The sun shone high in the sky. Ponies everywhere were on the go. Some were off to work, others would spectate and awe in wonder of what the cities had to offer. As for others, they simply carried out life like they normally would.
The same could be said about Ponyville. What once was a small village had blossomed into an empire of a city.
Skyscrapers made of concrete, steel, and chrome finishing made the city shine with brightness. It's a city only one from long ago could imagine. Ponies were carried in carriages without being pulled by one to four strong stallions. They could be flown through the air as well as to drive on the ground. Not only that but earth ponies and unicorns could fly with the use of jetpacks. Drones carrying packages zipped and glided through the air minding their own business.
On the surface below, robots helped serve the pony community, mostly doing the jobs ponies don't want to do anymore, like mane cutting, trash collecting, even picking up groceries.
Equestria was officially in an age unlike any other.
One pony, however, was not used to a world overrun with technology.
In the Ponyville City Library, one of Equestria's most popular places of study, Twilight Sparkle sat in frustration.
"Uuuuuggghhhhh!!!! How do you work this thing?!" She said tapping her hooves on the keyboard of a computer.
"Come on Twilight, you've used a computer before," Spike said towering over her, with the spikes on his head nearly brushing the ceiling.
"Yeah, and we both know how well that went."
Spike shrugged at that.
"It's crazy how much Equestria has changed while I was gone,” Twilight uttered in defeat. "I'm never gunna get used to this world."
"Oh come on Twi, sure it's not the same, but just give it some time and you'll get used to it. It may even grow on you," Spike encouraged.
Twilight smiled at that. " You always know how to cheer me up just a little."
Looking at a nearby digital clock, she freaked when she realized what time it was.
"Oh no, I'm gunna be late!" she said, turning off the computer and scrambling to a nearby staircase. Spike giggled when he saw his friend having a mental breakdown.
"Good to have you back Twilight."
Up on the top floor of the library, Twilight entered an old storage room that was converted into a bedroom, much like how she had back when she lived in the oak tree. It did have a nice view of the city from the window.
Grabbing her saddlebags, she quickly threw some of her stuff into them.
After a minute of ferocious packing, she galloped back down the stairs and towards the exit before running into Spike.
"Spike, what are you doing?"
"Come on Twilight, you're right on time. You'll get to the metro before it leaves, and by the way, if you do miss it, you can still fly, remember?"
Twilight looked back at her wings and blushed at the realization.
"He he, right. I'll be back later tonight. Make sure to keep an eye on the place."
"Don't worry, everything's under control," he said before knocking down a bookshelf with his tail. Twilight sighed before exiting the library.
Upon leaving, she ran into something or someone.
"Ouch!" she exclaimed. It wasn't until she regained focus that she realized who she bumped into.
"Oh dear, are you alright Elegance?"
"Dear me, I'm quite alright,” Twilight helped her friend up as she scrapped some dirt off her well-kept coat. “I do apologize for that. Anyways, I haven't seen you in a while. Were are you off to?"
"I'm just heading to the metro before it leaves without me."
"Oh, do you mind if I join you?"
"Not at all," Twilight replied happily as the two trotted down the busy street.
"So where are you going Twilight, vacationing, meeting important ponies, visiting sights unseen?" Elegance asked.
"Something like that. I'm off to visit the Crystal Empire. They actually invited me there as soon as they found out I returned. It's simply going to be a casual get together is all," Twilight replied when she noticed her friend freaking out with delight.
"The Crystal Empire! Oh, how I've dreamed of visiting there. To see such fashion, such beauty, such elegance!" Elegance said in awe. "But alas, I have too many responsibilities here that keep me from going."
"Oh, I'm sorry Elegance. Perhaps someday we can all go."
"That would be lovely," Elegance imagined herself visiting such a glorious place with her crystallized coat shimmering in the sunlight.
Trotting down the busy sidewalk, Twilight took the time to admire the great city.
"Equestria has changed so much in the past few centuries, I barely even recognize it anymore."
"Time changes everything Twilight. You can't expect everything to stay the same for long periods of time."
"True, but still, everything is so different. It just reminds me how I don't really belong here." Twilight replied gloomily. She then felt the soft touch of Elegance's hoof lying on her shoulder.
"I understand you've been through a lot of life-changing events, but just remember that you have five friends who'll be there for you. If you ever need time to talk about certain things, just let us know."
Twilight wiped the tears that were forming in her eyes and smiled.
"Thanks, Elegance."
"My pleasure."
•••
About halfway to the metro, both mares stopped at the sound of rumbling in their stomachs.
"Hungry too?" Twilight asked.
