Twilight opened her eyes to the ceiling of her tent. She lay in her sleeping mat for a few moments, letting the last vestiges of sleep roll off of her before getting up and stretching her legs. Looking around, she saw that her friends and Serra had already woken up. The smell of cooked vegetables wafted from outside the tent. She licked her lips and stepped outside, ignoring the bedhead she could feel her mane had become.
Everyone was going about the standard morning routine: Hector and Florina were preparing breakfast over the campfire; Oswin and Applejack were taking down the other tent; Rainbow, Fluttershy, and even Serra were packing up everything that wasn’t needed and storing them in the supply wagon while Rusty lay atop Fluttershy’s back, munching on a half-eaten dead mouse.
The sky above was perfectly clear. The morning air was crisp and fresh and the dew-laden grass felt pleasant to the touch of Twilight’s hooves. A gentle breeze blew past, tickling her coat and sending a pleasant chill down her spine. She strolled over to the campfire and sat down on the log opposite the royal couple. They briefly smiled at her before resuming cooking. A quick glance into the pot showed they were cooking up a soup with some of the vegetables they’d bought from the marketplace back in Remi. They must have been among the ones grown by Applejack as they smelled familiar in addition to delicious.
“So we’re nearing the border of Araphen?” she inquired.
Hector nodded. “We’ll stop to rest at that inn again tonight. After that, it’s just a few days’ walk to Castle Ostia.”
“That’s good to hear,” Twilight said. “I’ve loved my time here, but I definitely want to see the rest of my friends again after going a whole month without them.”
Florina took the spoon out of the pot and used a cloth to wipe it clean. She then set them down and gently lifted up the stick holding the pot, getting some help from Hector when it proved to be too heavy for herself. At this time, everyone realized that breakfast was being served and they all stopped what they were doing to convene around the campfire.
Hector passed rations among the humans and they all began digging in. He then picked up some ceramic bowls and handed them to Twilight and her friends before gesturing to the pot. “Help yourselves,” he said.
“Wait seriously?” Rainbow said, incredulous. “You’re giving us all of that!?”
Oswin swallowed a bite of food, giving them a sincere smile. “You ponies sacrificed a lot in order to help our allies. Truthfully, you deserve a lot more.”
“We did it because we owed Hector for savin’ my sister and her friends’ lives,” Applejack said despite her similar state of incredulity.
“True, but you wouldn’t have needed my help with that,” Hector said. “Anyway, consider this a thank you gift.”
Fluttershy took a whiff of the pot. “Well, it does smell nice.”
The ponies joined the humans in eating their meals. The next few minutes passed by in relative silence, save for everybody’s chewing. A flock of birds flew by overhead. A gust of wind blew by. Everything was so calm and peaceful; it allowed Twilight to take her mind off some of the more intense events that happened over the course of their journey. Even little things like eating with her friends, both new and old, was a feeling of normalcy she treasured whether at home or on the road in addition to bigger, life-changing experiences.
“So, I’ve been thinking about our friends back home,” Rainbow said through a mouthful of cabbage, much to Serra’s visible disgust. “How do you think they’ve been getting along without us since we left?”
Applejack swallowed her food. “I imagine they miss us greatly, probably worryin’ a lot for our safety. Spike’s probably makin’ a mess of yer library, Twilight,” she added with a smirk.
Twilight rolled her eyes. “Give him some credit, AJ; he’s not the type to invite friends over for a wild party. Sure, he’ll probably eat all the gems if he finds out where I stashed them, but other than that he’s a responsible dragon.”
“Wait, you live with a dragon!?” Serra asked, awestruck.
“Yep,” Twilight said with a proud smile. “He’s just a baby dragon, though; nothing at all like what you guys had to fight.”
Hector swallowed his own food and wiped his mouth in a very uncouth manner. “Yeah, it was alarming when you first introduced us.”
“He seemed nice, if a bit blunt sometimes,” Florina said.
“That pretty much sums the little fella up,” Applejack said with a laugh.
“Anyway,” Rainbow spoke up again, “I was hoping we could keep it a secret about all the fighting we did, especially the fact that I, you know…” She trailed off again.
“Don’t you worry none, Sugarcube,” Applejack said, patting her withers. “My lips are sealed tight.”
