//------------------------------// // Chapter 02: The Guide // Story: Falling Stars // by Ar0k //------------------------------// Luna trotted down the luxurious aisles of the Royal train car, amazed at how quickly and efficiently her sister organized everything. In the amount of time the chariots made the journey too and from Ponyville, Celestia had all supplies and resources secured and ready for transport to Canterlot’s mountain railway system. Two platoons of Royal guardponies escorted the supplies, moving through pre-planned routes for maximum security. When they reached the train platform, they had everything loaded and ready to go in 10 minutes flat. Garret and Gene arrived not much later after that, having left to retrieve Spike and some of Twilight's requested reading material. All in all, it was exactly thirty minutes from the time they finished their briefing to the time the Train started it’s long journey to the Frontier Region. Luna passed a door decorated with a carving of Princess Celestia. She paused a moment and marveled at her older sister. 1000 years of ruling by herself had turned her into quite the leader. She heard voices in the next room and recognized them belonging to Spike and Twilight “I don’t get it.” Spike said unpacking Twilight’s bag of books. “Who could Celestia be talking about?” Twilight was in the middle of sorting through her immense pile of books when she responded. “I was actually hoping you could help me remember.” She opened the book entitled “Old Mares Tales” and found the page about the Land of Twisted Metal. She bookmarked the page and put it away then noticed Luna peeking in from the doorway. “Oh princess Luna, I didn’t see you there!” Twilight bowed her head low in respect. Luna felt conflicted about seeing Twilight treat her this way. On one hoof she was indeed Royalty and this type of behavior from a loyal subject was appropriate, but on the other hoof she wondered if she could ever know who her friends were if they constantly treated her like Royalty. Could she even make friends at all? No. My sister considers them friends. I should as well. “Please don’t be so formal with me Twilight. If Celestia says that kind of treatment is unnecessary for her, then who am I to receive such treatment myself.” Twilight giggled softly as she lifted her head. “You’re our friend too princess” Luna tried not to look too pleased with herself after that last statement. “Is everything here to your liking?” She asked. “Oh yes princess! Everything is superb. You didn’t have to give us the luxury of riding in the palace’s royal train cars.” Secretly Twilight had always dreamed of riding on one of the Royal Train cars since she was a filly. She remembered trying to sneak on board the Train car one time and getting caught. She barely escaped trouble that time. Though she couldn’t remember how she escaped. “It was all my sisters doing so there’s no need to thank me.” Luna paused before adding: “Please call me Luna.” The two ponies exchanged smiles. Luna turned around to leave, but Twilight stopped her. “Pri… Luna can I ask you something?” Luna looked over her shoulder. “What is it?” she asked. “Princess Celestia mentioned that only one pony has ever made it to The Land of Twisted Metal. You wouldn’t happen to know who it was she was talking about, would you?” Luna shook her head. “I don’t. She didn’t tell you?” She was surprised that her sister would have left out something as important as to who their guide was. “Well…” Twilight said trying to find words to explain. “…she says that the pony is an old friend of mine from my filly days in Canterlot, but I don’t remember ever having friends before I came to Ponyville. She was very cryptic about it.” Luna sighed and then nodded, she understood her sister’s methods well. “All I know is that we are meeting up with the rest of the expedition team in Appaloosa. Maybe this pony is one of them.” Twilight shrugged. “I sure hope so. This mission is too important to spend time hunting down a guide.” ************* Meanwhile, in Appaloosa. “The Great and Powerful Trixie demands to know where you’re hiding him!” A pony with a light blue coat and navy colored cape asked the bartender with intensity. This was the fourth time she asked, and by this time her patience had completely dissolved. The bartender was not the least bit intimidated, and continued polishing a glass. “Now ya’ll could have asked nicely. We say please round these parts. But ya know what? Even if ya did, I don’t know nothin’ about Trot Steamer the Trail Blazer. Trixie’s eyes narrowed. She knew a liar when she saw one. Deception was her forte after all. Trail Blazers were the ponies of legend in the frontier region. They were cunning colts and mares, who carved out their names into this vast and dangerous land known as the Frontier Region. They had a lust for adventure that not even the mysterious lands of Equestria could satisfy. Being called a Trail Blazer was synonymous with being called a hero in the frontier region. It