Rest and Relaxation

“Hey, wonder what she’s serving up?” whispered one of the guards to his friend. The two guards were in line at their commissary. There were a lot of ponies to feed at the castle. And that was Apple’s job: Feed the ponies. Absently she flipped the eggs on the large griddle in front of her.

The braver of the guards floated his tray above him as he reared up onto the sneeze guard. “Morning, Sunshine, what ‘cha got?” He wasn’t wearing his helmet, but he did have on enough of his Solari uniform that his color had been washed out into a stock white.

“Eggs,” she said simply through her spatula. She began to try and guess which line he would take ‘over and over hard’ or the ever popular ‘fertilized.’ Pfft, like stallions ever had to deal with fertilized eggs. Why would they even think that was clever?

“How about fun side up?”

She exhaled the breath she was holding in. At least that line and that type weren't as common. Cracking a pair of fresh eggs, she poured extra butter onto the griddle. Expertly she corralled the whites into a smaller package. As the butter grew hot she flipped it over onto the top of the eggs, cooking the top as well as the bottom. A quick dash of her special blend of seasoned salt and she scooped them onto a small plate. He winked at her as he walked away.

“Over and over, medium.” She rolled her eyes and flipped a pair of eggs onto a plate.

“They’re really bad today.” The mare beside her ladled the pancake batter onto a further section of the griddle. She too was an earth pony, with pastel pink and white striped hair hidden under a net. Her light teal coat was hidden behind her maid’s uniform. Her cutie mark was a whisk and spatula in an “X” formation.

Apple slid two more eggs onto a plate and handed it to the next guard. “They just want to string you along. Then when you’re ready to be serious, they drop you. Because you’re not able to float stuff around your head.” She shoved another plate out onto a waiting tray.
“That sounds like a broken heart talking.” Her co-worker handed out a short stack before flipping the pancakes on the griddle.
Apple smiled sadly over to the lunch lady. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to bring you down.” She took the order for the next two ponies and started cracking eggs.

“I understand,” the pony said. “You aren’t the only one they’ve used for a cheap thrill and tossed away when they didn’t want to deal with you anymore, you know, once they’ve saddled you with the consequences.”

Apple chuckled. “I didn’t even get that.” She ran a wire brush across her portion of the grill. “They just used me. They needed a place to stay, and my cooking.” She put the brush back in its holder. “I don’t know how I’m going to explain this to Rhu. She really liked him.”

“Rhu?”

“My daughter.”

“Was it his?”

Apple blinked back the tears as she started cooking more eggs for the next wave of hungry ponies. “I was going to ask him to be her dad. She deserves one.”

“Your first husband died?”

Apple nodded while brushing butter on the griddle.

“I’m sorry. So, the stallion that used you-Thank you. Butter is over there.” She nodded to the chilled bucket of butter pats for the guard. “This new jerk, he’s a unicorn? You said something about moving something with your mind.”

Apple nodded. “I’m out of eggs, I’ve got to go get some more real quick.” She grabbed her little metal cart and pushed it back into the prep area. The pony there swapped her and Apple returned to the front. Her co-worker was flipping things at both stations. The line had slowed down, but not stopped. Apple quickly resumed her spot and the two sprinted to get back to a regular flow.

“So, your, ex, he’s a unicorn?” Her co-worker asked her again after they’d caught up.

“Yeah, well, uh I…” she began to paw at one back leg with the other in embarrassment.

“You still love him, even after he admitted to using you?”

“He didn’t. I mean, he didn’t admit it. He-”

“Excuse me.” A pony pushing a cart of hot trays walked by on her way to the front of the line.

“Sure,” they both mumbled, getting out of the way.

Apple used the interruption to organize her thoughts a little better. “He’s only a quarter unicorn, but he has his horn. Well, he had his horn until it was cut off.” Her eyes widened as Apple said it.

“Did it hurt him?”

Apple nodded. “From what I heard, there was blood everywhere.” There was a strange look in her eye that Apple couldn’t read. “One of our friends then told me about how he was whining to her about ‘just being an earth pony’.”

The pancake cook visibly flinched.

“Yeah.” They worked in silence for several minutes.

“So what are you going to do?”

Apple only shrugged. “I don’t know. I can’t let my daughter grow up with somepony that thinks she’s ‘just an earth pony.’”
Her co-worker just shook her head. “No, you can’t. If, so, what. Look, I might know some ponies that would be willing to help support you in this horrible time.”

