Beneath the summer sun, across the wild wheat fields near Appaloosa; A couple rode across the open plains, free from the bustle of their lives. The lovers had set out early towards nowhere this morning as the Stallion, like most reservists across the kingdom, had to answer the call. However, He was not going to leave his mare so soon and booked himself for the afternoon train.
The rugged couple, though have spent days before together, still shared their love as they rode on. Stopping at their favorite locations here and there, taking their time to renew old memories and solidify new ones. However, despite sharing this day with him, she could not avoid looking at the uniform her stallion wore. Being a part of the Mild West divisions, the uniform is decorated in “MW” pins and unit patches, complete with a stetson.
To her, ever since they met two years ago at an Iron Pony Marathon, she couldn’t help but stay with him whenever he came home on leave from either drills or training deployments. He became her center, though she was just a farm girl and he was a transplant from the cities back east, they shared this humble quiet slice of desert haven as if they were here for years. No matter what though, she always found him fetching in the getup, It complemented his tan coat and his coal-black mane, though had to cut it short for the muster. Yet, today was obviously different. Whenever they stopped to reshare memories and recollect, she would glance at his uniform to be briefly filled with dread that she would be parted from him soon.
To him, she became his world, the only one he looked forward to coming home to when on leave. He would gaze upon her amber burnet fur with white spots painting her coat and an adorable white painted muzzle to enhance the flowing golden wheat mane. He pondered on how fortune turned for him to give him the wonderful privilege to be with such a wonderful mare. Like himself, hardworking but determined to have fun when the day permits. However, today, he felt there was a rock in his heart. He soon would have to ship out to deploy for real this time. It didn’t matter where he was headed, it was the idea of leaving her behind that left him fearful of what is to come.
regardless, they would encourage each other to set aside the outside worry to just focus on the moment; Sharing laughter, kisses, memories, they dared not to let the time slip by from them so easily. However, As they saw that time was eventually shortening, they walked back towards town, towards the iron separator that would be pulling in soon. It would be one of five to make pickups across the west, and the last one to pull into Appaloosa.
They trot into town in time to hear the sharp whistle of the train’s approach. Her dusky green eyes met his blue in a moment of unease. However, she nuzzles his neck before they enter the train station. Inside, it was a similar scene with others as it was with this couple.
Other members of his company had been gathering here from all around the town and surrounding villages and hamlets to board the train east back to one of the nearest bases.
A uniformed conductor checked his watch before calling out for all aboard.
There, our lovers embrace and kiss one last time before boarding the train. The very first stop for them early this morning was at this station for him to drop off his rucksack and gear to be loaded before setting out with her for their morning adventure.
Since his and all the company’s luggage was being loaded, all he had to do was step aboard. With everypony loaded on and after the final call for all board; the stools were lifted back onto the steps of the passenger and dining cars; the loading ramps pulled away and all cars shut and secured. The assistant conductor leans out from the railing of the caboose to give a waving signal to the conductor who in turn gave a confirmation signal to the engineer.
The mare’s body shivered from the shrill of the whistle before the train jerked forward then slowly cruised away from the platform. As the train slowly pulls further and further away, she slowly feels her own spirit sink, the color fading from her world. Her mind progressively spun, she thought about how it would be a distraction to be so soon parted from Him. She then thought, He too must be adrift in absent thoughts due to being separated from her.
Without thinking, however, when the train slowly vanishes into the distance, around a turn through the canyon headed east; she steps onto the tracks. Onlookers, most familiar faces among the townsfolk, stop to watch the mare as she stares down the rails. A look of contemplation on her face.
The eldest pony among the bunch calls out to her. She breaks from her gaze to look at them. They nod to her, gesturing towards the dust the train had left behind. Another shrill echoed from the canyon. The mare turns back to follow the sound with her eyes narrowing at the piercing sound of the challenge before her.
Either out of love, insanity, or courage; she made up her mind:
He wasn’t going to go back east without her
No turning back now. As she slowly took a step forward. The curious onlooker’s shock grew as she started to trot up the rails. She knew the canyons up ahead, so she took it upon herself to face the most daring challenge anypony has yet to accomplish. With the skills that gained her second and first place in the previous marathons; she called upon all of it to race up these rails, and catch that steamer on the run!
She increased her pace to a canter as she followed along the rails. The cheers and cries of excitement echoed behind her as she bounds around the first turn. By now, she knew the train would be picking up speed. Yet, she also knew that it would be slow enough for her to catch up and it had not been that long since it left.
However, that would be how the standard trains move; these Guard trains moved differently as she notices. Not being phased by this difference, she pressed on into a gallop as she bounds another turn.
