It is breakfast time in Ponyville.
In Cipher’s house, you’ll find Fluttershy walking about excitedly. And Cipher himself is finishing his morning tea. He put the cup down and turned to Riolu. The Jakhowl put his favourite bone down and stood up ready. Cipher nodded and stood up from his chair “Time we were off, it’s not our usual day today.”
Fluttershy turned to his and grinned “It’s very exciting, I feel like Pinkie Pie.”
“I feel nervous. Will any-pony want this with the railway?”
“The railway can’t go where you go Cipher.”
“Yes, but do Ponies want to go where I go? If not this is going to cost the Post Office, and we haven’t technically broken from the main Postal Service, not until Princess Celestia makes the official decree. But, if this is what Twilight wants to strength the community, and give me more company while on the rounds, I have to do what she says.”
“Well, I sure you’ll find a way of making it useful. I need to get back to the cottage.” She came closer and looked about to do something but she paused, bit her lip and hid in her mane before flying through the door and out, but she called back “Bye Cipher, good luck.”
Cipher sighed, he and Riolu walked out, not before Cipher checked the barometer, it said it would be a fine day.
Cipher shut the door and turned to leave when Bulk Biceps squeezed out his front door and trudged over to check a peanut cart, the muscular Pegasus turned to Cipher “Morning Cipher,” then he looked up and the open space beside his neighbour’s house “Where’s your mail cart?”
“I’m taking the coach today.” And the Changeling and Riolu walked away.
Bulk frowned in confusion “Taken the coach? He’s going to deliver the post on a trainer? Then why didn’t he ask me to give him a lift? I bet I could carry him.” He shrugged and fluttered away.
At the Post Office itself, Major Fields read the notice on the window. Miss Cheerilee and Big Mac stood close by. The Major nodded “Dash good idea.”
Cheerilee looked unsure “It’ll be extra work for Cipher though.”
“Yep.”
Just then, Cipher and Riolu arrive “Morning every-pony.”, the Major nodded “Morning Cipher.” And he walked off.
Miss Cheerilee smiled at the Jakhowl and scratched behind his ear “Hello Riolu.”, the pup’s eyes fluttered, she chuckled and turned to Big Mac “I’d better head to school, I’ll see later Big Mac.”
“Yep.” The two smiled at each other and walked off in opposite directions.
Cipher nodded his byes to the two and enter the Post Office. Muffins as usual sorted out the letters and parcels. Cipher walked up “Morning Muffins. We’re ready to go, hope you’ve got the reins safely.”
Muffins smiled and nodded “Oh yes Cipher, and good morning to you too.” She reached under the desk and pulled out a harness “Here they are.”, Cipher took them “Thanks very much. This is exciting.” He turned and walked to the door, he called back “I’ll pop back in for the letters and parcels when I’ve got her warmed up.” He walked out and down the High Street ‘I left it down the next street, out of the way.’ He passed a house ‘Somewhere around this corner.’ He looked around it and smile ‘Ah, there she is.’
From the corner, the sound of climbing up steps and the bending of carts springs drifted in the air, then the charging of magic, and the flick of reins. Something rolled out of the corner, but not Cipher regular auto-magic cart.
It looked like a horse drawn carriage, but being auto-magic no-pony need pull it. In a purple colour with the words ‘Royal Everfree Mail Coach.’ Written on the doors beside it a crown, not like any of the crowns seen before, not Celestia’s, be it her usual tiara or her official crown, the one she wore during Twilight’s coronation or Luna’s, or Cadance’s or Twilight’s original diadem with the symbol of Element of Magic, or the second simpler one after the Summer Sun Celebration with the Plunder Plants. This new coronet looked like three plates on hinges. A purple tree painted on the front plate, and above them for some reason, not the star of Twilight Sparkle, but a cross, neither Cipher, or Muffins could figure out why Twilight specified a cross for the heraldic representation of the Everfree Crown. Cipher did ask Fluttershy, but she didn’t know either.
