Five members of the Mane six, plus a blue hedgehog, purple dragon, and large red stallion are gathered at the local train station, eagerly awaiting the train’s arrival and the eventual appearance of the last pony of the group.
"Leave it to Rarity to be fashionably late." Applejack spits as she peers down the train tracks. Twilight nervously glances at the large clock attached to the top of the station. "She's still got a few minutes before the train arrives, though I do wish she'd hurry up."
"OH-OH, I can go look for her!" Pinkie Pie bounces as she waves her forelegs around in enthusiasm.
"No can do, sugar cube. Then we'd have two ponies making us late." Applejack states, much to the party ponies dismay.
"She's probably just packing her things. You know how long that takes." Rainbow Dash says in a matter-of-factly tone.
"Yeah, but we’re only going to be there for a day. How much can one pony need?" Sonic asks as he turns to see Rarity trotting next to a large cart, with Sweetie Belle pulling it next to her. His hand slaps his face before slowly sliding down it. "Never mind."
"Oh my, is all that going to fit on the train?" Fluttershy asks as she turns to the blue hedgehog.
"I highly doubt it."
"Hello, everypony." Rarity chimes as she approaches the group. "Sorry for being so late, but it was absolutory nerve wracking to find what to bring with me.”
"So you brought half the shop!" Sweetie Belle snaps as she comes to a complete stop and attempt to shake free of the yolk around her neck.
"Here, let me help you with that." Sonic says as he walks towards the small filly.
"I got it!" Spike calls out as he darts past the hedgehog and tried to free the white unicorn from the carts shackles.
The blue hedgehog grins at this and then turns to Rarity. "You do realize this is only going to be a one day trip, right?"
"But of course, darling, though one can't expect a pony such as myself to choose just one outfit to attend in."
"What if I were to tell you that wouldn't fit on the train."
"What?"
"Oh, c’mon!" Sweetie Belle snaps just as she's freed from the cart’s harness.
"We're all allowed one bag," Sonic says, holding up his index finger to emphasize.
A large train suddenly arrives at the station. "Just one?" Rarity whines as she notices the train.
"We're about to leave, choose wisely."
"Speaking of which, Twilight. You never said where were going." Pinkie Pie says as she boards the train.
"Oh, didn't Sonic tell you? We're going to Canterlot." Twilight states as she follows the Pink earth pony onto the train.
"C-Canterlot...and I only get to bring one bag!?" Rarity shrieks before placing a hoof on her forehead and mocking a fainting motion.
"Come on, Rarity. If you don't make a choice now, you won't be able to bring anything," Fluttershy states as she hovers behind the white unicorn.
"Oh, very well," the white mare snaps as she uses her magic to remove a large trunk and place it on the ground. "There! One bag," she adds as she boards the train.
"Hey, what about me?" Sweetie Belle whines as she looks at the towering cart of Rarity’s luggage.
Sonic scans the area and taps the shoulder of the large red stallion standing on the boarding deck. "Hey big fella, would you mind giving her a hand-er hoof?"
"Nnnope."
"What do you have in mind?" Rainbow Dash asks as she flutters next to Sonic.
"I was gonna ask the big guy here to help Sweetie Belle with the cart."
"Of course Big Mac’ll help." Applejack nudges the red stallion next to her. "Right?"
"Eyyup."
"See? No problem."
"Really?" Sweetie Belle chimes as she bounces with glee. “Hooray!”
Sonic instructs the others to board the train while he and Applejack hitch the large stallion to the over-sized cart.
"That oughta do it," Applejack says as she pulls a leather strap tight with her mouth.
"He gonna be able to pull this thing?" Sonic inquires as he loops a loose strap around a nearby hook.
"Are you questioning mah abilities, Sonic?" the red stallion asks, giving the blue hedgehog a dirty look.
"N-no not at all. Wouldn’t dream of it," Sonic says hastily as he holds his hand up in defense.
"Good. Now, lead the way Sweetie Belle," the earth pony says as he starts to pull the cart from the station.
