Author's Note

Hello there and welcome back again to yet another new chapter of Millennial Mountainside Metropolitans, the one story out of many of my craft to go above and beyond the oneshots I've given you since the inception; suffice to say, the past chapters from before were by far a strong note for you all yet on the bright side, we're nearing the end of it completely.

Aside from disclaimers and thanks, I have a little confession to make: seeing that you've noticed a new character joining into the story recently, you'd be right for expressing confusion that she's now appearing despite the five character limit; of course, you need to be reminded that this was already in the making since the very beginning, something that you should've anticipated.

Speaking of new characters, I have brought forth Jasper from the very first story all grown up, but not too grown up: he still has a long way to go, especially with that disease claiming his eyesight; as a matter of fact, he's not the only one bound to make an appearance so to speak so sit tight.

Darkest

The skies were brightened about as the golden sun completely illuminating the firmament with its rays brighter than the substance of metal gears. Traveling across the log horizon of the crashing skies were gentle breezes carrying various debris and scents composed of light and heavy materials. An occasional howl carelessly whispered unintelligible dialogue yet it was unheard of overall, uneffecting both the sound barriers and lifeforms. The topsoil and a few floras upon themselves were already pushed and pulled along by the many shifting paths, dancing about rather safely at once. To say that the loneliness was currently filling the deadened air served as an understatement even if a single grain of truth had taken root previously.

The woodwind sounds of whistling cut on through the cold diurnal air as it was followed by the constant percussion of steel parts in rapid succession. Within the distance, an enharmonic orchestra had already came in the form of a slender yet rustic locomotive locked in a continuously circular motion. Rapidly yet carefully, the synchronicity of melody was currently on repeat with the very grinding of metal accompanying the whooshing smoke clouds. Standing nearby were another set of tracks empty unlike the road being taken with a series of lights and billboards being littered about infrequently. A couple cars which were in the process of being pulled alongside by the engine lit up brightly, albeit dimmed compared to the arid landscape itself.

The many coaches coasting throughout in motion had some insides more elaborate yet moist, not to mention the fact there was life already stirring about. The ceilings were in a brownish gold, illuminated by a series of lanterns nearby with furnishings elaborately telling many stories of past cures all in teal. The walls closing in where the windows took refuge were of a brighter color so to speak, bearing the qualities of static electricity which flashed messages. Underneath it were an abundance of the brilliant green in a cluster of swirls in every possible shade for the observant to even acknowledge and the like. Seating was of no consequence for the very inhabitants within the car, although the abundance of density therein had made whatever tranquility unlikely.

In any case, not every passenger aboard was standing about as one kind of area in particular was fit enough for the tasks of slumbering freely. Only luxuries found within itself were a windowsill and furniture at a close range, more cleaner than a wolf–whistle and chaste than a catcall. The fact they were already devoid of crowding individuals served as proof of how neatness was the norm, emphasized by the ligneous form. All in all, the scenery beyond itself became picaresque due to the shining sunlight shimmering throughout the looking glass and its blinds.

Sitting in a chair near the windowsill was a darkly skinned woman looking upon at the ambient scenery changing about in accordance with the moving train. She just so happened to be donning some elongated tricolor tresses composed of sapphire, plum, and rose, each strand running halfway towards her very back. The lonely woman’s amethyst orbs were vibrant like actual gemstone yet they were dulled and listless, taking in the details of foreground and background. Her attire was nothing less than simple: a cobalt vest over a cornflower blouse, a rose red bow–tie around the neck, a purple starry skirt, and pink stockings.

“Attention all passengers, we’ll now be approaching Rockville in a few minutes time: if this is your stop, then we ask you check your belongings and hope you have a nice day; either way, thank you for choosing Friendship Express, Equestria’s finest in rail transit…” a voice had announced but it didn’t belong to the lonely woman due to the lack of a corporeal formation.

