//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: Gettin' to Dodge // Story: Dodge Junction // by aceotaku //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash sat in the private train car, looking out the window. The car was spacious, with the few seats located near the walls, built to hold a large amount of ponies at the cost of comfort. Applejack looked through a brochure about all the sights in Dodge Junction while Twilight paced in boredom. A blue-maned, light cream/pink pony entered the room, clad in the golden armour of the Royal Guard, standing at the side of Captain Blueblood. “Sirs!” The pony saluted and shouted at the top of her lungs. “Second Lieutenant Sapphire Shores and Royal Guard Captain Blueblood REPORTING FOR DUTY!!” Rainbow covered her ears at the volume of the pony’s voice while Twilight tilted her head in concern. “Are you okay Miss?” “My Name is Sapphire Shores and I am FINE!!” Blueblood held up a hoof. “At ease, Lieutenant, I will handle the debriefing.” “SIR YES SIR!” The mare grinned and saluted even further, if that was possibly, her back beginning to bend at an odd angle. “Honestly....I think the training whipped you TOO into shape...Regardless.” He looked at the trio of civilians...and gave a nonplussed look at Applejack, who stood inches from him, playing with mane with a hoof. “To think Ah of all ponies finally get to meet THE Prince Blueblood...” the earth pony sighed dramatically. “Ah’m sure it must get awfully LONELY commanding Equestria’s military-slash-law-enforcement, tell me...is there a Mare in your life.” Blueblood chuckled and kissed her hoof, causing her to faint even more dramatically. “It is always a pleasure to meet a lovely mare, but I should be honest you aren’t the first to blatantly court me, nor the last.” Applejack blushed and waved her hooves in front of her face. “C-Court!? W-why Ah would never...!” Blueblood chuckled, waving her down placatingly. “Now now, it is quite alright. I’m well aware of my status as Equestria’s most eligible bachelor, but alas, I must always respond the same way: I cannot return your affections not just because we have only just met, but also due to the fact that I’m already married...to my duty as Captain of the Royal Guard, but I’m sure a mare of your stature need not concern yourself, you can do much better than me.” He gave her a knowing wink, causing Applejack to swoon with a shaky, blissful sigh. Twilight rolled her eyes at the earth pony’s dramatics. “Okay, he’s the Captain of the Royal Guard, I get that, there’s no need to act like he’s so special.” Applejack frowned. “Twilight, you’re from Canterlot, so surely you’re aware of who Blueblood IS.” At Twilight’s quirked brow, the seamstress gasped. “You mean you DON’T know!?” Rainbow Dash chuckled. “Blueblood is considered one of Equestria’s most eligible and prized backelors among those who care, mainly due to the fact he’s Celestia’s nephew.” Twilight’s eyes widened. “CELESTIA has a nephew!? I wasn’t even aware she had a family outside Princess Luna!” Blueblood chuckled. “Oh no, we’re not related by blood, the Princess simply enjoyed adopting a few ponies into her family,probably to fill a hole left after Nightmare Moon was sealed, I am just one of the small few who can trace their lineage back to those Princess Celestia officially adopted, but the mare herself has never married or even had a lover.” He tilted his head good humouredly. “Now, if we’re done gossiping about myself and my aunt, we have more important matters to get on to.” He turned to the door behind him. “You may come in now.” At his words, two mares strode forth. One was a zebra with the traditional Mohawk styled into a half-bowl over the right side of her face, wearing a unisex business suit over her body, her gaze stoic and calculating. Next to her, shivering and whimpering nervously, was a blue unicorn with a dark green cloak over her body, the hood over her head. “I am Zecora, head of pony resources, inter-company relations and communications for Iron Will Industries, ltd., as well as our legal department.” The zebra spoke in an analytical, professional tone and then gestured to the mare at her side. “My associate is Trixie Lulamoon, personal secretary to myself and Iron Will.” Rainbow’s eyes shimmered excitedly. “Oh hey Trix! Been a long while huh?” “U-umm I-I o-oh...” The blue unicorn stuttered and retreated further under her cloak. “H-hello...R-Rainbow...” Applejack raised a brow. “You know this mare, Rainbow?” The Pegasus nodded, grinning as she got up and trotted to the timid unicorn. “Yeah she was a student at the Academy like me...a lot of ponies teased her because of her shyness and because of her lack of magical talent, but I always stood by her and protected