//------------------------------//
// Chapter 5 
// Story: Settling In 
// by A Wild Magikarp 
//------------------------------//

It had been the longest month and a half of Sky's life, for more reasons than one. He had been able to convince his mother that he had not been fired, was not leaving to get away from home, and did not need her to look for a house, for him or for anyone else. But once the crisis had passed, Gentle Touch had gotten... clingy. It was not as if Sky didn't love his mother to death, he did. He loved his family more than anything, and enjoyed the occasional visit. But, when family comes to ones house every day... for hours on end... simply to 'spend time with her little colt', it crosses an unspoken line that Sky happened to have much respect for. He had managed to get his fathers assistance in convincing her that he was not going far, and that they did not need to smother him. He was having a hard time figuring out how hearing that from Easy Fix had managed what innumerable attempts of his own had failed. Still, even without understanding it, he was grateful to be out from under the constant barrage of baked goods. Sky was certain that he would never be able to choke down another cupcake for as long as he lived.

But now the wait was over. Sky, along with his friends and family, were standing at the station waiting for the train to leave. Butterflies were dancing around in his stomach as he waited for departure. All his things where loaded, his preparations made, everything was packed and ready to go. All the was left was Sky himself. Deciding to get goodbyes out of the way before the conductor announced boarding, Sky turned to Clockwork first, who was currently deep in conversation with Selene, who for her part was being strangely attentive to the eccentric stallion, only looking away to occasionally lick her paw. As he approached, he caught onto what it was 'they' were talking about. Clockwork was using a surprisingly serious tone for the individual he was sharing the conversation with.

"-out of trouble though. Just because he is an adult doesn't mean he doesn't act like a child every once and a while. We don't want him doing something I wouldn't do. Or would do. You know what I mean."

Selene gave a meow in response. Then upon seeing her owner, stood and walked over to Sky, leaping up onto his back to lay down.

Sky reached around and stroked her down the length of her back a several times, receiving a light purr in response. "I swear, if I didn't know any better, I would say she understands every word you say to her. Even I have a hard time getting her to pay attention. And thank you for caring, but I am quite certain that I can handle myself. Ponyville is such a small town, its not like I could get into any kind of trouble in the first place, right?"

"No... I suppose your right there. Nothing at all interesting ever happens in Ponyville." Clockwork said with a not-so-well hidden tone of amusement. He briefly let escape a light snicker at the other stallions expense. He knew that Sky was just a bit of a shut in, but this was rich.

Sky gave Clockwork an un-amused look, seeing his humor as an admission of guilt. "... What are you up to?"

Clockworks amusement swiftly turned into confusion. He cocked his head to the side. "What do you mean 'what am I up to'? I assure you I have done absolutely nothing underhanded, conniving, or suspicious in the last thirteen weeks."

"Besides setting up this whole event in the first place?"

"Well, I wouldn't exactly call that conniving, would you?"

Sky continued his look of disapproval. "You have that look of yours. That one that says your in on the secret of the century, and your not telling me about it."

"Sky, I can assure you that I am not hiding any 'secret of the century' from you. But what I can tell you, is that life in Ponyville may just surprise you. It isn't quite as boring as you may think."

Sky's ears perked up. Was this a piece of Clockworks past? The old stallion talked, but for a pony who talked so much, he didn't say much. Sky still knew next to nothing about this mentor and friends past life, aside from the fact that he used to travel a lot. It was to good of an opportunity to pass up.

"Oh really, so you lived there for a while? When was that? Do you know any of the ponies there?"

The older stallion recoiled at the flurry of questions. He had forgotten to watch what he was saying. "Oh, um... yes, I did stay there for a while, a long time ago. And no, nopony in Ponyville should know me, I wasn't seen out and about very much." 'At least, not in this face.'

"Oh... that's to bad..." Well that lead fell flat. And now Clockwork was oddly eager to end the conversation, before he said anything else stupid.

"Well, I am certain everypony else will want a turn to say goodbye, so I'll go ahead and say it. But don't think you can get out of coming to visit every one-in-a-while! I don't just cease to exist the moment you stop observing me."

"Ha ha! Are you certain of that, because for the record, mom STILL has no clue how you don't look a day over thirty. And now I won't be around to save you when she starts pestering you again." Clockwork paled, and Sky couldn't help but laugh. "See you around Clockwork."

"Yes... yes see you around." The other stallion had a worried look in his eye, knowing the torrential downpour of questioning he was bound to receive short after Sky's departure.

