A Stranding by Rail

Twilight was not totally broken. She was still regretting everything going on around her. However, all she could do at the moment was stand as still as a statue, continue stuttering, and listen.

How did he know that?!? I haven't said Spike's name since we got here!!! Has someone from this world made the reverse trip? That... would actually be rather helpful... What's he saying anyway?

"Well, give us the short version then!"

Rainbow...

"Well, about four years ago now, Hasbro, an american toy company, came out with a new line of toys. In order to help promote their products, they also released a television show, named 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic'.That was actually the fourth time someone tried that same basic thing, now that I think about it. Anyway, the show really took off, and it stars... The seven of you. They've finished releasing three seasons and a movie so far."

"Television?" asked Fluttershy, "What's that? Ifyoudon'tmindmemyaskingthatis..."

"Well, it's kind of like a movie, except the image is produced behind the screen, which is smaller." Skarloey paused. "The technology has only been around since the 1920's, and color was only introduced in the 50's."

It was now that Spike finally managed to slap Twilight back to normal. "Thank you Spike." She turned back to Skarloey. "Sorry about that... I think the shock got to me there." She paused. "By the way, what's today's date?"

"December 20, 2013. Why?" He paused. "Today's Friday by the way."

"That's...  Exactly the same as back home..." Twilight scratched her head with a forehoof. "Well, except for the year, but that's most likely just differing starting events."

"By the way," interjected Rarity, "you wouldn't know of some way of  getting us home, would you?"

"Well... If you got here the way I assume... Yes, but it'll take a while."

"Wait wait wait wait," exclaimed Pinkie, "YOU know how we got here?"

"Well... Ah... I have a good guess..."

Spike, who had been trying his best to assess exactly what had happened to the coach since he got Twilight working, grunted. "What is it? A magic railroad or something?"

"Yes actually, how did you know?"

Spike sat up with a jolt , hitting his head on the frame. "Ow..."

Rainbow paused and glanced at Spike before turning back to Skarloey. "Something tells me that was a lucky guess." "Actually, I was being sarcastic."

"Oh, ok. Say, uh, are you ok over there?"

Spike rubbed his head before returning to work "Yea, I'll be fine."

"That's cool."

Skarloey yawned, letting off steam in the process. "You know what, we can go over this tomorrow. Right now, we should find you somewhere to sleep."

Applejack glanced up at the night sky. "What time is it anyway?"

"Must be close to eleven by now... I was just going to sleep when you... er... arrived."

"Well," began Rarity, "where are we going to sleep? This is a rail-yard."

"Well, there's no room in the shed..." Skarloey thought for a moment before continuing.

"I don't think Agnes would mind much, at least not for just one night"

Twilight was puzzled. "Agnes? Who's that?"

"Our First-Class coach. Her seats are padded, so they should be fairly comfortable."

"So..." started Rainbow, "Lemme get this straight... We're going to be sleeping inside somepony?"

"Don't worry, she's almost as old as I am! Although this will be the first time she's been used as a sleeper..."

"How old are you anyway?" asked Pinkie, "Maybe I can throw you're party if it happens while we're here!"

"Not unless you're stuck here until spring. And I'm 148 years old, if you must know."

Pinkie's jaw dropped. "That's a lot of candles."

Skarloey chuckled. "It's only three if you get the ones shaped like numbers. Come on, Agnes is over here."

It had taken some convincing, but Agnes had relented in the end (Although she had insisted they find somewhere more permanent in the morning.). Now everyone was fast asleep. Everyone, that is, but Twilight. Try as she might, she simply could not get her brain to turn off for the night.

What am I going to tell Celestia? Oh...Do I even need to worry about sending her a letter right now? I don't even know if time is still passing back home yet! And would the letter even go through? Twilight sighed softly. I'm going to have to ask Skarloey about that in the morning... If I could just fall asleep I could get in contact with Luna... Assuming time still works...

Another sigh. If time does still work, everypony is going to be so worried about us. Not even getting into my royal duties, we are the Element Bearers, I have the library to look after with spike, Applejack has the farm and Applebloom, Rainbow has weather duty, Rarity has her boutique and Sweetie Belle, Fluttershy has the animals, and Pinkie has... All of her friends! And we were all supposed to be in Canterlot for the Pageant! At least we have understudies, so that will still happen.

Twilight moaned, rubbing her eyes. Well, can't worry about all that now. I need sleep... She focused, sending some magic up her horn and casting a simple sleeping spell on herself. Less then a minute later, Twilight joined her friends in sleep.

Upon entering her dreamscape, Twilight stood and concentrated, shaping it to resemble her current surroundings, complete  with her sleeping friends. Not her actual friends of course, but images of their sleeping forms instead. After taking a good look around to make sure everything was as she remembered it, she took a deep breath and called out.

"Luna! If you can hear me, I ... Kind of need to talk to you it's important!" Taking another breath to refill her lungs, Twilight sat back down and started to do some mental math. Let's see... If a one followed by a hundred zeros is a googol, and a one followed by a googol zeros is a googolplex...

Twilight never finished her thought as she suddenly found herself with a mouthful of hair. "Twilight Sparkle! What is so important that you could not wait to tell us in Canterlot?"