//------------------------------//
// 7 Filthy Hope 
// Story: Between Peaceful Dusk and Redemptive Dawn 
// by Snow Glider 
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	Sporco Speranza dazedly walked out of the boxcar.  He pushed his dirty, rustled hair out of his face.  It had been a rough train ride to the crystal empire.  The bumpiness had left a crick in his neck and an ache in his back.  But he cared not for such pains.  No.  Instead the earth pony pulled out his guitar and started strumming to the tune of “Don’t Fence Me in.”  He had no idea where he was at first.  The trains had taken him all over Equestria.  He looked up and saw the crystal palace gleam in the fading orange sunlight.  “You’ve seen it once, you’ve seen it a million times,” muttered Sporco.  The Crystal Empire was the usual stop for the North.  He had seen the crystal city, its ponies, and its treasures.  But he had no reaction to them this trip.  For everything was happy here.  Not a single pony would be sad in this wondrous place . . . except one. 
Sporco looked over at the discouraged pegasus who sat with a young foal.  He looked at them with a puzzled look.  He continued to strum his guitar like it was nothing.  He tried to ignore any sense of wanting to help.  It was not his problem.  It was not his place to get involved.  Perhaps it is a misunderstanding?  These were some of the questions that crossed the mind of Sporco.  He tried hard to ignore these questions too.  It poisoned his soul.  He wanted to do the right thing, but he did not want to do something wrong.  He was also afraid that his help would be rejected.  He was going to be neutral.  What did being good ever do to him?  It got him robbed.  It forced him into exile.  It relinquished him of his family.  Although Sporco was old and had no family of his own, he had a brother.  His brother had many beautiful and wonderful foals.  He loved his nieces and nephews just as much as he loved his brother, but they were ripped from him.  It was a distant memory, but it was still a sting that would never heal.
The burning itch inside of him was too much.  It was in his heart to only do well, and he refused to let this opportunity to add some good karma to his soul.  He crossed the depot and stood above the pegasus and his unicorn foal.  He put his hoof out to help the pegasus in getting up.  The two ponies looked up at him, and the first thing that he noticed were their matching eyes.  “Need help, my brother?” asked the generous Sporco.  
Shadowscare looked up at the dirty ruffed up pony in front of him.  He had just called him his brother.  It was hard to think about brothers at a time like this, but Shadowscare accepted the title.  He put his hoof out to get some help back up on his legs.  “Who was this mysterious stranger?  Should I trust him with my current partner in travel?”  Shadowscare had these thoughts as he rose from the ground.   
“Well?” questioned the dirtied earth pony.
“Yes, my friend.  I need to get away from this empire in order to find work.  There is no work here for me as a simple, regular pegasus.  I have traveled a great many miles in the freezing cold of the north.  My wings are tired and my legs ache.  I need to get on a train to the closest city with work.  I had hopes on Canterlot, but I do not have enough bits to ride.”
“Enough bits?  But the train rides are free.”  
Shadowscare was confused by this response.  It was obvious that this pony was insane.  Shadowscare was tempted to just walk away, but something in his gut told him to continue talking with this pony.  “What do you mean by free?” asked Shadowscare with a puzzled expression on his face.
“I mean that I ride free all the time.  I found this great cart in the back and inside are various packages.  I have never bought a ticket from this depot or any other depot in Equestria.  I am quiet and I cause no trouble.  I am like a ghost within the train.”
“Could you take in a lone, ambitious pegasus and his unicorn friend?”
“You mean to tell me that this is not your son?”
This question surprised Shadowscare also.  He had no relative connection to his foal, but he could see where somepony could see the resemblance.  Their eyes were almost like complete copies of each other.  Shadowscare wondered whether he should lie to this sketchy pony, but his will to help others in need touched Shadowscare.  “No, this is my adopted foal.”  Shadowscare looked down at his young unicorn who smiled back at him.  
Sporco saw the emotion that was emitted from the pegasus.  He knew that these two ponies had a connection that would make them go far.  He was a ferryman, and they were two travelers who needed a ride over to the other side of their river of problems.  The train whistled.  Sporco looked back at the train and then looked back at the two ponies.  He spoke quick and brief.  “I am more than happy to give you some room in my boxcar.  Now, quick!  Up on your hooves, my friends!”
Shadowscare picked up his foal and rushed behind Sporco to the boxcar.  Sporco grabbed the handle of the door and struggled to get it moving.  Eventually the door budged open, and it revealed a boxcar full of mail.  Packages of various sizes in light brown wooden crates filled much of the space.  “It seems they have stuffed my quarters with more mail,” stated Sporco.  “We will leave the door open.  I guess we can all sit on the edge of the boxcar.”
The train whistle blew again.  Steam burst from the engine and it started to move.  In a quick movement both Shadowscare and Sporco leaped on the train.  Still carrying the foal, Shadowscare sat down and put the unicorn in his lap to sleep.  The train gained speed.  Shadowscare sat on the edge of the train and just stared as the sun set on the horizon.  The Crystal Empire began to fade in the distance.  The last memory Shadowscare had of the Crystal Empire was the flash of green as the sun ducked out of view.  The flash reflected off of the castle.  He remained silent as a cool breeze rushed through his mane.  
Sporco looked at his passenger and decided to break the ice.  “I forgot to mention this earlier, but my name is Sporco Speranza.   I must ask, are you from Equestria?” 
