Chapters I wake up and smack the alarm through the window. Conveniently left open in case of this event. "Alright Wind, today's the day! Just like yesterday was and the day before. Get up and grab the day by the horns!" A little speech in the morning never hurt anypony. I think. I raise out of my bed like a zombie and march off to the bathroom to tidy up. Preening is necessary when you fly as much as me. Mane care? Not as much but still a good idea if you have to go before the Board. Which is not fun but is important if you want to continue as a state approved bounty hunter. Bits are bits and I got to eat just as much as the other ponies. I grab my net and unlock my door getting a hopping takeoff to take flight before turning and pulling the shed's door shut. A 20 bit shed parked next to an outhouse. My house, a cheap sort of mobile residence.Note to self: Hire a unicorn to Enchant my shed so I can take it places. Being stuck next to this field in the middle of nowhere kinda sucks. I fly onward to Canterlot to speak with the Board. They have a big complicated name but I honestly don't really care too much. They are all kinda pompous and self important. I would have nothing to do with them but for one small fact. I need the bits.
"Heya Windy!" Some random guard who apparently knows me. I wave back and continue flying. "H-hey! Wait up!" He calls out to me. I stop, rolling my eyes.
"Yeah?" I ask waiting quite patiently. hovering in place. " What do you want?"
"Well I kinda wanted to ask some questions. Maybe over coffee?" He grins sheepishly, hopefully. Oh please let this be a regular coffee talk.
"You know I'm not my sister right? I'm Wind, the bounty hunter? The one who is not for romancing?" I reply calmly and clearly. Not cruelly because believe it or not I try not to hurt anyponies feelings.
"Yeah. of course I know you're not your sister. And I promise, No romance. Just coffee and talking. Ya know, like we keep discussing?" He rolls his eyes good naturedly. "And if you forgot AGAIN my name is Aegis Moon. Is 16:00 a good time?"
"Of course! And if we have had this conversation before I am dreadfully sorry." At this junction I kind of do remember talking to him before. Nice enough pony. Seemed interested in discussing... Something. Kinda wish I could remember but somethings are just gone. While I'm up at the castle I might go by the medbay. It simply does not seem right. We each fly our separate ways. When I finally arrive at the Board's office I take a moment to commandeer the bathroom to fix my mane.
"Ponies of the Board I have arrived as you have asked. What do you want?" I figure the best way to get this done quickly is ask immediately. They shift in their seats uncomfortably.
"Wind, you called this meeting. Don't you remember?" An older pony. Dignified with a mustache. Judging by the look of dismay he is saddened by something.
"Board pony, Sir. I simply have no clue what you are talking about. My deepest apologies if I sound disrespectful." I speak quickly and loudly so as to get my point across. They share a look. Why are they sharing a look? uh oh.
"Who are you to call me sir? Wind, I'm your friend! One of your closest! Why don't you call me by my name?" He sounds sad for some odd reason. Almost horrified.
"Sir I'm afraid I have no clue what you are talking about. What is your name anyhow? And what did you ponies want me to do?" I ask wanting to get away from these clearly deranged ponies.
"Y-you really don't know do you? Ok, My name is Turbulence. And I suppose you are released until further notice."
I nod my head and leave eager to get out of this somber room. Maybe coffee with that pony will cheer me up. I start walking over to the barracks, feeling inexplicably sad. I keep trotting and pass by a Guard who starts and stares after me for a second before galloping off. Huh. wonder where he's gone off to. Must be important.
"Hey, Guard ponies! Do you know where Ah-Umm." Darn. Now I forgot the Guard's name again. Think. Something to do with armor and mooning ponies. No. Not mooning ponies. Something to do with the Moon. " Where Aegis Moon is? Him and I have a coffee talk to attend. I think." One of the pegasi guards approaches me and motions for me to follow him. Which I do with a flap of my wings and a shrug. He leads me to a small door and waves a hoof at me to enter.
"What? He cranky if he's interrupted?" I ask the guard a bit perturbed by his speechless manner. He shrugs. I stare for a moment before going through the door. When I open the door I look through first. Hmm. Appears to be a normal office. I walk past the guards glowing horn and into the Throne room. Wait, What? I glance back to see the guard give a victorious smirk and the door vanishes.
I start to back towards the wall tail between legs with my head down low defensively looking for danger. A low whine starts in my throat as I make tracks towards the grand double doors. Which start glowing with a golden hue.
"Now now, that's no way to treat an old friend." A beautiful yet wry voice resonates through this hallowed hall. Celestia herself has deigned to speak with me. Now if only I could figure out why that terrified me.
"Princess! I didn't see you there! How might I aid thee?" I ask quickly hoping to get out of here quickly. " Might I add that it is an honour to meet you?" She looks downward for half a second with those beautiful amethyst eyes before replying.
"We have met many times before. In fact I was honoured to call you a friend. I am saddened by this turn of events. I wish we could have met today under more joyous circumstances, but this required my immediate attention. Hold still Wind." Her horn flares for a brief instant and everything flashes pink. My vision twists for a second before I am violently ill. Emphasis on the violently I see red chunks and taste copper.
"I-I ugh, don't feel so well. What's happening? I want my mother. Who is my mother?!?" I start softly and end with a scream. I collapse on the floor and look up to see Celestia's face, an odd mixture of horror and sadness scrawled across. "What is happening to me? What has happened to me?" the question now asked reverberates across the Hall.
She replies quietly. " I do not know Wind. that's why I am going to find out." Her horn softly glows and everything fades to a gentle whitewashed numbness.
When my vision clears I find that I'm strapped to a bed in a sterile room. My ears flatten against my head and I whine. Hospitals are no fun. Vague feelings of being trapped start to surface as I work towards remembering how I got here. I talked to the Board ponies and something odd happened so I left early and went to look for Coffee Guard. Then a bright flash. Ok. What else happened? Should I be worried that my memory is so holey? A large white pony walks in and sighs as she surveys my form. I think that's Celestia.
"Princess? Why am I here?" I ask quietly, hoping to leave soon. She looks through a few clipboards and frowns.
"Wind, we've had this discussion three times already today. I truly wish I could simply let you go but without your magic and mind you'd last a few days at the most. Now brace, it's time for the next round of testing." She sounds sad and resigned. Have we met before I wonder. I brace as I was told and see her horn shine like a thousand suns. I flinch closing my eyes as the spell activates. A cold and tingly sensation washes over me a few seconds before a terrifying wave of pain throws me under. I scream bashing my head against the wall so hard it cracks. Immediately the spell stops and I hear a gasp.
"Wind! Are you ok? Do you need the doctors?" Celestia speaking with a familiarity born of many conversations. I know her, or at least I did. Something has infiltrated my mind and I have a scant few seconds of clarity. This I know. With tears streaming down my eyes I speak.
"Celestia, how good to see you again. I'm sorry it's under such dire circumstances. As I am I will not reme- Owie, kind of hurt. Princess? Why are you crying?" I ask curiously, tilting my head and feeling a crack in the wall behind me. Weird. I try to reach my wings to preen because they are itching like crazy. "Princess? I can't reach my wings, could you untie me please?" An honest plea straight from the heart complete with puppy dog eyes. She glances at my wings and starts. They are disheveled and nasty.
"I'm sorry Wind but we can't risk you escaping. Would you be ok with one of the guards helping?" She shakes her head a bit while speaking quietly, a tear dropping down her face. I cringe and press my wings tight against my sides. She sighs. "Didn't think so. Would you like my help?"
I mull it over for a bit before wincing. My wings really itch! "Yes! Please! They itch terribly!" I cry out. She grins and TKs my wing open. which doesn't help with the discomfort of having another pony touch my feathers. It's icky, though I suppose if the princess wants to preen my wings she's free to do so.
"EEE! I finally get to do this!" The princess of the sun squeals as she preens me. I close my eyes and wait for the humiliation to end. As soon as she finishes she grabs a brush from somewhere and starts combing my mane.
"What on Equus are you doing Princess?" I ask in the hope of getting her to stop.
She smirks at me. "Brushing your mane Windy ." Wow, What a kind princess. Soon she gets to the back of my mane and skips the brush over a smooth protrusion. "Huh?" Princess Celestia voices what we both feel at that. She does it again. There's definitely something back there.
"P-princess? What is it?" I ask while staring at the Sun Princess. She tries to pull me up and fails as I'm still hoof cuffed to the bed. She sighs and produces a key which unlocks the restraints. I of course immediately try to bolt but she catches me in her levitation. She turns me around and parts my mane.
"Wind?" She asks quietly. "Why do you have a stone egg sticking out of your head?" I blink. I shake my head.
"What? I coulda sworn you said I have a stone embedded in my head." I reply feeling concerned. Her horn glows and tugs at it. Pain, simple mind destroying pain courses through me at this action. She stops at once hearing my screams. However my mind is clear again for a short time. "Celestia. Keep pulling. Please, no matter how much I scream. That should not be there." She stuffs a paperback in my mouth and resumes pulling. With a sickening ripping noise it pulls free and she levitates it in front of me. Half of a stone orb with terrible writhing tendrils whip towards me seeking a grip once again. Celestia stares at it in shock and promptly crushes it with the might of the Solar Goddess I know her to be.
"E-evil was in that stone Wind, Pure evil. If I had not discovered it, it would have not only killed you but destroyed your Essence. Who could have made such a terrible creature?" She stares down at me.
I spit out the book noting the marks on it. "Celestia? I think I'll need a lie down." I mumble through a dark tunnel which grows longer as I look through it. THUD!
When Wind falls once again it's all the Princess can do to not scream at the top of her lungs. "Nurse!" a white coated pony rushes in and immediately starts fussing over the unconscious pony on the ground. the breeze coming through an open window suddenly stops and the Princess's eyes narrow in panic. "Oh nonono." She rushes towards the nurse who wards her off and presses a red gemstone.
"Dead, Princess. Wind is dead. What did you do?" The nurse asks accusingly before she suddenly takes a panicked step back from the Pony on the ground. A phoenix swoops over Wind and caws menacingly before glowing intensely. This come right before an explosion which tears the walls from the rest of the hospital. A the ashes swirl in the air a hoof pops out of them followed by another, pulling themselves from the dust of the two. A head appears and promptly dry heaves.
"Ugh... I really don't feel good." The pony groans before falling out entirely. The Ashes suddenly start to rotate and converge before popping out a pristine phoenix. "Heya Philomena. Whatcha been up to?" The dusty pony rubs the bird's head a bit before once again collapsing.THUD!
I wake up in front of my shed with a note taped to my flank. Just once I'd like to wake up where I went to sleep, is that too much to ask? I read the note: Blah blah blah, magical parasite removed, preened your feathers and- Wait what!??! Preened my feathers?! What the heck Princess? Never mind. So I almost died forever. Now that’s a scary thought. Death. Ugh. I shiver at the thought and walk back into my shed. If not for Philomena’s intervention I would have been dead permanently.
