Seabreeze crept through the cottage and stilled his wings so that he made as little noise as possible. He knew the target had to be nearby—it had only been a few minutes since he had last seen her. Stealthily as a shadow, Seabreeze slipped silently through the hall and peered through the doors that had been left ajar. He peeked into the rooms as far as he could, being careful to not move the doors and risk making a sound. I’m going to find you, Seabreeze thought with a smirk as he turned the corner.
At the end of the hall were two open doors. He continued to sneak down the hall until he came to the doorways, then he stuck out his leg. He glanced into one of the rooms and watched his shadow move across the wall. When he didn’t hear anything, he smiled and turned his gaze to the other room that faced the setting sun.
And then, he saw it.
Seabreeze crept through the doorway and made his way to a nearby bed, each foot dancing around the parts of the wooden floor that creaked which he had memorized. As he made his way around the large bed, he continued to focus on a small pair of antennae poking out from a nearby nightstand he had noticed from the doorway. Gotcha, he thought as he slowly began to prowl towards the target. As the breezie neared the door, the antennae quickly disappeared into the recesses of the nightstand. Seabreeze chuckled to himself before grabbing the door and pulling it wide open.
“I picked you, little Dayflower!”
The smaller breezie shrieked and tried to escape, but Seabreeze caught her immediately. The two struggled for a moment, with the little one trying in vain to flee as the bigger one tried not to laugh.
“Daddy, no!” Dayflower screamed as Seabreeze began to tickle her. “No fair, you cheated!”
Seabreeze stopped laughing and instead pointed to a nearby window. “Did you already forget what I taught you, little one?”
As the color drained from Dayflower’s cheeks, she looked out the window and shielded her eyes. “Oh yeah,” she muttered.
“Well?” Seabreeze asked, waiting for her reply.
Dayflower sighed and rolled her eyes. “If you hide or if you run, never go towards the sun. If you do, the monsters cursed will always catch your shadow first.”
Seabreeze smiled at his daughter. As the sun set, he caught a glint of light out of the corner of his eye. When he turned, Seabreeze saw that the light of late afternoon had caught upon a photograph.
“Daddy?” Dayflower asked.
Seabreeze shook his head and peered down at his daughter. “Yes, little Dayflower?”
“Are you going to see Mom on Nocturne?” the young breezie asked, pointing to the photograph.
Seabreeze’s smile faltered. He closed his eyes and held his daughter tight. “Maybe. We have to see what Elder Tumblestone decides.” Seabreeze placed a foot on Dayflower’s chin. “But remember—even though the veil separating Coltrioch and the Otherworld is thinnest on Nocturne Eve, there is no guarantee that any spirits will want to speak with us.”
“Doesn’t Mom want to speak with you?” Dayflower asked.
“Of course she does,” Seabreeze replied as he kissed his daughter’s forehead. “It’s just that even for a breezie like Elder Tumblestone, magic like that is very difficult. But he will try his best.”
A knock at the front door caught both of their attention. The two flew through the house and peered through the window. Daylight squealed with delight when she saw who it was, but Seabreeze shook his head. He opened the door to greet the excited nymph on the other side. Dayflower zoomed past Seabreeze and tackled the young breezie mid-air.
“Happy Nocturne Eve, Knick Knack!” Dayflower shouted as her friend struggled to stay aloft with the added weight.
Seabreeze watched Knick Knack blush as Dayflower held onto him tighter. The nymph shrugged Dayflower off and rubbed the back of his neck before adopting a straight posture.
“Blessings of the Great Ones to you, Elder,” Knick Knack said in almost a whisper.
Seabreeze narrowed his eyes and smiled. “The Great Ones bless you, too, youngling.” He raised an eyebrow. “I assume you are here to take my daughter to the ceili?”
Knick Knack smiled again as he nodded. “Yes sir.”
Dayflower finally let go of Knick Knack and began to fly around their mushroom. “Daddy, can I go now? It’s almost sunset.”
Seabreeze looked to his daughter, who simply stared back with pleading eyes. You look more like Daffodil every day, he thought as he watched his daughter slowly fly backwards away from the house. It is such a shame they only stay nymphs for a year.
“Turn off the gills, first.”
Seabreeze held back a laugh at Dayflower’s efforts not to roll her eyes yet again. As Dayflower made her way to the ring of the mushroom, Seabreeze turned to Knick Knack.
“Back in my day, the ceili was meant as a courting ritual. Are there any intentions I need to know of?”
Seabreeze waited for a response. He tensed when he saw Knick Knack turn to Dayflower. Seabreeze turned to his daughter, whose feet remained frozen on the ring mid-turn. The luciferase dotting the lamellae on the underside of the mushroom wavered in intensity. Suddenly, both of the young breezies broke into uncontrollable laughter.
“For Narym’s Sake, Daddy!” Dayflower shouted, wiping a tear from her cheek. “Nobreezie gets proposed to at the ceili anymore.”
Seabreeze harrumphed and crossed his forelegs. “I fail to see what is so funny.”
“Sir Seabreeze,” Knick Knack said, his lips still quivering. “I promise on my mother’s honor that my intentions towards your daughter are only as a friend.”
“Knick Knack,” Seabreeze said. “I trust you two will remain in Narym’s Grove for the entirety of the dance?”
“Also on my mother’s honor.”
The luciferase dimmed completely just as the setting sun dipped below the horizon. In the distance, Seabreeze watched as the lights of the mushroom homes in the villages dimmed and the lights of Breezantheum city proper began to glow. Seabreeze felt a pair of forelegs wrap around his chest, and he looked down to see Dayflower giving him a hug.
“Bye, Daddy,” she said. “I won’t be out too late.” Dayflower let go and began to fly away. “Good luck talking to Mom.”
Seabreeze’s gaze softened. He placed his chin on top of Dayflower’s head. “May the Great Ones favor you.”
“As they have done to do,” Dayflower replied.
Dayflower began to fly away, but Knick Knack held back for a moment. He smiled and bowed his head towards Seabreeze before turning to join Dayflower, and the two flew together towards the grove. Seabreeze hovered at the entrance to his house and watched the two figures until they reached the bend in the road and disappeared behind the trees. A moment later, Seabreeze heard buzzing behind him. When he turned around, he saw another breezie.
“Well met, novitiate Eventide,” Seabreeze said. “Your robes are well cleaned.”
“Thank you, sir,” Eventide replied. “Elder Tumblestone sent me to retrieve you.”
“Ah yes,” Seabreeze scoffed. “A chance for me to speak with my wife.”
“You… do not trust the abilities of Elder Tumblestone?” Eventide asked.
Seabreeze ignored the way Eventide’s eyebrow raised and how he flew back a few inches. He locked the door and began to fly towards the city with Eventide close behind. Beneath them, their reflections rippled in the lake. Seabreeze glanced at the young breezie’s robes once more.
“I presume you are completing your first year initiate from the condition of your robes,” Seabreeze said, ignoring the question.
“Y-yes sir?”
