//------------------------------// // Chapter 5: The Second // Story: This is the Last Train Car // by Unwhole Hole //------------------------------// Berry Punch nearly staggered into her house. She had never felt so tired in her life. The adrenaline keeping her standing had left her almost as soon as she had stepped off the train, and the weight of three days that she could not remember began to weight on her quickly as she tried to reach her home. Not one pony tried to help her. They pointed and laughed and spoke under their breath. To them, she was just Berry Punch being Berry Punch again.             When she finally burst through her door, Sparkler was standing in the front room, once again organizing the various aspects of it to make them even. When Berry arrived, Sparkler was in the midst of reshelving the two books that she owned like the wingless and highly dyslexic Twilight Sparkle she essentially was.             “Berry,” she said, not looking up as she produced a ruler and compass and began to align the three potted plants in the room. “I was getting worried. Have you seen my glass apple?”             Berry threw it to her, and Sparkler caught it easily in her magic. “How long have I been gone?” she asked.             Sparkler sighed. “Three days. You should really tell me when you’re going to be out like that. Contrary to popular belief, I do get concerned.” She set down her compass and turned to Berry. When she saw the look on her roommate’s face, though, her disapproving gaze became one of great concern. “Berry,” she said. “Something happened. Something bad, didn’t it?”             Berry stared at her, and then nodded. She walked to the couch and nearly collapsed onto it. Sparkler pulled up a rather uncomfortable looking chair and sat down. “Do you need to go to a hospital again?” she asked.             “The train,” said Berry, looking up at Sparkler with wild eyes. “The train…it…it was too long…”             She proceeded to tell Sparkler the story, of what had happened to her and what she had found. As soon as she started, she regretted it. All of it made her sound insane, and it was quite apparent that Sparkler was not believing a word of it. Still, once she started, she could not stop. There was nopony else to tell; Berry had very few friends- -and she felt that if she did not tell somepony, she might just go mad. If she was not there already, of course.             When the story was done, Berry was crying and desperately needed more punch. Sparkler, though, waited a long time before responding.             “Berry,” she said, “how much punch have you had?”             Berry stood up suddenly, throwing Sparkler’s coffee table out of alignment. “I knew it!  You don’t believe me! You think I was punched and- -and- -and dreamed it all up!”             “Correct. I don’t believe any of what you just told me. It’s all far too bizarre.”             “Well, then, you can cover yourself in leaves, go to Sweet Apple Acres, and let Applejack buck the apples out of you for all I care!”             “She’s a bit too young for my taste. You know that.”             Berry Punch glared at her friend. “I should never have told you. I wasted both our time.”             “No. Not really.” Sparkler spread her hooves. “I’m still willing to help.”             Berry blinked, confused. “But you said you don’t believe me.”             “That is correct. I don’t. But that doesn’t mean I’m not going to help you. As skeptical as I may be, this is something that requires a clear, organized approach to investigation.”             “Investigation?”             “Yes.” Sparkler stood up. “Either your brain has finally turned to vinegar, or something much darker is afoot. And either of those things requires a quick action.”             “You think I’m insane.”             “And if you are, you  need help.”             “And if I’m not?”             Sparkler’s expression darkened. “I pray to Celestia that such is not the case.”   ղ����