The blowing of the late November winds this year were cold, but it didn't feel like a thousand sharp needles were soaring through the air slashing at the skin upon contact. Instead it felt like voices whispering hidden sad secrets through the air, secrets the doctor could probably hear if she wasn't focused on driving the car. The doctor always preferred to focus on one task at a time, no distraction, none of this texting nonsense, and definitely not hitting the bottle, determined to stay clean and pure. She never even liked the taste.

Even inside the car you could still hear it whispering violently against the metal of the vehicle. How her two sons managed to sleep through all of this was a mystery to mankind.

Thankfully, her eldest son was not as much a heavy sleeper as the younger one. That one could sleep through anything. The eldest one woke just a few minutes before the wind finally calmed down, perhaps for just a short while.

"Are we there yet?" Yawned the eldest son. "I must've been out for hours, and we're still on the road?"

"Don't worry, Kenny," said the doctor, "we'll be there soon enough. You might want to wake your brother Terry. You know how hard it is to wake him."

"Nah, it's okay, mom. Just let him sleep a little longer."

But the doctor was right on the money with this one, about both the fact they arrived just a few minutes after Kenny woke up and the fact it took forever to wake little Terry up. From afar it would've definitely looked like Kenny was strangling the boy as if this was some kind of slapstick cartoon. Luckily for them there was nobody around for miles. So nobody to mistake the silliness for child abuse and call the cops.

The old abandoned saloon they stood in front of must have been placed in literally the middle of nowhere. The structure didn't seem stable, the squeaking of the front door and the windows dangling under these cold breezes made it just the more eerie. With every breath of the wind blowing splinters and scraps of old paint off the wooden surface, delivering scum and filth for everybody to smell.

There was a tree next to the saloon, but the leaves had long fallen off its branches and the barks were so rotten it was hard to believe anything, even the maggots, could live inside. The tree had a peculiar shape, as if it was a message for someone, but it looked so dead the doctor had a hard time believing the message existed at all. She barely even noticed it when she first got out of the car.

But what she did notice however was a peculiar little flower that for some reason sprouted right above the roots of the dying tree. It had unusually bright orange petals, and surprisingly healthy amount of green. The orange took the doctor off guard but she recognized the plant. Which was a funny but strange coincidence because she just happened to be reading about this very particular flower the other night – Tulipa gesneriana, or just simply 'tulips' as more commonly known.

"Pretty little thing ain't it?" A voice echoed from behind the doctor, "Here of all places, too. With all these decays all around. Just another of life's mystery, isn't it?"

1 year ago…

"Jennifer my dear, remind me again what I have planned at two this afternoon?"

"Well sir, we're stopping by the hair salon and tailor to prepare for tonight's late-night show with Dave Mailman."

"Right, right, right, of course. I always forget. What would I do without you Jennifer?"

"Out of a job?"

"You're the one who's going to be out of a job if you keep pooping parties like this."

"Of course, sir. You always say that."

"Yeah I know," the man laughed, "but say why are we leaving for the road this early? I guess if it's to stop along the way for some dinner or a quick snack…"

"We've got a lot of prep work to do at the studio sir, better safe than sorry."

"I suppose you're right. Hey, would you be kind enough to go fetch me the old man yeah? I don't want him to hold us up and be late again like last time."

"Right away sir. Before I do sir, there's someone waiting in your dressing room who'd like to see you. You best go do that first before getting your things."

"Oh? Who is it?"

"She's a little girl, about yea high. She said she's an old friend. Had a VIP pass and everything."

It did not take long before the man could process and remember who this person was supposed to be. He dashed off around the corner, straight down the hallway and through the door into his dressing room.

The man could've sworn he had turned off the lights in his room. But it didn't take long to realize why they were on. There sitting in front of his mirror, leaning back and placing her feet on the table in the most innocent and carefree manner. With her hair draping downwards, those pretty strands of orange. Her luminous glasses placed on the table and her green jacket hung by the side of the chair where she sat.

"After all these years," the girl said. "Being a trickster, a thief… a con – I'm honestly surprised you're still willing to jump right back into the world of lies, the world of facades and be an actor."

The man began rubbing his hair, smirking under his breath:

"Well… at least I didn't become a politician, right?"

The girl took her feet off the table and turned around, instantly striking the man with strange feeling of familiarity, almost like nostalgia. Her green eyes sparkled the innocence of a child, but her smile was a smile that had been through years and years of hardship. It wasn't a smile of a child – it was a smile of someone who had found peace. She hadn't gotten that much older, but he knew she had changed so much.

The two of them leapt off into each other's arms, embracing one another. Old friends from another world and another time. Laughing with sweet relief.

"It's good to see you, old friend," Tulip said, getting teary-eyed.

"Oh, ha-ha, likewise, likewise."

"How have you been my feathery friend?" The girl asked, glancing down at what he was wearing, "You look good, really good. Custom-made tailored suit?"

"You like it?"

"It does look classy."

"Yeah well, too bad the jacket was ruined with some hot coffee. Had to bring down the shop for them to work on it you see. I'm actually picking it up in a few minutes, getting ready for tonight's show."

"Heh, who's the bozo who spilled it on you?" Tulip smirked.

"Um… it was… actually… my partner."

"Oh…" Tulip frowned, instantly regretting what she said, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean…"

"Nah, it's all good, it's all good."

Tulip cringed at herself, clapping her hands together awkwardly while the man kept on grinning warmly towards her.

"So…" Tulip said, breaking the awkward space, "you're a famous actor now, huh? Doing big movies now, landing big roles and gigs and going on late-night talk shows and the whole shebang."

"Yeah, the perks aren't too bad you know?"

"But why though? Why an actor?"

