One pony can change the world. At least, that’s what Lily’s father had raised her to believe, and it was a mantra she repeated to herself again and again as she packed her saddlebag.

“One pony can change the world,” she muttered. “She can.”

Hefting the bags, Lily pushed past her tiny room’s door and into the small, candlelit shop, the building’s main room. A white-bearded stallion, hunkered over pair of boots lying on a dusty workbench, glanced up and smiled.

“There’s my little Lily,” he rasped, adjusting his thick spectacles.

She glided over to kiss him on the cheek. “Morning, Dad.”

“Morning, Lilypad.” He waved behind himself. “If you’re hungry, I left some—

“I’m—honestly a bit nervous,” Lily said, glancing away.

“We can’t help our nerves,” her father said. He paused to cough. “But, my girl, if anypony can persuade those princesses, it’s you.”

Lily had heard this often enough to know where it was going. “Dad, let’s not—”

“Your mother had a silver tongue,” he wheezed through another cough. “She could talk a pegasus out of his wings and he’d never know the difference.” Behind the glasses, his eyes glazed over. “And you’re more and more like her every day.”

“You don’t have to—”

“Without her, this little shop would have closed before it even get onto its feet,” he went on without pausing. “And now you’re stepping up just like she did.”

Lily fought a wave of nausea. “Of course,” she said with a smile that slid from her face the moment her father looked away. “I promise I won’t let you down.”

“I know you won’t, girl.”

“Well—” She glanced at the door, sliding towards it on trembling legs “—I should be off.”

“Show those princesses what-for!” her father said right before another hacking fit took him. He bent over, red in the face.

“I will,” she said. He held up a hoof to halt her, but she pushed the door open anyway. “I love you! See you in a few days!” It shut behind her with a soft click, muting the loud coughs. The moment it did, she dropped to her knees in the long, wet grass.

Not many ponies were out yet on this gray morning, but the few that were glanced at her as they passed. However, her attention had flown elsewhere.

“You can do this,” she whispered as drops of sweat ran furrows through her coat. “Just—you can do this.” She heaved herself to her hooves and hopped her home’s rough wooden fence onto the small dirt path that ran in front of her home and all the way, eventually, to Canterlot. “Do like Mom would do.”

The thought of her mother fought the nausea, forcing it down, until finally all that remained was a tense sense of stability. She took a deep breath.

“Just like Mom would do.” Lily’s pace quickened, and she even managed a small smile. “Don’t let Dad down. One pony can change the world. I can do this.” Her smile cracked wider. “I can change the world.”

Within moments, she had left the village and ventured into the surrounding countryside.

---

“You sure she didn’t have anything else?” a griffon asked her fellow as she tossed a ripped saddlebag away.

“Nope,” he said, scratching under the red bandanna wrapped about his head. “What a waste of time.”

“Dammit,” she muttered. “You’re turn to take care of it this time.”

He slung Lily’s lifeless body over his shoulder. “Yeah, yeah, I know.” Flying a short distance away, he tossed her unceremoniously into the shallow trench they had dug the night before.

One pony had hoped she could change the world. Too bad the world sometimes fights back.