//------------------------------// // In Which Starlight Glimmer and Trixie Lulamoon Embark Upon an Epic Journey // Story: Two Mares and a Carpet Bag // by Icenrose //------------------------------// Day 1: Train, The Friendship Express The sharp cry of the train whistle echoed through the nearly empty Ponyville Station, eliciting cries of despair from Starlight and Trixie as they hustled from the ticket booth to the platform. The train slowly began to pick up speed, and they broke into a full gallop. “Starlight, you have to get us on that train,” Trixie panted. “It’s a moving target,” Starlight gasped. “I’ve never done that before!” “First time for everything, filly!” With a grimace, Starlight shut her eyes and concentrated. The air filled with the smell of ozone, and with a bang, the pair were unceremoniously deposited in the aisle of the rearmost passenger car. They skidded to a stop along the floor, and the single carpet bag Starlight had packed appeared a moment later, crashing down upon Trixie’s head. Starlight stood, sweat matting her mane to her forehead. “Are you okay?” She levitated her bag off her friend. “Trixie is… I am fine.” She afforded Starlight a prim smile as she righted her hat upon her head. The pair slipped into the nearest compartment. Starlight cracked the window open to let in the crisp autumn night air, and the two mares settled into their seats opposite one another. After they had both caught their breath, Starlight asked, “Okay, so why are we in such a hurry? Everything happened pretty quickly at the castle after I came downstairs.” Trixie broke into a cocky grin. “I'm going to win a bet against Princess Twilight and her friends, and you agreed to help me.” “Right, I gathered that. What was the bet?” “They bet that it was impossible to travel around the world in fewer than eighty days. I said five thousand bits says we can.” “Five thousand–” Starlight nearly fell over in her seat. “Have you completely lost your mind? Do you even have that much money?” Trixie's grin faltered. “Well, no." She put a hoof to her chest. “But it doesn't matter, because I – we – are going to win this bet.” The cocksure grin returned. “Trivially.” Starlight shook her head as a small smile crept across her face. “So we’re really doing this. We’re actually going to travel around the world.” “In fewer than eighty days,” Trixie pointedly reminded her. “Twilight has no idea what she’s talking about – the fastest way to Saddle Arabia is through Griffonstone.” Starlight had read the same Canterlot Chronicle article outlining the fastest route around the world as Twilight, and thought their advice – to sail directly from Baltimare to the Saddle Arabian border town of Suet – was sound, but she held her tongue. Instead, she said, “Makes sense to me. You really know your travel routes.” “It all comes from liking the road so much,” Trixie smirked as she nodded at Starlight’s bag. “What did you wind up packing?” “Ha! I should probably repack; I kinda just threw everything together.” Starlight opened her bag and began rearranging the contents. “Let’s see: my traveling scarf, an Equestrian atlas, a pamphlet of timetables for Equestrian rail lines, a travel toiletries kit, and a few of Sweet Apple Acres’ finest apples.” She sat up straight with a gasp. “Oh, we didn’t stop by your cart! You didn’t pack anything!” Trixie waved away Starlight’s concerns with a hoof. “Not to worry; I learned a long time ago to always carry the essentials with me.” With a flourish, she doffed her hat. From within its recesses she levitated a toothbrush, a small coin purse, a silver mane brush, and a deck of cards. “Clever,” Starlight said with an approving nod. “Indeed.” Trixie lowered her voice and leaned in with a conspiratorial grin. “Useful for when you’re being run out of town.” They shared a giggle as the train chugged through the night towards Canterlot.