//------------------------------// // Chapter 23: Fans, Foals, and Family // Story: Time to go // by MasterHunter55 //------------------------------// Time to go Chapter 23 Fans, Foals, and Family Hunter and his new band bowed low on the stage. The cider had been sold out for the first time in ages, and Applejack was happy. The sun peered over the side of the horizon but threatened to disappear at any moment. The crowd was still cheering like mad, calling for an encore. “Even if we did play another song, what would it be?” Michael asked Hunter above the noise of the crowd. “Bright Eyes.” Hunter said, after a moment of thinking. “Should I be here for this?” Rainbow Dash asked. “I guess not, wanna meet us backstage?” Hunter suggested. Rainbow Dash nodded and trotted behind the giant red curtain that was set up behind the stage. Behind the open flap was the entrance to the city hall, so in reality, back stage was the inside of the big building. “Are you sure?” Michael asked, “Do we have the instruments for that?” “Let's see.” Hunter thought. The group was together on the stage with Applejack as well. “We need a violin, acoustic guitar, drums, keyboard, and cello. Jordan, you're on drums still, I'll take the keyboard, Michael you can use the guitar, and that leaves us with a violin and the need for a cellist.” “I can play the violin.” Jason spoke up. “Are you sure?” Hunter asked, “You can play the guitar pretty well, but the violin? Where do we even get one of those?” Applejack raised a hoof, “Hold on, I'll be right back.” As Applejack ran off Jason nodded, “I can play it fine, I remember I used to be very good at it.” “Alright, we'll be playing this song.” Hunter reached into his pockets and grabbed some papers. When he hoofed them to Jason, he realized they were music sheets. “We still need a cellist.” Jordan spoke up. “You don't know any reputable cellists in this area?” Hunter chuckled. “Should I?” Jordan asked. Hunter smirked before walking up to the microphone. “Is Octavia in the crowd?!” The crowd went quiet, and a dark, ashen colored mare was pointed out in the group. The mare walked slowly up to the stage. “What do you need?” Octavia asked, slightly confused. “We need a cellist of the highest degree.” Hunter said, crouching low and flattering the musician. “You think you could help us out?” “I suppose so. My cello is at my house but it shouldn't take long to get here.” Octavia explained. “Perfect, get back here as fast as you can, and I'll have the music for you.” Hunter said, standing up. “We have our cellist.” Hunter told the group as he walked back to the center of the stage. The blond stallion pulled out some more music out of his pockets and put them on a music stand. “This should be interesting.” Michael said. “You only play for like a minute.” Hunter mocked. “I've always wanted to make miniscule contributions.” Michael sneered. “Good, then this is your moment.” Hunter laughed, before turning back to the whole group. “I need a backup singer.” The group seemed to shy away slightly. “You don't even have to sing,” Hunter added, “You just have to say some words, slightly rap like.” Jason volunteered. “Good, here's your lines.” Hunter grabbed some paper from a nearby table and asked Michael to toss him a pen. Hunter was about to catch it, when he thought about how he was going to catch it, and he lost it. “How do I even hold things with these hooves?” Jason dropped his music sheets, and Jordan's drumsticks clanked on the stage. “You just had to make us think about it didn't you?” Jason joked. The pen fell off the stage and into the crowd. A mare near the edge screamed about getting one of Michael's pens and it was never seen again. Michael decided to just carry a new pen to Hunter. Hunter grasped it in his hoof without another thought and attempted to write. After some terribly written 'letters' he crumpled the paper. “Michael take a note.” Hunter said, handing the paper to Michael. “I know the lyrics.” Michael said. Hunter waited as Michael wrote them down, and then Applejack reappeared on stage, carrying a violin. “This is my family's violin, but yer welcome to use it. It's the least I could do for yall for all the sales we got today.” Applejack smiled and handed Jason the violin and bow in her hooves. Jason grabbed it and got a feel for the instrument, placing it between his chin and collarbone and playing a couple notes. “I should be good to go.” Jason said. Michael finished writing and handed the words to Jason, who set them on the stand he had acquired along with his music. Octavia lugged her giant instrument up onto the stage and set it down next to a stool. Hunter handed her the music sheets, and the band took their positions on stage. “This one goes out to one of the nicest ponies I know!” Hunter yelled into the crowd. “Ditzy Doo! This song's called Bright Eyes.” A gray mare flew up to the top of the crowd and gave a big shout. Hunter smiled as he started playing the piano. “She looks outside the window at the rising sun, and she also looks at the same time at her beloved one.” Hunter sang. The rest of his band would join in later, as the first part of the song was just piano. “Dinky's sorting out the mail for her in such a thoughtful way.” Hunter almost had a problem singing the high notes. “She saddles up her bags, and peeks in the looking glass and hears her daughter say. Hey mommy, can you see how good you look today? Your right eyes has a sparkle, and the left one wants to play, your mane looks extra shiny and your feathers extra soft.” Hunter paused after the high note again. “Your cutie mark reminds me that our love will never pop!” At this, the rest of the band joined in with their instruments. “Oh-oh-oh Ditzy Doo! All the world's in love with you! It's like you're a fresh-baked muffin and the rest of us are you, Ah-ah-ah, Derpy! Tell me, can those bright eyes see? You make living happier for everypony.” The crowd had been silent, but they were now jamming along with the nice beat, and Derpy was receiving adoration from those around her. The Doctor was having a little trouble making sure he and his sister weren't trampled. As Hunter continued to sing the song, the instruments in his band joined in or left. Michael had stopped playing after the first chorus. “A farm mare selling apples, tosses our friend a hat full, it's more than she can grapple but she thanks the mare! Though she's a little wonky, each pony and each donkey, together and all on key sing for her a song!” “All together now!” Jason added. Soon the crowd was singing the chorus as the band played. As soon the chorus was over and that left Hunter to sing some more. Then it was Jason's turn. Jason dropped the violin and leaned into the microphone. “It wasn't that long ago that I didn't know who I was going to become. I thought I saw the whole world laid out in front of me, and I couldn't be any more scared than that. I saw a world full of dark, no color, no light, no laughter,” Jason chuckled, “Well we've all been there right? Out of the dark, six kind souls came into my life and this is what they said: You've gotta bring back the kid inside, full of innocence, don't be afraid spread your love like Cadence. You've got a ways left to go, but it won't hurt to let it show.” Then Jason picked up his violin and started up the tune. After a wonderful bridge, Hunter continued the song. After singing the chorus twice, all the instruments died out. “Oh you make living happier for everypony, Oh you making living happier for everypony, Oh