Ever woken up being hugged by the sun? Unfortunately, this was one of those days.

The sun’s light and birds’ chirps leaked through my slightly open window.

Like a warm blanket, the golden rays indolently probed the room and caressed parts of my brownish-orange frame. Drat, this was looking dire. The toasty light rays almost made it impossible to leave their cozy advance. The sensation they gave was nothing short of remarkable, but it also made the situation less than ideal.

Bedsheet fabric rubbing from below, I budged so my non-sun-kissed body parts could experience that same warmth. The sun’s light was a welcome guest, but moving away made me feel vulnerable—like ripping a layer of skin. Overboard, but not too far off the mark.

The creaking of the bed frame echoed through the room as I rose from slumber. As I stepped down, the surface beneath my hoof was as hard as stone, its coolness sending shivers through my hooves up to my legs.

This place was my dorm room—my current residency. There were dorms within the school itself, but not enough for everypony and creature attending. Naturally, Ponyville had two sizable dorm buildings for accommodations—one for males and the other for females.

I ambled to my bathroom, the soft bristles of the toothbrush scratching against my teeth for two minutes, brushing away morning breath. While looking into the mirror, a taller and more mature version of myself stared back. Opening my mouth, I poured three teaspoons of Coltgate mouthwash, swished it, and spat it into the sink.

Ptooey!

Breath now minty fresh, I exited the bathroom and glanced around the room. Purple was the primary color for this school, so my room boasted pastel purple walls, which complimented the dark purple and yellow bed sheets on the mattress. Even the wood of my desk, cabinets, and bookshelf were painted a dull shade of purple. The stone floor had a natural muted grey color.

I was positive the dorm room was typical of the others. That fact brought back memories of my hometown, where every house had a similar exterior and interior design.

Now that I thought about it, I was sort of homesick. I plopped back on my bed, the sheets swirling around like a delicate hug. I fought the morning drowsiness, but it overpowered me. My eyes shut, missing the native dainty wet pecks of fallen snow.

Whooooooosh!

In a small town sitting by Luna Bay, in a wooden cottage with a roof sprinkled in snow and an exterior littered with frost. Inside, a brownish-orange stallion with a brown mane and tail was engrossed in a box of moving pictures. Then a mare, with her yellowish-beige coat and braided emerald green mane with fern-colored highlights, opened the door, the cozy air of her home leaking out into the wintry outdoors, caught in the mingling crossfire of rival temperatures after returning from a quick errand.

The stallion, Forest Seed, acknowledged his wife with a casual greeting. “Welcome home, honey bug.”

Misty Fleurs’ voice held a certain weight, signaling that she had something important to reveal. “Forest Seed… I have news.”

Brownish-orange ears twitched. Then, from the couch, he directed his attention toward the front door. “New treats from the Sugarcube Corner recipe book?”

“No...” Misty Fleurs answered, her voice trailing off, inviting another guess.

“Nature Thorn dropped out of the school and returned home?!” Forest Seed exclaimed, his voice carrying hope.

Misty Fleurs flattened her expression from his second guess. “No.”

“An entirely new Sugarcube Corner recipe book?!”

“...”

Forest Seed’s mouth hung open as he mulled over the question, his eyes searching for any slight change in his wife’s expression. “Ehh…”

“Forest Seed, I’m pregnant.”

A jaw dropped to the plank floor. Forest Seed made his way over to the pregnant mare and wrapped his forelegs around her. “Do you know the gender?”

Cheeks flushed, Misty Fleurs informed him. “Supposedly, we’re having a filly.”

“We’ll have to think of a name! When are we telling Nature Thorn he’ll be a big brother?”

“Let’s keep it a surprise until after she’s born. I want to see Nature Thorn’s shock when he sees his little sister for the first time.”

“Oh! How about Botania? Or Floral Pistil?”

“Maybe. We still have a good amount of time to figure it out.”

“Right, right… Hey, I don’t say this enough… but just know I love you, Misty Fleurs.”

It came unexpectedly, but with a tear in her eye, there was only one fitting response. “I love you too, Forest Seed.”

Outside, the cottage was freezing, but inside, the married couple embraced one another in the warmth of their love—a tenderness that could melt the snow of Luna Bay.

“Congratulations, Mr. Thorn and Mrs. Fleurs! I’ve been waiting for this day!” Stargazer proclaimed.

