The cat sat in her chair, sipping some tea as she flipped too the next page in her book. That tea suddenly went crashing too the floor as in an instant the Cat felt it, her car with all of her important items was being moved from its proper place on the train towards the engine. She gasped as she thought, "Wha... what could she want with me right now!? I did everything I could to try and get that little annoying ball to her, isn't that enough!? As she got up from her chair she did her best to straighten up before catching sight of something as she tucked it away thinking, "Can't let her see that, who knows what she'd do to me... wait!? What if she's summoning me because she already knows about it!? Before she could think on this further everything in her car jumped up as it came to a grinding halt. It was then that the door opened as she saw the large imposing figure standing in the door, entering with a robotic whir.
The cat did her best to put on a happy face as she said, "Oh... it's been a while... would you like some tea?" as she pointed to the thankfully still upright pot with her tail.
The figure didn't say anything as she simply made her way towards the cat as she looked around saying in a loud distorted voice, "My my, you've really made quite the life for yourself... pilfering all these odds and ends from the cars across MY train."
The cat lurched for a moment before saying, "Well you know, just doing what I can to get by, same as you after all."
"Yes, but unlike you the ones I am trying to remember aren't a simple apology away," said the form as she looked down at the cat.
The cat looked away as she said, "I don't think it's that simple."
The form let out an ominous chuckle as she said, "Well you'll never know unless you try, isn't that right Samantha."
In an instant the cat went from fearful to angry as she hissed and called out, "ONLY SIMON CAN CALL ME THAT! How would like it if I used your real name S-"
Before she could continue though the form gripped her in its large robotic arm saying, "What was it you where going to call me?!"
And just as quickly as the anger came, it left as the cat stammered out, "T- THE CONDUCTOR! You're the conductor and I live only to serve you!"
The conductor chuckled once again before saying, "Indeed, though as of late you haven't been doing the best job serving me," she then leveled a canon in her other hand with the cat's face as she said, "Perhaps you'd serve me better as something else."
"NO WAIT! I can do so much more for you," said the cat as she looked around the room nervously. She saw the area where she had hidden several items and gulped nervously before saying, "I... I have her tape, we can trap her in her memories and grab the robot while she's sitting there."
"And when exactly did you acquire her tape?" said the conductor, still holding the canon to her face.
The cat glanced around nervously trying to think of the right words before saying, "Just... just after I met her in the ocean car, I wanted to try and find a way to help you of course," as she put on a less then convincing smile.
"Well... regardless there's no need," said the conductor as she dropped the cat on the ground saying, "Besides, her number is so low that I doubt it would work like that. No I have my own plan for how to acquire them."
"But.. then why did you bring me here?" said the cat as she shook fearfully.
"To simply remind you of your place, as you said you live to serve me, and you will continue to serve me for as long as you are useful which I fear might be dwindling," said the conductor as she moved toward the door before raising her head saying, "In fact I have an idea, I shall move the car where I plan to ambush her just behind your cars, that way you will get to see her stumble in broken and scared and you shall know how it is done."
"And... if she comes in still having the robot?" asked the cat.
The conductor let out one last chuckle saying, "In the infinitesimally small chance that happens you may do with her whatever you wish, heck you can even show her my tape if you want."
The cat lurched as she stammered, "Your tape... but I don't I-"
"Oh please, I knew you had it all along, but as I said you are useful... for now," said the conductor.
And as quickly as she had come, she was gone as the cat sat in utter silence as she felt her car move to it's new spot, and the cat came to a startling realization as she said, "I... I never had any leverage over her after all, I really am just going to be her puppet until she doesn't need me anymore." She then lowered her head as tears began to flow down her face.
As the three entered the car they where greeted to a strange sight as Spike simply said, "Wow."
Twilight gazed out at the world before her as she said, "Every things chrome."
One One gasped in excitement as he said, "Maybe it's a future car, after all everything is chrome in the future everything."
Twilight chuckled as she watched Spike hop down and move over to a chrome pyramid as he looked at his distorted reflection with a smirk saying, "Twilight you gotta try this."
"OH ME FIRST!" said One One as he hopped down and looked at himself in a chrome sphere, which really just made his reflection look bigger rather then distorted as he said, "I'M A GIANT! now I can crush the world."
Twilight chuckled as she moved over towards a large chrome rectangle to join in on the fun, the second she looked into that rectangle though the fun quickly died, as instead of her own reflection staring back at her, she saw Midnight Sparkle. She screamed as Midnight's face twisted to one of absolute horror before she took off running.
"Twiligth!? Hey wait up," said Spike as he ran after her in concern.
She couldn't let up though, as when she looked at the floor she saw Midnight was keeping up with her perfectly as her face looked more and more ragged. Twilight just kept running and running, hoping she'd get to the door and away from this monster. Sadly as Twilight saw a wall fast approaching she came to a soul crushing realization, she had run in the wrong direction and the door was no where to be seen on this wall. She spared a glance behind her as she saw that while Spike and One One where following her, they where too far behind to help her in time. She quickly came to the wall as she backed up against it, looking down at the form of Midnight looking back at her like a mad woman. With no options and fear ebbing away at her she slumped to the ground and placed her hands over her head. And there she sat waiting for an attack... and waiting, and waiting.
