Chapters Prologue-Stuck in the Station
Prologue-Stuck in the Station
Baltimare Station, one of the nicer train stations I’ve been to in my 24 years of existence. Then again, I really don’t travel much, because I’m comfortable with what I do and I have no intentions of leaving that state of contentedness.
Right now, though, I’d like to get to my hotel in someplace called Ponyville. Why? Because this human was on vacation and wanted to get away from all the crazy bronies he knew as well as the stress. However, I had missed the last train of the day, so I couldn’t escape from the ports to the real world until 8:25 the next morning.
“At least I have my parlor tricks to keep me entertained and to help me go to sleep,” I mused, sorely.
I had always prided myself with being very strict at timetable keeping. I was never late to a college class, or any game night that I dedicated to relieving the stress. Now, I was ticked off at missing the last train because my boat arrived in port ten minutes later than expected.
The stationmaster was kind enough to let me sleep in the station waiting room. At least that was an improvement from the cabin mates of the ship, who constantly complained about being at sea and the fact that they would be late for their traditional Poker Nights with their friends. I wished that I had friends with me, but they were all “busy”.
‘Lousy cheapskates,’ I thought.
I performed several more parlor tricks, then decided to find someplace cozy to sleep in the station, which was colder than a freezer and the floor was hard linoleum, which made the waiting room feel colder than it really was.
‘Hey, if my church camping trips taught me anything,’ I thought. ‘it’s that I can survive anything that the world has to offer.’
That was true. The reason I bring up the church camping trips I was on, is because of what I’m saying next. I would often times sleep outside the tent, in wet grass with winds that could chill a soda in 22 milliseconds and in a tank top and shorts. Mainly due to the places we camped at were in the mountains and it was supposed to be “summer” but it felt more like a “winter” out of a science fiction novel.
As I scouted out the station for a comfortable place, a thought struck me hard.
“I hope that Princess Twilight Sparkle won’t be cross with me for missing the last train of the day,” I said aloud, glancing down at a piece of paper, with all the arrangements meticulously planned out to the last detail and now I was worrying that the final steps were in danger of being cancelled.
Rereading the arrangements again, tears slid down my cheek. I buried my face in my hands and cried. For the first time, my record for being one up on everything was now in tatters before me.
“Blasted luck,” I sobbed.
After feeling sorry for myself for thirty minutes, I finally decided that I needed cheering up and reached for my laptop, which housed many of my favorite songs. I had done some research and found that the types of songs a person liked often spoke volumes about them and often times were the connecting point, where friendships were made. After all, having something in common with something else was a bonus.
But before I bore you with the entirety of my “favorite songs” folder on my laptop, or any of my research, you want to know what I did to cheer up and bring me out of this state of misery. I found Oliver the Great Western Tank Engine’s season 3 theme and played it on loop for thirty minutes (with headphones on, to keep it silent), then after getting a makeshift bed prepared near the ticket window, I got my “favorite songs” folder opened and after getting it all set up, I made for the bathroom for some last minute fixes.
When I finished, I headed back to my comfortable bed while I was trapped at the station (if it wasn’t already apparent) and prepared for the long night.
“This will be a first,” I said. “Stuck and spending a cold night in a harbor station, here in Equestria.”
With that, I put on my headphones, prepared my music and after all was set in cloth and cover, I played the music and let “Gone Fishing” waft into my ears, and I sang a the song.
When that finished, I was off in dreamland, but not for long. I soon found myself awake again panicking about other delays. Jumping up, I checked the time table and gave an audible groan of horrified disgust. The 8:25 train wouldn’t reach Ponyville until about 12:25 in the afternoon.
“Four hour delays, great,” I hissed.
‘Get a hold of yourself, Brighton!’ I mentally snapped, using my nickname. ‘Everything will work out in the end! You just have to believe that it will!’
I had to believe that things would work out in the end? I then remembered how things had worked out for me in the past, and I began to let the thoughts of having a holiday relax me. So what if the train was going to be four hours late? I had an uncanny ability to make up for lost time and I was going to abuse that in order to keep my sanity. Then again, I had to find ways of not stressing myself out. Music helped, but I decided that reading novels would help me relax even more. Usually, when reading mystery novels, I found that my mind would go over the plan that would stress me out and find cracks in the walls that I could get a wedge in.
Before going back to sleep, I cracked open a mystery novel I had packed and read eight chapters before I yawned and closed the book.
I once again drifted off to sleep, waiting for the sun to rise and bring me good luck in spades, which I needed after all the rotten luck I had today.
“Sunlight brings new hopes,” I drowsily mumbled and slept.
