//------------------------------// // Ponyville to Canterlot // Story: Equestria’s Speedy Demon // by DaiAtlas2016 //------------------------------// Applejack turned to look at Nitro, he was pony sized, as Fluttershy said. Sneaking him around was gonna be difficult, unless.... “Stay here, Nitro. I’ll be back in a second!”, she said, leaving the barn. Nitro replied, “You got it!” Applejack ran to her closet and pulled out a flannel, some boots, and ten gallon hat that belonged to her father, before he passed. She tried sneaking through the dining room, but Granny was there. “Where are you going, AJ?”, the old mare asked. Applejack sighed, “Granny, I have a friend who needs help. I have to take him out west to Braeburn’s so he can find a new home.” Granny smiled, “Well, I suppose you couldn’t say no. Be careful out there, dearie.” “I will Granny, see you later!”, Applejack nodded. “Do you want me to tell your friends where you’re going?”, Granny asked. Applejack thought for a second, “You can tell them what I’m doing, but not where I’m going, it’s kind of a secret.” Granny grinned, “I understand, sugar. Take care.” “I will, Granny.”, Applejack confirmed as she headed back to the barn. Nitro was still there. The orange pony smiled, “Here, I’ll help you put these on...my stars! What happened to your paws?” Applejack stepped back in shock, the bottom of Nitro’s paws were all scratched and burnt. Nitro sighed, “I’ve been running my whole life. I haven’t really had time to let them heal.” “Do you want to bandage them before we go?”, Applejack asked, tilting her head in concern. Nitro shook his head, “Your friends might be back soon, we won’t have time. It can wait.” Applejack helped him put on the outfit. The duo left the barn and started for the train station as Twilight and Fluttershy went into the house. “I can’t believe we didn’t find anything! I thought for sure we had it!”, Twilight murmured. Fluttershy turned to Granny, “Where’d Applejack go?” “Oh, Applejack had some business out of town.”, Granny smiled. Fluttershy, satisfied with her answer, turned to Twilight, “Should we search the rest of Ponyville?” Twilight beamed, “Excellent idea, Fluttershy! Maybe it saw us coming and ran off! Let’s go!” So Fluttershy and Twilight made their way back to Ponyville. Meanwhile, at Ponyville Station, Applejack and Nitro stood at the counter. “Two tickets to Canterlot, please.”, Applejack said, turning to find Nitro looking around in wonder. She smiled, as she took the tickets and handed one to Nitro, “You haven’t been out much, have you?” “Is that obvious?”, Nitro asked, tilting his head. They got on the train, gave the conductor their tickets and sat down. Nitro turned to Applejack, “We haven’t really known each other for that long. Why are you being so nice and helping me?” Applejack smiled, “Because that’s something I do. That’s what friends do.” “I’ve never had a friend before. Does that mean we’re friends?”, Nitro inquired. The orange pony grinned, “Of course. I like you, you’re an interesting little critter.” Nitro laughed, “The only pony who’s said that to me wants to dissect me!” Applejack sighed, “That’s where I disagree with Twilight. It’s not okay to dissect living things, sure if they’re dead and don’t care. But if they’re like you, and say no, then you should respect that wish.” Applejack looked over to see Nitro fast asleep on her lap. “You must be tired of running all the time.”, she smiled, petting his head, “Don’t worry, you won’t have to run much longer. I promise.” Applejack stared out the window, watching the scenery pass by. “Hey, Applejack! What are you doing here, Darling?”, a voice piped. Applejack turned to see Rarity and Sweetie Belle. “Mind if we sit in here with you?”, Sweetie smiled. “Sure! I don’t mind.”, Applejack replied. Rarity opened her bag and pulled out an apple and handed it to Sweetie, “Are you on your way to Canterlot, darling?” The cowpony answered, “Yeah, then I’ll take another train to the Crystal Empire. I’m helping Nitro here find his way home.” After she said that, one of Nitro’s boots fell off, revealing his battered paw. Rarity gasped, “Oh my goodness! His poor paws! Are they all like that?” Applejack sighed, “Yeah, I offered to bandage them before we left, but he declined. And my Pa’s boots seem to big for him, but I had to cover his tracks.” Sweetie piped in, “Is he a fugitive?!?” Applejack laughed, “No, Twilight wants to catch him and use him as a test subject for one of her crazy experiments.” Rarity sighed, “She just doesn’t know when to stop, and poor Nitro is wounded as it is. Here, I have some things in my bag that might help.” Rarity pulled out some bandages and gauze and wrapped up all his paws. Then she pulled out some bright blue, Velcro sneakers and put them on him. “There, now he’s much more comfortable!”, Rarity beamed, at a job well done. Applejack smiled, “Thank you, Rarity.” Nitro started to stir, “Are we there yet?” “Almost, darling. About two more minutes.”, Rarity grinned, excited to see his reaction. Nitro looked down at his feet, “Hey...I’m looking good and feeling good!” Rarity, Sweetie, and Applejack smiled watching him jog in place. “Rarity bandaged your paws so they could heal a little better, and gave you those shoes.”, Applejack told him. He turned to look at Rarity, “Thank you. You all are being so nice to me. And I didn’t do anything to deserve it.” Rarity laughed, “Oh, Nitro. Most ponies in Equestria are nice, except the ones who are trying to experiment on you.” The train stopped and they all got off. “Rarity, can we go up the tower?”, Sweetie asked. “I don’t know, it’s awful high up, it would take a good fifteen minutes to get to the top.”, Rarity replied. Nitro took Sweetie and put her on his back, “Hang on tight, and I’ll take you up there.” Before Applejack could turn and say no, they were already gone. Applejack and Rarity turned to see an orange comet spiraling up Canterlot castle and stop at the top of the tower. Rarity gasped, “Now I see why Twilight would want to take a closer look at him.” “I just hope no one saw them.”, Applejack sighed, as her and Rarity made their way to the castle.