Emerald Shield was a complex creature, Irradiance decided at that moment. Sitting alone on the floor of a hollowed-out tree, the purple stallion had witnessed the leader of this adventure crumble into embarrassment.

“Woah,” Hibiscus managed after the angry exit of Emerald Shield, followed by Amber. “Maybe he really was thinking about you, Ornament!”

That name was getting old. “You guys really need to guess my name. We’re almost at the moment. If we get there and you haven’t figured it out, I’m not telling you.”

Gasps followed the declaration and Irradiance felt a grin split across his face. He was having fun with these ponies! Secretly, he knew he didn’t want to say goodbye to them after the trip. But realistically, there was nothing tying them together other than this joint adventure that Cobalt and Hibiscus didn’t even need to come on! They’d just decided to join because what? They pitied Irradiance?

“You can’t never tell us!” Hibiscus whined, standing up and stomping a pink hoof on the ground.

“I can do whatever I want! I’ve got trauma,” Irradiance pouted exaggeratedly, his bottom lip sticking out as far as he could manage before his face returned to a mischievous grin.

Irradiance thought of another name to have the group call him. Something close to the answer, but not, to throw off their next guesses. “You guys should call me… Crystal!”

“That’s a pretty name,” Hibiscus deadpanned, expression still one of frustration.

“Why can’t I remember your name?” Cobalt thought, looking down at his hooves. “I literally saw the poster of you. Every time I visited Hibiscus I’d see the memorial poster! Is this some sort of weird magic trick you’re playing on us?” The blue Pegasus gasped suddenly, making Irradiance jump. “Did you charm us to never know your name?”

“No!” He defended quickly, rolling his eyes. These ponies were ridiculous. “I didn’t charm you not to know my name. If you know it and don’t remember, that’s your fault.”

The absence of Emerald and Amber was drawing long and Irradiance was growing impatient. They should continue the journey; the rain was letting up now to a light sprinkle and his sprained hoof was feeling much less painful. The stallion stood up slowly, putting pressure on his injured hoof last, relieved when the pulsing pain that followed was nearly gone.

“Oh, excellent!” Hibiscus cheered, smiling happily. “Your hoof is better! Once Emerald Shield and Amber come back we can start heading toward the monument again!”

That gnawing feeling of not wanting the journey to end crept up on Irradiance again. The rain had granted his wish and extended the trip for a few more hours, but what were hours in the grand scheme of things? Not enough, Irradiance answered himself silently.

“You should go look for him,” Hibiscus said suddenly, watching carefully as the stallion got lost in thought. “That’s what you were thinking about, right?”

Irradiance rolled his eyes, taking a couple of steps toward the exit and removing the bookshelf that had been slid back after Emerald’s departure. “No, actually, I was thinking about being famous and owning a giant castle where none of you would be allowed in.”

Cobalt scoffed, “Yeah, right. You secretly like us!”

“Whatever,” The purple stallion brushed off, looking outside of the tree for where the remaining two creatures might be located. “I am going to go look for Emerald and Amber, actually. Not because you suggested it, but because I want to get moving and get these stupid crystals off of me!” Flushed, Irradiance made his exit and began searching for the Pegasus and Dragon duo.

Not far off between the bushes in the swamp, gold and green were beside each other and Irradiance was relieved to know they were right nearby. Walking toward the pair of creatures, Irradiance was suddenly struck with fear as a masked monster suddenly popped up from the marsh below.

“AH!” He shouted suddenly, stepping back and nearly falling into the mud and water behind him.

“Irradiance!” Emerald shouted, running over to see what was the matter with his companion.

Still shocked at the bug-masked figure before him, Irradiance almost let the name slip his mind. He would deal with that after he confronted his attacker! “Who are you? What are you doing here?!”

The mask tilted to the side before yellow hooves reached up and removed it, giving way to giggles. A yellow pony was revealed with a deeper yellow curly mane, pushed into a large bun atop the pony’s head, her tail braided thickly.

