Chapter 29:

Dragon Land Search - Part 4:

Riding On Rails

After discovering her new Earth Magic, Twilight, Applejack, and Spike continued on their search until they saw something ahead of them and hid behind a corner. Ahead of them, they see three Ape Creatures standing next to a scary-looking train. One was wearing a tall conductor hat and holding a staff and he was talking to the other two about something.

"Come on, you worthless waste of flesh…let's go. We've got to hop on Steam and get to those two flea-bitten Alicorns. The two crystals should almost be ready and the volcano is right on the brink," the Conductor ordered as he and his flunkies hopped on the Train and rode into a tunnel.

"Did you two hear what they said?" Twilight asked, hoping she wasn't the only one who heard what they have said.

"Yeah, and we're running out of time. Come on, we gotta catch up to them!" Applejack said as they ran out from hiding and headed to the tunnel to catch up to the bad guys.

But just when they were about to make it, three of Slash's forces pulled the levers near them, causing the gates to the tunnel to close. Twilight, Applejack, and Spike stopped seeing that the only way for them to get into the tunnels is to open the gates.

"What do we do now?" Spike asked.

"There's only one thing we can do. Applejack you and Spike handle those two up there and flip the levers, I'll handle the Commander," Twilight ordered as Applejack and Spike nodded and they set out to do what needs to be done.

Spike handled the small Ape Creature with his fire breath and flipped the first lever, which caused the first lock of the three locks to unlock.

Twilight handled the Commander with the help of her Electricity and Air Magic and Aerial Combat Skills, knocking off his armor and defeating him. After the Commander was defeated, she flipped the second lever and the second lock was unlocked, which means one more lock to unlock.

Applejack heads up a platform and dealt with a Captain and three of his soldiers, which she took care of with the help of her Earth Magic and Aerial Combat skills. After defeating them, Applejack heads to the last lever and flipped it, causing the final lock to unlock, and the gates finally open.

Seeing that they now can get in, Twilight, Applejack, and Spike ran and hopped on a mine cart.

"Hey, wait a minute. Do either of you two know how to drive this thing?" Spike asked, being a little concerned.

"How hard can it be, Spike? It's on rails," Twilight stated to him.

"Oi! Famous last words of the Alicorn Warrior," Spike commented and complained.

The two Alicorns and one Dragon then rode their cart right into the tunnel and began their pursuit of their enemies…

After they've entered the tunnel, it wasn't long until the Mane 2 and Spike have managed to catch up to the Steam and the train, or in this case, the caboose. Hanging on the side of the caboose, were two medium Ape Creatures. Twilight and Applejack used their elemental powers to bombard the caboose and the Ape Creatures hanging onto it while Spike was driving the cart and tilting to keep balance so they don't tip over.

"All Aboard!" The Conductor exclaimed.

Twilight shot some magic bombs at the caboose while Applejack used her Earth Magic to ram the caboose.

"Faster You Fools!" The Conductor ordered.

As Twilight and Applejack kept bombarding the caboose, the tracks then split, Steam went to the left and the Mane 2 and Spike went to the right.

"You wish you could catch us," The Conductor taunted.

But he underestimated them for Twilight and Applejack aren't giving up. The two Alicorns kept on bombarding the caboose by aiming and shooting. They've managed to defeat the Ape Creatures hanging onto the caboose but two more appeared in their place. Soon they were back on riding on one rail with the Mane 2 and Spike right behind Steam again.

"Faster! Faster! Faster!" the Conductor yelled.

Twilight and Applejack kept on bombarding the caboose as while Spike kept on tilting and tilting. Steam went a little faster but so did the Mane 2 and Spike.

Once again the tracks split up and Steam went to the left and The Mane 2 and Spike went to the right. But that didn't stop the two mares as they kept bombarding caboose until it finally went ca-plat and only Steam the engine is left.

"Not bad for some Alicorns!" the Conductor commented, being mildly impressed.

Suddenly, Steam began to slow down as the Mane 2 and Spike went ahead of it and rode the one rails again. But as they ride ahead, Steam quickly came and rammed into them, catching the heroes by surprise.

"Quick, we gotta go faster!" Twilight ordered as she, Applejack, and Spike pushed against the cart to go faster and get ahead of Steam.

While they were getting away from Steam, the Conductor had a smirk on his face and chuckled, "End of the line,".

Twilight, Applejack, and Spike watched as Steam went the other way and became puzzled.

"What was that all about?" Twilight asked, raising a brow.

"And what did he mean by the end of the line?" Applejack asked next, being just as confused.

Spike looked ahead and saw something that made his eyes widened in terror and fear. Then he tapped Twilight and Applejack on the shoulders, getting their attention. Twilight and Applejack followed Spike's example and looked ahead to see that ahead of them are broken tracks.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" They screamed as the Mine Cart flew off the tracks and into the air.

"Jump Off!" Twilight ordered as she, Applejack, and Spike jumped off the cart and flew while the cart landed in some lava and melted.

"Phew, that was a close one," Spike sighed in relief, wiping his hand across his forehead.

"A little too close. Anyway which way to the labor camp, Applejack?" Twilight asked as they flew down for a landing.

"It's not too far from here. Those rails will lead us to the camp in no time," Applejack replied, pointing to the rails above them.

"So if we follow those rails, they'll lead us to Garble and Smolder…," Spike started.

"...And they'll be able to tell us where Inferno and Cliffbore are being held captive. We better follow this rail and fast," Twilight finished.

"Follow me! The rails lead this way," Applejack said as she ran ahead with Twilight and Spike following right behind her.