Chapter Twenty-Two:
Separate Ways

	The room Twilight and Scootaloo found at the end of the hall turned out to be the management office for the palace's railroad maintenance workers. It was cleaner, better organized than the wayward shed they left Applejack and Braeburn in. It still had the same lingering smell of hard work and machine oil Twilight was starting to enjoy.
	At first glance the room reminded Twilight of the barracks her brother stayed in after he joined the Royal Academy. Two sets of bunk beds were placed against the wall with four lockers set between them. It took an infinite amount of restraint to keep Twilight from laying down on one those beds and going to sleep.
	The bathroom was a treasure trove in Twilight's eyes. A working shower with hot water so they could get cleaned up. Pain relievers in the medicine cabinet only added to Twilight's joy. It was so much of everything they wanted, it felt like a dream. A dream that was periodically disrupted by a dozen infected pounding at the door. Twilight worked hard trying to block out the sound.
	After Twilight was clean, she decided to explore the rest of the room at length. The room was freezing against her wet and naked form, finding a replacement pair of clothes was the first order of business. The lockers yielded a few treasures of their own, a change of clothes for Twilight since she'd soiled her other ones. The coveralls didn't fit as well as she'd like, but she at least they were clean and dry. There was nothing for Scootaloo at first, until Twilight found a pair of orange coveralls cut to fit a female. She managed to alter them with a pair of office scissors she found in the desk drawer. They were still baggy, but warmer than what she wore now.
	The last thing of interest Twilight found was a map of the Palace Train Station. It was tucked in the center drawer of the manager's desk. The station was much smaller than the main transit station in the city. Princess Celestia mentioned that little secrets existed in the station. She just failed to inform Twilight where or what they were.
	Twilight heard Scootaloo walking up behind her while she was looking over the map. “What are you looking it at?”
	“It's a map of the station here.” Twilight traced her finger across the paper, stopping at a red marker line that seemed to lead straight through a wall. There was something written right above the line, but Twilight couldn't read it. “Scootaloo, what's that say?”
	Scootaloo rested her elbows on the desk taking a long look at the map, touching the red text with one finger, reading as her finger followed the words. “It says 'Private Royal Access to the Castle.' What's that mean?”
	“This is the path that takes all the princesses to the castles when they come in on a train. I've never had to use them before, but it would be a perfect way to get to the throne room. I'm almost certain they'd want to leave that open in case Celestia and the other's needed to escape.” Twilight drummed her finger on the map and smiled. “I really hope there's a clear path to this door.”
	Twilight leaned back in the chair enjoying the last few moments of comfort before she had to hurry on her way. Something hanging on the wall next to the door, caught her eye. It was key box, with keys to every door in the station. Twilight rose from the chair, heading to the box. She gave it a quick look over, most of the keys were tagged and put where they belonged, but there was no entry for the private access door key. “Well, our good luck was bound to run out eventually.”
	“Uh, Twilight?” Scootaloo called from behind.
	Twilight saw Scootaloo holding something in her hand. It was black with yellow accents and shaped like a gun. “Be careful with that.” Twilight stepped over to her, holding her hand out to take it.
	“What is it?” Scootaloo offered it up without resistance.
	Twilight gave it a quick study, before saying. “It's a Tazer...something people use to protect themselves. It's not unlike that baton Pinkie Pie found. Where did you get it from?” Twilight pocketed the weapon and walked back to the desk.
	“I found it in the desk, there's lots of stuff in there.” Scootaloo sat in the chair sliding across the smooth tile floor.
	Scootaloo wasn't wrong, the drawer was filled with so many things. Documents, envelopes and other office supply. Then something glinted in the florescent lights above. Twilight giggled with glee as she picked up a set of keys. On the paper tag, written in the familiar fluid handwriting of Celestia, it read 'Private Access'. “Thank you so much Celestia.” Twilight whispered slipping the keys into the breast pocket of her coveralls.
	“Did you find anything?” Scootaloo came rolling passed on the chair.
	“I found the way into the private access hall. I guess that means we can get a move on, now.” Twilight grabbed the back of the chair, catching the young filly before she could glide away.
	“Do we have to?” Scootaloo looked up at her with her sad purple eyes.
	Twilight thought about it for a long time and sighed. “You could stay here if you wanted. There's water and I pretty sure there's some food around here somewhere. You can even sleep on the beds, if you want. Just stay here and wait for me to come back for you.”
	“But...” Scootaloo grabbed both of Twilight's hands. “What happens if you don't come back?”
	“I'm coming back, even if I get bit I'll come back to let you know what happened.” Twilight knelt down in front of her and pulled her into a hug. “I just need you to be strong for a little while longer. I know that everything will be alright soon.”
	Scootaloo pushed her face into Twilight's neck and sniffled hard. “Okay, but don't be gone too long.”
	“I promise.” Twilight got up and walked to the opposite door they'd come in. She turned the door lock. “Once I'm through the door, close it and lock it. Don't opening it for anyone other than me, do you hear me?”
	“No one but you, got it.” Scootaloo hopped down off the chair to join Twilight by the door.
	“See you, sweetie.” Twilight whispered, opening the door slipping out into the hallway. She heard the door close behind her and the lock slide home. Twilight was left alone to finish what needed to be done.