//------------------------------// // Chapter Twenty-Six – Mundane Travels Part I // Story: Reality is a Blur // by lLoveRainbowDash //------------------------------// Prosperity docked at Las Pegasus at seven in the afternoon, where Rainbow and London walked to the nearest train station. Once they made it to the pony inside of a ticket booth, they were met with a look of pure astonishment. The pony, a mare who was a pegasus pony with a puffy, orange mane, had both hooves on her cheeks. She even let out a surprised gasp. Rainbow approached slower. “H-hel—” “Oh my goodness! You’re actually right in front of me! This is the best day ever!” Rainbow opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came. She looked down at London, who looked back at her, just as befuddled. The mare cleared her throat. “I-I’m really sorry. It’s an honour to meet you in the flesh. And— Ooh! Who is this little guy?” she asked, leaning forward to get a better look at London. “I think you are mistaking me for somepony else. I have no idea who you are,” Rainbow said, placing a hoof on London’s back. “Oh, you wouldn’t know me. I went to the Best Young Flyer competition that you were in and I witnessed your sonic rainboom! It was amazing! A-and how you saved all those ponies!” “I uh... just need to get onto the train,” Rainbow stated. “Oh, my bad, sorry. Just the two of you?” Rainbow nodded. “Hmm... I-I’m not supposed to do this, but your tickets are on me. No need to pay any bits, just go ahead.” Bits? What are bits? “Uh, thanks.” Rainbow took the tickets that the mare held out of the booth and walked with London around the booth to the seats by the train tracks. Once they were seated, London finally mustered his thoughts and spoke, “What’s a Best Young Flyer competition?” “Good question; I don’t know. I don’t even know who that pony was.” “And what’s a sonic rainboom?” “No clue, Bud.” As they waited for the train to arrive at the platform, several more ponies showed up. A group of ponies walked by and took the seats next to Rainbow. There were three of them; a colt, a little younger than London, a mare, and a stallion. They were all unicorn ponies. “Mom, Dad, when is brother going to get here?” the colt asked, sitting before his parents. “The train’s supposed to get here in the next several minutes, give or take. Hopefully sooner,” the father answered. “I can’t wait! I miss him so much!” “We know; we miss him just as much,” the mother said. Rainbow looked over to her left after she felt movement. London had moved himself closer to her, placing a hoof on hers and closing his eyes. Rainbow smirked. She opened her wing and wrapped it around London, pulling him even closer. She saw that he began smiling, his eyes still closed. She rested her head atop his, closing her own eyes. They remained like that for a few moments when Rainbow suddenly... remembered something... She flew quickly with somepony in her hooves. She landed and let go of the pony, yelling, “What were you doing out here in the middle of the night?!” The pony, a filly, looked away, tears filling her eyes as Rainbow waited for an answer. The filly inhaled, then exhaled. “I’m so so sorry, Rainbow Dash. I just wanted you to hang out with me and see how cool I was so you’d take me under your wing and teach me everything you know and become, like, my big sister! But then you started telling those spooky stories and I got scared. I thought I heard the headless horse, so I ran out here by myself and... well,” she took off her purple helmet, “I guess you know the rest.” The filly sniffled as Rainbow walked closer and sat in front of her. “Hey I’m gonna tell you something, but, if you ever tell anypony else, I’m gonna deny it. First time I heard those stories,” she looked around, “I was scared too.” The filly wiped away another tear and looked up at her. “You were?” she asked. “Sure! I mean, I got over it because I realized pretty quick that if there was such a thing as a headless horse, I could totally take it on,” she answered. “So, you’re looking for somepony to take you under their wing, huh?” The filly nodded. “Mm-hmm.” “Yeah, I-I might be up for something like that,” she said, pulling the filly closer with a wing. “Really?!” “As long as you don’t go falling into anymore rivers in the middle of the night.” “It’s a deal,” the filly agreed, placing a hoof on Rainbow’s chest. “Uh, Rainbow?” London asked, almost meekly. “Yeah?” she replied, opening her eyes, lifting her head. “Look.” It was then that it occurred to Rainbow that the train had arrived. “Oh! Let’s go.” She stood up alongside London and walked towards the open doors. Most of the ponies that were inside had already gotten off. Only a few were still inside of the train. Rainbow and London trotted down the train car to make their way to the next car. After only a couple moments, the train’s whistle sounded, advising about its soon departure. Being some of the first ones to board the train, Rainbow and London found themselves in an empty car. After they had taken their seats by the entrance, one other pony walked past and seated themselves towards the back of the train car. “Rainbow?” London asked, whispering. “Yeah?” she responded, whispering back. “Did you fall asleep back there?” “Wher— Oh, no, I didn’t; I was just thinking about something.” “About what?” “I’m not too sure. It was... different.” Rainbow yawned, bringing a hoof to her mouth. “Wow, I’m tired,” she stated. “Me too,” London said, yawning midway through his words. “Well, how about we take it easy for now? We have done a lot these past few days, and I think we should slow it down. What do you think, London?” After yawning once again, he answered, “Yeah, we should.” He began curling himself up on the seat next to Rainbow. “Aw, come here!” Rainbow said, pulling London close with a swish of her wing. She hugged him before laying her head upon his dark mane. Rainbow sat as still as she could to allow him peaceful rest. She felt him inhale, then exhale; his head in the crook of her neck. Rainbow finally let herself relax after a few minutes. Her eyelids slowly fell, feeling as heavy as rock. She tried to fight it, but soon gave up, letting herself fall asleep. They were fast asleep, and didn’t even wake to the sudden jolt of the train. It had lurched forward to start its journey to the next destination.