“Hey Wind, figured you’d forget about the coffee.” The guard Aegis Moon is sitting on my couch reading through one of my little projects. I swear to my lower feather if he read any of my journals I’ll … do something.
“You haven't read my journals have you? " I ask curiously hoping he didn't
“N-no! Why do you have a note taped to your flank? And why does your mane look so fabulous?” My mane? What happened to my mane? I refer to the note still attached to my wonderful posterior: P.S. I did your mane Windy -Celestia. I blink. Quickly marching over to my chest I fossick about until I find an old helmet. I quickly polish it back to mirror sheen and look in. the first thing I notice is a streak of pink running through it. The second thing I notice is how curled it is. Kinda like Princess Platinum’s mane. Now that pony had an atrocious sense of style. I don’t care how regal purple is. That shade was garish. Ick.
Aegis shakes his head. “Where did you get that helmet? It’s an antique! Worth hundreds of bits at the least!” I shrug and toss it back into the chest before closing it.
“So?” I ask nonchalantly. “My artifacts are more than just that to me. I am living, breathing, history. Didn’t you offer coffee?” I grin at so successfully avoiding the question.
"I-I did. Is now a good time? I've heard of a great place in Hoofington." He stutters briefly before grinning at me clearly thinking he was suave. It was passable I guess.
"Hoofington? Sure? Why not? Within walking distance of here. Plenty of work too." I shrug and grin back roguishly. I walk over to my hammock and coil my net around my foreleg. " Well? Let's go Aegis. "
He nods and gathers up a newspaper he was reading and tucks it back into his saddlebags. "What kinda coffee do you like anyhow Windy? Or are you more a tea pony?" I shrug and look behind me staring at him. "What?"
"C'mon Aegis. Let's get trotting. I'm in a good mood today! " I laugh and start trotting briskly. After a moment I hear the guard gallop after me. " Say Aegis, Isn't your name a bit odd for a guard? Or were your parents just old fashioned?" I ask trying to make small talk.
"What? Why would my name be odd for a guard?" He pipes up from behind sounding confused. " Are you talking about the moon part? In that case yeah, I suppose it's a bit odd but my parents took some of those old legends seriously. They wanted me to be safe after Nightmare Moon is released. Of course since I'm a guard it's kind of moot but still." He stomps once before trotting up next to me.
We walk in silence for a fair bit before he looks back at the note still taped to my flank. " Uh Windy? Why do you keep that on you? And why hasn't it fallen off yet?"
"Tradition Aegis. Tradition. Plus she might still be watching." I reply easily smirking at the clueless pony still walking through the chill autumn air. Plus I kinda like it. Soon though we arrive at our destination. Stable Tables. " This it? I've actually heard good things about this place. Kinda been wanting to check it out." This time my smile is a bit more genuine.
" Stuff has been hectic lately at the castle. Word has it that the princess disappeared for a day or two." He replies easily walking in and up to the counter. "What do you want? Coffee? Tea?"
"Anything really. I haven't really drank much other than water for awhile now. I'll get us a table." I glance at a random pony and walk towards a table and plop down. Humming idly I swish my tail batting at the table. A few ponies glance at me for my foalish behaviour and I wave back at them. One pony in particular keeps glancing at me. I wave them over.
"Aren't you a captain of the guard? Or in some way tied into them?" The pony, an odd shade of magenta in their eye asks curiously. " I'm sorry but you have the most captivating attitude of any official I've seen."
I smile and reply with a bit too much enthusiasm. "Nah! I work for the Board. Sort of. So what brings you here? I'm detecting a bit of a Germane accent. Getting along with the locals nicely?" I tilt my head and continue smiling. They look a bit unnerved at this but quickly shake it off.
"How'd you hear it? I was certain I had gotten rid of the accent. Anyhoof the locals are fine here. Some are a bit too cuddly for my liking but what can ya do right?" They laughed and shrugged clearly bemused.
I shrugged and patted them with a wing and speak. "Cuddles are nice I suppose. But I know what you mean. These Equestrian ponies are a bit too cuddly. Took a few years to adapt myself to it." I wait for the ball to drop.
"You're not native? Wow I never would have known have known. Where are you from? Great Bridle?" They stare inquisitively at me. I stare back before replying.
"Roam. You wouldn't believe the stories I could tell you." I look up and see Aegis sit back down with some cups on a tray. "Heya Aegis. " With barely a grunt he pushes a steaming cup towards me. Staring with eager eyes he awaits my sip.
-Sip-
I stop sipping. This appears to be cocoa. I smile at Aegis. "Good choice. Everypony likes chocolate. What exactly did you want to talk about?" I hum at the delicious cocoa. "How'd we meet anyhow? I cant seem to remember."
"You were visiting the princess one day and I just trotted up to talk. We talked about combat techniques and spears. You seemed knowledgeable in some pretty cool techniques. " He sips from a bitter smelling coffee. "I hope I'm not intruding or anything but you seemed kinda rushed yesterday. Was something wrong?" He looks almost concerned. I frown momentarily.
"It was pretty bad Aegis. That should have been my death. And it's ok. I'm still here. Still alive." I grimace. "But I won't lie, dying like that terrified me. It would have been the end of my story. Forever. " I shake my head quickly. I sip my cocoa.
"You were dying? Oh Celestia. How? Why?" He looks startled at the topic. I shrug and smile quietly.
"It happens. Especially in my line of work. I had this strange enchanted object hooked to me draining my life. It was an unpleasant experience. Anything else?" I smile charmingly at him and hope he takes the bait. He does. Hook, line, and sinker.
"Soo awkward question. Why are you so light? I had lifted you once and I almost threw you." He laughs at the memory. Thank you Sunthrower for slow stallions. He smiles too. He is nice in that royal guard way. I adjust my mane thinking on how to answer this question.
I open my mouth. I close it and frown. I raise a hoof and open my mouth. It lowers and my mouth closes. " I don't really know. I eat just as much as an average pony. I think. Do I look skinny?" I hop off the stool and turn my side to him shaking my flank a bit as I await his answer.
It never comes. I glance up to find him looking everywhere else but at me. "Hello Aegis? I asked you a question. Am I thinner than I should be?"
He clears his throat and answers finally. " Have you asked a doctor? They would be able to tell better than I could. But it does kinda seem like you haven't eaten much." He looks into my eyes. Dark grey with flecks of green. Quite a pleasing colour combination.
I nod and reply " I will do so at the next opportunity Aegis. It seems prudent." I finish my drink and sit at the table again. I stare at him quietly not having much else to say. He gets kind of unnerved at this. He shuffles and drinks quickly.
"Windy? What are you staring at? Is it me? Do I have something stuck in my teeth? Is it a staring contest?" He straightens up quickly and stares into my eyes. I blink and stare back. This goes on for several minutes.
"Hey Aegis? I gotta go do some things. it's alright if I leave right?" He's passed out on the table in front of me. "Thanks!" I smile brightly and pay the bill. I then leave with a note taped to his face and fly towards a deadrop that often has good job offers in it. I shuffle through the jobs offered and pick three of the biggest ones. A mare named Weskins wanted for unspecified. Considered extremely persuasive. A diamond dog named Roger wanted for a string of robberies and finally a small wyvern wanted for the murder of nine ponies for the small amount of gold they had. That one's name has been ordered into nothingness. I grimace at the unpleasant thought of doing that. But somepony has to do it. If not me then who? One of the rookies? I'd rather not put them through that. Perhaps I'll start off with Roger. Diamond dogs are always a hoot. I check to see if I have my equipment. I don't. After a vigorous facehoofing session I ruffle my feathers and take flight towards my lonely little shack. I have to retrieve a hat, my magesight glasses, my net, and perhaps a few small weapons.
I make it back to the shed in record time. "Gotta paint it one of these days." I murmur to myself as a passing thought. I open the big stubborn door and start looking for the items. After a ridiculously long search I manage to find all of my junk. It's a tiny shed. How do I lose things in it? I rub the back of my neck awkwardly while staring at the mess. "I'll clean you up later. Ok?" I nod and start flying towards the den Roger is staying at. It's a lovely day out and I enjoy the long flight. I even sing a little shanty. Yesterday was terrifying but I'm ok now. I got over it. Right? I shake my head and keep on flying south. Pretty soon I come across a wild raspberry bush. Sounds like lunch time is upon us. I land carefully and survey the ground for signs of big animals. Fairly confident there are none I start picking the berries to my hearts content. It's the simple things in life you know? They make it all really really worth it. I sigh in contentment at having a belly full of raspberries and recline for a bit.
Favourite part of my job? We can take as long as we want to capture the target. That makes us sound lazy doesn't it? Well we do have stressful jobs and all that. So a little leeway goes a long way. And the big boss ponies don't know when we take the contract out of a dead drop. Kinda cloak and dagger I guess. It's not really dumb either. For a while there we had a competing agency trying to shut us down. Violently too. Some ponies these days I swear. I shake my head at that thought.
"That's no way to think Wind, They were good ponies doing bad things. They thought we were a problem." I sigh. Talking to oneself is never a good habit is it? I shrug and start going on my way again. Maybe these will be another set of easy bounties. Except for the wyvern. That one just screams badness at me. It's unpleasant business unnaming something. I sigh again and keep flapping towards the den. After a couple hours of this I land in front of the Den. Time to do what I do decently, collect bounties.
I trot confidently up to the hole in the ground and jump in. It's empty. Colour me lucky then. I trot through the tunnels silently looking for the hound himself. Still nothing. I begin to push the air around them forming a breeze and getting the foul stench out of my nostrils and mapping the tunnels out at the same time. Near the centre of the tunnel system there is three large chambers. Also I should really hope that the dogs don't realize a breeze like this is abnormal. Otherwise I'm going to be facing off against way too many enemies.
"Tartarus Wind, get your head in the game before you lose it..." I shake my head and bonk myself with a hoof quietly before continuing on my way. I check to make sure my net's enchantments haven't gone dry. "Yep... still good. Bits worth losing." With that out of the way I immediately smack my head off a low hanging beam. Which falls down. Which causes the tunnel to start to collapse. Oh dear. With a majestic whinny I start galloping away. Actually I will admit I screamed like a little filly and ran out of there. Anyhoof. Soon as I'm safe I flop over and shake my head vigorously clumps of dirt and stone out of my mane. From the sounds of things nothing woke up. Somehow. "Thank the princess for small favours I suppose." I get back up and sneak into one of the bigger chambers. A horde of slumbering hounds await me in this room. Drat. I was hoping for a simple "Only one creature is in the hideout" type of day. I sigh and get ready to examine all of the sleeping hound faces. Or to the commoner Diamond dog would do. I prefer hound. Just one of those things I suppose. I sneak up to them one by one checking the faces against the picture in my hoof. This day just got a lot more complicated. None of these are Roger. Drat. Oh terrible sailing weather and angry cats. I start crawling out of the sleeping pile carefully before squeaking as a large dog grabs me and holds me tight before nuzzling into my cheek.
