The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and friendship was in the air. Fluttershy smiled as she trotted through the marketplace, softly humming to herself.

"Morning, Fluttershy!" said Roseluck, as the pegasus pony passed her stall.

"Oh, good morning," replied Fluttershy. "It's such a lovely day, isn't it?"

And a lovely day it was. The sky was clear, and a gentle breeze tickled Fluttershy's feathers. Rainbow Dash had been busy on weather detail this morning, and it showed. The weather was quite literally perfect in every conceivable way, down to the finest detail.

In other words, it was a typical day in Ponyville.

Fluttershy headed directly for Crafty Crate's fruit stand. She aimed to finish her shopping before the next monster attack. Ponyville was currently overdue for one.

"Hello, Crafty," Fluttershy said.

"Heya, 'Shy. Lookin' for any fruit today?" the gruff pegasus asked her.

She glanced at his wares and sighed with relief. There were plenty of cherries available this time, which meant prices would be low. But more importantly, it meant there was no lesson for her to learn at the moment. Fluttershy didn't mind her lessons, of course, but she was an anxious kind of pony when it came to surprises.

"Yes, please. How much for a dozen cherries?" she asked.

"Two bits," said Crafty Crate.

Fluttershy pulled her coin purse out of her saddlebags and set it down on the stand before opening it. She upended the purse, and out fell exactly two bits. There had been no need to check her money before leaving for market. Little details like that took care of themselves, after all.

She took her cherries, placed them in her saddlebags, and turned just in time to see something very unusual. A strange-looking brown pony winked into existence right in front of her, just like that. It happened so silently and suddenly that Fluttershy almost bumped right into her.

The stranger was a female earth pony, although it took Fluttershy a moment to reach that conclusion. While her muzzle was small like a mare's, it was oddly crooked. Something about her jaw seemed out of place too, and her ears weren't perfectly even. Her mane was a tangled mess, and she needed a bath. She wore no clothing, so at least that was normal.

"H-hello there?" said Fluttershy.

The other pony seemed shocked by her surroundings. When she turned and looked at Fluttershy, her face paled.

"Fluttershy?" the stranger gasped. Then the poor mare tripped over her own hooves and landed face-down in a muddy puddle.

"Oh dear. Are you okay?" Fluttershy asked, her voice a bit bolder. She wondered how the mare knew her name. She was certain she would have remembered such an unusual pony if they'd ever met before.

The stranger nervously tucked her tail up between her legs and slid it beneath her barrel, getting mud all over her haunches in the process. She had no cutie mark to speak of, and her pelt was oddly-textured. Her eyes were clamped shut and she hugged the ground defensively.

It was rare for Fluttershy to encounter a pony more fearful than she was, and it seemed obvious that this mare had a friendship problem. Fluttershy knelt down in the mud next to the stranger and gently stroked at her knotted mane. "It's alright, I won't hurt you. What's your name?"

The stranger coughed a few times, then said in a horse and raspy voice, "It's... I don't have one." She kept her eyes shut, and the muscles in her back tensed up as Fluttershy touched her.

"Oh my goodness! You don't have a name?" said Fluttershy, her voice filled with wonder. "Well, that won't do at all. We have to call you something." She paused for a moment in thought, then smiled. "I know. I'll call you Mercy. That's one of my favorite words."

Mercy shuddered at the sound of the word, but said nothing. Her ears lay flat back against the tangles in her mane, and her breaths were short and quick. She shivered, though the air was balmy.

"You sound awfully thirsty, Mercy. Let me get you some water," suggested Fluttershy.

"No, it's fine," said Mercy, her eyes still closed. "Can... can I just lay here for a while?"

Fluttershy thought that was an awfully strange request. "You're not in the way, so I suppose so. But lying here in the middle of the market can't be much fun," said Fluttershy. "Why don't you come with me, and I can get you cleaned up?"

The stranger opened her eyes just a little. "If I can wait here until dark, I'll be on my way. Then you won't have to worry about me anymore."

