A Ponyville Ghost Train

A Plot Discovered and Foiled

As Hope stepped off the train, he was met with many stares. He expected it after coming in a train that was over a century old. He also then remembered the old flesh that was still visible, causing many of the nearby students to back away. He was about to walk back onto the train when Crimson walked off.

"I guess we ain't in Ponyville anymore," he commented, seeing how much the place had changed. He then saw the much newer and bigger engines. He mouth just dropped at the sheer size of the nearby Lunar Class. When Luna saw his reaction, all she could do was laugh. It got worse as Crimson fainted, causing everypony to laugh at the old engineer.

When she got herself under control, Luna went over and got Crimson up as some of the nearby guard arrived.

"Crimson Crown and Hope Shield," the lead guard began. Everypony gasped at their names. They all heard of these two, but to actually see them was another matter. "You two are under arrest for the theft of important goods to Dodge Junction and for betraying Equestria. Under orders of Cold Heart, you are both to be executed."

As the first guard ran over to Crimson, his spear ready to strike, Crimson brought out his axe and blocked the spear. Another guard ran over with his sword, forcing Crimson to duck, only to have his hooves swept from under him, causing him to fall on his back.

Hope grabbed his sword from the train and used it to block the guard's sword, allowing his dad to get up and jump before striking the guard's helmet. As a third guard was about to strike Crimson with his spear, Luna blocked it with her sword, giving Moonlight and Dusk time to tackle the guard.

Everypony could only stare as these five took down a group of the royal guard. Things only seemed to get worse as more guards showed up. Hope held his sword in front, the smile that was once on his face gone. Crimson's eyes narrowed as he twirled his ax in his hand. Moonlight and Dusk stood side by side, their swords at the ready to defend their Princess. Luna, holding her royal weapon, stood in front of the two knights, ready to lay down her life for them if needed.

"Everypony stand down!" Celestia ordered. Her guards stood down. At the same time, the other five lowered their weapons, but still kept them drawn in case there was more trouble.

"Where did Cold Heart get these orders?" Celestia asked.

"From you, Your Highness," the lead guard said, pulling out an envelope. Celestia took the contents out and read them over.

"I gave no such order to Cold," she said.

"That's because it wasn't me that even gave the orders," another voice said. They all turned to see a dark gray stallion walk onto the platform. His eyes were a brown as the trees of the Everfree and his black mane was as dark as the caves. His cutie mark was a red heart cut in half: one half of that heart being ice.

"Cold Heart," Celestia began. "What do you mean?"

"What I mean is," Cold Heart replied, "is that I've been trapped in a nearby cave with diamond dogs for the past few weeks. This weird shadow had been giving them orders before leaving to find where something called The Light of Equestria was."

No sooner that those words left his mouth, Crimson and Hope dropped their weapons, mouths wide open.

"Please tell me you saw who it was," Hope begged, dropping to his knees. "That was given to my wife from her family to keep it safe."

Cold looked down at Hope and sighed.

"All I remember is a green light," Cold replied, walking over and placing a hand on Hope's shoulder. "I'm sorry I can't tell you more." Hope looked up, tears beginning to show in his eyes, not knowing what would become of his wife's grave.