Octavia climbs onto the train and makes her way slowly through the car until she finds herself an empty seat. She places her cello in the seat next to her next to the window, and hopes the train wasn’t going to be too busy. She could have checked it, but the last time she did, it had gotten damaged. She’d tried to get the train line to pay for the damages, but they weren’t willing to do so, and a lawsuit would have been far more costly and time-consuming than she was willing or able to deal with, so she’d bitten the bullet and paid for the repairs herself. The only frustrating part of taking it on the train with her was that when it got crowded she would be asked to pay for the seat her cello was taking up, or have it moved to baggage. If today was going to be one of those days she was probably going to go off on the poor operator.
She’d come to Manehatten for a performance, and although she’d gotten paid, she hadn’t actually been able to perform. She was supposed to perform in between this stupid asshole solo guitarist, and the big show, who was some band she’d never heard of but were apparently really popular among young colts. AP..Q…49, or something? Unfortunately, the stupid asshole had gone over his time, and nopony had pulled him off stage. By the time he’d gone through his fourth unasked-for encore and left the stage, her time was gone and they weren’t going to let her perform when their big moneymaker pop group was up next. Oh, she’d tried to get someone to get him off stage so she could perform, but every stage hand she’d bothered about it said they had to go find the manager, and he couldn’t be found, and then they had to consult the timetable, which had coffee spilled on it.
The whole thing was completely unprofessionally handled, she didn’t get any exposure, all she got was the money. That was great, but it didn’t help her position at all. Her band back in Ponyville would be expecting her, at least. It was a solid source of income, and sometimes they got to perform in Canterlot, but she wanted more than that. She wanted to make it big. Her roommate Vinyl had her back, at least. They’d been working on some stuff together, and it was apparently a pretty big hit with Vinyl’s crowd, so maybe that would take off somehow.
She leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes. The murmur of the few ponies around her in the car was a pleasant drone, supported by the backdrop of the sounds of the train idling on the tracks. It wasn’t long at all before she found herself drifting off to sleep.
“Miss, I need to see your ticket, please.” The operator pony asked.
Octavia pulled out her ticket and hoofed it to him. He looked it over, nodded, punched it, and moved on down the rows. His voice repeated the same line as he went, sometimes replacing ‘miss’ with ‘sir’. Octavia stared at the roof of the train, and leaned back once again. She felt the easy rocking of the train car as it clicked down the tracks on the ride to Ponyville. It was a trip she’d made many a time, and although it was several hours long, she knew exactly where they were just by peeking out the window. It was evening, with the sun low in the sky, and judging by the scenery, they’d just left Manehatten proper, and would soon be leaving to the countryside. They’d probably be stopping at Hollow Shades after they passed through the North Foal Mountains. That might result in a couple extra hours, but it’s not like she had anywhere to be.
Octavia stared out the window for a short while, then reached in her saddlebags and pulled out an old book: Les Misérables. She’d always wanted to go visit Prance sometime. She’d even been practicing her Prench, but she always seemed to never have the bits, or the time. Usually both, sadly, but it was the price she paid for trying to make herself known. Maybe when she finally got popular enough she would be able to schedule a performance over there. Maybe even ride there in one of those fancy airships she’d heard so much about. Pinkie Pie had her balloon, and that was fun for what it was. Octavia could only imagine how much more amazing it would be to ride in a massive airship!
Octavia sighed and realized after a short while that she was staring at the pages, but wasn’t actually reading them. She closed the book and stuffed it back in her bags. She hated all this traveling alone. With no one to talk to, it turned into one interminable introspective journey that ended up going to the same place every single time: She wasn’t good enough, she wouldn’t ever be good enough, and she certainly wouldn’t ever be popular enough. Sure, she had everything she needed, and she could easily keep it, but that wasn’t going to be enough for her. Rarity had managed to break out of the trap that was Ponyville, but she was one of the elements of harmony, and she was friends with a princess, who had contacts with the other princesses. How fair was that? Meanwhile all Octavia had was friends who were in the same situation as she was. Nobodies who had difficulty connecting with anyone who wasn’t a nobody because who would want to talk to a nobody? Much less hire them to perform.
Octavia watched the trees and occasional shack go by. The clacking of the tracks a familiar beat to the rhythm her life had taken on. She saw the mountains looming larger and larger up ahead and closed her eyes. She listened to the train rumbling onward, the setting sunlight coming in warm through the window. Then, with a muted roaring the sound echoed back to the train as the tunnel enveloped them in a cocoon of darkness. A small bit of light spilling back from the train’s headlight, just enough to outline most of the objects in the darkness. She heard muttering from some ponies and smiled to herself. They were probably new to the Friendship Express and hadn’t ever gone through the tunnels before. She had to admit, it had been a bit unsettling when she was new herself, but she’d gotten over it pretty quickly. It actually felt rather comforting in its own way. A sort of chrysalis of darkness, where nopony knew you were there. This tunnel was rather long, taking about fifteen minutes to fully pass through, but then it was only another hour to Hollow Shades.
