//------------------------------// // Departing // Story: Unicorn Attack! // by milesprower06 //------------------------------// Sunny held her friends in a tight group hug, honestly not wanting to let go as the decision had been made for Zipp, Pipp, and Izzy to return to their respective hometowns and confirm the return of magic everywhere, as well as encourage the unicorns and pegasi to visit Maretime Bay, and the earth ponies would be doing the same back here. "Don't worry, Sunny. We'll be back before you know it. With a favorable wind and some good updrafts, getting to Zephyr Heights will take one, two hours tops. The hard part will be breaking the news to mom," Zipp told her as they broke away from the group hug. "I know. It's just this is the first time all week that we'll be apart, that's all," Sunny told them. "See you soon, Sunny," Pipp said, and with that, she and her sister took to the sky and headed northeast towards Zephyr Heights. "I just have to grab a few things, then I'm headed right back, honest," Izzy told her friend. "We'll be here," Sunny told her. Izzy gave one last smile before she headed for the hills at a full gallop north towards Bridlewood. The earth mare glanced back at her glowing wings, wondering how long they would last, figuring that she wouldn't be an alicorn with the glowing, sparkling wings and horn forever. "So," Sunny began, turning to Hitch. "What now?" "Well, if you want to keep yourself busy and keep your mind off of wondering when everypony's going to be back, then... Why not open your smoothie cart?" the sheriff suggested. Sunny thought about it for a few minutes then nodded. "Sounds like a good idea, Hitch. That'll get me back into the grind of things a bit. What about you?" She asked. "Oh, don't worry about me. I've still got plenty to think about, what to do with Phyllis most prominently. I meant what I said over lunch; I don't want Sprout to have to be near his mom every day when he comes back to work if he doesn't want to. But I might have something in mind, just have to see if it can be done in time. And just in case it isn't obvious, my spare bedroom is yours until we know for sure what's happening with the lighthouse, alright?" Sunny gave her friend a smile. "Good to know, Hitch. Thanks. I'm gonna go get my cart opened and pass the time." "Just relax, Pipp. If you tire yourself out, we'll have to land and it'll take longer to get there," Zipp told her sister, who wasn't paying as much attention to the updrafts and had to flap her wings a bit more to keep up with her older sister. "Well, excuse me if I'm nowhere near as used to this as you are, sis. I didn't exactly spend most of my free time gliding under the current of industrial fans," Pipp shot back. Zipp smirked at her. "Just, slow, easy breaths. Let the wind come under your wings and just... carry you," she told her. Pipp tried her best to do as her sister said, and spread her wings out, catching the next updraft along with Zipp. "Whoo!" She couldn't deny the exhilaration, but she didn't even want to think about what her mane was going to look like when they were done. She'd much rather be on the ground. "So, if we're moving to Maretime Bay to be with Sunny, any idea of what you're going to do? You know, for a job?" Pipp asked. "You know, I hadn't really thought about it too much, but that's a great question. How about you?" "Well, if I can absolutely have my way, something that combines content creation, singing, and mane styling!" Pipp replied. Zipp chuckled. "Well, if anypony can make that work, I'm sure you can, sis." Izzy kept her trot at a healthy pace, re-tracing their route to Maretime Bay. Luckily she wouldn't have to worry about the missing bridge over the ravine that was between Zephyr Heights and Bridlewood, but if the tribes were going to start visiting each other, that would have to be something to be repaired sooner or later. If the rest of the unicorns had their magic, that could be something that happened very soon. But that meant getting there first. She was also wondering if the unicorns would be able to find any sort of old spellbooks. There had to be more to their magic than just floating things, right? But that was a question for another day. It was approaching sundown by the time she saw Bridlewood's treeline, and when she squinted, she saw a familiar, stout white unicorn out in front of the forest. She broke into a gallop as she headed down the last hill onto the wide open field. "Alphabittle!" The unicorn stallion had seen her come down the hill, and went out to meet her in the middle of the field. She skidded to a halt, and nearly tackled him in a hug. "I told you! I told you the magic was real!" Izzy said, squeezing him in the embrace momentarily. "Yes, you did, Izzy. I'm sorry for not believing you," Alphabittle told her, returning the hug, before they both pulled away. "How is everyone in there?" she asked. "This is the most lively Bridlewood has been in generations, without a doubt," the stallion replied. "I can't really figure out a way to tell you this the easy way, so here it goes. I'm moving to Maretime Bay, Alphabittle. We've all agreed to move in with Sunny. Because that's what brought the magic back; unity and working together. So I'm here to pick up a few things and..." Izzy's sentence trailed off as her gaze drifted off to the right side of the field. "What. Is. That? And why have I not seen it before???" The unicorn mare's overly enthusiastic question brought Alphabittle's attention to what she was looking at; a dilapidated scooter that was rusted and almost overgrown. "Scooter of some kind, it's been there forever," he told her. The mare's mind immediately came alive with all sorts of ideas. "Come on, help me get it out of the dirt!" Izzy said, galloping for her new find, prancing around it to get a look from all angles. "Ohhh, yes, I can definitely work with this!"