The late arrival of the train did not help ease Twilight's worrying mind. Up until now she had managed to keep her growing doubts in check, shoving every negative thought under a thick mental rug. However, when the loud speakers had announced the delay due to storm debris on the tracks, the unicorn had felt a sudden need to flee. Flee she had, but into the bathroom with her head down the toilet.
When she had finished purging breakfast, Twilight Sparkle dragged her weary body back to the platform. Silently she made apologies to her absent mother, guilty for having wasted the older mare's efforts. All morning she had slaved in the kitchen, shooing away those who did not belong in her space. The end result had been an overzealous menagerie of her daughters favorites dishes. The table setting was more akin to a ballroom banquet then a simple goodwill sendoff.
Twilight had almost voiced how overboard her mother had gone, when she spotted tears in the corners of the graying unicorns eyes. Throughout the last few weeks of packing, Twilight Velvet had happily encouraged and helped her daughter in all the preparations for the tedious move. Not a day had gone by since Twilight had discussed the idea that see hadn't been there for support. A mother's duty was to her children, and Velvet would sooner crawl under the house then slack off.
So respectfully, the younger pony had kept her mouth firmly shut. When she had taken the first bite, Twilight beamed in delight in spite of the burnt bitterness overtaking her taste buds. She would miss her mother's unique cooking despite the years of war she had waged against it. When they had finished, Velvet's tears had not been vanquished but were joined by a beaming smile.
With that loving smile in mind, Twilight hugged the little bit of luggage she had chosen to bring along for the ride. The rest of her belongings had been sent ahead. With a swift survey of the area, Twilight opened one of the bags' flaps. Sticking out of the top was the raggedy yarn mane of her oldest friend. With a gentle touch, she patted the top of the dolls head.
"Smarty Pants?"
Lifting the doll so it's face was visible, Twilight made it do a little nod of false recognition. "Am I doing the right thing?"
Smarty Pants sat stoic, surely calculating the pros and cons of what was happening. She was a clever doll. It said so in the name. And thus it would be unfair of her not to give sufficient thought to Twilight's worried pondering. Even when no pony else had the answers, Smarty Pants always knew just what to do. She was almost, if not more clever then Twilight herself. But right now she was taking her sweet time at answering.
"It's too late to turn back now. Right?"
Nothing. The fabricated mini mare continued her ongoing silence.
"Maybe Mom still needs my help. Isn't it selfish that I'm leaving her all alone like this?"
A gust of bitter wind was the only reply as it raced across the platform. With a shiver, Twilight pulled Smarty Pants closer to her chest. "I'm sure Shimmer would understand."
"Understand What?"
With a whinnying shriek the startled mare did an impressive impersonation of a pegasus during takeoff, her jump having gained impressive height. The harsh crash landing on the other hoof could be considered rude stereotyping. Wide eyed, Twilight laid sprawled on the bench. Had Smarty Pants - the doll - an inanimate object - just talk.
"Twily!" Or maybe not. Poking his head over the back of the bench, Shining Armor wasn't sure what to make of his little sister. "By the goddesses Twily! Are you okay? You look like you just saw the moon first hoof."
With a breath, Twilight blew her bangs from her face in an exasperated sigh. Of course it was Shining Armor. Only a complete imbecile would actually believe it was the doll.
"Twily?"
Taking the outstretched hoof of her brother, Twilight righted herself. She was about to open her mouth and attempt to explain her embarrassment away when the much smaller mare was dwarfed by the crushing hug of the ivory coated stallion. When he finally released her her words were already long lost. "Shining! What are you -" No, it made sense he would come to see her off. That was like him. He'd be a poor big brother best friend forever if he hadn't at least tried. What didn't make sense was how he was able to be here at all. "Why aren't you in the Everfree!?"
"And miss the chance to see my baby sister start a new chapter in her life." With a broad smile, Shining took a seat next to Twilight. "Plus, I was do for a leave anyway."
Twilight narrowed her eyes, the suspicion lost on her brother. He was a Equestrian soldier. As one, he was sworn to his duty and right now that duty was to patrol the edges of the Everfree forest. Yet here he was instead with a dopey grin from ear to ear and seemingly without a care in the world. No way had his superior officers allowed him to trot away from his service without penance. Shining Armor would never abandon his regimen. And though Twilight wished she could believe he was here for her only, that alone would not have persuaded his captain. Plus, Shining had already taken his leave for the year so he could attend that dumb concert; the Rainbooms or whatever they were called.
