"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!" Fluttershy and Applebloom screamed as the cart moved away from the train.
"Oh no, what happened?!" Fluttershy said panicked.
"How am I supposed to know that?!" Applebloom replied just as panicked.
The cart bunked and thunked repeatedly as it moved backwards at full speed. Applebloom began cowering in fear. Fluttershy was shaking frantically, standing in place. She looked around, trying to assess the situation they were in.
The cart is moving at full speed backwards, and another train is about 30 minutes away from where we were, She thought to herself, So that means we have to get off this train before they............!
Fluttershy gasped loudly. "Applebloom, we have to jump out of here....!" Fluttershy said with urgency.
"Are you crazy?!" Applebloom shouted as she looked at their surroundings outside the cart, "We'll be toast if we try to jump off here, there's too many steep mountains and canyons around here!"
Fluttershy took a deep breath, "That's a chance we'll have to take." She prepared herself and looked at Applebloom, motioning her to come immediately.
"But, but--" Applebloom began to protest.
"Applebloom, NOW." She commanded.
Without a second thought, Applebloom jumped on her back, and Fluttershy opened the door, ready to jump out.
Suddenly, the cart toppled over. Suitcases and bags knocked Applebloom and Fluttershy around as the cart began descending down a slope.
"What's going on, what's going on?!" Applebloom yelled frantically.
They released it... She thought, terrified.
Fluttershy and Applebloom looked towards the train tracks. They were greeted with the intimidating speed of a passing train.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!" Fluttershy quickly turned to see Applebloom stuck in the corner.
"Don't worry, I'll get you out!" she said reassuringly. Fluttershy flew over, forcing her wings to move even faster and put her body in front of a suitcase flying at Applebloom. She fell, shaking her head from the fall, but she didn't let it stop her from reaching over and using her body weight to pull Applebloom form the spot.
Fluttershy knew she'd have to muster every single bit of her strength to survive this.
She quickly placed Applebloom on her back, and flew out of the cart right as it fell off a cliff, that seemed to fall endlessly before a loud clunk could be heard in the dark hole. The sudden noise made Fluttershy lose her balance. Applebloom slipped off her back, and nearly fell of the cliff, but Fluttershy grabbed her hoof at the last second.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!! FLUTTERSHY, HELP ME!!!!" Applebloom screamed desperately.
"I'm tryingggg..." Fluttershy replied as she began pulling her back to the edge. After a few moments, Fluttershy successfully pulled her up to safety and Applebloom scampered to the ground. Fluttershy panted heavily as she stretched her arm from all the pulling.
"Oh sweet, sweet beautiful ground." Applebloom yelled, caressing the snowy dirt. She looked onward and saw that they were on a very steep and snowy mountain section. "Oh no oh no, what are we gonna do?! We can't just stand here forever!" She paced in circles, trying to think of a way to the tracks.
Fluttershy wanted to panic, as well. On a scale of one to 100 on her 'things I fear' scale, this was a 200, but she looked at Applebloom; She was just a filly. Applebloom needed her, as weak as she was. She had no idea how, but she had to be the one to save Applebloom. Right now, she was the only one who could.
Fluttershy looked at Applebloom with determined eyes. Applebloom was slightly taken aback by her new found confidence. "I'll get us up there." Fluttershy said as she motioned Applebloom to get on her back. without too much hesitation, she climbed back up, awaiting Fluttershy's judgement. Fluttershy looked around, and noticed a bag that wasn't in the toppled cart. She gave to to Applebloom to hold while she tried to get back up.
Fluttershy got herself in balance, and jumped as hard as she could for leverage before struggling to flap her wings to get to the tracks. She had spent most of her energy on that little stunt, yet was still only halfway there; However, she wouldn't allow herself to give up, because it meant they'd perish right there. Eventually, they got to the tracks, along with a piece of flint and some packaged food that was in the bag.
"Now, we've gotta move along the tracks, but we'll have to find somewhere to wait until help arrives. The trains are coming too unpredictably because of the weather." Fluttershy said objectively.
Applebloom nodded and they began walking along the tracks, nothing but light outerwear covering them, hoping someone would save them soon.