Cipher and Riolu sat on the seat on the roof, with extra roof seating behind them. Cipher put the reins down and climbed off the seat using the small ladder. He then went inside. Muffins piled the letters and parcels “You are going to be busy Cipher, not that you can pick up passengers as well as deliver and collect the mail.”, Cipher took the post in his magic and nodded “I know.” And stepped outside, he called back “Chelsea Porcelain wants a lift into Huntersfield to do some shopping.”
Muffins appeared at the front door “That reminds me of a couple things, first North Sentry and Helmet Listener want a lift to Huntersfield to see their old friend Foggy Dew, and you’d better see if Reverend Farthing wants a lift.”
Cipher opened the box on the back on the coach and put the parcels and the letters inside it. He then went up to the front and fluttered up to the driver’s seat and charged his horn “I’ll not forget. Cheerio.” He flicked the reins and the mail coach rolled along the High Street.
He went through the village and out towards the Castle of Friendship. When the new Military Chaplain for the Everfree Guard arrived, it became apparent he didn’t have anywhere to stay, so Princess Twilight offered him a place within the Castle. Cipher did enter the Castle once or twice with Fluttershy, where he would occasionally converse with Spike and Starlight, but he never really explored the Castle.
He stopped and saw the Reverend Honouring Farthing standing outside, he didn’t look ready at all, indeed, he looked worried. A Unicorn with a cream coat, and a three-toned mane and tail of black, grey and blue. He wore a clerical collar on his black shirt, but unlike the stereotype of a vicar, he didn’t wear glasses, and at only nineteen he cut a rather heartthrob reputation with the teenager mares of the town, still for all his good looks he did have his faults.
Cipher took the letters addressed to him from the back of the coach and walked out. The Reverend smiled “Oh Cipher, I wanted to go into Huntersfield on your lovely new mail coach today, but oh dear,” his horn charged and from inside his shirt pocket he pulled out a handkerchief with three knots “and I know they are to remind me of something, but bless me, I cannot think what it is.”
“Well Reverend,” Cipher said scratching the back of his neck “I won’t be able to keep my passengers waiting, I’ll have to be on my way.”
The Reverend sighed “Don’t wait for me then Cipher, I’ll get my scooter out, if I remember in time.” He took the letters and Cipher went back to the coach “Goodbye Reverend.”, Farthing waved “Bye Cipher.”
And off went Cipher to the next stop. He rounded a bend, came to a junction, stopped, looked both ways, then turned right.
At the retirement village gate, Chelsea Porcelain stood ready with his stick and shopping bag. Cipher climbed down and opened the door to the passenger compartment. Chelsea smiled “Well this is something new. What a lovely way to go shopping.”
“Mind the step.” He helped her in and shut the door. Climbed back on top, he felt quite excited now with his first passenger, he took the reins “Off we go Riolu.” And they slowly rolled forward.
Then Chelsea started shouted “My hat! Cipher stop I’ve forgotten my hat.”, Cipher pulled hard on the reins, Riolu nearly fell off. “Oh dear, back we go.”, reserving an auto-magic cart is quite a tricky feat, but with the view the top seat gave him good visibility for the manoeuvre. Chelsea opened the carriage door and carefully got down “I won’t be long.” Then she muttered “I knew I would forget something.”
Cipher sighed and rested his chin on his hoof “I wonder if we’ll ever get to Huntersfield Riolu?”, the Jakhowl nodded while he held tightly to the seat. Cipher glanced back “Ah her she comes.”
Chelsea opened the gate and walked out with her hat on, a very nice hat too. Cipher fluttered down and helped her aboard and then shut the door before return to the driver’s seat. He glanced at Riolu and muttered “I hope she has forgotten anything else.”, again the Jakhowl nodded. Cipher flicked the reins and the coach trundled off again.
They went along a country lane and doubled back in the town to pick up North Sentry and Helmet Listener.
On the way, Cipher noticed something, or rather, a certain some-pony “I think we have another passenger Riolu.”
