/pj250/ Goin' Anywhere


                                            Goin' Anywhere- by Alycorn

                                            Prompt: "When is the next train to Manehatten?"

                                            Edit: 3/17/2021- Nominated for the Wooden Spoon Award for having too many lines! Whoops! I just don't know what went wrong...


                                            >"Excuse me, when is the next train to Manehatten?"

                                            >Be Anon

                                            >You slowly raise your head, slowly blinking at the fuzzy figure in front of you.

                                            >Literally, considering it's a pony, but also in that you can't fuckin' see them.

                                            >Because, you know, drunk.

                                            >It's Friiiiiiday Night.

                                            >Again.

                                            >Sigh, fuck all of this shit...

                                            >You shift upright, glancing at the empty bottle in a brown paper bag.

                                            >Your last bottle of hard Sweet Apple Acres is gone.

                                            >You blearily look around the Ponyville station platform, where you had fallen asleep drunk after another unsuccessful day of actually surviving this bullshit world.

                                            >Not literally, but you're still a homeless fucking bum.

                                            >You blink a few times to clear your vision enough to look at the fuzzy figure still patiently waiting for you to respond to her.

                                            >At least, you think it's a her, could be a really girly colt.

                                            >You blink a few more times and resist the urge to startle as you look at the blue and pink pegasus mare sitting in front of you.

                                            "... Firefly?"

                                            >The words escape from you before you can hold yourself back.

                                            >It's the booze, you've always had no fucking filter, but that filter is completely nonexistent when you're drunk.

                                            >"Heh, am I really still so popular that even a drunk... whatever you are, can remember a old washed up showpony like me?"

                                            >The mare gives you a wane smile as you rub your face and shake your head a few times.

                                            >Nope, not sober enough.

                                            >The mare jolts in surprise as your hand crashes across your face, sending you sprawling for a moment before you scramble to your feet, straightening your suit and tie as you stand.

                                            >"Uhhhhh, you ok buddy?"

                                            "Fine, fine, sorry, I was very drunk."

                                            >You kneel down so you're on her level.

                                            "I'm sorry, you asked when...?"

                                            >"Oh, when the next train to Manehatten is if you know it."

                                            >You glance at the station clock. It's fairly early, only 2030, and you shift so that you're sitting as you gaze at the pony you honestly didn't think existed in Equestria.

                                            "Yeah, it's at midnight."

                                            >The little mare blinks and then curses under her breath, stomping a hoof before she shakes her head.

                                            >"Damn it, so much for not getting distracted."

                                            >She sighs and steps  closer to the bench before shimmying her hips and dropping a pair of saddlebags to the wooden floor, letting out a more relieved sigh as her burden is removed.

                                            >"Ugh, well, I suppose there are worse things than being early."

                                            >You continue to stare a bit before you slowly pick yourself up and resume your spot on the bench, a bit away from the mare from your childhood.

                                            >See, you grew up with G1, and you watched it with your little sister, and both of you absolutely adored Firefly.

                                            >Heck, you had a Firefly toy while you were growing up.

                                            >The sad thought pings you and you hang your head a bit, averting your eyes from the pegasus mare as you sigh.

                                            >Whatever happened to the toy anyway.

                                            >"Um... so you are?"

                                            >You blink as Firefly speaks up, the slightly rough voice reminding you a bit of her successor, Rainbow Dash.

                                            >Much more refined, cultured even.

                                            >Maybe Matured is the term you're looking for.

                                            "... Anon E Moose."

                                            >You offer your hand to the mare in a fist, simulating the hoof bumps that ponies give in greeting.

                                            >She gives you a smile and bumps your fist with her hoof.

                                            "Before you ask, I'm a human, and I've been here for about two months."

                                            >She tilts her head before snorting, giving you that wane, smirk-like smile again.

                                            >"Been asked a lot I take it there, Anon?"

                                            "Yeah, to put it simply."

                                            >You let out a sad chuckle and shake your head.

