//------------------------------//
// Resurrection 
// Story: Solar Eclipse: The Messenger 
// by The Lunar Samurai 
//------------------------------//

	Two weeks passed before Shiloh had made a full recovery from her injuries. When they had initially brought her into the sickbay aboard the ship she was gravely hypothermic and she had lost a considerable amount of blood from the gunshot. She remained unconscious for a day and a half as the doctors diligently monitored her condition. When she finally did regain her consciousness she contracted severe seasickness and began to profusely vomit.
“Shiloh?” asked a mare dressed in a white lab coat as she walked into the infirmary. “Luna is here and needs to speak with you immediately.”
“Shiloh, I am here to discuss your message.” Luna said as she stepped through the door.
“What is the issue?” asked Shiloh weakly.
“Read it.” Luna said as she floated the letter to Shiloh. The purple hue of magic changed to red as Shiloh took hold of the wrinkled page. The ink lettering had been slightly smeared from the corrosive ocean water, but the words were still legible.

Luna:
This is Mach. I have been compromised. I cannot carry out the operation. I can only think of one other pony who has the ability needed for the task. He is a former Solar Empire soldier who recently defected. If you can get in contact with him, then the mission may succeed. His name is Shadow, and he is currently being interrogated at an undisclosed location. This is most likely the last correspondence we will have before I am captured or killed. I wish the best of luck to you and to your cause.
Sincerely, Mach.

A tear flowed down Shiloh’s cheek and grazed her wound, making her flinch in pain.
“I gather you two were very close. I am sorry for your loss.” Said Luna as she patted Shiloh on her shoulder. Shiloh smiled at the princess.
“What do you need me to do?” Shiloh asked.
“For now, rest.” Luna said as she walked toward the door. “Later, however, I do have a task for you.” She opened the door and nodded to the doctor who walked into the room.
“Is there anything you would like?” asked the doctor as the door closed behind her. A clipboard floated beside her as she prepared to write down Shiloh’s request
“There is one thing that I can think of.” Shiloh said as she looked to metal nightstand beside her bed. “Can I have my saddlebag? You know, the one I had on when you found me in the water?”
“Of course.” Said the mare as she scribbled a few words on the clipboard. “Are you in any pain?”
“I’m nauseated, the cuts on my body sting, and I have a slight headache, just the usual.” Shiloh said as she went through her mental checklist.
“Alright then, I will be back momentarily with your saddlebag.” the mare said as she turned and trotted out of the door with the clipboard following her.
Shiloh laid her head back onto the pillow and sighed. I can’t believe he’s gone. She thought to herself as she squeezed her eyes shut. The attempt to barricade the tears proved worthless as they pried themselves from between her eyelids. Streams of emotion formed over her face and traced themselves over her scar, making it sting. She ignored the discomfort, as her emotional pain was much greater than a simple burning sensation. She felt lost, abandoned, and isolated, like the world had given up on her.
A knock on the door pulled Shiloh back to reality. “Come in.” she said as she wiped the tears from her face. The doctor opened the door and strolled in, carrying the saddlebag with her magic.
“Here you go.” She said as she set the bag next to Shiloh on the bed. She walked to the door and paused. “By the way.” Looking back at Shiloh with a gleam in her eye. “The stallions found a piece of paper floating near you in the water so they grabbed it after they pulled you aboard. It’s in the saddlebag.”
Shiloh quickly sat upright, causing a wave of nausea to wash over her. She leaned over the edge of the bed and expelled the contents of her stomach into the container. The vomit left a repulsive burning sensation in her throat. She continued to lean over the bucket as she lifted the bottle of water from the nightstand and brought it to her mouth. The water quickly dispelled the putrid aftertaste as she spat it into the bucket.
She turned her attention back to the saddlebag that lay beside her. The leather had begun to crack along the seams from exposure to the destructive salt water. The edges began to crumble as she carefully opened the bag and pulled out the contents. She pulled the picture from the bag and held it in her hooves. The glass was cracked and the water had spread into the paper, slightly blurring the image. The mare smiled at Shiloh and she smiled back. It was her only connection with her family that she had left years ago. She set the frame on the nightstand and turned her attention to the wrinkled letter that the stallions had fished out of the water. Hoping beyond hope that it was the letter from Mach she carefully unfolded it. Sure enough the signature on the bottom of the page was Mach’s. She read over the letter and cherished the words, as she knew they were his last.
She set the wrinkled page onto the metal nightstand and turned her attention back to the leather saddlebag. The main pocket was empty, save for a few rocks that she discarded out onto the floor beside her bed. She gingerly opened the side pockets and compartments only to find more debris and dirt. Her curiosity of the pockets quenched she floated the bag to the ground and laid her head back onto the pillow.
