"It's beautiful," Luna said.
That night, I again was visited by Luna, once again meeting high in the clouds. This time, though, we weren't in Equestria, but were on Earth. We were above a city that Luna said reminded her very much of a place in her own world, the Crystal Empire. It was a circular city with a tower at the center that was actually a castle. The city below us looked a lot like it, save for the fact that rail lines spread out from at every point of the compass.
"Blacklight," I said, looking down at the city, "My city."
Luna looked at me, "Come again?"
I looked at her. "I've been going over that dream I had the day I woke up. I recall so many details I missed at first. One of them is a picture of a city that looks just like this one called Blacklight."
Luna looked down at Blacklight. "Humans really do aim for the stars."
"That we do, Princess," I replied, "No sense doing something if it's not worth overdoing."
Luna turned to me. "Is that a metaphor?"
I shook my head. "I saying I came up with. I've always felt that if you find doing something worthwhile, you might as well go above and beyond to make sure you do it to the best of your abilities. That way, you can work hard at doing something you enjoy."
"Huh," Luna said, "It seems a sound philosophy to follow."
"It is," I answered.
For the next long while, Luna and I just sat there, up in the clouds, talking about what I had seen and done, and what I planned to do. She seemed greatly interesting, often commenting on how Equestria had steam locomotives, putting wind under my wings to keep this idea I had from dying. It wasn't for what seemed like hours before THE question reached the forefront of my mind.
"Luna," I began, "Whatever happened to all the other people?"
Luna looked away. "That is something I would sooner tell you in person, Starlight."
The way she looked told me it wasn't something she'd want to talk about otherwise, so I nodded. "Okay, Luna. I think it would be for the best, too."
Luna smiled. "I appreciate the understanding."
"Think nothing of it," I said, waving a forehoof and smiling, "I'm an understanding mare."
It was then I noticed the sun was rising.
"I enjoyed our talk again," I said, "Never a dull moment."
"Agreed," Luna said, "It might be awhile until I can chat with you again, but I will."
"I'm going to hold you to that," I said, smiling.
August 3
Later that day, and after passing though many empty towns and abandoned stations, and had passed the tracks to Thunder Bay when I spotted something ahead on the side of the tracks.
A pony.
Immediately I slowed the train to a near stop, and pulled on the whistle. The pony turned.
Another Unicorn, I though, somewhat grumpily, Why not an 'Earth Pony', as Luna calls them? Or another Pegasus like me? Nope, now I've got three Unicorns, excluding Double. I hope he's okay.
The train finally came to a stop right beside him, affording me a good look at the pony.
He was a stallion, with a silver mane and tail. His coat was dark grey, almost black, and his cutie mark resembled a piece of sheet music.
Fenix poked his head out of a window of his coach.
"WHY HAVE WE STOPPED, YOU FEA-," he started, only to notice the Unicorn on the tracks, "Oh."
"Don't mind him," I said, "Someone stole his lolly when he was a foal."
Fenix made a face at me, then pulled his head back into the coach.
"Anyway, to whom do I owe the pleasure," I said, hopping down from the engine.
The pony was obviously stricken by how tall I was, but soon collected himself and replied. "My name is Wulfric Amadeus Geraldo."
"How about we just call you Wulfric, or Griff," I suggest, to which he nodded.
"Wulfric. It seems shorter," he stated professionally, "And much easier to pronounce."
"Before you board," I began, "How did you come by such a....unique name?"
Wulfric rubbed the back of his head. "My parents were really into classical music. I ended up like it, too."
I nodded. "I'm into that kind of thing, too. Hop in the coach with Fenix and Starless. I promise they don't bite.
He nodded, and went over and into the coach. I leapt back into the engine, and we were off again.
After we stopped for the night, I went and fed Teacup, who was ever so happy to see me, before sitting down and talking with Wulfric.
"So," I began, "What did you do before....all this happened?"
"I was a composer," Wulfric replied, "I wrote songs and posted them on Youtube, not that any of that is still around anymore."
I nodded. "It may be gone, but I did download a lot of songs onto my computer before the....Event? Or whatever."
"Really," Wulfric began, "Music that WASN'T lost with the Cloud? Well, this is something you'll have to show me later."
