The Equestrian Express is the major railroad that runs throughout all of Equestria's established territories.  It has major stops in Canterlot, Manehatten, Appleoosa, Fillydelphia, Baltimare, Seaddle, Las Pegasus, Trottingham... and, of course, Ponyville.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:44, Thu 24 May 2012.

The train makes it's stop in Ponyville from fabulous Las Pegasus. A pair of die roll against the floor then are picked up shortly before a White unicorn with black slicked-back hair and 3 red 7s of a cutie mark steps out of the train. He looks around in his black tux and nods his head. "Good a place as any." The pony said to himself. "A pony could settle down in a place like this... Who am I talking to?" He shakes his head and starts looking around.

<Exit to Town Square>
This message was last edited by the player at 22:41, Mon 16 Apr 2012.

Once again, the train makes it's stop at Ponyville. Minding the gap between the train and the platform, a small dragon hops down from carriage door, landing unsteadily on his feet before nodding to himself and turning around to take in his surroundings.

"That's one small st-" he began to say, before finding himself having to dodge out the way of hooves of other ponies who were just as keen to get off the train as he was, followed by other ponies who were pretty keen to get on the train as well. By the time the ponies getting off the train were off, and the ponies getting on the train were on, Quill was nursing one trodden upon tail, a ringing in his ears and a fear that maybe life outside of the Royal Archives in Canterlot wasn't for him.

"...one giant leap for drago-"

His train of thought was once again interrupted, this time by the whistle of the train behind him, carrying it's precious cargo of happy, chattering ponies to Trottingham and, as Quill began to realise, his few belongings. In stunned silence, with his mouth half open, he watched the train become nothing more than a small shape and the sound of an engine on the wind.

Shrugging off his initial misfortune, he turned on the spot and began to walk off in search of some help.

[Exit to... Ponyville Business District - Sugarcube Corner]
This message was last edited by the player at 15:41, Mon 07 May 2012.

Enter from Maison la Rich.

Diamond Tiara was not in a hurry, but her pace might have suggested otherwise.  She was not about to miss her train, even if she was early!  In her haste to leave, however, she had ran a little too quickly and didn't pay much attention.  Peppermint might have noticed, but what she noticed first was her charge running onto the train a little too quickly.  She had to flash her ticket to the ticket pony to ensure nothing untoward would happen to her charge.  By the time she might have had a chance to stop and notice the mistake, they were already on the train and the train was already rolling...away from Manehatten...

Exit: To the Adventure Zone: Show must go on.

Entrance Post - Start of Day 8

The train's horn blew as it came to a halt.  Once the train was at a complete stop the doors opened and a few of its passengers began to pour out onto the platform.  It didn't seem like there were very many passengers for Ponyville this morning.  However, among them was a little colt who appeared to be alone.

Hopping off the train and onto the platform, the little colt took a few steps from the train.  Walking further onto the platform, Star Dust stopped to give the place a quick look over.  He was looking for someone, someone who wasn't there.

Standing there, carrying only a green satchel on his back the colt chose to wait.  Surely the one who was supposed to pick him up from the train station was only running a bit late.  So the colt waited... and waited...  When about fifteen minutes had passed the colt heaved a sigh and began for the stations exit leading into Ponyville.

The colt had never been to Ponyville before, so even with an address he didn't exactly know where he was heading.  Perhaps one of the locals would be able to help him.

<To Ponyville Business District>
This message was last edited by the player at 18:42, Sat 01 Sept 2012.

Entrance post - Day 8, early evening, not too far out from Ponyville Station

Penny Dee was snoring unceremoniously in her seat, doing her best to sleep through that oh-so boring, boring, boring part of going anywhere -- sitting still in one place and waiting to arrive for hours and hours on end. A two-bit whodunit novel lay tossed next to her luggage, the sort you'd pick up at the train station for the ride, read all in one go, except you'd miss the last chapter because you'd arrived at that point, and then you'd forget the book in the cabin as you rushed out and for the rest of your life day you'd agonize over how things turned out. Except it hadn't been all that exciting after all, and now here Penny sat, doing her best sawmill impression.

A jerk in the train as they shifted tracks jolted her awake, though. Just as well, there was someone in the cabin with her now!

"Oh, hi!" Penny said, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes before beaming at the other mare. "Didn't hear you coming in. Hope I wasn't too loud over here, heh."

Entrance post - Day 8, early evening, not too far out from Ponyville Station

Carbon Copy flinched, surprised by the sudden jerk of the train. She looked at her sketchbook and sighed, subtle frown forming. Because of the sudden movements, her hand had slipped and now the hillside she had been drawing looked like a mountainside. Reaching out towards the eraser, Carbon happened to look over her book to see the other occupant of the cabin awake and excitedly talking to her. At least the other mare seemed to be talking since her lips were moving and she was facing towards CC.

Carbon took the plugs off from her ears.

"...too loud over here, heh." Indeed, she was talking to her.

When Carbon had entered the cabin, the other mare had been asleep and made enough noise to fell down a small forest. CC had considered waking the other pony but decided against it and just stuffed her ears with plugs instead. No need to tickle the sleeping chainsaw.

But now the pony was awake and since she was addressing Carbon it would be rude to not answer. The grey mare shook her head in forgiving manner and offered a vary smile. Hopefully that would be enough and the other side of the "conversation" would be satisfied.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:30, Sat 12 Jan 2013.

"Phew!" Penny said with relief, and returned the smile.

A silence started to take hold after that, as her cabinmate returned to her acivities and Penny took to looking in no specific order out the window, around the cabin, down at her hooves (idly wondering whether she could get a half-decent hooficure where she was going), and over at the grey mare in the seat opposite and what she was occupying herself with. The farm country rolling along outside made her wonder if she'd missed her stop, but surely the train would make such a commotion (or lo-commotion, even? Penny tittered to herself) coming in to have woken her, and even if it didn't, surely that helpful train conductor would have made sure all the passengers got off where they needed to.

Of course, Penny Dee could only sit still and look into the air for so long without imploding; nary a minute had passed before she cleared her throat and appeared over the edge of her cabinmate's book. "So whatcha drawing there?"

CC returned to her drawing, content silence returning in the cabin between the two strangers. Finally doing what she intended to do the grey mare corrected the drawn landscape in the way she remembered it. Hillside, not mountainside.

As CC resumed her work, she took another subtle glance at the pony on the opposite side of the cabin. She looked to be about her age, maybe slightly older but not more than few years. She had quite unique looks with wild mane, vanilla coat and periwinkle eyes. And was that a beret? Hats were not that commong among ponies, at least not in the places she had visited. In Manehattan some of the more high-class ponies were wearing them but it was to stand out more than out of practicality.

While CC seemed to be content with the silence the other mare obviously wasn't as she addressed her for the second time. CC looked up from her drawing which was almost ready apart from some finishing touches and came face to face with Penny who had sneaked in front of her. Releasing a meek eep CC took few seconds to decided should she just ignore this strangers attempts for conversation. In the end she went along and turned the sketchbook for Penny to see it. She looked slightly nervous as she did this but remained otherwise silent.

The picture showed a sketched landscape which could be seen from the window at the last station they stopped few hours ago. The trees and hills were all drawn with much detail and it was almost like a B&W photo.

(OOC: Sorry Penny, having a conversation with Carbon is really hard ^^)
This message was last edited by the player at 18:41, Sat 12 Jan 2013.

"Oooh. You drew that? Wait, silly question, 'course ya did! And what I mean to say is, that's a really nice drawing."

The picture also made Penny think, and she looked away again, deep in thought for all of five seconds. She didn't remember seeing any place like the one that had been drawn, or at least, nowhere exactly like it. And she'd probably been working at it for quite a while. She hadn't heard the other mare coming in, either, and who knew how long she'd been sitting there before she started? Not Penny, because she'd been asleep half day! Which meant she'd missed dinner! "Also, it makes me realize how hungry I am."

"I'm going to head over to the dining car and see if they're still making anything. Do ya want me to bring something back for you? Don't worry, you can pay me back later!"

Carbon let out a relieved sigh as if she had been expecting a stream of insults or something similar. The praise actually made her blush a bit and she looked away in embarassment. Maybe the other mare wasn't so bad. At first sight she had seemed a bit nosy and uncouth but now Carbon felt ashamed for even thinking like that.

Perking up at the next question, the young mare raised an eyebrow at Penny's train of thought. How did her drawing make the unicorn realize her lack of proper nutrition? That just didn't make any sense. A portrait of a landscape shouldn't make you think of food. Maybe nature, animals, past, future or even weather but not food. Come to think of it, she suddenly realized how hungry she herself was as her stomach growled. It had been good few ours since her last supper.

As Carbon was pondering these, Penny was already halfway out of the cabin. Hurrying after the unicorn, Carbon shook her head to indicate Penny didn't have to bring anything. Instead she started walking beside her, apparently joining on the trip to the dining car.