Managing to hold back his mirth at Clockworks future predicament, Sky made it over to his family next, Selene still on his back. They where all grouped in the same general area, save Evergreen, who was currently away for work in Manehattan. His father was looking on at him with a strangely apprehensive look, while Gentle Touch was trying to round up the girls from their playing. Sky felt a strange lump enter his throat. He had never been a pony for needless roughhousing, and certainly they had had their disputes in the past, but he was strangely going to miss his siblings and their little bouts of silliness. He had gotten used to hearing them laugh and play, even after he left the house, when he heard it less, it was comforting to listen to them goof about when he visited the house.

Gentle had finally gathered everypony together, and now all eyes where turned to Sky, but attention being paid varied. Sunny Day was still giggling from the little play fight she had been having with her older sister, her jubilance shown clearly on her small face. Melody Tune was currently attempting to give Sky her full attention, but failing as Autumn Breeze, still wound up from playing with Sunny, was poking and prodding her sister mercilessly, while keeping eyes front.

"Alright, final checks then. Are you all ready to go dear? Feeling nervous at all, cramps, anything? Autumn, stop torturing your sister!"

"I'm fine mom, really. Everything is packed and ready. And yes, I feel perfectly fine."

Sunny, unable to contain her youthful energy, began bouncing up and down in excitement, like she was the one who was going on some grand adventure. "This is so cool! Be sure to send lots of letters, I want to know what everything looks like! I bet the telescope is huge, And there is lots more room to run around! You wouldn't even need a park like here! I'll bet the ponies there are super interesting too! And food right from the farm, I bet it would be sooo fresh! And I hear that princess Luna is planing to visit for Nightmare Night this year, that will be so COOL! Oh oh oh, Sky? Do you think we could come and visit you sometime? Pleeease?!"

All of this had come out of her mouth in less than ten seconds. For any normal pony, it would have been incomprehensible. But living with the little bundle of energy was not without its perks.

Sky felt her excited energy melt  away some of his of the nervous kind. "Well I don't now Sunny, that would be up to Mom and Dad. What do you guys think?"

Sunny turned her huge eyes to mother, who was now forced to face the unrelenting powers of cute. Gentle, well trained in the art of countering such attacks after five children, managed to hold on long enough to divert attention back to Sky.

"I don't know about us dear. We can visit around the holidays, but your father and I get really busy around this time of year. I have a lot more ponies getting themselves into the hospital, and you father is still working on his new project. But you are out of school for summer sooo... if Sky doesn't mind taking care of you for short visits, that's fine by me."

Sunny pivoted back to Sky, bouncing up and down while somehow managing to maintain perfect eye contact with her older brother. "Please please please please!?"

"Of course she can come over! Just let me get settled in, and ask ahead of time, and I'm sure I can set something up for us to do!"

Sunny was ecstatic. "Yay! Oh this is going to be so cool!" She turned around and began to jump around in the area surrounding the station. Of all his sisters, Sky was going to miss seeing her the most. She always managed to brighten up everypony's day. Which is why he was so surprised she did not have her cutie mark yet. One would think that something so natural for somepony would be somewhat obvious to said pony. But she would find out on her own, just like everypony else.

With one goodbye down, and a sister that was most likely not coming back until she had expended the rest of her bountiful energy, Sky turned to his mother and father.

"Going to miss being so close to you guys all the time. Don't think you need a holiday to come visit, I work AT my house, so don't be afraid to just drop by, I'll probably be there."

His father spoke up for the first time since they had gotten there. "And we won't Sky, no need to worry. Just be sure to take care of yourself. I know the idea is that your mother is suppose to be the one having the panic attack..."

"Hey!"

"...But I can't help but feel a little worried. Your really haven't ever been more than a few blocks away from any one of use since... ever really. Evergreen was always a bit of a go-get'er, but its she still stays reasonably well connected most of the time. It's strange knowing that you wont be within throwing distance anymore. Message us when you get everything set up will ya?"

"I'll do that Dad, thanks. And like I told Clockwork, there isn't really any need to worry about me. Not like anything really big or dangerous really happens in Ponyville anyways right?"

Easy Fix raised an eyebrow. "Discord?"

Sky gave an uneasy chuckle. Oh ya, he had almost forgot about that. He had slept through most of that chaotic event due to his late night shift the day before. He rubbed the back of his head. "Well, to be fair, that little mishap did START here. And it was all over the place right? Besides, he's back in Canterlot now, so which spot is really safer?"

