A Long Way From Home

I awoke to sunlight streaming into my tent. Based on how dim it was I reasoned it couldn't be past 7 o'clock. I sat up and looked around, hoping this simple exercise would help wake me up. The air inside the tent was crisp, and I knew it would be much colder outside. But knowing my trip to the outdoors would be inevitable, I decided to build my confidence, unzip my tent, and take a step out.

I was greeted by a forest, tall pine trees blocked out some of the sunlight, creating a cascade of dim light and dark patches along the frost covered ground. The sky was just beginning to light up, stars were still visible, twinkling without a care in the world. It was then that I realized how quiet everything was. Not a single breeze to be heard, not one bird was singing. I also realized how incredibly cold it was, not giving a second thought I began picking up wood to build a fire.

It didn't take long before I had one roaring close to my tent. The wood cracked and the smoke stung in my eyes. Though its warmth was inviting, so I leaned in closer. The smell of charcoal flooded my nose. The cold was soon a near memory

Now fully awake I looked around for some daisies to eat. I began picking all that I could find, and soon had a variety of different flowers. I walked over to my tent and reached in to grab my saddle bag, from which retrieved my lute. Ah my lute, I would never go anywhere without it ( sure it may be a bit 'old fashioned' but I think they sound better than a guitar ). I returned to the fire, letting its heat warm me while I ate and played.

About ten minutes passed when I heard the rustling of leaves behind me. I turned around to see the yellow mare I had encountered only a few days ago. She had a short, bright pink main as well as two scars that both slanted down the bridge of her nose. She limped a little closer to me, giving a small yet warming smile.

I was finally the first to speak up. "Good morning Fluttershy" I said "Would you care for some breakfast?"

_

But perhaps this is a story to start from the very beginning. Everything started about six years ago, in a once beautiful land called Equestria. 'Hmm Equestria, even the name brings back so many memories.' Life was better than ever, we were under the rule of a benevolent and noble leader. And a new princess would begin her co-reign over the land as well ( I of course am talking about Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestia's wise and talented protégé ).

Peace and harmony spread through Equestria, as it had for many many moons. But all of that changed  one night, when Celestia disappeared. At first no pony thought anything of it, these things were normally false alarms. But the days turned into weeks, and there was still no sign of Celestia. Twilight and Princess Cadence sent out search parties, to which came no findings. Celestia had simply vanished, not leaving a clue as to where she went. Her sister, Princess Luna, took command hoping to restore peace. But then something strange happened.

It started with the weather, the pegasi started reporting that the clouds seemed to have a mind of their own. Letters to the weather factory saying how clouds would drift off or start raining without direction. Then came the unicorns, who came to find their magic was becoming weaker. The earth ponies couldn't grow crops as easily. And it would only get worse. As time went on, unicorns lost their magic completely.  And the pegasi were rapidly losing their ability to fly. Even the royal princesses were losing their supreme power.

Magic was ceasing to exist, even the days started controlled themselves. Equeatria turned cold, snow and ice slowly covered the land. In an act of desperation, Princess Luna called a meeting with the other two princesses. The next day, every Equestrian citizen was found crowded around the nearest sign post. For on them rested the fateful news.

Dearest Citizens of Equestria,

We are in a state of turmoil, after having a discussion with the fellow princesses about the state

of this land, we have come to a conclusion. It is with a heavy heart that we call a nationwide

evacuation. Equestria has been deemed no longer habitable. I have instructed all the trains to head

south, to the warmer regions of the land. Board them and take only your most valuable items with

you. The other two princesses and royal guards will provide you further instruction.

                                                                                                                               Sincerely, Princess Luna

Four years later the ponies moved farther south and colonized the new land. Forming into four different tribes, the Black Wings, the Snow Coats, the Water Sprites, and the Green Maned. Eventually each tribe became self sufficient, breaking apart from the former Equestrian society they once were. And soon after the princesses lost their influence. 'It makes sense, why should a working tribe listen to no longer powerful alicorns?' They came to be forgotten, and that's the last I have heard of them.

That's the last I have heard about anything really. I started traveling on my own soon after I got off the train. I have always wanted to explore the world, and this was my chance. And for the past four years, I have been on my own.

