Finding Home

by Phoebe Fireworks

Rating: teen
Tags: Princess Luna, Drama, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Romance, Adventure
Length: 11279

A pony's quiet life is turned upside down, and they must find out who they really are, and where they belong.

Mystic lives a quiet life in a small village. Despite being comfortable and safe, something always felt off. When the chance comes to explore, it becomes more than Mystic ever expected to handle. But with the help of a few new friends, the unknown becomes a little less scary, and a bright future might just be within reach.

Published 2018-07-26 02:30:01 UTC
Last updated 2019-07-31 10:00:44 UTC

Chapter 1: Be Careful What You Wish For

Walking through the Everfree Forest at night was somehow both relaxing and unnerving.

On the one hoof, I felt a bit safer because it was a bright, moonlit night, so I could see my surroundings well enough. It was also very quiet, but not the eerie, silent kind of quiet. I could hear small animals scurrying around in the brush, the chirping of crickets, and the rustling of trees in the wind. Everything simply seemed at peace.

On the other hoof, I was still quite nervous, and not just because of what might be lurking in the forest. What would I do once I got to Ponyville? Would anyone there help me, or would they chase me away too? Should I go back and help my family? There were so many questions, but the closest thing I had to an answer was my mother’s instructions, so I continued down the trail.

After a few more minutes of bumping into branches and bushes, I stumbled into a large clearing. I brushed myself off as best I could and found the small hill where my parents and I would come to stargaze. As good a spot to rest as any.

I took off my saddlebags and set them down, leaving only my new jacket. I took a moment to look it over. The jacket was made from a strong, dark blue fabric with silver accents. Beautiful, but still practical. I couldn’t have asked for anything better. Ori had really gotten it right.

Finally taking a moment to look up, the night sky was breathtaking, a welcome reprieve from the troubles down here. A sea of stars and a brilliant purple nebula seemed to perfectly align above the clearing. It was spectacular, and admittedly quite hard to look away from. For a few minutes, I was content to simply sit there and contemplate things, and I soon found myself lost in thought…

Earlier that day…

I felt like a failure, a disappointment in every sense of the word.

Honestly, I had thought it a minor setback at first, but as I left the school, the gravity of the situation hit me.

I was probably the only unicorn in the history of Hoofington to fail the magical aptitude test. It wasn’t even a hard test; it was just a couple of simple spells to make sure that you had learned the basics of controlling your magic. One could compare it to a basic flight test for pegasi. Since it was so easy, those who didn’t do very well were generally looked down upon, but I had never heard of anypony failing.

The funny thing was, both of my parents were unicorns, and had jobs that pretty much revolved around magic. My dad was the doctor at the local medical clinic, which required a lot of precise magic. Mom worked as a cook at the cafe, where she would often have to multi-task.

And then there was me, who couldn’t seem to do any magic at all. This wasn’t about botching spells or unstable power levels. I just seemed to lack the ability entirely, producing only a spark or two even when trying my hardest.

I also didn’t have my cutie mark yet, but that had never really bothered me. I had always assumed I would get it when my magic started to work. After failing the test so spectacularly, though, it didn’t seem likely that I would get either of them anytime soon.

It certainly wasn’t for lack of effort. I had read the books on magic my dad could get from the village library, but it was useless because they all relied on the assumption that you could do the basic spells. It was disheartening to study and know the theory, but only produce a whopping amount of nothing.

“Hey. Something wrong?”

I turned to face the familiar voice, and instantly cheered up a little. It was my friend Orange Spear, going about her mail route. The pegasus and I had met shortly after she moved to Hoofington about two years ago. Strangely enough, we had the same mane and coat colour, an odd conversation starter that turned into a wonderful friendship.

I gave a weak smirk. “Was it that obvious?”

“Yeah, what with you standing there for the last five minutes looking like someone tore your jacket.”

I shuddered at the thought. That worn old red jacket had been through a lot with me. I never left home without it.

She prodded me, a light jab to the side. “What’s up? Oh, didn’t you have that test today?”

I wasn’t sure how to tell her. Orange was a great friend, but she would try to fix this, even if nothing could be done.

Just tell her the truth. You owe her that much.

I hung my head and sighed. “I might not have done so well on it…”

“I’m sure it can’t have been that bad. What did you get?” she asked, a hint of worry in her voice.

“Zero. Nothing. I-I couldn’t do any of the spells. I failed.”

Before I could get another word out, a pair of hooves wrapped around my neck in a tight hug.

“I’m so sorry, Mystic,” she said softly, “I know how much it meant to you.”

“It’s alright. I didn’t stand much chance anyways.”

She pulled back and looked at me curiously. “Why would you think so?”

“I’m nearly a young adult, and years of studying haven’t gotten me any closer to so much as a basic levitation spell, but fillies and colts can cast them left and right. Do you know how useless that mak-”

Orange was glaring daggers at me, and I realized that it would be in my best interests to promptly zip it.

“Don’t you ever call yourself useless, Mystic,” she said in a quiet, menacing voice. “You’re a great pony, and my best friend. There is nothing wrong with you.”

“I… I wish that were true, but I’m missing the thing that makes unicorns special.”

“Magic isn’t what makes you special. You’ll find it eventually, but every unicorn has magic. It’s who you are, not what you can do, that makes you special, Mystic.”

Perhaps this wasn’t such a big deal after all, since Orange liked me regardless. I still couldn’t shake those nagging thoughts of failure, though they were a bit easier to deal with now.

“Thanks, Ori,” I said, “Not sure what I’d do without you.”

She punched me halfheartedly. “Aww, you know you’d fall apart without me. Us colour buddies gotta stick together, after all! So, what are you gonna do now?”

“Well, I have to go home at some point and tell my parents,” I said, already dreading the inevitable discussion.

“I mean in general. Maybe you should try your hoof at something other than magic. You’ve been focused on it for Celestia knows how long.”

Maybe she was right. I couldn’t recall the last time I had done something that had nothing to do with magic.

“Let me ask you this,” she continued, “Have you ever thought about leaving Hoofington? I hate myself for suggesting it, because I love hanging out with you, but maybe a change of scenery could help you find what you’re meant to do.”

“I’m staying right here. I’ll find my special talent eventually, but I won’t just wander off and leave you here.”

“That’s sweet of you to say, but I don’t want to be the only reason that you stay here. I’m a grown mare, Mystic; I can handle myself. At least consider it.”

I didn’t want to admit it, but it was starting to sound like a tempting idea. The thought of meeting new ponies and seeing new places excited me the more I thought about it. Still, that would mean leaving Hoofington, my parents, and really, everything I knew.