Apple raised an eyebrow. “Thanks, but I’m not sure what I’m going to do.”

“Don’t let that unicorn ruin the life of you and your daughter. You need to get away from him.”

Apple sighed. “I don’t know...I, I don’t know.”

“Well, just come and meet my friends. You’re not the only one in this situation. After he knocked me up, my unicorn left me too.”

“Are you going to keep it?”

It was her new friend’s turn to sigh. “Yeah, I think so.”

“You’re not showing yet, how long do you have to make up your mind?”

“Another two hundred days.”

“So, if I can ask, what are you waiting for?”

She fidgeted with the pancakes, making them as round a possible. “I just want to make sure if it’s going to be normal.”

“Well, the longer you wait, the more it’s going to hurt.”

“I know…”

The breakfast rush was finally over. They started to clean their stations.

“I’m Apple, by the way.”

“I’m Flipper.”

“Excuse me, are we too late?”

Apple looked up to see three more stallions. A unicorn with two pegasi. She racked her brain. They looked really familiar.
“Just missed it,” said Flipper putting her stuff on her cart.

“But for your highness…,” Apple corrected. Flipper looked up in confusion at the trio.

“Oh please, there’s no need for that. We’ll just go hit up the cold cereal.”

“Awh,” said the red pegasus. What was his name? Apple couldn’t remember. She was pretty sure the other one, the one with the prosthetic wings, was Messer, hero of the Solari.

“I’ve still got the eggs here if you fellas want them.”

Messer looked square into her eyes. She could see recognition glint quickly. “Heard from Catty?”

Shining turned to look at the large pegasus. Apple started frying up eggs for them.

“Catty? Oh no. Yards has to deal with her now. Poor bastard.”

“I’m telling you, she only does it because she likes you,” teased the red pegasus.

“I’m married. Why do you keep trying to get me to go out with her?”

“Frankly it’d do the two of you good. Besides, maybe you could take a page out of Yard’s book. He’s got to be doing something right, keepin’ all those mare’s happy.”

Shining laughed as they walked away. “Yards? Know something about making mare’s happy? I was his first CO here in the castle. I’ve seen how he interacts with mares. They’re the only thing that truly scares him.”

That caught Apple’s attention. Somepony who’d known Yards for a long time? That could be interesting. What would he know? Wait...why should she care about some stallion she wasn’t going to be around anymore. Was she?

“I’m going to go help them bus the tables.” Apple told Flipper.

“Alright I’ll sweep up your station for you.”

“Thanks.”

“Good luck.”

Apple rolled her eyes. This wasn’t her first time working the commissary. She knew what horrors awaited her.

The cold cereal island was an island surrounded by a milk moat with tiny arapelligo’s of cereal starting on the counter and ending on the floor about four feet away. The Toaster had three pieces of burnt toast just sitting in front of it, crumbs were scattered along the entire length of the counter. Next to it, the sunken in tubes of oatmeal were encrusted over with over cooked mash. There was half eaten food smeared everywhere around the dishes just left there on their tables. All in all, it looked like a pretty light day.

She started with gathering the trays. There were a few stallions besides the Prince's entourage, though they were slowly filtering out. As she gathered the half empty trays and brought them over to the bus window she left Shining Armor’s table for last. It was courtesy. They had just started eating, after all. Apple wiped down the nearby tables, doing her best to listen without being nosey.

There was a lot of sports talk, and questions about a new chariot. Nothing really useful.

“Excuse me, Mrs. Rhubarb.” Shining gently touched her shoulder.

“I’m so sorry your Royal Highness.”

Shining laughed. “Please, Shining will do. After all, we could be working together very soon.”

“What?”

“Well, the Princesses got the idea to start mixing the groups. That way we would have the best possible chance of getting a full set of elements. It’s part of why Catty and Aurora are working with Yards to see how well they jell.”

“Speaking of, is there any mixed fruit jelly left over?” the red pegasus asked.

“Let me check,” automatically she curtsied to the monarch and ran over to the toaster to pick up a few pats of jelly. “Here you go.”

“Thanks.” He took the packets from her and started spreading the flavorful paste over the remnants of his toast.

“Anyway, I just wanted to apologize to you for not recognizing you. I don’t think we’ve ever had a chance to talk.”

“No, your High-Shining.”

He gave her a warm smile. He waved for her to sit beside him. The red pegasus moved to give her his seat.

