The early years of Equestria were a different time for the land and the lives of the ponies that lived there. Before the cities rose, before the roads were made, before the Castle of the Two Sisters was built. It was a quieter time in a smaller world. The three tribes of ponies were brought together less than thirty years ago at the first Hearth’s Warming and the founding of Equestria, and even now little and less progress had been made to turn this land into a true country and home. The migration took time, the first settlements took years to flourish, lands that were safe still needed to be discovered for while Equestria was a beautiful land of plenty it was still not a complete paradise where ponies wanted for nothing.
Princess Celestia mostly kept to herself in these early years, making sure the groundwork of the new home for ponykind had been set and the greatest of the strife and grudges between the tribes had ended. Her job now was to move the sun and her young sister aided her with moving that so sadly overshadowed other celestial body. When things had fully cemented she would take up the ruler-ship she would then hold so far for the rest of her life. But that is a different tale. A more important tale surely, for all other tales back in this age are surely dwarfed by it, but not the one to be told here.
No, we come to the life of a simple earth pony mare by the name of Trail Blazer. As well as the lives of her traveling companions, the unicorn stallion Lustrous and the pegasus stallion Steel Wing.
In the place that would one day become Manehattan a small town had sprung up in recent years. Barely larger than the town of Ponyville now. And yet it was still the largest “city” in the new country of Equestria at the time. The only large port along this coast of Equestria that wasn’t just a few hovels and shanties set up along the waterfront, it currently existed as the center of commerce for the unified pony tribes. While no railroad existed yet there was still a large wooden bridge that connected it with the mainland.
At this point it didn’t even have a decided upon name (since just because the tribes were together didn’t mean ponies couldn’t and wouldn’t disagree and debate over every little thing) but while Princess Celestia waited for her castle to be finished the leaders of the former three tribes still used this burgeoning city as their interim seat of government.
Yes, the leaders. It’s true that Commander Hurricane, Princess Platinum and Chancellor Puddinghead renounced their rule and independency when they came together but there would always be the need for leaders to some degree. Mayors, governors, dukes, rich entrepreneurs, and so forth would lend their aid to the Princess to help maintain the newly made country in these disjointed times of infancy. With the three previous rulers now in their old age (or recently passed away in the Chancellor’s case) they had given over leadership to new ponies. Also in part because they believed it pertinent that a new generation lead ponykind into this age of unification. Commander Hurricane in particular was very vocal about his time being past.
So it was now that in the early morning at the House of Government (on a day of rest where normally none would be working and the building was closed to the public) in the middle of future Manehattan that two ponies stood behind closed doors discussing the latest proposal on what should be done for Equestria.
Commonly this was a place for new laws or bills to be brought up, grievances to be aired, measures to be debated, and so on and so on. But this morning the highest representatives of both the earth ponies and unicorns had met alone to further discuss something that the earth pony representative had first brought up in a private conversation with his unicorn comrade a few days ago. The pegasus representative who was currently absent was of former military and these days mostly commanded the weather division that was already beginning to make a standardized weather schedule for the new country. Because of this he was in attendance at the House of Government far less than his associates.
Representative Cheese Souffle stood in front of his desk, a short and stout pony with a garishly (some would say sickly) yellow coat and great bushy black mane and mustache, he was known for his magnanimity and marriage to his job. Seldom seen was he not working or thinking on how to serve Equestria to the greatest degree. Of importance to note is that he was also the nephew of the recently departed Chancellor Puddinghead.
Opposite him stood representative Bright Diamond, no relation to royalty but instead was the son of Princess Platinum’s steward. A tall and whispy stallion of a light blue coat and well-groomed white mane and tail that glittered in even the faintest light source. He was the object of affection for many mares in town but despite not being able to quite claim Cheese’s work ethic he still always rebuffed any mare’s advances with the excuse of being far too busy.
“I hardly think this is an important enough matter that we need to meet on our day off like this. I prefer to spend these days walking the city.” Bright Diamond spoke to Cheese Souffle. “Every other waking moment we spend legislating on laws and decrees for the whole of Equestria and ponykind, but I’m rather fond of this new home of mine and today is normally the only day I have the chance to inspect it and see what needs to be done around here. The locals have their grievances and ideas for new projects as well you know.”
