You didn't have a good night's sleep.
As comfortable as Autumn's infamous couch was the night before, the comfiest bed in the royal palace wouldn't have put you to sleep on this particular night.
Thoughts of the Kirin you were hesitantly smitten with flooded your mind as you tossed and turned on the couch. At one point, you almost fell asleep...
...but a rather risque dream about your generous host prevented that.
You groaned, rolled over, and grabbed a nearby pillow, jamming it on top of your head.
Can I really not act on my feelings here? You thought to yourself. I mean...she's clearly into me...right?
It was thoughts like this that plagued you into the night. You longed for the sweet embrace of sleep, but it never came...
You groan again, rolling over once more, and staring at the ceiling.
Tomorrow is going to be a looooong day... You thought to yourself.
"C'MON, FEATHER-HEAD!!! WE GOTTA GO!"
"YOU DON'T HAVE TO TELL ME TWICE!"
An explosion sounded behind you, followed by several angered shouts. Fire rained down on your head as a tree collapsed next to you as you galloped.
You wanted to smack yourself as you gallop. You honestly should've seen this coming, dumbass.
Despite your lack of sleep, you wearily got up, ate more of Autumn's lovingly made pancakes, and packed your stuff. Autumn packed as well, loading a saddle-bag with essentials for her and Silhouette. You facehoofed again. She bid an emotional farewell to her couch, and off you went.
Of course, this meant you'd have to announce the selection you'd made as to whole would accompany you back to Manehattan to the rest of the Kirin. As expected, the Kirin were gathered in the village square, eagerly awaiting your announcement.
There were a couple Kirin, including Fern Flare, who didn't take your announcement very well.
Fern Flare was the first to explode. Despite being good friends with Autumn, upon your announcement Fern Flare shouted several fowl words, including "buck you!" quite loudly (you gave Autumn a narrowed, sideways glance, to which she responded with a nervous chuckle).
Fern Flare had transformed into a fiery Nirik shortly after, and it was your first time seeing the transformation. You hated to admit you gave quite the un-stallionly scream as more Kirin began to transform. You hastily looked around, your eyes finally falling on Rain Shine, who screamed: "RUN!!!!"
So you ran.
So did Autumn Blaze.
You both ran for your bucking lives.
"I thought you guys had control over your bucking tempers!!!" You bark, breathing heavily as you ran through the forest towards the entry cave.
"They're still learning! WHOA!" She ducked as a fireball, launched by a pursuing Nirik, singed her horn and exploded on the rock wall in front of you before you both galloped into the cave. "I really hope they don't burn down the village this time!"
"WHAT!?" You bark. "They burned down the village before!?"
"Vow of Silence, remember!? Kinda a big deal!" Autumn barked as you exited the other side of the tunnel. You both skid to a halt, panting heavily. The angry shouts and glimmer of fiery orange light in the tunnel meant your pursuers hadn't given up yet.
You trot up to Autumn and tug nervously on her foreleg. "Autumn, we gotta go! Now!" You turn and try to drag her with you, but you are tugged back, almost falling on your rump. "Autumn?!" You looked back at her. She is un-moving, staring at the cave entrance with narrowed eyes, glaring daggers at the Nirik that were beginning to appear.
Why were her eyes turning a pure white? Why were green flames starting to flick from her eyes?
Buck.
You barely manage to scramble back, away from Autumn, before a fiery transformation vortex of green and purple fire surrounded her, signalling her transformation to Nirik form as well. Your eyes widened as she screams, her sweet voice being distorted by a lower tone mixing with it. When the flames dispersed, you gazed in equal parts horror and awe at Autumn's Nirik form.
The sleek, black coat...
The purple and green fire...
By Celestia, those teeth!
The other pursuing Nirik skidded to a halt, their eyes wide at the sight of Autumn. Autumn stomped a hoof, causing a small shockwave of green fire to explode around her, almost singing you. Then, she yelled at them, shaking the very air around you.
"I GOT THIS ROLE FAIR AND SQUARE! LEAVE MY FRIEND ALONE! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO ATTACK HIM LIKE THIS! SHAME ON ALL OF YOU!!!
