A Level Headed Stallion

"All aboard!" Time Flanks calls.

I really wish I could stay longer in Canterlot, having it been four years since I lived here. After I finished at the Academy for Gifted Unicorns, I moved to Manehattan and haven't really traveled much since due to my job.

It's amazing that the train companies still use the coal guzzlers like the one I'm riding on. The individual compartments, the church-pew-like seats, and conductors that still collect tickets; everything about this snail of a machine screams old fashioned. I don't know why the companies don't transition to the Light Rails or even the experimental Magnetic Bullet Trains which T.E.C.H. is trying to develop.

"Knock Knock Knock"

I turn to see a tan mare standing in the hallway in front of my compartment. I open the door.

"Can I help you?"

"Yes...I was wondering if me and my son could sit in here. The rest of the compartments are full, and I can't let him out of my sight for a minute...Button...BUTTON!!! COME BACK HERE RIGHT NOW, THIS IS NOT A GAME!"

I consider my options. One one hand, I doubt a single mom and child would appreciate sitting in a room for two hours watching me listen to the Complete Nocturnes of Shoepin and working on concept sketches. I probably would have to listen to the mom tell me her life story and make small talk while the kid whines or runs around the compartment or asks a million questions. On the other hand, I'd look like a big jerk if I said no.

"Sure...but do you mind if I get some work done on the trip? I have a deadline."

"That's fine for me! I'm Love Tap by the way..."

She grabs a hold of a cocoa colt with an auburn mane and pulls him into the compartment

"And this rascal is my Button."

"MOoooooM! I SAaaaaiD for you not to call me 'my Button'. My name is Button Mash!"

The train whistle squeaks and the dinosaur lurches forward towards Ponyville.

"Level Headed...that's my name, by the way."

"WAIT A MINUTE!!! Do you make video games?" Button asks

I look down to see him starring at my cutie mark, a grey gaming controller that stands out from my sky blue coat.

"Now Button... Mr. Headed has a lot of work..."

"It's no trouble...to answer your question, no, I don't make video games, but I do some game licencing and design for T.E.C.H."

"Hey! My dad and brother work for T.E.C.H! Do you know High Score and Commodore?"

"Not personally, but they're legendary around the office as the developers of the JoyBoy"

"Wait..." Mrs. Tap interrupts. "Are you staying in Ponyville for the week?"

"Yeah. I'm supposed to be staying at 816 Bridle Lane"

"THAT'S MY HOUSE!!!!!!!" Button yells.

Yay......

"BUTTON! Stop jumping on the seat! This is not a playground!"

"Sworry mom..."

"So what are you working on?" Mrs. Tap asks

"Right now, I'm working on designing tracks for the new Magnetic Bullet Trains. With some work, we will have replaced these old locomotives with state-of-the-art trains that are powered on electromagnetism and would travel from Canterlot to Ponyville in ten minutes."

"But these old trains are cool..." Button says. "They kinda have a...old charm to them"

"So do petticoats and corsets, but that doesn't mean we still need them."

"Yeah, but what about the scenery?"

"What about it?"

"You can see the really cool mountains and animals on this train."

"People who have time for that can...hike... or something. People nowadays have to conserve time when they can, and if people have to commute from Ponyville to Canterlot, that's like three and a half hours they could be spending getting themselves ahead in the world."

"I guess you two will just have to disagree." Mrs. Tap intervenes.

"I agree... do you mind if we change the subject?" I add

Lucky you Button...I could debate you all day...

"Yeah...Oh yeah! I can't get past this part in Calvary Clashes...can you help?"

I smirk, "Button, I was person who allowed for that game to be licensed. I know everything about Calvary Clashes...it's one of the best RPGs T.E.C.H. licensed."

Long story short, I spent the next hour and a half being Button's mage, gently guiding him in the right direction. Mrs. Tap listened to her TECHord, an mp3 player licensed by T.E.C.H while reading a book.

Before I knew it, we were at our destination: Ponyville.