A Journey Beyond Sanity

by Darkwing Dust

Chapter 193: A Guide to Abide

"Keep your eye on the ball, Starlight." I grinned cheekily, the tip of the cue stick aimed with precision against the colour-painted egg lying preparedly on the table. "Let me show you how we humans do it."

Bang! The egg harmlessly bouncing all over the blue interior, not of the castle, mind you, but another pony's home. Both unicorn and I eagerly observing the thing which had the number '4' painted on eventually ping off the window pane, onto the ground and then succumbing into the wall beside the open doorway, smashing into liquid yolk. Score.

Then the resident of the house decided to turn up through said doorway. "What's going on in here?" Sunburst inquired in bafflement.

"Nothing. What?" Starlight was chuckling behind her hoof, prompting my own tight grin and hurriedly concealing the rest of the colourful 'pool balls' with my wings. "Just, you know, talking about how well organized your place is." Complete poppycock, as evidenced by Starlight's own loud snort, but whatever work's works.

"Hmm... Well could you two lessen the volume?" Retreating back into the other reading room. "I'm almost done."

Oh great. "That's what he said an hour ago." I scowled irritably to the other pony. "We deliver one message to him from Twilight and this is what we get."

"Speak for yourself." Starlight quipped lightly, still looking amused before opting curiosity by the sounds coming from the room her childhood friend retreated into, proceeding to follow. As did I, because what else was there to do? What happened next were my raised brows, and the pink mare's low snort by the newfound sight before us.

Once the orange stallion, with a mane so messy it competes greatly against my own, finished up sowing up clothing that definitely didn't belong to him - unless he's into it, no judging - Sunburst inspected his handiwork before yelping in shock by the suddenly close sly expression on Starlight's face. "Please don't do that again." Sunburst said flatly.

"Hmhm. Wow Sunburst, I never really pegged you for household chores." The lilac-eyed pony teased, and who could blame her? The state of this room, for instance. You think he'd borrow a servant or two from the nearby Crystal Castle to help clean things up around here. It was messier than one of Pinkie's after-parties!

The old childhood friend took her jest in stride. "Even unicorns must resign themselves to common tasks every once in a while, Starlight. And if you must know, this was a request of Mom's since she's too busy organizing a festival in Sire's Hollow, a prime example of our relationship having gotten better since last week, wouldn't you say?"

"Mhm, mhm, that's great to hear." Wasn't my intent to sound so dismissive but... Eh [BEEP] it I was bored as sin. "Now do you have that book Twilight was hoping for or not?"

"Just a moment. I need to re-file a few documents sent at my behest by the royals of this kingdom." And off he went, running back and forth with papers and ink bottles beside him, Starlight and I bearing witness by the enthusiasm of an introverted wizard bookworm. Back and forth.

Back and forth.

Back and forth.

"I don't know what you see in him." Starlight mildly nudged my side upon me remarking as much, the former turning to regard the pile of letters evidently addressed by Sunburst's mother. Hm? Next, I was caught off-guard by the sudden, mischievous look on the pink unicorn's face evidently involving the oblivious childhood friend close by. "What are you doing?"

"Well..." A quill dripping black ink suddenly appearing by the mare's side, grabbing a blank piece of paper as Starlight narrowed her eyes rather gleefully. "If it's chores our dear Sunburst wants, it's chores our dear Sunburst gets. Nothing like a little magic of accurate hoofwriting and... Voila."

One letter bearing the writing of Sunburst's parent... With another written in similar precision. Huh, he would never tell the difference. I squinted my eyes curiously to what Starlight put.

Dear Sunburst,

Please clean up this mess you call a home. On my last visit, it smelled like an old bat's attic.

Love, Mother.

Setting the false and real messages down, Starlight then grinned with her own cheek similar to my own, waving the feather of the quill around while preparing another blank page. "You wanted something to alleviate your boredom, dear brother. Care to help keep Sunburst busy?"

My own coy grin was almost predatory in its glee. "Like you need to ask, dear sister." Where was the other set of quills I spotted earlier coming in?

---

"That oaughta keep him busy for a while."

"I hope you're aware, Stardust, that some of those made-letters were a little excessive."

"Now you're beginning to sound like Twilight, Starlight."

