Sprout's Second Chance

Sunny walked alongside Pipp, pulling a small cart of camping supplies, food, and Sunny's ageplaying supplies. It had been a pleasant overnight hiking trip for the two of them, and Sunny was looking forward to spending a few days in Zephyr Heights as a tourist, instead of sneaking around with Zipp or relaxing in the castle dungeon.

The two of them repeated the approach to the city that she and Izzy had taken through the gorge, which was now quickly becoming more developed as more tourists made their way to see the pegasus metropolis. The boulders that they had climbed when Zipp was giving chase was now a chiseled staircase, with side ramps, giving ample room for wagon wheels.

"So where to first? I don't know about you but breakfast back at the campsite has definitely worn off," Sunny told Pipp as they began to ascend the stairs after the earth mare made sure the wagon wheels were aligned correctly with the grooves that helped keep wagons aligned.

"Well, to save time, we should probably drop off the contents of the wagon for inspection," Pipp told her as they crested the hill and continued around the bend as the top of the cityscape was visible over the rocks. "Standard procedure for visitors and large cargo shipments."

"E-everything?" But, what about, you know..." Sunny stammered, motioning to the saddlebag in the back corner that contained her ageplay items.

"Oh, no worries, Sunny. We don't have to be present at the inspection, everything will be taken to the room by the time we get there, and I completely stand by the professionalism of our staff. Even if you were present, I promise they'd be more embarrassed than you," Pipp reassured her with a giggle. "As for lunch, we can eat wherever you like. You have a craving for anything?"

"Well, I'm not really picky, especially when I'm visiting someplace new. What does Zephyr Heights have that Maretime Bay doesn't?" Sunny asked as they came around the bend and saw that the rocky path became more even and paved as the main road into the city came into view.

"Well, I'm not sure about what we have and you don't, but I do know a place downtown that makes a mean grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup," Pipp answered.

Sunny's mouth immediately began to water.

"That sounds absolutely delicious. Let's drop this stuff off wherever we have to, and go grab a bite to eat."

Pipp nodded with a smile, and the guards at the city's main gate saluted.

"Welcome home, Your Highness," the sky blue armor-clad mare greeted.

"Good to see you again, Staff Sergeant Zephyrwing. I need the contents of this wagon brought up to my quarters after it's been inspected," Pipp told her.

"Our pleasure, Your Highness," Corporal Thunder replied as Sunny unhitched herself from the wagon, and he began to pull it off towards the castle as the two mares made their way downtown, leaving Zoom to stand watch at the gate.

Sprout was no stranger to the rolling hills that he and Izzy had been traversing for almost twelve hours, with a camping trip overnight, as it was very similar looking to Maretime Bay's surroundings the farther you got from the coast. Still, this was officially the farthest he had ever been from home and then some.

The earth stallion had to do a double take as they came to a stone and wood bridge crossing a deep chasm.

"Moonbow Bridge?" Sprout asked, reading the overhead sign and glancing towards his unicorn traveling companion as they approached the chasm.

The unicorn blushed lightly at the cheeks.

"Alphabittle told me it was the least Bridlewood could do after what I had done. This bridge is on the exact site of a stone bridge from ancient Equestria, and I had knocked over a tree to help the others cross the chasm, and that it eventually lead to reunification."

The bridge was the first pony-made structure they had seen since leaving Maretime Bay, and the stallion thought they must have been close to the unicorn's hometown, but apparently the Bridlewood unicorns had come a considerably long way out of town to build the crossing, because it was another three hour hike to the entrance of the admittedly foreboding forest.

"Good to see they took the last of the warning signs down," Izzy commented.

The 'Welcome to Bridlewood' sign wasn't doing Sprout's nerves a lot of favors, but as they continued into the enormous treeline, the heat of the early afternoon sun faded away.

"And here we are," Izzy announced, as they came up to a tree dwelling in the side of a hill. It was two stories tall, and was decorated in vivid pinks and blues.

Sprout was no arborist, so he was stunned that one could hollow out a tree to live in without killing it. The literal treehouse was still thriving, evidenced by the blooming flowers on the 'balcony' as well as the branches overhead. He also looked around and saw that this was the only such dwelling in sight currently.

"You live all the way on the edge of the forest? By yourself?" Sprout asked, unhitching himself from their wagon as Izzy took out a key from her saddlebags and slid it into the door.

"Yeah. I get visitors from time to time when I'm here in town, but back before reunification... Let's just say that the other unicorns didn't like it when I could see if they were happy or not. My sparkle was a bit too sparkly for everypony else."

Izzy turned the key, and pushed the door open. Sprout followed her in, and his mouth slowly fell open as she hit the light switch. There was no single overhead light, but dozens of smaller bulbs on light strings draped on the back wall, railings, and second floor banister. A ramp curved along the right wall to the second floor.

"Wow," Sprout commented, taking look at all the crafts and works of art that lined the corners and outer edges of the main room.

"Unicycling! I've been doing it nearly all my life," Izzy told him, watching happily as he went from one to the next, turning a handle or pushing a switch if there was one available.

"So, what would you like to do first? Should we get you all padded up?" Izzy asked.

Sprout blushed, but shook his head.

"Actually, now that I'm here, I'd really like to see the rest of Bridlewood. Think we could see the rest of the town while we grab some lunch?"