything else to achieve.

And achieve she did, throwing herself into her studies, and becoming knowledgeable about countless topics. She started as a student, but after many different classes and positions, she climbed the ladder from lowly teacher's assistant all the way up to esteemed university professor. Radiant Ember taught many subjects in various schools across the nation, including several prestigious institutions in Canterlot.

It was many years later, after Ember had become an accomplished professor, that an actual lead towards her past would appear. After 1000 years, the Crystal Empire returned; and when the Crystal Heart rejuvenated the land and the crystal ponies,that distant aurora hit Ember, too. Suddenly, there was a sheen to her coat that had never been there before, and her mane practically glowed for several hours. Rather distracting, when one is attmempting to finish a lecture.

After this, Radiant returned to a topic she’d had shelved for many years; The Crystal Empire. With the Empire’s return, and the subsequent coronation of Princess Cadence, she was able to dig up far more information than before. She’d known she was a crystal pony, or at least, a descendant of them, but now, she had an opportunity to learn about where she came from.

…Didn’t she? 

Learning about her roots through the Empire’s history and culture did not carry enough weight for the professor to set her current goals aside. However, ever since her supposed homeland returned from a cursed limbo, there was a tiny, nagging question in the back of Radiant’s mind.

Could they still be alive? Was there more to this story? Have I been thinking about this incorrectly my whole life?

Eventually, that question would probably lead her to visit the Empire for herself. But even if Radiant was able to learn about her parents from the residents’ foggy memories, they were not among the ponies who’d reappeared alongside the Empire. With their fates unknown, Radiant Ember’s question remains, unanswered.

---

And there we have it. Ember's tragic backstory™ (and some context for the Crystal Empire in EDP) Also, here's some details about crystal ponies I came up with.

- Crystal ponies' equivalent to bones and keratin are made from crystal; including their horns and hooves.

- They usually use metal bands and jewelry to tie and style their manes instead of hair ties/ribbon, fabric, etc. This is because their hair has very little friction and is as crystalline as their coats despite having a similar flexibility and softness as more organic hair would.

- When hair is cut from a crystal pony's mane or tail, it quickly becomes rigid. These pieces can be used for various practical or artistic purposes, and may fracture or shatter if exposed to too much force.

- Light and love power crystal pony magic; they can absorb and use it for spells (earth and pegasi crystal ponies can do so using magical artifacts or with a unicorn as a conduit) or store and accumulate it like a battery. This is how they charge the Crystal Heart, and how crystal ponies are able to produce extremely powerful effects when they combine their strength or a strong source of love is involved. (See Cadence's and Shining's spell during A Canterlot Wedding or the various times the Crystal Heart is charged up at a crystalling or crystal faire.)

- They don't (and can't) use it as a source of sustenance like Changelings, but do suffer negative physical effects when deprived of love and light. When little or no light is present for them to shine and reflect, the crystal ponies' coats dull and their physical conditions deteriorate. (Something King Sombra took advantage of during his reign.) As you can imagine, this would probably lead to some interesting interactions between changelings and crystal ponies, or their magic...

- The level of crystallization they display is based on their proximity to the Heart and the Crystal Empire; ponies outside the Empire are not fully crystallized, even when the Heart has just been rejuvenated. However, they can temporarily be charged up via other methods. When fully crystallized, their magic is a lot more powerful; an already skilled unicorn like Radiant Ember would be capable of some serious stuff.

One week ago, a mysterious illness had struck Moonshade, giving her sleepless nights and exhaustion until it seemed she barely had the strength to speak. And four days ago, Gizmo had gone in search of a solution, leaving his friends behind with little to go off of beyond a hastily written note. 

When the unicorn had failed to return within the three days he’d promised, it became clear that something had gone awry. So, Saber Frost forms a search party consisting of Radiant Ember, Clover Shores, and Thrift Twinkle, and leads them on. They head into the mountains, hoping to find the plant Ember had identified as a potential cure, and in turn, find the unicorn who had disappeared in search of it. 

After a day of trekking through the snowy wilderness, Saber discovers what appears to be a trail. Though it seems somewhat abandoned, the presence of such a thing in a place that was recorded as being uninhabited is strange in itself. With no other leads, they decide to follow it, deeper into the mountains. Home grows further and further away, and the temperature continues to drop, but Saber presses on relentlessly…

A familiar-sounding argument has already begun by the time Clover catches up to his two friends. 

“I don’t remember ever asking for your assistance in the first place.” Saber’s voice replies coldly as Clover approaches. He finds his two irate friends standing above a large outcrop near the trail, tempers rising despite the frigid weather and the cold water rushing along below. 

“Of course. And I suppose my research, or Thrift’s supplies count for nothing, then.” 

“I never said anything of the sort.” He snaps, hoof pawing at the snow impatiently. “This isn’t up for debate.”

“Well.” Ember rolls her eyes, snorts, then steps forward, horn raised, cornering him against the cliffside. “Fine, go freeze to death, then. If it’s an order, what else am I supposed to say?” 

“Since when do you care?!” Saber seethes, meeting her horn-to-horn. “I can handle myself without being slowed down by the rest of you.” 

“Guys-” Clover attempts. Behind him, he hears snow crunching, and a yawn, as Thrift has already sleepily plodded over. 

“Oh, you’re a different kind of dense, that’s for sure…” Ember grins, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. 

“What would you have me do?” Saber’s voice is louder now. He glances over at Thrift and Clover, but doesn’t stop his tirade. Tiny little sparks are starting to glow at the tips of his ears and mane. “There’s no time to play around! In these temperatures-” 

“If you keep going like this, you’re the one whose stubborn hooves will freeze off!” Ember interrupts. “And then we’ll have to drag both of your idiotic asses back home.” 

“GUYS.” Clover raises his voice, and calls forward angrily, stomping one hoof into the snow. “This isn’t helping.” Next to him, Thrift nods, looking very much like he’d rather be back in his tent and asleep.

“That, we can agree on,” Ember meets his gaze, and turns to face them, planting a hoof lightly on Saber’s chest. In response, he doesn’t budge, eyebrows furrowed and the hints of sparks still rippling across his mane. 

