Boltsinger walked up to the platform at the Canterlot train station, waiting for the train to arrive as the yellow Pegasus mare he met earlier, named Fluttershy, if he remembered correctly, came and stood next to him.
“Um... Hi, there,” she started, looking at him with a bit of understanding. “I bet it was a bit of a shock, meeting everypony all at once...”
“Yeah... It was pretty scary...” Boltsinger replied, scratching his mane with one of his wings. “You're all so friendly, though... It really was a pleasure to meet you.”
Fluttershy laughed softly. “I'm glad. I know how scary it can be when you're put on the spot like that. You should be glad they didn't ask you to sing for them.”
The orange pony tilted his head, folding his ears back at the statement. “Actually, I think I would have done better if I just had to sing for them.”
Fluttershy gasped. “Really? But... all of those... eyes... on you. It doesn't bother you?”
Boltsinger chuckled nervously. “It really sorta depends on the context. I've got no problem using my voice to help other ponies. It's what got me my Cutie Mark. Plus, getting into the music can be fun!”
Fluttershy smiled and thought back to her own experiences in performing music. “It is pretty fun once you get into it.”
The two Pegasi conversed for a while, laughing quietly and talking about music as Twilight and the others came up. The small dragon, Spike, looked at the smiling conversation and turned to Twilight. “I guess some ponies just click, huh?” He commented, noting the happy atmosphere.
Twilight looked on at them. Seeing the the newest pony to enter her life smile for the first time made her smile in turn. She opened her mouth to call out to the two, but before she could raise her voice, the whistle of the arriving train blew, sending her into an annoyed pout. As the train pulled up, each pony looked over at the opening doors, boarding the then-empty car.
“Wow...” Boltsinger said, looking around the cabin at the cushioned seats with colorful furnishings. “It's been a while since I've been on a train... It looks downright cozy in here.” He found a seat near the back of the cabin and sat down. To his surprise, it was Twilight that came and sat next to him.
“So, are you excited to see Ponyville?” she asked him.
“It definitely piques my interest,.” he told her. “My 'flights' have only taken me there once, and it was a long time ago. I helped a Unicorn there with some mic checks for a few days. She was really quiet, despite working with sound so much. Then, once her Cutie Mark showed up, my wings made me take off again.”
Twilight was a little surprised to hear the reference to somepony familiar. She chortled a bit before clearing her throat. “Well, it's changed a lot in the past few years.” She gestured grandly with her left hoof . “And you'll be staying in the biggest change of them all!”
Boltsinger couldn't help but wonder what the Alicorn was talking about as he looked at her. “I'm... not sure I follow. Staying in a big change?”
From behind the seat they were sitting in, Pinkie Pie appeared, mimicking Twilight's gesture. “She's talking about the CASTLE! You know, the castle that came out of the ground after Twilight and the rest of us used some sparkly rainbow magic to transform and defeat a MEEEEEAN monster named Tirek, and give ALL the ponies in Equestria their magic back and the chest buried itself just outside of Ponyville! It's all big, and crystal-y, and REALLY pretty and--” Twilight's hoof covered Pinkie's mouth, although she continued talking in a muffled an unintelligible ramble.
“You'll see when we get there,.” Twilight finished, putting her hoof back on the seat and tilting her head in a more humble position. “I think you'll like it.”
Boltsinger faintly blushed at the sight, and turned his head to look out the window. At that moment, looking out at the countryside, the realization hit him.
“I'm staying at a CASTLE?!” He turned his head to face the Princess again. “I thought I was just gonna stay at a hotel or something! Why would you want me to stay in the castle?!”
“Well,” Twilight said. “to be honest, staying at the castle was Princess Celestia's idea. I'm not entirely sure as to why, but I trust my teacher, so I'm going to go along with it.”
“Well, if you say so...” Boltsinger said as he averted his gaze to the floor below, pawing at the seat with his hoof. What is it with these princesses and doing stuff like this for... somepony like me?
Twilight examined him, seeing in him the sadness that her mentor had told her about. “Are you alright?”
