The sunshine of the late afternoon, and the many ponies in the city, wake me up, as they do each day. Faced with the usual lethargic feeling of not wanting to getting up, I just lay in my still neat bed. The curtains were left open last night, so I can now peer into the bustling streets of Baltimare, the biggest port city, located in the province of Mareland. I can see the many boats and ponies pouring into and out of the city, very usual in this city; Princess Celestia claimed that Baltimare is the most diverse city in Equestria, as well as my previous findings. Making my way into the bathroom, I prepare for a shower to get ready for the day. Using my unicorn magic, I get all of my toiletries together and scrub myself clean.
After washing up, I comb my long, jet-black mane, and make sure my white fur is clean completely after yesterday's expenditure helping the dock workers for a few bits. I am a freelance worker, no normal 40-hour work week for me. Whatever pays the bills, and whatever allows me to maintain my nocturnal lifestyle. Today is Saturday, how can a pony like me find work tonight? Perhaps a visit to the alumni meeting in a hour will help me find work. That is a great idea, and I am quickly on my way out the door. The Horseshoe Bay looks absolutely gorgeous in the light of the sunset, and I make my way from my apartment in the north part of the city to the harbor where my old campus is located.
I make my way to the light rail station, and I suddenly get a feeling of nostalgia and tranquility; I used to do this every day when I was a filly. I grew up in the southern part of the city, and took the light rail to school in the harbor. I get out of my trance when it is my turn in line at the ticket stand. I tap through the options, and the payment screen appears. I hold up my public transportation card and swipe it, and a ticket prints out, along with a receipt saying that my monthly subscription is up in a week. That doesn't bother me, it isn't that expensive, plus I use it extensively so it is worth every bit. After some minutes of waiting, the light rail approaches the station, and opens its doors. I allow the ponies on board to leave, and allow the mares on before myself. I finally get on and take a seat next to an older stallion.
“Hey, how are you doing?” I ask the stallion.
“Good, on my way to an alumni meeting at UMBC.” He smiles.
“University of Mareland Baltimore Campus? So am I actually.” I say in an excited tone.
“Oh really? What is your name?” He asks.
“Benson Aberdeen, Bachelor's Degree with a major in geography and a minor in archeology. What about you?” I ponder.
“Calvert Ednor, Doctorate Degree with a major in archeology and a minor in geography. What a coincidence.” He laughs.
“So what brings you to the meeting tonight?” I ask.
“I am starting a post-doctorate project at the University of Canterlot and I require the help of anyopony I can get. What about you?” He asks me with an intrigued smile.
“I have been a freelance worker ever since I received my degree, worked on studies all over Equestria and most recently one that backed up Princess Celestia's statement 'Baltimare is the most diverse city in all of Equestria'. I was working with sociologists, statisticians, and pony geographers with polls and publishing the results. We have very broad percentages of ponies and foreigners in this city, unicorns, earth ponies, pegasi, zebras, buffalo, and other immigrants.” I say in a more upbeat tone.
“Impressive, say, would you like to assist me with my post-doctorate project? If you know cartography I can pay you double.” He says excitedly.
“Oh yes, I have surveyed and mapped many natural areas and parks before, as well as towns and cities. So I guess I can say I have diverse experience in that field.” I respond.
“You don't fail to impress me; welcome aboard Mr. Aberdeen?” He says and asks at the end.
“You can call me Benson. Thanks for bringing me on board, Dr. Ednor.” I say, giving him a hoofshake.
“Ok Benson, well what do you know, here we are.” He says as the light rail comes to a stop at the campus.
University of Mareland Baltimare Campus, more nostalgia coming my way. Sure I only spent a few of my very young stallion years here, but what I learned and the ponies I met are unforgettable. Dr. Ednor and I approach the main building where the meeting rooms are, the biggest one is reserved for tonight. We both sit down and see many others, I even see a mare from my class, although she was a major in astrophysics with a minor in math. I see her still teal mane and white body, with her telescope cutie mark.
“Lacey Pulsar? Did you end up finding out how far away those stars are on your cutie mark?” I jokingly ask.
“Oh hey Benson! How have you been?” She asks and laughs.
