Okay. I wrote this halfway before posting the first chapter. Eh.
Rusk pushed through the tight, dark tunnel, seeing a much more open area ahead. He bent his wings in, which hurt a lot, to squeeze through the tight hold of dirt, popping through with a small shower of dust. The cave was dark, and completely hard to see in. Rusk lit his horn up and started following Flitter's pheromone trail again. He followed it for what felt like days, maybe even weeks.
It was most likely a few days, but he couldn't be sure, as the sun was not visible, nor was there a timepiece to look at.
Suddenly the tunnel narrowed and light shafted through a small hole in the ceiling, with an outcrop leading to it. The green leaves of trees waved in a breeze not felt below.
Plodding along at a brisk pace, he trotted towards the canopy of trees. The light grew and he lit his horn, letting the pheromone spell deactivate. She couldn't have gone far.
Peeking his head out, he gasped at the sight. The soft shade of the tree canopy lay thick over him, expanding as far as he could see. Thick vegetation covered the land around the mouth of the cave, ferns, grass and honeysuckle bushes.
Hauling himself out, Rusk peered over the overgrowth. A lake glittered in the distance, the water reflecting the sun into millions of colors. There was a small wooden platform jutting out over the small body of water, a wooden boat tied to it.
Turning around, Rusk saw a towering mountain, the stone terracing up like a butte. A huge structure of sorts was stuck into the mountain, the large disc and its heavy support of mountain rock being the only parts visible.
It must be a city. But which one? Rusk shrugged. He probably could not blend into a city very easily. He decided to head in the direction of the lake.
Pushing through the thick vegetation, Rusk noticed some hoofprints in a patch of damp dirt. There were ponies here.
Crouching low, Rusk peered over the edge of a plateau over the lake. There was a small wooden house, with the same wooden structure over the water. The house seemed to bemade of wood, with glass windows and everything!
He diverted his attention to a smaller less noticeable structure, where a large door was open, with many sharp looking tools inside. There was a wooden pole with a hunk of metal on the end, shaped a bit like a sledgehammer, and there was a creepy looking device that consisted of a stick with sharp looking blades in a cylinder.
Rusk cast a small spell, just a small detecting spell. Nothing went off, so he fluttered off the plateau and landed near the small wooden structure.
He heard an odd rustling coming from inside, and he instantly crouched low, pressing against the side of the building.
The rustling stopped and a unicorn mare stepped out. Her coat was a light shade of turquoise, like the sky itself. Her mane was a much deeper lavender, the curls randomly flicking out of her tail and mane. Her cutie mark was that of a roaring campfire, the bright reds and oranges contrasting against her coat. Carrying something in her light pink magic revealed her eye color. She was curved nicely, her barrel keeping level, even with her hindquarters.
Suffice to say, she was a beautiful mare. She put up a hoof to her mane and flicked over a lock of curly hair, letting out a puff of air. Rusk quickly shrank back when she quickly glanced around frantically, and Rusk relaxed when she trotted off toward the cottage.
He quickly put together his disguise. Quickly changing into a light gray stallion with crimson hair, he trod over to a small dirt road, and walked to the cottage with a worried expression.
He already felt hungry. Despite everything, basic needs are basic needs, and he needed love to survive.
Walking up onto the porch, he quickly thought and changed his form to have a tiny knapsack with some items inside it. He then knocked on the door with a hoof.
The same sky blue mare answered the door, a smile on her face that quickly faltered. "Who are you?" She asked.
Shit! Rusk didn't think of a name. He quickly spoke, "Crimson Ruby. Hey, I'm lost, are you able to help?" He inwardly cringed at the statement, waiting for the rejection.
"Oh, you poor thing! Come inside, please. I'll be fast to make you something to drink." She quickly swiveled around, trotting inside. Shrugging, Rusk followed in, pushing the door shut behind him.
Rusk gnawed on the tinned tuna, shoved between thin slices of bread. Changelings can eat food, but it doesn't work nearly as well for feeding as love did, but it sufficed. Tuna was actually quite nice, the tin already seasoned with lemon and pepper.
"I take it you like it?" asked the mystery mare, levitating a book with magic, turning a page every now and then.
Rusk nodded happily, a grin plastered on his muzzle as he chewed on the bread and fish. Of course on the inside he still gnawed for the warm embrace of a full reservoir of love energy.
Finishing his sandwich in ravenous bites, he shuffled deeper into the plush couch. Looking at the mare he asked, "So, what is your name?"
The unicorn smiled. "My name is Burning Hearth. I usually do a lot of stuff around the winter holidays…" she sighed, "It gets so lonely down here, even with occasional trips to a market in Canterlot."
So that was the city in the mountain! Canterlot, the capital of Equestria, the housing of the princesses of the moon and sun.
"I see." Rusk rifled through the fake knapsack. "Does this place have a spare room or something? I may need to stay the night…"
The mare bit her lower lip. "I think I do, but the room hasn't been used in a while. Hold on." She stood and walked up the rickety wooden stairs to the second floor.