He whispers in my ear, "I know you're an intruder, and a pony at that. Just please let me have this. And afterwards I'll even help you. Just please, please let me cuddle you." I feel tears stain my cheek as I shuffle around in his grip to return the hug.
"Deal." I squeeze his furry sides and nudge under his chin quietly. Things like this happen more often than you would believe. And I usually help them too. I'm a pony, it's what we do. He nuzzles me gratefully and squeezes me tight. I close my eyes and enjoy the warmth he provides. Soon after we fall asleep in each other's grasp.
It is a few hours later that I wake up from the Hound's gentle shaking. "Come on, we only have an hour before the rest of them wake up. You held up your end of the deal, I'll hold up mine. What are you doing here?" He picks me up and sets me standing on the ground before I have a chance to get up myself. He moves stealthily towards the exit and I follow from the air. It is a tricky business getting out without disturbing the airflow too much but I manage. Soon we get back to the exit and he ruffles my mane good naturedly. "It is gladdening to see such a gentle being down here. But I must ask again. Why are you here?" He looks at me curiously.
"I am a bounty hunter looking for the hound Roger. He has robbed many a pony in the last month and has threatened to use violence on more than one occasion. " I frown at the scroll. "Do you know where he is?" He looks taken aback by the name.
"Little one, I am Roger. Though I am not the one you seek. My tags were stolen a couple months ago by a young dog. That is his face though." He waves a paw and I follow him lightly. We soon get back to the tunnels that I may have collapsed. Which is no matter as they are apparently "Abandoned tunnels too old and unsafe." After the commentary we keep walking through the halls towards the other chamber I had noticed. This chamber had few hounds within. I start to check the faces against my poster before the Hound gently points me towards a bigger figure lying in the center of the chamber. When I examine the face it is definitely a match.
I smirk. "Gotcha." I ready the net and sleeping potion before a baleful eye opens up and a huge paw smashes into me.
"No Prey... It is I who has gotten you." As I pick myself out of the wall I see him stand up tall and crack his knuckles. I gulp. Fighting was never something I liked to do.
"You are wanted for a string of robberies and nine assault charges. Come quietly or I will be forced to render you unconscious through force." I shout confidently at the surprisingly large hound. And I whimpered a bit. Fighter I am not. I grab a loose rock and toss it into my net to form a swingy club thing. The creature laughs and moves blindingly fast to once again hit me right in the chest.
"You will be such wonderful Prey once I collar you..." He smirks across the room at me in an odd manner and I rub my chest with a forehoof to get rid of the pain. "Just drop the net and I promise to stop hitting so hard little Prey."
This is weird... I am actually semi tempted. Which makes it so much more surprising for the hound when I bash his head with a rock in a net. He teeters for a brief instant and I rush to shove the potion down his throat. He backhands me with ease and I fly backwards thankfully stopping a meter away from the wall. "Oww. that hurt." I give him a lopsided smirk and swing the net again this time hitting him in the chest and sending him right into a beam. He blinks in shock as I swing my wings forward and a wave of air slams into him. "I am no prey."
"You will be my finest capture. What fire you have in your eyes!" He laughs uncertainly and lunges forward holding a rock as big as my head in one paw with ease. I duck under the swing and evade quickly. If he lands a hit with that I'm done. I grit my teeth together and grab the loaded down net with both hooves and charge at the dog with an overhead swing. At the top of it I use a heavy blast of air to give it more momentum. On the downswing I look up to see that rock clutched in the hounds paw about a foot from my face. Oh drat. This is gonna smart. With a hollow thud an impact occurs and I sink to the ground.
When I awake the Hound is trapped in the net with a bloody rag on his head and a stupid look on his face. The hound Roger hoofs me the sleeping potion. "You knocked him out right when you ran into his paw. I suggest giving him this soon." He pulls me up to my hooves and I stagger over to shove the potion in the hound's open mouth. My new friend picks the net up and starts walking out of the chamber and I follow after with a blinding headache. We take tunnels that so far I had only seen from one way and soon we get to the exit. This day went better than it should have. I give Roger a boost with a small gust before hopping out myself and climbing into a tree.
"As long as he is in the net the potion wont wear off. So probably use him as a pillow for a bit. I gotta rest" With that small bit of knowledge I close my eyes and fall asleep for a third time.
When I wake up it's night time again and I stare at the sky. You sure can see a whole bunch of stars out here. I mean, wow. The night sky is even more beautiful than it usually is. I look down at the ground and see the hound using the loaded net as a pillow. Heh. Sound advice. I land quietly and poke the hound awake.
"I need your pillow now. And goodbye I suppose. Maybe we'll see each other again sometime." He rouses and moves his head so I can grab the net. Oof, heavy dog. I flap my wings quickly and achieve lift before soaring through the sky like a blimp. I fly for quite some distance before landing again to rest a bit. The hound starts snoring and his stomach growls. I look around for some food to shove into his face and do so. He chews and swallows automatically. Which is one of the many safety enchants layered on the net. With that done I make my way back into the air and catch a stiff wind to glide on. I takes this breeze for several miles before running into a giant thunderstorm. I may have fallen asleep while flying and only woken up by the loud CRACK! but I still managed to avoid the worst of the storm and rest atop the clouds for a few moments. From way up there I'm able to observe what feels like all of Equestria. I sigh happily at the sight and feel another bolt of lightning leave the cloud. BOOM! I love weather like this. It feels wonderful. Feeling quite relaxed I fall back asleep and enjoy weather's sweet embrace for a bit.
When I awake it seems luck is on my side and the storm has drifted several miles in the right direction. Thank you Celestia. I grin and lift off the cloud carrying the heavy net once again. Looks like it’s only another days worth of travel from Shattered Branch. Then I get my bits and some more relaxation time. Which won’t be used. Mostly because I still have a bounty for a mare named Weskins and an unaming to perform. Really not looking forward to that. We’re supposed to be the good guys and yet we’re ordered to do things like that? I don’t know… but if not for me and a few other senior hunters there would be a lot of decent ponies being forced to do that. So we take the brunt of the unnamings. I guess just don’t think about it. I find a thermal and glide high above the ground. At this rate I’ll make it in no time. I shift the net between my forelegs and keep flying east. Maybe after these to bounties I’ll find a different job. Who knows? I sigh and hang my head mid flight. I’ll keep going. I’m terrible at about everything except this. I’d use my special talent but nopony seems to want to pay me to do that. A pony’s got to eat after all. I shake my head and give a hard flap with my wings sending me hurdling forward away from my worries and towards the facility. I look back to see a single blue feather drifting gently downward. Is it that time again? Huh. I start whistling piercingly as I land in front of the facility.
One of the guards groans and covers his ears. “Why do you always do this? My poor poor ears.” He looks at me with a piteous expression and I grin at him.
“It’s not that bad. Even the hound isn’t bothered by it. Look!” I wiggle the net around to show the deep sleeping prisoner. His tongue lolls out as he is waggled around. The guards straighten up when they realize I'm here on business. “Now ready a tranquilizer spell. I want my net back. And take me to your leader?” I grin lopsidedly at them at the last bit and one of them facehoofs.
“Just have to keep using that joke.” He sighs and readies a spell. “Open the net.”
I untie the net and it falls down around the hound almost perfectly. He stirs and the guard releases the spell into the hound’s face. It works as planned and I lean down to try and get my net.
“She’s in one of her moods Wind. You know what that means...” He looks glad he doesn’t have to deal with this himself.
“Oh drat. Just get it over with already.” I sigh at the guard and stretch my wings out as he charges a high power spell. Ouch, kinda bright. I quickly remove my glasses and scrunch my muzzle like I had eaten a lemon. Just then the spell impacts and I start to feel kinda nauseous. When I open my eyes again the guards are much bigger than they should be. “I don’ like bein this short.” My voice is high pitched and youthful. The guard pants from the exertion.
“Weirdest reformation spell in the whole Branch. One of the easier ones though. Come on little one. We’re going to see her.” The guard picks me up and I try to squirm out of his hooves. I don’t quite manage it and he sets me on his back before magicking a teddy bear into my hooves.
“I’m still me.” I grump at the guard and his partner pokes me on the snoot with a fluffy wing. I go cross eyed and let go of my mind in the shock. “Why’d you do that?”
“You know why Wind. She’d have noticed and gotten us as punishment.” He grins at me and offers a lollipop. I try to resist. It doesn’t work and soon I’m sucking away at a cherry flavoured lollipop quite happily. I squeeze the bear tightly and rest my head on the guard’s back for a bit.
Soon we pass another pair of guards and they snicker. “I guess we got the door duty for now. Have fun Wind.” I grin at them around the lolli’ and wave a little hoof at them. The guard ruffles my mane with a fluffy wing quickly retracting it when I try to swipe at it.
“Quit it. Iss my mane.” I pout at the big guard and he does it again. The things I have to deal with, I swear. Soon though I'm distracted by the teddy bear again and ignore all the ‘Dawwing’ going on around me. I crawl under the guards mane and rest my head on the bear before yawning. The lollipop falls out of my open mouth and hits the ground shattering everywhere. The guard doesn’t miss a beat and charges a cleaning spell which dissolves the candy into nothingness. The other one distracts me with a wing and quickly a pacifier is popped into my mouth.
I glare halfheartedly at them before I accidentally suckle at it. I slump down and the guard grins victoriously. I do it again and grump at them before setting my head down and falling asleep.
I’m gently nudged awake by the feathered one as I'm set down on the ground. “We’re here Wind. You gotta go in alone though.” I sniffle at the thought and he boops my snoot with a fluffy wing again. “None of that now. You’ll be fine. Who’s the toughest little pegasus at the Branch?”
“Me?” I flutter my wings excitedly and a few more feathers fall out. I pout at my wings.
The guard notices this and winces. “Nope. Your meeting is gonna be delayed a bit little Wind.” He picks me up and carries me off. After going through several winding corridors we arrive at a room with a large bathtub placed in the centre. He sets me down and starts adjusting the faucets. After a bit he sticks his hoof in and nods. “C’mere little Wind. Tell if this is right.”
I trot over and he picks me up so I can reach into the tub. I stick my hoof into the falling water and nod at him. “Yup! Iss perfect.” He sets me down again and plugs the drain so the tub starts to fill. He trots quickly over to a cabinet marked by a feather and pulls out a plastic tub full of grooming supplies. He grabs a little bottle labeled with a pink bubble and squirts a bit of it into the tub. Almost immediately the water foams with bubbles. I laugh at the sight in delight. “Bubbles!”
