Wood and Steel

Chapters

1: Unscheduled Stop
2: Waterwood Mill
3: Nothing Doing
4: Timber
5: Envy
6: The Storm
7: Happiness Finds You
8: Extended Vacation
9: Shipping Lanes
10: The Secret of Waterwood Manor
11: Hurt
12: Cherry Tree
Finale: Wood and Steel
13: Light In the Tunnel

1: Unscheduled Stop

The sound of hissing steam filled the air as equally as the black clouds belching out of the boiler as Drawbar opened the grate, soot streaking his face even as he waved his hoof to clear the smoke. He coughed as the acrid fumes entered his lungs and choked his breathing, forcing him to crouch low as they dissipated in the air. He cursed at the dirty boiler, empty save for the crackling fire and caked soot. The heat, once unbearable, hardly bothered Drawbar as he peered into the chamber, grumbling to himself.

"Drawbar! How's she looking?" a voice cried from behind and above him, carrying into the boiler room and nearly lost to the hissing of the steam. Drawbar grunted in deference to the empty chamber, though he knew his brother would not hear. Drawbar closed the grate to the boiler, turning back and heading for the small flight of stairs that would take him back up to the conductor's cabin.

"She's empty, Axle. I knew we wouldn't make it to Appleloosa after that holdup we had outside the Canterlot Mountains" Drawbar stated, grabbing a rag from the control console and wiping his face, the white cotton coming back black. He tossed the article back onto the console, sealing the door to the boiler room behind him.

"We was supposed to be in Appleloosa yesterday, brother. Yeah that herd'a cows slowed us up, but we woulda been running on E anyway the way we burned up the coal to make up for lost time" Axle Box replied, watching as the last of the steam billowed out of the stack and into the sky.

Drawbar grunted, turning back to look out the windshield. They were deep in the forest around the foot of the Canterlot Mountains, the nearest station a two day's hike away in Baltimare. Appleloosa was another day's ride away; three by hoof. In short, they were stranded right in the middle with no way of calling for help.

"Check the map. One of us is gonna have to start trotting. And keep the train coasting; let's get as far as we can on momentum alone before she comes to a halt."

Axle Box pulled their map up off the stand next to the console, the sound of crinkling paper the only sound in the cabin beyond the muted grind of the train along the tracks as it slowly lost speed. Axle flipped the map around, pressing it to the console as he looked it over, Drawbar keeping a watch along the track.

"Alright, we're here up in zone nine, section E7, in the Verdant Woods forest. Baltimare is back behind us, and Appleloosa is the next stop. Baltimare's closest, but that's still quite a trot, brother. You're gonna hafta take the emergency stock and hike it back to the Royal Rail office there to get us some more coal" Axle explained.

"What about there; what's that on the map?" Drawbar asked, pointing to the next section over from their current position. Faintly marked out on the map was what looked like a small compound, a river passing through the area near the edge of the compound's borders. A saw icon marked it in the corner.

"That there's a lumber mill, brother. They ain't gonna have any coal, and we can't burn wood; the chamber ain't designed for that."

"Yeah, but we might find some kind of help there. Maybe they got a working telegraph, since you broke ours" Drawbar accused teasingly. Axle feigned mock indignation, dramatically drawing his hoof back to his chest as if hurt.

"Ya'll was the one who told me to go faster when we was in those tunnels! How was I supposed'da know that rock would chip off the cave wall and cut our telegraph wire?" Axle protested. Drawbar rolled his eyes and waved dismissively at him, lightly depressing the brake lever, the wheels squealing as the tension increased, steadily slowing the train until it finally came to a stop. "What if they can't help us, brother?"

"Then I'll have to make the journey back to Baltimare on hoof. We don't really have much else of a choice, unless we want to sit around like lazy colts until the RRS sends out a search party. Heck, they may even end up doing that anyway if we're not in Appleloosa by Sunday night" Drawbar explained.

"I hear ya, brother."

"That mill's about a quarter mile away from here. Stay with the train and I'll head on up, see if I can't find anypony that can help us" Drawbar said, locking the brakes in place instinctively. Not that it could go anywhere on its own, he just did it on reflex. Putting his conductor hat on he pulled the door open, the sound of chirping birds and cicadas spilling into the cabin. He stepped out without a word, sealing the door behind him and dropping down to the gravel below. He looked up and down the track before turning left, passing the engine car and trotting along the way. The woods were a vibrant, beautiful green. Almost oversaturated, even. Tall trees swayed lightly in the wind, birds fluttering off as the branches jostled. Bushes at the base of the trees rustled with wildlife, displaced by the roar of the train and crunch of gravel under Drawbar's hooves.

It was a gorgeous day, but Drawbar couldn't find time to appreciate it, even after being locked up in the hot train for the past three days. They'd left Canterlot Sunday evening, bound for Appleloosa to pick up the goods on their manifest. Crates of apples, mostly. He and his brother were assigned to a small detail of the Royal Rail Service, tasked with retrieving the goods from the small towns on the desert plains; Dodge Junction, Appleloosa, etc. As such their train was a modest one, with one engine, a cargo car, comfort car(with beds, a kitchen, and bathroom), and the caboose. She was shorter and smaller than most, but she was Drawbar's and Axle's little joy. They had taken to calling her Little Ember. Because even the smallest ember can burn the brightest.

With the Little Ember at his back Drawbar trekked onward, the evening light slowly fading as he went along, never once realizing how much his and his brother's lives were about to change.

Author's Note

The idea for this story was born from a dream I had. Even my subconscious is telling me I need to write! I figure I'll get updates out every week or so.

2: Waterwood Mill

It had only been 15 minutes since Drawbar left the train when he rounded a bend in the tracks and came upon a section where the trees thinned out, giving way to a clearing. There was a small shed and boarding platform, clearly meant for loading trains. Drawbar stopped, peering into the woods. There was an opening, beyond the platform, where what appeared to be a well-trodden path snaked into the woods. Drawbar turned and trotted past the platform and onto the path, following it as it took him through a modest copse of trees. There was even a creek with a quaint, wood arch bridge stretching across it, the old boards creaking under Drawbar's weight. He emerged on the other side and followed the path another short distance before the trees ended, a large hill rising up before him.

As Drawbar began to ascend the hill he looked up and paused, taking in what he saw. At the top of the hill, standing tall and imposing, was a modestly-sized manor, ringed by an wrought-iron fence with stone pillars every 20 feet. Near the manor, on the side of the hill, was the lumber mill itself. Even from here Drawbar could see the wheel of the mill spinning, presumably propelled by the rushing water of the river as it cascaded down the hill. Drawbar took a moment to appreciate the manor's classical beauty before continuing up the hill, hoping that somepony would actually be home.

The running mill is a good sign. Shows that it's actually inhabited, at least the train conductor thought to himself. It was another couple hundred yards to the manor, and as he approached Drawbar saw what looked to be a few ponies trotting around the mill. Drawbar broke into a light gallop, making a bee-line straight for the mill. He passed near the iron fence that circled the house, the wind rushing past his ears. As he neared the mill one of the ponies turned and saw him coming, and he slowed down to a trot.

"Howdy there, can we help ya'll with something?" one of the ponies, a buck, called out to Drawbar. He came up to the mill, the sound of creaking wood and rushing water filling the air around it. There was a pile of logs set up next to the mill, and the other pony there, also a buck, pulled one down from the rack with his magic and fed it onto the tray, pressing a pedal built into the floor repeatedly to move the tray and feed the log into the automated saw powered by the mill's wheel.

The young stallion that had welcomed Drawbar was an earth pony, average in his build with a cream-colored coat and flowing blonde hair, his eyes an appropriately tree-bark brown. His cutie mark was that of a two-buck saw, the simple mark adorning his well-rounded flank, which Drawbar couldn't help but look at for just a hair longer than he should have. His fetlocks were nicely shorn, covered in sawdust, and his chest had little chips of wood and bark caught in it.

"Hello there, gentlecolts. My name is Drawbar, with the Royal Rail Service. Our train has run out of coal not far from here, and we were wondering if you had any coal to spare" Drawbar explained, the two colts stopping to look at each other.

"Well stranger, I'm happy to say that we got us some coal, but I'm sorry to say we ain't got none to spare. Least, not enough to get ya'll moving to the next town, I reckon. We were running mite low and our daddy's gone off to Baltimare to deliver the chopped wood to the wholesaler. He left 'bout a couple days ago, so I reckon he'll be back here within another couple days or so" the young buck explained.

Drawbar frowned. "A couple days and I could be in Baltimare myself" he said, earning a shrug from the buck.

"What sense is there in ya running down to Baltimare and back when daddy'll be back before ya get there? Ya'll lookin' like ya need a bath anyway, so why don't ya'll take a little rest and wait for our daddy to be back? I'm Willow Whisper, by tha way. Tha little one there is ma brother, Limb Trimmer" the buck explained.

Drawbar looked behind Willow at the smaller buck behind him, and took in his features even as he watched him hoist logs onto the tray. He was shorter than Willow by about a head, and had a smaller frame overall. His ocher-colored coat a stark contrast with that of his short, light-black mane. His cutie mark was that of a mill wheel, and his amber eyes focused intently on the job at hoof, though Drawbar could tell that the buck knew he was looking at him. The smaller buck's horn ignited in a soft yellow, and one of the logs was wrapped in the same glow as he pulled it down from the rack.

"Drawbar. Please to meet you. My brother, Axle Box, is back with the train."

"Well, shoot, why don't ya'll go on back and get 'im? Get that bath ya'll clearly need. We also got us a spare room ya'll could sleep in. Well, we got several spare rooms, actually" Willow said. His brother went back to feeding logs into the mill, the thick trunks splitting in two as they traveled down the tray, being dumped into a container at the end of the mill.

"No, thank you, that'll be quite alright. We've got a shower and beds back on the train that we'll use. We'll just stay there until your father comes back. I'll have the money sorted by then, as well" Drawbar stated, prompting Willow and Trimmer to look at him quizzically.

"Money? Friend, ya ain't need to be bothering yourself none with that. T'wouldn't be right to be charging some stranded ponies to help them get on their way. We're all a hospitable bunch; Daddy won't have no trouble sparing some coal for ya'll."

Drawbar was inclined to protest, that he'd be honor-bound as a member of the Royal Rail Service to pay his debts(and because it'd be the right thing to do) but he didn't want to fight with the young stallions over what was most polite, so he simply nodded. "Thank you, you two. Our train's down south of the tracks about a quarter-mile from the little loading station you've got, so that's where we'll be. Have a nice day now, gentlecolts." With a tip of his hat Drawbar turned and headed back down the hill to head back to the train, leaving the two colts to handle the mill.

Willow Whisper stood and stared at the train pony as he left, a growing blush spreading across his face as he watched the lean, muscular stallion descend the hill. It was all he could do just to keep standing, utterly infatuated with the buck.

"WILLOW!" he heard behind him, practically yelled in his ear. Willow yelped and jumped, turning around to face his brother. "I've been saying your name for like a minute, trying to get your attention! When you're done staring at that stallion like a hungry virgin I could use your help with the logs" Limb Trimmer said, holding one end of the log he was trying to pull down from the rack.

"S-Sorry, Trimmer" Willow said, rushing to the other end of the rack and hoisting the log up and dropping it down into the tray. Even as he settled into the work with his brother, Drawbar would be the only thing he'd be able to think about for the rest of the day.

3: Nothing Doing

After returning to the train and telling Axle the situation Drawbar decided to retire to the comfort car, electing to heed Willow Whisper's advice and taking a shower to clean himself of the soot and grime that seems to accumulate when working on an engine. He sighed contentedly as the hot water washed over his brown fur, matting his auburn mane and releasing the tension in his muscles. Drawbar was convinced that there was no better feeling than that of a hot shower after a long working day, and every time he got to leave the cabin for the day and stand under that warm current it only served to affirm his belief.

After ten minutes Drawbar had soaked, lathered, and rinsed himself and was coming out when he heard the traincar's door open and Axle shout "hey, brother, one of them ponies from the mill has come on down!" Drawbar about jumped out of his coat at the sudden call from his brother.

"Sweet Celestia, Axle, I'm not even dressed!" Drawbar complained, dripping water onto the floor. He pulled a towel down from the rafters and began to dry off, dragging the towel vigorously across his body to wick away the moisture. He heard Axle scoff behind him and could almost feel him roll his eyes.

"We ain't never wearing any clothes anyway, ya clown. Anyway, like I was saying, one of them mill colts has come on down. Said his name was Willow" Axle declared.

"Alright, alright, I'll be out in a moment" Drawbar assured, finishing drying himself off and tossing the towel up and over the rim of the shower. The comfort car was split up into three sections, with the beds up at the front, by the door, the kitchen in the middle, and the bathroom at the back. With space as limited as it was, the shower was simply a cylindrical capsule with clear glass sliding doors. The toilet and sink were crammed together opposite the shower. To get to the caboose when the train was in motion, Drawbar and Axle had to trot along narrow walkways on the outside of the comfort car. Never an appealing prospect, but with a decade on trains with the RRS they knew how to get around safely.

Satisfied he was completely dry Drawbar went up to his bunk at the front of the traincar and popped his footlocker open, pulling out a clean conductor hat and pulling it onto his head. He slid the door to the car open and stepped outside into the fading light of dusk, seeing Willow Whisper down on the ground near the engine.

"Howdy there, friend!" Willow called out, waving a hoof. Drawbar dropped down onto the gravel and trotted up to him, a professional smile on his face.

"Hello, Mr. Whisper. What can I help you with?" Drawbar asked, causing Willow to guffaw excitedly.

"Oh, goodness no, Mr. Whisper was my granddaddy! Just Willow, thank ya" he said. "Anyway, I was curious, so I thought I'd come on down here and see ya'lls engine for myself. She's a mighty fine locomotive, Drawbar, though she's a mite shorter than I thought she'd be, being a train and all."

"That's what everypony says. We're posted to a smaller detail in the Royal Rail Service, so we never need as much space or as many boxcars as the engines assigned to the bigger cities. As a matter of fact, the way the system works is--" Drawbar stopped himself when he realized he was about to start babbling about trains and the way the rail line worked, rubbing the back of his head with a hoof. "Well, come to think of it, I doubt you'd be much interested in hearing about trains."

Willow shook his head. "Oh no sir, I don't mind none at'tall. I'm actually a mite curious about how all this works. We ain't never seen much trains around before, so on the rare occasion ma brother and I get into Baltimare and see the locomotives they're always somethin' of a curiosity t' us" Willow explained.

Drawbar blinked, taken aback. "Well alright then, I suppose I could take some time to tell you about trains. Not like I got much else to be doing right now. Why don't you come on up onto the train and I'll show you around" Drawbar told the mill buck. WIllow's face brightened up like that of a little colt's in the middle of the Crystal Empire, and Drawbar thought he was liable to fall over he looked so excited, but he stood up and followed the conductor just fine as he trotted up the engine, hoisting himself up the very narrow stairway leading up to the control cabin.

"This here's the control cabin, where we 'conduct' the train. Can't really go anywhere but where the tracks take you, so we make sure the train stays at a level speed so she doesn't derail--ah, fall off the tracks--and crash. It's also where we control the brakes, but outside of all that there really isn't much else to do in here besides take in the scenery. Down these stairs," Drawbar said, popping open the hatch that led down into the firebox, "is where the coal furnace is. We keep the furnace stocked with coal to burn, and the heat from the fire boils water in the boiler. The boiled water produces steam, which travels down the steam pipes and into the steam chests adjacent to the cylinders of the engine. The steam chests are connected to the piston cylinders at the top and bottom, and the alternating flow of steam pushes the pistons up and down, powering the engine and producing locomotion."

Drawbar closed the hatch to the firebox and turned back to Willow, who nodded. "Ah think I get it. What ya'll is saying is that heat and water produce pressurized steam, and is fed into tha engine's pistons. I'm guessing that tha pistons are attached to a crankpin on tha axles, which acts on tha pulleys on the wheels to make 'em spin" Willow said.

Drawbar arched an eyebrow, impressed. "Pretty knowledgeable for somepony who rarely sees a train."

Willow shrugged. "A machine's a machine. Tha mill's running on a similar system. Tha river doesn't turn the wheel anymore, we've gotta furnace for that. That's why ma daddy brings coal on back from town; heat and water produce steam, which pushes on pistons connected t' bars that push and pull the saw up and down to cut tha logs in half. T'aint all that different from what ya'll are running."

"Hmm, maybe tomorrow you can show us around the mill" Drawbar replied, turning around and opening the door on the back of the cabin, stepping out onto the walkway and missing Willow's smile. The mill colt followed Drawbar out onto the walkway, following him as he went left and back towards the other boxcars. "Right back here is the cargo car, where we store all the boxes of goods we pick up and take from here to there. She's empty right now, so we're heading on back to the comfort car. A ladder on each end of the cargo car allows us to head up on top of the boxcar, in case we need to head back to one of the other cars while the train's in motion."

Willow paused. "Wait, ya'll move around on tha roofs of train cars while it's movin'? Ya'll must be pretty darn brave to be doin' that! I'd be scared stiff I had t' do that!"

Drawbar shrugged as he dropped down to the gravel, slowly trotting back to the comfort car. "After so many years on the job, you don't even think about it anymore."

As they came up to the comfort car Drawbar showed Willow the layout and allowed him to poke around. The comfort car was fairly mundane and didn't have many interesting bits and baubles as the other cars, so Drawbar knew it wasn't as interesting for somepony like Willow to look around in. Although Willow did ask how he and his brother were able to live in such a confined space and, as before, Drawbar had the same answer for him.

"When you've been on the job this long, well..."

Finally, they came up to the caboose, and Drawbar opened the door, allowing Willow to step inside the much smaller car. "In here is the control system for the brakes, which are attached to the wheels on this car, and various systems like the hot water tank for our shower and sinks. It's a bit of a mess of pipes, cables, and cords, but she's an important part of the train. Without her, we wouldn't be able to stop!" Drawbar said with a grin. Willow took a moment to inspect everything before turning back to face Drawbar.

"This is all mighty interesting, Drawbar! Ma brother's gonna be mighty jealous when ah tell 'im that I got t' take a look at this here train up close and personal without his knowing!" Willow said with a full smile, his pearly whites gleaming in the fading light.

Drawbar was intrigued. "You came down here without inviting your brother?"

"Yes'um, Drawbar, ah sure did! Why I--" Willow stopped, realizing the implications of Drawbar's question. The smile quickly faded from his expression, and he grew visibly nervous.

"Why did you do that?"

"W-Well, uh, ah was just a mite c-curious and ah figured ma brother wouldn't be much interested" Willow stammered out, rubbing the back of his head. Drawbar was a little curious about why he was acting so skittish all of a sudden, but decided not to press the issue. Instead, he let Willow continue. "Ah was just s-so intrigued by ya'll when ya'll came up on our mill, out of the blue all suddenly like. We don't get much visitors out where we are and ma brother and I don't go into the city much often so it gets a mite, um...l-lonely..."

Drawbar nodded knowingly and smiled, opening the door to the caboose and allowing the cool, now night, air to flow in. "Well I hope you had fun learning about our train, Willow! My brother and I will be back up on that hill tomorrow so you can show us around the mill!"

Drawbar could've sworn he saw Willow's already light-colored face go even paler, but Willow nodded all the same and trotted out of the caboose, Drawbar locking it behind him. "Uh, y-yessir, we would be mighty h-happy to show ya'll around the mill tomorrow. G-Goodnight, now!" Willow nearly yelled before taking off at a gallop down the tracks towards the mill. Drawbar calmly dropped down to the gravel and headed back up to the control cabin, stepping inside as his brother picked up a book he had sitting on the console.

