My Little Pony: Origins.
Chapter Seven.
Journey to The Crystal Empire.
February 15th 2015, Canterlot Citadel, Canterlot. 9:30 am.
''Wow, i can't how grand this station has become since was it was renovated!'' Rarity said is awe as the glass roof of Canterlot Citadel sparkled in the morning sun, the snow had stopped falling.
''Where is the train?'' Twilight said, looking down Platform One, ''It should be here by now.'' She added before a high pitch horn broke through the noise of the station, Twilight and Rarity looked southward down the platform and saw a sleek, aerodynamic train snaking its way from the depot, over to the platform. It's nose was yellow, which gave away to white, it had a blue roof, undercarriage and window edges, the engine and first carriage had grey grill on the side and large text that read 'Crystal Empire Express'. A metal rod stuck out the top of the engine, it touched the overhead cable, sparking every now and again.
The train pulled up to the platform and stopped, its brakes squeaked, the sound of its whirring electric motors quieted down, leaving only a hum. The doors slid open with a a click, the guard stepped out the first class coach.
''All aboard!'' He called out as the passengers boarded their respective coaches. Twilight, Spike and the girls boarded the first class coach right behind the Bar-Buffet coach. Twilight and Spike had the guard check the tickets while the other sat down in their seats.
''So, there are seven on you?'' The guard asked the Princess of Friendship, Twilight nodded, the guard looked at her, ''Ok, everything checks out, enjoy your trip now.'' He added, giving the tickets back, he then turned and greeted the other passengers
While Twilight sat down, Spike went to the buffet coach and brought seven hot cocoas and a book titled 'The History of the CEE and Fleet'.
''What did you get Spike?'' Rarity asked as the young dragon sat down in his seat.
''I brought this book for Flurry, i'm not sure if she has it yet.'' Spike replied opening it up and reading it, Rarity chuckled, sipping some cocoa.
The guard blew his whistle, the doors slide shut with a beep, the train blasted it horn, it electric motor began to hum to life as the train began to roll out the platform. The train was a Class 373 EMU which was laid out with.
A Driving Motor (DM) at the front, a Motor Standard (MS), a Trailer Standard (TS), a Restaurant Buffet (RM), a Trailer First (TF), a Trailer Brake First (TBF), a Trailer Brake First (TBF), a Trailer First (TF), a Restaurant Buffet (RM), a Trailer Standard (TS), a Motor Standard (MS) and a Driving Motor (DM) at the back.
A BR Green A4 pulled in on platform pulling a set of Maroon coloured Mark 1 coaches.
''Next stop, Manehattan!'' The guard announced on the PA system as the CEE rolled past the Canterlot Citadel signal box, it sneaking onto the northbound, four track mainline.
February 15th 2015, Equestrian Countryside, Equestria. 10:45 am.
A high pitched horn broke through the silence of the snow covered countryside as the CEE rushed past a farmyard, heading north towards Manehattan, at 140 miles per hour. The mainline was split into six four track with the electrified lines on the left side and the non powered lines on the right. On the Canterlot bound track of the non powered track was an InterCity 125 in InterCity Executive livery, it was going at 125 miles per hour. The two trains blew horns as they past with a speed difference of 55 miles per hour, as the CEE passed the IC 125, it blasted the diesel powered train with snow.
February 15th 2015, New Harbour Bay Bridge, Manehattan. 12:21 pm.
The crystal blue water of Manhattan's Harbour Bay twinkled and sparkled in the midday sun as the CEE crossed the New Harbour Bay Bridge. The bridge had recently been built, the two line on the ocean side had over head cable will the two on the city side were now the 'classic' lines and ran across the original bridge. The new bridge was a 'Through Arch Bridge, the steel was painted blue while the bridge ends were a mixture of brown and red brick work.
''Hey guys, i'm going to get a snack, want anything?'' Rainbow asked her friends, they all shock their heads, Rainbow walked towards the buffet coach, she walked through the gangway, the door slid shut behind her.
''So Twilight, what does Cadence need us for?'' Pinkie asked, Twilight shrugged, ''But Twilight, you know everything about everything.'' Pinkie added, Twilight rolled her eyes.
''I don't know, all the letter said was that she had a special guest at the castle and wanted us to help them settle in.'' Twilight replied, pulling the letter out of her saddle bag and reading it over again.
Rainbow approached the counter in the buffet coach, a chocolate bar in hoof, she placed it on the counter along with some bits and waited for the staff to serve her. A staff member appeared from the area behind the counter.
''Hello miss, what can i do for... Dash?'' The staff said, getting Rainbow's attention. The rainbow mare looked at buffet worker and gasped.
