Groom Hornwell's 2022

I’m still on the Victory Express (that’s the train’s name). We are now passing the Saddle Lake. For those ponies who think that Ponyville is close to Canterlot. Well, let me say that by train, it is not. It's actually an overnight trip.

I feel like I’ve been in this train for an eternity. To give you an idea: I boarded it at noon, and by the moment I’m writing this, the sun it’s already setting on the far away Smokey Mountains.

I started to wonder if my boss, that forgetty tushbag, realized that going to a place by train takes longer than flying with his pegasus wings. This kind of vehicle has many curves on its way. He probably thinks I’m going back to Canterlot with the photo already. But the thing is I haven’t even made it to Ponyville yet! I just hope he doesn’t fire me.

We are reaching Ponyville’s train station. I look through the window. The houses of ponies with that mangerman style are beautiful. Even in this wartime of ponies against the rest of Equus world. I see ponies walking surrounded by markets. This landscape really makes me forget war.

I took a pic.

Oh, shoot, I better check if there’s enough reel in this thing. Not being able to take the one important photograph would be my doom.

The reel is new! Awesome!

I can’t say I hated this train trip. I really enjoyed it when we went inside the mountain, crossing it. It all became dark for atleast two minutes.

We finally reached the station and the wagons quickly started to lose speed. Then, the doors opened.

Wow. Too many ponies here at the station. Wait. They are soldiers! Coltage draftees! They are wearing the infamous black shirts. They must be the newest conscripts of the Weapon.

I get out sliding through the crowd of shaved manes. These poor ponies are nothing but weanlings. They should be at school.

I walk through the station, getting away from the recruits that are now boarding the Victory Express. Yeah, Victory, let’s hope for this fillies and colts. Before they all entered the vehicle, I took a photo of them. Who knows if any of them would come back.

After walking for a minute, I find myself on a dirt road. I look north; I see a hospital far away. Then south, I see a school. But wait, there’s more. Apple trees…Oh yeah, that’s Sweet Apple Acres! I better get going before it’s too dark. I hope the workers there let me stay the night.

I mentioned before that the sunset was around the corner, meaning that the start of the night was close. And oh pony I feel dumb now. I haven’t even made it to the farmhouse yet and the path it’s completely dark now. Hay, it’s not even paved! My hooves keep tripping on rocks! Thank princess I’m a unicorn, because I didn’t brought a flashlight.

I’m coughing now! Blech! The air is so dense and smelly out of a sudden. Oh, right, the smoke from the forest fire. But I see no fire on these trees. It must mean it’s just burnt wood of the Everfree forest, like my boss told me.

I keep walking, no, I better trot for now. I’m almost there. I see lights. Wait, green lights?! Why would candles lights be_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________OH MY CELESTIA, What’s ____that purple thing! It’s coming after me, a dragon !!!! I took a picture! I’m throwing this on the floo___

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Ponyville Today Newspaper

Fire on Sweet Apple Acres