As an after thought he kicks the tub around to so I cant see the label on it. I shrug and continue watching the bubbling water. After he gets the tub filled to a certain extent he scoops me up and hops into the tub. I immediately spot a rubber ducky and wiggle my hooves at it. He smiles at this and lets me go. I rush over to the ducky and start playing with it.
“C’mere again Wind.” He speaks quietly and I swim over to his open hooves. He sets me down on his lap and grabs a shampoo bottle marked with a blueberry. I dunk my head helpfully. “Thank you Wind.” I nod cheerfully at him and he starts working on my mane. After a bit he motions for me to dunk my head again. So I do and he starts with the conditioner. I hum cheerfully and play with the ducky. When I’m not paying attention he pulls my wing outwards and I keep as still as I can as he slowly preens my wing. “Such a good foal.” He moves to my other wing and repeats the process. After a bit he speaks again. “All done with your wings. Should I finish washing you?”
I think for a moment. “Yup!” I nod quickly at him and he laughs again. He grabs a scrubby brush and starts lathering my coat up. Then he scrubs me with the scrubby brush. Which tickles and I laugh and squirm. He smirks down at me and I smile up at him. Then I sneeze from a clump of bubbles that get dolloped onto my nose. “Achoo!”
“Bless you.” He smile down at me and starts washing my tail. “You can manage your belly right little Wind?” I nod and he hoofs me the brush. I sing quietly as I brushy brush my belly clean and rinse the suds off.
“I’m done!” We stay in the tub for a bit longer as I play around. Soon though he picks me out of the water and sets me on a towel before vigorously rubbing me down with a very fluffy towel. After I’m dry we trot back to the door of her office. His unicorn partner sits there waiting patiently.
“You finished yet?” Me and the pegasus guard nod at him and I floof up dramatically. The unicorn laughs and waves a hoof at the door. “Go on then little Wind” I walk uncertainly up to the door and glance back quietly. The guard smiles at me and makes a go on motion with his hooves. I gulp quietly and knock on the door. The guards scatter and I hear somepony walking to the door.
“Hold on! This better be good.” A angry sounding mare shouts through the door and starts to turn the handle. I back away so I don’t get hit by the door when it opens. It pulls inwards and I blink before laughing at myself. Silly me. With the door open I can see the mare standing there quietly. “I see… Come in Windy.” She waves a gray foreleg and turns to walk back in.
I follow along quietly. When suddenly I'm scooped up into a hug. “Cute as always.” She nuzzles the top of my head and sniffs lightly. I nuzzle into her chest and smile at this. “You sure you don’t want the job? You’re a good therapy pony.”
“I’m pony. This is what we do. Right?” I look up at her uncertainly and she boops my snoot. I go cross eyed and scrunch my muzzle.
“If only everypony thought that Windy. If only… You smell of blueberries.” She absentmindedly grabs a brush and starts grooming me. “You help one of the guards again?” I nod and she brushes my mane slowly. I close my eyes and revel in the feeling. Quite happy to simply lie here and get taken care of. She starts humming and I drift off to sleep.
When I wake up she has curled around me protectively and fallen asleep herself. I wiggle a bit to free a forehoof. I use it to grab the teddy bear and bring it close. With that done my tummy rumbles and I yawn squeakily. I blink slowly and fall back asleep nuzzling into her side as I do so. The next time I'm woken up it’s by a gray hoof gently nudging me.
“It’s time to wake up Windy. You hungry?” My tummy answers her question by rumbling loudly. She laughs lightly. “Come on then. Get up and I'll feed you.” I open my eyes and mumble at her. “No you cant sleep here more. I need to do my job soon. Don’t you?” I frown at this and think. After a moment I nod at her and stand up stretching my little wings as wide as I can while yawning ferociously.
“Time to be big again soon? Food first? Please?” I look up at her and blink my little eyes. She smiles down at me and levitates me onto her back. I flop down and examine my tail. She’s really good at brushing me. We trot out of her office and into the cafeteria.
“You sure you want to leave Wind? You’re quite good at comforting ponies.” She looks back at me hopefully and I make a silly face.
“Can’t stay. Both of me agrees with this. There’s things left unfinished.” We finally make it to the counter and she orders food for both of us. We sit down at a table and a guard rushes over with an excited flap of his wings. I eat slowly and wave a hoof.
“Little Wind! Thought you’d be gone by now. Err. Could I hug you?” He shifts around and looks awkward for a few moments. I swallow the bite of food and tackle-hug him so quickly he actually falls back in surprise. “Quick ain’t ya? heh.” He sighs and hugs back carefully. After a few moments he sets me back in my chair and nods at his boss respectfully.
I look back to her and shrug before eating once again. “That was nice. But I...” I shake my head and finish eating. “Make me big again please.” my voice has a bit of desperation. From where I have no clue. I'm shaking visibly and looking at her with big puppy eyes.
She looks alarmed by this turn of events and nods quickly. Her horn flares up brightly and a bolt leaves it and hits me. When I open my eyes I'm looking over her head.
“Thank you Overmare. Uhm. I brought a bounty back. I’ll need the payment now. I...” I shake my head and grimace. “I can’t stay at the Branch for long.” I quickly bring out the bounty on the name thief hound. She scans it and nods. Her horn flashes and a sack of bits appear on the table. “Thank you for the hospitality.” I scoop up the bag and go out the window in a flash. When I next open my eyes I have no clue where I am and I'm panting. I set my saddlebag down and scream loudly before flying back into the air with a ferocity I haven’t felt in a long time. I close my eyes tightly and try to lose myself in some advanced aerial maneuvers. I come out of a triple corkscrew and flip around so I could buck a cloud into nothingness. It had enough static charge in it to create a single bolt that impacts me roughly. I hit a tree hard and shakily make my way up into the air to fly some more. I practice some of the material I saw last time I watched a Wonderbolts show. When I finally come too I'm sitting on the ground hugging my saddlebag close and there’s a mare looking at me in concern.
“You alright? I saw your little show there. It was amazing! I mean some of it was old Wonderbolts material but the rest was stuff I haven’t seen before.” She looks abashed at her enthusiasm but sits down next to me. “You alright? I’m not the best at emotional stuff I admit. But I'm a good listener.” I shrug and motion for her to continue talking. “You sure? You look kinda torn up about something.”
“It’s nothing I can really explain. What’s your name?” I smile at her ice blue countenance and release my saddlebag.
“If you’re sure. Some of those patterns looked like old time combat moves. The other stuff was just elegant beyond belief. What kind of training have you gotten?” She tilts her head at me curiously and I smile.
“Not much to be honest. I used to watch the Wonderbolts flight shows when I could. Some were old combat maneuvers to be honest. They do look pretty neat when you’re watching them.” I yawn at her and pull out a flask for a drink. I offer it to her but she shakes her head so I tuck it away. “I’m Wind. Where are we? I just took off in a random direction”
“We’re near Cloudsdale.” She replies easily and rustles her wings. “How long has it been since you’ve seen a Wonderbolts show? I’m going to guess not for a while right?” She smiles at me and I relax into the tree slightly.
“Not in a long while. I always was impressed by the ponies who fly in it though. It made me wish I could fly like that. So I trained as best as I could.” I stretch my wings out and yawn. “Haven’t flown that hard since Pegasopolis. Darn am I gonna be sore in the morning. What is your name?” I tilt my head curiously and then tilt it more so I fall on my side playfully. “Oof. Meant to do that.” I smirk up at the laughing mare but remain quiet.
“Fleetfoot. Wingpony of the Wonderbolts. Wanna get a bite to eat?” She smirks down at me when my eyes widen. “Yep. Thought so.” She offers me a hoof and pulls me up when I grab it. “You are really light.”
“It’s nothing. I am getting kind of hungry again though.” My belly rumbles loudly and I laugh. “Lead the way if you please.”
She beams at me. “Great! This way.” She shoots off into the distance and I give chase quickly.
We fly quickly through the city narrowly missing several ponies going about their lives. “Sorry!” I shout down at one I had almost hit. I push myself faster until I am almost neck in neck with her and she smirks at me as I roll aside to avoid a pillar. I flap hard to make up for the momentum I lost and manage to get next to her again.
“We’re here!” She flares her wings out and stops suddenly. I immediately try to stop and flip several times from a misstep in flaring my wings. When I stop I’m looking dizzily up at her.
“Whoops.” My eyes roll around as I shakily stand up. She steadies me with a hoof to my shoulder.
“Well. You did good. Let’s get some pie.” I nod at her suggestion and she leads me inside and sits me down at a table. After she’s done shoving me into one side of the booth she sits down across from me.
“What would you folks like to drink?” A very stealthy waiter asks us and I jump.
“Water please.” I answer quietly. Fleetfoot snorts and rolls her eyes.
“Ignore them. Two blueberry smoothies. Please and thank you.” I blink but ultimately shrug and go with it. She smirks at me and I roll my eyes at her.
“Are you going to be ordering for the both of us the entire time?” I inquire while nudging the menu around the table.
“I said I was buying right? Learn to live a little. Besides, you kinda smell of blueberries and it made me want something with them. And yes. I will order for the both of us today.” She gently pulls my menu away and looks through her own. “Want actual food before the pie?”
“It would be nice. So I'm not complaining but why hang out with me?” She looks over the top of the menu at me. I tilt my head curiously.
She sighs. “Because I could. Plus you used up a whole lot of energy flying like that and it would have been grossly irresponsible of me if I had just said ‘Nice flying’ and left. I mean look at you, you can barely keep your head up off the table.”
She is right. I don’t know how I didn’t notice before. The waiter returns and sets the smoothies down in front of us and leaves again. She pushes one towards me and stares sternly. “What is it with ponies and feeding me? And mothering me now that I think about it.” I speak quietly before taking the straw into my mouth and sucking. Good smoothie. Yum.
“Well. You’re kind of light. Even for a pegasus. And… I don’t know. Seems like something I should do. Especially since you would have gotten water and a small slice of pie and just ignored your rumbling belly.” I go back to the smoothie and she sighs. “We’re doing an airshow this evening. You are coming with me. Please.”
I flick my ears at her and nod before going back to the smoothie. The waiter comes back and speaks to her for a brief moment before collecting the menus and trotting off again. Sounds like pasta followed by a couple of slices of pecan pie. Yummy. I glance up to see her snickering at me.
“What?” I tilt my head and my ears go floppy.
“You just looked so happy with that smoothie.” She starts sipping at her smoothie and I blink.
“Ok?” I start slurping the smoothie and soon I'm rewarded with the rattling straw that signifies an empty cup. She rolls her eyes and motions at my cup. Soon it is swiftly removed and I'm left with the straw hanging out of my mouth. Soon enough another smoothie is placed on the table and I stick the straw in there before drinking slowly. I manage to save the majority of it for later and set my head down on the table to rest.
“You ever realize how foalish you act sometimes?” She inquires and I look up at her again.
“I prefer to think of it as a fun-loving attitude. I do need to be more mature than I am right now but I'm still recovering from the foal spell.” Which is true actually. I close my eyes again.
