Tormod’s ears swiveled on his head at the continued chatter that hadn’t lessened after Trixie had left her stage. Adults spoke with each other as they ushered or carried sleepy fawns back to their homes and soon to their beds. As Tormod listened to the deer, a smile crossed his face as he picked up many words of amazement. Many of the frowns he had seen earlier were now replaced with smiles—smiles he knew were desperately needed.

‘In more ways than one,’ he thought, glancing at Tourmaline and Wanderer—the latter of whom had a wide smile on his face as they waited for Trixie to rejoin them. When Tormod looked at his sister, however, he felt his smile falter. The faraway look she had while staring at Wanderer, was it regret or something else? Looking at her—like she was on the verge of crying—caused a knot to form in his gut.

He tore his gaze from her as Trixie finally joined them after thanking the musicians.

“That was most enjoyable!” Faith said to her, the doe practically shaking. “I knew you were a skilled aura-weaver, Trixie, but I never imagined such a feat of magic was possible!”

Trixie’s cheeks took on a faint red hue. “The Great and Powerful Trixie had promised everypony a show of amazing magical feats and she delivered.” She gave her mane a toss. “In spades.”

Wanderer’s grin widened. “I think it was even better than the one in Greensborough. Did you really just make all of that up on the spot?”

Her own smile grew. “Trixie has been thinking of ways to improve her show. The leaf dance was something she’s been practicing for a week now.” Her grin grew sly. “And did you like this show because it had you in it?”

His grin turned into a full-on smile. “It might have had something to do with it, yeah.”

They shared a chuckle and Tormod spoke up, “Your telekinesis was amazing, Trixie. The way you made that wall of leaves move like water, I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Again, she blushed. “Thank you, Tormod.” She lifted her head, forcing the blush away. “Come, we’ve has had a long, exhausting night. Trixie needs her beauty sleep.”

As the five started away, Trixie entering a conversation with Wanderer and Faith, Tormod lingered back to walk beside Tourmaline. Glancing at her, he saw her looking to the ground with that same look from earlier. When her ears pinned back—followed by a shaking sigh—he knew it was time to talk.

Seeing she wasn’t going to to be the one to speak, he nudged her side. “Hey.”

She blinked, her focus returning. “Hmm? Oh, hey…” She sighed before straightening. “What’s wrong?”

“I was about to ask you that.” His ears flicked. “You’re quiet. That’s not like my little sister whatsoever. You’re only this quiet when you’re asleep or you have something on your mind.”

Her gaze returned to her hooves. “I’m… thinking.”

“What about?”

Her gaze half lidded. “Stuff.”

Nodding to himself, he asked, “What sort of stuff?”

Her tone softened and he was hard pressed to hear her whispered, “Stuff…”

Humming, he turned to see that the others had slowed to watch them. Wanderer’s gaze was on Tourmaline, but, after a quick look up, she averted her eyes from him.

A frown tugged at Tormod’s lips before he spoke, “Can you all give us a few moments? We need to talk privately.”

Trixie nodded, her gaze showing she understood. “Trixie is awful tired and will go seek her sleep.” She looked at the other two. “We all should, Trixie thinks.”

“I do not understand. Is ther—” Faith grunted as Trixie nudged her in the side, giving her a shake of her head. “Well, yes, I should speak with my grand—Elder before I seek my own rest.” She turned back to the others. “Good moonlight, my friends.”

As the doe bounded off, Tormod looked at Wanderer and saw his friend’s gaze was locked on Tourmaline. The earth pony looked at her for a long moment before speaking.

“Tourmaline,” he said, his voice subdued.

“What?”she said, still not lifting her eyes to him.

His ears pinned back. “If… you want to talk, I’ll be in my tent.”

She nodded and, after a moment more, he breathed out and turned for the camp. He glanced at Tormod for a second before he and Trixie continued on their way.

Tormod watched Tourmaline as she stared after him, saddened but relieved by the look of shame in her eyes.

‘It’s a good start,’ he thought.

“Why don’t we go somewhere more quiet so we can talk?” he asked her as she finally tore her gaze from the retreating Wanderer.

She nodded and followed after him as he headed for the village outskirts. As they walked, he saw many of the campfires had burned low—most of the deer having sought their beds after Trixie’s performance. Only the night watchers were still up and they let the two pass through unhindered. Once he felt they were far enough away, he turned to regard her.