The couple’s moment ruined – they could only wonder why a neighbor was stalking them through their kitchen window. “Stargazer!” Forest Seed and Misty Fleurs hollered at once.

“Oops, sorry about that! Don’t mind me. I’ll leave you two to it!” Stargazer said but still lingered by the kitchen window anyway, his back against the cottage’s cold exterior and rump in the fluffy snow piled below. “Shh…”

From her post at the receptionist’s desk, Lila Styles couldn’t help but notice her boss, Page Martinet, making an entrance through the front door.

They viewed a smooth wood lounge with a floor that mirrored like glass. With each step toward Lila Styles, her reflection trailed behind her, blurred and indistinct, like a watercolor painting. As usual, Lila Styles greeted her with a welcoming smile, as her job description entailed. “Morning, Chief.”

“Morning,” she returned and walked toward her office but stopped when she heard her assistant pose an unexpected question.

“Reading these records, I’ve been wondering… Why have you never attended the Grand Equestria Pony Summit meetings in Canterlot? I mean, it says you’ve been to some, but afterward…”

Page Martinet pushed her glasses up her muzzle and picked up from where Lila Styles had let off. “...None. That information is correct, and those delegates are all fools—even a joe-loving close friend of mine, March Gustysnows from Whinnyapolis. And don’t get me started on that moron Joe Pescolt from Manehattan. At any rate, back then, the delegates could never agree on a single thing, so I saw no point in attending meetings that followed.”

“That was so long ago, though! Maybe you should reconsider. I’m sure things are different now. Just think about it. All this time, somepony who isn’t from Luna Bay has been responsible for placing our crystal.”

Page Martinet squinted her eyes pensively. “...”

”What did you do… WHAT DID YOU DO?!”

”Damn you…! I’ll never forgive you for this, Page Martineeeett!”

“And as village leader, I’m sure you have more important things that need attending to. In fact, don’t you have another delegate meeting from Canterlot to ignore?”

Memories of a particular pony’s voice came flooding back, haunting the pony they were aimed at.

“Like those other delegates, you haven’t changed one bit.”

Her voice trembled for a moment as she spoke, but she regained control in no time. “Right… I’ll consider. But if you want, I might fall that role upon you.”

Lila Styles gasped, not noticing the quivered voice from before. “Really? You mean it, Chief?!”

“Yeah, yeah. Don’t mention it.” Page Martinet resumed her stride toward her office, practically leaving her assistant a promotion.

“Wait… ‘A joe-loving close friend of mine’? Chief… is that why you don’t drink coffee?” Lila Styles perused and leaned her head out from the receptionist’s desk, her eyes fixed on the coffeemaker on the breakroom table to the left.

The village leader, Page Martinet, sat on her black office chair, experiencing a subtle slide sideways on the polished wood flooring. She fixed the chair’s positioning by applying force to the seat with her sand-colored butt, clearly marked with a cutie mark, like any other grown pony in Equestria. Martinet pulled a drawer on the side and peeked at a family portrait. Afterward, both hooves of the chieftain were placed on her head as she applied pressure to squish mounted stress.

The kempt space was a contrast to her inner turmoil.

Echoes of the past resurfaced. Images eternally engraved in stone.

”Damn you…! I’ll never forgive you for this, Page Martineeeett!”

“Like those other delegates, you haven’t changed one bit.”

The past was unchangeable and permanent—a well-known fact.

Darn it…

A vice of incisors pinched her bottom lip.

“What more would you want from the village leader? And as that figure, I must express my utmost lack of approval toward the decision you’ve made today.”

“Heh, well, unlike you, I have never done wrong in life.”

“You know I’m an advocate for the ordinary. The only thing I desire for the residents of this town is a life of normalcy. Now, a few of my beloved citizens had that taken from them. By you.”

“Reading these records, I’ve been wondering… Why have you never attended the Grand Equestria Pony Summit meetings in Canterlot? I mean, it says you’ve been to some, but afterward…”

”...None. That information is correct, and those delegates are all fools.”

“Those delegates really are fools... Every single one of them.” Alone, that aged pony sat in silence. Yet, she muttered something, her face obscured by the shadow of her grey bangs and usual librarian glasses beneath. “...And I’m the biggest fool of them all.” The words hung like a plea, reaching out to nopony in particular.