He simply replied with a shrug:

"It just felt right you know? But um…"

"But what?"

"I guess… I guess it was because I was a liar and a fraud in my old life. Doesn't make sense to join an industry ruled by corporations, algorithms, and the beautiful indulging lies huh? That's why I want to change that. I want to be an honest man, even under scrutiny, under the cameras and…"

"I know, Koo… I know," Tulip patted his shoulder. "You don't have to explain yourself. I've seen your movies. Even the more… unpopular ones. I could see the money never mattered to you. You worked on those projects based on passion alone. And that I can respect."

"Didn't you just joke about me being a liar just a few seconds ago?" He laughed.

"Ah, water under the bridge."

"Not enough rain for the water to flow through, I bet."

"I was just giving you a hard time, ha-ha."

"So… um, I got to ask, Tulip. How are things with you? Why did you come to see me?"

"Ooh, I almost forgot. Give me a sec."

The girl shuffled around in her pocket and pulled out a small piece of paper.

"I came here to give you this."

"What is it?"

"An address."

"To where?"

"It's a surprise."

"Huh."

"I would really appreciate it if you could come. Everybody else is going to be there. The date and time are also on there. Don't you go losing that piece of paper you hear? I had a hard enough time tracking you down, and I know how busy you are these days, constantly surrounded by work, fans…"

"Wait, you're leaving already?"

"Yeah," said Tulip. "I'd really love for us to stay and chat longer but I've got some things I needed to do. We're better off catching up with each other when we meet again at the place on that paper anyway."

"Why?"

"You'll see. Let's just say… um… it'll be more special that way."

Present day…

"Doctor!"

"Koo, my goodness."

The two embraced each other, old friends, old kindred spirits.

"It's been too long," said the doctor, "too long!"

"Heh, you said it."

"Come, come, I'd like to introduce you to my sons – Kenny and Terry. Say hi kids."

"Hello, mister," they both said in unison, waving at him.

"Ah, younglings. You both have grown up so much since last time I saw you. I remember your mother here having to carry you around lil' Terr'. Ha-ha."

"Time certainly have flown by hasn't it?"

"You can say that again," Koo laughed. "Come now kids, come meet your grandpa Krow."

"I ain't that old you lil' turd!" The blind old man sitting in the wheelchair shouted.

He wore rounded shades, and a golden-colored tie over his white shirt and brown jacket. His top hat covered his balding head, with strands of white growing here and there. His white beard was clean and well-trimmed surprisingly enough. And his smile beneath a warm layer of white fur was simply delightful to little Terry.

"Krow," the doctor cried, "good to see you. How are you? How are you?"

Krow chuckled:

"How you doing doctor? It's been too long. The train did a number on me as you can see. But otherwise I'm still kicking."

"I hope so," the doctor embraced the old man, "I wouldn't want to have to see you as one of my patients you know? It's not your time yet."

"You can never know about these sorts of things, can you?"

"I suppose not."

"So um…" Koo began looking around, "anybody seen Tulip? She gave me a piece of paper with this address a year ago, told us to meet here on this date."

"No idea to be frank," the doctor shrugged. "She gave me a piece of paper, too. Told me 'everyone' will be here. Which… I'm a bit confused if I'm honest."

"That darn girl," Krow grunted, flailing his arms about, "she better not be wasting my time 'ere. I've got places to go to, places to be, got to go catch a movie after this see."

"Since when did you grow a sense of humor, old man?" Koo chuckled.

"I was always a funny guy," he laughed, "and don't call me old man."

"Don't worry old man, I assure you I'm making this worth your while."

A voice echoed from behind, a young pretty voice, it spun their heads around and there she stood. It was as if a year had not gone by one bit. She still stood there with her sparkling green eyes and green jacket, still carrying a backpack on her shoulders, standing tall and confident.

"TULIP!" The three of them all yelled together, leaping off the ground and into a group hug. Even Krow was furiously speeding off in his wheelchair, rolling towards where he heard her voice. With the warmth of their hug it felt as if the cold wind had suddenly stopped whispering altogether, to make room for joyous cheers and greetings of old friends.

"Come on guys, it hasn't been that long now has it? Just a gap of one year. But I have to admit, it's still so good to see you guys. It's good to be able to see the smaller picture and enjoy the little things, after seeing so much of the bigger picture."

"Oh, you said it," Koo cheered.

"So, Tulip," said the doctor. "What did you want to see us about?"

Tulip began grinning ear to ear:

"Well, I'd like you all to meet someone."

Emerging from behind the distant light of the horizon, a man walked towards them. His grey jacket was bright, as was his mustache, clean and well-trimmed, almost too well-trimmed, as if to the point of being overprepared, purposefully so in order to make a good impression. His eyes were glimmering, hopeful, and under the light – a greeting smile.

"Everyone – meet my father."

1 year ago…

"Thank you, Mr. Olsen for coming today."

The man sat down next to his daughter in this principal office. The air was quiet and stable. Not even a gust of wind blew through the open window to tickle the potted plant by the cabinet. Tulip, her father and the principal sat there still under the slow-moving ceiling fan above, twirling ever so slowly.

"I understand you are a busy man, Mr. Olsen," said the principal. "So I'll cut right to the chase. There are two reasons why I've summoned you here. One concerns a recent event where your daughter here… um… ran off on a train. I'm sure you know all about that."

"And the other?" Mr. Olsen asked.

"Well… there's no other way for me to put it," the principal leaned forward. "Mr. Olsen… your daughter here is a genius."

"I beg your pardon?"

"It's true," said the principal. "All her teachers are going crazy over her academic scores. Our math teachers, our economic teachers, physics, music, you name it. There's really no other way to put it like I said. She's a genius, a prodigy."

