//------------------------------// // Traveling Companions // Story: Kiwe's Journey // by Mocha Star //------------------------------// The group of four packed their saddlebags after their morning care and left the inn behind them, full bellies and good spirits traveled with them. “I liked that place, it was cozy and I learned a recipe for stew.” “You'd love any place that offered you a meal,” Jade teased and got a raspberry I reply. “What about you, Meanie Hat?” “If you're not gonna be nice to me  you can always walk alone.” “No, Kiwe is the leader because his dad's missing.” Kiwe and Violet moved ahead into the lead as the others argued and bickered. “What of your time and thoughts?” “Well, it was my first time at an inn, but we all said that this morning,” she shrugged, “I guess it was just weird. I mean, I've stayed in places on the road before with my herd and it's never been like that.” “I have never been on a vacation such as this, we'd always just go by train or airship. If I had to be honest, the last several hours have been memorable, I hope to have more exciting experiences like this one.” Violet giggled at him. “You're weird, but a good weird. You're always looking at the good side.” “As opposed to,” he motioned behind them. “She's not so bad. She has to admit a couple things, then she'll be better behaved. It's not because of her disease that she's acting like this.” Violet looked at Kiwe with a knowing look that he didn't seem to understand. “Well, for the sake of our journey I hope she gets better before Jade becomes physical.” “You think he'd do that?” “You think she wouldn't?” Kiwe countered. “But, you don't hit a stallion. It's just wrong,” she looked back at the two still talking but far enough behind that they couldn't be heard. “I'd stop her before she hurt him.” “Fighting is wrong, regardless. Even them speaking words to hurt each other is too much, however I know to choose my battles. They won't stop if I involve myself, but they will on their own when something more pressing arrives.” “Now you're talking weird, and not the good kind.” “You’ll see, eventually. Violet, I was wondering…” “What?” Kiwe looked to the trees to his right. “How was my mother when you last saw her?” “Oh. I thought you’d ask that yesterday. Um, she was proud of you and us for taking after you. I expected older ponies to be upset or something, but she was really supportive and the potion didn’t even make us weird when it wore off, I was worried we’d fall asleep for a whole day.” “Well, it is Tuesday.” Violet’s eyes widened. “What?!” Kiwe snickered and got a frown, then a firm punch to his shoulder. “You butt, you shouldn’t joke like that.” “It was an opportunity I could not miss, why must you make me hiss.” “Don’t you think you can rhyme your way out of making me think I slept for days,” she smirked, “that was mean.” “That was funny though, right?” The other two arrived quickly. “What happened? Violet, did he hurt you? I’ll kick him in the balls if he-” “Chill out, Balls on the Brain! They’re fine, look at them,” Jade gestured to Kiwe and Violet. “I’m not…” Mist blushed slightly changing the pink on her cheeks from rose to strawberry, “I’m not thinking about his, or yours, either! Shut up,” she huffed and looked away from Jade, her cheeks turning magenta as her eyes glimpsed under a black and white striped tail as it swayed. Jade whispered loudly, “Busted.” Kiwe’s tail lowered and he slowed to let them catch up and walk side by side with Violet and Kiwe moving Jade and Mist to alternating outsides. “As I said, distraction.” … The group sat on a patch of well trod earth with an unlit firepit in the center and logs around for sitting that they chose to not use. “Jade, can you pass me some alphalpha?” “Here, Vi, can I get a slice of bread?” “Whup!” she exclaimed as she tossed him a slice in exchange. “Drink, Mist?” “Uhm, what is it?” Kiwe sniffed the canteen and caught himself in her trap. “Water, like it should be.” “I’ll have the water, then.” The lunch they were having was actually nice and peaceful, no fighting or bickering, and spirits were actually high. “Bwak!” A voice shouted from above and came falling through the trees to their far left into the shrubbery and vines off the road. Mist swallowed her mouthful of water and sighed. “It’s her, isn’t it?” The bushes rustled. “I believe it is, however I am uncertain as to why.” “Me too, we left her back at the inn.” “And they were happy when we did, why’s she here?” “Maybe we forgot something, or it’s just chance.” The four took a bite of their sandwiches and watched the rustling bushes give birth to a grown mare that toppled and somersaulted out into the grass with a pained whine. “I’m not talking to that… mare.” “Glad to see your butt doesn’t smell for once.” “Shut it, you two,” Violet hissed as she pointedly tried to ignore the pegasus dusting herself off. “It is rude to ignore other ponies, is it not? Let us see if she brings something we forgot.” The fillies with them glared in response. “Just ignore her, Kiwe, maybe she won’t see us.” “That’s almost as dumb as everything else you say.” “Rubber, glue,” Jade pointed from himself to Mist. “Rubber, glue times two.” A gasp. “You can’t do that!” “I just did.” “Then rubber, glue times three cuz you can’t beat me.” “Rubber glue times four cuz you’re not as good as a girl.” Violet and Kiwe looked at each other and gobbled the rest of their sandwiches, took a drink of water to wash them down, and got up in less then fifteen seconds. “Oh, hiya gals. I’m here, so we can be adventuring!” Flitter opened her wings fully and grinned innocently. “But, why? There’s gotta be a great reason you’re leaving your mother for, right?” “Nope, Vi-vi.” Kiwe snickered. “Don’t call me that, and aren’t you worried what your mother will think when she sees you’re gone?” “Nope, Lit-lit.” Violet snorted and glared for a second before she responded. “My name is Violet, or Vi. What’re you doing here? Did we forget something?” “Nope, Violet Orvi! You said I can come with you last night so here I am, I even brang my own stuff in my baggies, but they’re up there in the trees cuz it came off when I fell,” she pouted. “Kiwe.” Violet frowned at the zony colt who was snorting laughter from his snout while his hoof kept him from laughing out loud. “And Flitter, I didn’t mean, well, I did say, but you shouldn’t.” Flitter blinked at her. “What’d you say?” “That you can come with us.” “Yay! Thanksomuch, I’ll get my baggies and we can sing and dance and prance and rhyme and-” she trailed off as she flew up into the light canopy. “Wait, I didn’t mean… I said…” she turned her attention to the colt that finally let the laughter roll. “Oh, go stick an acorn in your nose, Kiwe!” … “Wait, so she’s coming with us? But, why?! She’s got nothing to do with any of this.” “Technically, neither do you two. It’s supposed to be me and Kiwe, you two are tagging along. Why don’t you have your own girls club where you can travel any other way?” “Jade, that is not a nice thing to say. Telling them to be on their way,” Kiwe scolded as they began packing their bags again. “Well, if it was up to me-” “It’s not, though.” “Thank Celestia for that.” Mist stomped her hoof in frustration. “You should listen to me, Violet. That mare’s trouble. If she isn’t going to knock a tree into our path, then she’s gonna break something we’ll have to fix and pay for. There’s a lotta towns between here and Vanhoover and we still have weeks of travel to go.” “If you’re so worried, then you can tell her to go home,” Violet gestured to the mare hopping after a grasshopper on the other side of the road, “but remember that if you make her upset you’ll feel bad about it.” Mist hesitated, looking at the happy mare, then back to her bags before biting them, flipping them onto her body, and quickly tightening the straps to keep them steady. “Whatever. She’ll get bored and go home on her own once she realizes how boring you three are,” she smirked. They all shared a mirthful smile after that.