the Adventures to be had.

Been Waiting.

When you think about it, Adventures and a set plan are complete opposite. Why, well because when on an adventure anything could happen, you have to think quickly. Roll with the punches…if need be, beat a hoe. With a set plan, you know almost everything that is going to happen and that it needs to happen accordingly…But ain't nobody got time for that! So if you say, you have a plan on an Adventure, then you’re just an Idiot.

Maybe that’s what went wrong. I planned out that whole trip that led up to me being here, and then kept calling it an adventure. The universe saw this grammatical paradox, and decided to punish me for it. But then again, what’s with Lucius, why is he here? It’s Possible that it’s a big middle finger for good measure, but then again maybe not.

I have no time to ponder these things as I find myself in my old room from when I was a little girl. It was just as I remember it. It wasn't a fairly large room; it only took about six to eight steps to get from one end to the other. Possibly more, I wouldn't know I never measured it.

I saw my old bookcase; full of the books I used to read or just used for show so it looked like I didn't spend all my time watching T.V., which of course I did, though. The dresser was about the way I always remembered it, sitting on the side wall: three drawers on one side, two on the other, one large mirror attached on top, cluttered with pictures of friends and family, clippings of magazines and news articles. There were also notes scrawled in lipstick or sharpie written on the mirror.

I was getting the greatest sense of nostalgia, and all I wanted to do is lie upside down on my bed and gab to my besties about celebrities, cute boys, gossip, and digimon. What, I liked various things in my mid-high and high school days. And don’t tell me you didn't think that Davis and Veemon were cute.

“Do you really miss it?” the sudden voice from behind, startled me and I whipped my head around to see the figure of peter standing in the doorway. Not comprehending what he said, I just gawked like a moron.

He chuckled a bit, “I asked, do you really miss it?” he gestured to the room, “All this, I mean? If I remember correctly you couldn't wait to get out and see the world.”

“Well, true but it’s always good to go back and remember the good ol’ days.” I responded, coolly.

He frowned a bit, “Something you know, but have not quite learned.” He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. “Sometimes I feel like you don’t grasp concepts that seem to be right in front of you.”

Now it was my turn to frown. That was a low blow, saying that I was some sort of simpleton. I rounded on him, “and what’s that supposed to mean!?!”

He reeled back, stuttering. “n-no, that’s not what I meant. What I mean is; you are so good at seeing below the surface of what you are focused on. You can find solutions to problems that most people would never have seen. It’s just; when it comes to the obvious you look too deep into it and sometimes miss it.” He explained himself.

“You mean like in Algebra 2?” I asked.

“More like, all of math itself.” He teased and then chuckled at his own joke.

The chuckle soon turned to utter laughter, and it was at that point that I started to giggle as well, his laughter contagious. We just stood there laughing like children, but neither of us letting up.

“You are a wonder, you know that?” Peter said after he caught his breath again.

“What makes me so special?” I asked.

He shook his head, “no, not just special,” he answered, “but you are a wonder, an amazing gift to whoever’s lives you touch.”

I blushed, embarrassed, “your just saying that, I could say the same about you.” I explained.

“You have a great destiny ahead of you, Excel.” He said in a soft voice.

“It can’t be that great-wait, what did you call me?” I asked.

He called me Excel. But how could he know about the fake name I gave myself. “How did you-?” I started, but he was gone when I looked back. A sudden soft feeling came across me and I felt as if I was being flung up into the air.

I woke up, my eyes softly flipping up. sitting up in my bed, I looking around the room that was given to me to sleep in. it took me a few moments to remember where I was, 'WHO' I was. The sun was coming in through the small window on the wall.

“Wow, what a dream.” I muttered to myself. I never really had a dream like that. It felt so real, as if I was there, but that could be because of all that had gone on recently.

I softly stroked one of my long antennas and sighed, trying to find some comfort in it. Then something came into my thoughts, something Lucius said last night, a big day today? Yes something like that, but what?

I jumped out of the bed, put on the only pair of cloths I had, damn. I walked to the kitchen area, where the sounds and smell of food wafted through the place. Thank God, I’m hungry.

“Oh, you’re up! Good.” She Greeted. “Could you set the table?”

“Uh, Sure, I guess?” I answered.

I took a step forward and swiveled my head slowly, looking at the different cupboard, unsure of which one would have plates cups and eating utensils.

“Uuhhh…?” I voiced out loud.

I heard Gold Sigh. “Sorry,” She apologized. “They’re up in that cabinet.” She pointed to one of the Cabinets to her left with her hoof.

I reached up to opens it, but I only mange to just barely open it. Being shorter does have its disadvantages; in fact I don’t think there are any advantages to being short at all. No offence to short people though.

I ended up having to pick up a chair and placing it beneath the cupboard so I could reach the plates and cups, in side. I noticed how easy it felt to carry that chair and how stable I felt carrying two plates and two glasses in my hands.

That would be the second time, since I got here, where I felt stronger and more confident in something I normally would have had trouble with. The first being when I threw that acorn at the demon squirrel.

bragging to myself about how confident I felt in this task as I set the table. Man that sounded really lame. When I realized just how lame I made myself sound, I began to mentally slap myself and then I really did slap myself. OUCH!