“I promise I won’t say anything,” Fluttershy said.
“Same here,” Twilight said.
Everyone continued eating in silence and once they were finished with their meals they went about finishing packing up the camp. The sun was hanging at about the eleven o’clock position by the time they’d set out on the road, bellies full and feeling energized. They stuck to their usual formation, with the ponies casting their eyes to the side every now and then on the lookout for the glint of metal or a blur of motion. Bandits could come from any direction and be well hidden before springing up for an ambush.
Everyone became extra alert when they entered a dark forest. The canopy overhead blocked out most of the sun’s rays while the woodland on either side was like two giant curtains shielding them from the land beyond the forest. The leaves swayed in a gentle breeze, the resulting sound filling the otherwise silent air. It all reminded Twilight greatly of the Everfree Forest. Her nerves stood on edge, afraid that bandits could jump out at any point and attack them.
The group made their way along the winding dirt road carved through the forest, moving at a steady pace as per their unspoken shared wish to get through swiftly. Every now and then, Rusty perked his head up from his spot on Fluttershy’s back, seemingly alert to something. Every time he did this the group stopped for a brief moment while Fluttershy asked if something was wrong, to which he’d point out that there was a large animal moving out of sight beyond the trees that he thought was dangerous.
They were nearly out of the forest when Rusty stood rigid and he let out a small growl. Everyone stopped again, waiting while Fluttershy attempted to soothe her animal friend.
“What is it this time?” she asked.
Rusty made a quick series of barks, head fixated straight ahead. Fluttershy’s eyes shrank to pinpricks but she didn’t say anything as she followed his gaze.
“Fluttershy?” Florina ventured with a frown.
Fluttershy pointed at a large boulder down the trail. “There’s someone behind that boulder,” she said softly.
Immediately, everyone’s attention fixated on the boulder and they all sharpened their formation, the humans forming a protective barrier around the ponies and Serra. Hector stood at the front, axe held out and eyes narrowed menacingly at the boulder. Florina stood to his left with her sword similarly drawn and a softer, yet still confident expression. Oswin took the right flank, spear gripped tightly in his hands while Serra squeezed his arm in a show of concern. Twilight looked around at her friends and saw that Rainbow Dash and Applejack were tense, yet, visibly annoyed at the same time. Fluttershy was, expectedly, the most rattled, yet even in her eyes, there was a glimmer of exasperation she never would’ve thought to see from the shy pegasus in this kind of situation. Twilight herself was feeling much the same as Rainbow and Applejack.
Hector took a step forward. “Show yourself, coward! If you mean to harm us, we will fight our way past!”
There was a moment of silence before a man stepped out from behind the boulder. Everyone blanched when they saw it was the brigand leader of the first group they’d come across in their travels. His appearance was just as disheveled as last time and his hair had even grown a little longer and was more wild and tangled. He eyed the group with notable disdain, eyes tracking over them like a predator sizing up their prey. He held his iron axe not in a threatening manner, but at his side in a manner that spoke of past defeat and a deep-rooted desire for retribution.
“You again,” Hector said neutrally.
The brigand leader growled. “We’re not here for the lot of ya,” he snarled. He pointed his axe at the group. “We’re here for that she-demon you’ve got with ya.”
There was a moment of confusion among the group as they didn’t understand what he was talking about. Then, as if an alarm bell had sounded, realization lanced through everyone and they turned to look at Fluttershy, who stood rooted to the spot in pure shock, mouth hanging slightly open.
A rustling from either side of the group snapped them all back to attention and they turned to see the leader’s underlings emerging behind the trees on either side of the path. The group instinctively pulled themselves closer. The leader took a few strides towards the group, his scowl slowly morphing into a forced courteous smile.
“We’ll make ya a deal, okay?” he said in an equally forced courteous tone. “Hand over that little whelp and I swear on me family’s graves that we’ll walk away and let you go.”
“You’re not getting anywhere near our friend you monster!” Rainbow shouted, sticking her head into their view.
The leader scowled again. “Watch that mouth o’ yours, little lass,” he growled, pointing his axe at her.
