It only took four hours to make their way to the town, but between Steven’s hectic steering and the Maresouri’s own current, Cranky felt like he’d been gripping the raft the entire day. The sun sat halfway between the sky and the horizon when they pulled right up to a dock sitting next to the buildings. A group of worn rowboats lined both sides of the platform, itself somewhat rankled and rotten from dozens of past storms. “Welcome to Windvane” a clear plastic sign standing next to the shore pronounced in big bold letters. Another sign hung underneath, pointing further downriver: “Pony Plains Spa Resort, Fifteen Blocks West”.
“Ech,” Cranky said, tying the raft’s moor line to the dock’s end. “You’d think they would put more care into a tourist trap.”
“Tourist?” Steven laughed. “Not even most health freaks know the spa’s up here. That’s why it’s such a must have. Nopony but the most well-travelled spa enthusiasts and the local townsfolk to bug you.”
“Emphasis on bug,” Cranky said. He hopped onto the dock, steadying himself on a soft plank groaning under his weight. Steven meanwhile scooted around the other boats and inched his way on shore. The warm sand felt soft on his belly, and he couldn’t help but shiver in delight.
“Oh, I am just peached from that swimming! The Maresouri isn’t nearly as relaxing as the Halterfax.”
Cranky said nothing, staring out from the intersection of the dock and shore. His eyes crossed the buildings and streets in front of them, narrowing with each second. Much like Manefield Valley, nothing seemed unusual about the structures themselves. The buildings had a bland, Middle Equestria feel to them, built with wood imported from the coastal regions and painted light colors to reflect the sun’s heat. The windows’ shine seemed dimmed by a build-up of dust, giving what few objects could be made out a foggy texture.
Steven looked up from his dirt bed. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
Cranky shook his head. “I don’t know. Something about the town.”
Steven looked at the buildings, then shrugged. “Looks fine from here. Maybe a repaint or two could help.”
Cranky squinted at the buildings, before his face fell. “Ponies,” he said.
“What about them?”
“There aren’t any.”
Steve looked back and squinted at the buildings himself, darting in between the streets and in the windows in eyeshot. Not a single soul came into view, and the only movement seemed to be the buildings’ signs, hanging by chains and squeaking in the breeze.
“Maybe they’re all up at the spa?” Steven said. “I heard many ponies that live here work at it…”
“Get wise. Even if that was the case, there’d be at least a few ponies trotting about.”
Steven’s ears and hair sagged. “You think they’ve abandoned it? After all the trouble we took to get here…”
“No. Look,” Cranky said, pointing down one of the streets. Steven followed the hoof and saw hoofprints marking the sand around the dock. All were of varying sizes, going different ways and sinking various depths into the sand.
“These are recent,” Cranky said. “Wind would’ve blown them away if they were more than a few days old.”
“So they’re still here?” Steven’s ears stood up. “Then there’s still a chance for the spa!”
“Maybe,” Cranky said, stepping forward. “But it still doesn’t explain why nopony’s on this side of town.”
“Maybe they’re gathered for some kind of holiday. A local flavor thing, like the town founding or some filly winning the district spelling bee.”
“I don’t know,” Cranky said. “Either way, something doesn’t feel right about this.”
“Well, we won’t get any answers gallivanting around a dock. Let’s do some exploring!” Steven began to wiggle his way towards one of the streets.
“Let’s split up,” Cranky said.
“What?” Steven said. “We just have to find the spa.”
“We need to find somepony first.”
“So go to the spa…” Steven said through gritted teeth.
“You go on to the spa.” Cranky began walking towards another street further down the shoreline. “I’m going to check this place out.”
Steven shrugged. “Your poison, Crankster.”
“We’ll meet back at the dock at sundown if we don’t find anything. If not, we’ll meet at this spa you’re so goldurn obsessed with.”
Steven sighed. “Alright, fine. But I think you’re really overplaying this, Cranky. This is just a quiet little town with not many ponies.”
“You might be right,” Cranky said. “But I’m still checking it out.”
“A-OK, but you’re going to look mighty foolish once we’re lounging in poolside chairs and staring through cucumbers.” With that, Steven began to slither up the shoreline, heading the direction of the battered sign.
Cranky nodded, then shivered. The sun was beginning to lower in the sky, and it made the wind that much cooler.
“Let’s get this over with,” he sighed, trotting forward with a hesitant step.