Choices. There can be right and wrong ones. In my case, I was torn between decisions that were both unfavorable. Destroy the pearls and have my friends killed? Give them to Hope and have her destroy the rest of Equestria or whatever she planned to do with them? I know I’m not the only pony with difficult choices. The princesses had to make a difficult decision when the Pink Cloud smothered the entire capitol of Canterlot. The war, itself, was a catastrophic decision. That just so happened to be the worst choice. Now, I didn’t say it was an easy one! Ponies do make mistakes, even the princesses. Deciding for an entire nation is a big difference from choosing what you want for lunch. Now that I think about it, if I left to go back to the Enclave, I’d be choosing to leave Nico and Fleece. Would that be the right choice? I would have a lot to think about the next few days.

Standing in the doorway, was a pegasus stallion, slightly taller than Nico. The pony had a white coat like mine, but his slicked back mane was red with a single white stripe. His tail matched the hair on his head. The aquamarine barding and the huge, energy rifles at his sides gave it away. He was part of the Enclave! That’s not all, I knew this stallion. I couldn’t remember correctly, but he was so familiar. I couldn’t see his eyes behind the aviator sunglasses.

“Lieutenant! Get behind me! How long has this savage been holding you hostage?” The stallion trained his rifles on Nico, who stood, unamused.

“Savage?” Nico repeated.

I clumsily hurried to get between them. If I was right, this stallion did not mess around.

“Sergeant Redd! Put away those weapons, immediately!” I ordered. I knew the only way to get through to him was to take the role of his commanding officer, which is exactly what I was.

“Ma’am, I have orders to escort you back to the Enclave.” He saluted.

“Ma’am? Oh, this is too rich!” Nico mocked.

I turned and promised a slow death to Nico. Why didn’t he just let this go?

“How dare you insult my commanding officer!” Redd kicked on his rifles. “Lieutenant, I’m going to have to ask you to step behind me, away from this heathen.”

“Stand down, Redd. He’s not the enemy.” I rubbed my temples.

“B-but…”

“That’s an order!” I barked. “Now, return to your post! I have unfinished business here. I am perfectly capable of handling myself.”

Nico snickered.

“No can do, ma’am. I have to return in your company or not at all.” He cautiously kicked off his weapons, glaring at Nico.

I sighed. That was the Enclave, for you. At least it was just one and not an entire team.

Rounding on Nico, I hissed, “Of all the things you could have done. You realize he won’t leave until I go with him.”

“I guess you weren’t kidding about the whole ‘commanding grown ass stallions’ thing.” He jeered.

“Shut up! You will not insult a sergeant under my command!” I poked his chest. He refused to back down.

“Or what?” He stood over me, smirking.

Oh, goddesses, he smelled good.

Shaking my head, I tackled him, holding his foreleg behind his back and bending it awkwardly. He actually laughed! Growling, I bent it even more. That satisfying hiss of pain from him was music to my ears!

“Lieutenant!” Redd called, rushing over and slamming Nico into the floor.

“Get the fuck off me!” Nico yelled.

“Stop! We were just playing around!” I threw my full body weight into Redd, knocking him off Nico.

“Playing… around?” He rubbed his head, getting up.

I helped Nico up from the floor. He bared his teeth at Redd. “Keep that asshole away from me.”

Redd stood and got in his face. “Got somethin’ to say, unicorn?”

Nico went nose to nose with him. “Yeah, what are you gonna do about it, pretty boy?”

“Guys! Stop!” I squeezed between the two bigger ponies. Nico may not have been scared of me, but Redd knew better than to test me.

“Redd, this is Nico. He saved me. He’s my friend.” I pushed Nico away from Redd. “Nico, this is Redd. We grew up together. He’s also a rank below me and one of the finest officers I know.”

Both of them stared at me. “I am not associating with him!” They yelled simultaneously.

I stomped my hoof. “Enough! Nico, get up there and open the attic door! Redd, just... behave yourself!”

Nico growled, but did as I said.

“What happened to your wing?” Redd asked, approaching me from my side. He inspected the bandage on my wing.