Shiloh grabbed the edges of the pillow and pressed them against her face. How could all of this have happened so quickly? She thought as she pressed the soft cotton harder into her head. She let the edges of the pillow fall back to the bed as she ran her hoof through her mane and over her face. She yawned and rubbed her hooves over her face. The once sickening pitching of the ship slowly began to lull her to sleep. As she drifted off she turned her head to the side to see the mare smiling back at her.


---


“Shiloh?” asked a voice from behind the door to the infirmary.
“Come in.” Shiloh said as she sat up and stretched her forelegs height above her head. The pitching of the ship had ceased and the deck was alive with activity. “What’s going on?” Shiloh asked as the doctor walked into the infirmary.
“We have anchored in the eastern doldrums to allow for some preparation of the ship for conversion.”
“Doldrums, Conversion, what are you talking about?”
“Doldrums are areas in the ocean where the water is perfectly still.” Said the doctor as she moved her hoof through the air simulating the water’s surface. “The conversion is making the NightStalker look less like a war vessel, and more like a cruise ship.”
“What for?”
“We are docking soon. Supplies are starting to run thin, and Luna decided to kill two birds with one stone and send you off on your journey.” The doctor eyed Shiloh’s scar. “That is, if you are ready by then.” The doctor walked over to her and took hold of her hoof. “Let’s see if you can stand.”
Sitting upright on her bed, Shiloh swung her legs over the edge of the bed and slowly put her weight on them. A tingling sensation coursed up her legs as they began to support her. She waited for the feeling to subside before she placed her forelegs on the ground.  Her knees were shaking as she began to exercise her tired muscles back into shape.
It took her several minutes before she could walk freely around the infirmary. Luckily the ship was relatively stationary, she would get her sea legs later. “I-I think I can manage on my own.” She said as she let go of the hoof of the doctor and shakily made her way to the nightstand. A shiver ran down her spine and into her extremities as she looked at the crumpled letter on the desk. She quickly turned her head and walked back to the doctor. “Is there anything I need to do before I head out?”
The doctor grabbed a small slip of paper and quickly jotted something down “Here is your room number.” She said a she floated the scrap of paper into Shiloh’s saddlebag. She checked her clipboard for a moment then looked at Shiloh. “I think you are ready to check out, but sleep here tonight. Another night of monitoring would be beneficial after you exercise some.” Shiloh, excited about her newfound independence, walked out of the door and into the hallway.
Several ponies quickly trotted past her as they made their way down the hall. “What’s the rush?” The group paused and began to snicker.
“Why lunch of co-” the stallion paused as his gaze caught Shiloh. He bit his lip as he realized whom he was addressing. “Are you the Messenger?” he asked with his head slightly askew.
“It depends on who’s asking.” Shiloh returned, wary of freely giving information.
“You must have been really out of it or really focused to not remember me.” He said as he walked toward Shiloh. “I’m the colt that pulled you from the water.”
Shiloh’s face turned a light shade of red, embarrassed that she had not recognized the stallion who had saved her life.
“The whole ship was eager to get you out of the water.” The stallion said as he held back a laugh. “It was less of a noble act, and more of my friends throwing me off of the ship.”
Shiloh laughed. “Can I join you for dinner?” she asked as her stomach began to groan in hunger.
“Of course, but it might get you a lot of attention.” Said the stallion as he walked alongside Shiloh to the mess hall.
“What do you mean?”
“You have been the talk of the ship ever since you left the bloodstain on the deck.” The stallion said.
The noise from the mess hall reverberated through the hallway as they neared the door.
“I suppose that was a slightly dramatic entrance. Getting pulled onto the ship then lapsing into a coma. What even happened after that?” Shiloh asked as they walked into the cafeteria. As she finished her question she realized the room had become dead quiet.
“Brace yourself.” The stallion whispered out of the corner of his mouth. “Things are about to get interesting.”
A muscular stallion rose from his seat and stood onto the table. He took a deep breath and spoke with a loud booming voice. “Mares and Gentlecolts Let us give a warm welcome to the Messenger. A mare with the courage of a thousand.” A deafening noise filled the room as the rebels welcomed her with shouts, whistles, and hammering at the tables they were sitting at. The vessel shook from the uproar.
Shiloh looked to the ground and blushed. “I’m nothing special.” She whispered, her words concealed by the din of the mess hall. As the roar began to fade, Shiloh followed the group to get her food.
“So you want to know what happened after you went under?” The stallion asked as they shuffled through the line. Shiloh nodded in agreement. “This is one heck of a story, so hold onto your hooves.”
