Sandbar trotted down the hall feeling just great. He had gotten some new comics, which he wanted to show his marefriend, Yona. The yak was sitting in the main hall sitting with Ocellus. "Yona, look what I've got," Sandbar called grabbing Yona's attention.
"What are magazines about?" Yona asked.
"These are comic books. Some of these are about the Power Ponies." He showed the yak one of the comics. "They're ponies with special abilities who fight villains, like the Mane-iac."
"Who's she?" Ocellus asked.
"Well, she was just an ordinary mare who accidentally fell into a large vat of chemicals then ended up turning into the mad villainess she's known as today."
"How Power Ponies get powers?" Yona asked.
"Oh, I'm glad you asked. Each member of the team has gotten their own origin story. My favorite is Zapp." He showed his friends the comic of the said heroine forming a storm with her necklace. "She was Aurora, the princess of a faraway island, who left under the name of Zapp to prove she was the strongest and that she deserved the title of queen."
The yak and changeling stared blankly for a minute. "Yona lost Sandbar at 'island'," she said.
"Oh. Well, I have some different comics. They're not about the Power Ponies. There's this series called 'Mega Pon...'"
"Yona not wanting to read right now. Friends take break from school."
"But there aren't too many words. I'm just wanting to see if we can share each other's interests."
"Yona understands, just want to spend time with Ocellus." The colt sighed but kept his smile up as he walked away. "Ocellus don't think Yona was mean, was she?"
"Of course not," the changeling replied. "I'm sure Gallus or Smolder would enjoy one of the stories he has." The yak still felt guilty for practically saying 'no' to her coltfriend.
Sandbar placed his comic back in a box in his room then walked back down the hall. He decided he would head into town but he ran into Pinkie Pie first. "Hi, Sandbar," the element of Laughter said, "Why the long face?"
"It's nothing Professor Pinkie," Sandbar replied. "What are you doing?"
"Just seeing if anypony wanted to sign for an extra credit field trip."
"To where?"
"Yakyakistan." The colt's ears were now grabbed. "Starlight said more of the students needed help in P.E. and social studies so I thought, 'Why not do both?' Prince Rutherford replied to the letter I sent to him and he and Starlight this would be a good idea."
"When are starting this trip?"
"Next week. Starlight said we needed to give the students some time to prepare and I understand. Just getting there was a doozy for me, so just imagine bring a class of ten students with all of that clothing, food, camping supplies..." Pinkie then noticed that Sandbar had walked off. "Huh. Maybe I've been talking too much." She started hanging up the signing sheet for the field trip on the bulletin board.
Yona was getting a drink from the water fountain when she heard someone running towards her. Along with, "Yona. Yona!" This came from her coltfriend who stopped to catch his breath.
"Why Sandbar so excited?" the yak asked.
"Professor Pinkie's going to take us on a field trip to Yakyakistan." Yona was surprised by this. "We should go sign up now."
"Sandbar sure he wants to go? Yakyakistan hard place to live, even for yaks. There is very difficult to deal with, not to mention avalanches."
"Professor Pinkie contacted Prince Rutherford, I'm sure they're trying to make this as safe as possible. Let's go look at the signup sheet." The two walked back to the bulletin board. Since the sheet was just hung up, no one had signed it, but Sandbar didn't hesitate to sign his name. "Maybe it'll be a chance to meet your parents."
"Ugh..." Yona seemed frozen once she heard this. "Yona not sure."
The colt looked at the pen. "Well, I can't erase it now, there are only ten spaces."
"No, Yona can talk to parents. They've been happy on Yona's grades." The yak was given the pen and signed her name and walked away. Sandbar looked at the signup sheet before he walked off.
The day passed by pretty quick and Sandbar walked back to the school as he a scarf and boots. "What are you carrying?" Smolder asked.
"My winter clothing," Sandbar replied.
"Why?"
"Yona and I are heading to Yakyakistan next week. Professor Pinkie said it was going to be extra credit for both P.E. and social studies. They said we should probably bring some of our own supplies, so I'm bringing my hat and scarf."
"Maybe I could come with you. You could always use some heat in the snow."
"That would... Hang on, do you hear something?" The pony and dragon walked down the hall until they found Yona talking to a lot of ponies. "What's going on here?"
"We were asking Yona for some pointers about her home," Stage Tales explained.
"Yona don't know much about mountain around Yakyakistan," the yak explained. "Mother barely let her leave village."