"Hmm. I think I should go get Twilight," said Fluttershy.

"No!" yelped Mercy, her eyes widening. "I mean, um, there's no need to bother her." She awkwardly shifted her legs in the mud.

Fluttershy was considering getting Twilight Sparkle anyway, when she looked up and saw Rarity within shouting distance. "Wait here for just a moment, Mercy. I'll be right back, I promise," she said.

Mercy sighed. "Of course you will."

Fluttershy stood up. Since the mud had only touched her briefly, physics dictated it to slide off, leaving her legs perfectly clean. She cantered up to Rarity.

"Rarity, I'm so glad to see you!" said Fluttershy. "I'm in the middle of a friendship problem, and it's a tricky one. I think I might be in over my head."

Rarity looked over Fluttershy's shoulder and and saw the strange pony sitting in the mud.

"The disaster in the mud?" said Rarity. "That poor dear. We need to get her cleaned up immediately."

"That's what I said, but she doesn't want to move. She said something about lying there until it gets dark? And she didn't know her own name! I've been calling her Mercy," said Fluttershy.

"My Heavens! Sounds like she's lost her mind. Perhaps she wandered out of Ponyville General?" said Rarity.

"I can hear you," Mercy called out.

Rarity walked up to the strange mare and studied her closely. "Darling, listen here. My name is Rarity. You are going to allow Fluttershy and I to help clean you up, and that is simply all there is to it."

Mercy groaned and planted her face in the mud, then awkwardly wiped sludge from her eyes with a hoof. "Ship," she mumbled under her breath. "I mean, ship. Wait, what? Oh, you have to be bucking kidding me."

"Such language!" said Rarity, aghast. "Though in your given state, I suppose it's understandable."

"What ship are you talking about?" asked Fluttershy.

Mercy shook her head. "There isn't a ship; it was a slip of the tongue. Look, if I tell you everything I know, will you leave me alone?"

"Certainly not," said Rarity.

"Let's give her a chance," urged Fluttershy, kneeling down once again in the mud. "Go on, Mercy. You can tell us."

Mercy took a deep breath and cleared her throat. Her voice remained deep, but lost some of the raspy quality. "I'm a secret agent on a mission to save Equestria."

"Mhmm. Of course you are," said Rarity, as flatly as possible.

Mercy turned her head away. "I don't expect you to believe me, but I need to get to the edge of the Everfree Forest so I can complete my mission."

"Well, why don't we walk you there?" asked Rarity, pointing in the direction of the forest. "It's about a mile in that direction; you can't miss it."

"Rarity!" chided Fluttershy. "I'm sorry, Mercy, but you really don't want to go there. The Everfree Forest is a very dangerous place, even during the daytime."

"I know, and I accept the risk," said Mercy. "This is a life-or-death mission. The fate of Equestria hinges on my success."

"Hmm. Well, if you really do have a quest in the Everfree, I believe our friends can help you," offered Rarity.

"No. I have to complete the mission alone. It's the only way," insisted Mercy.

"Can you tell us what the quest is, at least?" asked Fluttershy.

Mercy shook her head. "It's top secret. And I would walk there, but I'm unsteady on my... on my hooves, right now. And I don't want anypony to see me..."

"I'm afraid it's a bit late for that," quipped Rarity.

Mercy blushed and winced. "I mean, I don't want them to see me naked," she whispered.

"See you naked? But, why not?" said Fluttershy.

"Fluttershy, that is a very personal question," said Rarity. "Mercy, allow me to speak with my friend in private for a moment."

Rarity pulled Fluttershy several hooves away and whispered to her. "Fluttershy, this pony is insane."

Fluttershy pursed her lips in thought. "If she's crazy, then this is a friendship lesson, not a quest. I'm not sure a friendship lesson makes sense, though. What would the lesson be?"

"You have a point," said Rarity. "And her story certainly sounds like a quest. Still, my bits are on friendship problem, even if the lesson isn't clear yet."

