//------------------------------// // Part 2 // Story: The Pony Express // by Gear Spring //------------------------------// Her hooves clang on the metal platform as she walks to the door. Suddenly, the train lurches forward, causing Apple Bloom to stumble. A patch of snow lands under her hoof, as she slips. Before she falls off the train, the conductor reaches out and snatches her up. “Now-now,” he says with a hardy laugh, “We don’t need you hopping off just yet missy.” Apple Bloom gives him an embarrassed smile. The steam engine spews smoke from its stack while the pistons pump slowly. Ice slicks the tracks causing the wheels to spin wildly in place before it finally catches the rail. While in the hooves of the conductor, she watches as the Pony Express drives itself through her farm. The mysterious track seems to weave perfectly through the groves of apple trees. Branches scrape the sides of the cars, sending snow onto the roofs. While watching her home start to shrink, she looks to the back of the train. She feels the conductor hold her tighter, ensuring she does not fall. Looking through the snow, she finds that the tracks have seemingly disappeared from the front of her house. “Yes, missy, this is a magic train,” the conductor says as if reading her thoughts. “A very powerful magic that is only conjured once a year.” “How come?” “Well, miss, it is due to a special kind of magic that is conjured during Hearth’s Warming that allows for enough magic allow the Pony Express to travel through all of Equestria.” Apple Bloom looks out, watching the scenery change as the engine continues to pick up speed. The tracks reach the edge of Ponyville, as the crystal castle slowly shrinks away into the background. As the train continues to hasten down the rails, the wind becomes unforgiven, slashing at her with icy claws. She cowers, hiding her face as she shivers. The conductor looks down. “Come now,” he says, walking up to her. “Let’s head inside before you catch a cold.” Putting a hoof around her, he leads her as the door opens with a spell. Light splashes over her face, momentarily washing her sight in an orange glow. After a few blinks, she sees that the car is filled with little ponies. From their attire and mane-styles, they appear to be from all over Equestria, as the colt said. Some make a quick glance in her direction as she is lead up the aisle, but return to conversing with those they are sitting by. Others do not even bother to waver, the majority happily interacting with each other. “Apple Bloom?” she suddenly hears a familiar voice. “Apple Bloom!” Two heads poke from a seat toward the rear of the car. One pony with a coat of orange and purple mane has a smile reaching across her muzzle. The other has a matching face, but has a duller shade on her coat. Before Apple Bloom can speak, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle leap across the aisle and nearly tackle her. The gray conductor staggers back to not get wrapped up in their little pile. “What are you girls doing here?” Sweetie Belle is the first to talk, “I was sitting outside Rarities room to see if she would get the presents when this train showed up outside the boutique.” “Same thing happened to me,” Scootaloo adds. “Ahem,” the conductor clears his throat, forcing the three to look up at him. “If you would hurry to your seat, please, refreshments are about to be served.” Smiling weakly, the three ponies hurry to the back of the car to find the only unoccupied space around. As they do, the conductor trots to the front of the car. Floating in front of him is a pocket watch that he is attentively staring at. Giving a nod to himself, it is snapped shut before floating back into the pocket of his coat. All at once the chatter seems to die down, as the little ponies turn their attention on him. The only sounds that can be heard are the clacking of the metal wheels as the train travels over the tracks. “Now my little ponies,” he speaks in a booming voice, “Our next stop is in the northern tundra. But before we reach our destination, we have a bit of a treat for you. A sweet treat if you will.” Suddenly the rear doors burst open as a pink flash streaks to the center of the train car. Apple Bloom and the others stare in somewhat disbelief as Pinkie Pie stands there with a strange device on wheels. From a glance, it looks like four large pipes leading to a large globe. Steam slithers from each of them. Before anyone has a chance to make any sort of movement, Pinkie smashes a button. The device starts to spin like the blades of a helicopter. Cups of hot chocolate fly out, landing in the hooves of the little ponies. Steam rises from the mugs while little marshmallows float in the thick brown brew. The crazy pony starts pulling her strange device back out of the car when Scootaloo grabs her. “Pinkie, what are you doing here?” “It’s my job, duh,” she says nonchalantly. “Wait, what?” Sweetie Belle looks confused. “I come on the Pony Express every year,” Pinkie answers. “It is the best place to use my Coco Cannon.” “So, this isn’t a magical train that is going to take us to see Santa Claws,” Apple Bloom looks down. “What, of course we are going to see him. Where else would we be going?” “But, you are…” “I come here every year to try and get the first gift.” “The what?” Apple Blooms looks confused. “Santa Claws gives one good pony any gift they want. He tells me I’m too old to get the gift, but I come every year just for that chance.” Scootaloo raises a brow, “And what would you want if you got the first gift?” “A big Hearth’s Warming Party for all of Equestria,” Pinkie Pie smiles. The girls giggle at the thought. “Now what are you waiting for?” Pinkie shouts, “Drink the hot chocolate before it gets cold!” The girls do as the older pony says. A warm, rich brew titillates their taste buds as chocolate explodes in their mouths. The sweet marshmallow dissolves on their tongues. They continue to drink, not stopping until the last drop passes their lips. Apple Bloom happens to look out the window. The train has rocketed across the frozen landscape, and something starts to appear across the horizon. A tower shoots up into the starry sky. Northern lights create a rainbow in the heavens, swirling about in their majesty. She watches as the crystal towers grow closer, which seems to bring a frown to her face. “We will be arriving at our destination in the next ten minutes,” the conductor announces. “But,” she looks in dismay, “That’s just the Crystal Empire…” Pinkie Pie speaks up, “Yes, but just like the Pony Express, something magical happens once a year.” “What?” the Cutie Mark Crusaders ask. She winks, “You’ll just have to find out.”