"Does Mom know your home?" First step in any interrogation; start small.
Shining scratched the back of his head. "Heh, not yet. How mad do you think she'll be?"
"Oh, you know."
"That bad, huh?" The siblings shared a good laugh, both knowing quite well that right after Shining Armor got his tongue lashing from their mother, she would turn right around and lavish him with food and the latest gossip. Not to say that Twilight Velvet could not be downright scary when provoked. Neither of them would forget that fire in her eyes when dealing with any who dare bully, or condone the bulling of, her children.
Twilight could still hear the venom in her mother's voice when a particularly arrogant mare refused to admit that her son had done anything wrong. When Velvet had finished her little parent to parent talk, it was firmly established that the little brat would never spit in any pony's lunches again.
"My little sis...scientist of the sea."
"Marine Biologist" Twilight corrected, her bag clutched against her chest once more. "Though I hardly know why." For it was more then a little strange; ridiculous even, that she would be contacted for a position she had no experience in. If she wasn't the tiniest bit desperate and following a friends advice, she may have had room for more suspicion.
"C'mon Twily! I bet your gonna be the best Marlene Barologist Equestria has ever seen! You'll be so famous, I'll have to be reassigned as your personal bodyguard just to keep the colts at bay!"
Twilight rolled her eyes; first at the intentional butchering of her new job title and secondly at that horrible pun. "And you know this how?"
"Because your Twilight Sparkle."
And the look in her brother's eyes; of pride, admiration, trust and brotherly love was all the proof needed to show that Shining Armor believed in her. Wholeheartedly, he knew that if any pony was capable at overcoming any hurdles in her path, it was his little sister best friend forever.
He had seen her come so far already.
Shining wrapped an arm around the smaller unicorn, pulling her into a hug with a warm chuckle.
"What?" Twilight asked as she leaned into the embrace.
"You look like Mom when you cry." Was his answer.
They'd shared another bout of laughter as Twilight wiped the tears off her cheeks.
Their sibling merriment was cut short though as a whistle sounded in the distance. The loudspeakers of the station came to life as they announced the soon to be arrival of the steam locomotive.
Shining Armor tightened his hug. "I guess that's your train."
"I guess it is." Twilight locked her hooves around her brother.
Said brother ruffled the frazzled mane of his frightened sister. He knew her well enough that is she didn't let go soon he'd end up dragging her to the San Palomino Marina himself. Reluctantly, he started to loosen his embrace. He wasn't sure the next time they would see one another. And do to his postings as a soldiers, mail could take weeks to arrive despite the shaky claims of reliability the Equestria Mail Service advertised.
Twilight knew all this as well. She was heading to a new place with a new job without friends nor family for support. She was alone.
The train rolled in with a clattering of noise. Barely any pony departed from the train, and looking around Twilight realized she was the only one about to board. Collecting her bag, she walked with Shining Armor to the side of the imposing iron horse.
Again they shared yet another hug. It would be their last for a long time and neither wanted to see it end. Yet all things were bound to.
"Take care of yourself Twily." Shining Armor called out as Twilight ascended the steps. "Don't make me have to come out there!"
She didn't want to cry again. She feared if she did she'd take this last chance to jump from the train. Holding back the floodgates, Twilight Sparkle yelled back. "Speak for yourself!"
"All Aboard!" Announced the suddenly appearing conductor as he ushered in his sole passenger. "Please find your seat miss."
With a nod, Twilight did as she was told and entered the car. She found her seat by the window quickly and didn't hesitate a moment before opening up a window. With a loud bellow of the whistle the train lurched forward with a hissing squeal of steam. Waving theirs hooves as the train began to leave the station both siblings called out in unison over the roar of the grinding wheels.
"I love you!"
Putting both of her hooves to her mouth, Twilight had one more thing to add before she was out of earshot. "And good luck with mom!"
In the growing distance she could see Shining slap his face.
With a deep sigh, the purple unicorn did her best to calm her nerves as she settled into the seat. Knowing she had ten hours of sitting ahead, Twilight reached into her bag and plucked out a large stack of books that seemed impossible for the small pack to hold. Before opening the cover of "Courting Behaviors of the Common Clown Fish" authored by Shelly Shoes, she made sure that her traveling companion was just as comfortable.
With Smarty Hooves cuddled between her lap and the tome, the landscape of Equestria raced by outside their window.