The Quest Through Time

(A/N: For this part, the song I’m using is “The Phantom Train” from Final Fantasy VI.)

Chapter 13

“On!?” Pinkie squealed. “I can’t go yet, I’m too young to die!” There suddenly came a click as the door behind them locked. The whistle then blew and the train started to move.

“Now what are we going to do!?” Applejack asked.

“The only thing we can do is head to the engine room and shut down the train there,” Reks said.

“Would that really work on a train like this?” Applejack asked.

“We can only hope,” Reks replied. “Be careful, there are most likely other spirits on this train, some friendly, others not so much. Best thing to do is avoid them.”

*They crossed into the next car, where more ghosts seemed to float around. They did not seem to be aware of their presence at all. However, one ghost did come up to them, but it did not seem menacing in the slightest. “It looks like he wants to come with us,” Pinkie said.

“I guess even among the dead you can find a friend,” Applejack stated. They continued on with their new ally through the next car and suddenly one of the other ghosts attacked without warning. “Wait a minute, they’re ghosts so they can’t actually hurt us.” A sudden flame singed the tip of her hat.

However, the ghost that was following them suddenly approached the other and seemed to melt into it, causing both to disappear. “Aw, where did he go?” Pinkie asked.

“He sacrificed himself to give us an opening, so let’s keep moving,” Reks said. They got outside and outside the car facing them, ghosts were starting to appear and converge on them. “No escape…” a disembodied voice moaned out.

“What’s going on?” Applejack asked.

“They’ve appeared to notice we’re not dead,” Reks said. “No one, living or dead, has been able to escape the trip to Tartarus.”

“Well I ain’t just gonna stay on this damn train,” Applejack said, aiming her gun and firing. Perhaps to no one’s surprise, the bullet went right through the first victim it could find. “Applesauce…”

“Up here, quick!” Reks said, going up the ladder to the top. They followed as the ghosts started surrounding them. “No escape…” “Follow my lead, on three. One… two… three!” He ran and jumped, barely making it across to the other car. Applejack and Pinkie Pie followed. “The engine isn’t far ahead now,” Reks said. “Better hurry before they catch up.”

Heading into the next car, they saw what looked like a dining room table with plates and silverware, which could only mean one thing. “Oooh! I’m starving!” Pinkie Pie said as she jumped straight into the chair. A ghost, perhaps once a butler, floated over and served Pinkie food, which she did not hesitate to start eating.

“Uh… are you sure it’s a good idea to be eating that Pinkie?” Applejack asked as Pinkie scarfed down.

“It’s delicious!” Pinkie said, spitting food everywhere. “Come on AJ, have some!”

“That’s okay, I lost my appetite…” Applejack said.

“Suit yourself!” Pinkie said happily. “One cannot go on on an empty stomach!”

“Words to live by,” Applejack mumbled, chuckling slightly.

“Ooh I’m stuffed!” Pinkie said. She then burped. “Okay, I’m ready to go now!”

They then crossed into the last car before the engine room and to their surprise found that they were not alone, but not with a ghost. “Halt thee, who goes there!?” It appeared to be a knight, wearing armor from a previous century. “You pretties have come on the train too, oh you poor lads!”

“Who are you exactly?” Applejack asked.

“Tis I, Sir Gangely, soldier of the Royal Family of Canterlot,” the knight said. “I have been stuck on this train for… who knows how long!? And not a day since then have I aged. Of course, this was not always a train, it appears to change every few centuries or so.”

“And why are you on this train exactly?” Reks asked.

“Aye, tis a sad tale indeed,” Sir Gangely said. “Marauders, thieves, murderers, came into the village where my family lived, killed everyone! I wanted to take revenge on them but my family came first! I tried to take them back before they were taken away but I was too late to save them. And in some cruel fate, I have been stuck here, forced to watch others live full lives while I stayed in limbo.”

“A cruel fate indeed,” Reks said, bowing his head. “My condolences to you, for my family met a similar fate. Come with us and we can free you from this.”

“You have my thanks fellow knight,” Sir Gangely said. “But I must stay here. By now everyone that I know is gone. This is my punishment for not realizing just how important and precious life really is. I was a fool for not knowing that.”

All of a sudden the sound of moaning came from outside. “Uh oh, they’re still coming!” Pinkie said.

“Go now, I will try to hold them off as best I can,” Sir Gangely said, drawing his sword. “One day perhaps we will meet again!”

The three of them hurried outside, reaching the engine room. Unfortunately, the inside was more complex than they imagined. “So how do we stop it?” Applejack asked.

“There has to be an emergency stop lever somewhere,” Reks said. He soon spotted it. “There it is!” He tried to pull on it but it wouldn’t budge. “Damn! I could use a hoof or two here!” The three of them pulled and finally the lever gave and pulled back, causing the train to squeal as the brakes kicked in, slowly bringing the train to a stop.

