//------------------------------// // Chapter One: The Small Town of the Winter Night Sky ✨ // Story: The Markless Wonderer: Origin // by OllerusTheFailure //------------------------------// “A bubble? What is this? Is somepony there? Can you hear me?” “Who… Who is that?” “A young colt? Who are you? Where are you?” Beep… Beep… Beep… “Mm—That sound…” “Wait—!” Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! “Haah… Uugh… Aaah…” Cheeks nuzzled against a fluffy and soft fabric; my sight faded in and out. A hoof reached the side, knocking the alarm off the cabinet beside my bed. Well, that means it is morning time. The alarm continued going off on the floor, so there was no choice but to overcome my sleepiness, leave my bed, and turn the signaling device off. Sigh. Why did waking up early in the morning have to suck so much? Though, to be fair, I spent a decent thirty minutes by the bay outside of town last night. Nopony except myself to condemn—or the unbelievable beauty the world presented that night. In any case, my room was shamefully basic. The first thing I witnessed as I woke up was a wooden door, and to the right was a closet full of clothes I had never worn. On the right-hoof side was a small pale brown storage cabinet with a lamp and a window even farther to the right. On my left is a wooden wall. That’s it. After deactivating the alarm, I descended the stairs and headed to the dining room, the smell of breakfast clear. Hold on… I'm not the only beast in the house pursuing prey, allured by the hypnotic scent of sizzling pancake batter. “Honey? Am I receiving a whiff of your fine cooking?” My father blurted. Forest Seed is his name, and flirting with my mom was his game. My fur coat resembled his, a brownish orange. However, I did not adopt his mud-brown hair. I have my mother to thank for that. Dad's mane was shorter than mine, with bangs, more volume, colors, and length. “Haha! Stop it, dear. What did I tell you about over-complimenting my average cooking?” Just like Mom, she meant the opposite of what she said. Under her emerald mane and fern-colored highlights, she was blushing beneath that yellowish-beige pelt. And her braided hair traveled down to her chest. “It’s not all that.” “Au, contraire, contraire, my beautiful mare.” And just like my dad, he squirmed his eyebrows flirtatiously towards Mom. “Dear!” she exclaimed, bringing a hoof to her cheek. Air burst out of my nose. I cannot handle any more of this. ”Stop! Stop! You’re going to make me throw up before I even get to eat.” With my thoughts exposed, my rear eased into a familiar wooden chair by the family dinner table, savoring the inviting scent of breakfast. Dad was sitting on the side nearest to the living room. Mom sat across from him, near the lime green refrigerator, silver kitchen sink, black stove, and dark brown cabinets. I was seated between them but not in the middle, per se. ”You say that now, Thorn. But soon enough, you’ll do the same thing,” Dad commented. Never will I ever act in such a manner. ”No way in Celestia.” ”Forest Seed, he’s just thirteen years old. It’ll still be quite a while before that happens.” ”Misty Fleurs, this colt right here will grow to be one of the most outstanding stallions in equestrian history!” ”You constantly extol that, even though I’m still a blank flank, Dad,” I remarked, not wanting such levels of praise to drill their way into my ears. Mom quickly plunged into the conversation. ”Whittle Bramble! There is no self-doubt in this family! I’m sure you’ll get your cutie mark real soon. And when you do, we’ll celebrate all day—no, all week!” ”A grand idea, honey bug! His cutie mark will be marvelous, no doubt!” Dad exalted, banging on the square-shaped dinner table. Fluffy buttermilk pancakes topped with maple syrup and butter entered my mouth. Ah, the staple of pancakes, my favorite. Who needed all those unique flavored syrups, anyway? White plate now empty; I finished eating breakfast through my parents’ non-stop adulation, so I sprung from my chair and cleaned the sticky maple syrup off my muzzle before leaving for school. ”Alright, I’m off. Bye, Mom. Bye, Dad.” ”Bye, my Whittle Bramble!” ”Knock ‘em DEAD, son!” Dad shouted as the door shut. Misty Fleurs, mouth agape, widened her eyes. ”Forest Seed! Don’t say such things!” ”Sorry, sorry…” I rubbed the back of my head. ”You just get so worked up sometimes, you know that? What if somepony