A Train to where?

'This can't be happening. This can't be happening. This can't be happening. Nolan continued his disgruntled march deep into the forest from where he had originally come. After quite some time he took a deep breath and surveyed his surroundings, taking in what he saw. The forest floor was covered in a light blanket of snow, Above him the snow had covered the tops of the trees making a solid roof above him. The only thing that he could hear was the sound of the howling wind, his own footsteps and his own breathing. He took a deep breath, feeling the frigid air sting his lungs a bit, but it didn't phase him- he was so lost in frustration and confusion for him to even take notice.

'Okay let me take stock of my situation... I take a field trip with my class to a history museum, Check. I get a detention for saving a kids skin, Check. I get a mysterious message to go find my destiny... Now that is squiffy. okay, I put my head down so... I MUST BE DREAMING!!'

Nolan slid the wrist of his jacket up his arm and pinched his arm. "YEOW!!"

'Nothing, maybe I'm really not dreaming...'

Nolan extended his arm out and slapped himself across the face. "OKAY OKAY BRAIN I AM NOT ASLEEP! let's just think this out..."

Okay, so First I meet a crazily shy pony that is just like my sister, Not cool. Then a brainiac of a pony that is surprisingly like my good friend Jon. Then a overly cocky rainbow one just like... Well everybody I know. And Pinkie Pie is just like Liz, Overly active and curious. Big Mac is like Kyle, and Applejack is caring, kind, honest, and a bit on the motherly side... just like Lacey. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!

The cold was starting to get worse, Nolan turned and continued to march on deeper into the forest.

'Next I need to get to the train station and get the hell home. I miss my friends, my family, and I want out of this crazy place.'

Nolan felt the small pang of guilt hit his stomach.

'I should never have had blown up at Applejack and the others like that. Even if this whole place feels all so fake, That was a horrible mood swing with no Explanation, It was also wrong... But the more I think about it, The more I think i should have stayed with them, Maybe i should have. MY BAG! Shit I left it on the ground at the farm. Well this is going to hell. I need to find someplace warm to think this through.

The cold only grew more and more bitter, but still Nolan marched on intent on making it to the train station before the storm got any worse.

*~*~*~*

"So you're telling me he got all fired up and left, just like that? What in Equestria could have caused him to do that?" Twilight asked to the whole as the seven sat around a round table in the library.

"Ah don't know sugarcube, He seemed mighty pissed, and ah got no idea what could have caused it." Applejack added to the question.

"Nope" Big Mac added

"Oh dear, the poor thing is trapped out in this terrible storm. and to think I thought he was a scary monster" Fluttershy shook her head looking fearfully the window.

"Nolie Isn't like us, He has no fuzzy wuzzy coats to keep him warm." Pinkie said laying her head on the table. "I can't shake the feeling It's all my fault I pushed him over the edge.

"And he didn't take my boots along with him, His hoof-er- I mean feet could fall right off." Rarity sipped her tea looking to the rainbow one for hope.

Rainbow dash shook her head, "I don't think there is anything I could possibly do." she nodded her head. "Even if I could fly I can't see through the snow cover on the trees."

"Nope" Big Mac added once more.

"We need to do something, And soon." Twilight looked from one face to the other in hope for some light on the situation.

"I'll go find him, It's partially my fault he left. But Nolie can't survive out there on his own, not to mention the blizzard isn't quite in full effect yet." Pinkie said standing up, the poof having disappeared from her mane and tail.

"Pinkie, are you out of your mind? The blizzard may not be in full effect, but it is getting into gear," Fluttershy said, a look of deep concern in her eyes. "As much as I want Nolan to be safe, I cannot just let you go out there and try to fix things all by yourself!"

"Sadly I agree, I would never let myself live if I let you and Nolan perish out in the cold." Twilight said gesturing for pinkie to sit back down.

"It was ma'h fault just as much as yours, if at anything mostly mine." applejack said, letting a small idea form in her head.

Pinkie looked at Rainbow Dash for support, "I'm sorry but I can't let you go out there all on your own." Rainbowdash said placing a sympathetic hoof on Pinkies shoulder.

