Dear Strawberry,

I will be in Vanhoover for a few days for a conference. I’ll be staying at the Hooves at Hearts, it’s a small hotel, I’ll enclose the address. Please pay me a visit if you can. I have a possible solution for our little guest’s problem with magic. I’ll tell you my idea when we meet. I’m really looking forward to seeing you.

P.S Tell your mother about your coltfriend already you silly filly! I don’t like keeping secrets.

Lots of love,
Flowy

I was fascinated by the train station, even back home I had never been on a train before. Strawberry was carrying me on her back. I really wanted to get off and stretch my legs. Being carried everywhere, though nice, made me feel like I had too much unused energy to burn. Strawberry told me to stay put so I did. I watched ponies sitting on benches and some Pegasus ponies floating around. One brown unicorn stallion looked like he had somewhere to be, he wore a suit jacket but no pants. This was humours to me and I watched him in curiosity. He pulled out a pocket watch from his front pocket with magic, checked it, and put it back. As if sensing my stare he suddenly turned towards me, I quickly found Strawberry's mane super interesting, examining it closely and not looking up.

I leaned into Strawberry's ear and whispered, "there are so many ponies here. I didn't know this many lived in Hay River."

Strawberry chuckled softly, "not that many live in Hay River love, most of the ponies are here because they are transferring trains or looking to catch a Pegasus chariot, or ballon. They come from different parts of Equestria, and a lot of them will pass through here to get somewhere else."

"Oh, that's interesting." I was not interested so much in the conversation as the pony starting at me, I was afraid to look up and meet his glare. "Is that grumpy business pony still staring at me?"

"What business pony?"

"The one in the jacket over by the clock."

Strawberry looked in the direction saw the same brown stallion unabashedly glaring in our direction still. "So what if he is, if he has an issue, it's his to deal with right?" Strawberry met the look with a smile and a cheerful greeting and wave. Not showing the least bit of nervousness. I looked in the other direction and saw a familiar purple stallion with a short cut mane. I waved at Rocky shyly. He trotted up beside us, using his mouth to put the three tickets into his saddle bags which were filled with supplies Strawberry insisted we bring.

I could see the head of Solid Spear peeking out of a flap. Rocky upon putting the tickets away let out a breath. “It’s been a long time since I had a vacation, It’ll be good to get away for awhile.” He turned his attention to me. “So little bit how you doing?”

“I’m fine.” He nodded, leaned in and nuzzled me. Since the playground Rocky had grown more affectionate. Tending to nuzzle and hug spontaneously without asking. It seemed it was my lot to be buried between these two. It felt like I barely went more than a few hours without being in some contact with them. It seemed like a pony thing. Sometimes it felt suffocating, other times comforting.

Looking around the station everything was bright and colourful. Artfully built, almost looking as if everything were made of candy. I heard the train before it rolled into the station. “Strawberry! Why does the train look like something someone baked?” I exclaimed in shocked amusement.

“What’s wrong with a little decoration love. It’s a fine train, ponies worked hard to build it don’t make fun,” Strawberry’s voice was bright but somewhat scolding. We all queued up. The grumpy business pony intentionally left our line for another car.

Rocky lead the way to a set of seats. Or rather more like a place which a pony could lay down. I watched him remove his saddle bags and place them on the floor. He suddenly grabbed me as if were luggage as well and put me down on the mat like seat. He sat to my right and Strawberry sat to my left. Both bodies towered around me, I leaned out a bit to look around. Rocky reached a hoof out and gently nudged me back without a word.

I could see nothing but brightly coloured fur. There was a window, but it was beside Rocky and totally out of my reach. Putting my hand against Rocky, and using him as stability I stood trying to stretch my unused legs. I was really looking forward to clothing that fit, so movement wasn’t tied to the vulnerability of being naked. I gave Rocky a small nudge, “Rocky, I want to look out the window.”

Rocky was ignoring me, talking to two mares putting their luggage away. I nudged him again and spoke a little louder, “Rocky, I want to look out the window.”

Strawberry’s hoof gently pushed me into the seat. And the pony doll appeared beside me. “Just sit quietly sweet tart, I’m sure you’ll get to look in a bit.” I looked up at her, her towering form was both scary and reassuring at the same time. I leaned against her, suddenly needing that reassurance. It was one thing to be in the open with these large ponies around. It was quite another to be in a closed compartment with so many bodies. I felt very small suddenly, like the world was too big, everything too strange, and I had no roots. My eyes burned with unshed tears.

As if sensing my distress Strawberry adjusted herself, motioned for me to shift back and lied down facing Rocky. I found myself sandwiched between her body and the seat divider. A small little alcove I could naturally tuck myself into, her warm fur made it feel like I was surrounded by the softest blankets.

Having nothing to pass the time I closed my eyes. Focused on the magic pressures, overtime I found myself drifting in and out of half sleep. I could here the murmur of Rocky and Strawberry talking. His wry tone, her musical laugh, it made me smile. Everything might be different, but love, that seemed universal no matter what world you were in.

