"Dodge Junction, everypony! Please watch your step while getting off the train!"
"Dare, this is our stop. Wake up."
Daring Do didn't react to the conductor's call nor Tailspin's cajoling. She simply continued to lay back with her pith helmet over her eyes, snoozing away. She only began to stir when a fuzzy feeler poked her cheek.
"*snort* Wha huh? What izzit, boy?" Daring said groggily.
"We're here, Dare," said Tailspin flatly.
Daring immediately perked up. "O-oh, rightrightright! Yeah. S-sorry 'bout that," she said, scrambling to her feet. "Man, that train ride really flew by."
"That's one pony's opinion," Tailspin muttered bitterly.
Daring simply sighed. "C'mon, Tailspin. We wouldn't want to keep everypony waiting."
The two of them trotted off the train. Daring managed to spot Fluttershy coming out of another car and waved to her. However, Fluttershy didn't seem to notice. She was too busy looking around nervously while a green Earth Pony stood by her side and also kept a sharp lookout. Noticing that something was amiss, Daring approached the two.
"Hey there. You lost?" she asked.
Fluttershy jumped. "O-oh! I-It's just you, Ms. Daring," she panted, taking a moment to catch her breath. "Um, I'm okay, thank you. I'm just a bit excited about the breezies."
Tailspin raised an eyebrow. "What's there to get excited about, exactly?"
"Hush, you," Daring chided, turning back to Fluttershy. "Anyway, if you're looking for our guide, don't worry. I know who to look for. Trust me, he's not exactly hard to miss. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if he found us first."
"Braaaaa-hem!"
As if on cue, a loud clearing of the throat sounded behind Daring. Unfazed, Daring turned around and smirked. A wizened old pegasus with a pink coat, molted wings, and a bushy red mustache hobbled over towards her. He wore a grey knapsack on his back and large, opaque glasses over his eyes. His Cutie Mark depicted a pair of insect-like wings with a sparkling current flowing between them.
"Long time no see, Bluster," said Daring.
The old pegasus snorted and adjusted his glasses. "That's Professor Windsday to you, Professor Do," he said indignantly.
"Hey, that's Daring to you, Bluster," Daring retorted.
The two pegasi stared each other down for a moment before breaking into fits of laughter and embracing each other.
"You never change, you rascal," said the older pegasus.
"You're one to talk, old timer," Daring chuckled.
Fluttershy shuffled forward and cleared her throat. "Um, excuse me..."
The old stallion caught sight of Fluttershy and made a beeline towards her. He adjusted his glasses, causing them to shimmer a bit.
"What have we here?" he said, looking over Fluttershy as if she were a prized statue. "I was worried you weren't going to accept my invitation, but here you are! Oh, joyous day! How wonderful of you to join us!"
Fluttershy squeaked and whimpered, hiding herself behind her bangs. "U-um, it's a p-pleasure to be here, Mister—"
"Up bup bup! That's Professor to you, my dear," the elderly pegasus interrupted, getting right in Fluttershy's face. "I know you're famous here in Equestria, but I didn't attend university to be called 'Mister,' thank you very much."
"Ulp! Y-yessir," Fluttershy stammered, shrinking before the older pony.
"Oy, if I had a bit for every time a teacher said that," Tailspin muttered under her breath.
"Now now, Tailspin. Be nice," Daring scolded.
The green Earth Pony titled her head. "You in charge of our little breezie shindig?"
The older pony beamed and bowed. "That I am. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Professor Bluster E. Windsday, entomologist extraordinaire, chairpony of the Equestrian Society for the Preservation of Rare Creatures, and Equestria-renouned expert on all things breezie." He then looked up and stretched out his hoof. "And you are?"
"I'm Tree Hugger. It's, like, really cool to meet you," said Tree Hugger with a smile. "I'm actually a long-time member of the ESPRC myself. I've met a ton of rare creatures, each one more special and magical than the last. Blessed be."
Professor Windsday stared blankly at Tree Hugger before letting out a cough. "I-I see. Well, I do hope this safari is enlightening, Ms. Hugger. It's times like this when educators like myself truly shine."
"Times like what?" asked Tailspin, folding her forelegs.
Windsday turned his head, adjusting his glasses and causing them to shimmer. "Young filly, don't you know? All times are good times for educators to share their knowledge. It's how we keep the masses from becoming ignorant! After all, everyone in Equestria deserves the opportunity for a proper education, don't you agree?"
Tailspin's eyes darted every which way as she swallowed a heavy lump in her throat. "Uh, I-I never implied that wasn't the case, P-Professor," she stuttered.