you make living happier for everypony.” Hunter drew out the last word as the music quieted and then ended. The crowd cheered and Hunter smiled, the band once again gathering in the front of the stage. Hunter grabbed a microphone. “Give it up for Octavia!” Hunter yelled, enticing the crowd into a cheering fest. Octavia looked shocked, but waved at the town all the same. “Thank you all for coming to this great cider fest, and even though this was completely unexpected, I think we can all agree it was a huge success!” Hunter said. The crowd shouted in agreement. “Alright guys, let's get back stage.” The group bowed once more and turned to the back stage. As the group entered the city hall, they could still hear the crowd outside. Hunter saw Vinyl making small talk with Rainbow Dash as they waited inside the building. Vinyl's face lit up as they entered the room. “That was some awesome stuff you guys played tonight! I wouldn't be surprised if you made the papers all over Equestria!” “Isn't it great!” Michael added, “I always wanted to be a popular guitarist!” “Never really had the chance to use my drumming skills before now, it was good getting on stage again.” Jordan said, stretching as if bored. “It's nice to put my talents to good use. I haven't played the guitar since...” Jason trailed off, as if a distant memory was being searched for in the vast amounts of filing cabinets of his mind. “It was fun playing with you guys, but I'm afraid I'll have to call it a night.” Octavia said, walking out the door with her cello. The band waved and as soon as the doors closed, Hunter spoke up. “I don't want to be famous.” Hunter said plainly. “Yeah! We're going to have to get you guys a name, and maybe some costumes and... Wait what?” Vinyl had been caught up in the moment, but suddenly Hunter's words had reached her ears. “I'm good.” Hunter sat down, waving a hoof as if discarding the whole idea into a nearby garbage can. Rainbow Dash's jaw just hung open, and the rest of the group seemed to mimic her, all except for Jordan. After a moment Vinyl was able to speak, “What do you mean you don't want to be famous?! It's every foal's dream to be famous one day! Get rich, and have everything you want handed to you on a silver platter! How can you not want any of that?!” Michael had nodded the whole time, “Listen to what she's saying! We could have everything Hunter!” Hunter shot Michael a smirk with a playful glare, before trotting over and putting his hoof over Dash's shoulder. “I already have everything I want. A home here in Ponyville, friends, and a job. At some point. I don't really have anything more to ask for.” Rainbow Dash took Hunter's hoof off her shoulder and returned it to him, “You wouldn't even need a job if you were famous, you could have a home in Canterlot, and all the friends you could ever want!” “I have low standards.” Hunter said. “Oh really?” Rainbow Dash said, taking offense. Michael stepped back, realizing what had just happened. “Oh god.” Hunter thought to himself. “Nice one Hunter.” “Wrong words.” Hunter blurted, unable to say more than two words without stuttering. Rainbow Dash sat down, glaring still. Hunter untangled his vocal chords and continued, “What I meant to say was,” Hunter paused swallowing, hoping that he chose his words correctly this time, “I don't need all of that stress. Being famous isn't exactly all it's cracked up to be. Sure you have all that money to do with as you please, but then you get the publicity and lack of general privacy that goes with it. I would rather put on a few shows here and there for friends, then go worldwide and be pestered by ponies who call themselves my friends, when all they want is favors from the local rich guy.” “Hunter's right you know.” Jordan chimed in. Hunter turned to the pegasus who had just defended his claim. “You think I'm such a good drummer and I wasn't famous?” Jordan asked, “I had some publicity and it sucked, too many ponies trying to get your attention.” Vinyl was not so convinced, “I love that stuff, the crowds, the cheering fans, making money especially.” “Well I would really rather not.” Hunter said, seeing that Rainbow Dash had calmed down a little. “If you would like me to join you for anything however, I would be happy to help you out.” Hunter said to Vinyl, who perked up at the offer. “Oh yeah, I got some plans for you ponies.” Vinyl rubbed her hooves together deviously. Hunter thought that she was being a little more creepy than was necessary. “Dude.” Jason said, “That's creepy.” Hunter and Michael nodded in unison. Vinyl frowned slightly as she dropped her hooves to the floor. The doors flew open suddenly, and the group turned to see as almost the whole crowd rushed in the city hall with Applejack at the front. Soon the band was surrounded by a good portion of the crowd that had been outside. Applejack was apparently unsuccessful at keeping them away. “HEY!” Hunter yelled. The crowd slowly died down in noise, dropping Jason back on the ground, and picking Michael up off of it. The crowd listened intently to what Hunter was going to say. As soon as the room was quiet Hunter spoke up. “You're all acting bad and you should feel bad.” Some of the crowd looked confused, and others hung their heads. “Shoo.” The crowd started out the door. “Go on, none of that.” Hunter pushed, getting the group to leave. As soon as the last pony had left Hunter added, “Why don't you go to Sugarcube corner and get some ice cream or something. Tell her Hunter sent you.” A lot of the ponies in the crowd mumbled in agreement and made their way to the store. Pinkie saw the crowd moving towards her store from the back of the plaza, and ran back to help Trixie accept all the business. Hunter moved back into the room and saw that Vinyl was staring at him again with wide eyes behind her sunglasses. The blue maned unicorn had her eyebrows raised. “What?” Hunter asked her. “You don't want to be famous and yet you deal with fans like you've done it a million times?” Vinyl scrutinized, waving her hooves in the air. “Maybe cause I'm an alicorn?” Hunter suggested. Vinyl raised a hoof as if to speak, but after opening and closing her mouth she put it down and stayed silent. “Well,” Hunter started, “let's go home. I've had a long day of fun, and I would like to get some sleep.” “Sure,” Jason added, “But what about that crowd out there? Just because you were able to get the fans to leave us alone in here, doesn't mean they won't recognize us outside and want autographs or something.” Hunter sat down with a little frustration. Being famous was going to be an issue. Fortunately most of the crowd would have been gone after today seeing as how most of the ponies here were from out of town, but he wasn't so sure about the rest of Ponyville. “Still got those mustaches?” Michael asked Jason. At the suggestion Jason opened up his scarf to find his crocodile Rythian holding the mustaches in his gum filled mouth. “Oh thanks.” Jason said, reaching in and taking the mustaches. Rythian blinked once, and then fell deeper into the scarf. “That's nice,” Jordan said, chuckling, “You have a pet that brings you things from your scarf.” “Yeah it is, isn't it? Thing is he's never done this before...” Jason paused a moment before remembering the reason he had gone for the mustaches in the first place. Jason handed a mustache to each of the band members, and that left Vinyl, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash without facial hair. Just as it should be. “So this is the