//------------------------------//
// We ain't got no family... 
// Story: Infinity: A Half-Life 2 Crossover 
// by Figments 
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Let’s set up a scene, shall we?

You’re on a train that’s taking you to somewhere far, far away.

You don’t know where it’s headed, but the only thought in your mind is getting there.

Wherever ‘there’ may be.

The world outside is flying by, but you can’t see past the dense fog that has settled over the invisible world.

It’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen, but it doesn’t matter.

The fog isn’t where you’re headed.

As you look outside, you see a face in the window. 

A tired, old face.

A face without remorse, without pity.

My face.

And the train keeps chugging on down the track, the whistle blowing a few times as it speeds up. 

Yet all you can see is my face in the window as I peer at your very soul.

There is nothing else but you and me.

There is no god here.

Bright white lights; that’s all I could see. They flashed in my eyes for but a few seconds, before retreating to the dim ambiance of the train car. Rain pattered against the windows, filling the place with a drone that nearly muffled all other sound. Only a few others were here with me, wearing the same faded blue clothes given to us by our oppressors. I paid no attention to them, however. My mind was on the world outside, the bleak light of the sun diffusing through the thick layer of fog.

Just a dream, I reassured myself. Just a dream.

The train had been on the move for a few hours now, yet no matter where it went, the dense fog outside seemed to follow. I knew, deep down, that the fog didn’t come from Cloudsdale. Yet as to why, I had no clue. It was as if the world donned these gray colors for sheer symbolism, like it was trying to tell us, the whole world, something important.

To tell you that magic is gone.

“Let me out of this goddamn cage, you bastards!” An orange pegasus rammed into the barred windows repeatedly for a bit before landing back on the ancient carpeted floor, huffing.

“Fightin’ ain’t gonna get you anywhere,” a beige unicorn said. He sat upon the worn red seat nearest to the door, crossing his front legs and leaning on the wall behind him. “Just siddown  an’ relax. Ain’t no way you gonna get outta here.”

“Shut it, you old codger!” The pegasus didn’t even bother to turn around. “I’m gonna get out of here even if it kills me!”

“Colt, you better watch your mouth. Ain’t nopony teach ya how ta talk to your elders?”

The pegasus turned around. “I told you to shut up!” He slammed one of his hooves down, making the wooden floorboards underneath the patterned carpet creak slightly. “I’m going to get out of here, one way or another.”

“Why do ya wanna fight so badly?”

“Because they took my family away from me!”

“And?” The pegasus was rendered silent. “And?” The old unicorn yelled at the top of his lungs, his words  ringing in my ears for a few moments.

“You think you’re special? You think that if ya fight, you’ll get ‘em back? They took us all away from our families, our friends! Better stallions than you! You ain’t special, you ain’t different. Just ‘cause you wanna fight for your folks don’t make you a hero. It took those damn aliens seven hours to come ‘ere an’ take o’er. What chance do ya think you got?”

For a while, the unicorn’s words echoed throughout the train car before disappearing into my memory. A few moments of silence ensued, the only noise being the light tapping of the dying rain against the roof.

The pegasus slowly crept back to his seat and sighed. “Thanks for that. I… haven’t slept very well lately.”

“Why’re ya getting’ transferred?”

“No clue,” the pegasus said with a slight chuckle. “All I know is that they came to my door last night. Told me that I broke a few rules that I never knew existed. Next thing I know, I’m here on my way to wherever the hell we’re - “

“New Canterlot.”

The pegasus’ eyes widened. “This can’t be good.”

“Won’t be as bad as ya think it will.”

“That’s what you think,” the pegasus huffed. “One wrong move and it’s off to --” 

“Ya shouldn’t think ‘bout those things. Just don’t get into any – “

“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” The pegasus yawned. “I’m going to go to sleep for a bit. Only thing I can do, I suppose.” He closed his eyes.

The unicorn sighed and leaned back into his seat, closing his eyes as well. “You’ve been really quiet, ‘aven’t ya?”

My ears shot up.

“Aren’t you worried ‘bout where we’re goin’, too?”

Silence.

“A quiet one, huh?” The unicorn chuckled. “I can’t blame ya. Not much to say ‘bout the world right now. An’ I don’t think it’s gonna get any better.”

He turned towards me, a sincere look in his old, gray eyes. “I’m worried too, tho’ I fancy I don’t look it. I’ve been through more transfers than I can count. A bit of advice: keep low and they won’t bother ya… much.”


<--------------------------------------------------------------->


I covered my ears as the squeal of the train’s brakes shattered the still air of the car. The old wooden car jerked forward a bit as it came to a complete stop. We had finally arrived. The unicorn slowly slid out of his chair and shook the pegasus awake whilst I headed out of the door. 

I took a long, deep breath of fresh, unfiltered air. It was magnificent: the feeling of finally being able to stretch my legs after such a long time. I couldn’t quite recall how long it had taken, but what bothered me still were the unicorn’s words, still ringing in my ear.

We ain’t got no family no more.

“Welcome! Welcome to New Canterlot. You have chosen, or have been chosen, to transfer to one of the finest urban centers we have left.”

I looked up at the rectangular screen that leaned off of a large steel pillar. A dark-blue alicorn smiled as she spoke calmly into the microphone situated before her. 

“I kindly thank our benefactors for allowing me to have precedence over my home city, and also for the deliverance of our new beacon of the future: the Citadel. And so, whether you are here to stay, or passing through on your way to parts unknown, I would like to once again say: welcome to New Canterlot!”

The video relay fritzed out a bit before beginning another loop, droning on about the same message.

“Rarity! Rarity!”

A foal’s voice broke through the sea of noise that flowed through the air. A small little filly was frantically jumping up and down upon a raised concrete platform back against the far wall, her eyes frantically scanning over the small crowd that had gathered from the arriving trains. “Rarity, where are you?”

I slowly made my way through the dispersing crowd towards her, glancing around to see if anypony else had paid her any attention. Yet nopony seemed to notice. I sighed and continued my approach, stopping at the foot of the platform and looking up at the filly. 

The platform was a few feet high, but it wasn’t a problem with a little backstep. Jumping up to the filly’s side, a desperate look in her emerald eyes was clearly visible amongst her panicking face. Turning to me, she stared at me straight on with a sense of fear I hadn’t seen in a very long time.

“Please, sir! Help me find my sister! I’ve been looking so hard, and-” she cried.

Amidst her pleas, I simply nodded my head to show my agreement. She smiled a little at the gesture, and nodded herself. I returned the favor, and smiled myself.

“Welcome! Welcome to New Canterlot - “