“Well if you’re so thoughtful and caring about our lovely city here then maybe you can listen to me so we can get our business finished up and you can go back to yours?” Cheese reached to his desk and grasped a large mug of steaming hot coffee. With a single swing he gulped it all down at once, not noticing the grimace on Bright Diamond’s face. “Ahh, that’s good.” He wiped his lips and set the mug back down. “And anyways, this is important.”
Bright Diamond huffed and lightly twirled an errant string of his mane, it bothered him that such a string existed in his normally perfect mane. A sign that he hadn’t had enough time to prepare this morning after Cheese called on him. “I will admit that a full and detailed map of Equestria is important. But for the moment? Our ponies are already settled mostly along the areas of the country that have been scouted by the pegasi. Princess Celestia’s own seat hasn’t even formed yet. The land may be great yes, but our country is still small. When we truly need to grow and expand is when the needs for what you’re suggesting will arise.”
“I have an answer for your way of thinking.” Cheese poked him in the chest, although it was hardly threatening. “Don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today. Best to have what we’ll need in the future as soon as possible.”
“There are more pressing matters to attend to. What you’re suggesting would be a huge undertaking. The amount of ponies needed to not just travel but accurately map and research all of Equestria is too many. Not to mention that the number of those qualified to do such a thing is surely very little.” Bright Diamond shook his head.
“That’s where you’re wrong. “Cheese grinned. “We only need one pony.”
Bright Diamond raised a single incredulous eyebrow at his fellow. “One? Come now.”
“Aye, just one.” Cheese repeated. “The reason I first brought this up to you a few days ago, hay, the reason I got the idea in my head in the first place is because I happened to see a certain pony in town. I did a little research and found out she had been living here for the past year, much to my surprise.”
“One can hardly blame a pony so busy and focused on their work for not knowing every single pony that calls this city their home.” Bright Diamond smirked.
“Shut it.” Cheese waved him off. “The point is this is a pony I recognized, she’s an earth pony I met once a number of years back. An explorer and cartographer. The best.”
Bright Diamond unintentionally yawned, the early morning taking its toll on him. He was slightly put out that Cheese had drunk a whole mug of coffee right in front of him while he had even skipped eating any breakfast before coming here. “Even if she’s the best I don’t think-”
“Ah, not one more word.” Cheese held his hoof up to Bright Diamond’s mouth. “No offense my friend but despite your business you don’t quite know just how good earth ponies can be when it comes to learning the land. And you don’t know this mare in particular.”
Bright shrugged, giving up the point. “Very well. But even if she does it alone I still suspect she’ll want recompense? How much would it cost us to have the entirety of Equestria mapped? And let it be known that I still deny the necessity of this whole thing. We have aerial and coastal maps drawn by our pegasi scouts already. Those more than suffice.”
“Bah! Coastal maps that only go halfway up and down this side of the country, stopping just at that feverish jungle and the mountains bordering the wasteland that cut us off from the rest of the south. No sailor has circumvented the southern tip of the country yet either. At least not one that has said anything about it or drawn a map for us. And aerial maps are one thing but I’ve seen em and the pegasi don’t care about things like topography or elevation and they don’t know what different trees mean and what kinds of animals live where or where groundwater might be among other things. You need an earth pony on the ground to figure all of this out. It’s more than just a map she’ll be drawing for us, but a journal about the very lands we now call home. The lands we still don’t know near enough about.” Cheese tried to persuade the unicorn.
“I’ll admit you’re being rather persuasive.” Bright Diamond chewed on his lip. “I almost can’t believe that this is just the passion of a few days. You truly got so inspired just from seeing this one mare?”
“Indeed I did. And you oughta know well enough by now that when I get an idea in my head it just burns and burns brighter until I get to do something about it.” Cheese proudly smiled.
“Quite so.” Bright Diamond muttered. “Well, I’ll allow that you have me intrigued. And I can see when I’m beat. I assume you want to go meet this mare to recruit her as soon as possible?”
“Of course!” Cheese Souffle beamed, his chest puffing up.
