//------------------------------//
// Ninth Stop: For Endless Fight 
// Story: Aether Express 
// by MagnetBolt 
//------------------------------//

Rarity peeked over the windowsill as the train rumbled down the tracks. It was moving slowly, like a cautious animal. Rarity felt the same way. Outside, it looked like late afternoon, with orange light and long shadows. Dust filled the air from countless hooves beating against the dry rocky plains covered in scrubgrass. A place that was too barren for farming, but perfect for something else.
A crossbow bolt hit the train window and broke against it, the glass remaining impervious to attack.
“We’re perfectly safe,” Diana assured her.
“We’re in the middle of a battlefield, that’s hardly safe!” Rarity hissed in a whisper, as if she was afraid she’d be heard by ponies outside, and that they’d notice her over the sound of the train.
“The Aether Express is immune to mundane harm,” the conductor said. He offered Rarity a hoof, encouraging her to stand. “There’s no need for fear! We’ve come through far worse than this. You’ll see.”
“Why are we even here?” Rarity asked, finally allowing herself to sit back in a proper seat instead of taking cover. Outside, she could make out the shadowy forms of ponies through the dust, running back and forth in every direction.
“Not every Realm is peaceful,” the conductor says. “We still need to make our stops. The Aether Express needs water and fuel, and our destinations are decided by… well, that’s not important,” he said after a moment of consideration. “Management doesn’t like us second-guessing them. It’s a sort of destiny thing. A bit like cutie marks.”
“I’d love to speak with the ponies in charge of those,” Diana noted wryly.
“Eventually you might have a chance,” the conductor said. He sounded like he meant it. Diana nodded. “We’re almost at the station. Please be ready to disembark.”
“Into a battlefield?” Rarity asked.
“You can remain onboard if you want.”
“I can’t imagine why I’d want to leave!”





Rarity screamed. Behind her, the dining car went up in flames.
“Perfectly safe my flank!” she swore. She hadn’t even seen what had happened. One moment she was trying to find a good bottle of wine to settle her nerves, the next she was surrounded by chaos. Something had crashed into the station, and debris fell around her, forcing her out and into the dusty field outside.
Rarity covered her head, hoping that Diana, Kyanite, and the Conductor weren’t hurt.
A pony holding a long polearm charged out of the smoke and dust, snarling with rage. Rarity screamed again and threw herself to the ground, narrowly avoiding a swing from the deadly steel.
The pony adjusted his grip and got ready to swing again before somepony intervened, stepping between him and Rarity.
“Hold!” the mare shouted. She held up a hoof. “She’s not wearing a uniform! Which group are you with? You are required by law to tell us, prisoner.”
“Which group?!” Rarity coughed, the dust in her mouth and the disorientation scattering her thoughts. “I was on the train!”
“The train?” the mare looked past Rarity and groaned. “She’s a civilian. Raise the yellow flag!”
The squad of ponies behind her echoed her annoyance and raised up a tall saffron-colored banner. The sounds of war around them started to quiet, more yellow banners going up. The mare held up a hoof when Rarity tried to speak again, silencing her. She looked into the dust, the blue-armored mare waiting for something.
That something proved to be a mare in red armor stepping closer and looking equally annoyed.
“What is it, Freehold scum?” the red mare asked.
“Civilian on the field,” the blue mare said, pointing at Rarity. “She says she was on the train.”
“Passenger or crew?”
“Civilian either way,” the blue mare said firmly. “We can’t fight here if there are civilians in the way. You know that’s against the rules of engagement for this Trial.”
The red mare kicked the dirt and nodded. “Where’s the judge?”
“Here!” A pony in black and white armor trotted through the soldiers, their ranks parting for the tall mare. Her waving mane was tied back in a tight, elaborate topknot that kept the moving strands from escaping. Her slim horn helped Rarity to her hooves, and her wings pushed some of the pervasive dust and dirt away. “Ah. So we did have visitors after all.”
“Judge, I demand we end this Trial immediately,” the blue mare said. “Clearly there are elements in the field that need to be cleared out of the way. It was the responsibility of Clan Guts to make sure this was a suitable place and they have failed.”
“This could be a Clan Glory trick!” the red mare protested. “There were no civilians here when we conducted our scouting report! The train station seemed abandoned and wasn’t in use by either side!”
“I don’t believe this is an intentional gambit by either side,” the alicorn Judge replied calmly. “It is merely an unfortunate event. Civilian, are there others here?”
“My name is Rarity.”
“I apologize. Civilian Rarity, are there others here?”
“Yes, my friend Diana. We got separated, and there’s the staff on the train! We have to help them!”
“I see,” the Judge said. “We will pause the battle until the civilians are all accounted for. Please return to your camps. I will conduct the investigation myself. Thank you. Raise red flags.”
The red mare stomped her hooves. “Bah! You Glory scum are lucky! We were about to overrun your positions! Take this as a small mercy and know that we will return and crush you after this short break!”
“Ah yes, that’s just what I expect from Clan Guts,” the blue mare dismissed. “Words and not action. You bid poorly and you’re lucky you’re being given a chance to find a new strategy. We were clearly winning!”