“Do you know Messer and Astro Rey?” he motioned to his companions.

Her eyes started to panic slightly. That’s where she knew that red pegasus! He had been the one to arrest her and take away Rhubarb Salad. His coat had been washed out because he was in his barding. Well, it would be fitting that he would have two of the biggest heros of the war at his side.

“Would it help if I apologized?” offered Astro.

“It’s a start.”

“Hey, boss, why don’t I go take her to see her daughter. I’m sure she’d love to go see her.”

Apple squealed despite herself. Really? They would do that for her? Adquardly, she stopped clapping her hooves. They smiled at each other. “Alright, Astro, me and Messer will work on chasing down that lead.”

They had a case? He was going to take time out for her? This was just too good to be true.

“When are you off duty?”

“Well, I’ve got an hour once I get all this cleaned up.” The stallions were already at work, wiping and cleaning.

“I’ll send a message to the lieutenants to address this issue with their men. We’ll see if they can’t respect this area better.”

“Why, thank you.”

“If you’re ready,” Astro held out his fetlock overtly.

Apple giggled, pushed it down in recognition and came along parallel.

“You don’t need to change or anything?”

“I don’t have time.”

“Well, in that case,” he wrapped his forelegs around her and she squealed. He took off to the skylight and pushed the button opening it, giving them instant access to the outside. His wings pumped the air around him as he took off from the courtyard to the West. Apple clung to him in terror. It felt like the wind would strip him away from her and she would plummet far to her death. Those strong arms held her in a soft vice that kept her safe.

“So, do you often sweep a girl off her feet like this?”

He looked down in confusion. “WHAT?!”

Apple shook her head. Any conversation would be lost at his terrific speed. Soon they were coming down to a complex. There was a wrought iron fence encircling a series of marble buildings. She could see movement that as the distance shrank became foals.
Astro broke hard and spun her as he let go, she twirled awkwardly as she squawked, landing in a splayed pile. There was a slight chuckle as Astro landed perfectly on his hooves behind her. A small crowd began to gather around.
There were two adults leading the way. They were both unicorns. One was a stately beauty. She was at least 10 years older than Apple. Her purple locks were well dyed to hide her true age. The alabaster coat was well tended to. Thick rimmed glasses hid the early stages of crow’s feet. A shawl draped hat rode at the top of her head. Her dress was busy, but in an industrious way. It was a celebration of color and form that flowed in the summer breezes.

The other unicorn shared the older’s coat color. She was wearing a black tutu with ripped black stockings. A black concert tunic for a band was emblazoned on the front. Chained to the Plow. That was that band Aurora and Yards were talking about.

“Yes, can I help you?” asked Rarity.

“Uh, I’m here to see my daughter?”

“And what would her name be?” She looked over at her assistant as she pulled out a clipboard.

“Rhubarb Salad.”

“OH!” The professional smile disappeared to be replaced with a genuine, warm smile “You must be the Apple! Any member of the Apple family is certainly welcome here. Do come inside I believe we have much to discuss.”

“Thanks, but I just have time to see my daughter.”

“Oh, I’m sure she’s around here somewhere, Cocco?”

The earth pony assistant in the impeccable suit checked her clipboard.

“She’s in the Crusaders Club. They’re meeting right now.”

The other unicorn smiled fondly. “Ah, those were the days.”

“Crusaders, do we know what activities they’re preforming today?”

Coco just shrugged. “You know how it is with those fillies.”

The two unicorns laughed. “Knowing them they could drop from the sky at any time.” Rarity glanced up to check her comedic timing. Pouting slightly, she seemed disappointed when they didn’t materialize. “Well, I’m sure they can’t have gone far, please come this way.”

There were several little knots of children at play. They were all fillies of various ages. They wore a blue skirt with a simple white blouse. Most of the knots had the same colored scarf, bandana or cape, though there was some intermixing.

“Uniforms?” Apple asked.

“The simple white blouses are easy to clean with bleach and hot water. Each club or team has their own heraldic livery that they are free to wear.”

Apple nodded, not sure what else to do.

“Well, I’m sure we can find your daughter in no time, would you and your, ahem, handsome friend like a tour?”

Astro looked behind him, wary of a cougar on the hunt. Rarity saddled up beside him as they began to walk around the complex. “This is our languages building. Here the girls master not only Equestiran, but also French, Griffonese, and even Arabian.”

They walked over to the next building. The grasses were well manicured and while there was a bite missing here and there, they were consistent. The girls were apparently well fed at the very least.

