Morning

by SIMIOCAOS

Rating: teen
Tags: Adventure, Alternate Universe, Sad
Length: 5490

Finally being able to retire, Vlaktes Verkeener, Zebrican Royal Guardscolt, returns home for some peace and quiet, but will he be able to find it after he discovers that his home has changed more than he expected?

The Path of the Sun II

After years of adventure and struggle, Vlaktes Verkeener, ex-Mercenary and Royal Guard from Zebrican Equestria, finally finds a way to retire from his boisterous life. At first everything goes smoothly, but even when the zebra finds a way to return to his homeland Zebrica and make his way back home, trouble still finds a way to reach him, this time in the form of two miss-adventured tourists from Ponyville that happen to be in his path.

Having to deal with the unwilling responsibility of taking care of these two mares, and trying to get done with his roamings once and for all, Vlaktes will have to give all of himself in order to withstand this last test of fate… Or will it be?

These are a series of short stories that are intended to depict OC's of my creation and the characters from the cast of MLP: FiM with the intention to act as auxiliary stories to events of any incoming project.
Sincerely: SIMIOCAOS

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2015-05-22 19:20:02 UTC

Mayowe katika savana

"What is the prize of destiny? That which silently drives the lives of countless souls to the edge of the precipice or to the heavenly tops of victory? Everyone is linked to it, and everyone is a piece of the master game that that which is called predilection has for every little being in creation… If such a force would exist, of course.

But either way there's not denying that there are some things that are meant to happen, independently of the power of freewill of the inhabitants of this world, if the hazards that befall into those who suffer them are to teach that we don't have real control over our lives.

It's a harsh lesson, but somehow easing. The mystery of the different sways of life and strife that many undergo somehow explained, and the warm embrace of something far more comforter: faith. But not faith into something in specific. Just that impulse, that thrive that everything is going to turn out okay even if reality may state otherwise. Because even when hope disappears, faith remains. And this, what happens, as much as it may be the best example as it may not, it's undeniably a good start." - Thanno Dreadwing.

The screams were what reached his ears first. A high pitched tune of voice that drilled over the tranquility of the place, even if it was far away from there. Word was unmistaken that today the only thing running through the land was not going to be water precisely…

     Vlaktes sped through the vegetation as fast as his legs would carry him. Around him the thick existence of dried bushes and brambles clawed at his clothes, and rattled agains his shield, but those were just scratches. His mass would push those aside and trample over it, and his leather straps would endure a punishment much more harder than that. What really was inside his head in that moment, was what could lie ahead, and the silent tensing of his muscles, ready for the physical confrontation that surely would happen next.

     Just as he got past the last set of pastureland, he entered into sight with what was causing such a fuss in the otherwise tranquility of the savanna. Near the edge of a precipice, right where the plain ended, a pack of anubites had cut a caravan cart down, its pullers slain and their guards were battling against their assailants. Inside the wagon, that had already been ravaged by the attacks of the creatures, two mares were trying to hold their ground, or at least one was while the other was just trying not to scream her lungs out.

     Vlaktes stood where he was, watching everything for a moment: Two stallions, a unicorn and an earth pony, were trying to fend off the half dozen jackal humanoid creatures. Poor morons. Nopony travels through Zebrica with at least one or two spare escorts. Not specially during mating season.

     Vlaktes snorted at the vision. For a moment he even doubted helping them. What had Equestrians done for him and his people lately anyway? It wasn't that he were not a good person… or had been. Its just that he couldn't help but to feel that it was pointle-

"Get down!" he yelled to the first mare as he charged inside the cart, shield first, and tackled the anubite right in the chest. The creature, don't expecting the intrusion, lost its breath in a loud screech as it flew away from the wagon, and landed in the ground, struggling to recover air and get on its feet. Vlaktes turned to the two mares. "Are you alright?"

     The alluded ones, an aquamarine unicorn and a greenish gray earth mare bot nodded, perhaps not knowing wether to thank him or to start running, but he could worry about hat later. The anubite had already recovered for that first blow and now had unsheathed its weapons; a couple katars that definitely claimed for his life.

