//------------------------------// // Chapter 30- Goodbye // Story: To be a Breezie // by Obsi //------------------------------// The faint, smoky scent of sizzlegrass tickled my nostrils, tugging at my consciousness. A little smile grew on my lips as I breathed in, enjoying the simple odour like a priced flower. Something warm poked against my back, before I grew aware of the heavy, warm limbs reaching around my body, closing over my chest. “Myrmel welcomes you, Twilight.” Came Honeydew’s amused whisper as his hoof gently brushed over mine. “I know Echidna gave you bedrest, but you’re taking it to an extreme.” “Haha.” I replied dryly, feeling my smile crumble as pain throbbed in my chest “M-maybe I’m just better at following orders.” Suddenly, I felt his hooves pull away, causing me to sit up, groaning as my frostbite made itself excessively known. “Shhh, I didn’t say you needed to be quick, either.” Honeydew said. In the dim light of our hut, I watched him produce something out of his personal stash. “Hold still.” he ordered, easing me back into a lying position. Having gone through this procedure numerous times now, I quickly obeyed, allowing his hooves to smear a green-ish salve over my wound. Though I’d gritted my teeth, I still yelped a few times during the process, despite Honeydew’s gentle treatment of the blackened skin. But then, mercifully, the salve began to take effect, slowly sapping the sensation out of the wounded area, instead replacing it with a light prickle, like when your hoof falls asleep. “T-thank you.” I gasped, slowly easing myself up again. Knowing that the damage was mostly superficial did not make it hurt any less. He immediately went in to support me as I got up on my hooves. Finally standing securely on my own, I granted him a smile, when I noticed something on his cheek. “What is that?” I tilted my head, reaching out a hoof to a reddened spot, it looked like a bruise. “Well…” he nervously rubbed the spot, like he was trying to wipe it off. “Your, uhm… horn is kinda pointy.” he explained with a chuckle. “Wait- so I’ve been poking you all night?” “Since shortly after I woke up.” “And that was?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “A-a while ago.” he muttered. “I didn’t want to wake you.” “So you- watched me sleep all that time? While I was poking your face?” Seeing his sheepish nod, I felt my own cheeks growing hotter. “That’s so silly.” I giggled awkwardly. “I-I thought you looked nice.” he replied, only worsening the situation in my face. “Wish I could return that compliment, but for that, I’d actually have to wake up before you for once.” “Which will be never.” he grinned, moving aside the slab of tree bark that acted as the hut’s door.  “Now come, we’re already late for our rations.” ----- It had been three days since we’d arrived back in the village, and the winter had noticeably lessened. The snow hadn’t fully melted yet, but Kalypso predicted a snow-free period soon, a week or two where we could once again go out to gather more food. Not only that, but she now spoke of an early, but mild winter, which would quickly transition into spring. Though she advised caution regarding her prediction, the news still lit up the clan. Before, the tunnels had practically been forsaken, most breezies simply lying in their little homes, trying to just sleep through as much of the season as they possibly could. But now, it was hard to navigate, with seemingly everyone up and about, filling the tunnels with chatting, music and playing children. And bodies, of course, making navigation in the narrow tunnels a bit of a chore. It seemed that easing up on the rations has had a profound effect on the clan. But on the downside, there were the looks. The fact that each time we entered a tunnel, the playing and frolicking slowed down. Though they quickly resumed their activity, with only curious glances thrown in our direction, I vividly remembered the day of our arrival, as the clan praised me as a great spirit, who had come to defeat the winds of Fjermengard. “It  wasn’t me alone!” I’d insisted. “Honeydew and Kalypso had done just as much!” but I could have told that to a wall. The breezies didn’t want to hear it. At least, not the first name. Once the story had gotten out, Kalypso had earned her own share of cheers, though I wasn’t sure if she’d enjoyed it. It mostly seemed to have made her feel embarrassed. Then, irritated, until she’d stormed off into the longhouse she shared with Windchime. Between now and then, the effect had mostly faded, yet there was something quite different about interacting with most of the breezies. An undercurrent of respect underlying every conversation, one that I didn’t feel like I really deserved. One that sort of… separated. Like I couldn't talk eye-to-eye with them anymore. Even Honeydew, who had gotten the least of it, said that he now understood Kalypso a bit better. She’d lived with that all her life. I felt a hint of relief as we left the tunnel behind us, climbing down into the storage. “Think we’ve got enough berries left?” I asked Honeydew. “Not if you keep picking them day after day.” he snickered, picking up one of the clay bowls, each sized to hold a day’s ration. “You need more nuts, they make a weak body strong.” “So I’m weak?” I pursed my lips as I gave him a cross glance.  “Yes.” “Ouch…” I muttered. “But fair enough. There wasn’t much need to go out in the wild all the time in my world.” Honeydew paused for a moment, a look of confusion crossing his face before he started filling the bowl with pieces of walnut, as well as a few small slices of strawberry. “You might not want to pack too much, Honeydew.” A voice came from the entrance. A moment later, Kalypso entered the storage, her eyes glancing to me. “Great skies, Twilight, you’re sleepier than a caterpillar. If you were one, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a butterfly now!” “I’m not that sleepy!” I huffed. “You just get up really early. You’d get along with Applejack so well.” “Who?” Honeydew and Kalypso asked. “Applejack. A friend of mine, in my world. She also gets up every day before the sun rises.” The two exchanged glances. “And?” Honeydew asked, “W-well, in my world, that’s unusual.” I muttered. Then I shook my head, granting Kalypso a smile. “Nice to see you too, anyway. Here to get your rations as well?” “Not really.” she chuckled. “You’re the last ones to get yours.” “Oh, then you snuck in here? Want to entertain your little sweet tooth in secret?” I smirked, waving my hoof at a large vase. One that I knew her eyes would rest on for longer than she would intend them to. I chuckled. We’d been hungry on our way back from the battle against the windigo. Having naively eaten all our supplies, I’d forced us (especially me) to fly back with growling bellies. At least, until we’d taken a quick break at the fallen tree, where we’d taken our first rest before forced outside by the horrible storm. There, Honeydew had spotted a couple of ants, as if waiting for our arrival. It had been a relief to hear that the defeat of the windigo had ended the insanity coming over the ants. However, much more so were the supplies they offered us in thanks, especially, and I would never forget the looks of shock in my friend’s faces, a vase full of honey, large enough to reach up to a breezie’s chest. Honeydew and Kalypso had been speechless, staring at the offered honey with their mouths agape. “T-thank you.” Kalypso had managed to stutter the words, and the ants quietly left us alone. When she tapped the vase, it was with a hesitation like she expected it to disappear into thin air. “Wow…” with that, she turned to Honeydew. “Do you… do you think we should… take a little bit?” she asked nervously. “We just prevented winter, right? We could take just a little bit.” During all that, her eyes had not left the vase for a moment, a hoof already playing around the wooden plug. Biting his lip, Honeydew had forced his own gaze away from the honey. “I-if anything, Twilight should.” he muttered, despite the obvious hesitation in his voice. “She defeated the spirit.” “I told you, we all did.” I smiled down at him. “Go ahead. It was our victory.” What followed, had been the purest scene of sweet delight I’d ever had the joy of witnessing. First, the breezies had only lapped up a bit of the honey, but that had already been enough to make them physically convulse and moan with pleasure at the simple taste, wiping their hooves over their lips like it was too delicious for their mouths to bear. Next, Honeydew had gotten a bit braver, cheering at the sky and thanking the gods for this opportunity, just before Kalypso started singing. She should do it more often. Her voice was divine. “N-not again.” The present Kalypso shook her head, finally forcing her eyes away from the vase. “It is too valuable to just eat it like that.” “Next celebration, then.” I chuckled. “Twilight-” she started, before taking a long breath. “I’ve had a vision.” she whispered, her expression betraying sadness. “The portal will soon open.”  “Oh…” my face fell as conflicting emotions surged through my mind. Homesickness battling with a surprising unwillingness to leave. I’d- I’d almost built myself a little life here after all! I had a clan, friends and even love. Of course I’d always known that I’d have to leave it behind, but it still hurt to have it come up so suddenly. In truth, I actually hadn’t even checked the portal those last couple days, reasoning that I deserved to rest for a bit… Really, I’d just been trying to extend my time here. In the end, I breathed a sigh and met Kalypso’s eyes. “How much time do I have?” “I’m not sure.” she shrugged. “But it didn’t seem as urgent as last time, so I think there is time for a goodbye.” Closing my eyes for a moment, I nodded quietly. “Then I think we should eat breakfast on the way, shouldn’t we?” Honeydew solemnly nodded, before filling our bowl with berry slices. The