Outside Carousel Boutique, Rarity stood with a lot of shopping bags and baskets she waved her hoof “Stop!”, Riolu braced himself and Cipher pulled on the reins, the coach slowed to a standstill, Rarity smiled “Thank you Cipher.” she took a couple of the bags and baskets in her magic “Now, if you could be a dear and pass me a bag or two?”
Cipher smiled and shook his head “Certainly Miss Rarity.” He fluttered down as picked the remaining baskets in his magic. Spike must have been too busy today. Rarity opened the door and climbed in. Cipher looked at the baskets and the room in the compartment “Um, Miss Rarity, perhaps we should put the baskets on the roof.”
Rarity frowned disapprovingly at the suggestion “And risk my finely made Canterlot wicker baskets falling off? Never.”, Cipher sighed and put them in, but it did prove a struggle to fit anything in. Rarity sat next to Chelsea and her baskets laid on the floor, Rarity turned to the older mare and spoke in a slightly loader tone “Good morning Mrs Porcelain.”
Cipher tapped his hoof on the roof and called down “All safe and sound?”, he heard their positive replies and they moved off once more.
Passed a few more houses and to the left. Around a bend and there waiting at the end on the road leading to the latter’s house stood North Sentry, with his youngest son First Base close to his hoof, and Helmet Listener, another Earth Pony with a slightly unkempt white coat, his flack carried an animal trap cutie mark and greying three tone coloured mane and tail of different shade of brown topped off by a scraggly tie around his neck.
The coach stopped and North opened the door, he helped First Base in, then getting after sitting down put the colt on his lap. Then Listener climbed up, he looked at Rarity and Porcelain and shouted, “Hey up, it’s the Dolly Sisters!”, Rarity narrowed her eyes. Listener sat down roughly and Rarity started to complain “Mr Listener, do watch where you put your hooves.”, Listener looked down as saw his hoof stuck in one of the baskets “Sorry Rarity,” he pulled the basket off his hoof “I didn’t see your old basket there.”
“It isn’t an old basket Mr Listener, though it looks after being stuck on your hoof.”
Cipher looked up from the seat and shook his head “It used to be a lot quieter carrying letters and parcels didn’t it Riolu.” Without even needing to see his pet’s response Cipher got the coach going again, and they went on their way at last.
Around to the right. Over the hills. Around to right again. And along bumping country lanes. He stopped at a junction. Check to see no pony came along, and turned left. Cipher seemed to go faster than usual, most likely to make up for lost time.
Rarity didn’t like it at all “Slow down Cipher, you’re making me feel quite dizzy.”
Cipher looked up and saw something in the road ahead. Cipher slowed down seeing Filthy Rich standing next to a cart parked on the right side of the road filled like a small market. Cipher came alongside, a tight squeeze.
Rich gave a few directions “Left hoof down a little bit,”, Cipher inched forward, “Take it slowly,” Rich said, “or you’ll scratch your new mail coach.”, as they passed Rarity looked out of the window and smiled “Cipher, why don’t we have a little light refreshment? I’m sure Mr Rich has something in his cart.”
Chelsea smiled “Yes, a biscuit would be nice.”
Cipher stopped the coach and the passengers disembarked. Listener went first “How do Rich? You got my usual with you?”
Rich smirked “I did put a pack in just in case,” he looked up and smiled “All of you are welcome to be the first test costumers of my new business expansion, Barnyard Bargain’s Mobile Shop.”
North helped his son down, the colt rushed to the cart excitedly to see the item on sale for his dad to buy from him, North smiled and shook his head then turned to the carriage as Rarity came to it “Can I give you a hoof Miss Rarity?”
“Thank you, Mr Sentry, Flash must get his manners from you.”, she walked to the Mobile Shop as North help to get Chelsea off the carriage.
Cipher got down himself to check a nearby letterbox. He overhead the questions about what to eat and drink, the list included biscuits, cereals and chocolate, the last got First Base excited. North asked about drinks, lemonade, apple and orange juice. Cipher found two letters in the box and went back to the coach. As he went to the back he noticed Listener sitting to the side with a pack of cigars in his hoof, Cipher frowned “I’m not allowing smoking in the coach.”, Listener smiled “Don’t worry, I’ll save them for when we meet Foggy.”
