Comet's Tale

"Thought I'd find you here."

Braeburn turned his head in the direction of the voice to see nopony else but Comet Tail.

"Not that you'd have a lot of places to hide on a train." Added the unicorn.

The earth pony stallion was currently sitting in a train compartment rented for the apple tree transport. It was a bizarre scene as the tree was laid on a soft bed normally intended for ponies, but Braeburn has already learned not to question Applejack's ideas.

"I just wanted a little time alone with somethin' that reminds me of family." Said the apple farmer.

"Well good thing we're about to see you parents." Said Comet Tail.

Braeburn thought for a moment.

"Yeah, good thing."

The royal protege could sense something was wrong.

"What is it?" He asked his friend.

"What's what?" Asked the earth pony stallion.

"The real reason why you're coming back home. I've never seen The Apples sending a whole tree away and during most of the trip you seemed distant and unreachable. Not to mention that your family already grows apple trees in their orchard. This whole thing seems like a convenient excuse for you to go back to Appleoosa without raising suspicions."

The farmer stayed silent.

"Do you feel lonely without your parents?" Asked the unicorn.

Braeburn shook his head. "It's complicated."

"What is?"

"Mah problem." Replied Braeburn with a small hint of anger in his voice. "It's somethin' I gotta solve myself, and I don't appreciate other ponies stickin' their noses in my private life.."

The unicorn was slightly off put by his friends attitude but decided to respect his wishes.

"I 'll be back in our compartment. Twilight has decided to organise some kind of trivia game. You're free to join us of course."

"I'll consider it."

Comet Tail nodded his head and headed back where he came from, leaving his friend alone.

Finally in the evening Braeburn joined the compartment with the rest of his travel companions. It was buzzing with conversations.

"Good to see you again." Said Timer Turner. "We've started worrying about you."

"No need to, I'm fine." Replied the farmer.

"When there's everything fine with somepony they don't usually drift off somewhere mid conversation." Said Soarin snarkily.

Braeburn was about to tell him off but got interrupted.

"Leave him alone." Twilight interfered. "If he wanted us to know what bugged him he would've told us. Respect his choice."

Soarin raised his hooves. "Alright, my bad."

An irritated groan could be heard.

"Do you guys mind? I was up early fire-roasting those snacks you're all eating, and I'm pooped."

"Sorry Spike, I promise we'll try to keep it down." Said Thunderlane diplomatically.

Little drake nodded his head and covered himself with the blanket.

"He has a point." Said Comet Tail. "We all have a long day ahead of us tomorrow, it's high time we get some shut - eye."

"Agreed." Added Twilight turning off the lamp.