“Can we go back ta camp…?” Thrift asks quietly. Saber’s eyes close, and when they open, Clover meets his eyes, until the stubbornness fades into indecision. 

“What do you say, Frosty?” Ember nudges him teasingly, eyeing the snow melting around his hooves. “Why don’t we roast some marshmallows over that righteous flame of yours?” Saber looks over at her, exasperated, but before he can open his mouth, an ominous creak echoes around the clearing. Saber and Ember’s eyes widen, but there’s no time to react. With a sharp crack, the snow and ice below Saber’s hooves falls away, and he disappears over the edge. 

Below Thrift’s panicked yelp, Clover hears a distant, cold splash. He races over to the outcropping and stares downward, searching the river below anxiously. For a second, nothing can be seen but dark, rushing water. But then, a blue head surges above the surface, gasping for air. Saber’s mane is soaked, pressed against his neck, and he spins in the current despite his attempts to break away.

“Saber!” Clover’s voice is panicked as he leans over and s cans the cliff for a way down. He stumbles down a rocky path, and manages to reach the riverside, with the others close behind. By the time he makes it, their fallen friend is shambling through the shallows across the river. Clover squints, trying to make out his expression as he steps uneasily onto the shore, and drags himself out of the frigid waters. “Are you okay?!” He shouts, and a head turns toward him, still hard to make out. 

“Clover, don’t.” Ember’s voice calls out in warning as he lowers a hoof to the water. “It’s too cold to-” 

Before she can finish, a familiar red shield flickers briefly into existence, pushing Clover back and away from the water. His hooves displace several pebbles, but the shield soon evaporates into a cloud of misty red sparks. 

“Hm.” Ember observes. Clover shoots her a dirty look. “What? It’s not like I pushed him. Frosty melted himself off that cliff.” At the look on his face, and Thrifts, she frowns. Clover’s glare doesn’t temper, but he shakes his head, and focuses on more pressing matters instead. 

“He’s not doin’ anything, or coming back,” Thrift whispers worriedly. Ember gazes across the river, squinting, and her eyebrows crease. Saber stands there, somewhat pathetically, with water still dripping from his soaked body.

“I thought he’d have more than enough fuel to warm himself up by now,” She mutters, then lifts her head to shout. “HEY FROSTY! HOW’S THE WATER?” Saber’s head lifts slightly, but he doesn’t respond, and though it’s hard to make out, his expression doesn’t change. At this, even Ember seems to get a little concerned. 

“Ember-” Clover begins urgently. 

“I know, I know. Don’t get your hooves in a twist, Snores.” She lowers her head in concentration, and an orange glow snaps into place around her. With a sharp zap, she disappears, before reappearing on the distant shore. Thrift and Clover watch on as she approaches their sodden friend, unable to make out any of the words they might be exchanging. 

Eventually, Ember shakes her head, and her horn glows once more. In a bright flash of orange sparks, a large magical construct-in the shape of a hair dryer-appears above them. With a flick of her head, she aims it at Saber, and starts it up. A huge gust of air assaults Saber’s clothes, mane, and coat. When it disappears again, it leaves his mane a turbulent, fluffy mess.

He shakes it out lightly, but shows very little response, even at Ember’s amused smile. As Clover paces back and forth along the shore, the two of them disappear in a crackling flash of sunset orange, and reappear between Thrift and Clover.

“Saber!” Clover immediately rushes forward, unraveling his large scarf with an unsteady green glimmer of magic. It hovers between them, before settling around Saber’s neck, where Clover wraps it securely into place with one hoof. Satisfied only once it covers his ears and part of his face, Clover steps back, and tilts his head. “...Are you alright?” He asks, suddenly realizing Saber has hardly moved an inch the entire time, only listlessly watching him. Saber nods slowly.

“Why didntcha get fired up, and stuff?” Thrift asks, stepping a little closer. Saber shakes his head. 

“That's what I'd like to know,” Ember cuts in. “Wait…” She scrutinizes him, but before she can voice her theory, Clover frowns, and speaks.

“Are you hurt?” He asks worriedly. “You haven't said a word…” Saber shakes his head. He points to his mouth, then repeats the motion again.

“Oh, this is golden,” Ember, clearly having already put the pieces together, grins, and pokes the blank-faced unicorn in the chest. “Sweet silence! No more orders or ravings from you for a while.” She laughs, but even as Clover's glare meets her eyes, the amusement fades. 

In the face of her ribbing, Saber remains still and unaffected. He simply stands there, without a hint of irritation or exasperation or disdain on his face. Then, he simply walks slowly away, up the ridge, and back towards their camp.

“Hm.” Ember frowns quietly, all mirth extinguished, “Perhaps this isn’t an improvement, after all.” Clover trots off in pursuit, and after exchanging uneasy glances, Thrift and Ember follow close behind.

Though it should have been a relief that Saber relented and rested with the others, the night passes by in an uneasy atmosphere. Clover sticks close to his friend, hovering and offering him help whenever the opportunity arises. However, when Saber accepts all assistance easily and without complaint, the orange unicorn’s anxiety only seems to deepen.

“Do you think this is what happened to Moonshade?” He murmurs around the reignited fire at breakfast. Ember studies Saber thoughtfully. The half-kirin shrugs, but gives a nod. “Is that a probably?” Clover asks, and Saber nods again. 

“I agree that it seems likely.” Ember frowns. “But the ways you two must have caught… whatever this is… aren't the same.” Thrift listens to her, eyebrows furrowed in concentration, clearly trying to stay ahead. “And the symptoms aren't quite the same, either…” 

“What if he gets just as sick as she did…?” Clover shifts a little closer to his silent friend. Saber watches him without much concern or attention.

“Mystic hasn't spoken for ages…” Thrift mumbles worriedly. “It'd be bad if he got that bad all the way out here, too…” Ember stands up with a sigh, and Saber follows, stamping gently at the ground with one hoof.

