On the sudden appearance of railways · 11:50pm Apr 21st, 2018
Bellmouth levitated a biscuit from the packet and carefully dunked it in his tea. This had to be done just right: dunk it too long and the biscuit could fall apart, too quick and it doesn't get the right blend of hot tea with dry biscuit. He took a satisfied mouthful. Fourty years working for the Equestrian Emergency Railway Service had given him ample time to get his dunking procedure just right.
He turned back to his newspaper. It was three months old and came from the Crystal Empire, but Bellmouth enjoyed keeping up with the news from all over. Apart from anything else, it helped him stay prepared for all the places they might be expected to work.
Other ponies lounged around the office, similarly passing the time. Headstock was playing solitaire, Demurrage reading a cheap murder mystery, Garrett enjoying a slice of cake, Fairlie carefully glueing a model train together. The room was gloomy, with little light filtering through the oil-crusted windows.
The door slammed open, revealing his son, Doodlebug, sillhouetted by daylight. His mane was dishevelled, clinging to his horn with sweat, and he was out of breath, as if he'd run here.
"What is it, son?" asked Bellmouth, putting his cup down. All around the room, ponies were coming quickly to attention. Demurrage pulled out a ledger, preparing to work out the logistics and finances of whatever demanded their attention.
"We're needed, dad," replied the younger unicorn. "The Princess is taking a trip tomorrow, and taking those fillies with her. The, er... crucibles?"
"You mean the Cutie Mark Crusaders?" asked Bellmouth. His son nodded. "Tomorrow, eh? Well, it's nothing we haven't done before." He checked the clock. "A couple of miles in twelve hours should be fine. So where is it the princess is going?"
Doodlebug cleared his throat. "Mount Aris!" he proclaimed.
Bellmouth blinked.
Demurrage frowned, leafing through pages. "Mount Aris? I don't see it in the book. Where is that?"
"That's a thousand miles away!" shouted Garrett, scattering crumbs.
Fairlie spat the little tube of glue out of his mouth. "Is that even in Equestria?" he asked. "Where's the nearest station?"
Demurrage pulled a different book from the shelf. "Do we need to liase with local rail authorities?" he asked.
"Isn't it on an island?" ask Garret, starting to panic.
Bellmouth did not panic. He simply rose to his hooves, cracked his neck and made for the door. "Right then, fillies. We'd better get started."
This blog post was made possible in no small part by the Wikipedia page, Glossary of rail transport terms.
Brilliant fun Shrink, bravo.
Well, it would explain a lot of things.
somebody make this a story so i can more easily favorite it, PLEASE?
Wait, is this from the episode? I haven't watched it yet. Do they seriously go to Mount Aris in it? The place that it took three-quarters of the feature film to reach?
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Yes. Yes they do. No ferry involved, either.
The real heroes of Equestria.
I can’t favorite this blog, but I CAN follow you. That’ll have to suffice.
FoME sent me here. I am glad that he did. Though, I would be shocked if anypony short of Pinkie Pie could manage such a massive construction project in a single day. Also, I wonder if the new line is close to Kludgetown.
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Can I bank these +1s for a future story?
This is wonderful. Gonna just assume this was the cause for the railway to Starlight's Village as well.
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It's happened a bunch of times through the show, including that, the Crystal Empire, and Gryphonstone. I wouldn't be surprised to see railways to Yakyakistan any day now.
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Hey man. Those ponies at the EERS work hard.
And having been looking through various things you've done trying to decide whether to follow you now or wait until I read more of your work, this was what convinced me. :D