Not much of note has occurred over the past couple of days. The day after we departed the land of the dragons, Nightmare Moon and I continued on our way east while she periodically went off to forage for more wild fruits to help keep our food supplies going. And while crossing the Empty Plains has been relaxing and the natural beauty of this vast land has been a pleasant distraction, the emptiness of the plains has been a double-edged sword. The silence and the knowledge of how far I am from civilization or even just a friendly face aside from Nightmare Moon is just so oppressive. Even as I converse with myself while no one is around, I can only hope that this lonely trek does not end up driving me mad.

Thankfully, on the third day after departing the dragon lands, things finally started to get interesting again. In the morning after departing our portable cottage, Nightmare Moon once again departed to forage across the plains. And as I continued on, I eventually passed through a forest. Quiet, but with uneven wild trees which sported thick roots that often reached above the surface of the ground. I suppose I should expect as much from a land that has not been tended to in over a millennium.

At one point, I passed by a tree that had some roots reaching up through the ground so hard on one side that it created a small hill. In hindsight, I should have just gone around it. Instead, I vaulted over it with a jump. But while it seemed there was solid ground on the other side, I instead slipped on some shifty debris and fell right down a large hole that had been carved out of the ground!

"What the hell?! Gah, ow, dang it!" I yelped before I had any opportunity to stop myself. I took quite a tumble as the pit rounded out into an earthen tube of sorts before I rolled into a heap. I remained still after the clattering tumble I took, rattled and disorientated. "Ugh... Where did that come from... Not the kind of interesting change of pace I was hoping for..."

I started to roll onto my knees and attempted to used the Lunar Shield for leverage and push myself up. "Whatever... Gotta be a way out of... AGH!!! What the hell is that?!"

Just trying to stand triggered a sharp pain in my left foot. Much to my frustration, I found that I had twisted my ankle in the fall. Even trying to wiggle my foot put me in pain. "No... Oh crap, how am I gonna get anything done like this?! Do I even have enough time to heal?!"

I cursed my luck. One little accident out of nowhere and I was completely unable to even so much as stand and fight in my condition. What was I going to do? How was I even going to continue on in this state? Would Nightmare Moon even be able to find me if I were to try and call her?

I tried to calm down and think rationally about the situation. My foot only had a dull ache in it so long as I kept it still. I surveyed my surroundings. I was now in a small earthen tunnel that was apparently the result of a type of sink hole. Or maybe the result of burrowing creatures in the past combined with natural erosion. There was even moss growing here and there.

When I looked at the Lunar Shield on my left arm, I suddenly had an idea. I removed it from my arm and set it on the ground before me. I then crawled onto it and held the two brass clasps meant for my arm as if they were handles. "OK, let's see if this works..."

I tried casting the levitation spell on it as the whole thing was coated in a blue billowing aura. And sure enough, I willed it to float a few inches off the ground. It was just barely big enough to hold my entire body. While keeping my head low, I willed the shield to slowly float forward and down the tunnel in the hopes of finding a way out. "Not the most conventional way to travel..."

I did not go far before something began to seem off. The dark and dingy earthen tunnel started to become brighter. Was I already nearing a way out? I tried to remain focused enough to maintain the levitation spell needed to lift my shield while trying to keep my foot still. I must have looked beyond silly while just floating along on my knees. I was impressed I was able to fit down that tunnel.

My eyes were directed to the ground more often than not as I tried to be mindful of any low obstacles jutting out of the ground that might trip up the Lunar Shield and send me falling flat on my face. But when I finally did look up and see ahead... "Huh? Whoa, where'd this come from?"

The tunnel had expanded outward into a wide and cozy alcove that was rich in vegetation. Mostly flowers as light filled the chamber while butterflies flittered about. Truly beautiful. Fluttershy would love to see such a thing. But as I surveyed this beautiful little slice of paradise carved out of the ground itself, I saw something. Or rather...someone.

I froze. I was not at all prepared to come across intelligent life out on the Empty Plains. And yet, there she stood. Surrounded by an ethereal glow was a lone unicorn mare as she was surrounded by fluttering butterflies and beetles with shimmering carapaces. Her form was taller than the average mare, her build slender and elegant. This mare was a creature of beauty, to be sure. And as she looked my way with pale blue eyes, she spoke with a soft quiet voice that contained hints of some sort of foreign accent. "Oh my... I was not expecting to receive a guest out here upon the plains."

In my awe, I momentarily lost my magical grip on the Lunar Shield as it fell a few inches to the floor and sent me falling forward in a rattling clank in my armor. I immediately gazed up at this creature before me. Her coat was of a faint pinkish hue while fading into an almost white color down to her hooves. Her long flowing mane and tail of malachite green billowed through the air without the aid of wind in a manner not unlike those of the royal family. Her cutie mark depicted a cloud of a pale green hue, but her horn... It was quite long and had a distinct curve to it while ending in a pronounced point. This was...not a normal unicorn. Where did she come from? Who was she? And why out there on the Empty Plains, more than likely hundreds of miles from home?

Her eyes scanned me while remaining rooted to where I had found her. A look of concern filled her face as she asked, "Your kind has been absent from these plains for so very long... You must be here for a grave reason."

"Yeah... I... I am. Something is coming. And... Ow!" I yelped as I momentarily forgot about my twisted ankle when I tried to stand and immediately fell to my side as my helmet rolled off my head. "Although...I'm not going anywhere like this..."

"Oh, you poor thing. You've been wounded? That won't do." She said softly before I found myself in the grasp of sturdy roots and vines as I was lifted from the floor. More vines extended from the earthen ceiling as they formed a hammock that I soon found myself held in like a sling. With a bit of work, the roots slid off my armored boot and the sock on my foot. I winced at the sight of my exposed foot. The flesh around my ankle was already turning an ugly shade of yellow as a bruise was beginning to form. "Such a severe sprain. You are most fortunate you happened upon me so soon."

"You a doctor?" I asked while starting to understand I had nothing to fear from this mysterious mare. Not like I was in any condition to make a run for it.

"In a sense, yes." She replied while maintaining a constant calm smile. Vines coated in leaves and flowers wrapped around my foot while they constantly glowed with magical energies. Once my foot was wrapped, I could feel a cooling effect as if the juices of aloe vera had been applied. I let out a sigh as the soreness quickly faded away. And once my foot had been released, I looked on in surprise. The bruise was gone. As too was the pain. My injury had been completely mended. I flexed my foot every which way I could. There was no pain or stiffness. "There. You should be well now."

"I... Wow, I don't know what you did, but that really worked." I exclaimed while so very relieved that I was already able to stand again. I quickly pulled my sock and armored boot back on and stood up right as the vines that had been supporting me retracted back from whence they came. "But...who are you? Where'd you even come from? I thought there isn't any kind of society out here on the Empty Plains..."

The unicorn mare only smiled at me as she stepped backwards while I could see that the earthen chamber before me was beginning to grow even brighter. "I have been like this for some time. I spread beauty wherever I can. And there are few places so consistently filled with raw natural beauty as the Empty Plains. So I have come to call this land my home."

I was beginning to suspect the creature before me may not have even been a unicorn at all. Some sort of spirit? Maybe even...a ghost? Before I could say anything else, she frowned at me with a look of unease. "But I have detected a shift in the land recently. A foul force travels west from deep within the Empty Plains. This disturbance can only mean an ill omen for all of Equestria. Are you here because of it?"

I feared as much. So there was indeed something out there approaching from the east. At least then I knew for certain that I was not on a wild goose chase. I was made all the more grateful that I was already back into fighting shape. "Yes... I don't know what to expect, but I'm here to at least try to stop it."

"Then I will impede you no longer." She said with a confident smile. She seemed to have faith in my words. As she spoke further, the mare was utterly engulfed by the glow that emanated from her. "Go forth, child. This world needs you."

I began to reach out for her, but once the glow faded, she was gone. The chamber had lost its almost ethereal sense of wonder, but remained lush with fluttering butterflies and flowering plant life. And ahead of me was a way out with sunshine shining in. But as I placed my helmet back upon my head and returned the Lunar Shield to my left arm, my only thoughts were of the beautiful creature who had come to me in my time of need. "Was that a phantom...?"

Knowing it would do me no good to dwell too hard on what I had just seen, especially now that I had been informed that a very real threat was indeed approaching from the east, I walked ahead and out of the cavity in the earth. I found myself standing outside of an earthen cave that was still in the forest. Although the bright light revealed that I had reached the edge of the forest. And I was not alone. Nightmare Moon suddenly descended from beyond the canopy and glanced left and right. She soon looked back at me and called out to me. "Ah, there you are! Did something happen? I sensed quite a few collisions against your shield."

I walked over to her with a brisk pace while glad to see she would have still found me had I not found that other mysterious mare first. "Yeah, I took a nasty tumble through a hole in the ground I did not anticipate."

"Yes, I can see that... I can't recall the last time your armor was caked with patches of moist earth." She replied while casting me a cockeyed stare, reminding me that my armor could use a quick rinse now. "But surely you are well? You did not hurt yourself, did you?"

"I...kind of did. Twisted my ankle real bad. But..." I began to explain while knowing I was in no pain of any sort. Rather than reveal exactly who I saw, I then asked, "Tell me. Are there any legends or myths of spirits or ghosts haunting the Empty Plains? Any strange supernatural phenomenon?"

Nightmare Moon was distracted from the mention of my injury while her eyes looked up at nothing in particular as she pondered my words. "No... No, not that I am aware of... If anything strange has happened out here, no one in the world would know of it. The Empty Plains have not been consistently monitored in centuries. Why do you ask?"

"Because...I think I saw some sort of ghost or spirit. She had the form of a unicorn, but was tall and with a billowing green mane and a long curved horn. She healed my ankle with some natural herbs or possibly some sort of healing magic. Does that description sound familiar at all?" I explained while hoping to get some answers on who I had just spoken to.

Nightmare Moon's eyes went wide as she seemed to recognize some of what I described. "A unicorn mare? Out here? Preposterous... But... A curved horn, you say? That is a distinct trait of unicorns who hail from far to the east. Well beyond the Empty Plains. And you say you saw one out here?"

"The Far East? We've traveled that far already?!" I exclaimed while wondering just how much track of time I had lost. I thought for sure we had only covered a few hundred miles at most by then. The very notion of having covered so much ground that we had overshot our destination that hard was ridiculous.

"What?! No, no, of course not! The eastern land those unicorns hail from is thousands of miles away from Canterlot. It would take much too long for us to get there, even when carried upon our wings." Nightmare Moon concurred while she shook her head. "But truly. You saw one?"

"I have no idea. She bid me farewell and vanished in a bright glow." I replied while starting to think I was never going to get a concise answer on that encounter.

A long sigh escaped Nightmare Moon's nostrils as she looked visibly frustrated by her lack of answers. "I feel like I should know more of what you speak of, but...nothing comes to mind. Perhaps I am forgetting something, but I cannot imagine who or what you may have seen."

It was then that I remembered something important that wraith had said to me. "Oh, wait... She did mention that something doesn't feel right about the Empty Plains anymore. Something about a foul presence actually approaching from the east."

My royal friend's eyes went wide. "There is? Well then, we must continue to press on. Now that we have confirmed there is an enemy force marching for Canterlot, we have a better grasp of what to look for."

"Yeah... Guess we should get moving then." I said while starting to feel the faint pangs of hunger. It was close to lunch time. "Say... You found anything good out there? I don't want to stop to cook anything, but I could use a bite."

"Fitting that you mention that. Here." The Princess of Dreams said while her levitation magic opened her saddlebags before a few apples rose out. "I found some wild apple trees. These should hold you until this evening."

"Wild apples, huh? Sweet. Thanks." I said before taking one in my right hand while cradling the others in my left arm. "You heading out to forage some more?"

"I suppose I could, but would you rather I accompany you for a time? The choice is yours." She replied while waiting patiently for an answer. While foraging would likely be the wiser course of action, I suspected that she really did want to spend some time in my company. It can get lonely out on the Empty Plains.

"Actually, considering what just happened when I was alone... Yeah, I think I'd prefer to have someone with me for a little while. Just in case I have a nasty tumble again." I spoke while Nightmare Moon cast me a smile. Now that I was at the edge of the forest, I continued on upon the open plains while eating my way through one apple after the other. Nightmare Moon stayed close to me as we walked along, the two of us partaking in fresh fruit for a snack.

I left the useless apple cores scattered on the ground as I finished them one by one under the assumption that something else would get some use out of them. We engaged in simple chitchat for a while as we ventured through a particularly vast meadow. But just as we were getting into a conversation over Twilight Sparkle's drinking habits, I lost my train of thought as something passed right in front of me. "Wha... Who was..."

"Hm? Is something amiss?" Nightmare Moon asked while I glanced left and right. Something just passed in front of me and was now gone before I could even get a look at it. At that time, I failed to notice the sky darkening. Nor did I notice the air pressure change as the telltale signs of a rain storm was approaching.

"I thought... I could have sworn I saw...that." I replied as yet another apparition passed before me. And another. And yet another. Phantoms. But not like that mare who healed me. No... Walking along. Doing their own thing. Going about their business with an unseen environment while visibly translucent as if out of sync with reality. Clad in attire that was more than a millennium out of date, I stared aghast at what I saw before me. Members of my own kind. Humans.

I drove myself to walk forward. To keep moving as a light downpour of rain splattered against my armor. There was something...disquieting about seeing my own kind after so long in a land without them. Even if they were merely silent ghostly apparitions that more than likely could not see us. Why was I seeing this? Was this where a city used to stand? And how was I seeing this while Nightmare Moon could only glance about in confusion? Was this...the Element of Humanity's doing?

"James... What is that you see? I see nothing out here... I hear nothing besides the rain. What do you see?" My royal friend asked while completely blind to the visions before me.

These people... These remnants of a time long past. They carried invisible baskets. Leaned on nonexistent tables and vendor stalls. Laughed at wordless conversations and jokes. And reached down to what I could only assume were visiting ponies and other smaller members of Equestrian society that did not resonate with my human soul. I was seeing the human citizens who came before, but not their home itself. Men and women... Innocent children who did not no better. All I could say to my friend was, "I think...I'm seeing...ghosts of the past..."