"But what if she really is on a mission to save Equestria?" asked Fluttershy. "We might need to hurry."

"You're right. We need to get Twilight," decided Rarity. "We should take her to the castle and clean her up. If only she weren't so mule-stubborn about it!"

"Why do you think she needs clothing?" asked Fluttershy. "I mean, if anypony could guess, you could."

"She must be embarrassed by her body. She doesn't have a cutie mark, for one," Rarity pointed out.

"I noticed that. Actually, for a moment I thought she might be a hinny, but her body proportions are much too pony for anything else. Could she be a changeling?"

"Now that would be the saddest example of a changeling I've ever seen," said Rarity. "Let's face it, we simply don't know what we're dealing with yet."

Rarity turned back toward Mercy and put on a large, less-than-genuine smile. "Alright then, dear. What will it take to get you up and moving?"

"Maybe... a cape? Anything that can tie about the neck and belly," said Mercy. "A tarp would be fine. Or, maybe just a box with a hole in one side."

Rarity gasped. "Heavens no! That would be an insult against fashion itself!"

"I'm not looking for a fashion show. I just need to get to the forest. Then I can give the box back to you," said Mercy.

"We should clean you up first, then help you to the forest," repeated Fluttershy.

"How about a robe. Would that do?" asked Rarity.

"If it's long enough to cover my... my rump," said Mercy. "Like, my tail and legs too. I don't want to ruin a robe if a tarp will do, though."

"Well, just so you know, darling, nopony can see anything back there right now," Rarity explained. "Your backside is completely covered in mud. But, be that as it may, I'll go ahead and fetch you a long robe."

As Rarity trotted off, Fluttershy knelt beside Mercy. "Everything's going to be just fine, you'll see," she said, wearing a bright smile.

"That's what I'm afraid of," said Mercy.

---

When Rarity found Twilight, Applejack was with her; and so the herd grew. Five ponies walked toward the treeline together, one wearing a white robe.

"You can't be serious," said Twilight Sparkle. "You're in no condition to go on a quest."

"I'm walking there, aren't I?" said Mercy, slowly leading the group to the edge of the forest. The cotton robe that encircled her body covered her form, but did little to disguise her muddy hooves or matted mane.

"You're still a mess under that robe. At the very least you could shower and groom before saving the world," said Rarity.

"Look, Mercy. I understand that you have some kind of top-secret mission to complete. But if you want us to take you seriously, you need to give us more to go on than this," said Twilight. "Everything I've heard so far tells me you need to be admitted to the hospital for observation."

Mercy tried walking a little faster, but slowed down again when she nearly tripped. "I can't give you any more details or it would jeopardize my mission. Look, can't you just, cast some kind of spell or something, to prove I'm telling the truth?"

"Let me try," said Applejack, and she stood in Mercy's way. "Mercy, look me in the eyes, and tell it right to my face. If'n you try to yank ol' Bucky McGillicuddy, I'm gonna know."

Mercy seemed nervous. She looked past Applejack to the forest. It was only a stone's throw away.

"Okay," said Mercy. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, then opened them and stared straight into Applejack's.

"If I don't complete my mission, it will be bad for Equestria," said Mercy.

"Why can't we help you?" asked Applejack.

"You can't help me if you don't know what the mission is," said Mercy.

"And why can't you tell us that?"

Mercy took a deep swallow of air. "Because if you knew what the mission was, it would jeopardize my chance of success. I'm certain to succeed if you let me enter the forest alone. I'm certain to fail if you know too much."

Applejack's face hardened. "I can see it in your eyes, hon. That's because we'd try to stop you, now ain't it?"

Mercy closed her eyes and fell to the ground. "Please, just let me do this one thing. It's so important. I'm begging you," she whispered.

Fluttershy sat down next to Mercy and lifted her chin. "Mercy, you can barely walk, and the Everfree Forest is filled with creatures that would tear you apart. You can't expect us to let you go in there alone."

