Plumes of smoke billowed from the happy little smokestack attached to a happy little train as it chugged through miles of scenery. It had become rather dull to look at. One pony on this busy little train sure thought so. As other passengers dine on sweets or chat with their seatmates, a slightly chubby pink Earth pony stared out at the passing scenery. Tear stains were still on her cheeks from about three miles or so back. She looked tired, worn and just generally unhappy. It was a stark contrast to the other passengers on the train. The pink mare sighed pushing back a runaway pink curl from her otherwise salon kept mane. She was going to have to find a place to stay and set right to work on taming her mane as soon as possible. The mare clutched one light blue saddle pack to her chest stretching the small stitched image of her cutie mark, a blue dahlia with a single leaf. Her pale blue eyes transfixed on the outside world as if to hide the fact she had been crying a while before. With a sniffle, she rubbed her eyes a bit trying to clear the red from them.
“Are you alright, Sugar?” the pink mare jumped in her seat turning her head sharply to see a slightly older apple green Earth pony mare. She had stopped at the pink mare’s little booth. The pink mare could only guess they were a good few seasons apart by looks alone. Trying to save face, the mare swept her hoof over her mane and put on a rather weak smile.
“I-I’m fine, Ma’am” though she couldn’t even convince herself with the way her voice squeaked. Judging by the disbelieving look she has shot shortly after, the pink female didn’t think she sold the older mare on that lie either.
“You don’t have to talk about it, Sugar Cube” the mare replied smoothly, with a sort of practiced refinement “But perhaps we can turn your mind away from it...I’m Sweet Gold” Sniffling again, the pony rubbed her muzzle a little before Sweet Gold offered out a handkerchief. Muttering a small thanks, the chubby pony loudly blew her nose into the offering.
“Delilah” she finally said as she regained her composure “Delilah May, I’m from a small town just past the Whitetail Woods”
“Pleasure to meet you, Delilah” the older mare replied, “You have such a lovely name”. This made Delilah smile a little and play with her mane.
“Th-Thanks”
“What is a small town Sweetheart like you doing on this train all by yourself?” Gold asked sitting down next to the purely pink mare still clutching her blue bag.
“I’m going to Oatly Burg...It’s a city...I kind of like the bustle and noise” Delilah replied softly as her eyes flickered out toward the window again “I want to start my own business as my father did in my town...I want to make a flower shop” The apple green mare beside her lit up with a brilliant warm smile. It kind of reminded Delilah of her mother back home.
“What a coincidence!” Sweet Gold replied waving down a waitress with a cart full of yummy goodies “I live in Oatly Burg. I was coming back home after visiting my father’s sugarcane farm in near Appleloosa” Delilah blinked trying to hide the quick look at the older female’s cutie mark. It was two sugarcane sticks crossed together with a yellow disk or halo around them. But what got her confused was the fact she said her father was a farm pony. Sure Sweet Gold appeared Earth pony so that wasn’t what was amiss. It was the way she held herself and the refined way she spoke. That didn’t ring down-home country mare. It sounded more high class with a touch of southern drawl.
“I...I don’t mean to be rude...but-” Delilah paused trying to figure out how to word it.
“I don’t sound like a farmer’s daughter, do I?” Sweet Gold cut in smiling her warm smile “I suppose that happens when you marry into a different circle”. The green mare chuckles a bit and lets her gold mane cover one eye “My husband is Crisp Apple”. Delilah sucked in a breath as her eyes grew to the size of dinner plates.
“THE Crisp Apple? The owner of Apple Crisp Cereal Incorporated?” She asked as the green female paid for two strawberry cupcakes and placed them on the small table in front of them.
“That’s him Sugar Cube” Sweet Gold replied. She pushed a cupcake closer to Delilah who, out of shock, grasped it lamely.
“H-He’s the biggest entrepreneur in Oatly Burg!” the bubblegum pink pony gushed in utter astonishment. The older female sighed smiling a strained smile.
“Yes, that’s my Crisp” she replied fluffing her mane in a slightly uncomfortable manner as other ponies started to take notice of the two “Could you turn it down a notch, Sugar...we are gaining spectators” Delilah blinked slapping a hoof over her mouth as if it could take the words back.
“S-Sorry...I was just...a bit startled. How long have you two been married?”
“A bit over a year now” Sweet Gold replied “The magazines have yet to correct the fact he’s not a bachelor anymore” Sweet Gold huffed scrunching her muzzle in an irritated fashion.
“Ye-Yeah” Delilah quietly added ‘Burn All Crisp Apple Pinups’ to her list of things to do in Oatly Burg. She was glad she was pink as there was a bit of an embarrassed blush tinting her cheeks. The bubblegum pink pony timidly took a bite out of the cupcake she was graciously offered. “S-So How did you two meet?”
“Sugar Cube, that’s a long LONG story...Maybe I’ll tell you that one later...AFTER I show you around Oatly Burg” the green mare emphasized her words and Delilah’s eyes sparked to life.
“R-Really?!” she squeaked only to cover her mouth with her hoof again and offer a softer “Really?” The green mare nodded smiling at the fire inside the younger mare.
“Of course, Sugar Cube” Sweet Gold replied “I can’t have a sweet small town mare like yourself getting lost! After all, We small-town gals have to stick together” Delilah’s shoulders relaxed quite a bit. For the first time since the train left her hometown, Delilah felt like things were going right. She made a friend. It didn’t hurt that she was married to a rich stallion but, she tried not to let that greedy thought soil this budding friendship. She needed friends here. Otherwise, this was going to be a very painful experience.
The two ate the cupcakes together on the train; occasionally sharing a laugh at Delilah’s poor dining etiquette. This continued on until Sweet Gold looked out the window.
“Delilah! Look!” and the pink mare whirled to look out the window. Her blue eyes widened soaking in the sight of tall buildings, glass windows, and steel. “Welcome to Oatly Burg, Sugar” Sweet Gold drawled watching the gumball pink mare fawn over the pegasi flying to work and the new sounds. She was going to fit into this city just fine.
Getting off the train, the pair were greeted by a pink stallion dressed in a dark blue drivers uniform and cap. Sprays of light blue mane peeked out from under his cap as he bowed a bit to Sweet Gold. He was tall and thin with a short, well-groomed tail. Sweet Gold waved happily to him and told him to put Delilah’s luggage in the carriage. Though he did give a slightly confused look, the colt did as he was told.
“Y-You sure that it’s alright, Mrs. Apple?” Delilah was quickly shushed at her protest.
“Gold to you, young filly” the older mare retorted with a smile “And of course I am showing you the town remember? Now, where are you staying? I will have my lovely chauffeur drop off your things as we go” Delilah flushed a bright red and rubbed her front hooves together.
“Oh...uh you see I...didn’t really think that far ahead” she replied mortified that she was caught off guard with all this. She had not even thought of a place to rest her head? She was really out of her depth. Sweet Gold looked shocked for a moment with wide sapphire eyes. After she composed herself and put a hoof to her chin, she smiled.
“I have an idea but, I will have to ask my husband about it...Come and rest at our home for a little bit. I’ll discuss my idea with him while you do”