//------------------------------//
// Short Trip 
// Story: Society as We Know It 
// by Comma Typer 
//------------------------------//

Two changelings were walking past the buildings. There weren't that many. There were only two. A line of railroad was there, extending out for miles and miles into the distance, even being seen at the faraway hills.
"So, we're supposed to be waiting for the train," Nastic said. "I don't see how you could destroy such an experience."
Long Winded opened the newspaper and gave it to his friend. "Here, Nastic!"
"OK." Nastic took the newspaper. "There should be some topics of interest here today. I've heard of a couple of happenings here and there around Equestria. Hopefully, the writers are going to keep me occupied and busy until the train arrives." He groaned. "Unless, of course, the train arrives late."
"That means more time for you to read the articles that interest you!" Long Winded replied happily, walking closer towards Nastic and his newspaper. "So, wouldn't you want the train to be late?"
"I admire punctuality."
Long Winded turned around. He saw a few ponies walking on the platform. Some of them were carrying bags.
"What if it's not always good to admire punctuality?" Long Winded asked.
"Because it shows that you are a good changeling," Nastic answered, facing his friend. "You arrive on time, you respect the changelings or the ponies that invite you. If you don't arrive on time, you don't respect the changelings or the ponies that invite you."
"What about ponies?"
"It's like that, too."
Long Winded looked at the railroad again.
"That's a good idea, Long Winded," Nastic said while reading the newspaper. "You can go check and see if the train is arriving. Then, you tell me if it's there."
Long Winded nodded.
"Wait, I have a better idea. You go and fly and then you can give me an advance warning about the train."
Long Winded then flew upwards.
Nastic looked up.
His friend was in the sky.
"OK, that's good." He returned to his newspaper.
Long Winded then returned to the platform, landing on it.
Nastic lowered his newspaper and gave his friend an annoyed look. "You were supposed to stay where you were!"
"It was not so interesting up there."
"What's not interesting about the hills and the trees and the ponies walking by?! Just keep track of the train."
"Alright, then!" Long Winded smiled and went back to the sky.
Nastic returned to his newspaper again, raising it and reading it.



Inside the train, several ponies filled the cushioned seats. Nastic and Long Winded sat beside each other as the train went on. Past the windows on the side, the scenery changed fast. The grass and the trees went by the passengers quickly.
Nastic was still reading the newspaper.
Long Winded looked out the window.
He eyed the trees. He looked at the clouds. There were some pegasi moving the clouds here and there, giving the sky a dynamic feel.
Long Winded turned around, looking at his friend reading the newspaper. "Did you order any food for the train ride?"
"It's not a long trip," Nastic replied without looking away from the newspaper. "It's going to take about ten or twenty minutes. We can eat at the next stop, if you want."
"What's at the next stop?" Long Winded asked.
"Apples, apparently," Nastic said. "Next stop is Appleloosa, that frontier town with the hot climate and the many apple trees. Maybe you could find yourself a bargain there."
Long Winded beamed. "Appleloosa has a few members of the Apple family!"
"OK, that's nice."
"I'm talking about the Apple family, Nastic!"
"Yes, I know about the Apple family," Nastic replied, finally looking at Long Winded." The Apple family is a big family, so, of course, you're going to meet some Apple family members soon. We already met Applejack, so there's going to be a few more Apple family members to meet somewhere else."
Long Winded smiled even wider.
"Don't get very excited, Long Winded. It's supposed to be a relaxing ride, a quiet trip. I don't want any of that to be ruined by you going around and making problems here and there with an attitude that's hard for me to control."
"Alright!" Long Winded smiled at him and looked back out the window.



Appleloosa was a town that fit the descrption of being a frontier town. There were no paved roads, only the dry dirt roads that had little grass on them. The buildings were small and mostly made out of wood. There were cacti in the distance, and even the cacti were not that many. Near the town was a huge orchard of apple trees, all growing well.
The train stopped at the train station.
The ponies and the two changelings went outside the train.
There was the sweltering heat. There was a hot gust of wind blowing by.
On the train station's platform, a yellow stallionn with a brown hat and brown clothes was standing there. Beside him was a cart of apples.
"Howdy, an' welcome to Appleloosa, everypony!" the stallion hollered in that loud and cheerful, even proud, voice. "Feel free to enjoy yourselves here!"
The two changelings looked at each other.
"Definitely an Apple family member," Long Winded whispered to Nastic, smiling.
"Changelins'?!" the stallion yelled. "Why, Ah' haven't seen changelins' gettin' here ever since, well, ever!"
"Let's see," Nastic said, looking at the stallion. "You're going to give us a tour of Appleloosa, right? That's my guess."
The stallion looked surprised. "How did ya' know that?!"
Nastic smirked.
The stallion ran to them. "Anyway, let me get started with the introductions! Mah' name's Braeburn, and Ah' live here in Appleloosa!"
"Do you have to shout the name of your town every time?!" Nastic asked.
"It's just pride in where ya' live, partner!"
Long Winded beamed again. "You're related to Applejack, aren't you, Braeburn?"
"Yes, I am!" Braeburn answered happily. "She's my cousin!"
"I'm so proud to have a cousin of Applejack right here!" Long Winded shouted.
A few ponies on the platform looked at the changeling.
Braeburn chuckled. "Ya' must be real' excited. Don't ya worry! Ah'm going to make this tour of Appleloosa so great an' impressive, yer' goin' to remember it to tell Applejack herself!"
"Why do I feel that it's not going to be just a simple tour around Appleloosa?" Nastic said.
"It is going to be just a simple tour around Appleloosa! We have many and plently of locations to cover! Already, ya' can see the clock tower, and the horse-drawn carriages and the horse-drawn horse-drawn carriages! And, if ya' look over there, ya' can see the orchards of apple trees! So, let's start!"
And Braeburn walked off the platform and the two changelings followed him.