Skycoaster

Candy Corn Candy couldn't help but giggle. "That's sweet that you found your special somepony and have such a close connection. Maybe someday I'll run into him in the lobby as well," as she lowered the menu. "As showponies, I bet you'll pop the question in front of a sold out show or something like that. You'll have to let me know when you plan to do it. I'd like to see that ending," she said, winking. As the olive stallion approached, she smiled. "Then that's what I'm getting. I hope your portions are hearty cus I haven't eaten since I left Bittsburgh," she giggled. "Marescty? sounds good, but what kind of pop do yinz have? I haven't had wine before. Not to say I haven't had any of the harder stuff. Corn has other uses," she said with a rather sly grin and winked at Windy. "Oh and an order of garlic bread as well?" Candy looked to Windy, almost like a child would in anticipation waiting to see what she would order. "So, what is your favorite dish here?"

Not far away in a large igloo, Blizzard sat at his desk. Magic books flanked each side of the unicorn as his quill wrote on parchment. “That might work...if I combine that spell with the standard gateway...” he mumbled to himself. Blizzard would look up from his work, stopping. “Something feels...off,” he said though he couldn’t put his hoof on what it was. With a heavy sigh he rose from his chair and grabbed his cloak. Opening the wooden door, he would step out into the wintery weather. “Ugh, I have company... I better check on them before before the freeze to death, or worse. Don’t need to be blamed for that...” Blizzard said with sarcasm in his voice. He would head due south as that would be his ‘guests’ most likely location. Upon seeing another igloo, he knew. He would flip up the hood of his cloak and observe from nearby, the heavy snow accumulating on him, almost serving as an improvised camouflage. As the storm began to die down, Blizzard would make his move, approach the entrance to their temporary shelter. “The storm is winding down now,” he said in a friendly tone... well at least as friendly as he could. “So, what brings everypony up to this frozen wasteland? It can be extremely dangerous up here....”

Candy Corn As both Sky and Windy said yes, Candy began to cry tears of joy. The perfect ending to a perfect preference. As the crowd thinned, the unicorn and her sisters stayed behind to wait for the couple. Though she tried to hold back, the young unicorn’s excitement would get the better of her and she soon found herself hugging Windy and Sky in a group hug. “I’m so excited for yin’s.” She would say, still crying happy tears. “You two are perfect for each other. Having the same plan and everything. Some day I hope I get as lucky as you two to find a sweat match as well.” She would release her grip and step aside. “I don’t want to keep ya if you have other Heartswarming plans, but if you want to, we’re going to make popcorn strings and put them on a tree indoors. That’s our family tradition...your more then welcome to come to my apartment if you want though. It’s not the biggest, or a 5 horseshoe resort, but it’s my home away from home...”

Candy Corn The young mare would look around, noting what Windy said about the theming in the restaurant. It was quite immersive and it looked accurate down to the minor details...or at least what she thought they would be. As the unicorn followed the maître d’ she giggled, looking over to Windy. “So, who’s this Sky,” she said with the grin of a school filly about to hear the latest gossip. As she took her seat, she began to hold up her menu, hiding behind it as she read it over. “Is that the other pony in the billboard? If it is, he looks kinda cute. Is he just your partner or your partner,” Candy said with a bit of teasing. “Ohh, the server angle hair. This place is truly knows how to treat a pony, or at least their stomach.”

Midnight would nod as each of his friends spoke, taking mental notes. "Thanks everypony. I'll have to keep that in mind when-" he would recognize the voice of his kryptonite to his control, Jade. He would stifle a chuckle as he turned to see Jade. He would giggle a bit, the sangria taking hold as he saw how she was dressed. If her tight leotard from the race was meant to tease, that dress she was wearing was straight up seduction. His wings shot straight up ans he tried to regain his composure. "I hope you didn't get dress up on my account...actually I do hope it's for me-- I'd really like to sink my fangs into you later..." Midnight's face went blank and red as he realized what words came out of his mouth. "I..um.." he paused. "Hehe. Must be the delicious sangria talking." The embarrassed bat pony would lay his head on the bar. When the subject was changed to karaoke, His head shot back up. "Dibs on first song," he said with a rather unusual excitement for him as he began to run through a list of songs in his head to impress the mares in the room.

