CHAPTER FIVE
The Real Reason
The train pulled into the station, a cloud of steam and a piercing whistle announcing its arrival. The doors opened and the passengers disembarked — among them being five mares, one of whom waved and shouted at Twilight as she approached.
"Hi, girls!" Twilight said eagerly. "It's so good to see you all. It's been far too long since we last spent some time together."
"I most certainly agree, darling," Rarity replied. "It has indeed been too long. We're sorry for being so dreadfully late, but things happened that were outside our control."
"Yeah," Rainbow Dash said. "There were a lot of ponies getting off the train in Ponyville — no doubt they were tourists who wanted to see the home of Equestria's newest Princess."
Twilight blinked in confusion. "Really?" she asked. "That's it?"
Her friends all nodded.
"Why?" Applejack queried. "Did ya think that somethin' else was keepin' us from gettin' here on time?"
Before Twilight could respond, Spike spoke for her. "She sure did," he said. "In fact, she was even kind enough to share with me three possible reasons to explain your delay." Twilight grumbled as her friends regarded Spike curiously. Counting on his fingers he rattled off what Twilight had shared with him. "The first thing was that the train got robbed, the second was that the train broke down and the third was that Rainbow Dash ushered you all onto the wrong train and you ended up in Appleoosa — but that's not the best part."
Rainbow Dash snorted. "As if I would do that," she grumbled. "And what do you mean by 'not the best part?'"
"When the others found out they were on the wrong train..." Spike suppressed a laugh. "When the others found out they were on the wrong train, they tied you up and sat on you!"
His composure failed and the young drake fell over laughing, clutching his sides as though they would literally split at any second. Rainbow Dash glared at him for a moment before she found herself joining in, followed by the rest.
"Oh man," she said, wiping her eye with a wing. "You've gotta tell us these stories, Twilight. They all sound brilliant!"
Twilight chuckled. "Maybe I will," she mused. "But I'm just glad you're all here — not to mention safe."
"So are we, darling, so are we," Rarity replied. "Now, I believe you have a schedule you'd like to stick to so please, lead the way."
Twilight gasped. "Blast!" she shouted. "We're now thirty minutes behind schedule. If we run we might make it to the castle in time for lunch, so let's double-time it, girls!"
She took off as fast as her hooves would carry her, leaving her friends standing on the platform. They shared a glance before breaking into a run after her, Spike on Applejack's back as the five mares sped after the panicking alicorn.
At the head of the pack, Twilight had a small smile on her face. Her friends were with her, and that made her happy.
Yep, she thought. Life is good.