_______________________________________________________________
"TURN THIS HEAP O' JUNK AROUND!!!!!" Applejack yelled as she galloped to the engineer's room. She tackled obstacles of suitcases, doors and even a couple ponies on her way to the front.
"What's the problem, lady?" One of the conductors asked, confused yet offended.
"The problem is that the storage room was disconnected. My sister AND my friend were back there!" She yelled explaining.
The workers looked at each other nervously. "Oh no..." A short worker uttered under his breath.
"WELL?!" Applejack exclaimed, not willing to waste any time.
"Well, we have to go back!" A rather heavy looking stallion yelled from the front, "This is because of that drunken foal back here messing with the controls randomly! We should've knew something like this would've happened!" The others nodded in agreement.
Within moments, two of the engineers dragged in a salt-influenced stallion from the side panel, in which Applejack could only assume was some kinda makeshift holding cell.
"He's the one actually responsible for this." One of them said, peeved at the situation.
Applejack in a blind fury bucked him aside, much to the colts' surprise at the young mare's strength. It didn't take long before other passengers came in, just as angry about their stuff being detached from the train.
"Stop this thing. Now." she said with assertive fury.
The workers wasted no more time stopping the cart, and alerting the next one that they'd probably not be able to move. one of the workers used their magic to turn the smoke red, to signal an emergency.
"Authorities should be here any minute. If you're gonna look for them, they should help." The tallest worker said apologetically to the country mare.
Applejack nodded, still furrowing her brows. She ran to the room the three were staying and piled on as many warm clothes as she could, and brought extras for them both in a knapsack.
"C'mon on y'all, I dun' got all day.." Applejack said to herself impatiently, only waiting for authorities to start her search.
______________________________________________________________
"It's r-realy cold, Fluttershy..." Applebloom complained, her body shaking violently in the icy wind.
"I-I know, dear, but w-we've got to endure it for just a bit longer." Fluttershy said, trying to keep Applebloom hopeful. she looked left and right along the tracks, and saw a dwelling in the distance that seemed to be....a cave! "A-Applebloom, let's head over that cave over t-there." She help Applebloom by the hoof as she made her way to a cave far in the distance from the tracks. Fluttershy looked at the tracks and noticed a bit of salt still left over from what she could assume was them making sure that the trains could move in all the snow.
She grabbed a good amount of the salt, and made a small pathway that she hoped would be discovered when people came looking for them. They'd gotten halfway there when the salt ran out. She hoped that it was enough, as she led Applebloom into the cave.
________________________________________________________
"HEY! What's the deal with this?!" A very excitable mare worker from the train behind them yelled, making her way to the engineers of the first train.
"W-well you see.." One of the workers tried explaining.
"Nevermind, it doesn't even matter. The problem here is that I've got about sixty ponies steaming mad that they had to suddenly stop," She complained, "you're gonna have to keep moving this train."
"They will do no such thing!" Applejack yelled, staring angrily at the mare.
"Oh yeah? And what's the big deal? You can just be reimbursed for your stuff, y'know?" The worker off-handed as she began walking out of the train.
You can't reimburse two people you care about!!!!!" Applejack shouted, angry.
The working mare stopped where she was standing, and walked back over to her.
"What?" The mare asked, shocked.
"Two people were in that room. My sister and my best friend. I'd take it might kindly if you tell your passengers to wait this search out." She said, trying to be level headed.
"The Canterlot rescue squad should be here any second, now. They'll find them." The mare said reassuringly as she held one of Applejack's hooves with both of her own, "May Celestia's grace be with you."
Applejack's fury had been released and a few tears fell from her face. "I hope by Celestia's grace we do.."
Just as she started trailing off, the rescue squad came in. they were what you'd expect of a rescue squad, large bulky stallions lined perfectly, each armed and geared to the teeth with provisions and supplies. Although they all were wearing a red jacket with silver lining, only the leader presented a golden seal that screamed 'Canterlot Authority'.
The leader of the squad nodded at the engineers before walking towards the first cart. "The rescue squad is here! There is no need for alarm." He announced with confidence.
One of the other squad members turned to the larger stallion working the train. "What is the situation??"
"The storage cart has been disconnected." The worker replied.
"But there's two trains here." He pointed to the second train directly behind it.
