The forest was unusually silent. After all, a lone manticore appeared out of nowhere, frightening most of the animals away. The manticore awoke from its slumber ad groaned. He hadn’t slept so terribly in years. “nnnnggg… What time is it?” said the manticore, with little enthusiasm. Then he heard a whooshing sound, and a cloud of purple smoke simply sank itself into his paw, putting him in so much pain, he could hardly think strait. A loud roar could be heard through a large part of the forest.
“I wonder what else we’ll see in the forest?” Pinkie thought to herself. “Oooh! Maybe I‘ll see a timberwolf! Or a bear! Or maybe even a dragon!” Her newfound friends had just rescued each other from falling off a cliff. “I guess I’ll just have to wait and see!!” she thought eagerly. Then she heard the roar. Looking around, she wondered why nopony else seemed to react. “Maybe I imagined it…” she thought. Then she heard Twilight finish her sentence screaming “but we got a- *gasp* a manticore!!”
…. “WAAITT!” said Fluttershy, interrupting her friends from beating up the manticore. He stopped along with everyone else. “Wait, what’s going on?” he thought. “Sshh. It’s ok.” The manticore stopped, realizing maybe the pony before him could help. He held out the paw that had been causing so much pain. “oohh, you poor, poor, little baby. Now this might hurt for juust a second,” she said in a soothing voice. Then she pulled out the spike lodged in his paw.
“AAAUUUGGGHHH!!” screamed the manticore, more out of relief.
“Aww, you’re just a little baby kitten, aren’t you?” Fluttershy said after the manticore gave her a big hug. After her newfound friends started leaving, she said, “Ok now, I’ve got to go.”
The manticore set her down and said “Thank you.” Fluttershy didn’t even realize that it spoke until she was already walking away.
“… wait what?! Did that thing just talk?? I never heard a manticore talk! I wonder why…” she thought, as she followed Twilight and co. towards the castle ruins.
“Well that feels better,” the manticore said to himself. “Now... Who am I What am I? Where am I?” he pondered. “Well, that pony over there seemed nice; maybe I should find her again…." And that one said ‘manticore’ so there’s a start…” As he thought to himself, the pink pony who did nothing earlier came up.
“Wow! You can talk?! My name’s Pinkie Pie! I thought only ponies, gryphons, and diamond dogs could talk, at least that’s what I was taught in school, but now here you are! I should throw a party to celebrate! With streamers and balloons! Oh wait, maybe you Don’t like streamers!! Now what kind of things do you like?! Huh? Huh? I bet you love cupcakes!!” Pinkie ranted.
“Hold on a sec!” the manticore replied. “Where do you come from?”
“Well, duh! Ponyville!! It’s only the most super-est duper-est funnest place ever!!” Pinkie replied. “Ooh! The girls could be in trouble!” Pinkie giggled, bouncing away.
“Well that was strange. I hope she’s the only one like that, because I could hardly keep up…” for whatever reason, the manticore sat up straight, remembering something about himself. “My name… my name is Eric.” He stated definitively. And headed off towards where Pinkie pointed out “Ponyvile” at the end of the forest.
********************
After about a day of walking through the forest, Eric could see some promising looking buildings. “A good enough start as any…” Eric remarked, and headed towards town. As he approached, he heard screams!
“A manticore!” “Some beast is loose from the everfree forest!” “RUUUNN!!” said the villagers.
“Why are they running? Oh yeah… Seems I am feared.” Dejected, Eric turned into a nearby alleyway, in sight of only a large tree with a house built right in, along with what looked like a double house. “Wonder what that is…” he thought.
********************
“Get down!!” Bon Bon hissed. “Do you want it to find you?!”
“Aw, come on! I just want to get a look at it!” Lyra whispered back.
“Well, stop that and get away from the window!”
