//------------------------------//
// Chapter Nine - The visitor 
// Story: Fairlight - Blood of the Foal 
// by Bluespectre 
//------------------------------//


CHAPTER NINE

THE VISITOR


Sat on the garden bench one afternoon I had been happily wiling the time away dozing in the sunshine. I’d just finished reading the paper which Meadow would bring me back from the market. It was always the same one - ‘The Inquirer’, your ‘top source for what’s happening in the eternal herd’. And your only one apparently. Not much in the way of independent news reporting here it seemed. The ice cracked in the glass of fresh orange that sat on the table beside me. It was by far my favourite fruit juice of all the varieties I’d tried, and unfathomably delicious. Meadow had collected the oranges from the farmers market herself, and picked up a copy of ‘Mares Own’ too, which had a selection of recipes from ‘around the world’ for her to try out on me. She was quite the accomplished cook at heart, but some of the things we’d tried… I shuddered at the memory. There are some things you simply shouldn’t do with mayonnaise, and making cakes was one of them. I’d read the recipe afterwards, ‘Submitted by Mrs Finn of Higher Dene’. I don’t know about ‘submitted’, but Mrs Finn should have been ‘committed’ for subjecting that terror on the populace. Gods above, it makes you wonder what happened to Mr Finn!

Clinking and the sound of bowls being moved about emanated from the kitchen and I made a point of keeping out of the way. The kitchen was Meadow’s domain and she protected it fiercely. Although a modern mare in many respects, she was still traditional at heart and had a fierce passion for cooking and baking. Today she was trying out a recipe for a sweet treat called ‘baklava’. I’d never eaten griffin cuisine before, due to them being carnivores of course, but she’d assured me this was suitable for ponies too. I hoped so, I’d nearly eaten something called ‘bacon’ once. Good goddesses, I’d even had it in my mouth and could still remember the saltiness on my tongue. Like many equines, it was that natural attraction to salt which had drawn me to the frightening stuff in the first place. At least until Meadow had told me what it was and stopped me from potentially making myself ill. Bloody street vendors. Why did it have to smell so good though?

Meadow was currently chatting with Sparrow in the kitchen, the only other living thing allowed in there except when there was washing up to do. I’d had flour thrown at me last time I’d ventured inside, and a whack from a large spoon too when I’d attempted to sample the intriguing mixture in the massive mixing bowl. Damn it, I wanted to try some and I’d put money on our angelic little blackmailer getting her hooves on some before me. Peering up at the window, I saw Sparrow smirking down at me and… licking the bloody bowl! Hey! I had my hooves up at the glass and stared longingly down at the bowl currently being scraped clean and disappearing into the grinning maw of the very sticky looking foal. Sparrow laughed at me until her mum started wiping her mouth with a damp tea towel. Her exaggerated look of distress made me burst out laughing and I put down the paper so I could indulged in one of the best things a pony can do when they’re out of the public eye - a damned good roll in the grass. And boy, did that feel good! It was so cool and soothing I went at like a pony possessed, waving my hooves in the air until I was thoroughly worn out. Wonderful. Simply wonderful.

“I’m not interrupting anything important am I?” the grey unicorn smirked from over the hedge.

“Gah! Bloody hell!” I sputtered, spitting grass clippings from my mouth whilst frantically trying to get back on my hooves. “Couldn’t you have warned us you were coming?”

The old wizard watched me with a half smile until I’d composed myself with a good shake to get rid of the grass stuck to my hide. “Would you like me to come back at a later date, my boy?”

“No!” I squeaked, coughing out a stuck blade of grass. “It’s fine, come in, you just caught me off guard that’s all.”

Star Swirl pushed the gate open. “Hmmm, apparently so.”

“Can I offer you some orange?” I asked, motioning towards the bench and the jug of juice. 

He shook his head, unhooking his saddle bags. “No, I’m fine, thank you for asking. I believe Miss Sparks visited you recently to speak to you about the quarantine?”

“It’s ‘Ms’.”

Star Swirl paused, frowning at me. “I’m sorry?”

“She likes to be called ‘Ms’ Sparks,” I pointed out helpfully, “not ‘Miss’.”

He lowered his eyebrows. “Quite.”

With a flourish of his black and gold embroidered cloak, the bearded unicorn swept into the cottage to be met with a floury hug from Meadow and an especially bouncy Sparrow. Like some long lost uncle or grandfather, Star Swirl looked like he belonged here with them rather than an alchemical laboratory full of bubbling bottles and flasks. Considering how much he’d helped them after their traumatic entry into the herd it was little surprise they held the old wizard in such high regard. I just wish I could say the same. Star Swirl had always given me the impression of the kind of fellow who directed battles from up on high – never getting his hooves dirty himself, but more than happy to send others to their deaths if it furthered his plans. Whatever they may be. Still, I suppose it was best to have him in my corner than as not. Sparrow certainly seemed to think so. My daughter excitedly jumped about between his legs nearly causing him to trip. Thankfully Meadow was on hoof to field our energetic offspring, guiding the old fart into a chair - and a front row seat for the freshly made sweets that awaited him. A pot of tea was duly brought over and I helped to pour him a cup, secretly disappointed that Sparrow hadn’t sent the manipulative shit face first into the quiche. I noticed something about this strange old unicorn then too -  he wasn’t ‘old’ at all. In fact he actually looked more around my age, or rather the age the herd made you when you trotted through it’s not-so-pearly gates. It was beard that threw you. It was still as white as it appeared in all the depictions of him I’d seen growing up, and even when I’d seen him first-hoof in the glade too for that matter, but here in the flesh he was a young stallion, bright and alert. I noticed he still had the staff he habitually carried strapped to his saddle bags, but he didn’t lean on it nor seem to have it for any particular purpose. Maybe he just liked the thing? Or posing. He looked the type.

“So,” he began, “how have you been adjusting? I believe from ‘Ms’ Sparks that you have been having some difficulties since you arrived.”

I nodded. “I expect our intrepid welfare officer has explained her findings to you in excruciating detail already, and I’m sure you don’t want me to go through it all again, Star Swirl.”

He smiled wryly. “Ms Sparks did explain to me about your discomfort, my boy, and I can wholehearted sympathise with your plight. I assure you that your death, and that of poor Meadow and Sparrow, was something none of us predicted. There were no prophesies of this happening, nor warnings of any kind.”

“So that’s it then, is it?” I said slapping my hind leg. “That whole ‘mystical destiny’ thing was a touch off the mark in the end as it turned out, wasn’t it? What with me being dead and all.”

Meadow rolled her eyes, passing a slice of the baklava to the wizard. “He’s right though, Star Swirl,” she said politely. “I mean, if he’s dead, then how can he affect destiny?”

“Or be affected by it,” I added sipping my tea.

Star Swirl twirled his beard with an idle hoof as he frowned in thought. “I’m not certain… yet.” He stared into his tea. His intense gaze, wreathed in steam as it was, made for a rather impressive visage. “From what I have been able to determine thus far,” he continued, “by rights you shouldn’t be here. Not for a while at any rate.”

I nearly dropped my cup. “What?” Rubbing my ear, I asked, “Say that again, I don’t think I heard you right. I’m not supposed to be here?”

Meadow grabbed Star Swirl’s foreleg. “No,” she said firmly, shaking her head. “No, Star Swirl, that’s wrong… It’s wrong!” Panic began to enter her voice. “I don’t like where you’re going with this! My husband is here now. He’s passed over, and that’s that.”

The old wizard patted her hoof. “Meadow, please?” Removing her hooves from the bearded unicorn, Meadow relented. With a reluctant glance, Star Swirl continued, “Destiny and prophecy were not fields of magical study I had much interest in during my lifetime I’m afraid. Far too… what would you say, ‘abstract’ for my taste. Things like that are much better left to those kinds of ponies who have a natural talent for such amorphous concepts. Personally I preferred dealing with subjects that had at least some substance to them. All I can tell you is that our friend Fairlight here, shouldn’t be ‘here’ right now at all.” He held up a hoof, forestalling Meadow’s impending outburst. “However, I would not discount the distinct possibility that his presence in the herd may simply be as a result of destiny changing its path.” He adjusted his hat. “It happens from time to time.”

Swallowing my tea I fixed him with a look “So what if it has? I’m done rushing off to fight ‘goddess knows what’ at the drop of a hat all the time, Star Swirl. All I want to know right now is what’s happening with this quarantine business. As wonderful as it is here, I’d like to walk a bit further than a hundred yards like some bloody pet hamster in a wheel.”

Rummaging in his saddle bags, Star Swirl pulled out a scroll and floated it over to me. “You don’t need to read it, I can tell you. Your quarantine’s been lifted, my boy. I’m sure you’ll both be relieved to hear that.”

Meadow let out a breath. “Thank the goddesses.”

Polishing off his pastry, the grey unicorn stood and pulled out his pocket watch. “Well, I’d love to stop and chat but there’s no rest for the wicked. It was just a flying visit to give you the good news since I was in the area. In any case, you’ll be wanting to get out and about I’d imagine – there’s a lovely cake shop in town that’s simply divine.” He paused, tipping his hat. “Not a patch on yours though, Meadow my dear.”

I nodded dumbly. Ignoring everything else the old wizard had said, my mind had latched onto one precious, glorious fact. I was free, free to go and explore the world of the eternal herd beyond the confines of our cottage and surrounding field. By the goddess, I couldn’t believe it! As lovely as this prison was, it was still just that. Meadow still looked worried however, but still managed a smile. 

“Star Swirl, can we still visit the mortal realm?” she asked.

The wizard nodded sagely. “The barrier has been lifted, my dear. So yes, you can. However I would caution you both to keep such knowledge to yourselves, yes? Tongues are like tails – they like to wag.”

I shook my mane, feeling a little embarrassed at my negative opinion of the fellow. “I guess I should be thanking you, Star Swirl. You spoke up for me didn’t you? With the Ethics Committee I mean.”

“Ah, you read the newspaper article.” He shook his head, holding up a hoof and waving it off as being of no import. “Don’t give it another thought. Besides, you have some very influential friends here in the herd, my boy. One day I’ll introduce you to them, but for now just get yourself out there and see what the herd has to offer, yes?” Meadow passed him a small box with some of the home-made sweet treats for later. “Thank you, Meadow, you’re a good mare,” he said accepting the gift.

There was a crash from the kitchen. All three of us looked at each other, noticing that one of our number was missing. Without another word, Meadow rushed off to investigate.

“Oh no! Sparrow!”

Our lovely daughter had somehow managed to cover herself in flour and was now a lovely shade of white, sneezing great clouds of the stuff across the floor. “I’ll see our guest out, love,” I called in through the door, making a hasty escape. “I’ll give you a hoof in a minute.” 

She didn’t hear me. The poor thing was far too busy trying to dust off our now decidedly floury foal. Star Swirl however found the whole situation highly amusing. He laughed and clopped me on the shoulder. “Quite the family you have, my boy,” he announced loudly. “Never had any time for one myself of course, though that’s the researchers lot in life for you. Mind you, I was never short of mare or two back when I was a young fellow!” He chuckled quietly to himself. “Now, I’ve got all the time in the world.” Walking to the gate he suddenly pulled me to one side, his voice dropping to a near whisper as he glanced over my shoulder towards the kitchen window. “Fairlight, there’s somepony I want you to meet. But… I don’t want Meadow to know. She may not… understand.”

I looked the old stallion in the eye. “I don’t keep secrets from my wife, Star Swirl. I’m grateful for what you’ve done for me, and for Meadow and Sparrow too, but I’m done breaking my neck for anypony who clops a hoof in my direction. So, whatever ‘scheme’ you may have planned for me, then I’m sorry, I’m not interested.”

The old wizard sighed, shaking his head resignedly. “I understand. I just thought you’d like to meet somepony who you know very well already. You could almost say, he’s a part of who you are. Still, it’s your decision to make, so I’ll just be on my-”

“What was that?” My ears pricked up and I took a step towards him. “Who are you talking about? Who is it?”

Star Swirl paused. “Meet me by the cherry orchard tomorrow, around two in the morning. I’ll reveal everything to you then.”

I sighed, scrubbing my mane. I was going to regret this, wasn’t I? Once again my inquisitive nature, coupled with my months of isolation, had latched onto this titbit of information like a starving dog at a bone. “Okay,” I said resignedly, “but if Meadow asks me where I’m going, I’ll have to tell her.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Very well, until tomorrow then.”