"Whoa. Take it easy, Bluster," said Daring, getting in between the two. "Tailspin didn't mean anything by it. She just speaks without thinking sometimes."
"Hey!" Tailspin protested.
"What? You do," said Daring frankly.
Windsday furrowed his brow and wrinkled his nose. "Professor Do, I wish you'd be more strict with your students. This doesn't exactly help your reputation at the university."
"You should know by now that I've come to accept that," Daring chuckled. "I promise Tailspin will behave herself, though. Isn't that right, Tailspin?"
Tailspin mumbled something incoherent and shrugged.
"Just, take that as a 'yes' for now," said Daring sheepishly.
Windsday sighed. "Very well. But I'm keeping my eye on her. The start of the Great Breezie Odyssey cannot afford any interruptions of any kind."
"Um, odyssey?" asked Tree Hugger, arching an eyebrow. "Isn't that a bit, like, melodramatic?"
Windsday stared blankly at Tree Hugger. "Why, whatever do you mean, Ms. Hugger?"
Tree Hugger shrugged. "Dunno. It just kinda seems like an extreme term to describe a migration, dude."
Windsday scoffed. "Ms. Hugger, you must understand. Birds migrate. Butterflies migrate. Breezies, however. Breezies do not migrate. They embark on an epic journey! They venture forth from the safety of their home, gather their food out in the far west, and make a long trip back to the east to feed their kin! What would you call that besides an odyssey, Ms. Hugger? Hmm? What other word describes such a miracle of nature, I ask you?!"
"Okay, okay! It's an odyssey," Tree Hugger conceded. "Sheesh, didn't mean to harsh your mellow there."
"You'll have to forgive Bluster. He's been trying to get that term into biology textbooks for years," said Daring. "And from the sound of it, he still hasn't been that successful."
"It's cognitive dissonance is what it is," Windsday huffed. "All scientists agree that I'm an utmost expert on breezies, yet they still reject the proper terminology."
Tailspin massaged the bridge of her nose with her hoof. "Dare, please tell me we don't have to listen to this windbag the whole time."
"That's Windsday, missy!" Windsday barked, causing Tailspin to flinch.
"Now now, everypony. Let's not start a fight here," said Fluttershy, flying into the center and raising her hooves. "We're all here to see the breezies, after all. There's no need for this."
Windsday sighed. "You're absolutely right, Ms. Fluttershy. I do apologize for my outburst; I just tend to get very passionate about my work."
"Noted," said Tailspin, wiping a bit of sweat from her brow.
Windsday straightened up and adjusted his glasses. "Well, on that note, we should not dally! I have a carriage waiting and plenty to teach you all. Tally ho!"
With that, he marched off. The other ponies slowly followed.
"Well, he seems, interesting," said Tree Hugger.
"That doesn't begin to describe him," Daring said with a laugh. "Still, he's a good guy once you get to know him. He's just very uptight about a lot of things. I suppose you have to be when it comes to breezies."
"Oh dear. Are breezies really that delicate?" asked Fluttershy.
Daring smiled. "I think it's best to let him explain. It's his area of expertise, after all."
***
The five ponies mounted a large station wagon parked just behind the train station. Windsday guided Fluttershy to a seat next to him while the other ponies sat across from them. Once the carriage started to move, Windsday cleared his throat.
"Everypony, I wish to start off by thanking each and every one of you for taking part in this safari," he said, turning to Fluttershy. "I especially want to thank our guest of honor, Ms. Fluttershy, for graciously accepting the ESPRC's invitation to join us as our guest of honor."
Fluttershy blushed and hid her face with her bangs. "G-guest of honor? M-me? Oh, I'm not that special."
Windsday gasped. "Not that special? Hogwash, Ms. Fluttershy. The ESPRC has heard great things about your work with animals. You managed to tame the great Cerberus, did you not? Humph, not that special my hoof."
"Oh, that? That was nothing," said Fluttershy meekly. "Taking care of animals just happens to be my special talent, that's all."
"Bluster, don't tell me you've been spying on this poor pony," said Daring, arching an eyebrow.
"Perish the thought, Professor Do!" Windsday barked indignantly. "We simply heard about her great feats from our members, and we decided it would be best to invite her to see the breezies. There's nothing more to it than that."
"And you still can't determine when I'm messing with you," Daring snickered, shaking her head. "Some things just never change."
Windsday grumbled something unintelligible and cleared his throat. "A-anyway, I understand that some of you are wondering about the breezies. Well, I will be glad to take this opportunity to enlighten you all to these graceful, adorable, and intelligent creatures."
"Hang on, intelligent?" inquired Tree Hugger.