“Pretty good, how about you? Did you get into the Royal Observatory like you always wanted to?” I ask.
“I have been more than fine, and yes I have, and now I am pursuing a doctorate to work my way up the ladder more quickly. I haven't seen you in Canterlot, I'm guessing you didn't get to be part of the Royal Historian Society.” She says with a concerned look.
“Afraid not, I chose to travel and adventure. I have been from Baltimare to Los Pegasus; the Crystal Mountains to the Badlands though. I am still working on it though.” I laugh.
“Well that's good, I have seen some of your reports and if I recall correctly, you were the lead cartographer of the maps of Neighagra Falls? That's amazing.” She smiles.
“Yeah, it wasn't nothing big though, but I am still looking for my breakthrough to get into Canterlot. Oh well, we all have dreams I suppose; and only the talented, such as you, achieve them.” I laugh.
“Come on, we grew up together as fillies, we were both very smart and competitive in school. You always did better in history and social science, I kicked your flank in math and real science though.” She laughs.
“I eventually did good in math I suppose, cartography required me to.” I laugh.
“That must have been torture. Oh, I think they're starting, that mare up there is Dr. Chessie, leader of the Alumni Society here.” She laughs, and then sits back down.
I get back into my chair in between Lacey and Dr. Ednor. The mare introduces herself, and allows each pony to use the microphone to give a brief introduction. I just say my name, degree, and major like everypony else. Some of the science majors laugh at and mock the art majors when they go up. Afterwords, the microphone is open for anypony to use, and Dr. Ednor goes up without hesitation. He calmly walks up with his short, gray mane over his old chestnut brown body. He takes a drink of the water given out, and taps the microphone.
“I am Dr. Ednor, I graduated from UMBC many years ago and pursued my doctorate since I began. However, it seems as though work is growing thinner for ponies in my field as Equestria has been heavily mapped and excavated in the recent years, soon there will be no more demand for graduating with my related majors. However, not all of this planet has been mapped, let alone excavated, let alone even explored; having a single hoof step on it. I have been funded by the Royal Historical Society, along with mostly my own personal funds, to pursue research on my post-doctorate thesis. To condense my thesis, I state that the lands not even known by Celestia herself should be explored by us scholars, not for job security, but so we can further our understanding of our planet as a whole. I hope one day the whole planet of Equestria is mapped for us ponies to colonize and civilize. That is why I come here tonight, I seek recruits, scholarly students and degree holders who have a heart of exploration. Now who wishes to join?” Dr. Ednor reads off of a sheet of paper in one hoof, his other hoof on his glasses.
A few ponies raise their hooves, along with a couple of zebras. Afterwords, some scientists and artists use the meeting for career networking, trying to get younger ponies into their field. Meanwhile, Dr. Ednor and I meet with the three ponies and two zebras that raised their hooves. Two of the ponies were earth ponies, the other a unicorn. We spoke, and Dr. Ednor allowed me to leave after introductions because I already knew what his plan was. I decided to go back over to Lacey.
“So what did you get done tonight?” I ask her.
“Well I just met a physicist who lives in Berlin, in the province of Germaney. He wishes to work in my observatory, I told him I would send in a good word if he helped me throughout these next few years of schooling. We both agreed, I am so excited. But you, you're the stallion who is about to do something truly amazing.” She smiles, as she gives me a hug.
“I'm happy for you, Lacey. And it'll be a big breakthrough once we're complete. Just think, a bust of mine along with Dr. Ednor in the Royal Historical Society's building under many maps of the newly discovered parts of the world.” I say eagerly.
“Hey Benson, we are going to Seabreeze's Seafood Shack to talk over our expedition, would you like to go?” Dr. Ednor asks.
“Hey, I know I won't be able to stay in touch when I leave, but don't worry. Fillyhood friends are forever, I'll be back, trust me.” I smile.
“Please be careful, I'll see you when you return. I shall be in that amazing observatory or the campus, I know you'll find me, you always do.” She smiles and hugs me again.
“Goodbye, Lazy Pulsar.” I joke.
“It's Lacey! And bye Benson, be safe!” She laughs and waves her hoof.
