>"And you're sure you have everything you need?"
"Yes."
>"Books?"
>You raise your hips causing the saddle bags on you back to bounce a bit.
"Yep."
>"Notebooks?"
"Yes. And pencils, paper, and all that good stuff."
>Derpy bites her lip in worry.
"Mom,"
>You get a small smile and a happy little sound from the back of her throat at that.
"I'll be fine, alright?"
>"Ooooh ok. If you're sure."
>You start for the door but she moves in front of you, hovering just above the ground.
>"And you're sure you don't need me to walk you to school? I have plenty of time befo-"
>You rest a hoof against her muzzle stopping her.
"Mom, please. I'll be ok."
>"I just- oooh!"
>She closes the didstance between you and pulls you into a hug which you return quickly.
>"Have a good first day at school, okay?
"Mhm."
>She lets you go and you trot out the door.
>It's kind of chilly out but only your ears are cold.
>Your winter coat is starting to come in so the rest of you body stays warm.
>Ponyville isn't exactly bustling right now but it's just a Tuesday morning.
>There are few ponies out and about being cast in the orangey-yellow light of the rising sun along with the thatched roofed buildings. 
>Hoof traffic will pick up a bit later for sure but you'll be at school by then.
>You turn onto the road leading up to the school house.
>Lucky enough, you live pretty close to that road so navigating really isn't an issue and it shouldn't take you another five minutes to get there.
>Enough time for your mind and eyes to wander.
>The sun shines on you from over valley peaks through the gaps in the trees and leaves, onto your body.
>Each little bit of sunlight worms its way through you coat and onto your hide where it warms you up in patches.
>That fact that you had a hide to warm was just one of many not-so-small blessings as of late.
>A home.
>A mom.
>In Equestria at that.
>The chances of it are… well you didn't want to think about the chances.
>Even though you would have liked to retain certain body parts you can't complain.
>You are lucky.
>Well and truly.

>The road you're taking starts to form an incline taking you up a hill giving you a higher vantage point to look down into Ponyville.
>You spot a few ponies trotting down the street.
>Some pulling carts others doing something or nothing all the same.
>You spot a few pegasi flying over the buildings.
>You see a pair angle down and descend together into town before disappearing between buildings.
>Another pushes a lone cloud towards a cloudbank outside of town opposite of the Everfree Forest.
>All of this…
>This town.
>These ponies going about their day.
>All of it is framed by the rounded, rolling mountains on either side of the town forming the valley Ponyville is nestled in.
>And of in the distance on the side of one of those rounded mountains lies the seat of Equestrian power.
>Just hanging there.
>It's gorgeous.
>The blowing wind causes the trees to move and a branch that had been casting shade over your eyes moves too.
>You squint a bit at the sun but a smile forms on your face before you know it as you realize that a princess in that mountain city in the distance raised the very same sun that shined in your eyes.
>The only word that can describe this placed is blessed.
>And so are you.
>You blink as you realize you stopped in the middle of the road to take in this sight.
>You let loose a content sigh and get moving.
>You'd be arriving early which will give you a chance to eat the extra muffin Derp-
>No.
>It'll give you a chance to eat the extra muffin Mom packed in your lunch before school starts.
>It doesn't take you too much longer to arrive.
>There are a few fillies and colts here already playing on the playground.
>A few others sit on steps in front of the building but it doesn't seem to actually be open yet.
>And that's what strikes you most.
>Back home you wouldn't have known so man foa- children would go to school so early wanting to be there as little as possible or something but here…
>It must be a cultural thing.
>Instead of mingling you find yourself a spot under a tree some way away from everypony else.
>Not that you are purposefully trying to do the whole new-kid loner thing but you just want to soak in all the sight of these ponies doing pony things in their pony world as much as possible.
>You still aren't completely convinced this isn't some elaborate coma dream.
>Especially after all the stuff you went through before you got to this point.
>But if it has to be a dream…
>It is a really good one.