Mercy's eyes watered, and she wiped her cheek with a grimy fetlock. "I know," she said, sniffling.

Twilight tiptoed into Mercy's field of vision and crouched in front of her. "Actually, Mercy, there is a spell that I'd like to cast. Just for a moment, I'd like to use magic to see into your mind," she said.

Mercy's eyes widened. "No! Please, please, no," she gasped. "That would be a terrible mistake."

"It will only take a moment, and I won't look at any private memories, okay? I just want to see what you see," said Twilight.

The defeated pony lay on the ground and cried softly as Fluttershy held her head, but she said nothing.

After a moment of silence, Twilight Sparkle said, "Okay, I'm just going to take that as a yes."

"That ain't no 'yes', Twilight Sparkle, and you darn well know it," growled Applejack.

Mercy's tears stopped flowing. She looked exhausted. "I don't care anymore," she croaked, her voice soft and hollow.

Applejack looked at Twilight and shrugged.

Twilight's horn glowed magenta with her magic aura. Then, Mercy's eyes glowed with the same aura.

Seconds later, Twilight screamed.

---

Books were piled everywhere in the library. Twilight looked positively frazzled.

"Twi, I think you need to get some rest," said Applejack.

Twilight jerked her head up. "Oh. Hi, AJ. I didn't hear you come in," said Twilight. "Just doing, y'know. More research."

Applejack sighed. "Any luck?"

Twilight shook her head. "None. I have no idea where she came from, but it must be a terrible, terrible place."

"We don't know that, sugarcube. Maybe she's just plum crazy, and that's all there is to say," said Applejack.

"Well, she's obviously sad. But there's no record in the history of Equestria of a pony suffering so much from being sad that she'd actually try to... Ugh, I can't even say it," said Twilight.

"End her own life," said Applejack, in a matter-of-fact tone.

"I mean, there isn't even a word for it in the dictionary!" said Twilight, throwing her hooves up in frustration. "It just doesn't add up. It goes against evolution, against horse sense, against pony nature itself! What friendship lesson could that possibly teach us? What could it teach her?"

Applejack looked down at the floor. "I dunno, Twilight. But maybe it ain't all that far-fetched. Ponies sacrificin' to save those they love ain't unheard of," she said.

It took Twilight a moment to realize why the tone of Applejack's voice had changed so suddenly. "Your parents," she said.

Applejack nodded. "I tell ya, Twi, not a day goes by that I don't wonder what the lesson was s'poseda be. One moment they was here; the next they was gone," she said. "Of course I know how they died, but I still don't know why. I spent most of my life tryin' to figure that out. I never thought about hurtin' myself, of course, but I'm sure as sugar that I ain't never learnt nothin', neither. Sometimes, maybe there just ain't no lesson to be had."

"No. That's impossible, Applejack. I don't want to live in a world like that," said Twilight Sparkle.

"Neither does Mercy," said Applejack.

"There's always a lesson, AJ. Someday, it will make sense, I promise," said Twilight.

"My steadfast hope," said Applejack. "Um, Twilight..."

"Yes?"

"You ever stop to consider that maybe Mercy was... right? About her mission, I mean," said Applejack.

"Applejack, that's not funny," said Twilight Sparkle.

"I ain't funnin' ya, Twilight," said Applejack. "What I mean is, maybe she ain't so crazy after all. Maybe she was sacrificin' herself to save others, just like I said."

Twilight paused to think. "She isn't a changeling or an evil curse. It's clear she's not from Equestria, but she's still just a pony—a very sad pony who needs our help. Her existence here isn't going to doom the world."

Even though there were only two ponies in the library, Applejack walked right up to Twilight and whispered. "Are you sure we can afford to take that kinda chance?"

"Applejack!" gasped Twilight, as she backed away in horror.

Applejack blinked a few times, and her eyes widened. "Sweet Celestia. I, I don't even know where that came from," she said. "I can't believe I just said that."

"It's... okay," said Twilight. "This phenomenon has been highly stressful. I've caught myself thinking strange things too."

