Chapters The train to our destinies
February 8th, snow fell from the clouds above and street lights glowed brighter than usual with the Manehattan streets being as empty as they were. Two Stallions stood at train station waiting for the last train to take them to their new lives. The first pony was a white Unicorn, his mane and tail were black and long with his mane going halfway down to his hooves and his tail tip lightly dragging on the ground. His name is Shine and his Cutie Mark is the symbol of Yin. The other was a black Pegasus, his mane and tail were white and short. His name is Shade and his Cutie Mark is the symbol of Yang.
"It's freezing out here!" Shine said, wrapping his scarf further around his neck and pulling his hat down as far as it could.
"What are you a wimp? It's barely cold and here you are complaining like you can't take a little snow."
"If the snow isn't such a problem then why are you hovering off the ground?"
"...I don't like for my hooves to get wet."
The blaring sound of a train whistle could be heard closing in. Both ponies leaned over the loading zone to see the lights of the train gradually become bigger. The train pulled into the station, the doors opened and a guide stepped out with a lantern in his mouth. Through muffled words he was able to ask both Shade and Shine for their tickets.
Upon receiving confirmation he let Shade and Shine on board and showed them to the Relaxation Car. Shine dropped the bags and took a seat next to the window.
"I can't believe we're finally going to this school!" Shine was on the edge of his seat and was ready to spring up at any second.
"I don't care what school it is, as long as we don't have to come back here anytime soon." Shade said as he laid down on the seats opposite of Shine. "Wake me up when we get there."
"Are you really gonna sleep and miss out on all this scenery?"
"Yes."
And with that Shade closed his eyes and the car fell silent, the train whistle blowing and the clacking of the wheels on the track were the only things that could be heard. Shine sat silently fiddling with his magic, creating small bubbles of magical energy to fill his boredom. He eventually got bored of even that and left the car to go exploring.
Shine walked to the dining car in order to see if there was anypony there he could talk with. Thankfully is his prayers were answered and he found a Pegasus stallion sitting at a table alone looking at a picture with an uneaten sandwich in front of him. Shine approached him but he didn't look up from his picture, so Shine took the seat across from him and he still didn't look up. Shine waited for a while but he didn't do much. Getting bored of waiting, Shine began to nibble on the untouched sandwich.
It wasn't until the Pegasus let out a long sigh that he finally reached for his food only to realize he had trouble finding it. "W-where's my sandwich? I just had it here a moment ago."
"Sorry about that, I was waiting for you to get done looking at that picture before I said anything. Guess I got a little hungry while I waited." Shine said with a smile as he rubbed the back of his head with a hoof. "So my name is Shine, what’s yours?"
"I'm Blue Breeze, can I have my sandwich back?"
"So what were you looking at for so long?"
"This?" Blue said as he held the picture up. "It's just a picture of me and my sister. I brought it with me so I could always remember why I never stop trying to be my best."
"Sounds like you really love her."
"So Shine can I have my sandwich back now?"
"Don't worry about that I'll get you a new one, but tell me about you."
"...I'm gonna say you're bored, right?"
"Very, but I love making new friends and since Shade isn't around it's usually a lot easier. He's my brother and I love him but he can be very hard to deal with sometimes."
"Well, I don't really have anyone to talk with either and having a friend that's not an egotistic manic might be a good idea."
"How about you tell me how you got your Cutie Mark, I've never seen a Tornado Cutie Mark before."
"It's not that great of a story but I can see why people are curious, it all started when I got an assignment from school..."
*1 story and 3 hours later*
"I knew Pegasi could control weather but to be able to control wind is so awesome!"
Blue Breeze was kinda taken back at how wide eyed Shine was staring at him, as if he was a foal who met his favorite super hero. "Yeah... I guess it is cool. Can you kinda... back off a little." Shine made his way into the same seat as Blue Breeze and was still basking in the story. "Maybe you'd like to tell your Cutie Mark story?"
At the mention of that Shine's smile fades and his voice takes on a deeper tone. "Are you sure you’re ready for a story like ours?"
"What do you mean?"
"Shade and I, grew up in an orphanage. When we discovered our special talents it was hard for us to realize our destinies seeing as how it's nearly impossible for us to get close to the princesses."
"I'm not sure I follow."
"My Cutie Mark is the symbol of Yin, it relates to a lot of things including the moon. I received it one night where I had a dream that Luna came down and blessed and eased the pain I suffered while in that orphanage. I don't know much about what it means but I know if I can speak with Luna I can learn what my Cutie Mark means."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"It's alright. I just have to try my hardest and do what I can until I get my chance to meet her."
Attention passengers we shall be arriving at our destination shortly. Please gather all your belongings and get ready to exit the train.
"Sorry Blue Breeze, I have to go wake up my brother. Let's meet up some time after school and we can hang out."
