Chapters Fillydelphia, Iveington locomotive works
5:00AM
Early morning hit in Fillydelphia, and at the Iveington locomotive works, a newly built 4-4-2 steam locomotive was going through final preperations. The engine was beautiful, with a shiney red paint scheme, chrome and brass trim, a golden bell, and two equestrain flags in the front. It was a magnifacent.
"Well I think this engine is about ready to begin her first run" said one of the workers.
"I argree, and the passenger cars are ready too" said another.
"Well what are we waiting for? Let get this locomotive going!" Another shouted?
Soon the engine was steam up and rolled out of the shops.
"wooooh! wooooooooh!"
The clicking of the drivers and the squeek of the wheels. The locomotive was running smoothly.
Location Unkown
Somewhere in Equestria, a group of changelings creating an evil plot. Up above the room is a silowete of a reformed changeling. You now who I mean, it was none other than Thorax.
"Thorax and his freinds had taken our hive and turn the rest of the hive against us. We were lucky to get out of there before the transformationwas complete. Not to mention when eqeustria's famous icons were freed" one was explaned.
"And we're just a fraction of the of the original Changelings. What are we going to do?"
"WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?!" Growled a fimliar female vioce. "WE USED TO BE A POWERFUL, LOVE DEVOURING, CREATURES THAT WERE FEARED ACROSS EQUESTRIA!"
"It's Chrystalis," Thorax said quietly
"RAIDING CANTORLOT DIDN'T WORK! FOULNAPPING PRINCESSES AND THE ELEMTENTS OF HARMONY DIDN'T WORK!! ARE HOME IS TAKEN BY THORAX!!" In the middle of her sentance, she put her hoof over chest were heart is(if she has one) and grunting in pain.
"Are you alright my queen?" One of her gaurds asked running up to her.
"I'm fine"
"We're really worried for you Chrystalis. Your condition is getting worse."
"I'll be alright. Just does any one have any ideas?" She asked
"I have may a solution to your problem"
Everypony turn to the source of the male voice. A tall unicorn stalion who was wearing a buissness suit.
"What do you want Tezren?" Chryslis demanded.
"I wan't the same thing you wan't, and I can halp you with that" Tezren explained. "I have some intel you can use to defeat the Elements. There is a new train coming out and my sources tell me that they will be on board."
"So...?"
"So if you want to rule Equestria. You need to take them out.... Permently." Crystalis was shocked at what he said. But she understood what he ment snd she gave him a devilish smile.
"Yes and when we get rid of the elements, we can get rid of the other princesses, and overthrow that trader. And then we will be unstoppable. We will rule equestria, we will rule the crystal empire, we will rule the WORLD!!!"
'Oh no!' Thorax thought. 'I have to warn Twilight and her friends"
He then ran off to Ponyville.
Ponyville
In Ponyville, the ponies were gathering at the trainstation. A new passenger train was coming into town. Every one was exited even if some couldn't get on. But trying to cut throught the crowd was six particular mares and a small purple dragon folowing behind.
"Come on!" Shouted Rainbow Dash
"Slow down Rainbow Dash! I can bearly keep up!" Called Spike, who was carrying Rarity's luggage.
"Careful spikie wikie" Rarity called
They finaly reached the station. Twilight then gave the tickets to the stationmaster.
"Six ponies, and a dragon please" Twilight asked
"Here you go, Princess Twilight" the stationmaster said. He then handed the girls their tickets.
"You better hurry to the platform. The National Limited should be arriving here in 5 minutes"
"Five minutes!?" Rainbow Dash yelled.
The mane six, and spike, then rushed to the platform.
"Hold it there Spike!" Called the stationmaster. "You don't need to carry that. The porter will take it"
"Why thank you" Spike replied then running to catch up with the others.
"Any time spike. Any time."
The station master whent back to serve the next pony in line.
A high whistle was heard as a big red and brass engine pulled in to the station. Behind it are red passenger cars with blue roofs and crome window trim.
"This is absalutely marvelles" complamented rarity
"Wow" said Spike
"Awesome" Rainbow Dash shouted
Soon the coach doors opened and ponies board and get off.
"Watch your step" the Conductor stated
Two cars down, a stalion in a trenchcoat and fadora was climbing on board. While keeping an eye on the six mares. Soon doors were slaming shut and the last of the luggage was being loaded into the baggage car.
