“I’m telling you.. The cupcakes there are delicious.” “I heard new jobs were opening up there, they sure are expanding.” He wanted to nod off, drift into a quick slumber before he arrived at his destination. His viewing perception was glued to the view of his right; trees, lakes, small houses. All of them passed by in such a blur. It was hypnotizing. It commanded his eyes to feel heavy. It ordered his breath to slow down. His neck lowered, his forehead leaned against the side window. Eyes closed, he thought he would be able to sleep. But every time, the train cart would bounce in a sudden vibration that would knock his head back to a natural position. “I wonder how’s the education there?” “Not bad from what I heard.” “Sweet Sunrise, I wish they would stop talking. It’s not helping me at all..” under his breath, he made sure no one on the cart heard him. The tension of frustration was crammed tight in that simple sentence. His violet eyes drifted from the wooden floor board, to the crimson leather seats, to the view he was previously seeing; now just a field of apple trees. “Oh look! Sweet Apple Acres!” “We must be close.” He felt it in his chest, it was time to be ready to depart from the train. But he didn’t want to get up, he didn’t want to move. He wasn’t afraid, he’s sure it isn’t regret. Well, maybe regret. But what’s to regret about? He knows he would have to.. It’s just... Soon the train slows down. You could hear the loud screech from the iron wheels. It’s just that.. The train comes to halt, all the other ponies prepared themselves to depart. His tired, and.. The ponies on the cart picked their luggage and slowly stepped out of the cart. It’s been a harsh week, and.. The cart is empty. Tres is the only one on the passenger’s cart. His eyes locked on the red crimson seat in front of him. It was like the hypnotize trick the scenery gave him. Only this time, it willed Tres to crawl inside his mind. Alone with his thoughts. “Maybe.. I made a mistake..” “Sir.” “Maybe I shouldn’t be here..” “Sir?” “I heard Manehattan is nice.. No, I know people there.” “ ... “ “Do I really have to go?” “Hey buddy!” Metaphorically speaking, someone took a hoof and smacked Tres on the back of his head. His eyes burst open in surprise, and his face instinctively turn to where the voice originated. It was someone who worked on the train, a brown pony wearing formal attire. Tres would have something to say, but the words didn’t wanted come out. They just sit on top of his tongue as his lips were unsealed. “This is your stop, isn’t it?” Tres nodded. “Well, let’s go. You can’t sit here.” He couldn’t argue. Tres could only afford one ticket. This is his last stop for now. He moved himself out of the seat, the formal pony grabbed his brown bag with the strap and place it on Tres as his stood in middle of the cart hall. “Let me escort you out, sir.” “Thanks,” he showed gratitude. Though he felt like an idiot that this happen. He was kind of embarrassed. “Well,” the formal pony opened the door that lead to the train station, “Welcome to Ponyville, sir.” “T-Thanks.” “Don’t mention it.” Tres descended down, taking three steps off the stairs and on to the floor. This is it. Point of no return, but he thinks he passed the point of return a long time ago. Now it was time to start over. That’s why he is here. He wanted to escape, he didn’t want to be locked in a fate someone else determined for him. Here; he now controls his own fate. “Now, what next..?” Tres asked himself. “Someone.. I’m suppose to meet.. Jhera? I think that’s his name.” Tres would need a place to stay, the only pony that could do that was a florist pony named Jhera. It sounded a good idea, perhaps this other pony could help Tres find a job. A new trade sounded nice. Taking care of flowers sounded nice. The thought of something so tranquil, the work of a pacifist. He smirked, like he heard a funny joke. “Yeah,” the feeling of peace rushed in his chest. “I could live like that,” his hooves took him to where the crowd of ponies grew thinker. Now he need to find Jhera, but he's only going on a simple description.
