1 - All Aboard the Crystal Express
Gulp.
Silver Spoon shuddered. She was cold, she'd argue. It was winter after all, and the scarf around her neck did little to shield her from the elements. She didn't shudder because she was scared. Nope, no siree. Not a—
"The train to the Crystal Empire is now boarding. Mind the gap."
Silver felt herself lift off the air as her skeleton lagged behind the rest of her body. The conductor's voice was loud, she'd argue. Why would she be scared of the prospect of leaving Ponyville for the first time in her life to go somewhere all by herself to some foreign land with no pony to guide her along the way? That would be ridiculous!
She gulped again. It was strange, her throat wasn't dry. What was bringing about this reflex? Her nerves? No, ridiculous...
Silver Spoon turned around and stared at the sea of unrecognizable faces and figures that flooded around her. Slowly, she felt her shoulders sag. She was done arguing with herself.
"Who am I kidding," Silver said under her breath, a stray lock of hair falling in front of her face. "I knew it would be a lost cause trying to psyche myself up for this."
"Silver! Silver Spoon!"
"Wha—" Silver Spoon looked up. Even with her glasses on, she was still forced to squint. Just barely visible within the sea, there was a blotch of pink approaching her. The corners of her mouth curled into a smile. "So you do have a heart."
"Of course—hah—I do," Diamond replied, leaning forward and heaving in a big breath. "It's just—hah—small and black from studying Equestrian history and politics. Sweet Celestia, I think I sprained something."
"You live half a mile down."
"Shut up," Diamond said, feigning a glare before smiling. "I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I left my best friend in a cold, dark train station by herself without sending her off first."
"Funny, I think I remember you telling me to go to Tartarus yesterday." Silver giggled.
Diamond stuck her tongue out. "I never said I wouldn't join you down there. We're besties after all."
"The train to the Crystal Empire is boarding. Please find your seats and mind the gap."
The conductor's voice didn't make Silver jump this time. She felt sad for some reason. A heavy but familiar weight hung on her body.
"Hey," Diamond whispered in Silver's ear, "Silvy, you're gonna be okay. I promise you'll enjoy this, and if you don't, well, I'll buy you ice cream as an apology and you can chew my ear off for it. Does that sound good to you?"
"Mhm." Silver muffled her own voice in Diamond's fur. It was warm.
Diamond was happy too, mostly happy that her pink coat hid blushes well. "I'd love to stay like this, Silvy, but I'm going to chew you out if you miss this train."
Reluctantly, Silver pulled away from Diamond, blushing as she sheepishly pushed the rim of her glasses up her muzzle. "Right, sorry."
Gulp.
Silver had been seated for less than half an hour before the anxiety surfaced again. There were at least a dozen guards roaming the train, several of which stopped next to her compartment to examine the interior.
"This train ride is twelve hours," Silver moaned to herself miserably. "Is this train smuggling drugs? Why is there so much security?"
Silver Spoon needed answers. More importantly, however, she needed to pee. Her urge to kill two birds with one stone outweighed her fear. Silver stood up, gently nudging the door open and stepping out into the hallway.
“Good evening.”
Silver’s legs locked up as a guard politely bowed his head while passing her. She was regretting this already. She missed Diamond.
“G-good evening!” Silver stammered, earning a smirk from him as he turned away.
“No need to be afraid, filly. We’re not here to cause trouble.”
“I’m not a filly, I’m a mare,” Silver mumbled after he was out of ear’s reach. She looked down the hallway and gulped again. “Guess I have to prove it though, right?”
Thankfully, the hallway contained no more guards, so the walk to the bathroom was almost peaceful. The soothing sounds of the train rolling against the tracks managed to calm her down just enough to lose the twitch in her step.
Despite this, she wasn’t ready for the bathroom to be occupied. Silver hesitantly knocked once.
“Sorry! Out in one second~”
That voice almost sounded… familiar.
The door swung open, and the fear was back again.
Princess Mi Amore Cadenza was standing right in front of her.
“Dear, are you ok—oh my!”
A blue aura enveloped Silver Spoon as Cadance gently broke her fall, stopping her fainting from becoming lethal.
Wait, no, having a panic attack in front of a bonafide princess wouldn’t do.
Silver Spoon recovered at a rather impressive speed, scrambling to her hooves and apologizing profusely.
“S-sorry! I’m so sorry! I just… wasn’t expecting to see a princess on this train.”
Cadance gave her a forced smile. “Please, call me Cadance. I feel like I’ve seen you before.” The princess offered Silver a hoof. “Don’t you hang out with Rarity’s sister sometimes? I was under the impression you two didn’t like each other very much.”