And of course, Orange, even though she insisted she’d be fine. I knew she wasn’t the most sociable of ponies, and Hoofington wasn’t the most welcoming town. Even if you had been there your whole life, like I had.

A gentle prod in the side took me out of my thoughts.

Orange frowned. “Don’t go getting all down again. I know that look.”

“Fine, you win. I’ll consider leaving. It’s just a lot to think about.”

“You don’t have to decide right now, silly. Cheer up! You’ve got plenty of time. Why don’t we hang out tonight and take your mind off it?”

That always brightened my day a little. “Sure. How about I meet you at the park at sunset?”

“Sounds like a plan. Good luck with your parents, Mystic!” Orange trotted off to finish her mail route, and I started up the path home.

And what a path it was. No matter how many times I walked it, I never tired of it. The bushes and grass that lined the path gave it a sense of privacy and peacefulness that I had always appreciated.

I stopped at the lookout point halfway up the path and sat for a minute to take in the view. The fading afternoon had cast a dazzling array of oranges and yellows that mixed in with the light-blue sky and painted the otherwise plain clouds. It was the sort of sky you could stare at for hours.

I started thinking of what I might tell my parents. I didn’t have it in me to lie to them, despite the temporary relief it might bring. There was really nothing to say other than, “I failed.”

Maybe I had to let that go for a minute. Sure, I failed, but what was I going to do about it?

What else could I do, though? I liked the idea of trying something new, but where would I begin? Would I just start trying random things? Baking, gardening, eyeglass repair?

A sudden, familiar itch derailed my train of thought. Fortunately, my home wasn’t too much further. I hurried my pace and, after a couple more minutes of walking, finally made it.

It was a small two-level wooden home, like many in Hoofington, and I had lived here with my parents for as long as I could remember. Staying outside for a moment, I took a breath to collect myself and calm down, and then I opened the door and walked in.

By now, the itch was almost overwhelming, and I all but tore off my jacket to fix it. It was the usual culprit. or culprits, I should say: a pair of feathery appendages I’d had since I was born. I had once thought they might be wings, but a few examinations from my dad and a few failed attempts at getting off the ground had long since put an end to that theory.

They’d get itchy and sore every few days, but a bit of stretching usually did the trick. It was like having to get up and stretch your haunches after a long while of sitting.

They were also the reason I had to wear my jacket everywhere. I didn’t understand when I was younger, but I came to realize that the ponies in this village did not like different. They already talked about my magic (or lack thereof), so I could only imagine how they’d react to my deformities.

Once the itch had been settled, I was immediately blasted with the delicious scent of baked goods. My mom, Radiant Dawn, had a bit of a sweet tooth and always seemed to be making one dessert or another. I would happily be the taste-tester, of course.

“Mystic? Is that you, dear?” I heard her voice call from the kitchen.

“Yeah, it’s me!” I called. “What are you making? It smells awesome!”

“Come and see!”

I was intrigued. I trotted into the kitchen to see the orange unicorn standing in front of the oven with a knowing grin, and her golden yellow mane and tail just barely blocking the view of the treats inside.

She stepped aside. “Surprise! I made some of your favourite chocolate-banana muffins!”

“Right on! Thanks Mom, but what’s the occasion? You never make these.”

“Well, I thought you deserved something in honour of your big test today, especially given how hard you’ve been working lately in your studies.”

My stomach filled with ice, and my smile faltered for a second. Mom had always seemed to believe that some day before the test, my magic would simply start working. It hurt to have to tell her the truth, but I was prepared to trade a few painful minutes now for long-term comfort later.

“Well, don’t keep me in suspense! How’d you do?” she asked, her smile growing.

“Not so well.”

“Oh, that’s alright dear, a pass is still a pass after all. Seventy? Seventy-five?”

I sighed and braced myself. “Actually, I got zero. I failed completely.”

We stood there for a moment in silence, and I could almost hear my mom’s smile slowly deflating like a balloon.

“I’m sorry, Mom. I tried my best, honest. I guess today just wasn’t the day.”

She sighed, scratching the back of her head. “It’s alright, dear. We’ll figure it out.”

I breathed a small sigh of relief. With one hurdle cleared, only one remained. My dad, Healing Touch. Honestly, I was more worried about his reaction than anypony else. He had always believed in me and done everything he could to help me study and practice. Since he was the only doctor at the local clinic, he usually worked long hours, but always found time to help me. So, he had a lot riding on my results too.

Of course, it also depended on what kind of day he had had at the clinic. I had volunteered to help him out a couple times, and quickly learned why he came home stressed sometimes. No two patients were the same. Some could be so unpleasant, though they knew enough to be civil when somepony was helping them, even if it was me.

After thinking about what I would say to him, I spent the next hour rather productively. I would normally study once I got home, but that seemed unhelpful now. Instead, I opted to help my mother make supper and do some other odd chores, during which I may have demolished the entire tray of muffins.

What?

They’re good.

We had finished setting the table for supper when we heard the front door slam rather hard. I trotted into the living room to see my dad standing at the door with somewhat of a cold glare on his face.

“H-hey, Dad,” I said nervously.

“Son,” he said curtly, patting some dust and dirt from his grey coat.

If his expression wasn’t a clue, then his quiet, cold tone was. Perhaps telling him could wait a bit.

“How was your day?”

“Good, until about an hour ago.”

Our awkward little conversation was interrupted by Mom calling us for supper. As it turned out, Mom had thoughtfully made Dad’s favourite meal, spaghetti and wheatballs, so he cheered up a little.

However, it made things no less awkward at the dinner table. We all sat quietly, with nothing but the sounds of eating to disturb the silence. Mom decided to break the ice first.

“So, honey, what happened at work today?”

Dad immediately stopped eating and glanced around the table. After a moment of silence, he began. “Before I continue, you should know that I’m not mad at either of you in the slightest, so please don’t be nervous.”

Mom and I traded a quick look, and she nodded at me. Now was as good a time as ever.

“We know, Dad,” I said, “It’s just that I… I failed the magical aptitude test today.”

He didn’t even miss a beat. “I know.”

“I’m really sorry, and I-,” My train of thought was quickly derailed. “Wait, you know?”

“I think you may have underestimated how fast gossip travels around town, my boy,” he said with a chuckle. “Of course, it also might have helped that your teacher dropped by the clinic to tell me.”

I took a moment to think. So, Dad knew, and he hadn’t taken it as badly as I’d thought.

“If it helps, I tried my best,” I said.

Dad’s frown turned to a gentle smile for a moment. “I know, Mystic, and that’s all anypony can ask of you.” His smile faltered again. “But it would seem that Mrs. Quill isn’t as understanding, if our conversation was any indication.”