“Allow me to accompany you then, I would like to first see her for myself if we’re about to send her off on an official job from the government.” Bright Diamond declared.
“Suit yourself.” Cheese shrugged, making his way to the door of the office. “Figured you would want to get back to your stroll about the town or whatever it is you do.”
“Oh but this is just so important as you’ve convinced me.” Bright walked up behind him. “Incidentally I noticed you never addressed my concerns of the cost and payment of-”
“It’ll be my bit covering things you tight-purse.” Cheese gruffly answered.
“As always you continue to be the most generous pony in town.” Bright chuckled.
The two representatives made their way through the still small town. But while it may have been a shadow of its future self the current town was full of buildings built in such an unplanned way that navigating it could take much longer than it should. Crowded blocks were intercut with streets either too wide or too narrow, walls and fences sprung up randomly, houses and other buildings that didn’t exist only a week before closed off former paths through the madness.
“Can you see why I’m concerned with making changes on the local level? This is functionally our capitol and yet in its this state.” Bright Diamond gestured to the haphazard mess of the town.
“All in due time, we’ll find a pony that knows how to plan a city. There’s too much work to be done everywhere right now.” Cheese said back to him.
“But why put off to tomorrow what you can do today?” Bright Diamond smugly said.
“Oh put a sock in it.”
The two quietly walked on, with Cheese leading, to a relatively poorer and rundown part of the town on the outskirts from the rest. Bright Diamond had been around such areas many times before but still couldn’t help but cringe at the muddy ground that passed for roads around here (cobblestone was more common around the House of Government). The houses as well were small and hastily put together things. No stonework or masonry here, only boards of wood poorly nailed together. Marching down a line of hovels such as these, Cheese glanced at each door he passed. Bright Diamond looked at the doors in curiosity as well and noticed that each had a smaller board nailed to their fronts with a number carved into it. The most rudimentary of addresses.
“Here we are. Supposing my inquiries didn’t turn up any false info at least.” Cheese suddenly said from the front, stopping in front of a door and almost causing Bright to crash into him.
Bright Diamond looked at the supposed home of this map mare they were looking for. It was essentially indistinguishable from the rest, the number on its door read “19” and besides that there were no other noticeable marks or differences on the exterior of the home that he could see. She seemed to live in relative squalor compared to what he was used to.
“Well I have to say if this is her home she’d likely be willing to take the job for cheap.” Bright Diamond scrunched his nose up.
“Not likely. If she’s the same as I remember her she’s greedy for every bit she can get her hooves on, and she knows the price of her work.” Cheese grunted before loudly knocking on the door several times. “Hey! Anybody home!”
Bright winced. “Must you do that so loudly? It’s still early.”
Cheese Souffle looked back at him as if he had just sprouted wings. “That’s why I’m being so loud. She’s probably asleep.”
“Well I suppose I can’t fault your logic there.” Bright had to admit.
As the loud knocking continued and Bright Diamond shuffled about awkwardly he noticed that there wasn’t a nameplate on any of the homes here. And that brought him to a second realization. He had forgotten to ask for the name of the very pony they were not just searching for but were pounding on the door to her home.
A frown spread across Bright Diamond’s face before he inquired as to the identity of their map mare. “Er, a word for a second? But what happens to be the name of the pony we’re hiring? It would be rather embarrassing if she opens up the door and I have no idea who I’m talking to.”
Cheese stopped his knocking to let out a quick and guttural guffaw. “Right, right, I forgot.” He slammed his hoof back onto the door even harder. “Trail Blazer! You in there? Open up!”
“I see. Thank you.” Bright Diamond rolled his eyes.
The knocking proceeded some more and Bright Diamond got slightly wary and impatient, looking down each side of the ill-kept street.
“Cheese? Considering the… makeup… of this part of the town and the avaricious nature you ascribed to our map pony perhaps she isn’t opening up the door on purpose? Maybe she thinks we’re of an unsavory sort.” Bright Diamond ventured.
“Hah!” Cheese brushed that off. “Even if we were that mare isn’t the type to hide out here, she’d open the door and spit right in any thugs face.”
“How lovely.” Bright grimaced.
