//------------------------------//
// Moving On 
// Story: The Tale of The White Night 
// by DraconequusMaximus 
//------------------------------//

Chapter Two

It had been several weeks since white had had the event he could only describe as "the REALLY bad night", Luna had apologized for nearly destroying his brain (and given him a gift basket the size of a small pony full of exotic candies, books, a get well soon card that said "please don't sue me" and an astonishing amount of bits). She had also assured him Black Wing would be alright but would not serve in the military in any capacity as long as he went through a "incredibly boring seminar devoted to love, tolerance, and not making your boss pay for seminars about things that are already fundementals to our culture". Luna had also cleared him of any charges due to mental fatigue and hostile place, at one point she even offered the broken thestral a job working under her personally in a non-militant capacity. He had respectfully declined (just as fast as she asked) & stated he was moving away from Canterlot so he could go somewhere quiet to start fresh.
Thanks to Luna (& some therapy) White was back on his hooves sooner than predicted. He set off to collect his things from the barracks during the day while no one was awake, he had few possessions to get but he needed his traveler's cloak, it was a bit warm for where he was headed but it helped immensely when he needed to be out during the day. Luna's bits had also allowed him to purchase something he had wanted for some time now, a magic pair of contact lenses crafted in the crystal empire. They were designed to reduce the blinding glare produced by the sun shining through countless reflective crystals. To White Night however they were a blessing, he could see clearly during the day for the first time as well as he could at night! Though he did find staring directly at the sun was still not a very good idea.
As soon as he gathered everything he thought he needed: A map of Equestria that even mapped the railways, a large pouch of bits, an extra pair of crystal contacts, and a saddle bag with some more bits, dried fruit, parchment, quills, and ink and a stamp seal that could be used to magic letters directly to Luna. All of this fit in or under his cloak. He lamented that these were the only things he owned in all the world but supposed it was for the best.
"Where is the most isolated place this train goes too?" White asked a confused looking stallion at the ticket booth of the train station.
"I suppose Apploosa would be, it's as far as this train goes and it's one of the smallest dullest places in Equestria. In fact it's nearly on buffalo territory, nopony goes there if they can help it."
"perfect, one one-way ticket please." 
For the first time in...ever White felt totally relieved, he would be going somewhere that nopony he knew anywhere in Equestria would find him. No more jerk thestrals, judgmental nobles, or anypony to tell him he wasnt as good as somepony else.
The train didn't leave the station till 9:35 that night, he had managed to slip into an empty compartment in the train too! Things just seemed to be going his way today, he removed his heavy cloak and bags and placed them in an overhead compartment. He decided to try and get some rest and turned of the electric lighting and quietly settled in on a bench next to the window and he fell asleep staring at the symbol of his patron goddess high in the night sky. He slept a total of 3 minutes & 39 seconds before a loud country accent yelled: "Anypony in here?"  
White's response was a loud: "BahWuh?" as he fell off of the bench he had been slumbering on. 
He immediately realized he wasn't wearing his cloak and folded his wings over himself hiding himself from the unknown pony across the room. The golden yellow pony with golden brown mane looked at the huddled cocoon of membranous wings curiously for a moment before he realized it was trembling lightly.
"Uh, I'm sorry if i frightened you there pardner, but i did knock. I reckon you musta' been asleep though, I'm mighty sorry i scared you but all the other compartments seem to be full up."
...
"Turn around for a minute, please?"
The pony obliged him and he quickly shuffled about.
"Might i ask why i needed to turn around?" The golden pony asked still facing away.
... 
"I'm not decent" White hesitantly stated.
The pony chuckled heartily as he heard White open the overhead compartment and then the fluid sound of cloth whooshing as it was hurriedly being donned.This only piqued the pony's curiosity further.
"Pardon me but aren't ponies usually nude?" He asked suspiciously.
"Yes but... this makes me more... comfortable around strangers." White stated unsure of how confident he sounded in his answer.
"Well alright then, wouldn't wanna make you uncomfortable." Said the as of yet unnamed stallion.
"Um, you can turn around now." Said White still unsure of the pony.
White got a good look at him once he had turned around, & it was a GOOD look! He had never seen such a well defined, yet sleek pony, & though the pony was pretty plain other than his stetson and brown vest White had never been more enthralled with a stallion at first glance. After a moment of silently collecting his thoughts (and thanking Luna the cloak went down to his hooves) he said:
"He-hello, I'm White, w-whats your name?" "Smooth, White. You're slicker than silk!" He thought to himself smugly. While White was on an undeserved imaginary power-trip, the pony opposite him was a tad confused as to why this strange pony was so afraid, & what the weird membranes from earlier were. Could this pony be... not a pony? Some sort of shape shifter? Like those things that attacked Canterlot a few years back? Thinking himself paranoid he calmly answered "White" the hooded pony before him.
"Howdy White! M' Name id Braeburn Apple of Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaapppppploooooosaaaa!!!" Braeburn said in a humorous sing-song tone. White blinked a few times in surprise & tried to for a response.
"Re-really? I'm actually going to Apploosa to try and find a house." He said shakily.
"Well don't that beat all! Now i don't have to find you when you get there, I'm Apploosa's best (and only) welcome pony!" Braeburn answered very enthusiastically. Then Braeburn threw out a hoof & White cringed, not realizing he only wanted a hoof-shake. White suddenly felt very silly and then shook Brae's outstretched hoof. Braeburn had already taken notice of the cringe but didn't say anything about it.
"Why is this pony so afraid of everything?" Brae thought to himself.
"He cant be a shape-shifter he'd be much better at blendin in than this."
Braeburn decided to take a seat next to White which worried the latter pony considerably. He was moving away so ponies wouldn't see him and this pony was already getting very close. The two eyed one another now and again but the train ride was eerily silent. Then the stallion wandering the halls checking the status of the train yelled: "Next stop Apploosa!"