The house in the forest

The summer sun was reflected by the river, all but blinding Ruki as she tried to drink. She couldn't help but find this river's water truly delicious; so... pure, so natural. Her mother wasn't drinking, but she didn't have to. They had been following this river for three days now. According to Taira, it was all they had to do to arrive at Twinkle Star's house at some point.

She hadn't liked saying goodbye to her father and Yuuro so soon after they had crossed the Breach. Her mother had informed Fjaril of what they would set out to do, but she had not seen it fit to explain to the others. Especially her aunt Hikary had been troublesome, but Ruki did not understand why her mother had not simply explained everything.

“What on earth are you going to do that is more important than bringing the stones home with us?” Hikary had asked.
“The stones were not the only part of what the stone had asked for, Hikary.” her aunt had glared at her mother. “What is it you know that you do not wish to tell me, Taira?”
“The stones are your part, Hikary. Take care of them. Bring them home as fast as you can. Leave the rest up to me.”

Still not completely satisfied, her aunt nonetheless had seen no other way but to agree with Taira. Ruki was sure her mother would have some explaining to do once they got home. Ruki and Taira had parted there, and followed the breach to the north until they came upon a river that fell into the Breach there.
“We have to follow this.” Taira had said. “The river will bring us to Twinkle Star.”

And so they had been following the river. After a day, a path had appeared next to it, making it easier for them to walk. There were trees along the path, giving them some shade from the early summer sun. So far, though, they had not found Twinkle Star, or anything that would bring them to her.

The smell of summer hung in the air. The grass was dry and the trees along the road were sweating. Ruki got up and walked back to her mother, who was waiting for her on the path. “Are you sure you don't want anything to drink?” Ruki asked, wondering how her mother could not be thirsty in this heat. “No, I'm good. Let's move on.” Taira smiled.

Ruki had never been alone with her mother for this long. An aunt had always been there, or Yuuro, or her grandmother. But now it was just the two of them. The two of them, and the hot sun shining above them. Ruki wished she had taken a hat or something with her to shield her eyes from the sun, but all that was in her bag were winter clothes.

“Summer comes early this year.” Taira remarked.
“It really does.” Ruki agreed.
While officially still spring, it was as hot as it usually was mid-summer, and the environment was suffering; the plants were dry and the river was at an alarming low level. After their journey to the far north Ruki didn't dare to complain, but secretly she hoped it wouldn't be this warm the entire summer.

“There's a village up ahead.” Taira announced suddenly.
Ruki gazed in the distance, and sure enough she spotted the outlines of a few houses along the river.
“Do you think that is where Twinkle Star lives?” Ruki asked.
“No. She said she lived in a small house on the border of some forest. But we can ask if there's a forest close by, and have a proper night's rest in a real bed, and a true warm meal.”

Thinking of warm food made Ruki walk faster instantly. She had become so used to the good food she had eaten in the Friendship Lands, this entire journey had been horrible, food-wise. All she had eaten was some dried vegetables and some way too thin soup. The only variations had been the meals in the inns, but those had been few enough.

They reached the village an hour later. It wasn't very big, but Ruki had spotted several farms in the area around the village, meaning it was still rather crowded. The center of the village consisted of one large market place, and Ruki had no doubt this was where the farmers went to sell their goods or exchange them for other goods they might need. There was no market now though; the center was empty but for the few ponies that walked around.

Around the center stood several houses, and three small roads led away from the center, passing some shops, houses and other buildings before they left the village. The small houses were all made of light wood with one exception; a large house build with gray stones that reminded Ruki most of the city halls she had seen in the west. Ruki recognized a bakery and a general goods store, but she didn't spot an inn. She noticed a lot of ponies were outside; a woman was doing laundry, a man was reading a book.

“Maybe we should just ask if there is an inn here.” Ruki proposed when they halted at the middle of the village center. She looked at the bakery on their left.
“Maybe over there. I'm sure a storekeeper will know if there is one, and where we might find it.”
“Yes, sure. Good idea; let's go.” Taira agreed.
The bakery was small as well, Ruki noticed. Most of the bread was on a table outside; the only thing inside was the counter.

“Hello?” Ruki said as she entered the store.
Her mother stayed outside; it was way too small inside for two ponies. She heard some sounds coming from the other side of the door behind the counter, and a moment later a cyan colored pony wearing a red and white striped apron came walking in the store.
“Good afternoon. How may I help you?” She asked politely.

“We are looking for an inn to spend the night. Could you maybe tell me if there is one in this village?”
“There isn't exactly an inn, I'm afraid.” The lady answered. “But there is a couple down the road who have a spare room they rent to travelers. You can ask if it is free. Just follow the road east out of town until you reach a house with red paint.”
“Thank you, we will try that.” Ruki smiled gratefully and left the shop.

“There's supposedly a place we can spend the night down the eastern road.” She told her mother, who was sitting in front of the store. The sun was too hot to keep standing. “Let's go try there then.” Taira said as she got up. Together they passed the village center once again and hit the eastern road, looking out for a red house.

Along the road they found mainly shops and workplaces, not a road Ruki would have guessed held a home. They didn't see any red houses either. Ruki did see a workplace where they build furniture, and another one where they created cheese out of milk. At each workplace several ponies were working, despite the heat. Ruki stopped for a few moments at a store where they apparently created ropes.