"So the storage cart was disconnected?" The leader interrupted, "It must've fallen off the mountain by now."
"D-d-discon........"Applejack stammered as she fell on herself.
"You have to remain calm." The working mare said as she attempted to keep her on her feet, "Look, her sister and friend were in that cart. You have to do something." She insisted.
The leader looked surprised by the news, but it didn't take long for it to be replaced by a deathly expression. "Men, I'm afraid we have a code I-980."
"A code I-980?!" They exclaimed in unison.
"Are you sure? We've never had this level of rescue before!" One of the squad members exclaimed.
"I am. And we have to hurry; With this weather, we're already wasting time." He stated, while covering his face with goggles, "Alright men, let's move!"
Without a second thought, they prepared to leave when Applejack called out to them.
"Wait, let me come along with you." Applejack looked at the leader with determined eyes.
The leader looked at her for a few seconds before agreeing. "You're strong--I can tell. But Be careful; Strong or not, you don't have the training for this." He jumped out of the train, followed by Applejack and the rest of the squad as they headed through the blistering clod and blinding snow to find Fluttershy and Applebloom.
________________________________________________________
"Arghh.." Applebloom huffed as she moved a small boulder from the center of the cave. It had been about an hour of them shifting and searching for things left and right inside the small dwelling, trying to have enough to use the flint for a fire.
"We're lucky there's so many d-dry plants," Applebloom commented, "I don't know if we'll make it with j-just this, though..."
"Oh, d-don't worry too much, A-Applebloom. I'm sure your s-sister has already gotten h-help, and they're on t-their way h-here!" Fluttershy said optimistically.
"Yeah, s-sure........" Applebloom said dejectedly.
"What's the matter, A-Applebloom?" Fluttershy walked over to her with concerned eyes.
Applebloom looked at the ground. "I wonder if my sister'd even t-talk to me, the way I've been a-actin'.."
Fluttershy placed a hoof on Applebloom's shoulder. "I'm s-sure the o-one thing she's worrying abou-out is your safety." She said confidently.
Applebloom smiled slightly, "I-I guess we should s-start this fire, huh?" She asked lightly.
Fluttershy giggled a bit before nodding her head in agreement.
_______________________________________________________________
The snow beat on the ground like rain, and it spared no pony as the stallions from the squad tread through the snow for what seemed like hours. They struggled to keep up with Applejack who was ahead of them by a good distance.
"Wow, she's crazy," One of the members shouted through the heavy noise of wind ans snow, "Most mares wouldn't even be able to walk out here, much less gain more distance than us!"
"She's not crazy, she's determined," Another member replied just as loudly, "It's not just any pony she's saving, that's her family and her friend out there!"
"You guys gonna be back there all day yappin' all day?!" She yelled so that they could hear her.
"R-right!" The squad replied in unison as they increased their pace to catch up to her.
Applejack looked around the tracks, trying to find a clue. Suddenly, she found one: An unnatural path leading away from the tracks.
"Hey, y'all, I think I found somethin'!" she yelled happily.
Upon hearing this, the squad ran over to where she was standing.
"What do you think, Sonar Sin?" The squad leader asked.
Sonar nodded his head, aware of the indirect request and his horn reacted with a bright grey. Suddenly, a repeating flash of circular waves emitted from his horn and encircled the area.
"There's solid ground up to three miles in front of us." He stated objectively.
Applejack's face shine brightly upon the news. "Then wat're we waitin' for? Let's g--"
Suddenly Applejack collapsed to the ground.
"Hey are you alright?!"
"You gotta wake up!"
"C'mon, girly!"
Applejack could hear multiple words being shouted at her, but the sound of snow made it all sound like fuzzy muffles as her vision faded to black.
____________________________________________________________________
"Man, I don't get it, Fluttershy. It's been a whole day, why hasn't anyone come yet? I mean we aren't that far away, right?" Applebloom complained, mentally counting their distance from the train.
"Well, we're probably a mile or two from the train, now. Of course we had no choice about that," Fluttershy started, "Who knows when another train might've come? Anyways, the weather is really bad outside, and depending on the distance the train covered before it decided to stop, it could take hours to get where we are." She explained.
