"'Ugiii!" Pound Cake went as he jumped on the Pegasus Colt. Yugi couldn't help but laugh as he was 'attacked' by the Cake Twins, all bright eyed and bushy tailed.

Yugi's small, short tail had grown a little bit over the winter, so it was no longer scraggly, but it still was short and fluffy, not to mention he didn't look as skinny as he had when he arrived—helping Rainbow Dash control the weather and doing odd jobs in Ponyville helped to build his muscles, as the Studies with Twilight helped improve his own control on magic.

Though, in most cases, he still used his wings to pick up some things. Mrs. Cake had come out of the kitchen with a box of blueberry muffins (a good Baker's Dozen), smiling at Yugi as she set the box down on the counter.

"The Twins really love it when you visit, Yugi. Are you sure you don't want to babysit for them sometime?"

Yugi nodded. "I'm still a bit busy with my studies, so maybe when I'm free I'll give it a shot." Yugi picked up the box of muffins. "The Usual customer?"

Mrs. Cake nodded. "She's at the Town Hall, she's helping to decorate it for Miss Applejack's Send-off."

Yugi however, substituted Decorate with Destroy within his mind, having seen the damage been done (though completely on accident) by the customer. "I'll get right on it, Mrs. Cake." He said as he carefully picked up the twins and put them down, putting the box of muffins in his saddlebag and left Sugarcube Corner, heading for the Town Hall.

"Good Afternoon, Yugi!" Yugi had sai—

"Huh?" Yugi said, turning around until his violet eyes met a pair of light blue ones.

"Oh! Afternoon Bon-Bon! …You're uncannily good at impersonating my voice..."

The Earth Pony had giggled, trotting alongside the young stallion. "I told you I could get it down! So, how are you?"

"Ah, just fine—I'm delivering some Muffins to Derpy."

"How wonderful! So, are you staying for the send-off too?"

"Yeah, wish I could go…" Yugi said, somewhat trailing off. "Applejack might need a lot of support."

"Oooh, Yugi, you don't have to worry! Applejack is the champion of the Ponyville Roundup! She'll do fine, if not better!"

The small stallion had more than enough reason to doubt that, but his concern was more so at the lightning bolt that whizzed past them.

"How long has Derpy been bouncing on that Thundercloud?" Bon-Bon had asked, watching Ditzy-Doo—her Nickname being 'Derpy'-bounce up and down.

"Since this morning. I tried telling her she needed to move it, but…"

Another lightning bolt whizzed past them, hitting the ground behind them both.

"Well, sometimes accidents happen."

(((+++)))

"Applejack! Applejack! Applejack!"

Yugi had watched the excited crowd, with Bon-Bon (and her housemate, Lyra) flanking both his sides in the crowd. He almost didn't notice Pinkie sneaking up behind him, had it not been that he was anticipating for her to try and startle him.

"Hello, Pinkie."

"Awww! You're getting too good at this!" Pinkie had said with a giggle. Her Pink curls bounced, a little more different than before. Yugi had blinked. "Did you get a Manecut, Pinkie?"

"Ooh? Ah, no! It's kinda funny, but my mane kinda ended up like this!" Pinkie had said, fluffing a bit of the pink mane. It was now a bit wavier, some of it forming into a bang that somewhat covered a side of her face, though she could still see and both eyes were both visible. It had reminded him of the Flat and straight look her mane had taken that time ago in the mines, but it was curly like her regular mane, and still perky.

"Oh…well, I think it looks nice." Yugi said with a smile. Pinkie had blushed and beamed.

"Thanks Yugi!"

"Everypony, could I get your attention? Attention, Please!"

The chanting had soon silenced, listening to the Mayor.

"Yes, we are all here to send Applejack to compete in this Year's Rodeo Competition in Canterlot!"

The cheering continued, Yugi stomping his hooves along with the others.

"And…I want to thank Applejack in Advance, for generously offering her Prize Money to fix Town Hall."

"Yaay, Applejack, wooo!"

Yugi shook his head at the sorry state of the Town Hall. He couldn't blame Derpy, but it was going to be hard pressed to find good carpenters without any money to pay for services.

"Speech, Speech!"

"Ah, Shucks, Ah'm not one for Speeches…"

"Alright then, no speech!" Pinkie chirped before speeding away.

"But…"

Pinkie had returned just as quickly, bumping into Yugi.

"This here is th' nicest send-off anypony could ask for. Y'all have been cheering me on at every rodeo since ah was a little little pony. So,'t seems only fittin' to use my winnings to fix up Town Hall. Ah Promise t' make Ponyville Proud!"

While the others had stomped and cheered, Yugi only clapped a little bit. He couldn't really shake the feeling that something quite contrary was going to happen.