The old bugger had piqued my interest, and what was worse, he knew it too. He hadn’t come here to give me the good news about the lifting of my quarantine at all, or rather that had been incidental to the primary reason for his visit. No. This... This innocent sounding request of his, was the true reason he’d graced us with his magnanimous presence this morning. It hadn’t been the first time I’d been manipulated by the cunning old trickster, and unfortunately I doubted it would be the last either. But here I was, sticking my head into the metaphorical noose once more like a trained poodle at the circus de Star Swirl. Truth be told I was more concerned about what the ramifications of this would be on the rest of my family, both here and in the mortal realm. I hated the feeling I was keeping things from Meadow especially, but I suppose there was no harm in finding out who this ‘mystery pony’ was and what they wanted, was there? Nope, I’d simply go there, chat to them, and then that was that. There was no way in hell I was going to agree to anything Star Swirl was going to pull out of his hairy arse! Those days, thank the gods, had long gone – along with my mortal remains. What was more interesting to me right then however, was finally being able to get out of here and see the world - so to speak. I watched the ancient stallion trot off up the hill, climb into a waiting carriage, and rumble off into the distance. I’m not sure what I was expecting to be honest. A puff of smoke and a showy flash of magic, perhaps? I don’t know… it just seemed more his style rather than a simple four wheeled conveyance. Curious old bugger... 

In the kitchen, Meadow was struggling with a wriggly pegasus foal who was completely covered in flour and-

“Oh no! Sparrow!”

“What is it?” I said, trying to see what had Meadow’s gander up.

The green mare slowly peeled the tea towel away from Sparrow, staring at it in horror. “She got covered in honey!”

I face hoofed. It looked like it was going to be a long day.

“I’ll get the shower running.”


************


That evening I was dozing by the log fire, the latest newspaper open on my lap. It was just the usual rubbish anyway: more mundane reports about ‘new arrivals’, recipes, and celebrities carrying on with other z-rated celebs nopony gave two hoots about - that sort of thing. Still, if nothing else it was damned effective at sending me into the land of nod. They could market the contents for insomniacs – they’d make a bloody killing. I have to say though I was excited about my impending foray into the wider world of the herd, but I wasn’t in any particular rush. Besides, the battle with a squirming child, particularly one covered in a delightful mixture of culinary ingredients and soap, had quite taken it out of me. Sparrow was in bed now, and my wonderful wife was crocheting something in her craft room, the ‘inner sanctum’ as she called it. It was all so tranquil it should come as no real surprise that a loud clanging from the doorbell nearly made me leap out of my skin. 

“I’ll get it!” Meadow called from the hallway, trotting to open the door.

I could hear the latch lifting and my ears twitched, trying to hear what was being said. It couldn’t be ‘Ms Sparks’ at this hour, could it? Opening one eye I looked across at the old grandfather clock in the corner just as it began to chime eight o’clock. Suddenly there was a squee of excitement and a rush of hooves before a loud clattering of plates and cups in the kitchen was followed by loud voices, female voices, drifting through to me. One of Meadow’s friends probably, I thought to myself, yawning. I snuggled into the chair and reached for my glass of juice. I wished it was a brandy, it was one of the things I really missed about home. Home… Good old Smiling Borders. I sighed; this was going to take quite a bit of getting used to. Nearby the racket from the kitchen continued unabated. I could imagine Meadow putting on the kettle, arranging cakes, maybe even constructing a selection of sandwiches despite the lateness of the hour. From a young age I had always been warned about the health problems that came with eating late at night, but if it was my mare’s treats on offer, I think I could permit myself to indulge… a little. I sniffed, taking in the warm scent. I could smell them now, warm and spicy. A hint of lemon caught my nose making it twitch. 

“Mmmm,” I sighed under my breath. “Delicious…”

“I’m glad you think so, Captain.” A dark coated muzzle full of short sharp teeth was inches from my face. 

I shot out of the chair like a cork from a bottle, sending the paper flying and barely catching my juice. “Wha-?! Good goddess!”

“Miss me, cute flanks?”

A muscular thestral mare stood in front of me grinning from ear to ear, her eyes burning as bright as the coals in the fireplace. I hadn’t seen her since… “Glimmer?” I gasped.

“The one and only, ‘ghost pony’. Pfff!” She sniggered, shaking her long shining black mane. “You like the perfume? Meadow helped me pick it out. It’s called ‘Lemon Surprise’. Sure gave you one, eh?”

Any sense of decorum lost, I reached out and touched her face, unable to believe what I was seeing. “It is you… My goddesses, Glimmer. The last time I saw you, you were-”

Glimmer shrugged. “Yeah, I kinda got over that.” She leaned forward and whispered in my ear, “I’ll let you into a secret… I’m a ‘real’ ghost pony… WHOOOO!”

“Stop it!” I laughed, pushing her away. “Luna’s ears, I don’t believe it. You’re here!”

“Where else?” she asked, chuckling. “I’ve been trying to get to see you for ages. Would you believe I needed a bloody permit to come here too? Ah, well, you know what the herd are like.”

I frowned in puzzlement. “Permit?”

Meadow trotted in with the cakes and tea. “He didn’t read the manual.”

“Hey, that’s not fair! I bloody well did!” I protested. “And I listened to your mate Sparky too. Kind of. I know thestrals mostly live in their own realm, but I didn’t know you needed a ‘permit’ of all things.”

Glimmer nodded to Meadow, accepting a chair and a cake. “I suppose you can’t blame them really. To most Equestrians we do a look a bit, y’know, scary.”

“What do we look like to you, then?” I asked.

She smirked, running a long red tongue over her teeth. “Delicious...”

My heart jumped at her gesture, and it certainly didn’t go unnoticed by Meadow who tapped her friend on the flank. “Behave you, you’ll give him nightmares.”

Glimmer’s eyes flared as she laughed. “Bah! If he hadn’t already been taken, he’d have made a fine mate. Lady Shadow has a good eye, even if he is a little soft in the haunches.”

“SOFT?!” I squeaked. “I am bloody well not ‘soft’!”

“You are too!” Glimmer smirked. “You were in flood of tears when I’d been shot, virtually blubbering like a little filly too.”

Meadow shook her head. “You can be a bit, um, ‘emotional’ at times, love.”

“And don’t you go agreeing with her, now!” I threw up my forelegs. “Good goddesses, give me a break!”

The two chuckled and began whispering to each other. Whatever they were saying it had Meadow blushing and giving me a decidedly odd look from under her long eye lashes. I was glad I was sitting down as it had a strange effect on me that evoked a stirring I really shouldn’t be having in company. The thestral warrior watched me like a hawk watched a mouse before murmuring something to Meadow and the two of them began roaring in laughter.

“Mummy? I can’t sleep.” 

Ah, you had to love kids. They had ears like a bat and could appear like a silent assassin, listening to every single little thing you said no matter how quiet you thought you were being. Considering how effective a foal’s capacity was for absorbing everything around them, as well as their unfortunate tendency to regurgitate it at the most inopportune times, it was indeed true what they said – foals could get you hung. Our microscopic ninja in question happened to be standing in the doorway now, wearing a cute set of pink pyjamas and carrying her Celestia plushie on her back. Glimmer reached down and picked her up.

“And how’s my favourite little girl?” she chuckled.

Hoisted into the air in front of the bony creature, I was waiting for a shriek of fright from my daughter. What I got instead was, “Auntie Glimmer!”

It all came back to me now. Meadow had said something about Glimmer having ‘missed me’ when I’d first arrived here and, like everything else during that wonderful introduction to the joys of the afterlife, it had gone completely over my head. Apparently these two had become firm friends, their link to me helping create a common bond that had helped Meadow cope with my ‘absence’. Mind you, there were no doubt a hoard of relatives somewhere just waiting to pounce too: mum, my grandparents, Meadows folks… Good grief, I had the impression I was going to be busy doing the rounds alright. Back in the present, Glimmer, Meadow and myself talked for hours, along with Sparrow who was now mercifully fast asleep, curled up with the ‘not so scary’ thestral. For all her references to Shadow being the ‘scary pony’, Glimmer didn’t seem to fall into the same category. She was simply, ‘Auntie Glimmer’ it seemed. And speaking of whom, for somepony who’d been riddled with bolts, she looked absolutely amazing, especially without all that spiked armour on. She smiled at me and waved a hoof.

“You’ll need a bigger house when the others get here, cute flanks.”

“Who?” I asked. Oh, gods! Not the bloody in-laws…!

“The rest of your herd of course,” Glimmer said, rolling her eyes. “Shadow, and that other one… ‘whats-her-name’.”

“Tingles?”

“Something like that, yeah.” Why did I have impression she wasn’t impressed?

Meadow clopped her on the shoulder, “Glimmer!”

The thestral chuckled. “Well, if you’re accepting new applicants, I wouldn’t mind signing up…”

I nearly choked. “Gah! Glimmer, what? I-”

She sniggered wickedly. “Just kidding, cute flanks. I’ve got a couple of stallions waiting for me at home, anyway,” Glimmer winked at me. “You can’t beat a bit of that soft pony flank, ooooh yeah!”

I rolled my eyes. “You mares…”

As the tea emptied and the cakes were reduced to no more than a memory of crumbs on the empty plates, our evening all too soon drew to a close. It was time for bed, and not just for us. Glimmer carried Sparrow to her bedroom, carefully tucking the sleeping foal into her quilt.

“She’s so cute, you can really tell she’s  your daughter.” The thestral said gently. “She has your colouring, Meadow’s eyes too.”

Meadow gazed lovingly at our sleepy girl. “She’s an angel. Bright as a button, but a bit of hoofful at times. Gets that from her dad, I reckon.”

Yeah, she was probably right. I always seemed to be getting myself mixed up in things that nopony in their right mind would want to involve themselves with. Mum used to say that of me all the time when I was a youngster. Dad had felt that the discipline of the watch would make me a better pony and I suppose he was right. What he’d think of how I’d turned out after all my trials tribulations however, was a different matter.

“Time for me to be off then,” Glimmer announced. “You guys going to festival next month?”

“Of course!” Meadow nodded happily. “We’ll be able to meet everypony as a proper family at long last, and get to see the royal family there too. Personally I can’t wait to see the latest fashion lines, and listen to the music they put on. Not to mention they’ve got a craft fayre setting up in the town square this year. The last one I went to was amazing, so I’ve got high hopes for this year’s.”

“I’ll bring Shale along with me,” Glimmer replied. “He’ll be able to keep our ghost pony company while we go off and do mare things. Hooves crossed they give me a pass for two, but you know what they’re like about thestrals. Don’t want to terrify the locals too much, do we now?”

Oh goddesses, what a bloody nightmare…

A ring at the door turned out to be Glimmer’s taxi. “Well, time for me to head off, you two.” 

Glimmer leaned forward and whispered something into Meadow’s ear who blushed beet red, holding her hoof to her mouth as if hearing something utterly scandalous. I just pretended not to notice. Considering what Glimmer was like, I wouldn’t be surprised in the least if it was. Thestrals weren’t exactly known for subtlety. Passing me on the way to the gate, the dark mare turned suddenly and gave me a hard nip on the backside.

“Ow!”

“Ho Ho!” she nickered, leaping the gate in a single bound. “What do you know, you really are delicious!”

I stood there in wide-eyed shock, utterly lost for words. Gods, that bloody mare! Waving a hoof, our old friend, the mare who’d save my life in that deserted city on another world, disappeared up into the night sky laughing in the back of her taxi. Shaking my head I seriously began to wonder at the absurdity of life… and death, I guess. It was enough to make anyponies mind reel, let alone my churned up old noggin. I went to move and winced as a sharp pain from my rear pulled me up short.

“Oooh, she didn’t have nip my arse, the bugger,” I hissed. “Those teeth of hers are damned sharp.” I rubbed my bottom, which went at least some way towards relieving it. I was glad that was all she’d nipped too - thestral’s could do some serious damage with those choppers.

Meadow raised an eyebrow. “She likes you, you know. You’re special to her.”

“Jealous?” I asked cocking my head to one side, noting her tone. “That’s not like you, love.”

“Oh, you don’t know me as well as you think you do, ‘cute flanks’,” Meadow smiled wryly. “Every mare gets jealous when another mare eyes their stallion. I was jealous with Shadow and Tingles at first too, but now…” She shrugged. “Well, they’re family now aren’t they? Doesn’t mean I don’t want you all to myself though.”

I hung my head but she grabbed me quickly and looked into my eyes. “Don’t start that now, you!” She kissed me gently. “I don’t mind sharing with the girls, but no more, okay? Three is more than enough.”

