Wind Walker looked around the workshop Vulcan had set up in Canterlot Castle. It was quite impressive how he was able to make the elegant architecture look like his old run down workshop back in Barrel Valley. The walls were covered in various tools, schematics, and materials. "You know, I liked being the only pony with these wings. What am I gonna get for helping you sell them to the princess?"
"I'll let you keep my wings boy." Vulcan sat at his work bench assembling the inner workings of a pair of wings.
"They're my wings old man," Wind Walker mumbled under his breath.
"Calm yourself boy, these won't be the same." Vulcan examined his work in progress.
Wind Walker looked at the elder pony confused. "What do you mean?"
Vulcan sighed and set his work down. "I spent a month making those wings boy. I ensured every piece was as flawless as equinely possible. I made certain that they were assembled perfectly. Take good care of them, and those wings will be around long after the two of us are gone."
"What, and these wings are going to be a pile of trash?"
"Watch your mouth boy, you know I would never put my name on poor quality." He shot at Wind Walker, who waved the comment away. "These will be fine quality, but not as fine as the first pair. The princess wants them made fast, so they'll have to be a cut in the work I put in them. They won't be as aerodynamic, and will probably only last about ten years with good care and frequent use." He went back to his work. "Besides, even if I had all the time in the world, they wouldn't be as good as your wings."
"And why is...wait." Wind Walker turned to face Vulcan straight on. "Did you just call them my wings?" Since their creation, Vulcan had always called them his wings. Never once did he call them Wind Walker's.
Vulcan decided to ignore the second question, instead focusing on the unfinished one. "These wings are for a group of ponies I don't know or care for. I made those wings for you. I put my heart and soul into them, and they're the finest piece of work I ever made for that reason." Vulcan never faced Wind Walker the entire time he spoke, he just continued to stare at his work. It took a moment for Wind Walker to realize that was all he was doing, staring blankly at the parts in front of him.
Wind Walker smiled and turned away. "Thank you Vulcan." He started towards the door.
"So when will I see you again?" Vulcan asked as he resumed his work.
The question made Wind Walker stop in his tracks. "What makes you think I'm leaving, I could just be going to bed."
"I know you boy, you'll be gone before the sun rises." Wind Walker didn't answer his question. Neither pony looked at the other as Wind Walker walked out of the door.
Wind Walker would have left immediately, but his bags were in the room that had been prepared for him. He made his way straight for the room and opened the door. "Good evening Wind Walker." The very last thing Wind Walker expected to find in his room was a princess waiting for him.
"Princess Celestia." Wind Walker was so surprised that when he bowed he did so so fast he nearly hit his head on the floor.
The princess chuckled. "Relax Wind Walker, I'm just here for a friendly chat."
"Uh, of course your highness." He rose and shut the door. "I'm just a little surprised to find you here."
"Well I would have waited until morning, but I've heard you have a habit of disappearing the middle of the night," Celestia said with a smirk.
"Who told you that?"
"A student of mine, I believe you met her a few months ago." The princess gave a wink.
"...You mean Twilight." Wind Walker suddenly felt guilty and exposed, like he had been caught doing something bad. "I...I didn't know she told you about me."
"Twilight is my most faithful student Wind Walker, she tells me everything."
"Of course she does." He felt stupid for thinking that Twilight wouldn't have told her teacher about him. He averted his gaze, unable to look at Celestia.
"Don't worry my little pony, I'm not here to punish you."
"How is she?" He couldn't bring himself to ask what he really wanted to. Does she hate me for leaving?
"Twilight is doing fine, although she wishes to see you again."
Wind Walker looked back at Celestia. "Is that an order?" Wind Walker had all of the respect in Equestria for Princess Celestia, although the thought of him giving him such a command made him begin to feel his natural rebelliousness.
"Of course not, I can't make you do anything you don't want to Wind Walker...Well I can, but I won't." Celestia laughed at herself and smiled at Wind Walker. "While I do hope you decide to go see her again, that decision is yours to make."
"Your highness, I want to see her again, I really do...but..." Wind Walker had trouble finishing the sentence.
Celestia stared down at Wind Walker, and waited a moment for him to finish before realizing she would have to urge him on. "But?"
"...To be honest your highness, I'm scared." He looked up at her sheepishly.
"Scared?" She tilted her head in a questioning manner.
"...She asked me to stay in Ponyville, and I'm scared to that if I go back I will. But even worse than that," he lowered his head, "I asked her to come with me, and I'm scared that if I go back she will."
"Why does that scare you so much Wind Walker?" Celestia gave a look of concern and intrigue that Wind Walker knew was genuine. It's true what they say, she truly does care for each of her subjects.
"Ponyville needs her, and I need the road. Both of us are exactly where we should be, neither of us can leave."
The two stood for a moment in silence before the princess broke it. "You're wrong Wind Walker."
This surprised the traveler. "Your highness?" He asked in confusion.
"You can do whatever you please Wind Walker, and so can my student. If you want to stay in Ponyville then you should, and if she wants to leave she should. Everypony holds their destiny in their own hoofs."
Wind Walker was silent as he contemplated Celestia's words. "...You're right princess, and maybe someday I will settle down somewhere, maybe even in Ponyville." He looked at his saddle bags by the bed and floated them onto his back. "But that day is not today." He walked to the balcony door and opened it as he took his wings out of his bag. "...You won't tell Twilight what I said, will you princess?"
"Of course not Wind Walker."
"Thank you your highness."
"Please, call me Celestia."
Wind Walker smiled. "Thank you Celestia...Tell her that I do miss her, just as much as she does me."
Celestia smiled and gave him a nod. "I will Wind Walker, and good luck on your travels."
Wind Walker gave no verbal response. He only nodded before jumping off of the balcony and onto his wings. He flew off into the night sky over Canterlot, and towards his next journey.