Friendship is a forest

I'm North Carnation, but I call myself North for short. I have lived in Ponyville for a year, but never made many friends. I was tired, and sad, so I decided to end it all in the EverFree forest. I know that wolves come out in packs to hunt, so I decided to offer myself to them. I planned to try and fight, so that if I did somehow manage to win, I could sell the furs. I walked through the forest, and slowly hopped over fallen branches. I stopped, and looked down. A fresh hoof print, and a claw mark. I knew I should not look for them, because it could be dangerous, but I did not care. Who would miss me anyway?

I slowly followed the tracks, that seemed to go randomly through the forest. I could tell that whatever made these tracks was tired, and not accustomed to the forest, for they broke a lot of the low tree branches and smeared mud puddles. Soon I was following tracks that were just made, so I stayed low and quiet. I slowly brushed a branch of leaves out of my way, and rubbed my eyes in disbelief. Standing in the clearing was a purple unicorn mare, and a small dragon standing on her back, holding a branch like a sword. They were both watching a feral wolf closely, and were both visible shivering in fear.

I slowly crawled out from the tree line, and used all of the skills I learned in the forest. I picked up a hefty stone, and threw it behind the wolf, causing the black beast to look around. I quickly rushed past the mare and scaly dragon, turned my body around and delivered both of my hooves to the distracted wolf's rump, causing it to fly into the tree line. It landed on it's front paws, and spun around, raising its hackles. The wolf started to hover, and got thrown into a tree, landed on the ground with a thud and painfully raised itself. I crouched, ready to meet its onslaught, but suddenly a blur of purple and green went over my head, and I saw the dragon whack the wolf across it's snout, making it whimper, and run off.

"Thank Celestia you two are okay! You could have been shredded up or worse!" I angrily whispered to them. I do not know why, but others endangering their lives annoyed me, "Packs of wolves roam this land, and evil creatures of the night slowly stalk the forests." I finished, feeling sick at the thought of finding carcasses of dead ponies.

"Then why are you out here?" The dragon quipped back.

"None of your business. Now, please go home, and be more careful this time!"

"Excuse me, but you do not have authority over us! And besides, we just wanted to visit our friend, that lives in the forest." The mare responded.

I slowly checked my emotions and thoughts over. If I leave them here, there was a chance of them being attacked, but if I stayed, they might stand a better chance of avoiding wolves.

"I am sorry for being brash and rude, But I think it would be best if you went home right now, and forgot about visiting your friend. It seems that there are a small pack of wolves out tonight, judging by the tracks."

"Right... which way is out?" The purple mare asked, and blushed, "We went off the tracks, and got lost.

"Follow me, and I will take you there." I responded.

As we walked, I asked her general questions. She was called Twilight, and her dragon was Spike. They both moved here to Ponyville, just like me.

"What is your name, then?" Twilight asked me, stepping over some tree roots.

"Call me North." I responded.

"What do you do for a living?" She quizzed.

"I take high value resources to towns and encampments. Apparently bronze is highly sought after in Manehatten."

"Oh? You run a trading company?"

"No, I personally deliver it, where ever my clients ask." I said in a flat tone.

"So, when did you come to Ponyville? I don't remember a party..." Twilight remembered when she first came here.

"I did not make a big deal of it. I stayed low profile for a while, not meeting anypony."

"So, you don't have many friends?" Twilight asked, concern etching her face.

"Not really." I quietly said. I looked at my hooves, concentrating on not tripping, although I never had tripped in a forest.

"North, I-I am sorry..." She began.

"Never mind that. I just live my life, and hope to live peacefully." And die quickly.

The rest of the journey was quiet, and Twilight walked slightly ahead. This gave me the chance to look at her pet dragon, which was asleep. His purple scales shined in the night, and his claws gripped Twilight's flank with a strong, but delicate power. By the time we reached Golden Oaks Library, Spike had woken up, and stretched. My legs were scratched and a bit shaky from the fight, and Twilight looked like she could collapse.

"It was nice meeting you, Twilight. And you to, Spike. Maybe we will see each other again?" I said, knowing that we would not.

"How about Noon, at the Cafe?" Twilight asked. "Me and spike have to thank you somehow."

"Um... I have... work!" Spike clearly lied. I just smiled at him, and gave him look. He smiled, and I got it. He was trying to set up a date! That worried me.

"well then, it will be just you and me then, won't it North?" Twilight said happily.

"Of course. I will see you then. Goodbye." I answered. I slowly turned, and walked to my home, near the Plaza. I quietly trotted past some mares that were watching the sun light, and I saw Lyra and Bon-Bon. At least I think that is what their names are. I got to my home, and climbed the stairs to my bedroom, and looked at myself in the mirror. I was a whitish-orange Stallion, and had a light muscle build. His deep green and yellow mane stripy mane covered my eye. I turned, and saw my cutie mark. A hoof on fire. Apparently, destroying ponies snouts was my talent. I shook my head, and climbed into bed. My past was gone, and I had to stop thinking about it. Meeting with Twilight was a nice thing, but soon my life would go back to the same routine. What a depressing thought to fall asleep with.

I went into my bathroom, and started a bath. I put some bubble mixture in it, and grabbed a towel, passing a mirror, catching a glance of a scratch on my purple flank. I started wondering why Spike would lie to North, and decided to find out.

"Spike! Get in here!" I called. I heard my voice echo around the room.

"Yes, Twilight?" Spike said meekly. He looked worried.

"Don't worry, I am just wondering, why did you lie about having work?" I asked.

"Well, I thought you was setting up a date, and you did not need me to hassle you..." Spike said, looking at the ground.

"A date? Oh, he must think I was coming on to him!" I started to panic.

"Calm down, it's all fine! Have your bath, and think about it!" Spike suggested.

"Alright. I'll have my bath, then go to bed." I said. I climbed in, and dunked my head under, sat back, and started to scrub my hooves. Spike started to massage my mane with shampoo, and let me relax.

"Thanks, number one assistant." I said.

"It's okay, Twi." He responded.