Canterlot.

Capital of Equestria, home to ponies of all races and the center of a thriving nation. A city of progress, of magic, and invention. The streets and districts echoed with prosperity and opportunity for those willing to earn it.

And none were more willing than the mare sitting in 12th row of the fourth car on the afternoon express from Manehattan to Canterlot.

She stared down at the pamphlet in her hooves with large, eager, green eyes.

“435 Sw Applewood Ave, apt #2” A key jingled softly inside the attached envelope. Her mind wandered out of the car and into the bustling streets, trying to imagine just what home would look like.

Home.

She paused, a twinge of loneliness echoed off the word. She missed her friends, her mother, her father. But there was nothing there for her: she needed room to grow, she thought. She gave a slight chuckle at the irony of the sentiment, before her lingering melancholy returned.

Tired of the nagging sadness, she shook her head of the thoughts and looked out the window. Trees rushed by as the tracks wound their way along a mountainside. It reminded her of the stories her father used to tell, about the hills of Scoltland. The placid lakes, the rolling hills, it almost made her wonder if she should have headed there instead.

“Ah, ye wouldn’t like it, lass. Is she pretty? Aye. But Scoltland’s got nuthin’ but potatoes ‘n ale.”

“Oh come now, Woad. It’s hardly fair to talk about your homeland like that. Scoltland is a wonderful place. You’re just exaggerating.” Her mother turned and pat her on the head. “Don’t listen to him, Barricade. He’s just being daft.”

“Oy! I ne’er said she weren’t wonderful, Calli’. It’s a pure dead fantastic place to visit, aye. I’m just say’n it’s hardly a place for anyone to find their future. Why do ye think I left?”

Her lips parted in a gentle smile as she recalled the noogie that followed.

“You’re biiiig.”

Barricade slowly turned to face the tiny, squeaky voice, and was met with the wide eyed stare of a little, white, earth-pony colt. “Well, maybe, you’re just little!” She chuckled. “What’s your name, laddie?”

“I’m Chip!” The little colt shouted, managing to become airborne for a brief moment. “Uh, I’m seven years old!”

Barricade snickered quietly. “Well hey there, Chip! I’m Barricade! And I’m 19 years old! So, you’re going to Canterlot too?”

“Yeah!”

“Are you excited?”

“Yeah!”

“Me too!” Barricade stuck her hoof out toward Chip, as he eagerly clapped his hoof to hers.

“Chip! Marble Chip! Come back to your seat!”

“Aww, mom’s calling me.” Chip said, ears wilting. “Well, I just wanted to say hi. Bye, Barricade!”

“Well, the ride is going to last for a few more hours, I’m sure I’ll see you again.” She said with a wink.

They saw quite a bit of each other over the next few hours; primarily though funny faces made at each other over the tops of the seats. Chip fell asleep soon after lunch, though, leaving Barricade with nothing to make faces at other than her window. It was basically the same as a few hours ago: trees, lakes, hills. But then it all began to move away from her as the train turned.

In full view, stood the capital of Canterlot.

It was everything she imagined and more. The pictures, the pamphlets; everything spoke of its wonder but failed to capture just how beautiful the city was. Barricade’s heart raced, it felt as if she could name every major structure from this distance: the observatory, the gardens, the castle, the market quarter, the grand station. And she'd never even stepped inside the city’s borders. The smile she wore for the last few hours shone brighter than ever, she knew it wouldn't be long now.

The train jerked from slow to stop, and the doors slowly opened out to the platform. Everypony seemed to rise from their seats at once, bumping into each other as they grabbed their baggage and headed outside. Barricade waited in her seat patiently watching the ponies shuffle past, a few giving her a curious or awestruck look in return. One of the last to pass her was a little tuft of white in the sea of colors that called out to her.

“Bye, miss Barricade!”

She chuckled a little as she rose from her seat and grabbed the few bags and packages she possessed, and pushed them out of the train before her.

The small portal offered a glimpse beyond the incredibly cramped confines of the railcar. Her vision swam a little, her heart fluttered, her breath hitched as she resolved herself to take the first step of her new life. Slowly she picked up her hoof, and stepped out onto platform five of Canterlot’s grand station.

The building pulsed with life. Thousands of ponies of different colors, races, and personalities danced in and out of the ever-shifting weave that was the station’s main lobby. Quickly, Barricade gathered her things into numerous saddlebags, and slung them over her back. She felt a soft thump against her foreleg, followed by the sound of disgruntled shouting. She looked down and backed up, knocking something over.

In front of her, a stallion was staring at her, no longer ranting, but certainly not placated. Barricade apologized, and turned around to see a pile of luggage toppled behind her, a family of Pegasi glaring up at her in return. Again she apologized, and started making her way away from their judging stares. She moved with the crowd, no longer caring which exit was which, just hoping that her first moments in Canterlot wouldn’t be an omen of some kind. She opened her eyes and momentarily froze.

Everyone was staring at her.

She knew why, and she didn’t care for it. Barricade dropped her eyes and focused on the ground beneath her hooves, moving forward, moving toward the exit. Part of her knew this would be the hardest part of her trip, Manehattan Central station was a close second. But she knew that she’d be fine, she was always fine.