plan?” Rainbow Dash suppressed a snicker. “You just walk out of here with mustaches?” Dash couldn't keep a straight face any longer and she fell on the ground, laughing her head off. Vinyl joined her. Applejack just rolled her eyes slightly. Hunter flipped his top hat on, which he had retrieved from Jason's scarf and walked towards the exit. “You'll see.” Hunter and the rest of his band walked to the front doors of the city hall, letting them swing on their hinges when they opened them, and stepping slowly out of the building. The crowd that was still in the square didn't seem to notice. One pony was on the stage talking with Big Mac, begging for back stage entrance. “Hey you!” The fan pony asked. “Who me?” Hunter asked, pointing to himself as if terribly confused by the notion, speaking in a posh tone. “Yeah you!” The mare said, making her way past Big Mac as the red stallion let his defenses down. “How did you get backstage?” “We know the apple family well.” Michael explained. The mare seemed to buy this and walked down the stairs of the stage. She looked to be muttering to herself as she walked, but Hunter couldn't hear her. Rainbow Dash, Vinyl, and Applejack followed after the band and watched as they walked harmlessly through the crowd. Once they were mostly out of the square Hunter sneezed, sending his mustache from his face, and his hat fell off of his head. The entire crowd went silent as a pony yelled, “Hey look there they are!” “Wow, it's as if reality has been shattered all of the sudden.” Hunter thought sarcastically to himself. Hunter picked the hat off the ground and immediately took flight, his dragon still on his back. Jordan followed suit, carrying Jason as best he could underneath. Rythian jumped out of the unicorn's scarf just before take off. “Rythian! Where are you going?” Jason yelled back, now a good ten feet into the air. His crocodile was going to get trampled! “Contum!” He yelled. Rythian was surrounded by a blue shimmer as he waddled through the crowd. The crocodile grabbed the mustache that Hunter had dropped on the ground, and donned it on his lip. Rainbow Dash was still on the ground, and as the crowd began to move towards the now popular stallions, she picked up the mustachioed crocodile in her hooves and flew after the group. The parts of the crowd that cared were now shuffling out of the square through any breaks in the buildings they could find. Hunter flew up into the now night sky, and stopped to turn around, watching his friends follow after him, and seeing Jordan struggling to hold Jason in the air. Rainbow passed the brown pegasus and now hovered by Hunter in the sky. “So.” Rainbow said. “This is what you meant by famous stress.” “Exactly.” Hunter replied. Jordan made his way up to the two fliers, not noticing that many more were now behind him. “You think you could help a little? I'm not exactly cut out for holding this kind of weight.” Jordan complained, motioning towards Jason. “Hey!” Jason remarked, feeling slightly offended. “I'm not that heavy!” “Yes you are.” Jordan argued, “Help! I can't, hold on, much longer!” Hunter tossed Michael into the air, and flew underneath Jason, who sat once again on Hunter's back. Saying Michael was unhappy about falling through the sky was an understatement. Jordan was now free to catch Michael, and did so as the dragon fell towards him. “I'd be really happy if you didn't do that thanks.” Michael told Hunter, who was now flying level with Jordan, whose back the dragon was now resting upon. “I'll take that into account, right now we have other problems.” Hunter pointed back to where the crowd was. Not only were most earth ponies and unicorns on the ground below them, but the pegasi and even some of the more adventurous unicorns were making their way up to where the friends hung in the clouds. “Right.” Rainbow Dash said, moving over to Jason. “I'll try and distract them.” Dash handed Jason back his crocodile, who blinked one eye after the other before slipping back into the scarf, and headed in front of the group, ready to hold ponies off. Unfortunately she was just as much famous for being in the band as the rest of the stallions. “Rainbow Dash! Can I have your autograph!?” A pegasus from out of town yelled. Rainbow Dash immediately turned back towards the group. “Never mind! Ditch that plan! RUN!” Dash was already speeding past them as she yelled. Hunter turned towards Jordan. “Try and keep up.” and then back to Jason. “Thank you for choosing Hunter airlines yet again, we may be experiencing some turbulence on this flight, please strap yourself in.” Jason responded by pulling some leather straps out of his scarf, and securing himself to Hunter's back. “That's not what I meant, but that works.” Hunter said, now seeing that Jordan and Dash were far ahead at this point. Hunter sped ahead, not holding back now that Jason was secure on his back. Jason was almost unable to keep his top half in check, pushing as hard as he could through the wind until he grabbed onto Hunter's neck. Hunter was soon past Jordan and had caught up with Dash, who without any restrictions, was moving just as fast. Hunter suddenly turned back and saw that most of the ponies in the crowd were going to catch up to Jordan. He sped around and was soon back to where Jordan was. Michael didn't have time to react before he was snatched up again, dangling in the air for a minute before being placed on Rainbow's back. “Jordan can't afford to be slowed down.” Hunter told the two as they wondered why he had Michael switch rides. The two sped towards their houses, making sure that Jordan wasn't overtaken and once they had made it, they realized that the crowd was now grouped below, and many of the unicorns had made their way onto Hunter's porch. Many of the pegasi were surrounding the house, trying to get a view of the band that was now hiding out inside. “Great.” Hunter said, filling his windows with clouds for makeshift curtains, “This is exactly what I was trying to avoid.” The house was silent aside from the clamor that reached them from the outside. Hunter sat on a chair near the front door, Michal and Jason had taken the couch, and Dash sat at the table opposite Jordan. “Well.” Hunter gave up. “Let's go talk with them.” “What?” Michael's head shot up from the bored pouting that it had been. “Yeah. If we're going to be famous we're going to be cool about it.” Hunter said, moving his chair back to the table and walked to his door, opening it. The gray alicorn stepped outside onto his porch with a glass of water in his hand that he had retrieved from the table. “Hey! Hunter's here!” Yelled a green unicorn mare in the crowd. Hunter stood motionless on his porch taking a sip from his cup. The crowd gathered around him, but they didn't touch him. Hunter seemed to have expected this. “Settle down.” Hunter said coolly. Many of the ponies within the group went silent, and the rest were quieted down by those who had done so originally. “Now,” Hunter started. “I'm more than happy to meet you all, but I would love it if you don't blind me with camera flashes, and don't trample me or my band mates.” The crowd all seemed to nod, and Hunter noticed a small white pegasus colt, a camera set on his chest, frowning slightly. “Except you Featherweight.” Hunter added. “Take all the pictures you want.” The small pegasus colt immediately sprang around the porch taking pictures of things. The rest of Hunter's band finally shuffled out of the door, with the exception of Rainbow Dash, who decided