To New Horizons

The sun dips below the horizon as your group makes it to the Apples farmhouse. The house itself was a two-story wooden farmhouse with a big red barn close by to it. The farmhouse itself had a porch with an old wooden rocking chair on it, wooden shutters on every window and a hanging planter on a couple of the second-floor windows. The house itself was painted a light tan while the roofing had black shingles, quite rare for ponyville. Residents tended to lay hay over their wooden roofs.

The barn itself was nothing really of note. It was just a big red barn with a white trim to it. You’ve been up here a few times, sometimes to visit Applejack and quite a few others to buy some barrels of apple cider for the bar. You mostly dealt with her in all of your time here, since her brother wasn't really the talkative sort. Nor could you blame him, sometimes it's nice to just wander in your own thoughts for a while.

In any case, you begin to inspect your surroundings as Applejack and Applebloom make their way onto the porch and knocks on the door. Allowing you, Eclipse and Starfire to catch up to them. You all crowd around the porch in a half circle, everypony intently waiting for instructions on how the night was to play out. Everypony knowing there’ll probably be a fight tonight, though you decide to give yourself one last run through your mental checklist.

“Sword secured?” You ask yourself as you push on your sword sheathe a little. “Check, armor?” You continue as you tug at your armor, making it a little more comfortable to wear. “Check, friends look good?” You mentally continue as you look side to side, inspecting both of your friends.

Starfire was going through her own mental checklist as she inspected and promptly tightened the string on her crossbow, while Eclipse was adjusting the saddlebag on his back and moved his right forehoof down to his right hind leg. Right where he keeps his emergency dagger. Though you couldn't directly see the dagger, you knew by the way Eclipse sighed that he did indeed bring it with him.

The sound of heavy hoofsteps could be heard inside but they sounded as though they were nowhere close to the door. Thus prompting Applejack to knock harder. You soon began your nervous habit of gently tapping the handle on your sword as you quietly hummed the lunar lullaby your mother used to sing to calm you down. Your quiet tapping keeping beat with the soothing melody.

This perked a few ears, but nopony decided to either ask you about it or stop you. You were afraid, who wouldn't be. You were probably going to encounter Timberwolves tonight, or some other creature from that damn cursed forest. But hey, you were still standing here with no plans on running away. That means something, right?

With that thought and the sound of a wooden door unlatching you silence yourself, everypony now giving the big red stallion with an orange mane, green apple cutie mark and a harness their complete and utter attention. You do the same and sit back on the dusty ground behind you, sitting at relative attention. Prompting your two companions to do the same on either side of you.

You recognize the stallion as Big Macintosh, he gave you and your guildmates a quizzical stare before transferring that stare over to Applejack, who only responded with a shrug. “Didn't think you’d hire a band of merc’s for this sis.” Big Mac stated as he glanced over at you and back to Applejack.

Before she can answer her brother, you speak. “We’re volunteers sir, not merc’s.” You state politely, attempting to maintain a professional appearance. This causes Big Macintosh to transfer his full attention back to you and your guildmates. “Well we’re happy for all the help y'all can give.” He says with a smile on his face as he looks at everypony in the half circle in the eyes. “This everypony?” Big Mac asks as he looks back to his sister.

“Eup, Rarity and Fluttershy may drop by soon, but with these three here it makes keeping an eye out just that much easier.” Applejack replies as she points a hoof towards you and your guildmates. “Right, should we err…. Wait?” Big Mac asked Applejack, causing Rainbow Dash to shift uncomfortably to your right and let out a loud groan. You glance over and see she has an impatient look across her face and her ears are down.

“Oh, seven ponies against a pack of timberwolves, nah why would we wait for the cavalry?” You think to yourself sarcastically as Applejack seems to ponder the question for a second. “Er. What about Pinky pie?” Twilight asked as she also took a seat on the ground. That name causes you to cringe, you’ve been avoiding that mare ever since you’ve come to town. Especially after your first welcome to ponyville party.

It’s not like you didn’t enjoy the party. It’s just the sound her Celestia damned party cannon that gave you a headache. Plus you don’t even remember half the ponies she introduced you too. “Oh, she was in the middle of throwing a party when I went to ask, so I decided not to bug her.” Applejack replied, causing a wave of relief flow through your body.

“And no, if anypony else shows up we’ll brief them on what we're doing. So, everypony listen up!” Applejack continued, slamming her right forehoof down hard on the wooden deck for emphasis. This causes you to give her your undivided attention. After a few seconds, she looked at the crowd of ponies around her and allowed a smirk across her face.

“Thank y’all for coming, as all of you know the orchard’s got a timberwolf problem. We don’t think there are too many of them, but I don’t want anypony getting themselves hurt because we were reckless. We also have a lot of land to keep an eye on over the night. So, we will be breaking into teams. Sky, you and your guild will set up on the hill in the northern part of the orchard.” Applejack stated as she pointed a hoof over to a hill behind you.

“It’ll allow you to see over the northern part of the orchard and down here to the Farmhouse. Rainbow, Twilight and me will keep an eye out on the southern side of the orchard, and Big Mac will stay here at the farmhouse to keep Applebloom and Granny safe. Any questions?” AppleJack finished as she adjusted her hat.

“What happens if we encounter any Timberwolves?” Eclipse asked as he looked at you then at Applejack. In that time Big Mac took it upon himself to make sure Applebloom got herself inside the small farmhouse. “Well, we’ll just have to figure out some sort of signal.” Applejack replied as she began to ponder the question.