Cheese grunted and pulled his hoof away from the door. “Well at any rate though it looks like she isn’t here right now. Let’s try the nearest pub.”
“Excuse me?” Bright Diamond asked in surprise (shock even), his eyebrows nearly shooting into his mane.
“A pub I said. If she’s the same as I remember again that’s where we’ll be most likely to find her next.” Cheese resignedly answered and already began to walk off.
“It’s still early morning!” Bright exclaimed.
“Yep.” Was all Cheese answered.
“What kind of pony would be in a pub right now?” Bright walked up alongside him, determined to get more out of his earth pony comrade.
“The kind we’re looking for. I can tell you that if she’s not at home she’s either slept overnight in a pub or she’s in the bed of some random stallion in town. Let’s hope for the former cause the latter’ll make it harder for her to find.”
“In bed with a random stallion?” Bright Diamond was incredulous. “You are not painting a very good picture of your chosen cartographer. Between that and her apparent love of drinking I must say I don’t have a very confident opinion of her and I haven’t even met the mare yet!”
“Aye, she aint perfect and I never said she was.” Cheese nodded. “But that’s still the less important part of the deal. The more important part? She’s the best. And that I said.”
“We’ll see. Even being “the best” as you say can be overshadowed by enough deficiencies. Minor or major.” Bright was not convinced. “I’ll admit that your casual remark about her lasciviousness puts me off even more than the fact she might be currently passed out on a bar-stool. A mare that you chiefly remember for her lustful nature? It’s rather shameful isn’t it?”
Cheese guffawed again. “Don’t be such a prude. She’s no harlot or wench, just a mare that likes to have some company at night. Preferably the fun kind if you know what I mean.” He lightly poked Bright Diamond in the ribs a few times.
“Yes, I know.” Bright rolled his eyes again and pushed Cheese Souffle’s hoof away. “So where is the nearest pub then?”
“Close. Surprised you don’t know considering your walks.”
“I am not a drinking stallion.” Bright replied, stiffly.
“Big important unicorn, can’t be caught drinking in some seedy pub now can he?” Cheese laughed again at the other representative’s expense.
Bright Diamond didn’t bother responding as the two of them made their way to their next destination. The time was passing from early morning to late morning and more ponies were appearing on the streets, getting to their own work or whatever leisurely activity they might do on a day like this. Bright was thankful that it wasn’t a very wet day as his hoof still sunk halfway into the mud of the street. This was already more than bad enough.
Before long the two of them came to the nearest pub (it was hardly the only drinking establishment in town), a flat-roofed one-story building made of red brick with polished saloon doors leading inside. Bright couldn’t help but somewhat cynically note that it was by far the best maintained building in the area.
“Are they open?” Bright asked.
“All day and all night.” Cheese said without slowing down, pushing open the doors and almost letting them swing back into Bright Diamond’s face.
Cheese halted in the entrance and allowed Bright to walk up beside him. The tall unicorn looked around at the unseemly (to him) place, scrunching up his nose at the overwhelming smell of alcohol and not particularly well washed ponies. The pub was not well lit either, only a few rays of light shined in from slits in the bricks along the walls. But it was enough to serve their purposes Bright supposed. On the left side of the interior a few round tables sat, three or five chairs pushed under them in random places if they weren’t just tipped over to begin with. A single stallion was sprawled out on the floor next to one of the tables, snoring loudly. On the right side of the pub sat the bar itself, shelves of alcohol and empty glasses lining the wall behind it while a row of bar-stools stood in front of it. The bartender on duty stood behind the bar, silently cleaning the wooden surface with a wet rag, he briefly glanced up at the two who just entered the establishment but paid no other mind to them yet.
And on one of those bar-stools in front of the bartender sat a slumped over earth pony mare with her head buried in her hooves. She was surrounded by three empty mugs and one that was half-full of beer, the steady rising and falling of her body showed that she was most likely asleep.
“Well, there she is. Good.” Cheese said as he walked up to the sleeping pony.
“I hardly can say this is good.” Bright Diamond followed him.
“Do you want something with Trail Blazer?” The bartender asked as the two representatives trotted over to her seat.