Octavia stared into the darkness. There was some more muted whispering, and a few ponies decided to try to get up and walk around. They giggled as they stumbled about. Octavia figured they were probably special someponies. They seemed to be clinging to each other pretty tightly as well. They wandered about the car and bumped into Octavia while they went.
“Look, I understand, it’s dark, it’s quiet, and it’s maybe a little spooky, but you twats obviously can’t see where you’re bloody going, so if you could kindly bugger off and sit down until we exit the bloody tunnel, nopony else needs to get hurt, alright?” Octavia said with a frustrated sigh.
“Geeze, lady, fine. We’ll go somewhere else.” The stallion said.
“What crawled up your flank?” The mare muttered. “C’mon sweetie, let’s go to another car.”
The two giggled and muttered as they left, and Octavia could only assume they were talking badly about her as they left. She didn’t really care. She was tired, angry, and she certainly wasn’t going to put up with any shit she didn’t have to. So long as they weren’t going to be bothering her anymore, that was fine. They could go bump into other ponies elsewhere. She heard the separating doors open, and the roar of the runnel’s wind and the clacking on the tracks grew louder for a brief moment, then the door shut and everything got blissfully quiet once more.
Octavia waited in the darkness until the train pulled out into the fading light, and she looked out the window at the passing landscape. The mountains encompassing Neighagra falls to the north, and the Foal Mountains to the south. The tracks would split up ahead, and they’d be stopping in Hollow Shades soon enough. She looked around the car she was in, seeing how many other ponies were there. She was one of only three ponies that remained in her car. One bat pony, who was likely getting off at Hollow Shades, and a pink mare who was either an earth pony or Pegasus. No horn, but she couldn’t see anything more. The couple hadn’t come back, thankfully. Maybe they’d stay away.
Just as she thought about it, she saw a mare and stallion making their way toward her car from the door that had been opened earlier. It was probably them, so Octavia made a studious effort to glare out the window with only occasional disapproving glances their way. They opened the door, slipped in past the wind of outside, and made their way back to their seats.
The couple were continually muttering to themselves, drawing a frown from Octavia. Something about lovely trains, and nice scenery, and how Canterlot was going to be wonderful. They said something about sightseeing, and Octavia heard the word ‘orchestra’ and her mood darkened. She’d tried out a couple times, and although they had sung her praises at every audition, she’d never been chosen. It was a constant source of frustration. If they didn’t want her, they could at least explain what she was doing wrong, but no, they just told her she was great, and sent her on her way, happy as you please. That was no bloody help.
Her gloom perpetuated itself until the train arrived at Hollow Shades, and she didn’t even look up as ponies stood and walked out of the car. It was a nice city, and especially with the dark of twilight and the canopy overhead, the city itself was really quite lovely, but their music was… not to Octavia’s taste. Unique, in its own way, but not something she enjoyed. She certainly never got asked to perform there, that’s for sure.
“All aboard!” The operator shouted.
A single pony scrambled across the platform and dove inside one of the cars up ahead, then the doors shut and they chuffed on their way out of the station. Just a few more hours to go and she’d be in Canterlot, then it was a short jaunt to Ponyville, and home. They’d be arriving quite late, but Vinyl always left the door unlocked. More for herself and forgetting or losing her keys, but it worked in Octavia’s favour as well.
Octavia looked around the car once more, seeing if she was alone. She saw no other ponies, but there was a bag left in one of the overhead compartments. She’d let the operator know, but she leaned back with a smile, and started humming happily to herself. She enjoyed being alone on the train.
Octavia sang quietly to herself, humming some of her favourite songs and generally enjoying herself. She pulled out her cello and inspected it a little bit while she idled. She attempted to read her book again and made it a little bit further, and she even took another little nap while she waited. As she closed her eyes, she made a little note about how much further it might be before they finally arrive at Canterlot, and thought about her bed back at home and much more comfy it was than these bloody seats.
Halfway through her nap she was jolted awake by the train experiencing a bit of a bump. Not unheard of, but still unexpected. She glanced around blearily, and noticed a couple of ponies standing and talking on the other side of the door to the next train car. They didn’t look her direction, and with a mumble of complaint she closed her eyes and went back to sleep.
