Infinity Train: Bookworm
by luckyboys121
First published
After missing the bus to Camp Everfree, Twilight makes her way to nearest station to catch another one, but instead catches a train.... or perhaps it caught her.
Every night since the friendship games Twilight has been having nightmares about her time as Midnight Sparkle. She dares not tell her friends about them, I mean what would they think if she told them she was scared of the very magic that brought them together?
Regardless these nightmare's have unfortunately made her oversleep and miss the bus to Camp Everfree resulting in her and her faithful dog Spike having to figure out a way to get themselves and wait... since when do trains stop at bus stations?
Twilight and Spike now have to make there way through a number of dangers, challenges, and corgis if they ever want to get off this train.
Picture created by dan232323 check them out on DeviantArt
All Aboard
As Twilight sat aboard the bus to Camp Everfree looking out at her friends she couldn't help but have her thoughts wander. She thought to herself, "Come on Twi, focus! The whole reason you signed up for this is to be with your friends and take your mind off all this. The Friendship Games was months ago now."
As Twilight sent her focus back to the world she looked at everyone around her. Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash stuffing their faces with marshmallows, Rarity and Applejack arguing over the true definition of camping, Fluttershy happily petting a sleeping Spike, and finally and most importantly Sunset Shimmer sitting next to her and giving her a brief smile before returning to the video game she was addicted to this week. Twilight smiled back as she thought, "For Sunset's sake I hope the cabins have outlets, because I wouldn't be surprised if she kills the Switch battery before we get there."
Twilight grinned at this thought before taking a glance to the window, at which point any and all thoughts left her head. Rather then her own reflection staring back was the grinning face she has been dreading nearly every minute since the first time she saw it. At seeing her fear, Midnight Sparkle began to let out a giggle of pure sadistic glee. Twilight immediately turned to Sunset for comfort, only to be instilled with further terror as Sunset slowly raised her head and turned towards her with the same blue flames around her eyes and jagged horn as Midnight as she two joined in on the laughter.
"No..." Twilight meekly let out in fear as one by one each of her friends stood up looking and laughing just like Midnight. "No... no... NOOO!"
As Twilight screamed the world fell away and Midnight suddenly stood before her saying, "You don't think I'll just stop at taking your body back do you? I'm not gonna stop until I've twisted all your friends to my will and corrupted all their magic!"
Twilight's screams only increased before eventually.... she woke up in her bed in a cold sweat. As she panted and looked around she soon found Spike sleeping in his dog bed next to her own bed and raced towards him as she began petting him for comfort. Upon receiving the pets Spike groggily yawned before saying, "Another nightmare?"
Twilight simply nodded as she continued to pet.
"And you still don't want to tell Sunset and the others about them?" asked Spike already knowing the answer as Twilight shook her head no while still petting.
"Uhhh, whatever," said Spike as he was sick of having this argument with her at this point. "So how long until the camp bus gets here?"
Twilight reached out and grabbed her phone, only for her eyes to go wide as she said, "IT LEFT AN HOUR AGO!"
"WAIT WHAT!?" asked Spike in concern.
"Just what I said, it left an hour ago," said Twilight as she ran into her closet and quickly started changing. "I must have forgotten to set the alarm."
"Well didn't our friends text you or something?" asked Spike.
"They did, but I still had it on vibrate after going to see that space movie with Shining and his friends last night," she said as she scrolled through all the texts. While she had her phone out she checked the weather and saw that it was cold and elected to wear a sweater, hoodie, and legging in addition to her purple skirt before finally slipping on an old pair of boots that it would be easy to run in.
She then stepped out of the closet and slipped on her backpack as she said, "It's a good thing I packed my camp uniform and everything yesterday." She then pulled out a phone and wrote a group text as she said, "I'm telling everyone that I overslept and will meet them soon."
"How are we going to get there though, your parents and Shining are all out for the day?" said Spike.
Twilight scrolled through her phone before putting it away as she said, "The next public bus leaves the station in about ten minutes. If we hurry we can catch it and ride to the gas station just outside of town... it will still be about a twenty minute jog from there but we still should be make it before the day is out."
At hearing this and seeing Twi's determination Spike hopped off his bed saying, "Well then what are we waiting for, let's go!"
Twilight nodded at this before they both made there way out of the house and began there journey.
As the two quickly ran through the streets, Spike briefly rolled his eyes as despite knowing the result he couldn't help but say, "You know Twi, maybe you wouldn't have overslept if you would just tell your friends about these nightmares already."
