//------------------------------//
// Chapter 7 
// Story: Equestrian Railways 
// by shadowspark101 
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Chapter 7
After getting chucked out of Blueprint’s office, John stood by the workshop doors, trying to process what had happened in the office. After roughly five minutes of staring at some bushes, his brain sparked to life and he remembered the folder of patents that he was holding in his hands. NOW I remember! Benn and I need to fill out these patents then take them down to the patent office in Canterlot. He thought. He then looked at the folder, which was filled to nearly ripping with patents. He sighed, as he headed towards the apartment complex that he and Benn shared.
Benn was looking at some papers that had shown up in the mail for them. Most were just some questions from the press about scheduling interviews and having a look behind the scenes at the workshops to see what the BNFR was working on. He had managed to keep the paparazzi and reporters at bay for so long, but he knew that it wouldn’t be long before they came knocking with more than just polite words. He was just looking through the last paper, when John walked in. “Benn, have you ever signed and filled out patents?” He asked, still holding the patent folder in his hands.
Benn glanced over at his American friend. “No John,” He said. “Why do you ask about patents?”
John put down the folder, and explained what had happened. “And so Blueprint thinks in order to stop the EQN from planting bugs in the BNFR’s workforce so they can copy all of these designs and work practices, we need to patent what we’ve already done so they cannot copy it without having lawyers rain hell down on them.” He finished as he opened the folder and grabbed a pen.
Benn glanced down at the sheer number of papers. “Okay…” He said, trailing off. “Who in their right mind keeps a folder filled with just patents? That makes no sense, even in work practices,” He then looked at John. “And you know that this will take the better part of an afternoon, right?”
John nodded. “Yeah,” He said, cracking his knuckles. “Let’s get cracking.”
Finally, after a grueling five hours of patent signing, signature writing, design explaining, and technical drawing. The two boys had finished. “Aahhhh…..” John moaned as he lay on the ground with his left hand in a bucket of ice. “It’s over…. Finally!” He sighed in relief as the ice began to cool down his fingers and hand.
Benn was on the couch, his fingers in a glass of ice. “You’re preaching to the choir John, I’m glad it’s over. But now one more question, who is going to take this down to the patent office?” He glanced over to John, as if giving him the answer to the question.
John nodded, but didn’t move from his spot on the ground. “Yeah Yeah, I’ll get it. But I think Blueprint said something about the patent office in Baltimare is closed at 6, but the one in Canterlot is open 24/7. At least, that’s what she told me,” He said, before managing to grab the folder that had the patents in it, and putting them in his backpack. “Don’t wait up Benn, I’ll probably get back late anyway.” He headed towards the door and as he left to the station to catch the train he then thought of something.
Wait. How am supposed to get these to the patent office in Canterlot without causing a panic and blowing my cover to the EQN’s board of directors. I mean, if anyone sees me, then I won’t be able to just leave Canterlot quietly without a crowd of reporters following me like baby ducklings. Not every day that a new species just waltzes into the nation’s capital. He thought as he entered the station and bought a ticket. He stood waiting on the corner of the platform, away from the crowds, which were already thin. He couldn’t help but get the feeling that someone was watching him, as he stood in platform three. He looked, but couldn’t see anything safe for the late night commuters, and the station staff. He sighed and looked down the line, to see one of the Poniston’s pull into the station.
As opposed to what it looked like before John and Benn arrived, the engine looked much cleaner. With sharp Holly Green paint with red and white lining, and the letter’s ‘BNFR’ on the sides of the cab, above the engine’s number. It also had a new whistle, which was really only a copy of the B17’s Gresley whistle. John just grinned as the engine stood at the station platform with its rake of 6 coaches. He entered the train and sat in the back of the last coach, as to try and draw little attention to himself as he could. He didn’t notice a mint green unicorn looking at him from across the coach.
So, with a blast of the whistle and a whoosh of steam, the train set off into the Equestrian darkness. Next stop, Canterlot.