I smiled, nodding. "I don't have much, but what I do have beats having nothing."
"Amen to that, sister," Wulfric said, "Amen to that."
"So....can you still play?"
"What," he questioned.
"The piano," I asked, "Can you still play the piano?"
"Oh, sure," Wulfric replied, "As soon as I get my horn thingy to work."
"Your magic," I correct.
"Yeah, that," he said, "I do miss playing the piano, you know?"
I smiled and nodded, hiding the sadness that statement caused me. I've always wanted to play the piano....
6313339
Math
Pegasus + Altitude = At most a week without sleep.
Not that, once she leaves the mountain, she sleeps regularly again.
It's something I'm still on the fence about myself.
6313397
...What?
6313456
6313462
It's worth noting that Starlight feels different at night. I can't say more. Spoilers.
6313515
Sorry I'm not Mr. Perfect.
Gone back, did some editing.
6313746
Yeah. Beginning to rethink some of the timeline I have. I'll update it in the morning, when I'm not so tired.
Or I could just do it now.
I really need to pick up the writing pace. I've been left behind by my Canadian brethren! Would the train lines be clear though? Well, they should... moving vehicles were taken, and they wouldn't leave trains parked on the tracks... I think...
Interesting story so far. Aside from a few eyebrow raising comments (like Starlight being the only one to dream of the night or having the closest connection despite the handful of batponies around), I enjoyed the story. The first person snippets gave the story a decent pacing too. There were a few places I would have appreciated more details and story telling, but then we might have gotten bogged down in it. Still, we a few colony minded people kicking across the map now. Couple places well where civilization somewhat as we know it will have anchors.
Wait... are trains that easy to stop?
Just noticed this. Isn't her name "Starless Night"? Not "Moonless".
6314037
I thought I removed that....
6314109
I tried to make this as unique as possible, without side-stepping canon.
I'll be making a thread if anyone wants to catch a lift on the Express.
6314491
Hey, I just made her! Sorry if I'm getting my own character's names wrong. It can happen to anyone.
6314037
We had steam long before gasoline. Begs to reason we'll have steam LONG after it. And you know who else has steam trains? The Equestrians!
6314816 Robin's gonna hijac- I mean appropriate a (few) VIA rail trains and make for Vancouver eventually. He has his reasons. The train line is suddenly important again, though! A way to keep Canada connected! We just need to figure out the infrastructure.
6314806
6314820
You would be correct. Gold star for you! The story was originally written for Nightmare Moon, but Starscribe said that wouldn't be canon. To compensate, I came up with Starlight Waltz, and I am very, VERY happy I came up with Starlight Waltz.
It seems when I went to edit some things out, I forgot a few. All fixed now, though.
6314832
If you want to check on the Starlight Express's route, check the forum. I made the a thread.
Also pay mind that VIA trains aren't steam train, and therefore won't last as long.
6314924 Just looked back and saw the new lines about making shoes. I'm liking Starlight very much myself, so I'm glad you changed her to an original character, even one similar enough to Nightmare as to make Luna uncomfortable.
So, is Starlight already Celestia/NMM-sized even as a pegasus?
6314994
To answer your question is a few words.....she is. It makes a lot of things she has done possible, like driving a train without standing on a soap box, pulling a wagon meant for horses, not being able to drive a car.... She'd be about, 6' tall, somewhere around there, I would think, as it's been estimated Celestia isn't much taller than the average adult.
6320365
When you edit one thing, there are often more things like it that need editing, but more often than not, editing those other little things slips your mind.
This is an example of that.
6377722
Which?
Ethelbert, Manitoba, Canada.
Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada.
Baldy Mountain is actually the name of the tallest geographic point in Manitoba, located in Duck Mountain Provincial Park. There's a telcommunications tower, which is why I refer to it as Baldy Mountain Tower.
I hope that answers your question.
I ended up liking it, too.
"The piano," I asked, "Can you still play the piano?"
A pony can play a piano with their hooves. Here is a picture of an Earth pony mare named Coloratura, nicknamed Rara playing a piano with her hooves.
vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/6/68/Coloratura_starts_playing_piano_S5E24.png/revision/latest?cb=20151123125821
Fenix made a face at me, and then pulled his head back into the coach.