//------------------------------// // The Thing About Awkward Train Rides // Story: The Thing About Blinkie Pie // by MS Checkmate the Trooper //------------------------------// The Thing About Awkward Train Rides Cloudy Quarters and Igneous Rock give tearful goodbyes to their daughters as they prepare to leave for the train station. The sun is just now hitting the horizon as the sky goes ablaze with marvelous colors. Everypony is in the brightest of moods with full tummies and happy spirits, or at least, almost everypony. Blinkie solemnly hoist her backpack onto her shoulder. “Here,” Pinkie says brightly, bouncing up behind her grabbing her suitcase. “Let me help you with that.” Blinkie offers a very weak smile not seeming to be able to find words around the group of unfamiliar ponies who invaded her home and sent her fleeing the kitchen table to eat alone on the porch. After dinner they had all gathered in the living room to tell stories about the sisters growing up. At this Blinkie had simply gone to her room not wanting to try and find a way into the conversation only to be pushed out. Maybe she should grow a backbone at some point in her life, she thinks, or maybe it’s too late for that and she’s just going to be a tiny little stone everypony steps on for the rest of her life. “I’ll walk with you to the train station,” Maud offers. “It could awhile before I see you all again. I have to head straight back to my research site as soon as your train leaves.” “I’m really sorry you had to take time off your research to come home,” Blinkie says softly finally speaking up. “I didn’t mean to cause such issue.” “It’s not an issue,” Maud reassures though her face remains its usual expressionless way. “Helping my family is never a problem.” Blinkie nods her head though she clearly doesn’t believe a word her eldest sister says. Still there is no further assurance, not that Blinkie expects it, though god knows she needs it. “Well come on,” Pinkie Pie whines bouncing up and down in her place. “I want to get back to ponyville before the Cakes go to bed so I can introduce them to Blinkie!” “Pinkie regardless of how quickly we get to the station the train is still going to arrive at the same time,” Twilight says rolling her eyes though she is still smiling. “We do however need to hurry or we’ll miss the train.” The group of eight ponies picks up their hooves and trot down the beaten road as the sun dips farther behind the landscape the sky’s reds and oranges turning to deep blues and royal purples as stars speckle the skyline. They all walk in a calm and pleasant silence as the train stations lights glow in the distance and the whistle of the train calls out in the distance. When the ponies reach the train station the baggage stallion takes Blinkie’s bags and taking them onto the train. “Well I guess we gotta get going,” Pinkie says a slight sad in her tone as she smiles at Maud. “It was good seeing you again,” Maud smiles back. “I love you Pinkie. And Blinkie you behave for her.” Blinkie nods her head slowly taking firmly to mind that Pinkie got an ‘I love you’ from the stoic sister while she got an order to behave. Not that this is any kind of surprise. Pinkie and Maud were always very close and Blinkie had always felt in the shadow of their bond. It never really seemed fair to her but she guess there’s nothing about her that would warrant any of her sisters to have any interest in her at all. Blinkie shakes her head as she is shoved hurriedly onto the train as the conductor calls ‘all aboard.’ The group of mares takes their seat, Blinkie between the window and Pinkie. She rest her hooves in her lap and looks out the window. “Oh man am I full,” Dash says rubbing her stomach. “Man Pinkie now I know where you get your cooking skills from.” “Oh yeah mom is the best cook ever,” Pinkie beams. “Can I see the rocks Maud got you guys?” The five other mares pull out stones that Maud had presented them with after dinner. Rainbow Dashes is black and tints rainbow in the light. Rarity’s is a purple gem protruding from simple gray stone. Twilight’s is a perfectly round stone that sparkles pink against its natural purple tone. While Fluttershy’s isn’t something amazingly colorful, but a fossilized paw print, and Applejack’s is a deep black stone that Maud had informed her is perfect for sharping any type of tool while never dulling itself. “I simply adore her gifts,” Rarity gushes. “Whoever would have thought Maud would be such a thoughtful gift giver!” “I know,” Applejack says admiring her sharpening stone. “This is going to come in mighty handy.” “Blinkie did Maud get you a stone,” Twilight ask the teenage mare who frowns and pulls a rough looking stone. The six look confused by the simple uninteresting stone compared to the ones given to them though Blinkie doesn’t seem outwardly upset by it. The young girl puts her rock away and does back to looking out the window without a word. The other six ponies looks awkwardly around trying to think of anything to say to break the silence brought on by the bland stone, but there is nothing to say. Just endless, awkward silence until the train stops in Ponyville.