“As I'm sure Saber is dying to say,” she begins, whisking the fire out with a quick brush of magic, “That's all the more reason to keep going, and find what we're looking for as soon as possible.” Saber dips his head in agreement, already disassembling their tents.

“But…” Clover’s gaze flits between Ember and Saber. “The cure might not even be here…” 

“If it's not here, it might not be anywhere,” Ember begins, looking back at him. “Between that flower being found here, and Saber's symptoms after getting dunked, that's more evidence towards Gizmo being on the right track than anything else so far.” The others turn towards them too, listening. 

“But still…” Clover plants his forehooves into the ground, and looks at both her and Saber in turn. “Shouldn't you go back…? It took us a whole day just to get this far, and if you get worse…”

Saber lowers the sleeping bag roll he'd been carrying down to the ground, and walks over to him.

“I think it'd be better if, while the others find Gizmo, Thrift or I took you back for help.” Clover’s worried expression isn't assuaged much by Saber’s hoof on his shoulder, or by the half-kirin returning his scarf to him with a shake of his head. Ember frowns, but quickly seems to come to a conclusion. In the background, Thrift quickly gathers up their supplies, and sorts them back into their packs and piles for magical storage. Thanks to his efforts, their camp is broken down in minutes.

“I’m with Frosty on this one,” she sighs. “Going back now won't fix him any more than it'd fix Mystic.” 

“It'd be better ta stay together, too, right?” Thrift puts in nervously. “I mean, especially with Saber like… this.” He finishes the sentence awkwardly, watching the half-kirin struggling to perform a storage spell on a pile of tent stakes. 

“Okay…” Clover relents, eyes fixed on Saber’s unperturbed face as he gives up on the magic and returns his full focus to the conversation. Ember takes over, and the tent stakes disappear with a flash. “That's fair… at the very least until we find Gizmo.” Saber nods, and gives him a small nudge forward as he heads back onto the trail with Ember leading. 

“If you start feeling worse,” Clover whispers to him as Thrift adjusts his pack, and trots to join them. “You better tell me, okay? Just… tap my back, or signal me, or something.” Saber dips his head agreeably, and walks forward into the woods. Clover stays close, looking over his shoulder to make sure Thrift has caught up before increasing his pace.

Several hours later, the trail before them appears just as decrepit and disused as the length they'd traveled the day before. But to a trained eye, something stands out. Saber halts suddenly, focus narrowing to the ground. 

“What is it?” Clover is the first to react, followed by Ember, still leading at the front, and Thrift. Saber lifts a hoof, angling it into the brush, and lifting a branch upwards to better showcase the target of his attention.

The broken twigs he'd spotted are mostly covered by fresh snow, but something more urgent calls everypony’s attention forward. With a bright flicker of orange magic, Ember draws the tiny burst of color forward, until she can hold it in one hoof for them to see.

“Is that… hair?” Thrift asks, wide-eyed. 

“Well spotted.” Ember replies drily. “By the length, I'd say mane.” Saber takes the small yellow strand with his own magic, shaking his head after touching it. “It looks like the expert thinks it's tail hair,” Ember grouses. Saber nods quietly. 

“Well ya got my hopes up for nothin,” Thrift sighs. “I was hopin’ for good news-like it bein’ blue?”

“It is good news,” Clover argues. “It means somepony else has been here.” Ember and Saber glance at him approvingly. Suddenly, the orange unicorn stiffens. “Look!” He says, racing ahead, and pawing at a small purplish indent in the snow. In seconds, something red and round reveals itself.

“An apple…?” Thrift stares up at the branches above squinting. 

“It's winter, twig-brain,” Ember rolls her eyes. “Do you seriously think it came from a tree?” 

“Ponies have definitely been here!” Clover trots back to them with the apple.

“Oh.” Thrift looks a little flustered. “Right. I knew that.” He steps sheepishly back onto the trail with the others, and they continue on. The further they go, the more the gloomy energy fades. More and more signs of life appear, alongside a steadily babbling sound gently rising in the distance. As the noise, surely from a stream or brook, grows, so too does the evidence of other ponies’ presence.

Saber is the only one who seems unaffected by the change in atmosphere. As Clover and Thrift get more and more excited, and Ember picks up the pace, he continues trodding along without a word. Soon, a stone wall appears along the path, half covered in snow. A row of unlit lanterns follow, until Ember stops just below a massive wooden arch, carved with various flora and fauna in swirling patterns. She studies the surface, one hoof hovering over a carving of a pony with a large, splitting horn.

“Hey, isn't that-” Clover takes notice too, but before any of them can continue, the conclusion comes to stare them right in the face. 

Somepony appears around the bend, carrying a large bucket in her teeth. Her coat is a pale green, and her mane is a vibrant yellow, with some streaks of soft, tawny brown. She stares at them, tilting her head upwards to look up the slope. This angle makes it even harder to ignore her prominent, forest green horn, which is split into a shape not unlike a tree branch, and along with some plated scales to match and a whispy tail, marks her clearly as a kirin.

“Homly horshmmmoes!” She exclaims, words completely muffled by the bucket in her mouth. Immediately, she drops it, and tries again. “I-I mean, Hello!” She lifts a hoof to wave, and Thrift returns the gesture. 

“Hiya!” He greets her, trotting up with a grin. “It's great to see a somepony out here!” 

“I can imagine!” She shakes his offered hoof with a smile. Her gaze drifts over to the others, friendly and open. However, her orange eyes do pause for a moment on one of them, and a bright curiosity flickers into her expression. The emotion disappears before Thrift even takes notice. 

“Uh, I'm sure you've been traveling for a while, so let me take you back into town,” She gestures forward, through the trees, and leads the way, picking the bucket back up with magic, instead. “I’m Acorn, by the way.”

“Thrift Twinkle!” Thrift says with a proud grin, before turning to face his friends. 

“Radiant Ember,” Ember dips her head politely, before moving a bit to the left to allow Clover and Saber more space. 

“I’m Clover,” Clover offers a little hesitantly. “And this is Saber Frost. He can't really introduce himself right now…” Acorn stares concernedly over her shoulder at them. Saber stares placidly back.