“Food’s here.” The waiter sets the plates on the table and trots off to another table.
I wait for her to eat before I touch the food on mine. She doesn’t notice and I eat slowly with an occasional sip of the blueberry beverage. She hums lightly as she eats the pie and I take a few bites of it. Very yummy. Soon enough I am finished and I wait for her to finish her food.
“That oughta put some meat on your bones. Hmm. Kind of a creepy phrase isn’t it?” She flicks an ear quickly and asks the waiter for the check. Soon enough she has paid the check and tossed a few bits on the table as a tip. I look at the bits and pull out a few more to toss on the table. Satisfied with that I trot after her and we take to the air once again. This time we take a slower pace through the air traffic and eventually make it to the Cloudsdale arena. We land and she trots up to a small side entrance. She has a quiet talk with the guards stationed there and motions me over.
“Yeah?” I tilt my head at her.
“Just letting them know you’re with me.” She goes through the door with a follow me motion. So I follow. We trot through a series of pipe-lined hallways until we arrive at a locker room.
The Wonderbolts are in various states of dress as they chat amiably with each other. A few snap towels at each other and two are simply minding their own business and sliding into the flightsuit. I hear laughter and suddenly all I can see is blue. After some panicked flailing I calm down and pull the thing off of my head. I’m greeted by the laughing faces of the Wonderbolts.
An orange mare speaks up. “You’ll be our guest flier. We’re one short due to an unexpected accident. Put that flightsuit on. Please.” I look at the item I held in my hooves. Awesome an actual Wonderbolts flightsuit. So cool! I pull my saddlebags off and set them on a bench before struggling into the suit. Fleetfoot sighs before moving to help me. Soon enough I'm dressed and standing on a practice field. I glance down at my blue clad forehooves again and smile widely. Definitely not the way I saw this day going.
“Come on, lets get you into the groove of these formations. At least this time we found a guest before the mayor could assign one to us. And one that can fly reasonably well.” Fleetfoot smiles and launches into the air. “Well? We’re waiting.” Ohh! I take off after her and she shoots ahead once again and I struggle to keep up. We go through twisting loops and turns. Eventually I see something out of the corner of my eye and glance at it. The Wonderbolts. I’ve been flying in formation since my first flap it looks like. I smile at them and focus on the flying twisting turns. Eventually we stop practicing for the day and I flop down onto the ground breathing heavily. The breeze twists towards me and I bask in the refreshing feeling for a few moments.
“Wow… I think I did alright. Right?” I murmur lazily into the air vaguely towards one of the others.
“You kept up. So you did great. Say, what’s with the patterns? On the underside of your wings?” The orange mare who’s name I’ve learned is Spitfire asks me.
“Those? I think I got them in Pegasopolis. Might’ve happened in Roam. I keep them to remind me about what ponies should be like. Any other purpose is lost on me.” I rustle my wings and the pattern dissolves once again. Fleetfoot suddenly scoops me up off the ground and carries me inside while I flop bonelessly on her back. I'm dumped on a bed and left there. Spitfire had followed us in.
“I guess you’re sleeping with the rest of us tonight. You should look into joining the academy, it might suit you. It would benefit us to have another decent flier in there. Especially one that isn’t so egotistical. Or power hungry.” She unzips her flightsuit and trots off to the locker room. I manage to wiggle out of the flightsuit and trot off to the locker room myself. After a quick shower and putting the dirty suit in it’s proper place I trot back to the dormitory only to find the bed I was using was occupied. I shrug and curl up at the foot of the bed using my saddlebags as a pillow. I slowly fall asleep and my wings flop open.
When I’m woken up by a hoof nudging me I yawn and stretch my wings. “Why were you sleeping at the foot of my bed?” Spitfire by the sounds of it. I squint at the pony and nod. It is Spitfire.
“Because it was the bed Fleetfoot set me on.” I flap my wings to get in the air and set down on my now standing legs. “I don’t know. I guess I was really tired.” I yawn at her again.
“There were open beds. And barring that there are a few ‘Bolts who wouldn’t have minded sharing a bed.” At this point we’re walking into the locker room and she pushes me into the showers. Taking the hint I start washing up again. Because somehow I’m filthy. Probably my saddlebags. Darn things have been to Tartarus and back. With that done I trot into the mess where Spitfire and Fleetfoot are waiting for me. “Put this on.” She tosses a flightsuit to me and I shrug before slipping it on.
“I do have a job or two that need to be done sooner or later.” I mention so I can get an idea of how long I’ll be here helping them.
“The show’s tomorrow. R&R today. Don’t want to sprain something.” Fleetfoot replies from my other side as we walk towards the breakfast line. “Get some food Wind. Enough for an actual pony.” I snort and poke lightly with a wing.
“I eat enough.” Now it’s her turn to snort and poke me.
“I can pick you up and throw you. You’re really light.” She gives me a level stare as Spitfire curiously picks me up.
I’m tossed lightly from her to Fleetfoot. “She’s right. How are you okay?” Fleetfoot tosses me back and I flare my wings to catch a gust which pushes me upwards out of their reach.
“If I eat will you two stop making a big deal out of it?” I bargain while hovering above them. A blue stallion snags my tail and pulls me to the ground.
“It’s break day. Keep flying to a minimum. It is also best to eat during this time. Because tomorrow is gong to be some of the toughest flying you will have likely seen.” With his piece said he wanders off towards the food line.
“I’ll eat. Just please stop with the tossing. It’s not fun.” I twitch my ears and trot off to get some food. Fleetfoot follows to make sure I eat enough. Bleh. I eat enough. I’m just kind of light.
I get some food. Quite a lot for me and I'm pulled back into the line by a firm hoof. “Eat some food. More than that.” I nod and go back to loading up the plate. Then I swiftly trot off to a vacant table in the corner. There I spy with my not so little eye a bottle of Rainbow Sauce.
“Sweet. Well, not sweet. Very spicy. Awesome would be a better word anyhoof.” With my unnecessary dialogue spoken I proceed to douse everything in its multicoloured glory. It starts smoking. “Well then.” I start shoveling food into my mouth. Delicious, yet exceedingly painful. Mmmm.
“That is a sight I have not seen in quite some time. Doesn’t that burn?” Fleetfoot has finally found me it seems. Distracted I nod and go back to eating the heaping mound of food that was forced upon me. One side catches flame and I quickly shove it into my mouth to extinguish it.
“Gotta eat quick or it’ll all go up in flames. A pony after my own heart.” Spitfire this time. She pulls out a chair and sits down next to me. “Not many ponies can do the Rainbow Challenge. Good to see I'm not the only one.” She grabs the half empty bottle and pours the rest on her food. We share a hoof bump before I go back to the painful food. Fleetfoot is staring at the two of us like we’re crazy. I shrug and drink some water. The moment my lips touch the glass a rainbow sheen spreads across the water.
“Think I overdid it with the sauce?” I yawn sarcastically before taking another sip. The water gets a bit more colourful. I finish the food and keep sipping at the water. Spitfire laughs and points at the water.
“Not many ponies can do that. Liquid rainbow is particular.” The water is now entirely rainbow hued. “The ponies it likes can take a dropper and turn a whole tank into more of it.” She smirks and mutters something under her breath. I look from the glass to the end of my snout and back again. I check my reflection in a shiny napkin dispenser. Looks clear. I open my mouth and let my tongue loll out. It’s all rainbowed up right now. I blow a raspberry at Fleetfoot and grin at Spitfire.
“I forgot I did that actually. A drink of milk will get rid of it?” I examine my tongue in the chromed side of the napkin dispenser and poke it with a hoof. Which spreads the rainbow to my hoof as well. Trying to wipe it off smears it further making it look for all the world I had painted my hoof.
“Milk will get rid of it. The factory would love having you.” Spitfire returns from her unnoticed trip with a glass of milk for me.
“I already have a job. And I don't really trust the youngers to not mess up or get messed up.” I drink the milk and swish a bit around my mouth. Soon enough my tongue is clear and I dip a napkin into the glass before scrubbing at my hoof with it. It takes a bit longer but soon my hoof is rainbow free.
“What’s your job? A fisher maybe?” Fleetfoot looks curious.
“I am a senior hunter for the Board of Non-Pony Affairs. We actually do uh, track ponies when they commit a crime though. Or when we’re under contract. I mainly try to stick with catch and release. It’s a got a weird name.” I down the rest of the milk and fidget with my wings. I glance at them to gauge their reactions.
Spitfire looks bored and Fleetfoot looks a bit less bored. “So what’s with the net?” Fleetfoot asks.
“It’s my uhh, my way of transporting prisoners.” It is useful. Just kind of outdated. I wipe my mouth and my wings twitch. I turn around and somepony has tripped with a tray. I'm at their side in a heartbeat steadying them and taking the tray smoothly away. “Careful where you walk. You alright?” They nod and grab their tray back. I shrug and sit back down.
“That was impressively quick. Though I guess if you’re a bounty hunter you’d have to be. Looks like we’re done with breakfast though. What do you say we take this someplace else?” She stands up and saunters over to me.
“Sounds like a good idea Spitfire. Fun too.” Fleetfoot this time. She looks entirely too pleased by this.
“Sure I guess. I don’t really know what’s fun to do around here though” I speak cautiously though ultimately curious about their plans.
“I’m sure we could find something real fun to do. Let’s go.” She turns around a bit too quickly and her tail smacks into my face. Fleetfoot laughs and trots after happily. I rub my muzzle and get up from the chair before following after.
We travel through several twisting corridors and I almost lose them twice. Only the sounds of their laughter let me catch up to them. It looks like Spitfire went on ahead of us.
I trot next to her and nudge her with a wing. “Why is it I'm always chasing after you?” She shrugs and grins at me. My wing fidgets. Or rather behind me. Suddenly I’m tackled by a very fast orange blur. “Oof.” When my vision stops spinning Spitfire is atop me with a smug grin.
“Gotcha.” She boops the end of my muzzle and I suppress a sneeze. “You are something else.”
“Not really. I’m just me.” Fleetfoot launches herself at Spitfire and suddenly I’m free. I smile at them both and rustle my wings. “I think I win.” They both get up and laugh some more.
“My room’s right up ahead. Should be some fun things to do there.” I blink wide eyed at that statement.
My ears twitch and I stammer. “W-what?” I back slowly away and bump into Spitfire.
“What do you mean what? There’s fun things to do in her room.” Her wing settles on my shoulders and I’m guided into the room.
“Oh wow...”
“Gah!” An exclamation of startled bewilderment. The rustling of cloth on cloth. “How do you do that?!”
“It’s a talent.” A singsong tone.
“I’m impressed.” Another voice pops in.
“I’m almost terrified.” The first voice groans. “Seriously though, how do you do that?”