was not a title someone could claim. It had to be bestowed upon them by the people, as stories and rumors of these brave ponies and their deeds moved from town to town. Trixie understood all this. She also understood why the locals would protect such “heroes”, even if they were criminals. “Ok then, lets start over.” With a sly look on her face, she pulled from her cape a scroll sealed with red ribbon. It unrolled itself and clearly display the royal seal of Princess Celestia. “I am on a royal mission, assigned by the Princess of the sun herself. If at anytime I feel that my mission is in jeopardy, I am authorized to use any force necessary to remove the jeopardizing factor.” A faint glow covered the bartenders’ mug. It lifted out of his hands and zipped across the bar, smashing against the far wall. “That means dealing with liars who are trying to hide known fugitives!” The bartender furrowed his brow while Trixie let out an aggravated snort, ready for anything. At that moment the door to the salt bar swung open. A grey stallion with short white mane, only slightly larger than Trixie walked into the salt bar. He was wearing beaten, empty saddlebags and an equally beaten bandanna tied around his neck. He had dirty white rags tied around his hooves and an x like bandage applied onto the bridge of his nose. Trixie took note of the sudden visitor, seeing that the color of his coat and mane didn’t match the description described in the letter, she dismissed him as a random patron and returned to stare down the bartender. “What’s going on here Malt?” The stallion asked, feeling the tension in the room as he saw the mare and the bartender glaring at each other. “Lil’ miss great an’ powerful here’s lookin’ for Trot Steamer! Ya seen him?” His voice was loud and mocking in tone. The fire in Trixie’s eyes grew to dangerous levels. The grey colt looked down and saw shards from the mug. He frowned. “Listen miss…” The patron took a few steps forward cautiously, but a burst of magic prevented him from moving any further. Trixie barely nodded her head. Every table in the bar sprung up and formed a barrier between the grey colt and Trixie. “This doesn’t concern you stranger. I am on royal business from the princess herself. If you don’t know where Trot Steamer is, then I suggest you leave now before you get hurt.” The grey colt snorted. “You mean a Stallion with an orange coat and pink mane?” The barricade of tables were blown apart quicker than if they were trampled by an entire heard of buffalo. The light blue mare moved dangerously quick towards him causing the grey colt to back up several steps. “Tell me.” She said threateningly. “I’ll make you a deal.” The grey colt said smiling politely. “Meet me at the town square tomorrow at dawn, we’ll duel and If you win, not only will I tell you where he is, I’ll lead you to him myself.” Trixie’s eyes narrowed “I don’t trust you.” The grey stallion only returned the gaze. “I give you my word.” Trixie knew her victory was assured. The stranger wasn’t even a unicorn. He would be no match against someone with her magical skill, and that wasn’t her going on some ego trip either. At the same time she could tell that the colt in front of her was not trying to deceive her. He either must be really brave, really stupid, or both. "What's your name?" Trixie asked, watching him closely. The stranger paused a moment before answering plainly. "Grey." Trixie blinked. "That is the plainest name for an adversary." Grey rolled his eyes. She moved towards the door. “It's a Deal, and if you don’t show up. I’ll be back for the bartender.” “Oh Jolly.” Malt the bartender said lazily as he picked up a broom with his teeth and began cleaning up the mess. She gave the bartender and the grey colt one last look before exiting the doors of the bar. Once outside, her tough demeanor faded and she sighed long and deep. Trixie began the long and lonely walk to her inn when she noticed a streak of red and gold in the corner of her eye. A magnificent flaming bird swept down and landed on her flank. Trixie gave her companion a look and sighed again. “Yes Philomena I know that could have gone better.” The phoenix squawked and nodded. ************* Back at the Salt Bar the grey colt watched until the unicorn was out of sight before turning around to help his friend Malt straighten tables. “Now why’d you have to go and do that? Could’a just saved yerself a whole lotta pain and trouble if ya just told her.” Grey laughed. “And risk her blowing up the bar? Not a chance.” Malt and his friend picked up the last of the overturned tables and put it in place. Malt walked behind the bar and poured himself and his friend a round of sugar water. They sat in silence a while before Grey spoke. “You know...You didn't have to protect Trot like that. I'm pretty sure he can take care of himself.” Malt shrugged. "If ya say so.” They continued to sit in silence, sipping on sugar water. Malt suddenly burst out laughing. "What's so funny?" "Grey is such as stupid name" "Shut up."