"All aboard" called the Conductor called.
As soon as he was about to board, two stalions ran into him and climbed in. The Conductor was upset, and a little supisious, But ignored it. He soon waved his hoof out the door to signal the driver. The driver opened the trottle and the train started to move. As the wheels sweek and the bell ringing The National Limited pulled out of Ponyville The crowd cheered as it left the town
Twilight was enjoying herself. She left the castle to Starlight Glimmer while she was gone. Hopefuly nothing will happen at the castle. But also she hopes nothing bad will happen to them while they were on the train either.
'This will be a relaxing vacation' she thought to her self.
'Nothing bad will happen'
A few cars up, the two stalions from earlier were "ejoying" themselfs. The were startled by none other than the conductor from earlier.
"Tickets please" he said.
The two gave them their tickets, the conductor hole punched them, and gave the tickets to the two.
"Hopefuly there won't be any more distractions" one remarked.
"If this keeps up. We won't be able to complete are objective."
"Yah" said the other.
In the pullmare coach, the stalion in the trench coat was settling into his roommet. He then changed into a changeling with. He was different he was green with sparkly blue wings, orange antlers, a red shell and three dimonds incrested in his neck. Right then and there it was Thorax.
'I know that Twilight is in trouble' he thought 'And I know what my mission is. I need to protect Twilight and her freinds.'
'I need to keep a watch over them.'
'I can't let those changelings hurt them. They are my freinds.'
After Twilight and her freinds left, Thorax bust through the doors.
" Twilight! Spike! Don't go! your going to die if you go!"
He soon relised that they left. And to top it off, Starlight was standing right there. Shocked at what he said.
"What!!!" She shouted.
"Uh oh!"
He laughed at that thought.
"What do you mean they're going to die?!"
"Well" Thorax began, "Crystalis and a group of changelings are planning to kill Twilight and her freinds, and once they get rid of them they'll move onto the princesses and finaly crush the changeling hive."
"You need to stop them" Starlight stated!
"But I can't get on board without a ticket! Not to mention to go outside like this! I don't want to ruin the girl's vacation."
"I can help you with that" Starlight said. She then led him to her room.
"Here take this" she gave Thorax some bits to buy a ticket.
"Thank you Starlight but, I can't take your money."
"It's fine Thorax, I can get more from. Besides you can't let the Changeling get rid of Twilight or her freinds."
"Okay, but what about my look?"
"Hey, arent you a changeling? Starlight asked
"Oh right"
Then Thorax changed into a detective type of stallion figure.
"Nice but it could use one more thing.
Starlight then walked over to the coat rack and took off spike's coat and fadora.
"Hmm to small"
She then used her magic to make it a few sizes bigger
"There"
She then put it on Thorax.
"You look better actuly" she said with a smile.
Thorax blushed a little.
"Well, I better get going" Thorax stated
"Be careful" Starlight called.
"I can't let them down" Thorax said to his self. "I cant let her down"
Twilight and Spike was relaxing in the lounge car. The decor was lovely, polished wood counter, comfortable chairs and 24 hour service snack bar. Spike was enjoying his vacation until he noticed Twilight was feeling uncomfortable , and Spike was a little worried for her
"Twilight" he began. "What's wrong? You've been acting like something's up since we left"
"Sorry Spike. I just feel like we are being watched" Twilight Answered. "I mean ever since Crystalis foulnapped you, me, the girls, the other princesses, I just can't shake the feeling that something is going to happen. We would of been goners if it weren't for Starlight, Trixie, Thorax, and Discord."
"And by some thing going to happen, do you mean something like we find 100 bits worth jem on the floor?"
Twilight laughed. "No, sorry Spike."
"Oh" Spike then had an idea. "Twilight, how about we make a bet?"
Twilight thought about it and knew were this was going. "Go on" she responded
"If everthing goes well one this trip, you will have to..." He then stopped to think of something. He then gave a devilish grin. "You have to spend the night in the Castle of the Two Sisters"
Twilight was shocked. But she was never wrong when it comes to something going wrong. "And if I win, you have to wash ALL the dishes in the castle for a year. Deal."
Spike knew he was taking a big risk. "Deal." Spike held his hand out to Twilight, for her to seal the deal. Twilight then took his hand and shook.