Mr. Olsen sat there, in shock. The principal continued:

"Normally this would be a cause for celebration. But we have to talk about the elephant in the room. Under normal circumstances the school would have little to no restrictions on what students can do, or where they can go during their own free time at home. It is their private life after all. However, when the problems of a student's private life begin leaking over into their school life, problems that result in say, I don't know, the student skipping schools and going missing for example, then the school would have no choice but to step in and intervene."

"Mister principal," said Mr. Olsen, "I understand completely but please understand that…"

"Oh no, no, please, no need to explain yourself my good sir," the principal cut him off. "I understand completely the predicament that you are in. I am in no position to pry into either of your private lives. I am merely here to assist you in any way I can. We only have both yours and your child's best interest in mind."

The principal stood up, walked over to where Mr. Olsen sat. Up close the principal looked tall, confident. Though a little vague.

"I only have one request to ask of you, Mr. Olsen," he said. "And it's a big one."

"Anything," Mr. Olsen agreed immediately. "Anything for my daughter."

The principal smiled:

"All I ask of you, good sir… is for you to understand…"

"Pardon?"

"There is a lot for us to discuss," the principal glanced down at the watch on his wrist, "so why don't we discuss this over some lunch? My treat."

"I don't understand," said Mr. Olsen. "What exactly is there to discuss?"

"I suppose 'discuss' is the wrong word. But rather explain. Explain so that you understand that your daughter has been through a lot as of late. And I mean A LOT. More than you could imagine. More than anyone could imagine in fact, and certainly more than anyone could handle – not just for her age. She has learned a lot from her journey, and has evolved much throughout it all. I'm not asking for you to forgive everything she's done and everything she's said to you when she ran away. All I'm asking is for you to understand, and most importantly… to be there for her, and love her as her father."

Mr. Olsen glanced back and forth between his daughter and the principal in quick succession, eyes still squinting. But he noticed his daughter's glimpse of a smile, begging him to accept her as she was, hoping he would go through with it.

"Your daughter knew nobody would believe the words of a child, nobody would take her seriously," the principal explained. "She knew people would think her mad. Send her into an asylum of some sort. Questioning what she had seen on her little trip away from home, questioning her sanity. Which is why she asked me for help and why I am here to ease the situation. So come – we have much to talk about."

Mr. Olsen continued to glance back and forth again, but this time slower and calm. Sitting there in his chair he was no longer tensed and stressed out, but instead he gave a long sigh of relief and in the end – nodded his head:

"Okay… let us go."

"Excellent," the principal exclaimed. "I promise you sir, you won't regret it."

"Yes… I hope not."

"Come, let's go Tulip," the principal waved at her. "There's this nice sandwich joint down the block I've been wanting to try. I hear they have some great meatballs."

"Alright…" she said, "and uh… thank you… Zero."

Present day…

"So these are the guys you've been going on about so much," Mr. Olsen said. "I must say it's a pleasure to finally be able to meet all of you here face to face."

"Good to meet you Mr. Olsen," the doctor extended her hand for a shake. "I'm Dee Arr. Very strange name isn't it?"

"Yes indeed," Mr. Olsen smiled. "Tulip told me all about you," he then turned to the other two men, "and you two must be Koo and Krow."

"That's right," Krow said, "and we're the K-Brothers."

"Oh, so you two are brothers?" Mr. Olsen asked.

"Heck no," Koo laughed off. "I got to take care of this knucklehead here you see. I'm all he's got. And to be honest… he's all I got."

"I'm going to push you off a cliff you hear?" Krow snapped.

"Try if you can," Koo chuckled then reached out to shake Mr. Olsen's hand.

"You know, you look kind of familiar Mr. Koo, have I seen you somewhere before?" Mr. Olsen wondered.

"You're joking right?" Koo smirked, "24 Mad People? The Sparkling? Toy Tales? Planet of the Monkeys? Surely you've seen these classics, right?"

"Nope," said Mr. Olsen, "doesn't ring a bell. Sounds absolutely horrible though."

Koo stood there frozen in shock, then immediately turned to Tulip who was struggling to stop laughing.

"Why do you break my heart like this, Tulip?"

"Don't know," she shrugged. "Not my fault your movies suck."

"Alright, alright quit goofing around you two," Dee stepped in. "Now that the gang's all here, what did you want to see us about Tulip?"

"Yeah," Krow said, "about darn time you spill the beans."

Tulip glanced around, taking a good look at everyone and said:

"Well, not everyone is here… but I guess it's as good as it's going to get. Follow me everyone. There's something I got to show you all."

The girl walked off, leading the group towards the dead tree next to the saloon where the small flower was. A tree half of them didn't even notice when they first got here. Curiously, Tulip walked behind the tree and to everyone's surprised pulled out a shovel. A shovel that was just lying behind this dead tree right in plain sight.

"I would've asked you all to give me a hand if there were more than one shovel," Tulip said. "This is going to take some time."

Tulip started digging at the spot where the little flower grew out of the ground, but some of the guys noticed that Tulip was purposefully careful not to actually dig at the flower and harm the thing itself, skirting around the dirt all cautious and clean.

Eventually the girl dug deep enough to the point Tulip could feel something hard underneath, so she dropped the shovel and began pulling apart the dirt with her hands, tearing the small stones and other debris out of the way, and in the end pulled out a small black box.

The box was surprisingly clean despite being buried beneath a thick layer of dirt. Its smooth surface reflected off the lights in the distant horizon, holding precious mysteries of something unknown to people stuck within the ordinary flow of time.

"What is that?" Koo asked.

"This…" Tulip dusted off the dirt, "is a time capsule – from our good friend Klyde Bradshaw."

"Goodness me," the doctor whispered, "how is that possible?"

"Come on, let's go inside," said Tulip. "We'll open it up in there."

