Arc One: Welcome To Everett City - Chapter One - Train Ride
Applejack sighed to herself, watching the grasslands go by as she sat on the friendship express train, headed east across the Equestrian highlands near Terra. Her hat sat next to her, and her bag in the seat next to her as the click clack of the wheels sounded, amidst the dulled conversation between the passengers. She had just woken up from the jostling of the car moving onto adifferent track, one that was built by the humans and was a bit rough when switching over to another track.
The orange coated mare cast a look around the car, spotting very few ponies sitting up front, a few Terren humans in the back, young ones from the looks of them and their attitudes. She paid them no mind, instead going back to looking out the window at the roads they passed by, there was no traffic on them for miles as far as she could tell.
Applejack thought back to what had brought her to being on this train.
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Three Days Prior
"What do you mean you're headed off to Terra?" Apple Bloom questioned, as Big Mac and Granny Smith watched AJ pack a few things into her saddlebags. The older mare had made the decision to head east, for reasons that escaped Apple Bloom.
Applejack sighed, turning to face her family, seeing their dejected looks, she explained for what felt like the hundreith time. "I'm going to see why Freddie isn't responding to mah letters," She told them, thinking back to her pen pan Freddie. Her human friend, in fact, the only human she's ever been able to befriend to some degree. The apple mare wondered what had happened to him, as he hadn't responded to any letter she's sent to his home.
And she was going to visit him, and find out why.
However, her family didn't really like that idea.
"I dunno sis," Apple Bloom sighed. "Leavin' the farm and going ta that big ol city, what if we need you here?"
Applejack only smiled, turning to face her sister as she threw her saddlebags onto her withers. "Ah'm sure th' other girls got everything handled Apple Bloom, don't ya'll worry none about me." She told them, trotting down the stairs past her brother and grandmother as she headed for the front door. "Ah'll be just fine, Ah'm only gonna be gone a week or so. Ah'll be back sooner then you can say Apple Orchard, huehuehue."
Big Mac just cringed.
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Present Time
She sighed once more, as the train approached the Terren station up ahead. With a huff, she tilted her hat back before standing up, stretching her aching muscles as the passengers more or less followed her example. The saddlebags soon found themselves back on Applejack, and the mare herself simply waited until the train came to a stop before getting off, from what she saw above on the strange tv like object they had arrived at their destination.
Riverside.
She didn't know much about Riverside, only that it was a small human and pony settlement connecting both Terra and Equestria together. And while it had its horrible moments, the town had become quite prosperous in the last few years. Home to many human and ponies who all got along quite well. It was just a stop on her way to Everett City, which was due a few miles east of Riverside, mayhaps she could catch a ride?
Moving along with the other passengers, Applejack soon found herself outside, standing in the chilly air of RIverside's town. It was modestly sized, with a few homes, shops and stores, and even a boutique and bakery. Applejack smiled, this town seemed rather nice, homely in fact. She saw several foals running alongside some human children, all of them playing with a bright red ball, kicking it around or playing catch. It warmed her heart to see such happiness from two different species getting along so well.
But sadly she was not here to enjoy the scenery, or take in the sights or even talk to anyone. She was here to catch a ride to Everett City, which if she remembered correctly, was not too far away from Riverside. The friendship express train did not run into the city, she didn't know why however, but she knew she had to hop onto a completely different train nearby at another station, just across the town. Hopefully she had not missed it yet, she would berate herself if she did.
Hitching up her bags, she cantered through town with a smile on her face, passing by several humans who were gathered in their own little groups. Most of them looked concerned almost, but she didn't pay them much mind, figuring it was nothing too bad, probably just late for something or missed their train. The twenty five year old pony passed the medical center in town, which was quite near the second train station, and outside near the front, she could see several human and pony nurses trying to get a human male into the building, who looked quite old, and looked as if he were having trouble breathing.
Applejack gulped, shaking her head as she continued to the station. I hope Granny doesn't ever go through with that, she remarked, her heart would break if Granny Smith suffered from some desease or sickness. Thankfully Equestria has good healthcare, and magic in case anypony starts to get sick, they can be fixed up lickity split! The mare reminded herself, smiling as she reached the station, and found the train sitting, waiting for passengers to arrive.
Applejack whistled, tilting back her hat as she gazed at the behemoth of a train sitting on the double wide tracks, it was a long silver snake of a train, bulky and built as if it were meant for going into a battleground, armed with the humans strange and violent weaponry. WIndows were on the side, closed up with steel shutters and bars, some doors were on the sides as well, heavy reinforced doors that even Applejack couldn't buck open if she tried. The engine that pulled the train was long as well, longer then any car she had seen, and had a deadly looking plow on the front that covered the wheels on the sides as well as making it look more like a war machine.
