Around the world through laziness and boredom

      Ah, Equestria. Of all the places, Galloppolis embodies it the best - agriculture, drunkenness, and vulgarity. And yet some time ago, instead of a long stretched city, there were two small villages with similar cultures. Common values connected the two settlements, creating a completely new place on the map. A place full of cynicism.   The train barely stopped, and it already got flooded by the atmosphere, that the newcomers would never even wish to think of. Despite it being almost a centre of Equestria, friends were met from the station’s borders by all the stereotypes, that canterlotians talk about without a stop.   — What ye mean no space in cemetery? Where do I leave me tributes? - some granny condemned - How is me son gonn’ reach the Shireland?   — Ye bettr tribute to our nation’s needs. - a nearby guard indifferently offered - Next..!   There are pickpockets, and a huge amount of drunkards, and even prostitution. Of course, there was another side of the coin - the most developed rural culture and cooking that fed the whole country, but this good does not beat all the bad with it. Especially when it is being pushed right into the face.   — I don’t want to stay here either, but we had to stop. - chocolate pony worried just as much as the orange one - Ardent-Vibrant is going back to his homeland from here, and we need to get some proper food. We will get enough of it for all the crew - and won’t forget about Gambit. We will have to ride far-far away with no further stops.   — But everything here is so.. Tasteless! - winged pony disgusted by every detail, at the same time trying to watch her bags and sabre - I mean, houses are kind of fine - tall wooden boxes, much like castles, but just look at the rest!   — We will go as soon as we eat. Look, it’s not that far now. - earth pony pointed at a far and rich two-story building.   — Buns.. - Sunshine tried to read the far words - ..And p..         ..Loughs. How sick does one need to be to place a sign with such a vulgar name? No, why even make such a title? What about the foals witnessing this? Nothing can justify such a lack of culture and decency! The smell of delicious bakery had not bribed the travellers at all. But it brought all the layers of population, in the evening.   — No way! I will not go there!   — Su-un. You want to walk for nothing for a few more kilometres? There is nothing else around. We go in, go out - ten minutes and no more. - the horse took out a huge pocket watch with a calendar - I’m noting it. Come on.   It cannot be, for nothing else to exist near. There, fisherponies are walking! But ponies cannot eat meat. What about lone stalls? Nothing either - boxes and vases. There must be someone else! Someone, who works for themselves, without a determined selling spot. Like that inconspicuous, young stallion:   — The world nay seen a thing like it! - the horse unsuccessfully called surrounding ponies to him - Come, come! Liquid ice!   — Clo-ock, look! Liquid ice!   — That is.. Water. - the pony seriously questioned her friend’s concern - Sun, what will happen if you melt ice?   True, the ice will turn into water, and other way around at the change of temperature. Even though the mansion had a freezer, Sunshine never got inside this huge and strange construction. All the technical processes were ruled by Clockwork. She knew that house like none other.   Lanterns, chandelier hangings, secret passages.. Everything that starts moving after the lever turning - is her hooves’ doing. What the unicorn could not teach the winged mare, the earth pony managed to explain and tell. Counting the aggregate states of matter.         Was only this vulgar establishment the only honest one around? Everyone tried to trick others - loners and big entrepreneurs alike. In any case, there was nothing food-like near the station. This connective hamlet’s architect probably took some of the budget for themselves.   Otherwise, how could such negligence be explained? Everything seemingly collected in certain districts, not scattered around for convenience. At least map boards existed. Yet, no matter how much one wants to, they cannot hold the food matters for long, and friends went towards this dirty establishment.   Despite the expectations, the first thing experienced inside is warmth. Comfortable temperature, pleasant interior and furniture, and somewhat of a silence - both inside and towards the city. They even had their own musicians - they played something calm, matching this place.   Only, all the tables seemed to be occupied. Alas, but it was not a reason to find another eatery - opposite of that; pony familiar with customs already walked in the direction of reception, and a bar in combination. Orange pony followed her friend, not wishing to stay alone, especially in a place like this.   — Welcome to the “Buns and p-”   — We, got it. - Sunshine interrupted the tavernkeep in time - We would like to eat, and grab some for the road.   — A big order, it seems? Good, you will get a discount! How many mouths?   — Thirty for take-away, with delivery to the railway station, three here. - clarified the mechanic - Something delicious, and not quickly spoiling - that is important.   — That’s the only approach we got! After all, “Buns and-”   — We got that! - little pony snapped - Please, do not continue that thing.   Seems like the manager faced an alternative opinion and thinking for the first time. A ram who received all the orders embarrassed more by the presence of the solar pony, than his occupation. Or so it seemed at least - his voice had notes of shame even before the conflict.   — Why not? What is natural is not at all shameful! Everyone does that. And you will, after you grow-   — I am twenty one. - winged horse answered very coldly - And you are mistaken. This is not the meaning of life.   — Dear, your understanding of natives is wrong. You want to live - you need to hustle. Both meanings.         