The sharp sound of a lone pony's hooves hitting the back cobbled roads of Canterlot had been long since forgotten. With a glance upwards, a white Pegasus looked at the night sky. There was not a cloud in sight-partly thanks to him- and the stars shone brightly, and he was bathed in the moon's silver light.
On a night like this, one would think Luna is making up for her time gone.
Smiling, the snowy Pegasus kept walking, letting his brain think. Not before long, the lone pony realized he had spaced out and his hooves kept moving. Shivering slightly against the cold, the lone pony looked around. He was in a back alley, a forgotten path from point A to point B. He saw a single pony standing at a corner in the alley, looking stoic and tough.
"Hey! Should I call your superior, are are you awake?" asked the lone pony.
The stoic guard pony looked up at the one shouting at him. He liked wary before breaking out into a smile.
"Yo! Northern Wings, is that you?"
The lone pony, whose name we have established to be Northern Wings, smiled back as he walked towards the guard.
"No. Its your other best friend who you haven't seen in a month. I almost forgot about you, it's been so long."
"Unfortunately, many ponies do. Its a crime to, ya know. Who can forget this beautiful, ashen unicorn?"
"I can"
"Oh, shut up. So what brings you here?"
"Actually Hilt, my legs brought me here on their own accord. I was walking my nightmares away and suddenly I was here."
Hilt nodded wisely. "Ah yes, a case of dementia. Rare in young ponies, but not impossible. Have you hit your head recently? A stray lightning bolt damage your brain?"
"Shush you. And dude, it's been forever since we hung out. I was actually planning to find you and ask for a meeting. You know, with the others."
"Why didn't you?" Hilt asked.
"I... Uh... Didn't want to deal with crowds."
"Ladies and geltleponies." Hilt said in a showspony voice, "I present to you, Northern Wings, The-Pony-Who-Wanted-To-Be-A-Guard-But-Hates-Crowds-So-Much-He-Doesn't-Want-To-Go-Outside. That's a title you know. Like, good job on getting that title. I the beautiful guard pony Hilt, on Behalf of Princess Celestia, beseech you that title. That is what you will be forever called. Sometimes TPWWTBAGBHCSMHDWTGO for short. Also sometimes Northern."
"No, you have it all wrong. Its not that I hate crowds, its that I hate dealing with them. I'm not shy. I'm just kind of an introvert." Northern explained.
"Kind of?" Hilt asked dubiously.
"There are worse ponies out there."
"I guess you are right. Anyways, who do you mean by 'the others?'"
"You know... Greenroot. Golden Luck. Them."
"Them only?" asked Hilt, throwing a lopsided smile.
"Yeah... Why? Who else?"
"Violet."
"Oh, yeah. Her." Northern said uncomfortably, shifting his weight from one side to the other.
"Okay." Hilt proclaimed, deciding to change the subject. "Where and when? I can probably get a couple days off, and I don't have duty Tuesday and Wednesday. I can probably get a week free. Sound good?"
"Yeah. And how about we go to a small town. Please?"
"No problem. A small bar is better for getting drunk anyways." Northern shot a look. "What? You know that's what we are going to end up doing."
Northern sighed a defeated sigh. "Yeah. Most likely. And in two weeks. I don't have Weather Patrol then. It's Snow's job for those weeks."
"Got it. You invite... Greenroot. Okay, why Greenroot? Like, seriously. Why him?"
"He's not THAT bad."
"Not that bad? NOT THAT BAD? he is SO annoying."
"You know you can't live without his witty remarks."
"I have witty remarks." Hilt stated.
"Or his knowledge of science."
"I could. He flaunts it around like a Manehatten pony flaunts their money"
"Okay, I take that back. You wouldn't BE living without his knowledge if science."
"Aaaaaanyways, you invite him and Golden. I got Violet for you."
"Thanks. And you choose the town." Northern ordered.
"Got it."
"See ya in two weeks?" Northern asked.
"Hopefully before then." Hilt said before regaining guard-like composure. Northern walked away, smiling about the promise of seeing his old friends again. Hopefully I won't have that dream again. Northern thought. It's been two months, I should be over it.
Suddenly, Northern ceased his walking, something had interrupted his thoughts. Something that sounded out of place in a Canterlot night: The gut-wrenching sound of crying.
Looking around, Northern was perplexed. Where could the sound be coming from? One thing about Canterlot is that it always makes sounds louder than they really are. Louder and more out of place. A center with ten ponies can sound like one-hundred. Listening closely, Northern located where the sound was coming from. Down an alley, not too far from where Northern was.
In the day, the alleys looked bright and happy, much like the rest of the city. Rarely was there a dark corner. However, at night, the streets had a sad,forlorn look. The alleys had an abandoned, scary look; Almost like they were going to swallow you up. Coming from one of these alleys was a sound of a mare crying. Curious, the tired Pegasus had to have a look.
