List of problems include: Three of your nine otherworldly friends are on some distant rooftop, amidst an unfamiliar city. Doubts being put aside, your eyes squint at distant sunlight. Mountains obscure earth's sun, forming another addition to your list. At some point you meet up with fellow travelers.
Problem number three: Your friends already have a headstart down the hillside.
"Hold up everyone! We can't just waltz into a city with people, who have never seen anything like you in their lives!"
"Not our first time visiting strange places. I don't see the difference between our other adventures, and the folks down below.", Applejack says.
Despite surrounding bugs and birds, you clearly pick up on crumbling rock. Given a little bit of time, your gaze lands upon an old mentor.
Mentor in question finishes his gray victim. Fragments slip between his fingers, little amounts flowing away with passing wind currents. In time he looks up, and he dons such an innocent smile. Spike's expression fades.
"So, you said people are aware of dragons. Just not living ones? And the ones who are well known, usually wind up dead?", Spike's breathing picks up speed. "Well thankfully we're not in a story, huh? You'd be one friend short."
...I'm not going anywhere with such an open ended line. Please tell everyone of your genius plan, the journey minus any extra steps. Your face doesn't bode well for our condition. Today's event isn't so hard, just run over, and pick up two horned ponies and their hedgehog!
"Yoo-hoo! Kind Madame! If I may have a moment of your time? My friends and I are without direction, where can we find a map of this fair city?", Rarity asks. Question being her location, as you and everyone else soon find a lacking friend.
Upon looking further downhill, every last one of you catch your breathes.
Mare in question is presently asking a passing motorist, a woman and who appears to be her child on a bicycle.
"Right along this here road. We're from out of town as well, so if you backtrack, you'll find a drugstore. Has a map, along with some pretty rare goodies.", says the woman. Balance is disrupted by aforementioned child, shouting 'Pony!' and giggling amidst swings.
"What an adorable child! Is she yours?"
"My son's actually. He's out of town with his wife, so I'm taking care of the little huntress. Careful around her, the little thing can bite your finger off.", the woman says. Sentence comes in a nonchalant tone, I might add into the mix. Without another word both parties go their separate ways.
Upon returning with a gracious smile, "Well, we have a destination. Come along everypony! We mustn't keep Twilight, Tempest, and Grubber waiting!"
In spite of an empty reason, you lot continue your quest. Horns signal distant traffic, without anybody else in sight. Matter of fact not another character is seen amidst open streets. Exception being the aforementioned drugstore.
Indoors contains at least several people, two girls being checkout employees. First thing you go for is a good old fashioned map, or rather it's more of a brochure. Still, you find yourself well enough to pay for the stuff.
Hopes are your friends don't take too much time from an otherwise short schedule. Despite six ponies and one dragon being inside an everyday drugstore, their odd color pallets don't attract attention. In truth everyone's moving along casually, outright ignoring the magical characters.
Good to know there's more than one witness for my sanity's sake.
After paying for your stuff, you carefully let everyone know it was time to go.
"Is there by any chance a money changer nearby? I'm hoping to exchange my share of bits for your earth's currency. This shirt is so cute!", Rarity holds up a medium sized t-shirt. "The little swirls of blue overlay parallel orange swirls, creating an energizing sense from it's looks alone! Then there's the background color scheme! Mixes of sunset colors fading into lower blues, reminiscent of an ocean. Granted it's nowhere near as fashionable as some of my past works, but for some reason this shirt seems to stand out from it's neighbours." Light forms an impressive reflection within her eyes, reminiscent of the night sky.
"Best we keep our golden currency a secret.", you look around the store.
"Aww, but there's a matching one for Sweetie Belle!", her pout accompanies watery eyes. Sure enough she pulls forth a much smaller t-shirt, complete with the same designs.
You stand firmly in a 'No' expression.
At last she says, "Oh, fine! We don't need souvenirs, let's just go." In spite of her word she looks back, quickly pulling her muzzle toward the store's exit. "Please hurry along everypony, before I change my mind!", true enough she dashes outside.
