//------------------------------//
// Memory 
// Story: Not So Far Away 
// by Cold Bolt 
//------------------------------//

"That didn't take nearly as long as I expected."

The third day's dusk saw the last five ponies in Alto gazing off toward the sunset - all except for one, of course, who busied herself with balancing on a lone front hoof.

"Moony, you goof," said Pinkie. "Isn't that a good thing?"

Moondancer chuckled. "Well yeah, it's just... I spent almost ten years preparing for this expedition, and we wrapped the whole thing up in a week. It's just a little surreal, is all."

"Strange..."

The pair looked over as Constable Fluttershy spoke for the first time in minutes.

Pinkie blinked. "What is?"

"That the natural instinct toward the unknown should be fear," replied the Constable, "even as it represents the greatest hope we have seen in living memory."

"It's perfectly natural to be nervous," said Moondancer. "Everypony here just packed up their lives in little carts and flew off to a land they've never even heard of before to start over. It's going to be pretty bumpy from here on out."

Fluttershy smiled. "Yet even in my apprehension I have every confidence this was the correct path to take."

"Hey, I got an idea!" Pinkie let herself topple back down on all fours and began rummaging through her saddlebag. "We should have one last dessert before we leave, like a little farewell picnic for - GASP"

Moondancer and Fluttershy stared at the wide-eyed mare.

"Hang on! Hang on hang on hang on! Even better!" Pinkie's hoof retracted, holding her magical camera. "I forgot I still had a shot left! GROUP PHOTO!"

"Wait, why was that in the pocket with..." Moondancer shook her head. "Never mind."

"Hey!" Pinkie called out to Whirlwind and Aerial Ace, who had been chatting beside the cart they had used to bring the two groundwalkers with them. "Everypony gather 'round!"

With slightly confused looks, they fluttered over and sat on either side of Moondancer and Fluttershy.

"Okay! On three, say 'fuzzy pickles!'"

Before she could begin counting, the camera floated out of her grasp.

Moondancer smirked, her horn glowing. "Get over here, dork."

Pinkie's grin widened as she bounded over. In an instant, both Moondancer and Fluttershy were squeezed to her sides by her forelegs.

"You know this is going in the history books, right?"

"Totally!"

"Then why are you making a duck face?"

"Because you can't stop me."

"Sigh... to a brighter future, then."

click