“Nothing whets the intelligence more than a passionate suspicion, nothing develops all the faculties of an immature mind more than a trail running away into the dark.”
― Stefan Zweig, The Burning Secret and other stories
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The sun was steadily approaching the horizon as if to meet the land in a gentle kiss. Sunset wouldn't be long, and night was steadily approaching. The two Pegasus ponies, Unicorn, and Changeling had lunch, albeit brought by Hal and Dr. Grounds, and talked throughout the day about many subjects, while questions about the differences between the three's races weren't said, a form of curiosity had settled down in the atmosphere as they simply enjoyed each other's company. It was only at this time did they start to discuss the mysterious note and the mismatch of missing objects that had seemed to come about. Hal offered to do a patrol but the Doctor of the group, Dr. Ground had insisted that whoever their threat giver was wouldn't be that easy to spot unless there was something of more easily recognizable nature stolen as well. Though it did trouble him that the missing objects so far didn't add up, as the Doctor put it the missing objects he knew about so far consisted of a toad, cigarettes, and a gold horn band that had a ruby in it.
Their mystery wouldn't progress further until the next item went missing on the train, and so it did. Hal was on his way to the bathroom that was supposedly after the mess hall. The sounds of conflict in a nearby cabin drew Hal to slow his pace until he was outside another door and that was when a frantic business suited griffon erupted from the same cabin, accidently running into Hal while shouting with extreme worry several different words that Hal didn't understood. The resulting mess causing them to become entangled. With a pair of groans, they untangled and with a irked voice and a heavy accent reminiscent of a Scottish cultural background, the Griffon stated sourly, "Ah, sorry there wee little pony, I didn't see you there."
Hal gave him a plain emotionless stare, "No harm no foul. May I ask you what has you so... Vexed?"
The Griffon raised an eyebrow as if considering, the thick brow reminding Hal of a Caterpillar attempting to do a stretch, "Ah, may you can, I am missing a certain... important object from my possessions as well. A briefcase that holds a new product from my ... corporation, I think you call it that in this tounge. The product it holds inside are a wee bit... Dangerous in certain circumstances."
"Certain circumstances?"
"More precisely if it is mixed with rubies and an addictive chemical found in most drugs it becomes... Explosively Expansive.'Tis a bug that my bosses had yet to work out on the prototype. Crazy lad's I say, some of 'em aren't quite right in the head for sending this thing off for advertisement in it's current state."
Hal raised an eyebrow, certain pieces coming into place. His calm was waning and in place was a annoying wiggling niggle of panic attempting to grow, "What is this product exactly to produce such an effect?"
Now it was the Griffon's turn to look uneasy, "Company secret, but if you really must know, it is a form of... Dough. Locked in a clay container in a vibrant red briefcase. The reason it reacts as it does is because of the enchantments on it meant to amplify the product with an experimental spell. As a result though the prototype has a... Major... Reaction to rubies and other addictive chemicals. Unless removed quickly the dough would start expanding and losing flavor while becoming all the more stickier. Cleaning it up the first time was like... how do you say it, scrubbing the moon of it's craters with a toothbrush."
Hal nodded, it almost made complete sense now. The note, the missing items, there was only one thing unaccounted for. Hal just had to ask, "What about Toads?"
"What about 'em?" the Griffon questioned back, confused.
Nope, that was still a mystery then, "Nothing, nothing, just curious if it has anything to do with the batter."
The Griffon pushed passed Hal, waving bye with one claw as the proud creature gracelessly squeezed through the small hallways, "Not that I know of, ya' fluffy featherbrain. Now excuse me while I search the cars for my case. It be really hard to miss the vibrant red ya' know."
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It was almost perfect, too long had this particular doctor had tried to make this fantastic exploitation of the known laws of physics. This stack of fifty rectangular cards were made into a perfect card house, just two cards were left and he was about to finish it, while Daring and Web watched, such a feat on a moving train had been deemed impossible to do by hoof but here it was, the final pair of the standard deck of cards. His two most lucky numbers, an ace and seven.
It as to their horror when Hal burst into the room, the wind caused by the figure causing the house of cards that was once a majestic pyramid to come crashing down like a flood and cover the small table in playing cards with a few others falling down ever so softly to the ground just like the Unicorn's jaw and the mares incredulous expressions. Oblivious to this Hal announced the news, "Friends, I think we now have a very real problem," Hal noticed his friends lacks of response, "Guys?"
"I can't believe it... I was so close..." Dr. Ground sunk onto his hind hooves to sit down putting the last two cards on the table.
"Um... Hello?" Hal asked, "I have news on that letter."
"It was.. almost done...Something I thought was impossible." Daring whispered as if she had just watched a priceless artifact get destroyed for no good reason, "A house of cards made of every single card of the deck on a moving train that bumps and shakes... Let alone by hoof."
Hal wasn't quite sure of what he just heard, "What?"
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Elsewhere, a dark figure with a swirling mane asked her loyal guard yet again, "Situation Report?"
Cloudy sky sighed, pulling out the current one from it's box, "Dr. Ground has been spotted on the Scarlet Express, agent High Ground is taking necessary measures to disrupt his attempts to reach the temple. He has been spotted now with two Pegasus companions."
"Agent High Ground? Isn't he related to Dr. Ground?"
"Yes ma'am," Cloudy Sky replied, "No worries ma'am agent High Ground is one of your most loyal captains. Even if his methods are a bit... unorthodox."
"What about his current mission assignment?"
"He wrote something along the lines of 'Two apples in one bite'. Whatever that means."
There was a definite pause before their royal highness broke the silence, "We think he may be attempting to make a new figure of speech?"
Cloudy Sky rolled his eyes, "Like that makes sense, you would choke trying to eat two apples in a single bite unless you were an dragon."
The sound of clacking filled the dark room as well as a glow revealing a chess table covered in dark blue aura, "Would thou like to join us for a game of chaturanga?"
"It's called chess in this time my liege and why not?"
With reports no longer available, Her royal highness and her favorite guard began to play. A steady clink of crystal piece against metal board and the careful considerations and banter befitting more that of close friends rather than that of royalty and her guard. Cloudy Sky couldn't help but worry still however, High Ground was rather eccentric at times just like the rest of his family. No telling what would be in store in the next report he received from that particular agent.