Suddenly I was started awake, by Rocky speaking. “What?” I replied through the mind fog, wiping my eyes.

“I said do you want to look out the window little bit?"

"Yeah." Rocky reached down and lifted me up so I was looking out the window. It was what you'd expect looking out of a moving train, except the blur of colours where much brighter, and I could see in the distance a massive mountain city. It seemed to dwarf the land around it. "Rocky what is that?" I asked pointing in its general direction.

"Oh well that's Canterlot."

"Canterlot?"

"Yep its the capital and where the princesses live, they rule Equestria."

We watched the grasslands, and trees as they streaked by, Rocky seemed to grow a bit tired. Strawberry sat up and I was put back on the seat between the two.

The train began to slow, all the ponies in the car seemed restless and ready to disembark. Rocky and Strawberry began gathering together our belongings.

"You want to carry Katie or shall I?" asked Strawberry. I felt a wave of irritation sweep through me.

"I'll carry her," Rocky replied matter of factly passing the saddle bags over to the pink mare.

I was picked up unceremoniously. Crowds of ponies were getting off the train, lots of massive colourful eyes greeted me. It was very unnerving and I dug my face into Rocky’s neck, closed my eyes, and held on tight. I could hear lots of noise, magic in the air came down on top of me. Pressure was building, like it was crushing me, pain lanced into me suddenly. I could smell the electricity in the air, I winced.

All motion stopped, I could feel the coolness of the air indicating we had left the train. Suddenly a pink muzzle forced its way in between Rocky and myself. I could smell the familiar scent of Strawberry. “Look at me sweet tart.” The command was forceful and gentle.

The magic was pushing down making me want to keep my eyes closed. The pain increased, “Look at me love.” The request came again.

I forced myself to look up at her, tears brimming from the pain. The smell of magic had grown stronger. “Katie.” Her hoof caressed my hair gently. “You are ok, look at me, Rocky and I are here." Blinking through it I closely examined her kind face, those brightly coloured eyes, her soft pink coat, now so familiar to my touch. As I focused in on her, and her alone the magic relented; I felt like I could breath again. A blanket appeared from her saddle bags and she threw it over Rocky's back so it was covering my body as well. It almost felt like I was laying on a moving bed.

"Geeze Straws I'm going to cook to death with that thing over me," Rocky grumbled half heartedly.

"You agreed to carry her, you big softy. Let me know if it gets to much and we can switch," Strawberry replied sweetly. She turned her attention back to me. "You ok love." I nodded my head and settled down against Rocky looking at the massive train platform we stood on. Ponies were everywhere, of every colour, type, and size. I felt the stallion's muscles move under me, steady and comforting as we departed the train station.

Every pony had a unique smell, always pleasant and noticeable. Some were earthy, like cinnamon or pine, others like desserts, cotton candy, chocolate, or cookies. The crowd all but assaulted my senses, bright colours, intense scent, hooves clopping in all directions.

We went down a road which was quiet, but every now and then the odd carriage would race past pulled by a working pony. Looking up the buildings, they were enormous, colourful, and brightly designed as everything seemed to be in Equestria. Pegasus ponies were flying around on a second tier of the city. The whole place felt futuristic, and yet carriages and other minute details made it feel antiquated at the same time.

We entered the hotel, ponies dressed as bellhops opened the doors of the building for us. Strawberry took the lead and approached the counter as Rocky and I hung back and waited for her to get everything settled. Behind the counter was a blue unicorn stallion wearing a nice suit and tie. Strawberry began to sort our rooms with him. The pony behind the desk looked up and noticed me peeking out from my comfortable position atop Rocky tucked under a blanket.

"I'm sorry miss Dusk," he looked down at the paper work to get the name. "Our hotel does not allow pets in the rooms."

I suddenly felt my whole body go red, I spoke up angrily from Rocky's back. "Excuse me!" I interjected with much annoyance and mortification. "I will have you know I am not anyone's pet!" The blue unicorn's face crumpled in on itself looking both confused and very embarrassed. Strawberry always the diplomat, leaned into him and explained who I was and where I came from. The unicorn looked right at me it suddenly dawning on him, "Oh I'm terribly sorry. I didn't mean to offend, I am very glad to meet you, Miss Katie is it? I've heard all about you from the plays.”

"Plays?"

"What plays?" Both Rocky and I asked at the same time.

The stallion looked confused for a moment, he explained to my utter astonishment. Vanhoover had many plays based on me and humans in general. Most were written by a playwrite who happened to be at harmony cafe when I sang. They were both controversial and well liked by many ponies.

Shock settled over me and everything seemed to be a blur. The blue unicorn gave me another welcome, though I did not notice. Strawberry and Rocky sorted everything. I passively watched my mind moving a mile a minute. This continued till I found myself sitting on a large bed in the middle of a room.

I let out a massive exhausted sigh and sprawled out closed my eyes. A smile crossed my face, and I thought to myself. Tomorrow, tomorrow I will get clothes back.

Author's Note

I’m sorry for the extremely long delay. Since November my life has been chaotic. The story will keep going. It just might take me longer between uploads.