The CMC Listen to Diamond Tiara

After the state run babysitting facility released hordes of young ponies upon the world, in other words school was over, the CMC immediately ran to the nearest set of train tracks. Once they arrived, they quickly took their place on one of the wooden ties between the long metal slats and waited. Luckily it seemed they did not have to wait too long, as they could see a column of smoke rising just over the hills showing that the train was going to be there soon.

Scootaloo, though, had some unfinished business to be taken care of as she swiftly galloped a bit towards the train along the tracks. There, she placed a coin and then returned to her place amongst her friends. “Sorry, once we’re done with this I want to prove that jerk wrong.” And with that, they all stared forward as a train barreled right towards them.

While the outside was practically freezing, the interior of the train was actually quite cozy, as the heat from the engine tended to make all the cars seem a bit more warm than they had any right to be. Those who were riding on this train most definitely deserved it. Such were the thoughts of one simple assistant conductor who was moving along the cars ensuring that all the passengers were well. While the smiles on the faces of the youthful ponies were enough to provide an intrinsic reward to this job, there was still no thanks to be shared. Or so he thought. One young filly gently took his hand as he passed by and looked up at him with thankful eyes.

“Sir, thank you for letting us ride on this train. I just wish that we could all get our parents back though.” The filly said, hanging her head in defeat.

The assistant conductor smiled and patted the filly on the head. “Things may look bleak now, but given time things may get better. Besides, the conductor has been doing his best to make sure you all are happy, even if he gets punished. He doesn’t have to worry though, because he’s just two days from retirement. So if any of you would like any requests, feel free to speak up.”

The children all along the train stood up in their seats and cheered, and the cheering continued long after the assistant retired to the cabin in the front of the train. Given that this was no ordinary train run, he spoke to the conductor.

“Sir, something seems a bit off. Why are all of the passengers orphans?”

The gruff mustachio’d unicorn who operated the train let out a grunt to clear his throat before replying. “Welp, I figure that them folks up in Canterlot got some good reason or other for it.”

“Those kids seem to really love this train ride. So what are you going to do after you retire?”

The conductor looked out at the vast landscape to the side, taking in a great appreciation for the grand beauty of the land and openly said. “I should buy a boat.”

“A boat? That sounds pretty nifty. Well I hope that one day when I’m as experienced as you, instead of just some rookie, I’ll be able to understand why.”

The conductor would’ve elaborated, but his eyes opened wide and he pulled on the steamwhistle on the train as soon as he saw three young fillies standing on the track in the distance. This train is going much too fast though, unless they move out of the way they’ll be crushed! He pulled several levers and the train began to release a deafening screech from the wheels upon the tracks as the conductor tried desperately to stop it, but it was no use, the train is bound to collide with the children!

But something happened. The fillies disappeared from sight. But so did the tracks, and the ground. All that could be seen was the sky. Hope remained that some pony of astounding strength stopped the train, but this hope was extinguished when the view shifted to a series of buildings on their sides. The train hadn’t been stopped, it was rolling over! The conductor tried to hold on, but as soon as the train hit the ground again he flew forward into one of the many levers which impaled him through the skull, splashing grey matter on the face of the assistant who was hanging desperately onto the door handle for safety. Ground came up as metal burrowed its way into the soil, and the train finally came to a halt.

The assistant saw what had become of the conductor and became ill, but resisted any urges he may have had as he had to focus on another matter. He opened the door that he was hanging on to and stepped through the doorway, seeing that the other door connecting to the nearby passenger car was opened as well. What he saw as he peered into the passenger car is best left described in the loosest of terms as a menagerie of gore, and when he averted his sight he spotted a trail of crimson along the ground leading away from the wreckage. He stepped into the chill outside and followed the trail to the filly he had met just moments before. She was mashed to say the least, and covered in all sorts of contusions and cuts, and she was holding her stomach which was clearly troubling her the most. He held her in his hooves and tried to comfort her. She was already much too cold.

“Please, stay awake. Everything’s going to be okay. We’ll get you to a hospital, just stay awake!”

She gathered the strength to look at him, her eyes glazing over and beginning to dim. She then finally became limp, her hoof moving aside and exposing coils of pink intestine. With futility the assistant tried to push the trail of organ back inside her but it was of no use, she was gone. He then looked to the heavens above and let out a yell, cursing the existence of whatever being would allow such a travesty to happen and damning the culprits for it’s cause.

He was cut short, in multiple ways, as his speech was interrupted by the cabin of the train exploding. The explosion hurled forth one of the heavy metal wheels which collided and separated half of his body, reducing it to little more than red sludge. None who rode the train that day survived. Still, at least they weren’t riding a bus.

The CMC watched as the train flew off the tracks. As the wreckage smoldered, burned and the head car exploded only one thing was said.

“Well . . . I owe someone an apology.” Said Scootaloo.

The trio began to leave the scene and headed towards Ponyville, conversing along the way.

“Nobody got a cutie mark from that?” Applebloom said, causing the three to look at their flank areas. Much to the disappointment, their rears were blank. “Welp, I guess this means it’s back to the drawing board.”

Sweetie Belle piped up “Too far. Let’s go back to Diamond Tiara.”

They all agreed and continued along their way.