"Ghosts...?" Nightmare Moon asked quietly before she finally reached out to me with her wing. The instant the tip touched my pauldron, she let out a gasp as she glanced from side to side. "By the stars... Why... Is this the Element's doing? Longing...for better days?"

I felt so uncomfortable in that land of a forgotten era. I walked along where the road used to be. Surrounded by dozens of human shades as they reenacted what was likely an ordinary day of their lives eons before I ever set foot in Equestria. Even though I could not see them, I could tell that some of these humans were interacting with individuals significantly smaller than themselves. Not pets, but people who were clearly not one of their own. And it made my heart heavy to see just how happy they had been at one time as just another race of people in the grand scheme of things in this wonderful world. "I just don't understand, Nightmare Moon... Is this really what human nature is all about? Never being satisfied with what you have? Always wanting more, regardless of who you have to crush to get it?"

"I wish I could answer that, my friend... I truly do." The Princess of Dreams muttered while never once taking her wing off of me. "I fear human nature is something my kind may never be able to truly grasp. No matter how similar we may become, we ponies are not and never will be human."

An uncomfortable thought filled my head as I beheld the ghosts of who came before me. "Do you think I would've been swayed by the emperor if I had been around back then...?"

At first, there were no words. Nothing but the sound of the rain falling around us. But Nightmare Moon soon leaned against me as if trying to provide me with reassurance. "I most certainly hope not..."

I could not bear to look at this reminder of what had been any longer. It almost felt like the Element of Humanity was taunting me with this glimpse into a time when it was still young. "Let's get outta here... I don't need to see this right now."

Together, we spread our wings and took to the rainy sky in defiance of the falling water. The rainfall was not heavy and we had little difficulty staying aloft in the air. If birds can fly in the rain, so too could we.

The rain did not continue for much longer. Even the sun started to come out before long. By then, we had set down at the far end of the meadow while I let out a long sigh. I hated the thought of what must have happened once the human population of this world was tempted by the darker side of their very nature. I could not understand why though. What more could they have wanted in this world? How hard is it to be satisfied in a world that is as realistically close as one can get to living in a proper utopia?

Nightmare Moon shook the rain from her mane as I looked around. Wherever that city had been before being reclaimed by nature, it was nowhere to be seen from where we were by then. She then asked, "Do you...need some time to yourself for now?"

I did not want to sound ungrateful for her company, but I was not in the mood for conversation at that time. I looked at her out of the corner of my eye as I muttered, "Yeah... I think I could use some time alone with my thoughts."

She took no offense to my insistence. Nightmare Moon brought the tip of her wing to my chin, lifting my face gently. "You know how to call me. Take care, my dear."

"You too..." I mumbled before watching her take to the clearing sky and soar to the northwest. And so I began to wander east again. After a couple of hours of wandering and chatting with myself for the sake of entertaining myself and even just venting over unpleasant thoughts and ideas that had come to mind, I came across a large patch of trees. Not quite thick enough to be a proper forest. Just some woods to venture through.

This time, I was much more cautious with where I stepped. The thinner foliage made it easier to make out what was around me, but I actively made certain to step around anything that got in my way that could potentially trip me up. I eventually saw the trees ahead me start to make way for a valley. But once I reached the edge and paused to survey the vast dip in the land before me, I suddenly saw something out there. Something that prompted me to duck back into the woods while carefully scanning the distance. "Whoa, hold up... Something out there?"

I could have sworn I saw something out there that should not be there. And after taking another look, I saw it. Way out there in the valley, I could see something moving out there through the expanse of nothing. It was small. And its body language was very familiar to me. While much too far away from me to make out any significant details, I recognized how the creature was moving. That was a pony at full trot.

This did not add up. There was no way there could be a village or town out there while so isolated from the rest of Equestria. Certainly not without anyone in the royal family knowing about it. Was that just some solitary explorer? I watched with intense interest and saw that the lone equine was approaching a massive hill situated in the valley that was completely encrusted with a thick forest. It brought to mind that of Taum Sauk Mountain from back home on Earth. I wonder how long it has been since I hiked across that mountain... I would probably have a much better time now than I did as a child.

Before long, the lone pony disappeared into the forest at the base of the mountain. And all I could do was stand at the edge of the woods and stare at the mountain ahead of me. I was utterly perplexed. Who was that? And why were they out there? "Well, this can't be right. There shouldn't be anyone out here in the first place."

My curiosity was far too strong. I could not let this little observation escape my notice. I had to investigate. I took to the air and swooped down over the valley before I landed where I thought I had seen that lone pony enter the forest. At least until I realized I was not really able to pinpoint exactly where they had disappeared from my sight. I spent the next several minutes wandering back and forth to look for a path. That eventually got sorted out when I found a dirt path leading through the trees that showed signs of frequent use. Far too much use for just one wayward pony. "Curious... Who could even be living out here?"

Satisfied that I was getting somewhere, I entered the forest while staying on the path. I heard wild bird calls and even the hammering of woodpeckers searching for a meal under some fresh bark. It was a welcome change from the silence of the Empty Plains. Even the air was starting to smell a little different. And when I eventually rounded a bend, I was greeted by a sight that only further confused me. It was no longer just a forest path. I was entering a bamboo grove. "Whoa, hold on... This... Sheesh, did we really not go that far east already?"

This type of flora could not possibly be native to the Empty Plains. It had to have been imported and allowed to grow there. Not that I did not appreciate it. The towering thin trees around me gave the air a certain type of tranquility that I did not get from any other forest I had passed through thus far. My thoughts went back to that mysterious mare who healed my foot. Was I approaching her home? Was she not a ghost at all and just a reclusive mage? With my curiosity driving me on, I continued down the path in no hurry while thoroughly enjoying this change of scenery.

It was a long walk. Probably twenty minutes in length from the start of the forest path to the very end of it. And when I finally reached the end of the path, I stared in wonderment at what I was seeing. "Heeeey... This is different."

I was not greeted by a lone cabin or hut in a clearing. Instead, I was bearing witness to a type of village out in a vast clearing on that mountain. A village that looked like it did not belong there. The look of the place had a distinct jungle vibe to it. While I did not see anymore bamboo, the wild and towering trees there did not look native at all. Even the air smelled different from everywhere else I had been. It looked more like a jungle than a forest. Wooden houses were built in the trees and connected by rope bridges. Houses with rounded walls and thatched roofs composed of massive leaves instead of traditional thatch. Some homes were even carved out of mounds of earth in the ground. Glistening clear streams of fresh water flowed through the village and there was even a fountain or two situated in shallow basins that seemed to be small ponds. Thoroughly impressed with what I was seeing, I removed my helmet and cradled it in my left arm. "Wow... Beautiful. I wonder how long this has been here."

I walked through the village as I surveyed my surroundings. In that time, I had completely forgotten about that nameless spectral mare and that lone pony I had followed into the place. My wonder with the unique appearance of my surroundings began to diminish as I remembered why I was there. There should have been someone nearby. It was a village, after all. I should have seen someone by then. Where did that pony go?

I looked around at my surroundings while trying to determine if the place had been abandoned. I quickly deduced that this was not a strangely well preserved ruin. The village was in very good shape with no signs of decay in the structures or any signs of overgrowth. And yet, no one was around. At all. "Hm... Is it nap time?"

I saw that the various homes around me did have windows. Maybe if I were to knock, someone would answer. "A village of wild ponies... Or maybe zebras? No, they live to the south, not to the east..."

Confusion and curiosity commanded my mind. I stared at a house carved out of a dome of earth and held my right hand to my chin. What should I do? Perhaps I should just leave. There was no one there. No reason to stick around. Or perhaps Nightmare Moon would recognize the place? Deciding to try and give her a call, I tapped on the front of the Lunar Shield with my fist a few times as if knocking on a door. But after the third series of taps, I thought I noticed something to my left that had been all but concealed from my view by the Lunar Shield itself. "What the... Whoa, where'd you come from?!"

Sure enough, a pony had been standing there while looking up at me in silence. Was she the same one I had seen before? Regardless of whether she was or not, I was quick to see that the pony before me was a mare. But...I had never seen a mare like her before. Her coat consisted of an extremely pale hue of yellowish green as she gazed at me with calm or even bored gold eyes. She had exposed cloven hooves that were as green as jade. Her ears were unusually long and ended in darkened tips. Her vibrant orange mane and tail were very striking, being almost leonine in nature with her mane draping over her shoulders like a full head of wild hair. Her tail's dock was much longer than that of a normal pony with the hairs being quite long. She had some fluffy fetlocks on the back of her front legs above the wrist and tufts of her vibrant orange hair right on the backs of her hind legs were the shin meets the knee. A horn reached up from her brow and had the look of polished dark mahogany wood with a pair of chevron markings set into it that were an almost red color. The 'horn' branched off at one point with one tip being longer than the other. But what caught my eye most were a row of scales covering the middle of her face down to the tip of her nose that reached up and over the sides of her scalp where her mane did not cover. Along her back were more jade scales that looked as smooth and shiny as those of a snake. What was this strange creature?

The two of us shared a long stare. But where I was bewildered as to what she was and where she had come from, she constantly maintained a rarely blinking stare of utter indifference. So stoic... Not a word was spoken. But just as I was starting to find the will to inquire where we were and what she is, I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. Another one of those strange ponies. She was approaching me at a relaxed walk while showing a matching bored stare that mirrored the one worn by her neighbor. And another. And then another. As I looked around me, I was alarmed to see at least a few dozen of these strange ponies just coming out of the woodwork. And they all had the same face. The same look in their eyes. It was...creepy... What had I stumbled upon?!

I felt a sense of mild panic come over me. I was very quickly surrounded by these silent creatures. "Whoa... Hey, easy! I'm not here to cause trouble!"

They all stared in silence. Not one of them had anything to say. They seldom blinked. Were they trying to creep me out? I was convinced I should not draw my sword. I did not want to give them a reason to think I was a threat. But as I observed the many strange ponies of many different colors that felt fitting for those living in such a verdant location, it started to click with me. I had never heard of or seen them before, but... The way they looked. Their leonine tails and manes. Their horns having the look of something growing out of a tree. Their cloven hooves and the scales that coated their backs. Only one word came to mind. "You're all...kirin."

My words did not illicit much of a response. The many little kirin around me maintained their completely stoic expressions of unwavering silence, but many did tilt their heads to one side as if to convey that they were curious of how I knew of such a word. Not that they would understand if I tried to explain that there are myths of kirin back on Earth. Although I was quick to notice that no two of them had identical horns. They all looked slightly different in shape with some branching out in more than one direction along the lengths. "OK... So...there's a hidden village of kirin way out here on the Empty Plains... I guess you don't want me here?"

They said nothing, but I then noticed that all the kirin standing before me turned their gazes towards something else. Something...behind me. And when I turned around, there she stood. Another kirin, but easily the tallest and most beautiful of them all. The matriarch of the village, I was sure. She stood before me, eye to eye. The same height and proportions that I would expect from the Equestrian royal family. "Um... You're in charge here, ma'am?"

I was truly impressed with the beauty of the creature before me. While she was every bit as silent and stoic as her people, the kirin matriarch exuded a type of grace and elegance the others simply did not have. Her tail was so long and slender, the long tuft of hair at end consisting of glorious hues of dark and light emerald green. Her coat consisted of a sandy gray. Her crimson eyes complimented her green mane nicely and she even seemed to be wearing eyeshadow that matched the lighter shades of green in her hair. The scales lining her back and the center of her face were a pale, almost white, shade of green. As were her cloven hooves. Almost like wilted leaves. And extending from her brow was a most impressive horn that sported a pronounced branching point along the backside, the two chevron markings being much more spread out than those on the other kirin. And held in place at her horn's base was a simple gold circlet that ended in two upward points near her ears. As I beheld this beautiful yet silent creature, I was hoping that Nightmare Moon heard my call and would be arriving soon. I was not certain of how to diffuse this situation.

I too joined in their rampant silence. I decided to just shut up and stay quiet until someone would tell me...something. The kirin matriarch began to slowly circle me without ever breaking eye contact. She seldom blinked and would change direction while never not carrying herself with grace. The two of us were boxed in by the many kirin around us. She eventually came to a stop and stared at me without a word. But right as I was wondering what would happen next, she leaned forward and brought the side of her head to mine as that luxurious curly mane of hers caressed my face. And in her mane... The scent of pine trees. "Whoa... That's...um...nice?"

She then pulled away while she and her people continued to maintain those looks of perfect stoicism. I noticed her eyes glance down before something most unexpected happened. The red chevron runes on her horn were filled with a brilliant green glow. As deep and green as pine needles. Was that...magic? Convinced that she was on the verge of carrying out a show of force, I quietly said, "Listen... If you don't want me here, I can just go. I won't tell anyone what I saw. I'll never mention...eh?"

It was only then that I saw what was happening. My right hand was being lifted by a matching glittering aura that I recognized all too well. Magic. While not unicorns, it would seem that the horn of a kirin carries the same magic-casting properties of that of a unicorn. And the magic aura surrounding my armored hand matched the glow filling the runes on the kirin matriarch's horn. She eventually turned my hand so that my palm was facing her head. Only then did she release her grasp on me. She stood there. As if waiting for something.

This almost felt like some sort of test. I was convinced that she wanted something from me. And so I very cautiously brought the palm of my hand to the side of her face. The matriarch tilted her head to rest her jaw in my grasp while I very gently caressed her. "I hope the plating on my fingertips isn't too uncomfortable..."

She closed her eyes and let out a long quiet sigh. As if she was really enjoying my touch. And the way she was doing that... It was as if she knew what I was and what I could do with my hand. Before long, she opened her eyes again. And this time, her stoic face showed a quiet serene smile. This almost startled me as I saw this subtle change. I then looked down at the other kirin as they watched in silence while their leader's face continued to be held in my hand. My eyes fell upon the kirin mare who had been the first to approach me. And seconds later, she too lost that stoic gaze. Entirely. That blank gaze became one of delight as her eyes opened wide while she showed a huge grin. She then suddenly looked around and called out, "It's all right, ladies! He's good!"

