//------------------------------// // Vivi Day Six: Train Station Anticipation // Story: To Live Again // by _No_One_Remains_ //------------------------------// I…don’t have much to open this entry with. I’d rather write everything down as they happened so I can keep my thoughts in order. So much is flying through my head right now that I’m afraid I might pass out! A lot of things happened today, but I don’t even know where to begin! … I woke up to the sound of Pinkie Pie playing with Boco. The little chick had really taken a liking to the pink party pony, and I couldn’t blame him. Her energetic nature was almost enough to keep up with the baby bird. The rest of the ponies were up and chatting about something that was supposed to happen that evening, but it didn’t sound important to me. As far as I could imagine, it was probably about some party being held or some delivery they were supposed to get. Instead, I found myself in a very nostalgic mood. While the ponies talked over a batch of pancakes cooked by Fluttershy, I decided to sit back and look through this journal. It’s only been six days… Six days, and so much had happened. The first few pages were kind of jumpy, but after that I seemed to get a bearing on what to write about. It made me feel good to read about how I felt those first two days. I read how naïve I had been about this world. I thought this was some kind of heaven that I could be at peace in. Oh man was I wrong… I read every last page of the journal, even the things I wrote last night. I guess I was in a somber mood, because I sounded really determined with those last few lines… But I was being honest with myself. If it turns out that it was my fault the manticore attacked, then I’m not staying here. And neither is Kuja, if it so stands. I finished reading the journal and put in back in my pocket just as the seven equines started to clean up the dishes they’d made. Zecora said her very brief farewells and was out the door, assumedly heading back into the dangers of the Everfree Forest. Rainbow Dash was the next one out of the house, probably going to scout the forest from overhead to ensure no animals were planning anything. Rarity followed after, claiming she had actual work to do for some clients at her boutique. Applejack was the next one to leave, saying something about having to make preparations for the delivery that was coming in. I guess I was good at taking guesses, because that’s pretty much what I had assumed from their earlier conversation. Pinkie Pie was enjoying a cup of tea when she took in a huge gust of air and darted from the house without any sort of explanation. Twilight noticed my lost expression and clarified, “She has to set up Sugarcube Corner for a small party we’re having tonight. She does that sometimes…” She shook her head in mock-embarrassment and turned to leave the house. “A…party?” Two for two. I was on a roll! “That’s right. We have some guests bringing Applejack’s shipment from down south, so she’s putting together a welcome-to-town party. She didn’t actually get to the last time they were here due to…unfortunate circumstances.” She telekinetically pulled her saddlebags close and tied them securely around her before starting toward the exit. I chuckled sheepishly, “That’ll be nice, won’t it?” “Maybe, assuming everything goes smoothly.” I couldn’t help but feel like there was a sting of scorn in her voice as she said that. If there had been an underlying meaning, her demeanor covered it up easily. I couldn’t blame her, considering the town’s recent track record with guests. First Kuja then I arrived, both of us bringing savage animals into town after us. Honestly, she would have every right to be skeptical about new guests showing up. Trying to change the subject off of the guests themselves, I asked, “What kind of shipment is it?” She smiled and cheered, “Bloomberg Jr.!” I shook my head and added, “Huh?” “Oh, of course!” she planted a hoof to her face in embarrassment. “A while back when Appleloosa was still a new settlement, we delivered a tree to the town to be planted to start growing special apples in their orchard. The tree we delivered was named Bloomberg, and the tree Applejack is expecting is Bloomberg’s sprout. So, naturally, she named it Bloomberg Jr.” Twilight had a smile on her face that could warm the heart of some sort of ice-based monster. “So…it’s a whole shipment for just one little tree sprout?” The unicorn’s jaw dropped, her eyes widening in horror. Before she had a chance to collect herself, Applejack came trotting back into the house. The country mare plopped a hoof on my shoulder and scoffed, “T’aint no ordinary tree, fella. Bloomberg’s papa gave us some o’ the sweetest apples that Sweet Apple Acres has ever harvested. I’m guessin’ with as popular as Appleloosan Cider’s been getting nowadays, Bloomberg ain’t too bad himself.” She tipped her hat at the thought of the apparently-legendary line of apple trees. I tried to put everything together that I’d just heard. Even if the apples were sweet, I still didn’t understand how a tree could be so important as to have its