Alone

Eff had never been so isolated and alone before.

He couldn't help but laugh to himself as he began to speak. “This didn't seem so far on the map... said the pony to the wild...”

He sighed and walked on. A few hours later he squinted and was finally able to see a settlement on the horizon. It caused his slow-paced walk to turn into a brisker gallop. He had supplies to last on his own for weeks, but nothing would sate him more than a hayburger.

The thing about the roads that far north was that due to the flatness and the lack of any landmarks that could be used as a scale, no matter how long he trotted, the settlement didn't seem to get any closer. Frustrated, he went from a trot to a canter, then to a full gallop. The pony and cart shot along the tundra, but it would take him two more hours until he finally reached the outpost. Panting as he swooned back and forth upon reaching the small general store/diner, he sat down next to his cart, trying to catch his breath.

“Well, well – most people take the airship. Not many would trek so long.”

Eff turned to look at an old crystal pony who nodded to him and offered him a large bottle of water. “I saw you galloping here. Don't you know that distances are deceiving up here in the Yukon? I’d say that you saw us from about twenty miles away, give or take. That’s the problem with flat land and a high tower – it gives the perception of proximity.”

The crystal pony walked back into the general store and, after a few more minutes of catching his breath, Eff Stop unhooked from the cart and followed.

The medium-sized building wasn't so much a general store as much as it was the one main focal-point of the town, if it could even be called that. On one end of the building there was the general store, which sold primarily repair items, spare wheels, and programmable comm crystals. The center area had food, but it was a limited menu – something basic for herbivores, something basic for carnivores and generic love gel for those that needed a little boost for a last push to the Crystal Kingdom. While those two areas caught his attention only weakly, what did catch his interest was the lounge that had a few locals and travelers resting... and one medium-sized diamond dog standing up in his chair waving at him, which instantly put Eff Stop on edge.

“You! I have been waiting for you! Tired earth pony in the Northern Lands!” The rather feminine-looking diamond dog jumped over the chair, but his leg caught the backrest and he fell flat on his face.

Eff was able to make out more of the diamond dog as he lay there. His fur was splotched black and white, and was of medium length around most of his body but grew out around his ears. Once he turned over, Eff noted that the diamond dog had very deep blue eyes and black nose. His mouth was curved into a smile as his ears twitched and swiveled a few times.

“Allo! I am Zeitnehmer, but you can call me Zei for short!” The diamond dog rolled up onto his feet and stood with his paw extended out toward the pony.

Eff Stop frowned slightly but still shook the dog’s hand with his hoof. “First off – I’m pretty sure everyone that comes through is tired. But why did you say you have been waiting for me?”

The diamond dog shook his head “Ah... Temporalists know all! See all!” He waved his hands back and forth dramatically.

Eff frowned. “Then how come you didn't see yourself falling onto the ground?”

The diamond dog paused for a second. “...I can’t see everything!”

Eff Stop laughed and, for the first time in a few hundred miles, he smiled.

#

The two were sitting down in the lounge area as one bit into a hayburger and the other chowed down on a chicken salad. Eff Stop was enjoying his meal but soon the casual conversation died down. It was then that he started to ask questions.

“So... Temporalist, huh?” he asked between bites.

“Well, yeah. You know how almost everyone tends to follow one of the immortals? Generally everyone aligns themselves with something. Solarists align themselves with Celestia. Lunarists align themselves with Luna, and Harmonists align themselves with Twilight. Equestria proper is roughly split between those three. Then of course you have the Martialists that follow Shining Armor. Most griffons love him. Amorists, those that follow Cadance – that’s the crystal ponies and some changelings. Most changelings believe in the great circle. You have the Temporalists – those that follow Destined's works. Then on the fringe you have those that follow Discord, and those that follow only science, logic and reason – the Logicians.” Zei grinned and took another bite of his salad.

“Yes.... thank you for that overview.” The earth pony rolled his eyes. “You talk like I didn't know that.”

The diamond dog just grinned and looked off into the distance. “You knew it, but there are those that did not.” He shook his head a few times before he leaned forward onto the table and placed a strangely shaped crystal on the surface. The dog mumbled a few words and the device rose and hovered. It started to spin quickly and a strange tangle of lines and nodes formed and dissipated in a regular pattern causing him to frown slightly.

“Hey, Eff... are you heading south toward Luna Bay?”

“Hmm... well I should be going right by it on my way down south. Why do you ask?”

The diamond dog looked over to the Earth pony with a grin. “Oh, I was just thinking that I could go with you down south and keep you company on the long trip. Never know what could happen on the journey you know?” He wasn't being all that subtle as the dog scooted next to Eff Stop and one of his paws moved down to rub one of the pony’s shoulders.

“You're about as subtle as a lead pipe.” Eff let out a deep sigh. “But all subtext aside, it would be nice not to have to be alone for the next few weeks. Get your stuff and put in my cart. We can head out tomorrow.”

Zei let out a happy yip as he grabbed the earth pony and swung him around a few times. “Yay! I’ll be right back!” He took off, leaving a dizzy pony on the chair.

“I hope this doesn't bite me in the ass...”

Author's Note

I know right?
Long time no update.
I am finally getting my writing groove back so I might update more than once every few months.
We are actually pretty close to seeing the first clop chapter. Here is hoping I don't utterly wreck it.
I tend not to write clop for a reason.

As always, all glory to Goldfur the editor.