“It feels so GOOD to be home!” Ivy laughed, throwing her arms out and twirling to let the sun’s rays dry her. “So good to feel ALIVE!!!”

The river carried them even further from the hostile city, until they now found themselves in the vast fields separating the mountain from Ponyville. A soft breeze rolled over the hills, tickling her skin.

“How many times are you going to say that?!?” Matt raged, shaking water out of his ears and shoes. His pack was soaked, but thankfully, he still had all the contents within. “While this LOOKS, SMELLS and even has the same exact damn ponies, this place is NOT home! It will NEVER be our home!! Did you not see what almost happened to us???”

“So pessimistic, Matt,” she stuck her tongue at him, taking a look around and smiled. “The sun is shining, sky is beautiful. We’re alive! We escaped capture! We’re better off than where we started originally! Thankfully whoever the champion of this world is hasn’t messed up yet.”

Matt could usually withstand Ivy’s over the top giddiness and optimism, but at that last part he sighed and facepalmed. “Were you even LISTENING to the Tree before you got sent here?? The darkness has receded from this world, there’s nothing to fucking mess up anymore! We were sent here to play sidekick to the self-righteous martyr who actually completed the task he was assigned. ‘Learn from him’ and all that utter bullshit.”

“You’re just annoyed you have to start over again trying to seduce the mares around here,” she quipped back, earning another ireful glance from him. “Unless, he already beat you to it,” a cheeky grin appeared below the mask she wore. Somehow that thin piece of metal had survived the fall and hadn’t injured its owner.

“A goody two shoes, martyr like him?? Ha! He probably never even looked at a mare the wrong way, let alone fucked one silly. Besides whenever he died, whoever loved him probably no longer has feelings for him.”

“Unless he died recently,” she added. “Then in that case it would be more like a ‘goodbye’ instead of a ‘farewell forever’! I’m sure they’d be overjoyed to see him again.”

“Whatever,” he adjusted the equipment on his back. It’d dry… eventually. “Where are we supposed to even meet him?”

“Well not in Canterlot, that’s for sure. Why don’t we just ask the ponies in Ponyville? They’re more level headed, right?”

Matt stared at her in disbelief. How was someone like her even picked to save an entire world? “Pfft, as if!!! If anything they’re more skittish than those pompous nobles up on that moutain!! And what would we do if things don’t go according to plan, AGAIN?? Cause ANOTHER riot?? We barely got out of Canterlot without getting captured!!”

He paused from his rant, mostly to get a second wind to complete his argument.

“Judging by how the ponies in Canterlot reacted to us, either they weren’t used to… whatever thing this ‘Nick’ was, or we are so odd looking that it wouldn’t matter how comfortable they got with him. So no, we are NOT going into Ponyville and causing more of a stampede!”

“Well you do look odd, no tail and completely hairless,” she looked him over.

“Like you’re any better!!” he took offense, especially at the hairless bit. Defending his pride, he countered. “What’s the mask for huh?? Your body in enough to to give away you’re not a local either!! What with those bright red scales!”

“I didn’t hear you complaining too much about these scales when you were in them,” she smirked.

His mouth moved, but no words came out.

“That’s what I thought,” she turned back towards the town. “I guess you’re right about causing a ruckus. I’m surprised the Princesses aren’t hot on our tail yet.” She paused to come up with their next plan, tapping a finger to her chin. “Well, maybe we should check the Everfree, that’s where the Tree of Harmony is last I remember. It was the same for you, right?”

He nodded, looking to the forest a quarter mile away. He shivered at the memories he had of that place. “Yeah… it was by some old castle in a gorge. Hopefully you’re right about the guy fixing this whole world up. I’d rather face the ponies than go in there…”

She shrugged. “There’s only one way to find out. Come on, before the guards figure out where we went.”

The pair travelled through the open fields surrounding Ponyville, hoping that none of the townsfolk had spotted them. The bright, warm sun was a stark contrast to the world's they’d been plucked from, mostly dark and cold. When they were dropped in here, the two had no real chance to figure out what just had happened to them as they were immediately pitted against each other, in a similar fashion to how they entered the world of Equestria.

“If I had my blades I would have whooped your ass,” he grumbled, finally coming up with a retort for her earlier statement.

“As if. You would dare strike a lady?” she feigned a gasp.

“If it means saving my own skin, then I don’t care what gender you are. That’s why I was chosen to save this topsy turvy world, my ruthlessness. I mean if it can change a human into…” he looked her up and down. “You, there’s seriously something wrong with this place.”