Rusk got some time to think. This mare… she seemed lonely. Rusk's base instincts kicked in and he prepared to at least try to coax some love energy out of her. Then he could leave and find Flitter.
Soon enough; the mare came down, the stairs creaking with every hoofstep. She sat back down in the small armchair and said, "I think you can stay the night."
Rusk beamed. "Great! So, what's the area round here?"
Hearth frowned. "I'm actually not that in the know about the area around here."
"So, you mean…"
"Yeah. I know this is the Whitetail Woods, just under Mount Canterlot. That's all I know, honestly." She shuffled her hooves against the fabric of the armchair. "Sorry. That is all I really know."
Rusk smiled. "It's fine. What do you do to pass the time?"
"I read books."
"What?"
"I read lots of books. I re-read lots of books. It's all that is really here."
"Don't you have a boat by the lake?"
"I got bored of it a long time ago." She waved a hoof dismissively.
Hearth stood up. "I need to get back to what I was doing. You don't mind going and acquainting yourself with the guest room upstairs, now?" With a nod in response, she pushed the door open with her snout and let the door click shut behind her.
Rusk did an internal hoof pump. This mare was incredibly kind, and he could already feel the aura of kindness in the room. He opened his mouth, sampling a taste. He didn't care that it wasn't love, but kindness or happiness, and he eagerly took another pull of the feeling.
Of course, he limited himself. Changelings can survive off kindness, but it made them feel slightly bloated. Already feeling his stomach churn slightly he got to his hooves, getting off the chair.
Looking at the suspicious wooden stairs, he climbed them up and looked around. He was in a small hallway, the width of it possibly barely holding two ponies side by side. There were two doors on both sides.
One was labeled 'guest'. Peeking into it, he saw a large single size bed with a blue duvet laying over it. The pillow was propped up against the headboard and a single corner of the bedsheet was folded on the outer edge of the bed facing the window. The blinds on the window were down but not shut, letting light shaft into the room casting a glow onto Rusk's chest.
A simple small black painted dresser stood in the corner, the doors open revealing the dresser was empty. A couple hangers teetered on the bar on top and there were a couple drawers on the bottom.
The nightstand next to the bed had a lamp sitting on top of it, the metal hinges and springs slightly rusted. The light color was a warm gold, perfect for reading at night.
The room was quite nice, Rusk admitted. The mare had done a good job.
Then he furrowed his brow. Where was Flitter? Had she gone in the direction of the mountain city? Had she even seen this pony that gave him hospitality?
Questions swimming through his mind, he trotted back downstairs and out the door. Pushing his forehead into the door opened it, and he stepped out onto the porch.
The sun was closer to setting, the brilliant light reflecting off the lake's surface as the calm water rippled with the breeze. The trees seemed to give off a glow, probably from the setting sun.
A light cloud cover was inching across the sky. The wild areas of Equestria had their own weather, even though the Whitetail Woods was not like the dangerous Everfree at all. It might rain tonight.
Glancing around, Rusk activated secondary vision, then gasped as he saw a trail leading through across and around the lake, leading into the forest. It snaked around, pausing at the edge of the lake and dipped into tree cover.
Flitter had been here! She was not too far off, she was just in the forest! The scent was not even stale.
Flipping out of secondary vision he peered at the docks. The light blue-green pony resting there was lazily lying on the edge of the tiny wharf, her front hoof waving at the water, giving little ripples as she tapped it.
A soft noise reached Rusk's ears. Perking them up, he located the noise and moved towards the docks.
As he got closer, by the open shed, the sound suddenly took form of words, blending into a soft melody.
The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
And also on the faces of people passing by
I see friends shaking hands saying
How do you do?
They're really saying I, I love you…
The voice felt familiar to Rusk. It reminded him of Flitter, and her singing voice that entranced him whenever she sung.
Flitter always sang when she was sad. It was a way of expressing her feelings without crying or getting angry. The occasions where she did sing in front of Rusk always made him sit down, close his eyes and let his ears carry him into a soft blend of noise.
Rusk rested behind the shed, his eyes peeking out the corner as Hearth took a breath and let out more singing, taking deep breaths between each line:
I hear babies cry and I watch them grow
They'll learn much more then we'll know
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
Someday I wish upon a star
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
High above the chimney top
That's where you'll find me…
The singing drew to a close, Hearth's voice fading out. Rusk sighed, repeating the beautiful lyrics in his head.
He remembered. Flitter used to sing a song similar to this, a song about rainbows and a carefree world that accepted her for what she was.
It was probably a huge coincidence, and it threw Rusk deep into thought. If Hearth knew the song, then where did Flitter get it from?
He ducked back behind the shed and snuck back into the house, casting glances in the direction of the mare as she stared into the water, tapping it gently with her hoof, sending ripples that deflected off the supports of the pier.