A rather large building drew their attention because several ponies were waiting outside. The building itself looked boring, it's light wooden walls not painted and the roof green from the moss that grew on it. Behind the building Ruki spotted some kind of yard enclosed by a white fence, but she couldn't tell what it was for.

“I wonder what's going on there.” Ruki said. The doors of the building opened then, and several ponies walked out, making a lot of noise. Ruki realized all of them were children.
“It's a school.” Taira said.
Ruki saw it now, too; through the window she could see a large land map, and the ponies outside were obviously ponies waiting for their children.
“It must be the only school in the vicinity, so parents come to pick up their children. They probably live rather far away.” Taira muttered.

Ruki gasped when she saw the pink pony step out of the school. She was talking to a white pony with yellow mane, probably a friend or a classmate. The white pony did not seem to notice how special the little girl was.
“That girl...” Ruki whispered.
“It's Câlin. Twinkle Star's stepdaughter.” Ruki had heard of Câlin, though she had never seen the girl before.

Ruki noticed Câlin's wings were different from Twinkle Star's. Not only were they smaller, they were also darker somehow, as if they didn't shine from themselves but only reflected the light that was thrown at them. It had been a long time since she had seen Twinkle Star's wings, but she clearly remembered the sparkles of her wings as if they were not completely from this world.

The girl had said goodbye to her friend and walked to a white pony with dark pink hair. He was tall and well build; he looked like a strong pony, but in his eyes was nothing but affection for this little child.
“It's probably Kiyoi, don't you think? Twinkle Star's husband.” Taira suggested.
“Yea, probably.”
“Then the house in the forest must be close. And Twinkle Star.” Taira concluded as she walked forward.

Ruki followed her mother as they walked up to Kiyoi. It didn't surprise her when the little girl noticed them first, but the girl didn't say anything even when they stopped right in front of them.
“Hello.” Taira greeted them.
“Uhm... hello. How may I help you?” Kiyoi greeted them, obviously oblivious as to who they were.

“This is Taira. Mother's sister. And...” Câlin gazed at Ruki, making her feel slightly uncomfortable. Her eyes were so deep, so demanding. “Her daughter, I think.” Câlin concluded.
“Why, Câlin, you haven't changed much, have you?” Taira greeted her, patting her on the head. “Except that you've grown so much taller.”
“And smarter. I know all about plants and trees now. Don't I, dad?” Câlin looked at Kiyoi.

“Yes, that you sure do, dear. Let me introduce myself... My name is Kiyoi, Câlin's father and husband to your sister.” Kiyoi had no doubt whatsoever that Câlin was right, Ruki noticed.
“It's a pleasure to meet you, Kiyoi. My name is Taira, and this is my daughter Ruki. We came here to visit your wife.” Her mother explained while the area around them was growing silent. Most children had gone home.

“Twinkle Star is at home with our other daughter. We can take you there, if you like. We were going home anyway.”
“Yes, please. Thank you.” Taira smiled.
As they left the village on the eastern road, Kiyoi explained how he had gone to the village to trade some herbs. Usually Câlin walked home alone; she was big enough for that now. Ruki giggled when she saw how proud Câlin looked when Kiyoi said that. He was a good father, Ruki noticed. He loved Câlin as if she were his own.

The road was much like the road they had followed earlier, though it didn't follow the river; there were trees along the path on both sides, and beyond them lay grain fields.
“What queendom is this?” Ruki asked.
“Oh, it isn't. Nobody has ruled here for a long time. We take care of ourselves.” Ruki was amazed; she had always thought the lands without a ruler would be barren, but ponies lived here, and they took proper care of themselves. So then what were queens for?

Right when she wanted to ask her mother, Kiyoi halted and pointed.
“That's the forest. My house lies on the border, close to the Fiume river.”
Ruki saw the beginning of a forest ahead of them, on the other side of the river. It stretched out to the south; Ruki couldn't see the end. They continued along the path and crossed Fiume with a bridge. The path led them through some bushes and then opened up on a square, revealing a small wooden house.

“Oh, Meran!” Kiyoi shouted as he saw his house.
The house had just been painted, Ruki noticed; the walls were dark red and Kiyoi had used white for the wooden pillars and the bottom of the roof. And now his second daughter was using that white paint to paint a large white flower on the side of the house, straight over the fresh dark red paint.

“Twinkle Star!” Kiyoi yelled.
“She does things like this.” Câlin informed them while they were watching as Kiyoi pulled his child away from the wall.
Meran looked like Câlin, Ruki noticed. She had the same coat color and her mane had the same shade of dark pink, except for a bit at the front of her head. Well, and Meran didn't have wings.

“What? What is it?” A familiar voice came from inside the house.
It had been so long, but it felt as if it was only yesterday that Ruki had last heard it. The door flung open and Twinkle Star stepped outside. Her wings were even more magnificent than Ruki remembered them; They stretched out so far and they glittered and shone without any help from the sun. Câlin's wings paled in comparison.

“Oh, MERAN!” Twinkle Star gasped when she saw her daughter's most recent piece of art.
“How many times have I told you NOT to touch daddy's paint?” Twinkle Star scolded her daughter while trying to wipe the paint from her hooves.
“I... sorry...” Meran started crying.
“Honey... we have visitors.” Kiyoi pointed out.

Only then did Twinkle Star see them. A mix of surprise and recognition swept across the winged pony's face. “Taira...” she whispered.
“Honey, could you take the children inside and make sure Meran cleans herself?” she asked. Kiyoi got up and dragged his crying child inside. Câlin followed without a word.