“You have memorized the ‘Tales of the Year Wheel’ then?”
The pair landed on the ground where the dirt path gave way to cobblestone street. As they crossed the threshold of the city, Seabreeze noticed a pair of breezies sitting at a nearby fountain. He tossed a few coins into a hat and the musicians picked up their dulcimers and started to play as Eventide closed his eyes to remember the story. Already, a group of breezies congregated to hear which story the initiate would tell. Finally, Eventide opened his eyes.
The breezies who hear these words blessed they be
With thinnest of legs and the thickest of mane
The day turns to night and the Year Wheel will spin
The breezies who hear these words blessed they be
Another breezie carrying a small flute approached and contributed her instrument’s voice to the tale.
On Nocturne Eve back when the Pailineigh roamed
And first gathered pollen from farthest of lands
The Harvesting War won by Narym the Grand
Brought peace to the realm of Breezantheum
The victor for sure but by dark fate fulfilled
Catrina his love had been felled by a spear
In sadness he let from his eye fall a tear
And from it Lake Narym then came to be filled
Seabreeze noticed a few of the younger nymphs turned to the lake behind him and pointed to their parents. The music began to speed up as Eventide continued with the tale.
A wisp clad in black then arose from the lake
She gazed on the hero, and pity took hold
“Oh Narym the Grand, legs of twine, mane of gold
Your sacrifice great, so a vow shall I make.”
And that day the Pailineigh stayed by his side
Their pollen providing Breezantheum’s growth
The wisp always watching protecting her oath
In honor of Narym the Grand’s ill-fated bride
The small group of breezies had now grown. Eventide now stood along the fountain’s ledge and spun slowly in circles as he sang. His wings collected droplets of water, and when he fluttered into the air, the flung droplets created a rainbow in the evening light. The spinning finally stopped and Eventide fluttered back onto the cobblestone street. The music died down to a single dulcimer, and his singing slowed down once more.
The breezies who hear these words blessed they be
With thinnest of legs and the thickest of mane
The day turns to night and the Year Wheel will spin
The breezies who hear these words blessed they be
The crowd applauded and threw coins onto the street. Seabreeze watched as Eventide smiled, picked up the money, and then placed it all into the musician’s hat. Seabreeze waited for the crowd to disband before he took to flight once more and started towards the castle in the center of town. Eventide caught up a moment later.
“Sir, I hope the story helped you remember the power of this time of year.”
Seabreeze could tell that the initiate was waiting for a response. When he did not give one, Eventide continued alongside of him, though with his head hung lower.
“During Nocturne, the veil between the world of Coltrioch and the Otherworld are at their thinnest.”
“When was the last time the Elder successfully brought a wisp from the Otherworld?” Seabreeze asked louder than he had hoped. He heard a few voices gasp nearby, but chose to ignore them in favor of continuing towards the castle at a quicker pace than before. He heard Eventide catch up to him again.
“It is true that the pollen levels have slowly declined over the years, yes, but—”
“I know the levels of pollen have decreased,” Seabreeze interrupted. “We had to go on an additional expedition this year to the land of the big ones.”
“But that does not mean that the connection between the old world and now is severed completely.” Eventide took control of the conversation once again. “Elder Tumblestone is working hard to keep the pollen levels at bay, and is even working on reopening the portal to Equestria to gather more pollen.”
“What did you say?”
Seabreeze spun around so quickly that he ended up nose to nose with the now terrified Eventide. He felt his chest tighten and his teeth grit together. As his eyelid twitched, he happened to glance around at the crowd of breezies that had stopped what they were doing. A few of the breezies nearby looked at him with disappointment and shook their heads. Seabreeze closed his eyes, flew back, and counted to himself. Remember Fluttershy, he thought as he willed himself to calm down. When he opened his eyes, he saw the looks on the breezies hadn’t changed. They still see me as the tyrant because of the last pollination expedition.
“Initiate Eventide,” Seabreeze said with as much calm as he could muster. “I am sorry that I lashed out. I know this is an issue for me.” He reached out to grab Eventide’s foot. “Please, just take me to Elder Tumblestone. I wish to see my wife.”
Eventide blinked. “You mean, you believe?”
Seabreeze smiled. “I want to believe,” he answered as he led Eventide to the castle.
As the two made their way above the thatched roofs dotted with pumpkin husks and strings of lights stretched across the streets, Seabreeze couldn’t help but feel a chill up his spine as he neared the castle. Why has the elder not spoken with me about leading another expedition to Equestria, he wondered as he passed beneath the rusty portcullis leading to the throne room. It has been only a year since the last expedition, he thought as he noticed cracks along the castle wall. A nearby guard coughed and signaled to Seabreeze and he lowered onto the floor and saluted back.
“I cannot go where you are going,” Eventide said as they reached the door to the throne room. “May the Great Ones favor you.”
“As they have done to you,” Seabreeze replied.
Neither breezie moved. The guards held their positions, but as the moments dragged on, their glances slowly edged over towards the scene frozen in time before them. Eventide finally bowed to Seabreeze and turned away to make his way back down the hall. When Seabreeze nodded to the guards, they averted their gazes. Seabreeze prepared to ask the nearest guard what was going on, but jerked back when he heard the throne room doors open.
Seabreeze took a few hesitant steps into the throne room and he leaped into the air just as a flame flashed before his face. The flame twisted and flew through the air like a serpent, touching the unlit lamps that hung atop the pillars. As each lantern caught fire, the shadows retreated further into the corners of the room until everything was bathed in a queer blue light.
“Ah, Seabreeze…” a deep voice drawled from the other end of the room. “You have arrived.”
A bell tolled.
“Oh Great Ones, whose ever-present life force gives us power over pollen, give us your presence.”
Seabreeze watched as Elder Tumblestone shuffled down the steps and onto the court floor. The flame continued to soar through the room until it came still just above the elder’s mane, which stood as tall as the rest of his body.
“You are prepared to—oof!”
Seabreeze bolted forward when he saw Tumblestone trip over his beard that trailed on the floor. Seabreeze reached out his foreleg to Tumblestone to offer support, and his gaze softened when he felt the elder’s foot gently come to rest on him.
“Elder Tumblestone,” Seabreeze said. “I know you have been blessed, but perhaps you should consider trimming your eyebrows. They completely cover your eyes.”
Tumblestone scoffed. “Such a suggestion!” The elder breezie stood tall in the middle of the room. “Why, it is rumored that Narym himself once sported such a magnificent mane.”
“Elder Tumblestone,” Seabreeze said as he tried to keep his temper under control. “There is something I must ask you. It’s about—”
“Ah yes, the ceremony… the ceremony,” Tumblestone waved his forelegs in front of Seabreeze. “Nothing to worry about. I can feel it in the air this year.” Tumblestone shuffled towards a large vat of oil, where the circle of fire continued to swirl. “Of every breezie I have ever spoken to while alive, your wife’s spirit had one of the strongest wills. If anybreezie can be brought forth from the Otherworld, it would certainly be her.”
