//------------------------------//
// Train (Pt.2) 
// Story: Rainbow's Lonesome Road 
// by Centurion Pike-Wall 
//------------------------------//

Void was incredibly confused. Their cargo, was a Hippogriff? Why would they be payed to transport a hippogriff? Why was she in a box? What had she signed up for? 

She had no time to consider further, when the armored one came at her, knocking her back with his recovered mace. She was sent sprawling in the isle, sliding up next to one of the corpses. She propped herself up on one of the seats, and took in the exchange the two hippogriffs had.

The armored one threw down his weapon, and rushed to the other ones side. "Your highness! Are you all right?" Your HIGHNESS!? This was a royal? It now started to make sense. This younger one was a hostage, maybe so the storm king could get something. It didn't make it any better. She was kept in a box, for Fausts sake!

Just then, the door opened, letting in a bone-chilling laugh. It was cold bit, and he looked like he was enjoying himself. He was covered in blood; his armor, weapons, coat, and even horn were all drenched in the thick red liquid. Yet, he was smiling a warm, content, smile. Not a pinkie pie crazy smile, but also not a Fluttershy nice smile. Stop comparing stuff here to stuff there! I am not an equestrian!! And they, are NOT my friends!!! Cold But then said, with no small amount of mock sympathy, "Awww, how touching. Of course, that girl is worth a lot of money. So," He began to idily and carelessly swing his two blood-spattered knives in his aura as he said this, "Please. Step. Aside."

The Hippogriff simply picked up his mace and rushed him. The two went at it, swinging and slashing at one another. If anyone got involved in that fight, they would be dead in minutes. As it was, Cold bit was getting the upper hand. Her was faster, simple as that; as she saw when she was fighting him, a mace is a slow weapon. Soon, the Hippogriff was disarmed, and cold bit began to choke him. His sickly green aura closed around his neck, slowly squeezing the life from him. Void got a good look at his eyes. Those were the same eyes as the raider who said he wanted to cut her open; Gleeful, deranged, absolutely insane. He was greatly enjoying this, the snuffing of life. 

He was interrupted by the Younger Hippogriff. She threw a helmet at him, then yelled, "Stop it! Just stop!!!" She picked up another abandoned sword. She would have attacked him, if Void hadn't grabbed her, holding her back.

She whispered into the Hippogriffs ear. "Don't. He'll just kill you too. He's sick." 

If she wanted to fight him too, Void didn't get the chance to find out. This was because Cold bit, for some reason, tossed the Armored hippogriff into the box, causing his badly beaten and choked body to fly into the now empty box. The younger one broke free of Void grip, and rushed to his side. Void, now free of threats and on her hooves, had time to take it all in. 

They had been transporting a SENTIENT, in a box. It was a nice box, but still a box. Plus, it had been labeled as CARGO. Which meant, this Hippogriff wasn't a willing guest of the storm king. She had likely been kidnapped, hence the guards coming to rescue her. They did seem better equipped then the raiders or Diamond Dogs that attacked her, so they could be soldiers. But, that meant....

"Oh, faust. What are we doing?" She asked to no one in particular. Unfortunately, Cold bit heard her.

He replied, still with a bit of sadistic glee in his voice, "oh, that is quite simple my friend. We are moving something, and getting paid to do it. Now, kill the guard and stuff the that brat back in the box. I'm gonna go check on the twins. Ta-ta!" With that, he walked past her with a merry gait, like How she had seen pinkie walk when not bouncing along. After once more mentally hitting herself for resorting to her frie- FORMER friends, she turned to the two hippogriffs.

Having been disarmed by the armored Hippogriff, she went over toward the dead major. She picked up the sword he was using. It was quite the nice piece of steel. The handle was carved from bone, and had a steel crossguard. The blade was straight, with a slight curve at the top, and was quite long for her; about two feet. But, it was still small enough to be a good weapon. She began to give it a few test swings, testing the validity as a weapon for her. Surprisingly enough, it was pretty good; light, but still with enough weight to it to be useful. Behind her, the Younger hippogriff said, "Is this really necessary?"

Void said, in a somber tone, "I'm sorry, if it's worth anything. I didn't realize what I would do on this mission. I-I didn't have a choice."

The younger One said, "Everyone has a choice."

Void turned around, the handle of the sword held in her mouth. She pointed it at her, then said around the handle, "You. What's your name?"

She turned away from the Scarred pegasus. "Why do you care? I'm just another paycheck for you, you greedy, sadistic....meanie." Huh, I see she has pinkies level of insults. No, why do I....? She made her mental frustration apparent with a physical wince. 

Not looking at her, she said, "Your not. I'm far, far from my, former home. I have had to things I am not proud of, but I have to anyway. But, I have some morals. Now, at least humor me. What's your name?"

She hesitated a moment. She then said slowly, "Skystar. Daughter of Queen Novo. Princess of the Hippogriffs at Mount Aris."

Void looked down at Skystars claws. They were bound with thick, dirty rope. Small streaks of ropeburned flesh hung visable underneath. Void, clear on what she wanted to do, leveled her sword at the princesses Barrel. She then said the blade into the ropes, and in one quick motion, cut upward, rending the rope like butter. She then said a simple word to both the princess and the guard. "Run."

The princess wasted no time, grabbing the guard. He was still a little delirious, but a few shakes woke him up. The two made their way to the exit. They were ready to jump out and head away, when Skystar stopped. She looked back at void, her eyes shining like blue jade. She said, "Thank you. So much."

With that, the two of them lept out one of then open doors. Void looked out after them, seeing them fly away. She had to admit, she was envious. For, obvious reasons. She sighed, then slipped back into the train as they turned to dots in the edge
Of her sight. She went to work making sure that no one would notice that they had left. Since Cold But had knocked the guards helmet off, that was easy. She just moved one of the random corpses, leaned it against the box, and out the helmet on it. For Skystar, she just dumped another corpse in the box, then locked the lid. Hopefully no one would notice.

She then went back to her seat, hoping maybe to get some z's. She moved the corpse that was in it, and found her pith hat had been crushed. Moving it, she slumped down in the seat, and closed her eyes. Good news, for the first time since Leaving Equestria, she had a dream.

The bad news? Well, it wasn't a nice dream.