“Okay... … ...”
Sunset Shimmer stood on the very eastern edge of the Everfree Forest, squinting out into a bright sunny vista. Rolling green hills and patches of farmland dotted the fertile belly of Equestria between the treeline and a distant span of mountains—not quite blue and not quite red. One might even call the mountains “purple.”
“Okay... … ...”
Sunset resorted to pacing along the Everfree's crest, pausing sporadically to rub her muzzle in thought.
“Okay... … ...”
Trixie, Flash Sentry, Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle, and nearly two hundred and fifty ponies stood in a tight cluster, craning their necks in tense patience to see what decision their “tour guide” would make next.
“Have you seen so much open space?” Rarity's voice murmured. The air whiffled—likely from the sound of her fanning herself with a delicate pale hoof. “My stars...! It's like an undiscovered country!”
“No roads...” Applejack remarked. “Hardly any signs of civilization. Except maybe a farm or two. Pure, good ol' country agriculture... heh...” She tipped her hat back. “Y'all reckon Sunset might let me move here?”
“I dunno about that, AJ,” Rainbow Dash remarked. “This is my second time here, and I've already seen my fair share of manticores, dragons, and evil wizard staves.”
“There are dragons here?!” Fluttershy gasped.
Rarity looked at her. “Oh, darling, don't be scared! I'm certain Sunset will help us steer clear of—”
“Do... do you think she'll let us see them?” Fluttershy's eyes sparkled. “If even for a brief diversion?”
Rainbow made a face. “You wan to see dragons? Like up close?”
“Yes! And sea serpents and centaurs and fairies and any other magical animals that might exist in this magical world! This is just too wonderful to pass up!” Fluttershy shifted. Her ears folded as she blushed. “I... I-I especially mean it about the 'fairy' part.”
“Not sure Equestria's that kind of a magical world, Flutters,” Rainbow Dash muttered. “Maybe it's best that we avoid the dragons and such.”
“Well, batter my badunkadunk, Rainbow,” Applejack drawled. “I figured you woulda wanted to engage any and all dragons that this place has to offer head-on!”
“Look! I'm no coward! Maybe if I was on vacation—yeah—that'd be an awesome way to test these pony flying wings. But...” Rainbow glanced back at the herd of people-horses behind them. “Look at this crazy crowd? We gotta get them home'n'stuff!”
“Well, what's taking so blasted long?!?” Trixie frowned so hard her chin could cut glass. “Is Sunset Shimmer going to escort us to the horsey capital or not?”
“She's working on a solution right now...” Rainbow droned, eyes rolling.
“No she isn't!” Trixie's voice cracked. She flung a hoof in the unicorn's direction. “She's just pacing around and saying 'okay' over and over again! Look! She's gonna do it again!”
“... … ...Okay... … ...”
“See?!?!” Trixie barked.
“Flash Sentry, good sir, please calm your trot buddy down,” Rarity insisted without looking.
Flash shifted where he stood. “Uhmmmmm...”
“Trixie isn't just speaking for herself!” Trixie tilted her nose up. “She speaks for the entire group! We would all like to get home as quickly as possible—which is just what Miss Shimmer promised, was it not?”
“Look. Just calm down.” Rainbow frowned at her. “I'm sure everyone here isn't dying like you, Trixie.” She pointed at the stallion next to Trixie. “Look! Your buddy Flash is doing just fine! You should take after him!”
Flash bit his lip. “Uhhhhm... … ...”
“Actually...” Octavia Melody trotted nervously forward, head bowed and ears folded. “...I would very much like to get in contact with my family as quickly as possible.”
“Yeah...” Sandalwood also trotted forward, nodding. “...yo, my baby sister expects a cell phone call every night to check up on me. If I don't respond, she's gonna freak out and spread the panic to the rest of my folks back home!”
“I have a husband and son back in port! This recent cruise was the last in my contract for a month!”
“If I don't get to my business meeting by the end of this weekend, my company's stocks will plummet.”
“I thought the vote to follow Miss Shimmer through here was only unanimous because she assured we'd be home by now.”
“I don't know about the rest of you guys, but my guild is going to kill me if I don't join them as off-tank for the weekly raid circulation...”
“I've had a lingering cough for two weeks! I need to see a doctor!”
“I haven't done my taxes!”
“The company needs a full report on the events leading up to the ship's sinking and my job will be at risk if I don't fill them in immediately—”
“Hah! See?” Trixie beamed, gesturing at the crowd and their increasing volume. “Trixie is right! Again! How 'bout it, people?! Are we going to settle for just sitting here, twiddling our... our... horse-parts?”
“No!”
“Nosiree!”
“We gotta get a move on!”
Several of Sunset's friends sighed. They glared... in the direction of Flash Sentry.
Flash sweated. Coughing, he leaned aside and whispered to Trixie: “Hey... uh... Trix?”
“Not now, sad-sack. Trixie is on a roll—”
“Could we maybe can it with the riotous rhetoric? This is Horse Country, not Hong Kong.”
“You don't get to tell Trixie what to do.”
“I'm just saying...” Flash grimaced, leaning away from the daggers that Sunset's friends were glaring at him. “It might be in everyone's best interests to not get so riled up about—”
“Are you worried about everyone's interests?” Trixie batted her eyelashes at him, but held a frown cocked at the ready. “Or just your girlfriend's?”
“She's not my girlfriend,” Flash grumbled. “I only want us to get through this peacefully and—”
“Y'know, maybe people would be nicer and less likely to step all over you if you just let Miss Shimmer go?”
“Please top making this conversation about me. It's not! It's about the scene you're making—”
“Are you so scared of moving forward that you cancel out everyone around you who does the same?” Trixie turned her nose up. “Like me? Your trot buddy?”
“Trixie, I know that you're an expert showperson!” Flash swung a hoof towards the forest. “But you left the stage behind you! Back there! On the cruise ship! In another world!”
“You don't think Trixie knows that?!?” she raised her voice.
“Point is—stop making theatrics for the sake of theatrics!” he raised his voice. “This is Sunset's spotlight! Not yours!”
“The only drama here is your endless quest to defend your girlfriend!”
“SHE!” Flash Sentry bellowed. “IS! NOT!” He stamped both front hooves. “MY! GIRLFRIEND!!!”
“Flash Sentry!” Sunset shouted.
The stallion spun around, eyes sparkling above a bright smile framed with sweat. “Y-yes, Sunset?” he chirped.
“... … ...” Sunset squinted at him, then at the rowdy crown behind. “...why are you making such a scene? I turn around for one second and it's like the Exodus from Egypt over here.”
“I... uhm... er...” Flash fidgeted, tail coiling up between his legs. “...what I mean to say is...”
“... … ...”
Flash bowed his head. “I'm sorry.”
Trixie face-hoofed with a groan.
“Whatever.” Sunset Shimmer marched between him and the rest. “Okay, everypony!” She hopped up onto a tree stump and smiled down at the crowd. “Sorry for the slight delay! I had to crunch the numbers in my head! But don't you worry!” Her eyes lit up. “I've got a plan!”