//------------------------------// // Chapter XI // Story: Why Do I Feel This Way // by TheKing2001 //------------------------------// Moondancer “This place looks nice,” Lyra commented as well all stood outside my house. For the past couple days, we painted the outside a bright cream color that matched my coat. Twinkleshine had somehow made a sign in the front yard with my cutie mark on it. “It does,” I agreed as I circled the house and closed the storage shed door. “All I have to do is get the roof fixed. Some ponies will fix that while we are in Ponyville.” We had decided to not get any new furniture yet, besides we had to get Twilights permission before we took anything out of her old house. It didn’t entirely feel right to just take the stuff, even if she no longer used it. “Our train will be here shortly. Let’s get moving!” Minuette exclaimed as she pranced around us. “I’m looking forward to hanging with Pinkie Pie.” I vaguely remember Pinkie Pie. It would be hard not to. She was a very interesting mare, to put it mildly. And I thought Minuette was overly energetic, that’s nothing compared to Pinkie Pie. She was nice in a way I suppose. Though she was rather confusing, going off about something called viewers sympathizing with me. I still didn’t know what that meant. I don’t think anypony did. Minuette and Twilight sure didn’t question her. “Thank Celestia we’re almost to the train station,” Lyra grumbled as we continued walking. “My hooves are tired.” “Why didn’t we just teleport?” Lemon Hearts wondered aloud. “Because my teleportation field sucks,” Lyra answered. “Minuette can teleport for short distances along with you and Twinkleshine.” Everypony looked at me as I shrugged sheepishly. “I could have teleported us there but nopony asked,” I said as they all groaned. Sorry.” “It’s whatever. Next time you’re teleporting us then. Maybe even to Ponyville,” Lemon Hearts winked as we climbed up the platform. “I’m not that powerful. That’s Twilight levels right there,” I answered as we levitated our tickets to the engineer. We trotted onto the train and picked seats close to each other. “Hey isn’t that the filly Moondancer talks to at the orphanage?” Twinkleshine asked and pointed a hoof to Cotton Cloudy hoofing a ticket over to the engineer. “And why does she have royal guards with her?” Minuette wondered as the two guards followed her onto the train. “And where is she going?” “I don’t know,” I answered as I stood up and trotted over to her with Lemon Hearts. “Oh Celestia it’s you and your lemon obsessed friend,” Cotton Cloudy grunted as she shifted her focus off the window and onto us as we sat on either side of the filly. Surprisingly, the guards didn’t try to kill us. “What are you two doing here?” “We could ask you the same,” Lemon Hearts said smoothly as she smiled. “Where you headed.” “Ponyville. I go to school there.” “What?” I said as Lemon Hearts and I shared a stunned look. Ponyville was a bit far away just to go to school. And I’m pretty sure orphanages had schools in them but I could be mistaken. “I’ve been kicked out of all the schools in Canterlot for fighting. I think the last one was the one near the castle. Broke a colts nose for being a prick. Miss Cheerilee is quite nice. It’s an interesting class, you got the flightless the chicken, the annoying rich fillies and more,” Cotton Cloudy said as she turned to a guard. “Can you give me my books please?” I raised an eyebrow as the guard pushed some books her way. That was more respect than she’s ever shown I think. I still entirely understand why there was guards here. “Why is there two guards with you?” Lemon Hearts asked as the train started moving and I grabbed the edge of my seat. Even though I’ve been on hundreds of trains, I never quite got comfortable with them. “Because my parents were guards,” Cotton Cloudy said as she stacked the books and I read the titles quietly to myself. I was slightly happy that the books I gave her were in the stack. “And where are they?” I asked and immediately regretted it as Cotton Cloudy gritted her teeth and let out her breath. “They were killed in the invasion. You know, the bugs.” “I’m sor-” Lemon Hearts started as Cotton Cloudy glared at her and she closed her mouth. “Don’t finish that sentence. I’ve heard it from everypony else and it’s annoying. At least Celestia quit. She’s weirdly interested in my life. Sends the guards with me to Ponyville everytime,” Cotton Cloudy grunted as she yawned and curled up in a ball. “I’m going to sleep. Don’t wake me up or I’ll bit you. I’ve bit other mares and I’ll do it you too.” I exchanged a nervous look with Lemon Hearts as the filly started to snore. It was weird that I knew two ponies that could fall asleep within seconds. I could really use that talent. “How you can put up with that attitude is beyond me. She’s interesting at least. And at least she has ponies looking after her,” Lemon Hearts said as she stroked the fillies mane. “Be careful,” a guard warned. “She doesn’t like being woken up. Some changelings did and it didn’t end well.” Lemon Hearts gulped nervously and slowly removed her hoof. She shifted her focus to the window as we watched trees and other foliage racing past us. It was only an hour and half ride to Ponyville. How the filly did this every day, I’ll never know. Or she probably stayed back until the week ended. “I could fit another bed in the house. I got spare room after all,” I muttered to myself as Lemon Hearts glanced at me. “What was that, Moondancer?” “Nothing. I’ll tell you when we aren’t on a crowded train,” I said as she gave a brief nod. We turned our attention to a laughing Twinkleshine as Lyra tried to balance on her forelegs and faceplanted into the seat. “We have weird friends,” I muttered under my breath as Lemon Hearts snickered. “Yeah, yeah we do. I wouldn’t give them up for anything though,” Lemon Hearts admitted as I looked down at the filly between us. She certainly looked nicer asleep than she did awake. “She looks peaceful, doesn’t she?” “Yeah, yeah she does.” We didn’t say another word as we watched Minuette and Lyra make jokes about Celestia knows what. Hopefully the trip was over soon. I didn’t really like trains all that much. Too many accidents happen on them.