Equestrian Guard

The past couple days went on for Althalos, other than there no being meat in the land he woke up in, no problems had come up for him and for the two ponies that took him under their care for the time being. Most of the time they would be home, Mistral Snow sleeping in the day while Winter Ember was outside tending the farm. He would be inside, reading the various books that was on the shelf learning about the world he was in. So far he learned about the main types of ponies, Earth, Unicorn, and Pegasi, which Winter was. There was nothing much about batponies, Mistral explaining last night that it was rare to most ponies to see one, more for one to live with a pegasus here. Even more before he read about the fight between Princess Luna and Princess Celestia a long time ago, the two who rules this land today. He never imagined how one could banish another to the moon, raising his curiosity more about what this world was.

Today he was finally able to be outside, helping Winter of course on the farmland. Winter said it was to help pay off the bed that they got for him so he wouldn’t need to share. Mostly it was so Winter didn’t have to sleep on the floor. This was something he was used in doing when he was back in his world, helping his neighbors while his father was out running errands. He would listen to Winter speak about how farming wasn’t really a pegasus thing to do, then move on to explain about the city of Cloudsdale which he emphasized of it being made of clouds, along with most working on weather-related jobs.

“The rain that came down on us the other night. Wasn’t nature that did it like you wrote, but done by us placing the clouds there. Of course the pegasi that work in it do their best to keep it safe. There’s also a large weather factory in Cloudsdale...” he trailed off, seeing Althalos stop planting the melon seeds to the ground to look at him. “Nothin’ special really.”

Althalos nodded, brushing off the sweat that formed on his forehead returning to placing the seeds down one by one while Winter pulled the plow forward. He didn’t have time to write down what he wanted Winter to know, not like he brought his book anyway which reminded him of the other book that was in his bag. When he had went to check it out, it happened to be a bible, something that was meant for him to keep him protected as it was sacred, precious too. He wasn’t sure if God was here in this world, but it could be a reason why he was here and not back home. Was there a reason for him? A purpose?

“You alright boy?” Winter asked. Althalos realized he stopped walking again when he thought to himself. He shook his head in response, returning to planting the seeds.

“You know, for a young one like yourself, you sure think to yourself a lot. Most colts and fillies would be out and about making most of their youth. Guess that’s a human thing right? To...ponder about everything regardless of your age.” Winter pulled the plow, turning it around to pull in the opposite direction. “Don’t worry about not speaking, actually it just lets me be able to ramble on about anything I speak up. Mistral gets tired of me speaking for so long, especially about me telling my quiet days in the Guard. Always asks for the good stuff, the baddies I fought off or if I’ve killed anypony. Me, I like the simple stuff. Days with my brothers-in-hooves out patrolling, inspections that were conducted like how well maintained our armor is, or just one of us messing around.”

Althalos nodded in response, listening to Winter speak about his duty when he was younger, in his prime. He avoided speaking about any conflicts that were being led up, skipping it entirely. It reminded him of listening to the many knights that told their stories, mostly about combat, one such as Jean II Le Maingre. He planted the last seed from the bag he held, looking inside and making sure none was missed. He held up the bag to show Winter who unstrapped himself from the plow.

“Out already?” Winter walked over and held the bag by his wing. “Well I guess I gotta go into Caval and get some more. Heard its the best time to plant melons right now.” He looked over to Althalos. “Go ahead and relax till I return boy. Walk around the pathway over there if you want, I know well enough nopony will be this far from the town.”

Althalos nodded and walked back inside the house, seeing Mistral still asleep laid out on her back, wings stretched out. He grabbed his leather bag, placing his writing book inside along with pulling a book from the shelf. He walked back out closing the door, seeing Winter already gone on his way. He followed what was said and started walking on the trail into the forest.

Midway through the pathway he decided on removing his footwear, allowing his feet to feel the soft grass beneath him. Around him were the endless sight of trees, birds chirping away the day, two butterflies circling around each other as they flew nearby. Such being much more beautiful than how much looked back at his own home. Seeing a low tree he decided to climb it, pulling himself higher onto each sturdy branch and soon moving to another tree taking him higher. He made sure he kept with the path, moving tree by tree keeping active to his exploration. It was much better than just sitting all day in the house, and for once he felt much more relieved than he was then when he was allowed to stay.

At the turn of the pathway, Althalos noticed to the right a large lake which connected the ends of the river. He climbed down back to the ground and walked over seeing the water move up and down, over sand surprisingly. He moved his toes around, feeling the sand move around looking at how clear the water was. Placing his bag down, he rolled up his trousers and walked into the water feeling the coldness rush up giving him goosebumps for only a moment. He took a breath and started walking along the ends of the lake, the water moving along his motions. A thought came to mind, seeing that there was nothing wrong if he wanted to swim. And so he walked back out and started to remove his clothing dropping it by his bag and ran back going into the water. He held his breath then jumped back up, wiping off the water that ran down his face.