Applebloom laughed a bit at her. "You know, that sounds like somethin' Twilight would say in this situation."
Fluttershy blushed a bit at the observation, and hid her face in embarrassment.
"Ohhhhh..." Fluttershy quietly moaned under her breath, "I guess I've been getting so many quirks from my friends lately..." She said before laughing a bit.
Applebloom smiled brightly before having a face of realization, and then turning her head away, depressed.
"What's the matter, Applebloom?" Flutterhsy asked concerned.
"It's nothing...it's just...I'm sorry for getting you in this mess..." She said solemnly, "If I hadn't been actin' so plum foolish, this wouldn't have happened." She kicked a nearby rock
"Look, cheer up, Applebloom. It's no pony's fault this happened, and we've got plenty to be thankful for right now." She said enthusiastically, "We've got a fire for the night, warm enough for us to stop shivering, and we've got a crack team of rescuers I'm sure are on their way!"
"Fluttershy, can I tell you somethin'? It's a secret though, so you can't tell anyone else." Applebloom asked, looking up at her with sad eyes.
"Sure, anything. I won't tell a soul." She said placing a hoof over her heart.
"Pinkie promise?" She said, focusing her gaze more intently.
Fluttershy giggled slightly, Who doesn't know a pinkie promise these days? She thought to herself.
"Cross my heart, and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." She recited, going through the motions.
"Okay, then.."Applebloom started, "This year, I turned the same age my sister was when our parents....left us." She said, depressed, "And when they left us, my older brother and sister had to start takin' up responsibilities for the farm.." Applebloom sat on one of the nearby rocks, kicking her legs nervously from side to side,
"My brother and sister's been taking care of me and the farm since she was a lil' one....I can see that she's never really gotten over our parents' departure...then again, it could just be me..." She trailed off, "I wanted to show her I can be mature, too. But....I realize now, I was being more immature than I've ever been.." She looked to the ground.
"Oh my gosh, Applebloom, I didn't know you were going through so much," She said, pitying. She flew over, and hugged Applebloom gently, "I'm sure your sister knows how you feel, but you should know she only does what she does because she loves you so much."
Fluttershy could feel Applebloom's tears run down her coat as she huddled up to her, crying furiously. "Thank you, Fluttershy, I feel so much better..." She said, continuing to cry.
Fluttershy patted her head as she cried herself to sleep.
________________________________________________________________
The cold wind beat on Fluttershy and forced her awake. She noticed the sun was out, and was it was even colder than before, if at all possible.
I-It's morning... Fluttershy thought to herself.
"A-Applebloom, a-are you a-awake..?" she asked as she looked over to the sleeping filly. Fluttershy looked at her closely, and something didn't seem right. She looked pale, and was shaking violently. She crawled over and noticed that she wasn't asleep--she had passed out.
Oh no, oh no oh no... Fluttershy thought as she desperately looked around for something to burn. She stopped her movements for one second, and looked at the single scarf she had around her. Without much thought, she threw in the makeshift fireplace, and sparked it with the remaining flint that was left. She placed Applebloom a comfortable distance from the fire, so that she didn't get sick from her internal temperature changing too fast.
Within minutes, Applebloom woke up, slightly dizzy. After a couple more minutes, she was able to speak.
"F-Fluttershy....what h-happened..?" She asked weakly.
"Y-you p-p-passed out, b-but don't worry, I t-took care of it." She said confidently.
Applebloom, looked at her, investigating. Suddenly she cried out. "Fluttershy, your scarf! Where is--" The fire cackled loudly before she could finish speaking. She looked into the fire, and noticed bits and pieces of her scarf.
"Fluttershy......." Applebloom weakly uttered as she began quietly sobbing. Fluttershy placed a hoof on her shoulder, and looked back at her with a weak smile.
They couldn't hold out here much longer, something had to give.
___________________________________________________
Applejack opened her eyes to see the ceiling of her train cart and her back on a pillow. She sat up, checking her person to notice all of her outerwear gear removed, and that she was on a bed.
"What the hay is going on?!" She yelled, rushing back out of the bed.
"You staying here is what's going on." A familiar stallion's voice ringed from view.
"What happened out there, we were so close!" She began putting on her jacket.
