Quarter Miles

Chapters

Found On The Roadside
Getting To Know Each Other
On the road again.
The I-15 and Henderson
Onward to Utah

Found On The Roadside

~{Chapter One}~

~Ponyville - Equestria~

Sweetie Belle and Starbloom had borrowed one of the spell books from Twilight's library and headed off to a quiet place to study it. Starbloom had long since learned she was limited to just telekinetic spells. But she told Sweetie she would help her learn different types of magic. Today Sweetie said she learn to teleport so Starbloom got a book on teleportation spells.

"Alright Sweetie, let's try this one it looks simple." She said showing her a page with a basic teleporting spell on it. "Think you can handle this?"

"I don't know, but I'll sure enough give it a try!" Sweetie said beaming brightly as she read the spell over a few times before concentrating on her magic. Her horn lighting up and sparking before she disappeared, just to reappear in the same spot.

Starbloom tilted her head watching the display. "Well.... I think that worked... kind of." She said scratching her head with a hoof. "You teleported, you didn't go anywhere but it was teleporting."

Sweetie panted and smiled looking up at Starbloom. "Really? I did? Wohoo!" She yelled while she jumped up and down a few times. "I did it! I did it! That was really hard though, I'm surprised your mom can teleport as good as she does." She said after she calmed down smiling at Starbloom.

"Yea, teleporting magic is pretty draining. Maybe portal magic might be easier." She said looking through the book and finding a basic portal spell. She read it over tilting her head a few times. "This might work. If you want to give it a try."

"Portal magic? I don't think I've seen a pony use that kind of spell before." Sweetie said as she looked at the spell, she read it a few times tilting her head. "It looks easier then teleporting magic, wonder why it's not used more often. Says we need to make a door to hold the portal itself."

"That shouldn't be to hard. Should be enough stuff here to make the basic frame." Starbloom said using her magic to gather up some stones and starts to stack them up in a door frame shape. Sweetie using her own magic to help build the frame.

It wasn't long before they had the frame built looking it over smiling and nodding. "That should do, what do you think Sweetie, will that work for the spell?" She said looking at the frame then at Sweetie.

Sweetie looked it over and smiling after checking the spell in the book. "Yea I think this will work perfect." She said grinning, she got a piece of chalk from her saddle bag and started to draw the runes copying them from the book on the frame. "Now, if I got this right a portal should open from here, to Rarity's place. She's going to be so surprised!"

Starbloom and Sweetie giggled softly at the idea of surprising Rarity. "Okay, now I just need to case the spell itself." Sweetie said pointing her horn at the frame and started to concentrate on her magic, the runes started to shimmer one by one as the magic took hold. But one of the joints on the frame slipped causing the rune to change and the portal flared bright sucking both Starbloom and Sweetie in before either had a chance to react. The frame itself then collapsed in on itself.

~{Nevada - Earth}~

Sweetie woke up slowly after the portal spit her out. She moved to her hooves slowly looking around finding herself alone. "S.. Starbloom?" She called out softly moving slowly trying to find her friend. At first glance it looked like she was in a desert, she could hear an odd rumble every so often nearby. "Starbloom!" She yelled out starting to feel panic build inside her.

Starbloom sat up nearby shaking sand off her head looking around seeing Sweetie nearby. "Sweetie?" She said softly coughing a little. She blinked when Sweetie turned and pounced her. "Ack! What's the matter?" She yelped at the sudden pouncing.

"I thought... I thought it was here by myself..." Sweetie said letting go and got off her looking down at Starbloom helping her to get up. "I don't where we are. This doesn't look anything like Ponyville or any place it either." She said and Starbloom nodded getting her first good look around the area.

"I know, this place looks like a desert," she said moving around finding her saddle bag she used her magic to look through it. "Oh no... no no no no!" She said panic raising in her voice causing Sweetie to look over at her.

"What? What's the matter?" Sweetie said going over to her.

"The spell book, it's gone, I thought for sure I put it in my book after you put the runes on the frame." She said biting her bottom lip. "With out it, I don't know if we can create the portal to get back... quick let's see if we can find your saddle bag, maybe I put it in your bag instead."

Both Sweetie and Starbloom started to search for Sweetie's saddle bag finding it, they looked inside but didn't find the book. "No.. this is bad Sweetie, very bad." Starbloom said flopping down sighing hanging her head.

Sweetie reached over and patted Starbloom's shoulder. "We'll find a way home, don't worry. If we can find a town maybe we can find a book that has the spell in it." She said smiling at Starbloom.

Starbloom smiled back at Sweetie nodding. "Hey, that's right maybe we can find another copy of the book and get home." She said getting to her hooves. Both looking around slowly blinking slowly. "Hey Sweetie.... do you know which way to go?"

Sweetie gave a faint shrug shaking her head abit looking around herself, wriggling her ears abit. "I keep hearing this faint rumble sound... maybe we should go see what it is?" She said looking over at Starbloom.

Starbloom nodded at her abit. "Yea I keep hearing that to, it's a strange sound." She said looking in the direction it was coming from. Both of them started to walk towards the sound, slowly getting use to walking on the shifting sands. The suddenly came face to face with something, different.

"What is this stuff?" Sweetie asked putting her hoof on the tarry black surface of an asphalt road looking at it stretching through the desert. "It's like a road, but nothing I've seen before. It's hard kind of like the stone walkways in Canterlot."

"I don't know Sweetie, but if it is a road we should be careful crossing it. We don't know what kind of creatures travel down it." Starbloom said, and as if on cue a car came racing down the road. A dark gray colored American Muscle car.

"S.. Starbloom! What is that things!?" Sweetie asked fear gripping her and kept her from moving standing on the edge of the road watching as the car came at her.