At six am, I was up and getting dressed an hour before the station opened up. I had to clean everything up and help prepare the station, as a sign of gratitude. I mean, it was the least I could do, considering most of the hotels were packed or couldn’t serve me because I didn’t have the money.
‘I really shouldn’t but they were really nice to me,’ I thought.
As I packed up my “Bedding” and my laptop, there came a clanking and hissing noise from the platform and to my surprise, there stood a train. The engine was a Black 5 and it had a dining coach, Pullman coach and a full brake. The coaches were painted in the traditional GWR “Chocolate and Cream” livery that I had come to enjoy seeing.
‘What in the name of sanity?’ I huffed.
The stationmaster came to me, a grin on his face.
“A charter train has arrived to take you to Ponyville,” he said.
I was about to ask him if I needed a ticket when he told me to forget the ticket, that the princess of Ponyville arranged for the train.
“I’ll have to thank her,” I said.
He grinned and after helping me put my bags on the train, he stood and watched the train out of the station. Once the harbor disappeared from sight, I relaxed and cracked open a novel and relaxed. The gentle swaying of the coaches and the clickety-clack of the wheels over the rail joints was soothing and helped me calm down.
“I hope things do turn out well for me,” I said.
As the train headed onwards, I heard it whistle twice and maintain speed. I thought nothing of it, but as we headed through the station, I glanced out the window and nearly dropped my book in surprise. Standing on the platform were two ponies-Alicorns to be more precise.
One was white with a ton of bright greens, blues, pinks and yellows and gold décor, with a sun tattoo on her flank. The other was a dark bluish black color with a pitch black flank with a crescent moon. Her mane and tail had what looked like miniature stars caught in a night sky. I had to do a double take to make sure I wasn’t seeing things.
“There’s no way…” I gulped.
Picking up my book, I pinched myself to see if I was dreaming. There was no way in the world I saw Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Just as I got myself settled back, the train slowed and stopped. I was about to look out a window when the guard came hurrying into my carriage, a very apologetic look on his face. I could tell he was embarrassed by the unscheduled stop.
“We’re being held, due to a late running goods train,” the guard said.
“That’s fine,” I said. “Mind telling me where we stopped?”
“Equestria Canterlot Station,” he said, proudly. “Main terminal station with architectural designs from Paddington, King’s Cross, Euston, St. Pancreas, Dover and Waterloo stations in the UK.”
“Thank you,” I said.
“Oh, don’t thank me, and before I forget, your to gain a couple of traveling companions,” he said.
I wanted to groan, but thought better and buried said groan under a ton of fake happiness. I then told the guard to show them in and waited. It was no longer than five minutes before I heard talking and hoof steps. In another five minutes, there came the guests. The first one to seat herself across from me on one of the comfortable first class cushioned benches was Princess Luna, with Celestia sitting nearest to the aisle.
I stood up and bowed, showing my respect for the two rulers of Equestria. Once I sat down, Luna spoke.
“What brings you here to our fair lands?” she asked.
“I’m on holiday,” I said.
“Holiday?” Luna asked, glancing over at Celestia, who was just as puzzled.
I smiled wryly and explained that “holiday” just meant “vacation”.
“Oh, so you wanted to have a vacation and our country was on your list?” Celestia asked.
“Yes,” I said with a broad grin.
“That’s brilliant.” Luna smiled.
Celestia began to eye me suspiciously. I then decided to look for something in my bag, which I had packed out of foresight. Said item were the letters I was receiving from Dangersignal, which I kept for reference to all the events he wanted me to write about.
I produced them and let her read them. It seemed to satisfy her, which relieved me and my sanity. After she handed them back and I put them away, we continued to talk until we reached Ponyville station.
It was there that something strange happened. The train clanked over a set of points and drew to a halt. Luna and Celestia were puzzled.
“Why were we diverted into the goods platform?” Luna asked. “I thought we were expected.”
“Same here,” Celestia said.
Just then, there was a great deal of commotion from the platform. Celestia glanced towards the front of the coach, which was connected to the dining coach, which was where the noises came from. Before they could react, I found myself facing a spear and a very cold Pegasus.
“Get moving!” he ordered.
“Can you give me a few minutes to gather my bags?” I asked.
“Get moving now!” he bellowed.
“Flash Sentry! Stand down!” came a roar from the dining coach.
I looked as “Flash Sentry” started to push the spear closer to me with the idea of turning me into a skewered onion. I closed my eyes and waited. When nothing happened, I opened my eyes to see a dark red Pegasus with a mane and tail the color of fire (oranges and reds) holding him down.
I then looked in front of me to see a cyan colored Pegasus with a rainbow colored mane and tail looking at me, relieved and worried.