"I saw that mill colt go running. What did ya'll do to scare the poor buck off like that? Tell him to clean the brake levers?" Axle teased.

Drawbar grinned and shook his head, looking up and catching the last glimpse of Willow for the night, watching him wistfully as he bound up the tracks, around the bend, and out of sight.

"I think he likes me."

4: Timber

The following day brought bright sun and warm weather again, but Drawbar could see the threat of rain on the horizon. A large front of gray clouds was steadily moving ever closer to the mill and train, and thus was on its way to Baltimare. In smaller towns the weather ponies could make up storms and rain on the fly, but for bigger cities the weather factory at Cloudsdale had to engineer the storm and send it on its way under its own power. The storm wouldn't be much of a bother to the train, but it was worth taking note of in case Willow and Trimmer's father came back and got them moving again while there was a storm out.

Inclement weather won't hamper us none Drawbar thought over his breakfast, idly watching the distant storm clouds. They'd hauled through storms before, they could do it again.

Drawbar turned his attention back to his breakfast; Prench toast with a hearty helping of syrup and confectioner's sugar, with a side of a croissant and a coffee. His brother, Axle, sat across from him, enjoying a plate of pancakes and a bagel. Axle was currently grinning, at Drawbar's expense, with a load of pancake in his mouth, making him look for all the world like a chipmunk.

"So, ya think one of the mill colts likes you?" Axle asked once he'd swallowed, making Drawbar roll his eyes. Axle hadn't cut him any slack since he'd let it slip last night that he thought Willow was at least crushing on him. Though at the time Drawbar had believed it, after mulling it over the previous night while lying in his bunk he was starting to have his doubts.

"Maybe. I don't know, really. Maybe I was just imagining things, or maybe I was misconstruing the way Willow was acting. Maybe I did scare him by asking him why he'd come out to the train alone" Drawbar replied, taking a bite of his croissant. Willow had started acting strange once it came out he purposely didn't tell his brother he was heading out to the train, and he had indicated that life on the mill was lonely, but after thinking about it Drawbar figured that perhaps Willow was just interested in talking with the train bucks and making friends with them, and had just gotten skittish after realizing his intentions may seem different from what he had claimed them to be.

Or, he really is attracted to you, and just wanted an excuse to come talk to you. Even if that were the case, you hardly know the colt and he hardly knows you, so to go gallivanting off into a relationship wouldn't make very much sense. If life really is as lonely as Willow claimed it was, he's probably just desperate for any kind of companionship outside of what he has with his father and brother Drawbar mused.

"Well, what are ya'll gonna be doing today? Just lounge around the train?" Axle asked, finishing off his pancakes. Drawbar shook his head, taking a sip of coffee. He hadn't yet told Axle about the proposed mill tour, but he figured Axle would take to it well.

"Nah, I asked Willow if he'd like to give us a tour of the mill today, and he said 'sure'. I imagine it won't take all that much time, so we'll probably be back by lunchtime. Those colts'll be busy most of the day anyway, so once the tour's over we'll probably come on back to the train" Drawbar said, a wicked grin coming to his face as a devious thought came to his mind. "You know, Axle, Willow's got a brother. He's just your type, too; small, Unicorn, cute. Maybe we'll have some kind of double matchmaking thing going on here."

Axle paused as he went to take a bite of his bagel, pulling his head back and looking at Drawbar mock warily, though even past the put-on expression Drawbar could see the faint blush and the tell of Axle's flicking ears: he was embarrassed.

"Yer very funny, Drawbar. Still, wouldn't hurt none to leave the train and take a little look around."

Drawbar smiled. "'A little look'? Like a look at Willow's little brother?" he teased, downing the last of his coffee as Axle rolled his eyes and stood up, stuffing the last of his bagel into his gullet and grabbing up the dirty dishes, depositing them into the sink as Drawbar stood to follow.

"Ya'll even know how old these bucks are? We're both nearly in our 30's and Willow barely looked 20" Axle asked.

"They're old enough, though I'm sure that'd make a good pickup line for Willow's brother. 'Howdy there, log breaker. Ya'll wouldn't happen to be old enough t' not land my rump in jail if'n we hooked up, wouldn't ya?'" Drawbar joked, mocking Axle's accent.

"How in tha name of Celestia's sweet green earth did I have tha misfortune of gettin' paired with you as my brother."

After a short trek down the tracks and up the hill Drawbar and Axle Box found themselves up at the mill. Axle remarked on the grandeur of the manor, like Drawbar expected, and the almost picturesque beauty of the whole area. It was like something out of a fairy tale; a quiet mill, a beautiful, old house, a serene and peaceful life. "Quite a nice place they got here" Axle commented, and Drawbar could only agree. Even with the storm clouds gathering on the horizon it was still a lovely place.

The two conductor brothers arrived at the mill proper, with nopony in sight. I was just after 8:00 AM, so Drawbar had expected the two mill brothers to be up and about, taking care of their daily chores and mill tasks, but neither Willow nor Limb Trimmer were anywhere to be found. With a shrug the two of them went down to the manor, Drawbar using the brass knocker attached to the door to pound on the thick, heavy wood of the double doors. After a minute or so the doors slowly parted, revealing Limb Trimmer.

"Oh, hello there. Daddy ain't home yet, so I'm sorry to say we still haven't any coal for you two" Trimmer said, surprising Drawbar with his dialect. It was the first time he'd heard Trimmer speak, and although he still had a bit of that country twang, his speech was far more composed than that of Willow's.

"Actually, we've come for tha mill tour. Your brother said it'd be quite alright" Axle explained, prompting Trimmer to arch a brow.

"I'm afraid this is the first I've heard of it. Willow went out an hour ago to fell the trees for today, which I found a bit odd that he'd begin the day an hour early. Come to think of it, though, he's been acting a mite odd since last night. Quiet. There ain't much to ever talk about, but he's never been quite as reserved as he is now" Trimmer stated. Drawbar and Axle exchanged looks before Drawbar spoke up.

"Well, would you mind if I went and looked for him? You can show Axle around the mill, if you don't mind."

Drawbar could feel Axle looking at him scornfully, could practically hear in his mind you sly devil, but Axle offered up no resistance, and Trimmer agreed. "Of course. Willow should be across the river. Follow me, Mr. Box."

"Just Axle, thank ya kindly. Mr. Box is ma daddy."

A trip around the house and a short trek across and old stone bridge found Drawbar in a vast, open field, the massive forest all around the estate a couple hundred yards away in all directions. There was no real way to tell where WIllow was exactly, so Drawbar elected to just head straight, coming up on the woods in a few minutes. Almost all the shrubs and bushes had long been cut away, leaving just the trees to stand on their own.

Venturing in, Drawbar found himself at odds with the tranquility of the forest. Having grown up in Vanhoover, and being around the latest in locomotives and other mechanized transport, the cacophony of the city had been all he'd known for most of his life. The closest thing to 'peaceful' he'd ever known was on the odd occasion he'd stay the night over in Appleloosa while waiting for the train's manifest to be filled.

By stark contrast, the only sounds in the woods were that of singing birds, or the gurgle of a nearby stream. Drawbar loved to work on steam engines, loved his job as a conductor, but even he could appreciate the beauty of nature. The peaceful stillness, the calming song of birds, the rich, earthy smells.

"TIMBER!!"

Drawbar stopped, watching as a tree up ahead wilted and tipped over, the thick oak crashing into the ground with a dull thunk and rustling of leaves. Near the fallen tree was Willow, who was already moving to trim the branches and limbs off the fallen timber. Within a few minutes he'd finished limbing the tree and was hoisting it up onto a large cart, slowly trotting back to cut down another tree. He hadn't seen Drawbar yet, so the conductor pony took a moment to just watch the process of felling trees.

Drawbar watched Willow move into position, rising up on his hindlegs and wrapping some kind of cable around the tree, near the base of the trunk. Rather than using a saw, like Drawbar expected, Willow wrapped this cable around the base of the tree several times, pulling it taut to make sure it was tight before walking back to some kind of machine he had near the cart. With the press of a button the cable began to tighten as the machine attempted to draw it back, impeded by the way Willow had wound it around the trunk. Drawbar heard a slow, cracking sound as the cable dug into the tree, a thin view of the grass beyond the tree becoming visible as the cable sawed into the tree. After only a minute there was a sharp metallic TWANG as the cable broke free, rapidly retracting into the machine and causing the tree to buckle over, beginning to fall.

"Timber!" Drawbar shouted, startling Willow. With a filly-like yelp he jumped, turning around at the sound of Drawbar's voice. He visibly relaxed at the sight of the familiar train pony, who smiled at him, but with his attention off the now-free oak he failed to notice as it slowly tilted over in his direction, beginning to fall. Willow was directly in the path of the falling tree, and by the time he'd notice it'd be too late. He began to lift a hoof to wave at Drawbar, greeting him just as Drawbar sprung into action.

"H-Howdy Dra--"

"WILLOW MOVE!" Drawbar shouted, charging forward towards the logger, whose expression immediately changed to one of shock and terror as he realized even without looking what had happened. Drawbar felt almost as if everything was in slow motion as he raced forward, Willow raising his forehooves to cover his head as he began to drop to the ground, the tree already halfway to the ground. Drawbar slammed into him hard and grabbed him, the two of them tumbling across the dirt just as the tree hit the ground, their momentum carrying them nearly 10 feet before they hit a tree, Willow shouting in pain under Drawbar as they came to a sudden stop.

Drawbar staggered as he came back up onto his hooves, momentum still wanting to carry him even after their sudden stop. He rubbed his head, his eyes squeezed shut at the pain. He'd knocked skulls with Willow as they rolled across the ground together, and it hurt like the dickens, but they were both alive. "Willow, are you alright?"

Willow let out a sound to let Drawbar know he was still alive, and Drawbar opened his eyes, the pain an intense throb but otherwise bearable. He gingerly touched the spot that hurt the most, and could feel a nice lump had already formed. "Thank Celestia you're alright. That could've been much worse. Are you hurt anywhere?" Drawbar asked, looking down at the mill colt as he lied on the ground under him, his back against the ground. He was covered in dirt--they both were--and had a few bruises, but nothing looked cut or out of place.

"I sprained ma ankle somethin' fierce when we were in that tussle, but I'm good" Willow said, wincing as he moved his hindlegs. "Ah ain't gonna be walking too good today, but that's a small price t' pay, given tha alternative. Thank you for saving ma life, Drawbar. I owe ya."

Drawbar shook his head, looking down at the younger buck, his forehooves on either side of Willow's shoulders. Willow's forehooves were drawn up and together as he lied awkwardly on his back, a heavy silence filling the air as the two bucks looked at each other. "You don't owe me a thing, Willow. I'm just glad you're OK."

Willow blushed, looking away. "S-Same to ya, Drawbar, but-- Uh, Drawbar, yer kinda...standing over me..." Willow said. Drawbar paused, thinking for a moment before he realized what Willow meant. He looked down and back between his legs, seeing the way he had Willow pinned; almost like that of a lovers' pin, with the top standing over the submissive partner.

It was Drawbar's turn to blush as he pulled back from Willow, allowing him to roll over onto his stomach and get to his hooves, brushing off the worst of the dirt. Willow looked over at the fallen tree that had nearly taken his life, and thanked Drawbar once again as they slowly trotted back over to it.

"It was no problem. It's my fault for startling you like that. If I hadn't, you would've been paying attention to the oak as it came down. Just wanted to give you a little jump and I nearly got you killed" Drawbar said, expressing a deep remorse and concern.

"And if ya hadn't been there t' save me, then that's what woulda happened, so don't you fret none" Willow assured, drawing a little closer to Drawbar as they walked. Perhaps a little too close, though Drawbar didn't mind. As a matter of fact he liked having Willow close to him; his presence was comforting.

"What are ya'll doing out here anyway?"

"I came out here to find you, to get that tour of the mill. I asked your brother where you were and he said that you went out to fell the trees" Drawbar explained as they reached the fallen oak, Willow stepping forward to strip the branches. Drawbar watched as Willow put his forehooves to each branch and pressed sharply, snapping the limbs off at their bases before hoisting the log up onto the now-full cart. He switched the cutting-cable machine off and put it up on the cart as well. Drawbar couldn't help but watch the earth buck as he lifted the heavy items with seemingly no effort. Willow wasn't as muscular and stocky as Drawbar, but the rail pony could tell he'd been doing this ever since he was old enough; his muscles had developed in all the right places to tend to the mill, and in all the right places to make him one attractive young buck. Drawbar had to almost force himself to look away, lest he start blushing too hard.

"Well, let's get on back to the mill and i'll give ya that tour I promised. Ma brother's probably been bored outta his skull, waiting for me to bring the logs back. Though maybe he ain't done stocking the logs we split yesterday, if'n he ain't come to look for me just yet" Willow said, hooking the cart to the harness he had attached to his barrel, allowing him to start pulling the heavy cart back to the mill.

"Actually," Drawbar began, "I left my brother, Axle, with him, so he's probably been showing him around your mill and, well, I bet they've been getting to know each other a bit."

"Ya left yer brother with Trimmer? Poor buck's probably already been bored t' death by Trim; prolly find his barren husk at the foot of tha hill, sawdust in his lungs" Willow joked, making Drawbar bust out laughing.

"HAHAHA, oh sweet Celestia, that there sounds like a terrible way to go. Although, maybe Axle has bored your brother to death with train talk, and we'll find his barren husk at the end of the mill, his eyes replaced with lumps of coal!"

The two bucks busted out in laughter, leaning on each other for support as they giggled their way out of the woods and into the clearing, the warm mid-morning sun greeting them as they went along their way.

5: Envy

20 minutes earlier.

"Well, would you mind if I went and looked for him? You can show Axle around the mill, if you don't mind."

Axle looked at Drawbar, knowing full-well what he was doing and making Axle cross with him. He was trying to set up Axle to spend time alone with Limb Trimmer. Of course Axle just couldn't say 'no', lest he offend Trimmer or make him suspicious of them.

"Of course. Willow should be across the river. Follow me, Mr. Box" Trimmer said, turning to face Axle as Drawbar trotted off to find Willow. Axle looked after his brother as he left, silently grumbling to himself. He turned back to face Limb Trimmer, a smirk crossing his face.

"Just Axle, thank ya kindly. Mr. Box is ma daddy."

"My apologies" Trimmer said, stepping past Axle and closing the doors behind him. Together the two bucks left the estate via the opening in the iron fence and turned left towards the mill, a number of logs stacked up in a rack next to the mill, and another number of split and shaved logs sorted in carts under an open-side barn. With the logs split and all their bark shaved off they were ready to be sent off to wholesalers and distributors, where various clients from humble hobby stores all the way up the Crown would purchase the blank logs for use in creating everything from firewood to sword handles.

Trimmer explained all this to Axle as they walked up the mill, the lithe Unicorn taking great pains to include all the details from how their father took the carts full of logs into Baltimare, to how the logs were sorted for distribution to various clients and loaded onto trains just like Axle's, to how the clients turned the logs into usable stocks.

"Of course, all of that starts here, at the mill. It's up to us to get these logs split and ready for transport in a fastidious manner. The day usually starts with Willow and I heading into the forest to fell the day's logs, but we've got some surplus from the previous day, so I'll need to get them split and shaved before Willow comes back with fresh logs. A typical day has Willow bringing a cart loaded with logs up here to the mill, where we stack them up to be held in place by the rack. We check the furnace for coal and load any if necessary, and switch on the actuator" Trimmer stated, doing just that to start the mill. With a dull clank the mill came to life, the vertical sawblade 3/4 down the length of the mill starting to move up and down, waiting for a log.

"Once she's started up, Willow and I load logs into the tray and depress this pedal repeatedly to move the tray down the length of the mill. Really, I could do all of it myself with magic alone, but after the trees are felled there's nothing else for Willow to do, so rather than sitting about he helps with the splitting and shaving" Trimmer continued, reaching forth with his mind to grab a log from the rack in his telekinesis, pulling it out and setting it down on the tray. With the log in place Trimmer moved up to the pedal built into the floor and set a hoof against it, pressing firmly and sending the tray down. The tray had a slot built into it to allow the saw to pass in between the center, ensuring the log in it would be cut perfectly. Trimmer kept pressing the pedal until the tray and the log it carried reached the end, at which point the log split in two and fell off the end of the mill.

"We'll usually do that a few times before moving down to clear out the split logs, at which point we'll shave them" Trimmer said, slowly trotting down the length of the mill to where the logs had fallen off to the ground below. He dropped down and looked up at Axle, gesturing to the split logs. "With the oaks cut we'll shave them, which is usually the easiest part of the job. Typically I'll just use my magic to grab the bark where it attaches to the tree and pull it out a foot at a time, and while I work on one half Willow will use a shaving knife to strip the other half. Sometimes we'll race and see who can get their half shaved first, but I usually win. Celestia's gift gives me an unfair advantage, you know" Trimmer said with a smirk and a spark of his horn.

Axle took a moment to look the smaller colt over, pretending to think about the mill operation while he scrutinized Trimmer. Drawbar was right; he was Axle's type. He was short and lithe, a typical build for a Unicorn, and just being a Unicorn put him on Axle's radar. Of the three pony races Axle Box had always been most attracted to Unicorns. It was their mystique, their sophistication, their power. Trimmer wasn't sophisticated in the traditional sense of the word, and he was no Princess Twilight in terms of magical power, but Axle still found him interesting, just being the way he was.

And, if Axle was being honest, he was cute. He had a kind of brainy charm, despite working on a mill. If Axle had to think about it, Trimmer reminded him most of the wizard Sunburst, of the Crystal Empire(whom Axle also found cute, if only from a 'celebrity crush' kind of viewpoint). Trimmer was everything Axle found attractive in a partner, at least physically.

But actually taking it anywhere? We're only gonna be here another day, at tha most. T'aint enough time to forge a relationship, least not one that would last long enough to weather our departure. And what of our lifestyles? He lives on a mill, ah travel the nation. Gettin' either one a us t' give up our passions would be right impossible.

"After we've shaved the two halves of each log we take them over to this little barn, where we load them up on carts for daddy to take into Baltimare, to the distributor" Trimmer continued, motioning to the barn. "There's always a cart ready to go for when daddy comes back, and when he does come back we put the empty cart back into the rotation, so there's always carts going out to the distributor. This here system has worked since our daddy was born, and it's just perfect for the three of us."

With his explanation finished Limb Trimmer ignited his horn and wreathed his body in the glow of his magic, leaping into the air with a push of his hindlegs and levitating himself back up onto the mill. Axle watched in awe as he did this, the Unicorn buck landing quietly and gracefully without so much as a bead of sweat on his face.

"That's mighty impressive, Limb Trimmer. Ya'll got yourselves a nice life out here on tha mill" Axle complimented, earning a shrug from Trimmer, who started trotting back towards the rack to split the rest of the logs.

"My brother may not agree. He likes life well enough here--working the mill is his special talent after all--but I see the way he looks off at the horizon all misty-eyed and wistful-like. He's lonely. He wants something more than just the mill and his family. He wants a flame, a love. I've encouraged him to move into Baltimare, to mingle with other bucks and make some friends outside of his brother, but he won't listen. Says he needs to stay here and help with the mill, even though he knows I could do it all myself. He's friendly enough with ponies, but gets nervous when talking to somepony he's attracted to" Trimmer explained.