The seven of us leave the campus and continue on hoof, the restaurant is close by in the inner harbor. The lights of Canterlot Yards are bright, as a game of baseball is being played on this cool summer night. I sea the blue lights and the sign for Seabreeze's Seafood Shack, and we walk inside. This is one of the fanciest places to dine in the city, and I can't afford even an appetizer here probably. There are many ponies, zebras, and buffalo here, all with their special someones or a group celebrating an event. Suddenly a mare in a very formal dress approaches us.
“Do you have a reservation, sir?” She politely asks Dr. Ednor.
“No need.” He says, and shows a small card with a golden crown on it.
“Oh, Dr. Ednor? I am so sorry, I am new here.” She says apologetically.
“Uh, Dr. Ednor, I can't afford this place.” I say in a hushed tone.
“Oh it is fine, I am a business partner of Seabreeze himself, I helped him open up this place. I get free food with as many guests as I please.” He says confidently.
We are seated at a table in a more private section of the restaurant. A waitress quickly comes over to take our orders. I order a Baltimare Brand Cider, the rest of us also order some form of cider; along with a half-bushel of crabs. Why we need that many? I do not know, I can eat five, and I mean all of the meat from five, ponies not from Mareland do not know how to eat them properly. Our ciders are served, along with scalding hot crabs in a box. And, as always in Mareland, we were given many containers of Old Bay seasoning, we were already on the move to pour them on the crabs, even though plenty was already on them. Suddenly, a blue stallion comes over with a smile, and sits down with us.
“How are you doing Dr. Ednor?” Asks the stallion.
“Great, how about you Seabreeze?” Dr. Ednor asks.
“Swell, business is booming, you have checked your financial reports of our establishment right? We could expand!” Seabreeze says in excitement.
“I'm not sure yet, one I would like to keep the Baltimare flare of this place maintained; secondly because I will need funds for my expedition.” Dr. Ednor says.
“Oh I see, well before you calculate how much money your expedition will require, could you spare us some money? Some for advertising and to expand our menu?” Asks Seabreeze.
“Sure, I already took that into consideration, the finances involved are already set, partner. Just relax and keep business as busy as possible.” Dr. Ednor laughs, inviting Seabreeze to eat a crab.
“So what are your names?” I ask the ponies and zebras I have not met.
“Kevin Strongback.” Said a young and slender zebra.
“Lyle Brooklyn.” One of the earth ponies responded, with a rune stone cutie mark.
“Franco Cloudgazer.” The pegasus said, with clouds of surreal colors and shape as his cutie mark.
“Zan Tribe-Scribe.” Said an older zebra mare.
“Rusty Seadog.” Said an old stallion, with age hitting him hard along with a rusty anchor for a cutie mark.
“Nice to meet you all. I am Benson Aberdeen.” I respond happily.
We all continue to talk around the table for a couple of hours. I got to hear the amazing and crazy adventures of Rusty from his lifelong merchant marine adventures, how Zan saved Kevin from a tribal attack and became immigrants in Baltimare. I then learned about Franco, and his adventures as an army stallion under Princess Celestia, and how Lyle helped decipher ancient pony text in the Badlands' many caves that tower like an apartment building inside the walls of the rocky valley. After a while, I found out how diverse our group was, Rusty knows the water like the back of his hoof, Zan is very fluent in many languages, hence the addition to her last name, Lyle is a great cryptographer, Franco knows how to survive anywhere in Equestria, and how great of a worker Kevin is in construction despite his young age.
We leave without a bill, and Seabreeze wishes us luck, and quickly places his orders on the things he requested from Dr. Ednor. We walk back to the light rail station, where we all begin to say our farewells, along with our hopes of this expedition. Dr. Ednor told us to meet at UMBC on Monday at 8 am, because that is when we leave for Canterlot to finalize our plans to the princesses and venture off, if granted, which is highly likely. Everypony else leaves, as well as Dr. Ednor who heads back to the restaurant to help Seabreeze order things. I stare in the harbor, and see my filly self. Small, blank-flanked, and aspiring to one day be the next Daring Do. Now here I am, older, bigger, and with my cutie mark, a compass on a map; ready to explore where nopony else has ventured before. I take the lonely trip back to the stop far from my house, and I go to bed quickly after such a long night.