Pulling the door, he softly shut the door behind him and turned into the house. The chair was still showing an indent of him sitting there, and he flopped back into it, his rump fitting into the previously made indent easily.
Slowly dozing off into a soft rest, he shut his eyes and sunk into the couch more.
"Crimson? Crimson!"
Rusk blinked his eyes open, and found himself staring into pink irises.
"Good! You're awake! I made tea for us both!" She lit up her horn and a bowl of red liquid floated to him as well as a spoon. "It's tomato soup. I made it myself!"
Rusk took the bowl and spoon, and dipped the utensil into the steaming soup. Beads of the liquid slid down and dripped off the bottom of the spoon as he brought it to his mouth.
Tasting it, his mouth exploded in flavour as he tasted the soup.
"I take it you like it?" asked Hearth, smiling at his wide-eyed expression.
Rusk nodded and instead picked up the bowl with both hooves, putting it to his lips and drinking the soup from the bowl.
It didn't take long to finish, and Rusk put the bowl down on the small table in the middle of the couches, licking his lips.
"That was really nice," he commented, leaning back into the chair. Hearth was opposite him in another chair, her spoon levitating to her mouth with deft precision.
She swallowed. "That's great. It's got tomatoes, celery, and some milk with some vegetable stock. It's nice and good for you."
Rusk nodded. He glanced out the window, where the sun had already set. "I saw the guest room. It's nice."
Hearth smiled. "I made sure to use some warmer blankets. It gets quite chilly down here at night." She scraped her spoon along the bottom of the soup bowl, digging out the remains.
Rusk put a hoof behind his head, using the hoof tip to scratch the back of his neck. "Hey, by the way, thanks for letting me stay here…"
"No problem!" said Hearth, her and Rusk's bowl levitating into the sink. "It's been…" Hearth hesitated for a minute, "a good few months since someone last visited. With Hearth's Warming over, I relax here to wait for the Summer Sun Celebration."
She moved over to the sink, pulling the tap handle up and using a sponge to wash the dishes with magic. "Of course, unless someone sends me a letter needing something, or the occasional field trip out here for the foals to go sailing. I enjoy the company."
Rusk nodded, and let out a yawn. "Do you mind if I go to bed now?"
"Not at all!" said Hearth, "I'll just be here for a few hours more, then I'm going to sleep as well."
Rusk made a decision there. When Hearth goes to sleep, he was going to leave and find Flitter. Hopefully he can before it's too late!
He plodded up the stairs, peeking down to share a quick 'goodnight' with the turquoise mare.
Pushing open the door to the guest room, he used his changeling magic to shut the blinds, and climbed into the bed, shuffling the covers over him closer to the wall.
He silently waited for the mare to creak up the stairs and climb into her bed so he can go find Flitter, and when he heard the boards bending he shut his eyes and pretended to be asleep.
He nearly snapped out of it when he heard the creak of the guest room door opening, and the silence that followed it.
A quiet shuffle of hooves tip-hoofing on the carpet alerted him. He shuffled slightly in his bed.
A sudden pressure shifted him slightly in the direction of the edge of the bed, and he could feel the covers lift slightly off him. The pressure on the mattress drew closer as the blankets settled on him again, and he breathed slowly, waiting for the door to shut or something.
He felt a slight breath against his right cheek and he inwardly grimaced, then let it loose. He nearly flinched as a hoof wrapped around his upper body, pulling him tighter against something.
The contact of fur against fur surprised him. He squeezed, then hesitantly opened his eyes.
Staring at him were two pink irises, and the soft smile on her muzzle as she spotted his eyes opening. She leaned her head in and nuzzled against Rusk's right cheek with hers.
"It's been too long alone," Hearth whispered, her breath hot against the ear of Rusk. "Please let me stay."
Rusk could practically feel the raw emotion leaking from the mare. He silently let it soak into his body, filling him up.
The mare let out a small gasp as she drew back slightly. A small tendril of pink, which only changelings could see, worked out of the fur of her chest and into Rusk's fur, filling his reservoir with love.
Rusk held his breath as he got more than he thought. He drew from her, staring into her eyes as he was sated completely.
Then something unexpected happened. The mare's eyes went wide as she glanced down at their chests. There were two working tendrils, pulsing softly as love energy was transferred.
Rusk saw the love and gasped. He was still full! What is going on!
Rusk stared back up into the eyes of Hearth as he felt love transfer between the two. What was going on?
He felt Hearth entangle her hind legs with his, and he felt a strong pulse as she touched noses with him.
Suddenly a green glow covered Hearth's horn, and he gasped as green flames flowed up the turquoise mare, her hooves growing holes and insect wings sprouting from her back.
Her eyes wore an incredulous expression as the changeling stared at the two pink glowing tendrils, then back at the jaw-dropped face of the male. Her mouth opened as she felt herself fill up, and she spoke.
"Rusk?"