“What am I doing here?” The yellow pony parroted, “What are you doing here?” Slinging the mask around her neck, the pony stepped forward, shoving a hoof in the purple stallion’s chest. “You were invading my home! Where did you come from, and what is wrong with your horn?”

Invading? Home? Irradiance looked behind this yellow pony at Emerald, who looked very panicked, before putting things together.

“The tree we took shelter in!” Irradiance recalled, eyes widening. “That’s where you live?”

The yellow pony nodded, still looking accusatory, “Yes! It is! And you all waltzed inside like you own the place!

Irradiance had heard the stories about the ancient Pillars: they were six ponies that complimented the Elements of Harmony, one of which was Mage Meadowbrook, an Earth Pony that had lived in the forest and sported one of these bug masks in her efforts to cure one of the diseases that affected ponies within her village.

It had been over a thousand years since Meadowbrook had been last seen. It made sense that there would be relatives of any pony, but a Pillar? That was rare. Irradiance was a solitary pony with too much time alone, though, and rampant thoughts were a mastered talent for the stallion. “You’re a mage,” Irradiance said simply.

“A what?” Amber piped up, flying up to the side of Emerald.

“AH!” The yellow mare shouted, turning to face the new enemy. “A Dragon! Back, foul beast!” The pony put her mask back on her face, crouching into a fighting stance.

Irradiance shook his head, taking another step forward as he explained his sudden inference, “A mage. They’re potionmakers and healers found within the forest. I’ve never come across any in my time living here, but I’ve never ventured into the swamp, much less one of the villages they usually inhabit,” Irradiance turned to the mare, “What’s your name?”

He had been touchy for most of the trip, Irradiance would acknowledge that. But this was the first time he had snuck up on someone, not the other way around. Cobalt, Hibiscus, and Emerald had all decided to join Irradiance on this journey, jumping him with it suddenly. This mare, alone in the forest, had been surprised as well. It was the purple Unicorn’s decided purpose to be kind to her and let her know she was understood.

“You’re from the forest?” The mare asked, not removing her mask yet. Her voice was slightly muffled under the bug mask, but Irradiance could hear her fine.

“I’ve been living out here for years. The ponies of Canterlot pushed me out, so.”

The mare nodded slowly, slowly removing the mask and looking at the stallion with a somber stare, “Me too.”

The green Pegasus’ eyes darted between the two ponies before he spoke up, sounding almost upset, “Wow! Similarities! That’s cool,” His face gave away the irritation that was below the surface. “Are you okay, Irradiance? You shouted.”

“You told him?” Irradiance snapped at Amber, almost snarling as he recalled the sudden knowledge of his actual name by Emerald Shield. The yellow mare was forgotten for now, watching the interaction with absolute attention.

Amber rolled her eyes, sighing. “There are layers to this, okay? What’s the harm in a name anyway?” Of course, a Dragon wouldn’t understand boundaries. Irradiance scoffed, turning away from the pair and facing the mage again.

“Sorry about them. What’s your name?”

“Marigold,” The pony said with a soft smile. “Mage Marigold.”

Returning to the tree filled with ponies, Irradiance made small talk on the way back, “Have you been alone all this time?”

Marigold shook her head, “My parents were with me for a while. They didn’t want me to be alone in the forest for my entire banishment.”

“Banishment?” Emerald Shield repeated, dumbfounded at the term. “What were you banished for?”

Marigold took a deep breath before she spoke, kicking the marshy ground as the group walked back, “I come from a community where magic is frowned upon. Which is a long story, but I’m a descendant of a Pillar! I had to honor my roots!” Marigold defended herself as though she was on trial presently. “My community found out I was practicing outlawed magic and, well…”

“They kicked you out?” Amber finished, red eyes flaming. Irradiance was amused at the reactions from both creatures. They’d seemed almost angry at this newcomer, and now they seemed angry at her current state! Such development!