“We didn’t get along for a long time,” Silver muttered, her eyes glued to the ground. “It’s not that I didn’t want to get along with her, I just… felt like I needed to hate her for Diamond’s sake.”
“I see.” Cadance stared at Silver for a few uncomfortable seconds. “Hiding how you really feel about someone is a dangerous game to play.”
“I learned that lesson when I was older and less stupid,” Silver replied, forcing herself to chuckle. “So, not to pry or anything, but what is the princess of the Crystal Empire doing here?”
“Classified.”
Silver’s ears folded back. “O-oh, s-sorry—”
“Kidding,” Cadance winked. “Shining and I were visiting Twily.”
“Who?”
Cadance rolled her eyes. “Princess Twilight Sparkle. Perhaps you’ve heard of her?”
“I—I…”
“Don’t get your tongue in a knot. What is your name again?”
“S-Silver,” Silver Spoon said, forcing herself not to shout. “My name is Silver Spoon.”
“Well, Miss Silver Spoon, you’re coming with me to my private train car,” Cadance said, wrapping Silver in her magic aura.
“B-but my ticket is for—”
“No buts!” Cadance barked. “I want you to be comfortable on this train ride, so please don’t make me drag you the whole way there.”
“Why did you make me drag you the whole way there?”
Silver hid her blush underneath her braids. “I-I thought you’d give up eventually.”
Princess Cadance puffed out her chest. “Well, clearly we’ll need to get to know each other better, come in and have a seat.”
Silver took an intrepid step backward. “I really don’t think I should impose.” She squeaked as she was hurled into the velvet-lined seat adjacent to her, a smug Cadance following suit.
Cadance sighed. “I promise you’re not imposing. I just want you to open up a little. I’m trying to be more like Celly… getting to know ponies.”
“Celly?”
“Princess Celestia.”
“Oh.” Silver Spoon shrunk in her seat. It only reminded her just how influential Princess Cadance was. Princess Celestia was just a few steps off from a literal god, after all. To be on a nickname basis with the princess of the sun like that was—
“Who’s this, Cady?”
Silver Spoon froze. Even in the cozy and warm interior of the luxury cabin car, she could feel the blood in her veins solidify. Princess Cadance had caught her off guard, but she was ready to connect the dots this time. She knew that voice. She couldn’t turn around.
Cadance smiled. “Hello, Shiny. This is Silver Spoon, one of the friends of the Cutie Mark Crusaders.”
Before Silver could think, she felt a hoof move her chin. Her eyes met a deep-sea blue.
“Nervous thing. Isn’t she?” She felt his hoof leave her face, leaving her jaw slightly agape. “That’s alright. I apologize for startling you.”
Cadance gave him a mock glare. “I never hear you apologize to me when you scare me.”
Shining snorted, taking a seat next to Silver Spoon. She flinched when he nonchalantly fell into place. “That’s because I do it on purpose. It’s cute to hear you startled.”
“What a charmer you are.”
Shining winked. “Don’t you know it.” He waved over a train attendant and nudged Silver Spoon, “I don’t mean to be a rude host. Do you want something to drink? They’ve got good wine on board. You seem like a wine mare to me.”
Color rushed back to Silver’s face. “O-oh, I don’t… I mean, I’m not old enough to—”
Shining raised an eyebrow. “What? How old are you?”
“Shining, don’t ask a mare her age!” Cadance chided.
Silver gulped. “I just turned eighteen, your highness. After graduation.”
He scoffed. “Good thing the drinking age in the Crystal Empire isn’t twenty-one then.”
“B-But technically we’re still in Equestrian territory—”
“Please bring me something red with a dusty label. We’ll all have meals soon too.” The waiter nodded, and Silver had to silence her internal screaming once again.
“Already trying to get the girl drunk, Shining? Have you no shame?” Cadance said, grinning at Silver Spoon. “Don’t fall for his charisma, Silver. He’s a total dork inside.”
Silver’s face burned, and the couple laughed uproariously at her squirming.
This would be a very long train ride.
Silver Spoon was right. Time moves slower with alcohol added to the mix.
“Silver, you had two glasses. How are you already tipsy?” Cadance stifled a giggle, setting down her own glass. “I think it’s about time you went to bed.”
“No, I’m—” She yawned. “I can stay awake for a little while longer.” A hiccup. “I wouldn’t mind… talking to both of you some more.”
Shining smirked. “Well, that’s quite a turnaround. It was hard to get a word out of you a few hours ago. Now you’re like a different pony!”
“-t’s okay, I guess.” Her eyes fluttered. Silver yanked her head back up. “I think… I’m gonna close my eyes for a few minutes.”
Cadance giggled. “Right, a few minutes. Goodnight, sweetie.”
“Mhm, g’night.”
