I strode down the long tunnel at a slow, unhurried pace, my gaze swinging this way and that. Though there were many jobs to do and plans to think up, I had at least an hour or so of free time. Granted, I was using that free time to try and think of new ways to help my little ponies, but that hardly counted.

At the moment I was simply observing them, and walking amongst them as they settled in for the night. All but a trio of watch ponies were bedding down or relaxing amongst their fellows. It was an adorable sight, watching all those ponies gather into small groups and chat amongst themselves.

In one narrow branching tunnel I observed a mother and father holding their sleeping foal and smiling fondly. Arrayed around them was what limited personal effects they had managed to bring with them. The side passage had thankfully been cleaned out, meaning that it was at least a roughly square room without any spikes sticking out at odd angles.

Imperfect, but getting there.

I moved on and nearly stepped on a middle-aged mare laying near the wall, her hooves sticking straight up in the air. The sight would have been distressing, had I not heard the loud snoring that was coming from the pony. Others like her lay in slightly less awkward positions, lying beneath what few blankets that had survived the journey.

Continuing deeper, I passed by a slightly larger branch that itself had two smaller sections jutting off from it. This one contained a herd nearly six strong, whose members were either laying in a heap or were sipping tea while chatting. It was an adorable sight, and I exchanged a brief wave with the three chatting ponies who thankfully didn't bow or anything like that.

I could tell that they wanted to, but between my stern order not to and their own exhaustion, they didn't. I watched them for a moment longer while my mind wandered down the path of curiosity.

These herds I had learned, were fairly common, especially amongst the poor who gathered together for safety. Pooling their resources, these odd family units were fairly common, as the ponies had a more lax view on child rearing. Though it irked me slightly for reasons I couldn't quite put my finger on, it was still a good idea and certainly wasn't immoral.

I chalked up my discomfort to whatever lingering humanity had stuck in the back of my mind. Unlike the rest of me which remained from my old life, this small speck was something I was eager to rid myself of. I wasn't on Earth, and the customs of my home were not only different, but here they would be most unwanted.

With that thought in mind, I walked on, making my way down deeper into the earth, careful to avoid any more sleeping ponies. Though I was tempted to stop a few times, especially near Crystal Cadance and Earth Break’s home, I resisted that urge. Not only was it late but I could sense that they were becoming rather intimate with one another at the moment.

I didn't even have to look or activate any of my powers, I could just feel the passion through the door. Though perhaps door was a bit generous, as it was a simple slab of stone fitted into the entrance to their tunnel home. Regardless, I could sense their love beginning to bloom and felt slightly invigorated by the sensation.

There was something about the knowledge that they were relaxed that gave me a bit extra pep to my step. They were at home, even if that home was a series of winding tunnels that gently sloped into the earth.

Regardless they were happy, so thus I was as well.

A few minutes later and I had reached the end of the section of tunnels that were habited by ponies. Here what little supplies they had managed to locate or haul with them were kept, piled into heaps amongst the natural stone. With all the focus being on the rest of the tunnels, here it was much more winding, with few stalactites being removed.

Here I was tempted to stop but didn't, as there was an odd pull coming from deeper within the earth. I could sense someone was down here, someone who was feeling a bit… lonely. With my attention turned forward once more, I trod slowly but surely down the winding path.

There, deep in the bowels of the earth I found a rather startled young mare who was trying to hide behind a rock. It was a sorry sight, with their body trembling so bad that I could almost hear their teeth chattering from where I stood. A candle sat smoking nearby, having quickly been snuffed when she no doubt heard me approach.

“Come on out little pony,” I whispered. “I won't hurt you.”

The pony seemed to consider my offer for a moment before peeking out from around the corner and igniting the candle. She then peered up at me, revealing that her tiny golden eyes contained as much fear as they did curiosity. Stepping out from behind her cover revealed that she wore leather armor, and had at her side a dagger.

The rest of her supplies, like a bow and quiver of arrows, rested against the wall next to a sleeping roll. It was a rather sorry sight, but what really grabbed me was the fact that I couldn't recall seeing this pony before.

“You have been avoiding me,” I reasoned.

“I… have,” murmured the mare, pawing the ground nervously. “I did not wish to trouble you with my presence.”

I hummed softly, before seating myself on a small jut out of rock. “Come, sit. Let us talk.”

The mare reluctantly did so, sitting down next to the candle, and removed her dagger before fidgeting quietly in the near-total dark. After she had done so I noticed that her fur was a light green, her mane was the yellow of wheat and her cutie mark was of two crossed arrows. She was also fairly well-muscled and she clearly knew how to use her dagger given the ease with which she handled it.

“You were a guard,” I began.

“I was a tracker,” she corrected, her tone low and scared. “I had been conscripted by the inquisition to help them locate those who had um… escaped.”

“You mean my flock,” I offered.

The pony winced and nodded.

