//------------------------------// // Chapter 9: Taking Flight to New Heights // Story: The Tale of Neon Light // by DeffBwade //------------------------------// The Tale of Neon Light Written by DeffBwade Chapter 9: Taking Flight to New Heights The Neon Gamer 4 days ago Hey guys. Just wanna give you all a quick update. I'm not gonna be able to post videos or stream for a while since I'm currently in the process of moving. Ever since magic has returned to Equestria, I've made some new friends and I just want to be closer to them. Right now, I'm in the process of finding a new place to live. If everything goes as planned, I should probably be back to making content sometime next week. Anyways, that's all I've got for you all. Have a good night, guys. Peace out, everypony. Princess Pipp Petals was having a bit of trouble. "Grrrr! Get-in-get-in-get-in-get-in-get-in!" she said repeatedly while panting. The trouble? She was having a hard time keeping her suitcase shut. ... Y'all thought she was doing something else? You weirdos. She and Zipp were in the royal palace of Zephyr Heights packing some things to bring with them because due to wanting to be closer to their friends, the two sisters decided to move to Maritime Bay so they wouldn't have to travel just to see them. Anyways, Pipp was pushing her suitcase with all her might, and even resorted to jumping on it just to close it, but it was all for naught simply due to all the stuff she put in it. The suitcase opened and clothes burst and scattered everywhere, one piece landing on her head and covering her eyes. "Augh! Come on!" Pipp groaned out of frustration as she moved the piece of clothing out of her eyes. Her frustration was quickly wiped away, however, when she glanced at the mirror and suddenly had sparkly eyes and a smile, "Ooh! Cute~" she sang as she took out her phone and took a selfie. KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK "Hurry up, Pipp. Mom wants to say a 'little' goodbye," Zipp said with a smile, putting a little sarcasm on 'little,' knowing full well that their mom's goodbye will be anything but that. But her smile feel when she heard her sister grunting and panting due to the struggle she was in. She leaned her head against the door and asked, "Everything okay in there?" "Yep! Totally...fine..." Pipp panted while standing on her bed. Going for one more idea, she backflipped as she dived straight onto the bag while crying out, "Hi-yah!" Hearing her sister and starting to worry a bit, Zipp suddenly opened the bedroom door, just in time to see Pipp landing on her bag, which made her give a look of confusion. "Phew!" Pipp sighed out of relief, "Hey, Zipp. Just finishing up my packing," she said with a smile. Unfortunately, said smile dropped when the suitcase started straining. The clips opened up and all of the clothes inside the bag flew out once again...with the addition of Cloudpuff for some reason. Zipp could only stare at sister in confusion, wondering why she would pack so many clothes in one bag. She wasn't even paying attention to fact that she was dressed like a queen with royal garments, a necklace, a crown, a robe, and holding Cloudpuff in her hooves. "Aww, Zipp!" Pipp said with a smile and sparkling eyes as she took out her phone and took a picture of her sister wearing royal garments. Zipp looked at the mirror and gasped in shock at what she was wearing, then grumbled furiously while taking the royal garments off due to not being a fan of wearing anything royal. She tossed Cloudpuff away as he hopped away with a bark. "Ugh, let's go!" she said with a bit of frustration. Grabbing her bag and placing it over her, she told Pipp, "Grab your bag." Pipp cleared her throat, grabbing the white pegasus's attention. "Ahem... Bag? About that..." she said sheepishly as she glanced to the corner of her room, revealing a pile of a dozen or so packed suitcases as Cloudpuff barked and jumped into said pile. Zipp gasped in shock upon seeing the absurd amount of bags, wondering just why in the world her sister would need that much stuff to bring. "And...boom!" I cheered a bit as I placed a box with some of my stuff down in my living room, "Phew! I think that's the last of it." It's been a little over 2 weeks since me and my friends brought friendship and magic back to Equestria, and oh boy, a lot of things happened since. Various companies and businesses started reaching out to the other pony capitals in hopes of expanding. New businesses are opening up. Ponies are visiting places. Literally you can look outside and see earth ponies and unicorns walking through Zephyr Heights, checking out what it has to offer and befriending other pegasi. It's amazing what can happen in just two weeks. After placing the box down, I looked around my now almost empty apartment. It