“This impressive structure is our sciences building. Here we teach the girls the mysteries of the universe and...celestial bodies.” She goosed Astro with a back hoof. He grunted and started to sweat.

“There are so many things for a filly to learn, poise, logic, impeccable fashion sense. They learn it -”

“Quit cheatin’!” shouted a shrill child.

There was a grunt followed by a pained attempt at being casual. “If you can use your strength then I get to us my magic.”

“Put me down!” cried out the first voice again. Apple knew that voice. There was no way a mother couldn’t know her baby.

“Rhubarb!” Apple sprinted around the corner of the building. Her baby was hanging in midair, surrounded by some unicorn fillies. With a great crashing hug she scooped up her precious. “Rhubarb!” she cried again.

The filly squirmed in her forelegs. “Momma?” Her hug was returned. “Momma!”

“Oh my baby,”

“Momma!” Their tears mingled into one steady stream as the two earth ponies held each other.

The adults quickly caught up and looked on with “awwhs.”

“I didn’t know you were a family man.” Rarity bumped into Astro.

“Well...I wouldn’t say that, but you know...it’s so sweet.” He was turning even redder.

“You know, I will make your rethink your ‘no mares’ policy.” She slid right up to his face, placing her hoof against his chest. Somewhere a wild cat roared. Nervously he looked down.

“No means no!” He fled off into the air.

Rarity hungrily watched the hero fly away. “I always accept a challenge. Oh, our fates are intertwined, my hawk, someday we will be fettered.

“You can let go nauw.” Little Rhu had become aware of the snickering of the other fillies.

Apple gave her one last tight hug then sat her hooves back onto the grass. “Oh my, I’ve made a mess…” Apple began to wipe at Rhubarb’s face with her pinafore. The crowd giggled at her misfortune.

“Mooom!”

“I’m sorry, dear. Are you okay?”

“Yes.”

“So, how’s school?”

“Okay.”

“Are you doing well in classes?”

“Yeah.”

“Do you have any friends?”

Rhu nodded.

“Where’s your room?”

Rhu pointed with her hoof.

“Have you been eating well?”

Rhu nodded her head.

Apple hugged her daughter again. “I missed you so much, baby.”

“Mom.” Rhu chided her mother, but didn’t pull away. “Can we go home now?”

Apple’s heart broke. “Soon, baby, I promise.” She sniffed, trying to hold back the tears

“Momma, are you a felton?”

“What?”

“They said you were in the dungeon so you’re a felton.”

“Fellon, and no. I just had to talk to Princess Luna.”

“You got ta meet the princess?”

Apple nodded to her daughter who immediately took off. “My mah got ta meet tha Princess!” she squealed after a group of fillies.
The small things always make her so happy.

Hooves strode up behind her. “It can be difficult to have loved ones while you’re an elemental. You never really know when they’re going to serve as an object lesson or worse.” A gentle hoof rested on her shoulder. Apple looked over at the fabulous unicorn. “There were a lot of nights were Apple Jack and I would talk about the problems of our sisters. We blamed ourselves for their troubles.”

“That’s silly,” interjected the other unicorn.

“Oh really? And how many fillies almost killed themselves on run away parade floats, or got lost in the Everfree every other month?” Rarity’s sister looked away sheepishly. “We were especially worried about how long it was taking you to get your cutie marks. It was almost like something was blocking you from being able to realize your true selves.” Rarity looked back at Apple. “It seems your daughter has a lot of Crusader in her. Truly you have my sympathy.”

“Hey!” Her sister shot her an angry look.

“What’s in store for me? Is it worth it?”

Rarity smiled down at her. “Come, let’s talk.”
_____________________________________________________________

Another uneventful breakfast. Another awkward morning. It wasn’t as bad as it had been with Apple. Toffee hadn’t taken it personally. But it was clear she was still embarrassed that they had come so close. She didn’t really want to wait. She just wanted Yards to choose her. He realized it. She sat two seats away obliviously stirring the dissolving “chocolate” chips in her grits.

The other pegasi was beside him today. She was talking to Catty who sat on the other side of her. The two were talking about some silly something or the other. In between him and Toffee Aurora was again planted beside him. She was giving him sideways looks, like she was wanting to say something, but was just too afraid to follow through. He understood that, but he had no idea what she wanted. The empty chair across from him looked him dead in the eye.

