//------------------------------// // Chapter Seven: The Speeding Train // Story: The Clockwork Alicorns // by Frostling 02 //------------------------------// Everypony was up and talking now, I couldn’t quite describe it, but I tried to be more involved with my minimal knowledge. I had been buried in a shell before, but now I felt like I’d never had to come out. “You’re certainly more enthusiastic,” Sundae yawned, “I never really was a morning person myself.” “I guess I can just sleep anywhere.” I leaned forward. “I’ve fallen asleep on desks, and I’m pretty sure a couch would be luxury in comparison.” “Do you think this is alright Mother?” Night asked being the serious one as always. “It’s often the start of a process.” Sundae shrugged. “It might just be that silly destiny you’ve waited for.” “Think about it Mom,” Night looked up at the ceiling fan, “maybe we’ll finally be free of the troubles and I could drop this Bat-Pony thing in piece.” “Wait,” I caught some attention, “you could become a normal Pegasus again? Odd, the literature I’ve read, the Bat-Pony usually dies at the end with no hope.” “Of course, Chasy would,” Night sighed with a shake of her head, “clever propaganda from that nerd. It is one of his ‘great’ shticks.” “I wonder, Night.” Sundae looked around the mechanical kitchen. “You do realize what you want, right?” “I know what I want,” Night hissed in response, “you know most of Equestria would agree if they knew his plans. I don’t need another useless lecture, he is doing something unforgivable. Whistle here is just another mistake on Chasy’s part, but is it an accident at this point? Can you really say he could still change?” “Why yes,” I tilted my head in an agreeing manner, “I am here as you talk about me.” My comment was noticed and both looked at each other briefly. “We’ll talk about it another time.” Night shrugged. “Sounds like a good idea.” Sundae leaned back with a smile. “No, wait,” I pulled a cloth out cleaned a crease under my ear, “I’d like for that conversation to proceed as was. Could we at least tell me something about the person I’m working for?” “He’s a nerd.” The bat pony cracked a smile. “I already knew that though!” I noted. Much to my dismay, Night was more amused by my statement than anything. All the while Carry was finishing up her breakfast. We finished up breakfast on a high note. Night followed me as I went to organize my luggage for the errand, which felt more and more like a chore as I went. Why had I already been at this for two days, most of that time spent getting here? It felt more like a journey than an errand like Chasy had advertised. Maybe Chrysalis was actually being honest about his lying, but then again, she was prone to lying herself. Best not think on it. I picked up my bags and began to walk towards the door. Night must’ve felt some inclination to interrupt me. “Where are you going?” She questioned. “I’m moving on,” I put it bluntly, “I want to get a move on actually. I get this feeling I can’t afford to waste time. I took two days getting to this lab, I’ll basically have to run at this rate.” “Why not just take the train?” Our Pegasus friend suggested as she walked in. “I think he was just speaking sarcastically.” Night turned around to face carry. “Nope,” I corrected. “I forgot. Let’s go!” I bolted out of the house after slipping on a disguise and quickly slowed when I remembered I didn’t know where I was heading. Fortunately, Night and Carry had followed me and decided to lead me to the station. It was all so standard this place. I was getting country vibes from Ponyville now that I’ve been here for a bit. I noticed the mountain in the distance as we walked. It had occurred to me then, there was a city up there. I start thinking about it and I would become light headed, I hoped we wouldn’t head there. Before I knew it, we were at a train station. It reminded me of how the Clockwork Empire was. There were a lot of trains, but mostly used for transporting material. Thinking more on it now, I never knew where it went. I turned my attention to Night and Carry. They were a bit awkward as friends, weren’t they? Night always seemed on edge around the Pegasus. I couldn’t exactly see why either. However, I can feel some repressed feelings in that friendship. Was there some kind of incident before? Night hides a lot of things, I suppose I shouldn’t delve too much into a friendship I have nothing to do with. “Oh,” A pony working at the station looked at us. “You catching the train?” “Of course,” Carry answered. “Why else