"Oh, you're coming with? Works for me!" Penny slowed down so her cabinmate and dinner companion could catch up, then resumed her steady pace. "Hey, we should get a table if they're still serving! I've always wanted to eat at a restaurant-on-rails. I hear it's like a fancy restaurant..." She stopped and made a sweeping gesture with her foreleg. "...but on rails!"

As it turned out, as the time was only barely creeping into the evening, they hadn't missed dinner at all. In fact, it was still in full swing, and the dining car was full of hungry ponies and other passengers waiting for or finishing their meals; there were only a couple tables that were still free! Oh, and there were even waiters! And fancy dishes! And neat little napkins! Penny gazed at the sheer novelty of it all with wide-eyed wonder for as long as it took her to realize that one of the waiters had come over and was waiting to wait on them.

"Hi! Table for two, please."

As Penny chatted away, Carbon remained silent but nodded once in a while to sign she agreed and was still listening. The pony next to her sure was lively and knew how to hold on a conversation. Carbon had to try her best to keep up and luckily she was a pony of few words since there was not much room to say anything.

The dining car was just as fancy as Penny had expected and Carbon shared the other mare's silent amazement. She had traveled by train many times but had never bothered to check the dining car to save money. Now she regretted it a bit. Looking around herself Carbon started to feel a bit out of place and wondered why she had decided to follow the other pony. In reality she didn't even know the vanilla mare's name. They never took time to introduce themselves.

Realizing how odd it would be to be sitting on the same table with someone she even couldn't call by name, Carbon nudged Penny gently to get her attention. She then pointed herself and said in very soft voice."I...I'm Carbon Copy. You?"

Penny chatted away as she partook in a delicious if a little overpriced salad and sipped at something that may have been a glass of white wine but that could also have been a perfectly non-alcoholic juice that had merely been served in a slender wine glass-esque piece of drinkware, managing to look only a little feral as she both spoke and ate at and either displayed a commendable fortitude for wine or shown how incredibly thirsty she had been before sitting down to eat, depending on the aforementioned dichotomy was sorted. She stopped the moment CC spoke up, though.

"I thought I'd forgotten something... guess I got a little carried away back there. In any case, it is nice to meet you, Carbon Copy! I," she hiccuped, "am Penny Dee." She introduced herself with a bow and a flourish, or as much as a bow and a flourish as one could muster while sitting down at a table, knocking the contents of her half-empty glass into her salad bowl in the process, fussing about with the mess before she tried it and found she rather liked it, then ordering a new glass and finally forgetting anything unplanned and untowards had ever, ever happened. "I hope you don't I've been acting," she hiccuped again, "- oh my - acting too weird today. But you see--"

Penny looked about conspiratorially and lowered her voice was sort of a whisper, but not really on account of being so loud: "--I've got a teeny, little problem. You see, I'm moving to a new town, and..." She looked about once again before continuing, bit her lip as if unsure whether to go on. "...well, I get really, really nervous about meeting new people! Blabbermouth-kinda nervous, I mean, but still! My pulse's been like," her hoof went DUNK DUNK DUNK in the table for demonstration, "almost since I woke up! Anyways, just wanted to say that I really appreciate that you're bearing with me until I arrive at my stop tomorrow."

"Hic! Hee."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:10, Wed 16 Jan 2013.

Carbon had gotten herself a daisy sandwich, the cheapest item in the menu. A friend of hers back in Trottingham had never praised the food on the train even if the surroundings were fancy. She nibbled her food while following the mare introducing herself as Penny with her eyes. The lil' pony had fallen silent again and only sign of her conversing was a brief nod or shook of her head.

When Penny mentioned her "big" secret Carbon perked up slightly. She could relate to the nervous part more than enough although her way of showing it was the opposite. She reached to her glass of water and saved it again from spilling over as Penny demonstrated her pulse on the poor table.

"Not a problem." she said softly and smiled in consoling manner."Where you moving?" Carbon couldn't help but be interested. She too was going to be living in a new town and finding anyone in similar situation eased her own nervousness.

Penny beamed, relieved that CC was taking this all in stride. "Nowhere big, small town called Ponyville - dunno if you've heard of it - I used to live in Hoofington, but I... wanted to get out of town for a bit. Get away from all the hustle and bustle while I'm working on my next book. " Well, first book, but who were counting, anyways? "More importantly, have you seen the price on real estate out there? They're practically giving places away - or at least, leasing them out pretty cheaply - if you're moving in and sticking around."

"Anyhow, CC, that's where I'm headed." She folded her hooves beneath her chin, throwing the evening sky a pensive look before smiling back at Carbon. "So how far are you going? Heading to visit family or friends?"

Carbon blinked. Did Penny say Ponyville? But wasn't that the same town she was headed to and intended to stay for a while?"Coincidence..." she muttered softly, mostly by herself but just loud enough for Penny to hear too. She then pulled out her sketch book and dug something from between the pages, then offered it to Penny. It was a small brochure of Ponyville and a trainticked to there, stamped at Trottingham.

"I'm headed there too." she said in meek voice, poking her hooves together as she spoke."Probably staying..." Hopefully. Carbon had moved many times since she had yet to find place to fit in."You mentioned book...what is it about?" She changed the subject since talking about herself made Carbon nervous.

Penny found herself excited by the news that CC was going to Ponyville, as well. For a second, she was also a little suspicious -- had they figured out where she was going so soon? Was this some kind of plot to reel her in? But then Penny thought about it and realized what a silly idea that was!

They wouldn't realize anything was wrong with the books until payday month, or next week at the earliest, and besides she had made sure to cover her tracks. Nobody at the 'Post would realize she was gone for at least another few days, either, unless her boss had grown a conscience and concern for his fellow being's well-being since the last time she'd seen him (as if!). And even if somebody got into her apartment, the note she'd left for her landlord that she'd gone off to visit her mother in the countryside - in the opposite direction of Ponyville - should throw them off the trail. Nevermind the several other steps Penny had taken to make sure that there had been no paper trail for anypony or anyone to find her by whatsoever.

No, they couldn't be looking for her already... probably.

She shook these thoughts from her head and smiled at CC. "You're going to Ponyville, too? We should get apartments next-door! Or in the same street. You know, whatever the market allows for." Her thoughts briefly took a different turn, towards the state of Ponyville's real estate. Sure, it was cheap, but were they simply trying to attract ponies and encourage urban growth, or were the idyllic photos and paintings merely a facade for a dark and troubled place, where no sane pony would ever want to live, much less purchase property and invest in local business and agriculture? Hmm, now there was an idea for something to write about. Speaking of which, apparently CC was curious what Penny's book was going to be about about.

"I really shouldn't say," she said with a grin, "it's - a - se - cret. But if you want, I can get the first book off the printers set aside for you. I'll even sign it and everything!"

Totally oblivious of her companion's conspiracy thoughts, Carbon put her ears back slightly at the rejection to tell more about the book but let it go. An author would probably say something like that if the story was still unfinished.

The topic had been shifted back to the living arrangements in Ponyville and Carbon gave a troubled look towards Penny."I...'m not sure if my stay will be permanent. Maybe rent a room or something..." She wasn't sure if there was even rooms for rent but buying an estate from Ponyville had never crossed her mind. She had originally planned staying in the local inn but if the stay would become longer then she might as well seek to rent an apartment.

Penny's offer made Carbon smile, raising her mood again."Thanks. I'll look forward reading your book when it comes out." She said innocently, not really sure when to expect the said book to be published.

"I'm sure you'll figure something out," Penny said reassuringly, "in any case, it's <hic!> good to know I won't be the only new pony in town."

She took the temporary lull in the conversation as an opportunity to finish the rest of her salad. Which didn't take very long, considering Penny's table manners, but she was still a little peckish, and the dish had been decent enough that she didn't mind scarfing it down. Not to mention it was soaked with about a glass' worth of white wine, and you couldn't let that sort of stuff go to waste. When that was done, though, Penny started to wonder if it wasn't time for the two of them to return to their compartment. She voiced her thoughts out loud:

"Hmm, not that this place wasn't everything I dreamed of and more, but maybe we should head back before anybody sees the cabin is empty and help themselves to our luggage."

As soon as Penny finished her salad, Carbon realized she had still over half of her sandwich left. Letting out a silent gasp, she started to eat with quicker bites, thinking it would be rude to make the other pony wait while you ate. She nodded briefly at Penny's words, still munching away her food. She might be right, although Carbon didn't have much luggage anyway.

"Right." Finishing her meal pretty quick, the shy mare just silently rose from her seat and got ready to follow Penny. Her expression was slightly somber and after short silence, she spoke up again."Um...I'm sorry. For being so boring company. Not used to conversations." Her ears drooped on sides enhancing her puppy-dog look, Carbon avoided Penny's eyes in embarrassed manner. Why couldn't she come up with anything interesting to talk about? Maybe if she could have practiced the conversation before hoof she might have thought up a good topic but pulling things out of a hat was out of her expertise.

