//------------------------------//
// Chapter 7 – A Message Home 
// Story: Cross-World Brotherhood 
// by Mareofkindness 
//------------------------------//

Fluttershy yawned as she heard knocking on her door. She was oversleeping, on accident of course. She got out of bed, went downstairs, and opened the door. “Oh,” said Fluttershy after yawning “good morning, Derpy.”
The mailmare shuffled through her bag, pulling out a letter. “I have a letter for Fluttershy from Princess Celestia and a… Teotle.” Derpy hands Fluttershy the letter and waves goodbye, en route to deliver a package to the wrong house. “Such a sweetheart.” Fluttershy commented.
Fluttershy opened the letter with a butter knife and read it.



Dearest Fluttershy,
I request that you, the girls, Spike, and the students come to Canterlot by tomorrow afternoon. Luna and I have something to show you, and I believe you will like who it is.
Best Wishes,
Princess Celestia and Teotle



There also appears to be a paint-stamped paw print underneath the signatures. “I wonder who this ‘Teotle’ is.” She told herself as she went outside to feed the chickens.

Meanwhile, a young yak slept in. It was Saturday, a perfect reason to do so. Being a heavy sleeper, Yona didn’t hear the pounding of Prince Rutherford stomping into their home. That is, until the prince started hollering. “YONA!!! YOU HAVE LETTER FROM PONY!!!” Yona jumped up about two feet in the air and landed, taking the letter. “Thank you, father!”
Yona ripped it open and read the letter, in fancy characters:



Dear Yona,
I am requesting that you join Twilight, her friends, Spike, and your fellow classmates to ride a train to Canterlot. It will arrive tomorrow afternoon, and I think you will enjoy meeting me.
Sincerely,
Teotle



Just like Fluttershy, there was a red paint-stamped paw print underneath the letter. Yona had to read the letter several times, however, to comprehend all the words. “Yona not understand fancy letters! But Yona go tell papa about field trip!!!” She leaped out of bed, and bounced out of her house to find Prince Rutherford.



“Is everypony ready for the train?” Twilight asked the girls who stood at the station, at roughly two o’clock in the morning. “I am, but I need my beauty rest, darling!” Rarity complained as she put down her excessive luggage. “You know I’m not this fabulous without my rest!”
“Mare, please!” Applejack blurted out. “I barely got sleep last night because 
Applebloom was having nightmares!”
“Darling, Applejack, you think all this was an accident?” Rarity argued.
“Sure looks like it was with the way you’re acting…”
“Hey everypony!” Rainbow Dash yelled to stop the fighting. “Here come the students!” Twilight looked in the distance and saw all of them: Ocellus, Silverstream, Smolder, Gallus, Sandbar, and Yona, along with their respective guardians. Except for Gallus, everypony knew about why his guardian didn’t show up. Every creature greeted each other warmly, as Seaspray was the first to speak up. “So, Princess Twilight, I believe you have set up some sort of field trip, is this correct?”
“Yes, Seaspray. We are going to Canterlot as the train arrives in t-minus 2 minutes.” Thorax yawned and asked “our students are going to see the princess, and-,” but not before Prince Rutherford cut him off. “WHY WE HERE BEFORE NO SUN?!? YAKS LIKE SUN SO WE SEE!!!!”
“Papa!” Yona quietly yelled, “I’m sure you can find home from here!” The prince nodded as Ember responded. “How long is this recreation/field trip going to be? And who was the pony Thorax was gonna mention?”
“His name is Teotle. He’s a subject that we are to observe. Princess Celestia told me that he’s excited to meet you all.” Twilight replied, as Thorax finished with a quick “sounds reassuring.”
“We will also be staying for the next three days. We will come back on Wednesday afternoon.” Twilight added.
Soon enough, the train was pulling up to the station from a little way’s away. Every creature said goodbye to their guardians and got on the train. The conductor tried to stop them, but Twilight pulled out her tickets for all fourteen of them and gave them to him. “Thank you, Princess. I truly admire your work.” Twilight smiled and said thank you as everypony else loaded into the coach car. The students were in a premium suite, and the others were in the one next door. The creatures’ eyes glistened as they walked into something they’ve never seen before. There were six beds, each marked with their names, as well as a miniature fridge with some snacks inside.
“Now Yona,” Gallus added as Yona was testing the beds by jumping on them. “This is going to sound strange, but you have to be careful around here, ok?” Yona settled on her mattress as Silverstream added “I heard this stuff in here can cost tons of bits if we break it!” Yona popped her head up from resting, pupils dilated. “Yona does not want to pay tons of bits!” Sandbar laughed a little. “Then don’t break anything, Yona. You silly yak!”
Yona blushed a little, embarrassed. “Yona don’t think she is silly! All you are silly!” Every creature laughed and sat on their beds. Everyone wasn’t used to a bed, especially Silverstream, Smolder, and maybe Ocellus. Speaking of which, Smolder asked “when are we leaving?” Ocellus spoke up quietly and responded. “The nice man who helped us on the train told us the train departs at 2:15am.”
“And what time is it now?”
Ocellus checked the digital clock sitting literally right next to Smolder. “2:14am.” As Ocellus announced the time, a stallion voice came from the speakers in the ceiling.
“Greetings and a warm welcome to Gallus the griffon, Ocellus the changeling, Sandbar the stallion, Silverstream the hippogriff, Smolder the dragon, and Yona the yak! My name is Jace, and I will be your pegasus conductor for the train ride. We will be taking a three stop, eight to nine hour trip to Canterlot, courtesy of this train, provided by Equestrian Elite Railways! Please get comfortable! There are snacks in the mini fridge provided, and some foods can be purchased upon request! As always, if you have a request, please feel free to hit the call button on the wall above the pantry. Once, again, thank you for choosing Equestrian Elite Railways. You creatures will be given a special guide to tour the beautiful trip to Canterlot, as well as a free blanket to keep warm during this chilly weather! My name is Jace, and thank you lastly for riding with us. The train will depart in several seconds.”
Silverstream, not knowing what an overhead communication system was, clapped in amazement. “I didn’t even see him!” Every creature laughed as they felt a little movement below their feet. They all talked with each other, as the train departed the station, headed for Canterlot.