Canterlot’s central rail station was a humble thing, particularly compared to the great capital it served. The ponies of Equestria treasured elegance over efficiency, so where other stations would have had ten sets of rails and cargo cranes, Canterlot Central had soundproof walls to muffle the whistle of trains, elegant platforms where ponies could wait, and cafes and overhangs for passengers’ comfort. It was a quiet little station, where trains arrived precisely according to schedule and there were rarely surprises.
Thus it was that the station manager, whose name was Cross Tie, stood on Platform 7, forcefully staring at his watch. According to the station schedule, the Tawantinsuyu Express was due to arrive at Platform 7 at 5PM sharp. That had caught his eye when he arrived in the morning, and he’d interrogated each of his subordinates about it in turn. But none of them could remember putting that train on the schedule, and in fact, so far as any of them knew, no such train existed.
But, it was on the schedule, and it was not the place of a station manager to change train schedules of his own authority, lest he cause a collision. And so the station manager stood on Platform 7, looking at his watch as the last seconds of 4:59PM ticked past.
At the exact turn of the hour, a whistle roared, steam rushed around him, and from the thin air itself, a train pulled into the station. Other stallions might have found this unsettling. Cross Tie found it both comforting and proper.
The door opened, and Twilight Sparkle emerged. “Your Highness,” he greeted her. “Good to see you return from your trip.” Following the Princess of Friendship was Spike, who he recalled was her valet. “Sir.” He nodded his head. Last off the train was Queen Chrysalis, shapeshifting mother of monsters, by whose dark will he and all of Canterlot had nearly been enslaved.
He stared at her for a long moment. She stared back. Then, she gestured at the train, where two overworked changeling drones were unloading a great many bags. The suitcases leaked ichor and changeling slime. “You. Serf pony. Find a porter for my things.”
He nodded, his faith in the unyielding order of the station once again justified. “Of course, Your Highness.”
“And we’ll need a carriage to Canterlot Palace. The fastest available,” Twilight said. “I need to see Princess Celestia immediately.”
“I’m sorry, your Highness,” Cross Tie bowed his head low. “But Princess Celestia is not in Canterlot at the moment. Her train departed for the Crystal Empire this morning. I presume she has gone to see Princess Cadence.”
Twilight considered that. “Then I’ll need a telegram sent. Exact words. Do you have something to write this down?” Rail Tie did, quickly pulling a pad from his pocket. “Message Begins: Dear Princess Celestia.”
Twilight paused. She cleared her throat. “I win. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle. Message Sent, Day 81, Canterlot.”