‘Ben ‘n Bow’s Inn’ had vacancies. So the six friends stopped there. Once settled down, they caught up on the times passed. Separated for years, with letters being their only way of communication for the longest time, they all went through some tough times. Especially during several years after the Disaster, when Äther still was 'the great unknown', and the state of other species of Equus was a mystery.
The hippogryphs' exodus from mt.Aries, the Yak (still) dealing with consequences of their land being thrown sky-high (in both senses of the word - Yakyakistan was placed much higher than the rest of the floating islands and continents of broken Equus), the New Canterlot ideology, the gryphon civil war, the hardships of new realities of dragon migrations (the skies were vast and cold and full of terrible wonders), and difficulties of changelings’ love collection…
The world surely changed over twenty years. And, sadly, most of those changes were for the worse.
But now, there was hope, the Young Six thought, as they carefully opened the leather-clad journal of Twilight Sparkle. Hope that things will get better.
Even the fact that they could not read most of the journal didn’t diminish that hope. Ocellus deducted that the journal was, in fact, protected by a ward that kept the information written in it from falling into wrong hooves… Well, in theory. But at the same time, it also prevented them from getting any useful information from the journal.
Other than some general idea that Twilight was going to do something big in Canterlot, the gang couldn’t get anything else.
“Alright, any ideas how we can get any more information from this journal?” Gallus asked as he laid on a bed, looking at the ceiling.
“We could ask Sunburst to help us,” Ocellus suggested, “He should be able to identify the ward and whether or not it could be safely removed”
“Good idea,” Sandbar nodded, “Hopefully we will be able to schedule an appointment with him. He’s a busy stallion nowadays, being the court mage of the Empire”
“I’m sure he’ll manage to find time to help old friends!” Silverstream said in a chipper tone, "In fact, I'm going to go and ask him right away!"
And with that, the hippogryph bolted out of the room.
"I should go and make sure her mind stays focused on the task," Smolder sighed, "We'll be back later"
The dragoness followed Silverstream out.
"...Yona not like new trains," Yona said, looking at the floor, "Yona no like Tin. Yona not sure about this adventure…"
"Well, Tin is kind-of brash and blunt," Gallus said and rolled to his side, "I'm actually surprised to learn that he served on Glacies before becoming her captain…" he gulped nervously, "I am more worried about cramped conditions…"
"Yona always too big for trains. Before sky and after sky," the yak said, "Yak understands friend Gallus fear"
“Don’t worry, we’ll be there for you," Sandbar said encouragingly. He thought for a few moments, then turned towards Ocellus, "Hey Ocellus! What are your thoughts on Tin and his crew?"
The light blue changeling looked away from the journal (she was thankful for that distraction, the jumbled lines on the pages were hurting her compound eyes) and flicked her ear thoughtfully.
"Well… from what I managed to gather, Tin is tired, and constantly annoyed at… well, everything. It's like a shell of sorts. I can't break through it right now to tell more," she said, "Ashes… I don't know what's wrong with her, but it's like she suppresses her emotions on purpose…"
"That can't be healthy," Gallus said, sitting up.
"Yes," Ocellus nodded, "But she allows short bursts of emotions out every now and then. Wonder why is she that way…"
"And that… Ten', what about him?" Sandbar asked. Yona shivered.
"Yak fear no creature. But Ten'... it scares yak," she said.
Ocellus frowned. It seemed that even her carapace darkened.
"I… I do not know who or what Ten' is. His emotions are more… intricate, subdued, and complex than of, say, pony or gryphon or yak," she then shivered, "And… Well, I'm not sure how to describe it, but they tasted… oily"
"Oily?" Gallus and Sandbar looked at Ocellus in confusion.
"It's the best way I can describe it!" the changeling said, frowning some more, "Oily and smoked, to be more precise"
The group was silent for a little while.
“Well, this is ominous,” Sandbar concluded, “And Mecha?”
“He doesn’t like me,” Ocellus said, “But other than that he seems quite friendly and upbeat”
“Unlike the rest of the crew. ‘Group suicide’, geesh,” Gallus rolled his eyes, “That Tin is sure one ray of sunshine…”
“Ray or not, we’re stuck with him,” Sandbar said, “Look, one step at a time. Let's just wait for Silver and Smolder to return and go from there..."
“I am really sorry, but I can not help you,” Sunburst said with a slightly sad look on his face.
