About one hour after we set off down the road, I noticed the sun was going down. This was not good. I needed to find a place to sleep and fast, because if there was anything worse than daytime in the wastes, it’s got to be nighttime in the wastes, with mutants hunting in packs and very limited sight, I was not my favorite time of the day.

“Hey” I call to Dash, who is slowly flying about four feet above me, “It’s about time to set up camp, unless you want to get attacked by mutants”

“Okay” she responded, “Have anywhere in mind?”

“Hmm” I think out loud. I then notice a small cave carved into the face of a cliff, not big enough to be an Ursa cave though. It looked about half a mile away.

“There” I point my hoof in the direction of the cave, “We’ll sleep there tonight. It looks save from the elements.”

“Got it” she replies as she flies toward the cave at what I swear must have been ludicrous speed.

“Sheesh” I say to myself as I walk towards the cave at my normal pace, “She isn’t very patient, is she?”

Suddenly I heard a scream pierce the silence.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH” It must have been Rainbow.

“Fuck!” I yell, “There aint no damn way you’re gonna die already! Not on my watch!”

I run as fast as I can, adrenaline pumping through my body. After about a minute of running, I finally get to the cave.

“Dash!” I scream, “Dash, are you there!?!”

I wait for a response. About ten seconds later, I get one.

“Storm!” I hear her yell back, “Get over here!”

I run towards the source of her voice to find her fighting against a mutant, and losing. She is trying to use nonlethal attacks, such as wind tornados, to put down her assailant. He is hitting her rarely, and by the looks of the situation, she hasn't sustained any real damage.

“What are you doing!?!” I yell at her, “This is how you kill a mutant!”

I unsheathe my sword, now tied to a rope, and swing it with all my might at the mutant. It’s a clean kill, the mutant is sliced into two grisly pieces with one swing. I relish the kill and look at my now-bloody sword.

“You see Rainbow” I say as I wipe the blood off my sword, “These creatures have no hearts and therefore no mercy. Meaning that to survive, you need to be merciless as well.” After the blood is off my sword, I sheath it casually and continue talking.

“You did show promise, however” I continue as I turn around to face her, “Those flying moves of y-“

I turn to face Dash and see her face. She looks horrorstruck. Just the look of her face makes me stop talking.

“Dash,” I start slowly, “I’m sorry, but this is life. It’s a brutal existence, but its life.”

“I… I had no idea” She starts, still looking quite shocked at my actions, “I had no idea just how brutal ponies are out here.”

“Are you talking about me?” I ask, slightly annoyed, “I needed to kill that mutant to save your ass! It would’ve killed you eventually! It’s like what you said, was I supposed to let you die?”

“Um,” She starts.

“Ya know maybe we should just set up camp, okay?” I respond, not wanting to argue with her anymore.

“Sure, okay” she replied weakly

“Dash” I look deep into her eyes, “I would never hurt you, I do this to survive, and to help you survive. You need to be brave and face reality.”

“Well” she begins, looking slightly stronger, “I guess I should’ve expected this, I mean, you did already tell me about this. It’s just that it’s scary to see that it is so real. I’ve never seen a pony die, much less chopped in half.”

“Its okay” I reassure her, “Lots of ponies were scared of this brutal reality. You still get points for facing that mutant one-on-one though!”

“Really?” She asks, “I mean, of course! I’m really brave, like I told you before!”

“Yeah” I say, surprised at her sudden boasting, “Well, I think we should set up camp now.”

“Okay” she replies, sounding much more happy than before. Who would’ve guessed, Iron Storm; killer of millions and an accomplished counselor for depression .

“We only have one sleeping bag” I announce.

“Oh” She responds, “Well, I guess were sleeping together then.”

“Yup” I reply.

After Dash gets into the sleeping bag with me, we begin to discuss our goal for tomorrow.

“So where are we going?” She asks, “Do you even have a goal?”

“Not really” I answer, “I just wander the wastes trying to figure out who I am and where I came from.”

“So if you don’t have a goal,” She begins, “Could I make a suggestion?”

“Sure” I answer, “Might as well have a destination.”

“Okay then” She replies happily, “How about we make a visit to where Ponyville used to be? Maybe someone is still alive there.”

“Ponyville?” I ask, “Where and what is that?”

“It was a town,” She states, “I used to hang out there a lot, because all of my friends lived there. I really hope that they are still alive.” She finishes weakly.

“Well” I start in a compassionate tone, “If it makes you feel better, then we’ll set out for Ponyville first thing in the morning.”

“Thanks” She says as she looks at me with her deep, rose eyes.

“We better get to sleep if we want to get up early” I say.

Dash nods in agreement before burying her head in my chest. I think must be to conserve heat. Still, I kinda like it.

I will never let anything hurt her. I think before going to sleep with Dash wrapped tightly around me. For the first time in my life, I feel...happy.