//------------------------------// // 04 : Debates Over Dinner // Story: The Journal // by TropicalWings //------------------------------// “So, who do you think did it?” Rarity asked me. We were gathered around the dinner table eating the food Braeburn prepared for supper. We had decided to discuss who might be behind the destruction of the railroad- or at least, they were trying to put up with my allegations on how the tracks were destroyed. “Remember what Braeburn said? The Buffalo Tribe hasn’t been around recently. Maybe they did it?” Applejack suggested while munching down on some hay. “Applejack, the Buffalo Tribe couldn’t have done this. Even with their strength, I highly doubt they’d be able to destroy through thick metal like those.” I rebutted. “Besides, I don’t think buffalos have laser eyes to burn through metal. They were burnt, remember?” Rainbow Dash added. “UNLESS THEY’RE ALIENS!” Pinkie Pie replied. “No, Pinkie, it’s not aliens, and not buffalos either. I’d highly doubt they’d even want to sabotage the tracks. I say we lay off the buffalos; they’re obviously not the culprits, why in Equestria would they even do such a thing? Any other ideas?” “OOH! OOH! I KNOW!” Pinkie suddenly burst out. “If it’s aliens then don’t even bother-” “No, I’m serious this time! I think it’s paraspites!” “As much as I want to say so, Pinkie, parasprites don’t have fire breath. They BITE, not BURN.” I replied. “Why in tarnation would anypony even want to destroy the station anyways?” asked Applejack. “It’s not like they have any motives.” I added. “Parasprites aren’t that smart to do those stuff you know, so parasprites are out too.” Rarity replied while gracefully munching on a daisy salad. “...Fine, aliens did it then.” she replied. “Pinkie, if you say that one more time, ah’mma make sure yer gonna be in worse condition than Twilight after I’m done with ya.” Applejack said, extreme annoyance slightly evident in her voice. “Fine.” She said disappointingly. “The joke’s probably getting old anyway, probably boring the readers out already.” she added “The what?” I asked, completely perplexed “Oh, nothing...” she replied with a smirk as she quickly began munching down on a frosted rainbow cupcake. “Get used to it Twi, she does those weird things most of the time.” Applejack said, slightly relieving my confused mind. “Enough getting off topic. Let’s get back to investigating. I’m getting sleepy.” Rainbow Dash commented, who was playing with the last bits of beans on her plate with her fork. “Right. Who else do you think might have done it?” “Maybe a bunch of thieves did it?” said Pinkie. “Ugh. For the -nth time Pinkie, it’s been BURNT. Not STOLEN, not EATEN, not SHATTERED nor BENT, it’s BURNT.” Rainbow Dash said, before I could answer. “Wait Rainbow, what if Pinkie’s on to something.” I interrupted. “You know, the idea of a bunch of criminals destroying a train station isn’t really far fetched.” “Twilight might be right, it might have been taken.” Fluttershy added. “Hey, Braeburn, you did say the train station was the only connection this town has to the outside right?” I asked. “Sure is.” he answered back “Ok, also, when was the last time the train was here?” “Umm... around a week ago, you girls were riding it” “So it hasn’t been here recently?” “Yup” “Then that means...” I thought out loud. “...It’s very likely that whoever did it is still here!” “What?” Rarity asked “Think about it Rarity, the station’s the only way out of here and the train hasn’t been around for a while. And unless they’re planning to kill themselves out in the desert, it’s most likely that whoever sabotaged the station is probably still stuck here with us in this town!” I exclaimed excitedly, ignoring the slight headache that was slowly re-emerging in my forehead. “Now hold up Twilight. We’re not even sure if this guess ’a yours is even true. We’re basin’ this off what we think, not really if it’s true.” Applejack retorted. “Applejack, it’s worth the try anyway. If we’re wrong, we’re wrong.” Rainbow Dash said in reply. “No, Rainbow, Twilight couldn’t just go trotting around town investigating stuff; she’s already injured, and it’s possible that her condition could get worse.” “Aww, come on, Applejack.” I said “I’m not made of glass remember?” “I also know a lot about investigations and mysteries, you told me that Pinkie and I solved a case about some baking contest remember? Maybe I could-” “No!” Applejack snapped, pounding her hoof on the dinner table, almost spilling our drinks. “Twilight, I know you’re really good with solving stuff, but I don’t want you to get hurt no more, you even said that you can’t even do your fancy magic with those darn injuries of yours. You’re staying here weather you like it or not.” Despite how disappointed I was, she was right. I still can’t perform any magic, if I tried, the familiar headache buzzing in my head would suddenly intensify. “This sucks.” Rainbow said “So we’re just gonna let whoever did this get away?” Rainbow Dash added, her voice having a slight tone of anger in it. “Calm down girls, I’ll make sure Sheriff Silverstar knows about this.” Braeburn interrupted. “We’re not gonna let anypony get away with this.” he reassured. “Not after what they did to my town” “Braeburn’s right.” Applejack said “Just stay here and relax girls, we already had enough mishaps for the week.” “Besides, one of my other cousins is here with us right now, he just came here a few weeks before we got here, he’s kinda new around here, I’m sure you can help him get used to around here.” “Umm... where is he exactly?” Rarity asked “He’s not staying with us, Rarity; he’s staying at the other side of town, you gotta forgive him; he’s kinda shy.” “Shyer than Flutters here?” Rainbow Dash said jokingly “I take offense to that.” Fluttershy said “...Umm, if that’s ok with you that is” Rainbow snickered. I opened the door to my room and walked in, we just finished supper and it’s already dark outside, through my window, I could see that not much ponies were outside. I opened my saddlebag and in it, I found a brown, hardbound book nestled in the middle. It was my journal, the other thing Rarity said that could help jog my blurry memories. It didn’t look like it was the best journal anypony could have, but I guess that I seemed to put effort into working on it. She said, though, that it might not be that much of a help since the journal I have with me is relatively new and there aren’t much entries in them yet... Wait, how did she know that? ... Putting that thought aside, I put away the suitcase and lay down on the bed. I was staring at the book, thinking of what I could find, if I would ever get my memory back. Casting all of those thoughts away, I opened the book with caution.