“Well if you had bothered to not live under a rock you would know.” A smugness is evident in Fleetfoot’s voice. I groan again and something rattles. “That is still as impressive as it was the first time I saw it.”
“It’s a talent~” My turn to use the singsong tone. “Hey uh, what exactly are we playing? There’s cards and dice. Monopony?”
“It’s Wizard School, did you not listen when I told you earlier?” Spitfire speaks up again.
“Can we just focus on playing the game? I don’t particularly care for this game.” Fleetfoot grumbles again. So we do. It’s great fun. Even if Fleetfoot is a bit of a spoilsport. A few hours later we head back to the dormitory and earn some confused looks as me and Fleetfoot carry a sleepy Spitfire. I leave Fleetfoot to dump Spitfire in a bed somewhere as I quickly hop in one for myself. No sleeping on the floor for this pony tonight. Nuh-uh.
“Learned you’re lesson then?” Spitfire laughs sleepily.
“Why’d we carry you again?” I yawn at her.
“Because I asked nice?” She grins and I shrug before tossing the blanket over my head. “Night pony.”
I close my eyes and am almost asleep when I feel a pony tug the blanket back to crawl in. Too sleepy to protest I just ignore it and resolve to deal with it in the morning. Soon I dream of mint and a sad smile works its way onto my muzzle.
Almost too soon I wake up to hear a calm voice laugh in bemusement. “When did you get in here? I certainly didn’t order a cute pegasus last night.”
“Snrrk. I was in the bed first. You just kinda crawled in when I was about asleep. Silly pony.” I flare my wings and catch a gust of wind that pushes me off the bed. “Not my fault.” I grin at him and wander to the mess for breakfast.
He stammers and trots along quickly. “What’s your name? I’m Swiftwing.”
“I’m Wind. Pony extraordinaire.” I tilt my head at him before trotting swiftly ahead with a bounce to my step and a slight sway to my tail. I glance back to see him beet red and stammering. Oh dear, I may have been a bit too flirtatious. I make tracks out of that hallway quickly and end up in the mess like I had planned. The cook looks downright surprised I'm here.
“It’s five in the morning. On a flight day. Usually the only one here so early is Swiftwing or Fleetfoot.” While she was talking she ladles food onto my tray at a rapid pace. Stopping for a moment she examines me closely before setting that ladle down and trots off to another plate to grab a few rolls before tossing them onto my tray from here. I clap gently and move to an empty table to enjoy my heap of food.
It all looks delicious and I eat a bit before I catch a flash of mint green out of the corner of my eye. When I jerk my head over to look all it is is a banner. I sigh before poking at my food a bit more.
The cook comes over and sets another tray down. “You look like someone stole your favourite toy. You wanna talk about it?” She takes a bite of food off her fork but maintains eye contact with me.
“Old memories. Nothing I can do about them. I’m fine though” I start eating quickly to avoid anymore conversation on this topic. She gives me a level stare before shrugging and eats too.
When I reach for the bottle of hot sauce she bats my hoof back down and glares at me for an instant. “No. It’s bad enough Spitfire goes through it so quick. Do you ponies even taste it before you drown it?”
“Sometimes? I just really like the burn.” I decide not to anger her and go back to eating the food. For awhile the only sounds are of the forks clinking on the plates as we eat quietly. After a bit the rest of the Wonderbolts slowly start to filter in.
“Looks like break is over. Maybe I’ll see you later?” She smiles at me and trots back to the food line to help the other lunch mare out. I flick an ear in response and keep eating. Pretty soon I see Fleetfoot and Spitfire trot in to look lazily around. I wave a hoof to catch their attention and finish eating. They manage to catch me before I trot out of the lunch room.
“You already ate? When did you get up?” Spitfire yawns at me and Fleetfoot smiles tiredly as she trots to the breakfast line. “So you ready for the show Windy? I mean it’s ok if you’re nervous.”
I keep following them as they get coffee and sit down. “I’m kind of nervous I guess. But I can deal with it. What about you? Do you get nervous before a show?” I drink some coffee and grimace, it’s really bitter. I manage to keep my face straight as I look at them.
“I do get a bit of nerves right before a show. But when you’re a performer that kind of thing never really goes away.” Fleetfoot speaks slowly with deliberation. Then she shrugs and drinks her coffee. I sit back down at the table and drink the coffee quietly. I really don’t like the taste of it. With a frown I set it on the table and push it away. Spitfire moves with a startling suddenness and swipes the coffee.
“Don’t care. Mine now.” She downs the rest of the coffee in a single gulp before looking at Fleetfoot’s cup with a predatory gaze.
“Don’t do it Spitfire… I'm warning you.” Suddenly there’s a flurry of motion and wing bopping. When it’s done Spitfire is sulking at me while Fleetfoot grins smugly at us both. I roll my eyes and go to get another cup of coffee for Spitfire.
“Here ya go.” I yawn at her and sit back down. “So when exactly is the show? Seems like it would be pretty soon.”
“It’s in an hour. After I’m done with my food we’ll go get ready. That alright Spitfire?”
Spitfire is muzzle deep into the coffee but grunts an affirmative. So I wait. Soon they’re both done with breakfast and we trot off for some shenanigans. Then we actually do the smart thing and get ready for the show.
As we’re leaving to head to the stadium we pass by Swiftwing. “Hey Swiftwing, sleep well?” I nudge him with my wing as we pass by and he nods enthusiastically.
“You know it Wind. After the show do you wanna hang out or something?” He scratches the back of his head trying to look nonchalant.
“I gotta go after the show. But I’d be glad to hang out some other time.” I smile at him and keep trotting.
“Oh, ok. Some other day.”He falls in line behind me and looks disappointed for an instant.
“Hiya Swifty. Interested in Wind?” Spitfire teases him before we arrive at the stadium. It’s huge. Almost imposing in it’s size. He stammers and goes quiet but I pay him no mind as I trot forward staring at the arena . Just looking at it brings memories of Roam. Of days spent in the sun basking in the cheers of the spectators.
I gulp nervously and rustle my wings quietly. “Rursus...” I pass into the shadow of the stadium and through the door.
We meet in the locker room and Spitfire glares at us. “This is the first year we haven’t had a publicity stunt as our guest. We will wow them. And with any luck we should have fun out there.” She flares her wings and beats them twice and the others repeat the gesture. I noticeably do not. Fleetfoot stares for a second before shrugging and tossing me a flight suit.
“Wear it with pride. When this is over you’ll always be welcome here.” She hits me gently with a wing and starts pulling hers on. Crazy pony. I too start pulling on the flight suit of blue. After flapping my wings to make sure nothing was catching I wait for the others to get ready and fill me in on the plan. Spitfire ruffles my mane good-naturedly and a blue stallion slaps me lightly on the back as we trot towards the exit to fly, Spitfire telling me the plan along the way.
“Basically we’re doing the practice all over again. Just try to keep up with the lead pony and this’ll be better than last year’s show automatically.” She smirks crookedly at me and nudges me sideways with a wing and I stumble right into Swiftwing.
“Sorry. I’ll watch where I'm going next time.” Swiftwing mutters to me staring out the door. It’s a painfully bright day out there after the dimmer lights of the changing room. If I perk my ears I can hear the gentle roar of hundreds of ponies talking to each other. A gentle breeze washes over the crowd and they quiet down expecting something. Which they get when we soar through the air overhead at to speed as we perform aerial maneuvers in such a speed I was having a bit of trouble keeping up. At one point I ended up linking hooves with Fleetfoot and we spiral around briefly before separating and swooping down low over the crowd again. We twirl and flip with all the grace of an acrobat as we awe the crowd with our flying.
I laugh happily as we continue the show. Most fun I’ve had in years. Unlike the hollow joy that comes from the foalification spell, this hard almost painful flight is the clearest thing I will remember for a century. Life isn’t about the simple joys, life is about moments like these. Where you put all your effort in simply because you can. Because, you’re alive. The cheering of the crowd carries me through the show. The admiration of the many is the wind beneath my wings once again and I scream in exhilaration as I carry out the tightest turn I can manage into a dive so fast I can almost feel my feathers ripping out. But then, altogether too soon the show ends and I have to land. I’m shaking, my mind screaming at me to take off again and keep going, that flight is the only option. I manage a few weak flaps before a firm hoof lands atop my back and I freeze.
“That’s enough Wind. You’ve done enough. More than enough.” My wings twitch feebly at the voice before I’m dragged into the shade. “You about made us work to keep up.” A water bottle is pushed into my mouth and I drink the water slowly. A breeze curls in and caresses my outstretched wings. I pant and focus on the brown hoof with the water bottle.
“Been awhile since I’ve dealt with this, that type of reaction is rare nowadays. Overflight is no big issue however so they should be fine.” The hoof pulls back and swaps the bottle for another which I greedily take into my hooves and drink as well. The hoof ruffles my mane goodnaturedly and I glance at its owner. A brown stallion with a white mane stands there with a smile. “I’m Driftwood, the resident medic for the Wonderbolts. It was quite a show this year.”
I close my eyes and let my wings droop. “Thanks… its been awhile since I flew like that.” I lie down and the breeze picks up in intensity for a brief instant before dropping off entirely. “Can’t say it wasn’t the most fun I've had in ages though.” I give a devilishly tired smirk before taking a nap.
When I wake up it’s dark outside and I’m in a bed. It’s warm and comfortable with a fuzzy plush laying next to me. After a moment of stilled breathing I check to make sure it is a plush. When I'm sure that I'm not sharing a bed with a pony yet again I stretch my wings out and grab it bringing it within my hooves to squeeze. It squeaks pleasingly and I go back to sleep. It was very thoughtful of them to do that for me. What seems like seconds later I'm woken up by a blue hoof ruffling my mane.
“Wakey wakey. You probably will wanna get back onto the road before the captain decides we need to keep you. That involves a whole ‘nother thing you shouldn’t deal with.” Fleetfoot speaks loudly and yanks the blanket away. I blink blearily and get up stretching my wings widely. “Dang, do you have reach with those. Almost makes me feel inadequate.” She sets my saddlebags on the bed with a plushie Wonderbolt. It kinda looks like Swiftwing to be honest. “We figured to give you a gift. So we did.” I shrug and put it in my empty saddlebag with it’s head sticking out. Nice.