Candy Corn The eldest Corn sibling watched the show with foallike wonder, only every so often glancing away to check on Kettle and Caramel. Every so often, she would sneak some of Caramel’s popcorn with a levitation spell. The show was quite entertaining and had a way of bringing eveypony in attendance closer together. She would pull Caramel into her side with her hoof, squeezing her as older siblings often do. A tear of joy would run down hear cheek. She would look up to little Kettle sitting on her head. As Candy noticed what was going on on stage at the end, her eyes went wide. Her friend was getting engaged...and both parties where proposing to each other in their own way. “Wooohoo!,” Candy said in excitement. “Say Yes!”

Candy Corn Candy would rise from her chair and carefully set the mug her coffee had come in down, making sure it would not leave a ring. The young unicorn would follow her mentor down into the sub-dwelling of Bon Bon's house. While it wasn't up to apartment standards, she did have to admit it was quite large and was built quite well. Her frown would begin to fade slowly, and she could not help but chuckle at the comment about the spiders in the bathroom. "Well, it is a quite large room, and," as she tapped her hoof on the ground, "far from the dirt floored cellar of my house in Bittsburgh." As she continued, Candy would pick out a nice area near where BonBon had mentioned. "I'm thinking here's a good spot to set up too. I...wait, what is small moon Bon Bon?" Her curiosity peeked as she followed her mentor back upstairs. She hoped there was a story to hear. Candy tapped her chin at BonBon's question. "I think it'd be best to get the basement fixed up for now...If that's not an issue. I think the Pegasi have wetter plans today for outdoors anyway," as a crack of thunder could be heard. "While were moving things down there, we can even do a good ol' inventory of supplies- Oh and I even brought some of my family's almost famous popcorn kernels for a snack later. Actually they sent a whole jar full as a gift for you," she giggled as she levitated it over to the earth pony mare.

Candy Corn Candy would give a big sister glare to Caramel and the looked up to the filly. Did they really both come on their own. She knew Caramel started school shortly when the winter term began, but to bring little Kettle. The eldest sister however was taken out of overprotective sister mode by Sky’s complement about the popcorn. “Little Kettle here really came into her own with her Popcorn. And don’t forget about your corn Caramel. It’s the perfect combination of sweet and salty, just like our family.” She giggled once more. As the show would start, Candy would sit mesmerized as she pulled Caramel into her side. Sky Sailing’s singing was quite impressive, though when Windy came on, she really stole the show. “Wow!”

Candy Corn Candy would chuckle at the mention of the cakes being stuck in one place, however a cart was far from what she was expecting. Sure it had its advantages with mobility, though she though of the disadvantages as well, like weather. Candy’s ears would lower as Bonbon mentioned her possible boardings. “O-oh,” she said, the tone of her voice noticeably more somber. She would take a few slow breaths before taking a few more drinks of coffee. Sitting there, she would begin to ponder her options. While her family was a bit more well off then other farmers, housing was not a planed for expenses, and the bits with her where few. She would laugh nervously. “I guess the basement it is for now. Then I can start looking for an apparent.”

Candy Corn As Candy accepted her still steaming hot coco, she would nod. "I look forward to that order once I'm up and running," she giggled. "Have to complete this apprenticeship first though. As for a cherry lime flavor, I'm sure my mentor wouldn't mind me spending my free time whipping up a few small test batches in my free time. I even have the perfect taste tester in town," as she winked to Caramel. "As for Ponyville itself, it certainty is growing, even in my short few months here, what with the School of Friendship, the Castle of Friendship, and of course the famous Sweet Apple Acres...and soon to be just as famous BonBon's BonBons." She would give all there a huge smile. "That's the shop I'm apprenticing at," she said with pride in her voice. "Someday soon, I'll have my own storefront, ether in Bittsburgh or maybe even Las Pegasus." There would be one more surprise that evening...one of the energetic verity. Candy would smile from ear to ear. Her youngest sister had made it to Ponyville and they could all be together for Hearthswarming once more. The candy colored mare would levitate the smallest sibling onto her back. "Windy, Sky, this is the smallest of us three Corn Cobs," she giggled, "and I'm sure Sky would be more then happy to pour you a mug of coco." She would look back to Kettle. "Ma and Pop came with you I hope. They’re in their hotel room, right? I hope you didn't make this train ride on your own, right?" as big sister mode kicked in.