But the only thing that came was a panting noise as Spike approached, tired from the run, saying, "There you are.. wha what happened?"
"Indeed Ms. Twilight, you ran like mad and I think it made your reflection mad," said One One as he looked down at the curious sight.
Spike spared a glance down as he lurched saying, "Midnight Sparkle! What is she doing here!?"
Twilight raised her head from above her hands as she looked down at the form before her, she wanted to crouch back in fear but resisted as she noticed something, Midnight was also slumped on the ground. Twilight raised her hand as she watched Midnight's hand raise in turn.
Spike stared confused as he said, "She's... copying you?"
Twilight fully uncurled as she sat upright looking down at Midnight, and that's when it finally hit her. What she thought was crazed looks, and maddened stares, was just her own fearful face reflected back at her as she let out a gasp saying, "She's not copying me... she is me."
"What?" asked Spike.
"I... spent all this time thinking of Midnight Sparkle as some other creature... some mad goddess that I had accidentally let out.. but that's not who she is at all," said Twilight as she stared down into the blue pools of Midnight's eyes saying, "She's me... the me that wanted to know everything, to impress others... and to just be alone at the end of it all."
Spike placed a paw on her saying, "But you where never alone though."
Twilight smiled as she said, "I know," before glancing down at the reflection as she saw Midnight smiling in turn saying, "And I never will be again... because I'm not that person anymore, and even if I still have magic, I'll never be her again."
Twilight watched as for just a second, it looked like Midnight nodded at her before her reflection suddenly turned to that of her normal self. Before anyone could comment on that they all where surprised as Twilight's number grew brighter and began to tick down, eventually stopping at the number 7. Twilight smiled at that as said, "Hmm," before standing up as she said, "Well then, we should probably get to the next door."
The others nodded as they made their way over, finding and getting through the door without any trouble.
Once they entered the new car though, that cheery optimism quickly went out the window as they where greeted to the sight of a dark and foggy woods.
As they walked Spike shuddered slightly as he said, "Um, Twilight... no offense but do you think you could find the door quickly? I don't really want to be here."
"I know what you mean, this place looks straight out of a horror game," said Twilight as she felt her pace slightly quicken at a noise in the distance.
"This is indeed a rather creepy car, don't you think?" said One One.
"Yeah..." started Twilight as she suddenly remembered something saying, "Wait... did you say creepy car!?"
As if to answer her the tentacled creature from before came from around a tree as it stared at them.
"Oh it's you again, hello," said One One with a wave.
Without a word, Twilight suddenly picked him up as she and Spike ran as fast as they could away from the creature now dogging their steps. As they ran and ran, Twilight began to fear that once again she had picked the wrong direction as there didn't seem to be a door in sight. That fear began to shift though as she saw something else in sight, something large that Twilight thought she and the others could hide behind. As they all made their way towards it Twilight got a better look at the thing as she saw it seemed metallic in nature. Before she could analyze it though, they turned to see the tentacled creature coming towards them and as they prepared to move, they suddenly heard a beeping noise that caused it to stop in its tracks. They turned to see the metallic thing now had a glowing red line across its front as it began to stand up as a humanoid shape. It was then that Twilight reached another frightening conclusion, the thing wasn't chasing them... it was leading them to this.
The new thing stared down at them as it spoke in a modulated voice saying, "Well well, it looks like my steward did well getting you all here."
"Your... your steward?" asked Twilight as she shakily approached.
"Indeed," said the figure before it bowed slightly saying, "Greetings, I am the conductor of this humble train."
"You?" asked Spike.
"Does that mean you're my mum?" asked One One.
"Wait... so why are you here now, are you going to help me get to zero?" asked Twilight trying to process why the one person she'd been looking for this whole time would show up now, and why she still felt uneasy.
The conductor simply chuckled as she said, "My my so many question.... questions that will never get answered." Without warning the conductor's robotic hand suddenly gripped Spike as she said, "Now then... let's get down to it."
"Hey what are?!" said Twilight before she found herself being held in place as the steward wrapped its tentacles around her legs.
"Tisk tisk, so impatient... perhaps that's why you haven't reached zero yet... it's too bad really, if you had done so just one car ago this all could have been avoided," said the Conductor as she looked at Spike struggling in her hand before turning back to Twilight as she said, "Now then, I propose a simple trade, I give you your little dog back, and you give me the robot."
"One One?" asked Twilight.
"Whatever you call it, I just want it," said the conductor as she looked down at her.
Twilight stared down at One One as this sudden situation played in her mind, "But... I can't just-"
Her speech was suddenly interrupted by Spike yelping in pain as the conductor's grip tightened and she said, "Tick tock little girl, I don't think I'll be able to keep this offer for much longer."
