//------------------------------//
// Train Ride 
// Story: Grief is the Price We Pay 
// by Scyphi 
//------------------------------//

	Their destination decided, all Spike and Thorax had to do now was wait until the train arrived at Vanhoover, a city that was still several hours away. Because they had boarded the train relatively late enough into the day, it was likely they wouldn’t arrive until well after night had fallen. Until then, they worked to try and keep themselves distracted and busy with other things. Spike initially spent it attempting to determine why Shining Armor and a legion of crystal guards turned up at the train station in the Crystal Empire almost in time to catch them in the process of fleeing when they did. Eventually he decided it was likely one of two possibilities; one was that it was random chance, and that they had arrived on the station’s platform for some reason other than Spike and Thorax. The other was that somepony somewhere had found or seen something that clued them in that Spike and Thorax were going to be there.

Spike decided the latter was the most likely one, and wondered if somepony had noticed that Spike’s season train pass had gone missing from his room, something everypony could be sure he most certainly did not have when he cast himself out of the empire. If so, that would be enough to suggest that not only had Spike or Thorax managed to sneak back into the Crystal Castle undetected yet again, they had plans to try and leave the area by train. Certainly motive enough to investigate and take action if necessary. But because the season pass wasn’t for any specified train coming through the area, Spike was certain Shining Armor and his guards had no real way to be certain that he and Thorax were on this particular train, not the only train that was coming through the Crystal Empire today, and that was probably why they had made no noticeable attempt to stop or board the train as it pulled out of the station. For all they knew, it could’ve simply been a waste of time. So the real question that then remained was if there was anyone still at the Crystal Empire that could accurately confirm which train Spike and Thorax got on, and if so, if they would try and chase them down.

In relaying all of this to Thorax, the disguised changeling saw there was no way they could answer the question at the moment. “But it doesn’t really matter right now, does it?” he reasoned. “We can’t really do anything about it until we get off this train.”

So decided that was a problem that they would address further once at Vanhoover. In the meantime, they attempted to try and settle in and at least try to enjoy the trip. Fortunately, it wasn’t too hard to relax some. The other passengers on the train didn’t pay any attention to them beyond a passing glance, more interested in their own affairs. Few of them were crystal ponies, but most of them did appear to be tourists, a number of which likely returning from touring the Crystal Empire area. So it left one wondering how many of them were even aware there was a chance they all could be sharing a train car with two exiles to Equestria, currently trying to sneak around within the land they were supposedly banished from. However many there actually were, it seemed the disguises both Spike and Thorax wore were sufficient to dissuade notice. Whatever the case, the sense of peace it brought was a blessing for the dragon and changeling, giving time to soothe their frayed nerves, and it’d continue so long as they didn’t do anything to draw attention to themselves. By so doing so, they could insure a relatively uneventful trip.

The only real problem of note in fact was that they quickly discovered that the ponies sitting behind them happened to be a rather amorous couple. And the longer the train ride went on, the more they began to whisper lovey-dovey things to each other. Spike didn’t seem to think much about it until he noticed Thorax had started to subtly flick his tongue, no doubt lapping at the love the couple was probably filling the air with. Spike initially figured it was a good thing, because it meant the changeling could feed on the ambient emotions of any given room and didn’t necessarily have to get it from any particular directed source, easing some of Spike’s worries about keeping the changeling fed, one of the dragon’s bigger concerns.

But gradually Thorax’s lapping started to get more and more intense, and soon Spike could see the changeling visibly gulping down love, it had gotten so thick within the train car for the changeling. The couple behind them was probably producing so much of the emotion that it was like an all-you-can-eat buffet that the changeling just couldn’t resist. But Spike knew what could happen if Thorax lost self-control while feeding, and he was just starting to worry that his friend’s peculiar behavior might get them noticed when the couple’s affections grew to the point that they started to publicly make out with each other, and with increasingly growing passion.

This was too much for Thorax, and eye’s bulging in alarm, Spike jumped when he saw the changeling’s jaw open and his fully changeling tongue slither out, thrashing at the air. Thorax got as far as inhaling in preparation to hiss before promptly cutting it all short by stuffing his hoof in his mouth. He then turned to look at Spike in a panic, and Spike could already see the tell-tale flicker of cyan magic in the changeling’s disguised eyes, indicating that he was about to lose control of his disguise as well. And a changeling suddenly appearing inside a crowded train car would probably NOT end well.

