“So what’s Izzy like?” I inquired, observing the unusual body shape and colors of a couple birds flying nearby.
“She’s a fun, bubbly character with the innate ability to find wonder and joy in pretty much everything under the sun,” Sunny replied.
For a moment, I quickly tried to skim through my mind for any memories of when I had interacted with kids… which wasn’t much. My face squirmed a little as the memory-searching intensified. Sunny noticed.
“Have you met kids before on your travels?”
“Yeah I have, but hardly. Most of the time I inquire and consult with people on the other end of the age scale, though sometimes younger family members would be present.”
“Makes sense, given older folk would know more about the past,” Sunny quickly concluded.
The path to the forest was bumpy and sloped, with subtle dips and rocky crests. My worn-out, blister-laced fingers dreaded at the thought of rock climbing again, but thankfully there wasn’t anything that demanded a tough ascent.
And just as well, as the remaining sunlight was dying – fast, with just a dim glow bathing the trees in a deep red glow.
“Flashlight?” Sunny pointed to my backpack.
I tugged at a side pocket zipper and pulled out a small aluminum tube. Flicking it on, we scanned the horizon and spotted a line of trees up ahead by about a mile. Beyond that stood a short mountain range – a likely offshoot of the ones by Zephyr Heights.
“Pay attention to the ground,” I advised Sunny, as we stepped through metre-tall grass. “Sometimes small animals are hidden, and also the ground level can change up without warning.”
We took turns testing the ground and shaking the grass with a large stick to alert any critters resting or lurking in the foliage. One final downward slope later, and we arrived at the western border of the forest. Panning the flashlight across the upper branches of the tall leafy trees that lined the edge, I noticed a few interweaving vines and a couple broken branches, with a bunch of flower buds snipped off.
“Someone’s been here,” I whispered. “At least it’ll give us some sense of direction.”
Now scanning the tree trunks, I located a wide gap between four trees, directly below a couple thick braided vines hanging.
“What’s got you so focused?” Sunny asked softly as we stepped into the blackness between the trees.
“Traps,” I mouthed back, scanning all the paths from the vines above down to the ground. “Or somepony simply climbed up to get some flower buds. Can’t really say.”
Having failed to find any loops, springs, or weights, I moved on through the darkness, visually absorbing as much as I could – the lay of the ground, the patterns of the leaf litter and twigs, and any movement. After tracing the form of a previously trodden path, I soon spotted a glowing flicker of light off to the right – its bluish-yellow color identifying as a blend of moonlight and artificial light. A clear indication of a small town in a clearing in the heart of the forest.
“This place feels rather unfriendly without the sun,” Sunny nervously confided.
“You scared of the dark?” I teased, snapping a low-hanging branch and tossing it aside as we stepped over a log. Almost immediately I heard muffled hoofsteps, and the subsequent hushed voices flowed clearly through the trees. The tree villas of Bridlewood – straight out of Middle Earth - were just a few meters away.
“I think you should give them a heads-up,” I thought out loud, but Sunny didn’t seem to hear.
“Hello?” I called out, stepping between two trees, taking care not to upset a delicately planted row of flowers. Not a peep could be heard.
I leaned forward and peered around a street corner, right as a colored blur shot straight at me from the opposite direction. I yelped and threw myself backward, a pin-sharp horn missing my neck by inches. A thud and a shudder rang out as the pony in question crashed into the tree villa.
“Eeee-yaaaa!” a battle cry rang out, as unicorns dropped from the trees, all aiming right at me.
“Stop!” Sunny cried out, as I ducked and blocked a hoof-punch, before dodging another spearing and flipping the furious mare on her head. The backpack flinging around caused me trip backwards… then a spark ignited in my head.
I did a judo roll and slid the backpack off me, yanking a zipper. I pulled out my Turkish dagger and brandished it to the face of another unicorn who’d charged at me. Unfazed, he lunged out his neck to stab me, and I delivered a strong uppercut swing. The blade struck his horn with a loud clang, and parks of glowing magic flew as he howled in pain.
Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Sunny being pulled behind a tree – presumably for her own safety. More war-cry voices rang out, and in seconds I was surrounded by seething horned warriors.
“FREEZE! I AM NOT YOUR EMENY!” I bellowed, brandishing my sword in front, keeping my back to a tea house. In the distance, a faint pop could be heard. The first attacker had finally pulled herself free.
“Where is Sunny?” I demanded, locking eyes with them. “Bring her here. Now.”
A grey stallion shakingly nodded and ran off, as the crowd parted to make way for a unicorn with a green-black disguise outfit.
“Who are you?” I asked, peering to get a clue.
“Maybe you should answer your own question,” came a reply. It attempted to sound menacing, but my ears could sniff out a suppressed happier undertone.
“I am Aiden. Sunny Starscout is my friend. She let me stay at her lighthouse.”
“It’s true.”
The night air stood stiller than a dead branch as a distraught and upset Sunny appeared, her face fallen. I gave her a tiny, warm smile before turning back to the unicorn.
“I have answered. It’s only fair that you take the next turn.”
The unicorn lifted a hoof and pulled at a few thin vine strings, and her solider outfit fell to the floor, revealing a wavy, curly purple mane and a soft, fuzzy body. I couldn’t believe my own eyes.
“I-Iz-Izz…” Sunny stuttered in shock. For a moment our eyes – Izzy and mine plus Sunny’s – were locked in bewilderment.
“You…” was all Izzy could get out, before Sunny rushed in.
“Izzy, did we not say that a friend of mine is a friend of yours?” The pain bled out in her voice, causing the misunderstanding to weigh heavily on every unicorn’s shoulders.
Not wanting the rapidly rising emotional distress to get out of hand, I raised my voice to take charge of the situation, while keeping it non-threatening.
“Sunny, find those who are injured and take them to the herbalist’s house. You –” I pointed to a large elderly pony – “Please keep the morale of everyone in line.”
“Why should I?” he challenged.
“We are on the verge of establishing understanding and peace,” I countered, holding a tender smile. “Let’s work together to strengthen it.”
As the crowd was led away, I tossed the dagger aside and sat down, arms and palms outstretched. “Izzy… Izzy Moonbow. Come here.”
Her lips quivered as she let out a muffled sound, one that was indiscernible as to a sigh or a cry. She stepped forward, and gently rested a hoof on my palm. I caressed it with my other hand, staring at her cute little forehead.
“I can’t truly know your pain, as I’ve never willingly attacked a potential friend,” I confided. “You have every right to defend and protect, and I know where that comes from. Love. You need healing. Take me as your bandage.”
Her head rose, and our eyes locked – this time with a soft, open-air aura to them. I slid my hand up behind her ear and gave the fur a soft, gentle scratch.
“Aw, that’s… actually nice,” she said, managing an awkward smile and blush. I amped it up a little, and the blush turned into a joyful giggle.
“You know, I gave a gift to Hitch yesterday,” I said with an audible smile. “It’s only fitting that I give it to you too.”
“Th-thanks,” Izzy replied softly. “Where is it?”
All at once, I gripped her behind the shoulders, pulled her into my embrace, and nuzzled her soft, fuzzy neck. The sobs and sniffles returned as she held my shoulder blades. I gently patted her back and whispered in her twitchy ear.
“And there’s a lot more gifts to come.”