March 18
Aquamarine and I got up before the sun and took a nice relaxing shower together. It was really nice to bathe properly, and we made a good team 'cause I could fly up and adjust the showerhead so that it was in the best position for both of us.
There wasn't any awkward bending around to brush out my tail or getting myself confused while looking in a mirror and working on my mane; she did mine and I did hers and we both looked really good when we were done.
We talked about how much trouble we'd both had finding somebody to groom us—she'd gotten a bit luckier than I had, I think, because the campus had farriers and groomers, but then I liked the salon that Meghan had found, and I didn't think I'd be as comfortable in a barn as she was.
I let her take the lead for breakfast. I knew she'd know the best place to eat.
We had to ride the elevator (she didn't really like all the stairs), and I got over my discomfort by just flying above the floor and matching its speed down. Of course it had to confuse me by stopping midway so that a couple of people could get aboard, and when they were on, there wasn't really enough room for me to fly without being really rude, so I stood next to Aquamarine and just dealt with it.
They should have put windows in the elevator.
We went to a dining room that was a lot like the one at Kalamazoo College, and had pretty much the same things to eat.
She went to a table with a bunch of her friends, and introduced me to them. I did my best to keep track of who was who, and I think by the end of breakfast I had it all right. It was nice to put some faces and scents to names I'd only seen in her letters before.
We couldn't stick around for too long because we had to get to the train station, so we took our trays back to the washroom conveyer (which was also almost the same as it was at Kalamazoo College) and then headed back to her room.
If I knew my way around her dorm, I would have flown up the stairs rather than take another trip in the elevator. But I didn’t, and I didn’t want to get lost.
Her human helpers were already waiting outside her dorm room, and she introduced me to them. They were Mister Barrow and Miss Parker, and both of them were just as nice and friendly as Mister Salvatore and Miss Cherilyn.
They helped us with our luggage—although there really wasn't that much—and Aquamarine woke up Jenny long enough to say goodbye. I thought it was odd that they were still having classes while we weren't, but Mister Barrow said that Kalamazoo College was on a different schedule, which is why I'd gotten out early.
I guess that meant that Aquamarine was missing a day of classes. Hopefully they weren't anything important.
They drove us to the train station in a small van like Sienna. Most cars have their names on the backs, but this one had a rear door that opened up on its own and so I didn't get a chance to see its name.
We had to wait around so I got a chance to see a freight train pass really close by. There were round black cylinder cars that had bottoms so high off the ground that I could have walked right under them if the train had been stopped—that’s how big it was. I couldn't imagine how much stuff could fit on a train this size, or what it was needed for.
When our silver Amtrak-train finally showed up, Mister Barrow and Miss Parker helped get all our stuff aboard. They were going to travel with us for the whole trip, just in case we needed anything or if there was any trouble like an angry man. Plus they were going to be tour guides and answer any questions we had.
The train cars were a lot like the airplane was, with rows of identical seats all together, but it had much bigger windows. They didn't open, though.
Unlike the airplane, we could pick whatever seats we wanted. I wanted to sit on the right side, because I'd be able to point out some of the Kalamazoo College campus as we went past it.
It was fun going through town—we went past houses and streets and some big buildings and a few freight trains that were on different tracks, then through a wide place where several trains were stored (I think those are called yards) and then we were out in the country.
I don't know if I would have recognized Kalamazoo as we were approaching it, but the conductor announced each station before we got there so people could get ready. Mostly everyone on the train kept to themselves, but there were a few people that waved at us and several young children who wanted to pet us.
There really wasn't much of the campus that could be seen from the train car, but I pointed it out as we went by. Then we whizzed by Western Michigan University, and out of town.
The train really started to pick up speed once we were in the country. It rushed past fields and through tiny little towns that were gone almost as soon as they were noticed.
We stopped several times in Michigan, then crossed into Indiana. The roads in Ohio were better than the roads in Michigan; I'd noticed that when we went to Punxsutawney. The tracks in Indiana were worse than the tracks in Michigan. We never got up to speed after New Buffalo, and the train alternately sped up and slowed down.
I could see that there were more and more factories and houses and stores and roads so I thought that we were probably getting really close to Chicago. But an hour later we were still going, and it was still mostly built-up—I was beginning to wonder just how big Chicago was. I knew that humans had big cities, but this defied belief.