All throughout most everypony else wraps up their deeds, and follows each other outside. Expression of 'Most everypony' meaning all except Applejack, who is nowhere in sight. In spite of a lacking member, you make your way outside.
"So Rarity, you said 'My share of bits'. Who is keeping your temporary account?", you ask.
"Pinkie Pie of course. You'd be surprised of her safe keeping abilities. Pinkie!", hoofsteps follow the request, "Kindly show Matthew, your 'mane' safe."
With a nod, Pinkie rummages through her mane. Out from some rummaging within cotton candy, emerges a fishing line. Yes she pulls out a long reel, seemingly forming a pile before her hooves. Finally at the very end of green string sits a small satchel, capable of fitting in the palm of your human hands. Once shown, it all goes back into the depths.
Needless to say, you're amazed.
Now, I grant you, nobody in your circle has hometown advantage. Getting lost around two streets in, appropriately doesn't come as a surprise. Now being lost until sunset hour, is a concerning feat.
Despite seeing the trio's last whereabouts, you seven rescuers haven't found the right rooftop. People, thankfully, don't question your mystical company, or your running about without end. It's only with youthful types you find an exceptionally keen eye for your group, and toddlers who shout 'Pony!' or 'Unicorn!' add onto present complications. At last your group manages a high up view, in spite of inner warnings.
Wind flows out from Dash's flight, taking her directly over the rescue needers. Upon closer inspection you notice a red cross, hanging about two stories above ground. Approach gets you lost closer, at the price of more exposure. Inside you get a surprisingly quiet atmosphere, your ears pricking only at distant machines.
At some point you begin ascension, to which your eyes grow wide further up stairways.
"Are those, children?", asks Rarity. One hoof echoes throughout an empty space.
Voices scream familiar tunes, procedurally stampeding around your legs. Cries go out for surrender, and comical pony rides.
"Everyone come back together! Either everybody come back in line, or we go back to school right now! And we can take a pop quiz on the medical history of this hospital.", comes a female voice from behind. Upon looking over your shoulder, you notice a woman's outline before daylight.
At once every kid lines up in single file, taking turns giving their own annoyed looks.
"Alright everybody, let's continue the field trip! Next stop, the nurse training ward!", comes her voice. The line of kids follows a frizzy haired woman, her walk being hilariously off balanced.
"Excuse me sir!", comes a familiar voice. "Have you seen a kindergarten class around here? They shouted 'Ponies!", and ran down here." Light reveals a similarly
Okay, I see what's going on here.
"Ma'am, I believe they went that way.", you say. Once left by yourself, both eyes go toward your search efforts. Light explodes behind your position, sounds of wing flaps bringing you into one near death experience.
In the aftermath you find a certain alicorn, her wings covering all six of you in shadow.
Despite a setback or two, you lot still manage your way onto rooftop stonework. Step one finds you sliding, rollercoaster style toward sunlight. Upon regaining your senses, your sight fills with a complete set of nine.
"So...What's our next step? Everypony?", Rainbow Dash asks.
"Red crosses are universal for the same purpose. We'll search wherever similar symptoms are present, and destroy the monster at it's source.", replies Princess Twilight Sparkle.
Daylight fades beyond horizon limits. City lights replace former glory, evidently aiding in you nine's retreat. Despite having a clear view, your shifts only seem to drag on each hour.
Pink splashes your bed's opposing side. Noise pollutes your outward gaze, soon overwhelmed by an airborne water bottle.
At once your focus shifts between friends, eventually locking onto still blue. In between Fizzlepop's reflections of friendly activities, she sneaks a nod of agreement toward you.
Upon taking another look at the nearest clock, you get 10:29 P.M. in full red. Breath slips between your teeth, actually bringing on another worrisome expression. Reach goes into your travel bag, coming up empty handed moments into your search.
"Everyone. Have any of you seen my toothbrush?", your question gets mere shakes in response. Once your eyes land on Tempest, she yawns.
