(Story Extract)

Just as the fifth reprise of ‘Wake up Equestria’ played, the steel train cars of Turnpike passed underhoof, the sun high above the clouds. My wings were starting to ache – okay, maybe I’m not that great a courier – as I set down in the township, grunting and adjusting myself under the heavy bags. Effin’ Bee… who in the name of Celestia was Effin’ Bee? I flicked off the radio, looking around the town idly; it was sectioned off in two parts, the T-junction of the overpass acting as a sort of canopy for the shop district, with some train cars set up as residences and living areas. Ponies milled about both above and below the junction, foals playing in the snow and following behind their parents, shopkeepers and artisans showing their wares from side-layed hopper cars and out of repurposed boxcars… I never considered railcars could be used that way. Bah, look at the architecture on your own time, you’ve gotta find Effin’ Bee.

I trotted down the main section of the town, looking side to side at the groups of ponies who all milled about. Buh, alright, no taking somepony else’s courier work by accident anymore when you don’t even know who you’re delivering to. I tugged at the heavily loaded bags again, trotting forwards into the path of a quite massive, grey-coat blue-maned… it was him. Oh, sweet Luna above, how did I forget about <del>him</del>. I’d never seen somepony so absolutely dreamy before, the way he kept his mane trimmed short, the absolute girth of his muscular neck, those soft light-blue eyes… I stammered a bit, sitting in the snow, looking up at him as he turned to face myself, extending a black, massive hoof. “Abh… buh… uh, s-sorry…” He helped me back up onto my hooves – ooh, I think that was my back going – myself stumbling a bit with the loaded saddlebags. He pased on a light smirk, his eyes seeming to light up, patting myself on the shoulder and nodding towards the residential areas.

“Flash-bang never mentioned a brother. Name’s Featherweight, or, ‘F and B’ if Firing Pin asks.” He looked back at myself, the large parka he wore flapping idly in the breeze as I trotted alongside him, feeling a bit dwarfed by his large stature. F and B… Effin’ Bee… I’m an idiot. Well, at least I found him and could make the delivery. With ponies like him around, I could imagine why this Flash-Bang was staying, though… I found myself giggling like a fool, a quick smack across the face from my left hoof rectifying that and prompting a look of confusion from the much larger stallion. I grinned and chuckled embarrasedly, looking off to the side.

“Eheh, ah, I’m Twintails, nice to meet you… oh, right, actually have a delivery for you here, fifty pounds’ worth of Composition 4 and scrap.” I tossed the bags up a bit, feeling my legs falter as the cargo fell back onto my back with a heavy thud. Have I mentioned I do a lot of stupid things pretty often yet? I let off a little squeak, Featherweight blinking and looking down at my stumbling self, relying on the rubber padding on my front hooves that came with the barding to hold back a scream. He chuckled with that deep, gentle voice, coming to a stop as he looked back.