“No, I need to ask you about—”
“How we do it?” Tumblestone laughed, interrupting Seabreeze for the second time. “Surely, you have not forgotten the way to open the gate to the Otherworld. You remember that they speak the language of the spirits, and that is where I come in. Yes, yes, that is most certainly where I come in.”
Before Seabreeze could ask about the expedition, Tumblestone turned and faced the pool of oil and waved his foreleg in the air. The circle of fire dove down immediately into the oil and the circle of fire became a towering wall. Tumblestone reached into a satchel and pulled out a glowing yellow substance.
“Oh, pollen,” Tumblestone mumbled. “You have kept us safe for so long. Why is there so little of you left?”
Seabreeze’s antennae wiggled. So little, he wondered. Seabreeze began to speak, but Tumblestone held up a leg to shush him. Seabreeze watched as Tumblestone threw the pollen into the flames.
From world to world the pollen comes
From world to world the pollen goes
To find the one the seeker knows
Daffodil…
Return to us and seek the flames
Seabreeze quivered with anger. How many breezies has the elder made believe this is real? Seabreeze prepared to douse the flames. This is stupid, he thought.
Suddenly, the flames wrapped around Tumblestone. The sparks landed on the elder breezie’s body, but none of his fur nor mane caught fire. Tumblestone opened his eyes and Seabreeze saw the same blue light that came from the flames inside of them. The wall of fire separated behind Tumblestone, revealing a patch of blackness. Seabreeze narrowed his eyes and looked deeper into the darkness. When he did, a familiar form appeared.
“Daffodil?” Seabreeze gasped. He shook his head. “N-no. You—” He fought back the tears. “You aren’t my wife.”
Seabreeze continued to gawk at the figure. Daffodil’s body was the same as he remembered, from her mane to her fur. The eyes, however, were nothing more than empty sockets—simply holes that led to the blackness behind her. The being’s mouth opened, but the sounds that came forth were like nothing Seabreeze had ever experienced. As she spoke, Tumblestone’s mouth moved in sync. When Tumblestone spoke, the voice was clear as day.
“I have missed you, my love,” Tumblestone spoke in Daffodil’s voice.
Seabreeze took a step back. He closed his eyes and wished that this were both real and simply a dream at the same time. No, no, no, this can’t be, he thought.
“My love, do you not wish to see me?” Daffodil asked.
Tears welled up in Seabreeze’s eyes. “No, my dearest. I—I have wished so much to see you again.” Seabreeze flew towards the opening, but when he did, the spirit shrieked and pushed him back.
“You… cannot go where I am.”
“Daffodil, I want to hold you. Just one more time.”
Tumblestone hovered in midair in between the two. He turned his head back towards the spirit as the two spoke in the noises Seabreeze couldn’t understand.
“My love, Dayflower grows well?”
Seabreeze laughed quietly. “Dayflower has molted twice already and nears adulthood.”
“The Year Wheel is always spinning,” Daffodil said.
“My dearest,” Seabreeze asked in between sniffles. “What is it like on the other side?”
The voices murmured to one another. Even though flames had replaced Tumblestone’s true eyes, he could still see the look of shock in the elder breezie’s face.
“I speak to all of the spirits on this side. Those who have died in Breezantheum, those who have died in Kalbasidhe and Heraldon. The battle carnyx cry and the war drums beat, my love.”
“What?” Seabreeze asked.
“There comes an outsider for what is left of the pollen.”
Tumblestone’s body began to tremble as the flames drew closer to his body, the smell of singed fur and mane filled the room.
“My dearest, what are we to do?”
“Find the one who flies with thunder. Find the one who controls the sky.”
Seabreeze cried out as the portal began to close and Daffodil’s form began to float away.
“No!” Seabreeze cried. “Wait! I still have—I have so many questions.”
“We will meet again, my love.”
The wall of fire drew shut. The flames surrounding Tumblestone retreated, forming the circle once again. The room once again took on the strange, blue light. Seabreeze fell to the floor and sobbed in a huddled mass on the court floor. A few moments later, he felt a warm foot on his shoulder. He looked up and saw Tumblestone looking at him.
“Come,” Tumblestone said as he patted his still smouldering mane. “There is work to be done.”
Seabreeze nodded and the two made their way to the throne, where a small cauldron sat to the side. He watched Tumblestone reach into his satchel. The elder pulled out even more pollen and dropped it into the cauldron.
“Elder Tumblestone. Do you recall what was said?”
“I do,” Tumblestone replied. “I am using the cauldron to expand my sight.”
“Sir,” Seabreeze said. “I hear there is an expedition to the land of Equestria to retrieve more pollen.”
Tumblestone’s eyebrows raised to the point where Seabreeze could actually see his eyes. “And how did you obtain this information?”
“Initiate Eventide told me.”
“I see.” Tumblestone turned back to stare into the cauldron.
“Sir, I request to lead the expedition. I know where the pollen is. I even know the big ones who can help us if things go wrong.” Seabreeze thought back to the last expedition. The image of a certain yellow pony remained in his mind.
“No,” Tumblestone replied flatly.
“What? Why?” Seabreeze asked.
“I recall the stories of what the other breezies said about you,” Tumblestone replied.
“But I’ve changed!”
“Have you?” Tumblestone asked. “I saw the way you had to control yourself when you first came in.”
Seabreeze hung his head down and backed away.
“There is still an anger within you, Seabreeze,” Tumblestone continued. “And until you learn to rid yourself of that anger, you will not be in a position to lead anybreezie.”
“I must do something!” Seabreeze shouted. “I can’t just sit back while this outsider prepares to attack.”
“The outsider, eh?” The elder breezie asked. “She must mean Emperor Couldon Du Brough.” He shook his head. “I did not need the spirit of your wife to tell me that war is coming and that he is involved. However, there is something you can do.”
“And what is that?” Seabreeze asked.
Just then, Seabreeze noticed the cauldron start to glow. The cauldron’s light died down, and the image of a pony appeared upon the surface. Seabreeze noticed the gossamer-like clouds surrounding it. Him, Seabreeze thought, it is definitely a him. The stallion was grey, though his color shifted from time to time. The stallion batted away at the clouds, and the image went dark for a moment.
“Find him,” Tumblestone said.
“Find him and do what?” Seabreeze asked. “I can tell that he is one of those big ones I told you about.”
Seabreeze saw Tumblestone mutter some words over the cauldron, and the image of the pony returned, this time while singing. Tumblestone waved his forelegs above the cauldron, and pollen seeds floated out from the water and into his waiting foot. Seabreeze made sure to memorize the features of the pony before the image disappeared again. He watched as the image seemed to be sucked up by the pollen itself.
“Elder Tumblestone,” Seabreeze said. “The land of the big ones is a very large place. I don’t know how many moons it will take me to find this one pony.”
Tumblestone nodded as he placed all but one pollen seed into another bag. He muttered some words again and tossed it into the air. The two watched as the pollen hovered in midair for a moment, before darting out of the room as though carried by an intangible wind.