I didn’t like where this was going.

Mom adopted a similar frown. “What did she say, dear?”

He ran his hooves through his short brown mane and took a deep breath. “Well, it started out pleasant enough, but then she said I should help you practice more and that you should start studying at home, which—”

“What, really?” I interrupted. “I’ve studied so much over the last couple years, and you’ve helped me whenever you had a free moment. Doesn’t she know us at all?”

“Which is exactly what I said to her,” Dad continued, “But, instead of admitting she was wrong and trying to help figure out another solution, she decided to take the cheap route and insult you.”

Mom furrowed her brows in anger for a moment before calming down.

“What did she say?” I asked. I figured I knew what was coming, but I was still curious anyways.

“I really would rather not say, though we ended up using some rather choice language.”

“Dad, please just tell me. I’m a big pony. I can take it.”

“It’s not that, it’s just”—he sighed and rested his head in his hooves— “we never wanted this kind of thing to happen.”

At the mention of ‘we’, I glanced over at Mom to find her giving me a sympathetic look. Something felt odd about that moment, though I couldn’t quite place my hoof on it.

“Well,” I sighed, “I can’t say I like the current situation, but it is what it is, so why mope about it?”

The table fell quiet for a few moments as we finished our supper. After Dad and I washed the dishes and cleaned up, we all sat back down at the table, with one topic clearly at the forefront of everypony’s mind.

Again, Mom was the first to break the silence. “So, what should we do now?”

Dad gave her a quizzical look. “You mean right now, or in general?”

“Both.”

“Well, I figured Mystic and I could go study for a few hours, then we could all hit the sack early tonight.”

“Actually, Dad,” I said, “If it’s alright, Orange and I were going to hang out.”

Dad turned to me with a warm grin. “It’s not like the books are going anywhere. Go ahead, son. We can just study tomorrow instead.”

I took a deep breath. “If you don’t mind, can we maybe… lay off the magic for a while?”

His eyes narrowed the tiniest bit, and the grin fell off his face. “What do you mean?”

I had imagined this conversation many times over the past few hours, going through all the possible outcomes in my head, but that didn’t make it any less nerve-wracking now.

There was no turning back, though. “I mean for the foreseeable future. Maybe I’m just not meant to use magic.”

His small frown changed into a sudden look of confusion. “Don’t give up so easily, son. I’m sure that you’ll get it after just a few more days of practice.”

“How long have we been saying that? A couple of years now? Besides, I never said I was giving up. Even if I was, I think I’d have good reason to. Several years of studying and trying to use magic seems like a decent try at the very least, don’t you think? I just want to try something different for a while.”

He sat quietly for a minute before speaking again. “I guess I can understand that, but you’re being awfully vague about this. Was there something you wanted to try?”

I wavered over whether to tell him about Orange’s suggestion, then decided to press my luck. “Well, when Orange and I were talking this afternoon, she said that I might want to consider going to another town for a while.”

Mom and Dad both looked a little shocked, but I quickly continued to try and lessen the blow. “I was surprised when she first said it. But after thinking it over, I like the idea. I could meet new ponies, try new things, and see new places. It might help me with my magic, and I’m pretty much guaranteed to get my cutie mark.”

The awkward silence came back with a vengeance. Dad’s expression was unreadable, and Mom just looked nervous.

“W-Well,” Mom stammered. “I, uh…w-we don’t really think… see, the thing is that we, uh-”

Dad cut her off with a wave of his hoof. “How about we talk about this in the morning, son?”

Okay, something was up. Mom always had something to say, and Dad never liked putting things off. So, why would they pick now of all times to be speechless and evasive?

Whatever the reason, I didn’t want to wait to talk about this. Ever since I had talked with Orange, the idea of trying something new had stuck itself in my brain and wouldn’t let go.

“Why can’t we talk about this now?” I protested. “We’re already talking about it, and it’s nowhere near bedtime.”

After another moment of silence, Dad spoke up again.

“First of all,” he said with a stern glare, “since Orange gave you the idea just this afternoon, I’m willing to bet you haven’t thought this through much. Where would you go? Where would you stay? What would you eat? It’s a big world out there, son. You can’t just grab saddlebags and start walking.”

“I get that, Dad, but that doesn’t explain why you two are acting so strange all of a sudden.”

“I-I just don’t think you’re ready for this sort of thing.”

Dad seemed to be as nervous as Mom now.

“Maybe not,” I said, “but what else am I supposed to do? Go back to reading books and trying to practice for hours on end?”

“Yes, because hard work and perseverance are what get you places son, not gallivanting off”—he waved his hoof around for emphasis— “on some silly adventure.”

I groaned and used a hoof to rub my temple. “Let me put it another way. If a patient had a severe illness, and your treatment wasn’t working, would you keep trying the same thing?”

That earned me a glare from both for some reason.

Mom cut in, her voice slightly shaky. “There’s nothing wrong with you, Mystic. Please don’t ever think that.”

I had to do a double take at that. “Whoa, what? That wasn’t even the point I was trying to make. I’m just saying you would try something else, a different method. I want to try something new, because what we’re doing now is very clearly not working.”

Dad seemed to be lost for words, so we simply stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity. He didn’t seem willing to back down, but neither was I, and our wordless conversation continued until we heard a quiet sniffle.

We both glanced over to see Mom looking down at the table, seemingly on the verge of tears. “P-Please, don’t fight over this. It’s not worth it…” she choked out.

“Radiant, it’s alright,” my father sighed, rubbing her back. “We’re not mad at each other. We’re both just a little stubborn. I guess you certainly got that from me, son,” he chuckled.

“Yeah, it seems that way,” I said, trying not to grin. “Look, I’m not happy about it, but if this really bothers you that much, I can drop it.”

Mom seemed to brighten up a bit. “Thank you. Look, sweetie, I know this is important to you, but can you do us a big favour and just wait until tomorrow? Your father and I need some time to talk about this. Why don’t you try and forget all this heavy stuff for a bit and just go have fun with Orange?”

“I’d be glad to,” I said while standing up. “See you later!”

As I made my way out the door, I heard them call for me one last time.

“Be back before midnight!” The usual curfew, of course.

With a welcome distraction waiting for me, I started down the path to the rest of the village.

A gentle breeze drifted by, helping me focus. I tried to simply enjoy the sunset as I walked. The small remaining strip of yellow and orange light highlighted the horizon, even as the deep blues of the night filled the rest of the sky.

