Star Grazer was in a field of flowers of all colors and forms. A cool breeze blew through the greenery of the tall grass and trees. Birds were chirping their songs in the distance and animals roamed about. Overall it was a beautiful day. He looked up and saw clouds flow gently by. The expansive blue sky, illuminated by Celestia’s sun, seemed bluer than usual. As a matter of fact… the sun strangely was not generating heat. The clouds glided by but there was no wind. He looked up towards the sun staring directly at it. It did not blind or bother him. As he peered closer a small square of light did in fact bring extreme warmth to him. His left eye felt a little warm at first. As he stared the light became brighter and brighter. Soon his left eye felt as if it was ablaze. It became increasingly hot, hotter, and hotter still! IT burned! It burns! It buuuuurrrrrrrrrnnnnnnnnnssssssss!!!!

Star Grazer shot awake and rolled away. He looked over to see a small square of intense light shine where his eye was. The entire tent was virtually black save for that intense and small square of light. Not even the tent flap emitted any light. After seeing the bed across from him lacking a certain stallion named Barry, he walked toward the tent flap and opened it.

The light of day blinded him for a moment before he saw Barry, Light Dasher, and Fluttery chatting around the dead campfire. Their conversation ceased when they took notice of him. They all got up and walked over to him with smiling faces. Fluttery particularly looked overjoyed.

“Three cheers for Star Grazer!” They all yelled in unison. He blushed.

“Aw come on guys. If this is about that mission it was no big deal really.”

The mission from the night before still exhausted him. Star Grazer led a small team of ponies down to the griffon city of Windforge to aid in the rescue of captured hostages. Star Grazer was tasked with creating a distraction to allow Jason, the strange changeling general, and Rainbow Dash, the element of Loyalty, safe passage into the city. They not only took out the griffon resistance but did it with very little casualties on the side of Equestria.

“What are you talking about? You were an important part of the mission! Sure I may have had the same leadership role as you but you were the one who did all the leading!” Star Grazer’s face reddened more.

“Awwww look at him! He’s blushing!” Fluttery kissed Star Grazer on the cheek and Light Dasher hugged him soon after.

“Hehe. Thanks you guys. I don’t deserve this.” Star Grazer looked at Barry.

“Hey don’t look at me! I aint’ givin’ you a kiss.” They all fell on the floor laughing. After a long bout of laughter Star Grazer stood up and slowly regained his composure.

“Hehe all right well I'm hungry. Is the cook awake?”

“I should haha-hope so! It’s the middle of the day!” Light Dasher wiped a tear from her eye.

“Heh ok. I’m gonna' go to the mess hall then.” Fluttery and Light Dasher both hung onto Star Grazer.

“I’ll go with you!” They both said in perfect unison. Light Dasher and Fluttery looked at each other warily then smiled.

“Barry you coming?” The stallion perked up.

“What? Yeah! Here let me get Blueblood. He’s been sleeping like a log. I even splashed him with water.”

“You soaked Blueblood with water? And he didn’t yell at you or anything?” Fluttery’s face showed her shock

“He opened his eyes looked at me rolled over and went back to sleep…” Fluttery deadpanned.

“Let me go get em’. We’ll meet you guys at the hall.”

“Eeyup!” Star Grazer wasn’t sure why he said that. It was almost like he heard it from somewhere.

The food was great! Hay patties with ketchup and boiled cauliflower were In the most abundance. Star Grazer never understood why people disliked cauliflowers so much. It was delicious! A huge buffet was laid out in celebration. A huge shipment of food was sent earlier that day and rumor had it that several crates of cider came in as well.

A few members of Team Green Bean were gorging themselves at this feast. Tank and Eravel seemed to be enjoying themselves especially. They both secluded themselves to a corner with several plates of food around their table. Star Grazer waved at them. They took notice for a split second smiled with stuffed faces and gorged themselves some more. Star Grazer was conflicted at the sight of Eravel’s fish eating. He made it look so good! Yet it used to be a living thing!!!

“Hey Star!” Barry appeared behind Star Grazer.

“Ey!”

“What’s that?” Barry pointed to a… blank wall. When Star Grazer looked down at his plate it was half empty.

“Thanks pal!” He smiled and sat down next to him. Star Grazer chuckled and happily ate more of the cauliflower that everyone refuses to eat!

“Mmmng Light Dasher, you ever did that thing?” Fluttery spoke through mouthfuls of food. Does anypony here hear of manners?!

“No not yet. I will though.” Light Dasher blushed and Fluttery giggled.

“What do you have to do light?” Star Grazer tilted his head curiously.

“Oh nothing!” The two mares giggled again. Star Grazer tilted his head the other way as if it would help him understand their giggling.

The group spent another hour in the mess hall just chatting and having an overall good time. The sun was slowly making its way to the horizon. Star Grazer thought it might be 4 or 5 by now. After their breakfast/lunch or as Star insisted brunch, they all walked back to their tents. Light Dasher and Fluttery continued to whisper and giggle at each other, much to the annoyance of Star Grazer. A college graduate at the most prestigious college in Equestria and he can’t even tell why mares are giggling at him!

Star Grazer lazily walked over to his tent, slowly opening the flap and walking over to his bed. It may have been an hour since that small feast but he still felt bloated. After fluffing his pillow he plopped onto the bed and rested his head on the pillow. His mind slowly started to wander into the hazy void of rest. Soon everything was dark and quiet…

HEY, STAR GRAZER!

So much for dark and quiet. Star Grazer grumpily got up from the comfortable bed and looked outside the tent. Light Dasher was bouncing excitedly up and down. A big grin ran across her face matching Fluttery’s expression next to her. Fluttery seemed just as excited as Light Dasher doing a small trot in place.

“Yes?” He muled. Light Dasher couldn’t contain herself and she burst.

“Wanna’ go to a party with us?” Light Dasher leaned in toward him.

“Huh? What party? Since when are their parties out here for ponies?” Star Grazer looked at the inquisitively.

“Well since that extra shipment of hard cider came in! A group of ponies want to celebrate Team Green Bean!”

“Wanna’ come with us? We already convinced Barry to go!” Barry could be seen behind the two mares. It seems they annoyed him enough to go.

“What about Blueblood?”

“He said he is going to go but not with us. He is a downer anyway! Come on let’s go!” The mares grabbed Star Grazer before he could get away and was dragged away from his comfortable bed.

Next Chapter: Confusion Estimated time remaining: 28 Minutes