Spike was going to set Twilight's saddle bag in there room in the pullmare car. When he heard a familiar male voice through the door next to his room. Spike then knocked on the door. "Hello" he called.
"Coming" said the stallion whose voice suddenly changed.
"Thorax, is that you?"
The door opened. "How did you know it was me? He asked.
"I can hear you through the door"
"Oh"
"What are you doing here?"
He was about to speak when he looked to the left then to the right. Spike was confused. Thorax motioned Spike to enter.
"What's going on, Thorax?" Spike asked.
It took some time to explain and it took even more time for spike to comprehend this. But it finally got through to spike.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN!?"
"What? The fact the Chrysalis is still alive?"
"That. And the fact that Twilight was right! Now i have to do all the dishes for a year!"
"Made a bet?"
"Yep"
"Don't worry. I have this all under control."
Meanwile in the locomotive, the changeling were throwing out two dead bodies off the train.
"Driver ponies cleared" one stated through his comset.
"Good" said somepony on the comset. "Now continue their schedule. You don't want anypony to get suspicious, understood?"
"Understood"
With that the two changelings turned into the driver ponies.
Spike exited Thorax's room headed to his room. He then opened the door and sat in the seat he looked out the window with Twilight's saddle bag by his side.
"Spike"Twilight called. She opened the door. "There you are spike. I was wondering where you were."
"What do you mean Twilight? I was here the hole time."
"Okay. Me and the others are going the the observation car at the end of the train if you need us, okay?"
"Okay Twilight"
Twilight gave spike a hug and then left the room. Spike was a little worried for her then he remembered what Thorax said.
"Don't worry. I have this all under control."
"Oh boy"
The the train clickity-clack on it journey as the wheels hit the joints of the rail making a relaxing rythem. It goes well with the song that Pinkie pie choosed out of the jukebox and it suprizing. Twilight and Applejack were on the observation deck on the end of the car. Like Spike, Applejack noticed her uneased feeling too.
"Is somethin' wrong Twilight?" Asked Applejack.
"No Applejack" Twilight answered.
"Twilight, Ah'm yur freind. Now why are you lyin' to me?"
"You got me. Nothing can get past you. I mean your the Element of honesty. It's just ever since Crystalis foulnapped us. I can't skake the feeling that something bad is going to happen."
"Paranoid much?" Applejack joked. Twilight just looked out at the tracks flying out from underneith the train. "Aw come on Twilight. There is always going to be someone to disrupt the harmony in Equestria as long there is somepony to stop them, either it's you or me or Spike, or even Discord, Equestria will be safe from harm. The world's not perfect, but it can change as long as somepony steps up for what's right, the world can be a better place. For all of us."
Twilight smiled warmly. "Thanks Applejack" she said
"Hay, that's what freinds are for." The two walked back inside. The train rolling along as Celestia's sun sank in the ske making way for Luna's moon.
Luna's moon was shinging on the National Limited as rushes along the desert. Rolling cactusses and sage brush dotted the landscape. In side mostly everypony is asleep at this time of night. It was a beautiful night. Inside Twilight was having a strange dream...
She was in Downtown Manehattan. She then sees an explosion and a Lunar Gaurd Stalion, but he looked diffrent, he was taller, like Celestia and luna tall, he had batwings and a horn, and his mane and tail was spikey and was like lunas hair when she was...
"Nightmare Moon" Twilight relised.
She then saw her self and her friends on the other end of the street. They were about to power up, like when they Defeated triek. Streak of light shot at dream Twilight. "TWILIGHT!" They called. The others ran to her disabling their powers. The power mad stallion continued to wreak havoc on the city.
"That's it!" Rainbow Dash stated. She dashed forward to punch him only to be blasted back into a store window.
"We need to get out of here!" Applejack commented. "Grab Twilight and Rainbow Dash and go!" With that the four grabbed Dream Twilight and Rainbow Dash and ran. The sceance changed to Manehattan in ruins. She saw a symbal. She clouldn't tell what it said, in fact she couldn't recenize it at all? "What is this?" she asked herself.
Twilight suddenly woke up. She looked at spike who was thankfuly still sleeping. She smiled then turned towards the window.
'What could this mean?' Twilight thought. 'What is going to happen to us? Could my dream be a vision. A message?' Her train of thought was cut short by a sound coming from the roof. She looked down out the window. A shadow of two ponies on the roof ot what she thought were ponies. "Looks like I win" Twilight told her self and went for her saddle bag.