I missed Equestria at times. But the more I thought about it, I didn't have much to miss. There was little to my possessions other than a small home just outside of Ponyville. I had a stable job as a mail colt, delivering packages. And my family lived in Filly Delphia, so I never saw them often.

There were encounters upon my travels, running into the occasional pony here and there. The random traveling merchant or two ( who I often traded with ), or a weary wanderer. But I was always on my own, and I was fine with that. Until one fateful day, that would change my life forever.

_

It was late in the afternoon. A slight breeze swept past me as I walked through a forest. Taking my time to admire the beautiful scenery. And to look for good spots to pitch my tent for the night. Eventually I spotted a nice little clearing in the pine trees.

Taking a closer look I decided it would be a good place to pitch my tent. I scavenged the forest floor, picking up random sticks and pine needles and putting them into a pile. After starting the fire I leaned back to bask in its warmth. instinctively picking up my lute and playing. The night sky unfolded above me, the stars lighting up sections of the dark sky. 'What a nice night,' I thought to myself. 'I wonder wh–'

I was interrupted by a scream. Barely vocal, yet it echoed throughout the forest. Staining my ears I was able to focus on where the sound was coming from. Without thinking I put my lute down. And started heading in that direction, Stumbling through the darkness. The night air was cold and the wind had picked up, burning my face as I walked. 'What am I doing?' I thought. 'I can hardly see without any light. I don't even know what, or who I'm looking for.'

A minute passed, then two. I listened carefully, trying to make out a sound in the darkness around me. But the only thing to be heard was the rustling of pine needles in the breeze. 'Oh well' I shrugged it off,  'I'll just search tomorrow.' I turned around, doing the best I could to find the way back to my tent.

Suddenly the faintest thing caught my eye. Peering through the darkness I spotted a yellow figure. Cautiously inching closer, I could make out a pony shape. Its body was limp and it didn't make a sound. The only sign that it was alive was a shallow breathing noise.

For a moment I just stood there, not knowing what to do. I have never encountered anything like this before. Though I knew I couldn't just leave it. So I awkwardly slid my self under the pony and lifted it up on my back. Once again starting back to my camp site. The cold air mixed with the breath of the pony on my back. Warm air shot down my left shoulder with every breath it took. I could feel my pelt becoming wet with blood.

Soon I saw the glow from the embers of the fire I started. I laid the pony down next to it. Adding more wood and blowing on the embers to get the fire going again. It blazed back to life as my attention now shifted to the pony beside me. In the light I could see it, or rather, her more clearly.

Her yellow coat matted with blood. And twigs clung to her short pink main. I scavenged my saddle bag, pulling out water, a clean rag, and some gauze. I have never treated anything past some scrapes and cuts I got while traveling. And this mare looked as though she had went through a battle ground. Nevertheless, I summoned the best of my knowledge on how to cure wounds and went to work.

I pored the water around the major cuts and tightly bandaged them, listening to the crackling of the fire while I worked. After I washed the blood off her coat, I saw her wings. 'A Pegasus' I thought to myself. How I longed to be able to fly again. To soar in the sky, and be free. 'I wonder if she feels the same.' I continued working.

Eventually I cleaned enough blood to see her cutie mark, three pink butterflies. 'She probably had a job having to do with nature back in the days of Equestria. Is that why she was out here at night?' So many questions left to be answered.

Shortly after I had finished. I added more logs to the fire and listened to her breathing. She seemed to be doing well. I found no broken bones upon cleaning her wounds, so that was a good thing. I also found that most of her wounds had a slashing pattern, most likely from an animal. Though I never encountered an animal that could do that to a pony.

Suddenly her breath grew shorter. She moved a little and her eyes flew open. The mare, half dazed, saw me and went into a panic. Wincing and thrashing her hooves around, her eyes wide with fear.

"Shhhhh, it's okay" I said trying to sound soothing. She stopped fighting and slowly closed her eyes again. Her breathing slowed down, and she drifted back off to sleep.

I was exhausted. My legs hurt from walking all day, and my eyelids were heavy upon my face. I figured it was a good time to get some rest. I added some more wood to the fire, deciding to sleep outside so to not leave the wounded pegasus by herself. I looked at her only a moment more. Before I too, curled up by the fire and drifted off to sleep.