“I-I'm just a little confused, is all,” he told her. “In all of my 'flights', this is the first time I've ended up somewhere so... grand. And instead of being needed to help other ponies, the ones I met were insistent on... on helping me...” He looked over at Twilight and gestured to himself with both a hoof and a wing. “Am I really worth all of this?”
Twilight smiled at him and placed a wing on his back. “That's up to you to decide, but I believe everypony is worth it in the end.”
Boltsinger smiled softly as he looked over at the mares in the cabin. They were all chatting and enjoying themselves as the train made its way towards their destination. From there, he looked out the window, seeing a large crystal castle in the distance, and acres of farmland in proximity. From who knows where, to Canterlot, to Ponyville… I guess that’s just the norm these days. Day to day, place to place. Wonder how long I’ll be in this town before I’m suddenly gone…?
As the train pulled up at the station, the ponies on board disembarked. Twilight and her friends walked out like it was normal, while Boltsinger slowly walked out behind them. His gaze was fixed on the floor below, still trying to wrap his mind around the whole situation. Pinkie Pie was the first to leave the station, saying something about ‘something super-duper important’ she had to set up for later. The stallion was more than a little confused by it all.
Rarity trotted over to the Pegasus. “I'm going to head back to my boutique, but I'd love it you were to pay me a visit!” She said, smiling. “We simply must do something about that mane of yours.”
Boltsinger looked perplexed, wondering what she meant. He walked over to Twilight, Spike, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash. The cyan Pegasus looked over at him, pondering.
“I've got an awesome idea!” She exclaimed, jumping up into the air and hovering there. “I'll come over later to tell you about it. I just know you're gonna love it!”
Twilight laughed and nodded. Applejack and Fluttershy said their farewells and headed to their own homes, leaving Twilight, Spike, and Boltsinger behind.
“So,” Boltsinger began. “I'm... not all that familiar with the town. Would you mind leading the way?” He gave the mare a weak smile. Twilight nodded and turned, starting at a trot toward the town.
Twilight seemed to lead Boltsinger along the scenic route, showing him every corner of Ponyville along the way, enthusiastically explaining all the great parts about each location. He was fascinated by the history of locations like Sweet Apple Acres, and wanted to try the goods he heard about at Sugar Cube Corner. He was still a little leery about the idea of entering the boutique, as he wasn't quite sure what that entailed. Eventually, Twilight led him to her own place of residence, the Castle of Friendship.
“Well,” Twilight said. “We're here.” She poked her head in the door as the blue-maned stallion looked up at the crystal building. It looked similar to a library that he saw the last time he was in town, yet far more grandiose. He could hardly believe that this was where he'd be staying while he was in Ponyville. He slapped his face with his wings, and then looked over at Twilight, who was now looking back at him.
She opened the door, keeping her gaze on him. “I'm going to take care of something inside. Can you wait a couple minutes?” With a nod from Boltsinger, she laughed and hurried in.
Taking another look at the castle, his thoughts stirred up again. He found himself recalling everything that had happened so far over and over again, losing himself to the races that were his ponderings until a knock at the door snapped him out of it. “Okay, come on in!” Twilight called. At last, Boltsinger walked up to the door, slowly pushing it open with one of his forelegs.
The inside of the castle was just as beautiful as the outside. It was welcoming, expansive, and very... shiny. However, he noticed that nopony else was in there with him. Twilight and Spike had gone in, but the room had no trace of either of them. He walked into the grand foyer, wondering what in Celestia's name was going on.
BOOM!
What sounded like a cannon came from behind, and Boltsinger immediately jumped up into the air, giving one good, strong flap of his wings, he sent a gust of wind through the room. In that gale, streamers, confetti, and various party decorations went flying everywhere, somehow falling perfectly into place. At the end of the hall, a banner attached itself to the wall, revealing text that said “WELCOME BOLTSINGER” in big, friendly orange text. At the same time, Twilight, Spike, Fluttershy, Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie were sent from behind the pillars and into the back wall, looking dazed, as Rainbow Dash flew against the wind over to the stallion that caused it.
“Surpriiiiiiiise...!” The dazed mares all exclaimed as Rainbow Dash hovered next to Boltsinger, busting a gut at the unfolding events.