Axle hummed thoughtfully, though he knew that was slowly being taken care of, if his suspicions about the real reason Drawbar went off to find Willow were correct. Based on Trimmer's description and the way Willow had acted the other night it seemed reasonable to Axle that Willow might be attracted to Drawbar, and that Drawbar might even feel the same way, but there was no way to know for certain without pressing the issue, which could disrupt the natural flow of Willow and Drawbar's burgeoning acquaintanceship; they would have to discover their love for each other on their own.

Turning his attention back to Trimmer Axle looked him over once again, and decided at the very least he was interested in learning more about the younger Unicorn buck. What opportunity he'd have to learn about him would be very limited, but if all else failed him and Drawbar could always come back to the mill on their own, or at least write letters, but even Axle knew the best kind of relationship had to be built in person.

"Ah'm confident your brother will find the love the love he's looking for one day. Or, perhaps, that love will find him" Axle finally commented. A thought crossed his mind, though he was unsure if he should go through with it, unknowing of what kind of response it would elicit. If nothing else, he figured, he could always pass it off as casual banter, if Trimmer didn't offer him the answer he was looking for. "What about you, though? Ya'll looking for love too?"

Trimmer paused as he reached for the mill pedal, a fresh log waiting on the tray. He looked back at Axle for a moment, his hoof resting on the pedal. "I've not considered it, with my focus being on the mill all the time, but... There's room in my life for a special somepony."

Axle nodded, satisfied with the Unicorn colt's response.

"Hey! Axle! Limb Trimmer" Axle heard called out from behind him, prompting him to turn around. Coming up on the mill from back around the manor were Drawbar and Willow Whisper, the latter with a cart of logs in tow. Axle waved at them, acknowledging Drawbar's call and encouraging them to pick up the pace. Willow looked to be limping and covered in dirt, which was already rousing suspicion in Axle's mind as to the kind of things the two bucks did while they were alone in the woods.

Sweet Celestia, already? Surely they wouldn't have crossed that bridge that quickly Axle thought, though he quickly realized they wouldn't have done that. He knew his brother; desperate, lonely mill buck or no, Drawbar was no hound. He wouldn't let a newly-blossomed relationship enter that territory.

"Howdy brother! We been waitin' on ya'll to come on back! Limb Trimmer went and gave me tha tour already, so ya'll are behind some!" Axle yelled back, earning a dismissive hoof-wave from Drawbar.

"Bah, I'll just have Willow give me the rundown once he's got the cart unhitched. How was it, though? Willow was expecting to find you bored to death by his brother's rambling" Drawbar said with a toothy grin.

Willow gasped and looked at him exaggeratedly, drawing a hoof up to his chest. "Well don't go sayin' that where ma brother can hear ya'll! I don't want ma brother thinkin' that ah think so lowly of him!"

Drawbar put a hoof around the back of Willow's neck, smiling. "Bah, don't you worry. I'm sure Axle found your brother's detailing of the mill operations to be very exciting. Didn't ya, Axle?"

Axle rolled his eyes, looking back at Trimmer as he fed the last of the excess logs into the tray, a small but noticeable smile of his own on his face. "Heck, it was mighty interesting, actually, and Trimmer's explanations were plenty invigoratin'. I didn't know that runnin' a mill was so simple" Axle exclaimed.

Looking at his brother Axle missed how Trimmer's face brightened at the compliment.

"Well I'm glad to hear it. Willow here gave me a nice demonstration of how he fells the trees. Did you know they don't use any saws, Axle? They've got this machine that draws a cable around the trunk of a tree and digs into it until the tree separates from the trunk. Pretty quick and efficient, from what I saw" Drawbar said, looking at Willow, who had gone up to the side of the mill to replace the empty cart there with the full one he was tethered to. He pushed the old one down and out of the way, and trotted up into position, at which point he released the cart from the harness he had on, quickly shrugging it off and depositing the harness against the side of the mill.

As Trimmer grabbed the first log off the top with his magic he saw the way his brother was trotting, immediately showing concern. "Willow, what happened to your leg? You're limping!"

Willow paused as he reached the steps to the mill, looking at Drawbar for solidarity, who nodded in encouragement. "Ah had a bit of an accident. Ah was careless, and, well... Drawbar saved ma life" Willow said quietly, expressing in his mind his gratitude to Drawbar once again.

"It's not like you to be careless, brother" Trimmer replied, turning away from the mill and putting a hoof on Willow's shoulder, leaning in close and talking quietly. Drawbar thought he heard Trimmer say "talk" but couldn't be sure.

"Actually, it was my fault. I surprised Willow while he was waiting for the cable to finish cutting a tree, and his attention was focused on talking to me when it came down. I pushed him out of the way and he sprained his ankle" Drawbar explained. Trimmer nodded gratefully at him, his hoof still on his brother's shoulder.

"Thank Celestia you're OK, Willow" Trimmer said, going back in to hug his brother, who returned the embrace in earnest. "I love you, brother."

"Ah love ya too, Trimmer."

Drawbar smiled at the display of familial affection, touched by the brothers' bond. He loved his brother too, of course, but rarely did they share an embrace like that. Theirs was more a silent love for one another, an unspoken promise of always being there for the other. Willow and Trimmer's, on the other hoof, was a more open bond. One that let them express their love without hesitation.

As Drawbar watched the two mill brothers hug it out before turning their attention to the mill, settling into their work, he was struck by another feeling. As touching as it was watching the two brothers embrace and as happy as he was for the both of them that they had such a deep bond with one another he couldn't help but feel something else, a pang of something dark, that rationally he should not be feeling.

Jealousy.

He was jealous of Limb Trimmer for being able to get so close to Willow. To come together with him in an embrace and to be able to say to him "I love you", even if it was only in the way that two brothers normally love each other. He wanted to express the same feelings for the earth buck, and for him to return those feelings for Drawbar. Even through his smile Drawbar felt a painful longing, to be with Willow, to be as close to him as they had been in the forest. Closer even.

But he didn't know if he'd ever get the chance.

"Willow, why don't you show Drawbar how we run the mill? I already explained and showed everything to his brother, and he was the one who wanted to learn about it the most" Trimmer said to his brother, whose face brightened up as he remembered he was supposed to give Drawbar a tour.

Before he could, however, Drawbar spoke up, turning away back towards the direction of the train tracks. "Actually, I've got to be getting back to the train. Gotta make sure it's alright. Good day, you two" Drawbar said curtly, trotting off back to the train, his brother pausing before following, leaving Trimmer and Willow more than a little confused.

And, in Willow's case, more than a little hurt.

6: The Storm

That night brought rain, just as Drawbar suspected it would. The steady patter of rain hitting the train and running down the windows of the comfort car in rivulets sent a shudder down Drawbar's back as he sat at the tiny table that served as their dining room. He looked out the window, stewing in his own remorse and introspection, taking sips of his coffee every several seconds. He was two pots in, and still did he sit by the window, idly staring out it into the darkness.

He and Axle had returned to the train just after noon, Axle asking if something was wrong and Drawbar merely replying he needed time alone. Axle respected his brother's space and retired to the control cabin for the evening, content to read as he so often did, leaving Drawbar with his thoughts as his only company as he brewed pot after pot of coffee.

He was mad. Mad at himself for getting jealous of Willow's brother of all ponies. mad at himself for blowing off Willow's tour when previously he'd been very eager to see how they ran the mill, mad at himself for declining the opportunity to spend more time with Willow and learn more about him, and above all he was mad at himself for getting mad in the first place instead of acting like the stallion he was, trotting up to the mill, and apologizing to Willow and Trimmer.

You screwed up, Drawbar, and Willow isn't gonna be too happy he though to himself. That much was true, but the question was to what extent would Willow be upset? It was obvious, at least to Drawbar, that something was growing between them. though born out of Willow's desperation for companionship or an actual bond Drawbar could not say. Would Willow forgive him? Would he even want to talk to him anymore? Did he think he did or said something wrong to upset Drawbar?

Drawbar stopped, looking down at his coffee and idly swirling the contents with a spoon, realizing this introspection was doing him no favors. The only way to find out how Willow really felt was to go up and talk to him, but that prospect brought the same doubts as before. There was no guarantee that Willow would even deign to speak to him, and trudging up through the pouring rain only to get the door slammed in his face was no appealing thought.

A stallion faces his problems, whatever may get in his way. The voice of Drawbar's father, Fire Box. Wise words, but nothing was ever so simple.

Why shouldn't it be? Ya gotta problem, ya take care of it. No excuses, no overthinking. You get it done. More of father's wisdom, but could Drawbar really just trot up there and speak to Willow?

You can keep asking yourself, or you can go bucking do it. Your choice.

Downing the last of his coffee Drawbar stood up, trotting over to his footlocker and pulling out a raincoat, shrugging it on and pulling the hood over his head. He couldn't--he wouldn't--let the doubt eat away at him. He was going to go talk to Willow.

Stepping out into the cold night rain Drawbar hoisted himself up onto the engine and knocked on the door of the control cabin, his brother sliding it open, a concerned expression on his face. "What'dya need, brother?"

"I'm going up to the mill to talk to Willow."

"When will ya'll be back?"

"I don't know. If I'm not back in an hour, come up and find me."

With that Drawbar turned and climbed down to the ground below, the gravel grainy and wet, flakes of it and dirt sticking to his hoof as he trotted up the tracks. The raincoat protected him from the worst of it, but it did nothing to shield him from the cold. With a shudder he made his way up to the waystation, following the winding dirt path behind it into the woods and to the base of the hill. He looked up as he trudged up the hill, a bolt of lightning striking far in the distance behind the manor, turning night to day for but an instant and silhouetting the manor, making it look for all the world like a mansion in a horror movie, rain falling off the battlements in little waterfalls. Several lights were on inside, and Drawbar could see the shadow of a pony moving around in one of the rooms.

Steeling himself Drawbar ascended the hill, slowly approaching the manor, the ground squelching beneath his hooves, his brown coat even browner with mud as he went. Another lightning strike illuminated the sky once more, and Drawbar took the moment to glance at the mill. It was quiet and dark, empty.

Drawbar let out a sight that turned into a shudder as he neared the manor, passing the iron fence ringing it, the old metal already long rusted from rainfalls past. Dirt turned to stone on the approach to the manor's doors, and Drawbar compelled the knot in his stomach to dispense even as it continued to form. He reached up to the knocker on the door and slammed it home once, twice, three times, taking a step back and patiently waiting for somepony to answer.

When at last the doors finally parted Limb Trimmer was standing in the threshold. He looked at Drawbar with surprise, then concern. "Drawbar? What in the name of Celestia are you doing here at this hour? And in this weather! You're going to catch a cold" Trimmer said, beckoning Drawbar to come into the house to get out of the rain, prompting the rail buck to shake his head.

"I came up here to talk to Willow. To apologize to him... And to you. I walked away earlier because--" Drawbar stopped, considering what he was about to say, and whether he should even say it to begin with. There was no telling how Trimmer would react to the things Drawbar was about to tell him.

A stallion does the right thing, consequences be damned.

"Trimmer, I walked away earlier because, well... I was jealous. The way you got to hug Willow, say to him 'I love you'... It made me terribly, irrationally jealous. Trimmer, I-- I think I like your brother, and I think your brother likes me, and-- I'm sorry. I'm sorry for acting a right fool" Drawbar confessed.

Trimmer nodded knowingly, a sympathetic expression across his face. "Willow was mighty hurt by the way you just left earlier. He was really looking forward to showing you the mill, he told me. He didn't say a word the rest of the day, and he went out earlier. I've been mighty worried about him since he left. I think... I think he would like to talk to you, but I'm afraid I don't know where he is. There aren't that many places he could go to in specific, and if he went into the woods you'll never find him" Trimmer said.

Drawbar looked grim, his mouth set into a thin crease of worry. "I've got to try."

"You're welcome to look, Drawbar. You've still got time; with this storm the way it is daddy would've stopped in one of the inns along the road. I don't suspect he'll be home before tomorrow night. If you can't find Willow tonight, you'll have all day tomorrow."

"Thank you, Trimmer. I promise I'll make this right."

"It ain't me you need to apologize to, Drawbar. It's WIllow. But if I know my brother, he'll be glad to see you. Good luck, and may Celestia be with you."

Drawbar set off towards the mill first thing, looking to start his search there. It was a likely place for Willow to be in. Drawbar galloped up the steps of the mill, looking around the still saw, the cold furnace, and the end of the mill, all with no Willow in sight. He cantered down the length of the mill, peeking over the edge of the mill and around the log rack. Willow was nowhere to be found, and with the mill clear Drawbar leaped off and back onto the soaking ground, trotting up to the barn where they kept the stored logs ready to ship. It was dry inside, but still as cold as it was outside. Drawbar checked around the carts but there was no sign of Willow.

With a sigh he took off across the estate, looking around the entire outside of the manor for any sign of the mill buck, with the same luck as before. With nowhere else to turn Drawbar headed around to the back of the manor, heading for the stone bridge that spanned the river. Drawbar rounded the corner of the iron fence and made a beeline for the bridge, galloping up to it. It was clear, and he raced across it, the sound of his hooves striking stone lost the torrent of the rain and the rushing of the water in the river below. Lightning flashed once more, lighting up the massive field on the other side of the bridge, with no Willow in sight at all.

Running out of places to look Drawbar took off for the forest, suspecting that if he was anywhere Willow would be at the spot where the tree fell earlier. The conductor pony's hooves carried him across the field with purpose, the wind at his ears even as the rain fell off them, the hood of the raincoat blown back by his running. Drawbar charged into the woods, the ground only a scant drier as it was shielded by the branches and leaves above. In another half-minute Drawbar was at the spot he'd been in earlier in the day, marked by the stumps of what-was and the tracks of the cart still embedded in the dirt even as the rain slowly softened the ground and erased the tracks.

But still no Willow.

Hanging his head and relenting Drawbar turned in the direction of the manor and started his trek back, deciding that coming out in the rain was a fool's errand. He'd have to talk to Willow tomorrow, assuming he'd even let him. As he went along his way, Drawbar was struck with a terrible sorrow, weighing on him worse than the rain as it fell off the raincoat. Willow was out there in the pouring rain, and it was Drawbar's fault.

As he slowly trotted across the field Drawbar kept his head hung low, his eyes glued to the ground as he went, the rain dripping off his snout. It took him a long time to cross the field, worry and doubt and regret following him the entire way back. Something wonderful had been in his grasp, and he'd chased it away with his own stupid behavior.

Drawbar was getting closer to the river, he could hear the roar of the water over the falling rain, and he looked up to see where he was going and where the bridge was. He found it to his left a couple dozen yards away, and turned towards it, his hooves heavy. Lightning flashed once more, and in the brief light Drawbar saw something that made him stop, unsure if he'd actually seen it.

The silhouette of a pony, standing on their hindlegs and slumped over the stone railing of the bridge.

Drawbar slowly approached, not wanting to startle the pony on the bridge if they were who he thought they were. He neared the bridge, lifting a hoof and planting on the side of the right-hoof railing to steady himself. The pony, an earth buck, was facing away from him and looking down into the river. As he drew closer Drawbar heard a sound over the rain, over the roar of the river, over the squelching of his hooves and the crinkling of the raincoat.

He heard crying.

He eased up to the mouth of the bridge, silently watching the pony as he sobbed, his forehooves around his head, shielding his face from the rain and the sight of any who might be watching. It was Willow, and Drawbar was both happy and torn to see him, especially in the state he was in.

Unsure of what to do Drawbar simply stood where he was, indecision staying his hooves. He wanted to embrace Willow, to assure him everything would be OK, but would it? He was the source of Willow's current anguish, and approaching him could make the matter even worse.

"If I know my brother, he'll be happy to see you" Trimmer's words echoed in Drawbar's mind. He didn't doubt Trimmer, but now, with Willow before him on the bridge, Drawbar wasn't so sure, and once more he found himself unsure of what to do.

He's upset, cold, wet, and lonely. He doesn't know why you blew him off earlier, and he's been out here for Celestia knows how long. Do you really think he wants to see you?

His brother said he'd be happy to see me, and I know he'd like to get out of this downpour.

He needs time alone, just like you did. Just let him get it out of his system, and talk to him tomorrow.

Tomorrow I may not have the chance.

Willow continued to sob on the bridge, his tears lost to the rain, his cries going unheard except by Drawbar. The train pony was more nervous than before, but his mind was made up. He needed to talk to Willow, if for nothing else than to put the mill buck's mind at ease. Taking a tentative step forward onto the bridge Drawbar approached slowly, stopping a respectful distance away, wanting to give the young buck space.

"Willow?"

"AAHH! WHO'S THERE?!" Willow screamed, startled. He pushed off the railing, forgot he had been standing on his hinds, and flailed for balance. He staggered back, thrown off balance by the sudden push away from the railing, his body struggling to get all four hooves back onto the ground. He hit the other railing unexpectedly, rolled, and tipped forward, going over the edge with a scream, falling to the raging waters below.

"WILLOW!"

Drawbar raced up to the middle of the bridge and peered over the edge, looking for any sign of Willow. The current was strong, flowing in the direction of the mill. Drawbar switched to the other side of the bridge and desperately looked for any pony-made splashing or sign of Willow moving through the river.

There was nothing.

"Oh no, no, no!" Drawbar said, galloping off the bridge and down the bank of the river towards the mill, keeping his eyes fixed to the rushing water. He couldn't see Willow anywhere, and had no idea how well he could swim. He doubt it'd help him much anyway, with how strong the water was racing and roaring.

He's dead. You killed him.

Drawbar ignored the dark thoughts as he cantered to a stop, straining to see anything beyond the occasional white of the churning water. He hadn't seen Willow at all, and he was starting to think he'd gotten stuck back by the bridge somehow, and was drowning there while Drawbar ran away. Alternatively, the current could still be carrying him down the river, and Drawbar was potentially about to lose him that way. Struck again by indecision Drawbar was about to gallop back up to the bridge to double-check when he heard a weak cry.

"Help me..."

Drawbar paused, his ears turned back, straining to find the source of the voice. He heard it croak out again, and he galloped over to the mill. In the darkness he couldn't tell the river from the mill, and had to rely on his ears to guide him. He slowly eased himself down the riverbank, keeping a hoof pressed against the mill wheel for support.

"Help...me. Somepony... Please."

"Willow? Willow!" Drawbar shouted, hearing a splash in response.

"Dr-- Drawbar? Is that y-you?"

"it's me, Willow! I'm here!" Drawbar responded, looking down into the water. There was a disturbance in the current, and he strained to see, opening his eyes as wide as he could to let in the most light. Lightning flashed, and for but a second he could see Willow clinging to the mill wheel, the current battering his grip.

He wouldn't last much longer.

"Willow, Willow! Grab my hoof, quick!" Drawbar pleaded, reaching down with his left hoof, gripping the wheel with his right. He pressed his left hoof to Willow's, who shakily latched onto Drawbar with both his forehooves. Drawbar pulled, but they were both too wet, and Willow slipped down.

"Ah! AH! I'm slipping!" he cried out, his grip tightening.

"It's OK, it's OK! I've got you! Let's try again. Try to get your hindlegs against something, like the mill wheel."

Drawbar waited for Willow to adjust himself, feeling the buck's movements transferred through his grip onto the older train conductor. Drawbar dug his hindhooves deeper into the soft earth, trying to stay rooted in place. "Are you ready?" he asked.

"Y-Yeah."

Drawbar pulled hard again, shifting back with his hindlegs, pulling Willow up as he pushed off the wheel. The conductor reached the crux of the riverbank and Willow dug his hindlegs into the ground to push back as Drawbar was pulling up, helping the stronger buck pull him out. With his hindlegs together on even ground Drawbar reached down with both forehooves and dragged Willow up with a mighty jerk, the two of them collapsing back on to the muddy ground, Willow landing on top of Drawbar.

