//------------------------------// // Determinations of Destination // Story: Ring The Bell // by Seeking Dusk //------------------------------// “Okay. So we are in Coltborn right now,” Nathan said. The visiting human and the two resident ponies were gathered around the large map that took up most of the wall, the latter two helping the former get the sense of bearings he had been seeking. “Northeast of Neighagra Falls, and Southeast of the Crystal Empire,” Swift said cheerfully. He hovered before the map and started pointing out important places. “To the far east of us is the New Yoke Ranges, and past that is Manehattan itself. To the South is the actual city of Neighara, near the base of the falls. Just north of us is Lake Crystal, and past that are the Crystal Mountains.” “Some ponies head out to the Crystal Mountains for mountaineering,” Doppler said, throwing in his two bits. “Some Diamond Dogs like it too,” Swift said picking up on the point Doppler started with practiced ease. “You can find gems there that just aren’t common in many other places in Equestria. Like Frost Diamonds, for instance. The scenery in the mountains is something else too.” “The mountains and lake make for good air for recreational and stunt flying. You can get some decent surfing in on the lake too,” Doppler added with a flick of his tail, cutting in before Swift got too caught up in his spiel. “And some ponies appreciate a run on the Neighara River.” Nathan just nodded to himself as he listened to the two go on about what was available in the area. “You guys sure know your stuff. How come Coltborn is so small if it has all that going for it?” Nathan paused when the two pegasi flinched slightly. “Um… is that a sensitive subject?” “No, not really,” Swift admitted, his ears flicking a bit nervously. He landed with a light clop of hooves on the floor. “Coltborn is just…” “Out in the boonies?” Doppler offered in a bland tone. “Off the beaten trail,” Swift chose to use, narrowing his eyes at Doppler, who matched it with a smug smirk. “Small town troubles?” Nathan tried, shifting on his heels a bit. “Pretty much,” Doppler said, shrugging his wings. “Not many ponies want to come this far north to surf or ride the winds. And those who want to hit the mountains don’t come often enough to really build any steady interest.” “Plus, see the train line?” Swift pointed to the map, tracing the tracks that curved up to Neighara before branching to head to Hollow Shades and Manehattan with a hooftip. “Yeah?” Nathan affirmed. “Coltborn doesn’t have a train track and the road around the falls and up the hills to get here is a pretty hard trek,” Swift explained. He proudly put a hoof to his chest. “It’s part of what we do. Aside from being one of the best places to get a variety of reading material, and order more obscure ones, we provide maps and information for the few ponies that do come to do the tourist things. On the courier side, we do deliveries. Some local jobs, but our main thing is orders and deliveries and the like for the townsponies that don’t want to wait for the mail officer’s run.” “Most of our Courier jobs are runs between Manehattan and Neighra, just so ponies don’t have to make the trips themselves. It’s cheaper and faster for them to let us do it instead of the mailponies for some things,” Doppler cut in smugly. “It’s a long haul up and down the route, and an even longer on between here and Manehattan. “Coltborn is a great town, don’t get me wrong,” Doppler continued, not wanting to bash his hometown too much, “but it’s pretty limited too. Doesn’t really make sense how you got here without knowing anything that was around.” “But what about the Crystal Empire. It doesn’t look like it’s too far from here,” Nathan pointed out, tapping his finger on the map. “Isn’t it something of a major place? It has its own Princess.” “The Empire is new, so the possibilities haven’t been really touched yet. Even if we are the closest town to it, the train runs in the opposite direction of us, and we have the lake between us and them on top of it,” Swift sighed, flicking his ears. “I’ve actually never been there. I’d love to visit though.” “Oh,” Nathan said. There were always towns like that. Places that seemed like they could be so much more, but never seemed