silence of the forest was interrupted by a sudden surge of magic as me, Honeydew and Kalypso materialized inside one familiar knothole. The start of my adventure. How easily I could’ve walked back right then. To think that this entire adventure was simply caused by a moment of carelessness and a stiff breeze…  Looking up, I almost dreaded to see the glowing rift between worlds… but there was nothing. It must’ve not opened yet. I wasn’t sure whether I felt trepidation or relief as I sat back, meeting Honeydew’s glance. At least I’d have time to properly say goodbye now. Speaking to the clan hadn’t been easy, but neither had it been very difficult. I knew few of them by more than a passing glance. The only ones I’d gotten to know had been Carveshine, Windchime, Echidna and Harpy. But Honeydew… he’d been at my side for nearly as long as I’ve been in this world. He’d essentially been my anchor, a stable point in a confusing environment. Even now, he’d insisted to accompany me to the portal, determined to be with me for as long as possible before I left. It made it really hard to come up with something to say as I met his eyes. Sadness lied in them, and yet he managed to smile regardless, a real, encouraging smile, proclaiming that he was sincerely happy for me. “It was nice having you around:” he muttered. His tone was awkward, as we both flashed shaky smiles at one another. “You too.” I sniffled, before wrapping my hooves around his shoulders, squeezing him in a tight hug. I hated goodbyes. Eventually, the embrace loosened, and we stared into the air. After a while, I met Kalypso’s glance. The breezie appeared nervous. “Uhm… shouldn’t the portal have opened by now?” Silence, as Kalypso’s eyes shifted around. “Y-yes… I thought it would.” Furrowing my brows, I walked toward the spot where I knew the portal would appear. Lighting my horn, I allowed my magic senses to sift through the air, in search of the rift’s magical signature. Something that would be hard to read, especially when it was closed, but at this distance, it would be like a glowing, hot ember. But I didn’t feel anything. Nothing at all. Like the portal had never existed!  Just then, I felt a shove at my shoulder. Tumbling aside, I saw Kalypso, her eyes fixated on an invisible spot. Then, her hooves reached into the air. Then, she suddenly began to pull them apart, seemingly straining despite there being nothing- and yet, the air distorted, like the flimmering when looking at a hot street from afar as Kalypso pulled on… something! Her feelers glowing, sweat rolling down her face, she let out a groan- before, with a sound like ripping paper, a tear formed in the air. One familiar looking hole, in which the seer pushed her hooves, pulling it further open like you would open a curtain! Wheezing, Kalypso took a step back, giving me an exhausted grin. Tiny electric sparks erupted from her feelers. “I told you… it was going to open today.” My mouth fell open. “You- you could do that the entire time?” “Of course not.” she deflected. “Only now did the gods lend me the power to… do… this. Whatever this was.” I felt my eye twitch. Oh, yes, the no-clear-answer thing was definitely getting on my nerves. “And… this leads to Equestria?” “I think.” she shrugged. “The other side looked really dry, and at the side of a river-” “That’s the badlands!” I swallowed, staring at the open portal. “I- thank you, Kalypso. For everything. I would’ve died if you didn’t convince the elder to take me in.” She gave me a nod, trying her best to look stoic. But I could see the tears forming in her eyes. “A-and you, Honeydew-” I muttered, but my breath stocked and I bit my lip. “Are… are you sure you don’t want to come with me?” “The clan… we don’t have many scouts.” he began, then hesitated. “I- it’s gonna be a mild winter?” he whispered to Kalypso. “It sure will be.” she said, and I could see the beginning of a smirk on her face. “Well, I’m a scout. So- it’s my duty to explore new and dangerous places.” “It sure is.” she snickered as his expression rose and he met my eyes. “Then- then I’d love to!” he exclaimed, racing toward me in a rush to grip my hoof. “Just, uhm-” he stammered as he glanced back to Kalypso.”could you tell the others…?” Kalypso’s antennae jiggled with her giggling. “Trust me, Honeydew. It won’t surprise anyone.” Then, she began to wave. “Good luck in your world, Twilight, Honeydew. We’ll see each other again.” “Is that a prophecy?” I asked, returning the wave. “It’s a promise.” she simply replied. “Now if you don’t mind, magic me back. I don’t feel like hiking all on my own.” “Wish granted.” I chuckled, magic surrounding my horn to shift my friend away from this place. Turning to Honeydew, I gave him a grateful smile. “Are you ready to enter my world?” “Absolutely not.” he replied, before reaching forward to kiss my muzzle. “But I’m ready to try.” And thus, we stepped into the rift of whirling magic, to be whisked away to another magical, wonderful realm. My home.