Meanwhile as he moved around in the water, he did not notice of something rustling through the bushes. Running out, a young filly came out from the bushes, breathing hard from running so hard. She calmed herself, her breathing slowing down from its rapid pace. She stared out towards the lake, sitting down onto the sand and closing her eyes taking in the calm water. Only for a moment once she heard more movement than what was natural. She looked to her left, seeing another bush being in the way of what the sound was coming from. She moved through and out from the bush, noticing a bag and some clothing on the ground. She wondered who would leave such things behind, picking up a shirt with her hoof.

Immediately Althalos burst from under the water, startling the filly and making her jump back into the bush. From there she saw that what was not a pony, and it couldn’t be a griffon either. She watched it walk out from the lake and onto the sand. What is that? She continued watching, seeing it jump a bit shedding off some of the water before placing on the clothes. Once it finished, putting the strap of the bag over him, she jumped out. “Hey!” She said.

Her voice made Althalos jump, there seeing a yellow pegasus with pink-dark pink mane. She was small like him, her pink colored eyes looking towards him. Quickly he turned around and ran into the forest. While running he saw that she was close behind, her flapping her wings but not gaining any air. He continued to run on non-stop until he was sure he had lost her, turning around seeing nothing but trees and grass. Without notice he was tackled onto the ground by the pony he thought he lost. There he laid in the tall grass while she stood over him, his eyes locking into hers while both breathed heavily from the run. Her determined look softened, along with his as he pulled out his book and pencil. He remembered for a second Winter showing him it, the pencil being much more useful and fast to use than a quill.

She watched him write in the book, then seeing him turn it around for her to read. [Are you going to eat me?] it read. Her mind clicked, realizing how she was acting. “No! No. I was,” she moved off him, seeing him sit up. “Sorry. I wanted to know who you are. I’ve never seen a pony like you.”

Althalos wrote in the book. [I’m a human. My name is Althalos.]

“Althalos? Human?” She held out a hoof. “Sunshine Petal.”

Althalos took the hoof and shook it, returning his hand back to writing. [How did you know about this place?]

“Oh! Mr. Ember doesn’t mind me coming around here to run around. He’s friends with my dad.” She sat down in front of him. “I’ve never heard about a human before.”

Althalos tipped the eraser end of the pencil to his lip thinking, an idea coming to him. He check his bag and pulled out a book which was the one Winter had looked at when he met. He also remembered to be careful as it was considered to be very rare. He opened the book and flipped through the pages, stopping once he saw the page that had the story. He turned it around and showed it to Sunshine.

There she read, taking in each word that she was able to read and ignore some that were too big. Overall she got an idea when she looked at him. “If you’re from a story, wouldn’t that mean you’re not real?”

Althalos shrugged, placing the book back inside. He returned to his other book and wrote into it. [Winter Ember thought of the same but soon ~~beliivd~~ believed me to be real. Did you see him when you came here?]

“Nope, I explored again not taking the pathway.” She looked around, seeing the leaves from the trees illuminate with the sun. “Do you have friends?” Sunshine asked.

He shook his head, writing into his book. [All gone.]

“Well, same here. I had moved from Cloudsdale a year ago and still haven’t made a friend.” That’s when a smile formed. “You can be my friend! My very first! I know you’re not a pony but it can work out! If there’s one thing we have in common, its us being here far away from home!”

Althalos smiled nodding. [That would be great.]

Sunshine stood up, pulling Althalos up as well. “Come! Let’s go to Caval and meet my mom at one of the stalls. I think she’ll be happy that I have a friend!”

That’s when he hesitated to move. If there was one thing both Winter and Mistral said to him, it was to stay close and not be spotted. Otherwise he may get into some trouble with other ponies because of him being a human. His decisions were conflicted, seeing how Sunshine was with him, he would figure most of the others in Caval would be the same.

Sunshine looked at him concerned. “Is everything okay?” Althalos nodded, pointing to where she was heading. He saw her smile and she took his hand by her wing.

Minutes pass along as the two young ones walked together, Althalos slightly behind Sunshine still unsure of his decision as they approached the outskirts of Caval. There the two stopped, looking down from the hill they stood on. The homes were similar to how it looked back at his home, wood being the main use of the building and hay as the roof, the exception being the stone chimney. In the middle was the many stalls that had much of the ponies buying goods and wares that were being sold. More left had two wooden buildings which had a drawing of a book on the sign and the other having two oval shaped capsules.

