//------------------------------//
// Chapter 23 - Pony Fans 
// Story: Quest For Harmony 
// by destinedjagold 
//------------------------------//

	I sighed in relief as I sat on a slightly comfortable seat inside the bus that'll take me back to Sun Ford...to home. I leaned my head on the glass window, ignoring the loud collision of the rain against the windows, and ignoring Claire who is seated beside me. What is important now is I am heading back home.

The bus has left the city's borders, and we were now taking the quiet road towards home...but it's still too far away though. Usually, it's a two-hour trip, but whatever, I can wait, even though I cannot wait.

Flashes of lightning and roars of thunder were soaring through from the black sky up above, which is kind of annoying...unsettling...weird... Come to think of it, the lightning bolts are now white instead of blue. Meh, whatever. But, why is this storm too darn violent? It also looked similar to the black clouds back in Equestria. But, don't they all? I'm thinking too much. Coincidence, yes, coincidence. What other explanation could there be?

"Hey, Jay..." Claire called with a quiet tone. I turned and faced her slightly-worried face. "What do you think is going on?"

I shook my head slightly. "How am I suppose to know that?" She looked slightly offended by my reply though. "S-sorry..." I really really need to watch my tongue. One reason why I don't like socializing...I don't know how to watch my own tongue. I got used to talk with my family alone, and it devolved my ability to talk like a nice person towards others. Not that I kept on talking bad stuff back home. No. I'm just...direct to the point and all...

"It's all right, but um..." she returned her worried expression once more. "Who's Spike?"

"Uh... He's, a friend..." I replied, trying my best not to look like I was lying.

"Oh, okay," she gazed ahead, locking her sight on the seat in front of us. "Weird name for a guy," she suddenly spoke as I was about to lean my head back on the window. She chuckled slightly, making me arch an eyebrow. "I wonder if he's more like the Spike in em el pee."

"Eh?" She turned to look at me with confusion. "You mean," I spoke quietly, as if the words I am about to say is top-secret, "My Little Pony?"

Her eyes brighten and her lips curved to a smile. "You're a brony, too?"

I shrugged, "I am, well, kinda." She squealed. A squeal that seriously hurt my poor ears. She ignored the strange looks the other passangers were giving us though, as she quickly grabbed my hand and shook it like crazy, whispering the 'oh em gee' chant. "Calm down, sheesh," I spoke, trying my darn best to look annoyed at her, but her cute reaction is making it difficult, for she looked like a small girl who suddenly received a bag-full of chocolate goodness.

To my relief, she did calmed down, after a number of minutes, and let go of my hand with an apologetic grin. "Best. Day. Ever." she whispered in excitement as I rolled my eyes. She then looked eager, staring me deep into my eyes, as I leaned back, but unfortunately, the window isn't cooperating. "Favorite Mane 6?" she asked with narrowed eyes.

"Eh...Applejack?"

"Twilight," she immediately said. "CMC?"

"A-Apple Bloom?"

"Sweetie Belle," she said with a small grin. "Background pony?"

"Octavia," because she looked so darn beautiful and amazing with a cello, and the fan-arts of her...are so breathless.

Her grin went full, "Lyra," and she chuckled as she leaned back, returning my personal space back, to my relief. "Funny how I like unicorns and you like earth ponies," and she chuckled again. I simply rolled my eyes. "Oh my, there's so much to talk about!" she exclaimed, oh joy... "Have you watched the new episodes yet?"

I shook my head, and a smile formed on my lips, which was completely against my will. Oh, the power of ponies... "I haven't yet, but I will, when I get the time."

She nodded excitingly. "Well, I won't spoil you about it. It wouldn't be fun anymore if I spoil you," and she stuck her tongue at me. I rolled my eyes once again with a humored sigh that escaped my lips.

"I'm sure my brother's going to bug me again to watch it when I get back," I suddenly said out of nowhere. Heh. I get to see him again, and I'm excited about it.

Claire laughed at that though, for some reason. "I could imagine," she said, "my sister bugged me to watch it with her, and I became a brony ever since." She then brought a hand to her chin, deep in thought. "Or should I be a pegasister instead?" And she shrugged aftew a couple of minutes.

"I...can relate," I said, averting my eyes elsewhere.

"Aw, don't feel bad about it," she said, pretending to be motherly-like, to my annoyance. I shot her a small glare.

"I don't, really," I shrugged. "It's fun to watch, and I like the story of the show."

She nodded in agreement. "Speaking of stories...have you read any fanfics?"

I nodded, "yeah, I have. Why?" She looked excited and eager. I rolled my eyes. "I've read My Little Dashie. Very sad and beautiful fic, by the way." I felt my phone vibrating, but I ignored it.

"Oh, that fic," she spoke quietly, wiping an invisible tear from her eye. "Tears were shed." I rolled my eyes.

"Eternal," she arched an eyebrow as she frowned. "The fic where Twilight and Celestia were both wearing masks to impress the other and other ponies around them?"

"I've read that one," she shook her head slightly, "but I never finished it. It was too confusing for me."

"It was, but I did understood it," and that was the first ship-fic I've ever read. "Rainbow Factory and Cupcakes," her eyes grew in horrow. "I never finished reading it though. I don't know," I slightly shook my head. "Reading the first and second paragraphs of those two fics didn't really caught my attention, so I didn't bother finishing it..."

"T-those were gore-fics..."

I shrugged. "I guess I'm not into gore so much," I smiled weakly, and she reflected it back.

♪Dust in the wind~♪

Claire and I blinked at each other.

♪All we are is dust in the wind~♪

I smiled stupidly, and she reflected it. Damn that bus radio. "Not into gore, huh?" she grinned.

"I could bounce that back, y'know," I countered with my own grin. She laughed a bit, and so did I. "My parents and brothers love horror and gorish movies." I shrugged. "I am drawn to take a few glimpse if the sound effects get my attention from the other room."

She laughed at that. "Oh gosh, me too!"

And the bus suddenly stopped, almost sent the two of us towards the seat in front of ours. A few startled and confused passengers started murmuring while others stood up to see what made the bus stop. I stood up to see what was going on.

The bus stopped a few meters from the long bridge that connects the mainland to Selaro Isle, where Sun Ford and a few other towns are there. But...there wasn't a bridge. The bridge was no more, and my eyes grew wide in disbelief. What was left of the bridge was the part on the mainland. The other part, where it was over the body of water, is gone.

I just noticed how quiet the bus was. I turned around and...saw the empty seats of the bus... I turned back, and the other seats are also empty, even the driver's seat. "C-Claire?" I called out, but all I got was my nervous echo. "Anyone?" No answer but my own echo. I shook my head to dismiss the worry in my head as I went to the door. It won't budge. I went to the driver's seat to play with the lever that opens the door. Nothing. "The heck?" I whispered as I worked around the window in the driver's seat. I clicked it open and jumped out. As I landed, I turned my head to the bridge. I was not imagining things: the bridge really is gone. I ran towards the edge of what was left of the bridge, but a deep gray fog blocked my vision from seeing further ahead and down below.

What the heck is going on? Whatever. I need to go back to the city then. I think I know how to drive a bus...I think. I shrugged. I have no choice anyway. I turned back and...I found myself inside the chamber where...Luna was... I blinked. I was staring at the five white gray orbs. I blinked again, and again and again. No... No...!

I dropped myself, and brought my...hooves...over my eyes...as I cried. Why...? Why am I back!? I was home! I was almost home! I felt a claw on my shoulder, giving me a friendly squeeze, but I didn't care... I sobbed. I cried.