Several blocks away, a car came barreling around the corner. Behind the wheel, Roger Whitman glanced at the clock. It had been just his luck that he had gotten stuck in traffic on the day of the big test. He went to the same school as Jon and got along with him well enough. Unlike Jon, however, he tended to have trouble with his studies, as well as with time management.
As he drove past the local strip mall, he slowed down. Something seemed odd about the road ahead. Instead of the usual worn asphalt, the street led right into a cobblestone lane. On either side, the buildings had been brightly colored and given architecture reminiscent of an old-fashioned small town. Overall, it looked like Main Street at Disneyland.
"What's going on here?" He muttered.
Roger slowed down further as he reached the edge of the new street. While there were no signs forbidding driving a car down this path, he did not see any cars parked along the sidewalk. All around, pedestrians strolled about as if they had no worry about oncoming vehicles. Oddly, they all seemed to be women dressed in elaborate costumes straight out of a fairy tale. A special event, maybe?
Normally, Roger would never have risked it, but he was in a big hurry. So, cautiously, he drove onto the cobblestones. To his relief, the women moved to the side to let him pass. None of them looked annoyed at his intrusion. In fact, they smiled and waved at him, causing him to blush and wave back. Having so many attractive ladies greet him so nicely made him feel very self-conscious.
Then, something else caught his eye. Two little girls were standing on the sidewalk, dressed in princess outfits. While he had little reason to pay them any attention, he felt the car start to slow to a stop and pull over on its own.
"Huh? What's going on? W-why is the car stopping? Did the battery run out again?" Panicked, Roger saw the time. "I don't have time for this! I need to hurry! I-I need to need to-"
His words were cut short by a wave of dizziness that overwhelmed him. Countless sensations bombarded him until he could no longer feel the seat beneath him or the steering wheel in his hands. A moment later, it stopped.
Blinking his eyes, Roger found himself standing on the street. The car was nowhere to be found. Instead, a small painted coach stood behind him, at least from what he could see when he turned his head. When he tried to move his body, he could feel something on either side of him move also. Glancing down, he received the biggest surprise of his life.
Two dainty hooves rested on the cobbles in front of him, and he could hear the sound of two more when he moved his feet. Quickly, he looked to the side at a nearby shop window. There, he saw the reflection of a graceful white pony hitched up to a miniature coach. A high pitched whinny escaped him.
"Jessica, look," Roger heard one of the girls say to the other. "It's a pony! A pretty pony!"
The girls bounded up to the confused animal and stroked its muzzle affectionately. "Oh, that's a good pony. Good girl."
Girl? Roger let the ramifications of that word seep in. Then, he felt a fog fill his mind as the girls continued to pet him, lulling him into a dreamlike state.
When Roselia blinked her eyes next, she wondered why she was just standing here. A frisky filly like herself needed to move, to feel the breeze against her face and the ground flowing past beneath her hooves. Gently pulling her head away from the girls' hands, she tossed her long, pale mane back and pointed her delicate nose at the coach behind her. As if by magic, the coach door opened itself.
"Wow! Ashley, did you see that? I think she wants us to get inside."
Understanding their speech, Roselia nodded with enthusiasm.
Squealing with joy, the girls climbed inside the coach. The door closed automatically behind them. When they were all settled, the pony started forward at a brisk canter. The musical clopping of her hooves thrilled her heart, and she lifted her head proudly.
Roselia loved her life, transporting passengers here and there, with the sun warming her gleaming hide. Best of all, she could go at whatever pace she wanted. After all, she had never been one to hurry.
