The train had stopped dead center in the middle of a wide, green valley—right between a lake and a cluster of trees. There was no building or equine structure in sight.
This didn't stop several curious, muttering passengers from exiting their coaches, glancing north and south at the empty tracks looming from horizon to horizon.
Twilight Sparkle hopped out of one of the coaches. She looked towards the front of the train, squinting. The alicorn spotted a cluster of train conductors and engineers standing in a tight circle, conversing worriedly with one another.
"Uhm... hello?"
Twilight trotted briskly forward, hopping over puffs of hissing steam escaping from the wheels and spokes of the front locomotive. Rainbow Dash swiftly joined her, hovering. The rest of the mares caught up right as Twilight approached the stallions.
"Excuse me, sirs... uhm..." Twilight leaned in with a pensive breath. "Sorry to interrupt you, but, why did we stop just now?"
"Ma'am, if you would please get back in your passenger car," one of the conductors spoke, looking serious and grim in his dark suit and gray lambchops. "We have everything under control. I assure you."
"Hey!" Rainbow frowned, folding her forelimbs from where she levitated. "The Princess of Friendship just asked you a question, dude! Are you gonna spill the beans or what?"
"Do pardon us," Applejack said, tilting her hat. "We're a mite bit rattled from the sudden stop'n'all. I betcha a swift explanation would calm our nerves. Then we'd be out of yer hair."
The conductors looked towards the group. With a sigh, the lead engineer leaned in, speaking quietly to Twilight, "Your Majesty, my deepest apologies. But we simply had to stop—as a precaution. There's something interfering with our magical telegraph's leylines. We just lost contact."
Twilight's eyes narrowed. "Just lost contact with who?"
The stallion gulped. "Everyone," he said.
The six mares collectively blinked.
"Well..." Rarity swallowed, leaning back. "That's... not foreboding or anything."
"I-I prefer 'anything,'" Fluttershy whimpered.
"Hey! Good news!" Pinkie hopped into the center, victoriously holding up a yellow plastic cup. "I just found the refreshments lady! This was the last container of vanilla yogurt they had! Woohoo! Now... if I could just get the darn thing open..." She licked her lips, fussing with the tight lid. "Rggghh... wow! They sure make these thingies tough! Almost as if creatures with hooves weren't supposed to open 'em! Hah! Who'd a thunk it? Say, Rarity, can I borrow your hoof file?"
Silence.
Pinkie looked up, blinking. "Is anypony even listening to me?"