There was absolutely no smell protruding from any of the wooden surface of the saloon, which was odd. The place looked like a million years old, with silver dust flying under the lights pouring from the windows, dancing dusts prancing above the wood like small angels, just shy of touching the surface. The tables were all laid out, but the chairs were nowhere to be seen. The bar in the back was empty, shelves upon shelves once fully stocked now left covered in the ancient soil, covering up the marks of the bottles and glasses.

"Here we go," Tulip laid the box on one of the tables.

The box was protected by a number pad. A passcode of three numbers. But Tulip did not hesitate and instantly entered in the code – one, zero, one. The gears shifted and a loud click was heard.

"Well," Tulip gave a chuckle once she had a look inside. "Look at what we have here?"

The whole gang gathered around, peeking into the box, and in shock – they all stood back.

It was a family photo, there were five people in total. And every single one of them looked exactly like the people standing in the saloon at that very moment. The resemblances were downright terrifying. One would not be blamed if they thought they were looking at a photo of clones. That was if it wasn't for the fact these people in the photo were wearing late 1800s style clothing. Ancient clothing, clean and well-groomed.

"What on earth is this?"

"Why does she look like me?"

"Is this some kind of joke?

"I can't see anything, what's going on?"

"Guys, guys!" Tulip cried, "Calm down will you? Just take it easy. I know this is a little hard to take in, but I assure you there's a perfectly good explanation for this. Here, all of you take a look at this. There's a letter here inside that explains it all."

Tulip took out the folded piece of paper underneath the photo, she straightened it out and then began reading aloud:

"It's a letter from Klyde, ahem…

Dear friends,

Greetings from 1872. I hope this letter finds you all in good health. I am doing fine. I do wish we had more time with one another, all of us. There were so much for us to talk about. There still are. But I guess life just goes where it wants in the end, infinitely, without stopping.

I understand you may be confused to see a photo with uncanny resemblances to yourselves lying here inside this time capsule. But rest assured, this is no trickery involving any of the devilish technology of the train. You have not been cloned in any way by the cloning chamber. Though I suppose the young Miss Tulip and her Conductor friend wouldn't tell us anyway if they did.

The truth of the matter is simple – this photo is a photo of my family. The man sitting comfortably right there in the middle of the photo dressing in a long blue coat, the one who I was told looks like the father of young Tulip, is me. This is what I look like in my human form. It has been awhile since I am once again in my human skin. I have almost forgotten what it feels like.

The woman sitting next to me in her beautiful white gown, who I was told looks eerily similar to the good doctor Dee Arr, is in fact my beloved wife. Oh how I've missed her during our adventure aboard the train. She would constantly write letters to me and placing it within the very saloon you are standing in during my absence just in case I ever return to my world and into her arms. It is why I love her with all my heart.

The old gentlemen standing on my right with strands of white hair is in fact my grandfather. I can't begin to imagine the look of shock on the face of our blind magpie friend when he realizes the fact. My grandfather was always concerned with time and wealth, always carrying around him a golden pocket watch. Time is money he always says. But I think he realizes in the end there is more worth and value in the family that surrounds him than in any of the riches and money he could ever acquire in his lifetime.

The young and dashing looking gentlemen standing right above me and my wife is, yes, you guessed it, my brother-in-law. He is clever, charismatic. I would imagine he would get along quite well with you Koo my old friend. He is a man of great taste in the arts, a great admirer of this new piece of technology we call the moving pictures. I tell you, if I hadn't been on that train I would've thought of those kinds of things as nonsensical street magic. Oh, how perspectives can change a person so drastically.

And last but not least, the little girl sitting in the front by my feet and my wife's, the girl in the little bonnet, cute as a button, is indeed our lovely precious little daughter. She just turned ten years old last month, and she looks more and more like you every day Tulip old friend. To see that familiar old friendly face every day, to be reminded of how blessed I truly am – no word exists to describe the amount of my gratitude.

So you see my dear friends, the Infinity Train has a funny way of making us see things differently. An ordinary person looking into this lens will only see a world full of chaos, disorder, mayhem and the infinite spectrum of the random possibilities. But through the eyes of a scientist, a mathematician, or even a gambler, they do not see randomness. Rather, they see probability. Probability disguising itself as chaos, because we mere mortals cannot comprehend the vastness of infinity and its possibilities. A mortal seeing the impossible will conclude that it cannot be, and that it must be the work of something magical, supernatural, unexplainable. But through the eyes of a god so powerful he exists infinite dimensions and infinite layers above everyone else, he understands.

Are any of these points of view superior? That I cannot say, but what I can say is a simple truth – the Infinity Train houses all of these points of view. Because it is infinite by its nature, or by its super-nature, or both, or neither all at the same time.

It is a lesson the Conductor had taught you Tulip my friend, and in turns you have taught me and the rest of us. Part of me want to curse your name for taking me out of the mundanity and forcing me into a life of complex cosmic forces mere mortals cannot possibly hope to comprehend.

But part of me also cherishes the time we spent together, the adventure, the thrill, the pain, the regret, all of it.

I guess what I am really trying to say is this: I find it difficult to end this letter, because there are still so much for us to talk about. And I don't want it to end. But I suppose that is the point of it all is it not? For us to know the true extent of infinity and its meaning offered to us by the circumstances we endured.

So all I can do now is wish you all luck and good health, and wish we can meet again someday, in better days, and in better times.

Sincerely,

Your friend for eternity,

Klyde 'the Viper' Bradshaw"

Every single one of them stood there in their place, petrified by the impossibility staring right at their face. They did not know what to say, for they knew nothing they could say as mere mortals could possibly encompass the essence of impossibility in this very moment.

And yet they did not feel the frustration of confusion.

