//------------------------------// // Tracks in the Snow // Story: My New Life // by Ark125 //------------------------------// My New Life Chapter 28 - Tracks in the Snow The rescue team walked all day without any rest. They were tired and cold from traversing the endless frozen landscape. The wind and snow that blew without relent felt like stinging needles against their chapped skin, causing every step one of agony. Many a time, they would stumble and fall, but the constant threat of freezing to death would make them get back up and continue on. They all knew they could not stop for fear of the beast coming to take them. Finally, after what seemed an eternity of pain and suffering, the team arrived at the train station that was located just a few miles west from the Crystal Empire. They all agreed to catch the train to Van Hoover instead risking the trek to the city of crystal. Luckily, the train was ready to go. "All aboard who's going aboard! Next stop: Van Hoover!" The conductor shouted. Of course, the rescue team and their rescuees were the only ones there. The captain approached him. "Ah Captain Sherwood! How are you doing my friend?" "Cold and tired, Pete. I am getting too old for these rescue missions." "Oh dear. We better get you all inside then. Mares and injured first." The team quickly untethered Sunny Day from the sled as Pete opened the larger doors so that they could easily maneuver her into the train car. Doc Leaf helped Blue Bell into the main door as the other team members began to unpack the sled. Suddenly there was a loud roar in the distance. "What in the hay was that?" Pete asked. "That would be the reason why we need to depart as soon as possible." Sherwood answered. He turned to the team. "Is that everything?" One of the ponies looked over the sled and nodded. "Yes sir. All the supplies have been loaded up." "Good. Get on board then and make sure everything is secure. After that, get some rest. We have had a long day." "Yes sir!" The team all boarded and the train and went about their duties. Pete the conductor stepped out of the train car again. "Last call for the train to Van Hoover!" He called out. Suddenly, stepping out from behind a postbox, a figure in a black cloak walked up to the train. "Oh my goodness! You scared me stranger." The figure said nothing, but instead just extended out a hoof and gave him a ticket. "Quiet one, eh?" Once again, he said nothing. "Well then, let's get you settled in, shall we?" The figure nodded and followed the conductor on board. Shortly afterwards, the whistle blew and the train slowly began to turn its wheels. Eventually, it began to work into its regular motion and was soon on its way to Van Hoover. Just a few miles away, the beast ran up the slope, stopping at the top to sniff the air. The scent of its prey still strong in its maw, it roared in blood-lust and ran towards the train station. About one hour into the trip, Captain Sherwood was checking on his team when he came across an unfamiliar figure sitting in one of the booths. He walked up to the figure. "Is this seat taken?" He asked, gesturing to the bench directly across from the cloaked stranger. The stranger, without making a sound, simply shook his head. "Much obliged." Sherwood slowly lowered himself onto the bench. After repositioning to get comfortable, he settled down and sat quietly for a bit, just resting. "Quite a blizzard, isn't it?" Sherwood said, looking out the window. The stranger said nothing. "Haven't seen one like this in almost forty years. That was a cold one, let me tell ya." Sherwood said. The stranger continued his silence, only slightly turning his head to look out the window. "Not much of a talker are you?" The stranger just shrugged. "You have a name?" "R-Rusty." The stranger said in a ragged voice, followed by a fit of coughing. "You need some water?" Sherwood asked. "Yes." Sherwood stood up and got some water for Rusty who quickly swigged the paper cup's contents. "Thanks." "No problem. So your name is Rusty?" He nodded. "Rusty Gear?" He nodded again. "Your friends thought you had died at the hands of that beast. Why didn't you come back to them?" He shrugged. "Thought I would be better off dead, the way I am now." "Oh, come on. It couldn't be that bad if you are here and talking to me." Rusty stayed silent but then gestured to his left shoulder. "It ripped off my leg." And then he gestured to his head, which was still confined in his hood. "It also took some of the flesh off my face." Sherwood sat quietly for a moment. "So you just planned on abandoning your fiancé and your sister?" "I'm here aren't I?" "Well, yes. But have you made yourself known?" "No. I am not sure I can." "Of course you can. They were forlorned by the knowledge of your death. Finding that you are still alive, no matter your condition, would fill them with joy." "But what if.." "No buts." Rusty stewed over these thoughts for a bit and then sighed. "Fine, but not yet." "Alright, but I want you to do it before we get to Van Hoover." "Okay." "Now then, I have to check on a few things. You should gather your thoughts together." Sherwood stood up and cracked his back. He then held out his hoof and said, "It was nice meeting you." Rusty held out his right leg and shook his. "Likewise." An hour later, the loudspeaker came on with a chime. "Attention passengers! I need to inform you that we are unable to stop at Van Hoover due to worsening weather conditions. We will instead be stopping at Ponyville. We are sorry for the inconvenience." The speaker chimed again and went off. "That's terrible! Can Sunny even survive that long?" Blue Bell asked. Doc Leaf checked her vital signs again. "I believe so. But she will need to be rushed to the hospital immediately after we arrive." "Are you sure?" Doc Leaf nodded. "Positive. Just sit down and relax. We have a long ride ahead." Pete was making his rounds on the train, walking through each car and seeing if passengers needed assistance. Of course, today was a particularly slow day because of the blizzard, so most of the car were empty. Though there were no other passengers besides Sherwood and his group, he was a stickler for the rules and carried out his duty of checking every car. When he reached the second to the last car, he thought he saw something on the back of the caboose. He thought it odd and opened the door to the caboose and walked in. "Hello. Is someone there?" The thing shifted. "Excuse me sir. I don't believe I received a ticket from you. If you would please come inside..." Just then, the train caught some of the strong wind of the blizzard causing it to jolt to the side. "Oh dear!" Pete reached for the nearest object and steadied himself. As he picked himself up, he looked again out the rear window and saw that nothing was there. He took off his cap and scratched his head. "Hmm. Must have just been my imagination." He shrugged and started his walk back to the front of the train. "Approaching Ponyville Station! Please take all your belongings with you as you exit the train car. We hope you will ride with us again soon." The loudspeaker announced, though Sherwood and his crew were too busy to hear. They quickly got Sunny Day off the train and began to run towards the hospital. "Out of the way! Out of the way! Injured pony coming through!" Sherwood shouted, heading the front of the group to make a path through the crowd of bystanders. Back at the train station, Blue Bell was told to wait for somepony by Sherwood. "Blue Bell." She turned around to see the pony in the black cloak that she saw on the train with them. "Who are you?" He paused and then pulled back his hood. She gasped. "Rusty Gear!"