You don't need a vacation, darling. You need a new life.
This story is a sequel to Track Switch - Steel Dreams
I used to love my lonely life. But now that I have made some unlikely friends, I sometimes miss their company when I am out there on the tracks in the small hours. Especially that one guy. Too bad I cannot bring Trax with me on a date. She would probably handle it better than me.
This story will make no sense without having read Steel Dreams.
Now with Nightline character art by LunarFroxy.
Pre-read by CandyCanine.
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I always enjoy this series - looking forward to seeing where it goes.
Silage as an Equestrian delicacy. What a novel concept.
So I found this video of Train Cab View accidents and close calls. Kind of let me get a feel for what Nightline and her fellow drivers have to deal with on very bad days.
It also shows how freaking difficult it is to see anything at night from one of the cabs.
I like this world you have created and I like your writing.
This first chapter could easily be a good one-shot.
A positive indicator that the author is a good storyteller.
That little ball of indecise fluff she is...
9709529
Thank you! The rough outline is planned but as for the details, I'm just as interested. ;)
9709972
I guess it was once a way to make inedible stuff digestible by fermentation, if not necessarily appealing. The fact that the 'sour weeds' don't actually contain weeds anymore but nice grasses instead is just the way it goes with poor mare's food that develops into a delicacy in modern times.
9710158
Yes, there's a reason Nightline's employer has a plan in place for psychological crisis support by a team of specialists.
9711088
Isn't that the way it always goes? Poor people buy inexpensive food and make it taste good, then everyone else jumps on the bandwagon and drives the prices up. Just look at chicken wings, used to be dead cheap, and then someone invented buffalo wings.
9710290
Thank you! World-building is what I enjoy most.
9710325
That she is... she'll get help though ;)
9711092
Or Sweden's 'gravad laks' (pretty much 'buried salmon'). Originally a way to keep salmon from spoiling by salting it and burying it in sand above the high tide line and letting it ferment. Served with a marinade made of salt, sugar and lots of dill. That kinda masks the actual taste. Expensive stuff nowadays, especially the 'traditionally prepared' (actually buried in sand) variety that gets served at upper class restaurants.
...
Come to think of it, this sounds exactly like something Admiral Biscuit's coastal pegasi would do. Also the part with upper class restaurants.
Eeeeeeeeee.
I admire this man's preparation and priorities. Random curry encounters are dangerous, delicious things.
In any case, eagerly looking forward to more Nightline. And sophisticated silage as a form of pony cuisine makes a wonderful amount of sense.
9711958
Biscuit's pegasi would definitely go gaga for gravlax, but I'm not sure if they'd have the patience to make it themselves. Everypony would sneak a bit here and a bit there and by the time the one trying to make it dug it out of the sand, it would've all disappeared!
Naturally, all the filchers would blame burrowing, fish-loving monsters.
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All the eeees!
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Especially in back-alley street food nests.
Real ponies devour the stuff with an expression of bliss when given the chance. So maybe a careful selection of quality pasture grasses could indeed be something delightful for pastel equines. With rustic charm of course. There will also be as many recipes as farm mares, each being the absolute best.
Something I'd like to witness.
That could be an interesting special talent to have though, even more so if it were an earth pony or unicorn. Come to think of it, Gaga for Gravlax sounds like the perfect story title.
Huh, silage. It's the little things that make your stories great - well, along with the plot (pun intended), the characters, and that slice-of-life you do so well.
9715347
Thank you!
The little things take the longest to come up with and are the most fun to write.
Flying is great exercise, wonderful cardio. Nightline really ought to get back in the habit.
Love the detailed descriptions of decayed things. They give the story a mix of realism and nostalgic ambient, quite relaxing.
Well, I couldn't wait and started reading this right away. A solid start as expected. Nightline can deny it all she likes but we all know she's a sweetie at heart. I'm looking forward to seeing where this ride takes us.
9717583
She really should. Round bats aren't aerodynamic and can't catch moths.
9717740
That's one of the special things about train travel, seeing behind the facades of everything and everyone. Sad things and little gems. Decay and sanctuaries. And flowers in the middle of decay.