"It's in the bathroom.", she says. Upon walking into position, your body locks moment before contact with bristles. Feet slide away from your recent stance, both hands caving onto reflective material. Hoofsteps call your attention further toward slivers of artificial yellow.
Knocks echo from a lower drawer.
"Psst! Narrator!", comes a squeaky voice.
...Please excuse me for a second?
"Oh good, you heard me! Listen, remember way back then? When Matthew and Fizzlepop were in question? Well, they've gotten more out of each other. And they've been learning since then, fighting, talking with others, traveling to other worlds. Oh, and I talked with Fizzlepop before coming here."
Did she mention relationships by any chance?
"Eh, not really. She was focused on the hospital, so our conversation mostly leaned on today's strangeness. There was one really, really big thing. She said, 'I wonder if there is a pony for me.' She had this distant stare, like she was only pretending to look at the hospital. Then she walked onto the outer railing, she...hasn't come inside since."
Can't you tell Matthew? A recently 'let's be friends'-ed mare with a bad history in relationships, distancing herself with self-doubtful words, isn't a good secret.
"True~, however, since he's been listening...", Pinkie points outside the counter's drawer.
Water continues it's fall, despite a present user holding eye contact. Once accomplishing your nightly routine, you head back outside.
See you later, Pinkie.
"See you later tonight, Narrator."
Upon turning a corner, your hands fidget amongst themselves. Circles form along your footwork, eventually making way toward metal railing.
Step one taken, grunts signal another's presence. Wings bounce against your legs, blue feathers audibly brushing either pant leg clean of debris.
"Oh, hey. Goodnight, Matt.", says Rainbow Dash. Yawns call you over toward five more ponies, including one dragon underneath bedsheets.
Electricity calls you back outside. Step by step your own presence is eventually met with familiar blue. Despite acknowledging your presence, the corner of her right eye slides back toward alleyway duty.
Upon taking a seat beside Tempest, your lungs fill to capacity.
"Good night, Tempest.", you say. Foot takes off, and is nearly crushed by a sudden slam. Glass paves way for a sleepy rainbow, who falls back from the sight of tonight's assailant.
Given enough time Tempest's features soften, even growing into a smirk.
"You wanted to tell me something?", she asks.
"...You and me being friends right now, thanks for being here with us.", you reply.
"Fair enough. Though let's be honest, you're not the same wanderer from our first meeting. Doesn't mean you've improved, but you no longer flinch away from fights.", her tail flicks amidst it's meager room.
You look out toward lower details, neighborhood lights assisting for distant illumination.
Once you open your mouth, a hoof rushes against it's surface.
"Give me a second.", she jumps down the fire escape. With a few leaps, her flight leads behind a local building.
In spite of having the obvious choice, you eventually make for downstairs.
In time you make your way down each flight of stairs. At some point you hear thunder, followed by Fizzlepop's sudden collision.
Wind carries you down, safely diffusing any lethal injury. Given a stumble you accompany Fizzlepop, to which you investigate her wounds.
In short, her body's worst offender are some nicks, and a bump from the crash.
Upon looking toward her recent battlefield, your sight reflects sickeningly colored fog. Hands swing out in front of your position. Green pushes said fog away, keeping your world safe from darker gray.
At some point outlines rush light green. Whirlwinds scatter nearby trash bags, audibly leaving behind no outer survivor.
Perhaps at your breaking point, lavender breaks the stalemate. Battlecries emit loud from eight characters, all whom rush one target.
Winds dissipate from your area, leaving only a retreating creature. Blast after blast follows it's trail, an entire party hanging onto every step.
Coughs swing you around, bringing attention toward those same nicks.
"Fire. Please.", Fizzlepop barely manages between scarce breaths.
"...Spike! Spike!", you cry out. Arms wrap around Fizzlepop's stomach, cradling her within your care. At once you rush off toward everypony's assault.
One more addition to that problem list: Your friends are in trouble.