“I was injured during the rescue mission.” I looked away to hide my mental pain. “Everyone else is dead.”

“How?” He raised his glasses so I could see his red eyes.

So... sexy.

I fought off more urges. “R-raiders. Nico saved me. Not everyone down here is bad. In fact there is a ghoul who-“

“A ghoul? As in, a zombie? Oh, forget your business down here, you’re coming back with me. I will not bring your dead body back to the council. They will have my flank!” He picked me up and set me on his back, walking towards the door.

“Put me down!” I hit him, not fazing him.

“Hey! Leave her alone!” Nico rushed downstairs and grabbed my hoof in his magic.

“You unhoof her, this instant! She is safer with me!” He grabbed my other foreleg.

I was now the object of a tug-of-war. My face turned red with anger.

“She doesn’t want to go with the likes of you!” Nico yelled.

“And she is not staying with a heathen like you!” Redd countered.

As much as it was satisfying to have bucks fighting over me, I decided to interfere before they tore my legs off. “Stop!”

They paused, still holding my hooves. I snatched my legs away and stomped. They glared at each other.

“Stop this foalish behavior! I don’t need either of you! I am a grown mare, I think I know what’s best for myself! Both of you just shut the fuck up!” I stormed upstairs, finding the attic open.

Ignoring their stupid bickering, I made my way into the dark space. I swallowed my fear and trotted passed the cluttered mess of boxes and old furniture. What was I supposed to find in here? Hope had said there would be something here. I decided to start my search in the boxes, first. I think I had spent an hour digging through various documents and newspapers. None of them gave any clue as to what I was searching for. By the time I finished, the attic was a wreck. Well, more of a wreck. I was getting more and more impatient by the minute.

“Sienna?” I heard Nico call for me.

“Over here.” I replied. “Behind these crates.”

He trotted to where I was sitting, rubbing my temples. “There is nothing here!”

“You looked through all of them?” He asked.

“Yes. There is nothing but bills and useless articles.” I said, about to give up.

As he was sitting down, he jumped up. “Ouch! What the hell is that?” He rubbed his flank, looking at a pointy object under a dust cover.

I immediately recognized the shape. “It’s just an old sewing machine. I have one back home.”

He removed the cover to reveal a violet colored machine with three diamonds decorating the sides.

“Oh, my gosh! It’s so beautiful! Come to mama!” I wrapped my hooves around the untouched contraption. It looked brand new!

“It’s just a sewing machine.” He said, still rubbing his flank.

“It’s not just a sewing machine! It’s a Weaver 340, complete with a two sided embroidery attachment.” I drooled over the machine. Mine didn’t have an embroidery attachment.

“Er, I don’t know much about that.” Nico said.

“It’s a hobby. Oh, I wish I had this!” I inspected the needle and foot.

“Well, I don’t have any use for it. I would have just sold it.” He said, picking up a card that was attached to the dust cover.

“You mean it?” My eyes twinkled as he nodded. I tackled him and squeezed him. “Oh, thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”

Just a little sniff. I thought. I buried my nose in his fur.

He blushed and hugged me back, carefully. “Your welcome. Here. I think you should see this.” He hovered the card into my hooves. It was a birthday card.

My heart leapt. “This was supposed to be for the Rarity?! The ministry mare for the Ministry of Image?! Oh, this is the best day of my life!” I bounced around Nico, who stifled a laugh.

“You must be a fan.” He said.

“Are you kidding?! She was the top fashion designer in her time! I have almost all of the catalogs with her amazing lines! I’d do anything to meet her.” I hugged the card close to my heart.

“So, I guess we should be going.” He said.

“Yeah.” I looked sadly at my new treasure. I didn’t want to leave it.

“It’ll be fine until you get back.”

“I know.” I said, sadly following him down the attic steps.

Redd stood by the front door. “So, what’s going on?”

“I just have to find something for someone.” I said.

“Okay, where are we going?” He asked.

“We?” Nico butted in.

“Stop it, Nico. Maybe he can help us.” I had to get between them again.