"Sweetie! Get out of the way!" She said watching, seeing Sweetie frozen in place she reacted to keep Sweetie from getting hurt. She released a blast of kinetic energy into the car coming directly at Sweetie, the force of her magic caused the muscle car off the road, sending up a blast of dust and sand.

Starbloom jumped onto the road next to Sweetie and pushed her off the road snapping her out of the shock. "Sweetie! Sweetie are you okay?" She asked nudging her friend, she then heard something else and looked over at the cars.

She saw a tall figure making it's way over to where she and Sweetie was. She moved and stood protectively in front of her friend her crystals lighting up. When she saw the tall creature come over and look down at her and Sweetie she blinked, it was nothing she had seen before. "S.. stay away from us.. I don't want to have to hurt you!" she threatened.

The tall creature just looked down at her, an amused smirk crossing his face at the threat, "Hurt me? You have got to be kidding." He said as he crouched down looking at Sweetie then at Starbloom, "Did you cause my car to crash?" he asked tilting his head.

Starbloom looked him over, he was a big guy, well muscled, with no hair. He would look pretty threatening but she could pick up a gentleness to him and his gruff tone of voice. "I... I had to, it was going to hit my friend and I had to protect her." Starbloom said, still being defensive as she watched him carefully.

"I see," He said looking the two over again, any other day he might of found it strange talking to what looked like to small ponies, both weird pretty weird in color. But he did just have an accident on a deserted road. "Look, I wasn't trying to hurt your friend, but she was standing the street."

"She didn't know that, we're new here." Starbloom said looking back at Sweetie who was still pretty shaken from what had happen before looking back at the tall person. "W.. where are we? Who are you.... what are you?" Starbloom asked her headband stopped glowing as she relaxed abit.

He looked at the two before sighing shaking head. He moved and picked up Sweetie before Starbloom could stop him. "Hey! Put her down!" She yelled jumping up and down trying to stop him. "Put her down!" She yelled again following him as he walked over to his car.

He put Sweetie in the back seat leaving the door open, "Get in, I'll answer your questions. After we get someplace safe, and out of this heat." He said, Starbloom staring up at him before jumping in after Sweetie and settling down next to her.

"Alright... but don't try any funny stuff mister." She said watching him.

"I wouldn't dream of it, and my name is Dominic, you can call me Dom." He said starting the car up he got back up on the road and started to drive down the road again.

Getting To Know Each Other

~{Chapter Two}~

As Dom drove the car down the highway, Sweetie was starting to recover from the shock of everything that had happen. Sitting up on the back seat slowly looking around. "S.. Starbloom.... what happen? Where are we?" She said softly looking at Starbloom who was sitting on the back seat next to her watching Dom quietly, she still didn't really trust him.

"I don't know Sweetie, I been going over what happen in my mind.... from what I remember the portal collapsed... as to where we are, I'm not to sure." She said looking at Sweetie then back up at Dom quietly. "Hey you said you would answer my questions.... can you answer them now?" She asked. She saw Dom glance at her through the rear view mirror.

"Alright, half-pint what do you wanna know?" He asked returning his focus to the road.

Starbloom blinked and mouthed the word half-pint tilting her head. "My name is Starbloom this is my friend Sweetie Belle." She said, deciding to introduce them, "My first question is, where are we?" She asked moving to look out the window seeing the landscape drift by.

Dom tilted his head at the names. "Starbloom.... and Sweetie Belle..." he said both name slowly, trying to get use them as names. "Well this is Nevada, I'm heading to Florida though." he said glancing in the rear view mirror again. "Unless either of you have a stop along the way."

Both of them looked at each other, Sweetie shrugging slightly and Starbloom sighed sitting back on the seat thinking quietly for a moment. "Is there a library or something that might sell us a book on teleportation magic?" She asked.

"Magic?" He asked looking in the rear view mirror at Starbloom again, seeing she was serious. "Look, I don't know who or what you two are, but there aint no such thing as magic."

Starbloom blinked at him, and tilted her head. "We're unicorns, and there is to magic." She said sighing softly, she moved and jumped over into the passenger seat. She sat down in the passenger seat looking up at him.

"Hey careful, I don't want to have another accident." He said when she jumped into the front, "If your, a unicorn, why don't you gotta horn?" He asked looking over at her seeing her she lacked a horn.

She frowned at the question, but she figured it would come. "I lost it, as punishment for a stupid mistake that got someone dear to me killed...." she said looking down sighing. She squeaked looking up feeling his hand on her head rubbing it softly.

"I understand, trust me I do." his said, his voice telling her he did understand. "I've lost friends myself, they were like family to me." Starbloom nodded slowly up at him as she settled herself to lay on the front passenger seat.

"So, no magic books in this world?" She asked softly looking up at him, he shook his head slowly and she sighed. "How am I gonna get myself and Sweetie home?" she asked herself quietly then looked at Dom. "Is.. .there any place me and Sweetie can stay so I can think?"

Dom glanced down at Starbloom then in the mirror at Sweetie who was settled into the back seat. "If you two stay out of trouble. You can stay with me, for the time being." He said smirking a bit. "Though I don't know what unicorn eat or anything."

Starbloom looked up at him tilting her head. "We'll umm, we'll do our best to stay out of trouble...." She said biting her bottom lip, nodding at him tilting her head. "We eat normal pony food... mmm what does your species eat?" She asked looking at him. "What is your species... if I may ask...."

Dom smiled down at her checking the fuel gauge after seeing a sign for a gas station he pulled into the station. "I'm a human, we eat all kinds of food really. If your like the horses and ponies here, your probably vegetarian." He said pulling up to one of the pumps opening the door. "Stay here, I'll be back." he said moving around he started to refuel the car.

Starbloom poked her head up and watched him refuel the car sniffing the air abit and made a face. She climbed over and back into the back seat to check on Sweetie, she had been really quiet. She seemed to be hot and was panting softly. "Sweetie... what's wrong are you okay?"