All in unison, every last kirin there abandoned their stoic facade as their faces and eyes lit up like a field of rapidly blooming flowers. They started to gather around me while a murmur of voices filled the air. That show of silence was just a charade? I then turned my gaze to the matriarch before me, who continued to maintain a look of serenity as she smiled at me. And then, she spoke to me with such a lovely and elegant voice. "My sincerest apologies if we alarmed you, wanderer. It has been so very long since we last had a visitor of your kind. Welcome, friend."

My kind? They...knew what I was? As if to only jump onto the subject, the kirin who first approached me jumped over to me and stood tall on her hind legs with her hooves resting against me for support. "Is it true?! Are you human?! You've gotta be, right?! You have the face! And the hair all over your head! And standing so tall on two legs! Please tell me you're one! I'm the only mare here who's never seen one!"

When I turned to face the extremely curious mare, she sat on her haunches and placed her front hooves together as if to pray. I heard her muttering with eyes closed, "Please, please, pleeeeease be one..."

This got a bit of a crooked smirk out of me. From completely stoic to being not too far removed from how Pinkie Pie is most of the time. Still, I provided an honest answer. "Yes, I am human."

"Yeeeeeesssss!!!" She shrieked in delight while jumping straight up in exactly the same manner Pinkie Pie would do. Upon landing, she pointed at her neighbors with a huge grin on her face. "In your face, girls! Now I've finally seen one!"

Rather than take offense, everyone just laughed at the silly kirin while she started to prance about me in utter glee. "I've heard so much! But I've never seen your kind before! Yes, yes, yes, yes, I can finally say I've seen one!"

I just watched her in amusement while she danced around me. It almost felt like a return to normalcy, being surrounded by colorful people with equally colorful personalities. However, what she said... She was the only one there who had never seen a human? But that would mean...the others had?

Right before I could even question such an observation, a shadow suddenly passed over us. The many kirin around me glanced up in stunned silence. But instead of displaying a false show of stoicism, they appeared alarmed. We all gazed skyward and through the gaps in the canopy. Quite a bit of sunlight was shining down on us, though I never could have seen the gaps in the canopy from out on the plains. The kirin matriarch then looked at me with her eyes opened wider than they had been before. "Were you followed?"

"No, I was entirely alone when I came here. Although..." I replied before gazing upward. A dark form passed overhead again, being nothing more than a black silhouette against the sun. It was only then that I remembered how I had tapped away on the Lunar Shield right before I had been approached. "Oh wait, it's her! It's fine, she's with me."

"She...?" The matriarch asked before the form above us dropped through the canopy with wings spread. In response, all of the kirin gathered into a cluster while their leader got between them and their unexpected visitor. It was just Nightmare Moon as she came in for a landing, but the kirin were waiting for signs of trouble with their leader standing ready to defend them.

"You called, James? And where are... Wait..." The Princess of Dreams began to ask before she took note of our surroundings. I decided to wait for her to finish before saying anything else. And when her eyes fell upon the kirin matriarch beside me, her face lit up in pleasant surprise. "Rain Shine! It has been centuries!"

All of the kirin looked on with gazes and mutterings of confusion. Rain Shine? That is her name? I could swear I had heard that name at some point... But the kirin matriarch still recoiled in shock as her crimson eyes opened wide. "I...beg your pardon? Have we met...?"

"Yes, we have! It has been too long, old friend." Nightmare Moon approached while beginning to cast her armor aside piece by piece. Although she did come to a stop once she was bare. Probably since the kirin kept backing away from her in uncertainty. I quickly guessed why. And she too was quick to see the reason. "Oh... Yes, you would not recognize me. I suppose I should explain."

Rain Shine tilted her head to one side in confusion. "Hmm... You say you know me, and yet I do not know you. But your form... It...brings to mind Celestia and Luna. Are you related to them?"

"Yes, old friend. Although... How do I explain in a way you would understand..." Nightmare Moon muttered as she averted her gaze in thought for a moment. "Here... I was Luna at one time. But due to...circumstances that we still do not have answers for, she and I went from being one to becoming two. Luna still lives and she is well. But I... All you need to know is that she and Celestia are my sisters. I am Nightmare Moon. The Princess of Dreams. And it is a pleasure to finally meet you."

While the kirin still looked quite confused about the entire situation, Rain Shine began to approach the dark princess. "I... I see. I do not fully comprehend the situation, but..."

She then looked at me, probably with the understanding that Nightmare Moon and I knew each other. I nodded and said, "She's legit. Really, I've even seen her and them on their thrones back in Canterlot."

"Canter...lot...?" Rain Shine asked while the other kirin looked equally confused. Just how ancient are those kirin? And how long have they been out of touch with the rest of the world?

"It became the capital city of Equestria some time ago. It is where my sisters and I reign from." Nightmare Moon explained while remaining where she was. We were their guests, so it should be up to them over whether or not one should approach.

"Ah... I see. Only so many words reach this far into the Empty Plains." Rain Shine said before she smiled. She then stepped towards Nightmare Moon and lowered her horn with a bowed head. The Princess of Dreams replied in kind, lowering her head so that their horns crossed. "Then it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, your highness."

All of the other kirin came trotting forward to their princess and flocked around her in greeting. All except for the first one who approached me. I was quick to notice that she remained by my side while her neighbors flocked around their princess. "Um... Yes?"

Her eyes remained wide in wonder as she spoke to me with a voice that held some majestic depth in spite of her youthful energy. "Am I staring? I guess I do that a lot when I'm just so... I mean really! I finally got to meet you! Everyone else in the Grove of Silence has met humans at least once, but I never got the chance! Where have you all been?! We've been listening with ears to the ground for centuries, but we never..."

She finally came to an awkward pause as I think the kirin mare understood she was bombarding me with too much information far too soon. My host then let out an uneasy chuckle before rolling her eyes at her own excessive enthusiasm. "Anyway... I never even introduced myself. And I don't even know your name. The name's Autumn Blaze. And you?"

"It's James..." I retorted while still trying to take in this entire situation. Although I was grateful to finally be back in some semblance of civilization. The presence of the kirin was not so unlike that of the ponies back in Ponyville. It felt good to be in a situation that felt pleasantly familiar.

"Oooh, James! There's something so awesomely simple about human names. Quick and succinct!" Autumn Blaze replied with gusto I really would not expect out of anyone who was not Pinkie Pie. Or maybe Silverstream. God, I miss those two... "So, what brings you out here? You're a looong way off the grid out here."

I could not ignore the similarities any longer. "You remind me way too much of Pinkie Pie right now..."

The response I got from Autumn could not have been more fitting. She tilted her head to the side in confusion as she asked, "Wait, I do? And you're seriously friends with a pie? Wow, I didn't know humans had such weird taste in friends! Do you eat your pie friends too?"

I brought a fist to my mouth as I failed to suppress a snicker. Predictable as that response was, it was still amusing. Right around then, Nightmare Moon walked my way with the rest of the kirin walking along with her. Their leader stepped forward while casting me a most inviting and serene smile. "I have not even truly introduced myself to you, honored guest. I am Rain Shine. Chieftain of the kirin community here in the Grove of Silence. It is a pleasure."

They were being incredibly welcoming towards me for being someone who wandered right into their village entirely by chance. Probably an even warmer welcome than what I got when I happened to show up in Ponyville on my first day in Equestria. Instead of observing me from a distance out of curiosity, they came right up to me. Even if they... It was only then that I remembered the extremely unsettling show of constant stoicism they displayed when I first arrived. "Yeah... Uh... It's good to be here. Although...what was with that weird silent treatment when I first got here?"

Every last one of the kirin around us burst into unified nervous and embarrassed mumbling and giggling. As if they all knew they had overreacted to something. Rain Shine too seemed a bit reluctant about it, but she still explained herself to me. "Our sincerest apologies about that. When we detected your approach while carrying weapons of war, we had to approach with caution. Did we frighten you?"

"No, I wouldn't say that. It was kinda creepy how you all came up to me like that when I wasn't looking, so if you were trying to keep me from lashing out, it worked." I explained while not really surprised that they would be extra cautious around a surprise visitor. "Although really, I meant no harm. I really wasn't expecting to find anyone alive out here on the Empty Plains."

"Yes, it does get lonely out here. Lonely...and quiet. But now that you are here..." Rain Shine replied before glancing around at her people with a smile. "What are we waiting for, my people? We have guests."

At those words, all of the kirin happily began to scatter as if to set to work on some sort of task. Rain Shine made her way past me as she too joined in. I have to say every last one of those kirin were utterly adorable. Except for Rain Shine. That mare is nothing but pure unfiltered beauty. But as Nightmare Moon stepped up beside me, I started to notice something about our hosts. The general structure of their jaws and faces. The way their hips bobbed as they walked. I looked towards my royal friend and said quietly, "These kirin... They're all female."

"You only just now noticed?" Nightmare Moon said with a knowing smirk. "The kirin are a female exclusive race. You will not find a single stallion among them."

And just as I was starting to think the discussion of that topic was already over, Nightmare Moon dropped another bit of surprising information on me. "They are also the longest lived race in the world. With an average lifespan of five thousand years."

"Five thousand?!" I yelped as my mortal mind could barely comprehend such a thing. Yes, I get dragons live a long time and they kind of have an unspoken reputation for longevity, but five thousand years for a kirin? Although this did answer one question. "Wait... Huh... I guess that would explain why they remember when humanity still had a place in this world... Do they know what happened?"

Nightmare Moon shook her head with a solemn frown on her lips. "Thankfully, no. The emperor's armies spared the Grove of Silence for some reason."

Again, that name... The Empty Plains. The Vulture's Roost. And now the Grove of Silence. The naming conventions of this vast land all carry a tragic air of desolation and even death. It only made me appreciate the presence of the kirin all the more. I was immensely happy to find this port in the storm during our trek across the plains. But before I could even inquire about it, Autumn Blaze came bounding my way. "Oh hey! Can I give you something to hang your armor on?"

Before I could say anything, Nightmare Moon spoke first. "Actually, if you could conjure an earthen basin, that would suffice."

"That's it? OK then, I'm on it." Autumn replied as a beautiful icy blue glow filled the chevron runes on her horn. Much to my surprise, the earth between us began to shift as it rose and formed a crater of sorts like you might see on the moon itself. "There you go! But are you sure that's all you need?"

"Um... How exactly does that magic work?" I asked while starting to wonder if kirin magic is fundamentally different in function to unicorn magic. I saw from Rain Shine that they can use the basic levitation spell, but was there more to it?

"Huh? Don't you see magic used often enough to... Ooooooh, I get it." Autumn said while chuckling at the question. "That's something special about us kirin! Our magic is tied to the earth itself. We're...uh... What's that fancy word? Um... Meh, whatever! But we have a special connection to the ground and all the plants and flowers that grow from them. In fact, that's how we've been keeping up with modern events ever since the plains went empty!"

"Hold up. You... Um... You can listen in on what happens around the world.....through plants?!" I asked in bewilderment as this was probably the most outlandish revelation I had heard of in some time. And when considering the fantastical nature of Equestria in general, that is saying something!

"Sure can! Here, lemme take a listen and see what's up." Autumn said before using her magic to summon a freshly sprouted bell flower up out of the ground beside her. It stopped growing when it reaching her ear while Autumn leaned in close to the flower as if it was an auditory speaker. "Hmmm... Ooh? Hey, it sounds like Sapphire Shores just released a new album!"

"That's...um...nice?" I muttered while really unsure of what to even think of what I was seeing. Just...wow. That is weird. The kirin are a bunch of plant whisperers.

"Yep, it sure is! And it's let us keep in touch with the other kirin communities way out back east. We might be really isolated out here on the Empty Plains, but we're not entirely out of the loop out here." Autumn Blaze explained as the new flower swayed in the breeze. "Although it would be nice if these plants could describe more than what they pick up. They make great listeners, but they're not too good at actually seeing what's going on out there."

"Huh... I guess that makes sense." I muttered with my arms crossed. I was very tempted to ask if she could relay to me any news the local flora might have detected around Ponyville, but I wanted to avoid any temptations that may entice me to cut my losses and return home before finishing the job I set out to do. Having decided that I had delayed long enough, I set aside my shield and my helmet before stepping into the earthy basin before me. "Anyway, give me a minute here."

"Huh? Why are... Whoa, how're you doing that?! That stuff is melting?!" Autumn exclaimed as my enchanted armor began to liquefy before her eyes and slide down off my body and into a puddle at my feet. I then stepped out of the basin with not a drop of liquid metal sticking to my socks. All the while, Autumn Blaze closely eyed the swirling mix of three colors in the basin. "Wow... What have we been missing out on? I had no idea they figured out how to store armor in a liquid state."

"Actually, that suit is one of a kind. No other armor in the world can do that." I explained while starting to remove my socks so they would not get dirty on the bare ground. It felt good to just relax and walk in my bare feet now that Nightmare Moon and I had been welcomed into this little haven. "Just don't let anyone touch that stuff, all right? It isn't picky about who wears it and will suit up anyone who touches it."

"It isn't? OK, I'm on it!" Autumn Blaze retorted before she summoned a ring of bamboo stalks around the basin. Not tall enough to prevent me from peering over it, but no one would be stepping into there from then on. "There we go. And it's hard to miss, so you won't be forgetting where you left it."

"Most clever, Autumn Blaze." Nightmare Moon finally spoke up after staying silent for a bit too long. She then took the time to prop up the Lunar Shield against the ring of bamboo just to make it even easier to notice. I then dropped my socks onto my helmet and set it next to the shield as well.

Autumn then trotted over to me and nuzzled her head and soft full mane against my thigh and hip. "Anything else you need, James?"

"Eh... You feeling friendly or something? Not used to ponies doing that..." I muttered while unsure of how to respond to this sudden display of physical affection.

"Well, I'm not exactly a pony. I'm a kirin. And..." She said again before nuzzling her head against me. "I'm picking up some reeeeeally good vibes from you."

