“I must go.” The stoic mare said. She gave a slow blink to her sister.
“Aww, do you ‘really’ have to go? I mean really, really, REALLY have to go? I wanted you to get to know my friends better.” Pinkie Pie said. The earth pony hugged her sister and then wiped away a tear. “My friends would be super duper excited to know more about you. Those rocks you make are awesome!”
“Yes Pinkie. I must go.” Maud said as she hugged her sister with one hoof. She gave a sly smile; it turned back into a blank expression just as quickly as it came. The expressionless pony turned towards the six ponies in front of her, “Goodbye.”
“Hey, you never told us what you—“Rainbow Dash said.
“All aboard,” Conductor Broiler said with a bellow, “train to Las Pegasus, all aboard!”
Maud boarded the train and took her seat. She watched the six ponies’ wave goodbye. All of their fond farewells were drowned out by train’s wheels as they grinded against the track, and the thick clouds of steam that billowed forth from the engine. That familiar screech of metal on metal entered into the stoic mare’s ears. Her reflection off the train car’s glass window grew and faded with the sun being blocked out by the clouds that came and went.
“Las Pegasus, next stop! All ponies bound for Las Pegasus grab your belongings!” The earth pony conductor said. An hour had passed since the train’s departure. Conductor Broiler made his rounds. He felt the train slow and then stop. The Conductor made his way back to the first train car,”Las Pegasus, all out! Tall Tale and Yanhoover, next and final stop!”
“A rock in a dress, how whimsical, “Maud said to herself in an emotionless voice. She watched a show mare’s costume glitter in the sunlight as the pony departed the train. “A Rockette dancer, perhaps my sister might find that amusing.”
After the ponies left the train and a fresh group boarded, the train’s wheels screeched once more. Maud turned towards the window she sat next to, blinking ever so often. The scenery outside her window changed from waterfalls and open sky to the forest of white tail woods then back to open skies. Soon, the stoic mare moved towards the first passenger car.
“Last stop, Tall Tale and Yanhoover. Tall Tale and Yanhoover last stop!” The conductor said with a holler that resounded throughout the near empty passenger cars after the ponies departed. Broiler’s eyes fixated on Maud. The earth mare sat down in the open front seat near him, “This is the last stop, miss. There aren’t any further locations we can reach until the train is turned the other way at the station.”
Maud pulled the small rock out of her pocket and presented to the earth pony.
“I’m sorry. I don’t take rocks as currency. Do you not have a ticket?” Broiler said. He leaned forward and squinted at the rock. A faint odor that came from the rock entered into his nose, “O dear, m-m-my apologies. I will de-detach the rear cars at once. We will be underway momentarily.”
“Ok.” Maud said. She gave a slow blink to the conductor. Sweat trailed down his forehead while the stoic mare stared at him. “Are there any passengers aboard?”
“N-No ma’am, I do not believe there are any passengers left. If there are, I will make sure they are escorted safely off the train.” The stallion said with a quick bow.
With the rear train cars uncoupled, a final screech echoed in the ponies’ ears as the engine moved slowly down the tracks. A small thicket of trees appeared on the horizon with a building just beyond it. The unicorn that shoveled the coal leaned out the side window, steadied his horn, and sent a small green blast of magical energy towards a tree. Locomotive number 9’s destination changed from the train station in Smokey Mane to a track that lead into a thick forest of dead trees. A once blissful, open, serene landscape changed to a nightmarish land. Small mounds spewed forth acrid smog and columns of crimson colored fire. Bark hung off the trees. The light from the sun barely penetrated the dark clouds that floated in the sky.
Locomotive number 9’s light illuminated the path ahead as it proceeded into the black void of a cave.
“Almost there, I guess.” Maud said. A familiar mechanical sound entered into her ears after the train came to a halt, “All must play their parts.”
Conductor Broiler approached the mare. He swallowed to quench his sudden parched throat. The place was a myth to ponies like him; never did they hope to see it. The stallion steadied himself, “L-La-Last s-stop, Tartarus.”
“Princess Celestia will reimburse my ticket,” Maud said as she walked towards the door.
As she got off the train, the expressionless pony was greeted by a small battalion of unicorn, earth, and pegasi stallion ponies. Each soldier was clad in ebony armor with a crimson insignia emblazoned on their backs. The stallion’s raised their heads and said in unison, “Welcome back, Commander Brimstone!”
“I would prefer ‘Grimrock,’ ” Maud muttered to herself. She turned toward the troops in front of her and gave a nod; they all disappeared, appearing as if they were never there to begin with. A pegasus mare came to the earth pony’s side after the stallions left. “Did any escape, Arguros?”
“N-No ma’am. I mean no, Commander Maud ‘Brimstone’ Pie, ma’am! There were no escapes,” The pegasus pony saluted with her wing. Maud blinked. Arguros steadied herself and lowered her wing. “Ma’am, our investigation into the escape hasn’t come up with any new information. At the moment, we attribute ‘her’ escape to the potential escapades of Cerberus and his ineptitude as a guard dog.”
“Cerberus is not to blame.” The earth pony said. Her expressionless demeanor remained unchanged, “The guards aren’t to blame either. ‘She’ is a trickster. We will recapture her. Is there anything further to report?”
“There is nothing further to report, ma’am. If I may speak off the record—“Arguros said before Maud turned to her.
“It was a pleasant reunion. She is happy and has friends to share her life with. That matters most to me.” Maud said. Her grin faded just as quickly as it came.
“As stoic as ever, my dear. I’m glad to see you are in good spirits,” A voice said with a regal tone. The tall mare walked towards Maud, “Did you enjoy your vacation?”
Princess Celestia towered above the earth and pegasus ponies. The light from the four large braziers near them refused to pierce the darkness of the large, cavernous area. Equestria’s ruler motioned towards the train and Conductor Broiler bowed to the regal mare before the train departed.
“Every stallion must play his part. Every mare must play her part. That is what you told me. I will play my part to protect my sister,” Maud blinked at the regal mare that stood in front of her.
“I hope I put more emotion into my speeches.” Princess Celestia said as she raised an eyebrow at the pony. A luminescent yellow glow surrounded her horn. The same color aura surrounded Maud’s robe. “I do apologize. In my heart, I would like for this place to just disappear. It would be wonderful if it didn’t have to exist at all.”
“Arguros, will you prepare some tea. I will attend to our ‘special’ guest.” Maud said as she rubbed her right hoof against her left. The mare’s wardrobe changed to that of a hooded cloak with a glowing insignia emblazoned on each side.
“Tea won’t be necessary. I am sorry that you couldn’t receive more time off from your ‘job.’” Princess Celestia said with disheartened smile. “Have you told your sister?”
“She is with friends.” Maud said with a kind smile before Celestia lift off the ground.
“I am glad that she is with friends. Friends and family are very important. A pony without them – I dare not think about that.” The regal mare said before she vanished in a flash of light.
Maud and Arguros proceeded down the rickety wooden bridge that connected to the floating platform near the train tracks. Each step both ponies took let out a creak that any normal pony would expect to echo in the cavernous room, yet nothing came. The two mares walked down the darkened pathway and into a small opening in the solid rock face.
A gigantic bronze door greeted Maud and Arguros. The stoic earth pony turned and bucked the door. A loud bang resounded down into the lower levels of the otherworldly place. Soon, the sturdy bronze doors closed behind them.
“Every pony must play their part,” Maud said as the light from the rising flames reflected off her eyes.