     Vlaktes jumped out the wagon with his own azande knife in mouth and straight to the creature. The monster, anticipating the charge of its enemy, launched a blow with its blades, but Vlaktes had long before seen it. His shield made a metallic TONG when it absorbed the hit and pushed back his target. Vlaktes landed, but didn't missed his memento. Immediately after he went straight for his enemy and reveled as the blade of his weapon made contact.

     The anubite let out a howl of pain and fell to the ground holding the wound that he had just teared in it. Vlaktes would've finished it, but he knew that it wouldn't be a bother for now and proceeded to the next.

     A few yards away, the stallion he could identify as the highest ranking officer was struggling against two enemies, that had him pinned down, and was alive just because the foul creatures wound't know yet to get round his armor plates. Vlaktes took by surprise the first one, which was holding a spear, and rite through the leather of its leg. The creature cried out, but Vlaktes immediately put it to an end with a blow of his shield right to its head that rendered it unconscious. The other one, noticing the peril of its brother, struck the stallion right between the leg plates with his two blades, hurting him bad in the process, and turned agains Vlaktes next.

     Vlaktes heard how the stallion screamed when the blood ran out of his body, but didn't loose sight on his target. The anubite instantly charged at him and attacked with a vertical swing, aiming to decapitate him. Vlaktes would've fall for that if he wasn't a trained guard himself, and with accuracy parried a hit with his shield and the other with his knife just so he could enter its guard himself. The next thing that happened was that the zebra had just poured his knife into the creature's heart and had pushed it away with its shield, turning again to his ally, who was trying in vain to stand up.

"Sergeant!" he called him as he helped him to his fours.

     The stallion, retreating his bleeding leg to his body panted in pain when he held him up.

"Wh-who are you?" he asked with what he could tell was a blurry vision.

"A fellow guard like you" said Vlaktes as he set him on his way. "Get to the cart. Protect the mares!"

     The guardscolt limped to the wagon and mumbled something, but Vlaktes didn't got it. It didn't take much knowledge to know that he wouldn't last long. He was tempted to help him get there but another scream reached his ears. Behind him, the other guard had just been struck dead by its two attackers and they were heading straight for the mares.

     Vlaktes immediately rushed towards the monsters and reached them just before they reached the frightened mares. He didn't stop and straight tackled the first one, sending it to the ground, and bucked the second, who had just turned around, with his rear hooves, sending it away screaming. He then turned to the first one, who had stood up, and charged at it, but the creature, wielding an axe, received him with a powerful blow that sent him out of his way, nearly to the ground.

     Vlaktes spun around for a moment, but, nonetheless, wasn't completely unprepared and recovered valance in the last second to stop another strike from the monster. He then shortened his distance, but the anubite, not repeating the mistake of its last three predecessors, backed straight away. Vlaktes realized this just when another strike was heading right for his head, and nearly didn't stopped it with his shield, sensing the strength that nearly put him to his knee. The anubite stuck its axe in the edge of his shield and began to struggle to rid him of it. Vlaktes struggled back, but didn't loose his temper. His enemy had committed a mistake, and that was facing a quadruped with the guard too high. Before the creature could realize what was happening, Vlaktes struck its leg with his knife and pushed ahead, sensing how the creature's balance was lost by the pain and strength of his muscles.

     The anubite fell to the ground crying wildly, but Vlaktes wasn't done yet and immediately put it out of its misery. The plain became silent once more, and the noise of his hard breathing was carried away by the wind. Vlaktes rose his head with the tiredness of his own physical effort. He sheathed back his knife and let his shield go. Vlaktes could have easily called it done… If it weren't because he'd forget about the other one.

