A Quiet Cabin On The Edge Of The Everfree

I sat outside in the dark, the only light from a small lantern. "Weird." I crossed my arms and leaned back into the patio furniture. I'd expected to be completely panicked without the trees surrounding me, but knowing there were walls hidden in the darkness calmed me. "Feels like home." I sank back into my chair, left to sit out in the cold, alone, at peace. "Rouge?" I called back towards the house, "You there?"

I watched as a window popped open. "Henry, why are you outside?" Rouge asked, popping her head out the window. "Dear Celestia, it's freezing!"

"I know, I kinda like it!" I shouted back, pushing up and turning to the house. "Wanna come out?"

Rouge frowned at me. "You've touched my wings, you really think that's a good idea?"

I felt my gut sink ever so slightly. "Oh...right." I stretched my arms. "Delicate flowers are often the most beautiful. Or something like that."

Rouge let out a soft coo. "That's sweet."

"Well you are delicate. And...beautiful." I felt a bit bashful, my cheeks burning just about my cheekbones. "I'm gonna stop no--" I felt something grab my leg. "Oh god no!"

"Henry?!"

I felt something cold grab my arm. "Fuck the outside!" I shouted as I was yanked up by my right side, flung into the cold Prance air. "Why!? What did I do to deserve this?!" I felt the cold air rush past me as the white earth below drew back. "God damn everything!" I looked up, finding a miniature dragon pulling me into the air. "Christmas is fucking ruined!" I screamed, flailing my free arm and leg to try and get free.

A familiar voice caught my attention. "Stop flailing before I drop your ass in the snow!"

I looked back up, narrowing my eyes. "Who- Kiri!? What the hell are you doing?"

Kiri looked down at me, her wings sending rushes of cold air against my side as she carried me high into the cold winter air. "I need your help, they're taking over."

"Henry!" Rouge popped up beside us, zipping through the air beside us. "Why is this, thing, stealing you?"

I reached up and rubbed my face. "Long story, Kiri, Rouge. Rouge, Kiri. Marefriend, idiot friend. Idiot friend, marefriend."

The two girls exchanged a few odd looks. Rouge coughed roughly. "Alright, so, why is your friend kidnapping you?"

I looked at at Kiri. "A good question. Well?"

Kiri looked down at me. "Your house is infested. I need you to tell them to go away."

"Infested, go, what?" I asked, starting to feel the blood rush to my head. "Can you put me down?!"

Kiri huffed angrily, her claws tightening against my jacket. "They're taking over and they need to leave!" She snapped her head around towards Rouge. "They're like that one, and they keep freaking laughing and it makes me mad!"

"What- wait, moth ponies?" I yelped, watching the fields of Prance give way to hills, the Everfree dark and foreboding in the distance. "How fast are we going? Holy shit!"

Kiri flapped her dragonesque wings. "I want my house back!"

Rouge tried to keep up, staring to lag behind. "It's not your house! It's Henry's!"

"Same thing!" Kiri shouted, zooming through the air and causing my arms to freeze. "Just, come tell them to leave, and I'll take you back! I'm so sick of them freaking laughing!"

Rouge continued to buzz along beside us. "Laughing? You're angry at them laughing? Are you insane--"

"I'm gonna go ahead and answer that for her. Yes, yes she it." I stated, tucking my free arm against my side. "You can go home if you want...I'll handle this and get back to you by the morning."

"Oh no! This isn't going to fly!" She shouted, tucking her head down and trying desperately to keep up with us.

I stared at her, "Uh, we are fly--"

"I know! It's a saying!" She flew past us. "My feelers are freezing, my wings hurt, it's cold--"

"Well stay at my house then, head back in the morning." I looked down at the Everfree. "I'll start a fire and we can.... We'll plan for tomorrow."

Rouge slowed down, gliding along next to us. "Henry, what if she's telling the truth?"

"Huh?"

Rouge coasted towards me. "What if the others are there?"

I shrugged with my free arm. "I guess they can hang out."

Rouge looked around nervously. "Henry...the other moth ponies are a little, collectivist."

"They're like hippies, I know." I stretched my arm, watching the earth slowly return to me. My heart started to beat like mad as we approached the ground. "Oh god, I felt better in the air!"