Strawberry's Point Of View

A pair of yellow eyes slowly fluttered open to find a white stallion leaned against the window with loud snores that came from his mouth. Strawberry stretched his arms outward as he sat up. He looked out the window to find the night starry sky above him. The young bat pony quietly stood up from his spot on the seat to fully stretch out his body and wings. He doesn't know how Maine could stay awake during the day for so long, his short time felt like torture for Strawberry to have to look at everything in the bright light. He wasn't used to being up during Celestia's time of the day; he much preferred Princess Luna's light much more.

Strawberry quietly re-strapped his saddlebags back around himself before he snuck around his partner's seat as of not to wake him. Making his way to the caboose of the train the young bat pony was looking around at the different types of ponies that sat scattered through the large metal beast. Strawberry eventually got to the door he was looking for and slowly opened it to find a forgiving wind blow into him. The air smelled sweet as he stepped out onto the small platform that held a two-set staircase on either side. He liked the way the moonlight fell onto him. Placing his front hooves onto the cold black railing Strawberry took a look around him as a range of mountains was beginning to take place on his right while what looked to be a forest on his left. Strawberry had never seen two different types of environments in the same place before. He leaned forward a just a little bit to get a better view of his surroundings. It was more wonderful than he could imagine, being outside of the castle grounds.

Suddenly something tapped Strawberry causing him to jump in place a few hooves off the floor. A familiar laugh came from behind the bat pony which caused a snarl to appear on his face,

"Sir!" he cried out his face two different shades of pink and red.

"It's Maine to you, Berry," Maine replied after he tried not to chuckle at his friend.

"What are you doing out here, Maine?" Strawberry asked before turning back to his railing crossing his arms across its small, cool surface.

Maine walked up to his side and looked up at the stars.

"I was just about to ask you the same," he said as he sat down next to his friend.

Strawberry remained silent for a few minutes before turning away from his friend. How could he tell the white stallion that he's never been outside of Canterlot before? It would be silly. He was a member of the Royal Guard, surely he had to have seen more of Equestria... right? The bat pony took in a deep breath and held it in for a few seconds before having let it back out,

"I just wanted to see Luna's moonlight. It's always reminded me of where I came from," Strawberry finally stated before turning to Maine.

Maine gave him a simple nod in response. Strawberry pushed off his part of the rail before he turned to the door and disappeared back into the caboose with Maine right behind him. Both stallions were quiet on their return to their seats. The rest of the night went off without either one of them saying much of anything. Maine didn't push Strawberry to explain more and he was more than thankful for that. Being one of the youngest Privates in the Royal Guard, Strawberry was still a little confused at why Princess Luna had chosen him as one of the two guards to carry the medicine to the Crystal Empire but who was he to question one of his rulers. He played with his tail between his hooves while he sat on the train. Strawberry felt bad for falling asleep the moment he got one but he had only a few short hours before hoof.

Strawberry watched in horror as his partner spent twelve bits on two cups something that looked a little darker than cider. Maine hoofed over one of the wooden cups to the confused bat pony before chuckling,

"For someone whose only a few years younger than me, you sure don't leave the barracks much do you?" he asked before he took a small drink making sure to watch Strawberry as he did.

Taking a confused look at the cup in front of him, the young stallion bent his head down to get a good whiff of it. He reared his head up getting a laugh from Maine as he did. The substance smelled nothing like the apple cider he was used to back at the castle. Strawberry looked at Maine than the cup and back. After an approving nod, Strawberry slowly rose the cup to his lips and took a small sip. He felt confused. The substance smelt really strong, but once on his tongue, it shot a jolt through him. It tasted sweet like honey mixed in with a bit of filling like an apple on the after taste. He wasn't sure on just how much he liked it but by the second drink, he made sure to add more of it into his mouth. Strawberry liked the way the liquid made him feel warm and light all at the same time. He heard Maine laughing in front of him so he lowered his cup with narrowed eyes,

"What?" Strawberry asked.

"N-Nothing, just that this is obviously your first time drinking is it not?" Maine asked taking another drink of his cup.

Strawberry felt his face go red. This was his first time actually. He had never been invited to hang out with the other stallions after their shifts before so this was all new to him. Bringing the cup up to his mouth again the young pony took an even bigger drink of his cider and unlike the first time, his third drink caused his throat to burn. He lowered his cup as he began to cough into his elbow,

"Whoa, whoa," Maine stated as he got up to move over to Strawberry's seat across from his own, "Take it easy. Take your time and allow it to adjust,"

The bat pony looked over at his companion as he patted his back. Strawberry hiccuped after the second time Maine's hoof touched his back. Both stallions continued their drinks as they talked about what was waiting for them in the Crystal Empire. Strawberry started to feel a little light headed by the time he moved onto his second drink, even though Maine seemed perfectly fine on his third cup of the wonderful cider. At one point Maine tried to call Strawberry out for taking more than he could handle which lead to the bat pony to try and prove his friend wrong so it lead to him trying to do a hoof-stand. Needless to say that it ended with Strawberry on his back and Maine to laugh as though he just saw the circus for the first time in his life. Once back on his hooves, Maine decided to drink both of their cider cups much to Strawberry's disapproval of the very one-sided argument.

Sitting down across from the white stallion Strawberry stuck his tongue out at his friend when he noticed that the sun was rising. His eyes opened wide as he saw the colors of pink, purple, and orange bleed into the night sky one by one snuffing out the stars as if they were candles and the lights their brilliant flames. Strawberry had never seen a sunrise before. The way the light cut into the blackness like paper made his heart beat a little faster. He watched with wonder as the colors of the day slowly stroke themselves into view and he couldn't get enough of it. Placing his hooves onto the window seal he pushed himself up and stuck his head out the window with a large grin upon his face as the window blew wildly through his mane. Strawberry heard a chuckle from his left side and a few more from behind him but he couldn't care. His world around him was changing, the night was turning into day and the sun was rising to show off its glory in beautiful colors that spread widely as if a Pegasus was spreading their wings for the very first time. That's when a bright light flickered into the corner of his left eye. He looked over and he felt his heart skip a beat.

A large castle made of the purest crystal rose up high into the distance. Strawberry could feel his eyes widen even more as he took in the sight before him. The Crystal Empire... a city draped in golden flames of light mixed in with orange and rainbow flecks of the sun reflecting off of buildings or all sizes,

"Wow!" Strawberry gasped before spreading his wings behind the window.

Author's Note

Wow, just picturing that sun rise in my head. Any wayyyy. Remember to leave a comment about what you think!

I do feel a little bad because this is slowly building up to the story I have in my head but just a little patience is all I ask,

It well get there I promise