Friends for a moment in time

Naël yawned, propping himself up to a standing position as he studied his surroundings.

This was not a place he remembered. His brain worked overtime, reaching for a memory, any memory of this place.

There was a multitude of flowers, mountains and a few scattered, colored rocks, and so many trees.

This was a glade, no wonder about it. Suddenly he remembered of a glade that very few talked about, he had heard of it in passing. It was the glade of none other than Regale, a legendary Ballator.

Now, he only needed to know how and why he had been dropped off here.

He caught sight of movement before it really hit him.

A blur had zoomed past him, and he shook his head to have a better look. What had that been?

"Hah, can't catch me, slowpoke!" A masculine voice said.

As Naël's eyes focused, he could make out the form of another Ballator, though this one was awfully colorful, his body and manes looking like they were made of gold, almost.

What, was he supposed to try to catch this stallion? He didn't want to 'catch' anyone. But he was going to have fun with this. Perhaps he could make a new friend?

"What, aren't you coming?" The other stallion asked as he paused, though he still ran. He couldn't give anyone a chance to catch him. Had to keep them on their toes. Though he did think that teasing them all was quite fun.

"What's your name?" Naël asked instead of replying.

"Midas." The Wild Equus Ballator answered, perplexed at why this other stallion asked him for his name.

"I'm Naël!"

"Well Naël, it's time I vanish!" Midas laughed and galloped faster away.

Naël immediately gave chase, running as fast as he could without hurting himself. He did have to think about his fragile hind legs after all.

"Wait, Midas! I just want to make friends!" He yelled.

But that didn't matter, because Midas turned a deaf ear to the Asiatic and continued running and laughing.

Naël knew he had been tasked to do something with the Wild, or he wouldn't be there. But he didn't remember anyone asking him to capture him. He didn't want to anyway. He guessed he'd follow him anyway.

The sun shone brightly this afternoon as if to highlight Midas' already impressive palomino coat and gold markings and manes. He evaded Naël again and again, outrunning him so much it wasn't funny. Midas grinned and boasted;

"Ah, to be a child of Aether, born of the spring from his own hooves with spectacular gifts of his, who else can say such things? Not many!" At this, he smirked. "I remember it as it was just yesterday, the first thing I did; Running from him all laugh and play!"

Naël almost stopped for a second as he heard Aether's name. So it was true then, Misty had been right all along and Aether and the other Highlords were real? Or...who knew, this stallion could simply be jesting.

"Ah to be a child of Aether, not Ares or Hannibal. What a beautiful day isn't it?"

Naël blinked. Midas looked down at a puddle of water, and then maintained eye contact with Naël. Without breaking it, he splashed the water in the Asiatic stallion's direction, and quickly ran away giggling. Naël reared as to avoid the jet.

They maintained this charade for a few minutes more before Naël finally had to stop to catch his breath and so not to fall, his hind legs wobbling dangerously often. So he sat down and sighed, picking at the grass to occupy himself.

Still running and laughing, Midas looked back at Naël and, noticing his inactivity, turned back to him, curious.

"Why did you stop running?" He asked.

"Because my hind legs are weak, due to my mother having Carey. It's a wonder I didn't get it. So I must rest often." Despite it being annoying, Naël didn't sound sad about his situation.

Midas stood immobile in front of him, and tilted his head. "Curious." For a moment all was silent, before Midas decided to sit with Naël.

"It's true though, what I said. About not wanting to capture you. I just want to be friends!" Naël smiled. "It's all I ever want! I love making new friends!"

"But then wouldn't you have too many friends to count?" Midas mused.

"To me there's no such thing as too many friends!"

"I suppose." He sobered up.

There was a pregnant pause.

Midas sighed. "That's really sweet and all, but I cannot assure you that we can see each other after this. Because see, there are lots of people who will want to capture me, and if one of them succeeds, which I'm sure they will eventually, we might not see each other again."

"Oh." Naël's ears pinned back. But he quickly burst from joy. "Well it's still a pleasure to meet you!"

Midas chuckled. "Ditto. How much time should it take you to recuperate?"

Naël shrugged. "Depends. For now I'd say an hour or so."

"That's okay. I think I have to take a snack and a drink anyway. Want anything?"

"Sure!" Naël grinned.

Birds sang all around the Glade as Midas hunted game that was large enough for the two of them, then went to drink some water from a puddle. He sat down and the two stallions happily shared a meal together, calm, tranquil and at peace. Midas had been right. It was indeed a beautiful day. Naël marveled at the sights before him as he ate, slowly enough while he waited to be able to stand again.

Out of nowhere, Naël started to sing "All-Star" by Smash Mouth. Midas laughed at the eccentricity of the young Ballator, who was actually older than him, really.

When an hour had passed, the crossbred Wild turned to Naël to see if he was ready to get up. He was, and thus they ran across the Glade together as friends for a moment in time.