Chapter 4

I could not put my hoof on it, but there was something fishy about this trail. The mail was left in a straight line for another 15-20 feet. I bit into the apple that Derpy picked for me. It was surprisingly scrumptious.

If I were correct, following the trail of mail would lead us straight to Tall Tale. I made a couple notes in my notebook then put it away. “Derpy, let’s get moving, if we want to catch this person, we’re going to have to follow the mail.”

Derpy finished up her muffin before trotting over to me. “Okay!” she said very enthusiastically.

We followed the direction the mail lead us in for a good hour and a half before sitting down to rest. We decided that walking was better as the winds from Smokey Mountain would blow us off course if we flew there. Besides, night had fallen. We wouldn’t get anywhere at night.

“I’m going to fly up to see how far we have left.” I said to Derpy as I flew up into the air. Feeling the cool breeze of night in my mane again felt really nice. I looked out towards the right of Smokey Mountain and saw lights in the distance. Tall Tale.

I had never been to Tall Tale, but I had read about it in a book called Equestrian Locale. In the book it talked about the major cities of Equestria. Everywhere from Canterlot to Ponyville was in the book. Tall Tale was located just outside of Vanhoover, and was home to Ponies and Griffons alike.

I’ve never personally seen a griffon either. Griffons seldom visit Cloudsdale, but there’d been talk of one in the Junior Speedster Flight Camp the year I missed it. I wish I would’ve gone, but I always got sick at camp, so my mother had made me stay home.

I slowly began to descend from the air, taking in the cool breeze one more time, before landing gently on the ground. I looked over to Derpy who began to for a place to sleep. I had always had a hard time falling asleep at night, but to my surprise, I slept soundly.

I was in a city I had never seen before. The lights were very bright and there were many tall buildings. Oddly enough, everything had a gray tinge to it. I looked around at my surroundings and noticed many ponies walking the streets in slow motion.

“Excuse me sir!” I said walking up to a gray stallion passing close by. He didn’t seem to realize that I was there and kept walking in the same direction.

What in the hay was going on here?

Suddenly I noticed a dark figure off in the distance moving at a regular speed. I would’ve brushed it off but then I realized it was huge and bulky, unlike everypony else. I began to follow it, keeping my distance and trying not to bump into the slow gray ponies.

The figure took a look back and darted down an alley. Did they see me? I began to fly above the crowd following down the same alley as the figure. I could see them down below me running at a very fast pace. I was able to keep up with them due to my wings, but they didn’t seem to hear my flapping at all. Was I simply observing the dream and had no part in it? Or was the dark figure deaf?

The figure reached the street and began to slow down as it reached a tavern called The Watering Hole. It knocked three times, the door opened, and the figure stepped inside.

Hmm. I needed to get into the tavern. I couldn’t let the dark figure get away. I walked up to the door and knocked three times. On the other side of the door was complete silence. I waited for what felt like an eternity before I could hear the door unlocking. What awaited me on the other side? More dark figures? Monsters? Rainbows? The door opened and on the other side was a blindingly bright light.

I opened my eyes to the blinding sun. I stood up looking to where Derpy was sleeping. I could see her chest rhythmically rise and fall. Still asleep. I began to stretch out my legs and my wings before taking a sip from my canteen. Looking up at the sky, I realized that it’s been a while since I had flown in the sun. I pulled back and shot off into the air, feeling the cool breeze from Smokey Mountain through my hair. It wasn’t as refreshing as the cool, nighttime breeze, but it still felt good. I looked towards the mountain and I noticed a gleam of light being reflected off of something in the distance. I squinted to see if I could get a better look.

I still couldn’t make it out but it looked like it was getting closer. I flew down to Derpy to wake her up. She was muttering something about waffles when I shook her. “Derpy wake up. Something is heading this way.”
She sat up and rubbed her eyes with her hooves as she slowly opened them. She looked and me and said, “Morning sleepyhead!”

I gave her a confused look, but she didn’t seem to notice. Instead she began to stretch herself out.

“Come on Derpy something’s coming this way.” I said as I took off into the air. I reached the spot I was at when I saw the light. Derpy literally almost knocked me out of the sky again when she finally caught up with me. I looked into the distance and noticed that the light was gone. Instead, a Pegasus pony was fast heading this way. Oh no…

I know who this Pegasus is… She noticed we were here but she still didn’t slow down. SHE’S HEADING RIGHT FOR ME!!! I closed my eyes and braced for impact.

“Hey Midnight! I see you’re still as cowardly as ever.” The sky-blue Pegasus said brushing her rainbow colored mane. I opened my eyes and glared at her.

“You could’ve hit me you jerk!” I yelled at her.

Rainbow Dash, the most obnoxious Pegasus from Cloudsdale to hit the skies. She graduated at the top of the class, and wasted no second bragging to me, who was at the bottom of the class, about it.

“Come on, I’m the best flyer in Equestria, I would’ve never hit you.” She said rubbing the pin on her chest. Just now I realized what she was wearing. She was wearing a Wonderbolt’s Academy uniform with standard issue recruit-class goggles. The uniform wasn’t a complete flight suit, exposing most of the mare’s face, forehooves, and flank, but it still held great value. The goggles also aren’t as glorious as the Elite-class goggles, able to see through the roughest weather and the darkness of night, but it also was valuable. On her chest was the same pin I wore on my coat; the pin of a Squad Leader…

Author's Note

Been a while since my last chapter, so I put out what I have finished. It's been an interesting week with me kicking off two new channels at the same time, but I hadn't forgotten about the story.
This chapter comes after The Wonderbolts Academy, but before Apple Family Reunion. I had a lot I wanted to include in this chapter, but I decided to cut it shorter as it would've dragged on for a while. The Rainbow Dash part will continue with the next chapter. Everything is coming together, I just have one character to introduce....