To New Horizons

The walk down the cobbled street was peaceful, or well. However peaceful a walk through town could be, Ponies walked too and fro throughout the small town's streets. Some carrying carts of goods with them to the market to sell, while others galloped along with friends or family, happily chatting away as they made their way to destinations unknown. That's not to say the streets were crowded, It was just loud. Something that you weren't sure you'd ever get used to. Especially being from a city that didn't have street's to roll carts along. You took particular notice that one of the carts being pulled by a light grey stallion adorned an orange merchants banner, signaling they're a member of the Scolding roads trade company.

"Well, that's new." You think to yourself as you continue to keep Scootaloo in the corner of your eye, making sure not to lose the fillies. "Usually Scolding roads sticks around the southern trade posts, it's pretty rare to see somepony from there in central Equestria. Maybe a spice merchant trying to expand their route? A bit late for the market today friend." You continue to think to yourself as a voice quickly draws you back from your idle observations and directs your attention to your right side. Only to see Whirlwind now walking at your side while Scootaloo continued to lead the way.

"Do you alway's space out like that?" Whirlwind asked with a concerned look on her face as the two of you continue to follow Scootaloo. "I'm not spacing Whirly, merely observing our surrounding's, and acknowledging a rarity before our eyes." You say as you motion towards the merchant with your head as he walks past. Causing Scootaloo to glance over and respond. "That's just a merchant, they come by all the time." She says with a scoff and a little eye roll. Causing you to chuckle.

"No, no. That Caravan was from the Scolding roads trade company. They're pretty rare to see this far into central Equestria." You say with a soft smile, seemingly catching the young fillies full attention. "How'd you know where the caravan was from? He wasn't wearing anything special." Whirlwind asks as she takes another glance behind the group. Presumably to look at the caravan. "Caravans have little banners on them that signify what trade company they belong too." You pause briefly and gently rub your chin in thought as you continue to walk down the cobbled road.

"To my knowledge, there are at least five major trade companies across Equestria. Six if you account for the one that comes down from the Crystal Empire." You state with a smile as you return your forehoof back to its previous task of keeping pace with the fillies. "Really?" Scootaloo asked curiously as she turned left down a small side road near the center of town, prompting you and Whirlwind to follow. "Yep, one for each major region in Equestria." You say with a bright smile.

"What do they all trade? Is it really fancy stuff?" Whirlwind asks as she excitedly hops a couple of times alongside you. Causing you to chuckle before responding. "Well, let's see." You ponder on the question as you think back to your time in the Canterlot markets. "Well, the Scolding roads trade company usually trades spices and exotic minerals. Like crystals, gold, silver, etcetera. That was the merchant we just passed. Quills and Crates had a purple caravan banner and traded basically whatever they wanted. Didn't really specialize in anything. Central Equestria is a bit mixed developed, so it wouldn't make sense to specialize in anything." You briefly paused as Whirlwind gives you a confused look.

"You know, mixed developed. Like, some parts of it are farmland, others are mines and city centers?" You say, earning a long "Oooooh." From Whirlwind. Causing you to continue with a chuckle. "Now, let's see... The trading company to the east is called the Pristine Seas, land and seas trade company. They adorned a blue banner on their caravans and merchant ships, and they usually trade in exotic items from the Zebra's homeland and Griffon kingdom... I... Can't remember the name of the trade company to the west. But I know they have a green banner and trade agricultural stuff. Like wheat, lumber, etcetera. You know basic agricultural stuff.

The two trade companies up north are The Crystal trade way, and Frozen highways, both ship relatively the same thing. Ores, warm clothes, exotic crystals. Anything that can be mined from the earth really. Frozen highways has a white banner with a blue snowflake embedded in it. I honestly couldn't tell you for certain what the Crystal trade way's flag looks like." You finally finish as the three of you continue to walk down the lonely residential street. During your speech about how to identify trade companies, Whirlwind was seemingly paying attention with a wrapped interest on the subject, while it seemed as though Scootaloo just tuned you out. Only giving you the occasional head nod, as she looked at the homes passing by.

