The Somewhere Cycle
Volume 1: "Wander and Green Brier"

Written by The Descendant

Chapter 4

Green Brier:
All of that, Black Hat's tearful goodbye, the review through the streets of Ponyville, my goodbye to my colts…that had all progressed and completed by 11 a.m.

By noon I am ready for some nourishment. I was in no mood to stay in camp in any case. My division was dissolving. Soldiers were taking their leave. They were starting down the long roads that would take them to the places they called home…my soldiers were leaving, and I feel as a parent watching his children leave. Only my officers knew to stay on until after the ball that evening.

As I packaged my personal belongings with a hotel steward from the establishment I am to patronize that night Royal Guards appeared before me. "Sir," says their captain, "Her Majesty Princess Celestia asks if you to join her and some small company for a noontime meal."

"I, I could ask for no greater privilege," I stammer.

We head to our left, across the river, out through the city where some of the lingering crowd noticed me, and they called out my name. Some soldiers, both from my division and ones unknown to me, saluted.

We crossed past a beautiful landscape of orchards, up to a farm on a hill with a little white house nearby.

In the yard is a gazebo, festooned with bunting and lace, and inside is My Majesty, and some other ponies unknown to me.

I entered My Lady's presence and she introduced me to a number of the same ponies whom had sat with her on the dias.

Chief among them was her designate in Ponyville, a young unicorn named Twilight Sparkle, her summoner, a very young dragon whose name I believe was Spike, and also one of her associates, a Miss Applejack. It is was only then I recognized that they wore around their necks components of the Elements of Harmony…powerful artifacts that I had convinced myself were simply legend.

It was to my shock that I learned that Miss Sparkle was the one whom was chief in defeating the Mare in the Moon, though I hide my surprise well. I was in the presence of powerful magic users, and I tried to hide my awe.

Her friend, Applejack, spoke to me and complimented my soldiers on how sharp they appeared in the review.

I blushed and thanked her. Her voice reminded me of the voices of my Bobby's soldiers, as improbable as that may be, and when her brother introduced himself the effect was uncanny as well.

"Private Big Macintosh, sir," he stated, "Grape Bunch's Battery, Twenty-Third Light Artillery, Holster's brigade…Beech Corps…"

I saluted him, and he returned the gesture.

"You were wounded, I take it?" I stated, noticing the bandages.

"Ayeup…err, yessir. Battle of The Sacred Grove...bearing broke loose, hit by return fire…dragged me into the mechanizations of the trebuchet, crushed mah' innards up pretty bad…good thing a magic-usin' medic was nearby…still hurtin' mahself at times…still pullin' things on occasion…hence the honorable discharge…"

I saluted him again. I noticed the look on Miss Applejack's face, as though she were hearing this story for the first time.

"Twilight is now studying in greater detail the magic that rests with friendship," says My Sovereign as she is served tea and apple crisp by the big red fellow.

My attention turned back to the young pony seated across from myself as Her Majesty implored, "Would you not share, General Brier, some anecdote with us about friendship, to aid her in her future studies?"

"If My Lady asks me I shall of course do my utmost," I replied, sitting back, watching as the young dragon took cookies off of a silver tray.

I looked around to the encircling hills, and up to the bright blue sky where the magic of Her Ladyship worked the sun across her dominion. Soon I was thinking of my Bobby, and a time he was under a sun, a different one, and under the gaze of hills. I thought for a moment, then changed the story in the slightest to match my audience.

"I knew once a great general, perhaps the greatest I've ever known. His mane was white with age…"

So it was that I told them the story of when my Bobby, his soldiers, and I went north for the second time. We crossed out of the place ravaged by war and across the big river, stepping from stone to stone at a vast ford.

We enter a green land, a place where the war my Bobby was fighting had not yet come. Soon we were drawn into a battle. So immense was it and so violent that it took three days for it to be fought.