“Aye, we’ve got a job to hire her for.” Cheese said. “How long has she been sleeping here?”
“Since late last night.” The bartender shrugged. “All I know is she was here before my shift started, I didn’t want to disturb her, she’s more than a regular.”
“Well she’s waking up now.” Cheese said and started shaking the sleeping mare. “Hey! Wake up, you!”
The mare shifted and grumbled as Cheese shook her before jolting awake with a shock, nearly knocking over her mug of beer. As she turned to the source of noise and blearily blinked here eyes Bright Diamond couldn’t help but make a few somewhat shameful observations. First was that she was not an especially pretty mare, Bright was used to waving off the affections of some of the most beautiful and well made-up mares in town and while Trail Blazer wasn’t ugly per se she certainly wouldn’t ever be called the belle of the ball either. In short she had a very common look about her. Her coat was a mundane tan and her mane and tail a mud brown color. The mane was pulled back in a single messy ponytail that let a few stray strands of hair fall over her already plain face, slightly blocking her emerald eyes from view. On her flank rested the Cutie Mark of a map, indeed fitting if what Cheese said about her was true.
She squinted at Cheese before a smile broke out on her face. “Well, Big Cheese! Haven’t seen you in years.” She belched. “Excuse me.”
Bright Diamond wrinkled his nose at her behavior.
“Yes, good to see you again, Trail Blazer. And I recall telling you repeatedly in the past to not call me that.” Cheese Souffle frowned.
“Uh huh.” Trail Blazer ignored him and reached forward to grasp her still half-full mug, tilting her head back she downed the whole rest of it at once.
“Is that just an earth pony thing?” Bright muttered to himself. He then raised a disquieted eyebrow at the mare. “And are you really drinking in the morning like that?”
Trail Blazer slammed her mug back onto the bar and let out a long and satisfied sigh. “Just needed to catch up. Can’t believe I fell asleep without finishing this off.”
“I can’t believe a pony would gladly sleep in a place like this.” Bright said, glancing over at the still unconscious pony on the other side of the room.
“Didn’t plan on it. If things went the way I wanted I’d be in bed with a stallion right now. But lo and behold last night a couple of formerfriends of mine all met up here and each one had the mistaken idea that I was their girl now. That led to a couple of rough arguments and I spent the night just drinking, since after that even the ponies that didn’t know me weren’t interested in my affections.” She scratched behind her ears and looked over at Bright Diamond, eyes traveling up and down his body. “Well though, looks like my luck might be changing. You’re pretty handsome you know that? I know Cheese here but what’s your name?” She lustfully smiled at him.
He cringed, stepping back. “No thank you. I’m quite aware of your nature and I’m not about to hop in the bed of a mare I just met.”
“Suit yourself.” She shrugged. “You’ll regret it one day though when you’re the only stallion in town that can’t brag about having a roll in the hay with me.”
“How vulgar.” Bright frowned.
“Enough of all that.” Cheese said. “This fellow’s name is Bright Diamond, he works with me. We represent all of ponykind now while the Princess works on centralizing things. We’re taking care of the laws and the building of Equestria. You hear?”
“Loud and clear, Big Cheese.” She pushed away the mugs in front of her and called out to the bartender. “Hey, one more!”
“The two of us are here now because Cheese has a job offer for you.” Bright said, somewhat running out of patience.
Trail Blazer briefly glanced at the two of them before she went back to waiting for her next mug of beer. “What job? I don’t work much anymore just so you know. If you want me to explore somewhere it’s probably too much of a hassle. And I just make maps as a hobby now.”
“I’m here to recruit you for a big undertaking, Trail.” Cheese said, his chest puffing out with pride. “This aint no little job or like anything else you’ve done before, it’s official business on behalf of the good of Equestria. It’s something for the betterment of all ponykind, I tell you. I remember you and your skills well and this is your opportunity to put them towards something truly deserving of them. You say you just make maps as a hobby now? Well now I’m telling you you can make the most important map of your life. Of any pony’s life!”
The mare sat back on her stool, regarding Cheese Souffle with an unimpressed look.
“And?” She urged.