He snorted. “Just stay away from me.”

“With pleasure.” Redd disdainfully agreed.

This was going to be a long few days. At least Redd would add to my protection.

You mean add to your urges?

I wiped sweat from my brow, ignoring my thoughts. Redd looked at me, questionably.

Nico stood in front of me. “Control yourself, princess.”

I stared at him. “Y-yeah.”

I shook the dirty thoughts from my head and sighed.

“First things first, I need to get a weapon and decent barding. Not that ugly thing you made me wear.” I said to Nico.

He shrugged. “Well, what about the crash site? It’s not that far from here. Maybe we can find some good barding that better fits a pegasus.”

I cringed, but he had a point. I guess I would have to suck it up.

“I’ll wait a distance away from the ship while you guys get what I need. Seeing it would just upset me, and I really don’t want that happening.” I told them.

Shrugging, Nico opened the door. Redd took to the air, flying overhead. I supposed it was to watch Nico. I walked beside him as close as I could since I didn’t have anything protecting my hide like they did. I watched him walk with confidence, almost expressionless.

“About last night…” I said, quietly, so Redd wouldn’t hear.

“What happened last night?” He replied with a wink.

I was confused at first, then I figured out he was playing along. Smiling, I continued on. At least he didn’t mind forgetting it. Besides the whole “losing control” thing, I couldn’t believe I kissed a unicorn. Especially one on the surface. It was hard not to be afraid of what other pegasi would think. That had been my problem, though: Letting the Enclave control my actions and even most of my personality. Little by little, I would try to change that. To become my own.

While we trotted, I heard some unpleasant noises. Squealing and growling came from the side of us. Nico stopped me and stood between the source of the screeching and me. His ears perked towards the sounds as he floated his rifle in front of him, looking through the scope.

“What is it?” I whispered.

He didn’t answer right away, instead he pulled the trigger, scaring me.

Redd landed beside him. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“I’m shooting a radhog.” Nico said, securing his gun back on his shoulder.

I stared at the ugly creature. It looked like a pig, but it was horribly mutated into a larger creature with sharp tusks. I stood back, unsure of what to think. Nico was right. The bloatsprites were cute compared to this thing!

Before we knew it, another one of the ugly things came out of nowhere, snorting and growling. It went straight for Redd. The radhog pinned him under its deformed feet, snapping its jaws and trying to claw him with its hooves. Redd held the animal away from his face so it couldn’t reach him.

We didn’t have time to react. Two more angry radhogs ran, wildly, for Nico. I screamed, unable to do anything but watch as they knocked him down. One bit his hind leg, making him yell in pain. Redd was able to buck the hog off of him, but it stood right back up. He managed to hover just above the creature, aiming his rifles at it. With two zaps, it vaporized, damp ashes falling to the ground.

I stared in horror at Nico’s leg. The wound stretched from his hip, all the way to his fetlock. Blood poured out of it, but as painful as it seemed, he ignored the pain. His horn lit up and a blast of magic threw back the hogs onto their backs. He picked up his weapon and blasted the first hog’s nose off its face. Another shot broke through its skull, killing it instantly.

He swiveled his gun to the other, but it bit down on the barrel, attempting to snatch it away. He pulled the trigger, splattering ichor all over his face and coat. The radhog fell to the ground with a meaty thud. He panted and watched the hog twitch until it finally went still.
He collapsed onto the ground, breathing heavily.

“Nico!” I galloped to him as fast as I could.

His eyes looked to me as I placed my hoof on him.

“He’s losing blood.” Redd stated the obvious.

I turned to the wound. His hide ripped all the way down his leg, exposing muscle and even a piece of his bone.

“Redd! Pick him up! We have to get him to Fleece!” I nudged him with my nose to see if he was still breathing.

“I’m not-“

“Do it now, or I swear on my parents’ graves I will kill you!” I screamed at him.

He stared in shock for a moment, but finally obeyed me. I helped Nico on Redd’s back and galloped towards Floater with tears in my eyes. Redd galloped beside me as not to risk Nico falling off of his back.