“I see,” she frowns, something curious glowing in her sunny eyes for a moment.

“Actually, we could really use your help,” Clover continues in a bit of a rush. “We're looking for somepony, and then… well, Saber fell in the river, and…”

“Don't worry,” Acorn says kindly. “I know what happened-he’ll be just fine.” Clover sighs with relief. “And I'm pretty sure we might be able to help with your other problem, too,” 

“That’s great ta hear!” Thrift beams. Clover draws back a little, staying close to Saber as they pass through a particularly dense cluster of pines. He moves a few branches out of the way, and waits for Saber to pass by before releasing them again. When Thrift passes along too, he stumbles slightly amongst the thick branches, and fails to push some of the higher ones aside. His movements dislodge a thick drift of snow from one of the larger trees. Unfortunately, the pine sheds cold snow over the group. After the brunt of it narrowly misses Clover, it lands directly over Saber’s shoulders, leaving him blanketed in white. With a yelp, Thrift bounds over, and starts brushing snow off of him, aided by Clover. Meanwhile, instead of shaking it off, or glaring, or telling Thrift off, Saber just stands there placidly. Clover’s frown deepens as he removes one last clump of snow stuck behind his large horn. Ahead of them, Ember stops, and turns back. 

“Have you three had enough messing around, yet?” She gestures ahead, where Acorn is waiting expectantly with a proud look on her face. “We’re here.” 

“Sorry,” Thrift whispers to Saber before racing after the others. Ember gives the other two a glance before lifting a hoof to shade her glasses and get a better look at the town ahead. 

“Well would you look at that,” She says lightly.

“Nice place you've got here,” Thrift whistles. “Love those hanging lanterns… I bet the atmosphere’s great at night.” 

“Oh,” Clover finally catches up enough to take in the view.

Before them is a cozy valley, surrounded on all sides by cliffs filled with pine branches and pale, spindly birch trees. Nestled among the boughs and stone, various buildings are arranged in clusters, inset into the cliffs and caves encircling the village. Though most of them are ensconced with curved, wooden exteriors, and all are adorned with hanging lanterns and colorful woven lengths of rope, some are simply carved into the stone. As the group draws closer, more and more horned and fluffy heads turn to spot the newcomers. 

The largest groups are gathered in the center of the village, where a small and half-frozen waterfall babbles lightly into a large pool. The area is paved with various large, carefully placed terracotta pieces in various colors and shapes. Steps and carved stones lead down into the water in places, but with most of the surface frozen, nopony is anywhere near them now. 

The Kirin around them don't appear hostile, and most of them are more focused on each other than the guests. Clover starts to relax just a little as he watches them exchanging everyday pleasantries, and mostly warm words. Some of them greet Acorn as she goes to meet them, and ask about the strangers she has in tow. 

Slowly though, before Ember and the three ponies following make it far, something odd ripples through the crowd. Several pairs of eyes remain fixed on one pony in particular, and whispers murmur through the crowd. Almost instinctively, Clover gives Saber a quick glance and draws closer to his side. 

Perhaps not unexpectedly, Saber doesn't react much to the attention. He simply observes it quietly, and keeps walking without hesitation. Though Thrift is too caught up with their new surroundings to take notice, the look Ember gives back at Clover and Saber makes it clear she had definitely seen what they had.

“Thrift, this is our village elder, Pine Shadows.” Acorn’s bright introduction recenters the group’s attention. Thrift cranes his next to meet the much taller, forest-green kirin’s gaze. 

“Nice to meetcha!” He says brightly. Pine Shadows gives him a warm smile.

“It's rare we have so many visitors, especially this time of year,” he offers genially, shaking Thrift’s offered hoof. “Welcome to Snowfall.” 

“Thanks,” Clover gives him a small smile. 

“Any chance we’re not the first this season?” Ember adjusts her glasses after giving the elder’s hoof a firm shake. 

“Actually, yes,” He says. “And perhaps it would be best if, before anything else, you four followed me?” 

“Alrighty,” Thrift nods and follows eagerly, Ember walking at his side. A bit more cautiously, Clover tags along behind, Saber close at his side. The group follows Pine down a narrow path leading away from the center of town. Just beyond the nearest cluster of houses, a small dwelling juts out of the rock. The elder ducks, and the others follow him in, hooves clicking against stone as they pass through into a small cave just beyond the wooden exterior.

Thrift sighs in appreciation as warmth meets their coats. At one end of the room, a small wood stove emanates enough heat to warm the entire space. But that isn't the most interesting thing. Nearby, somepony is curled up in an impressively large bundle of blankets topped with a large quilt. 

A blue head, topped with a messy indigo mane and a pale blue horn, rises slightly from the fabric.

“Gizmo!” Thrift bounds forward, and nearly topples into the unicorn huddled up on the floor. “You're alright!”

“Hey everypony,” Gizmo’s voice is a little hoarse, and he responds with a lot less energy than usual, but his eyes are bright and warm. “It's good to see you guys.”

────────────────────

And that's the end! For now, anyways.

Before I go, I'll throw in the page drafts for when I was still trying to do 3 comic pages and a story instead of just one and a story haha. It seems a waste not to share the scraps considering I'm not going to line any more panels.

This is my first time posting any writing here, actually. (maybe I'll add some of these to my Ao3 if I do more of them) Also this is not beta read so apologies in advance for any mistakes. Also, if I do more episodes like this, they definitely won't include this many illustrations, that was very much a special thing and it made this take a very long time haha. Anyways, if you've made it this far, thanks for reading. The pony posting continues!

See you later!

Thrift: Ya mean when I got mine? Sure! It was all thanks ta Rainbow and Gizmo, really. You know back when da's business was really struggling? I kept thinkin' and tryin' to help him out... Gizmo was havin' the same problems, so we were like that most days, tryin' to find a way to make things okay again. One day, I started thinking about how much Rainbow seems ta make ponies smile, and that gave me an idea. I nabbed my notebook and started ta sketch, and before I knew it, I had a logo, and a name.