I took that as a sign to hurry up and set off at a brisk trot. I quickly made my way through the main section of Hoofington, only stopping in front of the school to contemplate things. I wondered how I would manage to face the others again when I went back tomorrow. Though they were usually content to leave me alone, failing the magical aptitude test wasn’t something anypony could ignore.

Come on, Mystic. Here and now. There’s somepony waiting for you.

I shook my head and focused, but for whatever reason, everything felt different now. Like something had shifted.

Maybe it was just me.

Author's Note

Hey there! Welcome to the story, and thank you for reading this far!

This is the beginning of a long journey, one that I do hope you stick around for. The prospect of bringing this story to others has kept me going on dark days, and made all of the hard work worth it. I even commissioned a custom plush of the main character to remind me of what I'm working towards.

My perfectionism has kept me from publishing this until now, despite having started on it all the way back in 2012. Luckily, with the help and encouragement of friends in the community, the day has finally come. Major credit to my friend and editor Boogie Hooves for his role in helping this story see the light of day.

If you didn't know already, I like to do digital illustration in addition to writing, so I plan on adding a few illustrations to each chapter. I had set a goal to publish this first chapter in time for BronyCon 2018, which I did accomplish. However, due to time crunch and work, I was not able to complete the chapter illustrations in time for publishing, so I'll be adding those soon. Keep an eye out for them!

Some of you may already see a few major cliches coming. I do apologise if they are not to your taste, and I will just say that the last few years have given me a good amount of insight into handling them in a tasteful way.

But in the end, this is a story I have wanted to tell since I joined the community, and I will see it through. For those wish to come along for the ride, I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it.

Chapter 2: Unexpected

Friendship is Magic: A Change of Destinies

Chapter Two: Unexpected

Soon enough, I got to the park and found the tree where Orange was sitting. She waved me over with a smile.

“Hey there, slowpoke! Come on, park your flank.”

With a dull thud, I sat and turned to watch the sunset with her. Orange had found a pretty good seat for it.

I took a moment to catch my breath. “So, what should we do?”

“Well, I hate to be a downer, but I’m kind of wiped after the mail route. Can we just sit here for a little while?”

“Works for me.”

If I was going to ask her out, this seemed like a good place to do it. I glanced over at Orange. I don’t know what it was, but there was something different about her tonight. She was looking out at the horizon with a lovely, serene smile, and her eyes were at the perfect angle to have the colours of the sunset reflected in them.

“Beautiful, huh?”

“Yeah.” I mumbled absentmindedly.

Her smile grew a little larger, and she looked over at me. Our eyes met, and we both clued in to what had just happened. I coughed and quickly looked away, hoping she wouldn’t notice any colour in my cheeks.

Smooth, Mystic. Real smooth.

She coughed lightly to lessen the awkwardness a bit. “So, uh, how did it go with your parents?”

I was still so out of it that I had to think for a minute. “Oh yeah, that. They didn’t seem too bothered by the fact that I failed the Magical Aptitude Test, but they started acting oddly when I mentioned leaving town. Like they know something I don’t.”

“You think it’s important?” she asked with a slight frown.

“It has to be, for them to act like that suddenly. But they didn’t say no to your idea. They just said that they needed some time to think about it and that I should just relax and have fun tonight.”

“That sounds like a good idea. Sorry if I’m being a bit of a drag.”

“Never,” I said with a gentle smile. “I think some quiet is just what we need.”

She returned the smile, then looked back out at the sunset.

Neither of us said anything for a little while. We both seemed content to watch as the last traces of orange and yellow finally disappeared from the sky.

It might have been my imagination, but I could have sworn I caught her glancing my way a few times, as if she had something to say.

Once the stars started to come out, the time had come. We’d have to head home soon.

Now or never.

I started thinking of ways to broach the subject when I glanced at Orange, only to find her a hoof’s width away from my face.

I was proud of myself. I jumped only a little.

Okay, maybe a lot, and I might have fallen into some bushes, but it was startling! I had forgotten how quiet she can be.

She giggled at her own little prank, and it must have been contagious, because soon the both of us were laughing.

“So,” I said as I managed to contain the last of my laughter. “Before you scared me half to death, was there something you were going to say?”

Her cheerful expression quickly faded back into unease. She took a deep breath and visibly relaxed a bit. “Look, Mystic, I need you to be honest with me for a moment.”

That hurt a little. I had never been dishonest with her for as long as we had known each other. I hadn’t told her about my deformities, since only my parents and I knew about them, but I didn’t think that counted as dishonesty. Plus, she probably had her own secrets. Why would somepony so awesome move to a small village in the middle of the forest and befriend a weirdo like me?

“Of course,” I answered.

“I mean really honest,” she pressed. “Did you mean what you said earlier?”

Well, the conversation had been started for me. I’d have to roll with it. “You mean the thing with the sunset? Yeah, I did. Is that weird at all, considering we’re the same colours?”

She showed a hint of confusion for a split second, then made a small grin. “Only you would think of stuff like that, Mystic. Why now, though? You’ve never complimented me like that before. Not that I mind.”

“I, uh… I just thought you should know.”

Orange cocked her head to the side in amusement. “Your father told you to ask me out, didn’t he?”

“Yeah, how’d you guess?” I asked in mild shock.

“Remember last week when I came to visit, and you were studying? Well, right before your dad went to get you from your room, we had a little talk. He may have implied that you were interested in me, and that we would make a great couple.”

I could see him doing that. As much as I loved my Dad, he tended to meddle my social life. It wasn’t all bad; he had helped me make friends with a few ponies around town when I was younger, including Starsong. Now, it felt like he wanted to manage my social life, what little I had of one. “Sorry. If it makes you feel any better, it’s not the first time he’s done that kind of thing.”

“Hey, don’t worry about it.” Orange said with a smile. “Dads will be dads. Besides, I didn’t really pay it any mind. You’re a really honest pony, and I figured that if you actually felt that way, you’d tell me, or at least make it painfully obvious.”

Was I really that transparent?

“Which brings me to my next question,” she continued. “Do you actually feel that way about me?”

My stomach twisted up in a sailor’s knot.

“I… I don’t know. I wish I could give you a straight answer.”

Her gentle smile faltered ever so slightly.

“As for romantic stuff, I’ve never really thought about it. With anypony. I’ve just never considered the possibility. But when my dad mentioned it, I started really thinking about how awesome you are. You’re an amazing pony, Orange, and regardless of what happens, I’m lucky to have you as my friend. But if you really want to know how I feel, I thought about us being closer, and it was nice. It gave me a warm feeling. I don’t know what would happen if we started going out, but I’d like to find out.”

