Journal: I’m going to miss this little town. I may have been forced to stay for two weeks, but in one week this town really grew on me. It must be the feel of this town, it just feels right. Or it could be the girls. I just don’t know. What I do know is that I’m starting to get the basics of teleportation, and I’m fully healed according to Doc. I’m going to head to Canterlot. I hear that some areas of the castle are open to the public and quite a sight to behold.
Going through my saddlebags, I make sure I’m not forgetting anything. Speaking to myself, “Ok I have my journal, my portable map, all my bits…what am I missing…FOOD!” Heading downstairs I see Spike and Twilight “Ok, I think I have everything. Thank you for letting me stay here for a while.”
Spike pipes up “Ah your leaving already? I suppose it can’t be helped. Stay safe.”
“Thanks Spike I will.”
As I turn to Twilight “So do you know where you’re going?”
“Yep! I’m going to go to Canterlot. It is pretty close. And I hear what’s open to the public in the castle is quite the spectacle to behold!”
“Well I won’t spoil it for you. Are you heading to the train station?”
I get visibly nervous when she mentions the train “no, I’m not taking the train. I’m walking.”
“What? Why not?”
Sighing and looking at the floor “I have a fear of trains.”
Spikes starts laughing but Twilights looks concerned “Did something happen on a train?”
I bite my lip without looking up “If you don’t mind I don’t want to talk about it.”
Twilight lifts my head up “Look, this will never change if you keep running away from it!”
Looking to the side “I’m sorry…I can’t. I can’t relive it. I’ll be on my way now. I need to stop for food first. Goodbye Princess Twilight.”
Great, why did she have to try to force that outta me. I almost fell back into that place. As I’m taking the path to Sweet Apple Acres I try unsuccessfully to shake off my mood. As I reach the farmhouse I’m greeted by Big Macintosh. “Hello Big Mac, Could I buy some apples off you? I’m leaving town.”
“Eeyup, How many ya need?”
“Enough to fill my saddlebag.”
Then I hear “Flame, now what are ya doing here?”
“Hello Applejack, I’m just filling up my saddlebag with food. I don’t want to run out on my way to Canterlot.”
“Yer leaving?”
“Yep, Ponyville was my first stop on my Journey. I have a lot more to see so I can’t stay.”
“Hey look…Flame…is something wrong?”
I lie “No. Why?”
“You don’t look so good. Are ya sure yer okay?”
“I’m fine. How much do I owe ya for the apples?”
After buying the apples I go back to town and take the path to Canterlot. Thankfully this path goes nowhere near the Everfree Forest. I don’t want to go in there. The walk took about two weeks. I can’t complain though. The area is beautiful, the ponies are nice, and this time I have food to spare. Walking in to Canterlot is a bit exciting. The culture feels quite vibrant and the city is bustling. Immediately I head to Canterlot Castle.
As I reach the front gates I notice the guards “Hello sirs, I was wondering where I could sign up for the tour I’ve heard about.”
“Wow, I thought everypony forgot about the castle being open. The tour is self-guided. There will be guards making sure you don’t go down unauthorized areas.”
And they open the gate for me, I go in after saying “Thank you sirs.” As I enter the castle I’m immediately taken in by everything. It is so well crafted, and the artwork is stunning. Everywhere I look there is more to see, and can I see where the guards are stationed. So I take the passageways that are not guarded.
Eventually I run out of room to explore, so I opt to leave. But as I turn around I see Twilight, Rainbow, Fluttershy, Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie standing there. Needless to say I’m more than surprised “What are you girls doing here? What about your jobs in Ponyville?”
Applejack speaks up first “Well it’s tha off season for Ponyville right now. And when you left you didn’t look too good.”
I give them an odd expression “You still didn’t say why you’re all here.”
Twilight speaks up “I suggested that we come here. It’s been a while since I’ve been in Canterlot and I wanted to bring my friends. Besides you mentioned touring the Castle.”
“Yeah, but this I’ve finished already. This is the last room.”
“Well, what do you think?”
I'm beaming “I think that this Castle is absolutely amazing! There is so much history here that it’s unbelievable!”
Twilight giggles a little “That’s good to hear. What are your plans for the city?”