“All right, tell me what you’re thinking,” he said as he eased himself onto a fallen log.

She settled beside him, her gaze downcast. “I… don’t know what I’m thinking.”

His ear flicked. “Come on, Tourmaline,” he said as he rested his good hoof on her withers. “You know what’s bothering you and you know how to fix it. Why are you letting it tear you up so badly?”

Her shoulders slumped, her long bangs obscuring her visage. “I just...”

“You just what?”

Turning away from him, she said, “I just… don’t know what to say.”

“Tourmaline, do you really expect me to believe that? I know you. You’ve never been shy about speaking your mind—ever—so why are you starting now?” He nuzzled her. “Don’t you think this has gone on long enough?”

“Big brother, I…” She sniffed but was quick to wipe it away.

A small smile played across his face. “You never call me that unless you have something you need to say.” Nudging her, he said, “Come on, just say it.”

She took in a breath and let it out. “I’ve been such a nag.”

“That’s an understatement.”

Glowering at him, she continued, “I’ve been so horrible to everyone. Ever since we started this adventure, I’ve been a royal nag. To Wanderer, to Trixie… even to you.” She sighed again. “I’m just… now realizing it.”

He nodded. “Why were you being so nasty? What made you so upset?”

Her gaze drifted to Maederhallow, which glowed in the foggy moonlight. “At first, I blamed Trixie for everything. She was so clumsy, so arrogant, she just rubbed me the wrong way. When she almost got Wanderer killed, I disliked her. When you got hurt…” Her gaze went back to him. “I hated her. I was sure she was the cause of all our bad luck.”

“Mistakes were made, yes.” He cleared his throat. “But that wasn’t everything, was it?”

She again looked at her hooves and sighed. “No, it wasn’t.” Straightening back up, she continued, “When Wanderer always seemed to be looking out for her, even standing up for her when she made mistakes, I thought…”

Tilting his head, he asked in a softer tone. “You thought he liked her over you?”

“I was jealous.”

“Took you a while to admit that,” he said, giving her another nuzzle. “Was it really that hard to say it?”

“It was,” she turned away again.

His brow furrowed at her tone. “Talk to me, Tourmaline.”

Her eyes closed before she spoke, “I was so scared, Tormod. I have loved Wanderer for so long, even when we were foals, but I was always so afraid to ask him about how he felt about me that I never asked.” She turned to look at him, even as a breeze buffeted their manes. “Do you remember when he dated that Trottingham exchange student?”

His brow furrowed. “I remember you telling me about it in your letters, yes.”

“I wanted to cry so much when he did, but I didn’t.” She tucked her bangs behind her ears. “No matter how much it hurt to see him with her, I was going to be his friend. Even if it hurt deep down inside.” A wan smile tugged at her lips. “This may sound heartless but I was happy when she left him for Stone Hoof that year.”

A small smile played across his face even as she continued.

“Even then, I still couldn’t ask him. I was afraid that he didn’t feel the same and… I just couldn’t risk it.”

His brow furrowed. “Wait. What does that have to do with now? You two were dating for at least a week before all of this started. Why would you still be scared?”

She averted her gaze again. “It’s because of that I’m still scared. I had only gotten him to admit he loved me when he started going crazy wanting to help Trixie.” Her shoulders rose in another sigh. “I thought he was going to leave me for her, so…”

“But you know that’s not true. You know Wanderer better than that.”

In the gloom, he almost missed her nod. “I know it now.”

Hearing her finally admit it, he smiled. “So, what is keeping you from patching things up?”

She, again, looked away. The trees groaned in the breeze, as the silence grew.

“Tour—”

“What do I say?” she asked as she looked back at him, the shame making its way into her voice. “After all the things I’ve said to him, all the things I’ve done, how can I ask him to forget it and forgive me? I blamed him for everything. I yelled at him. I said such horrible things. Why would he even want to talk to me?”

He stared at her for a moment before he thumped her on the snout.

“Ow!” She brought a hoof to cover her sore nose. “What was that for?”

“You’re lucky I didn’t slap you,” he said, even as he winced from putting pressure on his leg. “Do you even hear yourself? This is Wanderer we’re talking about. He doesn’t hold grudges. You, of all ponies, should know you need to talk to him. All of this would have been avoided if you weren’t so stubborn!”

She raised a hoof to argue but whatever she was going to say died before it could begin.