else heard and assumed the worst?” She’s right. But if I compliment her, she’ll overlook things and move on. ”Well, thank Celestia, I have you to take me down a peg or two, eh?” I winked at the beautiful mare. ”Oh, how sweet.” Hooves covered her blushed cheeks. ”Speaking of sweet… How about those world-famous… hmm… desserts you be whipping up?” I licked my lips. ”…” ”…” Upon that remark, her expression flatlined. After a few seconds of silence, Misty Fleurs stared into my eyes. ”Forest Seed.” ”Yes?” My cheeks pulled back as my eyes lit up, showing white teeth. ”…Were you buttering me up all week, hoping to get me to fix those desserts from the Ponyville Sugarcube Corner recipe book?” Reluctantly, I closed one of my eyes halfway, still in a staring deadlock with my wife, afraid to utter the answer. ”Yes…?” ”Get inside,” Misty Fleurs stated with a stern hoof stomp. ”Yes, ma’am.” Mom and Dad. Other ponies probably cannot tell initially, but I love them immensely. That is a guarantee, and it will always be. And so, on my way out, I was greeted by a snow-fallen grey sky as I continued marching to school. A light layer of snow crunched and sunk beneath my hooves as I trotted – walking on a dirt trail that had to be cleared of snow periodically, depending on the weather. Today, the dull grey atmosphere was accompanied by the touch of snowflakes falling from above—the clean scent of our town’s wintry air entering my nose. Every breath hung in the frigid space, momentarily fogging my view, witnessing the heat dissipate into the cold. Everypony was awake and going about their day, working, playing with pets, going on a date, reading a book, and eating at a local restaurant. In every sense of the word, this town is an ordinary one, doing nothing special. The pathway to each wooden cottage had a lamppost with a sun symbol head reminiscent of a certain princess's cutie mark. But since it was morning time, they were not lit. After ambling through a narrow pathway lined with cottages, I left the residential district. I continued down that path through an open snowy expanse and some ice-glazed trees, accompanied by the distant sight of snow-covered mountains dominated by other mountains. Behind them was the kingdom of yaks, Yakyakistan. Soon, I would be nearing the school building within the next ten minutes. Later, a young colt’s voice screamed out at me. “Hey! Nature Thorn! Over heeere!” My friend Ice Whistle, a young icy blue colt with a horn protruding through his white mane. He had magenta irises and wore both a black and grey striped scarf and beanie. He waited near the school entrance with the other students, spotting me from afar, with white specks clinging to his accessories' dry fabric. The school building was painted green and white, with an unpainted brown fence surrounding it. ”Hey there, Ice Whistle. Another monotonous day at the Luna Bay Schoolhouse.” Ice Whistle spoke with frustration, and as he did, small clouds of vapor billowed out of his mouth. ”There you go again… About our lives being dull.” I rolled my eyes in a rainbow arc. ”Because they are. By the sheer definition, nothing ‘exciting’ ever happens here.” ”Ha! You’re not wrong. Equestria has never been better after Princess Twilight and her friends defeated the Legion of Doom. Listen, everyday life isn’t a bad thing, Thorn. Then again, who would Nature Thorn be if a typical day didn’t swelter him so?” I’d be no one, Whis. ”Did you say something?” ”No…” ”Oh, how odd.” Ice Whistle appeared dazzled, but somepony would soon draw our attention. “Okay, my little fillies and colts. Sorry, I’m late. My dog Hazel was quite the troublemaker back home.” My teacher, Miss Scarlet Petals, started with an excuse. An earth pony with colors resembling red velvet cake with purple icing on top. She used her mouth to grab a key from her green saddlebag and opened the door to the school building. ”Can everypony please enter and go to your assigned seats leisurely? The class will proceed shortly.” A lot of chatter among the young ponies gathered as we tried walking inside. Sixteen students. The class's width was around seven meters, while the length was nine. The inside is about what anypony would expect of a schoolhouse. Desks for students filled the room, and the teacher’s quarters were placed at the front by the chalkboard. At the back of the class was some extra stuff, a bookshelf full of books, bean