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// Day 3: The Train Tracks 
// Story: The Great Equestrian Journey 
// by Dashie04 
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What a wonderful feeling, being tired is. It’s even worse when you have a pounding headache, dizziness, and couldn’t sleep at all yesterday.

Anyways, concussions, not very fun, but I think I’ve described that plenty already.

I’m at the foot of the mountain, which I remember attempting to sleep near last night, and I’m trying to get my jet-lagged mind to boot up and take down the tent.

After staring into space for a few minutes, my brain seemed to have hit its on switch.

I take down the tent posthaste and start on my continuing journey.

Hold on, I’ve never actually stated what I’m trying to do right? I can’t quite recall everything I wrote that first day, so I’m going to reiterate.

I’ve always found it funny how on most editions of the Equestrian map, there’s an isthmus to the west that isn’t filled in yet. I wonder if when the maps were being copied, they saw a mountain range and left. That’s more than likely.

Anyways, I saw this isthmus and wondered what was beyond that mountain range. I was going to pick up some climbing equipment in Ponyville, which has grown incredibly large since the Elements. I keep forgetting just how long ago they were. Can’t be more than a couple decades, right?

I mean, what if there was a desert? What if in the desert there was an inn run by a strange creature? 

Nah, that’s crazy talk.

Anyways, the scene is just as boring as it was coming up to the mountains, there still isn’t a lot of farming around, and I’m almost to the end of the two mountains.

So bored.

Finally, I reach the end of the mountains, and there’s more fields growing crops in the distance, or rather there’s a field directly in front of me. I don’t see any farmer though, so I trudge through the fields, all crises averted. The field is actually rather short, compared to other fields I’ve walked through, only going on for a mile. The wheat is also tickling me in my temples, giving me another massive headache.

However, the headache ends as fast as it started, and I notice more empty grasslands, no doubt for more planting later, as the ground was good enough for it. I wouldn’t have any qualms with this, except for the fact that after these few miles of fields, though I have to squint to make it out, is a horizontal train track right in my path.

I have to walk across an active train track.

Admittedly, I drew my line on my copy of the Equestrian Map, so I must’ve thought that walking across a horizontal train track was good for my cause. However, either due to my concussion or my normal scatterbrained self, I forgot.

In addition, I feel the aura of tiredness caused by concussion-induced insomnia nagging at the back of my mind. 

I could kill for a cup of coffee right now.

I notice another mountain range on the right of me, though it is rather far away. It shouldn’t hamper growing areas in this vicinity. Otherwise, it’s fertile green fields as far as the eye can see.

Of course, nothing’s growing on them.

Trudging ahead to the train tracks, I take an unsteady step onto them. Rocks dig into my hooves, reminding me how much they hurt. I stumble with every bar I hit with my hoof.

In short, it’s the definition of Hell. Not only that, but I’m keeping a careful ear out for any trains that might pop up behind me.

I slowly blink, and hear something coming up behind me from a distance away. That rattling of the tracks confirms my suspicions, and I leap out of the way.

A train barrels past me, and I push my glasses back onto my face. Trains sure have gotten fast. 

I examine the amount of cars the train has. As soon as it’s over, I shakily step out onto the track.

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Given how idiotic a pony would have to be to put farms on the side of the train tracks, the rest of the day is more of the same. I groggily stumble forward and leap out of the way when I feel a tremor in the tracks.

I never knew how long these tracks were, they went on for a good 25 miles. Thus, there’s literally nothing of note.

I step as far away from the train tracks as possible and settle into my tent.

Given that I probably won’t go to sleep anytime soon, I think about today.

Very boring day, nothing much to say. I see a mountain range ahead on my map though, so I think I might get some action tomorrow. 

My hooves hurt with the pain of a thousand tiny little needles, and my head is in so much pain. That concussion was serious, I don’t even feel like myself anymore. I haven’t had a good ranting all day, I feel so, wrong.

Until tomorrow...

-Long Hike?