“But why?” Silverstream asked, her ears drooping.
The orange unicorn stallion sighed and shook his head, “Cadance and Shining already asked me to help with that journal. So I can only tell you what I already told them; the journal is heavily warded,” Sunburst picked a notebook from his desk and flipped through it, “The best way I can describe it… this ward is very complex, and self-destructive in nature, any attempt to dispel or tamper with it will cause it to destroy itself and the object it’s warding. Whatever is in that journal, princess Twilight didn’t want anyone to see…”
He rubbed his beard, which grew to an impressive size over the years.
“...Except for the ones she trusted the most”
“Hold that thought,” Smolder raised her hands up, “Ones she trusted the most?..”
Sunburst nodded.
“And neither Shining nor Cadance could read?..”
“Neither of them,” Sunburst nodded.
Smolder and Silverstream looked at one another.
“This is unlike Twilight,” Silverstream spoke, confused, “She didn’t trust her own family with… this?..”
“Well, this is surely ominous,” Smolder crossed her arms over her chest, “What’s in that journal that she wouldn’t trust anypony with?”
“Well, whatever is in there, I have a bad feeling about it,” Sunburst frowned, “I am not sure I want to know what secrets it holds; sure, we may figure out what caused the Disaster… But at the same time, we might stumble upon something horrible”
With that, the stallion closed his notebook.
“Well, thanks for trying to help us, anyway!” Silverstream said, her mood obviously soured, but she nevertheless kept her chin up.
Or, rather, her beak.
“This sucks,” Gallus exhaled, once again staring at the ceiling.
“Yes, this is a tough situation,” Sandbar stood up and began to pace around the room, “Unless we’ll find someone who can read the journal, this quest will end before it can even begin properly!”
SIlence fell upon the group, with only sound being the clopping of Sandbar’s hooves on the wooden floor as he paced back and forth.
“What if we’ll go through Twilight’s friends?” Ocellus suggested after several minutes of silence.
“They are gone, Ocellus,” Smolder huffed, “They all disappeared with her when that big bang happened that shattered the world…”
“Headmare Starlight,” Sandbar said suddenly.
Everyone turned towards Sandbar as he finally stopped pacing.
“You might be onto something there, Ocellus,” the earth stallion said, “But with Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie gone, Starlight will be our first choice. After all, she was her first student, and she was going to Canterlot from time to time to meet with Twilight…”
"And if she can't read it either?" Smolder asked, arms crossed over her chest.
"Then we will have to go to dragon lands and get Spike," Sandbar replied, his ear flicking, "That is if he's still there..."
"Still there," Smolder said, but then shook her head, "But he's not exactly keen on seeing visitors nowadays. He's been like that since the Disaster"
"Well, let's hope that he'll be able to help if Starlight won't be able to!" Silverstream chirped.
“So, first stop is Ponyville then?” Smolder leaned against the wall, arms still crossed over her chest. Sandbar nodded.
“Well, that’s settled then,” Gallus said, “How about we go get something to eat?”
The six agreed on that, and promptly went out.
A day after they informed Mecha where they settled in, he and Tin paid the six a visit.
"Alright," Tin said without much fanfare or introduction as the group took the pair to their room, "The renovations of Glacies are underway. Should take about two weeks. I'll send Mecha to inform you when we are ready to depart," the stallion sat at the desk, "Speaking of which, does any of you have any idea on how to approach this quest?"
"We thought of visiting Ponyville first," Sandbar said. Tin raised his eyebrow, so the yellow-green-ish stallion continued, "We'll need a consultation from Starlight Glimmer on…"
Both Tin and Mecha frowned at the mention of the name. Ocellus sensed a suppressed flash of anger coming from the stallions, but it was hard to discern from which one exactly.
"Geesh, why the sour look?" Gallus asked.
"None of your business," Tin cut the gryphon off with a glare enough to make him reel back a little, "Just a name we could live without ever hearing again. So, we get to Ponyville, get her to read the journal, and then what?"
"We'll see when we're there," Sandbar said. Tin sighed and rolled his eyes.
"Alright then, I guess we'll have to work with what we have," he said, "I don't like it one bit. But we're under contract, so we'll have to see it through…"
Mecha coughed into his hoof.
