//------------------------------//
// 1 
// Story: Unorthodox Love 
// by Eternal Enchantment 
//------------------------------//

This was it. The day I was finally going to meet my best friend in person. We'd met at a DJ PON3 concert in Canterlot a few months before, and we'd hit it off so well, we decided to become pen pals. We wrote to each other every day, and receiving mail from Circuit Boost had become the regular highlight of my day. I always looked forward to it more than anything else. And I hated being tardy with my responses more than Aunt Twilight did with her old friendship reports to Aunt Celestia.

I triple-checked my saddle bags, to make absolutely certain that I had everything I needed. I was going to visit Circuit in his town and stay with him for a few days, and I wanted to pack just enough, but not too much. My Aunt Rarity would have had a fit if she'd seen the wooly winter jumper I'd packed; being just a hair’s breadth away from summer now. But at least I was certain that I could stave off freezing to death. Checking the clock, I realised that it wouldn't be long before the next train arrived at the station. “Time to get going,” I told myself, as the butterflies in my stomach started to flap their fragile wings ever-so-slightly faster, causing me to shiver a little. “Come on, Velvet. You can do it.” I tried to contain my excitement as I glided gently through the house to get to the front door. “Bye, mom! Bye, dad! See you on Wednesday!” I called, waving a hoof as they popped their heads in from the room beyond.

“Oh, goodbye, sweet sugarcube! Please be safe, my delicate flower!” My mother said, fussing and worrying as always. Bless her heart. She only ever meant well.

“Oh, come now, Fluttershy.” My father said, calmly. “She’s going to be fine! Our little filly is growing up.” Mom looked at him worriedly, not convinced. He smiled at her kindly, then turned his focus directly to me. “You be safe out there, Velvet; do you hear me? If a single strand of hair on your precious head is harmed, I promise that your...” he paused for a moment. “... friend... will be taught a very unpleasant lesson...”

I rolled my eyes. “Dad, I'll be fine. And I won't let you lay hoof, paw or claw on him no matter what.”

He narrowed his eyes at me. “You’ve always been such a stubborn child...”

“I know. Thanks, dad(!)” I retorted, opening the front door. “I’ll be fine, you two. I promise. Now, I gotta go, before I miss my train.” And with that, I exited the cottage; flying at a moderate speed toward the train station. I landed on the platform just as the train pulled up. “It’s time...” I couldn't help but smile as I boarded.

The journey would only take an hour, as this particular train was a fast one. As the train left the station to begin its journey, I brought my headphones from my baggage, plugging them into my small music player and drowning out the sounds of the rest of the world.

“I'm sinkin’, you’re wadin’... I'm thinkin’ something’s gotta give~” I mouthed along to one of my favourite songs as I turned my sights to the passing scenery through the window. My mind was still racing, and I couldn't think of anything or anypony aside from Circuit Boost. I took out my favourite book by J.L. Barns, and began to read, reducing the volume of the music without turning it off completely.

The entire train journey seemed to go by in mere minutes. I could've sworn that it’d taken only ten minutes to get to his town from Ponyville, were it not for my travel-clock telling me that an hour had indeed passed. I had to carry a mini-clock on my bag because I couldn't wear watches. Most watch straps gave me itchy skin. Which was a shame, but it was no major loss. I looked around the platform, but I didn't see anypony I recognised at all. I decided to exit the station, take a seat on a nearby bench that was in a nice shady spot under some trees, and began to read my book again. The music was considerably more distracting now, without the minor sound of the train to blend into the background of each track. I carefully removed my headphones and put them, and my music player, back in my bag.

Every now and then, I'd look up from my book and scan the surrounding area. After what felt like forever - but was probably actually no more than fifteen or twenty minutes - I looked up and saw a familiar figure just seventeen metres away, and coming closer. It was him.

“Circuit...” The word slipped from my mouth quietly and unintentionally as I saw the grey earth stallion coming towards me. His deep purple eyes, his red mane and tail with pale, pinkish-white streaks... He was exactly as I remembered. I noticed that he was wearing saddlebags, too. I was afraid that he'd think me strange for bringing mine, but the sight of him also wearing his obliterated that idea from my mind. I put my book back in my bag when we noticed each other; my blue magic aura glowing and sparkling brighter and more intensely than ever before. I rose from the bench as he continued to approach.

“There she is.” He said from a short distance away. I trotted over to him, grinning from ear to ear. I hugged him tightly, and was delighted when he hugged me back just as tight.

“Hey, you! Oh, my gosh...” I trailed off for a moment, rendered utterly speechless by the overwhelming happiness and excitement I felt. “I can't believe it! Is this happening? Am I dreaming?” I was still beaming, unable to stop smiling even if I had wanted to.

“Awh, bless ya.” He smiled back at me as we began to walk, giving a soft little laugh. “No, you're awake. This is very real.” He looked me straight in the eyes for just a split second before focusing on which way to go. But that one glance was all it took. I saw it in his eyes. He was as ecstatic as I was - he just had better control of it, at least in public. And behind the excitement, he was concealing something else that I couldn't quite figure out...