Twiastasia

The fog of Drachen was left behind. The travelers, their band now four-creatures strong, marched ever onward towards Equestria. Though the offer had been given, Cozy Delight decided she’d stay in her industrial home. She figured herself unfit for the role of adventurer, and still considered her cousin insane for refusing a job at the Inn. Regardless, she had wormed her way into getting a slice of the Twilight Bounty already, and was content with that promise.

Here, the group crunched through miles of snow and ice. The chill had begun to freeze the hearts of the travelers with doubt. If Twilight’s words were anything to go by, they were reaching the end of her map. If they didn’t reach civilization soon, they’d be without direction, and quickly after, without hope. Such freezing desolation was not good for anyone’s morale, and it was even worse on their bodies.

Anon gripped a thick woolen blanket around his person tightly, each breath visible in the cold winds. They had used the last of their bits with much sorrow, and though the human and his friend had sworn to Twilight that they’d never steal again, even thieves in reformation are loath to willingly give up their coin. The other creatures felt the chill now too. Twilight and Fizzy walked side by side, a similar blanket draped over the both of them together. When the poor unicorn could walk no more, Anon kept her clung close in his arms, both for her sake, and her warmth. Gile sported a scarf made for functionality, not style. However now, as he eyed Anon’s boots, he wished that he had purchased something for his stinging paws.

There had been little talking since the group had left Drachen, and even less so now. The creatures now only forced themselves forward to see the distant fires of a city, or a town, or anything. It was as if Echidna did not want any of her children to leave her home, to doom them to either becoming monsters that lurked her land, or the prey that they hunted. She kept her borders staunchly defended, with natural barricades to shield the outside harmony from foreign entities from perhaps peering in, and seeing her darkness.

The road to Equestria was one that was long and bleak. If this was penance for all the bad Anon and Gile had done, Echidna was a cruel warden, and she dealt her sentence harshly.

…

It would be a few days further, until Gile spotted lights in the distance. The city, the creatures knew not. Twilight had long since stashed her map away, it’s purpose served. The creatures still shrieked with joy at the sight, the fire in their hearts renewed with past-forgotten hope. With burning determination, they marched upon the city.

The townsfolk stared on from their homes in amazement and fear. Creatures had came out from the tundra? And lived? Such a thing was nigh-unheard of. The cold was much gentler here, though perhaps that was cause of the buildings that broke the winds. Slowly, ponies began to exit their homes to inspect the travelers, and slowly…

They built to elation.

Not that Anon, or Gile, or any of the group knew, for they all quickly crumpled to the snow in exhausted delirium. The trek had been a rough one, more rough than any of them had ever dealt with, and they could move no more.

…

Anon had awoken a while ago, but could not resist basking in the tender warmth that surrounded him. After forcing a small glance about him, and seeing Twilight snug at his side, he’d come to the conclusion that questions of their location could wait. Greedily, he let the lovely fire that seemed to surround him on all sides continue burning, and he rested contently for the first time in a very long time. Yeah, just a few more minutes…

…

“Ooh! Look! The big one is waking up again!”

Ever so slowly, Anon brought himself upright, fearing that the warmth around him might fade if his movements were too sudden, and leave him freezing once more. He was met with a large log cabin, and a roaring inferno inside each of it’s five fireplaces. It would’ve been a very calming sight, if not for the multitude of smiling equines staring at him.

“... What the fuck.”

The ponies… flinched, at his words, their smiling faces now showing some confusion.

“Easy there big guy, there’s foals around. Though, can’t say I blame you for it, considering what you all must’ve went through to get here…”

Anon focused on a little unicorn mare nearby. Her coat was a comforting deep red, and it shined like satin. Slowly, he spoke his next words with quiet hopefulness.

“... And where is ‘here?’ “

“Well, this is Vanhoover, but… welcome to Equestria.”