"And I already told you Spike, I don't WANT to tell them. Magic is a key part of who they are, how are they gonna react when I tell them, 'I'm scared there might be a magic demon inside me that wants to possess your bodies and use your magic to destroy the world'," said Twilight in exasperation as they've had this conversation to many times for her taste.
"Well... you could at least tell Sunset, I mean not only is she from a world of magic, but she's been through this same kind of thing before," said Spike trying to help.
"NO!" yelled Twilight as she slightly blushed at this, but thankfully it wasn't noticeable as she had been covering her face from the wind. She didn't know why but for some reason the idea of telling Sunset alone made her freak out more then telling all of them. Regardless she didn't have the time to think about this as she and Spike powered on the bus station now in site.
The two of them soon burst through the door only to discover... no one in there.
As Spike briefly huffed for breath he said, "What the...there's no one here... did we miss it?"
"Maybe," said Twilight as she too struggled for breath. "But... even if we did there should at least be an attendant, but there's nobody," she said gesturing to the empty information booth.
"Hmm, weeeiiirrrd," said Spike as he sat and started sniffing around to see if he could pick something up.
Twilight pulled out her phone again as she said, "I could swear I just saw a bus schedule, and it's not a holiday or anything so they should be running today."
As Twilight was talking though Spike's highly trained doggy ears began picking up a loudly approaching noise as he smiled saying, "Good news Twi, I think i hear the bus coming!"
"Really," said Twilight excitedly as she put her phone away and looked at the street.
What they saw though was unexpected for a number of reasons though as instead of a bus pulling into the stop, something else entirely did.
"What the?" said Spike confused.
"A...train?" asked Twilight equally confused.
"Where did it come from?" asked Spike as he looked towards the rear car... only to not see one as it seemed to stretch on forever.
Twilight on the other hand turned her attention to the front as she smiled saying, "I don't know, but look where it's going!"
Sure enough the destination screen on the front displayed the words Camp Everfree as the sliding doors began to open.
As Twilight immediately went to board, Spike grabbed her leg saying, "I don't know about this Twi... something about it doesn't feel right."
"Pffftt, come on Spike it's just a train. I mean... what's the worst that could happen?" said Twilight as she continued towards the door and Spike reluctantly followed as suddenly everything went white and they heard the doors close behind them.
Author's Notes:
So to those who got my little reference at the end of Spinel season one, yes this is my next big project. A alternate retelling of Infinity Train Book One with Twilight as Tulip. Get ready to see some new as well as some familiar cars as Twilight and Spike try and make their own way to the Conductor. What will happen next, find out next chapter whenever that may be.
For fans of my other stories I want it to be known that I don't plan to cancel any of them it's just... I don't know I just want to write new stuff for awhile and I know that's a little selfish but I figure it would be best to write new stories I'm passionate about then push my self to write soulless chapters of my other stories and I hope you feel the same.
Anyway, as always any constructive criticism is welcome, I hope you liked this, and have a great day.
Forest Car
Author's Notes:
The blue Text is Glad-One. The red text is Sad-One. Please let me know if this makes it at all difficult to read and I will change it ASAP
A warm wet sensation. That's the first thing that occurred to Twilight as she regained consciousness. She soon struggled to open her eyes and found that the next thing she experienced was a large bright light. She groaned from it before her eyes finally adjusted as she was greeted to a bright sun with a few tree branches and Spike licking her face.
"Thank goodness, you're awake," said Spike as he backed away relieved.
Twilight groaned as she sat up and asked, "What happened?"
"I'm not sure," said Spike as looked at their surroundings. "The last thing I remember was us getting on that weird train... then I woke up next to you in this forest."
Twilight also looked and.... it was indeed a forest. She stood up confusedly saying, "What the?" as her brain went into overdrive trying to come up with a logically explanation for this. Eventually she found one as she said, "Hmm, we must have been so tired from having to run to the station that we passed out once we got off the train."
Spike looked a little concerned as he said, "I mean... I guess that makes sense."
"Do you have a better explanation?" asked Twilight as she began brushing the dead leaves and dirt off her clothes.
"Well... no," admitted Spike in defeat.
