The green earth pony let off a long sigh as he stood at the door of the cabin listed on his ticket number. Like it or not, he’s along for the ride… eh, maybe heading out to that town’ll be a good thing, get some ideas flowing again. He’d been in a bit of a stink writing-wise for a while, the new air of Ponyville over the holiday might just be what he needed. Reaching up with a hoof, he pulled at the door, sliding it aside and stepping in, finding… the cabin already with an occupant.
 
The flightcap-wearing gryphon blunk a few times as they exchanged looks, giving her large wings a bit of a shuffle as she adjusted herself on her bench. Of course, couldn’t have lucked out and had the room to herself for the whole trip… still, least the leg outta Griffonstone was nice and quiet. She let off a small grunt to break the air. “Eh, heya. You got the right cabin?”
 
“Seventeen, right side, what my ticket says anyways.” The gryphon gave a little nod as the pony slid himself down the bench opposite, resting his forelegs on the table between them. The icy, snowed-over mountains below didn’t make much for interesting viewing, especially at this speed, but it beat trying to travel by train in this weather. Least of all because it was cheaper. Even if it was an overnight… “So, uh, it comfy sleeping on these things?”
 
“Sure beats the floor. Trust me. You heading Ponyville-ways, too?” The gryphon swung herself around to sit in the booth, giving her back a quick stretch. Guh, might be more comfy than the carpet, but that was not meant to say much. The earth pony across from her gave a nod, leaning back.
 
“Yeah, hoping the holiday sights there might help with some inspiration, and failing that see if an old college buddy’s still around there. Fell in with a weird mare from the art wing last I heard from him, haven’t a clue what to expect.” The earth pony let off a small chuckle, thinking back. Yeah, those were definitely some weird days… some reason all he could really remember was a poster around the hoofball field warning everyone to not let that mare within a hundred feet of anywhere there might be compressed gases. Weird days, for sure. “Eh, so, what’s your story? Oh, uh, Sporadic Escapade, by the way. Most folks just call me Spes.”
 
“Hispano. And, got wind of a pretty interesting spot near the northeast down there, some place that’s suddenly been on the receiving end of a lot more explosions than what’s normal. Just wanna see what’s up, and if I could get in on some of that action myself.” If there was one thing the gryphon couldn’t resist, it was seeing a lotta firepower. If only the Gryphon armed forces’ weapons weren’t only about as useful as a pointy stick and some overcooked biscuits. “Had some odd name, the place, uh, Bangline Valley, I think? I dunno.”
 
The earth pony sat across form her blunk. Nah, couldn’t be… unless it wasn’t a coincidence. “Huh… funny, the guy I’m heading to see is named Bang, and I think the mare he dropped out with was named Line, too. Crazy coincidence, or d’you think we’re heading to the same place?”
 
The gryphon across from him let loose a small laugh, resting back. “I’ve heard of crazier things, but if that’s the case I’m telling you now that these sun goggles are not for sharing. Trust me, if the stories are true, whatever’s going on in that valley is lighting up the place like the sun’s crashed into it. There’s a chance your friends might be there, but I wouldn’t be holding my breath.”
 
Hispano settled herself in for another nap, as Spes just shuffled over to look out the window at the passing scenery. A smirk came to his muzzle - yeah, she didn’t know how crazy the stuff he’s heard could get…