A New Life

My name is Nutmeg. I'm nineteen years old and I'm a earth pony. I have a light gray and  dark brown mane and live in Ponyville. Or rather, I was living here until now. I've been packing up my things for about a month and I finally got everything ready. I had been dreaming this day since I was twelve when I wanted to live it up in the big city. My dream was to bake fresh bread and have it shared all over Equestria. Saving up bits to make my move wasn’t easy but everypony I knew helped along the way. Unfortunately, that also meant leaving behind them as well... there were tears when I arrived to say goodbye but I knew if I wanted to make a positive difference in my life and others’, I had to chase my dream. Everypony gather around to see me off but I didn't see my two closest friends or my sister. I thought maybe they were being held up by something.

"I know it's hard to leave your friends but I promise I will try to come by whenever I can." I reassured them.

As I said that, my parents showed up. They had something in their straw baskets. They handed it to me and smiled.

"I always told myself this day would come but I never wanted it to happen." My mother said tearing up.

"I knew there was something special about you, Nutmeg. Just know we love you very much and wish for the best." My father with a smile, placed a hoof on my shoulder.

I smiled back.

"I know and I promise I won't forget about you. Mom, you’ve been so caring, so loving and helpful in taking care of me. There's no amount of thanks in the world that will pay for this. Dad, I'm glad you pushed me to chasing my dream. I can't thank you enough."

They both hugged me almost not wanting to let go and I placed the last of my things into a wood cart. As I was about to leave, I ran back inside my home to grab a photo of my family and I. I called out my little sister but no response. I just assumed she was out somewhere. Hard to believe it had been nineteen years since I was born. I grabbed the photo by my bedside table and went back outside. I still didn't see any sign of my two friends. I wish I had seen them off but I guess they are busy. Well, I knew I would see them again someday. I told the movers that was everything and they thanked me. I paid them and they went on there way with a different bigger cart.

"Hey dad? If you see my friends or little miss troublemaker, please tell them I will miss them." I requested.

He nodded and now that everything was complete, I started to head out pulling the cart behind me. I waved goodbye one last time before they disappeared out of my view. I knew it would take about three day to get there so I had time to spare. Still, I wish they had been there... Oh well, I can't dwell on it forever. I knew I would see them again sooner or later. I had other equipment that is suppose to arrive in about the same time so I couldn’t slack off. I kept moving and after about an hour of walking, my hooves began to ache. Carrying this by myself wasn't such a smart move, especially when I wasn’t such a strong earth pony. Ah, I knew I regret this but somehow, it slipped my mind on how heavy this was.

Still, I couldn’t stop now. Maybe if I was lucky, I might of found a place or somepony that could of helped. I kept moving and as I did, I realized it was midday. I didn't have the time on me but if I had to guess, it's close to one in the afternoon. I decided to stop for a moment to grab the basket my parents handed to me. I shuffled through the back of the cart to find it. I should've been more organized  with everything... After going through it, I found it. It contained apples, oats, corn, and oranges. It was so cluttered, I'm more surprised it didn't get squashed in there.

I took an orange out and placed the basket in the front so it wouldn't be fruit juice. I continued walking while taking a bite of the peeled orange. It was pretty good and it helped me power through the journey. I kept up the pace for what I thought was hours and I noticed that Luna’s moon had risen. I decided that I had walked long enough and set up for the night. I went to the cart and grabbed a pitching tent and after taking sometime of fumbling with nets and wires, I manage to set it up. I moved the cart closer to the tent so I could tell if something or somepony tried to go through it. I knew that I was close to Canterlot. If I kept pushing forward, I may get there by the end of the day tomorrow. I closed my eyes and went to sleep.

. .

I woke up to the sun barely poking over the horizon. Ah, day two... I looked over to the cart and nothing seemed to be missing. However on a closer inspection some food had disappeared. It was then I heard cracking of twigs next to it and saw somepony. I quickly jumped in front of him before he could escape.

"What do you think you're doing?!" I asked, angrily ready to give him Tartarus.

He looked at me with fear in his eyes and his wings closely tucked in, paralyzed like a defenseless rabbit. I calmed down and asked again.

"Sorry... I-I was just hungry and I have been traveling for quite a while. When I smelled food from that cart, I couldn't help myself. I knew it was wrong but I hadn't eaten in days." He winced.