9722080
She really is, even if she doesn't see herself that way.
So am I.
Next chapter is en route.
Another great chapter!
The turbocharger sounds harsh on those bat ears.
Good visuals. I can see the scene as I'm reading.
A nice peek at her work routine.
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9724022
Thank you! I'm glad that a chapter where nothing really happens was enjoyable nonetheless. It was fun to write.
Trains are simple. It's people that are complicated enough to be cause for concern.
9725375
Trains can be reasoned with and don't judge you. Usually.
Seconding the awesome visuals of your storytelling. You are really painting a picture for the reader!
I'm all ready to nominate you the best batponies-and-trains author on FIMfiction.
9732283
Awww thank you.
Makes my day. Working on the next chapter.
Ahh, reading more into this "track switch" world is a delight, specially considering the multiple chapters.
9742472
Thank you!
And yes, it appears that the number of chapters is inversely proportionate to the number of views. ;)
Unhurried exploration, which I'm enjoying myself. And I just realised it's been almost a week since the last update. Will have to rectify that.
Wonderful chapter, and I love the rhythm and the images.
Also, I thought about
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I had a film in my head and tried to convey it as best I could. Glad it worked.
And... Reinhard Mey! Yes, I've thought about the Eisenbahnballade a lot since I wrote Frankfurt Calling. One of his best, maybe the best.
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Not sure if his best, but certainly up there at the top.
Yay. Another great chapter
. I hope she finds the courage to call Irek :)
This is such a fun story, and I love all the details about the trains, they really give it a good feeling.
Would that a reference to one of Admiral Biscuit stories?
9904153
Has to be. I wonder if they text each other? Could be some interesting conversations. Now I have the thought of Penny texting a pegasus in NYC who quit his Wall Street job to be an express Manhattan courier instead.
9904030
Thank you! And either that, or courage finds her :b
9904153
Thank you! I really enjoy writing about those.
9904746
Now there is an idea... ;)
I put off reading this because it wasn't complete, which is my usual habit, but I said screw that and reread the first two and then dove in. You deserve my chapter-by-chapter readership
I love this adorable but real character you've made, and you've obviously spent a lot of time thinking about how a pony would fit in and navigate (physically as well as otherwise) in our world.
9904991
Thank you, that is pretty much the best thing that can happen when you're writing a story.
Definitely! I love blending the mundane with the fantastic and try to make it fit together, treating ponies as something that you don't see every day but that is already fairly normal. That entails a world that has begun adapting to their presence in many areas, but of course not in all. That requires a lot of research, which is fun in itself, and a 'normal' character... and Nightline has become one of my most beloved creations ;)
Irek is driving Night... batty. Self dobut? She is an alien engineer girl who likes good beer, she is like the coolest thing ever! Of course it’s going to work, so why the long face? Why so blue?
Okay, okay... my jokes are pretty bat... like her! I’m sure she’s also a pretty bat.
Also, very well portrayed the self dobut, Night procrastinating the phone calls... It’s incredibly realistic.
Took me a little to get this, but I enjoyed it when I did.
9907844
First of all:
Thank you! Things Equestrian Ready-For-Earth courses don't prepare you for: phone anxiety
That she is.
i.imgur.com/3CH29mC.jpg
9908451
Tried to rewrite that sentence several times to make it clearer, then gave up on improving it.
Didn't delete though, cause like.
9908698
Nah, it's a good line, I am just slow tonight
Another chapter to one of the more unique and engaging stories on Fimfiction.
Please continue with your development of Trax, whatever that may be. I remember your reply some time back as to what Trax actually was. I believe you said Trax was developing some sort of semi-sentient personality with Nightline as the driver.
9908875
Thanks for the praise!
Yes, it appears that Trax is developing some kind of sentience bordering on sapience the longer Nightline is around. Bat pony magic appears to do weird things to her electronic systems and the effect increases the more frequently Nightline is at the controls.
Actually, Trax appears to have developed some feline traits.
...something I didn't even notice before I read the passage again due to your comment.
And yes, she'll evolve further. No doubt about that.