After a few awkward minutes of quiet while Twilight finished her second helping of food and Nox staring distantly into the fire, she finally breaks the silence.
"Nox....why did you save me?" asks Twilight.
Averting his gaze from the hearth, he moves his cowled head to look towards Twilight, "Would you not do the same as I did for another pony?"
"But you’re a necromancer, a practitioner of the dark arts. Doesn't that make you, well....evil?"
With a slight laugh, Nox fully turns his body to regard Twilight. "As the Element of Magic and a practitioner of the sciences, I would think you of all people would realize the answer to that question."
Cocking an eyebrow, Twilight waits for him to continue.
As he begins to talk, Nox raises his right forehoof and begins to gather magical energy. Thee floating balls of emerald fire, the same color as his eyes, began to dance and swirl around each other in a synchronized fashion. Suddenly, the three magical flames merged and the outline of a small pony began to form. No larger than his hoof, pony began to take a solid shape, but there was something strange about it. Its form was devoid of not only a coat but also of any semblance of flesh, consisting of only a pony skeleton. The small pony looked over toward Twilight, the dark recesses of its empty sockets examining her. With a whinny of delight the small creature hopped down and trotted happily to Twilight and nuzzled itself against her side causing her to let out a giggle as the small creature made itself comfortable
"In both science and the magical arts, nothing is inherently evil. It is how one applies it that determines its morality. That is a fact that is sadly lost on most ponies in this day and age."
With that said the horse nuzzled a goodbye to Twilight, reforming itself into the balls of green flame and returns to its master’s hoof. Nox than rises from his bench beside the now dying fire and adjusts his cloak. "Come, let us go. I am sure your friends are quite worried about you by now." With that, Twilight too stands up and the two make their way to the cabin door. The sun was low in the sky, at least what sky they could see through the forest canopy, telling them that it could not be much later than seven in the morning.
For over an hour, the two ponies walked silently through the Everfree forest, Twilight never straying too far from the necromancers side still obviously shaken by the nights events. Eventually, they reach the edge of the forest just outside of Twilights friend Fluttershys cabin.
"This is where we part ways for now Twilight, though I do hope that you will attend my performance later tonight." said Nox as he turns around to make his way back home.
"I will, and Nox....thank you again for saving me. I don't know how I can ever repay you."
"Repayment is unnecessary Twilight," he began, and with a sly smirk on his face he continued, "anypony would have done the same." With that said, he slowly disappeared into the darkness of the Everfree.
Twilight, glad to be back to the relative safety of Ponyville begins to trot along the path toward town.
"Twilight!" A yell echoes from a group of five multi colored ponies fast approaching her. Suddenly the telltale blue bur of Rainbow Dash shoots from the crowd to embrace the purple unicorn, fast accompanied by the rest of the group followed suit.
"Darling where have you been?" asks Rarity.
"We've been worried sick sugar cube!" Applejack shouts.
"Girls, calm down. I'm fine." says Twilight trying to calm her worried friends.
"I just got lost walking in the Everfree forest last night."
"The Everfree forest! Are you loco in the coco Twilight?!" Pinkie says, popping up in the middle of the group.
"What were you doing in the Everfree forest last night Twilight? That is, if you don't mind telling us..." Fluttershy asks as timidly as always.
"Well I went to find that strange pony that we saw in town last night, throne in the black cloak, and.."
"What did he do to you Twilight?" Rainbow Dash interrupts while soaring up to Twilight, clearly agitated. "Did he pony nap you? Let me at him, I'll beat his flank!"
Applejack, quickly grabbing Rainbow Dash by the tail, pulls her down back next to the group. "Now slow yer role Rainbow, let’s let her finish."
So Twilight began to recount the entire story of her trek since meeting Nox in town with the exception of telling about his particular abilities, she owed him at least that request for saving her life.
Rainbow Dash was the first to speak after her story was concluded.
"Wow, so that weird pony lives in the Everfree forest, saved your life from a cockatrice all by himself, and brought you back home safe? He sounds like a real bad-flank."
"He sounds like a true gentlecolt, the mysterious stallion charging in to save the damsel in distress." Rarity says swooning over the mysterious stallion.
Applejack , interrupting her daydreaming friend, retorts, “Just like one a yer sappy romance books huh Rarity?" getting a chuckle out of all her friends except Rarity, who blushes a deep red with embarrassment.
"So now not only do I get to throw him a Welcome to Ponyville party but I get to throw him a Thank You So Much For Saving Our Friend Twilight party too! I can't wait!!!" Pinkie yells, all the while bouncing up and down throughout the group of friends.
"I appreciate the concern girls, but I've had a long night and could really use some sleep after everything that has happened." says Twilight, her fatigue evident in her voice.
"Oh you poor dear." Fluttershy shouts with tone of urgency. "We need to get you home to rest right away."
With that the six girls begin their walk and in no time at all arrive at the door to Twilights home.
"Now you go on in and get some rest before tonight Sugarcube. We'll all be by later to meet up before the shindig starts ya hear?"
"Ok Applejack, I'll see you girls later."
With that Twilight closes her door and walks up to her room in the library's loft, barely making it to her bed. Her last thoughts before her exhaustion claimed her were on the mysterious stallion who had saved her, and with a smile on her face she falls into a restful slumber.
At that very same time, a certain hooded stallion arrived at his home deep in the Everfree forest.