//------------------------------// // Goodbye Grey Skies // Story: Happy Town Eternal Memorabilia // by Vertigo22 //------------------------------// A chilly autumn night. The falling leaves making for a sight that, while once mildly entertaining, had grown dull. It was five hours, and three trains ago, that Twilight Sparkle awoke to the sensation that always preceded an adventure of some sort. With Spike by her side, Twilight rushed to the train station and began her trip. This time, they were called away from their beloved kingdom to travel to a region tucked away from the frozen tundra that was the Crystal Empire. “Ugh…” Spike hung off the side of his seat, staring blankly at the wall across from him. “Twilight, just how far is this place?” he asked. “We left in the middle of the night and the sun should be up any minute now.” “We’ll be there shortly,” Twilight said. “You said that—” The train came to a halt and the horn blared, causing Spike to jump up and look around. “You were saying?” Twilight said, a smirk plastered on her face. Spike folded his arms and huffed. “I can't help that I'm bored.” He got off his seat and grabbed some of the luggage that he'd packed. “Need me to carry anything for you?” Twilight nodded. “As preparation for coming up north, I've packed all the necessities one would need to deal with the harsh environment!” She levitated a bag out and gave it to Spike. “Best of all: I have everything we’ll need if it suddenly starts snowing and we get stuck out here!” A second bag was placed atop the first. “Oh, goody.” Spike slung the bag around his arm and got off the train. A light breeze kicked up a few leaves as they stepped onto a platform. Through a small door, they walked into a small station and out to a quaint village. “Where to?” “The map said that the issue was to the west.” Twilight looked towards a dirt path that lead into a forest. “It should be somewhere out there.” Spike nodded and the two began their trek into the forest. Silence loomed over there, save for the occasional chirp of birds and the crunching of leaves. After a few minutes, Spike spoke up. “So, who do you think needs our help today?” “Well, I was thinking about that on our way here,” Twilight said. “I narrowed down the possibilities to a group of campers or some survivalists.” She stopped and thought for a moment. “Though, I guess that survivalists likely wouldn't have a problem since their lives wouldn't depend on each other to make sure they weren't harmed, so I guess campers.” Spike stopped and looked around. In spite of all of their walking, the area hadn't changed. Trees stretched for as far as he could see. The ground off the dirt path was nothing but a sea of leaves and branches. “Doesn't really look like there's anyone here.” He ran back up to Twilight's side. “You sure we’re in the right pl—” “Halt!” The ground around Twilight and Spike shook as several pegasi, all clad in white armor, swooped down and landed around them, spears drawn and raised. “State your business.” “I'm Princess Twilight Sparkle, former pupil to Princess Celestia,” she said. “And this is my assistant, Spike.” A sudden thud came from beside Twilight as Spike capitulated, dropping the bags and curling his wings, shaking and whimpering. “I see…” One of the guards withdrew his spear and motioned for the others to do the same. He nodded to another, who took off and flew away. “Come with us. We've been expecting a visitor such as yourself.” “You… have?” Twilight tilted her head. “For what?” “Our mayor has been requesting you come here for quite some time,” the guard said. “He said that your presence is urgent and something he's wanted for years.” “Okay…” Twilight nudged Spike, who stopped shaking and picked the bags up. “Why?” “He didn't tell us.” The guard walked motioned for Twilight to follow. “Now, come with us. Our town is just up ahead.” Twilight and Spike followed the guard as the other took off, kicking up dust and leaves as they did so. After a few minutes, they arrived outside a massive wall. A gate was slowly creaked opened, revealing several houses that lined a cobblestone street. “This is it,” the guard said. “As required by law, you are to go ahead and meet some of the residents. I'm sure they're all very eager to meet you both. After that, go to the mayor's office where he will speak to you.” Twilight nodded her head and walked into the town. Butterflies of all colors flew around, landing atop newly-blossomed flowers. The singing of birds and their hatchlings filled the air. Topping it off was a vibrant rainbow that arched from the far west portion of the town to the opposite end; a majestic waterfall behind it. “Looks like it was designed using Canterlot as inspiration,” Spike said. “Though it feels less… uptight.” Twilight waved a hoof to a few passing ponies. She could hear a few of them chatting about the princesses of the desolate wastelands and how ‘Happy’ will herald on the glorious new age, while a few gawked at her and spoke of her having a ‘deformity’. Amidst the chatter however, her eyes remained fixated on the architecture. It was high class—and remarkably well done—but felt off. “It feels fake,” she said. “Like it was manufactured and not hoofmade.” The grumble of empty stomachs filled the air. Before either Twilight or Spike could say something, a mare with a light-blue coat and short, chocolate-colored mane rushed up in-between them, levitating two cupcakes in front of them. “Hello, you two!” she said with a massive smile. “I'm Candy Cane, and I own the local sweets shop!” She gestured to a house down the block that looked no different than the others: white with a beige roof and four windows, two on each floor. Twilight looked at the house before turning her attention back to the cupcake that had been floating in front of her. “Oh, why thank you.” She grabbed it with her own magic, devouring it in a single bite. Candy squealed and