"Well I did have a small breakfast earlier, so it seems that my stomach still craves for more. Would it be fine if we get something to eat really quick?"
"Sure, I guess."
"Goodie! You know, I've been dying to try those new seven flavor cupcakes from Sugarcube Corner."
"Is Sugarcube corner still in business?" Twilight said surprisingly.
"Why of course. It's one of the few businesses in Ponyville that's been around since it's early days. Lucky for us it's not far from here," Elegance said full of giddiness as the two were off to their new destination.
A few minutes later, the two stood outside of the bakery. Twilight was amazed at how much it changed.
The building itself was twice as big as the original, yet decorated like an enormous cake. A line of ponies stood outside the entrance waiting to obtain the sweets the store had to offer.
Twilight sighed in disappointment. "It'll take us forever to get through that line."
"That's what you think," a white, pink poofy maned young earth pony sneakily said while spying on two certain ponies through a pair of high-tech binoculars.
"Time to make a delivery." With determination and lack of common sense, she leaped off a fifty-story building with nothing but a bag filled with pastries, and what looked to be like saddlebags.
After counting to five at around twenty stories high, she pulled a cord, which released a large sheet attached to her bag with some rope. She slowly and safely made her descent down. At ten stories high, she released the goodie bag, allowing it to fall to the ground.
"Come on, let's go," Twilight grunted before a small bag out of nowhere landed right in front of her. She stared at the bag in shock and confusion until she noticed some pony landing right in front of her.
"Ha! Right on time!"
"Oh, hi Sweetie Pie. I see you've been busy lately."
"Yup! Now if you'll excuse me, I got more deliveries to make. Hope you enjoy your cupcakes, cause I added an extra ingredient!" Sweetie pie moved closer to Twilight's ear. "It's looooovvvee!!!" she whispered.
"Alrighty then. Thanks for the cupcakes Sweetie."
"Aw, don't mention it. Have a fun day you two!" Grabbing a grappling gun from her mane, she shot it at a nearby building, quickly hoisting her up out of sight.
"Sweetie Pie sure knows how to get around." Elegance remarked.
"She sure does."
Before they left, however, Twilight noticed something in the corner of her eye. It was approaching them at rapid speeds from the sky. It looked all too familiar.
Twilight uttered a sound of irritation before getting down on the ground.
"You might want to get down if I were you," warned Twilight.
Elegance didn't understand what she meant when a flash of colors flew right past her, inches from touching her nose. The force of the object caused her to stumble back towards the ground while the object crashed into the side of the pavement, throwing dust and debris everywhere.
Once her nerves had settled, Twilight got up and trotted to where the object crashed. A pegasus pony with a dark blue coat and a mane with greens, blues, and pinks, lied in the center of the newly formed crater.
"Aurora Flash, what are you doing? You could have hurt somebody."
"Sorry Twilight, just trying to see if I can land perfectly after flying at top speeds. I think I made a perfect three point landing there." Aurora said.
"Yeah, but look what you did to Elegance!" Twilight pointed at how Elegance was trembling in a cradle position.
"Oh, sorry 'bout that, gotta flash," she winked as she took off into the sky. Twilight rolled her eyes as she went to check on her friend."
"Are you alright Elegance?"
"Oh, I-I'm quite f-f-fine T-t-twilight." She stammered nervously.
"Come on, it'll be all right," she said, helping her friend up.
"Thank you, Twilight. How were able to avoid something like that?" Elegance asked.
"Stuff like that happened often back in my time that I learned how to avoid it," Twilight responded.
"I see."
Twilight smiled as they went on to the station.
It wasn't far now, but before reaching it, Twilight saw a certain pair she recognized sitting at a table outside of the bakery. One of which was another pegasus pony whose coat was white and her mane was light blue. The other was a creature with a mash-up of all sorts of animal parts.
"... -and when I checked again, they were on the ceiling!" the creature said amusingly.
"Oh Discord, that story is funnier the third time you've told me," the pegasus replied.
"Isn't it? Oh hey, Twilight, Elegance. Fancy meeting you here," Discord motioned for the two to join them.
"Discord, nice to see you and Softheart." Twilight greeted. Softheart smiled shyly before greeting both of her friends.
"I had no idea you two hung out with each other."
"Are you kidding? We hang out all the time! Isn't that right Softheart?"
Softheart nodded after noticing Discord's head was suddenly behind her.
"It's true. Would you both care to join us? I mean... if you're not busy that is," Softheart nervously asked.
"We'd love to Softheart, but I'm afraid Twilight is needed elsewhere today. Perhaps at a different time," Elegance said.