                                            "Not as much around Ponyville now, but we'll still get passerby's who like to gawk at the hairy hairless monkey."

                                            >She giggles at that, shaking her head.

                                            >"That's horrible."

                                            "Come on, you know that's what you first thought."

                                            >Glance at her again as the mare continues to giggle, covering her muzzle with one hoof.

                                            "I mean, I'm honestly impressed, most ponies would be nervous about approaching me, especially when I'm not conscious."

                                            >The pegasus shrugs her wings, which is quite impressive, and gestures at you with one of them.

                                            >"You are pretty big, but you don't become a stunt pony by being scared of anything."

                                            >She gives me a big, boastful grin, putting a hoof to her chest even as her wings spread out behind her.

                                            >Can't help but laugh, smirking at her.

                                            "Oh yeah? You remind me of Rainbow Dash, the local weather mare and Wonderbolt Trainee in town."

                                            >The mare perks up, her wings fluttering a bit.

                                            >"Oh, you know my little rainbow cloud?"

                                            >You blink in surprise.

                                            >She called Rainbow Dash, the most tomcolt tomcolt of a mare you've ever met.

                                            >My little rainbow cloud.

                                            >How the heck is Firefly related?

                                            >And why didn't the show talk about i- oh.

                                            >Right, copyrights.

                                            >You barely resist turning your smile into a grimace on the reminder that any of the knowledge you have of Equestria is bloody useless.

                                            "Does she know you call her that?"

                                            >You chuckle and she winks at you.

                                            >"The day she can stop me from calling her my little rainbow cloud is the day I actually retire, and she'll have to keep up with me first!"

                                            >The mare looks much more relaxed now, and you are feeling much more sober as you lean forwards and rest your elbows on your legs.

                                            >You're still focused on her, but now you can see the little signs here and there that this mare is older.

                                            >She's not old, not by any means, but absolutely older than the Mane 6.

                                            "Pretty bold claim when she's the fastest mare in Equestria..."

                                            >You rest your head in your hand for a moment as you at her, and the mare chuckles.

                                            >"Oh sure, little Rainbow is fast, but the day she can actually -catch- me is a long way away."

                                            >Firefly grins brightly, flittering her wings for a moment before folding them against her barrel.

                                            >"Rainbow is fast, and agile, but she still can't beat her dear Auntie when it comes to agility tests!"

                                            >The boast is proud and the mare sits tall, tossing her mane and smirking at you.

                                            >You let out a impressed whistle and smirk a bit before sitting up again.

                                            "That's a impressive claim too, I've seen that mare fly full out and she can fly circles around the current Wonderbolts."

                                            >Firefly scoffs, shaking her head.

                                            >"Please, that's not that impressive, or that hard."

                                            >You tilt your head and Firefly leans in, as if she's sharing a huge secret.

                                            >"The modern Wonderbolts are a joke. I hope little Rainbow gets in there because she'll actually whip those lazy showboats into shape and into a real stunt team, and some military service and discipline will really do her some good."

                                            >Her smile is soft as she leans back away from you, and you can't help but smile back.

                                            >"That being said, I personally think that the Bolts are wasted on Rainbow. She's so fast, and so talented..."

                                            >Firefly's smile fades a bit and she sighs.

                                            >"She'd be so good at the races and competitions in Las Pegasus, but she was bored of 'standard' competitions well before she even moved out here to Ponyville."

                                            >The mare shakes her head.

                                            >"I should have spent more time in Cloudsdale, I miss my excitable little Filly."

                                            >I chuckle and smile at her.

                                            "I mean, she still is, just a bigger filly, unless you think she's matured enough..."

                                            >"Hay no!"

                                            >You both break up into laughter even as puts her hoof out for another bump

                                            >Of course you bump it, and the two of you share a more  relaxed, content smile and atmosphere as you relax a bit.

                                            >"So, you know why I'm here, what brings a Human to Ponyville?"

                                            >You wince and give her half grin even as she winces.

                                            >"Ooooh, that bad huh?"