own delivery. Not wanting to offend the farm-focused pony, I decided to ask, “Is it anyone special escorting the tree, or just some citizens of Appleloosa?” Fluttershy poked her head down the stairs to join in our conversation. I noticed that as I asked my question, she slowly closed her muzzle and let out the breath she’d been saving for a comment on our previous topic. Her eyes sort of jerked away from me. The other two ponies did the same. I found myself in the middle of a ball of confusion and fear. Were they about to spill a secret they weren’t supposed to or were they hiding something much worse from me? Who could possibly be delivering a tree that would require a sec—! Kuja! It would make sense for them to not tell me Kuja was coming because of how much I had talked about him since I arrived here! It would be a pleasant surprise to see a familiar face show up out of nowhere. And if Kuja were on his way, then Mr. 33 and 111 would be with him! So…Pinkie Pie was throwing a party for them because the last time they were here Kuja had Tranced and they hadn’t had time to enjoy it! That was the mindset I went with when I chuckled, “It’ll be nice to see some old faces again!” The three ponies frowned, Twilight lowering her head to the floor. Suddenly I was filled with a sense of dread. I waited with strained breaths for one of them to explain why they looked so sad. Finally Applejack groaned, “You gotta promise not to tell Pinkie Pie!” “Huh? Why?” “She really wanted to see the look on your face when your friends showed up…” Twilight sighed in disappointment, feeling guilty for dragging the discussion topic to Appleloosa. “Oh, you don’t have to worry about that. I’ve never been much for surprises, really. I’ll still be just as excited to see them as if I didn’t know they were coming.” And with that, the three ponies went on with their own preparations. Applejack trotted back and forth from the farm to Fluttershy’s house every hour or so, making sure that the plot of land where Bloomberg Jr. would be planted was still in good condition. Twilight went back to her home to prepare something. According to Fluttershy, the unicorn planned on gathering some reading materials for us foreigners to read over regarding Equestrian laws and magic. And Fluttershy was busy finishing renovations of her new tree. With so much stuff missing, the place did feel wrong. So many animal cages and pictures were completely destroyed that many of the remaining were moved to accommodate all of the free space. Something about the house felt empty, but at the same time slightly more welcoming. Rainbow Dash zipped by every now and again to tell us about the delivery’s progress. It was just after noon when she stopped her rounds to inform us that the train would be arriving in less than an hour. Having finally found a passable place for everything in her home, the timid mare decided it was time to go the station to await the train. She told me that Applejack and the others would be waiting on the platform for the shipment to arrive, so it would be wise to get there early and wait with them. I didn’t argue, and the walk into town from the somewhat out of the way cottage was relaxing. It didn’t take us too long to reach the station, and we met up with Rarity just as we arrived. She looked to be dressed in an over-the-top outfit considering who and what we were waiting on, but I decided to hold my tongue. The last time I commented on how a girl looked, Zidane twisted it all around and embarrassed me in front of Eiko… A-Anyway, we entered the station—which as it turned out was pretty much just the boarding platforms and a small ticket window—and were essentially yanked into the group of already-waiting ponies. I could feel the rumble of the train as it approached, and within minutes of getting comfortable in the group it slowed to a stop and blew its whistle with a nostalgic tune. The door of the car we were in front of slid open, and I caught a glimpse of white beyond the flood of Technicolor that poured into the train. I lowered my gaze, not wanting to seem too eager to see him. Out of nowhere, Boco leaped onto my shoulder and let out his innocent chirp. Then, after our friends had boarded the train to unload Bloomberg Jr., he darted from my shoulder across the platform. “KWEH-KWEH-KWEHHH!” His adorable chirp rang out as he flapped fruitlessly into the large white glove that waited to greet him. I traced my eyes from the white glove up the dark blue sleeve and to the straw hat adorning the man’s non-existent head. Mr. 111. I’m not sure why I immediately thought of 111 and not 33, but it just felt right. And then I turned my attention back to the hint of white I had seen earlier. Standing just in front of the train’s exit, looking at me with eyes full of sorrow, stood Kuja. I locked my gaze with him, and I could feel the emotions within it. He knew what I had been thinking. He thought it too. He was already willing to do what needed to be done, and so was I. But his sorrow extended much deeper than just our Mist… He had a story to tell, and I felt like I didn’t want to hear it…