“I’ll hold you up to that.” Cipher said grimly, make Listener shudder a bit. Cipher didn’t like scaring ponies, the Changelings needed a better reputation, but when needed to be he would say the occasional threat. He went to the back and put the letters in. Then he joined the other and chuckled “You'll all be spent up before we reach Huntersfield. And we really should be on our way, I have the letters to deliver as well as you, you know.”
North helped Chelsea back to coach “I haven’t finished my biscuits.” She said.
“Take them with you.” North said, “Mind the step.” He turned to First Base who stood with a bottle in his hoof “Be careful with the lemonade Sport. After you Miss Rarity. Are you coming Listener?”, they all climbed back into the coach.
Filthy counted his bits then he heard Cipher charge his magic and the start of trundling wheels he called over “Bye Cipher and thanks!”
Cipher waved back “Good luck Rich.” He turned to Riolu and chuckled “Have with left any-pony behind Riolu.”, the Jakhowl grinned and shook his head. Cipher nodded and looked down “That’s one thing about letters, they never get out for a biscuit.”, he flicked the reins and they started off again.
He passed Kimblewick Hall, where the Major and Porter stood at the gates, as they passed Porter called “Hello Cipher.” And the Major called out “Good luck old fellow.”
The continued on down the road, followed a bend right. Cipher knew the bridge over the river and the quickest route to Huntersfield would be coming up, but as he looked out he eyes narrowed “What now?”, as he approached his eyes widened and he sighed.
Dauntless Doo levitated cones and looked up as they approached “He reared up and held his hooves out “Stop!”, Cipher did so, Dauntless walked up “Sorry Cipher, you can’t go this way, the old bridge isn’t safe, it’s that heavy rain from the Everfree Forest, it’s caused a dreadful flood the other day and weakened the bridge.”
Cipher frowned “Oh dear, and we’re running late as well.”
Listener poked his head out of the window “I know a shortcut. Just go straight on this way.”, Cipher flicked the reins again and put his trust in Listener’s navigation.
Dauntless called “Sorry about the bother Cipher.”
The coach continued along the road and Listener spoke “Then left, down here.”, the width of the road turned very narrow and it got rather twisty, “Don’t worry,” Listener called “you’ll be alright.”
Suddenly the ground turned very bumpy. Rarity took note “This feels like a ploughed field.”
“Watch the gate as you turn into it!” Listener called.
Cipher frowned as he slowed and turned into the field, just enough room ‘I hope Listener knows what he’s doing.’
Rarity look out the window and huffed “I knew it, we’re lost. You don’t know which way from your fetlock is to you tail Mr Listener.”
“That’s not far, I’ve been this way dozens of time while hunting rabbits with my ferrets, it’s looks a bit different today that’s all.”
Cipher pulled the reins and stop he looked around but he didn’t know where to go, and with Listener unable to give proper directions now, Cipher now of only one option, go back the way they came, and now without suitable space in the field to turn he needed to go up hill, along a bumpy field in reverse.
When they reach the gate, Cipher blinked and smiled “I know where we are, this is the road to Sweet Apple Arches.”, with a barring he went straight to the Apple Farm, not only so he could work out a way to Huntersfield, but also because he needed to deliver some letters to the Apples.
Granny Smith sat on the porch in her rocking chair, while the Apple siblings all stood waiting to see the coach.
Cipher pulled in and stopped.
Applejack grinned “Well, ain’t that mighty fancy.”, Big Mac nodded “Yep.”
First Base jumped down and walked up to Apple Bloom, the two of them started talking about school and homework.
Cipher got down and went to get the letters “Usual delivery Applejack.”
North helped as Rarity got out “Thank you Mr Sentry.” She then went to Applejack. North went to join Big Mac as he and Listener looked at a piece of farming equipment.