Candy Corn The unicorn giggled at BonBon's comment about the 'Porch Mafia' before levitating the coffee and taking a small sip and setting down her own doorstop of a book. "Well, you see...I believe the apprenticeship program is for ponies and I guess every creature now who's talent is different from that of their family. I mean, would you believe my family is mostly corn farmers. I know it a bit of a shock," she giggled. "I need to expand my reptar? or is it repertoire?" Candy would take another sip of coffee "Anyhow I need to learn to run a business with a storefront, hence why I showed up on where you should have had a porch," as she stiffed a laugh. "In regards to the books..." she rolled her eyes, "I guess the E.A.B. is just as bad as the E.E.A., or so I hear from a friend of mine who's trainin' to be a teacher in Bittsburgh. As for here, I had a few choices, and Ponyville was the closest opening to the Burgh and it kinda reminds me of home." "I do have one question though. I believe the first chapter is about..." she closed her eyes and swallowed what felt like a large lump forming in her throat. "Pay..payment and room and board," as she laughed nervously, quickly finishing off the coffee to hide her nerves.

Candy Corn Candy had to think about what Sky Sailing had said. "It could be. We experimented quite a bit with different flavors of Candy Corn. It's possable that Mom or Pop could have used one of the recipes, though we mainly are corn farmers," she giggled. "That's why I'm in Ponyville after all, to expand my horizons," she would look to Caramel. "That's the term, right?" She would say with a giggle. "I'm in the apprenticeship program now for candy makers. Hopefully soon I'll be making candy canes and other Hearthswarming sweets...But you know what is always a good treat for Hearthswarming? Caramel Corn," the unicorn giggled as she leaned into her sister once more. At the mention of Hot Coco, Candy's eyes would light up like she was a filly again. "Can't say no to that, right sis?"

Candy Corn "I'm Candy Corn and this is my little sister, Caramel Corn," the white unicorn said leaning on her sister. "We're origionaly from Bittsburgh, but though different circumstances found ourselves in Ponyville for Hearthswarming. When I saw that Windy was going to be in town for this show, I just had to come. I get to see my friend preform and bond with my sister. What more could I want..." There was a shift in Candy's voice as she looked down to the ground. "I had invited the rest of the family to come to Ponyville, but I guess they where too busy or got held up somewhere. Kettle would have loved the show I bet." Candy would wrap her sister that was there in a hug and kissed her on the cheek. "But I still got this one, and she even got into the School of Friendship." "To answer your question Caramel, I just literally ran into Windy here one day when I was in Las Pegasus..." Candy stopped as her sisters did not know of her trip to Las Pegasus and the true reason for it. "You know me, had to try out that big coaster in the clouds to compare it with our good old Jack Rabbit," Candy laughed nervously.

Midnight had to laugh at Berry's comment about shampoo. "I think there may be a supply shortage in town for a week after today," he said raising another toast to Twister for winning. "To be honest part of me is just glad those two youngsters made it back. How about a toast to nopony getting lost this year," as he raised his glass, now noticeably lower then when he started. "Can't say nopony got hurt but...at least nopony died. And to next year as well!' "So..." Midnight said swirling the contents of his glass, "There is something that I've had on my mind for a while, and ether it's the sangria talking, but I trust you all." Midnight would take a deep sigh. "When Princess Luna and Princess Celestia retired, it threw the Lunar Guard into disarray. I've been assigned all over Equestria in the recent months. It's how I ended up here this week after all. It's taking a toll, and not one that I had anticipated." Taking another drink, he would continue. "I enlisted because us bat ponies felt an unspoken loyalty to Princess Luna...Now then," he would pause in deep thought. "I recently completed my Officer's Candidate Courses...I have to choose now. It seems there are two paths I have. There is a Lieutenant position here in Ponyville or try for the Twilight Guard..." Taking one last drink, Midnight would finish the contents of his glass. "I trust you guys," as he looked to Tiger, "And especially your option as a fellow guard Tiger."