“Several soldiers had heard gunfire, and seen the tell tale signs of a reconnaissance ship, so naturally we investigated. And by investigated, I mean ran them over. We were only a stone’s throw away from its location, and we love to annoy Celestia and the Empire. After we turned on the spotlights, we found you floating in the waves, surrounded by a pool of blood. Once the NightStalker stopped beside you, these colts,” The stallion said as he pointed to the group, “Threw me in along with a rope. Once we got you on deck, you fainted. From there the medics quickly bandaged your wounds and took you to the infirmary where nopony was allowed to see you. And you probably know the rest.”
By now they had gotten their food and had sat themselves down at one of the table.
“That’s an interesting story, but you left out one part.” Shiloh said as she lifted some of the grass to her mouth. “You forgot the part where you tell me your name.”
The stallion smiled and put his head in his hoof. “I’m awful at this aren’t I? My name is Storm Chaser.” Said the stallion.
“And I’m Shiloh.”
“Its nice to finally meet you face to face Shiloh.”
“So how did you get roped into the rebellion?” Shiloh asked as she took another bite of her food.
“It’s a long story.” Storm Chaser said.
Shiloh looked around her. “Well, it looks like I have time.”
“It all started about a year ago. My marefriend and I were out on a date, you know, just enjoying the night together. We had just gone to a movie and I was walking her back to her apartment. When out of nowhere a stallion jumped her. Obviously, I got involved, and wrestled him to the ground. The commotion had caused quite a stir and several guards had surrounded us. They pulled me off of him and held us back, but then the strangest thing happened. As they began to question us, the assailant whispered something that caught their attention. Immediately the tables turned and they drug me off to prison. I was too shocked to do anything except stare. It wasn’t until about a month later that I discovered that the stallion had bribed the guards years before. After that I spent some time in jail and began to devise a plan to escape. It involved me getting the help from another trapped pony, a unicorn, to try and teleport me out of the prison, but that didn’t work. I ended up with three bullets through my back, as the spell only cast me as far as the fence. I got put in the detention cell and was tortured within an inch of my life. That’s what gave me this scar.” Storm Chaser showed a long jagged cut on the side of his neck.
“They left me for dead as I rapidly lost blood and hung in the shackles. But I had a guardian angel. The unicorn who had failed to teleport me had been beaten alongside of me in the cell. Using his last minutes, he used his magic to unlock the shackles and apply pressure on my severed artery. As I sprinted out of the cell I could feel his magic fade as he began to die.” The stallion paused as he remembered feeling the death of his savior.
By now Shiloh’s mouth was agape. “How did you get out?”
“Everything was a blur of rage, blood loss, and a drive for freedom after that. I recall bursting through glass, landing in water, and being picked up by the NightStalker.”
“I know that feeling.” Shiloh said, trying to interject some humor in the conversation.
“And that is only one story.” He said as he put his hoof on the shoulder of the stallion beside him. “This colt watched his parents both die at the hoof of the Empire.”
He pointed to the brawny stallion that had given Shiloh her welcoming committee. “He is a former Empire General. He served as a double agent until they went through his mail and discovered his ‘crime’. He fled, but not before grabbing a crystal sniper for the arsenal.”
“What about him?” Shiloh asked as she pointed to a lone stallion who was isolated from the rest of the rebels.
“Nopony really knows.” Said Storm Chaser as he looked at the three-legged stallion. “Rumor has it he fought off an entire battalion, but that is probably just a legend.”
A loud horn resounded through the room. Immediately the mess hall shifted as the ponies grabbed their food and raced out of the door. Shiloh trotted to the opening and stepped into the hallway
Ponies were racing down and up its lengths, squeezing to the side when they met one another in the cramped hallway. They were carrying everything from ropes to paint buckets to the deck of the ship. Shiloh tried to quickly make her way to the deck, but she was still recovering from being bedridden, and only succeeded in clogging the hallway further. “Excuse me.” She said as she darted into an open door to let the ponies through. Their angry faces changed to pity as they saw the condition she was in while they passed the doorway.
“Its quite all right.” Said one light grey pegasus as she trotted past the doorway, carrying a paint bucket in her mouth. “We are all in deep gratitude for what you have done.”
Word must get around here fast. She thought to herself as her cheeks turned a rosy shade of red. I wonder how much they know. She carefully ascended the stairs and opened the door to the deck. The blinding sunlight streamed in, causing her to squint her eyes and block the violent rays with her foreleg. Her pupils constricted as they adjusted to the harsh sunlight. When she could finally see the scene on the deck amazed her.
Ponies of all ages and races scurried across the ship. They were in the process of transforming the NightStalker into an innocent cruise ship. The massive battlements had been moved into the ship and been replaced with innocent lounge chairs and colorful umbrellas. Pegasi swooped from the deck to the side of the ship to change the dark camouflage hull to a bright and cheery blue. The NightStalker’s name was changed to the ‘Weekend Voyager’ written in flowing cursive script. The earth ponies on the ship took the roles of tourists. They grouped themselves in brightly colored groups as families and couples. The unicorns were dressed in black as they served the ‘tourists’ their beverages and prepared to begin a massive deception campaign.