Chelsea sat asleep in the coach, she awoke with a start “Where are we? Are we there?” She looked out the window “Where’s the market?”
Listener looked at the old machine and Big Mac said in very few words “The bit won’t come off.”
North looked unsure “Well depending on what bit you’re referring to that might be a good thing.”, Listener tapped the part with his hoof and it came off “I think thee spoke too soon Big Mac.”
Meanwhile Rarity and Applejack discussed matters “Well, Starlight told me…”
A ring and cries for help caught every-pony’s attention. “Oh dear! Help! Lord save us!”, a blur of cream came streaking through the yard with a cried of “Look out!” and it raced into the barn and cried “Oh heavens!”
CRASH.
North blinked after recovering from his cringe “Was that Reverend Farthing?” he and Listener went to the barn “Let’s go and see.”
“Yep.” Big Mac said and followed, quickly Applejack came to his side.
From out of the barn, and rather shaken stepped the Reverend. North looked concerned “You alright Reverend?”
Farthing shook himself “Dear me, what a ride. Thank the Lord Applejack that you have hay in your barn.” He smiled as Cipher came walking up, “Oh, but I remember now, that’s what the knots were for.”, he brought out his handkerchief in his magic and with his hoof pointed out the knots “One to remember my sister’s birthday. Two to remember to post her present.”
Cipher raised an eyebrow and pointed to the third knot “And three?”
“To get new brakes for my scooter.”
Listener and Big Mac chuckled, North smiled and looked up to the sky shaking his head. Applejack spoke “Why don’t you go to Huntersfield in the Mail Coach, and me and Big Mac with mend your scooter for you. I’ll bring it with me to the Castle tomorrow.”
Farthing smiled “Thank you Applejack.”
Cipher nodded “Time we were on our way.” And every-pony going to Huntersfield went to the coach. Farthing looked at the lack of space on the passenger compartment “It’s a very nice day, so I’ll ride on top, you have the spare seats.”, Cipher nodded as the two climbed aboard “It’s what they’re there for. You can keep me and Riolu company up here.”, the Jakhowl barked. Cipher took the reins “Next stop Huntersfield.”, they went around the barnyard and out onto the road, the Apples waved as they left.
Cipher went slightly faster than usual, he followed a bend to the right and followed the road up hill and over and continued along before passing a sign “Huntersfield at last.”, he slowed as they entered the small village.
In truth, when Ponyville becomes the capital of the Everfree Kingdom, Huntersfield would be called a suburb of it, one of the smaller surrounding villages which recently sprang up, or at least after Ponyville, the ponies there also accepted Twilight as their local Princess and their village committee already agreed to be a part of the Everfree Kingdom. The only difference between this village and Ponyville lay on the roofs, in Ponyville they used thatch, in Huntersfield roofs would be made of slate tiles. Not only this but a far larger Earth Pony majority population than Ponyville.
Cipher stopped the cart in the village square, which made up most of the settlement, just four lines in a square made up of shops and houses, only the market made it look far busier. Cipher got down and looked at the schedule “Every-pony back here please at two o’clock.”
Rarity nodded and said, “We’ll not be late.” And every-pony went their separate ways. Cipher watched interested as a lanky Earth Pony, with a walking stick under his foreleg and a scarf in the colours of some military regiment wrapped around his neck, approached the North, First Base and with slight disgust in his face, Listener. He nodded at them, then glanced down at First Base with astonishment before nodded with a smile, the Earth Pony quartet then walked away towards a house on the edge of the square.
When two o’clock came, every-pony but Chelsea Porcelain made it back. Cipher paced up and down worried “We’re going to be late, but we can’t go without her.”
Rarity stood up “I’ll go and look for her. She’ll be in the market getting potatoes.” She trotted off.
Listener leaned on the side of the coach finishing his cigar “I wonder where’s she’s got to?”
Cipher sighed and looked about “She’ll be having a good gossip somewhere.”
Riolu barked and Cipher turned around as Chelsea came walking up “There you are, have you seen Rarity? She’s looking for you.”