…

Gile did not know such food could exist, that tasted so good. Maybe it had been the constant diet of frozen jerky and oats whilst traveling from Drachen, but… He could swear he’d never had food this good, well, ever. Glancing an eye toward his companions, it seemed they felt the same. Even Twilight was on her third bowl of vegetable soup, the friendly red unicorn pouring her another serving with zero hesitation. Who were these ponies, so generous and kind? Why? Was it just because they were traveling with Twilight? Was Equestria truly the land of heroes that the old stallion had claimed?

“You all eat as much as you’d like, we just got another supply of food from the Unicorn Range. I’d say you’re welcome to stay as long as you wish too, but this one needs to get back to Canterlot badly.”

The crowd watched Twilight’s every movement with joy and wonder. They couldn’t believe their eyes. The red mare, Hearthstone, levitated the steaming pot back to the kitchen as she faced Twilight.

“The Royal Guard looked everywhere for you, ya know. Nopony would’ve imagined you’d be somewhere in Echidna of all places. How’d you meet these kind creatures anyhow?”

Twilight, currently bundled up in cozy socks and a frilly beanie somepony had generously given off their own body, answered nonchalantly with a grin.

“Oh, I had stolen their bag hoping for bits and they chased me.”

A collective gasp ran through the room.

“Y-you… Stole?”

“Mhm! It was really lucky though, they’d been looking for me for months at that point!”

Any past issues she may have had with Anon and Gile were no longer present in Twilight’s head. At least, not after that frozen hell they’d traveled through. Hearthstone retained her shock.

“... But why?”

The little unicorn was starting to pick up on the many eyes staring at her.

“Umm… I needed them?”

“W-what she means to say,” Anon spoke up “is that she’s had her memories wiped. Really, all she remembered was, thankfully, how to talk, her name, and I guess the levitation spell. We found her by chance living in Cabaluus, if you know the city. With no skills or ponies to remember in a foreign land… Well, she did what she had to to survive for who-knows how long.”

Hearthstone mouthed the word ‘Cabaluus.’

“I don’t know of a Cabaluus. It must be very far away… Sweet Celestia, I can’t imagine what you must’ve gone through, I’m so, so sorry. B-but you’re here now, and the Princess can surely-”

Twilight cut her off. “Celestia, I’ve said that name before, but I don’t know why. Who is she?”

“Why, she’s the ruler of Equestria! G-gosh, she was your mentor, even! If you didn’t even remember her…”

The travelers all looked to Twilight, a complex look on her face.

“So it’s true…”

“What is dear?”

Twilight could only stare at the human at her side. They’d found her bundled in his arms out in the snow, so the ponies figured it best to keep them close. With tears in her eyes, she tackled Anon in a great hug.

“Oooh! I’m so sorry for ever doubting you! A-and Gile too!”

The griffon huffed and rolled his eyes, pouring another serving of soup into his mouth.

“E-easy there Twi, it’s okay. We really didn’t know anything about you or Equestria either, t-this is news to everybody.”

Some of the ponies cocked their heads at ‘everybody.’

Hearthstone spoke up again, clearly concerned.

“Y-you… You’d been missing for maybe half a year now, more, even. After everypony read in the papers that you’d gone missing, well, there was chaos! Ponies were frantic, didn’t know what to do with themselves. Eventually, once you hadn’t been found for a while, everypony just sort of… Well, all we could do was wait until you were found. Vanhoover doesn’t do much trade with Echidna um, ever, but I’ve heard of Royal tradeships sometimes docking at Bowline, through the Lunar Ocean. I believe Echidnans call it the Typhon Sea. Nopony thought you’d be somewhere in scary Echidna, and Canterlot doesn’t really keep diplomacy with any place in Echidna. Why, y-you may have never been found, if not for these three.”

Anon gestured for Hearthstone to talk about something nicer, a sobbing Twilight latched onto his body.