They were safe.

"Are you OK?" Drawbar whispered, stroking Willow's back to calm him as the younger colt lied on top of him. He was trembling hard, though Drawbar suspected he had a case of the shakes himself. Willow was crying again, utterly shaken.

"Thank you... Thank you..." Willow whispered again and again through his sobs, his face to Drawbar's shoulder.

"I've got you, you're OK" Drawbar said, letting Willow sob against him as he started calming down, his trembling slowing. They lied together in the mud for some time before Willow's sobs reduced to sniffles, and he pulled away from Drawbar, getting to his hooves and allowing the conductor to do the same.

"Thank you..." Willow quietly said again.

"I'm sorry, Willow, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry for trotting off earlier, I'm sorry for upsetting you, and I'm sorry for getting you nearly killed twice in one day" Drawbar exclaimed, unable to look the younger colt in the eye. To his surprise Willow pulled him into a hug, which he returned with more than a little trepidation.

"You didn't nearly get me killed, you saved ma life. Thank you, Drawbar" Willow told him, though Drawbar wasn't very convinced. "What are ya'll doin' out here anyway?" Willow quietly asked.

"I... I came out here to look for you. I wanted to apologize, and your brother was concerned. I was acting like an idiot for stupid, immature reasons, and I hurt you. I'm a terrible pony" Drawbar declared, which prompted Willow to pull back from the hug, his hooves on Drawbar's shoulders.

"Yer not a terrible pony, Drawbar. Yer a mighty kind and brave stallion. Ya saved ma life for Celestia's sake. Ah consider you a friend, Drawbar."

I'd like us to be more than friends Drawbar mused, pushing that thought away. Now was not the time to tell Willow that; he needed comfort. And a warm, dry place. "Let's get you inside, Willow."

Together the two of them trotted around to the front of the manor, Drawbar keeping a hoof around Willow to draw him close, trying to share as much warmth as he had with the freezing colt. They came up to the door and Willow pushed it open, finding Trimmer inside on a couch, staring at the doorway. As soon as it opened he got to his hooves, rushing over to help his brother.

"Willow! Sweet Celestia, what happened?" Trimmer cried out, taking his brother from Drawbar's grasp and ushering him over to the fireplace, where he had a healthy blaze going.

"I'll explain everything. Where's the nearest bathroom, so I can get him a towel?" Drawbar asked, shutting the front door behind him. Trimmer looked up as he sat on the floor with his brother, keeping him very close. He gestured to a blue door on the east side of the entry hall, and Drawbar rushed over to it. The house was extravagant, but there was no time to appreciate its beauty. Pulling a towel off one of the racks in the bathroom Drawbar brought it over to where the mill brothers were, wrapping it around Willow and drying him off with it, leaving it draped around him.

"I'll put on some tea, then you can tell me what happened" Trimmer said, taking off for the kitchen. He came back just a few minutes later and settled down, levitating a steaming cup of the tea over to Willow, who took it with shaky hooves, thanking his brother. "Just start at the beginning" he told Drawbar, who took a moment to compose himself before beginning.

"When I went out, I started at the mill..."

After half an hour Drawbar had recounted the tale and Willow had calmed down and was fully dry and warm, though quite exhausted. The tea had long run out, and though the fire was still crackling it was dying down. "If'n it's alright with the two of you, I'd like t' get t' bed now" Willow wearily said, curled up on the floor with a wool blanket, having dispensed with the towel in favor of something more comfortable.

And comforting.

"Of course, Willow, I'll get you up to your room. Drawbar, I'd hate for you to go back out into that storm now that you're dry. How's about you stay here for the night? As a courtesy, and as a thank you for saving my brother" Trimmer offered. Drawbar though about it a moment, but he had one concern.

"I'd love to, but I left my brother back at the train, and told him I'd be back in an hour. If I'm not back soon, he'll come looking and I'd hate for him to get wet" Drawbar explained.

As if on cue there was a heavy knock on the door, and Trimmer was already moving to answer it. Drawbar craned his head back to watch as Trimmer pulled the door open, a very soaked Axle Box standing in the threshold. "Come in, come in" Trimmer said, allowing Axle to pass him. Axle raced over to his brother, who stood and gave him a hug.

"Is everythin' alright?" Axle asked, earning a nod from both Drawbar and Trimmer.

"Yes. I found Willow, and everything's OK. It was quite the...harrowing ordeal, but everypony's alright. Trimmer's offered me to stay the night here, rather than going back to the train. Trimmer, I'd hate to assume, but--"

"Don't even ask, of course Axle can stay the night here as well. I'll have one of the guest rooms prepared shortly, I just need to get Willow up to his room first. Willow, would you like to--" Trimmer stopped when he saw his brother had already dozed off on the floor, curled up with the blanket, the side of his face pressed to the floor and his mouth slightly agape, his barrel rising and falling peacefully with his breaths.

Drawbar thought he looked terribly adorable, even in spite of the night's events.

"Um, I'll get him up to his room and get yours together. Just wait here you two" Trimmer stated, gently wrapping Willow in the glow of his magic and pulling him into the air, levitating him as he cantered up the grand stairs to the second floor, turning left through a set of doors and out of sight.

Axle turned to face his brother, who looked spent and exhausted. "Brother, what happened?"

Drawbar nodded wearily, his eyes transfixed on the floor, lost in thought. "I'll tell you in the morning, Axle, for now..." Drawbar trailed off, his head slowly lowering to the floor. his eyes closing, his breath slowing as he dozed off.

Axle looked at his brother in concern, but decided to let the matter rest. For now, all he could do was let Drawbar sleep, and hope that in the morning all would be explained.

And hope that everything would be alright.

7: Happiness Finds You

When Drawbar awoke the next morning, he found he wasn't in the manor's foyer or back at the train. He groggily looked around the simple room, taking in its decor. There was a shelf with vases, lilacs sticking out from the mouths. A few paintings of waterfalls and rolling green hills, a nightstand with a brass lamp, a bookshelf with more empty candy dishes than books. Drawbar rolled over in the bed, turning to face the other end of the room. There was a second bed, Axle fast asleep in it, and beyond that was the door to the room, a radiator next to it.

As Drawbar slowly got up he rubbed at his eyes, the previous night's events coming back to him as he realized where he was. Immediately he was concerned, and wanted to check up on Willow to see how he was. A clock on the wall claimed it was just past 7:00 AM, meaning the millers would likely be up already.

Drawbar put his hooves to the floor and remade the bed before trotting around, briefly stopping to check on his brother, Axle's barrel rising and falling steadily. Drawbar smiled and turned towards the door, reaching for the elegant knob. He paused, a note stuck to the door just above the knob. He grabbed it and pulled it off the door, looking it over.

Feel free to use our shower and make yourselves some breakfast. I imagine you'll both be quite hungry.

-Trimmer.

Drawbar nodded and stuck the note back to the door, leaving it for when Axle awoke. As he thought about it his stomach rumbled, and Drawbar quietly pushed the door open, finding himself out in a narrow hall, the walls a fetching shade of blue, sconces mounted to the wall every ten feet or so.

As he looked up and down the hall Drawbar frowned, unsure of where exactly he was or even where to go. Picking left he began trotting down the hall, deciding that as important as talking to Willow was, getting food in him was just a little more important.

He just needed to find the kitchen.

After 15 minutes of wandering the halls, getting lost and half-heartedly fearing he was going to end up starving to death Drawbar entered the foyer, the towel from the night before draped over a couch and the fireplace filled with ashes. Descending the staircase and turning towards the west wing Drawbar headed for the door nearest the stairs, pushing it open and finally finding the kitchen. Relief flooded through him as Drawbar raced over to the refrigerator and pulled it open, peering inside. There was a pouch of daffodils and a bundle of hay on the middle shelf, as well as a number of other sundry foodstuffs. Drawbar pulled the daffodils out and set them on the countertop nearby, a loaf of rye bread in a breadbox against the fridge.

Pulling the breadbox open Drawbar yanked out two slices of bread and threw the pouch of daffodils onto one, slapping the second slice on top of it and scarfing down half of it in nearly one bite. He hummed contentedly, his taste buds reveling in the flavor. Daffodils weren't Drawbar's favorite, but he wasn't one to be picky when he was so hungry. Slowing down to a reasonable pace Drawbar took his time finishing the sandwich off, taking time to actually enjoy it. He'd eat properly once he got back to the train, but for now the sandwich would suffice.

Stuffing the last of it into his mouth Drawbar pulled the fridge door open again and pulled out a carton of milk, retrieving a glass from the cupboards above the countertop and up-ending the carton, filling the glass halfway. He downed it in just a few gulps, stowing the carton back into the fridge. He leaned against the countertop, wiping his mouth of the bread crumbs and smacking his lips. His hunger sated Drawbar let out a sigh, rolling his head back, his neck popping as he worked a kink out of it.

"I'm guessing ya'll were mighty hungry" a quiet voice said, startling Drawbar and making him jump. He looked at the open doorway of the kitchen and found Willow standing in the threshold, looking sheepish and rubbing the back of his head with a hoof.

"Well, you aren't wrong" Drawbar said, pushing away from the countertop and getting back on all fours. He turned to face Willow, unsure of what to say. He supposed he should start with asking him if he was alright, but before he could Willow turned back, his head craned to look over his shoulder at the rail stallion.

"Ah'll be out at the mill. Come find me when yer ready."

With that the younger buck trotted off, leaving Drawbar alone in the kitchen once more. He sighed, trotting in Willow's wake into the foyer and heading for the front doors, pushing them open and stepping out into the morning sun, the air moist as the sunlight mixed with the dampness of the ground, thin rainbows emanating from the ground when looked at in just the right angle. Birds sang in the distance, the forest waking up in the aftermath of the storm.

Turning left Drawbar started heading towards the mill, seeing Willow sitting on the edge of it, near the end where the split logs fell off. Drawbar smiled in spite of his nervousness as he approached the mill, wondering what he was going to say to Willow. He knew the mill colt would ask the one question he hadn't yet, for the issue Drawbar hadn't explained yet, and Drawbar just had to wonder how he'd answer that question.

Putting his hooves to the steps Drawbar ascended up to the mill, the smell of sawdust and steel heavy in the air. He made sure Willow heard him trotting up behind him, not wanting to startle the buck and nearly cause his death like he'd done twice already. Willow looked over his shoulder at Drawbar, his expression warm and welcoming. Drawbar sat down on the mill next to Willow, making sure to keep a respectful distance from him.

"It's a nice day out here t'day. Just glad that ah'm able t' see it" Willow said quietly, looking out at the forest. "I just wanted t' thank you again for saving ma life, Drawbar. Twice in one day, no less. That there'd give tha Elements a run for their money."

Drawbar couldn't help but frown, and Willow immediately noticed his sour expression. "Hey, don't ya fret none. I know ya blame yourself. Ya think yer responsible for gettin' me into those situations in tha first place. If ah'm being honest, then I guess it's true; I was distracted when you showed up as I was felling the trees, and you startled me when I was on tha bridge last night, but both times you were also there t' save me. I guess I prefer to look on tha bright side of things" Willow said.

And that's why I like you. You're a 'glass half full' kind of stallion Drawbar thought to himself, keeping his expression neutral. He looked at Willow and said "how are you feeling?"

Willow smiled, a worry-smile, and looked away at the forest again. "I'm OK, but... Drawbar ah was so s-scared last night. When that tree fell I was a little shook up at ma close call, but that was just a falling tree and a little tussle in the dirt. When I fell off that bridge and into that cold water I was terrified. I couldn't tell up from down and the current was draggin' me along. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't see, I couldn't--" he stopped, choking up. "D-Drawbar I thought I was gonna d-die..." Willow croaked out, his voice shaky and tears streaming down his face.

Drawbar frowned, wanting nothing more than to comfort the upset buck, but deciding to keep his distance for now.

"W-When I latched onto tha mill wheel, I thought it'd only delay tha inevitable. I was barely holdin' on, and even if I could hold on there was no way I coulda climbed up the riverbank with the current the way it was. Thank Celestia the mill wheel's just there for show now; if it had been spinning, I woulda been done for."

Drawbar nodded. "When I didn't see you in the river, I didn't know what to do. I thought maybe you'd gotten stuck back by the bridge, and I was about to gallop back up there to see if I could find you. If you hadn't cried out for help..." Drawbar trailed off, unwilling to finish the thought.

"If I hadn't cried out, ya woulda run back to the bridge, and wouldn't have heard me. That woulda been tha end..." Willow replied, smiling through the tears. "Drawbar, please take ma word for it when I say that I'm grateful t' ya. I owe you ma life."

He wasn't convinced, but so long as Willow was happy Drawbar wouldn't protest. He smiled, and Willow smiled back, reaching up and wiping the tears off his face. "When I woke up this mornin', Trimmer was in the bed with me. He never left ma side, the whole night. "

"Your brother's a fine pony, Willow. You're lucky to have him, and he's lucky to have you" Drawbar told him.

Willow nodded and smiled, turning to face Drawbar. A comfortable silence fell between them, broken only by the distant singing of birds and the gentle motion of the river. Willow looked happy, content, but Drawbar could tell there was something there behind his eyes. A concern, and Drawbar knew what was coming next, doing his best to prepare for it.

"Drawbar... Why did ya just walk away yesterday, when I wanted to show ya tha mill?" Willow asked, his smile faltering. The rail stallion sighed and looked away, unable to meet Willow's gaze.

"I was acting like an idiot. I was mad for a stupid reason, and I completely blew you off."

"What happened, though?"

Here we go. The moment of truth. "Willow, when you told your brother what happened to your leg, why you were limping, and he expressed his concern and affection for you, hugging you and telling you that he loved you, I... I got jealous" Drawbar explained.

Immediately Willow's expression turned to one of confusion. "Jealous? Are ya'll saying that you were envious of our brotherly love? Can't ya do tha same with Axle? Just up and tell 'im that ya love 'im. T'aint hard."

"Willow, that's not it. Not entirely. I wanted to do what he did with... With you" Drawbar said, finding that he just wanted to stare at the floor of the mill.

Willow blinked, taken aback. "Drawbar, w-what are ya sayin'?" he asked, his voice cracking with a tinge of nervousness and hope that even Drawbar noticed, drawing his attention to Willow and prompting him to look the younger colt in the eyes.

"Willow, I... I'm saying that I like you. I'm...attracted to..." Drawbar trailed off, looking away. "You" he whispered.

Silence befell them once again, neither of them sure of what to say. Drawbar had said all he wanted to, but Willow was at a loss for words. He stared at Drawbar with a blank expression, unsure if he'd actually heard what he thought he heard. He inched closer to Drawbar, his eyes wide. "Y-You...like me? Like, like me?"

Drawbar nodded.

Willow threw his forelegs open and dragged Drawbar into a hug, squeezing him as tight as he could, his chin on the rail buck's shoulder. Drawbar returned the hug, listening to Willow's breathing as they savored the moment between them, the intent of Willow's hug unspoken but unnecessary.

"I like ya too, Drawbar. I... I want t' go out with ya" Willow said.

Drawbar smiled, though it'd be more heard than seen. "I figured as much, since that's what two ponies who like each other do, Willow" he teased. Willow pulled back from the hug, keeping his hooves on Drawbar's shoulders as he looked deep into the other stallion's eyes.

"Well I should hope so! T'aint like we was gonna confess our interest in one another and then not do nothin'!" Willow joked, giggling at his own quip.

Drawbar smiled, scooting ever closer to Willow. "Heh, I thought there was something growing between us. Some kind of bond, but I couldn't be sure. I wasn't sure how you were gonna take it when I told you."

"Ya ain't need to be worryin' none, Drawbar, I'm more than happy t' be with ya, to get t' know ya better. Yer a kind, courageous, handsome stallion" Willow stated.

"And you're a right cute one, Willow" Drawbar said, making Willow blush.

"Jus' cute? That's all I got goin' for me? What about ma personality?" he teased, making Drawbar roll his eyes.

"I like your accent, if that counts."

The two of them shared a laugh and went in to hug again, content to just enjoy each other's company and the warm, peaceful morning sun. Willow hummed contentedly as Drawbar stroked his back with a hoof, the younger buck tightening his grasp in response.

"I'm guessin' that this here'll be the start'a somethin' special" Willow whispered.

"I think you're right, Willow, and I wouldn't want to experience it with anypony else but you."

Author's Note

This chapter was super sappy. Like, a whole tree's worth of sap. It's insanely cheesy, too. Sap and cheese. Hope you like both!

This wraps up the DrawbarXWillow arc, too, so now it's Axle Box's and Limb Trimmer's turn! What trials and tribulations will they face, and will they even have enough time to get together before the mill colts' father comes back with the coal? Stay tuned to find out!

8: Extended Vacation

Axle Box awoke some time after 8:00 AM, rolling over in bed and finding that his brother was nowhere to be seen. He read the note on the door and left the guestroom, turning left down the hall and following the winding path back to the foyer, retracing his steps from the previous night when Limb Trimmer had shown him and Drawbar to their room.

A quick check of the kitchen produced no Drawbar, so Axle went outside into the welcoming morning sun, the air still damp. He turned towards the mill, expecting to find at least the mill brothers there. Concern entered his mind as he wondered if Drawbar had spoken to Willow yet, or if he'd elected to avoid the matter and just go back to the train.

As he approached the mill Axle paused, the sight of Drawbar and Willow sitting together staying his hooves. A smile slowly spread across his face as he heard excited talking, laughing, and gesturing as the two told each other all about themselves. By the way they were sitting so close to each other, so as to make their tails swish together, was telling Axle that everything had worked out just fine.

More than fine. Ma brother finally hooked up with somepony. And one so cute, no less. That there is a fine catch, and I know Willow will be more than happy to be with 'im Axle thought proudly, simply sitting on the grass and watching the two stallions from afar, a happiness in his heart.

Now if only ah could find a love'a my own.

As happy as he was for his brother, Axle couldn't help but feel a sense of longing. To feel for somepony what Drawbar felt for Willow. To laugh and joke and see the world with them. To look deep into their eyes and see only a burning, unconditional love for him, and feel the same for them.

If only.

"How are they doing?" Axle heard somepony ask behind him, which made him jump in surprise. He looked over his shoulder at the speaker and found Limb Trimmer standing behind, a worried smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Axle looked at him for but a few moments, and remembered what he had felt the other day.

Trimmer's my type, and he's single, but... Is he even in to bucks? Ah don't think Drawbar asked Willow, but maybe he just 'knew'. Is that a thing? Can a pony just know if somepony is in to them, regardless of sex?

"Everythin' worked out jus' fine for the two of them. Uh, dunno if you knew about your brother being, ya know, in to colts. Kinda a shock, if'n you didn't" Axle said, turning around to face the Unicorn buck properly.

Trimmer snickered, raising a hoof to his mouth. It was the first time Axle'd seen the other colt smile, much less laugh. "Oh, I knew. It was not a challenge to figure it out. I've known since we were teenagers" Trimmer said, putting his hoof back to the ground. "Ah, it's an amusing anecdote, really. We're both gay."

Axle was immediately relieved to learn that, and his interest in the lithe Unicorn was renewed. Ya gotta chance now, Axle he thought to himself. "T'aint gotta problem with that, in case that weren't so obvious." He should hope that was evident enough, but it never hurt to make sure the other party knew.