“Please, hold on, Nico.” I said to myself.

I ran beside where Nico was between Redd’s wings. He opened his eyes every once in a while, but didn’t keep them open. Getting a better look at his leg, I saw dried blood already blotting his and Redd’s coats.

Seeing the sign, I gave one more burst of energy, beating Redd to the clinic.

“Fleece!” I screamed, still running to the cement building.

I burst through the door, almost knocking it off its hinges. “Fleece! Please, help Nico! He’s dying!”

A huge relief crossed me when I saw her emerge from the hall. She walked beside a mare who looked to have a broken leg.

“What’s happened?” She rushed to me.

Redd ran in behind me, pausing when he saw Fleece.

“What the-“

“Take him to the first room!” I boomed in his face.

Redd hurriedly took him into the room on our right. Fleece picked him up with her magic and set him on the bed. She quickly got to work, flaring her horn and casting an aura around the large gash. The bleeding stopped.

“He’s already lost too much blood. Can you wait in the waiting area, sweetheart? I have to fix up this leg. I don’t know how he will do without a blood transfusion.” She said, floating over medical tools.

“Take my blood!” I held my hoof out to her. “Just save him!”

“Let me see if you’re the same blood type.” Her horn gently lit up again and she touched my arm with it. It felt like it would burn my hide, but I didn’t care. She then checked Nico.

“It seems to be a match, but first I have to close the wound. Go into the next room and I’ll try to find something to take the blood.” Fleece gathered more supplies as she said it.

I nodded and sadly walked into the next room, Redd following me.

I leaned back onto the bed and sobbed into my forelegs. “This is my fault! I shouldn’t have agreed to go to the site.”

Redd sat next to me. “I’m not going to make you explain what the hell that thing is, so I’m just gonna ask if you’re okay.”

Picking my head up, I looked his way. “He’s been protecting me all this time. And this is what he’s got to show for it. I couldn’t do anything. I’m so useless!”

Redd flattened his ears and stared. “I don’t see what you see in him. He’s not like us.”

“I don’t see anything in him! I just feel bad because he has been taking care of me and it’s my fault he’s hurt!” I yelled at him.

He didn’t say anything. I’m glad he didn’t. All I wanted to do was wait for Fleece.

She eventually came in, hovering a needle and a makeshift tubing. “This ought to do it. I couldn’t find the right equipment, but this will be a good substitute. Hold out your arm, hon.”

Fleece tied a strap around the upper part of my leg. Then, with a small sting, she stuck the needle in. I looked away. My stomach was pretty weak when it came to medical procedures. I also didn’t like needles. Brave, right?

With my head turned, I tensed. “H-how is he?”

“The surgery went well, but I’m afraid he will suffer organ failure from the lack of blood levels pumping oxygen to his brain. Right now, all we can do is distribute this blood and wait.” She said, finishing the procedure.

I sobbed, quietly. “Can I go in with him?”

She nodded.

“I think I’ll just wait in here. Too many weirdos around.” Redd hopped onto the bed and started reading an old magazine.

I followed Fleece into Nico’s room. He slept, peacefully, with a mask over his face. The hose connected to a small tank beside his bed. I watched Fleece hook up an IV and stick it in his arm as quickly and carefully as she could. Taping it down, she made sure everything was in working order before she turned on the machine. Blood flowed from the tube and into his arm.

“Okay, now, we wait.” She put her hoof around me and pulled me close. “It’ll be okay. Just come get me if anything changes.”

I nodded, still watching my friend sleep.

She exited the room, leaving me with the soft sound of beeping. I rested my head on the bed beside him and prayed. “Luna, Celestia. Please, help him. Don’t let him die. I can’t handle being responsible for an innocent life.”

Opening my eyes, I saw he hadn’t moved. I would stay by him until he woke up. No matter what. Hours passed and I couldn’t sleep no matter how hard I tried. Fleece even brought me food, but I couldn’t eat. Now I know how Nico felt when I was in this room. He probably didn’t feel as sad as I did, though. During those hours, Fleece had taken away the empty blood tube. There was nothing else she could do. Every once in a while, I would ask her if there was anything I could do. Nothing. So, I just fluffed his pillow whenever it looked flat. It made me feel needed.