"Just saying; 'Sunburst, when do you plan on settling down? Please go consult the local relationship adviser.' 'Sunburst, you'll never impress a mare when it looks as though all you do is stay in bed all day reading those long, boring books.' 'Sunburst, when will you just propose to a certain lovely pink unicorn?' Those two only just reconciled recently, we don't wanna ruin that with some false letters."

Should have thought of that before even proposing the idea in the first place, my dear. Smirking a little as we casually trotted through the crystal streets, I glanced to Starlight. "Starlight, that's something all mothers would regularly behave about. Just wait until you're one."

Instead of blushing furiously by any future talk of offspring as Twilight would, the lilac-eyed equine gazed my way with a flat brow. "Nagging to your son to get with someone you've known since childhood."

"Mother knows best, Starlight. They know fate when they see it." Starlight huffed, rolling her eyes in good nature before inclining her head forwards, gesturing for our next turn to reach the train station. No shame on my part conversing about this. "Besides, it was all worth it to see the look on Sunburst's poor face when he read those letters. I swear his loud groans were going to crack the windows."

Then, my sister-in-all-but-blood grinned in humoured recollection, similar to my own current expression. "He looked so red he could boil water, too."

Ha! "And you wanna talk overkill? Let's address you, my dear Starlight, with that last faux letter commanding the poor lad to write why he loves every single thing regarding his favourite book volumes."

Starlight had the grace not to even bat an eye, smiling casually. "To be fair, Sunburst wasn't overly protestant in that request." Nah of course he wasn't. For someone like that introverted bookworm, it was another Thursday. Oof! A slight pony elbow to my clothed chest. "I heard that."

"You did?"

"Mhm." The pink unicorn then perked curious brows, changing the topic altogether while we were reaching there. "Come to think of it, we all have been able to mentally communicate with you of late, Stardust. Sign your magic is getting stronger?"

"Uh, no Starlight." I was quick to correct, smiling softly. "Rather it's a sign of our bonds getting stronger." Finally, she blushed a little at something, out of sheer embarrassment. "Aww, you're even sheepish like Twilight." Couldn't help but tease.

"Sometimes I can't tell whether you're playing with me or hitting on me."

"Aw Hell no. What would both Twilight and Sunburst think?"

Only for the irksome Starlight to jab much harder in my front, the pink unicorn shaking her head before reverting back to the prospects of mental projections. "Please tell me we can't hear each other's thoughts all the time?"

"Let me ask the unicorn upstairs." Starswirl?

Balance merely expose the links, rather than controls. To block off any further potential communications would be either strained or broken bonds, or from seeking assistance in the field of the mind and shielding one's thoughts.

"...Starswirl basically says 'eh.'"

Starlight sighed lightly, glancing around to hopefully divert the conversation much further before anymore possible embarrassment on her behalf. "Have you noticed, the Crystal Empire has less ponies out today?"

Hmm, good point. We both looked up and down the street, barely seeing much populace save for the occasional equine here and there, and even then they radiated nervousness. Balance sensed picked up on apprehension from the outside ponies and some various crystal houses, God no please not another threat they believed was coming. Hopefully, it's just them getting use to having their homes back after the Storm King invaded, a fear that will die down in a matter of some further weeks. I swore this kingdom had more bad luck in being taken over by tyrant-wannabes than Canterlot.

Perhaps the Umbrum have become active of late.

...The Hell were those?

"Hey!" Starlight then called out to a yellow, glimmering male unicorn taking out the trash, whom promptly snapped his head in the mare's direction in dreaded surprise. Wow, they WERE jumpy today too. "Is something wrong in the Crystal Empire?"

"Nothing we can't really identify." The stallion answered with a helpless shrug, pointing to the side callously. "All we know is that Mount Everhoof has been acting up of late. We've been expecting avalanches for days now but, thankfully, that hasn't been the case." Not yet anyway. Were the unspoken remaining words.

As the unicorn retreated back indoors, Starlight frowned softly and regarded me curiously. "Could it be the Yaks?"

"Or the dragons that made themselves at home in the mountain."

"Perhaps the yeti are acting up?"

"Or all the above?"

"Someone should check it out." Yes, someone should. Catching my tightly blank expression, or perhaps having read my mind yet again, Starlight's muzzle curled knowingly with a raised brow. "I was asked to keep an eye on you, Twilight wants us back home before sundown, you know."

