Chapter Four
The Seventy Volunteers Royal Guard. (70th VRG)
The train pull in station right on time. Luna knew that the royal guard would be on that train, but she did not understand why the Wonder Bots, or some other Pegasus unit had not show-up earlier. Not that is mattered.
Luna had order (well asked) that Transparent Pie stay at the bakery to take care of Star Dancer and Skin Wings. Also, Luna need some time to review all the events that had happen over the past few days.
Princess Luna had completed all the missions that she had been sent on. That was good. So, she was going to report to the commander officer and explain what had happen. Then, with her wounded ponies bat guards she would board the train, and return to Canterlot.
However as a flat car pull up to the loading platform. Princess Luna was suppressed to see a colonel of the volunteer army jump off the train. Upon see Princess Luna, the colonel ran up to her and bow. “Your Highness, I am colonel Arrow with the 70th Equestria Volunteer Royal Guard.”
Colonel Arrow was a tail thin Pegasus pony with a deep blue coat and no main, however his tail was red in color. His wings were also red, something unique in Pegasus ponies. Luna said. “Rise Colonel and bring me news. Is something wrong in the land?”
An army mules called out, as she got off the train. “You mean why did your sister only send us, and not regular solders?” She was a middle age molly.
Mules. The most loyal minority of Equestria. Hard working like Earth ponies, but with short tempers and out spoken opinions. There was a strange freedom in mules because that did not have cutie marks.
“Be polite, Sergeant Major.” Said a young John mule captain. However an older John mule shouted at the young captain. “You do not talk to your mother like that, youngster.”
“Dad!” Cry back the young mule captain.
In the meantime a young unicorn pony started unload the flatbed train car. Only to be told by an older Earth pony, who also was a sergeant major, to stop and line up first. “Things in order, Fishy, things in order.” said the Earth pony sergeant major.
Princess Luna simple could not hold back the hove face plant. These were ponies that were ether to young or to old to be in the rank and file of the Royal Guard. Along with naturalized citizens like zebras and camels. Why did Celestia send them? Not that it mattered, Luna reminder herself, all I need them to do is bring Skin Wings and Star Dancer to the train and head back home.
“Would you like to inspect the troops?” Asked colonel Arrow. Princess Luna nodded and started looking over the line of ponies, mules, and one camel.
As Princess Luna looked over the small group, finding them very well disciplined, she once more asked. “Why did my sister send you and not the regulars guard, colonel?”
Colonel Arrow reported. “Well, Seem the free flying Dragons and the Griffons are in a air space dispute, and Cloudsdale is sort of in the middle of the front lines.”
Princess Luna turned to colonel Arrow. “What? You mean that the Pegasi have gone off to protect Cloudsdale? Where is my sister?”
Colonel Arrow said. “Princess Celestia is with her forces in Cloudsdale. She is trying to head off a war before it starts.”
Princess Luna had to let the news sink in. At last Luna said. “Alright, Princess Cadance and Shining Armor are in control of Canterlot?”
Shaking his head, Colonel Arrow said. “There are wild fires in Meighagra Fall forest. All Earth Ponies have been move to fight the fire.”
“Why?” Asked Princess Luna, forgetting all about the inspection of the troops.
“Queen Chrysalis may have set the fires to draw out the guard ponies. With a dispute in Clooudsdale skies, she knows that she can weaken the Royal Guard by over exceeding our forces. Earth ponies are still the majority of the guard.”
Princess Luna nodded her head. “And, all the unicorn ponies would be needed to protect the capital and Princess Twilight Sparkle.”
Colonel then added. “Whom we will be picking up in Ponyville once we have you on board the train.”
Princess Luna eye went wide. “You are telling me that Prince Blueblood is running the government?” This day just got better and better. “And, the only princess quailed to rule is still in Ponyville?”
Sweating with worry, colonel Arrow reply. “Our orders were to find out why you did not raise the moon two nights ago. All the other orders happen as we were under way.”
Luna looked over the 70th VRG and saw no dragon with them, but that did not matter at the moment. She started handing out order. “Colonel, we need two medical starches. My guards were attacked and wounded in battle. Our first priority is to see to there needs. Your mission is to retrieve them and return to the train, for our return to the capital. I will show you where my guard are bedding.”
Colonel Arrow turn to the group. “All right! You hear the Princess. Sergeant Ned, you take point. Sergeant major Big Guy, make room on one of the cars for the wounded. March!”
The Sergeant major call out. “Skyline! Cuz! Help me clean up this mess. Fishy! You go with Ned and lesson to what he tells you.”
The camel also started talking. “Wild Hair, Fishy, Buck-E. We are going to need your magic to move the starches..”
***
Sergeant Ned the camel walk very slowly down the street of Appleloosa. His long legs over taking the trotting unicorn ponies with grate ease.
Princess Luna asked. “You are the 70th VRG doctor?”
Ned smiled with his head held high. “Sure am, been at it for going on 30 years now.”
Luna then looked over to the very young unicorn. “Your name is Fishy? Is that right?” The unicorn blushed and nodded his head.
Ned said. “Youngster. When a princess says something to you. You speak, you do not just bob your head about like there nothing inside.”
