Sojourner Sparkle

Los Pegasus shone in the afternoon light. The buildings radiated and glittered as they stood, almost altar-like. Ponies with too much money and not enough sense went between the buildings, showing off their clothes and their shiny ornaments with so much care put into their appearance. In the distance, giant lettering read "APPLEWOOD" on a hillside. Nearby, studios and sets were adorned with the richest and most powerful of ponies as they danced before cameras and orated their lines.

The business conducted by the more common folk was to peddle to the rich and the powerful. Hay dog stands lined every other corner, waiting for hunger to strike at the actors and artists, only for the street stand owners to swoop in and save the day from the hunger pangs. The more dramatic of them would go on to have acting careers (or so they hope), and they took to the streets like actors took to the stage. They rehearsed, they danced, they sang, and they competed fiercely.

Above the studios and the apartments and the mansions was the Las Pegasus Clouds. The party never seemed to end, as the various buildings and venues displayed brightly-lit signs and promotional materials advertised their wares and their services. It was Party Cloud Nine, and the carnivals featured many a ride and attraction to both receive guests and loads and loads of bits. Ponies from all walks of life vacationed there, and the solid platforms and buildings set in the clouds themselves meant that anybody could enjoy the sights and sounds.

Meanwhile, a train came into the station of the westernmost town in Equestria. The industrial machine pulled and heaved as it came to a slow stop, directed by tired, dirtied, overworked, and underpaid conductor ponies. They looked on at the rich ponies and scoffed. Finally, the train came to a screeching halt. Steam flew out of the brakes and the engine that pulled the train. The passenger cars opened, and more of the rich ponies came out. Their gaze was ever on the other elites and the monolithic altars of high society.

As the day wore on, more food cart ponies took to the streets in the hope that they could sell their food, and more scenes were shot and more ponies sang and ate and drank. The Party that never ended kicked on a few lights in the clouds and the murmur above never seemed to end. As the light was dying, and as the food cart ponies went home, another train pulled into the station. It was the same complement of rich ponies and tourists from all over Equestria to partake in the high-energy life that was Los Pegasus.

There were seven individuals, however, that did not quite match the descriptions of the elites who lived on the ground, or the partygoers who board carriages to the neverending party in the sky. These ponies (and dragon) wore heavy-duty cloaks, wore a sword on their withers, and saddlebags adorned their backs. They were as happy to see the sights and sounds as anyone disembarking the train, but their destination was neither the town nor the clouds.

Their goal was West. Their immediate aim, however, was the hotel GrandePone.

Their smiles were wide, and the laughs flowed. They enjoyed the sights and sounds of the ground city, even as the other ponies ignored them. Perhaps the Seven must looked to be actors on their way home from a day of shooting. The building loomed, and Rarity took a bag out of bits that jangled. "Now girls," began Rarity. "It would be incredibly unfortunate if we were to immediately set out after a day on the train. I know that a journey begins with the first step, but why not be well-rested for that first step?"

A chorus of agreements met Rarity, and they all congregated in the hotel lobby. Opulent decorations and posing pony statues greeted them, as well as a humorless pegasus stallion stationed at the front desk, which was made of marble. Flanking the desk were stairs that lead up to the various floors and rooms of the hotel. "Welcome to the GrandePone," flatly said the brown stallion with a red uniform. "What can I do for you?"

"Hello, darling~," sing-songed Rarity. "It is good to see you again. I will take a room for 7, please." Nodding, the desk pony hoofed over a key. Rarity took the key in her magic and pocketed the golden object. As the ponies walked up the stairs, they conversed amongst themselves and joked about what they might find. Applejack, meanwhile, said to Rarity, "That fella seemed like a cloudy day."

Leaning back, Rarity said, "That is his name, darling." They didn't notice that Pinkie Pie was still at the front desk, doing a whole routine for the service desk pony. During the whole thing, the smile never left her face. She sang, she danced, she pulled gifts and confetti from who-knows-where, and when she was done, she rushed to meet her friends before she lost sight of them. As she departed, the desk pony smiled slightly. That pink pony was nice.

