//------------------------------// // Shift // Story: Integration Is Pointless // by OutOfTheBlue //------------------------------// I sighed as I watched the mountains slowly crawl past the window. I rolled my eyes and stood up before heading towards the back of the train. "Where are you going?" I turned to Talion and shrugged. "Bathroom." He nodded as I left the car. I made my way to the end car so I could have a bit of privacy. As I reached the caboose I opened the door and stepped out. The wind whistled past me as the train continued through the green hillocks near the mountains. I sighed as I set my head down on the railing. "I wish I--" Cold, why did I feel-- *Flash!* Have any of you ever gotten hit in the head really hard? Like... really hard. Once my brother and I were wrestling and he accidentally sent my head through a wall... and into the beam inside. That dazed confused feeling, that's all I was feeling right now. I staggered to the left as my vision swam and I fell over something. I rolled as I hit the ground before coming to a stop. I was a little scrapped up but not too bad. But... the question was, where was I? >Ugh... what happened?< Huh? Wait.... ~I think we got hit by a bus.~ Are we... in the mountains? I raised a hand to my head as pain coursed through my skull. Okay, only thing I could think of as to why we were in the middle of nowhere with a massive headache was.... >Massive bender.< ~Kidnapped by the mob?~ Hell if I know. My head feels like someone used it as a diving board. I remember leaving the hospital... going into the forest... and then... those blue flowers. Everything else is a blur. >How about we never go picking glowing drug flowers ever again.< ~So we have no idea where we are, what day it is, or where out stuff is. All we have is our clothes and the magicite in our pocket... that or you're happy to see me.~ It's magicite and... are those train tracks? >Maybe we got on a train?< ~Our bags must be on it.< I lept to my feet and sprinted after it. >What are you..." "MY WAX SHARKS ARE IN THOSE BAGS!" ~Oh hay!~ >STOP GRAB ASSING AND RUN!< I ran as fast as I could after the train. Nobody takes my sharks, NOBODY! ------------------------- Twilight and friends walked down main street as Princess Luna gathered supplies. They decided that town hall was as good a place as any to ask directions to the nearest bakery. (Pinkie was hankering for a cupcake!) Upon entering, the mane six saw a rather depressed looking secretary sitting at the desk. She looked at them and tried to force a smile. "H-hello, welcome to Featherborrow." Twilight, being the good pony she was, immediately walked up to her as Pinkie began digging through her suitcase looking for her "I'm sorry you're sorry and that makes me sorry" sorry cake. It's like a regular cake, except sorry. "Is something wrong?" Brooke sighed. "No, I'm fine." Applejack huffed. "Sugarcube, even I could make that lie sound more real." Brooke looked down before looking at the five mares in front of her. (Pinkie was still looking.) "You can tell us! We're the Elements of Harmony. If it's a friendship problem it's our duty to help!" Brooke bit her lip before replying. "I accidentally said some things that hurt two friends of mine. And, because of that, they had to move. I... I just want to see them again and tell them how sorry I am and make sure they know I didn't mean what I said." Twilight clapped her hooves together. This obviously would teach everypony a valuable lesson and she'd write to Celestia and Celestia would compliment her on being the best student ever! She put a comforting hoof on her shoulder and smiled. "Don't worry, we'll come with you to see your friends. Where are they?" "Uh... the Gryphon Kingdom." Pinkie cheered as she found her cake. Not her "I'm sorry you're sorry and that makes me sorry" sorry cake, but her "we're solving a friendship problem and got the munchies" not-sorry friendship cake. "Then let's go to the Gryphon Kingdom! I'll go tell Luna!" Brooke raised a hoof as she vanished out the window. "But I--" The five mares cheered and began pulling Brooke towards the train station. "Have work!" Mayor Bureau looked out from his office and sighed as, yet again, his employees disappeared. "I'm getting too old for this." ---------------------- I stood panting before a bridge running out over the ocean. Far out to sea was an island that was where the train had gone. >You might want to turn into a pony again. You don't want to be seen.< ~And then you can fly!~ Good idea! I'm coming Sharky! I spread my wings and took flight. Mysterious island here I come!