I nodded. “Okay love.”

“She’s right about one thing though,” Meadow said in a sultry voice. “You do have a cute arse, and I’d better take care of that nip she gave yours too. It looks sore.”

“It bloody well is, dammit,” I complained, rubbing where she’d got me. Thestrals must have hide like armour plate if they carried on like this all the time. Come to think of it, Shadow used to… I shook myself. I couldn’t keep wallowing in self pity, especially not now. Drowning in memories was something I did all too often and their oddly alluring pull would drag me down into the dark depths of emptiness that were never very far away. Meadow, thankfully, knew me all too well.

“Lie down there, Fairlight, and let’s have a look.” She took out some ointment and began dabbing it on my rump. “You’ll live. I’ll have a word with that thestral next time I see her. Nipping you is one thing, but she’s got some cheek biting my husband’s bum.” A soft whisper by my ear added, “That’s my job.” I looked over my shoulder and she licked my muzzle. “You worry me sometimes you know.”

“I know. I’m sorry,” I sighed, staring into the fire while she rubbed. “You know me too well, love. I just wish there was something I could do about it, but I can’t just switch off my feelings, or my heart. I think it’s a part of who I am now, whether I like it or not.”

“There’s a little touch of darkness in all of us,” Meadow replied philosophically. “I don’t think many ponies like to admit it, but it’s there.” She closed her eyes and sighed quietly. “It always has been, and it always will be. I know you dwell on things you can’t change, but it frustrates me that I can’t make it better for you. Even with all my medical training, I can’t magic everything better, much as I’d like to.”

I harrumphed. “Damaged goods, eh? That’s me; broken and unwanted, cast aside by society.”

“Now there you go again, that’s precisely what I’m talking about!” Meadow put down the ointment and passed me a juice. “You know as well as I do that that’s not true. You’ve been through a lot, Fairlight, me too don’t forget. But we’re here now, you and I, and we’ve got a lovely home, a beautiful daughter, and friends who care about us. Don’t forget that.”

“I know, love, I know.” I nuzzled her softly, taking in Meadow’s wonderfully feminine scent. “Sometimes I find myself falling into that dark place and end up feeling like I want nothing more than to just hide away and lock the door. I know I’m being stupid, but I can’t seem to help it. No matter what I do there’s always somepony who gets hurt, or rather got hurt, because of me.” I rubbed my eyes and took a deep breath, feeling a shudder run down my spine. “The tribe fought and died to protect our home, and to bring Lumin back to us. How many of them suffered because I sent them into battle against ridiculous odds? It was because of me, because I couldn’t protect my family the way I should. Their blood is on my hooves, and no matter how hard I wash myself, that’s something I’ll never be able to rid myself of. And… And those creatures… the ones in the village… Oh, Luna forgive me. The things I’ve done...”

“Shhh...” Meadow gave me a hug. Her soft forelegs pulled me to her, holding me close. “They didn’t have to follow you if they didn’t want to, and I think you’re overlooking one thing – Lumin is one of them. If one of the tribe’s children had been taken instead of Lumin, wouldn’t you have done the same?”

I nodded slowly. “I know… But it doesn’t make it any easier.”

“If you hadn’t had a brain in your head and your wendigo magic,” Meadow reasoned, “it could have ended very differently. Who knows what those monsters would have done to him, or to the rest of the tribe.” 

I let out a sigh, feeling a little of the tension melting away. “I suppose none of it really matters now anyway,” I said wearily. “Now I’m with the herd and they’re in the mortal realm, my presence shouldn’t be attracting trouble the way it was. At least, I hope not.”

Meadow nuzzled me. “There’s a pony here who could help you, you know. She’s worked with pony stress disorders before.”

“You think that’s what’s up with me?” I asked, looking up. “P.S.D?” 

I’d heard of it before, especially with regard to border guards coming back from their stint up on the northern wall. The things they’d seen up there could… affect them. We’d get reports through about any ex-squaddies coming into Manehattan so we could keep a surreptitious eye on them. For the most part they were fine, but there was always the odd episode which often involved alcohol. They were hard stallions and mares, each and every one of them. All it took was some smart arse making his mouth go and they could find themselves facing a soldier who could kill them faster than they could blink. I still remember that poor bastard who was two days out of retirement. He’d come into the city for a drink before heading off west to a new life on the family apple farm. He’d never made it. Some buck-wit had commented on his scars, laughing about how crap our army was. The rest of the report was sketchy, but apparently the squaddie had broken the guys neck in front of everypony, finished his drink, paid up, and left. We found him the next day. Single gunshot, right under the chin and into the brain, severing the spinal cord. P.S.D they’d called it. Pony Stress Disorder. Celestia’s mercy, there wasn’t enough help out there for these poor buggers. The thought that I may have it was terrifying. 

“I don’t know, love, maybe,” Meadow said gently. “You’ve been through things nopony would normally have to, and you’ve seen things I can’t even begin to imagine. She helped me when I got here, and we’ve kept in touch ever since. You can trust her. Everything would be strictly confidential.”

“Yeah...” I wasn’t so sure. “Look, Meadow, I’m just being selfish. Ignore me, I shouldn’t be moping around like this. You’ve been through a damned sight more than me and I just kind of assumed that you were…” She was what? Alright? Happy? Goddesses above, she’d been murdered and ended up having a foal here, alone and frightened. Hadn’t the sheer horror of that dawned on me? Buck me, I was such an arsehole. A selfish, self-centred arse of a stallion. Did I always think of myself all the time? I closed my eyes as the black pit of despair loomed ahead of me. I could feel its pull on my heart already, beckoning, calling me to its familiar-

“Stop it!” She bopped me on the nose. “I know that look, mister. Here…” Meadow lifted my head despite my resistance and looked into my eyes. I could feel them welling up. She was so beautiful, and I knew I didn’t deserve her. I had never deserved such a wonderful creature.

Meadow kissed me gently on the lips. “I love you no matter what, do you understand? No matter what, Fairlight. You are still the same wonderful stallion I married and had a foal with, so get that through that thick skull of yours will you? If I didn’t love you I wouldn’t be here now, okay?”

Closing my eyes I nodded. “Meadow, what happened when you came here?”

She sat on the floor next to my chair and leaned back into me. “I thought I told you.”

“Some of it,” I agreed, “but I get the feeling you skimmed over it. You always know what’s in my heart, love. I want to know what’s in yours.”

She sighed. “It’s not that important, but…” Meadow sniffed, rubbing her muzzle. “When I… died, I found myself in front of your friend, Aethel.” Some friend! Meadow continued, “He passed me over to a case worked straight away, and within days of arriving I went into labour. The doctor was fantastic, he came along with the midwife and helped deliver Sparrow in no time at all. It seems I was a special case as babies are fairly rare here in the herd, they’re more of a ‘mortal’ thing apparently. And so it was big news; what had happened to me, to us... it was dubbed the ‘Summer of Tears’.”

“I saw it mentioned in the paper,” I said quietly. “I didn’t know what it was referring to.”

Meadow nodded. “Star Swirl came to see me soon after and I suppose you know the rest. Mum and dad have been fantastic of course, your mum’s been great too, but Fairlight… I needed you. It was all I could think of, and when Star Swirl showed me the way to reach you through the veil, I was so happy, I didn’t know what to do with myself.” Meadow’s eyes looked damp. “It wasn’t enough though. I wanted more - I wanted you, here with me.”

Leaning down I kissed her on the top of her head. “I’m here now, love, knackered mind and all.”

“I think we’re both a bit messed up,” Meadow chuckled, “especially after everything that’s happened.” She stood back up and walked over to the table, collecting the medical kit. The ever considerate nurse checked my poor posterior once more. “How is it?”

I winced. “Still tender, but a lot better thanks, nurse Meadow.”

She giggled. “I know my trade, Captain Fairlight. I’ve had to patch you up before, remember?”

“You patch my heart up too, love,” I said happily. “When I’m adrift you’re the rock I can cling to for support. I want to be that for you, too.”

Meadow smiled and licked my cutie mark. “You always have been, ‘cute flanks’.”

A shock of warmth rocketed through me and my heart began to race. “Meadow?”

“Shush, you…” The green mare moved closer, her eyes sparkling in the firelight. “I want to try something Glimmer told me.”

“What?”

She put a hoof to my mouth, stopping my question and simply gave me a knowing smile as she glided alongside me. A soft pair of lips barely brushed up the edge of my ear and I could feel her warm breath tickling the inside. An involuntary shudder took me and I moaned under my breath.

“You like that, don’t you?” she breathed.

I nodded. Her breath was like a warm breeze on a cold day, tantalising and delightfully wicked. She blew softly into my ear, the sensation odd but deliciously exciting at the same time. I wanted to kiss her, but I knew Meadow better than that, she had her own plans and would take her time experimenting with me. And goddesses damn it, I loved it! Meadow’s hoof lifted my chin and she ran her tongue from the bottom of my neck right up my throat to my muzzle, pulling away before I could react. Always on the edge of control, she kept me balanced there like some sort of talented acrobat. Meadow always seemed to know just how far to go… Gradually her horn began to glow and I could feel its magic enveloping me, starting at the tip of my horn and working its way down my body. Meadow’s magic had a particular feel to it which gave me a shiver of sensation every time, sending little sparks of electricity throughout my entire being. I kept my eyes shut tight against the surging tide of emotion and testosterone that threatened to sweep me away at any moment, but it was far from easy. This wicked green mare knew it too. She chuckled quietly and I felt, from the tightness beneath me, that I’d soon have to readjust myself before I ended up painfully uncomfortable. Meadow reached down and, with both hooves, lifted my hind leg, exposing me for her inspection. She made a purring noise and blew… softly. I nearly cried out, the feeling was like gossamer and fire, a bizarre feeling that wracked my loins and mind. I wouldn’t be able to hang on at this rate…

Suddenly, she ran a hoof up the inside of my hind leg, up my hock, and hung on when I twitched instinctively. I hated anypony, or anything, touching my hind legs, and like most ponies would buck if I felt anything on there. I was frightened I’d kick her, but she knew just what to do and kept tight hold, putting me at ease with the strange feelings raging inside me as she kept up her assault of licks and nibbles. In a surprise move, Meadow ran a firm hoof along my spine, over my croup to my tail and lifted it. There was that horrible moment when I hoped I was clean down there, especially with what she did next. I nearly shot out of the seat when her teeth gripped my dock and scraped along it. I think the squeak I let out was the signal she needed to know that I was about ready to either leap on her or black out; I hadn’t felt this excited in ages! She ran her hoof over my flank and pulled over a chair, leaning over it and peering back at me seductively.

“Hungry?”

The beautiful green mare was as warm, soft, and wonderful as she always had been. Her scent, the warmth and the knowledge that such a magnificent creature was in love with me was beyond anything any stallion could ever ask for - in any world. To be one with her was a gift that surpassed anything I could imagine. Her cries and gasps were a symphony of delight to my ears as I found my rhythm and moved with her. In our passionate throws, Meadow’s drool dribbled onto the floor, her huffing increasing in speed until, with a loud moan and shudder, her hind legs gave way. The green mare collapsed to the floor, her chest rising and falling as she tried to catch her breath. I lay down next to her, taking in the bedraggled mess of green pony that was helplessly trying to compose herself.

“F… Fairlight…” she gasped, “…great Celestia…” She laughed and tried to stand, falling into me. “What have you done to me? You… you…” Meadow swallowed. “My bloody legs have gone!”

I smiled as I held her, brushing some of her light green mane from her muzzle. “Did I do alright, love?” I chuckled.

She reached up and kissed me, the heat from her overwhelming. “What do you think?” she huffed. “Good grief, I never… not like that!”

I felt a rush of warmth flood through me from the tip of my horn to my tail. I’d made my mare happy, and that alone made my heart soar to new heights. “I love you, my beautiful mare,” I whispered into her ear. “I really do.”

Meadow rubbed her face with a foreleg. “I love you too.” She laughed suddenly, “I’m going to need to wash my hair again now, look at the state of my mane, and my tail too!”

“Sticky Chic” I grinned.

Meadow clopped me on the chest playfully and looked down. “You didn’t?”

“Nah, I’m good,” I smiled. “Seeing you like that is all I need. Besides, I don’t want to wear you out too much!”

She shook her mane. “That’s not fair, Lord Fairlight. Come here…”

Meadow pushed me on my back and began to lick me, her tongue soft yet rough. It was indescribably wonderful. She looked up at me. “We can… you know, if you like?”