The ideas just kept flowin' and flowin' and I started making, and rearrangin' the shop... Later, all that stuff would sell like hotcakes. It was the first time anythin' I'd had a hoof in did so well. But tha' first day, when I was sketchin' and totally wrapped up it all, I didn't even notice what had happened until I went home to show Pops. We had a big party after that. I was kinda a late bloomer, so it was a big relief when Gizmo and I finally got ours, honestly.

Ember: So we're talking about cutie marks, hm? Well, mine isn't all that exciting. It was back before I became a professor, actually. I was hoping to become a tutor for the school I was attending, and presenting an essay was required as part of the interviews... I was so certain I wouldn't get the job, because one of the staff interviewing was this fool of a professor who I'd already pissed off the prior semester. He was arrogant, and even though he made the most idiotic mistakes teaching history I'd ever seen, he never seemed to care. Anytime somepony would point it out, this ass would just double down. I was sure he'd shoot down my interview no matter what I did, so when the questions about "why you want the job" and "what do you bring to the table" came up, I gave up on telling those old coots what they wanted to hear. Instead I just wrote the the truth.

You should have seen the look on their stuck-up faces. It still gives me a laugh to this day. But instead of being shown the door, like I expected, the very professor I thought would be my biggest detractor told the others to wait. Apparently, I'd managed to 'open his eyes' and he thought anypony who managed to teach 'a stubborn old mule' like him something new was worthy of teaching there.

Well, the mark came to me on the spot. Which really sealed the deal, as you can probably imagine. But that pretty much sums up why I even bother teaching at all. I've met some of the stubbornest fools imaginable over the years. But anypony, even the most hopeless, can be taught if they have the right teacher. Of course, that's only if they actually choose to. I have no interest in useless ponies who refuse to learn and grow.

Saber: I'm actually not entirely sure I remember what it was that caused mine. Perhaps the memories are just blending together, but it must have been the choices I've made while part of the guard. It took a long time to develop the skills and mindset I have today. I don't know if there was a particular incident so much as a collective amount from various cases and events... One day, I woke up, and there it was. A symbol of my resolve.

After seeing the group reunited, Pine steps back outside to give them some space. 

“Are you okay?” Clover murmurs, coming up to him with Saber in tow. “We were starting to think something had happened…”

“Well, something did happen,” Gizmo admits with a shrug. Then, he beckons Saber with a hoof. “Speechless with relief, huh?” Saber lowers his head to examine Gizmo, taking in his condition, before touching his forehead with one hoof. “Okay, now I'm starting to think…” 

“It’s pretty much exactly what you're imagining,” Ember watches as Saber allows himself to be pulled into a hug with Gizmo by Thrift without a hint of resistance.

“You're kidding.” Gizmo sighs. 

“I wish,” Clover says gloomily. “Saber hasn't said a word since he fell in the river.” 

“You fell in?” Gizmo glances over at his friend, who simply nods. “Geez, well I’m glad you didn’t become a popsicle like I almost did.” 

“Good grief. Don’t tell me you went for a swim, too.” Ember lifts an eyebrow. Thrift sits down close to Gizmo, and Clover follows suit, with a tired looking Saber close behind. 

“No, no,” Gizmo coughs into a hoof before continuing. “I got holed up in a cave. Didn’t fall in the river, that’d have been much worse all on my lonesome.”

“They’re both pretty bad…” Clover sighs. 

“What the heck happened?” Thrift lowers his voice. “It’s been way longer than ya said! I was scared you’d gotten hurt, or…” Gizmo ruffles his green mane with a gentle hoof. 

“Sorry buddy,” He sighs. “I didn’t mean to freak everypony out…”

“Well you definitely did.” Clover says bluntly.

“Did somepony here bail ya out?” Thrift asks closely, stealing a spot under some of the blankets. 

“Yup!” Gizmo nods. “The villagers go there to harvest, so I was only in there for a day or so before somepony noticed the cave being blocked and came back with help.” At the unhappy looks on everypony’s faces, Gizmo shrugs sheepishly. “Hey, well, I definitely would’ve made my own way out of there…eventually.” Saber stares at him for a long moment, and despite the current lack of emotion on his face, his thoughts seem pretty clear. 

“I’m sorry! Seriously,” Gizmo slumps. “Geez, I can practically hear the lecture in my head.” Saber sits down with a soft sigh, and lowers his gaze to the colorfully-laden floor.

“Well that’s good, because I’m pretty tempted to give it to you for him,” Ember glowers at them. The light from the stove hits her glasses, and set little crystalline sparkles shining beneath her eyes until she turns her head again. “Honestly, do you idiots have a death wish?” 

“I know, I know,” Gizmo looks down sheepishly, and curls into the covers again with a sneeze. “Not my brightest moment… but I’ve learned my lesson! So you don’t gotta teach me, professor.” 

“Oh really. Why don’t you share it with the class, then?” Ember asks, not convinced. Gizmo lifts a hoof, and sits up a little, in what almost looks like a pledge.

“Number two-hundred and three: Do not go traipsing off into a snowstorm all alone, Gizmo.” He states with a flourish, then coughs, and sinks back into the sheets. “Already noted down, don’t worry.” 

“Yeah well, maybe you and Frosty should get it tattooed.” She gives both of them a judgemental look. Saber glances over, but then lies back down with a soft, tired huff. Clover lowers himself to the rug too, right between Saber and Gizmo. 

“I’m just glad everypony’s okay.” Clover lowers his head tiredly. “Well… almost everypony…” Everyone looks away, gazes fixed on the floor. 

“Woah, woah,” Gizmo’s eyes sparkle a little. “Did I forget to mention why I went in that cave in the first place?” He lowers a hoof into the blankets, and pulls something out of his saddlebags, before showing it to everypony in the circle. “These folks even gave me some seeds, and stuff too.”

“Gladiolus orchioides,” Ember murmurs, eyeing the blue and yellow petal in his hoof. 

“Uh…” Thrift lowers his head to observe.