Fishy then said. “Yes mama. My name is fishy. I know all about fish and I can swim real good too. I even talk to sea horse one time. Mama.”
Luna smile, she was beginning to like this strange group of solders. “Open question, and feel free to just talk to me as a pony and not a princess. What make each of you join the volunteer guard?”
Ned lead the replies. “Oh, for me it was a way to get through medical school. This I fell in love with the guard and stay on to long. Now I am just to old to know better.”
Fishy was next. “I want to be in the real guards some day. I just have to get my cutie mark first. I hope it is a sword mark.”
The next unicorn to speak was named Wild Hair. “Females dig a buck in uniform. How about you Buck-E?” “You know I am in this for the adventure, Wild Hair.” Said Buck-E in a very fake deep voice. Luna thought that he was also to young to be in the regular guard.
The group was in sight of the bakery, when they saw that it was surrounded by buffalo tribe braves. At once Luna flew over to the chief, with the unicorns and Ned left behind.
“Chief! What happen?” Asked Luna. Thunderhooves said. “We hear you were going to the train station and wish to say good-bye to a new friend. As we walk pass the sheriff office, I see thought the open door, that sheriff Sliver Star laying on the floor. When we go in to help, crazy red pony fight us. She was trying to open broom closet. The crazy red pony run to bakery. She shouts to big yellow pony and they both run away.”
“Where is Transparent Pie?” Asked Luna. “Star Dancer! Skin Wings!”
“I am okay.” Said, Transparent Pie. “When I saw that Daff had gotten out of jail and coming down the street. I lock the door and got out my rolling pin. Star Dancer and Skin Wings are safe.”
Luna looked around. “Sergeant Ned! Check on the sheriff! Transparent Pie, find the doctor and tell him what is happing. 70th unicorns, you will find the wounded up stairs. Load them and take them to the train station. I am going to fly back and tell colonel Arrow what is happing. Thank you Chief Thunderhooves, I wish I had time to thank you for what you have done.” With that Princess Luna took to the sky.
Once in the air, Princess Luna, saw the train pulling away form the station, and going backwards. She landed near colonel Arrow, and asked. “Colonel? What going on?” However colonel Arrow only said. “I sent mule captain Sunny and sergeant major Big Guy to find out.”
With in a few seconds, the mule captain and sergeant major pony return. The mule said. “A conductor told us that a yellow buck and red mare jump on to the engine and took over. I do not think they know how to drive.”
“What to know? The train is on a track.” Said Luna.
The sergeant major replied. “That may be true, you highness, but if do not know the track or how to handle the train. Well, you could derail or blow up the engine. And, if that happen, say in Ponyville, then your looking at killing lots of ponies.”
Then the mule captain added. “Also there were passengers on board some of the cars. At the speeds thou two were going. A lot of ponies are already in danger. Then there the fact that we do not know if the tracks are clear of not. That train took off going the wrong way.”
By now the 70th VRG and Transparent Pie had show up with Star Dancer and Skin Wings.
Princess Luna said. “We have to get a message out to Ponyville. Maybe they can clear the track and evacuate ponies around the area.”
Colonel Arrow looked to Ned. “Sorry, but she is right.” Ned looked sick. “I has to be done.”
Buck-E pulled out a paper and pencil form his haversack. Then wrote a note and then held it up to Ned. Looking hard at the note, Ned then ate the note and belched, saying “Your message has been sent.”
Luna stood there with her own mouth open in shock. The Sergeant Major explained. “We do not have a dragon.”
The voice of one of the army mules came form the back of the train station. “Look! We found a pump car!”
Soon the pump car and a small maintenance flat car were rolling after the runaway train. The Earth ponies, mules and Transparent Pie were pumping the seesaw like beam in the center of the pump car. As unicorn ponies use there magic to make the load as light as they could. Ned took care of Star Dancer and Skin Wings who were lay down in the center of the small flat car. Colonel Arrow, Sky line, and Cuz flew with Princess Luna just ahead of them.
As they went along, the Luna spotted some pony by the side of the tracks. She pointed to him and Colonel Arrow nodded. Giving hove orders, Sky line dove down.
Sky line did not like what he found. It was the engineer. After picking up the engineer and placing on the flat car, Sky line, return to Luna and Arrow and reported.
“Your Highness. Colonel. The two fugitives just dumped the engineer off the train. The engineer said that he would not make the train go faster, so they pushed him off. He said that that the train is near exploding form over stoking. At the speed they are going, if they do not jump the tracks, the train will blow up in the town center of Ponyville. Ned spat up some news for us. Ponyville got our message and has clear the track ahead. They are also clearing out the town. But, Seem that there is a massage for you Priness Luna. Your sisters is heading for Ponyville also. Seem she was able to bring peace between the dragons and griffons. So, she wanted to see you and talk about what been happening.”
Princess Luna shouted. “IT IS OFFICIAL! THIS DAY CAN NOT GET WORSE!” Not only did princess Luna have to save a train with ponies trapped inside, and Ponyville. But, now she had to save Celestia also.
Sky line then asked. “Colonel, is this a bad time to tell you that along with our own ordnance, the train had a load of dynamite.”
“WHAT?!” screamed Luna. Somehow it could get worse.
***