“Yet you joined them,” I pointed out.

“I couldn't in good conscience do what they asked of me but refusing would mean death,” she murmured. “I did what I could to lead my squad astray but they caught on quickly.”

“Left with no other choice, you joined the refugees,” I reasoned.

“No,” she replied softly. “I could have ran or hid. I’m actually quite good at that, contrary to what you might believe.”

I chuckled. “Go on.”

The pony fidgeted with her hooves. “I could have left, returned home, and gone on the run, but I couldn't. I had to help. So I um… did that.”

“Yet now that they are safe you have not left,” I pointed out.

“I don't want to,” she admitted. “In my old life, I had a cottage and a mountain of debt left from my gambling mother. Here at least I have the chance to aspire to more if you will allow it.”

The ponies voice was hopeful, but quiet, weighed down by guilt.

“You wish to live amongst the faithful, but you have hidden from my sight. Why? Do you fear retribution?” I pressed, careful to make my tone kind and not accusatory.

“Um sort of?” she admitted. “I admit I really don't want to get squished, but I also don't think you would do that.

“Well that's good,” I muttered.

“I just didn't know what to do,” she remarked. “So I did what I always do when I panic, I hid.”

I laughed aloud. “Silly girl. You need not dwell in shadows. Noone will bear you any ill will for your part in this.”

As the mare ruminated on what I said, I mentally went over what they had told me, considering it carefully. I hadn't detected any outright lies, though they also hadn't quite been one hundred percent truthful. Their own guilt wasn't considerable though, so I chalked it up to ponies being overly emotional little cuties.

“Alright,” she muttered after a long pause. “I’ll do it.”

“Wonderful,” I declared, sticking out my hand. “It's good to have you aboard.”

“T-thanks,” she muttered, awkwardly shaking my hand with her hoof. “The name’s Fleet Hoof by the way, and I am- er was. A ranger.”

“It's good to have you, Fleet Hoof. Let's find you a nicer spot to sleep,” I offered, rising from my seat and gesturing back the way we came.

“Thank you so much. You have no idea how creepy it is down here,” Fleet Hoof remarked. “I swear I heard something scratching on the wall.”

I raised a nonexistent eyebrow at this and walked over to the wall in question while Fleet Hoof gathered their belongings. Leaning close, I used a bit of my power to send out a pulse beyond the stone barrier and into the space beyond. I was immediately surprised to find that there were indeed more tunnels back there, ones which were quite extensive.

A quick check on my own internal map discovered that I had indeed discovered these before. I had merely assumed they were a good distance from the current series of passages my ponies inhabited. This turned out to be incorrect, as only five or so feet behind the wall lay this other series of underground spaces.

“Gaea?” whispered a voice.

I turned around and waved a dismissive hand in the air. “It's nothing. There is indeed a tunnel not far from this one but there is a good five feet between it and us.”

“Oh uh, that's good. Do you know if there's anything living back there?” Fleet Hoof asked.

“I’m not sure,” I admitted. “It doesn't feel like it, but my senses haven't fully returned to me so I cannot be certain.”

“I’m not sure what's worse. If my mind made it all up or if there actually is something down there,” Fleet Hoof murmured.

I hummed thoughtfully to myself but said nothing, merely considering my possibilities. It certainly was feasible that there were things living back there, but I couldn't detect any connection to the surface. Whatever was living back there was in a closed ecosystem, meaning it either evolved down there or got trapped somehow.

“Let's get moving. I think the Quick Quill was just putting on some tea,” I exclaimed.

“Oh that would be wonderful,” Fleet Hoof remarked.

Friday was a bit different, as I decided to spend the majority of my time playing matchmaker. Now I know what you’re probably thinking, but I couldn't help myself, work may need to get done but ponies in love are adorable. I guess there was also an argument to make about needing to increase our numbers, but that was secondary in my mind.

There were other benefits like making them happier, and thus increasing their loyalty to me, but again, that was tertiary. I just liked these adorable little buggers, and seeing them get all goo goo eyed at each other was funny. To that end, I was watching Short Sale observe a trio of ponies all chiseling away at the entrance to the main tunnel complex.

Inside they were widening chimneys in order to improve the air quality while others were generally making it more orderly. These three were increasing the width of the entrance with the intent being to allow carts the ability to enter. To this end, they were hacking away at the stone with picks, removing chunks of stone to be carted off elsewhere.

“Greetings, Short Sale,” I announced.

“Oh crap,” Short Sale winced. “You just about scared me half to death.”

“Good thing I didn't. I don't think I can heal death,” I remarked.

Short Sale chuckled. “Wouldn't that be nice.”

“Quite,” I replied, leaning down in front of him and gesturing to his stumps. “May I take another look?”

“Of course,” he answered. “They were a bit itchy after those odd crystal scabs fell off, but other than that I can't really complain.”

