“Rainbow Dash…” Twilight muttered as she flew over Ponyville.
“I’m sorry, Princess. She must have snuck out.” Redhead had told her.
“Where are you going?” Twilight pondered.
“I just feel like I should be the one out there looking for him.” Dash said.
“Oh no.” Twilight realized what Dash was planing. Picking up as much speed as she could, Twilight raced towards the Everfree Forest.
Rainbow flew low over the river that led from Fluttershy’s cottage, scanning every inch of the bank as she went, looking for any sign of her friend.
If he wasn’t washed down to Ponyville, he must have gotten out of the river at some point. Dash reasoned.
After a few hours of searching, Dash found herself at the spot she and Strider had fallen into the river.
“Did I miss it?” Dash asked herself. “No… maybe? Think, Dash, think; If I was Strider, and I was separated from my friend and had just climbed out of a river, where would I go?”
Dash thought about it only for a moment or two before the answer came to her. “Go back to where we were last together!” Dash exclaimed as she shot into the air.
In less than a minute Dash has arrived at the old castle. At a quick glance Dash could see their old campsite, but no Strider. Dash went about searching the area for any signs of activity but couldn’t find any. The only thing Dash could find was a rune covered stone axe.
“Where could you have gone?” Dash asked aloud. “Where could-”
Dash’s thoughts were interrupted by a loud pop coming from behind her.
“Rainbow! Thank goodness I found you!” Twilight called out as she rushed up to her friend.
“Twilight? What are you doing here?” Dash asked. “No, nevermind. I need your help.”
“My help? Dash, you should be back in Ponyville resting. Not out here doing whatever it is that you are doing.”
“Maybe? But this is important! I need you whip up some magic and find Strider!”
“Dash, I can’t just use my magic to find somepony. It doesn’t work that way.” Twilight said as she placed a hoof on Rainbow’s shoulder. “If it did I would do it in a heartbeat.”
“But Rarity knows a spell that can find gems, isn't this the same?”
“I’m sorry Dash, but it’s not the same. To find a pony, you need something that belonged to that pony;” Twilight explained, “and not just anything. It has to be something of importance to that pony. Something that they would want back; and we just don’t have anything of his.”
Dash spirits sunk as she listened Twilight; Strider had fallen into the river with her, anything that he owned would have been washed away with him. If we only had something of his… Dash thought, if we hadn’t fallen off of the cliff, if we weren’t chased through the forest, if those things didn’t attack us…
“... we wouldn’t have had to run.” Dash muttered.
“What was that?” Twilight asked.
“Huh? Just thinking out loud.” Dash forced out a chuckle as her eyes darted around the room. Dash’s attitude suddenly changes as she raced across the room. “Hey Twi, you said if we had something of his you could track Strider, right? What about this?” Dash asked holding up a stone axe.
“It just might.”
The trail let them deeper into the Everfree, the two ponies flew through the trees for hours, until they finally arrive at a smooth black stone jutting out from the ground.
“I don’t get it.” Twilight groaned. “The trail just ends at this stone.”
“It’s fine, Twilight.” Dash smiled.
“How is this fine? The spell just end at this rock!”
“Yeah, come on, let's get back to Ponyville and I’ll tell you all about it.”
Looks like we both made it home after all.
Ending was a little... abrupt.
8205040
Sometimes endings are. Not everything works out in life. Sometimes we are separated from people. Sometimes people go their separate ways and we lose touch with them.
It was a sudden ending, but the story wasn't known for it's detail. The idea was to rapid fire big events and leave much to the imagination. I think if that's what you were going for, then this was a very fitting ending.
Fantastic! I can sense the end is near...
Also, I can't help but notice the word count...
Sniff sniff but but whyyyyyy I eanted to know more
8205164 gotta say, me too. The ending being abrupt is not a problem in itself, but it seemed kinda empty.
Still a nice story, though
Sad, but fulfilling. Also, that word count for this chapter, was it deliberate or accidental?
8205209
Accidental, didn't even notice what it was until about an hour after I posted it.
Sequel or Epilogue Part 2: After several years, they reunited.
Or you can make a new fic where the entire POV was Strider's adventures in Equestria.
We need Striders POV.
also a sequel
Its rare that we get to see a human actualy make it home.
What a charming story, short but emotional. Sure got me attached to strider even though the word average was around 600.
...huh...?
what do you-
*eyes widen* ...you mean...? But... how...? Oh my god... I think you just made me tear up, *wipes eyes* omg you did... you brilliant motherbucker...
This was a very good story. I wouldn't mind a sequel to this story.
8205423
Strider got home. So what? Do you recognize the black rock from somewhere?
A great little story. Very unique take on the HIE genre, in that you don't have the HIE meet and drool over the mane six. My only complaint would be that the ending does seem a bit rushed. However I do have to admit that the real world often has situations end this way.
The Monk
8205423
Care to share with the rest of the class?
8205423 he's not dead if that's what you are thinking.
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8205643
At first I was confused, didn't quite understand.
Then I remembered in an earlier chapter that the rock was explained to be the human's only way back home.
Which also explained Dash's thought.
...and it also hit hard right in the feels...
8206760
Because an HiE actually ended with a human going home for once? What a twist!
I like the story, but the ending is far too abrupt.
Also, it's "epilogue", unless you're making a horse pun...
This was really good for something so short. I suggest pooling everything into a final collection chapter so people can read it all in one go.
8205045 I like the ending though o agree that it's a bit abrupt because things like the runes went unexplained but I don't think I would have liked it if it ended with some slow readjustment to pony society.
I fell cheated with that ending
I beg of you to have like a alternative ending
Controversial ending is best ending.
Don’t change a thing. Most of us would have been more cliche about it, and cliche is almost always boring.
Chapters were short, but they were short because you focused on the highlights. Ending was abrupt, but it’s unique. Everyone’s home. Wahoo.
Overall... It was a nice read. It could be expanded on and turned into a big adventure novel - or something - but it's just fine.