"It's this way," the white mare says as she leaps ahead of Big Mac. She then turns and waves at Sonic and Applejack. "Thanks again you two."
"T’wernt nothing."
"No prob."
Suddenly the train lets out a loud hiss as it starts to leave the station.
"What?"
Spike hangs out from one of the windows. "Hurry up you two, or this train is going to leave without you!"
Sonic and Applejack turn to each other and nod as they make a beeline for the train, both making it aboard a moment before it leaves the station.
------
Aboard a fully packed train, the Mane 6 plus one hedgehog and dragon gather in the last car of the train.
"…so that's why I needed you guys to come along," Twilight finishes as she lowers her head in shame.
Applejack places a hoof on the unicorn's shoulder. "It's going to be alright, sugar cube. Ah'm sure the princess will listen to reason, now that all of us’re coming along."
The lavender mare smiles. "You know, Sonic said the same thing. It was actually his idea for you girls to come along."
The other five ponies and dragon turn to the blue hedgehog, who is staring out a nearby window. "What?" he asks turning to six sets of eyes.
"That was simply ingenious, Sonic. You really have out done yourself," Rarity says, flicking a flock of hair from her eyes.
"Yeah Spiky, that was really smart!" Pinkie Pie adds.
Other ponies voice similar forms of agreement towards the blue hedgehog, who acknowledges them with a smile. "Hey, I’m just doing my part," he says, sliding off the seat and walking towards the back door.
"Where do you think you’re going?" Rainbow Dash inquires as she turns around in her seat.
"Out!" Sonic states as he turns the knob to the back door and gives it a hard kick, causing it to swing open and send a gust of air though the train car.
Twilight begin to inch towards the blue hedgehog. "But we’re going at almost 40 knots, that's-"
"-way too slow for me," Sonic interjects as he turns his back to the open door.
"Now be careful there, sugar hog," Applejack warns as she joins the lavender mare.
The blue hedgehog grins at the mares. "Trust me!" He says, falling backwards out the train, causing the trains occupants to let out a collective gasp.
"Quick, tell the conductor to stop the train! We might still be able to..." Twilight trails off as she notices everyone staring out a right window. "What is wrong with everypony? He might be hurt or-"
"Twi, you might want to take a look at this," Applejack cuts in as she motions towards the window.
"What, what is it?" the mare demands as she pushes her way past the other ponies, letting out a gasp as peers out the window.
Outside the train, a certain blue hedgehog runs alongside the last passenger car, smiling at the sight of all the onlookers. Twilight lets out an annoyed groan, opens a nearby window, and sticks her head out of it.
"You're crazy, you know that?" the mare snaps as she glares at the hedgehog, the wind flowing through her mane.
Sonic grins at Twilights remark. “Maybe so, but I'm the fun kind of crazy," he calls back, pulling ahead of the group. The other ponies give chase, following him to the next train car.
"Meep meep!” the hedgehog calls out as he jumps in the air, gives his feet a little shake, then pulls ahead again.
"'Meep meep'? What the hay does that mean?" Applejack asks, turning to the lavender unicorn.
Pinkie pie giggles with amusement as he rolls around on the train car floor. “Meep meep, HA!”
"Ah don't get it." Applejack states as she watches the pink mare roll across the floor.
------
The Mane 6, plus Spike, peer out the train car’s windows. "We're running out of train, dear," Rarity begins. "You can't keep this up."
Sonic lets out an amused chuckle as he leaps over a large rock. "Relax, I'm the fastest thing alive, this barely counts as a-" The hedgehog is cut off as a certain cyan mare almost leaps out at him.
"Yeah right, I'll believe it when I see it. No pony is as fast as me," Rainbow Dash brags as she flares out her wings.
The blue hedgehog grins. "Think you can run with the big dogs, Skittles?"
"For the last time, my name is R-a-i-n-b-o-w Dash! Not Skittles! And yeah, I think I can beat you."
"Well, what are you waiting for?" Sonic jeers as he pulls ahead.
The cyan mare lets out a loud snort and flings the door open to the adjoining train car.
"Rainbow, what are you doing?" Twilight demands as she chases after her.
