Stopped Stories and Train Trouble

Applejack sat on the soft grass, patting the spot across from her. “C’mon, get comfy.” She gently urged, with Apple Bloom sighing and complying.

“You were so little when it happened, and Ah was little older than you are now, but Ah will never forget that day.” Applejack prepared to tell the story of how they lost their parents.

“But Ah already know what happened.” Apple Bloom protested.

“Just let me tell the story, Ah’m trying to make a point.” The farm mare said with a firm tone.

“Ah don’t have the time for a story Ah already know, and Scootaloo might not either. Whatever point you’re gonna make, please just make it.” She pleaded.

Applejack saw the sadness in the filly’s eyes and sighed. “Fine. When we got out of the storm cellar, we were all dumbstruck by the damage. Houses were gone, buildings were gone, Ah’d never seen such destruction. Ponies had lost loved ones, homes, and livelihoods.”

“So?”

“Ponies demanded answers for what happened. They wanted somepony to blame for it, but there wasn’t. The storm came from the Everfree, a literal freak of nature.” Applejack started.

“What’s your point?” Apple Bloom demanded, beginning to lose patience.

“Nopony intentionally caused it, there was nopony to blame. Apple Bloom, just as nopony’s responsible for that storm, you’re not responsible for what happened to Scootaloo.” Applejack explained.

“Sometimes horrible things happen to good ponies through no fault of their own.” She said looking Apple Bloom in the eye. “It’s not your fault sweetheart, and it pains me to see you beating yourself up over something you couldn’t control.”

“It’s, it’s just so hard not to. Ah’m scared for Scootaloo.” The younger pony admitted, tearing up and remembering seeing her on that gurney. She started to cry and hugged Applejack.

“Who’s crying?” A gentle voice asked. Both ponies turned to see Fluttershy emerge from the forest.

“So why’re we heading back to Ponyville? You said there was an accident?” Sweetie Belle asked Rarity, the train heading down the rails at a steady pace. They were well outside of Canterlot now.

“Oh yes, that. Uh-” she didn’t know how to say it. She eventually sighed and decided to bite the bullet. “You see, what happened was-”

She was cut off as they all lurched forward, a loud noise coming from up ahead as the train began to slow down. A massive plume of steam spread from the engine, forming condensation on the windows.

A voice came over the loudspeaker. “Uh the boiler blew a leak and we just lost all our pressure. Until help comes we’re gonna have to sit tight. We apologize for the inconvenience.”

“This is the worst. Possible. Thing.” Rarity declared, putting her hooves to her cheeks. “Oh no no nononononono this can’t be happening. Not now!”

“So we’re stuck for a bit, no biggie.” Sweetie Belle tried to reassure her older sister. “We’ll be in Ponyville soon enough.

“No, it won’t be soon enough. Sweetie, the accident was with Scootaloo. She got dreadfully injured and she’s in the hospital. We need to get to Ponyville as fast as we possibly can.” Rarity said in a deathly serious tone before bracing herself for the waterworks. After a few seconds she looked at her sister.

“Sweetie Belle?” Rarity asked, immediately becoming worried.

The filly was frozen in place, her eyes locked forward. It took her a moment to speak. “What…?” She asked with a fragile voice. She looked like she was having trouble believing it.

Rarity knew Sweetie Belle had a tendency to freeze up when there was horrible news, and knew just what to do. She got off her seat and went over to her sister, sitting beside her. She enveloped her sister in magic and gently sat her in her lap. She hugged the young filly close and gently stroked her two-colored mane.

She knew trying to snap Sweetie Belle out of it wouldn’t work, she’d have to be a calming presence until her sister came out of it on her own. She looked down as her little sister’s breathing increased, until she was practically hyperventilating. “Scootaloo’s, hurt?” She asked looking out the window. “And we’re stuck here?!” She asked Rarity with a panicked expression.

“Calm down darling, I’m sure help will be here soon.” Rarity tried to soothe her.

“Not soon enough! We’re in the middle of nowhere! We can’t get to Ponyville, we can’t get back to Canterlot-” she started crying as she spoke. “Scootaloo needs me and we’re stuck.” She said hugging Rarity, her frozen expression devolving into a crying one.

“Shhh, please stop crying.” Rarity told her, continuing to stroke her mane. “I promise we’ll get back to Ponyville, until then I’m sure Scootaloo will be fine.” The fashionista whispered, resting her head on top of the filly’s while she waited for her to stop crying.

“That sounds terrible! How’s Rainbow Dash taking it?” Fluttershy asked, her and the three Apples sitting in a circle. After she arrived both the sisters had dried their tears and explained the situation to her.

“She’s taking it pretty rough, we should get back and be there to support her.” Applejack suggested, all three mares standing up.

“What’re we waiting for? Let’s go.” Fluttershy made a move to go but hesitated when the others didn’t. She let out a sigh as Apple Bloom started heading out, the yellow pegasus watching her. She felt fine following after others, but she was very uncomfortable taking the lead.

“Well don’t just stand there Fluttershy, c’mon.” Applejack said giving her pegasus friend a nudge to her withers.

“Oh, uh, right. I’m right behind you.” Fluttershy said in her whispery voice, following along the two siblings.

“If you could go faster it would be vastly appreciated; time is of the essence.” Luna urged the pegasi drawing her carriage. Ponyville was in sight and that made her want to hurry up. The sooner Dr. Palliate was there, the sooner he would begin assisting Scootaloo. As they approached one of her guards alerted her to a stalled train below.

“I will send word of that back to Canterlot once we reach Ponyville. Until then, we will stop for nothing.” Luna instructed.

“Yes, your highness.” He replied before focusing on flying again.

Luna grit her teeth and wished she could teleport her physician to the hospital, but she couldn’t risk the possible disorientation of her physician.

Through Luna’s eyes Nightmare Moon saw Ponyville approaching and could hardly contain her excitement. Soon she’d be free, and soon she would rise again. But she was in no rush. After a thousand years, what was a few minutes or possibly hours more? Being trapped on the moon had done one good thing, which was endow her with endless patience.

Author's Note

There are a few important differences in this timeline to note which will become important later.

First, in this fic, Flurry Heart is already born. Second, when the CMCs were just foals a freak storm from the Everfree leveled most of Ponyville and claimed many lives. Third, time travel magic is not an exact science.