"Guys, calm down," Sandbar said. "I'm pretty sure that Professor Pinkie and the other yak will give us answers when we get there. I think we should have some things prepared before we go on the hike." The students talked between each other and then walked off.
"Did our professors all go there once?" Smolder asked.
"Pink pony went twice on her own," Yona stated. "Thanks, Sandbar." The yak hugged the pony before she walked off. The colt did the same though he didn't seem happy.
When he got to his dorm, he tossed his hat and scarf on the ground and flopped on his bed. Gallus was sitting on the lower bunk when his roommate walked in, along with Smolder. "What's wrong?" Gallus asked.
"I bit off more than I can chew," Sandbar replied muffled by his pillow.
"He and Yona both signed up for a field trip to her kingdom," Smolder explained.
"And the other ponies are asking her questions," Sandbar added lifting his head up. "I thought I would get to learn more about the yaks. Plus, I thought it would be romantic."
"Huh?" the dragon and griffon asked.
"Seeing everything below the mountains. I thought it would be a good place for us to share our first kiss."
"Hold on, you haven't kissed yet?" Gallus asked.
"Well, I wanted to when I found her at the treehouse, but she went for a hug instead."
"Okay," Smolder said, "I'm pretty sure Ocellus is more of the love expert, but I'm not sure that just signing up for a field trip to you somewhere you know nothing about is the best idea."
"We'll learn more about. Besides, I can't quit now. I've already signed up."
"Couldn't one of us just join you?" Gallus asked.
"There still could be some spots opened," Smolder said. She and Gallus left the room for a minute to leave their friend to think. When they came back, they didn't seem happy.
"All the spots are full. You two are on your own."
"Ocellus and Silver didn't sign up?" Sandbar asked.
"Nope," Smolder confirmed. "I guess she doesn't like the cold."
"She is a changeling. I guess all I can do is prepare myself for the hike."
"Yeah, we'll help you with that."
Speaking of help, Yona was wanting some from Silverstream and Ocellus. "Yona not sure if she wants to go home with classmates," the yak said. "Yak might not like ponies."
"You're being too hard on yourself," Ocellus said.
"Yeah, it'll be fun bringing you friends somewhere with all of that snow," Silverstream said. "I really wish I could come with you."
"Same here. Yona, what's Yakyakistan like?"
"It's cold," Yona said, "Snow no joke. It hard to move out of the way, and twice as much can just fall down. Even yak fur can only do so much."
"Maybe it's good I didn't sign up."
"It's good she is," Silverstream said. "You must be a pro in the snow."
"Yona is good at moving snow," the yak stated, "But not so good in snowstorm."
"Snowstorm?" the two friends asked.
"Almost as bad as avalanches. Snowstorm at least bring snow slower."
"Sounds dangerous," Ocellus said.
"Yaks are best creatures for snow. Class has nothing to worry about, though Yona worried about special somepony."
"You mean Sandbar?" Silverstream asked. "You just he has nothing to worry about."
"No, Yona worried about him. Sandbar wanted to go on trip for Yona. Yaks may not like that Yona's special somepony is pony."
"You're worrying over nothing," Ocellus said. "I'm pretty sure that all the yaks will treat the ponies with respect."
"Yeah," Silverstream agreed. "Just try and enjoy the trip and tell us what happens when you get back."
"Pink Pony doesn't start field trip, not til next week," Yona stated.
"Oh. That gives us plenty of time to get ready." The yak, hippogriff, and changeling walked off to help prepare things for the trip.
Time seemed to fly by for others, but for Sandbar, minutes were hours to him. He couldn't stop worrying about the hike that was ahead. Not just that, but the nearest station to Yakyakistan was at the Crystal Empire. Would a hike from the empire to Yakyakistan be a part of the actual hike?
He then heard Principle Starlight's voice from the school speakers. "Would all students who signed up for the Yakyakistan hike head to the front of the school to meet up with Professor Pinkie," she said. "Be sure to bring the supplies you have prepared.
"That's my call," Sandbar said. After Gallus helped him pack up his winter wear and other supplies in his saddlebags, the colt headed to the front of the school. Pinkie and some of the other students were already there. Yona showed up a few seconds later with some other students.
"You really shoveled all of that snow?" Waltzer asked.
"Sort of," Yona replied.
"Alright everpony," Pinkie said, "Follow me to the train station." The students did so as Sandbar decided to talk to his yak friend.
"So, are you feeling nervous?" he asked.