bag chairs, and a wide cabinet neatly filled with extra essentials in case we did not have our own: pencils, pencil sharpeners, erasers, paper, glue, etc. Thirty seconds passed before Ice Whistle and I arrived at our assigned seats. Luckily, we sat side by side, better than last year, when we were three seats away, making conversing difficult. We talked a bit more since we had a little time before class began. “Have you made any progress with your whistling?” “Nope. Even though my name is ‘Ice Whistle,’ I’m still the absolute worst at whistling. It’s impossible!” He bitterly crossed his hooves. “That’s too bad, Whis.” Ice Whistle lifted an eyebrow. “Whis?” I rested my chin on my hoof. “It’s short for Whistle, duh.” “Ohhh… I like it. Whis and Thorn!” Ice Whistle thrusted his hooves in a repeated boxing motion. “Thorn and Whis roll off the tongue more nicely,” I shot back matter-of-factly. “Ehh…” Before coming to a consensus, the class had officially started. “Okay, enough chatter, little ones. Let’s start this exciting day of learning!” the crimson mare proclaimed enthusiastically, like the obscure weirdo she was. It should be illegal to be that ecstatic about learning. To hear her say that in such a way physically hurt me. “Ugh! Please don’t torture me any further with such excruciating words, Miss Scarlet Petals.” “Excruciating? …Nice to see some of our vocabulary lessons still hold up. Keep up the adequate work, Nature Thorn.” “Pfft!” Ice Whistle snickered, covering bloated cheeks with two hooves. Miss Scarlet Petals took notice. “Ice Whistle, you’ve just earned yourself the right to answer the day’s first question.” “Dang it.” Seeing that, I struggled to hold back my laughter, too. “Ha!” “And you’ll answer the one right after, Nature Thorn.” Frustrated, I sank further into my chair. “Crud.” Everypony in the classroom giggled. Just another day it was being the clown duo of the school. Although, it left immutable memories we could laugh at. —Memories have a tenacious hold like superglue. They aren’t physical, yet they can bind us to where they were perceived. Memories… are dangerous. “Hmm…” Vanhoover, a lively coastal city sitting atop the Luna Ocean coastline—Vanhoover, with its countless skylines and ponies of all races trotting to and fro. Earth ponies, pegasi, and unicorns live their day-to-day life with the subtle scent of salt wafting through the air and the view of mountains in the distance. Outside the train station, paper rustled, getting drowned out by the chitter-chatter among the passengers leaving and those arriving. That rustling parchment was a map of Equestria, and it had my pair of pistachio-green eyes locked onto it. I was standing outside the train station because this is where the train tracks stopped—in other words, the end of the railroad. Not long after, as we walked through the city, we came across a street filled with various stands and entrances to multiple large buildings. “Hey, Brave and Glorious, how long will you stare at that map?” Words spoken by a close friend of mine. A greenish-looking insect creature with orange horns and purple buggy eyes. He may have looked odd, but make no mistake, he is the leader of the changeling hive. I thought he would have been too occupied to be here with me in Vanhoover, but I am sure he had his reasons. Not peering away from the map, I responded. “I’m just trying to ensure we get through, Thorax. I don’t believe I’ve ever been here or to our destination.” “You’re such a worrywart. It’ll be fine… If we get lost, we can fly.” “True, but Luna Bay is a freezing environment, and I’m a dragon. A flying dragon in the cold doesn’t bode well.” “Ohhh, I didn’t think of that. My apologies, Spike.” I initially hid my face behind the parchment, but after examining it again, I rolled it up. “There’s no train to take to Luna Bay; Vanhoover is the closest stop. We’ll have to take a carriage ride or walk the rest.” “You’ve grown up…” Thorax murmured. “You sure it’s sufficient for the hive leader to be away from the hive?” “Why not? My brother does a splendid job protecting the hive from harm. He also improved his leadership skills. One day, he’ll be a fine co-ruler—perhaps hive leader! Then you and I will be able to hang out more, and I’ll also be able to do my own thing.” Then, suddenly, a curious stallion called out to us from a nearby lemonade stand. “Hello, visitors! Can I be of help to you?” I shoved the map into a small dark purple bag hanging by my side. Slightly distracted by the twinkling baby blue jewel pin brooching on the front. “No, no. We’re just passing through.” As I responded to the nosey stallion, Thorax commented on the handbag. “I’ve been meaning to ask… What’s with the purse?” “Huh?! I-I-It’s not a purse, Thorax!”  