“Okay, Morning Breakfast is served.” Gold announced after a little while. She turned around to where I was by the table, carrying a plate that held a stack of, very delicious smelling pancakes, in her mouth.

She smoothly walked over and set the pancakes on the table. How could she do that with such confidence? The pancakes must have been blocking her vision. Add that to the fact the pancakes aren't really the most stable stacking materiel, but she made it look easy. Just add that to the list of strange things, I guess.

“Thanks, Gold.” I said, eyeing the pancakes with a greedy stare. “They look really good.”

“Well eat up quickly; we have a big day today.” She said.

A sudden realization hit me. A big day she says? Could this be what Lucius had planned for me? “A big day, you say,” I asked, “How so?”

She slid three pancakes on to her plate and sat down on her little stool she used as a chair. “Well, we have to go to city hall and meet with the mayor,” She answers. She began to dig into her meal. “I’m a good friend of his, and he’s going through a tough time, and if what I learned from Lead the other day is true, then I might have a solution to his problem.”

Problem, What problem? That must be the “Big” in this “Big day”. Lucius must want me to be part of this solution. Ha, I’m really good at this mission thing. TAKE THAT FINAL FANTASY!

I three pancakes off the stack to eat. “Do you have any syrup?” I asked. I really like Pancakes with Syrup.

Gold Nodded and rushed to a pantry and grabbed a small bottle with what I knew must have been the delicious, sweet, goopy, mouthwatering goodness.

“Here you go.” She said, putting the bottle on the table and sliding it over to me.

After breakfast, I helped Gold clean up our meal. She then went to her room to get ready to leave. When she came back, she was wearing a clean shirt, like the one she had the day before. She also had those pinkish bangles on her front fore hoof.

I wonder if that is the only type of shirt she has? That would get old soon. I mean, wearing the same thing over and over again, Nasty. But am I really the one to talk? I only have one pair of cloths. My shoes and my jacket, and I guess you could count my back pack as an article of clothing, but it’s not like I have a choice.

We walked through the town and of course it was, like yesterday, very quiet. The town’s folk who work must have gotten up early.

When thinking of this, a thought popped into my mind. “Hay gold?” I asked, “If the whole town has work or school or what not, at this time, then how come you’re not up and doing something?

She hesitated a bit. Did I strike a nerve?

She looked a bit nervous. “Well actually, I do have a job, two in fact, but they are so silly, nobody counts them as jobs.”

I was confused but intrigued. “Silly?”

“Ya, well it's like this: my first job is: I shape gems and make small jewelry and baubles for the, um…” she looked a bit embarrassed.

“Well?” I coxed her, wanting to know.

She took a deep breath and let it out. “I make them for the towns tourist information and visiting center.” Her face went red.

“So that means you’re,” I started, “a gift shop owner?” I couldn't hold it; I burst out in a fit of giggles.

She looked a bit upset. “What? It’s a great job. It is my special talent after all, Gem carving I mean.”

Okay, so it may have been pretty mean of me to laugh like that. In retrospect it’s a pretty cool talent.

“I’m sorry, that’s really cool,” I apologized, “so what about this “second” job?

She looked more comfortable to answer this one. She smiled a bit. “Well I mentioned my friend, Coal dust, the mayor.” I nodded, remembering why we were going to the city hall anyways. “Well, I’m like a representative or agent for him.”

“Excuse me?” I asked, cocking my head in utter confusion.

“Well in a way, I go around to the other towns on this Island when Coal can’t.” She explained as we approached a nice looking building that I would have guess to be the town hall.

The building on the outside was a marble white, with a row of four tall pillars, reaching from the ground to the roof. The front door was a pair of polished wooden double doors that seemed simple in designed.

The inside was, what I guessed the inside of a town hall would look like. The floor was marbled tiled that looked nice and cool, the walls where covered in a light brown and green wall paper.

We walked past the receptionist, with Gold uttering a hearty, “Hello, glaze” to the bright yellow pony working behind the desk, writing something down on a small stack of papers. She hardly acknowledged us, which I thought more a blessing, you know, considering how douchey most of these ponies have reacted to me. ya, that's right I'm thinking of 'you' Lead.

Gold put a hoof out to stop me. “Wait here, I have to talk to berry over there.” She pointed to a unicorn mare standing guard next to a pair of doors.

I stayed where I was and watched Gold go up the guard and talk. My ears twitch and swivel toward them and I could hear every word they said clearly.

“…she’s a good friend of mine too and I know what she looks like, but trust me she’s a good one.” I heard gold say.

“Well she sure doesn't look like any Diamond Dog I've seen.” The guard responded. “Okay, I have never had a reason to not trust you, Gold. Just keep her under control.”

I saw Gold Nod. “Thanks Berry and I will.” She turned to me and motioned with her hoof for me to join her. I walked to the two ponies and smiled the most innocent winning smile I could muster.

It must have worked, because Berry’s face seemed to soften. “And say hello to Granite for me.” Gold called back to the guard pony as we walked through the door.

