Unlikely but Possible

"Of all the stupid, annoying things that could happen today." Ocean paced back and forth in frustration. "Why the buck did this have to happen?! We'll be days behind if we're lucky."

"It's not that bad Ocean." Crescent said. "We got on the wrong train, it happens."

"No! Crescent." Ocean snapped. "We were on the right train, until I was dumb enough to fall asleep and leave an irresponsible pony like you to wake me up when we stopped. Not only did you fail to wake me when we stopped, but you and your marefriend both fall asleep, and then the train went back not just past Canterlot and Ponyville, but we're in DODGE BUCKING JUNCTION!!! THAT'S THE EXACT OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF OUR DESTINATION!!!"

"Sorry Ocean." Ruby apologized.

"Hmm here." Ocean reached in his saddle bag and tossed a bag of bits at Ruby and Crescent. "It's another six hours before the next train to the North and I don't want to look at either of you. Take that money, do whatever, just go! Be back here before the next train, or I'm leaving you both here."

Before Crescent could say something, Ruby grabbed both the bits and Crescent. "Thank you Ocean. Once again, I'm sorry."

Walking through the small rustic town, Crescent and Ruby took in the sights, or lack there of. The town only had a few buildings but lots of Earth and Pegasi. Not as many Unicorns though.

"What a small town." Ruby observed. "I think the only buildings I saw are inns, and restaurants."

"Well Dodge Junction is a place ponies go to get away from something, or wait for a train." Crescent commented.

"Like us." Ruby commented. "Maybe while we're here, we should-"

"GET OUT!!!" A mare's voice shouted in the distance.

Not running, but not walking towards the source of the noise. Ruby and Crescent saw a heavy set light green Earth mare with a curled up dirty blond mane scolding at a cowering blueish grey colored Pegasus stallion. His hooves and messy mane of the same color cowered and looked like he was in a begging position, his faintly golden eyes kept this groveling look as he begged. The strangest thing was the his lack of cutie mark, he was a full grown stallion, but he was a blank flank.

"I told you to get out!" The mare shouted at the pegasus. "No bits, no food. NO EXCEPTIONS!!"

"B-but.." The pegasus kept begging.

"No exceptions!" The mare stated again. "Come back when you have bits."

"Well that sucks." Crescent said.

"You'd think ponies would help their fellow ponies in need." Ruby commented quietly, but couldn't stand watching this and stepped forward. "Excuse me?"

"And what do you want?" The mare asked in a stern tone.

"What's going on here?" Ruby asked. "If he's hungry, even without bits, shouldn't he get some food?"

"I don't know who you are, or where you're from." The mare stated. "But around here, we work for our food."

"But look at him." Ruby pointed out. "The poor guy's too exhausted and hungry to work."

"Sorry, no exceptions." The mare said sternly. "If I gave out free food to every sad story, I'd be out of business."

"Then how about this!" Ruby grabbed the bag of bits, and tossed it at the mare's hooves. "We'll pay for his meal."

The mare cringed a little and took a deep breath. "Fine. Come in."

"Come on." Ruby patted the pegasus on his back with a smile. "Let's get some food."

That pegasus might as well have seen an angel of mercy with how his tears of joys trickled a bit. Inside the restaurant, the three ponies were seated at a large table. The mare then gave the three menus.

"My name is Shrubbery and I'll be your waitress." Shrubbery said with a near forced smile. "Let me know when you're ready to-"

"Everything." Ruby said in a near mocking tone. "I'm sure the bits we gave can buy one of everything."

"Yes..yes they can." Shrubbery sounded a bit annoyed but since she was making money, she couldn't complain. "It'll take a little time but I'll bring them out as they finish getting cooked."

"No rush." Ruby said in a snide, victorious tone.

Shrubbery simply nodded her head and headed into the kitchen.

"Was that really necessary?" Crescent laughed a bit. "That pony's gonna hate us until we leave."

"I had no choice Crescent." Ruby said. "I couldn't let him starve when nopony was gonna help him." She then turned towards the pegasus she helped. "Oh and I'm Ruby Wing, and this is Crescent-Blade. What's you're name?"

"T-Talon." The pony stuttered in a nervous tone.

"No need to be so shy." Ruby smiled. "When the food comes, you can eat as much as you want."

Talon could almost burst into tears, he wasn't accustomed to such kindness. It wasn't long before Shrubbery came with the first round of food. An appetizer of toasted wheat bread, fried peas, roasted chestnuts, and fresh apple cider. Talon couldn't believe what they got right off the bat.

"I'll bring out the entree when you're done with the appetizer." Shrubbery said, taking her leave.

"Well let's dig in." Crescent said, starting to take a few bites.

Without a delay, Talon started to slowly eat some of the food, still nervous at how kind these two ponies are being to him. The appetizer went by generally quickly and the first round of entrees began. Vegetable stir-fry, roasted chestnuts in noodles, plates of pasta with red sauce, coleslaw, five different types of eggs, soups, stews, and chowders in bread bowls,  large salads, and various sandwiches. Ruby and Crescent were impressed by the spread, but Talon's eyes almost burst out of their sockets at such a feast. This is was more food than he's ever seen in one sitting.

"No need to hold back." Ruby smiled again. "Eat your fill."

Talon took that offer to heart, as he began shoveling down food as if it was the last thing he'd ever eat. He went from a shy nibbler to a blur of food and hooves. This is quite a surprise for the two across from him. Ruby and Crescent could only stare in amazement ast how quickly Talon was gulping the food.

