//------------------------------// // Sugar Hoof's Ponycorn Adventure, yay! // Story: Sugar Hoof the Wizard Colt // by Furenstein //------------------------------// The sound of wooden wheels turning on the desert sand followed by the loud thud of treants stomping along both sides of the cart filled everyone's ears. The griffons, diamond dogs, cats, ponies, and myself sat in cages inside the cart. Some tried to get extra sleep for whatever hell they thought awaited them, some whispered comforts to each other, I however, was busy planning. I didn't have a map of Equestria nor Griffonstone, so I'm not entirely sure what I'm doing, but I've made long treks before. From what I read in Birch's reports, it's a wonderful place filled with plenty of new magic to study. Even without my treants, and given my school of magic is the weakest when it came to combat, I was still a master at it, and could hold my own in a scrap. I was brought out of my thoughts by a hoof rubbing the back of my mane. My eyes shot open, I wasn't expecting physical contact, I knew we should've made these cages with less room in between the bars. Looking back, one of the prisoners, Goldie, I assumed, was giving me a weary smile. "It'll be okay...I won't let anyone hurt you." She said as she began tearing up. "Ma'am, I'm more than capable of defending myself." I said, glaring at her. Her hoof shrunk back as it was time for her eyes to widen. She gasped, "You can talk?" "What kind've wizard would I be if I could not speak?" I asked, scooting further away from her and going back to my thoughts. At least this conversation was over, Goldie turned back and began talking with a blue pegasus, and I did not care for their speech. "Just how far are they taking us, we're already nearing the Equestrian border." I heard a griffon say. "How can you tell?" One of the cats asked. "I can see the Macintosh Hills just a few miles north." The Macintosh Hills? "That wall seperating Equestria and the desert is named The Macintosh Hills?" I asked, turning back to the griffon. "Yeah, probably named after a member of the apple family." Said the griffon. "Have you ever been to Equestria?" Goldie asked, turning back to me. "No, I uh.." I tried to come up with a story to tell her, but before I could she stopped me. "Hey, don't worry about it, do you have a name?" She spoke softly, as one would a frightened bunny. "My name is Sugar Hoof." I said, looking back to her. Rain whispered to Goldie, "Poor colt must've been born into slavery." "Do you remember your parents?" Goldie asked. My parents ... I am an 89 year old life wizard, and my parents were not of very good health even during my youth. Perhaps if my parents or sister had been born with my skill in magic, they'd still be around. Unfortunately, as far as I knew, I was the only member of my family with any capacity for even the most basic of spells. "Of course, my mom was a baker, and my dad was a guardsman." I said, softly. I had not thought of my family in many years. "Your mom was a baker," She looked gladdened at the prospect, "She named you Sugar." Rain whispered to herself, "At least he wasn't named by whoever bought him." The sun was setting by the time the cart stopped. With the Macintosh Hills in front of us, the treants began unloading the cart and releasing the slaves, myself included. "You're free to leave, all of you. leave, and never return." One of my treants said. "You're just letting us go?" Asked Goldie. "As the master commands." The treant replied, glaring at her. With no reason to stall my journey, I began following the train tracks north into Southern Equestria. "Sugar Hoof, wait!" I heard Goldie yell with me, "Where do you think you're going? It's dangerous, especially for a foal." Before I even knew what was going on, She had me on sitting on her back. "Hey, I'm capable of walking on my own." "I know, you're a very smart and brave little colt, It's safer with us though." Rain said, flapping her wings behind Goldie. I almost tried to force myself away from them before I thought a bit more about it. I don't know the distance between me and Griffonstone, but at least while she carries me, I'm getting closer without having to do anything. I laid down on her back where it was warm and soft. The smell of flowers radiated from her, most likely from the soap she bathed with back at base. I heard her giggling for a second before she asked me, "Where were you going, anyway, you've never even been to Equestria?" "I was going treasure hunting in a kingdom called Griffonstone." As soon as I said that, a blue hoof ruffled my mane. I did not much appreciate this, so I glared at Rain, causing her to laugh at my face. The train tracks are spotless, no rust or dirt were on top of it. It was very strange, I wondered if it was magically maintained or if it was maintained by engineers. Goldie saw me looking at the tracks and decided to jump onto them. "Chugga Chugga Chugga Chugga, Choo Choo!" Goldie cried out, I laughed at her foolishness. My laughter spurred Rain to drop onto the track and pretend to be a train as well, causing me to laugh even more. Through panting breath, I said, "Faster, Goldie, faster." The three of us laughed as Goldie began to run northward. At this rate, I'd be away from the Macintosh Hills in no time. Goldie and Rain were panting for breath as we reached the end of the hills, the two mares flopped onto the red dirt as I stepped off of Goldie's back. "That was fun." I said simply as the two mares continued fighting for breath. As they panted, I sneaked from their side and used my magic to dig a hole for me to escape from. Neither mare even saw me sink into the dirt below. "Hey, Rain?" Goldie said between pants? "Yeah?" Rain replied, trying to stand back up. "Did you tell Sugar Hoof my name? I don't think I told him." "No." Rain's head shot up as she went to ask me a question. Hey, Sug—" She stopped as she realized I was gone.