"I...I don't think anypony would be interested in my stuff. I don't have much possession." Smooth, talk about how plain and poor you are. Face-hoofing in her mind Carbon just gave an awkward smile.

As soon as CC was done with her sandwich Penny got up, as well. She offered to pay for the meal; it was no trouble, especially as CC had ordered the cheapest item on the menu for some reason. Penny didn't see why she didn't make more of the opportunity, truth be told -- I mean, they were serving meals... On wheels! Penny tittered to herself at the mere thought of it. In any case, when the meal had been paid for, she started back towards their cabin.

"Hmm. Boring company... or attentive listener?" Penny said when they were out of the hustle and bustle of the dinner cabin. "You gotta learn to turn a phrase, CC. You know, find the positives and point out the upside of things. Emphasize the good, paint the picture from a different perspective. Or draw it, in your case!"

She didn't go on with the metaphors; they were back at the cabin. Fortunately, nothing seemed to be out of place or tampered with. "Quite so; you can't lose what you don't have in the first place. See, that's what I'm talking about -- look at the bright side. Now where did that paperback go..?"

Her voice trailed off and Penny all but forgot the other pony in the room as she took to looking under her seat, her cushions, her luggage, and so forth for where the errant novel had gotten itself to. She accidentally pushed her overpacked suitcase to the floor in the process; the strained lock sprang open, and a small cloud of... bank notes? Flew out. Penny magicked them back in as best she could and then climbed atop the thing in an attempt to close it again, muttering something about a "dumb Wheeler's dumb locks not working" as she did. Muttering turns to a slightly nervous laugh when she remembered CC was with her. "I..." literally got bit by a bank robber as a kid and have an irrational fear of banks and a dislike of the idea of trusting them with money ever since then? Nobody would believe that -- even if truth sometimes was stranger than fiction. "...it's a long story! So let's change the subject."

"How about free lunch."

Penny then cleared her throat, conveniently found her paperback within spell's reach, and did her best to immerse herself in the book and not any conversations about where she'd gotten a suitcase full of money.

"All month."

Giving serious consideration to Penny's words while she sat on the seat she had left her meager luggage, CC did what she always did when she had something to think: She took out her sketchbook. She took a quick look at Penny who was now searching something and wordlessly started doodling the scene unfolding in front of her in the book.

CC got more and more absorbed in her work until a sudden sound made her peek over the book. She saw Penny quickly shuffling some bank notes back inside the bag and closing it with her own weight, a sheepish and not very convincing smile plastered on her face. There was clearly something in those notes Penny didn't want to talk about.

CC calmly flipped a page in her sketchbook, text written on the side facing Penny so she could read it.

Whatever you mean? Surely nothing happened? I didn't notice anything, at least not a suitcase full of money. Did you see something like that?

She gave a sheepish smile, trying to wink but it came out more like she had a very bad twitch in her other eye. Welp, hopefully her message was clear.

Might as well try this new perspective Penny spoke of. The other mare probably had her situations and they were not CC's to meddle into. After all, they were practically still strangers to each other. In her mind CC wished to change that but now the atmosphere had turned too awkward for further discussion. She closed her sketchbook and started preparing for the night. Tomorrow would be eventful so she needed to recharge as much as possible.

"It's late. I'm gonna sleep. See you tomorrow." She mumbled sleepily as she drifted to sleep.

Penny read(or at least pretended to read) for a good while longer. It was way past midnight untill she had reached the end of the book and could let herself rest as well.

-=End Day 8=-

--------------------------------------------------------------
-=Start Day 9=-

The train arrived at Ponyville early in the next morning. Carbon yawned softly as she stepped on the platform, sandlebags packed and slung over her back. Despite going to bed early she had had problems in getting sleep due to her anxiousness. No matter how many times you experienced it, arriving into a new town always made her extra nervous. She wouldn't know her way around and everypony was a stranger.

She stopped to wait Penny, a mare whom she had made acquaintances with during the trip, and took some time to inspect her surroundings. Ponyville appeared more peaceful than the cities she had visited before and had homely feeling. This made CC feel more confident. Perhaps here she could find friends and a new start she had been searching for a while now.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:42, Fri 01 Feb 2013.

While CC had wisely tucked in early last night, Penny had stayed up all night, and was still snoring away even as the train began to slow down and roll into the station. She snapped up at the sound of brakes gently chiming (well, it was more of a slow screech, really), bleary-eyed and not entirely there -- but this wasn't the first time Penny had to make a quick getaway after waking up and seeing where she was and what was happening.

Well-trained as she was in morning-after make-offs, she quickly scanned her place to make sure she wasn't leaving anything important behind (still missed the book, though) and made her drowsy departure along with CC, her suitcase rolling along on squeaky wheels behind her. She yawned as they exited the train, not looking nearly as excited as her fellow out-of-towner, and truth be told, right now, she wasn't. It wasn't even noon! What an unprincessly hour to wake up at, she thought, much less settle into a whole new place! She mentally chided the engineer and the conductors and the rest of the crew for not slowing down the train so they'd arrive at a more convenient hour. They didn't hear it, of course, but it made Penny feel better.

She yawned again.

"Nice place." Penny said, but her mood struck through and made her sound a little insincere; she kicked herself a little about it for a couple seconds. But she lit up again when she realized that there was one thing that would help if she could find it. "Alright. If I'm going to live here, I'm going to need to," she yawned again! Darn yawn reflex. Penny rubbed some sleep out of her eyes, trying to clear her mind up a little with the gesture. "I'm going to need to figure out where I can get a good cuppa on a regular basis. And frankly I could use one right now."

She started off to begin her search, but stopped when she thought of something. She looked to CC. "Of course, taking care of the bare necessities first and then grab coffee might be good, too... what do you think?"
This message was last edited by the player at 05:30, Sat 02 Feb 2013.

The little bit of confidence was scared out of CC when Penny's tired voice reached her ears. When had the other mare sneaked there? Letting out a shy 'eep', CC snapped out from her thoughts and turned towards her latest travelling companion.

Penny had presented a good question. Both options were sound and while the cup of coffee sounded very tempting, taking care of the necessary legal stuff was important. If alone, CC would have probably headed to the town hall without a second thought but one look at Penny told her the mare was in dire need of something to wake her up. Paper work and filling out forms probably had the opposite effect and deep down CC felt Penny wouldn't enjoy dealing with red tape either way.

Flashes of previous evening appeared in CC's head; Penny's bag full of bank notes and the awkward smile she had when exposed. The grey mare shook her head to get those images out, she had made a decision not to inquire about that. Penny would talk when she was ready.

"Coffee sounds fine." CC muttered, slowly starting off towards the exit of the station. She had no actual idea where to find a coffee shop but maybe some of the locals could point a way?

-->Exit station and eventually to Summer Song Cafe

Penny Dee looked relieved at CC's decision and trotted along behind her, looking forward to getting herself her first dose of caffeine of the day. This morning was looking better and better by the minute already.

-->Exit station, to Summer Song Cafe
This message was last edited by the player at 06:04, Mon 04 Feb 2013.

--> Arive from Manehattan.

"Where is that crazy little filly? Running away from home! Did she honestly think mom and dad wouldn't send someone after her?" The strange mare who currently was staring at the map of Ponyville on the train station wall muttered as she tried to devine the rout to Sweet Apple Acres.

---> From Masion Le Rich

After about fifteen minutes of trying to haggle over the price of a train ticket and being disappointed in the outcome of a "fixed rate" despite the fact she was charming as ...!

Well it didn't matter. Loose Leaf had gotten her ticket and was simply sitting on a comfortable wooden bench with her pack over her back. Running around mostly naked really made packing so much easier. She had even been able to snag a dafodile sandwich from the stand for dirt cheap (and that had been much easier to haggle for) and was now enjoying the last couple of bites.

Peering around for a trashcan, Loose Leaf noticed a brown pegusus woman staring at one of the maps conveniently next to a trash can.

"Can I help you with something?" she asked, crumbling the empty sandwich wrapper and tossing it away.

"Why, yes, I think you could." The mare replied with a Manehattan accent thick enough that you would have to cut it with a chainsaw. "Do you live around here? I am trying to find my way to Sweet Apple Acres." She asked politely of the red and cream mare. Up close Leaf could see that the other mare was a veritable giant, distinctly a draft, and tall even for one of that breed. She stood almost 15 'hands' and had the stocky/athletic body that Miss Leaf had rarely seen except on one of the Apples, namely Big Macintosh.

If it hadn't been for the slight curves and the face, Loose Leaf would have assumed the mare had been a stallion. She was big. Like merriweather big. Maybe bigger.

Oh right, she asked a question. You should get to that.

