Chapter 1: All Geared Up
“The best place to start any story is in the beginning.” This is one piece of wisdom I found useless from Mrs. Belle. What is the beginning? That was hard for me to figure out.
My beginning could have been the day I met her. It could have been the day I made my Full Royal Petition, and earned my cutie mark. It could have been the day of Mrs. Belle’s funeral, when I decided on my career.
For me, the beginning was the first day of my job. A job given to me by Princess Twilight, and the beginning of a journey that had a large impact than I would have ever thought possible.
My name is Sunny Joy, and this is my story.
It was a bright a sunny day. The pegasi had really made sure the weather was clear that day. Princess Twilight Sparkle was certainly enjoying the sun. “Sunny Day, please come here. I have a gift for you that will help in your journey.”
“A gift? Really? Thanks Princess!” A yellow blur raced down the palace stairs, clearly intent on finding the gift that was mentioned. Unfortunately…
“Whoa!” Said yellow blur tripped down the stair she was running on. Bonk! Bonk! Boink! And thus the tangled and pained mess that was a unicorn landed at Princess Twilight’s hooves.
“Sunny Joy!” Fraught with worry, Princess Twilight searched her friend for injuries.
“Don’t worry, I’m fine.” Slowly, the unicorn stood up.
Sunny Joy was a young unicorn mare. She possessed a yellow coat, orange mane, and red eyes. On her flank was a happy, if simple, smiling face.
“You really should be more careful. Some day you will hurt yourself, and I do not want that to happen to you. You may not have been a faithful student, but I do care about you.”
Both mares winced at the short term in which Sunny Joy had been Princess Twilight’s Most Faithful Student. Between Sunny Joy’s at best mediocre talents and unwillingness to study; and Princess Twilight’s need for perfection, the castle itself had almost been a casualty. After six months of frustration, the two had agreed to end the apprenticeship before it ended their friendship.
“You mentioned a gift?” Princess Twilight chuckled.
“Yes I did. Come, it is out here.” The two mares slowly trotted to the entrance to the palace. Two solar guards, looking smart in their uniforms, opened the doors.
“Here you are. I think you will find that this will aid you well on your journey.” Sunny Joy blinked.
It was a wagon, one that a show-mare might use. It was covered in curtains with stars on them, with a dark blue background. The wagon was old, but it somehow had a strength to it. It was a stage wagon long past its prime, but still able to perform.
Princess Twilight grinned at the befuddled look on Sunny Joy’s face. “This is the Moon Dancer, and she was once owned by a mare who I wished I had known better. She is yours now. Take a look on the inside.”
It was now clear to Sunny Joy that there was some sort of surprise about this wagon. Perhaps this was revenge for the confusion she had caused Twilight during her Full Royal Petition? Regardless, she had to check this out.
Sunny Joy walked up the set of stairs to the Moon Dancer, opened the door, and promptly gasped. “It’s…it’s bigger on the inside!” Indeed it was. There was what looked like some sort of office space, and it was clear that there were other rooms inside the wagon.
“Indeed. That’s what everyone says when they first see it.” Sunny jumped at the voice behind her. “I may have modified the spells somewhat, but the base work was laid by the original owner, Trixie.”
“Who was she?”
“My self-proclaimed rival in magic, and a hero in her own right. She was very talented at stage magic; illusions, special effects, and explosions were her forte.” Princess Twilight looked around, and sighed. “I do wish I had gotten to know her better before she died. Still, enough about that. Let me give you the tour.”
Princess Twilight gestured with a foreleg. “This here is the office.” The room was dominated by the desk at the front. On it were various writing utensils, all which were neatly placed in a small jar. On one end was an interesting purple candle. Instruments and devices that Sunny Joy did not recognize were arranged neatly on the sides of the room. Small notes were attached to the devices.
“See that candle there? I made it from some of Spike’s shed scales. It’s a communicator. Simply place a letter in the fire made by it, and the letter will burn up and be sent to me. I will also occasionally send letters to you. This should keep me up to date on your job.”
“Which is again?”
