//------------------------------//
// II: Train Ride 
// Story: The Alternate After Party 
// by Blackdrag-rose 
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	It wasn't hard to follow Sunset Shimmer into an alleyway, but Rocket decided to keep his distance in case she turned around and noticed he was following her. Of course even if she did turn around she would likely notice the strange tan coated stallion with face markings instead of him. There was something wrong about the stallion, it wasn't in the way he moved or the way his head seemed to go up and down so much. He knew there was something about the that he couldn't place his hoof on.

Sunset stopped, her head looking around as if she was searching for something that was around her area in the alleyway. Rocket hid behind a trash container, an empty container with nothing in it, but as he looked at the stallion he found that he wasn't even bothering on hiding anywhere. Rocket still thought that he recognized the stallion, but with the markings and the way he moved he couldn't be absolutely sure.

"Yes, I know he's here in Canterlot somewhere," Sunset suddenly spoke up, speaking to something in the shadows before her, "I don't know why your obsessed with that stallion, but he should be here. You said a UNICORN stallion, not a pegasus. Faust almighty, everywhere I go I end up making deals with idiots and morons. If you wanted me to search for a pegasus, couldn't I have just gone to Ponyville and snatched a foal while they were playing?"

"Stop right there, Windigo," the stallion spoke up, drawing what looked like an iron spear tip as Sunset turned around to face him, "Your master make trade for crystal. That why he tell you seek flying pony. You shall know the pain of those you have scorned as I pierce your skull."

That was a little extreme. So Rocket, finding a shovel laying next to him, grabbed it with his teeth and swung it at the crazy stallion. To his surprise his attack actually hit the back of the stallion's head and knocked him out, leaving both Sunset and himself shocked.

"I guess some thanks are in order," Sunset said, walking over to the stallion as she eyed the fallen one, "so, um, thanks for saving me from a deranged stallion. Could have done it myself, but the thought is appreciated."

"Don't mention it," Rocket replied, having dropped the shovel after hitting the stallion, "What was all that about earlier?"

"Oh, that," Sunset sighed before looking him in the eyes, "Practicing for a play. I'm going to get into drama as soon as I can. The names Sunset Shimmer. And you are?"

"Rocket Sky," Rocket replied, not bothering to tell the mare he had already known her name, "I had better get going. My friends and I are heading to Ponyville and they're at the train station waiting for me. I'll see you around Sunset."

As Rocket walked away he wondered if that was the right thing, making nice to a villain that was likely plotting the fall of Princess Celestia. But Sunset had been befriended by Twilight and her friends at one time, so he didn't know why he was considering his own actions. Besides, that stallion was crazy and he had no doubt that Sunset would have been able to handle herself if he hadn't stepped in. He knew this was going to bite him in the flank sooner or later, that he was sure of.

"You know, he IS a pegasus," Sunset said, though while it seemed to be to herself it was actually to the shadows still, "I could like a straight answer this time. You want to know what he looks like? He's a dark blue coated pegasus with a light blue mane and tail. His cutie mark is a quill. Fine, I'll watch over him and his friends."

Rocket sighed as he waited at the train station, he was hearing news of a Pinkie Pie ability wielding stallion, a mare who seemed out of place in the world, and another stallion who had a thing for playing a guitar around those who were busy. Somehow his friends had acquired tickets, which wasn't terribly unexplainable considering Wisdom's abilities, and had seen fit to exclude him. Now he needed to figure out how he was going to gather five bits so he could buy a ticket to Ponyville, but considering he had nothing it wasn't surprising it would take some time.

He watched the ponies come and go, identifying those he recognized and trying to make heads and tails of those he had never seen before. His mind was racing as he tried to formulate a way to gain some bits, besides flying and exhausting himself when he didn't know how long he could maintain flight. The way he saw things he would be stuck in Canterlot until the next train arrived, which was in another hour unfortunately, and he seriously needed some bits before it arrived.

"I take it you require some help?"

Rocket turned around and was surprised to see that Sunset Shimmer was standing behind him, though she actually seemed concerned that he had missed the train. The former villain was kind hearted and it was actually nice to see a villain be that way. Not unlike Chrysalis and Sombra, they weren't very friendly, and Discord...he was a complete jerk.