“Yeah yeah, ok.” Lyra whispered, sounding bored. Lyra and Bon Bon were hiding in a kitchen, one that was built as more of an extension of the house, so as to be able to make tons of sweets without mixing stuff up with normal ingredients.
“… Do you smell something burning?”
“What, no I-” *BOOM
********************
*Sigh* “Ponies are afraid of me. What can I do? How can I prove myself?" Eric thought. "Maybe I should look for the pink and yellow one. Fluttershy…? Alright, I guess I’ll-“
*BOOM*
The explosion broke his concentration, and he turned to the noise. “what was that?! I hope no one got hurt…. Let me check…” And so, Eric ran over to the building that was now on fire, ponies closing their shutters as he passed.
“Bon Bon? Bon Bon, where are you?! I can’t see!” Lyra cried out.
“I’m trapped!" Lyra heard off to her side.
“Well I can’t get out! The walls around me collapsed! What should I do??” Lyra wailed.
*ROAR!!*
“wha-” was all that lyra heard from Bon Bon. “what jus-“
*CRASH*
Lyra was interrupted as one of the walls that had trapped her was broken away. As the dust settled, she heard a voice say “Where is the hospital?!”
“What?” Lyra replied, confused by the dust and collapsing parts that are still falling from the burn.
“The hospital!! WHERE?” The voice cried out in desperation.
“Go outside, all the way dow the road and take a right! Take the next right you see, and it’s right there! Is Bon Bon Hurt?!” Lyra wailed.
“Gotta go!!” said Eric. As the dust cleared away, Lyra couldn,t see who took Bon Bon, but could see that the fire had been blown away, and all that remained was a half-destroyed kitchen. The rest of the house was intact.
As Eric flew to the hospital with speed he didn’t know he had, Bon Bon stirred, causing her to wince. A large timber lodged itself into her side, missing her vitals, but would leave a gaping hole if it were torn out.
“Wha- OW! What h- happened?” Bon Bon struggled to speak, barely able to open her eyes.
“Ssshhh. My name is Eric, and you are in urgent need of medical care. We are almost there. Relax, as much as you can.” Said the voice, and as Bon Bon managed to get one look at her surroundings before passing out, she saw something that made no sense. A manticore was flying her over the roads, taking her somewhere.
“Wh- Whaa…?” She thought before blacking out again.
********************
Twilight had just teleported home from Fluttershy’s cottage. “Strange how she said that manticore talked to her…” Twilight pondered, as she walked into her latest “study room,” or pile of books. “Hmmm… M, m, m… aha!’ Manticores, a field guide’.” Twilight exclaimed, waking Spike up from his nap. "It says here that manticores come in a few different colors, mainly blood red, forest green, and earth brown. Some are known to build rudimentary tools, enabling them to get to the center of certain trees for their tasty sap, and open oysters on riverbeds…” Twighlight read some more, not finding much of interest.
“Hey it’s quiet outside! Really quiet… Did something scare everypony?” Twilight wondered. “Spike! I’m going out for a bit! Keep the place tidy!”
“Yeah ok.” Spike grumbled, still trying to hold on to sleep.
“Well, seems nopony is out here.” Twilight remarked as she stepped out the door.
*BOOM*
“WHAT WAS THAT?!! Twilight tried to yell over the ringing in her ears. “Oh no!! that’s Lyra and Bon Bon’s house! I need to see if-” Twilight could only gape as the manticore had tussled with in the forest came soaring out of the burning house side, carrying something that looked suspiciously like a pony.
“WHAT??!” Twilight thought, dumbfounded. “It’s not headed to the forest, but if I didn’t know better, I’d say it was headed to... the hospital?” Twilight stood for a moment, wondering what to do. “OHMYGOSH! I need to check on Lyra and Bon Bon! At least, whoever’s left…”
“Twi! Thank goodness you’re here!” Lyra shouted out. “Somepony took off with Bon Bon, and headed to the hospital! I’m fine, but will ya come with me? I’m really worried…”
“I don’t think it was somepony…” Twilight muttered.
