Chapter three

Although the not so newcomer Pinkie had said no more since the outburst, and had smiled whenever Moon Apple met her gaze, she still found the sense of guilt insufferable and had an air of gloom hanging over her. She had to get out of this cabin, if only for a little while. But what excuse could she give now without looking even worse, even meaner? She had to think, but what was there-

"I'm going to look for something to eat!" said Moon Apple a little too eagerly and loudly as she suddenly stood up. She had stumbled on a way out of here. Pinkie paused for a moment, staring at her. Moon Apple froze- was she going to say something? What would it be?

"Okey dokey lokie," said Pinkie. "I hope you find something tasty!"

"Sure thing, I'll try to," said Moon Apple, excusing herself and stepping out of the cabin. That response had been odd- it wasn't just what she had said, but how she had said it. That happier tone Pinkie had used at the start had returned. It didn't do anything to help with the sense of guilt that currently weighed her down.

She continued walking along the carriage, noticing the next two cabins were completely empty. If Pinkie had chosen one of those cabins, Moon Apple would have been free, and Pinkie wouldn't have been insulted by a rude pony she thought to herself.

"Well would you look at that," she said, noticing the next cabin was also empty.

"Something the matter little missy?" asked a voice. "Is something not to your liking?"

Moon Apple quickly spun around to find herself face to face with the train conductor. The balding pony stared at her, waiting for a response.

"Oh no there's nothing really wrong at all," she replied, feeling very awkward. She hadn't seen him on her way out! "I was just talking to myself, that's all."

As he nodded she suddenly felt agitated and then realized why:

"And for your knowledge I am not a little missy, I am an employed pony working in a steady job."

"I didn't mean any offence."

"Well that's ok," said Moon Apple again feeling awkward. Two ponies insulted in such short time, way to go! She needed to change the subject desperately didn't she? But to what? Only one thing came to mind…

"Say do you know anything about the pony I'm sharing a cabin with?" she asked. "A pink pony?"

"Is she named Pinkie Pie?" asked the conductor.

She nodded her head: "That's the pony."

"She normally travels on here at this time of year for her holiday," said the conductor. "She's a very friendly pony who always likes to laugh. With ponies, not at them- she likes other ponies laughing too."

"Yeah I kind of know that," said Moon Apple in a guilty tone.

"She really likes to make others laugh. Especially since…well one time she took about two hundred balloons on board the train. She was almost lifted up in the air before she got to the station because she had filled some with helium for the fillies."

"Balloons?" asked Moon Apple. "That must have been annoying?"

"Not really," said the conductor shaking his head and smiling. "It was a dark, cold nasty blighter of a night so it was nice to have a bit of fun and get some respite. Pinkie even used static electricity to get some of the balloons stuck to her all night to amuse the fillies- and some of the adult ponies too."

"Huh," said Moon Apple. Well she guessed now she could truly rule out that Pinkie had been malicious with her constant talking- she just wanted to have a bit of fun. Annoying, but not malicious. Well at least that was one small positive.

"Some ponies can find her a bit too much," said the conductor, another twinge of guilt passing through Moon Apple. "But I always find her fun."

Moon Apple nodded, and suddenly realized having used it as an excuse she now found herself feeling very hungry.

"I don't suppose there is a snack shop or something on board is there?" she asked.

"I'm sorry miss…ma'am, not until we get to the next station and get some more food supplies. They'd run out at your station."

"Oh I see," said Moon Apple, her stomach choosing that moment to grumble loudly.

"Once again I'm sorry," said the conductor.

"Thank you anyway," said Moon Apple. The conductor nodded and continued down the carriage.

She guessed she now had no option other than to return to the cabin. What else could she do out here? And then, from nowhere a sudden fear gripped her. She had left all of her work documents alone with that pony! She might not do it deliberately, but she wouldn't put it past Pinkie to allow curiosity to overcome her. Or what if she had been hiding that she was really hurt, and tried to sabotage her work?

She ran back to the cabin, wobbling as the carriage shook. She pulled open the cabin door and there sat Pinkie busy doodling on a piece of paper. A piece of paper that didn't belong to Moon Apple.

"Hi there roommate!" said Pinkie smiling broadly. That just made Moon Apple feel guiltier.

"I just thought I'd try and come up with some cake design ideas," she explained.

"I see," said Moon Apple. "Cakes?"

"The on I'm currently planning has not four but five levels! Three chocolate and two icing!"

"So you make cakes?" Given the conductor's earlier tale Moon Apple wasn't surprised to find Pinkie might make cakes.

"Well sometimes I do," said Pinkie, noticing Moon Apple seemed genuinely interested this time. "And sometimes I do other things too. I worked with cakes a lot but I also made other things too!"

"A-ha," said Moon Apple sitting down on her own bed, a little bit closer to Pinkie this time. She didn't notice Pinkie was now using a quieter voice. Perhaps the rest of the trip wouldn't be-

A faint screech preceded Moon Apple falling off her bed and to the floor as the train came to a sudden halt.

"What'd you do that for, silly?" asked Pinkie Pie.

Moon Apple groaned.

"What is it now?"