Stereo Mic liked to consider himself a rational pony. Heck he’d even go so far as to say he was the most rational pony he knew, especially for a Pegasus. He was cautious during dangerous situations, he avoided being problematic as best he could, and to top it off he was fairly well-versed at discussing things reasonably. All and all, Stereo Mic was a rational pony.

So why was he here, on a train to Fillydelphia, covered in sweat and apple juice? At first glance, explaining this might seem a bit complicated, but he could actually do so with a single word, or rather, a singular name.

Button Mash.

…okay fine, two words... two names. Whatever.

Next to the charcoal grey Pegasus sat a brown earth pony, a colorful propeller hat on the other side of the seat. Both pony and hat were as soaked as Mic was, however that did little to alleviate the pegasus’ anger.

The moments passed by in silence as they sat there but was eventually broken by Button’s voice.

“We should be getting to town in about twenty minutes I think.”

The only response he receives is silence.

“Sweetie Belle will likely be waiting for us at the station.”

…

“…do you think they have a wet towel? My flank is sticking to the sea-”

“Why did you offer them orange juice!?” Mic finally exploded. He glared at Button in a combination of anger and honest befuddlement. Button puts his hooves up to defend himself both figuratively and literally.

“Oh come on, it was funny!”

“Don’t give me that, you knew what you were doing.”

“Her coat is orange, oranges are orange, it made sense.” Button offered with another shrug.

“You don’t ju- wait…" Pausing a moment, his bewilderment increasing, "THAT’S why you did that?”

Button rolled his eyes and crossed his hooves, “Well why did you think I did it?”

“I don’t know! Attention?" Mic was suddenly feeling a little doubtful in his accusations. Button rolled his eyes.

“Just existing gets me enough of that. Not that I'm complaining mind you." He uncrossed his forelegs, cringing a bit at the movement as he felt some of his hairs rip out from the movement, "Besides it didn't go that badly."

Mic face contorted in rage and shock, "Didn't go that badly!? Did you perhaps get chased by a different mob or am I mistaken?"

"Shh!" A voice shushed them from the door to their cabin. The passing conductor gave them a glare as he disappeared behind the door frame. There was an awkward moment of silence before Button spoke up again, seemingly unfazed by the interruption.

"Look, we hadn't seen each other in what... years? You were the only friend I had before you had to leave for Cloudsdale. I wanted our reunitation to be a bit more exciting. Angering an old mare is bound to be just that. Tartarus hath no fury after all."

There was another moment of silence as Mic squinted, "Button, reunitation is not a word."

"Yeah it is. I just said it didn't I?"

"No, you just made it up."

"All words are made up."

"That- Ugh!" With a defeated groan, Mic stood up from his seat, and went and out the door, "I'm gonna go get cleaned up. They must have a shower somewhere on this thing." Button got up as well and followed behind.

"Yay, shower buddies! Let's go."

Mic rolled his eyes and thought to himself, what have I gotten myself into?

It was a good question, what had he gotten himself into and how? To answer that question, one would have to go back a bit.

THREE YEARS AGO

"Mom, I'm fine with the Cloudsdale college, really."

"No! No you are not." Mic's mother, Perfect Swirl, insisted. The locks of her crimson mane follow her head as she shakes it, "You spend your entire day at class asleep."

"That's... wait, how would you know?" Mic pointed an accusatory hoof, "Have you been watching me at school!?"

"No, dear, of course not. Don't be silly."

Mic breathed a sigh of relief.

"I hired a few of your classmates to report back to me at the end of the month."

Mic's eyes shot open, "What!? Who?"

"See , if you had been talking to your classmates more you would know who it was." She groaned in annoyance, it was a lady-like groan of course, "Despite how much you hate going to that school, you get straight A's, so I know you're not having academic issues. Quite the opposite."

Pulling up a small magazine, she plopped it on the counter, "You've been looking at other schools for a while now."

At first Mic tried to sputter out an excuse as a picture of the Fillydelphian College stared back up at him. Eventually he simply hung his head down in defeat, "Okay, fine. Yes, I do want to go somewhere else." He brings a hoof up to scratch his other and glances away nervously, "The material they go over here in Cloudsdale isn't really... my thing."

"Just say they're sports nuts Sterry." Swirl said with a roll of her eyes.

"I'm trying to be polite."

"No, you're avoiding the subject." Swirl sighed and stepped around the counter. Using a hoof to bring his head up to look at her, "Honey, why are you insisting on staying here when I know you want to go to another school?" Mic didn't respond for a little while, but his resolve on the matter did brake.

"I... I just don't want to leave you on your own again. After... everything, it was my job to take care of you. That's why I left Ponyville in the first place."

Swirl's eyes widened slightly as the pieces came together. "Ohh, honey. I'm okay here. I can take care of myself you know."

"Bu-"

"You call me old and I will swat you." She booped his snoot, "The point I'm getting at though is that you shouldn't hold yourself back when there are things you want and know you can achieve."

The two of them hugged for a moment, finally getting their feelings out. It felt good to finally admit he wanted to go somewhere else, even if he still felt a little guilt. When the hug finally broke, Swirl looked her son in the eye and spoke, "Oh, by the way, if you are interested in going to a more prestige school, I recently heard from one of your old friends in Ponyville. Looks like he's looking for a roommate."

"Oh? Who is it?"

Author's Note

Fun fact: this whole chapter got rewritten... twice. Luckily, I think it's a lot better now.