Morning had broken, and the train was still on its way, not quite to Detrot, so Shadow Shroud decided to get her and Fire Fight some fresh breakfast from the food car, so she crept out of the caboose, and into the next cart. Nopony noticed, of course; invisibility was sort of her thing. She dashed quietly towards an empty seat, and walked away from it as if she had taken it prior. She casually trotted from car to car, her innocent guise not drawing any attention. She finally reached her destination.
The café car was a quaint little place relative from the other cars. It was decorated like an actual café instead of looking like a copy-and-paste passenger car. Small tables never holding more than four chairs at a time were set up along the walls, and center, and a counter stretched from one corner, to near the center. Menus were displayed at either end of the counter on standup chalkboards, and on the wall above the clerk. Simple snacks such as cookies, granola bars, fruit, cheese and crackers, bagels and the like were their food options, and were thankfully very reasonably priced, as were the bottled drinks. Her options there were fine too, ranging from water, iced coffee and tea, various fruit juices, soda, and some foreign drinks that were a bit pricy, but wouldn’t bothered with anyway. She purchased two continental breakfasts, both 3 bits apiece, and began her trip back to the caboose.
“Good heavens, darling!” She heard from behind her. The squeal was severe enough to get her attention. She turned around to see a snow white mare with a velvety indigo mane approach her. She looked like she was trying to hold back disgust in her expression. “Just what in Equestria are doing wearing that of all things!? That color simply does NOT go with your coat, or your eyes in the least! I just so happen to be a renowned designer; Rarity is my name, by the way, and once this train passes through Detrot, and into Canterlot, I’d be more than happy to take you and your mother to my boutique there so we can find you something much better.” She said in her very posh accent.
Shadow Shroud just stared at her blankly for a moment before she mustered a response. “Oh, that’s very kind of you, ma’am, but I’m actually getting off in Detrot, so I won’t be able to come.” She maintained her sweet little filly persona well, but deep down, Shadow Shroud wanted to paint the whole car with her blood. She had handpicked this dress herself, and her mother very much approved. Only now does somepony dare to insult her like this, and at a horrible time.
“Oh…That’s just too bad, darling. Tell you what. Wait here and I’ll get you one of my catalogs. My dresses can be ordered from them. You may look at it whenever you like.” Rarity said.
Shadow Shroud just wanted to ditch this mare before she did something she…. Well, she wouldn’t regret it in the slightest, but she would certainly blow her cover. “Oh, really, it’s fine, miss. I’ve gotta go now, nice meeting you!” she said as she walked off. But Rarity was persistent in her quest for the perfect look for every mare and filly, and followed.
“Now, darling. Don’t be so stingy. Really, you MUST get rid of that dress! It’s simply a TRAVESTY on you!” her rant continued from car to car, and Shadow Shroud was losing both her temper, and her patience. They got to the door leading to the last car before the caboose, which was miraculously unoccupied. Shadow Shroud dashed through the door, quickly closing it behind her. Rarity was startled by this, and rushed in.
Rarity was shocked to see the car completely desolate. She looked under all the seats, but to no avail. Confused, and somewhat frightened, she made one last attempt to get the filly’s attention. “D-Darling..? Wh…. Where’d you go?” she looked around,… but not up.
Shadow Shroud hung herself on the ceiling above Rarity, waiting for the right time to strike. Rarity noticed a crooked picture above one of the bed-like seats. She climbed onto said seat to fix it, and Shadow Shroud pounced, striking the back of her neck, non-lethally knocking her unconscious. She then grabbed a guest pillow and blanket from under the seat, and set the scene. “Sweet dreams.” She hissed.
She crept back into the caboose, and found her way back to Fire Fight. He thanked her for getting the breakfasts, and they dug in.
“So… any trouble?” he asked. She started to eat slower at his question.
“Hmph. A little pest trouble, really.” She answered.
Fire Fight stopped eating out of concern. He wasn’t totally convinced that it was as simple as that with somepony like Shadow Shroud. “What happened?” he asked.
She rolled her eyes. “Some prissy mare tried to get me ‘and my mother’ to come to her boutique in Canterlot because she didn’t like my dress. I… had some trouble getting her off my back. That’s all.” She replied.
A little worried, he felt compelled to ask. “You didn’t-”
“No, I didn’t kill her…..this time.” She quietly growled.
Fire Fight wasn’t sure, but it seemed like this bothered her somewhat. No filly likes being told that she doesn’t look good. That was all he really had to go on. “I like it.” He said.
She looked up at him. “Like what?”
“Your dress. I think you look nice in it.” He tried to cheer her up, and it seemed to work, but only a little.
Her face seemed to lift somewhat as she started eating again. “I don’t need you to tell me that.” She said. Her tone seemed to soften.
Really, he wasn’t too sure about anything with this shady filly, but he was fairly certain he'd done something right. After all, she didn't put a dagger to his face!