//------------------------------// // Trains Are Cool // Story: The Ticket Master // by TheKing2001 //------------------------------// Sunset gave a sigh as she stretched out on her bed, sinking into the mattress and curled up in a ball happily under her blankets. It was surprisingly cold tonight and not even December, not even remotely close to winter. Sunset closed her eyes and jumped at a loud scream, her horn glowing as she disappeared in a light blue burst, stumbling to her hooves as she looked around Silverspeed’s room as the silver pegasus was hugging herself as Sunset sighed. “Are you okay?” Sunset asked as she approached the mare. This wasn’t the first time she had been disrupted late in the night by the other mare waking up screaming. “I’m fine.” “No you’re not,” Sunset retorted with a frown before sighing. “Look, I’m know I’m not the best at friendship and still getting the hang of being a good friend, let alone having friends in general but waking up screaming every night for the past six months isn’t the definition of fine Silver.” Silverspeed stayed silent and glanced away as Sunset resisted the urge to face hoof. “Do you wanna-” “No, I don’t wanna talk about it,” Silverspeed snapped as Sunset recoiled before narrowing her eyes. “I call bullshit.” “Fine. I’m having nightmares after you know,” Silverspeed rolled a hoof as Sunset gave her a confused look. “No I don’t know.” “Do I have to spell it out? After killing that deer, months ago? Blood all over my hooves and armor?” “Yeah how could I forgot? So that’s why you’ve been crying yourself to sleep since then,” Sunset noted as she sat down on the ground. “Yeah. Your aunt has been visiting me in my dreams to help me but well, little progress to be made. Celestia doesn’t know about it yet but Luna does. Surprised she didn’t kill me over it or have me arrested,” Silverspeed said as Sunset watched sympathetically. Silverspeed cursed under her breath and rolled over onto her left flank to look away. “Just go to sleep, I’ll be fine. Hopefully.” “No.” “No?” Silverspeed echoed and glanced at Sunset. “What the hay does that mean?” “I mean, if it makes you feel better I can sleep with you,” Sunset said as the two blushed. “Not like that! Whenever I had nightmares as a filly, Celestia would have me sleep in her bed with her.” “I can’t force you to leave, can I?” Silverspeed asked and Sunset shook her head. “Fine.” Silverspeed lifted the blanket as Sunset clambered into the large bed, laying next to the pegasus as Sunset inhaled before draping a hoof over Silverspeed’s foreleg and one of her hindlegs over Silverspeed’s thigh. “Don’t tell anypony this is happening,” Sunset warned quietly into Silverspeed’s neck. “The others already think we are dating and don’t even get me started on your sister. If they find out I offered this, we will never hear the end of it.” “Fair enough,” Silverspeed chuckled as she sighed. “Oh, you’re warm.” “Sun is in my name after all. I’ve always been naturally warm.” “Touché,” Silverspeed said as the two laid there and Sunset closed her eyes. “Sunset?” “Yeah?” Sunset asked with her eyes closed. “Thanks for uh this. And well, being my friend. You may not think you’re great at it but you’re getting better at it, trust me.” “Shh,” Sunset muttered as she yawned. “Go to sleep.” Silverspeed nodded as she yawned and listened to Sunset’s even breathing before closing her own eyes. Sunset pressed her back against the door as she sighed in frustration. She and Silverspeed had woken up hours ago, hastily leaving the room to find a bunch of ponies on their lawn and their friends hiding in the living room. The two mares were glad they weren’t seen leaving the same room. “Why in Equestria do so many ponies want to go to the damn Gala?” Sunset grumbled as she glanced at her friends sitting in her living room. “It’s fucking lame!” “I don’t know but there’s a lot of them out there,” Roseluck noted as she peeked outside at the crowd. “Wow, that’s a lot of them.” “You’re telling me!” Silverspeed snapped as she hastily helped Sunset keep the door shut. “I wish I had my bullhorn but somepony took it away!” “You gave it to Raindrops to prank Trixie!” Trixie snapped as she narrowed her eyes, laying lazily on the couch. “Trixie was justified in taking it!” “Because you glued my helmet to the armor stand!” Silverspeed shot back with an accusatory hoof. “Karma!” “Can we quit arguing and worry about how we’re getting out of here?” A worried Shoeshine asked as she hugged Screw Loose. She had surprisingly been told by Celestia she could bring her along and had mailed her a ticket for her sister. “I can teleport us to the train station but you girls were sick last time plus Screw Loose,” Sunset pointed a hoof at the worried looking mares. “Bark!” “She says do it,” Derpy translated as the pegasus trotted back and forth. Sunset nodded as they all glowed blue and disappeared with a popping sound, tumbling to the ground of the train station. “Seven train tickets to Canterlot and pronto,” Sunset said hastily as she levitated a pile of bits to the confused salespony. “Thanks!” Sunset yanked her friends along in her magic along with the train tickets, shoving them at the conductor and plopping down on the bench with a relieved sigh. “Thanks for that,” Roseluck sighed in relief. “No problem. Nice dresses by the way,” Sunset commented as she examined her friends. The only pony not wearing one was Trixie who opted for a blue hoodie and skirt with boots. “And uh, nice hoodie?” “Thanks, it’s Trixie’s prized possession. Or well, one of them,” Trixie said as Sunset looked at the window happily. “What has you so happy?” Roseluck asked with a smile as Silverspeed sat next to Sunset carefully. “I love trains. I’ve always been in love with them. They’re so cool!” Sunset chuckled as her friends gave each other stunned looks. “I keep all my tickets everytime I go on one to remember.” Her friends shrugged as they sat down on various parts of the train as Trixie was laughing with Shoeshine, Derpy and Roseluck. “Hey Sunset?” Silverspeed said quietly and she nudged Sunset with a wing. “Yeah?” Sunset tore her gaze away from the window as the train slowly started moving. “Thanks. For uh sleeping with me last night,” Silverspeed whispered as she scuffed a hoof on the cushion and blushed. “I appreciated it, even though it was very embarrassing.” “You’re welcome,” Sunset shrugged as she patted Silverspeed on the back. “Yeah well you didn’t need to do it but you didn’t. Plus you could have made fun of me but didn’t so,” Silverspeed said as Sunset scoffed. “I wouldn’t have made fun of you. That’s not what friends do, right?” “Right,” Silverspeed confirmed as Screw Loose sat next to them and Sunset smiled faintly at the mare. “If you ever need the gesture returned, I’ll do the same for you.” “Thanks,” Sunset smiled as Silverspeed placed a wing over the two mares and pulled them into hugs. The three mare focused again on the window and smiled fondly at the passing trees.