"Starbloom, I'm hot.... and thirsty." Sweetie said softly looking up at her panting softly shifting on the back seat alittle. Starbloom nodded and removed her saddle bags setting them on the floor board.

Starbloom moved to the window of the passenger side and tapped at the glass unsure how to open the window, or the door itself. Doing her best to get Dom's attention, after a moment Dom put the nozzle up and closed the flap opening the door.

"What's the matter Starbloom?" He asked crouching down to look her more in the eye, he looked over at Sweetie, "Is she sick or something?"

Starbloom shook her head abit. "No, I don't think so, I think she's just to hot and dehydrated. Is there a place nearby to get some ice, and water?" She asked looking up at him.

"Yea, I'll bring some back." He said smiling at her closing the door before going to pay for the gas. While inside he got a bag of ice, some bottled water and foam ice chest. He didn't see a big selection of vegetarian options for snacks, other then potato chips. But he did find some pre-made salads so he grabbed two of those as well.

Once he had everything paid for he went back to the car and opened the passenger door again putting the ice chest in the floor board behind the passenger seat emptied the bag of ice into it. Starbloom used her magic to take part of the plastic and make a small ice pack using some of the ice and put it on Sweetie's forehead to help cool her off.

"Thanks Starbloom, that feels better." She said smiling using her own magic to get a one of the bottles of water and opened it taking a drink. "Mmmm," the water had a funny taste to her but right now she was just glad to have it. "Thank you... as well Dom" she said looking at Dom smiling at him.

"No problem Sweetie Belle." He said putting the bag with the salads in the back as well. "If you two get hungry I got some salads for you, wasn't to much of a selection for ponies." He said smirking as he closed the door and moved around getting into driver's side again starting the engine and pulling out of the gas station.

"Thank you Dom, that was kind of you." Starbloom said staying in the back to keep an eye on Sweetie. Dom didn't have an air conditioner in his car, since it drew power out of the engine. But the ice helped to cool Sweetie down and along with the water. "Feeling better Sweetie?" Starbloom asked and she smiled at her nodding.

Starbloom floated the bag with the salads in it over and took them out looking at them, tapping the top of the plastic container with a hoof looking it over before finding the edge and used her magic to pop it open. "Looks good, want to try one Sweetie?" She asked looking at Sweetie.

Sweetie nodded using her magic to float the other over and opening it. She floated out the plastic packet with the spork in it, using her magic to free the spork looking at it. "Some kind of spoon fork thing?" Sweetie asked looking at Starbloom who shrugged and got her own free.

Starbloom tried to eat with the spork and, after a few stabs managed to get one piece of lettuce to stick to it. "Not very effective...." She said looking at the spork tilting her head. "Hmm..." She snapped the head off the spork and just used the single straight handle which seemed to work a bit better as she ate. "It's good though."

Dom laughed and opened the glove box fishing around he found two normal plastic forks from a road side diner and offered them back. "Try these, might work better." He said and Starbloom smiled using her magic to take them.

"Thank you Dom," Sweetie said, she said been just trying to use the spoon part, with mixed results. She unwrapped the normal plastic fork and smiled using it. "Much better." Starbloom nodded as she did the same smiling.

After finishing the salads Starbloom put the containers away in the bag along with the other pieces of trash from them setting the bag carefully down so not to spill it. She got herself back into the front to sit in the passenger seat. Sweetie was still not feeling well so she laid back down with the make shift ice pack on her head.

"She going to be alright?" Dom asked looking over at Starbloom. "I'm not sure if she is suppose to look like that or not, but she looks sick."

Starbloom looked back at Sweetie who was laying on the back seat before looking at Dom shaking her head softly sighing. "I don't know, I think a lot of is the heat, and the stress of what is going on. She's not use to being away from her family like this."

"You seem to be handling things well enough, you look younger then she is." Dom said looking over at Starbloom for a moment before returning his focus back to driving. "Just a guess though."

She looked at herself then sighed shaking her head smirking. "I'm a lot older then I look, trust me. I'm guessing, cause I'm not sure on your species, but I'm probably the same age as you." She said leaning back against the back of the passenger seat.

Dom raised an eye brow looking over at her. "You kidding me?" he said finding it hard to believe. The one in the back seemed to be a kid, then the one next to her. She might not look it but she seemed to have the maturity of a grown up, or at least an late teen.

She shook her head lightly looking out the window quietly watching the landscape drift by again. "No, I'm not... remember when I told you I made a stupid mistake? I lost my horn?" she asked, and when he replied with a simple "Yea," she continued. "I was sent to prison... but one of the rulers of my land managed to send me to a world similar to my own, at the cost of my physical age. I got turned into a young filly again. I'm roughly twenty-seven years old in my world. Sweetie Belle, is twelve in our world. Physically I'm about two years younger then she."

Dom was quietly for a minute before nodding slowly looking over at her. "How long ago did all of that happen?" He asked curious about how long she had been in her current body. "And your pretty close, if our years are similar... I'm twenty nine years old." He said smiling at her before focusing on the road again. It was starting to get dark so he was looking for a place to stop for the night.

"It's been almost three years since the mistake..." She said looking out the window again watching the sun start to set. "I do love my new life, my new friends and family. I just wish it didn't gain all of them at the cost of my friends life." She continued with a sigh then blinked feeling his hand on her mane ruffling it softly for a moment before returning to the wheel.

"I'm sure your friend, whoever he or she was, would want you to be happy," he said turning on the headlights of the car as it got darker. "Shit happens, I know, we just have to learn how to deal with it. Even if we don't want to."

She blinked and tilted her head lightly, "Shit... happens?" She looked at him confused having never heard that word before she wasn't sure what it meant. "What does that mean?"

He blinked looking over at her before spotting a sign for a hotel and turned into the off ramp. "It means, sometimes things happen that we can't control." He said, guessing that unicorns didn't have words like that in there vocabulary.