“Follow it,” Tumblestone commanded. “The gate it opens will be where the big one is nearest. Now go, Seabreeze. Find the one who flies with thunder. Find the one who controls the sky.”
“What about Dayflower?” Seabreeze asked.
“Your daughter will be cared for,” Tumblestone replied. “Besides, it shouldn’t take too long to find the pony.”
“But I—”
“Do you wish to prove yourself or not?”
Seabreeze fumed and grit his teeth, but when he saw the look Tumblestone gave him, he took a deep breath and flew away to follow the speck of pollen out of the castle. Who would that stallion be, Seabreeze wondered as he followed the glowing pollen into the night, surely, one who flies with thunder and controls the sky must be the biggest of the big ones.
Ahead, Seabreeze saw the tiny speck soar through the forests like a firefly. He pushed past the bushes, the leaves, and the brambles as he tried to keep up. A few moments later, Seabreeze found himself atop a large hill overlooking the village, and in the distance, he could hear the sounds of the ceili. He continued to follow the speck of pollen, until he happened to notice Dayflower and Knick Knack dancing together. As he watched the nymph dance with his daughter, Seabreeze’s eye twitched.
“Supa laipas data kurpa!” He shouted as he pulled on his lower eyelids. He turned and saw that the pollen seed had pulled even further away. “Suripat sulat! Argh!”
Seabreeze bolted to catch up to it, only to watch the speck of light come to rest atop a small branch. Seabreeze fluttered to the ground and waited.
“Okay, little seed,” Seabreeze asked. “What are you supposed to do now?”
The seed fell down into the roots. Seabreeze saw the tree lift itself up to reveal a small tunnel. He could just make out the details of a town on the other end.
“Good,” Seabreeze said. “Now that I know where you are, I can go back and get that no-good—”
The pollen seed began to fly through the passage and the tunnel started to close.
“Oh, come on!” Seabreeze shouted as he made his way through. This big one best be the biggest and strongest of the big ones.
Rarity hummed as she levitated bolts of gossamer fabric around the room. In the corner of the room, Opalescence looked on with disinterest as she eyed the room’s other occupant, who was currently covered in sheets.
“Miss Rarity?” a tiny voice squeaked.
“What is it, my dear—oh my.” Rarity tsked as she pulled the sheets of fabric away from her companion. “I suppose I might have gotten a smidge carried away with my excitement.”
Rarity pulled the last sheet of fabric away, revealing a tiny pegasus colt holding a small tuxedo on a hanger clenched in between his teeth. She snickered before pulling the tuxedo away.
“Forgive me, Rumble. It’s just that when Thunderlane told me you were going to be singing a show-stopping, solo musical number for the school talent show, I just knew I had to do something to make you stand out as much as possible.”
Rumble trailed a hoof on the floor and looked down. “I’m just going to sing the national anthem,” he replied in a near whisper.
Rarity gasped. “All the more reason to make you look as fabulous as possible, darling.” Rarity pulled the vest off of the hanger and surrounded it with one of her gossamer fabrics. The vest disappeared in a flash of light and reappeared a moment later covered in glittery fabric. Rarity’s eyes sparkled, but Rumble’s jaw fell open.
“Uh, Miss Rarity?” Rumble pleaded. “I know my brother sent me to you, but you don’t have to—”
“Oh, nonsense,” Rarity replied as she hugged the colt. “Anything for the little brother of my special somepony.”
Rumble glanced around the room for help, and his eyes finally settled on Opalescence, who simply closed her eyes and shook her head. He watched helplessly as the cat stood up and walked out of the room. No, Rumble silently begged, don’t leave me alone with her.
“Oh, Rumble, when I’m done with your outfit, you are going to shine on that stage brighter than Sapphire Shores.”
Rumble glared at the now sparkling vest and feared what else the mare had in mind for the rest of his outfit. He struggled out of Rarity’s embrace and backed away, making sure to grab his tuxedo as he did.
“Yes, Miss Rarity, it looks… nice.”
“Oh, pish posh, dear,” Rarity said as she grabbed the tuxedo back from the colt. “I guarantee that no other colt will have an outfit as fabulous as this one.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Rumble muttered.
“I’m sorry?” Rarity asked as she batted her eyelashes. “What was that? Rumble, if you want to be heard, you must learn how to speak up.”
“Miss Rarity, I—”
Rumble cocked his head to the side when he saw what was behind Rarity. What is that, he wondered as he looked at what he thought was a firefly. No, Rumble thought, not a firefly. The speck of light hovered around the window for a moment before entering the room. He didn’t notice the way Rarity was looking at him, nor did he register her hoof as she waved it in front of his muzzle. The only thing that did manage to snap Rumble out of his concentration was what happened when Rarity followed the colt’s gaze and looked behind her.
“Rumble, what is it—Oh sweet Celestia a bug!”
Rarity leaped into the air and landed in the pile of fabrics she had just gathered. Rumble, however, just stood still as the speck of light went one way and then the other. He heard Rarity’s muffled cries and saw her out of the corner of his eye as she struggled to untangle herself from the fabric. However, he stood transfixed at the odd thing that was flying around, as if looking for something. Rumble reached out a hoof, and the speck of light paused for a moment before hovering over to him.
“Opal!” Rarity shrieked.
A white blur raced into the room. Rumble jerked away just in time to see Opalescence fly into the air, her sharp claws ready to slash whatever the little thing was that had attacked her mistress. Rumble gasped and reached out to grab the glowing ball, but when he did, the light backed away and flew out of the room. Rumble’s hoof, however, contacted with Opalescence and sent her flailing through the air until she landed atop Rarity’s back, where she latched on as tight as possible.
“Opal, no!” Rarity shrieked and she ran around the room, blinded by a bolt of fabric covering her eyes.
Ponnequins tumbled over. A sewing machine crashed onto the floor. Rumble’s eyes widened as he saw the imminent destruction. He snatched his partially glitterfied suit and galloped out of the boutique.
“Thank you, Miss Rarity!” Rumble called out as he ran down the stairs to the front door.
“Rumble!” Rarity shouted. “You get back here this instant and help get Opal off of me!”
Rumble ran out of Carousel Boutique and looked around the front yard. I know you’re around here somewhere, Rumble thought, but what are you? He was about to give up when he saw it—a tiny flash of light hovering above the bridge towards Ponyville proper. He smiled and began to gallop towards town, but before he could close the gap between himself and the light, a pair of pegasi touched down at the entrance of the bridge.
“Hey Rumble!” Flitter said excitedly, her grin stretching from ear to ear.
“Where you off to in such a hurry?” Cloudchaser added.
Rumble leaned onto his haunches and blushed. “Well, I was just—”
Flitter gasped. “Oh my gosh, is that your suit for the talent show?”
Before he could say anything, the outfit was yanked off of his back and held in the air by Flitter’s wing.
“Oh, this is so cute!” Cloudchaser said. “Flitter, look at the vest! It’s so sparkly.”
“Miss Flitter,” Rumble asked in an almost whisper. “Can I please have my suit back?”