Silence. Only distant birds singing and the wind rustling the leaves in the trees above as Nirik Autumn stared down your pursuers. Then, after a moment, one by one, the pursuing Nirik began to transform back into their Kirin forms, looking down, their ears splayed out in shame.
Your eyes dart from them, to Autumn, and then back to them. You catch Fern Flare at the head of the group, gingerly stepping forward, looking very, very guilty.
She literally scared the hellfire out of them!
"We are so sorry, Autumn..." She rubs one foreleg with the other. "We honestly should've known better...we're still learning how to control our tempers...like you."
Your eyes fall on Nirik Autumn to see how she'd respond. Fire? Anger? Rage! DEATH?
Nirik Autumn closes her mouth and hides the sharp teeth she was bearing threateningly. She nods, and the fiery vortex returns, only briefly, before she transforms back to the Kirin you know.
What. The. Buck. Did you just witness.
You watch, unable to move, your jaw slack, as Autumn trots for towards her fellow Kirin. She stands before them for a moment that, in your mind, seems to go on forever. Then, she approaches Fern Flare, and wraps her forehooves around her in a tender hug.
"Make us proud, Blazey..." Fern Flare says through her tears, rubbing Autumn's back. They release their hug and give each other sad smiles. "Promise?"
Autumn winked, wiping away her own single tear. "You got it, Fern Flare."
She gives her friends, the Kirin, one last look. Towards the back stood Rain Shine, nodding knowingly...first at Autumn Blaze...
..then you.
When Autumn finally makes it back to you, your jaw is still slack. This really did not play out how you assumed it would...considering the great escape you and Autumn just had to make.
Autumn gives you a sad chuckle and uses a forehoof to press your lower jaw back into place, closing your mouth. "Shall we, featherhead?"
"Uh..." You stammer, finally standing up from your haunches. "Uh, yes...we, uh, have a train to catch."
Autumn nods and trots by you, making her way down into the woods.
You give the Kirin villagers one last look. You notice them staring after Autumn Blaze, some of them sobbing softly. For a moment, you are torn once more about taking Autumn Blaze with you. You recall your conversation with Rain Shine after auditions. You recall the joyous moments you shared with the other Kirin in the village center the night before. She brought so much joy to the village. She was even a moon-banished hero to her people for saving them from the Vow.
And here you were, taking her away from them all.
You turn to look at Autumn, who was already down the hill. She clearly had no doubt about what she wanted to do.
You turn again to the Kirin, and give them parting words that you hope will make them feel better...
"Thank you...I promise I will keep her safe."
A couple of the Kirin, particularly Rain Shine and Fern Flare, gave you large smiles.
The next hour was a blur to you, honestly. No words were spoken between the two of you as you descended the Peaks of Peril, crossed the river that bore the Foal's Breath flowers, and traversed the desert to finally reach the train tracks and the outhouse/train station/ticket booth/hobo shack.
Thankfully, your crazy friend from before who made the said porta-potty his home was nowhere to be found. Silence still prevailed between you as you waited for the train the train to arrive (though some sideways glances at your traveling companion revealed she was very eager to see a train for the first time, let alone ride one).
You had arranged with the train conductor to arrive at the same time you were dropped off two days prior to pick you up (presumably with a plus-one). True to their word, the train arrived on time. Autumn tried to hide her giddiness, hopping up and down, as the train approached.
Next thing you know, you are on the train, sitting across from Autumn Blaze, as the train lurches and starts on its way...
...backwards.
Autumn grins like a giddy child as she stares out the window. You can't help but smile as you watch her. She's leaving the only home she's ever known, and being on a train is helping her cope.
Ah, who are you kidding. You like trains. Always have.
"Sooo..." You finally decide to break the silence between the two of you. "How...how about all that Nirik stuff, huh?"
Autumn pauses from her reverie for a moment, a small frown suddenly adorning her face. She sits down on her haunches, her long tail curling up on the seat, and turns to face you. "What about it...?" She asks quietly.