“Yet you somehow stayed the same,” she retorted. “I wonder what our champion turned into?”

“I swear if he turned into some god damn alicorn with all their magical powers, I’m gonna call it rigged!”

“Just hurry up!” she slithered on ahead. “I think I can see something reflecting in the sun!!”

“I can’t help it I still have LEGS!!” he called after her. Running… again.

“Or is it the fact that you’re out of shape from too much cider?” she teased back.

“It’s not my fault that’s the strongest alcoholic drink there is around here!! And what’s the hurry anyway?! We don’t even know where to look for him if he’s not there!”

“He’s here I just KNOW it!” the hybrid sped ahead towards the forest’s edge. When she arrived, she waited for him to catch up, tapping the end of her tail against the ground like a foot. “Being a ‘freak’ sure has its perks huh? Good thing we’re on the same side.”

“I’m not on any side...” he huffed, regaining his breath. “But my own. And the sooner we meet this ‘Nick’ the sooner I can go on back to my life.”

“You’re saying after all this time spent here you’d still want to go back?” she looked at him quizzically.

“Nope, nuh uh. You’re not tricking me into divulging my past so easily. I’m not like you and probably this Nick character with sappy backstories. I’m going home as soon as I can.”

“Well there had to be some reason you accepted the ‘Tree’s calling’,” she looked around for the shining light. There was none to be seen, perhaps because they were too close now. At least the forest didn’t have the dangerous feel it once had. “Whatever. Come on!” she beckoned to her companion, who was leaning against a tree, catching his breath. “Let’s check it out!”

“I don’t have my weapons,” he stuck out his empty palms. “I’m not about to go into that death sentence of a forest unarmed.”

Rolling her eyes, she gave the ground a quick search and spotted something suitable. “Here, catch!” She tossed the object to him.

“... A stick?” he gave her an unamused look. “Seriously?”

“You got me, let’s go!” she bounded ahead.

A few more mutterings and cursings later, he fell in behind her. “I’m gonna regret this…”

“You sure you want me to come with you?” Tempest asked as she adjusted her newly polished armor. It was similar to her previous set, except the insignia on it was of a six sided star, the cutie mark of the princess she now guarded. Today was an important day for the princess of magic, and one that the unicorn came to understand that determined the fate of Equestria.

There was a pause, as if the princess herself was asking the same question. “Yes,” Twilight responded with a nod, turning towards her. “As the new Captain of my Guard, non existent as is, I think it would be good for ponies to get used to you,” Twilight brushed a stray hair into place. “And I think it would be nice for you to meet Nick as well. You two had a lot in common believe it or not. Did you not want to come?”

“Of course I want to join you!” Tempest defended, realizing she might have been too defensive in her reply and adjusted. “I mean, the way you talked so highly of him, I’ve actually been anticipating seeing him. I just… it feels like I’m intruding on what is your time with him,” she pawed at the ground nervously, hoping she said that correctly.

Twilight smiled in response of her honesty before letting out a sigh as she made sure she was properly dressed. She no longer wore her veil, figuring that the time for that had passed, but still kept the black dress Rarity bittersweetly designed for her. Regularly, the seamstress would be overjoyed at creating a new outfit, but the context behind the creation of the dress weighed heavy on her heart. Thankfully for the both of them, Twilight requested something simple, that’s how Nick liked things, how he liked her.

She knew that the wolf wouldn’t want her to grieve like this, but, he had just left that much of an impact on her. He was her first serious romantic interest after all. These past two years had allowed her reflect on her time with the wolf, and miss him even more with each passing day. They hadn’t known each other but for a few months, yet the connection she felt made it seem they’d been together for years. She shed a tear as she reminisced about one morning in particular they spent together, the day before he went off to face the manticore.

He woke up to find her busily applying mascara, while powdering her cheeks in front of her vanity. His chuckling caused her to drop the brush and look to him. She still looked attractive, but it was unnecessary for him. He laid on the bed, propped on his side, that warm smile of his greeting her.

“Last I remembered, I was not dating a clown,” he chuckled again, getting out of bed and to her side. “Why cover up all that beauty with useless powder and paste?”

She blushed. “W-well, Rarity suggested since I was in a relationship that I should put a little effort into my appearance,” she looked at the mirror. Nick was right, she looked ridiculous. She felt herself tear up in shame, only to feel a tissue wiping away the tears and offending product. Once he was done, he gently turned her face towards his.