A window opened on the train and two changlings were climbing out trying to hold on to keep them from flying off. They started to walk down the roof of the train.
"Hey you!"
The two changelings turn around and saw Thorax. "Well why it isn't Thorax the king of the Changeling hive." One of them spoke. "How nice of you to join us."
"I won't let you hurt them" Thorax stated. "You better stop now or you will regret it"
"No! It is you who will regret it" the changelings charged at him, their horns pionted at him ready to strike. Thorax quikly dodged the attack the fired a spell at the changlings. They quickly dodge it and fired back it was a fire fight. Then Thorax fired a huge blast. One dodged it the other not so much, he flew right of the train with a giant hole in his chest and tumbled to the ground. "You got lucky with him. But me, I won't be that easy" with that said he formed two blades on his forelegs and began to charge again. Thorax decided to use his horn. It was a sword fight. Slashing at eachother, countering the opponent's attacks.
Thorax was having trouble dodge the changeling's attacks, he missed a step and got cut on his sholder. "AAAH!" He grunted in pain holding his sholder.
"Puh. You were a great opponent. I thought this would last a little longer."
"Who are you?" Thorax asked.
"Where are my manners? I might as well tell you since I am going to kill you. My name is Alastair. And now you know." Alastair held his blade up to Thorax's neck. "Any last words?"
"I hope die!" Thorax said darkly.
Alastair laughed. "You are funny! You should of been a comedian. Say good bye Thorax!"
"Leave him alone!"
He turned around only to be blasted by a short beam of energy. Alastair flew backwards and landed it perfectly on his hoofs. A mare in eye mask and was wearing somthing to cover her cutiemark. "What is this?" He growled angerly.
"A suprize attack!" She answered. And then shot another blast at Alastair sent him flying back again, only this time he didn't landed it. "I'm warning you. Stay away from him." The mare commanded. He then back up on his hoofs.
"THIS ISN'T OVER!" He shouted and galoped to the baggage car. The mare then run towards Thorax. "Are you aright?" She asked him. But he didn't respond. Thorax was blacking out. There was something fimiliar about this mare.
"Thorax! Anwser me!" She was starting to fade. Thorax trying to stay awake, so he can thank her. He knew th at he was loosing consious.
"THORAX! Are you alri....?"
Then everything went black.
"Spike you know I don't like how you lie to me! Why didn't you tell me about this?"
Thorax was waking up. He could hear two ponies talking in the background.
"I'm sorry Twilight. I wanted you to relax, I mean this is a vacation"
"Spike! Something like this is serious! You don't keep this from me!
"Spike?" Thorax called weakly.
"Thorax!" Twilight said releived. "Are you okay?"
"Oh no" Thorax tried to smile since he was busted for keeping this under wraps. "Huh, hey Twilight. How...how is your vacation going?" Twilight looked at him disapointed, she knew his game. She been doing this Spike since he first hatched. "I'm in trouble aren't I?" Twilight nodded. "Oh boy"
"What were you thinking Thorax?" Twilight yelled. "You clould have been killed!"
"How do you know"
"Thorax I saw you! I was the one saved you!"
"Proove it." Twilight reached into her saddle bag and pulled out the mask she was wearing the night before.
"Aw come on!" Thorax complained. The two started to argue and Spike was feeling being in the crossfire.
"I'll just let my self out" Spike informed them, but they didn't really hear him. Spike slowly walked out the door. As soon as he closed it he quickly put his ear against it, trying to listen in to the conversation. He couldn't make out what was going on.
"Why did I even do this if I knew you were going to be like this?" Thorax stated.
"What do you mean?" Twilight asked softly, offended of the turn of events.
"I risked my life to keep you alive! Those changelings were going to kill you Twilight! I heard them in their hideout! I was trying to keep that from happening!" He stopped in the middle of his senence and turned to the window. "I just, didn't want to loose the first freinds I ever had. Because when you loose one freind, you loose them all, then you loose your self." Twilight was suprized at what he said.
"Thorax, I didn't know you felt this way"
"No,..." Thorax stood up. "You didn't" He then walked out of the room. Spike was standing there, listening to the hole thing.
"Are you okay Twilight?" He asked. She did not anwser him. Spike walked up to her and gave her a hug. "It's fine Twilight, you'll get over it." But Twilight knew he wasn't going to get over it. Like he said, loose one freind, loose all freinds, loose yourself.