“First I want to explore a bit then maybe find if there is a master smith around here.” It looks like I’ve garnered their interest so “I was trained as a smith for seven years but I still have things to learn so I want to see if anypony can help me fill in the gaps.”
Applejack shoots me a curious look “Uh huh, if you were trained fer seven years then why did you leave?”
“I wanted to travel and see Equestria. Maybe see if I’d enjoy being somewhere else.”
Rarity speaks up “And where, pray tell did you leave?”
I suppose they deserve to know “I came from Fillydelphia is…”
I don’t get a chance to answer as Rarity is squeeling “OOH, Fillydelphia! The home of working class fashion! (now in my face) How could you leave?! Oh please say you’ll take me there!”
My ears are back as I’m rather taken back by her sudden interest “Uh…I don’t know when I’m going back. It could be months or years. Maybe I’ll won’t have to go back, I haven’t decided yet. But I have to go now. BYE!”
First time I’ve had to escape from a mare’s interest, but there’s a first for everything. I keep running until I spot a Smith working. But when I try to stop I just keep skidding. I stop myself with telekinesis after I see a cart pull out of an alleyway. Walking into his store “Good day sir.”
The smith takes a quick glance from his anvil “Yeah? Waddya want sonny?”
“Well sir I was wondering if you could help me fill in the gaps of my smithy skill.”
“Oh yeah? What makes you think I’ll just train anypony who walks in?”
“Well, I’m already trained. But there might be a few techniques for Iron that I’m not aware of. I’d like to learn those.”
“Who trained you boy?”
“Master Iron Tail.”
He looks surprised at this “So old Iron is still taking apprentices.”
“You know Master Iron?”
“Know him? I used to work with him. Good smith. So what did he teach you?” Going over the techniques that Master Iron taught me takes roughly 10 minutes. After cooling the metal he’s working on “Hmm, he taught you everything he knew. That’s rare, old Iron must have really taken a shine to you boy. Names Gorth Anvil. I’ll be happy to help out a student of Old Iron. Not many techniques left for you to learn for iron though, did he teach you steel working?”
“Yes, though there wasn’t much there, just the simple stuff.”
“HA, I’ve got a few steel techniques for you as well then. As payment you’ll work here for a week and a half, not too much I can teach you but if you’re telling the truth you should pick up on them pretty quickly. Do we have a deal?”
I’m so happy I could bounce around off the walls “Yes Sir, my Names Cleansing Flame.”
“Alright Flame, you ready to start? (peers over my shoulder) Or would you like to tend to the young lady behind you first?”
Young lady?? “What young lady…Applejack! What are you doing here?” I don’t know how long she’s been there or how much she heard.
She responds “Just came tah find you and apologize fer Rarity. She gets a little crazy when it comes tah fashion.”
“Yeah, I know…How long where you standing there?”
“Just got here when you agreed. Won’t this put off yer journey?”
“Not one bit, this is one of the reasons I wanted the journey!”
“Alright. Catch ya later Flame.”
As Applejack walks off I catch myself staring at her flank and slap myself. What are you doing!! You can’t afford any attachments! Get your head in the game!
Two weeks later…
“Well thanks for everything Master Gorth.”
“No thank you kid, It was good to teach again. You’re gonna be great Flame, don’t let anypony tell you different. You mastered everything I had to teach when I thought you’d merely learn them.”
I’m slightly embarrassed “Thanks master, I’ll be sure to put your knowledge to good use.”
“That’s all I ask Flame. Good luck with your journey!”
“I will master.” Waving goodbye I head to the crossroads outside of town.
Before I get there I’m met by Twilight and company. “What are you all doing here? I thought you’d all gone back to Ponyville.”
Rarity gets pushed forward “Well you see, we all were talking and it came up that you were traveling Equestria. It took some discussion but we all decided that we would like to join you in your travels.”
I’m in disbelief “So let me get this straight, all 6 of you. Wish to join me in my journey across Equestria? Knowing that that may be danger, and knowing that is no telling when you may return to Ponyville?” Flutter is shivering upon the mention of danger but all agree anyway.
“Alright then just one question, why?” All of them get nervous.
Twilight speaks up since nopony else does “Well when you mentioned traveling it made us realize that our own knowledge of Equestria was limited and we wish to correct that. Isn’t that right girls?” The rest agree.