They were happy.

Happy to get a small glimpse into the window of infinity? Or happy to get new perspectives and in the end appreciate the mundanity of their own lives, determined and motivated to work harder to maintain that sense of mundane peace?

"It's really over isn't it?" The doctor said, still in disbelief.

"It's hard for me to wrap my head around it," said Koo.

"The old me would've been mad," Tulip said. "The old me would've stopped at nothing and travel to the edge of the universe to search for logical answers. A path to self-destruction. But now… I… feel peace."

"That's right Tulip."

A voice emerged from the front door, appearing in front of them like a ghost, a wandering spirit. No footsteps, no sound. He was graceful, and hard to predict.

"Zero!" Tulip cried, "It's been a long time. Come on in, come on in. How are you doing… old friend?"

The Conductor chuckled:

"I'm in the best shape of my life right now. And it isn't because of my metal body believe you me."

"Look at what the train dragged in," Koo joked as he walked over patting the Conductor on the shoulder.

"Looking good as ever eh?" Said Krow.

"Like you can tell," said Zero.

"HA!"

"Look at this wise-guy," said Krow. "He's too clever for his own good."

"That's how I roll old man."

"Don't call me old."

"Doctor," Zero shouted, "it's been too long, too long I say. It's good to see you out walking about in a flesh suit again."

"It feels good I must say," she responded. "I wish you have the same luxury."

"Yeah… me too."

The moment was however broken by the sound of a bark sounding off in the distance, just outside the saloon. A bark that was all too familiar to Tulip.

"Holy…," she cried. "is… is that who I think it is?"

"Heh, took me a lot of digging to finally track him down," Zero said. "Apparently the family he was staying with couldn't take care of him anymore, so they had to give him up to an animal shelter. Imagine my surprise when I find out nobody's adopted the little guy yet. What are the odds?"

The four-legged creature barged straight through the front door, barking on and on. His yellow and white fur was as bright as the sun, a sun with energy he simply could not contain as he leapt straight towards the young girl. Immediately recognizing the familiar scent of a companion near long forgotten. The energy reinvigorated both of their souls, and they embraced one another without a second thought.

"ATTICUS!" Tulip shouted with utmost glee, "Oh I thought I'd never get to see you again."

The fluffy little corgi bounced all over the little girl, licking her face and wagging his tail.

"I'm here now, I'm here," she repeated, almost choking on her inner tears. "I'm so sorry for what happened, I'm so, so sorry. Oh… Atticus."

The dog kept on licking her face, the girl's regrets did not matter to him. Because although Tulip could not one hundred percent for sure tell what this little corgi friend was thinking, deep in her heart she felt his love and companionship. A bond between two friends so strong that not even time itself could possibly have severed it. Atticus now no longer wore his crown, and his eyes did not look like eyes of a sentient talking beast from a fantasy land. They were merely regular dog pupils, dark and shimmering black. But it did not matter. Because Tulip knew – they did not have to say a single word to each other, because they both knew.

"Thank you… Zero," said Tulip.

"It was my pleasure."

"SO!" Tulip stood up, clapping her hands together, "Where is One-One, old friend?"

The Conductor gave a smirk just before his chest popped open with a loud metallic snap. Beneath the steam and white smoke – emerged a little metallic black and white ball.

"There you are you little rapscallion!" Tulip said. "You think you could hide from me?"

"MISS TULIP!" The Glad-One cried, "My goodness it has been too long. It is so good to see you again."

"Same here, One-One, same here."

"I tell you, Miss Tulip it's been dreadful going on without seeing that bright face of yours. Oh, how lonely it was."

"Sad-One didn't keep you company?" Tulip asked, "Hi, Sad-One."

"Existence is pain. And all of you add to my pain by just existing."

"It's good to see you again, too," said Tulip.

"Um, mom?" Little Terry tugged at his mother's coat, "Why is that little soccer ball in pain? Shouldn't we help him?"

They all laughed, and laughed they did, inside this humble abode where the lights danced above simple wood. Colors faded, tables rotted, but the voices of the people despite the passage of time in the end remained.

"I brought gifts for everyone, ha-ha," said Zero.

"What?" Dee exclaimed, "Is that why you came?"

"Well, it's a reward you see. One ought to get something for overcoming the infinite lengths of the Infinity Train, no? Also… um… it's… I suppose it's a way for us, I mean, for me to apologize."

"Wow, holy cow," Koo cried. "Did everybody see that? Humility! Who are you and what have you done with the real Conductor?"

Zero laughed, joyfully, without a single trace of malice.

"Klyde let me use his time capsule to store these gifts. Bless his soul, may he rest in peace. Tulip, why don't you give me a hand and take out everything inside, pass it around to everyone."

Beneath the family photo and Klyde's letter was an assortment of three different items – a folder, another piece of paper, and a strange small round object wrapped in cloth. All of which just like the box itself looked surprisingly clean and new.

Tulip took the small object covered in cloth and handed it to Krow.

"Huh… what's this?" He asked.

"A gift… and my apology for what I've done to you."

"I do admit you got me good, though. Turned me mad and angry," Krow said.

"Well, go ahead and open it then."

The old man unwrapped the piece of cloth, he felt around the object's smooth almost metallic-like surface with his boney fingers, trying to decipher what it was supposed to be.

"It's a pocket watch," Zero said. "Made out of pure gold. Custom made by me, you can't find it anywhere in this world nor… in this entire dimension as a matter of fact."

"Huh… okay… um… I…" Krow was still trying to feel around the golden rims and glass surface of the watch. But in the end he just admitted: "I don't get it."

Zero cleared his throat and explained:

"I can't give you back what I have taken from you. For one I don't think you'd like my hands anywhere near your face anyway."