“Are you up to it?” I grinned. “You look worn out.”

Yellow eyes flashed up at me, the glow from the fire making them stand out in the dim light. “Mares have more strength than you think, Mister Loam.”

“Hey!”

She pushed me onto the floor and then pulled over the rug and a couple of cushions, lying on her back before the fire. Meadow’s eyes glinted in the firelight, sparkling and alive. Holding out her forehooves, I lowered myself onto her and kissed her neck softly. In a rush she grabbed me and pulled me down onto her, moaning into my mouth, “Goddesses, Fairlight… I love you so much.”

Kissing her I gazed into my beloveds eyes, “You ready?”

Meadow took a deep breath and shivered. “Always...”

Time seemed to stop, the fire’s glow passing from flickering flames to dying embers in the hearth. The warmth on my face lulled me into a deep cosy sleep, my mare dozing by my side. We could have gone to bed of course, but neither of us really cared to, nor had the energy for anyway. Reaching over her tired body I pulled the throw off the settee and covered us both, snuggling into my beautiful wife. I kissed her on the muzzle and she returned it weakly. 

“You know, we’re going to have to see the girls soon, don’t you?” Meadow murmured.

I smiled gently. “But not tonight, eh? Bloody hell, I’m ready for the knacker’s yard.”

Meadow grinned. “They’ll be missing you, love. I did.”

“Hmm,” I replied. “But there’s a selfish part of me that-” 

She stopped me with a hoof. “I know what you’re going to say, but please, don’t. I feel the same way, but we both know they need you just as much as I do. They love you too, and little Lumin.”

I didn’t want to think about that now, but she tapped me on the nose keeping my attention. “One day, love, we’ll be one big family. All of us, together. I don’t need to remind you about that do I?”

“Of course not,” I said quietly. “But… can we not talk about that now, love? I just want to feel you next to me, listen to your heart beating beside mine.” I pressed my muzzle into her soft fur. “You smell so…  wonderful.”

Sparkling in the light I saw a tear roll down her cheek. “You always know how to get me just there, you bugger.” She snuggled into me, rubbing her head up against my neck. “But you’re still mine, Fairlight,” she sighed. “You always will be.”

The following morning and a good shower later, Meadow and I extricated young Sparrow out of the nest she’d made for herself with her quilt and got ready for my first trip into the local town. I was strangely excited about this little sojourn to be honest, despite still feeling a touch worn from last nights frolics. Meadow on the other hoof looked disgustingly bright and alert, all but bouncing on her hooves.

“I don’t know how you do it,” I groaned, stretching my legs.

The young mare just laughed. “You want to try delivering a foal darling, it takes it more than a good bucking to stop this mare.”

“I bet!” I sniffed. I didn’t doubt that for second!

Meadow produced a large sun hat, the same style as the one I remembered from when I first met her. My heart thumped in my chest when I saw that, and a flood of emotions burst in my mind like fireworks. I didn’t say anything, but then, I hardly needed to. There was a change in her today, and one that made me feel lighter than air. She was positively glowing with energy and vibrancy that put Sparrow’s to shame.

“You look full of beans, love, excited to go out together?” I asked happily.

“Of course!” she replied fixing her hat. “I always love shopping, and today I’ve got my very own helper with me too. You can look after Sparrow while I have my hair done.”

“What?” My eyes went wide as realisation hit me. “Oh no!”

“But oh, yes!” Meadow chuckled, poking me with her hoof. “Anyway, It’ll do you good to have some quality Sparrow time. Go and have a wander about the town with her, she knows where the best places are. I shouldn’t be any more than an hour or so.”

Oh, joy! I’d bloody well hated visits to the mane dresser’s in the mortal realm, and I doubted it’d be any different here either. I usually stayed outside when I could. They stank to high heaven of chemicals, and were havens for bored mares who seemed to love nothing more than a long chat with anypony who’d bother to listen to them. And boy, could they talk! If you wanted to know where gossip sprung from, look no further than your local mane dresser. Personally I preferred a trip to the barber myself, but only when I was all but tripped over my own tail. Still, at least it didn’t stink like an alchemy lab. Maybe it was a stallion thing, but you rarely found any of them hanging around to chat. One short trim, a quick tail tidy up, and you were good to go. Meadow was right about one thing though, it would be good to spend some time with Sparrow, just the two of us. 

The three of us headed out into the morning sunshine, walking along the lane and over the hill with Sparrow running around us like an excitable furry grey comet. Honestly I half expected to find myself back at the cottage at any moment, but sure enough below us lay a fair sized town that was more akin to Ponyville than anywhere I’d ever been before in my life. Colourful thatched buildings, tree houses, and brightly painted carts lay haphazardly around a central fountain that depicted two outrageously large prancing alicorns. Thank the goddess they weren’t ‘anatomically correct’ either, or we’d have had a  scandalized riot on our hooves. And speaking of riots, I wish I’d brought sunglasses with me. All around me prim and proper equestrians trotted about in a panoply of mind-warpingly garish colours that should never have been put together. Throw in an abundance of big hats, big feathers and furry saddles, and you get the general impression.

Meadow saw me staring and nudged me. “It’s all the rage this year,” she informed me. “The celebrities are all wearing it.”

“Well I hope you don’t wear it!” I huffed. “You’ll end up in a nut house trotting around in that kind of get-up. They look like they’ve got bloody rabies or something.”

“Fairlight!” Meadow admonished. “For Celestia’s sake, stop it! You’re already drawing enough attention as it is.”

“I am?”

I looked around and, true enough, saw that I had developed an impressively large exclusion zone around myself, with ponies avoiding coming any closer than a few yards. Ah, sod them, they probably thought I was going to eat them or something. Anyway, it suited me just fine - bunch of bloody posers. Had Equestrian’s always been so highly strung in the mortal world? I shrugged to myself. Yeah, they probably had been. As a watchstallion I’d paid very little attention to fashion or, goddess forbid, that most terrifying of terms - ‘the latest trends’. When you walk around wearing a uniform that should have been hung up in a museum years ago whilst trying to avoid having your head split open by some random drunkard, such frivolities ceased to bother you. I decided to do my best to ignore it, particularly when Meadow disappeared into the chemical smelling boutique and I was left outside with a hyperactive foal whose wings were starting to work far too well. And with mum gone, almost immediately Sparrow leapt into the air, flapping her wings to try and stay aloft. She almost managed to do it too, narrowly avoiding a precariously placed plant pot before I caught her.

“Careful!” I called. “You nearly crashed, you silly billy.” She just laughed at me.

Hmm, if you have a hyperactive foal who’s full of energy, what the best way to keep her quiet? Ice Cream of course! As the goddess willed it the ice cream parlour was nearby, and I took the fateful decision to indulge myself, and Sparrow too, in as many sweet treats as I could ram into my muzzle. One thing I noticed as we peered in through the windows of the colourful shops, was that for some reason everything here was free. Absolutely free. I couldn’t believe it! As much as you could eat, and it didn’t cost you one single bit! Just as well I suppose, as I didn’t have a penny to my name right then anyway. Meadow had told me as much, but to be honest I thought I’d misheard her. But no, she was absolutely bang on the money – so to speak. In the herd ponies worked for ‘the common good’ as she’d explained it. Well, I guess there wasn’t much point in striving for a living if you can just sort ‘imagine up’ your own house and ‘poof!’, there it is! That said, all citizens were still expected to do their bit for the community, and at some point I’d be found something to keep me ‘occupied’. Bloody Sparky was going to see to that alright. Huh! So much for peace in the afterlife! Food was certainly plentiful, and I was impressed to discover nopony took more than their share either. Gods, if this had been Manehattan the stallholders would have been crushed to death in the rush to fill as many pockets and panniers as possible! It was one of the most bizarre things I had ever come across in my life. There was no pushing, no arguing, no bartering even. In fact none of the things that I was used to from life in the big city. I was still marvelling at it all when I discovered that my ever inquisitive daughter had led me straight to the door of ‘Raspberry Ripples’, the place of choice for the those wanting to fur up their arteries with deliciousness. The door bell tinkled as we entered, Sparrow making a bee-line for a brightly coloured waitress with a chocolate mane. 

“Sparrow darling!” she laughed, picking up the squealing little pest. “You want your favourite table?”

“Yes please!”

I chuckled. “Make that two please, miss.”

The waitress turned to face me with a smile. “Certainly, s- Argh!” The tray crashed to the floor with a deafening metallic crash as the waitress backed into the wall, her eyes wide with fright. She lifted a hoof, pointing it straight out at me and began to stammer, “It… It’s you! You’re him! The d… d…”

Oh goddess no, not this again! I hung my head and waited for it.

“DEMON!”

And there we go. There was a moment of silence as everypony in the place turned to stare at me, and then, as surely as night follows day, absolute pandemonium broke out around us. Screams and shouting echoed throughout the room while ponies rushed to try and jam themselves through the door all at once. Successfully managing to get themselves stuck, a number of others outside were peering in to see what all the panicked commotion was about. I gave them a wave. The waitress was still cowering under a table shaking like a leaf when Sparrow, highly amused at the proceedings apparently, trotted up to her and tapped her leg.

“This is my daddy!” she chirped. “Come and say hello!”

The terrified waitress just continued to shake and stared ahead in blind terror, but me being me, I couldn’t resist taking the opportunity for some mischief. I leaned over and gave her my widest grin. “Table for two please, miss.” Honestly, I thought she was going to wet herself and I stifled a laugh. Sparrow just looked confused, sitting next to the waitress and deciding what she wanted from the menu.

“What in the name of all that’s holy is going on out here? Mabel! MABEL!” A pale cream mare with green eyes and a two toned red mane and tail, walked out from the back of the shop wearing a striped apron. “Mabel? Great goddesses girl, what ya’ll doin’ down there?” Completely ignoring me, the enigmatic mare hauled ‘Mabel’ from her hiding place like she was a sack of grain. “Ah kin hear the commotion from way back in the office, Mabel. What’s goin’ on here an’ why are ma customers stuck in the doorway?”

Sparrow pulled on her apron. “Miss Jubilee? Can I have the butterscotch sundae please? Daddy wants one too, don’t you daddy?”

“I guess so.” I raised my eyebrows in exasperation. I hadn’t even seen the blasted menu yet! Still, if it was good Sparrow, then it was good for her old dad. “Oh, and a coffee please, milk with one.”

The mare Sparrow called ‘Miss Jubilee’, turned and fixed me with a meltingly warm smile. “Why, yes sir, it would be ma pleasure to serve y’all”. Jubilee started pushing the almost catatonic Mabel toward the kitchen before stopping in mid stride and turned back to me, her eyes going wide. “YOU!”

Rolling my eyes, I plopped Sparrow on the seat opposite me. “Yeah, look, before you start screaming ‘DEMON!’ like these others idiots did, I’d like two butterscotch sundae’s and a coffee. White with one sugar… please.”

Julilee’s mouth flapped open and shut several times before she gave herself a shake and backed up towards a cowering Mabel. “Why… of course sir, comin’ right up.”

Sliding into a less uncomfortable position in the hard plastic chair, I sighed. This sort of lunacy was going to keep happening wasn’t it? I was some sort of bloody celebrity here, and one nopony wanted to mix with either. Some magical land of sunshine and smiles this shithole turned out to be. Naturally, Sparrow didn’t seem to notice anything of the commotion in the shop and simply amused herself by drawing pictures on the napkins with some crayons that were probably meant for the waitresses to write with. Our waitress wasn’t likely to complain though, she was near fit to faint. Several minutes passed and the rush of panicked ponies had subsided into a now all but empty shop with just a frightened waitress, a beleaguered and flustered owner, plus two grey patrons gracing the establishment. The cream mare reappeared from the rear of the parlour, carrying a tray on her back and shot a look at her waitress who scampered away. 

“Ah’m sorry darlin’, y’all will have to forgive mah gal there. Y’all are some sorta big news ‘round here.” She took the tray off her back and deftly delivered our sundaes and a hot cup of coffee without spilling a drop. I envied earth ponies their dexterity.

I nodded my thanks. “Thank you, miss…?”

“Oh! Where are ma manners? Ahm Apple, Apple Jubilee, and this here’s mah fine establishment.” The mare bobbed a quick curtsey. “Apologies for the behaviour of mah young gal, Mabel. She’s a fickle young thing. Now don’t y’all worry yourself none, ah don’t believe a thing those nasty reporters say about y’all.”