"Oh, well I've only been living here for about a week, but I do have a basic diea where it is," she admitted, and her hoof went down on a sizable patch of green on the putskirts of town. "If you cut across town, you should get there pretty quick. What brings you to Ponyville anyways? You have relatives i  Sweet Apple Acers or just whanting to see the farm? I'm Loose Leaf by the way."

Loose Leaf wasn't sure if the farm got tourists, but with the 6 barriers of the elements of harmony, she didn't push the possibility away.

"Ah, well, I am a cousin of the Apples and my sister came to visit but it is time I take her home." Gale hedged somewhat nervously, then, smiling with ill fitting pretense, bid the other mare good day. "Thank you kindly for pointing the way for me, I hope I will see you again some time." And quickly trotted off in the indicated direction.

--> Exit to Center of Ponyville

Luna still had her own uncertainties about just what they'd all be doing in Canterlot, but she did know that there was some sort of crisis or else Celestia wouldn't be doing all that she'd done - Asking her to remain away from the capital, sending Discord to collect the Element Bearers....

Whatever was afoot, Luna, for now, was content to help carry Rarity's  copious luggage with her telekinesis for the moment. Fung Shui, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy accompanied her in arriving at the station, where Luna finally - and carefully - set the heavy luggage down and turned to the others.

"There we are... Now. Twilight and the others should be along soon. My Sister will be waiting for you in Canterlot, and she'll be able to tell you more - I'm afraid she told me every little, actually."

Fluttershy stepped forward nervously and spoke up with a demure tone, "Um, Princess Luna?" She inquired, "Are you not coming with us?" She wondered truly what could be happening. she'd tried to hide but it had been to no avail. Eventually she was forced to gather her own saddle full of personal things and set off, leaving Angel to hold down the fort as usual.

Once Princess Luna let her luggage gracefully land, Rarity began a careful count to make sure each and every suitcase was accounted for. She did not want to be unprepared when visiting the illustrious Canterlot! Therefore, only the most important necessities were packed away, and for this fastidious and precise mare, that meant quite the pile! Shai had offered to help her pack, but she mysteriously disappeared half way through the process without saying goodbye!

Ah, well!

Every bag and case was labeled and glittering with her own personal trademark of blue diamonds. Now, if only she could get all of them onto the train...

"You are more than welcome to stay in my Boutique, Princess," she told the alicorn sweetly, "It has everything you would ever need. All I ask is that you mind Opal while I'm gone, keep her fed and groomed. I left instructions on the kitchen table."

--> Timeshift to Afternoon, Day 9

Shai Ni found herself in a dark, but comfortable place, although there wasn't much room to move.  She could hear muffled voices, but she couldn't quite make them out.  Ah, well.  There was no use getting all riled up about it.  Might as well take a nap and deal with it after ensuring she had a cool head.

Thankfully, the short walk from Sugarcube Corner to the Train Station did wonders for the Kirin's stomach, as he quickly recovered from whatever horrid illness his sudden teleportation had afflicted him with.  Of course, he was in no way cured of his soul-crushing embarrassment, and had hung behind the group to nurse his wounded pride back to health.

He may have been better off if it had been some other ponies, but these weren't just anypony.  While Princess Luna had assuaged his knee-jerk reaction to stand on protocol around royalty, being in the presence of prestigious heroes like the Elements of Harmony and promptly making sick all over another pony's establishment was hardly his idea of a good impression.  So, when they had arrived at last at the Train Station, Fung rejoined the group in an attempt to save face.

At Fluttershy's demure question, Fung stepped up alongside her almost subconsciously.  Something about her soft-spoken demeanor reminded Fung of the mare's back in Neighpon.
"I am somewhat confused myself.  While I am more than happy to assist Equestria in any way I can, I hardly count myself equal to the ranks of the Elements of Harmony."

The princess smiled at Rarity. "I shall..  do my best to take care of Opalescence, and thank you." She did pause and spare a glance to Fung Shui, then. "Discord wasn't very clear on why he had dragged you along - We can only assume there was  a purpose behind it. I know that perhaps it isn't  expected, but I would ask you to see matters through. I'm sure, as the Neighponese ambassador, you're up to the task?"

"Alright, I hope that you find what you're looking for," Loose Leaf started, but the mare was already heading out. Didn't even introduce herself... she must have really been in a rush. Oh well, guess she couldn't judge. She was pretty busy herself. Whatever had the mare riled up though... well, Loose Leaf was glad it wasn't her. She didn't look as imposing as Merriweather, but she was certainty bigger. Loose Leaf just shrugged and turned about to sit back down on the bench and wait for the train.

Of course, the train that DID come was a group of ponies, most of whom she recognized.

"Hey, what's going on with the whole crowd thing here?" Loose Leaf asked to none of them in particular, knowing most of them anyways. She did however, keep her back a bit to Fung Shui.

-Day 9 Afternoon-

"I can explain some of that, at least."

Ah, the benefits of being a walking index of knowledge.  It always seemed like Twilight Sparkle had something helpful to add to just about any situation and, thankfully, she could clear up a few things about the moment at hand.  She wasn't too keen to explain the whole shebang so long as the entire group hadn't yet gathered though.

"I've been sending messages back and forth to Princess Celestia since the initial contact this morning." the young Alicorn announced as she trotted up along the train station platform.  Unlike Rarity, she only had her saddle bags in tow and had no real need for excess luggage.  Of course, she also had her family home in Canterlot and a room at the castle, so it wasn't like she was hurting for options either.  "She's been pretty tight-lipped about most of the details, but there's some sort of epidemic hitting the castle.  It's magical in nature and has been isolated down, so it's not like there's a huge spread threatening the rest of Canterlot.  But it's still something that needs to be addressed."

She looked to Fung Shui with an apologetic expression.  "The reason you've been called in as well is because one of the afflicted is a Kirin diplomat who'd been staying in Canterlot.  Does the name 'Mugicha' ring any bells?  As you're the closest Neighponese ambassador, Princess Celestia felt it was important you be involved here."

"Ah, Twilight. There you are." She turned to face the other Alicorn, and gently smiled as she took in the mare in a different tone than before - warmer and yet more distant at once. "Just two of you left, now. I see... troubling. All of you - please be careful and be safe. I shall watch over Ponyville while you're away."

She turned then, briefly, to Loose Leaf, and smiled. "They've been called to Canterlot, and won't be in town for a bit." she explained lightly.

Fung inclined his head respectfully to Luna when she turned her attention to him, heeding the tone in her voice well.
"I am sure that whatever Celestia's need for me, I will be happy to assist in Neighpon's name."
The sudden arrival of Loose Leaf took him off guard, and he had been about to say hello when he realized that she was keeping her back to him; very subtly, perhaps, but not so much that the Kirin didn't notice.  A streak of concern flashed through him.  Was she angry with him?  Had he already done something wrong without realizing it?

As fate would have it, before Fung could articulate anything, Twilight arrived and began expositing quite conveniently.  He was surprised to hear an epidemic hitting Canterlot, and perhaps quite a bit more concerned.  To a pony who lived on an island nation with a relatively small population, Epidemics of any sort were a serious matter, especially the magical sort.  At the mention of Mugicha, Fung blinked in surprise, his expression turning concerned.
"I didn't realize Mugicha-san was here!  I suppose it is some small blessing I was not in Canterlot to greet her, or I may have fallen victim as well.  This is grave news indeed."

"So wait, the Castle is under an epidemic, or the whole city?" Loose Leaf asked, her face contorting with cynicism. "Cause if it's a whole epidemic of the city, then why hasn't the train station been informed and still letting people move in and out?"

At that, Loose Leaf lifted up her ticket to show the group. "I was able to buy a ticket to Canterlot, and I'm just a regular pony, completely unaware of what's going on, about to stumble a) into an epidemic city, or b) a city with an infected castle." If anything, Loose Leaf seemed more amused by the whole mess, though it was mostly to conceal her concern.

Twilight cast Loose Leaf a flat expression at her interruption.  "I just said that it was isolated to the castle and hadn't spread to the rest of the city.  We all know Princess Celestia isn't afraid to limit access to Canterlot in times of danger, so it's not like..."

The Alicorn paused in mid-lecture as she blinked a few times, looking Loose Leaf over.  Finally, she realized she had no idea who this Pony was.  "I'm sorry, have we been introduced?"

Loose Leaf's ears flattened a bit as Twilight Sparkle corrected her and tried not to say something snarky back to hide her embaressment. "Sorr-y," she mumbled just a bit, a bit of that whining inflation dragging on the "y". "I guess I just missed it walking over here. Still, the important thing is that it's NOT that bad. Was just a bit nervious about walking into some sort of weird epedemic thing. I'm Loose Leaf by the way, and considering the purple and the alicorn thing going on, I'm going to make an educated guess and say you're Twilight Sparkle."