“They didn’t appreciate change and I didn’t want to conform. I returned to the forest, like our ancestors, and eventually, I learned how to do it on my own. Once I was old enough, my parents said goodbye and I’ve been living out here.”

“You never thought to go back?” Irradiance asked, confused at the content with living all alone. Would he be forced to live here forever?

“I considered it,” Marigold nodded, her orangey hair bouncing as she did so. “But I like living out here. I’m comfortable in the elements and even if I did go back, why would I want to be with ponies that didn’t want me? I’d rather find a new community.”

The thought had never once crossed Irradiance’s mind that he didn’t have to go back to Canterlot. In fact, he didn’t have to return to ponies at all. He could join the Dragons, live alone, find a Zebra community… He could even find Marigold’s community and live with them! Irradiance looked down into the puddles left by the rain and stared closely at himself. The horn and hooves that he’d been cursed with had been his entire driving force for a decade. If he gave up the search for a cure and realized that he was content in his appearance, what would happen? Nothing, obviously, but Irradiance had gone this long with the desire to find a cure. What would be his motivation if he threw that away? What would happen to this journey?

Emerald Shield, Cobalt Breeze, and Hibiscus Dream had all joined the party with the explicit goal of finding this curing monument and welcoming Irradiance back into society. They all had hopes and dreams. If the purple stallion suddenly decided he didn’t want to continue onward, what would their reactions be?

“Hey,” Emerald had snuck up on the stallion, walking beside him. “Are you okay?”

Brilliant blue eyes stared into green and Irradiance felt his heart swell. He had spent so long in this forest alone and now he had been given friends (in the loose sense) that he enjoyed being around. Emerald especially!

“Yeah,” Irradiance said quietly, clearing his throat. “Just thinking, is all.”

The forest was growing darker with every minute now, and though he did want to get to the destination, Irradiance couldn’t argue that stopping now and sleeping here was a smarter option than continuing the journey in the dark.

“There you are!” Hibiscus chimed from in front of the tree. “Oh! And who’s this?”

“This is Mage Marigold. We may have accidentally invaded her home by camping out here,” Irradiance explained simply. “She’s been living in the forest alone for about the same amount of time as I have. I think she should join the group.”

Marigold perked up at the offer, smiling. “You should all sleep in the trees for the night,” The yellow mare decided, stepping up to a shelf of branches and retrieving a few blankets and pillows. “I have stuff for guests,” She blew off the items and a puff of dust filled the room, “Though it hasn’t been used in a while.”

“Trees?” Cobalt clarified, “As in, not here?”

Marigold sent the blue Pegasus a blank look, “This is my house. There’s an entire village around here! Pick a tree! Bring a blanket!”

Irradiance laughed, taking a blanket from the yellow Earth Pony and nodding in thanks as he exited her house, making his way over to a neighboring tree of similar size.

“I think there are enough trees for everyone,” Irradiance turned around to see Emerald looking… uneasy.

“What?”

“If you wanted to sleep alone,” The green Pegasus clarified as if Irradiance didn’t understand him. Yikes, this was going to be embarrassing to find an excuse to keep sleeping beside Emerald.

“Uh, actually, I get really cold at night naturally and I’d appreciate you sharing your body heat with me again tonight,” The Pegasus still looked off. Hesitant, maybe. Irradiance backtracked, giving the stallion an out, “Unless you want your own tree, of course!”

Emerald responded just as awkwardly, “No! No, I can share!”

Ignoring the giggles coming from Hibiscus, Irradiance followed Emerald into the tree, settling in for the night.

Author's Note

yippee! another chapter! as i publish this, I'm writing the conclusion! after finishing the writing, i plan to illustrate parts of the chapter. official references can be found for all the characters on tumblr btw under the name celestiasearthponyson! not to self promote lmao but i felt i should share! i did my best at describing each character, but a visual is always so much more helpful! until tomorrow!!!