And all the cars! Sometimes we were next to a road—it looked like a highway, but the cars weren't moving very fast at all. How were there so many of them? They were all crowded together, lane after lane of them all together. I even saw a truck that looked kind of like Winston, and pointed it out to Aquamarine.
The tracks were also terrible. The car banged and lurched as it crossed over bad sections of rail. I guess everyone who was riding the train was used to it: Miss Parker had come back a couple of times to check on us, and when we were in Michigan she had just walked normally, but now she was bracing her hands on the seats as she walked.
We finally got to the train station, and while we didn't have to rush to get to our next train, we couldn't spend a whole lot of time dallying, either, so we went to a little cafeteria and had a late lunch and walked around a bit to stretch out and went out of the building long enough to look at some of the Chicago skyscratchers, and then we had to find our way to our next train. Miss Parker was sending telegrams on her telephone to try and locate a pony who was supposed to meet us here. I tried to guess who it might be (because it wouldn't be fun to just be told).
But I was wrong. We finally located her, and her human helpers. They weren't going with us, so they weren't supposed to be on the train, but they'd managed to convince the conductor to let them aboard anyway.
This train was taller than the last one—it had a second floor on top of the first. Us ponies all had a room in the bottom floor, and Mister Barrow and Miss Parker had a room on the top floor in the same car.
I didn't really pay all that much attention to what they were saying, because Aquamarine and I were getting acquainted with Cayenne, our new traveling companion. She was a unicorn from Canterlot, who was going to college at Northwestern. I remembered seeing her before we left Equestria.
She had the most luggage of all of us, two full trunks plus her saddlebags. Aquamarine had just packed one suitcase and her saddlebags, and I just had my saddlebags.
We spent the time before the train left arranging our room and exploring the train. There was a dining car more towards the front, and a car that had big curving windows.
All three of us sat in the seats and talked about college. Mine was the smallest and most like an Equestrian school, while Aquamarine was at the biggest school.
Cayenne liked the nightlife in Chicago; she said that there was always something going on and there were theatres and art galleries and museums and she never was lacking for something to do. She thought it was weird that Michigan State had fields and greenhouses and pastures and lots of open green space.
It took us all by surprise when the train finally lurched and left the station, headed north.
We stayed in the city for a long time before we were finally out into countryside, and it seemed like it wasn't that long before things started getting built-up again. I was starting to get bothered by the lack of scenery beyond buildings close to the tracks, but once we left Milwaukee we were back in the countryside.
The final member of our group got aboard in Madison. She was actually wearing clothes: a little skirt and a sweater. She introduced herself as Gusty, and had just barely settled into our room when the train left the station, and our trip to see America began.
As I mentioned in the blog post, their trip to see America by rail will be formatted a little bit differently than the usual entries.
Also, for your convenience:
derpicdn.net/img/2017/2/19/1366826/large.png
Aquamarine
derpicdn.net/img/2015/10/14/1001854/large.png
Cayenne
vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/d/db/Comic_issue_40_Gusty.png
Gusty
7211936 No Silver Glow?
Dang, would have loved everyone's reaction to the infamous Tsavo lions in Chicago.
7211962
It'll still be Silver Glow's but might have the chapter breaks be day/night schedules. This chapter ends before dinner, for example.
"Counting the cars on the New Jersey Turnpike
They've all come to look for America...."
'Gusty' makes me think another Pegasus.
Bit too much going on there. Sorry, bad pun.
So many unicorns! How is Silver going to react? Find on next time on Silver Glow's Journal!
On behalf of the whole human race, I'd like to apologize to the ponies for making them see Gary, Indiana.
Okay, I know pegasus flight breaks the laws of physics already, but since I don't feel wind in an elevator the air is moving down at the same speed as the rest of it. It should feel like hovering, not moving down.
7211988 I was talking about the pictures. I have trouble imagining what Silver Glow looks like, so I'd be nice to have an idea of how you see her.
7212014
Maybe they actually push off of the planetary magnetic field? Who knows!
7211936 7211962
I'm actually not sure I've seen a picture of Silver yet.
7211991
Your excellent-music-association game is on point!