I cracked a crooked grimace. What were these kirin? The hippies of Equestria? Nightmare Moon looked like she was trying to not laugh at the face I was making, but Rain Shine then approached with a smile while her people were still busy in the village. It looked like they were all setting up a sort of outdoor festival. She then said to me, "What she means is that we kirin hold a special empathy for the spiritual energy that are deprived from the emotions one emits."

"Huh... I guess I should have expected that." I mumbled while idly caressing Autumn's curly mane. It was delightfully soft and voluminous. My touch only made her happier as she nuzzled up to me even further. "Heh... You kirin are just precious. I'm glad I found this place. Really needed a nice break after being out here for a while."

"And we are most blessed that you found us." Rain Shine said tenderly while gazing at me with those vibrant yet serene eyes. There was something...different about how she said that. Even though they had never met me, I was getting the impression that the kirin saw me as more than just a random visitor. There was...something deeper to how they looked at me. Something I could not put my finger on at the time.

It was right then that I remembered one of Autumn Blaze's comments from a moment ago. "You know... With how exotic the flora is around here... And just...the way you look... I get the impression that you and your people are not native to the Empty Plains."

"A keen observation. No, my people and I are not from here. The kirin are native to the regions far to the east. It was my mother, Sequoia Valley, who migrated our community out west to settle where we are now." Rain Shine explained as I scanned my surroundings. With how long kirin can live, surely I must have overlooked someone. But not one of the kirin I saw around us looked even remotely similar to Rain Shine. Nor did any look even remotely elderly. They all looked very youthful. She must have realized what I was looking for and spoke with a more somber tone. "I'm afraid you won't find her here. She has been...gone for some time now."

"Oh... My condolences. I was just sure that... When considering that you kirin live for an average of five thousand years, I was sure she would still be here." I replied while keeping my fingers sliding around in Autumn Blaze's mane. She had her eyes closed and was more interested in my touch than anything Rain Shine had to say at the time.

It was then that Rain Shine revealed a completely unexpected fact about her kind. "Yes, that is correct. For the maidens, at least."

"Come again...?" I asked as that claim caught me entirely by surprise.

"Yes. Only the maidens will live for that long. But should a kirin be blessed with a foal, her lifespan will be cut in half for the sake of her child being gifted with a full life. And this happens for every foal she bears. Five thousand becomes twenty-five hundred, twenty-five hundred becomes one thousand and two hundred and fifty, and so on." Rain Shine said with a more sincere look set upon her beautiful face. She then smiled while gazing down at Autumn while she still nuzzled into my side. "Autumn Blaze here is the newest addition to our community. She was the first...and last kirin to be born among us after the plains went empty."

"I suppose...you don't get many visitors out here." I replied before looking over at Nightmare Moon. "And it sounds like you and your sisters haven't been maintaining direct contact for quite a while."

"You must understand, James. When the Grove of Silence became the only bastion of civilization out here upon the Empty Plains, it was no longer practical to seek it out. It pained us greatly, but we had to leave them to their own devices." Nightmare Moon explained without an ounce of levity in her eyes. She then turned to Rain Shine and said, "We do sorely miss you and your people, old friend. I do hope that in spite of everything, you have been managing well enough out here."

"Think nothing of it, your highness. While visitors are few and far between, we are not exactly isolated. We still listen in on the here and now through the flora of the world and we are still in contact with old friends out east. We kirin are never truly alone when surrounded by nature's blessings." Rain Shine retorted without a shred of ill will in her beautiful voice. She then turned her gaze to me while showing a most inviting smile. "And we are most blessed to receive such special visitors this day."

Again with that heavy praise... I doubted that they were that starved for company if they were not exactly without a means to communicate with people from afar. It was right around then that a few of the kirin from nearby must have finished up their tasks or decided to take a break from them for a moment. They came right up to me and introduced themselves, but they did so in such rapid succession that I did not have time to really absorb the information. I felt kind of bad, really. Especially when they began to follow me along with Autumn Blaze. They would push their heads up under my hand for a stroke, which I all too happily provided.

Something was not right with these kirin. While they did swarm around Nightmare Moon at first, now that we had gotten settled in as guests, I was the one that they kept giving the most attention to. Like...I could just feel something in the air. The kirin flocked around me. And they were just so happy to be with me. And I do not believe it was because I was the first human visitor they have had in centuries. Although I too felt a strange type of harmony in the air towards these little mares. I mean I have always felt comfortable in the presence of ponies, but there was...something more when it came to the kirin. Their presence...made me feel like I belonged, if that makes any sense.

Rain Shine must have noticed how overenthusiastic her people were with them getting a little too clingy. They would not stop talking. When one finished, another would start. They really wanted to get to know me. Finally, Rain Shine stepped forward with a calm smile and spoke to her people. "That's enough for now. We don't want to overwhelm him, no matter how welcome he is in our home. And don't you all still have something to tend to?"

Autumn Blaze laughed as she got the message. "Oh, right! I still need to reevaluate my routine anyway."

With that little reminder, the kirin around me scattered as they galloped away to return to their tasks. They looked very eager to please. Although I noticed something about Autumn Blaze as she went her own way. While she walked and trotted just like the rest of her neighbors, whenever she had to pick up more speed, she would always...prance. Not like a mare, but like a deer. Not that I minded. Her prancing was adorable to behold.

"Something catch your eye?" Rain Shine asked as she came up alongside me. That look of calm serenity never left her face. She really was the embodiment of grace.

"Oh, I'm just observing how adorable your people are. Especially the way Autumn Blaze prances about like that. She seems more like a deer at times than a mare." I replied while seeing Autumn even do a delightful pirouette on her hooves just out of sheer glee. She must have been in such a good mood.

"Well, there is a good reason for that. She was fathered by a stag, after all." Rain Shine replied while I turned my head to look at her. She was not joking at all, but that smile became a subtle smirk as she likely expected me to be very surprised by that revelation.

And I was. "She...was? But... Wait, aren't deer just wild beasts?" I asked while knowing that there is a fine line that separates wild animals from fully sentient life in Equestria. And...those deer that I saw at one point while soaring over the Empty Plains... Could they have been...?

"I do believe she could explain better than I could." Rain Shine said before she looked over to Autumn Blaze while the little mare was reading something off a sheet of parchment. "Autumn Blaze! A moment with you, please?"

The lively little kirin set aside the page on a wooden fruit stall before prancing our way in an excited manner. "Sure! Whatcha need?"

"Our friend here had a few questions for you." Rain Shine replied before gesturing towards me with her hoof. She even used her magic to conjure up a seat of vines for me to sit on so I could at least get comfortable.

Autumn Blaze took the opportunity to come bounding over to me and draped herself across my lap like a happy lapdog. "Sure! Ask me anything. I'm all ears."

"Heh, OK then..." I muttered before glancing over at Nightmare Moon. She was being respectfully silent, although I suspect she may have been just staying quiet for the sake of enjoying the show. She must have known something about our guests that I did not. "Anyway... I gotta say it's adorable the way you prance about like a deer. But...do you have any actual deer blood in you?"

She made no attempt to hide anything from me. "Sure do! Papa was a deer who just happened to show up entirely out of the blue once. Mama and him hit it off really well. And...well, they ended up having me. Papa didn't stay, but he kept coming back all the time to visit and just be in my life."

For just a moment, I saw her chipper personality fade as some somber memories likely surfaced for the first time in a while. "He's...been gone a long time. And Mama's been gone for maybe a hundred years now."

I stroked my hand through her luxuriously curly wild mane as I tried to at least soothe her in some way. "I'm sorry..."

"It's OK... I've never been alone since. I've got friends here and they've always been there for me." Autumn replied before smiling up at me while winking with one eye. "So yeah! I might be a mare, but I'm also part doe."

"That's adorable. But... Um..." I started to say while wondering about her father. "Um... Your father. Could he...talk?"

"Well, duh! How would he and Mama even communicate if he couldn't? He was always a nice guy. Liked to talk about everything he saw out on the plains while he wandered. Kind of quiet most of the time too, but maybe that's just because he generally didn't have much to say when wandering since he was always alone." Autumn Blaze happily revealed to me while more and more questions formed in my mind. Questions I doubted she had any answers for.

I looked towards Nightmare Moon while her smug smile started to fade. "You and your sisters never told me about any deer society out here..."

"That's because..." Nightmare Moon began to say before looking towards Rain Shine. Autumn Blaze failed to notice the shift in tone between us while being distracted by the caresses of my hand through her mane.

Rain Shine's smile faded as her look of serenity became one of somber sincerity. She then whispered to Autumn Blaze while managing to project a facade of pleasantness. "Autumn, why don't you go look up some of your best lines for your routine? I'm sure our guest could use a good laugh."

"Ooh, good idea! Lemme go see what I got. I'll knock you dead tonight, James! Just you wait!" Autumn Blaze said before jumping off my lap and prancing off for that sheet of paper she left behind.

I finally had to look at Rain Shine as I wondered just what that silly mare had in store. She cracked a knowing smirk as she said, "Autumn Blaze is our local comedian. She can always bring out a chuckle when we need it."

"Yeah, I'm not really surprised." I said while already smirking in anticipation for her standup routine. But I was then reminded of the topic at hand as she and Nightmare Moon relaxed upon the ground beside me. This was going to be a long conversation. "So... The deer. Why have I not heard of them until now? They have some sort of society out here?"

"Not anymore, they don't." Nightmare Moon replied while she and her friend showed no sign of happiness. There was likely a good reason no one talks about the deer anymore. "You likely have questions. And we have the answers. But before anything else, I will tell you this. The history of the deer of Equestria is a cautionary tale about pride."

I did not have a good feeling about this. And so Nightmare Moon began to explain to me. "Millennia ago, these plains were not only home to much of Equestria's human population. The valleys and forests were also home to a thriving society of deer. Proud and graceful creatures, they quickly became infamous across the plains for their sheer arrogance. Consumed by pride in ways even the haughtiest of unicorns and cockiest of dragons would be disgusted by. And they especially had a low opinion of their human neighbors that no one else held."

This sounded incomprehensible to me. I know that the Canterlot elite are snobs and that the dragons are a bunch of brutes, but the deer were worse than either of them? They almost sounded like...the worst examples of forest elves from the works of fantasy. Which is a shame since I have always found deer to be elegant and graceful creatures worthy of being adored. To think that such grace would serve as a mantle of unparalleled arrogance... "And how does that explain why their kingdom no longer stands?"

Rain Shine spoke next. "I had not come to be at the time, but my mother spoke of the events. Of all the people on the plains, the deer were the least condescending towards us kirin of the Grove of Silence. Likely because our magical nature was not too dissimilar to their own. To that end, they were tolerated and they would occasionally visit. But one night, a caravan of human travelers arrived who would stop by on their travels time and again. And as always, they were welcomed with open arms as we have always done for our human neighbors. Our deer visitors begrudgingly tolerated their presence, among them being their king."

I started to have a bad feeling of where this was going, but I remained silent as I allowed the kirin matriarch to continue. "Among our human visitors was a boy. A boy my mother adored. And he helped cater to us and our deer guests. But over some slight, the deer king become irate towards the boy...and struck him."

As vague as such a claim was, I felt a chill in the air. Rain Shine spoke with a cool frown on her face, "This was the final straw. My mother would not stand for an assault on a human child in her home. She commanded our deer guests to depart, but they took her words as an offense to their pride. The king threatened war. To which my mother welcomed."

"And...that happened? Why didn't the royal family intervene?" I asked while wondering how such an event could escalate without the likes of Celestia and Luna noticing.

Nightmare Moon turned to me and said, "You must understand, James. This happened long before the proper founding of Equestria through the events of Hearth's Warming Eve. There was no unified leadership for centuries as the people governed themselves. My family was aware of it, but there was naught we could do but watch."

"I...see." I muttered in grim understanding before turning my gaze back to Rain Shine. "So they declared war. And...?"

She nodded while maintaining a gaze of cool disappointment. "The king gathered his men one night. As many as he could. They surrounded this mountain with the intention of purging it down to the last mare. And my mother faced them. Alone."

I did not even have to say anything. The village around me served as proof that she had succeeded in repelling the invaders. I looked on in silence as Rain Shine spoke grimly. "My mother saw to it that they would not advance or escape. Alone, she set the entire surrounding meadow ablaze. And the invading army with it. What few managed to escape were pursued as the flames spread to follow only them. The forests of this section of the Empty Plains were spared, but the forests the deer called home were burned to the ground. Their tainted society and pride crushed, the survivors scattered to the winds. And we never heard from them again."

"And...the deer never truly rebuilt their home?" I asked while still finding the whole story to be rather sad, even if the deer absolutely had that coming.

Nightmare Moon spoke next. "No, they did not. They are one of the very few races that were never properly integrated into modern Equestrian society. While the rest of Equestria's people advanced over time, they never made a comeback. But when considering how they were before, it was likely for the best. These days, the deer wander in very small groups as humble nomads. No more than a few at a time. They are...solitary, but not necessarily unfriendly. If you happen to encounter some, do not be afraid to approach them. They tend to appreciate the company."

"If you say so." I said while turning to look at Rain Shine again. Even if she was not present to witness that sordid affair, she looked unhappy having to speak of it. "Sorry to have asked... I guess your mother just felt you had the right to know?"

Surprisingly, she began to smile. "Oh, it wasn't just her who told me. That boy also spoke of that time as well."

I raised an eyebrow upon hearing that revelation. I also noticed Nightmare Moon smirking at me. As if she knew what was coming. "Wait... You knew that kid? And he told you about that too?"

Rain Shine began to display a rather cunning smirk of her own. "Yes. He told me some years after it happened. By then, the forest and plains that had been scorched had returned to their previous glory. And by then, I simply referred to that boy as 'Father'. As I always had."

My eyes went wide while she smiled at me. I slowly lifted a hand to point at Rain Shine as I started to comprehend what I had just been told. "You mean... He and your mother... You're..."

"Yes, my friend. I have human blood flowing through my veins. As that boy became a man over the years, he and my mother became...something more." Rain Shine said calmly while smiling warmly at me. "In fact many of the kirin mares who reside here had human fathers. They have always been a...favorite of our kind."