     Suddenly, with a battle howl, the last anubite made itself present helping high a maze, and leaping up in the air, just as its kind could only do, straight for the unprepared zebra that was just now gazing to its figure. Vlaktes watched it with absolute surprise how his death was falling over him. There wasn't time to get out of that, nor to get his shield back. He had so stupidly let himself go that now the prize for his idleness was going to be his life. Oh crap…

     Vlaktes shrank were he stood, waiting for the attack, but again his perspective of the scene was just not wide enough. Just before the anubite could make him its pray a light bolt struck its figure and sent it away screeching a loud death howl. The monster fell to the ground, rolled a little bit and stopped where it was, not moving any further. Vlaktes took a second, but then stood up again, and turned to where the bolt had come from. Leaned agains the broken form of the cart wheel, the guardscolt was staring at him, smiling his last strength away.

"That… Makes us even, soldier" he sighed where he was. "I… Just wish… we could stretch…" he tried to stand up but his legs failed him and fell down.

     Vlaktes caught him just before he hit the ground.

"You shouldn't be grateful to me, Equestrian" he said as he put him gently over the ground. "I lied to you."

"You… did?"

"Yes" he sentenced. "I'm not a royal guard… I was a Zebrican-Equestrian recruit, but that's in the past. I'm a mercenary now."

"And… Your post?"

     He looked away for a second.

"I deserted it, right after the Diamond Dog war."

"Oh…" the expression of the royal guard lost a little bit of joy, but not any less peace. "That's… pitiful. What's your name, lad?"

     Vlaktes hesitated a little before speaking.

"Vlaktes Verkeener, sir."

"Good. I'm glad to know a pony with such strength as you, even… even if you're nothing less than a traitor."

"No you don't" he snorted. "You never met me, and I never met you. Just rest your last moments while you can. The battle is over for you, sir."

"I know" he smiled sideways. "Can I ask you a favor? Just a dying colt's wish…"

     Vlaktes though about it for a second, but then backed away.

"No" he said. "I'm done doing fav-"

"Please tell them!" he called, tears plying in his eyes. "To my family… Back home… They'll be sad when they learn about it. Just… Please tell them… Everything's gonna be fine… Please…"

     And with that the eyes of the colt lost all its brilliance. Vlaktes verified his decease and leaned his head down for a moment.

"Maisha shujaa, si kifo shujaa" he prayed then lifted his head again and turned back. The two mares were still in the cart, holding each other, their eyes tearing. "You two" he called. "Did you heard what he just said?" for a moment it looked as if they didn't listened, but in the end they reluctantly nodded. "Good. Make sure they're buried properly."

     And with that he continued his way as if nothing happened.

Hatua kwa hatua

The pastures were swinging with the soft breeze that blew from the northern world. Vlaktes carried his shield on his back, like he had done all the morning, and his knife on his sheath, feeling the reassuring weight of the blade strapped to his side. Aside from that there was his luggage, where he'd kept his rations, and other things that he'd dragged along the way. The long, long way he had walked.

"You don't mean that seriously, do you?" asked the unicorn mare.

     Vlaktes stopped for a moment. The road ahead hadn't been the same as it was before, but at least the trip was almost done.

"Completely" he said, not turning back. "You should try to dig deep, and rid of the corpses. There are many scavengers around."

"Hey! Wait up!" a voice called behind him. Way back in the road, Lyra was almost cantering just to get into pace. "You've been moving all morning!"

"And how are you suggesting we do that?" asked the earth mare.

"I never asked you to come along" he answered, nonchalantly.

"I don't know" he shrugged. "Thats not my problem."

"Yeah, we know how much of a douchebag you are" followed Bon Bon. "Why don't we skip the act and go to the moment where you excuse yourself, huh?"

Lyra cut his path.

"Well you can't possibly be serious! You made a promise!"

     Vlaktes stopped.

"Fine, you wanna know why I did it?"

"I made a promise to a valiant guardscolt, not to his corpse. That's your business."

"It would be a relief, yes" said Lyra. "Aside from your indifference toward any kind of honor, how are you planning to explain your actions?"