On the third day my Bobby called for Pete, and they had a great long talk. Pete looked so terribly worried, but my Bobby tries to calm him. Pete leaves looking awful worried, powerfully worried, but he gives me…the big grey horse I was, a quick smile and a rub.

Soon the awful cadence of the big weapons started. It was artillery, but it is unlike ours in Equestria. In that lost world it is worked by the same foul smelling smoke that drives the weapons each soldier carries, but these are massive in their report, and they scythe death in front of them.

And soon, from across the way, comes the reply from the ocean and sky soldiers. Bobby's boys hide from the barrage.

Within an hour we are standing at the crest of a ridge, looking across a vast lot of fields and fencerows. Bands are playing, and as Bobby watches a great part of his army steps forward. They are cheering his other name, the tiny name that my mouth in this life fumbles to speak.

At once they step forward, and off they go across the long fields, up the long slope to the other ridge. Fifteen thousand of them, of Bobby's smoke and soil soldiers, if I make my guess. They are magnificent to behold, the haze of the smoke from the weapons surrounding them, making them appear as phantoms…and soon that is what most will be.

My animal ears in that world hear the cries, hear the constant, crack, crack, crack, of the weapons…cries of pain. I see, with those other eyes, bodies fly apart in front of the big thumping artillery…

They are in and among the ocean colored soldiers. I see them jump the long stone wall in front of a stand of trees, I see the flags begin to shudder, stumble…and fall…

Soon, all too soon, my Bobby's boys are coming back. They are beaten. Their ranks are shredded, they are bloodied messes, the horse I am smells the blood that covers them. There are so many fewer of them…

My Bobby is riding me among them, imploring to them, begging them…begging them for forgiveness. They…they are still reaching up to him, still speaking his name with awe…but their voices are weak.

They have laid their lives on his altar. They were his blood sacrifice…and he squandered their offering…

We leave them, trotting behind the line, and I can feel his body heaving in sobs that he struggles to keep within. He's never lost a battle, not like this one, not on so massive a scale.

I am lashed to a line, and he sits alone by a fire. Usually officers always surround him, but now they leave him alone, so alone. I strain at my line, the horse I am wanting to be closer, to comfort him.

Pete comes, Pete who knew that the attack would fail. I wince as I look on it in the vision, half expecting Pete to be mad, upset.

But he is not. When my Bobby is at his lowest moment, Pete is there. Pete will always be there. Pete is there the next day when the rain begins and the ambulances make a line fourteen miles long. Pete is there as we cross back across the great river. Pete is even there after his arm is found by one of the metal shards.

"…and that, Miss Sparkle, is the story of the greatest general I ever knew, the most profound mistake he ever made, and the pony who stood by him when he needed it the most."

"That is what I would have you know about friendship, Miss Sparkle, that a friend loves you when you have made an error, a friend is with you when you need it the most, and a friend does not desert you, and a friend most certainly does not say 'I told you so'."

I had disguised the names, faces, and circumstance of the humans in my vision. As I always have…who can know that I saw all of these things in a different life? In a world that may be long gone, a race of life that is unimaginable, and a horrific war in a time unknowable…how can I share these things with anyone?

As I looked up My Sovereign caught my eye, and across her face flies a knowing smile. Is it possible that she knows from whence the story comes? Can she see the cloud of remembrance that embraces me across the veil of time and space? Oh, how I wish I could simply ask!

The luncheon continued, and I shifted the attention from myself to the wonderful young fillies in whom My Majesty was delighting. They were joined by a third, a wild young pink pony whom, I must say, was most indiscreet. Yet, around her neck, resting as lightly as those on her friends was one of the Elements of Harmony.

I am enthralled by the magic. So much so, in fact, that I absentmindedly promised the pink one, Ms. Pie, a dance that evening.

As three o'clock rolled around I excused myself, stating that I simply had to prepare for the ball that evening.

