The Red Rock Canyon

by Flynn_Vector

Chapter 1: Crossing the Frontier

A train arrives at Dodge Junction, an almost deserted part of Equestria; there isn’t much to see here other than extended lands of dust, sand and rocks at the distance with some houses and ranches around, ponies walking around, some with more hurry than others, must be typical day life issues. Many ponies start to come out from the arriving train, Among them comes out Applejack, a young orange mare earth pony, carrying saddlebags on her back and using her good ol’ rodeo hat; she is in thoughtful and serious mood, soon has the the ponies walk out of the train, they spread out, everypony pretty much going to their own way, Applejack continued down to her right, near other group of ponies, they all seem to be heading towards the same place.

It’s been just a few minutes since they all got down the train; Applejack and the other ponies were standing at the outskirts of Dodge Junction, waiting for something, Applejack gave herself a moment to see the other ponies; there are mares and stallions, must of them have the same expression, hard to tell one from another of the reasons what brought them to this part of the known world, after just a few sights, the orange mare turn away her head slowly back, looking down to the dust under her hooves; shortly after Applejack can hear the sound of gallops at a far, everypony turn their heads to see, eventually it arrived; two stallions stopped near the group of ponies, with a carriage behind them:

-Ok, all of you goin’ ta the frontier?-

One of the stallions said, it’s a big gray one, with beard and short mane; both back color, the other stallion is thinner but seems just has strong, red-brownish color and black mane, both are using a coat that covers just about their hooves.

The ponies share some looks between themselves, all except Applejack, who remained looking at the two stallions calmly:

-That’s tha’ “yes”, c’mon Rick open da cart an’ let them in!-

The thin stallion takes off the belts that are attached to his back and walked toward the door siding the ponies waiting; he opens the door and points them inside with one hoof:

-All right yawl! Step in, we’ll be there in a minute!-

Rick returns to his post and puts on the belts back on while the ponies step into the carriage; but it wasn’t big enough for all the ponies, still, they all stepped inside anyway, Applejack got inside first and so she was stuck between the wall on her right and the other ponies on her left; it was uncomfortable and it stinks to sweat, heavily, Applejack could barely take it:

-Hang in there, we’re leaving!-

Sounded like the big gray stallion, Applejack knows she’ll just have to bare with the situation.

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It’s been like half-an-hour, since they stepped in the wagon; the stallions stop near what looked like a check point, Applejack could see some other ponies at it, they are all in line and a royal guard checking them and their equipment, the security looks heavy:

-OK PONIES, THIS IS IT!!-

Said the tall gray stallion, the door of the carriage opened and the ponies all step out, Applejack came out the last, they left them right at the end of the line:

-Good day, ponies; c’mon Rick…-

The stallions gallop away with the carriage, Applejack started to walk in the line, she ended about between the group she was with; still far at the end though, she knew it could take some time, she sighed and rubbed her neck with her hoof:

-I’ve heard wrong things about Red Rock- said a pony behind Applejack, it sounded like a mare.

-I’ve heard it’s a wild place nothing more- said other pony behind the orange mare, this one sounded like a stallion

-A lot of ponies leave Equestria to go to Red Rock, how can it be wild?-
-I mean wild because there is no law, no ruler, no one can tell anypony what's good and what’s wrong-
-That’s not what I have heard, I heard ponies say that is just not has save-
-How so?-

Applejack was just listening, while the line was moving; they were somewhat close to the the royal guards post, still a bit far:

-Well, apparently there are monsters that aren’t in any other part of Equestria, just that- said the mare pony
-Why are you here?-
-Trying to get away from home-
-You did something?-
-No, just want to be far from there-

They were closing in to the checkpoint Applejack is getting ready her documents to show to the guards:

-Why are you here?- said the mare again, rather nervous.
-I… have nowhere else to go-
-Why? Something you did?-
-I lost everything in a stupid bet, now I have nothing left here-
-What do you expect to find in Red Rock-
-I never said I’m going to Red Rock...- said the stallion before reaching to that moment of silence.

The pony in front of Applejack just got by, she is next:

-Passport- said the guard has he extended his hoof.

Applejack gave him the passport and started to see it, just a few moment later he stamps the little book and gives it back to the orange mare:

-First time outside Equestria I see…-

Applejack grabbed her passport and putted it in the left side of her saddlebag:

-You are clear, continue down and go to platform B, you train is waiting you there-

Applejack crossed the checkpoint, she is now in another train platform, “strange”, she thought; from the outside it didn’t look like a train station at all.

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The trains didn’t look like the ones in Equestria at all, in fact, those are in a worst state almost like they could explode any minute, she noticed that all the ponies around her were earth ponies; no pegasus or unicorns, just earth ponies; but all the ponies back in the the carriage were also earth ponies, she didn’t realize until now, or maybe she was so lost on her thoughts she didn’t notice; Applejack continued looking for the platform B, it was at the far end of the big hall where she was, some other ponies were going in; there are stairs that are going down, not much, Applejack continued down and there was the train, it is in better condition than the other trains, still not better than the ones from Equestria though, at least it looks fairly functional.

Applejack stepped in the train and she is surprised, it looks way better than from outside; she has her own cabin with others near, her bed looks soft, a curtain for privacy and fresh all the way, it’s still not better than the ones in Equestria, but it’s good to know it won’t be a hard ride. Applejack gets comfortable in her cabin, puts her saddlebags below her bed, takes off her hat and sits in the chair the window seems a little dusty but it’s good enough to see across, Applejack took a long sigh of relief, it’s been a long day, and she knows this is just the beginning.

“Ladies and Gentlecolts, we are preparing to depart to Red Rock, we’ll be heading far south of Equestria; we’ll be arriving in proximally 10 hours; we hope you enjoy.”

The voice sounded awful, maybe because of the speaker; thought Applejack.

The train started to move, when it left the tunnel, it was late afternoon, the sun is going down, this means that is time for bed time soon, and good, because the orange mare is so tired she could fall asleep in the floor and she wouldn’t mind one bit; Applejack goes to bed with the window curtains opened completely, it’s ok, Applejack has always likes to wake up to the morning sun.

The sun is going down fast and Applejack is thinking so much that she can’t fall asleep no matter how much she tries. She is thinking about everypony back in Ponyville; her family, her friends, pretty much everypony and wondering what are they doing, “Are they worried about me? Will Applebloom be ok without her big sister? Can Big Macintosh handle the farm without me? Will Granny Smith be fine? What if something happens and my friends need me?” All this questions were lingering around Applejack’s head; but then she realize, they have each other, they will be ok; it's her she must be worrying about now. Applejack is a strong and independent mare and she knows this; she has an important job to do in Red Rock; she knows is for the good of herself and her family so she must stay focused.

-Don’t you worry everypony, I’ll be back…- whispered Applejack