The Road Less Traveled

Some characters that appear in this story are from my story, Sparking a Fyre, and J8ck78's stories In The Royal Guard and Scrapper.  While it is not necessary, it is suggest at minimum you read Sparking a Fyre at some point.  This notice will be re-posted in the chapters the characters appear.

The Road Less Traveled[Chapter One: Conestoga City]

Conestoga City.  Arts capital of Equestria.  The once quaint settler town had boomed into a rich cultural hub of the nation.  Massive, gleaming skyscrapers replaced the two story wooden buildings of before.  Stores lined streets, offering their ornate wares.  Artists dotted the sidewalks, offering paintings to rich tourists.  Ponies here disliked the high-strung snobs of Canterlot, at least, most of them did.  Most of the ponies were friendly, and thanks to an abundance of space, living areas were cheap and easy to come by.  The food was hearty and delicious, musicians world-renowned.  Everything sparkled in the afternoon sun, which shone brightly in the cloudless sky.  Some considered it a utopia, and perhaps it could be, for them, but not all.  In the old apartment district sat Starswirl High school, and the home of a very specific Pegasus.  Spearmint. Yep, that's me, my name is Spearmint.  Yes, like the gum, and I suppose that makes sense since I get chewed on plenty, figuratively speaking.  I'd call myself an average pegasus, were it not for being tall on account of my earth pony birth father, and flightless due to the whims of fate.  What happened?  I never share it with anypony, not even my friends. Although I spread enough rumors to make others believe lost them in an incident with a police pony and a doughnut, or some spin off of that.   One last thing, my special talent isn't anything related with flying, which I guess was a little luck for me, but no, my special talent?  It's photography.  And right now, my last day at this wretched high school is ending.  Thank Celestia.

"Hey, stubby, I haven't said goodbye to your ugly little face yet, why don't you fly on up here and tell me, oh wait, you can't!" called an obnoxious orange Pegasus from above the front entrance to the school, getting a chorus of laughs from several others.  These guys used to be my friends, before the accident.  Now, I'm a nopony.  Spearmint hung his head low and kept walking until he heard another voice shout out.  It was noticeably higher pitched, probably a mare.

"Hey you, ya big jerk, what's you're problem, picking on ponies like that?  You don't have no right to insult him like that, how would you like it if everypony you saw laughed at how ugly your fat little face is?  I don't think you would, so buck off!" screamed the mare.  Spearmint turned and watch the group of jocks talk nervously among themselves before making a run for it.  He looked down to his savior and smiled.  It was his sister, Winter Green, probably one of the most popular girls in the school.

"Thanks Winter, but you really don't have to do that..." Spearmint started, only to be cut off but a extended hoof.

"Think nothing of it, fine sir, I have you covered." She told him, giving her best Canterlot snob impression, causing him to burst out laughing.

"Sis, I think you could pass off for a noble anytime, anywhere." He teased, poking her shoulder to push her off balanced, before starting towards their home.  She ran up to him as he pulled his headphones from his saddlebag.  She had barely managed to start on some rant about her day as he positioned the headphones on his head with a free hoof, smiling as the noise cancelling immediately took effect.  Sweet bliss. He thought, turning a corner.  Now, here's a weird thing about Spearmint, among many, he enjoys quiet, but not too much quiet, the only thing that ever seemed to put him at ease was music.  It almost didn't matter what kind of music it was, almost any would help, although he did have his preferences.  Spearmint came up on a cozy looking store, the faded sign handing over the door read 'Peppermint's Sweet Shop'.  He smiled, this was his home.  A place where he wasn't taunted, a place where he was loved.  He opened the door and was immediately tackled down by a golden blur of happiness, causing his headphones to go flying.  He smiled and held the blur at hoofs length for a moment, then hugged it tightly.  "Hey there girl, how ya been doin' Delly?" he said as he rubbed his excited pet's head.  Her name was actually Fidelitas, which, according to the school nerds, meant Loyalty in some foreign language, but he couldn't always pronounce it right, and she was a dog, what did she care?

"I think she's excited for your trip!" Came a voice from nearby, it's owner hidden by a stack of fresh treats.  A middle-aged mare's head poked out from the stack.  His mother, Peppermint.  "Oops...probably shouldn't have said that!  Oh well, it would have come out eventually!" She said, her white and red curled mane bobbing about as she sorted out the treats into various cabinets.  Spearmint looked to his sister sheepishly and wished his headphones were still on, and boy was he in for it.

"YOU'RE DOING WHAT!?" His sister shouted at him, anger and confusion twisting her face into various expressions.  "You didn't tell me about any trip!"

"Because you didn't ask!" retorted Spearmint.  Oops, big mistake, and he paid dearly as he got a massive smack across the face.  Spearmint was shocked, and by the look on his sister's face, so was she.

"Mints...I didn't...it's just..." she stammered, not knowing what to say.  To her relief, Spearmint simply hugged her, then looked into her eyes as they teared up.