"So you rescue us from certain death and you don't even care to show any other kind of appreciation? What kind of stallion… Zebra are you!?"

     Vlaktes kept silent for a moment. It may be worth a moment of self contemplation, but it seems that he didn't had anything to answer aside from being a douschebag within him… Oh well, who said anything had to be so complex in this life? After all, who was he to question the moments that'd left him to make the wrong choices?

Vlaktes looked at her with a steel gaze.

"One too lived for this… Thats who."

"Well? We're waiting" pressed Lyra nonetheless. "Why did you did it? Huh? WHY!?"

But that didn't set back Lyra.

"Still you saved us. Why?"

Now, surprisingly, it was Vlaktes the one that hadn't anything to say.

"Yeah, why did you took the bother if you didn't care anyway?" interjected the other one. "Why?"

"I'm too tired for this!" he exclaimed.

Vlaktes stood where he was for a moment. A fair question, yes? The two mares stood where they were, looking at him with questioning eyes. It was almost as if they were reinforcing the question with their disapproving looks.

     Impressive. Not that he could at least answered something that he didn't meant, but that it may be, as somepony had told him long ago, the most sincere answer he could give to himself.

Half of Vlaktes just wanted to leave them stranded where they were, wait for the rest of the anubite pack, which surely would wonder what happened to their companions, came here to finish what they started, and the other… Well, the other didn't knew what to do or how to feel. Just to stay here and do something good for once. At least once in a while.

A battle to the death inside him… Who'd win?

"I'm tired…" he continued. "Of everything… I just… Wanna go home."

"Fine!" he growled as he let his shield down, and, not waiting for anyone to say anything else, started to dig. "Wanawake wamelaaniwa…" he cursed. "Maadili wamelaaniwa…"

Day proceeded over their heads until the heat of the sun began to rise to the point where shade became a relief from the scourging rays above. For Vlaktes it wasn't that bad though. He was from there after all. He could even remember the days when he'd run freely through the plains once in a while, and life was easier. Under that light it even felt reassuring to be under that lovingly annoying heat… But his company apparently wasn't of the same opinion.

"So hot…" panted the voice of Bon Bon behind him, shuffling her hooves. "It's… so hot out here… I could use a hay shake about now!"

"I hear you" said Lyra, more calmly. "Who'd say the savannah would be such an unfriendly place for my coat."

     Vlaktes rolled his eyes. It wasn't the complaining, he could take an amazing lot of that, but the mere fact of the acacia branch that was floating over her head and had been doing it since the last half hour.

"Yeah, and don't get me started on this road" continued Bon Bon. "I don't know you but I'm gonna need a hooficure when I'm done with this!"

     Another roll of the eyes. Like if you'd never walked before…

"Indeed, I just had mine done" she noted sadly. "But aside from that, there's something that I've been wondering."

"And what is it?"

"Where are we going?"

     Bon Bon kept silent for a second.

"That is a… Very good question" Vlaktes in that second felt both her eyes in his hindhead. "Hey, dude, Blacks, where are we heading?"

     Ah, if he could just leave them stranded…

"It's Vlaktes" he said, calmly. "And you are heading for the nearest Royal Guard outpost."

"And you are guiding us there?" asked Lyra.

"No" he answered. "I'm heading for my town. It just happens to be in the same general direction."

     Bon Bon snorted.

"Talk about being a gentlecolt…"

     Vlaktes straightly ignored it. It wasn't of his business, and they weren't of his concern. They were just a couple of idle tourist he'd found on his way. Nothing more. Well, at least it would be over when they part ways…

"So, you were a royal guard?" suddenly asked Lyra.

     Vlaktes stopped.

"what?" he asked, surprised.

"Hey, if we're going to be around, the least we could do is get to know each other" she catch up with him. "So, were you a Royal Guard before this?"

     Vlaktes stared back at her. For some reason, he felt tempted to tell…

"Yes" was the only thing he said before keep moving.

"And what happened?"

"What do you care?"