“You alright?” she asked. “I heard you missed the last train yesterday, and was scheduled in on a charter train today.”
“Uhm…yes, I’m alright, just shaken,” I said. “I’m sorry Princess Luna and Princess Celestia for the bother you encountered.”
The Pegasus turned and was on the ground and bowing within ten seconds. Celestia chuckled and told her to not worry.
“Why don’t you and that little Pegasus guide him to Princess Twilight Sparkle’s castle?” Celestia suggested.
“Right,” came the reply, then the cyan Pegasus turned to me. “I’m Rainbow Dash. Proud mother of three, fastest flyer in Ponyville, Savior of our land three times and friends with Princess Twilight Sparkle.”
“That’s quite the resume,” I said.
“Glad you like it,” she said and then gestured to the dark red Pegasus. “That’s my daughter, Breezeblaze.”
The dark red Pegasus turned and smiled at me, with her mother’s cockiness in her eyes, ready to say the same thing in terms of being the fastest flyer. She came up and began to help me pack up my belongings. I was pleased with the help.
Once my bags were all collected, she lead the way while Rainbow Dash stayed behind to help Celestia and Luna sort out all the confusion. I was rather curious as to why there were other humans here, but I realized that the railway couldn’t be run by ponies alone and the humans were here to run and maintain the locomotives.
However, I was starting to feel slightly out of place. One, I wasn’t in any traditional railway uniform and aiding in helping with the railway work. To make matters worse, me and Breezeblaze were being followed by a mint green unicorn. I had caught her out of the corner of my eye as we passed a diner. Not wanting to point it out, I said nothing to give Breezeblaze a hint of what was going on.
“Oh, Lyra, can you leave us please,” the dark red Pegasus told the other one bluntly.
“But I never saw…” came the protest.
“He’s on vacation and right now, he has ruffled feelings,” came the reply. “Flash Sentry just barged into his coach while he was having a pleasant chat with the Princess of the Sun and Day, and the Princess of the Moon and Night. I‘d like to get him to his destination without him being even more harassed.”
“Lyra” sighed, defeated and trotted away, muttering at how she’d get her chances to hassle me. I thanked Breezeblaze and readjusted my backpack and guitar case. I always play guitar when on holiday, the music helps me calm down and I had intended to play it on the train, but interventions of the royal and annoying kind put a damper on that plan.
As I was preparing to just give up and hope to slip out in the night to find a quiet place to play, Breezeblaze stopped and turned to me.
“Princess Twilight Sparkle’s castle,” she said, gesturing to a large crystal looking building.
It looked like a castle alright. A castle straight out of some science fiction novel that I had read in college. At least the exterior reminded me of that. The interior reminded me of mid 15th century castles in Wales and England (Of which, I’ve only seen photographs and drawings, not the actual things as I don’t have a TARDIS and I am not the Doctor).
“Impressive,” I said. “Then again, I’d probably bore you with all the history I see in this room.”
Breezeblaze turned and just stared, wide eyed.
“You see history here?” she asked.
“Yes,” I said. “I live far beyond Equestria and I have studied castles when I was in college. Mainly mid 15th century castles in Wales and England, of which this meeting room reminds me of. Most castles in that time period had two to five floors, with a basement that was as wide as the castle itself. The basement often had cells for prisoners, storage rooms and servant quarters, where the mid 15th century equivalent of butlers, gardeners, cooks, and so on lived. The very top floor was reserved for the king and queen who owned and lived in the castle.”
Breezeblaze was impressed. I decided to impress her some more.
“Some of the more famous castles, such as Nunney Castle, Caerphilly Castle and others in the West of England and into Wales were immortalized with the famous GWR Castle class. But not all the Castle Class engines were named after castles, some were actually named after famous figure heads, including Isambard Kingdom Brunel.”
“Wow!” Breezeblaze exclaimed.
“Yeah,” I said. “I spent more time in books and research than I do going outside in sunny weather.”
“You’ve read books?” Breezeblaze asked me. “How many books do you have and how many times have you read them?”
“I have well over two hundred thousand books and I’ve read them at least 22,568 times,” I said. “Yet I still haven’t gained all the knowledge they have to impart.”
I looked at the young filly Pegasus, who was staggering backwards in surprise. I chuckled and after she calmed down, the two of us headed to the second floor, where she took the lead and had me follow her to a door that was on the left and no more than eight steps from a stairwell leading upwards.
She knocked on the door, then hearing nothing, she gently opened the door and signaled me inside. I followed and after getting my bags set in a neat row next to the bed, Breezeblaze looked at me.