"Ah, right. Here," Tin reached into his saddlebag and dropped six minted tokens on the desk, "Your crew tokens. Don't lose those. That's first," he then looked over the group of creatures, "Second. As Mecha might have suggested already, you won't be freeloading on my locomotive. Yes, I could go out to the station and hire a bunch of ever-willing gray mass of faces out there; but! The locomotive ain't made of rubber. Thus, I can't afford to hire a proper crew AND take you all aboard. So you'll have to pull your weight"
The six looked at each other.
"Now I know this is a VERY short notice, so you'll have to study on the go, so to say," the gray stallion continued, "Unsatisfactory? Yes. For me especially. Still. Anyway, to the list of duties…"
"Gallus. Second pilot"
The gryphon tilted his head questioningly, but said nothing.
"Sandbar. Gunner"
"Gunner?" Sandbar blinked, "W-why?"
"Ocellus. Navigation assistant,” Tin ignored Sandbar’s question, “Not that Ten' needs a substitute… But he'd appreciate help"
The cyan changeling couldn't figure out whether she should be excited or upset.
"Smolder. You'll be assisting Ashes, and I'm not taking 'no' for an answer. From her, that is"
The orange dragoness huffed and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Silverstream. Quartermaster..."
The hippogryph looked confused. Tin sighed, "Ensuring we have enough supplies to last..."
"Oh!" Silverstream gleamed.
"...And Yona," Tin looked at the yak with a bewildered expression, "...You know what, you'll be our mascot. Um, no offense. Because I honestly have no idea what you could do…"
Yona huffed and squinted at Tin.
"...Third, you're going to need your own sky-suits and protective goggles," the stallion continued without missing a beat, "A one of each would be enough, but better to have a spare one, too..."
The earth pony then reached into his saddlebags and flippantly tossed two bags of bits on the desk.
“...Should be enough. Anything else?” Tin looked at Mecha.
“Nay, kapitän,” the unicorn replied, “All is covered, for now”
“Good,” Tin nodded, “Aight! If anything pops up, we’ll get you informed. Dismissed!”
"Yona no like Tin," the yak grumbled after the stallions left, "Yona no mascot!"
"Well, at least we know what we should focus on," Ocellus said, "Let's find where we can get sky-suits done, and then commence the skyfaring study!"
The rest of the young six were not as enthusiastic about studying as the changeling was. With the exception of Silverstream.
Two weeks passed by in a blink of an eye. Between their studies and catching up on old times, time really flew. Eventually, on the morning of sixteenth day of the six’s stay in the Empire, Mecha came in and informed the group that the renovations of Glacies were done, and the train was ready to take-off. Specifically, Tin insisted on them departing as soon as tomorrow noon. Something about ‘the sooner we start, the sooner we’ll be done’.
So after they’ve spent half of that day packing up their stuff, making sure they didn’t forget anything, they now sat at a table in a tavern just outside Ben ‘n’ Bow’s Inn.
They discussed the prospect of them departing for their first journey through the sky. Silverstream could barely suppress her excitement. Or, to be fair, she could not at all, despite all five of them trying to urge her to keep it down.
That was until the waitress suddenly placed a tray with six shots of crystalline amber fluid on their table.
"Uh, excuse me, miss?" Sandbar said, "We didn't order this"
"Oh," she said, "It's from…" she looked around, then at the door, "...a diamond dog sky-miner. Somewhat a regular here, kind and friendly soul. He just left though…" her ear flicked, “He also asked to tell you, 'The sky is wide and good friends are too few'”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Smolder crossed her arms over her chest.
“My guess?” the waitress shrugged, “He probably felt your close kinship, and wanted you to keep close together. Now, excuse me, but I have work to do,” she smiled and trotted away.
The group looked at the glasses before them, filled with crystal whiskey. Silverstream was the first one to pick one up and sniff the liquid.
"Oh, smells funny!" she said, her ears and crest perking up, "Smells of berries, and something sharp, like that special punch that makes your head feel funny!"
"That's because it's whiskey, Silverstream," Sandbar said, picking up another shot and looking close at it. Catching her questioning look, he continued, "It's a strong alcoholic drink"
"Oooh!" Silverstream beamed, "I never had one of those!"
Gallus leaned towards Smolder and said quietly, "I think I know why..."
The dragoness snorted and nodded slightly. Silverstream, in the meantime, examined the shot glass with great interest, admiring the crystal-like liquid inside it. Despite being liquid, crystal whiskey (and, to be fair, all liquid produce made from any sort of crystal berries) looked like it had edges inside, and the surface looked like a web of cracks on the glass.