"Oh... okay then." She said looking confused before shaking her head and watching as he parked in front of a hotel room. Watching as he got out of the car leaning down to speak to her.

"Wait here, I'll be out in a few minutes. I'm going to get us a room for the night." He said before closing the door and going to check them into the hotel. Starbloom nodding and looked back to check on Sweetie, she was sitting up quietly and getting her water taking a drink from it.

"I don't think he was telling the truth on that word Starbloom." Sweetie said looking at her the cooler night air making her feel better. "Remember when you said horse feathers in front of Ms. Cheerilee and she got mad?"

Starbloom blushed softly and nodded at Sweetie. "Yea, I remember. She made me write a 200 word report on why words like that should not be used by proper young fillies." She sighed softly tilting her head a bit. "You think that word is kind of like horse feathers?"

Sweetie nodded at her and smiled giggling a bit. "I think so, he looked uncomfortable when you asked him about it. Maybe a good idea to try to avoid using it, just in case" She said looking over seeing Dom come back to the car and opening the passenger side doors to let them out.

"Okay girls, I got use a room with two beds. So you two will have to double up." He said, Sweetie and Starbloom nodding, using magic to get their saddle bags. Starbloom also getting the trash from the salads and the water bottles.

"We can share a bed, we don't mind." Sweetie said smiling at Dom, the two following him to the room watching as he opened the door and lead them inside. Starbloom tossing the trash into a trash can. She looked around the room checking the bathroom looking at the shower wondering if it was big enough for a pony.

Dom closing the door when they got inside, making sure it locked. He turned on the air conditioner to help cool the room down. "Okay girls, you settle in I'm going to get some supplies. Anything special you two like to eat or drink?" he asked looking at them.

Sweetie spoke up first. "Ice cream!" She said her voice cracking a little at her sudden excited out burst. Dom chuckled softly and nodded looking at Starbloom who had face hoofed.

"I'll see what I can do Sweetie Belle, and you Starbloom?" he asked amused look on his face at the face hoof. "Anything for you?"

"Any good spice tea..." She said softly smiling at him. "I do enjoy a good cup of tea with breakfast, with toast or a muffin."

Dom smiled and nodded at the two. "Alright, I'll be back as soon as I can. Just hang tight and don't let anyone come in." He said leaving the room to get some food and drinks.

Sweetie got on the bed and moved around finding herself a comfortable spot. Starbloom went into the bathroom getting into the shower, finding it was big enough. She removed her head band and started to wash herself off. The human shower was a little tricky at first but use to it.

After Starbloom got done with her shower and dried herself off as best she could she put her headband on and got out of the bathroom looking over at Sweetie who was sitting on the bed relaxing quietly. "Your turn Sweetie," she said nodding her head to the bathroom.

Sweetie nodded and hopped down going into the bathroom and after having some trouble at first. She managed to get herself clean in the shower, the shower definitely helped her feel better. Once clean she dried herself off and climbed out coming out of the shower looking around. She found Starbloom on the bed and jumped up next to her smiling relaxing next to her.

"Starbloom, do you think we'll ever get back to Equestria?" She asked looking over at her tilting her head faintly to one side resting her head on her forehooves.

"We'll get home Sweetie, she looked around and found some paper and looked a pen. It took her a minute to figure out how the pen worked but she started to write out what she could remember of the spell. "We just need to recreate the spell that got us here."

Sweetie nodded as she watched, telling Starbloom what she remembered. Starbloom adding it to the spell trying to keep everything in order. While they worked Dom returned opening the door he saw the two working on something so he stayed quiet. Closing the door he put away what he could.

"Sweetie, I got you some ice cream." he said holding up a half-pint ice cream. "I wasn't sure what you liked so I got chocolate." He said putting it on the counter with a package of plastic spoons.

"Oh chocolate, I love chocolate." Sweetie said moving to the edge of the bed she floated the ice cream over with a spoon from the package and pulled the top off starting to eat. "Mmm this is good stuff," she said wiggling her ears grinning.

Starbloom smiled at Sweetie before looking at her paper. She had most of the spell recreated on the paper, but some of the key elements of it was missing. Dom came over and sat on his bed watching her, "What are you working on?" He asked looking at her taking a drink from a bottle of Corona.

She looked up from the paper tilting her head looking at the bottle then at him. "I'm trying to remember the spell we used to get here, so we can get back home." She said sighing softly shaking her heading. "I have most of it, but I can't remember all of it."

Dom looked at the paper, and for the life of him had no idea what any of it was, or what langue it was written in. "Well, you seem like a smart unicorn, I'm sure you'll remember." He said sitting back taking another drink from the bottle. "I found some masala chai I hope that'll work," he said and noticing her confused look he smiled at her. "It's a spice tea."

"Ah I see," she smiles at him nodding. "I'm sure it'll do just fine." She said looking at Sweetie who had finished the ice cream and put the container in the trash. "Thank you for finding it for me." She smiled at him moving off her bed.

Sweetie moved to the head of the bed and got under the covers snuggling down drifting to sleep. "Sweetie never could stay up late." Starbloom said smiling moving to sit on the floor. She squeaked feeling him pick her up and setting her on his bed.

"I don't sleep that much myself," he said removing his shoes he laid back on the bed resting against the pillow sipping his drink. "You can turn the lights out if ya want."

Starbloom nodded using her magic she put the paper away in her saddle bag with the pen before turning out the lights in the room so Sweetie could sleep easier. Starbloom sat quietly on the edge of his bed for a few minutes before looking over at him. "What's in Florida...?" She asked quietly.

"Race Wars," he said simply taking another drink, Starbloom wondering if that was all he was going to say before he spoke again. "It's a racing competition, held in different states, at different times through out the year."

