//------------------------------//
// Chapter 7: Stranded 
// Story: Equestria Divided: Faceless Legion 
// by ArthurGabriel 
//------------------------------//

	Arthur quietly enjoyed the train ride to Fillydelphia, admiring his photo's before they were shipped out. It was too dangerous to travel on foot, especially with reports of Laughing dead trotting about the open. Even worse, word reached the house that Stormwing were continuing their push into earthborn territory. They were told that they were trying to attack Fillydelphia and were gonna try and keep that position. It was the perfect position between two houses without having to send troops in. Plus, Earthborn wanted to try using the train to advance troops across the heartland and frontier. 

Trying to take the diamond dog tunnels may have been the safer option, however the activity was a bit hazy in terms of whether or not the diamond dog activity was true, or they were just false rumors spread to keep any pony out of the tunnels. Whatever the case, Applejack enjoyed the train rides before her friends separated. If any pony could utilize the train and its tracks to their full potential, it would be her. Tin returned with their meal and just as Arthur started eating, "I've gotten word that there's been Laughing Mare activity around the Filly area." 

"So?" Arthur said as he took a bite from a ration, "they've always been trying to get inside Filly's walls. Those walls are as thick as mountains, at least from what I've heard. Its the next heavily fortified city next to Appleloosa." 

"Here's the real kicker Artie. From my superiors, I've been told that the laughing mare has a new unit...one that was involved in your villages raid." 

Arthur quickly gobbled down the ration and his full attention. "Ya know how you told me you heard that weird carnival music? Well, the sound you heard was from the Macabre Music Machine. Your lucky you didn't go mad from it. Anyways, our Pegsai Auxiliary has been telling us reports that large masses of dead corpses have been gathering around Filly...they believe, the Mare is using the dead corpses as some form of, battling ram, or something. The Pegasus scout tells us there is a rather foul smell..." Arthur was, rather puzzled by his story. 

"But Tin..." Arthur paused for a moment to word his statement, "how, how do the Pegasai know that its the mass of corpses there smelling instead of like, smelling some sort of swamp pocket?" "Here's the funny thing Artie." He pulled out a small folder and showed him different reports, one particular. "This report right here, is a personal account. He was actually able to get close enough to see this massive pile of corpses."

Arthur looked, a bit skeptical. "Something wrong?" Tin asked.

"Yeah...don't you think if somepony got close enough as the report says, don't you think he would've been able to tell what support is there to better further our aide?" Tin was, rather surprised by this notion. "Ya know...good point. That sounds like you have a bit of Earthborn in ya." 

"Well, what can I say, when you have something worth protecting," Arthur pulled a photo of them having their faces painted, "your true colors show." 

"Well..." Tin continued after he took a bite of his ration, "your right though. However, there is this other report listing what support he's seen come in and out of that area. We have a feeling, at least my superiors, say that more machines are going in rather than coming out...all that's come out are those Macabre-" the machine jerked and came to a sudden halt. "Sergeant Tin and Lights! Your needed up front!" They gathered their reports and made their way up front.

They reached the cabin and the conductor named Sparky said, "some ponies destroyed the tracks, the train can't go any further and we just sent a Pegasus to Filly to see if we can get any help." Arthur pulled a spyglass out and Tin said, "well, how far is the Filly from here Spark?" 

"Well..." he looked out and squinted a bit, "about half a days journey." "Well Artie...see anything?" Tin asked as Arthur looked through the other side, "I don't see anything. I say we send a few pegasai down the tracks and see how far the Filly is from here-"

Tin interrupted, "we don't have time for that. I say we just pack up and roll out, we'll have better-" "Tin! I don' t know if you've noticed, but the fog is starting to pick up. So either we stay in the car and hope that messenger returns, or we go out and risk ever ponies lives! I don't know if you know this, but did I mention that the raid several days ago started out like this, a fog rolled in, then the laughing dead came in-" 

"Okay okay okay!" Tin gathered his nerves and tried to remain calm, "I get it Artie...I'll tell the guys to, buckle down and get loaded, it may be awhile."