"It looks funny!" the hippogryph concluded, "Are we going to drink it now?"
Sandbar thought for a moment, looking at Ocellus, who seemingly had some doubts about the drink before her, but the changeling quickly shook it off, and said, "Well, I think we could have one? I just hope I will not pass out, my head already feels a bit heavy from scent alone"
"Fear not, Ocellus," Gallus reached over and patted the chitinous shoulder, "We've got you covered!"
"Yak carry friend Ocellus to inn for sleep!" Yona joined in reassurance.
"You don't have to do it if it makes you uncomfortable," Sandbar started, but got interrupted by Ocellus.
"No-no-no, I'd like to," the glass was enveloped in her magic aura and levitated up from the tray, "It's supposed to be a toast for our friendship… or something like that, if I understand it right"
"Sure it is," Smolder nodded, "Look at us, world torn to pieces, and yet here we are, together again, about to pull things back together!"
"Yes, aren't we awesome," Gallus grabbed his glass, "It's good to have you all by my side again, guys. Missed seeing you in person, all of you. Twenty years with just letters now and then? Too long"
Then Gallus noted something. Ocellus and Sandbar had a momentary expression of confusion on their faces, but that faded just after a moment.
"Yes, it's good to be back together," Sandbar chuckled, and raised up his glass, "May our friendship last forever, and be stronger than steel!"
"To friendship!" six voices cheered as six glasses clinked, and six shots of crystal whiskey were poured down six throats.
Then five creatures coughed from the burning sensation caused by strong alcohol, while Ocellus let out a dull hiss and slipped under the table as her body went limp.
Changelings never were good in drinking department.
The morning came a bit too fast for the six's liking. Morning meal, final packing, checking out from the inn. The whole morning, until their arrival to the Crystal Empire rail terminal was kind-of a blur.
Yona insisted on carrying most of the group's supplies. Sky-suits, for the most part. Those were warm and heavy, with faceplates made of colored glass to protect against the cold of the skies, and from the sky-sickness, should the need arise to go outside the locomotive mid-flight.
Silverstream bounced in excitement as the group went through the rail terminal towards the tram station.
"I'm so excited I can barely hold it! Just can't wait to see it all, to-oof!" she bumped into a pair of stallions, "Oops, sorry there!"
"'ey, seagull," one said with an annoyed frown, his voice bearing a heavy Appleloosian accent, "If yer lookin' fer sight-seein', the Empire's over' there!" he pointed at the exit from the terminal building.
"Geesh, you'd think they'd get over their fascination with stairs and plumbing after the first decade," his companion, a lanky unicorn, added, "Giving the fish-brains too much credit, I suppose?"
"HEY!" Sandbar barked, "This was uncalled for! You two should apologize!"
"Oh bite me, milk-sucker," the appleloosian stallion snarked.
"Come on, Cookie, let's go or we're gonna miss our train," the unicorn huffed.
"Yeah, wha'ever," they both laughed and trotted away.
Silverstream's mood ebbed a little… And immediately jumped back up when she saw a familiar gray unicorn trotting towards them.
"Hey, Mecha!" she waved to him.
"There you are!" Mecha said cheerfully, "Come! We've been moved to-"
"...Attention. Would the crew of ‘Glacies Perfuro' report to platform 9, section 1/4 in fifteen minutes. Thank you," came an elderly voice from the loudspeakers above. The mare doing the public announcements was the most lively character the young six have ever heard...Not.
Truly, she sounded like she'd prefer to be anywhere but here.
"...Yeah, that," Mecha scrunched, "Come on, kapitän is waiting"
Announcement continued, in the meantime.
"...Captain of ‘Thunder in Paradise', please report to the customs office, your cargo is missing some accompanying papers. To whomever took the 'L' from the name plates of ‘The Lost Vault', thanks for the music..."
The six creatures and Mecha took the steam tram to platform 9. Though they were wondering what the ‘¼’ actually meant. After a short ride they had to board a large elevator platform and move up a few stories. Once their ride was finished, the platform 9 was in clear view of the six creatures.