"Oh, I see... I thought it might of been something.... different." She said softly looking at the floor alittle relieved it wasn't what she thought it was.

He watched her for a minute before speaking. "Tell me, what did you think Race Wars was?" He asked watching her turn to look at him quickly. "You sounded relieved it wasn't what you thought it was."

"I thought it was a war between your different races of your species. Like the old pony wars.... between the unicorn, pegasi and earth ponies." She said giving a soft frown shaking her head.

Dom tilted his head faintly at her as he listen to her talk. "So there are other types of ponies? Do you still have wars between the species?" He asked watching her for a moment.

She blinked and shook her head. "No, that ended along time ago thankfully. Ponies live in peace and harmony now." She said smiling as she looked at him tilting her head. "Are, there other types of humans?"

Dom considered the question for a minute before smirking. "Depends on who you ask, but no. A human is a human, we all look pretty much the same other then skin color." He sighed leaning his head back taking a drink. "But we don't live together in peace or harmony."

Starbloom stared at him for a moment before looking down resting her head on her forehooves. "That's to bad. I couldn't imagine how Equestria would be if us ponies didn't live in peace and harmony...." She said then shivered at the idea of ponies fighting with each other.

He watched her for a moment before finishing his bottle. "You might want to get some rest, we have a long road a head of us tomorrow." He said and Starbloom nodded her gem lighting up so she could see. She moved off his bed and got into her own careful not to wake up Sweetie as she got under the covers and drifted to sleep.

Dom watched the two sleeping ponies quietly for a few before closing his eyes. This definitely what he expected to happen when he set off to Florida for join take part in Race Wars down there. He sighed softly then smirked, "Letty wont believe this one." He said to himself before drifting to sleep.

On the road again.

~{Chapter Three}~

Dom was awoken the next morning to an odd sound. He opened his eyes slowly sitting up in bed looking around, he saw Starbloom was still asleep in her bed, but Sweetie wasn't in it. He got to his feet carefully looking around first to make sure she hadn't fallen out of it. He considered for a moment before going to the bathroom and listened with his ear against the door. He could make out the faint sounds of crying coming from inside.

He considered before opening the door slowly, peeking in not wanting to come in on anything he shouldn't. He saw Sweetie sitting on the floor though whimpering softly and wiping at her with her hooves. "I.. I'm sorry... if I woke you up..." She said softly looking up at him. He stayed by the doorway and crouched down looking at her.

"You didn't wake me up," he said giving her a faint smile, "Wanna tell me what's wrong?" He asked tilting his head faintly watching as she wiped her eyes with her hooves again sniffing a bit.

"I.. I miss my mom and dad." She said softly looking up at him her ears dropped down to the side.

"I understand, but when you two get home you'll see them again." He said trying to encourage her, but she shook her head faintly.

"T.. they died.... three weeks ago in a blimp crash... while on vacation." She said whimpering again tears threating her eyes.

Dom frowned abit moving closer, he picked her up softly and held her in his arms closing the door so not to wake Starbloom up he sat down letting her cry on his shoulder rubbing her back. "I know that pain all to well Sweetie," he said softly.

After a moment Sweetie calmed down again and sat in his lap looking up at him. "Tell me Sweetie, did your parents love you?" he asked and Sweetie nodded at him, "Did they want you to be happy?" he asked and again she nodded at him, "Do you think they would want you to be sad now?" he asked and she shook her head no sniffling.

He got a hand towel and sniffed it to make sure it was clean before wiping her eyes dry with it. "Then, try to be happy for them, remember the good times you had with them." He said rubbing her back again smiling at her.

"I lost my dad, when I was a little older you are now, he did in a racing...." He took a deep breath before looking down at her, "If you keep them here," he said and put his hand on his chest over his heart. "Then they will always be with you. Remember that okay."

Sweetie nodded at him and smiled softly. "I will, thank you." She said hugging him, he hesitated before hugging her back softly before he lifted her up and placed her down on her hooves. "At least, I still have my sister Rarity." She said as she looked up at him smiling.

He nodded at her opening the door letting her out. "That right, family is very important." He said smiling at her. Sweetie nodded at him as she left the bathroom. He closed the door so he could shower.

Sweetie looked around the small motel room quietly Starbloom was still in bed, but she was awake now sitting up rubbing her eyes. "Morning Sweetie, you feel better?" She asked, she didn't known Sweetie was crying earlier though. She was worried about her being to hot yesterday.

"Yea, I'm feeling better." Sweetie said smiling at her

Starbloom got off the bed and checked to see if Sweetie was still feeling warm, but she had cooled down thanks to being in the air conditioned room over night. "Glad to hear it," She smiled at her looking around. "Where is Dom?" She asked before hearing the shower start.

Sweetie smiled at her, giggling softly. Her talk with Dom had lifted her spirits a lot. She and Starbloom checked the stuff he got yesterday. Starbloom found the tea he got for her and checked the package over. She opened the box and took out one of the bags getting a cup of water.

"Sweetie, you know that basic temperature manipulation spell right?" Starbloom asked and Sweetie looked over at her nodding. "Can you heat up this water for me?" She asked and Sweetie smiled her horn glowing, the water quickly starting to boil. Starbloom smiled and started to steep the tea bag in the cup.

Sweetie found some cereal bars and got one out looking it over unwrapping it she sniffs at it before taking a bite blinking. "Mmmm, this is yummy." she said wiggling her ears smiling happily as moved to sit on the bed and chewed on the cereal bar.

Starbloom smiled at Sweetie finding the package of muffins. She got one out and sniffed it before nibbling, it tasted different then what she was use to, mostly do to the sugar on coating the top but it wasn't bad. She took a sip of the tea. "Mmmm pretty good tea."

Sweetie looked at the tea and made a face getting herself some water instead. She liked tea, just not the spice teas Starbloom seemed toe enjoy. She went back to nibbling on the cereal bar smiling.

