“Okay… Enough running… Ow.” I said after my third trip over the dress. We had decided to hurry and run for the train station. Of course, I wasn’t used to running in a dress and tripped. Three times. As I picked myself up, I felt that pain from yesterday come back. “Owowow… Hold up...”
Star trotted up to me. “Is something wrong Sunny?” She asked, suddenly concerned.
I nodded. “It’s that kick from yesterday. I guess when Skittles wants you hurt, she really leaves a lasting mark.” I tried to keep walking, but the pain just turned it into a limp. “Son of a bitch… I wanted to get there quickly…”
“Here, it’s not that far. I’ll help you walk.” She walked up next to me and let me lean on her. Very nice of her. I noticed she took a sniff at my poncho. “Is that… lemons I smell?”
I laughed. “Eeyup. Don’t ask why. I don’t know.”
The next few minutes were rather quiet. I limped alongside Star and looked around at what the few ponies outside were doing. I saw a pony I recognized as Bon Bon galloping down the street with a bag in her mouth. Seemed she was in a hurry. Then again, it was raining pretty good, and Bon Bon was lacking any rain protection.
I also saw a couple fillies I didn’t recognize splashing in some puddles. It didn’t last long, as their parents moved them along. I chuckled as I remembered that feeling. Being a kid and splashing in puddles. Damn, I hate growing up.
I blew some of my hair out of my face. It was really bugging me, how I had half my face blocked by hair. I had no idea how girls (and some guys) could handle this sort of style. It was so fucking annoying.
The train station was in sight before long, so Star and I picked up the pace. It hurt a little more, but I just wanted to get out of the rain. We made it inside okay and I went to collapse on a bench while Star went to get the tickets. I groaned softly as I tried to find a more comfortable position to look around. Most of the ponies here I recognized, but couldn’t remember any of their names. Though I did recognize the gray mare standing in front of Star in the ticket line. With the bow tie and the cutie mark, that was obviously Octavia.
I watched as she got her ticket and sat on the bench beside me. I felt like giving her a greeting. “Hi there. Octavia, right?”
She looked over at me. “Hmm? Oh, yes. That’s me. Can I help you?” She asked.
“I just wanted to talk. I like talking to ponies. I make friends that way.” I replied. “So, what brings you to this train station on this fine day?”
Octavia stifled a giggle at my question. “I’m going to Canterlot. I have a performance tonight at the castle.”
“The castle? Is there a party of some kind going on?” I asked.
Octavia nodded. “In a sense. It’s not like parties here in Ponyville. High class. Formal event.” She looked over at me and must have seen what I was wearing under my poncho. “Looks like you’re already dressed. Your friend too.” She pointed at Star, who was coming over to us with the tickets. “Are you going to be attending?”
I shook my head. “Actually, I didn’t know there was a party going on. I was just invited to talk to the princesses.”
“Oh, why is that?” Octavia asked, suddenly very interested.
“It’s… complicated. But hey, if I can, I might be able to attend the party.” I said.
“Party? What party?” Star asked, sitting down at my other side.
I turned to face my friend. “There’s a formal party going on in the castle tonight.” I told her, then turned back to Octavia. “Oh right. I haven’t introduced myself yet. My name is Sunshine, and this is my friend Starstreak.” I introduced us, and Star waved happily at Octavia.
Octavia smiled politely and got up off the bench. “Well it was very nice meeting you two. Perhaps we’ll see each other in Canterlot. But now I must retrieve my belongings and board the train.” She said, then left.
I looked to Star. “I guess we should board the train too. Come on.” I said, getting off the bench and wincing at the pain in my side. It was less than it was, but that didn’t mean it couldn’t get worse. Star offered her side to lean on again, but I shook my head. “No, I can walk. I told Twilight I could walk the pain off, and i meant it.” I assured her. She looked skeptical, but walked on ahead.
As I was about to follow her out to the train, I spotted Twilight enter the station. She immediately spotted me and walked over. Hehe. Speak of the devil… “Hey Twilight. How’s that project coming along?” I asked.
She smiled at me. “It’s actually coming along pretty well. I wanted to get a chance to tell you I might have it done ahead of schedule, as long as nothing comes up.” She said cheerfully.
“Well you jinxed yourself there. Prepare for a big something to come up.” I said with a laugh. “Well thanks for the update, Princess Sparklebutt. I’ll see ya in a couple days.” I turned and followed Starstreak out to the train. We both picked a spot to sit in the train and waited for it to start moving. In the meantime, I took off my poncho. I didn’t need it anymore.
As the train started chugging along slowly, I looked out the window at the town of Ponyville. I opened the window and let my face get wet with rain. The scenery outside looked dreary, but at the same time, oddly refreshing. The rain definitely felt refreshing, since it was just hitting my face. As we left Ponyville behind the rain stopped and I shut the window. “That was refreshing… Though I think the wind messed my mane up a little.”
Star reached over and fixed my hair quickly. “There you go. Better?” She asked.
I nodded. “Yeah.” I leaned back to relax, but then I realized what I just said and shot back up. “Wait, did I just really say that? Did I really think that?” I found my face with my hooves and buried it in them. “Dammit… Make it go away…” I whispered.