When she finally woke up, it was the dead of night, far past sunset. She sat up, clearing her throat and smacking her lips. They obviously hadn’t yet made it to Canterlot, which was a little surprising, but when she looked out the window she couldn’t make heads or tails of where they might be. A fog had rolled in while she was asleep, and it clung tightly to the windows, roiling in the reflected light from the headlamp of the train. Candles had been lit in each of the train cars, giving a soft but meager light to the interior. A little confused, Octavia first checked her cello and saddlebags, making sure they hadn’t been tampered with while she was asleep. Once she was satisfied everything was in order, she leaned forward and looked around the car. She wanted to ask an operator how much further until Canterlot.
Unable to spot one immediately, she looked around her car, and seeing nopony in here with her, she left her cello and saddlebags on the seat and stood up, moving toward the next car. She peeked through the door, and saw a couple of ponies sitting in their seats, but no operator. She moved to the car behind hers and peeked through that window. She saw an operator in his blue and white uniform standing near the back, looking out a window. She tugged open the door, the cold and damp air of outside spilling in, making her fur bristle, then quickly slid open the next car and hurried in, closing the doors behind her.
“Brrr!” She shivered, giving herself a little shake to try to ward off the cold. “Pardon me, sir?”
Octavia moved closer, slowly trotting down the aisle toward the operator. He didn’t respond, but just kept staring out the window. His cap was pulled low over his eyes, and he was looking slightly downward. As she got closer, she could hear him mumbling to himself.
“…tracks go… should be… maybe more to the… rain or shine…” he muttered.
“Pardon me, can you tell me how much longer it may be until we reach Canterlot?” Octavia asked, stopping just outside hoof reach of him. She was a little put off by his behavior.
He went silent, but he didn’t look at her. “Oh… not long.” The operator said.
“That’s… great to hear, but can you give me an estimation?” Octavia said, a little put off.
“Oh… not long.” He said again.
She took a step back, looking at him askance. It wasn’t unheard of for ponies to sometimes dress up as operators and try to scam others for payment, saying they hadn’t paid their ticket. If this pony didn’t know how much longer until Canterlot, which was something every operator should be keeping track of on their mandated watches, then Octavia was willing to bet this pony was a scam artist.
“Thank you for your time.” Octavia said curtly, and hurried away from him. She noticed he turned to watch her go, and tried not to quicken her pace.
The cold night air blew across her fur and whipped her mane about her face as she transitioned between cars, and she made her way quickly back to her things. They were both still there, thank Celestia. She quickly picked up her saddlebags and balanced her cello on her back, with the strap going across her chest. She didn’t want to be near that stallion any longer, and she felt she should probably report him. She had foolishly taken a seat near the back of the train, and that was where the least number of ponies congregated, making her a prime target for any ne’er do wells who might want to rob her. Cursing herself for a fool, she glanced back at the operator she’d left in the car behind her and felt her panic rising as she saw him staring through the door window. His hat was still too low to see his eyes, but now she was definitely frightened.
Octavia wrenched the door leading to the forward car, and carefully slipped through, trying not to bang her cello on anything, but hurrying as much as she dared. She slammed the door shut behind her, which earned her a ‘Shhh!’ from somepony sitting nearby.
“Shhh, your bloody self!” She muttered darkly back.
She favoured the shady operator with another glance, and saw him entering her old car, and cursed silently. If he caught up with her and called her a thief or crook or whatever, without a true operator around, none of these ponies were going to defend her. That’s what she gets for being a bloody wanker. She scurried down the aisle, trying to avoid the eyes of all the other ponies in the car and squeezed through the next set of doors, trying to keep herself ahead of the false operator following behind her.
Octavia continued down the line of cars, the dim candlelight wobbling back and forth to the rhythm of the train. She looked backward again, and saw the operator pushing his way past several ponies on his trek through the cars to presumably catch up with her. She noticed he was carrying something. It seemed to be a suitcase. It was probably that one up on the luggage rack in her car. Why was he carrying it, though? Was he going to blame her for stealing someone’s luggage? Why was he following her in the first place?
Octavia pushed through another set of doors, the cold air of the in-between blowing on her face as she moved to the next car. She quickly scanned the area and gave a grunt of frustration as there was yet again no other operator to be found. She blindly pushed forward, past the very occasional pony, through door after door after door, until she came up to the next set of doors, and saw that the next car was dark. No candles were lit in the next car, and the light from the current one prevented her from seeing into it. She looked behind her to see if that operator was still following and cursed when she saw he was. She looked back at the darkened car ahead of her warily, then looked back at the stallion behind, and with another grunt of frustration, she threw open the doors and slipped into the pitch-black car.