"You know me. I never back down from a challenge," the mare replies as she leaps from the train.
"Be careful!" Twilight yells to her cyan friend.
The mare watches as the cyan speck disappears in the distance and lets out a long sigh before returning to the train car.
"What happened?" Spike asks.
"They went on ahead."
------
Across a desert plain, a blue streak zips by, leaving a cloud of dust in its wake as a matching rainbow one follows overhead.
"C'mon, Skittles. I thought you said you were the fastest thing in Equestria? I'm not even warmed up yet."
"Oh, I'm just getting started!" the pegasus boasts as she pulls on ahead.
"Finally, a challenge."
------
The remaining 5 ponies have returned to their seats and are now converting with one another, except for Twilight, who’s staring out a window.
"You ok there, sugar cube?" Applejack asks as she sits besides the lavender mare.
"Yeah, it's just...."
"Just what?"
"It's just that Sonic said he'd go with me to see the princess, and now, he just ran off with Rainbow Dash.”
"Oh, am I sensing a hint of jealously?" Rarity asks as she peers around from the seat in front of them.
"Knock it off, Rarity!" Applejack snaps.
"Come now, I meant no harm. I was just curious."
"And you know what they say: curiosity killed the cat."
Rarity frowns. "You know I hate that saying, plus it offensive to poor Fluttershy here." She motions towards the yellow pegasus, who snaps her head up and looks around in confusing.
"Oh my, were you talking to me? I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention."
"No, it's quite alright dear."
Applejack grins at the white unicorn, causing her to let out an annoyed sigh as she flicks a flock of hair away from her face.
"Now, as Ah was gonna say before SOMEPONY interrupted me, Ah'm sure he'll be there. He was just itchin’ to run, is all," Applejack says in a reassuring tone.
------
Rushing water flows down the middle of a large valley as blue hedgehog and cyan mare peer down at it from the edge.
"That's pretty far down." Sonic states as he tosses a rock into the water and watches it splash along the jagged rocks.
"You know if you admit defeat, I'll carry you across." Rainbow Dash says with a smug expression.
"I'm not done, yet." Sonic states as he holds his hand above his eyes and scans the area. "Ah ha!" Sonic exclaims, pointing at something in the distance. He runs up to it to find that it’s to a long, decaying rope bridge that runs across the canyon.
"You seriously going to trust that rickety old bridge?"
"Why not? It seems safe," he says placing a foot on the first plank, testing its strength. As it holds, he then proceeds to walk across it."See what’d I tell you, it's perfectly... safe..." The hedgehog trails off as one of the support ropes snaps, causing the rest of the bridge to give under his weight.
"SONIC!" Rainbow Dash yells as she dives for the falling hedgehog.
------
The train continues to cruise down the iron track, sending a rhythmic motion though its cars as it rolls over the hundreds of ties that lay under the track. Spike, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy sit at two adjoining seats, playing some sort of card game.
"Yahoo!" With Pinkie Pie obviously winning.
"So, you gonna just keep sitting there moping, or are you going to tell us what’s wrong?" Rarity demands as she peers at Twilight from behind her seat.
"Now, what did Ah just tell ya!" Applejack snaps.
"You asked me not to pry into what's going on with Twilights thoughts about Sonic, which I haven't. I'm merely asking why my friend hasn't said more than words since we passed Di-agone Valley."
Twilight lets out a long sigh as she turns towards the white unicorn. "If you really want to know, I'm just nervous on what the princess will say when I explain to her the reason why I haven't been sending her the usual weekly/bi-weekly reports. I feel like I let her down."
The white mare frowns at Twilight's statement. "Come now, Twilight. You're making this into a bigger deal than it probably is. I'm sure she'll just want to know who or what has been keeping you busy. Maybe she will even want to meet him."
"You think so?"
"Of course, dear. It's not like you've committed any sort of heinous act. You just didn't keep up with your reports."
Twilight smiles. “Thanks, Rarity."
"See, you are capable of a smile. It feels like so long since I've seen you have one."