“Alright, girls, let’s try and get some leg work today,” he started the morning meeting.

“Yay,” cheered Starfall through a mouthful of fescue.

“Are we going to try on this years newest stockings?” Catty asked.

“What? No. Let’s go looking around at the various crime scenes and see if we can find something.”

“Great, Aurora and I can go check out the theft at the museum.” Catty was gesturing casually around with her spoon.

Aurora looked up at her friend then back at Yards. There was a look of betrayal and fear in that hat brim.

“Sure we can go look at the history exhibit. Maybe they found something missing after they’d had time to check their catalog.” Yards took a drink, trying to swallow the unusually dry oatmeal.

“No, we can handle that, well maybe we’ll take Toffee. You and Starfall can check on that assault that happened at the train yard.”
“I really don’t like the idea of splitting up the party.”

Catty raspberried. “Please, the only person who’d be in danger here is you, and thanks to your darling tiara nopony would even know you’re a unicorn.”

Yards gave Catty a hard look. “Alright, but it’s not a tiara.”

“Yippie!” The zebra cheered.

Yards rolled his eyes and just finished his meal.

“What if I go with Yards. I am a unicorn, too.”

“Yeah, but nopony can see it under your hat.”

“Still...I...think it would be better if I went with him.” The table was surprisingly interesting to Aurora as she absently drew on it with her spoon.

Catty stared at her friend. “Aurora, ‘string bean’.”

Aurora sat her spoon on the table.

“We’ve discussed this sort of thing. You need to come with me.”

She pouted and grabbed her tray from the table before walking over to the return window.

Catty shook her head. “Toffee, can you help me with her?”

Toffee took a last, large bite from her bowl before heading to the window to drop off her dishes too.

Yards was alone with Starfall. “So, do you think you can get us into the yard alone?”

She shrugged. “It depends on who’s working today.” She took his empty tray and carried them both over to the window. Yards got up from the table and waited for her by the door. She jumped onto his back and dug her back hooves into his side.

“Hi yah!”

Yards grinned up at her and walked out into the morning. As they made their way through the city there were a lot of jealous looks at the couple. Guys were jealous of a beautiful mare draping herself over him and several lonely mares were jealous she had somepony. Still, he didn’t really know the woman on his back well. She was always working and rarely ever home. This and Marephis was the most time they’d ever really spent together.

“So, Star, where are you from?”

“Hhmm?”

“Where are you from?”

“Oh, Sturrup. It was a small town kinda like Ponyville.”

“Is your family there?”

“They’re dead.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. It was a while ago.”

“Can I ask what happened?”

“It was the war.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You didn’t blow them up.”

“Uhm, well…”

She laughed nervously. “It was a while ago. I was staying at my friend’s house when a battle spilled over into our town. We all hid in her basement for the fighting to stop. When it did, I went home and found out a stray spell had blown up my house. My family was dead.”

“I’m so sorry.”

She hugged his neck. “It’s okay. On the good side they blew up my school too, so I didn’t have to go anymore. That became a problem later on, though.”

“Yeah, and then?”

“What, you want the whole story?”

“Sure.”

“I’m a sure thing, you don’t have to pretend.”

“I’m not pretending, I don’t really know you that well, I’m curious about you.”

Starfall shrugged. “Well, I was thirteen when my family died. My friend’s family let me stay with them. It was fun for a while, then well, one day I had to start ‘paying’ my way.” She stopped for a bit. He could feel her shift on top of him.

“Did you stay long?”

“Oh, until the wife found out. Then she ran me out and put him in the hospital.” She hugged his neck tight for a moment.

“Cez, I’m sorry. If it hurts…”

“No, my counselor says I need to talk it out with somepony.”

“If you want.”

She nibbled at his ear. “Thanks.” She took a deep breath and exhaled.

“Did you fall in with a gang or something?”

“There were a lot of orphans in town, but, well, I was always pretty. Stallions will do a lot of things for pretty fillies. So...I used what I had to survive.”

“Wow…”

He felt her shrug on top of him again. “It just...I don’t know. I just knew that there was supposed to be something more. When I got old enough I bounced around a couple of places that would hire somepony without a diploma: The Weather Factory, Tent Poles, then I finally got my job with the rail company. I worked there for a good six months before I ran into you guys.”

“And here you are?”

“Yup.”

“Riding me.”

“What? You’re going to get to ride me later.”

Yards blushed.

Starfall nuzzled his ear. “Besides you like it.”

