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// Goodbyes and a Journey to a New Home 
// Story: Vanhoover Sky 
// by JandT 
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     "Class, this the last day of school for this year and there is a student that is not coming back next year" said Ms. Woodrose, "Mill Whistle, say farewell to the class". "I'm moving down south to Ponyville with my mama, I don't know if I'll ever be coming back to this logging town where the trees reach into the clouds, so goodbye my fellow classmates" said Mill, "Bye Mill Whistle, I'll miss you" said a yellow earth pony colt. Mill Whistle trotted over to the little colt and hugged him. "I'll miss you to Tug Raft" said Mill Whistle. 
"Class is dismissed, happy summer everypony" said Ms. Woodrose, "Bye Ms. Woodrose" said some of the class while the rest of the class bolted out the door. The 1:00 PM whistle roared loud as Mill Whistle and Misty Whistle trotted to the train station with heavy saddlebags.             
The train station had few ponies in it. The worn yellow building had certainly seen better days. The floorboards creaked under the weight of baggage carts and ponies. "Canterlot bound train on track one in five minutes" announced the stationmaster. "Well we're heading to our new home" said Misty, "Where the sun shines and where it ain't so gloomy" replied Mill Whistle. A couple of worn GE P40dc's (a type of General Electric locomotive used Amtrak) brought up the train to Canterlot. 
"Come on, this is our train" said Misty, "Ok" replied Mill. "All aboard!" called the conductor who was an orange stallion, "Honk, honk" went the train as the engine started revving up and the train started rolling. The orange stallion walked by Misty and Mill. "Hey, I haven't seen you since the rail academy, I forgot your name" said Misty, "Oh, Hey, ah, Misty!, long time no see, I'm Time Keeper remember" said the orange stallion with a pocket watch cutie mark. "This is my daughter Mill Whistle" said Misty, "Nice ta meet ya" said Time Keeper holding out his hoof. Mill shook it happily. 
As the train got closer to Canterlot the lush forests slowly turned into rocky mountains. The train would arrive in Canterlot at 9:00 AM and it was 1:00 AM. Mill stared out the window of the silver passenger car watching the trees and Luna's stars go by. Misty snored and Mill slowly drifted to sleep with the steel rails singing a lullaby. 
They past a Canterlot NorthWestern freight that had lots of empty lumber cars bound for Vanhoover. In a couple more hours they'd be in Canterlot. 
"We will be in Canterlot in half an hour" said a voice over the intercom, "Ya here that sweetie, we'll be in Ponyville in no time" said Misty, "Yay!" squealed Mill Whistle.   
30 minutes later........
"We're here mommy!" yelled Mill Whistle, "Yup" replied Misty. "Bye Time Keeper" they said, "Bye girls, hope you have a good life in Ponyville!" said Time Keeper. Canterlot was filled with hustle and bustle. The tall buildings were bright and stood out unlike the gloomy building back in Vanhoover.  
"Sky's train leaves in a few hours, so we'll explore before heading to Ponyville" said Misty, "Sounds fun mommy!" squealed Mill Whistle. 
They explored Canterlot for hours on hoof. "Mom, this city is an awesome place, but it's a little to busy" said Mill, "I know, we should start heading to the rail yard" Misty replied. 
By the front door of the yard office stood a green pegasus pony with a blue mane, she had a cutie mark of a GP7u locomotive. Next to her was a red pegasus pony with a dirty blonde mane and a cutie mark of an apple with a rail. When Misty saw them she galloped towards them levitating Mill Whistle so she wouldn't have to catch up. 
"Hey Sky, I haven't seen ya in so long!" screamed Misty, "Ah, haven't seen ya in forever to" said Sky. Misty said pointing to Mill "This is my daughter Mill Whistle", "Nice ta meet ya" said the green mare as she held out her hoof. Mill shook it and smiled.  "This is Hotbox, Mill, she's mah little sister" said Sky, "Hey kid" said the red pegasus. "Hi Hotbox" said Mill. 
"As much as I'd like to stand here we've got a train to get to Ponyville" said Sky, "Follow me" said Hotbox. "Kid put this vest on" said Hotbox in her raspy voice as she handed Mill a reflective vest, "Thank you!" said Mill. 
They then trotted to three EMD SD40-2s. The locomotives were painted grey with white lettering and red on the front and rear. It was Saturday so there was not any ponies to start the locomotives before Sky and Hotbox got there. 
"Mill come with me" said Hotbox as she climbed up on the third unit, "Ok" replied Mill Whistle. Hotbox led her to the cab of the unit and opened the electrical panel. She pointed to the master switch and said "Flip that", "Ok" Mill said as she flipped the switch. Hotbox then flipped several other switches. Hotbox then started to head to the middle of the sd40-2 and Mill followed her. "Do you know how to open these panels?" asked Hotbox, "Nope" answered Mill. "Pop this latch at the top and then this one at the bottom" said Hotbox as she pointed her hoof at the latches on the door, "Ok" said Mill. 
Mill Whistle opened the latches and swung open the door. "See that knob? turn it left for a little then turn it right until that turbo screams" said Hotbox,  "Ok, I got it" said Mill Whistle. The fuel pump whined as she turned the knob left, when she turned it right the engine went "Chugga-pish, chugga-pish". It sounded like this just getting faster each time until black smoke shot out the stacks.  
"Congratulations" Hotbox said pointing to Mill's flank, "My cutie mark!, yay!" she screamed.