Chapter One
Arrival
"Do you really think this is a good idea, Twilight?"
The question came from two seats ahead in the rail car. There was no doubt that it came from the rainbow haired girl in a cyan track suit sitting up there, doubtlessly bored from the long ride from home. After all, Rainbow Dash had always been a free spirit, and she didn't like being cooped up in a train for Faust knew how many hours. An answer came from another girl, dressed in a blue blouse and purple skirt, who, at the time, had her nose stuffed in a book, as per the norm.
"Yes I'm sure, Rainbow," said Twilight Sparkle as she flipped through the pages of a rather large tome, "The foreign exchange program will be a wonderful way to learn some new cultures." It had been a few months since the coronation, and Twilight had been settling into her duties quite nicely- the 'Tree of Harmony' fiasco being the only major occurrence as of late. Then, after some subtle hinting by a certain Princess of the Sun, the studious Alicorn stumbled upon a new "Foreign Exchange Program". The thought of learning another country's way of living enticed her so much that, after asking her friends, she signed them all up. Thus their current situation.
"Yeah Dashie, I'm absopositilutely sure that this trip is gonna be a blast!" exclaimed Pinkie Pie, who had been sitting in the back of the car with Fluttershy. She was currently attired with a white t-shirt, blue over shirt, and pink jeans. Twilight rolled her eyes at Pinkie's nonsensical wordage; she'd come to expect as much from the pink haired party thrower.
"I, for one, think that this will be delightful," said Rarity, who had been sitting in the chair adjacent to Twilight, "Judging by how well furnished this train is, I'm positive that where we're going is a place of regal refinement." It was true; the whole train simply reeked of a refined touch, from the dining car to the view from the caboose- everything seemed to have an air of beauty. It was a beauty that the fashionista seemed to be eating up. Rarity had chosen something simple to wear for the trip; a white button down with black slacks.
"I still don't know, girls," said Rainbow, "This whole thing seems more like you and Rarity's thing, Twilight. I mean, even the name of this train sounds egghead-ish; what even is a Molentary Express, anyway?"
"Oh, c'mon, RD, don' be such a stick in the mud," said the Stetson wearing farm girl a seat behind her, "Ah say, don' knock it til ya try it!" Applejack had slept for most of the trip, so she had only heard the last bit of the conversation. Rainbow turned to the cowgirl, a look of consternation on her face.
"I know AJ," she said, "I just feel so… out of place here."
"We all do," said Fluttershy, finally piping up, "but we all agreed to this, so we have to make the best of it." Flutters had been the most reluctant to take this trip; she hadn't wanted to leave all of her little critters behind, but after a promise from Spike to keep them safe, she hesitantly consented to the whole thing. The caretaker had also decided to dress lightly, only wearing a white tank top and a shin length Emerald skirt.
"I guess you're right, Fluttershy," said the prismatic speedster with an irritated flap of her wings, "but I still don't like not being able to fly for so long! When're we going to be getting off!?" It was at this point that the conductor quite literally slammed through the door, spinning his microphone around like a madman.
He said, "Important announcement coming at ya! We'll be arriving at our destination in FIVE MINUTES! Please be sure to get all your belongings, and may the Rock always be with you! YEEEAAOOW!" Then, quick as thunder, he was off to the next car.
"Well... there you have it," said Twilight as she levitated her book back into her suitcase, "I think we should all start getting ready to head out."
After a long journey, you feel the gentle swaying of the train start to slow as you approach your new home. The rising sun gives you your first glimpse of the-
"Pinkie, what's with the exposition?" asked Twilight with a confused expression.
"I dunno, it seemed appropriate." Twilight sighed in exasperation at this comment. Then, suitcases in hand and friends by her side, the Princess Librarian warmly said, "This is it girls; welcome to London."
The city was a small storm of people all walking here or there, going about their business. The skyline was an amber hue, marking the near end of daylight. Twilight was glad to see that Celestia's sun was still visible, even this far away.
"Keh heh heh heh," laughed a strange man as he walked toward the group, "You girls are new here, right?" The man was an odd figure, standing a head shorter than Rainbow, the shortest of the group, and wearing a strange scarf to match his strange moustache.
"Yes we are, sir," responded Twilight, "How could you tell?"
"I could see it in your eyes," he said. He was an odd sight, garbed in a red sweater and scarf, his face obscured by his rather large moustache. "Your those new people coming from the other side of the pond, eh? On that exchange program? The name's Stachenscarfen."
Oddly appropriate, thought Twilight when she was suddenly struck by what he said. "Wait, how do you know about that?"
"I know many things," said Stachenscarfen mysteriously, "Anyway, you should probably head over to Humble Homes. The higher-ups have set all of you up in there." He turned around to leave, but then quickly whipped back and said, "Oh, and welcome to London. Keh heh heh heh...."
Rainbow shuddered. "That guy creeps me out," she said, "Lets get away from him." The others agreed, walking towards the place Stachenscarfen had spoken about.
It was a quick affair, getting into their rooms and unpacking. They were all exhausted after their first day in the Brit city. Still, in the light of her lantern, Twilight found herself needing to do one more thing before she went to bed.
Dear Princess Celestia,
Today we arrived in London, and let me be the first to say, this place is very different from anywhere I've seen. Everything looks so... rustic, but still modern. I don't know how else to describe it. The people here are even stranger. They're all nice, but to call them eccentric would be an understatement. Still, there is one person everyone was talking about that I've yet to meet. He sounds like a really nice guy. I do hope that I can meet this "Professor Layton" sometime soon.
Your Faithful Student Friend,
Twilight Sparkle
Author's Note
Worry not. I know this was rather uneventful, but things will be happening soon enough.