Which you didn't mind, you were known to ramble on quite a bit. "Huh... what's it like being apart of a caravan?" Whirlwind asked with a curious yet determined look in her eyes, causing Scootaloo's ear to twitch. "Looks like someponies listening again." You think to yourself with a chuckle before responding. "Hard, but nice. You're alway's on the clock, but there are perks to the job." "What kind of perks?" Whirlwind asked as Scootaloo tilted her head back towards you curiously.

"Well, meals and sleep accommodations are on the caravan masters dime, and getting paid to travel is really nice." You say with a soft smile before continuing. "The only downside I really found was getting attacked by timberwolves occasionally. But those weren't usually a big problem." You gently say as Whirlwind smiles up at you. "I really hope I can travel Equestria one day, just like you." She said gently, causing you to chuckle as the warm feeling of pride to rises up in your chest. All as the group started to slow down to a snail's pace, signifying reaching your destination. But you ignored it for the moment.

"Speaking of, I am going to have to talk to your folks pretty soon about the matter." You say with a gentle smile as you look around your general surrounding, only to have that smile instantly erased. The joy you once felt swiftly replaced with heartbreak as you realize exactly where you were. Exactly where the fillies had led you. The three of you stood outside of a large, stone brick, two-story building with black shingled roofing, and a metal fenced in yard. The cobblestone path branched out to the double wooden door of the building, with a sign engraved above it that instantly made you regret your words. "Ponyville Hillside Orphanage."

You gulp in an attempt to settle the thousands of thoughts screaming at you for your carelessness, as you slowly look back towards Whirlwind, only to see a frown now adorning her muzzle. "I... don't live with my parents any...more." Whirlwind timidly says as her ear's fall back against her head, and she begins gently pawing at the ground with her right forehoof. "I see... I.. I'm sorry." Is all you can stutter as your heart broke for the fillies in front of you. "It's fine... I didn't really know them anyway." Whirlwind replied as she continued to paw at the ground, only for Scootaloo to chime in.

"Least you've met them, I've never even met my parents. Madame Rain Blossom has been caring for me for as long as I can remember." Scootaloo says matter of factly, causing your heart to break in your chest. Sure, you might not like your family, but, at least you were lucky enough to have them around to form that opinion. But, before you could say anything further, the front door to the orphanage slowly swings open, as a mare, seemingly a little older than you, makes her way outside and down the orphanage's path.

The mare looked as though she was in her thirty's, and had a light blue coat with a dark blue mane. Her magenta eyes were soft and caring, but one feature of her's made you cringe internally. Her left wing was horribly scarred with burns, along with a part of her lower left forehoof. Leaving the wing completely featherless. You give the mare a sympathetic look as she approaches you, but she returns it a small understanding smile before speaking.

"There you two are. Hurry up inside, dinner's just about ready." She says with a soft, almost motherly tone. Prompting the fillies to action with a smile. "Yes, Madame Blossom!" And, as the two fillies started to run past her, Whirlwind briefly turns around and yells. "Thank you, mister Sword for walking us home!" Prompting Scootaloo to yell. "Yea, thank's Sky!" Before the two of them swiftly make their way inside. Prompting you to and Madame Blossom to chuckle. "Any time!" You yell after them, knowing full well they probably couldn't hear you.

Madame Blossom sighs with a soft smile on her muzzle as she watches the fillies make their way inside the orphanage, only to chuckle sweetly before turning to address you. "Thank you for making sure those fillies made their way home. I assume Applejack sent you in her stead?" Madame Blossom said with a gentle smile. "Yea, It's dinner time for them over there, and she really pushed herself today. So, since I was heading this way any way she asked me to make sure they got home alright. I hope that's ok." You say with a gentle roll of your hoof for emphasis.

