“I guess I shouldn’t have been so emotional with my departure if you were just going to give me some magical fru-fru shit anyways.”

Zecora giggled and rolled her eyes, her form shimmering past the mirror. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Glenn sighed, but he couldn’t stop the smile rising on his face. “Yeah, yeah, you didn’t do nothing.” His smile dropped, and his walking reached a dead stop. “You didn’t do anything. Yet they still kicked you out.”

The zebra laughed and shook her head. “Don’t worry about it. I’m rather glad that I’m out of the country, no more dealing with being insulted nor getting flak for my ‘backwards practices’. It’s quite a relief, I’d say.” She lied down on the train seat and looked back towards the mirror. “So, how’re you doing so far?”

Glenn realized he still wasn’t moving and continued walking. “I think I’m getting close to the edge, the trees are beginning to thin out, and I can actually see the sun.” He felt a yawn escape his muzzle. “Shit, I don’t remember the last time I walked this long. I wish I could be on that train with you.”

It was Zecora’s turn to sigh. “Yes, I wish you were here with me, but that whole idea of you masquerading as a mare would’ve definitely not have equaled you getting across the border. I’m sorry I couldn’t have helped you out more.”

“Stop apologizing.” The stallion grunted as he pulled himself over a small ledge. “Fuck, I’m sore. Anyways, you did all you could, and that's enough. I’d rather it was just me going on a fucking long-ass hike than you too. How fucking dense is this forest, anyways? I’ve been walking for four fucking hours and—” He let out a small yelp as he tumbled over a large root sticking out of the dirt.

The mirror went flying as his magical grip on it broke, and he heard it land with a light thump a few meters away. Swearing at himself for being so careless, he scrambled to his hooves and jogged over to the mirror. He felt his muscles relax as he saw that it wasn’t damaged and picked it up again with his magic. He paused for a moment, realizing that he could only see his own reflection.

Glenn grit his teeth. “Fucks sake, the connection must’ve broken.” He placed the mirror into his saddlebag and resumed his trek through the woods, only the whistling of the wind and the faint chirps of wildlife to be heard.

Harsh sunlight beat down on his back as the thickets around him became increasingly sparse, opening up to a verdant and grassy plain, hills rolling in the distance and clouds floating on the wind. He felt his lips turn up and he closed his eyes, letting his senses revel in the familiar feeling. The feelings of the wind and the sun. The long grasses tickling against his hooves.

It reminded him of home.

The wind suddenly stopped, and he felt the warmth of the sun cut out. Surprised, he opened his eyes and glanced up at the sky. Instead of the infinite blue sky and the bright sun, there was a large, dark cloud rolling across the top of the sky. He let out a few profanities as he made a dash across the field. He needed to reach some sort of cover before the storm settled in, and he knew that the trees didn’t offer enough protection this close to the edge. Glancing around the plain gave him nothing; all he saw was the large expanses of the still grasses. Looking forward, he saw a large ridge of rocks in the distance. He doubled on his speed, hoping to reach the area before the rain hit.

He screeched to a stop as his brain registered that he arrived at his destination. Taking only a few moments to catch his breath, he maintained a brisk pace, heading straight for the cave only a few meters up.

Glenn finally allowed himself to slump to the ground after he entered the cave. The only thing on his mind was getting the sweet air into his lungs, which were currently screaming in pain from their sudden use after weeks of relative inactivity.

Once he felt his lungs were filled, and his heart wasn’t trying to slam its way out of his chest, he unhooked his saddlebags and dropped them on the ground beside him. The rain began pouring in an instant, the torrent of water echoing through the cavern, muting any sort of noise that Glenn made.

He simply laid his head down on his bag and quickly passed off into the world of dreams, his body and mind tired from today’s events.

“HE’S DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAD!” Rarity sobbed and hid behind her hooves. “Just when we found a stallion for ourselves, he had to g-go and DIE!” She continued wailing, trying her best not to get her pristine white coat dirtied by any of the grass, mud, or ash.

The rest of the mares deadpanned, and Twilight let out a rather forceful sigh. “Rarity, we’ve told you, Fluttershy has told you: these are quite obviously animal bones. Not pony bones. Plus, it isn’t even logical for a body to burn that qu—”

“Ya think Zecora thought this was some sorta joke?” The farmer grit her teeth. “Burning down his house, then placing some bones in the remains...That’s just tasteless. And dangerous. Glad she got her ass deported.”

