Chapter 28: Exile

“It’s not much to look at, huh?” Rainbow Dash states dismally as she looks out the dark, stained window of the freight train she is riding on together with Cloud Kicker, Glyndwr, Twilight, Spike, and Shining Armor.

Somehow, in Rainbow Dash’s head she had conjured up a romantic notion of an armored jet-black train headed to a deep forest Black Site, complete with searchlights and dodging patrols. The actual reality, of course, was just a rickety old train car with a less-than-smooth ride. According to Shining Armor, it’s protection by obscurity, since nopony should be looking for them and the freight train was already scheduled to head out to Ponyville. Rainbow Dash had reluctantly conceded the point, even if she privately would still have preferred something at least a tiny bit cooler.

The same can be said about their destination. “It’s certainly no Canterlot.” Glyndwr nods in agreement. “But that’s rather the point, isn’t it? Not so many ponies around. And it’s not in any noble house’s territory, either. Should be pretty safe.”

“Yeah. Safe.” Rainbow Dash grunts out, glancing back at Cloud Kicker. “What do you think, you regretting coming along yet?”

Cloud Kicker rolls her eyes. “We’ll have to see what’s waiting for us first, Dash.”

“We should disembark here, before the train rolls into the station. Make sure that we aren’t spotted leaving the train.” Shining Armor announces, standing up. “It should be easy enough to get off, it’s not moving too fast. You ready, Twilight?”

Once the smaller filly nods in agreement, Shining Armor leaps from the train onto a projected, magical net of shield magic to provide a safe landing, while the flyers of the group bail from the freight car in their own fashion. If anypony had seen, they aren’t visible themselves; the part of the village the group had disembarked at is desolate and silent. “We need to meet up with our contact. We should be able to find them at the local bakery.”

A short stroll through the streets later, sticking to back alleys as much as possible while Twilight reads the maps, and the group find themselves coming up on the bakery in question. Sugar Cube Corner. There, standing out front with a donut hanging off his horn and waving his hoof excitedly at the newcomers, is Mooncrescent, saddlebags and armor at the ready. “Hey! Hey Blazey, they’re here!”

Shining Armor groans in discomfort as he smacks his forehead with one hoof. Could the colt be any more conspicuous? Actually, scratch that; Shining Armor quickly decides he doesn’t want an answer to that question.

“How was the trip?” Starblaze asks as the group gathers outside the bakery.

“Bumpy. And dark. And cold. And generally not very good.” Twilight reports dismally, collapsing onto her barrel where she was sitting.

“Aww, that’s too bad! But cheer up, the Cake’s here have some great food! Well, I guess the donut’s aren’t quite as good as Donut Joe’s but, whose are? Other than Joe himself I guess...” Mooncrescent chatters on idly, only tangentially responding to Twilight. “Hey, Mrs. Cake, these are the ponies I was telling you about!” Mooncrescent calls out, accepting a box full of raspberry strudels to present to the rest of the group.

“So much for keeping a low profile...” Shining Armor mutters. “Anything else you want to broadcast to all of Ponyville while we’re here?”

“Oh, put a sock in it already. You don’t have a bunch of colts and filly’s move into a small town like this without anypony noticing, no matter how quiet you are. We’re just excited to see all our cousins after a long time apart.” Mooncrescent leans forwards, lowering his voice for only the gathering. “You’ve all been given sock puppet identities for your stay here. City folk with relatives in the countryside, you just lost your homes and had to move into your family’s old property in Ponyville. We checked, nopony knew who actually owned the library here, and there’s a few other empty buildings too.” Mooncrescent wrinkles up his nose. “Starting today, your new names are Prisma Blitz, Gleaming Shield, and Dusk Shine.” Mooncrescent tells Rainbow Dash, Shining Armor, and Twilight Sparkle respectively.