Candy Corn Candy happily stepped into her new...I guess it would be boss's house. Smiling, she would set her possessions in a corner. "Candy." she would say without much context. "Candy Corn is my name," the young unicorn giggled. "A mug of coffee would be great to warm up. If I didn't know any better, I'd say winter was just around the corner..Oh wait," she giggled once more before taking a seat on a chair. As she waited for BonBon to return, she would levitate a rather thick book from her saddlebag and open it to chapter one. A second, slightly thicker book would be levitated to the coffee table. "Ponyville looks like a nice tawn, at least maybe when it's dry," her Bittsburghese accent sneaking out. "Yinz never heard of a porch though?" she joked, noting that most houses only had just a step up into their front door. A loud crack of thunder could be heard and a flash of light outside. "Um, when did you say this storm was supposed to pass?" she said looking up from her reading. "Wow, this is a thick rule book...and the mentor one is even thicker they sent for you."

Candy Corn Candy walked down the streets of Ponyville with her sister by her side. “Now Caramel, I have a surprise for you,” she said trying to keep their destination a secret. “I gotta admit I was surprised when you got into Princess Twilight’s school, but I’m glad have my sister so much closer to me. Maybe Kettle get in too when she’s older. Speaking of which, I sent Mom and Pop an invite to spend Hearthswarming with us in Ponyville. You didn’t hear anything from them, did you?” Candy couldn’t help but giggle as they made their way down the festive streets. She’d stop and pose next to one of the lamp poles. “I think my mane is more Nightmare Night, don’t you think?” She said with a laugh. Their destination was in sight as Candy spotted somepony she didn’t expect to see and waved a hoof and grinned to get Windy’s attention. “Hey Caramel, I know her! She’s famous from Lad Pegasus.”

Candy Corn Candy would make a noticeable grimace as Windy described her operation. Medical things like that always made her queasy, and even though she didn’t have wings, she could imagine the pain. “Well, I’m glad they where able to get your wing fixed up. I couldn’t imagine—“ As the elevator doors opened, Candy had to hold back her excitement not to jump out. She looked to Windy, grinning from ear to ear. “Wow! This place looks amazing. Thank you.” The unicorn would extend a hoof for her friend to lead. She was the local celebrity after all. Candy was just a corn farmer. And the fact that her friend headlined at the hotel...that had to help too!

Two! It took two full bottles of shampoo to get the maple sap out of Midnight's coat. He dried off with a towel before looking into the mirror. "I don't think I'll ever drink Maple Sap again..." he sighed before moving on to the next task. After a quick comb of his mane and tail, and making sure his fangs where pearly white, he would take out a rather odd bottle. "Might as well give this a try," he said as he splashed some cologne his father had given him years ago. "Yep.." he said shaking his head. "Still as potent as ever. They'll smell me before they see me." Midnight would finally arrive at Berry's shop not long after Tiger and Tongue Twister. "Well, we all cleaned up fairly well," he would chuckle. "Sometimes being this fluffy however is a curse. That's what the hold up was." Midnight's nose would perk up as he got a sent of the sangria. It smelt sooo sweet to the Thestral. "If I didn't know any better Berry, I'd say you where making Bat Pony bait," as he chuckled. "I'll take a large glass of your sangria." He would smile to both Tiger and Twister. "A toast to our lovely host. Hehe, that rhymed."

