//------------------------------// // Deported // Story: Lonesome Whistle // by Vauclains Understudy //------------------------------// Celestia sat on her pillow holding her head in her hooves. She had just gotten Twilight’s letter about the incident with Ironside, and knew that she had no choice but to fire him from his job. Twilight was obviously very upset, as told by the strong wording in her letter. She had even written the suggestion of downright deporting him from the town. There wasn’t any sympathy left in Twilight’s heart for the Pegasus, which wouldn’t have surprised him in the least. Luna took it much worse than her sister. She had spent the past twenty minutes sobbing into her pillow, unable to believe that her friend could do such a thing. Despite Twilight attempting to console the brokenhearted princess, Celestia’s student knew there was nothing she could do to soften the blow. The incident was hitting everypony hard. The rest of the Mane 6 were in agreement with Twilight in having Ironside resign from his post. They were more reluctant to forcing him out of Ponyville, but they knew it was going to happen anyway. Like Luna and Celestia, they found it hard to believe that Ironside could do such a thing to Gallow. The fact that he was drunk at the time didn’t make matters any better. Twilight was also upset about that factor; Ironside had been hiding his drinking problem from them all this time. He should have known it would lead to trouble in the future. Rainbow Dash relayed the news to Blitz and Sunshine, which also took them by surprise. Blitz, to say the least, was horribly disappointed in his friend, and Sunshine equally so. Blitz thought for a long while about totally excommunicating Ironside. He just felt so ashamed that he was even acquainted with the iron-winger. Sunshine wasn’t as enraged. She felt that cutting Ironside off completely might come back to bite her father in the flank someday. It took a while for Celestia to write down the letter demanding Ironside’s resignation from chief engineer of the railway. It was hard forcing her best engine driver to give up his job, but she knew that what he had done was unforgivable, and he had to suffer the consequences. With the last few sentences scribbled onto the paper, she signed it and sent it to Spike, who was with Ironside in the roundhouse at the present time. Spike belched up the letter and skimmed it over before handing to Iron. The Pegasus read the letter in full before handing it back to Spike. “That’s it, then,” he stated, “I’m gone.” “Gone?” asked Spike. “I know when I’m no longer wanted, Spike,” Iron replied. “You’re leaving town?” “Yeah, I’ve lost my job. There’s no point in me sticking around, especially after what I did to Gallow.” Spike winced a bit upon being reminded of what happened the evening before at the mortuary. “I don’t think any of the girls will forgive me, even if I do apologize,” said Ironside. “You should apologize anyway,” Spike responded, “At least it would tell them that you regret doing it.” Ironside shook his head in denial. “It wouldn’t make a difference. Apology or no, they won’t forgive me. I just know it.” Spike sighed in resignation. He could argue back and forth all day with Ironside about whether or not the Mane 6, Gallow, and the Princesses would forgive him; the Pegasus was wholly convinced it wasn’t going to happen. “Do you want me to step out for a minute or two so I’m not in the way while you pack your things?” “Sure,” Iron replied. Spike stepped outside and stared back into the stalls. Ironside had disappeared behind Mike’s tender, grabbing whatever he could bring with him on the train back to Las Pegasus. All he ended up taking was his flask with the engine road numbers and cutie marks on each side. Spike was surprised that it took Ironside 15 minutes to recover the only thing he’d be bringing back with him. “That’s all you’re taking with you?” the dragon asked. “It’s all I need,” Iron replied. “Why a schnapps flask?” asked Spike, “Won’t that just be a reminder of what happened here?” “It’s all I have to remember of this place,” was the answer, “I won’t be coming back ever.” “Ever? Come on, Ironside, don’t you think you’re taking this too hard?” asked Spike. “I don’t think you understand the gravity of the situation at hand here,” replied Iron, “I just beat a little filly senseless; a little filly whose life I once saved. She always looked up to me, and this is how I thanked her for it. She deserves better than me. They all deserve better than me. They’re right to hate me.” Ironside’s words hit Spike like a runaway train. He couldn’t believe Iron said that the girls hated him. As much as he wanted to convince the engineer otherwise, the little dragon couldn’t think of a counter-argument. “I really wish I could convince you that you’re wrong, Iron,” Spike said finally. “You can’t,” the engineer responded, “Twilight told me to leave and not come back, so that’s what I’ll do.” Ironside stepped back into the roundhouse one last time to say goodbye to his engines. None of them had been fired up since two days before, and all three were asleep now. The engineer sat back in each one of the engines’ cabs for a few minutes, remembering all the times he spent with each one of them, and how those times would never come again. Tears came to his eyes as he grasped the finality of the situation. It was almost as if he was dying. Not wanting Spike to see him in such an emotional state, he wiped the tears from his eyes and stepped out of the roundhouse. Spike hopped onto his back. “Can I ride you to the station?” “Eh, sure, why not?” Ironside trotted across the railyard towards the depot, being careful not to trip on the rails in case a train came by. Once on the platform, he walked over to the ticket office and purchased a one-way ticket to the end of the line. Spike felt sadder the more he watched Iron prepare for departure. He was sure the girls would eventually forgive him; they couldn’t stay mad at him forever. But there was nothing stopping the engineer from going through with his plan. The sound of a familiar chime whistle broke through the clamor of ponies on the platform as the train rolled in, pulled by none other than 1015 himself. Ironside was actually smiling a bit watching the engine roll past. He’d at least be riding behind an engine he knew. The conductor called out the stops along the way, with a town called Silverton at the end of the line. The passengers began to crowd into the coaches. Ironside opted for a spot in the foremost coach with a spot closest to 1015’s tender. Before he could embark, however, he felt the need to turn around. His glance was met with Spike standing right behind him, eyes watering. “I… I guess this is goodbye then, huh?” asked the dragon. “Yeah… I guess so,” Ironside replied. Spike couldn’t think of anything else to say. He ran up and hugged Ironside one last time. “If it’s any consolation to you, I’d forgive you,” Spike said, his voice muffled beneath Iron’s coat. Not if you saw what I did last night, Ironside thought as he hugged Spike back. Two long, throaty blasts erupted from 1015’s whistle: the signal that the train was now departing. Ironside and Spike broke their embrace just before the engineer had to step onto the coach. The Prairie’s wheels slipped for a moment, but soon regained traction, and the passenger train was soon rolling out of the station. Spike ran alongside as the train picked up speed, waving goodbye to his friend. Ironside suddenly stuck his head out the window. “Spike!” he called out over the loud chuffs of the engine. “Yeah?!” Spike replied. “Tell them I’m sorry. Twilight, Pinkie, Rarity, Gallow, all of them… I’m sorry!” Ironside shouted back. By this point 1015 was accelerating fast, and Spike could no longer keep up. He stopped just before the end of the platform and watched the train speed away. But he caught every word the Pegasus had said. “I won’t let you down, buddy,” he sighed. Thinking that there was no point in waiting for the next train to Canterlot to arrive, Spike found an old handcar in an empty siding and tried pumping it all the way to Canterlot Station. He was exhausted after the first 50 yards. “Yeah, maybe I should wait for the next train…” he said panting.