I started to recoil a bit from that claim. That gaze she was giving me... And their sheer hospitality towards me... Nightmare Moon suddenly burst into laughter at the face I must have been making at the time while Rain Shine too started laughing heartily. "Oh my goodness, that face...! No, no no no, please do not take that the wrong way! We never had any intention of seducing you, my friend! Truly, we did not."

"Oh... Phew, you had me going there for a second." I said while also finding the assumption funny in hindsight. "But...um... Really? You and your kind...have a penchant for human men?"

"Well, it is not like there are any kirin stallions... We must seek males of other species for the sake of reproduction. Thankfully, our natural longevity insures we have plenty of time to find a beloved. And we are very...receptive towards them as well. Compatibility has never been an issue." Rain Shine explained while failing to hide a bit of a smirk. As if she was trying to mess with me for the sake of a little fun.

I cracked an uneasy grin. It almost felt like she was coming onto me, though that would be too good to be true. I had only just met her. "Really...? Huh, I guess that is something special... I think humans and ponies aren't the most compatible either... But...how exactly and why did you mother bring her people all the way out here? Did the...humans of this world have something to do with it?"

"Actually, yes. Our human neighbors were the entire reason my mother traveled west with her community." Rain Shine replied as I leaned forward in my seat. This was starting to really catch my ear. "As I have said, we kirin are native to the regions to the far east. But as fate would have it, a curious caravan of human merchants eventually managed to reach our land to partake in the trading of goods. And the community under the watch of my mother was the first kirin tribe that they encountered."

"Really? Your people were the ones to make first contact with humanity? Interesting accomplishment to hold. And what then?" I asked while finding the tale interesting enough to compel me to listen further.

"They were happy to make new friends. And the humans were happy to meet us too. But whether it was due to a natural preference or...something deeper, my mother and her people felt a stronger attraction to the men of the caravan. And when the time came for them to depart, our guests almost could not bring themselves to leave." Rain Shine said while looking so nostalgic for some reason. "My mother claimed it was...like an unseen harmonic force could be felt in the presence when in the company of a human. Especially if they were male. A type of drawing to them... And they seemed to feel it too. And when their guests told my mother of where they came from, she discussed the possibility of migrating west to live among them with her tribe. And they all agreed."

I was starting to think there may have been some truth to those words. I could feel something too while among the kirin. I felt...at peace. Happy to be with them. I barely knew them, and yet they made me feel so welcome and wanted. As if there was a feeling in my very soul that made some sort of connection with them. There was just...something I utterly adored about the kirin. And it almost pained me that I could not truly identify the reason. Even so, I tried to stay focused on the story at hand. "And they came all the way out here?"

Rain Shine nodded calmly as she said, "They did. It was a long journey, but we were welcomed with open arms. My mother was granted an audience with the emperor of the humans himself. And they were permitted to choose where they would reside among his people. After searching for some weeks, they found this mountain and founded their own little village upon it. They even brought a few things from home, as I am sure the flora of this mountain may have shown you."

The emperor they spoke of must have preceded the emperor I knew of by many generations. But still... What a way to travel. "You know... The world where I come from, I think I have heard myths of kirin having some sort of connection to human royalty... I guess that kind of makes sense with the natural attraction you speak of."

"Your world? You mean..." Rain Shine asked while not really understanding where I was coming from. "I am not so certain I understand. Do you mean your home from beyond the plains?"

I looked towards Nightmare Moon while she looked back at me. The Princess of Dreams nodded in wordless confirmation that I was permitted to discuss the nature of my presence in Equestria. I looked back at Rain Shine and said, "I'm not originally from this world. I hail from a world called Earth. I was brought to Equestria because... Well... Are you aware of the absence of humanity in this world?"

Rain Shine let out a long sigh as her smile faded. "Yes... We are aware. It happened so long ago, but... The plains went silent as if overnight. Although we did hear the whispers of humankind scattered far across the world. But nowhere near the same volume as before. And even then... One by one, they too went silent... We thought for sure some tragic incident beyond our knowledge had caused humankind to go extinct. Is was a dark time for us..."

However, she then looked at me as that serene smile returned to her face. "But that only made your arrival all the more important. And yet... There is...something about you... Something I cannot put my hoof on... I have met many humans in my time. But...with you..."

She seemed to be struggling to find the right words as Nightmare Moon and I looked on. "When you look at me... Your aura... I am not certain how to describe it. It is as if...the very sight of me fills you with...a sensation of peace. And even that is not entirely a sufficient way of explaining it..."

I was not entirely certain of what she meant by that either. What was so different about me when compared to other humans she had met before my time? However, she then said softly, "But...I will say this... I feel...drawn to you, my friend. As if...you want me to be near you. And not merely in the same kindred spirit we kirin share with humans. Do you feel it too?"

Perhaps that was what I was feeling. The simple joy of being in the presence of the kirin. Was that what I felt? A natural attraction and adoration for them on top of my love of the people of Equestria in general? "Yeah, I... I feel it. Just...being near you...feels pleasant."

The two of us shared a long gaze of silence. I think we both were at a loss for words. But that beautiful creature before me... I felt compelled to approach her. "May I come closer...?"

"Please do. Hold me, if you wish." Rain Shine said softly with her head bowed ever so slightly. So I did. I rose from my seat and stepped forward before falling to my knees and holding her in my arms. The faint scent of pine in her mane as my face rubbed against it... Such tranquility in that simple embrace. "Mmm, your presence... Do you appreciate us?"

"I adore all of you..." I whispered as I quivered in a strange feeling of relief. As if I was finally able to truly relax in the presence of this radiant creature in this haven of a village in the middle of the Empty Plains. After days of wandering, I felt safe. And I especially felt wanted.

"You feel so troubled, my friend... And so very drained... Do you require rest?" Rain Shine whispered to me in that elegant voice. I felt her hoof upon my back, rubbing me tenderly to soothe my spirit.

"Yeah... A nap sounds nice." I muttered to her ear. I suppose I was needing some extra rest after all the time I have spent during this trek across the plains. It takes a lot out of you.

"Then allow me to provide." Rain Shine said before she looked to Nightmare Moon. "If I may trouble you with a request, could I ask you to supervise the others while I tend to our guest here?"

"It would be a pleasure, Rain Shine. I will see to it that they get any assistance or guidance they need." Nightmare Moon replied as she smiled reassuringly at us both. Rain Shine then rose to her feet while I did the same. I then followed the kirin matriarch as she approached the base of one of the towering trees that stood throughout he village.

"Allow me to show you to where you may rest, my friend." She said to me as I felt the earth shift under us. I froze in unease as a circular chunk of earth was lifted from the ground on sturdy vines with us atop it. I looked at Rain Shine to see the runes on her horn filled with the green glow of her magic as we were lifted to the porch that encircled a house situated around the top of the tree. It was the highest tree house in the village and I found the view to be quite impressive once we stepped off and over the porch's guardrails. Rain Shine then pushed the door to the house open as she cast me a smile. "Welcome to my home."

I was almost expecting the home of this kirin matriarch to be almost like a palace. Instead, it was quite homely and cozy. The trunk of the tree stood right at the middle of the home with the rest of the house built around it. The ceiling and floor around the trunk was even sealed to likely keep out rain and potential insects. Even though the furniture around the place looked modern, at least with a rustic or rural feel to them, they still did not look particularly out of place in such a village. "I guess when you can conjure up plants at will, you're never in short supply of cotton or wood."

"That we are not. We are not simple savages out here, regardless of our isolation." Rain Shine replied as I started to circle her humble home with the familiar feel of smooth sanded wood beneath my bare feet. But when I saw her bed, I noticed something hung on the wall above it. A large tapestry of sorts. And depicted upon it was a kirin not unlike Rain Shine standing with hoof reaching out to the hand of a human man who seemed elegantly dressed. But the kirin was clearly not Rain Shine. Her coat was a darker hue and her mane was a bold forest green. And the scales lining her back were a gorgeous blue. The art style seemed consistent with most ancient art styles endemic to the land of the orient back on Earth. Rain Shine took note of my protracted stare and said, "That is my mother. And this was woven to commemorate the successful journey of her people to this land."

"She was beautiful... And is that the emperor who was serving at the time?" I asked while taking a seat upon the bed. I could not quite hear the voices of the kirin milling about in the village below us as only the gentle rushing of leaves the in the forest canopy reached my ears.

"He was. It was an important day." Rain Shine retorted as she used the levitation spell to bring over a large quilt that bore many floral patterns. "Make yourself comfortable. You must be exhausted."

"Yeah, now that you mention it... Like I'm more tired than I should be." I groaned before lying upon the large cushy bed. It was very comfortable, even with the sheets still spread out under me. I could not be bothered to get tucked in under it. Not that I needed to with that quilt draped over me.

Just as I was about to close my eyes while starting at the domed ceiling, Rain Shine approached the side of her bed. "If I may ask a selfish request... May I remain by your side in slumber?"

I admittedly did not entirely expect her to say that. But I could not say no. Her presence alone was comforting. As if my very soul felt at ease around her. "Please... I'd appreciate that."

I watched as the tall and elegant creature before me climbed upon her bed before curling up beside me with her tail draped over my shrouded body and her head right behind mine. I felt her place a kiss upon my head through my hair as she whispered to me. "Rest as long as my must, dear friend. I shall be here when you awaken."

"Thank you..." I muttered as I let out a yawn. At last, I could finally truly relax in a cozy location outside of the uncertainty of the Empty Plains. Especially while in the company of such an angel like Rain Shine. In mere minutes, I soon passed out into a pleasant slumber.

I am not certain how much time passed. Maybe a couple of hours at most. When I awoke, I was greeted by the gentle encompassing embrace of the lovely kirin matriarch slumbering peacefully by my head. I tilted my head back to let my face reach towards her thick green mane to enjoy that subtle pine scent that she had infused in it. Such a refreshing scent. But as I did so, I noticed something else in the air. Something else caught my nose.

I pulled away from Rain Shine and sat up in bed while I set the quilt aside. There was another smell in the air. Something...delicious. Was dinner being prepared? The aroma brought to mind decadent Thai cooking. Stir fry? I could hear the voices of the kirin somewhere below us along with the clinking of metal pots or woks. My mouth was already starting to water. We were going to eat like kings that night. "That smells... Oh man, what else did they bring from the east?"

Before I could even detect her presence, Rain Shine surprised me with a kiss upon my cheek. "Why don't we head on down and show you? You could say our home is a little slice of the east that has migrated west."

I was in no mood to argue with such gourmet treats being prepared. At least that is what my nose was assuming. As I followed my beautiful host off the bed, She looked back at me and asked, "Did you sleep well, my friend?"

"Actually...yeah, I did. I really needed that nap." I replied while flexing my neck. "Really... Thanks for being there with me. I felt.....happier with you by me."

"As did I, my friend." Rain Shine whispered to me as she turned to face me. For a moment, we simply gazed into each other's eyes without a word with the light of the day having turned a lazier shade of orange shining through the canopy beyond the window. I do believe that there was some sort of...inexplicable attraction between us. Just being there in that village made me feel at home. And being in the presence of the kirin only reinforced that feeling. Perhaps she was right. Maybe there truly is a natural symbiotic connection between man and kirin. Rain Shine soon whispered to me, "Your eyes... I have seen many men, but yours... Different somehow... What have you seen before you came to us? The way you look at me... I see appreciation, but also...something more..."

It was a question I did not have at the time. But I did sincerely appreciate being with her. A moment later, we stepped forward and I soon found that incarnation of unfiltered beauty cradled in my arms. She leaned into me as the side of my face rested against her mane. "I don't get it either... But...I'm happy to be here...with you..."

"Dear James... I adore you... Perhaps I have simply forgotten what the company of a man feels like, but...I wish to remain in your arms for as long as I can." Rain Shine whispered to me as her mane rubbed up against my face with that lovely pine scent reaching my nostrils. "Hold me, please... Do not release me..."

I did as I was asked. My arms held that beautiful creature as I basked in her tranquil aura. I felt so drawn to her... I just wanted to hold her. To...love her. I was so confused as well. Why did my heart reach out to this wonderful mare I barely even knew? Was it dangerous? Should I be more cautious? This was all happening so fast...

"Rain... I..." Words escaped my lips as I was filled with such conflicting thoughts. I knew I was not under some sort of spell. Rain Shine herself did not appear entirely sure of herself either as her head pulled away from me so that we may gaze into each other's eyes. A moment of silence passed as we looked at each other with so much uncertainty. For all of her grace, she too looked so vulnerable. "I... I feel like I..."

Finally, words failed me. I could not understand what my heart and soul were telling me. But before I knew it, I felt a touch upon my lips. Our faces drew closer and soon, our lips had joined. Our eyes closed, our lungs simultaneously letting out very long exhales as we basked in each other's presence. A kiss... My first with a kirin. A kirin I barely knew, yet my soul seemed convinced I should not reject her.

It was oh so brief, yet filled me with such a sense of fulfillment and belonging. We soon pulled away as my mind and heart tried to understand what I was feeling. "I don't... I wish I knew what I was feeling... You just make me feel...at peace."

"No, don't feel the need to explain yourself. I too am...confused." She whispered to me as we once again settled into an embrace. "I have seen many human men. Felt their lips upon mine. Felt love come and go between us. But you... What is it about you that sets you apart from them? I feel something...more from you than I felt from them... I feel...so compelled to find out... Because...you make me feel...so appreciated."

"I do appreciate you... I appreciate everyone here. You've made me feel so welcome and wanted... Even moreso than I did on my first day in Ponyville." I whispered to the beautiful mare in my arms. "I don't have an answer though... Not yet. Maybe someday, but not now."

"Yes... No point in pondering over it too much now... This is only your first day among us. We should not pressure you with difficult questions." Rain Shine whispered to me as we all too reluctantly stepped back from each other. I felt a sense of emptiness as my arms released her. In my soul, I wanted to step forward and hold her again. She even lifted a hoof from the floor to step forward, but refrained from doing so at the last second. Rain Shine then inhaled deeply through her nostrils as if to distract herself with the aroma of whatever was cooking down in the village. "Mm... Perhaps a hot meal will soothe our bodies and minds. And they must surely be nearly done. Shall we head on down?"

