Dream Effects

by B_25


III | Chew Chew! Dragon-dragon-dragon-dragon! Chew Chew!

~ III ~

Chew Chew! Dragon-dragon-dragon-dragon! Chew Chew!

Perhaps it was irony or maybe it was fate, the two informing each other, becoming one in the mixture that followed. The Giant had been reported to rule from the North, the Crystal Empire, their home taken—again.  

Shining and Cadance arrived at the station now without any trouble in their walking, senses having joined into one, a connection never shared before. Silence was easier between them for their thoughts and feelings coursed through both simultaneously.

No words were needed if you were already understood.  

In the distance obscured by a stroke of paint taken from the abyss, the zooming front of a train appeared, already blowing black-fog, its form chugging around the curve to the station. It was purple on the sides. But the carts were dashing in faint green.  

The complexion was familiar on the eye.

"That remind you of a certain toy?"  

"Indeed it does."

"Given by a certain boy?"

"Indeed it was."

This was going to be fun.  

The train pulled into the station with a great exhale of steam. Chimes clinked into the twisted midnight as its doors slid open. Out from the great doors came nothing but, in looking at their hooves, a small dragon walked onto the wooden platform.  

"Ladies and gents, ladies and gents, the way to your demise—" he snapped his claw to the inside of the train "—is inside! Don't be in a rush. Never a passenger in the last few years. Not a lot of interest in seeing the Crystal Empire this last little while."

Spike turned and walked back inside, merrily, taking to the front as all good conductor's do.

Shining went to step inside... only for the other half of his body not to follow. The added weight was on his shoulder in looking back. Cadance covered her mouth with a hoof, her eyes threatening on watery. The realization had emotionally pained her.  

"Is this... is this what Flurry feels?"

Shiny's face narrowed. He could feel the flush of her sadness for it struck him too... but its source and cause lay vague in his head. "How do you mean? It's just a train Spike got her a while back. Doesn't have anything to do... wait, are you going off what he said?"

"None come to visit the Empire anymore... not many have visited her in years..." Cadance dropped the hoof to the ground, and her muzzle did the same, lowering as far as it could. "Could this be—"

"But Spike always visits her, doesn't he?"

Exactly.” Cadance lifted her head only to nod. "He never fails to make the trip like said here. But what about everyone else? Your dad and mom. Celestia or Luna. Twilight or her friends for that matter." She shook her head. "When was the last time they paid a visit."

"Well... they come every now and again, y'know, when the—"

"When the world requires saving and only then!" Cadance broke into a powerful voice. "They come and pat her head... but they never see her to see her. It's always something else that brings them. Never the desire for her... or us..."

Shining choked. "Is that what she feels? Because she's got it wrong."

Cadance didn't answer.

"Right?"

Silence.  

And Shining was too much of a coward to answer his own question.

Both boarded the train, slowly, and kept on it, silently, as it chugged to the great beyond.