As I came out of the farm I noticed a most adorable young foal maintaining a stand filled with the wares of the farm. As she was most certainly a younger sibling to Pvt. Macintosh and Miss Applejack I stopped and looked over the wares.

Selecting a pie, some crisp, a bottle of cider, some cookies, and basket of the red fruit I opened my coin pouch and for the first time in months made a purchase with my own money. The army met so many of my needs that I simple couldn't spend my pay fast enough…

The foal's eyes went wide as I placed the coins in front of her, and she thanked me with a wide smile. I sense that times are not as abundant in Ponyville as we are led to believe. Was the economy starting to suffer from the protracted wars?

If that were the case I was even happier to have stopped. Having been wounded in an accident, instead of by the enemy, Pvt. Macintosh would not be receiving wounded pay, instead just the regular pension. Continuous visits to the healers was expensive…

Laughing to myself I went down the path into the city juggling all that I had purchased. I had not worn my saddlebags! I stopped at the first house I come across. There I laid all the items on the front porch, knocked on the door, and cantered away.


Wander:
I did my damnedest not to look outside the tent as my division melted away.

As Tucker, my summoner, helped put my personal belongings into the trunks provided by the hotel my tent came down around mah' ears. Two orderlies began apologizing profusely and stated that they'd thought I'd already been on my way, and I sighed.

I followed a steward back to the hotel. They'd sent a carriage, but I certainly wasn't gonna be caught in one of them flying conveyances. Magic…worries me.

When we entered the hotel I was suddenly surrounded and set upon. The crowd noticed me and so began a rush. They tried to shake my hoof or just stare at me. They literally backed me up onto a sofa, for Celestia's sake!

In the middle of all of this madness Royal Guards suddenly appeared and that, as per usual, was enough to get everyone's attention.

"General, sir," said a major, "The Princess Luna wishes to know if you would be joining her and her guests for a noontime meal."

My eyes darted up to the nearby restaurant that adjoined the lobby of the hotel. There, from a separate table, four sets of eyes returned my gaze.

Four very welcome sets of eyes, considering the situation I found myself in. "Most certainly," I said, leaping from the couch, past the disappointed throngs. Landing beyond the guards, I waited for their escort. Soon they caught me up and walked me into the restaurant.

I approached the secluded table and attempted to bow to Princess Luna but I immediately felt my hoof being caught up in another. I am surprised to find myself being lead to the table by a stunning white unicorn with a purple mane and tail.

"Most glad you could join us, General! I am Rarity, modiste and sewist of houte couture, so very glad you could join us….Fluttershy be a dear and slide over," she says, showing me to a seat among the middle of the group, "You of course know Her Majesty, the Princess Luna…"

I do my best to bow to the princess while at the same time trying to pay attention to my apparent hostess.

"This," continued this Rarity, pointing out a pegasus filly at the table, "is my close friend and dear associate Fluttershy."

"Oh, oh…hello," answered the pegasus, staring at the floor with a slight smile.

"Miss," I state, bowing my head, watching her blush.

"And this," says my hostess, taking my helmet off my head and placing it on the nearby rack, "is Rainbow Dash."

"Hey," states another pegasus pony, this one appearing very distracted, her head on her hoof, leaning on the table.

"Miss Dash," I state, running my hoof through my mane. My helmet-head was probably a fright to look on. I hadn't expected to be dining wit' the royalty.

The hostess, Miss Rarity begins having the dining staff bring out courses of what appeared to be a fairly involved luncheon.

As we progress through each course I realize that this Rarity had designed everything. She knows every last thing about the meal, and tells us about it in long, anguishing detail.

I can barely eat and feign interest in the history of the salmon mousse' at the same time. The guards, noticing my distress, tried to stifle laughter. When Rarity goes to see to something in the kitchen Miss Dash collapsed onto the table with a long moan, and I turned to Miss Fluttershy.

"She is quite, thorough, with her planning and presentation. Is she always like this?" I ask.

