My Little Pony: Origins.
Chapter Three.
A Rocky Start.
Location Unknown, Date Unknown, Time Unknown.
A large swirling Vortex opened up as '642', '644', the twelve wagons and the brake van rolled out the other side, the momentum they built up slowly subsided as they approached flat terrain, the train squeaked to a halt as David looked around, he was no longer in Cumbria or North Yorkshire or England for that fact. His radio was playing static, he pulled out his phone. He opened Google maps and tried to find where he was, the landmass his phone showed he was on looked nothing like any land mass he'd seen in an atlas, it looked like someone took the British Isles, North America and Japan, put them in a blender and poured the resulting mess onto a flat surface.
''Well, let's see what town is nearby so i can ask for directions.'' He said to himself, he zoomed on his location and found out that he was a few miles west of a market town called 'Ponyville'. ''Well, let's get this done.'' He added, moving the throttle forward into notch four, the engines begin to move forward, David kept the speed below 40 mph as the train moved across the snow covered land, the place looked like a wasteland, their were no trees, no life. Nothing. The snow pelted the rails as '642's snowplow cut through the snow drifts like a hot knife through butter, the brake pipes and coupling chains were frozen and covered in ice and snow, icicles hung off the buckeye couplings between '642' and '644'. The horn echoed through the blizzard as the train approached the first landmark, which was a curve that went up a slope and to the left, surrounded by large pine trees that we also covered in snow and ice that made them sparkle as the sun broke through the cloud cover.
''What's with the weather today. Make up your mind, is it sunny or snowy?'' He said as he slowly applied the brakes, despite the fact that the train was going slow enough to tackle the curve was ease, but David didn't want to run the risk of the train slipping on the icy rails and falling off the track and down the embankment, especially in weather like this, who knows how long he would be stuck there until someone comes along and finds the wreck. The fog cleared as the train approached the top of the slope, the track straightened out as it crossed a small viaduct, that was wide enough to support two tracks. The viaduct crossed a small, frozen stream, a deer stepped onto its icy surface. The track groaned under the train's weight, the track began to head down hill will turning back east, the train slowly crawled down the slope that was surrounded by a forest.
Meanwhile six ponies were running through the forest, being chased by a large wolf made of oak and birch wood.
''Who knew that an Alpha Timberwolf wouldn't be affected by alicorn magic'' Said the pony leading the group, she was an alicorn and her name was Twilight Sparkle.
''Well maybe if you didn't let Rainbow punch the thing in the face!'' Said another pony, she was an earth pony and her name was Applejack.
''Hey! You saw what it did to Fluttershy!'' She another pony, she was a pegasus and her name was Rainbow Dash, she looked over at the pony in question who was also a pegasus and her name was Fluttershy. The snow crunched under their hooves as they ran towards an opening in the forest.
''This is so much fun!'' Said another pony, she was an earth pony and her name was Pinkie Pie, she bounced up and down as the timber wolf chased close behind.
''Pinkie Pie darling, now isn't the time!'' Said the last group member, she was a unicorn and her name was Rarity. The mares continued to run towards the opening.
''Twilight, you do know that the opening leads right towards train tracks.'' Fluttershy said, her wing still damaged from the Timberwolf attacking her, the wolf closed the gap as they run out of the forest and across the snow covered tracks, Applejack laughed, ''Stupid wolf, you know you can't cross over here!'' Rainbow said, the wolf jumped out and grabbed her left leg by its jaw, biting down hard, she screamed in pain as he dragged her to the ground, she smacked her head on one of the rails.
''Rainbow!'' Twilight said, the wolf let go of Rainbow and growled at her, it opened its jaw, allowing the pegasus to see the three sets of razor sharp teeth that lined its mouth, it moved its mouth towards her head, the rails began to vibrate and shake, Rainbow turned her head right and saw nothing but when she turned her head left, she looked on in horror as the headlights of a train rounded around the bend, the train sped up and blasted its horn, causing Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, Pinkie Pie and the Alpha Timberwolf to looked down the line.
The sun was still shining as '642' rounded the bend as it descended the slope, David looked ahead and saw a large wolf, that was almost the height of the train, on the tracks and ready to attack something, ''Oh hell no!'' He said, he moved the throttle into notch eight, the train began speed up, he blasted the horn, the wolf looked at the train.