"Oh come on!" she walked beside him. "It couldn't be that bad…"

     Vlaktes could have told her what he thought, but he could figure that the sword gaze that he was striking could speak for him better than words.

"Oh…" Lyra backed away a little bit.

"Too-tough-guy-stuff to let us know, huh?" interjected Bon Bon. "But anyway, that's not what I've been wondering about you. The way you speak is not like any zebra we know. Why don't you speak in rhymes?"

     No Vlaktes snorted.

"Why don't you sing all the time?"

"Touché" smiled Lyra sideways. "...But that doesn't explain why do you speak like us ponies do though."

     Oh bother, what the heck…

"Because I was raised in Zebrican Equestria, and thus I have as much education as you ponies… Supposedly."

"Zebrican Equestria?"

"Haven't you wondered why it seems you're not welcomed here?"

     Bon Bon took a second of reflection.

"Yes."

"That's why. You may not believe it, but ponies are not very well received in these parts of the world."

"Figures you have something to do with it" said Lyra. "Why did you become a Royal Guard?" Vlaktes felt the necessity to punch her, but it just should have to do with the return of his sword-threatening gaze. "Hey, I'm not asking about why you left, just why you entered, it's a totally different question!" she excused.

     But that didn't made him any easier.

"My reasons are mine. Both for entering and for leaving, and are not of your interest. The only thing you need to know is that the Zebrican Equestrian Royal Guard is one of the reasons why we folk don't like your kind very much."

"Hum… Talk about bad blood between us" sighed Bon Bon. "…Our kinds, I mean."

"But still I don't get it" continued Lyra. "We know a zebra, back in our home, and she is… so… friendly. Weird, but friendly."

"And you know her from…"

"Okay, she never said where is she from, but everypony's figured out, obviously."

     This time Vlaktes smiled sideways.

"You'd be surprised…"

"Anyway, I thought zebras were less… Diverse as they truly are."

"And you know a lot of different peoples?"

"I've been around" she cynically shrugged. "Yet I'm still curious, how come she speaks in rhymes and you don't?"

"Rhymes are because they are translated from Tambarare, our original tongue. Only elders and Nuzzlers speak it."

"Ahm… She doesn't seem to be older than us" she turned to Bon Bon. "How old do you think she is?"

"Zecora? I dunno…" she shrugged as well. "Maybe like the mayor. She gives that outlook of wise and old, you know what I'm saying?"

     But Vlaktes had just lost himself in his thoughts. Zecora… Now it wasn't just a coincidence. Oh dear, that pushy mare had a way to stick her muzzle into everything around him. Even if he had pushed her and the others away not so long ago. Damn you, crazy zebra!

"Laanifu abamare…" he groaned.

"What?" questioned Bon Bon.

"Nothing" he hissed. "Just an old… Friend" Witch, hag, the list was long.

"But I heard you speak that language again!" intervened Lyra. "How do you know it if you're from Zebrican Equestria?"

     Okay, now they were messing with his patience.

"Because I'm a Zebra" he tried to no growl. "And wether I like it or not, its how I grew" and wether he liked it or not, now his gaze was that of a spear, pointed at the heart of Lyra's soul.

"Okay, okay I get it, its your business, don't blow your steam so hard!" she backed away. "Sheesh…"

"Thank you" he snorted. "And how come you ended here anyway?"

"Excuse me?" asked Bon Bon surprised. "Are you questioning us now? After how you'd answered all of our questions?"

     Vlaktes was a bout to speak, but Lyra took over.

"We came here on vacation!"

"Lyra!" whined Bon Bon.

"What? It's the first question he's ever asked. Besides, we're not going anywhere soon, so…" she turned to him. Vlaktes just nodded, there wasn't any point in giving the negative. "Well, the story of how we got here is quite interesting. You see…"

     And Lyra proceeded to tell him a long, particularly disperse story about how they'd gotten a small fortune from an unwilling adventure with goblins, ogres, and a screaming minotaur named Iron Will who plunged them into everything, apparently… And something about a pink mare and a mule playing chess or something like that.