“Wait here,” she told me. “I’ll let somepony know you’re here.”
I nodded and stood for some minutes after she shut the door and left. When my legs began to tire out, I sat down on the floor and massaged my stressed legs, hoping that it would relax them. It did, but it took several thousand passes of the hands over the stressed nerves.
“I really should thank my friends for teaching me massage techniques,” I said.
When the pain was gone, I stood up and glanced around. The room was made out of crystal, like the exterior of the castle. I was rather concerned now, thinking that the crystal floor wouldn’t support my weight. Just as I came to the realization that the weight wouldn’t be of concern, a pony appeared. I knew this one by sight and by trademark design.
The pony wore a cowboy hat, had a bright yellow mane pulled back into a ponytail and a bright yellow tail. She had a dull yellow fur coat and a tattoo on her left flank, which had three apples in a triangular formation.
I nodded and gestured her in, leaving the door open, as was my custom when having a guest inside. She eyed me up and down.
“Ah take it yer the new guy on holi-whatever-it-was-you-said,” she said.
“It’s “Holiday”,” I corrected, calmly. “Ms. Applejack.”
“How’d you…” she began
“Simple deductions my earth mare friend,” I said. “One, your accent; two, your hat; three your stance; four, your apple cutie mark; five, lack of wings and horn,” I said, listing off the facts on my left hand.
“Ya got yerself a mighty fine brain,” she said, in wonderment.
“I read a lot of detective fiction,” I said. “I suppose you heard from Breezeblaze that I have more books than your Princess Twilight Sparkle and have read them a great many times?”
Applejack nodded. However, she thought it was a tall tale. Anyone who has read books as many times as I have should have all the knowledge that they would impart. She glanced at my bags, which were neatly lined up and then beckoned me to follow. I did so and was soon lead into the same conference room, where I saw Rainbow Dash sitting in a chair with her cutie mark etched into the chair back. Applejack took her rightful chair and I glanced at the others in the room.
One had a dark pink mane and tail that looked like cotton candy. The pony had a brighter pink coat with three balloons on her flank. She was smiling broadly and had a real glint of cheer in her eyes.
I glanced to the pink one’s left and saw Rainbow Dash. To the left of Rainbow Dash was Applejack. To Applejack’s left was a pony I hadn’t seen before.
She was a marshmallow white color, with a diamond cutie mark. She had a violet mane and tail. She had a look of disgust on her face as she eyed me.
“Mind telling me why this ruffian is here?” she demanded.
I let my face show that my feelings were beyond repair. Applejack hushed her sharply.
“Don’t mind Rarity,” Rainbow Dash said. “She’s all about looking famous and very prim and proper.”
“Don’t tell me,” I grumbled. “She thinks anyone who gets dirty or has the look of spending a hard night in a cold station waiting room is an untrained ruffian?”
“How’d you…” Applejack began
“Her tone and the way she looks at me,” I snapped. “You don’t honestly think I was born yesterday?”
Rarity lost it was going on about how I should have manners and behave myself. It was Rainbow Dash who finally shut Rarity up.
“Well, if you hadn’t hurt his feelings, then maybe he’d show some respect!” the cyan Pegasus snapped.
I was grateful to her. I could barely remember a time where a complete stranger told her friend to be nice to me. I gave a very weak smile and continued to look around.
To Rarity’s left was a purple Alicorn. Star cutie mark on her flank, dark violet, hot pink and dull purple mane and tail. She was eyeing me up with the same unfavorable glance that Rarity favored me with. I simply tried to ignore it and looked at the final pony.
She was bright yellow, with a light pink mane and tail. On her flank was a butterfly cutie mark. She was very nervous and hid behind her mane, breaking eye contact. I felt hurt by this and after getting names, I excused myself to my room. If this was hospitality, then it wasn’t worth it to be here. The hotel was the best option I had and I wanted to be away from them.
“Friends, why do I need them?” I muttered darkly.
I had my guitar on my shoulder when I felt a soft breeze at my back. Turning my head, I noticed Rainbow Dash hovering in my doorway with Breezeblaze standing there. Both glared at me and after I brought them in, I shut the door.
“What’s this about not needing friends?” Breezeblaze huffed.
“I just don’t need friends,” I said. “Your friends are treating me like my old friends, who always treated me like garbage for any delay.”
Rainbow Dash was shaking her head and groaning. Breezeblaze glanced at her mother, with a look that told me she felt slightly hurt. I was starting to feel regret for saying something to upset the little Pegasus.
“Look, I’m not trying to…What I mean is…Let me…” I stammered about before giving up. “I have now lost two who I thought were friends. Oh life, you flatter me so.”
