Twilight Windrider
Last Updated: March 29, 1998
The first things you notice while looking about this strange
place, are the humongous trees which seem to reach as far as
the eye can see. You look around at their giant-sized trunks
and strain to see up into the branches. From the ground, it
isn't very easy to find them - but you manage. Flowers of
every different color spring from these magnificent goliaths,
and no one is like another.
You hear a giggle from behind you and whirl to see who had
uttered it. You see no one. A poke in your back causes you
to whirl about again - the giggle repeats. Finally, you yell
out, "Who's doing that??" Much to your surprise, a
tree is what answers you! Soon all of the trees are
clamoring to be heard, several of them are yelling for someone
to do something about the "intruder". You clamp your hands
over your ears, trying to block out the noise. Finally a
mindvoice reaches above the trees' and says, "Enough!"
To your surprise, all the trees are silent.
A silver-coated Pegasi flies down from the branches of a nearby
tree and alights on the ground next to you. He inclines his
head and introduces himself, "Greetings, traveler! My
name is Twilight of the Windrider Herd. May I be of some
assistance to you?" Looking around, you notice that there
are many faces pearing at you from the branches of trees - most
are Pegasi, like the one in front of you, though they vary
in shade, hue, size, and temperment. There are other sorts
of creatures playing among the trees, but they tend to hide
behind their equine herdmates. You turn back to Twilight and
ask him what place it is you have come to.
Smiling, Twilight motions you over to a tree where you can
sit and rest. He settles down on the ground beside you and
with a sweep of his wing, takes in the whole area, "This
is Windrider Herd territory. Specifically, this area is the
Ancient Forest which protects our home," his eyes twinkle
and you can almost hear the unspoken appendage - "from intruders
like yourself". But because he didn't actually say it, you
decide not to take offense.
As you contemplate what to say next, several younger pegasi
gather around Twilight and settle in, pressed against his
sides. He nuzzles each of them, and the warmth and love in
his eyes nearly bring tears to yours. You ask him if they
are his children, and the light in his eyes darkens. Before
you can ask him what is the matter, the light twinkle returns
to his face and in a chipper sort of manner, he tells you that
no, none of these children are his - they just _think_ that
they are - much to the consternation of their sires and dams.
You press on, sensing a story in the works, "Did you ever
have a child?"
The Forest seems to catch its breath for a moment, as Twilight
closes his eyes and bows his head. Several of the fillies
around him reach up to lick at his muzzle in reassurance.
When he lifts his head, you clearly see the sorrow outlined
in his eyes. His answer is soft, and full of tears, "Yes,
I had a daughter once. She was taken from me when she was
very young - naught but a yearling. I haven't seen her since."
He falls silent, unwilling to continue. The filly lying
across his forelegs tucks her head under his chin and presses
herself even closer to him. He smiles a little and nuzzles
her wings in response. The cloud over the group passes, and
he is once again the cheerful Pegasi you met.
To read the story of Twilight's daughter, visit her
homepage.
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