A Wish for Friendship

The soft glow of morning seeped through the window, painting the small cottage room in its light. Melodious chirps of birds saluted Celestia's rising sun as Starlight creaked her weary eyes open. A groan escaped her as she scrubbed a hoof over her sleep riddled eyes, the soft cotton of the sheets sliding in a cascade across her fur as she sat up.

"Finally awake?" A voice asked. Lifting her heavy head to the sound she saw the rigid form of Greymane in the doorway.

"Wh... Where are we?" She asked, her mind racing to catch up in her aching head.

"The Slatehoof Inn, I carried you here after you collapsed." Greymane explained as he levitated an apple towards her.

"Oh... Thanks" she muttered. The red skin of the apple caught the morning light as it was rolled between Starlight's hooves, her cheeks mimicking the colour of the apple she stared intently at.

"I have been asking around in town about Winter Breeze while you've been out." He continued, walking over to the open window to stare out of it, streams of the morning breeze fluttering through his mane.

"Who?"

"The stallion I told you about. The one I thought could help us." He turned to face her again. "Apparently he has got quite the reputation in Saddlestone. But I believe I know where to find him. Eat and get yourself ready, we will be leaving soon" Starlight simply replied with a shallow nod as Greymane trotted out the room again, leaving her to huff and collapse back onto the bed with a thump.

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Bartering calls of market vendors filled the afternoon air, flanking the bustling cobblestone path. The colourful and varying curiosities tugged a content smile onto Starlight's muzzle as she passed over the sights vying for her attention.

"Oh how pretty!" She gasped, the sparkling of a gemstone statuette of the sun goddess being mimicked by her wide eyes.

"Yes miss, a glimpse of Princess Celestia's beauty caught in gemstone forever. Yours for only 20 Bits." The ageing brown earth pony offered from behind his stall.

"You realise if you buy that you're going to have to carry it the rest of the journey." Greymane flatly pointed out as he walked past. A disappointed sigh bid farewell to the object of her affections. Turning back she trotted after her companion, sparing a glance over her shoulder at the glistening statuette.

"So where is this guy anyway?"

"The Rocky Saddle tavern." Greymane replied, his half lidded eyes staring forward with determination.

"A tavern? But its morning." Starlight questioned while Greymane continued on silently, an uncomfortable silence hanging between them from Starlight's unanswered statement.

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The clattering of glass and idle chatter drowned the interior of tavern. A dim light blanketed most of the tavern in a shadowed earth tone disguising the depths from view.

"That's him." Greymane half-whispered to Starlight as she scanned the few occupied tables in the direction he faced. The ice blue form of a pegasus permeated through the dim as it occupied a lone table in the murky corner of the room laying slumped across the table. Starlight's eyes lingered on the solitary form before Greymane began to move across the room.

"Are you sure that he can help us? He doesn't look... well."

"He's fine, trust me." Greymane stopped in his tracks and whispered close to her.

"Why are you whispering?" Starlight leaned forward and whispered cautiously, her eyes warily scanning around them.

"It is probably better if he does not know I am here right away." Greymane continued, his whisper low and stern.

"But if you know each other, won't he recognise you when he sees you?" Starlight asked as she cast another glance over to the slumped pegasus. An unsettling silence was cast over the pair for a moment. Starlight began to wonder if he already had answered and missed it.

"He's... blind" He finally answered before continuing over to the table. Starlight remained, her hooves rooted to the spot as she watched the ice blue pegasus. Greymane cast a look over his shoulder to her, compelling her to follow.

"What?" Growled a low voice from the tabletop, the speaker remaining still as a statue as the pair approached and took seats opposite him. The ambient sounds of the tavern hung over the silence of the table. Starlight's face betraying her inner discomfort as she stared intently at an idle mug. A questioning glare from Greymane settled on the rigid Starlight, still finding focus on the mug.

"O-oh errm, Hello, my name is Starlight." She stammered as Greymane's eyes finally bore into her. A nervous grin plastered her muzzle. "We... I-I am in need of some help in finding something. I... was hoping you mi-"

"Sorry." A groggy and dry voice grumbled over her nervous stammering. Head slowly rising from the table and array of empty glasses, the rough and grubby face came to confront the opposite reflection of Starlight. A coil of old bandages coldly stared into the unshielded gold eyes of the mare staring back. "I'm not too good with finding things..." Seeped a whisper from the blank visage. Words fought to form in Starlight's mouth, cutting each other off and leaving her mouth to open and close repeatedly in vain.

"Bu-but I... But we need-" the shaking mare stammered before an exasperated drawl cut off her jumble of stutters. The slow shaking of Greymane's head occupied the corner of her vision, unfortunately the focus maintained on the grim pegasus 'staring' into her.

"You... Who are you?" The scruffy bandages drifted slowly to land on the turquoise unicorn rubbing a hoof between his eyes. "We've met before... I can tell. Your presence is familiar to me... Who are you?" The whisper slid from his muzzle like venom, choking the atmosphere around the table.

"... It's me Winter." The table fell into a thick chasm of silence, choking off the surrounding noises of the tavern and other occupants. The clatter of glasses stopped and the air grew stagnant and heavy. Breath lay trapped in Starlight's rioting chest as she watched through pinpricked eyes. Muscles screaming to move but not daring to. The curl of a single bead of sweet ran over the arch of her brow, down her cheek and stroked a path down her neck, the tickle taunting her to dare move.