Rainbow Dash chortled, but shook her head. Breezeblaze smiled as well.
“You can count on us,” she said.
“Thank you,” I said.
After the mess was sorted out, Rainbow Dash went to sort out the confusion and at least attempt to smooth ruffled feelings. I glanced down at her daughter, who was looking at my bags. After twenty minutes, she looked at me and suggested that I unpack and make myself comfortable.
“I’d rather not,” I said. “First contention-I don’t know if I’m staying in the castle with you ponies. Second contention-they might not forgive me for snapping out and showing my anger towards being called a ruffian and being treated like one. Third contention-me walking out. Where I come from, that’s a sign that any friendship is over, with no “If’s” “And’s” or “But’s”.”
“Oh,” she said, feeling dejected. I smiled and looked her in the eye.
“It’s not your problem,” I said. “You don’t need to feel sorry for me.”
Breezeblaze stared. Why was I telling her to not feel sorry for me? Before I could answer, there came a knock at the door. I opened it to see the same timid yellow pony. Upon closer inspection, she was a Pegasus, like Rainbow Dash and Breezeblaze. I gave her a quick, but gentle inspection to see if I noticed anything else. Breezeblaze was confused as to why I was nodding and muttering to myself.
“It’s a habit I have to noticing minor details,” I said. “I mutter to myself to make sure I’m not missing anything. After all, my right eye is damaged. I used to spend nights reading in the dark, with no light.”
“Oh,” the timid Pegasus said, poking her eyes out from under her mane. “I had no idea.”
I gave a chuckle and explained that it was alright. It helped me out when I star gazed, as it was able to pick out shapes much quicker than my left eye. That got the three of us talking about how the night was peaceful and that everywhere we had been had untold splendor in the day that was enhanced by the night.
“There’s just something magical about seeing everything during the night,” I said.
“You can say that,” Breezeblaze agreed. “I’ve helped my father, an Alicorn by the name Dangersignal with night mail trains and other night trains. I have a brother named Flash Freeze, who’s a unicorn, and sister, who is also a unicorn, named, Firestrike.”
I chuckled, and then decided to show off my detective skills to impress and scare the two pegasi in the room.
“I take it that Firestrike’s special talent is fire spells,” I said.
“How’d you know?” they asked.
“Her name,” I said. “Fire, it isn’t exactly subtle. Flash Freeze’s talents must be ice spells, hence the “Freeze” in his name and that ice is the counter, in lack of laymen’s terms is a counter to fire, as ice is nothing more than frozen water and when the fire turns the ice to water, the water puts out the fire.”
“Your smart,” the timid Pegasus said.
“I take it that you’re Fluttershy?” I asked.
“How’d you…” she began.
“Rainbow Dash told me about a timid Pegasus, and I put 2 and 2 together,” I said, chuckling.
“Oh,” came the reply. “Applejack was right, you do have a mighty find mind.”
I smiled and agreed to that statement. As we talked around, there came the sounds of hoof steps. We stopped when there came a knock on the door. After some shuffling around, which made the two step look like it could actually be done in two steps, I answered the door.
Rarity was standing there, an apologetic look on her face. I let her in and after the other two left, I sat her on the bed, then I stood some distance off, where our eyes could be considered level.
“Whatever you want or need to say, say it,” I said, no point or bluntness in my voice.
“I wanted to apologize for my behavior darling,” she said,
“Consider this your apology and consider it accepted,” I said. “I, too was in the wrong. After all my plans had gone wrong, I was feeling rather sore with myself and I took it out on you.”
Rarity nodded, slightly taken aback by my confession. After she left, both confused and grateful, I sighed and sank down, with my back against the wall. I was glad to start mending bridges, which was a talent I hadn’t used for years.
‘This ought to be my first steps in making friends,’ I thought.
Had I been a little more observant as to where I sat, I would have noticed that I was in the path of the door. I didn’t and as I started up, the door swung inwards and nailed me in the stomach.
With a groan, I fell backwards and clutched my stomach. Looking up, I noticed the same purple Alicorn who had given me the dirty look. Now she looked like she would want to apologize.
“Don’t,” I gasped between pained groans. “I wasn’t paying attention.”
Even though it hurt and I felt like I’d empty my stomach, I managed to stand up and stagger to the bed, which acted as a resting place.
“Consider your apology for earlier accepted,” I gasped again. “I’ll be fine in an hour or two.”
“If your sure,” she said, apprehensive.
“Yes, I’m sure,” I said, the pained gasping slowly dying down. “Just tell whoever is left to apologize and to meet me to wait three hours, allowing for the one to two hours of recuperating and giving me one more hour to make sure it’s all good.”
