CHAPTER 7: The Invisible Mare – Earren’s story
My earliest memories of my family were living in a small house on the edge of Fillydelpha. Six of us shared the two bedroom home, my siblings and myself shared the same room while our parents shared the other. I never really wanted anything to do with my family, or other ponies for that matter. I used to wonder into the hillsides through our backyard and spend hours by myself just pondering the world.
My first year of school was not easy. I spent most of my time trying to avoid the other ponies. I would sit quiet and wait for the time to end so that I could go home. Once I got home I would just sit out back and play with my dolls for hours.
My parents became worried; they were hearing back from the school that their daughter was antisocial, ungifted and unkempt. This was very alarming to them, our family was living beyond its means and everyone needed to put their special talents to use.
Worried that I also could not use magic, my father hired special magic tutors to try to teach me. It didn’t work; I never understood what they were talking about and how to visualize spells. All they did was make me want to crawl into a hole even more.
It got so bad I stopped talking to even my family. I quickly became the black sheep. Once I turned old enough my father and mother sat me down and gave me an ultimatum. Either I start to contribute to the family, or I leave the family. They knew my cutie mark was a rolling rock, and neither of them understood what my talent was, but both feared it was not something that could help the family.
They were a bit shocked, but not surprised when I choose to leave. I was naturally an outcast, and I was old enough that I was ready to head out on my own. So I did, I gathered the few things I owned and went out into the world.
Quickly I learned that things outside are much harder than I thought. The simple act of finding food suddenly became an impossible task. Despite not having any discernible skills I had one thing going for me. Although I did not understand magic, I had learned one spell. It was something that came naturally to me after years of being teased and embarrassed by other ponies. You could call it a defense mechanism.
I could make myself undetectable to others, invisible to sight and sound. I started using my only spell, and I used it so much that I practically lived invisible for two years in Fillydelphia. I got around, snuck food and supplies for myself and lived in the woods. To this day you will hear stories of the Fillydelphia ghost and how it stole baked goods especially cupcakes from the Mamoth bakery.
While hiding in plain sight, I would observe all the other ponies, how they talked to each other, how they interacted and how they acted when they thought no one was looking. While roaming free, I began to feel free and less threatened. Able to disappear at will allowed me some room to start interacting with others, but only when I needed to do so. As I opened up, I started to return home.
I would often stop by and visit the family, just to show them I was doing alright on my own. I would tell tales of finding treasure in the woods and such to keep myself sustained. My brothers and sisters thought it was great, but I know my father never believed any of it.
The more time that passed and the more adventurous I got, I wanted to go farther and explore more of the world. So I did, I left one spring morning and never looked back.
I heard that soon after my father came into a business venture and the family moved to Canterlot. Meanwhile I was roaming the lands as a ghost. I watched how normal ponies went about their daily lives. I wished I could be like them, but I wasn’t. Instead I would lay awake at night and talk to the stars imagining I was having real conversations. I didn’t need anypony in my life, I was alone and happy about it with no one to stop me.
I started to view myself as a friendly pony ghost. I did lots of things that helped ponies and they never knew it. I would secretly come in, and go out without anyone knowing, taking what I needed, but also giving something back where I could.
I’ve been roaming for a few years, and then I came to the Everfree forest. I heard there was real lost treasures in the woods. I hoped I could find some things of value so I wouldn’t have to steal anymore. But instead I found myself cursed and trapped in this place. All my food gone, I was living on foul tasting black berries before you showed up.
That’s my short and dull story. I’m sure you think I’m a freak too.
Balefren stayed silent for a moment to ensure Earren had finished her tale. “Why would I think you’re a freak? Everyone is special in their own way and for some it just takes more time to come into things. It sounds to me like you are on the right track,” Balefren encouraged.
“Really?” Earren said her voice cracking.
“If you think your parents were tough and demanding on you, wait until I tell you about mine,” Balefren said grinning.