What, was Twilight our mother now? "I know." I simply replied, the pair of us regarding one another blankly... Followed by immediate breaking out into huge grins, myself nodding in the direction the mountain had. "Shall we?"

Didn't even need to ask, off we went! Merrily galloping through the streets to investigate mountain activities. Hey, if it was the yeti, good because I wanted some payback! As for Starlight, if she helped out, that might score some brownie points for her old friend, kicking some yeti posterior ten feet into the snow.

"Why are you so adamant on pairing Sunburst and I?" Starlight, at this point, was just leaking her flushed embarrassment as we hurried on without even glancing my way.

"Mothers aren't the only one with keen senses, Starlight." Plus, Balance does help, and in this case a GREAT deal.

---

Prior to our arrival down here, the both of us visited the caves the small group of dragons - at least small by that species' standards - had taken residence in for a long time by then. As always, pleasant to see some old friendly faces. By obligation from my help in the past, or from my title of Stalwart - honestly forgot I even had that reputation among their kind too - they were compelled to inform us of any useful information from our inquiries into the tremor activities of their new homes.

Hence, our arrival to this smaller, but still spacious cave, just about twenty levels beneath the lair of the dragons and Yakyakistan. According to the former, whatever was disturbing the tranquil yet fierce mountain was all going on way at the bottom of the beast, leading to our search for the nearest entrance upon our descent.

Good thing, too, because it was starting to get so bloody freezing walking around in snow without protective gear for almost an hour.

Rubbing her own hoofs and limbs in effort to regaining some warmth, Starlight, like myself, shook off any remaining snowflakes from her form as soon we entered the dark, icicle interior, welcomed only by blackness and hollow winds. Enchanting. Gritting her teeth briefly in concentration, the pink unicorn breathed normally a few seconds later before sharing my glance.

"How... How's your light spell progressing?" Light spell? By noting my confusion, Starlight nodded and clarified a second later, her horn lighting up perfectly to resemble that of a magical glowing stick. Ahh, light spell.

Regrettably, my answer arrived in a light shrug of apologetic weariness. "Never actually practiced it before..." I was still focused on carrying things by my horn alone, regular Equestrian magic being harder to manipulate than I originally assumed. I swore, more than half the unicorns at Twilight's old school would be laughing their heads off behind my backs.

Mother[BEEP]ers.

Clearly sensing my own annoyed embarrassment, Starlight offered a slight grin or amused reassurance. "It's relatively easy. It's like flicking on a light switch. Just close your eyes, and focus on nothing but light." That not-difficult, you say? Alright then, I'll give it a shot. Saves Starlight from being handicapped by my own incompetence, obliging by her advice and closing my shivering eyes, doing my best to focus against the cold. Hopefully there was a spell to turn one's self into a walking radiator I could master in future.

You wouldn't be far off, my pupil. But to sweeten the deal, how would you like to be aware that Balance can encompass your form like a warm blankest against the most chilling environments too by a simple trick?

Oh, NOW you tell me you senile... Ugh. Grinding chattering teeth, I did my best to focus, which was slightly hard by my trembling gold body and the gales right outside. But still, I kept my eyes closed for the longest time possible. Light, light, let there be light.

Light light light light light-

"Stardust, you can open your eyes now." Huh? Agh, too bright! I blinked rapidly, adjusting hazel orbs to the abrupt gold hue emanating right above my line of sight, almost blinding the top half of my perspective. Jesus, Starlight, how do you ponies tolerate that? The unicorn chuckled casually, until the sounds from deep inside the cave suddenly emerged, garbled and unidentifiable.

Both of us froze, stances tense, regarding the deeper inwards of the spacious cave which was barely illuminated from our blue and gold lights. Yeti? Probably. Anything worse? Well at least I could still kick some arse with my newly enhanced power... [BEEP] I hoped anyway.

Starlight lowered her voice, then not taking any chances. "Can you sense anything through Balance?" Good point, closing my eyes yet again, this time clenching facial expression and concentrating on the magic beyond normal, picking up for anything related by the evident presence of whatever creatures waited deep inside this place.

Oh... That's curious. "I'm getting something..."

"...But?" Starlight eventually asked when I opened blue-green eyes, still growing accustomed to the brightness powered from my horn.

Looking to the puzzled unicorn, I vocalized addressed what my sense picked up on. "I sensed confusion and... Fear." Clarifying from her raised brows. "No rage, or pain, or sorrow or a need for survival. Just those emotions specifically."