Several humans were boarding the train, as well as ponies. Applejack pulled out her ticket from het hat, giving it a look and noting this was the correct platform, and the right train. With a gulp, she started for the train's door, going inside and seeing just how large it was, as well as how spacious and luxurious it was. She wondered if she had the right car, and so turned to the Ticket Master who was checking people's tickets.
"Excuse me, sir?" She started, grabbing his attention for a moment.
"Yes? May I help you?" He asked, looking down at the four foot tall pony.
Applejack nodded her head, holding out her ticket as she stood out of the way. "Ah was jus' wonderin', is this coach? Ah'm thinking Ah'm in th' wrong car."
The man took her ticket, giving it a quick look over before shaking his head. "No, you're in the right car, your seat is down there, next to the window." He informed her, giving her back the ticket before returning to his duties.
Applejack seemed surprised that this was the right car afterall, given how... shiny it looked, she turned around and proceeded down the aisle. Each seat was wide enough to fit four people, and looked to be extremely soft and comfortable, the floors' carpet was also soft under her hooves, and the air inside was cool to a comfortable degree. It looked more like a house then a train car, but she could get used to this. With a bright smile on her face, she took off her saddlebag and took a seat near the window, laying her bag next to her as she got comfortable.
The seat... was indeed, comfortable.
"Lands sake, this is mighty comfortable!" She chuckled, leaning back with a sigh as some people got on board, humans and ponies walking down the aisle and getting into their own seats as the ticket master grabbed an intercom up front.
"Attention all passengers, we are now leaving the station," He spoke, which broadcasted it outside to anyone still trying to get to the train. Only a few stragglers made it on board, as the ticket master spoke again. "We are now leaving the station, next stop, Everett CIty." With that said, he put the speaker down and closed the door outside, as the other doors closed as well, sealing everyone inside.
Applejack settled in a little more as the train started to move, wheels thudding against the track as the train lurched slightly, almost making her fall as the windows opened up. The mare looked out into the town, giving it one last look before the train started forward, blowing its loud horn and signaling it was moving. Applejack saw some people watching the train leave from outside, a few waving to family or friends no doubt. It took a few moments for the train to pick up a decent amount of speed, and as soon as it did, Applejack heard someone banging on her window.
Turning to the side, she saw a young human male banging on the side. "Stop the train!" He yelled at her, a desperate look in his eyes almost as he tried to keep speed. "You! Stop the train! You have to stop the train!"
Applejack didn't know who it was, but she called out to the ticket master. "Excuse me sir, somepony needs th' train stopped!" She yelled up to him, drawing a bit of attention, as the man continued to bang on the side.
"I'm sorry, once the train's moving I can't stop it for no one." He apologized, shrugging his shoulders as Applejack turned to the window.
The man was sprinting now, still banging. "You don't understand! Stop this train! You're all going to die if you don't stop!" He managed to yell, before the train had picked up more speed and left the station finally, and headed down the tracks towards Everett.
It seems only Applejack heard that last part he yelled, as everyone else didn't seem to be bothered. They went back to their books, magazines or talking with one another, leaving only Applejack to sit in her seat, still staring out the window as her mind processed what the human had yelled at her.
You're all going to die!
The mare couldn't help but feel troubled by that... why were they going to die? DId it have to do with why the nation had gone dark in recent weeks? She had remembered hearing from Twilight about how Terra had gone dark for some reason, no communications, no cargo ships, not even planes have left the nation, Equestria had not done much in terms of investigation as far as Applejack knew. Nobody was sent in, and nobody had come out. This train she was on was the only one that was going into the city, it being filled with passengers who were concerned with friends and family like she was.
Of course, she had no idea where Freddie was, all she had to go on was an address.
443rd street.
Just a street number and name, Freddie Gomez.
Not knowing what lie ahead, Applejack got comfortable for the long ride across the bridge, settling down in her seat as she titled her hat down over her head, covering her eyes as she nodded off.
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Back at the station, the man was breathing heavily as he watched the train leave, headed towards Everett City. He cursed loudly, taking off his hat before throwing it onto the ground, running a hand through his dark brown hair, he shook his head before looking near the parking lot. "Goddamn it Celestia, you better know what I'm risking for this." He muttered, thinking of the princess as he ran to the parking lot.
He had to get to Applejack...
Or else.