“Before I go, I should tell you my name, I’m…” she began
“Princess Twilight Sparkle,” I said. “Your face has been everywhere.”
“How do you mean?” she quizzed, now getting defensive. “My face is attached to my body unless someone used evil magic.”
“You’ve had your picture taken, right?” I asked.
“Yeah,” she said.
“That’s what I meant,” I said. “Your photographs are everywhere-on station bulletin boards, flags, anywhere where you could be seen.”
“Oh,” she said, blushing.
“It’s okay,” I assured her. “Get going, your friends are starting to worry and wonder if maybe I kept you longer to give you more trouble.”
Princess Twilight Sparkle chuckled and departed. I shut the door and this time I sat on the floor, then laid down to help ease and even stop the pain. It worked and in an hour and a half, I was back up. It still hurt and in another hour and a half, the pain had subsided even more.
There came a knock a few minutes later. I scrambled the stiff as a boot camp attendee position and said come in. This time the cotton candied mane and tail pony arrived and began bouncing around. I had to tell her three times to calm down, which irritated me.
“Sorry,” she said, her mane and tail deflating.
“Look,” I said. “I don’t want you to lose what makes you, well you, but it’s easier to talk and make friends with someone who isn’t bouncing around like a hyperactive child on a sugar rush.”
That got her to smile and her mane inflated again. She introduced herself as Pinkamina Diane Pie, or Pinkie Pie. I had to chuckle. “Pinkie Pie” was a name one of my old enemies had. Once I had regained composure, I ushered her out with the understanding that I was expecting some more guests to come in.
Pinkie Pie bounced away. I sank down and waited for more guests to come by, which was going to be interesting. An hour went by before a knock sounded out. I called out the usual invitation of come in.
The door opened and a Dark red Alicorn entered. The features of this Alicorn stated he was a male, but he was the same height as Princess Celestia. He had dark red eyes, no mane and a fiery orange tail. On his flank was a bright red railway signal, set at Danger. He was smiling broadly. I was rather surprised, considering I knew who he was from talk I heard around.
“Ah, so you’re the guest that missed the last boat train connection?” he asked. “Sorry about that. The timetable for the boat has the last train run out from Baltimare Harbor station at 9.25 pm and there is no “extra” trains scheduled. We tried to make it up to you by scheduling a charter train.”
“Ah, that’s okay,” I said. “Anyway, can I get your name?”
“Dangersignal,” he said. “Proud father of three, former Elite Guard to Princess Luna and Princess Celestia, Controller of the Equestrian Railway, part time weather aide and married to Rainbow Dash.”
“That is quite the resume,” I said. “You must be very proud indeed.”
He smiled. “Tell me about yourself,” he said.
I did so, leaving out facts that I’d rather not remember. He seemed satisfied, but something puzzled him.
“Why is it that you like stargazing?” he quizzed. “Twilight, I can understand. It helps her calm down.”
“It helps me realize that I have many unexplored hallways and doorways in the mansion I call my life,” I said.
He chuckled and said that I would have five more visitors. I agreed that I’d await their arrival.
“Don’t hold your breath too much. I’ll have them sent to you as they arrive,” he said and left.
I sat back and knew that I’d have time to spend, like cash in the pocket, so I decided to play my guitar. I knew that music steadied the old nerves and my guitar lessons when I wasn’t working had paid off.
I began playing “Rolling Out Again” by the Norfolk Southern Lawmen. It was a song that I had been given to play by my old guitar instructor. The tune helped and as I struck the last chord, there came a knock.
“Come in!” I called.
The door opened, revealing a light turquoise Pegasus, with a brilliant amber and gold stripped mane and tail. Her eyes were a brilliant gamboge color. On her flank was a lightning bolt and three stars.
I was watching her as I packed the guitar away. Her eyes were wide with surprise and wonderment. I grinned and after standing up straight, I asked her to give me her name. she shook herself back to the real world and smiled.
“Lightning Dust,” she said. “And I’m a proud mother of three, hopeful to get back in the Wonderbolts and railway courier.”
I was slightly confused. Sure, I had watched the show based on these characters and I knew that she had been sent packing in disgrace, much like Diesel had been sent packing in 1958 by the Fat Controller after he spread malicious lies about Duck, but she puzzled me unlike Diesel. Why was she sorry? Normally, cocky or arrogant types claim they’ve learned their lesson, but not really.
Then again, why should I paint her with the colors that the show used? It’s just like painting Henry the Green Engine (whom I’ve worked with and must tell about sometime) with the brush that the television show used. I thanked her for introducing herself to me.
“I’ll send up the last four, my husband and my three kids,” she said.