7212040
7212031
A previous chapter had a picture of silver glow, one or two back, I remember seeing it at the author's note or comments...
EDIT: Never mind, I'm dumb it was in a blog post: http://www.fimfiction.net/blog/629852/silver-glows-journal-after-spring-break
7211993
Unfortunately for Silver, she isn't. She's also a unicorn.
7212143
Oh yeah. Neat.
I can't wait to find out where they are headed.
It took us all by surprise when the train finally lurched and left the station
Careless engineer. Amtrack's usually smooth enough you don't even notice the takeoff.
7212010
But there's just one place
That can light my face!
And it's not Louisiana, Paris, France, New York, or Rome, but--
Gary, Indiana!
7212288
Instead of "light" I think you mean melt.
Stuff that might annoy Equestrians.
Condiments in hoof unfriendly packets
Sinks w hold down faucets. Unicorns have their magic & Pegasi their wings. Earth Ponies have their problems.
Hot air hand dryers
Missionarys (Mormans, Jehovah's witnesses, Hari Krishna's)
Televangelists
Tabloids
TV ads & motel pay per view TVs & vibrating beds
Las Vegas
Street people
Regional accents
Grits, Kim che (sort of Korean sourkraut) & other acquired tastes.
The KKK, militias, survivalists, & religious folks sure that Satan sent them.
Are the ponies going to slip back into speaking their native Equestrian?
I think they'd enjoy seeing some of America's national parks.
I love seeing Silver slowly realize the sheer scope of human civilization. Hundreds of millions of people in that one country alone, with all of the infrastructure, necessities, and luxuries that come with them.
Also, nice to see one of my favorite background unicorns joined the party.
Can't wait to see where they go.
Awwww... I got all excited when they were leaving Milwaukee 'cause this might be the first story to cameo my hometown. But Eau Claire only has an Amtrak bus stop. I think the rail line heads through Wisconsin Dells and then over to the Mississippi before heading up to Minneapolis-Saint Paul.
I do see Red Wing though, so they wouldn't be far from my grandma's place in Old Frontenac on Lake Pepin (which is really just a very wide section of the Mississippi). Beautiful countryside with some very pretty bluffs lining the lake (river). Silver could ogle the river barges and soar with the bald eagles (which would probably give her handlers conniptions).
If they're heading west from the twin cities area, make sure Silver gets a beautiful selfie from atop Devil's Tower. Talk about unique!
7213173 Korean markets have this stuff called Soji. It means air. It's actually alcohol that colorless, oderless and tasteless. Do not want.
I only hope they take a scenic route to get across to the west coast. Crossing through the central/western states is good only to see how much of the US is seemingly endless empty flat desert. I can say that--I've lived in Kansas and have driven from there to the west coast. Along the way, my truck became thickly coated with grasshopper guts... And that was the most interesting part of the drive. <Poor little grasshoppers!)
7213221 The fun as doubled! Again!
7213163
After the first time it happened I'd go out and buy a year's supply of it.
7213173
"Ma'am! Uhh, ma'am... I don't mean to intrude, but, if you haven't noticed, a chipmunk seems to have hidden itself under your tail."
"Well, I never! It's a merkin, you ignorant boob!"
Merkins would be a horribly weird fashion accessory for a pony, in my opinion.
7210355
Let me put it like this: the computer science department at my university offers an introductory course in discrete math (yes, "CS 3XX: DISCRETE MATHEMATICS", and it's required even for CS minors). Other universities gave up entirely on the separation and now have "Math and Computer Science" departments, instead of Math and Computer Science departments. If you want to learn to design websites, CS is not what you're looking for (at my current university, it's not offered in any form; at the first university I went to, it falls under the department of liberal arts).
Typical Canterlot unicorn.
I really need to get out more! I've been missing out on meeting a unicorn!
7210427
yesplz.
A pegasus with anti-uniorn leanings stuck in close proximity for an extended period of time with two unicorns. On a cross-country trip. In a foreign universe. I think I smell conflict and maybe some character growth (I didn't realize that there was a G4 Gusty.)
7214082
Oh yeah! That spells for some interesting discussions. And for that matter, I wonder if the other three have found someone interesting, like Silver has for Aric.
7211936
Funny, I was thinking i.imgur.com/pJDzzCt.jpg
7214601
Funny, so was I. Well... hoping, at least.
