Far From Home

        I looked around at everyone nervously. Around the table was Twilight, the other horned one, the one with the oversized hat, the cyan bowling ball, and, behind the cyan winged one, the yellow winged one, who didn't seem to want to be there any more than a rabbit at an Alpha Hunter Tournament.

        Twilight was the first to speak, somewhat nervously, "I think we should get introductions out of the way," she said, and pointed each name to the pony, "I am Twilight Sparkle, and these are my friends Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and the one slightly behind Rainbow is Fluttershy."

        "I am Hurricane Eye, although Storm works too, and this is Moonlight Runner," I stated, before a massive growl that would put an Ursa to shame sounded around us, "and that," I added as everyone stared at me incredulously, "was my stomach. We'll just get out of your fur and and get some food." At that point I was severely red, having forgotten to eat before entering town, despite doing two Harmonized Chaos spells to disguise Moonlight and me, as well as the time stop spell, another that requires high energy. It was also an excuse to try and avoid any more questioning. That motive didn't slip past Applejack, as she looked at me with a cocked eyebrow.

        "Why not stay here? Food's on me," Rarity said, looking at me with a subtle smirk. I guess the evasion was kind of obvious.

        This time it was Moonlight that answered, "We thank you for your generosity, but we really just need to keep going."

        'Way to go Moony, that won't make them curious.' I thought with extreme sarcasm, before saying aloud, "We can stay for one meal, but we don't have any way to pay you back, and for that I sincerely apologize."

        "Perish the thought-" started Rarity before being cut off by Dash.

        "Why are you in such a hurry?"

        "Rainbow don't butt in on anothers' business!"

        "It's fine," I started, "We're not from here. I'm on a journey to complete my apprenticeship. It's a two part journey, now three since the Great Lunar Being seems to have come back to the ground."

        Twilight finally spoke, "Does this have something to do with your magic?"

        "That's not something I want to explain in public, or really at all."

        "But it's an undocumented style of magic!"

        Moonlight smirked, and looked at me, "Once raised on high..."

        "An Archivist’s curiosity does not die," I finished sadly, " Do you at least have a private place we can talk?"

        "We can go back to my library. Is that alright?"

        Moonlight seemed to be finally getting back to her old self at this, and stated with stunning sarcasm, "Why am I not surprised?"

        I kicked her under the table, before I said, "Let's go."

        We all got up and followed Twilight out. Arriving at the library, I stopped, wondering why the town was suddenly so quiet. Shrugging I followed all the mares inside, Moonlight just behind me. Right into the single most scary situation of my eighteen years of life.

        "SURPRISE!" This was immediately followed by Moonlight's shriek. My wings shot out with a ton of unconscious chaos that detonated a jug of chocolate milk. Thankfully no one noticed the explosion over the sound of Moonlights shriek, for which I was glad. I was not used to having something on my body that released magic so readily! Usually I had to concentrate that into a bark or a howl.

        I looked over to the collapsed Moonlight and saw that Spike had jumped out directly in front of her. I facepawed—or is it now facehoofed? I figured that the kid would be smarter after earlier.

        At that moment vision was suddenly filled with pink and noise so abruptly that I unconsciously snapped my wings open. Another blast of uncontrolled chaos magic launched me out the door, across the street and into a VERY sturdy tree, and I saw black.

—*~*~*—

        I woke on a something rather soft. Opening my eyes, I saw I was on a purple bed in a room rather full of books. I also seemed to be on a loft within the room, like it was an entire living space, not simply a bedroom, and the loft separated the living space and sleeping area, though why it wasn't a separate room or den was beyond me.

Looking across the room, I saw a quivering, but empty, bed, with a nightstand to its side and a lamp, without its shade, on the nightstand. I had a similar nightstand next to mine, just I had the lampshade.

I tried to get up, but my back felt like one giant bruise. 'Another reason to learn to use these things,' I thought glancing at my wings, 'They release magic in a Concussion Bark spell without the required concentration and launch ME instead. Would be pretty awesome for flight though...'

        I heard the door open, jarring me from my thoughts, and I looked over to see Twilight enter. "Oh! Good you're awake," she said, sounding excited. "Oh, and Pinkie's gone," she added looking over at the quivering bed. I fought a strong urge to laugh, as the normally fearless Moonlight was terrorized by something other than what I had thought was the only thing she was afraid of.

        "What exactly... happened?" I asked hesitatingly.

        "When Pinkie, umm, 'Pinkied' you, you freaked out, blasted straight back, and knocked yourself out on a tree. After we put you in here, your friend, Moonlight, woke and Pinkie tried the same thing on her, except she only backed up, straight into Spike. After that, she bolted in here and hid under that bed. The party's still going on if you want to join in."

        "I'll come," I said before turning to Moonlight, "you coming Mooner?" I cackled, bolting out into the party and crowd to hide. Moonlight came out seconds after I'd hidden behind the snack table with a set of fake disguise glasses that I found with a note, 'In case of disguise emergencies.'

        Walking over to Moonlight and adopting the most proper Alpha Court accent I could, I asked, "How may I be of service, Mademoiselle?" All I received for my efforts was a wing to the back of the head.

        "I'm never gonna live that down, am I?"

        Dropping back to my normal voice I whispered, "You mooned the freaking wolves Alpha Council. I know we're coyotes, but they're still pretty important doggies."

        Moonlight just grinned before saying, "As long as I don't run into that dragon again. I want to enjoy myself, so let's PARTY!" She reared and took off towards the dance floor. I shook my head and looked around to see if Twilight had come out of that room yet. I needed someone to talk to as I did not dance.

        As was heading over to the snack table, Rainbow intercepted me with a cupcake in hoof, and a massive grin on her face. "Hey, you're finally awake!"

        "Yes. Yes I am."

        "Heck yeah, you can finally party!" Her excitement was contagious and I was soon smiling and enjoying the party. I still don’t know where that lampshade came from, or went, though.

        I must go where my journey takes me, but who says I can't stop along the way?