Moonlight shone bright even after we arrived safely ‘home’. Below what looked to be houses decorated their healthy landscape, while a huge tree shaped crystal castle shone like-well like a gem. Wonder how long this place has been in existence, given how old fashioned the architecture is. My wings open much easier now that our landing spot is clear. Even if past incidents told me flight wasn’t alright, right now I’m far too captivated by it’s feeling to care. Should notice enough for my next target’s contact. With spontaneous force another character pulls me into a sky dance. Our hips shake, legs move as if we’re on solid ground, whoever’s in lead spins me about with top-like rotation speed, and finally catches me without any mistake. Didn’t think my brain could get any more scrambled, turns out a young hippogriff just danced with me mid-air. Oh wow she’s nothing short of cute! She flies down with me in tow, running over to greet my fellow wildlife escapees. Silverstream was dance girl’s name. Ocellus might’ve told her what occured, considering how much power is used to leap hug me. She all but screams how joyful she is for my still beating life. Mounds of light violet fuzz incite pure warmth.

The moment’s ruined upon Yona asking, “We never got pony’s name, so we can thank him properly! Yona wanna give proper thank you!” Of all things she questions my name. What makes this scenario bad is how much Caleb Summer shines like a broken neon sign in comparison alongside Soarin and Ocellus. Come on brain think of poetic words now! Our conversation is postponed upon nearby tree leaves rustling. We look over to see a deep orange/black colored mostly normal pony fall out of his perch. He gives us this look as if he’s wanted dead or alive. Before he could speak what’s presumably his red duffel bag falls out behind him and spills it’s contents. One cup rolls into Ocellus’s left foreleg.

“Isn’t that our school’s cafeteria food?”, asked Ocellus. When our guilty person is given the spotlight he runs without hesitation. Yona herself quickly corners him between all four of us.

“Okay, okay, you caught me. You won’t get much for turning me in, there’s no reward considering how I only recently arrived here.”, that statement wholly catches my attention. While the students discussed whether or not he should be turned in, I pull him aside for a very specific question. “...Yeah, I got sent down via a lightning bolt. Why are you asking?”, he asked clearly inquisitive about where such a question came from. Step by step we tell each other what happened once flight A-36 crash landed.

Similar in how my experience went, he woke up on a mountainside surrounded by charred earth. Unlike me he didn’t catch anyone else and therefore no rescue party. Pain kept him paralyzed there for around two days until finally he could move his body. Up till now he’s been wandering around what’s called Everfree Forest, avoiding local flora and fauna while taking whatever his claws deemed edible. Today he got tired of random chance if he finds genuine food, and chose to steal from a school. Whoever this guy was back then, he must not have gained much common sense. He admits to stealing another passenger’s ticket for an escape from authorities. Explains why he shifted in his seat.

When the students return with their verdict, they decide on a warning in place of actual charges. An eye roll later he leaves duffel bag in claw.

“My name’s...Brave Summer by the way.”, my words were prior to chasing after my fellow survivor. “So where are you going from here? We don’t exactly have any places to call home.”

“No, but hey I’ve heard of a place where griffons live. Maybe I’ll go there? Unless you have a reset day button somewhere.”, he grins upon finishing that last line. Pilots don’t know much if anything regarding their passengers, since they’re only flying one way. "By the way, how's everyone else? Rare as it may be if we survived, surely other's did as well?"

"...About that, see a filly back up on Cloudsdale said the electrical storm that brought us here continued beyond into what's referred to as 'The Badlands'. In short, I have no idea where the other passengers are, sorry." No words are exchanged for the longest time. It seems as though my response has left him speechless. His wings suddenly unfold, nearly hitting me in the process.

"As farfetched as this may sound, why don't we look for them? You know, considering we don't have any other plans.", he clearly wouldn't have in any other circumstance. My options were either A) Follow this guy who I just met on a round-the-world search and rescue mission, or B) Wander about until eventually insanity settles after living nomad style for so long.

"Sure, consider me your partner in crime.", now let's hope those missing passengers can stay alive for rescue.

Our conversation is interrupted by Silverstream suddenly jumping up to hug us. She exclaims how amazing it is to meet new creatures! Then pulls us back for an official introduction. We’re introduced properly between Yona, Ocellus, and finally Silverstream in person. Turns out Ocellus is a ‘changeling’, strange race of insectoid entities who can shapeshift at command. She demonstrates this by taking my form. Kind of creepy since only her eyes gave her disguise away. Yona smiles and shakes my hoof, followed by my friend. When our new hippogriff acquaintance meets up with me we dance mid-air once more. Only this time we ascend high above dense clouds. As luck would have it I’m thrust head first into a peaceful starry view. We fly as if we’d never heard of gravity. My heart fires enough power for an entire house. Upon passing through a particular cloud we’re splashed from top to bottom in water. Only thing keeping me sane in our sky waltz is my wings.

Now you may ask why this hasn’t broken me, from beginning until this very moment. It hasn’t because this story isn’t traumatic by any definition. Sure it’s ridiculous in every sense, but still it’s enjoyable enough that it doesn’t scare me. Basically my only problem is that it seems false.

Our scene closes with an unusually silent landing. Neither party moves even slightly, for whatever reason. We've come quite a ways from stranger to dancing carelessly without second guessing our steps. Can anything be said right now? With another backward movement she trips on something. At first my concern was on Silverstream considering how she just tripped on...Malcolm?!

Author's Note

Please alert me if anyone here is out of character. It would help tremendously considering how often I'm late to catching up on the show.