Both heard the shower stop and looked over, a few moments later Dom came out cleaned and changed into fresh clothes. "Morning girls," he said smiling at them, "That tea good Starbloom?" He asked watching her sip the Indian Spice Tea. She nodded at him and he smiled. "I'm glad, is a lot of different types."

He looked over at Sweetie who was looking back up at him smiling around the last little piece of cereal bar in her mouth. He just reached over and ruffled her mane smiling before he sat down to put on his socks and shoes. "Thank you, for the talk earlier." Sweetie said finishing her cereal bar. "It helped, I feel a lot better." She smiled at him.

"Glad to help Sweetie." He said as he finished putting his shoes on. "I know how it feels to loose family." He looked over at Starbloom who was looking into her cup of tea while sipping it quietly. "I think everyone in this room does." he said softly to Sweetie glancing over at Starbloom again.

Sweetie glanced over at Starbloom nodding back slowly. "Yea... I think so to." She replied softly before using her magic to help pack up the stuff in the room.

Starbloom finished her tea and helped to get the room packed up and cleaned. Not wanting to leave to big of a mess. While they got everything put away, Dom put everything in the car, either in the back seat or in the trunk wanting to leave enough room for Starbloom and Sweetie in the back seat.

After the car was packed up Sweetie and Starbloom got into the back seat settling into place. Dom made sure the ice chest had plenty of ice and bottled water so they wont get to hot before getting into the drivers seat starting to engine and pulled out of the motel parking lot and got back onto the road.

Before getting back onto the main interstate though he stopped at a drive-thru to get a breakfast burrito and a cup of coffee. Once on the main interstate though Starbloom looked out the window tilting her head at the different type of cars going by. "Does, everyone have one of these cars?" She asked after a few minutes of watching.

"Just about, it's the main method of transportation for humans." He said glancing in the rear view to watch Starbloom for a moment.

"They are pretty amazing, they move fast." She said looking down to see the ground speed by before looking at the horizon drift by. "I think only pegasi pony would be able to keep up with them" She said smiling.

"Really? You think pegasi can keep up with a car?" He asked smirking abit. "They must be pretty quick."

She nodded looking over at him smiling. "Yea, they are fast, specially the Wonderbolts." She said smiling at him.

Dom grinned noticing a sign up a head, turning off the highway to an abandoned air field. "Really? How about I show you some real speed." He said lining the car up on the run way.

Sweetie looked at Starbloom blinking and Starbloom looked back at Sweetie smiling before nodding bracing herself into the seat. Sweetie did the same. "Alright, let's see some speed." Starbloom said.

Dom grinned and nod, "Alright, hang on tight." He said revving the engine a few times. He then reeved the engine up before shifting, the front of the car lifting off in a wheelie as it took off down the run way before dropping back down, he kept shifting gears as the car got faster and faster.

Sweetie and Starbloom both blinked and squeaked sharply as the car took off and the front came up, looking at each other before staring straight a head wide eyed at the sudden burst of speed. Watching as the end of the runway very quickly came into view.

Dom slowed the car down and turned so they faced down the runway before coming to a stop. He looked back at the two smirking lightly seeing them stare straight a head still wide eyed. "You two alright?" He asked.

Starbloom and Sweetie blinked and shook their heads snapping out of the shock. Starbloom covering enough to speak first. "Y.. Yea great. Thanks, that was incredible I had no idea you could go that fast so quick.... wonder if that's what Rainbow Dash feels....?" She asked herself out loud.

"Rainbow... Dash?" Dom asked looking at her confused. He guessed it was another pony, maybe of the pegasus she was talking about.

"Yea, Rainbow Dash is a pegasus pony and one of my mom's friends back home." Starbloom said.

Sweetie nodded at and smiled. "Yea, she can also do a sonic rainboom. It's very rare though, Rainbow Dash is the only pegasus alive who can do it."

Dom raised his eyebrow at that. "Sonic Rainboom?" He asked to him it sound like something she made up. But he reminded himself he was talking to a unicorn.

"Yea, it's when a pegasus moves fast enough to break the sound barrier and causes a magical burst of rainbow color." Starbloom said looking up at him.

Dom still wasn't to sure about that, but he smiled "Sounds impressive, specially to move that fast." He said as he got back onto the road and rejoined the interstate.

The I-15 and Henderson

~{Chapter Four}~

After getting back on the road, Dom followed the I-15 towards Vegas, from there he would then head towards to Builder City and follow the highway to the I-40 going east. It wasn't the most direct route but he had some business to take care of in Henderson. He looked in the rear view at the two ponies in the back seat.

He noticed they didn't seem to do well in the heat and considered changing his plans and going more north towards Utah before heading east, hoping the cooler air would help. He knew Arizona and New Mexico would be hot this time of year.

"Fuck it," he said causing the two ponies to look up at him with strange look on there face. "Don't worry bout it," He said smiling at them pushing the gas to pick up more speed, he didn't want to speed though. He would have a hard time explain the two in the back if he got pulled over for speeding.

It wasn't long before he saw the turn off that would take him to Henderson from the interstate following the road until he got to where he was going. He pulled the car into the parking lot of a large garage and honked the horn twice. One of the bays opening up and pulled in parking the old Dodge Charger looking in back.

"You two wait here, I wont be to long." He said smiling before getting out of the car and going over to talk to someone. Starbloom peeked her head up and looked out the window watching quietly. She tilted her head lightly looking around out the different windows.

"Something.... doesn't feel right Sweetie." She said looking over at Sweetie who nodded at her. Something caught her eye and looked out the windshield seeing someone coming out of a back storage room tilting her head lightly. She climbed into the front to get a better look.

Starbloom looked over at Dom who seemed to be arguing with the guy he went to meet. The guy he was arguing with threw a punch but Dom managed to duck under it and return a punch of his own to the guys side. "Oh no... they're fighting." She said and frowned seeing the guy who came out of the back start to run over holding something in his hand.