The Judge cleared her throat, and the soldiers retreated. Rarity noted that many of them were helping those from the other side pick up dropped and fallen equipment and returning it to the owners.
“What is going on in this place?” Rarity asked, confused.
“War, of course,” the alicorn said. “Clan Glory and Clan Guts both have claims to this land. Your train station was used as a convenient focus point for a Trial of Possession. You act like you’ve never seen a war before, Civilian Rarity.”
“We haven’t had a war in… longer than I’ve been alive!” Rarity protested.
“How uncivilized. I can’t imagine how you get anything done.”





“Thank goodness, I was worried about you,” Rarity sighed. She hugged Diana. The mare sighed.
“I thought you might have been killed,” Diana said. “The dining car is a wreck!”
“I am told the explosion was an unfortunate accident,” the alicorn said. They’d regrouped on a high ridge well away from the dusty field around the train station. A small cluster of tents had been set up, and ponies with surveying equipment and maps argued with each other around maps. “Both clans were attempting an operation to take the station and the engineering teams, ah, met in the middle.”
“I see,” Diana said coldly. “And our lives were only accidentally at risk.”
“Both clans will make formal apologies,” the alicorn replied calmly. “It was never their intent to put civilians at risk. Involving non-combatants is against the rules of war.”
“I wasn’t aware war had rules,” Diana said.
“What an odd thing to say.” The alicorn raised an eyebrow. “I suppose civilians might not understand. We have some time, so I will do my best to educate you. Perhaps if you understand why these things had to happen, you’ll appreciate the efforts of the ponies who serve the state.”
She motioned for them to follow her into the tent.
Rarity found something waiting for them inside, a game board with black and white pieces.
“Ah, a chessboard,” Rarity said. “I’m familiar with this particular metaphor, darling. Chess was designed as a game to replicate war, with pawns in front, pegasus ponies hopping over them, unicorns going around the board, and all protecting their Princess.”
“It’s nothing like war,” Diana retorted.
“You’re absolutely right,” the alicorn Judge agreed. “It’s nothing like real war. There have been many great ages of war. Long, long ago, there was something we might consider a golden age. It was before even my time, so as you can imagine, we have few practical details. It was an age of plenty. Ponies built and created and innovated, and then… war. And they innovated with that, as well. When it ended, maps had to be redrawn, and ponies knew they needed rules to keep politics from ending the world. They needed to find a safer way to resolve their differences.”
“Well, darling, I can tell from the mess outside that they didn’t find a better way,” Rarity scoffed. “They’re still trying to kill each other!”
“Everypony fighting chose to fight,” the Judge said. “They want to be here. They’re honored for their decision. No civilians are supposed to be involved, which is why the battle is being conducted here, away from towns and fields. The combatants are limited, so it doesn’t simply become a matter of which side brings more bodies to the field. The weapons are regulated to avoid unneeded brutality or destruction. No disintegration rays, no null-cannons, no black blades of disaster. I am serving as an impartial referee to ensure that it is conducted fairly.”
“Absurd.” Diana shook her head. “It might as well be a game. If both sides hold back that much, what’s the point of fighting? Playing a sport would serve just as well and be less wasteful of lives.”
“The rules of engagement allow for that,” the alicorn said, nodding her head. “A Trial of this kind can be conducted in many ways. There have been entire cities won and lost with games, as long as both sides agree to it. Conducting a war tends to produce the fewest arguments later, though. Fifty years ago things nearly turned into a slaughter when two clans disagreed about the nature of the game of hoofball. Apparently they were playing by entirely different rules in their own leagues. The balls weren’t even the same shape.”
“This is all a bit much,” Rarity sighed.
“Perhaps we should have a short game ourselves?” the alicorn suggested. “You said you were familiar with the game.”
“I’ll play,” Diana said. She sat down in front of the board. “I’ll take black.”
“Putting yourself at a disadvantage?” the alicorn asked. She sat down, moving her first pawn before even completely settling her frame.
“In the real world, going first isn’t always wise,” Diana countered. “You might win the initiative but you lose in other ways.” She pushed a piece forward.
“You’re right,” the alicorn agreed. “When you speak, I can feel quite a bit of contempt. And not the same kind as your companion.” She gave Rarity a look. “She isn’t familiar with war. You, on the other hoof…”
“I find it distasteful to reduce it to a game. When lives are being risked, ponies should not play at half measures.”
“Interesting. I would love to know how you would conduct the battle between Clan Glory and Clan Guts.”
“War shouldn’t be something done so lightly.” Diana continued moving her pieces, neither pony taking long to contemplate as they committed their pawns and rooks to battle. “War should be something awful. Something ponies fear. It should be the last resort, not the first.”
“Taking away rules leads to madness. Ponies would live in fear, like beasts in a dark forest. The way the world works is the only sane way a world can work. Ponies know that when they wake up in the morning, things will be much the same as when they went to sleep. Even if governments fall and they’re conquered by their neighbors, that simply means a new flag hung on the walls, not pillaging and death.”
“And that always works for you?” Diana asked. She moved a piece. Rarity cleared her throat.