would we be sitting here?” “Well, have you heard the news?” The mare asked. “The conductor has modified the train apparently. A new engine, or something.” “Your point?” Night tilted her head. “A lot of folk are kinda skeptical about it, thinking it’s dangerous and such.” “In what way?” “I don’t know, why don’t you look for yourself?” The worker pointed down the track. We hurried over toward her and saw the big deal. The train was going pretty fast, even having three exhaust pipes emitting as much smoke as each other. The front of the train was bronze and was comparable to a shield, a more apt comparison might be a battering ram. Decorated with horizontal metal beams, and a lot of them. A bit too close to home for me. No wonder ponies thought it was dangerous. It was quickly coming to the station and everyone else had stepped back, I too decided that would be for the best. The front engine passed and it was all gilded with that same bronze I was used to seeing in the Empire. Something was off, that much was for certain. It was also out of place considering the rest of the train that stopped in front of us. A door slid open after a minute and out stepped the conductor of the train, whom I recall seeing at the party that Chasy had. Night and Carry both stepped up and I followed behind, cautiously. It was strange seeing this equipment where it shouldn’t be. The conductor was a unicorn stallion named Igneous Lighter, he distinctly wore an outfit that resembled what a Navy Admiral would wear, but with the different colors and a different cap. He levitated his hat off, and bowed his head. There was a strange look in his eyes as he raised once again. “Good to see some faces needing to travel.” Igneous stepped aside for us. “Come on in.” “Sir,” Night approached him. “Don’t we need to give you our tickets?” “No need,” He assured her. “For a beautiful lass like you with such good friends, I’ll make an exception.” I didn’t like the way he looked at me there. Something was unsettling about it. “Then we’ll go have a seat then.” Carry light-heartedly walked onto the train followed by Night. “Good, good,” The stallion turned to me. “It would be just perfect if you joined them.” The emphasis on perfect was there as well. I stepped on with caution as the conductor watched me. There was a haunting glow in his eyes. I went to sit across from Night and Carry. They seemed to be taking this pretty normally. Well, as normal as they were. “Do you think this’ll be like a roller coaster, Night?” Carry asked in an excited manner. “I bet we could go through a loop at this speed, aren’t you excited?” “No, it’s going to be just like another train ride, but faster.” Night put in a blunt manner. “I hate these stupid trains, but at least we’re the only ones on the train today, I guess.” “I think you need to be careful,” I told the two. “Night, remember that party you snuck into while my back was turned?” “I guess I didn’t do well enough sneaking in if you could tell it was me,” Night was the surprised by my reveal. “Guess I’ll need to work on that. Anyway, what’s your point?” “This conductor was invited,” I explained to them. “I have nothing to worry about, at least, I don’t think. You might want to be careful, he might have something up his sleeve.” “What are you two talking about?” Carry was concerned about us. “Personal business involving a certain stallion.” Night looked at Carry, who quickly understood and began to contemplate. “Either way, he’s starting to convert Equestria faster than I expected. This train will be useful, even if risky.” “Excuse me, but convert?” I wondered. “How do you know more about the pony who created me than I do?” “That’s a long story I don’t want to think about,” Night gave through hisses of words. “I’ll put it like this, he has more than a few skeletons lying around. He may have created you, but you’re still obsolete to him.” “He created me to be perfect,” I began to dislike her tone she was taking. “How would you know him any better? How do I know you won’t stab me in the back later? You seem only interested in finding his secret labs.” “You want to know?” Night started getting closer to my face with anger. “He -“ “Alright have a seat,” The conductor stepped in. “We’re about to move.” He walked out of the car and I shook my head. “I’m sorry, that was a weird out burst for me.” I started, my mood changing again. “I guess it’s just all this pressure. I shouldn’t be trying to involve myself, I’m here on an errand. Nothing more, nothing less.” “I still can’t believe you,” Night