"Lily!" Velvet screamed as she burst through the Guild's front doors. Lily Spring was there, a bandage around her abdomen. She was speaking with two other ponies—both stallions.
Lily turned, surprised to see her old friend busting in so abruptly. "Twi!" she exclaimed, trotting over to greet Velvet. The two embraced, Velvet being extra careful to not touch Lily's injuries.
"What brings you here?" Lily asked with a smile.
"I should ask you! Lily... you aren't doing what I think you are, are you?" Velvet inquired. Lily looked away.
"I knew you wouldn't like it but... My team is still out there, Twi. When you were Guildmaster you looked out for your whole team; I'm just leading by example," Lily stated, still avoiding eye contact.
"This is different. You barely made it out; it's too dangerous," Velvet pleaded. Lily was silent. Velvet knew she couldn't stop Lily from going, and despite her knowing it would be a mistake, Velvet understood why Lily needed to go back.
"May I help you, Mrs..."
Velvet turned to see a dark grey unicorn stallion had approached them. "Twilight Velvet. I used to-"
"Yes, yes, I know of you, Mrs. Velvet. May I ask why you're here? The Explorers Guild isn't a place for ponies that lack the drive to adventure," the stallion muttered. Velvet glared at him. He brushed his silver-colored mane back and gave her a cocky look, daring her to lash out.
"And you are?" Velvet asked calmly.
The stallion huffed. "My Name is Silver Shine, I am the Guildmaster of the Explorer's Guild of Canterlot."
"But I thought Lily wa-"
"Ms. Spring forfeited her position when she was presumed dead. Now Lily returns and expects a team. The manners of this pony," Silver said with a chuckle.
Velvet turned to Lily, who was still looking away, as if Silver wasn't even there. Velvet knew Lily was going to go with or without a team. A Guildmaster is expected to treat their team as their children. One of Lily’s team was already dead, and she would not stand idly by if it meant a chance at bringing the other two home.
"Lily?" Velvet asked in a soft tone. Lily finally turned back. "I've decided I'm going with you." Silver and Lily both looked at Velvet, speechless. Lily was the first to recover and gave Velvet a warm smile.
"You sure, Twi?" Lily asked.
Velvet returned her smile, "I understand what you're feeling, Lily. I don't want you to bear it alone."
Silver Shine glared at them both.
"You're welcome to come too, Silver," Velvet murmured.
"Or you could stay here and let us have all the glory for mapping a brand new section of Equestria." Lily added. Silver growled. Not going meant potentially missing out on a goldmine of bits.
"Very well, but as Guildmaster, my name will be the one mentioned when they talk about this in the history books." Silver stated with a grin. He looked around until he saw a young looking mare about to trot into the Equestria Maps office. "Ebony!" The young pegasus looked to the group and slowly trotted over. "Lily, Mrs. Velvet, meet Ebony Breeze! She works as an enforcer for the Guild, Ebony?"
Ebony looked at the two of them, emotionless, and nodded.
"She doesn't talk much," Silver added.
Velvet looked the young mare up and down. She had a short dark green mane and a slightly lighter green coat. Her eyes were a bright lime and were rather pretty.
"Ebony will be our enforcer, Velvet will be our translator, Lily will be mapping, and I, naturally, will be leading," Silver said, though it came off as an order. Still, nopony had an objection. The four looked at each other in a silent agreement.
The next day, the four ponies met at the entrance to the Everfree Forest, all packing extra large saddle bags. Velvet was the last to arrive. She noticed Lily and Silver were arguing about something and Ebony was sitting a distance away, looking up at the sky. Velvet approached the dark green pegasus and gave her a warm smile. Ebony turned to Velvet and blinked.
"Ebony Breeze, right?" Velvet asked. Ebony nodded. "Silver said you don't talk much. Just a uh... quiet pony, huh?"
Ebony looked back at the clouds.
Velvet followed the gaze of the green mare, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. "What are you looking at?" Velvet asked. Ebony didn't avert her gaze.
"We're heading out!" Silver yelled to Velvet and Ebony from the edge of the Everfree. Velvet trotted over to them as Ebony rose to her hooves. "You've been out of the game for a while Ms. Velvet," Silver began. Velvet huffed. "Remember that this isn't like the Daring Do books; this is the real thing."
"Twi is a legend, Silver!" Lily yelled. "How many operations have you been on?"
Silver sighed, brushing his mane back into its neat fashion. Ebony trotted past them and into the Everfree. "We're off!" Silver exclaimed. The group followed with Velvet picking up the rear.