Sunshine pulled him along down the hill, still smiling as she still had her wing wrapped around his hand. Once they were close to one home Althalos stopped again which made Sunshine turn to look at him. “What’s wrong?” Althalos shook his head, placing a hand on his chest. Surprisingly Sunshine understood what he meant. “Don’t worry about being nervous. Everypony here are very friendly! Even if you’re not a pony.”

Althalos nodded and allowed her to take him further into the town where he started to gain immediate stares from the few that saw him. He looked around his surroundings seeing all the ponies that turned to look stopping what they were doing to watch him walk. He didn’t think he would have brought so much attention to himself, especially now since he saw a small group starting to form not too far behind him and Sunshine. Reaching the stalls, the crowd of ponies who spoke with one another stopped to watch as he walked by. They both stopped, he seeing a much older earth pony who was pink and had a light blue mane.

“Mom! Mom! Look I made a friend!” Sunshine said, placing her hooves on the stall to stand higher.

Paradise Jewel looked down to see Sunshine barley able to have her head above the stand. “Oh that’s wonder-” She stopped speaking once she saw Althalos just standing there, feeling slightly uncomfortable from all the staring. “Sunshine who is this?” She asked, walking over to her young daughter.

“This is Althalos! I met him in the forest when I was out adventuring. He doesn’t speak but uses his book instead to talk. He’s says he’s a human.” She stood closer to Althalos. “I know he isn’t a pony but I really really want him to be my friend.”

More away from the crowd, Winter exited the medicine store with the doctor not to far behind. “Thanks again for the medicine doc, dang hooves can finally stop hurting for once when tending the farm.”

“You’re certainly welcome Mr. Ember. Remember to not over-stress yourself doing such work as you are a pegasus,” the doctor said.

Winter nodded and started to walk away. “Alright got the melon seeds, some medicine. Maybe next I should get some flowers for Mistral. Wonder if Paradise has any chocolate cosmos for sale, that would make her night much more great.” He turned to the direction of the stalls, noticing there was much more than usually, especially by Paradise’s stall. He knew the earth pony was awesome in having exotic flowers looking great but he didn’t expect everypony to be going crazy around her stall. She probably had something that was not from this land. And that was something he regretted in thinking of as he saw Althalos standing in front of the stall. “Althalos!” He called out, seeing the boy turn around to face him. He quickly walked up to the boy, seeing him having a concerned look. “I thought I told you to stay home.”

“You know him Winter?” Asked Paradise.

Those around him asked similar questions which he wasn’t ready for. He looked down to Althalos again, seeing his hand being wrapped around by Sunshine’s wing. Anger and concern soon turned into calmness and understanding. He couldn’t explain to them the truth for it would just cause more trouble as it is, but instead took charge of the situation. He brought the boy close to him by his wing. “Yes I know him. His name is Althalos. I have adopted him as my own colt a couple days ago as he was left alone fending for his life. Even though he is not a pony, I will treat him no different and I hope you all will treat him the same as I have treated you. I can promise you he will not cause any harm.”

Many around murmured to one another, most nodding to what Winter had said out to them. There were a few skeptical of some unknown thing living near the town, but in most all accepted it. Winter released Althalos and faced Paradise. “Do you have any chocolate cosmos?” He asked, the crowd now dispersing.

“Of course! You’re just in luck that I had brought some with me.” Paradise started getting the flowers ready to be bundled together. “I apologize for not understanding. I would have done something if I knew.”

“No problem. I didn’t know how to bring this up but I guess this works. How’s your husband?”

“Diamond Crown? Oh he’s great, very persistent in growing gardenias lately. Told me not to help so he can prove that pegasi can raise flowers too. I told him he didn’t need to go to such lengths, you being enough proof that pegasi can farm, but he’s as stubborn as those Apple farmers up in Ponyville. No stopping the stallion.” She moved the bundle of chocolate cosmos to Winter, she taking the four bits he placed on the stall.

Winter placed the flowers in the bag. “How do you think he’s doing?”

“Besides him getting less sleep in taking care of those flowers, I think he’s doing well.” She rested her forehooves on the stall. “Probably gonna try to tire him out to get him to sleep more tonight. You think you can have Sunshine sleep over your place tonight?”

He raised an eyebrow, then understood what she meant. “Yeah sure. Would mean more time for her and Althalos to get to know each other more.”

“Yay!” Sunshine cheered out.

Paradise smiled seeing her daughter being so happy, especially now that she had a unique friend to be with in this town. “So Mr. Ember, what made you consider in being a father for this young colt?”

Winter thought for a moment, looking down to Althalos then back to Paradise. “Purpose.”