"Stop!" The leader entered the room, eyes baggy from what she can tell was staying up all night, "You can't go back out there." He put a hoof in front of her.
"And who the hay are you to tell me that?!" She yelled angrily.
"The man who saved your life." He stated, "You're anemic, you can't be out there anymore. You'll most likely perish from the piercing cold before you even get where we need to go." He said, looking at her with honest eyes.
Applejack sighed and put her jacket back down."Well, what about you guys? Why aren't you out there on that trail we found?" She protested.
The leader closed his eyes and sighed heavily before looking back at her. He opened her window, and they sight nearly made her pass out again.
It was all white. There was no sign of ending or beginning in the terrifying weather. It wasn't like before. She could tell she could die from being out there, anyone could die from that extreme weather.
"No...."Applejack whispered with a horrified look creeping on her face.
"We will begin our search again as soon as the weather lets up." He said, trying to reassure her.
".......Okay." she said, grasping the situation.
A knock came to the door. She opened the door, and it was the mare that engineered the second train. "How are you holding up?" She asked in a soft tone.
"I....I don't know," Applejack said sadly, "I'm just so worried, I'm so scared for 'em."
The mare nodded silently and put her hoof on her shoulder. They both smiled at each other before the mare turned and headed for the door. "I should keep the engines running so we can get out of this weather when we find your friends."
As the mare left, Applejack fell to the ground in a break of uncontrollable tears.
"I can't......I can't do anything for them..." She started, "I let my attitude and my pride take my sister away from me...." she said covering her hooves with her eyes as she couldn't stop the tears.
The leader simply looked on at her breakdown, face unchanging, and went to the room where the other squad members were. His men were dead silent. Looking at nothing, ready to hear the command they knew he was going to send.
"Men, this may be crazy, and I mean crazy, but we're going back out there." He stated.
He expected some resistance, but none was given. They all smiled, agreeing to it.
"We were wondering when you'd give the order. We want to save them, too--For that girl in there." Sonar Sin said, inspired.
Without too much hassle, the squad gathered lanterns and, using Sonar's abilities carried on the mission from scratch.
______________________________________________________
"F-f-f-fluttershy......I'm s-s-s-o colddd..." Applejack said as she shivered in a far part of the cave. She looked over at Fluttershy who was standing completely still, to an unnerving point, "F-fluttershy?" She asked again.
Fluttershy opened her eyes quickly like she just woke up.
"A-appleblo-oom...." Fluttershy uttered weakly, "C-c-coome over h-h-here, I-I'll keep you w-w-w-w-warm..." She opened her wing, inviting Applebloom to come.
As Applebloom cuddled under the yellow mare's wing, she looked at Fluttershy's eyes. They seemed to be listless, still and unmoving. "Fluttershy, please just take my jacket. You've been freezing since this morning..you're scaring me.." She pleaded.
"D-d-d-don't w-w-worry a-about m-m-me...y-you w-want to h-hear a....s-story...?" Applebloom nodded and Fluttershy sighed slightly, "O-okay, t-the s-story i-is about a pegasus t-that c-c-couldn't f-f-fly."
"Y-you m-mean like S-Scootaloo?" She asked.
"Mhm," Fluttershy nodded, "B-b-but this is a-about an e-e-entirel-ly d-different o-one n-n-named F-F-Fluttershy." She said in a tell tale manner.
"W-when she was a y-young filly, h-her p-p-parents tried to t-t-teach her f-f-flying, b-but i-it was s-s-so s-scary f-f-for h-her, a-and s-she w-was a-a-already s-such a f-f-fragile pony, it w-w-was l-like s-s-she w-wasn't m-meant to e-even b-be one s-s-sometimes." She sad sadly, "E-e-e-e-ventually, h-her p-parents got tired of h-her, and s-s-sent h-her t-to C-cloudsdale t-to learn f-flying t-t-there." she laughed a little.
Fluttershy remained silent for a while.
"Fluttershy?" Applebloom called.
"Oh~S-s-sorry, w-where was I-I?" Fluttershy began. "S-s-s-she t-t-t-hought s-s-she'd never ff-fly, b-but then--"
"Fluttershy, p-please..." Applebloom started whimpering, "Y-y-you don't have to p-pretend you're okay, It's b-bad to lie, A-Applejack a-always...s-s-said.." She said, obviously crying under breath. Fluttershy remained silent for a few moments.
