The Last Mission

    As I walked into town, my headphones blaring Octavia's latest concerto, I see a large library. I walk right towards it. I pull off my headphones, the classical music still playing, and slowly open the door.

     I am greeted by the ringing of a bell. "Hello, welcome to Golden Oaks Library, I'll be with you in a second." calls a voice from upstairs. I hear a rush of whispering and then the slap of hooves on the wood stairs.

     "Hey, um, I'm looking for the..." I start then I notice something. The neatly brushed mane with a stripe of light violet interrupting the twilight blue. Then I notice the wings.

     Alicorn. I hate Alicorns.

     I give a quick nonchalant bow. I look up at her and notice a look of discomfort on her face.

     Either my loud music was bothering her, or she wasn't used to the formality. I quickly rise.

     "Um, so what was it you were looking for?" she said.

     "Well, Princess, I was lookin' for the post office. Ya know where it is?"

     "It's at the train station. You should have seen it when you came into town." she said, almost impatiently, but tried to hide it. Like she had something to do.

     "I actually didn't take a train into town. Could you tell me where the station is?"

     "Okay, leave the library and go left. Then, just keep true."

************************

"Just keep true, okay, don't look back,"

"But what about..."

"Just keep true. I'll be fine."

BOOM!

************************

     "Excuse me, miss?" Twilight said for the fourth time.

     "Huh, yeah, right, sorry. So, just head north. Thanks," I said. "I'm Victoria, by the way,"

     "Well, its nice to meet you, Victoria," she said as I walked out the door. She quickly shut it behind me.

     As I walked towards the post office, I try to focus on the scenery. The sloping, colorful roofs, the cheerful faces of the ponies in the market, the smells of baked goods in the oven. All of it so familiar. All of it so normal. Ponies content, even happy, with mediocrity. Such a refreshing change.

     Then I see a pink mare, and she looks uber excited. She had a hot pink coat and a sort of red violet mane. She was pretty attractive. Er, for a mare, that is. "Uh, hey," I say.

     She doesn't really say anything, but she kind of lets out a loud gasp and runs off. I guess walking from the coast to the center of Equestria does make me smell... a bit ripe. She didn't need to be so rude about it, though. As soon as I got to my brother's house, I was taking a shower.

     I continued to walk north, toward the station and post office, I hoped.

     In the next two seconds, I hear a loud roar overhead and look up. I see a small blue comet with a rainbow tail. You don't see comets like that everyday.

     I continue to walk, listening to my music, until, again, another mare blocked my way. This one was a pure white unicorn with a swirl in her tail. She had a large hat on, and an outfit that was way too elegant for a stroll through town. I pause my music and slide my green headphones to my neck. "'Scuse me?" I say.

     The white mare turned, revealing a purple mane that swirled into an ocean wave. "Oh, hello there, what can I do for you?"

      "Well, I was just wondering, why you're wearing such an elegant ensem while just out on a stroll through town," I reply.

      She looked shocked by the professionalism in my voice. I couldn't help but feel a little insulted, but I could only imagine how I looked. "Well, a lady needs to look her best," she replied.

      "Well, no offense, but I don't believe this is your best. Because it seems like you're trying too hard to impress someone." I point out. Then I leave, letting that thought stew in her head,

      After about another three minutes, I reached the train station. I walked up to the window. "Um, hey, this is the post office, right?" I asked.

      "Yes, are you here to pick something up?" the mare behind the window asked, a excited glint in her yellow eyes. Her irises had a slight off tilt.

      "Um, yes, Ditzy, I am." I say.

      She looked shocked. "Do I know you?"

      I let out a chuckle. "No, but I hear you know my brother quite well," I answer a smirk on my face.

      She came out from around the counter and threw her forelegs around me. "Victoria!" she yelled.

     "How ya doin', Ditzy?" I asked.

     "Alright, I guess." she said. "String's been a bit busy, recently."

     "Do I need to talk to him?" I offered. I always was the dominant sibling.

     "No, No, it's fine." she said. "So, your package, right?" she said ducking behind the counter to grab it.

     "Yeah, thanks,"

     Ditzy pulled the package out and she placed it on the counter.

     "You're amazing, Ditzy," I tell her, but she just shrugs off the compliment.

     "Where ya stayin'?" she asked.

     "With my brother," I replied.

     "Really, I'll help you with your box, then," she said, sliding it into her mailbag.

     "You don't have to do that," I said.

     "How else am I supposed to see your brother?" she asked, and trotted out from behind the counter, flashing a smile.

     "Lead the way," I told her.

     I followed the grey pegasus down the road. We passed a few ponies that Ditzy said hi to. They all looked extremely cheery. We passed a cake shop that smelled amazing. Ditzy informed me that was where she used to work. We also passed an apple stand where there was a little yellow filly trying to sell apples and what must have been her older sister watching her with a smile on her face.

     Then, I saw her say something to her sister and she started walking towards me.

     "Howdy there, Ditzy," she said, with a tip of her Stetson.

     With a closer look, she had a very strong muscle tone and beautiful green eyes.

     "And who's this?" she asked Ditzy.

     "I'm Victoria... Bass," for some reason, I felt compelled to tell her my last name.

     "Bass? Would ya happen ta be related ta String Bass?"

     "Yeah, he's my brother." I said. "You must be Applejack. I've heard a lot about you."

     "Well, it's nice ta meet ya, Victoria." she said, extending a hoof.

     "Likewise," I said, shaking her hoof. "That your sister over there?"

     "Mm hmm. Her name's Apple Bloom," she said.

     "Well, she looks like she's trying a bit too hard to sell those apples," I told her, looking past her shoulder towards the yellow filly trying to sneak apples into ponies' saddlebags, and trying to charge them for them.

     Applejack turned and quickly trotted over. "I'll catch up with ya later!" she called over her shoulder.

     I guess I was staring at her, because Ditzy waved her hoof in front of my face. I shook my head and looked at her. "Yeah?"

     "You were staring at Applejack," she said.

     "Huh? No I wasn't. I was... Looking at her apples," I said.

     "Suure ya were," she said, sarcastically. "Come on, you're brother's house is just up here a few more blocks,"

     I followed her the remaining few blocks until we reached String's house.

     "Wait, there's something wrong here," I told Ditzy as she was about to open the door.

     "What?" she asked, concerned.

     "I'm not sure," I said. "I just can feel something's up,"

     "Well, only one way to find out," she said, slowly pushing open the door.

     Then, an explosion...