“Oh.” The purple cheeks now had a reddish tinge to them. “I never did tell you. You see, when you talked about learning ponies stories, I came up with an idea. I am thinking of creating a new branch in the government: The Archives of the People.
The idea is simple, you walk into down, and announce that you will take and record any stories that people want recorded. These stories are then stored in the Archives for the viewing pleasure of any Equestrian.”
By this point, the Princess had a rather large, and somewhat disturbing, grin on her face. “Just think about it. After this program is in place, we will finally have a sense of what our people really feel. We will see what truly matters to them.”
Sunny Joy tilted her head. “Yes…I suppose…I think it is a great idea. So this office is where I would interview the ponies?”
Princess Twilight nodded her head. “Indeed. I left instructions on how to use the various devices. They are quite user friendly, so I am sure you will have no trouble with them.”
The pair moved on to the door. It opened into a tiny hallway, with a circular stairway in the center, and a door on the other side.
“Let’s finish touring the first floor.”
“This place has multiple floors.” Princess Twilight chuckled at Sunny Joy’s wonder.
“It does, though only two. Now here,” as she opened the door, “is the guest room.”
It was a cozy room. There was a small, red couch on the left side, with a bookcase beside it. A fire place, with a lazy chair and a small pile of fire wood, was opposite the couch. On the far side was a marble top table, with a few potted plants in it. Three windows lit up the room.
The peaceful room was quickly disturbed by a full grown mare gasping, and then jumping up and down on the couch. “It’s so bouncy!”
Princess Twilight blinked. “So it is. However, I don’t know how much it can take. You wouldn’t want to break it, would you? Especially since it functions as a second bed, in case you have guests.”
Sunny Joy’s grin turned sheepish. “Right, sorry. Not a little foal anymore.” That didn’t stop her from bouncing though.
“I am not a little foal anymore. And do remember to have some fun.”
“Of course you aren’t a little foal anymore Twilight. Why would you say that?”
Princess Twilight sighed at her one-time student as she rebuffed the small lesson. “There is more upstairs.”
By the word more, Sunny Joy had already stopped bouncing.
“What are we waiting for?”
“You.”
“Awe, don’t be so mean Princess.”
They shared a chuckled, and walked upstairs. There was another small corridor, with a door on each end. Princess Twilight, and by extension Sunny Joy, went to the one on the left, near the front of the wagon.
In the newly revealed room was a small kitchen. It had a small electric stove and oven, sink, microwave, fridge and freezer combo, and a bunch of cupboards. Off in a corner was a tiny table with two seats.
“Everything here is powered by mana-crystals. I will explain how to keep them powered soon.”
“I just hope I don’t start a fire.”
“You may not be a chef, but you aren’t near that bad. Your parents did a good job raising you that way.”
“It is a nice kitchen though. Thanks. So I guess the last room is the bedroom.”
“Indeed.”
It was a simple room. A bed covered the majority of the room, with a few tiny night desks surrounding the head of the bed. There was a door on the left, which led to a simple sink-shower-bathroom. The door on the right led to a small closet.
“This…this is all so amazing. Thank you Princess. Really, thank you.”
The two simply hugged, enjoying each other’s company.
“Now, let me show you the outside of this wagon. It also has some things I think you will like.”
Within two minutes, the pair were outside. “First off, there are spells making this rather light. This means it will be easy for you to pull, but be careful. It still has all of its mass, and will hurt if it hits something.” Sunny nodded at this; she did give safety tips the consideration they were due.
“Now remember those mana-crystals I mentioned? Well, when you walk with the wagon, the movement will cause energy to flow into the crystals, recharging them. So long as you get enough exercise, you won’t run out of energy.”
“Nifty. Your work?”
Princess Twilight nodded. “Indeed. It took me six and a half months to figure out how to keep the crystals from overcharging and exploding, but I got it to work.”
“Exploding?”
“Don’t worry. They won’t explode. I triple checked it.” Sunny sighed in relief. If Princess Twilight triple checked it, then it was safe.
“Three more things. This is the water storage area. You will probably want to change that periodically. The compartment opens up like so,” a quick demonstration, “and then just hire a pegasus to change the water.