Shiloh walked up to the bridge and rapped on the metal door. “Luna?” She asked.
“Please,” Luna said as she opened the door and addressed Shiloh. “Call me Captain of the Night.” She was clad in a formal captain’s attire. “We cannot afford any slip ups while we are at port. “Once the conversion is complete, and you have recovered, we will make our way to the port of Baltimare.”
Shiloh mentally checked her body. Nothing was seriously injured, and the doctors had released her from the infirmary. “I think one more night of rest would be a good idea.” She said as she caressed the scar on her face and flinched.
“I understand, once we are underway I will brief you on your mission. Until then, go ahead and treat this like a cruise.”
“Thank you Lun-, I mean, Captain.” Shiloh said as she walked out of the bridge and made her way to her cabin. Apologies were given as several ponies nearly crashed into her as she slowly pushed her way against the flow to her cabin. She opened the door to the dimly lit hallway lined with sequential wooden doors. She pulled out the piece of paper the doctor had given to her. ‘206’ was written in sloppy writing on the scrap. Doctor’s hoof writing will always be horrible I suppose. She thought to herself as she stopped at her door.
She opened the unlocked door and walked into the spacious room. This must be a luxury suite. She thought to herself as she ran her hoof across the dustless accents on the wall. Trotting to her bed she tossed herself onto its pleasantly soft surface. She looked to the nightstand to see the familiar picture resting beside the letter from Mach on its surface. A note rested on her pillow that bore the same doctor’s hoofwriting.

I noticed these on the cabinet after you left, so I brought them to your cabin.


---


“Transformation is complete.” Squawked the intercom throughout the ship. The robotic voice startled Shiloh from her sleep. “Prepare for launch.” Seconds later a deep mechanical hum pulsated through the ship as the massive turbines that drove the propellers of the vessel came to life. The NightStalker began to accelerate as the metal blades pushed through the water. The familiar rocking and pitching of the ship came minutes later as they exited the doldrums.
Shiloh jumped off the bed and quickly trotted to the doorway. Cracking the door she watched as several fictitious families rush to their quarters. She waited until they had all retired to their rooms before she began to make her way to the briefing room. She opened the door to the deck to see Luna standing on the bow of the NightStalker. Her horn glowed a deep violet as the half moon rose above the horizon under her command
“Hello Shiloh.” She said without turning her head. “Once we have finished awakening the moon from its daily slumber we will begin your briefing.”
“Understood.” Shiloh said as she watched the semicircular white figure silently drift above the ocean. The reflection of the heavenly body was an amorphous figure atop the choppy water. A light spray of ocean water was cast into Shiloh’s mane as the NightStalker drove through the water.
“Follow me.” Luna said as she started toward the briefing room. Shiloh tore her eyes from the desolate expanse and followed Luna as she walked to the door on the side of the ship. They made their way to the briefing room deep within the bowels of the ship. The luxurious wallpapered halls of the cruise ship disguise slowly turned into their true form of iron and rivets as they walked to the briefing room. Luna stopped next to the door labeled ‘cargo hold’. She turned the waterproof hatch and ducked to avoid hitting her horn on the small iron frame as she stepped into the room.
The massive cargo bay was lined with several iron catwalks that snaked their way in consecutive loops around its perimeter. At the far end stood two iron doors that reached from the floor to the ceiling. The light fixtures swung from the ceiling in sync with the rocking of the vessel. Several crates stood in the middle of the floor, their contents ranging from fresh food to newly made weaponry. A small room protruded from the corner. The tiny box had a single door and a small curtained window. Shiloh followed as Luna walked to the room and opened the door.
The space was pitch black, and Shiloh instinctively used her horn to brighten it. Luna struck a match and illuminated the dark box that served as the briefing room. A topographical map of Equestria stood in the center of the room. Small stubs of candles stood on the wall. Stalactites of wax dangled from their pedestals. As Luna lit the candles the room slowly became brighter.
“This is your task.” Luna said as she walked to the edge of the map and lifted several small figures from a shelf on the wall. Shiloh stood next to her as she began to position the markers on the map. “We will be docking in Baltimare within the hour.” She said as she placed a small ship in the Horseshoe bay on the map along with a small pony figurine. She began to move it across the map as she outlined the journey. “From there you will take a train to Appleloosa. The trip should be several days at best. We have a contact in Ghastly Gorge that is expecting a sensitive package from us.”
“Are you expecting me to walk through the desert from Appleloosa to Ghastly Gorge?”
“No, I expect you to cut your trip short here.” Luna said as she stopped the figurine before the trestle that crossed the gorge. She looked to Shiloh with a glimmer of amusement in her eye. “Have you ever jumped from a train before?”