wasn't grand or anything. It was just a standard apartment with a kitchen, living room, a bathroom, and a bedroom with a spacious closet. You know, the usual. But right now the only things that occupied it were all the boxes filled with all my crap. All my clothes, dishware, utensils, gaming equipment (I made sure to wrap all that with bubble wrap just in case), whatever else you would pack into an apartment, etc. etc. I also do plan on bringing the couches, tables, refrigerator, the TV, and obviously my bed. The apartment I decided to move to in Maritime Bay is a bit smaller than this one, but hey. Beggars can't be choosers. And I don't really mind anyway. As long as I can eat, sleep, and play games (as well other things) comfortably, then it's fine. "Well, Neon. It's officially time to start the next chapter of your life. In a new place, with new magical powers..." I thought as I pulled out my phone and went into my photo gallery to view a selfie picture that Pipp sent me that made me smile. Usually, it would just be of her and she would ask me for my opinion (don't question it...and it's always family friendly). Other times it would be her, Zipp, and me just to remember later on. But this one...it was a picture of all six of us on the day that magic returned, "...and my friends." KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK I snapped out of my thoughts and put my phone away upon hearing somepony knocking on my door. Try to guess who it was at the door. "Hey Mom," I greeted with a smile. "Hey sweetie," Mom greeted back as she hugged me, "Mind if I come in?" "Not at all," I answered as I stepped aside. "So...you got everything packed up?" Mom asked as she looked at the boxes around the place. "Yep. Took some time, but I got it done," I responded. "Sorry I couldn't help out." "It's fine. You've got a job to do after all. Can't blame you for that." "Still..." she mumbled before shaking her head, "Anyways... You sure you got everything packed up? Clothes?" "Yeah." "All your kitchenware?" "Uh-huh." "Toiletries?" "Yes." "Your gaming equipment?" "Packed up and wrapped in bubble wrap." "You need anything? Some extra food? Drinks? More clothes just in case it gets cold? Money? What abou—" "Mom," I said, interrupting her, "I'm fine. I checked, double checked, and then triple checked that I had everything. And I'm perfectly fine on supplies and money." Being a YouHoofer does have its benefits after all. "So I don't need anything. Okay?" "...Yeah. Yeah, I know. It's just..." Mom stammered before she looked at me with a smile and tears starting to form...and then gave me a big hug, "I'm so sad to see you go! Oh, my little baby's finally grown up and leaving the nest!" "I swear you said these same exact words when I first moved out of the house," I thought with a bit of a deadpan expression before I smiled and hugged my mom back, "Not that I can blame you, of course." "Mom, I'm not leaving you forever," I reassured her, "I'm just moving to a new place. I can always visit you here or you can come visit me in Maritime Bay." "Yeah... That's true," Mom said as she let go of me, still tearing up a bit, "It just feels like it was just yesterday that you were just a foal and I was holding you in my hooves. And now look at you. All grown up and moving to another town. Are you sure you can't just stay here?" "Again, same words." "Mom, I told you already. Pipp and Zipp are moving to Maritime Bay so they can be closer to our friends. And I want to be closer to them as well," I said, "Plus, a small beach town with no colossal-sized buildings or high amounts of activity? Zephyr Heights is great and all, but Maritime Bay is just more...me." "I understand. You always did prefer the quiet," Mom said with a bit of a chuckle while wiping away the last of the tears. Kinda ironic considering the fact that I'm a videogame commentator. *cough* shameless self promotion *cough* "So have you already contacted any moving ponies?" Mom asked. Remember when I said that businesses have expanded? "Yeah. They should come by to help with all my stuff after Pipp and Zipp's 'little' goodbye parade," I said in a bit of a joking kind of way as I knew it wasn't going to be little at all, before I realized something and checked the time, "Oh shoot. We should probably get going or else we'll miss it." "Right," Mom said before we exited my apartment and started heading to the parade. Mom chuckled before saying, "Knowing Haven, I'm guessing the parade will be anything but little." "I don't doubt it," I agreed. Outside of the castle, a massive crowd of ponies were waiting for the parade to start. Suddenly, the front doors opened and a giant balloon of Queen Haven came out, prompting the crowd to cheer with excitement. "And here come the royal balloons!" Skye announced