"That's a good guess," said Krow.

"What I can offer you however – is perspective. You spent a whole lot of time on my train counting coins my friend, obsessed with wealth and riches. It was eating away at your mind, making you lose touch of reality. But this here watch – it's a special watch. Its ticking sound is soothing and calm, and a great stimulus to the brain. It can keep your mind sharp, bright but most importantly it will remind you of the earthly bonds you have here on Earth, bonds you've made to things other than gold and money. It will remind you… to spend time with those who truly have the greatest value to you."

Koo patted on Krow's shoulders, he was warm and Koo didn't know if Krow could see his smile. But it didn't matter – because Krow felt that warmth himself.

"I didn't want you to lose your minds and forget your ways again, I really wanted to make it up to you and…"

"It's okay Conductor, it's okay," Krow said. "You don't have to explain yourself. You really don't."

Words that meant the world to Zero, and perhaps it meant even more than his treasure vault on his train, or perhaps even more than the very train itself. He gave a sigh of relief, bowing his head in gratitude, something he never thought would come to be.

"Academy award for best picture, am I right?" Koo joked.

"Hold on to your seat," Zero looked up at the actor. "Because my gift to you will mean more than any award on this planet… probably."

"Oh yeah? Let's see it."

Tulip then proceeded to hand over to the man a folder. It was a sizable one, with no marking on the outside to indicate what the content inside could be.

"Well, open it."

Koo tore open the lid and lifted out the first page inside. His excitement dulled, and was followed by mild confusion.

"What is this?"

"That… is a deed."

"For what?"

"For this saloon here."

"What?" Koo cried.

"I suppose it's technically a gift to both you and your partner in crime Krow," Zero said. "Klyde told me he wanted you all to have it. But after thinking about it and talking it over with him, the good doctor here already has a job and has a family to raise. On the other hand, little Miss Tulip here is too young to own any land. So in the end that only really leaves you two."

"Life as a celebrity ain't exactly flexible you know?" Said Koo.

"You'll find a way," Zero said. "You always do, the scheming little devil you are."

"That's true I guess," Koo grinned.

"But that's not the main reason I want to give this to you. The main reason is simple – I want you to have a new beginning. I know how much that means to you."

Koo glanced down at the papers in his hand and glanced back up at the Conductor. Finally in disbelief as the fact began to sink in. He owned this saloon now. A responsibility entrusted by his old friends, to keep the legacy of ancient past going on. To keep memories of old times strong, memories of the friendship he made on the train and memories of this very reunion in this very saloon. Koo was overwhelmed, and yet he felt blessed. For he had dreams, dreams of songs and dances in a humble little bar where friends and families could come over to eat and drink and converse, a place where people from far and wide could come in unafraid, but most importantly a place where nobody would have to come to drink away their sorrows, their pain. Dreams of the warmth of a community.

"Thank you… thank you all… I won't let you down," was all Koo could say. And he didn't need to say anymore for them to understand.

"And last but not least," Zero turned to the doctor, "Dee Arr, my friend."

Tulip handed over the last item, a piece of paper folded in half.

"What's this?" The doctor asked.

"A choice… for closure."

"Huh?"

"On this piece of paper is the address to the cemetery of Klyde's resting place," Zero explained. "I know that you and Klyde had a… complicated relationship, shall we call it, back on the train. I know that you have many things you wanted to say to him still. So I wanted to give you an opportunity to pay him a visit when you can."

"Oh… I see…" said Dee.

"I can give you one other choice however," said the Conductor. "I can take you back in time on my train to Klyde's time – for you to personally meet him. And I assure you, the train won't do you any tricks during our travel. I can…"

"Let me stop you right there, Conductor," said Dee. "I appreciate your offer to take me, I really do. But I really must decline."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes I am sure," Dee shook her head, "whatever feelings I had with Klyde back on the train – none of it matters now."

"Why?" Tulip asked.

"Well, you see," Dee explained, smiling, "we both have a family now. Klyde has his wife, and his daughter. And I have here my two sons. I cherish whatever it was we had with one another, but it should never get in the way of our family. Klyde has been through far enough."

"You're absolutely certain?"

"Yes, Zero. I still thank you for offering. I just think it's best for me to let him rest. I will come to visit his resting place, however. He deserves at least that much."

"Well, if that's a bust," said Tulip, "then I suppose it's a better time than any to give this back to you."

The young girl pulled out from her backpack a framed picture of a young-looking man kneeling next to a young boy. Dee's eyes lit up, pleasantly surprised.

"Oh my word, where on earth did you find this, Tulip? I've been looking all over for this."

"You're going to get a kick out of this," Tulip's eyes darted straight towards the Conductor, "somebody in this saloon thought it'd be a good idea to lead me around a wild goose chase by leaving fake clues for me to find. That somebody couldn't keep his mitts to himself, couldn't help but go around and taking whatever he wanted."

Zero began whistling in gleeful ignorance, desperately trying and failing to seem innocent:

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

Dee just couldn't help but burst out laughing:

"Whatever it was that happened between you two I'm sure was very convoluted, so you know what? I don't even want to know."

"Excellent choice," said Tulip.

"Thank you," Dee returned with a smile.

"Bah, come on now fellas, what are we all just standing idly around for?" Zero said, "What's a reunion without a little celebration?"

"The Conductor is right," Tulip unzipped her backpack, "which is why I brought a bunch of snacks and exotic food for our little powwow. We've got some chips, some dips, some sandwiches, some fries, white tomato sauce, don't ask, oh, and blueberry pie."

"How on earth did you fit all of that in your backpack?" Dee asked in amazement.

"You like it? It's a little invention of mine. Learned a thing or two on our adventure you know. I like to make good use of it. One of these days I'm going to mass-produce this backpack here and it's going to sell like hot cakes. Oh, and I brought some soda, too."