Day came again to the town of Los Pegasus. The food cart ponies rolled out again, the tourists came out of their hotels to enjoy the attractions of Party Cloud 9, and the actors and directors rose from their trailers to go through the motions of filming again. Workers toiled for the maintenance and the enjoyment of those who came to play, and ponies of all kinds and backgrounds found enjoyment in a day of self-celebration and the celebration of life. The trains came, more ponies embarked and disembarked, and life continued as usual.

At the town's edge, seven individuals made themselves ready for a long trip ahead. They conversed and they chattered, and their saddlebags, swords, cloaks, and their supplies sat in a four-wheeled cart. Barrels of water sat in the back, a large tent sat in the middle, flanked by the saddlebags and canteens, and the front was reserved for food. Applejack, ever the hard worker, had hitched herself up to the cart, along with Pinkie Pie.

As the sun rose higher into the overcast sky, Twilight Sparkle pulled out a map. "Here we are at... Los Pegasus," she pointed out. "From here, we go around the edge of these woods until we see the mountains. Then, we head northwest until we hit King's Peak." Pinkie Pie hoofed the map, and asked, "Which mountain is it, huh? The one under the 'Un' in 'Undiscovered West'?" Twilight Sparkle tilted her head, and incredulously said, "...Yes. Yes, it is. That's where we're headed."

"Well, come on, then!" shouted Applejack. "To King's Peak! All aboard!" Spike, Rarity, and Twilight Sparkle clambered onto the front of the wagon and took their seats as Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash hovered next to the wagon, flanking it on both sides. A few more things were tied down, the canteens were filled, and a few drinks were had. "Hey, Pinkie," challenged Applejack. "How fast do you reckon' us being able to go?"

Pinkie put a hoof to her chin, looked to her upper right, and "hmm"-ed. Finally, she turned to Applejack and excitedly responded, "I think we could go halfway there today if we really hoofed it!" Taking the challenge, Applejack adopted a mischievous grin and then reared up on her rear hooves, while flailing her forehooves. "Yeeeehaw!" she shouted, and Pinkie wordlessly mimicked her actions with a closed-eyes, open-mouthed grin. At that, the marathon was on.

Holding on for dear life, the unicorns and dragon held onto the cart (and each other). The slight bumps and hills were accentuated in the up-down motion in the cart, as they raced up parallel to the train tracks that lead away from Los Pegasus. The journey took them across valleys and over hills. Every once in a while, a train would come up or down the track, assuredly full of ponies just going about their day. Twilight Sparkle looked over. Surely, they would be seen by many ponies who would think little-to-nothing about the cart that was racing around.

She turned back to see Pinkie and Applejack still doing their best to trample the landscape as they zipped around the cart. Twilight Sparkle closely looked at the two earth ponies still gunning it. They were so focused on running that they were more or less abusing the poor cart with their reckless speed. "Don't you think we should uh... slow down?" Twilight asked.

Pinkie Pie looked back, asking innocently, "Why? Are we going too fast for you?"

Looking back, Applejack added, with a mischievous grin, "If we're going too fast for you, why didn't y'all just say so?"

"It's not that," Twilight insisted. A particularly large bump nearly threw her off the cart. "I just don't know how sturdy this cart is!"

Realization shone in the eyes of the earth ponies there, and they slowed to a much more manageable pace. The pegasus ponies took this opportunity to find seats on top of the wagon. Awkwardly looking into the forest of the Undiscovered Wilds, Twilight thought for a moment about what might be found inside. Perhaps it would be other ponies, like that Forgemaster Celestia spoke about. For him to be around for as long as Twilight suspected he has... Adrastos must also be an alicorn or a being of similar agelessness.

"So, does anypony know where we're going?" asked Rainbow Dash. 'Of course she would forget the morning briefing,' thought Twilight.

"We," Pinkie announced, "are going to King's Peak to find the Forgemaster! I'm going to throw him a party, and he'll stop being lonely!"

'That's... one objective.'