"Alright then, that's what we'll go with," said Twilight satisfied for now, at least that's what she told herself as deep down she knew there was another explanation. One that until recently she would have never had cross her mind but now the very notion now terrified her... magic. She shuttered at the thought before retreating to the more logical one as she said, "In which case the camp should just be up ahead. I'll text Sunset that we're almost there." She then pulled out her phone and began typing as she and Spike walked forward.
After a brief moment of walking Spike asked, "Are you sure it's this way?"
Twilight wrapped her text before opening her GPS app saying, "Hmm, that's weird. I have a signal but it can't get location data... well regardless the camp is in the middle of several gas and weigh stations so either way we'll hit something and know where to go from there."
As soon as she finished saying that though Twilight caught sight of something shiny in a nearby tree as she said, "What the?" and began approaching it.
Spike soon followed after her saying, "What is it?"
"It's... a ball?" said Twilight in confusion as she came close to the object.
"A ball!" said Spike as he excitedly approached wagging his tail.
Sure enough there was what appeared to be a large shiny white ball with a black band on it caught in a low hanging branch.
"Hmm, I guess someone from the Camp must have left it here," said Twilight as she reached out for the ball.
Before she could grip it though, two white dots moved to the front of the black band as it began to emit a screaming noise.
Twilight and Spike screamed back at the sudden shock of this before the ball suddenly stopped screaming and actually spoke saying, "Are you my mum?"
Twilight's scream died down as she asked, "What?"
"Are you my mum? I've been trying to find her for a long time we probably won't ever find her," said the ball as the two dots that seemed to be eyes locked onto Twilight.
"Um no... I'm sorry," said Twilight in confusion.
"Oh that's quite alright then I knew I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up," said the ball as it hopped out of the tree and began walking on four tiny appendages.
"Woah are you a robot?" asked Twilight somewhat excitedly.
"Maybe... I don't rightly know can anyone really know what they are?" said the ball as it approached Spike. "What about you little furry fellow, are you my mum?"
"Um... no," said Spike.
Twilight then picked up the robot as it said, "Oh my, are we going for a ride? Are you going to toss us into our unavoidable end?"
Twilight didn't seem to hear the questions though as she glanced at the robot saying, "Fascinating, an entirely self contained and seemingly autonomous neural network entirely housed in and powered within such a small shell."
Spike rolled his eyes at this as he said, "Easy Twilight, you don't want to accidentally go full mad science mode and dissect the little guy."
"Oh dissection! I don't know what that means but it sounds fun and painful but mostly fun," said the ball not particularly concerned about what was happening.
Twilight blushed as she came back to herself and smiled, placing the robot down as she said, "Sorry, ahem. I'm Twilight and this is Spike. What's your name?"
"I'm One One," said the ball looking up at Twilight.
"Well it's good to meet you One One, and I'm sorry to bother you like this but do you know where Camp Everfree is?"
"Camp Everfee? I'm sorry Ms. Twilight but I don't think I've heard of that place," said One One in confusion.
"It should be near by here, we aren't sure exactly which way," said Spike.
"Maybe your mother is at the camp," offered Twilight as she thought perhaps this robot was simply calling the woman who built it it's mother and perhaps it was part of some sort of robotics activity at the camp.
"Oh you think so, well if that's the case then maybe it's in the next car," said One One as he began walking and gestured for them to follow.
They both looked at each other confused before following him as Spike said, "What do you mean the next car?"
"Why, the next car of the train of course. There could be anything in there even this camp you're talking about or instant death," said One One it seemed to cheerily lead the way.
Spike looked over at Twilight concerned this as Twilight looked confused and said, "One One I think you're confused. We aren't on the train we're in a forest."
"Yes we are in a forest. The forest car of the train as I call it I wanted to call it the never ending woods car but they said it sounded too ominous." said One One as he continued walking.
Twilight became slightly frustrated at this as she said, "Look One One, I don't know who made you but I think they might have done something wrong because there's no way this big forest could fit... inside a... train.... car," Twilight trailed off as she soon came to a large metal door simply sitting in the middle of the clearing.
Spike and Twilight looked on in aw at this as One One simply approached it saying, "Alright Ms. Twilight. All you have to do is open this up and we can head on to the next car and maybe our deaths."
Spike once again became unnerved by such a casual morbid statement and said, "I don't know about this Twi."
Twilight on the hand simply approached the door and began studying it as while yes, it did look kind of like the sliding metal door you would see on a train, it also wasn't attached to anything. No wall around it and seemingly nothing behind it, it just stood there appearing to serve no purpose.
