It was a gloomy world out there after dark. The foliage seemed to muffle any noise from within or without. Distant insect chirps and nocturnal bird calls weren’t enough to obscure the sound of my own beating heart. I followed the path for miles over hills, around boulders, and under naturally formed arches of earth and stone suspended between rocky cliffs.
I was beginning to think that I had lost Lily’s trail when I caught the briefest glimpse of a pony just ahead of me as the figure passed between two trees. I tried to pick up the pace, but ended up snapping a twig in my haste.
I froze, every breath sounding obnoxiously loud and my heart racing at the thought of being discovered. How could I possibly explain this in a way that didn’t seem creepy or downright suspicious? Curiosity would kill the Max, for sure.
The pony peeked back between the trees, and I noticed that she was a Pegasus like Lily, but with a shorter, yellow mane and a gray colored body . . . Definitely not her. She took off once she noticed me ever so stealthily standing out in the open. I let out a quick, explosive sigh as I attempted to catch my breath again.
Wham!
I was struck from behind by something very hard and very fast, which sent me flat out on my face in the dirt. I spat out soil as I spun around to find a very angry Lily.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“Um . . . ” I hesitated, searching for a reasonable answer. Quite honestly, at the time, that little pony terrified me. She seemed utterly enraged.
“Speak up, foal!”
“I was wondering“—I changed my approach mid-sentence—“I saw that you were standing off by yourself during the feast. I wanted to know that you were alright.” My answer seemed less than satisfactory to the both of us.
“Like you care,” she hissed between gritted teeth. “So then it just followed naturally to sneak after me and scare her off, is that it? That was the first time I had seen her in months.” She was seething at this point, venomously spitting out every word.
“I’m sorry! I really am!” I couldn’t think of anything else to say, until my filter disengaged and I asked something spectacularly thoughtless. “Who was she? That other pony?”
All I received in response was an exasperated “Humph”, along with a flurry of hooves and wings. Covering my head and peering through my fingers, I watched Lily take off and tear through the tree canopy, causing sticks and leaves to rain back down on me.
Good job there, Max.
It was a long and lonely trip back to New Ponyville, and when I finally stumbled out of the bushes into town, I almost tripped over a unicorn with a lantern hanging from his horn who hurriedly announced my presence.
“He’s over here,” the stallion called back over his shoulder. Oh, they noticed that I was gone.
A wave of ponies came crashing down around me. The sea parted as quickly as it had formed, and Twilight stood in the gap. She trotted up to me and threw her front hooves around my shoulders.
“Where did you go? I was so worried for you! It’s dangerous to be out after dark around here, especially alone.” The sincerity in her voice reassured me that she was just watching out for me. Before I could fully dispel the sensation of being a scolded, guilty child, I heard another voice speak up.
“Yeah, where were you, newcomer?” Lily strode out of the crowd and glared at me.
“I just went out for a walk. I didn’t know it was so dangerous here. I find it quite refreshing to get off by myself; it helps me to sort my thoughts,” I said in a rush. “I don’t know if you can tell, but I’m a little out of my element here.”
That earned a sympathetic laugh from the ponies, Twilight included. Lily continued to glare at me, the slightest edge of anger still visible.
Twilight let go of me, and stepped away. “Well, if you’re going to stay here for any length of time, it looks like we’ll have to set down some ground rules. For your own safety, I can assure you. For one, just like everypony else, no more expeditions into the forest alone. Two, I think you’ll need a representative of ponykind to serve as a liaison for the duration of your visit. I suppose I will fill that role for the time being.”
“Alright, everypony! I think it’s time we get some rest. More patrol rotations tomorrow,” Twilight said, trying her best to act enthusiastic, though I could hear the weariness in her voice.
The ponies began to disperse, some yawning and struggling to keep their eyes open. Lily made eye contact one last time before she left, to ensure that I knew she hadn't forgiven me. I followed Twilight back to her hut, where we were met by a nice little purple and green dragon named Spike who was another close friend of Twilight’s. He retrieved some blankets from a small wooden chest, and the three of us set up a bed for me in the common area of Twilight’s hut.
“Tomorrow, I’ll take you with us on patrol,” Twilight commented. “It will be good to have another pair of eyes along!”
She retreated back into her little alcove after bidding me goodnight, and Spike curled up near the foot of her bed. As I was drifting off, I heard Twilight rouse a grumpy Spike.
“Oh, Spike! I almost forgot. Before you fall asleep, could you take a letter for me?” He grumbled something, but retrieved a piece of paper and a quill from another chest in the back.
Twilight cleared her throat, and began: “Dear Princess Luna . . . “