Shiloh paused as she realized what Luna’s question implied. “You want me to bail out of a moving train with a delicate package?”
“The contents are sensitive, but the package is durable. We have made sure that it can withstand any kind of abuse you can put it through.” Luna said confidently. “But if the wrong pony does get their hooves on it…” a twinge of worry struck her face. “The consequences would be dire.” Luna lifted a yellow hiker’s saddlebag from the corner and placed it on the ground next to Shiloh. “You are taking the trip on the grounds of an adventurous hiker eager to get back on land.”
Luna opened the bag letting its contents spill onto the table. “This has everything you need to stay comfortable during your trip.” Shiloh sorted through the items. The necessities were more than covered and it even included some nonessential items. “I hope everything is to your liking.” Luna said as she watched Shiloh dig through the pile of amenities.
“I appreciate the thought, but some of these items seem... unnecessary.” Shiloh said as she lifted a compact makeup kit from the pile.
“I was only trying to make you more comfortable while you traveled to the gorge.” Luna said as she looked over the pile. “It is yours after all, you can remove whatever you like. Or, rather, what you don’t like.” Shiloh began to sift through the pile of items, tossing aside everything save the bare necessities.
“Wait!” Luna half shouted as she stopped a small vial inches from hitting the ground. “You need this.” she said as she put her hoof on Shiloh’s shoulder.
“Why would I need perfume?”
“Because it isn’t perfume.” Luna said as she rotated the bottle to show its label to Shiloh. “It’s a neurotoxin capable of killing a pony within ten seconds of consumption. Keep this with you at all times.”
“I don’t see how a neurotoxin is an effective weapon.” Shiloh said as she took the bottle in her hoof and closely examined it. “It’s not like I’m going to dump it down somepony’s throat.”
“It’s not for somepony.” Luna said as she took the vial from Shiloh and placed it on the table and met her curious gaze with a serious expression. “It’s for you.” A twinge of fear hit Shiloh like a bullet. Is she going to kill me? She thought as she slowly began to back away.
“Be still my faithful messenger.” Luna said in a soft voice as she noticed Shiloh’s sudden anxiety. “I would not give this to you if there wasn’t a threat that you would be captured.”
“Captured? But I’ll be in disguise.”
“Disguises don’t always work, and I cannot risk having you tortured to death by the Solar Empire.”
Shiloh nodded. “I see.” The room fell silent while Shiloh quickly shoved the few items that had made the cut back into her bag. “Well, the bag is packed.”
“One more thing.” Luna said as she lifted a lanyard from the table. “This is your identification tag.” she draped the lanyard around Shiloh’s neck.
“That should be everything.” Shiloh said as she placed the saddlebag on her back and tightened the strap around her waist.
“Then let us proceed to the deck. It is always amazing to see land slip above the horizon at night.” Luna said as she walked back toward the innocent parts of the ship. Shiloh said nothing as she began to realize how important, and how dangerous, the mission was. The refreshing ocean air relieved some of her anxiety as she stepped onto the bow of the ship minutes later.
“Can you see Baltimare in the distance?” Luna asked as she pointed to several pinpoints of light on the edge of the ocean.
“All I see are stars.” Shiloh said as she squinted her eyes and tried to block the moonlight with her hoof.
Luna smiled as she knelt down beside Shiloh and put her foreleg around her shoulder.
“Those stars you see are the tops of the buildings in Baltimare. That is where you will start your mission.” She said as she gestured toward the slowly growing lights. Shiloh watched as the skyline began to rise from the dark horizon.
“How did you come by this ship?”
“Come again?” Luna asked as she looked back at Shiloh.
“There is no way Celestia would‘ve let the NLR just up and buy a warship. The Solar Empire has eyes and ears everywhere.”
“It was a challenge, but one main detail has kept it secret.”
“What might that be?”
“The NightStalker is not a warship, she’s a cruise ship. That is the reason we can go into port in the first place. From the exterior she is just another tourist attraction, and Baltimare has plenty of Cruise traffic. She was decommissioned just as the NLR was beginning. I knew that Celestia would find out eventually, so I needed a way to avoid detection. This vessel used to be called the Morning Glory, slightly ironic name for the use I had in mind, so I renamed her the NightStalker.”
“Ingenious” Shiloh whispered
“Thank you.” Luna said as she looked back at the horizon. The two stood in silence as the ship neared the harbor. The flecks of light had divided and formed columns of half lit towers that rose into the sky. The city was falling asleep, but Shiloh was ever so slowly beginning to feel the surge of an adventure in her blood. It was hours before the ship began to slow itself to make its maneuvers into the harbor.