Nevertheless, her ears were flopping to the sounds of loud whistling as she’d cerebrated about, “it’s kind of sad going down from Canterlot again after all these years no less, especially after what I’d seen: the lives that were changed, the liberties which were lost, the happiness which were receding, and the equality with everyone’s mortality; I’ve seen it happen far too much here. It’s not just strangers here and abroad who’ve gotten a raw deal; everyone I’d known and came to love suffered because of this fucking war: neighbors inside Canterlot and out were hurt, friends were attacked and abused, and families were torn to shreds. I, especially, suffered no differently either: I’ve been left out to be burned alive, watched places getting destroyed with and without fire, learned about my friends’ sufferings before and during the war, even saw Cadance die in front of me; even worse, Shining tried to end his life over that wedding. No amount of memories is going to wash away the horror we’d all faced over the years, especially considering what had happened: I, alongside Rarity, Fluttershy, Lemon Hearts, and Twinkleshine lost our homes; Pinkie had to stare death in the face when Morkhav tried to kill her; Applejack, Rainbow, Lyra, and Minuette were raped with half of them carrying children to full term. The only one who’d suffered the least was Moondancer and even she’d blamed me for leaving her out to dry since that fateful day; left a note saying how much I’d hurt her before she’d went off to attempt suicide by overdosing on amphetamine salts: even Applejack tried to keep up her body weight and look what happened. Speaking of which, it’s not like she’s proud to have Jasper born into this hateful and heartrending world as of now, not since his diagnosis: Sweetheart lamented the facts all too well about women getting pregnant from rape and the like, especially with diseases like syphilis; she even said making it past age two is miraculous in and of itself, considering his mother’s decision no less. Even looking at him struggling in his sleep is depressing, not knowing the difference between dreams and reality; usually, a normal person would wake up and open their eyes but Jasper is blind because of what they did to Applejack: he says that he sees colors in his dreams rather than people, places, or things but darkness is his reality. I just don’t understand what kind of horrible lifeforms would do such a thing to these kinds of people: even the Changelings had an explanation and even that wasn’t enough to deter us from our indignation; the others don’t deserve to get much love from us for what they’d done and been doing for so long ago. I love Equestria, I love the princesses, I love my neighbors, I love my classmates, I love my family, and I love my friends; no amount of atrocity or terror is going to deter me from doing the right thing, especially for their sakes for what it’s worth: I just can’t have any more of these wretched deeds be done to us any longer…!”

“Now arriving at Rockville…” the voice from earlier blared on, “please make sure to be aware of your surroundings: the company is not responsible for the damage or disappearance of personal private property of any kind whatsoever; in the event of injury or death occurring onboard, the train will make the nearest stop and emergency services will be notified as soon as possible…”

“Okay then, here we go: wake up, Jasper; we’re here…” the dark skinned woman had finally spoken out the mouth, her tone dry yet sweet as the train was slowing down to a complete stop.

Arising from the opposite side was another passenger of a smaller size, slowly crawling up out of the lower bunk within the two beds therein. Of the clothes stepping outwardly into the light were a pair of white socks beneath some emerald pants and even this was just the beginning. Revealing the wearer’s identity, Jasper’s integuments were composed of coffee, found upon the hands poking out of a splotched cyan shirt. Though the traveling tyro was facing her, the former’s eyes were closed tightly; still, this was of no consequence whatsoever for the former. At long last, Jasper stood afore the woman with few hair strands growing from the former’s scalp over the otherwise bald area darkly colored.

The small youth stuttered about, “Miss Twilight…?”

“You alright…?” she’d asked him, earning a nod, “we’re here… I’ll help you get your shoes and clothes in order; they’ll be expecting us shortly…”

“Who…?” Jasper peeped as Twilight gathered some items from above his berth: a knapsack, a gunnysack, a cane, and a pair of shoes.

The older female wasted no time whatsoever in giving the male youth an answer, “the Pies: my friend Pinkie meant to visit them earlier this month but she’s sick with the flu; her family’s still stuck picking up the pieces after all these years…”

“What pieces; was something broken…?” he said as she started wearing the knapsack abaft herself right away while helping him put his shoes on, “I don’t understand…”

“You don’t need to, Jasper, at least not yet: you got so much ahead of your life to look forward to; besides, even without Fluttershy around all the time, it’s my responsibility to keep you safe as well as hers…” Twilight answered as she stood up, gripping the gunnysack in her rightmost hand while the titular traveler held on to his cane on the leftmost.

