As he poured the golden brown nectar into a glass for me, it flowed into it churning as it hit the bottom of the mug. He placed the bottle back behind the counter. When he passed the mug to me all I could smell was fresh apples. I took the glass and brought it to my lips, the chilled drink ran down my throat. I felt it chill everything going down to my stomach. I nearly emptied the glass; it was left a little less than half full. I brought it to the counter, licking my lips to savor the residue from the drink.
“Not many ponies around here ask for such a beverage.” The bartender said.
“Any particular reason you wanted that exact drink?” He asked. I shook my head with a smile on my face.
“Nope.” I said finishing it off and thanking him for the drink. I felt a couple bits in my pocket that I used to pay off the cider and walked to the unloading car. I should have stayed on the train but I had an aching feeling that if I had stayed on I would have ran into more trouble.
The Sycamore Valley station was an underground train station. The ceilings were dripping with water created from the humidity of the cavern. It was cool and the air felt solid. Getting off the train the moisture in the air was strange to the senses. It took me a few seconds but I got used to it.
Sounds echoed down the tunnel, the sounds of rocks moving or a bat fluttering it’s wings escalating farther into the cavern. The steam and high-pitched release of steam from the train all infected my ears. As I stood there on the loading platform the day really caught up with me. It wouldn’t be smart to get back on the train to Canterlot; I’ll stay the night here. Before I check into anywhere I need to tell Emerald about what my plans were.
The station’s central communications outpost had a clear window showing the Station Master asleep in his desk chair, his blue conductor’s coat hung over the back of the chair his hat slid over his eyes. Next to the window was a phone booth somepony was in it chatting away. She was an attractive little mare, nearly half my size. She spoke softly, I could hear her through the door of the phone booth, her voice like honey to the ears. She turned to me while talking on the phone and she stared for a moment with her mouth slightly open. She was above beautiful, her blue and white mane curving over to one side of her face as her blue eyes pierced something deep down. We both stared at her for a moment, neither of us said anything.
She gently opened the door and peaked her head out.
“Just a minute Sir.” She chimed softly and sweetly still staring at me.
She slid the door closed and went back to whoever she was talking to on the phone. I turned and leaned over on the side of the booth waiting for her.
I stood there for about ten minutes, almost half asleep. The door shook suddenly and I glanced over to the mare.
“Sorry it took so long,” She said with a shy smile.
“Here, I’ll pay for your call.” She said handing me four bits. I touched her hoof and she looked up to me, i felt as if I towered over her. Our eyes met and we stared at each other, silently watching each other.
“Thank ya kindly.” I said breaking the silence.
I walked in and shut the door behind me and locked it. The phone was an assortment of big numbered buttons and a phone handing of a line hook. Pulling the paper that was left at the bar I turned it over to see the other side. A phone number was written on the back with the words "Forgot to give you my number;".
I placed the fee in the machine then dialed the number in.
“One-Three-Seven-Four-Nine-Nine-Three-Two-Four Six-Seven.” I read aloud typing them in as I said them. The phone rang twice before I heard a familiar voice on the other line.
“Golden?” I heard somepony ask.
“Yeah, It’s me.” I responded
“Golden, what the bloody hell are you doing?” I heard him shout into the phone.
“Don’t you know the train’s phone can be traced?” He asked me.
“I’m not on the train, Emerald.” I said to him, all I heard silence on the other line.
“Golden,” I heard quietly.
“What the hell is going on?”
“There’s been a complication,” I said.
“There was more of those horses on the train than expected, I think there was going to be more so I got off at Sycamore Valley Station.” I heard a sigh of relief on the other line.
“Do you need me to redirect your assistant?”
“I reckon that’d be a swell idea.” Then another concern came into my mind.
“How will we get the briefcase ya left back at the Canterlot station?”
“Not to worry,” He said on the other line.
“We can arrange for that to be redirected as well.”
I sighed for a moment. There was a hard stiffness in my back that had been making my senses twitch. I rolled my joints back arching my spine. Loud cracks reeked through my bones relieving the stress and tension that was carried on my shoulders. I sighed long and loudly into the phone.
“Everything Alright?” I heard
“Just tired, it’s been a long day I’d just like to get some rest.” I answered.
“I can understand that.” He said reassuring me.
“Yeah.” That’s all I said, it’s all I really had to say. Days like these, traveling a whole day to wake up being attacked. It really takes a toll on you.
“So, please call me in the morning when you’re going to Canterlot with your assistant. Not mandatory but I’d like to track you, just to see where you’re at.” A question had sprouted from an idea I had. At the mention of the word my curiosity reached its peak.
“Why do ya call ‘em ‘assistant’?” I asked into the phone.
“Because I’ve not got the slightest clue of whom he is.” Then the phone clicked. Surprised I glanced back at the phone while it alarmed a bleeping noise. I shrugged it off and put the phone back on the receiver.