to pick up. “Didn’t the mayor mention something about a new project at the last town meeting?” Doppler commented. “He asked us about how many runs we made between here and Manehattan.” “Yep,” Swift nodded. “He’s trying to get support for making a train line between the Empire and Manehattan, with Coltborn as one of the stops. It will hopefully attract interest in the town as a result.” Swift flicked his tail a trace irritably. “Sorry, we got a bit distracted. We were helping you figure out where you were. Did that help?” “It did,” Nathan said, grinning. “I still don’t know where I’m going to go, but I’d good to know where I am. You said you had maps?” “Swift keeps a couple in stock,” Doppler confirmed as he started trotting off to the counter. “I’ll grab one for you.” “You don’t know where you are going?” Swift asked at the same time. “I didn’t exactly plan to travel. And thank you Doppler!” Nathan said, responding to them both. “But it was a once in a lifetime offer and I wasn’t about to say no.” “So, someone gave you a lift and left you in a strange place?” Swift asked, tilting his head curiously. “Something like that,” Nathan said evasively. Doppler’s return with the map in his mouth was a suitable distraction. Nathan took the proffered folded paper and slung his bundle over his shoulder in a smooth motion. “Thank you for your help, Swift Mist, Doppler. It’s been great, but I guess I should be going now.” “Wait! You’re just going to leave like that?” Swift demanded. “Why not?” Doppler shrugged. “He got what he came for.” “But… but…” Swift whimpered. “It was nice meeting you two, but I guess I’m off,” Nathan smiled at Swift and Doppler. With a wave, he made for the door. “No!” Swift said, stomping a hoof. Nathan stumbled slightly and looked back with a raised eyebrow. “No?” “What are you doing, Swift?” Doppler hissed at his roommate. “Where are you going?” Swift asked Nathan as he closed the distance between them with a faintly intimidating trot. “Um…” Nathan didn’t have a response. “Exactly,” Swift snorted, stomp his hoof once. “You have no idea. I bet you don’t have any bits either!” “Um…” Nathan was at two for two now, and a bit confused. “Swift, seriously. What are you doing?” Doppler asked again. “You said something left you here, and I was the first pony you met?” Swift hovered so he could look Nathan directly in the eyes as he prodded him in the chest. “I’m the only pony in town that really knows anything about humans. And you met me. What are the chances of that?” “Um..?” Three strikes for Nathan now. Doppler facehooved behind Swift. “Save me from my idiot of a friend…” “It. Was. Destiny!” Swift stated, stars in his eyes. “Are you going to say no to destiny? Providence? Fate?” “That might be reaching a little,” Nathan said, a bit concerned about how passionate Swift was getting. “No! We aren’t saying no to Destiny!” Swift said firmly. “You came into my town, then came to me, then walked into my store! Destiny has spoken!” “Swift. Get your star addled hooves on the ground and let the nice human go about his-” Doppler started. “DESTINY HAS SPOKEN!” Swift yelled. He grinned a bit sheepishly when Nathan flinched. “Sorry… Anyway! Destiny! You’re gonna stay here and get a job!” “What?” Nathan said, his confusion still strong. “What?” Doppler said, agreeing with Nathan. “Okay, that’s just crazy talk, Swift! You’re Crazy!” “And I’ll take you to The Grill. My treat,” Swift continued. He plucked Nathan’s bundle from him, despite the human’s cry of protest. “I’ll go put this in your new room!” “Hey! You can’t just… you did…” Nathan yelled after Swift as he quickly darted off. Kneading his temple with his knuckles, Nathan glared at Doppler. “What the hell just happened? He took my stuff!” “To be honest? I’m not sure,” Doppler snorted, flicking his tail. “Swift can be a foal sometimes. But I think he just dragged us into something dumb. Still, was he right about you not having any bits?” “Well… I have some money, but I don’t think they would work here,” Nathan admitted. “Then you’ll get a meal on Swift’s wallet, and we can work this out after when he’s not all obsessed,” Doppler said in a long suffering tone. “The Grill has pretty good food and a decent bar on top if it.” Nathan hesitated. “I guess I can deal with that…”