“Ok, I understand that but now let me rephrase, why would you all like to travel with me? All of you look capable in their own right and you could travel on your own just fine. So why?”
Pinkie now says “What are you saying you don’t want to travel with us?”
“Well no but…”
“Are you scared of us getting hurt?”
“no…”
“Do you not like us?” I think I turned a bright shade of pink as I felt my face heat up.
“Ooh! You do like us! Who’s your…”
Pinkie is cut off by a blushing Rainbow Dash who says “Look we want to join you and your fighting us. Will you let us join you or not?”
Looking at the rest of the girls they’re all blushing…must have been Pinkie’s question, there's no way they like me that way.
Finally I cave “Yes you can join me.”
Applejack trots up “But no funny business. Yah try anything perverted and Ah’ll put yah back in the hospital. Ya got that?”
“Of course, I’m not that stupid. Geez what do you take me for?”
All the girls unanimously say “A single colt” and begin laughing.
Laughing a little “Ok fair enough.”
I motion for them to follow and as we’re walking Fluttershy asks “So where are we heading?”
All too eager I reply “Stalliongrad. I’ve heard rumors of amazing new steel there so I want to check it out.”
Rarity now speaks up “So how are we going to get there?”
Pulling out my map I respond “There’s a mountain pass that ends at Stalliongrad so if we stay near the southern mountains we should run right into it.”
“But you do know there is a train going there right? Why can’t we take that?”
I stop dead in my tracks “I really don’t want to take the train.”
“Why not? What’s wrong with trains?”
I’m biting my lip “I have a fear of trains.” All but Twilight let out a “WHAT?”
Applejack is the first to speak up “What’s wrong with trains?”
Starting to slip back into that place I say “Can we not talk about this? It’s rather sensitive for me.”
Rainbow cuts in before Applejack can get a word in “Ah come on. What’s the big deal? It will decrease travel times and its safe.”
I snap “IT’S NOT SAFE AT ALL! (after a few moments to compose myself) I’m sorry for snapping at you Rainbow but no, trains are not safe.”
“What happened?”
“Please don’t do this.”
Applejack joins in “Yeah, what happened that caused yer fear?”
Pinkie next “Come on tell us!”
Now Fluttershy “You’ll feel better after talking about it.”
I’m shivering harshly now “Please don’t make me relive it”
All I get are curious stares from all of them. After a few minutes Twilight breaks the silence “Look we’re not going to give up so you’re better off just telling us why.”
Collapsing on the ground I regretfully say “Fine. I’ll tell you.” Pinkie quickly grabs some popcorn, Twilight glares are Pinkie for a second before everypony sits down to listen. “The reason I’m scared of trains is because I lost both parents in a train wreck.” Everypony freezes in shock and the popcorn falls out of Pinkie’s hoof. “The last time I saw my parents, they were mangled almost beyond recognition in the wreck. If they hadn’t combined their barriers around me I would have died as well.”
I’m pretty much curled into a ball at this point. “To this day I’m wracked with what the doctors call survivor’s guilt. Over 500 ponies lost their lives in that crash, but I’m one of 5 who lived.”
After what feels like forever, I hear somepony walk towards me and put a hoof on my shoulder. Looking up I see its Fluttershy. I’m so distraught that I reach up, give her a hug and cry. At first she jumps but she calms down quickly when she recognizes what I needed. I let it all out. All the pain and suffering I’d been suppressing for years has bubbled to the surface. I feel Fluttershy place her hoof on the back of my neck, then 5 more hoofs on my shoulders. While they couldn’t truly do anything for me, their presence was greatly appreciated.
As I finally calm down, I let go of Fluttershy whose back is now soaked. Meekly I say “Sorry about your back Fluttershy.”
She responds with “its fine, as long as it helped it was worth it.”
“Thank you, to all of you girls. So can we agree on no trains please?” This time everypony but Rarity agrees, she doesn’t want to sleep in the dirt. It takes Rarity a little bit but eventually she does as well. “Ok then let’s do a check of everypony’s food supplies before we leave. It will take a few weeks travel before we reach Stalliongrad.” After fixing our food situation we depart. Needless to say my journey just got very interesting.