Applejack frowned. "Now, you don't think Mercy bein' here has something to do with that..."

Twilight shook her head. "No, I don't. Listen, I saw inside her mind, and I felt what she's going through. She's just like us, Applejack. The only difference is that she's suffering. She's suffering in ways we can't possibly imagine or understand."

"Thank Celestia for that," said Applejack, holding her hat to her chest.

---

An impossibly stealthy figure crept out from behind the nurse's desk and tiphoofed through the hallway. Not the tiniest sound came from the graceful shadow as it slowly opened the door and slipped into the patient's room.

Even in the psych ward, rooms were designed to house at least two ponies, for friendship. But one of the beds here was unoccupied, by decree of Princess Twilight Sparkle. Just to be safe, Mercy had this room to herself.

Most of the time, a nurse would sit in here and tend to her needs. But it was the middle of the night, and for one hour, this hour, nopony was scheduled to watch over her.

"Mercy," came a whisper and a nudge. The sleeping patient slowly roused and opened her eyes to see a familiar face above her.

"Fluttershy?" said Mercy. "What are you doing here?" Mercy strained against the straps that held her hooves to the sides of the bed.

A wan smile graced Fluttershy's gentle muzzle, and one hoof gently patted Mercy's freshly-combed mane. "Shh," she whispered. "It's very late. Nopony knows I'm here."

Mercy blinked and tilted her head. "I appreciate the visit. But, I'd like to get back to sleep," she whispered back.

"I know. That's because it hurts to be awake," Fluttershy said, stating it as a fact rather than a question. "In here, I mean," she added, pressing her hoof to Mercy's chest.

Mercy grimaced. "Yes, it does. I'm... sorry," she said. "I wish I'd been strong enough to walk away without any clothes on. Then you wouldn't have to..."

"Mercy, can I tell you a story?" Fluttershy interrupted. "It's a story I've never told another pony, because it's about animals. Most ponies don't know very much about how the animal world works, you know. It's very different from what they write in books."

Mercy slowly nodded her head. "Alright," she said.

"Once, when I was very young, I saw something that made me feel just terrible inside. It was a fight between a snake and a blue jay," she said. "The blue jay died, and the snake ate him. I had never seen an animal die before. Have you ever seen an animal die, Mercy?"

Mercy shook her head. "I've seen a dead animal, but I haven't seen an animal die. Not, like, in pony or anything," she said. "I'm sorry. That must have been awful."

"It was, at first. I had recently earned my cutie mark by discovering my magical talent in working with animals," said Fluttershy. "I had been reading up on the world of animals, but the books never said anything about this. I didn't know that animals fought, and I certainly didn't know that they would eat each other. So I sat there, watching the snake swallow the blue jay, and I wondered what lesson I was supposed to learn from this horrible experience."

"What... lesson?" asked Mercy.

"Yes, you know. The purpose of the experience. Why did it happen? Why did the blue jay have to die, Mercy?" asked Fluttershy. "I mean, it must have happened to teach me something, and to teach the snake something, and to teach the blue jay something. That's why everything happens, after all. But as I sat there watching the snake swallow the blue jay, I realized that the blue jay couldn't have been taught anything, because now he was dead."

Mercy frowned. "I'm sorry. I... I don't know what to say."

"Wait, I'm not done yet," said Fluttershy, and she gently petted Mercy's cheek with the back of her hoof. "So I thought and I thought, and then I finally realized what the friendship lesson was. For the snake, the lesson was nothing more than a meal, although meals are very important. But for myself and for the blue jay, the lesson was about kindness."

"Kindness," said Mercy, her muzzle scrunched up in confusion.

"Yes. You see, it all happened so quickly. The snake needed to eat something. The blue jay had been hurt, and the snake swallowed him in a flash. The blue jay would have passed out very quickly, you see," said Fluttershy. "It was on that day I learned that kindness can take many forms."

Fluttershy smiled as she unfastened Mercy's restraints.