"I mean..." You sigh, gulping nervously. "Not what I expected at all! Heh, like...wow, amiright?" You give a nervous chuckle. "Heh...I could've died! That would've been it! Finito! Heh..." You pause, looking towards Autumn, hoping you elicited some sort of positive response. "R-right?"
Autumn's frown deepens a bit, cocking her head to the side. After a moment, she closes her eyes, exhales, and opens them again, her golden orbs drilling into your soul.
Uh oh...
"You said that Nirik me wouldn't bother you." She says flatly.
"Eh, what?"
"Back at my treehouse...during breakfast." Autumn presses. "You told me Nirik me wouldn't bother you." She leaned forward, narrowing a single eye at you. "Does it?"
Your eyes widen. You gulp.
Use your words! You think to yourself. Use your words in such a way that doesn't cause the train-car to explode from evil Nirik fire!
You think back to your narrow escape from the Kirin village. You recall the utter terror as the angry villagers nearly incinerated you with angry fireballs that, to you, burned with the white-hot intensity of a thousand suns as they flew past you.
But then, you think of Autumn's transformation...
Of how purposeful it was. How she did it to contain the temper of the others.
And how not scared you were. Rather, you were in awe.
By Celestia...you didn't know why you didn't see this sooner...
"You can control it." You say simply, looking down with a hoof on your chin.
"What?" She looks confused.
You look up, your eyes staring right back into hers. "You can control your Nirik form...can't you?"
Autumn's eyes widen and her golden orbs dilate for a moment, surprised at your sleuthing skills. "You...how'd you-?"
"You were just...so direct...so full of purpose when you turned around to transform!" You exclaim suddenly, your theatre-trained voice echoing around the car. "The passion! The intensity! The b-"
Beauty.
You pause, a blush dusting your cheeks, as you stop yourself from saying the last word you were thinking of saying.
Autumn, meanwhile, has her trademark grin back on her muzzle. She leans forward, coaxing you. "The...? What?"
"The...the bombastic...ness...of it?" You offer.
Autumn suddenly spits, bursting out laughing. "What in the Worlds did you just say? Bombasticness? WHAT!? HA!"
She doubles over laughing, and you sigh (half in defeat, half in relief). You were lucky Autumn had a good sense of humor.
When she finally recovers from her laughing fit, she shakes her head, a serious look returning to her muzzle. "But...in all seriousness...how'd you know I can control my Nirik form?"
"Well..." You place a hoof to your chin in thought again. "I guess I'm trained to notice those sorts of things."
"What do you mean?" Autumn leans back, clearly relaxed around you again. You were glad the old Autumn was back.
"The school I went to for acting...in Manehattan?" You offer, and she nods in understanding. "I was trained in...expression."
"Like...facial cues?" Autumn offers.
"Right." You point at her. "Basically, to succeed in the world of live performance, facial cues are everything. The eyes, the muzzle, the way the ears are tilted..." You fold your forehooves and nod, eyes closed. "Without saying anything, those kind of things can tell any audience member who looks close enough exactly what a character is feeling during a scene. As a professional, you have to be trained to recognize these things in ponies." You open your eyes, looking at Autumn, who seems fascinated by your explanation. "Or, in this case, Kirin."
"Woooow..." She smiles. "You really know your stuff."
"Why thank you." You wave a forehoof in a mock bow, earning yourself another delightful chuckle from Autumn. "Maybe when we have some free time between rehearsals, I can take you there for a visit."
"I. Would. LOVE. That!" Autumn claps her forehooves together giddily. "I really need to learn how to read Silhouette's facial cues better!"
She leans forward expectantly, as if to ready herself for your facehoof.
No... You think. Not this time.
Instead, you smirk, winking at her. "You're right. I noticed that about her, too. What, with her being a shadow n' all."
She reels back, shock on her face. You keep up your smirk, eyeing her until she lowers her eyes to half-lidded status and smiles at you. "You really are a cheeky one, aren't ya?"
"You're gonna have to try harder than that from now on, sweetheart." You shoot back.
She laughs. "Oh, it's so on."