Finally, I threw my hooves around him, crying. I was giving up hope. “Nico. Wake up. I need you. I can’t protect myself. Please, just… wake up.”

When he didn’t reply, I let go and kissed his horn. If he wasn’t going to wake up, I was staying with him until he died. So I sat on the cot and closed my eyes, waiting for sleep. It eventually came, dragging me into an abyss that wasn’t comforting in the slightest. I awoke to the sounds of whispers. A stallion stood over me. I stood and backed away until I could see who it was. It was Nico! Just as I was about to hug him, he stepped back, glaring at me with hate I have never seen him carry. I stopped approaching him and frowned.

“N-Nico?”

He snorted and walked off, leaving me surrounded by dead trees that were watching my every move. The sky became dark and I became more frantic. I darted back and forth, trying to find Nico so I could apologize, but every time I found an escape, the trees only got denser. Then, a light beamed from the sky, burning the dead branches. I ducked, covering my head in fright.

“Hush, now…” A voice sang.

“Quiet now…”

“Hello?” I sqeaked.

The light began to fade from view, receding back into the cloudy night. I cried out for it, but my throat was clinched shut. I tried to loosen the invisible grip around my neck. Choking and gasping, I couldn’t do anything. There was nothing there! Finally, I gave up and let death take me. The environment around me turned to vast ocean. I kicked my hind legs, trying to find tread. There was no bottom. I screamed. Bubbles replaced my voice. I couldn’t swim!

I couldn’t tell, but it felt like I was sinking. The water became darker and darker until it was finally pitch black. Then, with a final kick, a light, similar to the first, exploded above me, forcing me to squeeze my eyes shut. Several minutes passed. I was unable to think or speak for those long minutes.

My eyes shot open as I gulped in air. I felt my whole body dripping with sweat. I surveyed the room. I was back in the room with Nico. He wasn’t on his back anymore, but on his side. Had he moved?

Slowly getting to my hooves, I noticed I was shaking. I couldn’t remember the last time I ate. Water, itself, wasn’t enough nourishment. Ignoring my growling stomach, I tiptoed to the bedside to check on Nico. I couldn’t see his face. The only thing I heard was snoring. Where was the heart monitor?

I moved my eyes down to his leg. It was bandaged pretty heavily. My hoof gently grabbed his. Suddenly, he turned around, his eyes open. After I jumped back, a huge smile spread across my face.

“Nico! You’re okay!” I went to hug him, but stopped, remembering my dream.

He smiled, looking over himself. “Yeah, I guess I am.”

“Fleece spoke like you wouldn’t make it.” I sadly avoided his gaze.

He spread his hooves. “Well, I’m here, now. Princess.”

I rolled my eyes. “You are impossible. How long have you been awake?”

“About an hour.” He shrugged.

“You could have woke me!”

“I know. Fleece said you had been by my side since my injury. I figured you needed the rest. Especially since you gave your blood to me.” He blushed. “Thanks, by the way. Nopony has ever done anything like that for me, before. I really don’t know what to say.”

I hugged him. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”

“So… You missed me?”

I glared at him, letting go. “No, I just need you to protect me, that’s all.”

“Aw, I thought you were starting to love me, princess.”

“Stop calling me that!” I commanded.

Trotting back to the cot, I yawned. When I turned around, Nico was standing with his injured hoof off the floor. I quickly ran to him. He shouldn’t be standing on that leg!

“You need to get back into bed.” I scolded.

“I have to take a leak.” He murmured, trying to put pressure on it.

“Well, at least let me help you.”

Ignoring his smirk, I let him lean into my side. I wrapped my good wing around him, to keep him balanced. Hopefully my other wing would soon heal completely. We slowly made our way outside. The sky had grown dark, signifying nightfall. We stopped behind the clinic where a tall plank was embedded in the ground. I figured it was where ponies did their business.