She batted her eyelids at me, displaying the pink eye shadow above a pair of deep green eyes. I’d always had a thing for country girls, and she had a sort of mature attractiveness that appealed to the stallion in me. Actually, come to think of it, it was funny to think of her as ‘mature’ in the first place, as just about everypony around here looked between twenty and thirty. Some, unfortunately, in stone.

Jubilee stroked Sparrow’s mane. “That alright for y’all honey?”

Sparrow looked up from her sundae, wearing half of it around her mouth. “Uh-huh!” Ah, the good old Fairlight family manners kicking in there. I’d have to say something though.

“Um, Miss Jubilee?” I asked.

“Yes darlin’?”

“I’m sorry for frightening off your customers,” I continued, “I had no idea ponies around here would behave like this. I haven’t done anything wrong, have I?” I gave her the old Fairlight ‘foal eyes’ routine. 

Jubilee smiled gently and shook her head. “No, darlin’, ahm sorry. The papers have been fulla stories about ya exploitations see? Seems y’all have been doin’ stuff that many ponies around these parts find a little, frightenin’.”

I sniffed quietly. “You… you don’t think I’m… I’m a ‘demon’ too, do you, Miss Jubilee?” I hung my head low and flopped my ears. It worked like a charm.

Jubilee hurried to my side and stroked my mane. “No! O’course not darlin’! Ahd never say anythin’ like that!” She shot a glare at Mabel who was peeking around the corner. “Mabel! Don’t stand around girl, tidy up the danged restaurant before more customers come in!”

Gingerly, Mabel re-entered the restaurant and began clearing the tables, keeping one wary eye on me.

“You must be that ‘Fairlight’ fella, right?” Jubilee asked.

The way she said my name was like melting butter. ‘Fair-laht’. I chuckled to myself. I wondered if I could ask Meadow to role play one day? I could imagine what she’d say too…

“I thought I’d find you two hogging away in here.”

“Eep!” I cleared my throat quickly, spinning round to face the familiar green mare walking through the door. “Meadow! Darling! I thought you’d be hours, yet!”

“Mmm! Well, I would have been,” she said with a forced smile, “but for the fact that ponies are running around outside screaming that we’re being invaded by demons from another realm. Having your mane done during the apocalypse proved to be a little troublesome apparently.”

“Ah...” I closed my eyes. “Yeah, about that...” 

Meadow just sighed, shrugging helpless. But thank Luna she was here! I was starting to feel like a prize fish in an aquarium sat here like this. Ponies of all shapes and sizes, having given up on their earlier attempts at fleeing in blind terror, were now pressed up against the window staring in at me, some of them even clambering on the backs of others to try to get a better view. 

“Morning Kitty, you looking after my two miscreants?” Meadow asked politely.

Jubilee nodded. “Hi there, Meadow darlin’. How y’all doin’ this mornin’?”

“Oh, not bad, bit of a queue outside though. Looks like our celebrity drew quite the crowd.” Meadow raised an eyebrow at me meaningfully. I smiled at her as I took a mouthful of my sundae. It was delicious. 

Miss Jubilee tapped her forehoof against her chin a moment in thought before withdrawing a pad and pen from her apron, whispering to me, “Play along now, Fairlight darlin’, okay?” Not knowing what she was after I simply nodded, giving Meadow taking the opportunity to pinch some of my sundae. In a rush, Miss Jubilee ran to the door, flinging it open. The ponies outside surged back suddenly reminding me of a school of fish approached by a predator. “Ah don’t believe it!” she shouted. “He’s here, in mah shop! An’ ah’ve got his autograph too! WOO HOO!” She waved her notepad in the air and jumped about. 

One of the ponies outside shouted through the throng, “But that’s that pony that killed-”

“POPPYCOCK!” Jubilee shouted, “Ah don’t know who y’all are talkin’ about, but this here’s Fairlight, the pony who travelled to another world ahn’d saved a buncha little un’s. He’s the same Fairlight who rescued the princess! He’s the Fairlight who’s the friend of our very own premier Star Swirl the Bearded!” She bucked in the air and squee’d, “A real life hero! An’ he’s here in mah shop!”

I turned and gave them all a big smile and a wave. It was all it took. One of the ponies at the back shouted, “A hero?! Hey! I want his autograph!”

“Me too!”

“Get out of the way, there!”

“Let me in!”

The same surge of ponies who had rushed out earlier were now trying to get back in, and by the looks of it bringing half the townsfolk with them. Miss Jubilee jumped into the fray waving her notepad as if it were a conductor’s baton. “Alraht everypony, getcha selves seats and we’ll get to y’all soon as we can. One autograph per customer, an’ that’s free with every order!”

I looked at Meadow for salvation but all she did was shrug, giving me a beaming grin. “Don’t worry love,” she chuckled, “I’m sure your fans won’t bite.”

Sparrow, oblivious to the proceedings, held up her now nearly consumed sundae and licked her lips before tapping her mother’s foreleg. “Can I have another mummy?”

“You haven’t finished that one yet, lovey,” Meadow replied in that gentle reasoning tone all parents are born with. “Remember what happened when you ate one too fast last time?” Sparrow shook her head. Apparently she either genuinely didn’t remember, or simply didn’t care to. 

Miss Jubilee called over, “Don’t y’all worry none, Miss Meadow, ah’ll get the little one what she likes, and you too.”

Meadow didn’t get a chance to protest the dubious suggestion of the application of even more sugar to our already bloated child, as right at that very moment the overwhelming equine tidal wave burst forth, engulfing our table. Before I knew it I found myself signing everything in sight, from napkins to newspapers, notepads to receipts, and only the goddess knows what else. Thankfully though, the boisterous crowd gradually ebbed away until the three of us were finally left in peace, leaving me to lean back in my chair nursing my poor overused horn. 

Meadow, somewhat predictably, merely sniggered at my discomfort and rubbed Sparrow on the head. “Come on you, time to go. We have to get daddy some new clothes and get something for tea tonight.”

Sparrow’s stomach was noticeably bulging when we pulled her from behind the table and, I noticed to my alarm, she had a distinctly green tinge about her too. “I think she’s overdone it a bit, love,” I offered.

Mum came to the rescue. “Sparrow, love? Are you feeling alright?”

Our daughter just groaned and I lifted her up and onto my back, shaking my head at her sorry state. “Too much ice cream, by the looks of it. She’s going to get fat.” I scrubbed my mane. “Come on love, let’s get the Fairlight flock out of here. A bit of fresh air will do her the world of good.”

Jubilee shouted goodbye and even the nervous waitress, now running around full tilt to feed the other patrons, gave an embarrassed wave of her hoof. Good grief, what an introduction to the herd! Still, I suppose it was better than having ‘DEMON!’ screamed at me every five minutes. Outside there were still the odd smiles, waves, and even some hoof-shakes to contend with, but like some has-been celebrity we soon blended into the background noise and were barely noticed. I wasn’t sure what to make of it all really. What a bloody fickle bunch they were here. 

Meadow nudged me. “How’s it feel to be the centre of attention?”

“I don’t like it!” I said, flicking my mane. “I used to wonder what it was like to be in the spotlight all the time and you can bloody well keep it. It’s not for this pony.”

Meadow nodded. “I know, but at least it’s out of their system now. I had a feeling something like this would happen, especially after all those radio and news articles.”

I shrugged it off. “Never mind, it’s over now anyway. By the way, can we go this way?”

The green mare raised an eyebrow in surprise but followed me into the shadows between two buildings. “What’s up?” she asked curiously.

I moved closer, smelling her mane and nudging it with my muzzle. She’d had it plaited on either side and hi-lighted in two shades of green. “You look amazing,” I rumbled. “Meadow… I…”

She pulled herself into me, whispering in my ear, “You like it?”

I swallowed. “Oh goddesses, yes…”

Giggling Meadow kissed me on the nose. “Not with Sparrow here, Fairlight. Maybe later, okay?”

I felt a shiver run through me, making my tail twitch. “I don’t know how you do it to me, love.”

She grinned mischievously and waggled her eyebrows. “Meadow Magic.”

Well, I certainly couldn’t disagree on that point! ‘Later’ it would have to be. We trotted back into the cobbled highstreet and headed up to the stallion’s clothes shop, ‘Gallant’s Garmants’, a large three storied building decked out in an austere paint scheme of black and gold. Compared to the bright and decidedly lively colours of the ice cream parlour, this ominous edifice looked more like a funeral directors than a shop. What was worse, as we approached it I had the horrible realisation we were going to spend at least the next few hours here staring at monstrosities that nopony in their right mind would ever willingly wear. Not that I would have much say in the matter I suspected... Aside from that though, something else was bugging me. 

“Meadow?” I asked.

“Hmm?”

I tossed my mane, enjoying the faint breeze blowing through it. “Why’d you call Miss Jubilee, ‘Kitty’?”

“Oh that!” Meadow snorted out a laugh. “It’s a nickname, that’s all. She models herself on some western that was serialised on the radio some years ago. She roleplays the ‘southern belle’ part to get the stallions in.”

I clicked my tongue in disappointment. “Aww… So the accent’s not real then?”

Meadow rolled her eyes. “Oh it’s real enough, just a little ‘exaggerated’. All that ‘y’all’ stuff’s a bit overdone if you ask me.” She paused. “Hey! Don’t tell me you actually fell for that routine, did you?”

“Well, not exactly…”

Meadow groaned loudly. “You did! Oh, Fairlight, I can’t take you anywhere!”

Anywhere but the bloody shops, I thought to myself sarcastically. Desperately I tried to change the subject. “Anyway, I thought you said everything was free here?” I pointed towards the large window of the tailors, noting the not-so-subtle tags hanging off the clothes displayed there. “There’s prices on everything here.”

“Well, not quite everything,” Meadow said adjusting her hat. “You can still work, get a job, and get paid. The realm has its own economy, it’s just not ‘dependant’ upon money the way the mortal one is.”

“So what, it’s just for luxuries?” I asked.

“Uh-huh…” Meadow nodded dismissively, lifting up the hem of a deep blue tunic. “This is nice, it should fit you too. Here, try it on.”

The rest of the afternoon passed in much the same way; shopping, shopping, and even more shopping. Celestia’s hairy arse, I was absolutely sick to the back teeth of it all by the time Meadow finally loaded us all into the taxi. It wasn’t that far to our home of course, but I’d have needed a builders cart to pull this lot back on my own. As much as I felt sorry for him, it was much better to let some other poor sod do it. Interestingly, now that the subject of ‘occupations’ had come up, it transpired that Meadow had originally been earmarked to work at the local clinic in town due to her previous nursing experience. At least, that had been the plan before she’d had Sparrow. With help from Star Swirl, my mum and her folks, she’d been able to raise our little daughter and go off to help at the clinic on a part time basis, occasionally nipping off to the glade to see me from time to time as well. Now that my quarantine was over I could see a discussion about future work looming on the horizon, but that would have to wait until ‘Sparky’ deigned to grace us with her presence for yet another one of her interminably laborious visits. That evening, after I’d been pushed, pulled, and generally yanked about in every direction by the many tailors in town, my own wife decided to get in on the act. Not one born with anything approaching what you could even conservatively call ‘fashion sense’, I was thoroughly worn out and sick to damned death of the sight of clothes by the time she’d finished with me. I’ll admit they were quite smart overall, and stylish too, but no matter how hard they tried I still managed to make such elegant examples of the tailors trade look like rags regardless of the attempts by the shop staff to fit me out in the ‘latest fashions’. Perhaps I simply wasn’t the type who looked good in fancy clothes, rather like some ponies aren’t photogenic in the least. Damn it all, I wished I still had my old coat and hat with me, all this nonsense was making me nostalgic even for that ancient garb. Mind you, it had probably been burnt to a frazzle in that blast like…Hmm, come to think of it…

“Meadow?”

She looked up from her latest magazine. “Hmm?”

“How did you know when I was in the glade?” I asked. “You just appeared like magic and I never asked how you did it.”

Meadow appeared lost in thought for a moment before answering, “I never told you?”

“Nope,” I replied, scratching my chin in thought. “I know my memories been a bit iffy, love, but I think I would have remembered something like that.”

“It’s that thing there.” Meadow nodded towards the crystal globe sat on the mantelpiece above the hearth. I’d always assumed it was just another of those pointless collectibles ponies buy from the kind of shops that sell incense, colourful figurines and bells with peculiar chimes. “It’s that thing there,” she explained. “It’s a ‘trans-something-or-other’ that allows us to know when a pony we’re attuned to enters one of the glades. Star Swirl could tell you its proper name, but it’s something you won’t see very often in the herd. This one’s been on loan to me ever since I arrived. He felt keeping in touch with you would help me settle in better.”