“What? Whatever! Come on! Let’s go!” Lyra said, running to Twilight. “Can you teleport us or something? I want to get there real fast!”she pleaded.
“Sure thing Lyra, just hold still…” Twilight said, as she performed a spell to teleport two ponies to the hospital.
*FLASH*
“Thanks Twi!” Lyra shouted behind her, as she raced inside the hospital.
“Anything for a friend in need!” Twilight responded enthusiastically. “I hope she’s going to be allright…” she worried.
“I hope so too… She had a large wooden beam stuck in her… She was breathing and not bleeding too much…” said a much deeper, scratchy voice behind her.
“well, I hope s-“
*Crash*
“D-di-did you just talk?!?!” Twilight stuttered.
“*Sigh* yes, I did. Is that unusual? I really don’t know,” said the voice.
“...”
“Ah, my name’s Eric,” he declared, holding out a paw for the purple mare to shake.
“W-well hello Eric… What a, uuhh, strange name you have. My name is Twilight Sparkle.” She responded, and took the hoofshake. “Well, nopony meets someone like you very often, now do they?” Twilight beamed at the strange creature in front of her. “When did you learn to talk? What brings you out of the forest?” she peppered him with questions, as he simply stood there.
“Well, as far as I know, I could always talk, and I came to see someone called... Pinkie? After the yellow one… Fluttershy left, she stayed behind and ‘talked’ with me.” He attempted to make a quoting motion.
“Hehe! That sounds like Pinkie Pie to me! Always leaving little room for a conversation.” Twilight giggled. So, what do you normally do in the forest?” she asked politely.
“Well, actually, I don’t know. I only recently remembered my name, but everything else is a blank.” Eric responded, staring into space.
Twilight scrunched up her face. “Well that’s weird. You know nothing about who you were or what you did? How far back do you remember?”
“Interestingly, I woke up in the forest a few minutes before you guys found me. Sorry about that, the pain from that spike was terrible! I could hardly think straight! I hope you can forgive me...” Eric replied.
“Well, aren’t you polite? I accept your apology, and I’d imagine that so does everypony else. I wonder what we should do about you…” Twilight pondered. “You don’t fit in too well here, and I imagine that’s why everypony was hiding…”
“I thought as much. Where can I find a library? I’d like to read up on some of this places history, as well as social customs.” Eric stated.
“Well, actually, I-” Twilight started.
“Twilight! They got Bon Bon awake, and they say she’ll make it and-“ She stopped, staring at the manticore next to Twilight.
“Oh this is Eric. He save Bon Bon. He’s very nice.” Twilight introduced the pair.
“Nice to meet you…?” he gave a questioning look at the mint green pony.
“Oh my name’s Lrya. I’m her roommate. Thanks for taking her here. I was wandering who was behind all the smoke.” The mint green pony replied, and shook hooves/paws with him. "Well, anyway, let’s go see Bon Bon!” She exclaimed.
“Indeed.” “Ok, let’s go.” Twilight and Eric answered.
********************
“Nnng.” Bon Bon groaned, finally awakening from an uncomfortable nap.
“Bon Bon! You’re awake!” Lyra exclaimed. “They said you’re going to be ok, you just need to take it real easy for a week or so.”
“Wh… What? Why?... What happened to me?” Bon Bon inquired, still half asleep and her eyes half open.
“The kitchen room blew up because we forgot to check the oven you made. You might have been really bad if Eric didn’t bust in!” Lyra squeaked, excited and energetic as ever.
“Oh yeah… That sounds familiar. Where is this pony; Eric? What a strange name…” Bon Bon said, slowly propping herself up in the hospital bed. “Is he here?”
“Yeah, he is. He’s right over there.” Lyra replied, pointing to the corner on the other side of the bed. “Oh and Twilight stopped by to make sure you were alright.”