I tried to search her expression for some hint of a reaction, but it was unreadable.

The thought that I might have messed up came creeping in, unwanted. I tried to push it away, but the longer she sat there, the more the thought came back. It had been only a couple of seconds, but it felt like much longer.

“Mystic… you know you’re a sweetheart, right?”

Before I could say anything else, she wrapped her forehooves around me in a tight hug. I did the same and gently squeezed her back.

“I hate to spoil the moment,” I whispered. “But I’m not too sure what’s supposed to happen next.”

She gently withdrew from the hug with a small giggle. “Okay, now that, I saw coming, you dork. So how about we go for dinner at the cafe tomorrow?”

Time seemed to slow for a moment as I truly realized what was happening. I would be going on a date with Orange Spear.

“I’d love to,” I said. “We should probably start heading home soon, though. I’m supposed to be back before midnight.”

“Oh, my! We’d better hurry, then!” Orange said with mock concern. “Wouldn’t want you to miss your bedtime and get in trouble with Mommy and Daddy.”

“Oh, har-dee-har. Laugh it up, silly,” I rolled my eyes as she giggled. “Do you want me to walk you home?”

“Sure, some company would be nice, though it’s usually… uh-oh.”

Her smile slowly faded as she leaned forward a little to look past me. I followed her gaze and saw three ponies in the distance, heading our way. Normally, I wouldn’t worry; there were always a few ponies wandering around the park. But these ponies weren’t wandering. They were headed straight for us, and at a steady pace, too.

As they continued to cross the park, I could better see who they were. Two of the ponies were unicorn stallions, and they were both flanking a larger golden-yellow earth stallion. I recognized the unicorns from school, though I couldn’t quite recall their names; suffice it to say, they weren’t the nicest of ponies. As for the earth pony, I had run into him around town a few times before, but we had never really talked long enough for me to get his name.

“Maybe we should get out of here, Mystic,” Orange whispered nervously.

“Something wrong?”

“I… I don’t know, I just have a bad feeling about this,” she said, gazing solemnly at the ground.

The seconds seemed to drag on as the colts got closer and closer. Soon enough, they reached us, and the earth pony spoke first.

“Well, howdy, Mystic! Fancy runnin’ into you here. Who’s this lovely young mare?” he asked, gesturing at Orange.

“My name’s Orange Spear,” Orange said quietly, sounding a little annoyed. “I deliver your mail every morning.”

“So ya do,” the large colt said with a sly grin. “Pleased to meetcha, Orange. Mah name’s Golden Apple, and this here’s Moonbeam and Redwood.” He gestured to the unicorn colts on either side of him. “Tell me, Orange, do ya take outgoing mail, too?”

“Of course. You can bring it to the post office, or just give it to me, and I’ll take it.”

Moonbeam and Redwood snickered, prompting Orange to raise an eyebrow.

“What’s so funny?” she asked.

“Oh, don’t mind them. They’re just being immature,” Golden chuckled. “But next time y’all come by the farm, you should come see me. Ah got a big ol’ package for ya!” He gave a seductive wink as his friends fell over in laughter.

“Charming as always, Golden,” Orange sighed as she rolled her eyes. “What do you guys want?”

“Why do we have to want something?” he huffed. “Can’t we just walk around and talk to our friends?”

“As bored as you might be,” I said, “I don’t think you guys would come all the way out here just to deliver a crude pick-up line.”

“Well, ah thought it was good, anyways. But you’re right. Down to business, then. Ya see, Moonbeam and Redwood here were jus’ telling me that ya didn’t do very well on that magic test thingy today.”

I nodded solemnly. I had almost forgotten that.

“And, as ah’m sure ya know,” Golden continued, “it’s kinda hard fer unicorns who don’t do well on it to find work.”

I was aware of the fact, almost painfully so, though I had always liked to think that I could still find some sort of work in town. I was pretty good at using my hooves to do things, you know, what with the lack of magic.

“That’s true,” I said, “but I’ll find something eventually. There’s got to be a few jobs around town that don’t require magic.”

“Yeah, but even then, they wouldn’t hire you,” Moonbeam sneered. “If they didn’t need magic, they would hire a pegasus or an earth pony, not a broken unicorn like you.”

Broken.

No matter how many times I heard that word or others like it, it always stung a little.

“Hey, that’s uncalled for!” Orange snarled and put a hoof on my shoulder.

“Maybe, but that doesn’t make it any less true.”

“But that’s why we’re here, Mystic,” Golden interjected. “Ah thought I would help ya out and offer you a job at mah family’s farm.”

I blinked a few times in surprise and suddenly felt a small pang of guilt. I had been convinced that he was here just to try and get a rise out of me, and here he was offering me a job.

“Oh, uh… thanks. I appreciate that,” I managed finally. “What’s the job, if I might ask?”

“Well, I figure it’s perfect for ya! Ya see, mah brother and I have been busy making repairs to some stuff around the farm, like the old scarecrow, so we haven’t had time to watch the field as much as we should. You know, to scare off pests and varmints and such. Ah figure you could do that pretty well.”

“Wait… you want me to be a scarecrow?”

“Yeah, but we’d pay ya 2 bits an hour fer yer troubles.”

Is it sad that I actually considered doing it for a minute? I mean, sure it was a humiliating, low-paying job, but it was still something. Something to do while I found a better job.

But was it worth my self-respect? I sighed and made my decision.

“Sorry Golden, but I’d rather not. I appreciate the offer, though.”

“Aw, c’mon Mystic,” Golden said with a cheesy pout. “How can ya know ya won’t like it if ya haven’t even tried it?”

“I think it’s pretty safe to say that I won’t like standing out in a field for hours on end, yelling at various pests.”

“Jus’ give it a chance!” Golden raised his voice.

“Hey! He said no. Can’t you take a hint?” Orange spoke over him.

Suddenly, I felt a warm, fuzzy feeling all over and found myself in Moonbeam’s magic, slowly rising towards the tree branches overhead.

“Hey, put me down!” I said as I flailed my hooves in an attempt to grab onto something.

“Put him down, Moonbeam, or I’ll- eep!” Redwood had levitated Orange and was holding her away from me and Moonbeam.

I had reached the lowest, thickest branch of the tree and started moving backwards, towards the trunk. The sudden pricking of the branch sliding between my fur and my jacket caused me to yelp in pain.

“Now, y’all can come down from there once you’ve made some scarecrow faces for us.”

I had no intention of doing anything for them, certainly not after all this-

rrrrriiiiIIIIPPP

My pupils shrank to pinpricks as I slowly turned my head around. The branch was poking through my jacket in some places, causing it to rip even more.

