I spent hours combing the Everfree Forest for Zecora, until well past dark, but she was nowhere to be found. When I finally returned to her hut, exhausted, I spotted that the vegetation had been disrupted; someone had gone to her hut by a path she didn't use, and the door was slightly ajar. I peeked in through one of the windows, and saw that mean purple princess inside, sitting in a chair and watching the door carefully.
I was right! She's in cahoots with the evil wizards and she took my friend! She even laid a trap for me!
I fought down the impulse to confront her right-off. Who knew how many other insane, powerful wizard-friends she had lurking around? Instead, I silently took flight, zipping off through the night.
It was only then that what I'd thought caught up with me.
Zecora. My... friend. She's my friend. And Dash is my friend.
That evil wizard stallion hurt Dash, and then they took Zecora. All to get to me. And this princess is working with him, or brainwashed by him, or something, and they're all trying to get me. I don't have friends, or a home, or... what do I do?!
I kept chewing it over as I flew, clamping down on my stress.
You have to focus, Quillon. Think about what resources you still have. There must be a way to beat them!
Playing superhero had really stopped being fun. It was one thing to beat up weak monsters with overwhelming magic. Even the more dangerous, stressful stuff I could handle, but this?
Evil wizards sneaking around, preying on my friends? Conspiracies that reached the highest level of government?
This wasn't fun, it was a whole different kind of terrifying. I had no idea whom to trust or where to go.
Remember, Quillon. It's when the superhero is at their lowest that they have to rally, and come back stronger. And... and I'm at my lowest.
Tired, injured, freaked out, homeless, friendless... yeah, this was as low as it got. I even wondered if the sympathy I'd detected in Luna's eyes was fake; maybe she was just luring me into another trap?
But then again, what other option did I have? I needed my strength back, and I needed help if I was going to face up to this.
Don't let pride stop you from asking for help when you need it. That's something I remember... no idea where from, but it's probably the right call. I'll need to be careful, but maybe she can help me after all.
With that thought, I peeled off towards Silver Shoals. I didn't have the strength to teleport all the way there if I wanted to be ready for a trap, and the long flight would give me a chance to clear my head. I flew just above the treeline, watching carefully for ambushes or interceptors, but I saw nothing the whole way.
I set down quieter than a bat at the entrance to Silver Shoals, and crept like a thief through the night to the room where Luna was staying – it was easy to find, since it had her distinctive cutie-mark on the door. I knocked gently, and a few moments later, I heard her voice.
"You may enter."
I slipped inside, and Luna sat up straight on her bed when she saw me.
"Quillon! I worried you would not come. I—are you alright? You're injured!"
I stared up at her, my legs shaking and my breathing a little strained from the long flight. I still wasn't sure if this was a trap or not, but I eventually forced myself to speak.
"Princess... they took my friend, they were waiting for me at my home!"
Luna's eyes shot wide. "What?!" She bounded out of the bed over to me, and wrapped me in a wing. I almost bit her out of fear, but once I relaxed I realized it was the first time I could remember anypony comforting me.
It was... nice. I suddenly understood better what I was supposed to do with that scalded foal back at the casino, but I shoved that down.
"I... Princess, you can't tell anypony! I think they can brainwash ponies – one of my friends got attacked, and then one of her friends attacked me when I was saving her! I think... I... oh..."
I realized just how tired I really was. I hadn't slept properly, and I hadn't eaten in almost twenty-four hours. The sudden warmth and comfort had caused my fatigue to surge to the fore.
Luna seemed to understand, and set me down in her bed, brushing my hair out of my face.
"Easy, little one. It will be okay."
I grabbed her hoof.
"Promise me, Luna. Promise me you won't tell anypony! I just... I just need some sleep."
Luna chewed her lip, but eventually nodded. Seeing that was the best I was going to get, I leaned back into the pillow and the world around me faded.