“It’s adorable,” Cloudchaser said, ignoring the colt. “A shame Rarity can’t convince Thunder to wear something like this around town.”
The pair snickered to one another, not realizing that Rumble’s entire face was now red with embarrassment. Rumble glanced around to see if any of his schoolmates were around. The colt tried to reach up and grab the suit, but it was just out of his reach. Seeing this, Cloudchaser turned to Flitter and held a hoof to her friend’s wing.
“Don’t be mean now,” she said. “Give it back to him.”
Flitter rolled her eyes, but gave the suit back to Rumble, who quickly flipped it over his back so that the vest was hidden. He made his way over the bridge and placed his fore hooves on the stone railing, the two mares following close behind.
“Are you nervous about the talent show, Rumble?” Flitter asked.
Rumble stopped staring out at the water and turned back. “What?” he asked. “Oh. Yeah.”
Cloudchaser nodded in understanding. “I know how that feels,” she said before nudging the other mare. “Hey, Flitter, remember when we were in school?”
“What Thunder did that one year at the talent show?” Flitter deadpanned.
Rumble looked up at the two. Thunderlane always said these two could make any conversation about them.
“Oh my gosh,” Flitter continued. “I remember when he was almost thrown off of the stage by Miss Porcelain.”
Rumble cocked his head, his curiosity piqued. “Why?” he asked.
“He told the teacher he wanted to sing for the talent show,” Cloudchaser said. “He got on stage, chugged a soda in ten seconds, and started belching the alphabet.”
The two mares stopped, shook their heads, and snickered. “Stallions,” they said in unison before turning to Rumble.
“Come to think of it,” Flitter said. “Aren’t you going to sing?”
“Uh.” Suddenly, the ground was very interesting to the colt. “Yes.”
“You wouldn’t do anything like that, would you?” Cloudchaser asked as her gaze narrowed.
“I—”
Flitter laughed. “Of course he wouldn’t do anything like that.” The mare reached out and pinched Rumble’s cheek. “Does this look like the face of a colt, or a dolt?”
The two mares giggled to one another. Rumble noticed a shadow fall across him. He looked into the sky and took a step back, his eyes widening.
“Um, Miss Flitter?” Rumble asked, trying to get the mare’s attention.
“Rumble’s too sweet. I bet his song is going to be beautiful,” Cloudchaser said.
“Miss Cloudchaser?” Rumble asked, a bit louder this time.
“Rumble’s going to grow up to be such a nice stallion,” Flitter chuckled.
“So, he’s gonna take after his big brother?”
The two mares yelped and took to the air. The moment they saw Thunderlane, they sighed in exasperation.
“Thunder, don’t do that,” Flitter said as she fluttered back to the ground.
Thunderlane flashed the pair of pegasi the cheesiest grin he could muster. “What? It’s not my fault I’m so frighteningly good looking.”
Flitter snickered and returned the grin with one of her own, but Cloudchaser simply pinched the bridge of her muzzle.
“You are so lucky Rarity deals with you.”
“Jealous?”
“Before you interrupted us, Laney—”
“Aw, that’s a low blow, Chaser,” Thunderlane interrupted.
Cloudchaser continued with a smirk. “We were just telling Rumble…”
Rumble tuned out the voices of the three older ponies as he trotted to the other side of the bridge. He leaped up the railing and peered over the edge, only to see his own reflection shimmering in the water. He leaned forward in an attempt to peer beneath the bridge, his hooves wobbling every degree further he leaned. I know it’s still around here somewhere.
And there it was.
Rumble saw the speck of light near his reflection in the water. There’s something inside of it, Rumble thought as he slowly reached out a hoof to touch it. He looked up and watched as it danced back and forth in front of him. So close. Rumble’s eyes remained glued on the strange thing in front of him, unable to tear himself away from it’s pale yellow glow.
A piece of the bridge broke off, and Rumble shrieked as he felt himself fall. He tried to flap his wings, but the tuxedo weighed him down. He managed to bob on the surface for only moment before the weight of the fabric weighed him down.
The water was cold. Rumble’s wings and legs tensed, but he still tried to kick for the surface. However, the tuxedo began to wrap around him and stopped him from moving. Above the surface, he could hear the sound of Flitter and Cloudchaser screaming and of Thunderlane shouting. His brother’s face appeared above the surface, and a moment later, he felt Thunderlane grab the back of his neck by the teeth to pull him out of the water.
Rumble landed on the ground with a thud, coughing and sputtering as the little water he had swallowed came back up. Before he could balance himself, Rumble was wrapped into a bone crushing hug by Thunderlane.
“What were you thinking?” Thunderlane gasped.
“I’m… I’m fine…” Rumble coughed. “Really.”
“Is there anything can we do?” Flitter asked as she knelt down, her face turned away from Rumble.
Cloudchaser placed a wingtip on Thunderlane’s shoulder. “Is he okay?” she asked Thunderlane, ignoring the colt.
“He’ll be fine,” Thunderlane replied as he brushed his hoof through Rumble’s mane.
“I already said I’m—ack!” Rumble tried to shout, but he was drowned out by the two mares who were beginning to argue with his brother.
“Thunder, he could’ve gotten really hurt,” Cloudchaser said.
“He’s too little for you to not keep your eye on him,” Flitter added as she shook her head.
“Seriously, it’s like you’ve never foalsat before.”
“I am not a foal!” Rumble shouted, his voice squeaking.
The three older ponies paused for a moment and looked down at Rumble, who was still fuming with nostrils flared. He threw a glare at the three, only to hear the two mares begin to snicker.
“Thunder was never as adorable as you are, Rumble,” Flitter snickered.
“Seriously, Thunder, we've said this before," Cloudchase said, "If things get to be too much of a... burden... you know we're here to help.”
Rumble just rolled his eyes, scoffed, and started to trot away. But after just a few steps, he felt his body grow heavy. Stupid water, Rumble thought as he suppressed a yawn. Rumble noticed Thunderlane take flight and hovered in the air for a moment before touching back down next to him. Thunderlane lowered his forelegs and smiled at his brother.
“Come on, little dude,” Thunderlane said. “You look tired.”
“I’m not—” Rumble finally yawned. “Tired.”
Rumble blushed and turned away, eliciting another laugh from Flitter and Cloudchaser. Rumble looked around. Well, whatever that thing was, it’s gone now. He sighed as he slowly climbed onto Thunderlane’s back. He saw Thunderlane grin and wink at the mares. The mares responded with a chuckle and roll of their eyes as Thunderlane took to the sky. Rumble glanced up one more time to his brother, but the older stallion’s smile had disappeared, and the light was gone from his eyes. In its place was a small frown and a stare that looked only forward.
As he and his brother rose into the air, Rumble glanced back and forth for any sign of the strange light he had seen.
It was nowhere to be found.
Rumble stared at his dinner plate and snorted, sending a single pea rolling across the surface. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see his tuxedo drying next to the window. The light of the setting sun caught his attention. He quickly grimaced and turned away.