Docked to the platform stood Glacies Perfuro. The locomotive looked almost new. Plating refreshed and repainted. The drive nozzles in the stern were shiny and polished. Bridge windows and portholes shined with brand new glass. Even the nameplate seemed like it was freshened up for a parade, golden letters shining brightly in the light. Docking crew was still about, doing final checks on various pipes, small jets of steam shooting from maneuver nozzles and safety valves, along with a constant stream of steam coming from the valve at the locomotive steam dome. A thick gray stream of smoke and steam was pouring slowly from the locomotive chimney.
And it wasn't the only locomotive on the platform. The platform had four separate tracks, marked from 9 ¼ to 9 4/4. The platform ¼ was occupied by Glacies Perfuro. Platform 2/4 was free. On ¾ stood a small, stocky locomotive, with four well-suited unicorns standing outside. Trottinghamians, judging by their accents. The nameplate of the locomotive - "Lucky Colt" - had an image of a flying owl on it. Finally, on the platform 4/4 stood a stoked and fuming Horo Hauler, "The East Wood", belonging to the Equestrian Logistics Bureau, or E.L.B, for short.
"Look! There they are!" Silverstream pointed at the platform where Tin and, to the group's surprise, the entire royal family - Shining, Cadance and young Flurry Heart - stood. The earth stallion was looking at his pocket watch with an annoyed expression.
"Hey! Hey Tinny!" the hippogryph waved to the earth pony as the group approached him and the royals.
Tin slowly raised his gaze from his watch and looked over the group.
"You are late," he stated coldly.
"What?!" the group gasped. Mecha rolled his eyes in a half-hearted manner.
"We're, like, forty minutes early!" Sandbar protested.
"You are late," Tin repeated in the same cold tone.
"Yak not late!" Yona huffed, as Smolder crossed her arms over her chest.
"I am the captain. If I say you are late, then you. Are. Late!" the gray stallion snorted and closed his watch with a very loud click, "Get aboard and get your plots settled,” he then glared at the royal family, “We're leaving as soon as these fellows will buzz off"
The young six couldn't decide what was more shocking - Tin's blatant disrespect of royalty, or their calm reaction to such disrespect.
"Come on, mr.Tin," Flurry said with a small smile, "Don't be so hard on them..."
"My locomotive, my crew, my rules," Tin snapped at the crown-princess, "I'd really prefer to be done with this sooner than later…" he glanced at two other locomotives on the platform 9, "...And not to hold up the others"
"Yes, we understand," Cadance nodded. Her expression was calm, but Ocellus could feel that she was a bit annoyed with the sky-captain's attitude. Shining just smiled apologetically at the six.
"Dude. That's some impressive work done on the locomotive," Sandbar said as the group approached the steel giant, "I can't even guess how much bits went into the renovations! It looks just like new!"
Tin smiled, and Mecha chuckled, shaking his head, before disappearing into the locomotive. The docking crew jumped off the locomotive and trotted away, done with pre-flight checks.
"Well, I always believed that you can not put a price on having family being together," Cadance smiled.
"Believe me, all of this is a small change compared to having my LSBFF back," Shining added.
"Yes, this will be enriching for all of us," Tin said with a roll of his eyes. Gallus rolled his eyes as well. Truly, this stallion was more of a gryphon than a pony.
His thoughts were interrupted by a monotonous voice from above.
"Captain?" the shadowy stallion looked out of the bridge window, "The locomotive is rigged for take-off. We're ready and been given a launch permission"
"I hear ye," Tin nodded and ushered the six creatures into the locomotive, "Come on. It's time!"
"Bye, your Majesties!" Gallus and friends waved as they entered into Glacies, one by one, followed by the captain.
"Make us proud, friends!" Cadance said.
"Please, bring aunt Twilight back," Flurry Heart asked humbly.
"No promises!" Tin barked in response and slammed the hatch close, turning the wheel on it to lock it.
After that, he turned towards the six that were now occupying the passageway, "Okay. Smolder, get to the engineering and report to Ashes. Sandbar, Gallus, Ocellus, to the bridge with me. The rest, settle in the rec-room for a while until we take off"
"Aww, but I wanted to see the launch!" Silverstream pouted.
"Yak want see launch too!" Yona said. Tin sighed and rolled his eyes.
"Okay, fine!" the stallion groaned, "Just… let me… through!" he then squeezed through a rather narrow hallway of the train, past young six - even somehow managing to move past Yona - and trotted towards steep metal stairs going up.