------
Sonic lands on something hard, yet soft at the same time. A slight breeze continues to pass though his quills, making it obvious that he hadn't fallen very far and was actually still rather high up.
"Phew! Nice catch, Dash. You saved my tail back there."
"No problem, mister," an unknown female voice responds. "But I'm not Rainbow Dash."
The blue hedgehog's eyes snap open, revealing he is indeed not on the cyan mare's back. A long blond mane flows gracefully from the unknown mare's head and neck as a matching tail juts out from her rear. Sonic slides his hands slightly across the pony's gray coat as he glances as her cutie mark.
"Bubbles? I don't know anyone with bubbles on their rear. Who are you?"
"Derpy Hooves, at your service."
"Well Derpy, thanks for the assist."
"You should be thanking the Doctor, he's the one who said I should wait around here for something. I guess you were it."
"Wait a minute, does this 'Doctor' have a big blue box?"
The mare gasps. "How did you know?"
"What, seriously? That is so cool."
"Yeah, it’s bigger on the inside."
The two share a brief laugh at the joke, only to be cut off by a certain cyan mare.
"Now careful Derpy, you don't want to do anything rash and drop him."
The gray mare, makes herself go wall-eyed, and turns towards the mare. "I just don't know what went wrong," finishing as she blows a raspberry at the cyan pegasus.
Sonic attempts to hold back a snicker at the statement. "Oh c'mon, Sonic. Not you too."
"Sonic?" Derpy gasps. "I've heard of you. You're the one who’s been keeping an eye on Ponyville."
The hedgehog smirks. "I try."
Rainbow Dash rolls her eyes at the comment.
------
Landing on the other side of the valley, Sonic slides off the gray pegasi's back and gives her head a pat. "Thanks for the help, Derpy, and tell your Doctor friend, I owe him one."
The pegasus nods at the request and spreads her wings as she takes flight. "Can do, Sonic. I'll let him know when I meet up with him."
The blue hedgehog gives the mare a salute as she departs to locations unknown.
"You are such a flirt!" Rainbow Dash snaps as she glares at Sonic.
"What? I am not."
"Oh, you so are." She smiles. "C'mon, last one to Canterlot is a rotten egg!"
"Smell you later, miss rotten egg!" Sonic teases as he zips past the mare.
"Hey, wait up, no fair!"
------
The train lets out a loud hiss as it enters the station, coming to a complete stop as it makes one last lunge along the track. The doors of the various compartments swing open in unison, letting its occupants know that it's time to depart.
Pinkie Pie is the first of the group to leave the train. She grins at the sign of the capitol and then cartwheels down the loading platform, followed by Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, Spike, and finally Fluttershy, who meekly peers about from the train car’s doorway before exiting.
"Hoo-wee, now that was a long train ride," Applejack announces as she stretches her back.
"Indeed, it was absolutely dreadful. If our car wouldn't have had its own bathroom, I don't know what I would have done," Rarity adds as she gives her mane a flick.
"You mean if there wasn't more than one bathroom in that train, every other pony would be out of luck?" Applejack mocks as she walks past the white unicorn.
Rarity opens her mouth to retort, but is stopped as Fluttershy bumps into her.
"S-sorry."
"It's quite alright Fluttershy, no harm done."
"I wonder if those two made it here before us," Spikes muses as he walks towards the lavender unicorn.
Twilight scans the area, in an attempt to find the two deserters, finally spotting them sitting at a nearby table.
"C'mon girls, over here!" The mare says, motioning the others to follow.
------
Sonic and Rainbow Dash sit at a large wooden table across from each other, playing a game of cards. It would appear that Sonic has the upper hand, since there is a sizable stack of bits on his side of the table. Plus, he seems to be wearing the cyan mare's trademark shades.
"Oh, I think this hand will get me back on top," the mare boasts as she slides the rest of her small pile of bits into the center of table. "I'm all in."
The blue hedgehog grins at the pegasi's enthusiasm and repeats the action. "Me too."
"Aw, yeah. Come to momma!"
"What?"
"Never mind, just play your hand."
"You first." The hedgehog grins.