Thorax further examined the bag. “Did she make that? Hm? Hmm—” “I dare say that is a mighty fine purse!” the nosy stallion exclaimed; his eyes opened wide, ready to pop out of his head. “Urgg… You know what? Is there a carriage ride that’ll take us further northwest of here?” I asked and pinched the bridge of my scaly nose, agitated. “Yesiree! Just go north up this path, and a carriage riding service will sit right before the Pear family farm.” “Gee, thanks. Let’s get moving, Thorax.”  “You got it,” Thorax chuckled, “Spi-key-wi-key~.” My insides seemed to twist. “Urgg!” As Thorax snorted, he gasped and noticed a front window display showcasing baked goods. “Wait, are those donuts?! I’ve always wanted to try one!” “We should really get moving here, Thorax.” Thorax knocked his face on the bakery store’s front window display and licked his lips and the glass. “How pretty… Some even have gems on them…” I stopped in my tracks, no longer following the concrete sidewalk. I may not have completed my objective, but I say I deserve a treat. Bagel Lox, a pegasus running a bakery in Vanhoover, was living his best life. He married the mare of his dreams and had two adorable fillies. His shop was nominated as the best bakery in Vanhoover. There’s nowhere else to go but down. He would only improve his baking to ensure nopony who laid eyes on his store would pass it up. A literal gold mine, the perfect bit-making machine. He counted the bits in his register while listening to a song on the radio. ~🎶 We’ve got hearts… As strong as horses! 🎶 We’ve got hearts… As strong as horses! 🎶 He sang along to one of his favorite singers, Sweetie Belle. He thought the other two were fine. Bagel Lox considered listening to Countess Coloratura next. That’s when he heard a slam, followed by the notifying sound of the shopkeeper’s bell ringing aggressively. “What in tarnation!” Two unusual figures stepped inside. With a hesitant voice, Bagel Lox mustered the courage to ask a question, struggling to swallow the lump in his throat. “Are you two customers?” One seemed to be a dragon, and the other…??? He wondered whether that creature was local to this side of Equestria. The unusual and hungry-looking pairing yelled in unison. “DONUUUTS!!” Bagel Lox will never forget that day. Neither will he forget the two monsters that rampaged through all his donuts and the awkward process of them standing by the register, paying for what they gobbled up. After lunchtime and idling around during recess, we were finally almost there. The desire is not only mutual but also familiar. Not limited to school but extending beyond… to that bay. “Ahem—” Miss Scarlet Petals discharged a coughing gesture to grab our attention before speaking. “Classes for the day are almost over, and I’m aware you’re all ready to march straight out that door!” A hastened response escaped me like a reflex. “Yes!” “Ahem—” Miss Scarlet Petals glared at me and continued. “The last thing we’ll be doing today is learning about the geography of Equestria.” “This is your favorite subject, right?” Ice Whistle whispered to me, his scarf swaying from his neck. It seems the specks of snow had already melted and been absorbed. As a response, I slid and slumped further into my chair. “It’s better than the usual, I guess.” Ice Whistle chuckled. “You’re such a slouch sometimes.” “Mehh…” We are always so focused on Equestria. We know a lot about it now. It underwent noticeable changes after Princess Twilight and her friends left for the outskirts of Equestria and returned. So, what about the outside? What about it, Miss Scarlet Petals? The question popped up and rapidly enveloped my mind like a thick rubber balloon filled with an eternal incoming water supply. The tortuous ideation would not dissipate. Unable to contain myself any longer, I raised a foreleg at a sloth’s pace. “Dear all Princesses, is Nature Thorn asking me a question related to the subject?!” It’s like Miss Scarlet Petals had seen a ghost pony. All the young students in the classroom gasped in surprise. From my peripheral vision, Ice