"It's okay sister, I know what you mean, and I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but yes, I'm going on a trip, a trip unlike any other, or so I hope."  looking at the confused look on her face, he gestured to the stairs that went up to his family's apartment, gathered his things, and followed her up.  "I don't know exactly where I plan on going, but it sure as hell ain't gunna be here, this city has too many painful memories, and I just want to leave it behind.  Ever since the...accident...I have felt that apart of me is missing, I don't know how to describe it, but I don't think I'll find it here, and I'm not going with any friends.  Well, I don't even have friends, aside from you, mom, and Mr. Winder...er...Dad..." he corrected himself, still ashamed he couldn't think of his step-father as a real father, even after the betrayal of his genetic father, Stone Hoof, who, after abusing and leaving his mother, went on to become mayor of Conestoga City, and hence, made their lives miserable.  "I don't know how long I will be gone, either, but I promise I won't ever just leave you, I will always be available for you to talk too, I'll even mail you letters when I stop at towns, you, mom, and...dad...too."  He smiled at her as she nodded and headed downstairs, likely to help prepare dinner.

"So what exactly do you plan to do, sweetie?" Peppermint asked her young son as they ate dinner.  His mother had gone out of her way to make his favorite, baked potato soup, for him that night.  He savored every bit of it, well knowing he probably wouldn't have it for a long time after that.

"Well, I don't know exactly where I plan to go, but I'm hoping to work my way around the edges of Equestria, from here, going along the eastern coast through all the small hamlets and major places like Trottingham and Baltimare.  Up north I'll stay in Phillydelphia and the other big cities, then head South along the Western mountains, although I'll have to go through the Everfree forest on my way.  I'll eventually stop in Appaloosa, then I'll go up the center of Equestria, straight to Canterlot, of course, that's if I don't decide to settle in somewhere first." he finished, freeing his bowl free of all it's delicious soup.  There was an awkward moment of silence before his dad spoke up.

"Spearmint, I have something I want you to see." Spearmint got up from the table and followed Mr.Wind...er...his Dad, until they had arrived in the back alley behind their home.  In front of him sat a very large object covered in a massive white sheet.  Before he could ask what it was, his Dad grabbed a corner of the sheet in his mouth and yanked it off in one motion.  Spearmint's mouth dropped at what he saw.

"You're kidding me, you're bucking kidding me!"  Spearmint nearly screamed in joy.  Before him sat a brand new wagon, complete with canvas top and a harness.  But it wasn't just any wagon, it was a Conestoga wagon, the kind the settler ponies had used when they first founded Conestoga City, hence the city's name.  Conestoga wagons had become somewhat of a fad, and rich ponies hired massive teams of stallions to haul their big fancy wagons around while they pulled tourists around.  This one was obviously smaller, meant to be pulled by a single pony.

"She's yours, just a little something to remember home by, I'm going to miss you, son." Winder said, making Spearmint stop short.  He didn't say we're going to miss you, he said I'm going to miss you.  In that moment, Winder had done more than Spearmint's real Dad could ever hope to do, and Spearmint thanked his Dad with a warm embrace.  "Oh, and one more thing, I had this harness specially made to fit a Pegasus, it won't bother your wings at all, and I took the liberty of making a jacket that will cover it all too, for when the weather gets too bad."

"Thank you Dad." Spearmint told him, without hesitation.  "It's perfect, absolutely perfect."  Winder patted him on his back and led him back inside.

Once inside, his father went off to bed with Peppermint, and Spearmint went upstairs to finish packing his things.  He would need an early start tomorrow.  He opened the door to his bedroom and saw Winter Green sitting on his bed, holding a small box wrapped in plain brown paper.

"I was going to give this to you in the morning, but I couldn't wait." She handed him the box and he graciously ripped the paper to shreds.  "Never one for saving trees, eh bro?" she teased, poking his shoulder.  He gave her a mock glare before turning to the contents of his package.  Inside were two things.  Two very meaningful things.  The first thing he pulled out was an instant camera.  He knew exactly what it was, but he already had a camera, so why would he need another?  His questions were soon answered when he pulled out a journal that had been bound in a rugged fabric.  Wait, a journal?  As in...a diary kinda journal?  Winter must have seen his bewilderment, because she quickly jumped in to explain.  "I got you a journal to help you open up to somepony, even if they don't talk back, just a place to write down what you feel and think while you go on your adventure, as for the camera, I know you have that film camera already, but I thought you should have this one, you know what they say, a picture is worth a thousand words?  The pictures from this camera are for your journal, so they can go there when you take them, so the story behind it is as fresh as can be when you write it down."  Spearmint didn't know what to say, and he gave his sister a warm, brotherly hug.

"Thank you sis, I promise it's something I'll always cherish."  He told her.  Teary eyed, she started out the door, but she stopped short.

"Spearmint, promise me something." She said quietly, her voice suddenly soft and pained.

"Anything sister..."

"Please don't forget about us."

"Never sis, I could never forget about y'all, now go get some sleep."  His voice was a little more commanding that he was hoping for, but she thankfully didn't notice.  She let out a relieved sigh and went to her room.  Spearmint turned to his new journal and dug out a pencil and made his very first entry.  "Might as well get started on it..." He mumbled to himself, before clambering into his bed and dozing off to sleep.  Tomorrow would be a big day.

Ugh.  My family gets really worked up about the tiniest things, I swear.  Buuut...I guess Winter was right, I don't need my emotions bottled up all the time.  Might as well make an entry, every story needs a beginning, right?

Ideas!  They're needed!  I'll be running through several small towns with this story, and I'm terrible with names!  Suggestions are greatly appreciated.  Aside from that, please leave your constructive critiszm in the comments, and let me know what you think about this opening chapter!  Journal entries will be entered with each chapter, so stay tuned!