Reacts: Before

Reacts
------ Before ------

Chapter 2: Here

The conductor is talking to some of the engineers of the train. A lone engineer is taking a look inside the inter-workings of the train.

“Hm... it seems to have overheated for some reason. I don't know why, we checked the engine a few days ago... huh, what is this thing?”

Tick

<<< 0o0 >>>

The two traveling family members are walking in a calm pace,“Ah Ponyville, a tranquil little town that has no faults. So Quantum, do you know anything bout Ponyville?”

Quantum stares up to the sky in an attempt to think, “well... there had been many... strange things that have happened in the past.”

“Correctamundo! I personally haven't experienced the crazy adventures of these here ponies around here, but I've heard some rumors.”

The uncle noticed something on Quantum, “So... what up with the saddle bag? That's the only thing you brought with you. You think that's all you need?”

Quantum looks at his old saddle bag, “don't worry about it.”

Quantum is still gazing the sky, like he's in a trance.

Bing

He snaps out of the trance and desperately looks around. His uncle looks worried, “what's the matter?” He shakes Quantum a bit.

“H-Huh? Oh, sorry. It's just... I thought I heard a pinging sound. Like something you'll hear from...” His sentence trails off.

“Don't sweat it. This is supposed to be for the betterment of you. That means... cheer up.”

Quantum has a wide grin on his face, “Hahaha... sorry. I'll try being more cheerful.”

“That's the spirit!” He looks around, “now then, let's see if there's... aha! There's one!”

He points at a cafe. “Maybe the reason why you're daydreaming is because of an empty stomach. Come on, don't dilly dally!”

The two ran towards the cafe with smiles on their faces.

<<< 0o0 >>>

The staff of the train station are staring at what a engineer just discovered within the confines of the train. One of the tellers is walking back and forth.

“Okay, I got it. The someponies that build the train just stick it there at the last minute to... you know make it go fast.”

The rest of the staff stared at him for a second, only to start arguing each other a second later. The teller became depressed. One of engineers, a male unicorn, named Gear Head, is studying the thing slowly. The lollipop stick that's protruding out of his mouth is poking the thing.

“Hmm... I'd say this thing wasn't m-made... by pony hooves.” Everypony stopped and listen.

“I'm no expert or anything b-but... this thing looks like complex boxes sticking to become one. And the material looks l-like... nothing I've ever seen before. But that's just m-my... opinion, that's all.” Everypony stare blankly.

The box started shaking hysterically. Everypony is looking at the scene with surprised eyes. The thing is floating in place.

“Um... Question. Should we do something about this. It looks a little scary and I don't want know what happens-” The boxes that make up the whole thing is starting to move around with blinding speed. As the boxes move faster and faster, the staff is starting to back away, with some thinking they should run away all together.

Gear Head is the only one still staying still, observing the spectacle with glee, “it's trying to do something. Maybe truing t-to... something else?”

The spectacle stopped all of the sudden. It's shape is now a little tower with a tripod. It hovered for a second then it dropped like a rock. Everypony is crowding around the thing.

“Um... what just happened?”

“Why did it did that?”

“Who in their right mind would build something like this?”

Knock Knock

Somepony is knocking on the front doors. Everypony turns around.

“Oh dear! We forgot to open up. You there, unlock the doors. We'll clean up.”

“I-It's-”

“Please just do it!”

Gear Head grunted his way out and is heading to the front doors. Everypony else is cleaning up the mess the thing made.

“At least the mess is manageable.”

“Geez, it's like everything is busted except the clock.

“The clock?”

“Yeah, the clock. I can hear it tick.”

The teller looks at the clock, “Ah... The clocks' broken...” Everypony stops in their tracks.

“Then what's with the ticking.” The ticking sound starts to get louder. Everypony is trying to pinpoint it.

Tick

“I think it's around here somewhere.”

Tick

“Hey, I think I'm getting closer.” “Good for you...”

Tick

“Wait a...” The teller turns to the thing. Closer inspection reveals that the thing is making the tick. It's boxes are beeping at random. “Hey, the thing is doing something.”

“What's it doing?”

Tick Tick BEEP

Gear Head opens the doors, “Sorry for the wait. But don't worry, everything is u-under... control.” The station starts to rumble.

“I t-think...”