“What I’m asking from you is to travel Equestria. All of it. And create a map of this new country for ponies. Show me where the best places for towns are, show me where the roads need to go, where bridges need to be raised, where farmlands can thrive, show me all of it.” Cheese looked like he was near about to throw his arm around Trail Blazer’s shoulders and gesture into the wide beyond.
“Not interested.” She flatly responded and swiveled on her stool, turning to the bar and picking up her newly arrived mug.
“Ugh...” Cheese Souffle deflated and tiredly pinched the bridge of his muzzle. “I’ll pay for your traveling expenses, you can drink and sleep around all you want on my bit.”
The mug stopped the second before it would hit her lips. Trail Blazer frowned and anxiously held her head and rubbed down her face with her free hoof before sighing and placing the mug back on the bar. “Look, I’m too tired and hungover right now to deal with this. If you’re gonna bother me about this job can we at least walk back to my place first so I can wake up a little?”
The interior of Trail Blazer’s small hovel was cluttered with so much rubbish and scrap that it was impossible to walk down the narrow hallway leading from the front door without stepping on at least one or two pieces of crumpled paper lazily strewn across the floor. Boxes and packages were stacked up high and nearly tipping over, the slightest nudge would send them collapsing on top of the three ponies now navigating around them. Quills, spilled ink, pencils, and other drawing and writing tools littered the ground everywhere as well. Yet despite all of this for the first time since meeting her, Bright Diamond was very impressed with Trail Blazer.
For along the walls lay map after map, completely coating every available surface. Detailed maps of the town and surrounding area among other places. Even one with no real interest or knowledge in cartography such as himself could see the value in these maps. He could nearly not take his eyes off them as Trail Blazer led him and Cheese into the main room of her modest home. Even calling it the main room though it was still barely the size of a large closet and the three had to crowd around the lone table (that was itself overflowing with papers and half-drawn maps) in the center. Two doors stood behind Trail Blazer from here, leading to the lavatory and bedroom most likely, Bright Diamond thought.
To Bright Diamond’s left a large map hung up on the wall caught his eye. “My word.” He said as he struggled to turn his body around without bumping into anything to get a better look at it.
It was a huge map of the entire town. Detailed down to even the smallest of buildings and most minor of alleys and side-streets. It looked perfectly up to date as well, as impossible as that seemed to him thanks to the chaos of the town. She had even written notes on what types of buildings there were, if the roads were cobbled or just dirt, what was new and what was old, the difference between true walls and just fences or other dividers, and countless other small things. It was a marvelous thing for him to behold.
“Miss Trail Blazer, might I have this map? It would be very useful.” He asked her.
The map pony grinned at him, well aware of how taken he was with her map. “Sure. For twenty bits.”
Bright Diamond sputtered. “Twenty bits?! That’s an outrageous fee for a map.”
“I know.” She grinned some more… before suddenly grimacing, her face turning green and her cheeks puffing out as the contents of her stomach rushed to evacuate. “Ergh!” She opened up one of the doors behind her and ran inside, slamming it shut behind her.
Just in time too as no sooner had it closed than Cheese and Bright heard Trail Blazer begin to loudly vomit.
“Huuurgh!” They heard as the poor hungover mare threw up whatever besides beer was left in her stomach.
The two shuffled about awkwardly, feeling a bit embarrassed to be listening to this, before Bright Diamond bit his lip and inched over towards Cheese Souffle.
“Cheese.” Bright bent down and whispered into his ear. “Are you really sure about this? You’ve convinced me about the mission itself but do we really want to put it in the hooves of this mare?”
The earth pony representative rubbed the back of his head, frowning. “She may have her issues I know but look around you. You can see it, can’t you? As long as we get her on the job there’s no pony better suited for it.”
“I don’t quite doubt that anymore.” Bright said as he looked back at the map of the town. “But I’m concerned about how well she’ll keep to the assignment. And if you’re essentially giving her free reign to drink and… sleep around all she wants I’m worried how long things might take and that she might get herself into trouble.”
As if to punctuate his worries another loud puking noise came from inside Trail Blazer’s lavatory.
“Alright I see what you mean.” Cheese admitted. “So what do you suggest?”
