A lone flutter mare gazed up at the full moon but it did not bring her feelings of peace or serenity. She stood there, a solitary figure with the wind tugging gently at her mane and tail, her bangs fluttering in her eyes from time to time. This scene should have been beautiful to her eyes, instead it only reminded her of what she’d lost. “All in all,” she muttered to herself as she stood alone in the middle of the night in some foreign wood far from her home. “I’m doing pretty well…” she choked out the words trying valiantly to hold back the sobs that threatened to break loose. She couldn’t return home, couldn’t even think of it. There were too many memories there and honestly, she’d never really felt like she belonged to begin with. “That’s not entirely true,” she said softly, sniffling as the tears flowed town her face in thin streams. “I suppose I did belong there a little...” She didn’t say the final two words. But they filled her mind regardless. With him. She shook her head trying to banish the memory, “You know what, it’s fine. Just fine. I’ve always wanted to travel anyways…”
She looked around the woods, blinking away tears and trying to get her bearings. She’d entered from the eastern border, following the setting sun. The moon had risen at her back, surprising her when it hit its apex, a shining pearl in the middle of an ocean sky. Now that it was directly above her she felt all turned around. “Well, that’s just perfect,” she huffed stomping around in the underbrush. “I’m lost, I’m stuck in the middle of the forest, and I’m….I’m Alone! What am I supposed to do now?” She flopped down in a huff amongst the brush and bushes, wincing as a few thorns pinched and scratched at her sides and her wings but she didn’t care. Right now all she wanted in this world was to cry and she was doing that. Next, maybe she could just sleep for a while. A very long while. She closed her eyes and just let the tears fall.
The next morning came all too soon for Amaranth’s liking. She pulled her head up slowly and her senses were suddenly flooded with the sweet scent of flowers. As she opened her eyes, she saw a veritable rainbow of colors all around her. Flowers of every color and size surrounded her resting form. “These weren’t here last night,” she said softly, lifting her head and feeling even more petals fall from her mane. “I wonder how long I’ve been asleep…” Amaranth questioned aloud looking around. Perhaps she’d slept for 100 years like some heroine in a fairy tale. Or maybe everything she’d known before this moment had been the dream, the nightmare. She could almost believe that. Over the last few days it felt like the world was falling apart around her.
It was the timid squeaking that caught her attention next. As she looked among the mixture of pale and vibrant colors she saw something moving. Small, tan with violet eyes and a red marking on the side that Amaranth couldn’t quite make out. “Hello?” she called out softly. “Oh, do come out, I won’t hurt you.” She smiled slowly as a tiny mouse crawled out from beneath the ring of flowers. “You did this, didn’t you?” Amaranth asked indicating to the flowers surrounding her. “It must have took you all night, why did you do it?”
“You were so sad,” the mouse said in a voice little more than a whisper. “I cannot do much, but I had hoped that I could maybe make you feel better. And I love flowers, I hoped that you might like them too.”
“They are lovely,” Amaranth agreed finally getting a good look at the flank of the mouse. “Oh, you even have a rose marking, that’s amazing. Like the spirits knew what you would love in your life.”
“I like to think of it that way,” the mouse said picking up a flower and playing with the petals nervously. “I like to think that the spirits have some great plan for me, for everyone. I try to help with it from time to time. I’ve found that most soquili enjoy getting flowers, especially if it comes from a special some-pony along the way…” she giggled. “I’m kind of a match maker, you see, it’s really easy for me because I’m so small, I can see things that others can’t…” She trailed off and added, “That must sound strange to you, huh?”
“No,” Amaranth assured the mouse. “Not at all. Actually I understand exactly what you mean.” She flapped her gossamer wings a few times. “My kind, we can shrink down to tiny sizes and it changes the world and how you look at it.” She added shyly, “I can shrink down to the size of a tea cup, a tiny cup, a little bigger than some of your flowers here. It’s remarkable how the world changes with a new perspective.”
“Exactly!” the mouse chirped. “I can see things that soquili just can’t. Wide doe eyes staring, longingly – I often wonder why those that possess such gazes cannot realize it. But, dear lady, why do you cry?”
Amaranth had not realized that tears had begun to slowly trail down her cheeks. “I’m so sorry,” she said quietly. “I didn’t mean to. It’s just….I…” she sniffled and tried to wipe away the tears. “I’ve just…I used to- to make those silly doe eyes at someone. I thought he was someone specially, but…”
“I’m so sorry!” the mouse chirped grabbing a few petals and rushing to dab at the mare’s lowered face. “That’s dreadful. Did he die?”
“He is as good as dead to me,” she replied with a measured amount of bitterness. “I would not speak of it, I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be rude but...”
“No, no, no,” the mouse chided. “It’s I that should apologize. Prattling on about love when you’ve had your heart torn asunder. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s alright,” Amaranth said sniffling, but smiling gratefully at the mouse’s efforts. “I’ll have to learn to deal with it. I can’t just burst into tears every time someone mentions the “l” word.”
“Of course,” the mouse acknowledged slowly. “And you will do so in time, just not today.”
“Thank you,” the mare said truly meaning it. “For listening to me, for not minding my outbursts, for…trying to cheer up a stranger that feel asleep crying in your forest. I- I don’t even know your name?”
“I’m Cydi,” the mouse said, her violet eyes meeting Amaranth’s. “And it is my great pleasure to meet you, milady. If I may be so bold, I think the spirits meant for you to fall asleep in my meadow.”
“Oh?” Amaranth asked with curiosity.
“Oh yes,” Cydi nodded with certainty. “I think our paths were meant to cross here, now. In your time of hurting – I think, you would do well with…a friend?”
“Maybe,” the mare allowed hesitantly.
“Certainly,” Cydi encouraged. “After all, if you truly wish to be alone there will be plenty of time for that later. But for now, let me accompany you. I’m the perfect size for a traveling companion and very good at being stealthy, you’ll hardly know I’m there. Sounds like the perfect set of circumstances to me.”
“Alright…” Amaranth agreed slowly. “I suppose I could use a little friendship right now.”
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