//------------------------------//
// The Long Train Ride 
// Story: Extreme Measures 
// by Boo Bear 
//------------------------------//

As the train starts to near Filly Delphia, the youngest ponies start to doze off while waiting for their lunch to be served. The twins, Lemon Glacier and Fiery Rose, peek their heads out of the windows to catch a breath of sunny air. Arctic Lime, Sizzling Sunset and Winter Sky were happily playing a nice game of cards, while Absolute Zero examines a well drawn map of Equestria.

"Hmm..." he thinks to himself, "I wonder where we should go once we arrive in Ponyville?"
The twins overheard his loud thinking and came to take a closer look. "Whatcha doing there, big bro?" asked Fiery Rose with a wide smile on her bright red-pink face. 
Absolute Zero turns to face the eager looking twins, and sighs, "I'm just asking myself where we should go first once we arrive in Ponyville."
Lemon Glacier's eyes start to beam, "Oh! I know! I know! I know where we should go! Right Rose?" 
"I sure do, Lemon!"
"Okay, first, big bro, once we arrive at the train station in Ponyville, we go to the reception place where those ponies with strange hats and suits sit. What's next, Rose?"
"And THEN we ask them the way to Ponyville, because, of course, the train station would be NEXT to Ponyville, not IN it! And then, Lemon?"
"We trot to Ponyville with BIG smiles on our faces, I mean, unless you wanna look MISERABLE and ponies would HATE you! When we get to Ponyville, with big smiles OF COURSE, we go to the Mayor's house and ask for a house and stuff like that!"
"She'll lend us a house with a BEAUTIFUL garden around it, and there would be 8 rooms for each and EVERY one of us siblings to sleep in. Oh, with soft beds and pillows, an ACTUAL dining ro--" before Fiery Rose could finish, Lemon Glacier covered her mouth with her hoof. "That's enough, Rose!" 
"Sowwy..." said Fiery Rose, her mouth still covered by her twin, who finally released her hoof. Fiery Rose gives Absolute Zero a shameful grin.
"You SURE have an imagination there, sis! It's already fine if the Mayor lends us a house with two rooms even! It's MUCH better than a crowded room with only a table and a rug." said Absolute Zero, patting Fiery Rose on the back.

Choo! Choo!

"What was that AWFUL sound?" asked Winter Sky, still focusing on her card game.
"I think that was the sound of the train." answered Arctic Lime, placing a Queen card on the deck. Sizzling Sunset glanced behind him, and yelped.
"What is it, Sizz?" asked the twins.
"It...it's so beautiful!" 
"What's so beautiful?" asked Absolute Zero, folding his map.
"Look!" Sizzling Sunset pointed outside the window, dropping half of his cards. Arctic Lime and Winter Sky placed theirs on the table, and went to see what Sizzling Sunset was pointing at. The twins and Absolute Zero crowded around a window, and gasped at what they saw.


They felt the light splash on their faces. In front of them, was Neighagra Falls, the tallest and largest waterfall in whole of Equestria. Their eyes widened, their mouths opened, all amazed to see the magnificent Falls.
"I told you it's beautiful!" proclaimed Sizzling Sunset.
"You're sure right, Sizz. Arctic Lime, go wake up Spring Frost and Heat Wave so they can see this. Quick!" ordered Absolute Zero. Arctic Lime rolled his eyes and trotted to his sleeping siblings. They were snoring so faintly, so peacefully. Arctic Lime giggled. 
"Guys, wake up! I wanna show you guys something!" yelled Arctic Lime kindly at the sleeping ponies. Spring Frost opened her eyes and scratched her mane. Heat Wave opened his eyes too, but he had to be shaken to awake him fully. 
"Wh--what is it, bro?" asked Heat Wave, now on his hooves.
"Hurry up and follow me, or you'll miss it!" exclaimed Arctic Lime. The two young ponies followed their older brother. He took them to the window, and waited for their response. Spring Frost and Heat Wave were also amazed at what they saw!
"Wow! It's so BIG!" shouted Spring Frost. 
"So BLUE!" Heat Wave replied.
The 6 ponies started laughing at the young ones, who were obviously still sleepy. Spring Frost and Heat Wave ignored their laughs and continued to stare out into the open, eyes totally fixed onto each and every landscape that rushed past them.
"I'm guessing their awake now!" said Winter Sky, smirking.



Ladies and gentlecolts, we are announcing that the time to our destination is 15 minutes. Thank you for your attention.

"Did you hear that, guys? 15 minutes! We're nearly there!" cheered Lemon Glacier, bouncing around.
"Oh thank Celestia!" mumbled Winter Sky, who went back to her cards game with Arctic Lime and Sizzling Sunset. "HAH! Beat THAT, Sizz!"

Absolute Zero laid down on his bunk bed with a slight frown on his neon blue face. Fiery Rose saw her brother laying down, and went to cheer him up. Lemon Glacier continued celebrating by jumping and dancing around, a pleased smile on her bright yellow face.
"Hey there, Zero, why the sad face?" asked Fiery Rose, now with a neutral look. Absolute Zero looked up at his encouraging sister, and drooped his head. 
"The memories keep coming back to me, Rose. I can't help thinking about it. The fact that mom and dad left us, it's just too painful to forget!"
Fiery Rose frowned, knowing exactly what her brother was talking about.
"Zero, you're not the only one who didn't forget about that night. All of us didn't. You have to let go of that. Why do you think I like to smile and cheer people up?"

"Why?"

"Because it helps me forget about the bad past. You've never seen me frown before, have you?"

"Nope, I haven't."

"That's because I forbid myself to. If I frown, it reminds me. If I smile, I let it go. It's simple, bro. You're just gonna have to let it all go. If you don't, this trip we're having has no use!" Absolute Zero stood up from his bed and rubbed his eyes. He turned to his sister, and smiled. "You're right, Rose, I'm just gonna have to forget all about it."

Ladies and gentlecolts, we are now nearing Ponyville. Please remain seated. Thank you.