//------------------------------//
// Figure in The Fog 
// Story: The Quiet Kid: Sicut Vult 
// by aegishailstorm 
//------------------------------//

Whilst Canterlot experienced a burst of freak weather, William headed out of town. Towards the Everfree forest. His favorite place for getting away from everything. Setting aside the fact that it was essentially just an Equestrian version of Vietnam, without the mosquitos. He searched for about 30 seconds before he had found the pathway through the woods which he had taken hundreds of times before. It had started out just like any other part of the forest, but had gradually been worn down by William's constant travels. He stopped to scratch the hair under his helmet before checking his watch. It wasn't even noon, so he decided to go in further. " Should I pay my 'ole shooting range a visit of go poking around in caves?" He settled on the shooting range for the time being. 





"Hi there Chrysalis!" Joey waved the the changeling as he passed Twilight's castle. " Where's William? I promised him I'd go out rockhounding. She scowled at him from the crystalline steps, more out of annoyance than malice. " Don't bother asking me. I just moved in a few days ago, remember?" Joey nodded. " Eh, he's probably out somewhere in the Everfree forest." She raised a chitin hoof. " Why does he like that place again?" Joey shook his head, " Beats me. Wanna go get some ice cream?" Her scowl remained. But she bit her lip. "No thanks, I'm good." The alicorn shrugged in acceptance and flew off.


"Why did you put your personal range way out here?"

"Because it's away from everything else."

"Like plant's that aren't covered in thorns?" William had been conversing with himself when he suddenly stopped to take a look around. As there was no one else to speak with out here, he talked with himself. Going over courses of action and how the rest of his day might go. The faint smell of semi acidic pine sap floated past his nose. " Timberwolves, eh, could be worse." He kicked a rock and continued, running his gloved hands along the frame of the  .300 blackout carbine slung around his chest as he did. The air all around him was moist, and clouds swirled overhead. Which, combined with heavy tree cover had blocked out the majority of sunlight. It wasn't abnormal for the Everfree. He rather liked it. It reminded him of earth.

As he walked along, he began to leisurely hum, "Home On the Range. "  William dug his boot's into the dirt and rooting foliage underfoot as he went along the path. He was looking for something, though he wasn't exactly sure what. Mainly he just needed something to pass the time. And... He supposed, his mindless trek though the dense woodland would fill that role for the time being. And, after thinking for a few moments he remembered that there were indeed plants with thorns outside of the Everfree. Just not quite to the same extent. 

After about five minutes he had made it to his shooting range, but rather then stopping, he continued onwards. He had decided that he would once more visit the castle of the 2 sisters. It was a rather sudden decision. But he figured he could just fire on trees as he went along anyway. He slung his rifle over his shoulder and armed himself with a Sig MCX PCC, or "Pistol Caliber Carbine." Which he held firmly in his gloved hands. Though, for some reason. He did not end up firing on any trees. Not because he was lazy. But because he simply didn't have any reason. He could find his way back with relative ease. He had been this way many times before, and, to William's delight. The veil of fog had still not lifted. And he was hopping that it would last though the day.

"Ah yes, back again. " He said with a chuckle as he crossed the bridge leading to the castle and gazed up at the ancient portcullis. He still had a hard time comprehending that Celestia and Luna had actually been around to help design it. Even though he knew them better than most of Equestria did. Though, technically. They wouldn't even be it's rulers for much longer. That honor was to be bestowed upon Twilight Sparkle. Whilst Celestia may have believed her worthy, the Quiet Kid had his doubts. His very, very large doubts. 

But nevertheless. It was coming, and he would be there to watch it unfold. Regardless of whether or not he had something better to be doing. Which, being him. He would probably return to Ponyville to find everyone in hiding from yet another monster. And, being that he had done a pretty good job at scaring most of it's usual 'visitors' off. There was a chance it might end up being an imaginary one. Which had happened on more than one occasion. Go figure. As much as William enjoyed the company of Ponyville's inhabitants-with the exception of a few. And they knew who they were.

He stopped to put his hand on a stone pillar. From there he surveyed the courtyard. " Ah, this place never fails to bring a smile to my face. Which is good, because most stuff doesn't!" William found himself laughing at himself for a few moments. Then stopped, and began to make his way up to the throne room. The whole time, he was reminiscing about the 'old day's'. They weren't really 'good' old days. Except for a few. It was a different kind of stress. Back on earth he remembered the responsibilities he'd had; Collage classes, hiking, friends, shopping, working for campus security and occasionally the cafeteria, secretly training for his eventual trip back to Equestria. Managing his schedule. The list went on. Here, it was a different kind of stress. The kind that came with living in what was essentially a fantastical warzone. Even here, he still had responsibilities. In a way, he had even more responsibility than earth. Fortunately, there was great power which came along with it. He reminded himself of that when he finally reached the ramparts of the dilapidated castle. Just in time to watch the midday sun cut through the fog. He took a look around, then threw a clay disc up into the air, and chipped the edge of it with a quick burst from his PCC before watching it sail out of view.


"God knows where that went."  He threw another one, then another, and another. " The more his eyes and arms got into the motion of tracking the discs across the sky and through the fog, the better his aim got. Five minutes later, he was landing bullseye's every other one. A few moments after he had thrown the last disc. He made the PCC disappear, and reclined. He though a bit about Earth. It had been a few months since he had last visited. He wondered what the world was like. What things had changed, and what had stayed the same.  With nothing else on his mind for the moment. He began hiking back into town.