“A halfway point. I thought earlier that it would take a whole team of ponies to do what you wanted, but if Trail Blazer is as skilled as you say then perhaps only one more pony is needed? Not to help with her job but merely to keep an eye on her and make sure things don’t get out of hand. And to keep her on schedule.” Bright Diamond explained.
Cheese raised an eyebrow at the unicorn. “It sounds to me like you already have a pony in mind?”
“Indeed I-”
“Bleeeeghh!”
“Indeed I do. My young cousin, Lustrous, would be perfect.” Bright Diamond smiled. “Available, joyless, serious, he’d be the perfect counterbalance to Miss Trail Blazer. Plus I’ve been looking for something he can do with his life besides sit around our family’s manse and read. This will be the perfect thing for him. A kick into the real world so to say.”
“If you’re vouching for him I suppose he must be adequate.” Cheese shrugged. “Alright then so after-” Cheese Souffle suddenly stopped mid-sentence, his mouth hung open as a far off look came to his eyes.
“Cheese? Something wrong?” Bright Diamond asked in concern.
“An idea.” Cheese spoke.
“Beg your pardon?”
“A great idea just came to mind.” Cheese said again, staring off into space. “We need a third pony. A pegasus.”
“A pegasus?”
“Yes, a young one just like Trail Blazer and your cousin. A pony that wasn’t around before the tribes came together. Three ponies that were born in the new age, all from a different tribe but all having come together to work on this mission.” Cheese Souffle exclaimed, a fire behind his eyes. “Think about it, Bright. They’ll be a symbol of unification. An earth pony, a unicorn, and a pegasus that traveled across our new land of Equestria together all just for the sake of helping our country and bringing ponies closer together? It’s perfect.”
Bright Diamond was now thinking of the ramifications as well. He had to admit Cheese had quite the point here. “It would be a thing of beauty wouldn’t it? And the fact their job is to make a map and discover everything about this country? To plan where ponies can live and move to in the future? Why it’s almost magic… this feels more like fate than coincidence now doesn’t it, Cheese?”
“Magic is something I know about almost as much as breathing underwater so I’ll leave that to you. But I’ll say that the two of us have come up with something special here, aye?” Cheese smiled at his friend.
“Aye indeed.” Bright smiled back. “I suppose we should go find Thunderstorm and talk to him about this then? This is something he may actually want to be involved in and I’m sure he’ll have a good pegasus in mind to finish up our trio.”
Before Cheese could respond the door to the lavatory suddenly swung open and a rather disheveled looking Trail Blazer stumbled out. On wobbly knees she took a step forward before allowing herself to collapse on the table.
“While puking up my guts in there I had plenty of time to think. And I guess I’ll take you up on this job. When does it start?” She weakly questioned.
“As soon as possible.” Was Cheese’s reply.
Trail Blazer nodded and stood back up. “Alright. Give me ten minutes to get my things together.” The mare turned to the other door and opened it up, Cheese and Diamond both could see what looked like a small and very messy bedroom behind her figure. “I need a drink...” She murmured as she shut the plank door.
Thirty minutes later Trail Blazer reemerged from her bedroom and both representatives were well surprised at her appearance.
The map mare wore a large buttoned down gray-green coat that covered her from shoulders to flank, and it looked far older than the mare wearing it, she also carried a backpack upon her and on each of her sides hung a large saddlebag. Undoubtedly each of them full of all kinds of trinkets and tools for travel and map-drawing. Her mane was as messy as ever but the outfit helped to give her the look of a professional explorer and traveler… which is ostensibly what she was in the first place but she didn’t exactly give the best first impressions.
And as Bright Diamond’s eyes scanned over her his second impression was somewhat worsened when he noticed the silver flask she was holding in her hoof.
“Time to head out?” She asked and then took a hearty swig. “Ahhh~” Trail Blazer smiled. “Nothing beats moonshine.”
While Trail Blazer continued her attempts to get drunk before noon Bright and Cheese couldn’t help but be a little concerned. However their eagerness and elation for the mapping job (that had even fully overtaken Bright Diamond at this point) more than made up for things. The stage was set and the mission to ring in a new era for ponykind was about to be undertaken.