//------------------------------// // Number 2 // Story: These Old Claws of Mine // by megabyte97 //------------------------------// I stare out the window at the barren terrain as it passes by. It will still be several hours before I get to my destination despite the time that I left, and that is far too long in my opinion. To make it worse, I don’t know what the situation concerning Luna is. I know Celestia likes to play her cards close to her chest, but the five of us are supposed to be a team damn it! I sigh and grab my backpack from the overhead compartment of my little room on the train. Digging around in one of the larger pockets, I blindly grab a large rough object before yanking it out. Inspecting my prize, I nod once I’m satisfied with the piece of wood and start fishing out a switchblade from one of the side pockets. Replacing my backpack where it was before, I bring the blade edge to the wood and start whittling away at it. I’ve learned that everyone has a hobby that they fall back on when they are troubled. This could be anything from playing an instrument to picking flowers, but every single individual has one. Whittling has been a hobby of mine for quite a while now, it helps me think when something is bothering me. Considering what happened last night, along with the last few months, I have a lot to think about. Four months of nonstop activity and possibilities, yet the only one who meets the current standards is Luna. Although to say the results of the last few months are interesting is an understatement. Nine, now ten, possible candidates, and two have the potential to become more. I pause as the train screeches to a stop, looking out the window I see a large sign proclaiming, “Welcome to Stalliongrad!” in large, bold, letters, although it is clear that no one tends to it by the way several of the letters are falling off. The small town doesn’t even have a proper station, just worn down stepping stools for getting on and off the train along with a ticket stand that looks similar in size to a storage shed. I sigh and return to my whittling, trying to tune out the world to the best of my ability. After a while the sound of hooves on wood dies down and the train eventually starts moving again. A shape is just starting to emerge from the wood when the door to my compartment opens. “Well, this is a surprise. I didn’t expect to see you until tomorrow, Mr. Logan. Tell me, is this bench taken?” I look at the pony in the doorway with a raised eyebrow before gesturing for him to take a seat. The white unicorn stallion sits across from me before fussing with his blond mane to make sure it’s perfect. His clothes seem more appropriate for a high class party than a run down town like Stalliongrad. “Blueblood,” I grunt. “I could say the exact same thing, what were you doing in Stalliongrad?” Blueblood looks at me with a deadpan expression. “How are you doing Blueblood? Oh, I’m doing just fine thank you for asking… Honestly Logan, would it kill you to show some tact outside of Canterlot from time to time?” “...Yes, it would.” “Oh, ha ha,” he sighs before casting a spell on the walls of the room. “If you must know, I was raising funds. Our organization doesn’t run on sunshine and rainbows Logan, and these last few months have put a noticeable drain on our expenses,” I pause and raise an eyebrow at that, while I don’t know the exact numbers I know that our organization is well funded. “...Just how much of a drain are we talking here?” “We’ve spent more in the last four months than in the last one hundred years combined… Then again, we’ve never had more than one or two of us appear in a single year.” I nod and put my whittling tools back in my backpack, “...What’s on your mind Logan?” I sit back down and stare out the window, contemplating my answer before opening my mouth. “Luna returned last night, Blueblood, just like Clover said she would...” “...Hmmm… Well, this is certainly interesting. It also explains why Celestia called me back.” “She called you back to Canterlot?” I ask with a raised eyebrow. “Yes, she sent a letter several hours ago saying that one of us has returned. To be honest I didn’t understand what she was talking about, but if Luna returned last night, well… Celestia’s plan must have worked.” “...Celestia had a plan?” “Oh, like we didn’t? Tartarus Logan, we are a team, but every one of us probably has different opinions about how this should be handled. Celestia’s plan was just the first to work, and I can tell you now that if I had to put my plan into motion… we would be holding a wake. Not to mention what your daughter would do if she got her hands on Luna.” I blink as I think about what she would do, “...We probably wouldn’t find the body.” “Indeed...” “...What was Celestia’s plan anyways?” I ask as the question crosses my mind. Blueblood opens his muzzle and promptly closes it a second later, a confused look on his face. “...I don’t know.” “You don’t know?” “I don’t know Logan, but it must have worked. If it didn’t the sun wouldn’t be shining outside right now.” “True, I guess we could always ask her when we get to Canterlot,” I mumble as my attention shifts back to the window, the landscape gradually changing to a grassy plains as it speeds by. We fall into silence for a time, each of us lost in our own thoughts. Time passes, and the train eventually pulls up to the next station on our journey. This one is rather large with an impressive city behind it… Well, impressive compared to Stalliongrad at least. The city couldn’t hold a candle to the richer districts in Canterlot. A large white metal sign is arching over the four railways. Tilting my head to the side a little I can make out the words “Welcome to Amareica” in bold blue letters… and that some teenagers in this city have way too much time on their hands judging by the “Amareica! Buck Yeah!” In red right under it. “...Teenagers…” I mumble under my breath as I shake my head. ‘I feel like there’s a joke in there, but I can’t see it.’ “Logan,” I turn to Blueblood as he sighs. “As much as I would like to put this off, we need to get ready for our arrival in Canterlot. If Luna has really returned as we think she has, then this is going to be a political nightmare.” I snort. “I know that Blueblood. Tartarus, the other nations were up in arms when Cadance ascended, and their solution was insane. Although, I will admit that she is an excellent ambassador.” “Indeed, but now we have an alicorn that is just as old as Celestia, and just as powerful as well. The other nations will most likely be unreasonable, and to top it all off the noble houses will likely try to capitalize on her ignorance of modern customs and laws.” I close my eyes as I lean back on the bench, “At least we won’t have nobles demanding to be turned into alicorns this time around.” “True... but this also calls our history into question…” My eyes snap open as Blueblood starts talking again. “It’s inevitable really, it’s one thing for a pony to ascend to what basically amounts to a demigod, but a demigod that lived a thousand plus years ago that no one remembers? Ponies are going to question how history forgot that Celestia had a sister, Logan.” I close my eyes again and rub the bridge of my nose, but before I can reply our compartment door slides open again. “Do you mind? My companion and… I…” Looking over to the doorway my eyes widen as I see who it is. The pegasus mare in the entrance of our compartment has a grey coat and a blond mane. She’s wearing a pair of cargo shorts, a worn out tie-dye shirt, and a suitcase is rolling along the floor behind her, but the detail that really has my attention is that she has one eye trained on both of us. “Oh! Ms. D-” Blueblood starts. Only to close his mouth as the mare raises a hand and closes her eyes. Once she’s sure there aren’t going to be anymore responses, she opens her eyes. They’re focused now with a laser like intensity as she stares at Blueblood. “...Move over,” the mare states in a monotone voice. Pushing down the handle on her suitcase, she slings the bag into the overhead compartment as Blueblood shifts over. The mare collapses on the bench, leaning forward until her muzzle is resting in her crossed arms, her eyes returning to their unfocused state after a moment. I silently look at Blueblood with wide eyes as he stares back at me. ‘...Well, Blueblood… We might be holding that wake after all…’ This just got a lot more complicated.