She then moved to the front of the door as she said, "Relax Spike it's just an old peace of a house or something that fell down awhile ago. It doesn't GO anywhere, see." She then opened the door to prove her point... only to be instantly proven wrong as she saw the back of a train car in front of her, "How the," said Twilight as she looked through the door and saw that she did appear to be on a moving train that was going through a never ending desert.
"Off we go then," said One One as it went out the door to the next car.
Spike approached Twiight worried saying, "What.. what is this Twilight?"
Twilight looked on in fear as she said, "I don't know Spike... but I do know we won't find out if we just stand here." She then went through the door with Spike reluctantly following her as they both prepared to enter the next car.
Grid Car and Fart Car
As Twilight hesitantly followed One One her mind was racing trying to figure out what was going, She began thinking, "This... this doesn't make sense! And if that's the case.... it could be magic," she briefly shuddered at the idea as for a second she swore she could hear Midnight Sparkle's laugh. "NO! No.... if it were magic then why would there be a robot here, clearly this is some kind of science I just have to figure out what."
Once they reached the door, One One happily gestured for Twilight to open it as she gulped and glanced over to Spike, who reluctantly urged her to open it as well. Without much of a choice she did so and was thankfully greeted to something that made some sense.
As they all stepped into the car they found themselves in a large white room with a perfect grid along the walls, floor, and ceiling.
Twilight took a moment to admire the perfect symmetry as it would take her hours to create such a pristine room in a simulation, let alone real life. As she looked around in aw One One spoke up saying, "So is this camp you all were talking about?"
"No... it doesn't seem to be," said Twilight as she straightened her glasses and continued to look around.
"I knew we wouldn't find it well then I suppose it's off to the next car," said One One.
"Yeah about that... wheres the door?" asked Spike as he gestured to the far wall which had nothing on it but the grid pattern.
"Good question," said One One nonchalantly as he simply walked around.
Twilight snapped back to reality at this as she and Spike began looking around panicking, thankfully they didn't have to wait long as she became relieved saying, "There it is!"
As Spike looked to where she pointed he indeed saw the door, and it was on the fall war where they all thought it should be.... just about twenty feet higher then it should be as Spike remained concerned saying, "OK, but how are we supposed to get to it?"
Twilight then turned her head down in thought as she said, "Hmmm, maybe this has something to do with the grid pattern around us, like it's some kind of puzzle and-"
She was interrupted though as she heard a slight noise followed by One One saying, "Whoopsy Daisy ." They both looked over and saw the funny little robot now sitting a top a red cube that had seemed to come out of nowhere.
"What the... One One, where did you get that cube from?" asked Twilight as her mind already began thinking how it might relate to the door.
One One hopped off the cube as he said, "I'm not sure Ms. Twilight... all I did was touch the floor like this," he then tapped one of his appendages on a square of the floor resulting in a blue cube popping out and lifting him up again. "I wonder if a fall from this height is enough to kill me."
While this statement worried and confused Spike, Twilight seemed to either not hear him or had already accepted One One's casual morbidity as she bent down and reached out to touch one of the squares, only to briefly pause as she noticed a soft green glow coming from the back of her hand. "What the," she said as she moved her right hand to her face and saw that on the back of it was a glowing green number 85. She got a little worried as she gestured her hand asking, "One One, do you know what this is?"
Spike looked at the number, before looking over to the robot concerned as he moved closer to Twilight's hand saying, "Hmmm, it's a number."
Twilight briefly moved her hand away from One One as she smacked herself in the face and Spike said, "Well duh, but what does it mean?"
"Ah yes of course the meaning hmm.... well I can't seem to recall everything about it my memory hasn't been very good since... the change. But from what I do remember, when that baby hits zero you'll be gone forever." said One One excitedly.
"GONE FOREVER!" said Spike terrified at the prospect as he ran up to the robot and began shaking him. "ARE YOU SURE?!"
"Well... pretty sure. At least.... I haven't seen anyone again after their number hits zero," said One One who seemed unfazed by the shaking.
Twilight was staring at this number in concern thinking about One One's words as she came to a realization about them and said, "Wait... One One. When you say gone forever do you just mean that they got off the train?"
"Why yes of course, once someone leaves the train they can't get back on. Makes me wonder why I even bother to try and make friends. What else would I have meant?" said One One in confusion.
Spike breathed a sigh of relief as he said, "Next time, you might want to phrase that better."