"Pfft, come on, kiddie drinks?" Said Koo.

"Uh, yeah? Duh. There are kids around here, and in case you forget, I'm still a kid."

"Forget that," Zero laughed. "Hey, Koo. Go behind the bar and open up the cabinet underneath there's a bunch of bottles I left there last time I was here. It's cactus beer, and cactus soda. Believe me, it tastes better than it sounds. Don't ask me how I brew it, patented secret recipe. But it's got one heck of a kick to it, it's great."

"Alrighty," Koo shrugged, "might as well go big or go home, am I right?"

They stayed there for hours, just talking, eating and drinking, catching up with their current lives, letting the young boy and his older brother play around with Atticus while the others stood by watching as the sun set beyond the valley into the distance. The old broken saloon was somehow reinvigorated, with the dead dust clearing off the wooden surface for new energy to emerge, energy that hadn't been present for hundreds of years. There the light of the horizon struck its shine on the drinks they held and the glimmers of excitement in their eyes. The innocent excitement of old friends. They talked and talked and talked, every worry of their lives, every frustration they felt up to that point, all the pain, all of them seemingly vanished from their hearts and minds. It was a vacation without any luggage, no baggage, no worries. Truly in the end – nothing could be more pure.

"… so yeah, it basically means I'm going to apply to college in a few months or so," Tulip said. "Never too early to get started, am I right?"

"Wow, for real?" Zero said.

"Any idea where you'll be applying to Miss Tulip?" Glad-One asked.

"Not at the moment, no. I did get a lot of offers. But I think I may need a break from all this for a little while."

"Thinking of going on a vacation?"

"Something like that, yeah. Maybe a little light studying here and there. I'm thinking of moving to Oregon for the summer. I hear there are some very, very interesting stuff happening over there. Could be a nice opportunity for me to explore, maybe even get a few extra credits or something on my resume, or… something, I honestly don't really know."

"What about your father Miss Tulip?" Glad-One asked, "Ever thought of joining the family business?"

"I thought about that, even talked to my dad about it. In the end… I just think… I best leave the music to him for now and go our separate ways. It's a part of who I am sure, but I want to give him time to reignite that lost fire inside of him. It's his gig. He told me to, you know, take some time off until I can truly decide and get back into my groove. And then… one day… we'll be able to play side by side with each other on stage… just like old times."

"That is so sweet," Glad-One said, "I could cry."

"Your tears of joy make me sick," Sad-One commented, which gave Tulip a little chuckle.

"I have to ask you something, though, Tulip, if you don't mind," the Conductor said.

"Go ahead."

"Why… why did you choose this?"

"Choose what?"

"Choose to stay here instead of coming with me I mean."

"Oh right."

"You once told me something very interesting a year or so back," Zero said. "Do you remember when I asked you to look out the front of the train and tell me what you see?"

"I remember it like it was yesterday," she said.

"Well, you stood there mesmerized by the wasteland the train was running on. And in the end your answer was simple. What did Tulip see when she looked out into the front of the Infinity Train? Well… everything."

"What can I say?" She shrugged, "When there exists no word that could adequately describe what was in front of me, then the only option left are ones that are simplistic. Why overcomplicate things, you know?"

"Well yes, that I understand," Zero said, "what I don't understand though is why choose to go home over infinity? Shouldn't infinity by definition encompasses the timeline where you go home as well as the timeline where you choose to go on the adventure? In that case what is the point? You'll be going on that trip sooner or later, it's just a matter of time."

Once again, Tulip shrugged:

"I guess there is no point. I guess I just felt like I had to prove the choice itself exists, to prove I can be above infinity. Even if it is ultimately fruitless. But I tell you what, at the end of the day, the choice itself isn't what's important, but do you know what is?"

"What?"

Tulip grinned:

"It's that I chose to go home at all. Maybe one of these days I'll be sucked back into the adventure, the thrill again. But that doesn't matter. Because the old me would never in a million years choose to go home over choosing to stay on the train. The old me would've never had that courage to do it, because… come on, who could say no to infinity? And especially when you offer it to someone who was actively trying to run away from the failures of their past. It's a guaranteed imprisonment, an inescapable cage… you know what I mean?"

"Yeah…" said the Conductor, "I suppose I do."

It was hard to tell because Tulip couldn't see his face, but she could feel a smile beneath all of that. And thus she smiled back.

"You know… I'm going to write a book one of these days," said Tulip.

"What?"

"About this, all this… I'll call it – the Random Impossibility. Think about it. What are the chances of every single one of us ending up on the same exact timeline after you had let us all go free? What are the chances? You said it yourself, you didn't know beforehand which timeline we'd end up on."

"Who would ever believe the story we have here?" Zero chuckled gleefully.

"I never said I would publish it," Tulip smiled. "I'll be a nice little thing for us to read and think back to the times we had and the memories we share."

"It would've been a dreadful read anyway," Sad-One said.

"Hey, I am a great writer I'll have you know. I can write a bestseller with my eyes close… I think…"

"And this random impossibility, as you call it," said the Conductor. "It does not bother you?"

"No," she answered. "I get it now. I can't always control everything, I can't always use logic and science to selfishly dictate the state of being to be whatever it is I want. The universe is bigger than I am. Sometimes I just have to accept things for what they are."

"It's hard for me to even say this but," Sad-One said, "I am proud of you Tulip."

"Aww, you big softie."

"I hate every single one of you," Sad-One quickly commented, and they all burst out laughing.

"It's funny," Tulip said after taking another gulp of her soda, "I used to hate having to constantly stare at the green number glowing on my hand. It felt like a disease. But now looking down at my bare hand it felt slightly… empty."