"Yeah, that smell is getting me hungry too. Let's go." I replied while also starting to feel my hunger starting to suppress my other thoughts. I stepped outside with her while once again, a cluster of vines reached up out of the ground far below and brought an earthen platform to the porch for us to board and ride down. And once I stepped off with Rain Shine, I was greeted by what I could only describe as an outdoor kitchen having been set up with most of the kirin in the village manning multiple stalls with woks and pots set above small fire pits filled with mostly bluish flames. And it all... It all had the look and smell of exotic Asian cuisine. "Ooooh man, that all looks amazing!"

"If there's one thing we pride ourselves on, it's the immense amount of flavor our heritage's cuisine contains. I can promise you that you're in for a treat." Rain Shine said with a knowing smirk. I think she knew exactly what I was in for and was almost cocky about her anticipation. Nightmare Moon soon approached us as the kirin cooks prepared to roll out the red carpet for our taste buds. "Ah, Nightmare...Moon? That's your name, yes? Have my people been accommodating?"

"Yes, it's been a pleasure overseeing them. And... Excuse me a moment." The Princess of Dreams retorted before bringing her wrist to her lips and...wiping something away. "Ack, I can barely contain myself! All of this looks so scrumptious that I can barely resist helping myself to some samples!"

All I could do was laugh at Nightmare Moon's treacherous appetite betraying her regal poise. Even Rain Shine got a hearty chuckle out of her guest's predicament. "Ohohoho, my goodness! Has it truly been so long since you last tasted what the east has to offer?"

A crooked grimace crossed Nightmare Moon's face. "I have...not really had enough time to make any diplomatic visits that far from Canterlot quite yet... It's only been barely more than a year since I took my place beside my sisters upon the throne."

"Then that gives us the honor of being the first to serve you such gourmet delights! You are in for a treat, your highness." Rain Shine said while flashing her a knowing wink. "Now then, let us see what is on the menu tonight..."

Nightmare Moon stepped aside while Rain Shine passed her. In the meantime, Nightmare Moon turned to me and asked, "Did you have a pleasant nap?"

"Mmhm, very pleasant. Rain Shine was...a very accommodating host." I replied while being mindful to not bring up that moment of...unexplainable intimacy we shared. "It feels like...the kirin really are just wonderful people by nature. I haven't felt this welcomed and at home right off the bat since meeting the hippogriffs on Capricorn Island."

"Yes, the kirin are very hospitable, aren't they? Truth be told, they are easily among the most peace-loving people in the world. The kirin are not at all predisposed to feelings of rage." Nightmare Moon said before casting me a smirk. "Which is certainly for the best. It would be wise to not go out of your way to make the kirin angry. You would not like them when they are angry."

"Why? What happens when they get angry?" I asked almost on reflex while feeling like she was hinting at something I could not comprehend.

The Princess of Dreams only response with an even more impish smirk. "Oh, you don't want to know. Just be certain to never antagonize them. The most beautiful of flowers can at times produce the most lethal of poisons."

I slowly turned my head to look at the many kirin cooking away at their outdoor kitchen stalls. My eyes fell upon the flames under the pots and woks. That almost mystical hue of blue that composed most of the fire... Did they conjure that up themselves? Were they able to generate fire magic of a unique polarity? And if that little warning I had just heard was of any connection... "Uh... Heheh... Sure. I'll be good to them. Don't...um...want them sending a wall of flames after me."

"Wise choice. Now then, why don't you make yourself comfortable? I am sure dinner will be served within the hour." Nightmare Moon said before she turned away from me and began to approach Rain Shine in the distance.

Seconds later, I was approached by Autumn Blaze again. "Hey there! Haven't seen you around for a couple of hours. Were you napping somewhere?"

"Actually, yeah. Rain Shine let me nap in her place. And I really needed it." I replied while noticing Autumn starting to give me a bit of an inquisitive stare. "Um... What's with that look?"

"Are you suuuure that's all that happened up there?" The chatty kirin mare asked while leaning a bit closer to me. Almost as if she was trying to mess with me.

"Whoa, hey! We didn't get kinky or anything like that! I get you kirin really dig human men, but I barely even know her. We just took a nap together. Nothing more." I barked while taking a few steps back. The thought of being seduced out of nowhere so soon after arrival was nothing short of a sleazy thought. My standards are higher than that.

Autumn Blaze let out a laugh while she grinned at me. "Oh, I'm just messing with you! Kinda comes with the territory when you're the local standup. And I've even got my routine figured out for the evening!"

I just shrugged my shoulders at that claim. "I don't normally frequent comedy halls, but I'm sure you'll get a chuckle out of me tonight."

"Oh, first-timers are always easy targets. I can guarantee you'll have a good time." She said with an eager retort. But she then looked to her left and said, "Actually, the reason I came over here... There's something I really wanna show you before dinner is ready. Come on! This way!"

"Huh?! Oh, uh... Sure! Wait up!" I called out as she went from a quick trot to prancing away from me. Indeed, as soon as she needed to accelerate beyond a trot, that mare would begin to hop and prance like a doe. I had to break into a jog to keep up.

Autumn Blaze led me to the edge of the village and down a path through the forest. I thought she was leading me back out of the village at first, but I was quick to notice that we were going up a gentle slope instead of descending the path that I had taken up the mountain in the first place. She would slow down to a trot if she started to get too far ahead, but would start prancing on ahead once I had closed the distance. I was very glad to see the path was smoothed out from lots of use. That made it much easier on my bare feet.

Finally, I could see the trees starting to make way up ahead of us. Autumn reached the end of the path before I could and turned back to look at me with a smile on her face. "Come on! You gotta see this!"

"What're we even looking...for... Whoa..." I asked before coming to a stop. The path reached out to a cliffside facing west that led to a drop right back down into the forest that covered the mountain. I could not have seen it from where I was when I first approached the mountain, but the view was very clear from where we were. And our arrival's timing could not have been better. The sky was right in the middle of a sunset as that glowing orb of light slowly descended over the western horizon. "I see why you waited until now to call me up here... Excellent place to watch the sunset."

"I know, right?! This is one of my favorite places to relax at this time of day." Autumn Blaze replied before she set herself down near the edge of the cliff and looked out over the Empty Plains with the dimming light being cast over the fields before us. Her perky voice deepened further as she began to speak with a much more inflective tone as her mood...softened significantly. "Just the way the sun fades over the horizon... Knowing that somewhere way out there, morning is coming right as night begins. Like after a long day, the sun is saying that no matter how rough things get, it'll see us tomorrow after the moon watches over us to take a load of and just...chill for a night. Sunsets...just take all your problems away, don't they?"

"I guess it depends on who you ask...but that is still a lovely thing to say." I said while getting comfortable on the ground beside her. Now that we were alone, it had gotten so quiet. I had been all but surrounded by those happy kirin minutes ago, but now I was all alone with just one. The chattiest of them all, but now even she had reached the point where she could not find any words to speak. At least for a moment.

"Anything you wanna talk about? Anything you wanna say?" Autumn Blaze eventually asked as she glanced at me from the corner of her eye.

I let out a sigh as I tried to find a topic to discuss, but the encroaching silence of our isolation coupled with the soothing sunset left me mostly at a loss of words. "Um... Not really. I listen better than I talk, to be honest."

"You do, huh? Then I think we'll be getting along just fine. I love people who listen when I talk." My host replied while cracking a delighted smile. She then looked out at the horizon as she said, "Like I said, I've never met a human until today. I've heard such good things about them, but never actually got to meet one. And...I'm really glad I got to meet you."

"Likewise, Autumn. You kirin are all good people. I'm glad I found you." I retorted with genuine sincerity. I truly felt at home among those wonderful mares.

"Yeah... I can feel that." Autumn Blaze said softly. Almost uncharacteristically so. Her tone drew my attention. When I looked at her, she looked right back at me with a more subdued smile. The runes on her horn lit up as they were filled with that beautiful icy blue glow. "I know I said I'm getting some really good vibes off you, but... I get this strange feeling that...humans like you are rare. Like...I don't really get it. Like...you really...appreciate us in ways others don't..."

"I think Rain Shine said something like that too." I said while still at a loss of what she meant by that, especially as someone who had never even encountered a human until she met me. I knew that the humans of long ago were on very good terms with the rest of the people of Equestria, but I could not really understand how I could be different from them.

"She did, huh? Funny... I wonder why we get that feeling..." Autumn Blaze muttered while she closed her eyes. "I don't get it myself, but... If I feel hard enough..."

I went still and silent as I saw the runes on her horn glow even brighter. What was she doing? Autumn soon spoke softly while she began to frown almost sorrowfully. "I feel like... I think... Why you feel differently from the rest... Why you...appreciate us so much is because...you've seen the other side."

I felt my heart sink. Was she trying to peer into my mind? Could she even do that? No, I had no reason to believe kirin magic could ever reach into the thoughts of someone. She must have been trying to scan my very soul. If such a thing is even possible. "It's like...you've seen a world that's not like ours. Like you've seen...terrible things. Depressing things... Things you wish you had the power to do something about... Some things you wish you could change, but can't... And you... You had to give up on it all..."

I had nothing to say. She... She was more right than she could ever know. I had not thought about the world of Earth for some time, but her words resonated with me and reminded me of what I had left behind when I chose to remain in Equestria two years ago. All I could do was nod my head in confirmation, even if Autumn could not see me through her squinting eyelids.

"That's...what it feels like. And it sounds like the world you knew.....isn't a world I want to know." Autumn Blaze said quietly before she finally opened her eyes as the glow in the runes on her horn faded. My eyes went wide in worry as she looked at me. Tears were streaming down her face as she spoke with a shaky tone in her voice. "And that... That makes me so glad that you're here instead of there."

I felt compelled to comfort her. While my mood had dipped due to her words digging up unpleasant memories, I at least was not tempted to cry. I held out an arm to the weeping kirin and offered an embrace in case she needed one. She did not object. Autumn Blaze quickly crawled over to me and into my arm as she sat beside me. Her head rested against my chest while my arm wrapped around her securely. Her presence was comforting. I did not want to let go.

"James..." Autumn muttered without even looking at me. "What kind of world did you come from...?"

"That's a question I haven't been asked in a long time." I mumbled as I distinctly remembered the many conversations I had with Lyra Heartstrings over the topic of my people. A topic I had to eventually request that she never approach me on after too many depressing recollections. "And it's a question I don't want to have to answer anymore... All you need to know is that it is a world that I do not want to think about. Not after all the time I've spent in Equestria. And I would like to keep it at that."

"That bad, huh...?" Autumn mumbled as she nuzzled her head and the full frilly mane on it against me. "Then I won't ask... I'm just...glad that you're here now. And maybe... Maybe that's why you love us that much..."

I looked down at her as she looked at me. Even with fresh tears wetting her face, Autumn Blaze began to smile very sincerely. "You've seen a world that's not like ours. So you know...just how valuable this world is, right?"

"You..." I muttered as I pondered this insight. It is true. Earth and Equestria are two worlds that are inherently incompatible. So similar in some ways, but so vastly different in others. Earth is such a chaotic planet, too much of it tainted by human sin. But the world of Equestria... It is so very kind by comparison. And I... I love this world for everything it stands for. "My god, you're right... I love this world for what it is...and what it is not."

"And we love you." Autumn Blaze whispered before she put her arms around me in a sudden and very firm embrace. Her face remained buried in my chest as she spoke quietly to me, "That's got to be why... You understand the value of this world and everything in it...because you've seen a world that isn't this one. That must be why everyone who came before... They didn't see the real value of what they had... They couldn't have. They had not seen your world."

"The grass is always greener, they say..." I muttered while embracing my new friend tightly as my adoration of this wonderful world of Equestria was reinforced. And my drive to protect it only burned hotter as I now had a better understanding of what I was fighting for. And now I had found another cluster of people I must save from whatever is approaching from the east.

No more words were said as the two of us sat there in each other's arms. Just holding and embracing each other as we watched the sun setting over the western horizon. I could only wonder what was happening back in Canterlot and Ponyville with the sun likely still being fairly high above the two towns at that time. But just as the sun was starting to all but disappear from view with the plains spread out before us becoming increasingly dark, Autumn Blaze finally wiggled out of my grasp and stood up with a much happier look in her eyes. "Welp, I think we better head back now. Dinner's probably ready and we should go before it gets way too dark. Things get spooky around here at night."

"Yeah, it does... Like crazy spooky, especially when there are clouds blocking out the moon." I retorted while knowing exactly what she was talking about.

As I started to climb to my feet, Autumn Blaze looked up at me and asked, "You're staying the night, right? Wanna hang at my place? I swear I have room."

"Your house? Well, if you're offering... Sure." I replied while Autumn grinned brightly at my compliance. She was one of my few real friends there in the Grove of Silence. I was sure she would make certain that I would have a good time.

The forest path was getting rather dark as we walked back down the way we had come from. Autumn Blaze stayed by my side the entire way instead of prancing ahead. I soon found out why. Night fell before we could even reach the village, so Autumn used the glowing runes on her horn to serve as a torch to light the area around us. It would have been a much more frightening trek down that path had she not been there with me. It looked like the kirin were not in danger from the wild beasts that may have been roaming the forest at the time, but goodness knows what they might have done to me had I been alone upon being discovered by one.

I noticed light beginning to peek through the trees as the two of us neared the village. And once we stepped out of the path, I was in awe at how different the place was in the dark of the night. Torches had been set up around the village to provide light along with exotic bioluminescent flowers providing very healthy glows to keep the place adequately lit. "Whoa... This almost looks like something out of a dream."

"I know, right?!" Autumn Blaze retorted before beginning to prance ahead to what seemed to be long tables crafted out of interwoven branches from sturdy bushes that had been summon the from the ground. The many kirin of the village were setting out impressive platters lined with such impressive offerings of food that made my mouth water at the mere sight of it. Steaming pad thai, mishmashes of tofu and veggie stir fry being served in lettuce leaves, and so much more that I cannot even remember right now. It truly was a taste of what the Far East had to offer that I had not had the chance to savor in quite some time. Autumn Blaze called out as we approached the dining area, "Hey, girls! We're back!"