Baltimare was known for its ports, and Shiloh had long heard tales and talk about the wonders of its efficiency, but she could never had imagined that this is what it would be like. She watched as the dock quickly came to life as the NightStalker maneuvered toward it. Several ponies on either side of the dock tossed massive cables onto the NightStalker that were taken by the crew onboard. They quickly anchored the stalwart ropes onto the immense wrought iron deck bitts and signaled to the stallions on the pier.
The captain brought the ship to a crawl as the ponies on the dock carefully maneuvered the boat into the wharf. A loud shout was released from the dock stallions signaling the completion of the task. The captain shut off the propellers as they anchored the boat to the wooden pier. A wooden catwalk projected toward the dock where the stallions were awaiting its arrival. Once they had their hooves on the gangplank they carefully lowered it onto the ground and loosely tied it to two smaller deck bitts.
The earth ponies, who had just a day ago been soldiers, avidly made their way onto the dock, which was now filled with workers carrying supplies for the ship. The stallions patiently let the travelers move on down the dock toward the city. No doubt they had seen impatient tourists file off of a ship before, and they knew too well that nothing would get in the way of their ‘perfect vacation’. Minutes passed as the less than organized families struggled to get themselves off of the boat and to their destination. Shiloh was amazed at how naturally the ponies acted as they exited the boat.
Luna nudged Shiloh. “It is time for your journey to begin.” She said as she gently pushed her with her wing. Shiloh nodded her head and started down the catwalk toward the dock. A couple rushed past her and nearly knocked her into the water, but Shiloh kept her balance and quickly trotted to the wooden pier. The solid ground was a relief to Shiloh. The rocking of the boat had been somewhat of a nuisance to her and the feeling of the pier gave her a sense of security. That security came at a trade off as masses of ponies were also making their way to Baltimare. She timidly stepped into the stream of ponies and quickly found her place at a comfortable canter as they moved toward the city.
I need to get to the station. Shiloh thought to herself as she strained to see over the heads of the ponies around her. Every sign she could glimpse was immediately obscured by somepony or something. Frustrated, she barreled through the mob of ponies as she made her way out of the hoard. As she exited the mass she trotted over to a bench and sat herself on it.
The adventure in her blood wavered as she looked around the unfamiliar city. The only light came from the dozens of lampposts that dotted the road. The buildings of the harbor were dark and musty and many lay in disrepair. The corrosive ocean water had eaten away at several of the piers, leaving them as unusable eyesores. Shouts could be heard from one of the dozens of salt taverns as fights broke out among the intoxicated stallions. Shiloh quickly donned her saddlebag and trotted down the street toward the city. Slowly the dilapidated wharfs and piers gave way to the town, which had fared little better. Several buildings lay in ruins and many others were uninhabitable. Many of the brick walls held propaganda of the empire. This cannot be the city of Baltimare, can it? She thought to herself as she gazed at the awful scene before her. I need to get to that station. She looked for anypony who might be able to help her, but everypony was locking their doors for the night.
She noticed a small shop that appeared to be open. She trotted to the door and timidly knocked on its weathered surface. Silence followed as she waited for any signs of movement. She knocked louder, this time with more amiable results. A commotion of hoofsteps emanated from the building. Without warning the door swung open, revealing a grumpy old stallion with a red nightcap on.
“What you want?” he asked sharply. The smell of salt struck Shiloh’s face, making her gag at the putrid scent.
“I just want to know where the train station is.” Shiloh said timidly as she tried not to aggravate the already angry stallion.
“Down the street, you can’t miss it.” Shiloh started to smile. “Now scram.” He slammed the door just inches from her face, turning her smile into surprise. She could hear the disgruntled hoofsteps of the pony as he made his way back into his shop.
Well that went swimmingly. Shiloh thought as continued to stare at the door frozen in shock. She shook her head to rid the air of the smell of salt and trotted down the street toward the city. The giant glistening buildings that lined Manehattan were nowhere to be seen in Baltimare. A modest amount of small towers stood toward the middle of the city, rising as giants against the tiny shops and stands that made up the bulk of the town.
As she trotted down the road the city began to drift off to sleep. The only lights came from the streetlamps and from the candles that lit the windows of the small apartments and shops. Silhouettes of the shadows of ponies bled through the light curtains that covered the windows. Shiloh watched as the moving images of daily life flowed across the makeshift canvasses. A mare laying her foal to sleep played in one window, a heated argument in another. A shadow of a passionate kiss between a mare and stallion made Shiloh blush. She looked away, as if she had been invading their privacy, and began to canter down the street.
The grand train station lay in the downtown area of the city. Built decades ago, the station had long since seen its glory days. The copper lattice that supported the massive glass roof had tarnished green and the soot from the trains had darkened the glass. Every time one problem was fixed or one window repaired, another arose as if the building was mocking the ponies who tried to keep it from collapse.