that she had really only made a cameo appearance, and wasn't part of that. Rainbow flew over to her house instead to sign autographs. ><>< “Well that was exhausting.” Jason said as he plopped himself down on the couch. “Jordan's lucky to have gotten out of this without everypony knowing where he lives.” Michael added, “We should have thought out our escape better.” Hunter felt a little giddy that ponies liked him so much, but he was still tired from answering all of their fans seemingly endless flow of questions. “Can you believe some of those ponies?” Hunter asked from the table he was sitting at, his head leaning over the back of his chair. “What do you mean?” Michael asked. The dragon had gotten relatively normal questions, like where he had come from, or his name, or how he learned to play the guitar so well. Jason and Jordan had been treated much the same. Hunter had not been so lucky. “Oh my!” Hunter said, mimicking a fan, “Are you in love with Rainbow Dash?” Hunter sat up quickly in his chair, and in a sarcastic voice responded to himself, “I made out with her on stage, but no I have no feelings for her at all.” The gray alicorn had actually said this to one of his fans, and it took him 15 minutes to destroy the rumors his sarcasm had created. “Are you kidding me?” Dash added from across the table, “Ponies were asking me if I kissed you because you're famous. As if.” Dash scoffed, blowing some hair from her face. Hunter had actually thought this question deep inside his mind, but his doubt was quickly dismissed. The room had a tense silence as if the group had actually suspected this to be the truth. “So now what?” Hunter asked, trying to break the silence before Dash started getting defensive. “We could play some Xbox I guess.” Michael suggested. “Anyone wanna go for a flight?” Hunter suggested as well. “I just wanna get back into the sky, smell the air, feel the night.” The room was silent again. “Fine I'll be going myself then.” Hunter stood up, his wings spreading out. “Maybe I'll pick up Trixie on my way back.” Michael started up the game machine and asked the others if they wanted to join him. Jason pulled a controller from his scarf and it was covered in pink, Pinkie Pie's face on the right handle. Hunter laughed quietly at this and opened up his door, allowing the cold night air to trickle past him before stepping out and closing it. Luna stood on the edge of his porch. “I wondered if I would meet with you again.” Hunter commented, trotting down his three cloud stairs and next to the princess. “We are here to ask thee how things are going.” Luna said, still staring towards the moon in the sky. “Good.” Hunter responded, taking on the same stance, and staring at the same part of the sky as Luna. They stood there for a minute staring at the blue white luster the moon gave the world. “I'm going for a little flight. Care to join me?” Hunter asked Luna, breaking his stare of the moon and looking at her blue starry mane instead. Luna broke off her staring contest with the stars and looked down at Hunter who was smiling up at her. “We would like to join you, but we have other things we must attend to. How was your concert?” “You saw that did you?” Hunter smirked. “How could we not?” Luna giggled. Hunter chuckled with her and they quieted down again. Their eyes seemed to drift back to the night sky. “So if thou like night so much, what do you think of it's lasting longer?” Luna suddenly asked. “Could you not talk like that?” Hunter asked, seeming irritated. Hunter realized her implications, but really chose to avoid it. “We... I apologize.” Luna said, thinking that her implications had flown over his head. “Thanks.” Hunter was unnerved by Luna's question. If Hunter was right, she was planning something. Hunter didn't like it. “Well I'll be off then,” Hunter said, his wings extending, “The best place to admire your night is in the clouds.” Luna smiled widely before zapping herself away. Hunter dove from the porch shortly after. The night air was just as it had been the night before, crisp and clean, smelling slightly of moisture but dry as it whipped through Hunter's bright mane and tail. Hunter closed his eyes for a moment allowing the sensations wash over him, but opened them after only a few seconds when he realized he might hit a tree. Ponyville was still slightly alight as the ponies cleaned up the remnants of the celebration. Hunter floated over as he saw that Rarity's boutique lights were still on, and thought he should pay her a visit for some reason. The alicorn was already flying towards the building before he even knew why. Hunter landed in front of the fashionable building and knocked on the door. There was no answer. Hunter backed up a little to look at the windows. The blond stallion realized that only the upper windows, the ones he assumed were the bedrooms, were alight. “Oh never mind.” Hunter thought to himself, “I don't even know why I came here in the first place.” Hunter was a little anxious about that suit, he realized. It had been at the back of his mind since he saw it. Hunter had been hoping against all hope for a chance to purchase it somehow, but he knew it was not to be, it was for a fashion show, and paying customers. Hunter took back off into the sky, realizing that he was not going to be talking with the white mare tonight. His green eyes glanced back at the windows of the boutique to see the top floor lights extinguished and the house go dark. The sounds his wings made had become the only sounds in the sky as he made his way towards the center of town. Pinkie's store was now visible, and it still looked busy, despite the late hour. Hunter glanced at the stage he had performed at, and saw that it was being disassembled by the band who was supposed to play. A band by the name of, Jazz Hooves, which made him laugh. The apple family, Applejack and Big Mac really, were also helping pack things away. Hunter thought he would help them in a little bit, but he needed to make it to Sugarcube Corner first. The alicorn made his way to the shop, weaving through the crowd in front of the store as he landed. His wings had to stay extended just so that he could squeeze through the doorway. “We are all out of Ice cream!” Trixie yelled. “Even coffee?!” A stallion responded “Even coffee!” Trixie assured him. “Do you have anything left?!” The stallion asked, still having to yell. “Working on it!” Hunter heard Pinkie yell from the kitchen. If Hunter was discovered now he would be dead meat. For the most part ponies seemed to be focused on getting the treats the store had to offer. Or at least, that it was trying to offer. Hunter made his way to the counter. “You going to be here much longer?” Hunter asked Trixie nonchalantly. “No, the store closes soon actually.” Trixie responded, able to stop her yelling as the crowd died down to a murmur. “How soon?” Hunter asked. “As soon as all these customers are fed!” Pinkie answered for Trixie. Hunter remembered the length of the line from before he had even entered the store, and thought that Pinkie and the Cakes must be working like crazy to keep business flowing. Hunter had no worries about ponies leaving, he had recommended the store after all, and Hunter thought that the recommendation of a newly famous band would hold some good weight. Hunter saw Carrot walk out of the kitchen with a sheet of cookies. “Need anything Carrot?” Hunter asked the orange stallion. “Actually I could use a lot of things. The biggest thing right now is that I need