Later she and her freinds had breackfest in the dining car and was heading to the lounge car. Twilight wasn't very happy after her fight with Thorax, and the others where noticing. "Well, at least she's not worried something is going to happen on this trip" Pinkie Pie commented.
"Pinkie, this is serious" Rainbow Dash explaned. "Twilight is not in the best of moods. It's like she got in a fight with somepony."
"You all go on ahead" Applejack sugested. "Ah'll to talk to Twilight" The others just took her advice and continued on to the lounge. "Twilight" Applejack began. "Is somethan wrong?"
"No, Applejack" Twilight anwsered.
"Twilight, Ah know yur' lien' to me."
"How do you do it?"
"Do what?"
"How do you know when somepony is lying? Nothing can get pass you."
"That's because, Ah was a lier once."
Twilight laughed and Applejack was annoyed. "Oh, you were serious? Sorry. Continue."
"Okay back to you."
"I forgot what we were talking about. What was it again."
"Why you were feeling down and out."
Twilight knew their was no ecsape from talking about what happened with her and Thorax. "You got me Applejack. I can't get out of this can I?" Applejack nodded.
Thorax was just in his room just thinking about what happened last night and the fight he had earlier.
'I don't know what I shoul do. Twilight is my freind, I should apologize to her. I just can't figure out what to do. It's like I'm falling.
All sorts of thoughts flew through his mind. He looked out the window of the passing scenery which changing from deserts to lush pinetree forests.
I just wanna stay in the sun where I find
I know it's hard sometimes
Pieces of peace in the sun's peace of mind
I know it's hard sometimes
Yeah, I think about the end just way too much
But it's fun to fantasize
On my enemies who wouldn't wish who I was
But it's fun to fantasize
Oh, oh, I'm falling, so I'm taking my time on my ride
Oh, I'm falling, so I'm taking my time on my ride
Taking my time on my ride
"I'd die for you," that's easy to say
We have a list of people that we would take
A bullet for them, a bullet for you
A bullet for everybody in this room
But I don't seem to see many bullets coming through
See many bullets coming through
Metaphorically, I'm the man
But literally, I don't know what I'd do
"I'd live for you," and that's hard to do
Even harder to say when you know it's not true
Even harder to write when you know that tonight
There were people back home who tried talking to you
But then you ignored them still
All these questions they're for real
Like "Who would you live for?",
"Who would you die for?"
And "Would you ever kill?"
Oh, oh, I'm falling, so I'm taking my time on my ride
Oh, I'm falling, so I'm taking my time on my ride
Taking my time on my ride
I've been thinking too much
I've been thinking too much
I've been thinking too much
I've been thinking too much
I've been thinking too much
I've been thinking too much
I've been thinking too much
I've been thinking too much
Oh, oh, I'm falling, so I'm taking my time on my ride
Oh, I'm falling, so I'm taking my time
Taking my time on my ride
Oh, oh, I'm falling, so I'm taking my time on my ride
Oh, I'm falling, so I'm taking my time on my
I've been thinking too much
Help me
I've been thinking too much
Help me
I've been thinking too much
I've been thinking too much
I've been thinking too much
I've been thinking too much
Help me
Thorax heard knocking at his door so he walked over. As he opened the door to his suprize it none other than...
"Twilight. What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to talk to you. May I come in?"
"Of course you can." He opened the door to alowing her to come inside.
"So what wrong? Other than what happened earlier"
"That's what I wanted to talked to you about. Look I'm sorry for happened. I was worried about you. Plus with Crystalis alive and still out their. I don't know why you didn't come to me about this."
"Twilight, I didn't want you to worry. This was your day off. I really do feel bad for lying to you about this. I was going to warn you guys but you already left the castle. So I dicided to do this my self, guess I was way over my self. Freinds?" Thorax was expecting a hoof shake but Twilght gave him a hug.
"Freinds"
Thorax was suprized but he retured the hug. After 5 seconds, the broke up the hug. Twilight then walked out of the room. As the closed shut. Thorax returned to his thoughts. 'I don't know if we're just freinds. Or something more...'
As Twilight walked down the hallway of the Pullmare car she was thinking of the dream from last night.
'What does my dream mean? Maby I get more anwsers tonight. If nothing else goes wrong.'