I soon found myself seated beside Rain Shine while Nightmare Moon was seated across from me. She looked just as eager to chow down as I was, if not more. And just to add to the ambience, I could hear someone somewhere playing some relaxing folk music that felt like it hailed from the land these kirin once called home. More than likely the work of a few of the locals playing music on instruments from far away. It made for such a refreshing change of pace.

The kirin were very chatty with each other, though I was much more concerned with stuffing my face with this amazing exotic cooking. If I was ever asked, I gave only the highest of compliments to the cooking of the kirin chefs. Although Autumn Blaze eventually did disappear from the tables after a short while. And I soon saw why. While it escaped my attention at first, there was an outdoor stage set up nearby. And with a sudden shine of light upon it, Autumn Blaze took the stage with a wooden funnel floating before her that looked like an antique megaphone. "Helloooo, Grove of Silence! Ready to make some noise?"

Of course. Autumn Blaze had just finished filling her belly and was ready to put on a show. While I cannot recall everything she said since I was far more interested in enjoying my meal, I was caught by surprise by a few lines she said that caused me to join in the laughs with a few chuckles. I really wish I could recall her entire standup routine, but I would never be able to know where to begin when it comes to writing out something like that. But it would be interesting if she and Pinkie Pie got into a standup competition with each other.

It was just such a good time. It felt like I was visiting some big party or festival back in Ponyville. Just surrounded by good people and good friends. It was enough to make me forget entirely about my problems, even if just for an evening. I was especially impressed with what was brought out for dessert. Ice cream balls wrapped in a soft pastry skin of sorts. I think the correct term is...mochi? I was not even going to ask how they manage to freeze food out there with no traces of modern conveniences. But it was all delicious. And so very filling. I had not enjoyed a feast like that in a while.

Once Autumn Blaze had finished her standup routine, the place got quieter while music continued to play from nearby. Almost reluctantly, some of the kirin began to depart from the feast to turn in for the night. But they always came by me to say goodnight while I was quick to bid them pleasant dreams. Although one question did come to mind as there is one little ritual I never miss out on before going to sleep. "Say... Do you have running water here? Or a place to at least wash up?"

"As a matter of fact, we do. Right this way." Rain Shine replied as she began to lead me and Nightmare Moon over to a hut that I assumed was a bathhouse of sorts. And it was. There was a large wooden tub situated in the middle filled with steamy water with a few sconces and glowing plants growing from the corners of the place along with flowering vines hanging across the ceiling. And there were bowls and bars of soap and shampoo set along the rim. It really was impressive what the kirin could do when relying on nothing more than what nature had to offer. "Shall I help you disrobe?"

"Huh?! Oh, no no, I can handle that myself. I'll...uh...be a minute." I retorted while taking note of the sincerity in her voice. There were some stalls with curtains nearby, probably for bathers to dry themselves off. I was quick undress save for my undergarments and grab a towel that was provided on a bench inside the stall. Upon peeking out, I found Rain Shine and Nightmare Moon already lounging in the very large tub. They had already dunked their heads to wet down their manes as I was reminded of just how much volume Nightmare Moon's mane and tail have. "Excuse me, ladies..."

I gingerly stepped into the tub while leaving my towel nearby. Man, it felt good to just sit down and soak in there with the water being deep enough to reach my chest while sitting down. Right as I was starting to get relaxed, I noticed the door upon while Autumn Blaze trotted in with a wooden tray holding cups of cold tea. "A little something to cool your insides?"

"Many thanks, Autumn Blaze. Some sweet tea does sound delightful." Nightmare Moon said as our guest set the tray right upon the water and allowed it to float around. Very clever use, like something out of a tropical hotel. She then descended into the tub and made her way over to my side while using some levitation magic to bring over a cup to herself. Upon taking a peek, I found the tea to be a very fruity tea sweetened with juices. Fantastic stuff.

"All this stuff natural?" I asked while examining the soap and the like that were readily available over the edge of the tub.

"Entirely made with natural ingredients. All we need, we acquire from that which nature can provide." Rain Shine explained in brief while she sipped from her cup of tea. Her horn's runes were filled with a magic glow as a bowl of shampoo came over to her.

Autumn Blaze insisted on doing most of the work on my upper body and head. I really did appreciate her assistance while I just sat there as she rubbed suds and fragrant fluids all over me and into my hair. Rain Shine and Nightmare Moon engaged in quiet conversation for a time while it sounded like the bulk of the topics were about Celestia and Luna. But as Autumn Blaze began dumping bucket after bucket of water over my head to rinse my hair, she then asked me quietly, "How am I doing?"

"Very good. No complaints." I retorted while just wanting to chill as I let her do as she pleased. With the water in the tub becoming increasing murky with cleansing substances, I felt it would not be necessary to bother washing myself much below my chest aside from rubbing myself a bit.

"Quick question?" Autumn Blaze asked once she ceased rinsing me. I looked her way while she asked, "How about a hug?"

"For you? Sure, as much as you want." I chuckled before reaching out and taking the soaked little lady into my arms. She was a delight to hold and I especially found myself quite taken with stroking my hand down her back. The scales that lined her backside with as smooth and slick as those of a snake, especially when wet.

"Mmm, you're so much better to hug when you've got nothing in the way." Autumn Blaze muttered while getting increasingly clingy. She lost herself in my embrace while just leaning into my arms. I decided to allow her to rest there as long as she needed. And I did appreciate the pleasant aura she was giving off.

I noticed Rain Shine scoot a bit closer to me before I found myself being tenderly nuzzled in an almost motherly fashion with her gorgeous mane heavily weighted down by water. Such a radiant creature. I savored her touch and that indescribable allure her very being exudes. Words were not needed. I just leaned gently into her affections while never losing my grip on a euphoric Autumn Blaze.

Unfortunately, my thoughts eventually returned to the dilemma at hand after a series of thoughts flowing through my head set off a domino effect until I remembered why I was even out there in the first place. Such unfortunate timing too. But as I took note of the two precious kirin in my company, an observation came to mind. They had never once mentioned what had happened back when the last emperor of the human empire launched an insurrection against Equestria. How could they have not known? Surely they would have mentioned it by then.

I took into consideration their adoration of their human neighbors and how the very reason Rain Shine's tribe was even out there in the first place was because of that symbiotic attraction to one another. Even Nightmare Moon herself seemed cautious to avoid directly bringing the nature of our presence out there up. Still, I was most curious of what they knew. And so I carefully asked, "Say... Um... I'm just wondering. Do you know what happened to the humans who once lived out here?"

Autumn Blaze did not even respond to my words. She was far too absorbed into my embrace. However, Rain Shine soon cast me a most somber gaze. "I am afraid the exact nature of humanity's absence upon the plains. They...ceased visiting us before silence filled the Empty Plains around us."

That last line... It caught my ear. It did not sound in line with what I had been told about the mutual love kirin and mankind held for each other. "They...stopped coming around? Why? I thought humans...feel a sort of mutual draw towards kirin. I mean...even I feel it. I can't describe it, but...that attraction is there."

"Yes, they do. It is just... Everything that could have gone wrong that night...did go wrong." Rain Shine muttered as her eyes gazed off in the distance at nothing at all. I said nothing. Nightmare Moon too remained silent as she watched and listened. "A young man who frequently stopped by... He was out on the plains to hunt for wild game. And...he was beset by a pack of wolves..."

I felt my breath catch in my throat, but I could not bring myself to interrupt. Rain Shine continued in solemn recollection of that dark day. "He struggled to escape and just narrowly came close enough to the Grove of Silence for us to detect the commotion. I emerged from the forest with many of my people to drive off the wolves, but by then... Oh, the sorry sight he was..."

"You do not have to continue if the memory is too painful..." Nightmare Moon muttered softly once Rain Shine took a moment to collect herself.

"No... No, I can continue..." Our host said with a sigh as she dried the tears that had started to form along the edges of her eyes. "We took him into the village... Spent the next few hours doing all we could to save him... But...his heart ceased to beat..."

I felt my heart sink at such a thought. Their friend...more or less died in their arms. A haggard breathe escaped Rain Shine's throat as she displayed signs of a more...volatile emotion. And as she did...I noticed an almost fiery glow beginning to emit from her mane as it seemed to be drying itself rapidly. Like some sort of...ghostly flame was trying to set her hair alight. "We... We were consumed by so many emotions... We wept and howled, our sorrow and rage filling the air around us. But at that time... A search party had arrived in search of the missing hunter. And they... They saw us..."

I was starting to understand what I had been told of a kirin's wrath. Especially as I saw that glow in Rain Shine's perfectly dry mane fade. Some sort of...frightful form they assume when consumed by rage? Rain Shine turned her gaze to the ceiling as she spoke quietly, "They fled... And after that night, not a single human came to us. We assumed they had thought that the Grove of Silence had been conquered by monsters and were too frightened to even approach the place. I instructed my people to not set out to try and establish contact. We scared them off. It would be up to them to summon the courage to investigate and see that we were still here. However..."

Nightmare Moon and I remained quiet to allow her to speak. I dare not interrupt. "One day... The plains became quiet... Much too quiet. And as the days went by, we confirmed that we could not hear anyone out there. So we decided it would be best to investigate. And when we arrived at the nearest towns... It was...so surreal. No signs of a struggle. No implications that there had been an invasion. It was as if they...just vanished into thin air. The plains...had gone empty."

I was terrified at the thought of revealing to her the nature of humanity's disappearance. It would break her heart to know that they who they cherished most had sought to subjugate all nonhuman life in Equestria. Even so, why had they never invaded the Grove of Silence once that rebellion took place? Was it because the people of the Empty Plains were still frightened over what they might find in the Grove of Silence? Or were the kirin the one race that the emperor could not bring himself to enslave? A question I would never have an answer to.

"But they were not entirely gone... We listened to word carried from far away. There were still humans left in the world of Equestria, but... They became so distant. Scattered far and wide." Rain Shine explained sadly while just looking and sounding so forlorn. "And then...one by one, those voices began to go silent. Until...we could no longer hear the words of a human tongue. We mourned... Humanity had ceased to be in this world."

I began to reach out to her. Such wonderful memories of better days she must have had. And before I could even reach her, Rain Shine turned to me in tears and pushed herself up against me with her mane caressing my face. "You know not what your presence here has given us, my friend... We had all but forgotten the aura of a human heart. This...ambience that only a human soul can provide."

"Yeah, I know... And I'm glad to be here." I whispered to her while putting my arm around her. I could not even begin to bring myself to reveal the true nature of the loss of their beloved neighbors. Some things...are better off forgotten and unsaid.

"James... I must apologize... Now that you know why humanity began to shun us..." Rain Shine began to say before she looked at me with such an apologetic gaze. "When we heard your approach... The sounds of a man who was armed and armored... We feared the worst. That you were approaching in order to..."

"You...thought I was there to murder you all..." I muttered with a faint feeling of horror in my heart. If they did indeed believe that monsters had taken over the Grove of Silence, it would be no stretch of the imagination that the human empire would have sent its mightiest champions to wipe them all out before they could set their sights on other settlements.

"It was a possibility we had to consider. That was why we...approached you the way we did." Rain Shine whispered before placing a kiss upon my cheek as she began to smile gratefully. "But there was no malice in your heart. Nothing of the sort. You were merely curious. And we were happy to have you among us, my dear."

I reeled just slightly from that show of affection, but by then I had come to understand how starved she and the others were for human interaction. Like something had been missing from their lives for far too long. And even then... I too felt like their presence was filling a place in my heart I did not even know was there. Unfortunately, with that topic now fresh on our minds, Rain Shine cast me a most concerned gaze. "But... I must ask. Why are you dressed for war? Out here, where there are no empires to wage war with? No kingdoms to clash against?"

My eyes turned to look at Nightmare Moon. What would be the wisest response to give to that question? Especially since the one responsible for the crisis facing Equestria was someone Rain Shine must have personally known back in the day. The Princess of Dreams slowly shook her head from side to side. Interpreting her response as a sign that I should not drop any names or titles, I replied with the intention of only saying what I could without risk. "Good question... The two of us had learned of a new threat coming from way out east. Deep in the Empty Plains. So we set out to deal with it."

"You seek to do battle...with an approaching evil?" Rain Shine asked with a glimmer of fear in her eyes. "I do have faith that you know what it is you are doing, but... Are you certain that you re prepared for what you may face?"

It would have been a lie to say that I had any real confidence in what I was doing out there. I had no idea what to expect, but what I had heard earlier... From that phantom under the forest floor... Now I was all the more certain that this mission would end poorly. Still, I tried to at least soothe her worries. "To be honest, we don't really know what we'll find out there. But Nightmare Moon is a force to be reckoned with. If she's with me, I'm sure we'll pull through. There's no one I'd rather have by my side right now than her."

I noticed the Princess of Dreams crack me a pleasant smile as she acknowledged my gratitude for her presence. However, I noticed Rain Shine's magic glow fill the runes on her horn for a moment. She looked me in the eye with a somber yet stern stare. "You lie."

A chill flowed down my spine. What had she detected? As if to answer my unspoken question, Rain Shine spoke what she had just learned. "I sense no hope in you... Only resignation. You... You truly do not expect to survive?"

I could not even try to provide a response to that. I averted my eyes in shame, knowing that I had been found out. Her voice shaky, Rain Shine cupped my cheek with her hoof. "Then...remain here with us. Please... We will do everything we can to shield you from whatever evil may come here. We will keep you safe and happy... Please... I... I can't bear to see you fade away..."

There was such sincerity in those eyes. And I believed everything she said. But I knew better. And I knew there was someone and some place I had to keep safe. "Trust me... I have no expectations over what we may find, but... I have to do this. Because no one else will. What is coming is something Equestria has no idea of how to face. And I'd prefer it if they didn't get themselves involved anyway."

