Chasing the Lost

Twilight held a hoof out to shield her eyes, but she couldn’t look away.  Stunningly intense amber gradients filled the horizon as the sun sank beneath a distant mountain range.  She’d seen dozens... perhaps hundreds of sunsets, but they were never this... powerful.  Celestia and Luna had always taken great care in guiding their heavenly charges through the skies—had always prioritized the wellbeing of ponydom over all else—but here and now, this sun was alive.  The sheer intensity and raw beauty of an unchained star were unlike anything Twilight had ever seen or felt, and for a moment, she lost herself in the sensation.

But it is not always the grand or the powerful that has the most profound impact.  It was the sound of a small creature, perhaps a rabbit, chittering in a nearby patch of tall grass that snapped her back to reality.  She blinked, and her eyes stung.  They were dry.

Craning her neck to get a look at the animal, she managed to scare it off by moving too suddenly or too quickly.  In an instant, she was alone, standing on a short overhang looking out across a wide plain.  Occasional trees or thickets cropped up in small patches, but for the most part the scene was gentle, rolling hills covered in medium to tall grass, stretching on and on into the distance before finally fading into the base of the mountains far beyond.  A good distance to either side, but not nearly as far as the mountains, larger hills stood, framing the scene into a cozy valley that just happened to stretch on and on and on.  Astounded by the vast, empty space, she wondered just how large Lahan was.

The breeze reminded her with a light chill that she would need new supplies.  With a sigh and a shudder, Twilight turned around and began trotting back toward Oakvale just as the sun finished its descent and a blanket of darkness fell over the land.  Gently twinkling points of light began peppering the dark canopy of the world, suddenly winking into place on their own.  The moon wouldn’t rise for a few more hours yet.  Partially at the thought, and partially at the rapidly dropping temperature, Twilight shivered and quickened her pace.

A tiny little forest, barely more than a grove, struggled into her vision, becoming more distinct as she approached and less visible as the light dimmed.  She cantered over the fringe and the world slipped into total darkness.  Bright specks of light flickered into place, just in time, as she moved past a few rows of trees that were obscuring the lanterns and candles of the village.

“There you are,” Du said with a chuckle.  “We were just about to send somepony to go find you.  As peaceful as it is around here, it wouldn’t do to leave a traveler out alone in the dark.”

Twilight smiled at the kind, old stallion.  “Thank you, Mayor, but I’m fine.  If I really need light, I can make my own,” she said, tapping a hoof against her horn.

“Yes, well... it’s getting cold.  Come inside.”  He gestured back toward a simple cabin with two lanterns gently illuminating the front door and another sitting in the window on the second floor.

Rubbing a hoof against her leg, Twilight shivered again.  “It is getting cold awfully quickly.  Are nights always like this here?” she asked, stepping toward Dusky and his cabin.

He took the lead, walking her to the door and pushing it open for her.  “‘Fraid so, but we manage.  We just don’t make a habit of staying out past dark.”

She stepped in, giving an almost unnoticeable bow as he held the door.  “That’s going to make my journey a lot more difficult.”

“I’m not sure how you made it out here without finding that out already, but as long as you pack a good coat and a thick blanket, you’ll do alright.”  Dusky’s hoof dropped to the floor and the door creaked shut.

“Do you think anypony has any to spare?  The whole village seems to lead very modest lives.”

Dusky laughed.  “For your services?  You could get every blanket in town.  It’s been decades since a unicorn’s come through.  The children had never seen one!”

Twilight blushed.  “I don’t like to impose, so I’m quite happy to be of use.  I’m sorry that I need to leave so soon, but I’ll spend the whole morning tomorrow helping out however I can.”

“Don’t be sorry.  We’re happy to have you, but if you have something important to do, who are we to stop you?”

She nodded, said “Thank you,” then yawned.  “Good night, Mayor.”

“Good night, Twilight.”

And with that, she trotted up the stairs and into the guest room where she slid under the covers of a warm, foreign bed.  Sleep came easier than she expected, but not as easy as she’d have liked.