She gave a shove with her magic knocking the guy over, the thing in his hand making a loud noise causing Starbloom to duck and cover her ears. But it got Dom's attention who yelled something and run over grabbing the item.

When Starbloom peeked back out she saw Dom holding the item at the two moving it back and forth. "I don't know what that is... but I don't like it." She said looking at the pistol in Dom's hand. The guy from the back storage room tried to rush Dom and he fired the gun into his leg causing him to fall down clutching it.

The noise made Starbloom flitch and hold her ears again. Her eyes going wide seeing the guy bleeding. "Oh... my... goodness..." She said her eyes going back to the gun in Dom's hand then back at the guy on the ground. The guy Dom had been arguing with before threw a bag to Dom, which he caught.

Dom moved to the car and opened the back driver side door putting the bag in the back. Sweetie moving out of the way so he wouldn't drop it on her. "Thank you, now open the door and I'll leave." Dom said, and the guy said another one of those words Starbloom assumed was bad before opening the door.

Dom closing the back driver side door before getting into the front and taking a seat. He put the gun on the passenger seat near Starbloom and started the car backing out of the garage and started back on the road. He quickly made his way back to the interstate and headed north on the I-15 to Utah.

Starbloom stayed quiet, her eyes fixed on the gun quietly. Dom was also quiet, and Sweetie was looking at the bag next to her wondering what was in it. Dom spoke up after a few minutes. "I'm sorry about that girls... I know where your from is peace and harmony. But here sometimes violence is the only way to get things done."

Starbloom looked up at him then looked at the gun. "What... is that?" She said softly not wanting to touch it or use magic on it just incase it made noise again. "It makes a loud noise and I saw it hurt that one guy with out touching him."

"It's called a gun." He said opening the glove box, he picked up the pistol and put it in the glove box. "They are very dangerous if you don't know how to handle one." he said reaching over and softly rubbed Starbloom's head. "Don't worry about it, hopefully I wont have to use it again."

"I.. don't like it..." She said softly wiggling her ears at the rubbing looking over at Sweetie and the bag. "I hope it stays in the little cabinet" she said looking at the glove box.

"You and me both," He said looking in the rear view mirror at Sweetie as well seeing her eye the bag like it would attack her at any moment. "Don't worry bout that bag Sweetie, it's just something I was owed for work I did a few months back."

"You mean it's bits?" Starbloom asked looking at Dom then at the bag tilting her head lightly. "Or whatever type of money you use here.." She clarified seeing him look confused at the word bits.

"Yea, it's money. If you want you can put the bag on the floor board." Looking in the mirror at Sweetie again. Her horn light up and she moved the bag off the seat onto the floor board laying out on the back seat. She was feeling hot again and wanted to rest.

"I guess this heat isn't something she is use to is it?" He asked Starbloom glancing over at her for a moment.

"No, this is pretty hot, Ponyville... the town we live in doesn't get this hot. Not even during the summer." She said settling onto the passenger seat now that the gun wasn't on it. She glanced back to see how Sweetie was doing.

She watched Dom lower the window to let more of a breeze in, she looked over at the window crank on her side of the car and used her magic to lower the window some to help.

"Dom... I hate to be a bother, but do you think there would be a place nearby we can stop at so me and Sweetie can stretch our legs?" She asked looking up at him.

Dom considered the question for a moment then nods at her. "I think I can find a place." He said and started to keep an eye out for rest stops, small ones that might be a good place to let them roam around for abit.

It didn't take to long when he saw one and pulled into the rest stop area. He drove around to the back area of it looking around. The place looked empty so he got out and opened the back door for Sweetie, Starbloom got out on his side.

He watched as they walked around the area stretching out there legs. He went over to the vending machines and checked to see what they had to offer. But the selection was pretty limited, he tilted his head hearing singing and looked over seeing Sweetie Belle had started to sing as she walked around.

It wasn't loud enough to make out the lyrics, and it didn't sound like anything he was familiar with. He smiled and turned back to the vending machine getting a soda before going back to the car leaning against it as he sipped his drink. Starbloom walked over and joined him sitting next him.

"So, our young friend over there likes to sing?" He said looking down at Starbloom.

"Yea, it's her special talent, if only she'd realize it... she'd earn her cutie mark." She said looking over at Sweetie who was still stretching her legs and singing quietly to herself.

Dom raised an eye brow looking at Starbloom, "Cutie mark?" he asked looking down at her.

"Yea, it's a special mark we get when we discover out special talents." She said and looked at the gray patch of fur on her left hip. "I had one, before I was punished. A purple star with five smaller stars around it. I lost it when I lost my horn."

"I'm sorry to hear that, must of been tough." He said looking at her ruffing her mane softly. "Will you get a new one?" He asked keeping an eye out for other cars pulling into the rest stop.

"To be honest... I don't know, it's never happen before. But I'm holding out hope that I will, someday, get a new one." She said smiling at him before looking over at Sweetie who was coming over to them. "Feel better Sweetie?" She asked who nodded.

"Yea, feels nice to stretch my legs again." She said smiling at both of them.

"Good to hear, very lovely singing voice you have to." Dom said smiling at her finishing his drink he tossed the plastic bottle away in a trash can near where he had parked. Sweetie turned bright red blushing at the complement on her singings.

"Y.. you heard that?" She said softly looking up at him.

"Yes I did, don't be embarrassed about it. You have the voice for singing, a rare gift." He said opening the doors so they could get in. Sweetie getting into the back still blushing softly. Starbloom got back into front passenger side settling herself in.

Dom smiled and got in as well buckling himself before starting the engine closing the door. He backed up and pulled out of the rest stop to continue on towards Utah and the I-70. It would take him longer and out of his way, but it should help keep them from getting to hot again.

