Chapter 4: Rainbow Sleeps
The train traveled down the tracks. Night had fallen and everyone in the car had turned in for the night. Except one. Rainbow Dash sat on the small section of platform at the end of the train, taking in the sight, smell, and feeling of the wind and cool air.
Inside the car, Taro sat up slowly. His head almost hitting the top of the car from the top bunk. He quietly jumped down and exited the car. He quietly grabbed the railing and leaned on it next to Rainbow Dash.
"It's a beautiful night," she said, breaking the silence of the night.
"Yeah," Taro agreed. "You should have seen it before this happened."
Rainbow Dash stayed looking at the tracks. "How long has it been? Since I died."
Taro looked down. "Over one-thousand years."
"And you've been alone?"
"Of course not. I had Jarden and his family, then Thatch,"
"And where are they now?"
"Dead, but then I had Faust and Silus. They've been my best friends for a while."
"But you were still alone, weren't you?"
Taro sighed. "Without you? I'm always alone."
"And that's the problem. You could have had anyone else. You could have fallen in love again."
"I couldn't."
"You didn't think about it?"
"No, I did. I just could stand it."
"Stand what?"
"Waking up each morning, looking at her..." Taro sniffed and wiped a small tear that formed at the edge of his eye. "...and being reminded she's not you. And that I'll never get back."
Rainbow was silent.
Taro knelt down to look Rainbow in the eye. "Is that why you're out here?"
Rainbow blinked slowly, looking down. She then looked back up to him and kissed him. "You've been alone for so long, just for me."
"Of course."
"Thanks." Rainbow hugged Taro and he sat in the corner of the rail.
"No problem."
Morning had come and the car had been lighting up. Silus fell onto the floor, landing on her hooves, followed by Faust. "Morning, Faust," Silus greeted.
"Good morning," Faust replied. "Taro, get up. Rainbow, you too." There was no answer. "Taro? Rainbow?" The two ponies looked at each other, then at the two top bunks that were Taro's and Rainbow's.
Silus jumped up and looked at the two beds. "They're gone." Silus walked outside to the back and saw Taro holding Rainbow in his arms. They were both fast asleep, Rainbow Dash's mane flying around in the wind of the moving train. Quietly she closed the door and turned to Faust. "Look at those two," she said.
Faust opened the door and looked at them. She walked back in. "I don't think I've ever seen him this happy."
"Who would have thought that one pony could make Taro act so..." Silus searched for the right word "...different? Sweet? ...Happy."
Taro opened the back door, carrying a sleeping Rainbow Dash. He set her down on a nearby bed. "Morning guys."
"Morning, Taro," They both replied.
"What were you two doing out there last night?" Silus asked.
"Talking," Taro replied sternly. "She'll probably sleep for a while."
"Why?" asked Faust."
"Energy deficit. Bringing her to life takes enough energy, now her body needs to collect more energy to bring her back to her top physical condition. Is there still breakfast on the train?"
"Yeah. Good idea, I'm getting hungry," Faust replied.
The three walked into the kitchen and they all grabbed a plate. Taro piled his with donuts, eggs, toast, and various other breakfast foods.
"Geez Taro, that's a lot of food," Silus pointed out.
"It's not all for me. Most of it is for Rainbow Dash. She's collecting energy and that takes calories. She needs this food."
"This stuff is complicated."
"Yeah, you'll get it eventually." Taro sat down on the floor by Rainbow Dash. "Hey, I got you some food. Eat something."
She looked at Taro and smiled slightly. She took a small bite of a donut and fell back asleep. Taro laughed to himself. He some donuts and sat against the other wall so he was facing her.
Faust sat near him, and Silus her. "So how did you two meet?" Faust asked to break the silence.
Taro thought a moment. It had been so long ago, although he remembered it so well. "When I first arrived here on a mission, she let me stay in her house. It was only for two or three days, but..."
"But that's all that it took to draw you in, huh?" interrupted Silus.
"No. My mission was complete and I went back home. Four months later I was called back to Equestria. I stayed with her again. Then we ended up together. It wasn't long, something else happened and we got separated for a little while. At that point, my student dragon rider was ready to stay and protect my home while I stayed in Equestria. I said it was to make sure no harm could come to this land, but really, I just wanted to stay with Rainbow more."
"That's it?" Faust asked.
"What? What more do you want?"
"Well I expected some kind of rescue mission. You know, 'Oh, my daughter has been stolen! Quick save her!' kind of thing."
Taro laughed. "My life isn't a fairy tale. After Rainbow's death, I've been unable to live happily ever after."
"Love you too, Taro," Rainbow said quietly from her spot on the bed.
Taro smiled at her and he saw her smile back without shifting her head. Within minutes, light snoring replaced her blissful laugh. Taro took a long breath. "Well, I'm going out to stretch my wings."
"I'm coming with," Rainbow Dash said, jumping down from the bed.
"Will you make up your mind. Sleep or fly?" Silus asked jokingly.
"Both." Rainbow Dash fluttered up into Taro's arms and got comfortable. "Come on, you can do the flying."
Taro laughed again and he left the train grinning.