Heat of the Desert

Not long after their call to arms, Rainbow Dash and Rarity had arrived at the train station with their travel luggage in tow. Rainbow Dash had of course packed very little, only a duffle bag containing a few water canteens and desert-dweller clothes she had received as a gift from A. K. Yearling, both for her and Rarity. By contrast, Rarity had packed considerably more, but far less than her reputation would tell you. She only had three small suitcases containing a few changes of clothes, her hair care, makeup, shower soap and the like.

Rainbow Dash spotted her one hundred pounds of beauty products whilst she was rearranging them. “Umm…..Rarity? Are you sure none of that stuff is flammable? We’re going into a desert, you know.”

Rarity waved her hoof impatiently at her friend. “Oh, pish-posh, darling! Even if it was, they won’t combust simply from baking in intense heat. They’d have to be exposed to an open flame in order to catch fire.” She explained.

“Well, then you better hope your hair doesn’t catch on fire…” Rainbow mumbled to herself. Moments later, their train finally arrived, and Twilight and Starlight came just in the nick of time to see them off. They happily parted ways before the train made its departure.

*****

Rainbow and Rarity were given a private room in their coach and stored their luggage in the room’s closet before relaxing in their respective beds. Considering the harsh environment they were about to enter, they’d be remiss not to mentally prepare themselves with some good rest. Rainbow Dash plopped her head right into her pillow, finally able to relieve her exhaustion from her earlier race with Thunderlane, but before she could drift off to sleep, Rarity spoke up.

“Darling, do you happen to know Austallion’s exact location?” she asked.

Rainbow Dash lifted her head from her pillow and looked at her in surprise. “Huh? Aren’t you the one who always knows every little detail imaginable?”

Rarity rolled her eyes. “Of course, Rainbow Dash. I was only asking if you knew already. I’d be happy to tell you.”

Dash suddenly realized that she actually didn’t know where Austallion was on the map. “Eh….please do.”

“Very well.” Rarity pulled out her map and pointed to their destination as she showed it to her friend. “It’s located on the western coast of the San Palomino Desert on the South Luna Sea. I should also note that this peninsula just to the north of it is a nature preserve that’s under their jurisdiction.” She explained.

Rainbow Dash examined the part of the map Rarity showed her. “What all’s being preserved there?”

Rarity put away her map. “I’m afraid I don’t actually know. Fluttershy probably would have known. Perhaps I should have inquired before we departed.”

Rainbow Dash shrugged. “Meh. Not like we really had time.”

“I suppose not.” Rarity said as she laid down for a nap, as did her friend.

*****

“Fillies and gentlecolts, we will be arriving at Austallion Station in roughly five minutes. Passengers are advised to exit their rooms and head for the nearest loading cars. Thank you for traveling with us!”

The train ride wasn’t quite as long as the two expected, and they arrived at Austallion’s train station at about eight o’clock at night. They were pretty awake considering they slept for most of the trip apart from grabbing a little lunch, so they weren’t gonna fall asleep on the way to town. Rainbow Dash stretched out before getting out of bed and grabbing her luggage and joining Rarity. They were the only ones getting off at their destination, so the boarding platform they got off on was about as desolate as the desert that surrounded them.

Beneath Luna’s moon was a vast landscape of red sand with native gum trees and cacti sparsely placed around the desert as though somepony had randomly placed them around like a badly-made garden. Despite the desolation, it was beautiful in its own right. Even Rainbow Dash was awestruck by the red shimmer of an Austallion night, and she could see Rarity’s familiar expression of being simultaneously inspired and mesmerized as the cool night breeze caressed their coats. “Whoa…” Dash muttered.

“Simply gorgeous…” Rarity said. It took her a minute to notice the actual city itself off in the distance, and a following second to realize that an earth pony mare was approaching them.