"Well, oh…" says the demure pony with a slight twitch of her wings, "Our Rarity…Rarity is, is…so very good…at designing things…" she said, slowly returning to staring at the floor.

To my left a sound starts, and soon I realize that Princess Luna is…laughing.

"She planned this for me, you know," she says to me, then turning to the pegasi, added, "She wanted to do something special for me, didn't she?"

The princess turned to each of them. Miss Dash had been eatin' on the centerpiece, and when the princess faced her she slid back into her seat. When the princess looked to the other pegasus, Fluttershy, she gave a small sound and then once more put her head down. I half leaned next to her attempted to discern what could possibly be so fascinatin' about that one bit of floor.

Before I could figure it out the princess had become quiet, staring at her plate with a soft smile across her face. She looked at her place setting where course fifteen or sixteen or so awaited a return of her enthusiasm.

"Everyone is being no nice to me," she said, he face going a little red, "I am barely able to comprehend it. You two should know more than any…what it was I did…"

I looked to her, tried to gauge her expression.

I liked Princess Luna. She was not nearly as imposing as her sister, she was no larger than most ponies, and surprisingly approachable for an alicorn. Alicorn. At the word I remember that, despite all appearances, I was in the presence of one of the most powerful magic users in Equestria, a seemingly immortal and apparently divine being.

I was interrupted by the familiar voice of my summoner, Tucker, statin' his protest.

I looked up to discover that the steward was attempting to deliver my trunks, and that Tucker was tryin' to defend them from none other than Miss Rarity.

"Miss! Miss! Ya' can't be runnin' roughshod through me' General's personal effects!" states the wyvern, bouncing up and down, his feathers flying about, trying to catch my clothes.

I am stunned by the hilarity of it. She continues to violate my privacy as the steward looks on aghast, Tucker boundin' about. I begin to laugh.

"Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear! Ma'am, please!" he stated, grabbing at my levitating shirts. At once Miss Rarity's mouth went wide in horror. "My dear!" she stated, turning on Tucker, the wyvern trying to defend himself with my extra boots, "This is simply unacceptable!"

"Errr, mah' apologies?" he states, looking at her over my hoofwear.

With her magic she quickly folded everything and placed my collective belongins', Tucker included, into the trunks. As we, the occupants of the table and the surrounding guards, began laughing hysterically she returned. My old dress uniform hovered in mid-air above her, suspended in her magic.

As my poor summoner called from within my trunk she fixed me in a judgemental glare. "You should be ashamed, General!" said the filly who just committed petty larceny, invasion of privacy, and unlawful imprisonment, "This formal uniform is in horrible condition! It cannot be worn to the ball tonight in such fashion! You simply must let me spruce it up a tad."

"If that is your pleasure, Miss Rarity," I stated, watching my trunk hop across the lobby floor.

After desert, which I made a point to share with Tucker, we left the hotel and restaurant and made our way across the square to what I soon discovered was Miss Rarity's own shop.  

As we sat in the shop I couldn't help but look on as Miss Rarity created a swirling mass of ribbons and fabric that condensed around Princess Luna in the form of a stunnin' dress.

"My sister," she said, "your Sovereign, Celestia, is going to try to stay up all night for this ball…stay up with me. She's, she's been so…worried over me…since I returned…"

At once her eyes lifted to mine. Ah' see the ages that she's spent lookin' to her people, her sadness at lettin' them down, her confusion at why they have embraced her so…

It was then mah' turn to look to the floor…fumble fer' words. I wished Brier were there, oddly. He'd been so much more eloquent than I in all the conversations I'd had with him.

There is a soft smell of roasting almonds, one that opens up a part of my mind, and I find myself drawn to the periphery of one of my visions. I race to change the names and places…

"Majesty," I say as the vision fills my head, "I knew a general once, one with a great black beard and sad, gentle eyes…"

The battles are grinding affairs, brutal. We are a machine. We are one great cylinder of death, rolling forward. Sam's soldiers are fighting for inches. Soon we are ever throwing up earth, moving trenches farther out and along, trying to wrap around the smoke and soil colored soldiers.