“Tourmaline, this isn’t like you at all. You’re stronger than this,” he said. “You’ve never been one of those mares who lets a setback ruin what she’s always had and sobs about it. You fight for it tooth and nail that even a timberwolf would be terrified of getting in your way. Why is this so different?”

Her brow took an angry tilt before she said, “This isn’t some fling or somepony I recently met. This is Wanderer. The colt I grew up with; spent years with together as best friends. It’s not the same thing” She averted her gaze again. “He’s important to me…”

He tilted his head and spoke softer, “So important that you can’t talk to him about this? He wants you to talk to him.”

Seeing her shoulders slump, he knew that she realized what she had said earlier was foalish, if not immature, but still, she needed one more push. “Look, Tourmaline, if you don’t believe me, then believe what Wanderer says.”

Her gaze snapped back to him. “He talked to you? What did he say? Tell me.”

Bringing up a hoof to calm her, he replied, “He didn’t talk to me—he’s just as thick headed as you—but I have something that you should read.”

She blinked as he levitated a small book to her. “His log book? When did you get this?” she asked as she took the book.

“I stole it from him and read it. You should too.” Privately, he didn’t care for lying to her, but he knew she didn’t need to know who exactly gave him the book. “Read the marked entries, Tourmaline.”

Cracking open the book, she gave him a little smile. “Some light?”

He conked himself on the forehead, muttering before his horn took on its reddish glow for her to read by. Even as her eyes began scanning the page, he glanced over her shoulder at the entries.

Month 10, Day 27

We’ll be at the grove with the full moon berries tomorrow, and we’ll have to be fast to get as many of the berries as we can get before the beetles show up. We’ve got to get them so we can save Scarlet Scroll and everypony else from the Gorgon. I won’t let what happened to me happen to anyone else.

Tormod glanced at a deep spot on the page from where Wanderer had held his pencil for a time before continuing.

Tourmaline and I fought again today. About what we should do if we fought the pony leading the beetles. While we both agreed he need to be stopped, we fought over how we should do it. She is wanting to kill him, I just… don’t understand it. Why? She’s never been so bloodthirsty before. What happened to her? What happened to the Tourmaline I knew?

His ear flicked as he heard her whisper, “I just wanted to protect you.”

“Keep reading,” he said, his tone soft so not to jar her from her reading.

I love her. I really do. Even as much as we fight nowadays, I love her with all my heart. Everytime we fight, I want to cry. Every time I felt like the Tourmaline with the smile I grew up loving was disappearing in front of my eyes, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it.

I can’t stand us fighting, but why doesn’t she understand I’m trying to do the right thing? I admit I’ve done some stupid things, and said even stupider ones, but I can’t ignore what I’ve seen. I have to help Trixie and the others for what I did while Tyranny used me like a puppet! I have to make things right! I have to!

He heard his sister give a shuddering breath as they read the last paragraph of the entry.

I love Tourmaline. Celestia know I lover her so much it hurts. I just wish… I wish I knew what to do to make things right again between us, but how can I ask her? What do I say? What can I say to her that won’t start another argument? Knowing me, I’d likely say the wrong thing and, boom, we’d start fighting again. It’s so danged frustrating!

If it’s the last thing I do, I will make it right between us again.

The book tilted in her grasp and Tormod glanced to see her struggling to hold back the tears that threatened to fall. Closing her eyes, she gave up the fight as a tear rolled down her cheek before she dashed it away. She picked up the book to read and Tormod sat quietly beside her, knowing she would read the other entries he had marked for her.

After a time, she closed the book and set it down, letting out another slow breath. “How long have you had his book?”

He gathered the book up in his magic. “For almost two weeks now. I wanted to show you it sooner, but I knew neither of you were ready. Wanderer needed time, as did you.”

Lowering her gaze, she stared at her hooves for a quiet moment. Tormod thought to say something more, but before he could, her gaze hardened and she stood up. The way she moved—as if on a mission—he knew she had made an important decision.

“I’m going to go talk to him.”

Again, he nodded. “Try not to be too loud. Some are trying to sleep.”

Her tail swished despite her smirk. “Very funny.” She spread her wing and took off into the air—back in the direction of their campsite.

Leaving Tormod to walk back to the village on his own.

“Figures.” He muttered before heading for the closest of the watch’s fires.