As Twilight stared up in panic, she suddenly felt a squirming in her hand as One One quickly jumped out of her grip and began walking towards the conductor, "ONE ONE! What are you doing!?"
"No it's alright Ms. Twilight... I'll go with her, if it means saving Spike," said One One as he continued walking.
"No One One," said Spike with a slight groan before saying, "She'll destroy you!"
Yeah probably but that's alright then... if it means you two can continue on to get off this train," said One One as he was suddenly gripped in the conductor's other hand.
"A noble decision," said the conductor before turning back to Spike as she said, "Sadly not a wise one," before she resumed squeezing Spike, resulting in another yelp of pain.
"NO!" cried out Twilight as she reached out pleading.
The conductor simply began to laugh as she said, "Here's a lesson for you too learn kid, though I doubt it will make your number go down, never trust anyone."
As Twilight stared in shock she struggled with what to do, and it was then that she noticed a loose hanging branch directly above the conductor's head. Without thinking she found her hand glowing purple again as the branch did the same before crashing down on her.
She let out a quick grumble as she suddenly dropped Spike and One One too the ground, and at the same time, the steward released Twilight as it moved over to help its master. The group soon joined back together in a hug before running off. Thankfully they had picked the right direction this time as they soon saw the door in front of them.
"GET BACK HERE!" a voice suddenly yelled out at Twilight, and while everything told her it was the conductor... it sounded like another voice that made Twilight instinctively slow down. This was her undoing though as the conductor and the steward had managed to slink around the forest quickly and now stood between them and the door.
Twilight let out a gasp, and Spike raised his eyes in shock though at what they saw, for the branch had damaged what they now could see was a suit, and inside was a very familiar red and yellow haired girl.
"Sunset?" said Twilight in shock in confusion.
Sunset's face twisted from simple rage to absolute rage at hearing that as she said, "HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT NAME!?"
"I..." began Twilight but couldn't finish as she struggled to understand what was going on in front of her.
Sunset jumped forward as she said, "If you won't tell me," before Spike yelped at once again being in her grip as she said, "Then maybe he will."
"NO! STOP!" began Twilight, but it was too late as Sunset and the steward quickly exited with Spike as Twilight could do nothing but watch as they jumped atop the next car and began crawling over it rather then entering, before finally the door closed.
Twilight suddenly dropped to her knees struggling to comprehend what just happened. She stared down at the ground as tears began to well up.
One One placed his legs on Twilight's lap as he said, "It's OK to cry." This broke the flood gate as Twilight found herself wailing and letting the tears flow.
"LET ME GO SUNSET!" said Spike as he struggled against the grip.
Sunset growled as she said, "BE SILENT!" before pushing a button that caused an electric current to flow through the hand holding Spike, he let out a pained yip before losing consciousness as Sunset began staring forward. "I don't actually need you to talk, I have other ways of getting my answers... as for that girl, I suppose she can keep the robot for just a little longer." As she walked along though she remembered the cat and what she had promised if the girl came through with the robot. She thought on this before she shrugged saying, "Oh well... if this girl thinks she knows me, then let her get to know me," as a smirk overtook her face.
Twilight wheezed as the tears finally stopped. "Why... why would Sunset do this?"
"I'm sure she has her reasons," said One One.
"But... why? And why is she even on the train?" said Twilight, before suddenly she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. She pulled it out to see that finally, enough time had passed that her text had gone through to Sunset and she had responded with a simple, "Cool, see you there : )"
Twilight stared as she said, "She's not on the train... but then how," and suddenly it hit her. "The other me."
"Another you Ms. Twilight? Like that sword fighting shadow?" asked One One.
Twilight wiped her tears as she said, "No not like that... the other me from the pony world where Sunset is from... so this must be the Sunset from this world."
"Oh if that's the case then we can go after her," said One One.
"I guess," said Twilight as she curled up unsure of herself.
"Well like you said, she's not the Sunset you know," said One One.
"Yes but... I just can't picture doing anything wrong to that face, or even saying anything wrong because," began Twilight as she blushed and suddenly her head shot up as it finally clicked. The reason she had been avoided talking to Sunset about Midnight Sparkle and let her problems build up as much as it had, the reason that even the notion of talking about her problems made her so nervous, the one thing she had yet to admit to herself. "I'm in love with Sunset," said Twilight as suddenly saw her number begin to glow brighter then it ever had before. As Twilight stared down at it One One began doing a little dance as it finally ticked down to zero.
All of a sudden a bright light shown in front of them as it formed a door that quickly opened and beyond it Twilight could see the entrance sign to Camp Everfree. "HOORAY! You're about to be gone forever!" yelled out One One before adding, "To be clear that's a good thing."
Twilight stared at the door before simple saying, "No," as she moved towards the door the conductor had gone through saying, "I'm not leaving without Spike."
"What about your door?" asked One One.
Twilight looked back for a moment at her ticket out of all this, before sighing as she said, "I'll just have to come back for it later," as One One quickly followed after her and the two opened the door, ready to face whatever came next.