At that, Loose Leaf put on a satisfied grin and put out her hoof for a shake.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:42, Wed 17 Apr 2013.

=>From: Summer Song Cafe=>

"Pansy!  Pansy!" Wordsmith called after the mare as he caught up to her.  "Sorry about that.  Mom was teasing me, not you." he said softly, chuckling a bit, "I should have warned you that we all have a fairly similar bad sense of humor."

From Summer Song Cafe-->

Pansy paused long enough for both of them to catch their breath.  Hopefully they had a small bit of time before his family caught up.  "It's fine, I just..."  One hoof traced a circle on the platform. "Rose Luck told me all the rumors that had been flying around about us being gone so long, and having eloped, and all.  I didn't expect your family would go along with it!"

Wordsmith blushed, "Yeah... hearing those rumors were a bit of a shock." he said, "I'm sorry they said those things about you... I hope..." he blushed, "... I hope I haven't caused you trouble."

"My mom told me when she found me." He explained, "They didn't believe we had done that.  It's more... if you don't make fun of it... how can you get over it, I guess."

He blushed, "We still make jokes about Dad's fake legs" he motioned to his hind legs, "If we don't make fun of it, we go 'crazy with grief' as it were."

"I guess that makes some sort of sense," she replied, significantly calmer now. It sounded like the kind of advice that Pinkie Pie might give.  "I guess I just thought it might end up being harder to shake the rumors if your parents are still teasing us about it."

"I like you, Wordsmith.  I don't want other ponies to think badly of you because of silly rumors."

"Then we can ask them not to." Wordsmith smiled, blushing brightly at the fact she said she liked him.

As a friend.  Just as a Friend he had to remind himself.  They hadn't known each other all that long.

"They'll listen, and understand.  I promise, they meant nothing mean-spirited by it."

OOC: Posting on behalf of Applejack with permission.

-= Afternoon Begin --> From Sweet Apple Acres =-

Rainbow Dash's wings were getting tired, but she would never admit it. She could fly for hours on end by herself, but this was a different situation. Hooked around her waist and with straps that went around her 'shoulders' for support, was a cart containing Applejack.

Applejack looked more than a little bit nervous as she sat in the cart, that was most definitely not designed for flying. "Uh, Rainbow? Ah'm mighty grateful that yer' flyin' me here an' all, but couldn't we have walked?" she asked, trying not to look over the edge and the listen to sound of the creaking wood.

"Walk? With your hoof? Forget that! You've done so much for me... I just wanted to return the favour." Dash countered, looking down and seeing the station below. "We're almost there."

Applejack nodded, looking over to Rainbow and gauging her expression. "You alright, RD?" she asked.

Dash was about to deny it, but she couldn't bring herself to. "It's... well everything that's been going on. With you. With Scootaloo. I don't like leaving her alone again so quickly."

Applejack nodded with a deep sigh. "Ah know what ya mean. She's just gettin' used to havin' ponies who care for her like a family an' all." She paused and then gave a comforting smile. "Besides, she ain't gonna be alone. Granny Smith and Big Mac will take care of her."

Dash let out a deep sigh again and nodded. "You're right, Apples. Thanks. Ready to land?"

"Sooner the better." she responded quickly.

Dash took the cart into a gradual descending spiral before coming to a nice soft landing outside the station. She quickly unhooked herself and ran around to give Applejack and helping hoof off the cart, making sure to take the weight off her injured hoof.  Together, they walked into the station. "Hey, everypony."

The yellow pegasus turned and waved as Applejack and Rainbow Dash neared, "Good afternoon, everypony." She greeted with a small smile. She hoped that Rainbow and Applejack were getting along well since the contest. It certainly had been an interesting set of affairs, one that turned out almost like the contest for Tank; In the end it didn't matter what Rainbow Dash thought she'd been looking for, she got who she needed. That was what mattered, after all. "How are you two?"

Applejack made a point of stepping out of the formerly-airborne cart, and onto her delicate hoof. "nhh...  Doin' just fine, don't ya' worry, Fluttershy." She made her way steadily toward the group, and took her hat off for a quick bow to Luna. "Princess.  Sorry we were runnin' a bit late." She smiled at Twilight, then - and made no mention of her still-aching hoof, standing as steady as ever now that she wasn't walking on it.

Still, it'd probably hold her back some, but she didn't seem like she was ready to make excuses of it. "This looks like everpony..."

Finishing her greetings with Princess Twilight, Loose Leaf turned to Princess Luna with a polite nod that bordered on a bow. "Sorry to interrupt you shin-dig, just wanted to make sure I wasn't running into something blindly."

Of course part of her concern had been the fact most of the ponies leaving were friends of hers. New friends, but friends non the less. Loose Leaf put her leg around Rarity and gave her a friendly squeeze. She was by far the closest to her of the bunch.

Well, maybe not the closest. Wasn't like she tried to kiss her the night before, failing completely and now just trying to give her space so that she would chill out, and maybe then Loose Leaf would feel less awkward because apparently casual conversation - say like the conversation earlier that morning oh hohohohoho! - was just going to make things worse! Not like that with RARITY at ALL!

Where we before this totally off topic rant about a certain kirin started?

Oh right, Rarity hugs.

"And what can I say? I'm protective of my friends. I don't like the idea of them running into danger, even if they are elements of harmony... barrier... ponies." Loose Leaf made a face at that. Huh, she had never really figured out if there was an official name for them.

*~*~Power Ponies Friendship Force! ~*~*

No that's stupid.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:30, Tue 23 Apr 2013.

The train ride from Trottingham had been a rather dull experience all around.  Pip wanted adventure. Excitement.  And pirates!  Yes....pirates.  He was rather obsessed with pirates as his dress quickly gave away to anyone who gave the tiny colt a seconds glance.  A small red bandanna was atop his head, the short brown hair of his mane poking out just above his eyes...er eye. Aye?  He had an eye patch over his right eye with a skull on it.  Very frightening. Oh -- and lest we forget -- two swords across his back.  Well, not real swords.  Wooden swords.  But what would a pirate be without his weaponry? Defenseless, that's what..

When the train finally pulled into the station, Pip was about ready to go stir crazy.  It's a bad idea to try and keep a colt locked down in a seat for who knows how many hours.  The doors opened and Pip hurriedly rush out the door and past a few other ponies.  His hooves moved a bit faster than his brain could keep up with though and he tripped and landed on the ground, all four feet splayed out.

"Great way to start your adventures in Ponyville, Pip."  He said quietly to himself as he stood up, dusting himself off.  Now which way was he going to go?  This was the first time he'd actually been on his own, though technically not really alone, ever in his life.  His parents had given him permission to leave, albeit they seemed oddly glad about it.  He wasn't sure why.  Grownups were weird like that.

"Ok," Pansy nodded.  "Hey, if we don't want to miss the competition, we should probably catch the train."  She pointed to the train that would be heading for Manehatten in a few minutes.  She knew Wordsmith's parents hadn't gotten here yet, but if they missed the train, he wouldn't have a chance.

Wordsmith chuckled, "Yeah... Dad's a little slower walking because of his prosthetic hind legs."

He looked around, hoping to spy them.  Pansy was right, they would have to leave soon so they didn't miss the train.


Seeing his father floating above the crowd he waved to him, Long Wing waved back.  Wordsmith pointed to the train, then the big clock, then made a "rushing" motion with his hooves

Long Wing nodded, understanding.  Wordsmith blew him a kiss before turning to Pansy with a grin

"I think we can go now." he said

Enter Trixie --> Summer Song Cafe

The sky-blue mare spotted Wordsmith and Pansey quickly enough after arriving at the station. Rushing about to meet wwith them on the second platform, she stopped a few steps off from Wordsmith, and cleared her throat. "A-ahem... Wordsmith...  You mentioned that you could help Trix- ... I mean - me..." She looked away awkwardly, and cleared her throat. "Trixie was rude... err... Thank you.. for offering... though."

Wordsmith turned, blinking as Trixie spoke, "ah.. um" he blushed, "It's okay Trixie, things have been a bit weird for us all the last couple days.  Thank you though." he smiled

Twilight shook Loose Leaf's hoof in a good-natured manner, already recognizing that she'd gone and rubbed the mare the wrong way.  Even after so long, she still had trouble with interactions sometimes... with the whole call to duty in Canterlot and how little information Celestia had given them on the matter, she was a little more on edge that she fully realized.  It had been some time since they'd all been called upon to handle any major issues and she was left fretting inwardly over what the problem could have been that so little could be revealed about it.

As much as she loved and trusted Celestia, her mentor had a habit of hiding big events in little packages.  "Get out and make some friends" became "Save the world from Nightmare Moon and restore Princess Luna".  "Take a test" became "Fend off King Sombra and help save the Crystal Empire and all of Equestria by proxy".  Twilight didn't know what to expect, and that didn't sit well with her at all.