"But we have to do something, We can't just sit here and let him die!" Pinkie said letting some tears bubble out of her eyes.

"And we're not, We just need a plan before we just run out into the danger." Rarity said placing her hoof onto pinkies to try to soother her.

"Uhh, Ladies?" Big Mac said looking around.

"But What if he dies, This is one I just can't let go." Pinkie said crying.

"Ladies?" Big mac pressured a little more.

"It wasn't your fault Pinkie, I am sure he is safe." Fluttershy said.

"GIRLS!" Big Mac shouted finally grabbing the attention of the others.

"What is it Mr. Macintosh?" Fluttershy asked looking as Big Mac pointed to an empty seat. "Oh my gosh. Where's Applejack?"

"WHAT?" Rainbowdash leaped to her hooves looking around the table. "SHE'S GONE!"

"But I didn't feel the front door open." Twilight said galloping to the front. "RARITY, Your scarf is gone... AND MY SADDLE BLANKET!"

"But How could she have left without us noticing?" Pinkie asked the tears having dried up temporarily.

"Back here!" Rarity yelled from the kitchen.

They all ran to the kitchen, There was fresh snow on the floor and the door had some condensation from the ice. Twilight walked to the window of the door and looked outside. She couldn't see anything but some hoof-prints leading away in the storm, swirling snow as the clouds continued to lay their icy, white blanket over the town.

"Please come back safe, both of you."

*~*~*~*

"One more hill, That's it. One more hill." Nolan climbed up a small knoll along the path. He had begun to lose all feeling in his feet, and his vision was slowly becoming blurry. Behind the hill sat was was the rubble of the train station.

"NO!" Nolan surged forward to the building and began digging around. He finally found a small entrance and clambered in.

The inside was totally destroyed, there was little to nothing left. In day, It looked like it had all been destroyed, 'a thousand years ago...'

Nolan surveyed his small space, there were so many holes in the rubble that the cold wind blew through. Not to mention the holes in the roof was letting snow fall softly into the confined space.

'this will be my tomb if I go any farther.'

Nolan walked out and viewed down two possible paths, On lead up a mountain, one back into the forest. 'Five bucks the forest is warmer.'

But not two feet in a large tree collapsed from the overbearing weight of the snow. With a loud crash it blocked Nolan's path of making it any farther. 'Well great, Now i'm shit out of luck... Up the mountain it is.'

Nolan grunted to himself and hauled his ass up the mountain one freezing step at a time.

*~*~*~*

Applejack stood at a fork in the path, One lead to the left through a small canyon, The other lead up a large knoll deeper into the forest. 'If ah was a human, which way would I go?' Applejack stood for a moment more before the cold reached her bones... she set off down the canyon.

*~*~*~*

Rarity brought some freshly brewed tea to the pair of ponies up on the ledge watching the road out of town. "Here you go darlings, In any other situation I would tell you a watched pot never boils, but today it can't boil fast enough."

Fluttershy took her tea and placed it on the windowsill in front of her. "Thank you Rarity, I don't know if I am ready to see the outcome of whats gonna happen."

"I don't know." Rarity offered the tea to Pinkie who didn't respond. "Pinkie, If you wish to stay up to watch for AJ and Nolan, You might as well have some tea." Pinkie's gaze didn't even brake from the window. "I'll leave it here on the sill."

"Thank you Rarity." Fluttershy said with no response. Rarity made her way down into Twilight's bedroom. She was sound asleep on the bed, Rarity took two of the spare blankets and walked into the main room. She softly placed the first one over Rainbow asleep on the couch. She handed the second to Big Mac who didn't say a word, he looked at her with great worry in his eyes.

"It will be alright dear." She patted Mac on the shoulder before finding a spot on one of the reading chairs and softly fell asleep.

*~*~*~*

Nolan was now fearing with night now upon him, The storm would get worse. He needed to find shelter and fast. Around the next bend of the mountain he eyed a good size cave.

'Oh thank god!'

He sped up and clambered into the cave, it was warmer than outside, but just not warm enough. He examined the inside. It went only a couple of yards back, but to the right there was a small cove where a small patch of grass bravely fought winter's grasp.

