The gloom of the forest began to lift. With every passing minute, the sun could reach us just a little better. I'd like to say there was this moment of blinding light, but it was too gradual for that. In defiance of cartoon logic, we started to travel through less and less thick canopies until spots of light dotted the shade, then bits of shade interrupted the light.

At last, we emerged from out of the last tree, revealing rolling hilly countryside. We had survived the forest, and I could feel tension fleeing from all of us. Easy suddenly looked over her shoulder from the front. "Ta da! And we were worried."

Work nodded softly. "I admit I still am, madame. We have to go back eventually, but I am glad we've made it this far."

Water's magic gave my pants a little tug. "Are you alright, Sir?"

Though tempted to brush her off, I quickly realized it was a perfectly valid question. How were pony legs treating me? "I'm not falling over with every step. Thankfully, I don't think being graceless was part of the joke they were playing. They just wanted me to 'go native' a lot deeper than I already had."

Water's head tilted slightly. "Go native, Sir?"

Work coughed into a hoof. "It's a street term, miss Lily. What they call it when a pony finds a fancy while visiting another land, usually causing them to not return." He pulled the cart ahead despite the conversation, keeping the caravan moving. "When such a pony is met again, they typically dress as the others do, speak as they do, and otherwise do their best to fit into their new culture."

Easy twitched an ear back towards me. "You were doing that before Water came along. I think anyone with a grain of sense does that. No point being the odd one out. When in Canterlot, do as the Canterlots do." She nodded to herself, clearly satisfied with her logic.

I ran my fingers through Water's smooth mane as we hiked. It occured to me that she might like that because my fingers were 'decadently' furless. Good thing I hadn't lost them, for a multitude of reasons. I moved the hand away to pull out my phone and check out the map. We had emerged from the forest... there. Our target was there. That I knew, I had left a pin on the spot.

"We're going a lot faster across these hills instead of down a mountain side or through a forest. It shouldn't take long to get there." I pointed ahead. "Let's save a country."

I remained the most enthusiastic on that front, their cheers sounding more because they felt they needed to, for my sake. Still, they were with me, and I decided to be grateful for that.

We hiked across the Equestrian countryside and the thing that hit me the most was the simple lack of ponies. These were lands that were simply not being used. The only sign of activity was a town we could see in the distance on the second day. The houses were close together as if huddled for protection, and that was it. Equestria was more empty than not.

It took four days in total from emerging from the forest, but bandits didn't visit us, nor did new monsters ambush us, so I won't bore you with the little details. Whatever Water had said, she seemed to be alright with my, er, changes, so long as snuggling occurred afterwards, and I'll leave that at that.

One thing, and this may sound like a distraction, but I realized one huge difference between a pony and a person. Ponies have nothing going on where a human has a butt. I thought that wouldn't matter much, but I was wrong. A quick check of the files reported a good portion of why walking felt so odd, since I was walking using all leg muscles instead of the assist that my rump once provided. It also made sitting less cushy, which is a thing I never thought of until I didn't have it.

What I didn't expect was our actions to inspire the others. Though they had done their best to be discrete, it wasn't hard to notice things changing between Work and Easy. She barbed him a lot less often and mellowed out a little in general. Turns out they both needed a little companionship.

As the sun slowly moved overhead, our target came into view. It was a town, larger than that tiny farming village we had seen on the second day. We could see signs of life, ponies moving about and getting things done, though we couldn't make out much of the details from the distance. Still, it was encouraging.

What we could see could also see us. I dare say we were easier to see, being a few walking people coming down the hill towards them with a wagon attached, rather than any single pony in the middle of the town. Our presence was noticed quickly and a small group of ponies approached, long spears attached to their sides and little frowns on their faces, ruining some of their innate pony cuteness.

"Don't mention the princess, or any else from the castle," I hurriedly reminded as I stepped towards the front of our group. "We're here on our own, not for anyone."

We drew to a stop to let them approach without showing signs of aggression. They spread out, spears pointed at us from different directions as they created a semi-circle. One at the front, an earth pony mare with bright green eyes, pointed a hoof at us. "Don't recognize any of you." She pointed at me in specific. "Don't recognize even what you are, minotaur?"

I held up my hands, palms showing, nothing in or on them. "We're just travellers, curious about the stories spreading--"

She took a big step forward. "What stories?"

Easy waved a hoof grandly. "There's supposed to be a mare that has some answers." She scrunched her face. "You know, the kind those jerks aren't giving. Is this how you greet all your newcomers?"