another baker.” Carrot responded. “I could help with that.” Hunter told the hurried baker. “Well,” Carrot said, placing the cookies under the counter. “See what I mean is, my wife is upstairs looking after the kids. If I could replace her and she was down here helping then I would have no problem.” The alicorn thought for a moment, rubbing his chin as he leaned on the counter. Hunter thought that he was good with kids, but he had never been left alone with them for more than a few minutes. “I could help out I suppose.” Hunter suggested at last. Carrot thought this over for a second. Hunter would only have to look after them for a few minutes, and he really needed Cup's help. “Alright fine, Cup should be able to fill you in.” Carrot sighed, trotting back to the kitchen, “Go up the stairs on the right.” Hunter dashed to the side of the store, the path to the stairs was clear as the line extended towards the door outside, hoping that he continued to go unnoticed. He thought he heard somepony yell his name, but it wasn't followed by any sort of clamor so he made his way up the stairs unhindered. Hunter climbed the stairs up to the upstairs of Sugarcube Corner, which he realized he had never seen before. The show never seemed to watch the stairwells. The stallion took pause as he slowly stepped up the wooden blocks, taking in the memories hanging on the walls. Pictures of Pinkie's family were on it. Hunter didn't know why, but he got a sudden pang of loneliness. The blond alicorn jumped up the rest of the stairs with a flap of his wings, hoping to dislodge the sudden wave of emotion from his heart. The land on the floor seemed a little loud, but Hunter made his way on down the hall after a slight cringe. Hunter heard the noise of Cup singing quietly to herself as he made his way up to the door. “Hush now, quiet now, it's time to lay your sleepy head.” Cup sang. Hunter started “Hush now, quiet now, it's time to go to bed.” Cup didn't seem very startled at Hunter's intrusion from where she sat on the floor, but instead glanced slowly up at his direction. Mrs. Cake was holding Pound in her arms, and Pumpkin looked to be on the floor, crawling around still. “Oh my, how nice of you to come back.” Cup said, setting Pound gently back on the floor. “Is it still a sea of customers down there?” “Oh yeah,” Hunter told her in a hushed tone, “Carrot sent me up here to babysit for a while so that you could help them out down there.” “Alrighty.” Cup said, standing. “You don't have to do very much, but it is their bed time so try and get them to sleep if you can. They've been fed, and I just changed them, so you should have no problem.” “Alright, I'll try my best to have them asleep by the time you get back.” Hunter said. Cup chuckled, “Good luck.” Hunter stepped into the room as Cup stepped out of it, and sat down on the ground in front of the foals. Pound was staring at this stranger in wonder, and Pumpkin was sucking on a stuffed butterfly toy. “Hello.” Hunter said, as if he were speaking with anypony of the same age. Pound continued to stare, and Pumpkin was now staring at him over the butterfly. Hunter took the toy out of Pumpkin's mouth, and pulled a pacifier out of his pocket. He realized that he should probably wash it off before he put it in the babies mouth. Pumpkin didn't seem at all upset that Hunter had stolen her toy from her slobbery grasp. Hunter found the bathroom of the house across the hall. The stallion immediately noticed that the toilet was set into the floor. “Well that's different.” Hunter thought. “Why would I have a normal toilet, Rainbow has one like mine, and yet Pinkie's is some kind of chamber pot.” Hunter decided not to ask. Instead, he looked around for the sink, immediately noticing the tall wooden fixture with knobs. After fumbling with the knobs for what seemed like a good minute, realizing that he needed to stop thinking about how he turned things with hooves, the water started streaming from the spout. Hunter ran the pacifier under the water and shut it off after a few moments, returning to the room with the babies. They hadn't moved from where they were, still staring up at him. “What?” Hunter asked, “Something on my face?” Hunter sat down again, putting the pacifier close to Pumpkin's mouth. The orange foal opened her mouth and took the plastic piece in her lips, sucking on it. Hunter wondered if ponies even had pacifiers. There wasn't much to this babysitting thing, considering that the babies just seemed to stare at him the whole time. “What's up?” Hunter asked after a minute of sitting in the middle of the floor. Pound finally responded, pointing his hoof up to Hunter's horn and cooing. Hunter lifted his hoof up and touched his horn. “I can't do magic if that's what you're wondering.” Pound's face seemed to scrunch into one of confusion as he dropped his hoof to point at Hunter's wings. Hunter extended his large feather hangers. “Yeah I got wings too.” Hunter realized why the children were staring at him. Hunter was sure that they had been looked after by Fluttershy, and maybe even by Twilight, so they had come into contact with unicorns and pegasi, not to mention that they were each one themselves, respectively, but they had never seen a pony who was both. “Will nopony cease to be surprised at my apparent status.” Hunter sighed to himself. Hunter flapped his wings slowly as he sighed, creating a gentle breeze in the room. The small bedroom was chilly this time of year, and the small amounts of wind caused Pound and Pumpkin to shiver. Hunter saw the foals shaking, and stopped his flapping. The stallion picked the foals up off the floor and held them, one in each crook of his arms, and wrapped himself in his wings. This created a soft, blanket like, covering around the small ponies, whose eyes were drooping quickly as they felt the cozy warmth Hunter had created. Hunter watched as a couple minutes passed, the foals in his arms. They were so adorable, he just wanted to take them and never come back, but he knew in the back of his mind that they were only adorable half the time. The foals seemed to refuse sleep, raising their eyelashes just before finally closing them. Pound had his eyes closed for a full two seconds before opening them again. So this must have been what Cup meant by “good luck”. Hunter thought of ways that he could add just a little more sleepy to the atmosphere. Then he thought back to what Cup had been trying when he walked in here. In the softest, deepest voice he could muster, Hunter sang. “Hush now, quiet now, it's time to lay your sleepy head. Hush now, quiet now, it's time to go to bed.” The foals in his arms gave up keeping their eyes open. “Hush now, quiet now, it's time to lay your sleepy head. Hush now, quiet now, it's time to go to bed.” Hunter repeated. The stallion realized that he had only remembered the first part of the lullaby. It didn't matter anyways, because the pair of bakers foals had been breathing slowly and were fast asleep. “Pegasi must really have this whole baby thing down.” Hunter thought as he used his wings to grab the children. They were surprisingly easy to hold in the wraps of his feathers. The alicorn carried the children over to their cribs, and laid them in between the covers. The foals did not stir for the next few hours, as Hunter sat in the middle of the room on a stool that had been in the corner of the bedroom. ><>< Pinkie made her way up the wooden stairs, slightly exhausted by her sudden inflow of customers that Hunter had created, but