Apologies for not posting yesterday! Very busy day. Have some music to start you off today!

fyi, I tried. End of story.

One of these days

We gotta, break the chain

One of these days

We will escape the rain

We won't need to scavenge

Around the empty alleys

Spending some of our nights

Dreading empty bellies

It's you and me, kid

Alone to crack the curse

Just don't stuff me in a purse!

Runt clapped his paws together, "Great song, Rita!"

Rita smirked at her canine companion, "I told you I'd sing later. Now let's see if we can find a home here."

Runt followed the feline but expressed his confusion, "But, Rita, once the Warners cheer up that pony, won't we go back to the Studio?"

Rita regretted not reading the contract. She had been so excited to finally have a place to stay, she would have abided by any rules given to her at the time. "Maybe, but it doesn't hurt to look." She leapt onto Runt's back, placing her forepaws on his head, "Let's go find a nice pony to take us in. I don't care much for humans, but ponies aren't humans."

Runt walked through the town, eagerly following Rita's silent directions, "Gee, Rita, I do hope we find a home. Definitely, definitely hope we find a home."

"Maybe we will, Runt." Maybe we will.

"Excuse me."

Rita looked behind her at at very sharp looking unicorn. His coat was a sickly sweet caramel, with a dark chocolate mane and tail. His mustache extended into his sideburns and his butt mark looked like a pony silhouette with sparkles around it. "What do you want?"

The pony smiled as sweetly as his coat, "I couldn't help but notice you have a lovely singing voice."

"Do I?" Rita asked sarcastically. She knew well of her singing talent.

The pony didn't seem to notice the sarcasm, "How would you like to be a part of Equestria's Singing Choir?"

Rita glanced down at Runt, minding his own as he panted beneath her paws. "What's in it for us?"

The pony looked genuinely surprised, "Being a part of Equestria's Singing Choir of course."

"Look, I don't know what this Choir is, I don't know who you are, and-"

"Of course!" The pony took Rita's paw in his hoof. How, she wasn't sure, "My apologies. I am William Meikletrough. Famous talent scout. Did you know I discovered both Photo Finish and Sapphire Shores? I couldn't be prouder to say they have succeeded beyond what I could give them. But now I'm looking for a beautiful voice to be my next star. How would you like to be that star?"

It was truely tempting, but Rita's instinct just didn't enjoy the idea. Something about this pony seemed off. For a talent scout, he was a bit too cheery. "You seem like a nice guy, I think, but we aren't looking for a gig right now. Just a home to settle in."

William Meikletrough nodded, accepting the rejection, "I understand. I do wish you would reconsider though."

Rita turned her canine steed away, mumbling to him about her suspicions.

What a terrible idea. How could he believe taking the train would have been a good idea?

"Wheeee! Narf! Hahahaha!"

Brain sighed. There was no controlling these young equestrians. They bounced on the seats with Pinky, making him reach dizzying heights.

The Brain watched the trees pass by. His mind concentrated on a plan forming in his head. It involved finding these fillies their cutie marks and exploiting their talents to take over Equestria. Why take over Equestria in the first place? Because this was the Brain's niche. If he didn't try to take over something, he wouldn't be the Brain. He'd be just a very smart mouse.

"What're ya thinkin' about?" Brain hadn't noticed Apple Bloom beside him.

"Uh, about how we will get your cutie marks."

Apple Bloom smiled, "Thanks for helpin' us get our cutie marks. If you ever need anything, I'll be happy to help ya."

Brain was counting on that, "Thank you. It is most appreciated."

Brain returned to his thoughts, ignoring the other three gleefully bouncing on the seats. Apple Bloom wasn't done talking, though.

"Ya know, you're smart for a mouse. I've been to Fluttershy's cottage and the mice there don't talk. How come you talk?"

Brain decided he would answer, "Not all mice have been through what Pinky and I have. We are lab mice, genetically altered to be smarter than our counterparts. Pinky was a prototype experiment. I was the final success."

Apple Bloom blinked, thinking. Brain waited for her response. "What's it like where you're from?"

The Brain hesitated before answering this time, "My world isnt as colorful as yours. In fact, there are a lot of browns and greys. Green or white as well, depending on the season. My world is far more advanced. Where you have only what you need for technology, we have no magic, making the humans depend on technology more."

"Humans?" the filly echoed.

"They are tall, ape like creatures that walk on two legs. They have very little fur. Much less than you and me."

Apple Bloom still looked confused but took the answer. Scootaloo took that moment to notice her friend was missing, "Hey Apple Bloom! You get tired already or what?"

Apple Bloom smirked, "No, I just noticed that we are coming up to the Manehatten train station."

Brain glanced outside to find she was right. They were pulling into the station now. Smart little thing.

"Oh." Scootaloo didn't seem bothered, instead flapping her wings in excitement, hovering slightly. Brain again wondered how those small wings could allow anything that size to fly. Physics differed from world to world apparently.

The small group exited the train, the Brain hitching a ride upon Apple Bloom's head, Pinky upon Sweetie Belle's. The unicorn filly squeeled in delight, "I can't wait to see Babs again! Where does she live?"

Apple Bloom stopped mid step, "Uuhhh..."

"You don't know where she lives," Scootaloo voiced Brain's own thoughts.

"Well," the yellow filly scraped the ground with her hoof, not making eye contact, "No."

Brain and Scootaloo smacked their respective appendages against their foreheads. Another detour. The Brain was beginning to think this would have to extend to tomorrow night, seeing the sun closing on the hills beyond the train tracks.

"Okay, we'll all stay here tonight and head straight for Canterlot in the morning," Twilight announced, not that anyone hadn't already known the plan. She drapped a blanket over herself and Spike, who curled up beside her. Pieces of hay stuck into her fur uncomfortably, but she didn't complain. She would rather everypony together than apart. Spike had already learned how hard that was. Twilight felt guilty for pressing the responsibility on him, but there were more pressing matters. Pinkie Pie being the first.

Twilight groaned, hearing snores coming from the other end of the barn. She felt jealous of Fluttershy and Rarity in the house's guest room. She lifted her head to hush the Warners. However, there was a single culprit: Slappy.

How could she snore so loudly?

Yakko sat up and handed two pairs of earmuffs to Twilight and Spike, "It'll help."

Spike took his pair instantly, putting them on and slumping back into the hay. Twilight wasn't quite so open minded, "Why should I trust you?"

Yakko smirked, as if knowing what she would say, "We like to have fun. We're not cruel." Slappy released another obnoxiously loud snore. The unicorn placed the earmuffs upon her head, silence at last. Yakko lifted his thumb at her with a smile, placing a pair of earmuffs on his siblings heads.

Twilight smiled at the gesture. He reminds me a bit of Shinning Armor. She thought of the many times her own brother had placed hats on her head before running into the snow when they were little. Maybe the elder Warner child wasn't so bad. Annoying beyond all reasoning, but at least responsible.

Shouldn't they have parents? The thought struck the mare in surprise. She hadn't thought about it before now. Slappy was actually Skippy's aunt, but at least the young squirrel had a parent figure. And that little ape girl with the dog didn't seem like she had anything more. Where were all these creatures parents? Back in their world? For some reason, Twilight didn't think there were any parents. At least none that cared.

A new respect for Yakko and Slappy replaced the unicorn's initial feelings. She lay her head down, closer to Spike, wrapping herself around him just a little more.

Just please review! :)