<<< 0o0 >>>

“So... what do you want to eat? Hay Fries, Dandelion Sandwiches... Oh, what about something sweet?” Quantum looks closely at the menu.

“You know, it's been a while since I've had some down time. I always had my troop to manage, keeping track of who's around and who's sick, the order of the acts and everything.”

Quantum caught what he just said, “I' just realize that I don't know what you do. Or for that matter, I don't even know your name.”

The uncle became quiet.

“May I take your order?” The uncle went to a defensive position. An awkward silence befalls the three ponies.

“Oh, I'm sorry. I-It's just that... I'm not a fan of ponies sneaking behind me.” The waiter bows in apology.

The uncle and Quantum made their orders. The waiter took their menus and left.

“Sorry. Not really good with-”

“I know, you just explained it. Now, an answer to my questions?”

“Oh yeah! Then allow me to introduce myself-” He extends his right hoof, “my name's Ring Meister. Nice to meet you.”

Quantum is struggling to lean over the table and extends his right hoof, “W-Well then, I'm Quantum.”

Uncle Meister sat back down and sighed, “now that we're done with that, to answer your other question-” He takes a deep breath.

“I'm kind of the leader of a circus troop. All I do is manage the acts and making sure everything is going smoothly, both inside and outside the tent. So I'll be the pony that-” Uncle Meister continues on about his responsibilities, why he doesn't like ponies behind him (a clown and tomatoes were involved), and a great story of how a family of trappist artists inspired him to literally join the circus.

“The sheer amount of technique that you need for a routine is just... And none of them were even using magic. Now that's technique.”

The two were talking deeply about their lives (mostly Uncle Meister's), even after the waiter brought them their orders (a big stack of pancakes and a small ice cream float).

“Okay, okay. One more question, and is also been bugging me; Where are we going? Is this for your 'troop' or something?”

Uncle Meister chuckles a little, “in a way, yeah. We're currently on a tour around the north end of Equestria, and our next stop is a small town around the crystal mountains.” He blushes a little.

“And I know for a fact that a certain mare from my past lives there so-” Quantum is staring blankly. Uncle Meister reassembles his composure.

“Sorry. That was just something adult ponies have to worry about.” Uncle Meister sighs.

You know, I made a promise to her. One day... One day, I said that we'll settle down and start a family. Really now, that was made when we were foals but... Maybe she's right, maybe I should slow down. I did made a promise, and a stallion can't break a promise. That's your word, you can't go back on your word.”

Quantum looks puzzled, “so if I say something, does that mean that I have to follow it?”

Uncle Meister chuckles sadly, “not to a T but... Let me just me say this; 'Once you start something, you might want to finish it.' I said 'might' because it's your choice, but it's kind of the better deal to do something, even if it's a 'bad' situation. You just take it like a stallion.”

Quantum nods slowly, trying to sink in the lecture he just heard. Silence hangs in the air.

“Whoa... that was pretty deep, huh. Well don't worry, today we'll just sit here and relax.

The ground starts to rumble. Anything that's not nailed down is rocking crazy.

Bing

Quantum hears that pinging sound again.

Prepare

Quantum then heard a voice in his head. A voice he never heard from.

“Quantum, lower your body, now!” Both of them lowered themselves to the ground and started to crawled.

Get Ready

The words are buzzing around in his head, to the point were it's giving him a headache.

A big bright light is shooting out of the distance. Quantum then hears a lot stomping, and it's getting nearer. Quantum hear various voices, he could only make out a few.

“Run!!”

“It's all over!!”

“Celestia help us!!”

“I told you so everypony!! I told you so!!”

It's coming

A lone figure comes out of the beam of light. It disappears in a flash. An explosion happened in front of the two relatives, blowing them a few yards away. Quantum is on the verge of being unconscious. With the last of his strength, his hearing shot and vision blurred, he looks around the scene.

Rubble, charred pieces of wood, big fires, and a large figure easily towering over Quantum. It's shadow cloaks Quantum's body, making it seem like it's night. Quantum's eyes were closing, thinking that giving in will make it go quick. The hulking figure started to walk towards Quantum.

Not to point out the obvious, but that 'it' that I've been warning you to prepare... it's here.

Quantum utters a faint sentence, “W-What's here...?”

Everything goes black.

~~~ End of chapter 2 ~~~