still able to put a spring in her step as she stepped up. As Pinkie reached the top she noticed that the door to the bathroom was open and the light was on, so she turned off said light and closed the door silently. If Hunter had been successful in putting the foals to bed, then she did not want to wake them. The bedroom doorway was still shining a soft yellow light through it, and Pinkie had a slight suspicion that Hunter had not been able to put the two down. Then she stepped through the doorway to a snoring contest. The pink mare had to suppress a giggle at the sight of Hunter, his back on the small stool, spread out almost vertically with the ground. She thought better of saving this moment on some kind of photo, and went to nudge the alicorn. “Wha...?” Hunter responded, opening one eye, squinting at the light from the small lamp in the room. “Get up silly.” Pinkie whispered, “You weren't supposed to sleep with the babies.” Hunter sat up onto his butt, rubbing his eyes with his hooves. After he had removed the sleep from his green eyes, he looked around the room, remembering where he was, and what he had been doing in the first place. “Good job getting them to sleep by the way.” Pinkie added quietly, “Not many ponies can do that.” “I suspect you haven't had many pegasi as babysitters?” Hunter asked, keeping back a small yawn. “Just Fluttershy...” Pinkie trailed off as she tried to see Hunter's connection but gave up and asked him anyways, “What would that have to do with anything?” “Wings are good for this sort of thing I suspect.” Hunter told Pinkie, motioning that they should leave the room. Pinkie left the room, followed shortly after by the blond stallion, who found out how to shut off the light before doing so, and shutting the door quietly. The pair walked down the stairs, and Hunter stopped at the pictures of Pinkie's family once again. “What's wrong?” Pinkie asked as she noticed the sound of Hunter's steps down had stopped. “How often do you see your family?” Hunter asked suddenly. Pinkie saw that his eyes were slightly mysterious and his face made him seem far off. “All the time!” Pinkie responded happily, “Every chance I get I go to visit! Sometimes I even get to throw them a party!” Hunter sighed, and Pinkie decided he would need a party sometime soon. “What about you?” Pinkie asked, “You in contact with any family?” At this Hunter just shuffled past the pink mare, not another word escaping his lips. The alicorn would definitely need a party sometime soon. As soon as Hunter made it down to the bottom of the stairs he was his happy self again. “Ready to get heading home Trixie?” Hunter asked the blue unicorn. Trixie looked at the Cakes, eyebrows raised in a question. Carrot looked over at Cup, who nodded, and then back at Trixie before nodding as well. Trixie then turned to Hunter and nodded to answer his question. Hunter was beginning to think the store was run by bobble heads. “Alright well how about a nice ride home? I imagine a walk home after being on your hooves all afternoon would be some kind of torture.” Hunter said this in complete seriousness, and the Cakes seemed to react in the way he had least expected. “Ride?!” Cup said, sounding absolutely terrified. “ummmm.” Hunter hummed in response, “Yeaaaaahhh?” At this Cup seemed to faint, and Carrot caught his wife, staring at Hunter in horror. “You mean, she's going to ride on your back?” “I don't see the issue here.” Hunter told him, “She's just going to sit on my back and I'm going to fly her home.” Carrot let Cup fall as he himself fainted to the ground. Trixie had joined Hunter on the customer side of the counter and had the same confused face as the alicorn did. The blond stallion and the blue mare next to him then looked to Pinkie for answers. “I always thought they were old fashioned.” Pinkie told them. Hunter thought that this explained some things, while Trixie thought that it really didn't tell her anything. “Still up for giving me a ride home? You were right, my hooves are killing me.” Trixie said, rubbing her back hooves gingerly as she sat on her haunches. “For sure, I suspect you would like a nice slow flight compared to my usually speedy take offs home?” Hunter asked, moving the ache from his wings from before, when he had been sleeping awkwardly on his back. “Trixie would find that to be absolutely wonderful!” Trixie said happily. The two said their goodbyes to the party host of a pink mare, and stepped outside the shop. Trixie stepped up to Hunter, but seemed unsure as to how to get around to 'mounting' him. Hunter picked her up as he took off into the air, and tossed her, quickly flying underneath her and letting her land on his back. “That works.” Trixie said. “Thanks for choosing Hunter airlines...” Hunter started to say, “aw never mind, let's just go.” Hunter slowly made his way over ponyville, noticing that most of the stage had been dismantled and the decorations had been completely swept away. Guess they hadn't really needed his help after all. Trixie held a loose grip on the alicorn with her back legs and onto his mane with her front hooves. The nice breeze the slow speed created was heaven compared to the stuffiness of the bakery. They went on in silence for a long while until Trixie broke it. “So what is Michael to you anyways?” “You mean our relationship?” Hunter asked. “Yeah, what are you guys to each other?” Trixie asked, seeming distant in her tone of voice. “I can honestly say that Michael is one of my greatest friends. I like to think that there are plenty I can call my great friends, but Michael is different compared. Special.” Hunter explained, “I'm happy that he was the one to join me here. There are others that could have come instead, but I know now that I'm glad it was him.” Trixie smiled at this, and breathed a breath of brisk night air, “I'm glad it was him too.” Hunter smiled a knowing smile as he thought, “I could tell.” Pretty soon they were at the cloud houses and Hunter stopped on the porch, sitting so that Trixie could slide off of his back easily. Once she was off he stood back up, trotting up to the doorway and hearing the clamor inside before he even opened the clouds. “What was that?!” Jason yelled, “I had you dead!” “I had a shotgun.” Michael said. “You were 20 feet away!” Jason argued. “So?” Michael argued back. “Are you riling up the recruits again Michael?” Hunter asked from the doorway, letting Trixie trot inside. Hunter looked around, noticing that Jordan and Rainbow Dash had left. “I guess you could say that.” Michael replied, not taking his eyes off the screen as he assassinated Jason's spartan. The unicorn next to him on the couch was seething, and Hunter swore he saw smoke rising from the inside of his scarf. “You boys have fun, I've had a long day.” Trixie told them as she made her way to Michael's bedroom, before turning and saying “No thanks to you of course.” Hunter laughed at her accusation that his recommendation had been the cause of all of her cashier grief. “What time is it anyways?” Before Jason could get the last shot off to kill Michael, the dragon pressed the Xbox button on his controller, to check the time. “Xbox says it's around midnight.” Michael said, exiting the menu and slinking behind a rock so that Jason would be unable to snipe him. “Well,” Hunter said, realizing why his guests were not still there. “I'm going to try and get a good night's sleep if you don't mind.” Jason died again, and he pushed the middle button, turning off the console before Michael