//------------------------------// // Maretime Bay, Part I // Story: Unicorn Attack! // by milesprower06 //------------------------------// The high noon sun wasn't terribly unbearable due to the frequent cloud cover, as well as the considerable breeze. As Sunny and her group of friends continued over the hills towards the coast, the earth mare was continually having to fight back worries that these crystals weren't going to do much of anything. The friends she had made these past few days had been amazing, but she knew it was more than making friends; she was doing this to prove that all of ponykind could live in harmony together. She hadn't pestered her friends with these concerns, but she knew that they would need some kind of plan if and when these crystals came together, and nothing happened. She was already getting ahead of herself; there was absolutely no telling if the Earth Pony crystal was anywhere near Maretime Bay. This could be just another stop before they headed out again. They were betting everything on the whereabouts of it being somewhere in her dad's research. The group didn't get very far after leaving Bridlewood before they had to stop and make camp for the night, but luckily, it was less than half the distance than it had been from Maretime Bay to Zephyr Heights, and from Zephyr Heights to Bridlewood. If they kept this pace, they'd get back to the lighthouse in the early afternoon. "You think we'll attract much attention coming into your town?" Zipp asked Sunny and Hitch. "If we don't do it like Izzy, probably not," Hitch commented. "What did she do?" Pipp asked. "Pretty much waltzed right into the middle of downtown and caused a panic," Sunny said, smirking. "Well, how was I supposed to know that was going to happen?" Izzy countered, nudging her friend playfully. "In all seriousness," Hitch began. "Sunny's lighthouse is on the very edge of town, on the coast. We should be able to see it over the next few hills, in fact. The only way they'd see us coming is if they're actively looking for us, because we'd stick out pretty well; the trees clear out considerably a good mile before the coastline." "You think they'd be actively looking for us?" Zipp asked. "That's honestly my biggest concern right now, yeah. One unicorn threw the populace into a panic. Now throw in two pegasi into the mix? Here's hoping that Sprout has managed to keep everypony calm," Hitch answered. "You really think he's done a good job?" Sunny asked. "I've known Sprout as long as you have, Sunny. I know that when he's confident, he does good work and keeps a good head. So that's what I did before I left; told him to be a beacon of calm, and maintain the peace," Hitch said. "Did you remind him to not start a war?" Sunny asked. "See, now that would have sapped his confidence. I just reminded him of his positives, kept his mind away from his flaws," Hitch replied. "Is that the factory you told us about?" Pipp asked, motioning to the rooftop of a building they could see just over the top of a hill to the right in the distance. "Yup, that's CanterLogic. By far the biggest employer in town," Hitch told her. As the group got closer to the northeast edge of town, a dirt path became clearer, and after the next hill, they saw the lighthouse on the coast. "Home sweet home..." Sunny commented, seeing her dwelling for the first time in nearly a week. "There enough room for all of us in there?" Zipp asked. "Plenty," Sunny answered. "There's a spare bedroom, there's the couch, and we've got our sleeping bags and plenty of space on the floor." "So I'm guessing there's no chance we could take a look around town?" Pipp asked. "Probably not the best idea," Hitch said. "Izzy caused quite the panic. We should look through Argyle's research, and try and find the third crystal as soon as possible... And hope it works." "And if it doesn't?" Zipp asked as they crested the next hill, with the path leading down to the lighthouse, with an old 'Welcome To Maretime Bay' sign off to the side. Sunny didn't answer the pegasus' question, but was halfway glad that she wasn't the only one beginning to wonder what the next step would be if these crystals didn't end up doing anything. The ponies came up to the front door, Sunny reached into her saddlebags to pull out her key, slid it into the lock, and opened the door, ushering her new friends inside. "Come on in," Sunny said, stepping off the welcome mat to the side, letting the two pegasi, unicorn, and earth pony into the house proper. Hitch and Izzy were already familiar with the layout, but Pipp and Zipp took a few moments to take in their surroundings. "Looks comfy," Pipp commented. "Once I dig out all of my dad's research, I can put some lunch together. Hope you like hayburgers and smoothies!" Sweets trotted up the main concrete path towards the CanterLogic concourse. Quickly scanning her ID badge at the front doors, she went inside and immediately headed for the elevators, going down to the basement. Once the lift touched down, she stepped out onto the Research and Development main floor, and approached the elevated platform where her boss' project was nearing completion. "Excuse me, Miss Cloverleaf?" She asked, stepping around a worker who was pushing a cart of tools across the room. Phyllis Cloverleaf leaned out of the door of the 'cockpit' of the large vehicle. "Yes, Sweets?" She asked, holding a clipboard in her left hoof. "You told me to keep an eye on Sunny's lighthouse? Well, I think she and Hitch are back, and not just the two of them. It definitely looked like four or five ponies went into the lighthouse." "I knew Sunny wouldn't just see that unicorn home. She's never set her activism aside like that; after all, that's how she got fired from here," Phyllis commented. "What should we do, ma'am?" Sweets asked. "Nothing, yet. As long as they stay up there in the lighthouse. This should be done by tonight, then we'll get to the bottom of this."