"…And that is how we got our money" she concluded. "We couldn't spend it in anything, since it was cursed and all, but we figured that we could trade it for something, and we got a timeshare!"

"Yes… A time share that has gotten us nothing but trouble" put in Bon Bon. "And we didn't even get to see a Tunderrhino!"

"Excuse me?" Vlaktes immediately rose his eyebrows, amused. You gotta be kidding me! "Did you just say that you were looking for a Tunderrhino?" he tried in vain to contain his mocking smile.

"Um… Yes?" she said, unsure. "Is there something wrong?"

"N… No-" but the laughter within him couldn't be restrained. "Oh holy…!" he kept laughing. "And how much did you say you paid him?"

"Hmm…" Lyra stood thoughtful for a second. "I don't know exactly, but it was quite mu-"

"Don't you say another word, Lyra!" interrupted Bon Bon, then turned to a still laughing Vlaktes. "And You… What is so damn funny about our misadventure if you may?"

     And despite his intentions Vlaktes still had to calm himself down to answer.

"Oh dear, I'm sorry" he wiped a tear from his face. "Its just that… I'd hate to brake it to you, ladies, but you've been miserably conned!" he laughed again.

"Conned? What do you mean?" asked Lyra.

"I'm meaning that there are no Tunderrhinos" he said, more collected. "There's never been. Those creatures haven't been seen in ages, even by our elders! They disappeared when the first ponies arrived to Zebrica, a hundred years ago, and haven't been seen since. That guy you paid for this should be the most dumb of all the hustlers there are in Rising Sun port, and you bought it completely! That's what makes it so funny!"

"Joke's not funny when you actually explain it" muttered Bon Bon under the zebra's laughter. "…Jerk."

"No Bon Bon, that actually explains a lot" said Lyra. "Even if we didn't pay him. We just trade our cursed money for his vacational package, that's all."

"And how is that different from spending it?" asked Vlaktes, still with that mocking look in his face.

     Lyra tried to refute this, but just opening her mouth she shut it again.

"Oh…" was the only thing that came out her breath. Beside her, Bon Bon was making a bemused face that overstated that even her didn't know what to do. The only thing that could be heard was the hysterical laughter of Vlaktes, that was making a comparable fuss in the plains to that of her screams, hours earlier.

Half an hour later the road still continued through the yellow grasslands, opening path in the infinity of the landscape as winds had started to fly low in order to fight the heat of the day. Vlaktes's pace was more light, even with the luggage he was carrying, and his face wasn't annoyed anymore. In fact, now what would be the hint of a smile could be adverted in the corner of his lips. Suddenly, he did not know how, the trip had turned merrier than expected.

"I can't believe it!" pouted Lyra. "All this effort and we couldn't still get rid of our curse!"

"No wonder why we were assaulted by those jackal creatures in the middle of nowhere" said Bon Bon. "I don't even know why aren't we dead yet!"

"Ahem…" now it was Vlaktes who cynically cleared his throat.

     Bon Bon glared at him with the same stare as before.

"…But now that I think about it I'd rather be dead now."

"Ah you're just grumpy because we're stranded with a douchebag" grinned Lyra. "…With all due respect."

"It's okay" Vlaktes shrugged. "The feeling is mutual."

"Well, at least we came to an understatement" sighed Bon Bon. "Where did you say were the crossroads again?"

"Ahead" he answered, nodding. "You'll be there before you know it."

"We better…" she hissed.

"Anyway, putting rivalries aside…" interjected Lyra. "You said you were heading for your town?"

"…My old town" his smile grew even wither. "Its a few miles away yet, at the end of the plain, but I'm sure I can make it there for midday."

"Looks like you still have a tough day ahead. Wandering alone out there…" Bon Bon gazed into the horizon. "Not that you can't take care of yourself, though."

     Vlaktes shrugged.

"Perhaps, but its my home, and as long as I can get there it'll all be worth the trouble."