danced in place. “Oh, it's so lovely to meet new faces here. It's not often that we get new residents.” She stopped and looked at Twilight with child-like glee. “So, tell me: have you met anypony else?” Twilight shook her head. “You’re the first pony we've spoken to,” she said. “We just got here.” A realization hit her like a tonne of bricks, causing her to blush. “Oh, I'm so sorry. My name is Twilight Sparkle—” she motioned to Spike, who took a bite out of his cupcake— “and this is Spike.” “Oh, there's no need to introduce yourselves!” Candy clapped her hooves together. “Our mayor, Happy Townscolt, said that we would should be expecting you both a few days ago!” Twilight stared, slack jawed. “He… knew we were coming?” she asked. “H-how?” Candy giggled. “Are you unfamiliar with Happy?” she asked, continuing when Twilight and Spike both nodded. “Happy is a prophet—and the greatest in all of Equestria! Maybe even all of Equus. He has successfully made many prophecies, and your arrival is but one of many.” Twilight raised an eyebrow. “A prophet?” “Oh, yes.” Candy shook her head. “I shouldn't keep you waiting though. Go meet other ponies before you have to meet him.” Twilight slowly nodded, before hastily trotting off with Spike in tow, and continued down the street. “So…” Spike aimlessly looked around and cleared his throat. “What, uh… what do you think of this ‘prophet’?” “I'll judge when I see him,” Twilight responded. “Just knowing that the ponies here expected me is unnerving though.” She stopped and rubbed her temples. “I just… I've never had anypony waiting when trying to solve a friendship problem, let alone had an entire town waiting for me like I'm some fulfillment of a prophecy.” With a sigh, Twilight resumed her stride. “I feel I should be able to rationalize this, but it just doesn't feel right.” Spike glanced around, now half-heartedly waving at a few of the ponies that greeted and waved at him. “I take it this may not be the best time to ask a question then?” Twilight shook her head. “No, you can.” Spike inched closer to Twilight, leaning in closely. “Do you think someone from Starlight's old town went ahead and made a new one?” “No way,” Twilight whispered back. “This looks like it's been here for far longer than Starlight ever had her town.” “Hello!” A high-pitched voice caused Twilight and Spike to stop in their tracks. Turning around, they saw an earth pony mare with a coat as orange as the morning sky and a beige-colored mane galloping up to them. “You must be new here!” She wrapped her legs around Twilight briefly and smiled widely. “I mean, you aren't familiar, so I'm guessing that you're new!” Twilight took a few steps back. “Y-yeah, you could say that,” she said. “My name is—” “You're Twilight Sparkle!” the mare interjected. “And you're Spike! I overheard you talking to Candy before!” She picked him up and hugged him. “And might I just say: you are the cutest little dragon ever!” She fell to her haunches, rubbing her cheek against Spike's, and continued, her gaze loosely fixated on Twilight. “My name's Summer Solstice! I own a little flower shop just up the block.” “T-that’s… nice… air,” Spike choked out. “Oh, I'm so sorry!” Summer released Spike from her embrace. She stood up and giggled. “So, I take it you know that our mayor has been expecting you?” “Yeah…” Twilight walked up next to Spike and wrapped a wing around him. “Speaking of which, where's his office?” “Oh, I'll go show you!” Summer motioned for the two to follow her. “So, what do you think of the town so far?” “It's… nice,” Twilight said, eyeballing the houses. Though she hadn't said anything, the sight of them had begun to get to her. They were identical: all white with beige roofs and four windows; two on the top floor and two in the bottom. “Definitely a cozy little place.” “Oh, you don't know the half of  it!” Summer stopped in front of Twilight, her big blue eyes glistening in the sunlight. “Here in Happy Town, there are no grey skies and no frowns!” she said. “Everypony is always happy and smiling! No one has cried it felt angry!” Summer bounced, giggling wildly. “Everything is perfect!” Twilight further closed her wing around Spike, who wrapped his arms around her leg, and took a step back. “Um… that's very nice, Summer, but I'd really like to speak to the mayor,” she said. “Especially if he's been expecting me.” Summer stopped bouncing. “Oh, yes!” She pointed to a larger-than-average building up the street. “His office right up there!” she said. “I’ll show you around town after he's done talking to you! Okay?” “Sure.” Twilight nudged Spike slightly, who let go of her leg, and trotted ahead, her wing still encasing Spike. “See ya, new friend!” “Twilight,” Spike said softly. “Is she related to Pinkie?” Twilight sighed. “No, she isn't,” she said. “At least, I don't think she is.” After a brief walk, the two arrived outside city hall. Twilight withdrew her wing and walked up the flight of stairs, opening the door and trotting up to the front desk. “Twilight Sparkle?” an elderly mare said from behind the desk. “That's me,” Twilight said. The mare looked down at Spike. “Sorry, little guy, but you have to wait out here.” Ignoring the eye roll Spike did, she looked at Twilight. “Come with me.” Twilight followed the mare through a large, wooden door. Inside, and behind a desk, sat a pegasus, his mane as dark as the night sky. Complementing it was a coat that was white as snow. In front of him was a small, neatly stacked pile of papers. To the side was a small nameplate that was written—and colored—with a myriad of crayons. A few stickers adorned it. Topping it all off was a thin layer of glitter. Mayor Happy T. Happy looked up and set aside a paper. A smile formed on his face as Twilight stepped forward, her legs shaking. “The archangel told me you'd be coming,” he said in monotone. “Welcome to Happy Town. I'll be showing you to your new home momentarily.”