                                            "... Spell gone wrong, kinda. Equestria is lovely, and I always wanted to come here, but I..."

                                            >You struggle for words, idly kicking your feet a few times before sighing, looking up at the clear night sky and away from Firefly.

                                            "It's not what I expected."

                                            >"Isn't that a good thing? It'd be boring if it was exactly what you expected."

                                            >You chuckle as Firefly points that out.

                                            "You know, I had thought that, but... I can't really go back."

                                            >She blinks.

                                            "I mean, I can't go back to where I'm from. I can't really go home. And that makes it a little painful."

                                            >Firefly looks at you attentively, and you let the frustration of the last few weeks build up in you.

                                            >No home.

                                            >No real job.

                                            >Sure, Twilight is letting you stay at the library.

                                            >For however much longer it lasts.

                                            >But your knowledge of what lies ahead doesn't matter.

                                            >No one can understand it.

                                            >Somehow it actually filters out what you're saying when you try to tell ponies about it.

                                            >You're kind of a modern day Cassandra.

                                            >Which unfortunately leaves you in a weird spot, because you can't really influence events, which has left you a little bored outside of the weekly monster madness that goes on around this town.

                                            >And you haven't been able to get a job, mostly because no one really wants to take a chance on you.

                                            "See, getting here was an accident."

                                            >Firefly blinks, sitting up.

                                            >"No foolin'?"

                                            >You laugh.

                                            >It's bitter and a little broken.

                                            "Yeah, no fooling. I'm not even a hundred percent sure how it happened and... Ponyville isn't really where I need to be."

                                            >And isn't -that- a painful sentence and thing to admit out loud.

                                            >"Why not?"

                                            "Because I'm just the sideshow, a beggar getting handouts because his first friend was Celestia's favorite student!"

                                            >You scoff softly, kicking your foot again.

                                            "And no-one is hiring. I really wasn't expecting that."

                                            >Firefly blinks.

                                            >"What, not even Sweet Apple Acres?"

                                            >You sigh and shake your head.

                                            "If there's anything I can say about Applejack, is that I admire her confidence and determination but she really needs to have a better attitude towards non-apples working on the Apple Family farms."

                                            >She tilts her head.

                                            >You gently wave your hand, and shake your head.

                                            "It's not super negative. I understand where she's coming from, but you'd think she'd be happy to get an... well, extra pair of hands around the farm."

                                            >You shrug.

                                            "But no. And honestly, I understand, I'm a bit of a long shot and a risk anyway."

                                            >You tilt back a bit, looking up to the stars again.

                                            "I'm a drunk, she's known me for about a month as a bit of a sloth, and I think she hasn't really had enough time to recover from the shock of me blowing up Bloomaria."

                                            >Firefly blinks and you see her hoof raising out of the corner of your eye to interrupt you.

                                            "Apple tree. The Family names them all. Ask Dash about Bloomburg and Appleoosa some time."

                                            >Firefly's hoof slowly lowers and you sigh again.

                                            "So yeah, here I am, sitting on a bench, drunk in public, staring at the stars and..."

                                            >You frown, staring a bit more intently at those stars.

                                            >"Wishing to go home?"

                                            >Firefly's voice startles you softly but you can't help but nod.

                                            "Yeah, and more fool for it."

                                            >You and the mare from your childhood sit together, simply gazing at the stars as you wait for the train to arrive.

                                            >You get the sense that she's not sure what to say, and quite honestly, you're not sure either.

                                            >You don't know why you said any of that to her, and frankly, that makes you want to sigh harder.

                                            >The companionable silence isn't broken, even as you move your attention away from the stars and look over Ponyville.

                                            >There's plenty of lights on, but the streets are deserted.

                                            >You can commiserate Luna's plight a bit, now that you're looking out at the streets.

                                            >Even the party animals go home pretty early, and while there are plenty of places where ponies stay up late, Ponyville isn't one of them.

                                            >"You could always try one of the bigger cities. You wouldn't even stand out that much."