“Foal’s-breath.” Ember explains, and Clover nods, with a relieved expression on his face. Thrift’s confusion doesn’t lift, and she rolls her eyes. “It’s the plant. The one this idiot over here and I were researching?” Thrift stares at her blankly. “The potential cure for Moonshade?”  

“OH.” Thrift blushes. “Uh, right, right.” Gizmo grins amusedly at him, and Clover chuckles under his breath, which earns them each a light shove and a glare. Ember shakes her head, but the conversation quickly refocuses. 

“So… do you know if it works?” Clover asks. 

“Well…” Gizmo trails off, putting the flower back. “I’m not sure.” Saber tilts his head thoughtfully, but his expression is oddly tired.

“What do you mean? The locals must use it,” Ember taps a hoof impatiently. “It’s a cure for the effects of that weird river, isn’t it?” 

"It is indeed a cure for silence,” Another pony’s voice breaks into the conversation. Pine Shadows has reentered, and is wandering back over to them. “But the symptoms of the pony Gizmo described are… unusual.” 

“Silence…?” Clover echoes, glancing over at Saber. The kirin hybrid looks to be fighting off sleep, much to everyone’s surprise. Gizmo frowns, and floats a blanket over to Clover. The orange unicorn gently drapes it over their tired friend, then returns his worried face back to Pine. “Is that what happened to Saber…?” 

“Yes,” Pine looks a little surprised for a moment, and his gaze hovers hesitantly over the sleeping pony for a second, but he continues on without much delay. “The ford was enchanted when this village was founded.” 

"The ford…?” Ember’s amber eyes are skeptical as she crosses one hoof over the other. “I didn’t see any runes or other signs of a spell along the river. And besides, the spot he fell in was raging. It was practically rapids.” Pine meets her gaze with a thoughtful frown. 

“I see… Some seasons, the river overflows to cover the runestones… And the area affected by them grows, in turn.” He seems to make a mental note. “But the trail you four were on is far from the ford, even then… perhaps a stone was uprooted and washed downriver.” 

“That’s not good,” Gizmo coughs. “Where were you guys when he fell in?” 

“I’ll mark it on a map for him later,” Ember shakes her head. “First, I want more information.”

“That… is fair.” Pine seems unperturbed by her demands. “Allow me to explain.” 

“Hm.” Ember adjusts her glasses as he sits down to further elucidate them.

“As I have told Gizmo,” Pine gives the unicorn a nod. “Being submerged in the Ford of Repose dampens emotions and speech.” Thrift exchanges an uncertain look with Clover, but neither of them interrupt, and Saber’s scarlet gaze watches the leader, fully attentive despite his fatigue. “It may sound strange, but we Kirin have performed this spell for generations. Partaking in a temporary vow of silence is traditional for young kirin before they become adults, and it is a practice some of us use during a change or other turbulent times in our lives. Sometimes a period of reflection is needed, especially when one might otherwise go about setting things on fire…” 

“Well,” Ember sighs, looking disappointed. “I’m guessing kirin aren’t regularly getting exhausted or seriously ill doing this, then.” Pine shakes his head apologetically.

“Sometimes, ponies who are accidentally silenced, or forced…” His gaze hovers mysteriously over Saber again for a second. “Do show signs of fatigue. It can also indicate a need for more rest than the pony has been allowing themselves.” Ember gives their tired friend a look that seems to say ‘See?’ but he doesn’t react much. His attention is completely focused on the village elder.  

“So Saber’s reaction was normal?” Clover asks. “And the foal’s-breath, that’s what you use to release the spell?” 

“Yes,” Pine replies kindly. “I’ve already asked our herbalist to brew some foal’s-breath tea for him. It shouldn’t be much longer.” Clover sighs, relieved, but after a moment, the worry returns to his face. 

“...What about Moonshade?” He asks quietly. Gizmo looks over at him with an uneasy expression. 

“I… I am not sure what happened to your friend.” Pine admits slowly. “The symptoms may be similar, but I have never seen a kirin react in the way Gizmo described.” 

“And it’s not like she took a swim like Frosty,” Ember huffs, exasperated. 

“Indeed…” Pine nods. “This is why, in all honesty, I doubt our spell is the cause of her illness.” At the immediate lowering of heads and eyes around him, he continues apologetically. “I am sorry.”

"Well, I haven’t-” Gizmo coughs again, and Thrift gives him a little pat on the back. “Haven’t given up on that train of reasoning yet.” He meets Pine’s gaze determinedly. “Sorry, but I asked around if anypony could get a sample for me, and I haven’t heard anything back…?”

“Hmm…” Pine looks towards the side. “I’m afraid I’ve forbidden anypony from going down to the riverside for the time being.” At this, palpable disappointment filters into the room from Thrift, Clover, and Gizmo, though Saber’s head doesn’t lift from the floor. “When the river is this high and fast, going close is a risk,” Pine explains. “A kirin could cause the ice to melt or break, and cause themselves, or somepony else, to fall.” At this description, both Thrift and Ember glance over at their kirin friend still lying on the floor. However, they don’t get a response. Saber’s chest rises and falls gently, and he lies with his head pressed into the blankets, eyes closed. 

For several moments, everypony sits there in silence, taking in the unguarded state of their friend. When Thrift and Ember’s gazes return to the village leader, Gizmo and Clover continue staring, eyes narrowed and eyebrows furrowed respectively. Eventually, Ember breaks the silence with a sigh. 

“How much do you need?” She turns to Gizmo, who startles a little at the question. “If the alternative is sitting around and waiting, I’ll do it myself. My hooves aren’t going to set anything on fire.” 

“Not much,” Gizmo says quietly, and raises a small vial from somewhere with his magic. The glass container is already filled with a clear liquid. “Just enough to match this.” He explains. 

“Got it.” Ember is already standing up to go. “Hey,” her attention shifts to Thrift. “Pack anything that might be useful, short stuff?” He scrambles to his hooves.

“Uh, yeah, I’ve actually got some jars that are temperature and shatter resi-” She cuts him off with a wave of one hoof and an interruption.

“Yeah yeah, you can cut it out with the sales pitch. Let’s go.” With that, Ember ducks out through the door, with the green earth pony close behind. He gives the others a wave goodbye before exiting, which Gizmo and Clover return in kind. 