It is a hard kind of warfare…dirty, mind crushing, dangerous.

Something changes for Sam though. One day we go down to a vast harbor, and there among the thousands of craft he searched one out, riding me up and down the quay where the noisy boats discharged food and arms at a dizzying rate.

At once he sees something, and I am run out onto the wharf right onto the deck of a boat! As I let the odd sensation of it shifting beneath me take hold Sam leaps right off my back and runs along the deck. There he grabs up a female, I think a woman is what they're called, and kisses her over and over. Soon four cubs…hatchlings, kids…whatever young humans are called…run out to him too. He gathers them up in a huge hug and swings them around as the captain of the boat realizes there's a horse on his deck.

The big horse I am in that world feels what is flowing around Sam, knows that his family has come to be with him.

There are three colts and a filly. Errr, three boys and a girl, I think that's what they're called.

Over those months I see a side of Sam I'd never seen before. The gruff, stoic, grumpy general becomes a beaming parent, proud of his mate and the brood he's sired.

I wish ah' knew the human words for all of these things…

They make themselves a part of the camp over the winter, and soon the untidy members of Sam's staff are all polish and well groomed. The horse I am in that world doesn't notice of course, but through these visions when I return to that body I can't help but laugh at it.

As the winter opened up to spring someone else comes down tah' meet with my Sam, and there's a part o' me that was very glad for it.

The tall lanky man, the odd lookin' duck from the white house where all the parties were bein' thrown, he comes. He comes ashore off a boat as bands play and Sam grumbles about having to wear a good uniform.

It doesn't last long…soon the lanky man is just as much a part of the family as any o' the colts…boys. Soon Sam's foals, kids, are playing with him just as much as they are fawning over me. The little filly, ummm…girl, leads me all through camp on my reigns as the soldiers call out "Here's your mule!" It's one of the few statements made by the humans that I can remember through the ears of the horse.

There's few others that stick out clearly in mah' visions, and the lanky fellow is involved in two of 'em. There were only two other people Sam ever let ride me after he became mah' master. One was someone who once saved his life; I could smell the link that attached them through the sensibilities of the horse.

The other one was the lanky man...the odd lookin' duck with the gentle yes. He, like Sam, was an excellent horseman. He's a bit more top-heavy than Sam, but as we ride down the roads near the camp, past the stacked arms, the pyramids of the awful weapons of this reality…this world where I'm the horse, the soldiers roll out of their cabins and tents and cheer for him…and for me! He lifts his funny black hat a gives them all a goofy lookin' smile and calls out to them.

Once, after such a ride, the lanky man began to dismount, but Sam stopped him. Sam takes my reigns and we walk up to a part of the camp where new regiments had just arrived. Here the soldiers look just a little different. Their coats are all the same color…I don't mean the coats they are wearing, but their skin. Here they are all darker in color, almost black. Even the horse I am in that time finds it strange that soldiers are kept apart based on their color, but they are here, and Sam smiles at them as they realize who is riding me.

At first the darker skinned soldiers try to form ranks, try to do the "present arms" salute…but, soon, there are cries, open weeping…and one breaks ranks and runs up to me, grasping the lanky man's hand, kissing it. Soon others join, soon the whole brigade. They surround me. They all reach for him, and he shakes their hands, lets them run his hands over his jacket.

Sam looks on, knows that nothing can scare me, the good horse, that he wouldn't have done this if I were able to be put 'afear. He trusts me, loves me. He is my Sam, so I stand.

The darker skinned soldiers chant his name, the lanky man's, and it sounds out over un' over in mah' ears I can not miss it. I hear it now as I look back in the vision.

"Father Abram'!" they call, "Father Abram'!" they call out over and over, soon it becomes a song, the whole assembly rocking with it, saying "Father Abram'" and "the kingdom come!"…at least that's how I think it went.