I thanked her and after she left, I went back to playing my guitar. This time, I was practicing Michael Jackson’s “Beat It”. However, before I could finish, there came a gentle knocking noise. I stopped and as I put away the guitar, I said come in.
The door opened to reveal a Pegasus filly, with the male build. Forest green eyes, coat, mane and tail. No cutie mark on his flanks. He wore a smile that could give any egotistic pony a run for their money. He looked me up and down before introducing himself as Pinestreak.
‘Cocky much?’ I thought.
He explained at how he could outfly Rainbow Dash, Breezeblaze and his own mother in a race. I was starting to wonder if his cockiness was something that would need to be pegged down. I gave him my name and explained at how I was on holiday and enjoying the countryside.
After he and I exchanged comical banter, he said that his brother would be sent in. Formulas at their finest and to keep the formula going, I said I’d wait.
Now it was rinse and repeat. Pull out guitar and play song, only to be interrupted. The song this time was Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”. Not my favorite song, as my schools played this song every single day in October. As I was about to practice, a knock sounded and a pony arrived.
A Pegasus filly came in. Male structure like Pinestreak. He had a dark storm cloud gray mane and tail with a light storm cloud gray coat and no cutie mark on his flank. He had storm cloud gray eyes that were two shades lighter than his coat. He seemed slightly nervous looking up at me, but I showed him I wasn’t going to harm him. Soon, we were chatting away and I had got his name-Stormcloud. Rinse and repeat formula for greetings.
This time, I practiced seven songs before the door was knocked on. I called out come in after I placed my guitar back in it’s case. A coal black filly with coal black mane mane and tail entered. Her eyes were the same coal black color that her mane and tail were, but lighter by one shade. She had the air of being outgoing and very fun loving.
Repeat the conversations that I’ve had with a boat load of other ponies, with her name coming out-Coalstreak. I let her out and sat back down, this time thinking that things were going to be rather interesting.
The next morning, I awoke to sunlight flooding the room. Why did Princess Celestia’s sun have to be so danged torturous? I groaned about and after getting dressed, I stumbled down the stairs, to see the kids sitting around, looking glum.
“What’s up?” I asked.
“Oh, we were supposed to be going to school, but everyone’s gone off to handle their morning chores,” Coalstreak said.
I was thinking of how to get around this problem when I face palmed. I was the answer to their dilemma!
“Come on,” I said. “I’ll take you to school.”
Writing out that I had taken the kids to school, I walked with them to their school, a single room building. It had the same design as the building my grandfather on my father’s side would have used. Bidding them farewell, I set off to enjoy my vacation, but that was soon dashed.
Blocking a bridge was a rather large cart, which two pegasi ponies were struggling to move. I noticed that it had a large metal plow on it. The load was evidentially too heavy and there was no one else to assist them. Deciding that a blocked bridge wouldn’t do, I got positioned behind the cart and after calling to them that I’d push if they pulled, then we could deliver the plow.
“That’s kind of you stranger,” they called back.
I accepted the thank you and started to push. The two pegasi struggled to pull, but the heavy cart moved at last, albeit slowly and painfully. My legs and arms ached, but I continued to push until one said that they could see an apple orchard in the distance. I thanked them for that information and continued to push the cart.
The apple orchard was large and there were trees as far as the eye could jolly well see. Standing on the porch of a farm house was a large red stallion with a sliced open apple, revealing apple seeds. One of the pegasi ponies asked if he was Big Macintosh, and after a drawl of “Eeyup”, they set to work unloading the cart (with my help).
When all was finished, the pegasi ponies thanked me and I went back to town. I began to explore Ponyville and soon got an idea of where everything was. When I finished, I made my way back to the castle.
“Now for my private relaxation time,” I said after entering the castle.
Once I reached my bedroom, I shut the door, pulled out my guitar and songs and settled down to play. I could easily play anywhere between twelve and fifty tunes without reading the music, but I preferred to read the music sheets to make sure I was playing the songs correctly.
Something that my old enemies could never understand was why I liked playing the guitar. To them, the “excuse” that music calmed my nerves wasn’t good enough, but I learned to ignore them. Others thought that I was too brilliant a guitar player to let it soothe my nerves, but they accepted the fact.
Now, there was a reason I brought my guitar with me on vacation, and that was that vacation time tended to be stressful, mainly because of unplanned for problems which had a tendency to hang around and stress me out to no end, so I had to counteract them. Usually in private, because I was always laughed at for being a guitarist only.
‘These ponies do seem friendly,’ I thought. ‘But I am not taking any chances.’