Fortunately, they weren’t the only passengers bothered by the couple’s make-out session, because the conductor soon strolled up to them, saying that while he appreciated the fact that the two clearly enjoyed the other’s company, he advised them to hold off on outwardly displaying it until they could do it privately, for the sake of the other passengers on the train. Embarrassed, the couple thankfully readily agreed and let their love for each other cool down to more tolerable levels. Though to play it safe, Thorax kept his hoof stuffed in his mouth for several minutes longer before finally pulling it out with a relieved sigh. The two agreed to swap positions on their seat after that so Thorax could sit by the aisle, the idea being that Thorax could quickly flee and hide in the train car’s restroom should the event reoccur and the changeling came close to losing his disguise again.

But fortunately this was their only major close call while on the train, and on the upside, it kept Thorax well-fed. Spike, however, was another matter. He hadn’t had anything to eat since yesterday afternoon, and the aching emptiness of his stomach was starting to get increasingly harder to ignore. He wasn’t sure he had ever gone hungry for this long before. Nonetheless, he kept it to himself, not wanting to worry Thorax about it just yet, telling himself he could get food in Vanhoover and then everything would be all right. In the meantime, he attempted to distract himself by staring out the window and watching the scenery go by, having by now transitioned from frozen wastelands to green-brown flatlands, while absently playing with the curls of the wig he wore under his fedora with one claw.

Thorax proved to not be fooled, however. When a meal trolley started to make rounds through the train cars as the sun started to set, offering food to those willing to spend an extra couple of bits, the disguised changeling watched it closely as it drew towards them. He had been studying Spike’s season pass for the past few minutes, and he held it up when the trolley came up to their seat.

“Hey,” Thorax spoke to the pony pushing the trolley, drawing Spike’s attention suddenly, who hadn’t noticed the trolley making its way up the aisle until now. “According to this, we can use this pass to get something off of that, right?”

“Thorax…” Spike began to interject in a whisper.

The pony pushing the trolley—a stout but kindly mare getting up there in years—glanced at the pass in Thorax’s hoof and grinned. “You certainly could m’dear,” she said sweetly. “In fact, you could have one of the dinner trays if you like.”

“Thorax…” Spike again began to interject.

Thorax pushed on regardless. “We’ll take two of those then, please.”

Spike leaned forward urgently. “Thorax, I really don’t think…”

But it was too late. The mare had already accepted the proffered pass from Thorax’s hoof, noted the pass’s serial number down into her notebook, and then cheerfully returned it while also handing over two trays of the dinner meal. “Here you go dears, enjoy,” she said.

“Thank you,” Thorax responded, accepting the trays as the mare pushed the cart onward.

“Thorax, you shouldn’t have done that,” Spike objected.

Thorax seemed to ignore the dragon’s objection as he pushed one tray over to him. “Here Spike, enjoy yourself,” he said softly before turning his attention to his own tray, examining the food on it curiously.

Spike only stared at his tray for a long moment, a dish of au gratin potatoes with melted cheese sprinkled over them with a dollop of macaroni salad and a couple of celery sticks serving as side dishes. “Thorax that season pass doesn’t cover for the price of these meals,” he stated simply.

Thorax sighed, lowering the celery stick he had been nibbling on.

Spike continued. “All the season pass lets you do is have the meal at a discount on credit. They then send the bill later to the account holder of the season pass for paying…who in this case would be Twilight.”

Thorax bowed his head. “I know,” he said. “It says all of that on the back of the pass.”

Spike’s brow furrowed, not understanding why the changeling did it then. “When Twilight gets that bill…”

“…she’ll know that we bought a meal on a train, yeah,” Thorax said, nodding. “But the way I see it, it’s not going to tell her when and where we get off the train, now will it?”

Spike opened his mouth to respond then closed it again, considering that point. He had helped Twilight with her budgeting every now and then and had seen the bill for train meals like this one before, and they really didn’t say anything about which train it was ordered on or where the train was going, just the price for the meal. As well as a date, which a pony as smart as Twilight could use to figure out a range of possible destinations the train could’ve stopped at…but if they were right that the ponies back at the Crystal Empire had already determined they had escaped on a train, this probably wouldn’t tell them anything they didn’t already know.

Spike shook his head regardless. “It’s still an unnecessary risk,” he pointed out.

“So is going hungry.” Thorax turned to look at Spike. “I know you’ve been downplaying it, trying to not make it a big deal…but if anyone should know the sight of someone going hungry…it’d be me.” He nudged Spike’s tray again. “So eat up. Please.”