Both passengers held each other’s hands tightly as they’d left their beds, joining the masses of departures in the general vicinity of the cars to follow their way out of the stationary train. As the twosome did so, they were now standing upon a wooden surface, part and parcel of a platform where many like and unlike them dominated the area as was to be of expectation. Out of many, the dark skinned woman took in the details of their new environment by sight and scent alone: mountainsides raged with growth and erosion, devoid of aroma and pollution. Herein, she could easily see and believe that she was no longer alone in the world, let alone in the open area, despite the neutral tones in which her only charge couldn’t even see at all.

It wasn’t long until the platform the duo was on started clearing up in due time, traveling crowds split into two simple groups: the arrivals whom were now filling up the locomotive and the departures having already reached their collective destination; they were part of the former now rather than the latter then and even Twilight took note of spectators remaining in and out as well.

As soon as the twosome were farther away from the area, the train started to pull off from its adjacent station, resuming the orchestral movement which had signaled the arrival so earlier ago as its other observers dispersed: of them, he was quick to break the physiological bond in between the older woman and himself as his ears were being covered with a cry, “uuuuuuuuu…”

“Oh, my… times like this make me lament what kind of world we’re being left with at the end of the day: I wonder if Fluttershy had those days; then again, it’s a pointless question…” she’d begun ruminating about while watching Jasper drop to his knees immediately, almost in a state of helplessness, “Jasper…?”

“Uuuuuuuuuu…!” the male juvenile whimpered.

The very rhythm of transportation was getting further away from the town and its denizens, not that he’d noticed, though his hands were being gently touched upon by tender Twilight talking, “Jasper…”

“Hmm…?” the eponymous youth stammered about, “Twilight…?”

“Please listen to me: it’s gone now; the train didn’t hurt anyone…” the singular adult spoke to the lonely child calmly.

Even though his eyes were shut away, his skin remained aware of her presence: gripping yet gentle as it should be for such a truthful idealist like herself; as such, he’d finally inquired, “where are we…?”

“We’re in Rockville, sweetie… it’s much quieter than my hometown…” Twilight answered Jasper softly, looking around and taking note of how scarce yet so populous the eponymous community was with its dwarfing demographics, “now, climb onto my back; I’ll carry you there…”

“Okay…” the juvenile male sighed, heeding the adult’s command without complaint or resistance whatsoever as he gripped her neckline.

After feeling the weight on her back increase significantly, she’d picked up his cane and said, “we’ll be at the Pies soon enough…”

With a cane and gunnysack sharing the same hand and a backpack now serving as a cushion for Jasper, Twilight stood back up and resumed walking again, wasting no time if at all to reach her destination.

The particular area in question was a quickly growing phenomenal homestead free of stereo but otherwise brimming with life and liberty nonetheless. Rather than copious yields filled by a potential golden harvest, it was mayhaps rather barren save for an overabundance of rocks in all shapes and sizes. A wooden fence overlooking the area sat still on the solid ground, planted neatly all throughout the way as it’d kept the stones away from the house. In close range was a single solitary windmill standing by as it’d provided the home with its own brand of gentle breeze like sentient ligneous lifeforms. Nearby on the opposite end therein was one of the mountainsides lurking about, posing of little consequence to the pair all present and accounted for.

“Hmm?!” a gruff yet feminine voice echoed from the blue door the lonely woman knocked upon, something which had startled the byhanger youth, “someone’s at the door…!”

“Already… who is it…?” a similar voice on the same side had replied, albeit frail and gaunt compared to the former.

Clearing the throat, Twilight spoke up, “it’s just us travelers, ma’am: we’re from up north; can we please come inside…?”

“What business dost thou have with us rock farmers: applicants or merchants…?” the secondary voice hissed softly, showing signs of reinforcement in her tone, “either way, today’s almost at an end…”

“I know and that’s why we’re here: I’m Twilight Sparkle and I’ve come here on behalf of the Princess Celestia but not alone; I also have a child with me and his name’s Jasper…” the lonely maiden answered back without any hesitation or anger.