Shrugging her shoulder, Twilight Sparkle looked behind herself and lifted a book up from her saddlebags. They swayed gently against the side of the cart. It was bound in green material and was built to last. She flipped through the black pages, smiling. Going from back to front again, she looked at the pages before arriving at the front cover. She had not brought the tools necessary to engrave the front cover of the book, but that really was of no concern. After all, it was what was in the book that was important.

Or, in this case, what was going to go into the book.

Putting away the journal, Twilight looked around some more. The pine leaves of the trees swayed gently in the breeze. The trees blanketed the base of the mountain. Gently sloping over and then back down to the trees again, the distant peaks spoke a cold promise to anyone who would venture into the mountaintop caves in search of adventure and treasure. Twilight imagined going into such caves. Looking at cave walls and around rocky corners, Twilight would brave the dangers and come out of the cave with a wealth of gems, or lost knowledge.

She would emerge out of the cave, over the fog, laden with loot. A burden of fortune. A hoard of books, of gems, of gold. A wealth of knowledge, and a wealth of money. A handsome reward, for a task well performed. The books can purchase a deeper understanding of the universe, and the money can purchase comfort and pay for the bills.

A crystal castle is surprisingly hard to maintain, after all.

Shaking her head at such strange thoughts in her head, Twilight groaned. Jumping off the cart, she stretched her legs and walked aside the cart. Rainbow flew down next to her, grinning. Teasingly, she asked, “Is that enough comfort for one day, Twilight?”

Nodding, Twilight said, “These adventures always start slow. I’m sure that we’ll be doing more than staying awake once we get there.”

Fluttershy flew over to Twilight’s right, and landed into a walking pace. “Well, yeah,” she said. “That’s how it always starts. And then there’s something scary so now there’s running... and screaming.”

Rainbow let loose a squeaky laugh. “Come on, Fluttershy. We’re just going to a house call for some hermit,” she said. “Right, Twilight?”

Flattening her ears behind her head, and looking down with a head heavy with thought, Twilight said nothing back. After a pause, during which everybody was looking at Twilight, Rainbow asked, “Right?”

The cart slowed to a halt. Pinkie Pie and Applejack unfastened themselves from the hitch, leaving the four wheeled cart to sit, as Spike drove in some wheel chocks. The girls and dragon formed a tight circle around Twilight. Expectantly, the girls looked to Spike. sighing, he reached up, and placed his clawed hand on Twilight’s shoulder. “Twilight?” he asked. “What’s wrong?”

Blinking hard, Twilight hoarsely said, “I don’t think this is just another adventure, Rainbow.”

Frowning, Rainbow landed and put a hoof around Twilight’s shoulder. She asked, “There’s something else, isn’t there?”

Gulping, Twilight said, “Yes.” Correcting her wide stance, she levitated her sword out of the cart. “If this was just another adventure,” she stated. “Princess Luna wouldn’t have felt the need to give us these.” She pulled out the sword. It had a tapered point, and was overall short, compared to the swords Twilight had seen brandished by Celestia and Luna. Would she soon be carrying a similar sword?

“Yeah,” Applejack concured. “This whole adventure into these supposedly unknown places seems... different this time around, and I’m not just talking about the swords.”

Blinking, Rarity turned to Applejack and asked, “Whatever could you mean, darling?”

Looking back to Rarity, Applejack answered, “If what I’m hearing from Twilight is true, then there’s something the Princesses ain’t telling us. Something they’re now sending us to find out for ourselves. It’s one thing for us to be blindsided with a conflict like with the Changelings at the Royal Wedding, it’s quite another for the Princesses to know but not tell us about it. It all seems very suspicious, Twi. What they’re not telling us... it sounds like we ought to know and consarnit, they’re not telling us!”

Grimacing, Applejack stamped her hoof. Fluttershy said, “Th-There must be a reason... the princesses... oh, dear. I’m sure they had their reasons.” She pawed at the grass with her hoof. The grass swayed in the breeze. The hills ahead was flanked by forests. Pinkie Pie tapped her chin with a hoof.

“So,” she pondered. “What aren’t they telling us?”