"Oh, fear not. I had figured as much. There aren't very many ponies out there who take issue with who takes whom as their lover, be they stallion, mare, or other" Trimmer stated.

"Can't say I ever heard of a pony who fancied someone who ain't got four hooves and a horn or wings. Not that there ain't a thing wrong wit' it, but ah gotta wonder just how that's supposed to work."

Trimmer shrugged. "Daddy dated a Griffon when he was younger. If you can believe him. Said she was gorgeous, feisty, and terrifying beyond words, but there was something about her that drove him wild. Thought it had something to do with just how exotic it was to be dating someone who wasn't the same species as him. Said there was never anything so majestic or awe-inspiring as when she spread her wings."

"Sounded like he was mighty fond of her" Axle said with a nod. "What happened to her?"

"He wanted to start a family, settle down, and take over the mill when his parents died. Griffons, you know them, they can't stop. Need to fly, need to travel. Not exactly a lifestyle compatible with raising foals, not that they could have any, with the species barrier. They parted on amiable terms. Last I heard he still writes to her, and she even writes back. She's doing well" Trimmer explained.

"Glad to hear it!"

A pregnant silence fell over Axle and Trimmer, and the former looked back over his shoulder at his brother and Willow, who were still oblivious to the whole world, fully engrossed in their conversations. Axle let out a sigh, his thoughts drifting. Today would likely be their last day at the mill; Trimmer and Willow's father was supposed to return home today, and with him the coal to get the train moving again. Not that Axle thought he had a chance with Trimmer, even knowing his orientation was the way it was, but with no time left to get to know him better he'd never truly know if they could be a thing.

"What about you? Who are you attracted to? Mares, or stallions?" Trimmer asked, which made Axle whip his head around so fast he nearly fell over. He stopped and composed himself, and after he made sure he was going to remain upright Axle looked taken aback, his ears folded back against his head.

"That's a mighty personal question there, Limb Trimmer. T'aint a question for casual conversation" Axle protested.

Trimmer shrugged again. "Why not? I'm gay, my brother's gay, your brother's gay. We all know these things about one another. It seemed to me as though it would be a topic we should all be comfortable discussing, if we're going to get to know each other better."

Axle was at a loss for words, unsure of just what Trimmer meant exactly. Is he hittin' on me? Or am ah imaginin' things? He wouldn't be interested in a grease monkey like maself Axle mused. "W-Well, that ain't nothin' I'm willing to discuss right now."

"Your choice. I won't hold it against you" Trimmer replied, looking past Axle at the mill. "I suppose we should leave them to it. I'm going to head back inside to do some reading. Or perhaps would you like me to show you around the manor? It's rather interesting."

Axle paused. He wanted to take Trimmer up on his offer, both to get to know the colt better, and because the house seemed like it would be a rather interesting prospect to check out the magnificent manor the mill colts called home. However, he was already flustered with Trimmer's rather forward manner, and didn't want to risk embarrassing himself further with any comments that would catch him unawares.

"Ah'm afraid that ah'm gonna have to turn ya down on that one. I gotta get back to the train and check up on it" Axle said. Technically that was true, though it's not like anything of importance would have developed in his absence. The train would still be out of coal, and it'd still be sitting on the tracks, and Axle knew that Limb Trimmer would know as much.

"Surely that won't take you all day" Trimmer persisted.

"No, but it's at least gonna be an hour. Besides, ain't ya'll got some mill work to be doing?" Axle asked, perhaps a little too curtly, though if Trimmer was offended he didn't show it.

"No coal to run the furnace. No coal means no milling. Think of it as our de facto day off, if you will."

"Uh, well, maybe later, alright?"

Limb Trimmer looked indifferent. Really, if Axle had to use one word to describe Trimmer that'd be it. "Offer still stands, should you change your mind" the Unicorn buck stated. With that he turned his back and retreated into the manor, leaving Axle Box to begin to make his way down the hill and back to the train.

As he went along his way he looked up into the sky forlornly, letting out a sigh once again. Their last day at the mill, and he'd get to spend it alone with nary a companion beyond his books and the smell of oil. While Drawbar got to feel the warmth and comfort of another pony, Axle would be left with the cold unfeeling of the train.

Wait, he thought to himself. Trimmer said he was going back into the house to read. Guess he likes books just as much as ah do. Heh, maybe ah have more in common with that Unicorn than ah thought.

Maybe, before the day was out, Axle would talk to Trimmer again, and see just how much progress he could make with the cute little Unicorn who, beyond giggling once, has thus far shown indifference and apathy as his only emotions.

A few hours later evening was fast approaching and Axle was still at the train, left to ponder his own thoughts, a book sitting in his lap. Even as his eyes scanned the pages his mind struggled to pay attention to what was written, instead lingering on Drawbar and Willow, and Limb Trimmer. Drawbar hadn't come back to the train just yet, but Axle was sure he'd be back soon enough with the coal, and then they'd leave.

Which I don't wanna do just yet.

But it didn't matter what he wanted. What mattered was what would happen. Even in light of their imminent departure, Axle couldn't help but feel a small twinge of hope. Drawbar was with Willow, and thus they still had a connection with the mill, so there was always a possibility Axle could come back and talk to Trimmer.

But it wouldn't help him now.

For now we'll be going on our way, and there ain't a thing that ah can do about it.

A firm rap on the door of the control cabin knocked Axle from his musings and he looked up, finding his brother standing outside, a grin on his face. Axle smiled back in spite of himself and got up, releasing the lock on the door and letting Drawbar in.

"Hey Axle, Willow and Trimmer are fixing up some dinner before we leave. Do you want to come on up to the manor and have some?" Drawbar asked, his eyes bright. He looked brighter and happier overall, which Axle found to be no surprise, given how his brother's life had changed for the better.

"Ah guess" was all Axle had to offer by way of reply.

Immediately Drawbar's smile faded, replaced with a look of concern. "What's wrong, brother? Sad to be leaving?"

"Ah guess you could say that" Axle began, hesitant to continue but knowing that if he didn't he'd leave Drawbar in a state of worry all night, and he didn't want to spoil his brother's last day at the mill. "It's about you and Willow. Ah'm happy for the two of ya, ah really am, but... Well... Ah can't help but feel a mite jealous. Ah don't have eyes for Willow, but ah would like what you two got."

Drawbar sat down on the floor next to his brother, closing the door to the cabin in his wake. "Oh, Axle, I'm not sure what to say. Did... Did things not work out with Trimmer?"

Axle looked up, taken aback. "Who said ah was even in to him?" he asked, looking away when it became obvious that he was. "Well, ah haven't even really tried to get with him. We've talked a bit, but, well we really ain't got to know each other all that much."

"Axle, I think you should talk to him at least. We've still got time, and the dinner would be a great way to talk to him, to get to know him. All else fails you can at least let him know you're interested in him, and come back another time."

Axle let a smile pull at the corner of his mouth, though he wasn't entirely convinced. Still, anything was better than moping on the train, so he figured he had nothing to lose by going to the dinner. "Well, what the hay, ah guess I'll come up. What should ah wear?"

Drawbar facehoofed, a groan escaping his mouth. "It's a country dinner being hosted by two country colts at a lumber mill. They aren't the Princesses, brother."

Axle giggled at his brother's antics and response. "Ah'm gonna be having dinner with the colt ah'm attracted to, and his brother. Ah gotta look the part! Good catch with Willow, too; he's a mighty cute one" Axle teased.

Drawbar's face turned red and he pulled his head back, a perturbed expression coming to his face."Y-Yes, yes he is" was all he said in response. It was quite obvious by his reaction that Drawbar was quite infatuated with the little buck.

"Oh alright, loverboy, I'll come to the dinner and wear nothing. Maybe that'll make it easier to get Trimmer to notice me" Axle said, getting up from his seat and setting his book down on the control console. "Just lemme take a shower first. Ah'll be up in about ten minutes or so."

Just 15 minutes later Axle and his brother settled in at the manor just as Willow finished making up the dinner and set the table. It was built to seat eight, but with the four of them they elected to sit at the center of the table, Drawbar across from Willow and Axle across from Trimmer.

"Is everypony comfortable?" Willow asked, earning various responses to the positive from the others. "Great! This here should be a pretty great feast for ya'll. We got us a nice main of haysteak and cream of mushroom soup with a side'a lilies. The appetizer's a basket of crescent rolls, should ya'll be wantin' some, and I gotta surprise for dessert!"

"Sounds great, Willow. I appreciate the two of you doing this for us as a send-off" Drawbar exclaimed as he dug into his dinner with a fork, the other bucks doing so as well. The sounds of dinnerware clinking against plates was all that filled the dining hall for the next 20 minutes.

As he was eating Axle couldn't help but sneak glances at Trimmer, watching the adorable Unicorn from the corners of his eyes and when he thought Trimmer wasn't looking. He couldn't help but admire his magical prowess, even if it was something as simple as telekinesis to lift a fork, it still interested Axle. It was no secret he found Unicorns attractive because of their mystique, and though Trimmer may not have been the most powerful it was still more than exciting seeing him reach forth with his mind and envelop something in the glow of his magic.

Moving his focus past Trimmer's magic Axle took the opportunity to ogle the stallion's other physical features. He couldn't help but notice the intensity of the Unicorn's amber eyes, or the cute fluffiness of his ears and the way he kept his light-black mane; short and well-kept. His ocher coat shined cleanly in the light, healthy and full of luster.

He's beyond adorable. He's gorgeous! Sweet Celestia... Axle thought, tearing his gaze away from Trimmer and quietly letting out a ragged breath. Axle could've sworn it felt hotter in the dining hall than it did in the train's boiler, the way he'd gotten all worked up looking at Trimmer. He knew then he was utterly smitten with the Unicorn buck, and that he wanted nothing more than to get to know him better.

Which made it all the more painful that it'd be their last day at the mill.

"This is simply amazing, Willow" Drawbar said past a mouthful of haysteak.

Willow looked up as he craned his head down to take a bite of his own meal, simultaneously embarrassed by the sudden compliment and Drawbar's appalling table manners. "Drawbar! Didn't your mother ever teach you not t' talk with yer mouth full?"

Drawbar swallowed and used a napkin to dab the corners of his mouth, a sly grin on his face. "I should think that my flattering nature makes up for my poor manners, no?"

Willow groaned and buried his face in his hooves, his face redder than a tomato. "Ah've only known ya a few days and yer already embarrassing me in front of my family."

"It's quite alright, Willow. It's rather amusing, seeing him rile you up like this" Trimmer said with a smile, the second one Axle had seen crack his normally emotionless features.

Willow looked comically perturbed as his hooves fell to the table, looking straight ahead, his ears pinned back. "Now don't ya encourage the stallion!" he exclaimed, which made Drawbar guffaw and set his fork down, not wanting to inadvertently make a mess while he laughed.

Axle watched the group's antics with a smile, greatly amused at Willow's 'predicament'. Unfortunately for him, his blushing and embarrassment was precisely the kind of reaction Drawbar would be looking for whenever he teased him. His own nature would work against him.

Their good times were interrupted as they all heard the croak of the manor's front doors as they were pushed open, a deep voice calling out, muffled by the door of the dining hall. "Willow, Trimmer? I am home!"

Willow brightened at the voice, nearly tearing out of his seat before Trimmer grabbed him in his magic, forcing him to sit back down. "No leaving the table until dinner is finished, Willow."

Willow huffed and looked sullen, but otherwise stayed his hooves and remained in his seat. The door to the dining hall opened and in stepped a stallion that was presumably the mill colts' father. His coat was a deep redwood color, his mane a sandy blonde. His cutie mark was that of a mill wheel, and he looked to be quite the jovial stallion. "There are my young stallions! Oh is it so good to be home! You've even prepared dinner for me!" the stallion said, not even batting an eye at the two strangers in his home.

"Daddy! Welcome home!" Willow practically shouted, excitedly jostling in his seat.

Trimmer rolled his eyes. "That a buck your age could still be such a daddy's colt is beyond my comprehension. You're, what, 22 years old?"

"Hey! Jus' cause I love our daddy don't make me some kinda whelp."

"Now, now, let's settle down. I've had quite a long trip, and I'd very much like to join your dinner before I head to bed" the colts' father asked, earning an eager nod from Willow.

"'Course you can join us! I made sure to make up enough for you t' eat when you got home!" Willow replied.

"Splendid, splendid!" the stallion of the house said, trotting over to the table and sitting down right next to Drawbar as Willow got up to head into the kitchen and fetch him his meal. Their father sighed as he sat down, his heavy, muscular frame making the chair creak in protest. "I am simply famished."

Axle was more than a little confused as to why the stallion hadn't so much as acknowledged his and Drawbar's presence, much less introduced himself or asked who they were. Axle looked at Trimmer, who nodded knowingly.

"Dad, are you going to introduce yourself to our guests?" Trimmer asked.

Log Breaker hummed affirmatively, nodding as he turned to look at the train ponies. "Who are your friends, Trimmy? They look like fine, upstanding bucks."

"This is Axle Box and Drawbar, daddy, with the Royal Rail Service. Their train ran empty of coal not far from here, and they've been staying with us while we waited for you to come home" Trimmer explained.

"Hmm, of course. Welcome to Waterwood Mill, gentlecolts. I am Log Breaker. I'm sure you're well-acquainted with the fine bucks I call my sons."

"Yes, sir. We sure are" Drawbar answered.

"Splendid! I'm pleased to hear it! Life can be so very dull and boring out here, it's nice to have some company every so often" Log Breaker declared.

Just then Willow came back into the dining hall, carrying a plate for his father on his back. He pulled it off and stood on his hindlegs just behind Drawbar, putting a hoof on the conductor stallion's shoulder to brace himself as he set the plate down. His father thanked him and he briskly trotted around the table and took his seat again, smiling sheepishly at Drawbar.

"This looks delicious, Willow. You were always a great cook" Log Breaker exclaimed, quickly digging in.

"I-It was nothin', daddy" Willow replied, rubbing the back of his head.

Silence befell the room once more as the group, plus one, finished off the rest of their dinners, Log Breaker catching up and finishing at about the same time as the others, a testament to his appetite. With dinner finished Willow retreated into the kitchen to retrieve dessert, leaving the others to sit quietly.

"So," Log Breaker started, breaking the silence. "You bucks ran out of coal for your train, hmm? An oddity. I had expected the Royal Rail Service to ensure their trains were well-stocked."

"We had a holdup outside of Canterlot, which burned off enough of our coal that we didn't have enough to make it to Appleloosa" Drawbar explained.

Log Breaker nodded, grunting an acknowledgement as he ate. There was another brief moment of silence until Willow came back in, a platter on his back, a small but ample chocolate cake on the platter. He smiled, his head low, as he quickly trotted over to the table and set the platter down, the rest of the group expressing their approval in various ways.

"That looks simply delicious, Willow."

"Now that there's a mighty fine cake."

"Looks amazing!"

"Oh ho, my boy knows what his daddy likes!"

Willow shrunk away in embarrassment, but smiled at all the praise nonetheless. He cut it into a number of pieces and allowed the other members of the party to retrieve their slices on their own, watching with tentative excitement as they ate. It wasn't long before everypony had finished off their slices and vocalized their appreciation, for which Willow thanked them.

Dinner had finished and the evening was winding down, everypony's hunger sated, and they were content to sit in comfortable silence, savoring the lasting flavors even as they dissipated.

Trimmer was the first to excuse himself, rising from his seat and retiring to his room for the night.

"I believe that I will be retiring soon, as well. I am mighty tired from my trek to and from Baltimare, and tomorrow I've got to bring the next cart into town" Log Breaker declared, rising from his seat.

"Uh, sir, there is a matter I'd like to discuss. If'n you don't mind" Axle said.

Log Breaker turned back around. "Oh? What would that be?"

"Our train. We was hoping that ya'll would have some coal to spare. Enough to get us to Appleloosa. The RRS will be more than willing to compensate ya for the matter" Drawbar asked.

Log Breaker nodded. "Of course! I have no problem parting with some coal for you stranded bucks. Just how much will you be needing?"

"Ten pounds' worth."

Immediately Log Breaker's jovial expression turned grim, and he shook his head. "I'm afraid that it would be quite impossible for me to spare that much. I only purchased five pounds' worth of coal, as that's all the mill's furnace typically needs to last a few days. I'm taking another cart into Baltimare tomorrow, however, and I'll try to get it there and be back with some extra coal in an express manner."

Axle began to protest, but Log Breaker put his hoof down. "No arguments, friend. I won't let you have waited for me all this time only to make you trek into the city. It's the least I can do."

Axle nodded gratefully, letting Log Breaker fully break away from the table as he prepared to head to bed. He came around the table and nuzzled Willow, who put up weak, half-hearted resistance. Though Willow normally enjoyed his father's goodnight wishes he wanted to avoid further embarrassment, though as expected there could be no stopping the affections of a loving father.

"I imagine you two bucks will be heading back to your train now?" Log Breaker said after he broke away from his son. Drawbar and Axle shared a look, the former taking the initiative.

"Actually, sir, Trimmer had a guest room prepared for my brother and I. We would like to stay there tonight."

Log Breaker looked taken aback. "Oh, but of course! Sweet Celestia, where were my manners? I should've offered to prepare one for you two myself. You two are more than welcome to stay here for the remainder of your visit."

Axle piped up, rising from his seat at the table. "Thank you kindly, Mr. Breaker. For your hospitality, and for helpin' us out. My brother and I greatly appreciate it."

"Oh? it's no trouble at all. It's the least I can do, really."

Axle turned back to Drawbar and bid him goodnight, leaving the dining hall and disappearing from sight. As Log Breaker went to leave again he was stopped by Willow, who quickly stood from his seat. "Uh, d-daddy? There's s-something else that I gotta tell you."

Log Breaker was growing visibly exasperated at this point, though he did a well enough job hiding it from his son. "Of course, Willow. Anything for one of my beloved bucks."

Willow and Drawbar shared a look, the former nervous, the latter confident and nodding encouragingly. Willow licked his lips and turned his attention back to his father.

"W-Well, uh, Drawbar here and I, we're, uh... We're kinda...together. If'n you catch my meaning."

"Oh? My boy has finally found that special somepony? Splendid! It's no surprise to me that a handsome young stallion such as yourself should attract such another fine buck" Log Breaker stated, which made Willow's face turn red for the umpteenth time that night.

"Y-Yes, sir" Willow stammered out.

"I'm very happy for you, Willow. I'll have to find the time to get to know Mr. Drawbar should he ever come to visit" Log Breaker said, eyeing the conductor stallion.

Willow merely nodded, throwing his forehooves around his father and pulling him into a hug, which Log Breaker returned in earnest.

"I love you too, Willow. Why don't you take these dishes into the kitchen and get them ready to be washed tomorrow?" Log Breaker stated, Willow doing as his father asked and gathering up the plates and silverware and bringing them into the kitchen, disappearing from sight. With Willow out of the dining hall Log Breaker went back around the table and stood before Drawbar, sizing him up. Log Breaker was a full head taller than Drawbar, but both were similarly built.

"You are the stallion that has stolen my little colt's heart? A stallion such as you must be plenty honorable, being a member of the Royal Rail Service" the head stallion declared.

"Yes, sir, that's right" Drawbar replied politely.

Log Breaker smiled and leaned down, his eyes boring into Drawbar's. "Break his heart, and I'll break you. Understood?"

Drawbar's eyes widened but he nodded all the same, the jovial stallion's sudden change of tone and dark threat rather unexpected. Log Breaker donned his characteristic smile again, apparently satisfied with Drawbar's reaction.

"Splendid! Good night now, Mr. Drawbar."

