To Find the Light

Chapter 6

A Long Journey

As I arrive at the train station I see Cleo waving over at me.

"Hey Wallflower!"

I push past the dozens of ponies who are standing around at the train station. A loud whistling sound fills the crowded station and ponies start boarding a train nearby.

"Hi Cleo, are you all packed and ready to go?"

"Yep, I've got everything we need. You have brought the food right?"

"Of course! How could I possibly forget?"

"Great. The train should arrive at any moment now. I`ve never been on a train before though."

"Me neither, have you got a plan in mind?"

"Yes but I`ll show it you on the train, okay?"

A loud chugging sound is heard in the distance as a large steam train slowly arrives at the station. It's black and appears to be made out of some sort of metal or steel.

The train's door opens and a conductor steps out in his navy blue uniform.

"All aboard!"

We board the train and take a window seat. The inside of the train isn't what I expected as I look around. It's nothing fancy but the decor is worth noting with the flower chandeliers hanging above us and the plush interior lining. I look down the aisle as the train seems to go on forever. Ponies continue to board and I turn back towards Cleo as he starts pulling paper, quills and all sorts of important documents out of his saddlebag.

"What's all this for?"

"This is some of the equipment I have brought, or better known as the important documents needed to devise a plan.

I can hear the sound of the train's door closing behind me as I stare out the window, watching Canterlot pass us by.

"Wallflower are you paying attention?"

"Oh, yes."

"Okay here's the plan."

On the table is the building plans for one of the warehouses that Cleo was talking about yesterday afternoon. He points to one of the places on the sheet.

"Since we can't enter the warehouse through the front entrance well have to go around the back and climb through one of the open windows. There will be a ladder there so well be able to climb up. We will climb through one of the open windows and don't worry, I have some rope to climb down the inside wall with. Then all we need to is find your father and Im pretty sure Ill be able to figure a way out."

"Sounds like a plan."

"I thought you might agree. And don't worry I used to do martial arts so if anything goes wrong I`ll be to fight off guards."

I burst into hysterical laughter.

"You. Fighting guards. That's ridiculous."

"Laugh all you want to now but when you get caught I`ll be there to save you."

He smiles cheekily as I continue to laugh hysterically, Cleo has a wicked sense of humor.

"Okay I trust you, but seriously since when do you fight?"

"Well, some ponies are full of surprises."

"Yeah, I guess they are."

He quickly glances at the watch.

"Is that the time all ready? No wonder I`m hungry."

"Would you like a sandwich?"

"Sure."

"What flavor? There's lettuce and egg or daffodil and daisy."

"Daffodil and daisy please."

"Ok. Here you go."

I pass him a sandwich and I grab myself one. We eat silently as we watch the countryside pass us outside the window. Long stretches of grass bordered by white fence are adorned by the occasional hay bale or house.

All of a sudden it occurs to me that this is my first time leaving Canterlot. In truth I was born in Canterlot and I have never had any reason to leave. It seems like home is now so far away, yet I don't miss it as much as I thought I might. The sudden thought makes a little sad. I kind of thought that if I ever left Canterlot it wouldn't be because I was rescuing my father from a dangerous organization.

"Hey, Cleo."

"Yeah."

"Um...um...this is actually the first time I have ever left Canterlot."

"Are you serious?"

"Yeah."

"Wow. I kind of thought that you had least to been to another place besides Canterlot. Oh well, at least this will be a new experience for you. I mean Manehatten is nothing like Canterlot. They're completely different. I bet you`ll just love the big city, it's full of ponies but predominately unicorns though. I should know I mean I used to live there when I was just a colt."

"It sounds great. However I kind of thought that I would be travelling on different business though."

"What do you mean?"

"Well...I thought that if I was ever to leave Canterlot it would have been because of my career or something like that. Not because my father's life is in danger."

"Don't worry about it. I can see your point and all but a trip is a trip and you should never take anything for granted. I mean this sort of train ride is very expensive and not everypony can afford them. Probably because of how new this mode of transport is."

"Your right. What do I have to worry about? I mean, I`m sure that after we rescue my father everything will be just fine."

We finish eating our sandwiches in silence and soon dusk falls upon us. We've been travelling for hours. I don't know what time we'll arrive at Manehatten but I sure hope it's soon. Unfortunately neither me nor Cleo thought to bring a pack of cards so we just stare longingly outside the window hoping that this train stops, if it ever does.

Somehow, as the train starts to pull into the station, I feel as though anything and everything can and will go wrong. Such a mission as this is very dangerous and I hope and plead with all my heart that father is okay.

The train stops and the conductor opens the door allowing for us to get off the train. I pull my saddle bag on and we depart the train. The sun shines brightly over us as I stop to look around. The station is very different to one in Canterlot. Cleo was right Manehatten is predominately occupied by unicorns, at least we'll blend in.

"Cleo."

He turns and looks at me.

"Are we doing the mission tonight?"

"Why of course. That's the entire reason we came. Besides the sooner the better."

With that we start heading towards the exit and make are away through the station. Unicorns are everywhere and as we make our way onto the street I notice how different Manehatten really is. The city's buildings are all grey and most of the unicorns are of light, dull colors. However the city is bustling with life and I can tell that isn't going to be easy to get where I want to go.