Well this is awkward… stood here being stared at by the Cutie Mark Crusaders, not a word had been spoken for a good minute. I had to say something quick, but what?! I soon got my answer as all three of them looked at each other and simultaneously… fainted. Crap. I smacked my forehead at how incredibly long this night was going to be. Of all the ponies that wind up finding us, it had to be these three, ugh! “Aright there Thomas?” I asked as I walked over to the fainted trio.

“Yeah, im fine, just… shocked” he said, his voice shook ever so slightly as he spoke “one second im looking up at the moon, the next I look round and see those three staring at me like im some sort of bloody monster!” I nodded in agreement, it was clear these ponies weren’t ready to meet a talking train as of yet. “What you going to do with them?” he asked as I bent over each one of them in turn making sure they weren’t hurt or anything; just to be safe you know?

“Well, if my intuition serves me correct” I began thoughtfully “knowing these three they are probably having a sleep over in their club house or something similar, which presumably is the light I can see flickering through the trees over there” I didn’t bother pointing as the light was out of Thomas’s field of vision, one of the disadvantages of being a train, you can’t turn round to look at something. Thomas simply took my word for it as I went back into his cab; I needed to change for this next challenge. Soon I was out of all things steam related and into my usual attire, black combats, black shirt, black steel-toe-cap boots and my full length black trench coat. It felt good to be, as they say, back in black.

I left all my valuables in my living bag and zipped my coat up all the way, the zip goes all the way up to my nose so now only from the bottom of my eyes upwards can be seen, then up goes my hood which comes down to my eyes. To anyone, or anypony, right now im just a shadow. I scooped up the three bundles of sleeping fur and told Thomas id be back as soon as possible. With that, I began walking towards the light in the distance, looked down at three fillies in my arms, I Daawww’d so hard at how cute they were sleeping, especially Applebloom. After much walking and Dawwwing I found the source of the light, I swore silently but violently when I realised it wasn’t the tree house, but the Apples family residence. Well, I was here so this was as good a place as any, I walked up to the front door of the wooden house, bugger how the hell do I get them in house? I had to think fast as the trio began to stir in my arms, only one thing to do. I set the three down as gently as possible and bangs on the door until lights upstairs flickered on, then I did what I do best, became invisible. I blended myself into the shadow of the building, in daylight I would be plainly obvious, but with my coat and the night, I was just a shadow. I heard movement in the house and soon the door opened and light was cast out into the night, I held still as stone as I heard a gasp I knew well, Applejack was in the doorway staring down at the stirring trio of adventures. Quickly she took them inside, I heard muffled sleepy voice from the interior of the house, my work here is done.

I slowly began to move, making sure to keep my stealth to an absolute maximum.

“Who’s there? Ah know you’re out there?!” A southern voice cut through me making me stop dead, thought raced through my head, what do I do? How the hell did she know?... great, I'm screwed. Ah bugger it, when in doubt, run. With that i grabbed the whistle round my neck and blew hard, a cry came from the orange earth pony but i wasn't there to hear the rest of her reaction.

I appeared next to Thomas; I whipped off my hood and unzipped my coat, letting it flat in the wind; I learned my head back and sighed loudly. Thomas was simply sat there, staring at me, I smiled back at him. “well that went well”

“Yeah, sure it did” he replied with a chuckle. “So what’s the plan batman?” I pondered this for a moment but soon settled on the following: evening meal, go to bed, wake up, raise steam and continue on towards wherever. I quickly dug into my food bag and found my old pack up, the sandwiches were a bit hard but I hadn’t eaten all day so I wasn’t too bothered. After my midnight lunch I hung my coat up, looked Thomas over one more time and put all my bags safely behind my head in the cab. I slept in my boxers to be on the comfy side, I snuggled down into my sleeping bag, I felt the fire grow as Thomas did his best to warm me. We said our goodnights and he quickly nodded off, I stayed up for a while clearing my thoughts until finally I too was overcome by sleep. Bring on the morning!                  

Next Chapter: Chapter Seven Estimated time remaining: 10 Minutes