"Fear?" Starlight blinked, regarding the snowy floor in contemplation. "Could it be maybe someone who's trapped down here then? Or someone take prisoner by some force?"

"Could be." I shrugged, both of us regarding the further darkness where the sounds kept often bellowing from. "But there's multiple of them. Somewhere around... Thirty?"

Which was the best estimated guess, really. Starlight, steeling her resolve, eventually nodded and joined me in our further exploration towards whatever waited for us within, the mare practically pouring out nervousness but having more toughness to gaze into the unknown than most of her kind. As for me, well.

I'm a casual, suicidal man-slash-pony with no absolute regard over my own health and safety. What else was new? But in an effort to lighten the mood and bring some ease to my worried friend here. "Starlight."

"Hm...?"

"You know I only just tease overall, right."

"...I know."

---

[BEEP]. [BEEP]ing wings.

Starlight chuckled behind her hoof, regarding my disgruntled state of almost tripping over the new appendages again with a bemused brow. "Still can't get a handle on controlling them, huh?"

Oh, what was your first guess my dear? Was it obvious from day one of obtaining these ghastly things almost making fall down the castle stairs every given opportunity? I swear, it's like these damn feathered inconveniences had a mind of their own, choosing every possible chance to make my face impact into something hard and teeth-breaking worthy. The unicorn continued giggling along by my every attempt of making these wings pack it in, even desperately rolling the feathers which hurt like Hell.

"I'm sure you'll master the Way of the Pegasus soon." Oh hardy har Starlight, my eyes rolling by her playful sage wisdom. "Why didn't you just have kept them inside your clothes if they're bothering you that much?"

"Confined wings not only ache, Starlight... But it gets surprisingly hot in there too." Wings weren't designed to be stuffed in clothing, after all. Sighing, I forced myself to keep following after the pink mare by tiptoeing every chance the dropped wings would try getting in my way again. "Feels like a [BEEP]ing sauna when they're inside my clothes." Cape notwithstanding.

"You could talk with Rainbow or Fluttershy about that when we get back home." Provided if Twilight doesn't ground me in my room upon our return for being so late. That train of thought incited Starlight's knowing smirk. "She'll understand why we've been tardy, I'm certain."

"Hmph." Maybe. I repressed another annoyed sigh, managing to catch up with my friend and walk alongside. "In any case, I have tried asking Rainbow. She told me it's common for growing ponies to trip over their wings." Which was odd, because I never saw Twilight tripped over them upon becoming a Princess. That or I was blind those few months. "So... Yeah, it's gonna take a while."

Starlight hummed in thought, cocking her head to one side before finally answering in musing. "Guess it's easier to be a unicorn than a pegasus..."

Guess so. We continued on our walk in silence, my senses guiding us down the twists and turns this ice and stone cave would have to offer, once again, myself, gratified by Starlight's teaching of lighting my horn, particularly when I could trip over my feathers every millisecond in the dark. Wouldn't be amusing or fun at all, even if Starlight, Spike, Rainbow, Applejack or Rarity would be laughing themselves silly if the last four were here.

There was no telling what exactly either of us were in for. Due to that, a part of me regretted bringing Starlight along and entertained the notion of telling her to go back. But I knew this mare determinedly walking beside me; as stubborn and loyal not to simply run away while a good friend faces whatever dangers may await. Although, again, Balance wasn't sharing any threats, just massive waves of fear and bafflement from whatever beings dwell inside. They weren't Equestrians; ponies have this... This scent about them when looking through Balance. Let me define them in colours to make it easier.

Ponies, through Balance, have a cyan blue colour around their presence, such as Starlight here, regardless what emotions she expressed.

Dragons have a crimson red.

Griffons, a dark yellow.

Hippogriffs, a light pink. So on, and so on, all differing creatures have their unique 'colours' which are sensed by their hearts when one uses Balance.

It's hard to explain, even for me. Twilight would do a far better job theorizing these matters if I ever shared these inquiries. Ah well, mind on the job at hand. Starswirl himself could tell me after all this, but for now, the purple-and-blue-haired unicorn from my right spoke up again curiously. "Do you ever miss it?"

"Miss what?"

"Being an Earth Pony."