“I’ve never told a living soul about myself like that,” Earren admitted. “Even paraphrasing things, its…” she paused.
Balefren used his horn to admit a small amount of light. To his surprise there was no one in front of him on the ground. He panicked at first, but realized she had made herself invisible. He reached a hoof around to confirm her body was still there.
“It’s good to have someone to talk to,” he said. “The only sad thing in your story is that you’ve spent your life avoiding one of life’s greatest treasures.”
“What’s that?” the tan unicorn said as her ears perked up with interest.
“I won’t tell you unless you show yourself,” Balefren instructed. He waited only a moment before Earren reappeared. She was looking at him with great interest. “Life’s greatest treasure is having good friends,” he explained.
Earren frowned and rolled around so her back was to the white unicorn. “Yes being friendly with other ponies is working great for me right now,” she said sarcastically.
“I will be your friend if you let me,” Balefren offered. “Your story moved me, I want you to come with us,” he spoke before he even realized what he was saying. What would Derpy think?
“Don’t lie,” Earren sniffled.
“We’re leaving the forest first thing tomorrow, I promise I will take you out of here, at least that far,” Balefren added.
“Really?” Earren said as she rolled back over to face the white unicorn. She looked at his face and at his brown eyes that appeared black in the glow of his orange light.
“Yes, I can get you out of the forest let do that much,” he pleaded.
“Alright, I will trust you,” she agreed. “What about?” she added as she tried to hold up a hoof that was bound in ropes.
“Ropes will come off in the morning, I need to talk to Derpy first,” Balefren said, now feeling a pit in his gut growing as the thought of trying to explain his decision occurred to him. “Try to rest now.” As he spoke the young mare had already closed her eyes and appeared to be sleeping. Balefren smiled and dimmed his light until none remained.
Laying down his head Balefren felt like everything was going to be alright. Unseen in the dark a cunning grin crossed Earren’s face as she tried to sleep.
A loud bang woke Balefren this time. He sat upright immediately at the sound. Bright sunlight was all around him, and he had to rub his eyes in order to focus. As things came into focus he saw Derpy sitting on the stone table in front of him.
The grey mare had the handle of a pot in her mouth and had just banged it on the side of the table. She flipped her head and threw the metal cooking pot across the room where it clanged in the corner.
“Time to pack up, let’s go!” she announced. Balefren looked around still a little disoriented, he saw most of their saddle bags were already packed now and sitting next to him.
As he became more aware, he realized that the pony that had been sleeping on the floor in front of him was gone. “Where’s Earren?” he questioned looking up at the grey pony above him.
“She’s been dealt with,” Delphina said coldly.
Balefren’s eyes went wide with shock. Could she have done what he was thinking she did?
“Calm down,” Delphina warned. “I used your method and had a talk with her this morning,”
Balefren breathed a sigh of relief at hearing this. “After talking to her I decided she is not a threat to us, and she may even hold some value, so I invited her along with us.”
The white unicorn was a little put off, as it was his idea and intentions to do that already, but he held is tongue and kept quiet.
“Grab the bags and let’s get going, we can be out of this forest in an hour,” she said. Balefren turned on the two sets of bags left on the floor. Using his magic he lifted them with ease and placed them gently on his back. It was going to be much easier carrying them using magic.
Derpy turned and jumped off the table with her wings spread, she glided to the floor in front of the doorway. Balefren walked around the table and followed. As they exited the room into the crumbling hallway, Earren was standing there waiting.
Balefren smiled as he saw the red haired unicorn standing and in one piece. She had the set of green saddle bags on her back, the ones that had previously carried their food. She also had something around her neck.
Balefren shot a glance at Derpy, who looked back at him and winked. He turned his attention back to Earren and the black and gold necklace she wore.
“Derpy says if I follow you the curse should be broken allowing me to leave the forest,” Earren said happily. Her entire demeanor and tone had changed from the previous night.
“You seem awfully chipper,” Balefren commented.
