Episode: 7

More Surprises

It was a beautiful day in Canterlot. Twilight and her friends were at the station waiting for Blaze to arrive. Today was the start day of the Canterlot Trials. They saw Blaze walk up in nice clothing.

Blaze: It's been awhile guys. How are things?

Twilight: Not much happened recently.

Rarity: Indeed but I am happy for the peace.

A.J: A lot of us have work so it's best to do our jobs while there is some quiet.

Blaze: Well that is good. Anyway the locomotives are arriving shortly so we best get going.

RD: They aren't coming here?

Blaze: Well no, we have to keep this station open so we can't celebrate here. We have built a special building at the works. Follow me.

With that he took to the air. Rainbow dash and all the other flyers kept up but they had to stop occasionally for the others. After thirty minutes they arrived at the works. The new building was near the back. Blaze opened the doors and they gasped.

Rarity: These are marvelous!

The large cooled room had enough space for ponies to look over all the engines and the locomotives themselves were beautiful. The leftmost was a Garratt. It was named The Alicorn and looked very powerful from its immense size. The right most was also a more practical looking design. It had two sets of ten drivers with six leading and trailing. Its nameplate read Equestria. It had goldish paint with subtle stripes that resembled the night sky. The last one was another Garratt larger than the others.

Twilight: What is this thing?

Blaze: Oh it's an old experimental design that never got its chance until now. This thing has 48 driving wheels in six sets. It was called the hexaplex Garratt design and since there were six sets of wheels it is called The Elements of Harmony!

Twilight and their friends were left mouth agape at that. The locomotive even had the design of the elements embossed on the front of the boiler and the main pistons had the same imagery. The main body was simply painted black.

Apple Jack: Uh…If it symbolizes the elements then why is it black?

Blaze looks at the locomotive then back.

Blaze: Two reasons. One, combining your colors together or painting it a rainbow does not suit a heavy goods locomotive. Secondly, it hides the dust and dirt better so it doesn't look ugly after use in case it takes a while before we can clean it.

Twilight: So when do the trials start?

They hear a sound of people outside waiting and talking.

Blaze: Right now!

The crew men jump in their cabs and the door is flung open. The three locomotives roll forward and sit there in the sun as ponies look them all over.

Blaze: Greeting everyone to the Canterlot Trials! The trials will take place over one week and the results will be given at the end. The trials are as follows.

Blaze levitated a piece of paper up to him.

Blaze: First test is the strength test. Each train will be slowly given more and more freight wagons until only the strongest can move. The next is the efficiency test. Each one will be given the minimum amount of coal and will go as far as it can down the rails. Then we have the final trial where the last days they will run along the lines and informants will monitor the locomotives and once the information is compiled the winner will be deemed the newest truly original ENR standard design!

The crowd cheered. The locomotives were slowly given more and more wagons until only the two Garratt were left.

Blaze: Looks like the Alicorn and the Elements of Harmony remain. Now for one final amount of wagons!

Each locomotive already had 30 wagons and they were just given twenty more each. The two locomotives pulled hard and wheels squealed until the hexaplex actually pulled forward while The Alicorn was left spinning until the crew gave up.

Blaze: The winner is The Elements of Harmony! Come back tomorrow for the next trial.

Everyone cheered and whistled seeing these behemoths as they were moved to be restocked and put away.

RD: That was cool!

AJ: I could really use something like that.

Rarity: I thought the Equestria was beautiful. It's a shame that it didn't win.

Twilight: Great job Blaze!

Blaze glided over.

Blaze: Thank you. Also AJ, I could work an agreement with your farm to ship the apples for you.

AJ: That would save us time and energy. Mighty kind of you.

Blaze started to drop his smile though when everyone had left.

Twilight: What's wrong? Aren't you happy?

Blaze (Sigh) Follow me to speak about this in private.

They all came to an empty shed where Blaze turned around with a look of sadness on his face.

Blaze: Twilight…all alicorns have a destiny or purpose right?

Twilight: Yes why?

Blaze: Well I guess I feel I don't have a purpose as one. You and the others have protected and served this place more times than I can remember but…I don't seem to have any purpose as royalty.

Twilight: Why? You run all of this?!

Blaze: Yes, but from what I know from all I have heard from you and the other princesses is that I have yet to find my true purpose as a true prince. You all serve a high purpose Princesses of Friendship, Sun, Moon and Love but I have yet to find a higher calling. I might as well be pointless!

Rarity: Why don't you just become a human?

Blaze: I can't.

All: What?!

Blaze: It seems this world is keeping me like this for something in this universe. It is making me and Ben contort to fit its rules so Ben can't become an alicorn but is theoretically gaining magical abilities as a human.

Twilight saw the tears starting to run down Blaze's face. She walked up to him and embraced him and he stopped sobbing to turn around to face her.

Twilight: Blaze I know you are having problems with discovering your purpose. However, I have also been through this state so I promise I along with the other princesses will help you find that purpose.

Others: We'll help too!

Blaze brought a hoof up to wipe away the tears. And embraced a group hug.

Blaze: Thank you all. I feel better.

RD: Why don't we go someplace to cheer us all up?

Blaze: Why don't we go and grab a bite to eat. I'm hungry.

They all nodded and they set off. Blaze did have a purpose. I shan't say anymore to not ruin the story…