Spike looked at the tray before him for a moment, and found he couldn’t help but grin a little at Thorax’s concern for him. He picked up the fork included in the tray and started eating at the au gratin potatoes. He quickly found that once he started, he couldn’t stop, realizing just how very hungry he actually was. “Thanks,” he whispered to Thorax after a moment.

“You’re welcome,” Thorax responded, continuing to nibble at his celery stick.

Spike watched the disguised changeling for a moment. “I thought you fed on emotion,” he said as he watched his friend chew on the celery stick.

Thorax swallowed before responding. “I can still eat some solid foods,” he assured the dragon. “Just not exclusively. Granted, none of this is probably going to give me any real nourishment…it’ll just go in one end and…well…”

“I get the idea,” Spike said with a smirk.

“I just have to be careful not to overdo it, or it could give me a stomachache,” Thorax went on. “And I’m already pretty full.” He continued to nibble at his celery stick nonetheless. “But I’m trying to keep up appearances for our fellow passengers, you know.”

Spike’s grin grew. “Good thinking,” he said. “Just…don’t overdo it. It’s not exactly the best of times for you to get sick right now.”

Thorax simply grinned back and didn’t respond.

Spike kept eating with growingly more and more eager enthusiasm as his stomach became more demanding to be further filled until finally he had cleared the tray of the meal it had contained. Thorax by this point had nibbled on a little bit of everything from his tray then decided he had enough and allowed the still-hungry Spike to have the rest. The little dragon began eating it with gusto as well, but eventually stopped himself partway, realizing that instead he probably ought to save it for later. They had no guarantees of when he might get access to food so readily given their banishment. So with reluctance, Spike instead wrapped up the remainder of the meal and stuffed it into Thorax’s saddlebag where it wouldn’t be a temptation for him.

The only other real event of note during their train ride came as night fully fell, when Spike slipped away to use the little restroom at the back of the train car. Just as he was finishing and was in the process of cleaning his claws in the included little sink, Spike unexpectedly felt an all-too familiar feathery-feeling in his stomach and with a brief burst of dragon fire, belched up a sealed scroll. Surprised and apprehensive about the sudden scroll and what it might contain, but relieved it chose to happen while he was somewhere private and unwitnessed, he carefully opened it, gingerly unfurling it so to see whatever the message written inside might be while lifting the sunglasses he wore so to clearly see the words. It read:


Spike,


I have just been informed of the situation by Princess Cadance. We believe
you are still in the presence of the changeling in question and are attempting to flee
the area. I do not understand your motives for such a surprising course of action, but
I cannot help but fear greatly for your safety should you choose to continue to remain
on this path, and I am certain I speak for the others as well when I say as such. 
I strongly urge you to stop now, part ways from the changeling, and immediately turn 
back for the Crystal Empire if you are still able, and I pray that such is the case when 
you receive this. If you find you are in danger at present and cannot safely flee, 
attempt to hold onto the seal of this scroll however possible for as long as you can. 
It has been imbued with a tracking spell, and will allow help to track you down and 
rescue you, although I again pray your situation is nothing so grave as that. Otherwise, 
given the threat Cadance has described to me, I fear I will have to continue to enforce 
their rulings on the matter, until such time we are able to safely recover you from 
changeling custody and the threat neutralized. Whatever the case may be, please 
have strength, hold tight, and permit us to assist how we can, Spike.


-Princess Celestia
	

Spike stared at the message for a long moment, letting the words of the message sink in. Though it did not explicitly state it, given that it attempted to sound friendly and reassuring in tone, he soon realized the reality of what Celestia was saying. Unsure for a moment whether to cry or destroy the message in anger as he saw that even Princess Celestia wouldn’t aid or support him, favoring the side of the ponies that had turned against him. Anger ultimately won out, and with barely controlled fury, Spike ripped the scroll to shreds, then took the attached seal and whacked it repeatedly against the side of the sink until it snapped in two. Finally, not satisfied with all of this, as Spike stepped out of the closet of a restroom again he looked around to insure he wasn’t being watched then strolled over to the train car window sitting across from the restroom door, opened it, and hurled the remains of the message outside, promptly tossed out of view by the wind. Closing the window again, Spike then returned to his seat next to Thorax.

Thorax clearly could tell how grumpy he was as he approached and seemed taken aback. “Something wrong?” he whispered once Spike had planted himself back in his seat.

“I just got a message from Princess Celestia while I was in the restroom,” Spike responded darkly.

Thorax blinked in surprise. “A message? How?”