"Not so much now," she replied. "Silver and Ocellus helped calm Yona down."
"That's good." Not much was said until they all got to the station. They all boarded the coaches and the train set off. The colt and yak sat next to each other not knowing what to say. Sandbar started putting on his wooly hat to prepare for the snow they would soon be facing. "So, what was life in Yakyakistan?"
"Yona already told Sandbar."
"No, I mean like when you were younger."
"Oh. Yona would just run around and play in the snow. Yona even made a pile of snow and stick to practice smashing."
"I guess that's what yaks are best at." The two shared a chuckle. "I remember making a snow pony with my parents when I was younger. We even went sledding a couple of times, though I accidentally crashed into a bush."
"That sounds bad."
"You should've seen what it did to my leg. But it didn't stop me from having fun. I got some cocoa from my mom to help calm me down."
"Yona's mother can make nice stew. Tasty, hot, and fluffy."
"Sounds nice." The kept talking about other things, like on other things they did when they were younger. They've lost track of time but their professor informed them.
"We're here," Pinkie said in a sing-song voice. "I'd recommend putting on your winter clothing now." The students did so and followed their professor up the mountain away from the Crystal Empire. Soon, the colder temperature started to make itself known. Many of the ponies started to shiver from the cold, but Yona felt fine.
"How can anypony live here?" Stage Tales asked.
"Yaks built for cold weather," Yona stated.
"Professor Pinkie," Sugar Maple said, "How much further?"
"It's not too far," the party pony replied. They could see something brown up ahead, it looked to be a log wall. "See, it's right there." After walking for a few more yards, they reached the gate, which opened up to show a warm welcome by the yaks. Many of them were happy to see Pinkie, but there were too were overjoyed to see Yona.
These male and female yaks had mostly shadow gray wool around their bodies, though their heads were dark and light shades of brown fur on their faces, respectively. The female one had braids similar to Yona's, while the male's was shorter, though both had their eyes covered. The male's horns had square corners, whilst the female's were more rounded. The male was a fair bit taller than the female, and both had the normal Yakyakistan clothing of helmets and shawls.
"Yona," they both cheered walking towards the said yak.
"Mother. Father," Yona replied before the three yaks hugged. The little yak turned to her coltfriend. "Sandbar, these are Yona's parents."
Sandbar looked up the bigger yak, the male didn't seem all impressed. "Yaks expected pony to be bigger," he said.
"Father," Yona cried.
"Yak acting like grand yak," the mother groaned. The male rubbed the back of his head.
"Ponies," yelled a booming voice. The yaks and ponies saw Prince Rutherford walked towards them.
"Rutherford," Pinkie cheered.
"Yaks waited for Pink Pony and class," the prince said. "How Yona been doing?"
"Just fine. I thought I told you after you approved the field trip."
"Yak double-checking."
"Um, Prince," Sandbar said while raising his hoof. "How long will this hike be again?"
"Students' hike at least hour. That why Pink Pony have you bring snacks."
"You have prepared a map," Pinkie said, "Did you?"
"Yaks been around mountain many times. Rutherford knows safest path for students." He pointed to a mountain that was smaller than the others.
Sandbar didn't seem to be confident right now. "Okay, now everpony stay together. These mountains can be pretty dangerous."
Yona's parents looked at her. "Yona remembers to be careful," the mother said.
"Remember to stay low in rough weather," her father said.
"Yona not little anymore," Yona replied in frustration. She left with the group starting their hike. She looked at Sandbar. "Parents."
"Tell me about it," Sandbar agreed. "You should see some of the photos my parents took of me."
"Like what?"
"First bath, first steps, they even wrote down my first words. You know, stuff like that."
"Sounds like Yona's. Mother still keeps first log Yona smashed." The pony and yak chuckled.
It didn't take long for the cold wind to blow again and the ponies shivered. "So, you have any true stories about traveling through this weather?" Pinkie asked.
"Yak go on many adventures," Prince Rutherford said. "Some harder than others, but this easier than most of them."
"Neat."
"I can barely stand this weather," Sugar Maple groan.
"Ponies only have fifty-nine minutes to go," Rutherford said, only to get a groaned from the students.
"Don't forget, you signed up for this," Pinkie said.
"That what Yona worried about," Yona sighed.
"What?" Sandbar asked.
"Nothing." The yak gave a grin as while the colt thought to himself.
"Okay, just need to find the perfect spot. I don't want to have a sloppy kiss."
