All my muscles morphed into stone. My pupils shrank to the size of pinheads. That voice... I know exactly who it is, exactly what to see when I can turn again. However, my legs aren't cooperating; if I tried to move, I'd fall over. I'm frozen.
So I had no choice but to speak without eye contact. "...Elder, sir?"
"Good to see you again, Blaze. Or at least, your back." He chuckled with a wheeze that did not seem familiar. Confirming who I'm talking to reactivates my muscles, and I can finally see my elder after weeks.
But the light brown coat and the aged white mane were stained with several unplesantries, such as wood chips, grass, blood, and wood chips and grass stuck IN blood. I dropped my jaw faster than the speed of light, it seemed. The elder only chuckled again and propped it back into its proper condition.
"Relax, Blaze... I'm not hurt."
"But, sir! We have to clean you up, stat! You could get some wild infection!"
"I'm well aware of the risks, Blaze," my elder spoke with his soothing voice, old yet strong. "Frankly, I couldn't care less about my life... up until five seconds ago, heheh."
"Uhh... ... yes, sir. But you still need to get that examined."
"Oh, I know. Thank you for your worry. But the streams have run dry of water and wet with blood recently... It is most unsanitary."
"Sir, let me and my new friends guide you to my new home in Ponyville." I looked up to note Rainbow Dash observing us closely. As our eyes meet, she nods and lands to introduce herself.
"What's up, dude? Name's Rainbow Dash."
I couldn't help but duck my head at how she said that. How embarrassing! But I guess the elder expected this, because he replied, "The pleasure is all mine, Ms. Rainbow. I'm sure you get this a lot, but your mane is simply amazing."
She turned to the side and said, "You'd be surprised." I think I heard her mumble something under her breath, but I couldn't make it out.
"So, these are your 'friends,' Blaze? You implied there would be more than one."
"Yes, sir, but I didn't specify they would be here. They're most likely back in town."
Rainbow Dash cuts in. "Hey, Blaze! We got company!"
I throw my sights down where her hoof was pointing. My first reflex was to get a hoof in front of the elder for protection, followed by my bearing of my teeth and an intimidating stance. The treetops shook almost violently. I snorted and stomped my free hoof, ready for battle.
Rainbow Dash flew up in the air to get better bearings. Since the elder is only a unicorn, I vowed to stay alongside him on the ground. As she went up, however, I could've sworn she giggled a number...
And now I see why. The figures that shook the trees now materialized from the blanket of shadows of the Everfree. As they shook, I could vaguely hear laughter and indistinct conversation. These figures contained colors of pink, cream, white, orange, and lavender. The incident leaves me in the stupidest pose ever, and possibly a really goofy face. Then I put two and two together, drop my stance, and start laughing. What a mean joke, but I guess I deserved it.
Amongst the laughing, I managed to catch some breath and said, "But, how did you find me?"
Rarity stepped forward. "Why, it was Rainbow Dash, dear,"
AppleJack followed. "We didn't follow ya. Rainbow did, and we followed her."
"But then there's the canopy. How'd you see through that?"
Now it was Fluttershy's turn to speak. "That was my part. I hovered just above the trees enough so I could keep my eyes on you, then I told the others which way you headed."
"She was skeptical," Rainbow had so silently landed and was standing next to me, "but she got it done." I looked back at the yellow pony to find her jumping around, apparently trying to get away from her shadow. I couldn't help but chuckle a little.
"Well, thanks, guys. Now the trip back will seem so much safer."
"Actually, it'll be a lot easier," Twilight announced herself, "because I can just teleport you back."
"Oh yeah, almost forgot about that." I laughed again. "Well, it's great to see you all again. I'm honestly speaking when I say, I never thought I'd see any of you again." I expected Twilight to lose it when I said that, but she was able to keep her ground this time. She did turn her head, on the other hoof...
"Ahh..." The Elder spoke up. "...so THESE must be the friends I've heard so little about! Well, what are you waiting for, Blaze? How about a proper introduction?"
"Of course, sir," I nod to him, "Elder, I would like you to meet..." At this, the ponies lined up single file so the elder could see them all.
"Rainbow Dash, I know you already introduced yourself, so let's start with you. Elder, one of the most, if not, THE most daring stuntspony in Equestria. Not to mention the fastest!" Rainbow saluted.
"Next in line we have AppleJack, a proud owner of Sweet Apple Acres. I consider her the powerhouse of this group, and quite an accomplished apple baker, if I do say so myself." AppleJack tipped her hat.
"And then there's Rarity. She's the stylist in Carousel Boutique. Also very generous." Rarity fluffed her mane and smiled.
"Second to last is -- Wait, second?" I blinked. Next was Pinkie Pie, but there was only Twilight Sparkle after her. I groaned and said, "Where'd you go now, Fluttershy?"
In response to her name, a bush stirred near where the ponies made their entry. Her head poked out, then after a second gave a shy smile and came over. I continued, "Well, this is Fluttershy. Extremely well with animals, extremely kind, and one of the nicest ponies I know. Well, except maybe Ivory..." She blushed and turned her head.
"Now, back to second to last! This is --"
"I'm Pinkie Pie!" The pink mare bounced up, causing me to step back. "I'm so excited to meet you, Mr. Elder Sir! Are you excited?, cuz I'm excited, I've never been so excited in my life -- Well, except for that time that Blaze came into town and I was all like, 'Hello, Mr. Pony-I've-Never-Met-Before!' and he was all like, 'Help, I'm dying,' and being the Pinkie Pie I am, I rushed into a party to get him some help from these friends of mine, but he had already passed out and --" Rarity pushed Pinkie's jaw back into a steady position, causing her to bite her tongue. The elder gave a hearty laugh, probably because he thought it was funny. I didn't. I thought it was embarressing.
"Thank you, Rarity..." I said quietly, "And for last we have a student of Princess Celestia herself, a unicorn whose unique ability IS magic, and no doubt the brains of our team. This..." I pointed my hoof in Twilight's direction, who was now also blushing with all my compliments, "...is Twilight Sparkle."
"Well, well, well..." The elder looked amused, "It's very nice to meet you all. I hope to learn all about all of you." He then turned to me and said, "Okay, now that the introduction's been cleared, Twilight Sparkle said something about a... teleportation spell?"
"Absolutely, sir!" Twilight's eyes lit up at the sound of her usefulness. "I can take us all back to Ponyville right now, if you want."
The elder nodded. "I would very much appreciate that, Ms. Sparkle."
Twilight giggled and flicked her hoof in response. "Oh, Twilight will do just fine, sir." Then she looked at me for approval. I only lifted my eyebrow., which I guess she took as an 'okay.' "Okay, well, if everypony would stand around me, please?"
We formed up in a circle around Twilight Sparkle. As I watched her horn begin to radiate magic, I closed my eyes and relaxed my muscles to prepare for the jump through the space-time continuum.