‘T-H-E (space) E-N-D,’ I said aloud, letting my hooves type in the letters I dictated. Once I was done I read the last paragraphs over, nodded in satisfaction, and hung back in my chair.
‘Now what?’ said Alces.
‘Now nothing,’ I said. ‘The end is the end. Our story has ended, and we’re back where it began, or, well, at the moment you barged into my door.’
Alces was silent for a while, but I could read the awe off his face. ‘So we did it? We wrote down the complete history of our adventures?’
I turned the wheel, letting the last sheet out of my typewriter. ‘That’s what we did,’ I said, as I put the last page on top of the manuscript. That’s when realization washed over me, as I understood what Alces meant. ‘You’re right…’ I said. My eyes must have been as big as the saucers we used to drink tea. ‘We did it!’ I turned around and looked at my brother. ‘We actually did it!’
A smirk played on Alces’s lips. ‘I told you we had to write down the whole story, including the nasty bits.’
‘Yes, you’re right,’ I said, drinking my tea which had long gone cold. ‘I actually feel… better. It wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be. I think it will make one fine novel.’ I grabbed the manuscript—easily two hundred and fifty pages thick—and put it in my drawer. ‘So, that’s that. We’ll just leave it inside there for about six weeks and then I’ll look it over with a fresh set of eyes. I’ll be able to add clarifying phrases, remove obvious sentences, and correct any misspellings and errors before it goes to my pre-readers.’
Alces recoiled from the drawer as if I revealed a hornets’ nest inside. ‘Whoa, whoa, you’re actually going to publish it?’
‘Yes,’ I said. ‘Why not? It would make for a nice adventure story. And not only that, but it will also reveal some more about the character of, well, you and I.’
‘Well, okay,’ grumbled Alces. ‘Do whatever you feel like you have to do. I won’t be around answering fan mail or explaining why I did this and why I did that anyway.’
‘Yes, you’re much too busy on your quest,’ I said.
‘Exactly.’
Silence descended upon the cottage. The only sound was the crackling of the hearth fire and the occasional puffs of steam from the kettle hanging over it. Both Alces and I knew what was going to happen now, and I didn’t want to say it.
Alces spoke up. Of course he spoke up—he was always the bravest of us. ‘I should be going,’ he said. ‘There’s a few more supplies I need from Ponyville and then I’ll be returning to the Bugbear Territory.’
‘Of course…’ I said, my voice wavering.
‘But we had a good time, hadn’t we?’ said Alces.
‘An interesting and productive time it was,’ I said back.
Alces stood up and walked towards his pack. I tried to stop him with, ‘Do you want any more tea?’
‘No thanks,’ said Alces. ‘I really… I really should be going.’
‘Oh, right. But it’s so cold outside, do you really think you’re—’
‘After everything we’ve been through, the Bugbear Territory is easy as pie,’ he said. He continued to gather up his stuff and hoist it on his back, while I repeated those words in a whisper.
‘After everything we’ve been through…’
And then I made my decision. ‘Alces, wait.’
He was already reaching for the doorknob. ‘What is it?’
I swallowed something away, and I sighed a small sigh before I told him what was on my mind. ‘You’re right, Alces. We’ve been through so many adventures together and now… well… now you’re going to leave me again. Now you’re once more going on your crusade to find the herd and I will be here in my cottage writing whatever is on my mind.’
‘And?’ Alces didn’t know where this was going.
I shook my head sadly. ‘And we’ll once again be separated. I don’t like that anymore, Alces.’
Alces narrowed his eyes. ‘But you can’t expect me to sit here with you and do nothing. You know I hate doing nothing when there are more than enough important things to do, like finding the herd. Elkia, I just can’t do what you’re doing, finding peace of mind. My mind is always on the move, and my legs are always aching to go someplace. It’s just how I work.’
‘That’s not what I mean,’ I said.
‘It’s… not?’ said Alces.
I stood straighter and steadier as I said, ‘It’s not. The truth is, I want to go with you this time.’
Despite his heavy pack, Alces jumped and bumped his head at the ceiling. ‘Wait, what?! Are you sure that’s a good idea, Elkia? I mean, you’re you and I’m, well… me. Damn, there’s just no good way to explain it, but you know what I mean.’
I nodded. ‘I do. But you should know that I think… No, I know both my mind and my heart has gotten a very long time to heal. And you and I writing our story together proves to me that my mind is fully healed. I think I can do it, Alces. I think I can go with you and—while we may not find the herd—go back to the forest we once called home, to the Bugbear Territory.’
Those words left Alces speechless for a while. He just shook his head and blinked a few times. But when he finally understood what I was saying, his muzzle turned into a smile from ear to ear. ‘If you mean that, then you make me a very happy brother. I’d love traveling with you to the forest—our forest, and spend some time with you once again.’
‘Maybe we’ll come up with another story,’ I said, feeling much better now that I had pushed the matter off my chest. Truth was that I had been thinking about traveling with Alces for a long time, but I just hadn’t felt the courage to take that step. The story made me take that step.
‘Yeah, maybe,’ Alces said. ‘Or maybe something entirely different happens. Who knows?’
‘We’re going on an adventure once more,’ I said. ‘But this time, we’re going together.’
‘And nothing can stop us,’ Alces added.
‘Exactly.’
I felt like a soldier uttering a battle cry. Taking the decision to go with Alces this time made me feel… lighter, more complete already. And maybe, yes. Maybe I actually did feel like facing new challenges during new adventures. As long as I was with Alces, and if he was there to cover my back, I knew I was ready. I was ready! And thanks to the story, I had never felt readier. This was our moment.
The grandfather clock struck four. ‘Oh my!’ I said, ‘we’ll have to hurry if we want to stock up in Ponyville before our journey.’
‘Then let’s go. No time to waste,’ Alces said.
I trotted over towards my coat rack, grabbed a thick horse blanket, a scarf, and some ear warmers, and then walked outside, where Alces was already waiting for me in the snow. But then I remembered something. ‘Wait a minute!’
I went back inside, grabbed some wood and a paintbrush, and got to work. A few minutes later I was content. Going back outside into the winter coldness, I locked the door, and hung my sign around the doorknob.
Am going on an adventure.
Will be back soon with more stories!
Elkia
‘Now I’m ready to go,’ I said.
Alces nodded, and together we marched ahead. When we got surrounded by nothing but the snow-covered trees of the Everfree Forest, I mulled in my head about something I wanted to say, something—somepony—I had given a lot of thought. I knew it was ridiculous, but I said it anyway. ‘Alces, do you think we can pay a visit to Scribblers’ City?’
Alces stopped and gave me a blank stare. ‘To see your marefriend?’
‘Eh… yes?’ I said, my voice a high squeak. ‘I know she must be as old as we are now, and maybe Scribblers’ City doesn’t even exist anymore, but I… I would still like to see her and talk to her. Just… one last time.’
But Alces wasn’t angry. Instead, he started walking again. I saw the smile on his face as he passed me, and I fell in step next to him. ‘We’ll see…’ he said, and with that mysterious answer I had to satisfy myself.
Together we continued our way through the Everfree Forest, towards adventure and maybe even towards danger. But I wasn’t worried. Because I knew now that together, we were stronger than we could ever be apart.
THE END