The hike carried on for twenty-eight minutes. Yona and Sandbar didn't say much to each other. Yona was kept busy with her classmates asking for help while Sandbar was trying to fight against the wind and find the perfect spot.
The group reached the halfway point Pinkie and Rutherford stopped the group to show the class could look at the view. "This is amazing," Pinkie commented.
"Mountains around Yakyakistan have best view," Rutherford boasted.
Sandbar stepped closer to Yona. "It's nice to know you can always come here for a look," he said. He saw that the yak's worried expression. "You okay?"
"Yona afraid of falling," the yak stated.
The colt wrapped his hoof around his friend. "You're safe. I'm here for you." Yona blushed a bit as did Sandbar, who started getting closer to her.
Prince Rutherford looked up at the sky and could see some dark clouds drawing near. This made him worry. "Class head back," he said, "Now."
"What's the matter?" Pinkie asked.
"Snowstorm." He pointed to the clouds and the class started to get worried. The clouds were coming in fast and the pink pony ordered everyone to get to Yakyakistan, and fast.
They didn't get very far before a large freezing gust of wind. This blinded several of the ponies and even knocked some off their hooves. "I can barely see," Pinkie groaned.
"Ponies stay low to ground," Yona cried.
"Yona right," Rutherford commented. "Ponies won't fly off if wine can't get underneath them. The ponies did so, but this would cause them to go slower and the icy wind wasn't helping.
The snow started to get higher as the group got back to Yakyakistan. The yaks there helped the ponies towards the huts to help keep them warm. "This wasn't part of the plan," Pinkie sighed.
"Pink Pony shouldn't feel too bad. Snow can be unpredictable."
Yona's parents help hand out some blankets but their daughter noticed something. "Where's Sandbar?" she asked.
Pinkie quickly did a headcount and saw the colt wasn't with them. "He must still be out in the storm," the pony cried. She was about to run off, but Rutherford stopped her.
"Pink Pony can't go alone," the prince said. "Yaks need to gather supplies for search party. Yaks hope pony can last until then. Party forming will take a while."
"Awhile?!" Yona gasped.
"Yona, stay calm," her mother said.
"But Sandbar need help now."
"Yaks will take care of it," her father said. He walked to talk to the prince while the mother and Pinkie started making a nice stew for the cold ponies, Yona couldn't help but think about her friend.
Without hesitating, the yak ran out of the hut, much to the other's shock. "Yona!" they cried. But she had already ran out of the Yakyakistan's walls and into the storm.
"Sandbar," Yona cried. "Sandbar!" The cold wind blew hard against the yak, but she didn't give up. She carried for what seemed like forever. "Sandbar!"
"Yona?" called a fainted voice.
"Sandbar?" The yak slowly stepped forward until she could make out a figure a pony shaped figure. She kept walking until she could make it out as a familiar colt. "Sandbar!" Yona hugged her friend, overjoyed to see him safe.
"I'm h-h-h-happy to see you t-t-too." Sandbar was shivering from the cold. They would head back, but the wind and snow had covered her tracks.
"Yona doesn't know where to go." Sandbar tried to stand up but the blew him back onto his flank.
"We n-n-n-need to get sh-sh-shelter." Since the two had no idea where to go, Yona just walked around. She and Sandbar fought on until they found a cave. They both decided it would be a got idea to hide there until the storm cleared.
"Is Sandbar okay?"
"J-j-just fine. I just to g-g-get warm." Yona still had the blanket, so she gave it to her coltfriend. "Th-th-thanks, Yona." The two sat there for a while as the wind whistled outside of the cave. "They will come, won't they?"
"Of course. Yaks don't leave any creature behind. Yaks just need to find us." Yona seemed confident at first but the cold eventually started getting to her. Sandbar noticed her shivering and decided to share the blanket with her. Despite seeing his yak friend warm-up he still felt guilty. "Why Sandbar upset?"
"I feel like this was my fault. I mean, I'm not the best in the snow and now we both got stuck out here because of the blizzard."
"But Yona ran back into blizzard to get Sandbar."
"...You did?"
"Yes. Yona don't want to friend. Let alone special sompony."
The colt and yak blushed. "Then, I guess I didn't have to get us dragged into this. I only signed up because I thought I would get to know more about you."
"Yona wasn't in the mood to read. Didn't Sandbar try anything else?"
