It was early in the morning—around 7 o’clock, I believe—when I went for a slow, leisurely trot around the gardens behind my cottage.

“Eat up, everyone,” I told my animals, giving them their daily breakfast.

To my birds, I fed birdseed, insects, and worms; to my squirrels, acorns and other nuts; to my otters, plenty of fish; and to my most special animal friend—my bunny, Angel—tons of vegetables and fruits, including lettuce and carrots!

All the while, I hummed a quiet but joyous tune, enjoying every second of my trot.

I felt the soft grass and fertile soil beneath my hooves, listened to the gentle breeze as it whistled through the gardens, and smelled the pleasant aromas of the colorful flowers—many and varied—growing there.

“EEP!” I gasped upon spotting a dark shadow, which intruded on my property like a raccoon foraging in the night!

A towering, white alicorn mare was standing face-to-face with me; she was wearing a tiara on her head and a necklace around her neck, and her Cutie Mark was the Sun, on which my life and my animals’ lives depended every single day.

She whispered, “I’m not here to harm you—I promise.”

I lay down flat on the grass and covered my eyes with my front hooves, praying for dear life that the alicorn would keep her promise to me.

The alicorn also lay down on the grass, hoping to meet me at my level instead of frightening me away.