I gave a big sigh of relief. I thought it was a dangerous pony I was dealing with. I let him go and asked,

"So where are you going?"

"Well, I was on my way to Neighagara Falls and got myself lost. You wouldn't happen to know where it is do you?" He asked like a lost child in a market.

I've heard of it but never been there. If memory serves, it should be near Canterlot.

"I believe it's near Canterlot but a bit more up." I told him.

He smiled and asked,

"If it's not to much trouble, mind if I ask for your name?"

"It's Nutmeg."

"Oh, So your musky. Nice. Well, the names Leaf."

"Well Leaf, if you were hungry, all you had to do was ask, and I would have been more then happy to give you some food."

"Yea sorry... Say, where are you heading?"

"I'm on my way to Canterlot now. I plan on opening a baking store there. I just headed out yesterday."

"Well... Tell you what. I'll help you carry that cart to make up for the food I took. How does that sound?" He asked with a smile.

Well I can use the help. I barely survived yesterday and considering how heavy it is, I guess it wouldn't hurt.

"Ok, I'll take you up on your offer." I said.

I grabbed the tent equipment and after folding it up, I placed it back into the cart. With that done, we moved out.  After a few minutes of no words exchanged, I decided to strike up a conversation.

"So, why are you heading to Neighagara Falls exactly?" I asked.

"I heard the view was amazing and since I'm a traveler, I had to give it a short."

A traveler, huh? I dreamed of being one but I knew I would be gone all the time. At least with baking, you can take a break from and it's not a thousand degrees out... metaphorically speaking.

"So where're you from?" I stroke up another question.

"I lived in Los Pegasus but I grew bored there so I decided to go see the world. I bet you're wondering why I'm not flying aren't you? Well, the answer's simple. I like to walk place to place so I can see everything up close. I hate keeping my head in the clouds both metaphorically and literally. Clouds dry up and disappear while the real world stays on the ground "

I supposed that made sense but I failed to see how he was starving if he can just fly place to place. I was almost jealous to be honest. As we kept talking, I noticed he was getting tired.

"I can take over if you want." I said.

He shook his head.

"Na. Don't worry about it. But it's not to much trouble, can you hand me an apple from your basket?"

I nodded and went in the back to grab the fruit. I tossed him the apple.

"Thanks." He said catching it with one hoof.

He took a bite and we continued on our journey . Time flew and we talked night came I started to notice lights in the distance. Maybe a camp was nearby. As we moved closer to it, I saw it. Canterlot. A city blooming with towers, brightly shining through the darkness of the night. Finally, we made it and with a day to spare.  I was almost there but it would still take a good few hours to get there

"Ok, you can stop carrying the cart now." I told him.

He stopped and I unhooked the harness off him.

"Could you grab the tent please?" I asked.

He nodded and went behind the cart shuffling through it. I looked at the city getting lost in all of its beauty. All of a sudden I was startled by Leaf moving the tent in front of my face.

"Oh, Sorry. I was just letting you know that I got it." He said.

I thanked him and started to set up the tent. I hadn't account for another pony so there wasn't enough room for both of us.

"Leaf, you can take the tent if you want. I'll be up for a bit."

"Thanks." He smiled.

He went in and almost immediately, I heard him snoring. Hmm, he must have been tired after carrying the cart. Can't blame him though. I was the exact same way on the first day minus the snoring. I let out a sigh and realize I would be in Canterlot by tomorrow morning. I yawned and join Leaf in the tent...

. . .

I woke up and for some reason, the ground was shaking. Trying to get on my hooves, I hit my head on something. After looking around, I realized I was inside the cart. I tried to get my standing but it was too wobbly to even focus my eyes. I look outside and realize I was in the air. How or rather why am I in the air? More importantly, where's Leaf? I was tempted to look down but I knew I might get woozy if I did. After a few minutes, the cart landed on the ground. I got out and saw that it was Leaf.

"Were here." He said.

I looked around and realize we were in Canterlot. I was surprised we got here so quickly.

"You flew this thing by yourself?" I asked in amazement.

He nodded.

"You did want to get here asap so I thought, 'why not?'."

"Well... Thanks. I assume you're going to go to Neighagara Falls now?"

"Yea. I hope your bakery becomes a hit. Well, adventure isn’t going to find me. See ya." He said, flying away.

I waved back at him until he disappeared out of sight.

Today was going to be a new day.