"Sure sounds great."
Shine hurried back to his brother, he knew that Shade could sleep through an earthquake and the blare of the train wouldn't be enough to wake him. As Shine made his way through the train he couldn't help but think to himself about how going to this new school would be for him and his brother.
"I really hope Shade can stay out of trouble this time around. He's never been the best when it came to holding back his emotions."
Being immersed in his thoughts Shine ran face first into another pony who had been coming through the car; papers flew up and several books fell to floor. On the floor a Unicorn mare was lying on her back, Shine quickly picked himself up and moved to the Unicorns side.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't watching where I was walking. Let me help you." Shine gestured a hoof to help the fallen mare.
She takes Shines hoof and begins to stand up, once she's on her hooves she brushes off dust that stuck to her. "Thanks, it wasn't all your fault though, I was so into this book I wasn't paying attention either."
Before she could say anything else Shine was already picking up the books and papers. "My names Shine by the way, me and my brother Shade just got accepted to the school this year."
"Well you wouldn't be on this train if you didn't get accepted, know would you?"
Shine gives a defeated laugh and smiles. "Yeah I guess we wouldn't."Shine stacks the papers and books into a neat pile and hands them over. "Sorry we can't talk longer but I need to go and get m brother."
"Well guess I'll be seeing you at school then."
"Hopefully we'll have a class together." Shine adds before walking past.
"Star Charmer."
"Excuse me?" Shine asked looking back.
"You introduced yourself but I didn't get a chance to introduce myself. My names Star Charmer, this is gonna be m 3rd year attending the Equestrian Academy. So if you need any help finding your way around just ask me and I'll help."
"Thanks, I was actually nervous about getting lost but now-"
Attention passengers we will be arriving at the station in 2 minutes, please prepare to exit the train,
"Sorrygottago!" Shine says quickly as he rushes to get his brother.
Let's see how Shades nap is going
Shade slept stretched out across the seats, his eyes slowly opened and he let out a loud yawn. Looking around he could tell he was still on the train but it seemed to look different than he remembered. That's when he noticed sitting across from him was something else completely covered in a robe.
"What do you want?" Shade said sleepily while rubbing his eyes. "If ya looking for someone to talk to ya got the wrong pony."
The other figure shakes its head and stands up.
"If ya looking to mug me then I'll kick your ass!"
"Ew evah hcum ot sucssid."
"...what?" Shade says tilting his head slightly
"Uoy nac rehtie dne sih evol ro sruoy tub nac ton evas htob. Od ton tel mih og. Ereht si ylno eno htap. Sselnu uoy evah eht traeh ot ekam ruoy nwo."
"The hell are you saying!? Speak normal you weird fuck!" Shade yells while shaking a hoof.
"Ereht si on erom emit, ew yam ton teem niaga."
And with that the room begins to fill with black smoke. "What the hell is smoke." Shade begins to panic and realizes he's having a hard time breathing. He tries to look for a door, window or anything to go through. With no exit in sight Shade backs himself into a corner and watches as the entire room begins to go black. And then, he opens his eyes and sits up like a rocket.
"Wha...?" Shade sees hes still in the train and everything looks normal again, his brother Shine comes rushing into the room not a moment later.
"Good you're already awake, we're almost at the school so get your stuff." Shine levitates his bags and checks them to make sure all the contents are still inside.
Shade sits clueless for awhile before deciding to put the dream out of his mind for now, he grabs his bag and follows his brother to the front of the train. By the time Shade and Shine made it to exit the other passengers had left with their guides. Still waiting was a large brown stallion with peach fuzz and a trench coat on.
"Hey, I'm Brawny Boulder, the gym/health teacher, and you're both late!" Do you think I have time to be waiting in the dead of night for you both!?
"You wanna start something meat head!? I'll knock you out before you even get chance to move!" Shade gets right in Brawny Boulder's face and they both glare at each other for awhile.
Brawny Boulder then lets out a hearty laugh and slaps Shade on the back forcing him to fall to the ground, "I like you pal, you got something most of these other ponies don't. And that's attitude, alright lets get you both to your rooms.
The station the train stopped at was snowy, you know, cause its still snowing out, there was a single lamp just outside of the station that. Brawny Boulder was the first to step into the windy snow and didn't even flinch at the fact of his eyes being pelted with bits of snow and ice. Shade and Shine both followed behind and made their way to street lamp. Looking around neither of them could see the school through the wind. Brawny Boulder laughed at their attempts to keep their eyes open from the direct punishment they Shade and Shine faced, he ushered them to follow and they gave up looking to follow behind him.
Shade and Shine walked followed Brawny Boulder down the path to the school, Brawny Boulder stopped and turned around and pointed at what seemed like nothing.
"Alright we're here. Whadda think?"
"Wow the school is amazing, its so big and grand. Look at all the ponies too." Shine said looking around but to Shade all he saw was trees, rocks, and the same path.