could react. “Yeah, it's probably for the best.” Michael didn't seem to care that his winning streak had been interrupted, he did still win after all. “Alright fine.” Hunter was about to make his way up the stairs when Jason asked, “Where am I supposed to sleep anyways?” The alicorn remembered that Jason had slept in his bed, and that would not do again. Hunter could take the couch again, but he wanted his bed back. “Methinks you shall have to take the couch.” Hunter turned to tell him, tossing him one of the blankets from near the glass table by the stairs. “Fine with me.” Jason replied, spreading the soft material over the clouds and laying under them. Michael had gone into his room, and shut the door. When Hunter turned off the light for the main living room he could see that the light of the room was still on. “Those two.” He said quietly to himself, and then made his way to the top of the stairs. The alicorn looked at the wall on his way up, and he realized that it was much too empty. Once Hunter reached his bedroom he shut himself inside, sighing to himself before making his way underneath the covers. “Today was sure an interesting day.” Hunter said out loud to himself. The stallion was almost asleep as soon as he closed his eyes. ><>< There was nothing to stop her from worrying. Her closest cousin had been gone for almost a week now, and his family all seemed to know about it but her. Every time Hunter was mentioned, the adults would shake their heads as if some tragedy had occurred and not speak of it out loud. This was beginning to frustrate the crap out of her. Sarah sat on her spring mattress, monotonously moving the buttons and joysticks of her Playstation controller. Unfortunately, her small avatar in the game she was playing died. This was enough for her frustration to biol over, and she tossed the controller onto the floor before shutting the Playstation off. Her brown hair swept itself out of her face as she sighed, and jumped onto the bed, landing with a thud and a bounce before settling with her face in the pillow. Sarah's skin was covered in goosebumps by the mystery and how cold she always seemed to be. She rubbed a lily white hand over them, trying to get rid of the bumpy feeling. The chocolate brown haired girl moved her face so that it was pointing at the ceiling. From what she had been able to put together, Hunter wasn't dead, there was no funeral, but he was gone. Where had Hunter gone? Had he just run off, leaving no trace? There hadn't been any sort of Police involvement as far as Sarah knew, and it wasn't much, considering that nobody wanted to tell her what was going on. Sarah was still freezing, so she took the top blanket off of her bedspread and wrapped it around her instead. Her room wasn't very big, so she would've thought that keeping warm would be no problem, but the heating for the house always seemed to be left out of her room. The small room roughly resembled Hunter's in size and shape, but in decoration it truly resembled a girl's. Kitten posters were on each wall, and the room had light pink curtains. Sarah's closet was filled with board games, and the dresser in the corner was covered in jewelry, real and fake. The door sat on the opposite side of the window, and he bed sat to the left of the doorway. He T.V. Sat on a small table facing the doorway. “What's up?” Sarah's mother said from the doorway. The jet black hair on her head bobbed as she whipped her head around the door frame. She had heard Sarah jump onto her bed, and knew from experience that she was either frustrated, or excited. “Just thinking about Hunter.” Sarah replied honestly. So it was out of frustration then. “I know that it's hard to accept your favorite cousin is gone, but there's nothing we can do about it.” Sarah's mother told her, trying to console her. “If he had died, then it would be easier for me to get over.” Sarah said, thinking aloud as she realized that the sentence seemed kind of heartless before continuing, “Maybe there is something we can do, but we aren't doing anything about it...” Sarah trailed off. Sarah's mother was silent for a bit, before trying again to quell Sarah's thoughts. “I'm sure that his mother did what she could to find him. You aren't the only one who loved him like family.” Sarah sighed as she realized that her mother was right, but that still didn't make her stop thinking about it. “Alright, it's late. You might as well get underneath all the covers and go to sleep.” Sarah's mother turned out the lights after she had crawled into bed, and shut the door with a quiet, “I love you.” Sarah responded with an “I love you too” of the same volume, and was soon enveloped in darkness. She had completely forgotten to change into any form of pajamas, but didn't care. Sarah's mind was on the mysterious disappearance of her best family member. Where in the nine hells could he have gone? Sarah's eyes closed as she strained to uncloud her mind, and soon she was drifting off to sleep. Today had been a long day, and she was tired. Hunter's disappearance was in her thoughts as she slowly lost consciousness. ><>< Sarah ran down the hallway, desperately trying to run from something. Or was she chasing after something? Sarah's gaze was at the end of the metallic, rectangular hall. It's floors were a white tile and the walls were a gray steel. The entire hall was lit, but Sarah could not see any lights from the ceiling, or anywhere from that matter. She was struggling to keep her breath as she ran through the hall, trying to reach something. Soon she saw a figure in the distance of the endless hallway. It looked like a horse. She ran quickly towards it, as if her life depended on it. When Sarah was slightly closer, she noticed a human looking figure standing next to the horse. Sarah worked and worked, running as fast as her legs would carry her, unable to catch her breath, but continuing her full on sprint. The figures didn't seem to move at all, as if they were standing at the end of the hallway waiting for her to catch up. As Sarah got closer, bit by bit, she noticed that the horse was... blue? The humanoid figure was slightly harder to make out, but she could see it was a man, or more likely a teenager, wearing a gray top and blue pants. It may have just been coincidence, but she knew someone who was famous for a gray top and blue pants. Sarah increased her pace, despite her thinking that it was impossible. If it was Hunter, then she wanted to talk with him, see if he was still alive, ask him lots of questions about where he might have gone. Sarah's vision was going blurry with the exertion, but she had to make it to the figures. Even if Hunter wasn't the one standing next to the blue horse, maybe he knew where Hunter was. After a couple long minutes of running past her limits, Sarah finally reached the figures, although they were too hard to see without stopping to rest first. The only time she had ever run this hard was when she had run cross country. Then she felt her stomach tighten and realized that it was more like Cross country then she wanted it to be. Soon her dream lunch was plastered all over the floor, and she wiped her mouth before looking up at the figures she had been running after. Hunter stood in front of her, his familiar smile stretching across his face and next to him stood... a dark blue horse. The mane of this horse was glittery and seemed to blow in an nonexistent wind. The horse was black in spots, and on it's back leg there was a white spot that resembled