“I am from one of the villages located in the northern mountains,” answered Shadowscare.   “Are you from here?”
“I am not actually.  I came here from a land much like Equestria.  A place called Prance.  At one time It was just as beautiful, just as grand, and just as happy.  And yet it just crumbled.”
“What happened to your home?” asked Shadowscare who had not often heard of foreign lands.  
“The royalty began to become greedy.  They did not provide for their people, and a revolution started.  It was horrid.  Before anyone knew it, a storm had arisen.   A sea of ponies united for a free kingdom.   They marched upon their capital and demanded that to be taken care of.  Chaos ran rampant in the kingdom.  I was ripped from my family because I believed that we needed our royals still.  I wanted them to become more understanding of the people, but I did not believe anyone needed to get hurt.  I was taken to a trial.  The judge was merciful, but he gave me a punishment nonetheless.  They exiled me from Prance, and so I came here.”
“How did you arrive in Equestria?”
“I walked in the desert in the South.  I found a train track and I followed it until I saw a train.  I hopped aboard unnoticed and found it stashed full of apples.  I was so hungry and thirsty that I decided to eat a few.  It was the most delicious taste.  The fruits were ripe, red, and juicy.  I had decided to stay with this boxcar as long as possible.  I did for a while, but then I found a better car with more room.  When the train arrived at each town and city, I would explore its wonders.  Then I would climb aboard a boxcar and ride it to the next town.  Over my days of riding the rails, I have seen sights that I will remember for an eternity.”
“Did you have any family in your homeland?”
“In Prance I had no wife or foals, but I had a brother.  My brother had a wife and many wonderful foals.  I was separated from them when I was exiled, and I have hoped that someday I will return to Prance and rescue my family.  I don’t even know what has happened in Prance since I left.  In this land the ponies do not discuss foreign issues often.  I asked a few ponies if they even knew what Prance was and they answered no.”
“It must be hard being here all alone,” said Shadowscare to his new friend.
“I have met many ponies here.  It is not at all as bad as being locked away for the rest of my life in an inescapable prison for my crimes of opinion.”
“What have you learned about Equestria?”  Shadowscare was curious to Sporco’s answer to this question.  Since he was from the North, he knew very little about the mainland.”
“There are many wonders in your land here.  One part of Equestria that I have wondered if I should visit someday is the Everfree Forest.  Many ponies fear the creatures that lie within.  I am interested to see what unique things call it home.  Another thing that I have learned is that the Buffalo tribes that live in the Southern part of Equestria are not amused with the recent expansion of ponies into their land.  They seek revenge and will derail trains in the south to show that they mean business.  Changelings are creatures that are most curious to me though.  They are love-sucking creatures that are full of holes.  They can take the form of anypony in their memory.  They are nothing but pests.  Not to mention spies to some.  I have heard of a few cases where some ponies have actually tamed Changelings into being spies.”
The unicorn foal was fast asleep in Shadowscare’s lap.  The moon had taken the place of the sun and darkness surrounded it.  
“Do you have a name for your foal?” asked Sporco who tried to change the subject.
“I have thought of a name for him, but I have often wondered if he will like his name.”
“By the looks of it, you have made him happy.  I am sure he will agree with any respectable name you present to him.”
Shadowscare leaned towards Sporco and whispered a name so softly into his ear.  Sporco responded by nodding.  “It is a good name, my friend.”
“I have one final question for you this night, Sporco.”
“Ask away,” responded the filthy earth pony.  
“How did your rulers get taken over?  Aren’t they invulnerable as alicorns?”
“Alicorns are different from simple ponies.  They are gifted with long life, magic, and flight.  They are strong and often brilliant, but they are not invulnerable.  They can be defeated and feel pain like any of us.  They can stay alive longer than most ponies, but they can still be taken by disease and wounds.”
“But what about our princesses?  They control the sun and the moon.  Therefore, aren’t they gods?”
“They are more powerful than just your average alicorn.  In fact I would consider them truly immortal.  However any other royals fall under the characteristics I have listed.”
“I am Shadowscare, by the way.  Thank you for helping me.”
“It was no problem for me,” replied Sporco.  “I must ask you a question also.  How did you come to possess that sword in your saddle?”
Shadowscare had almost forgotten about the supplies that he brought from the village.  “It was something that was passed onto me,” Shadowscare lied.  
“May I see it?”  Shadowscare passed him the blade.  Sporco gasped in awe as he scrutinized every detail of the blade.  “This blade is made of strong earth pony mined metal.  Each detail was done well by a unicorn with creative designs.   The Hilt has a beautiful purple gem that has been carved into the shape of a heart.  This is the Crystal Empire sort of equipment.  From what I learned when I was in the city, the royalty sold all the swords when they believed that an era of peace was upon them.  This here is a rare sword.  Keep it close.”
Shadowscare took the sword back.  He was surprised at the amazing find he had looted from the rubble of his burned village.  Shadowscare was happy to have a piece of history.   He vowed to protect it from that point on.  
The night continued on.  Sporco grabbed his guitar and played a sweet tune that spread across the land like an echo of hope.  He played his heart into each of his songs.  The train continued at a normal speed towards Canterlot.  The snow turned to grass and the air was warmer than before.  As they continued, the moon continued to fly across the sky.  And for a moment, it seemed as if everything was peaceful in the world.