Hector moved to cover Rainbow Dash, furrowing his gaze at the leader. “We won’t hand over anyone. If you won’t let us pass, I promise you won’t leave this forest alive. We would sooner not have to spill your blood, but if you leave us no choice then we’ll fight. And we’ll win,” he warned.
Soft growls emanated from all the brigands. The leader adopted a battle ready stance “We never got to brawl last time,” he said. “Our strength can match yours and then some with numbers on our side. You’ll regret challengin’ us, and all for some she-demon that don’t belong in this world.”
The irony in his last words almost forced a chuckle from Twilight, and looking around at her friends, they seemed to be trying to hold back laughter as well. They kept their composure, however, ready to fight in case a battle broke out.
The leader took another step forward. “Last chance to change yer minds, ya hear?” he said. “Hand over that little witch an’ we’ll leave nice and quietly.”
Everyone in the group tensed again. Twilight felt her hooves tremble with anticipation. If another bloody conflict was coming, they wouldn’t be able to get everyone safely inside the supply wagon before the brigands reached them. She and her friends would be caught in the middle of the brawl without any way of defending themselves. As strong as their human friends were, they wouldn’t be able to protect against a dozen brigands all swarming them at once.
“You want me, right?”
Twilight’s heart stopped. Everyone in the group froze in place at the voice. The brigands’ expressions changed from enraged to amused. Twilight watched as Fluttershy stepped around her and passed between Hector and Florina, who reached hands out to grab her but she held up a hoof to forestall them. Rusty hopped off of her back and rushed under the supply wagon, small whimpers emanating from him the whole way.
“Fluttershy, what are you doing!?” Rainbow cried.
Fluttershy didn’t reply. Twilight thought about using her magic to hold back her friend, but an inexplicable feeling in her gut was telling her Fluttershy knew what she was doing, though, the worry for her friend weighed like an anchor on her heart.
“Hey, get back here!” Hector called, uncharacteristic panic lacing his words.
“Seems the wretched witch has some sense after all,” the leader said with a laugh. He knelt down to meet Fluttershy at eye level as she stopped a few paces away from him. “Maybe we’ll treat you well if you behave yourself, little lass. Hells, with your strange power we could make a king’s ransom from passin’ merchants.” Another laugh.
Fluttershy was silent for a few moments, her head hung low. Twilight felt a chill run down her spine at her friend’s atypical behavior. She saw Rainbow’s hooves quaking in her eye’s corner. Hector and Florina tightly clutched their weapons, the position of their legs suggesting they were getting ready to bolt forward at a moment’s notice.
Finally, Fluttershy looked up and said, “Do you have a family?”
The brigand leader blinked, the confidence disappearing from his face. His minions followed suit, looking confused by the question.
“Only family I gots is my lackeys,” the leader said, smiling proudly. “We’re makin’ you an offer to join out of the kindness of our hearts; wouldn’t do to refuse.” He laughed again.
Fluttershy shook her head. “I mean do you have a blood family?”
The leader snorted. “They’re all dead. Sickness took ‘em. And you’d do well ta stop askin’ such questions.”
“Would they be happy with how you’re spending your life, being a brigand?” Fluttershy asked without a hint of hesitation or fear, just disappointment.
The leader snarled. “You’d do well to listen to me.”
He reached out to grab Fluttershy, but froze, his eyes widening with fear. Twilight didn’t need to see her face to know that she was using the Stare.
“Boss!” one of the minions called out.
The leader knelt rooted to the spot, trembling as he held Fluttershy’s Stare. “You little—” He tried to sound fierce, but couldn’t shake the terror from his voice.
Fluttershy spared a glance back at the group and actually winked with a soft smile. Twilight felt her jaw drop at her friend’s display of unwavering confidence.
Fluttershy continued speaking. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned on this journey, it’s that there’s no such thing as real evil in this world. People don’t turn to crime because they’re bad; they do so because they feel boxed in with no other choice. You don’t have to attack innocent people to live happy and prosperous lives, you only need a special talent and a value of not just your life, but the lives around you.”
She turned around and headed back to the group, keeping her eyes on the brigand leader as she continued speaking; her tone managed to be both darkly serious and soothing at the same time. “You don’t stand a chance against us if you decide to fight, so please, for your sake, let us pass and we’ll all come out of this alive. You’ve openly threatened us twice now, but even so, I wouldn’t want to see you get hurt.” She passed between Florina and Hector and took her place among everyone without another word.
