As far as ponies his age went, Rumble had it made, and he knew it.

So did everypony else. How many had come running up to him for an autograph in just this last hour alone? Fifty? A hundred? Maybe even two hundred. He and the other colts had gotten their fair share of attention today, and then some.

He was living the dream, alright.

Who knew breakdancing would become such a fad, let alone his special talent? Yet here he was, with his own troupe, touring Equestria. All smiles for the cameras, busting a move wherever he went. Now he was the sort of young stallion foals aspired to be.

Kind of the same way he still aspired to be like Thunderlane, now that he thought about it.

Thunderlane. He really should catch up with him sometime.

Rumble would have, too. This last performance had been in Saddle Lane, and Ponyville was just one train stop away. Any other time he wouldn't think twice, but his schedule was tight as it was. Now, he was boarding a train headed the other direction.

But hey, adventure waited for nopony, right? And Thunderlane, above all ponies, would understand that.

Canterlot or bust!

Still, it was good to see the train coming into the station. It was still early enough, and the passengers sleepy enough, that he and the others would have some time to themselves away from the prying public.

The train had barely come to a stop, doors hissing open, when his eyes fell upon two familiar figures sitting there.

One orange, one white. Both a blast from the past.

Wait, he knew these ponies!

"Sweetie Belle?" Rumble lifted a hoof to his sunglasses and lowered them to make sure they weren't trying to deceive him. "Scootaloo?"

At the sound of their names, the two mares perked their ears and lifted their heads. For how quickly their faces shifted to tired smiles, there wasn't any mistaking how exhausted and sour the two looked.

Sweetie Belle put on a smile, at least. "Oh, wow! Hey Rumble!" Her eyes glanced around at the rest of Rumble's entourage. "And the rest of the Rumbling Rovers! Gosh, it's good to see you guys again!"

"Right?" Rumble didn't wait for an invitation, coming down to sit beside Sweetie Belle and lean back. "Didn't think I'd get to see you two for a long time. I wasn't planning on coming back to Ponyville for a while."

Scootaloo's own smile looked a bit strained. "Where are you heading off to, then?"

Rumble wiggled his own hoof in the air dismissively. "Canterlot. Where else? Off to our next big gig. We're performing there this weekend, didn't you guys hear?"

"Hey, we're going to Canterlot too! The three of us-" Sweetie Belle stopped short, suddenly crestfallen. "Well, the two of us are going to try and live there."

Scootaloo looked like she was ready to put her hoof through the window.

Rumble's own brow contorted in a frown as he leaned back and crossed his hooves. "Say, where is Apple Bloom?"

"Not here," came Scootaloo's curt response.

Sweetie was a little more gentle. "She... decided not to come. We don't really know why."

It was obvious Rumble wasn't going to get much more than that, and he decided not to press any further. "Well, what about you two? You're headed to Canterlot, right? What for?"

Scootaloo fidgeted in her seat, while Sweetie Belle spoke up. "Well...I was thinking of trying for a career music. There's bound to be somepony in Canterlot willing to take a chance on somepony who can carry a tune, right?" She gestured to her pegasus friend. "And Scootaloo's a real performer! There's a few stunt things you wanted to look into, wasn't there?"

Scootaloo merely shrugged her shoulders and nodded in response with a grunt.

Rumble scrunched his muzzle, crossing his forelegs in brief thought. It really wasn't like these two to be so glum. It was actually kind of upsetting to see them like this, they'd always been so chipper.

Then again, he realized, his own team wasn't one pony short.

"Say." Rumble tapped a hoof idly on the edge of his seat. "Remember that Cutie Mark Day Camp you used to run?"

"Yeah?" Scootaloo lifted her head up. "What about it?"

"Well, look at it this way." He gestured at himself. "Don't you remember how I used to be when you started that camp? Going off about how cutie marks only limit you?"

"Mhm?"

"It took me a little time to come around, right?" Rumble sat up now. "I don't really know what's going on with Apple Bloom, but maybe that's all she needs. Just a bit of time. Like it was with me and cutie marks."

Scootaloo said nothing, but she did turn her head around to face Rumble, expression lightening a little. Sweetie Belle was hanging on to every word, and he was happy to oblige them.

"Like, come on. Look at me!" Rumble grinned. "You don't get to be Rumble and the Rumbling Rovers without getting some perspective. I got there in the end, didn't I?" Rumble stood up now, taking a step back to stand with his troupe. "And if I could do it? If we could make it big like this? You probably can do it too! And Apple Bloom too, when she comes around!"

Scootaloo nodded slowly, a smile slowly creeping on her muzzle. "Yeah. Yeah, you're right!" With every word, a bit more of Scootaloo returned as Rumble remembered her. "That's what we wanted to head out for in the first place. To go big. And that's what we're gonna do!"

Sweetie Belle was beaming now. "Yeah! And I'm sure Apple Bloom will be coming along soon, once she sorts all of this out. We can get started in the meantime!"

There they were. Those were the Cutie Mark Crusaders he remembered.

That felt good. It was the same sort of thrill Rumble got from telling foals not to give up so easily. Dreams were infectious stuff, and he was happy to share them.

The two were now talking between each other. Sweetie Belle about places she could get her hoof in the door and try to get started singing. Scootaloo about pulling stunts in the town square, hoping to build a reputation. They were hopeful again, back to being their old selves as he remembered them.

Rumble turned, gesturing to his troupe. Out came the boom box, and on came the music. At that very moment the train entered a tunnel, darkness enveloping the whole car. In the sudden soupy darkness, Rumble spoke out in the same voice with which he prefaced all his performances.

"Look out, Canterlot! The representative from Ponyville has the floor!"

The train exited the tunnel just in time, washing everypony in light. Rumble couldn't have asked for better timing from Princess Twilight herself. And now, it was time to show off.

An improvised dance routine. On the seats, in the aisle, everywhere that could support their weight. There were only two ponies in the audience, but who cared? This was about having fun. This was about setting fire to those dreams.

And the way those two mares smiled, it was all too clear that this was just what they needed.

The cabin car was all music and laughter, all the way to Canterlot Station.

Author's Note

I sing a song of freedom
Time to feel alive
It's time to make or break it, we'll find our lives
One ride away!