"Am I missing something here? I don't see a thing."
"Don't cha have the least bit of Pegasi magic in ya? Ya should be able to see the school like ya brother there." Brawny Boulder said scratching the back of his head.
"I never put the time into working on that, all my time was about flying and seeing how fast I could go."
"Well without Pegasi magic you can't break the sound barrier and do those sonic booms you Pegasus do. But since you can't see the school just take a step past me and you'll see it."
Shade was hesitant for a moment but when Shine gave him a slight push forward he deiced to move. Stepping past Brawny Boulder, Shade felt as if his body was being swallowed by water. Shade closed his eyes in response and when he opened them he saw before him a school almost the size of Canterlot Castle. Unicorns and Earth ponies were going in and out of the school while Pegasi were flying around racing and showing off their skills. Brawny Boulder walked past motioning Shade to follow him.
"What is all this? How can a school this big stay hidden all the time?" Shade asked still taking in how big the school is.
"The school is where all the top creatures from around the world go, so we wanted to make sure they could learn in an area full of nature but without the danger of being attacked by wild animals. So far we still have mostly ponies but currently we have Zebras, Dragons and Griffons. So mind yourself."
"Wait where did Shine go?"
"That one is full of energy, went off and started mingling with the other ponies after I finished telling him the school rules. Frankly I don't fell like explaining it all again so just ask your brother what they are. As for classes, you'll start them in 2 days from today so you have plenty of time to memorize where you need to go. And your room will be posted on that big board next to the main door, have fun and don't get into any trouble."
Brawny Boulder walked off too a group of what seemed to be teachers of varying races. Shade looked around to see if there was anyone worth talking with but ultimately decided to just look for his room and go to sleep. Shine on the otherhoof was to excited to let this chance pass by, he walked by several groups of ponies talking but heard a particular conversation that caught his attention. Three earth ponies were talking about a rumor that one of them heard.
"You can't be serious, that rumor has been going around since I started coming to this school." The second pony said waving a hoof in disbelief
"I swear its the truth this time, you can see all six of their names on the board and whats even better is that Princess Luna is gonna be the head master this year." The third pony stated while drinking from a juice box.
"I still don't believe that the Elements of Harmony are gonna be in this school but lets humor him and go check the room listing." the first pony says. All three of them get up and leave having not noticed Shine at all.
"Elements of Harmony? Never heard of those before, but that's not important." Shine began to walk in a random direction saying hi to everyone he walked past with a friendly smile until he caught notice of a Unicorn sitting by himself, hiss coat was a gold yellow, while his mane and tail were coal grey, as for his cutie mark he had a pickaxe. He was sitting there looking into a box. Shine decided to peak at what was inside and saw gems, of various sizes and colors. "Wow those are beautiful!"
The Unicorn jumped, slammed the box shut, and took off running before Shine could say anything else. Shine couldn't think of anything else to do and was planning on going to check his room number before turning in until he saw Star Charmer walk by in what seemed to be a really bad mood and decided to try and cheer her up.
"Star Charmer wait up!"
"Shine, just the pony I needed to see."
"What's wrong? Looks like something just made you really upset."
"You're not going to believe this, there I was walking through the halls to my room when out of nowhere this black Pegasus bumps into me.."
*~~~~~*
"Watch where you're going bookworm."
"Excuse me, that is not how you apologize to somepony."
"Why should I apologize? You're the one who clearly was to busy reading a book to see where you were going, besides I've got better things to do then talk with you."
"Hey don't you go anywhere don't you know who I am? I'm Star Charmer and I'm gonna be the dorm master for this floor which means you need to listen to what I say."
"And I'm Shade and I'm gonna be the pony who doesn't give a shit about what you have to say, so piss off!" Shade opens and slams his bedroom door leaving Star Charmer on the floor.
*~~~~~*
"I swear I've never met a pony as rude as he was, I hope you never cross paths with him."
"Yeah... he must have been quite a jerk."
"Ugh, I seriously need a drink right now. How about you Shine up for some wine and cheese?"
"Sorry I wont be able to drink anything like that for another 2 years. Plus I need to go check on my brother and make sure he hasn't gotten lost or anything."
"Well alright we're gonna have to find a time where we can hang out. Hows tomorrow sound?"
"Sounds great, I'll catch you later Star Shimmer." Shine heads back to his room to confront Shade about his manners and help rework his attitude while they are both attend school here. Even though he is in a rush Shine manages to say hi to almost everypony he passes by, once he makes it up to their room Shine practically kicks the door down and is not greeted by his brothers typical "Yo whats up?" but instead was greeted by loud snoring. Shade was already fast asleep and even though Shine was upset he didn't want to wake his brother. He decided the best thing to do was to turn in for the night and yell at Shade tomorrow.