Sneak Peak for Upcoming Series (Might As Well)

Alright, I know only one person is following me, but I might as well say this, just in case. I have been on a cruise and away from the internet since last Friday, hence the lack of Junker's Travels. However, being away from the internet did not stop my writing. I took my wee little gateway on board and finished up the next chapter, titled The Serpent's Snare, as well as some work on a series I plan on releasing called The Cult of Screwball Series.

I'm really excited to release the new chapter, and to give a little taste at what's to come.

So here you go:

It was a quiet, overcast spring morning. Twilight Sparkle, being the diligent and zealous pony that she was, had instructed Owlowicious to wake her up at five o' clock sharp; not a minute off. Owlowicious was used to this obsession with punctuality his owner had. It had taken some getting used to, but after Spike and him became friends, he learned a few tips and tricks from him, as well as advice on how not to tick Twilight off (which Spike himself rarely seemed to follow).

Twilight felt the owl's talons gently nudge her awake. She awoke from her deep slumber, snatching the reins of her train of thought away from the wild dream she was having seconds ago. She got up, yawned, and arched her back. Her mane was a mess from the restless night she had spent excitedly anticipating the upcoming trip to Canterlot with her friends. After she was fully awake and out of bed, she said, "Thank you, Owlowicious. You may go to bed."

"Who," the brown owl nodded gratefully before flying off to his perch for a long awaited and much deserved sleep. Twilight giggled at the owl's fatigued-looking state. She was glad he was around to help out at night.

Twilight stretched her body out and deeply inhaled as she magicked up a hairbrush to rid her mane of the awful bedhead it had developed. She would never tire from the smell of the Ponyville Library in the mourning. The hollowed interior glowed warmly from the naturaNow it was time to wake up her daytime assistant, who lay in his basket bed in the corner of the room, covers draped tightly around him, as he snored in the corner. He wouldn't enjoy the wake-up call, that was for sure, but he had promised to come along on the train ride (a decision he soon regretted making). He and Twilight had to go to Canterlot to collect magic supplies that couldn't be found anywhere else. Twilight wasn't going alone, however. Each of her friends, by sheer coincidence, had business in Canterlot as well. This would be a fun little trip they would remember for quite a while. Twilight was sure of this. Something told her it would be so.

"Wake up, Spike!" Twilight cheerily attempted to rouse Spike from his slumber, but to no avail. The dragon merely grumbled and rolled over in his baby-blue blanket. Twilight frowned. She didn't want to have to do this, but it was obvious there was no other choice.

One cold bucket of water later, Spike was up and at 'em. It was true he didn't want to get up, but it wasn't true that he didn't want to go. In fact, he did very much. He was going to help out Rarity, who was asked by Sapphire Shores to be part of her new fashion line, after he was done with assisting Twilight in her shopping spree and watching the Canterlot Rodeo from VIP seats (courtesy of Princess Celestia).

"You know," he said as he dried himself from Twilight's wake-up call, "I still don't get why the train has to leave so early."

"Because," Explained Twilight for what seemed to her like the hundredth time, "The Friendship Express travels of a speed of about 80 miles per hour, and Canterlot is nearly 2400 miles from Ponyville! At that rate, it takes a day and a half to get there, and seeing that the Rodeo is in three days, we don't have any time to lose slacking off!" the words rolled off of her tongue as though they were being dispensed from some nerve-wracked computer. She settled down, taking a deep breath. "Got the pre-train ride checklist?"

Spike swiped the piece of parchment in question from the shelf it was lying on. "Yup!"

"Advanced Magic Volumes I - VI."

"Check!"

"Two tickets for the 7:00 Friendship Express departure to Canterlot."

"Check!"

"Two VIP tickets to the Canterlot Rodeo."

"Check!"

"The Official Guide to Precious Rocks and Minerals, for when you go off to help Rarity.

"Check!"

"Two blueberry muffins, for in case we get hungry on the train."

Spike let out a small burp. "Erm . . . Check?"

Twilight groaned. "Spike!"

"I'm sorry! I was really hungry! Besides, I saved one for you!"

Twilight sighed and then chuckled as she trotted downstairs with her companion. That's Spike for ya! she thought to herself as they walked out the front door in the direction of the train platform.