                                            >You blink, turning your attention back to Firefly, who's still staring up at the sky, her wings twitching slightly.

                                            >She's pretty fidgety, you notice, much like her niece, always wanting to spring back into the sky.

                                            "I guess, but it's honestly a little scary, I wouldn't even know where to start."

                                            >"Heh, small-town boy then?"

                                            >You chuckle at her.

                                            "Something like that."

                                            >The mare gives you a lopsided grin, and a little nudge.

                                            >"Why not make your move tonight? Be spontaneous, leap up and take the world with both hooves! ...Hands."

                                            >You blink at her, and frown a bit.

                                            "I... I could, but why do you care?"

                                            >Your honest confusion thankfully saves you from a face full of offended mare, even as you berate yourself for your earlier drinking.

                                            >"Because you're my friend, duh, and friends look after each other."

                                            >You blink and turn to face the mare fully.

                                            "Friends?"

                                            >"Sure, you know Dashie, you seem pretty chill, you helped me out, and from the sounds of it you could use a few good friends."

                                            >You blink a few more times, and if the last few blinks are a little wet, no one will ever know.

                                            "That seems a bit fast."

                                            >"Puhleeze, you're talking to one of the fastest mares in Equestria. We always take things at our pace, it's up to you slowpokes to keep up."

                                            >You laugh and Firefly laughs with you, her voice ringing in the evening as you start to sober up more.

                                            "... What would I even do?"

                                            >"You'll come with me, that's what you'll do."

                                            "Ok, and then?"

                                            >"We'll wing it. I bet I can get you a job at the stadium."

                                            "Stadium?"

                                            >Firefly is much twitchier now before she finally pushes herself into her air, hanging in front of you with an excited grin.

                                            >"Heck yeah, the Manehatten Arena! It's one of the biggest and best stadiums in Equestria, for grounded and for fliers!"

                                            >You sit back and whistle.

                                            "Sounds impressive."

                                            >"I should hope so, I helped make the place and my stunt team performs there. We do rodeo shows, daredevil performances, and more. Someone to help haul gear and do maintenance is perfect, and we only got the one minotaur on staff right now."

                                            >She giggles again, gently knocking your shoulder with a hoof.

                                            >"Think you could handle that, small-town?"

                                            >You blink at her a couple of times before you laugh lightly.

                                            "Yeah, I think I can handle that, city-girl."

                                            >Firefly grins brightly.

                                            >"Well then, lets get you a bit more presentable. We got a train to catch right now."

                                            >You glance at the clock and wince.

                                            >Not even close to being 2200 yet, much less Midnight.

                                            "Well, we've got time at the very least... might as well start with the library."

                                            >You stand up, swaying slightly before you shake your head gently.

                                            "After that, if you're hungry we could stop by Sugarcube Corner. I think I'll need to anyway or Pinkie will hunt me down."

                                            >You start to walk off the station platform, Firefly drifting alongside you, sans her saddlebags still.

                                            >Guess she doesn't feel like flying around with them.

                                            >"Hunt you down?"

                                            "Not telling her that I'm leaving and not letting her throw me a going away party?"

                                            >I shudder, and shake my head.

                                            "That would get me put on the no party list."

                                            >"FOREEEEEEEVER."

                                            >You and Firefly are startled as Pinkie Pie pops out from under the stairs of the platform to yell at you.

                                            >Everyone stops and you can only stare at the party mare as she gives you a uncharacteristically serious stare.

                                            >She slowly brings a hoof up, and points the tip of her hoof at her eyes before pointing at yours.

                                            >You can only swallow nervously as she narrows her eyes.

                                            >Then, slowly, the mare sliiiiiiiiiiiiiiides back underneath the stairs.

                                            >A few moments of silence pass before Firefly dips down and lands next to the stairs.

                                            >"Wh... she's gone!"

                                            >You let out a weary sigh.

                                            "Eeeeeyup. I'm guessing outside of your welcome to Ponyville/oh my gosh you're Dashies aunt party, you haven't interacted with Pinkie much?"

