"Alright Wind Walker, get plenty of bed rest and you should be fine," said the nurse as she wheeled Wind Walker through the hospital doors. "And Twilight, I want you to make sure he gets that rest. I know the restless type when I see them."
Twilight trotted out of the door behind them carrying Wind Walker's saddlebags. "Don't worry Nurse Redheart, I'll make sure he doesn't push himself."
"Excuse me ladies, but I'm a big boy," Wind Walker said as he rose from the chair and carefully stretched his legs. "I can take care of myself."
"Here's some pain killers, in case he needs them." The nurse hoofed Twilight a bottle of pills. "Take care." With that, she left the two unicorns alone.
"Bye Nurse Redheart." When the doors closed and Twilight looked back to Wind Walker, he wore an annoyed face from being ignored by the nurse. He took the bottle from Twilight and shoved it in one of his coat pockets, muttering something about being a grown stallion.
"Oh calm down, she's just making sure you don't hurt yourself. You're lucky they're letting you leave at all. After yesterday's crash you need more than one day of rest. You should be in there right by Rainbow Dash," Twilight said as they began their walk back to the library.
"Luck's got nothing to do with it Twilight, I can't pay for an extend stay in the hospital." Wind Walker followed, and floated his bags off of Twilight and onto himself with an almost inaudible (but still noticeable) grunt of effort. "I don't exactly have a steady job. Besides, between magic and medicine they were able to fix me up well enough for me to leave."
Twilight sighed. As much as she wanted her friend to stay longer, she couldn't deny that all he really needed at this point was rest. The injuries weren't as bad as she had feared, and it really was amazing what a trained unicorn could heal instantly with magic. "Just promise me you'll take it easy until you're better."
"Don't worry Twilight, I know my limits. Let's just get back to the library so I can fix my wings." His wings had fared far better in the crash, but still weren't unscarred. The screws holding two of the propellers snapped, and there were a plethora of scratches and small dents, but after some careful magic and buffing most of them would be unnoticeable. Wind Walker didn't seem to expect any permanent damage to the functionality. "After that I promise to take the nurse's advice, some bed rest actually sounds like a good idea."
"Finally finished." Twilight stretched her sore legs. After they got back from the hospital, Wind Walker was able to fix his wings and take a nap before noon. It was well into the night and Twilight hadn't seem him leave the guestroom yet. With no distractions, she was able to finish all of the work she had been putting off the last few days. Wind Walker has the right idea, I'm exhausted. She headed to her room to retire for the night, and slid happily into her bed. She laid her head on her pillow, closed her eyes and waited for blissful sleep to overtake. Just before she slipped into Luna's domain, she was jolted out of her near unconscious state by the sound of a door closing down stairs.
What was that? She got out of her bed and walked to her window overlooking her front door. As she looked through it she saw empty streets, except a single figure walking away from her home. Wind Walker? Where are you going? She ran downstairs and out her front door. She was still able to see him, and began following, being careful not to be spotted. He won't avoid my questions this time.
Eventually, Wind Walker lead her all the way out of town. She hid behind a tree and watched him walk to the top of a hill, and finally stop. As she walked out from behind the tree, he sat down and lowered his head. She stared at him as she walked up behind him. Occasionally he would look around before hanging his head again. He looks so...sad. "Wind Walker?"
"Wha'?" His head snapped around, and Twilight saw tears in his eyes. "Twi...Twilight?" He turned his head back to the front and lowered it again. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to figure out why you're here." She sat next to him and he turned his head away. "What's wrong."
"You...you should just go back Twilight." He sniffed and wiped his face. "Don't worry about me."
"Wind Walker I-"
"I said leave me alone!" He shouted without facing her, or even lifting his head.
Twilight sat stunned. In the short time she knew Wind Walker, she never once saw him shout in anger. He never seemed to get angry at anything, or even a little bit frustrated. After a moment of silence, she managed a single word. "No."
"Twilight please..." He didn't sound angry anymore, just sad.
"I won't abandon a friend in need."
"...just go away..."
"I'm not leaving until you tell me what's wrong."
Wind Walker sighed in defeat. "You know, in all my years of travel, I've never once let somepony see me cry."
"There's nothing wrong with letting somepony see you cry Wind Walker, sometimes they can help you."
"Maybe they can, but my problems are my own. I don't like to trouble others with them, especially when they're so selfish."
"What do you mean?"