Shiloh trotted up to the booth that stood outside the station and withdrew her ticket and her identification. The unicorn inside lifted both and inspected them through the dirty spectacles that rested on her nose. “Your train is leaving from concourse ‘C’ platform seven in half an hour.” She said in a nasally voice as she gave the items back to Shiloh.
“Thank you.” Shiloh said as she placed the ticket in her saddlebag and the identification around her neck. She trotted into the grand hall. Several families were slowly making their way to the concourse that stretched over several vacant tracks. Shiloh stifled a laugh as she watched a stallion struggle to tame his luggage as he tried to catch up with his group. The massive clock that stood in the middle of the station read thirty minutes until midnight. Several ponies stood staring at the departure board. The cards fluttered as they showed the next train to the station ‘Appleloosa C7’ appeared amidst the flickering letters. That’s me I suppose. She thought as she began to start toward the concourse. A stallion caught her eye as she shifted her glance from the board.
It was just by chance that Shiloh had caught the glare of his sunglasses. He was standing in the shadows, not moving to a concourse, not trying to control the crowd. He was simply standing, watching, waiting. The sight of him sent shivers down Shiloh’s back as she averted her eyes in an attempt to remain inconspicuous. Deftly she stepped into a group of ponies trotting toward the platform. Keeping her posture relaxed and confident she adeptly kept the stallion in her periphery, watching for any motion.
As she descended the stairs onto the platform she breathed a sigh of relief. The stallion had not followed her and she could keep an eye on him from her waiting spot. Maybe he is just a security guard. She reasoned as the faint cry of a train whistle echoed through the cavernous building. Leaning over the edge she spotted a lone train entering the station.
Black plumes of thick smoke rose to the ceiling as the train slowed to a halt at the platform, the clouds of ash filling the station with the smell of soot. Steam leaked from the cylinders as they pushed the train into the station. As the caboose passed the edge of the platform a middle age stallion jumped off of the train and trotted alongside it as it stopped and released its steam from the massive pistons of the engine.
“All aboard!” he yelled to the crowd as he opened the door to one of the cars. The families began to slowly shuffle onto the train with their tickets ready to give to the conductor. Shiloh followed suit and held the ticket as she made her way to the train car.
“Ticket.” The conductor said in a spry voice as Shiloh reached him. She floated the ticket to the conductor who tore the stub off of the end and gave it back. She gave him a thankful nod and stepped through the doorway. Chaos was unfolding as families tried to store their luggage and decide where to sit. Patiently Shiloh waited for the commotion to diminish before taking a seat next to the window and placing her saddlebag on her lap. She looked through the scratched glass to the clock tower that stood in the hall. The stallion that had been ominously lurking in the shadows was nowhere to be found. At least he’s gone. She thought as the last few families settled in their seats and the conductor waved an all clear to the engine.
The train lurched as the engineer disengaged the brakes. The scene of the station began to move as the train struggled against its weight. Her eyes caught a figure on the concourse. She froze as she watched the end of the platform disappear. The black stallion was watching the train as it departed from the concourse. The light from the station faded as the train entered the dense forest. Shiloh dropped her head onto the headrest and let out an exasperated sigh. Well that was… interesting. She thought to herself as the image of the black stallion imposed itself in her mind. Maybe some rest will do me some good. She laid herself back in her chair and began to drift off.
“Miss, this isn’t your seat.” The conductor said to Shiloh just before she fell asleep.
“Huh?” she asked, slightly irritated at the stallion for waking her up.
“Your stub was designated Caboose.”
Shiloh looked at her ticket. ‘Caboose’ was written in bold red letters across the bottom of the paper. The conductor motioned for her to stand up and follow him to the caboose. He reached the door of the car and opened it, letting in the cold night air and roar of the wheels on the tracks.
“You will have to jump over the coupling.” He yelled over the noise of the wind. Shiloh leaned over the gap to see the ties rushing below her.
“All right!” she yelled as she backed up and prepared to jump. She galloped to the doorway and leapt over the gap. She landed on the other side and trotted out her momentum. The two repeated the process for each car until they reached the caboose.
He tipped his hat. “I’m sorry for the trouble.” The conductor said as they entered the car.
“Not at all.” Shiloh said as she placed her saddlebag on the floor next to the bed. “I’m going to get some shut eye.”
“Ok then.” The stallion said as he opened the door to the caboose. “Yell if you need anything.”
Shiloh nodded to the porter as he closed the door behind him. A single oil lamp that swung from the ceiling lighted the interior of the disheveled car. The crew of the train had once lived here, but now it was only home to a family of mice that scurried across the ground. The beds were nothing more than worn burlap sacks filled with hay. The walls still bore some of the pictures that the crew had decorated them with. Images of families, marefriends, and foals were scattered haphazardly throughout the train car. The wallpaper was peeling from the ceiling, exposing the rough wood underneath.