Sobs filled the kempt office, the taste of salt lingering on her tongue while drops of liquid plopped on the surface of a perfect dark brown desk.

“Hahaha!”

“I fail to see the humor in this, Chieftain Martinet.”

Back then, when Royal Advisor Spike visited, laughter shattered the silence in the office for the first time. “I’m… sorry.” And now, for the first time, tears broke the stillness. “Truly, I am...”

Pit!

Page Martinet glanced toward a filing cabinet and continued under her breath. “But there’s no going back now.”

Still in the second half of her pregnancy phase, Scarlet Petals walked around her cottage searching for a specific item.

Where in Equestria is it?

“Hey, have you seen my green saddlebag?” Scarlet Petals yelled, asking the only stallion in the household.

“Your what?” he muffedly returned.

“My green saddlebag!”

“Uh... nope. Sorry. I can’t recall anything about it.”

Scarlet Petals stomped her hoof. “Oh, what the hay!”

Splotch Wing lounged in his dorm room, the soft fabric of his bed beneath him as he skillfully aimed the buckball toward the goal he set up on his door.

Achoo!

As the pegasus sneezed, the air was sprayed with bitsy snot droplets. “Is somepony or some creature talking about me? Heh, it must be Aella. She’s totally into me.” Splotch Wing looked around but to no avail. “Eh… I think I’ll go draw or paint something.”

The pegasus left his bed, took out a white canvas, placed it on an easel, and got to work on his next art piece. “Let’s see…” He patted the damp side of the paintbrush against his chin, leaving dotted stains on his white coat, and then, “Got it!” With a swift stroke, he began to bring his vision to life, colors interlining on the canvas.

Like every other artist, he received inspiration for his personal magnum opus.

After I finished taking my nap and reminiscing about Luna Bay, Ice Whistle visited my dorm room along with Starry Vision. He said Principal Starlight Glimmer had officially sanctioned his trip to see his sister in Baltimare. I couldn’t figure out how he got Starry Vision and me permission, but dwelling on it was pointless. It must have been written on paper, and now we were officially starting our journey to Baltimare… Right now. At this moment, we were cantering from my dorm room to the Ponyville train station.

Starry Vision carried a purple saddlebag. I presumed it held mare essentials like mane conditioner, grooming tools, and other products. Furthermore, Ice Whistle’s black saddlebag hung from his side, muffled thumps escaping as he trotted ahead. He told me he was carrying family pictures and photos of himself growing up over the years, as well as other stuff. He intended to show them to his sister, who missed out on such things. No packing was necessary for me since the trip was only for a short while. So I left my green saddlebag behind.

Up toward the sky was a flawless expanse of blue, save for a lone cloud that drifted lazily by. Squinting, I focused my vision. Off of it, there was a dangling tail that resembled a rainbow. It must have been a pegasus taking a nap. I wished earth ponies could perform such a feat.

“How about we go eat something before we leave? We still have time before the train arrives,” Ice Whistle proposed.

“Sounds good…” Starry Vision replied.

“Your trip, Whis.”

Ice Whistle revealed his suggestion. “Let’s go to Cafe Hay then.”

Not too far from the train station, we seated ourselves at Cafe Hay. We took our seats outside with the sun shining, soaking in its warmth, and made ourselves comfortable on a pile of hay, improvising as our seats. At the same time, our tables were giant purple mushrooms, not any different from the other outside dining arrangements. We had nothing like this back in Luna Bay.

Eventually, we finished our meals, so Starry Vision and Ice Whistle made their way to the Ponyville train station. I ordered another daisy flower sandwich to eat. Upon finishing, I started to canter away from the mushroom table and suddenly bumped into a mare’s rear. She appeared to be around my age with a tail and mane like the rising sun—some tied up into a ponytail. She moseyed backward, and I wasn’t paying attention when I turned around to rendezvous with Ice Whistle and Starry Vision.

The unexpected collision of her pink posterior against my chest startled the unicorn, causing her to jolt in surprise. Accidentally, I glimpsed her cutie mark, which stood out from when I saw her—a sunset… or a rising sun. I couldn’t tell the difference. Be that as it may, her cutie mark made me reflect on my exchange with the Lord of Chaos.

“Oh-ho-ho! A round of applause is in order! I mean, the answer is so obvious! Luna Bay, I must commend you for your outstanding work!”

