//------------------------------// // One if By Land: Part 9 // Story: Spike of All Trades // by Ariamaki //------------------------------// Their concerns about Twilight's ominously leading statement were proven as soon as they arrived at the train station later that night. Spike had two envelopes in his claw as he considered the scene. Upon their return to the library earlier, he and Twilight had been stopped short by a note on the door. It said a parcel (with his name on it) was awaiting his signature at the railway post office. Everything was in order once they got here, and he'd picked it up without any fuss. Opening it could come later: The return address gave him a pretty good idea about what was inside, which also made the small package's weight... Concerning, but not pressingly so. Something he should have expected, really! The second envelope was a real unusual case for him: Spike actually had to send a letter of his own. And he'd be sending it through the postal system, instead of by his own magic! He wanted to check in with Zecora about how things were going with Owloiscious and his brood, and hopefully he'd have an answer back shortly after their return. He had just been about to drop off that letter with the postmaster when he got caught from behind by Pinkie's gasp of shock. The reason for her sudden surprise? The overnight sleeper car to Canterlot was very rarely occupied by more than a few business-ponies looking to save vs. the express. Yet this evening, the platform was populated by an unlikely melange of friends and family: Not only were Spike and Twilight there with Pinkie Pie, but they were now caught in a little friendly staring match with... Well, several ponies. Several very familiar ponies. Princess Luna was looking her regal finest as usual, wearing maybe a slightly more self-satisfied smirk than Spike could ever remember seeing. Rarity was at her side with an oddly large amount of luggage for a day-trip, but then again it was Rarity. Standing past the two of them (and looking at their boss / commander with some degree of concern) were both of the Ammunitions: Piercing with a light pair of saddlebags and Arcane magically lugging a huge trunk on a flat-top trolley. Spike suppressed the urge to laugh out loud, although it still rang out through their subvocal chat. "So Twilight 'has been told' train rides are romantic, huh? Wonder by who." "I'd make a sentimental observation about the moon but I think that would be in poor taste. And also Rarity might chase me around with her fabric scissors again!" Rarity, being the most socially-sensitive out of everypony present, took the lead to break through everypony's weirdly silent funk. "Ah! It's... funny to see you all here tonight. Isn't that right Pinkie?" "Yuppers! Six or a seven on the Joketer scale I think, not quite a laugh-out-loud but definitely has a chuckle warning attached. What brings you all here?" Arcane coughed bruskly and nodded towards her niece. "I was about to ask Rares the same exact thing, actually: We came separate." Pinkie Pie nodded rapidly and let out a soft oooooh of understanding. "Well then yeah this is more like a solid eight. What are the odds the whole lot of us would all be taking a couples' train trip up to Canterlot tonight?" Spike had to stifle a groan: There was subtle probing on a topic and then there was Pinkie's tactical lack of tact. At least there were a lot of reactions to appreciate: Rarity's silent flop-sweat, Arcane's glare at the lunar diarch, Piercing's suppressed laughter, and Princess Luna herself silently looking over their tickets as if she had missed something. For her own part Pinkie Pie just barreled forward without missing a beat. "Not like an official one or anything! I've just had that kinda thing on the brain today and I let my phrasing get ahead of my thinking. Plus Spike and I have Twilight here with us and that wouldn't fit the pattern at all, right Twi?" Twilight had been practically frozen in a fit of confusion and curiosity ever since she saw that Rarity and Luna had come to the platform together. It took Spike nudging her shoulder to get her moving. "...Yes! Haha, yes, absolutely. I definitely hadn't just been recently discussing the relative value of a private train trip for interpersonal purposes. Heh. Hehe. Heeee..." Rarity grew calm as soon as she realized her own relationship status wasn't being called into question... but then she jolted backwards and looked between Pinkie and himself. He gave her a smile and a helpless little shrug: That 'eh, what can we do?' sort of feeling. "Which accounts for Twilight, certainly. But this is an unofficial couples' trip for... the two of you?" One quick swing of her hooves brought Pinkie right up against his side, wrapping a leg around him at the same time. Her closeness was warm and (after years of friendly hugs) already very familiar. The context however was still new and exciting and strange, to the point where he guessed that the Gamer's Mind was the only thing keeping him standing. "Uhhuh! Sorry to jump on the opportunity so soon after, um, everything that's been happening! Not that you'd have any issue with it, right?" Rarity's expression was still mostly confused, but she briefly looked over to him before smiling. "Of course not dear: Congratulations to the both of you. I just have to say I am a little... surprised." Luna's smirk came back even wider than before as she looked over them both. "I for one am not." Pinkie made a theatrically exaggerated shushing gesture at the Princess of the Night, but Spike noticed that she was giggling behind that hoof. Had she really been dreaming about... this? Them? He was flattered. It helped that his own dreams were often about her as well. Or, uh, they didn't not include her... Look, being a budding young drake meant having what you might call a 'rotating cast of characters' in his dreams, something he was sure Scootaloo could commiserate about. And while his Gamer traits meant that he hadn't slept much in a while or dreamed during sleep in even longer? Pinkie's presence was pretty consistent in his mind. His internal beratement was interrupted when the Ammos both cleared their throats. At the same time. And in tune, which was honestly just impressive. "The two of us, for what it's worth, are heading to a Canterlot arcade operators' conference. Week-long business trip mixed with a short stay back home. That leaves Twilight as you twos' chaperone and then..." Piercing let the question linger in the air. Princess Luna seemed completely content to just let it linger, but obviously Rarity would cut in eventually. "As much