Back to Tread!
My ears fluttered. Damn it. I slowly opened my eyes and found myself on a couch bed. “Wh- oh.” I yawned. Wow, that was a good sleep. Twilight smiled. “Good morning.” I gave a sleepy smile. “Good morning.” Spike shook his head and walked out of the room to make breakfast.
Twilight stepped up onto the bed next to me and laid down with her hoofs folded under her. You’re a tease. With an raised eyebrow, I sighed. “I am going to go for a run.” I stood up and stretched my sleepy muscles. My body trembled from the endorphins being released. Twilight seemed mesmerized as I did so. I trotted out of the room with a slight smile. Such a strange mare.
I informed Spike of my run and he nodded. Content so somepony knows where I might be if I were to go missing, I opened the door and was face to face with Rainbow dash. “Oh. Hello!” I greeted her with a smile and stepped aside for her to come in. “I was just going to go for a run.” I received a slightly quizzical look from her before she finally spoke. “Where is Twilight?” She was blushing slightly. What is with all these mares? I pointed to the room I slept in with a hoof. “She should still be in there.” Dash forced a smile and thanked me before heading to see Twilight. I shook my head and noted I need to get my mane cut.
“Tread, are you sure?” Rarity was levitating a pair of barber scissors in the air. “Yes. I like having a buzz cut.” She pouted and huffed. “You have such a beautiful mane. ‘Tis a shame.” I felt a brush run through it before I heard the snipping of the scissors.
“Pinkie Pie was right” Rarity was admiring my coat from what I could see in the mirror. “You ARE something.” I gave her a confused look. “What?” She snapped back to reality. “Oh nothing Tread.” She smiled and finished the rather short task of cutting my mane. “There, just how you like it.” I looked at it in the mirror. “Thanks.” I turned to her. “Now, how much?”
I trotted out of the Carousel Boutique after the heated argument of payment. I smiled and made my way to the Everfree forest.
As I made my way through the forest a hooded figure appeared. I halted and took a defensive stance. The figure began to speak. “You must be Tread, the one whom some dread.” The figure slowly walked closer. “Who are you?” I asked my hooves a little shaky. The figure chuckled. “I am Zecora. You and I are strangers no longer.” Zecora tilted her head up and her hood fell off. I was a bit surprised, but recovered quickly. “I am honored.” Zecora trotted closer and smiled. “Do not bother with that.” She turned and began walking away. “You should really get a hat.” She laughed and trotted away.
“A hat?” I shook my head and felt something move. “AHHH!” I flicked my head and a snake flew off and hit a tree. It shot me a angry look and slithered off. I sighed and began my way back to Ponyville. A few minutes later, I was still going through the Everfree forest. I was starting to become annoyed. “Come on!” I plowed my way through a bush and was face to face with a pack of wolfs.
One was tall. He must be the Alpha. The wolf tilted an inquisitive head. “Who are you?” My eyes widened and I fell back onto my flank as I tried to back pedal out of there. “Y-You can talk?” I was shaking out of pure fear. The wolf nodded and the others laid down. “Yes. Do not fear, for we do not hurt ponies.” I sighed and the shakes slowly began to subside. Now it was just a little tremble from the adrenaline.
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“Rarity, have you seen Tread? Twilight was standing in the doorway of the Carousel Boutique with Rainbow Dash behind her. Rarity looked up from the dress she was making. “Yes, earlier today. He came to get his mane cut.” She nodded and went back to hemming the dress. “Why?” Rarity levitated the dress to a mannequin and stepped back to get a better look.
“Because the sun is setting and he hasn’t come back!” Twilight stomped a hoof in frustration and her voice cracked, causing Rarity to become worried. “Oh. H-Hello, Twilight. Rainbow Dash. Rarity.”
The girls turned and saw Fluttershy standing there. “Hi Fluttershy. What’s going on?” Twilight put on a smile as not to scare Fluttershy.
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“You have an interesting past young Tread.” The wolf looked at me. “You have experienced very much, but you are so young.” His eyes and voice gave off the feeling of sadness. I scooted closer and gave a friendly nudge. “What about you?” I asked as one of the young pups worked up the courage to investigate me.
The wolf huffed. “I have lived for a thousand years.” I looked at the sky. “Sorry. I need to let my friends know not to worry.” The wolf nodded. “You’re a good pony Tread.” I smiled and removed a pad of paper from my bag I had with me and scribbled down a quick letter. I rolled it up and whistled a short tune. A small bird flew down and I attached the letter to its leg. “Take this to Fluttershy please.” The bird chirped and flew off. I turned back. “So where were we?”
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Twilight was shaking in anger and fear for Tread. “Y- Yes. He went into the Everfree forest.” Fluttershy was sitting on the floor, Rainbow Dash was flying circles, Rarity was working on her dress, and Twilight was pacing the floor.
Fluttershy’s ears flickered around. “Oh.” She got up and carefully opened a window and a small bird flew in. It chirped and whistled. “Really? It’s for me?” Fluttershy carefully removed the note from the bird’s leg with her teeth and placed it on the window sill. “Thank you Mister Birdy.” The bird chirped and flew out. Fluttershy opened the note and read it.
Girls,
Do not worry. I am staying at a friend’s place for tonight. I am fine.
Tread
“Oh thank goodness.” She let out a sigh before Twilight walked over and read it. "Oh thank Celestia. Tread is fine everypony.” Rarity and Rainbow Dash sighed in relief.