What do I not understand here? Discord, what makes this answer so blatantly apparent?

“So sorry about that! I should know to watch where I’m going since I do this often,” the pink mare said, turning around and facing me.

“It’s alright, really.”

“I’m just so nervous around my new friends. We went into Hay’s Hardware store, but then a surge of guilt compelled me, and I started to backtrack slowly. Every step loaded with remorse…” she recited, her ears pulled back.

Hold on, let’s take a step back here. No pun intended.

“You walk in reverse when you’re guilty?”

Hearing that, the pink mare rubbed a foreleg. “Ever since I was a filly. It’s a weird habit of mine that… stuck around.”

What? Really? I’m not one to judge for weird habits, but…

“Okay then, what are you guilty of?”

When she answered, it was obvious she had revealed the truth deep within her heart. “Our friendship… I’m afraid it’s forced because I only met them yesterday. To hang out with them like this and act all ‘buddy-buddy’ just doesn’t sit right with me.”

“Let me get this straight. You met them yesterday, and they’re willing to hang out with you the very next morning? I don’t mean to be crude, but I say you have nothing to worry about…” I waited for her to realize why I paused.

“O-oh, my name is Luster Dawn,” she acknowledged with a bow.

No need to be that formal.

“Right, nice to meet you. If you ask me, you have nothing to worry about, Luster Dawn. This world is as vast as those inhabiting it, if not more so. So there’s bound to be those who readily accept you. Those who appreciate every aspect of your being.” I reached my hoof out in a gesture of assurance. She understood the bigger picture and shook it.

“Wow, thanks for the boost of confidence. I really needed that! Would you… like to hang out sometime? You know, as friends?”

I had already begun trotting away, so I responded with my back facing her. “Sure, but I have a train to catch. I’m sure we’ll run into each other again.”

“Yeah. Until we meet again.”

“Until we meet again.” I left, leaving Luster Dawn to reunite with our respective friend groups. This was a ride I did not want to be late for. And seriously, what a weird mare. The way she thought made it seem as if she had never experienced the bond of a friendship.

A peculiar earth pony caught my attention as he wandered off. His coat, a beautiful fusion of brown and orange, was accentuated by a mane showcasing shades of green and yellow. When I dared to look, my eyes immediately drew to the alluring dark red that dominated his irises. He was not the typical bulky stallion but a slender figure more akin to a mare. And oddly enough, his flank bore no cutie mark.

Something about him engrossed me. His distant and unresponsive eyes seemed to exist in a world separate from ours, disconnected from the world around him.

Has he still yet to experience his glint?

My heart inexplicably pounded, leaving me bewildered. “I forgot to ask for his name…”

Despite my latest friendship blunder, I let go of my concerns and prioritized reuniting with the friends I had left behind, moving forward instead of backward.

On my trot back, standing in front of Hay’s Hardware, watching the familiar figures walk about, I realized there was still so much more for me to learn about friendship. “Fwoo… Here I go.” Loudly, the bell on the door rang.

We left Nature Thorn behind at Cafe Hay so he could order another sandwich. They were superb. I should have stayed and reordered one myself.

In any case, Starry Vision and I made our way to the Ponyville train station. The kind residents greeted both of us as we strolled by—a very welcoming town. The last greeting was from an older mare couple. One being a unicorn with light aquamarine fur, a short pale cyan mane and tail with streaks of white. The second pony had a coat similar to the flesh of an apple, her hair both cobalt blue and light fuchsia pink styled into a bun. Just like the other ponies in town, they seemed content. Equestria has genuinely never been more peaceful.

We moved from the grey dirt trail to a classic dirt path to our destination. From there, the back of the station building appeared identical to the front. The roof had a layer of hay, and the wooden sign displayed a train symbol. Without the train symbol, this building gave off a more residential vibe than a transportation hub.

Once on the other side, exhibiting train tracks, two purpleheart wood columns helped support the building. In the middle of the waiting porch, against the wall, there sat a solitary bench, also made of purpleheart wood. Starry Vision and I sat on it. I took a seat nearest to the door from which we entered. Starry Vision sat on the other side, closest to the window and the singing wind chime.

Ding! Vung! Bhong! Dhunn!

Wind blew, the chime warbling melodiously.

“Guess I won’t be visiting the Carousel Boutique with Mint Spring the day the owner returns,” Starry Vision mentioned.

