You take a few steps away from the tent, and figure that you should have your evening meal. As you pull your sidereal bag's last ration out, you ask Honourshine if she is hungry.

Honourshine: "I suppose we should eat something; we still have a few hours left to spare."

Your Ration becomes ⅓ Ration.

You nod, and split a large crispy sandwich and a roasted apple salad between the two of you. While you eat, you ask your foalhood friend how travelling in a group has been for her so far.

Honourshine: "Better than expected. A little crowded at times, but I've had worse company."

You grin, and ask whether anypony has ever taken her for a flight before.

Honourshine: "Of course not. You're the only one I trust enough to do something like this, and even then it's a near thing."

With enough luck, you hope, snowballs will be the worst you'll have faced mid-flight.

Honourshine: "Indeed. It seems we've managed to avoid drawing the attention of any wild monsters, at least."

You nod, and while on that subject, you ask Honourshine how she feels about what she has learned over these past few days.

Honourshine: "Hm... about the Elves, you mean? I'm not sure which is more concerning: that they sought to bring about the end of all things, or that they made the Dwarves look good by comparison.

Either way, the Emperor's involvement is not something I expected. And by the looks of this place, the dust has yet to settle."

You ask Honourshine what she means.

Honourshine: "If the Kirin Empire's history is anything to go by, the imbalance between Light and Dark is not something that can be ignored. Even in Equestria, Hollow Shades is said to have been swallowed by Darkness.

I suspect that for the Divine Dragon to intervene, the War That Never Happened must have been a much bigger deal than we realize. And for him to remain in power, after all this time...?"

You ask her if she thinks that the ether has reached a tipping point.

Honourshine: "Perhaps. Lexicon Anathema certainly made the barrier between here and the Underworld feel thin. I wonder if it's always been this way."

For what it's worth, you offer that Lexicon Anathema specializes in obscure knowledge — her perspective may differ from most.

Honourshine: "Did she not teach you a spell? As I recall, she said it would show you the way to her house, not create a portal to her house."

Touché. After all you've seen and done, you admit, the world does feel a little different. Honourshine smiles at that.

Honourshine: "Or perhaps that's just how it feels to grow up."

The noise of rustling leaves fills your ears as wind suddenly rushes through the forest. The shining sunbeams soften as an eclipse shrouds the land in shadow. Then, the wind dies down. Chirping insects fade in over the gently flowing river.