"I can turn it back on for you if you want," Zero said.

"Don't lie to my face man," Tulip laughed. "You can't do any of that. I'm telling you, it's hilarious. I used to think the number represents the truth about the train and about you, truths that I must uncover. It's only now that I finally realize the number isn't really that at all. Truth is, the number represents the truth about myself, truths that I have to uncover in order to finally in the end have some closure."

"Well, I mean," Zero leaned back, "I do remember having to punch a ticket for a little girl, a ticket with the number 53 on it."

"Well that doesn't make any sense," Tulip smirked.

"Neither does the train," Sad-One said, "and neither does any of our pathetic lives."

They all burst out laughing once more. They all sang their joy to it, cheered, drinking to the absurdity that was their lives.

"To think," Tulip said, wiping her mouth, "we've been through all of this and I don't even know your human name."

"Now that's not fair now is it?" Zero said. "Because I knew yours."

"That reminds me… you never told me how you knew my name. Back when we first met."

The Conductor chuckled:

"Well… do you want to know how?"

Tulip glanced around, glancing down at the glass of soda she was holding, and in the end decided:

"Hmm… do I want to know? Not really."

The sun was going to set one way or another as such the party was going to end sooner or later. The drinks would've all run out and the food would've all been consumed. It was just something people mutually understood as they said their goodbyes to one another, walking away into the distant darkness, consumed by thoughts and the mundanity of their lives once more. They knew they still had so much more to talk about, but they also knew this was certainly not the last time they would get to meet. For the possibilities of life was vast, and unpredictable.

In the end, Dee hugged everybody goodbye, put her little sleeping Terry in the car and drove away into the distance. Followed shortly by Koo and Krow driving off in their little black limo, down into the dirt filled road leading into beyond the darkness.

Mr. Olsen expressed his gratitude to everyone, especially the Conductor. But the man was obviously tired, eyes weary, and you could tell he couldn't wait to drive the two of them home for a nice long weekend nap.

But not before Tulip could say her final words to the Conductor before leaving.

The young girl stood there next to the tall gentlemen in his white uniform, with a robotic spherical ball hanging off on the girl's shoulder and a little corgi circling around by her shin, all staring back to the framed family photo placed on the very top shelf of the saloon, looking beyond, silently as the moonlight cried its silent lights down unto these fertile soil they were standing on. Beautiful moonlight songs sung under a beautiful moonlit night.

"It's really over… isn't it?" Tulip said.

The Conductor glanced over the young girl he stood by, and he smiled. A smile of pride.

"Perhaps a bit anti-climatic under certain points of view," Zero said.

"Do you really feel so?" Tulip asked.

"Well… if it were up to the old me, I would certainly say yes," Zero said. "But I suppose… in the end… you were not the only one among us who had to go through a change. Some people may say the change I went through was too quick, they may grow suspicious, some may even call it cheap. But that's not how I see it. I wasn't brainwashed. It wasn't possible. It's just… once my heart, once Zero, One, and One… once the Conductor became whole again, once I have gained what I had lost, everything just… became clear. I could see my wrongs and my mistakes. I could see the flaws in my system, in my character, and I could see the incompletion within myself. Madness may be the other side of Sanity, Sadness may be the opposite of Gladness, but for me to forcefully push out all of Sanity as a whole? That isn't balance."

"I'm proud of you, Zero," Tulip said. "I mean it."

"Ha-ha, well, that's one of the few good things to come out of our rivalry isn't it?"

Tulip shrugged playfully:

"You scrub my back, I scrub yours, right?"

"That is absolutely disgusting," Sad-One commented.

"A toast," Zero poured the two of them one last drink.

Tulip and the Conductor raised their glasses up high, letting the liquid glimmer under the shimmering night sky.

"To the Infinite Beyond," the both of them said in unison, gulping down the drinks.

They wiped their mouths, feeling it all running down their throats. It felt complete – and yet at the same time, not one hundred percent satisfying.

"I'm really going to miss you, Tulip. It's going to be hard to tell when we'll meet again."

"Why do people keep saying that?" Tulip laughed, "I mean, One-One isn't going anywhere. They're coming with me remember? It'll be like you are right here by my side."

"Well, yes and no," Zero did his best to force a grin. "We're still different people Tulip."

Tulip sighed:

"Yeah… I know… I know…"

The November winds were cold, its breath was icy sharp and the leaves blowing about was dead, but nothing in that moment could extinguish the warmth emanating from the Conductor and Tulip embracing each other for one final hug. Logically, Tulip knew she was hugging a machine, a cold unfeeling hunk of metal. But her heart was beating fast, and Zero was warm. In that moment, that wonderful magical moment, it was impossible for Tulip to tell the difference.

"Take care of One-One for me, okay?"

"Yeah… don't worry," Tulip said, shedding a tear, "I will… I promise."

"I am going to cry," Glad-One couldn't contain himself.

"I feel like I should cry…" Sad-One lamented, "but for some strange reason… I can't…"

"I'm going to miss you, too… Sad-One…" Zero laughed.

"Yeah… yeah… me too…" Sad-One agreed.

"Say goodbye to your father for me, Tulip." The Conductor said.

"Of course… yeah…"

"And Tulip…" Zero said.

"Yeah?"

"Take care of yourself… for me… okay?"

Tulip nodded:

"I will… I promise…"

Author's notes: so, we have reached the final chapter of this fanfic project. It's been a long time I must say. I'm just glad I managed to finish this. I'd like to thank everybody who spent their time reading this little project I wrote for fun (mostly). Words alone cannot describe how grateful I am.

It's been over a year since Infinity Train the pilot came out, and at this point it has long been greenlit. Please do go support the official release, personal recommendation from me.