A moment of silence came betwixt both parties at least until one of the tenant’s sighed as metal clicked, “understood: I’m turning the lock now…”

Almost immediately, the frail and gaunt source revealed to be of the same gender as Twilight; unlike the latter, age and weight were much greater along with the former’s bright skin no less. Dark green tresses were found tied into a bun, save for a few strands already out of place in the very neatness as it was tainted white for the lonely maiden to see clearly, unlike the male youth. A pair of golden framed spectacles were held securely in place by its petite chains, overlaying its elderly owner’s tired icy blue whilst underlined by thick concaves wearing out the integuments. Much of the tenant’s body was cloaked in a jet black dress from top to bottom with some thin white lines intersecting one another evenly; in addition, she’d worn a gilded brooch with a gem. Standing firmly underneath the tenant’s right hand was a plastic stick shorter than the women themselves, held in place by the bespectacled one; another difference was its comparable length.

“Thank you…” Twilight had said intermittently all the while, “sorry if we’d disturbed you, Miss Pie…”

“Tis fair… besides thy rosy strand, I hadst nearly mistaken thee for mine daughter Maud; thou should knowst me as Cloudy Quartz, the matriarch of the Pie family: ‘twas a good thing Limestone hadst let me know in advance…” the elder resident introduced herself to him and the maiden, dropping into a more placid demeanor.

Twilight crouched down and told Jasper, “we're in…”

“I take this is thy progeny, dear Twilight…” Cloudy Quartz said as she’d watched the young male release himself from the maiden instantly, “where be his father by any happenstance…?”

“Let’s say that he’s not around so to speak: the war had claimed many lives and the last thing needed is to know where; I hope you can understand…” Twilight answered the matriarch as the former held onto his hand.

A straight face was worn by Cloudy Quartz as she’d then spoke, “I see: he’s an orphan; aren’t thou married now…?”

“No, I’m still a virgin: haven’t been claimed or courted by any males yet and I don’t see it happening anytime soon…” the maiden had answered the matriarch almost rather immediately, “is everything fine…?”

“All seems right with the world, yet barely: our guest Pommel is assisting Marble with table setting; ‘tis almost dinner…” Cloudy Quartz said.

Both he and Twilight had entered the humble abode, the latter taking the time to close the door behind themselves so as to maintain whatever privacy had been returned in the process. The lonely maiden had taken the time to study the background, finding it filled to the brim with taupe shading as they were already held up with some enormous pieces of timber plank. A thin carpet was discovered in the epicenter of the floor nearby the lemony guest, bearing different hues of purple as they were all separated into some differently colored ringlets. A pair of of some dark blue curtains hung near the windowsill, already portraying the dying light that was the golden sun as well as the scenery beneath itself where the twosome came. Standing up in front of both Twilight and Jasper was a lonely fireplace with its own logs dry and barren, resting in between a drawer and shelf containing many of the ceramic tableware.

The darkly skinned maiden looked at the stairway and asked the matriarch, “I see then… will your husband be joining you…?”

“Of course… Maud is just assisting him in preparations; they’ll be right with us soon enough…” Cloudy Quartz answered Twilight almost instantly, taking the time to walk away from her younger guests, “Limestone is also going to cleanse herself…”

“What’s on the menu…?” the darkly skinned maiden inquired.

The matriarch in black answered, “rock soup: takes awhile for the minerals to break down and become fit for consumption; I’ll go over and check the meal…”

“Okay then…” Twilight said as Cloudy Quartz had escaped the former’s line of eyesight straightaway, leaving both of the latter’s guests alone to their devices, “for a family of victims, they seemed to be well–adjusted: Pinkie told me that her parents and sisters were prisoners in their own home, especially considering they were basically cut off from the rest of society. Even I’d heard that Lyra was going to be sold into slavery here, turned out into a common prostitute like they and their mother; was this home the headquarters for Plato’s Cavern or the major area for its dirty dealings and the like: in either case, could Rockville have been an ideal setting for such things? Come to think of it, what was Morkhav doing here of all places when the war broke out: could he’d planned this out from the beginning just to take their riches for himself or was there something more to this story that I’m not getting; as a matter of fact, did all the men that raped a few of my friends also did the same to the poor women here too? Compared to the existential threats my friends and I have been facing, these things happened to be lurking in the background waiting for something like this to come to pass; even the seeds had been growing and taking root before we’d even been chosen to wield the Elements themselves and not just literal invasive ones.”

The legatos of laughter were being heard outside of the windowpane as the young male held onto the darkly skinned maiden tightly within the spacial dimensions, even as she’d shed a hot teardrop from the corner of her leftmost eye.