We were now in a hallway that stretched down about 5 or 6 doors. Are destination: the big wood door at the end. “Mayor’s Office,” I read out loud the words on the fogged textured window in the door.

Gold knocked politely on the door and we stood there in silence for a moment.

“Come in,” I heard a young voice call from behind the door and Gold opened the Door to the room.

The only way I can describe the office is a miniature version to the oval office in the White house. Right Down to the seal on the floor. The seal, however, was a pick-ax with a stylized Sun behind it, very pretty.

I was so distracted by the room that I missed the pony sitting at the desk, ask who I was. Suddenly I felt an elbow bump my side. “Excel, introduce yourself.” Gold, the owner of the elbow, whispered to me.

“Oh Ya, I’m Excel,” I introduced myself to the pony at the desk. “And I’m a Friend of…” I then began to trail off as I began to really look at the mayor.

A Zebra: a Zebra Pony: a green, brown stripped Zebra pony with a fez, wearing a gray and black coat. Seriously, the mayor of this town was a green and brown zebra. Okay, not what I was expecting, but the big shocker was how young he looked. This deserves to go on my list of strange things.

I found my voice again and cleared it, to speak. “Yes, I’m Excel and I’m a friend of Gold.” Gold just faced hoof at my greeting.

“Okay…Hey, I’m Coal Dust. It’s nice to meet you, but um, what are you doing here?” The mayor asked.

“I have an idea to save the town from the coal shortage.” Gold quickly replied, probably trying to get the focus off of me. It seemed to have worked for Coal was now completely focused on her.

“You Know, But how?” He asked.

“Lead spilled the beans to me, the other day.” Gold stated.

Coal nodded “well, what is it then?”

“Okay, so I have been doing some thinking, and you know that the reason we mine coal is so we can have energy, right?” Gold started. Coal nodded. “Well, there is another ways to get power and all it would take is cooperation with Ologycity.”

Coal though a moment. “Go on, tell me more.”

Gold took a deep breath to calm her nerves. “Solar power, there are Rumors coming from Ologycity saying that they can get just as much power from the sun as coal gives. If we could get that technology here in this, and the other town, then we won’t go through as much coal as we do. So if you would approve it, I would like to-”

“Be the one to volunteer as the representative to go and talk to the counsel on getting that tech here?” Coal finished.

“Hah, uh, yes.” Gold confessed.

“The trains going into that city have been shut down. You would need another way to get there.” Coal warned.

“We could walk there!” I interjected, really more to be a part of this conversation then really have any input.

“We?” Gold asked.

“Yes we, I’m going with you.” Shut up mouth, what are you doing? “I know we can do it.” What am I saying? Walk to a whole other city? Shut up, shut up, shut up! I’m just going to end up saying something- “I would be more than happy to take on this challenge.” …Stupid. Great, now I can’t back out.

Well, maybe it’s not too bad. I did want a real adventure and if the boats are out because of a lack of coal, then maybe this can get it back into business quicker.

Coal looked thoughtful for a long moment. “I Suppose. It’s not too far from here, just a day’s hike through the woods.”

Dear Christ Jesus, what have I gotten myself into? Well a day’s hike is not too bad, I guess. “Thanks, Coal.” I heard Gold thanks. she nudged me to follow her out.

Once out in the hall, gold let out a breath that she must have been holding for a long time. She then promptly hit me in the shoulder. “Ouch, what was that for?” I asked.

“What was that for? You know what, never mind, it somehow worked.” She said. “Come one we have to go tell Silver.” She called to me as she began to quickly trot back down the hall.

“-WE’ER DOING WHAT?” Silver yelled; a reaction to what Gold had just told him about what we were up to.

We had left the town hall to go find Silver who was doing something by the town center. How Gold knew he would be there is a mystery, but if they had been friends for as long as they had said, then it suffices to say that they know each other’s habits and schedules. But then again maybe she’s just that good.

“Excel and I are going to hike to Ologycity. Come on, I Promised I would take you on my next big trip.” Gold tried to convince Silver.

“Ya, at least six trips ago, and those you rode on the train. You guys are talking a full scale walk to the next town.” Silver retorted. “Why do you guys need to go there any ways?”

Gold brushed some of her mane out of her face, “I’m going to see the Council and try to convince them to transport there solar tech here.”

“But why?” Silver asked.

“Remember what lead said the other day? There is a coal shortage. If we can bring alternative methods of getting power here, then maybe we won’t run out for a long, long, long, time,” Gold explained, “So what do say, you in?”

There was a long pause before silver gave an answer, but finally he opened his mouth to speak. “Fine, fine I’ll go.”

“WONDERFUL!” A loud but, very familiar voice from everywhere shouted.

“Oh no, not this. Not now” I sighed.

Lucius appeared out of a poof of pink cloud, in all his red faced, pointed chin, crab claw, and strange clothing ‘Glory’.

He then began to speak to both Gold and Silver. “Well, it would seem that little Excel here has made some friends, so sweet, but that not why I’m here. Hello, my name is Lucius and are you in for an adventure.”