her.” She gave her a reassuring smile. “I haven’t seen you since you dropped out though...I kinda missed ya.” Trixie blushed under her hood. “Y-You d-did? I-I’m sorry...b-but a mare like me only slowed you down, it was for the best I dropped out...Iron Will Industries took me in s-shortly after...” Zecora nodded. “We saw some plans she had for a peculiar wagon, and hired her due to the unique mindset she could bring to our own projects, not to mention her skill with illusions.” “N-no I’m n-nothing special...” Trixie said softly. “I-I just bring Mister Iron Will his coffee....” “Regardless, you are a valuable employee and we would notbe as successful without your help.” Rainbow grinned, sliding a foreleg over the unicorn’s shoulder. “Glad to hear about it! Wow! I never imagined you would end up for THE Iron Will! You really did will for yourself!” “I-It was n-nothing really...I-I didn’t really do anything...” “Regardless,” Zecora snapped harshly, earning everypony’s attention, “we have important business to discuss.” She looked around at the ponies present. “we had hoped for a larger accompaniment of guards, but Bluegrass has proved far more obstinate, hence why you three were allowed in, your connections and skills were deemed useful at the recommendation of High Prosecutor Shining Armour, and thus your presence here.” Twilight scowled at the name but made no comment, earning a questioning look from Rainbow Dash while Applejack allowed herself to be taken with fantasies regarding the stallion in question. Zecora continued regardless. “Iron Will Industries have discovered that several shipments of ours have gone unaccounted for several months, for at least a year, perhaps more. In our initial investigation, we found that the desitnations where the shipments were to be received were either missing or had not been notified in the first place. We had since managed to narrow down our search to Dodge Junction, due to assistance of the Royal Guard. Upon audience with Princess Celestia, we were given full permission to enter the city and investigate properly, however we were allowed a limited number of ponies to enter the city with. Thus, I and Miss Lulamoon will be overseeing operations while Captain Blueblood leads a squad, and you three,” she indicated Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Twilight, “have been found to have skillsets and connections that may help us. However, this is not a field trip or a vacation: you must remain with either myself or Captain Blueblood at all times and must never stray and dally from our investigation.” Applejack pouted at this. Rainbow frowned. “Hold on, aren’t Zebras supposed to speak in rhyme? And you look and act a bit too...moderns compared to my knowledge of zebras too.” Zecora gave her a harsh, commanding glare and Rainbow gulped, silencing herself. “Our first step is to discuss matters with Governor Bluegrass, the stallion in charge of the city. He more than anypony should be able to point us in the right direction, at the very least.” The zebra frowned. “He is, however, infamously difficult to deal with.” She looked at Applejack and Twilight Sparkle. “You two should be able to get some manner of cooperation out of him however.” Twilight pointed at herself and her friend. “Huh? Us? How can we help?” “Governor Bluegrass is a member of the Apple Family, though one of the few who doesn’t do any direct farm work, and he is reported to have a special liking for members and associates of that family. Miss Applejack is a member of the family, and Twilight Sparkle is a business partner with the main branch. At the very least, at least one of you should make him more open to assist us.” Applejack frowned apprehensively with a mix of disappointment, while Twilight nodded with a helpful smile and Rainbow looked thoughtful. “Attention SIRS!” Sapphire Shores shouted suddenly from behind Blueblood, “WE’RE ARRIVING AT DODGE JUNCTION!” The Ponyvillians smiled excited and peered through the windows to look for themselves, eyes widening in awe. Before them was the extremely large city of Dodge Junction, tracks going in all directions like a spider web. Around the city itself another group of tracks surrounded the buildings like a massive, circular wall on every side. Blueblood smiles. “Beyond that ‘wall’, the city itself awaits. I trust you ladies are ready.” Rainbow smirked at him with a nod. “Dang straight.” ------------------------------- Clinging tightly to the very back of the train for dear life was Rarity and Fluttershy, the Pegasus grinning while the unicorn shivered nervously, Pinkamena giving a blanks, though disapproving, glare as she clung to their tails. “If I fall and get run over,” Pinkamena deadpanned, “I’m holding both of you responsible.”