"...and then I said 'No, you don't understand quite how rare Laffodils are!' But this guy wouldn't let up! Filthy Rich, I think his name was. Man, what a stallion HE was!" Jhera glanced back at the customer as he concluded his five-minute rant. "Ah, enough about that. What did you say you wanted again? I kinda lost track of time there." The customer walked out with his new bouqet of flowers, and Jhera wandered into his back room, counting out his sack of bits. "9...10...11...yep, 12 bits here." He said to nopony approvingly. Throwing the sack on the counter, he glanced at his calendar which hung on the wall just next to his sink. Oddly enough, he could have sworn there was something written on one of the day's events. Curious, he wandered up to it and inspected the day. Actually, the event was occuring today! He read the lines: Invitational Program: meet newcomer Tres at train station at ~2:00 Oh, right! He was to help a new guy get situated in Ponyville today! That would have been a bad mistake to miss. He glanced at his clock. 2:12 PM. "Horseapples!" Jhera shouted as he quickly threw together stuff into his saddlebag. Without checking if he had everything, he bolted out the front door and took off for the train station. In his rush, Jhera hadn't even remembered to change his shop's sign to closed! "I hope they're not angry with me!" He thought nervously as he galloped towards the train station. It was a huge building that dwarfed all the others, so he couldn't miss it. Panting, he bust into the station...to arrive at nothing. A quick inspection of the room showed that the train had, in fact, already arrived, but the only ponies there were two conducters. Well, it was a wild shot. "Excuse me, over there!" Jhera shouted to them, announcing his presence. They both quickly stopped talking and glanced up at him. "Ah, hello there!" One said back. Jhera trotted up to them, still clearly out of breath. "Err, there's a pony I was supposed to meet here. He's just moving into the town...?" Jhera sighed. There was a vague chance they would know who he was talking about anyways. Luckily, one of them perked up. "Well, I have no idea who you're talking about," the conducter said, confirming his suspicions. "There's this pony who is still on the train. Ol' Fence is currently- ah! Here they are now!" Jhera watched as the two hopped off the train. Well, only the conducter hopped, the pony next to him just somberly stepped off the side. Time to make conversation! "Oh, hello!" He said, trotting up to the newcomer. "My name is Jhera! I understand I am to be helping you get acquainted with Ponyville? It's very nice here, I'm sure you'll love it!"
Tres first figured he'll be waiting for awhile, but his expectation would quickly be shot down. Just down his path of vision, he noticr one pony. Someone that resembles the description. He blinked, there were only what he heard, each adnoun echoing in his mind. "Seems like him, I think," under a small breath he said to himself. "You know him?" Said the formal pony who escorted him earlier. "Uh..," Tres wasn't so sure. Then he saw him beginning to approach closer. "Yeah, I believe I do," Tres finished with more insurance. "My name is Jhera! I understand I am to be helping you get acquainted with Ponyville? It's very nice here, I'm sure you'll love it!" Absolutely. This was the pony he had been expecting to see. But how could he doubt it anyway? Tres's lips arched into a casual smile as Jhera spoke, turning his blank expression into a welcoming one. He could feel the pony's optimism and good nature brushing across his own emotional state. The doubt and twisting gut feeling of uneasiness melted down into oblivion, but the void was quickly filled in comfort; this pony here in from of him is now the herald of a period Tres had been looking for; peace. "Thank you," he casually replied. Those we're the first words that needed to be said. "I don't really have any acquiescence in this town," he continued, his natural welcoming expression faded into a neutral visage, his eyes drifted behind Jhera, taking notice of the other several ponies in the vicinity. His eyes quickly darted back to Jhera, he took a deep breath, his chest expanded, his eyes transformed into an eager look at Jhera. "Well, then," he said as he exhaled the air he had been holding in, "Where to? I would like to know some popular areas in this place." His left front knee raised up some, signaling his readiness to go.
'Quick to move, ain't he?' Jhera thought. Clearing his throat, Jhera responded by turning and staring off into the distance. His stomach rumbled lightly, causing his thoughts to wander to the topic of food. Suddenly, he grinned at the little pony next to him. "Have I got a tour to give you!" Jhera exclaimed, ecstatically. Ten minutes of walking later, Jhera and Tres found themselves standing directly outside Sugar Cube Corner. The bright pink colored building was particularly shiny today, as if it had just been given a makeover with real icing. Jhera gave a malicious grin to Tres and pushed open the door. The two were greeted with an assortment of smells and an eyeful of delicious treats plopped atop the counter. A little bell chimed, causing a pink mare in the corner to stop plowing into her cake. She glanced towards the door with her mouth open in mid-linguistics. She was staring directly at Tres, who had followed Jhera inside. She took another look at Jhera, who nodded descreetly at her. "EEHEHE!" She yelped with an off sort of delight. Without a moment to spare, she dashed out the open door and vanished from sight. Jhera put on his most awkward face and looked towards Tres. "I...have no idea who that was." Jhera said. He wandered up to the counter where another mare was standing. She had just witnessed the spectacle, and was now snickering to herself. "Hello, Mrs. Cake!" Jhera said. "Two muffins, if you could!" Without a word, Mrs. Cake disappeared" only to return a moment later with a platter of steaming muffins. Jhera threw a few bits onto the table and grabbed one for himself. Turning to Tres, he said "Welcome to Sugar Cube Corner, the best bakery in all of ponyville!"