With that he left, leaving Drawbar alone as he waited for Willow to come back so they could go to bed together, the conductor pony more than a little disturbed and afraid.

But confident he'd never do anything to face the older stallion's wrath.

9: Shipping Lanes

Axle couldn't believe his luck.

Well, to call it 'luck' would be making light of how he and his brother were virtually stuck at the mill, but Axle certainly didn't consider that to be such a bad thing, all things considered. They had another few days before they would leave for sure, and that gave Axle time to get to know Limb Trimmer.

The question was, could one form a relationship in just three day's time?

Drawbar sure did, though I'm certain that Willow was a bit more receptive to the idea than Trimmer'll be.

There was no way to know if he didn't try, and Axle had every intention of making the best go of it as he could.

It was a morning like every other; warm, and Axle was currently standing in the guest room, looking out the window at the grand front yard, idly staring at the abundance of trees that shrouded the train tracks from view, lost in thought. Trimmer was at the mill, splitting the day's logs while Willow was off doing something else, though Axle didn't know the specifics. Drawbar was back at the train, so for all intents and purposes Axle and Trimmer were the only ones around.

After making his way down to the kitchen and eating a quick breakfast Axle ventured outside, trotting around and up to the mill. On his approach he watched Trimmer work, the Unicorn's expression as emotionless as ever as he repeatedly fed logs into the mill. Axle, for the life of him, couldn't figure out why Trimmer always looked so indifferent. He'd only seen the younger buck smile twice the entirety of the time he'd been at the mill, and outside of those two times his expression and demeanor had never changed. Even when Willow wasn't smiling he was still lively, with a spring in his step and an upbeat expression on his face(barring the other night when Axle'd seen the poor colt soaked to the bone after his near-drowning).

Getting on his way again Axle approached the mill proper, ascending the thick wood steps. As Trimmer reached out to grab another log he caught sight of Axle, pausing and turning to face the rail conductor. Axle nodded and smiled, but Trimmer remained unmoved.

Is he even a pony? He's got the tact of an automaton.

"Good morning, Axle Box. What can I do for you?" Trimmer asked. His inflection was that of a normal pony(there was even a subtle country twang), but Axle just couldn't get over how deadpan the Unicorn buck looked.

"Ain't got nothin' better to be doing, so I thought I'd come on up and see what ya'll were up to" Axle answered, leaning against one of the poles that held up the mill's roof. Trimmer resumed what he was doing before and dragged a log down from the rack, dropping it onto the tray and feeding it into the mill.

"Tending the mill, as you can see here" was all Trimmer had to offer by way of reply.

Axle rolled his eyes as Trimmer turned away to focus on the task at hoof. He was determined to get something out of the pony, one way or another. Maybe it was just a case of bad timing, and Trimmer was just too focused on the mill to be bothered with conversation.

He did offer me a tour of the manor yesterday. Perhaps I should take 'im up on that offer.

"Say, Trimmer, ya'll offered to show me 'round the house yesterday. Would ya be willing to do that today?" Axle asked.

Trimmer didn't look up, but he said "of course." Axle was certain he was just imagining things, but it sounded almost like the other buck perked up a bit by Axle changing his mind after previously turning him down for the tour. If he had, it was at least some manner of progress.

"Swell! So, wanna make some small-talk? Imagine it gets mighty boring being out here by yourself every day" Axle said.

Trimmer shrugged. "Just something that you get used to working on a lumber mill."

"Nice to break tha monotony every so often though, huh?"

Trimmer paused and craned his head up and around to look at Axle, his expression thoughtful. "Yes, I suppose it is" said, turning his attention back to the mill. "Forgive me, I don't talk very often. Not much to talk about when it's just Willow and I here on the mill, and we see and do all the same things. The unexpected arrival of you and your brother has brought some much needed excitement into our lives. Willow's especially, given what has transpired between him and Drawbar."

"Ain't that the truth. Bit of a stroke'a luck there for him and your brother" Axle commented.

"Oh yes, they both seem to be quite happy with the development. I'm very happy for my brother. I imagine you are as well for Drawbar."

More jealous than happy Axle thought. "That I am. Your brother's a fine buck."

Trimmer smirked. "Should I not know any better, I would think that you had eyes for Willow" the Unicorn teased, which made Axle roll his eyes bemusedly.

"Oh he's a looker to be sure, but he ain't who I got eyes for" Axle stated.

"Hmm? Who is it that you do have eyes for?" Trimmer asked, catching Axle off guard.

Axle pushed away from the pole, rubbing the back of his head. "Heh, w-well, nopony really" he lied. Badly. He knew it wasn't so convincing, but he figured Trimmer would either accept it or not press the issue.

"So you say" Trimmer replied, feeding another log into the mill. "So, I imagine you and your brother have seen quite a bit of Equestria over the years through your service in the RRS."

Axle nodded. "You don't know tha half of it. We've been up and down the entire country, from Canterlot to Appleloosa, Vanhoover to Baltimare, Manehattan to Ponyville. We've hauled all manner of things over the years for the Crown. Whatever's on the manifest, we take out" the conductor stallion explained.

"What manner of goods do you usually transport?"

"Depends on what's most in demand, and tha seasons. Naturally, during winter months, things like sweaters, blankets, and things like that get bought up a lot, so we'll haul new deliveries out to cities to be disseminated to the various retail chains. Some things don't change for tha seasons. Take Appleloosa for example; they need water year-round, so sometimes we get a manifest that's strictly water. That's just deliveries, the other half of our manifests pertains to what we're meant t' be recievin' from the destination. Again, a place like Appleloosa ships out apples, so usually we're scheduled to pick up a few crates once we offload the water" Axle explained.

"Ever haul lumber?" Trimmer inquired.

"'Course. From Baltimare to Canterlot, usually. Guessin' that's your lumber we've been haulin'."

"Could be. Interesting how logistics work, isn't it?" Trimmer said as he grabbed one of the last two logs on the rack and dropped them in the tray.

"Sure is. Why, I bet we've hauled the coal that ya'll have been buying in Baltimare."

Trimmer nodded, watching the log as it traveled down the mill and was slowly sawed in half. "I enjoy thinking about the various systems by which Equestrian society operates. It's akin to a machine, really, and each of us are just gears in that machine, propelling it along. We split the logs, daddy delivers them to Baltimare, you pick them up and take them where they're needed, the ponies who receive them use the wood to craft their goods, and then ponies buy those goods. And this occurs in every level of Equestrian society, for every product and material used to create that product."

"Ya'll like to think all philosophical-like about this sort'a thing, huh?" Axle said, more of a statement than a question.

"Yes, quite. I find it to be a rather invigorating topic. Of course, I never quite have anypony to discuss it with. Willow is smart enough, but I'm afraid he hasn't an interest in logistics. To him, it's just a matter of ponies delivering stuff. He doesn't much care for the nuances of it all. Of course, this isn't the only thing I have an interest in. I enjoy thinking and reading about all manner of things."

Here was where Axle knew they could establish common ground, and really get Trimmer to open up to him. "I enjoy reading too, actually. Most nights I'm up in the cabin, reading a novel of some kind long after Drawbar's gone t' bed."

Axle watched as Trimmer perked up and turned to face him, the last log split. "Really? Perhaps we could discuss the books you read."

"Sure thing, Trimmer. Before we do that, though, how 'bout the tour?"

Trimmer nodded. "Of course. Let me shave these logs and I'll be up at the manor in a few minutes."

Axle turned and cantered off the mill, across the lawn, and up to the manor's double doors, pushing them open and waiting inside. Trimmer was finally starting to open up to him, and he couldn't be more excited about the prospect of learning not only more about the house, but also the little Unicorn he was so smitten with, and spending some time with him.

He'd have to wait just a few more minutes.

10: The Secret of Waterwood Manor

The smell of polished marble and mahogany filled Axle's nose as he stood in the grand hall of the manor, accompanied by Limb Trimmer, who had just closed the front doors and was trotting up to him as he stood in the middle of the room, looking around at the decor and architecture. He'd been in the foyer before, but had never actually stopped to appreciate its beauty.

It was gorgeous.

"I can't believe just how majestic this place really is" Axle commented as Trimmer came up beside him. The Unicorn's demeanor had livened up a bit, but his expression was still mostly unreadable.

"Isn't it, though? This house was built well over a hundred years ago by our great-grandfather. He settled here with his wife because he thought it was the prime location to build the mill he'd always wanted to start. There was a flowing river to turn the wheel, and it was surrounded by a massive forest. It's been in our family ever since" Trimmer explained.

"You've been in the foyer before, but allow me to properly introduce it to you. The grand staircase dominates the center of the room, with a fireplace on the left, flanked by two couches. On either side of the fireplace are doors, one leading into the dining hall, as you're aware, the other leading to a hallway that branches off to other rooms. On the right side are two more doors, one leading to an art gallery, the other to a bathroom. Behind the stairs is the entrance to the basement, but we don't keep anything of importance down there."

Trotting ahead Trimmer began ascending the stairs, Axle closely following behind. "Up the stairs to the right is the hall that leads your guest room, along with the others. To the left is a library. The other rooms on that wing of the manor have to be accessed via staircase in a downstairs hallway."

"Not mighty convenient, huh?" Axle asked.

"No, but all that's over there are sundry rooms. A large storeroom, a greenhouse, a bathroom, et cetera" Trimmer replied, pushing the door open into the blue hall. "The guest rooms, as you are familiar with." Trimmer gestured to the doors that lined the right side of the hall every 20 feet. The hall ended in a corner that went left, windows overlooking the mill lining it. "Down this way here are mine and Willow's bedrooms."

Trimmer pushed open the first door, revealing a clean and spartan room, the walls painted a deep green, a queen-sized bed against the center of the far wall. There were miscellaneous decorations; a potted fern in one corner, a dresser with framed pictures adorning it, and a small table and chair in another corner. "Willow's room" Trimmer commented.

Moving down the hall the Unicorn pushed the second door open, which lead into a room that was presumably his. The walls a cream color. A bed was against the far wall, the same as Willow's room, but the decor was different. There were several bookcases against the walls and in the corners, lined end-to-end with books. A desk with a lamp was in the only corner not occupied by a bookcase. "As you can tell," Trimmer started, "I very much enjoy reading."

"I figured as much! Ya'll got more books than I do" Axle declared.

Trimmer nodded with a smile, allowing Axle to trot in further and look around. Immediately he was drawn to the bookshelves, interested in seeing just what Trimmer found to be invigorating reading material. "What have ya'll got here? Maybe we read some'a the same things."

"What you'll find is mostly non-fiction reference manuals, technical journals, and history textbooks. Opposite of that you'll find mostly commentaries on society using fictional characters and lands as the vehicle for that commentary. So authors like Horsewell, Haynlein, Huxhay, and so forth. You won't find any Daring Do or anything of the sort on my bookshelves" Trimmer said.

"I do love me some Daring Do, but some of these look mighty interesting" Axle said as he bent down to take a closer look. True to Trimmer's word there were mostly reference guides and manuals, but there were the fiction books he described. Novels like Startrotters, Brave New Equestria, even the rare Haylysses. "Can you tell me a little about these? I've never read any'a these?"

"Of course. Startrotters is set in a future where the entire world is run by a unified government with a majority of military and veteran military members. It asserts that Equestrian society is weak in its current form--past form, in the novel--and advocates a stricter society. Even capital punishment. Of course, in the novel, the world has flourished under this harsher society" Trimmer explained. "Brave New Equestria is an exposé on a futuristic society in which ponies are artificially created and placed into castes based on intelligence and labor, creating a kind of bizarre utopia in which there is no conflict, but to enforce this any noncomformity is severely punished."

Axle nodded, finding himself growing interested in the books the Unicorn had. "These are a mite darker than what I usually read. What about this one, Haylysses?"

Trimmer looked away and rubbed the back of his head, suddenly uncomfortable. "That's...a very bizarre and unsettling tale of a stallion and one ordinary day he goes through" Trimmer replied.

"Doesn't sound too bad. What's so strange 'bout it?"

"Believe me, it's a very unusual story. Quite obscene and vulgar, really. I hear Princess Twilight herself described it as 'a literary mockery that offends the sensibilities of every reasonable pony.'"

"What'd the author have to say to that?" Axle asked, amused that a Princess would issue such a scathing criticism of a book.

"I believe the author's response was 'I appreciate the ringing endorsement.' He is really quite proud of that novel" Trimmer answered.

"By gosh, I may just have to find me a copy of that and read it."

Leaving Trimmer's room the two of them continued down the hall, where there was another left hook. As they turned the corner a small staircase came into view, bending circularly to the right and up to a heavy-looking red door. They ascended the steps and Trimmer pushed the door open, the room beyond a sight unlike any other in the manor.

It was a massive, grand room fit for a king. A sprawling bed dominated the center of the room, complete with four posts holding up a tenting canvas that shielded the bed from view. The left and right walls were purely bookshelves, every last shelf lined end-to-end. A small table was at the foot of the right wall, two chairs on opposite ends of it. The walls that weren't entirely made of bookshelves were painted a deep red, the room illuminated by torches mounted to each post on the bed(the flame shielded by ventilated glass, so as to not light the silk canvas on fire). To the left was a roll-top desk, the cover rolled down. The plush carpet was a satin purple with gold trim, intricate patterns and swirls adorning the corners. To crown it all was the ceiling; a high dome with a mural painted in it, the ponies displayed in it unknown to Axle.

Axle was taken aback. This room was like something out of Canterlot Palace, it was that majestic. He never expected to see such a room in person, and as much as the whole manor was a beautiful place, the master bedroom was beyond the pale.

"This is daddy's room. Impressive, isn't it?" Trimmer asked rhetorically.

"Ya ain't even need to ask. I was impressed by the entire house, but this is breath-taking" Axle replied, trotting further into the room. Axle considered himself a simple pony with simple desires, but he had to admit he wouldn't mind having a room that looked like the one he was currently in.

"This manor was one of the last structures built in the classical style, before modern architecture came in to vogue with emphasis on quartz and grand spires. This more closely resembles castles of old, and the same style was emulated with the master bedroom, as you can see" Trimmer commented.

Axle nodded and took a few more minutes to look around before trotting back around to the door where Trimmer was patiently waiting. "Well, is that all for tha tour?" Axle asked.

Trimmer shrugged. "I could perhaps show you the west wing, should you like."

"Lead tha way."

A short hike back across the house found Axle and Trimmer in the west wing on the first floor, in the hallway beyond the second door in the foyer. The color on the walls was a dark blue, subdued and moody. There were two doors on the right and a staircase at the end of the hall.

"Through the first door you'll find a piano bar. When the house was built the family was a mite bigger, and everypony would come in a couple nights a week to socialize. Great-grandmother was an excellent pianist, apparently, and the family very much enjoyed listening to her play. The bar was never really the draw; her skills with the piano were why the family had this room" Trimmer said, gesturing a hoof into the room.

Moving down the hall the two came upon the second door, which, according to Trimmer, contained another hallway, the rooms beyond empty. The two stallions ascended the stairs, Axe taking note that they were reverse landing stairs; they led up to a landing, upon which the upper floor stretched back in the same direction the stairs were facing. Axle followed Trimmer close behind as they reached the top of the stairs and turned around the railing, trotting down the hallway.

"The only noteworthy thing in this wing is the greenhouse, really" Trimmer stated as they went down the hall. It ended in a left-hoof turn, two doorways in the corner, each facing the length of their respective hallways. Trimmer turned left and led Axle down to the end of the hall, opening the door at the end and allowing the train stallion entry.

Inside was the greenhouse Trimmer mentioned, but much to Axle's disappointment nothing was being grown anymore. The left and far walls, as well as the ceiling, were all windows, allowing as much sunlight as possible to enter the room. Long-neglected planters sat on rows of tables in the middle of the room, dry watering kettles on the floor underneath each.

Pulling back out of the doorway Axle noticed that Trimmer looked...down, thought it was hard to truly tell what the Unicorn was feeling.

"Back this way is a bathroom and a study. We can safely skip the bathroom, so we'll end with the study" Trimmer said, the two of them reaching the end of the tour. Trimmer opened the door and Axle followed, the room within quiet and still, lamps casting soft lights across every surface. There was a desk immediately to the left, put up against the wall in such a way that the floor space was a vague 'U' shape. Bookcases lined the far wall, but every other wall had single shelves mounted to them, picture frames lining them end-to-end. There was a fine layer of dust on everything, but the picture frames were perfectly clean.

Axle found it a little strange that the pictures were so clean, so he went up to the closest shelf to take a closer look. A few depicted Trimmer and Willow as foals, colts, and even as adults. Hugging each other, hugging their father(to Axle's amusement, the two colts looked like they were being crushed by their father's massive hooves as he hugged them, their faces comically strained), and solo pictures of each. Most pictures looked much older, depicting ponies that Axle didn't know.

"Ya'll got a lot'a pictures. I'm assumin' they're of your family?" Axle asked.

Trimmer nodded. "That's right. Most of the pictures here are of our great-grandparents and grandparents. They made sure to take as many pictures of one another as they could. For posterity."

Axle hummed an acknowledgement and perused the pictures, a mix of proper photos and ones clearly taken without the other's knowing. A mare watering the plants in the greenhouse, a stallion shaving a log with his teeth, two colts(one who looked like Log Breaker) climbing on the mill wheel, a stallion waving a rake at them. Axle smiled bemusedly at both the charm of the quaint photos, and the antics depicted in others. A mare's comically horrified expression as two colts held up frogs in their hooves, a young Willow chasing Trimmer, their faces frozen mid-laugh.

There was one photo at the end of the second shelf, depicting Log Breaker and his young sons, a magenta Pegasus mare at his side, the brightest and widest smile Axle'd ever seen on her face(though the colts looked rather grumpy). Her eyes were a vibrant blue, and there was even a flower in her pink mane. Even Axle thought she was pretty, but there was just one question nagging at his mind.

"Who's this?" Axle asked as he gently pulled the picture frame down from the shelf, so as to show Trimmer, who came up beside the conductor stallion to get a closer look.

"Let me see. Oh, that's--" Trimmer stopped, his eyes going wide as he saw the mare in the photo. Axle looked at him in concern, noting how the color seemed to drain from Trimmer's face.

"Trimmer?" Axle said, getting no response from the Unicorn, his gaze utterly fixed on the depiction of the magenta mare. Axle could only assume that she was his and Willow's mother, but Trimmer's reaction set off alarm bells in Axle's mind.

"Trimmer."

Again no response, and Axle could see that Trimmer's breath was starting to quicken, his chest expanding and contracting shallowly. This was the biggest shift in behavior that Axle'd seen since first meeting Limb Trimmer, but it only served to confuse and alarm him.

As Trimmer continued to stare at the picture his head began to tremble as he pulled back, his head turning away even as his eyes remained fixed on the photo in Axle's hoof. He was practically hyperventilating now, and Axle knew he'd have to get the Unicorn to snap out of it before hurt himself.

"TRIMMER!" Axle shouted, putting the frame down at the floor. Trimmer flinched, his breathing returning to normal. He squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head, coming back to his senses. He blinked several times and looked back at Axle, his expression immediately melting into that usual mask of indifference and apathy. Axle was almost shocked at how quickly Trimmer's demeanor changed, and how, now that he'd seen Trimmer show true emotion, how manufactured the Unicorn's usual expression looked.

It looks like he intentionally tries to look like that!

"Forgive me. My nose does not agree with the dust. I'm afraid that'll do it for the tour. I trust that you enjoyed it. Good day, Axle Box" Trimmer said, turning on his heels and quickly cantering out of the room, leaving Axle alone.