while two more balloons, looking like Zipp and Pipp, shot out from the castle wall as the crowd cheered some more. Amidst the cheers though, a flying pegasi bumped into a statue and a flying foal bumped into the balloon of Queen Haven. "Ooh! Another close call, Skye," Dazzle announced. "There's been a lot of those lately, Dazzle" Skye pointed out as pegasi were still trying to get used to the art of flying. "It's true. But you know what they say, Skye. Progress over perfection," Dazzle responded with a smile, but then announced with a gasp, “Here comes the royal family now!” The crowd continued cheering as they saw Queen Haven and her daughters smiling and waving on a golden chariot with there thrones on it. Zipp waved at the crowd nervously, not quite used to so much attention and admiration from so many ponies at once. When she saw the balloon of her approaching her a bit, she freaked out a bit. "For the record, mother, this is not a 'little' goodbye!" Zipp exclaimed. "Smile, Zephyrina," Haven told her daughter with a smile. "This is all for you." Pipp, on the other hoof was enjoying all the attention, smiling and even blowing kisses. "Awww!" she said when she caught a bouquet of flowers that were thrown at her. A group of foals screamed with excitement at seeing the royal family as they tossed the flowers, and one earth pony filly was about to faint, but another earth pony filly caught her. Pipp, being the social media fanatic that she is, took out her phone and started taking several selfies. Zipp realized what she was doing, and gasped and ducked down when she saw her sister taking selfies with her. "Pipp, no pictures!" Zipp yelled. "Come on, Zipp" Pipp said, trying to convince her sister, "Just one? Don't you wanna remember today?" Pipp's question was more or less answered when a filly wearing a Zipp mask appeared right in front of the white pegasus. "I love you, Zipp!" she yelled. "And which part exactly would I want to remember?" Zipp questioned, feeling disturbed by what she had just seen. "Oh, I don't know..." Pipp said with sarcasm, "How about the loving send-off from your mother? The Queen?" she pointed out, as she got straight into Zipp's face, touching muzzles. "Enough!" Queen Haven yelled, tired of hearing her daughters argue, and sternly said, "Zephyrina, you are the future queen. Now sit up straight and wave!" Zipp immediately went back to smiling and waving, albeit forcefully. She then glanced sideways at Pipp, who was looking at her back. Pipp sighed as she continued wave to the crowd as well. "Wow. A 'little' parade consisting of giant balloons and a giant, golden chariot. Who would've guessed?" I thought with an amused smile as me and mom waved to the royal families amidst the crowd of ponies, "Heh. Just 2 weeks ago me and the royal family were criminals. But now look. Ponies are cheering with excitement and—" I stopped and train of thought and looked beside me to see some foals crying. I don't know whether it's out of excitement or sadness, and frankly I'm fine with not knowing. Feeling a bit weirded out, I slowly looked back and continued waving, "Ooookay then." On a stage in front of the castle, Queen Haven started giving a little speech while something huge off to the side was covered by a tarp. "It seems like only yesterday my daughters were adorable little fillies," she said, as she pointed out some pictures of Zipp and Pipp that were taken over the years. One when they were fillies with Pipp smiling and Zipp crying, one where Zipp was not amused with the picture and Pipp was laying on a cloud with a smile, and then finally one where Pipp was posing to the camera and one with Zipp sleeping on her bed, "But look at them now!" Pipp was blowing kisses to the crowd, but Zipp was blushing in embarrassment after their mother revealed those photos. "Hehehehe," I chuckled as I took pictures of the pictures (picture-ception!), primarily because of Zipp's pictures, "I'm gonna save these just to mess with Zipp." "Neon," Mom in a bit of a stern tone. "Relax. I'm not gonna post them online or completely make fun of her," I reassured before muttering, "I'm just gonna bring it up from time to time to embarrass her." "What?" "What?" "All grown up...and leaving me..." Queen Haven started to sob at just the mere thought of her daughters moving away. As soon as she realized that she was starting to cry, she quickly composed herself, "And to celebrate their new adventure together, I now present…" she said as she turned to Zoom and Thunder, who then removed the tarp off, revealing a stone statue of Zipp and Pipp in a flying pose. "Now that's one heck of a goodbye," I complimented with a whistle amongst the cheering crowd. "Tell me about it," Mom said in agreement, "But you know how Haven can be when it comes to her daughters." If