The station’s musky atmosphere bugged me; I wasn’t too fond of dark damp places, let alone a cave. Alas I had to wait here for my ride. A bench rested across from the tracks, directly to my right by the station doors opening to the station’s plaza. I scoped it out and moved towards it, dragging my hooves to it.
I sat down on it, my body tired. Hunger was catching up to me, considering I hadn’t eaten since yesterday night. I missed breakfast this morning, it was either that or missing my train. So now I sit here, waiting for someone I have no idea what his appearance is or why he’s here. I just know that I have six ponies’ pictures and information who, within time, will be dead.
I swung my saddlebag around and it fell next to the bench. I slouched forward pulling my hat over my eyes as I had done in the train car. I closed my eyes and dosed off. I hate how you don’t exactly remember when you fell asleep or how it happened, you just know you did. Strange I think of these things, I know, but they bother me ya know?
My subconscious started to wonder. It brought me back to an orchard, a vast apple orchard. I had family in the farming business. My favorite relative was one of my cousins over in Ponyville. I know we’re related and all but man, she was a looker. I don’t remember a time we went into town that guys were all over her. She was a beautiful mare, I’ll tell you that much. I lost contact with her though-a long time ago. We are both the same age, last time I saw her I was still living with my parents-we went out there for a family reunion. The day Granny Smith died I did see her at the funeral, but I didn’t talk to her. I think that’s when everything started to change was when she died. It’s weird, right now I’m just wondering where she’s at now.
“Hey,” I heard, breaking my slumber. I cocked my read up right quick to see who was there. A younger looking stallion stood over me. One of his hind legs-one on the bench the other on the ground. He had a light grey mane with black streaks running through it his coat glowed a pale white, his eyes a glistening red-maroon color. A black canvas shirt clung to his chest, the sleeves rolled up to the part between his shoulder and the bend in the foreleg. Over that was a black vest, a holstered pistol hung out of it the handle barely visible. He wore a black fedora sitting to one side of her head. His grey pants matched the cap perfectly in color, they were fitted and held snugly to his legs. Black boots with white lace up the center were strapped to his hooves.
“Come here often gorgeous?” He asked sarcastically with a big smirk.
“Naw, just kidding, The name’s Starblazer by the way.” He said offering a hoof out.
"You can call me Star."
I stared at his hoof , then at the pistol handle in the holster sticking out of his vest. He had concerned look on his face as he stared at mine. Then he saw what I was looking at.
“Oh,” he said opening his vest up.
“Don’t worry, It’s not for you.” He said closing his vest back up.
“I was told to be looking for a ‘Desperado Looking character,’” He said looking around.
“Considering that you’re the only one here, I believe that’s you?” I still stared at him with no emotion, I held my poker face as best as I could. He sighed, throwing his hooves up and returning to standing on all fours.
“Emerald sent me, I’m you’re partner here.” He said moving around to the other side of me.
“Emerald sent you?” I asked, he nodded slowly.
“I didn’t want to stand outside like an idiot with a sign that said ‘Dinner Bell’.” He said sitting on the bench next to me.
“Now, I’m supposed to either take you to a hotel in the city, or take you to Canterlot.” He said touching his hooves together make a low clopping noise.
“I think it might be a better idea since it’s getting late and we need to travel through some think woods to get there.”
I nodded.
“Seems smart, I’m tired too.” I said getting up.
“You parked out there?” I asked pointing to the station doors. He nodded again.
“But there’s a ton of stairs we need to get up before we get outside.” He said moving some of his long grey mane out of his eyes.
“Before we go any further, let me start over.” He said putting a hoof out.
“My name’s Starblazer, you can call me Star.” With that I couldn’t help a smile on my face. I stayed silent and just stared.
"Now you?" He said gesturing to me.
“The name's Golden," I said.
"It’ll be my pleasure ta be workin with you Star.” I said grasping his hoof. He smiled back with his eyes closed.
A long screech rang through the cave as another train made it’d entrance into the station. A long icy chill ran down my spine, as if a glacier had moved onto my back. The cold air filled the air as the gust from the spinning train flew past us.
Starblazer’s eyes were squinted hard as he watched the train go by.
“Star?” I asked as I stood next to him. His face seemed sad, refrained, almost as if he remembered something horrible from his past just by watching that train.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah,” He said after blinking a few times, snapping himself out of a trance that he had enveloped himself in.
“Let’s-let’s go.” He said quickly trotting to the door.
He opened the station’s double doors to show a long staircase. I looked at it and sighed hard.
“As if I hadn’t had a long day already.” I said staring up at the behemoth of steps.
“Hey Bud,” Starblazer said to me.
“I’ll put out twenty bits on the fact that you couldn’t beat me up these steps.” He asked crouching down like he was ready to race.
His child-like demeanor was humorous. I could help but chuckle at the statement.
“Son,” I said flicking my head around to him.
“I don’t have twenty of anything on me, an I’m way too tired to be racin any hot headed stallions about.” I said starting my trip up the long mountain stairs.