Oh... Good question. I could only shrug in my honesty, answering lightly. "I don't really dwell on it... While being an Earth Pony certainly the least harmful appendages." We both cracked a small grin in that regard. "Being an alicorn... Well, doesn't really feel all too different. Well, minus the extra weight."

Between you and me, the wings do make me feel a bit increased in the body fat department. Now, I wouldn't say I was far overall, but my muscle mass in this form did make me appear a little... Big boned? But regardless, while the wings were an annoyance at times in getting me almost seriously hurt, and I constantly have to be careful when smacking on Twilight that my horn doesn't poke her in those entrancing violet eyes, I'm content as I was now. Earth Pony, alicorn, or even just pegasus or unicorn, it was alright with me.

Way back when, in my early days of being a stallion, I was disgruntled that I would just be a 'mere' Earth Pony without the capability of magic or flight, before realizing soon enough how more sense it made for any human in Equestria to become the kind of pony which operates the least amount of magic since they weren't born with the natural abilities. Over time, I had become more and more accustomed to have become an Earth Pony, the underdogs of Equestria, preferring rather to be underestimated by my enemies or anyone than be deemed a threat right off the bat.

Until, maturing and growing older throughout my progress in this energetic, compassionate world, that, coming to the acknowledgement that Earth Ponies, unicorn and pegasi were all as important as each other. They helped maintain the circle of harmony in their home, none of them ever to be truly dismissed in spite of how questionable how the logic of this world operated at times. Not to mention, all species great and all, corporal or otherwise, benefited together in a shining, promising future for the entire planet.

"What about you?" I diverted a similar question back to Starlight as the hallway of this cave led us to a much bigger, blackened room. "Ever thought of being anything else but a unicorn?"

"Hmm..." Starlight briefly considered the idea, before shaking her head. "Nah, unicorn works just fine for me. Earth Ponies, pegasi and alicorns are fine and all, but I feel like it wouldn't be the same had I been born as anything different." Fair enough, Starlight's just fine with what she is, the mare then suddenly chuckling as though something popped up in her head. "Heh, could you imagine me as an alicorn? Wouldn't that be surreal?"

Hmmmmmmmm... Tilting my head to momentarily regard the smiling mare humouring herself. Actually, I could see it for several reasons, one of which being, I was confident, we could all agree on-

"Is it just me?" Lilac eyes switched to the ground in abrupt puzzlement. "Or does the ground feel a lot softer here?" What? I glanced down too, gently patting the 'ground' with an inquisitive frown. Come to think, it did feel like anything but stone or ice, almost like...

Grass? No, wait, fur?

"I sense a presence directly beneath us..." Looking back to my friend. "Could we have reached the bottom of the mountain and found nature untouched by the winter?"

"In that's so, wouldn't that mean one of whatever you're sensing and has the citizens at the Empire unnerved is underground?" Starlight raised a curious brow, again tilting her head to one side. "Maybe it's trapped?"

"Yeah, or maybe-" My following words were cut off then by the sudden tremor in the room, or just around us, the material beneath our hooves feeling a lot more ACTIVE than we would like. Ah [BEEP], maybe my guess on fur wasn't far off!

Whoa!

But mare and I were treated to whatever we were standing on literally rising from the ground, the level becoming too unstable and having Starlight and I roll down the tiny new hil without grace, landing harmless on better stone floor. Immediately we got up, just in time to avoid the large tusks which nearly grazed our cheeks. Jesus Christ, what the Hell did we awaken?! Were whatever this was the cause of the avalanches? I had twenty bits betting that it was just leftover imbalances.

Whilst the entire back and sides of the giant were toppled with fur, the visible parts of the underbelly looked almost skeletal as though whatever it was hasn't eaten in a pretty long time. Wouldn't shock me if food supplies in a place like this were depressingly low. The head was similar to the Yaks, or even the buffaloes, with two small horns that were curved upwards and pale blue hair covering the beast's eyes. The exception being the large tusks that could pierce a chunk of rock off if this creature was so inclined. Starlight gasped in surprise, managing to keep herself standing after the tiny tremor caused by this beast's awakening, regarding the pair of us through concealed eyes stonily.

Its heart was projecting nothing hostile, but it paid to be cautious in case fear prompted it to lash out, the thing seven times our size. All fur covered in an underwater blue, the underbelly a dark white, and, surprisingly, some tiny bits of jewelry. Was this some kind of relative to, again, the Yaks?