Despite my best efforts, my door was opened to reveal Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Dragonstorm, and Rarity, who had come to show me the town. They stared in a state of awe.
“Well, I never,” Rarity exclaimed. “That was some fine playing darling!”
I smiled wryly and merely shrugged. People always praised me about playing the guitar well and I learned to accept it. Coming from Rarity, it seemed to be a goal that many people wanted to gain. One thing I had noticed on arrival at the town, was ponies heaped praise on those who did their jobs and they basked in the praise, like it was a warm sun.
I wasn’t one of those types. I just simply get on with my jobs and if anyone praised me, I took it in stride. To the ponies watching me play, they seemed perplexed as to why I wasn’t basking in their praise. Finally, Dragonstorm asked me why I didn’t jump up and cheer with happiness.
“Being praised is all well and good,” I said. “But all the praise I’ve ever gotten from “friends” has been meaningless and I just accept it like cash and get on with living my life. It’s not that I don’t like your praise, it’s jus that basking in it doesn’t do my ego any good.”
Dragonstorm nodded. He told the others that I had the “Black 5 Syndrome”, which means that I get on with my job, no matter what it was. That seemed to satisfy them, but Applejack asked me why I helped some ponies struggling with the heavy plow.
“Well, I was free to do that after taking the kids to school and deciding that a blocked path wouldn’t do any good, I helped move and unload the goods,” I explained. “It feels good when you do something without being asked and with no visible return. Getting something in return kind of puts it in people’s had that they will only do things to get something. There are people or ponies out there who do things out of the kindness of their heart, despite getting gifts.”
They nodded. Then I noticed that Rainbow Dash was face-hoofing hard.
“We forgot to ask you your name,” she said.
“That’s okay, I’m Brighton,” I said.
“Brighton?” Dragonstorm said. “That sounds like a nickname.”
“It is,” I said. “I prefer to be called by my nickname.”
“Why?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Because I don’t like giving my name,” I said. “Besides, I hang with friends where it’s our custom to use nicknames.”
“Ah,” Applejack said. “That makes sense, seeing as we ain’t close friends.”
“My point exactly,” I said. “If we ever become close friends, which is a distinct possibility, then I’ll divulge my real name.”
“Ah,” Rarity said. “Sounds simply divine, darling.”
“It is,” I said.
“Mind if we come in and ask you what are some of your other customs?” Dragonstorm asked.
I gestured for them to come in and sit down. Rainbow Dash shut the door silently, so as to not disturb anypony else who was working in or around the castle. After she turned back around, I gave slight chuckle. A memory of something I had taken part in came back to me and it had been rather hilarious.
“What’s so funny?” Dragonstorm asked.
“You guys have a night called “Nightmare Night”, correct?” I asked.
“Yes, why do you ask?” Rarity asked.
“Where I’m from, “Nightmare Night” is called “Halloween”,” I said. “One thing that me and a group of twenty friends would do is that we’d go to a maze, and I’d go into the center of the maze. My friends, in costume, would start at the entrance to the maze and the goal of them was to find me before I left the maze. My goal was to get out of the maze without getting caught. Seeing as it was a hedge maze, we had one rule-That was nobody could cut through the hedges. You had to stay on the path. The people in costume could corner me if they found me at a dead end in the maze.”
“Must be rather fun,” Rainbow Dash said.
“It was,” I said. “And our outstanding rule was that I treated the person who caught me to a cup of coffee and a doughnut.”
Rainbow Dash chuckled. I glanced at her.
“You find that amusing?” I asked.
“Yeah,” she said.
“If you guys have a maze, and it’s okay with the two elderly princesses, then I’ll treat you and your siblings to a regular maze hunt,” I said.
They agreed, and instead of us going to see the princesses, we got a surprise. Opening the door, there stood Luna. She was shown in by Dragonstorm and looked at me.
“Fitting in?” she asked.
“Yes,” I said.
Before I could say anymore, Rarity, being ever so polite, interrupted and explained their presence in my room and how they had learned of my “Nightmare Night” custom of a maze game. Luna glanced thoughtfully in my direction and then asked questions if it, which I proceeded to explain to her in great detail.
“That does sound like fun,” the Moon Princess said. “I shall have a word with my sister and explain all of this.”
I told her that she was free to. Luna then stayed and asked me more questions of my time on holiday in Equestria so far. I gave her a verbatim report of all that happened. Luna’s face went through a slideshow of emotions: Anger, confusion, sorrow, happiness, anxiety, pleased, disapproving, approving, surprise, worry, concern and whatever else is on that face chart that hangs on the wall in psychiatrist offices.
When I finished, Luna placed a hoof on my shoulder.
“At least your fitting in,” she said.