''Rainbow! Run!'' Twilight said as the wolf started to growl at the oncoming freight train, Rainbow tried to fly but she was in too much pain to fly, she looked down and picked up a piece of ballast and threw it at the wolf's head, it looked at her as she blew raspberries. Rainbow looked at the train, its shape began to become clear, it was nothing like the trains she seen before, it lacked smoke and chugging sounds, it was almost quite.
The Alpha Timberwolf opened its jaw and prepared to attack her again, she looked at it again before looking back at the train as it was now only a 25 meters away and closing in fast, she leaped clear of the track only seconds before the train got to her. The train plowed into the wolf causing David to smash his left shoulder and right knee on the control panel, the wolf's wooden body splintered, it cried in pain as the wooden parts were mince under the wheels, Rarity covered Fluttershy's ear with her hooves to drown out the cries of the wolf as the wheels torn it limb from limb. Twilight and the others watched in shock as the brake van rolled past, leaving a trail of shredded wood and dust in its wake.
''Rainbow dear! Are you alright?'' Rarity said as Rainbow limped over to her, blood dripping from her leg and along the snow, ''Never better.'' Rainbow replied, the train's tail lights becoming small red specks in the distance.
David looked out the window and saw the dust cloud behind him, ''Hell yeah!'' He said, before holding his knee in pain, ''I think my knee is busted.'' He said to himself, the train track began to climb down hill again, and under a large stone bridge.
Just outside of the small market town of Ponyville, sat a small, two platform, railway station. The platform were just long enough for a four carriage passenger train, the mainline curved south on the west end of the platform and curved north on the east end, just south of the station, sat a small four track yard. The yard housed a small turntable, which was big enough for a tank engine, that connected a small, two track, engine shed, the yard also had a water tower and a coal filling station. Just a 100 meters west of the station was a junction that connected the mainline with a branch line, a crossing, called farmer's crossing, marked the start and end of the branch line.
A large stallion, that was pulling a cart full of hay, was about to crossover the crossing, he was an earth pony, his coat was a brilliant amaranth with light yellowish grey hooves, his mane and tail were a brilliant orange, his eyes were a moderate sap green and his name was Big McIntosh or Big Mac for short.''Eeyup.'' he said to a small filly, she was also an earth pony, her coat was a pale, light grayish olive, her mane and tail were a brilliant amarnth with a light brilliant crimson bow, her eyes were a brilliant gamboge and her name was Apple Bloom. Big Mac pulled the cart up and over the tracks until it half way, a loud snap rang out from until the cart as the the axles broke in half, causing the cart to drop onto the tracks, ''Nope.'' He added, grunting as he tried to pull the cart.
''It could be worse.'' Apple Bloom said, looking at the twisted and bend metal axle, ''I mean, there could be a train coming...'' She said before the crossing warning lights began to flash, the warning lights were met with a ringing sound as two barriers, one on each side, began to descend and block the crossing, Big Mac looked angrily at her.
''Quick! Get it off of their! Hurry!'' Shouted the signalman from his signal box, ''Um! Big Mac!'' Apple Bloom said as she felt the rails begin the vibrate beneath her, Big Mac tried to pull the cart while Apple Bloom pushed.
David held in knee as the train begin to climb up hill, but the time track was in an mirrored 'S' shape, turn south first for half the slope and then turn back east for the rest of it, the throttle was still at max power, making the slope seem like nothing to the heavy train. He looked up as the line of tree, that blocked his left view of the land, disappeared, he looked on in horror as he saw a cart on the track, ''Oh my god!'' He said, he slammed the brakes on hard, sparks showered out from under '642' and '644', he pulled down the horn lever, give a long blast of the horn.
Big Mac and Apple Bloom leapt clear and braced for impact, as did the signalman. David pulled down the horn lever again, giving and short blast of the horn, followed by a long blast, he too braced for impact. The train smashed straight into the cart, damaging '642's handrails and ditch lights, the cart sprayed wood and hay everywhere.
David was send forward, hitting his head on the control panel, cutting just above his left eyebrow. The cart, now split into pieces, laid spread across the ground as the train crossover over into the yard, still going too fast as it entered the sidings.
Rainbow and the others looked up as they heard the three blasts of the horn, followed by a loud, explosion like sound.
''Sweet Celestia!'' Applejack said, ''Maybe it derailed!'' Twilight said, looking into the distance. Her horn lit up with a rose pink hue, engulfing her and the five other mares, in a flash they left the remains of the Timber wolf behind. They appeared in a flash and looked around, expecting to see a derailed train, but all they saw was shredded remains of a cart, and a very shaken up Big Mac and Apple Bloom.