Good old Star Swirl. As much I felt he was a bit of an interfering busybody, he had been extremely helpful and kind to Meadow after her traumatic arrival in the herd. Me too, I suppose. But that begs the question – why? Why would he stick his neck out for us like that? Call me cynical, but I found it hard to believe that the old mage had simply acted out of the goodness of his heart, particularly after his most recent visit. The fact that he’d taken such an interest in the affairs of the Fairlight family gave me genuine cause for concern too, not to mention the nagging feeling I had that there was some hidden catch, or some sort of price to this that he’d come to collect one day. Maybe it was just my watch trained mind kicking into high gear again, but still, I couldn’t help but feel somewhat suspicious of his motives.

“So what’s it do?” I asked inquisitively.

Meadow tutted in frustration at my interruption to her reading. “It glows on and off to let you know somepony’s there.”

“Wouldn’t happen to be blue would it?” I noted. “Make a tinkling noise too?”

“That’s right, it- Fairlight!” Meadow shot out of the chair, her magazine discarded.

My heart was suddenly racing now. “Damn it all, what do we do?” I asked in a mounting state of agitation. “Sparrow’s in bed, we can’t just leave her and rush off!”

“Well, that’s not entirely true,” Meadow replied reassuringly. “Here, leave it to me.” 

The green mare hurried to Sparrow’s bedroom and reached up, turning the large hourglass on the wall beside her door. A moment later a faint humming sound filled the hallway as a gentle magical energy field quickly began to flow around us, enveloping the door and walls of the bedroom. Now this was new! What other pieces of objet d’art were there in our home that held a mysterious purpose I knew nothing about? Bloody hell, I was beginning to wonder if anything was safe to handle in this place. And what about Sparrow? Children had a habit of picking up things that they shouldn’t, which was precisely why she was kept well away from such everyday household items like kitchen knives, kettles and the like. If dangerous magical objects were just lying around like this, she could- 

“Come on, we’ll teleport there!” Meadow announced said suddenly, interrupting my train of thought.

“What?!” I squeaked in surprise. “I don’t know how!”

“Oh, for goodness sake,” Meadow huffed, rolling her eyes. “Right, hold my hoof.”

Without thinking, I reached out and did as she asked. I’d barely touched her when there was a loud ‘pop’, and in a flash of blue magic we appeared outside in the darkness near the edge of the woodland. Down the slope I could just make out our home. The lights were still on and smoke curled lazily from the chimney. One moment I was there, the next I was here. Good goddesses, how did we-? I turned back to Meadow to express my surprise when the world lurched to one side. “Oh… Oh, goddesses, I…” I grabbed a tree for support and emptied my stomach’s contents into the bushes in a great plume that would have put even the most hardened drunkard to shame. For a moment I thought that was it, that it would all be over in a moment of sickness the way my portal journey to the human realm had been. Unfortunately I was being hopelessly optimistic. My skull felt like my brain was trying to batter its way to freedom, whilst my guts rumbled and shook with all the subtlety of a pissed off volcano. 

Meadow put a foreleg around me. “Fairlight! I’m so sorry! You’ve never teleported before?”

I couldn’t answer, my stomach had taken over my entire world view right then. Damn it all, how much was in there?! It just kept going and going and going... Sweat poured off me in sheets and my guts were on fire with the incessant retching. Just to add to the misery, my damned knees went next and I ended up on the ground gasping for breath. 

Meadow rubbed my back. “Do you want to wait here?” she asked gently. “I’ll go and see the girls and-”

“NO!” I barked, the bitter taste of bile acrid in my throat and mouth. “Not after all this time...” I swallowed back the horrible taste. “No love… Just give me a second, I’ll be okay.”

Meadow didn’t seem convinced but helped me up all the same. It wasn’t a good idea. Almost immediately nausea threatened to overtake me once more, washing over me with a wave of disorientating heat that mercifully left as quickly as it had arrived. I paused to catch my breath and pulled myself into a somewhat less than stable standing position. A touch wobbly perhaps, but back on my hooves again I felt a little better - but not much. Together we walked and, admittedly, stumbled into the silvery light of the clearing. My heart was racing fit to burst now, and not just from the sickness either. When my eyes finally readjusted to the bright ethereal light, there, there in the middle of the glade…

“Tingles…” I said weakly, nearly stumbling as I tried to reach her. 

The tangerine pegasus rushed up and grabbed me, crying and sobbing into my mane, nigh on crushing my neck in her outflowing of emotion. I held her in my forelegs, closing my eyes against the welling tears. Goddess above, I must have looked a fright.

“Fairlight! Oh, Celestia!” Tingles sniffed, wiping away the tears. “I thought I’d never see you again! All those nights I came here, night after night, and nothing, nothing at all!” She took a shuddering breath. “Shadow’s beside herself, and locked herself away in that awful fortress and… and the whole village is in mourning! I don’t know what to do! Oh Celestia… I just don’t know…”

Meadow put her forelegs around her and the three of us hugged, tears flowing from more than just one of pair of eyes. Tingles looked up at me through eyes red and puffy from crying and sniffed, “You… You look ill! Are you alright?” She turned to my wife. “Meadow…?”

“He’s alright,” Meadow smiled, placing a hoof on Tingles’ trembling shoulder. “We teleported to the glade and I didn’t stop to think that he hadn’t done it before. Nausea is common the first time you do it.”

I shook my head and instantly regretted it. “I didn’t even know you could do that!” I groaned. “Bloody hell, I feel like crap.”

Meadow nudged the worried Tingles. “Never mind the big foal’s blouse, what’s been going on?”

“Oh, Meadow,” Tingles began, “it’s such a mess, I don’t know where to begin.”

I tried a smile. “It’s alright love, take your time.” Goddess knows I tried to be positive, but my stomach was still rumbling menacingly and my head was pounding fit to burst. Still, at least it distracted me from the emotional roller coaster that I was on right then.

“After the explosion,” Tingles explained, “there was absolute chaos. Thank Celestia not many of the villagers had been in the Wyvern’s Tail when it went up. With everything that’s been happening lately, none of us could sleep so we’d all gone off to have an early bath at the hot spring. We heard the blast and poor Lumin was terrified, he wouldn’t stop screaming for ages.”

“Is he okay?” I looked her over, checking she was in one piece. “Are you and Shadow alright?”  

Tingles pushed me away, shaking her head. “Of course! We’re all fine, which is more than can be said for some of the villagers. Three of them had been sleeping off the night before when the bomb exploded. But… when we got back, we saw you… standing there. Just… standing there. I don’t know how you were still on your hooves! I…” She started to well up again until Meadow kissed her on the cheek.

“It’s alright now, Tingles, we’re here with you,” Meadow said gently. “Take a deep breath and calm your heart before you tell us the rest. In through the mouth, out through the nose... that’s it… good girl.”

Tingles’ breathing slowed and she visibly began to relax. Finally the three of us lay down in a circle and continued to chat. In some surreal way, it was like we’d never been apart.

“We tried everything to save you, but you were so badly hurt the medics said there was nothing they could do and that only…” Tingles took a breath, “only the goddess could save you.” She choked back a sob. “I was livid, I didn’t know what to do! And then… and then Shadow went berserk and had to be held down by some of the warriors. I’ve never seen her like that! I was so frightened!” Tingles swallowed. “We left Lumin with Heather, we didn’t want him to see his dad… like that.”

I kissed her on the nose. “I know, love, I’m glad Heather’s okay too.”

She nodded. “Only by the grace of Celestia. She was bringing us towels when that terrible explosion went off. She was thrown across the ground and had her hair singed too.”

Perish the thought her hair got singed! I shook my mane, smirking to myself. Thank the goddess they were okay. I didn’t know who the three were in the tavern, but for blowing up my home, my people, some day I’d find out who it was and return the favour. A thought suddenly popped into my head. “Shit! What about Tarragon? Is she okay? I haven’t seen her since that whole changeling business.”

Tingles tutted at my swearing but explained, “Yes, she’s fine, she was with us at the spring. She follows us everywhere, it’s like she’s attached to Lumin for some reason. I know I had reservations about her at first, but she’s a little love really, and so protective of the family. The only reason she didn’t come with us when we went into the forest was because she’d managed to get herself locked in the cupboard looking for treats.”

I’d better not mention what happened to those dog creatures that time. The ‘little love’ could tear a pony apart in seconds if she had the mind to. That said though, I was damned glad she was safe and sound. I sighed. So… they were all safe at least. The only casualty from our family was the usual poor sod - me.

“Where’s Shadow?” I asked.

Tingles shook her head. “After you…” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath under the watchful eye of Meadow. “She couldn’t handle it, none of us could, but Shadow… She lost her mind completely. She unleashed some sort of lightning magic and destroyed two of the villagers homes before we could stop her. Shadow was kept in the village doctor’s home after that, heavily sedated until we could decide what to do with your body.”

Meadow watched Tingles intently. “So what happened next?”

“After the explosion, your body became surrounded in what looked like some strange sort of ice,” Tingles explained. “It was hard, like diamond, and didn’t melt even in the sunlight. Shadow wouldn’t let anypony near you, and then a few weeks ago she simply disappeared, and you along with her. We found out from our griffin scouts that they thought she was heading for the ruined fortress, but nopony can get near it. They’re all terrified of the place and I can’t blame them.”

Oh goddesses, ‘a few weeks’? “Tingles, I’m so sorry love,” I said resignedly. “I wish there’d been some way I could have come to see you sooner, but I wasn’t allowed.”

Tingles smiled sadly, her green eyes sparkling in the light of the glade. “It’s okay now though, thank goodness. We can see each other again.” She looked up at the stars above us. “Even if it is only for a night.” A hint of sadness tinged the orange pegasi’s voice and I reached over a hoof to comfort her. 

Meadow gave me a pained smile. She’d been here, countless times already. “Tingles, do you know who planted the bomb?”

Tingles shook her head. “No. We’ve no idea, and if we did the villagers would have torn them apart. Everypony in the village is so tense it’s like living on a knife edge all the time. After the changeling attack, Lumin being foalnapped and then you…” She closed here eyes. “It’s like nopony trusts one another any more. To think there’s a murderer amongst us and they tried to kill you, and maybe even…” She didn’t need to say it. With me gone, Lumin was the next lord of the four winds, and potentially a target for whatever sick freaks had unleashed this hell upon us in the first place. In the absence of any intel or motive, we were completely in the dark.

Meadow furrowed her brow in thought. “What happened to that white mare you mentioned. What was her name again? The human?”

“Annabelle” Tingles murmured. “She disappeared right after the explosion. We never found her.”

“She didn’t go to the spring with you?”

“No, she was feeling poorly and stayed in the tavern. If she was in there when it exploded…” Tingles shook her head, sniffing back a tear. “Great merciful Celestia, there was next to nothing left of the place! Our home, our memories… Oh, Fairlight, they’re all gone!”

I kissed Tingles on the muzzle. “They’re not gone, love. They’re still right here in your head and your heart.” I smiled, giving her a wink. “And mine and Meadow’s too, you know.”

Meadow gave a little whinny. “What are we going to do about Shadow? After all the effort to bring her here, this happens, and now she’s alone in that horrible castle with a frozen corpse. We can’t just leave her there like that.”

“What can I do, Meadow?” I asked in exasperation. “I can’t do anything! Some bastard killed me, nearly killed my family, and now I’m about as much use as what I am here - a bloody ghost.”

She gave me a shocked look and I mentally kicked myself. “Oh hell, look love, I’m sorry, I’m just so-” I shook my head. “For Luna’s sake, I want to do something and I can’t! They’re in danger and I can’t help them. None of them!”

Meadow’s ears flopped and she looked away. “It hurts, doesn’t it, when you can’t help the ones you love…”

I wanted to bury my head in the earth and scream at the heavens all at once, to curse the gods and goddesses for doing this to me. Buck fate, buck destiny, and buck me for not being able to do anything to help the ones I loved. I stood up and walked to the edge of the clearing and held out a hoof. It was like hitting an invisible yet solid wall. This place was a glass bubble of shattered dreams and hopes, of memories that still walked, talked, and occasionally, could touch. My heart was burning with the pain and emptiness of cold realisation that both death and life had been denied to me in equal measure. Somepony must have cursed me. But for whatever reason it was, by the goddesses, I must have done something terrible to deserve this.