“Oh well that was nice of her.” Bon Bon finished propping herself upright. “You said he’s he- WAAHH!” Bon Bon stumbled back, wincing in pain.
“Lyra! Lyra, what is that thing doing in here?!?!” Bon Bon franticly whispered, she motioned over at Eric.
“It’s ok Bon Bon. He saved you. Right after the explosion, he ran in shouting for directions to this place. You should thank him!” Lyra whispered back, slightly frustrated at Bon Bon’s quick judgment. “Eric, this is Bon Bon. Bon Bon, Eric.” Lyra greeted the two.
“Nice to meet you. I’m glad to see you’re going to be ok.” Eric stated, holing out his paw.
“Y-y-you can t-talk??” Bon Bon responded nervously, and shakily took the hoofshake. IT was firm, but gentle enough not to hurt her.
*Sigh*
“Yes, I can; and I hear that’s unusual, then again, talking horses is a little unusual to me, though I can’t say why…” Eric started, staring off into space. “But anyway,” Eric snapped back into focus, “it was nice to meet you. I’m going to try and find a library. Do you know where I can find one?”
“Yeah, go back to where our house is and looka little further on the right side. You should see this house built in a tree..” Lyra answered. “That should have everything you are looking for.”
“Thanks. You know, I was wondering what that tree was.” Eric replied, standing up again and heading out.
“No problem!” said Lyra. “Come and drop by later today if you don’t have a place to stay!”
“Lyra!” Bon Bon scolded her. “Don’t just go and invite people,” she whispered. “But just this once, I’ll let you,” she said flatly. “Yes Eric, please do come and visit!” she said a little louder so that he could hear.
“Ok, I will. Thank you so much!” Eric replied, then left.
“He was a very nice manticore. I thought he was some kind of monster, “said Bon Bon.
“Bon Bon!” Lyra solded, smiling. Now it was her turn to be admonished.
“Yeah, yeah,” Bon Bon giggled, “we’ll see him later. Now help me get up and sign out.”
“Sure thing Bon Bon.”
********************
“Spiikee!” Twilight called out as she arrived home. “I need you to take a letter! A new guy is here! I’ve never met anypony like him!” she giggled to herself.
“I’m coming Twi! Geeze, why do you want to write to the princess about your special somepony? I’d think that’s private info.” Spike teased.
“Whaat?? No it’s nothing like that!” she blushed. “I met a talking manticore! He saved that pony who makes all those candies!” she exclaimed, getting excited all over again. “It’s so fascinating! Why can he talk? What does this mean?”
“Ok! Calm down, and we’ll write that letter!” Spike said.
“Ok. Dear princess, I want to have you come by today if you can. I have met someone very interesting, and think you should meet him. He seems to be new to this land, and will probably be here later today to read up on things. Your faithful student, Twilight sparkle,” she finished.
“Done!” Spike exclaimed, sending the letter. “Now we just have to wait!” said Spike.
********************
*Sigh*
“When will they not fear me?” Eric wondered, as he landed across the street from Lyra and Bon Bon’s house. As he folded his wings back, he could hear some shuffling from a house nearby that was made of gingerbread, or so it seemed. “Strange house.” Eric remarked, as he walked off to the library.
********************
“But mooom!! He’s superdy duper!” Pinkie tried to explain to the Cakes. “I met him in the forest! He needs a friend and I promised I’d throw him a party,and then he came in and everypony ran away before I could get them for a surprise part, and now I wonder where he’s going and if I can even give him a party, but right now I just wanna go talk to hiimm!!” Pinkie rattled.
“Well, I trust your judgement, but he’s already gone now,” said Mrs. Cake. “Next time he comes, you can give him a cupcake.”
“Oooh! That sounds like fun! Let me get started on making him the most perfectest cupcake in the whole wide world!!” Pinkie shouted, zooming into the kitchen, grabbing tons of ingredients.