"Yeah, I do," he said, turning to the mare, "I don't suppose you could help me?"

"Well, my audition can be postponed until later," Sunset smiled, chuckling as she nodded to the ticketmaster, "There's a second train that can be used for emergencies, as is a second train track that connects to the main one. We're a few minutes behind the other train, so we'll be fast and get with them before they reach town."

Rocket was beyond even considering turning the mare down, she was going to help a complete stranger all because he had missed a train. And she was going to get him on the other train before it reached Ponyville. He could leave the crazy stallion behind and get on with the punishment Discord had left him. Within minutes the second train was beginning to leave the station, allowing Rocket to smile as he sat in his chair.

~The alleyway~

The crazy stallion who had followed Sunset Shimmer groaned as he stood up, the spear shard tumbling into the ground as he opened his eyes. The thing that neither his prey or the foolish stallion had noticed was that he was a unicorn, a user of the arcane arts. He gripped the spear shard and recalled the stallion, the dark blue fool who had stopped his mission. The train would be the next destination for anypony.

~The Train~

There was a rumbling as something hit the top of the train, but there couldn't have been anything that could have done that. They were away from the mountain side and Canterlot was a good couple of minutes behind them. Unless they had another pegasus hitching a ride Rocket wondered what was happening. Apparently Sunset stared up at the ceiling and was wondering what was happening as well, but she intended to find out.

"It could be that stalker that was following you," Rocket commented, a slight frown appearing on Sunset's face before she remembered the stallion, "Yeah, the hunter or whatever he called himself."

"Show yourself Windigo," came the same voice as before, "Show yourself before train go kaboom."

"He's bluffing," Sunset chuckled, waiting for the crazy stallion to show himself, "There's no explosives in Canterlot, and even if there were I doubt Celestia would let them be stolen."

That was until the very last car of the train exploded in a fury of fire and wood. The stallion had somehow created an explosive and was tearing the train apart.

"We need to get off this train," Rocket said, which was easy for him since he was a pegasus, "before that crazy stallion blows it up."

"He'll blow it up anyway," Sunset remarked, increasing the trains speed as she noticed they were nearing the first train, "but I will drop this train off the edge before we reach the tracks. It won't kill the stallion, but I do hope it makes him regret following me around. And Rocket, if I miss my mark will you be sure to grab me?"

"I will try," Rocket said, standing by the door as the train approached the other one, "I haven't used my wings much lately, but I will not let a friend fall."

Sunset chuckled as the next train caught fire, the crazy stallion appearing from the flames with the spear shard in a magical grip. Both of them should have known that the stallion was a unicorn, it made some sense and yet they had missed the obvious fact.

"There you are, Windigo," the stallion said, fire racing into the last car, "You make bad trade with Chaos Spirit. Trade involving cursed silver artifacts. You shall pay."

"I don't think so loser," Sunset challenged, running through the opening and jumping onto the other train, "Come on Rocket, jump before the train derails."

"Foolish blue horse," the crazy stallion said, "You don't know what forces you are messing with."

"About that," Rocket grinned, spreading his wings as he stood up beside the door, "You ain't besting me today."

Before the stallion could respond Rocket threw himself out the door and caught the wind, his wings moving his body well away from the train. He landed right beside Sunset and spared himself one look at the train as it fell into a huge river, with the stallion still on board it. Rocket doubted that he'd be seeing the stallion again anytime soon. Besides, the two of them climbed into the train and took a seat near the back, avoiding any glances from the other ponies in the train.

"I hope Princess Celestia doesn't mind that the train won't be returning anytime soon," Sunset said, shaking her mane as she focused on the other passengers.

"We'll find out eventually," Rocket replied, remembering what was coming next, "but my excitement will be ending here soon. It's been an absolute pleasure Sunset Shimmer."

The next bit, the questioning that could come to his friends and himself. And this time Wisdom would spill the beans and reveal their secret to the Princess and her friends. Rocket sighed, things were actually worse than when they had awoken the first time.