Onward to Utah

~{Chapter Four}~

About two hours after leaving the rest stop Dom noticed the car was getting low on fuel and he started to look for places to pull off and refuel the car. He was also starting to get a little hungry. He looked over at Starbloom who was curled up in the passenger seat taking a nap.

In the back Sweetie was also quietly sleeping, he smiled and noticed he was coming up on the town of Mesquite. It was the last town before passing into Arizona. It was as good as place as any, so he pulled off the interstate when he got to the turn off and pulled into a truck stop.

The sudden movement from the car woke Starbloom up and she sat up looking around yawning softly. "W.. where are we?" She asked softly looking over at Dom.

"Mesquite, I need to get some gas. You two stay in the car, not sure how the locals will react to you." He said smiling at her, Starbloom nodding. He closed the door and went to fill the tank, once he was done he went inside to pay for the gas and get some food for himself and the ponies.

Starbloom sat quietly in the passenger seat looking out the window. She blinked when she noticed a kid in the car next to her was trying to get his mom's attention but she was to busy refueling and talking to someone else she couldn't see.

The kid was pointing at the ground and she looked seeing a toy on the ground, using her magic she floated it back to the kid. The kid's eyes going wide seeing his toy floating, he grabbed it and smiled hugging it sitting back in his seat.

Starbloom smiled back and looked around, Sweetie was still sleeping in the back. She went back to check on her, but other then sleeping she was fine. She tilts her head something behind the car catching her attention. But she heard the driver side door open and looked seeing Dom getting back in the car so she ignored it moving back to the front.

"Do you ponies like eggs?" He asked looking at Starbloom. Starbloom nodded at him smiling. "Great, the only pre-made salad's they had with out meat in them had egg." he said looking in the back seeing Sweetie was still sleeping. "She alright?"

"Yea, she's just sleeping, I think the heat is still bothering her." Starbloom said, and Dom nodded setting the bag in the back behind the passenger seat before starting the car and pulled out the car over to a parking bay on the far side of the station.

"Well when we get to Bloomington Utah we'll stop for the night." He said getting out and moving to the back opening the passenger side door and emptied the water out of the chest before refilling it with ice. The talking and movement woke up Sweetie and she sat up looking around.

"Mmm... what time is it?" Sweetie asked yawning a bit rubbing her her eyes with a hoof.

Starbloom looked at the clock on the dash and back at Sweetie smiling at her. "Six thirty in evening." She said nodding, "You hungry? Dom got us some dinner."

Sweetie nodded at Starbloom. "Yea I am kind of hungry," She said, Dom having finished refilling the chest and putting the bottles of water in it.

Starbloom moved into the back and got the bag with the salads in it passing one to Sweetie before getting her own. Dom smiling at them as he got back into the drivers seat and started the engine and started to drive back to the interstate.

Starbloom moved the bag with Dom's food in it to the passenger seat so he could get to it easier. She looked at the salads he had gotten for her and Sweetie smiling as she opened the container. She sniffed at it before getting the little fork and started to eat. "Mmm this is good, has all kind of different things in it."

Sweetie smiled at Starbloom before starting to work on her own. Nether having eaten to much since breakfast so they was both pretty hungry by now. Both of them eating quietly while Dom drove.

Dom started to notice a car coming up quick behind him and frowned. He couldn't be to sure who it was so he stuck to the speed limit. The interstate was pretty deserted by this time most of the traffic thinned out.

Once the car bumped his rear bumper he glanced in the mirror at the two. "Hang on, this might get bumpy." He said, both of the ponies nodding and hunched down in the rear seat as he hit the gas speeding up.

The car speed up to match his speed moving to try and get along side and ram into the side. Sweetie squeaking softly and trying to make herself smaller. Starbloom growled softly moving over the try and relax Sweetie abit before feeling the bump again.

"Hang on girls," Dom called back to them and pushed the gas more trying to pull away, he didn't want to use his NOS, even with the thin traffic it was to risky. "Shit, duck!" He yelled when he saw the barrel of a shotgun poking out of the rear driver side window.

Starbloom laid herself over Sweetie to shield her and heard the blast of the shotgun wincing a bit at the sound. Dom hit the breaks causing both to slide forward off the back seat, and the car to fly by before he hit the gas again to come up behind it.

Starbloom looked down at Sweetie, "Are you alright?" She asked and Sweetie nodded slowly. Starbloom moved around and jumped into the passenger seat. "Try to hold us steady, I'm not letting them hurt Sweetie." She said and Dom glanced at her nodding.

Dom held the car steady as he got up behind the other car. Starbloom narrowing her eyes and focused, the gem on her headband flickering before a purple aura surrounded the car and it flipped over and off the road rolling off into the desert.

Starbloom panted softly the force she used to throw the car was more then she imagined. "C... Cars... are heavy..." She said panting softly settling back into the passenger seat. Dom was, impressed to say the least.

"Yea, they are. I'm impressed, for a little pony like yourself to throw a car like that, you have to be strong." He said looking at her as she just smiled up at him panting lightly.

Sweetie got off the floor board and back into the rear seat snuggling down pouting. "W.. Why did that do that?"

"I'm guessing, they came from that garage in Henderson." He said looking at Starbloom then at Sweetie in the rear view mirror. "Did either of you get hurt?" He asked them.

"I'm alright," Starbloom said looking back at Sweetie.

"I.. I'm okay... just a little scared." Sweetie said softly looking at Starbloom.

Starbloom got back into the back seat and rubbed her back softly. "Shh it's okay Sweetie I wont let anything happen to you.... Rarity would be upset if I did." She said smiling at her. Sweetie smiled back at her sniffing abit.

Dom glanced in the mirror the two smiling, also checking to see if they were still being followed. He didn't see anyone following them so he slowed back down to legal speed.