“Well you’d certainly have the right to whine at least a little bit,” I remarked.

The stallion chuckled again. “True. Though there ain't much point to complainin. Lotsa folk got problems we can't exactly fix.”

I nodded and did my best to listen to him while I inspected his injuries a little closer. Though initially, I had done this only as an excuse to talk to him, I had found something strange. A tiny nub of crystal had sprouted from the center of each of his stumps and was growing outwards.

“You seem to be sprouting crystals,” I pointed out.

“What now?” Short Sale exclaimed, hastily inspecting what remained of his forelegs. “Well, would ya look at that. How did I not notice that?”

“I don't know,” I admitted. “I think it is seeking to replace your damaged limbs somehow.”

“How do ya know that?” he asked.

“It's odd…” I murmured, inspecting the tiny crystal closely. “I can feel my magic lingering inside of you as if it is still attempting to heal you.”

“But I’m fine now,” Short Sale declared.

“I wouldn't say that,” I replied, tapping on his stump leg.

“Huh,” Short Sale muttered. “Do ya… do ya think I might be able to get my legs back?”

“I’m not sure, to be honest. I’ve forgotten so much of my own abilities that I can't be certain what is going to happen. Either way, I wouldn't poke at it,” I warned.

“Good thinking,” he agreed.

“So,” I began again, leaning down close to him. “Let me guess, it's the older mare with the grey mane?”

“I er, what now?” Short Sale murmured, his face turning a shade redder.

“The one that's caught your eye,” I explained. “Or maybe it's that younger stallion next to her.”

The stallion sputtered like a child caught with the hand in the cookie jar. “I would never- I mean if he was open to it but I’m not really that type of stallion.”

I sniggered at his discomfort. “So it was the old miner then?”

“I uh…” he gulped and nodded. “Yeah, that's her.”

“I knew it,” I proudly exclaimed. “So what's your plan of attack?”

“Attack?” he asked.

“Yeah. Unless shes already taken,” I offered.

Short Sale coughed into his hoof. “Uh no. She's single.”

“So… what's your plan?” I pressed.

“Nothing? She's from a well-respected family, and I’m a cripple,” he dejectedly muttered.

I wished I had eyes just so I could roll them. “Do you think family status means anything now?”

“Err no,” he admitted. “But-”

“And do you think she would view you negatively for your injury?” I continued, not giving him a moment to speak.

“I uh…” he frowned. “No, she wouldn't. She's not like that.”

“So got any other excuses?” I asked.

His frown deepened, only to vanish a moment later and be replaced with a small smile. “No, I guess not.”

“So what's your plan?” I repeated.

“I think… I think I’ll ask her to go star gazing some time,” he murmured.

“Tonight,” I corrected.

“That's too soon. Were all too busy for that,” he retorted.

“How long would star gazing take, an hour or two?” I pressed once more.

He sighed. “There's no winning with you, is there?”

“Nope,” I declared. “I’m just going to keep badgering you until you do it.”

Short Sale chuckled and shook his head. “I guess I don't have a choice then.”

“You really don't,” I answered.

He sighed. “Could I ask you a favor?”

“No I can't make her fall in love with you using my powers,” I replied.

He blinked, opened his mouth to respond, and then erupted with laughter. “You know if the old pastor told me that Gaea was actually a cheeky busy body, I would have told him he was nuts. Yet here we are.”

“I will have you know that I am merely looking out for my little ponies,” I exclaimed, hand over where my heart would be.

“I also wouldn't believe him if he told me you were actually this personable. I expected a god to act more aloof, and distant,” he continued.

“Would you like me to be?” I asked.

“Hell no,” he answered without hesitation. “You may not be what any of us were expecting, but no one really knew what to expect. We were always taught that you were the silent protector, the mother of all, who keeps her faithful safe but they never mentioned what you were like.”

“It has been a long time since I spoke to someone directly,” I remarked.

“What was it like back then anyway?” he pressed. “My father was a bit of a history buff and spoke on and on about the ancient times when you looked after the old earth pony tribes.”

“Different,” I muttered, mentally scrambling for an excuse. “My memories are scattered, but I feel as though it were simpler back then.”

“That it would be,” he agreed.

We sat in silence for several seconds, neither saying a word while we watched the ponies work. Stone was hauled away, water which had at one time been snow from further up the mountain was distributed. Ponies came and went, all while we sat there quietly, merely observing it all without saying a word.

“You know,” I began.

“Hmm?” Short Sale murmured.

“She's got a really nice butt,” I commented.

Short Sale turned several shades redder. “She uh… really does.”

I snickered to myself before standing up fully and patting the stallion on the back. “Best of luck.”

“Before I forget, would you mind carrying me to the west side of the mountain just after dinner?” he inquired, still blushing profusely. “There is a wonderful sitting spot over there.”

I smiled. “Absolutely.”

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