“You had me worried back there, little bro.”
Rumble didn’t respond.
“Good thing your big brother was there, right?”
Rumble stared menacingly at a piece of hay on his plate.
“The mares sure loved your tuxedo.”
Rumble heard his older brother snicker, and he responded with a harsh glare. He then turned to the tuxedo a blew a raspberry at it so his brother knew what he felt about Thunderlane’s special somepony’s design.
“Oh come on, it’s not… that bad.”
Rumble rolled his eyes and pushed his chair back. As he made his way to the kitchen, he felt Thunderlane’s hoof come to rest on his head.
“Hey there, little guy, you haven’t finished your—”
“Stop calling me little!” Rumble shouted.
Before Thunderlane could say anything, Rumble galloped away from the table. He ran up the stairs and into his room, slamming the door behind him. As he leaped onto his bed, he immediately began to punch his pillow, only to stop once he noticed the feathers flying up from the bed. He groaned and threw his head onto the now destroyed pillow, his wings ruffling in irritation.
Rumble heard the door open behind him, followed by his brother’s hoofsteps as he approached the bed. He then felt a slight dip in the bed as Thunderlane sat down next to him.
“What’s wrong, bro?” Thunderlane asked.
“Nothing,” came Rumble’s muffled reply through the pillow.
“…Rumble, seriously. What’s wrong?”
Rumble slowly lifted his head up and pulled himself to the headboard. The moment he saw the look in his brother’s eyes, he felt a weight press down on his chest. He instinctively folded his ears down and glanced away, only to feel the older stallion’s hoof on his chin. Finally, after staring into his eyes again, he frowned.
“Everypony always talks about me being little,” Rumble said.
“Well, you are little.”
Rumble snorted. “I was big enough to help with tornado duty.” He felt his cheeks burning again. He watched as Thunderlane’s features softened as the older stallion ruffled Rumble’s mane. Suddenly, Rumble noticed that his brother’s cheerful expression was gone again, replaced once more with that same face he had given as he flew away from Cloudchaser and Flitter. “I’m sorry I fell into the river.”
Rumble felt his shoulders shake, only to feel himself wrapped in both Thunderlane’s wings and forelegs a moment later.
“Thunder,” Rumble asked. “Am I a… burden?”
Rumble waited for Thunderlane to speak, but the silence continued to fill the room. Rumble felt Thunderlane’s grip tighten on his neck, followed by a quiet sob from the older stallion. “Thunder?” he asked.
“Rumble, I don’t know what I would do if I lost you.”
Rumble’s eyes blurred, and the tears fell almost immediately from his cheeks. He took a deep breath and let Thunderlane continue with his embrace. After a while, the older stallion finally let go, and the two simply stared at the open door. Rumbler watched the stallion turn away from his and rub his eyes.
“I know I’ve been overprotective of you since, well…” Thunderlane’s voice trailed off.
“I’m not going to be your little brother forever, you know,” Rumble said, quickly changing the subject. “I could grow up to be bigger than you.”
“I don’t care if you get as big as Bulk Biceps.” Thunderlane turned back to the colt and smirked. “You’ll always be my little brother.” The older stallion nuzzled the young colt. “And you will never be a burden.”
Rumble scooted to the edge of the bed and dropped to the floor before making his way to his desk. Sitting on top was a folder with a few pages of sheet music on it. Rumble slowly picked up the first page and began singing to himself.
Equestria, the land I love, a land of harmony.
“It’s stuffy in here,” Thunderlane said as he turned to open the window. “Are you nervous about the talent show?” Thunderlane asked as he turned around.
“I little,” Rumble replied. “Miss Cheerilee wants me to sing the national anthem, but it gets really loud at parts.”
“Heh, you do talk real quiet. Didn’t get that from being around me, that’s for sure.”
“I could always just belch the alphabet.”
“Dude, what else did those mares say to you?” Thunderlane pat his hoof on the bed. “Come on, little guy, you want to get a good night’s sleep. You’ve had a very hard day.”
Rumble thought about it for a moment, then nodded before setting down the sheet music and hopping back onto the bed. He squeezed under the sheets while Thunderlane got up and waited for the colt to get comfortable before leaning in and kissing his forehead. Rumble squirmed away and hid beneath the covers, eliciting another chuckle from the older stallion. Rumble waited for Thunderlane to stand up and head towards the door before he poked his head out from under the covers.
“Thunderlane,” Rumble whispered. “What if I mess up?”
“I’m sure you won’t,” Thunderlane replied.
“But what if I do?” Rumble asked again.
Rumble saw Thunderlane shake his head for a moment before biting his lower lip. Slowly, the stallion turned back to Rumble and took a deep breath.
“Listen, Rumble,” Thunderlane said softly. “I know you won’t mess up. You have one of the best voices of everypony at school. Just the other day I heard you singing in here and I was all the way outside.”
“You heard that?” Rumble gasped and threw the covers back over his head. He felt a tug at the covers and let them fall to his chest. Thunderlane stood at the end of the bed with a smile on his face.
“Yeah, and you sounded great!”
Rumble blushed, though he did give a small smile.
“So stop being scared of making yourself heard. You may be little—”
Rumble snorted.
“But," the stallion continued, cutting him off. "You have a big voice, especially when you put that big heart of yours into it.” Thunderlane poked Rumble’s chest, and the colt giggled. “You’re gonna do great things with that voice of yours one day, I know it.”
Rumble watched as Thunderlane got up once more and made his way to the door. The stallion flipped the light switch and placed his hoof on the doorknob.
“You get some sleep, little buddy.”
“Thanks… Laney.”
Rumble laughed as Thunderlane facehooved.
“I’m gonna get those mares.”
Thunderlane closed the door, leaving Rumble’s room bathed in darkness. Rumble turned to his side and stared out the window at the night sky. But what if I do mess up? Rumble thought as his eyelids grew heavy. I don’t know if I can do this. As he drifted off to sleep, however, the words of the mares still echoed in his mind.
...burden.
Seabreeze flew quickly through the night, doing his best both to keep up with the glowing pollen seed that moved effortlessly among the trees, and also with the evening breeze that gave his wings their strength. Stupid pollen, he thought, disappearing all day and leaving me to the creatures of the forest. He batted away the leaves that slapped him in the face, all the while trying to avoid the glowing yellow eyes in the depths of the darkness. Above him, Seabreeze heard a bird caw, and he immediately flew lower. Beneath him, he heard a twig snap, and Seabreeze immediately flew higher.
“Great Ones protect me,” Seabreeze whispered as he watched the pollen fly into a hollowed out tree.
The breezie started to make his way through the dead wood, but the tree served as a wind tunnel, forcing him back. Seabreeze beat his wings as fast as he could and finally made it out to the other side. He sighed in relief when he saw he was at the edge of the forest, but then panicked when he couldn’t see his pollen guide. Seabreeze cupped his feet over his mouth and shouted.
