As much as I do enjoy Fancypant’s story I can’t waste time right now. Star Grazer walked through the camp taking note of ponies selling food and supplies for the work ponies. I’m going to need a new saddlebag. That little escapade across Ponyville did a number on this one… He looked at the heavily damaged tan saddlebag. Part of the strap that kept it on his back was ripped and there were several dark brown stains on the sides of the bag which he assumed was mud. The scrolls and papers in his bag, now crumpled and possibly unreadable, were loosely hanging out the torn flap that covered the bag. first things first! I need a place to stay. He trotted up to a crème colored Pegasus with an orange mane that flowed flawlessly in the wind. The mare was placing something on the ground and just begun to take off before taking notice of Star Grazer and landing a few steps away.

“Hello miss! Would you happen to know any place I could stay? I just came in.”

“There aren’t exactly places to stay besides the Elite’s Tent. If you want go to the guard house and buy a tent there to set up.” Her voice was strong yet gentle.

“Do you mind showing me to the guard house? As I said before, I’m new around here. Still don’t have my bearings.” He chuckled nervously as he took a step closer to the Pegasus.

“I have work to do… but I guess I can help you.” She gestured toward him to follow her.

Star Grazer was rather puzzled at the beauty of this mare he walked with. Her orange mane waved back and forth as she walked. Her wings were folded to her sides. It was now that he realized she wasn’t entirely a crème color. She had a sort of transition in her coat. For the most part she was crème but her coat towards her legs and hoofs were a more brownish color. He was walking behind her when she turned around; suddenly stopping in her tracks, giving him a menacing glare.

“I don’t think looking at my backside is going to help you find a place to stay!”

“Oh! I’m sorry! I wasn’t staring! I was just uh…” He began stammering and blushed.

“Yeah yeah, whatever. Just keep walking.”

Minutes passed in complete silence as they walked through the camp. They eventually walked past what Star Grazer assumed to be a makeshift bar. It was several tents sown together to make a rather large canopy, not as large as the elite’s tent but large enough, that was draped over several supporting poles. Inside were ponies drinking cider, some more than others, and having a good time. He examined the kegs of cider at the back carrying the Apple Family logo. The actual bar was made of empty crates with the same logo. He noticed the mare staring longingly at the bar as they walked past.

“Um… Miss? Do you want me to get you a drink?” Star Grazer blushed a little when the mare turned around. Her mane settled in just the right way as the sun made her hair glimmer brightly… He felt as if he was going to melt. The pure beauty of this mare was astounding! How could a creature so fair exist in Canterlot and not be part of the elite?! Why is she being tasked with manual labor?

“Hm? Oh! Yeah sure! I would love that” Her expression turned from that of annoyance to one of delight.

They walked up to the “bar” and waved over the bartender. The brown coated unicorn walked over with a glass and rag in his magical grasp.

“What can I get ya’ both?”

“Do you have sparkling water?”  Star Grazer received a quizzical look from the bar pony.

“Look kid. This here, this is a bar. What can I get ya’?” The bar pony seemed annoyed as he scratched his stubble.

“Two Ciders, hard, don’t wipe and spice it.” Star Grazer was dumbfounded by the mare’s request.

“A’ight have it out in a sec.”

The pony came back with two considerably larger mugs then those the other ponies were drinking from. They were filled to the brim and foaming over. There seemed to be something inside it that seemed out of place in the cloud of caramel colored foam on top. They were passed their drinks as Star Grazer pulled a pouch of bits out.

“On the house kid, stick with this mare here! She knows her way roun’ here.” The bar pony said that a little too matter off factly, much to the annoyance of Star Grazer. The Pegasus simply laughed and began to gulp down her drink.

“So, what is your name? You agreed to help me and I don’t even know you!” She reluctantly turned away from her drink to respond.

“Names Light Dasher! What’s yours kid?” Star Grazer became more agitated at this. He didn’t like being called a kid. My face is youthful is all!!!