"Sounds like it's a nice place to go" Lyra rose an eyebrow.

"It is" he declared. "My family, and all of the other families I grew with had been there for five generations. It's where my father was born, and my mother's orchard stands. My sister's there too, and by now she should have been married…"

"Well congratulations, great uncle!"

"Thank you" he fondly stared into nowhere. "I'm eager to know who she was paired with. I just hope that's a good stallion, and would be more than happy to know my siblings…"

"But?"

"But what?" but Lyra's expression only emphasized how Vlaktes's face had changed from joy to worry. "I don't know… I've been gone for too long. I'm not the same colt that left it a while ago, and perhaps the Royal Guard had communicated them that I'm dead or missing. I've already been in a fuss for all my life, striving and fighting… I just wouldn't like to make another out of my return."

"But its your home after all" she shrugged. "And no matter how much we leave, we're always bound to return there. Heck if I know what'd happen if we leave Ponyville for good, but in the end I know that there would be people who'd miss us, and that no matter how long, we'll always be welcomed" she beamed at him. "That's why it's our special place, the only one where we belong."

"But wait a minute…" muttered Bon Bon. "You said you signed up for the war with the Diamond Dogs, but that was over thirty years ago. Damn, we weren't even born! …How old are you again?"

     And suddenly all the memories to that point flashed within his conscience. Even that about why he didn't like ponies anymore.

     Vlaktes's expression changed again.

"Old Enough" he declared, before moving ahead. "…And I didn't volunteered, I was conscripted."

     No more words were spoken. At least, not that would initiate another conversation. Vlaktes had reassumed his past disposition towards it, and even though his face'd still have a shadow of joy in it, he wouldn't accept that it was because of their cause. Not anymore, he thought. You've had too much of this. Its time to give it a rest.

     The trip continued without much of a chat. Not long after that the crossroads appeared in the distance, cutting their way through like arrows pointed in every general direction of the compass. Vlaktes pressed a little bit again his pace, and at his back he could hear how the two mares exchanged a word of relief and happiness. At last, the place where they'd part ways, and the point where Vlaktes could be back at where he started: alone and serene.

"Okay, here we are" he sighed in relief too as they reached the place, then turned to the others. "You must take the one at our left. It'll take you to the nearest Royal Guard outpost. You should be there at sunset."

"Thank you!" Lyra smiled, then turned to her friend.

     Bon Bon was staring sourly at him, but a few nudges from her friend put her in a decent enough mood.

"Yeah, thank you" she whispered grudgingly.

"Don't mention it" he said, as serious as before. "Just get there before sundown. Trust me, you won't like this place at night." …And seeing how you handle problems, neither you'll last.

"We'll bear that in mind, thanks" Lyra set her way with Bon Bon. "And good luck with your town!"

"Good luck with not being eaten" he waved goodbye.

     And with that little gesture Bon Bon and Lyra went on their way, and Vlaktes was left again on his own. The way ahead was open to him, and at his back the sound of hooves as they moved through the ground was slowly fading, marking the pace at which the subjects of his nuisance were walking away. It's for eh best, he thought. They'd be better off without knowing me anyway.

     …But what were the odds? Perhaps they'd run into something war worse this time. What if he couldn't be there in time? Would it be his fault for leaving them on their own?

     No. They had made their choice. Nopony had told them to come here in the first place, and nopony had directed them straight to the claws of a fibber who'd obviously would only want their money… And yet, nopony was there to guide them in the first place. They couldn't be blamed for not knowing how to behave or what to do now that they weren't in Equestria anymore… Just as him when he left Zebrica.

     Vlaktes wouldn't dare to accept it, but he had stopped his pace, and was looking at his back with a little bit of worry. The mares were already out of sight, lost in the pastures that engulfed the roadsides, and perhaps on their way. For a moment… Just a moment he considered going with them and make sure they'd reach their destination safely. But it was just a moment.

"No…" he whispered as he reassumed his path. "They should have never come here."