“Pollen!” Seabreeze screamed into the night, but then shook his head. “What am I doing? How do I call for pollen?” He glanced around and tried to look out towards the towering houses that stood in the clearing. He scowled and banged his head against a nearby branch, only to scream as an acorn detached itself from a branch and fell, nearly landing on him.
“I hate this place!” Seabreeze shouted through gritted teeth. He shook his head, but it was then that the words of Daffodil echoed in his mind once more. Find the one who flies with thunder. Find the one who controls the sky.
Seabreeze glanced up and looked around, gasping the moment he saw the lighted pollen near one of the houses. Seabreeze took a deep breath and watched the grass beneath his feet, his mind trying to figure out the pattern of the breeze on which he would fly.
Finally, he made his move.
Darting from the tree to a nearby flower, Seabreeze caught the remnants of a small breeze. He attached to the stem and waited for the next burst of wind. He coursed over a rock and then catapulted into the air on an updraft before coming to rest atop a small bucket near the wall of the cottage.
Bright light surrounded Seabreeze before he could catch his breath. He looked up and saw that the speck of pollen hovered just above his head and had cast the breezie’s shadow across the surface of the bucket.
“Stop that,” Seabreeze shouted, waving his forelegs frantically to shoo the thing away.
The pollen rose up to the second story and next to a window, where it remained as though waiting for Seabreeze to follow. Seabreeze quirked an eye in confusion, but rose into the air anyway. Once at the second story, Seabreeze noticed why the pollen beckoned him near.
“An open window,” Seabreeze muttered. “At least that makes things a little easier.” Seabreeze flew into the dark room and immediately fell to the floor. “Gava trasna orthayn urlar—”
Seabreeze immediately covered his mouth, afraid that his outburst would draw unwanted attention. He froze, his eyes darting from side to side, before glancing up towards the bed. Luckily, only the sound of snoring greeted him.
As Seabreeze’s eyes adjusted to the room, he started to make out the details of the room: a poster on the wall contained pictures of ponies in goggles, a series of books sprawled open on a desk and the surrounding floor, a dark grey sock—
“Ugh,” Seabreeze covered his mouth again and glared up at the bed towards its occupant. As the pollen came into view, Seabreeze glared at it. “If the big one’s strength is as powerful as his odor, we certainly will have no problem with singeing the fur off of Emperor Cauldon and his Fur Bolg army.”
Another snore ripped through the room. Seabreeze rolled his eyes and continued his journey along the floor of the bedroom. “How are we going to get anywhere without a breeze?” he wondered.
As Seabreeze made his way around the corner of the bed, he noticed a large machine standing in the corner of the room, and a soft whirring sound coming from within. His eyes widened as he felt a sudden gust of wind hit his face. A machine that makes a breeze? He wondered, his foot now rubbing his chin in thought. If I could look in it, I could make a—
Seabreeze’s thoughts were interrupted by a bright light next to him. He looked over and saw the pollen hovering next to him. He grimaced but heaved himself into the air, where the artificial breeze began to carry him into the middle of the room. As the breezie rose higher through the room, the sleeping figure began to appear before him—bright shocks of silver and white mane poked out from beneath the covers, and a dark-furred stallion muzzle rest to the side. Seabreeze’s mouth dropped at the figure.
“This stallion has to be as big as a bronco,” Seabreeze whispered. “Maybe even a hippogriff.” He turned to his pollen companion, only to watch as the illuminated ball began to hover away from the stallion and across the room until it disappeared out the door. “Oh come on,” he whispered as he caught the wind of the strange mechanical contraption and followed the pollen down the hallway.
Seabreeze flew quickly to catch up to the pollen, but soon felt his wings grow heavy. He turned around and saw that the machine that gave him the breeze was turning away and back towards the bed.
“Why are we even travelling away from the big one?” Seabreeze muttered as he continued on foot. The breezie saw the pollen hover in front of a door down the hall, bobbing back and forth like a pendulum, timing how long it took for Seabreeze to catch up with it. Calming breath, Seabreeze, he thought, show Elder Tumblestone you can do this.
Seabreeze sighed when he felt the breeze behind him again, and immediately took to flight, reaching the door just as the breeze disappeared. The moment he entered the room, he immediately felt the breeze from a nearby open window.
“Praise be to the Great Ones!”
Seabreeze covered his mouth and glanced over to the bed, looking for the outline of the figure beneath it. This must be the older big one, Seabreeze thought as he watched the pollen float towards the foot of the bed. As he scanned the bed, however, he could only make out the shape of a tiny lump. His face twisted and he narrowed an eye as he flew up towards the head. He grimaced as he gently lifted the bed cover and saw a tiny stallion. No, he thought, this can’t be right.
“Pollen, you idiot—” Seabreeze took a deep breath and turned towards the speck of light. He glared at the pollen and took another breath to steady himself. “Why would you confuse this tiny thing for the big one in the other room?” Seabreeze continued to stare at the glowing pollen. “Why am I even expecting a response from you? How could you think this little one could possibly—”
“I’m not little,” came a soft voice from behind him.
Seabreeze winced and slowly turned around, knowing full well what he would find. Sure enough, he came face to face with with a pair of violet eyes.
Rumble rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn’t dreaming. But after blinking a few times, he knew there was no doubt as to what was right in front of his muzzle.
“You’re a—” Rumble whispered. “You’re a breezie.”
Rumble saw the little creature’s shoulders slump before turning away to face a speck of light.
“The light!” the colt yelped, causing the breezie to shriek and fly away. “Sorry,” he quickly added as he turned towards the door to make sure Thunderlane didn’t hear his outburst.
Rumble got out of bed, ran to the door, and shut it quietly in front of him. I thought breezies lived in another land, Rumble thought as he shook his head, maybe I am still dreaming. He turned around and was once again face to face with the breezie.
“You?” the creature barked. “How could the pollen have chosen you? You’re so little I’m almost as big as your head!”
“I’m not little,” Rumble growled as the breezie turned around and began to berate the speck of light. Rumble ignored the words and instead focused on the glowing orb which, upon closer inspection, actually contained a small bumpy seed-like center. “Is that a piece of pollen?” he asked.
The breezie spun around and turned up his nose. “How fairly perceptive of you.”
Rumble winced at the breezie’s tone. “Are you mad at me, sir?”
“You can call me Seabreeze,” Seabreeze replied. “And no, I do not mean to be mad at you. I am mad at my guide.”
“Your guide?”
Seabreeze pointed silently at the pollen floating next to him and then turned back to Rumble. “What’s your name, little one?” he asked.
“My name is Rumble.”
The breezie’s jaw dropped open, and everything became so quiet that Rumble swore he heard the little creature blink. Rumble waited for a moment, but when Seabreeze didn’t say anything, he continued.
“You know,” he explained. “Like the sound thunder makes?”
“I know what it means,” Seabreeze replied.
“And I’m not little,” Rumble added. “I’m big enough to have performed tornado duty.”
“Tornado duty?”
“Yep! That’s what pegasi do. We control the weather.” Rumble beamed as his wings buzzed. He glanced over at one wing and stretched it out before doing the same with his other wing. “These guys are able to handle three whole wingpower.”