He sighed again and finally faced her. "This world is full of ponies with legitimate problems. Ponies that are sick and starving, orphaned and widowed. Meanwhile I've lead an amazing life. I've traveled all across Equestria and beyond. I've made countless friends and seen sights most ponies only dream of, and yet still I haven't found what I'm looking for."
"And what's that?"
"I told you before," he looked straight ahead, "adventure." He looked like he was staring at something that Twilight couldn't see, and a small smile grew on his face. "The reason I travel is to find true adventure. The kind that helps the weak and topples tyrannical regimes. The kind that saves damsels in distress by slaying horrendous beasts. The kind that ponies would write songs of!" His smile fell along with his head. "But everywhere I go I find nothing."
"Wind Walker-"
"And then I meet you, the hero of Equestria. You've saved Equestria from everlasting darkness, eternal chaos, the changelings. You even saved the Crystal Empire from an evil king." He looked into Twilight's eyes. "You've accomplished what I've dedicated my life to, without even trying.You really are luc..." He cut himself off and looked back at the ground for a moment before facing her again. "You truly are an amazing pony."
Twilight just sat speechless. Wind Walker's eyes seemed to lock her in place. They were filled with a multitude of emotions. Longing, jealousy, but most of all admiration. She knew he meant those last words with every fiber of his being. "Wind Walker..."
He turned back to staring at whatever it was she couldn't see. "I know that I should be happy with my life. It's been amazing. Everywhere I go I find good times...I suppose that's the problem really. Adventures require conflict."
"You can't have traveled so much and not have some conflict."
"Of course not, I've had hard times like everpony else. I've gotten into hoof fights, been chased by wild animals, gone to sleep hungry, but nothing that could qualify as an adventure." He stood up, eyes locked on the horizon. "Maybe I'll find my adventure at the next place I go."
This caused Twilight to panic, and she shot to her hooves. "You can't mean you're leaving now?"
"I've stayed here to long as it is Twilight, it's time for me to move on."
"Bu-but you're injured! You need to rest."
"I'm well enough to travel, I'll just have to be a little more careful than usual."
"But...You could stay here! Trouble always seems to come to Ponyville, if you stay you're sure to find what you're looking for."
He shook his head. "Staying in one place drives me crazy. I've dedicated my life to finding adventure, not waiting for it. Besides, between you and the girls, Ponyville has enough heroes. It doesn't need any more. It's time for me to go." He looked at Twilight before he began to walk away, but he stopped after only a few steps. "I don't suppose...never mind."
"No, what is it?" Twilight's curiosity was piqued, and she would take any opportunity she could to keep him from leaving.
"I don't suppose that...you would want to come with me?"
Twilight froze. She didn't know what to say. "Wind Walker...I-"
"No," he seemed to blurt the word out as fast as he could, "forget I said that. You're needed here. I've been fine on my own so far, I'll be ok alone still." He looked like he was about to take another step, but stopped and dug his hoof into his saddlebag. "Here, I almost forgot." When he took his hoof out, it was holding onto a necklace that he hoofed to Twilight.
It was the same necklace he had wanted to buy her the other day. The necklace was a golden chain with a diamond shaped amethyst. The gem would hang down to the midst of her chest. "Wind Walker, when did you get this?"
"I got Applejack to buy it for me with my cut of the race earnings, she brought it to me in the hospital yesterday. And don't try to give it back. It's yours, and I want you to keep it."
Twilight was stunned by the entire situation as she stared at the necklace. "Wi-Wind Walker...I..." She struggled to find the right words to say. Finally, she lunged to Wind Walker and wrapped her hoof tightly around him in a hug. "Will...will I ever see you again." She could feel the tears stream down her face. She didn't want him to leave, she didn't want to lose her friend.
He returned her hug, and held her tight. "I'm not sure, but I hope so." They stood in each others legs for what seemed like an eternity that ended all to soon, before Wind Walker eventually broke it off. They stared into each others tear soaked eyes, and he wiped a tear off of her face. "...Goodbye Twilight." With that he turned and walked away.
Twilight stood frozen on the hill watching him walk away, and even after he disappeared through the tree line she stared at the spot he entered. Her heart hoped to see him come back, but her mind knew he wouldn't. When her hooves grew sore from standing still she looked at the necklace still in her hooves. "Goodbye, Wind Walker." She put on the necklace, and turned around, filled with nothing other than a hope to one day see the traveling pony return.