Swift Wanderings

I was awakened late the next morning, the sun shining in my eyes. I groaned.

That’s the last time I stay up that late.

I rolled over onto my stomach, and gathered my legs under myself. I had slept under the stars that night, the fire warming me enough to remove the need for a tent. Said fire was nothing but embers now, with just the barest hint of heat remaining.

I smothered the fire, making certain that it was completely out. A fire here would be devastating, as young pine trees were practically explosive, and I’m not making that up at all. Young pines are full of sap, which make them very flexible, but also risking combustion. The sap can heat up and evaporate, and the result is disastrous.

So yeah, making sure all fires go out is definitely a priority.

That said, I double checked the fire, and, finally satisfied, I began my climb. I had about two hours of climbing to go until I could reach the settlement.

I leapt up, and gripped the mountain, scrabbling for tiny hoofholds.

***

I had been climbing for about two hours. My muscles clenched under the strain as I hauled myself up one final time, coming to rest behind a small village built into a cliffside. It wasn’t long before I was noticed.

A long-legged earth pony colt ran over to me. He pulled me to my feet, shouting. “Hey, everypony! The Traveler's’ back!”

Heads popped up all over the village. “Say what?”

“The Traveler’s back!”

The exclamations ‘she is?’ and ‘no way!’ ‘How come?’ came from almost every house and echoed in me ears.

An older pony walked over to me. He was a large draft stallion, with a chocolate brown coat and blue eyes.

“The Traveler! Tis’ nice to see you again! Come, have a drink. On me.”

I flashed him a cheeky grin. “Hospitable as ever, Tiller. You know I don’t drink, but I have stories to share, things to trade, and ponies to meet.”

He smiled knowingly, leading me to the village’s bar as everycreature else waved as I passed. I bugged me a bit that all of the ponies in this village still said ‘everypony’. I wouldn’t want to be rude though. Besides their choice of words, they were all very considerate, and knew I’d only want to chat with them once I’d gotten some rest. Instead they simply watched, ready to wait until tomorrow for round of stories.

The Smokey Mountain Settlement was a bit remote, but these ponies were some of the most courteous that you’ll ever meet. I followed after Tiller to the local tavern, where he pulled me up a stool. The barkeep did a double take when she saw me.

“Ah! The Traveler! You’re back!”

“Nice to see you again, Apple Cider. How’s the orchard?” I asked. The Apple family had branches everywhere, but I was a bit surprised when I ran into her about four years back. For a town as remote as this, it was fairly diverse as far as family trees go, although the earth ponies far outnumbered the unicorns and pegasi.

Cider resumed polishing the large cup settled between her hooves, her honey-yellow coat shining in the sunlight.

“It’s going really well! Those saplings you brought are helping tons. Here, this is our first batch of non-alcoholic cider.” She slid a smaller mug over the counter.

I picked it up, and took a sip. After it touched my tongue, I set it on the table slowly, keeping a straight face.

“I-is it good?”

I looked her eyes, a serious expression plastered across my muzzle.

“I-if you don’t like it, I’m sure I could find-”

“What is this, and how can I drown myself in it?”

Tiller doubled over, clutching his stomach and laughing.

“Traveler got you good!”

Cider smacked me with her cloth, her face was scrunched up like a squeezed sponge, and I could tell she was trying not to chuckle as she spoke.

“That wasn’t nice!”

I wheezed, trying to catch a breath in between fits of laughter.

“-is n-now a bad time to t-t-tell you that I need a place to stay? Ha, ha!”

“Yes!” she said, her cheeks puffed indignantly. She managed to hold her facet of anger for about a minute, before she broke. “Fine. You can stay with me, as always.”

“Thank you. Well, it was great seeing you ponies again, but I have to go find Bluebell.”

“What for?” Cider asked, a curious expression on her face.

“I have stories, and I might as well tell them, an I know how much she likes them, even the more boring ones that I like to share, even if no creature would want to hear it.” With that, I hopped off the barstool and trotted out, my lion tail trailing behind me.

It was a pleasant, sunny day, and I smiled as I trotted down the road.

“Traveler!” I turned my head to see a small unicorn filly running up to me. Behind her was a pegasus colt, and an adult unicorn carrying a picnic basket.
“Tell us a story!” She begged.

“Yeah! Tell us a story!” The colt fluttered his little wings.

I looked to the unicorn, smiling.

“Not gonna save me, Bluebell?” I teased.

She shrugged. “I want a story too.”

I cantered over to a nearby tree. “Well, sit down and I’ll tell you one. I guess I’ll need an exciting one, not the one I planned in my head. Give me a moment . . . Ah!

“Once upon a time, there lived a an amazingly excitable pegasus. She was beautiful, and very kind, but only felt in her element with her artwork. She drew day in and day out, surrounding herself with beautiful things. She loved her work, bet she felt unsatisfied.

“So, she went to ask her grandmother what to do. The pegasus’ grandmother was an old soothsayer, so she was very wise in the ways of the world. She told the pegasus to welcome the next traveler that came to her doorstep, and invite them inside for tea.

“The pegasus was quite confused by her grandmother’s advice, but she resolved to follow it anyhow. So, when she was awakened early the next morning by a knocking, she invited the traveler in for tea.

“The traveler proved to be a wonderful companion, so when the traveler left, they promised to keep in touch, and as the pegasus watched her traveler leave, she felt complete, knowing that she’d made a forever friend.

“Now, I know this is one of my shortest stories, but I must say, it’s my favorite.”

“Hey Traveler?” The little filly asked, her curls bobbing.

“Yes?” I responded.

“What’s a forever friend?”

“It’s an older term,” I replied, “It means a really close friend that you’ll never forget, ever.”

They bid me goodbye. The sun was beginning to set, so I made my way to Apple Cider’s house. She wouldn’t be home until very late, but she kept a key under the mat. I let myself in, gently shutting the door behind myself.

I went to her kitchen, thinking that I’d just fix myself a quick dinner, and crash in her guest room. That was not to be the case, as her cupboards were bare. Cider had never been one for cooking, but this was a new low.

“This won’t do at all.”

I walked out the door.

***

About twenty bits poorer, I trotted back in two hours later. My saddlebags were full of various vegetables, butter, and a few spices.

I grabbed a frying pan with my tail and started chopping with my forehooves. The sun was just touching the horizon as I finished chopping. The frying pan I’d set on the stove sizzled nicely as I dropped small slices of butter in.

Time flew by as I fried the vegetables, set the table, and ate my portion. The sun had been down for at least an hour now, and I was exhausted. I left Cider’s portion on the table, and popped the rest in her small fridge.

I stumbled into her guest bedroom, and flopped down onto the bed. I reached for my saddlebags, and groaned as the realization hit me.

I left them in the kitchen, Celestia dang it.

I grunted, relishing the softness of the sheets for a second more, and rolled out of bed to go grab them.
I was soon back to the bedroom, the picture of Joy clenched firmly between my teeth.

“Good night.”