Chapter 7

All aboard the Canterlot Express

The train station has been really busy. Many ponies hurried towards the trains so they could make it on time for work. Meanwhile, Twilight entered the station, following Big Mac. "Well, here's your ticket, Twilight." Big Mac said handing the mare her ticket. "It's important that you don't lose it!" he warned. Twilight took the ticket and stared at it with a confused look. The ticket read, 'Platform 9 3/4.'

"Big Mac, there seems to be some kind of mistake." Twilight explained. "It says, 'Platform 9 3/4'. Does it even exist?" She looked up only to find out that Big Mac isn't there anymore. The mare searched for Big Mac and quickly realized that she had to find the train on her own. She pushed her luggage through the station hoping that somepony would give her directions.

She searched the station and found a pony in a uniform giving directions. If he works at the station, he might know how to get to Platform 9 3/4. "Excuse me, sir! Can you help me?" Twilight asked the station pony. "Do you know where I can find Platform 9 3/4?" she asked feeling like an idiot. "Platform 9 3/4? Is this some kind of joke?" the station pony asked annoyed. "Come back to me when you are serious about boarding a train!" he said before turning away to help other ponies.

So much for asking for directions. How was the mare supposed to find a platform that nopony has even heard of? "Let's get a move on, everypony!" came a voice from behind Twilight. "The Canterlot Express will be leaving any moment now!" Twilight searched the station and found the pony who spoke. She was a green elderly pony with a white mane and the cutie mark of an apple pie.

She was followed by an orange pony wearing a cow girl hat that covered her blond mane, a yellow pony wearing a brown hat and matching vest, a light-blue pegasus with a rainbow colored mane, and a pair of unicorn twins, both wearing blue and white striped uniforms. The group of ponies came to a stone wall with the number 9 on one side and the number 10 on the other.

When they were right in front of the wall, the elderly pony turned and faced the unicorn twins. "You can go first, Flim." "He's not Flim! I am!" explained one of the twins. "Honestly Granny Smith! How can you not tell your grandchildren apart?" asked the other twin. "Sorry, you two." Granny Smith apologized. "My vision isn't as good as it used to be."

One of the unicorns stepped up to the wall pushing his luggage. "We were only joking!" said the unicorn. "I really am Flim! Let's go Flam!" he motioned towards his brother and they both ran towards the wall. Instead of crashing they phased through the wall as if they were ghosts. Twilight shook her head in disbelief at what she saw. Did she really imagine it? "Your turn, Braeburn!" Granny Smith said to the pony with the brown vest. He grabbed his luggage and galloped to the wall. He disappeared into the wall in the same way Flim and Flam did.

"Excuse me, ma'am!" Twilight greeted the elderly pony. "Can you tell me how I can get through that wall?" she asked. "Why, of course, dear. All you have to do is run straight forward right between the 9 and 10 signs." Granny Smith explained. It sounded like a crazy idea to run straight into a brick wall, but Twilight felt this was the only way to make it to Canterlot. "You can shut your eyes really tight if you are feeling nervous." Granny Smith insisted. "Good luck!" encouraged the rainbow-maned pegasus.

Without a second thought, Twilight shut her eyes and dashed to the wall expecting to feel the pain of crashing into the cold hard bricks. When the mare opened her eyes, she discovered that she was in a new section of the station. In the middle of the station, there was a giant train with each part of it having a blue, yellow, and pink color.

The engine released a low rumble to indicate that the Canterlot Express would be leaving shortly. In a hurry, Twilight placed her school supplies and Owlowiscious's cage in the luggage compartment of the train. The unicorn finally made it to the front of the train and turned in her ticket so she could get on board.

The inside of the train had a straight linear path with a scarlet-red carpet on the floor. There were matching red seats on both sides of the train. After a few minutes of finding a seat, Twilight decided to sit in an empty compartment near the window. She stared out the window and watched as the Canterlot Express left the station. Twilight was on her way to Canterlot. She felt exited for her first year.

"Pardon me!" came a voice right next to Twilight. She turned and saw the cow girl pony from the station. "Do you mind if I sit here?" she asked. "All of the other seats are taken." "Not at all!" Twilight answered. The cow pony smiled in gratitude and sat right next to Twilight. "I'm Applejack, by the way!" the orange pony introduced herself. "It's nice to meet you! I'm Twilight Sparkle!" the unicorn greeted. Applejack gasped in surprise. "Are you saying, you are the unicorn who lived?" Twilight nodded in response. "Well, can I take a look at your cutie mark?" Applejack asked. "Sure!" Twilight agreed. She showed the farm pony her cutie mark of purple and white stars.

"That's a mighty fine cutie mark you got there!" Applejack complemented. "My sister, Rainbow Dash has been a fan of you since she was a filly! She's going to be so jealous when I tell her that I met you!" As the two ponies talked, a pony pushing a snack cart came to their seat. "Would either of you like to buy any snacks?" she asked. "Sorry, but I didn't bring any money." said Applejack "It's alright, Applejack! I got us covered!" Twilight explained. She reached in her saddle bag and pulled out dozens of bits and gems. The farm pony stared in amazement at the amount of money Twilight had.

Twilight used her money to buy snacks such as cupcakes, donuts, and brownies. While the ponies enjoyed eating their snacks, a small dog with brown and white fur ate the non-chocolate snacks on the floor. "This is my dog, Winona." Applejack introduced her pet. "My brothers, Flim and Flam once used a spell to transform her into a cat. Would you like to see it, Twilight?" "Alright! Let's see it!" said Twilight.

Applejack pulled out her wand and aimed it at Winona. Before she could cast the spell, a white unicorn approached them. She had a dark-purple mane with a curl at the end. She also had a cutie mark of 3 bright-blue diamonds. "Excuse me." she spoke "Have either of you seen a pet bunny around here. A pegasus named, Fluttershy lost her's." Both ponies shook their heads in unison. The white unicorn gave a sigh. "Well, thanks anyway." She was about to leave, but took notice of Twilight.

"You look familiar." said the white unicorn. "Have we met before?" "No. I'm new here." Twilight explained. "My name is Twilight Sparkle." "Twilight Sparkle? As in, the unicorn who lived?" the unicorn asked out of disbelief. "This is incredible! The tales I've heard of you defeating the dark king have all been inspiring!" the unicorn paused for a moment. "Oh, where are my manners? I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Rarity."

"Howdy! I'm Applejack!" the farm pony held out her hoof with her muzzle covered in chocolate. "It's a pleasure." Rarity said awkwardly shaking Applejack's hoof. "Were you about to do magic with your wand?" Rarity asked. "Of course! I was about to turn my dog into a cat!" Applejack explained. "Ooh! I want to see it!" Rarity squealed. Applejack aimed her wand at her pet again and cleared her throat. "This spell will not fall flat so turn this dog into a cat!" Applejack chanted.

Applejack felt confident that the spell would work, but the most it did was create a few sparks. "Are you sure that's a real spell?" Rarity asked. "To be honest, I didn't get too much practice on that spell." Applejack confessed. "Well, I would be more than happy to teach you some spells of my own." Rarity offered. "But first, I must get back to searching for Fluttershy's bunny." Rarity made her way passed the seats. "By the way, you two might want to put on your school robes. We are getting close to Canterlot." Rarity suggested before continuing her search.