'Can't argue with that... but I do miss a bed.' Nolan sat on the grass and huddled up against the wall. From there he could see the storm swirling outside.

*~*~*~*

The cold was still far from bothering Applejack, but she knew it was there. She spied the rocky outcroppings around her before recognizing where she was.

"Zecora's"

She found the correct tree with the small thatch house connected to it. There was a small trail of smoke rising out of the chimney.

She approached the door listening for any signs of the owner. With enough time she gave up and knocked softly on the wooden door. Within moments the door opened and there stood a semi-weary zebra on the other side.

"Who is knocking at my door, on a night so Frigged? If it isn't applejack standing there oh so rigid. What can I do for the older sister of little Applebloom." The zebra gestured for Applejack to come inside.

"Well Zecora ah'm in search for a friend who is no doubt lost, and this is a lot to ask for... But can ah stay here a night." applejack loosened the scarf around her neck, letting her body warm up from the cold.

"A noble pony on a noble quest, is always welcome to be my guest." Zecora said gesturing to a small couch on the edge of the room.

"Thank you Zecora, I owe you one."

"How about some nice tea of herbs for your poor frayed nerves."

"That would be wonderful." Applejack removed her scarf and saddle blanket and set it on the edge of the couch for a pillow.

"Here drink this." Zecora said handing Applejack a funny looking drink.

Applejack took a small sip coughing up what little she had drank. "Zecora what is this, It tastes like rotten alfalfa."

"Just take one drink, It warms you up in just one blink. It is of natural seaweed, i found while investigating the sea-ponies."

Applejack forced a small drink of the thick liquid down her thought. As soon as she felt it hit her stomach she instantly found her whole body heating up.

"This is amazing, Not very tasteful, but warming." Applejack said as she sat down on the couch.

"It's not the best taste, But it warms with great haste." Zecora said trotting back to where her Calderon sat.

Applejack didn't take notice of the lights going out, she couldn't sleep, she just looked out the small primitive window at the soft glow of Ponyville, and at a large mountain on the other side of view.

*~*~*~*

Fluttershy looked up from where she was at the Moon high above the sky, The storm has stopped for a short while and all above them as the most magnificent night sky she had seen in a long long time. As she looked at the moon, she noticed a soft weight on her shoulder, Pinkie had fallen asleep and was now leaning gently on her.

Fluttershy reached over an gently stroked her mane ever so softly as a subtle tune began to play in her head. The tune some how got her humming, just like a lullaby.

*

Applejack opened her eyes and looked outside, She could hear humming, but she couldn't find out where. She didn't care, what she felt like doing was humming along.

*

Nolan Heard the humming too, and rocked softly to the gentle tune. He recognized the voice, but could not place it. All he could think to do was join in.

*

Applejack didn't know where the lyrics came from, she just sang.

"Somewhere out there, Beneath the pale moonlight. Someone's thinking of you, and missing you tonight."

*

"somewhere out there, someone's saying a prayer." Nolan didn't know why he was singing, he just was.

"That we'll find one another, In that big somewhere out there. And even though I know how very far apart we are, It helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star.

*

"And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby, It helps to think we're sleeping underneath that same big sky."

*

Without any realization the three just sang out their heart, subconsciously in perfect unison.

"Somewhere out there if friendship can see us though, Then we'll all be together, somewhere out there, Out where dreams come true."

*

Nolan could feel the warm tears falling down his cheek. But he didn't care, all he knew is he needed to get back to those who cared about him. Whether it was here in Equestria or back home on Earth.

"And even though I know how very far apart we are, It helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star."

*

Applejack was sobbing softly.

"And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby, It helps to think we're sleeping underneath that same big sky."

*

Fluttershy too was now crying softly as she rejoined the singing.

"Somewhere out there" "If friendship can see us through. Then we'll be together somewhere out there, out where dreams come true.

Fluttershy could still hear the music playing as she softly laid her head on top of Pinkies.

AJ laid back down descending into a deep sleep.

Nolan looked once more at the night sky before closing his eyes and letting the sound of the soft wind put him to sleep.