The door swung open with a rusted creak allowing the cyan pony to enter the car, it was bleak and had the look and air of faded glory. Here were seats covered in the remains of plush velvet set into mahogany frames. There were cobwebbed light fixtures of real crystal, of which only a small number of the attached lumenglobes still functioned. Down the aisle was a tasteful carpet of dusty rose, scuffed and stained with the passage of years and neglect. Only one other pony sat in the car, a young mare who looked familiar in that passing sort of way. Like seeing a pony on the expressway that looks like an old friend only to prove otherwise on a double-take. Still company was company.

“E-excuse me, do you if I sit here?” she asked, a little wary. Her doubts were dispelled when the mare turned to regard her. The other pony had the kindest pair of sunset-colored eyes set into a wholesome face that was made for smiling. Her coat was the color of fresh green apples and her mane was as white as fresh driven snow.

“Oh, well ah'course ya can, din't know anypony else was a'takin this car,” the mare said in a pleasant country drawl as she scooted over to make room. “Where all ya'll headin?”

The cyan pony sat and looked pensive for a moment before answering. “Well, see that's the thing, I don't know, I don't even know where I am or what this big train is for.”

“Oh my, well dearie, what's yer name then?” she asked, a sad smile on her face.

“It's... uhm...” the cyan pony began to panic for real this time, she couldn't remember, “I... uh... OH COME ON!” anger burst out suddenly as all the confusion of the past

days weeks months years

flooded out, “IT'S MY STINKIN' NAME!” she shouted before pounding her head into the hand-carved frame in front of her.

“Oh darlin' don't fret now, it'll come, mah name's Dorothy, Dorothy Jean Smith-Apple, pleased as pie ta meet'ya,” the mare said in a soothing voice as she held out one hoof.

The cyan pegasus, her head still firmly implanted in the wooden frame, reached out her right hoof and dejectedly shook the proffered greeting. “Wait...” something tugged at her memory, “did you say Apple? Like as in the Apple family?”

“Well o'course, none other than,” Dorothy replied proudly, “Best apple's in all o' Equestria. Why do you ask?”

She laid back against the ruined fabric of the seat and concentrated on the pounding pain in her head, something was so familiar about that name. “I think... I think I knew someone from your family, A-” the name was there, barely, but... “Applejack?”

Dorothy's eyes suddenly filled with tears and for some reason she looked decades older for a moment. “Ah, well tha's mah granddaughter, you might'a been one o' her frien's then I reckon, oh dear.”

“What?! What 'Oh Dear'? Do you know me?!” She was shouting now but Dorothy barely noticed. “Wait, how can she be your granddaughter? You're like, my age at most.”

“Ah reckon we know each other right enough dearie, round hereabouts the concept o' age n' looks don't mean much, neither does time ah reckon since you went a'fore me.” Sadness filled her voice, it was the quiet sadness of the very old.

“W-went? What's that supposed to mean?” a very real gnawing terror took root in her chest at Dorothy's words.

“Oh darlin' ah'm so sorry, I reckon you must be Rainbow Dash, the last poor filly that devil-pony Pinkamena done murdered...”

These words set off a chain reaction. Memories broke through like water from a shattered dam. Memories of knives and smiles. Streamers and balloons. Kisses and cupcakes.

Cross my heart.

“No... No, I don't want... I don't... don't make me see it again!” Dash's vision swam as she staggered out into the aisle, Dorothy reached out to try and catch her.

Hope to fly.

“NO! GO AWAY! DON'T HURT ME ANYMORE, PLEASE PINKIE I'M SORRY, WHATEVER I DID I'M SORRY!” She was weeping and begging now, in her mind she was back on that cold metal slab as a mad pink pony played games with her insides.

Stick a cupcake in my eye.

Finally a pair of hooves wrapped around her, gripping her in a tight hug that smelled of... of...

Sweets?

“There you are silly filly, I've been looking everywhere for you!”

Rainbow Dash screamed.