Whistle gaped at me with a soft expression—his profound eyes locked onto my lips. My throat became dry. “What about—” And a thump from within audibly raced. There was no restraining it. The beat would not have stopped even if it was squeezed and crushed. “What about the outside?!” My words reverberated throughout the room, through the ears of all… but not through someponie’s heart. All the faces in the classroom remained still, devoid of interest. Truly, the room had become distant, and I detached. “Hmm? We understand little about it.” My heart sank further as those words escaped her scarlet muzzle. “As a matter of fact, we’ll never need to. Don’t worry. It’s not something you’ll ever have to concern yourself with. I mean, just think about how treacherous the lands outside Equestria might be…” Might be? Do you hear yourself? Who cares? That’s precisely what makes it so incredibly captivating. Just how perilous can that journey be? The vastness of this mysterious world is so… Gravity went beyond chaining me down, like wading through heavy water. How can we ignore something so vast and unknown? I don’t have claustrophobia, but it was as if I was at the core of the world when I proposed the question. And upon receiving the answer, the world had become infinitesimal with me trapped in it. Coming to terms with the sincere remark shattered something. “…R-right,” The class restored the current subject and disregarded my question as if it had never existed. Just like the unknown, it stayed unknown. Ice Whistle glimpsed my way with worry. He was accustomed to visioning me as lazy or slumped, but not this. He’s never seen me in a state where a dark cloud floating above my head wouldn’t be questionable. I held my hoof up to my black and grey striped scarf and stroked it. Everypony began packing their saddlebags because the day's last class had ended. My best friend had a disparate ambiance toward him halfway through the earlier lesson. Not knowing how to amend the situation, I still wanted to help him. Which would also mean coming to an understanding, and this is Nature Thorn I’m talking about here. I gandered his way once more. There’s only one practical choice. I’ll have to speak to him, and it would start with me moving one hoof forward. “Thorn, let’s get out of here and hang out. Whaddya say?”  “Sure.” Nothing about him or the surrounding atmosphere changed. I’m decent at performing magic for a short duration, but only telekinesis. So, for my next move, I’ll use my birthright as a unicorn to move this immovable object. My horn glowed a magenta hue. The magic aura shrouded Nature Thorn, levitating him with telekinesis. I took him outside. Then, a filly from our class called out to me. “Um, I-I-Ice Whistle, I’ve been meaning to tell you something,” she stuttered and mumbled. That filly’s name is Starry Vision. A unicorn with long, teal-colored hair covering one of her eyes and flowing down to her chest. She also had a turquoise coat. My interest was piqued, but that interest was soon dispelled. “Sorry, another time? There’s something I have to do.” “O-oh, sure thing.” I felt terrible, but I had plans. As a last resort, I had a specific destination in mind. An extraordinary place my friend might need. At first, I dragged him to my house. I talked to him in my room for hours, trying to cheer him up, but no dice—just an occasional groan.  Last resort it is, then. I grew weary of relying on magic to transport Thorn, so I clamped onto his triple-striped tail with my teeth and pulled the fighting weight onward. We gathered a few suspecting looks from the other residents of this small town. Since the population isn’t that high, it took no effort to remember somepony. In other words, it’s easy for them to remember who you are, too, so yes, this is certainly embarrassing. Later, a pool of water expanded before us. I had dragged him to that place. Reaching our destination after I dragged Nature Thorn’s rear end through this unnamed town, we waited for about an hour until the sky gradually darkened. It was the staple of our icy-cold, petite home. Whenever you look at a map of Equestria, you will find that it doesn’t have a name—it is recognized solely as Luna Bay. We’re a side piece, and nopony here has a problem with that. There was no way of outshining the bay neighboring us—an inlet of self-reflection. We say our town isn’t unique, and that’s not wrong, but the bay