I then brought my hand to the hoof resting upon my cheek as I gazed back into her beautiful eyes. "And I want to protect you all too."

She recoiled from those words as if struggling to find a retort. Before anything else could be said, Nightmare Moon spoke up. "Have faith in us, Rain Shine. Whatever doubts lurk in his heart, I will see to it hat he returns home alive. Even if it takes my last breath, I swear that this man will survive the trials ahead."

"And I believe you, your highness..." Rain Shine whispered before looking back to me. "Just... Promise me. When this new evil has been vanquished... Return here and tell us. So we may know that you have succeeded."

"I swear I'll stop by on my way back. I wouldn't miss it for the world." I said with a slight smile upon my lips. That at least seemed to calm her down. But as I started to relax with my drink again, I noticed out of the corner of my eye that Autumn Blaze was looking up at me with a silent forlorn gaze. What had she heard?

Finally, the four of us decided it was time to get out of the tub and get ready for bed. With a towel around my waste, I took a stroll through the softly lit village to find the latrines before bed. I have to say that for as generally primitive kirin society is in the Grove of Silence, they have an impressive way of handling sanitation. Any sort of waste is swallowed by the earth itself with the use of their magic and moved through the ground far away from any water sources. They really are masters of nature.

After saying good night to Nightmare Moon and Rain Shine, I followed an unusually quiet Autumn Blaze to one of the huts on the forest floor. And upon stepping inside, I found that the furnishings were unusually modern for such an isolated location. There was even a comfy red sofa against the wall. "Heh... You ladies sure hear a lot of new stuff through the grapevine, huh?"

"Yeah, we do..." Autumn Blaze muttered as she turned on an oil lamp near her bed. It was spacious enough for me to rest in without trouble. But as she relaxed upon it, I saw Autumn gaze back at me with a look of unease. "I heard... You're out here looking for trouble, right?"

"Oh... No, not really. I out here to stop trouble from escaping the Empty Plains." I replied as I set aside my towel now that I was just in my boxers. I was more than just a bit tired. I was thoroughly exhausted and ready for a proper sleep in this home away from home. "It'll be OK though... I'm not alone in this."

"I really wanna believe you... But..." Autumn Blaze muttered as she scooted closer to me. "I can feel it, you know... You're not so sure about all this."

"Yeah... I'm not. I'm no warrior. I'm not some champion or anything like that. I'm just someone who wants to protect the world I love." I replied without looking at her. I did not want to dwell on such a somber topic before bed, but Autumn Blaze was not helping with that.

"Yeah... I can feel that..." She mumbled before I looked at her and saw such a fearful look in her eyes. She began to pull herself up until her hooves were pressed against my chest. "Please... You don't have to do this. I've never met a human until you came along. And... I can't even describe this feeling. It's like now that I know this feeling, I... I don't wanna let go..."

"Autumn... We really should get to..." I muttered as I found this shift in her mood to be almost alarming. It was not like her to be this overtly sentimental.

"No one appreciates Equestria like you do! They haven't seen the other side! But you have! And that's why...you love us so much..." She all but wept with tears forming in her eyes. "Please... Just stay here. I swear I'll make you smile every single day. I'll make you laugh... Make you happy to be alive..."

"Autumn..." I muttered as I felt that powerful yet unexplainable sensation again. The kind that only a human man can feel in the presence of the kirin, I suppose. I put my arms around her as our eyes locked. "Thank you for being so good to me... I appreciate it."

"And I'll keep being good to you. I've only just met you, but I... Just being with you... It... It feels so..." She whispered to me. I felt such a powerful urge I could not understand. And I am sure she felt it too. Before we even knew what was happening, my eyes closed. And I felt my lips upon hers.

I heard her voice calm. If only now because she could not speak. Soft comfortable moans hummed in Autumn's throat as I too savored this moment of mutual peace. What is it about the kirin... I savored her very presence. And soon, our lips parted as I was pushed to the bed while our tongues began to dance.

Such a powerful kiss... Was it out of love? Primal lust? No, there was something more to it... Something precious. Something I do not have an answer to at this time of writing. I so very dearly appreciated Autumn Blaze at that moment. Clinging to her as she held me. But thought the darkness of my closed eyelids, I could see a type of light beginning to poke through the thin flesh. And when that kiss ended and I gazed up at her...

I was in for quite a shock. Autumn's mane had essentially ignited in the form of wavering ghostly blue fire. Her form was alarming, yet...oddly beautiful. I felt warmth, but it did not feel like her mane was in danger of igniting anything around us. Tears flowed down her face as she spoke mournfully to me. "Please... Don't go. I'll make sure you're always happy here... We all will. Someone like you... You deserve to be happy."

I felt so torn over the offer. I was sure that she would indeed see to it that I would have a happy life among her people in the Grove of Silence, but I knew better. I had a home to return to. A life to go back to. And yet... Knowing how far out of the way the Grove of Silence is... It made my heart heavy. How would I ever reliably visit such a wonderful place again? I reached up to Autumn Blaze and caressed her pretty face as I said, "I know you would, but... I have family and friends waiting for me... I'll have to go home when this is all over..."

"Go... Good... Good, keep saying that..." She muttered with a sniffle while rubbing her nose with her wrist. "Keep saying that... Make sure you come back just fine. Because... I'll... I'll miss you so bad if you don't..."

Ever so gradually, the flames that composed her mane faded to reveal her lovely locks of auburn hair. I was not about to question it. If anything, the form of a kirin is heavily tied to their emotions. Especially the more powerful ones. But she still continued to gaze down at me while her hoof tenderly caressed my face. "James... Promise me something... Come back and see us again sometime. You know we all really appreciate you. Because you appreciate us."

"I will, Autumn. That's a promise." I whispered back to her as my fingers dragged themselves through that luxurious thick mane. Minutes later, Autumn pulled the sheets down as a pleasant cool night breeze blew through her house to provide some excellent circulation. The two of us were tucked in while the lamp nearby was shut off for the night. All the while, I felt her head tucked under my chin while I draped my arm over her. I felt so...blessed to have her there with me. In my embrace. All too eager for sleep, I soon drifted off to the realm of dreams.

When morning came, I awoke to a rather amusing sight. Autumn Blaze was resting atop my chest and was showing a big smile. "Wakey wakey, James. Sleep well?"

"To be honest..." I groaned as I sat up with her rolling off me. I reached high with both arms and stretched as hard as I could. "I... Uh... I think that might've been the best round of sleep I've had in days."

"Nice!" Autumn said in glee. Her tone was a refreshing change of pace from how somber she was last night. She then looked up at me and muttered, "I...uh...slept like a rock too. I mean I usually do, but...being in your arms made it even better."

"Heh... You're welcome." I retorted as I pushed myself to the bed's edge and sat there with my legs off the side. All too soon, I came to realize that I would have to depart before long. Autumn Blaze seemed to understand what I was thinking and nuzzled up against me with her eyes gazing up at me inquisitively. Ii knew what she wanted to say. "I can't stay..."

"I know... But you're always welcome here. We'll always be happy to see you." She said softly before placing a kiss upon my cheek. "And... That thing we did... That felt...amazing. I don't even know what that was, but... Wow..."

"That was...a kiss. A very deep kind of kiss. It's...um...something only those who are very much in love with each other do." I explained while still barely able to understand what drove me to do that.

"Oh... Like the really romantic stuff then." Autumn muttered before looking at me out of the corner of her eye. "But...does that mean...we are...?"

"Love like that doesn't blossom overnight, Autumn. I know that by now. I...don't know why we did that." I mumbled while starting to climb to my feet. I was in the mood for a hot bath before breakfast. "But...I... I did appreciate it."

"James...?" Autumn Blaze spoke before I looked back at her. Without a shred of glee or levity, she then spoke with the utmost sincerity. "I'm glad I got to meet you."

"Likewise... You're...a spot of sunshine out here in the Empty Plains." I replied while finding myself deeply appreciating her all the more by then.

Autumn Blaze looked at me with a smile as she said, "You gonna go wash up first? I'll go ahead and do your laundry while you're at it."

"Really? Thanks. Just...um...set them inside the bathhouse when your done drying them." I replied before getting my towel around my waist and kicking off my boxers for her to wash with the rest of my stuff. I very firmly gripped my towel to keep it from falling as I made my way over to the bathhouse for a cleansing soak to start my day.

A while later, I stepped out of the bathhouse with a clean set of clothes that Autumn Blaze had dropped off for me. Rested and clean, I was invited over to what looked like an outdoor cafeteria as breakfast was served up. And once again, it was fantastic exotic cuisine from far away in the east. I sat at a table molded from a sturdy bush growing from the ground itself as Rain Shine, Nightmare Moon, and Autumn Blaze joined me. "Man, do you girls always eat like queens out here?"

"Well, it never gets old. Guess that means it's always pretty awesome, huh?" Autumn Blaze replied while setting out our wooden trays lined with decadent cooking. I did not have much to say at that point while everyone else at the table conversed. I was more interested in savoring such a fantastic treat for my tongue.

Tragically, Nightmare Moon wasted no time in pointing out the obvious once everyone in the village had finished breakfast. "As much as we have appreciated your hospitality, we really must be departing soon. It was so good to be here, Rain Shine."

As if part of some sort of hive mind, every single kirin in the village looked our way. I looked around at each and every one of them. I wish I could have had more time to get to know them, but fate just was not in the mood to cooperate at the time. Rain Shine sighed as she looked back and forth at the two of us. "It truly was a blessing to have you both here... Please, do come back and visit as soon as you can."

"We will... Really. Thank you." I said softly before approaching the ring of bamboo that marked where my armor's liquid form was being held. Autumn Blaze followed me with my helmet and the Lunar Shield being carried in her magical grasp. Almost reluctantly, she bid the bamboo stalks retreat into the ground to reveal the puddle of liquid metal.

"I truly wish you could stay longer, my friends..." Rain Shine said as I placed my foot into the puddle to allow my armor to creep itself over my body and return to its majestic hardened form. In the meantime, Nightmare Moon had retrieved her own armor and was securing each component to her body piece by piece. "You will return, won't you?"

"Of course I will... I could never settle with just one visit to this slice of paradise." I retorted while feeling such a connection to the may kirin around me as they all gazed solemnly at me. I had only really gotten to know Autumn Blaze and Rain Shine. If only I had time to get acquainted with the rest... Although a thought did flash through my mind through my mind just then. "Actually, before we head out... Could I ask a favor?"

Rain Shine promptly nodded to me. "Name it."

"Yesterday, I had heard some testimony from...someone that...something was approaching from the east. But..." I began to explain before I found the right words to say. "You can listen to things happening around the world where plant life is growing, right? Can you listen to see if there's anything unusual out there right now?"

The kirin matriarch cast me a rather uncertain gaze, but she did as I requested. A large bellflower was summoned from the ground before Rain Shine held her ear to it. The face she made while listening in... Her expression spoke volumes. "This...sound..."

We all stepped closer, the many kirin around us looking and sounding intensely curious. Nightmare Moon then asked, "Do you hear something?"

"So many... From...the west...?" Rain Shine asked before turning her gaze to the western edge of the village. But why the west? The enemy was not approaching from there. And I knew for a fact that Celestia and Luna would not dare send out the call for their people to march off to war. I knew we would not be receiving reinforcements. As if to confirm my thoughts, Rain Shine held her ear to the flower again before speaking a bit more loudly. "No, the east...! Yes, there is...indeed something out there to the east."

"Whoa, there is?! What is it?!" Autumn Blaze asked while we all listened in closely to whatever Rain Shine had to say.

"So many... The clinking of metal... So many that the earth quakes with their march... What could it be?" Rain Shine muttered with a look of both confusion and unease in her eyes. As if she detected an ill omen.

"Then there is a danger approaching. Thank you for confirming this, Rain Shine. Now we know exactly what to listen for." Nightmare Moon said now that she was completely suited up in her set of barding. I then affixed the Lunar Shield to my arm and set my helmet upon my head. The kirin around me looked on in awe as the ethereal helmet plume emerged from its backside. "We must be off. But we shall return."

With some hesitation, I looked around. I did not want to have to walk back down the path I had come from. It would feel too sad to take that route. Instead, I turned my gaze to the path leading up to that cliff vista Autumn Blaze had introduced me to. She must have known what I was thinking since Autumn then said, "How about we all see you off?"

"Hm? You wish to see us out?" Nightmare Moon asked with understandable confusion.

"No, she means the...scenic route out. Over there." I said while pointing over to the only other way out of the village. A minute later, Nightmare Moon and I began to make our way over to the path with the village's entire population in tow.

What started as a calm stroll began to turn into a determined jog. I felt compelled to pick up speed as I thought it would be wise to get a running start if I was going to take flight from the cliff. Sure enough, as I began to move faster, so too did everyone else. The thundering of galloping hooves reached my ears as the entire kirin herd rushed along the path with Nightmare Moon and Rain Shine at my sides. I looked over at the beautiful matriarch beside me, seeing her regal form displaying speed and power befitting her stature as she effortlessly matched me in speed. She smiled at me as I smiled back. A look of hope was in her eyes.

Moments later, I saw the forest clearing up to reveal the western sky. I began to spread my armor's wings while Nightmare Moon did the same with hers. And right as we were about to reach the cliff, I heard Autumn Blaze call out to us. "Go get 'im!"

With wings spread, we soared without stopping. The Princess of Dreams and I took to the air without trouble and began to clear the mountain below us. But I could not help turning around to look back. I saw them. Every last one of the kirin from the Grove of Silence were lined up in a row along the cliff to see us both off. Somewhere in my heart, I wanted to cry. It...hurt to see them becoming more and more distant as I drifted backward upon my wings.

I promised myself that I would return. They cherished me as much as I cherished them and it would be cruel to them to not return. As we flew up and other the mountain to begin flying east, Nightmare Moon and I shared a gaze. We had no words. All we could do was focus on the eastern horizon.

I have not seen what is out there, but I now have a decent mental picture of what to expect. All I can do as I sit here writing this after a long day of trekking east again is hope that when we finally do reach the approaching enemy forces, we will be ready.

By god, I hope we are ready when that day comes.....

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