a crescent moon. The horse was also cringing at the sudden upchucking Sarah had just done. The blue horse's hoof was raised, as if to protect her from splatter, and then it set the hoof back down. Sarah was then able to see the horse's face. Sarah was slightly taken aback, as she had expected a long horse face, instead appeared a kindly looking, big eyed, animated looking pony face. If she didn't know better, she would have sworn the horse was smiling at her. “Who are you?” The horse suddenly asked. “I thought I was dreaming.” Sarah said to herself. “Now I know for sure, talking horses are a dead giveaway.” “You are dreaming.” Luna said, “But we are truly speaking.” Sarah looked up to the blue horse, before looking up at Hunter instead. “Can you believe this hype?” “Yeah.” Hunter said simply. Sarah wondered how reliable a dreamy apparition would be. “Alright then horse.” Sarah said, not believing that she was talking with it. “Who are you then?” “We are no horse.” Luna said slightly sternly, “I am a princess pony of the night, my name is Luna.” Sarah thought that this “princess pony of the night” was slightly annoying. “Where are we?” Sarah asked. “You tell us, this is your dream after all.” Luna replied. “I thought your head would be a little more exciting myself.” Hunter told Sarah, chuckling lightly. “Well excuse me if a talking pony isn't interesting enough.” Sarah said indignantly. “That's not even the half of it.” Hunter said seriously. Hunter's form suddenly shifted, making a bright white light that forced Sarah to shield her eyes. Once Sarah was able to see again, and after a few blinks, she was looking at Luna standing next to a gray pony with a blond mane containing white streaks. “What the heck?” Sarah said, gobsmacked. “Yeah, crazy ain't it?” Hunter asked, humor in his voice. “You're a horse!” Sarah exclaimed. “Yes.” “A pony!” “Yes.” “With wings!” “And a horn.” Hunter added, pointing to the point on his forehead. “So a unicorn?” Sarah asked. “I believe the term is alicorn actually.” Hunter told his cousin. Sarah moved away from the area where her puke was running all over the floor, and took a seat. “Haven't seen you in a while.” Hunter spoke up, “How's it been?” “You mean despite your sudden disappearance? Just peachy.” Sarah said, a dark sarcasm in her tone. Hunter choked on his words as he raised a hoof to speak, but he lowered it, and sat down as well. “I'm sorry I didn't tell you where I was going.” Hunter told her. “Well it's obvious now that there was good reason.” Sarah replied, still sounding angry. “What's that mean?” Hunter asked, seriously confused. “Can't have people looking for you when you've turned into a horse.” Sarah told him. Hunter laughed loudly. Sarah had missed that laugh for a long time. It was good to hear it, even if it was just a dream. “Yes well, you could join me if you wanted to.” Hunter told her. “You mean I can come to visit?” Sarah asked excitedly. “Not exactly...” Hunter said, “If you came to see me, you would have to stay.” Sarah lost her excitement. “Would I have to be a horse?” “Yes.” “So you're saying that if I ever want to see you again, I should just leave my family and join you wherever in the world you went, and to boot I have to be a horse?” Sarah asked, her tone was slightly cold. Hunter didn't respond for a couple seconds before he said, “Yes.” Sarah let out an exasperated sigh and rested her head on her arms, which were resting on her knees. She sat in an upright fetal position, frustrated as ever. “I made the same decision not long ago.” Hunter told her, “That's about the time I left. I left everyone behind to have a new life. A better life.” “How do you know your life is better wherever it is you went...” Sarah yelled suddenly. “Equestria.” Hunter filled her in. “Right, whatever. How do you know your life is better than the one you could have made for yourself as a human?” Sarah asked. “Because,” Hunter responded, “Equestria is far better than reality ever was.” Sarah sighed again as she tried to think of ways to win an apparently lost battle. “So you just gave up?” Hunter thought about what she was saying before responding. “I didn't kill myself Sarah.” “You might as well have!” Sarah snapped back, “You disappear off the face of the earth, and nobody talks about you as if you're some terrible secret tragedy!” Sarah paused to breath, “But let's not forget that before you do, you tell everyone about it but me!” “Don't you think that sounds a little selfish?” Hunter asked her softly. “Me being selfish!?” Sarah was having a hard time keeping herself from screaming at this point. “You're the one who gave up, made everyone sad that you left, and went off to live some wonderful life in this 'Equestria'!” Hunter's head hung down as he realized that Sarah was right. He had left his mom alone, his family worried about him, and his cousin was obviously not happy, all so that he could live his dream. Sarah was now standing over Hunter, which was easier than it had been when her cousin was in human form. “You're right.” Hunter said after a moment's silence. “Darn right I'm right.” Sarah said, sitting back down on the floor. “Now why don't you come home?” Sarah suggested. “Now that would just be cruel.” Hunter told her, raising his head up. “What do you mean cruel?” Sarah asked, pointedly. “Make everyone accept that I'm gone, and then just reappear after I've left? Better I never came back, so that they wouldn't have to go through that a second time.” Hunter explained. “A second time?” “To everyone else, I'm already dead. Nobody dies twice Sarah, just as it should be with me.” Sarah was once again seated. “My offer still stands.” Hunter told her. “For what?” Sarah asked. After their argument, she was having trouble remembering what they had talked about before. “You can still join me.” Sarah thought it over. From what she could remember, Hunter wasn't a selfish person, so if he had gone to this Equestria for a better life he must have been really down, or this life he wanted was really worth it. Her life wasn't the best, she wasn't rich, but she wasn't poor either. Her family life could have been better, but it wasn't a living hell. “Life in this Equestria is really great huh?” Sarah asked. “Really great.” Hunter reassured her. “Worth abandoning all of my friends and family for.” Sarah asked pointedly again. Hunter took a pause before saying, “As bad as it makes me sound for saying it, life in Equestria is definitely worth that.” Sarah was seriously conflicted now. She had her hard-earned future to think about, but her cousin and this wonderful life of apparent luxury was waiting there for free. Of course, this could all just be a dream, and she could be imagining all the entire crazy conversation. “You think it over Sarah. I'll be waiting for your answer.” Hunter told her. Sarah looked up to see the hallway stretching, making Luna and Hunter disappear in the distance. “Wait! How am I supposed to contact you!?” Sarah asked, getting onto her feet and running again. “I'll contact you, when you are ready.” Sarah watched the figures of Hunter and the princess of the night become like ants, before she slipped in her vomit and fell towards the floor. Sarah awoke from her sleep, jumping in her bed and sitting up, panting heavily and realizing that she had been sweating. “What an odd dream.” Sarah said to herself. Yet the oddest thing about it was that she could remember the entire thing, and Hunter's parting words were still ringing in her ears. “When you are ready...”