“Ma’am! You can’t go that way! It’s under construction!” Someone shouted through the crowd.

“Huh?” Barricade yelped as she quickly lifted her head to identify the speaker, wincing when instead she slammed her head into one of the top parts of the station’s many doors. “Agghh! Bloody, ‘ells…”

She heard a few snickers emanate from the crowd around her. A short, portly unicorn quickly scampered over to Barricade from nearby, she looked him over through one eye as she rubbed the top of her head with a hoof. He was dressed in uniform, and had a look of concern on his face.

“Didn’t mean to startle you, Ma’am. But that path is off limits until they finish the coastal line’s railway.” He smiled for a moment, as an relatively awkward silence fell over the scene. “Are you lost? You don’t seem like you’re…”

“Like I’m what?” Barricade hissed, holding her stare for the briefest of seconds before relaxing. “Ah, I’m sorry. I, uh... I get it from me da.”

The stallion smiled up with more than a hint of nervousness in his features. “No! No, I understand, certainly! Would you like directions anywhere? I’d be happy to help you get where you’re going.”

Barricade rubbed her head one last time and gave it a thorough shake. “Aye, if it’s not too much trouble.” She plucked her home address from the side pocket of her saddlebags and sat down. “Four-Three-Five, Southwest Applewood Avenue, Apartment number two. Do you know where that might be?”

The station guard put a hoof to his chin. “Applewood runs pretty close to the castle, and through the market district. Though houses numbered three-hundred and higher are usually past the main district; really nice neighborhood by the way. Go out this exit, and once you’re airborne, look for th—”

“Walking directions. Please.” Barricade said, fidgeting in place. “I’d... rather just, walk, if that’s not too much trouble?”

The stallion tilted his head. “Alright, if you say so. You're going to start by taking a right once you get out. Stop at the fountain plaza in market district, and look for a sign that says Applewood; should be on your left once you get there. I’m sure you can find it from there. It's a short walk down the road.”

The stallion turned and looked back at the line of frustrated ponies waiting to have their tickets cleared with a sigh. “Have a nice day, ma’am.”

Barricade whimpered a soft, “sorry!” after the stallion as he walked away. She swiftly gathered up her belongings and swung the saddlebag over her back. The route to the door was busy, but not overly crowded as she moved with the flow of traffic. She took a right as soon as she left, and headed down the street.

She had the feeling that she was headed the right direction, as the smells that were growing stronger were absolutely delicious. She crested the hill and looked down at the sprawling plaza: vendor carts, restaurants, and stores lined the streets. She’d thought that the station housed the most ponies in one place that she’d ever seen. She settled on labeling it the second busiest place she’d ever seen.

Barricade scanned the horizon, and spotted a wide path to the left of the plaza. Eager to remove herself from the crowd, she made straight for it, giving extra consideration not to harm anyone on her way. She was grateful when she got there, as the traffic seemed to die down almost entirely in the branched paths. She glanced up at the sign, “Applewood Avenue, this is the place.” She said to nopony in particular as she cantered down the sidewalk.

“Four thirty-two, four thirty-three, four thirty-four… Ah-ha!” She squealed, fumbling with the key as she maneuvered it into the lock. “Home!” She thought as the door swung open, and she pushed her bags in before her.

She ducked her head and shimmied her way under the top of the door. Barricade looked up, and satisfied with the clearance, lifted her head. The apartment was of decent size: A bedroom, a kitchen and bath, a small dining and living room. The furniture that she and her parents ordered and had delivered was plain, but functional: just how she liked it. A table, some seating cushions and chairs, a nightstand and lamp, and a queen sized bed.

Barricade paused. Staring at her bed with her hoof firmly affixed to her face. “Not a Queen, we ordered King size… right?” She groaned loudly and stared at it, wishing that by doing so, it would magically fix itself. She gave a sharp exhale, and shrugged. It would do and she could manage. Though she did make a note to herself as she unpacked her few clothes and belongings to get ahold of the furniture company later.

She eventually had everything unpacked, sheets on the bed, and what used to look like an empty apartment was starting to look a bit more like home. She smiled in satisfaction, and folded her saddlebags when a soft “crunch” came from within. Her ears perked, and she slowly re-opened the bag, fishing out a small pamphlet.

“We’re no miracle workers, but if we can do anything to help you, I promise we will try. But you have natural talent for this, Barricade. We need ponies like you. There’s a lot of opportunity here.”

All falls silent for a moment.

“When can I start?”

“Third day of Fe—”

“—buary.” Barricade whispered under her breath. “Canterlot castle, seven in the morning.” Barricade took the paper to her bedroom and set it on the nightstand as she crawled into bed, wincing at the groaning complaints that it made. Convinced that the frame wasn’t going to give out on her, she snuggled down into her blankets, staring up at the ceiling.

“Tomorrow, tomorrow’s the day.” She thought, her eyelids drooping to a close.

“I’m going to join the royal guard.” She whispered, as a small smile formed at the corners of her mouth.

Author's Notes:

-*just a close up of her mark from the cover image.*-