Violet eyes locked with mottled bindings of cloth. The tension crying under the strain, splintering and cracking before shattering like the array of glasses littering the table as a blue streak cut through them. A squeak of fright sounded over the clatter of wood and glasses rolling from the tabletop as the mare responsible recoiled away. Greymane was yanked forward onto the table by the blue streak, bringing him face to face with the bared and gritted teeth of Winter's scared mouth. Breathing heaved deeply in growls as the ferocious pegasus stared at the unicorn in his grasp.

"I told you what would happen if we ever met again Greymane!" Winter Breeze snapped at the limp Greymane staring definitely back at the pegasus.

"I remember. But I want you to listen to what I have to say first." Greymane calmly responded over Starlight's erratic breathing beside them.

"What makes you think that I would listen to a word that snakes its way from your muzzle?!" Winter growled, wings flaring out behind him as he pulled Greymane closer.

"Because we can help each other."

"Help each other?! Why in the goddess' name would you possibly think I would ever agree to helping each other?!" The pegasus roared down at the collected unicorn before him.

"Because I have a way to restore your sight." Greymane responded matter of factly, staring back up into the coil of bandages baring down on him.

"I've heard that one before Greymane. How many other times have you or somepony else said they had a way to restore my sight and failed." Winter shot back in a low yet even tone, maintaining his hold on the calm Greymane.

"This is different, It will work this time I promise."

"Your promises mean nothing to me Greymane." The blue pegasus coldly muttered before shoving Greymane out of his hooves. Starlight darted her eyes between the pair as they conversed, her shaking subsiding as the scene mellowed.

"There is an artefact that I've been assigned to find. It has the power to give you back your sight but we will need your help finding it." Greymane formally explained while brushing himself off and retaking his former seat at the table.

"Why could you possibly need my help?"

"You served in the royal guard Winter Breeze. Unfortunately there are still parts of Equestria where somepony with your skills and experience will prove invaluable." Greymane explained as he pushed the strands of hair shaken free back into the neat and orderly styled mane.

"Pfft, remind me why I'm no longer a royal guard Greymane." Winter snapped back to the unicorn opposite. The dirty stone floor beneath had enraptured Starlight's attention, holding her focus as she nervously toyed with her tied back mane.

"Honourably dis-" Greymane's flat answer was cut off by the hard slam of a hoof on the table, rattling the few remaining mugs and glasses on its surface. "An unfortunate turn of events leading to dismissal due to disabilities. But if you help us then you will be returned your sight and your position in the guard again." He continued under the grim scrutiny of the pegasus. A deep grumble emanated over the wooden creak of Winters chair as he leaned into it.

"And why should I believe you?"

"You have nothing but my word. You can either come with us and get your old life back or you can sit in this dingy tavern and continue your new one. Considering your current circumstances and the reward for my offer, what have you honestly got to lose?" Greymane fixed Winter with a hard stare as the pegasus sat motionless. Starlight lifted her eyes up to join Greymane in watching the silent Winter Breeze. Silence poured over them once again

as they sat frozen in time, the surrounding cantina blocked off from their own little world. Finally, a long and deep breath cascaded from Winter Breeze.

"...You're Discord in disguise Greymane... If what you say is true, and you better hope it is, then I will come with you." He muttered darkly to the awaiting pair opposite him. The tellings of a half smile etched its way onto Greymane's muzzle.

"Excellent, then le-"

"But don't you forget. I'm doing this for me and me only. I still hate you Greymane, and once this is over I never want to hear from you again, do you understand?" Winter Breeze darkly and forcefully explained to him as he leaned closer and jabbed of hoof toward him. A shallow nod was returned to him as Greymane stood from the table and began to depart.

"Understood. Get prepared and meet us at the south road in one hour."

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The rays of Celestia's sun washed down over the white stone buildings as it watched from its zenith in the sky. Two figures stood at the gateway between the rolling grassy hill and the pure stone town. Clopping of hooves against cobblestone beat the steady rhythm of someone's approach. Turning to meet the source, Greymane and Starlight's eyes fell upon the approaching ice blue form of Winter Breeze as he made his way to them. A rough and well worn saddlebag and bed roll lay tied across his back, covering the rear half of his body while the pommel of a short and simple sword poked out from underneath the saddlebags and ran along the left side of his frame. Sunlight crested against his clean coat and mane, highlighting them with the light while a small hexagonal pendant glinted around his neck.

"He looks a lot different from in the tavern." Starlight leaned close and muttered under her breath as they watched him make his way down the long street.

"Thankfully he seems to have taken a bath." Greymane replied. Winter finally made his way to them under the arched entrance to the town, Starlight flashed a warm and futile smile at his arival.

"Hi, all ready to..." She greeted but drifted off as he trotted straight past her, passing by Greymane a blue wing shot out and smacked him across the side of his head.

"I'm not deaf." He flatly stated continuing his trot out beyond the border of the town, leaving the unicorn grumbling behind him as he rubbed his head. A poorly hidden giggle of laughter snorted beside him. The cynical glare he shot failed to silence the giggling mare as she looked back innocently.

"Let's just go." Greymane grumbled before setting off after the quickly departing pegasus.

"Oh I can tell this is gonna be fun!" Starlight called back before snatching up her own saddlebags and galloping after them.