Hello, Vehemence here. Just a heads up before reading the new story, you might want to read my other story 'Scorched' if you wish to get some of the references in the story. It's not recommended, exactly, but encouraged. If not, then continue reading.

The train ride from Baltimare was quite pleasant, to say the least. It was early in the morning, with the sun's bright beams splitting through the once dark night sky. The air, or the air inside the tram at least, lingered a fresh crisp air that meshed well with the brisk weather outside. These were the early weeks of the year, after all. The sun has been shining bright and cloud-free for quite a while, so there wasn't a bitter cold in the air; nothing but a simple but pleasant chill. Not necessarily weather to wear a jacket, but I always preferred to wear mine. It's not exactly a jacket, but more like a suit, but you get the idea.

The grassy fields from outside the window began to slow in pace as the wheels beneath the train began to screech. Almost by instinct, many of the the passengers, well, the few of them, began to check their belongings. I saw them finish their small-talk conversations they had started to pass the time along the ride. An attendant had came in through the door in front of me. In a spiff blue outfit with gold trims, he declared the train was coming to it's halt, and that the next station was drawing nearer.

"Please take all belongings with you and don't forget any luggage of yours. And always, thank you all for riding!" I didn't have any luggage or bags with me. I hardly ever needed them; this suit had an innumerable amount of pockets, most of which were concealed within the interior or inside the sleeves themselves. I could carry a vast amount of items in this suit and still carry more; my packs of cards, prop coins, invisible string, even this weird device that ran a tube from the inside of my right sleeve to a small sack of water underneath my armpit, along with the magic fueled battery power motor needed to make it work (it was a little something I had picked up on my trip to Manehattan). I also kept a few smoke bombs in the cuffs of my shirt.

The doors slide open, followed by a blow of the conductor's whistle. A large huff of smoke shot from the front of the train, followed by a deep hissing sound. One by one, ponies exited through. Some stayed seated, still waiting for a couple of more stops. I waited until those who wished to get off did, then I trailed.

The conductor wailed out, "All aboard', permitting the train's newest passengers to get settled in. A couple of goodbyes were said, a couple of hugs, and I think I spotted a kiss somewhere along the line. With that, the train revved up, charging the pistons inside to moderate speed. It was nice seeing this view. People actually caring for one another when they went somewhere far off, never truly sure when they will see each other again. I must have been overthinking things, of course they'' see each other again.

i fixed the creases in my suit and fixed my cuffs; you always want to look presentable when you meet new people after all, even if you might never see them again. New faces, new places, I wondered what this little town had to offer. Although there was this particular thing I was hoping to get by coming here, but hey, hope for the best and expect the worst.

Well, Ponyville, let's see what you got!

It was a small town compared to all of the big cities I would visit. Most of the homes and buildings had this strange nostalgic architecture design to them, resembling Equestria in it's colonial period, an old-timey feeling that made it feel quite comfortable. There were busy ponies all about. Some running shops that also doubled as their homes. A couple of pegasi kicking the few clouds that sprinkled the sky. And a couple of unicorns practicing their trade. They were all joyous, happy to see one another, almost like one big family.

After a little aimless wandering, I decided I needed a place to stop and just take in this town. A couple of 'hello's' and 'hi's' to strange faces, I came across this little cafe. The tables outside were bustling with couples sharing a milkshake in the middle, and groups of friends laughing and talking it up over their meals. I suppose this would be a good stop, maybe a time to think of what I'm going to do here in Ponyville.

I walked near the entrance, where I was greeted by a nicely dressed waiter.

"Hello there. Party of one, I presume?" The waiter greeted and asked. He had a strange foreign accent, sophisticated yet friendly.

"Yes, please," I responded with a modest nod.

"We have plenty tables open, would you like to pick one, sir?'

I looked around the establishment for a place to settle down. Outside, to my left, I saw this one mare. She was sitting by herself, drinking what I presumed was cider. She had an orange coat, along with a radiant blonde mane. She had some freckles on her face, along with her mane and tail tied up. The cider she drank had a deep color and thick foam on top, so it was safe to say that was hard stuff.

"Mind if I sit next to her?" I asked the waiter.

"If she is alright with it, then I suppose so."

With that, I walked to her. She had a hat laid on the table, brown and worn. It was scuffed and abused, but also had a slight burn mark on the back of it. A pony with obvious manners if I do say so myself.

"Hello mam, may I sit here?" I asked her. She seemed nice and all, but something tugged at me that something was troubling her. She looked around to see the other plenty of tables open, then she looked at me.

"Uh, sure, mister." She said. I know, it was a bit strange, and maybe even the slightest bit creepy, but I couldn't stand by and watch somepony go by without a smile. I pulled up a chair and sat down. She tensed up a bit, I could tell. She didn't really want to be bothered at the moment, I understood that, but still.

"Oh, where are my manners? I'm Elyl." I stated as I brought a hoof out for her to shake. She was a bit hesitant, but she offered her hoof in return.

"Elyl?" She questioned. "Strange name." I only chuckled as a reply. The waiter came by with a pad and pen, stopping the slow conversation between me and the mare.

"What would you like to order, sir?"

"Hmm, I guess just an iced tea will do it."

"I will return momentarily." and with that, he left.

It was back to the conversation with the mare, hopefully it would go a bit smoother since she knew my name. She looked at me, as if she just remembered something.

"Oh, the name's Applejack," She said. I could tell she was loosening up a bit, which was a good sign.

"Lovely name, miss Apple-" My recalling of her name was cut short by a sudden cough. I didn't know where it came from. Maybe the brisk weather was a bit too brisk. I don't know. "Sorry about that, miss Applejack."

"Don't sweat it none." She reassured. She was comforting, which was better than her previous neutrality.