That was not good.

I frantically made as many different faces as I could think of, hoping that one would be a scarecrow face, but that only caused Golden, Moonbeam, and Redwood to break out laughing. Orange was struggling against Redwood’s magic, but to no avail.

“Okay, guys. I’ve made the faces, you’ve had some fun,” I said as I felt the fabric start to tear even more. “Now can you please let-”

RRRRIIIIIIPPPPPP

My jacket tore front to back, causing me to flip over as I fell and hit the ground head first.

My vision went black, and my ears rang.

As everything started to come back into focus, I could see colored blurs moving around me, and I heard whispering. I couldn’t make out much, but I heard a few fragments.

“…………..are those ………?”

“………..……changeling?”

“……… because….……..changelings….…….…both wings and a horn.”

“Should……….get the guards……..deal with it?”

“………….think it’s waking up.”

“RUN!!!!!”

I tried to get up and yell for them to wait, but I was still woozy.

I blinked a few more times as I stood up, and the world came back into clear focus. Golden, Moonbeam, and Redwood were running off towards town, screaming all the way like frightened foals. Some small part of me enjoyed seeing that.

I looked around frantically for Orange, only to be met with a hoof to the face from the side that sent me back to the ground, face-down and in pain.

Suddenly, a pair of hooves pressed down on my back, keeping me pinned.

“Where is he?” a voice growled from above.

“What?” I sputtered.

“What did you do with the real Mystic, changeling?” The voice growled again, the hooves pushed harder on my back and ground my face into the dirt.

“I’m noff a changeleng, fank you fery mufch.”

“That’s what a changeling would say,” the voice faded to a sad whisper and a small sniffle. “I knew this was too good to be true.”

“Juff let me upf for a minute anfd left me efksplain.”

“Fine, but you’d better not try anything.” The pressure on my shoulders eased up a little but was still firm. I could raise my head from the dirt and look around a little, but not much else. Good enough. I squirmed and turned my head to look up. Orange stood over me, still holding me down, with a look of pure anger. If I didn’t know her so well, I might have missed the wet spots on her cheeks.

“Look, I’m not a changeling, really. What can I say to convince you?”

“Tell me how we first met.”

“I was walking home from school when you came over, said you were new in town and asked how to get to the post office. Afterwards, you thanked me and said you really liked the colours of my mane and coat. It took me twenty minutes to get it.”

She stayed silent for a moment.

“Would it help if I mentioned the fact that, occasionally, you like to put on a nice dress and go around your house pretending you’re a royal?”

After another moment of silence, she took her hooves off of me and stepped back. I slowly stood up and turned to face her. She didn’t seem as hostile, but her expression was a mix of confusion, anger and fear, and somehow that felt even worse to me.

“I guess I’ve got some explaining to do, eh?”

She nodded quietly.

“I promise I will, but those guys are probably going to be here with the guards soon. I need to hide somewhere. How about I explain on the way to my house?”

“I’ll meet you there. I just need to stop by my place.”

“Alright,” I said with a small grin.

She smiled a little in return, though it was a pained smile. As she took off in the direction of the village, I sighed and picked up my torn jacket off the ground. After slinging it over my back, I started galloping as quickly as my legs would carry me.

In just a few minutes, I was in front of my house, panting and gasping for breath. I almost knocked the door off its hinges as I rushed inside.

“MOM! DAD! Where are you?” I called frantically.

The sound of cup shattering came from the kitchen, and Mom immediately came stumbling into the living room in a panic.

“What’s the mat- Oh my goodness! What happened to you, dear?!”

“Nothing good. Where’s Dad?” I wheezed.

“I’m over here, son,” Dad called as he came down the stairs. “What’s with all the commotio-”

He froze when he saw me and my torn jacket. The look in his eyes said that he knew exactly what had happened. Before I could say a word, he lit up his horn and closed all the curtains on the windows.

“How did it happen?” He asked quietly with a blank expression.

Once I had caught my breath, we sat down in the living room, and I told them all about what had happened with the colts at the park. They pretty much sat quietly through the whole thing, only asking the occasional question.

“So, they ran off to get the guard,” Dad said as he looked over at Mom. “That doesn’t leave us much time.”

Mom sighed and then turned to me, looking over my bruises. “Are you okay at least, dear? Sounds like you took quite a tumble.”

“I’ll be fine,” I replied, “But it’s just that, well… Orange had asked me out to dinner just before they showed up.”

“Wait, she asked you out? How wonderf… Oh, honey,” she said quietly, rubbing my back with her hoof. “What did she say when she saw them?”

“Well, she thought I was a changeling, too. It was tense for a few minutes until I convinced her it was really me. She said she would meet me here so I could explain. But… what if she took the chance to run and never talk to me again?

“I wouldn’t blame her if that’s the case,” I added as I wiped a tear from my eye. “It’s all these stupid things’ fault! If I didn’t have them, I wouldn’t have had to hide anything from Orange and everypony else. Why couldn’t I have been born without them?”

“Now, Mystic, you can’t think like that!” Mom gently chided. “You may not like them, but those deformities make you unique. They make you who you are, and your father and I love you for who you are. As for Orange, well, we don’t know her as well as you do, but from what we’ve seen, she’s a great mare who wouldn’t just up and desert you.”

There was a sudden knock on the door. Mom immediately pushed me off the couch and onto the floor, muffling my protests with a hoof over my mouth.

Dad got up and opened the door just a crack. I wasn’t in the best position to see or hear what he was saying, but his tone seemed calm. Finally, he opened the door fully, and in walked Orange with a box on her back. She seemed quite nervous, and never took her eyes off my parents.

Dad nodded to Mom, who then looked down at me.

“Can you go to your room, please? Your father and I need to talk to Orange,” she whispered.

“Okay, I guess,” I said. “When will you tell me what’s really going on?”

A look of uncertainty flashed across her face.

“I-I don’t know. Just, please trust that we know what’s best for you, alright?”

I nodded quietly and then went up to my room. Probably the best place I could have been at that moment. I loved my room and all the little things about it; it was the place where I could be alone and focus on studying.

My room was a look at who I was, and it fit me perfectly.

It had a small window looking out over the village, where I had spent so much time simply thinking.

It had my bookshelves on the back wall, where I kept every book I read.

It had my bed, which had always kept me comfy whether I was sleeping, reading, or just thinking.

And it had my tattered and worn old teddy bear, which I still considered my oldest and dearest friend, and was laid carefully on the pillow.

Looking around, I suddenly realized that my room was one thing I did not want to change.