His light crystal gave off a soft glow as he laid on his bedroll, staring at the tent’s ceiling. After another fruitless search for his logbook, Wanderer concluded he must have dropped it somewhere and was lost. Despite that, when he had tried to shut his eyes, they inevitably opened again. A sigh escaped him as thoughts other than of his logbook kept sleep at bay.

“Tourmaline,” he whispered as memories of the Dance of the Will-o-Wisp ran through his mind. The way her fur seemed to glow by the light of the wisps, and how her violet irises seemed to reflect wonder, etched themselves deeply into his mind. It was the same look he had fallen in love with so many years ago—a look he feared he’d never see again. With everything that’s happened, how could he expect it to be the same again?

His ears flicked at the sound of feathery wings before the sound of hooves touching down on the leaves outside.

‘She’s back. I wonder what she and Tormod were talking about earlier?’

He heard the hooves approach only to stop outside his tent flap. They stood there for a moment, and Wanderer opened his mouth to speak when Tourmaline’s voice reached him.

“W-Wanderer? Are you awake?”

He rolled onto his side. “Yeah, I’m awake.” He would be a liar if he said he didn’t feel the first pangs of worry grip at his belly.

“C-Can I come in?”

Sitting up, he said, “Yeah. Come in.”

The zipper to the tent lowered and in stepped Tourmaline. When Wanderer looked into her eyes, he felt the nervousness in his gut clench that much tighter.

“Tourmaline, I—”

She placed a hoof over his muzzle. “Not yet.” Turning, she pulled the zipper to the tent close. There would be no distractions nor escape from this talk, he realized. Turning back to him, she sat down and opened her mouth to speak, but stopped. She tried again a few more times before averting her eyes—her tail giving an irritable swish.

“Are you—” he started but found her hoof over his mouth again—gently, he noticed.

“No, I want to do this.” She took in a breath and looked him directly in his hazel eyes. “I’m sorry.”

Before he could say anything, she again put her hoof over his mouth.

“Will you stop doing that?” he asked past the hoof.

“When you quit trying to interrupt me.” She lowered her hoof and sighed again. “I want to say I’m sorry... for everything, Wanderer. Ever since we started this adventure, I’ve been a real nag. This whole time I was jealous of all the attention you were giving Trixie. I didn’t even think that you had another reason to help her besides she was some pretty showmare. I thought…” she averted her gaze for a second before looking back. “I thought you were going to leave me for her. That scared me.” She sighed and her ears pinned back. “I thought… you were going to replace me.”

He sat there, staring at her patiently.

A faint smile appeared on her face. “You can talk now.”

“Tourmaline, I could never replace you. Ever,” he said, scooting a little closer. “And you weren’t the only one being…” He bit at his lip.

“A nag?”

Wincing, he nodded. “I was too. If I had told you—and Tormod—why I wanted to help Trixie, I really think we could have avoided all of this. I was just… ashamed of myself.”

She blinked and scooted closer to him. “Ashamed? Ashamed about what?”

He hung his head, a sigh escaping through his nose. “About what I did. To Trixie and everypony else.”

Her gaze hardened a moment before softening. “Wanderer, you know that wasn’t you. Why do you keep beating yourself over something you didn’t do? It wasn’t you.”

His ears pinned back under his hat. “Because I keep seeing it over and over in my dreams. Princess Luna tried helping me, but she said it was from my memories and not the imagination of dreams, so there’s… no magical way for them to go away.”

“She… said that?” Tourmaline asked, her own ears pinning back again.

Nodding, he continued. “I thought that if I helped Trixie, it would make the memories go away.”

As she watched him, he looked away, scowling to himself.

“...Why didn’t you tell us? Don’t you trust us?” She hesitated a moment, biting at her lip before adding, “Trust me?”

His gaze shot back to her. “Of course I trust you, Tourmaline. There isn’t anypony I trust more than you. I trust you with everything. My life, my dreams, my hope…” His visage softened. “My heart.”

A smile played at her lips but it soon faded. “Then why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because…” Again he felt the words die in his throat and he looked away.

She scooted closer and he found her hoof lifting his face to look at her. “Wanderer, talk to me.”

His eyes closed before speaking. “Because I didn’t want to ruin the adventure for everypony. I wanted everyone to have fun on this trip and not have to worry about me. So I kept quiet about everything.”

He wasn’t sure how to react to her stricken expression. Just as he was about to back track to salvage the situation, tears gathered at the corners of her eyes and she punched him on the shoulder.

