Author's Note

Hey guys! IF the chapter seems shorter then usual then its because Im kind of going through some issues with family right now and I need some space to get it sorted out. Hope ya'll enjoyed!

Chapter 17: Promises

[Canterlot Express Train. Estimated Time of Arrival: 30 minutes]

The eerie silence of the passengers was all that could be heard inside the cart. The remaining population of Ponyville plus two unknown strangers were on the way toward a capital city they didn't know whether it was already hit or not. The old conductor had been trying to contact the station in the city for almost an hour now, ever since they departed from station. All that came from the radio was static. The conductor rubbed his temple in frustration and slumped in his chair. He cursed under his breathe and began mumbling to himself as he tried to radio Canterlot once more.

"Canterlot station this is train number six, requesting stopping at any open railways, do you copy?" No response once again. He grunted and slammed his fist on the old metal of the radio. The conductor stood on his hooves and walked out of his station, imminently turning to his right and stepping toward the odd bunch on the train. The cloaked stranger from before leaned against the booth, starring into space it seemed. Meanwhile, three of the element barriers, their dragon friend, three other ponies with a filly in her mothers lap, and lastly the strange hefty stranger with a weapon on his back. The conductor smiled, it wasnt the weirdest thing he'd ever seen from his time living in Ponyville or even going up to Canterlot. They all were talking with each other, acting as though the zombie attack from before never happened. The white mare with a purple mane was holding up a sigh with syllables and small words on them, pointed toward the burly stranger. He looked long and hard at the white board and with a deep and grumbled voice, attempted to speak the syllables and words listed. His attempt was good but the voice he spoke with gave the conductor a small chill. It was deep, a sense of malice with what he spoke. However his attempt proved good because the white mare nodded happily and gave him a confident pat on his knee. The burly stranger smiled under his 'mask'.

Moving on, the conductors eyes moved over to the other five mares chatting but they seemed more worried about the situation going on at the moment. One of them, a baby blue coat with a rainbow mane spoke with confidence. Talking about the cloaked stranger across from the group. She spoke highly of him, saying he was a 'trump card' for the group. Some of the mares looked at each with skeptical looks. One of them spoke up, a younger mare with a red mane and cream coat. A red matching bow tie in her and her fillies hair. She said the group shouldn't take advantage of the strangers kindness toward them. She said he might leave them by the time they get to the train station. The five other mares went silent and sat with each others thoughts. The conductor exhaled a little through his nose. His happy expression turning down. He looked back at the cloaked stranger, his arms were free of his cloak and in his hands was a small stuffed animal. A bear from the looks of it. Patches of its body was covered in small cloths, meaning it had seen wear and tear. The conductor wondered how long he had the bear and why he carried it around. Then, the small voice of the filly in the red headed mares lap caught the groups attention.

"He wont leave us! He's our friend ain't he?"

Her mother looked down at her with a unknowing look. "Darlin', if we take advantage of him, he'll leave us." The little filly then looked up toward her mother and gave the most sadden eyes the conductor had ever seen. She then spoke of something that caught everyone's attention. "Like how daddy did?" The cloaked stranger's head suddenly looked up toward the group. Everyone frozen and starring at the young mother. Her sister from how she reacted toward the comment stood on her hooves. Her tone both of shock and anger. "He didn't...Applebloom....Apple Pie left you two!?" Applebloom kept her head down, her eyes closed trying not to shed a tear from the hurtful memory. From the way she was acting, it had happened long ago. Maybe when the child was younger. The older sister took off her hat and rubbed her head, walking out into the hall.

"I cant believe this...that boy was straight to the core! How in the hell could he..."

"Applejack please. Its fine. It happened years ago."

Applebloom's fatal attempt at trying to calm her sister down failed miserably as she heard how long ago it had been. Applejack's eyes widened with a narrow to go along with it. The conductor sighed and stepped aside from the booth, holding his hands together and looking down.

"And you didn't have the foggiest idea to tell me or Big Mac? We would've dragged his tail back to you!"

"You and I both know you would've done more then that."

"Darn tootin'! I swear if I see that little weasel again!"

The cloaked stranger suddenly stomped his foot. The ground shaking from the tremor. They looked toward the stranger, seeing past his eyes dark hood and seeing the crimson red irises inside. He pointed toward the weeping filly in her mothers lap and Applebloom wrapped her in a hug, repeating she was sorry over and over again. Applejack rubbed her neck and placed her hat back on her head. Everyone sat in silence, even the burly stranger in the corner of the booth gave a lip quiver toward the crying filly. The conductor watched as the cloaked stranger got up from his post and walked over toward the filly. He slowly downed himself on one knee and looked her in the eyes. Raising his hand and wiping away any tear on her cheek. He then raised the teddy bear in his hand and held it out for her. She looked at the stuffed toy for a moment before taking it and hugging it tightly for comfort. He then looked toward Rarity and held his hand out for the white board and marker in her hands. She handed him the materials and he started to write on the board. After a few seconds, he placed the cap back on and held it up for all of them to see. The conductor smiled with glee upon reading the message.

I WONT LEAVE YOU