“I wonder what kind of creature he is, if Pinkie wants to see him so much,” said Mr. Cake “Probalby a good soul, bless him. I hope he finds his way back here someday…”
********************
*Knock*
*Knock*
“Is this the Ponyville library?” Eric asked to whoever might be behind the door.
Spike opened the door, and jumped back for a second. “Oh you must be the guy Twi was talking about! You’re at the right place! Come on in!” Spike enthusiastically greeted the guest. “My name is Spike. I help Twilight with things around the house.”
“Nice to meet you Spike. I’m Eric; and did you just say house? Does Twilight live here?” he asked, gazing in wonder at the circle of books before him.
“Yeah, bet you’ve never seen a house in a library an then a tree have you?” Spike said, his eyes lighting up. He liked this guy already. He was so unique, just like him. He could tell they were going to be good friends.
“Can’t say I have!” Eric laughed, strolling down the shelves. “Oh here’s one!” he thought to himself, as he picked up a book titled “Modern Equestria: A reference guide.” “Guess I’ll read this one…” he said to himself as he took the book and move over to the center of the library to read it.
********************
Twilight came back upstairs from her studies in the laboratory. Spike came up to her, looking excited. “Twilight! Eric is here, reading a book on the country. He seems really absorbed in it.”
“Good!” Twilight thought, wondering if the princess would come today. Usually when she doesn’t respond like this she is either very busy or will answer in person. “I think I’ll go talk to him Spike. You are free to take a break,” she said, jokingly
“Hah ha! Ok Twi. I’m going to go over to Rarities.” Spike said, with a dreamy look on his face.
“Ok Spike, be back for dinner.” Twilight sighed. Spike had been this way ever since he met Rarity. It was love at first sight for him. Twilight wondered if the relationship would ever work out. “Probably could if she paid him mind…” She thought to herself as she walked over to where Eric was reading his book.
“How fascinating! A diarchy with two princesses, and no kings or queens, but also having a more democratic subset for the different regions.” Eric remarked, looking up at Twilight. “Has it always been this way?”
“As long as I can remember, it has always been this way. The princesses rule of love, and not fear, so the system has stayed for eons.” Twilight answered, smiling at the mention of the princess.
“It would be most interesting to see them in person, though I could hardly imagine them going so far out of their way…” Eric mumbled, thinking about what kind of Princesses the two must be if they ruled only with love for centuries. They must be ery wise, if it is true that they have lived for thousands of years.
“Well, I might be able to work something out. After all, I am her personal student!” Twilight boasted. “She hoof picked me because of my abilities on magic!”
“That is something else that I find strange. Your race uses magic, a force which can have its properties manipulated, and with advanced skill, one could manipulate the force itself. Is this why advanced machinery has not been adapted? The largest thing you seem to have is a train, and that still relies on a few enchantments, but nothing major.” Eric listed.
“Well I never really thought about it that way, but I suppose you are correct. We have never needed faster modes of transport or more efficient ways of doing things.” Twilight responded.
“I suppose not,” Eric chuckled. “I rather like it here. Things are so simple. I have read a book on the pony race, and found that one gets a special mark to indicate their talent, and help them settle down,” he said. “Everyone is happy, and violence is almost unheard of.”
“Well I hope you were not planning on leaving!” Twilight joked, and surprised herself with how friendly she had become with this brand new pony- er, manticore.
“Indeed I won’t. I plan to stay, make friends, and live out my life to its fullest. That is my plan, and I feel as though that was always my plan…” Eric scrunched up his face, deep in thought. He wondered what kind of per-pony he was before he woke up in the forest. Couldn’t have been too terrible…
“Well, I’ll leave you to your studies then,” Twilight said as she walked back towards her room.
“Ok, I’ll talk to you later…” Eric said as he lost himself in the books again.
********************
*Knock*
*Knock*
*Knock*
“I’ve got it!” Twilight called out as she approached the door.
“Hello Twilight. It’s nice to see you,” said Celestia.