took some breaths. “You’re so quick to back down, most Clockwork I’ve met are unrelenting. If there’s one thing I don’t know, it’s how Chasy manages to create such variable AI.” Now that she mentions it, I don’t know that much either. I know next to nothing of the creation process. Where did it even happen? Best to stop while I’m ahead. These questions are not a part of the errand. “So, you two are done arguing?” Carry asked nervously. I looked at Night briefly, then nod. Night followed suit. “Oh good, I don’t like seeing friends argue.” Somehow, that was quickly mended. I guess it should’ve been expected from a land of friendship, but this felt off. I wasn’t even sure who to trust, but these labs were important to me. They seem to be showing me something, and I haven’t yet seen it all. The train was already moving and it was picking up speed. Carry and Night had started to sink back into their seat. I began to slip out of my seat, I had to try to not fall out of my seat. I fell anyway. I stumbled up. The speed made it difficult to balance. I had to try a little harder to not fall flat on my face. I tried sitting down again. With some effort, I managed to balance myself. I tried moving myself around to find a position that was easier. “Why don’t you just find another seat, Whistle?” The blue Pegasus suggested. “No, no, I think I’ve got something here.” I pulled my front legs over the back of my seat. I pulled myself back to my seat and held myself there. “That doesn’t look very comfortable.” Night remarked. “I’m pretty comfortable not being alone here,” I continued. “I don’t do well on my own.” We tried to adjust to the speed, but it was ridiculous. I saw everything were pass, trees would zoom by. To our surprise, the conductor had stepped into our car. He wasn’t at all phased by the speed of the train he walked and moved as if this was all normal. His horn was emitting magic. That’s when Night asked a key question. “Shouldn’t you be in the front of the train!?” “I know the rails like the back of my hoof,” Igneous asserted. “Besides, I’ve got some business with you.” “What do you mean business?” The dark pony questioned, now very alert. “I don’t think you have the right pony.” “Hmm… You may be right,” the conductor “Alright, you all just enjoy your ride. We’ll be in Manehattan in no time at all, I’ll go prepare our stop.” “That would be much appreciated.” Night sighed. Igneous walked out of the room. Night went at ease for a second, I also was relieved. “We’re coming up to the station.” Carry watched out the window. Night paused and looked as well. A look came onto her face. A look of contained fear. “We’re going too fast to stop.” Night stood up. “We’ve got to move!” Suddenly we passed the station. I grabbed my bag and followed Carry and Night to the back of the car. Night tried to open the door. “It’s locked!” Night exclaimed. “I don’t like liars, little girl.” Igneous announced his presence. “Chasy was very descriptive of how you would disguise yourself. He told me you weren’t allowed to continue getting in his way, and that you should be disposed of.” Suddenly, something sparked in me. Some sort of reflex. My disguise fell and I pulled a shovel out of my bag with my magic. “A Clockwork?” Igneous took a brief step back. I pushed my shovel into the floor of the train and opened a hole. “Jump in!” I shouted at the mares. We all jumped under the train at the same time. Before we landed I took my shovel and dug a hole through the rails and into the ground underneath, in which the three of us could fit into. The train unsteadily sped over us for half a minute as we nervously waited. I disguised once again as it had finished passing. We poked our heads up past the rails. I saw Igneous had rushed to the back of the train. He looked aggravated by our escape. I got up and pulled the others out of the hole. “That was so cool!” Carry jumped around. “Whistle, I never knew you could do that with a shovel. That’s why you have it!” “I didn’t know I could do that either,” I replied. “It just… Happened. I have no clue where I learned that.” Night, on the other hand, had a bleaker look on her face. “We probably shouldn’t have run away.” “Why not?” I wondered what was going through her head. Of course, as soon as I asked, I had an idea. “We can’t leave Igneous off like that. He might eventually start spreading Chasy’s ideals if left to his own devices.” “So, what do we do about that?” I asked. “Nothing,” Night sighed. “For now; welcome to Manehattan. Where my life started its downward spiral.”