Once inside, she was pleased to note that it wasn’t as dark as it had seemed. She could actually see, albeit rather poorly. She pressed her side up against one row of seats and moved slowly forward, her cello bumping against the edges of the chairs as she passed by them. Her shoulder bumped into something warm, and she jumped a little in alarm.
“Oh, I’m quite sorry. Please forgive me.” She apologized.
There was the sound of movement, but the pony she’d bumped didn’t say anything. Octavia was hoping she could find another operator, or barring that, she guessed she’d settle for the conductor. She continued along the car, until she found the door at the far end. She slid it open and reached for the door on the other side of the divider, but her hoof swung against empty air.
“What…?” She said, swinging her hoof around in the darkness.
The fog, combined with the lack of interior light in this car, made it impossible to see very far ahead, but surely there should be something ahead. Something pulling the train! Was she at the engine and it was just a bit further away than the rest? She really wished the lights were on in this car. Octavia felt a hoof on her shoulder, and jumped a little. She felt a rush of adrenaline as she jerked forward slightly, trying to get away from the hoof touching her and ending up leaning a bit more out the door. Once she’d gotten a good grip on herself, she turned to look at whoever had grabbed her.
“May I see your ticket please, miss?” The operator said. He was holding that suitcase, and she still couldn’t see all of his face.
Octavia jerked out of his grip. “Yes, you may. Just a moment. It’s in my saddlebags.” She said curtly.
Octavia shut the door and set down her cello, keeping an eye on the operator while she dug a hoof into her saddlebags. She shuffled through her items, and eventually came up with her ticket. She held it out for the operator to look at. He reached out a hoof for it, but she pulled it back.
“As you can see, it has been punched.” Octavia said curtly.
“Ma’am, this is for Ponyville. I’m afraid that’s not one of our stops.” He said.
“Don’t be ridiculous. I ride this train all the time, and I know for a fact that you stop in Ponyville. Where is the conductor or a different operator? I would like to speak to one of them.” Octavia said.
“Ma’am, the conductor is busy driving the train, and in his stead, you will need to speak with meeeeeeee.” He replied, holding the final sound.
Octavia felt goosebumps crawl up her spine at his words.
“Now, since you’re riding a train you don’t belong on, I’m afraid you’ll have to get off at the next stop.” He said.
“Surely you’re joking! It’s the middle of the night!” Octavia said indignantly.
“It’s either that, or we turn you over to the guards when we arrive.” He said, tilting his head down even further.
Octavia swore his grin was getting wider. He was trying to hustle her or something. She wasn’t certain what his game was, but it was clear the entire train was in on it. No operators but one, and he wouldn’t let her speak to the conductor. She’d spoken to the conductor before on this trip. This late at night, it was probably the same fellow. Stallion by the name of Steel Driver. Something was wrong, and she didn’t know if she wanted to find out what awaited her at the far end of a hijacked train. All she could see was the top of this stallion’s hat. There’s no way he could possibly have predicted when she would start noticing his little game, so he probably wanted her off the train so she couldn’t raise a fuss when he sprung whatever trap he was planning.
“Fine. I’ll get off. When and where is the next stop?” Octavia said.
The train screeched to a halt, throwing her against the door.
“Right now.” He said with a wide smile.
Octavia looks out the window, then at the operator. “Where have we stopped?” She asked.
“Your stop.” He said.
“No, I mean where are we?” She said.
“Ma’am, you’re holding up the train. Please exit the car in a timely manner so that we may keep to the schedule.” He replied.
“I’m not bloody getting off this train, until I know where the bloody hell I am!” Octavia screamed in his face.
Without a word, he grabbed her by the hoof and started dragging her to the door. She struggled against him, but his grip was like iron, and his hooves were very cold. He dragged her to the door of the car and pulled it open. She pushed back against the door frame, but she was no match for his inpony strength, and without much effort, she ended up tumbling out the door and onto the train platform, her saddle bags spilling everywhere. He tossed that suitcase he’d picked up out after her, and it slid across the ground.
“Good luck, miss. I am sorry you missed your stop.” He said with that infuriating small smile. She tossed a stick of lip balm at him but he shut the door and it bounced off harmlessly. She had to sit and watch as the train started up again, the engine still obscured in darkness and fog, and it soon disappeared into the night’s mist.
Octavia pulled herself to her hooves and gather her things. She packed it all roughly into her saddlebags, cursing to herself. “Operator can go and bugger himself. Bloody wanker says I missed my stop. Not bloody likely. Tosser probably has friends waiting to mug me.” She muttered. “You tossers out there? Come get me! A lone mare all by herself on a train platform in the middle of Celestia’s knickers-knows-where!” Octavia shouted into the mist.