I smile at Fleetfoot and settle my bags on my flank. “It’s been real fun. Thanks for the memories.” Her turn to shrug as I open the window and fly out. What a pleasant detour that was. But eternal as always is the law of all good things coming to an end. I shrug start flapping my way to the Dragonland. That wyvern needs to be dealt with. It’s still early in the morning, the moon peeks through the clouds still. Its comforting glow lighting my path to the distant country the dragons call their own. I flap my fatigued wings until I can no more and I rest upon a cloud a breeze blowing it north. With a bit of gentle redirection I start floating on a more westerly path. I stretch my wings out from time to time to test how sore they are. I look down at the dusty plains rolling underneath me and I smile softly,
“Sands how I hear your call, even here I feel the grit beneath my feathers. One day maybe...” I hum and sort through my saddlebags idly. The blue plushy smiles at me encouragingly and I boop its nose quietly. “Keep on smiling you. It’s cute and I like it.” I roll my eyes at it in a silly manner and rest until I can fly once more. A few minutes pass and I start playing with the plushy idly, making it soar through the air and making wooshing noises with my mouth. It passes the time quickly and soon I can stretch my wings once again without the tearing pain. I put the plushy back in my saddlebag and get up stretching my wings out luxuriously. Feels nice. I smirk and fall through the cloud with a whoomph. I flare my wings to catch the wind and rise above majestically, soaring through the sunny sky with a light cheer.
Author's Note
So I write stuff. And sometimes I show others. The super amazing Penalt saw my itty bitty flight scene and wrote something awesome.
When you are sliding along that razors edge and all that is keeping you alive is your eye, your skill and the howling tension in every sinew and muscle, then you can almost see the fabric of the universe. You can feel its lines and meridians, the patterns of force and chance that lay out the path _just so_ for you to follow. Everything slows down, every sense is hightened, all things are wild and glorious and your mind exhaults in the pure glory of what you are doing. Everything is right. Everything is certain. Your heart joins your mind in song, your muscles hum the bass line, and the wind howls the high notes.
But you are merely flesh. Merely mortal, and all too soon you have to land and become what you were before. And as you stand there before the cheering throng before you, their cries merge into one single cry...."MORE!"
and I told him I was really tempted to steal it. I didn't but I cant let it go forgotten.
I glide on thermals for as long as I can before flapping to maintain altitude. The land beneath was slowly getting flatter and grassier. Here and there I can spot little wicker huts with little ponies going on in their day to day lives. Must be simpler down there, living on the grassy plains with naught but a hut and your family. Wild ponies one and all however. They’d bite you as soon as look at you. I hum in thought as one glances up at me when my shadow passes over. I wave and I see the hint of a smile as he waves back at me. I flap once and accelerate past his hut with a piercing whistle. The pony whistles back and I keep flying.
Soon I’m past the grassland and the ground turns barren before my eyes. Sharp rocks with jagged edges jut out of the ground and charred remnants of skeletons litter the ground here and there. It always makes me shiver to imagine that one day one of the skeletons could be mine. I draw in a sharp breath and fly over the shattered spires of rock with hardened resolve. Fear won’t get me anything here in the Dragonlands. I fly on into the sweltering warmth aiming towards a lonely mountain. The sky around it is conspicuously clear of any smoke. In the land of smoke and fire this is a considered a bad sign. I don my mage sight glasses and examine the area for intense magical residue. Nothing, no traps nor sign of life. I frown and fly closer circling the stony spire until I find the entrance, a deep dark hole surrounded by scorch marks and furrows in the ground where something was dragged out kicking and screaming. I swallow nervously and step into the darkened cave. As I walk deeper into it a sickening stench assaults my nostrils and I gag. Coughing with watery eyes I walk on into the central cave. There, directly below a crack in the ceiling in a patch of golden sunlight is a horrifying sight, the wyvern I was sent to hunt strung up and roasted to death. Scales shattered and peeled off. A message written in sticky, blackened blood reads ‘Justice has been dealt peacekeeper. You may return home. Do not dally long in the dragon lands or we shall serve you justice as well.’
I clench my eyes shut and puke violently. “They… I… Oh gods...” I wipe my mouth and stiffly turn away and run from the sight. This is why I don’t like dealing with dragons, the brutality they can commit on a whim. I run out of the cave and jump into the air with a few harsh flaps and tear through the sky. “Murderous… but I cannot condemn them. Not with my orders.” I head back home, leaving this place behind. May he rest alongside the path I suppose. That niggling little feeling of shame sticks with me for the whole flight. Shame that I was grateful to the dragons who did that. I frown and fly just a little faster so I can get out of there as quick as possible. Soon I’m soaring through clear blue skies, the smoke-clouds of the dragons far behind. Eventually I feel the tingle that signifies return to Equestrian lands. The warmth of home for many, each nation’s magic has it’s own special feel to it. Which, unless you’re traveling you’d never know. The plains of grass soon pass by again and I put on extra speed, the wind howling in my ears as it pushes with me cutting through the once still air.
All too soon for my liking I have to land and rest, letting my wings take a break as I snack on some granola. I lay down and rest my head on my hooves. Twenty minutes later I’m a tangled heap of pegasus on the ground who just can’t sleep. I groan and roll over again reaching for the plushy and squeeze it to my chest, seeking comfort from it. I don’t fall asleep, my mind dwelling on the dragon justice. The trip back isn’t as joyful as it was out here, I resolve to rest my wings by walking so I can keep moving. Some pegasi would look at me strangely for that statement. ‘you can still get places without your wings?’ is what I imagine they’ll say. Silly ponies. I smirk briefly at the thought and pick up the pace, cantering speedily to the place I call home so I can drop off a few things I will no longer need. It does take a little longer trotting there, but it’s quicker than repeatedly overworking my wings and waiting until they’re rested enough.
“I wander on~ Eternal as always~” I flick my wing out and jump lightly, after having my silly little moment I shrug and keep trotting forwards. Little happens on the trot home, though I did make a fair bit when I stopped at a coastal village and fished with them for awhile. Fishing isn’t a bad way to live, not by a long shot. After the short break in the fishing town I get back on my journeys with a fresh pack of food and a hop in my trot. Eventually I get back to the rolling foothills of Hoofington and enter my humble shack, setting my saddlebags by the door and flopping onto the couch to relax for a bit. Eventually I reach out with a lazy wing and flip the lid of my chest up glancing in for a time before rolling off the couch and nuzzling my saddlebag open and tossing a few carefully wrapped packages into the chest and locking it carefully. I look around at the plain walls of my shack, painted in a dull beige.
I sigh, “Gotta paint these walls one day. So dreary...” The new Wonderbolts plushy goes on the couch positioned carefully so it looks like it sitting next to me. I hum at the little blue thing and smile fondly. “You’re a special little thing ain’t ya?” I fidget for a while taking in the calm my little home has. I glance around at the single room again and sigh, glancing at the bed and couch before staring at my cooking cabinet. “Maybe some tea? Maybe tomorrow.” I hop into my cozy little bed and curl up seeking happy dreams.
When I awake the next evening in my cozy bed I snuggle deeper into its soft warmth and keep my eyes closed against the sunlight streaming through the window and start drifting back off to sleep. Eventually though I hear a rattling and crack an eye open to see a thestral holding my bag of coffee in his mouth, staring at me with a deer in the lantern light look in his slitted eyes. I sigh in his direction and close my eye again. I hear a sheepish chuckle and the window closing again. After another hour of lazing about in bed I finally wake up and stretch luxuriously before rolling out of bed with a quiet giggle. There, at the foot of the bed is a construction paper card, covered in paper stars and glitter. It reads ‘I’m sorry’ with a drawing of a sheepish pony on the inside. I blink for a second to take in the whole card.
“Oook then?” I shrug and place it back down with a smile. “Nice of them to do that I guess.” I stretch slowly relishing the feeling. I yawn again and grab the tea kettle trotting outside to the fire pit, setting the kettle in the cradle and fetching firewood for the tea. Soon I come back with a bundle of firewood and start trying to light a fire. It takes a bit but soon I have a little fire merrily blazing away under my kettle. I wait around, fluffing my wings idly listening for the whistle of boiling water.
“Oh shoot! Forgot the tea. Silly me.” I hum cheerfully and trot in to rummage through the tea cabinet for some properly cheerful tea. “Earl grey then? Clearly you silly pony.” I giggle to myself and grab the tea before trotting back to the fire and bouncing from hoof to hoof. The water takes awhile to boil but it gets there and soon I have my tea steeping, looking out through the sparse woods on the mountain side I hum happily, taking a sip of my tea.
“Heh. This place is beautiful. I’m glad I found it.” I watch the flowers move gently in a breeze that brings their pleasant scent over. I take a sniff and compare it to that of my tea. “Huhm… not gonna pick a favourite. Lovely scents.” After tea we’ll see about that last bounty. I flit my wings idly and watch the wind across the field pick up, rustling the flowers almost violently. I sip my tea and flare my wings to feel the wind streaming through my feathers. I finish my tea and carry the cup to the stream so I can rinse it out. Because I live in the middle of nowhere. I could probably get someone to dig a well for me but I kind of like being so ridiculously outdated. To be honest I lack a reason for living like this. Wandering back inside I set the cup on the shelf and rummage through my chest again for some unknown reason. Perhaps I’m bored and need to get on with my mission then. I nose a mint plant and hum contemplatively. A chime sounds gently and I snuffle the leaves and go out the door, rejoining the grand adventure once more.
My ears perk as I hear the chime again behind me. When I look I can see an annoyed guard battling with my wind chime and stifling a curse or two. Though he freezes when he hears my chuckles, he turns around and squeaks adorably before waving.
“H-heya Windy. I was trying to put this back up but I kinda got tangled in it… Help please?” Aegis shuffles sheepishly and tugs at the chimes again. Somehow the amazingly silent guard had gotten completely tangled in the chimes. I stifle a giggle and flit back over to the shack, untangling the guard and hanging the darned things up gracefully. They chime sweetly in the wind and I smile, turning to Aegis.
“Whatcha doing here Aegis? Playing with wind chimes?” I smirk and swish my tail briefly before leaning in close and smiling softly. “Or did you want to see your favourite pony another time?~”
He stammers and frowns slightly. “You were gone for over a week, I came up because the mailmare said your letters and stuff were piling up. So I checked it out and flew over here. It was kinda worrying when the door was unlocked and some plates were shattered on the floor. So when I saw the smoke from the fire I came to check it out.” He scratches the back of his head and frowns again. “Also there were a couple important checks that were in the mail by the by.” I pat him on the head and ruffle his mane.
“I’d have figured that my mail would be dropped off at my P.O box. Because I definitely told nopony where I actually live. For sand’s sake I don’t know how you know where I live. I mean, it’s not a secret. I just never told anyone.” So the plate thing worries me a bit but it might have been a rogue breeze. And the mailmare telling him? Somepony is taking me for the fool. I flare my wings slightly and the chimes sound once again. “There’s a few things off here but it doesn’t really matter right now.” Aegis looks at me in confusion and slight concern as he shuffles about quietly. I trot up the mountain and after a brief bit of hesitation the pegasus follows on feathered wing. My ears twitch as I hear the involuntary huff most other pegasi seem to give when they see another trotting somewhere instead of flying. I smirk and keep trotting merrily with swishing tail. Soon we’re deep in the woods and approaching a small glade, the sun shining beautifully and the wildflowers fill the air with a pleasant scent.