"Well, I was going to try to get strong, but then I would be doing what you did when you talked funny." The yak gave a nervous chuckle. "I didn't think would really get that strong or even close to Saddle Rager."
"Who Saddle Rager."
"She's one of the Power Ponies. She was just researching animal care when she got into an accident. Ever since, when she gets angry she transforms into a raging monster that smashes everything. She can sort of control it and she figured if she was going to be stuck with this monster forever, she might as well try and use it for good."
"Saddle Rager sound interesting. But who was Mega Pon?"
"That's Mega Pony. It's based off a very popular arcade game on a colt who can copy powers. He can copy lightning, fire, water, he basically has a spell for any occasion."
"When did Mega Pony start?"
"Let me explain."
Pinkie and the yak search party fought through the storm. "Kind of wish I brought one of my friends with me," the pony groaned. "Dash could've cleared the clouds away."
"Yaks' clouds tougher than pony clouds," Prince Rutherford stated. "Ponies wouldn't clear skies."
Pinkie got lower to the ground and suddenly heard something. "Is somepony talking?"
"Yaks not say a thing," Yona's father said.
"Pink pony is right," Rutherford said. "Listen."
A faint voice could be heard through the wind. "And so with trouble on the rise again, Mega Pony will always be there to help."
"That sounds like Sandbar," Pinkie said. They moved closer to where they heard the noise, which was hard because of the whistling wind but they soon found the cave Sandbar and Yona were resting in.
"Mega Pony sounds interesting," Yona said.
"I know," Sandbar said. "It's a pretty underrated series."
"Yona wished she read it and Saddle Rager."
"Maybe you could read it back at Yakyakistan," Pinkie said.
"Professor Pinkie," the colt and yak gasped.
"Pony and yak have nothing to worry about now," Rutherford said.
Sandbar was still a bit cold and could barely stand. "Sandbar, don't stand," Yona said.
"Yaks carry pony back."
Rutherford helped Sandbar onto his back while Yona got an angry look by her father. The little yak gulped. "Father and mother have talk later," the father said.
The classmates were still in the warm hut as Pinkie and the yak rushed in with Sandbar and Yona. "Yaks back," the mother cheered. She ran up and her husband and daughter, who had snow covering their wool. "Yona, don't scare mother like that."
"Yona sorry," Yona sighed. "Yona didn't want to lose friend."
"Father understand," the father said, "But yaks would've started search party and find pony."
"Actually, if Yona and Sandbar didn't find that cave, I think they would be buried by snow," Pinkie stated, only to get the yak's parents glaring at her. "...I'm talking, aren't I?"
"Pink Pony stay out of talk," Rutherford suggested.
"Mother proud Yona save friend," the mother said, "But don't do again."
"Right," Yona replied.
The mother walked off to serve some stew for Sandbar, who was shivering from going by in the storm. "Pony have warm stew."
"Th-th-thank you, m-miss," Sandbar shivered. The freezing pony took a sip of the stew and was surprised at how it tasted. "This is... Pretty good."
"Stew Yakyakistan specialty," Yona stated. She was given a bowl of the same stew as she got closer to Sandbar. They both shared the blanket the shared earlier.
"Looks like we're going to be staying here for a while."
"Yona doesn't mind. She gets to stay with coltfriend." The pony blushed as he took a deep breath. He went to go for a kiss on Yona's cheek, but when the yak saw what he was doing, he chickened out. "What Sandbar doing?"
"I'm sorry. I just... Wanted to have a good first kiss."
"First kiss?"
"Yeah. I mean... You and I've been together for a long time. It's just... When it comes to some decisions, I either think there are no consequences that will happen or..." Yona covered his mouth.
"Yona remember cart with tree parts. Bad choices don't make Sandbar clueless." The two blushed just Yona went in for a kiss on the muzzle, surprising the colt. The yak could see that her friend was nervous and back off. "Did Yona do something wrong?"
"N... No. I-I-I... That was... Interesting." Yona felt rather embarrassed but the colt smiled. "You could try again if you want." The two blushed as they both leaned towards each other going in for a much more passionate kiss. When they broke off, they both hugged each other.
"Aww," Pinkie cooed, "That's adorable."
Yona's father wasn't so keen but the mother stopped him. "Yona's somepony nice pony," the mother said. "Plus, daughter is happy." The father looked at Yona's expression and shrugged.
"Sandbar," Yona said, "Yona loves you."
The colt smiled, "I love you too Yona." The two snuggled each other for warmth as the snowy wind whistled outside.