//------------------------------// // Going Down the River // Story: The Crazy Convoluted Journey of Sweets and Mint Tear // by Madman Stories CO //------------------------------// The train came to a screeching halt the next day around 3 PM "oh no, this isn't good." Shy said nervously Mint looked nervous as well as they stepped off the train to see the track ahead was broken "What are we going to do now Sweets?" Mint asked tears in her eyes she was scared. Sweets hugged her sister tightly to comfort her before taking out a map and drawing on it "Sweets what are you doing?" She asked sniffling "Well we can take this route, we go down the river then get off at the fork in the river, head to Dodge Junction, then to Appleloosa, and lastly though the Everfree forest to Ponyville." Sweets said pointing to the route she drew on their map "B-but we don't have a boat Sweets..." Mint said looking down she was still frightened she always was a fragile girl even before recent events Sweets giggled pulling a yellow rubber raft out of her saddlebag "you were saying Minty?" she asked giggling as the walked to the river Sweets gave Mint a life jacket after putting on her own, she put the boat in the water and they hopped in "Sis I'm scared." Mint said crying softly "What... what if we don't make it to Ponyville?" She asked Sweets hugged her sister again and stroked her mane to calm her down "Come on Minty don't talk like that, I... I know we'll get to Ponyville." she said and kissed her sister's forehead Mint stopped crying and kept hold of Sweets to cheer herself up a little "Sis d-do you s-see that." she ask nervously pointing to the jagged rocks ahead Sweets gasped "yes we gotta steer through them!" she said as they worked together and began steering through the rocks. One of the rocks cut Sweets across her side as they steered. "Sweets are you okay!?!?" Mint asked crying heavily from fear Sweets gave a nod as they steered through the remaining rocks. Sweets pulled the boat ashore and Mint began tending to her wound "Thanks Minty you're the best." Sweets said yawning as the sun began to set Minty smiled "thanks Sweets we should camp out here tonight, hey sis can I ask you something?" "Yeah what is it Minty?" Sweets asked as she set up their tent "Why are we stopping in Appleloosa?" Minty asked that question had popped into her head went Sweets showed her their route "Because I've heard it's a fun town, and we'll probably only be there for a day." Sweets said handing Mint some food Mint ate it and yawned this whole ordeal had left her exhausted "goodnight Sweets." she said then climbed into the tent and went to sleep. Sweets ate a bit of food, she put out their fire and climbed into the tent she laid down next to Mint, Sweets pulled out a picture from her saddle bag, it was of herself, Mint, and their parents at the Fillydelphia zoo it was the last time she saw Mint smile, Sweets sighed putting it back, she kissed Mint's forehead "goodnight Minty things will be good when we reach Ponyville." she whispered into Mint's ear before going to sleep The Next Morning Sweets woke up early the next morning she made a fire and started cooking breakfast over the fire "Hopefully we make down the River today." she said to herself smiling "M-me too, this place feels dangerous." "You say dangerous I say full of potential." "I... I don't know..." "Chin up you!" "Quiet I'm trying to focus!" Sweets said to the voices in her head as she finished making pancakes he went into the tent to find Mint still asleep, Sweets gently shakes her sister awake "Come on Minty wake up I made pancakes." She said softly Mint yawned and began to wake up "Mornin' sis..." she said quietly as she began munching on the pancakes Sweets gave her "So we'll get sailing after we eat breakfast." Sweets said munching on her pancakes Mint nodded in agreement. Mint and Sweets finished eating about 30 minutes later Sweets and Mint put their life-jackets on and hoped into their rubber raft and started sailing down the river again Mint looked sad but Relaxed "sis you wanna know what this reminds me of?" she asked sighing "Yeah I know Minty... it's like when we went rafting with mom and dad..." Sweets said sighing "Still remember that song mom and dad would sing when we went rafting?" Mint asked not looking as sad "Yeah of course... you... you wanna sing it?" Sweets asked smiling as they sailed down the cool waters Minty nodded and started singing "Going up the river... taking all my friends... we're all headed to the place where the music never ends..." she sang softly as Sweets joined her they sang the song for a few hours then stopped as they approached a cave "Sweets th-there's a cave coming up." she said nervously Sweets nodded as she held Mint close so she'd feel safe "don't worry Minty I won't let anything hurt you." she said softly in a warm tone Mint relaxed as they entered the cave it was pitch black and silent but soon the silence was broken by a low growl in the cave which caused Mint to shriek in fright, this was followed by the shrieking of bats that dive-bombed them Mint was shielded for any and all strikes by Sweets, Mint began to cry as Sweets saw the light at the end of the tunnel "just hold on sis where almost out of here." she said calmly as they exited the tunnel "Oh thank Celestia daylight!" Mint said basking in the sunlight Sweets giggled "you're funny sis." she said pulling the raft ashore "okay Minty let's start walking to Dodge Junction." Mint nodded "okay sis let's go." she said as the two started walking