Any time now, it would slowly appear before her. The sound of its rolling wheels rumbles off the canyon walls as she follows the metallic trails towards the sound of the Iron beast that attempts to flee from its pursuer.
The Beast’s shrill reverberates throughout the canyon, a cry to warning of its approach through this divide.
It felt like another solid few minutes before the painted mare would see the tail of the metal beast, the caboose. Excitement swelled in her heart as she pressed on. She wouldn’t know when it was but she slowly crept up alongside the rattling car. The assistant conductor, previously taking a rest in the company of the brakepony, catches sight of her out of the corner of his eye before looking over.
Our mare pays no attention to stunned stares from the members of the train crew. Between the pace of the train and her speed, she is passing the car with great surprise. The Assistant shoves his way past his fellow crew member, disappearing into the train.
Soon another service car inched by her as she focused on the passenger cars. A baggage car, then a dining car, soon, passing by the officer’s couchette car then, the standard passenger cars came alongside her. By now, heads of this train’s passengers had turned to see the spectacle unfolding before their eyes.
Though some were opening windows to either cheer her on or try to discourage her supposed feeble effort to get on this train, she paid no heed to anyone but to her own heart and mind. By the time the iron beast shrieked it’s smokey cry, the mare had closed in on the front passenger car. Up to this point, most of the steps leading to each of the cars had been chained off before the train had left prior. The only exception being this front car.
A second blast of the brass whistle and she had closed in on the steps. However, she can feel herself slowing down. Her legs and lungs, though burning from the strain from the constant speed; however, She kept her eyes on the destination, she has to keep going, she is almost there!
It wasn’t long when the one passenger she had come sprinting after emerged on the platform. Filled with worry, disbelief and fear, the stallion carefully inches down the few steps to lean out, calling out to her.
Seeing her lover at last, she can feel the determination burn brighter as she puts whatever she has left into closing in on the destination as her stallion reaches out to her.
However...
swinging her foreleg in an attempt to grab that hoof, she slips his grasp by inches and catches the lower step of the train car, throwing her gallop off pace.
The sudden change of momentum drags her before she slips away, the speed of the beast sends her into a tumble. After one unforgiving roll, she scrapes and grinds against the gritty, rocky canyon floor. As she slides to a stop, the train, unphased by the failed stowaway attempt, continues its course.
Finally still, she could feel her body burning from the running, coughing out dust as she gasps for air through the pain. Slowly lifting herself up with wobbly legs, she tries to move forward but her hind legs give out as she sits. In between hard breathing, she yells her fury at the beast as it blares a resonating echo that lingers in her ears. Finally finding the strength to stand, stinging tears streamed down her dusty cheeks as she limps towards the stetson that flew from her during her fall.
As she picks up the hat, another distant shrill of the train as it clears another turn. She watches the caboose vanish around the turn. She was almost there but now she paid the price of trying to run against the beast.
However, as the train clattered on, something caught her eye as the dust billows away.
Just across the way, on the right hoof side of the tracks, a trail head. She recognizes it from traveling it days before. Her mind manages to recall through the adrenaline and pain that it led up on the canyon wall. If her memory serves her scattered mind correctly, there is a natural land bridge that crosses over the tracks.
Her mind quickly pierced through the fog and pieced a plan together, she knew what she had to do, though she had lost ground, yet it wasn’t going to deter her as she puts the stetson back on and mustered all of her will power. She limps forward, then trots, then slowly regains her speed to a canter towards and up the trail. Most of the climb up was a numbing blur to her, pain subsiding with every step. No stray strand of thought but focus on the plume of smoke billowing up from the train as it made its way up the canyon.
the Iron pony’s speed increased
Now on the ground of the canyon wall, she quickly observes the divide the tracks weaved through. Sure enough, she spots the natural formation that made a land overpass. If she can’t catch the train, she will have to find another way.
Sprinting on, she can see the train getting progressively closer with every stretch of ground crossed, every hill trampled over and with every evasion of rock, cacti and other would-be obstacles that appeared to try to stop her.
But no, she was not going to be stopped again, not now, not ever.
With determination burning with love and willpower, she makes the sharp turn onto the trail leading towards the bridge. The train howled twice in the distance, an indication that it was going to clear the canyon soon.
As the train slowly returns into the view. Our brave mare sees the first few cars have already passed under the bridge. Time was running out, it’s now or never.
She gallops onto the bridge as the tail of the train speeds underneath. Sparing no time to think twice-
She leaps off the bridge, aiming for the train’s caboose...