Windsday smiled and adjusted his glasses, causing them to glisten. "Precisely, Ms. Hugger. For you see, in my studies, I have concluded that the breezie is perhaps the most intelligent creature amongst all the birds and beasts in Equestria. There simply is more to a breezie than any other animal you can think of."
Fluttershy tilted her head. "Oh, I'm not sure any of my animals would be happy to hear that."
"The truth can sometimes be offensive, I'm afraid. But it's what I have determined through pure scientific inquiry," said Windsday. "For example, you may claim that ants have complicated nests. Well, they do. But no matter what, an ant's nest simply cannot compete with the complexity of the grotto of the breezies. From the magical enchantments they use to protect their home to the complex architecture they utilize, they practically have their own civilization!"
"And yet I've never seen a breezie write a book," said Daring, rolling her eyes.
Windsday's mustache bristled. "I-I'm sure they could if they were given the chance, but my ethics as a scientist prohibits me from experimenting on these delicate creatures. They are protected by the ESPRC, after all. Now, if you could be so kind as to not interrupt me with wisecracks..."
"Okay, okay. Sheesh, Bluster. You need to learn to lighten up," said Daring.
Windsday simply cleared his throat and continued. "As I was saying, there's much more to a breezie than any other animal. A breezie can laugh; a breezie can cry. A breezie can be reasoned with. A breezie likes to gossip. A breezie has a sense of humor."
"Um, Professor Windsday?" said Fluttershy, raising her hoof.
"Yes, Ms. Fluttershy?"
"I can say that about any of my animals back home. True, not all of them like gossip, and some of them are pretty stubborn. But I know there has to be something even more special about the breezies."
Windsday's nose twitched. "Um, yes. I-I was just getting to that..."
Daring stifled a laugh. "'Bout time somepony knocked you off your high horse, Bluster."
Windsday ignored Daring and continued his lecture. "Anyway, there is indeed something special about the breezies. Not only are they rare, graceful, and intelligent, but they form the liver of pegasus society!"
"Dude, I think you mean the backbone," said Tree Hugger. "That's, like, how the parlance goes."
Windsday deadpanned. "No. I said the liver, and I meant the liver."
"Alright, alright. Chill out before you bum me out, man," said Tree Hugger defensively. "I'm just not comprehending your groove."
"It's actually quite easy to comprehend if you'd simply pay attention, Ms. Hugger," said Windsday. "You see, it was discovered long ago that the nectar of the breezies can be utilized in various medicines we pegasi use every day. This in turn has created a symbiotic relationship between us pegasi and the breezies. We help them on their odyssey; they give us some of their nectar in return."
"Oh, right. I've seen the pegasi make a big deal about providing the right breeze for the breezies to travel by," Tree Hugger mused.
"Ah, I see you've done your homework, Ms. Hugger," said Windsday, sounding rather impressed. "Yes, the breeze of the pegasi is what the breezies need to travel back home. It activates their breeze magic so that they can protect their pollen from predators. Now, before the founding of Equestria, it was speculated that..."
From there, Windsday continued to ramble on and on as the stagecoach rattled along the dirt road. The only one not paying attention was Tailspin. She merely stared out the window, a bemused expression plastered on her face.
This is so boring, she griped mentally. I wish something exciting would happen.
Just then, she spotted a silhouette just beyond the horizon. The silhouette had a familiar ape-like shape, which already set off alarm bells in Tailspin's head. She rubbed her eyes and leaned against the window to get a better look. Just before the stagecoach pulled out of view, she could make out a long tail with a hand at the end of it. Without a second thought, she opened the door to the stagecoach and slipped out, flying towards the shadow.
While everypony else was engrossed in Windsday's lecture, this act did not go unnoticed. Startled by the sudden gust of wind, Recon poked his head out from Daring's pocket and caught Tailspin in the act. Wasting no time, he skittered up Daring's vest and prodded her cheek.
"Huh? What is it, boy?" asked Daring.
Recon pointed to the empty seat where Tailspin was supposed to be. Daring slapped her forehead.
"Darn it, Tailspin. He's not that boring," she muttered before clearing her throat. "Hey, um, Bluster?"
Windsday turned to Daring and arched an eyebrow. "What is it now, Professor Do?"
"Could you excuse me for a bit? My student needs to be disciplined," said Daring. Before Windsday could respond, she followed up with; "Thanks, I'll catch up with you guys later."
Before anypony could say another word, Daring flew out after her student. She let out a heavy sigh.
"Well, this is a great start to my vacation," she grumbled sardonically. "And knowing my luck, it's just gonna go downhill from here..."