“If you’ll excuse me, I have other things to attend to,” Pine stands, casting a long shadow over the remaining three ponies. “You are welcome to rest here for as long as you need. I expect Fern Song to be done with the tea soon, but if you need anything else before dinner, let me know.”

“...Dinner?” Clover echoes. 

“Of course,” Pine looks over with a kind smile. “You all are welcome to dine with myself and my family, if you wish.”

“Oh, thank you.” Clover nods politely. “That’s very kind.” His smile is a little forced, perhaps overshadowed by worry for his friends, but Pine doesn’t seem to notice as he takes his leave.

“Pine’s husband is an amazing cook,” Gizmo whispers to him. “You guys are gonna love it.” 

“Yeah.” Clover’s smile weakens, and at the same time, some of the cheeriness in Gizmo’s eyes fades too. He watches Clover lean down towards their resting friend. “Saber…?” He murmurs. Saber doesn’t respond, even when Clover puts a hoof over his forehead to check the temperature. 

“Let him sleep,” Gizmo says gently, with a light cough. “The guy could use it.” After a pause, he continues, more quietly. “I’m sure he’ll be fine,” He says. “From what I’ve seen so far, the kirin here know what they’re talking about.” 

“Right…” Clover tucks the blanket in around Saber’s hooves and lies down again right between his two friends. “I just…” 

“What?” Gizmo’s eyes narrow.

Clover’s voice lowers to a whisper. “Everypony seems friendly, but all of them kept staring at Saber…”

“Staring?” Gizmo tilts his head. “What do you mean?”

“Maybe I’m overthinking it, but it seemed like they… recognized him, almost.” Clover fidgets with his scarf, meeting Gizmo’s thoughtful gaze. “What do you think of them?” 

“The entire time I’ve been here, they’ve been nothing but kind to me,” Gizmo looks out towards the entrance. “And they did rescue me from an icy doom, so…” He shakes his head. “I don’t see any reason for them to lie about this stuff, or hide anything.” He frowns. 

“Maybe it’s just because he’s part kirin…?” Clover muses. 

“If not, we’ll find out.” Gizmo assures him, ruffling his hair. “Don’t worry too much, okay?” Clover gives him a little smile, and seems to genuinely relax. 

“It seems like you have a theory about what happened to Moonshade?” He settles into his spot as Gizmo nods. Beside him, Saber makes a soft grumbling sound, and shifts a little closer in his sleep.

“I still think this… silence spell they have here is part of it.” The unicorn admits. “They probably just don’t know because what happened to Mysty is new…”

“New?” Clover tilts his head, but at that moment, somepony knocks a hoof on the stones outside, before entering. 

“Hiya!” Gizmo greets her with a grin and then, another round of coughing. 

“Oh horseradish,” a familiar greenish kirin comes over with a small teapot and cup hovering beside her. “I meant to bring you some more tea and honey, too.” 

“Don’t worry about it, Acorn,” Gizmo assures her as she sets the pot down beside them. 

“I will worry about it, so don’t worry-” Acorn cuts herself off with a frown. “What I mean to say is, I’ll get that for you from Fern next, it’s no trouble.”

“Well, in that case, thanks!” Gizmo laughs lightly. “And thank you for the foal’s breath tea. At least, I’m assuming that’s what it is.”

“Yup!” Acorn nods. “And it should work pretty fast, so…” She trails off, staring at Saber’s sleeping form. Something wary fades into her eyes as she does. 

“Hey, Acorn?” Gizmo lifts his head toward her. “Do you mind if we ask you a question?”

“No, not at all!” Acorn replies cheerily, and sits down across from them on a sunshine-toned rug. 

“Well,” Clover exchanges a look with Gizmo. “When we got here, I noticed everypony kind of… staring at Saber?”

“Oh…” Acorn’s voice lowers, and she looks a little taken aback. “Was I being that obvious?” 

“Well…” The corner of Gizmo’s mouth turns up a bit. “Yeah, kinda.” 

“So there is something.” Clover meets her gaze, and something sharp pokes through his expression in places.

“It’s nothing serious!” She amends immediately. “It’s well…” Clover and Gizmo eye her impatiently. “Okay, honestly, I really shouldn’t be the one telling you this. I mean, I didn’t even know the guy, I had no idea your friend was…” Acorn’s mouth closes, and she closes her eyes. “Look, this isn’t my story to tell, and especially with him still asleep…” She sighs. “If you all want to know more, ask Pine tonight, or somepony else, like Carnation, or Silver Wind. They’re the ones who would be able to tell you the details, not me.”

“Okay,” Gizmo accepts this, eyes resting on Saber for a long moment before returning to the green kirin before them. “Thanks.” 

“Sure,” Acorn nods. “I’m going to go get that tea for you, Gizmo.” Gizmo nods and she disappears at a brisk trot. 

“Not exactly an answer.” Clover huffs after she leaves. 

“No,” Gizmo admits. “...We’ll see.” At this, the two of them move a little closer towards their sleeping friend, watching over him pensively.

By the time Ember and Thrift return from the river, Gizmo’s cough has been eased somewhat by several cups of honeyed mint tea. Saber is still asleep, leaning slightly against Clover. The ginger unicorn looks somewhat pleased, surrounded by two blanketed ponies close at his side. His eyelids are slightly lowered as the others return, hooves clicking on the stone before being muffled by fabric. 

“He hasn’t drank it yet?” Ember walks over, eyeing the teapot and tapping the small, still bone-dry cup near it with a hoof. 

“We thought we’d let him sleep,” Clover explains, careful not to move too much. Gizmo stirs from his other side, blinking up at Ember and Thrift eagerly.

“Did you get it?” He asks, eyes bright. Ember, looking amused at the sudden excitement, levitates several small jars out from Thrift’s saddlebags. They circle everyone’s heads in a figure eight before gracefully settling back under Thrift’s large cloak and back where they came from in his pockets. The small green pony looks a little grumpier, and colder than before. He settles his cloak back into place with a small frown, and makes his way through the space. 