itself is. The history of Luna Bay goes as follows. During the origins of this town long ago, a unicorn was the first pony ever to lay eyes on this bay. Her name was Ocean White. Sometime during the night, Ocean White gazed upon the body of water and saw something in the reflection. It reflected her; specifically, it showed you who she would be. It told her the future the universe had in store for her. Strangely enough, the reflection would show you all that, but not your cutie mark. Ocean White was content with what she had seen. She would continue to live a fulfilling life. And since the bay showed her living her dream life, she named it after the pony who governed the literal ‘dreams’ throughout Equestria. Princess Luna. “Remember that day? What I professed about this place?” Most ponies who were aware chose not to peer into it and would instead achieve their goals on their own. But Thorn needed this. Even if I force him to stare at the water’s surface. “Do me a favor, Thorn. Walk out into the bay and find your reflection.” Nighttime had just begun. The shoreline was a mix of clammy sand and occasional pebbles, creating an interesting texture. The water lapped the shore, and mellow swishes resounded as it retreated into the bay. Despite the snow’s determination, it faced a relentless battle against the water’s constant assault on its attempt to cover the sand, often breaking it down. A snowy beach. An unusual but mesmerizing sight. The opposite of a warm, sunny beach, with its night sky dancing on the surface. The scenery gave off a beautiful eeriness. To the right of the shoreline was a miniature peninsula extending out into the bay—where Ice Whistle and I settled. Why did you bring me here? I was already aware of the answer when he dragged me in this direction. I understood his endeavor. Ice Whistle, you’re not in the wrong for trying to help me, and you’re not an idiot for bringing me here. It was a good idea through and through. There was no better plan, but unfortunately for you and the pony you lugged, they had already given up on themselves quite a while ago. It’s not your fault for not knowing. I kept it a secret from you, my parents, and the entire town. That’s right. A hammer struck a nail of curiosity deep into my heart one night long ago. I was fed up with myself. As a response, I went to the bay for the first time by sneaking out. What I saw crushed my spirit. When I watched the ripples of the water waving the radiant stars above but not the pony gazing into it, I gave up. I tried to repress myself. I couldn’t – shouldn’t – give up on the ponies close to me. Even though I’m thirteen years old and still have no cutie mark, my mom and dad still glorify me to an insane degree. They show me so much parental love, guidance, pride, and care. To betray them and put them in a depressing, heartbreakingly painful state wouldn’t leave a favorable taste in my mouth. Then there’s you, Ice Whistle. The other young ponies in this town aren’t jerks or bullies. There is no disdain here. They’re ordinary, and in my foolish eyes, in some ways, that’s worse. I didn’t converse with any of them, so in return, they didn’t converse with me. Yet, even when I hardly said anything to you… you continued mouthing off to me. Ice Whistle, you broke my expectations. You broke out of that ‘everyday pony’ sphere. As for the residents of this town, I’m still deciding. It doesn’t matter anymore. I gave up on myself but would not give up on those around me. That is why, to this day, I would sneak out every night, hoping to see my reflection. The second time I tried, it was a bust. The third was another failure, and the fourth ended up no differently. The eighth. The sixty-third. The two hundred and eighty-eighth. The seven hundred and sixty-ninth. The one thousandth… After a while, the count became hazy. There was also yesterday, but it was a no-go. This scene will never change. “Do me a favor, Thorn. Walk out into the bay and look at your reflection.” Ice Whistle told me that, but I already saw how this would play out. I ignored his request because I did not want to see this broken record replay again. So, I said nothing. “Then I’ll prove to you it’s not a superstition; it will show you what you seek. It’s never failed anypony that’s looked into it!” Just one. Without haste, Whis looked into the water’s reflection. He deliberately announced the occurring event. “Whoa… It’s