“Looking for me?” Chelsea said confused “I wasn’t lost.”
North climbed out the carriage “I’ll tell you what, you sit in the coach, and I’ll go look for Miss Rarity. Sport stay in the coach.”
“Okay Dad.”, and North walked away as Cipher help Chelsea in.
No sooner did North leave, Rarity came back looking worried “I’m afraid I can’t find Mrs Porcelain anywhere, I think we’ll have to report her missing. Then she glanced at the coach window and blinked “How did she get there?”
“She came back while you were looking for her, and North Sentry’s gone looking for you now.”
“Well, I’m flattered Mr Sentry would want to find me, but I’m not lost.”
Cipher sighed “I know you’re not lost, but…” he sighed again “Oh never mind, we’ll just have to wait, and I don’t know when we’ll get back to Ponyville.” He flew up to his sheet ‘I think I’ll read the book Fluttershy gave me, he reached under his seat and pulled said book out. Behind him the Reverend slept.
But North soon came back and they set off home again. Cipher turned the cart around the square and back up the road to Ponyville. Around the bend to the right. Cipher need to give letters and parcels to Windy Miller in the North-Eastern Windmill. He rolled into the yard where Windy walked with a basket of eggs on his back, he turned around hearing the sound. Cipher brought the coach to a stop “Hello Windy.” He climbed down.
“Hello Cipher,” Windy put the basket on the ground “I like your new Mail Coach, it’s a great idea. Do you think I take a dozen hens to the market in it tomorrow?”
Rarity with one of her smaller basket climbed down and frowned “Indeed not Windy. Just think of the feathers, we would all be sneezing for a week.”, she stopped at the basket of eggs “Oh, but darling what lovely eggs.” With her magic, she pulled out her purse “My I buy half a dozen please? I forgot to get some at the market.”
Windy nodded and began taking the eggs out. While Cipher got the correct post out from the back of the coach.
Windy put the eggs in Rarity’s basket and took the bits “There you are. Six lovely fresh eggs Rarity.”, Rarity smiled “Thank you so much Windy.” And she walked back to the coach as Cipher approached, Windy looked to Rarity “Mind you don’t break them.”, Cipher presented Windy with his post, the Miller grinned and took them “Thanks Cipher.”
“Your welcome, bye for now.” He flew up to his seat and heard the door shut. He flicked the reins and went through the yard and back onto the road. Then the turn left and towards Fluttershy’s.
Cipher blinked but grinned.
From the bridge over the stream before her cottage Fluttershy waved with frantic energy Cipher leaned back to the window and spoke to the other “Fluttershy wants us to stop.” He pulled the reins back and the coach rolled to a stop. Fluttershy sighed thankfully and smiled “Thank goodness you alright Cipher, Crackle Pop just arrived, he’s says Muffins is very worried, she’s been wonder where you’ve all gotten to, she thinks you’ve had an accident with the Mail Coach.”
Cipher smiled “I’ll speak with him, he inside?”
“Oh yes, why don’t you all come for a cup of tea?”
Rarity appeared at the window “That sounds simply wonderful Fluttershy darling.”, they all stepped out and went into the cottage.
Crackle currently took part in a staring contest with Harry the Bear. The bear blinked and slumped onto his back. Crackle smirk “Wait till I tell Dinky I stared down a bear and won.”, First Base walked up and smiled “I’ll back you Crackle, no-pony at school’s going to doubt me when it comes to sports.”
North chuckled and glanced at Listener “It warms your heart to know that kids today are just daft as we used to be.”, Listener meanwhile stroked one of the ferrets in the cottage he glanced at Fluttershy as she came in with the tea and asked, “You think I can bring my ferrets down for a playdate with yours?”
“Well, I don’t know if the bunnies will approve, Angel is very careful when he’s near ferrets.”
Cipher spoke with Crackle “No Crackle we haven’t been to Manehatten, just Huntersfield, got a bit delayed, we’re all safe and sound, go and tell your mother we’ll be back soon okay?", Crackle nodded and waving to First flew out of the cottage.
