//------------------------------// // Chapter 16: New Friends and New Adventures // Story: The Long Life of Breeze Rider // by Tyler-the-Brony //------------------------------// It was a fun ending to a great day. Me, Rainbow, Fluttershy, Derpy, and our new friends Pinkie Pie, the bakery’s owners assistant, Applejack, a local apple farming earth pony, and Rarity, the unicorn fashion designer, sat around and talked about all sorts of things, from Cloudsdale to cupcakes to high end fashion, which apparently weren’t as different topics as I thought. It turns out that, shortly after I had left to have my meeting with Derpy, Fluttershy had happened across Rarity’s store, Carousel Boutique, and they had gotten to chatting. The girls were already planning a spa day trip which, thanks to my visions, I knew would quickly become a weekly ritual for the two. I was happy that Fluttershy was already beginning to branch out to others in Ponyville. Applejack was an unexpected member of our contingency. It turns out, that after Rainbow had gotten all the details of her new Weather Pony job, she had gone off to do some aerial acrobatics to celebrate. She’d ending up crashing into Applejack while she was working. I had been about to go off on Rainbow, until Applejack stepped in and said that the two had gotten to talking, though it sounded more like arguing from my perspective, and found out they were quite similar. They’d done a little bit of competing before coming here and had found a rival and friend in each other. I was glad to find out that there was someone here in Ponyville that could continue to push and challenge Rainbow after I left. Pinkie had joined our group because none of us could bear to turn her down when she sat down and started chatting with us. After a few minutes though, we realized that Pinkie was quite the fun pony to be around. A little intoxicating at some times, but fun nonetheless. She was currently in the middle of telling us about her “Pinkie Sense”, an ability much like my own, just a lot more vague. Pinkie would certainly keep everypony on their toes all the time. I was assured of that by Pinkie herself. As the night got darker and darker outside, I was faced with a grim fact. I would have to tell Derpy, Fluttershy, and Rainbow that I would be leaving for at least several months, and possibly a few years. I decided it was best to just outright tell them once we reached a lull in the conversation. The opportunity presented itself when Pinkie went to check on her latest batch of cupcakes. “Ehem.” I began, waiting for everypony to hear me. Everypony could tell I needed to say something important, so they all stopped their own conversations and turned to look at me, waiting for what I had to say. “I just wanted to let you all know that this will be the last time I’ll be able to see any of you for a while.” I announced, and waited for the inevitable questions from my fellow pegasi. “What do you mean teach?” I heard Rainbow speak up. “First, Rainbow, it’s okay to call me Breeze Rider now. I’m no longer your teacher.” Rainbow nodded to me to let me know she understood that. “And second, I mean that after tonight I will be going very far away and am unsure of when I’ll be able to stop by and visit again.” I explained, clearly and calmly to the ponies before me. I finished, waiting for what I had said to sink in. “W-Where are you going?” I head Fluttershy ask. I could see she was worried, but didn’t ask if it was okay if I told her. “I had a meeting with a certain pony a couple months back. I was offered a full-time position and have decided to pursue it after tonight. It’s a very time consuming job, so I don’t know when I’ll be able to visit again. I promise you all that I will visit though.” I said, making sure to assure them that this was not a ‘Goodbye’, just an ‘I’ll see you later.’ I felt a rushing sensation knock the wind out of me as I toppled out of my chair. I looked down to see Derpy hugging me, a few tears in her eyes. “I’m gonna miss you, brother Breeze Rider.” She said, her voice full of sadness. I stood up from my toppled chair, and leaned down to comb her mane out her eyes. I saw and felt Rainbow and Fluttershy come over and hug me too as I did that. “I’ll be back as soon as I possibly can. You’re all no longer the little fillies I had to help fly. You are young, beautiful mares ready to take the world on. Just promise me you’ll look after each other while I’m not here to do it for you.” I told them all. They looked up at me and nodded. I knew that this was a promise none of them would ever take lightly or break. I looked up from them to look over at Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie, who had all frozen in place as they now clearly understood the bond we shared. “And you three.” They looked attentively at what I said, even Pinkie. “You take care of my little ponies too okay?” I asked. “Of course darling.” Rarity spoke. “Wouldn’t have it any other way, sir.” Applejack told me. “I promise they’ll never be lonely or sad because you’re not here. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” Pinkie did all these motions as she described. “That’s my special ‘Pinkie Promise.’ I never, ever, ever, ever, EVER break them!” She told me, a trusting smile on her face. My former students had released me while their new friends had said all that. I looked at them again, and then to their new friends one last time. “Thank you everypony. This means a lot to me.” I told them, directing my voice to all of them at once. They nodded and smiled at me. “I’m really sorry to have to say this, but I have to go now.” I told them. It seemed everypony was shocked at that as well. “You can’t stay any longer?” Derpy asked me. I shook my head. “I’m sorry, I wish I could. But I promised my new boss that I’d be in Manehattan by tomorrow. And if I want to keep that promise, I’ve got to leave now and fly at top speed. Even for somepony like me, that’ll take a while.” I explained. “Alright then.” I heard Rainbow speak up. “We understand. Don’t we girls?” “O-Oh yes.” Fluttershy responded. “I don’t like it, but I do get it.” Derpy said. “Don’t be sad girls. You’ve all got new jobs to look forward to tomorrow, just like me. I will be back as soon as I can. And I’ll have a surprise and gifts for all of you. That’s a ‘Pinkie Promise.’” I winked at Pinkie as I said that, seeing her beam. I then proceed to head out the front door without looking back. I knew that if I did look back, I’d never leave. And I needed this. So did they. They’d see it soon enough. I took flight into the cool night air, knowing that soon enough, Ponyville would definitely play as big a role in Equestria as Canterlot did. Maybe it would even play host to its own Wonderbolt shows someday. I smiled at that thought, as I headed off towards the next era of my life.