Rainbow Dash stomped on the ground, some of the mud coating her hoof and flying onto her friend. “It WAS dangerous! I had to make a call over to Cloudsdale for a storm cloud to stop the fire—if it was left burning for any longer, it might’ve burnt through the Everfree and could’ve possibly reached Ponyville!” She stomped off to the charred remains of the house and gave the wood a few good kicks, angrily grumbling to herself.

“A shame we can’t imprison other races. Whoever came up with that amazingly convenient law needs a hoof to the clit.” Twilight rubbed her temples. “So, why do you think she burned the house down? And where did that fucking stallion go? I have so many questions and no answers. It’s frustrating.”

“W-well,” Fluttershy cleared her throat, “one of the birds told me that it actually was both of them who set the house on fire.”

Applejack cackled. “A stallion? Lighting his own house on fire? Ya gotta be jokin’, Flutters. Stallions get way too sentimental ova all their stuff.”

Fluttershy’s brow furrowed. “I’m not joking, and the birds have no reason to lie, Applejack. They said that he ignited the house himself, and then they both left. Zecora went back to her hut, while the stallion ran off to the east, through the thickest part of the woods.”

Pinkie stopped bouncing and gasped. “Oh no! Even we’ve gotten lost there! We need to help him, pronto!” The rest of the mares turn to her, only to see a pink blur in place of where their friend was.

Twilight nodded. “I agree, we need to get a search team out immediately. The fact that even mares like us have issues getting through that area means that he would’ve definitely gotten lost or hurt at this point.” She turns toward the crying mess. “Rarity, you and Rainbow go back to town to tell the others about the situation. Applejack, Fluttershy and I will follow Pinkie, and hope we can find him sooner than later.”

The latter three take off into the woods, leaving Rainbow Dash kicking at the wood, and Rarity adding to the muddy ground.

Glenn let out a yawn and stretched out, a few kinks in his shoulders and neck releasing satisfying cracks. Opening his eyes, he was met with only a faint light from the mouth of the cave and silence. Righting himself, he placed his bags on his back and exited the cave. Above him was the moon, bright in the clear night sky. Around him was silence. Nothing except his own breath.

It was only him, and the wild expanse of the world.

He felt a lump form in his throat, and a creeping fear began to crawl up his spine. Popping his bag open, he pulled out the mirror and activated it. “Zecora. Zecora, are you there?” Hearing panic rising in his voice, he took a few deep breaths and tried to stop the shivers going through his body.

He heard some shuffling and a yawn before Zecora appeared in front of the mirror, a grin apparent on her face. “Oh, Glenn, it seems you’re okay. I was worried after you cut out earlier, and I couldn’t seem to reconnect.”

Feeling a weight being lifted off of his heart, his eyes became moist and he could help but laugh softly. “No worries, I’m fine, I’m fine. Just tripped and nearly got caught in a rainstorm. I guess the clouds prevented the connection from coming through.” He rubbed the forming tears out of his eyes, hoping that Zecora didn’t see them. “Had to make a mad dash for some cover too, it came down like a flood.”

“Why didn’t you just form a barrier above yourself?”

Glenn felt himself pause. “...shit, I completely forgot about that.”

Zecora erupted in laughter, with Glenn turning bright red, attempting to stutter out a response. After a minute of this not-really back and forth, the zebra managed to calm down, and she gave Glenn one of the biggest smirks he’d ever seen. “You’re quite the interesting unicorn. Forgetting to use your magic, who does that?”

Glenn finally felt himself come up with one of the best responses he could’ve come up with for a situation like this.

“Shut up, Zecora.”

She returned to her laughing fit, but Glenn felt a small amount of warmth fill his chest. There was no need to worry. Zecora was always on the other side of this mirror. He wasn’t alone.

He lets out a yawn and begins searching around for an exit to the ridge. “My main issue is that I have no clue of where to go. Can’t go to Ponyville, for obvious reasons, and I don’t know any other cities close by, besides the place I definitely don’t want to return to.”