“So are there co-owners or something?” I asked, watching the scenery lying out beyond the train tracks, fields of grass littered with trees here and there to the left, and fields of hay in the distance on the right.

“Yeah, a yak and a pale green earth pony are looking after it, but Mint Spring wants to meet the owner.”

“Where is she?”

“The owner was in Manehattan. She’s also one of our teachers at the School of Friendship… The others were busy with their own things, too. They all returned yesterday. We’ll meet them when we come back.”

“Hmm…” I mused, my eyes drawn to all four of her legs. “I noticed you started embracing fashion a bit more recently. You’re wearing purple knee socks, just like the ones you bought back at Luna Bay.”

“Their warmth brings me a sense of ease and comfort.” Starry Vision looked down at the railroad and hugged herself.

Maybe they’re reminiscent of special memories like this scarf is for me. To think that I can finally give this back to Freeze Breeze... “Yeah, I can relate,” I said, bringing a hoof toward my scarf and rubbing the fabric. “Did you notify Mint Spring? That we’ll be gone for a few days?”

When I asked, Starry Vision’s face lost color. “I did, and…”

“What?! Baltimare?! Star, you should’ve told me Ice Whistle was planning a trip! I know I told him he should deal with Nature Thorn, but I didn’t think he would leave me behind on some extravagant vacation to Baltimare! ...Is it too late to grant me permission?!”

“Ice Whistle told the Headmare it was just us three, and she already has it written in ink, I’m sure…”

“Noooooo!! Now Serene Snowfall and I are stuck with Splotch Wiiinnng!”

“She grabbed onto me with tears in her eyes, but I’m sure she’ll get over it,” Starry Vision said with a nervous sweat.

“That sure sounds like Mint Spring. Heh, my bad. Next time for sure.”

“Now that I mention it, what about Snowfall? She’s your sister’s best friend. Wouldn’t she want to come?”

“She was going to, but the timing wasn’t favorable. She has a project to do with a new friend, but that friend got sick. Snowfall decided to stay here and help her friend improve while working. Plus, she mentioned something about ‘If your sister saw me, she’d assume I took her position. She’s your big sister, so I’ll leave finding her to you.’ Something strange like that.”

“That’s unfortunate…”

“Heh, more sis time for me.”

Chugga-chugga-chugga-chugga.

With the locomotive coming in, I was going to ask the train conductor if he could delay departure for a few minutes, but the need never arrived. Cutting it close, when the train arrived on time, so did Nature Thorn.

“Right on time, Thorn.”

The train came to a halt with a loud steamy hiss.

Whoooo!!

“All aboard!”

With a mutual nod between the three of us, we stepped into the passenger coach and soon left the friendly town known as Ponyville behind.

To further prove my point, during our departure, I glimpsed a stallion with a tornado cutie mark waving goodbye. I didn’t know who he was. I know it’s part of our nature, but wow, everypony was so neighborly friendly. So of course, I appreciated his gesture all the same.

After ensuring everything was in order, such as checking if the train cars were still coupled and if any correct cargo was picked up or left off, I, conductor Steamer, prepared to start the locomotive. I inhaled and exhaled repeatedly, reassuring myself. “You got this, Steamer. You got this.”

Within view, yellow paper filled with a list was placed on the wall by a red magnet. Eager to stick my head out the window, I became shrouded in the freshly scented air of the green plains stretching out before me. “To Baltimare we go!”

Whoo!! Whooooo!!

As a conductor, I take pride in my job and the connections I make with the passengers. Although, once the ride is over, it always results in the same bittersweetness. For a conductor must always bid farewell to the passengers he welcomes onto his train with a smile.

Author's Note

The town leading ordinary pony lives have returned! Nopony has changed, not even a bit. Forest Seed and Misty Fleurs are thinking about the future. Stargazer continues to creep around. Lila Styles is looking forward to working under the Chieftain. And Page Martinet, while the notion was always there, finally admitted her true feelings. Still, what happened between Page Martinet and Monolith Kernel remains a mystery. From the sound of Monolith Kernel in the flashbacks, it was clear that it was far from a pleasant experience.

Back in Ponyville, Nature Thorn, Ice Whistle, and Starry Vision leave for Baltimare to find Freeze Breeze.

Soon wrapping up this volume, what awaits them? Most importantly, what awaits Nature Thorn?