As I live and breathe... Metaphorically. Starswirl, by contrast to our apprehension and bafflement, expressed pleasant awe and wonder by the sight of this massive beast staring us down, its head halfway to dropping to the ground. A Catoblepas. Oh I haven't seen one of their kind since my youth...

Well, glad one of us was taking delight in the situation present...

Its nostrils exhaled consistently with visible cold air, Starlight and I sharing uncertain glances. And when it, of course, began speaking, it hummed a more lighter tone than either of us would have anticipated. "Ponies... Friends?"

Again, one rapid look to each other before responding swiftly. "Yep, yep, that's us, friends!"

"Yes, friends, we mean no trouble!"

"We're just here for investigative purposes."

"It wasn't our intent to disturb you like that. We're graciously sorry."

Seemed to do the trick, as the... What did Starswirl call it? Cato-something? Anyway, the blue-and-white four-legged beast relaxed its four-feet length body slightly, cocking its own head in open curiosity, the heart emanating naught but innocence.

"Ponies friends of Catoblepas. You've come to help?"

Help...? Starlight vocally asked for the pair of us, "Help with what?"

---

"Catoblepas kind sleep for every one thousand years." The Head of the Tribe explained as we sat down for the history lesson, once the first of their kind we encountered guided us to the rest of the tribe in a rather impressive interior sight somewhere within the middle of the mountain. Her voice boomed with might and wisdom. "We are too harmful for the outside world, our gazes capable of turning any creature into pure ice. To keep those other species' safe, we take refuge in the deepest corners of the land and slumber until a solution is found."

Nature and ice mixed together in this larger, open space of a cave room, housed to many Catoblepas of old and young, all commonly keeping their heads down as if they were too heavy, eyes shielded flawlessly behind hair. The interior had flowers of many kinds leaking through the cracks, the blend of summer and winter in sync here, where this species had chosen prior to waking up at this point. It was beautiful.

But, as clearly stated for their kind by the Head, tragic. Even Starlight, sat beside me listening to the tale, expressed by face and heart nothing but sympathy and respect for their noble sacrifices. It was unfair, I echoed those sentiments. To hide away from the world, just because your eyes could hurt billions if not careful.

The Head of this tribe, known as Mirefloof, continued sharing the tale of their kind as we had inquired upon introductions before. Large among females of her kinds, with much sharper horns and tusks with necklaces of single old jewels hanging down her neck. Darker in mane and lighter in underbelly. "We were to awaken later than this, but disturbances interrupted our slumbers."

Imbalances... Starswirl murmured knowingly, prompting my nod of acknowledgement. That would explain their early rousings.

"Above, we sensed the world was not as it were before. Time moves fast as we slumber, and it shall continue doing so until, one day, the Utopia greets us."

"'Utopia?'" Starlight echoed, leaning forward a little in interest. Yes, the way Mirefloof emphasized shared it was more than just hope.

"A prophecy passed down from our ancestors, that, one day, we would find great salvation for all creatures to greet our gazes with no fear of becoming ice once more." Out of respect, I repressed an eye roll by the mention of 'prophecy.' If it gives these poor guys hope, who was I to shut down their dreams? "That day is not today, we can sense it. We must sleep again, until that Utopia finally comes to us."

This time, I raised a hoof to speak up. "But I sense you are all in distress despite your need to sleep." Could be because they're afraid of what possible harm they might do to the outside, but a gut feeling told me otherwise.

Mirefloof confirmed this instinct. "We were guided to this location, in thanks to a wondrous pony named Rockhoof." Oh! Both Starlight and I traded surprised glances. "With enough food and water to see us through for when we sleep, and when we awaken. But now..."

"You're running out of those." Starlight ventured in understanding, both of us sighing by the Catoblepas' slow nod, emanating her own concern and slight annoyance.

"There is not enough plant life or water here for us to share, before and after we sleep. We shall need a new location, somewhere secluded and safe to protect any other life." Ohh, that's a tough one... Hmm. Both Starlight I gazed at each other in equal contemplation and worry, before regarding the Catoblepas around us. Their hearts were in distress, for once fearful of their own safety rather than the safety of others outside.

An isolated location with enough food and water... Hm, it's difficult. Almost all of Equestria was... Oh.

OH!