The others arrived one by one to the train platform just as the express from Trottingham came into the station and began to unload.  That was their train out, as it would circle past Canterlot on its route over the mountains.  However, Twilight was left looking about curiously when Applejack summed up their group.

"Wait, we're one Pony short.  Where's Pinkie Pie?" she asked as she looked about.  Nearby, one of the train windows slid down and the party pony herself poked her fluffy head out.

"Over here!  I got us great seats!" Pinkie chirped gleefully.

"Pinkie... how did you get on that train before it got here?" the Alicorn gawked.

"No time for that now!  We've got to get to Canterlot!  C'mon everypony~!  Aaaaaaaaa~ll aboard!  Woo wooooooo~!"

---

Meanwhile, on the opposite platform, the other train running the other direction was in the midst of warming its engine for departure.  Plenty of other Ponies were busy filing on and getting their seats while Trixie, Wordsmith, and Pansy milled about on the platform waiting for the others.  About that time Merriweather herself came out from the ticket office, shuffling through various bits of paperwork and a route map with a pair of thin spectacles perched on her snout.

"Oh!  Good, you're all here.  Is everypony ready to go?" the cafe matron asked as she hovered Trixie's ticket on over to her while keeping one for herself.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:46, Wed 24 Apr 2013.

The yellow mare checked the things in her luggage and saddle bags. She wished she would have known about it being something to do with illness or she would have packed the rest of her own personal medical tools. However, it was Canterlot. For any medical expertise she could provide they would doubtless have facilities and tools for her to use. She jumped a bit when she saw Pinkie Pie on the inside of the train but quickly shook it off.

She turned to Loose Leaf, who still hugged Rarity, and gave a smile. "Good afternoon Loose Leaf," She provided kindly, trying to get rid of what awkwardness or tension there would have been with the other pegasus.

"Oh! Hey Fluttershy, I didn't hear you come up," Loose Leaf greeted eagerly, still hugging onto Rarity. "Rarity, please tell Fluttershy that letting me paint her is a good idea. Rarity can vouch for me, I painted her the other day. It's so hard to be an artist here in Ponyville. Surrounded by so many lovely ponies I feel like a dirty school colt with my hands on my paintbrush all day."

Slowly she moved her lips to Rarity's ear and whispered: "And maybe one day I'll have the courage to ask Princess Luna for a sketch too."

"Awright everypony, let's get goin." She trotted along toward the train, and motioned the others after her before stepping aboard,  turning to follow Pinkie's voice with careful, light steps.  She found herself  an open seat, and sprawled across it, getting her sore hoof off the ground.

"... Yer right, Pinkie, these are good seats."

Luna glanced up at the train as Pinkie called out to the others, then opened her mouth to speak, but stalled as Loose Leaf scooted up to Rarity. She brought her hoof to her lips, and cleared her throat. "Ahem~ You should all hurry along, though. The train won't wait forever."

She glanced briefly at Loose Leaf, as the mare voiced her laments about painting ponies... it's too bad she had to go to Canterlot, too, because Luna wasn't sure what she was going to do with herself, and a proper portrait sounded nice.

...though, she seemed rather...  what was the word...

Relieved to have Wordsmith's forgiveness, and understanding, Trixie  quickly recovered from her bout of awkwardness as Merriweather turned up, taking over her ticket's levitation, and approaching her with a gentle nod. "Trixie will return your  money when we arrive, that's a promise." she repeated. She then glanced over her shoulder and back across Ponyville, her stare becoming a little distant. It was weird, to both resent a place and to appreciate the help its people offered now.

She didn't waste time dwelling on it, taking off in a steady trot to the train and climbing aboard, showing her ticket for passage and making her way toward her seat.

"We just got here." Wordsmith blushed, "be right back!"

He trotted off quickly and came back a couple minutes later with two tickets to Manehattan for himself and Pansy

Wordsmith also looked a bit flushed from the running, apparently such weight wasn't meant to move fast.

"Got'm" he said, holding them tightly with his telekinetic magic, even if they were in his vest pocket, he didn't want to loose them after all.

The train station was apparently a very busy place.  Ponies were running to and fro, some looking a bit more flustered than others.  Pip decided this wasn't the best place to just hang around, especially being new in town and all.  He stood slowly, his knees a little wobbly from the fall, and dusted himself off and readjusted the wooden swords on his back.

With a quiet neigh and a soft snort, he trotted off, in what direction he'd hoped was the town square.  After all, he was intent on running into somepony.  He just wasn't sure who would be his lucky victim...err I mean lucky pony!

Victim...really?

And the town square seemed like the best place to find somepony.

-To Town Square-

"Hi, Trixie," Pansy responded brightly as the light blue unicorn approached.  As Merriweather came up as well, she gave a polite nod and smile.  The smile immediately faded as a realization struck her.

"Oh, right!  Tickets!"  She was about to head to the ticket office, but somehow, Wordsmith had made the connection faster and already left to get them.  "Thanks, Wordsmith."

She gave him a reassuring smile, and then led the way to the train.

Wordsmith smiled and followed Pansy, giving a nod to Trixie and Merriweather as he went, "Ladies" he said warmly, "I wonder if we're going to be in the same seating car.  Would you mind?" he said as the three ladies around/with him.


((ooc: thanks shai!))
This message was last edited by the player at 03:02, Thu 25 Apr 2013.

--> From: Ponyville Business District - Widget Whatsis' Wondrous Works -->

Starcrasher came running to the train station, hoping she was still on time to wave Twilight off. After breakfast she had helped Widget clean up, after which there had been some other tasks she felt needed doing, and had ended up losing track of time to the point where she had had to gallop in order to make it to the train station on time. Going by the assembled crowd however the train itself hadn't left yet, so she tried to edge to a place she could at least see the train leave. It was the least she could do.

The mare promptly got onto the train with everypony else, blushing lightly at Loose Leaf's insistence. "I suppose it couldn't be too bad." She admitted, embarrassed that one of her best friends was being brought into this. It was so difficult being a model. Fluttershy wished she could get out of that couple months but her centerfolds were everywhere back in the day. It wasn't a surprise that Photo Finish's training would come back to bite her in the flank at most turns. Thankfully the citizens of Ponyville proper got over her fame quickly, especially since they knew just how shy she was after all of that.

"It's just been so long since I got in front of... an artist." She'd done a few painting sessions. Photo had dragged her around all sorts of places, after all.

As all the Ponies filed onto the train, Twilight lingered behind a few moments longer.  She gave Princess Luna a soft smile and stepped up to the other Alicorn to leash her wings around her in a feathery hug.  "Relax Luna, I'm sure this is all going to be taken care of in no time at all.  Spike should be at the library, so if you need anything or need to send us a message, go to him."  Despite the confidence in her tone, Twilight was mostly trying to reassure herself of the very notion.

It said a lot about how familiar and comfortable Twilight had become with Luna that she could speak to her so informally, not even using the Princess title.  Of course, since she was a Princess herself, it was sort of redundant... but all the same, she truly saw Luna as a friend.  With one last smile she turned and trotted off to join the others in the train car.

---

On the opposite side of the station, Merriweather looked about as her little troupe boarded the train to Manehattan, obviously searching for something in particular.  She smiled as she spotted it -- the waving hoof of one gray Pegasi saving seats for the lot of them up at the front of the car.

"Wow, you really did walk here from Canterlot, didn't you Wordsmith?" Merriweather gently teased as she gestured for them all to follow the wall-eyed mare's direction.  "The trains only bother with assigned seating if there's a big crowd, but it looks like it's pretty open today.  It's a pretty long trip to Manehattan, so let's all get comfortable."

"I packed snacks for everypony!  Sandwiches, and juice boxes, and muffins!"  Derpy chirped as she held a picnic basket up over her head, though she very nearly dropped it as she wobbled off balance into one of the lounging seats.

---

With all the trains eventually boarded and passengers settled, the two locomotives blew their whistles and chugged off in opposite directions, rolling down the long tracks away from sleepy little Ponyville.  Twilight caught sight of Starcrasher waving goodbye to them from the platform and leaned out the window to wave as well, though she was practically smooshed into the frame as Pinkie Pie also thrust her body out halfway to flail both hooves in the air in a frantic farewell herself.


-=All Players involved in Adventure Zones exit to their respective threads=-
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:35, Wed 01 May 2013.

Shai felt herself lift into the air and then land once again after being tumbled a few times.  She had just gotten comfortable, too!  Ah, well.  At least she wasn't stuck with Opalescence, right?

... Right?

Because something felt rather warm and fluffy.  She hoped it wouldn't turn out to be a blender in disguise.