The silence that fell upon the two groups was thick enough to cut with a knife. The brigand leader couldn’t take his eyes off of Fluttershy. He was still trembling, his axe forgotten by his side. His minions were left in similar states, too afraid to move or say anything. The only thing that broke up the silence was Rusty’s continued whimpers from under the wagon.
Twilight couldn’t take her eyes off of Fluttershy either, her brain a scrambled mess of emotions. A small part of it registered that the rest of her friends were similarly befuddled. Fluttershy’s speech was just about the most amazing, intelligent, and heartfelt thing her friend had ever said since she knew her. She briefly wondered where it had come from before remembering the talk they’d had after the battle in Remi. Clearly, Fluttershy must have been thinking long and hard about everything that was discussed between them since they left the village. As horrible as that battle had been, it was good to know her friend had become stronger as a result.
She was broken from her shocked state when the brigand leader scrambled to his feet, picking up his axe, and turning around to face his minions.
“We’re getting out of here, boys,” he commanded.
“B-but boss—” one of his minions started but was interrupted by him.
“No buts! Back to the hideout!” He flashed a defeated look back at the group. “This lot probably doesn’t have anything worth more than what we can get from the next few folks who pass by.”
Twilight thought she saw a glimmer of regret in the leader’s eyes as he turned his head back. He called his minions together and they convened for a moment before setting off through the trees to the right. As they disappeared into the woodland, the leader turned to look at the group again and Twilight saw that, yes, he looked regretful. Soon they were out of sight, leaving the group alone again.
“Fluttershy,” Twilight breathed. A beaming grin broke out on her face and she threw her hooves around her friend in a tight hug, squeezing her hard. “That was amazing!”
Fluttershy’s response was subdued by her crushing grip.
“Yeah, you were awesome!” Rainbow said, tackle-hugging the three of them to the ground in a pile of limbs and laughs.
The humans relaxed their stances, sheathing their weapons and breathing sighs of relief. Rusty tentatively poked his head out from beneath the wagon for a moment before rushing out and joining the pony pile. Applejack laughed and shook her head before throwing herself on top of her friends, momentarily knocking the wind out of them before they resumed their giggles.
Eventually, they untangled themselves from each other once they’d had their fill of hugs and laughs. The humans had been watching them the whole time, either perturbed or slyly amused.
“That is quite a strange way to show affection,” Serra noted.
Twilight laughed while brushing some dirt off of her coat. “But it’s a great bit of cultural exchange, isn’t it?”
“Well, as long as you’re all happy, then it’s fine,” Florina said.
Hector nodded. “Just as long as you don’t do it in a crowded marketplace or somewhere with a lot of humans watching.”
“That was some mighty fine work you did there, Shy,” Applejack praised her friend. She gently patted Fluttershy’s withers. “That took a lotta guts ta stand up to a bunch of armed and dangerous brigands like that. An’ talkin’ them down like that?” She whistled. “Girl, you sure you’re the real Fluttershy?”
Fluttershy blushed profusely and shyly scuffed the ground. “I’ve, um, been thinking about what I’d want to say to any more brigands we come across.”
“Yeah, but you, well…” Rainbow trailed off. It was obvious what she wanted to say.
“I think it’s a great show of how much you’ve grown since we first met, Fluttershy,” Twilight said.
“It was very impressive,” Florina remarked.
“It was dangerous and reckless,” Oswin said. At an elbow jab from Hector, he added, “But it was very brave as well.”
Fluttershy’s blush deepened. “I’m glad I could help.”
Hector gave her a small smile. “I’m impressed with you, Fluttershy. I’ll be straightforward, I thought you’d be more of a burden on this journey, but you’ve proved your strength, unconventional as it may be.”
“Totally,” Rainbow said. Her expression turned sly. “I always knew you had nerves of steel deep down.”
Fluttershy just nodded, seemingly having run out of words to say.
“The rest of our journey through this forest should go without a problem, hopefully,” Hector said. “Let’s get moving.”
The group resumed its formation and continued their trek.