“I’m Star Grazer, astronomer, at your service!” He did a slight bow towards the Pegasus causing the mare to blush.

“Hmm… a gentlecolt! Well you look like one of those preppy Canterlot peeps so I guess it makes sense…” Her eyes trailed away to a particularly large barrel of cider behind the bar as she thought of this.

“Yeah. Hehehe… I’m considered Elite. I don’t really like many of those uprights though. Besides my friend Fancypants and Prince Blueblood I don’t know many of them.” He could feel the cider taking effect, as he struggled to not slur his words.

A single drink turned into a long night at the bar as the two were seen laughing and having a good time. Star Grazer had never drunken so much anything in his life. That third cider really doesn’t like me right now… Star Grazer proceeded to run to the back of the bar and upchuck into a trashcan the bartender brought him, almost on cue. When Star finished he looked over to see Light Dasher guzzling down her twelfth mug of the stuff. The ponies jaw dropped as he passed out on the floor next to Light Dasher’s spot.

“Hey Light! It’s almost the next day! Go on and get your friend here home before he makes a mess o’ ma’ floors!” The bartender helped a drooling Star Grazer to Light Dasher, where she proceeded to put a wing out for Star to hang onto.

It was an odd site in the camp. A crème colored, orange maned, strongly built Pegasus supporting a very scholarly looking stallion. To most ponies at the camp it was the other way around! Light Dasher looked up at the now black sky. Nightmare night was four days away. She didn’t exactly celebrate it but she enjoyed being different for a change. Guess I better stick with this guy… He’s gonna’ need help if he is gonna be round here! She chuckled to herself as she walked them over to an empty patch of grass on a hill. She rested Star Grazer down and took the worn saddlebag off his back. She nearly dropped it from the sheer weight. Jeez! What’s an astronomer or whatever carry anyway! She gently placed the beige sack onto a dry patch of grass and took off towards the guard station.

“Light Dasher. Construction team. I would like an extra tent please!” The white Canterlot guard stared at Light Dasher’s id papers then peered up at her. His white face never losing the same focused and serious expression.

“Very well Miss Dasher! Tents are in a pile at the back. I trust you will not take more than one?” His eye began to twitch as a small grin began to appear on his face. “Ah who am I kidding? Go ahead light! Haha!” Light Dasher smiled and thanked him. He is a nice stallion. Too bad he got way to touchy.

She flew over to the back to see an organized pile of tent bundles wrapped up and sorted by their color. Why it really mattered the color of the tent she didn’t know so she grabbed the closest one to her. An odd ball tent, it was blue with a bunch of strange patterns on it. They looked like a weird white lined connect the dots to her. Light simply shrugged off the thought and flew back to where Star Grazer was quietly resting his head on a rock. She noticed something in his hoof that looked like a picture frame. I shouldn’t be nosy… and yet! She glanced to the left, the right, behind her, and around the hill they were on. She carefully slid the dark brown picture frame from his hoof.

The picture was of a mare. She looked to be in her teenage years. She was rather beautiful. Marefriend possibly? Maybe his sister? Light Dasher placed down the photo and began pitching the tent. After a few minutes of fumbling with the tents support frame she managed to place the final stake down. She looked over at Star Grazer, his head lying on a rock. A pointy and rough rock… Doesn’t that hurt? Oh my… She gingerly stepped around him and slowly pushed him over into the tent. When she was content he was thoroughly under the canopy of protection, she took off and gathered clouds into a pile above the hill. She sat down on the cloud looking at the moon. She shivered a bit as the weather ponies blew in the fall chill. I wonder what his story is? We talked for hours but he never said much about himself. Canterlot isn’t the ideal place to be right now… hmm… So much going on ever since that changeling attack. She let out a yawn of exhaustion. Guess I should sleep… Need my rest before work tomorrow. With that final thought she placed her head on the cloud. Releasing a sigh of content at how comfortable the cloud is. Light Dasher soon became Heavy Sleeper.

Next Chapter: A Hectic Day Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 40 Minutes