Way of the Wanderer

It had been a hard journey, probably the harshest we had taken in our young lives. Three mares, who had trotted all the way across the San Palomino Desert, our hooves dried and cracked and our coats all dirty and matted with sand. Trotting our way back across the wastes, we make our way back into the civilized lands of New Equestria. It had been some time since we had traversed out of the wilderness, keeping to the out lands to avoid the ponies who so hated us. But we needed food and new supplies, so that meant returning to what passes for equine civilization in order to earn some more bits... urrgghhhh.

"Wow, this place looks really welcoming, Gypsy." My friend Susprio snorted srcastically, looking around at all of the ponies who were scowling at us. "I don't think they're exactly ready to roll out the red carpet for us, here."

"Oh, you worry too much, sister." Manzinita chuckled, totally oblivious to all of the hostile glares we were getting. "I'm sure these ponies will be more than happy to help us!"

Having skirted away from most of the larger cities, our little group had made it's way to one of the smaller farming towns, just south of the capital. Here we found a friendly little burg where everybody smiled- at least, towards each other. We were given stares and glances, as if we were something these ponies had scraped off the bottom of one of their hooves.

Poor, naive little Manz..... she's far younger than Susprio and I. She's never had to deal with Equestrians first-hoof, Manzinita doesn't know what they're capable of.  I watch her trot up to one of the merchant ponies at his stall, and try to buy something to eat.

"Excuse me, I'd like to but a bag of your oats, and a few of your oranges." Manz threw a few coins onto the counter, and smiled at him. "I'm feeling kinda hungry."

"Then why dontcha go get some feed outta the trough, like the other animals?" The stallion snorted, throwing her money back in her face. "I don't sell gruel for livestock!"

The poor little mare just stared at him, stunned. We got the same reaction from the other ponies, many putting a hoof over their saddlebags protectively. We hurried on towards one of the town's hotels, a tried to get a room where we could stay out of sight. The innkeeper, however, wasn't exactly very friendly to mares such as ourselves.

"I'm sorry, but I don't have any rooms to waste on Romani." The mare shook her head, pointing over two a 'no vacany' sign. "I barely have enough space for the paying customers"

"Now wait just one minute." Suspiro protested, slamming her hoof down on the counter. "we can pay for-"

"The best I can give you is some space in the old tool shed out back." The innkeep told us, pointing a hoof back behind the building. "You should find it really dry back there, and I think there's some old hay you can eat."

"Of course, thank you very much." I told her politely, not wanting to stir up any trouble. "Thank you for your hospitality."

The three of us sadly took our small packs out back, and lit a lantern in the shed full of tools and old hay.

"Ugh, this place is terrible! I can't believe we got stuck with staying in a dirty old shed!" I snort in disgust. "And what kind of a meal is hay? Romani ponies don't even put this filth into their mouths! How can Equestrians stand it?!"

As I used my magic to unpack our things, my two earth pony companions began their usual nightly custom of arguing.

"Oh, brilliant idea you had there, Suspy. You totally had  flash of genius when you came up with this one!" Manz snapped, glaring at her older friend. "Let's leave the safety of the rest of the Caravan, you said!  Lets strike out on our own in Equestria, you said! Thry'll be plenty of gullible pony there to trick out of their money, you said! Most of these small town ponies seem to want us dead so badly, they won't even give us a chance to perform!"

"Now hold your horses, Manz,we're not out of luck yet!" Suspiro retorted, her usual crafty grin on her face. "I saw a really juicy target on our way into town; a wealthy looking earth stallion with a little pink brat at his heels, always whining at him for something!"

"Ohhhhh!That's a good one!" Suspy acknowledged, remembering what she had been taught about fleecing wealthy ponies for money as a filly. "The spoiled little heiress could be the key! If we could just talk to her, maybe do a hoof reading or crystal ball reading..."

"We don't have time for those kinds of games, girls! I just want to get what we need out of this little hick town, and get out!" I snap in irritation,  being no no mood to listen to either of these mares' jibes at each other. "We will perform in the town square tomorrow, get the few coins we need, and get hell out of this town before we have any trouble!" Picking up a mouthful of stale and smelly hay, I try to choke it down with a scowl on my face. "Now, I suggest you all try to get some sleep, before tomorrow morning!"

My two friends nodded their heads in agreement, and we all sat down to enjoy a very foul tasting meal. It was then, however, that we got a knock at the shed door. Spitting out my bite of hay, I trotted over and magically turned the handle.

"Excuse me, but are you the Romani ponies who came into town today?" A blue Pegasus with a multicolored mane asked coldly, scowling at my friends and I as if we were beneath her notice. "I got a tip you were staying here."

"Yes, we are Roma." I respond politely, trying to ignore her hostility. "How may I help you."

"Just a friendly little piece of advice, pal... get out of town, as soon as possible." The angry looking Pegasus warned. "I don't know why you're here, but your kind are nothing but trouble. So as soon as you're finished with your stuff here- leave!"

Without another word, the blue one zipped off into the nighttime sky.

"Hmm, looks like we have a meddler, I told myself in annoyance, watching the multicolored blur of her mane speed away. Muttering a curse under my breath, I made note of what angry Equestrian pony I was going to have to avoid, when we were pulling our little con acts tomorrow...