“Princess! I’m so happy you came! Would you like to come in? Where’s Luna?”
“Yes please. Luna is busy with some paperwork, as being absent for 1000 years has lead it to pile up a bit.” Celestia replied.
“Oh I understand.” Twilight beamed at her mentor. She was always so kind.
A look of worry flashed across the face of the Princess before she regained her composure. “Twilight, why is there a manticore asleep in your library?” Celestia inquired, baffled that such a dangerous creature was even in Ponyville. She knew that the Everfree Forest was nearby, but she never saw a creature this far outside of it.
“Oh! Do you remember I said I met a strange new guy? That’s him!” Twilight chuckled at her teacher’s confusion.
“Well, you certainly surprised me, I’m glad I decided to visit in person. Why has he come?” Celestia asked patiently, as a million more questions flowed through her mind. Where did he come from? Can he really speak?
“Ask him yourself!” Twilight exclaimed, as she trotted over to Eric, nudging him awake. “Eric, Princess Celestia is here.” Twilight said .
“Mmm-hmm. Wait… the Princess?” Eric mumbled as he picked himself off the floor, stretching his wings out. Man they really ached. “I should probably go out and fly soon. Now did she just say the princess was here?” Eric thought as he opened his eyes to see Twilight standing next to a large alicorn [as the books say], looking very happy. “Princess Celestia, I presume?” Eric asked a very startled looking Princess.
“Yes, but you may call me Celestia. How did you come to be here?” she asked, still holding in her torrent of questions.
“Very well, Celestia,” Eric replied kindly, and continued, “As for how I came to be, I actually have no clue, but I have found many more fascinating things all around me to occupy my attention. You may also wonder why I can talk, and have a greater intelligence than my appearance seems to suggest.” The Princess nodded. “Well, I don’t know that either, but my scraps of memories suggest that I was not a manticore before I found myself in the forest, just before…” Eric trailed off.
“Before what, Eric?” Celestia asked, barely containing the calmness in her voice and not betraying the amazement she had.
“Before we ran into him in the forest on the way to the castle ruins. Nightmare Moon had drove him out of concentration with a spike, likely as a test of kindness.” Twilight Answered for him, taking note of how embarrassed he looked.
Celestia also took notice of the manticores reaction. “It was nothing you had control over,” she said, visibly soothing Eric’s nerves.
“I suppose not.. I still want to thank the yellow and pink one- Fluttershy. I’ll do that tomorrow.. Ah yes. Princess, I have a question, if you don’t mind me asking.” Eric stated, analyzing Celestia’s reaction carefully as to not overstep his bounds. Thankfully, it appeared he hadn’t, although she looked a little confused. He smiled. “What is your mane made out of? It is nothing like I have ever seen before.”
“Oh, it is the sun. As I raise and lower the sun, I must have a magical link to the massive object. My mane is that link. It has power in it, but also has some hold on me. Billions of years from now, when the sun dies, if I am still here, then I would also die.” Celestia explained. “Think of it as the extension of myself.”
“Amazing!” Eric breathed, picturing the sun being attached to a being.
“Well, it has been a nice chat, but I must be going dears.” Celestia said, after a momentary silence.
“Ok Princess! I won’t forget to write!” she chuckled along with the Princess at the small joke.
“Very well then. Tell your sister I said hello, if you would please,” Eric stated.
“I shall indeed. It is not every day that one sees a talking manticore.” Celestia responded, smiling at the new citizen of equestria. “In a couple of days, I shall send a notice to the city, telling them about your arrival, Eric, and that they shall not fear you.”
“I appreciate that a lot. Thank you Celestia! I’ll hear from you later.” Eric replied as she walked out the door. “I wonder what kind of life she leads? She seems to have found a dear friend in Twilight, and is very compassionate towards everyone… I hope she isn’t lonely. She did just get her sister back, after all..” Eric thought to himself.