Zecora closed her eyes and made a light clicking sound with her tongue, taking a few moments to pursue the thought. “You could try Canterlot. It’s only about a two day trip from Ponyville, and the paths are generally empty since most ponies take the train. The risk is that there’s a lot of Royal Guard, but that’s easily offset by the fact that they’re next to useless, and that you can easily hide in the poor parts of the town.” She opened her eyes and shrugged. “Fillydelphia is not a good location, due to its relative closeness to Baltimare, and that there’s quite a few old-fashioned mares roaming around, and Manehatten is easily a two-week trek, never mind the mountains and forests you’d have to pass through. The only other place I can safely recommend is Neighagra Falls, where—”

“Canterlot it is then. I’m assuming it’s the big fucking castle on the hill?” Glenn turned the mirror towards the big fucking castle in the distance.

“Yes, that’s exactly the place.” Zecora let out another yawn, and Glenn turned the mirror back towards himself to see Zecora’s eyelids beginning to droop.

“I guess I won’t try and keep you up any longer, then. Sleep well.” Zecora nodded, and with that, Glenn cut the connection and returned the mirror into his bag. He let out a groan as he looked at his destination.

“Two days. I wonder what awful shit will occur in two days.”

Nothing happened in two days, much to Glenn's mix of relief and chagrin. Two days of just walking and walking, with his cloak doing nothing to stave off the heat of the sun that just kept pummeling against his back. No signs of a single soul on the long roads leading to and up the mountain, only the consistent clopping of his hooves against the stone and the occasional chat with Zecora preventing him from losing his mind.

But finally, here he was. The final stretch leading inside of Canterlot’s walls was right in front of him, leading to his place of asylum.

If only there weren’t guards watching from the walls.

Glenn peeked out from the bushes lining the road and groaned in frustration as the guards continued to stand there, motionless, on the castle walls. Waiting around had been fruitless, as the guards continued to stand there, motionless, on the castle walls. Getting tired of just watching the guards stand there motionless on the castle walls, he picked up a stone and launched it at a very high speed at the guard standing motionless on the right side of the castle wall. It hit its target, right in the muzzle, and the guard woke up with a start, let out a scream ‘I’ve been hit!’, and went careening off the wall. His teammate, who was previously standing motionless on the castle wall, woke up and let out a gasp as his teammates fell off the wall and into some bushes. The non-hit guard ran from his position, leaving the wall clear of motionless guards.

Glenn realized how stupid this whole situation was.

He quickly hopped out of his hiding spot and made a break for the city. Besides the guard that he hit, who was currently crying headfirst in the bushes, no pony was around to stop him, allowing him to get into Canterlot undetected.

Only after he’d ducked around a corner did he allow himself to drop onto his haunches, and finally allow his legs some rest after days of walking and walking and walking and holy SHIT was he tired of walking. He dropped his cloak hood and allowed himself the victory treat of the slightly stale bread he had in his bag.

His moment of pleasure was cut short as he heard a gasp to his immediate left. Releasing the non-yet-eaten bread from his mouth, he turned to his left to see a mare staring at him, mouth wide open. He stares back, stale bread in hoof, ready to be launched at the first sign of aggression.

“Oh, you poor stallion, why are you in the streets? Where’s your ma—”

Her worries for the stallion temporarily vanished as she received a stale piece of bread to the nose. She let out a short shout of surprise (and totally not one of pain, she was a big mare, big mares don’t cry) and held her face, trying her best not to cr—her best to reduce the pain. Once the shock of the hit calmed down a bit, she looked up and around to see the stallion was gone. Panic filled her. Had she scared away the stallion? And why was he eating stale bread, wasn’t stale food dangerous to eat?

She shook her head and ran to the closest guard. “Guard! Assist me to the closest station!”

The guard turned towards her in surprise. “O-of course! What’s the problem?”

She pulls him after her, knowing where the station was already. “Don’t worry your pretty head about it! Just help me get to the station!”

Once she arrived at the station, she dropped the guard outside the door and ran in. “Who’s the lead mare in here?!”

The lead mare came out of her office and looked at the yelling mare with a tired look. “What’s the problem? Why are you making so much noise?”

What she said next caused all the mares in the vicinity feel sick to their stomachs, beset a dark, gloomy mood on the entire office, and sent several of the most hardened mares home with nights of fitful sleep.

“I saw a stallion alone on the streets!”