"Oh um... ok," Softheart nervously sipped some of her tea. "Well, I hope you have fun Twilight."
"Yes, it seems Twilight has so much on her platter-" Discord said, opening a silver tray with books and scrolls, "-that she simply doesn't have enough time for her friends anymore. But of course, royal duties come first." A crown appeared on his head.
"That's not true. I do make time for my friends. I'll try to make it to Softheart's next get-together!" Twilight said in her defense.
"Yes, 'try'," Discord shrugged while on the back of his head, he made a snicker face.
"You'll see," Twilight huffed before leaving the two in frustration. Elegance quickly ran after her.
"Are you ok Twilight?" she asked.
"Yes, I'm fine. He just likes to mess with me."
As she responded, Twilight paid no attention to what was in front of her. This, in turn, caused her to bump into some pony. It was a tall and sturdy stallion with a green coat and a red mane.
"Hey, watch where yer gooin' ya- oh my goodness, princess, ya alright?" The stallion frantically asked, realizing whom he was talking to.
"I'm fine, I've been bumping into everyone today. I wasn't looking where I was going."
Standing behind the stallion was an orange, red-maned pony wearing a hat atop her head.
"Bramley, what in tarnation are ya doin'," she asked.
"Sorry Appleseed, the princess bumped inta me an ah thought it was some random guy. Again I'm sorry."
"Don't worry, it's fine. What are you guys up to?" Twilight asked, noticing the two ponies near an apple stand.
"Ma cousin Bramley is stopping by ta sell some apples, an since I'm mayor here, ah figured ponies would want some Apple Family apples."
Elegance smiled as she got closer to Bramley. "How modest of you Appleseed. How much do you sell these apples, Bramley?"
"Um, well it's one bit per apple."
"Well, I’d be more than glad to take some apples off your hooves." Elegance leaned over to Twilight. "Don't suppose you have any bits with you?"
Twilight moaned while taking out several bits from her bag. Elegance took the money in her magic and gave it to Bramley in exchange for a few apples.
"Well some pony has a little crush," Appleseed whispered to Twilight. She chuckled in reply.
Elegance took her newly acquired apples and smiled at the stallion.
"I'll be seeing you later," she said, winking afterward.
Bramley stood there awkwardly. The two friends waved goodbye before heading off.
At last, they reached the metro.
"I guess this where we part our separate ways. Be sure to tell me all about it when you get home!" Elegance gave a hug to her friend.
"I will. See you later then."
With one final wave, Twilight left her friend and made her way inside the metro station.
The inside was huge. The interior was made from glass to marble to chrome. It had a modern feel to it. In the center of the station were two grand statues, one plated gold and the other plated silver. Twilight stared at them in awe. The golden one was a depiction of Princess Celestia, and the silver depicted Princess Luna.
Twilight wanted to take a picture, however, she hadn't quite figured out how to operate her camera on her cellular device. Instead, she asked a nearby pony if they would take a picture. They happily agreed as Twilight went to position herself in between the statues.
Soon enough, other ponies noticed the young princess and quickly began taking photos. A barrage of white flashes obstructed her vision, almost to the point of giving her a seizure. It wasn't until several security guards came to break up the paparazzi.
All the flashes subsided. After regaining her vision and her phone back, Twilight thanked the security guards.
"Our pleasure princess," one of the guards responded.
Twilight picked up the pace. She checked to see when and where her train was leaving.
"Gate seven, perfect, right on time!"
She hurried to the gate but found it a bit of a challenge considering the fact that the station was filled with ponies going in multiple directions. Some were arriving while others departed.
A few minutes of pushing and shoving later, Twilight arrived at her destination, with her ticket in her magic. She slowed down she wouldn’t run into the mare who was taking the pony's tickets as they boarded. When her eyes lied upon the princess who was next to go onboard, she gasped in excitement.
"Why hello p-princess Twilight."
"Hi there, am I late?"
"Nope, you're right on time."
Twilight took a breath of relief as she boarded the train. She took her seat in the first class section. While the cushioned seats felt nice, Twilight felt a little uncomfortable sitting in a more luxurious part of the train, but it was something she still tried to get over.
Once she settled in, she was jerked back into her seat as the train left the station.
Twilight brushed off the sudden movement. Since she knew it would take a while to reach The Crystal Empire, she grabbed a book to begin reading.
Once she opened the book to the first page, the train came to a stop.
"First stop, Crystal Empire," the conductor announced over the intercom.
Twilight face hoofed, refusing to believe she was already at her destination.
Note to self: everything is much faster as it is complicated in the future.
•••
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