"By George I've got it." Well, 'George' had nothing really to do with it. Starlight and Mirefloof turned my way curious, prompting me to inquire further. "Mirefloof, how does your kind react well to a more underwater environment?"

"We can adapt to any environment in favour of finding a place to rest." Came the answer. "Why does the pony ask?"

"What are you planning...?" Starlight mentally asked to herself, but I threw her a sly grin anyway. Oh, a good plan my dear Starlight, smugly then turning to everyone.

"Secluded location? Enough food and water? Spacious and comfortable?" My smirk could only widen in triumph from there. "I know just the location, my friends."

---

Okay, maybe not as comfortable as they might prefer, but I didn't really hear or feel any complaints. On the contrary, the Catoblepas appeared more than thrilled by the choice of a large location, empty and welcoming for solitude, immediately making themselves at home after our departure from the bottom caves of Mount Everhoof consisting of help by powerful teleportation magic from Starlight and the spiritual Starswirl together. Bringing us to the best possible choice for this species to rest and take shelter in for as long as they were needed. Thankfully, the entire abandoned city hadn't been damaged excessively by Zagreus and I's conflict a long while back.

"I'll speak to the Queen of the Seaponies to have her kind and anyone else keep away from this place." I announced as the Head of the Tribe inspected some yellow stone rubble as though deeming it a good mattress, following with a small smirk. "I hope your people love water slides."

Just then, Starlight approached from behind, wiping off some sweat from her pink hoof with a satisfied beaming. "That's the last of the gathered supplies so the Catoblepas can sleep, full and comfortable." Unable to hide her own proud, blissful grin made from our combined accomplishment of helping out a species that was wronged by their own genetics.

And Mirefloof was entirely thankful for that. "We owe you a great debt ponies." Bowing all too humbly. You know I might prefer these guys over the Yaks. "May our kind someday return the favour to your descendants."

"Are you sure you have to sleep?" Starlight then inquired after a moment, offering a tiny smile of uncertainty. "We know many good friends who can help the Catoblepas with your problem."

"Magic, science and nature have long since advanced over a thousand years." I added in, seeing what my friend was attempting and helping further. "You don't have to subject yourselves to this torment."

"Your compassion is as heartwarming as your resolve to assist those in need. But we must decline." Mirefloof answered, to my slight non-surprise. "We shall await until Utopia greets us in the centuries to come."

Disappointing, but it was what they wanted. Normally I'd protest and advance the conversation further, but something held me back. A inkling from Balance that, maybe, this age in Equestria didn't have the solution. Not yet. So, I resorted to holding my tongue, feeling Starlight's pang of doubt from the answer given by the tribe's leader before we both nodded in acceptance. Besides, if they're anything like buffaloes or Yaks, they'd be too stubborn to a fault.

Who would that remind me of? Starswirl piqued up with a humoured, warm voice, and I could stick my tongue out at the old unicorn if it were possible.

"May fate guide you well, as it has today for us, and will when Utopia comes." And this time, we bowed graciously with the lead Catoblepas, smiling softly to ourselves. Followed, then, by Mirefloof suddenly leaning forward an inch Starlight's way, offering a light statement, "Cherish your life with your mate, young pony."

Hahahahahahahahahaha! "Have a good sleep!" I waved cheerfully to the leader as the Catoblepas began selecting places of rest.

Mirefloof had made a quick get away before the embarrassed, flushing unicorn could even protest otherwise that we were not 'mates.' Ah well, sucks to be you Starlight! Sensing my amusement, or just from my wide cheeky grin, Starlight slapped my side with her hoof before huffing and turning away, muttering something about checking that the walls and ceilings were stable enough that the waters couldn't potentially drown the sleeping species. Whatever helps you, sis!

Hahahaha... Ahh.

Grinning to where the leader of the tribe departed, I sighed lowly and nodded with a tender smile. They'll be all right... Won't they, Starswirl?

Hope is a spell of miraculous achievements. Perhaps she wasn't wrong in her kind someday encountering your legacy.

Implying Twilight and I aren't still living as alicorns for a thousand years. Hopefully with the rest of our friends since, I still declare this, DESERVED to be alicorns too. Speaking of Twilight, though, myself chasing after Starlight to then call out.

"While you're busy trying to deny your feelings for Sunburst, Starlight, do you know any good flowers shops for apology bouquets?!"