Candy Corn It was a cool and rainy fall evening when Candy debarked the train. "Well, this is home for the next stage of my life," she said as she let out a sigh. "I guess I had always thought today was going to be all sunbeams, rainbows, and candy. Seems the weather thought otherwise..." The unicorn would collect her few bags and levitate out a rather crude map of Ponyville. Her destination was that of a fellow candy maker...the shop of a pony named BonBon. As she ventured into the damp streets, a mist would begin to roll into the streets. She smiled to herself as the street lights would appear to have halos around them. Her smile would not last long however as the rain began to pick up almost to that of a downpour. She picked up her pace, her worn wheeled suitcase bouncing with each puddle it hit. As the rain continued to get heaver, she would hold an old Bittsburgh Post Gazette above her head to try to keep the water out of her eyes. Finally she would reach the house indicated on her map. She would try to force a smile as she knocked on the door, the old paper the only thing attempting to keep her dry. As she heard a door open, she would begin to read the letter the ponies at the apprenticeship board had given her. "Hello," she would begin to read in a monotone, her eyes fixed to the piece of paper in her levitation. "My name is your name here. I was sent by the Equestrian Apprenticeship Board to learn the craft of...you craft here as you have been found to be proficient and deemed able to mentor young minds..." Her voice would shift from monotone to that of one of a nervous tone. This was her first venture out into the real world after all. Off the farm as it were. She could only hope that the pony that had opened the door knew she was coming.

Candy Corn Candy would blush when Windy complimented her own version of her namesake candy. “Thanks Windy. It’s the reason I landed my apprenticeship in Ponyville of all places. I know how to make a few other Nightmare Night staples as well but can’t wait to expand my...what’s the word, repertoire?” The unicorn could sense Windy’s change in mood and almost without a second though found herself hugging the pegasus once more. “Yinz gotta look for the things that bring joy to you,” she said releasing the hug. “In Bittsburgh we take great pride in our sports teams. My family would leave the farm for a few hoofball games every year. I’m sure Cloudsdale has something that brought you joy, right?” Candy’s eyes would look to the floor indicator as they climbed higher into the hotel. “This is one tall building, and it dose seem so much bigger on the inside,” she chuckled. “I’d bet it’s almost tall enough to touch the clouds itself.”

Midnight Oil The sticky bat pony wasn't too far behind Berry and Tiger as he crossed the finish line...and Jade and her pet where right on his tail. He would walk up to Berry and give her a small kiss on the cheek, and give Tiger a hug. "Good job...you two..." as his adrenaline began to wear off. "Now then, about that drink," he said with a faged smile. "And I didn't forget you-" he stopped before going to give Jade a kiss as well as he saw her new pet up close for the first time. "I'll wait till you put him to bed," he nervously laughed. "I'm sure you'll need to feed him as well...what dose a wyvern eat?" Midnight's ear twitched as he heard the two foals that had entered the race where missing and not crossed the finish line yet. He would walk over to Cooper and the Mayor. "I may have used up my running energy, but I still got plenty left to head out on a search party if needed. I just need a quick shower to get this cursed sap off my wings...and I assume that the parents are here somewhere, right?"

Midnight would smile to Tongue Twister. "Yep, all my family is a fluffy, though not as sticky," as he joked about the sap in his coat, though he was still confused about her using the royal 'We' in her speech. None the less, it was time to use the energy that he had saved. Squinting, he could see a few of his fellow guards in the stands, snickering from a distance. Now was the time to prove himself. As the bat pony prepared to give this last leg of the race his all, he heard a familiar voice behind him. Turning his head to look, it would appear that she was not alone. The creature that Jade found in those dark woods..it gave him a chill up his back. She even had it wearing a ribbon and on a leash. "Cool discovery," he would yell back at her. "Now then, lets see if you can catch and tame this pet..." well that came out wrong as he tried to flirt from a distance. None the less, he had a race to finish and the sight of Berry in front of him was a rather enjoyably view. Midnight would give it his all, lowering his head as he picked up speed, his hooves kicking up dust behind him as each step of his gallop brought him closer to his friends. His breathing would grow more labored, though he still had more to give. His hadn't pushed himself this hard since basic training, and even since then he had grown stronger. Winning the race wasn't the main goal for Midnight, as all he wanted to do was finish near his new friends, though it wasn't off the table. He still had a bit more to give. Even completing this race should be enough to prove himself in front of the other guards, but getting a kiss from a pretty mare in front of them would be the icing on the Celestia sized cake.

