“You gotta’ be flipping kidding me!”

Star Grazer struggled with the duffle bag as he tried fitting his items into it.

“How did Aunt Constella even fit all this? I can barely fit my books in here!” He struggled to stuff his favorite book The Golden Armor with all his vests. Everypony complained that he wears the same vest every day when he really doesn’t! They all have different stitching and patterns! He groaned as the book popped back out of the bag as soon as he let go. Light Dasher poked her head in and waved at him.

“Hey Star! How’s it going?” She seemed to be in a generally relaxed mood.

“You do know this is a stallions tent?”

“It’s not like any of us really wear clothes… except you and Blueblood.”

“True that!” He smirked and she giggled. She walked inside the tent and Star saw the ring on a piece of string around her neck. “Hey you still have that ring!” Her face lit up.

“Yeah! Of course I do! I love it! Oh! I cleaned it off some more and I think it said Green Bay Packers… I never heard of that though. It also said Super bowl? I don’t know but it looks awesome!”

“Heh, glad you like it. I have to continue packing. We’re leaving later you know that right?”

“Yeah my stuff is already packed. It’s not that much anyway so…” She drifted off into thought.

“Mmhmm well I'm going to-“ He put pressure on the book again into the duffle bag. “-going to- finish… packing! Hnnnnnnnnggggg” Light Dasher couldn’t help but laugh at the ridiculous noises he was making.

“What’s so funny? You try fitting this book in here then!” He crossed his fore hoofs together and she quickly slid the book into the bag as well as his pillow and blanket. “Whatever… I loosened it for ya…” They both laughed at this and stood in compensable silence for a moment.

“Hey that is Cheery Grove right?” Light Dasher pointed to a picture frame on the bed. Star Grazers expression darkened and nodded. “Oh yeah… I'm sorry…”

“No, no. It’s fine. I’m learning to move on now. I want to leave this here. As a sort of mark. I completed my quest and this picture will be my proof…” He looked away from Light Dasher seemingly deep in thought. Light Dasher knew this was important to him but it seemed melodramatic.

“Well anyway! We depart in about an hour. You hungry?” Star Grazer snapped from his stupor.

“Yeah I could go for some food. What are they serving?” Light Dasher smiled.

“I don’t know. I had something else in mind!”

Star Grazer was unsure of why Light Dasher insisted that he wear a blindfold but he did. She was guiding him with a hoof but he still managed to stub his hooves against everything around him. After stubbing his front hoof against something particularly sharp he felt he might be bleeding and tried to take the blindfold off. Light Dasher gently brushed away his hand.

“Come on! It’s a surprise!” Star Grazer was sure glad he had a blindfold on otherwise Light Dasher would have seen him blush… Wait… She can still see him blush!

“Heh-Yeah! Ok.” He hoped that the smile on his face wasn’t too awkward.

Light Dasher sat him down on some kind of bench or something. It felt smooth and cold like an ice sculpture that was beginning to melt. A shiver went up his spine as Light Dasher put a hoof through his mane and placed something in it. He heard snapping noise and then quiet clapping.

“You can take off the blindfold now!”

Star Grazer was not prepared for what he saw before him. It was an assortment of savory treats. Apple Turnover with an Applesauce reduction! Peach Cobbler! Small jelly filled Danishes and a pitcher of some sort of clear liquid. His mouth began to water.

“I figured since you liked my cooking that I would make something really quick before we go!” She tilted her head and smiled. He returned the smile under burning cheeks.

“You didn’t have to do all this!”

“Nonsense, you have been really down so this will bring you back up!”

“Awh thanks!” He scanned over all the food and gasped. “Is that… Honey Pickled Pears?”

“Mmhmm! Turns out there are a lot of bees around here! I wasn’t originally looking for honey but I guess the bees were busy this year!” He was unsure what she meant by that but disregarded it.

“Wow. This is really great thanks.” He stared at the food longingly.

“Well are you gonna’ just stare at it or are you gonna’ eat it?”

“Not unless you join me.”

About an hour later…

“I think I overate…” Light Dasher burped loudly and groaned.

“Typically I’d comment on your table manners but that food was too delicious! Thank you again.”

“Yeah…ugh… No problem.” She weakly smiled and slowly stood up. “Guess we better get going. I think we might be late moving our stuff…”

“Me thinks you are right.” He hopped up and shook his head and began trotting off in the direction of camp.

“How in the name of sweet Celestia are you able to just trot without throwing up? You ate more than I did!”

“Oh… Oops! Remember how I can cast low level magic?”

“Yes…” Light Dasher squinted her eyes at him expecting his answer.