                                            >"How the hay did you know that she threw me and Dashie a party like that?"

                                            "Intuition. Parties are Pinkie's -thing-. And she's always looking for excuses."

                                            >The mare can only nod slowly as you gesture for you both to move on.

                                            >The walk back into town is honestly rather short.

                                            >It's quiet and peaceful, and the more you look around, the better you feel about moving on.

                                            >Modern Day Cassandra, you're not needed here.

                                            >Honestly, you'd probably just get in the way of the girls.

                                            >Well, ok, maybe not when they come to Manehatten.

                                            >You don't quite remember that episode, but you can at least lend 'em a hoof.

                                            >You come up to Golden Oaks and smile softly as you gently place your hand against the wood of the library tree, closing your eyes.

                                            >This is probably the last time you'll see the ol' girl, what with Tirek n' all.

                                            >You rest for a second before you open the door, much to Firefly's shock.

                                            >"Uhhh, dude, aren't you going to knock?"

                                            "Technically I'm living here as well, and it's after hours."

                                            >"And you're -late-, and from the light smell, drunk again."

                                            >You wince as you're now face to face with a glaring Spike the Dragon.

                                            "Hiiii Spike-"

                                            >"Don't you 'hi Spike' me Anon, do you have any idea how worried I was? I was going to have to go out and knock you off the bench at the train station again, wasn't I?"

                                            >You sigh, hanging your head as you're berated by the baby Dragon.

                                            >Honestly, Twilight hadn't had much to do with helping you during your stay here.

                                            >Spike had been assigned to assist you with getting settled, and you hadn't made it easy on him.

                                            "I... yes, you're not wrong. But you're not going to have to do so for much longer."

                                            >The baby dragon looks confused as you step in and gesture to Firefly.

                                            "Firefly, Aunt of Rainbow Dash, meet Spike the baby Dragon, Number One Assistant to Princess Celestia's Personal Student, Twilight Sparkle."

                                            >"'Sup kiddo?"

                                            >Spike's jaw drops a bit.

                                            >"W-woah! Firefly! No way!"

                                            >He dashes off for a second and comes back with a small signature book which he opens to a blank page.

                                            >"We only got to see your show once but you were amazing! Dash is really impressive, but I'd had never seen anyone cut a actual right-angle in the air before!"

                                            >Firefly laughs and signs the book, posing a bit.

                                            >"Aaaah, a fan! Anon, you've got good taste in friends."

                                            >There's a light chuckle all around before you grow more serious, looking at Spike.

                                            "Hey, I just wanted to say... thanks, for everything. Firefly and I had a long talk at the station and... I think it's time for me to move on."

                                            >Spike blinks, looking surprised for a moment before sighing despondently.

                                            >"Yeah, I kind of figured... still no luck with the job huh?"

                                            >You give the little dragon a sad smile and nod.

                                            "Yeah, and unfortunately you can't pay me and Twilight won't hire me to help around the Library, so I'm out of options here, so we're going to try my luck in Manehatten."

                                            >The dragon sighs and nods his head before he steps up and you crouch down, giving the dragon a hug.

                                            >"Good luck out there man."

                                            >"The train doesn't leave till midnight, and this guy said something about Sugarcube Corner?"

                                            >Spike blinks and then gasps, pointing at Firefly.

                                            >"You know what! Twilight had to go to Sugarcube Corner a little while ago."

                                            >You nod and smirk at Firefly.

                                            "Pinkie is ready for us. Come on Spike, lets go get some cake and get me completely sobered up for the Midnight Train."

                                            >Spike nods, and Firefly lands to trot next to you and the baby Dragon as you start out for Sugarcube Corner, closing and locking the library tree behind you.

                                            >Unbidden, a song finds you and you can't help but hum and sing a bit as your strange trio walks on, and you prep mentally for leaving what little comfort you've known.

                                            "They took the Midnight Train Goin' Anywhere..."