“What exactly are we doing here Wind?” Aegis lands and trots forward softly, not taking his eyes off the monolithic boulder in the centre of the glade. I pat his back and jump through the air landing atop the wind-carved boulder and laying down.
“I’m here because I can be.” I watch him carefully wander around observing the whole clearing. “There’s not much here other than the rock and the flowers Aegis, I just enjoy coming here.” A blue jay flies through tweeting merrily and he watches it flit by.
“What is this place? It seems… interesting?” He scuffs his hoof and glances at me solemnly.
“It’s where a dear friend passed on Aegis. Maybe. It’s a mystery to everypony but me what this place actually is, and I aim to keep it like that.” I hum contemplatively and stare him dead in the eye for a couple seconds. He swallows nervously and shuffles until I look away.
“It’s very beautiful in any case. Thanks for showing it to me.” He smiles and sits down quietly. We pass the time companionably, wind whistling through the trees every so often as the sun slowly sets on this glade and the ponies inside.
As the crickets chirp quietly through the dark night, I glance back through the trees towards the mountaintop and flit my wings idly. Ever so slowly the moon peeks over the needle tip of the mountain and its imperious face looks down at us. The eye of the Mare stares plaintively at us and bats fly overhead.
“It’s gonna get kinda chilly soonish Wind.” Aegis speaks up again causing me to look up from my very important task of weaving a flower crown.
“I know. You didn’t have to stay Aegis. Thanks for staying as long as you have though.” I put the finishing touches on it and toss it onto Aegis’s head. It lands crookedly and he gives a bemused snort. An errant gust of wind flips it off his head and lands properly back onto his head, somehow he manages to make it look regal. He’s a pony I’m blessed to have met, a wonderful friend who stands by no matter the silliness. He’s a pony I feel like I’ve known for a long time. I flit off the stone and pat it fondly. “I’ll see you next week?” A cold shiver runs through my foreleg and I nod. “Yeah, next week then.”
“What exactly was that? Some old habit of yours?” Aegis speaks up while fiddling with the flowery crown. It subtly shifts and grows together, shifting to regally while thorns curve upwards at a snails pace. A moss coloured deer walks into the clearing, his antlers wide and elegantly arching to seemingly contain a lambently glowing wisp.
“Wind was speaking to an old friend, one who he hasn’t seen in some time now. As is the price we often see. This is the resting place of Mint Julep, and a place sacred to those of Wind.” He speaks grandly as I roll my eyes.
“Really Forest? You’re going that route? Fine then, do what you want.” He huffs and glares at me, the wisp flaring brightly afore fading. I smirk lopsidely and Aegis looks confused.
“Is this a friend Wind? This Forest fellow? What’s going on?” Aegis nudges me and I glance over to see the crown in it’s final stretches of growing, the flowers blooming and the points of the thorns shining brilliantly.
“Yeah he’s a friend. He was visiting too. Not much else to say other than he has a weird sense of humour.” I flick my tail and keeps grinning at the odd looking deer.
“You blend in too well Wind. It’s getting harder and harder to find you.” Forest huffs at me again and I shrug, my feathery wings amplifying the motion. The rustling of leaves above us hushes briefly.
“I do my job well enough.” I yawn at Aegis and flap into the air to lazily fly circles around the two before Forest jumps up to land daintily on a narrow tree branch, lazily picking his way from branch to branch. Aegis pretends not to notice as he too jumps into the air to fly next to me.
“You’re an inconsistent pegasus Wind.” He grumbles as I move lower for different airspace. Because flying in woods with more than one in a row is hard. My ears perk as Aegis yawns above me. “It’s kinda late.” I suppose it is later than ponies normally stay up but I feel fine. Nevertheless I quicken my wingstrokes and soon we arrive back at my shack, Aegis giving a lazy wave and flying to his home for the night. The moss green deer bows his head and motions to the door.
I nod back and walk in, motioning for him to follow. “Thank you Wind. How have things been?” He settles down on my couch and I toss the spare pillow to him. “Thank you.”
“Mhmm. I’m sleeping now, you’d probably do good to follow in my path.” I snort tiredly and trot to my bed to collapse on it. Lazily I crawl under the sheets and kick my hindlegs free of the warmth before relaxing. The elder deer tosses and turns with little dissatisfied sighs before getting up and trotting briefly, though to where was a mystery until I feel a flop next to me on the bed. Immediately I roll slightly so he has space to be comfortable.
“Thank you...” Forest murmurs quietly before sleeping himself. Soon I too drift off to the land of dreams.
The sands swirl around in the moonlight and I force myself up, staggering weakly across the desert, wind twisting and throwing the sand abrasively through my feathers causing me to let out a low whine of pain as it rubs against my skin. I squint against the sand and trot on, slowly, painfully, hoping beyond all hope to find an oasis or the edge. Hooffall after stumbling hooffall slowly takes me further away from my home, deeper into the storm. Tears drip from my squinted eyes and I try to stop them, with no water except a canteen I’ll need all the moisture I can get. The storm slowly dies down and I raise my head timidly, searching for my home. But somehow, in the midst of that storm I travelled in I walked so far. But perhaps this is good, perhaps the storm left them and followed me. After all, it’s my fault the storm began. My fault it had persisted so long. And it was my fault the village exiled me. Though I do think being the only pegasus to be born there in a century made them view me with a bit more suspicion than they would have viewed a unicorn. I sigh and continue trudging up the dune. Eventually, after what seems like forever, I can see across the dune. More dunes, stretching on for what seems like forever. I sigh hopelessly and wander on, towards anything I thought would save me.
Suddenly my world turns to antlers and thrashing as I gasp and flounder helplessly. After a few panic riddled moments the blanket gets flung across the room and I see Forest doing his thing. Which is apparently fighting in his sleep. Go figure.
After a flurry of shouts and waking activity, we sit down around a fire, kettle on to brew tea, water boiling slowly. Whenever I glance up I see Forest sheepishly glance away, scraping at the ground quietly. The flames crackle and pop in the early morning darkness, stars still twinkling in the sky and smoke inevitably drifting into my eyes until a slight flap sends it flowing away.
“So, nightmares lately?” I glance at him quietly and stifle a yawn, ear twitching as it takes in the sounds around us.
He stammers briefly, “I-it’s never happened around another before! Usually… why is it that all the weird stuff happens around you Breeze?” I jerk and glare half-heartedly at him before slumping.
“I’m no-don’t call me Breeze. I know you’re still recovering from whatever dream you had but it’s been decades.” I prod the fire and hum quietly, unwilling to think about the memories brought up in that dream. Thoughts do come regardless, thoughts of gleaming brass clad hooves standing strong, of the endless sand that sought to steal lives from innocent ponies.
I’m brought out of my reverie by a cloven hoof waving in front of my eyes, threatening to boop my snoot. “Equus to Wind. That is what they say nowadays yes?” I frown at the aged deer, ruffling my wings in agitation as a breeze rustles through his antlers.
“I suppose it is? What are you doing here exactly? Now that I’ve shared my bed with you it’d be nice to know.” I tilt my head and stare quizzically, an eye narrowing slightly as the kettle whistles in readiness. A startled squawk escapes me as I realize the kettle’s going off and rush to make the tea, soon filling the air with the pleasant scent of jasmine.
The ancient deer chuckles and gratefully accepts the teacup with a gentle hoof. “Still at it with the tea Wind? Thought you’d have gotten bored with the hobby moons ago.” He sips it thoughtfully and sniffs curiously. “Though you are certainly better at this than you used to be.”
“You’re acting like I’m growing my own tea, which for the most part is untrue, I buy most of it. All I’m doing is boiling water and brewing it.” I sip my own and hum in satisfaction, eyes closing as the steam wafts into my nose. The crickets continue their nightly song and I breath in the crisp autumn air, ears twitching as I hear him shift around in his seat.
“What is it you do out here? Away from the rest of us? Just live like a normal pony?” He inquires with an almost meek tone, voice quiet and sober.
“I live Forest, I grow and make mistakes. Some of your friends could stand to do the same you know.” I open my eyes and stare levelly. “And they are hard to work around. Though it could be chalked up to pony is as pony does I suppose.” I take a sip of the tea, blinking again as the wind turns, rustling through the drying autumn leaves again.
He shuffles awkwardly and sips his own tea with an appreciative hum. “Good tea.” He drains the cup quickly and stands up. “Thank you for your hospitality Wind, but I must be going now” He bolts off, leaving me blinking in confusion. I sigh and set my cup down, stoking the fire quietly. A small smirk tugs at my lips as I watch the flames dance in a breeze. An ember drifts upwards and I move to catch it with a hoof, wincing from the heat, watching in interest as it grows brighter for but a brief moment, soon afterwards dying infinitesimally quick.
“Life for so many is like that I find, just drifting along in the wind, until they get caught up on something and eventually die. Life is beautiful and strange, quick but long too.” I muse and scrape the remains off of my hoof. “The last bounty… Weskins whomever they might be. Odd name for a mare for sure.” I glance back at the fire contemplatively. “Maybe it’s time to take a break. Step away from these big contracts. Maybe just take a break in general, focus on the wind and nothing more.” I sigh and stir the fire, glancing at the sky. It’s dancing with clouds and stars, the day somehow having gone by in the blink of an eye. The open door to my warm shack beckons me and I go enter, kicking out the last few flames. I enter and glance left, at the faded picture of the mint green earthpony on my shelf.
“Goodnight Mint.” I wave at it with a weary wing and climb into my bed snuggling under the covers to sleep until a new time. Because the terrifying thing about Eternity is one day looking at the love of your life and seeing an old mare, wiser and kinder than you. The cruel thing is having to bury them, and one small, infinitesimally beautiful thing is to watch those you love blossom and grow though it may be melancholy and scary when you realise they grow whether or not you’re there to see it, they change, they live . To live and to change is more divine than any so called god and it is my goal despite everything. Despite, my sacred duty of tending the winds I too seek to change. And something’s telling me my next change is here. That my next change is going to be beautiful and sad at the same time.
A small tendril slides through the window and flips the lock, leaving the window to gently push open. A solemn deer stands outside, the one referred to as Forest lowers his great head to the ground and sighs in sadness, scooping a stone up and stroking it. It starts to writhe silently as he sets it on the sill.
“Goodbye Wind… It was nice to speak again, though I wish the end result was different...” He whispers quietly as a tear drops to the ground, sparkling with a vague inner light as firebugs shine off its surface before it splashes into the ground, soaking in deep, though if you were to check that spot in 20 years, there would be a beautiful flower, sturdy and marking the spot one god betrayed another. Forest slips off quietly, leaving the stone orb to do it’s business, much more lethal than the last one, much more damaging. Later that night the wind grew to howling fierceness, ripping trees up whole from the ground, whirling in odd patterns for a couple odd twenty minutes that would be remembered by all before the wind stopped, though thankfully not for eternity.