(((+++)))

"Applejack….are you sure you don't want me to come along?" the small Pegasus had asked as he stood on the platform of the Train Station.

"Nah, Sugarcube. ah wouldn' mind if ya did, but ah think you're much needed here. 'sides, ah know you'd all be rootin' for me even if y'all aren't there."

Yugi sighed, and nodded. "Alright. If anything goes wrong-"

"Ah know, Ah know, ah'll let that Shinin' Arma fella send you a message and write back t' ya immediately." Applejack said, tussling Yugi's mane with a forehoof. "Jus' don't get yerself inta trouble, ya hear?"

Yugi had laughed. "Who, me? I'll be fine, honest—I'd be more concerned about Pinkie Pie more than anything else."

"Seein' as how she tends t' drag ya inta things, that's why I asked." Applejack winked. It wasn't long before last call, and after a cheerful goodbye and good luck from friends and family, Applejack was aboard the train and on her way to Canterlot.

The Small Colt found his way into the sky and off to his home—a Cloudhouse, like Rainbow Dash's home, but it was more different than hers. It had resembled a mix of a small house and a shop, with two bedrooms to rest in and a living room to be in. his room had a "skylight" in the roof, letting the sunlight in.

Yugi had checked his mailslot—a gift from Twilight, who had enchanted it to take in mail delivered magically, as well as enchanted to stay on the cloud—within the somewhat "shop"-like front of the small house.

Aside from the mail in the Mailbox just below his house, which had some usual junk letters anyways, he had seen some letters and scrolls.

The First, as he recognized from the crescent seal on the scroll, was from Luna.

"Little Game,

A warm greeting to you! I apologize that I have not been able to see you as of late, As with helping my sister investigate a strange occurrence concerning, of all things, Some form of Copper, as well as my royal duties of the night, I have been…how do you say it? 'Pressed for Time'—very Busy. How are you and Miss Pinkamena? I assume She is as bubbly as ever.

How are your lessons with Twilight Sparkle? Do you have a bit of a grip on the magic you have? It does make me wonder about your heritage—perhaps you had a mother or father that was a Unicorn, but I digress.

I have been fine, quite wonderful, in fact. I have been visiting the City of Canterlot at night when I have free time—I must say, the 'nightlife' in this current day and age is wonderful—I do appreciate it so.

I also hear that you are making a few more friends as well? I hope you can introduce me to them sometime—but if you do not wish to do so, that is fine as well.

I do hope that you can pay a visit to the cottage sometime, though. I found something for you I think you would like from one of the shops in Canterlot.

Wishing you Well,

Princess Luna

P.S.: Do I sound 'Hip' enough? Sister has been helping me with my speech patterns and writing to be more 'in the now'."

Yugi smiled and put the letter back, grabbing the next one. This one had a different seal, resembling more of a shield. 'Shining Armor wrote back...' He thought as he concentrated, opening the letter this time with some of the lessons he learned from Twilight.

The letter had taken on a light purple aura as it floated in the air and opened. Once satisfied, he took the letter into his hooves to read.

"Hey, Yugi!

Sorry it took me so long—I've been busy with security and whatnot. Get this—there was this strange blast that went off in the Badlands. I could hear it from all the way in Canterlot! Princess Celestia asked me to keep defenses weary and alert if it was another monster like that dragon from last winter ago.

Also! I tried that tip you wanted me to try with my Marefriend for our anniversary…

She loved it! She thought it was cute and very clever! I thought it was pretty cool too, using a Portrait Jigsaw puzzle to tell her a message. You really have a knack for these kind of things—you sure something involving a game isn't your talent?

Anyways…I'm planning for that Big Question….but I'm not sure where would be the perfect setting. With all this work and running around, I hadn't had much time to figure out when and where would be the perfect time. I mean, I already have the blessing of the Princess, but still, it's still quite hard for me to do anything. But I gotta make a move soon—I don't wanna lose her to somepony else.

Maybe I should try that Illunella Pegas place she likes so much. She says it brings her fond memories, so maybe a vacation there wouldn't be a bad place to pop it.

…Ah! I must've gotten carried away. Sorry about that. We have the stadium for the rodeo all set up—can't wait to see the competition. This newcomer entered in—found him looking at the sign. Seemed a bit lost about it, but I guess he's a bit of a foreigner.

Catch you later, Yug'!

-S.A."

'Foreigner….?' Yugi thought to himself as he went into his room and settled on the bed. Preening his wings and stretching, Yugi had thought about Applejack and the rodeo. Hopefully she'd be ok…but maybe he was getting too concerned.

Yawning and curling up, he fell asleep, figuring a Nap was well needed to get the troubles off his mind.

After all, Applejack said she would be fine. Nothing could go wrong, could it?