“Are you going to watch?” Nico asked, sarcastically.

I blushed. “N-no!”

I turned away and sat on my haunches. I giggled when I heard the sound of fluid hitting the dirt. Luckily he didn’t hear me. Waiting for him to finish, I decided to see how my wing was healing. Holding it up with my hoof, I slowly waved it up and down to mimic flapping. It didn’t hurt.

“Huh.”

“What?” Nico asked, limping up behind me.

“It doesn’t hurt.” I said, showing him what I was doing.

He tapped his chin and lit his horn so I could see. “Can you move it without holding it with your hoof?”

I stared at the bandage a moment. Fleece would probably me angry if I tried without her supervision.

“Come on. You can’t keep it wrapped forever. I’ll tell Fleece I did it.” He said, unwrapping it.

I got ready to cringe in case it hurt, but it never did.

“There. Now flap.” He threw the bandages aside.

I looked at him with hope in my eyes. He nodded to my wing. Taking a big gulp, I flapped it slowly once, then twice, then three times. No pain! I grinned, wide. It felt so good to stretch both of my wings!

“Now, hover.” He said, keeping my joint in check.

I stared. “What if I fall?”

“You won’t. And if you do, you won’t fall far.” He assured.

It took a moment, but I flapped harder, closing my eyes. A few seconds passed and I couldn’t feel the ground anymore.

“You did it!” He said, cheerfully.

I opened my eyes and looked down. I was hovering! Giggling, madly, I looked back at my beautiful feathers. They were good as new! No longer able to wait, I took off into the air. I went slow at first, but picked up speed. I soared through the air. Maneuvering and twisting as if I were a ballet pony. The wind through my mane was the best feeling I could ever experience. My first time flying wasn’t even this grand! Gaining altitude, I headed straight for the thick clouds. Then, I straightened my wingspan and leaned so I could brush my feather tips through the cool clouds. It was both thrilling and comforting to be in the air again.

My stomach started growling again and I was getting weaker. Unwilling to land, I fought the urge to stay airborne. If I collapsed, it would be the end of me. I glided downwards towards where Nico leaned on a broken crate. Fluttering my wings, I landed next to him.

“I’m so excited! I can fly, Nico! I can fly, again!” I hopped around him, happily.

He chuckled. “That’s great, but you better eat something. After all, I’m still supposed to be taking care of you.”

I helped him back into the clinic, again. “Y-you still want to protect me? Even though this was… my fault?”

“Why do you think it’s your fault? You saved my life. I don’t know anypony who would give their own blood just so another pony would have a fighting chance.” He told me, using his foreleg strength to pull him onto the bed.

I rubbed my leg. “I just feel guilty.”

This time, he hugged me. “Don’t.”

I sniffed and hugged him back. The dream I had was just my conscious. It wasn’t real.

When he pulled away, he leaned back and frowned. “I guess this means you’ll be going home.”

“N-not yet! I still have to find the pearls.” I half-smiled.

“I’m still helping you.” He said, showing no sign of smiling back.

“No, you can’t do anything with that leg. You need to recover. Redd and I will-“

“I am going with you.” He pressed.

I sighed. “Fine, but you are going to listen to me.” I glared at him.

He smirked, finally. “Deal.”

Redd trotted in, still covered in blood. His barding was stained with both that and dirt. He watched Fleece pass by in the hall with a look of disgust on his face. I glared at him. How dare he look at my friends that way!

“Thanks for ruining my brilliant coat.” He said, oozing with sarcasm.

Nico rolled his eyes. “You’ll live. It’s not like I have a disease.”

Redd scoffed. “How do I know that? Everyone down here is diseased and riddled with Goddess knows what. I can’t wait to get back home.”

He smiled when he saw my wing was no longer bandaged.

“Excellent. You’ll be back home before you know it, Lieutenant.” He saluted.

“I’m not going anywhere, yet.” I said, flatly.

“But, you must!” His face contorted into anger. “Why do you have to stay and help these… savages?”

