//------------------------------// // Prepare for Travel // Story: Awakening Pink // by Masterweaver //------------------------------// "Hey mom, apparently people across the world are turning into ponies. Also, Lauren Faust has called me to New York because the world's in danger somehow." What can I say, I'm charmingly blunt. I gave up on subtlety ages ago, back when I realized I couldn't get my thoughts out my mouth in a way that fitted how I was thinking them. Comes with the aspie territory. My mother stared at me for a moment. "...Reid?" "Yep." "And you're..." She searched for the right word. "Pink Pie?" "Pinkie, actually. Pinkie Pie. And it's more accurate to say I have her body." I waved a pencilly hoof at the computer screen. "So... yeah, I was trying to figure out how to get there. I'm thinking trains, buses, and hitchhiking--" "My son is a pony," Mom said flatly. "A female pony." "...Okay, I'll wait for your shock to wear off." Seriously, she's impossible to talk to when she's dealing with the impossible. Lady of schedules and organizing, when one little thing crops up she always has this little moment of hesitation before she adapts. Maybe this was just a big thing. Actually, in retrospect I should have reacted a bit more then I did. ...maybe I'm just crazy. Or practical. Crazy practical. After an awkward minute or two of my mother staring at me. I coughed. "Riiiiiight. So. Um. New York." That seemed to snap her out of her trance. "What? Oh. Right. You need to get to New York to... fix this, right?" "Potentially, yes. That's how it works in the books anyway. Epic quest, then back to normal." I shrugged. "Or, you know, acceptance. Either way it's a resolution." I glanced at the computer screen. "Also the world is apparently in danger or something. But that's not a problem I can solve unless I'm in the Yorks." "Right." Mom gathered herself. "Right. Now, let's see, New York. I know the marching band sends buses up there for the B.O.A., so maybe somebody with the band could help you get up there." "Or I could travel WITH the band!" "Bands Of America isn't for a while. I don't think they can rent the buses without much warning." "...Touche." I tapped my chin thoughtfully. "Still, a route is a route, and there should be a local brony that could drive me down the highway." "Honey..." Mom looked me in the eye. "You're talking about taking a cross-country trip to another state while you're not in your own body." "And my body is ridiculously famous," I added unhelpfully, and then, "That came out completely wrong." Mom shook her head. "But I know what you mean... everybody will know who you are now when they see you." "Mobs of adoring fans, pictures of me across the intertubulars." I nodded. "I think I know that." "And... none of this scares you at all?" I pondered the question. "...actually... actually it scares me a heck of a lot. The thing is, though, when I get scared, I get focused. Scarily so." I giggled. "Wow, this body is so much better for punning. Anyway, yes, I'm scared. Terrified. And that drive me to act, because if I don't do anything about it... well, where would I be?" Mom nodded. "...Honey, you know you can always call home if you need to." "Oh and now you're so ready for me to leave?" I gave a dramatic pout, spinning away. "Oh I see how it is." "Mmmyep, I've been trying to kick you out for four years now. Not going to miss this chance." Her voice had regained its usual levels of humor. "I'll be sure to tell everybody I meet that my own mother threw me out on the streets once I got hooves. Should get me a few sympathy meals!" "Right." Mom glanced toward the kiddo's bedrooms. "Well... you should figure out what you'll need. After I wake the kids up, I'll help you plan your route." "You're taking this all rather well," I said honestly. "Are you doing all right?" "....it's a shock, that's all." With that, Mom disappeared to wake up my brothers; my sister tended to wake up on her own, but she needed a prod on occasion. Right, time to plan. Coat and wallet, taking those definitely. I slipped on the heavy black thing, ensuring nothing was falling out of its place, before grabbing my wallet with my mouth and maneuvering it into my jeans pocket. Probably needed saddlebags, how was I going to jury rig those? Well, there was my old satchel in my room and--actually, taking along the satchel and the various drawings it held might be a good idea, seeing as I could prove my identity via deviant art match-ups if it came to that. But I'd need more containers... I wandered down the stairs to the under-stair closet--we called it Narnia because it was so HUGE--and went through the plethora of unused backpacks and suitcases. They kinda stack up after five kids going through the school system are added to a few vacations. There was one of those sack-pack things, you know, that kind of sack you can wear as a backpack? I took that, figuring it could store my drawing pads. And my iPad. Then I grabbed an old 101 Dalmatians backpack... well, it was more of a suitcase with backpack straps attached to the back. Bright red, too. My final collection was an assortment of bungee cords which I temporarily stuffed, along with the back sack, into the Dalmatian suitpack. As I headed back up the stairs, I greeted my five-year-old brother with a wave. His eyes were wide as saucers; I had, previously, assimilated him into the herd. "You're Pinkie!" My smile froze for an instant; he didn't recognize me. "Um... Yeah! Your mom said she'd help me pack for my trip?" "Where are you going?" "New York!" He shrugged. "My brothers go to New York sometimes." "With that marching band, right?" "Yeah! I wish I could go." Oh but kid, you already went; you were just too young to remember. I patted him gently on the head. "Don't you worry little guy, if you work hard and find something you reeeeeeally like to do I'm sure you'll be able to go there some day." He crossed his arms. "I wanna go now." "But you have to go to church, right?" "...yeah." I gave him a smile. "Trust me. What you have right now is worth a lot." And with that mysterious statement, I walk past him. "Maybe you should go eat something yummy for breakfast!" "Okay!" Ah, five year old enthusiasm. He almost ran down the stairs, headed for the kitchen. As soon he was out of sight I darted into my room. That had been way too close! I mean, anonymous fans I could handle, I'd probably never see them again, but this was my five year old brother! He'd known me for all his life! How was I supposed to react? I paused to consider what I'd said to him, hoping I hadn't inexorably altered his life path and, thankfully, realizing that all I'd done was give him good advice. And positive reinforcement from a role model. Excellent! Day one as Laughter's exalt and I was already keeping the fans happy. Out of curiosity I peered at my chest. Nope, no necklace. Well, that was okay, I could figure that out later. For the moment, though, I approached my old satchel with a perhaps slightly maniac grin. The bungee cords slithered out of the suitpack and into my supple hooves. It was time to make some saddlebags.