A small crowd of locals is gathered about the station house, comprised of a mixed bag of species: horse-like Rhians, black feline Khattas, crow-like Korvs, cheetah-like Savanites, bat-like Eeee, even a few humans, and some other odd representatives of various Sinai species to be seen.

A small band dressed in bright red pseudo-military uniforms is gathered in a small bandstand that has been built across from the station: a Rhian sports a Chronotopian tubaphone, a Korv is on cello, an Eeee plays trumpet, a very short fox (with an exceptionally frilly uniform) plays lute, and a Savanite plays drums, as a human conductor with a big bushy mustache stands before them with a stand of sheet music, directing them with wide and waving gestures as they fill the air with music.

The locals are dressed up in their holiday best – which means that they're wearing clothes that have the least patches in them and have been washed recently, and that they wear hats. Even though the Savanites have come from afar, they are for the most part dressed up in the style of the locals.

Most of the attention seems to be focused around a couple of poles that have been set up on either side of the rails, with a big pink ribbon stretched between them. While the occasional latecomer wanders up, most of the crowd has been there for quite some time, as evidenced by the occasional glance at a Chronotopian clock mounted above the entrance to the station … and a sundial set up on the platform just in case the clock explodes or something strange like that. The music wasn't supposed to start until the ribbon-cutting ceremony official began, but the band offered to "practice" to entertain the audience so they wouldn't get bored out of their skulls. Occasionally, those with less fur wander into the station to warm up to a fire, rather than standing out in the snow.

Near the bandstand, a medium sized black Khatta stands, dressed in what could pass as almost military style regalia, although more humble and not quite as flashy as you would expect nobility to wear. He stands almost stock still, only his tail twitching as he leans on one of the bandstand's posts. Finally, his head moves to regard the clock. "Dagh, where is she? That thing was supposed to arrive half an hour ago." He shifts his position, sighing. "If she doesn't show soon, the people are going to leave."

Fortunately, one nice side effect of latecomers still arriving is that everyone already here has to greet the new arrivals, thus holding off any thoughts of leaving a little while longer.

There's a faint puff of smoke that appears off in the distance, over the trees.

Jynx blinks, putting a paw over his brow to shield out glare. "Well, they said it belched out smoke; that must be it, or a Gallisian invasion… " The feline shrugs, and turns to the conductor. "Get ready, here they come." He makes his way to the platform top, and stands to await the train's arrival.

Another puff of smoke appears. And another. Or, rather, perhaps it's steam. A distant "Chug chug chug" noise can be barely picked up. And as it gets closer, it's soon evident that there are two plumes of steam puffing up at regular intervals, one ahead of the other, coming this way.

The crowd stirs at the puff of smoke, showing signs of life as one person points it out. "Look there!" Soon, they are all turned to face it, shifting position to get a better look, ears straining to catch its sound. The young bay Rhian who's been holding the giant-size ceremonial scissors perks up eagerly, readjusting her grip on the clippers.

*Chug chug chug chug* Then, a bell rings out loudly in the distance … a bell rigged up to ring whenever something large passes that point, to let the people know that a train is coming.

"Two of 'em? Well, I guess the more the merrier." The black Khatta pats the Rhian on the shoulder with a chuckle, "Not yet kiddo, wait 'til they get here."

At last, something comes into view, coming around a bend so that it can be seen down the cleared row cut through the forest. It's a big machine with a tall stack letting out puffs of steam, with a long and sloped front that makes it look like a giant garden spade inverted and on wheels. Sort of.

The bay holds the polished scissors carefully by the blades in her gloved hands, looking a bit nervous that she might drop them. She nods anxiously to Jynx, settling back for just a moment before she forgets herself and strains forward again to see, eyes wide as the massive machine comes into view.

Countess Ophelia, surrounded by her several attendants, cranes her neck to view the novelty, her horn bobbing above the crowd. Her ears twitch flat with each harsh *puff* of the engine.

Jynx arches a brow, smirking slightly. "So that's what the thing is." He leans forward to get a better look. "Funny, knowing Eve, I expected something with frills and a bow."

The Rhian next to Jynx nickers a laugh, then bites her lower lip to stifle it. "Yes, sir," she agrees with mock solemnity.

As the machine comes closer, it looks rather brutish, really. Quite un-Eve-like. It has perched upon the front of it, and slightly askew, some sort of leering gargoyle face, and a couple of claws sticking out at odd angles. Plus, it looks like the front plate has been banged on repeatedly, and there are lots of scratches and gouges in the metal and ceramic and chitin. There's also a big sign tacked onto the front that says, in messy script, "BEWEAR OF TRANE! GIT OUTTA WAY!"