Twilight became excited at this as she began touching the squares to form a set of stairs up to the door and smiled saying, "Then all this makes sense then. Whatever this train is... it's some kind of scientific testing center and all I have to do is solve various puzzles and complete challenges and we'll be home free."
"I guess... but who the heck would be running this test?" asked Spike trying to catch Twilight's train of logic, while also kicking himself for thinking that pun.
"I'm not sure, though whoever it is must be a scientific GENIUS to have created all this," she said gesturing at the car and her now completed staircase.
"That sounds like an absolutely smashing person Ms. Twilight," said One One excitedly.
"It's more then that One One. If this is all some big test then that means you are part of it," said Twilight as she excitedly picked up the robot.
"I am? I always thought I should be tested," said One One.
"That's right little buddy, after all you're the one who showed us how to make these cubes. You're probably meant to keep us company and give us hints about any of the puzzles. Which ALSO means, that the person who created this train, and by extension you, is your mom and all we have to do is keep going through these puzzles and we'll find her," said Twilight.
"ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT DEDUCTION MS. TWILIGHT! I do hope you're right I hope for a lot of things I don't get. I can't wait to introduce you to my mum! If she's the genius you say she is she'll certainly like you," said One One excitedly.
"Gee, thanks," said Twilight as she blushed slightly and twirled her hair at the complement, before bringing One One into a hug.
Spike looked at the two of them and began thinking, "I mean... I guess all that makes sense. But this is still weird, I feel like Twilight is purposefully avoiding the big questions here. And of course I know why, she's scared that if she digs too deep she might find that this is magical and intern possible related to Midnight Sparkle... maybe I should just say all that and make her think about it." He then looked at the two again and noticed how happy they looked as Twilight sat One One back down and he thought, "Then again.... I suppose we got a lot going on here, and we don't need to add Twilight's emotional issues on top of it so for now I'll just see where this goes."
Twilight then opened the door as the three of them began walking to next car and Spike asked, "So what do you think is going to be in the next car?"
"I bet it's a fart car," said One One.
Twilight chuckled at this as she said, "I doubt that, I'm sure whatever it is will be another intellectual stimulating puzzle or challenging quest that demonstrates the brilliance of whoever created all this."
She then opened the door excitedly only to be greeted by a simple white room with the door in sight and the only other thing in the room being several continuous fart sounds. One One then raised his front appendages in the air saying, "Yay! I was right it's a good thing I don't have a nose."
Spike simply looked at Twilight as he said, "OK, I know everyone likes to say that dogs like stinky things and yeah sure, we might like some of them but THIS! Are we sure there isn't another away around?"
Twilight looked into the room as she tried to make sense of this saying, "I.. I'm sure this is just like an aversion test. To see if we'll turn around because of some stupid noise. That's all it OH SWEET LORD!" Twilight immediately changed her tone and grabbed her nose as she entered the car and was assaulted by the pungent odder. She then stepped back out, and in a flash breathed in deeply and held it, scooped up Spike and One One in her arms, and ran as fast as she could to the door.
Unfortunately athletics weren't her strong suit and about half way through the car she had to breath and once again took in this odor as her eyes began to water.
She kept running as she began to gag and Spike did the same as One One simply said, "WEEE!" as he enjoyed being carried like this.
Soon they reached the door, and a after a brief struggle, Twilight managed to push it open with one hand before immediately closing it behind her as she and Spike began taking in large breathes of the fresh air.
One One on the other hand just excitedly said, "AGAIN! AGAIN!"
"No! Never THAT again!" said Twilight giving him the death stare.
"So, what was that about the creator of all this being a genius?" asked Spike sarcastically.
"I'm sure there was some kind of scientific value to that," said Twilight before her face twisted into an angry smile as she moved forward saying, "And I am VERY eager to meet this person and find out what it is!"
Author's Notes:
And so Twilight, Spike, and One One have made it through two more cars and Twilight's number is currently at 85. What will happen next, find out next chapter whenever that may be.
Firstly thank you GamePlayer64 for suggesting the fart car from the pilot, not only was it a funny one but also served as a great way to show Twilight that while the train does have method to it's madness... that method isn't always obvious. (if any of you have a particular car you want to see from the show whether that be from either book one or two or even an original idea for a car you thought feel free to let me know in the comment section and I'll be happy to put it in if I can)
Anyway thanks for reading, any constructive criticism is welcome, have a great day