ECIS

工 雠 吣

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"uhngg," Twilight Sparkle sighed, eyes still closed. She just wanted to go back to sleep, but the sun was getting hotter on her back. "She's alive dear," Twilight heard a voice from nearby. It was nice and soft to her ears. "Is she? Then we best get her awake, before she really does die out here," said another, this voice was deeper. She tried to open her eyes, but found it challenging. She was able to open them slightly, enough to see her surroundings.

She was in a desert, even though she was in a forest yesterday. 'At least I think it was yesterday.' She didn't know how much time had passed since she slept. "Oh, she has her eyes open," the softer voice said. Twilight looked around for the voice, but found nothing. "Put her on her back, and I'll get some water," the deep one said. She felt a claw on her back and was pulled onto her back. She now had a better vantage point. There was a griffin on the sand next to her. "A-ar..." Twilight tried to speak, but the griffin blocked her mouth. "Try not to speak or move, dear," the soft voice said. Twilight just laid there, thinking about the past events. The forest, the river, and..."Rarity," she yelled, raising up into a sitting position. "Oh, dear, lay back down. It's not good to sit up just yet," the kind voice explained.

"Aras, what happened," the other griffin said, landing with buckets of water in his grasp. "She's delirious, Halic," she said. "I am not," an angry Twilight stared at her two rescuers. "Calm down, and relax," the one called Halic said. 'I don't trust them,' Twilight thought, but she sat back down and waited for what came next. She saw the griffin dip a ladle into the water and brought it towards her mouth. "Drink up," he said. She drank what he gave her, and was satisfied after the first bucket was empty. "Thank you," she said sincerely. "It's no problem. But let us travel to Canterlot together to make sure you arrive home safely," Aras said. "No, I have to find my friend," Twilight said, running off. "The likely hood of finding her in this vast, harsh landscape is next to none," Halic's voice rang out, freezing Twilight on the spot. "And don't forget all the tunnels that run all around the area," Aras interjected. The harsh reality caught up to Twilight. Rarity was gone for good. The landscape was too big to search with just one pony and two griffins. And by the time they reached Canterlot, Rarity would be gone from starvation and dehydration.

She walked back towards the griffins, head hanging low, defeated. "At least she listens to reason," Halic said towards Aras. "Let's go," Twilight said sullenly. She felt that all was hopeless for Rarity. "Hop in the cart, dear," Aras said, pointing towards the cart that Twilight somehow missed all this time. 'This is not a good day,' she though, stepping into the empty cart. The two griffins strapped themselves in and they took off for Canterlot.

"Are you alright, dear," Aras said, looking back at the passenger. Twilight was looking off into the distance, thinking about how much her life has changed in such a short time. She didn't give Aras any thought. "Are you alright," Aras repeated, disappointed when not given an answer. "Perhaps she needs some time to herself, to heal," Halic quietly gave his opinion. "Perhaps," Aras said. She turned her mind back to flying and her head towards the direction of the capital. "No," Twilight said, still eyeing the sky beyond. "What's that," Aras asked, turning her head back to Twilight. "I'm not alright. So much has happened. It feels like a nightmare," Twilight explained while tears were beginning to run. "What happen," the griffin said. Twilight explained that most of her friends were kidnapped or killed and Fluttershy was still indisposed. All the while, never looking forward.

"Oh my, that's quite the story," Aras said, grief-stricken. "We are sorry for your losses," Halic said because Aras was too emotional to speak anymore. "It's fine, but are we almost there," Twilight asked, not knowing where they were at. "Yes we are. It's just over the mountain," Halic said. The unicorn sigh a breath of relief to finally be somewhere she knows. 'And I can see the princess directly,' she thought.

It took a few more minutes to reach the city walls, but Twilight was happy to land. Aras cried the rest of the way there, and Twilight was becoming worried for her. "We're here," Halic told Twilight as they landed outside the gates. The griffins showed the guards their passports and went in. Twilight didn't need one, since the guards knew her well. "I'm afraid this is where we end our journey together, dear," Aras spoke, tears still evident. "Thank you for saving me," Twilight said. Halic bowed his head, saying, "we will meet again." Twilight nodded her head and ran off towards the castle.

'Gotta find her,' Twilight kept repeating in her head as she searched for the princess. She had looked in the throne room, no look. She wasn't in her sleeping quarters either. She went to look in the dining room, but the doors were blocked by guards. "I'm sorry Twilight, but the princess has important guests and may not be disturbed," one of them said. She recognized him as ???. He used to guard the door to the library. "Let me in ???," she said, scowling. "No," he sternly told her. "Do you really want the other guards to know what I know," she asked, smiling. "N-no," he stuttered, looking over at the other guard. The other just shrugged his shoulders and looked back at Twilight. "Go in," he said, ??? was too embarrassed to talk.

Twilight entered into the dining room, the doors closing behind her. The princess, on the other end of the room, only took notice when the door slammed. "Twilight, what an unexpected, but pleasurable, visit," the princess said. Twilight looked at the guests, griffins. 'I wonder who they are. They look familiar,' she thought. "I've heard that you've already met my guests, Halic and Aras," Celestia said pointing toward the two seats near her. "Oh, hello dear. What are you doing her," Aras asked, happy to see the pony she saved in the desert. "The princess is my mentor, and I had something to report to her," she said, looking up to Celestia. "I never would have thought," Halic added his thoughts. "Well, we're all friends here, so let's hear your report Twilight," the princess said.

Twilight told the princess her story. Celestia didn't know what to do about it. Nopony had ever been lost in the desert. "By now, she'd be dead," Twilight said, head bowed. "It's ok, Twilight. This happens," Celestia said. She tried to cheer up her student, but her sentiments didn't help any. "Why don't you stay here in the castle for a while. You can have your old room," the princess offered. "Thank you, princess," Twilight said. She turned towards the griffin in the room. "Thank you both, Mr. Halic and Ms. Aras," she said, bowing. "Oh, Twilight, I'm not a female," Aras said, laughing. "Wwwhhhaaattt," Twilight said. She was unable to hide her astonishment. "But...But...But I thought," she stuttered. "No, no, my dear. I assure you that I am male," Aras's soft voice rang out laughter filled. "I'm surprised you didn't look at me when we were flying you here," he said. Twilight filled with a blush. "She even blushes cutely," she heard Aras whisper to Halic.