Eric’s P.O.V.
As we walked back through the forest I found it was much easier this time with Twilight lighting up the area with her horn. No longer was I tripping over every stray tree root or having branches whip me in the face because the darkness covered them from view. But I was also getting steadily more nervous with each step it took.
What is this Princess going to be like? If what Twilight says is true then she must have seen hundreds of wars and probably fought in them too and she can move the sun! Anything like that could probably take me apart at the cellular level if I so much looked at her the wrong way. Oh God, she's going to absolutely destroy me. When Twilight first saw me she thought I was a monster she will probably think I am too and not even give me a chance to say anything. Even if she does give me a chance to speak she might think I’m still a threat because I’m different from everything else in this world!
With those thoughts in mind my breathing got shorter and my vision started to swim. The ground below me suddenly reached up my body hitting the forest floor and pain arcing up the still throbbing arm I used to blow up the tree.
“Eric?” Twilight said from in front of me before she turned around before galloping quickly up to me. “What’s wrong? Are you injured?”
All I could do was lay there as my heart beat hard in my chest and my breath came hard and fast. Attempting to form words only caused my lungs to burn trying to get oxygen that I didn’t have. As Twilight came closer I couldn’t even warn her not to try to touch me.
Twilight’s P.O.V.
What do I do? What do I do? Something must be really wrong and I don’t know enough about his species to know how to help. Even if I could use my magic to make him better I can’t because that shield would stop me.
“Eric, tell me how to help you. I don’t know what’s wrong and if I don’t know I can’t help you. Please tell me. Are you hurt? Did you eat anything strange in the forest? Wait no you’ve been with me for too long and I didn’t see you eat anything. Umm umm umm.” My words came faster and I began to panic, not knowing to help the unfamiliar creature. “Wait, panic! Shortness of breath, difficulty maintaining equilibrium, flushed face, he must be having a panic attack!”
I looked at the human I was starting to get to know and spoke as softly as I could, “Eric, I need you to slow down your breathing, just take slow, deep breaths ok?” Seeing him trying but not making any change I continued. “Please look at me Eric. Ok good, now look into my eyes and focus on taking slow and deep breaths.”
Slowly he started to breath more deeply and I found myself getting lost in those small blue orbs. No bad Twilight I reprimanded myself before looking back to see him getting better.
“Are you ok?” I asked with a small, worried smile on my face.
“Y-Yeah Twilight, I’m sorry about that. I-I uh sometimes have trouble coping with my thoughts sometimes.” He explained with a slightly raspy tone of voice.
*GASP* “What could you have possibly been thinking about to leave you in such a state?” I asked the worried feeling even more justified than before.
How could just thinking cause such a dangerous result? I’ve never heard of anypony reacting like this before to just thoughts.
“I-I’m not ready to talk about it ok? Let’s just say back where I came from it’s not that unusual for someone to go through some emotional situations that leave them damaged.”
“I’m not really sure what you mean. While I understand the nature of a panic attack I have never heard of one being so sudden nor so dangerous, and to happen just from thinking about things is completely unheard of.”
“Look thank you for helping me feel better but can we just leave it there ok? I really don’t want to talk about certain things right now.” He said getting defensive.
“Ok, ok. But I hope you talk to me about this later.”
“Maybe Twilight, maybe.”
“Alright we should get moving, it’s a long way back to the edge of the forest and I want to get there before the sun sets.” I said before turning away, occasionally looking back at the human.
I really hope that doesn’t happen again. Why do I keep thinking like this? He’s just some weird creature, why would I care about him being ok?
Eric’s P.O.V.
As we walked between the trees and through the thick underbrush I looked over the strange creature I was travelling with.
Why does she keep looking at me? Surely she doesn’t really care about me. She said it herself, this was just a mission and she doesn’t want to let down her Princess. But then why does she look so worried? Why did she seem so desperate to help me calm down? And what was with that look in her eyes when I was having my panic attack. It was almost like she was scared for my wellbeing.
Shaking my head I kept walking. I’m just her mission, nothing more. After that though I kept looking at her, smiling each time she turned her head. On the off chance she does care I better keep smiling, she doesn’t need to worry about me. I’m not worth it.
A few minutes later we broke out of the underbrush and found a thin dirt trail moving off in both directions. The gap it made between the tree was just enough for us to see the sky above us, the sun was a lot lower than I hoped it was.
“Umm Twilight. How far away is the edge of the forest from here?” I asked, worried evident in my voice.
“A few hours still, I-I don’t think we will be able to make it out before night falls.” she answered, a matching tone of worry in her voice.
“I think we will have to wait here for another night before we can leave then.”
“Yeah, I agree. We should camp here then where there is more light coming through the trees. You wouldn't happen to know what plants or fruits are safe to eat would you? I’ve read about some that should be ok so if you can, could you grab some wood for a fire?”
“I should be able to do that, just don’t go too far. After before I don’t really want to be alone.”
“Ok Eric, we can search near each other.”
“Thank you Twilight.” I said, letting out a breath I didn’t realise I had been holding.
Surprisingly it took us only 15 minutes to set up a small camp by the side of the small trail through the forest. Twilight’s magic made lighting the fire easy, especially since I had no idea how to do it myself and she had good luck searching for food. I looked over a large pile of plant roots and strange pink berries she had placed in front of us with her magic.
“Are you sure these are ok to eat?”
“Yes Eric, I’ve studied many books on the plant life of Equestria and all the things I’ve found should be safe to eat.”
“Alright, I’ll trust you on this.” Slight apprehension was still on my voice as I picked up one of the pink berries, thin hairs were covering it, somewhat like a peach on Earth.
Biting into the fruit I was overwhelmed by the taste, it was like liquid ambrosia as it slid down my throat. The flesh of the fruit parting easily and the juices were the perfect mix of slight bitterness and sour that tingled as I swallowed them down.
“These are so damn good.” I said with a massive smile on my face before eating my share in only a few short minutes,
“I thought you would like them. They’re called pecha berries and they are widely considered a delicacy. I’m actually surprised I could find so many and so close to the path.” she replied with a wide smile, obviously proud of herself.
She looks so cute when she smiles. I thought before mentally slapping myself. No, bad Eric. No thinking that way about the pony.
I moved over to the side of a side of a tree and lay against the trunk as the sun began to set.
Another strange day in an equally strange world.
As I started to fall asleep I felt warmth as a small body huddled close enough to bleed heat into me but not set off my shield. Opening my eyes I saw Twilight, and smiled before closing them again. The exertion of the day and the warm body next to me easily overwhelming my mind and body as sleep took me away to the field of dreams.