The bridge was quite spacious, compared to the engine’s passageways. Main control console on the starboard side, a navigation console in the center-back of the room, occupied by Ten’, weapons console with a complex aiming apparatus in the front-center. Mecha was peeking from the window on the portside, looking behind the locomotive. Once he heard Tin’s hoofsteps on metal, he leaned back in, shut the window close and saluted him.
“Käpitan!” he said, then raised an eyebrow at the company entering the bridge.
“To your stations,” Tin commanded as he walked over to the main control console. Sandbar scurried to the weapons console, Ocellus inched towards the shadowy stallion at the navigation station, who looked like he was doing anything but his job. Silverstream stuck to the starboard-side window, as Tin spoke again, “Ten’, guide?”
The shadowy stallion raised his eyes from the stack of papers on his station, and a fraction of a second later his body shuddered as if he awoke from some kind of a trance.
“Ascension angle zero-three-nine, altitude four-zero-zero,” he said in a bored tone, “Seven-point-five clicks, turn to south-by-southeast, descent by zero-zero-five”
“A bit abrupt, but will do,” Tin grunted and tugged several levers. The locomotive hissed, groaned and creaked. The stallion nodded, leaned to the intercom, “Ashes, open the steam main”
“Copy,” came a response in nearly the same bored tone as Ten’s. Steam began to hiss and whistle somewhere in the stern of the locomotive.
Silverstrean then let out a squee.
"Oh wheee!" she bounced with joy, "Oh I just can't wait, can't wait, can't wait to sail the skies! So many wonders, so many miracles to see, so many places to be, friends to make!"
Tin and Mecha looked at her, and Ocellus could feel cardinal difference in their reaction. Tin was annoyed, but at the same time pleased in a strange way, while Mecha seemed to be happy with hippogryph enthusiasm. Shaking his head, Tin tugged another lever on the console, and at the same time, tugged a cord hanging from the ceiling of the bridge twice. A siren sounded through the locomotive's insides, while outside two loud, haunting wails of Glacies' whistle pierced the air. A push of a button, mooring hooks undone, and drawn back into the hull with audible clanging. The gray stallion pulled the throttle. The steam hissed in the cylinders, chuffed and huffed through the injection valve. The pistons moved in perfect sync, driving rod pushing at the wheels and the side rod, moving the locomotive forward, towards the edge of the platform, towards the end of the rails, cloud of steam forming around the undercarriage of the steel giant.
Silverstream watched the platform move by as the train rolled forward with almost foal-like glee. Tin pushed the throttle further, letting more steam into cylinders. The locomotive's nose then dipped lightly.
"Lead carriage unrailed," Ten' said nonchalantly, not even bothering to lift his gaze from the stack of papers on his station.
"Steam main open, captain," came Ashes' voice from the intercom, "Primary pressurization complete. She's all yours"
"Begin preparation for full steam," Tin responded, as he pushed another throttle forward, slowly, gently. The locomotive's nose dipped again, this time more, as new, louder chuffing sound came from the back - the main engine of the locomotive awoke, and began to push the train forward.
"First motor carriage unrailed," Ten' commented, still as disinterested as before. After a few seconds, he added, "Second motor carriage unrailed. Tailing carriage unrails in five..."
Truly, five seconds later the rear end of the locomotive dipped down, as every creature aboard had a strange feeling of a lump in their stomachs. Tin pulled back the first throttle, and pushed the second one all the way forward. The chuffing in the back of the locomotive began to pick up pace and volume, as the train began moving forward, faster and faster.
"Eeeee! We're off, we're off!" Silverstream jumped with joy, rushing to the rear window of the bridge, to see the station get further and further away, partially hidden by a mixed jet of steam and smoke.
She saw three small figures at the platform waving at the departing locomotive, and, though she was sure they could not see her, she waved back at them nevertheless.
Shining Armor watched the train move towards the end of the platform. He saw it dip lightly forward as two front carriages slipped off the rails and hung over the endless void of the skies. His wife and his daughter both sat down and waved the departing Glacies goodbye. The unicorn stallion thought for a few long moments, raised his hoof and lit his horn, a magic field forming around his hoof into a thumbs-up gesture - something he saw Spike do.
Behind everyone's backs, however, his magic field formed into another gesture he'd seen - index and middle fingers crossed.
He really, really, really hoped this search would not be fruitless.
In the distance, Glacies' headlights turned on, illuminating the locomotive's way through the dark skies...