--> To: A Wild Pitch AZ

Starcrasher waved as the train left the station, and redoubled her efforts when she spotted Twilight waving back at her. Eventually, the train went off too far to make out anything specific, so she frowned for a moment, thinking on what she was supposed to do for the next couple of days. Sure, Twilight had left her with plenty of lessons to follow -- enough of them, in fact, to pass the time if the trip lasted somewhere around, oh, six months -- but honestly, it occurred to her that she hadn't actually seen a lot of Ponyville since moving in. Oh sure, she arrived in the middle of a festival and everything, but aside from the library and the workshop, she'd spent more time walking around the Everfree Forest in comparison.

Hmm... Wasn't there something about a dance she'd spotted in a flier on the way here? That'd be a pretty decent opportunity to get to know ponies, and she could pass the time until then just walking around to explore the town a bit. She'd catch up on homework tomorrow, or practice her telekinesis along the way picking up small pieces of trash or something that no one minded if they'd get roughed up a little in the process should she lose control. Yes, that sounded like a good idea!

[To: Ponyville Town Square Business District - Widget Whatsis' Wondrous Works  ]
This message was last edited by the player at 00:14, Tue 21 May 2013.

To AZ: A Wild Pitch --->

Luna smiled a little to Twilight at her worm reassurance, and put a wing around the young Alicorn in return. "Yes. Be safe, Twilight. Simply send Spike any messages you have for me." The royal mare let the Alicorn go and watched the trains depart briskly, leaving her pretty much alone on the platform.

Watching them all departing, Luna smiled warmly. Everything would be fine, with them at the job. "...Be safe, all of you..." The quiet air was kind of stifling, once the trains were all gone. Now what to do?

Discord could still be missing, and  he needed to be helping the others back in Canterlot... If she could find him, that would be a good plan. But Luna had other things on her mind. Greenwood's situation, her own ...  troubles... from the previous evening...  There was a lot going on for her here in Ponyville.

Making her way slowly back toward the Square, Luna stretched her wings and yawned. She hadn't had a lot of sleep, last night...

Exit to: Town Square

As Nightwatch laid sprawled on the seat next to the window, his wing acting as a shield to protect his eyes from the bright sun. He would have flown to Ponyville any other night but because he doesn't do so well staying up in the middle of the day it was a safer bet to take the train. Besides, it gave him some time to lounge inside and relax on the cushioned seats, where a sizable puddle of drool stained itself next to his face. When the train car slowed to a halt Nightwatch wasn't braced and as the car lurched to it's station he fell out of his seat. Springing up to his feet Nightwatch looked around surprised and now fully awake. "Huh! Wuh!? O-oh..." Some ponies riding the same car as him stifled their giggles and lined in an orderly fashion to exit the car.

Nightwatch gave a hefty yawn as he stepped off the train. The bright sunlight stung at his eyes and he lifted a wing to shield his face. "Ok... First things first. Coffee." Looking around the area, Nightwatch came to a realization, he doesn't know where anything is. "Ah, well how hard can it be to find a cafe. A town this small how hard can it be?"

[TO Ponyville Business District - Summer Song Cafe]

Winter took a few deep breaths as the train pulled into the station. It had taken a couple long train rides and quite a few bits but here she was, Ponyville. She shifted in her seat, butterflies filling her stomach. She stared out the window, this town was to be her new home. She was all on her own now, no big brother or parents to fall back on. A sense of panic gripped her heart, maybe this was a bad idea. Maybe she could buy a ticket back home? No, if she went back now with her tail between her legs her family would never let her hear the end of it! She gathered up her courage, she was here now and she was going to stand on her own hooves. The train lurched as it pulled to a stop, Winter nearly fell from her seat. Her wings shot out to catch her balance. It was a very good thing no pony was sitting next to her, otherwise they would have gotten a face full of wing. It would have been a very awkward start to her new life.

A pony entered the car and said something, she was too far away to read his lips. She looked around at the other ponies in the car, they were all gathering their luggage and preparing to disembark. It must be the conductor announcing that they've arrived. She folded her wings against her body and climbed off her seat. This was her stop. After retrieving her saddlebags and suitcase, it was time for one last check before she got off the train. Saddlebags? Check! Suitcase? Check! Tool bracelet and tools? Double check! Everything was accounted for. She flung the suitcase onto her back, using her wings and saddlebags to help keep it balanced. Winter quietly waited her turn to disembark, doing her best not to be in anypony's way.

Finally, Winter stepped off the train. Her ears were flat against her head as she felt the warm sunlight on her face. It was certainly much warmer than Stalliongrad, she could get used to that. She took a deep breath then released it. She really did it, part of her couldn't believe it. Then she came to a horrible realization... now what? She had arrived at her destination, she had spent nearly the whole trip worrying about it, but she hadn't quite figured out what she was going to do once she got here. A sigh left her lips, she berated herself in her own head, how could she have been so thoughtless? No place to stay, no job... she felt her stomach growl, well that was a place to start. Maybe if she was lucky she could find a good cup of tea as well. She started off to find a cafe, but the thought of being homeless sapped her appetite. Maybe she could get an idea of how expensive it was to live in Ponyville by visiting the Town Hall?

>>Exit to Town Hall>>
This message was last edited by the player at 01:42, Mon 26 Aug 2013.

It had been three months since the incident at the castle, with moments of excitement showing up here and there as they were wont to do in Ponyville, and Shai Ni was looking forward to picking up her own little bundle of excitement at the train station.  Her parents had sent her a letter (as well as the bolt of undyed, untreated silk she'd promised Rarity, which she had delivered to her friend as promised!) telling her that her cousin was in need of a place to stay while her mother, Shai Ni's aunt on her mother's side, and also the Chineighs ambassador to Equestria, traveled around the country to perform her duties.  Her parents had, of course, immediately volunteered Shai Ni as the hostess for the young filly, and Shai had no oppositions to the idea.

In fact, she was so looking forward to it that she had arrived at the train station the evening before and stayed up all night, eagerly awaiting the arrival of her cousin.  They had not seen one another in a few years, and the anticipation of seeing Xing Ming again made Shai very, very excited, which the lack of sleep only compounded.

Somehow, she was still prancing nervously in place as she waited for the train, just as she had been since midnight chimed.  Because after midnight, it was morning!

Frankly, it was too early in the morning for Xing. But then again, any time before noon was early for the tiny night owl. Ever since she was old enough to speak, and even more since discovering her special talent of studying the magic of stars and astrology, the little Chineighs pony had been staying up almost until dawn to study the movement of heavenly bodies. Now that she was somewhere else in the world and the stars looked completely different, it was even harder to get any sleep! But it was a lot easier to stay awake with the burning excitement she was feeling at finally, after such a long time, getting to see her cousin Shai Ni at last! Her mother had sent her here alone... but Xing, as teeny tiny as she was, was rather self sufficient. She even knew how to cook her own rice.

At last the train pulled up into the Ponyville station. At least the train squealed to a stop. At last the door opened, and at last, Xing stepped from the train. Always so timid and quiet and shy, Xing lit up like a Hearth's Warming tree at the sight of her favourite cousin, and jumped to grasp the tiny mare in an embrace. "您好，表哥！我很想念你 (Nín hǎo, biǎo gē! Wǒ hěn xiǎngniàn nǐ)!"

The excitement at their meeting was returned in equal measure as Shai Ni also ran forward to meet Xing Ming halfway, catching the little filly and hugging her happily.  "我已经错过了你呢！ (Wǒ yǐjīng cuòguòle nǐ ne!)"* she replied, squeezing Xing tightly before releasing the tiny filly and taking a step back so they could look at one another.  "How is your Equestrian coming along?" she asked with a smile, knowing full well that the best way to learn a language was constant practice.

*I've missed you, too!

"Um... Good, I think," Xing replied with a bright but extremely shy smile. "I have been... practicing... as hard and long as can... The last thing I wanted... um, to do was to... ah, come here and in... insult Equestrian ponies by... not speaking right... um, correctly. Is it, um, any well? Um, good?" she asked, her eyes wide and shy and nervous. She had always been more nervous than a cat in a rocking chair factory, but she seemed even worse here in this foreign land.

Smiling at her cousin, Shai Ni listened patiently before giving her a nod.  "Yes, that was very good, Xing Ming!  I do believe you are at a conversational level!" she replied honestly, a smile on her face like she was a big sister full of pride.  "If you feel too uncomfortable, or do not understand something, you may speak to me in Manedarin.  I will to my best to help you."

She then looked around, still a bit hyper from her excitement and anticipation build-up the previous night, and asked, "Did you bring anything on the train?"

"Oh... um, yes... I've brought... um, a few things. My trunk..." As if on cue, the conductor tossed a bright purple and blue trunk onto the platform. "...And my saddlebags..." A set of midnight blue, star studded bags was haphazardly thrown down on top of the trunk. "... And my... my... my t-t-t-telescope," she finished with a horrible squeak. The black case was in the hooves of the impatient conductor and hoisted back, but he paused at the look of horror in the girls face, glanced down to read the giant red stickers that clearly state "FRAGILE" in both Equestrian and Chineighs, before he grinned sheepishly and set the telescope down carefully near her trunk. She let out a breath of relief, and smiled up at her cousin. "O... okay... I think I... I am ready to go."