“So…” Seabreeze said. “What you’re are saying is…” he blinked. “Your name means flies with thunder, and you control the skies.”
Rumble closed his eyes and nodded until he felt something land on his head with a thump. He glanced up and saw Seabreeze’s antennae sticking out of his mane. “Uh, Mister Seabreeze. What are you doing?” He saw the breezie’s head pop out of his mane.
“Well,” Seabreeze explained. “This is obviously a trick test by Elder Tumblestone to see how patient I have become. So…” he pointed a foot out towards the window. “Onward home, pollen!”
Rumble’s eyes widened as the glowing orb floated towards the window. He looked around his room at the newly dried tuxedo, at the sheet music on his desk, and finally at the picture of his family on the bedside table.
“Wait!”
The pollen hovered for a moment just outside the window before returning inside.
“Oh, you listen to him, but not to me?” Rumble heard Seabreeze shout from atop his head.
“This… this isn’t a dream, is it?” Rumble asked, though he already knew the answer. “No, no, no. I can’t.” He tried to shake Seabreeze out of his mane, ignoring the tiny being’s cries to stop. “I can’t just leave my home. I have things here.” Rumble pointed to the tuxedo and ignored his impulse to shudder at the design. “I have to sing in a talent show.” He ran over to the table and picked up the music. “The song is really important.”
“And saving my fellow breezies isn’t?”
Rumble stood frozen in the middle of the room. “Your breezies?” He waited until he heard a sigh in between his ears.
“...yes,” Seabreeze admitted. “For many moons, our elder has tried to create peace in our land. But he failed.”
Rumble looked up and saw the breezie’s head once again poking outside of his own mane. But this time, every trace of anger and pride was gone. Seabreeze’s eyes glistened in the moonlight.
“The Fur Bolg are much bigger than we are, so the elder sent me to find the one he saw. I didn’t want to admit it, but the pollen knows.” Seabreeze leaned down until his face was right in front of one of the colt’s eyes. “The pollen listens to you, Rumble. You have to come.”
Rumble felt Seabreeze pull on his mane.
“Please?”
Rumble glanced around his room once more. His gaze fell to the photograph once more. What would Thunder do? He then remembered what his brother had told him.
“It doesn’t matter if anypony think I’m little,” Rumble said as he puffed out his chest. “My heart is big, and that’s what matters.” Rumble glanced around the room. “I just need to get some things.”
Rumble ran around the room, ignoring the groaning creature on his head. He grabbed a satchel with his teeth and flung it over his shoulder. He took to flight and zipped to the other side of the room and opened the closet, grabbing a pair of flight goggles and a scarf.
“A violet scarf?” Seabreeze asked, ignoring the way Rumble snorted.
“My big brother’s special somepony made it,” the colt replied as he tied it around his neck. “She said it, oh so compliments my eyes.”
“And why do you need these?”
“Because,” Rumble said proudly. “When going into unfamiliar weather, always keep your eyes and neck safe. That’s the first lesson we pegasi are taught in school.”
Rumble closed the closet door and made his way to the window. Before taking flight, he turned back to his room, galloped to the bedside stand, and grabbed the photograph. He stared at his family and then stuffed it into his satchel before returning to the window and flying off beneath the full moon.
As the trio flew out of town, Rumble began to wonder about what was happening. An adventure, he thought, I’m really going on an adventure! Rumble darted in between two trees, his wings barely brushing the leaves as he twisted and turned through the forest to follow the floating light that led him through the darkness. Above, patches of open sky let the colt see traces of constellations. What’s wrong with going on an adventure? Rumble thought as a nagging feeling bubbled in his stomach. Miss Rarity gets to go on adventures. Miss Fluttershy stopped a dragon. I could stop a—
“Lookout!”
Rumble shook his head and out of his daze just in time to see the pollen swerve to the left, just inches from a fallen tree. Rumble smirked, turned to the side, flew beneath the broken tree in the small space it made at the trunk, and then banked left. The pegasus looked left and then right until he finally caught sight of the light once again. He could see, in the distance, a small clearing bathed in moonlight.
Did I forget something? He thought as the clearing drew nearer. Beneath him, small white moonflowers bloomed, their luminescence glowing just like the stars above. It wasn’t like I could bring a lot. He felt his satchel at his side. Besides, I’m sure I need space for the stuff I’m going to find. The pollen ahead whipped around the flower petals and sent tiny seedlings up into the sky. Rumble flew through them like a shimmering curtain of light and landed softly on the grass in the clearing.
“We did it, Seabreeze!” Rumble shouted. “We… Seabreeze?” Rumble trotted around in a circle and gently shook his mane. “Seabreeze?” Rumble’s eyes widened as he glanced back towards where he came from. Oh, maybe I forgot Seabreeze was riding on top of me. He yelped as he felt something fall onto his muzzle with a thud, only to find that it was the breezie in question. Seabreeze grabbed into the sides of the colts muzzle and glared at him with his bloodshot eyes.
“Don’t… ever… fly like that again.”
Rumble blushed and slowly trotted up to the middle of the clearing, where the pollen hovered atop a gnarled tree stump. Seabreeze shook himself and floated off of Rumble. The two stood silently as they waited for the pollen to act.
“Mister Seabreeze—”
“Just Seabreeze.”
“Right. Seabreeze, how do we get to…” Rumble tapped a hoof to his chin. “Where are you from?”
“Breezantheum, one of the kingdoms of Coltrioch.”
The pollen circled the tree.
A moment passed. And then another.
Rumble started to whistle in an effort to pretend he didn’t notice the way Seabreeze’s eye started to twitch.
“So, Coltrioch?” Rumble asked.
Seabreeze started to reply, but the pollen suddenly began to shake. As it did, it released tiny specks of light all around it as it circled the tree stump. Rumble stepped back as the tree’s roots began to slide about like snakes until they formed a small hole. Rumble leaned forward until he was inches from the newly formed entrance, followed closely by his breezie companion.
“The pollen listened to you again. This is they way home,” Seabreeze sighed in relief as the light of the pollen continued to dissipate around them. He turned to Rumble and smiled. “You know, you’re about the size of a Fur Bolg. Maybe you can help us.”
Rumble watched as the pollen’s light surrounded Seabreeze and pulled him down into the darkness. Soon, he also felt the pull from the light as it began to lift him into the air, away from everything he knew. I can do it, Rumble thought as he watched the land of Equestria tunnel away, just wait until Thunder—
Rumble gasped.
“I forgot to tell Thunder where I’m going!”
Rumble tried to gallop back to the surface, but he felt as though he was simply floating in midair, and couldn’t gain traction. “Thunder!” the colt shouted. “We have to turn around, I have to tell Thunder! I have to—”
Just as suddenly as the roots had separated, they curled over each other once again, leaving nothing behind but a gnarled tree stump in the middle of a clearing amidst the freshly strewn pollen of the moonflowers glittering softly in the moonlight.