He grinned, but said nothing.

Yards carried Starfall down the winding streets of Canterlot towards the train station. She fidgeted on his back for a bit. “Yards, can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“When we were in the shower, I didn’t see a brush, you...you do clean...down there, right?”

Yards blushed again. Stallion hygiene was one of those delicate conversation topics.

“Yeah, yeah. My brush is back home, at Acres. Though they cleaned me at the hospital, so...I’m still good.”

“Good. I mean, I’ve been with some older stallions and they don’t always take care of that. It’s really gross.”

“Is that why you were talking about being in a relationship with me being gross?”

“Some of it.”

“So, then, what do you want from me?”

“Huh?”

“What do you want?”

“I don’t know.”

“If you don’t know what you want, then how can you work towards it?”

“I...I…”

“Okay, let’s narrow it down a bit. What are you looking for with us?”

“Well, this isn’t the first herd I’ve been a part of, but it is the one that feels right being a part of. Does that make sense?”

“But you’re not attracted to me?”

“That’s a mean question.”

“Yeah, but it’s something that’s honest.”

“No. I mean. I’ve seen you with Rhubarb Salad. You’re really good with her. You never yell at her. You always answer her questions. You try and make time for her. She really likes you. You’re a good dad. If we had foals, I think you’d be a good dad to them too.”
Yards closed his eyes for a moment. If only Apple Rhubarb agreed with her. “What about the other girls?”

“Apple’s a great mom. It would be really handy to have somepony there that could help me when I don’t know what to do. Toffee’s really smart and she’d help make sure my foals got an education so they could be something better than a broodmare.”

“HEY!”

“What? My whole life it’s the only thing I’ve been good at.”

“You took good care of me in Marephis. You’re very gentle and caring.”

“Yeah, that’s why they love me as a broodmare.”

“That and your wings.”

She laughed.

“The Princess says you are the Elemental of Kindness. That’s a lot more than just a broodmare.”

She grinned. “Yeah. I can’t believe the princess knows me. That’s amazing. OH, we’re getting close, turn here. We’ll go through the employee entrance, have to deal with less traffic.”

Yards dutifully turned a street ahead of the station. There were more ponies coming and going. Wagon loads of goods were being off and onloaded. The industry of a major city leaving for all across the land. Raw materials for the artisans and food for the ponies coming in to the markets. The local buildings were houses that have been converted back and forth into all manner of varying useful things. From warehouses, to refugee camps, to motels, to shops selling raw goods to artisans in town. It looked like there was even a stallion house for desperate mares. An interesting take on an old profession.

Starfall lightly jumped off his back and floated down beside him. Pegasi were always so graceful. “Let’s see who’s working today.”

There was a small group of ponies over by a walk through gate. A lone guard checked passes as the others checked in. Starfall fell in line and Yards waited off to the side. The guard was an older mare. She was an earth pony with a coat as dark a green as Yard’s mane. Her mane was tucked up under her hat. Her uniform was a serious version of Starfall’s. Starfall pulled a card out of her mane with a wing and presented it to her.

“Morning, Block,”

“Oh, hi, Starfall. Picking up your check?”

“Yeah.”

“Who’s this?”

“Yards. There was an attack the other day at the place we’re staying at, so he’s making sure I’m safe.”

She made a note on a clipboard. “Full name?”

“Yards McCanter,” Yards answered.

She made a note “Star, you might want to go straight to the office.”

Star’s head tilted to the side in confusion. “What’s up.”

“Just go see them.”

Yards followed Starfall through the yard. It stretched in either direction as far as he could see. There were train cars everywhere, waiting their turn to trips all across Equestria. They carefully stepped over the multiple lines of track and Starfall waved to several older stallions putting cars together to form the next train. They waved back with a smile.

“Where was the attack?” Star asked him.

“Uhm,” Yards tried to remember the particulars of a case he hadn’t studied closely.

“Well?”

Yards scratched his forehead. “I think it was one of the repair houses.”

“There’s three here, which one?”

“Probably the one not used very often.”

“Oh, yeah. That would make sense. Squatters wouldn’t hang out in the spray booth while we’re repainting cars, huh?” She turned and Yards got another look at her plump rump. That extra layer of fat that kept pegasi warm at high altitude gave them such a supple flank. He shook his head. Purposefully he looked past her, looking for a sign of anything moving in the shadows. Starfall slowed half a step to be beside him.

“You okay?”

