"That Also Rids Us of Our Only Means of Retreat"
The Canterlot express began to slow down from its current high speed, the smoke trail from the pipe exhaust beginning to die down, as its designated stop for the night came into view. The capital of Equestria seemed to radiate a golden glow that contrasted greatly to the darkened sky, though the sight would forever be admired by a distance from inside the train.
Voices began to softly mummer inside the train’s many carts as looks of concern grew on most passenger’s faces; the others being too lost in slumber to notice the change in course. All the passengers on a particular cart were more than just alarmed, as they all gathered in the middle of the wagon.
“What in tarnation is—” A lavender hoof pressed slightly against the orange lips as its owner accompanied it with a small shush.
“Attention treasured passengers.” A metallic voice spoke from the intercoms hanging above everyone's heads. “Cantolort has yet to open its gates to our approach. We’ll remain at the last station until they open, and we ask all to stay in their seats and to keep calm.”
The lavender hoof floated away from the pair of lips and rested on the carpeted floor. “Something’s not right.”
“We know.” Applejack did not like how she had become silenced by her friend, as her irritation slipped inside her tone. “Did you dose off for a moment while the intercom was speaking?’
“Not that.” Twilight’s amethyst eyes trailed down from the intercom to the orange face of her friend. “Celestia would never request our presence so late into the night if she didn’t need to see us early as possible. We need to leave for Canterlot now.”
“But Darling,” Rarity had noticed the silent, one-sided tension and worked to remove it, “the conductor made it very clear that everypony should stay in their seats until everything is resolved. Surely the conductor and the Royal Guard are talking as we speak to open the gates.”
Twilight looked away for something else to accompany her eyes. “No. Those gates should be open, the only reason why they’re not because there’s something seriously wrong in Cantolort. Since Celestia requested us as early as possible to resolve that issue, then we should assume whatever's happened in Canterlot has to do with us.”
The processed logic found itself well in everyone’s ears and minds, as everyone stood up to date on the debate. Rainbow took up the offer to be the first to further the discussion of what should be done next. “If you truly believe something fishy is going on in Canterlot, Twilight, then shouldn’t we clear the train and ask the conductor to just take us to the gates.”
Twilight looked at the ceiling to process the new logic, shattering it in a matter of a millisecond, before looking to Dash. “We can’t be sure the severity of this threat, leaving us to act in a worst case scenario; we should take the Elements of Harmony and disembark immediately for the gate. If there is a threat there, then we’ll immediately signal for the train to retreat, protecting whatever ponies aboard it.”
Rarity had a long inhale, using her next line as an exhale. “That also rids us of our only means of retreat.”
Rainbow could only see this as a fantastic as she propelled a hoof through the air. “Which also means that we get to focus hundred percent of our focus on solving the problem. Oh yeah! This is going to be like the one time we all came together to fight off the changelings at the royal wedding.”
The memory of the aftermentioned event flashed through Rarity’s horror filled eyes, dreading that such event could ever happen again, and so soon in time. “As much as I positively love how we’re all coming back together, may I must say that I am entirely terrified.”
“Tell me about it,” Applejack said with a nod of the head. “Where’s Spike when you need him to tell a bad joke? That always used to alleviate the tension.”
Silence reigned over the room to serve to remind Applejack that that certain drake was still an issue to be resolved in some mares hearts. Not one to be chained down to petty things, the country mare left to unlock the chest.
“But since the not so little guy ain’t here right now.” Applejack began to pick up the Elements of Harmony and tossed them to their respective owners. “I’ll crack a joke in memory of him. Because I hope, that all you girls, are ready to kick a butt-ton of butts.”
Silence reigned over the room, but this time, it was for another reason.
“Right.” Twilight’s tone held neither nostalgic affection nor stern disapproval, as she put on her crown of magic. “Nothing stands in the way of me falling asleep. Anything that does so has to be severely punished, so they never think about attempting such a thing again.”
“Yeah. Yeah!” Rainbow at first wasn’t sure if the bizarre pumped up atmosphere Twilight was creating one she wanted to participate in, but she ended up going along with it anyway, as she clasped on her necklace. “No one ever stands a chance when the girls and the Elements of Harmony are back at it again!”
Rarity’s eyes traced the onward atmosphere of excitement, deciding next to be its target, as she placed the purple diamond Element of Harmony around her neck. “Indeed. Anyone who ever dares to threaten our Princess must first suffer from our wrath. My! May I say that now I’m started to get positively excited for this?”
Pinkie flew up in the center of the cart, where all eyes were on her floating, clapping form. “Me next!” Swirling around in the air in a flash, she retrieved the Element of Laughter out of thin air and adorned it before she hit the floor.
Fluttershy, who had momentarily fallen asleep standing up, was hit in the side of the head by the Element of Kindness. As fate would have it, the necklace still fell the length of her neck, just before she floated back up onto her feet. Applejack’s mouth opened to apologize for the throw but knew her words would go unheard, as Fluttershy’s eyes closed once more.
Applejack allowed the Element of Honesty to clasp itself around her orange neck as she went to stand in front of the girls, intent on opening the door and leading to them to the gates of Canterlot herself. But something caused her to pause in her hoofsteps, for what she saw did not scare her, but instilled a seed of happiness in her heart.
Twilight had her back straight and relaxed with her hooves extended as far as they could against the carpeted floor. Her head, long weighed down by sleep and worries of the past, now held high with determination as her tired eyes could still pierce through the frost consumed window.
If Twilight ever had a chance to escape her funk and return to the real world, where most ponies considered her a hero, then no greater chance would ever present itself than the one sitting before them all now.
Applejack stopped just a foot before the Princess of Magic, resting a hoof on her shoulder, and giving the nod when Twilight glanced back at her. Twilight nodded as well, before taking a step toward the door, and placing her hoof on the handle.
She glanced at her friends, and for the moment, felt the bliss of going into battle with ponies willing suffer and to save her; the feeling was mutual between them all. Sliding open the door to an influx of cold air flooding through the cabinet, Twilight had to say only one line to get her friends to jump into the foray alongside her.
“Let’s go, girls.”