“I had a talk with Derpy this morning and we cleared up this whole misunderstanding. She explained everything and gave me this cool necklace,” Earren said still smiling. Smiling wide she flipped her mane back to make sure the amulet was in full view.
He looked at the all too familiar magic amulet that blocked magic. “That’s awfully nice of her,” Balefren remarked trying to hide his sarcasm.
“Alright ponies, let’s get going,” Derpy said as she took the lead down the spiral stairs. Balefren motioned with his head for Earren to go next.
The trio of ponies made their way out of the castle ruins and down the path back into the depths of the Everfree forest. Soon they would be out of the forest and their ordeal would be left far behind.
As they headed down the trail Balefren watched the blonde pegasus as she walked alongside him. He couldn’t help but wonder what Delphina had talked to Earren about; he wondered if the pegasus had been listening to her story in the night too. Perhaps she was moved by the young mare’s plight as well.
“I hear you still owe a story about yourself to Earren,” she said winking. Balefren just nodded in response trying to hide his surprise.
She did know! He thought. Maybe she cares more then she lets on.
The morning sun was taking its place high in the sky signaling that noon was coming quickly. The trio of ponies walked down the final stretch of overgrowth path as it opened into grasslands. Earren’s eyes went wide as she saw the endless rows of dark trees suddenly stopping and bright light shining through.
“I’m going to make it,” she said to herself.
“We’re going to make it,” Balefren added.
All three began to run eager to break free of the magic forest and leave it behind them. As they left the tree line the edge the path seemed to expand and become wider, although it was still very overgrown with tall grass. Ahead lay what looked like an endless sea of green glass waving to and fro in the summer breeze.
Suddenly Earren stopped, and crouched down in the grass remaining still. Balefren narrowed his eyes confused, but Delphina gave him a nudge to keep him going forward.
“She thinks she is invisible,” Delphina whispered.
Balefren grinned as he realized she didn’t know that her magic was not working. Suddenly he stopped and looked around as if trying to find something.
“Where did Earren go? Where could she be?” he feigned concern.
“She wouldn’t have just turned invisible; we just helped her through the forest, something bad must have happened!” Derpy said sounded alarmed.
“Maybe she was really cursed and she was sucked back into the forest!” Balefren cried as he began to nonchalantly make his way toward where Earren was sitting in the grass.
“Let’s go back and find her, I don’t want anything bad to happen to her,” Derpy said trying to add guilt.
Balefren was about to leap at Earren to scare her, when the young mare suddenly rolled over and stood up in the tall grass on her hind legs.
“Sorry!” she called out. “I stumbled into this tall grass and was lost for a moment.”
Balefren locked eyes with Derpy quickly and watched her nod in approval, her ploy seemed to have worked, Earren had chosen to reappear instead of trying to run off.
“You had us worried there,” Balefren said as he watched the tan unicorn make her way back onto the dirt road. “We’d hate for something bad to happen to our new friend.”
“Friend?” Earren said to herself quietly. “How can you call me friend when you’ve only known me for a night?”
“Don’t you believe in friendship at first sight?” Balefren said smiling.
“I don’t really believe in friendship at all,” she responded. “To be honest I was just playing along until I had a chance to escape.”
“I know,” Balefren said softly. “But you didn’t, and we’ll be your friends if you give us a chance.”
As Balefren spoke Derpy glanced back and gave him a disgusted looked.
“We’ll, I will be your friend if you give me a chance,” he corrected. “She’s another story,” he added pointing a hoof towards the grey pegasus.
“Ok,” Earren said as her voice wavered. She felt strangely moved by the stallion’s words, friendship was something she had only watched other ponies experience, and it was not something she had ever felt herself before.
“Come on you two, quit slagging behind,” Derpy called as she sped up her pace. “If we can get down this road there should be a river where we can get water, and should be some food as well.”
“Let’s go,” Balefren said to the tan unicorn encouraging her as he sped up. Earren followed suit feeling a strange new happiness in her heart for the first time.