“Darling, that can’t go there. You moved it--”
“I am aware,” Diana said. She moved another piece before the alicorn could respond. “Chess is a game replicating war, yes? Sometimes the unexpected happens. Not everything in a battle is neatly taking turns.”
The alicorn frowned and moved her Princess. Diana followed it closely.
“Stop that,” the alicorn said. “You aren’t taking this seriously!”
“Neither are you,” Diana replied. “I believe that’s the problem. Someday a pony will decide not to play by your little rules and they will conquer this place.”
“A pony not playing by the rules would bring the wrath of all the clans down on them. It would be suicide.”
“Would it?” Diana asked. She knocked over the alicorn’s Princess. “Checkmate.”
“I was not in check.”
“Yes, well, I prefer poker to chess,” Diana said with a shrug. “You wouldn’t enjoy the game. It’s about deception and chance. And occasionally violence breaks out when ponies disagree about the number of aces that should be in a deck.”
“It sounds uncivilized.”
“Terribly. That’s why it’s a lot more like a real war.”





“The damage isn’t as bad as it seems,” the Conductor said. He sighed. “Only the dining car was really a problem. We’ll pick up another one at our next stop and leave the damaged one here at the station.”
Rarity watched as several of the soldiers working together pushed the blackened train car onto a side track.
“I could have managed it myself, but I don’t mind the help,” the Conductor said brightly. “For ponies fighting each other in a war, they work together even better than they fight!”
“I’m glad neither you nor Miss Kyanite were hurt,” Rarity said.
“I got knocked around a bit, but the train protected me.” The Conductor put a hoof on the engine. “The Aether Express is a tough customer. It makes me wonder just how the dining car even got damaged like that in the first place. It’s unusual for anything outside the train to be able to do that kind of thing.”
“It is a bit odd,” Rarity agreed. “Perhaps it was meant to happen?”
“What, to make you run out and almost get killed?” the Conductor scoffed. “The train wouldn’t do that. She protects ponies.”
“Excuse me, may we speak with you?”
Rarity turned to find the two mares she’d seen on the battlefield. They kept a respectful distance from each other as they approached her. She recognized the looks they shot each other, rather a lot like the looks two cats had when they met and hadn’t yet decided on a pecking order. Cautious equality with each one ready to claim dominance.
“We apologize,” the red-armored mare said. “Harming civilians is one of the greatest taboos.”
“It’s unbecoming of soldiers,” the blue mare agreed. “Clan Glory is devoted to the law, and we recognize Clan Guts is, as well. They’ve always conducted themselves well.”
The red mare nodded. “We also recognize Clan Glory is... worthy. We might have disputes over the control of land, but not honor. After discussions, we both take equal fault with what happened, and offer tribute to you as apology for damaging your train.”
The mares bowed deeply, and retainers brought lacquered boxes forward, putting them down and opening them.
“We offer these bottles of rice wine,” the blue mare said. “You mentioned your dining car was damaged. We’ll also provide any provisions you need for your journey, of course, but that’s common courtesy. These bottles come from the finest brewer, and are normally reserved for our soldiers.”
“It looks lovely,” Rarity said. Truth be told, she had no idea what she was looking at. The opaque ceramic bottles were sealed with corks and paper seals. She certainly wasn’t going to admit anything. She’d spent a solid year of her life just learning to tell good red wines from bad ones, and learned most of the difference was how well the pony selling it could explain defects as features.
“Our tribute is more practical,” the red mare said, sounding smug. “Wine is pleasant, but we offer medicinal herbs. They’ll serve you well in case you get injured by… incautious warriors.” She gave the blue-armored mare a sideways look. “I am told you were nearly killed when you were trying to find shelter from the flames.”
“It was a misunderstanding,” the blue mare huffed.
“Please, don’t fight over me,” Rarity said. “Thank you both for apologizing. If I might ask, what will you do when we leave?”
“Once you’re clear of the area we’ll resume our battle,” the red mare said. “We’ve discussed it with the impartial observers. We’ll retreat to the positions we were holding yesterday to reset things to before the accident, and this time the train station will be declared off-limits to both sides.”
“Of course, to make things fair, we revealed our positions to each other, so both sides have an equal opportunity to plan out the day’s battle,” the blue mare specified. “Don’t worry, Civilian. We’ll still be able to conduct the battle fairly!”
“That’s… good, I suppose,” Rarity said. “But you’re both here and talking, can’t you simply discuss your differences? Perhaps you could even become friends!”
“Friends, with someone from her Clan?” the red mare laughed. “That’s a good joke.”
“Perhaps you should listen to her,” the blue mare retorted. “After all, I was about to win our last battle. Half of your warriors are little better than foals!”
“I brought foals on purpose so they could get experience fighting an easy opponent,” the red mare parried. “It’s good training for when they fight a real foe!”
Diana leaned out of the train. “Let’s go, Rarity. The train is about to depart.”
“Yes, I think it might be best if we…” she looked at the mares, who were continuing to argue and had forgotten she was even there. “We’ll just go, then,” she said quietly.
Diana looked past Rarity, watching the arguing mares. “I swear they’re about to kiss.”
“Don’t give them ideas, darling,” Rarity said. “The wedding would be a disaster.”