trying to show me something!” Afterward, Ice Whistle stopped his narration. I didn’t hear another peep until a few minutes later. Then Ice Whistle strode back to me. He saw his reflection, future, and who he was meant to be. I had the opportunity to see it, but that would be rubbing salt into my wound. Who am I kidding? This entire situation is. “Nature Thorn... It worked! I know what kind of pony I’ll grow to be.” “I’m happy for you, Whis.” Genuinely, I was thrilled for him. I only wished the best for Whis and nothing more, even if I cannot express it here and now. It reminded me of the day he got his cutie mark three years ago. Sadly, I could not describe the mark because I never examined it. Intentionally, my eyes averted from his flank. I do it to everypony, as foolish as it may be. “Will you please look now?” Ice Whistle asked. The same answer as last time: complete silence. “Fine. I’ll have to resort to desperate measures.” Wait, you wouldn’t— It was too late. Even if I dashed off, I could not escape the range of this last resort of his. “It’s time to end this, Thorn!” The next thing I knew, I was lifted into the cold air and hovered over Luna Bay. I stopped making excited facial expressions filled with anticipation around the fortieth time. It was the same this time, too. The only ponies’ reaction you wanted a glimpse of was not mine, but Ice Whistle’s. Ice Whistle exhaled a visible puff of breath, his eyes widening as they fought the biting cold. “Where’s your… reflection?” He had trouble letting out the words as the scene took him aback, so much so that his rear end plopped down onto the snow-covered sand of the peninsula. Continuing to look out at the bay, ears tucked back, not looking Ice Whistle in the eye, an icy-cold reply escaped. “I don’t have one.” “Thorn… did you…?” “Yeah… I knew.” That was the last wisp to linger in the air before trudging back home. As mentioned, this scene was the same as always. The only difference this time was me getting forced into it. The irony. Of my volition, I always came here and recoiled. Sometimes, life is just weird like that. After plodding through town, I arrived home. Nopony was present, so it was quiet. Mom and Dad must have gone out to buy food for dinner. I preferred this because I can’t wear a brave face for them. When Mom and Dad get home, I don't want them to see me like this. So, I traipsed upstairs to my room and worked through these foolish emotions. Later, the opening and shutting clack of the front door resounded. “Thorrrnnn, we’re home with some hayburgers!” Dad hollered. “If this isn’t what you want, I can whip up some proper dinner for you!” Mom followed with a holler of her own. I came downstairs and told them I’d be okay with the hayburgers. Soon after, we gathered around the family table and started chowing down, mom being the conversation starter. “How was school today, sweetie?” “You know, same-old, same-old,” I flatly replied with a mouth full of food. “Err, your old stallion here figured you’d say that. That’s why I got us our favorite hayburgers. A stallion needs their hayburgers. They make us BIG and STRONG. They’re what makes us, you know, STALLIONS!” “No shouting while we eat, dear.” “Apologies, love.” Dad readjusted his voice and continued in a normal tone. “Also, son, the ultra-tasty food in your belly might help improve your motivation to make it through school tomorrow. We know it can get boring at times. I tried telling your mother here, but she doesn’t believe me.” “This is not dinner,” Mom stated tediously. “By the way, Thorn, where have you been? We haven’t seen each other since this morning.” “Hanging out with Ice Whistle.” I swallowed a bite of my hayburger. As always, it was delicious. “I figured. They have been friends since they were foals, dear,” Mom said. While that may be true from your viewpoint, it wasn’t until a specific moment I considered him an actual friend. “Mom, Dad.” “Yes?” they both replied in unison. The only difference being Dad, who almost choked on his food. “Thanks for dinner. I’m going to call it a night.” Again, the first to open their mouth was my mother. “What? You usually sleep at ten, so you still have a few hours left.” “I know, but I’m tired and want to hit the sack for the rest of the day,” I replied while causing the stairs to creak. “Oh, okay. Goodniiight.” “Dear, what was that?” I asked, touching a cheek of mine with a