And wondering what in the name of Celestia had just happened.

11: Hurt

"I'm tellin' ya, Drawbar, when Trimmer saw a picture of his mother he about looked like he saw a ghost" Axle said to his brother as they sat outside their train. At half-past noon the forest was alive and loud, the song and chirps their only company.

"Well, perhaps you should talk to him. Willow could help too, I'm sure" Drawbar replied.

Axle hummed in acknowledgment and nodded, rubbing at his chin with a hoof and staring into the woods. It was obvious that whatever happened deeply pained Trimmer, but the question was 'would Willow have the same reaction?'. Axle could just let it go--it's not like he wanted to open old wounds--but at the same time he felt as though if the two colts were silently suffering that he should do something to help them.

Maybe just letting it go will be help enough.

"Maybe you're right" Axle finally said. "Still, I wouldn't be surprised if Willow asks you about it."

Drawbar shrugged. "Assuming his brother tells him about the incident. If it was that bad, he may just close up. His brother knows him best, I'm sure, but you've seen how unreadable Trimmer is. If he doesn't tell his brother, Willow may not even know something is wrong."

"I guess there's no real way of knowing unless I talk to either one'a them" Axle replied. If I even should.

"Willow and I are going to be hanging out after he's done with the day's chores, so you can talk to him before then, or just wait until later tonight" Drawbar stated.

"I guess I'll go see if I can talk to 'im."

As Axle trotted up the hill to the mill he saw Willow splitting the logs, which made Axle pause. Both colts usually tended the mill, but when it was just one of them there it was always Trimmer. If it was just Willow there then there must be some reason.

You're getting worked up over probably nothin'. Maybe the two colts just traded responsibilities today.

Axle reached the mill and ascended the steps, slowly coming up behind Willow as he reached over for a log and pulled it off the rack. As he did so he caught sight of Axle and stopped, putting the log back up. He flashed a smile, but it wasn't all that convincing.

"Hey there, Axle. What can ah do for ya'll?" Willow asked.

Axle smiled back, in spite of himself. "Where's Trimmer? I'd like to talk to him."

Willow frowned and bit his lip, looking away. "Trimmer...is in th' house." Willow paused, glancing at the logs on the rack. "I don't think he wants t' talk t' anypony right now."

"Why not?"

Willow laughed nervously and rubbed the back of his head. "He's, uh...mighty emotional today. He was up all night, uh... You know. Cryin'."

"Oh. Do you know why?" Axle pressed.

Willow looked away, idly kicking at the mill floor. He wasn't answering, and Axle thought he'd gotten all he would out of the younger colt. He had just turned his back and was about to trot away when he heard Willow whisper something, so low Axle almost didn't hear it.

"Mother..."

Axle stopped and hung his head, shuffling around in place to look at Willow, a pregnant silence in the air between them. Axle wasn't sure what he should say, to apologize or explain what happened, but he couldn't find his tongue. The incident had been so fast, so surreal, that Axle didn't even know how he could explain it if he had to.

"Trimmer was...cryin' about mom. She, uh... She passed away. Six years ago..."

Six years? Been that long and just the sight of 'er evoked that kind of reaction out of Trimmer? There must be somethin' more to it Axle thought.

"...How?"

Willow pulled his head back and stared at Axle, that heavy silence returning with a vengeance. After nearly a minute Willow turned back to the rack and pulled a log down, dropping it onto the tray and feeding it into the mill. He quickly split the log and pulled down another.

"I... I'd like to talk to Trimmer. If you don't mind."

"Ya don't need t' ask me permission. Ah ain't Trimmer's owner. It just... It don't make any sense" Willow stated, already pulling down a third log. "We all got our own photo albums, and they got pictures'a mom in 'em, but Trimmer's photo album's in his closet and ain't been moved in a while--It's got a layer'a dust on it--so ah dunno why he's all busted up 'bout it all'a sudden" Willow declared.

Axle stuck his tongue in his cheek and looked down at the floor of the mill. "That's, uh, my fault."

Willow paused. "That so?"

"Trimmer, he, uh, took me on a tour of the manor. When we got to the west wing study, there were pictures..." Axle trailed off as Willow nodded.

"I see."

"Willow, I'm sorry. I... I didn't know" Axle stated, taking a step forward. "I'm sorry."

Willow turned around, a look of concern on his face. "For what? T'aint yer fault, Axle. We ain't told ya, ya never asked, and ya couldn't'a known. Look, ma brother's probably up in his room, but now ah'm thinkin' it ain't such a hot idea to be talking to 'im. Ma's death hurt him something awful, since he was-- Well, it was hard, is all."

'He was' what? Why'd he stop himself? Axle mused. "I still want to talk to him."

Willow gestured to the manor. "Well go on ahead, then. Ah won't stop ya, ah just don't think it's such a good idea."

Axle nodded in understanding and turned back around, about to head up to the manor. "Thank you, Willow." He cantered down the steps and onto the lawn, heading across and up to the manor doors. Axle pushed them and opened and entered the grand house. A quick trot up the stairs and through the east-wing door brought Axle into the hall, the sconces and pictures on the wall a blur as the rail buck quickly passed them. Rounding the corner at the end Axle passed the first door on the left and came up to the second, reaching up with a hoof and stopping when he heard the sound coming from inside the room.

Silence.

Putting his hoof back down to the floor Axle weighed his options. If Trimmer wasn't in the room, there was no way to know where he was. Axle could wait for Trimmer to come back, or he could go looking for him. If he went looking for him, he'd probably spend all day roaming the halls of the manor.

*Thump*

Axle paused, looking at the door to Trimmer's room. Somepony was in there, probably Trimmer. But...what should I do? Should I knock? Should I just go? Willow doesn't think I should talk to Trimmer, but...

The door opened.

Axle froze as the heavy oak door was pulled open from the inside, Trimmer standing just past the threshold. There was a binder or some kind of file dossier on Trimmer's bed, closed. Axle turned his attention back to Trimmer and paused, noting the Unicorn's dry, red eyes.

"H-Hello, Axle. I'm a-afraid I'm a little indisposed right now. You should c-come back later" Trimmer stammered out, beginning to push the door closed.

Axle jammed his hoof into the frame, blocking the door. "Trimmer, wait, I... I want to talk to you."

Trimmer looked taken aback, an expression of shock on his face. "Axle, I... I don't know. I'm..." Trimmer stopped, looking anywhere but Axle's eyes. He glanced back at his bed, at the binder lying on it. "OK... Come in." The door opened further, Trimmer stepping aside. Axle nodded, trotting into the room and shutting the door behind him.

And preparing himself for whatever followed.

12: Cherry Tree

"Trimmy, honey, did ya'll wanna help mommy today?"

"Mother, I asked you not to call me that. But of course I'll help you.

The sound of breathing was the only sound permeating the air in Trimmer's room, Axle sitting on the bed next to the lithe Unicorn. The binder that had been on the bed was between them, open, revealing that it was a photo album. Trimmer stared down at it, each photo completely covered in clear tape, securing and shielding them. From spills, from rain.

From tears.

Axle could do nothing but sit and watch awkwardly, silently, as Trimmer quietly sobbed and stared at the pictures of the beautiful matron, forever frozen in place in the photos. Smiling, laughing, swimming, gardening, sunbathing, splitting logs, felling trees. She was happy, lively, loving.

Gone.

It was surreal, looking at somepony's life as told through picture. Seeing them with their foals, seeing them doing the things they loved doing, knowing they had long since passed away. Axle knew that mare would never see her foals again, her foals would never see her again. She'd never tend the greenhouse again, never fell trees again, never hold the two dashing colts she called sons again.

"I-I-It was hard, losing her. She was everything a mother should be. I love her. We love her" Trimmer said quietly, never once taking his gaze away from the open photo album. "I m-miss her."

Axle nodded, letting Trimmer do what he needed. He could only imagine what the younger colt was feeling. Over half a decade and he was crying like it happened yesterday. It was his mother, 'course he's torn up still. He shifted around on the bed, waiting for Trimmer to continue.

"You-- You think I look bad now, you shoulda seen Willow when..." Trimmer's lip quivered, his eyes squeezed shut as he looked away. "When..." he closed up, bringing his forehooves up to his head. He began rocking back and forth as he wailed, tears streaming down his face.

"When she passed..." Axle whispered, though he knew Trimmer wouldn't hear it.

"She...she...she... She was in the forest..." Trimmer choked out. He shakily reached out with a hoof, turning a page to the next set of photos. More of the colts' mother enjoying life. "I-- I went out with her, that day."

"Trimmy, mommy needs help with these oaks, they're a real pain. Did you finish up with your trees for today?"

"I've got one more, mother. After that I'll be more than happy to help you."

"OK, sweet tree!"

"Ugh, mother, please do not call me that, that pun is detestable."

Trimmer was quiet again, his wails reduced to sniffles, but his eyes still wet as they remained transfixed on the photo album in front of him. He turned page after page of photos, skipping the ones that contained pictures of only his brother and father.

"She was beautiful" Axle commented. "I wish I could've met her."

"Real beauty comes from within" Trimmer replied flatly, stopping to look up at Axle. The first time he'd torn his gaze away from the photo album since the conductor stallion had entered the room, his expression stern, making Axle nod and turn away.

"Of course. I'm sorry."

Trimmer's expression melted away, replaced by that of anguish and remorse. "Forgive me" he whispered. "It's... Forgive me."

Axle reached out with a hoof and put it on Trimmer's shoulder, making the Unicorn flinch and look up in surprise, a look of bewilderment in his eyes. Axle was about to apologize and pull away when Trimmer grabbed his hoof, keeping it against his shoulder. He stared at the train buck's firm hoof, his own grip tightening as he reached down to the photo album with his free hoof, turning the page.

"I need this. Please."

Axle nodded. "It's alright. Take your time."

Turning his attention back to the album Trimmer stared at the photos on the pages before him, smiling and even giggling on occasion, but mostly he remained quiet, tears falling to the pages below and running down to the bed sheets. Trimmer began rubbing Axle's hoof to calm himself, a fresh wave of tears quickly coming. "You... You'd figure, after this long, I'd have gotten over it" Trimmer said.

"She was your mother, Trimmer. S'only natural" Axle replied, inching closer to the Unicorn to ease some of the burden on his now-sore hoof. Trimmer seemed to appreciate the older buck's comforting touch, the closeness. He smiled, and Axle smiled back.

"Of course."

"Oh, hold on, Trimmy. Mommy needs to lash up the tree so it falls in the direction we want it to."

"OK, mother. While you're doing that I can get started on sawing."

"Thank you! Such a good colt."

"Mother, I'm 17. That hardly makes me a colt, still. I'm more of a buck."

"Mm, and what a handsome young buck you've grown up to be!"

"Mooom..."

"Willow never got to say goodbye. Daddy never got to say goodbye. She never got to say goodbye to them. I was the last pony she saw" Trimmer quietly stated, his hoof having fallen away from Axle's, still resting on the Unicorn's shoulder. They were nearing the end of the photo album, the stack of pages growing thin. "If I could only see her again. Tell her how much I love her, how much we appreciated her."

"She knows" Axle said with a smile.

Trimmer shot a look at the conductor pony, his eyes dark. "Does she?" he spat. "She may love them still, but how could she love me still, when... When I..." Trimmer stopped, covering his face with a hoof as he began to cry again. "Nopony could forgive me. I can't forgive myself."

"I forgive you" Axle assured him.

"YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT HAPPENED! YOU WOULD NEVER FORGIVE ME IF YOU ONLY KNEW WHAT HAPPENED!! NONE WOULD DARE TO EVEN LOOK AT ME IF THEY KNEW!" Trimmer screamed, pushing Axle's hoof off his shoulder. "Only... Only my family knows what happened."

"And they forgive you, don't they?" Axle asked, earning only a nod in response. "Of course they do, they're your family. Your brother, your father, they both forgive you, love you. They don't think any lesser of you."

"Me" Trimmer whispered.

Axle blinked, confused. He moved closer to Trimmer carefully, wanting to give the distraught buck space. "I'm sorry?"

"Me. It should've been me" Trimmer declared through gritted teeth, desperately trying and failing to fight back the pain, the tears. "ME, Axle Box. It should've been ME! I should've been the one who died! Not her! WHY couldn't it have been me? HUH?! WHY couldn't it have been ME! WHY COULDN'T I SAVE HER!?!"

Axle had nothing to offer.

"ANSWER ME! WHY COULDN'T I SAVE HER, LIKE YOUR BROTHER SAVED WILLOW?! WHY WASN'T I MORE CAREFUL!? WHY WAS I SUCH A LAZY MORON, SO AS TO CARELESSLY CUT THE TREE WHILE SHE LASHED IT?! WHY DID SHE TELL ME IT WAS OK!? IT WAS STUPID!" Trimmer shouted, his face contorted in a mix of sorrow and anger. "Wh-- Why... Why did she have to die like that...?"

Birds singing, leaves rustling, critters climbing trees, cicadas chirping. The sounds of the forest, sullied by the sawing of the tree as Limb Trimmer worked the saw back and forth in his magic, idly staring at the blade as it sank deeper into the bark, the smell of wood burning from the friction tickling his nose as the scent overpowered the odors of the forest. The grass, the dew. the wildlife.

An unnatural rustling as Trimmer's mother lashed the tree, throwing the rope up high so it came around the tree, caught on a branch as to prevent it from sliding down. A shuffling in the grass as she grabbed the other end of the rope and began carrying it back to where she was going to stand.

Trimmer looked up at the tree as he sawed through it, watching the oak as it began listing to the side, losing support as its base lost wood. Trimmer stepped back, the saw nearly three quarters of the way through the trunk. It was nearly ready to be felled, and Trimmer looked back over his shoulder to see where he left his shaver.

*CRACK*

Trimmed whipped his head around and saw the tree leaning dangerously to the right, the branches rustling, a few loose leaves slowly drifting to the ground below. "How did that happen?" Trimmer asked himself, cautiously eyeing the tree. It was staying where it was, and Trimmer began to saw again.

*CRR--AAA-CKK*

The tree snapped at the base as it fell over, the last thread of wood keeping it secured to the trunk snapping and cracking as it began to fall. Trimmer looked in confusion and alarm as it began racing towards the ground, right where his mother was standing. She had been pulling on the rope to make sure it was taut, not knowing the tree was almost about to finish being sawed.

"MOM!" Trimmer screamed, igniting his horn to grab the tree, but it was too heavy, and he could only slow it down.

"Yes, hon--"

*WHAM!*

Silence reigned over Trimmer's bedroom once again, the air heavy with sorrow, the silence uncomfortable. Trimmer's head was hung in shame, unwilling to look Axle in the eye. Unwilling to see the judgment in his eyes.

"My magic only slowed the tree. Instead of being instantly killed, she lived her last moments in agony, fear, confusion" Trimmer whispered after a long while. He smiled; a troubled, sorrowful smile. "I accidentally caused her death, and I accidentally caused her to suffer during it. How awful is that?"

Axle looked away, his expression grim.

"After the burial, I cried for days. I cried so much I became dehydrated. I couldn't drink, I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep. I...punished myself. I worked the mill alone, I did all the house chores alone, I lashed out at my father and brother for trying to help me, I got up hours before they did to fell the trees. I was about to start carting the logs into Baltimare myself when daddy finally knocked sense back in to me" Trimmer explained. "After that, I shut down. No more tears, no more overworking, no more starving myself. I bottled up all of my emotions and buried them somewhere deep and dark. I became a robot. Unfeeling, unthinking, I suffered in silence for the past six years, knowing that I was responsible for my mother's death."

Axle was silent.

"Her last words to me were 'mommy loves'... She couldn't finish--" Trimmer choked up, his breath hitching, the memory too painful. "How can somepony live with that? How can somepony live knowing they're responsible for the accidental death of a loved one? How can they function, live life, and move on, knowing that?" Trimmer asked. "How... How can I be normal again...?"

"With help. From family, from friends" Axle answered.

Trimmer nodded, but didn't look all that convinced. He turned to the last page of the photo album, a note taped to it in place of any photos. On the opposite page, there was a single massive picture of Trimmer's family; his brother, his father.

His mother.

As he read the note, Trimmer began crying again. A quiet, soft sobbing as he read the words written down.

To my beautiful family, and my dashing Unicorn buck. May the light from your horn guide the family in times of need, to show them the way back to happiness. To show them what life is really all about: family, laughter.

Love.

From my heart, to yours,

-Mom.

~Cherry Tree~

Trimmer was quiet again as his hoof traced the edges of the note, his touch gentle and respectful. "I need somepony to guide me..." he whispered, so low that Axle almost didn't catch it.

Axle put his hoof on Trimmer's shoulder once again, and the younger colt looked up at him, eyes red and dry from all the crying, his cheeks stained. Axle smiled at Trimmer. A comforting, warm smile. To say, even in spite of the pain, that everything will be OK. A smile to show solidarity, support, in the young Unicorn stallion's time of need.

And Trimmer smiled back.

Finale: Wood and Steel

The final day came and went quickly, and now the last of the evening light was fading fast, the sky a quickly darkening purple, the world hung between day and night as the transition came. As night approached, Axle and Drawbar had gone to visit their respective lovers, intent on making the most of what remained of their time together before Log Breaker finally returned.

Drawbar had already gone off to see Willow, who had taken him somewhere else on the estate, so it was just Axle and Trimmer in the east wing of the manor. Axle trotted down the hall, past the guest rooms, and around the corner to the two bedrooms of the mill colts. He approached the first door and raised a hoof, quietly knocking on it.

"It's open" he heard from within, faint. Axle pushed the door open and found Trimmer sitting on his bed, looking at his photo album, a smile on his face. His eyes dry, unmarred by any crying. He looked up at Axle as the conductor closed the door, returning the smile.

"How are you?" Axle asked as he went over to the Unicorn's bed, sitting down next to him. He inched closer, their shoulders and hooves touching, and looked down at the photo album, the pages dominated by pictures of Trimmer's mother.

"I'm well. Better, actually. Just looking at some pictures of mom. It still hurts. It'll always hurt. But with you around?" Trimmer said, his smile growing. "Things will be better."

Axle nuzzled Trimmer and nodded. "That's good. I'm glad to hear it."

"So, has Drawbar run off someplace with Willow? I suspect those two went out for a stroll around the grounds, given how much Willow enjoys the outdoors."

"Oh I'm sure they're around. Drawbar went out 'bout a half hour ago, so I guess it's just tha two of us here" Axle replied.

Trimmer smirked. "I should hope you're not getting any ideas about that."

Axle went stiff, his face turning a light red, a perturbed look on his face. "Certainly not" he said dryly, which made Trimmer giggle, a sound that Axle had come to thoroughly enjoy hearing. Though at the moment he couldn't find the time to appreciate it.

"I'm kidding, Axle. I wouldn't dream of it this early in our relationship" Trimmer said. He turned his attention back to the photo album, sighing wistfully. "I wish you could've met her."

Composing himself Axle looked down at the open book, again struck by Cherry Tree's beauty. Being the way he was, he wouldn't have been attracted to her, but even he could recognize a beautiful mare when he saw one. It was her eyes, really; so vibrant and full of life. "I'm sure she was a great pony."

"She was" Trimmer said forlornly, a sigh escaping his mouth.

Axle reached up and put his hoof on Trimmer's, squeezing it lightly. They looked in to each other's eyes, Axle smiling comfortingly. "She still is. Even gone, she's still a great pony. I'm sure, wherever she is, she's proud of you and Willow. Happy for you both."