Shiloh trotted to a bed with an image of Manehattan tacked above it. She dropped her gear on the floor and sat down onto the bed, causing it to creak underneath her weight. Laying her head onto the pillow she took a long look at the image of the place she had just a month ago called home. She rolled her head and looked out of the window. The wilderness was rushing past the glass in the darkness of night. The trees reminded her of her hometown of Colt Cliffs and how she had met Mach that fateful night. Maybe one day I can go back. She thought to herself as she closed her eyes and let sleep overtake her. Maybe one day.


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The noise of breaking glass jarred Shiloh from her sleep. A wooden board had been pinned over the window lined by the sharp remains of glass. The train had ceased to move along the tracks. She tiredly watched as points of nails tore through the wallpaper as they anchored the wooden boards to the walls. They must be repairing the broken window. She thought as she looked out the other unbroken window. Dark grey clouds had encapsulated the train.
The silhouette of a pegasus appeared against the clouds and hovered next to the window. He reared back and thrust a bloody hoof through the pane of glass sending a flurry of clear blades to the ground. What in Equestria? Shiloh thought as she watched the mysterious pegasus hammer a board over the window frame. She groggily stood from her bed and trotted over to the window, carefully avoiding the shards of glass that lay on the floor. By the time she reached the window the pegasus had vanished. She pressed her hoof against the wood in an attempt to dislodge it, but to no avail.
Shiloh trotted to the door at the end of the caboose. She turned the handle, but it caught on the lock and stopped. Kneeling down she peered through the keyhole. The mechanism had been clearly broken, as several of the pins lay mangled in the tiny compartment. Slowly a sense of dread washed over her as she realized the severity of the situation. She looked at the doorframe to find that dozens of nails had been driven through from the other side, no doubt to pin several barricades to the frame. A loud crash of thunder shook the train and startled Shiloh’s frayed nerves. She carelessly galloped to the other side of the caboose, cutting her hooves in the shards of glass that lay on the floor. Reaching the door she tried to turn the knob, but it also caught on the broken lock. Her breathing grew heavier as she tried to force the knob out of desperation.
She raced back to the other door and slammed her body into it. The sound of cracking wood shone as a glimmer of hope in her mind. This isn’t over yet. She thought to herself as she backed up and galloped toward the door again. The cracks grew as she continued to batter the door with all her might. The nails were slowly retreating back into the wall with each successive strike. Once they had vanished behind the wallpaper she spun around and bucked the door with her hind legs. A loud snap and a howl of wind signaled that the door had been breached. Rain poured into the caboose and soaked her almost immediately. She quickly grabbed her saddlebag and galloped through the door.
The sight before her stopped her in her tracks. She could not see the ground as she looked over the running board she was standing on. The train was stopped precariously on a trestle that was surrounded by storm clouds. Rain pummeled Shiloh’s face as she leaned over the edge to get a look at the engine. A blinding flash of light followed by an eruption of thunder stunned Shiloh causing her to lose her balance and fall to the metal running board. The train quivered from the power of the thunder. Horrified screams of the passengers could be heard over the volume of the storm.
Shiloh jumped to her hooves and again looked back toward the front of the train. What are the pegasi doing? She thought as another flash of lightning and crash of thunder shook the train again. If they aren’t careful they could very well kill everypony on this- her thoughts were cut short by her mind. What if they are trying to kill everypony on this train? She tried to expel the thought from her mind, but it was the only conclusion that added up.
Several strikes of lightning lit up the train and shook it ferociously. Shiloh slipped off of the running board. As she fell her instincts took control and caused her hoof to grasp the rough metal step that protruded from the train. Time seemed to slow to a crawl as she looked back toward the front of the train. The strobing flashes of light gave the scene a surreal image-by-image depiction of the chaos unfolding.
At the very front of the train the engine rocked back and forth on the tracks. Seconds later it overcame its tipping point and began to topple into the vast expanse of grey below. The car carrying the coal was next to follow the engine into the gorge. One by one the train careened off of the tracks and plummeted into the abyss below. Shiloh watched in horror as she realized the engine’s fate would soon be hers. Seconds later it was. The caboose twisted to the side and followed the rest. Shiloh lost her grip on the metal and fell alongside the train toward her fate.
The entire scene was a depiction of serene horror to Shiloh. Through the clouds she could make out small slivers of light that escaped the boards that covered the windows of the train. She could hear the faint screams of the passengers who were using their last breaths on the natural cry for help. Far below her the lights from the windows began to bend and contort as the railcars smashed into the bottom of the crevasse. Surprisingly calm, Shiloh uttered one last phrase. She did not know who it was directed to, or who might hear it, but it felt right.
She closed her eyes and whispered, “I’m sorry.”