“She can send messages to me through my firebreath,” Spike explained briefly but then waved it aside to get to the gist of the matter. “Unfortunately, the message made it clear that she too has chosen to side with Cadance and the others back at the Crystal Empire, in that usual…exasperating…passive-aggressive manner of hers. So she was basically urging me to stop siding with you and turn back.” He slumped back in his seat, his anger exhausted for the moment as dread settled on him instead. “Clearly, the others got to her before she could have a chance to hear anything different.” He buried his face in his claws. “Aw Thorax, we should’ve turned straight to her when we got cast out…if we had…we might have been able to convince her of our side of the story before she could have a chance to be tainted by the others…but it’s too late for that now.”

Thorax still wasn’t sure he understood. “So she believes you’ve left to side with the enemy she does not trust too…” he began to summarize quietly, “…and she decides to just send you a message?”

“That’s how Celestia works, honestly. When in doubt, send a reassuring letter, advising a course of action. Usually to Twilight, but obviously given the circumstances…”

“No offence to the princess considering how well she has personally defended Equestria for so long, but…why did she expect that to help?”

“Well, to be fair, according to the message, the seal that was attached to was imbued with a tracking spell she hoped to use to find us.” Seeing Thorax’s eyes widen at this, Spike quickly reassured him. “Don’t worry, I broke it and tossed it out a window, along with the rest of the scroll. It’s not going to be leading them to much of anything.”

Thorax was still frowning however. “Couldn’t she just try to send it again, though?” he asked.

“Probably, but as long as we’re quick and get rid of it right away, I think we can stay safe.”

“I might have a better idea.” Thorax leaned closer. “What sort of magic does this firebreath messaging use to work?”

Spike considered it quickly. “I’m not exactly sure…I think Twilight told me once that it worked something like teleportation, but…”

“That’s what I thought,” Thorax said, and after double checking quickly to make sure no one was watching, discreetly allowed his black horn to momentarily emerge from his disguise and used it to cast a small spell on Spike.

Spike felt it tingle throughout him. “What was that?” he asked.

“A spell that blocks teleportation,” Thorax explained, hiding his horn again. “If I’m right about how Celestia sends you messages, then that should prevent her from being able to send any more, at least until it wears off.”

“When does it wear off?”

Thorax grinned. “In a few weeks.”

Spike returned the grin, feeling a little reassured by this. “Think she’ll have given up by then?”

“If not, then I’ll just refresh the spell.”

Spike nodded his head. “All right then,” he settled himself into a more comfortable position and turned to gaze out the train car window. “So I guess that settles that.”

“Guess so,” Thorax said, leaning back in his own seat, and fell silent.

The train ride dragged on as night slowly started to fall outside. With a sated tummy, Thorax eventually appeared to doze off, quietly leaning his head back with his eyes closed and silently sleeping. Spike, however, remained awake, gazing out the train car window and lost in thought.  He thought about himself and Thorax and their predicament, and where they might end up next. Wherever it might be, Spike figured the road ahead was going to be rough as they sought to find some way to return to something resembling normal life while at the same time not get caught and get themselves into even further trouble than they already were in. Fortunately, as both had already proven to one another, they were always keeping an eye out for the well-being of the other. They weren’t just friends, they were partners, a team. Their well-being was going to depend on the other keeping safe and healthy. Which was good, but Spike was still worried about those impending trials.

And while he was naturally worried about his own welfare, he was actually starting to feel more worried for Thorax’s continued welfare at this point. Spike, after all, was simply a small dragon who was already well adjusted to life in Equestria and some of the lands beyond, already known to be living in Equestria and accepted as such, and though he would probably always be a little out of place, he could still fit into the same roles in the world as anypony else would. But Thorax, as a changeling, didn’t have that luxury. Not only was he at best merely loosely familiar with life in Equestria and was still playing catch-up with all its little quirks, Thorax’s physiology meant he had different requirements to survive, which could prove hard to maintain. To say nothing of the fact that they were banished simply because changelings were deemed unwelcome in Equestria regardless of intention, meaning Thorax was likely going to keep himself perpetually disguised and living a double-life, which Thorax’s passing comments on the matter suggested to Spike they could be trying for the changeling in the long-term.

In short, Spike feared Thorax was the one who was going to have the harder time living the life of an exile than Spike was going to.

If anything though, as Spike turned his head to watch the dozing and disguised changeling, this only made the dragon that much more determined to stay by Thorax’s side, helping insure Thorax would be able to still live the best life they could expect given their circumstances. As no doubt Thorax intended to do back in return for Spike.

And Celestia as his witness, he wanted to do everything he could to make sure they succeeded.