Trimmer smiled back and leaned in to nuzzle Axle, their noses coming to each other's cheeks. They stayed like that for a moment, content to just bask in each other's presence. When Axle pulled back Trimmer's smile was still there, but in his eyes, worry.

"Axle... We haven't discussed how we're going to handle seeing each other, with you always out on the railroad."

Axle nodded glumly. "Been thinkin' about that. Drawbar and I live together, but I make enough money with the RRS that we could get our own place. But, I bet ya'll would want to stay on the mill."

"I can't just sit on my hooves all day" Trimmer replied.

"Don't worry, Trim. We'll figure somethin' out" Axle reassured him, his hoof back on Trimmer's. The two of them shared a nuzzle one last time, Axle leaving a tender kiss on Trimmer's cheek before he pulled back. When he did, he saw that Trimmer's face had turned a deep crimson, the color muted by his ocher coat. Axle snickered, amused by Trimmer's extreme reaction.

"I... I love you" Trimmer whispered, turning away shyly.

"And I you, Trim."

Drawbar and Willow had gone for a walk that night, the two of them idly trotting around the estate. They came upon the stone bridge that spanned the river, coming to a stop on it and sitting by the right-hoof wall that acted as the railing, facing the river. Drawbar smiled confidently at Willow, who could only blush and sheepishly smile back.

"Since ya'll came into ma life, it's been a maelstrom of confusin' emotions; fear, doubt, longing... Happiness. Ah was nearly crushed by a tree, I got rained on so bad I was soaked t' tha bone, and ah darn near drowned... But ah don't regret a thing, because now ah have you" Willow said quietly.

"To think we never would've met had our train not run out of coal. Hay, we were actually just gonna wait it out for a search party from the RRS, but I saw your mill on our map, and decided to try my luck. There may have been no coal to spare, but I think we got lucky in another way" Drawbar commented.

"Ah can't disagree. I'm so glad that ah met ya, and got to get to know ya well enough for th' two'a us t' fall in love. Nothing's ever felt as amazin' as this does."

"Try not to get too cheesy, Willow" Drawbar teased, nuzzling the younger buck.

Willow rolled his eyes. "Truth ain't cheesy; ah love you, Drawbar, and I wouldn't give this up for anything in all of Equestria."

"Mmm, I guess that means you'd give this up for something outside Equestria, then."

"Uh! As much as ah do love you, yer a darn teasin' rascal. Yer built like a tank and as grizzled as a gizzard, but every time ya'll open yer mouth you prove yerself to be a big clown" Willow said, resting his head on Drawbar's shoulder.

"Nothing wrong with that!"

Silence came over them, permeated only by the soft running of the river below them, the water reflecting the pale moonlight, twilight finally gone and the last rays of the sun no more. The moon was full, providing more than enough light for the two stallions to see by.

"You know, I guess I should be serious long enough for me to say 'I love you too', sooo... I love you too, Willow" Drawbar suddenly said, prompting Willow to quietly gasp in surprise at the sudden proclamation before he blushed, pulling away.

"I... I figured that ya did, but it's a mite different actually hearin' it. Ah'm so lucky to have you."

"You sure are" Drawbar quipped, leaning forward against the stone wall. "But... How are we gonna make this work in the long run?"

"Ya mean how're we supposed t' be together when yer always on the train? Well, I was thinking ah could move off the mill. Trimmer could handle it all by himself, and ah ain't restless like he is. Ah wouldn't have no trouble settlin' down. Just...not in a big city. Too much noise" Willow explained.

"Axle and I live in Canterlot right now, so I bet that wouldn't work" Drawbar said, thinking. "Well, I'm sure I'll figure something out. I'll be sure to write you as much as I can, Willow."

"Thank you, Drawbar."

The night was barely an hour old when Log Breaker returned home, a surplus of coal in his cart. He unhitched himself just outside the door and went inside to find his two sons and their train friends on the couches in the foyer, each sitting together with one of the two stallions. At the sound of the door opening Willow tore off the couch and ran up to his father, embracing him. "Welcome home, daddy!" he exclaimed, Log Breaker happily returning the hug.

"I told you he was a daddy's colt" Trimmer whispered to Axle.

"I think it's rather endearing, actually" Axle replied.

Log Breaker stepped back, his son dropping to his hooves. "Did ya have a nice trip, daddy?"

"Oh yes, it was fine. The weather was much better than it was last time; I didn't have to make any unscheduled stops" Log Breaker said. "And I have the coal for the fine conductors of the Royal Rail Service, so I guess this is goodbye then."

Drawbar nodded. "I'm afraid it is. We'll have to double-time it to Appleloosa if we have any hope of getting there before tomorrow night."

"But we will see you both again sometime, hmm? What with Willow being involved with you, Mr. Drawbar."

Willow blushed, his ears folding back. "Daaddy, don't embarrass me like that" he protested.

Log Breaker reached out with a hoof and pulled his son closer to him, tousling his hair. "Oh Willow, there's no need to be ashamed! Drawbar is a fine, handsome stallion, and I'm sure the two of you will live a life of happiness together!" he stated, releasing his earth son. "But...what about you, Trimmer?"

Axle and Trimmer shared a look, nodding to each other. "Axle and I are together, yes."

Log Breaker clapped his hooves together. "Splendid! Splendid! I wish there was time to serve dinner for the two of you, but I suppose it'll have to wait for another time. Here, Mr. Drawbar and Axle, your coal is just outside. I hope the rest of your trip is uneventful."

"Oh, I'm sure we'll get an earful from the RRS about being late, but I'm sure everything will be alright" Drawbar said, getting up from the couch and approaching Willow and his father. Axle followed, Trimmer right beside him the entire way.

Willow looked at Drawbar and bit his lip, wishing there was more time. "Uh, daddy... There is something else we need t' talk about" Willow said.

"Don't worry, Willow. Your brother and I can run the mill ourselves" Log Breaker said with a smile. It didn't take long for him to realize Trimmer wanted to talk, too, and assuredly about the same thing. "Hmm, actually, I suppose we will have to talk. You two say goodbye to your friends; I'll be in the kitchen."

As Log Breaker trotted off each of the four stallions faced their respective partners, embracing and holding them for a moment.

"Goodbye, Willow. I love you."

"Ah love you too, Drawbar."

"This is not goodbye. Rather, an intermission, until the time we are together again. I love you, Axle."

"And I you, Trimmy."

With all the goodbyes said they all pulled out of their hugs, Drawbar and Axle staying their hooves for just a moment before reluctantly trotting out the door and sealing it behind them, gone into the night to return to their train.

Willow sighed and looked at his brother, who smiled reassuringly.

"We'll be with them one day, Willow" Trimmer stated. "Come on, let's go talk to dad."

The two of them turned and cantered into the kitchen, finding their father sat down with a bottle of ale, lightly sipping it from a small glass. He waved his colts over, the two coming up before him. "Goodbyes are always the hardest part, but there is always the knowledge that you will see them again" Log Breaker said. He set his glass down and focused his attention on his sons. "Now, what is it my young bucks wish to discuss?"

Willow took the initiative. "W-Well, ya'll know that ah want to move out, to be closer to Drawbar, but... What about Trimmer? Ah mean, are you sure ya'll be OK tending the mill by yerselves?"

"Willow, I've told you before, we'd be fine" Trimmer answered.

Log Breaker nodded. "Oh yes, the two of us would have no trouble with the mill if you left. But... What about you, Trim? Hmm? Don't you want to be with Axle?"

Trimmer looked away and idly kicked a hoof back and forth, unsure of what to say. It was true he wanted to be with Axle, or at least closer, but there was no way he could give up life on the mill. "I... I'm restless, dad. I can't just sit around all day. But Axle can't just give up his career with the RRS. I'm...not sure what to do."

Log Breaker nodded and hummed thoughtfully, pouring another glass full of the ale. As the three of them sat in silence, the muffled, distant sound of a train horn caught their ears, signalling the departure of the Little Ember. "I only want for you two to be happy. Willow's already taken care of, but your happiness is as equally important, Trim" Log Breaker said. He tapped a hoof against the table, lost in thought. "What if I opened a second mill? You two pick the city."

Trimmer and Willow shared a look, confused. "A second mill? Could you afford such a thing? And what would you do without us here to help?" Trimmer asked.

"With the increased revenue from the second mill, of course I could afford it. The startup cost wouldn't be too much of a burden, either. We are the biggest supplier of lumber for Baltimare, after all. I can have a new mill up within a few months, and the two of you can run it. That way you'd have a place close to your special someponies, and wouldn't have to sit on your hooves all the time. It'll just have to be a city that's on the rail line, of course. And don't you worry none about the mill here; there's always ponies looking for work in Baltimare. Hay, I may just help the next generation discover their special talents."

Willow gave it some thought before looking at his brother, who nodded. "I'll go wherever you go, Willow" Trimmer assured him, and after a little more thinking Willow had an answer.

"Ponyville."

Log Breaker nodded and knocked back his glass, drinking the last of it. "It's settled. I'll get started with the preparations first thing in the morning. For now, daddy is mighty tired. Good night, my little ponies."

"Good night, daddy" Willow said, hugging his dad before he left the kitchen, leaving Willow and Trimmer by themselves. Willow looked at his brother, who smiled tiredly. "Happiness found us, Trimmer."

Trimmer nodded. "Happiness found us."

Epilogue

Limb Trimmer wrote a letter to Drawbar and Axle Box the next day, informing them of their father's plan to have a new mill built in Ponyville. Both stallions could only react with excitement, and, after sending letters of their own to Waterwood Mill, agreeing to the idea, requested a transfer to Ponyville with the Royal Rail Service. The request was approved and the two had already settled into life in Ponyville when their coltfriends arrived to see the grand opening of the mill and join them in the hamlet.

With their income from the RRS, Drawbar and Axle bought their own separate places in the small town. With their penchant for reading, Axle and Trimmer moved into a home near the Golden Oaks Library. When it was eventually destroyed by Tirek and replaced with the castle, they were part of the first ponies to visit the grand, new palace(and request books from Princess Twilight's rapidly-expanding collection). The two of them settled down and were happily married in a dual ceremony with Drawbar and Willow on the eve of the Summer Sun Celebration. With Axle's love and guidance, Limb Trimmer was able to overcome his immense guilt caused by his mother's passing, and the two lived a fulfilling life.

Willow and Drawbar moved into a quaint cottage on the outskirts of Ponyville, not far from where the mill was constructed. In spite of Drawbar's incessant teasing and comedic antics, Willow enjoyed a quiet life in the usually peaceful town. After a few years married together, the two stallions adopted a young filly named Rose Bush, whom they came to love with all their hearts. Even through all the trials tribulations of rearing a foal, if asked, Willow and Drawbar would happily say they wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

For Drawbar, Axle Box, Limb Trimmer and Willow Whisper, life was happy, peaceful, and full of love.

The way it was meant to be.

Author's Note

Woo! So comes to an end the story of two train conductors, and the young lumber mill stallions they fell in love with! From an unexpected stop outside the quiet mill, to the discoveries of love and affection, to the happily-ever-after end, this story has been quite a ride, but now it's time to hop off the sappy train and board another, to destinations unknown!

I want to thank everyone who took the time to read this story! It was a fun little adventure that I really enjoyed writing, and I can only hope you enjoyed reading it!

13: Light In the Tunnel

Axle watched in wonderment as a dragon flew far above the world beneath his hooves, the distant shape of the beast unmistakable in the fading evening light, Celestia's setting sun casting long shadows across the wide open field behind the manor at the mill, the sky a vibrant orange.

Sat next to Axle was Limb Trimmer, the two of them on a small balcony at the back of the manor's upper floor, accessed through a door in the master bedroom. The balcony overlooked the field in the back, the river and the stone bridge spanning it a short distance away. The balcony was just big enough for the two of them, but to Axle, that was more than enough.

"We don't see dragons much often around here" Trimmer said, his own gaze following the magnificent creature as it quickly soared over and away, soon becoming not much more than a fading speck as it disappeared from sight, heading north. "I find them to be very interesting and awe-inspiring."

Axle nodded in agreement, his head turned back to idly watch the setting sun. "Can't say that I disagree with ya on that one" he said. "I remember the first time I saw a dragon; I was scared outta my mind. Just about jumped outta my skin and ran so fast I thought I was flyin'."

"If you could fly, it'd be easier for a dragon to catch you" Trimmer replied with a snicker. "Though that sounds like it was a sight to see. When was this?"

"When I was a colt. It was in Vanhoover, where we grew up, and tha dragon was just sittin' on a hill just outside town. But I swear to Celestia, it looked at me and grinned, and tha sight'a all them teeth 'bout killed me on their own" Axle said, waving his hoof animatedly, prompting Trimmer to giggle at his antics. Axle huffed at Trimmer's amusement. "if ya'll had seen 'im, you would'a run, too."

"Who's to say I didn't, when I saw my first dragon?" Trimmer stated as he put his hoof back down, having brought it up in a half-hearted attempted to hide his amusement. "I was only ten, and I wandered to the other side of the forest behind the manor. There are beautiful, rolling hills back there, and even a small mountain. I was just looking out at the hills when, all of a sudden, this dragon comes flying out of a cave in the mountain, coming straight for me. I turned tail and ran so fast into the forest, one could've sworn I left a dust cloud in the shape of me where I had been standing. As I ran, the dragon flew directly over the forest, directly over me. His belly must've been scraping the tree tops, he was so low. When I reached the other side, he was gone. Probably just wanted to scare me. Dragons are devious like that."

"I suppose they are. Perhaps that's what the first one I saw was trying to do; scare me. Since then, I've seen less than ten in my entire life. Princess Twilight's claimed to have seen hundreds, and says there's thousands in the southern badlands, but I wouldn't know. Don't think I want to be in a place where there's hundreds of dragons around" Axle declared.

"Did you know she lives with a baby dragon, and knows the current dragon lord? Allegedly, she's even friends with a changeling. She gets around, it seems" Trimmer said.

"I'd say she's mighty crazy if she pals around with dragons and changelin's, but hey, guess she knows what she's doin'" Axle replied.

"I should hope so. She's the Princess of friendship, after all. If anypony could find a way to make friends with a Changeling no less, it'd be her. Though, I'm sure she read a book on how to do it, first."

The two shared a laugh before falling quiet, content to just watch the sunset on the old balcony. Internally, though, Axle wasn't sure where to go from there. He knew he was attracted to Trimmer, but he didn't know if Trimmer would be receptive. What was more, even if Trimmer did reciprocate, would the feelings be genuine, or would be they a result of his anguish and pain? Axle didn't want to feel like he was taking advantage of the young Unicorn in his vulnerable emotional state.

Just take it slow. If there's a connection, let him make it. Let him go at his own pace.

"Tell me, Axle; how did you and your brother get in to trains in the first place? I know working on them is both your special talents, but how did that come to be?" Trimmer asked.

Oh, that's an easy topic. "Well we grew up in Vanhoover, as ya'll know. There was a rail yard not very far from our apartment, and my brother and I would go there almost every day after school to watch the trains. One day we actually snuck in to the yard to see the train up close, and we went up into tha control cabin. Ya'll can probably imagine what happened next" Axle explained, a sheepish smile spreading across his face. "We accidentally started up tha engine and tha train started movin', inching down the tracks and quickly gaining speed. Thank Celestia the emergency brake was so clearly labelled, otherwise we woulda rode that train all the way to Ponyville."

"Goodness, I'm sure that was exciting. That's when your marks appeared?" Trimmer asked.

"'Exciting'? I guess that's one way'a puttin' it. But yeah, that's when we got our marks. Dad wasn't sure whether to throw us a cute-ceañera or throw us in a dungeon for tha rest of our lives. When we came'a age that's when we signed up for tha Royal Rail Service. Been with 'em ever since!" Axle exclaimed.

Trimmer smiled. "Well, I'm happy to hear everything worked out so well. How long have you two been with the RRS?"

"'Bout ten years now. This whole running out of coal debacle is the first bit of trouble we've run in to in all our years'a service" Axle said. "What about you and your brother? I'm sure gettin' your marks was every bit as interestin' as ours was."

"Oh, certainly not. We grew up on the mill, helping with the daily tasks and chores every Saturday. Since everything gets done in the morning, school saved us from working the mill, except on Saturdays. We had a week off school one year, and Willow and I went out early one morning before our parents awoke to see if we could fell a tree ourselves. It took us forever to saw through that tree, but we finally got it down. Only then we had no way of bringing it back to the mill. We were still out there, trying to figure out what to do, when daddy came out looking for us. Turns out the tree we felled was the one he and mom had shared their first kiss under, and goodness was he upset. Told us to carry that tree all the way back to the mill and split it, all by ourselves. There was no way we could've lifted that tree, so we limbed it as best we could and dragged it out into the field. Once there, we turned it and started rolling it, bucking with our hindlegs, which only moved it a few feet each time. Took us nearly two hours to get it to the mill, but we did it. That's when we got our marks" Trimmer explained.

"Ya'll did that all by yourselves? Sweet Celestia, I bet that was exhaustin'" Axle commented.

"It was. I've never been more sore in my life."

"I bet!" Axle exclaimed, the two falling silent once again, Axle falling into his thoughts again. Smart, a bookworm, cute, what more could I ask for? He's perfect."

As troubled as Trimmer was, Axle knew there was nothing he'd change about the lithe buck, and there was no changing how he felt. He'd fallen head over hooves for him.

"When mother... Daddy was almost as broken up as I was. He tried to console us as best he could, but even he couldn't hold back the tears" Trimmer suddenly said. "It hurt. It hurt us all. I've never known a pain greater, than that which afflicted my heart."

"Not to sound like a broken record, but you can get through this, Trimmer. You can heal this pain" Axle stated, reaching over and putting a hoof on Trimmer's back, a comforting smile on his face.

Trimmer smiled and nodded. "With help. From friends, family... And somepony else. Somepony more...special."

This is it.

"How do you mean?" Axle asked, already aware of the Unicorn's meaning, but wanting to hear it for himself. To bring to life what he had been wishing for ever since he'd laid eyes on the young stallion, even if it had taken him a few days to realize it; he wanted Trimmer, and Trimmer wanted him.

"I... I don't..." Trimmer stuttered, choking up.

"It's OK, Trimmer. I'll help ya."

Trimmer looked away, his eyes tearing up again. "A-Are you sure? It's going to be hard... It'll be harder than when it actually happened, all those years ago. The pain... It'll be too much to bear. It wouldn't be fair to you to shoulder it with me."

"It's what ponies do. What anypony would do. What I'll do."

Fresh tears fell to the smooth stone of the balcony below, Trimmer's head hung, his eyes squeezed shut. Axle reached out and took the Unicorn's hoof into his own, tenderly holding it. Trimmer looked up at him, his lip quivering, his head a whirlwind of emotions. Hope, confusion, sorrow.

"I... I hadn't dared to hope... I didn't think...that... That you'd feel the way I do..."

"I do, and I won't leave your side. I'll be with you, every step of the way" Axle assured him. Trimmer's expression contorted as he began sobbing again, and he threw himself into Axle, wrapping his hooves around him, holding him tightly. Axle returned the embrace in earnest, stroking the troubled pony's back to soothe him.

"I-- I... I lo-- I lov--"

"Shhhh, it's OK, Trimmer. I love you, too."

As he stared into the horizon, the last rays of Celestia's setting sun vanishing, giving way to Luna's moon, Axle smiled forlornly, his mind focused on Trimmer. Even as he had said it, as the words had left his mouth, there had been no doubt, and no hesitation. It was the truth, as clear as day.

He loved Trimmer, and would never let him go.