My Little Pony: Origins.
Chapter Fourteen.
Aftermath & Recovery.
February 16th 2015, Ponyville, Equestria. 14:10 pm.
With one final roar of the engines, '644', '642' and '47500' brought '43999' to the top of the slope. The train slowly trundled over the level crossing, snaking over the main line and entering the yard. '644' ran over a set catch points with a click-clack. David gave a short blast of the horn, slowly decreasing the throttle and applying the brakes. Dusty and '47500' was all the way at the back of the train, coupled to '43999' due to the need for the braking power of the 4f and its three coaches. She replied to the horn with a quick sharp blast of the whistle, she eased up on the regulator and applied the rearward brakes. The mix-matched train eased into the yard with the occasional flange squeal. As the consist began to brake to a halt, '642's fuel tank began to slowly leak, the thick black liquid inside trickling onto the ballast. Dull white smoke began to bellow from under the axles of '644' as the brake shoe pressed hard against the wheels.
Cadence sighed heavily and placed her head on the rear wall of the brakevan. Shining saw the look plastered on her face, he walked over and placed a hoof on her shoulder.
''Are you ok dear? You haven't said anything since we left the Everfree Forest.'' He said, putting a hoof under her chin, making the Empress look at him, ''It's about your brother isn't it?'' Shining asked, Cadence didn't need to say a word, the way she looked up at her husband told all, ''You want to tell me what's eating you up?'' He added, kissing her forehead.
Cadence took a deep breath, ''I'm so stupid. I thought he was dead. Mom told me he died in a car crash and i believed her. David was gone for 16 years. I was foolish, thinking that everything could go back to the way it was before it happened, before dad died, before my only brother ran away.'' The alicorn sighed, struggling to hold back the tears. Her husband gave the mare a tight hug, patting her back.
''It's ok honey, Things will go back to normal in no time, just let your brother adjust to being back in your life.'' Shining assured his wife, she smiled at him as the train finally came to a stop. '43999's tender now sat directly under the coal tower.
Dusty shut off '47500's regulator, the tank engine released steam from its safety valves. The earth mare put the reverser into the neutral position, jumping down from the cab after dampening the hot coals in the firebox. The pony climbed up onto '43999's running board, wrapping her hoof around the clock hand like locking keys on the smokebox door and forcefully turned them until they became loose enough to freely spin around. The door slowly creaked open, long burnt ash was frozen solid against the sides of the smokebox.
''You poor thing.'' She patted 43999's boiler, rusting metal clunking with the touch of a hoof, ''Don't you worry, I'll get you cleaned out, put some coal and water in your tender and give you a firing.'' Dusty closed the smoke box door, the settling snow crunching under her weight as she jumped from the ageing locomotive, the pony looked up at the coal tower.
David looked around, breathing slowly as he released his grip on the brake lever. His hands trembling as they fell to each side of the chair he sat in. He sat there for what felt like hours before sitting up, looking back out the window, sighting the toad stationed behind '642'. The man slowly rose from his chair, knees clicking as he stood up fully. He limped over to the back of the cab, the engine cutting off with a splutter and a flick of the switch. David staggered to the front of the cab and swung the nose door open as the wind picked up, sending snowflakes into his face and hair with soft snow crunching under his boots as he climbed down from the locomotive. David watched as the ponies began to climb down from the western Brake van. His eyes fixed on the lavender alicorn; Twilight he assumed. The two locked eyes as the princess nodded at him. David sat on the middle step of '644', Twilight trotting over to him.
''Hello, and welcome to Equestria.'' She closed her eyes and smiled, proudly holding a hoof to her chest, ''I am Princess Twilight Sparkle.'' The alicorn chirped, placing a hoof out. The human slowly took her hoof and shook it gently, she looked at David's ankle, ''Let me help with that.'' Her horn lit, the magical aura wrapping around his foot.
''No, no. That's fine, it really is.'' David said, Twilight stared at him, ''I insist.'' She replied, the human sighed, ''Fine, make it quick.'' He added. Twilight twisted the foot.
Dusty's hooves wrapped around the chain, coal poured from the coal tower into '43999's tender. Clouds of coal dust enveloped the crisp air around the mare, causing her to cough and wheeze as Flurry Heart, Celestia and Luna disembarked from the train. The pegasus duchess sighed, strolling ahead of the alicorns, the larger of the two planting her lily white wing on Flurry's shoulder.
''Flurry, a word?'' Celestia said in a soothing and calming voice, almost sounding motherly to an extent, relieving the pegasi of some stress. The pair stopped and sat down on steps of the brakevan.
''I guess this is about me running away during the night isn't it?'' Flurry sighed, looking down at her pinkish white hooves. She tightly closed her eyes as tired formed in her eyes, ''I'm in trouble aren't I? It's my fault Uncle David was nearly killed today wasn't it?'' She cracked, her voice full of fear.
''Listen to me dear, you aren't in trouble at all. What happened to the human wasn't your fault.'' Celestia soothed the younger pony, holding her close to her chest.
''Flurry Heart dearest. We only want to ask why you left in the middle of the night, nothing else.'' Luna said in a calm and collected voice, placing a blue fetlock covered hoof on Flurry's shoulder.
''Ok... I'll tell you.'' Flurry spoke, breathing in slowly while trying not to start trembling, ''Now, please don't get mad.'' She added, the two queens nodding in unison. ''As you know, i try to life a normal life, but being a duchess makes it very difficult. I'm always in the public domain, always in the news for stupids things like 'Duchess caught eating donuts' or 'Duchess caught shopping for a bottle of milk'. I'd rather not be in the news full stop. When i heard that my uncle was human and lived day by day, living a life i longed for. I made my choice, i decided to live my royal life behind. I want to be free of this royal burden.'' The pegasus trembled, tears flowing from her eyes. Celesta embraced the duchess in a hug.
End of Chapter Fourteen.