“Where were Mitre and Brandy whilst all this was going on?” I asked sullenly. “Aren’t the agency doing anything, or have they abandoned you all too?”

Tingles looked from me to Meadow and back again. “Mitre’s arranged for detectors to be installed around the village and supplies to help us repair and rebuild the place. Princess Luna came to pay her respects and told us that… that Celestia has agreed to return the lands to the tribe. She was going to come here herself, but there’s a lot of commotion in Canterlot over the business with the changelings still.”

There was a moment of absolute silence while my mind, still in a mess from the teleportation spell, tried to digest what she saying. “Wait, what? Celestia actually came through? I don’t believe it!”

Tingles nodded. “She’s not a liar Fairlight, regardless of what may have happened in the past.”

I had to admit, she had a point. Still, honouring an agreement was one thing…but, ah! What the hay! We had our lands back, or I should say, ‘they’ had their lands back. Not much use to a dead pony. Damn it to hell, I’d been blown up at the worst possible time, now…

Meadows hoof gently stroked my shoulder and I looked up into those big yellow eyes, my chaotic and troubled thoughts melting away; my rock in the storm.

Tingles nuzzled me, “I missed you, both of you, Lumin and Tarragon too.”

I gave her a kiss, “I missed you too, all of you.”

Meadow gave her a nuzzle. “We’re a family, Tingles, all of us, whether in this world or the eternal herd, we’re all one.”

We talked, cried, laughed, and generally wiled away the hours together until at last the time came to bid farewell. I promised to try and think of something that would help us with Shadow, and Tingles assured me she would keep trying to find another route to the fortress that was less dangerous. She was certainly resistant to my assertion that she shouldn’t attempt the journey herself until I pointed out that should anything go wrong, Lumin could end up with no parents in this world at all. That worked. Before I knew it, Meadow and I were back in the blindingly brilliant sunshine and blue sky of the eternal herd, leaving the other half of my family behind. Meadow looked at me, raising her eyebrows, but before she could say it...

“NO!” I stomped a hoof for emphasis. “No more teleporting! If you want to, go right ahead, be my guest. Personally I want to keep my body and brain in one piece, thank you very much.”

She sniggered and hid her smile behind her hoof. “Are you sure now? It only takes-”

“NO! Goddesses, Meadow, I mean it.” I tossed my mane irritably. “How in Equestria did you learn how to do that anyway? I thought that was some alicorn-only trick.”

Meadow shrugged as we began our walk back across the fields to home. “Not really,” she explained. “It is a bit tricky, but like riding a bike you get a feel for it eventually. There’s a few unicorns who can do it in the mortal world, although they’re usually only the ones who are at the top of their game, magically speaking. Star Swirl the one who showed me how to teleport. He thought that encouraging me to study magic would kept me occupied when I wasn’t nursing Sparrow or working at the clinic.”

“Didn’t you end up barfing everywhere?” I asked.

“Er…”

“I bloody knew it!” I snorted. “You didn’t did you? It’s another ‘Fairlight thing’. Bloody hell fire, I’m cursed! I must be!” Meadow burst out laughing and broke into a trot, making me have to canter just to try and catch up with the cheeky creature. Fortunately the house wasn’t that far and we arrived barely out of breath. Horribly though, a thought hit me. “Oh damn, Sparrow!”

I burst through the door, rushing to her room to find the hourglass on the wall still trickling sand. It had barely moved since we left. Pushing me out of the way, Meadow trotted up and rotated the curious object with a tap of her hoof before applying the barest whisper of magic from her horn. A moment later the room and door began to shimmer and glow, just as they had when we’d first left. And then, with a faint ‘pop’, the door opened to reveal the still soundly sleeping form of our daughter snuggled up in her bed.

“How did you-?” I began.

“Maternity spell,” Meadow said quietly. “I found it in one of those old books on magic, a very old one too.” She waved her hooves in an attempt to visualise her words. “It sort of ‘freezes’ time at a specific location. Well, it more ‘slows it down’ really. It used to be used a lot once by mothers who were single.”

Ah ‘the good old days’ no doubt, when loved ones went off to war and simply never came back. When ponies harked back to the past as some sort of ‘golden age’ for Equestria, they did so not so much through rose tinted glasses, but ones soaked with blood. The best part is, they probably didn’t even know it either. History has an interesting way of hiding the truth through the fading memories and biased perspectives of those who had actually experienced it first hoof, leaving their descendants a somewhat ‘skewed’ interpretation that those interested in such matters have a hard time deciphering. I collapsed into the chair by the fire and looked at the clock. Wasn’t I supposed to be doing something right about now? Gods, I don’t know. I was so tired I could- Oh shit! I’d missed the appointment with Star Swirl! I grabbed my new coat and hat. 

“Meadow, I’ve got to go out,” I announced suddenly. “Are you going to be okay for a bit?”

Meadow blinked in surprise. “Eh? What do you mean? Where are you going all of a sudden?”

“I’ll explain when I get back, I promise!” I called, and hurried out the door.

Leaving Meadow like that I felt a pang of guilt course through me, but quickly rammed that awkward feeling away. I’d make it up to her later. Mentally I kicked myself for the second time today; why didn’t I think ahead? I used to be the commensurate planner, always checking times and schedules, using charts and calenders. It had been an integral, and also vital, part of my watch training. Now I’d become lazy and slack, filling my days with days of sunshine and apathy. The good life of the eternal herd was dulling my edge. Thankfully the cherry orchard was nearby, back down the lane that lead towards Aethel’s office. No taxi required this time, it was simply a case of a damned good gallop in the cool air. Still, it was times like these I wished I had access to my wendigo powers and could actually do something other than my usual object manipulation and hovering flame trick. Like this I was more like a foal’s birthday party magician than a unicorn. No teleporting or flying for me then! Bollocks to it, I’d have to study those books of Meadow’s later, and then I could learn how to pop up around the place like a bloody jack in the box too. I may even avoid puking my guts up as well, my stomach was still sore even now. Galloping to the orchard was definitely ‘not’ helping matters either. 

Cresting the rise, the familiar cherry trees were laid out below me on both sides of the lane. It was early morning and nopony in their right mind should have been up at this hour, but there was one, lying under one of the trees with his staff and pack lying beside him. As I approached I noticed the large brimmed wizard’s hat adorned with small brass bells around its brim. It was pulled down, shading his eyes. Other than the lighter coat colour, at a distance I could almost believe it was the thestral mage Star Beard. The cheeky bugger had without doubt pinched the name, or as he saw it, used it to honour his tutor. Maybe I was getting cynical in my old age. At forty three going on twenty, I was going to be a grumpy old stallion before I knew it, and still look like I was barely old enough to shave!

The brim of the hat twitched as Star Swirl let out a groan. “Do you know what time it is, boy?”

I put on my most serious voice. “My apologies, Premier Star Swirl, my wife and I were answering a summons from the ‘other side’. I fear the dead have no power to resist such powerful magics.”

A hoof pushed up the brim of the outrageous looking headgear revealing a big yellow eye which stared up at me. A moment later, Star Swirl burst out laughing, “You haven’t lost your sense of humour then!” I reached down to help him up, not that he really needed it, he was as fit as I was. The wizard brushed a few errant twigs from his coat. “Your family are safe then, I take it?” 

“I think so,” I replied. “I just wish I knew who the rat was who planted that bomb. It could have been anypony.” I huffed out a breath. “So much for friendship and trust.”

Star Swirl gave himself a shake, “Friendship is one thing, trust is quite another, Fairlight.” He tapped me on the chest. “Trust is earned, not given or bartered away like something on a flea market. You will find, as I did, that it is something that those who have a lot to lose cannot afford to give out easily.”

“I think I already learned that lesson,” I said snorting loudly. “I’ve found few who I could, and even then there’s that niggling little seed of doubt at the back of your mind that keeps asking, can you really trust them? Will they betray you? Honestly, Star Swirl, I think trust is a weakness.”

He smiled sadly and re-adjusted his hat. “Come on, we’ve delayed long enough.” 

Around us the world was stirring as we walked along in the morning sunshine, listening to the dawn chorus. I’d always enjoyed this time of day, even here it filled me with a sense of renewed hope and its promise of better times ahead. To pass the time we talked of my visit with Meadow to Smiling Borders, the old stallion nodding and occasionally asking questions. It was rather like a friendly interrogation of sorts, just without the shouting and shining a lamp in your eyes. Not that many of us did that in the watch any more of course. I was still at a loss as to where we were going though, and despite his age and apparent ‘wisdom’, Star Swirl still had quite the talent for drama. He seemed to enjoy the suspense and, I suspected, did it all very deliberately. I’d met another pony like that once. What was her name again?

The wizard lifted a hoof. “We’re here. Follow me.”

We had arrived at a rather nondescript building which looked like some sort of hotel, if its sheer size was anything to go by. I could vaguely remember seeing it once before on my way from Aethel’s office, although admittedly I hadn’t been paying much attention at the time. My memories of my unexpected arrival in the herd were still hazy, which was more likely due to the shock of being torn from the world of the living and thrown unceremonious into the afterlife than anything else. Come to think of it, it was probably just as well. But sure enough, further along the lane was that annoying alicorn’s office. Thankfully we weren’t going there today, nor was there any sign of the alicorn in question either. In fact,  other than the occasional bird flying overhead, it was as quiet as the grave. Nopony was around yet, which wasn’t really all that surprising due to the early hour of course, yet despite the mown grass and neat flower beds there was still a peculiar ‘abandoned’ feel to the place that I couldn’t quite put my hoof on. Rows of empty windows stared out of the hotel, each one perfectly clean, neat, and well painted. And yet there was no name, no signage, nor in fact anything above the door to suggest where we were at all. It was simply a functional building that served a purpose. Whatever that was. We walked up the large stone steps and pushed open the equally large doors. I half expected them to creak ominously, but instead they simply swung open on well maintained hinges allowing us to enter completely unimpeded. Inside was a large tiled atrium with a number of chairs and loungers dotted around. Here and there were strategically placed pot plants, a few tables, and there, up against a wall, was a long desk with a board behind it covered in keys. Our hoofsteps echoed as we approached, but once again there was nopony here either - no customers, no staff… If I wasn’t dead I’d probably be fearing for my life right about now! Star Swirl of course wasn’t phased in the slightest. As if it was something he did every day, he lead the way up a large flight of stairs and along a red carpeted hallway lined with numbered doors. 

“Fairlight,” he whispered. “I know you want to tell Meadow about this, and I can’t stop you of course, but nopony else can know about what we discuss here, do you understand?”

“Of course,” I replied doubtfully. “What’s going on here, Star Swirl, my hackles are going up like noponies business.”

He gave me a hard stare. “And so they should.” He placed his hoof on the handle of one of the doors and pushed down sharply. “BEHOLD!”

The door swung open, dramatically revealing… an empty bedroom.

I looked back over my shoulder. “Er, Star Swirl, there’s nopony here?” Had we got the wrong room?

“What?!” The bearded unicorn pushed past me into the room and drew his staff, magic flowing around it and lighting the dim space in a brilliant golden glow. 

I trotted over and opened the curtains to let in some natural light, taking the opportunity to have a look around. It was, for all intents and purposes, your typical hotel bedroom. There was a wardrobe, a chest of drawers, two bedside tables, and a dresser. The bed covers were untidy and a quick check revealed the mattress was still warm, so whoever had been in here hadn’t been gone long. The creak of a floorboard behind us made us turn quickly to see a side door from an adjoining room slowly beginning to open, a faint trickle of steam curling out from the gap. My heart was hammering in my chest and I could see from Star Swirl’s reaction that he too was preparing to face whatever came through that ever increasing mass of steam. Hell fire, I had no effective magic, no weapons - nothing! My muscles tensed and I instinctively reached for my wendigo power that just wasn’t there any more. Warm, floral scented air tickled my nose as the door was eventually pushed wide open and a damp looking unicorn walked in.

“Good morning,” he said with a yawn.

The grey unicorn stallion standing before us sporting a rather bored expression on his face, was busy scrubbing himself with a large blue towel. I let out the breath I’d been holding in, whilst beside me Star Swirl visibly relaxed as well.

“Ah, there you are,” the wizard said, leaning his staff against the wall. “I’ve brought our guest.”