The assembled peoples ooo and ahhhh when the train first appears, and as it comes closer, a few of them back away, alarmed by the leering carving. They look towards Count Kurai for reassurance.

The black Khatta winks playfully at the Rhian. He then grimaces, the sign and the condition of the contraption telling him all he needs to know. "She would commission the Titanians to make the thing… " He shakes his head, the smirk returning. "Don't worry, it's just for show!" he calls out to the people.

The train jerks and shakes a bit … and then the gargoyle head … falls off! It rolls forward, landing on the track with a *PLOP* … and then the train bumps as it rolls right over the monster head, crunching it under the wheels.

At the Khatta's words, the people seem to relax … until the gargoyle face is trampled by the train. Nearly everyone draws further from the tracks. Just in case. A few chuckles can be heard as one of the attendees tells others what the sign says.

Ophelia flattens her ears somewhat at the noisy device. She puts her muzzle to her cervine lady-in-waiting's ear, evidently commenting on the train's appearance. The countess startles, and tries not to giggle as the train begins to disintegrate.

The engine then slows, getting closer and closer to the ribbon … then stops, as steam shoots out from several tubes and pipes jutting from the engine in every which direction. A lupine voice howls, "WE'RE HERE!" The big cloud of white steam billows outward, spreading over the gathered crowd…

Jynx winces, squinting as the steam hits the platform. He waves a paw to get it from his face, and takes a few steps towards the machine's front. "Glad you could make it! Um, was it supposed to do that?" He points to the crushed gargoyle under the wheels.

The steam dissipates, and a Titanian with a little engineer's cap (well, little for him, anyway) waves at the steam, trying to blow it away by puffing at it and occasionally saying, "SHOO, STEAM, GO WAY!" He then sees Jynx, and waves. "HEY THERE LI'L KITTY!" Hey, that Titanian looks familiar. It's … Gnarr!

Behind the first engine – which is lacking any cars – another engine rolls into view, this one slowing down more gracefully. It is sleek and elegant, a work of art, formed of smoothly curving lines, glossy white offset with twining patterns of enameled vines and porcelain roses running along its edges. In ornate lettering, there is written on the side, "The Magical Fairy Princess".

Gnarr waves away some more steam, then says, "OH! YAH, I HIT DAT MONSTER ONNA TRACK. IT WAZZA JUICY ONE!"

The black Khatta's eyes go wide at the sight, and for a few moments his smile shrinks a bit as he recognizes the face. "By the Star … she made him conductor?" He sighs lightly, shaking his head a bit, then puts his smile back on. "Hello there, Gnarr!" The cat looks around. "Where's my sister?"

As the contraption manages to come to a halt without apparently exploding or disintegrating, a ragged cheer goes up from the crowd. When the second engine rumbles down, another cheer erupts, this one more heartfelt. Everyone waves to the two devices, beaming enthusiastically. No one's getting any closer just yet, though.

Jynx turns to regard the second vehicle, watching it as it rumbles closer.

Ophelia and her entourage join in the polite applause. The second engine seems more to her taste, if one were to judge by her reaction.

Behind the second engine, several cars of similar design are pulled along, followed by what looks for all the world like a fairy tale cottage on wheels at the very end.

"Ah, there we go," Jynx whispers to the Rhian, "that's more what I expected." He grins, and joins in with the applause as the second train nears.

As the second engine comes to a stop, letting out a few puffs of steam, but not quite so dramatically, a ramp rolls down from the side of the first car … and an angelic-looking white Khatta in a neatly pressed dress with perfectly white skirts and puffy sleeves, and a bonnet topped with white roses is helped down by a Titanian in a tuxedo. "Hello!" the young feline woman says, waving with a kerchief.

"Wow," the equine near Jynx says. "It's beautiful." She leans forward, eyes rapt on the final car of the train. After a moment, she remembers to applaud, but forgets that she's holding the scissors. She manages to recover before dropping them, and clops one hoof against the ground to show her appreciation.

A third cheer from the crowd, roaring their approval of the Duchess. The Savanites clap their hands and stomp their feet to join in on the noise.

The white Khatta makes her way up the long platform, pausing every few steps to wave and smile brightly, and heads on over to the black Khatta. She then curtseys. "Good day, Count Kurai! It is such a fine day, and all the finer to have the pleasure of making your acquaintance!"