I moved over to the window and sat in the moonlight. The peacefulness of the world outside helped to ease my mind a little. The muffled conversation from downstairs had only made me more nervous. What were they talking about? Would I get a chance to explain everything to Orange?

I hoped so; I didn’t like the thought of her not wanting to see me again, especially after tonight. What if my family and I had to leave town because of this?

There was a soft knock on the bedroom door before it slowly opened. Orange came in, the box still on her back, her eyes never quite meeting mine.

“Hey,” she said quietly.

“Hey.”

She set the box on the floor and then went to sit on my bed, looking around awkwardly.

“Look, I’m sorry you had to find out this way,” I finally said. “I would have told you eventually, but it’s just that…”

She cut me off with a wave of her hoof. “It’s alright, Mystic. Your parents told me about your deformities. I may not like it, but I can understand why you would hide them.”

“So, you believe I’m not a changeling?”

“It took some time, but yes, I believe you. I started wondering what you actually were on the way here. Even if you were something else, this is all just a big shock. I mean, I thought I knew you better.”

“You do,” I insisted. “I don’t have some alternate personality or anything. The only thing I’ve ever kept to myself was my deformities.”

She smiled slightly. “Well, that’s a little reassuring. Oh, and by the way…”

Getting up off the bed, Orange came over to me and whacked me in the shoulder with her hoof.

“Ow! What was that for?” I moaned, rubbing my shoulder.

“Your parents told me what you said. You thought I would just run away?! What kind of mare do you think I am?”

“I…I’m sorry, okay? I tend to overthink things sometimes.”

“Sometimes?” she said with a sarcastic grin. “When aren’t you overthinking things? Look, all you need to know is that I stand up for my friends! Especially the ones that call me beautiful.”

“I just wish I didn’t have these stupid things. They only cause trouble.”

Her gaze narrowed. “First, don’t call any part of you stupid. Whatever those things are, they’re a part of you. I like you for who you are, and that means all of you.”

“I…I don’t know what to say. If it helps, I’m sorry about tonight. I was going to tell you eventually, I swear.”

“You’ve got nothing to be sorry about, Mystic,” she said with a smile, putting a hoof on my cheek. “Sure, there was a… let’s call it a surprise, but at least one good thing came out of it.”

“Does that mean you’d still want to go out with me?” I asked while looking down and tracing circles on the floor with my hoof.

“Of course!” Orange said. “I meant what I said earlier, and very little could change my mind. Now we just have to wait until this all-”

The door to my room opened and my Mom peered in.

“Sorry to interrupt you two,” she said quickly, “but I need you to do something, Mystic. Pack some things for a trip.”

I tried to remind her that my jacket was torn, but before I could say anything, she closed the door and went downstairs.

“A trip? I can pack some things, but I can’t very well go out without my jacket,” I said, casting a worried glance around the room.

“About that…” Orange moved her box up onto the bed and nudged the top off with her muzzle. “Come check this out.”

Inside the box was a brand-new jacket! With its dark blue fabric and silver accents, it was so much better than the one I had been wearing. And my favourite colour to boot!

“Oh, thank you! It’s perfect!” I said, pulling her into a tight embrace.

“Hey, it’s no big deal. I was actually saving it for your birthday, but things change, right?”

“Actually, it is a big deal. I felt… well, exposed without it. So, thank you. Really.”

I tried on the jacket and noticed right away that it fit like a glove. Not that I was complaining or anything, but I made a mental note to ask Orange how she got my measurements without me noticing.

As I moved around the room, putting various things into my saddlebags, I noticed her gazing worriedly out the window.

“Uh, Mystic, you might wanna see this…” Orange said.

I looked out the window myself, and at first, I had no idea what she was talking about, but then I saw it. A mass of lights slowly coming up the path from town. That was definitely not a good sign.

“We need to tell my parents. Come on!” I opened the door to find total darkness, and we cautiously went down the stairs.

“Mom? Dad?” I called out quietly. “What’s going on?”

“We’re over here!” Mom whispered loudly, opening the curtains a little to shed moonlight on her and Dad. “Did you pack your things?”

“Yes, but what’s going on? Where are we going?”

“Come into the kitchen.”

Not having much choice, I did as she asked, with Orange staying close to me. The kitchen had no light except a small candle glowing on the table.

“We don’t have much time,” she started. “Do you remember the place in the Everfree Forest where we go to gather berries and herbs?”

It was a fair walk from home, but I remembered it quite well. “Yes, but-”

‘“Take the path on the other side of that clearing. Eventually, you’ll get to a town called Ponyville. Once you’re there, find a couple of ponies named Cup Cake and Carrot Cake. Tell them who you are, and they’ll help you out. Just hide with them until this all blows over.”

“Wait, aren’t you coming?” I asked.

“No, we aren’t. Your father and I have to stay here, sweetie. This is something you must do on your own.”

“I’ll go with him!” Orange blurted out. I smiled at her, but Mom shook her head.

“I’m sorry, but you can’t. It would only make things worse.”

“But why?” she asked desperately. “You can’t seriously expect him to go through the Everfree Forest by himself!”

Mom sighed and gazed at the floor. “I don’t like it either but think of it logically. The village thinks he’s a changeling. If he simply disappears, then everypony might just assume they scared him off for good and get back to business as usual. If any or all of us go with him, the townsfolk might think he kidnapped us or worse, and will likely search much longer and more aggressively.”

Orange blinked for a couple of moments and then turned to face me. “She’s right. As much as it pains me to say it, this might be your best chance at getting out of this.”

I nodded grimly. I had never been in the Everfree Forest alone before, and the thought of it sent a chill down my spine, but it needed to be done if I was to have any hope of getting things back to normal.

“Alright,” I said finally. “Just let me get something first.”

I dashed from the kitchen and up to my room, noting my father keeping an eye out the window with a grim frown. I took one final look around my room and grabbed an old necklace from my nightstand, tucking it into my saddle bag. Orange had given it to me shortly after we first met.

If I was going alone into a forest that was filled with all kinds of scary and dangerous things, I wanted something comforting with me.

Taking a quick look out my bedroom window, I saw that the angry mob was only a few minutes away at best, so I bolted down the stairs and back into the kitchen. The mood was a mix of emotions, none of them positive.

Dad slipped a sealed letter across the kitchen table to me.

“This has everything you need to know,” he said. “But don’t open it yet. You’ll know when the time is right. Oh, and you’ll probably need these.” He tossed me a bag of bits.

“Understood, and thank you,” I replied with a solemn nod.

“Son… I don’t know when we’ll see you again. I just want you to know that no matter what happens, we’re proud of you.”

“And we’ll always love you, so much,” Mom added, tearing up.