Secondly, the door is magically attuned to you and the Princesses. No other pony can open it from the outside without you being within two meters.
Finally, as an agent of the crown, you will receive a monthly stipend of five hundred bits. That should easily cover your expenses.”
Sunny Joy took a small step back. Five hundred bits would be more than enough.
“All of this…it is all for me?”
“Yes. Yes it is.”
Once again they embraced.
“I am going to miss you Twilight.”
“And I, you. But it is not like we will be out of communication. I will always be a letter away.” The two broke apart.
“You know, Sunny Joy, I am somewhat reminded of when I first left Canterlot.”
“Really? This must have been just before you defeated Nightmare Moon, and freed Luna.”
The older mare looked upward, lost in memory. “Yes. I was younger than you, and not as wise. You know, back then I didn’t really see the value of friendship.”
Any reminiscing Princess Twilight was having was broken by the very large gasp from Sunny Joy. “You…you didn’t see the value in friendship? But you are the Princess of Friendship? How could you have never seen its value?”
Princess Twilight let loose a slightly depreciating chuckle. “By being foalish. I was far too preoccupied in my studies, and at the time I believed that I, and only I, could prevent the coming doom. I even thought that Princess Celestia didn’t know better!”
“No!”
“Yes! I even “informed” her of Nightmare Moon’s return. Do you know what she said back?”
Sunny Joy shook her head.
“She said something to the effect of ‘stop worrying about old prophecies. It’s not healthy. Now go to Ponyville, help arrange the Summer Celebration there, and go make some friends.’ Naturally I was miffed. Here was some impending crisis, and I was told to make friends.
It was until I ran into the Everfree Forest to find the Elements that I began to understand. The girls, they followed me in, despite barely knowing me. During that night, I learned much about how important friends are. And because of what they taught me, I was able to unlock the Element of Magic. After all…”
“Friendship is Magic.” The two mare spoke the last lines together.
“Always remember, you can do much more with friends than by yourself.”
“That sounds like something out of one of those fortune cookies from the east.”
“That doesn’t make it any less true.” Princess Twilight was rather annoyed by the comment.
“I know, I am just teasing.” With that Sunny Joy hitched herself to the Moon Dancer. She paused, and turned.
“She needs a new name.”
“Why?”
“The Moon Dancer was Trixie’s wagon. Now she is mine, and needs a new name.” The young mare paused in thought. “I know, I will call her The Spirit of Adventure.”
“It is a good name.”
There was a pause. “Hey Princess, you didn’t really tell me about Trixie when she owned Spirit.”
“Spirit?”
“Well, The Spirit of Adventure is kind of a mouthful. And don’t try to change the topic.”
Princess Twilight giggled. “Her full name was Trixie Lulamoon. And if you want to know more about her story, you should start with Spike.”
“You said she was a hero?”
“She was.”
Sunny Joy nodded to herself. “Then I shall find her story, and tell it to the world.”
“Make sure to have your own story too. Now go out into the world.”
The two waved at each other. Sunny faced forward, and began to walk.
For me, that was the beginning. I often feel that my story started there, with my first steps carrying The Spirit of Adventure. I had a goal in mind, and a job to do. So that day, I took my first steps as the sun climbed higher.
I had no idea what kind of adventures truly awaited me. I imagined much. What actually happened was far beyond what I dreamed. And worse than any nightmare that I ever had. Which actually isn't say much, thanks to Princess Luna.
Author's Note
Well, here it is. My sequel to A Full Royal Petition, and the first story that I intend to be multi chaptered.
Unfortunately, while I have the basic plan of the story laid out, some details do need working out. Combine this with school starting again, and I don't think I will be updating very often. However, at least I have swallowed my fear and got this out.
I do plan on writing some other oneshots in this universe that will take place before this story. Of particular note to me is the funeral for Miss. Belle. I have it written, but it just doesn't feel right, and is one piece I really want to get right before I publish.
Finally, as always, comments that tell me what I can improve on or fix are greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading this; I hope you enjoyed it.