The bay fumbles with the scissors, wiping them unnecessarily on her sleeve, then grasping them by the blades with one hand, prepared to hand them over for the ribbon-cutting.

Jynx smiles, with a slight bow. "And yours as well, Duchess Kurai." The smile turns into a grin, and the black Khatta throws his arms around his sister. "It's good to see you again, sis!"

The Duchess smiles at Jynx's bow … then suddenly lets out a squeak of surprise as she's hugged! "Goodness gracious!" she cries, then breaks into giggles, and hugs her brother back.

The cheering dies down after a few moments, and then renews, even more raucous than before, at the exchange of hugs. A few hearty and good-natured hoots show their appreciation.

The black feline holds the hug for a little while, then backs away, putting Eve at arms' length. "By the Star, you've grown again! You must take after Grandma – you're gonna get taller than me before too long."

Eve giggles, and hides her muzzle with the kerchief she's holding. "You flatterer!" She shakes her head, then gestures toward the train. "What do you think?"

Jynx, still smiling, turns to regard the train, folding his arms behind his back. "It's loud, noisy, and steamy… " he grins, "but I think it's amazing! Has it worked well so far?"

Eve nods vigorously. "We had a bumpy start back when it was first assembled, but that's all been worked out, and we've only had one explosion! And nobody got seriously hurt. We've had a little trouble with the local … ah … 'fauna' … but that's what the Titanian 'trailblazer' is for." She gestures toward the beat-up engine in the front. "I wouldn't want to mess up the Magical Fairy Princess!" She winks.

A couple of brave Savanites are venturing closer to the two engines, standing at arms-length to inspect them, and a few more bold cubs are running down the length of the second train, examining the cars as they rush to inspect the cottage.

The older Khatta rolls his eyes playfully, "Why does that name not surprise me? So that's what the first train is for. Makes sense now." He grimaces, "I may need to put up fences along the tracks then. We don't want too many animals getting bumped off, as it were." He shakes his head, and puts his smile back on. "Anyways, shall we get down to business?" He nods to the Rhian cheerfully, giving her the cue.

The bay filly grins from ear to ear, and presents the shears, handle first, with a flourish and a low curtsey, to the Duchess.

Eve says, "Well, actually, most of what gets hit lands in the stew pot that the Titanians insist on having aboard." Eve sticks out her tongue. "Oh, but I don't want to tell you about that. Oh! Yes, ribbon-cutting time! I'll hurry back to the Princess… " She grabs her skirt in one hand, and her hat with the other, and hurries back to the ramp, completely missing the shears beingoffered her by the filly.

The Titanian engine, meanwhile, keeps chugging, giant gears visible on the side spinning round and round, Gnarr leaning eagerly out the side, hanging onto an array of big levers.

As the Duchess hurries away, the filly looks terribly embarrassed. She pivots slightly so the handles are proffered to Count Kurai, and tries to look like that's what she was doing all along.

Jynx blinks as his sister runs off, and looks down to the filly. "I'm supposed to cut it? I thought she was?"

Gnarr roars, "HURRY UP!" The Titanian grins eagerly, pulling a lever and making his engine shake about, sending up more puffs of smoke.

The Rhian looks up to see the Khatta as confused as she. "Um," she whispers, "Maybe you're supposed to cut it and then she drives through?" She starts in alarm at the Titanian's roar and the sputtering engine.

Twitching an ear, the black Khatta shrugs. He puts his crowd pleasing smile back on, and takes the shears from the Rhian, bowing to her in thanks. He then turns to the ribbon. "I hope this is right," he whispers. Louder, he announces, "Friends, I give you … the Sylvanian Railroad!" And with that, he cuts the ribbon, saying a silent prayer to the Star.

The shears make a loud squeaking noise … and then bounce back. The ribbon appears to be intact.

Gnarr lets out a loud whoop! "WHOO HAH!" He pulls a lever, and the engine makes several loud tooting noises, and a bell rings.

Jynx frowns. "What the… " He cuts at the ribbon again, putting more backbone into it.

A ragged cheer starts and dies in puzzlement as Count Kurai fails to sever the ribbon on the first attempt. There's some puzzled murmuring, and then, as the first engine growls to life, they start cheering again anyway, seemingly thrilled just to have things finally happening after the long wait.

Ophelia holds a hand out to her lady-in-waiting, and receives a handful of confetti. She hesitates for a second, then tosses it into the air anyway, making a brief colored flurry about herself.

Aha! What good luck! The ribbon cuts cleanly in two! And just in time, for the Titanian engages a lever, and suddenly his engine lurches forward! But … wait a minute … isn't there something we're forgetting here? Like, for instance, the fact that Jynx is still standing right there on the tracks?

