“I do.” She said, and she was surprised to feel she didn’t even feel any doubt. Just a moment ago, she had actually thought of wishing for a new life of her own, but now that she had spoken the words out loud, she knew she would never be happy if she had chosen for herself. Her new friend needed this wish more than she did.

“Very well.” The pony of light said, and she closed her eyes. For a moment nothing happened, and Eila and Lunarstar looked at each other expectantly, wondering what was going o happen next. Eila just wanted to ask if everything was going okay, when the pony opened her eyes again. Lunarstar began to glow. Her wings and her horn appeared again, and her mane turned back to silver. Eila was sure this was not Lunarstar’s own doing. Lunarstar began to float in the air, and she soon was floating a few feet above the ground. She first looked a bit shocked, but it didn’t take long for Lunarstar to accept the situation.

Apparently Lunarstar had the idea that everything was going well, for she smiled at Eila.
“Thank you Eila, I’ll never forget this!” She yelled while she kept floating higher into the air, and Eila couldn’t help but smile back.
“No problem! Any time! If you ever find a way to come visit me… Be sure to do so!”
“I will. Eila… I’m sure you’ll become a great steward one day. Just do what you said you would… work to make everyone’s life better, like you did for me.” Lunarstar said with a smile, and then nodded at the pony of light.

 There was a flash that blinded Eila for a moment, and when she got her sight back, she could still see Lunarstar shoot towards the stars. Then, as if nothing had happened, she was gone.
“So she came from the stars after all…” Eila whispered. She had appeared so soon… But now she had appeared just as quick.
“It is not something you will be able to understand Eila. But you chose well.” The pony of light startled Eila. She hadn’t expected the pony to be there still. But she still stood there, in all her royal glory.
“Thank you… I guess. Will Lunarstar arrive at her home safely?” Eila asked. “She will. But you must return also. Dawn is coming.”

“I know…” Eila had almost turned around to return home, when she changed her mind.
“Who are you?” She asked the pony. “How come I could find you now, while I never even so much as heard a story about you before?”
The pony of light smiled. “I am no who, Eila. I am but a memory of a queen from the past, the strength of her royal powers stored inside this stone to bring happiness and good luck to this part of the country, for she cherished it. And you could find me because your heart was set on helping your friend. For that is the essence of our existence, Eila. To help and protect, to guide and teach. Do not doubt what lays ahead of you. When the moment comes, you will know what to do.”

Before Eila could ask more, the pony of light began to fall apart in millions of different points of light, that slowly returned to the centre of the stone. When all light was gathered there, the four parts of the stone slowly began to close, until the stone had completely returned to it’s original state. It was still giving off light, but a lot weaker than it had before. Eila knew she had to hurry if she ever wanted to find her way back; the lights would go out soon. She galloped as much as she could on her way back, often tripping over branches and piles of leaves. Yet when she finally reached the stone on the sand path, she somehow didn’t feel relieved at all. Was it really over? When she looked back while she tried to calm her breathing, she couldn’t see any of the stones. Even the one at her hoofs had lost almost all of it’s light.

She shook her head, and began to walk back. The path seemed so much darker now, the dark trees so much scarier. She could sometimes see the hoofprints she and Lunarstar had made on their way into the forest. It felt ages ago now. So much had happened since then. Eila gfelt she had aged so much in only such a short period of time. Maybe, now, she was able to face Konrou tomorrow. Maybe he was not the guy she had always dreamed off, but he would do. He would be a great stewards’ husband, one who could raise their children well. And her hair… she couldn’t help but smile when she realised maybe it wasn’t such a big sacrifice after all. There were more important things in the world, ponies who needed her help. And who knows, a lot of influential ponies would attend her wedding, right? Maybe she could convince the queen to drop the weird tradition. I’ll do whatever I promised you, Lunarstar. I’ll work to make everyone’s life better.

When she reached the open field again, and she saw the lights of her house in the distance, she finally realised how tired she was. In contrary to the path, the crossing of the field felt like ages. She climbed the wall of their mansion, and when she was on top, she stared at the stars one last time. Was Lunarstar up there, one of those countless points of light? Had she really been that, a star falling out of the skies, a star that had chosen her own path in life? Eila smiled softly. Maybe, falling stars were just that. She noticed the ray of light in the corner of her eye, and she turned her head just in time to see the falling star disappear behind the mountains that marked the borders of her country. Maybe, that too… was another pony, seeking someone’s help to return home.

Eila jumped of the wall, and softly walked towards her window that was still open. She climbed inside, and had a quick peek at herself before she got in bed. She looked horrible; her face was scratched, her coat dirty… but it didn’t feel bad. She had helped someone, made a new friend, discovered the secret of a forest that one day she had to protect… She didn’t mind to have some scratches from an experience like that. Yet, for all that she had done, her bed was now the most appealing thing she could think of. She took her brush, and for one last time, brushed her long hair. Then she lay down in her bed, pulled her blanket over her body, and soon fell in a deep sleep.