“Ain’t it, love? It’s a bloody treat crashin’ every night with this scenery to kiss us g’night!” she said. She had a coat that matched the red sand around here, a mane and tail that matched the dry green of the gum tree leaves, and ocean blue eyes. Her Cutie Mark depicted a kangaroo. “Just got in, did ya? Name’s Safari Bush.” Her Austallionite accent was strong.

“Good evening darling! My name is Rarity, and this is my colleague and dear friend, Rainbow Dash.”

Rainbow Dash boisterously presented herself. “S’up?”

“G’night! Shame ya couldn’t arrive when the town was still alive. It’s a rip snorter of a party in the arvo!” Safari Brush said.

Rarity and Rainbow Dash looked at her confused. “Ehh…. ‘arvo’?” Dash inquired.

Safari Brush rolled her eyes. “Bloody bogan tourists…” she mumebled to herself. “That’s afternoon, mate.” She explained. “Anyway, I’m s’posed to hand you these since you came.” She handed the two of them travel brochures complete with a map of the town, some restaurant and hotel guides, and general information about the area.

“Thanks! We’ll need these.” Dash said.

“No drama! Ya want a nice place to crash, I’d head to the Billabong if Ah were you two. Fine li’l B&B, that one. Brekkie n’ Tucker’ll take right good care o’ ya. That’s a promise.” Safari Bush said.

Rarity looked at her brochure’s map. “Oh! It’s just on the edge of town right as we arrive there! It’ll be perfect. Thank you, Ms. Bush!” she said as she and Rainbow made their way towards town.

Safari waved goodbye as she saw them off. “Take it easy, loves!” She then yawned. “Time fo’ me to hit the hay too.”

*****

The walk to town proved to be nothing short of a little safari in of itself. The sounds of night creatures hidden away in the brush and scampering through the sand welcomed the mares to this foreign part of Equestria. Whatever friendship problem was here certainly wasn’t to be found within this wild serenity. The mellow hum of the dusty wind played a haunting nocturne, as if the wilderness itself was celebrating the arrival of two of Equestria’s Elements of Harmony.

When they hit the edge of town, they were met with a town that was much like Ponyville in terms of building size, layout and overall architecture, but it was clear that the Austallionites valued their surroundings more than simple aesthetic beauty, but not a huge margin; they were professionally constructed like the houses of Ponyville rather than crudely built as if somepony decided to camp out in the woods, but made a shelter out of nature rather pitching their own.

“Ah! There it is.” Rarity said as she pointed to a small but tall house that looked like it was big enough to house four or five families. Beside the walkway leading up to the door was a hanging sign that read ‘Billabong Inn: Best Tucker in town when you’re all tuckered out!’.

“Huh?” Rainbow Dash cocked her head. “Isn’t ‘Tucker’ supposed to be somepony working here?”

Rarity shrugged. “Must be more of their endearing vernacular. Oh well. Shall We?” Rainbow Dash nodded, and the two entered the B&B.

Upon crossing the threshold into the lobby, they were met with an interior that reminded them of the late Golden Oaks library, but far more furnished and with the walls and furnishing and the like actually looked as though they weren’t simply part of the tree. At the counter was an elderly that seemed quite lively for her age if her smile upon seeing her guests was of any indication. “Ow ya goin’? Have a reservation?”

Rarity and Rainbow approached the counter. “I’m afraid not, madam. Perhaps you still have one vacant room?” Rarity asked.

The old mare got on her computer. “Well, let’s have a look see. Fairly certain we do……Erm….. That we do!”

“Sweet! Thanks, lady!” Rainbow said.

“Just ‘Brekky’, mate.” The mare said. “My hunband’ll cook ya some breakfast come the morrow. Sleep tight!”

The two thanked Brekky as they paid for their room and received their key. Rarity took the time to appreciate the décor as they walked upstairs to their room, and along the way, she noticed a portrait of a family of four from a good number of years ago. It was husband and wife with two small foals that looked about the CMC’s age, a colt and a filly. When they entered their room, they wasted no time hitting the hay for the night after a somewhat long trip, and so as to get ready to explore Austallion and solve what friendship problem was staining its beautiful sands.