The spears lowered a little. Easy had, apparently, given a satisfying answer. The leader of them nodded. "There might be such a mare, or there might not. If the false princess and her cronies had their way, there wouldn't be a mare at all." She turned back to the town. "You still haven't said what you are."

Work stepped forward, pulling the wagon with him. "He's a little sensitive, ma'am. Poison joke."

"That old mare's tale?" She looked over her shoulder at me. "Well, hard to argue with the results... Sorry for your loss."

I hadn't even considered that, but being someone who was poison joked was a lot easier to explain than casually noting I was some strange alien creature that came in peace, so please take me to your leader. That was when I realized I was living up that cliche and snorted back, trying to hold in the laugh. Fortunately, people were starting to move for the town.

"As you can see, we're doing the best we can. At least no one is going hungry here, she won't tolerate it." The leader spoke without looking at us, leading the way at a steady trot. "Did you bring any supplies in that wagon of yours?"

I waved at it, not that she could see it. "Just enough for traveling here and maybe back."

She glanced over her shoulder. "Back? Not sure if you'll like what you find?" She raised a hoof. "Take it."

That was all she had to say. Ponies moved in, pointing spears at Work until he unhitched himself and stepped away from them, allowing one of them to take up the control of the wagon, which was their wagon now, apparently. Lovely...

"That's not... very polite," I noted, even as it sounded lame in my own ears.

"Are you considering using that sword of yours? Don't." The leader didn't slow in her march. "You don't look that skilled at it, and you're not even in your normal form, poor thing. You wanted to see what we had to offer, you'll find it. This is a one way street and you're already past the point of no return."

We entered the town proper. The noise of ponies bustling about became louder. I could hear metal being pounded, ponies shouting, wood being shoved around, and other things. The smells were a melange of industrial whiffs and lighter hints that life did progress. That fresh bread was suddenly very tempting compared to the trail rations we had survived on this far. Where was that bakery?

The leader turned to face us, stopping. "Welcome to your new home. If you can work or if you can fight, you'll find it a hospitable one." She pointed at Work. "You look ready to earn your keep, am I wrong?"

Work dipped his front slightly. "I am ready, ma'am, but I must insist on not being sep--"

She waved his words away, looking to Easy next. "You look like trouble. What do you do?"

Easy reared up on two legs, throwing her forehooves in a Y formation as sparkles an flames erupted from her hooves. "I am an entertainer, and a manager." She fell back to all fours. "His manager." She directed towards me with a toss of her head.

The leader stepped up and cuffed Easy across the top of the head with a hoof. "No uncontrolled fire in the town limits. That is your final warning. Hmmf, and you?" She turned to me. "What do you do that's important enough to have a manager?"

Water put a hoof out in front of me suddenly. "Apologies, miss. I am his maid, charged with his care."

"I didn't ask you!" hissed the leader, displeased at Water jumping in line. "How's a maid supposed to help a pony with... this." She waved her hoof at me at large.

I had that answer. "She's also a botanist."

The leader looked back and forth between us. "You two are really good at not following my directions." She pointed at my sword. "Can you not hurt yourself with it? If someone else answers instead of you, I'm throwing them in a box."

I reached for it, and the spears rose at me. Alright, poor idea. I slowly withdrew my hand. "I got it in case of monsters or bandits. I never had any practice before this trip."

"Figured as much." She flipped her mane from her face as she turned away. "For now, you'll stay here." She pointed to a house on stilts. "We keep it ready, for just such emergencies. I'd like to say you're welcome to look around--" She turned back to us. "--but I don't trust any of you."

She pointed at a passing pony who stopped in his path. "Get them some food and water." She gestured up at the stilted house. "You two." She indicated two of her soldiers. "Make sure they don't wander off."

That seemed like a time to at least try to get some answers. "You run a tight ship." I watched all three rush to do as she asked. "What's your name, Miss...?"

She hiked a brow at me. "Strangers first."

"Ian Langerman," I offered, hoping my name hadn't really spread far outside the castle.

"Curious name." She frowned a little. "Sunset Whisper." She cracked a faint smile. "The rest of you are free to join in." Work, Easy, and Water were quick to offer up their names. "There, see, we don't have to be hostile about it." She led the way to the narrow stairs that led up to the stilted house's single door. "I'll inform her that you want to meet her. Warning, since I see a lot of you like your clothes, but there won't be any of that when you meet her. Don't call us paranoid, we've had a few attempts made already."

Something to look forward to.

Author's Notes:

And thus the plot does move forward. How will this go? Will we get answers? Will peace be brokered? Will we ever get back our wagon?!