The Khatta nods at a job well done, albeit weirdly, and looks up just in time to see the train start up. "Sweet Dagh!" He sprints off the tracks, and back toward the platform.

Off to one side, looking about ready to die of mortification when the scissors she'd given her lord failed to cut the fabric, the filly sighs and then draws in a deep breath in fear as the engine leaps forward with Jynx still on the tracks. She steps forward and kneels down, ready to help him back up to the platform.

Right before everyone's shocked and astounded eyes … the train lurches forward, as obscuring clouds of steam shoot all about … and there's a loud *BONK* … a yowl … and the engine chugs forward … with no sign whatsoever of the feline!

Then, the second train fires up, and Eve, oblivious to what has just transpired, waves from a window with her handkerchief. "Bye! Good bye! See you on my way back! Good bye!" She smiles brightly, waving all the while as her train rolls past the platform at a leisurely pace.

The Rhian collapses to the platform in horrified shock. The assembled people gasp and dead silence falls across them, everyone taking several steps back from the trains.

As the two trains fade off into the distance, the shocked villagers slowly move towards the tracks, hearts filled with trepidation. As they fan out around the tracks where the ribbon still wafts in the breeze, a murmur of wonder goes up: there's no sign whatsoever of the Khatta's body.

There was a big puff of steam … then something smacked into the Khatta really hard … then there was this strange sensation of flying … then a loud *SPLOOSH* … and now … now the Khatta feels wet. And awfully warm.

A Titanian voice bellows, "HEY, FLATHEAD, WE GOT ANUDDER ONE!"

It feels like the Khatta is sitting in a bathtub. A bathtub filled with … noodles? And little chunks floating around? Hmm. Smells like … broth.

Slowly, the black feline opens his eyes, his body not only aching, but telling him that he's in some sort of water. "Wha … where am I?" He opens his eyes fully, and takes a look around.

It would seem that Jynx is sitting in a big pot of stew. There is a big hairy Titanian standing there in a stained parody of a chef's outfit, complete with lumpy and floppy chef's hat, holding a big ladle. He dips it into the water, and sips it. "BLEAH. TASTES LIKE KITTY HAIR!"

"Tastes like … kitty? Huh?" Jynx slowly realizes his situation, and bolts upright. "Whoa! Hold on there, chief!"

A mangy-looking mutt with a bald top that makes him look faintly flat-headed shuffles back into the chamber. "Ah, messieur! Eet ees a Khatta. Have heem take a turn on the pumps, oi?"

The chamber rumbles a bit, and the familiar "chug chug chug" sound can be heard.

A cloud of steam puffs into the room for a moment. The chamber has an open ceiling, and the sunny blue sky can be seen above, along with passing tree branches.

The damp feline slogs his way out of the pot, and over the side, setting his ears back at the condition of his uniform. "Sorry, but no one's getting to devour me just yet." He shakes in feline fashion, trying to dry himself somewhat. "Now, where am I?"

"YOU ONNA TRAILBLAZER," says the Titanian. "YOU GET KITTY HAIR IN MY MONSTER STEW! BAD KITTY!" He wags his finger at the Khatta. "NO STEW FOR YOU!"

"Trailblazer?" asks the cat, his whiskers pursing forward in puzzlement. "You mean the train that goes ahead of Eve's?" The Khatta looks for a window to get a glimpse behind the vehicle.

There's not a window, per se, but there's a big hole torn in the side that looks like it will do the trick. Sure enough, he can see the tracks going behind the vehicle … and Eve's train following behind, puffing merrily along the winding railroad.

"WE STOP AT SPOTTYTOWN NEXT!" the Titanian bellows, grinning.

Jynx frowns, and ducks back inside the engine, wiping soup from his fur. "Well, this is a bit of a detour." He shrugs. "Kurai Town, you mean? Well, at least I didn't go all the way to Vlad's lands."

There's a loud toot from the front of the train, then the mutt says, "Oh NOOOOO!" He grabs for a nearby pipe.

The Titanian bellows, "MONSTER ALERT!"

"Monster? Huh?" Jynx sticks his head outside the hole again to get a look at what's ahead.

All of a sudden, the whole train lurches … and there's a loud *THUD*, followed by a whistling noise of something arcing through the air.

"INCOMING!" shouts the Titanian.

The black Khatta's hair bristles, and he reaches out to grab at anything for support!

A nice wooden handle presents itself … Whoops! It's the ladle handle! Oh well.

