Night slowly encroached over the kingdom, and the life surrounding the castle calmed down. The hustle and bustle of Canterlot died down to a crawl, as the last shop began to close its doors. The campfire where the five guards lay was crackling with life.

‘It is just about time, come Rocky. The clouds are about to disperse and make way for the stars.’ Berry motioned Rocky to hurry up and sit next to him. Rocky rushed over to Berry’s side, his eyes held a purest form of enchantment. Rocky loved the night sky, especially the space that held the twinkling balls of gasses within its cosmic ocean. ‘What’s the new constellation's name, I wonder?’ He asked Berry excitedly. ‘Well, do you remember the mare on the moon?’ Berry asked. ‘yeah, I do. It was where the scorch that marked the moon from Princess Celestia banishing Nightmare Moon Right?’ Rocky confirmed curiously. Berry nodded ‘Right on the mark there. I wonder how you never ended up in one of the famed schools in Canterlot… Anyway, what I am going to show you is, the newest constellation to form since then. Do you remember The Princess of Friendship? Princess Twilight Sparkle?’ Berry asked.

‘I do, yes. She was quite a beloved Princess in her own right, but I do remember her visiting my neck of the woods.’ Rocky blushed softly as Beryy chuckled. ‘She came to your neck of the woods, when?’ Berry asked shocked. ‘Well, she got on the wrong train to Appleloosa, and she ended up in Dodge City. Now, I was in Dodge on some errands for my mama.’ Rocky was interrupted by Berry from bursting out in laughter. ‘Sorry, sorry. It is strange hearing you call your mother like that. I mean not in a bad kind of way.’ Berry composed himself ‘What I mean is, I find it strange that you call your mother that name because your vocabulary is quite immense and very sophisticated.’ Rocky smiled softly ‘It is strange, now that I think about it.’ Rocky began to chuckle as well ‘I was brought up on a farm Berry. You know this to be true, that is where you found me after all. In any case, where was I? Right, I was telling you about Princess Twilight… As I said, I was on errands from my mother and saw Princess Twilight at the train station.’ Rocky glared playfully toward Berry.

‘She noticed me trotting past and asked if she could borrow some of my time. I quickly made my way over to her in the shade of the station's roof. Mind you this was one the hottest days in Dodge City’s history.’ Berry interjected ‘How hot was it?’ Rocky pulled a face as if disgusted by something ‘Thirty-Eight’ Berry bolted upright from laying down ‘Oh my sweet Celestia. Thirty-Eight Degrees? That is severely close to a fellow equine’s death.’
Rocky nodded ‘Very close in fact, it was the main reason ponies were not out and about. The streets were dead, like bone dry dead. I was surprised that there was a station master on duty that day… She asked me if I knew any pony that could help her, in taking her and her little dragon friend, to Appleloosa. I shook my head and said, “From the looks of it, every pony is staying inside from the heat.” She looked around me and noticed the empty streets surrounding the station…’ Rocky softly exhaled ‘I shouldn’t bore you with my story here. You were excited to show me the new constellation right?’ Berry nodded ‘We have all night to gaze upon it, but I am thoroughly enthralled with your recountings. Please continue’ He smiled warmly as he lay back on the grass.

Rocky looked confused ‘Are you sure?’ Berry nodded ‘Please, continue.’ Rocky smiled softly ‘When she noticed the empty streets, the Station master came over to us and told her that there would not be any more trains going out from Dodge City, till the next day.’ Berry asked curiously ‘Then if there are no longer any departing trains, what happened?’ Rocky chuckled ‘I was getting to that, before you interrupted me, again. I offered her a place to stay because there were no hotels or Saloons anywhere to be found… And before you start Berry, no. I did not ask her out on a date.’ Berry smirked ‘Well, then. You beat me to it. What did she say to your offer?’
Rocky smiled ‘She said she “would be glad to.” So, after I managed to get all of the errands done, I helped the Princess back to my place. I must admit how strange it was to be held within magic.’

Berry looked skybound confused ‘How do you mean?’ Rocky sighed ‘Well, since I am an earth pony. Having a consistent tingling all over my body was, different. I am glad for it because her highness helped me cool down from the sun’s oppressive heat. Mind you, her little dragon friend was confused about how equines did not like the heat like that. He said, “Us dragons are quite the heat eaters.” I asked him what he meant “Well, you see dragons are quite scaly and that is what helps us to keep warm.” I pondered a little because he was the very first dragon I’d ever seen, and with that came the only logical answer in my mind. So, that would make you a snake then? “It is a bit more complicated than that.” Said the princess.’
Berry rolled over ‘Rocky, I do love your story and all, but you are lingering a little bit on the details that don’t really matter.’

Rocky nodded ‘Sorry, you are right. Shall I just jump to the end of the story?’ Berry nodded ‘Please, there are only so many hours for the night to stay in place. I also wish to sketch the constellation tonight.’ Rocky sighed ‘Sorry Berry… So, the next day rolls around and I am up bright and early. I’m tending to mama’s chooks and I notice the Princess trot outside. So what did I do, I trotted over to her, said good morning, and offered to take her back to the station when she was ready. She agreed. Moments later we were off. Her dragon friend was on my back as we were making distance toward the station, and the next minute she was gone.’

Berry sat up with his sketchbook and hooved Rocky his portable telescope. ‘Sorry Rocky, I didn’t mean to rush you. I just really wanted to jot this down and have it archived for myself.’ Rocky peered through the telescope ‘It’s all right Berry. No harm no foul as my mama would always say. Plus, I would have missed seeing the new constellation. Say, that looks awfully like Princess Twilight’s cutie mark.’
Berry chuckled ‘Yep, Funny how no pony could tell you have it got up there, but my suspicion is, that Princess Celestia knows how it happened.’
Rocky nodded ‘Yeah! After all, we saw her eyes. I swear she has something to do with it.’ Berry Softly grabbed the telescope from Rocky ‘Let's get some rest. We have a long day tomorrow.’

The two guards chuckled at the idea of Princess Celestia banishing Princess Twilight sparkle to the stars, as she did Nightmare Moon to the moon. It was a bombastic idea for them both. After all, Princess Twilight Sparkle was the Princess of Friendship and the faithful student of Celestia. How could she be banished? That question would never be answered for them, after all, they had a long day in the sunlight. One in which they may never return.

Rocky closed his eyes as sleep took hold of him. He would relive that day Princess Twilight mistakenly got on a train to Dodge City.

Author's Note

Sorry for this being a bit dialogue-heavy. I wanted to have a little bit of a bonding moment for some of the characters.

Also, the temperature is 38°C (100°F).