"Well..." Ruby chuckled a bit. "It seemed he was hungry, though I don't think I'm seeing him chew his food."

"Well you better hurry up Ruby." Crescent said, started to eat the food. "At this rate, he'll eat all the food."

Ruby grabbed a hold of some of the food and began to peacefully eat the food in front of her. After several more minutes of binging, the entrees were gone. It was then that Shrubbery brought out the final course...dessert. Several different types of pies; cherry, apple, chocolate cream, blackberry, apple fritters, wheat cream cakes, and even some small cookies. But one look at the treats made Ruby almost give up her lunch, she already ate her fill.

"(Pony food is filling)" Ruby thought to herself. "(But not high in nutrients for me.) You can have what's left Crescent, Talon."

"Oh no I'm good." Crescent said, if he had a belt, he would undo the notch. "I ate my fill, and I sure a buck not giving some to that prick Ocean. So think you can eat the rest Tal-"

Crescent and Ruby already saw that almost half the desserts were gone; eaten by what could possibly be a bottomless pit in Talon's stomach. It wasn't too long before the food was all spent. Sitting in the afterglow, the three awaited the check.

"Just lucky for you." Shrubbery said, handing over a slip of paper with the word "PAID" stamped on it. "The bits you gave were just enough to cover everything...Plus tip."

"Okay then." Ruby and the rest got up. "Thank you for the food."

"And please." Shrubbery said calmly as they left the building and out of earshot. "Don't come back."

______________________Back at the Station____________________________

Ocean stared and stared and continuously stared over his notes, but none of it made sense.

"I've already ruled out some artificial or alternative energy source." Ocean adjusted his scarf in frustration. "No country, no race, especially in the northern hemisphere is capable of such a feat in so little time without being noticed. And our scans can reach the Crystal Empire, and this signal is even farther north. So what could've made it so far. Nothing that far north by some frozen mountains." Ocean kept jotting down notes down. "Possibly an ancient Alicorn temple. Possible, given their unknown histories. Maybe some Alicorn is frozen and is calling for help." Ocean thought that one over and quickly scribbled that out. "That's ridiculous. If it was another Alicorn, Princess Celestia or Luna would know something. What could it be?"

"Ocean we're back." Ruby announced politely, not wanting to interrupt Ocean's concentration.

Given his time to calm down, Ocean was less annoyed by the two. "Who's that?"

Following close behind Ruby and Crescent, was Talon. He was like a lost puppy, fed and now following the hoof that fed him.

"His name's Talon." Ruby explained. "We found him being harassed by a restaurant owner because he didn't have any money."

"Ruby. I have no idea where you grew up. But if you don't have money, why would anypony go to a restaurant?" Ocean asked.

"I..I was hungry and I was too weak to work." Talon said, rather nervously. "I thought if I got food, I could work it off after I ate."

"And since my...associates fed you. What are you doing here?" Ocean asked sternly.

"Well I feel so bad that they spent so many bits on me." Talon explained. "That I have to pay them back somehow."

"A lot of bits?" Ocean looked at the two. "How many of bits I gave did you spend?"

"All of it." Crescent sighed. "Ruby ended up spending all the bits you gave us on food."

"I didn't see you complaining as you were shoveling your face." Ruby laughed a bit.

"Anyway!" Ocean brought the discussion back on track. "I don't care what you do with him, but we are not bringing him, and you Talon, just accept that they helped you and get over it."

"B-But I have to do something." Talon protested. "I could come with you...repay my debt that way."

"No!" Ocean protested. "We're going to the Crystal Empire, on IMPORTANT business. Not some vacation. You'll just get in the way."

Just then the sound of a incoming train was nearing the station.

"Our train is here and they won't let you on without tickets." Ocean told Talon. "So just say your peace and let that be the end of it."

As the train rolled up, Ocean, Ruby, and Crescent boarded the train. Though Ruby was against Ocean's rude statements, she was technically a guest in this venture too. And before Ruby could say anything to Talon, he was already gone, took off into the air. So with the calling of the conductor and the blowing of the whistle, the train began to move. This time, Ruby, Crescent, and Ocean would stay awake through their trip. BUT...unknown to the group, Talon was close behind them; a couple feet above the train, with a rope firmly tied around a cloud, Talon lassoed his own ride to the train. So he can fulfill his debt to the mare who was so kind to him.

____________________To the Frozen North, past the Crystal Empire_________________________

"Have Pit and Collie returned from the Diamond Dog Mine?" Oge asked a large, cloaked Earth pony.

"Yes Lord Oge." The Earth pony sounded male and near middle aged. "As well as Crystal and Ishtar from the Changeling Hive."

"And their report?" Oge asked, not looking away from the maps in front of him.

"Crystal reports that the Changelings will give us all information from their scouts regarding the fragments. But they have none themselves." The stallion continued. "But Pit claims he detected a large fragment somewhere within the Dog Mine."

"I see." Oge's eyes lit up a tad. "I will have Pit look into it later. For now, are you ready for your assignment in the Crystal Empire?"

"Yes Lord Oge." The stallion bowed and soon left the room.

Oge stared and stared at his map of Equestria. Several spots marked and burnt out. "So many places to search, but I've waited years for this, I can wait a little longer. Soon all of Equestria will suffer and burn under the wing of flame and hatred. But for now, I shall use the Changelings and Diamond Dogs until their use is expired. Let us see how this all plays out."