Just Passing Through

--- Twilight's Castle ---

"Spike, I need you to send a message to Princess Celestia."

"Sure Twilight!", the tiny purple dragon said, eagerly procuring a scroll and quill, "What should it say? You don't write Celestia very often now that you aren't her student anymore."

"I know, I just had some questions I was hoping she could answer", Twilight said before clearing her throat.

Dear Princess Celestia,

Following the former Storm King's invasion and learning of Tempest Shadow, or should I say, Fizzlepop Berrytwist, and the return of Star Swirl the Bearded, I was wondering if you knew how many or how often ponies from Equestria venture beyond our borders, or even our neighboring allies, and did any of them come back?

The Princess of Friendship,
Twilight Sparkle

"Is that everything?", Spike asked as he finished writing.

"Yep, go ahead and send it."

After a ribbon and a wax seal, the scroll vanished in a puff of green flame.

Hours later, the reply came, singeing the bread Spike was going to use for a sandwich. He opted for toast instead.

Dear Twilight Sparkle,

As you know, I have lived for thousands of years, and every so often a couple of brave souls would journey far beyond our mountains and seas. Some in search of knowledge, like Star Swirl, others seeking riches and some just out for the adventure. I knew a few of them personally, but Star Swirl is the only one I remember coming back.

I must warn you Twilight, most of their tales do not have a happy ending. The world beyond has become lawless and wild, and no place for a pony. Equestria is a safe haven for our kind to live simple, happy lives.

The Storm King's arrival surprised me, not many have been able to cross into our land from beyond, for reasons I still do not understand. My own memory can be hazy on specific examples, so if you have more questions, Star Swirl or Tempest Fizzlepop might be able to give you more details.

Princess Celestia

--- Southern Desert ---

Sand, nothing but sand as far as the eye could see, the air burning hot and stifling from the Sun's constant downpour. Only a steady stream of smoke from the Friendship Express broke the flat expanse.

A conductor stood aboard one of the cars, occasionally looking at his stopwatch. He wondered why the next stop was still registered, he could count how many passengers they'd picked up there in twenty years with his hooves. One.

Some poor mare lost in the desert, she was quite pretty too, yellow coat with a black and white mane, confidence burned in her magenta eyes. She was very eager to get back to civilization with some package wrapped in a cloth. The conductor never saw what it was exactly, but he could have sworn he saw a glint of gold once.

The conductor looked at his watch again, fanning himself with his hat. Almost there. He looked out the window as the old station came into view, a ramshackle platform made from worn wood with a small roof. To his surprise, there was somepony at the station!

He could barely make out a black shape from the shadows of the wooden posts. Whoever they were noticed the train approaching as well.

The Friendship Express screeched to a halt on the rusty tracks, one set of doors opening towards the platform.

The conductor coughed as a puff of sand blew inside.

"Coming aboard?", he asked the stranger. Why am I even asking? Of course they are! Just habit I guess...

The figure pulled back their tattered hood, revealing a speckled gray-blue unicorn with a long back-swept white mane. Were his eyes ... red? green? ... no wait, blue! Maybe I need new glasses, the conductor thought to himself.

"Does this train go to Canterlot?"

"Yup, next stop is tomorrow afternoon."

"Splendid", the colt said before taking a seat. His horn glowed and his worn cloak transformed into a decent-looking suit.

Hmph! , unicorns...

With a couple of metallic groans and a shrill whistle, the Friendship Express began chugging along once again.