They pulled me in for a group hug, and I squeezed both of them as much as I could. Tears clouded my eyes, and I tried to savour the moment as much as I could. No telling when I’d get another chance.

“I love you both so much. I don’t know what’ll happen once I’m gone, but, please, just… stay safe however you can. I promise I’ll come back soon.”

“We’ll try, son,” Dad said quietly. “Now, say what you need to say to Orange and get going. There isn’t much time.”

Orange opened the back door carefully and peered out. She whispered that it was all clear and then headed outside.

Stopping at the doorway, I looked back and shared a smile with my parents before quietly closing the door.

“I thought you weren’t coming, Orange,” I whispered to her as we cantered away from the house and towards the edge of the Everfree Forest.

“I’ll walk you to the edge of the forest, then double back and head home. If I’m lucky, nopony will notice.”

Not far away, the sound of many angry ponies filled the air. I looked back to see them surrounding my house and thought about my parents. I didn’t think anything bad was going to happen to them. Then again, I hadn’t thought Orange would ask me out, and I also hadn’t thought anypony would see my deformities.

Soon enough, Orange and I stood at the edge of the forest.

“So,” she said quietly, “I guess this is it.”

I took a couple steps forward and turned back to face her.

Before I could get a word out, she flew forward, tackled me backwards, and fell with me to the ground with a muffled WHUMPF. As I came to my senses, I tried to voice my protest, but Orange had me locked in a crushing embrace.

For what seemed like a long while, we simply stayed like that. She had buried her face in the jacket and her long, brown mane had flopped all around, even mixing with my own. She was also shaking a little, so I brought a hoof up to gently stroke her mane, and her bear hug loosened a bit.

“Sorry. I…I just…” she stammered.

“It’s alright. I needed that, too.”

“I’m worried about this. I don’t like being in the dark, and I don’t think you do, either.”

The truth was, I was just as worried as she was. But I didn’t want to leave her with more reason to. I had to be collected, even if I didn’t feel it.

“It’s true we don’t have a lot of options right now. I promise, I’ll see you soon, just as quickly as I can. Don’t want to be late for a first date, after all.”

We both chuckled at that and got up off the ground

She put a hoof on my cheek, and I put one on hers. We shared one more moment together, then hugged and quickly went our separate ways. Neither of us liked long, drawn-out goodbyes.

As I entered the Everfree Forest, I took one last look out over Hoofington. The majestic dark blue of the night sky was only disrupted by the orange and yellow glow from the mob searching the area around my home.

I sighed and then continued into the forest. From what looked to be ahead of me, it was a good thing the path was easy to follow…

____________________________________________

Present

____________________________________________

I finally looked down from the riveting night sky and gazed around the clearing. I had made plenty of memories coming here with my parents each summer. It was our little getaway, a place where I could take off my jacket and run around, play in the stream.

Hard to believe everything was normal this morning. Feels like a whole other life.

I knew I couldn’t stay here for the whole night, but it was tempting. The familiarity of this place offered some comfort, however scant.

“Hello.”

I screamed at the sound of the voice and jumped a bit, which caused me to wobble and roll down the small hill. Fortunately, my saddlebags had gotten caught on my jacket and came down the hill with me. In a flash, I had everything re-buckled and was ready to run, but something stopped me.

There had been no hostility, nothing other than a soft female voice. My curiosity piqued, I slowly crept around the hill, trying to find the source of the voice.

On the opposite side stood a cloaked and hooded pony with only a light blue muzzle visible.

“My, you do startle easily, don’t you?” The mysterious pony asked with a small chuckle.

“Sorry,” I said sheepishly. “I just wasn’t expecting to find anypony else out here at this time of night. If you don’t mind me asking, who are you?”

“Not at all,” she said. “My name is Chrysanthemum.”

She drew back her hood, revealing bright green eyes and a neatly-kept, long, golden mane. Her long, slender muzzle revealed she was a fully grown mare.

“You caused quite a stir in town tonight, Mystic.”

I was surprised. “How do you know my name? Do I know you?”

“No, but I know you,” she said as she approached me. She was taller than me, but not terribly so.

She gestured to the small hill I had been sitting on. “Come, sit with me for a moment. There’s much to discuss.”

She went and sat at the top of the hill, and though I was a little nervous, something made me want to follow.

“I’ll answer your most obvious question first: Why am I here?” she said as I sat down beside her. “You’re different, Mystic. Deep down, you’ve always known it.”

She smiled gently. “I’ve been sort of watching over you for a while. Without my intervention, your deformities would have been discovered years ago.”

“So where were you tonight?!” I asked bluntly, instantly regretting my tone.

Her smile quickly turned to a frown. “I am no miracle worker, Mystic. I have kept you hidden until now, but those colts were beyond my influence. That’s why I’m here. I wish to help you set things back to normal.”

“That’s…very nice of you,” I replied. “I would welcome any help you have to offer. Sorry about the outburst.”

“It’s alright,” she said, patting my back. “I know you’re a little confused right now.”

“So, what would you have me do?”

“Just be careful. Hoofington would have likely put out an alert through their guard station, and there are ponies in Ponyville who dislike changelings even more than the ponies who chased you out of town tonight. Also, be careful whom you trust and what you say. I know that’s going to be difficult for you, but many ponies you meet will have their own agendas. I don’t want you to get caught up in anything more than you have to.”

I had figured I would need to be careful, but not this much. Was she trying to make me paranoid or something?

“You won’t be alone,” she added. “I’ll find you whenever you need help or advice.”

“So, just be more cautious than usual? I think I can handle that,” I chuckled. “Anything else?”

“Yes, get some sleep. You’ve got a big day tomorrow.”

“Sleep? Out here?”

“I shall keep watch. You have my word that no harm shall come to you.”

“Alright, well I guess a short nap couldn’t hurt…” I said with a short yawn.

I took off my saddlebags and jacket, laid down, and tried to get comfortable. As it turned out, the grass in the Everfree Forest was quite soft.

Something was draped over me. I looked up to see Chrysanthemum covering me with her surprisingly warm cloak.

“Thanks,” I mumbled, more and more drowsy. She smiled and said something to me, but I couldn’t make it out. I laid my head on the grass and soon enough drifted off to sleep.

Author's Note

Hey, everyone! For those of you who have stuck around, thank you for being so patient! I've been dealing with burnout over the last year, and things are slowly but surely getting better. Rest assured, I'll be quickening the pace of chapter upload. I'll also be finishing the illustrations for both chapters pretty soon and getting those placed in.

I hope you enjoy this second chapter! There's still plenty more to come.