“I cast a spell on myself to speed up time in my stomach… as weird as that sounds!” He smiled nervously as Light Dasher’s gaze burned through him. She slowly got up before a feeling of weightlessness fell over her. She felt full but she didn’t feel fatigued. She actually felt invigorated. She looked at Star Grazer who was waving his arms in small circles.

“Thanks.”

“No problem.” He breathed in heavily when Light Dasher turned around.

Light Dasher was right about being late to leave. All of Star Grazer’s items were gone! He assumed somepony took them to the new camp. He will have to find this pony and thank him! The picture of Cheery “Cherry” Grove was still on the now stripped bed frame. He took the picture outside and left it leaning against the side of a tree. He lowered his head and mumbled a few words. Light Dasher came up and patted him on the back. They nodded to each other and they trotted down the path toward their next encampment.

Blueblood had already left. He struggled to carry Star Grazers duffle bag. He was scared that they would lose it in the single buggy. Blueblood looked down at his hoof which now looked more like dirt covered nubs then hooves. He began to slowly examine himself as he walked ahead of the group. His muscles were a lot more toned and defined since he joined up. He was riddled with small cuts and bruises. His mane was a tangled mess and got in his way a lot, especially at the battle at Windforge. He put down his bags and pulled out one of the knives he had grabbed from the armory and began to cut his mane. Dirty golden locks fell and soon he was an entirely different pony. He stared at his reflection in the hoof held blades. His face was ridden with scars. Hopefully this won’t ruin his chances of winning The M.E.S.A. The Most Eligible Stallion Award. Blueblood precariously placed the knife on his back and shifted the bags he carried around.

All was generally quite. save for the creaking of the single buggy and the hoof steps of ten or so soldiers. Blueblood ended falling toward the back of the line he busied himself with the strap on Star Grazers bag. He better be damn appreciative of this… Is that how Jason said it? Hmm… He made a mental note to ask him about that. Blueblood picked up his pace as he fell behind and tried to occupy himself. He began counting all the flowers he saw on the road. After only seeing one after an hour of travel he quit.

He stopped suddenly. Something wasn’t right. The other ponies felt it as well… Something was watching them. The stallions at the front signaled to fan out and search. He did as instructed. He put down his bags and to make room for his spear. After ensuring that a mare behind covered him he began to prod through the bushes lining the forest. A few minutes rolled by with no luck. He returned to the buggy and picked up his stuff before hearing a crash and grunting. Blueblood immediately whipped around the buggy to see three griffons holding their claws over the pony’s mouths. Two more griffons were advancing on the mare before a spear flew straight into one griffon’s torso. He hollered in pain trying to remove the spear. They all quickly looked up to see Blueblood picking up another spear and preparing a charge. One of the griffons twisted the poor pony’s neck and kicked the limp body away, charging straight toward him. Blueblood sidestepped the slash of a claw and bucked the griffon. He staggered giving Blueblood enough time to run and up and jam the spear into the griffon’s neck. Two more griffons appeared in his peripheral vision and he turned around to scarcely dodge a spear thrust. He felt a strange sensation as he fell to the ground. He received several kicks to the back, scrambling to pull a spear toward him. He grabbed it began yelling, swinging it madly in the air. He felt it connect and he got up. The griffon’s face was bleeding and several ponies were beginning to get up and fight back. The griffon shook his head and swiped downward. Blueblood dodged and countered with a fore hoof in the face. The griffon staggered holding both claws up to its assumingly broken beak. Blueblood jumped and bucked the griffon in the face again causing him to fall back. He began bucking the griffon senselessly. He lost all control as he bucked the squirming griffon in the face. Warmth splashed onto his hoofs as he continued bucking the griffon. The griffon continued to squirm and wriggle between blows. A warm liquid was beginning to pool on the ground underneath him while he still bucked the now lifeless and limp griffon. He still continued bucking until a hoof on his back broke him of his trance.

He looked at what he had done. The body was unrecognizable. Gore decorated the grass and fauna around them. The remaining griffons were dead and no pony casualties were suffered. The other ponies however were greatly disturbed by what they saw. Blueblood looked to see their horrified and disgusted faces. He looked back down to the griffon then at his hooves. They were drenched in blood and some strange purple and green debris which he dearly hoped wasn’t what he thought it was. The group dug out a grave. They buried the bloodied remains, moving the griffon bodies as well, and moved on in silence. They reached a large hill a few hours later which was to be there designated campsite. They unpacked and washed up. The water felt terrible against the caked blood on Blueblood’s hooves.

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