There is a loud SPLASH that sends soup and meaty chunks and noodles flying through the chamber. The Titanian licks his lips. "Mmmm!"

Jynx flails around once more, trying to steady himself. "What did we hit – Ack!" The black feline gets drenched in brothy liquid.

A little yellow, roundish, plump rodent bobs in the stew pot. It blinks at Jynx with beady black eyes. "Kipa?" it squeaks.

The Khatta grabs hold of the heavy stew pot, one of the most stationary things in the room, and freezes. "Umm, I think something else was alive in you guys' grub!" He peers at the strange animal.

The Titanian looks down at the little bobbing yellow rodentish creature. "AHHHHH! GET RID OF IT! HURRY!" He waves his hands around wildly and ineffectively.

The fat yellow rodent frowns. "Kipa kipa!" it squeaks.

"Get rid of it? Why?" The Khatta grabs the ladle, and makes to spoon the creature from the stew. "Looks harmless to me… "

The yellow rodent gets spooned out of the stew. It looks really annoyed now, perhaps having recovered from the stun of being bonked off a railway and dunked in stew. "KIIIIIIPAAAAA – !"

"Hurry!" yelps the mutt, hiding behind a piece of nondescript junk.

Thinking that the Titanian probably knows best, Jynx runs over to the hole, and whips the ladle around as fast as he can, lobbing the rodent away.

"CHUUUUUUUU!" cries the yellow rodent as it sails out of the engine, and flies into some bushes. There is a crackle and a flash of light from the woods!

"WHEW!" yells the Titanian, wiping his brow. "THAT WAS CLOSE!"

The mutt lets out a sigh of relief.

The horn toots a couple of times, and the engine starts shaking. "SPOTTYTOWN!" shouts the cook, and he grabs the ladle from Jynx and stirs the stew, then samples it. "BLEAH. STILL TASTE LIKE KITTY HAIR." He grabs an unlabelled jar and sprinkles some spicy-looking stuff into the stew, then sniffs at it, grabs an oil can, and gives the stew a couple of squirts. He samples it again. "MUCH BETTER!"

The engine starts to slow down.

The black Khatta just stares out the side of the train in disbelief, then shakes his head as he returns to reality. "We're there already?" He peers forward, trying to get a look at the station.

Sure enough, there's another train station. There are lots of spotted felines out there … plus it looks like a number of the folks from Blackshire Village, waving vigorously at the train – some using both hands.

Either they traveled really fast … or perhaps the train has been chugging along fairly slow and the Khatta was out for a little bit before he came to in the stew pot.

In the front of the crowd stands Countess Ophelia, looking rather shaken. She stands on the platform surrounded by her retainers and some of Kurai's as well. She's closer to the track than one might expect, waving her handkerchief at the train with an air of authority, looking full well as though she expects it to stop at her command.

"Whew! Good," says Jynx. "Maybe I can bum some clothes off of the clothiers here." He makes for the exit, waiting for the train to come to a halt. "Nice meeting you guys, but I have things to attend to."

The train rattles to a stop, for a moment seeming as if it might fall off of the track. The stew sloshes around.

Gnarr looks back from the conductor's compartment, and sees Jynx. "OH! HEY THERE KITTY! HOW … " He blinks, as suddenly it occurs to him that the Khatta shouldn't be there.

Jynx waves to the Countess and her entourage, then turns to Gnarr. "Nice driving there, big guy." He smirks, and turns to the exit, making his way outside.

Ophelia swallows, and marches along the platform toward the leading engine, looking quite determined. She pauses with a quiet "ack" as the Khatta exits from engine, and stands goggling at him, looking very flustered.

The pretty white train comes to a stop, too, and Eve dismounts. "Hellooooo everybody! Helloooo – JYNX?!" she squeaks in surprise, dropping her handkerchief.

"Nice to see you too," the black Khatta says to Ophelia, shaking the soup off once again. "Hello again, Eve. You might want to change your policy on the Trailblazer, and get a safer driver."

The anxious crowd from Blackshire cries out triumphantly, stomping feet and clapping their hands as Count Kurai emerges, largely unscathed, from the engine.

Eve gasps. "GNARRRRRR!" she cries, rushing up to the engine. "Gnarr, you big bad silly Titanian you! You come right down here this instant and explain to me what just happened!"

Gnarr whines pitifully, ears drooping. "GNARR DUNNO?"

Jynx tries not to crack a smile, but it's hard seeing Eve act like a kitten again. "Just make sure the coast is clear next time, big guy."