The train car gently shook on its wheels at the gentle purr of the steam engine. Nopony else besides the water tender could hear the train's roar as the sound of hot coals hissed and the crack of the wheels thundered outside.
But inside the car, Twilight and her friends were slowly being rocked to sleep, almost entranced by the lullaby of clicking wheels upon the metal tracks. It put most of the car at rest... except for Rainbow Dash.
The mare trotted to and fro on the walkway, energy pumping through her that she couldn't normally exert through flight. That was one thing she disliked about the train- she could fly faster than it. "You think there are any monsters in the Crystal Mountains, Twilight?"
Twilight looked up from her book on the Crystal Empire's geography, "Welllll, I'd be inclined to say no. Nothing has lived in those mountains for over a thousand years, around the same time King Sombra was banished actually, but that's just local legend."
"So…. there's still possibly a chance we'll see something cool?" Rainbow dash tapped her front hooves expectantly.
"Well, judging from migration patterns of the local fauna, the harsh conditions, the low amount of sources of food. We can assume that there's a high probability of us seeing nothing in those mountains." lectured Twilight.
Rainbow Dash sighed, "You could've sugar-coated it."
"Aw, come on, Dashie! I bet there will be lots of action and fun! After all, we're going to Yakyakistan!" Pinkie bounced in her seat, a large cheerful grin on her face.
"And I'm sure I could find some artistic inspiration by traveling off to such exotic and distant lands." Chimed Rarity as she turned to face the other girls from her seat, clad in the most beautiful silk coat and faux fur, something warm for the weather of her own design.
The purple mare smirked; she had almost forgotten that they would be the first ponies in over a thousand years to venture to Yakyakistan. The staunch realization hit her; they were the first ponies in over a thousand years to see Yakyakistani culture, tradition, food— everything!
"Oh my gosh! We're the first ponies to see the Yaks in over a thousand years, and I had barely done any reading on Yak culture!" Gasped Twilight as she frantically turned to her number one assistant. "Spike, can you find my book on Yakyakistan?"
"Sure thing!" The young drake quickly skimmed through the catalog in Twilight's saddlebag before handing her a book, the 'Encyclopedia of the Known World.' Twilight promptly took the book with her magic before she frantically skimmed toward the section on Yaks.
"Though our knowledge is limited to that before the disappearance of the Crystal Empire, from what we know, Yak culture is martial, focusing on strength and survival. Yaks are known for their rough and tumble attitude and are not considered to be the best conversationalists. Yaks are also fairly famous for their pastries or 'Mountain cakes' and their use of fur coats. Yaks prefer isolation and sticking to their communities rather than foraging relationships with outsiders. Though it may sound odd to us ponies, to the Yaks, this is their natural law."
"Well, they don't seem too strange to me." Applejack kicked her hooves against the seat in front of her before attempting to lower the brim of her hat over her eyes. Quickly she realized she'd given the hat to Apple Bloom and couldn't help but feel a tug on her heartstrings.
"They sound kinda cool!" Rainbow Dash said.
"Anycreature that can make a good cake is automatically on Pinkie's friendship list!"
"Now hold on, girls," Corrected Twilight, halting their enthusiasm. "It's been over a thousand years; surely there's been some major changes since they haven't connected to the outside world in that long, and remember, the encyclopedia said they don't care for outsiders."
"Give me a few minutes; they'll be our friends in no time!" Pinkie Pie smiled mischievously as she slowly pulled out a set of party hats.
Starlight stared at the ever-fleeting landscape as the train raced toward the Crystal Empire. The biting cold and the metallic clack of the train were the only things to accompany her.
The nipping frost did not distract her; however, her mind was preoccupied. She'd wondered what Twilight could be doing now; did she fear her return? Was she pursuing her original ambition of continuing to Yakyakistan, or was she seeking allies within the Crystal Empire?
A scathing hatred bubbled inside her, nearly overtaking every sense until she quickly pushed it aside. She needed to be precise now; she had gotten wrapped up in the excitement of all of it to realize she had failed. Destroying Twilight's Castle meant nothing. If she was mourning the loss or terrified by this 'defeat,' Twilight pressed forward as if nothing had happened.
How dare she push Starlight aside like she's some minor inconvenience? After all, she had done to her, all the misery and hardship that life-changing defeat Twilight had given to her had to be paid in full. She needed to understand, no, she needed to know how she felt: by taking away, everything Twilight holds dear to her.
The pieces slowly clicked into place as Starlight realized the real solution to her problem. Twilight didn't care about some replaceable monolith to her friendship; after all, the so-called 'Princess Of Friendship' would obviously care more about her friends. Striking at her comrades, taking them down one by one, would solve all of her problems.
A wicked smile curled on Starlight's lips as a blooming feeling of joy washed over her. They were heading to Yakyakistan, and needed to traverse the Crystal mountains.... what would be better than mountains that are considered cursed by a local legend? Where else could it be reasonably excused for six ponies' disappearances?
After all, it was only 'natural,' a tragedy, but a legend that would prove a reasonable explanation for their disappearance. Though a new set of problems presented itself. It would be suicide to travel alone in those mountains, and Starlight would rather not die so unceremoniously to falling rocks or hypothermia.
A traveling companion would be required, someone with munitions and shelter. Perhaps a wagon would accommodate all those things perfectly.