Which causes the mare to chuckle. "As long as my foals get home safe, I see no issue with it... Mister Sword was it?" She asks curiously, although her warm gentle smile never faded, even for a second. "Oh, please, Mister Sword was my grandfather. My name's Skyward Sword, at your service." You say with a chuckle as you hold out your right forehoof, one which she promptly takes in her own.

"Well, it's good to meet you Skyward, my name's Rain Blossom, although, the fouls have taken to calling me, Madame Blossom." She says with a brief chuckle as the two of you shake before she continues. "Whirlwind has spoken a lot about you as of late." She finishes, causing you to chuckle as the two of you return your hooves to the ground once more.

"Yea, it seems that the crusaders believe she'll find her cutie mark in adventuring. If you'd believe it." You say with a soft smile, as Rains expression turns to that of concern, briefly causing her smile to falter. "Adventuring huh? Sounds a bit dangerous for a young filly such as herself..." Rain Blossom says, desperately struggling to keep her soft gentle tone of voice as she speaks, which causes you to quickly amend. "That's why I've been hesitant on what to do exactly. It would seem that she seeks an apprenticeship with my guild... And she does seem to have taken a keen interest in the trade. But, I won't proceed with a thing without your blessing, of course." You say quickly, seeming to lessen the mares concerns a little, as she lets out a long sigh.

"Of course... What would an apprenticeship entail for her?" She asks, worry still plain on her face with a slight hint of fear in her eyes. "Nothing too dire, she'd just be joining me and my partner Starfire out on our weekly training sessions. Hike out toward the training grounds, practice with a wooden sword for a while, teach her the basics about such things." You start, and Rain Blossom nods as you continue. "Now, the guild isn't going to be taking apprentices for a while yet, so you have a while yet to talk to her about it... If it helps, I've noticed she's picked up the craft of sharpening steel fairly well... and I do know of a blacksmith up in Cloudsdale that might be looking for an apprentice... The lass has options." You add with a nervous chuckle, which seems to put the mare at ease.

"Thank you, Mister Sword, I... think I'll talk to her tonight about it... Might I ask, are there any terms to gain an apprenticeship with your guild she would have to follow?" Rain Blossom asks as her expression still looks anxious. "Oh, you know. Just the standard have good grades at the end of the school year, study the guild rule, hoopla." You start to say as you rub your neck with your right foreleg before chuckling. "Honestly, we haven't really come up with anything. We're a newer guild, and as I've said, we aren't taking apprentices yet. So we really don't have a set... thing." You say with a nervous chuckle, causing Rain Blossom to giggle herself.

"I see, I must..." Rain Blossom starts, only to be cut off as the Orphanage door swings open behind her, and a young earth pony colt with a black coat and a blue mane yells out. "Madame Blossom! We've set the table! Are you coming for dinner?!" The young foal yells, prompting the mare to instantly brighten up and turn around with a chuckle, giving the foul a soft smile before replying. "Of course! I'll be but a moment!" She yells before turning to you and giving you a joyful smile. "Seems my foals require me at once more. It was truly nice meeting, you Mister Sword." She says as she holds her right hoof out toward you, prompting you to shake it with your own as you reply.

"You as well Madame Blossom." You barely finish before the young colt at the door yells again. "Do you want us to start making plates?!" Prompting Rain Blossom to turn with a chuckle and start walking up the path with a spring in her step. "No, that's quite alright. I'll pour everypony their soup and after we eat we'll all head to the park for some games." She replies back with a hint of genuine joy in her voice as the young colt gains a wide smile. "Really!?!" The young colt says starting to hop in place as Rain Blossom approaches him and gently rubs his mane.

"Of course, now come along." She says sweetly before glancing back at you with a smile and gently shutting the door behind her and the colt as they make their way inside. Leaving you to stand there dumbly for a second, before turning around, and leisurely starting to make your way back down the cobbled street toward the main road. Letting your mind wander and your soundings fade as you pass by the same rustic style of cottages that make up the small village of Ponyville. Going on autopilot, as you turn left and make your way to your meeting spot with Starfire. Ponyville town hall.