“Where to, miss?”
“Does this line go out of the Equestria?”
“Close ma’am, the line ends in San Mareino.”
“One ticket there, one way.”
“That’ll be fifteen bits, train should be her in three hours.” I pulled a little pouch from my saddlebag and dropped it on the ticket counter.
“That should cover it, and keep the change, I won’t be needing it.” I took the ticket and sat down on a bench next to the edge of the station. I looked back, seeing the town I’ve known for so long. I always thought this place was perfect, that is until I met the mare of my dreams, that’s when it all changed, no matter how cliche it sounds.
She showed me how perfect this place could actually be. I’m not really certain how I was ever happy without her, I’m certainly not happy right now. Just lonely, but I’m ready to move on, and that’s exactly what I’m doing.
A buzzing sound woke me from my daydream. It took me a moment to place the familiar noise, but when I did I quickly ducked behind the back of the bench. That was certainly Scootaloo, if she saw me then there’d be no end to her chatter. Don’t get me wrong, I love the kid, it’s just, I don’t really know. I guess if she saw me here, if she knew what was going on, that I was leaving. I couldn’t do that to her. She was always my biggest fan, it would just crush the little filly to know she’d never see me again. That’s just one conversation I would like to avoid, if possible.
I sat back up and looked towards the busy town center, all these ponies that I’ve known for such a long time. I saw Roseluck, the mayor, Miss Cherilee, Lyra, Lily... I could name all of them, and I consider all of them to be friends, so many ponies. And here I am, just up and leaving. I considered letting the whole town know, make an announcement or something, tell them I’m leaving, forever.
But no, that would help no one, they’d just want to stop me, convince me to stay. Also that’s just so uncool, getting everyone together just to give them bad news, there’s no way I’d ever do that.
This place is great, well I guess it was great. I’m just done here, no anger, no sadness, no regrets, just done. I’m moving on. My eyes felt heavy as I thought about this place, dwelling on the friends I made here. I put my head down and embraced sleep. I dreamt pleasantly of all these ponies who had a part in my life.
My peaceful sleep came to an abrupt halt due to the loud screeching and whistling of a train. I sat up and turned back to the station clock then back at my ticket. 4:00, this was my train. I slowly stood up, stretching my legs. This was it, I’m leaving, and there’s no going back once I do. Part of me wanted to turn back and just stay, but no, it is too late. I stepped onto the train and headed towards my compartment. I plopped down and inhaled sharply. I guess this is the beginning of the rest of my life.
I dropped my saddlebag on the seat next to me, in it was contained everything that I was taking with me, mementos of the past. I reached in and pulled out the first thing, a hoof buzzer, obviously to remember Pinkie Pie. This little toy is from way back when Gilda showed up. That was when I learned just how good of a friend Pinkie was. I checked the buzzer. Busted, just as I expected. I chuckled at the fun times we had together. I placed the toy on the seat next to the bag. Goodbye Pinkie Pie.
Next I pulled out a tiny jar of cinnamon apple preserves. Applejack gave this to me when I first bought a house in, well, above Ponyville. A nice housewarming gift, you untwist the jar just a bit and it can make a room smell like warm apple pie. I was often sorely tempted to just eat the contents of the delicious smelling jar, but I always had to remind myself that the preservatives would make the whole thing bitter. I opened the jar in the compartment, but it seems that the smell had dissipated over the years. I’ll miss her competition. Goodbye Applejack.
After that came a little scarf, Rarity made this after I saved her life up at the Best Young Flyers competition. She was insistent to repay me for the favor, so I just asked her to make me a scarf. I didn’t think much of it, just that it’d be nice to have in the winter. As it turned out, Rarity was determined to make the most magnificent scarf ever. She used quartz dust and arranged it in the fabric to catch the light and reflect a perfect rainbow. It was too flashy for my taste, but I’ve always cherished it. Goodbye Rarity.
I reached in again and grabbed a pair of goggles. They belonged to Fluttershy. I turned them over to see the familiar “FS” monogrammed in some frilly style. She wore this way back when Ponyville was responsible for supplying Cloudsdale with the water for that year's weather. Dear Celestia that was one big ordeal, but I’m glad it all happened like it did. Fluttershy was able to see how valued and needed she was and I really think that she herself needed that. I’ll miss you, I’ve known you the longest. Goodbye Fluttershy.
I retrieved the last item from the bag, a ring box. I opened it slowly, inside sat a magnificent wedding band. The gold and platinum laced together in an intricate pattern, speckled with small diamonds. They sparkled beautiful, just like the night sky. That doesn’t matter though, it was all a waste. I worked my tail off for the most spectacular band I could find for the most spectacular mare I knew. Rarity continuously tried to give it to me as a gift, but I knew it wouldn’t be the same as if I worked for it, so I declined the offer.
Six straight months of extra shifts and overtime, just to buy this silly thing. But I knew that I would never forgive myself if I gave anything less than the best to Twilight, Celestia knows she deserves the best. I felt a tear roll down my cheek but I just wiped it away. I wasn’t crying, crying is uncool. It’s just, I don’t, or rather can’t, so many memories and lost chances. But no, no regrets.
I remember the day I walked into the Carousel Boutique with that little pouch of hundred-bit coins, the sum of all of my months of hard work.Twi and I had been together for the past ten months, and I thought now was as good a time as any to truly make her mine. It was just about dusk when I made the exchange for the ring. I felt a moment of pure ecstasy, joy that overwhelmed me. Then I felt confusion as I headed to Fluttershy’s cottage to take care of the animals.
It was the spell. That damn spell that ripped me from the love of my life, stopped me the night before I proposed. The tears were flowing more freely now, it would be pointless to try and stop them. It was my destiny to be with Twilight, but it was her destiny to go somewhere I could not follow. My only choice is to move on while she becomes a princess.
Goodbye Twilight Sparkle, love of my life.
And that’s why I’m moving out so far, out of Equestria’s sovereign, away from anything that could remind me of her. It just hurt to remember now, to think that I can never be with her. And that’s exactly why I’m trying to forget.
Only problem is that I have all of this to remind me of home. No, not home, just the place I used to live. I blinked slowly and sighed. I need to forget, and the only way to do that is to not remember. I can’t have any reminders of home. I had to suppress sobs as I placed all of the items back into the bag. I stood, my knees shaky, and opened the window. I picked up the bag and pressed it against my lips. “Goodbye, I won’t see you later.”
I threw the bag forcefully out the train car before I lost my resolve. That ends it. Rainbow Dash is dead. It’s time for me to go find a nice new place to live, maybe make new friends, but hopefully I’ll never fall in love again. I’ll find a small town and start again.
Where no one knows my name.