Shai Ni's face matched that of her younger cousin's as the conductor started throwing the bags out of the train casually, as if he was moving bales of hay.  It also did not help that both herself and Xing Ming were very small, and thus not exactly the strongest ponies when it came to moving large objects.  However, they did have one advantage.

They were unicorns.  Dirty, cheating unicorns.  As such, Shai's horn lit up as she righted the trunk, carefully levitated the telescope case onto the aforementioned trunk, and then very, very carefully lifted them both.  Had she brought a cart, they would still have to pull it, and the last time she tried that, she nearly passed out, face buried in a bowl of oats, in the Summer Song Cafe.

With a strained smile, she requested of the even smaller pony, "Carry your bag, please, and follow me."  With what she hoped was a cousin and said cousin's bag in tow, Shai Ni turned away from the train and levitated the trunk and telescope (very carefully!) beside her, walking back to her clinic.  As she walked, she spoke excitedly in Manedarin, regaling her cousin with tales of what has been going on in Ponyville since Shai Ni first moved in.

--> To: Ponyville Busines District - Harmony Clinic

Like most unicorns her age, cutie mark or no, Xing's magic was hardly impressive. She could barely levitate her own small saddlebag onto her back without trouble, much less assist with the massive trunk and telescope. Still, she looked relieved when Shai managed both the heavy things and left just the light saddlebag for her ti slip on, and follow her cousin out of the station.

"Tell me... all about this place... about Equestria!"

>>> To: The Harmony Clinic

--> From: A faraway place -->

As the train slowed down until a full stop, Starcrasher had top take a few deep breaths to steady herself enough and calm her nerves, proof of how she was doing being a few beading drops of sweat forming on her face. She had only intended to stay away fro like a week or so, but one thing led to another and another and another and that somehow ended up with her fighting a big centaur thing in Appaloosa and... Oh crap how was she going to explain this to Widget? And Twilight? And... And her parents?

Closing her eyes, she took a few breaths again before the ponies behind her that wanted to get out and were far less nervous about it nudged her, causing her to step out on the platform. Well... They were right, no sense in delaying the undelayable. Right then... Twilight lived in her library, so she figured that was pretty much a good place to start. She had a better way with words and a somewhat reassuring tone, she'd know what to do. And say. She hoped she and Widget were still getting along okay.

--> To: Ponyville Residential District - Golden Oak Library -->

It had been been over a year since she had last seen any of her family, so the letter that had arrived recently telling her that her cousin was coming to town made Shai Ni rather excited indeed.  So it was that the tiny unicorn found herself standing at the train station, buzzing from a combination of far too much tea¹ and a lack of sleep the night before.  She did not know on which train her cousin was arriving, but she was pretty sure it was today.  Not having any appointments for the day just made it easier for her to wait at the station for an extended period of time.

It wasn't as if she'd watched the sun set the day before and rise again this morning from the same platform.  Oh no!  That would be excessive.

She had swapped platforms during the night.

¹Everypony knows one cannot have too much tea.  The mere thought of such an idea is preposterous.

At long last, as the sun was just creeping up toward middle morning, the long, low whistle of an approaching train rang out in the distance, billowing steam into the air. Pulling up to the station, the brakes hissed out softly, and the conductors disembarked first to pull bags out of the luggage compartment. By now, of course, Shai was not alone on the platform; several other residents had come out to meet their arriving friends and relatives coming on the train. However, there was no immediate sign of the purple coated, teal mane and tailed cousin Shai was there to see...

One of the conductors pulled a large, thick wooden case from the lower compartment of the carriage, and let it drop heavily to the platform, despite the huge red stickers all over it that said FRAGILE! in both Equestrian and Chineighs.

"嗨" A purple figure appeared at the doorway of the passanger carriage, glaring daggers at the conductor that had dropped the case. In her anger, it seemed that Xing had forgotten that the conductor could not understand Chineighs... "小心！这望远镜是价值超过你！" she shouted angrily at him, but turned her head up before he could question or reply. Her eyes widened and expression changed completely. "Shai Ni!" she squeaked, and bolted straight for her cousin. _{(Hāi! (Hey!) Xiǎoxīn! Zhè wàngyuǎnjìng shì jiàzhí chāoguò nǐ! (Be careful! That telescope is worth more than you are!))}

Xing was maybe two inches taller than Shai, though by mass she was actually a little smaller; all her height was in the legs! She gripped her cousin tight around the neck. "表妹！ 我错过了你这么多！" She pulled back from the hug but kept her hooves on her shoulders, taking the moment to look her over and still grinning widely. "你看这样好不好！ 你在 Equestria 做得很好？" _{(Biǎomèi! Wǒ cuòguòle nǐ zhème duō! (Cousin! I have missed you!) Nǐ kàn zhèyàng hǎobù hǎo! (You look so good!) Nǐ zài Equestria zuò dé hěn hǎo? (Has Equestria treated you well?))}

"它已經太久太久!"¹ Shai Ni replied excitedly as her cousin stepped back from the very welcome hug.  "Equestria一直對我很好，真的,"² she adds with a tired smile before asking, "Have you studied your Equestrian?  If you are going to be working with the Princess, you will need to become fluent in this language.  Just... be careful.  Sometimes the meanings you learn are not the full meanings of things you say."

Shai blushes slightly as she says, "Asking to see Miss Fluttershy's favorite rooster by using another word for male chicken, for instance."

¹"Tā yǐjīng tài jiǔtài jiǔ!" or "It has been far too long!"
²"Equestria yīzhí duì wǒ hěn hǎo, zhēn de" or "Equestria has treated me quite well, indeed"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:14, Thu 09 July 2015.

She gave a soft laugh, looking slightly embarrassed. "Yes, I've studied hard," she said, her voice still much heavier accented than Shai's. In time that would likely wear away, but for now, she wasn't used to Equestrian being spoken besides in class. She had been better in her youth. She'd spent too much time in Chineigh. She looked back at the conductor still unloading bags. "Sorry I yelled at you in Chineighs!" she said to him. He looked up at her with a smile. "Don't be to happy, I still should have yelled at you for dropping my telescope, I just should have done it in Equestrian!" The conductor's brow furrowed darkly, but Xing laughed. "I'm joking, I'm joking!" She looked back to her cousin.

Shai's comparison made Xing bit down hard to stifle her giggle, which didn't work all the way. It finally burst out into a full and uncontrollable laugh that lasted a good few minutes. "Ah, yes, my teacher warned me about Equestrian euphemisms, and how different euphemisms are in Equestria than they are in Chineigh. He would say something like, in Equestria, a chicken really is just a chicken." Another fit of giggles struck the tiny purple pony.

Her truck and her telescope were soon gathered nearby, and she magicked them carefully onto a cart waiting near the ticket box. "Shall we go? I'm very hungry, and I would love to see some of this town you write to me about!" she said eagerly.

_{(As a note, to say someone is a chicken or a duck in Chinese is a euphemism to say they're a prostitute, and that's why Xing is laughing so much at 'Fluttershy's favourite male chicken'.)}

Rolling her eyes at her cousin's laughter, Shai Ni let out a resigned sigh as if she had been through this many times before.  Which, in truth, she had, both here and at home.  She had been gone from Chineigh for so long that she had managed to forget a bit of the less savory slang from her homeland.  "Yes, yes, I seem to be 'putting my hoof in my mouth' rather often as of late.  Why not do it because of our own euphemisms having rather amusing and exciting connotations when translated?" she said with a tiny smile, letting her cousin know no harm has been done, "Come, I should show you my clinic.  It is the second one I have opened here, and I can tell you the story of what happened on the way.  You should carry your telescope, though.  I am afraid I may have forgotten to sleep during the night."

Despite being as tiny and tired as she was, the littlest mare in town still had plenty of pep left in her due to a mixture of sheer force of will and the excitement pumping through her now that her cousin had arrived.  "I did manage to get a bed for you delivered last night, so that, at least, is ready, but we will have to finish picking out furnishings for you later."

--> To: Ponyville Business District - Harmony Clinic
This message was last edited by the player at 04:32, Fri 10 July 2015.

Xing pushed her cart with her trunk and telescope via magic before her, following at her cousin's side comfortably in the glow of purple magic and sunshine. "Well, I know how you feel. I don't usually sleep at night at all," she said with a nod. "But try telling that to the conductors on these Equestrian trains. So noisy all the time!" She sighed and shook her head. "That is likely why I found what you said so funny. I am sorry," she said, smiling a little sheepishly in her apology.

"Oh, yes, you had mentioned something happened! I'd like to hear all about it," she said brightly, eager to hear the story of what became of Shai's last clinic.

>>> TO: The Harmony Clinic >>>