When finally Abram' gives me the little kick and we spin away I can feel the tiny drops of his tears, feel the tall black hat rest on my shoulders as he pulls out a handkerchief and wipes it across his face.

Sam smiles at Abram', and at me.

Weeks later Sam's army is getting ready to move again, swing farther south and hopefully, finally, catch the smoke and earth colored soldiers.

Things are movin' fast, the big horse I am feeling the nervous energy as the soldiers make ready, as they steel themselves.

Abram' is to leave us, and Sam's family are sad for it. Sam's hatchli…kids, wrap themselves around his legs, beg him not to go. Sam's mate kisses Abram' on the cheek.

Sam walks me to the pier where the boat rests that will take Abram' back to that odd city with the big white house where everybody is so excitable.

It is here where the ears of that old big horse perk up, and through a moment of clarity I hear again what I heard with those ears, when I was that horse.

Abram' reminds Sam of the instructions, instructions that they'd discussed before I guess. I see the motions they make, agreement, and soon the words become clear as crystal…how the war was to end…

"Go easy on them, Sam," Abram' says, the words ringing out clearly even after all of these ages and on this side of reality where I am an Equestrian. Yet I kin' hear them still. "Let 'em just go home…"

Sam salutes and Abram' tips his tall black hat, and with that he boarded the boat. Sam walks up to me and we wait and watch as the boat heads out into the harbor.

It was the last time I would ever see Abram'.

My mind flashes forward, back across the tracks of time and space and sheets of reality.

I had tah' change all of the names and places of course, hidin' once again the nature and truth of my experience. As I looked into the eyes of Princess Luna I finished my story, and without moralizing I gave her mah' take on her situation.

"Yer' Majesty…just like mah' friend, you have family that love's ya' to death. I've only ever spoken with Princess Celestia twice, but I know that she is the only other pony in this world who's seen the wonders that you've seen. Her forgivin' ya' isn't all that unusual…that's what family does. Loves one another, just like his family wanted nothing more than to be with him, and he them, after he was gone fighting for all those years."

I dared tah' pontificate upon my ageless sovereign a touch more.

"As for everypony being so nice to ya', well, just like my friend's associate said, all we wanted is for you tah' be yourself again…to be home and be who ya' really are."

I dared to look up into her eyes, and there was a small knowing smile. Some part of me wondered if she had guessed where my knowledge had truly come from. Wouldn't have surprised me in the least. Still, I'm not brave enough to simply say, "Oh, I learned all this of course from bein' a mindless animal in another reality."

There are times I wish I could. Is it really possible that I'm the only Equestrian who's been through this, who has these visions of another time and life? Am I simply insane?

Miss Rarity had worked as I had spoken, looking up from time to time to listen to my story. We both bow as the Royal Guard, these painted grey to match their roles as her escorts, lead Princess Luna out of the shop.

Before long Rarity has spruced up my old dress uniform. It is wonderful to behold. After she gives Tucker a gem to suck upon in apology I pay her. Her jaw drops open as I place a pile of bits upon the table. I have no use for them…so, let talent be rewarded.

With that Tucker and I departed, making for the hotel.


Green Brier:
I am placing my things in order in my suite in the Hotel Seabiscuit when something races through my head.

At once I experience the smell of roasted almonds, the cue that I am to once more have a vision. This is rare, like this, in the middle of the day. At once I sit, but instead of entering a cloud of remembrance my mind instead picks up a tune…

The song had been played by bands in Bobby's army…it was a favorite. It was played both in camp, upon the march, and when the horrific scenes of that war played out around us…

I sat back in the chair, pursed my lips, and let it slide out of me, let the song fill the room. I whistled it, remembering the tune, seeing the faintest shadows of the long lines of grey soldiers on the march, fighting, dying…


Wander:
I am coming up the stairs of the hotel where I'm staying when something jumps out at me and bites at me like a snake.