I growled. “These savages are my friends. They risked a lot for me, and now I am in debt to them. If you don’t like it, you can go back to your safe haven. That, or help me do what the Enclave is failing to do; protect the innocent.”

He stood, dumbfounded. I knew how he felt, so I couldn’t really blame him. My perspective of the wasteland was no different when I first arrived. Try as he might, he couldn’t argue with me. He knew the Enlcave was corrupted. I had figured it out. It was clear to me, now. I wanted to believe they didn’t know any better, so I stuck with that opinion.

“I think your friend, here, needs a bath. I have a place to bathe, hon, don’t worry.” Fleece trotted in, floating a towel beside her. “How are you feeling, Nico?”

“Fine.”

"Oh! Your wing is better?" She gently picked my wing up with her magic and looked over it.

I nodded, grinning wide.

Redd backed away, keeping his distance from the ghoul pony. “I need more than a fucking bath! I need clarification!”

“Fleece is one of the best ponies you will ever meet. And if you insult her, I will personally kick your flank back to the clouds.” I scolded him.

She smiled, sweetly. “It’s okay, sweetie.” She gave him the towel. “Just follow me and I will see to it you are taken care of. I will even wash your barding.”

Redd looked at me for an excuse. I smiled and nodded for him to go with her.

“Oh, come on! How do I know she won’t eat my-“

I cut him off with a growl. He sighed and followed her.

When they disappeared into the hall, I grinned, proud of myself.

“Impressive. I almost believed the lieutenant thing to be a mistaken identity.” Nico jeered.

“If you were in my squad, I would have you do one hundred wing-ups for that remark.” I teased back at him.

I picked up a canteen and took a huge gulp of water. I had just realized how thirsty I was. After drinking almost half, I brought it Nico.

“Thanks.” He said, floating it next to him. I watched the light blue aura around the canteen as he sipped. I remembered the same color magic recreating the night sky in his bedroom. It’s amazing what unicorns can do.

“What?”

Snapping out of my daze, I grinned. “Just wondering what it’s like to be a unicorn. There are unicorns who work in the towers, but they aren’t really considered a part of our civilization. I never really speak to them or even see them. Truth be told, you’re the only unicorn I’ve ever really… observed.”

“Observed? I’m not a biology specimen, princess. However, if you must know, we are just like everypony else. With the exception of a horn. Also, the various abilities that we are able to learn.” He waved his hoof. “Okay, maybe we aren’t just like everypony else.”

I giggled. “Well, you sure know how to use your horn.”

An awkward silence made me regret my choice of words. Nico covered his mouth as he laughed. I know I turned every shade of red on the color pallet. His laughter grew until I tapped his sore leg.

“Ouch!” He glared, then chuckled again. “I’m sorry, I knew what you meant, it’s just the way you put your words.

Asshole.

“Anyway, Shattered Hoof is a good distance from here. We should probably get a good start in the morning. You need to sleep.” He said.

My stomach growled.

“And eat something, please.”

I stuck my tongue out at him and grabbed the jar of preserved peaches that Fleece had brought in. I scarfed it down in seconds, ignoring the fact that they had been expired for the past one hundred or so years. Nico raised an eyebrow. I disregarded his expression and stretched out on the cot. After today, I was ready for a good night’s sleep. The next morning I would hopefully be able to get my own barding and gun. I prayed the ship wouldn’t be looted. That still meant I had to be close to the bodies of Wick and Chaser.

I sniffed. “I’m trying, guys. I’m really trying to be brave.”

Level Up!

Stamina +5
Combat +1
Aerial Maneuvering +3

New Perk: Dreamer- Everytime you dream, your fighting skill goes up %50 for the next 10 hours.

Hello, Nurse - From watching Fleece, you can now help others heal %25 faster.

Redd has joined your group!
Race: Pegasus
Weapon: Dual energy rifles

Author's Notes:

Thanks to Kkat for this amazing world!
Helllloooo, everypony! Chapter 7 is now uploaded! I know it looks a little rushed, but I had this crazy idea for the next chapter. Please, bear with me!
Thanks for reading!
-AP