...

"Get up."

"Huh?" I asked groggily raising my head. "Who's there?"

"I haven't much time to talk, listen."

As my vision slowly came to place, I looked at the pegasus who was still asleep. The night sky unfolded overhead, and the fire flicked light at all around it. Before me lay a black fog, thickly blanketing the ground surrounding my camp. I stood there, still to dazed by sleep to process what was happening. A voice whispered amongst the fog, kicking it up in a swirling mist when ever it talked.

"I came a long way to reach you. Here is my message," it said in a calming manner. "There is still hope. Find the others, and return."

Confusion whirled in my mind. "What? Who are you? Return where?" I asked.

"To Equestria," it replied in a haste. A strong breeze suddenly broke through the trees. I dug my hooves deep into the ground, determined to not let the wind knock me over. All at once the wind stopped. I slowly looked up and to my surprise, all of the fog had vanished. Now standing alone, the only thing to be heard was the fire crackling in the peaceful darkness.

I jerked and immediately threw my eyes open. I looked around me, it was morning. The sun was just touching the tops of pine trees, and a layer of frost still the ground. I could hear a bird singing from a nearby tree. 'A dream, it had all been a dream.' Suddenly I remembered  the pegasus and threw my head around to look for her. To my relief she was still sleeping, her breath fogging in the air every time she exhaled.

I got a new fire started and pleasantly sat down next to it. Enjoying the warmth, I laid down against a log, picking up a rock and tossing it back and forth. I allowed my mind to wander, and started thinking about all that had recently happened. I eventually found myself toying with the idea of what I would do once the pegasus woke up.

I was surprised to find out that I hadn't given much thought to it. 'Who could blame me?' I defended myself 'I had enough on my mind last night.' Eventually I decided to just let that be a bridge I would cross when I got to it. I looked up at the bright blue sky, lost in thought.

Half an hour had passed when my thoughts were interrupted by the sound of dirt shifting beside me.  I turned my head slightly to see the Pegasus was waking. Her breath became shallow and her eyes slowly blinked open. She rose to her hooves and looked around, confusion shown on her face. I sat up.

"Good morning," I said.  She jumped at the sound of my voice and looked at me. The fur on her face was hysterically flattened on one side. I stopped myself from laughing and continued "How do you feel?"

"I . . . Uh" she whispered, fumbling for proper words. She took a moment compose herself and look about her surroundings. Her eyes finally landed on her bandages. “Where am I?” She murmured.

“A forest, the same one you were in last night.” I walked towards her. “I was camping out when I heard a scream. I searched and found you passed out. So I brought you back here.”

"Goodness!" She tried to take a step forward and let out a yelp of pain, collapsing to the ground with a thud.

"It'd be best that you stay off your hooves for awhile. You were badly hurt," I said helping her back up. "You are welcome to stay here as long as you would like."

"Oh," she looked at the ground, shuffling the dirt with her hooves. "Thank you for all your help. But I really should get going," her voice was soft and kind.

She tried to take another step but was stopped by my hoof. "Look, you're injured. It wouldn't be wise traveling right now."

"You don't understand, I have a very important deliv–" Her face froze. "Oh no."

"What?"

"Um, when you found me last night. I don't suppose I was carrying a saddle bag by any chance?" The tip of he mouth quivered with concern.

I put my hoof to my chin, thinking back to last night. "I don't remember seeing a saddle bag. Why?"

The mare slumped to a seated position with a sigh. "Well, I was intrusted with delivering a super important package. And it's imperative that I get it to it's destination on time." She once again tried to take a step forward, "I have to find it."

Excitement welled up inside me. Something I hadn't felt since I had first started exploring the new land. "I'll get us something to eat," I said after adding more wood to the fire. "My name is Silver Thread, by the way."

"It is nice to meet you Silver." She spoke whilst settling by the fire. "My name is Flut- Ugh." A bark of pain escaped her as she positioned herself.

"Sorry, I didn't quite get that."

"I was trying to say, my name is Fluttershy." A warm smile shown past her otherwise rugged, and disheveled body.

_