At that, both of his parent blinked and looked over their shoulder at the royal castle, where the statue of the chaos god was currently located. A slight shiver when through their spines as they recalled the absolute havoc that he had caused not four months before.

"And on that note, I think I had better move on to the others before the train leaves. You two don't be stranger either, you hear?" Sky asked, directing his gaze to Melody and Autumn.

"'Course not! You ain't getting rid of me that easily! Think one move and your free huh?"

"And I'll try and make the trips over too. Besides, I don't think Mom would much appreciate me blowing them over anyways."

"Indeed not! And speaking of blowing things over, so sorry that Evergreen couldn't be here to say goodbye Sky, you know how she is. She doesn't do it on purpose, I assure you."

Sky frowned just a little. Evergreen was always away doing something. Any chance she could get to go off and do something, she was gone. Work, friends, events, if she could get away from Canterlot, she would take it.

'You mean get away from us.' Sky thought darkly.  'She never really liked me or the girls anyways.'

He shook his head free of those ideas. No no, there was no reason to be so mean, she was just naturally an adventurous type. Couldn't stay in one place for too long. He had to be more understanding than that.

"Ya, no problem, its not really anypony's fault. I'll see her sooner or later. Maybe she'll even come to visit! Anyways, love ya Mom." He reached in for a quick hug, which she accepted, before moving on to the next group in waiting, Quick Write and Octavia.

"So, its finally happening huh? Big day isn't it, new town, new faces. Don't worry, with your natural charisma and charm, I'm certain you'll have us replaced in no time!"

"Hah, you think so? I'm sorry, what was your name again? Ink Quill? Mr.Book-to-Nose?"

"I resent that last one! MR.Book-to-Nose is my father."

A laugh was shared, but a brief, and even awkward one at that, as everypony present knew what was actually happening. They were stalling. The three of them had been nearly inseparable for years now. Sky had been the pony that brought their tight nit group together. If one of them wasn't working, they where out doing something, or just hanging out. Heck, sometimes they even came over to help each other on projects. Now Sky was moving to a new TOWN. A few months ago, none of them would have seen this coming. There was a moment of silence as Sky kicked his hoof on the platform below him. Octavia spoke next.

"Promise to visit? It won't be quite the same with just me and Quick here. And on a more serious note, don't forget about us would you? I think I speak for both of us when I say that we expect you to write as often as you can, visits more so."

This time, it was a sad smile that covered Sky's face. This was probably the hardest part of leaving; his friends. Both of them had no chance of moving to Ponyville, even if they wanted to. Quick had a mother that needed taking care of, and Octavia had her orchestra. The odds of them hanging out regularly like they used to where pretty much gone. But, he knew he couldn't pass this opportunity up. He would never forgive himself if he did.

"Of course. I couldn't leave you guys alone if I tried. But this isn't a one way street you know! I want to see you two coming down every so often as well.

"Definitely."

"Yes, of course."

The train whistle sounded, and the conductor finally made the announcement.

"ALL ABOARD THAT'S COMING ABOARD!"

Sky gave Quick Write a hoof-shake, and Octavia a quick hug, before turning to address everypony else.

"Well, this is it, off to Ponyville. See ya everypony, and don't worry, I'll write as soon as I can!"

A large collection and variety of farewells where returned to Sky as he made for the train. He stopped, remembering that animals where not allowed to roam free, and picked Selene up off his back, and placed her in his saddlebag, which she protested to briefly before resigning to the confines of the spacious pack. Handing the conductor his ticket on the way past, Sky walked into the train car and took the first seat available. Apparently it was not a very busy day, so at appeared he would have the seat all to himself. He moved to the window, and looked out to his friends and family who where all still at the platform, waving. He smiled and waved in return, as the train suddenly lurched and slowly began to pick up speed, moving away from Canterlot. Sky continued to wave back to his family until they where out of sight, and Canterlot began to fade into the distance. Then he sighed, and leaned back into his seat, taking an awkward position of laying out on his hindquarters, legs splayed outwards and back against the cushions.

'Why even have cushions on the backs of the seats in the first place? Why have backs to the seats at all? The car is to small for a minotaur to fit in, and a griffin wouldn't use them either. Of course, I'm using them now, but its not a normal position to take. Still, rather curious...'

Giving a mental shrug, he turned his attention away from the comfy chairs to the world outside his window. It was not often that he got out of the city, and he had never gotten off at Ponyville on any of their family outings. He began to watch the scene role by, as the train made its way through the mountains towards his new home.

Sky lay his forehead against the glass and gave a content sigh. "Onward and Upwards I guess."