The Light Inside Us

“We just missed it!” Dash said. “Twelve minutes ago!”

Twilight stared at the board. The next train to Canterlot wasn’t for another six hours.

“That doesn’t make any sense,” Smolder said. “You have trains to Canterlot at 9:00, 10:00, 11:15, 12:30, 1:45, and 7:45. There’s a train almost every hour, and then a six hour gap.”

“There’s a train to Fillydelphia in two and a half hours,” said Thorax, “and nothing earlier going in the right direction.”

Twi sighed, and walked across the platform to the post office. Once inside, she purchased a letter and wrote:

Dear Spike and all my friends

I’ll be direct with you: something terrible happened, and it’s keeping us from heading back home. We’re off to #########, and will be back as soon as possible. I’m afraid there is nothing you can do to help us. Just stay safe, and avoid anypony acting suspicsous. We’ll be back soon.

- Twilight and the others

Twi sighed and was about to mail the letter, when Dash spoke up behind her.

“Why can’t they help?”

Twi jumped slightly, and said, “It’s too dangerous. If they come, their lives will be under intense risk. I don’t want them risking their lives for this.”

“Mail it,” said Dash after a pause. “I think they'd like to help, but you’re right. It’s way too dangerous”

Twi guiltily mailed the letter.

Thorax cautiously stuck his head in through the door. “Hey, we made a plan if you two wanna come out…?”

Dash nodded, and she and Twi exited the post office.

~~~~

Raven entered the camp cautiously, crossbow drawn. It seemed deserted.

“Nopony’s here,” said one of the team, a cerulean mare with an orange mane.

“No one,” said Raven, remembering her encounter with the griffon. “You better get that through your head Carrol.”

“Nothing’s here,” said Bon Bon.

“Not quite ‘nothing’,” said Raven, stooping down to pick up a charred scrap of paper.

“Who was at this camp last?” asked Radcliffe lazily. “They must have left the paper scrap.”

“Jase and Richard, I think,” said Carrol cautiously.

“Jase’s position might be on the line,” Raven grumbled. “He really needs to stop leaving evidence behind.”

“What was the letter?” asked Bon Bon.

“I sent it to request Jase and Richard to patrol farther south. Obviously a mistake.” Raven shook her head spitefully.

“Tracks,” said Carrol suddenly.

All heads turned to some hoofprints leading down a trail.

“Hmm,” said Radcliffe, “I wonder who made those.”

“I think I know,” said Raven. “Now hold on to me–We’re gonna go for a little spin.”

~~~~

“It all works out,” Thorax finished. “The ticket looks like we’re going to Fillydelphia, but we’re really stopping at Canterlot.”

“All we have to do now is wait two hours,” said Fluttershy.

“Actually, she’s coming in early,” said the ticket master, coming up behind them. He glanced at his pocket watch. “Any moment now.”

Twi nudged Dash, signaling that she wanted to talk. There was a sudden rushing and clattering, as the train pulled into the station. Across the platform a few ponies started walking towards it.

“What do you wanna ask?” Dash questioned, as Twi pulled her back into the post office. The desk clerk was gone at the moment.

“What happened last night?” asked Twi quickly.

Dash raised her eyebrows. “You didn’t know?”

“Of course not!”

“Wow, I guess you didn’t ask Cadence?”

“Why would I ask Cadence instead of you?”

“She’s your sister and princess of–.”

“Five minutes!” called the conductor over a loudspeaker.

“Well,” said Twi hurriedly, “I didn’t ask her, but I’m asking you now!”

“I don’t know Twi,” Dash said, “If you didn’t get it yourself, maybe you shouldn’t know. Or ask Cadence.”

“I do want to know!” Twi protested.

“I don’t,” said a voice from behind the counter.

Twi and Dash spun around to see a cerulean mare standing where the clerk had been before. The said clerk was lying unconscious on the floor behind the new mare.

“Who are you!?” growled Dash, advancing on the mare.

“Oh that’s a really bad idea,” the mare giggled. She produced a loaded crossbow, and aimed it at Dash. Twi felt as though she’d lost all feeling in her limbs.

“Two minutes!” the conductor announced.

“Seriously, who are you?” asked Dash, surprised.

Twi was starting to regain feeling in her limbs, and her senses seemed to be coming back online.

“Carrol,” said the cerulean pony, who was now wearing a smile that reminded Twi of the ones the ponies at Starlight’s village had worn.

Dash suddenly lunged forward, and Carrol yanked the trigger back with her magic. Twi moved forward, but the bolt from the crossbow hit the ground.

There was an explosion of light, and Twi was blinded, only seeing bright orange in her eyes.

Dash barely avoided the light show, and instead caught the shockwave. She flew forwards, and slammed into Carrol, knocking her down.

Carrol cursed loudly, and produced a knife, which Dash punched out of her hoof. Carrol swung up, hitting Dash across the snout. Dash blocked Carrol from punching her teeth out, before she shot a hoof out, hitting Carrol dead in the throat. She slipped back and reached for her crossbow.

Dash moved to stop her, but it was too late; Carrol had snatched it up and was now pointing it at Dash. To the rainbow mare’s surprise, Carrol had already loaded it. “Now you're dead, you psycho,” she rasped.

Dash lunged forwards, grabbed Carrol’s knife, and threw it at the crossbow, whilst looking away.

There was a massive explosion, and Dash felt herself slam into the wall. She stood back up. Twilight was standing back up.

The post office was totaled. The racks were lying on the ground, stationary was everywhere, and the counter was a pile of concrete and cracked marble. Twilight was slightly singed and battered but seemed okay for the most part.

Carrol was broken, lying on the platform unconscious or dead.

Twi suddenly reached over and pulled Dash towards the train.

“Final boarding call folks!” the conductor (who hadn't seen the fight or heard the explosions) announced.

“What happened in there?” asked Smolder curiously.

“Are you okay?” asked Cadence worriedly.

“We’ll tell you on the train,” said Twi, “and my vision’s weak, and Dash is worse for wear, but we’re okay for the most part.”

They all entered the train, unaware that Raven and the rest of her team were already on it.