“Yeah, just, you know, incase there’s danger…”

Yards nodded. He didn’t expect any problems, but given what she’d gone through her hesitation was understandable.
The rails on the ground here were older and rusted. Hulks of broken down and damaged cars were stacked all around. Parts were put into bins and covered by lean-tos. Frames were broken down back to lumber and stacked neatly on dunnage to keep it clear of rot from the ground. There was very little unused scrap in the area. That surprised Yards, considering the blasts, burns and bullet holes in the sides of some of these cars. Further in where rusting locomotive engines showing battle scars as well.

Trains allowed for rapid redeployment of ponies and materials. As a result they made prime targets during the war. These suffered heavily and were being salvaged for what they could to keep the other trains functional. Had they come at any other time of day it would have been really creepy.

The air was still here. The breeze was blocked by the derelicts and detritus. There was still water in ruts and broken boilers. Mosquitoes buzzed about in the hazy air. Yards smacked at one of the parasites flying by with his tail. He hit Starfall on the rump. She squealed and gave him a look.

“If you wanted to do it here you should just say so.”

“There was a bug.”

She smiled at him. “I’m just teasing. Cez.” She nudged him. “But yeah, later.”

“Come on. This is serious. We need to focus. Do you remember anything about this case?”

“Nah, I didn’t read it.”

“It was a unicorn. I think he was breaking this stuff down and something about an axle and a beat down.”

“I don’t see any laying around, did they restack it?.”

“Not sure. Let’s just be careful.”

She nodded and wondered over to a wreck to look closer at it. Yards kept her in eyesight but started looking around for clues. They climbed around on the piles trying to find some lead somewhere.

Yards heard a squeak from the other pile. He turned to see Starfall quivering in terror. She was looking at him for some reason. No, she was looking behind him. Ah road apples. He closed his eyes and slowly turned around to see what had frightened her. As he opened his eyes he saw a large, blue tentacle. Perfect. Yards followed the tentacle down to a roughly stalagmite shaped body on the far side of his pile. It’s mouth was huge, vertical, and filled with a double row of razor sharp teeth. It’s cyclopean eye was at the apex of the mouth. There were tentacles coming out all around it’s body. Two were far longer than the rest. It was those two that could reach him.

The first tentacle swiped the air as he ducked down to dodge it. The second was coming up behind him and he had to jump over it. Yards had no idea what this thing was or why it was attacking or even how it got here. Bereft of his magic, his weapons or armor there wasn’t much he could do.

“Star, go get the guard!” She stood there, frozen in terror. Great. Yards spun around and kicked the boards he had been standing on down at the monster. He raced over to the other pile. He shoved at her but still she refused to move. Desperate he shoved his nose under her stomach and flipped her on top of his back.

In a controlled panic Yards carried her down the pile of debris and raced back to the front gate. He had to go get help. This was very big. He saw the yard workers look up in confusion. Some were even running up behind him, calling out to Starfall. He saw the guard. She walked over to the main gate to open it for him. He slammed into her.

“Get the Solari here!”

She stopped, confused. Yards grabbed her lapels. His mana governor smacked into the brim of her hat. Her white striped mane spilled out.

“Wha?”

Hooves were pulling him away. Somepony was pulling Starfall off his back. Reflexively he kicked behind him, making contact with somepony back there. More hooves grabbed for him. Yards spun around snarling at the stallions behind him. “I am Captain Yards McCanter, Lunari Special Division. Get Shining Armor and the STARE team down here right now!”

The stallions backed away, unsure what to do. Satisfied he turned to talk to the guard only to get knocked upside the head. He noticed that the ground was really hard. The guard’s hoof hovered over his head. Yards shoved his hoof in between her fore legs, kicking her in the sternum. It lifted her off the ground and shoved her away. Yards got up and stood protectively over Starfall’s body.

“You!” He pointed at a stallion and dropped his voice into his command voice. “Go to the booth and get the authorities. Tell them I said we have an ELF here and I need STARE.” He took off for the phone. Good. Now for the others. “You and you!” he pointed at two more. “Go round up everypony in the yard and get them somewhere safe. Get the people onto trains or out of here as discretely as possible. Let’s not start a stampede.” They nodded. The first stallion cantered back.

“They’re on the way.”

“Good. Now call the history museum. Have them page Toffee Chips and have her come here with the team with Star’s medicine.” He nodded and then went back to the phone. Alright, now that everypony was busy there was nothing to do now but wait.