"Alright, you asked for it." Rainbow Dash slaps her cards on the table. "Three of a kind, read it and weep. I'll be taking my winnings now," she states as she leans over to claim the pot.
"Not so fast, your three of a kind may be a decent hand, but I..."
The mare gulps.
Sonic slams his cards on the table."...have a full house! Bam!"
Rainbow Dash winces and holds her hooves to her head. "That's impossible. I don't believe it."
"Believe it! The game is mine," Sonic states as he slides his winnings towards him and mocks an evil laugh, much to the cyan mare's dismay.
"I take it you two are having fun?” a certain lavender unicorn asks as she announces her presence."
The blue hedgehog turns towards the new arrival and lifts his new shades from his eyes. "Hey, Twilight, when did you get here?"
"Just now. What’s going on?"
"Oh, you're just in time, Dash here just lost her shirt."
"But I don't wear a shirt," the cyan mare states as she stares at the hedgehog.
"It's an expression."
"Oh."
Sonic slides his winning into a large red bag and tucks them behind his back. "You ready to go?"
Twilight nods. "Of course." She then turns towards the others. "Girls?"
The others nod in agreement, except for Rainbow Dash, who remains seated at the table. "C'mon Sonic, one last game. Double or nothing."
"But you don't have anything left to double."
"Ok, how about this? If I win you give me back what I lost."
"...And if I win?" Sonic adds.
"You get one unconditional favor. Anything you want, I'll do. No questions asked."
The blue hedgehog ponders this for a moment. "Alright, one more."
"Yes!" Rainbow Dash shouts as she thrusts her hoof in the air. "You're going down."
"Well see about that."
Twilight attempts to interject, but stops as Sonic gives her a quick wink just before flipping down the black shades and shuffling the cards.
"Let’s do this," the cyan mare demands as she slams her hooves on the table.
"Are you that eager to lose, Dash?" Sonic mocks as he looks over the sunglasses.
"Just deal the cards."
"Alrighty then," the hedgehog begins as he starts laying out cards back and forth between the mare and himself. "Duce’s wild, and since I'm dealing, you go first."
"I know how to play the game," Rainbow Dash snaps as she slides her cards from the table and glances over them. "Buck! Uh, I mean, yes!"
Sonic raises an eyebrow at the mare's actions and looks over his own hand dealt; a small straight stands before him.
"How many, Dash?" Sonic asks, looking up from his hand.
The nervous mare's head snaps up at the question. "Uh, three...I mean two." She says laying down two cards in the middle of the table.
Sonic takes two cards the top of the deck and slides them towards the pegasus, who starts to grin as she looks at her new hand, abruptly adapting a sour expression as the hedgehog glances in her direction.
"And I'll take one," the hedgehog adds, discarding a card on top of Dash's two and taking one from the top of the desk.
"What do you got?" Rainbow Dash asks, no longer trying to hide her expression.
"You first."
"Alright." The mare slaps her cards on the table. "Three of a kind, aw yeah."
Sonic lets out a sigh as he shrugs. "Well, I got nothing," he says, placing his cards face down on the table. "Looks like you win," the hedgehog adds, placing the small red bag on top of the table.
"Yes!" The cyan pegasus cheers as she reclaims her winnings.
"But, I'm keeping the shades." Sonic states flipping up the sunglasses and flashing Rainbow Dash his trademark smile, causing her to blush slightly.
"Fine, sure, whatever." The mare nonchalantly waves as she turns away and claims her winning from the table.
Sonic smirks at the pony's actions, turns, and walks towards Twilight and the rest of the group. "Ok, now I'm ready."
"Only after losing are you ready to leave," Rainbow Dash boasts as she flies on ahead with most of the group following, leaving Sonic and Twilight behind.
"You lost on purpose, didn't you?" the lavender unicorn asks, giving the hedgehog a small smile.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
Next chapter preview:
Shinning Armor: "Twiley!"
Cadance: "Twilight! I am very disappointed in you."
Twilight: "Y-you are?"
Sonic: "Hey, she hugged me. I have no control over that."