Candy Corn Candy would trot in place in excitement as she smiled to Windy. "The Rooftop?" her voice went up in pitch. "I bet there's some amazing views of Dawn Tawn from up there." The white unicorn would follow the pegasus mare to the elevator. "Makin' new friends," she was now beaming as the doors opened. "I'm always dawn to make a new friend." The unicorn would step into the elevator and wait for Windy before pressing the button for the rooftop. "I'm actually in tawn for a week. This trip was a gift from my ma before I start my apprenticeship in Ponyville. Candy isn't just my name, it's my talent." With the soft orange glow of her horn she would give Wind Dancer a few pieces of candy corn. "So, where is your home tawn?" she would ask with quite a bit of inquisition in her voice. "Mine is Bittsburgh, though I bet you many have never heard of it. We get overshadowed by Filly..."

Midnight would smile at the mare whom tried to assist him, however it seemed that Tiger and to an extent, Berry had it under control, pulling the bat stallion out of the sap. Being licked, he would blush, however would attempt to return a lick to Miss Punch as well. "Same back at you," before looking to Tiger. "I don't think I need to know what Tigers taste like," he laughed. "You know, sap is mother nature's energy drink. Full of natural sugars and sweet...though sticky." He would try to stretch his wing, but to no avail. "I think we're all going to need hot showers after this..." As he looked forward to see the filly back on the trail, he would smile. "It's good to see that you got Apple Bloom back on the straight and narrow...though I do worry about her little brother was it? Hopefully nothing happened to the little pegasus ether...especially if he was as hard headed as the other Apple." Looking ahead, he saw that the caped mare had moved on forward. "If you'll excuse me, I have to thank that mare for offering assistance as well. Don't worry, I'll catch you guys by the finish line for that shower...." he winked before trotting ahead to catch Tongue Twister. "Thanks for offering assistance back there. I don't think I caught your name earlier. I'm Midnight Oil. It seems that Jade has run off ahead and Berry has Tiger to keep her company," he said giving a friendly smile. "You look like you could use a running mate for company," as he picked up his pace a bit to a slow gallop. "As I've found out, the Running of the leaves isn't so much about winning, as it is making friends, and of course knocking down the leaves." Looking her over, he would pause. "It's a tad warm still for a cloak, isn't it? Perhaps that's just me though. My line of Aerions has thick coats." Not wanting to pry too much however, he would shift subjects, as well as his speed. We're almost back to Ponyville. Time to use up some of that energy that us moderate pace ponies have been saving, right?"

Candy Corn Candy was excited as she saw their was no ill will for her clumsiness as she returned Windy's hoofshake, though with a bit more vigor then probably was expected. "Nice to meet you Wind Dancer. I'm Candy Corn, though most just call me Candy." she said as she released. her grasp. "Really? You'll buy me to lunch?" Candy's smile would grow into a grin as she soon found herself hugging the pegasus mare, though quickly released it. "Hehe," she chuckled "My family is full hungers." Candy would back away a few steps to give the Windy some space before levitating the guide map back in front of her. "Let's see...restaurants, restaurants...Windy, Is it OK if I call ya Windy? Where do you suggest? I am a bit famished and haven't had anything since breakfast on the train. Hm...Anyplace around here have Spaghetti and Tuhmaytu sauce?" As the young mare began to walk, she put the coupon book away. "I don't want to give off the impression I'm a moocher," she said with a half smile. "And I don't want to keep ya from your job if you need to get there for a rehearsal or something like that, or keep ya from any of your friends if yins ponies had plans. I'm sure you are in high demand being such a famous equine."