"So, miss Applejack, if you don't mind me asking," I started. I turned my body a bit so it wouldn't seem as if I was a tad too confrontational, having my torso face left while my face still at her direction. "What is somepony like yourself doing here alone while everyone else seems festive?"

She eyed me with a hint of suspicion. "What are ya up to, mister?" She asked, taking another long swig at her mug of cider. She wiped off the excess foam from her mouth with her hoof. She was tensing up a bit. Did she think I was, nah, she wouldn't think I was trying to... nevermind. I had to steer this conversation into the direction I wanted for it to go. With my body turned, I knew she couldn't see my left hoof. With slow and sly movements, I carefully reached into my suit's pocket for a couple of bits. The third principle of magic; steal, to secretly obtain a needed object. The waiter was coming with my iced tea, so that was perfect timing. I made sure I had enough bits for my drink, and enough for her's as well, and maybe even just a little left over.

"Here you are sir," he said as he place the cold-beaded glass on the table. "Shall you need anything else, you'd need only call."

"Hey, thanks," I stated. He began to trot away, until I called him back. He turned back to pay his attention to me. With a swift patting, I reached into his pocket. I dropped the bits in his pocket, and began to swipe at the cloth surrounding it.

"Excuse me sir?" The waiter asked, rather stunned.

"Sorry, you had a spider on you." I rebutted, hoping that would suffice as a good excuse.

"Oh, um, very well." With that, he left.

Principle number four of magic; load, to secretly move an object to where it is needed.

I now turned my body to the mare, who was still looking at me like I had problems or something. I know just the thing to cheer her up.

"Listen, miss Applejack. I'm going to make a deal with you." That got her attention. She stopped sipping on her glass and set down the mug.

"What kind of deal?" She questioned with a slight squinting of her eyes. Boy, was she intimidating.

"Well, the deal is..." I began to conjure up, "If you were to put that hat of yours over my drink, completely covering the glass.." She began to lean in closer listening to what I had to offer. "If I can drink that glass of tea without landing a single hoof on your hat, then I'll pay for your cider. If I can't, however, then you pay for both of ours."

"Now what kind of deal is that?!" She argued. She was starting to become irritable.

"So what do you say?" I asked. The look on her face was priceless. She hesitated a bit, but she went for it. She placed her hat over my drink, allowing me to do this trick. With a slight bit of showmanship, I hovered my hooves over the hat like I was preforming some sort of magic ritual. I took exaggerated gulps, making it look like I was actually teleporting the tea from the glass into my mouth. She rolled her eyes in a fit of bemusement. Principle number five of magic; simulation, to give the impression that something that hasn't happened, has. I did this for a good twenty seconds, making sure to drink every imaginary drop. I stopped, put my hooves down, and smiled.

"Now, miss Applejack, you may now pick up your hat." With that, she picked up the hat from the table surface, exposing the glass, still with the same amount of tea as when the waiter put it down. She put the hat aside, but started to become red in the face, mostly because she thought she would have to pay for our drinks.

"Ya said ya were gonna' drink it without touchin' mah hat!"

"You're right, miss Applejack." As soon as I said that, I grabbed my tea and downed it rather quickly. "I managed to drink the tea without touching your hat. I kept my part of the deal. I'm going to pay for your drink."

Her angry emotion son began to fade into a smile. She began to chuckle, then to a full blown laugh. the waiter came with a bill for my drink.

"Oh, sir, I'm paying for my friend's drink as well." I yielded. He nodded in agreement, the placed it on the table.

"Oh yeah, by the way, I had already paid for the drinks; no need for the bill."

The waiter was taken back, even appalled. Applejack had a surprised look on her face as well.

"Sir, I-I-I don't understand." The waiter said with ponder. "I am the only waiter sectioned in this area."

"What? I already gave you the bits." I rebutted. Technically, I did actually give him the money, he just hadn't realized it. "Maybe you put it in your pockets or something."

"Sir, please," he begged. I guess the joke's over.

"Trust me on this. Just check your pockets."

He started patting his pockets until he hit the one I put the bits in. With a clinging and rattling sound, he dug into the pocket, astonished to find the needed money, plus some more.

"Keep the change." I said with a smile. He thanked us for the visit, and walked off, scratching his head while he still continued to ponder on how I managed to put the bits into his pocket.

"How did ya do that?" Applejack had asked, putting her hat on in preparation to leave.

"It was just a simple trick, nothing big or amazing."

She smiled, looking over me. Was she looking at the suit? Or my mane? Maybe even my coat or tail.

"Ya know, it might sound crazy, but ya kinda' remind me of somepony. Ah mean, y'all don't look anything alike, but something about y'all two... Ah don't know, seem... the same." She stated. I simply replied with a small chuckle.

"Well, it seems that my job here is done. I thank you very much for your company, miss Applejack."

"Ah should be thanking you... mister Elyl," She replied. To be honest, the whole 'mister' she put in front of my name made me blush a little. I could tell she saw my flushed cheeks; she blushed as well.

She offered out a hoof for a shake, I took it up.

"Well, it was a pleasure meeting you, miss Applejack."

"Ah should say the same. The pleasure's all mine, mister... Pinkie Pie?!"

"Um, Pinkie Pie?"

"HI A.J!!!"

Author's Note

So? What do you think of Elyl so far? As you can tell, he's not as mean as Lathyrus, so that's gotta' be a plus, right? Also, big thanks to this handsome stud over here and this manly man over here.

Also, to my readers, I will most likely take a poll after each update as to whether a new chapter is written for 'Scorched' or 'Vanished'. That's right, you, the reader, gets to decide (most of the time) as to who gets their turn to write; Lathyrus, or Elyl. So what will it be?