“Ow! Tour—”

She crushed him in a tight hug, her shoulders shaking. It took him a moment to realize that she wasn’t crying, but a helpless mix of laughter and sobs.

“You stupid goofball of a stallion,” she said as she hugged him tighter. “That is why you didn’t tell us? That’s so…” A sigh escaped her and he felt her hug him even tighter. “That’s so like you. Why didn’t I see it sooner?”

Moving past his shock, he wrapped his forelegs around her and rested his head atop hers. “Because I’m a hopeless lump?”

She snorted a laugh and she nodded—he could feel the tears soaking through his coat before she pulled away. “To put it nicely.” Wiping at her eyes, she peered up at him. “If we had just talked, none of this would have happened.”

He lopsided grin returned, finally. “To be fair, we did try.” He tilted his head. “Remember? When we went after the key.”

It was her turn to avert her gaze, a soft frown tugging at her lips. “Yes, I remember.” She took in a breath and let it out, looking back at him. “Wanderer… about what I said back then. I didn’t mean it.” She scowled for a second before continuing. “Well, I did mean it, at the time, but I was just so angry. What I said to you, and about Scarlet Scroll, I was upset and afraid. Afraid that I was going to lose you. That somehow Trixie was going to get you killed. I just…” Again, she sighed, her gaze falling to her hooves.

“Scared?”

She nodded and sighed again, her shoulders slumping. “Wanderer…”

He tilted his head. “Hmm?”

Lifting her gaze, she peered at him through her bangs. “I’m so… sorry.”

Never really thinking, he pulled her into a tight hug. The tone of her voice almost made him want to cry himself. He knew then, that this wasn’t the vicious, bloodthirsty Tourmaline he had know for the past weeks, but the Tourmaline he grew up with. The one who brought a smile to his face each and everyday.

The Tourmaline he loved.

“It’s okay,” he said, the tears still threatening to fall. “I’m sorry too. For being so… well, me.”

She leaned against his neck, returning his embrace with equal vigor. “I wouldn’t want you any other way… you lump.”

He snorted a laugh and pulled back to look at her. “You know… I was scared too.”

“About us?” she asked, rubbing at her face.

“Us and, well, everyone.” He took off his hat and tossed it into a corner. “But mostly us. I was worried that this whole thing was going to change us. To the point that we weren’t the same ponies anymore. When you wanted Scarlet to die, I thought you had changed and it scared me.”

Her ears pinned back against her head, but he was quick to continue. “But that wasn’t the worst of it.”

A pensive frown crossed her face. “That wasn’t the worst?”

“Mm-um.” he shook his head. “It was afterwards. After the Elder spoke with Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, when he asked us what we wanted to do. When you said… you wanted to go home—even when I wanted to stay—that scared me.”

She blinked but he kept talking, his heart taking the reigns. “I was scared that if you left, I’d never see you again. The idea of that being the last time I would ever see you, it tore me up. I wanted to scream, I wanted to cry, I wanted to do something to stop it, but I couldn’t think of anything.” He sighed. “When you decided to say, I didn’t say it, but I was happy. Despite us fighting, I was happy you stayed behind.”

“Wanderer…” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

He looked her squarely in the eyes. “I don’t ever want you to go away, Tourmaline, ever. I can’t imagine what it would be like without you with me.” His ears pinned back once more. “I don’t ever want to find out what it’s like.”

“Wanderer,” she said firmly.

“You’re very important to me, Tourmaline. I want you to stay—”

“Wanderer!” she said, holding his head still—forcing him to look her in the eye.

“What?”

“Shut up and kiss me.”

He didn’t have time to blink before she pressed her lips against his. Only after an instant, he leant in and returned the kiss. They broke apart for a breathless moment before Wanderer looked into those violet irises of the mare he loved. The mare, he realized, who still loved him back just as much.

This time, he moved first, pulling her into a more passionate kiss. She didn’t struggle, kissing him back with equal vigor—their tongues exploring each others’ mouth. As Wanderer ran his hooves down her back, he could feel her wings lift and she moaned softly.

Wanderer’s tail swished, knocking aside the glowing crystal. As the crystal dimmed, it left the lovers in darkness and with mended hearts.

Author's Notes:

As the final scene shows, I had to add the sex tag. Eluded to, but still, best on the safe side.