I hear that song, the song that echoed across the battlefields when we moved against the smoke and soil colored soldiers.

I stumbled on the stairs, nearly fell, the force of it was so startling. I sent Tucker ahead to mah' rooms as I searched out the sound. It slid on out from beneath the door to a suite, and I found mahself prancing back and forth before it like a great fat idiot.

I listened to it until I could listen no more, until I felt like I had to wheel around as Sam did when placing his corps, his blue soldiers, to answer the challenge of the song, the approach of the grey ones…the ones who lifted the defiant song…

I knocked on the door.


Green Brier:
The song was interrupted by a knock upon my door. Even as I stood it began to drift away from me, back beyond the veil of thought.

Gathering myself up and straightening my uniform I answered the door. To my surprise, it was Wander…


Wander:
It was Brier; he was the one whistling the song. My mind went blank.

We stared at each other and made small greetings…and suddenly the whole thing seemed ridiculous, and the old uncomfortable feelings slid between us.

My mind flew around, tried to find some excuse. But, as I did, something tugged at me, tore deeper as I fought it. No, I had ta' ask…

"This is gonna sound a bit odd," I stated, moving down into a whisper, "but I overheard ya' whistlin' that ditty…ya', ya' wouldn't happen to remember what it's called, or the words? I swear…I've heard it before…"


Green Brier:
I stood shock still, unable to move, scarcely able to breath. It wasn't possible, there was no way that Wander could know…that song was sung by…Bobby's grey soldiers. How…

It wasn't possible…it couldn't be. I cleared my throat, thought for a second, put on the false names and hid it once more.

"It was something I learned long ago, through the auspices of an old friend, a dear one," I said. "I'm sorry, General Wander, but, but…I can't remember a name…oh, wait!"

I actually jumped around a bit, much to my own surprise, as a remembrance of some small word jumped to my mind. It was a short one, almost as small as Bobby's family name…


Wander:
I smiled at ol' Brier as he actually startled himself thinkin' o' the name. It was the most animated and unreserved I'd ever seen him. He returned the smile as he looked back to me and asked, "Brixey? I do believe it was a name…"


Green Brier:
Wander pondered for a moment, arching his eyebrows, one first, then the other. He smiled back at me, then asked, "Was it 'Trixie'? Naw, that ain't it…how about 'Nixie'?"

We begin to laugh at this odd little game. I answered him though my chortling. "I do believe it was fuller than that…rounder, as it were. Was it, perhaps…'Pixie'?"


Wander:
I stuck the tongue out of the side of my head, looked at the ceiling with one eye. "Naw, that ain't it…closest we've gotten though, so we'll stick with that."


Green Brier:
"Well, they can't accuse us of not trying, at least!" I added as we both laughed at our situation.

I can't know what Equestrian song he's confusing it with, but I am thankful that we've shared some small companionship. For the first time I feel like I'd made some sort of connection with Wander, and I am most happy for it.

Still, even better, I got to discuss something about that world, to have a remembrance…even if I had disguised it, that felt good indeed.


Wander:
I can't for the life of me figure out at that moment what old Equestrian Army song Brier was after, but I'm happy to have shared some laughs with him. Fer' the first time I feel like we've been friendly rather than just being cordial, and I'm glad of it.

More satisfying is sharin' something of that place in the visions. Even if I couldn't speak right of it, it had felt good to think on it.


Green Brier:
We smiled at each other for a few moments, the Wander nodded and turned to leave.

"Best not think on it too hard now, Wander," I called after him, realizing that this is the first time I don't add 'general' to his name, "You should get a headache if you do…and this damniable ball tonight shall undoubtedly produce more than enough of those by itself!"


Wander:
"Undoubtedly!" I chortled, "I  assume the food will disagree with me too!"


Green Brier:
I laughed at what I believed was Wander's accurate assumption and then answered as I turned to my rooms.

"You ain't just whistlin' 'Pixie'!"