“I’m sick of bein’ this cold,” He complains. Ember snorts at him as she joins the others.

“It is thanks to your serious overpacking that I was able to gather so many samples,” Ember offers, tone a little less sharp than it could have been.

“Yer welcome,” Thrift lifts his chin with a little huff, and sits down next to the stove. 

“Well I’m very grateful,” Gizmo says earnestly. “There’s some tests I want to run when we get back, and having more is always good in my books.”

“Good.” Ember sits down neatly beside them. “You expect the substances to be similar?” 

“Yes,” Gizmo lifts an eyebrow at her, unsurprised at the immediate deduction. “That or… well, at this point it’s kind of all just a hypothesis… Once we get home, I can be sure…” For the first time that day, Gizmo’s expression shrinks into something serious, something a lot more worried than he was perhaps letting on. 

“Hey, don’t worry,” Clover leans against him a little. “I’m sure by tomorrow, you and Saber will be up to travel.”

“Yup,” Thrift agrees. “And besides, if Moonshade was gettin’ worse, I’d have gotten a message from Rainbow.” Gizmo’s violet eyes warm gratefully, but his shoulders are still tense.

“I’ll feel better once I’ve solved it.” He says quietly. 

“If you don’t, I will.” Ember’s tone is impossible to deny, and Gizmo looks up at her with a mixture of amusement and relief. “Now, since we have some time before dinner, you should rest. I'm going to have a look around town.” With that, she stands, and departs from the room, leaving the others to themselves. 

“She's right,” Clover says, patting the frowning Gizmo’s back. “You want to be ready to go home tomorrow, right?” He looks over toward the stove, where Thrift is snoring quietly. “See, he's got the right idea.”

“Alright…” Gizmo’s tired eyes meet Clover's as he gives in. “Alright.” Gizmo must have worn himself out with their arrival and conversation, because once he closes his eyes, he falls asleep almost immediately. Clover is left to his own devices, watching over his three sleeping friends. 

Or well, two sleeping friends…

“Saber?” Clover whispers. He'd felt a gaze on the back of his head, and when he'd turned to see, sure enough, a pair of scarlet eyes were watching him tiredly. The teacup lies right in front of him, no longer steaming. Saber looks away after Clover’s gaze hovers over it, then him. Clover frowns. “You've been up for a while, haven't you?” In response, Saber nods his head. The cup remains untouched. “That tea is a cure.” Clover's explanation brings no light of recognition or surprise to Saber’s face. “You already knew that…?” The silence serves as an answer. “Then…” Clover hesitates. “Why haven't you taken it?” 

The orange unicorn is met with the back of Saber's head instead of an answer. The blue pony turns away, large mane obscuring his face. 

“Hhgmm?” Gizmo stirs, blinking, but not fully awake. A pale blue hoof pushes the teacup towards Saber. The kirin hybrid startles, and pushes it back again. The back-and-forth lasts for a while, until Gizmo mumbles something, and falls back into sleep. 

“Why don't you want to drink it?” Clover hums softly. It's more of a question to himself, as he knows Saber can't answer, at least not in words. But his friend still turns to face him, at least. Saber’s eyes are oddly muted, and his expression is unreadable. 

It wasn't the first time they'd been in this kind of stalemate. And even when it had been a struggle to understand, Clover had always managed to reach him before. 

“Does it… feel better, like this?” He begins, hesitantly. Truthfully, he couldn't imagine it did. Saber wasn't an affectionate pony, it was true. But his warmth-his anger, his fierceness, his quiet longing for closeness-was muted. Clover could feel it, even now. Saber shakes his head, gaze clouding. Surrounded by Clover and Gizmo, he isn't as stiff as usual. Instead, he seems almost apathetic. “You aren't going to stay like this on purpose, are you…?” Clover asks, hesitantly. Once again, the silence is enough of an answer.

“You're thinking about it, aren't you…” Clover wants to laugh, to treat it like a joke, but he can't. “Why?” But then, the possibilities begin to come through. “You must think it's better like this, for some reason…” Saber stares at him quietly, and he sighs. “Saber, that's just this stupid spell talking.” He places a hoof over Saber’s, but the other pony pulls away, even going so far to shift away from Gizmo and Clover entirely. The pale blue unicorn still sleeping peacefully next to them grumbles lightly, but doesn't wake up.

“Do you think it's safer this way…?” Clover tilts his head, and a soft sense of bitterness fills his voice. “So what, you'd just rather not feel anything anymore?” Saber frowns, and turns away again, lowering his head petulantly down to his hooves. Clover sighs. “I can't force you to do anything… but this isn't a solution. You know that, right?” Then, he continues on more quietly. “The others won't understand or like this, either.” Maybe if Clover couldn’t convince him, Gizmo or Ember would.

“Are you really okay with not speaking to anypony?” Not speaking to me? He thinks. “Maybe I understand why, even if I think you're wrong…” His voice lowers, and his ears droop. Saber lifts his head, so Clover continues, hoping for an opening. “But it's only been a day, and I miss talking to you already.”

At last, Saber's face appears again. But Clover doesn't see the look of confliction or unease he hopes for. Instead, his friend’s face is just blank.

“Saber…?” He tries. Seeing him like this… muted, not angry, not happy, not sad… “I'm worried.” He says softly. “Are you okay…?” Slowly, Saber's gaze drifts to the floor, and his entire body slumps. He curls up, drawing closer to Gizmo and Clover again. At his touch, Gizmo stretches, and leans up against his shoulder. Saber stares at him quietly, before glancing back over at Clover with what looks like uncertainty. “You don't have to do this.” Clover says gently. This time, when he places a hoof on Saber's back, his silent friend doesn't move away. “If it's really what you want right now, I'll try and understand. But I really don't think it is.” 

Saber looks down at his hooves, then meets Clover's eyes. Slowly, a red glow flickers into existence around the teacup. Clover watches as Saber lifts it into the air with his magic, bringing it closer. In a few moments, the empty cup returns to the floor with a soft clink, and Clover sighs with relief.