“Doesn’t Pinkie store some fireworks in your barn sometimes?” Rainbow Dash asked as she stood up. “Ya, she does, I think she’s got a crate in there right now too.” Applejack replied with an excited smile. “Great, so we got a means of communication. If we get overwhelmed do we fall back to the farmhouse? Or lead them away?” You ask as you take a look to the northern hill. From what you could see the hill itself is covered with apple trees and foliage, in all honesty, it doesn’t seem like much of a view at all. “It won’t be easy spotting anything from up there.” You think to yourself before your question is answered.

“The moment any of us sends the signal, the other group will have to rush over to assist. If we get overwhelmed, run back to the farmhouse. That takes priority and we’ll have to defend it at all costs. I know I’m asking a lot from y’all. But my family’s in there, and leading the pack away may allow for another group of Timberwolves to stroll in while we’re away.” Applejack replied, giving you a sympathetic look.

You nod and stand up, ready to get this over with. “Any more questions?” Applejack asked, prompting a resounding no from everypony around. “Great, everypony follow me and we’ll pass out the fireworks, we should all take two of them. The first is for spotting the wolves, the second is for the retreat.” Applejack said over her shoulder as she began to walk towards her family’s barn.

You and everypony else follows Applejack. Eclipse keeps close to you on the right while Starfire hangs back a bit, attempting to strike up a conversation with Twilight and Rainbow Dash. This causes you to exchange glances with Eclipse and the two of you raise an ear in an attempt to eavesdrop.

“Looks like your stuck with us for a while longer.” Starfire teased prompting Rainbow Dash to let out a groan of annoyance. You chuckle a little at this and go back to minding your own business. But Eclipse seemingly continues to listen. It isn't that long of a walk but you find your mind starts to wander once more.

What could be up with Eclipse? He’s never been as down like that before. Sure he puts up a front around others and mostly keeps to himself but, why can’t he just talk to you? You let out a sigh as you feel both anger and sorrow well up in your chest. It breaks your heart to see your friend silently torment themselves.

Come to think about it, he’s been acting extra weird lately. Especially since he slept in this morning, he never oversleeps. Plus he did seem a bit overly exhausted and stressed this morning too. But you don’t know whether or not to attribute that to being late for work or not. Perhaps he was up late on a date with a mare or something.

But then again he never really talks about anypony in particular. Come to think of it, neither do you. Perhaps it's because talking about handsome stallions to a stallion would be rather awkward. Plus you have a pretty dangerous line of work, going out and adventuring all over the place.

Getting a gentlecolt to fall in love with you only for you never to return from an adventure is almost cruel. Or is it a romantic tragedy? You ponder this for a few more seconds before banishing that line of thought to the moon. Applejacks voice shocking you back into reality. “Y’all wait out here, I’ll go in and get the fireworks.” Applejack said as she unlatched the door to the barn and went inside.

At this point you notice Big Mac didn’t leave his spot on the farmhouse porch and that you, Rainbow, Twilight, Eclipse and Starfire are just standing in front of the barn. You accidentally make eye contact with Rainbow Dash, who takes the opportunity to give you a death glare.

You only respond with giving her a winning smile before you start to do one more last minute check of your equipment. “Sword? check, armors good, wings…. unpreened. Shit.” You whisper to yourself as you fully extend your wings to look at how bad it is, and honestly. It's not unflyable, this morning proved that. But you, in the very least want to fly with relative ease.

You give your wings a few good flaps before you look at everypony with an embarrassed blush across your face. “I’ll have to put off preening till we reach the hill. At least there I won't be doing it in front of strangers.” You think to yourself as you fold your wings back to your sides and patiently wait for Applejacks return.

“Sooo.” Twilight starts, catching everypony’s attention. “Look, I’ve only just met you three, but you seem like nice ponies, despite what others might think.” Twilight said harshly as she glared at Rainbow, who almost seemed betrayed by the comment. Despite that, she continued. “So, don’t do anything to get yourselves killed.” Twilight finished as the barn door opened again behind you.

“Wasn't planning on it,” Starfire replied as Applejack came out of the barn backward's, dragging a box of fireworks in her teeth. From there she let go of the box and looked at everypony else in the group. “Well, here we are.” She says before reaching into the box of fireworks, pulling out four fireworks with launch sticks attached to them. You trot over and grab two by the stick and hold it in your mouth.

“Now remember y’all. No heroics.” Applejack says giving you and your friends a concerned look as you trot over to Eclipse and put the fireworks in his satchel. “Ya, first sign of trouble we’ll send up the first signal. Things go south we’ll fire the second signal and come back here.” Eclipse replied as he adjusted the weight in his satchel bag.

“Great, alright everypony. Let's get to it, and thank all of y'all again. Me and Big Mac really appreciate this.” Applejack said looked all you in the eyes with a genuine smile. “Anytime AJ.” You say as you start making your way towards your assigned lookout point. “Come on guys let's get this show on the road.” You continue, prompting the rest of your party to follow behind you.

You look back to see Applejack push the box of fireworks back into the barn and watch as Twilight levitates the two remaining fireworks. This prompts you to look over at your companions on either side of you. Starfire had a smile across her face as she was humming a song into the night. Though you don’t recognize it. Eclipse still seemed a little down, or nervous and kept avoiding prolonged eye contact with you.

You begin to feel your nerves build up again as you walk further and further away from the barn. So, after listening to Starfire hum for a while. You decide to join in. Hoping that maybe a small song will calm your nerves on this bright, cool night.