of a pleasure as it has been to host one of the Princesses for the last little while... and as much fun as I've had watching the surprised reactions from townsponies who didn't know just how quiet she can be-" "Sister may have her ways at court, but I will always be more adept at the other forms of subtlety." Rarity sighed with a tone that suggested she was used to this kind of thing. "Yes, well, Luna mentioned needing to return to do some of her duties in person. And since our project is nowhere near complete, she also invited me to come up for a short stay to see... Some of her old 'ceremonials', I believe is how you put it? Whatever of her personal clothes and affects may have... endured in her absence." Twilight's expression lit up at the idea of being able to excavate the preserved closet of their long-absent diarch, and she quickly zoomed closer to the two of them to ask more questions. Pinkie pulled away from Spike and gave him a little wink before striking up some kind of conversation with Arcane about... deliveries? That might explain why Pinkie had been talking 'business' with them a few weeks back... Well, regardless! That gave Spike his opening to post his letter to Zecora, and with a little bit of time to spare before the train hit the station to boot. He could probably grab Piercing and talk shop about games or even some combat advice. This had started off a bit awkward, but now it was promising to be an interesting trip down the tracks... - - - - Taking the night train was a new experience for him: They all had sleeper cars they could head to at any time, but there was also a kind of open social space in another. Dim lights shone out of small cubbies in the ceiling above the windows, probably connected to a system of wicks or something. A few tables and chairs were bolted into position around the car, and the overall ambiance was... Weirdly comforting. Ponyville didn't have a lot of nightlife or twenty-four-hour establishments (until recently, anyways) but Spike recognized the air of a diner between booms as a quiet welcoming space. Twilight had continued her conversation with Rarity and Luna ever since the train platform, while Pinkie was now playing some kind of two-player card game with Piercing, and Arcane had stomped off at one point to deal with some issues regarding that oversized cargo she brought. That left Spike on his own for the moment, which gave him the chance to open the letter he received at the station earlier. Even if he already knew what would be inside. A fairly familiar velvet bag slid out of the envelope first, dropping lightly onto his claws. He pulled the pair of green drawstrings out to open the pouch, although he didn't bother to tip out the contents. Just looking down the mouth of it in the dark was more than enough with his current senses. A large token of solid golden metal, heavy for its size. Not actual gold though, he knew that already. It was thinner than a real bit coin, covered in near-microscopic inscriptions, and almost worryingly gorgeous. That 'worrying' aspect was doubled given that it was sent to him without warning. The last time Spike had seen this was before Gillie Horse (original owner of what became the AAAArcade) left Ponyville with his family. That had been weeks ago, when the idea of The Gamer and how it could change his life were still very new. Spike closed the bag and thought back to how Gillie had originally described it. "Ay, quite the lovely piece: I won it years ago, decades at that! Won it off a very fair mare in an extremely unfair game..." The alert window didn't even surprise him at this point. You have been passed The Golden Bit! When ownership was transferred, you were granted the title [Bearer of the Golden Bit] This title has no effect except granting recognition by the Bit's original owner and creator. Despite its royal origins, the Bit will not be recognized as a symbol of any land or royalty. That... also didn't surprise him, actually. Spike pulled the letter out of the thick envelope, popping the trifold paper open with that nice crisp snap ponies did so that they could look dramatic. The letter was written with a shockingly tight hoof, the letters small and clean... Spike didn't think Gillie had any unicorns in his family, so the old stallion must have had great pen control even at his advanced age. It was interesting to see that Gillie wrote in much the same way he talked, dropping letters and swapping them to match the pace and pattern of his patter. Old habits really do die hard... Spike Aint' much to say in this letter. The travel's been fine and the weather's better. Family best of all: It's good to see the folk again and be with the people. Really all there is to say fer me! I aint' like a drink, age makes the little details stand out less instead of the op'sit way 'round. As for the other thin', the pouch. By my reckon and ken you've got a good idea just why this has come to you. So there t'aint much ta be said there either, yeh? Keep it well and keep it witcha as ya go about yer days. Seems far more'n likely to me that ye'd be gettin' up to enuff adventures that the thing'll have more use for ye. I probably disappointed that ol' girl quite a bit back in the day, damn near retired to the homestead the same year I got the thing. But maybe that was the idea? Not fer me to know I suppose, less'n you come back around and tell me about it once things shake out. Could be the start of a particular good surprise, sorta thin', yeh? The address on this'n'll be good for the whole year thru and beyon', we got one of those relay services settled. Next stop's out pas' Vanhoover, so I'm bracin' for the cold. Keep yerself warm while we're at it, right? Won't wish ya safety or peaceful times, all that whatnot. Always seemed... counterproductive. Gillie Spike smiled and folded the letter back over. He'd have to consider his reply during this day-trip (turned night trip) out to Canterlot, maybe send his own letter with a postcard from the capital? Not exactly an equivalent exchange, but a little gesture. As far as he knew there was nothing in his hoard which could be an equal for this gift. Hah, gift. That reminded him of the old man at the start of that one adventure game after he gave you the sword: 'This isn't a gift. It's a curse. A burden for you to carry'. Maybe this was the same? Regardless of which way it lay, Spike was willing to carry it regardless. He folded the letter an extra time so it would fit along with the coin into the pouch (and then moved it into his Inventory) before leaning back on the bench. This was going to be an interesting trip for sure...