Star leaned in closer. “I’m sorry? What was that?”
I sharply turned to face her, tears in my eyes. “Make these fucking thoughts go away!” I shouted. Some ponies probably looked in my direction at that outburst, but I didn’t care. I was tired of my mind and body working against me. I just wanted to get through this without losing myself. “If I lose anymore of my mind, I’m going to snap.” I said, my voice quieting back down.
Star embraced me in a hug. “Don’t worry. I’m not sure what’s wrong, but I’ll help you get through it.” She said softly, giving me a pat on the back. I don’t know what happened next. I just kinda started letting all my emotions out, and cried into her shoulder. I didn’t care about anything. I just wanted to cry. “There, let it all out…”
Ceruline and Charcoal left Donut Joe’s in high spirits and decently filled bellies. “Thanks for everything, Joe. Bye!” Ceru said, waving bye to him. He waved back and continued serving his usual morning customers. Ceru then looked at her friend. “So… Any plans for finding one mare in the entirety of Equestria?”
Charcoal nodded. “Yes, I was going over a few plans. Based on what we know about Sunny and her relationship with certain ponies, she would want to seek out potential friends and avoid anypony of power. However, she also wants to get back, as do we. So she would also find a pony who can possibly work with portals between worlds, and only the most powerful spellcasters would know anything about that. So… That leaves Twilight Sparkle and Princess Celestia. She’d have to take her chances with one of them. And my guess is Twilight is a little more approachable than Celestia. So… we should probably go to Ponyville and see if she knows anything.” Charcoal finished her explanation.
Ceru nodded in understanding. “Okay. IIIIIIIII guess we’re off to Ponyville then. To the train station!” She announced, and began marching down the street.
Charcoal rolled her eyes. “The train station is the other way.” She said matter-of-factly
Ceru did a 180 and marched in the other direction. “I knew that!” She announced in the same tone.
Charcoal stifled a giggle and casually followed her.
The throne room of Canterlot Palace had been lively recently. With the successful banishment of Sunshine, Princess Celestia had redirected all her efforts back to Operation:Harmonize. Patrols and scouts moved in and out of portals, looking for groups of humans to convert. Celestia herself was sitting on her throne, sipping a cup of tea imported from the human world. She had to admit, as terrible as humans were, they had great tea.
She had just finished her tea as Field Marshall Nimbi walked into the room. “Ah, there is my trusted commander. Tell me, how are things on your front?” She asked.
“Things are going very well. The serums worked as intentioned with no adverse effects. Though, the one human we picked up from Sunshine’s group had an… interesting development.” He briefed the princess.
Celestia raised an eyebrow at the mention of the human. “Tyler was his name, right? What happened to him?” She asked.
Nimbi floated a folder to her. In the folder were a few reports from the mages in charge of harmonizing the humans. When she read Tyler’s file, she noticed a few words that were highlighted, like “wings,” “horn,” and “Alicorn?” Also in the folder was a picture of the supposed alicorn. It was a mare with a yellow-orange coat, and her poofy mane and tail were a darker orange color. Wings were clearly visible on her side, and a horn protruded from her mane. The oddest thing was her cutie mark was a glass of lemonade. Without a doubt, this human had transformed into an alicorn.
Celestia gave the folder back and poured herself another cup of tea, taking a sip. “So… what do you propose we do? I don’t think she’ll make a good princess.”
“Well the mages suggest termination. We can’t have another alicorn just wandering around Equestria, and the human diplomats will be just as confused as her if she goes along with you to meetings.” Nimbi suggested.
Celestia thought this over as she sipped her tea again. What possible use could a harmonized alicorn be to the operation? Though, as she was about to respond, Rainbow Dash entered the throne room. “Oh, good evening Rainbow Dash. I heard the plan was a success. I look forward to the full briefing from Twilight. Where is she, anyway?” She asked.
The pegasus grimaced. “Well, there’s been a problem… Pinkie Pie and Twilight… Aren’t coming back…”
Celestia’s teacup shattered on the floor as her levitation faltered. She looked terrified. “What… do you mean they aren’t coming back?”
“I mean they totally ditched me and went with those other ponies! Sunshine’s friends!” Rainbow shouted, more angry at Twilight’s betrayal than at the pony she was directing that anger at.
The terror that Celestia felt quickly gave way to anger, but she tried to hold it in for the moment. “Is… is that all, Rainbow Dash?”
Rainbow shook her head. “Twilight mentioned one of those serums, specifically one meant for Sunshine. Two of Sunshine’s friends also followed her into the portal. A black pegasus and a brown earth pony with some crazy hoof magic.”
Nimbi turned to look at Rainbow with bewilderment. “Wait… Did you say hoof magic?” He asked. Rainbow nodded slowly, and Nimbi turned his attention back to Celestia. “Princess, permission to give chase to Sunshine?”
The princess shook her head. “Denied. I have a different assignment for you. However… I think I found a use for our new alicorn friend…” Celestia floated another teacup to her and tried to calm herself down with more tea. It wasn’t working. Things were quickly unraveling once more, and Sunshine was again at the center of it all.