Everyone looked at Pinkie, then at the sword, gleaming in the air, suspended by the hilt by Twilight’s magic. Twilight looked at how she was holding up the sword.

Rarity cleared her throat, and said, “Well, we can... make educated guesses, Pinkie. If it was a danger we could handle on our own, Luna wouldn’t have felt the need to... loan us these swords.”

“We may have to kill something.”

A pregnant pause took hold. The wind kicked at their cloaks. Twilight looked around at the expressions of her friends. They stood, staring with scared eyes and agape mouths. Twilight blinked. Did she really just say that?

“K-K-K-Kill?”

Fluttershy swayed, unsteady now on her hooves. Reflexively, Rainbow Dash propped her up, and slowly lowered her on the grass, where she gracefully fainted.

Shaking her head hard enough to send her ponytail spinning, Applejack said, “W...Well, it’s not as if we haven’t been in a scrap before.”

For that heartbeat, the wind sounded as if it was hissing. Hooves figeted. They indeed got into a straightforward fight with the Changelings in Canterlot.

Rarity cleared her throat. “Well,” she reminiced. “Even with our melee with the brutes, it wasn’t something that resulted in any casualties.”

She put a hoof to her snout. “At least, I don’t think so.”

Pinkie sighed. She lamented, “I can’t make a party out of that. Blood is so annoying to have to wash out of fur.”

“Pinkie...” Rarity tenatively asked. “Why would you know about that?”

Without missing a beat, Pinkie replied, “Out on the rock farm, you tend to know first aid.”

Leaving it at that, Rarity turned back to Twilight, who had by then sheathed her sword, and levitated it back onto the cart. She asked, “Have the Princesses told you about what sort of danger that would need a sword?”

Twilight shook her head. “No, nothing.”

Rubbing her face, Rarity mused, “Well, they’re obviously expecting trouble. But, not too much trouble that they wouldn’t tell us what the trouble was, and just leave that briefing for our Forgemaster.”

All ears twitched as everybody heard a commotion at the cart. It was Fluttershy! She had gotten up, and, without notice, taken her sword hilt and put it on. The hilt of the blade rested on her withers while the rest of the blade dangled to her left. Her face was matted with tears, but her expression was still. Taking the gladius in her right hoof, she unsheathed it and started to do... drills.

A swipe, a stab, a twirl, and a lunge. Her body was in synchronous motion with the blade. Utilizing her wings, Fluttershy practiced some surely familiar moves, like flying up with one wing beat and stabbing downwards. She dodged left, right, foward, backward, up, and down. Even a shoulder roll or two was underaken, even with scabbard, cloak, and gladius in hoof.

After the minute of exersion, Fluttershy sheathed her sword. Everyone stared, Rainbow Dash the most incredulous of them all. After a moment, she asked, “W-When did you learn to do that?”

Fluttershy, having finished her drill, recoiled. She dropped the sword where it clanged against the grass, and ducked behind the cart with a “Meep!” Everyone watched as she mumbled, “I, uh–I had some training when I was a filly. My Dad, he thought... yeah.”

Twilight Sparkle looked at Rarity, who shrugged, and then at a beaming Rainbow Dash. Shaking her head, she asked, “Your Dad got you lessons in martial arts when you don’t like violence?”

“Um,” said Fluttershy. “I liked to think of it more as... dancing.”

Rarity grimaced. “Well, Darling,” she explained. “It is a dance...” She looked down, eyes looking at her cloaked hooves. “...of death.”

Fluttershy whimpered, but did not move to take off her sword hilt.

Twilight Sparkle looked at the darkening sky. “Well, girls,” she announced, “I think it’s a good time to set up camp for the night.”

The pine trees swayed with the wind.

Applejack chose to announce then, “Well, I’ll just have to show you some real camp grub, then! Nothing gets a pony’s spirits up like hot food!”

The plains were vibrant, but empty aside from the group. As the seven made to the treeline, Spike ran ahead, exclaiming, “I’ll make the campfire!”

Twilight smiled and shook her head.