As it so happened, they ended up stopping at what looked like a train station. They quickly got out as soon as the doors opened, but something caught Rek’s eye. He saw that others were boarding the train; others that had met their end and began their journey on, including-

“Anna, Annabelle!” His wife and daughter were getting on and there was nothing he could do to stop them. “Please, don’t leave me! You’re all that I have left!”

Applejack and Pinkie Pie could only watch. They did not have to ask to know who Reks was speaking to. The whistle blew again and the train started to depart once more. “My love!” Anna suddenly said. “You have to stay strong for us!”

“Daddy!” Annabelle cried out. “We’ll always be in your heart, always!” The train soon was gone and Reks stood there, his head bowed in sadness and misery for his loved ones.

“We have to keep moving,” he then said somberly. “The Empire is probably still on our tails no doubt.” Realizing now was not the best time to ask questions, the two other ponies nodded and followed him out of the woods.

(A/N: For this upcoming part, the song I’m using here is “Battle 2” from Final Fantasy IV.)

Upon seeing light again for the first time, they suddenly realized they were surrounded by Imperial troops. “How? How did they find us?” Applejack asked.

“They were on our tails more than we thought,” Reks said.

“You three are under arrest,” one of the troops said. “If you come quietly, no harm will be inflicted on you.”

“Can we even take them on?” Pinkie asked.

“I think we have a fair chance,” Reks said. “Hey tinheads, you want us, you’re gonna have to take us down first!”

*“Get them!” the soldier yelled as they converged on them. Their flanks to one another, Pinkie attacked, throwing knives that pierced right into a couple soldiers’ throats; Applejack taking out three soldiers with a blast from her shotgun. But Reks was the most impressive, attacking quickly as lightning, taking out his foes with skill, elegance, and ease.

The rest of the soldiers hesitated, but attacked regardless. Applejack then pulled out a grenade, took off the pin, and rolled it towards them. The blast sent them flying back and they landed together in a crumpled heap.

(A/N: For this next part, the song I’m using here is “Kefka’s Theme” from Final Fantasy VI.)

A laugh suddenly cried out. *“Splendid!” Out from the shadows came General Raines. “I suppose I should’ve brought more than one regiment to deal with you lot, but I suppose it’s always up to me to clean up the mess.”

“You!” Reks said. “I know who you are, and I can tell you were behind what happened at Hoofington!”

“Oh yes that,” Raines said. “What a tragedy indeed. I never truly wanted to kill all those ponies that way,”

“Liar!”

Raines laughed. “Oh ho ho! In war, it cannot be helped who lives or who dies. General Leon is too soft and would have wanted an honorable victory, but it would’ve been a waste of time.”

“Well he’s certainly three times the pony you’ll ever be,” Reks shot back. He then drew his sword. “Killing you won’t bring my family back, but it’ll certainly bring peace to my heart, and my loved ones.”

“Your bravery is admired, if not stupid,” Raines said. “But you’re out of my league, I’m afraid. A minor foot soldier. The magic I possess would you leave you burnt and crispy within seconds.”

“I am Captain Reks,” Reks said. “Meaning I am only one rank below yours, and I’ll be willing to put your rank as General on the line as well as mine. My sword against your magic.”

“Wait a minute Reks…” Applejack started to say.

“Please,” Reks said, looking back at them. “You’ve done enough. This is my fight, mine alone.”

(A/N: For this last part, the song I’m using is “The Final Battle” from Final Fantasy I.))

*“Very well,” Raines said. “I suppose I’m going to have to kill you anyway. Nothing personal.”

“You will pay for your war crimes!” Reks shouted, charging him sword forward. However, before he could land a blow, Raines teleported away.

“How sad…” Raines said behind him. He then attacked by launching a fireball at Reks, who managed to dodge it quickly enough. “Your speed is impressive, but dodge this!” A bolt of lightning came down and struck Reks, knocking him back as his sword flew out of his hoof. “See, you are powerless. What can a mere earth pony do against magic?”

“I don’t need magic…” Reks said, getting up slowly. “I only need determination.” With sudden speed, he attacked in a fury, and despite Raines using a shield spell, Reks managed to get a scrape on him.

“Gah!” Raines looked down and saw he got scratched along his chest. “I guess I underestimated you after all. I would kill you all now, but the job is done, and I am needed elsewhere. Pray we do not meet again.” And with that, he teleported away.

Reks let out a deep sigh, striking his sword into the ground. After everything, he let his family’s killer get away. But one day, they would probably meet again, that he would make sure of, unless somepony else got to him first. “Applejack, Pinkie Pie,” he said softly, turning to them. “Thank you, for everything. I would not be standing here right now if it were not for you two.”

“Aw shucks,” Applejack said, blushing slightly. “It were nothing really. Always willing to help a pony in need.”

“So… how do we get out of here?” Pinkie Pie asked.

Reks looked around and saw smoke not too far away. Getting a closer look, he saw what looked like a downed Imperial ship, still intact too. “I wouldn’t suppose either of you two know how to fly this?” he asked.