Rarity spoke with Fluttershy “What I time we had darling.” She turned to Cipher somewhat impressed “It’s a wonder Cipher managed to get us all home again.”, Fluttershy smiled and looked to him “He’s very dependable, when he puts his mind to it, he always does his best to see it through.”
Cipher smiled and blushed.
Listener chuckled “He doesn’t half go a funny colour.” He turned to the Reverend “What do you make of it Reverend?”
“Well, the Lord works in mysterious way.”
“Oh,” Fluttershy said looked to the Reverend “that reminds me Mr Farthing, Applejack came by to say if I saw you on the way back from Huntersfield, I was tell you she’s given your scooter a good oiling and it’s as good as new, all it needs is some new brake pads, and she’ll bring it down to the Castle tomorrow.”
Farthing smiled “Thank you for telling me that Miss Fluttershy, I’ll have to think of something to thank Applejack for her effort.”, Fluttershy nodded and turned to Chelsea “More tea Mrs Porcelain?”
Chelsea put her hoof to her ear “Sorry? What did you say?”, Cipher walked up “Fluttershy asked if you wanted more tea.”, Fluttershy smiled at him, introverted he may be but he knew how to project himself, 'No wonder he got chosen as a prince.'
Chelsea spoke “Well, just one more cup.”
Riolu sat in the corner with First Base, the colt chewed on a biscuit while the Jakhowl nibbled on one of the bone kept for Sunday tea.
Cipher looked out the cottage window to the town clock, he got up “Come on every-pony, time to be off. See you later Fluttershy.”
They all retook their places on the coach and Cipher turned to the left, the long day would soon be over. Cipher reached a junction and turned left again.
The first stop on the way back to the Post Office, Carousel Boutique. Rarity spoke “Just a minute Cipher darling, I must not forget anything.”, Cipher leaned down and opened the door for her, he smiled, Rarity finally called him darling, seems as if she’s finally accepted him as a friend, “Careful as you get out Miss Rarity, mind the step.”
Rarity shut the door and smiled “Thank you Cipher, goodbye.”, Cipher flicked the reins and they rolled onward.
Cipher turned right at the next junction. Rounded a bend. And stopped at the Retirement Village. He got down to help Chelsea out. “Thanks Cipher.” She said, she got to the door of the main building when she flinched “My hat! I’ve forgotten my hat!”
Listener reached for something from where she’d been sitting, a squashed cloth hat, he chuckled and gave it to Cipher who then levitated it to Chelsea. Then Cipher shut the door and climbed back onto his seat.
He followed the road back to the street where Listener lived. As soon as he when onto the street, he heard to door open and Listener shouted “Geronimo!”, then he North Sentry and First Base jumped off. Cipher looked back. They’d landed roughly but they all laughed.
Cipher smiled and shook his head to concentrate on the road ahead, to the Castle of Friendship to drop the Reverend off.
They passed Princess Twilight and Captain Flash Sentry walking into town. Cipher and the Reverend gave them a wave and they waved back.
Finally, they stopped at the Castle, the Reverend climbed down “Thank you, my goodness it’s been quite a day.” He then looked up at the Changeling “Oh Cipher, I still have a knot in my handkerchief.”
“Now then Reverend,” Cipher said tiredly “is it a new one? Or just one you forgot to undo?”
“I’ve forgotten. Oh dear. Goodbye Cipher.”
Cipher looked to Riolu, who just shrugged, the Reverend couldn’t be lying if he didn’t know the information. Cipher chuckled and stroke the Jakhowl’s head “Time we remembered to go home Riolu.” He flicked the reins once more and the Mail Coach headed back to the Post Office.
For a first try Cipher seemed reasonably pleased with how things turned out, but he would suggest this should not always be like this, with how chaotic things got he decided to only use the Mail Coach when ponies needed it, like say if they hired it, he still wanted a quiet job delivering the post, introvert after all.