I’m sure the old bugger was just as tense as I was, but if he was he hid it well. This mysterious new unicorn looked... well, to be honest he looked a lot like Nimble, if just a little taller. Truth be told he was quite nondescript really: grey coat, horn, yellow eyes, black mane and tail, and a white snowflake cutie mark. If I had to guess I’d say he looked like a pony who could have well been one of the four winds tribe. Being the cynical type I’d always suspected it would only be a matter of time before one of them put in an appearance.

I nodded politely and greeted him. “Good morning, my name’s Fairlight. Pleased to meet you, mister…?”

“Maroc, former lord of the four winds,” the stallion replied absently. “You may have heard of me I believe?”

Just as well I wasn’t carrying anything. My jaw dropped open and my eyes went wide as I sat back on my haunches. “Maroc? You mean...”

“Yes?” He cocked an eyebrow at me. “Lost for words, boy?” He shrugged. “Well I can’t blame you being a little overwhelmed. It’s not every day you get to meet the legend himself, am I right?”

Star Swirl shut the bedroom door. “Don’t tease him, Maroc, please. He’s had a rough time of things, as you know all too well.”

Maroc sighed. “You’re right, I’m sorry Fairlight, forgive me. It’s a habit Arathea keeps telling me off for, but you know how it is, old habits die hard and all that.”

I just stood there like a statue. What the hell could I say? I had no idea what was going on here, but whatever it was, I had a bad feeling about it. Maroc walked up to me, examining me like some sort of prize bull, shaking his head in what I could only assume to be disapproval. His big yellow eyes fixed me with a critical stare.

“Hmm, well you certainly look like one of the tribe, other than the eye colour.” The stallion clucked his tongue. “Brown, not yellow… not a pure bred pony then.”

Now that got my back right up! I took a step away from him, narrowing my eyes. “Do you mind? I’m as much a pony as you are, friend. I’m sorry I don’t come up to your ‘exacting’ standards, but I think I’ve done pretty well all things considered. Anyway, you should know all of this already, right? We’ve spoken enough times for goodness sake.”

He cocked his head to one side. “Spoken? No, I don’t- Oh! You have the memories, do you? I see.”

“No, I don’t see at all,” I huffed. “What in Equestria are you talking about?”

He glanced at Star Swirl. “He doesn’t know?” He clicked his tongue. “What you have are memories, Fairlight, nothing more. All of our bloodline have them. It’s an old magic from way back to help us cope with the changes we have when we meld with the wendigo spirit. They’re more of a...” He waved a hoof in explanation, “‘simulacrum’ of your ancestors. Not the real thing.”

I scratched my head. “But you, the ‘other’ you, saved my life! It took me over and used the wendigo’s power.”

Maroc shrugged. “Like I said, they are like us, but not us. What saved you is more likely to be yourself, your subconscious tapping into the memories and utilising the spirit’s magic directly.” The stallion rubbed at a damp spot on his ear. “I don’t have all the answers, Fairlight. For that you’ll want to ask old Star Swirl here. He’s the resident bookworm.”

The old unicorn wizard rolled his eyes. “Thank you for your confidence in my knowledge, Maroc,” he said sarcastically, “but you know I’m no expert on your people. Perhaps you can explain to young Farlight here why we dragged him away from his pretty young wife and foal?”

Maroc smirked. “Pretty you say? A chip off the old block eh, Fairlight?” Laughing he waved me to one of the chairs which I climbed into before he continued, “I’d offer you a drink but there’s no room service here unfortunately.”

Star Swirl took out a selection of items from his saddle pack. “Fortunately, some of us think ahead old friend.”

In the glow from his magic, a series of bottles, cups, and a wrapped box of pastries settled onto the table between us. Unscrewing the lid I noted the distinct smell of elder flower, one of my favourites. Without standing on ceremony we all tucked in, Maroc talking around a mouthful of cake.

“Delicious!” The grey stallion wiped the crumbs away and waved a hoof. “The reason I wanted to see you, or really, both of us did,” he raised an eyebrow in Star Swirl’s direction, “is because we have a problem which we believe you may be able to help us with.”

Damn it, here we go! I was ready to get up and leave right then and there, but my blasted curiosity got the better of me as usual, and I’m sure that strange old unicorn knew it too. If I didn’t know better I’d swear he was grinning knowingly behind that ridiculous beard of his.

Maroc continued, “It’s my son, Vela.” He took a deep breath and turned to look out of the window. “Star Swirl, could you…?”

The old wizard reached over and laid a reassuring hoof on his shoulder. “Of course, my friend.” He turned to face me. “Fairlight, many of the ponies in the eternal herd are aware of the attacks on Equestria by the changelings, as well as the other troubles which have been plaguing the mortal realm for some time now. I am also well aware of your involvement in those events and how you fought to save our old home. This has not gone unnoticed.” Well, that was positive. I think! Somehow though I had the feeling that this was leading up to something, and it was probably going to be a ‘something’ I didn’t like either. “You are already aware that Wendigo have their powers sealed when they enter the herd, yes?” I nodded. “Some of the wendigo didn’t take well to that,” the wizard continued, “and refuse to integrate with the rest of pony society.”

Maroc turned back to me with a far away look. “It’s hard for us. Very hard. Unlike you, many of us were born knowing what we would become, and our people would join with the spirit as soon as they were old enough. When you live your life as a wendigo, to have its power denied you… it’s like losing a part of yourself - a cruelty many of us couldn’t accept, and don’t accept.”

“I take it this is where Vela comes in?” I asked. “But he didn’t become a wendigo in his mortal life did he?”

Maroc shook his head sadly. “No. He died being unable to achieve the joining, and in death he has become embittered and resentful of both the living, and the ‘authorities’ here in the herd.”

Star Swirl spoke next. “He has left the land of the herd and entered the realm of the thestrals. We hoped that he would find happiness there as many from the wendigo tribe have, but his anger has lead him down a path which now threatens both realms.”

“How so?” I asked. “If he has no power then what threat can he pose?”

Maroc’s voice lowered. “We believe, or rather we know, he has been working with somepony in the mortal world, passing them knowledge that has lead to the suffering of innocents. My tribe never did this, Fairlight. We never allowed this sort of… ‘sickness’ to occur. Whatever possessed my son to do what he did…” His eyes narrowed as his voice cracked. “Star Swirl, you tell him…”

Before he could reply I filled in for him, “It’s the portals isn’t it? Vela gave them the knowledge of how to build them.”

Star Swirl nodded sagely. “Well deduced, my boy. That knowledge was locked away and none save the royal family knew about it. From the most ancient times some portals still remained, but none should have had the knowledge of how to align them, let alone build one, and certainly not connect it to the human realm.”

“But it’s not impossible, is it?” I pointed out. “Somepony must have found out about it originally, and even if the knowledge was lost, there was always the chance it could be rediscovered.”

Star Swirl began to fidget with his beard. I had the distinct impression he wasn’t telling me everything here. He cleared his throat, “True, true, but we know that Vela did pass that information across. Like your ‘Equestrian watch’, we have our own sources of intelligence here in the herd.”

I took a drink of my flavoured water. “There’s more to it than that though, isn’t there?” 

Maroc curled his lip. “Oh there’s much more than that, my dear Fairlight.” He let out a low growl. “That damnable fool of a pony conspired with those disgusting ‘things’ to attack Equestria in some totally insane attempt to return the power of the tribe.”

I nearly choked. Bloody hell, Vela was behind the attack on the capital by the changelings?! “Good goddesses!” I exclaimed. “Why the hell would he think such a deranged thing would work?” I shook my mane in amazement. “Even if the changelings had managed to take over Equestria, they would have sucked it completely dry. And what then? There’s no wendigo left in the mortal realm to ‘return to power’ in any case.”

Maroc stared into my eyes. His own had a timeless look to them, one which spoke of sights that I couldn’t even begin to imagine, making me feel very uncomfortable indeed. “You’re wrong. There are,” Maroc said levelly. “Some fled to the far north, and they remain there to this day. They’re ponies, like the rest of the equestrians, but still descendants of the tribe.” His voice dropped an octave. “Just as you are.”

“But they’re just ponies!” I exclaimed. “Without the spirit, without the joining, they are no more nor less than any unicorn.”

Maroc slammed his hoof of the arm of the chair. “You sound like one of those damned Celestians! What are you? A coward?”

Anger, real anger, flooded through me. It was the first time I’d felt such a thing since I’d arrived in the herd. It was… invigorating. Jumping from the chair I bucked it away from me across room, sending the thing smashing into the wall. Taking a low fighting stance I growled up at him, “How dare you… How bucking dare you! I have fought dragons, I have fought armies side by side with my brothers and sisters, and you have the damned affront to stand there and accuse me of being a COWARD?!”

Letting out a neigh, Maroc spat on the floor. “And what have you done to find your lost brothers and sisters of the tribe, wendigo? Have you searched the north, the empty wastes, to bring them home? NO! You’ve been running about bucking mares and playing with baby dragons!”

My blood was boiling with rage now. “And what about you? What have you done? Been swanning about here in the world of sunshine and smiles sitting on your plump arse waiting for what? For some frigging miracle? I’ve done what I can. I’ve got our lands back from Celestia, and that’s a little bit more than you damned well managed isn’t it? At least I didn’t get turned into a pile of bucking bones on a goddess forsaken mountainside!”

A solid wall of magic hit me and I was flung bodily across the room, crashing heavily into the bedside unit. 

“ENOUGH!” Star Swirl stood on his hind legs, his staff held out, glowing with a bright golden magical aura. “Will you two stop this infernal nonsense? I thought I was dealing with stallions, not testosterone fuelled colts!”

Maroc picked himself up and gave his coat a shake. Dust and broken bottle fragments cascading from him, he laughed out loud. “Damn that felt good! Really good!” I stared at him incredulously. Maroc noticed my expression and raised an eyebrow, smiling, “Don’t tell me you didn’t feel it too, Fairlight? I know who you are, and what you are.” He walked up to me, his yellow eyes shining in the sunlight from the window. “You’re the lord of the four winds… I know you are. The world knows you are.”

He was right about one thing though, it did feel good. The emotional suppression of this realm, the utopian happiness which I felt all the time, was strangely wearing. Was this why I hadn’t felt completely settled? The wendigo part of me, its magic at any rate, was suppressed, true. But the awareness, my mind, I was still me and it was part of me now whether it was hidden or not. I’d forgotten the exhilaration of battle, the song of war…

“Yes… YES!” Maroc laughed. “I can see it in your eyes! You do remember don’t you!” He reared up and grabbed my shoulders in his hooves. “You are the one, Fairlight, you have the power to change the world!”

I grimaced. “Maroc, look, I think you have the wrong pony here.” He looked taken aback momentarily, but I continued, “I’m dead, remember? Besides, I have a foal and wife here.”

“Pah!” he snorted. “Details.”

“DETAILS?” I shouted in surprise. “Being dead is a bit more than a frigging detail, pal!”

Maroc sniffed, rolling his eyes. “Talk some sense into him would you, Star Swirl?”

Looking more than a bit flustered himself, Star Swirl scratched his beard. “You’re both right.” Maroc raised his forelegs into the air in exasperation and walked over to lean against the windowsill. Star Swirl merely shrugged at his friends reaction, clicking his tongue before continuing, “Whether you like it or not, Fairlight, destiny is not finished with you it seems. Not at all. In some way, I cannot say how precisely, you are still tied to the mortal world even now.”

Hang on, say what now? I took a step back. “No… Oh, no way, Star Swirl! I’m dead… DEAD! For the goddess’s sake, haven’t I been through enough already? I don’t want any bloody ties to the mortal world. You have magic, don’t you? Do something about it; cut it, block it, something! I don’t want to leave Meadow and Sparrow again, and I’m not, d’you hear me? So you can shove any bucking stupid plans you have for me right up your arse. I’m done with this, and I’m done with being every ponies bitch too. Goodbye.” I stood and headed for the door.

“Tingles will die, Fairlight.” The wizard’s words froze the very blood in my veins. “But what they will do to Lumin will be far, far worse.”

I stopped in mid-stride, hanging my head, my determination to leave suddenly doused in the cold water of realisation. “What do you mean,” I asked levelly.

Star Swirl spoke sadly, “If Vela succeeds in his plans, hell itself will be unleashed upon Equestria. He knows that Lumin has within him a magic that could help bring his plans to fruition – a magic that holds both the power of the lord of the wendigo, and that of the elder dragon, Etrida.” His gaze never left me. “He would be sucked dry, again and again, but not by changelings, but by the very things he is trying to release - things much worse than what you’ve faced so far. Vela thinks that he will be restoring the glory of the wendigo. What he will be doing... is destroying their last hope.”


THE END