BTW, imgur doesn't work on fimfiction because imgur doesn't like mass saving and crossing-linking of pictures. Apparently.
7213925 Wait, there were books? I only remember the 2 made for TV movies.
Gusty sounds like a Pegasus name?
7213221
Ooooohhh, her philosophy group should get her into Heinlein! (Pronounced Hine-lyne. Not Hine-leen. A common mistake.)
c85c7a.medialib.glogster.com/media/14/14ceec23722314d26f1367ead7b0ffa58a7a227221608e723c32ce91839ce691/valentine-michael-smith-jpg.jpg
While Robert Heinlein didn't start the social and sexual revolution of the '60s and '70s, he certainly set the tone.
7215025
derpicdn.net/img/2012/9/14/97648/full.jpg
Gusty was a unicorn (who sounded suspiciously like Bart Simpson)
Is this the Empire Builder route they are on? If so, they could well wind up in Seattle.
7211963
She'll be going back to Chicago. it's not a long trip from Kalamazoo, after all.
7211991
The first time I heard that song, I lived 20 miles from Saginaw.
7211999
By being cute and adorable, of course!
7212010
I will say it's a lot nicer than it used to be. When I was younger, you could see the yellowish pall in the sky from twenty or more miles away. That's mostly gone, now.
7211995
Correction made, thank you!
7212014
That's a good point. But she knows the elevator is moving, so she knows she's flying up (or down) with it.
Hmm, what would a bird do in an elevator? Or what would happen if you were flying a RC helicopter in one? I feel the need to experiment.
7212081
That would be an interesting road trip, to hit all the towns mentioned in the song.
7212031 7212040 7212143
Basically like this:
pre10.deviantart.net/6e44/th/pre/i/2015/164/a/a/silverglow_g3_pony_by_2devils-d8x5ry3.png
but with body-colored feathers.
7212210
Usually, but sometimes they have trainees at the controls.
7212315
Silver likes that the Taco Bell packets have 'inspirational messages' on them.
Or those annoying motion sensor faucets. I hate those.
They're short enough they could use them as mane driers, though.
They might actually like them. Can you imagine the poor Jehovah's Witness trying to explain their religion to someone who has no concept of God?
My headcanon is that a lot of pony newspapers are tabloid-quality.
Are those still a thing? I haven't seen a vibrating bed in years.
Or they might love them. Or some of them, at least.
Yeah, some of those folks can get downright nasty.
7212368
Probably with some English mixed in.
Aquamarine especially.
7212525
It really is amazing when you stop and think about it.
Which one? Cayenne, or Gusty?
7212566
All over the US--Empire Builder goes to Seattle or Portland (depending on which route you want), and then they're gonna take several different trains back.
7213188
So in other words, it's iocane powder in liquid form.
7212861
You should have lived in a town with Amtrak service
Yup, it does. Then turns mostly west.
That's something she's got to do at some point. Although hawky birds don't really like her all that much, so maybe the bald eagles are out.
Not a lot of opportunity to do that on Amtrak, sadly. But, it gives them a good chance to get a feel for America, and then they can take longer road trips over the summer.
7213235
Yeah; Empire Builder runs through North Dakota, Montana, Iowa (briefly), and Washington State.
When I drove from Lansing to Albuquerque, I gave up on washing the whole windshield and just did the driver's side. It was pretty nasty by the end of the trip.
7213244
7213395
Me, too.
7213575
I don't even know what that is. I guess my liberal arts major is showing
7213641
I know, right?
Yes!
7213796
Riverdream at Sunset (which I had entirely forgotten about) is really good, and has Greek ponies.
7214082
To be fair to Silver, she feels closer to unicorns than non-ponies.
Only in the comics, as far as I know.
7214328
Two of them have
7214601
I didn't know there was an earlier gen Gusty.
If I hadn't already used them in another story, I'd put in Denim Blue and Mittens.
7214615
Although you can do an endrun around that by getting the full URL and then deleting the 's' from 'https'; then they'll work.
i.imgur.com/pJDzzCt.jpg
7214819
Wait, there were movies? How come I'm only learning of this now?
7215189
Really? Interesting. I really need to do some catching up on older Sci-Fi.
7215724
It is, and they will.