The staff member behind the counter was a pegasus, her coat was a light turquoise, her mane and tail were a brilliant amber with brilliant gold streaks, her eyes were a brilliant gamboge.
''Lightning Dust, is that you?'' Rainbow asked in surprise, the other mare nodded, Rainbow gasped more.''No one have seen you since the Wonderbolt Academy.'' She added, ''Where did you go?'' Rainbow asked Lightning Dust.
''Look, Rainbow. I would love to talk to you but, this is my stop and i've got to pick my daughter up from her dad's. Also, here's your change.'' Lightning Dust said, yawing, giving the rainbow mare the change from the chocolate bar before stepping out from behind the counter carrying a saddle bag.
''Wow, Lightning, you look tired, if everything ok?" Rainbow asked, concern filling her voice.
Lighting Dust sighed, she pulled out a post it note and a pen and wrote something down and gave it to Rainbow.
''If you're ever in Manehattan again, look me up.'' Lightning Dust said as the train stopped in Manhattan's Central station, the doors opened and the turquoise mare stepped off before talking to a stallion.
"It's all yours." Lightning said to the stallion as he boarded the train. He walked behind the counter as Rainbow trotted back to her coach.
February 15th 2015, Northern Manehattan, Manehattan. 12:30 pm.
The CEE snaked it way from the heavily clustered city and towards the arctic and the Crystal Empire.
''Well, it'll take another four hours to get to the Crystal Empire.'' Twilight said, reading the timetable.
''Welp, i'm gonna have a nap. Wake me up when we're there.'' Rainbow said, finding some empty seats and laying down on them.
''Sure thing Rainbow.'' Twilight said as Rainbow closed her eyes.
The screech of brakes. The rumble of rails. The blast of a horn. The sound of an explosion. The sounds faded as images appeared, the first one begin that of a collapsing viaduct, it faded into an image of a funnel with smoke pouring from it, that too faded into an image that was three large wheels pounding the rails, they were connected with a metal rod, the chuffing sound of a two cylinder steam engine. A whistle screeched out.
Rainbow awoke with sweat dripping from her forehead, she looked at her surrounding and found herself back in the cab of '642', but it looked different, it looked new, brand new in fact, she walked towards the windows and saw that her and the class 19 were in a factory alongside three other class 19's, all four were in the undercoat grey. Three men were talking. A calendar behind them read, 14th June, 1974
''Which one was built first?'' Asked one of the men, he was wearing a suit, making him stick out amongst the factory.
''That would be D642.'' Said the second one, he was wearing typical factory clothes, the three men walked towards the engine numbered D642, the same one that Rainbow was on. The vision melted away into a black void.
Rainbow awoke, she looked around, finding herself back on board the CEE as it began to pass the suburbs of the Crystal Empire. Rainbow looked over at her friends, they were all asleep in there seats, she walked over to them and nudged them one by one.
''Wake up guys, we're here.'' Rainbow cooed as they slowly woke from there slumber, AJ stretched her legs as the train began to slow down as it crossed the overpass that crosses the path to the park just before entering the station.
Arctic Crystal Station was the terminal station for the Arctic line and the biggest, the station had six platforms. The station was built as a replica of the Charing Cross railway station in London. The CEE pulling in on platform one, stopping just in front of the buffers with a meter to spare, everyone who got on at Canterlot and Manehattan got off and everyone who were going to Manehattan or Canterlot boarded. The mares and Spike walked through the station entrance as the CEE's destination board changed from 'Crystal Empire - Arctic Crystal' to 'Canterlot Citadel'.
February 15th 2015, The Crystal Palace, Los Cristales, The Crystal Empire. 4:45 pm.
The sun began to sit jump above the horizon as Spike and the others made it to the palace, two royal crystal guard stood my the door.
''Hello Princess Twilight. Hello Great and Honorable Spike the Brave and Glorious.'' The first one said.
''What brings you to The Crystal Empire today?'' The second one said.
''We got a letter from Empress Cadence asking us to come here.'' Twilight said, pulling the letter out and showing the guard the letter, they nodded and opened the door
''Enjoy your stay, princess." The first guard responded as Twilight, Rarity, AJ, Pinkie, Rainbow, Spike and Fluttershy stepped into the elegant palace, the doors shutting behind them with a slam.
The group approached the throne room and stepped inside where they met Cadence, Flurry, Shining Armour and a strange creature.
''Hello Cadence, we're here.'' Twilight said, eyeing up the creature who was standing on two legs.
''Ah, Twilight you're here. I'd you all to meet my brother, David Wyne.'' Cadence said, pointing her hoof at the human. Rainbow burst out from behind Twilight and the others.
''You!'' She shouted.
End of Chapter Seven.