“B-but you’re here now! O-once you’re all warmed up enough, we’ll make you some new clothes better fit for traveling in the Frozen North. Oh, and get you a map of Equestria.”

Gile knocked on the table, signifying he wanted another bowl of soup. A nearby stallion quickly complied.

“We don’t have any more bits mare. Spent the last of em’ in Drachen. Unless the way out of here is as cold as it was gettin’ here, we shouldn’t-”

“Oh, nonsense dear! You’re carrying the Element Bearer of Magic! We’ll give you everything you need and more!”

The griffon raised a single claw to rebut the mare, but quickly put it down, opting to shrug and scarf down his food once more. Far be it from a thief, even one who’s sworn off crime, to reject free stuff.

Hearthstone ran off, shouting for some tailor to come forward and take the creature’s measurements.

Anon idly rubbed Twilight’s back, ignoring the many stares from the ponies in the lodge. He locked eyes with Gile.

“Free stuff?”

“Free stuff.”

Fizzy only rolled her eyes, sipping from her soup.

…

The falling snow could do little against the fleece of Anon’s new jacket. He fluffed out the sleeves and admired the work with silent glee. You couldn’t get this level of craftsmanship without a whole lot of bits backing you up in Echidna, that’s for sure. The tailor pony was aghast with the state of Anon’s clothes when he and the rest of his friends showed up to her lodge for their fittings. Over a decade of wearing the same thing everyday with… Infrequent bathing habits will do a number on anything a creature wears, he supposed. Almost immediately, they’d all been sent to bathe (one at a time, of course), while the tailor had begun her work.

It resulted in another day staying in Vanhoover, but the results were totally worth it. A snippy haircut, new clothes, and a fresh outlook on life. It showed in his companions as well.

Gile had been treated for his wounds more deeply in Vanhoover, and was preened by some local pegasus mares for the first time in… A very long time. Most of them had never seen a griffon before, and more than a few of the mares certainly didn’t mind coming closer than they needed for the treatment. Gile especially did not mind. His thick bag had been repaired, facing many rough nights over the years, and even moreso recently. Now, with his clean feathers and and extra supply of bandages should his wounds act up in the future (though he assured that he was tough enough to deal with them on his own), he too could not keep a content smile from his face.

Fizzy and Twilight had been given spa days fit for royalty, and both of their coats shined brilliantly. It’s surprising how fast one stops caring about their appearance when traveling for several days, let alone traveling for several months, and little needed to be said about the scars that tore through every which way on Fizzy’s back.

Anon had been caught gawking a bit when he first saw Twilight, however. Some of the ponies had kept the old newspapers from when the mare had first been reported missing across Equestria, and the beauticians used her old look as their basis while cleaning her up. Not that her look had truly changed much since she had been found in Cabaluus, but… It’s sometimes shocking how nice a creature can clean up.

Gile had cracked a few jokes at his friend’s expense at the time, but Anon had been much more embarrassed by the oddly knowing, demure look Twilight held when she caught the human’s gaze. This embarrassment only intensified, when he saw the blush she carried as well.

The whole town had come together to help in any way they could, with their clothing and rations and such, and they’d all shown up to see the adventurers off too, on their way to Canterlot. Hearthstone was right, there was more journey ahead, but…

The worst was behind them now. Everyone present knew that much.

And so, the friends walked along the rarely used train tracks that lead out of Vanhoover, with the instruction to follow them until they hit some town with a very on the nose name, and they’d reach Canterlot by the next day. The train only ever really came to Vanhoover to drop off supplies in exchange for tree logs, so they’d still have to walk this final mile, but that was okay.

One thing still tickled at Anon’s mind, however. The ponies of Vanhoover seemed to be keeping some sort of secret. They said something along the lines of ‘you’ll know when you get there.’ It didn’t seem too big of an issue, so he hadn’t pried. The human just couldn’t help but wonder at what might be in store for the group when they finally did reach this ‘Ponyville,’ though.