hoof, looking back at my husband. “You don’t think something is wrong, do you?” “He’s a growing colt, Misty Fleurs. I told you those hayburgers would work wonders.” Seriously? Left eyebrow raised, Forest Seed’s eyes darted around as sweat dripped down his head. “I’m… going to watch the buckball game on the television.” “Uh-huh. Go do that.” Dimmed lighting, that’s how I would describe it. I did not mind, though. I was planning on sleeping until the alarm went off. Upon entering, I turned my head left and right to ensure no arachnids were hiding because those eight-legged creatures tend to give me a case of jitters. After determining there were not any, I laid eyes on a mattress. There it is. My checkpoint for the day. I walked up to it and leaped into the air, landing on the surface back first, all four legs sprawled out, absorbing the fresh chill. The bed squeaked a few times, and then complete silence followed, as if somepony muted the small space with magic—or time had ceased. Not bothering to cover myself under the blanket, scarlet eyes stared at the shadowy ceiling, and then… my sight faded into complete darkness, preparing for the next ordinary day to come and pass. Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! In the dead of night, placed atop a hill overlooking a coastal town nearby, flaunting its lighthouse, dock, and small bobbing boats in the water, a large glowing double-layered tent was adequately propped up. The vibrant orange and purple tent stuck out compared to the structures of the piling houses scattered throughout the harbor atop large mossy hills of rocks. The warm homes in the distance were lit up with artificial lighting. Some ponies slept, or maybe a young filly or colt or two secretly stayed awake. That is what one of the attentees (pun) believed as she stared at the coastal town of Silver Shoals from her tent. “Luna, is something wrong? Earlier this morning, you suddenly jolted out of your sleeping bag. Is you coming out here related to that?” a white alicorn questioned, struggling to step outside because her long white horn could not fit through the tent’s opening. She was in the sleeping quarters of the tent, two sleeping bags unkempt within and a small lantern shining a bright orange. As Celestia mentioned, her younger sister had jolted out of bed with heavy breathing. So tonight, Celestia kept an extra eye on her. However, instead of bouncing awake, her sister had exited the double-layered tent of her own accord. “Everything is fine, sister,” another but smaller, dark blue alicorn responded. Giving up on walking through or under the tent but mostly taking heed of her younger sister’s words, Princess Celestia returned to her sleeping bag and zipped up the second inner layer of the tent, then turned the lantern off with a distinct click. “I’m sure it’s nothing,” Luna murmured under her breath, sitting by a crackling campfire, an orange glow blanketing the right half of her body, still staring at the harbor town of Silver Shoals. “What was that?” Celestia asked ardently, turning the lantern back on with a clack. “I said I’m sure you could at least use magic… You know, to teleport out and eat some s’mores with me?” Luna said, smiling, breaking out in a sweat. A gasp escaped the tent, and then the hiss of a zipper followed. Celestia still tried walking out. Still, after realizing what her younger sister had said, she took the advice and teleported. Right next to her sister. “Luna! You know I love s’mores! As if I’d ever pass up the opportunity to eat them alongside you!” Celestia exclaimed, hugging her sibling. Luna’s forehead crinkled from furrowed brows. “How… sweet…” “Oh, they will be!” Celestia said, turning her attention to the tent section spread out in front of the sleeping quarters, eager to grab the bags of soft marshmallows, bars of chocolate, and a box of graham crackers. Phh! Just as Celestia was about to enter the tent again, her long horn collided with the zipper tape and the area above, halting her progress. She could only sigh from embarrassment. “Haa…” “Magic, sister… Magic,” Luna alluded, pointing at the dark blue horn on her head. Hoooo! Hoo! Hoo! Then, under the moon and the backdrop of lit piling houses, soon enough, the two retired alicorns dug their teeth into the crunchy, chocolaty gooeyness of a perfect s’more, the orange glow of the crackling flame complementing their crumb-covered smirks.