On the tip of his hooves, Northern walked slowly. Even though he knew ponies wouldn't hurt him, this was Canterlot, not Manehattan, he was still careful. After all, there were still warnings to look out for Changelings. It may have been two months, but apparently Changelings were still being found. If found, one should alert them to the guard. They will bring the Changeling to Celestia, who will have guards escort the changeling to the border of Equestria. Fair and safe, they are allowed to leave as long as they don't come back.
However, Northern Wings knew that he was just making excuses for being scared He knew that Changelings weren't a problem anymore, and he knew he was just being a scaredy-pony. As he got closer and closer to the back of the alley, the cries got louder.
In the shadows was figure that looked sick and depleted of strength.
"He-Hey. Are y-you all right?" Northern asked.
The figure's head moved and Northern saw bright green eyes. The crying, while it didn't cease, it did slow down.
"If your hurt, my home isn't too far from here..."
The figure slowly moved towards Northern, and suddenly Northern realized that the cries were just a little bit ominous. Stepping out into the light was a brown Pegasus, as brown as a leaf in fall. On her head was a disheveled mane with the color of a reddish-brown. Her green eyes were filled with tears, and her coat was very dirty. She walked with a small limp, and looked at Northern.
"I-I'm fine." said the pony in a dry, shakey voice. "Don't look at me."
"No, you're not fine." Northern was shocked. The pony was clearly in some sort of trouble.
"Yes, I am. Now please move out of my way."
Northern sat down in the middle of the alleyway.
"You're in trouble, aren't you?" Smiling, Northern held out a hoof. "The name is Northern Wings. I'm a weather pony in this town of Canterlot. What's your name?"
The pony looked at Northern. She was quiet, like she was carefully picking out her words.
"Y-You can call me Autumn Fields. Now, please let me through."
"Sorry, but I can't do that." Northern said, putting his hoof down, realizing she wouldn't take his.
"Why not?"
"Because you look like you are in trouble. It hurts to look at you, and I don't mean appearance." Northern added the last bit quickly after Autumn Fields looked hurt. "I-I mean. Well, what I meant to say was that you look like-and don't take this the wrong way- like something is wrong. Can you tell me what it is?" Northern winced, hoping he didn't offend her any morethis is why I don't talk to ponies.
"I-" Autumn started. She didn't expect a pony to be so determined, especially when the pony meant well.
"Okay, so we have your name. What are you doing here Autumn Fields?"
Once again, Autumn looked like she was searching for the right thing to say.
"I... Was... Well... I'm running away."
"You look to be my age. 20, 21. What are you doing running away? Your parents don't control you anymore."
"That's... Not what I meant."
"What did you mean?"
Northern waited in anticipation, but it seemed like the pony wouldn't reveal what she meant.
"Well then, I'll bring you home. You look lost. Where do you live?"
Autumn did the thing where she searched for words, and choosing them carefully. Almost like if she said the wrong thing, something would happen. Eventually she settled for one simple word.
"Nowhere."
"Huh?" Northern was confused. "How can you live nowhere?
"I... Don't have a home. Not anymore, at least."
"oooohhhh... Well... Uh.... Um... I know of a nice shelter you could go to-"
"No. Out of the question." Autumn said suddenly, startling the socially awkward Pegasus.
"Hey, they are really nice. There is nothing to be ashamed of."
"That's... Not what i meant. I mean.... I... Can't... Be near ponies. I can't."
"Why?"
"Because they would... Ask."
"Ask?"
"Yes, a lot like you are doing now."
"Oh, uh... Sorry. But, I mean... You need a home, right? Where have you been living? What have you been eating?"
"..."
Northern grinned nervously. "Hello? Equestria to Autumn?"
"I... Don't want to talk about it."
"Understandable."
"Why... Are you talking to me?"
"Because you're in trouble. I always help those in trouble! That's why I wanted to become a royal guard!"
"You... Are a Guard?"
"Well, no. I kinda... Failed training. Apparently sleeping in is a bad thing. Northern said, trying his best to crack a joke. She didn't smile. Dropping his fake smile, Northern asked her "So, what do you plan on doing?"
Autumn looked up. "What do you mean?"
"Well, it's always good to have a plan, right? So what do you plan on doing?"
"I... I don't know."
"How about you come with me?" Northern requested.
"Huh?"
"Well, you are obviously in trouble. You need somepony to help you get back on your hooves. I can't really turn you down, as I will have a guilty conscience. I promise I won't ask any questions about you that impede with your history. I will let you have your own space as well. Sound good?" Northern explained to Autumn.
Autumn didn't reply for a good while, and Northern winced at the uncomfortable silence. Then, Autumn stood up on two hooves and used the other two to give Northern a hug. Northern felt the tears in her eyes, but decided to not say anything and simply put one hoof around her. With Autumn seeming stronger already, Northern smiled. He felt Autumn's cheeks do the same.
"Thank you."
"Hey, no problem. Now, lets get you to my home. Can you walk?"
"I think so."
"Great. I don't live too far from here."