The experienced ram hid his dissatisfaction towards this work quite well, and even managed to smile, but friends had no trouble in breaking through the wooled one. Little pony thought even more about the fate of surrounding creatures, and dropped out of conversation, when she saw one unobvious detail. There was not a single pony among the staff.   Miserable deers, and sheeps, even antilopes from Zebrica were there, but not the horses. Only the entertainment corner had someone completely unusual - a white eary, who poured more drinks inside him than it could fit. Yet, other than that - anyone hooved but the pony-like folk.   — Table thirteen, near the wall to your left. Enjoy your meal!   Truth be told, no desire to eat could emerge at the realisation of the situation, that an uncertain part of population caught in. They were clearly not counted as citizens or independent creatures - all of them were kept in a demonstrative, fashionable look. All had fur and hair trimmed. And not only them.   Should the server bring the order, when something else caught the orange pony’s eye - grinded horns. None of them could cast spells properly! It was done with great difficulty, even something quite simple - the sheep barely scraped the board that hung from her neck. “My name is Dalliant Repose. I am mute. Please, don’t be angry.”.         Even the inability to speak was not an excuse to work outside of a service sector. They all were used as dolls, as puppets - probably not only for show, knowing that this is a public house. Sun pony completely despaired, when suddenly, a small bowl with marshmallows appeared near her, and the sheep added “Don’t be sad.” with chalk on that same board.   The treat, of course, brought the sweet tooth's mood back, but not by much, for her to turn the mountains upside down. With every passing second, even this positivity hushed away - the sheep barely walked away from the table, as she was slapped by someone. She did not at all react, simply walking away with an obedient look.   — Is there a point in what we do? - Sunshine reluctantly chewed her favourite food.   — What do you mean, exactly?   — Just look around - they are literally like slaves! And no matter what we would try - we give money to those.. animals. No matter how we try, they feed us, and we feed them.   — Su-un, I don’t recognise you. And who gave such an inspiring speech back in Monacolt? We tried! Someone understood you, I’m sure of it! And before it? You two did something together, did you not? Maybe helped someone. You were away from home for almost a month! That is a lot!         Indeed. Two adventurers almost unleashed a war, disturbed three murderers and opened a whole village worth of eyes on problems. But is it worth it? Many died, even more suffered. Only one deed was successful, and a small one at that. Maybe, one should try now, calming the ambition?   — We have to do something. - winged mare quickly got up from the table.   The wish was bigger than anything - the pony even forgot her bags. Thankfully, the engineer realised that in time and began to put the food and sweets inside them. Sunshine thought of an idea, that would certainly be disliked by her brother. An idea, that stood higher than any other.   — I want to get a room. And talk with Dalliant Repose.   — A-a-ah.. “Talk”, you say? Know the pricing?   — You are such a- - little pony stopped in time, and lied - Yes, I know.   — Then you’ll negotiate it yourselves. Dalliant! You have a guest!   Wooled creature slightly surprised, seeing her future client. However, she acted like with any other being - led the adventurer to a free room, far away down the corridor, mentally preparing for something unusual. And the unusual had happened - they were joined by the mechanic soon after.   Only, the customers were not in the mood to practice perversions. Before the brown sheep with cream wool could write something on the board, friends confirmed that they did not want anything like what she imagined. They seriously wanted to simply talk. And make a proposal.   — Look, I know how it might sound, especially from someone you barely know, but we want to save you. - started the red-eyed mare.   — It is not a test, nothing like so. We want to help. Come with us.   Alas, but the news did not please nor disappoint the sheep. Very calmly and without hesitation, she answered in her familiar manner, with a chalk: “I can’t. You can’t help.”. As if she did not see a single reason to live further. Or something had kept her here.   — Why? We live in.. - orange pony barely stopped - We can’t say, bad stuff might happen. But we live far away!   — ..Nothing will happen there, what happens here. - earth pony got the thought in time - You will be equal to us - and you might learn what you want! We can shelter your relatives as well, if you have someone.         The moment that the talk went about the kin, horned being immediately liven up. That is what she needs! The sheep momentarily continued to write further: “Relatives - whole building. Can’t abandon them. Can’t abandon home.”. And how could one help everyone? Parents made sense, but that is a whole herd. Sunshine slowly lost hope..   — Is this a joke? - suddenly, the changeling revealed himself before everyone.   — Gamby-y! - she worryingly and unhappily whispered.   — No, seriously. I do not understand. You do not care about Moon already. We are doing this, risking since the talk started, and you want to say “no”?   Sometimes, even the changeling is mistaken. He got it right - the pony suppressed herself for an uncountable amount of time, but not because the idea became impossible. Solar pony thoroughly thought about how to realise such an escape. It is, as it appears, a whole heist.   — You are silly! I wasn’t going to say “no”! - winged mare walked closer to the bug and grabbed his tongue - I tried to think how to do it all before everyones’ noses!   — What to think about here? The night is near. - Clockwork was not at all surprised at this chain of events - Less clients, streets will empty. We will all get on the train then.   — The train? But what about the company?   — The company will wait. Corporations are doing nothing but parasitize on formalities and loopholes of legitimacy. Like a nation within a nation - and I know enough about those loopholes. Trust me. Dal, what do you say?   Seems like everyone was happy at such an outcome. Even the changeling was more happy at the sunny pony’s bravery, than he feared about his tongue. Horned sheep even surprised others with her cordiality and pliancy, knowing the mental toll of such a life.         All that was left to do, is decide how to lead everyone to the station. And will everyone have enough rations? Very difficult - so many calculations, many variables, nuances.. However, for an engineer, it seemed like homework - chocolate pony had no difficulty in forging a plan so quickly.   Clockwork brainstormed everything and shared the details with friends. Everyone will bring as many supplies as they could - they will not return here anyway, no fear in angering anyone. Decided when to walk towards the locomotive as well, almost everything is clarified. Except the space on the train itself.   Such a machine had not that big of a crew - almost everything is autonomous. But there were enough refugees - and relatives of those had to be counted as well. Not everyone could have enough bunks, or at least some space on the floor. Someone might need to be left behind.   — If Dalliant is not mistaken, then.. - brown pony stared at the board for a long time - Counting everything excess, future costs, space.. Could take every creature, but one.   — We can fly nearby! - orange horse immediately volunteered - Or we can stray away, to attract less attention to you.   — There will be enough attention already - the locomotive itself brings it all alone. - she shook her head - We need you. I need you.         Suddenly, the mute giggled. Truly, what is so funny, at such a moment? Thankfully, she at least tried to explain her thoughts: “I will stay. Have unfinished business. Work with the Nameless.”. Even if so, that does not sound safe, and it is not funny at all.   — The “Nameless”? Who is that? - asked the winged mare - Will you be alright?   Sheep’s facial expression suddenly changed, and she tried to use the space on her tablet with maximum efficiency: “I have my secrets. Gathered money to free the family, will free myself.”. Quite risky. Is she thinking of negotiating with a potential slaver?   — Why? Don’t you want to finally be free? - earth pony did not get the idea.   Horned creature quickly wrote an answer - “I am not free, before others are freed. Will help the same as I. Who if not me?” No matter how dangerous and risky this idea of hers was, everyone understood the wooled being, not objecting to her decision in any way.         Everyone decided on all the details before the minute arrow moved the hour one. Every creature continued to work on the plan and its nuances, except Dalliant - she went to persuade her friends and other workers, trying to blend in and appear, as if she actually worked.   At night, when all was ready, and the hybrid bakery had nobody but the staff, future fugitives came out of their rooms. They managed to grab everything they needed - sentimental and useful things alike. They moved by small crowds, under the leadership of ponies, towards the station.   Luckily, nobody, who would object to such crowded movements at dark hours, was on friends’ way. But the locomotive had the trouble waiting for them - part of the crew did not want to pick new passengers, referring to safety and straying far from their plans.   — You want us to be processed back home, like they are being treated here? - one of the officers expressed his concerns - We are not following the company’s plan!   — Gods, to hell with the plan! Shut up! - engineer raised her voice - This is my train now, and I decide what is our plan! We needed to repair the road, escort Panache and buy coal from Ponyville. We are heading there now, no deviations!   — But-   — What? What do you want to say to me? Extra mouths? You didn’t complain when we took my friend in, and you didn’t say anything at the words and “close observations” of our client. - seems like she exceeded her authority - Why the hay are you arguing now?! What, do I need to read the instructions again, and point out that everything aboard - us included - is expendable? Let me do at least something right!         If needed - will throw away the automaton itself! Before departing, friends bid farewell to the selfless sheep, heading straight towards Ponyville. Not a minute has passed, when the only thing they saw through steam, is yellow lights and white shades of their friend. And something blue.   A feeling that something went wrong or will go wrong, stayed with the little pony. She sat in her friend’s cabin, looking through the window for the whole night, not distracting at sleep or loud locomotive noises, rarely eating the thoughts away. At one moment, her friend could not stay silent anymore:   — Sun, everything alright? What’s on your mind?   — That freak who follows us. I could swear I saw him not far from the station!   — Maybe, you imagined it? Night, it’s dark, and you had it rough not long ago.   — I haven’t imagined it, I don’t believe it! Clock, he won’t leave us alone. I can’t expose all of you to danger!   Sunshine rushed from her seat and went towards an open cart connection. She was going to climb the railing, when she was stopped by the brown pony. Her lilac eyes seemingly had a single word inside - “stay”. What guarantee is there, that this someone will head after the orange horse, not after the locomotive?   — I can’t. Who, if not me? Who, if not us with Gambit?   Red-eyed mare’s gaze alone was enough to inspire, reassure and soften the brown pony. Little horse successfully left the moving train and flew towards the closest settlement. A feeling of being watched did not disappear at all, not for a single moment.