The train pulled into Dodge City, bang on time.
Fluttershy trotted out of the train and over to a little stand selling refreshments. The stand was owned by a rather burly looking unicorn, a stallion who was making sandwiches and wrapping them in greaseproof paper. A crudely painted sign above displayed the price of each sandwich as 15 bits.
"Fifteen bits?!" repeated Fluttershy, shocked by the extortionate pricing.
The stallion dropped the sandwich to the floor, eyes narrowing.
"I mean fifteen bits?" said Fluttershy hastily, trying not to anger him, "Wow what a bargain! I might get a sandwich because it is such a bargain!"
The stallion picked up the sandwich and wrapped in paper, despite the sandwich being covered in sand and dirt and all sorts of horrid things that had been on the ground. Fluttershy resisted the urge to shudder.
She walked over, nervously, "What kinds of sandwiches are they?"
"Wolf."
"Wolf?" spluttered Fluttershy.
The stallion burst out laughing, his laugh echoing around Dodge City.
"No it's cheese."
"Oh," replied Fluttershy, "I will take that then."
She counted out fifteen bits for the stallion.
"Do you want something to drink as well?" said he, "I've got a special offer. Two for two on cherry juice, grown right here in Dodge City!"
"How much is that?" said Fluttershy cautiously.
"11 bits!"
That was the price of the fine she'd paid earlier. But she didn't want to hurt the stallion's feelings.
"I'll take uh one bottle of cherry juice, please," she said.
"Two bottles of cherry juice coming right up!" he roared, "Twenty-two bits."
"Um I said," began Fluttershy but balked when he glared at her, "Twenty-two bits it is!"
She counted out twenty-two bits to the stallion. She sighed. She wasn't anywhere near enough to her journey and already she'd spent nearly all in her purse.
"Pleasure doing business with you!" he boomed.
Fluttershy nodded politetly, then scampered off to the ticket office, where she paid eleven more bits (leaving just two gold coins left in her purse) for a journey to Ponyville.
Once she was at Ponyville, she thought, she would head over to her cottage, pick up a bit more money, then head to the Crystal Empire.
The train whistled and after making sure it was the right train, she stepped on and took her seat.
The train pulled away from Dodge City and the stallion waved to her as it gained speed. Fluttershy began chewing the sandwich, but found it too disgusting to finish. Even so, she'd spent 33 bits at his stand and was determined to make her money's worth. She'd have the first bottle of cherry juice to wash down this sandwich, and the second during her long journey to the Crystal Empire.
Yes. That seemed like a good plan.
"Welcome aboard this service to Ponyville!" said the announcer, "Customers for Griffonstone should stay on this train as there are no service to the Neighagra Falls and Griffonstone for the next week due to maintainence."
Oh no.