Big Mac! Apple Bloom!'' Applejack shouted, running up to her siblings, ''Thank goodness you alright!'' She added.
''What happened here?'' Twilight asked, Apple Bloom pointed her hoof at the freight that was now in the yard, it was now crawling along, smoke pouring out from underneath its wheels, Rainbow looked at it and ran towards it
'642' groans as it slowly came to a stop, her ditch lights flickered as the wires sparked and hissed, the brakes were red hot, they smoked as David moved the throttle to idle and the reverser into neutral. He looked out the window and looked at the smoking wheels, he sighed, placing the air brake into the 'application' position, the needles moved over, adjusting to mark the correct psi reading on the panel. He stood up slowly, his right knee crunching in pain, causing him to raise his leg in the air. He sighed, limping over to the shut off switch, the engines hum faded as he grabbed a fire extinguisher and limped his way out the cab. The damaged handrails scraped against the frozen door as it was forced open, a cold blast of air sent a chill straight to David's core, making him shiver, he limped down the step and onto the untouched snow, it crunched under him.
''Sorry girl.'' David said, patting the side of his now crippled engine, he looked at the wheels, most of the brake blocks were burned out or severely damaged, but a few were unharmed. He took his hand out of his glove and placed it on the brake block, it was warm but not hot enough to burn him. He sighed in relief as there was no need for the extinguisher. He was snapped out of his thoughts by a whistle, he looked over to see a black tank engine pulling up behind his train, ''Is that a Fowler 3F Jinty?'' He said, confused, he put his hand into his jacket pocket and pulled out the sheets of paper for the wagons he picked up, check their destinations, all of which had 'Ponyville' written on it. He rolled his eyes before looking at a signal box, it too had 'Ponyville' written on it, he sighed before walking up to the gap between '644' and the milk tankers, he uncoupled the engine.
He just finished putting the chain from the milk tanker onto its hook when he heard what sounded like someone walking in heavy boots, he looked down between the six axles and saw four twine coloured hooves moving towards him, he leaped out from the gap and came face to face with a mare, she was an earth pony and her name was Dusty Trail. David stumbled back, falling against '644's ditch light, ''Jesus Christ!'' He said, grabbing the handrail.
''Sorry mister, did i scare you?'' Dusty said, David shook his head, ''Nah, just startled me abit.'' He added, standing back up.
''Oh, i see you've uncoupled the wagons.'' Dusty said, she waved at the Jinty, it blew its whistle before backing away, pulling the wagons along with it, ''Oh and yes, it is a Fowler 3F Jinty, number '47500' with...'' She added, ''BR late crest?'' David said, she nodded.
''My name is Dusty Trail by the way.'' She said, holding out her hoof, David looked at it, ''It's ok, i don't bite, unless you want me too.'' She added, winking at him.
''My name is David Wyne...'' He said, shyly, his hand met her hoof, he gently shook it, ''She is so soft.'' He thought, looking into her blue eyes, he placed the paper work for the wagons in her hoof.
''Thank you.'' She said, turning away, ''I'll see you around handsome.'' She added, walking away
David shook his head, ''hey! Do you know where Canterlot is?'' He shouted, Dusty turned around and pointed behind him, he turned around and saw a large castle, ringed by city, hang on the side of a mountain.
''Can i ask you something?'' Dusty said, David nodded, ''Why didn't you freak out when i started talking, most humans freak out when we ponies start talking, why didn't you?'' She asked.
''An old family friend of mine was a pony, a pegasus and talking ponies aren't the weirdest thing i've seen today, i mean a hit a wolf made of wood with my train, what could be weirder than that?'' He said, she nodded, ''Well, see you around maybe.'' He said, she smiled, ''I'll like that.'' She said, looking back at the human before walking back towards the Jinty.
David looked at the double train railway line that twisted up the mountain and towards the city, he was surprised at how the city and castle seemed to define gravity and hanged off the mountain. He slowly made his way back to the cab of '642', he heard the snow crunch behind him, he turned and saw a female blue pegasus, clearly out of breath or in pain, standing behind him, ''Um are you ok miss?'' He asked, concern filling his voice, she squeaked when he spoke.
''Y-Yeah, J-J-Just me a minute.'' She said, before collapsing on the snow, her rear left lower leg had blood slowly leaking out, he ran to her and placed a finger on the neck, checking for a pulse, luckily finding a one. He looked over at her wounded leg and picked her up slowly and carried her to the warm cab.
End of Chapter Three.