Following Your Heart
Sunny stuck her head out the window as the high noon breeze passed through the cabin as all the windows were down on this gorgeous day. Sprout was attentive at the wheel, Zipp was flying overhead, and would descend to let them know if there was a hazard up ahead or if there was an easier route to take. Pipp, and Izzy were in the bed also enjoying the breeze. Hitch had laid out his sleeping bag, put on an eye mask, and ear muffs to attempt to get some sleep, as he had volunteered to take over for Sprout when he got too tired. If they kept this thing moving most of the time, they'd reach the arctic in just over two days.
The hills were rolling greens and yellows as the made their way north. They took dirt and stone roads where they saw them, but for the most part they were carving their own path through the wilderness. They were closer to the coast than they were to Zephyr Heights, but right now neither was visible. From her dad's best-condition map of Ancient Equestria, Maretime Bay was situated below a large peninsula that had been known as the Undiscovered West, and it separated the North and South Luna Oceans.
"So is it everything you wanted it to be, Sprout?" Sunny asked after pulling her head back in and leaning back in her seat.
"Like you wouldn't believe," Sprout answered, glancing over at her before returning his attention to the road. "If Hitch can actually sleep back there, then we nailed the suspension."
"Not to mention keeping the engine noise down to a reasonable level," Sunny commented.
"Well that's thanks to the soundproofing, and that was mainly Toots' domain. I don't know how anypony can have a normal conversation out there sitting in the bed," Sprout replied.
Indeed, the insulation was good enough that if anypony was talking out there, they couldn't hear them, and the engine noise probably would have drowned them out as it is.
"What do you think you're going to do when we get back? If this project was a resounding success, you think the R&D team will want to take you on for more projects?" Sunny asked him.
"Honestly, I'm kind of hoping they do, yeah," Sprout answered.
"What do you mean?" Sunny asked.
Sprout glanced back at the rear of the cab again, making sure Hitch was still asleep, before looking over at Sunny.
"Look, this stays between you and me for now, alright? I haven't figured out how to tell him. I'm really thinking about resigning as deputy," Sprout told her, returning his attention to what was in front of the vehicle.
"How come? I thought things were turning around," Sunny told him.
"I think he wants me to think they are, but come on, Sunny. Nopony who did what I did should be in a law enforcement position."
"But you're becoming a different pony, Sprout," Sunny answered.
"There shouldn't be any second chances with that kind of authority, Sunny," Sprout countered. "Besides, with how much fun I had designing the Sprouticus and this one, maybe that's my calling."
"As long as that's the real reason, Sprout. Your mom made anti-unicorn and pegasus devices at CanterLogic for years. She still runs the factory. I'm just saying, changing careers is a significant life choice. Make sure it's the right one and not something you're deciding on a whim," Sunny told him.
"I know. I have been thinking carefully about it. But maybe I should stop thinking about it for now and enjoy the trip, you know? I still haven't figured out how to break the ice with the rest of your friends. Laser tag with Zipp was fun, but I haven't really gotten to know the rest of them yet."
"I'm sure you'll figure out how eventually. If this thing gets us safely to and from the Crystal Empire, we're all gonna owe you, that's for sure. When do you think we'll need to gas—"
Sunny's question was interrupted by a shriek that was heard over the engine, back from the bed. Sprout quickly pulled back on the throttle and applied the brakes, probably a little harder than necessary, because Hitch did one complete roll in his sleeping bag.
"Huh? Whoa!" He said, awake almost instantly.
The Scouticus Maximus lurched to a stop, and Sunny unbuckled her seat belt.
"Brakes work," Sprout commented as he cut the engine.
Sunny got up and went to the back of the cab, climbing up the welded ladder rungs and pushed the top hatch open.
"Sis, are you serious?" She heard Zipp ask in an incredulous tone.
"Is everything alright?" Sunny asked, concern filling her voice.
"Hope that's directed at anypony except Pipp, because according to her the world is ending," Zipp said, rolling her eyes.
"Oh like this isn't an emergency," Pipp countered as she was frantically holding her phone skyward in every single direction.
"What is going on up here?" Hitch asked, eye mask pushed up onto his forehead.
"This!" Pipp exclaimed shoving her phone towards his eyes, screen facing him.
"No. Signal. No signal!"
"Pipp, you need to chill," Zipp told her younger sister. "I already told mom that it was almost certain that we would drop out of the service zones once we got far enough north. That's what the emergency transponders are for."
"Mom? You think I'm worried about mom? What about my fans? They're going to think something happened to me!!!"
"Well, you'll just have to film all this content and release it in pieces when you get back! And if your fans get really worried, I'm sure mom can do a video explaining where you went!" Zipp argued.
Pipp shrieked again.
Sunny's attention was pulled back inside by Sprout, having heard the entire tirade and unable to hold in any longer, burst out into laughter as he unbuckled himself from the driver's seat.
"I think now would be a good time to refuel while you all give Pipp some oxygen..." the stallion commented, guffawing as he opened the left door and climbed out.
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Aww, poor Pipp. Maybe this will be good for her
Sprout becoming an explorer that's seems a good calling.
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Not so much an explorer as a member of CanterLogic's R&D department.
Mr. Popo: Drama queen!
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Oh. But it might help him expand his horizons, see the world, and everything else.
The way I heard this made me laugh more than it should have.
"Mom on my feed?? Are you CRAZY???"
11036118
Glad I wrote it the right way!
ahh, the most favored quote you hear from drivers who POUNDED the brakes.
đŸ˜‚ As funny as this is, it would probably be me.
Hmmmmm. This explains a lot: they're isolated from the Equestria of G4.....which is probably covered in glaciers by how.......
Glad to see the next chapter of this story. I thank you very much for going to the effort to keep it going. Again, the exchanges, characterizations and future chapter set-up are all wonderfully done. Really appreciated Sprout and Sunny's dialogue during the trip (including Sprout considering resigning as deputy half out of guilt for what he did and half out of feeling like he found a better calling in research and development). Also liked the nods to Zipp flying ahead at a few points to map out better routes and Pipp's worries that she won't be able to use her phone to get in messages to her fans and report their findings as they come.
Very much looking forward to more of this.
Hehe pipp is my favorite new pony
see i like this Sprout, not the version of him in this story. https://www.fimfiction.net/story/505087/mlp-a-new-generation-2-the-last-of-the-alicorns#comment/11035242 in that one he is like Hitch was, x50.000, IE: a Xenophobic asshat.
Oh right so sunny and the others are still continuing on their Journey to found the crystal empire and its really nice that her and sprout are talking and he even thing of career changes and that's cool and of course pipp is whining about no signal lol but still I wonder if they're going to find the crystal empire I guess we'll find out next time
Just getting there is going to be a challenge, actually finding it (depending on how buried it is), is another major one ...
11036435
Would it be like the scene in "The day after tomorrow"?
In the film a rescue team travel across what they think is solid ground...
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I remember that scene.
11036440
Could be, could be ...
Ohh boy, she's cracked. She's gone nuts! Pipp? Oh Pipp?! GET A GRIP!!
I wonder, did Pip forget to warn her fans about the potential lack of signal?
So is Zipp flying or is she in bed?
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Thank you, fixed.
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Agreed, I may not be quite as vocal about it...but I'd have to pack a LOT of books/drawing supplies to keep myself from "I'm BOOOOORED!!!"
Ngl, I kinda saw this one coming.
She's right Sprout.
https://m.Your overthinking it Pipp.
Finally she loses signal.Lol
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Navigator: Captain, we get signal!
Captain: What?!
Navigator: Main screen turn on!
Pipp: REEEĂˆEEEEEE!