“Well that went great!” Twilight exclaimed.
“Yes, it rather did,” Eric responded. “I think I will turn in for the day, and visit Fluttershy tomorrow. You said she live in a tree-cottage like this one at the other end of town, near the forest?”
“That’s right! Just remember, she can be really shy, but since you are an animal, she may just open up to you,” Twilight said.
“Ok, thanks. I’ll see you around I suppose,” Eric said as he walked out of the room.
“Can’t wait to see you again!” Twilight said, more to herself than anypony. She wondered when she would see him again. He had so many mysteries bout him, and acted as though a large weight had been lifted from his life.
********************
*Knock*
*Knock*
“Bon Bon? Lyra? I’m here! May I come in?” Eric asked, standing outside the front door to their residence.
“Yeah, come on in!” Lyra called out.
“Thank you for inviting me to stay,” Eric stated, as he walked inside.
“Come in, Eric. You must be exhausted. Said Bon Bon from the common room. “You can sleep in this room here,” leading him into her own room, were a large blanket was spread across the floor next to a bed. “I hope you don’t mind sleeping on the blanket, but I need the bed because of, well this,” Bon Bon pointed to the scar on her side.
“I don’t mind...” Eric said, stifling a yawn. “Well, it’s getting late, so I’ll just go to sleep, if you don’t mind…” Eric stated as he curled up on the blankets, and was soon sound asleep.
“Geeze Bon Bon, stop staring at him!” Lyra teased.
“I-I wasn’t staring!” Bon Bon stammered, her cheeks burning up.
“Hey hey, I didn’t say anything like that!” Lyra giggled, as her friend sat there trying to contain her emotions. Lyra wondered why she seemed so flustered, but figured it was because he saved her, and was the nicest anypony had ever been to her, except maybe herself [Lyra]. Plus she had never been one to come right out to other ponies. “Goodnight Bon Bon.” Lyra winked.
“Good night.” Bon Bon said as she gave Lyra a grudging push for that little act.
“Hehehe!” Lyra thought to herself, as Bon Bon walked off to bed with a determined look on her face.
********************
“Sister!” Celestia exclaimed, as she arrived back at the castle rather late. “I have some amazing news!”
“What have you discovered, Celestia?” Luna asked politely, wondering what had gotten her so riled up. Most ponies couldn’t tell what she was feeling, but Luna could. She was, after all, her sister. They had grown up together. It was very rare that she was unreadable.
“My student found a very unique specimen!” Celestia exclaimed. “His name is Eric, and he is a manticore. Luna, he is an intelligent being like you or I,” she said, barely able to contain her excitement.
“A sentient creature from the Everfree Forest? That is indeed most interesting… What shall we do?” Luna replied, her interest suddenly piqued.
“I will write a bulletin to Ponyville to let the ponies know that he is a friend, and to not fear him.” Celestia replied. “He shall be given the opportunity to live here, where he may find happiness. He seems weary, as though he has been on a long journey, and finally found the place he searches for.” Celestia said wistfully.
“Very well, we shall give the creature this opportunity. I hope he will learn to love being here, and would be sad to see him go. This being seems to have a very kind soul.” Luna replied.
“For now, let us watch over him.” Celestia said.
“Yes, we shall judge his character, and maybe find out who he is.” Luna responded, shaking her head in wonder.
“That sounds fine. We shall simply check in on him every so often, and be the judge for ourselves. Now, let us go raise the moon.” Celestia soothingly replied.
“Very well. Three days after we send the letter to Ponyville, we shall look in on the town.” Luna agreed, and Celestia nodded in approval. “Time to raise the moon.” Luna said, happy that she could share this moment with her sister after a thousand years of lonliness. She hoped that her dearest sister had not become too lonely while she had gone, because Celestia seemed as though she still had a large emotional burden. “Goodnight, Equestria.” Luna said inwardly as she began to raie the moon and reveal the drisp, clear night sky.