there's one word I would use to describe Queen Haven when it comes to Pipp and Zipp, it would probably be "overprotective." Not that I could blame her anything. When you're one of the daughters of the ruler of an entire city, you're bound to encounter some weirdos here and there. At least...that's what I think happens. "Yeah," I laughed as a few pegasi from the crowd started flying close to the statue to get a good photo of it, "Remember that one time where—" My question was interrupted when the flying pegasi shouted out before they all bumped into each other. One of the pegasi crashed into the statue, while the other screamed and collided against the balloons overlooking the statue, causing them to drift off into the air and hit other pegasi that were flying. "O-oh gosh..." They tried to dodge them, but this just resulted in them crashing into other things. One pegasus crashed into the balloon of Queen Haven, causing it to pop. The pegasus then crashed into the strings of Pipp's balloon, causing him to get entangled in them as they snapped and the balloon started to float upward. It took him a second to regain their focus and then realize that he was floating away, which caused him to scream in panic. "Um...I'm sure he'll be fi—" Another pegasus was flying erratically, presumably trying to keep steady, before she smacked into Thunder and sending him flying (not the kind of flying you think it is). Thunder screamed as he smacked into Zipp's balloon. Everypony, including me, Mom, and the royal family, braced ourselves for what was gonna happen next, but Thunder only kept himself steady by holding onto the balloon. "As I was saying..." Queen Haven continued, not noticing that Zipp's balloon was starting to deflate, "May I present, Sisters Take—" she tried to announce, but was interrupted when the balloon deflated with a massive gust of wind right at the royal family, Thunder and a couple of other pegasi being blown away. The royal family were able to withstand the wind, but were left with messy manes after it stopped, "...Flight." Queen Haven, Pipp, and Zipp glanced at each other before they burst out in laughing, as well as the crowd about what just happened. Pipp took out her phone, as Zipp and Queen Haven huddled together for a family photo. Pipp clicks her camera as they took the photo, which Pipp labeled it naming "SISTERS TAKE FLIGHT!" with a heart emoji and a smiley face emoji on it to. My mom and I couldn't stop laughing at what just happened. "Something tells me that we're all definitely gonna remember this day," I said with a giggle, "Oh man, that was funny." "I know," Mom agreed. Zipp and Pipp flew pass their statues as they started to leave Zephyr Heights to be with their friends in Maritime Bay. "Zipp?" Pipp called, turning to her sister, before asking, "Aren't you gonna miss Zephyr Heights, even a teeny bit?" "I don't know," Zipp answered, but then she smiled at her sister. "But...I know I am ready for a new adventure. You know, together." Pipp smiled back at Zipp’s answer. "Yeah. Me too," she replied, as she stuck her hoof out, "All we really need is each other!" Zipp smiled at her with joy, and then they touched hooves, holding onto each other while flying to Maretime Bay. Meanhile, behind them were Thunder and Zoom, struggling to carry all of Pipp's bags. "All you need is each other?" Thunder asked in confusion, "Then what's in the bags?!” "M-mom! Please!" I complained with a blush (curse the fact that I have a white coat!) as my mom kept kissing me goodbye on the cheek. "My little baby's moving far away! Can't I just say goodbye?" she slightly complained. Personally, I wouldn't mind this type of goodbye. In fact, I expect it. That's just how my mom is. The reason I'm feeling embarrassed is because of the fact that she's doing this right in front of the moving ponies! One minute I just finished prepping all of my stuff to be shipped to my new apartment, the next I'm wrapped in a bear hug. "I mean...you c-can. But d-do you have t-to do...this?!" I asked as she continued hugging me tightly, trying my best not to pry away as I don't wanna hurt her feelings, "And in f-front of the moving ponies, no l-less?!" "Hehehe. Oh, you can't exactly blame her, kid," one of the ponies said with a chuckle, "After all, this was exactly how I felt when my kid moved away." I suppose that's true. After all, I'm not just moving into a new apartment. I'm moving to a new town altogether. I sighed and smiled a bit and hugged my mom back, to which she finally let go after a few seconds. "Okay, honey. Call me as soon as you settle in, stay safe, and most importantly..." she said with a soft smile, "...make sure to spend time with your friends." I just nodded in response. A new chapter of my life has started. It's time to fill in the pages.