Upgrading the Railway Network

by The Stainmore Phoenix


Chapter 2

Chapter 2

The next morning, the male alicorn was getting his last goodbyes said to his brother; a bright red Alicorn, half of the height of the dark red one, with two sea green eyes, a dark orange mane and tail. On his flank was a dragon with a flame aura surrounding it.

“I’ll return with a cutie mark hopefully and if it turns out to be a job that leads to me needing someone to help, your first in line,” the blank flank said.

“Good luck,” came the reply.

Once the final goodbye was said, the dark coat Alicorn took to the air and was out of sight when the other guards came out.

The Alicorn flew for a while. Normal Alicorns and Pegasi have to take breaks to give their wings a break, but being a royal guard meant that he spent most of his time in the air, looking down for any signs of intruders getting ready to strike the princesses. That meant that he needed strong wings, so he spent his time training his wings. That training also meant that he didn’t have to take frequent breaks.

“Blue skies and bright sunshine,” he chortled. “really brightens my day.”

As he flew along, he noticed that the clouds had started to become rather gray and ominous.

“Huh? I thought the pegasi weren’t to put out rain clouds for another two weeks.”

CRRSH!

“Okay, lowering my altitude right now!”

No sooner had the Alicorn lowered his descent, then it happened. A bolt of lightning struck his left wing and he found it hard to control himself. Soon, he spotted something that appeared to be a closed station.

“Time to crash land.”

He turned himself to crash into the bushes. While it wasn’t the best soft landing, it was something at least. He was lined up with the bushes and came in fast.

SMAK!

“Ooof!” he groaned.

“Nice of you to join us at Blandford Forum,” came a voice from behind the Alicorn. The voice was trying to hide a laugh.

“Oh, hardy har har!” the Alicorn snorted sarcastically.

“Well,” the voice said. “We’d better tend to your wing, as it looks like a war zone.”

“Thanks,” the Alicorn said.

“It’s okay,” the voice said. “I’m Alistair.”

The Alicorn turned to see the human he was to meet. He looked rather young (about 15), with unruly blond hair, hazel brown eyes, tan skin and he wore a shirt with a werewolf printing on it, dark green cargo trousers and black tennis shoes.

“Nice to meet you,” the Alicorn said. “I haven’t a name.”

“Ah, well, I hope well sort this out,” Alistair said.

The Alicorn and Alistair headed off the platform and along the pathway. The Alicorn looked down.

“A closed branch line?” he asked.

“Yes,” Alistair replied. “Dr. Beeching closed it down.”

The Alicorn nodded his head.

“A somber thought,” the Alicorn said.

“I agree,” Alistair returned.

The two continued along the pathway, to them, the closed Blandford Forum Branch Line. At the next station along, they turned to the left and headed over a hill. Once safely on the other side and hidden from the rest of the world, they entered a three story house, painted in a dark green.

“That’s a lovely color,” the Alicorn said.

“It is,” Alistair said. “Brunswick Green. Used on express passenger trains from 1948 to 1968.”

“Ah,” the Alicorn said.

The human tended the wing with care.

“I’d stay off of it for a while,” the human said.

“Thanks,” the Alicorn replied.

The two struck up conversation about his calling in life. They planned that in the morning, they’d go about the countryside, emptier than Alicorn’s room back at the Canterlot Castle and try to find his calling in life.