“Well I’m not in love with Rarity, am I?” his smile never faded as he gave her a quick kiss. He then turned her head back to the mirror, and found her normal self looking back. “I love you Twilight, with all your imperfections, if those even exist.”

Another tear fell, followed by a comforting hoof on her shoulder. She turned to her best friend, a sympathetic smile accompanying her other hoof, bringing Twilight into a warm, calming embrace.

“I-I’m sorry,” Twilight hugged Tempest back, thankful for the gesture. “I should be setting the example.”

“And you continue to do so,” the taller, dusky unicorn continued to hold her. “Even the greatest leaders feel emotions, I learned that the hard way. I’m sure he appreciates all this strength you’re showing just to visit him.”

“Th-thank you Tempest,” Twilight broke from the hug, sniffing and drying her tears. “You sure have come a long way from when we first met,” she let out a shaky giggle.

“Indeed I have, all thanks to you, your highness,” she bowed.

“You know how I feel about being treated that way,” Twilight blushed, but nodding in return. “Your reformation was a mutual effort, I was just there to guide you. Alright,” she took in a deep breath, feeling a bit better. “I’m ready.”

“Ugh, how much longer Ivy?”

“However long it takes Matt! How many times are you going to ask that???”

They had been travelling for what seemed a good hour, both of them on edge, expecting to be attacked by at least a timberwolf, but no such event occured. The silence being unbearable, Ivy had taken it upon herself to start up the conversation.

“Do you even know the way back to the Tree?” he moaned as her expression quickly answered his question.

“Well back in my Equestria, I had marked a path to the Tree since I was constantly going back and forth. All these trees look the same!”

“Great!” he threw his hands up in the air. “Now we’re just going to die in this stupid forest! Or starvation to top it all off! Not even a single timberwolf marking!”

“And you didn’t think to mark the way from whence we came?”

“I was too busy stumbling after you…”

“You stumbled because you were fixated on my backside,” she shot him an unamused look.

“Not my fault you got a nice-”

“Shhh!”

“You’re not going to censor me-”

“SHHH! I hear someone coming!” she whispered to him.

Shutting his mouth and focusing on the forest around them, Matt also heard the sound of hooves on earth, from the sounds of it, only two pairs. Perhaps they could follow them out of here. They sounded a ways off, and thankfully the foliage around them was enough to cover them from the passersby. Accompanying the hoofsteps were voices, one of which both were very familiar with.

“Princess Twilight?” Ivy looked to Matt dumbfounded. “Why would she be here? You don’t think-”

“That he got with her? Ha! That’s rich, she saw me as nothing more than a science experiment. Must’ve have been one kinky guy to get with that crazy mare.”

“Hush! They’re getting closer!”

“Did you hear something?”

“You can relax Tempest. There’s nothing in this forest that can harm us, save for the unexposed root or rock. Nick did a good job of cleaning the place up.”

She blushed. “You’re right. I guess I’m just nervous about being in the field. As commander, the only pony I had to look out for was me. But now that I have the role of protector…”

“You feel like you can’t let me down,” Twilight finished for her. The mare nodded, to which Twilight smiled. “Well if you remember how much trouble my friends and I caused you,” she smirked, causing Tempest’s expression to change from one of seriousness to embarrassment.

“You all outnumbered me 6 to 1,” she protested. “I captured you nonetheless! However, I would say that that was one battle I was glad to have lost.”

“Well that was in the past, let’s continue on shall we?”

“Of course, your majesty.”

“Now you’re just doing it on purpose.”

“...Maybe.”

Ivy and Matt waited until the two passed their location and their voices began to fade.

“What was that all about?” Matt asked rhetorically. “Battle lost? Protector?”

“The only way we’re going to find out is by tailing them,” Ivy got up and made her way through the foliage. To think just a few feet away was a clear path. “Well?”

“I’d rather take my chances with the ponies than her,” Matt crossed his arms.

“Oh come on,” she rolled her eyes. “Don’t make me pick you up again.”

“Alright, alright,” Matt raised his hands defensively, honestly not wanting to be in that position again. “Just… keep her away from me.”

“I don’t see what your problem with her is. I was good friends with Twilight once we got past the freaking out part,” she followed behind. Her height gave her a good view of the ponies.

“Yep definitely going to regret this,” Matt grumbled, following along.

Author's Note

Hi guys!

Sorry about the delay. Got a new job as a substitute teacher to make some money while I apply to grad schools, so as you can see just been busy. Hope you enjoy this next chapter and feel free to leave feedback in the comments!