"A-A-A-Applebloom, s-s-s-shall I s-sing you a s-s-o-ong?" Fluttershy asked, "I-I'm fine, I j-just think y-you're t-t-t-tired." Fluttershy said, feigning pep in her speech. Fluttershy breathed deeply before singing:
H-hush now, Q-quiet now
T-time to lay, your s-sleepy h-h-head
H-h-h-hush now, Quiet now
Time to g-g-go to bed..
I have to protect Applebloom... Fluttershy thought to herself.
Hu.....hush now, Q-quiet now
Time to l-lay your s-sleepy h-head
H-h-h-hush now, Quiet n-n-n-now
Time to go to b-b-bed..
I'm the only one who c-can..
Hu.....sh n-now, Q-quiet n-now
T-t-time t-t-to lay y-your sleepy h-head
Hush n-n-now, Q-q-q-quiet n-n-n-now
T-t-time to go to.....bed..
I have to...... Fluttershy repeated in her head.
It was well into morning, and Applebloom was asleep from what Fluttershy's failing senses could tell, but she couldn't stop herself from singing the tune. she had been singing it for hours in the night. Her beautiful voice barely audible over her heavy panting.
She realized that Applebloom has slept long ago, but singing kept her mental state intact so she could endure the cold for just a bit longer.
She'd been doing it to keep herself alive.
Hu... no-now......Qu...n-now
Time.......................sleepy head
H-hush now, Q-quiet now
Time to g-go to b-bed..
H-h-h-h-h-h-h-ush n-n-now
Quiet...................now
Time...t-to.....l-lay...your s-sleepy h-head
H-h-h-hush now.....Q-quiet n-n-now
T-t-time to g-go to b-bed..
Hush now.....
Quiet now...............
T-time................
Hush....n-now......
Q-q-quiet n-n-now.........
T-t-time to go t-t-t-t-to.............................................
The cold wind swayed in silence as the singing finally stopped. Fluttershy stopped moving, with her eyes fixated on nothing. Her bright yellow mane now greyed from the intense freezing weather. Her heavy panting now small desperate exhales of air. She couldn't feel a bit of her body any longer, and white began to engulf her sight.
_________________________________________________________
"I FOUND THEM!" A squad member called.
The other men rushed over.
"Ah, man, they're both in critical condition! Sonar, can you heal them until we get some medical attention at the train?!" A member called.
"YESSIR!!" Sonar shouted. His horn shine a brilliant grey, and it engulfed Fluttershy and Applebloom. the process lasted for 10 minutes, but Fluttershy and Applebloom both started breathing normally again.
____________________________________________________
After a couple hours, Fluttershy woke up to the sight of Applejack and Applebloom, tears falling, staring intently at her .
"Hey, girls. What's the matter?" She asked as if nothing had happened.
"Fluttershy, I am so sorry..." Applejack apologized, tears unable to stop, "You saved my sister's life..I can't thank you enough for that, Fluttershy.." Applejack hugged her. "I-I couldn't bear the thought of losing either one of you.." She began to sob.
"I had to save Applebloom, no matter what.." Fluttershy replied, starting to cry, too.
Applebloom joined in on the hug, "I'm sorry I wasn't honest and open about my feelings....I should've said something from the beginning.." She said sobbing as the two held her.
"It's okay, Applebloom," Applejack said reassuringly, "Everything's gonna be okay, now.."
The squad leader looked at them from a nearby cart, and smiled happily at the success. He returned to the cheers and happy faces of many ponies who were patient enough in the last three days. He walked over to the engineer, with pride written all over his face.
"Okay, you're good to go." He said to the heavy engineer.
"You hear that, good to go!" He shouted to the others in response
"Good to go!"
"Good to go!"
"We're all good!"
Engineers shouted back and fourth throughout the two trains.
The three days were trying and horrifying for everyone, but only cheers could be heard as gears twist and turned moving along the two trains one after another. Before long, the rail roads were back on schedule, and the journey to Canterlot and the Hearthswarming Eve play were back on.